a_o short_a relation_n of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o kirk_n of_o scotland_n since_o the_o reformation_n of_o religion_n to_o the_o present_a time_n for_o information_n and_o advertisement_n to_o our_o brethren_n in_o the_o kirk_n of_o england_n by_o a_o hearty_a wellwisher_n to_o both_o kingdom_n print_a in_o the_o year_n of_o god_n 1638._o the_o kirk_n of_o scotland_n after_o the_o reformation_n of_o religion_n do_v by_o degree_n attain_v to_o as_o great_a perfection_n both_o in_o doctrine_n &_o discipline_n as_o any_o other_o reform_a church_n in_o europe_n the_o soundness_n of_o doctrine_n appear_v in_o her_o several_a confession_n of_o faith_n approven_v by_o all_o the_o best_a reform_v kirkes_n in_o foreign_a part_n but_o because_o purity_n of_o religion_n can_v be_v long_o preserve_v without_o that_o platform_n of_o government_n which_o the_o word_n of_o god_n have_v lay_v forth_o unto_o we_o her_o national_a assembly_n labour_v diligent_o many_o year_n to_o find_v out_o the_o same_o and_o after_o many_o conference_n and_o public_a reason_n resolve_v upon_o these_o conclusion_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o book_n of_o policy_n or_o second_o book_n of_o discipline_n but_o short_o thus_o much_o for_o the_o present_a each_o parish_n be_v provide_v of_o a_o minister_n who_o undergo_v trial_n before_o his_o admission_n to_o the_o place_n and_o behove_v to_o be_v qualify_v both_o for_o life_n learning_n and_o skilful_a government_n be_v rule_v by_o he_o and_o the_o elder_n thereof_o be_v the_o man_n of_o best_a life_n &_o understanding_n in_o the_o say_a parish_n twelve_o sixteen_o or_o twenty_o of_o these_o kirk_n be_v conjoin_v in_o a_o presbytery_a or_o classical_a meeting_n that_o do_v meet_v weekly_a and_o exercise_v their_o gift_n by_o course_n and_o have_v the_o power_n of_o ordinary_a jurisdiction_n ordination_n suspension_n deprivation_n excommunication_n or_o direction_n to_o the_o parish_n minister_n to_o excommunicate_a after_o the_o sight_n of_o the_o process_n deduce_v by_o the_o particular_a eldership_n collation_n of_o benefice_n visitation_n of_o kirk_n within_o their_o bound_n the_o enormity_n of_o minister_n either_o in_o life_n or_o doctrine_n be_v delaâ—ed_v either_o by_o some_o parochinar_n or_o neighbour_n minister_n person_n of_o whatsoever_o quality_n in_o the_o coâ—gregations_n who_o will_v not_o obey_v their_o own_o minister_n and_o elder_n be_v censure_v if_o very_o great_a difficulty_n come_v before_o they_o or_o if_o the_o presbytery_a have_v ado_n with_o great_a party_n who_o do_v withdraw_v any_o of_o their_o number_n in_o these_o &_o the_o like_a case_n there_o be_v recourse_n have_v to_o the_o provincial_a synod_n the_o whole_a presbytery_a of_o a_o shire_n or_o two_o meet_v twice_o a-yeare_n in_o their_o synod_n try_v presbytery_n and_o order_v what_o be_v disficle_n for_o the_o presbytery_n or_o may_v concern_v they_o all_o in_o common_a if_o any_o difficulty_n come_v before_o they_o for_o which_o there_o be_v no_o church_n constitution_n they_o refer_v the_o same_o to_o the_o national_a assembly_n which_o conveen_v once_o a_o year_n or_o often_o pro_fw-la re_fw-la nata_fw-la where_o they_o give_v their_o judgement_n in_o the_o case_n prepon_v and_o make_v some_o act_n &_o constitution_n for_o the_o like_a case_n in_o time_n come_v and_o other_o act_n and_o constitution_n