and the government by Ministers and Elders, in Assemblies generall
and provinciall, and Presbyteries was sworn to, and subscribed in
subscribing that Confession, and ought to be holden by us, if we adhere
to the meaning of the Kirk, when that Confession was framed, sworn
to, and subscribed; unto which we are obliged by the nationall oath
and subscription of this Kirk, as is evident by the acts of generall
Assemblies, agreed upon both before, at, and after the swearing and
subscribing of the said Confession, in the years above-mentioned, and
the book of policie agreed upon in the Assembly which was holden at
Edinburgh the twentie foure of April, and twentie foure of October,
Anno 1578. Insert in the register of the Kirk, by ordinance of the
Assembly holden at Glasgow 1581. and to be subscribed by all Ministers,
that then did bear, or thereafter were to bear office in this Kirk,
by ordinance of the Assembly holden the fourth of August at Edinburgh
1590. And at Edinburgh the second of Iuly 1591. but specially in the 2.
3. 4. 6. 7. and 11, chapters of the said book.
The Bishops being tollerat from the year 1572, till the Assembly
holden in August 1575. And all this time the Assembly being wearied
with complaints made against them, did enter in search of the office
it selfe, and did agree in this that the name of a Bishop is common
to every one of them that hath a particular flock, over which he hath
a particular charge, as well to preach the word, as to minister the
Sacraments.
At the next Assembly which was holden in April 1576. Such Bishops were
censured as had not taken them to a particular flock. In the generall
Assembly conveened in April the year of God 1578. Sess. 4. Intimation
was made as followeth.
“For so much as the heads of the policie being concluded and agreed
upon in the last Assembly, by the most part of the brethren; certain of
the brethren had some difficultie in the head _de diaconatu_, whereupon
farther reasoning was reserved to this Assembly: It is therefore
required, if any of the brethren have any reasonable doubt or argument
to propone, that he be ready the morrow, and then shall be heard and
resolved.” In the 6. Sess. April 26. According to the ordinance made
the day before; all persons that had any doubt or argument to propone,
were required to propone the same: but none offered to propone any
argument on the contrare.
In the Assembly holden at Edinburgh, in October 1578, It was showen by
the Moderatour thereof to the noble-men, who were present, viz. My Lord
Chancelour, the Earle of Montrose, my Lord Seaton, and my Lord Lindsay,
“What care and study the Assembly had taken to entertain and keep
the puritie of the sincere word of God, unmixed with the inventions
of their own heads, and to preserve it to the posteritie hereafter,
and seeing that the true Religion is not able to continue nor endure
long without a good Discipline and policie, in that part also have
they imployed their wit and studie, and drawen forth out of the pure
fountain of Gods word, such a Discipline as is meet to remain in the
Kirk.”
In the same Assembly, the speciall corruptions were set down, which
they craved such of the Bishops as would submit themselves to the
Assembly to remove, with promise, that, if the generall Assembly,
hereafter shall finde further corruptions in the said estate then
hitherto are expressed, that they be content to be reformed by the said
Assembly according to the word of God, when they shall be required
thereto. First, “That they be content to bee Pastours and Ministers
of one flock: That they usurpe no criminall jurisdiction, that they
vote not in Parliament in name of the Kirk, without Commission from
the Kirk: That they take not up for the maintenance of their ambition
and riotousnesse, the emoluments of the Kirk, which may sustain many
Pastours, the Schools, and the poore; but be content with reasonable
livings according to their office: That they claime not to themselves
the titles of Lords temporall, neither usurpe temporall jurisdictions,
whereby they are abstracted from their office; That they empyre not
above the particular Elderships, but be subject to the same: That they
usurp not the power of the Presbyteries.”
The question being proponed by the Synod of Louthian in the Assembly
holden in July 1579. anent a generall order to be taken for erecting of
Presbyteries in places where publick exercise is used, untill the time
the policie of the Kirk be established by a law: It is answered, “The
exercise may be judged to be a Presbyterie.” In the Assembly holden at
Dundie in Iuly 1580. Sess. 4. The office of a Bishop was abolished by a
particular act, as appeareth by the tennour of the act following.
