the_o reform_a church_n of_o scotland_n for_o many_o year_n after_o the_o reformation_n and_o though_o repress_v for_o a_o time_n yet_o re-etablish_v again_o by_o divers_a more_o lawful_a assembly_n than_o this_o ratify_v by_o divers_a act_n of_o parliament_n and_o continue_v now_o for_o many_o year_n by-gon_v there_o behoove_v to_o be_v many_o and_o weighty_a reason_n why_o such_o a_o doctrine_n shall_v be_v converse_v with_o a_o serious_a deliberation_n to_o ponder_v and_o consider_v they_o yet_o nevertheless_o in_o this_o assembly_n in_o one_o short_a session_n the_o whole_a matter_n be_v propon_v discuss_v voice_v conclude_v and_o a_o large_a act_n pass_v thereupon_o chap._n ii_o concerning_o the_o act_n against_o episcopacy_n albeit_o it_o be_v a_o easy_a matter_n to_o refute_v all_o the_o controvert_a act_n of_o this_o assembly_n yet_o leave_v the_o rest_n at_o this_o time_n we_o intend_v only_o to_o examine_v that_o act_n sess._n 26._o decemb._n 8._o against_o episcopacy_n and_o 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church_n by_o which_o mean_v this_o condemn_n of_o episcopacy_n be_v bring_v in_o head_n with_o all_o the_o consequence_n thereof_o this_o be_v the_o point_n we_o mean_v to_o examine_v for_o the_o present_a and_o that_o you_o may_v see_v the_o weakness_n of_o their_o reason_n the_o better_a we_o shall_v set_v down_o verbatim_o the_o act_n itself_o as_o it_o be_v conceive_v by_o they_o act_n of_o the_o assembly_n at_o glasgow_n sess._n 16._o decemb._n 8._o 1638._o declare_v episcopacy_n to_o have_v be_v adjure_v by_o the_o confession_n of_o faith_n 1580._o and_o to_o be_v remove_v out_o of_o this_o kirk_n the_o assembly_n take_v to_o their_o most_o grave_a and_o serious_a consideration_n first_o the_o unspeakable_a goodness_n and_o great_a mercy_n of_o god_n manifest_v to_o this_o nation_n in_o that_o so_o necessary_a so_o difficult_a and_o so_o excellent_a and_o divine_a work_n of_o reformation_n which_o be_v at_o last_o bring_v to_o such_o perfection_n that_o this_o kirk_n be_v 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to_o the_o endanger_n of_o religion_n and_o many_o gross_a evil_n obtrude_v to_o the_o utter_a 〈◊〉_d of_o the_o work_n of_o reformationâ—_n and_o change_n of_o the_o whole_a form_n of_o worship_n and_o fâ—ce_n of_o this_o kirk_n command_v to_o receive_v with_o reverence_n a_o new_a book_n of_o common_a prayer_n as_o the_o only_a form_n to_o be_v use_v in_o god_n public_a worship_n and_o 〈◊〉_d contravener_n to_o be_v condign_o censure_v and_o punish_v and_o after_o many_o supplication_n and_o complaint_n know_v no_o other_o way_n for_o the_o preservation_n of_o religion_n be_v move_v by_o god_n and_o draw_v by_o necessity_n to_o 〈◊〉_d the_o national_a covenant_n of_o this_o kirk_n and_o kingdom_n which_o the_o lord_n since_o have_v bless_v from_o heaven_n and_o to_o subscribe_v the_o confession_n of_o faith_n with_o a_o application_n thereof_o abjure_v the_o great_a evil_n wherewith_o they_o be_v now_o press_v and_o suspend_v the_o practice_n of_o all_o novation_n former_o introduce_v till_o they_o shall_v be_v try_v in_o a_o free_a general_a assembly_n last_o that_o some_o of_o his_o majesty_n subject_n of_o sundry_a rank_n have_v by_o his_o majesty_n command_n subscribe_v and_o renew_v the_o confession_n of_o faith_n without_o the_o former_a explication_n and_o that_o both_o the_o one_o and_o the_o other_o subscriber_n have_v subscribe_v the_o say_a confession_n in_o this_o year_n as_o it_o be_v profess_v and_o according_a to_o the_o meaning_n that_o it_o have_v in_o this_o