they govern Providing that they alter no rules made by the Provinciall or generall Assemblies And that they make the Provinciall Assemblies foresaid privie to the rules that they shall make and to abolish Constitutions tending to the hurt of the same It hath power to excommunicate the obstinate for mall processe being led and due intervall of times observed Anent particular Kirkes if they bee lawfully ruled by sufficient Ministers and Session they have power and Jurisdiction in their owne Congregation in matters Ecclesiasticall And decrees and declares the Assemblies Presbyteries and Sessions Jurisdiction and Discipline foresaid to bee in all times comming most just good and godly in the selfe Notwithstanding of whatsoever Statutes Acts Canons Civill or Municipall lawes made to the contrary To the which and every one of them their presents shall make expresse derogation And because there are divers Acts of Parliament made in favour of the Papisticall Kirk tending to the prejudice of the liberty of the true Kirk of God presently professed within this Realme Jurisdiction and Discipline thereof which stand yet in the bookes of the Acts of Parliament not abrogated nor annulled Therefore his Highnesse and Estates foresaid hath abrogated cassed and annulled and by the Tenour hereof abrogates casses and annulles all Acts of Parliament made by any of his Highnesse Predecessours for maintenance of superstition and idolatry withall and whatsoever Acts Lawes and Statutes made at any time before the day and date hereof against the liberty of the true Kirk Jurisdiction and Discipline thereof as the same is used and exercised within this Realme And in speciall that part of the Act of Parliament holden at Sterling the fourth day of November the yeare of God 1443. yeares commanding obedience to be given to Eugenius the Pope for the time The Act made by King Iames the third in his Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 24. of February the yeare of God 1480. yeares And all other Acts whereby the Popes authority is established The Act of King Iames the third in his Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 20. of November the yeare of God 1469. yeares anent the Saturday and other vigils to be holy dayes from Evensong to Evensong Item that part of the Act made by the Queene Regent in the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the first day of February the yeare of God 1551. yeares giving speciall licence for holding of Pasche and Zuill Item the Kings Majesty and Estates foresaid declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the two and twentieth of May the yeare of God 1584. yeares shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing from the priviledge that God hath given to the spirituall Office-bearers in the Kirk concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie excommunication collation or deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall censures specially grounded and having warrant of the word of God Item our Soveraigne Lord and Estates of Parliament fore-said abrogates casses and annihilates the Acts of the same Parliament holden at Edinburgh the said yeare 1584. yeares granting commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse presentation to Benefices to give collation thereupon and to put order to all causes Ecclesiasticall which his Majesty and Estates afore-said declares to bee expired in the selfe and to bee null in time comming of none availe force or effect And therefore ordaines all Presentations to Benefices to be direct to the particular Presbyteries in all time comming with full power to give collation thereupon and to put order to all matters and causes Ecclesiasticall within their bounds according to the Discipline of the Kirk providing the fore-said Presbyteries be bound and astricted to receive and admit whatsoever qualified Minister presented by his Majesty or laicke Patrons THE FIRST BOOKE OF DISCIPLINE To the great Councell of Scotland now admitted to the Regiment by the providence of God and by the Common consent of the Estates thereof Your Honours humble Servitours and Ministers of Christ Jesus within the same wish grace mercy and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with the perpetuall increase of the holy Spirit FRom your Honours weereceived a charge dased at Edinburgh the 29. of April in the yeare of our Lord 1560. requiring and commanding us in the name of the eternall God as wee will answer in his presence to commit to writing and in abooke deliver to your wisedomes our judgements touching the reformation of Religion which heretofore in this Realme as in others hath beene utterly corrupted upon the receit whereof so many of us as were in this Towne did conveene and in unity of minde doe offer unto your wisedomes these subsequents for common order and uniformity to bee observed in this Realme concerning doctrine administration of Sacraments election of Ministers provision for their sustentation Ecclesiasticall discipline and policy of the Church Most humbly requiring your Honours that as you looke for participation with Christ Jesus that neither ye admit any thing which Gods plaine word shall not approve neither yet that ye shall reject such ordinances as equity justice and Gods word doe specifie For as wee will not bind your wisedomes to our judgements further then wee are able to prove by Gods plaine Scriptures so must we most humbly crave of you even as ye will answer in Gods presence before whom both ye and wee must appeare to render accounts of all our facts that ye repudiate nothing for pleasure and affection of men which ye bee not able to improve by Gods written and revealed word