The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 7 · Section 4 – Section 5
The Generall Act for abolishing of Episcopacy, and all Innovation… lately intended in the Church of Scotland.
THe Kings Majesty having graciously declared, that it is his Royall will and pleasure that all questions about Religion, and matters Ecclesiasticall, be determined by Assemblies of the Kirke, having also by publique Proclamation indicted this fr…e National Assembly, for setling the present distraction of this Kirke; and for establishing a perfect peace against such divisions and disorders as hath beene sore displeasing to his Majesty, and grievous to all his good Subjects; and now his Majes…ies Commissioner Iohn, Earle of Traquaire, instructed and authorized with a full Commission, being present, and sitting in this Assembly, now fully conveened and orderly constitute in all the members thereof, according to the Order of this Kirke, having at large declared his Majesties good will to the reformed Religion, and his Royall care and tender affection to this Kirke where his Majesty had both his birth and Baptisme, his great displeasure at the manifold distractions and division of this Kirk and Kingdome, and his desires to have all our wounds perfectly cured with a free and fatherly hand: And although in the way approved by the Kirke tryall hath beene taken in former assemblies before, from the Kirke Registers to our full satisfaction, yet the Commissioners grace making particular enquiry from the members of the Assembly, now solemnely conveened, concerning the reall, and true causes of so many and great evills at this time past, had so fore troubled the peace of this Kirke and Kingdome, it was presented to his Majesties Commissioner by this Assembly, that beside many other, the maine and most materiall causes was:
First, the pressing of this Kirke by the Prelates with a Service Booke, or Booke of Common Prayer, without direction or warrant from the Kirke, and containing (beside the Popish forme thereof) diverse Popish errours and Ceremonies, and the s…eds of manifold grosse superstitions and Idolatry, with a Booke of Canons without warrant or direction from the Generall Assembly, establishing a Tyrannicall power over the Kirke in the person of Bishops, and overthrowing the whole discipline and Acts of our Kirke; And with the High-Commion erected without the consent of the Kirke, subverting the jurisdiction and Ordinary Judicatories of this Kirke, and giving to persons meerely Ecclesiasticall power of both swords, and to persons meerely Civill, the power of the keyes and Kirke censures.
A Second cause was the Articles of Perth, viz. Observation of festivall dayes, kneeling at the Communion, Confirmation, Administration of the Sacraments in private places, which was brought in by a Civill Assembly, and are contrary to the confession of Faith, as it was meant and subscribed Anno. 1580. And diverse times since to the order and constitution of this Kirke.
Thirdly, the change of the government of the Kirke, from the Assembly of the Kirke, to the persons of some Kirkemen usurping the priority and power over their Brethren, by the way and under the name of Episcopall government against the Confession of Faith 1580. Against the Order set downe in the booke of Policy, and against the intentions and Constitutions of this Kirke from the beginning.
Fourthly, the Civill places and power of Kirkemen, their sitting and voycing in Parliament, and their sitting on the Bench as Justices of Peace, which according to the constituons of this Kirke, are incompatible with their spirituall functions, lifting them up above the Brethren in worldly Pompe, tending to the hinderance of the Ministery.
Fifthly, the keeping and authorizing of corrupt assemblies at Linlithgrow, 1606. and 1608. and at Glascow. 1610. at Aberdin 1616 at Saint Andrewes. 1617. at Perth, …618. which are null and unlawfull, as being called and constitu…e quite contrary to the Order and constitutions of this kirke, received and practized ever since the reformation o… Religion, and withall labouring to introduce Novation within this Ki…ke against the Order and Religion established.