kingdom_n when_o it_o be_v first_o subscribe_v â—581_n and_o afterward_o the_o assembly_n therefore_o 〈◊〉_d by_o the_o subscription_n of_o his_o majesty_n high_a commissioner_n 〈◊〉_d of_o the_o lord_n of_o secret_a council_n sept._n 22._o 1638._o and_o by_o the_o act_n of_o council_n of_o the_o date_n foresay_a bear_v that_o they_o shall_v subscribe_v the_o say_a confession_n and_o ordain_v all_o his_o majesty_n subject_n to_o subscribe_v the_o same_o according_a to_o the_o foresay_a date_n 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cap._n 7._o entitle_v of_o ecclesiastical_a discipline_n in_o the_o second_o book_n of_o discipline_n everywhere_o and_o most_o frequent_o by_o all_o ecclesiastical_a writer_n and_o therefore_o those_o who_o have_v obey_v and_o receive_v bishop_n be_v not_o perjure_v nor_o have_v break_v that_o oath_n whereby_o they_o do_v swear_v to_o adhere_v to_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a those_o of_o this_o assembly_n who_o have_v depose_v and_o excommunicate_v with_o such_o precipitation_n so_o many_o bishop_n and_o minister_n without_o observe_v in_o their_o process_n these_o form_n prescribe_v by_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n be_v evident_o perjure_v according_a to_o their_o own_o ground_n second_o the_o word_n discipline_n be_v take_v at_o some_o time_n in_o a_o more_o large_a and_o ample_a signification_n for_o the_o whole_a policy_n of_o the_o church_n which_o in_o the_o second_o book_n of_o discipline_n 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repent_v chap._n xi_o answer_v to_o the_o act_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n produce_v against_o bishop_n until_o
i_o be_o assure_v that_o the_o great_a part_n be_v not_o persuade_v in_o their_o conscience_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o all_o this_o book_n of_o discipline_n nor_o will_v swear_v to_o adhere_v thereto_o all_o the_o day_n of_o their_o life_n let_v they_o put_v their_o covenant_a nobleman_n and_o other_o gentleman_n possessor_n of_o the_o church_n rent_n to_o a_o assay_n to_o swear_v that_o point_n of_o this_o book_n ca._n 9_o that_o to_o take_v any_o part_n of_o the_o patrimony_n of_o the_o church_n consist_v of_o tithe_n manse_v glaeb_n possession_n land_n biggings_n annual_a rent_n and_o any_o other_o thing_n which_o have_v be_v at_o any_o time_n before_o or_o shall_v be_v in_o time_n come_v give_v for_o the_o use_n and_o utility_n of_o the_o church_n and_o convert_v it_o to_o the_o particular_a and_o profane_a use_n of_o any_o person_n we_o hold_v it_o a_o detestable_a sacrilege_n before_o god_n or_o that_o point_n cap._n 12._o that_o this_o order_n which_o god_n word_n crave_v can_v stand_v with_o patronage_n or_o power_n of_o presentation_n etc._n etc._n put_v they_o i_o say_v to_o this_o oath_n particular_o and_o make_v they_o understand_v that_o by_o swear_v to_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n they_o be_v swear_v also_o to_o this_o point_n and_o than_o you_o shall_v find_v that_o they_o will_v rather_o renounce_v your_o covenant_n before_o they_o take_v such_o a_o oath_n or_o if_o they_o have_v so_o bad_a a_o conscience_n as_o to_o swear_v so_o direct_o against_o their_o mind_n before_o they_o perform_v real_o that_o which_o they_o swear_v by_o restitution_n of_o the_o patrimony_n of_o the_o church_n and_o quiet_v the_o right_n of_o patronage_n they_o shall_v rather_o revolt_v from_o your_o covenant_n and_o conform_v themselves_o to_o the_o book_n of_o common_a prayer_n book_n of_o canon_n and_o high_a