The first head of Doctrine SEing that Christ Jesus is he whom God the Father hath commanded onely to bee heard and followed of his sheepe wee judge it necessary that his Gospell bee truely and openly preached in every Church and Assembly of this Realme and that all doctrine repugnant to the same be utterly repressed as damnable to mans salvation The explication of the first head LEst that upon this generality ungodly men take occasion to cavill this wee adde for explication By preaching of the Gospell wee understand not onely the Scriptures of the new Testament but also of the old to wit the Law Prophets and Histories in which Christ Jesus is no lesse contained in figure then wee have him now expressed in verity And therefore with the Apostle we affirme that all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to in struct to reprove and to exhort In which bookes of old and new Testaments we affirme that all thing necessary for the instruction of the Church and to make the man of God perfect is contained and sufficiently expressed By the contrary doctrine wee understand whatsoever men by lawes counsells or constitutions have imposed upon the conseiences of men without the expressed commandement of Gods word such as bee the vowes of chastity for swearing of marriage binding of men and women to severall and disguised apparells to the superstitious
the Church findes necessary besides money for buying of other provision to his house and other necessaries the modification whereof is referred to the judgment of the Kirk to bee made every yeare at the choosing of the Elders and Deacons of the Kirk Providing alwayes that there bee advanced to every Minister sufficient provision for a quarter of a yeare before-hand of all things But to him that travels from place to place whom wee call Superintendent who remaines as it were a month or lesse in one place for establishing of the Kirk and for the same purpose changing to another must consideration bee had And therefore to such wee thinke six chalders beere nine chalders meale three chalders oats six hundreth merkes money to bee eiked and paired at the discretion of the Prince and Councell of the Reasme to bee payed to him in manner foresaid The Children of the Ministers must have the liberties of the Cities next adjacent where their Fathers laboured freely granted They must have the priviledges in Schooles and bursisses in Colledges That is that they shall be sustained at learning if they be found apt thereto And failing thereof that they bee put to some handy-craft or exercised in some vertuous industry whereby they may bee profitable members of the Common-wealth and the same we require of their Daughters To wit that they bee vertuously brought up and honestly doted when they come to maturity of yeares at the discretion of the Kirk And this in Gods presence wee witnesse wee require not so much for our selves or for any that appertaine to us as that wee doe it for the increase of vertue and learning and for the profite of the posterity to come It is not to bee supposed that any man will dedicate himselfe and his Children so to God and to his Kirk that they looke for no worldly commodity but this cankered nature which wee beare is provoked to follow vertue when it seeth profite and honour thereto annexed and contrarily then is vertue in many despised when vertuous and godly men are without honour and sory would wee bee that poverty should discourage men from studie and following of the way of vertue by which they might edifie the Kirk and flock of Christ Jesus Nothing have wee spoken of the stipend of Readers because if they can doe nothing but reade they neither can bee called nor judged true Ministers and yet regard must bee had to their labours but so that they may bee suprred forward to vertue and not by any stipend appointed for their reading to bee retained in that estate To a Reader therefore that is newly entred fourty merkes or more or lesse as Parishioners and Readers can agree is sufficient Provided that hee teach the Children of the Parish which hee must doe beside the reading of the common prayers and bookes of the old and new Testament If from reading hee begin to exhort and explaine the Scriptures then ought his stipend to bee augmented till finally hee come to the honour of a Minister But if hee bee found unable after two yeeres then must hee bee removed from that office and discharged of all stipend that another may bee proved as long For this alwayes is to bee avoided that none who is judged unable to come at any time to some reasonable knowledge whereby hee may edifie the Kirk shall bee perpetually sustained upon the charge of the Kirk Farther it must bee avoided that no child nor person within age that is within twenty one yeares of age bee admitted to the office of a Reader But Readers ought to bee endued with gravity and discretion lest by their lightnesse the prayers or Scriptures read bee of lesse price or estimation It is to bee noted that the Reader bee put in the Kirk at the admission of the Super-intendent The other sort of Readers who have long continued in godlines and have some gift of exhortation who are of hope to attaine to the degree of a Minister and teach the Children wee thinke an hundred merkes or more or lesse at the discretion of the Kirk may bee appointed so that difference bee made as is said betwixt them and the Ministers that openly preaches the word and ministers the Sacraments Rests yet two sorts of people to bee provided for upon that which is called the Patrimony of the Kirk to wit the poore and teachers of the youth-head Every severall Kirk must provide for the poore within it selfe For fearefull and horrible