decerns and declares that all and sundry who either gainsayeth the word of the evangel received and approved, as the heads of the confession of faith professed in parliament before, in the year of God 1560." At this parliament there are several acts made against Popery, as against the mass, and against the Pope's authority and jurisdiction for such as were for the reformation, or the congregation (as they were then called) did supplicate that they would condemn the antichristian doctrine, and would restore the discipline of the ancient church, and discharge the Pope's jurisdiction; and, accordingly, as was said, there is an act made" ordaining that the bishop of Rome, called the Pope, have no jurisdiction nor authority within the realm in any time coming, and that no bishop, or other prelate of the realm, use any jurisdiction in time coming by the said bishop of Rome's authority, under the pain," &c.; which was afterwards ratified by several acts in the days of King James.

And thus by act of parliament the reformed religion is established, the church government by prelates is virtually discharged, because then prelates had no power but what they had from Rome, and when the current is cut off at the head it must needs cease in the streams. But this will be the more clear, if we consider how the reformers were dealing for the establishment of discipline together with the doctrine, knowing that the doctrine would not be long kept pure if the popish discipline and government were still retained; and upon this the great council giveth a charge, dated April 29, 1560,"Requiring and commanding them, in the name of the eternal God, and as they would answer in his presence, to commit to writing, and in a book deliver their judgments touching the reformation of religion, which heretofore in this realm (as in others) hath been utterly corrupted." According unto which charge the first book of discipline, as it was called (in which book the government of the church by prelates is overturned, church sessions are established, the way of election and trial of ministers, contrary to the episcopal way, is appointed, and several other things tending to the right governing of the church, are determined), is drawn up and presented to the council, May 20, 1560; whereupon there is an act of council to this effect: 66 We, who have subscribed these

presents, having advised with the articles therein specified, as is above-mentioned, from the beginning of this book, think the same good, and conform to God's word in all points, conform to the notes and additions hereto eeked; and promise to set the same forward to the uttermost of our power, providing that the bishops, abbots, priors, and other prelates and beneficed men, who else have adjoined them to us, bruik the revenues of their benefices, during their lifetimes, they sustaining and upholding the ministry and ministers, as herein is specified, for the preaching of the word, and administrating of the sacraments." And this act is subscribed by twenty-six noblemen, and among the rest by Mr Gordon, who was bishop of Galloway, and by the Dean of Murray. Spotswood, in his history, is so convinced that this book was directly against the prelates, that he saith, p. 174, "It was framed by John Knox, partly in imitation of the reformed churches of Germany, and partly of that which he had seen at Geneva :" neither of which churches did favour prelates.

It is true the late historian, the archprelate, would make the world believe that the superintendents which are spoken of in that book of discipline were nothing else but bishops; but his fond mistake in this will appear to any who will but consider these particulars: 1. What the thoughts were which this archprelate had of this book which treateth of those superintendents; as, (1.) That "it was framed by John Knox," and famous Knox, first nor last, was never a friend to prelates or Prelacy. (2.) He saith that it was done in imitation of reformed churches such as Geneva and those of Germany, and these churches knew no prelates. (3.) He saith "It was no better nor a dream, and so could never take effect;" but had it been an establishing of Prelacy, it had been no dream in his account, and he would have said that it had taken effect. (4.) He willed and wished that John Knox had retained the old policy, and so this book contained a policy distinct from the old policy, and a policy which was not the same with Prelacy. 2. What the thoughts were which such as were for the reformed religion had of it. Now they looked on it as the discipline of the ancient church, and therefore, after it was drawn up, they did supplicate the parliament for the "restoration of the disci

pline of the ancient church, and for the discharging of the Pope's usurpation, and of all that discipline which did flow therefrom," as being inconsistent with the discipline of the ancient church, and with the discipline contained in that book. But, 3. It cannot enter into the heart of any rational man to think that these reformers were so inconsiderate as to set up prelates with the one hand when they were doing what lay in their power to pull them down with the other. It was not popish prelates alone which they were labouring to turn out of the church of Christ; for, when some of those who had been popish prelates before had relinquished Popery and embraced the reformed religion, and had subscribed unto the book of discipline, as Mr Gordon in Galloway, yet they would not suffer such to exercise the power of superintendents. Mr Gordon with all his money could not obtain that power, so that Spotswood, when he saith in his Latin pamphlet, called Refutatio Libelli de Regimine Ecclesiæ Scoticance, p. 4, and also in the epistle dedicatory, that "The former bishops who joined with the reformers kept still their full power and jurisdiction," bewrayeth his impudence and falsehood. His words in his epistle are these: "Et præsulibus pristinis, modo fidei orthodoxa non restitissent, nec adempta, dignitas, nec imminuta fuisset jurisdictio, quod ita_liquet, ut hoc vel inficiare sit nogare Solem in ipsa meridie, lucere ;" and in the book he saith, "Quotquot autem a puriore cultu non abborrehant, iis jus utendi, fruendi Episcopatuum fructibus et privilegiis omnibus, jurisdictio etiam, quam ante usurpabant, quatenus religionis incolumitas pateretur continuata." This is the height of impudency thus to avow palpable untruths; and that the faithfulness of this historian may for ever after be suspected, let it be observed, that in his history, which he wrote in English, and which every one might have more easily understood, and so discovered his falsehood, he durst say no more but that these bishops enjoyed the rents of their benefices; see p. 175. Moreover, 4. Moreover, 4. The book of discipline itself giveth the clear ground of their appointing of those superintendents in these words, "We consider, that if the ministers whom God hath endued with his singular graces amongst us, should be appointed to several places, there to make their continual residence, that then

