The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland / Wherein the Headis and Conclusionis Devysit Be the Ministers and Commissionaris of the Particular Kirks Thereof, Are Specially Expressed and Contained.

by Unknown

Concernyng Mr Andrew Hunter, the Kirk hes deposit him.

The fyft and saxt Articles agried unto.

Ordaynes every particular pastor, at his awne kirk, to intimat the sentence of absolutione pronuncit in favours of my Lord Hoome, from the proces of excommunicatione led against him.

Sessio 18^a. Eodem die.

Anent the matter of offence conceavit be his Majestie against John Rosse, minister, be occasione of ane sermone made be him in presence of the Provinciall Assembly of Perth: The said matter being first ordaynit to be weyit and treatit in private conferrence, and ane certain number of the grave, learnit, and godlie breither being appoyntit therto, and to give their judgment to the whole Assembly, the said breither reportit their advyce and proceedings in wryte, as follows:

First, They have found that the people departed not out of the Kirk before the end of the doctrine, as it hes been reportit to his Majestie, qwherthrow he might have uttered any kynd of offence, and that the said Assemblie had pronuncit no damnator sentence against him, but that they only admonisched upon such causes and considerations as after follows:

1. That he delyverit that doctrine at that tyme when his Majestie’s rebells and enemies were assembled on the fields, qwhairthrough it might appeare to the people that the Kirk allowit Bothwell’s treasonable attempts, and that the Assembly of purpose had placed him in that rowme to alienat the hearts of his people from his Majestie’s obedience.

2. In respect of certaine speeches delyverit be him without any sufficient warrand, so far as they could see and understand, and namely that sentence pronuncit against the House of Guise de futuro.

3. In respect of the hard delyverie of speeches spoken of his Majestie, and qwhilk might have been thought to have cravit greater years and farther experience; ffarther, the haill breither, bayth of the Conferrence and of the Provinciall of Perth, all in ane voyce acknawledges that there is just cause of ane sharper rebuke and threatning of heavier judgments furth of the grunds of that text, then hes been or might be utterit be him; and whatsoever he utterit, as he deponit before God and upon his conscience, he utterit of love, seeking alwayes his Majestie’s standing, on na preoccupied minde, prejudgit opinione, or troublit affection, but of ane saul, thristing and seeking alwayes his Majestie’s honour and weill in God; and therefore approves his haill doctrine in that poynt, as it hes beine read and declarit be himself, in such heids as semit to be most offensive; and as concernyng the admonitione of the provinciall of Perth, and the causes moving them thereunto, the brethren reverences and allowis the judgement in all things, upon consideration as is before exprest; only anent the sentence touching the House of Gwise de futuro, because the haill brethren heard it not, and he himself professes he remembers not he spake swa, naither had he such meining at any tyme, and confest his fault if such ane word hes fallen out—the Brethren thinks with himself in that poynt that if he hes spoken, so he hes faillit, having no just warrand: and being mynded to satisfie his Majestie allwayes so far as possible may be done with ane good conscience, after earnest incalling of the name of God for assistance of his Holy Spirit and long advysement, hes found it good that the admonition of the provinciall of Perth, as said is, be reverencit of the said haill Generall Assemblie, and that the Assemblie at this tyme giue farther to the said John Ross, ane grave and earnest admonitione to speak at all tymes reverently and with such wisdome of his Majestie, as he alwayes may have so clear ane warrant of his speeches as may fully satisfy his own conscience before God, and have the approbatione and allowance of all his godly brethren; and that this admonitione be extendit to all uthers young men of the ministrie and to the haill Assemblie. Qwhilk judgement of the said brethren being weell considerit be the haill Assemblie, after good deliberatione, votit to the approbatione of their said judgement, and allowit be the samen in all poynts. And thereafter the said John Rose being callit in, he, in presence of the haill Assemblie, protestit before God and in his conscience, that qwhatsoever he utterit in the doctrine delyverit be him, he utterit the same for love to his Majestie’s weill and standing, of no preoccupied minde, prejudgit opinione, or troublit affectione, but of ane saul seikand his Majestie’s honour and weill in the land, havand neither eye nor respect to his Majestie’s traitors being then in armes upon the fields; yet granting some words hardly delyverit (though trewly): and as concernyng the words spoken of the House of Gwise de futuro, as is alleadgit, before the Lord, remembers not he spake such words, neither had intention nor meaning to speak the samen, and if he spake the samen, it was ane fault of elapsus linguæ.

The Moderator, at command of the said Assemblie, in the name and fear of God, admonished the said brother, and all uther young men of the ministrie and haill Assemblie, in all tyme comeing, to speak so reverently and discreetly of his Majestie in all tyme comming, that they may have so clear warrand of their speeches as may fully satisfy their own conscience before God, and have approbatione and allowance of all the godly, and his Majestie have no just cause of complaynt and mislyking in tyme coming: Qwhilk admonition the said John with all humilitie reverenced.