it is that the poore whom not onely God the Father in his Law but Christ Jesus in his Evangell and the holy Spirit speaking by Saint Paul hath so earnestly commended to our care are universally so contemned and despised Wee are not Patrones for stubborne and idle beggars who running from place to place make a craft of their begging whom the civill Magistrate ought to punish But for the Widow and Fatherlesse the aged impotent or lamed who neither can nor may travell for their sustentation wee say that God commands his people to bee carefull and therefore for such as also for persons of honesty fallen into decay and poverty ought such provision to bee made that of our aboundance their indigence might bee relieved How this most conveniently and most easily may bee done in every Citie and other parts of this Realme God will shew you wisedome and the meanes so that your mindes bee godly inclined thereto All must not bee suffered to begge that gladly would so doe neither yet must beggers remaine where they would but the stout and strong beggers must bee compelled to worke and every person that may not worke must bee compelled to repaire to the place where hee or shee was borne unlesse of long continuance they have remained in one place and there reasonable provision must bee made for sustentation as the Kirk shall appoint The order nor summes in our judgements can not particularly bee appointed unto such times as the poore of every City Towne and Parish bee compelled to repaire to the places where they were borne or of their residence where their names and number must bee taken and put in roll and then may the wisedome of the Kirk appoint stipends accordingly The Head of the Super-intendents BEcause wee have appointed a larger stipend to them that shall bee Super-intendents then to the rest of the Ministers we have thought good to signifie to your Honours such reasons as moved us to make difference betwixt Preachers at this time as also how many Super-intendents wee thinke necessary with their bounds office election and causes that may deserve deposition from that charge Wee consider that if the Ministers whom God hath endowed with his singular graces amongst us should bee appointed to severall places there to make their continuall residence that then the greatest part of the Realme should bee destitute of all doctrine which should not onely bee the occasion of great murmur but also bee dangerous to the salvation of many And therefore wee
in learning and vertue The rich and potent may not be permitted to suffer their Children to spend their youth in vaine idlenesse as heretofore they have done But they must be exhorted and by the censure of the Kirk compelled to dedicate their Sonnes by good exercises to the profite of the Kirk and Common-wealth and that they must doe of their owne expences because they are able The Children of the poore must be supported and sustained of the charge of the Kirk triall being taken whether the Spirit of docility be in them found or not If they be found apt to learning and letters then may they not we meane neither the Sonnes of the rich nor yet of the poore be permitted to reject learning but must be charged to continue their study so that the Common-wealth may have some comfort by them And for this purpose must discreet grave and learned men be appointed to visit Schooles for the tryall of their exercise profite and continuance To wit the Minister and Elders and the rest of learned men in every Towne shall in every quarter make examination how the youth have profited And certaine times must be appointed to reading and learning of the Catechisme and certaine to the Gramma and to the Latine tongues and a certaine to the Arts of Philosophy and the tongues and certaine to that study in the which they intend chiefly to travell for the profite of the Common-wealth Which time being expired we meane in every course the Children should either proceed to the farther knowledge or else they must be set to some handy-craft or to some other profitable exercise providing alwayes that first they have further knowledge of Christian Religion To wit the knowledge of Gods Law and Commandements the use and office of the same the chiefe Articles of the beleese the right forme to pray unto God the number use and effect of the Sacraments the true knowledge of Christ Jesus of his Office and Natures and such others without the knowledge whereof neither any man deserves to be called a Christian neither ought any to be admitted to the participation of the Lords Table and therefore their principles ought and must be learned in the youth-head The Times appointed to every course TWo yeares we thinke more then sufficient to learne to read perfectly to answere to the Catechisme and to have some entres in the first Rudiments of Grammar to the full accomplishment whereof we meane of the Grammar we thinke other three yeares or foure at most sufficient to the Arts to wit Logick and Rhetorick and to the Greeke tongue foure yeares and the rest till the age of 24 yeares to be spent in that study wherein the Learner would profit the Church or Common-wealth be it in the Lawes Physick or Divinity which time of 24. yeares being spent in the Schools the Learner must be removed to serve the Church or Common-wealth unlesse he be found a necessary Reader in this same Colledge or Vniversity If God shall move your hearts to establish and execute this order and put these things in practise your whole Realme we doubt not within few yeares will serve it selfe of true Preachers and of other Officers necessary for the Common-wealth Of the Erection of Universities THe Grammar Schoole being erected and of the tongues as we