the greatest part of the realm should be destitute of all doctrine, which should not only be the occasion of great murmur, but also be dangerous to the salvation of many; and, therefore, we have thought it expedient at this time—by this means the simple and ignorant, who perchance have never heard of Jesus truly preached, shall come to some knowledge, and many that are dead in superstition and ignorance shall attain to some feeling of godliness, by the which they shall be provoked to seek farther knowledge of God and his true religion and worship

and therefore we desire nothing more earnestly than that Christ Jesus be once universally preached throughout the realm," &c. From whence it appeareth that these superintendents were only chosen for that present exigent, when there were so few learned and able ministers, and so many places of the country destitute of ministers; so that the harvest was great and the labourers very few. Superstition and Popery were remaining in many places of the country, and people were in hazard to continue therein, having either no minister to clear the truth to them, or such only who were ready to harden them in their superstitious courses, and, therefore, there was a necessity at that time, while the church was but in fieri, that some of the most able of the ministry should be appointed to travel through such and such places of the country to preach the gospel, and to see to the planting of faithful and able ministers, according to the rules set down in the book of discipline. But, 5. So cautious were the reformers, that they would not acknowledge those to be bishops, either in name or thing; for as their work was extraordinary, so they gave them an extraordinary name: they would not suffer any who had been bishops before in time of Popery to enjoy the place and power of a superintendent, lest the and place might be abused, and at length degenerate unto the old power of prelates; but even in those bounds where such lived, did appoint others to superintend, as Mr Pont in Galloway. They would not divide the bounds of those superintendents according to the prelates' dioceses, but after another manner. They divided the land into ten parts, having respect to the edification. and advantage of the poor people. These superintendents were chosen by the consent of the whole bounds which they were to visit. They were not consecrated, but only

power

pre

set apart to that work by preaching and prayer, as it is to be seen in the order fixed to the old psalm-books. They were tried and examined by the ministers of these bounds. They had other ministers conjunct with them when they ordained any. Neither had they the sole power of excommunication; for reformed churches had power, by the book of discipline, to excommunicate the contumacious; and the tractate of excommunication prefixed to some old psalmbooks, showeth that they might do it without the advice of the superintendent. They were subject to the censure of the ministers and elders of the province, who might depose them in some cases. Their main work was preaching; for they were to preach at the least thrice every week. They had their own particular flocks beside, with which they stayed always, save when they were visiting the bounds committed unto them. They might not themselves try any minister, but were commanded to have the nearest reformed church, and other learned men conjunct, by an act of the fourth National Assembly, 1562. They might not transport a minister without the consent of the synod, as is clear by act fourth of the fifth National Assembly, 1562. They might not discuss any important question themselves, as is clear by act first of the ninth National Synod, 1564. All were at liberty to appeal from them to the National Synod, as is clear by act fifth, Assembly sixth. They were to be subject to the Assembly, as is clear by the fourth Assembly, 1562. They never did moderate in General Assemblies, unless they had been chosen by votes. Who can be so foolish, then, as to believe Mr Spotswood's saying in his History, p. 258, that "the power of superintendents was episcopal; for they did elect and ordain ministers, they did preside in synods, and direct all church censures; neither was any excommunication pronounced without their warrant," seeing the public acts of the National Assemblies are of more credit than this prelate, who knew as little what it was to be a faithful historian as he knew what it was to be an accurate logician? Beside that, at the National Assembly, 1562, there were some ministers chosen to assist the five superintendents (for no more could be got settled for want of maintenance) and had equal power with them, and were commanded to give account of their diligence unto every National Synod, and there to lay down

their office: and Mr Spotswood hath not the face to say that these commissioners had episcopal power; and yet their power was equal with the power of superintendents.

