Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	discipline_n	doctrine_n	4,176	5	6.2312	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11746	A short relation of the state of the Kirk of Scotland since the reformation of religion, to the present time for information, and advertisement to our brethren in the Kirk of England, by an hearty well-wisher to both kingdomes.	Warriston, Archibald Johnston, Lord, 1611-1663.	1638 (1638)	STC 22039; ESTC S116925	12,349	22

A SHORT RELATION Of the State of the Kirk of SCOTLAND since the Reformation of Religion to the present time for information and advertisement to our Brethren in the Kirk of England By an hearty Well-wisher to both KINGDOMES Printed in the yeare of God 1638. THE Kirk of Scotland after the reformation of Religion did by degrees attaine to as great perfection both in doctrine discipline as any other reformed kirk in Europe The soundnesse of Doctrine appeareth in her severall Confessions of Faith approven by all the best reformed Kirkes in forraine parts But because puritie of Religion cannot bee long preserved without that platforme of Government which the Word of God hath laid foorth unto us her nationall assemblies laboured diligently many years to finde out the same and after many conferences and publick reasoning resolved upon these conclusions which are contained in the booke of Policie or second booke of Discipline But shortly thus much for the present Each Parish beeing provided of a Minister who underwent tryalls before his admission to the place and behoved to be qualified both for life learning and skilfull government was ruled by him and the Elders thereof beeing the men of best life understanding in the said Parish Twelve sixteene or twentie of these Kirks were conjoyned in a Pres-byterie or classicall meeting that did meete weekly and exercise their gifts by course and had the power of ordinary jurisdiction ordination suspension deprivation excommunication or direction to the parish Minister to excommunicat after the sight of the processe deduced by the particulare Eldership collation of benefices visitation of kirks within their bounds The enormitie of Ministers either in life or doctrine were dela●ed either by some parochinar or neighbour Minister Persons of whatsoever qualitie in the Co●gregations who would not obey their owne Ministers and Elders were censured If verie great difficulties come before them or if the Pres-byterie had adoe with great parties who did withdraw any of their number in these the like cases there was recourse had to the provincial Synods The whole Pres-byterie of a shire or two mett twise a-yeare in their Synod tryed presbyteries and ordered what was disficle for the presbyteries or might concerne them al in common If any difficultie come before them for which there was no kirk constitution they referred the same to the nationall Assembly which conveened once a yeere or oftner pro re nata Where they gave their judgment in the case preponed and made some act constitution for the like cases in time comming and other acts and constitutions needfull received appellations petititions grievances and appointed some to propone their owne grievances to the Parliament King Counsellor Convention This was the supreme and highest Kirk judicatorie to which was made the last appeale which was composed of these members his Majesties self or a Commissionar representing him two or three Ministers chosen by each Presbitery one Gentleman an Elder within the bounds of a presbyterie A commissioner for each regall burgh and two for Edinburgh some one of these Ministers was chosen to moderat or preside by the voices of the whole assembly This supreme judicatorie so censured the omissions of the subordinat that no vice of any person whtasoever escaped censure no error could sooner set out its head but it was presently crushed by one of these as King IAMES confessed in diverse discourses and gave that reason why so few errours had appeared in the kirk of Scotland because they could not escape the censure of one of these Ecclesiasticall judicatories This forme of government so comfortable to the religious and profitable to the kirke was insufferable to many of higher rank who did not think this yoke of Christ so easy as to enjoy their wished libertie without controulment which made a number of these with Courtiers and some of the Ministers who were more loose worldly minded suggest unto King Iames of ever blessed memorie that He had not so much power in the kirk as in the commonwelth because when any of these libertines committed any offence he could not save them from kirk censure although his Majestie had alwayes power to remit the civill censure punishment His Majestie beeing then hopefull of the kingdom of England they added that reason that if he obtained the Kirke of Scotland to be governed by Bishops as that of England was he would thereby endeare to himself the kirk men there who might otherwise suspect his affectiō to their state being acquainted with another forme of kirk government if he should not evidence it by labouring that change And if he shuld eshablish the government of Bishops in Scotland he might bee as absolute in the kirk as in the Common-wealth Thus they kindled in his Majesties heart the des●e of an absolute power over the kirk beeing specially moved by their owne particular ends Great men for obtaining erection of kirklands which then appertained to the Crowne in recompense from his Majestie for assisting the erection of Bishops in the kirk of Scotland His Majestie being assured of the Bishops consent of inferiour kirkmen in hope of suceeeding to the said Bishopricks and of both for vindicating themselves into a licentious liberty from under the awfull censure of the Kirk was so earnest on that designe that hee made it his most speciall indevour but suppressing the same withall that hee might obtine it the more easily Where-unto hee attained by degrees which are heere set down shortly in some generall heads Wee refer the par●iculars to a more large information which shall contain the degrees course of defection advancement of Hierar by in our kirk First his Majestie Propounded the necesatie to have Ministers voters in Parliament in the name of the kirk who sitting in Parliament might bee carefull that nothing were done in prejudice of the kirk and might carrie the desires of the whole Kirke to the Parliament for such things as were convenient for them The medling of Ministers in these civill imployments was extremely disliked opposed by the most judicious in this Kirk To make the Ministers voting in Parliament the more plausible and to move the more easie condiscendence therto they were tyed to such caveats viz. that they should propone nothing in Parliament Convention or Counsell without expresse warrant from the kirk nor keep silence when any thing is proponed there to the prejudice of the Kirke That they should give an account of their Commission after each Parliament to the next nationall Assembly and be subject either to their censure of deposition incase they did transgresse To attend faithfully their particular flocks as Ministers in the administration of discipline collation of benefices or other points of ecclesiasticall government to usurpe or acclaime no jurisdiction over their brethren A number of such caveats beeing agried upon in the assembly should have beene ratified in the next parliament But these beeing suppressed there was insert