have said next we thinke it necessary there be 3. Vniversities in this whole Realme established in 3. Townes accustomed The first in S. Andrewes the second in Glasgow and the third in Aberdein And in the first Vniversity and principall viz. S. Andrewes that there be 3. Colledges and in the first Colledge which is the entry of the Vniversity therebe foure classes or seages the first to the new Supposts shall be onely Dialecticae next onely Mathematicae the third of Physick onely the fourth of Medicine And in the second Colledge two classes or seages the first of Morall Philosophy the second of the Lawes And in the third Colledge two classes or seages the first of the tongues to wit Greeke and Hebrew the second of Divinity Of Readers and of the degrees and time of study ITem in the first Colledge and first Classe shall be a Reader of Dialectica who shall accomplish his course thereof in a year In Mathematica which is the second Classe shall be a Reader which shall compleat his course of Arithmetica Geometry Cosmography and Astrology in one yeere In the third classe shall bee a Reader of naturall Philosophy who shall compleat his course in one yeere And who after thir three yeares by triall and examination shall be found sufficiently instructed in the foresaid sciences shall be Laureat and Graduat in Philosophy In the fourth classe shall be a Reader of Medicine who shall compleat his course in 5. yeares after the study of the which time being by examination found sufficient they shall be graduat in Medicine Item in the second Colledge in the first classe one Reader onely in the Ethicks Oeconomicks and Politicks who shall compleat his course in the space of one yeare In the second classe shall be two Readers in the Muncipall and Roman Lawes who shall compleat his course in 4. yeares after which time being by examination found sufficient they shall bee graduate in the Lawes Item in the third colledge in the first classe one reader of the Hebrew and another of the Greeke tongue who shall compleat the Grammar thereof in 3. moneths and the remanent of the yeare the Reader of the Hebrew shall interpret one booke of Moses the Prophets or the Psalmes so that this course and classe shall continue one yeare The Reader of the Greek shall interpret some book of Plato together with some place of the new Testament In the second classe shall be two Readers in Diuinity the one in the new Testament the other in the old who shall compleat their course in five yeares after which time who shall be found by examination sufficient they shall be graduate in divinity Item wee thinke expedient that none be admitted to the first Colledge and to he Supposts of the University unlesse he have from the Master of the Schoole and Minister of the Town where he was instructed in the tongues and testimony of his learning docility age and parentage and likewise triall be taken by certaine Examinators depute by the Rector and Principals of the same And if he be found sufficiently instructed in the Dialectica he shall incontinent the same year be promoted to the classe of Mathematica Item that none be admitted to the classe of Medicine but he that shall have his testimoniall of his time well spent in Dialectica Mathemasica and Physick and of his docility in the last Item that none be admitted unto the classe of the Lawes but he that shall have sufficient testimonials of his time well spent in Dialectica Mathematica Physica Ethicks Oeconomicks and Politicks and of his docility in the last Item that none be admitted unto the classe
for reasonable causes may change the time and may minister oftner but we study to represse superstition All Ministers must be admonished to be more carefull to instruct the ignorant then ready to serve their appetite and to use more sharp examination then indulgence in admitting to their great Mysteries such as be ignorant of the use and vertue of the same And therfore we think that the administration of the Table ought never to be without examination passing before specially of them whose knowledge is suspect We think that none are to be admitted to this Mysterie who can not formally say the Lords prayer the Articles of the Beliefe and declare the summe of the Law Further we think it a thing most expedient necessary that every Kirk have the Bible in English and that the people be commanded to convene and heare the plaine reading and interpretation of the Scripture as the Kirk shall appoint By frequent reading this grosse ignorance which in this cursed Papistry hath overflowed all may partly be removed We thinke it most expedient that the Scripture be read in order that is that some one book of the old or new Testament be begun and orderly read to the end And the same we judge of preaching where the Minister for the most part remaines in one place For this skipping and divagation from place to place of Scripture be it in reading or be it in preaching we judge not so profitable to edifie the Kirk as the continuall following of one text Every Master of houshold must be commanded either to instruct or cause to be instructed his children servants and familie in the principalls of the Christian Religion without the knowledge whereof ought none to be admitted to the Table of the Lord Jesus For such as be so dull and so ignorant that they can neither try themselves nor yet know the dignitie and mysterie of that action cannot eat and drink of that Table worthily And therefore of necessity we judge that every yeare at the least publick examination be had by the Ministers Elders of the knowledge of every person within the Kirk to wit that every Master and Mistresse of houshold come themselves and their family so many as