When the church had thus shaken off (so far as lay in her power) the yoke of Prelacy, she beginneth to exercise that power which Christ had given to her, and that same year, 1560, there is a National Assembly kept, which did make several canons concerning the ordering of the affairs of the church; and yearly thereafter, once or oftener pro re nata, according to, and by virtue of her intrinsic power, she did keep her courts, notwithstanding that, in the meantime, the queen and the court were but small friends to the protestant cause.

Anno 1564, the National Assembly did send some commissioners to the queen, to desire, among other things, "That no bishopric, &c. having more churches than one annexed thereunto, should be disponed in time coming to any one man; but that the churches thereof, being dissolved, should be provided to several persons, so as every man having charge may serve at his own church, according to his vocation."

Anno 1566, at the eleventh National Assembly, the second Helvetian confession of faith was presented, and approven in all points (except in the particular concerning festival days); by which confession Prelacy is accounted an human device, and no ordinance of Christ.

But Satan, envying the fair beginnings of this infant church, stirred up some of the statesmen against her, who, having possession of church rents, and prelates' benefices, and fearing to lose the same, did therefore devise a way for establishing themselves in the possession of those church rents, by getting in some Tulchan bishops (as they were called), who might have the name of the whole benefice, but rest contented with a small part to themselves, leaving the rest in the hands of these nobles; and, accordingly, the Earl of Morton stirred up the Earl of Marr, then viceroy, to convocate an Assembly at Leith, by the means of the superintendent of Angus, who, when they did meet, Jan. 12, 1571, did nominate six of their number to meet with six appointed by the council; and these twelve did condescend to several things tending to the setting up of prelates. And, according to these resolutions, the Earl of Morton get

teth one Mr Douglas made bishop of St. Andrews, Mr Boyd, of Glasgow, Mr Paton, of Dunkeld, and Mr Graham, of Dunblane. This was a very sad stroke; but God did not leave that poor church in that case; for within two months thereafter a National Assembly did meet, who, finding that these resolutions gave such offence, did appoint some of their number to examine the same; but the acts of this Assembly were thereafter taken out of the registers. And, in August 1572, at the National Assembly, there was a protestation made against these innovations, and "that whatever condescension should be yielded unto, should be only for the interim, till a more perfect order might be obtained :" so at the Assembly in August 1573, it was decreed, that "bishops should have no more power than the superintendents had." Mr Paton of Dunkeld is accused for taking more, and Mr Gordon of Galloway is condemned. And in the next Assembly it is concluded that every bishop should be subject to the Assembly, and should confer no benefice without the advice of three ministers. Spotswood, the false historian, thought that, because of his silence, the world should never have gotten notice of this, which these Assemblies did of purpose to hem in the power of these prelates, whom the court was setting up with such violence, at such a time when they could do no more.

At length the day breaketh up clearer, and about the year 1575 the Lord stirreth up his servants, and putteth spirit and courage in them, so that in the Assembly it was debated whether these new bishops, superintendents, and commissioners, were an honour or a burden to the church. Mr John Durie protested that they should do nothing in prejudice of what he and many other brethren had to object against their office. Mr James Lawson did second this, and moved the debate touching the lawfulness of the office itself. Mr Andrew Melville affirmed, "that none ought to be office-bearers in the church whose titles were not found in the book of God; and for the title of bishop, albeit the same was found in Scripture, yet was it not to be taken in the sense that the common sort did conceive; there being no superiority allowed by Christ amongst ministers, he being the only Lord of his church, and all the same servants, in the same degree, having the like power." These beginnings the Lord

was pleased to second with his blessing, that when it was moved by the regent, whether they would stand unto the policy agreed upon at Leith, or settle some other form of government, it was resolved that a constant form of church policy should be set down; and, for this effect, they nominate twenty of their number to meet at several times and places for the drawing the model thereof. And, accordingly, after some pains, the second book of discipline is finished, and, at the General Assembly, 1577, sess. 13, approven in all points, except that touching deacons, which was referred to further debate; but, anno 1578, that head, with the rest, was approven by the unanimous consent of all, though Spotswood will not let

the world know so much.

