A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

And Act 8. anent the Presbyteries providing and admitting Ministers to the Kirks which belonged to Bishoprics; It is always provided, that this be without prejudice of the interest of the Parishes, according to the acts and practise of the Kirk since the Reformation: In the 9. Act of the last Session of the same Parliament, Presbyteries are appointed to plant vacand Churches upon the suit and calling of the Congregation.

And Act 8. anent the Presbyteries providing and admitting Ministers to the Kirks which belonged to Bishopricks; It is alwayes provided, that this be without prejudice of the interest of the Parishes, according to the acts and practise of the Kirk since the Reformation: In the 9. Act of the last Session of the same Parliament, Presbyteries are appointed to plant vacand Churches upon the sute and calling of the Congregation.

In the fourth place, the point is confirmed from sound reason. For, 1. It is very expedient for the credit and better success of the Ministry, that a Bishop have a good name and testimony even among them that are without, as the Apostle teacheth, 1 Tim. 3. 7. It is much more necessary, that he be well liked and approved of them that are within the Church. 2. It is a common maxim among the Fathers, Schoolmen, ⟨p. 22⟩and Summists, Quod ad omnes pertinct ommium consensu siere debet. 3. As the free consent of people in the Election, is a great obligation and engagement, both to them, to Subject themselves in Christian and willing obedience to him, whom they have willingly chosen to be over them in the Lord, and to the person elected to love them, and to offer up himself gladly upon the service and sacrifice of their faith: So where this obligation or mutual union of the hearts of Pastor and People is wanting, mutual duties are not done [Greek or Hebrew], but as it were by constraint and necessity, they in the mean time drawing back from the yoke, and he, at the best watching over them, not with joy, but with grief and sorrow of heart. 4. In stead of peace and harmony, there shall be contention and contradiction, Gerhard. tom: 6. pag: 105. Ministros vocaricum consensu & suffragiis Ecclesiae cui praeficiuntur, alit mutuam concordiam inter auditors & Pastores, sum necessariam, a movet etiam dissidia ex neglectu hujus ordinis metuenda. 5. It breadeth great peace and confidence when one is thus called. Whittaker de Ecclesiâ quaest: 5. cap: 6. defendeth the calling of Luther, Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, &c. Upon this ground, quia sunt a populis & gregibus vocati. 6. Experience hath made men to know the comfortable fruits of free Election, and the unhappy success of violent intrusion. Constantius the son of Constantine, did put Orthodox Bishops from their places, and substitute Arians in their room, with the contradiction and reluctation of the Churches. The like did Papists in the Palatinate, and other places where their Dagon was set up again. So did the authors and urgers of the Interim in Germany. So did the Prelates in Scotland, England, Ireland. Upon all which intrusions many unspeakable evils did follow. If we after a second Reformation should now permit violent intrusions, this might well be a prologue to much confusion and disorder.