XI - Of the present abuses remaining in the Kirk, which we desire to be reformed

AS it is the duty of the godly Magistrate to maintain the present liberty, which God hath granted by the preaching of his Word, and the true administration of the Sacraments within this Realm: So is it to provide, that all abuses which yet remaine in the Kirk, be removed, and utterly taken away.

Therfore first the admission of men to papisticall titles of benefices, such as serve not, nor have no function in the Reformed Kirk of Christ, as abbotes, commendators, priors, prioresses, and other titles of Abbeyes, whose places are now for the most part by the just judgement of God demolished, and purged of idolatry, is plaine abuse, and is not to receive the Kingdom of Christ amongst us, but rather to refuse it.

Such like that they that of old were called the chapiters & convents of Abbeyes, cathedrall kirks, & like places, serve for nothing now, but to set fewes & tacks, if any thing be left of the Kirk lands, and teinds, in hurt and prejudice therof, as daily experience teacheth, and therefore ought to be uterly abrogate and abolished.

Of the like nature are the Deanes, Archdeacones, Chantours, Subchantours, Thesaurers, Chancellors and others having the like titles flowing from the Pope and Canon Law onely, who have no place in the reformed Kirk.

The Kirks also which are united together, and joyned by annexation to their benefices, ought to be separated and divided, and given to qualified Ministers, as Gods word craves.

Neither ought such abusers of the Kirks Patrimony to have vote in Parliament, nor sit in Councell under the name of the Kirk and Kirkemen, to the hurt and prejudice of the liberty therof, & lawes of the Realm made in favour of the Reformed Kirk.

Much lesse is it lawfull, that any person amongst these men should have five, sixteen, twenty or moe Kirks, all craving the charge of soules, and bruike the patrimony thereof, either by admission of the Prince, or of the Kirk, in this light of the Evangell. For it is but a mockage to crave reformation, where such like have place.

And in so farr, as in the order taken at Leith in the yeare of our Lord 1571, it appeares that such may be admitted, being found qualified; either that pretended order is against all good order, or else it must be understood not of them that be qualified in worldly affaires, or to serve in court, but such as are qualified to teach Gods word, having their lawfull admission of the kirk.

As to Bishops, if the name ἐπίσκοπος be properly taken, they are all one with the ministers, as before was declared. For it is not a name of superioritie, and Lordship, but of office and watching.

Yet because in the corruption of the kirk, this name (as others) haue been abused, and yet is likely to be, wee cannot allow the fashion of these new chosen Bishops, neither of the Chapiters that are Electors of them to such offices, as they are chosen unto.

True Bishops should addict themselves to a particular flock, which sundry of them refuse, neither should they usurpe Lordship over their brethren, and over the inheritance of Christ, as these men doe.

Pastors, in so farr as they are pastors, have not the office of visitation of moe kirkes joyned to the pastorship, without it be given to them.

It is a corruption, that Bishops should have further bounds to visit, nor they may lawfully.

No man ought to have the office of visitation, but he that is lawfully chosen thereunto.

The Elderships being well established, have power to send out visitours one or moe, with commission to visit the bounds within their Eldership, and likewise after count taken of them, either continue them, or remove them from time to time, to the which Elderships they shall be alwayes subject.

Criminall jurisdiction in the person of a pastor, is a corruption.

It agreeth not with the word of God, that Bishops should bee Pastors of Pastors, Pastors of many flockes, and yet without a certain flock, and without ordinary teaching.

It agreeth not with the Scriptures, that they should be exemed from the correction of their brethren, and discipline of the particular Eldership of the Kirk, where they shall serve, neither that they usurpe the Office of visitation of other Kirks, nor any other Function beside other Ministers, but so far as shall be committed to them by the kirk.

Wherefore, we desire the Bishops that now are, either to agree to that order that Gods word requires in them, as the generall Kirk will prescribe unto them, not passing their bounds, either in Ecclesiasticall or Civill affaires, or else to be deposed from all function in the Kirk.

We denie not in the meane time, but Ministers may and should assist their Princes when they are required, in all things agreeable to the Word, whether it be in Councell or Parliament, or otherwayes, providing alwayes they neither neglect their owne charges, nor through flattery of Princes, hurt the publick estate of the Kirk.

But generally, we say no person, under whatsoever title of the Kirk; and specially the abused titles in Papistrie, of Prelates, Convents, and Chapters, ought to attempt any act in the Kirks name, either in Councell, or Parliament, or out of Councell, having no commission of the Reformed Kirk within this Realme.

And by Act of Parliament it is provided, that the Papisticall kirk and jurisdiction should have no place within the same, and no Bishop nor other Prelate in times comming should use any jurisdiction flowing from his authority.

And againe, that no other Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction should be acknowledged within this Realm, but that which is, and shall be in the reformed Kirk, and flowing therfrom.

So we esteem holding of Chapiters in Papisticall manner, either in Cathedrall Kirks, Abbeyes, Colledges, or other conventuall places, usurping the name and authority of the Kirk, to hurt the patrimony therof, or use any other Act to the prejudice of the same, since the yeare of our Lord 1560 yeares, to be abuse and corruption, contrary to the liberty of the true Kirk, and lawes of the Realme, and therefore ought to be annulled, reduced, and in times comming utterly discharged.

The dependances also of the papisticall jurisdiction are to be abolished, of the which sort is mingled jurisdiction of the commissars, in so farr as they meddle with Ecclesiasticall matters, and have no commission of the kirk thereto, but were elected in time of our Soveraignes mother, when things were out of order. It is an absurd thing that sundry of them having no function of the Kirk, should be judges to ministers, and depose them from their roomes. Therfore they either would be discharged to medle with Ecclesiastical matters, or it would be limited to them in what matters they might be iudges, and not hurt the libertie of the kirk.

They also that of before were of the Ecclesiastique estate in the Popes kirk, or that are admitted of new to the papisticall titles, and now are tollerate by the lawes of the realme to possesse the two-part of their ecclesiasticall rents, ought not have any further liberty, but to intromet with the portion assigned and granted to them for their lifetimes, and not under the abused titles which they had to dispon the kirk rents, set tackes and fewes thereof at their pleasure, to the great hurt of the kirk and poore labourers, that dwell upon the kirk lands, contrarie to all good conscience and order.