Paftors, in fo far as they are Paftors, have not the Office of Vifitation of more Kirks joined to the Paftorfhip, without it be given to them.

It is a Corruption, that Bifhops fhould have further Bounds to vifit nor they may lawfully.

No Man ought to have the Office of Vifitation, but he that is lawfully chofen thereunto.

The Elderfhips, being well established, have Power to fend out Visitors one or more, with Commission to vifit the Bounds within their Eldership; and likewife af ter Account taken of them, either continue them, or remove them from Time to Time, to the which Elderfhips they should be always fubject.

The Civil Jurifdict on, in the Perfon of a Paftor, is a Corruption. It agreeth not with the Word of God, that Bishops should be Pastors of Paftors, Paftors of many Flocks, and yet without a certain Flock, and without ordinary Teaching,

It agreeth not with the Scriptures, that they should be exeemed from the Correction of their Brethren, and Difcipline of the particular Eldership of the Kirk where they fhall ferve, neither that they ufurp the Office of Visitation of other Kirks, nor any other Function beside other Ministers, but so far as fhall be committed to them by the Kirk.

Wherefore we defire the Bishops that now are, either to agree to that Order that God's Word requires in them as the general Kirk will prescribe unto them, not paffing their Bounds either in Ecclefiaftical or Civil Affairs, or elfe to be depofed from all Function in the Kirk.

We deny not, in the mean, but Ministers may and fhould affift their Princes, when they are requir ed, in all Things agreeable to the Word, whether it be in Council or Parliament, or otherwife; providing always they neither neglect their own Charges, nor, through Flattery of Princes, hurt the publick Estate of the Kirk.

But

But generally we fay, No Perfon, under whatfomever Title of the Kirk, and specially the abufed Titles in Papistry, of Prelates, Convents and Chapters, ought to attempt any Act in the Kirk's Name, either in Council or Parliament, or out of Council, having no Commission of the Reformed Kirk within this Realm.

And by Act of Parliament it is provided, that the Papistical Kirk and Jurifdiction fhould have no Place within the fame, and no Bifhop nor other Prelate, in Times coming, fhould ufe any Jurifdiction flowing from his Authority.

And again, that no other Ecclefiaftical Jurisdiction fhould be acknowledged within this Realm, but that which is and fhall be in the reformed Kirk, and flowing therefrom.

So we esteem holding of Chapters in a Papistical Manner, either in Cathedral Kirks, Abbeys, Colleges, or other conventual Places, ufurping the Name and Authority of the Kirk, to hurt the Patrimony thereof, or ufe any other Act to the Prejudice of the fame, fince the Year of our Lord 1560, to be an Abuse and Corruption, contrary to the Liberty of the true Kirk, and Laws of the Realm; and therefore ought to be annulled, reduced, and, in Times coming, utterly difcharged.

The Dependencies alfo of the Papiftical Jurifdiction are to be abolished; of the which Sort is the mixed Jurifdiction of the Commiffars, in fo far as they meddle with Ecclefiaftical Matters, and have no Commiffion of the Kirk thereto, but were elected in Time of our Sovereign's Mother, when things were out of Order. It is an abfurd Thing, that feveral of them, having no Function, of the Kirk, fhould be Judges to Minifters, and depofe them from their Places. Therefore they either would be discharged to meddle with Ecclefiaftical Matters; or it would be limited to them in what Matters they might be Judges, and not hurt the Liberty of the Kirk.

They alfo that formerly were of the Ecclefiaftick Eftate in the Pope's Kirk, or that are admitted of new to the Papistical Titles, and now are tolerate by the Laws

of

of the Realm to poffefs the two Part of their Ecclefiaftical Rents, ought not to have any further Liberty, but to intromit with the Portion affigned and granted to them for their Lifetimes, and not under the abufed Titles which they had, to difpone the Kirk-Rents, fet Tacks and Feus thereof at their Pleasure, to the great Hurt of the Kirk, and poor Labourers that dwell upon the KirkLands, contrary to all good Confcience and Order.

CHAP. XII.

Certain Special Heads of Reformation, which we

W

crave.

7 Hatfoever hath been spoken of the Offices of the Kirk, of the several Power of the Office-bearers, of their conjunct Power alfo, and lastly of the Patrimony of the Kirk, we understand it to be the right Reformation which God craves at our Hands, that the Kirk be ordered according thereto, as with that Order which is most agreeable to the Word.

