Although the King had called the Assembly, it was not his design to allow them fairly to proceed to the discussion of ecclesiastical business, and to examine and rectify abuses, but only to cause to be registered such concessions, flowing from his own will and authority, as he found it necessary in present circumstances to grant. The Marquis of Hamilton, his Commissioner, had instructions not to consent formally to any part of their procedure, and, at a proper time, to oppose a nullity to the whole. On the other hand, the members considered themselves as a free Assembly, and were resolved to claim and exercise that liberty and power which they possessed, agreeably to Presbyterian principles, and the laws of the land ratifying the Presbyterian government, and the freedom of its judicatories. The declinature of the bishops having been read, at the repeated request of the Commissioner, the Assembly were proceeding in course to vote themselves competent judges of the libels raised against them. Upon this, the Commissioner interposed, and declared that if they proceeded to this, he could continue with them no longer, and delivered his Majesty's concessions to be read and registered. After the clerk had read them, the Moderator addressed his Grace in a grave and welldigested speech. He returned thanks, in the name of the Assembly, for his Majesty's goodness in calling the Assembly, and the willingness to remove the grievances complained of, which he had testified in the paper now read. He condescended upon the power which the Reformed Churches allowed to magistrates respecting ecclesiastical affairs, and declared that the Assembly were heartily disposed to give unto their King and his Commissioner, all that honour and

obedience which was consistent with the duty they owed to the King of kings. "Sir," answered the Commissioner, "you have spoken as becometh a good Christian and a dutiful subject, and I am hopeful that you will conduct yourself with that deference you owe to your royal Sovereign, all of whose commands will (I trust) be found agreeable to the commandments of God." The Moderator replied, that being indicted by his Majesty, and constituted according to the acts and practice of former times, they looked upon themselves as a free Assembly; and he trusted that all things would be conducted agreeably to the laws of God and reason, and hoped that their king, being such a lover of righteousness, would, upon a proper representation, cordially agree with them. Having said this, he asked the members again if he should put the question as to the competency of the Assembly to judge the bishops? The Commissioner urged that the question should be deferred. "Nay, with your Grace's permission, that cannot be," said the Moderator; "for it is fit to be only after the declinature hath been under consideration." The Commissioner repeated, that in this case it behoved him to withdraw. "I wish the contrary from the bottom of my heart," replied Mr Henderson, " and that your Grace would continue to favour us with your presence, without obstructing the work and freedom of the Assembly." After having in vain insisted on the Moderator to conclude with prayer, the Commissioner did, in his Majesty's name, dissolve the Assembly, discharging them, under the highest pains, from continuing to sit longer.

Upon the Commissioner's leaving the house, the Moderator delivered an animating address to the As

sembly. He reminded them of the Divine countenance which had hitherto been shown to them in the midst of their greatest difficulties. They had done all that was in their power to obtain the countenance of human authority, and now, when deprived of it, they ought not to be discouraged in maintaining the rights which they had received from Christ, as a court constituted in his name. "We perceive," said he, "his Grace, my Lord Commissioner, to be zealous of his royal master's commands; have not we as good reason to be zealous towards our Lord, and to maintain the liberties and privileges of his kingdom?” Immediately after this, upon the Moderator's putting the question, the members did, first by uplifted hands, and then by a formal vote, déclare their resolution to remain together until they finished the weighty business which urgently demanded their consideration.

At the opening of the next session, Mr Henderson again addressed the Assembly, and put them in mind of the propriety of their paying particular attention, in the circumstances in which they were now placed, to gravity, quietness, and order; not, he said, that he assumed anything to himself, but he was bold to direct them in that wherein he knew he had the consent of their own minds. It is but justice to add, that this advice was punctually complied with throughout the whole of that long Assembly.

The Assembly having finished the processes of the bishops, agreed, at the close of their 19th session, that the sentences passed against them should be publicly pronounced next day by the Moderator, after a sermon to be preached by him suitable to the solemn occasion. It was in vain that he pleaded his fatigue, the multiplicity of affairs by which his attention was distracted,

and the shortness of the advertisement with a view to preparation: no excuse was admitted. Accordingly, at the time appointed, he preached, before a very large auditory, from Psalm cx. 1: " The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." After narrating the steps which the Assembly had taken, and causing an abstract of the evidence against the bishops to be read for the satisfaction of the people, he, “in a very dreadful and grave manner" (says one who was present), pronounced the sentences of deposition and excommunication; the whole Assembly being deeply affected, and filled with mingled emotions of admiration, pity, and awe.

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On the day following, a petition from St Andrews was presented to the Assembly, supplicating that Mr Henderson should be translated to that city. This was opposed by the Commissioners from Edinburgh, who pleaded that he was already their minister-elect. Mr Henderson himself was extremely averse to remove from his present charge, and keenly opposed it in the Assembly. He pleaded that he was too old a plant to take root in another soil, and that he might be more useful where he was than in a public station. If he was to be removed, his love of retirement inclined him rather to St Andrews than Edinburgh. After a warm contest between the two places, it carried that he should be translated to Edinburgh. Upon this decision of the Assembly, he submitted, having obtained a promise that he should be allowed to remove to a country charge, if his health should require it, or when the infirmities of old age should

overtake him.

When the Assembly had brought their business to

a conclusion, Mr Henderson addressed them in an able speech of considerable length; of which we can here only present an outline. He apologised for the imperfect manner in which he had discharged the duties of the situation in which they had placed him, and thanked them for rendering his task so easy by the manner in which they had conducted themselves; exhorted them gratefully to remember the wonderful goodness of the Almighty, and not to overlook the instances of favour which they had received from their temporal sovereign. He adverted to the galling yoke from which they had been rescued; pointed out some of the visible marks of the finger of God in effecting this; and earnestly exhorted them to a discreet use and steady maintenance of the liberties which they had obtained. "We are like a man that has lain long in irons, who, after they are off, and he redeemed, feels not his liberty for some time, but the smart of them makes him apprehend that they are on him still: so it is with us; we do not yet feel our liberty. Take heed of a second defection; and rather endure the greatest extremity, than be entangled again with the yoke of bondage." In conclusion, he inculcated upon them a favourable construction of his Majesty's opposition to them; expressed his high sense of the distinguished part which the nobles, barons, and burgesses had acted, of the harmony which had reigned among the ministers, and of the kind and hospitable treatment which the members of Assembly had received from the city of Glasgow. After desiring some members to supply any thing which he had omitted, he concluded with prayer, singing the 133d Psalm, and pronouncing the apostolical benediction. Upon which the Assembly rose in triumph. "We