Page:Winding-sheet for the service-book, &c., or, Reasons for which the Book of Common Prayer urged upon Scotland, anno 1637, and now practised in many places in that kingdom, ought to be refused.pdf/5

 the Loſſe he may make of his good Subjects Affections, by commanding ſuch a Change, as the urged Liturgie would bring to the Peace of our Church, and the Reſpect due to the Acts of Parliament, and longe Custome, whereby our Church-diſcipline, Order, and Government hath been eſtabliſhed.

HE Aſſembly having diligently conſidered the Book of Common-Prayer, lately obtruded upon the Reformed Kirk within this Realme, both in Reſpect of the Manner of the Introducing thereof, and in Reſpect of the Matter which it containeth; Findeth, that it hath been deviſed and brought in by the pretended Prelats, without Direction from the Kirk, and preſſed upon Miniſters, without Warrant from the Kirk, to be univerſally received, as the only Form of Divine-ſervice, under all higheſt Pains, both Civil and Eccleſiaftical: And the Book it ſelf, beſide the Popiſh Frame and Forms in Divine Worſhip, to containe many Popiſh Errors and Ceremonies, and the Seeds of manifold and groſs Superſtition and Idolatrie. The Aſſembly therefore, all in one Voice, hath rejected, and condemned, and by theſe Preſents, doth reject and condemne the ſaid Book, not only as illegally introduced, but alſo, as repugnant to the Doctrine, Diſcipline and Order of this reformed Kirk, to the Confeſſion of Faith, Conſtitutions of Generall Aſſemblies, and Acts of Parliament eſtabliſhing the true Religion; and doth prohibite the Uſe and Practiſe thereof; and ordaine Presbyteries to proceed with the Cenſure of the Kirk againſt all ſuch as ſhall tranſgreſſe.

II. The Aſſembly alſo, taking to their Conſideration, the Book of Canons, and the Manner how it hath been introduced, findeth, that it hath been deviſed by the pretended Prelats, without Warrand or Direction from the Generall Aſſembly; and to eſtabliſh a tyrannicall Power in the Perſons of the pretended Biſhops, over the Worſhip of God, Mens Conſciences, Liberties and Goods, and to overthrow the whole Diſcipline and Government of the Generall and Synodall Aſſemblies, Presbyteries, and Seſſions, formerly eſtabliſhed in our Kirk.