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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	great_a	london_n	lord_n	3,482	5	3.3624	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95441	Two letters of great concernment, with their answers. The one, from the Scotish Commissioners at London, to the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland. Together with the answer of the aforesaid Generall Assembly to the said Commissioners. The other, from the synod of Divines in England, to the Generall Assembly of Scotland. Together with the answer also of the aforesaid Generall Assembly in Scotland, to the said synod.	Church of Scotland. General Assembly.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652)	1645 (1645)	Wing T3468; Thomason E294_4; ESTC R27032	9,329	16

TWO LETTERS Of Great Concernment WITH THEIR ANSWERS The One From the Scotish Commissioners at London to the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland Together with the Answer of the aforesaid Generall Assembly to the said Commissioners The Other From the Synod of Divines in England to the Generall Assembly of Scotland Together with the Answer also of the aforesaid Generall Assembly in Scotland to the said Synod LONDON Printed by J. Raworth in the yeer 1645. July 28. According to the Copy printed at Edinburgh Die Jovis 23 Jan. 1645. Post meridiem Sess II. The Letter from the Commissioners at London to the Generall Assembly Right Honourable Reverend and beloved in the Lord AS we are not without the knowledge so are we not without the feeling of the distresses of our Native Countrey and of the troubles of our dear Brethren specially that the hand of the Lord is stretched out against you not onely by Invasion from without of the basest of the children of men but also by the unnaturall treachery of some within who have dealt perfidiously in the Covenant and Cause of God They hisse and gnash the teeth they say We have swallowed her up certainly this is the day that we looked for we have found we have seen it the Lord hath caused thine Enemy to rejoyce over thee he hath set up the horn of thine Adversaries Yet saith the Lord who is thy maker and thy husband the Lord of hosts is his name and thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee for this is as the waters of Noah the Covenant of my peace shall not be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee When the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid the Priests and Levites sung together in praising and giving thanks to the Lord Because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever And we hope at this time upon the coming of our Reverend Brethren and the sight of that which they bring with them the noise of the shout of joy shall be louder than the noise of the weeping of the People This we may say that not many yeers ago many of us would have been content to have losed our lives that we might have obtained that which the Lord if not in a miraculous yet in a marvellous and mercifull providence hath brought to passe in this Island in these dayes which many before us have desired to see and have not seen God forbid that it should seem a small thing in your eyes which is done here already as it is expressed in a Paper from the Parliament and Letters from the Assembly Ye are best acquainted with the temptations and difficulties which ye meet with there which are also very sensible unto us And when we consider how the Lord hath carried on his Work here at the first taking of the Covenant and since against much learning and contradiction against much policy power and all sorts of opposition such as Reformation useth to encounter we are ravished with admiration of the right hand of the Almighty For our part we may confidently avouch in the sight of God and before you whom next unto God we do respect and reverence and to whom as your servants we are accomptable that in all our proceedings we had first of all the word of God before our eyes for the Rule and for our Patern the Church of Scotland so much as was possible and no lesse if not more than if all this time since we parted from you we had been sitting in a Nationall Assembly there and debating matters with our Brethren at home Where we were not able to get every thing framed to our minde we have endeavoured as much as we could to preserve our own Reformation and practice of which our Brethren will give you accompt in the particulars we hope to your satisfaction That an Uniformity in every thing is not obtained in the beginning let it not seem strange The levelling of the high Mountain of Prelacy The laying aside of the Book of Common Prayer The Directory of Worship concluded in both Houses of Parliament and the principall Propositions of Church-Government passed in the Assembly all of them according to the Solemne League and Covenant the greatest of all are three or foure witnesses to prove that the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad and which make us like them that dream And we are sure that not onely the Reformed Kirks but the Papists will say The Lord hath done great things for them All that we desire is 1. That the Directory of Worship may be returned by our