commission_n likewise_o so_o if_o you_o shall_v put_v many_o of_o the_o ministry_n especial_o those_o who_o possess_v rich_a parsonage_n to_o swear_v particular_o that_o point_n of_o the_o policy_n appoint_v by_o this_o book_n cap._n 9_o and_o cap._n 12._o to_o suffer_v the_o deacon_n to_o intromet_v with_o all_o their_o church_n rent_n and_o to_o distribute_v the_o same_o by_o the_o direction_n of_o the_o roll_a elder_n give_v one_o four_o part_n for_o the_o maintenance_n of_o their_o lay-elder_n and_o deacon_n another_o to_o their_o poor_a hospital_n and_o school_n another_o for_o uphold_v the_o fabric_n of_o the_o church_n and_o other_o extraordinary_a affair_n and_o only_o a_o four_o part_n to_o be_v give_v to_o the_o minister_n they_o shall_v find_v few_o of_o they_o who_o will_v embrace_v their_o covenant_n upon_o those_o condition_n so_o then_o to_o persuade_v people_n that_o by_o swear_v to_o adhere_v to_o the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n they_o swear_v also_o to_o this_o book_n and_o to_o all_o the_o point_n therein_o whereunto_o the_o whole_a church_n do_v agree_v full_o in_o that_o assembly_n 1578._o as_o they_o allege_v either_o it_o be_v a_o false_a delude_n of_o the_o whole_a kingdom_n in_o draw_v upon_o their_o conscience_n the_o burden_n of_o a_o fearful_a perjury_n or_o else_o the_o covenanter_n themselves_o remain_v as_o yet_o under_o that_o fearful_a perjury_n notwithstanding_o of_o the_o renew_n of_o their_o covenant_n whereby_o they_o think_v that_o their_o perjury_n be_v expiate_v for_o they_o have_v not_o as_o yet_o renounce_v those_o thing_n which_o they_o be_v bind_v to_o renounce_v by_o their_o oath_n 4._o this_o book_n of_o discipline_n be_v deficient_a in_o the_o principal_a point_n of_o church_n discipline_n there_o be_v no_o order_n set_v down_o therein_o of_o the_o censure_n of_o the_o church_n nor_o of_o the_o manner_n of_o proceed_v to_o the_o sentence_n of_o excommunication_n against_o offender_n or_o in_o the_o absolution_n of_o the_o penitent_a or_o of_o receive_v they_o again_o into_o the_o church_n who_o have_v be_v excommunicate_v in_o which_o point_n that_o which_o proper_o be_v call_v the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n do_v consist_v every_o church_n have_v her_o ecclesiastical_a canon_n whereby_o those_o thing_n be_v direct_v but_o this_o book_n omit_v those_o canon_n have_v do_v as_o that_o painter_n who_o have_v portray_v every_o nation_n in_o its_o proper_a habit_n do_v paint_v the_o french_a man_n naked_a with_o a_o pair_n of_o tailor_n shears_n in_o his_o hand_n to_o shape_n to_o himself_o a_o fashion_n of_o habit_n because_o he_o change_v yearly_o according_a to_o his_o fancy_n even_o so_o this_o book_n of_o discipline_n have_v give_v to_o the_o minister_n and_o lay-elder_n in_o their_o eldership_n a_o power_n to_o shape_n to_o themselves_o a_o new_a form_n of_o discipline_n every_o year_n as_o they_o please_v so_o that_o as_o i_o know_v perfect_o there_o be_v few_o presbytery_n or_o session_n in_o scotland_n but_o have_v different_a manner_n of_o proceed_v in_o these_o thing_n as_o i_o can_v instance_n in_o divers_a particular_n have_v see_v and_o peruse_v many_o presbyterial_a and_o session_n book_n and_o there_o be_v none_o among_o themselves_o who_o frequent_v divers_a presbytery_n but_o they_o know_v this_o to_o be_v true_a final_o this_o book_n be_v superabundant_a also_o meddle_v with_o those_o thing_n which_o do_v not_o appertain_v to_o ecclesiastical_a discipline_n as_o set_v down_o rule_n restrain_v the_o civil_a and_o supreme_a