|
THIR ACTIS AND ARTICLES WAR REDIN FACE OF
PARLIAMENT, AND RATIFIED BE THE THRE ESTAITIS OF THIS
REALM, AT EDINBURGH, THE SEVINTENE DAY OF AUGUST,THE YEAR OP GOD Jm. Vc. AND THRESCOIR YEARIS.
Cited Works of Knox, vol 2 p 120-122.
This oure CONFESSIOUN was publictlie red, first in
audience of the Lordis of Articles, and after in audience
of the haill Parliament; whair war present, not onlie
suche as professed Christ Jesus, but also a great number
of the adversaries of our religioun, suche as the
foirnamed Bishoppis, and some others of the Temporall
Estate, who war commanded in Goddis name to object, yf
thei could, any thing against that doctrine. Some of our
Ministeris war present, standing upoun thair feit, reddye
to have ansuered, in caise any wald hail defended the
Papistrie, and impugned oure affirmatives: but whill that
no objectioun was maid, thair was a day appointed to
voting In that and other headis. Oure Confessioun was redd,
everie article by itself, over agane, as thel war wryttin
in ordour, And the vottis of everie man war requyred
accordinglie Of the Temporall Estate onlie voted in the
contrair, the Erie of Atholl,the Lordis
Somervaillland Borthwik ;and yit for thair
disasseñting thei produced no bettir reassone, but, “We
will beleve as oure fatheris beleved.” The Bischoppis, (Papisticall,
we meane,) spack nothing.. The rest of the haill thre
Estaittis, by thair publict votes, affirmed the doctrine;
and many, the rather, becaus that the Bischoppis wold nor
durst say nothing in the contrair; for this was the vote
of the Erle Merschell, ” It is long since I have had some
favour unto the trewth, and since that I have had a
suspitioun of the Papisticall religioun; but, I praise my
God, this day hes fully resolved me in the one and the
other. For seeing that my Lordis Bischoppis, who for
thair learing can, and for the zeall that thei should bear
to the yeritie, wold, as I suppose, ganesay any thing that
directlie repugnes to the veritie of God; seing, I say, my
Lordis Bischoppis heir present speakis nothing in the
contrair of the doctrine proponed, I can nott but hold it
to be the verie trewth of God, and the contrarie to be
deceavable doctrine. And thairfoir, so far as
in me lyeth, I approve the one and dampne the other:
And do farther ask of God, that not onlie I, but also all
my posteritie, may enjoy the comforte of the doctrin that
this day our earls have hearde. And yitt more, I man vote,
as it war by way of protestatioun, that yf any persones
ecelesiasticall shall after this oppone thame selfis to
this our Confessioun, that thei have no place nor credite,
considdering that thei having long advisement, and full
knawledge of this oure Confessioun, none is now found in
Iauchfull, free, and quyete Parliament to oppone thame
selfis to that whiche we professe: And thairfoir, yf any
of this generatioun pretend to do it after this, I protest
he be repute rather one that loveth his awin comrnoditie
and the glorie of the world, than the trewth of God, and
the salvatioun of menis saullis.’’
After the voting and ratificatioun of this oure
Confessioun, by the hail! body of the Parliament, thair
war also pronunced two Actis, the one against the Masse
and the abuse of the Sacramentis, and the other against
the Supreamacye of the Pape ; the tenouris whairof
followis :—
The
Act for abolishing the Jurisdiction of the Pope.
The Act for abolishing the Mass.
An independent view of the proceedings in Parliament.
|