Brethren with all possible expedition that it may be published here and put in practise as that which is extreamly longed for by the good People and will be a remedy of the many differences and divisions about the Worship of God in this Kingdom especially in this place If there be any thing in it that displeaseth let it be remonstrate upon irrefragable and convincing reason otherwise ye will in your wisdom give approbation to it 2. If there be any particular differences among some Brethren which are not determined but passed over in silence in the Directory and yet hinted at in the Letter from the Assembly we hope that in your wisdom ye will so consider of them that they may be laid aside in due time and that in the mean while till the Directory be concluded and put in practice there be no trouble about them for that were as Snow in Summer and as Rain in Harvest We know nothing of that kinde that all of us who love Unity Order and Edification may not perfectly agree in without scandall or disturbance And we beseech the Lord to keep that Kirk free of such Sects and Monsters of Opinions as are daily set on foot and multiplied in this Kingdom through the want of that Church-Government by Assemblies which hath preserved us and we hope through the blessing of God shall cure them 3. Because Nationall Assemblies cannot frequently conveene we humbly desire that such a Commission may be setled as we may at all occasions till the Work be finished have our recourse unto for our direction and resolution for we know both our own weaknesse and the greatnesse of the Work wherein we can promise no more but to be faithfull in obeying your commandments as in the sight of God whom with our Souls we pray to grant you his Spirit to guide you into all truth And thus continue Worcester house Jan. 6. 1645. Your humble and faithfull Servants Subscrib LOUDOUN JO. MAITLAND ALEX. HENDERSON SAM RUTHERFURD DIRECT For the Right Reverend the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland The Letter from the Synode of Divines in England to the Generall Assembly

be earnest suiters not onely for the continuance of these excellent helpers Mr Alex. Henderson and Mr Sam. Rutherfurd yet remaining with us but also for the speedy return hither of our Reverend Brethren that are now going hence for the perfecting of that Work which yet remains And this sute we trust you will the rather grant because of the great and joint concernment of both Churches and Kingdoms in these matters Now the spirit of wisdom and of all grace rest upon you in all your great consultations as at all times so especially now when you shall be gathered together in the Name of the Lord Jesus for the further building up and polishing of his Church and cause the fruit of all your labour to be to the praise and glory of God and the comfort and rejoycing of the hearts of all the Israel of God He reward all our dear Brethren of that Sister Church and Nation manifold into their bosome all the labours love and sufferings which they have afforded and still do cheerfully continue for our sakes and the Gospels in this distracted and bleeding Kingdom suppresse all commotions and bloody practices of the common Enemy in both yea in all the three Kingdoms set up the Throne of Jesus Christ and make all the Kingdoms to be the Lords and our Jerusalem to be a praise upon Earth that all that love her and mourn for her may rejoyce for joy with her and may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation Westminster Jan. 6. 1644. Subscribed by Your most loving Brethren and fellow-labourers in the Work of the LORD in the name of this whole Assembly WILLIAM TWISE Prolocutor CORNELIUS BURGES Assessor JOHN WHITE Assessor HENRY ROBROUGH Scriba ADONIRAM BYFIELD Scriba DIRECT To the Right Honourable and Right Reverend the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland these present The Generall Assemblies Answer to the Right Reverend the Assembly of Divines in the Kirk of ENGLAND Right Reverend and well-beloved in the Lord JESVS AMidst the manifold troubles in which this Kingdom hath been involved and under which it still laboureth we greatly rejoyced when it was testified unto us by our reverend Brethren and under your hands in your Letter and these Papers by them presented to us from you what progresse you had made in the much desired Work of Uniformity and acknowledge that the same hath comforted us concerning our work and toile of our hands and seemeth to us as an olive branch to prognosticate the abating of the waters which overflow the face of the Earth When we consider that you have walked in pathes unusuall which have not been haunted by Travellers there as the publike way though pointed out as the good old way by the Reformed Kirks we do not wonder that you have carefully adverted in every step to set foot upon sure ground When we behold that strong and high tree of Episcopacy so deeply rooted by continuance of time not lopped of the Branches and the stumpe of the root left in the Earth with a band of iron and brasse but pluckt up by the roots We do confesse that the Carpenters though prepared have a hard task requiring time to hew it down and root it up And when we call to mind how much