Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish ...
thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.—Matt. 17.27.
Excerpted from Wodrow's History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland. |
TrueCovenanter.com Editor's Note Please note: The following historical document is provided to satisfy the interest of readers by making available the actual text of an Act often mentioned in the writings of the Covenanters. The reader will find this blasphemous Act faithfully testified against in such works as Alexander Shields' Hind Let Loose and the United Societies' Informatory Vindication.November 16th, 1669.
The estates of parliament having seriously considered, how necessary it is, for the good and peace of the church and state, that his majesty's power and authority, in relation to matters and persons ecclesiastical, be more clearly asserted by an act of parliament, have therefore thought fit it be enacted, asserted, and declared; likeas, his majesty, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, doth hereby enact, assert, and declare, That his majesty hath the supreme authority and supremacy over all persons, and in all causes ecclesiastical within this his kingdom; and that by virtue thereof, the ordering and disposal of the external government and policy of the church, doth properly belong to his majesty and his successors, as an inherent right to the crown; and that his majesty and his successors may settle, enact, and emit such constitutions, acts, and orders, concerning the administration of the external government of the church, and the persons employed in the same, and concerning all ecclesiastical meetings, and matters to be proposed and determined therein, as they in their royal wisdom shall think fit; which, acts, orders, and constitutions, being recorded in the books of council, and duly published, are to be observed and obeyed by all his majesty's subjects, any law, act, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding: likeas, his majesty, with advice and consent foresaid, doth rescind and annul all laws, acts, and clauses thereof, and all customs and constitutions, civil or ecclesiastic, which are contrary to, or inconsistent with his majesty's supremacy, as it is hereby asserted, and declares the same void and null in all time coming.