Church of Scotland; Knox, John, approximately 1514-1572; Reformation -- Scotland; Theology -- Early works to 1800
"And least that this mutatioun shuld seame to sett all men at
libertie to lyve as thame list, We Secundarelie requyre, That it be
enacted by this present Parliament, that the Prelattis and thare
Officiaris[758] be removed from place of judgement; onlie granting
unto thame, nocht the less, the place of accusatouris in the
presence of a temporall judge, befoir whom the Churche men
accusatouris salbe bundin to call any by thame accused of heresye,
to whome also thei salbe bundin to deliver ane authentik copy of
all depositionis, accusationis, and process led against the persone
accused; the judge lykewyis delivering the same to the partie
accused, assignyng unto him a competent terme to answer to the
same, after he hath takin sufficient cautioun _de judicio sisti_.
"Thridly, We requyre, that all lawfull defences be granted to the
personis accused; as yf he be able to prove, that the witnesses be
personis unable by law to testifie aganis thame, that then thare
accusationis and depositionis be null according to justice.
"_Item_, That place be granted to the partie accused, to explane
and interprite his awin mynd and meanyng; which confessioun we
requyre be inserted in publict Actes, and be preferred to the
depositionis of any witnesses, seing that nane owght to suffer for
religioun, that is not found obstinat in his damnable opinioun.
"Last, We requyre, that our brethrene be not dampned for
Hereticques, onles, by the manifest word of God, thei be convicted
to have erred from that faith whiche the Holy Spreit witnesseth to
be necessarie to salvatioun; and yf so thei be, we refuise nott bot
that thei be punished according to justice, onles by holsome
admonitioun thei can be reduced to a better mynd.
"These thingis requyre we to be considered of yow, who occupy the
place of the Eternall God, (who is God of ordour and trewth,) evin
in suche sorte as ye will answer in the presence of his throne
judiciall: Requyring farder, that favorablie ye will have respect
to the tendernes of our consciences, and to the truble which
appeareth to follow in this commoun wealth, yf the tyranny of the
Prelattis, and of thare adherentis, be nott brydilled by God and
just lawis. God move your hartes deeplie to considder your awin
dewiteis and our present trubles."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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