be troubled; ffor all things that may seeme lawful edifie not. Give the commandment of the authoritie urge the conscience of you and our brethren farther than they can bear, we unfainedly crave of you that ye remember ye are called the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. All civil authoritie hes not the light of God alwayes shyning before their eyes in their statutes and commandments; but their affections savour over meikle of the earth and of worldly wisdome, and, therefore, wee think you should boldly oppone yourselves to all that power that will or dare extoll itselfe not only against God, but also against all sic as dare burden the conscience of the faithfull farder then God hes burdened them be his own word. But herein we may confesse our offence in that we have entered farther in reasoning than we proposed and promised at the beginning; and, therefore, we shortly returne to our former humble supplication, whilk is, that our brethren, who amongst you refuse the Romish raggs, may finde of you the Prelats sic favour as our Head and Master commands every one of his members to show to one another, whilk we look to receave of your gentleness, not only for that ye feare to offend God’s majestie in troubling your brethren for sic vain trifles, but also because ye will not refuse the humble request of us, your brethren and fellow-preachers, in whom, albeit there appear not great worldly pomp; yet we suppose that ye will not so farr despyse us, but that ye will esteem us to be of the number of them that fight against that Roman Antichrist, and travell that the Kingdome of Christ may be universally advanced. The dayes are evill, iniquitie abounds, Christian charitie is waxin cold, and, therefore, we ought more diligently to watch, for the hour is uncertaine when the Lord Jesus shall appear, before whom ye, your brethren, and we, must give ane account of our administratione. And this, in conclusione, again we once crave favor to our brethren, whilk granted, ye in the Lord shall command us in things of double more importance. The Lord Jesus rule your hearts in true feare unto the end, and give unto you and us victorie over that conjured enemie of all true religione, to witt, over that Roman Antichrist, whose wounded head Satin preases by all means to cure again. But to destruction shall he and his maintainers goe, by the power of our Lord Jesus; to whose mighty protectione we heartily committ you. From Edinburgh, out of our Generall Assembly, and third Sessione thereof, the 27th of December 1566. Your Loving Brethren and fellow-preachers in Christ Jesus.