the Service-Book hath been cryed up as the onely way of Gods Worship how many thereby have had their wealth and how difficill it is to forgo the accustomed way We admire the power and wisdom of the good God who hath prospered you in your way and led you this length through so many straits and over so many difficulties in so troublous a time We do for our part not onely admit and allow but most heartily and gladly embrace the Directory of Worship as a common Rule for the Kirks of God in the three Kingdoms now more straitly and firmly united by the Solemne League and Covenant And we do all in one voice blesse the Lord who hath put it in the hearts first of the Reverend Learned and Pious Assembly of Divines and then of the Honourable Houses of Parliament To agree upon such a Directory as doth remove what is none of Christs and preserve the purity of all his Ordinances together with Uniformity and Peace in the Kirk Onely we have thought necessary to declare and make known That the Clause in the Directory for the administration of the Lords Supper which appointeth the Table to be so placed that the Communicants may orderly sit about it or at it is not to be interpreted as if in the judgement of this Kirk it were indifferent for any of the Communicants not to come to and receive at the Table or as if we did approve the distributing of the Elements by the Ministers to each Communicant and not by the Communicants among themselves In which particulars we still conceive and beleeve the order and practice of our own Kirk To be most agreeable and sutable to the Word of God the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and the nature of that Heavenly Feast and Table Neverthelesse in other particulars we have resolved and do agree to do as ye have defired us in your Letter That is not to be tenacious of old Customs though lawfull in themselves and not condemned in this Directory but to lay them aside for the nearer Uniformity with the Kirk of England now nearer and dearer to us than ever before A Blessing so much esteemed and so earnestly longed for among us that rather than it false on our part we do most willingly part with such practice and customs of own as may be parted with safely and without the violation of any of Christs Ordinances or trespassing against Scripturall Rules or our Solemne Covenants We do in like manner agree to and approve the Propositions touching Kirk-Government and Ordination and have given power to our Commissioners who are to meet in Edinburgh to agree to and conclude in our Name an Uniformity therein betwixt the Kirks in both Kingdoms so soon as the same shall be without any substantiall alteration Ratified by an Ordinance of the Honourable Houses of Parliament of England according to our Act of Approbation sent to our Commissioners with you As for the returning of our Commissioners though the councell and assistance of our Reverend Brethren might be of good use to us in these difficult times and their particular stations and imployments importune the stay of these who are come unto us and the returne of these who stay with you yet preferring the publike good and looking upon the profit may redound unto all by their continuing with you we have satisfied your desire and renewed their Commission Praying God they may as we are confident they shall prove answerable to our trust and to your expectation Concerning one Confession of Faith and Forme of Catechisme we apprehend no great difficulty And to that which remains to be perfected in the matter of Kirk-Government we do beleeve and both you and

Right honourable right revered and dearly beloved in the LORD JESVS AS cold waters to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far Countrey We your Brethren yet remaining in the Furnace of affliction and still labouring in the very fire Have at length by the good Hand of God upon us attained so far toward the Mark at which we all aime that we shall now send you by two of your Reverend and Faithfull Commissioners Mr Robert Bailie and Mr George Gillespie our much honoured Brethren some good news of that great Work after which your zeal for Truth and Peace hath so much thirsted and for which you have not loved your lives unto the death Our progresse therein hath not been so expeditious as was desired and expected This unto such as either know not or consider not The weight and greatnesse of the Work nor The manifold difficulties which have occurred to obstruct our proceedings in this day of darknesse and calamity too sad to be expressed hath been like unto hope deferred which makes the heart sick Howbeit we trust That when their desire namely that which we have prepared and are further in travell with shall come unto them It will be through God a Tree of life as to our great comfort and encouragement we already perceive it to be to both the honourable Houses of Parliament Touching the severall Papers brought to us from your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners by the hands of the Committee appointed to treat with them in matters of Religion one of the Papers being given in the 10 of November 1643 Concerneth the severall sorts of Church-officers and Assemblies Another bearing date