But, because fomething would be touched in particu lar, concerning the Eftate of the Country, and that which we principally seek to be reformed in the fame, we bave collected them in thefe Heads following.

Seeing the whole Country is divided in Provinces, and thefe Provinces again are divided in Parifhes, as well in Landward as in Towns; in every Parish and reasonable Congregation, there would be placed one or morePastors, to feed the Flock; and no Paftor or Minister always to be burdened with the particular Charge of more Kirks or Flocks than one.

And, because, it would be thought hard to find out Pastors or Ministers to all the Parish-Kirks of the Realm, as well in Landward as in Towns; we think, by the Advice of fuch as Commiffion may be given to by the Kirk and Prince, Parishes in Landward, or small Villages, may be joined, two or three, or more in fome

places

Places together, and the principal and moft commodious Kirks to ftand, and be repaired fufficiently, and qualified Minifters placed thereat; and the other Kirks which are not found neceffary, may be fuffered to decay, their Kirk-yards always being kept for Burial Places; and in fome Places, where need requires, a Parish, where the Congregation is over great for one Kirk, may be divided into two or more.

Doctors would be appointed in Universities, Colledg es, and in other Places needful, and fufficiently provided for, to open up the Meaning of the Scriptures, and to have the Charge of Schools, and teach the Rudiments of Religion.

As for Elders, there would be fome to be Cenfurers of the Manners of the People, one or more in every Congregation, but not an Affembly of Elders in every particular Kirk, but only in Towns and famous Places, where Refort of Men of Judgment and Ability, to that Effect, may be had, where the Elders of the particular Kirks about, may conveen together, and have a com mon Eldership, and Affembly-place among them, to treat of all Things that concern the Congregations of which they have the Overfight.

And, as there ought to be Men appointed to unite and divide the Parishes, as Neceffity and Commodity re quires; fo there would be appointed by the General Kirk, with Affent of the Prince, fuch Men as fear God, and know the Estate of the Countries, that were able to nominate and defign the Places where the particular Elderfhips fhould conveeen, taking Confideration of the Diocefes, as they were divided of old, and of the Estate of the Countries and Provinces of the Realm.

Likewife, concerning Provincial and Synodal Affemblies, Confideration were eafy to be taken; how many and in what Places they were to be holden, and how oft they should conveen, ought to be referred to the Liberty of the General Kirk, and Order to be appointed therein.

The

The National Affemblies of this Country, called com. monly the General Affemblies, ought always to be retained in their own Liberty, and have their own Place; with Power to the Kirk to appoint Times and Places convenient for the fame; and all Men, as well Magiftrates as Inferiors, to be subject to the Judgment of the fame, in Ecclefiaftical Causes, without any Reclamation or Appellation to any Judge, Civil or Ecclefiaftical within the Realm,

The Liberty of the Election of Perfons called to the Ecclefiaftical Functions, and obferved without Interruption, fo long as the Kirk was not corrupted by Antichrift, we defire to be restored and retained within this Realm: So that none be intruded upon any Congrega tion, either by the Prince, or any inferior Perfon,without lawful Election, and the Affent of the People over whom the Perfon is placed; as the Practice of the Apof tolical and Primitive Kirk, and good Order cravé,

And because this Order, which God's Word craves, cannot stand with Patronages and Prefentations to Benefices used in the Pope's Kirk, we defire all them that truly fear God, earnestly to confider, that forafmuch as the Names of Patronages and Benefices, together with the Effect thereof, have flowed from the Pope, and Corruption of the Canon Law only, in fo far as thereby any-Perfon was intruded or placed over Kirks, having curam animarum; And forafmuch as that Manner of Proceeding hath no Ground in the Word of God, buɛ is contrary to the fame, and to the faid Liberty of Election, they ought not now to have Place in this Light of Reformation: And therefore, whofoever will embrace God's Word, and defire the Kingdom of his Sọn Chrift Jefus to be advanced, they will also embrace and receive that Policy and Order, which the Word of God, and upright Eftate of his Kirk crave; otherwife it is in vain that they have profeffed the fame

Notwithstanding, as concerning other Patronages of Benefices, that have not curam animarum, as they speak fuch as are Chaplainries, Prebendaries, founded upon temporal