THE 1100KE OF TIIE UNIVERSALL KIRK OF SCOTLAND.

TIM is the title of an ancient record of the proceedings of the General Assembly of the Scottish Kirk, from the year 15(30, when that Convocation was instituted, to 1616, when its meetings were suspended during the temporary predominance of Episcopacy. The volume before us is a publication of the portion of that record from its commencement to the year 1602 ; and the remainder, we learn from the editor's prefitce, will appear in due time. The record is now printed from manuscript copies preserved in the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh ; the original records, from which these copies were made, having been destroyed in 1834, in the conflagra- tion of the Houses of Parliament, whither they had been brought for some Parliamentary inquiry. Mr. PlerisuNix brings flirward sufficient evidence of the authenticity of the copies.

This book will have few charms fbr those who are significantly de-

signated as general readers. It however contains a great deal of curious matter, and throws light, not only on the original formation and present constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, but on the civil history of that country, and the state of its society and nuumers in the wild and troubled times of Queen MARI,. and JAMES the Sixth. People who read with the view of arriving at general results from minute and scattered particulars, will find in this volume much to engage their attention. Episcopacy in Scotland was not abolished on the establishment of the Presbyterian system. They existed for a time together ; and, as might be supposed, there was a constant war between such discordant elements. The assumption of' power by the Bishops, and the improper partiality shown to them by the Govern- ment, are the themes of frequent and heavy complaint on the part of the General Assembly. The Constitution of the Kirk appears to have been first embodied in a code or digest, entitled " Heads and Conclusions of the Policie of the Kirk," framed by the Gene- ral Assembly in 1591. This document insists on the abolition of such "Papistical titles " as Abbots, Commendators, Priors, Deans, Archtleans, &c.; and as to the Bishops, any power or superiority belonging to the office is excluded by reference to the etymology of the title- " As to bischoppis, gif the male prrtfx.; is; be prepalie taken, they are all one with ministers, (as was before dettlairit,) for it is not the name of superi- or:tie and lord.schip, hot of office and wetching. * * * * Trait hisellopts should addict thameselves to one particular flock. sundrie of tliame re- fink;) neither sushi they usurp lardschrp ul.%:e their lwahmte, and over the in- haitance of Chryst, as Hails men do."

Thus, Episcopacy was reduced to a name ; and the shadow after- wards followed the substance. But, after all, there was more pedantry than force in their etymological argument : for, if a Bishop, according to the original meaning of the title, was an

or °rower of the ministers of religion in a diocese or district, this function implied superiority or power over those ministers. The filet is, that the episcopal office was wholly repug- nant to the republican spirit of Presbytery: and, in thus depriving the episcopal office of all power and influence, betbre things were ripe for abolishing it altogether, the fathers of the Kirk involved them- selves in confusion of ideas and inconsistency. But Presbytery, when disencumbered of this useless lumber, and established on the footing on which it has Stood in Scotland for more than a century and a half, is the most rational and efficient system of church-government that exists. There is no warrant, either in the letter or the spirit of the Gospel, for the establishment of that rich and haughty hierarchy, which, taking its rise in the early days of Papal supre- macy, has been spared in the partial and imperfect reformation of some of the Protestant churches, while it was swept away, along with other ecclesiastical abuses, by those -Radical Retbrmers CAL- VIN and KNox. The superiority in the 21VIleing Of the Scottish System of' church polity over that of England, is apparent at a glance. In the first place, the individual members of the English hierarchy are possessed of great power over the inferior clergy ; which, as it is uncontrolled and irresponsible, is often exercised arbitrarily and tyrannically. The extent of these abuses is imper- fectly known to the public, because the sufferers are prevented from complaining by fear or prudence; but cases every now and -then transpire which show that they exist. A young candidate for orders may have his prospects blighted by the capricious refusal of a Bishop to grant them ; an injustice committed by one individual of this class is not likely to be redressed by another ; and any appeal to the public, while it would be slightly regarded, Would only be ruinous to him who made it. Wo to the parish minister, too, who incurs the enmity of his diocesan I The epis- copal power of overseeing and censure, within the diocese, affords the means of a thousand injuries and annoyances, from which the most irreproachable life is no safeguard, and which have drive Many a respectable minister out of the pale of the Church. The -enormous wealth of the hierarchy is a heavy burden upon property';

while thousands of those who perform the duties of the ministry receive a pittance insufficient either for comfort or respecta- bility. None of these grievances exist in Scotland. The candidate for orders claims a trial of his qualifications before a church-court, called a Presbytery, composed of the parochial clergy of a district,—a body too numerous and inde- pendent of each other to unite in capricious or wilful injustice ; but, should they so unite, he has his appeal to the General Assem- bly of the Church. The function of supervision of the lives and doctrines of the clergy, once belonging to the Bishops, is now exer- cised by Presbyteries ; who, in all eases involving censure or punish- ment, must proceed publicly, according to fixed laws and forms, and under the ultimate control of the highest ecclesiastical tribunal. Lastly, in the Scottish Kirk there is "neither poverty nor riches :" among the best-endowed incumbents there are no bloated sine- curists, and the smallest livings afford a decent maintenance.

