TO THE RICHT EXCELLENT RICHT

HEICH AND MICHTIE PRINCE IAMES THE SEXT

KING OF SCOTTIS, ZOUR HVMBLE SVBIECTIS THE COMMIS-

ſionares of the Kyrkes of your Realme, wiſh grace and peace with a proſperous

raigne, from GOD the Father, throuch our Sauiour

JESVS CHRIST.

TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT, RIGHT

HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE JAMES THE SIXTH

KING OF SCOTS, YOUR HUMBLE SUBJECTS THE COMMIS-

sioners of the Kirks of your Realm, wish grace and peace with a prosperous

reign, from GOD the Father, through our Saviour

JESUS CHRIST.

OVRe deutie craues at al occaſiones to halde zour Hienes in remembrance of things perteining to the aduancement of Gods glorie and wel of his Kyrk, querwith is ioyned the preſeruation of zour eſtate and haile body of this common welth. For aboue the common ſort of Princes, (qha for the moſt part are ather ennemies to true religion, or elles think that the melling therwith troublis thair eſtate, and are greatlie mouit with the wickit Herode [Math. 2.], quhen thay heare the wiſemen ſeking for Chriſt to adore him as a King) ze are of Gods louing mercie callit to this honour and dignity to be mainteinar of Gods eternall trueth, and mutually to be mainteinit by the ſame: in ſik ſort, that in all troubles and commotionis that ony tyme thir xij yeres paſt haue diſquietit zour common weill, two thingis haue euer bene annexit together and made as it were ane querel & ane cauſe: to wit, the maintenance of Chriſtis Euangel, and defence of your royal eſtate. So that for the maiſt part thay that haue bene ennemies to the richt religion haue bene ennemies likewiſe to zour autoritie and crowne: as be the contrary the maiſt feruent fauoraris of Gods trueth, haue euer bene founde maiſt faithful ſubiectis vnto zour Maieſtie, and mainteinaris of zour weilfare and eſtate. And in this reſpect (no doubt) hes the Eternal at many tymes quhen materis appearit almaiſte deſperate in mennis eyes, grantit maruelous ſucceſſe & notable victories to thame quha ſuſtenit zour querrel againis ye greater forces, craftie & balde interpriſes of the aduerſares of the ſame quha althocht many of thame outwardly profeſſit the ſame religion, zet gif thair attemptatis had come to effect, it ſulde haue bene the moyen to ſuppreſſe the ſame, and to erect ſuperſtition and idolatrie againe in place thereof, quhilk our God walde not ſuffer, bot rather faucht be his awne power aganis thame, aſwel for preſeruation of his trueth reueilit of his great mercie amangis vs, as of zour Hienes perſone and eſtate to be aduancer thereof in time to come. Quhilk in dede, Sir, is na ſmal honour vnto zou, to haue Gods cauſe and zouris ſa linkit together, and is ane euident taken and iestimonie, that ſa lang is zour princelie eſtate able to ſtand in al ſtabilitie quhow lang the puritie of religion & libertie of Chriſtis Kirk ſalbe carefully kepit & mainteinit be zou. Then gif oft times princes haue done many thingis for thair freindis and confederatis, & namelie ſik as haue bene with thame in like danger & hazarde of tyning or winning, quhow mekle mair ſal it become zour Hienes to refuſe na trauailes for  yt cauſe of Chriſts kirk and true religion preſontlie ſa mixit with zour awne eſtate, that baith haue the ſelf ſame friendis and vnfriendis, and are baith appearand to abide together the like danger to fall or to ſtand. Herefore we were mekle to be blamit and worthie to be accuſit of neglecting our dewtie gif we ſulde not from time to time (as oportunitie beis offrit) ſtirre vp, and labour to promoue zour gude minde in sa wuorthie and neceſſarie a cauſe, whilkis, forther & forther to aduance the libertie of the Goſpel and ſpiritual bigging of the Kirk of God, be quhome ze are promotit & main reinit in this zour princelie eſtate, to be mutually to zour power promotare and mainteinare of his glorie. And ſpecially now quhé as being cóuenit in our generall aſſemblie, this holy boke of God callit the Bible, newly imprentit, was brocht before vs be the prenter thereof Alexander Arbuthnot (a man quha hes taken great paines and trauailes worthie to be remembred in this behalfe) and deſyrit to be dedicate to zour Hienes with a conuenient preface in our common Scottis language we colde not omit nor neglect the occaſion offrit to do the ſame: Exhorting zou maſte earneſtlie, Sir, to conſider to quhat place zour God hes callit zou, and to remember diligentlie quhow the ſetting forth and autoriſing of this buke chiefly perteinis to zour charge. Trueth it is that the godly (men of the nation of England for the maiſt part) baniſhit fró thair countrie for the Goſpelis cauſe and conuenit at Geneua, quha did faithfullie and lernedlie tranſlate this buke out of the pure fontainis of ye Hebrewe