the 24 of January 1643 Concerneth Congregationall Elderships and Classicall Presbyteries The other being presented the 15 of August last Representeth the necessity of making greater speed in setling the intended Uniformity in Religion according to the late solemne Covenant We hold it our duty in regard both of the arct and inseparable Union which the Lord hath happily and seasonably made between you and us and of your indefatigable and inestimable labour of love to this afflicted Kingdom to give your Lordships and the rest of that Venerable Assembly some brief account Concerning one Confession of Faith and Forme of Catechisme we make no question of a blessed and perfect harmony with you The publike Doctrine held out by our Church to all the World especially when it shall be reviewed which is in great part done concurring so much with yours may assure you of your hearts desire in those particulars so soon as time and opportunity may give us liberty to perfect what we have begun The chief reason of laying aside the review of our publike Doctrine after the happy and much desired arrivall of your Reverend Commissioners here was The drawing up and accelerating of a Directory for Worship and of a Forme of Church-Government in both of which we stood at a greater distance from other Reformed Churches of Christ and particularly from yours which we very much honour with whom our solemne sacred Nationall Covenant requireth us to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity that we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us Nor have our labours therein been frustrate For we have per●●cted and transmitted a Directory for Worship to both Houses 〈◊〉 Parliament where it hath received such acceptance that it is 〈◊〉 passed in both the Honourable Houses of Parliament which 〈◊〉 hope will be to the joy and comfort of all our godly and dear ●rethren in all His Majesties Kingdoms and Dominions We have not advised any imposition which might make it un●●wfull to vary from it in any thing Yet we hope all our Reve●●nd Brethren in this Kingdom and in yours also will so far value ●●d reverence that which upon so long debate and serious delibe●ation hath been agreed upon in this Assembly when it shall also ●asse with you and be setled as the common publike Directory or all the Churches in the three Kingdoms that it shall not be he lesse regarded and observed And albeit we have not expressed ●n the Directory every minute particular which is or might be either laid aside or retained among us as comely and usefull in practice yet we trust that none will be so tenacious of old customs not expressely forbidden or so averse from good examples although new in matters of lesser consequence as to insist upon their liberty of retaining the one or refusing the other because not specified in the Directory but be studious to please others rather than themselves We have likewise spent divers moneths in the search of the Scriptures to finde out the minde of Christ concerning a Forme of Church-Government wherein we could not but expect the greatest difficulty For our better Progresse herein we have with all respect considered the severall Papers of your Honourable and Reverend Commissioners touching this Head and do with all thankfulnesse acknowledge their great zeal judgement and wisdom expressed therein as also the excellent assistance and great furtherance of your Reverend Commissioners in this great Work which now through Gods goodnesse is very near to a period also In pursuit where 〈…〉 ●nd scrutinie of every Proposition that we might find it agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God in a method of our own without resting upon any particular modell or frame whatsoever already constituted What we have performed and how far we have proceeded therein we leave to the information of your Reverend Commissioners who have been eye and ear-witnesses of all that hath past and we doubt not but you will shortly receive a satisfactory answer from hence so soon as it shall be passed in the Honourable Houses of Parliament And now Right Honourable and Right Reverend Brethren let it not seem grievous that we have thus long delayed the satisfying of your earnest and just expectation It is the Lot of Jerusalem to have her Walls built in troublous times when there are many adversaries Nor let it offend that albeit we acknowledge the many great and inestimable expressions of your love zeal and helpfulnesse unto us every way in the day of our distresse to be beyond all that we can in words acknowledge we professe plainly to you That we do most unwillingly part with those our Reverend and dear Fellow-labourers your Commissioners whom now you have called home to render an account of their imployment here which hath been so managed both by them and the rest of their Honourable and Reverend Colleagues as deserveth many thanks and all Honourable acknowledgement not onely from us but from you also Give us leave to adde that the long experience we have had of the great sufficiency integrity and usefulnesse of them all in the great Work of Christ our common Lord and Master inforceth us next to our greatest sute for the continuance of your fervent prayers to