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

FIRST REGISTER : PETITION TO COUNCIL 193
government, that it shall never enter into your hearts
to sett up any other kirk government here than that
which is established and hath been blessed of God
amongst us for many yeeres together, which all the
members of this Kirk are swome unto, and which
only they can in conscience acknowledge, so we doe,
as the servants of Jesus Christ, beseech your honours
that you would not grant the assistance of your
power to these pretended publiek Committees for
which you have been petitioned of late, nor counte¬
nance any other usurpations or irregular practises con-
trarie or prejudicial! unto the established government
of this Kirk, of any amongst ourselves who doe
acknowledge the same. The satisficing of these just
desires of your humble petitioners, as it will never
be a matter of greefe unto your honours, so will it
be a matter of much refreshing and encouragement
to the people of God throughout the land, and especi¬
ally to us, who shall study and endeavour, through
the grace and strength of our Lord, to serve Him in
the worke of the Gospell and administration of His
spirituall ordinances, faithfully and diligently in our
calling and stations, putting furth ourselves also to
the outmost of our power in the way competent to
us, that all such persons in ecclesiastick places as are
insufficient, unfaithfull in their work, or scandalous
in their conversation, be discovered, impartially tried,
and condignely censured, and purged out, in no wayes
stretching ourselves beyond the lyne of our calling,
but in our whole deportment behaveing ourselves as
becometh the Ministers of Jesus Christ; In whose
behalf we doe expect that satisfaction shall be given
to these our humble desires so much concerning the
interest of His Kingdome.
15th February 1656. Presented and subscrived, in name
of all the meeting, by Mr Ia: Wood.
Mr Ia: Hamiltoun.
Mr Wm: Jhonstoun.
Mr Tho: Kirkcaldie.
vol. i.