The gradual steps in the decay of Episcopal power, and the actual extinction of the office, in Scotland, and the consolidation of the Presbyterian system, are curiously exhibited in the volume before us. Some idea of the miscellaneous information to be gleaned from Mr. PETERKIN'S labours, may be gathered from the following extracts.

INTOLERANCE OF REFORMERS.

That the Papisticall and blasphemous masse, with all rapistrie and idolatrfe of Paip's jurisdictione, be universallic suppressed and abolished throughout the haill real me, not only in the subjects, but also in the Q. Majestie's awn per- none, wit it punishment against all persones that shall be deprehended to trans- gress° and offend the saute ; and. that the sincere word of God, and his trite religion, now presently receaved, might be established, approven and ratified throughout the whole realme, alswell in the Queen's Majestic's owne persone as in the subjects, trithout any impediment, and that the people be astrieted to resort upon the Sunday at least to the prayers and preaching to God's word, like as they were astricteil before to the idolatrous masse; and thir heads to be provided be act of Parliament, with consent of the Estates and ratification of the Queen's Majestic. That all such persones as the Kirk shall dude and declare publicly to be Papists, although they be not excommunicat, be debarrit from brooking any office within the mobile, as also from accesse to his 31ajestie's compame, and from enjoying any benefite of the lawes ; as also that the paine of horning, and other civil paynes, may follow upon the said declarator' such lyke as pre- sently followes upon the sentence of excommunicatione, and that sue act Of Council presently he made and publisched thereupon, qwhill the uixt Parlia- ment, qwhere the samen may establischetl in ane law.

THE QUEEN'S MARRIAGE 'WITH ROTRWELL.

Anent the marriage of the Queen with the Earle Bothwell, be Adam, called Bishop of Orkney; the hail Kirk finds that he transgressed the act of the Kirk in marrying the divorced adulterer ; and, therefore, deprives him of all functione of the ministrie, couforme to the tenor of the act made thereupon, ay and whill the Kirk be satisfied of the sclancler committit be him.

The same day Mr. John Cmige was bruitit for proclaiming the hands be- twixt the Queen and the Earle Bothwell : who answered be word, justifying his proceedings then:anent, and was ordained. to give in his purgation in write, to the effect his good mynd and proceedings may be knowne to all and suudrie that hereafter would be satisfied thereanent.

ECCLESIASTICAL SCPT.RINTENDENCE or MORALS. • Forsuamelkle as it lies been ordainit be the General Assemblies, that all adulterers, mortherers, incestuous persons, and others committers of heinous crymes. first coulri present themselves to the Gonesall Assembly, there to re- save their first injunctione, and at the next thereafter following to present themselves in linen clothes, Sec.; And forsuameikle as diverse Of the raids offenders partly are far distant frac the places of General Assemblies, uthers for povertie amid deldlie Rids, may not nor dare not travel through the enuntrie to present theinsulves before the saids Assemblies: for thir causes and others considerationes moveing the Kirk presently assembilt, they statute and or- daynit that till sic offenders sal be calif heirafter he the Saperintemlants and Commissioners of provinces, to compeir before them in their Synodal conven- tions, to be haldeu be them twyse in the yeir, to receare and take their in- junctions, confortne ta the order usit before the General' Assemblies in all sorts.

CLERICAL TAVF.IINKEE PERS.

Alle minister or reader that tipple ale, kir, or wyne, and keeps nue open taverne, could be exortit be the Commissioners to keep decorum.

A sco.rcii-swiss.

Compeirit Captaine Anstrather, and lamentit to the Kirk, that he heand In France, and certain° years bypast had glue his bodilie presence to the 'Masse, albeit in conscience he hated the same as idolatrie, and keepit alwaves upricht mytide towards the religione protest its this realme, and feeling grief in his con- science for his defectione, is .come to utter his repentance uulainelly for the same, submitting hint to whatsume.ver correctione the Kirk will iujoyne him, desyraml to be reconcillit thereto ; and, in token of his sincere meining, held up his hand as to the houtcherie and massacre of Paris, declares he keepd the King's zett of Lovarkthe tyme thereof, but past no farther. * * *

Anent the place of repentance to be appoyntit to Captaine Anstruther for his fearful defeetione from the trew religioue in the parts of France; the haynottsness and gravitie of his ildectione being weill weyit and considerit, qwhilk requyrit solemn° and notorious repentance,—The Kirk her thocht and be voteing coneludit, that his repentance be made in the city of St, An- drois, after the forme of discipline sett out against the apostates.

THE TURK'S REMONSTRANCE TO THE RING.

