CAP. 13.
1. Seing the end of this spirituall gouernament and policie, quhairof we spak, is, that God may be glorifeit, the kingdome of Jesus Chryst advancit, and all thay quho ar of his mysticall body, may leve peceablie in conscience: Thairfoir we dar bauldlie affirme, that all thay quha haue trew respect to thais endis, will evin for conscience caus, gladlie aggrie and conforme thame selfis to this ordour, and aduance the same, safar as lyis in thame, that their conscience being set at rest, thay may be replenisched with spirituall gladnes in geving full obedience to that quhilk Goddis word and the testimony of thair conscience dois craue, and refusing all corruptionis contrare unto the same.
2. Nixt, we sall becum an example and patrone of guid and godlie ordour to uther nationis, cuntreis, and kirkis professing the same religioun with us, that as thay haue glorifeit God in our continewing in the sinceritie of the word hitherto, without all errouris, (praise be to His name,) sa thay may haue the lyk occasioun in our conuersation, quhen as we conforme our selfis to that discipline, policie, and guid ordour, quhilk the same word and puritie of reformatioun craves at our handis; vtherwayis this feirfull sentence may be iustlie said to us, The servand knawand the will of the maister, and not doing it.
3. Mairouir, gif we haue ony pitie or respect to the puir memberis of Chryst, quha sa greatlie increase and multiplie amangis us, we will not suffer thame to be langer defraudit of that part of the patrimony of the kirk, quhilk justlie belangis unto thame: And be this ordour, gif it be dewlie put in executioun, the burding of thame sall be takine of us to our greit confort, the streitis sallbe changed of the cryingis and murmuringis of thame; as we salbe na mair sklander to uther nationis, as we haue hitherto bene, for not taking ordour with the puir amangis us, and causing the word quhilk we profess to be euill spokine of, giving occasioun of sclander to the enemies, and offending the consciences of the semple and godlie.
4. Besyds this, it sallbe a greit ease and commoditie to the haill commoun peple, and releving thame of the beilding and uphalding of thair kirkis, in bigging of briggis and uther lyk public warkis; to the laubourars of the ground in the payment of thair teindis; and schortlie in all cheif thingis, quhairunto thay have bene hitherto rigorouslie handlit be thame that war falsely callit kirkmen, thair tackkismen, factouris, and extortionaris.
5. Finallie, to the Kingis Majestie and common-welth of the countrie, this profit sall redound, That the uther effairs of the kirk being sufficientlie provydit according to the distributioun of the quhilk hes bene spokin, the superplus being collectit into the thesaurarie of the kirk, may be profitablie imployit, and liberallie bestowit upon the extraordinar support of the effairis of the Prince and commoun-welth, and speciallie of that part quhilk is appoyntit for reparatioun of the kirks.
6. Sa, to conclude; all being willing to apply thameselfis to this ordour, the peple suffering them selfis to be reulit according thairunto, (the Princes and Magistrats thame selfis not being exemit,) and thay that ar placit in ecclesiasticall estait, rychtlie reuling and governing, God sallbe glorifeit, the kirk edifeit, the boundis thairof inlargit, Chryst Jesus and his kingdome set up, Sathane and his kingdome subuertit, and God sall dwell in the meddis of us, to our comfort, throw Jesus Chryst, quha, togidder with the Fader and the Halie Ghaist, abydeth blissit in all eternitie. So be it.
Finis.
Mr J. Richie.
Deo Gratias.