needful_a receive_a appellation_n petitition_n grievance_n and_o appoint_v some_o to_o propone_v their_o own_o grievance_n to_o the_o parliament_n king_n counsellor_n convention_n this_o be_v the_o supreme_a and_o high_a kirk_n judicatorie_a to_o which_o be_v make_v the_o last_o appeal_n &_o which_o be_v compose_v of_o these_o member_n his_o majesty_n self_n or_o a_o commissionar_n represent_v he_o two_o or_o three_o minister_n choose_v by_o each_o presbytery_n one_o gentleman_n a_o elder_a within_o the_o bound_n of_o a_o presbytery_n a_o commissioner_n for_o each_o regal_a burgh_n and_o two_o for_o edinburgh_n some_o one_o of_o these_o minister_n be_v choose_v to_o moderate_a or_o preside_v by_o the_o voice_n of_o the_o whole_a assembly_n this_o supreme_a judicatorie_a so_o censure_v the_o omission_n of_o the_o subordinat_a that_o no_o vice_n of_o any_o person_n whtasoever_o escape_v censure_n no_o error_n can_v soon_o set_v out_o its_o head_n but_o it_o be_v present_o crush_v by_o one_o of_o these_o as_o king_n james_n confess_v in_o diverse_a discourse_n and_o give_v that_o reason_n why_o so_o few_o error_n have_v appear_v in_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n because_o they_o can_v not_o escape_v the_o censure_n of_o one_o of_o these_o ecclesiastical_a judicatories_n this_o form_n of_o government_n so_o comfortable_a to_o the_o religious_a and_o profitable_a to_o the_o kirk_n be_v insufferable_a to_o many_o of_o high_a rank_n who_o do_v not_o think_v this_o yoke_n of_o christ_n so_o easy_a as_o to_o enjoy_v their_o wish_a liberty_n without_o controlment_n which_o make_v a_o number_n of_o these_o with_o courtier_n and_o some_o of_o the_o minister_n who_o be_v more_o loose_a &_o worldly_a mind_a suggest_v unto_o king_n james_n of_o ever_o bless_a memory_n that_o he_o have_v not_o so_o much_o power_n in_o the_o church_n as_o in_o the_o commonwealth_n because_o when_o any_o of_o these_o libertine_n commit_v any_o offence_n he_o can_v not_o save_v they_o from_o church_n censure_n although_o his_o majesty_n have_v always_o power_n to_o remit_v the_o civil_a censure_n &_o punishment_n his_o majesty_n be_v then_o hopeful_a of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o england_n they_o add_v that_o reason_n that_o if_o he_o obtain_v the_o church_fw-mi of_o scotland_n to_o be_v govern_v by_o bishop_n as_o that_o of_o england_n be_v he_o will_v thereby_o endear_v to_o himself_o the_o church_n man_n there_o who_o may_v otherwise_o suspect_v his_o affection_n to_o their_o state_n be_v acquaint_v with_o another_o form_n of_o church_n government_n if_o he_o shall_v not_o evidence_n it_o by_o labour_v that_o change_n and_o if_o he_o shall_v eshablish_v the_o government_n of_o bishop_n in_o scotland_n he_o may_v be_v as_o absolute_a in_o the_o church_n as_o in_o the_o commonwealth_n thus_o they_o kindle_v in_o his_o majesty_n heart_n the_o desâ—e_n of_o a_o absolute_a power_n over_o the_o church_n be_v special_o move_v by_o their_o own_o particular_a end_n great_a man_n for_o obtain_v erection_n of_o kirkland_n which_o then_o appertain_v to_o the_o crown_n in_o recompense_n from_o his_o majesty_n for_o assist_v the_o erection_n of_o bishop_n in_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n his_o majesty_n be_v assure_v of_o the_o bishop_n consent_n &_o of_o inferior_a kirkman_n in_o hope_n of_o suceee_v to_o the_o say_a