When this second book of discipline is thus approven by the National Assembly, after prayer and fasting, they appoint some of their number to exhibit it to his Majesty, to the end he might add his approbation thereunto. Unto whom the king (being then about thirteen years of age) did promise" that he would be a proctor unto the church ;" and caused some of his counsellors confer with those ministers upon that business (the heads of which conference were once insert in the registers of the Assembly, but, anno 1584, when the court had power of the registers, those leaves were taken away, and seen no more, as shall be cleared hereafter); and again, anno 1579, the king wrote unto the National Assembly, desiring a farther consultation upon the heads on which his commissioners and their delegates did not accord last year, to the end that, when all the particulars are fully agreed upon, they might be approven in the ensuing parliament." And in the meantime the Assemblies are going on, prohibiting any more bishops to be chosen, and ordaining such as were chosen to submit themselves to the determination of the General Assembly, under the pain of excommunication; and, accordingly, some then, and all of them afterward, did submit. So, anno 1580, they ordained that all who were called bishops should demit simpliciter, because that office had no warrant in the word; and they ordained provincial synods to call before them such bishops as lived in their bounds, and ordain them to give obedience to this act. His Majesty's commissioners, who were present at this Assembly of Dundee, did concur with this Assembly in ap

pointing some of their number to consult about the model of the presbyteries.

In this same year, in the month of March (for as yet the new year did not begin until the 25th of March), is the national covenant solemnly taken by the king, his council and court, and afterwards by the inhabitants of the kingdom; in which covenant Prelacy, under the name of "Romish hierarchy," was abjured, as shall be cleared in due time, and the doctrine and discipline of the church was sworn to be defended.

Anno 1581, in April, at Glasgow, the General Assembly did insert the book of discipline in their registers, and did show how the act touching bishops, made at Dundee, anno 1580, did condemn the estate of bishops as they were then in Scotland. Unto this Assembly his Majesty's commissioner, William Cuninghame of Caprintoun, presented the confession of faith, subscribed by the king and his household, as also a plot of the presbyteries to be erected, mentioning their meeting places, and appointing the several parishes which should belong to such and such presbyteries, with a letter to the noblemen and gentlemen of the country, for their concurrence for the erection of presbyteries, and dissolution of prelacies, and, in his Majesty's name, he promised that his Majesty would set forward the policy, until it were established by parliament; and thus presbyteries began to be erected throughout the kingdom.

This was a sweet sunshine, but it was followed with a very sad shower, for when Esme Stuart of Aubigne, afterward Duke of Lennox, obtaineth, by the death of the Earl of Morton, who was executed, and the banishment of the Earl of Angus, the superiority of Glasgow, and other things, to secure the same to him and his posterity, he agreeth with Mr Robert Montgomery, minister at Stirling, to accept of the bishopric, and to dispone to him all which belonged to that bishopric for the yearly payment of one thousand pounds Scots, and some horse corn, and poultry, which, when the church heareth, he is summoned before the Assembly at St. Andrews, and commanded to leave the bishopric under the pain of excommunication; and the presbytery of Stirling is appointed to take notice of his carriage in doctrine and discipline; for they had found him guilty in fourteen or fifteen points: but he went on; and, notwithstanding the presbytery had

suspended him from the exercise of the ministry, he procured an order the presbytery of Glasgow to receive him as their bishop under the pain of banishment; and, with a company of armed soldiers, entered the church and pulled Mr David Weemes out of the pulpit; and, being summoned to compear before the synod of Lothian, the king causeth summon all the synod to compear before him at Stirling the 12th of April. Mr Pont, and some others compeared, in name of the rest, and protested "that albeit they had compeared to testify their obedience to his Majesty, yet they did not acknowledge him or his council judges in that matter, which was an ecclesiastic cause, and that nothing done at that time should prejudge the liberties of the church." But the council rejected the protestation, and discharged them to proceed any further. And shortly thereafter, when the General Assembly is examining his process, the king sendeth a letter to them, discharging them to proceed any further, and when they went on notwithstanding, they are charged by a messenger of arms to desist under the pain of rebellion; but they, thinking it better to obey God than man, ordained Mr Montgomery to compear before them the next day, who compeared not, only a proctor in his name appealed unto the king. The Assembly did reject the appellation, and proceeded to examine the libel given in against him, and, finding him guilty of many heinous crimes, they ordain him to be deposed and excommunicated; but ere the sentence be pronounced, they appoint some of their number to acquaint his Majesty with their whole procedure. And, ere long, Mr Montgomery submitteth, passeth from his appellation, acknowledgeth his faults, and professeth repentance, with such solemn obtestations as affected the whole assembly. Upon this the sentence is delayed, and the presbytery of Glasgow is appointed to advertise the provincial synod of Lothian (who were ordained to excommunicate him) in case he relapsed; and, as they feared, so he returned to his vomit, and with violence intended to enter the pulpit. And when the presbytery, according to the appointment of the General Assembly, were beginning a process against him, the Laird of Minto, provost of the town, presented a warrant from his Majesty to stay the process; and, when they were going on, he pulleth forth Mr John Howie