The Bishop of Gallovvay his dikaiologie contayning a iust defence of his former apologie. Against the iniust imputations of Mr. Dauid Hume.

3

The Church of Scotland in her purest estate, en∣ioyed [ 136] the Gospell with Episcopall gouernment for the space of twentie yeeres, as may be proued out of the Monuments of our Church, for there you will finde by Acts of generall Assemblie, Ministers ordained to be subiect to Superintendents. A Law craued from the Lords of secret Counsell, for punishment of such as disobeyed Super∣intendents. Power to hold Assemblies twice in the yeere, giuen to Superintendents. Power to transport Ministers giuen to Superintendents. Power of diuorcements taken from

Ministers and giuen to Superintendents. Power to admit ••inisters, and depose them, giuen to Superintendents. No religious Bookes to be printed but by ad••ise of Superinten∣dents. This was the order of our Church all the dayes of Iohn Knox, &c.

[ 137] Here you obiect, first, that the offices of Bishops and Superintendents are not one: and why? I am sure you know in power of signification they are one; in power of Iurisdiction they are declared to be one by Act of generall Assemblie, Anno 1573. what power a Super∣intendent had by the law of our Church, that same po∣wer a Bishop had by the same Law: And those Coun∣tries which had Bishops of the reformed Religion, pre∣sident ouer them were neuer committed to the care of Superintendents: but the Bishops exercised all points of Iurisdiction partaining to them, vvithout any con∣tradiction made to them by our Assemblies.

To ••ay yet further, there was appointed by the ge∣nerall Assemblie, some Commissioners, to be assembled with other Commissioners appointed by the Regent, and Lords of Councell, to entreat of Ecclesiastique Iu∣risdiction, & establish it. Commissioners for the church, beside sundrie Superintendents, were M^r. Iohn Knox, M. Iohn Craig, M. Iohn Row, M. Dauid Lindsay, with others that were in the yeere 1564. The same Com∣mission renued againe by the Church, Anno 1567. and againe, 1568. a Supplication from the As••emblie to the Regent, M. Iohn Willok, Superintendent of the West, be∣ing then Moderator, was directed, desiring that such as were appointed by the Lords of his Highnesse Coun∣cell, and by the Church, might meet, for setling church-Iurisdiction. After this, in euery assemblie the same sute is renued, till at length, An. 1571. the gouer••ment of Bishops is ratified by act of assem••lie. Thus M. Dauid, you see Bishops willingly rec••iued into our Church.

Your other Obiection is, Superintendents had their [ 138] Office from the Church: did their Office by aduise of their Brethren, and were countable to the Church for it. Tell me I pray you, what else see you in Bishops? Their Office and power is from the Church, their tem∣porall preferment, their rent and maintenance, is con∣ferred by the King; yea, good reason it is that his Ma∣iestie haue the nomination of a Bishop, out of lytes of honest men giuen in by the Church: What nouation is here? You will finde the nomination of Superinten∣dents referred to his Highnes Counsell in his Maiesties minoritie, becaus•• they gaue them their maintenance, see Act of Assemblie, An. 1562. Againe, Superinten∣dents did by aduise; good reason: see the Law prescri∣bed to Bishops of olde, An. 1573. that no Bishop ad∣mit any Minister, without adu••se of three well quali∣fied Ministers of the bounds. The same stands now, and can you say that any Bishop in our Church stands against this, except onely that where the Law bindes them to vse the aduise of three, they vse the aduise of sixe, or tenne, or thirteene if they may get them? What can you say against this M^r. Dauid? See you not here a constant forme of gouernment in our Church? See you any other Bishops now then were in the dayes of Iohn Knox? Here say you, Superintendents were changeable? but you should haue cleared your selfe, not deceiued the simple people vnder ambiguitie of words. Tell the truth, were any of them changed in their time, or was there any cause might haue taken from them the office of a Superintendent, but such as might haue also depriued of the Office of Preaching and all other offices in the Church? In which case Su∣perintendents, Bishops, and Pastors, both might and should lawfully be deposed; but God be praised such examples feil not out in our Church.

Oh but Superintendents were subiect to their Bre∣thren. Here also you lu••ke vnder the shadow of doubt∣full speeches. Will you say that Superintendents were subiect to the censure of Ministers, ouer whom they had the inspection? The contrarie is true, our Fathers foresaw the perill of that, and exempted them from it; reseruing them to be iudged by the generall Assemblie, as I haue cleared before: and doubtlesse there could be no order where such as should correct the faults of others, are put vnder the censure of thos•• that should be corrected by them.

You still reply, there is now (say you) no generall Assemblie to censure them: but you may know that the same Law which restoreth the Iurisdiction of Bishops, ratifieth also generall Assemblies, howbeit in a refor∣med State, the power to call it belongs to the Chri∣stian Magistrate, and seeing it is the Parliament of the Church, the great Ecclesiastique Councell of the Church, the calling of it, except vpon very vrgent oc∣casions, proueth often more hurtfull then helpfull, but where great and weightie causes require it, you may be sure the Prince will not refuse it.

But your great grudge is here, that Bishops are not vnder the power of Ministers to be cast out of their places by pluralitie of voices You dreame of an assem∣blie that would finde the authoritie vnlawfull, and de∣pose them all: but you are deceiued; our Ministrie are not so affected, they see the necessitie and vtilitie of this calling: they who disliked it at the first, are now brought by reason and experience to allow it, and where you will finde one discontented with it, I war∣rant you twe••tie who are pleased with it, and thanke Go•• for it.

Speake no more then of the exemption of Bishops from censure, there is a Christian King, there is a Coun∣cell

of Bishops, till necessitie require a Nationall As∣sembly, and it is not denyed to any in the Church or Kingdome to complaine, accuse, delate, Bishop or Archbishop, that hee may be brought to his answere, and tryed; yea some that haue complained, haue beene answered with Iustice, to their satisfaction.

In a word, let it be told you in name of all the Bi∣shops of our Church, our Calling is of God, allowed by the generall Assemblie, ratified by our most Chri∣stian King and States of the Kingdome. Our care is to discharge it in the best sort wee can, when wee haue done all that is possible for vs, there are many of you ready so farre as you may to vndoe it, out of an euill humor, more narrowly looking to negligences then to obserue paines and good diligence: wee are men, and may fall as others, but our faults should not be abused to condemne our function, more then the faults of Ministers condemne their Ministrie. We claime no li∣berty, but are readie by Gods grace, to answere all our Superiours, and be censured by them as the meanest in the Church. And we carrie this humble minde, that if you, or any other, in loue and good affection, will signifie to vs wherein wee offend, wee will either satis∣fie you by reason, or willingly amend it: yet so that wee will maintaine the honour of our charge and cal∣ling, and not leaue it free for euery man to raile against lawfull authorities, whereof I pray you consider in time, and be more sparing to spread such inuectiue Li∣bels: for, it will be thought a contempt of them whom you are bound to honour, and if you suffer punishment for it, you will not suffer as a Martyr, but as a malefa∣ctor, which I wish may no befall you.

Notes

• An. 1561.
• An. 1561.
• An. 1562.
• An. 1562.
• An. 1573.
• An. 1563.