bishopric_n and_o of_o both_o for_o vindicate_v themselves_o into_o a_o licentious_a liberty_n from_o under_o the_o awful_a censure_n of_o the_o kirk_n be_v so_o earnest_a on_o that_o design_n that_o he_o make_v it_o his_o most_o special_a endeavour_n but_o suppress_v the_o same_o withal_o that_o he_o may_v obtine_v it_o the_o more_o easy_o where-unto_a he_o attain_v by_o degree_n which_o be_v here_o set_v down_o short_o in_o some_o general_a head_n we_o refer_v the_o particulars_n to_o a_o more_o large_a information_n which_o shall_v contain_v the_o degree_n course_n of_o defection_n &_o advancement_n of_o hierar_n by_o in_o our_o church_n first_o his_o majesty_n propound_v the_o necesatie_n to_o have_v minister_n voter_n in_o parliament_n in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o church_n who_o sit_v in_o parliament_n may_v be_v careful_a that_o nothing_o be_v do_v in_o prejudice_n of_o the_o church_n and_o may_v carry_v the_o desire_n of_o the_o whole_a church_fw-mi to_o the_o parliament_n for_o such_o thing_n as_o be_v convenient_a for_o they_o the_o meddle_v of_o minister_n in_o these_o civil_a employment_n be_v extreme_o dislike_v &_o oppose_v by_o the_o most_o judicious_a in_o this_o kirk_n to_o make_v the_o minister_n vote_v in_o parliament_n the_o more_o plausible_a and_o to_o move_v the_o more_o easy_a condiscendence_n thereto_o they_o be_v tie_v to_o such_o caveat_n viz._n that_o they_o shall_v propone_v nothing_o in_o parliament_n convention_n or_o counsel_n without_o express_a warrant_n from_o the_o church_n nor_o keep_v silence_n when_o any_o thing_n be_v propon_v there_o to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o the_o church_fw-mi that_o they_o shall_v give_v a_o account_n of_o their_o commission_n after_o each_o parliament_n to_o the_o next_o national_a assembly_n and_o be_v subject_a either_o to_o their_o censure_n of_o deposition_n incase_o they_o do_v transgress_v to_o attend_v faithful_o their_o particular_a flock_n as_o minister_n in_o the_o administration_n of_o discipline_n collation_n of_o benefice_n or_o other_o point_n of_o ecclesiastical_a government_n to_o usurp_v or_o acclaime_v no_o jurisdiction_n over_o their_o brethren_n a_o number_n of_o such_o caveat_n be_v agry_v upon_o in_o the_o assembly_n shall_v have_v be_v ratify_v in_o the_o next_o parliament_n but_o these_o be_v suppress_v there_o be_v insert_v
under_o what_o they_o will_v impose_v and_o of_o the_o secret_a counsel_n assistance_n they_o obtain_v his_o majesty_n letter_n patent_n for_o a_o high_a commission_n consist_v of_o above_o a_o hundred_o person_n civil_a and_o ecclesiastical_a promiscuous_o whereof_o the_o bishop_n of_o any_o diocie_n may_v assume_v any_o six_o to_o himself_o and_o there_o judge_v any_o person_n of_o whatsoev_a quality_n within_o or_o without_o his_o diocie_n whereas_o only_o before_o archbishop_n may_v hold_v court_n of_o high_a commission_n some_o of_o the_o bishop_n begin_v to_o put_v this_o new_a commission_n in_o practice_n and_o and_o give_v it_o life_n and_o execution_n in_o the_o year_n 1636_o the_o bishop_n frame_v a_o book_n of_o canon_n and_o constitution_n for_o govern_v the_o kirk_n of_o scotland_n which_o do_v quite_o subvert_v the_o order_n and_o form_n of_o discipline_n establish_v contain_v many_o error_n and_o open_v a_o door_n for_o many_o more_o both_o in_o doctrinal_a and_o disciplinarie_a point_n