The Acts of the Commission of the Assembly and of the Committee of Estates (1648)

Edinburgh, 6. October 1648. Post meridiem.

Act for renewing of the Solemn League and Covenant.

THE Commission of the General Assembly considering that a great part of this Land have involved themselves in many and grosse breaches of the solemn League and Covenant; And that the hands of many are grown slack in following and pursuing the duties contained therein, And that many who not being come to sufficient age, when it was first sworn and subscribed, have not hithertills been received into the same, Do upon these and other grave and important considerations Appoint and Ordain the Solemn League and Covenant to be renewed throughout all the Congregations of this Kingdom; And because it is a duty of great weight and consequence, Ministers after the sight hereof would be carefull to take pains in their Doctrine and otherwise, that their people may be made sensible of these things wherein they have broken the Covenant, and be prepared for the renewing thereof with sutable affections and dispositions: And that these things may be the better performed, we have thought it necessary to condescend upon a solemn acknowledgement of publick sinnes and breaches of the Covenant, and a solemn Engagement to all the duties contained therein, Namely, those which doe in a more speciall way relate unto the dangers of these times: And this solemn Acknowledgement and Engagement sent herewith shall bee made use of, And the League and Covenant shall be renewed in such manner as followes. First, There shall be intimation of a solemn publick humiliation and Fast the second Sabbath of December To bee kept upon the next Thursday and Lords Day thereafter, At which intimation the League and Covenant, and the publick acknowledgement of sinnes and Engagement unto duties are to be publickly read by the Minister in the audience of all the people, And they are to be exhorted to get copies thereof that they may be made acquainted therewith; And the Humiliation and Fast is to be keeped the next Thursday thereafter in reference to the breaches of the Covenant contained in the solemn publick Acknowledgement as the causes thereof, And the next Lords Day thereafter which is also to bee spent in publick Humiliation and Fasting, immediately after the Sermon, which is to be applied to the businesse of that day, The publick acknowledgement and Engagement is again to be publickly read, And thereafter prayer is to be made containing the confession of the breaches mentioned therein and begging mercy for these sinnes, and strength of God for renewing the Covenant in sincerity and Truth; After which Prayer the solemn League and Covenant is to bee read by the Minister, And then to be sworn by him and all the people, who are to ingage themselves for performance of all the duties contained therein, Namely these which are mentioned in the publick acknowledgement & Engagement and are opposit unto the sinnes therein confessed: And the action is to be closed with Prayer to God that his people may be enabled in the power of his strength to doe their duty according to their Oath now renewed in so solemn a way. It is also hereby provided, that all those who renew the League and Covenant shall again subscribe the same, And that none be admitted to the renewing or subscribing thereof who are excluded by the other act and direction sent herewith.

A. KER.

Edinb. 6. October Post meridiem.

Act concerning the debarring of Persons accessorie to the late unlawfull Engagement in War, from renewing the Covenant, receiving the Communion and from exercise of Ecclesiastick Office, with an advice to Presbyteries for celebration of the Communion.

THE Commissioners of the Generall Assembly having found it necessary that the solemn League and Covenant be renewed after so great and evident breaches thereof by many in this Kingdom; And considering how manifestly the Cause of God hath been endangered heretofore by too sudden receiving unto the Covenant those who have been in actuall opposition thereunto, before sufficient tryall and evidence had of their repentence: Do therefore appoint and Ordain, That all Presbyteries and Ministers within this Church in their severall bounds and respective charges take speciall care at the time of renewing the League & Covenant, That none who have had charge in the Army, which under the conduct of Duke Hamilton engaged in War against the Kingdom of England, or with the Forces that were in and about Sterling under the command of the Earle of Lanerk and George Munro; or have taken and subscribed any Oaths, Bands or Declarations for carrying on these sinfull courses, or any other Oath or Band condemned by the Generall Assembly as destructive to the Covenant, Or have been forcers, urgers or seducers of others to joyn in the said Engagements and services so destructive to Religion, or have been active promoters thereof be admitted to subscribe, or renew the Oath of the League and Covenant, or to exercise any office or power in any of the Judicatories of this Kirk.

And further, considering that it is referred to us from the late Generall Assembly, to give advertisement to the Presbyteries of a fit opportunity of celebrating the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and to send such advice as we should finde necessary for the time; We have thought fit to advertise Presbyteries, That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper may bee celebrated after the renewing of the Covenant as Ministers have conveniency in their severall Congregations; and that we have found it necessary that all who are involved in the aforementioned guiltinesse, be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper untill the Generall Assembly shall take such course as they think fit, concerning the receiving of them unto the Covenant and Communion.

A. Ker.

Edinburgh, 14. October 1648.

THE Committee of Estates being very sensible of the grievous backslidings of this Land in the manifold breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, made and sworne to the most high GOD; Do therefore unanimously and heartily Approve the seasonable and pious resolution of the Commission of the Generall Assembly, for a Solemn Acknowledgement of publick Sinnes and Provocations, especially the breaches of the Covenant, and a Solemn Engagement to a more conscionable performance of the Duties therein contained, and for renewing the Solemn League and Covenant: And doe require and Ordain, that the directions of the said Commission of Assembly in their Act of the sixth of this moneth for a publick Acknowledgement of sins and ingagement to Duties be carefully followed, that the fast and Humiliation appointed by them be Religiously observed, and that the Solemn League and Covenant be sincerely and cordially renewed and subscribed in the manner they have prescribed in their said Act.

Extractum

Mr. Tho. Henderson.