Lowdoun said—It is but too cleare what we are doing in Ecclesiasticall Judicatorie hes nothing in the civill law repugnant to it. Then my Lord Lowdoun red the Act of the 15 Parliament of King Jaˢ 6, and ane uther Act Parlᵗ 1612. In the former there is nothing concerning the office of Bishops, but only reserving to the Kings consideratione and advysement with the Generall Assembly; and in the last there is a relation to the former; so that there is nothing in the interveining Acts 1606 and 1609, and the Act 1612 does not ratifie that which is concludit in Glasgow Assembly, which now is condemned. That ground being taken away, the Ratification also falls.
The Moderatour said—Ye have heard a cleare deduction of this purpose; and if it would please my noble Lord Argyle, whom I know hes tane paines to be cleare herein, if it would please his Lordship to declair if he be satisfied, we would be glad to heare him.
Argyle said—Indeed I cannot deny but all this tyme, both before the Confession was subscryvit by the Counsell and since, I have ever found that the question was drawen much narrower nor it was before; for the greatest question ever since that tyme hath been only concerning the government of the Bishops, and that will be the greatest question; and, I think, for the declaration of any uther thing, we did all show that we could be ruled by yow of this Assembly: and, since I am requyred to speake, I must not thinke shame to confesse my ignorance. I neither studied it nor did I see the Bookes of Assembly, and, whenever I was demandit of this, I answered I would not determinatelie say anything till it should come to be considered by a free Assembly, and find what was the constitution of the Kirk. At that time I said, for aught I know, I said, it was a lawfull office established by Parliament and lawes; and I could not have thought even [when] the Commissioner went away, that things had bein so clear as they are, and, for my oune part, it satisfies me fullie—that, according to the Constitution of our Church, the Government established at that tyme, when it was first subscryvit, is verie cleare in my judgement.
Moderatour said—There is a lang tyme spent, and therefore we will proceed to state the question—Whither, according to the Confession of Faith, as it was professed in the 1580, 1581, and 1590, (I keip the words of the Act of Counsell, because it is a clause of the explanation of it,) there be any uther Bishops but a Bishop over a particular flocke? or, Whether there be any to be acknowledged Pastor over Pastors, having preheminence over the brethren? and, consequentlie, Whither all uther Episcopacie, place, power, or preheminence is to be removed out of this Kirk?
Abjuration of Episcopacie.
Then the Rolles were called, and
Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—The true sentence and meaning of the Confession of Faith being made clear by these Assemblies, showes a incompatibilitie betwixt Episcopall Government and Presbyteriall Power, that they are to be removed and abjured out of this Kirk.
Then the whole Assembly unanimouslie in one voice, with the hesitation of ane allanerlie, voited that Episcopacie should be abjured and removed out of this Kirk.
Then the Moderatour spack—I think there be nane of us heir but we have beine oftentymes calling upon the name of God in secrete and open, that he, and he only who was able to doe it, would have beine pleased to stay the course of defection that was going so fast on. And I think there be nane of us but it was the earnest desyre and wish of, that we might have sene a day to have taken to a consideration, whether we have transgressed the Covenant of God or not, and gane on in a course of defection; and now he has granted us the day wherein we may call all matters to a reckoning, which day we much long for; and many a tyme have I myselfe besought God to stop this course of defection, and so he hes done. Many are the miseries, burdens, and calamities that hes beine upon this poore Kirk thir yeares bygone; and we are scorned by uthers that it was for the brecke of the Covenant of God; and we trust it shall kythe to the world, when we are dead, that we have turned unto him and renewed it againe. It rests now that we be thankfull unto our Lord for the same; and I trust there is nane of us that are come heir with ane honest mynd, but they would have bought this day at a deare rate, and given a deare pryce for this voiting, whilk God hes done far beyond our deserving or expectation—and our adversaries neid not to say that it was the voites of a number of Gentlemen and Elders that carried it away; but, blessed be God, that Ministers and everie ane heir present, with great unanimitie, hes gone together without any contradiction, which is a matter of admiration, and a wonder of wonders, for the whilk we know not what we shall rander unto our graceous Lord. Therefore we will not medle with any uther purpose, but goe altogether and give heartie thankes unto our Lord for this harmony.