of_o religion_n whensoever_o the_o king_n majesty_n upon_o the_o bishop_n recommendation_n will_v ordain_v the_o same_o in_o this_o book_n it_o be_v ordain_v that_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o obloquy_n against_o these_o canon_n or_o book_n of_o common_a prayer_n which_o be_v to_o be_v set_v forth_o notwithstanding_o such_o proceed_n be_v illegal_a in_o the_o next_o year_n in_o junij_fw-la 1637_o the_o say_v bishop_n cause_v print_v the_o book_n of_o common_a prayer_n compile_v by_o they_o for_o the_o use_n of_o this_o kirk_n which_o be_v appoint_v by_o his_o majesty_n letter_n to_o be_v receive_v as_o the_o only_o form_n of_o god_n public_a worship_n where-unto_a all_o subject_n either_o civil_a or_o ecclesiastical_a behove_v to_o conform_v themselves_o and_o the_o contraveener_n to_o be_v condign_o punish_v by_o proclamation_n each_o minister_n be_v enjoin_v and_o some_o charge_v with_o letter_n of_o horn_v to_o buy_v two_o of_o they_o for_o the_o use_n of_o the_o parish_n approbation_n from_o the_o lord_n of_o counsel_n be_v give_v to_o it_o when_o few_o but_o bishop_n be_v present_a at_o counsel_n the_o bishop_n of_o edinburgh_n accompany_v with_o two_o arch_a bishop_n and_o sundry_a other_o bishop_n notwithstanding_o the_o mislik_a minister_n and_o professor_n have_v for_o the_o manner_n of_o introduction_n &_o corruption_n of_o the_o same_o begin_v the_o use_n of_o it_o in_o the_o chief_a kirk_n of_o edinburgh_n upon_o the_o 23_o julij_fw-la 1637._o the_o people_n much_o discontent_v with_o the_o former_a novation_n can_v not_o endure_v so_o great_a and_o sudden_a alteration_n as_o import_v a_o change_n both_o of_o the_o external_a form_n and_o nature_n of_o the_o former_a public_a worship_n do_v the_o most_o part_n of_o they_o all_o at_o one_o instant_a rise_n &_o hinder_v the_o new_a service_n call_z it_o superstitious_a or_o idolatrous_a the_o same_o be_v also_o stop_v in_o another_o kirk_n of_o edinburgh_n where_o it_o be_v to_o be_v read_v by_o the_o bishop_n of_o argyle_n notwithstanding_o hereof_o they_o procure_v by_o act_n of_o counsel_n the_o pain_n of_o death_n without_o all_o favour_n and_o mercy_n to_o be_v denounce_v against_o all_o those_o who_o shall_v any_o way_n rail_v or_o speak_v against_o the_o bishop_n or_o any_o of_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n or_o against_o the_o service_n book_n they_o discharge_v the_o minister_n and_o reader_n in_o edinburgh_n who_o refuse_v the_o book_n there_o wont_a service_n and_o interdit_v the_o public_a evening_n and_o morning_n prayer_n rede_n of_o scripture_n sing_v of_o psalm_n for_o a_o long_a time_n and_o still_o press_v the_o buy_n and_o practise_v of_o the_o say_a book_n by_o all_o minister_n which_o move_v the_o minister_n first_o to_o petition_n and_o next_o many_o of_o the_o nobility_n gentry_n burgess_n and_o minister_n to_o meet_v and_o to_o supplicate_v the_o lord_n of_o privy_a counsel_n against_o the_o said_n book_n of_o canon_n and_o common_a prayer_n against_o the_o illegal_a and_o unorderlie_a way_n of_o introduce_v the_o same_o the_o general_a supplication_n send_v to_o his_o majesty_n by_o the_o duke_n of_o lennox_n who_o be_v then_o return_v to_o england_n from_o the_o burial_n of_o his_o mother_n in_o september_n 1937._o be_v answer_v in_o october_n only_o by_o a_o proclamation_n discharge_v the_o counsel_n to_o meddle_v in_o