_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 controverted 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 drawn 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, Priors, and other Prelats pretending the title of the Kirk, be not suffered in time coming._ 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 Kings prerogative declared not to be prejudicial to the same priviledges grounded upon the word of God, the former commissions to Bishops 1584. rescinded, and all Ecclesiastical matters, subjected to Presbyteries, according to the discipline of this Kirk.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 WICKED HEIRARCHIE. 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, can. 6_.