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A38114 Returne from the Parliament of England, to the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland England and Wales. Parliament.; Church of Scotland. General Assembly. 1642 (1642) Wing E2280; ESTC R16511 4,700 16

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RETURNE FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND To the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Church of SCOTLAND EDINBURGH Printed by EVAN TYLER Printer to the Kings most excellent Majestie Anno Dom. 1642. Returne from the Parliament of ENGLAND To the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Church of SCOTLAND WEe the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having with much contentment perused the Brotherly and Christian Answer which the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland have made unto the Declaration formerly sent unto them from us and finding therein great expressions of love to this Church and Kingdome and of prudence and faithfulnesse in propounding those things which may conduce to a more close and firme Union of the two Churches and Nations of England and Scotland in preserving and maintaining the Truth and Purity of the Reformed Religion not onely against Poperie but against all other superstitious Sects and Innovations whatsoever Have thereupon resumed into our considerations and care the matters concerning the Reformation of Church-government and Discipline which we have often had in consultation and debate since the beginning of this Parliament and ever made it our chiefest aime though wee have been frequently interrupted and powerfully opposed in the prosequution and accomplishment of it And however wee continue still in the storme and conflict finding small abatement of difficultie and much increase of malignitie and perversnesse in the opposition wherewith this great and necessary Worke of Reformation is encountred yet wee heartily thanke God and rejoyce with our Brethren of Scotland for the Peace Libertie and Preservation which God hath affoorded them taking it as a Pledge and Earnest of the like mercy intended to us in his good time and hoping that he will not onely free us from the most grievous and d●structive miseries and calamities of a Civill Warre but graciously perfect our desires and endeavours of a full Reformation in all matters appertaining to Religion Which as it is the greatest honour and service which God receives from his People so wee acknowledge with our Brethren that it is the surest Foundation of Glory Strength and Happinesse which he bestowes upon any Nation The manifold obstructions and impediments which we have met with in seeking this great Blessing doe give to us and all Gods People great cause of griefe and workes in us an earnest longing for the removall of them Yet knowing that all the wonderfull works of God in this kinde have been brought to perfection through many oppositions and seeming impossibilities that so the Conclusion might be more glorious to his Divine Majestie and comfortable to his Children we cannot but in humilitie and submission expect the like issue of our wrastling and striving with that fierce and peremptory opposition which hath beene framed and acted against us by the most subtle and busie Engins of Sathan the most pestilent Incendiaries among us the Jesuits from abroad a virulent and discontented partie at home consisting of the Prelaticall Clergie Atheisticall Projectors against Religion profane and sensuall self-lovers heightned and inflamed against us with a spirit of malignitie beyond the example of former times wherein we have had manifold occasions to discerne both our own weaknesse and imperfections and the divine mercy and goodnesse and to hope that God having upheld us so long beyond our own strength and merit will bring us through at last to the full accomplishment of his owne praise and of the joy of this and other Churches We acknowledge it an Act of Love to us and of wisedome for the good of both Churches for which wee are thankfull both to God and them That our Brethren of Scotland have bestowed their serious thoughts and earnest desires for Unity of Religion that in all His Majesties Dominions there might be one Confession of Faith one Directorie of Worship one publick Catechisme and one forme of Church-government And although it will hardly be obtained punctually and exactly unlesse some way might be found of a mutuall Communication and Conjunction of Councell and debate in framing that one forme yet both intending the same end proceeding by the same Rule of Gods Word and guided by the same Spirit we hope by Gods Assistance to be so directed that we may cast out whatsoever is offensive to God or justly displeasing to any neighbouring Church and so far agree with our Brethren of Scotland and other reformed Churches in all substantiall parts of Doctrine Worship and Discipline that both wee and they may enjoy those Advantages and Conveniences which are mentioned by them in this their Answer in the more strict Union of both Kingdomes more safe easie and comfortable Government of His Majestie and both to Himself and people a more free Communion in all holy Exercises and Duties of Worship more constant security of Religion against the bloudy practices of Papists and deceitfull Errors of other Sectaries and more profitable use of the Ministerie For the compassing and attaining whereof we intend to use the labour and advice of an Assembly of godly and learned Divines for the conveening of whom a Bill hath already past both Houses which had taken effect long since if we could have obtained His Majesties Royall Assent thereto All which considered we acknowledge the faithfull and affectionate expressions of our Brethren in wishing and desiring this great Advantage for us doe fully deserve those thanks which we have formerly expressed and no whit stand in need of that Apologie which they are pleased to make The maine cause which hitherto hath deprived us of these and other great Advantages which wee might have by a more close Union with the Church of Scotland and other reformed Churches is the Government by Bishops which to strengthen it self hath produced many other differences in Discipline and Ceremonies betwixt them and us and is apt to worke in the Minds of those who are the Approvers and Defenders of it such a dis-esteeme of and opposition to those Churches as makes us desperate of that most beneficiall and desirable conjunction with them untill this great impediment be removed Whereupon we have entred into a serious consideration what good we have received from Government by Bishops which may countervaile such a losse and inconvenience and we are so far from apprehending any satisfaction herein that we plainely perceive it a cause of many other Calamities Dangers and intolerable Burthens being a dishonour to God by arrogating to themselves a Preheminencie and Power which he hath not given by prophaning the puritie of his Ordinances with the mixture of their owne injunctions by withstanding the frequent and powerfull preaching of the Gospel that so their usurped Authority might receive more easie admittance into the ignorant and mis-guided Consciences of men by corrupting the Ministery with Pride Ambition Coveteousnesse Idlenesse and Luxurie by suppressing the spirituall power and efficacy of Religion and turning it into Formality and Pomp by inclining to Poperie the principles thereof being sutable