XIII - The utilitie that shall flow from this reformation to all Estates

Seeing the end of this spirituall government and policie, whereof we speak, is, that God may be glorified, the kingdome of Iesus Christ advanced, and all who are of his mysticall body, may live peaceable in conscience: Therfore we dare boldly affirme, that all these who have true respect to these ends, will even for conscience cause gladly agree and conforme themselves to this order, and advance the same, so farre as lyeth in them, that their conscience being set at rest, they may be replenished with spirituall gladnesse in giving full obedience to that which Gods word, and the testimony of their own conscience doth crave, and refusing all corruption contrary to the same.

Next we shall become an example and patterne of good and godly order to other nations, countries, and Kirkes professing the same Religion with us, that as they have glorified God in our continuing in the sincerity of the Word hitherto, without any errours, praise be to his name. So they may have the like occasion in our conversation, when as we conforme our selves to that discipline, pollicie, and good order, which the same Word, and purity of reformation craveth at our hands. Otherwise that fearfull sentence may be justly said to us, The servant knowing the will of his Maister, and not doing it, &c.

Moreover, if we have any piety or respect to the poore members of Iesus Christ, who so greatly increase and multiply amongst us, we will not suffer them to be longer defrauded of that part of the patrimony of the kirk, which justly belongs unto them, and by this order, if it be duely put to execution, the burden of them shall be taken off us to our great comfort, the streets shall be cleansed of the cryings and murmurings of them, as we shall no more be any skandall to other Nations, as we have hitherto been for not taking order with the poore amongst us, and causing the word which we professe to be evill spoken off, giving occasion of sklander to the enemies, and offending the consciences of the simple and godly.

Besides this, it shall be a great ease and commodity to the whole common people, in relieving them of the building and upholding their kirks, in bigging of brigges and other like publique workes: to the labourers of the ground in payment of their teinds, and shortly in all these things, whereinto they have been hitherto rigorously handled by them that were falsly called kirkemen, their tacksmen, factours, chalmerlanes and extortioners.

Finally, to the Kings Majestie, and common wealth of the countrey this profite shall redound, That the other affaires of the kirk being sufficiently provided, according to the distribution of the which hath been spoken: the superplus being collected in the treasurie of the kirk may be profitably imployed, and liberally bestowed upon the extraordinary support of the affaires of the Prince and Common-wealth, and specially of that part which is appointed for reparation of kirks.

So to conclude, all being willing to apply themselves to this order, the people suffering themselves to be ruled according thereto; the Princes and Magistrates not being exemed, and these that are placed in the ecclesiasticall estate rightly ruling and governing, God shall be glorified, the kirk edified, and the bounds thereof inlarged, Christ Iesus and his Kingdome set up, Satan and his kingdome subverted, and God shall dwell in the midst of us, to our comfort, through Iesus Christ, who together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, abides blessed in all eternity. Amen.