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commission_n to_o bishop_n and_o other_o judge_n constitute_v in_o ecclesiastical_a cause_n to_o receive_v his_o highness_n presentation_n to_o benefice_n to_o give_v collation_n thereupon_o and_o to_o put_v order_n to_o all_o cause_n ecclesiastical_a which_o his_o majesty_n and_o estate_n aforesaid_a declare_v to_o be_v expire_v in_o the_o self_n and_o to_o be_v null_a in_o time_n come_v of_o none_o avail_v force_n or_o effect_n and_o therefore_o ordain_v all_o presentation_n to_o benefice_n to_o be_v direct_a to_o the_o particular_a presbytery_n in_o all_o time_n come_v with_o full_a power_n to_o give_v collation_n thereupon_o and_o to_o put_v order_n to_o all_o matter_n and_o cause_n ecclesiastical_a within_o their_o bound_n according_a to_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o kirk_n provide_v the_o foresaid_a presbytery_n be_v bind_v and_o astrict_v to_o receive_v and_o admit_v whatsoever_o qualify_a minister_n present_v by_o his_o majesty_n or_o laicke_a patron_n the_o first_o book_n of_o discipline_n to_o the_o great_a council_n of_o scotland_n now_o admit_v to_o the_o regiment_n by_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n and_o by_o the_o common_a consent_n of_o the_o estate_n thereof_o your_o honour_n humble_a servitor_n and_o minister_n of_o christ_n jesus_n within_o the_o same_o wish_v grace_n mercy_n and_o peace_n from_o god_n the_o father_n of_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n with_o the_o perpetual_a increase_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n from_o your_o honour_n weereceive_v a_o charge_n daze_v at_o edinburgh_n the_o 29._o of_o april_n in_o the_o year_n of_o our_o lord_n 1560._o require_v and_o command_v we_o in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o eternal_a god_n as_o we_o will_v answer_v in_o his_o presence_n to_o commit_v to_o writing_n and_o in_o abooke_n deliver_v to_o your_o wisdom_n our_o judgement_n touch_v the_o reformation_n of_o religion_n which_o heretofore_o in_o this_o realm_n as_o in_o other_o have_v be_v utter_o corrupt_v upon_o the_o receipt_n whereof_o so_o 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apparell_n to_o the_o superstitious_a
orknay_n clerk_n of_o register_n justice_n clerk_n mr._n henry_n balnave_n david_n forrester_n and_o mr._n george_n buchanan_n or_o any_o three_o or_o four_o of_o they_o shall_v oversee_v the_o say_a book_n and_o diligent_o consider_v the_o content_n thereof_o note_v their_o judgement_n in_o writ_n and_o report_v the_o same_o to_o the_o next_o assembly_n general_a of_o the_o kirk_n or_o if_o any_o parliament_n chance_n to_o be_v in_o the_o mean_a time_n that_o they_o report_v their_o judgement_n to_o the_o lord_n of_o the_o article_n that_o shall_v happen_v to_o be_v choose_v before_o the_o say_a parliament_n by_o these_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o our_o kirk_n acknowledge_v the_o first_o book_n to_o be_v the_o book_n of_o discipline_n and_o no_o way_n to_o be_v abolish_v but_o for_o the_o use_n of_o the_o kirk_n to_o be_v further_o confirm_v for_o the_o second_o book_n of_o discipline_n a_o nent_fw-la the_o cause_n of_o the_o kirk_n 1564._o edinburgh_n junii_fw-la 25._o 1564._o and_o jurisdiction_n thereof_o the_o assembly_n appoint_v the_o laird_a of_o dunn_n mr._n john_n winram_n mr._n john_n spottiswod_n mr._n john_n willock_n superintendents_a mr._n john_n row_n george_n hay_o robert_n pont_n christopher_n gudman_n thomas_n drumond_n john_n knox_n john_n craig_n john_n rutherford_n george_n buckhanan_n robert_n hammiltoun_n clement_n little_a the_o laird_n of_o lundie_n elephiustoun_n karnall_n ker_n and_o thomas_n scot_n