ecause some brethren
doubted, whether the former act was to be understood of the_
spiritual function _only, and others alledged, that the_ whole
office of a Bishop _as it was used, was damnable, and that by the
said act, the Bishops should be charged to dimit the same: This
Assembly declareth that they meaned wholly to condemne the whole
estate of Bishops, as they were then in_ Scotland, _and that this
was the meaning of the Assembly, at that time_.

The Kings _Commissioner_ presented to this Assembly the Confession of
Faith, subscribed by the King, and his houshold, not long before, together
with a plot of the Presbyteries to be erected, which is registrate in the
books of the Assembly, with a letter to be directed from his Majestie to
the noble-men and gentle-men of the Countrey, for the erection of
Presbyteries, consisting of Pastours, and Elders, and dissolution of
Prelacies, and with an offer to set forward the Policie untill it were
established by Parliament. The Kings letter subscribed by his hand, to the
Noble-men, and Gentle-men, was read in open audience of the whole
Assembly.

This Assembly ordained the book of Policie to be insert in the register by
the act following.

_For as much as travels have been taken in the framing of the
Policie of the Kirk, and diverse suits have been made to the
Magistrat for approbation thereof, which yet have not taken the
happie effect, which good men would wish, yet that the posteritie
may judge well of the present age; and of the meaning of the Kirk;
The Assembly hath concluded, that the book of Policie agreed to in
diverse Assemblies before, should be registrat in the acts of the
Kirk, and remaine therein_ ad perpetuam rei memoriam: _and the
coppies thereof to be taken to every Presbyterie: of which book
the tennour followeth, &c._

Immediatly after the inserting of the book of Policie, called there the
book of Discipline, the Assembly ordained that the confession of Faith be
subscribed as followeth.

_Anent the confession of Faith lately set forth by the Kings
Majestie, and subscribed by his highnesse. The Assembly in one
voice, acknowledgeth the said Confession to be a true, Christian,
and faithful confession, to be eagreed unto by such as truly
professe Christ, and have a care of Religion, and the tennour
thereof to be followed out efoldly as the samine is laid out in