Assembly at EDINBURGH, August 27. 1647. Sess. 23.

Act approving the CONFESSION of FAITH. A

CONFESSION of Faith for the Kirks of God in

the three kingdoms, being the chiefest part of that uniformity in religion, which, by the Solemn League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour: And there being accordingly a Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assistance of Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland; which Confession was sent from our Commissioners at London to the Commissioners of the Kirk met at Edinburgh in January last, and hath been in this Assembly twice publickly read. over, examined, and considered ; copies thereof being also printed, that it might be particularly perused by all the members of this Assembly, unto whom frequent intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if they had any: And the said Confession being, upon due examination thereof, found by the Assembly to be most agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk. And, lastly, It being so necessary, and so much longed for, that the said Confession be, with all possible diligence and expedition, approved and established in both kingdoms, as a principal part of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a special means for the more effectual suppressing of the many dangerous errors and heresies of these times; the General Assembly doth therefore, after mature deliberation, agree unto, and approve the said Confession, as to the truth of the matter; (judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God ;) and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. The Assembly doth also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknowledge his great mercy, in that so excellent a Confession of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon in both kingdoms; which we look upon as a great strengthening of the true reformed religion against the common enemies thereof. But, lest our intention and meaning be in some particulars

misunderstood,

to

misunderstood, it is hereby expressly declared and provided, That the not mentioning in this Confession the several sorts of ecclesiastical officers and assemblies, shall be no prejudice

to the truth of Christ in these particulars, to be expressed in fully in the Directory of Government. It is further deat clared, That the Assembly understandeth some parts of the d second article of the thirty-one chapter only of kirks not

settled, or constituted in point of government: And that salthough, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other fit sto persons; may be called by the Magistrate's authority and o nomination, without any other call, to consult and advise

with about matters of religion; and although, likewise, the I'Y

Ministers of Christ, without delegation from their churches, may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet to

gether synodically in such kirks not yet constituted, yet he neither of these ought to be done in kirks constituted and al settled; it being always free to the Magistrate to advise i with synods of ministers and ruling elders, meeting upon ale delegation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being

indicted by his authority, occasionally, and pro re nata;

it being also free to assemble together synodically, as well nt pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from 11 the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, le as often as it is necessary for the good of the Church so to

assemble, in case the Magistrate, to the detriment of the in Church, withhold or deny his consent; the necessity of P

occasional assemblies being first remonstrate unto him by humble supplication.

A. KER

SO

10

re

CHARLES I. Parl. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16.

Acr anent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and

ratification thereof.

At EDINBURGH, February 7. 1649.
НЕ

,
this second Session of the second triennial Parliament,
by virtue of an Act of the Committee of Estates, who had
power and authority from the last Parliament for conve-
ning the Parliament, having seriously considered the Cate-
chisms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Con-
fession of Faith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof
by the Commissioners of the General Assembly, presented
unto them by the Commissioners of the said General Assem-
bly; do ratify and approve the said Catechisms, Confession
of Faith, and Acts of Approbation of the same, produced
as it is ; and ordains them to be recorded, published, and
practised.

A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of

Curist in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Approved by the General Assembly 1647, and ratified and established by Acts

of Parliament 1649 and 1690, as the publick and avowed

CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

WITH THE

HE

PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.