of_o abbottishall_n to_o conveen_v the_o morn_n after_o the_o preach_n and_o to_o reason_n and_o confer_v anent_o the_o say_a cause_n and_o jurisdiction_n ordain_v a_o humble_a supplication_n to_o be_v make_v to_o the_o lord_n of_o secret_a council_n anent_o the_o commission_n of_o jurisdiction_n 1566._o edinburgh_n decem._n 25._o 1566._o suppon_v grant_v to_o the_o bishop_n of_o s._n andrew_n to_o the_o effect_n that_o their_o honour_n may_v stay_v the_o same_o in_o respect_n that_o these_o cause_n for_o the_o most_o part_n judge_v by_o his_o 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and_o also_o for_o decision_n of_o question_n that_o may_v occur_v in_o the_o mean_a time_n viz._n mrs._n john_n knox_n &_o john_n craig_n minister_n of_o edinburgh_n the_o superintendents_a of_o angus_n and_o lothiane_fw-la david_n borthuike_a thomas_n mackcalzan_n david_n lindsay_n minister_n at_o leith_n george_n hay_n at_o ruthven_n and_o john_n row_v at_o s._n johnstonn_n letter_n direct_v from_o the_o assembly_n by_o their_o commissioner_n 1567._o edinburgh_n junii_fw-la 25._o 1567._o to_o the_o earl_n lord_n and_o baron_n viz._n the_o earl_n huntly_n argyle_n cassels_n rothes_n marshal_n munteith_n and_o glencarne_v to_o the_o lord_n boyd_n drumond_n sanchar_n heres_fw-la yester_n cathcart_n mr._n of_o grahame_n fleming_n levingston_n forbes_n salton_n glames_z o_o gilvis_fw-la mr._n of_o sinclare_v grace_n oliphant_n methven_n innerm_v m._n of_o somervell_n baron_n lochinvar_n garly_n shireff_a of_o air_n glenurquher_n sir_n ja._n hamiltoun_n bonington_n commendatares_n arbroth_n kilwinning_n dunfermling_n saint_n colms_n newbottel_n halyrood_n house_n show_v they_o that_o the_o assembly_n have_v of_o long_a time_n travel_v both_o in_o public_a and_o private_a with_o all_o estate_n continual_o crave_v of_o their_o honour_n in_o special_a that_o the_o course_n of_o the_o evangell_n of_o salvation_n now_o once_o of_o the_o liberal_a mercy_n of_o god_n restore_v to_o this_o realm_n may_v continue_v to_o all_o their_o comfort_n and_o their_o posterity_n and_o that_o for_o the_o further_a and_o maintain_v thereof_o a_o perfect_a policy_n and_o full_a liberty_n may_v be_v grant_v to_o this_o reform_a kirk_n within_o scotland_n etc._n etc._n a_o article_n present_v to_o my_o lord_n regent_n 1568._o edinburgh_n jul._n 1._o 1568._o that_o his_o grace_n will_v cause_v such_o as_o be_v appoint_v of_o the_o council_n convene_v with_o they_o that_o be_v appoint_v of_o the_o assembly_n to_o confer_v anent_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o kirk_n &_o to_o decide_v therein_o that_o time_n &_o place_n may_v be_v condescend_v upon_o to_o that_o effect_n and_o that_o it_o be_v do_v before_o the_o parliament_n my_o lord_n regent_n grace_n ordain_v the_o person_n nominate_v in_o the_o act_n of_o parliament_n to_o convene_v the_o time_n of_o the_o next_o chekker_n 1569._o edinburgh_n jul._n 1._o 1569._o and_o desine_fw-la and_o limitate_v the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o kirk_n according_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o act_n of_o parliament_n make_v there_o anent_o extract_n act_n secretarii_fw-la consilii_fw-la alexander_n hay_o article_n pertain_v to_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o kirk_n to_o be_v propon_v to_o the_o regent_n grace_n and_o secret_a council_n 1570._o edinburgh_n martu_fw-la 5._o 1570._o and_o seek_v to_o be_v appoint_v by_o they_o 1._o that_o the_o kirk_n have_v the_o judgement_n of_o true_a and_o false_a religion_n of_o doctrine_n heresy_n and_o such_o like_a annex_v to_o the_o preach_n of_o the_o word_n and_o ministration_n of_o the_o sacrament_n 2._o election_n examination_n and_o