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An answere to the first Chapter.
YOur historicall discourse upon the Con••ession of Faith. which you call, The short negative Confession, is unsuf∣ficient. For it was not only approved by the generall assem∣blyes holden in the yeare 1581; and then subscribed uni∣versallie, but also in the yeere 1590. by a charge from the secreet Counsell procured by the generall Assemblie. There was an Act made in the Assemblie holden in Iune 1587. that Students in Vnivrsities subscribe the Religion then e∣stablished and professed by the mercie of God within this Realme, before they bee promoved to Degries. Where∣upon, all such as have beene laureat in the Colledge of E∣dinburgh since that time to this present yeere to the num∣ber of 1500 or therabout have subscribed that Confession.
In the Assemblie holden in March 1589 some were ap∣pointed to seeke from the Clerk of Register a copie of the act made lately before concerning the new subscription of the Band, and the same Confession of Faith. Some were sent to petition the Counsell, that Commissions might bee given to such persons, as were agried upon before the hol∣ding of the Assembly, to receive de novo subscriptions to the Band of maintenance of Religion subscribed by his Ma¦jestie, and the same Confession of Faith, which was put in execution, and the Band was printed with the Con∣fession. Whereby you may perceive, what is meant by Religion in the Band of maintainance.
As you have your selfe cited sundrie acts of Parliament for the first Confession, you might have added an act of ap∣probation of this Confession also. In the 12 Parliament holden in Iune anno 1592. and act 123 it is declared, that no Subject shall injoy the benefite of the act of Pacifi∣cation made in Februar 1572. of aboltion made in Decem∣ber 1585. or of both ratified in Iulie 1587. unlesse they professe the true Religon, as the same was then professed within this Realme, and acknowledge his Highnesse Au∣thoritie. But the heads contained in that Confession were the points of Religion then professed within this Realme;