ent by solemn covenant,--sincerely,
really, and constantly to endeavour in our places and callings, the
preservation of the reformed religion in this kirk of Scotland, in
doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, the reformation of religion
in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline,
and government, according to the word of God and the example of the best
reformed kirks, and to endeavour the nearest conjunction and uniformity in
all these, together with the extirpation of heresy, schism, and whatsoever
shall be found contrary to sound doctrine: and considering, withal, that
one of the special means which it becometh us in our places and callings
to use in pursuance of these ends is, in zeal for the true reformed
religion, to give our public testimony against the dangerous tenets of
Erastianism, Independency, and (which is falsely called) _Liberty of
Conscience_, which are not only contrary to sound doctrine, but more
special lets and hinderances as well to the preservation of our own
received doctrine, worship, discipline and government, as to the work of
reformation and uniformity in England and Ireland. The General Assembly
upon these considerations, having heard publicly read the one hundred and
eleven following propositions, exhibited and tendered by some brethren who
were appointed to prepare articles or propositions for the vindication of
the truth in those particulars, doth unanimously approve and agree unto
these eight general heads of doctrine therein contained and asserted, viz,
1. That the ministry of the word and the administration of the sacraments
of the New Testament, baptism and the Lord's supper, are standing
ordinances, instituted by God himself, to continue in the church to the
end of the world; 2. That such as administer the word and sacraments ought
to be duly called and ordained thereunto; 3. That some ecclesiastical
censures are proper and peculiar to be inflicted only upon such as bear
office in the kirk; other censures are common, and may be inflicted both
on ministers and other members of the kirk; 4. That the censure of
suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's supper, inflicted because of
gross ignorance, or because of a scandalous life and conversation, as
likewise the censure of excommunication or casting out of the kirk
flagitious or contumacious offenders, both the one censure and the other
is warrantable by and grounded upon the word of God, and is neces