BURIALL in all aiges hath bene holden in estimatioun, to signifie that the same body that was committed to the earth should not utterlie perishe, but should ryse agane. And the same we wold have keapt within this Realme, provided that superstitioun, idolatrie, and whatsoever hath proceaded of a fals opinioun, and for advantage saik, may be avoyded; as singing of Messe, Placebo, and Dirige, and all other prayeris over or for the dead, are not onlie superfluous[560] and vane, but also ar idolatrie, and do repugne to the plane Scriptures of God. For, plane it is, that everie one that dyeth, departeth eather in the fayth of Christ Jesus, or ellis departeth in incredulitie: Plane it is, that thei that depart in the treu fayth of Christ Jesus, rest frome thair laubouris, and frome death [doe] go to lyef everlasting, as by oure Maister and by his Apostle we ar taught: But whosoever departe in unbeleve or in incredulitie, shall never see lyef, but the wrayth of God abydeth upoun him. And so, we say that Prayeris for the Dead ar not onlie superfluous[561] and vane, but do expreslie repugne to the manifest Scripturis and veritie thairof. [560] In edit. 1621, "which are not only superstitious." [561] In edit. 1621, "superstitious." [Sidenote: REFERRES THIS ARTICLE TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCHE.] For avoyding all inconvenientis,[562] we judge it best, that neather singing nor reading be at the Buryall: for albeit thingis song and red may admonishe some of the leving to prepair thame selfis for death, yit shall some superstitious and ignorant personis ever think,[563] that the workis synging or reading of the levying do and may proffat the dead. And thairfoir, we think most expedient that the Dead be convoyed to the place of buriall with some honest cumpany of the Churche, without eather singing or reading; yea, without all kynd of ceremony heirtofore used, uther than that the dead be committed to the grave, with suche gravitie and sobrietie, as those that be present may seame to fear the judgmentis of God, and to hate synne, whiche is the caus of death. [562] In edit. 1621, "of all inconvencies." [563] In edit. 1621, several words in this sentence, are omitted. [Sidenote: [ADDITIO.][564] [564] This addition is not contained in the edit. 1621, or any other copy. AND YIT, NOCHTWITHSTANDING, WE ARE NOT SO PRECISE, BUT THAT WE AR CONTENT THAT PARTICULAR KIRKIS USE THAME IN THAT BEHALF, WYTH THE CONSENT OF THE MINISTERIE OF THE SAME, AS THEI WILL ANSWEIR TO GOD, AND ASSEMBLIE OF THE UNIVERSALL KIRK GATHERED WITHIN THE REALME.