“For so much as the office of a Bishop, as it is now used and commonly
taken within this Realme, hath no sure warrand authoritie, nor good
ground in the Scriptures, but is brought in by the foly and corruption
of mans inventions, to the great overthrow of the Kirke of God, the
whole Assembly of the Kirk in one voice after libertie given to all men
to reason in the matter, none opponing himself in defending the said
pretended office, findeth and declareth the said pretended office, used
and termed, as is above said, unlawful in the selfe, as having neither
foundament, ground nor warrand in the word of God, and ordaineth that
all such persons, as brook or shall brook hereafter the said office,
shall be charged simply to dimit, quite, and leave off the same, as an
office whereunto they are not called of God: and suchlike, to desist
and cease from all preaching, ministration of the Sacraments, or using
any way the office of pastours, while they receive _de novo_, admission
from the generall Assembly, under the pain of excommunication to be
used against them, wherein if they be found disobedient, or contradict
this act in any point, the sentence of excommunication, after due
admonition, to be execute against them.”
In the same Assembly holden Anno 1580. Sess. 10. This article was
appointed to be proponed to the King and Councel, that the book of
policie might be established by an act of privie Councel, “while a
Parliament be holden, at which it might be confirmed by a law.”
The extent of the act made at Dundie, was interpreted and explained in
the Assembly, holden at Glasgow, in April 1581. Sess. 6. as followeth.
“Anent the Act made in the Assembly holden at Dundie against Bishops,
because some difficultie appeared to some brethren to arise out of
the word (office) contained in the said act, what should be meaned
thereby. The Assembly consisting for the most part of such as voted,
and were present in the Assembly at Dundie, to take away the said
difficultie, resolving upon the true meaning and understanding of the
said act, declare that they meaned wholly to condemne the whole estate
of Bishops, as they are now in Scotland, and that the same was the
determination and conclusion of the Assembly at this time, because
some brethren doubted, whether the former act was to be understood of
the _spirituall function_ only, and others alledged, that the _whole
office of a Bishop_ as it was used, was damnable, and that by the said
act, the Bishops should be charged to dimit the same: This Assembly
declareth that they meaned wholly to condemne the whole estate of
Bishops, as they were then in Scotland, and that this was the meaning
of the Assembly, at that time.”
The Kings Commissioner presented to this Assembly the Confession of
Faith, subscribed by the King, and his household, not long before,
together with a plot of the Presbyteries to be erected, which is
registrate in the books of the Assembly, with a letter to be directed
from his Majestie to the noble-men and gentle-men of the Countrey, for
the erection of Presbyteries, consisting of Pastours and Elders, and
dissolution of Prelacies; and with an offer to set forward the Policie
untill it were established by Parliament. The Kings letter subscribed
by his hand, to the Noble-men, and Gentle-men, was read in open
audience of the whole Assembly.
This Assembly ordained the book of Policie to be insert in the register
by the act following.
“For as much as travels have been taken in the framing of the Policie
of the Kirk, and diverse suits have been made to the Magistrat for
approbation thereof, which yet have not taken the happie effect,
which good men would wish, yet that the posteritie may judge well of
the present age, and of the meaning of the Kirk; The Assembly hath
concluded, that the book of Policie agreed to in diverse Assemblies
before, should be registrat in the acts of the Kirk, and remaine
therein _ad perpetuam rei memoriam_: and the coppies thereof to be
taken to every Presbyterie: of which book the tennour followeth,” &c.
Immediatly after the inserting of the book of Policie, called there the
book of Discipline, the Assembly ordained that the confession of Faith
be subscribed as followeth.
“Anent the confession of Faith lately set forth by the Kings
Majestie, and subscribed by his highnesse. The Assembly in one voice,
acknowledgeth the said Confession to be a true, Christian, and faithful
confession, to be agreed unto by such as truly professe Christ, and
have a care of Religion, and the tennour thereof to be followed out
efoldly as the samine is laid out in the said Proclamation,” wherein
that Discipline is sworn to.