Chaldaike & Greke tongues aucht to haue thair awne praiſe for thair labouris beſtowit to the common weil of thame that ſpeake our language. Zet for aſmekle as thingis anis weil begunne craue & require great diligence to preſerue thame from decay after that with great labotis thay haue bene brocht to perfection, ane great part of the honor of aduanceing this worke perteinis vnto zou: be quhais autoritie it was of a certaine time bypaſt ordainit that this holy buke of God ſulde be ſet forthe and imprentit of newe within zour awne realme, to the end, that in euerie paroch kirk there ſulde be at leiſt ane thereof kepit to be callit the commoun buke of the kirke, as a maiſt mete ornament for ſik a place and a perpetuall regiſter of the word of GOD the fontaine of all true doctrine, to be made patent to all the people of euerie congregation as the only richt rule to direct & gouerne thame in materis of religió as alſwa to cóferme thame in the {ii} trueth receauit and to reforme and redreſſe corruptiones quhenſoeuer thay may crepe in. Certainelie we haue great occaſion baith to glorifie the gudenes of God toward this cuntrie, and alſo heichly to extol and commend zour Hienes moſt godlie purpoſe and enterpriſe. O quhat difference may be ſene betwene thir daies of light quhen almaiſt in euerie priuate houſe the buike of Gods lawe is red and vnderſtand in our vulgaire language and that age of darkenes quhen ſkarſlie in ane haill citie (without the cloſtres of monkes and freires) culde the buke of God anes be founde, and that in ane ſtrange tongue of latine not gud but mixed with barbaritie, vſed and red be fewe, and almaiſt vnderſtand or exponit be nane. And quhen the falſe namit clergie of this realme abuſing the gentle nature of zour Hienes maiſt noble Gudſhir of worthie memorie made it an cappital crime to be puniſhit with the fyre to haue or rede the new teſtament in the vulgare language, zea, and to make them to al men mare odius as gif it had bene the deteſtable name of a pernicious ſect, they were named new teſtamentares, Verely gif we wolde wey thir matters aright, men ſulde nether so aduance the time paſſed nether zit accuſe this preſent age, quhen this only ſpiritual comfort of Gods worde aucht iuſtly to be preferrit to al the vaine warldlie welth of the zeires paſt before: but rather with moſte thankful heartes praiſe and extol the infinite gudnes of our God quha hes counted vs worthie to quhome he ſulde open fre ane heauenly treaſure, and raiſid vs vp the heroical ſpirits of princes, and namely of zour grace, for the outſetting of the ſame. Quharefore ſeing it hes pleaſit the gudnes of our God to ſchawe ſic fauore and beneuolence towarde zour Hienes and this zour coútrie that now the truth of the Euangel is frelie trulie and ſincerlie preachit throughout al places vnder zour ſubiection, of verie dutie the nixt care and ſtudie aucht to be howe this deuine warke may mare and mare be fortherit and performit. and alſo mainteinit and continuit that the puritie of religion may lang time remaine amangs vs, to the comfort of this preſent age, and of al poſteritis to cume. And ſamekle the rather that the neglecting of this point in other places hes bene occaſion that moſt notable and happie beginnings hes oft times not taken ſic end and ſuccesse as appearantlie micht haue followit gif the like prouision had bene made for the continuáce as panes & trauels were taken for planting of true religion. Bot as the errours of others may make vs circúſpect ſa ſuld the rare and ſingulare benifites of God laitly ſhawin to this realme incurage zour Hienes & zour hail ſubiects in hope that this notable & excellent worke of the ſpiritual edifying of ye houſe of God ſhal take gud ſucceſſe and happie end in zour hands, for ſence the time it pleaſit God to deuolue the gouernement of this realme and care of eſtabliſhing his kirk in zour perſone being then bot ane infant of tender age, cótinually ſic ſucceſſe hes followit that not without iust cauſe the mindes of mony are erected in that expectation that God ſall ſome day vſe zou as ane inſtrumét to performe greater thinges for the welfaire of his Kirk, then ether we wil preſently vtter, or be naturall reaſon can be made probable. We omit now to ſpeake how miraculouſlie the truth of Gods worde wes firſt ſawin in this cuntrie be feble & weake inſtruments, or larglie to dilate how mercifullie things were broght to paſſe without great inconuenient or cruel bludſhed, and how the libertie of the Euangel hes bene so gratiouſlie granted to vs without ony extreme harme and damnage, quhilk other great & potent nationes thir mony zeires with extreme trubles and fearful battels to the great loſe of their lifes and gudes, hes lang ſocht for, and zit neuer fully obtened nether