To understand therefrom the dewties of a Bischope: As toward my living, and rents, and uthers things grantit be the Prince to me, I reckon the same lawfull: As to my dewtie to the supreame magistrat; in assisting his Grace in Councill or parliament, being cravit thereto, I esteem my subjection compels me to obey the same, and no hurt but an well to the Kirk that some of our number be at the making of good laws and ordinances; in the doeing whereof I protest before God never to doe any thing but that I believe shall stand with the puritie of the Scripture and a weill reformit countrie, as also a good part of the living I brook being gine for that only cause.
Qwhilk being read in open Assemblie and considerit, after voting of the haill brethren, was adjudged to be no answer to the Act, nor to satisfie the desyre thereof, alwayes was reqyrit that afternoone he sould returne with better advyce as the Kirk wished at God he sould do.[18]
Sessio 8.
The Assembly hes votit and concludit that all sic persones as are alreadie, or heirafter shall be deposit for their offences from their functions of the ministrie, shall be chargit be the Commissioners of the countries to dimit the saids benefices and livings possesst be them, to the effect uthers may be provydit thereto that may travel in the said functione, under the paine of excommunication to be execute against them, qwherein if they faillie, after admonitiones, to proceed with the sentence of excommunicatione against them, under the paine of suspensione of them from the ministrie dureing the will of the Kirk, and that this act be execut against the Bischope of Dunkeld and minister of Saline be the Commissioners of the countrie where they dwell, betwixt and the next Assemblie, under the paine forsaid.
Forsuameikle as the Bischops are to be chairgit to remove their corruptiones in that estate, the Kirk nominat the speciall corruptions whilk they desire sic as will submitt them to the said Assembly to correct, with promise, that giue the Generall Kirk hereafter shall find farther corruptiones in the said estate, nor heirto is exprest, that they be content to be reformit be the said Assemblie according to the word of God when they shall be requyrit thereto: 1. That they be content to be pastors and ministers of ane flock: 2. That they usurp no criminall jurisdictione: 3. That they vote not in parliament in name of the Kirk without commissione from the Kirk: 4. That they take not up for the maintenance of their ambitione and covetousness, the emoluments of the Kirk, whilk may sustaine many pastors, the schools, and the poor, but be content with reasonable living according to their office: 5. That they claime not to themselves the titles of Lords temporall, neither usurp temporall jurisdictione, quhairby they are abstractit from their office: 6. That they take no farther bounds of visitatione nor the Kirk committeth to them: 7. That they impyre not above the particular elderschipes, but be subject to the same: 8. That they usurp not the powers of the pastors.
The Assembly depryvit Mr Hector Douglass from his office of function of the ministrie as woundit and unable therefor, and ordaynes him to be chargit be the commissioners of the countrie to dimit his benefice, and if he refuises after admonitiones, to proceed with excommunicatione against him, under the paine of suspensione of the said commissioner from his office of the ministrie dureing the will of the Kirk.
Forswamikle as there is diverse persones within this realme that sends their children, being within age, furth of the countrie over sea to places where superstition and Papistrie is mayntainit, upon pretence of seeking farther instructione and learning, as also uthers, beand of perfect age, transports themselves out of the realme upon the same pretence, whairthrow they become for the maist part corrupt in religione, as be evident experience is daylie seen; For remied heirof, the Generall Assembly hes advysit and concludit, that the parents of sic children as within their minoritie sends them to the saids places, or heirafter shall send them where the said Papistrie is teachit and maintainit, shall be chargit be their own ministers to call back their children from the saids places with all convenient expeditione, under the paine of excommunicatione; and if they disobey, to proceed against them; and sic as are of perfect age, that already are past out of the countrie to the saids places, or in tyme comeing, shall pass thereto, shall in like manner be chargit to remove themselves therefra under the semblalle forme to be execute against them; and if they disobey, to be excommunicat be the minister of the place where they remainit before their departing out of the countrie.
[FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, convenit at Edinburgh in the New Kirk, and begun the seventh of July 1579, wherein there was present the Commissioners of Countries, Provinces, Towns, and Universities.