1. Althoght all the memberis of the Kirk be hauldine, euery ane in
thair vocatioun, and according thairto, to advance the kingdome of
Jesus Chryst sa far as lyis in thair power; zit cheiflie and namelie,
Christiane Princes, Kingis, and uther magistrats, are haldine to do
the same.
2. For thay ar callit in the Scripturis nurissaris of the kirk, for
sameikle as be thaime it is, or at least aucht to be, menteind,
fosterit, uphaldine, and defendit agains all that wald procure the
hurt thairof.
3. So it pertenit to the office of a Chrystiane magistrat to assist
and fortifie the godlie proceding of the kirk in all behalfis; and
namelie to sie that the publick estait and ministrie thairof be
mantenit and sustenit as it appertenis, according to Goddis word.
4. To sie that the kirk be not invadit nor hurt be fals teacharis
and hyrlingis, nor the rowmis thairof occupyit be dum doggis or idill
belleis.
5. To assist and mantene the discipline of the kirk, and punish
thame civillie, that will not obey the censur of the same; without
confounding alwayis the ane jurisdiction with the uther.
6. To sie that sufficient provisioun be made for the ministrie,
scoles, and the puir: And gif thay have not sufficient to await
upone thair chargis, to supplie their indigence evine with thair
awine rentis, gif neid requiris: to hauld hand to thame, alsweill
concernyng thair awin personis, sayfing thame frome injurie and
oppine violence, as concerning thair rentis and possessionis, that
thay be not defraudit, reavit, nor spulzeit thairof.
7. Not to suffer the patrimony of the kirk to be applyit to prophane
and onlawchful uses, or to be devoirit be idle belleis, and sic
as haue na lauchfull functioun in the kirk, to the hurt of the
ministrie, the scoles, the puir, and utheris godly uses, quhairupone
the same aucht to be bestowed.
8. To mak lawis and constitutionis aggreable to Goddis word, for
the aduancement of the kirk, and policie therof; without usurping
ony thing that pertenis not to the civill sword, bot belangis to
the offices that ar mere ecclesiasticall; as is the ministrie of
the word and sacramentis, using of ecclesiasticall discipline, and
the spirituall executioun thairof, or ony part of the power of the
spirituall keys, quhilks our Maister gaif to the Apostles, and thair
trew successouris.
9. And although Kingis and Princes that be godlie, sumtymis be their
awin auctoritie, (whene the Kirk is corruptit, and all thingis out of
ordour,) place ministeris, and restoir the trew service of the Lord,
efter the example of sum godlie kingis in Judea, and divers godlie
Emperours and Kingis, also in the licht of the New Testament, zit
quhair the ministrie of the Kirk is anis lauchfullie constitut, and
thay that are placed, do thair office faithfullie, all godlie princes
and magistrats aucht to heir and obey thair voice, and reverence the
majestie of the Sone of God speaking be thame.
Off the present Abuses remaining in the Kirk, quhilks we desyr to
be reformit.