be come to maturity before the Minister and the Elders give confession of their faith If they understand not nor cannot rehearse the commandements of Gods law know not how to pray neither wherein their righteousnesse stands or consists they ought not to be admitted to the Lords Table And if they stubbornly contemne suffer their children and servants to continue in wilfull ignorance the discipline of the Kirk must proceed against them to excommunication and then must that matter be referred to the Civill Magistrate For seeing that the just lives by his own faith and Christ Jesus justifies by knowledge of himselfe insufferable we judge it that men be permitted to live and continue in ignorance as members of the Kirk Moreover men women Children would be exhorted to exercise themselves in Psalmes that when the Kirke doth convent and sing they may be the more able together with common hearts and voyces to praise God In private houses we think expedient that the most grave and discreet person use the common prayers at morne and at night for the comfort and instruction of others For seeing that we behold and see the hand of God now presently striking us with divers plagues we thinke it a contempt of his judgements or provocation of his anger more to be kindled against us if we be not moved to repentance of our former unthankfulnesse and to earnest invocation of his name whose only power may and great mercy will if we unfainedly convert unto him remove from us their terrible plagues which now for our iniquities hang over our heads Convert us ô Lord and we shall be converted For Prophecying or Interpreting of the Scriptures TO the end that the Kirk of God may have a tryall of mens knowledge judgements graces and utterances as also such that have somewhat profited in Gods word may from time to time grow in more full perfection to serve the Kirk as necessity shall require it is more expedient that in every towne where Schooles and repaire of learned men are there be in one certaine day every week appointed to that exercise which S. Paul cals prophecying The order whereof is expressed by him in their words Let two or three Prophets speake and let the rest judge But if any thing be revealed to him that sits by let the former keep silence yee may one by one all prophesie that all may learne and all may receive consolation And the spirit that is the judgements of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets By which words of the Apostle it is evident that in the Kirk of Corinth when they did assemble for that purpose some place of Scripture was read upon the which one first gave his judgement to the instruction consolation of the auditors after whom did another either confirm what the former had said or added what he had omitted or did gently correct or explaine more properly where the whole veritie was not revealed to the former And in case things were hid from the one and from the other liberty was given for a third to speake his judgement to the edification of the Kirk Above which number of three as appeares they passed not for avoiding of confusion This exercise is a thing most necessary for the Kirk of God this day in Scotland For thereby as said is shall the Kirk have judgement and knowledge of the graces gifts and utterances of every man within their body The simple and such as have somwhat profited shal be encouraged daily to study to proceed in knowledge the Kirk shall be edified For this exercise must be patert to such as list to heare and learne every man shall have liberty to utter and declare his minde and knowledge to the comfort and consolation of the Kirk But lest of this profitable exercise there arise debate and strife curious peregrine and unprofitable questions are to be avoided All interpretation disagreeing from the principles of our faith repugning to charity or that stands in plaine contradiction with any other manifest place of Scripture is to be rejected The Interpreter in this exercise may not take to himself the liberty of a publick Preacher yea although he be a Minister appointed but he must bind himselfe to his text that hee enter not in digression or in explaining common places he may use no invective in that exercise unlesse it be of sobriety in confuting heresies in exhortations or admonitions he must be short that the time may be spent in opening the minde of the Holy Ghost in that place following the sequele and dependence of the text and observing such notes as may instruct and edifie the auditor for avoiding of contention neither may the Interpreter nor any in the Assemblie move any
THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE Of the KIRKE of SCOTLAND As it was formerly set forth by publicke authority And at this present commanded there to be practised in the said KIRKE Anno 1641. TOGETHER VVith some Acts of generall Assemblies clearing and confirming the same AS ALSO An Act of Parliament by the King and three Estates of Scotland for rectifying of the said Discipline THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKE According to all that I shew thee after the paterne of the Tabernacle even so shall yee make it EXOD. 25.9 Printed by Rob. Young his Majesties Printer for Scotland and are to be sold by John Sweeting at the signe of the Angell in Popes-head-Allie 1641. THE PREFACE AFter these dark and dreadfull dayes of barbarous blindnesse superstition wherein by the deceit of dumb dogs bloudie warres for many years had covered the face of this land it pleased the bountifulnesse of God in that riches of his love as not regarding the time of former ignorance with a marvellous mercy to visit this Realme by sending not one Jonah to such a Ninivie or one