Records of the Kirk of Scotland: containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.Church of Scotland. General Assembly
History
Records of the Kirk of Scotland: containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.
Church of Scotland. General Assembly
Church of Scotland -- History -- Sources
IV. The Judgements of the best Divines of the Reformed Kirks, and
of the most Pious and Learned of this Kirk since the Reformation,
concerning the Civil Places and Offices of Kirkmen, and concerning
the Vote of Ministers in Parliament, have been made known in divers
generall Assemblies; which moved the Assemblies of this Kirk, when they
could not by their modest opposition prevail to limit the Ministers
that were to Vote in Parliament, by any particular Cautions agreed
upon at first, and ordained to be inserted in the Act of Parliament,
and by other Cautions to be made afterward, as the Assembly should
find meet and necessary; and, therefore, if we will declare our minds,
after lamentable experiences of the Evils which were then foreseen,
feared, and foretold, we cannot see how Ministers voting in Parliament,
absolutely without the limitation of these Cautions, can be thought fit
to Vote in the name of the Kirk.
V. We have no Grievance more universal, more ordinary, and more
pressing, than that worthy men, who have Testimonies of their Learning
from Universities, and are tried by the Presbyteries to be qualified
for the Work of the Ministery, and for their Life and Gifts earnestly
desired by the whole People, are notwithstanding rejected because they
cannot be persuaded to Subscribe and Swear such unlawful Articles and
Oaths, as have neither warrant of the Acts of the Kirk, nor Laws of
the Kingdom, and others of less worth, and ready to swear for base
respects, unworthy to be mentioned, are obtruded upon the People,
and admitted to the most eminent Places of the Kirk, and Schools of
Divinity, which causes continual Complaints, makes the People run from
their own Kirks, refuse to receive the Sacrament at the hands of the
Ministers set over them against their hearts, or to render them that
Honour which is due from the People to their Pastors, and is a mighty
hindrance to the Gospel, to the Souls of the People, and to the Peace
of the whole Kirk and Kingdom; all which might be easily helped, by
giving place to the 114 Act of Parliament, 1592, declaring, That God
hath given to the Spiritual Office-bearers of the Kirk Collation and
Deprivation of Ministers, and ordaining that all Presentations to
Benefices be directed to particular Presbyteries in all time coming,
with full power to give Collation thereupon, they being the lawful
Office-bearers of the Kirk, to whom God hath given that right; which
therefore, never was nor can be taken from them, and so conferred upon
others, at that they shall be quite secluded therefrom.
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