all Christian Families, to take more Pains in this ne < ceffary Work; and to get better acquainted with the Substance of Chriftianity. And to that End (taking " along fome moving Treatifes to awaken the Heart) I know not what Work fhould be fitter for their Ufe, than that compiled by the Affembly at Westminfiera A Synod of as Godly, Judicious, Divines (notwithftanding all the bitter Words which they have receiv, ed from difcontented and felf-conceited Men) I verily think, as ever England faw; though they had the Unhappiness to be employed in calamitous Times, when the Noife of Wars did ftop Mens Ears, and the Li'cencioufnefs of Wars did fet every wanton Tongue and

<

'

Pen at Liberty to reproach them; and the Profecuti, on and Event of thefe Wars did exafperate partial dif ' contented Men, to difhonour themfelves by feeking to dishonour them. I dare fay, if in the Days of old, when Councils were in Power and Account, they had but fuch a Council of Bifhops, as this of Prefbyters < was, the Frame of it for Learning and Holinefs, and all ministerial Abilities, would with very great Honour have been tranfmitted to Pofterity.

I do therefore defire, that all Masters of Families would firft ftudy well this Work themselves, and then teach it their Children and Servants, according to their ⚫ feveral Capacities: And if they once understand these • Grounds of Religion, they will be able to read other

like

Books more understandingly, and hear Sermons more profitably, and confer more judiciously, and hold faft the Doctrine of Chrift more firmly than ever they are to do by any other Courfe; First, Let them read and learn the Shorter Catechifm. And next, The Larger. And lastly, read the Confeffion of Faith

All of the General Assembly concerning Catechifing.

At Edinburgh, July 30, 1649. Seff. 30.

TH

He General Affembly taking to their ferious Confideration, the great Darknels and Ignorance wherein a great Part of this Kingdom lieth, together with the late folemn Engagement to use all Means for Remedy thereof; do ordain every Minister, with Assistance of the Elders of their several Kirk-Seffions, to take Course, that in every House, where there is any who can read, there be at least one Copy of the Shorter and Larger Catechifms, Confeffion of Faith, and Directory for Family Worship; and do renew the Act of the Affembly August 30, 1629*, for a Day of weekly Catechifing, to be conftantly obferved in every Kirk; and that every Minifter fo order their Catechetick Queftions, as thereby the People (who do not conveen all at one Time, but by Turns, unto that Exercife) may, at every Diet, have the chief Heads of Saving Knowledge, in a fhort View prefented unto them. And the Affembly confidering, that notwithstanding of their former Act, thefe Diets of weekly Catechifing are much flighted and neglected by many Minifters throughout this Kingdom; do therefore appoint and ordain every Prefbytery, to take Trial of all the Ministers within their Bounds, once at least in the Half Year, whether they be careful to keep weekly Diets of Catechifing; and if they shall find any of their Number negligent therein, they fhall admonith for the firft Fault; and if, after fuch Admonition, they fhall not amend, the Prefbyteries, for the fecond Fault, shall rebuke them fharply; and if after fuch Rebuke they do not yet amend, they fhall be fufpended.

Charles

R 4

See Page 108, foregoing.

Charles I. Parliament 2. Seff. 2. Act 16.

At anent the Catechifms, Confession of Faith, and Ratification thereof.

At Edinburgh, February 7, 1649.

THe

He Eftates of Parliament, now prefently conveen. ed in this fecond Seffion of the fecond Triennial Parliament, by virtue of an Act of the Committee of Eftates, who had Power and Authority from the last Parliament, for conveening the Parliament, having ferioufly confidered the Catechifms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Confeffion of Faith, with three Acts of Approbation thereof, by the Commiffioners of the General Affembly, prefented unto them by the Commiffioners of the faid General Affembly; do ratifie and approve the faid Catechifms, Confeffion of Faith, and Acts of Approbation of the fame, produced as it is; and ordains them to be recorded, published, and prac tiled.

**)

Confeffion of Faith,

Agreed upon by

The Affembly of Divines at Westminster, with the Affiftance of the Commiffioners from the Church of Scotland.

A S

A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of Chrift in the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland.

W IT H

An Act of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, Anno. 1647, Approving the Confeffion of Faith.

Together with

An Act of Parliament 1649, Ratifying and Establishing the fame.

With Proofs from the Scripture.

****
***

Printed in the Year 1764.

Act of the General Assembly 1647. Approving the Confeffion of Faith.

At Edinburgh, August 27, 1647. Seff. 23.

A Faith for the Kirks of God, in the

Three Kingdoms, being the chiefeft Part of that Uniformity in Religion, which, by the Solemn League and Covenant we are bound to endeavour; and there being accordingly a Confeffion of Faith agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines fitting at Westminster, with the Affiftance of Commiffioners from the Kirk of Scotland; which Confeffion was fent from our Commiffioners at London, to the Commiffioners of the Kirk met at Edinburgh, in January laft, and hath been in this Affembly twice publickly read over, examined and confidered; Copies thereof being alfo printed, that it might be particularly perufed by all the Members of this Affembly, unto whom frequent Intimation was publickly made, to put in their Doubts and Objections, if they had any; and the faid Confeffion being, upon due Examination thereof found by the Affembly to be most agreeable to the Word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received Doctrine, Worthip, Difcipline and Government of this Kirk. And lastly, it being fo neceffary and fo much longed for, that the faid Confeffion be with all poffible Diligence and Expedition, approved and eftablifhed in both Kingdoms, as a principal Part of the intended Uniformity in Religion, and as a fpecial Means for the more effectual fuppreffing of the many dangerous Errors and Herefies of thefe Times. The General Affembly doth therefore, after mature Deliberation, agree unto, and approve the faid Confeffion, as to the Truth of the Matter (judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the Word of God) and alfo, as to the Point of Uniformity, agreeing for our Part, that it be a common Confeffion of Faith for the Three Kingdoms. The Affembly doth alfo bless

the