The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Thirdly, Your Lordship declareth how displeasant it is to you that I should be seduced by an infamed person of the Law, and by the flattery of a forsworn Apostate, that under pretence of his giving forth, maketh us to understand, That he is a Preacher of the Gospel, and therewith raiseth Schisms and Divisions in the whole Church of God: And by our maintenance and defence would infect this Country with Heresy, alleging that to be Scripture, which these many years past hath been condemned as Heresy by the general Councils, and whole estate of Christian people. Answ. The God that created heaven and earth, and all that is therein, preserve me from seducing: for I dread others; many under the colour of godliness are seduced, and think that they do God a pleasure, when they persecute one of them that profess his Name. What that man of the Law is, we know not; we hear none of his flattery, his perjured Oath of Apostasy is unknown unto us: But if he have made any unlawful Oath, contrary to Gods commandment, it were better to violate it, then to observe it. He Preaches nothing to us but the Gospel, if he would do otherwise, we would not believe him, nor yet an Angel of heaven: we hear him sow no Schisms nor Divisions, but such as may stand with Gods Word, which we shall cause him to confess, in presence of your Lordship and the Clergy, when ye require us thereto. And as to it that hath been condemned by general Councils, we trust you know well, that all the general Councils have been at diversity among themselves, and never two of them universally agreeing in all points, in so much as they are of men. But the Spirit of Verity that bears testimony of our Lord Jesus, hath not, neither can err. For heaven & earth shall perish, ere one jot of it perish. Beyond this, my Lord, neither teacheth he neither will we accept of him, but that which agrees with the Word of God, set forth by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists, left to our salvation in express words. And so my Lord, to condemn the Doctrine not examined, is not required:

Thirdly, Your Lordship declareth how displeasant it is to you that I should be seduced by an infamed person of the Law, and by the flattery of a forsworn Apostata, that under pretence of his giving forth, maketh us to understand, That he is a Preacher of the Gospel, and therewith raiseth Schismes and Divisions in the whole Church of God: And by our maintenance and defence would infect this Countrey with Heresie, alleadging that to be Scripture, which these many yeeres past hath been condemned as Heresie by the generall Councells, and whole estate of Christian people. Answ. The God that created heaven and earth, and all that is therein, preserve me from seducing: for I dread others; many under the colour of godlinesse are seduced, and think that they do God a pleasure, when they persecute one of them that professe his Name. What that man of the Law is, we know not; we hear none of his flattery, his perjured Oath of Apostasie is unknown unto us: But if he have made any unlawfull Oath, contrary to Gods commandment, it were better to violate it, then to observe it. He Preaches nothing to us but the Gospel, if he would do otherwise, we would not beleeve him, nor yet an Angel of heaven: we heare him sowe no Schismes nor Divisions, but such as may stand with Gods Word, which we shall cause him to confesse, in presence of your Lordship and the Clergy, when ye require us thereto. And as to it that hath been condemned by generall Councels, we trust you know well, that all the generall Councels have been at diversity among themselves, and never two of them universally agreeing in all points, in so much as they are of men. But the Spirit of Verity that bears testimony of our Lord Jesus, hath not, neither can erre. For heaven & earth shal perish, ere one jot of it perish. Beyond this, my Lord, neither teacheth he neither will we accept of him, but that which agrees with the Word of God, set forth by the Patriarks, Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists, left to our salvation in expresse words. And so my Lord, to condemn the Doctrine not examined, is not required: