n from the light of nature, the promise
of _Jesus Christ_, the practise of the holy Apostles, the doctrine and
custome of other reformed Kirks, and the liberty of this national Kirk, as
it is expressed in the book of Policie, and acknowledged in the act of
Parlament 1592, and from recent and present experience; comparing the
lamentable prejudices done to religion, through the former want of free
and lawful Assemblies, and the great benefite arysing to the Kirk, from
this one free and lawful Assembly; finde it necessary to declare, and
hereby declares, that by Divine, Ecclesiasticall, and Civill warrands,
this national Kirk hath power and liberty to Assemble and conveen in her
year-ly generall Assemblies, and oftner, _pro re nata_, as occasion and
necessity shall require. Appointeth the next Generall Assembly to sit at
_Edinburgh_ the third Weddinsday of Julie 1639. And warneth all
Presbyteries, Universities, and Burghes, to send their Commissioners for
keeping the same. Giving power also to the Presbytery of _Edinburgh_, _pro
re nata_: and upon any urgent extraordinarie necessity (if any shall
happen before the diet appointed in Julie) to give advertisement to all
the Presbyteries, Universities, and Burghes, to send their Commissioners
for holding an occasionall Assembly. And if in the meane time it shall
please the Kings Majestie to indict a generall Assembly, ordaineth all
Presbyteries; Universities, and Burghes, to send their Commissioners for
keeping the time and place which shall be appointed by his Majesties
Proclamation.

_Ordaining an humble supplication to be sent to the Kings Majestie._

The Assembly, from the sense of his Majesties pietie and justice,
manifested in the publick indiction of their solemne meeting, for the
purging and preservation of Religion, in so great an exigent of the
extreame danger of both, from their fears arising out of experience of the
craftie and malicious dealing of their adversaries in giving sinistrous
informations against the most religious and loyall designes and doings of
his Majesties good Subjects, and from their earnest desire to have his
Majestie truely informed of their intentions and proceedings, from
themselves: who know them best, (which they are confident, will be better
beleeved: and finde more credite with his Majestie, than any secret
surmisse or private suggestion to the contrarie) that they may gaine his
Majesties princely approbation and ratification in the