A. That we are dead in ourselves, and feek our Life only in Chrift. Q. 88. Shall this Confeffion of our Unworthiness be a Stay to come to the Communion? A. No truly, but rather a Preparation to the fame, if Faith and Repentance be with it, Mark 2. 17. Q.89. Wherefore is there mention made here of Chrift his Body and Blood feverally? A. To teftify his Death, by the which only he was made our fpiritual Meat and Drink, John 6. 51, 55. Q90. For what Caufe is this Action called the Communion? A. Because it is the true Caufe of our mutual Society with Chrift in all Things, good and evil. Q. 91. Declare how that is performed? A. Hereby he removeth all evil Things from us, which we have by Nature; and we receive of him all good Things, which we want by Nature. Q92. Declare thefe Things more plainly ? 4. The Wrath of God and Sin is removed, which we have by Nature; and the Favour of God, and Adoption, with the Joy of Heaven, is restored to us, the which Things we have not by Nature, Rom. 8. Q93. What Things then may the faithful Soul fay? A. Now live I, not I, but Christ liveth in me; it is God that justifieth, who fhall condemn? Q94. Let us therefore give Thanks, and pass to this holy Action, every one of us faying and finging in his Heart, The Lord is the Portion of mine Inheritance and of my Cup, thou shalt maintain my Lot; the Lines are fallén unto me in pleasant Places, yea I have a fair Heritage, Pfal. 16. 5, 6. A. Let it be done fo with Heart and Mouth, to the Confufion of all Idolaters, and Glory of our God. Q:95, XII. The End of our Redemption. T O what End are we thus redeemed, and brought in Hope of that endless Joy to come ? A. To A. To move us effectually to deny all Ungodliness, worldly Lufts, and Uurighteoufnefs, and fo live godly, foberly, and righteoufly in this prefent World, looking for the coming of Chrift, for our full Redemption, Tit. 2. II, 12, 13. Q. 96. What shall be the final End of all these Graces? A. God fhall be glorified for ever in Mercy, and we fhall enjoy that endlefs Life with Chrift our Head, to whom, with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be all Honour and Glory for ever. Amen. Affembly at Edinburgh, August 30, 1639. Seff 23. At anent Minifters Catechifing, and Family Exercise. THE Tfor Fruits HE Affembly confidering, that the long waitedfor Fruits of the Gospel, fo mercifully planted and preserved in this Land, and the Reformation of ourfelves and Families, fo folemnly vowed to God of late in our Covenant, cannot take Effect, except the Knowledge and Worship of God be carried from the Pulpit to every Family within each Parifh; hath therefore appointed, that every Minifter, befides his Pains on the Lord's Day, fhall have weekly Catechifing of fome Part of the Parish, and not altogether caft over the Examination of the People till a little before the Communion; alfo, that in every Family the Worship of God be erected, where it is not, both Morning and Evening, and that the Children and Servants be Catechifed at Home by the Mafters of the Families, whereof Account shall be taken by the Minister and Elders affifting him in the Vifitation of every Family; And, left they fail, that Vifitation of the feveral Kirks be feriously followed by every Prefbytery, for this end among others. The Execution and Succefs whereof, being tried by the Synods, let it be reprefented to the next General Affembly. Confeffion of Faith OF THE KIRK of of SCOTLAND: OR, THE NATIONAL COVENANT. WITH A Designation of fuch Acts of Parliament, as are expedient for justifying the Union after-mentioned. AND Several Acts of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, Approving, Explaining, and Injoining the Subfcribing this Covenant. Together with An Act of Parliament, Anno 1640, Approving and Establishing the fame. Jofh. xxiv. 25. So Joshua made a Covenant with the People that Day, and fet them a Statute and an Ordinance in Shechem. 2 Kings xi. 17. And Jehoiada made a Covenant between the Lord, and the King and the People, that they fhould be the Lord's People; between the King alfo and the People. Ifa. xliv. 5. One fhall fay, I am the Lord's; and another fhall call himself by the Name of Jacob; and another fhall fubfcribe with his Hand unto the Lord. Printed in the Year 1764. The King's Majefties Charge to all Commiffioners and Minifters within this Realm. Eeing that we and our Houfhold have fubfcribed and good Example of our Subjects: We command and charge all Commiffioners and Minifters, to crave the fame Confeffion of their Parifhoners, and proceed agains the Re fufers according to our Laws and Order of the Kirk, de livering their Names and lawful Proceffe to the Ministers of our Houfe with all haift and diligence, under the paine of fourtie pound to be taken from their ftipend, that We, with the advise of our Counfell, maie take order with fik proud Contemners of God and our Lawes. A Subfcribed with our Hand at Halyrudhous * 1580, the 2 daie of March, the 14 zeir of our reigne Affembly, April 1581, Seff. 5. Act approving the Confeffion of Faith. Nent the Confeffion laitlie fet forth by the King's Majefties Proclamatione, and fubfcribit be his Heines; the Kirk, in ane Voyce, acknawledges the faid Confeffion to be ane trew, Chriftian, and faithfull Confeffion, to be agriet unto be fik as treulie profeffe Christ and his trew Religion, and the tenor theirof to be followit out aefauldly, as the fame is laid out in the faid Proclamatione. Affembly, October 1581, Seff. 9. Act injoining all Perfons to fubfcribe the Confeffion of Faith. F Or fwameikle as the King's Majeftie, with advyfe of his Counfell, hes fett out and proclaimit ane Godlie Confeffione of Faith, to be imbraceit be all his trew Subjects; and be the fame expreflie giving commandement to the Ministrie, to proceed againft qwhatfumever per fons # 1581. For they did not begin the Tear in Scotland, at that Time, till the 25th of March, until 1600. fons that will not acknawledge and fubfcryve the fame, qwherein great negligence has been seen far by the dewty and office of trew paftors: Herefoir the Kirk, and Affembly prefent hes enjoynit and concludit, that all Minifters and Paftors within their Bounds, with all expedi ent and poffible diligence, execute the Tenor of his Majefies proclamatione betwixt and the next fynodal Affemblies of every Province, and prefent before the fynodal Affemblies to the moderator theirof their dewtieful diligence in this behalf, to be reportit to the next General Affembly of the Kirk, under the paine of deprivatione of the faids Minifters from the function of the Min ftrie that beis negligent herein. Affembly at Glasgow, December 20. 1638. Seff. 26. Act of the General Affembly concerning the Confeffion of Faith, renewed in February 1638. He Affembly confidering, that for the Purging and Prefervation of Religion, for the King's Majesty's Honour, and for the publick Peace of the Kirk and Kingdom, the Renewing of the National Covenant, and Oath of this Kirk and Kingdom, in February 1638, was most neceffar, like as the Lord hath blessed the fame from Heaven with a wonderful Succefs for the Good of Religion: That the faid Covenant suspendeth the Practice of Novations already introduc'd, and the Approbation of the Corruptions of the present Government of the Kirk, with the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, till they be tryed in a free General Assembly: And that now, after long and ferious Examination, it is found, that by the Confefsion of Faith *, the Five, Articles of Perth, and Epifcopal Government are abjured, and to be removed out of this Kirk; and the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen are declared to be unlawful. The Aflembly alloweth and approveth the fame in all the Heads and Articles thereof; and ordaineth that all Minifters, Mafters of Univerfities, Colledges and Schools, and all others who have * As it was professed, sworn, and fubfcribed in the Year 1581, and 1790. |