the true Sacraments, without the word of God,
his cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament, his
absolute necessitie of baptisme, and finally, we deteste all his vain
allegories, rites, signes, and traditions brought into the Kirk without,
or against the word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed Kirk, to
the which we joyne our selves willingly in Doctrine, Faith, Religion,
Discipline, and use of the holy Sacraments, as lively members of the same
in Christ our Head; promising and swearing, &c._ And that these five
articles are contrarie to the Religion then professed, were confuted by
the word of God, and Kirk of _Scotland_, or are rites, and ceremonies,
added to the ministration, of the true Sacraments, without the word God,
or nourish the popish judgement against Infants departing without the
Sacrament, or absolute necessitie, of Baptisme or rites, signes, and
traditions brought in to the Kirk, with out or against the word of God,
and doctrine of this true reformed Kirk.

And next in particular, concerning festivall dayes, findeth, that in the
explication of the first head, of the first book of Discipline, it was
thought good that the feasts of _Christmas_, _Circumcision_, _Epiphanie_,
with the feasts of the Apostles, Martyres, and Virgine _Mary_, bee utterly
abolished, because they are neither commanded nor warranded by Scripture,
and that such as observe them be punished by civill Magistrats. Here utter
abolition is craved, and not reformation of abuses only, and that because
the observation of such feasts hath no warrand from the word of God. In
the generall Assembly holden at _Edinburgh_ _Anno_ 1556. the large
confession of _Helvetia_ was approved, but with speciall exception against
the same five dayes, which are now urged upon us. It was not then the
Popish observation only, with the Popish opinion of worship and merit,
which was disallowed; (for so the reformed Kirk in _Helvetia_ did not
observe them) but _simpliciter_ all observation. For this end was read a
letter in Latine, sent at that time by some of our divines to certaine
divines in these parts to this purpose. In the Assembly holden 1575. in
_August_, complaint was made against the Ministers and Readers beside
_Aberdene_; because they assembled the people to preaching and prayers
upon certane festival dayes: So that preaching and prayers upon festival
dayes was judged rebukable. It was ordained likewise, that complaint be
mad