Читать книгу The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland - Church of Scotland. General Assembly - Страница 21

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The general Assembly, having heard the libels and complaints, given in against the foresaids pretended Bishops to the Presbyterie of Edinburgh, and sundry other Presbyteries within their pretended Dyocies, and by the saids Presbyteries referred to the Assembly, to be tryed: The saids pretended Bishops being lawfully cited, often-times called, and their Procutour Doctour Robert Hammiltoun, and not compearing, but declining and protesting against this Assembly, as is evident by their declinatour, and protestation given in by the said Doctour Robert Hammiltoun minister at Glasfoord, which by the acts of Assembly is censurable with summar excommunication: Entered in consideration of the said declinatour, and finding the same not to be relevant, but on the contrare to be a displayed banner against [pg 019] the setled order and government of this Kirk, to be fraughted with insolent and disdainful speeches, lies and calumnies against the lawful members of this Assembly, proceeded to the cognition of the saids complaints, and libels against them; and finding them guiltie of the breach of the cautions, agreed upon in the Assembly holden at Montrose, Anno 1600. for restricting of the minister voter in Parliament, from incroaching upon the liberties and jurisdiction of this Kirk, which was set down with certification of deposition, infamie, and excommunication, specially for receiving of consecration to the office of Episcopacie, condemned by the confession of Faith, and acts of this Kirk, as having no warrand, nor foundament in the word of God, and by vertue of this usurped power, and power of the high Commission, pressing the Kirk with novations in the worship of God, and for sundrie other haynous offences, and enormities, at length expressed, and clearly proven in their processe, and for their refusal to underly the tryal of the reigning slander of sundrie other grosse transgressions and crymes laid to their charge: Therefore the Assembly moved with zeal to the glorie of God, and purging of his Kirk, hath ordained the saids pretended Bishops to be deposed, and by these presents doth depose them, not only of the office of Commissionaire to vote in Parliament, Councel, or Convention in name of the Kirk, but also of all functions whether of pretended Episcopal or ministerial calling, declareth them infamous. And likewise ordaineth the saids pretended Bishops to be excommunicate, and declared to be of these whom Christ commandeth to be holden by all and every one of the faithful as ethnicks, and publicanes; and the sentence of excommunication to be pronounced by Mr. Alexander Henderson, Moderatour in face of the Assembly in the high Kirk of Glasgow; and the execution of the sentence to bee intimat in all the Kirks of Scotland by the Pastours of every particular congregation, as they will be answerable to their Presbyteries and Synods, or the next general Assembly, in case of the negligence of Presbyteries and Synods.

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