A47584:429
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
These things being resolved, and sufficiently proved by evident Scriptures of God, we began every man to look more diligently to his Salvation: For the Idolatry and Tyranny of the Clergy (called the Church-men) was and is so manifest, that whosoever doth deny it, declareth himself ignorant of God, and enemy to Christ Jesus. We therefore, with humble confession of our former offences, with Fasting, and Supplication unto God, began to seek some remedy in so present a danger. ⟨p. 125⟩And first it was concluded, That the Brethren in every Town at certain times should assemble together, to Common Prayers, to exercise, in reading of the Scriptures, till it should please God to give the gift of Exhortation by Sermon unto some, for the Comfort and Instruction of the rest.
These things being resolved, and sufficiently proved by evident Scriptures of God, we began every man to look more diligently to his Salvation: For the Idolatry and Tyranny of the Clergy (called the Church-men) was and is so manifest, that whosoever doth deny it, declareth himself ignorant of God, and enemy to Christ Jesus. We therefore, with humble confession of our former offences, with Fasting, and Supplication unto God, began to seek some remedy in so present a danger. ⟨p. 125⟩And first it was concluded, That the Brethren in every Towne at certaine times should assemble together, to Common Prayers, to exercise, in reading of the Scriptures, till it should please God to give the gift of Exhortation by Sermon unto some, for the Comfort and Instruction of the rest.
And this our weak beginning God did so bless, that within a few Months the hearts of many were so strengthened, that we sought to have the face of a Church amongst us, and open crimes to be punished without respect of persons: And for that purpose by common Election, were Elders appointed, to whom the whole Brethren promised Obedience: For at that time we had no public Ministers of the Word; only did certain zealous men (amongst whom was the Laird of Dun,