the Confession of Faith_,
1580. _And to be removed out of this Kirk._

The Assembly taking to their most grave and serious consideration, first
the unspeakable goodnesse, and great mercy of God, manifested to this
Nation, in that so necessarie, so difficult, and so excelent and divine
work of reformation, which was at last brought to such perfection, that
this Kirk was reformed, not only in doctrine and worship, but also after
many conferences and publick reasonings in divers nationall Assemblies,
joyned with solemne humiliations and prayers to God, the discipline and
government of the Kirk, as the hedge and guard of the doctrine and
worship, was prescribed according to the rule of Gods word, in the book of
Policie and Discipline, agreed upon in the Assembly 1578. and insert in
the register 1581. established by the Acts of Assemblies, by the
confession of Faith, sworn and subscribed, at the direction of the
Assembly, and by continuall practise of this Kirk: Secondly, that by mens
seeking their own things: and not the things of Jesus Christ; divers
novations have been introduced to the great disturbance of this Kirk, so
firmly once compacted, and to the endangering of Religion, and many grosse
evils obtruded, to the utter undoing of the work of reformation, and
change of the whole forme of worship and face of this Kirk; Thirdly, that
all his Majesties Subjects both Ecclesiasticall and civil, being without
consent of the Kirk, commanded to receive with reverence a new book of
common prayer, as the only forme to be used in Gods publick worship, and
the contraveeners to be condignely censured, and punished, and after many
supplications and complaints, knowing no other way for the preservation of
Religion; were moved by God, and drawn by necessitie, to renew the
nationall _Covenant_ of this Kirk, and Kingdome, which the Lord since hath
blessed from heaven, and to subscribe the _Confession of Faith_, with an
application thereof, abjuring the great evils wherewith they were now
pressed, and suspending the practise of all novations formerly introduced,
till they should bee tryed in a free generall Assembly, Lastly, that some
of his Majesties Subjects of sundrie ranks, have by his Majesties
commandement subscribed and renewed the confession of Faith, without the
former application, and that both the one and the other subscribers have
subscribed the said Confession of Faith in this year, as it was professed
and according to the