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An ordinance of the Lords and commons affembled in parlia ment, for the calling of an affembly of learned and Godly divines, and others, to be confulted, with by the parliament for the fettling of the government and liturgy of the church of England; and for vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the faid church from falfe afperfions and interpretations. June 12. 1643.

WH

Hereas, amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon the nation,none is or can be more dear unto us, than the purity of our religion; and for that, as yet, many things remain in the Liturgy, difcipline and government of the church, which do neceffarily require a further and more perfect reformation than as yet hath been attained: And whereas it hath been declared and refolved by the Lords and commons affembled in parliament, that the prefent churchgovernment by Archbishops, their chancellors, commiffars deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ecclefiaf tical officers depending upon the hierarchy,is evil and justly offenfive and burdenfom to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and groweth of religion, and very prejudicial to the state and government of this kingdom; and therefore they are refolved that the fame fhall be taken away,and that fuch a government shall be settled in the church, as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the church at home,and nearer agreement with the church of Scotland, and other refor med churches abroad: and for the better effecting hereof,and for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the church of England, from all falfe calumnies and afperfions; it is thought fit and neceffary tocall an affembly of learned godly and judicious divines, who together with fome members of both the houses of parliament, are to confult and advise of fuch matters and things, touching the premiffes as fhall be propofed unto them by both or either of the houses of parliament, and to give their advice and counsel therein

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to both, or either of the faid houfes, when, and as often as they shall be thereunto required. Be it therefore ordained, by the lords and commons in this present parliament assembed, that all and every the perfons hereafter in this prelent dinance named, that is to fay,------

And fuch other perfon and perfons as shall be nominated and appointed by both houfes of parliament, or so many of them as shall not be letted by fickness, or other neceffary impediment, fhall meet and affemble,and are hereby required and injoined upon fummons figned by the clerks of both houfes of parliament, left at their respective dwellings, to meet and affemble themselves at Westminster, in the chapel called king Henry the VIIth's chapel, on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand fix hundred and forty three; and after the first meeting, being at least the number of forty, shall from time to time fit, and be removed from place to place; and alfo, that the faid affembly fhall be diffolved in fuch manner, as by both houfes of parliament fhall be directed; and the faid perfons, or fo many of them as fhall be fo affembled, or fit, fhall have power and authority, and are hereby likewife injoined from time to time, during this prefent parliament, or until further order be taken by both the faid houses, to confer and treat among themselves, of fuch matters and things, touching and concerning the liturgy, difcipline and government of the church of England, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the fame, from all falie afperfions and mifconftructions, as fhall be proposed unto them by both or either of the faid houfes of parliament, and no other; and deliver their opinion, advices of, or touching the matters aforefaid, as fhall be most agreeable to the word of God, to both or either of the hou es, from time to time, in fuch manner and fort as by both or either of the faid houfes of parliament, shall be required; and the fame not to divulge by printing, writing, or otherwife, without the confent of both or either of the houfes of parliament. And be it further ordained, by the authority aforefaid, that William Twife doctor in divinity fhall fit in the chair, as prolocutor of the faid affembly;, and if he happen to die, or be letted by fickness, or other neceffary impediment, then fuch other perfon to be appointed in his place, as fhall be agreed on by the faid houfes of parliament: and in case any difference in

opinions shall happen amongst the faid perfons fo affembled, touching any the matters that shall be propofed to them as forefaid, that then they fhall reprefent the fame, together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the faid houfes refpectively, to the end fuch further direction may be given therein as fhall be requifite to that behalf. And be it further ordained by the authority forefaid, that for the charges and expences of the faid divines, and every one of them, in attending the faid fervice, there fhall be allowed every one of them that shall fo attend, during the time of their faid attendance, and for ten days before, and ten days after, the fum of four fhillings for every day, at the charges of the common-wealth, at fuch time, and in fuch manner, as by both houfes of parliament fhall be appointed. And be it further ordained, that all and every the faid divines, fo, as aforefaid, required and injoined to meet and affemble, shall be freed and acquitted of and from every offence, forfeiture, penalty, lofs or damage, which fhall or may enfue or grow by reafon of any non-refidence, or abfence of them, or any of them, from his, or their, or any of their church, churches or cures, for or in refpect of their faid attendance upon the faid fervice; any law or Atatute of non-refidence, or other law or ftatute injoining their attendance upon their refpective minifters, or charges, to the contrary thereof, notwithstanding. And if any of the perfons above-named fhall happen to die before the faid assembly fhall be diffolved by order of both houses of parliament, then fuch other perfon or perfons, fhall be nominated and pla ced in the room and stead of such person or perfons fo dying as by both the faid houses shall be thought fit, and agreed upon; and every fuch perfon or perfons, fo to be named, fhall have the like power and authority, freedom and acquittal to all intents and purposes, and alfo all fuch wages and allowance for the faid fervice, during the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the faid perfons in this ordinance is, by this ordinance, limited and appointed. Provided always, that this ordinance, or any thing therein contained. fhall not give unto the perfons aforefaid, or any of them, nor fhall they in this affembly affume to exercife, any jurifdiction, power or authority ecclefiaftical whatsoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expreffed.

Allem

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Affembly at EDINBURGH, Auguft 19. 1643. Seff. 14. Commiffion of the general affembly to fome minifters and ruling elders, for repairing to the kingdom of England.

THE general affembly of the church of Scotland finding it neceffary to fend fome godly and learned of this kirk to the kingdom of England, to the effect under written; Therefore gives full power and Commiffion to Mr. Alexander Henderson, Mr. Robert Douglas, Mr. Samuel Rutherfoord, Mr. Robert Baillie, and Mr. George Gillespie, minifters, John Earl of Caffils, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archibald Johnfton of Wairiltoun, elders, or any three of them, whereof two fhall be minifters, to repair to the kingdom of England, and there to Deliver the declaration fent unto the parliament of England, and the letter fent unto the affembly of divines now fitting in that kingdom; and to propone, confult, treat and conclude with that affembly or any Commillioners deputed by them, or any committees or commiffioners deputed by the houses of parliament, in all matters which may further the union of this ifland in one form of kirk-government, one confef fion of faith, on catechifm, on directory for the worship of God, according to the inftructions whichthey have received from the aflembly, or fhall receive from time to time hereafter from the commiffioners of the Affembly, deputed for that effect: With power alfo to them to convey to his majesty the humble answer fent from this affembly to his Majefty's letter, by fuch occafion as they fhall think convenient; and fuch like, to deliver the affembly's answer to the letter fent from fome well-affected brethren of the miniftry there; and ge nerally authorizes them to do all things, which may further the fo much defired union, and the nearest conjunction of the two churches of Scotland and England,conform to their inftructions aforesaid.

Many of the persons who were called by the forefaid ordinance of the lords and commons (in that broken itate of the church) to attend the affembly, appeared not; whereupon the whole work lay on the hands of the perfons hereafter mentioned.

The promife and vow taken by every member admitted to fit in the affembly.

IA.

A. B. do seriously promife and vow, in the prefence of almighty GOD, that in this affembly,whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing in point of doctrine, but what I believe to be molt agree able to the word of God; nor in point of difcipline, but what may make moft for God's glory, and the peace and good of this church.

A LIST of the DIVINES who met in the affembly at Westminster.