A sixth cause is the want of the lawfull and free generall Assemblies rightly constitute, of Pastors, Doctors, and Elders, yearely or oftner pro re nata, according to the liberty of this Kirke, expressed in the Booke of Policy, and acknowledged in the Act of Parliament, 1592. After which his Majesties Commissioner having heard patiently and examined particularly, and all objections to the contrary, being answered to the full: The whole Assembly with expresse consent of his Majesties Commissioner in one heart and voyce did declare, that these and such other, proceeding from the neglect and breach of the Nationall Covenant of this Kirke and kingdome, made in Anno 1588. have beene indeed the true and maine Cause of all our evils and distractions. And therefore ordaines, according to the Constitutions of generall A…semblies of this Kirke, and upon the grounds respective above specified, That the foresaid Service Booke, Bookes of Canon and Ord…nation, and the High-Commission be still rejected. That the Articles of Perth, be no more practised. That Episcopall government, and the Civill places and power of Kirkemen, be holden still as unlaw…ull in this Kirke. That the above named pretended Assemblies at Linlithgrow, 1606. and 1608. at Glascow, 1610. at Aberdene, 1616. at Saint Andrewes, 1617, at Perth 1618. be hereafter accounted of, as null, and of none effect. And that for preservation of Religion, and preven…ng of all such evils in time comming, Generall Assemblies rightly Constitute, as the perfit and competent Judge of all matters Ecclesiasticall, hereafter be kept yearely, and oftner, as occasion and necessity shall require. The necessity being first remonstrate to his Majesty by humble supplication, as also of these occasionall Assemblies. That Kirke Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synodall Assemblies be constitute, and observed according to the Booke of Policy, and Order o… this Kirke.
The Bishop of Dunkell his Recantation.
BE it knowne to all men, me Master Alexander Lindsay, Minister of Sinadois; for so much as I, by my missive Letter sent by me to the Generall Assembly of the Kirke of Scotland, holden at Glascow the 21. of November last past, did freely submit my selfe, demit and lay downe at the foot of the Assembly, my pretended Office of Episcopacy, as pretended Bishop of Dunkell, and by my Letter promised to subscribe what ample forme of Commission, there anent the said Assembly should prescribe, and now the said reverent Assembly hath found, and declared the said office of Episcopacy, as it hath beene te…med and used within the said Kirke of Scotland, to be abjured by the comession of Faith, 1580. and 1581, and 1590. And therefore hath decerner the said Office to be removed out of the said Kirke of Scotland, as also seeing the said reverent Assembly hath decernet me according to my said Letter, to subscribe a more ample forme of demission, of the said pretended office in presence of Sir Iohn Montcrieff, of that Ilke Knight Baronet, Master Robert Murrey, Minister at Methuen, Master Iohn Roberton, Minister at Perth, Master Alexander Petrie, Minister at Rinde, and Thomas Durham, Burgesse of Perth, Commissioners appointed by them for that effect. Therefore, and for performance of my said Letter, and in obedience to the Ordinance of the said reverent. Assembly; Wit ye me to have demitted quite, claim'd and simpliciter overgeven, like as I now in presence of the said Commissioners, freely demits, quite claimes and simpliciter overgists the …oresaid pretended Office of Episcopacy of Dunkell, with the whole Title, stile, name, and dignity thereof, power of Ordination, Jurisdiction thereof, voyce in Parliament, and all usurpation of the same in time comming, and faithfully promises, and by these presents binds and obliges me never to exercise nor use the said pretended Office in the said kirke of Scotland, nor no power of Ordination, Jurisdiction, voyce in Parliament, neither any other power Ecclesiasticall belonging, usurped, and acclaimed to belong to the said pretended Office, like as according to the Act of the said reverent Assembly, I acknowledge the said Office of Episcopacy to be abjured in the foresaid confession of Faith, and therefore most justly ought to be removed out of this said kirke of Scotland, and the whole premises, I heartily acknowledge, as I will answer to God: in testimony hereof, I have subscribed these presents with my hand. Like as for further security hereof, I am content, and consent, that these presents be insert and Registrate in the generall Bookes of Assembly, therein to remaine Ad futuram rei memoriam. And to that effect constitute—my lawfull procutors, promittendo de rato. In witnesse whereof, written by Robert Readhench serviteur to Patricke Rosse, Notaire in Perth. I have subscribed the same with my hand, as said is, at Saint Andrewes, the 24. of Ianuary, 1639. before these witnesses, Master Iohn Paterson, Master Alexander Dundie, Student in Perth, and George Boswell serviteur to the said Sir George Mont…rieff.