In the generall Assembly holden at Edinburgh in October 1581. Sess.
10. Mr. Robert Montgomery is accused for teaching that Discipline is
a thing indifferent. Sess. 23. The Assembly gave commission to the
Presbyterie of Stirling, to charge Mr. Robert Montgomerie, to continue
in the ministerie of Stirling, and not to medle with any other office
or function of the Kirk, namely, in aspyring to the Bishoprick of
Glasgow, against the word of God, and acts of the Kirk, under the pain
of excommunication.
In the same Assembly it is acknowledged that the estate of Bishops is
condemned by the Kirk, commission for erection of moe Presbyteries
was renewed: and a new ordinance made for subscribing the confession
of Faith, and to proceed against whatsoever persons that would not
acknowledge and subscribe the same.
In the Assembly holden in April 1582. there was a new commission for
erection of Presbyteries, where none was as yet erected, Mr Robert
Montgomerie, pretending to be Bishop of Glasgow, was ordained to be
deposed and excommunicat, except hee gave evident tokens of repentance,
and promise to superseed, which he did not: and therefore he was
excommunicat shortly after, according to the ordinance of this Assembly.
In the generall Assembly holden at Edinburgh, 1582. The generall
Assembly gave commission to some Presbyteries, to try and censure
such as were called Bishops, for the great slander arising by their
impunitie. Commission was given at this Assembly to present some
articles to the Councel and Estates, for approving and establishing
by their authoritie the Presbyteries, the Synodall, and generall
Assemblies. In the 19. Sess. The Assembly declared, that no Bishop may
sit upon the Councell in name of the Kirk.
In the Assembly holden Anno 1586. These two articles were agreed
upon. First: “It is found that all such as the Scripture appointeth
governours of the Kirk, to wit Pastours, Doctours, and Elders, may
conveen to the generall Assemblies, and vote in Ecclesiasticall
matters.” Secondly: “There are foure office bearers set down to us by
the Scriptures, to wit Pastours, Doctours, Elders, and Deacons, and
the name of Bishop ought not to be taken as it hath been in time of
Papistrie, but is common to all Pastours, and Ministers.”
In the Assembly holden Anno 1587. Sess. 8. It was ordained that the
admission of Mr. Robert Montgomerie by the Presbyterie of Glasgow,
suppose to the temporalitie of the Bishoprick only, be undone and
annulled with all possible diligence, to the effect slander might be
removed from the Kirk. In Sess. 15. Mr. Robert Pont shewed the Kings
presentation to the Bishoprick of Cathnes, & desidered the judgment
of the Assembly. The Assembly in their letter to the Kings Majestie,
declared that they judged the said Mr. Robert to be a Bishop already
according to the Doctrine of St. Paul: But as to that corrupt estate or
office, of these who have been termed Bishops heretofore, they found
it not agreeable to the word of God, and that it hath been damned in
diverse Assemblies before.
In the instructions given to such as were appointed to wait upon the
Parliament, it was ordained in the same Assembly Sess. 17. That they be
carefull that nothing be admitted prejudiciall to the liberties of this
Kirk, as it was concluded according to the word of God in the generall
Assemblies, preceeding the year 1584. but precisely to seek the same to
bee ratified in the Assembly holden in March 1589, where the articles
were made for subscribing the confession of Faith with the generall
band, it was ordained as followeth.
“For so much as the neighbour Kirk in England, is understood to
bee heavily troubled, for maintaining of the true Discipline and
government: whose grieves ought to move us. Therefore the Presbytery of
Edinburgh was ordained to comfort the said Kirk in the said matter.”
