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/9

 Maſter George Graham, ſometime pretended Biſhop of Orkney, being ſorry and grieved at my Heart, That I ſhould ever, any worldly Reſpect, have embraced the Order of Epiſcopacy the ſame having no Warrant from the Word of God; and being ſuch an Order, as hath had ſenſibly many fearful and evil Conſequences in many parts of Chriſtendom, and particularly within the Kirk of Scotland, as by doleful and deplorable Experience this Day is manifeſt, to have diſclaimed: Likeas I, by the Tenor hereof, do altogether diſclaim and abjure al! Epiſcopal Power and Juriſdiction, with the whole Corruptions thereof, condemned by lawful Aſſemblies within the ſaid Kirk of Scotland; in Regard, the ſame  ſuch an Order, as, is alſo abjured within the ſaid Kirk,  Virtue of that national Oath, which was made in the years 1580 and 1581, promiſing, and ſwearing by the great Name of the Lord our God, That I ſhall never while I live, directly, or indirectly, exerce any ſuch Power within the Kirk; neither yet ſhall I ever approve, or allow the ſame, not ſo much as in my private or publick Diſcourſe: But,  the Contrary, ſhall ſtand and adhere to all the Acts and Conſtitutions of the late Aſſembly holden at Glaſgow, the 21ſt  Nov. 1638, laſt bypaſt; and ſhall concur to the uttermoſt of my Power, ſincerely and faithfully, as Occaſion ſhall offer, in Execution of the ſaid Acts, and in advancing the Work of Reformation within this Land, to the Glory of God, the Peace of the Country, and the Comfort and Contentment of all good Chriſtians, as God ſhall be my Help. In Teſtimony of which Premiſſes, I have ſubſcribed thir Preſents with my Hand, at Breekneſs in Strones, the eleventh day of February, the Year of God 1639 Years, before thir Witneſſes, Mr. Walter Stewart Miniſter at Shoutronaldry, Mr. James Hynd, Minſter at Kirkwall, Mr. Robert  Miniſter at Firth, and Mr. Patrick Graham Miniſter at Holme, my Son.

For further Light and Satisfaction into the Truth of what is here inſert, we refer you unto the Proceedings of two famous, free, and faithful General Aſſemblies of the Church of Scotland; the firſt held at Glaſgow, 1638,  other at Edinburgh, 1639, which are extant in Manuſcript, lodged yet in the Hands of Severals; where you'll  Prelacy, Book of Common Prayer, and Book of Canons brought to the Bar of Scripture, Reaſon and Antiquity, fairly examined, condemned and juſtly aboliſhed.