The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER, there began question of the abolishing of certain Tyrannical ACTS made before, at the Devotion of the Prelates, for the maintaining of their Kingdom of Darkness. ⟨p. 37⟩To wit, That under pain of Heresy, no man should read any part of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue, neither yet any Tractate or Exposition of any place of Scripture: Such Articles began to come in question we say: And men began to enquire, If it were not lawful to men that understood no Latin, to use the word of their Salvation in the Tongue they understood, as it was for the Latin men to have it in Latin, Grecians or Hebrews to have it in their Tongues. It was answered, That the Church, he means the Prelates, first had forbidden all Tongues but the three viz. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. But men demanded, when that Inhibition was given, and what Council had ordained it; considering that in the days of Chrysostom, he complained, That the people used the Psalms and other holy Books in their own Tongues: And if ye will say they were Greeks, and understood the Greek Tongue; We answer, That Christ Jesus commanded his word to be Preached to all Nations; now if it ought to be Preached to all Nations, it must be Preached in the Tongue they understand. Then if it be lawful to Preach, and hear it Preached in all Tongues; Why should it not be lawful to read it, and hear it read in all Tongues? to the end that the people may try the spirits, according to the commandment of the Apostle. Beaten with these and other Reasons, they denied not but it might be read in the Vulgar Tongue, provided if the Translation were true. It was demanded, What could be reprehended in it? And when much searching was made, nothing could be found: But that Love say they was put in the place of Charity: When the Question was asked, What difference was betwixt the one and the other; and if they understood the nature of the Greek term [Greek or Hebrew], they were dumb. Reasoned for the party of the seculars, The L. Ruthven, father to him that prudently gave counsel to take just punishment upon that knave David, for that he abused the unhappy K. Henry Stuart, in mo cases then one, a stout and a discreet man in the cause of God, and M. Henry Balneves, an old professor. For the part of the Clergy, one Hay, Dean of Lastarrik, and certain old Bishops with him.

The PARLIAMENT approached which was before EASTER, there began question of the abolishing of certaine Tyrannicall ACTS made before, at the Devotion of the Prelates, for the maintaining of their Kingdome of Darkenesse.