In the Assembly holden 1590. when the confession of Faith was
subscribed universally _de novo_, a ratification of the liberties
of the Kirk, in her jurisdiction, discipline, Presbyteries, Synods,
and generall Assemblies, and an abrogation of all things contrarie
thereunto; was ordained to be sought both of the Councel and
Parliament. In the next Session it was ordained that the book of
Discipline, specially the contraverted heads, should be subscribed
by all Ministers that bear, or hereafter was to bear office in this
Kirk, and that they be charged by the Presbyteries, under the pain of
excommunication: Seeing the word of God cannot bee keeped in sincerity,
unlesse the holy Discipline be preserved. The Presbyteries were
ordained to get a coppie under the Clerks hand; there were sundrie
coppies subscribed by the Ministers in the Presbyteries yet extant, as
Hadingtoun, Dumfermling, &c. produced before the Assembly.
In the Assembly 1591. Sess. 4. The former act anent the subscription
to the book of Policie is renewed, and a penaltie imposed upon the
Moderatour, in case it be not put in execution.
In the Assembly 22 May 1592. Sess. 2. These articles were drawen up.
“That the acts of Parliament made 1584 against the Discipline libertie
and authoritie of the Kirk be annulled, and the samine discipline,
whereof the Kirk hath been in practise, precisely ratified. That
Abbots Pryors, and other Prelats pretending the title of the Kirk, be
not suffered in time comming.” In the 11. Session the number of the
Presbyteries were given up, and insert in the Parliament immediatly
following. The fifth of June 1592, the libertie, discipline, and
jurisdiction of the true Kirk, in her Sessions, Presbyteries, Synodal
and general Assemblies, is largely ratified, as the samine was used,
and exercised within this Realme, and all the acts contrary thereto
abrogat: The King’s prerogative declared not to be prejudiciall to the
same priviledges grounded upon the word of God; the former commissions
to Bishops 1584, rescinded, and all Ecclesiasticall matters, subjected
to Presbyteries, according to the discipline of this Kirk. Anno 1595,
The book of Policie with other acts is ratified and ordained to be
printed.
It was also cleared that Episcopacie was condemned in these words of
the Confession, HIS VVICKED HIERARCHIE. For the Popish Hierarchie
doth consist of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, that is baptizing
and preaching Deacons: For so it is determined in the councel of
Trent, in the 4. chap. _De Sacramento ordinis, cant. 6.[24] Si quis
dixerît in ecclesia Catholica non esse hierarchiam divina ordinatione
institutam, quæ constat ex Episcopis, Presbyteris & ministris, anathema
sit._ Bellarmine likewise in his book De Clericis cap. 11. saith,
“That there are three hierarchies in the militant Kirk: The first
of Bishops, the second of priests, the third of Deacons, and that
the Deacons are also Princes, if they be compared with the people:”
This proposition following: _Hierarchia ecclesiastica constat ex
Pontifice, Cardinalibus, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis & Regularibus_,
was censured by the Facultie of Theologie in the Universitie at
Paris, as followeth, _In ista prima propositione enumeratio membrorum
hierarchiæ ecclesiasticæ seu sacri principatus, divina ordinatione
instituti est manca & redundans atque, inducens in errorem contrarium
determinationi sacræ Sinodi Tridentinæ_: The prodelatarum position
was defective, because it pretermitted the Presbyters and Deacons; it
was censured as redundant, because it made the Hierarchic to consist
of the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, and Regulars; the Pope is not
within the Hierarchie, Primats, Metropolitanes, and Archbishops, but
as they are Bishops. Furthermore, this Hierarchie is distinguished in
the confession from the Pope’s monarchie. And howbeit this Hierarchie
be called the Antichrist’s Hierarchie, yet it is not to distinguish
betwixt the Hierarchie in the Popish Kirk, and any other as lawful:
But the Hierarchie, wheresoever it is, is called his, as the rest of
the Popish corruptions are called his: To wit, _Invocation of Saints,
canonization of Saints, dedication of Altars, &c._ are called his, not
that there is another lawfull canonization, invocation, or dedication
of altars: whatsoever corruption was in the Kirk, either in doctrine,
worship, or government since the mistery of iniquitie began to work and
is retained, and maintained, by the Pope, and obtruded upon the Kirk
by his authority, are his. A passage also out of the history of the
councell of Trent was alledged, where it is related, that the Councell
would not define the Hierarchie by the seven orders: we have in our
confession of Faith the manifold orders set apart and distinguished
from the Hierarchie, but as it is set down in the cannon above cited:
We have in the book of Policie or second booke of Discipline, in the
end of the second chapter, this conclusion agreed upon. _Therefore all
the ambitious titles invented in the kingdome of Antichrist, and in
his usurped HIERARCHIE which are not of one of these foure sorts, To
wit, Pastours, Doctours, Elders, and Deacons, together with the offices
depending thereupon, in one word ought to be rejected._
All which and many other warrands being publickly read, and
particularly at great length examined, and all objections answered
in face of the Assembly, all the members of the Assembly being many
times desired and required to propone their doubts, and scruples, and
every one being heard to the full, and after much agitation as fully
satisfied; the Moderatour at last exhorting every one to declare his
minde, did put the matter to voicing in these terms:—“Whether according
to the confession of faith, as it was professed in the year 1580. 1581.