kirk_n matter_n and_o charge_v all_o the_o supplicant_n to_o depart_v out_o of_o the_o town_n within_o twenty_o four_o hour_n under_o the_o pain_n of_o rebellion_n as_o also_o the_o judicatories_n of_o counsel_n and_o session_n to_o remove_v but_o no_o way_n answer_v the_o petition_n which_o the_o supplicant_n do_v patient_o expect_v notwithstanding_o the_o matter_n concern_v the_o service_n of_o god_n the_o supplicant_n give_v in_o then_o a_o complaint_n against_o the_o bishop_n offer_v to_o prove_v these_o book_n contain_v the_o seed_n of_o superstition_n and_o idolatry_n etc._n etc._n and_o crave_a justice_n upon_o the_o bishop_n as_o author_n thereof_o and_o guilty_a of_o lie_n betwixt_o the_o king_n and_o his_o subject_n and_o many_o other_o crime_n censurable_a by_o law_n the_o affection_n of_o people_n draw_v so_o many_o together_o to_o wait_v for_o the_o answer_n to_o their_o supplication_n give_v offence_n to_o the_o lord_n of_o counsel_n whereupon_o the_o supplicant_n for_o give_v they_o satisfaction_n do_v with_o their_o consent_n choose_v but_o a_o few_o of_o their_o number_n to_o attend_v the_o same_o who_o after_o long_a expectation_n be_v answer_v only_o by_o a_o proclamation_n upon_o the_o seven_o of_o december_n declare_v his_o majesty_n not_o to_o be_v incline_v to_o popery_n which_o the_o supplicant_n do_v not_o allege_v they_o be_v then_o earnest_o require_v by_o such_o as_o have_v power_n from_o his_o majesty_n to_o divide_v the_o supplication_n several_o by_o shire_n to_o restrain_v they_o only_o to_o the_o book_n of_o canon_n and_o common_a prayer_n and_o to_o pass_v from_o the_o high_a commission_n and_o the_o pursuit_n of_o the_o bishop_n the_o supplicant_n give_v sundry_a reason_n why_o they_o can_v not_o do_v so_o show_v also_o that_o if_o the_o bishop_n keep_v their_o boundless_a usurp_a power_n they_o can_v soon_o frame_v and_o bring_v in_o the_o like_a book_n within_o a_o short_a space_n and_o offer_v to_o prove_v they_o have_v all_o deserve_v exemplare_fw-la punishment_n by_o their_o usurpation_n against_o law_n and_o by_o their_o heavy_a tyranny_n unlawful_o exerce_v on_o the_o subject_n for_o many_o year_n all_o this_o time_n the_o supplicant_n can_v obtain_v no_o answer_n to_o the_o supplication_n send_v to_o his_o majesty_n nor_o move_v the_o counsel_n to_o receive_v they_o and_o recommend_v they_o to_o his_o majesty_n not_o for_o the_o space_n of_o a_o whole_a month_n although_o they_o continual_o attend_v till_o they_o be_v ready_a to_o make_v protestation_n against_o the_o counsel_n for_o not_o hear_v they_o in_o so_o important_a a_o business_n upon_o the_o twenty_o one_o day_n of_o december_n 1637._o the_o counsel_n '_o receive_v the_o general_a supplication_n and_o send_v it_o to_o his_o majesty_n at_o which_o time_n the_o supplicant_n decline_v the_o bishop_n from_o be_v their_o judge_n as_o be_v now_o their_o party_n the_o answer_n to_o the_o particular_a and_o general_a supplication_n be_v return_v by_o a_o proclamation_n make_v in_o february_n 1638._o whereby_o his_o majesty_n have_v declare_v he_o have_v ordain_v the_o book_n of_o common_a prayer_n to_o be_v compile_v that_o he_o have_v approve_v the_o same_o as_o a_o ready_a mean_a to_o maintain_v the_o true_a religion_n and_o beat_v out_o all_o superstition_n and_o idolatry_n and_o doubt_v not_o to_o satisfy_v the_o mind_n of_o all_o the_o subject_n herewith_a