It is not unknawne that holy ministrie of God that hes chosen to himself a kirk, and that frae the beginning, whilk shall continow for ever, and the same is the congregatione and companie of the faithfull professors of Christ; and in his kirk God hes appointit his ministers to ministrat, and calls men to be ministers of the same, that be the samen ministrie, the elect of God may be callit, regenerat, and nourishit to everlasting life. For preservation of the holie ministrie and kirk in puritie, the Lord has appointit Assemblies and Conventions, not only of the persons appointed to the ministrie, but also of the haill members of the kirke professing Christ; the whilk kirk of God hes continwallie used and still uses the same assemblies, sanctified be the word of God, and authorised be the presence of Jesus Christ. It is also knawne unto your Grace, that sen the tyme God blessed this countrey with the light of his evangell, the haill kirk maist godlie appointed, and the same be act of parliament authorised, that twa godlie Assemblies of the haill generall Kirk of this realme sould be ever ilk year; alswell of all members thereof in all estates as of the ministers: the qwhilk Assemblies hes been sen the first ordinance, continuallie keepit in sic sort, that the maist noble thereof, the hiest estate, hes joynit themselves be their owne persone, in the Assemblies, as members of one bodie, concurrand, votand, and authorizand all things there, proceeding with their brether: And now, at this present, the Kirk is assemblit according to the godly ordinance, and looks to have concurrence of their brethren in all estates, and wisches of God that your Grace and Lords of Privie Councill, will authorize the Kirk in this present Assemblie, be your presence, or be uthers havand your commissioune in your Grace and Lordship’s name, as members of the Kirk of God; ffor, as your Grace’s presence and the nobilities should be unto us most comfortable, and so most earnestlie wished of all, so your Grace’s absence is to us most dolorous and lamentable; whereof follows the want of ane great part of the members that weill cannot be absent from the treiting of these things that perteins to the Kirk and policie thereof, in assembly altogether, to be handlit be the advyce of all, and to the qwhilk end the Assemblies are appointit, the authoritie thereof your Grace knawes to be sic as the contempt of it tends to the dishonour of God; and, therefore, as ye esteem your selves to be members of Christ and of his Kirk, schaw the fruits thereof; of the qwhilk it is not the leist to joyn yourselves to the Kirk, not only be hearing the word and receaving the sacraments, but also in conveining with your brether in the holy assemblies: The qwhilk to doe we giue you admonitione in the name of the Lord; extending this admonitione to every persone, of whatsoever estate, that are present with your Grace; and specially we admonische the