admission_n of_o they_o that_o be_v admit_v to_o the_o ministry_n or_o other_o function_n of_o the_o kirk_n charge_v of_o soul_n and_o ecclesiastical_a benefice_n the_o suspension_n and_o deprivation_n of_o they_o therefrom_o for_o lawful_a cause_n 3._o all_o thing_n concern_v the_o discipline_n of_o the_o kirk_n which_o stand_v in_o correction_n of_o manner_n admonition_n excommunication_n and_o receive_v to_o repentance_n 4._o the_o judgement_n of_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n betwixt_o person_n that_o be_v in_o the_o kirk_n and_o especial_o among_o they_o that_o be_v constitute_v in_o the_o ministry_n as_o well_o concern_v beneficiarie_n cause_n as_o other_o 5._o jurisdiction_n to_o proceed_v by_o admonition_n to_o the_o process_n of_o excommunication_n if_o need_v be_v against_o they_o that_o rob_v the_o patrimony_n of_o the_o kirk_n pertain_v to_o the_o ministry_n or_o otherways_o intromet_n therewith_o unjust_o whereby_o the_o ministry_n be_v in_o danger_n to_o decay_v by_o occasion_n of_o the_o poverty_n of_o the_o minister_n 6._o and_o because_o the_o conjunction_n of_o marriage_n pertain_v to_o the_o ministry_n the_o cause_n of_o adherence_n and_o divorcement_n ought_v also_o to_o pertain_v to_o they_o as_o natural_o annex_v thereto_o brethren_n appoint_v to_o make_v a_o overture_n of_o the_o policy_n 6._o edinburgh_n apr._n 24._o 1576._o sess_n 6._o and_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o kirk_n etc._n etc._n for_o the_o west_n country_n the_o bishop_n of_o glasgow_n mrs._n androw_n melvil_n androw_n hay_o james_n graig_n david_n cuninghame_n for_o lowthian_n mrs._n robert_n pont_n james_n lowson_n david_n lindsay_n clement_n littil_n and_o alexander_n simme_v for_o fyfe_n the_o superintendent_a thereof_o with_o the_o principal_a master_n of_o the_o university_n for_o angus_n and_o merns_n the_o laird_n of_o dunne_n william_n chrystesone_n john_n row_n william_n rind_n john_n dunkesone_n for_o aberdene_n mrs._n john_n craig_n alexander_n arbuthnot_n george_n hay_o and_o their_o person_n to_o conveen_n ilk_fw-mi country_n and_o rank_n in_o the_o place_n follow_v viz._n the_o west_n in_o glascow_n lothian_n in_o edinburgh_n fyfe_n in_o saint_n andrew_n angus_n in_o montrois_n the_o first_o tuesday_n of_o june_n next_o to_o come_v to_o confer_v and_o advise_v upon_o the_o say_a matter_n and_o to_o have_v general_a meeting_n or_o convention_n two_o or_o one_o at_o least_o of_o ilk_fw-mi country_n in_o stirling_n the_o last_o of_o july_n thereafter_o to_o communicate_v and_o cognosce_fw-la upon_o their_o whole_a travel_n and_o labour_v take_v herein_o and_o to_o confer_v hereupon_o and_o report_v what_o they_o have_v find_v and_o conceive_v in_o the_o say_a matter_n to_o the_o next_o assembly_n the_o brethren_n depute_v to_o the_o conceive_n and_o form_v of_o the_o head_n of_o the_o policy_n of_o the_o kirk_n 1577._o edinbudgh_o octob._n 1._o 1577._o be_v call_v to_o give_v account_n of_o their_o diligence_n present_v the_o same_o as_o they_o have_v make_v partition_n thereof_o at_o the_o assembly_n in_o stirling_n the_o head_n pen_v by_o
within_o the_o kirk_n for_o the_o quiet_a and_o commodious_a receive_n of_o the_o people_n the_o expense_n be_v to_o be_v lift_v partly_o of_o the_o people_n and_o partly_o of_o the_o teind_n at_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o ministry_n for_o punishment_n of_o those_o that_o profane_v the_o sacrament_n and_o contemn_v the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o dare_v presume_v to_o minister_v they_o not_o be_v thereto_o lawful_o call_v as_o satan_n have_v never_o cease_v from_o the_o beginning_n to_o draw_v mankind_n in_o one_o of_o two_o extremity_n