their Iudges whereas they offered under the paine of their lives to prove many haynous crymes against them and such as were palpable to the World as their introduction of Poperie and Arminianisme their many publick transgressions against Law The whole Nobilitie Gentrie Burrowes Ministers and Commons who had now so often supplicat and so long attended were cast into great difficulties considering their Religion so well warranted by Gods Word and established by the lawes of the Kirke and Kingdome was now begunne to bee changed both in doctrine and discipline at the pleasure of the fourteene Bishops and the liberties of the Countrie like to bee infringed by their usurpation and that having complained often upon them to his Majestie by his Counsell were answered by the former declaration approving these Popish bookes their wicked unlawfull proceedings and condemning the Supplicants lawfull and peaceable meetings and humble waye of supplicating as prejudiciall to regall authoritie prohibiting also their necessar meetings in time comming All these did move the Supplicants to bethinke the renewing of the nationall Covenant of this Kirke Kingdom the breach whereof hath beene a speciall cause to bring these evills upon them to bee a good meane for obtaining the Lords wonted favour having many examples in holy Scripture that the people of GOD have happily renewed their Covenant with GOD. This their Covenant containeth nothing in substance but that which is contained in the Confession of Faith and generall band formerly made for maintenance of Religion acts of Parliament made at sundie times The Confession of Faith was approved by diverse Acts of secreet Counsell and generall Assemblbes It was first subscribed by King IAMES himself and his whole House-hold after by all his Subjects commanded by publick Proclamation to subscribe Subscription to this Confession hath beene in continuall practise when any persons suspect of Papistrie were to be tryed likewise masters of Schooles Colledges were ordained by act of Assemblye to cause their Schollers subscribe when they were to passe their degrees which hath beene observed to this day The practise of subscribing beeing in continuall use to this time was a sufficient warrant for the Supplicants to subscribe the same for manifesting their affection to GODS trueth and holding out all Popish superstition To the said Confession are subjoyned such acts of Parliament as ratified the heads thereof and were made in favours of Religion professed in the same Together with a part of the generall band formerly made and subscribed by authoritie of King Iames and his Counsell binding all the Subjects to the defence of Religion and his Majesties person and each to other in these two causes The Supplicants bind themselves to forbeare all approbation or practise of corruptions and innovations brought in this Kirk till the forme of their entry their lawfulnes or expediencie be tryed in a free generall Assemblye and to labour by all meanes lawfull to recover the puritie and libertie of the Gospell as it was professed and established before the entrie of the said Novations But withall they declare that the novations and evills contained in their Supplications complaints protestations have no warrant in the word of God and are contrare to the articles of the forsaid confession acts of Parliament They promise to forbeare the practise and approbation of novations already entred till a free assembly and Parliament because they were never condiscended upon but in pretended Assemblies and upon conditions which have not beene observed besides that protestations have beene made contrare to the same This Covenant was subscribed by many thousands in Februarie last yea in a very short time by almost the whole Kingdome It was publickly read and sworne in most Kirks with great motion prayers and teares all professing repentance for their sinnes specially for their breach of Covenant to God in suffering the puritie of his worship to bee thus tainted The desire of true knowledge wrought by it in the hearts of the people may approve it to bee a speciall meane appointed by God for reclaiming this Nation to himself The supplicants having now both by oath subscription manifested their desires to be religious their hearts loyall and faithfull to their Prince beeing now barred from dealing with the privy Counsell who admitted the Bishops to sit as Iudges in the cause after the Supplicants had declined them as parties and beeing desirous his Majestie should bee rightly informed that hee might give a gratious answer they thought it expedient to write to the Duke of Lennox Marquesse of Hamiltoun Earle of Mortoun as speciall members of this state because they had neere accesse to his Majestie not doubting that they could not but bee very sensible of these evills complained upon desired them to learne from his Majestie if hee would bee pleased to receive a new petition from the Supplicants immediatly or if they should make their desires knowne to his Majesty by their Lordships This supplication was sent to have been delivered if his Majestie would have received it and also some articles containing their just desires for their Lordships information His Majestie was not willing to receive the supplication but perusing the articles did remit his gratious answere to bee delivered by the Marquesse of Hamiltoun who was to bee sent as his Majesties Commissioner with instructions and power for settling the peace of this kingdome Vpon the thirtie day of May a ship arrived at the road of Leith carrying a great deale of munition as Cannon powder with Cannon ball musquets Pikes and match for the Castle of Edinburgh foretold threatned by the Bishop of S. Andrewes and his followers who affirmed the providing that Castle and fortifieng the towne of Leith to bee the onely meane to beate down Edinburgh and force them to undergoe any thing should bee injoyned as also to hold the supplicants out of it c. Upon suspition that the putting of this munition in the Castle would be stayed the Lord Thesaurer did convey it quyetly to Mussilburgh harberie and from thence to Dalkeith The people remembering the threatnings preceeding and considering that such provision had not beene made for these places these thirtie yeares by past began to suspect danger The Supplicants suspecting that the same would bee imployed against the bodie of the Kingdome who were ayming at no thing but the preservation of Religion and the Subjects libertie resolved without giving offence to keepe a watch lest any of that provision should bee conveyed into these places against the wonted custome For these are the greatest forts in the Countrie appointed for her sastetie and not for her hurt The Marquesse of Hamilton being appointed his Majesties Commissioner did send a number of missives to his friends followers acquaintance in Scotland from Court to meet him at Haddingtoun and Dalkeith the fifth day of Iunij Where-upon the Papists applauding to the Service booke bragged that they with some neutralls and such as