Series 3 > Register of the consultations of the ministers of Edinburgh and some other brethren of the ministry > Volume 1

84 THE REGISTER OF CONSULTATIONS
such persons in the minis trie as should be found scandalous
or unsufficient.
10. It is matter of sad grief to us that, whereas, through
the mercie and good hand of our God, Reformation of
Religion in doctrine, worship, discipline, and Government
according to His Holy Word, was settled amongst us,
ratifyed by the Law of the land, and a Covenant was
taken and sworne to the Most High God for defence and
mantenance thereof in all its parts in this Kirk of Scotland,
as is expressed in the first article of the Covenant, there is
a Toleration of any whatsoever erroneous persons that
shall mask themselves under the title of a gathered Kirk,
that some members of this Kirk solemnlie sworne to the
doctrine and government thereof, are countenanced to
oppose the same, and that, through want of the effectual
exercise of discipline, poperie itselfe doth so grow and
spread, and semmarie preests and Jesuites resort from
forraigne Nations, and traffick in the land to the evident
danger both of Religion and Civill Government.
Remedies
For remeedieing of those greevances and evills, it is
necessarie to have the Ecclesiastick Government runing
in its right channell and going on in its exercise, as it is
established in this Kirk, according to the Word of God,
by Acts of Generali Assemblies, confirmed by many Acts
of Parliament. And particularlie,
1. That none of the judicatories of the Kirk be impeded
to assemble and to act and exercise Ecclesiastick power
competent to them by the Word of God and Constitutions
of this Kirk.
2. That the cognition and determination of all Ecclesi¬
astick affaires be permitted and left to be exercised by
the judicatories of the Kirk, as is by warrand of God’s
Holy Word concluded by Acts of Assemblies acknowledged
and ratified by the Lawes of the Nation.
3. That no person be intruded into the Ministerial! office
in aine congregation without the lauchull assent and elec-