Phillip to such a Samaria but first few since many and all faithfull holy wise frack to preach the Gospel in Scotland as in another Antiochia At the terrour of these Trumpets like smoake before the winde were quickly driven away not onely the darkenesse of Idolatrie and damnable dissension among the members of this kingdom wherein consisted the strength of that bloudie beast by whose tyrannous crueltie and deceivable wayes Princes and People were shamefully abused and often compelled with the clawes of violence to shed the bloud of the Saints yea to keep the booke of the unchangeable Testament of Jesus Christ under the cover of a strange tongue as a clasped boeke that it should not be read but also many of that Antichristian sect who in the time of persecution had used the curious Arts of that kingdom of lies and service of Baal were turned to the truth of God and preached the word of his grace so that in a short time that Romish Jericho fell the people that sate in darknesse saw a great light and where the power of Satan had prevailed the Throne of Christ was set up the word increased and the Lord added to the Kirke from day to day such as were to be saved so magnifying the strength of his owne arme against his enemies in that prosperous time that neither proud Anakims nor craftie Gibeonites were able to stand before the Spirit that spake in these men of God when they were but few and though they walked in the flesh yet did they not warre after the flesh but by the spirituall armes of bold Preaching reverent ministration of the Sacraments and sincere ruling of the flocke of Christ with discretion and without partialitie and alwayes praying and often fasting they banished Atheisme Barbaritie and Papistrie quenched the fire of contentions prevented dangers planted the Kirkes teached and perswaded great and small poore and rich and persons of all estates to professe the Evangel And howsoever they were daily crossed with deceit and opposition so led they diversity in the hand of amitie that all things concerning the great worke of that glorious reformation to the praise of God and the comfort of the godly were wisely and firmly appointed In those happy dayes the servants of the Lord in love were like Jonathan and David in courage like Gideons 300. in unitie like the Saints that first received the Gospel in care and diligence like the builders of the wall of Jerusalem and so marching like the Lords Armies Then were they neither despised nor abhorred but received as the Angels of God and yet in the Lords troupes neither for worke nor war were there to be found any pompous Prelate Abbot Prior Bishop or Archbishop that loves to shine in dignitie and rejoyce in rent with the contempt of their brethren and neglect of the Lords service O Scotland what was then thy felicitie Then didst thou sing shout with the voyce of joy God will arise and his enemies shall be scattered they also that hate him shall stye before him Thou hast brought a Vine out of Egypt Thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it Thou madest roome for it and didst cause it to take root and it filled the land c. The superstitious ignorant the perverse Papist the craftie Parasite and the self-loving Politian the Christian coloured Belly-god and the loose-liver the time-server and all the sorts of that filthy sect that hates to bee reformed often conspired against the building of that glorious Temple but all in vaine for by the power of God they were disappointed Yet in these last dayes some dangerous Dalilah hath betrayed Sampson and told wherein his strength lay with no lesse hurt to this Kirke then was performed by the false brethren who were craftily sent in and crept in privily amongst the faithfull to spie out their liberty which they had in Christ Jesus that they might bring them into bondage It is cleerly knowne to many in this Kingdome and in forraine parts what a wall for defence and a band for peace and progresse of the Gospel was that heavenly discipline whereby brotherly amitie and sacred harmonie of Prince Pastors and Professours were so continued and increased that all as one man did stand together for the Doctrine Sacraments and Kirke government against the adversaries either lurking or professed It was the hedge of the Lords vineyard and the hammer whereby the hornes both of adversaries and disobeyers were beaten and broken And of this happy mean it might be truely said that in the strength of it more then by our owne vertue were we strong and prevailed And to sharpen our love it is thus written by a stranger but a friend Albeit it be necessarie that they who have their Citie in heaven repose altogether thereupon yet nothing should let us to behold as it were heaven upon earth that is the power of God in his owne c. By most evident reasons I judge the Kirke of Scotland to be of this sort In the which the many mightie and long continuing assaults of Satan the like whereof as I thinke no Nation sustained could neither defile the puritie of doctrine nor bow the rule of right discipline This is a great gift of God that he hath brought together to Scotland both the puritie of Religion and Discipline whereby as in a bond the doctrine is safely kept I pray and beseech you so to keep these two together as that ye may be assured that if the one fall the other can no wayes long stand It cannot be denyed but by the space of fifty yeares and above Scotland ranne well the Doctrine was in such sort preached and Discipline appointed and practised yea both professed established and constantly defended not onely by those faithfull men that went before but by them who followed and yet live in such concord of Kirk and policie that