to_o wit_n that_o man_n shall_v either_o be_v so_o ravish_v with_o gaze_v upon_o the_o visible_a creature_n that_o forget_v the_o cause_n wherefore_o they_o be_v ordain_v they_o attribute_v unto_o they_o a_o virtue_n and_o power_n which_o god_n have_v not_o grant_v unto_o they_o or_o else_o that_o man_n shall_v so_o contemn_v and_o despise_v god_n bless_a ordinance_n and_o holy_a institution_n as_o if_o that_o neither_o in_o the_o right_a use_n 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doubt_v not_o but_o some_o of_o our_o petition_n shall_v appear_v strange_a unto_o you_o at_o the_o first_o fight_n but_o if_o your_o wisdom_n deep_o consider_v that_o we_o must_v answer_v not_o only_o unto_o man_n but_o also_o before_o the_o throne_n of_o the_o eternal_a god_n and_o of_o his_o son_n christ_n jesus_n for_o the_o counsel_n which_o we_o give_v in_o this_o so_o grave_a a_o matter_n your_o honour_n shall_v easy_o consider_v that_o more_o assure_v it_o be_v to_o we_o to_o fall_v in_o the_o displeasure_n of_o all_o man_n in_o the_o earth_n then_o to_o offend_v the_o majesty_n of_o god_n who_o justice_n can_v suffer_v flatterer_n and_o deceitful_a counsellor_n unpunished_a that_o we_o require_v the_o kirk_n to_o be_v set_v at_o such_o liberty_n that_o she_o neither_o be_v compel_v to_o feed_v idle-belly_n neither_o yet_o to_o sustain_v the_o tyranny_n which_o heretofore_o have_v be_v by_o violence_n maintain_v we_o know_v we_o shall_v offend_v many_o but_o if_o we_o shall_v 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spiritual_a key_n which_o our_o master_n give_v to_o the_o apostle_n and_o their_o true_a successor_n and_o although_o king_n and_o prince_n that_o be_v godly_a sometime_o by_o their_o own_o authority_n when_o the_o kirk_n be_v corrupt_v and_o all_o thing_n out_o of_o order_n place_n minister_n and_o restore_v the_o true_a service_n of_o the_o lord_n after_o the_o example_n of_o some_o godly_a king_n of_o juda_n and_o divers_a godly_a empeour_n and_o king_n also_o in_o the_o light_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n yet_o where_o the_o ministry_n of_o the_o kirk_n be_v once_o lawful_o constitute_v and_o they_o that_o be_v place_v do_v their_o office_n faithful_o all_o godly_a prince_n and_o magistrate_n ought_v to_o hear_v and_o obey_v their_o voice_n and_o reverence_v the_o majesty_n of_o the_o son_n of_o god_n speak_v in_o they_o chap._n xi_o of_o the_o present_a abuse_n remain_v in_o the_o kirk_n which_o we_o desire_v to_o bereform_v as_o it_o be_v the_o duty_n of_o the_o godly_a 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their_o lawful_a admission_n of_o the_o church_n as_o to_o bishop_n if_o the_o name_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v proper_o take_v they_o be_v all_o one_o with_o the_o minister_n as_o before_o be_v declare_v for_o it_o be_v not_o a_o name_n of_o superiority_n and_o lordship_n but_o of_o office_n and_o watch_v yet_o because_o in_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o church_n this_o name_n as_o other_o have_v be_v abuse_v and_o yet_o be_v likely_a to_o be_v we_o can_v allow_v the_o fashion_n of_o these_o new_a choose_a bishop_n neither_o of_o the_o chapiters_n that_o be_v elector_n of_o they_o to_o such_o office_n as_o they_o be_v choose_v unto_o true_a bishop_n shall_v addict_v themselves_o to_o a_o particular_a flock_n which_o sundry_a of_o they_o refuse_v neither_o shall_v they_o usurp_v lordship_n over_o their_o brethren_n and_o over_o the_o inheritance_n of_o christ_n as_o these_o man_n do_v pastor_n in_o so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v pastor_n have_v not_o the_o office_n of_o 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