The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Here be pleased with me to remark, That of all the Bishops of Scotland before the Reformation, namely, since they were made Lords of certain places, and had particular Dioceses, you cannot find one who had any care of the true Charge of Pastor; for their whole study was, to raise their power, and to increase their means for the upholding of their power: and, to effectuate this more easily and fully, they kept both Prince and people in dark ignorance of Gods Will and Word. But because they must seem to do somewhat for the name sake of Bishops, they caused to build walls of Temples and Chapels, set up images and pictures richly dressed, to content the eyes, and brought into the Church Instruments of Music, and artificial Singing with great skill, to content the ear; Also they brought in sweet perfume and incense for the smell; so the most subtle senses were thus satisfied. And, to make a show to keep under the senses which are more gross, there must be some kind of Fasting enjoined to the people, and chasteness to the Church-men. But how, and to what purpose these two last have been kept, all men know. But kept or not, all is one, all these Ordinances which the Bishops set up for Religion, have been discovered by Gods mercy, to be not only without Warrant in Gods Word, but plainly contrary to the same. Of all the Bishops of Scotland in time of Reformation, there was only one or two who embraced the Truth, all the rest were either professed persecutors of Gods Children, and open enemies of the Truth, or else they were given altogether so to satisfy their bellies and lusts, that they had no care of Religion; witness George Creichton (in the name of all the rest) Bishop of Dunkell, who confessed truly, That he had lived a long time Bishop, and never knew any thing of the Old or New Testament.

Here be pleased with me to remark, That of all the Bishops of Scotland before the Reformation, namely, since they were made Lords of certain places, and had particular Diocesses, you cannot finde one who had any care of the true Charge of Pastor; for their whole studie was, to raise their power, and to encrease their means for the upholding of their power: and, to effectuate this more easily and fully, they kept both Prince and people in dark ignorance of Gods Will and Word. But because they must seem to do somwhat for the name sake of Bishops, they caused to build walls of Temples and Chappels, set up images and pictures richly dressed, to content the eyes, and brought into the Church Instruments of Musick, and artificiall Singing with great skill, to content the ear; Also they brought in sweet perfume and incense for the smell; so the most subtill senses were thus satisfied. And, to make a shew to keep under the senses which are more grosse, there must be some kinde of Fasting enjoyned to the people, and chastenesse to the Church-men. But how, and to what purpose these two last have been kept, all men know. But kept or not, all is one, all these Ordinances which the Bishops set up for Religion, have been discovered by Gods mercy, to be not onely without Warant in Gods Word, but plainly contrary to the same. Of all the Bishops of Scotland in time of Reformation, there was onely one or two who embraced the Truth, all the rest were either professed persecutors of Gods Children, and open enemies of the Truth, or else they were given altogether so to satisfie their bellies and lusts, that they had no care of Religion; witnesse George Creichton (in the name of all the rest) Bishop of Dunkell, who confessed truly, That he had lived a long time Bishop, and never knew any thing of the Old or New Testament.