1. it is one great griefe to the hearts of all these that fears God. that apos-

tates, sworne enemies to Christ, your Grace, and all your faithful subjects, forfatilt for their treasonc—some also suspect and bruitit with the murther of the most noble persone of your unitkultill father—impugners of the truth be word and wreite--continuing still nt their wickedness, unreconcilit to the

Kirk, to remove of your Majestic the benefite of.paciticatione to the prejudice ot' the &WIWI. ministers, qwham violently be thew meaues they labour to dis- possesse. 2. That waters from their youth, iturischit in the Kirk of Goa, with us, and sensyne fearfullic fallen back therefrae, and become greit runnagats, and blasphetners of the truth, and maintainers of idolatrie, and that Man of Slime, Lieutennant of Satanc, and oppressors of God's people; and vet, notwith- standing, are recivit in court, authorised. and so fur countenanced, that they are beettin familiars with your Majestic, qwhairthrough, beityde the grief of yoar Majestie's subjects, nauiy are brought to doubt qwhat shall cosew upon such. beginnyngs. 3. That a wicked obstinate Papist sent in the countrie to traffique against God and Ruyetness of your Grace's estate, and therefore is worthy of death, committit in ward at your Grace's command, with sure promise that he sould not escape punischment, yet as we understand, was, be indirect meanes, let de- part, and no tryall taken of the author of his delyverie. 4. That your Majestic seems to have over great liking of the enemies or God, alsewell in France as some within this recline, who lies never glue testi- mony of any good meining either in religion° or in your Alajestie's seruice, have succeidit to men that were knawne zealous in God's cause, and faythfull to your Grace from your tender age.

5. Sett your Majestic took the government in your awne hand, many fair pro- mises lies been made that order should be taken for preservatione of the Kirk of God, and continuance thereof to the posteritie : yet, after lang and con- tinual sute, nothing is performed ; but in place of redress, daily the Kirk is bereft of her priviledges and liberties.

6. The thirds are sett in tack for spumes of money, in defraud of the Kirk, 60 that no minister hereafter can be provydit. 7. Abbacies are disponit, without any provision° made for the ministers serving in the Kirks annexit thereto, direetlie against the act of' Parliament. 8. Spiritual! livings are glue to bairnes, and tmuslatit in tempot all lordships. 9. That there is no punischment of incest, adulterie, witcherafts, murthers, abominable oathes, and other !terrible °attics, in such sorte that daily some in- creases and provoekes the wrath of God against the haill countrie. 10. There is a sair murmuring against your Grace's leiges, and n lamentable complaint that the lawes of the countrie have no place—that no man can he Sure neither of his hinds, lyre, nor goods, qwhilk threatens rine miserable coati- sione, and the beavie hand of God to insew thereupon. II. That oftentymes your Majestie interpenes your Reines' authoritie, be letters of hornyng, to stope the executione of the acts made in the General! Assemblie, in matters properly belonging to the Kirk, and nothing touching the civil! estate.

12. Lastly, we most humblie beseik your Majestic to stiffer us to lament the great divisione amongest your Heines' nobilitic and subjects—the aim pairt seeking be all meaues possible, for their awne particulars, to persuade your Majestic to wrack the uther, rhilk fosters one continuall stryfe, malice, and rancour, to the great danger of y-our Grace's persone, qwham God preserve to keep the Kirk of God and this poor eountrie: beseiking your Majestic, for the tender mercy of God, to call to your Heines, some of the most wyse, discreet, and indifferent, to be your Couneill; to take a moderate course, that unquiet spirits may be brydlit, good men cherishit and intertained, and the hearts of all your Majestic' subjects unite, to the maintenance of God's glory, preservation of your Royal estate, and comfort of all them that bewaill this miserable dis- solutione.

PICTURE OF SCOTTISH MANNERS ts: THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

That such as are light and wantone in behaviour—as in gorgssies and light apparrell—in speech-using—light and profane competty—unlawfull gaining, as dancing, carting, dyceing, and such like, not beseeming the gravitie of ace pastor—be scharply and gravely reprovit by the Presbytrie, according to the degree thereof; aml continowing therein after dew admonitione, that Ile be de- pryvit 83 selanderons to the gospell. That ministers being finand swearers or banners—profainers of the Sal3beth day—drunkards—fighters—guilty of all thir or any of them—to be deposit simplleiter; and such tyke, liars, detractors, datterers, breakers of promises, brawlers and quarrellers, after dew admonition coutinowing therin, incurre the Same pun isel intent. That ministers given to unlawful! and incompetent trades and occupations for filthy gaine—as holding hostlaries, taking of ockar besyde conscience and good lawes, and bearing worldly offices in noble and gentlemen's houses, mer- chandize, and such lyke, buying vietualls and keeping to dearth, and al other worldly occupations as may distract them from their charge, and may be sclander to the pastor or calling ; be admonisched and brought to the know- ledge of their faults, and if they eontinow therein, to be deposed.