magistrate_n in_o the_o execution_n of_o his_o charge_n commit_v to_o he_o by_o god_n debar_v he_o from_o meddle_v with_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n and_o not_o give_v he_o so_o much_o power_n therein_o as_o to_o a_o shoemaker_n or_o taylor_n be_v a_o roll_a elder_n and_o give_v he_o no_o definitive_a power_n but_o only_o to_o be_v a_o executioner_n of_o that_o which_o they_o define_v and_o such_o other_o point_n of_o jesuitical_a doctrine_n see_v therefore_o this_o book_n of_o discipline_n be_v never_o full_o approve_v nor_o practise_v by_o the_o church_n nor_o full_o ratify_v by_o the_o estate_n and_o kingdom_n nor_o receive_v full_o by_o the_o covenanter_n themselves_o and_o since_o it_o be_v deâ—icient_a in_o principal_a point_n of_o discipline_n and_o superabundant_a in_o meddle_v witâ—things_n impertinent_a it_o can_v be_v account_v that_o discipline_n whereunto_o all_o be_v swear_v by_o the_o oath_n of_o the_o covenant_n and_o therefore_o that_o all_o those_o act_n of_o assembly_n cite_v here_o for_o the_o establish_n thereof_o be_v impertinent_a to_o prove_v their_o conclusion_n chap._n xiii_o wherein_o be_v discuss_v that_o act_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n at_o dundee_n 1580._o condemn_v episcopacy_n as_o it_o be_v then_o in_o scotland_n the_o principal_a act_n whereupon_o they_o chief_o insist_v and_o ground_v this_o abjuration_n and_o meaning_n of_o the_o church_n in_o these_o year_n when_o the_o covenant_n be_v swear_v be_v that_o act_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n at_o dundee_n july_n 1580._o whereby_o the_o office_n of_o a_o bishop_n as_o it_o be_v then_o use_v in_o scotland_n be_v condemn_v as_o unlawful_a in_o itself_o and_o that_o act_n at_o glasgow_n in_o april_n 1581._o explain_v the_o same_o declare_v it_o to_o be_v understand_v not_o of_o the_o spiritual_a function_n only_o but_o of_o the_o whole_a office_n of_o a_o bishop_n as_o it_o be_v then_o use_v albeit_o the_o church_n appear_v whole_o to_o have_v condemn_v by_o those_o act_n all_o the_o point_n of_o the_o function_n of_o a_o bishop_n yet_o if_o we_o consider_v right_o we_o shall_v find_v nothing_o in_o they_o which_o prove_v direct_o the_o determination_n of_o this_o assembly_n for_o i_o can_v see_v how_o the_o whole_a church_n of_o scotland_n do_v agree_v at_o that_o time_n in_o condemn_v as_o unlawful_a in_o itself_o either_o this_o point_n of_o episcopacy_n which_o be_v condemn_v by_o this_o assembly_n of_o covenanter_n 1638._o or_o any_o substantial_a point_n either_o of_o the_o spiritual_a or_o temporal_a function_n thereof_o except_o they_o grant_v that_o the_o church_n at_o that_o time_n do_v contradict_v itself_o first_o i_o be_o assure_v they_o intend_v not_o to_o condemn_v in_o bishop_n as_o unlawful_a itself_o the_o preach_n of_o the_o word_n the_o administration_n of_o the_o sacrament_n and_o the_o exercise_n of_o ecclesiastical_a discipline_n since_o they_o acknowledge_v themselves_o that_o these_o be_v the_o principal_a point_n of_o their_o spiritual_a function_n in_o that_o act_n of_o the_o assembly_n 1575._o discuss_v here_o before_o second_o neither_o do_v they_o condemn_v as_o unlawful_a in_o itself_o the_o name_n and_o title_n of_o a_o bishop_n to_o be_v appropriate_v to_o some_o pastor_n by_o other_o for_o first_o they_o do_v allow_v the_o title_n of_o superintendent_n to_o be_v appropriate_v to_o some_o pastor_n which_o be_v a_o word_n of_o the_o same_o sense_n and_o signification_n and_o import_v as_o great_a authority_n and_o jurisdiction_n as_o the_o other_o and_o