Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

The Moderatour said—I am glad that my Lord Lowdouns speach hes come to your eares; and I think that whilk scarres some most, is feare to offend the Kings Majestie. But we are sure, when the Kings Majestie sies we make conscience of our oath, and when it is manifest to his Majestie that we doe nothing but what is sworne to be done in the Confession of Faith enjoyned be himselfe, we hope he will think them good and loyall subjects to him, who have proven so obedient to God.

Then there were reasons heard by the Clerk, showing how necessar it was that there should be a necessar explanation of the Confession of Faith.

After the reading of the Reasons,

The Moderatour said—Ye have heard many reasons showing a necessatie of this explanation: now heir the explanation itselfe. And I intreat yow, Nobles, Gentlemen, Ministers, Elders, or any Minister of this Assembly, call for reading of any Act that will cleare your mynd, and they shall heare them out of the Book of the Assemblies; for I think there be many Theologs in this Assembly that are not weill acquainted with the Acts of Generall Assemblies.

The Clerk said—To show yow how diligent our Reformers wer in gathering of their Acts, there wer two fasts appoynted, to seik Gods direction therein—the ane 26 April 1577, and the [other] 1578. Then all the Acts of the Assemblies, clearing the meaning of the Kirk of Scotland, concerning Episcopacie in the year 1580, 1581, wer red by the Clerk.

Then the Moderatour desyred to read the Act of Counsell 22ᵈ of September 1638, in which Act his Majesties Commissioner and Lords of Counsell declared, that they subscryved the Confession of Faith, as it was professed and established in the forsaids years 1580, 1581. Then there was a Letter, in Latine, writtine to some of our divines by the Kirk of Helvetia, red by the Moderatour, giving approbation to the Confession of this Kirk, and showing their opinion in the poynt about Episcopacie, wherein they declaired it to be but humane consuetude that appoynted the prioritie of Pastors above Pastors, and that divine institutione had only appoynted a paritie among Ministers.

Then the Clerk said—It is evident that, in all their Assemblies, the abrogation of Episcopacie, the establishing of the Booke of Discipline, and the injoying of the Subscription of the Confession, wer alwayes conjoyned. After the reading of many uther Acts,

The Moderatour said—Heirby any may perceave what the meaning of the Kirk of Scotland was concerning Episcopacie, in the 1580, 1590, and 1591; and what shall be our meaning, except we shall deall deceatfullie with our God in our Covenant?

Then the Clerk said—I know certainlie that this office of the Bishops was never established by any Act of Parliament in Scotland, which I never knew my selfe but within this twelfemonth, that I tooke speceall notice of all the Acts of Parliament for that effect.

The Moderatour said—It becomes us to have a reverende estimation of the Lawes of the Countrey; yet there is no Acts of Parliament that can be the ground of our Ecclesiasticall Policie.