and 1590, there be any other Bishop, but a Pastour of a particular
flock, having no preheminence nor power over his brethren, and whether
by that Confession, as it was then professed, all other episcopacie
is abjured, and ought to bee removed out of this Kirk?” The whole
Assembly most unanimously, without contradiction of any one (and with
the hesitation of one allanerly) professing full perswasion of minde,
did voice, _that all episcopacie different from that of a Pastour over
a particular flock, was abjured in this Kirk, and to be removed out of
it_. And therefore Prohibites underr ecclesiasticall censure any to
usurpe accept, defend, or obey the pretended authoritie thereof in time
coming.
* * * * *
Act Sess. 17. December 10. 1638.
_The Assembly at Glasgow, declaring the five Articles of Perth to have
been abjured and to bee removed._
The Assembly remembring the uniformity of worship which was in this
Kirk, before the articles of Perth, the great rent which entered at
that time, and hath continued since, with the lamentable effects,
that it hath produced, both against Pastours, and professours, the
unlawfulnesse and nullitie of Perth Assembly already declared by this
Assembly, and that in the necessarie renewing of the confession of
Faith in February 1638, the practise of novations introduced in the
worship of God, was suspended, till they should be determined in a free
generall Assembly: and that in the same year at his Majestie’s command
some had subscribed the confession of Faith, as it was professed when
it was first subscribed: For these causes the Assembly entered into a
diligent tryall of the foresaid articles, whether they be contrare to
the confession of Faith, as it was meaned and professed in the year
1580. 1581. 1590. and 1591. And findeth that first in generall: In the
confession of Faith we professe, “We willingly agree in our consciences
to the forme of Religion, of a long time openly professed by the Kings
Majestie, and whole body of this Realme, in all points, as unto God’s
undoubted truth and verity, grounded only upon his written word, and
therefore abhor and deteste all contrary Religion and Doctrine, but
chiefly, all kinde of papistrie, in generall and particular heads,
even as they were then damned and confuted by the word of God and Kirk
of Scotland, and in speciall, the Romane Antichrist, his five bastard
sacraments, with all rites, ceremonies, and false doctrine, added to
the ministration of the true Sacraments, without the word of God, his
cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament,
his absolute necessitie of baptisme, and finally, we deteste all his
vain allegories, rites, signes, and traditions brought into the Kirk
without, or against the word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed
Kirk, to the which we joyne our selves willingly in Doctrine, Faith,
Religion, Discipline, and use of the holy Sacraments, as lively members
of the same in Christ our Head; promising and swearing,” &c. And that
these five articles are contrarie to the Religion then professed, were
confuted by the word of God, and Kirk of Scotland, or are rites, and
ceremonies, added to the ministration, of the true Sacraments, without
the word [of] God, or nourish the popish judgement against Infants
departing without the Sacrament, or absolute necessitie, of Baptisme or
rites, signes, and traditions brought into the Kirk, without or against
the word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed Kirk.