charge_v they_o all_o to_o depart_v from_o these_o town_n where_o the_o counsel_n or_o session_n shall_v sit_v and_o to_o abstain_v from_o all_o meeting_n any_o where_o under_o the_o pain_n of_o treason_n a_o very_a great_a number_n of_o the_o nobility_n and_o gentry_n make_v a_o proestation_n on_o the_o mercat_n cross_n of_o edinburgh_n immediate_o after_o the_o proclamation_n be_v red_a against_o the_o book_n of_o canon_n and_o common_a prayer_n high_a commission_n and_o all_o other_o novation_n introduce_v in_o the_o church_fw-mi against_o or_o without_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o law_n of_o the_o country_n and_o against_o the_o bishop_n as_o their_o party_n &_o that_o in_o no_o judicatorie_a they_o shall_v sit_v as_o their_o judge_n till_o they_o be_v try_v by_o law_n that_o their_o whole_a meeting_n be_v lawful_a &_o necessare_fw-la &_o that_o they_o may_v have_v their_o recourse_n to_o his_o majesty_n the_o supplicant_n be_v then_o force_v to_o forbear_v any_o further_o deal_v with_o the_o counsel_n because_o against_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n and_o nation_n they_o will_v not_o admit_v their_o declinatour_n against_o the_o bishop_n their_o party_n from_o sit_v as_o
their_o judge_n whereas_o they_o offer_v under_o the_o pain_n of_o their_o life_n to_o prove_v many_o heinous_a crime_n against_o they_o and_o such_o as_o be_v palpable_a to_o the_o world_n as_o their_o introduction_n of_o popery_n and_o arminianism_n &_o their_o many_o public_a transgression_n against_o law_n the_o whole_a nobility_n gentry_n burrowes_n minister_n and_o commons_o who_o have_v now_o so_o often_o supplicat_fw-la and_o so_o long_o attend_v be_v cast_v into_o great_a difficulty_n consider_v their_o religion_n so_o well_o warrant_v by_o god_n word_n and_o establish_v by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o church_fw-mi and_o kingdom_n be_v now_o begin_v to_o be_v change_v both_o in_o doctrine_n and_o discipline_n at_o the_o pleasure_n of_o the_o fourteen_o bishop_n and_o the_o liberty_n of_o the_o country_n like_v to_o be_v infringe_v by_o their_o usurpation_n and_o that_o have_v complain_v often_o upon_o they_o to_o his_o majesty_n by_o his_o counsel_n be_v answer_v by_o the_o former_a declaration_n approve_v these_o popish_a book_n their_o wicked_a &_o unlawful_a proceed_n and_o condemn_v the_o supplicant_n lawful_a and_o peaceable_a meeting_n and_o humble_a way_n of_o supplicate_v as_o prejudicial_a to_o regal_a authority_n prohibit_v also_o their_o necessary_a meeting_n in_o time_n come_v all_o these_o do_v move_v the_o supplicant_n to_o bethink_v the_o renew_n of_o the_o national_a covenant_n of_o this_o church_fw-mi &_o kingdom_n the_o breach_n whereof_o have_v be_v a_o special_a cause_n to_o bring_v these_o evil_n upon_o they_o to_o be_v a_o good_a mean_a for_o obtain_v the_o lord_n wont_a favour_n have_v many_o example_n in_o holy_a scripture_n that_o the_o people_n of_o god_n have_v happy_o renew_v their_o covenant_n with_o god._n this_o their_o covenant_n contain_v nothing_o in_o substance_n but_o that_o which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o confession_n of_o faith_n and_o general_a band_n former_o make_v for_o maintenance_n of_o religion_n &_o act_n 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and_o such_o as_o
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