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._
This Buik of Policie being red apart privatlie be the maist pairt at
sundrie tymis, and the penult of September 1591, being publicklie
in the Elderschip of Haddingtoun, was subscryvit be the brethren
thairof, according to the Act of the Generall Assemblie, as follows:--
Act 8 Augusti,
Sess. 10.
Mr Thomas M‘Gee, minister of Guland.
James Gibsone, minister at Pencatland.
Mr James Carmichaell, minister at Hadingtoun.
Mr L. Hay, Bass.
Thomas Greg, minister at North Berwick.
James Reid, minister at Garvat Kirk.
D. I. Byris, minister of Godis word at Barow.
James Lamb, minister at Boltoun Kirk.
Mr Johne Ker, minister at Abarladay.
David Wallace, minister at Moreine.