minde we at this preſent to declare how wonderfullie zour grace hes bene preſeruit euin from zour conception and birth to this day, how happelie factiones & controuerſies concerning zour royal eſtate haue bene ſetled and extinguiſhed, and ſhortly how mony and notable workes aboue all worldlie expectation interpriſit in zour moſt happie name haue bene broght to lukkie end and gud effect, the fauore & bleſſing of God continualie following them with better ſucceſſe then men durst other hope for or deſyre. Thir things and mony others mare particulare (the ample diſcours wherof we remitte vnto the hiſtories) as they teſtifie vnto vs the bontiful gudnes of God, baith toward your maieſtie and this realme, so aucht they to ſtirrre vp all hartes to thankfulnes, and cherfullie in curage zou to paſſe fordwart in this great worke of reformation of religion and beilding the ſpiritual temple of the Lord. The fundation wherof being alreadie laide by publict vniuerſal preaching of true doctrine throuchout the haile realme, it reſteth that the worke may be proſecute and the building brocht to ane gud perfection by eſtabliſhing of diſcipline and mete policie in the kirk of God, not taken out of the Ciſternes of traditiones of men, bot of the pure fontanis of Gods haly worde. Quhilk thing wiſlie begunne in zour Hienes name by zour first Regent of godlie memorie, and ordeined be act of parliament to be followit forthe, hes bene deligétly preaſſed for, fró time to time, bot eſpecialy now ſence ye acceptatió of ye gouernemét in zour owne perſone: quhé as not onely maſt louinglie & willingly ye did reſaue ye boke of ye policie of the kirk offred by thé quha were direct to zour maieſtie in name of ye general kirk, bot alſo wes very cairful to finde out mé mete for conferéce vpó the heads of  yt ſame, laméting for the raritie of ſic kynde of perſones as were deſyred to cófere thereupó, & hes appoited diuers times & places where ſik cóferécis in zour name & at your cómandement haue bene had, not without fruct & agremét in mony {iii} heads to be paſſed in lawes, but  wt expectation of greater things after to followe vpon forther conferrence, prouiding ſic meh be appointed thereto as zour Hienes wiſſit, and we maiſt earneſtly craue quharinto we dout not of zour awin gud wil as of before, for it ſuld be but trauel loſit quhat ſoeuer hes bene hitherto beſtowed tharein, gif the worke ſal not be followed furth, and brocht to god ſhew and end. Quhareunto we exhort zour grace maiſt effecteouſly, for nathing can be fond mare proper & ganand quharein ane Chriſtiane prince of ſic expectation as ze are, ſuld giue a true prufe of the gude & ſound affection quhilk he beares to the auancement of Gods glorie, and of the Kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt. Truth it is that Satan ceaſes not nether wil ceaſe hereafter to obiect mony and great impedimentes to the hinderance of this Godlie intorpriſe of bringing the ſpirituall beilding of the houſe of God to perfection, quuilk we alwaies are in gud hope (adioyning thereto our continual praiers) zour gud and heroik zele ſall ouercome, albeit not without ſum hard difficulties and weriſome lattis, euen of them quha aucht of dewtie to put thair handis to this warke. We rede in this buik quhow mony & difficil impedementis were offrit to Zorobabel and the Iewes to ſtope the biging and repating of the temple of Ieruſalem. Sumetyme they were expreſly contramandit be the edictis of the great monarche, Sometimes be the threatning of thair aduerſaires round about them. Sumetime be domeſtical enenemies, hypocritis craftie warldlings and oppreſſoris of thair brethren, Zit againis all thir the Prophet opponis the commandement of God and promiſe of his aſſiſtance to perfurme the warke. [In the bukes Ezra & Neh. Agg. 12.] The lyke or rather greater impedimentis be obiectit this day, againis the ſpritual beilding of Gods houſe. The Kingis and great monarchies of the earth threaten wrake and deſtruction to all them that ſall melle with this warke. The falſe namit Kirkmen that pretend to be biggares vp, demoliſh it, and gif they had power, wold caſt downe al to the grounde, as thair wickit conſperacie concludit at Trent dois ſpecifie. In quhat cauldnes the former zele of mony is now changit, zea, quhat careleſnes of maters of Religion in all eſtates it may mare then euidently appeare. The inſatiable couetyſe of euerie ane to apply & appropriat to them ſelues, the common rentes of the kirk, dois ouertrulie declare quhat conſcience mé haue, (and ſpecially the greiteſt, quhoſe anteceſſores liuit more honorablie vpone thair awin) to be manifeſt tranſgreſſores in dede, of that Religion quhilk in word to thair ſhame baldly they profeſſe. And last of all, the manifeſt corruption of our liues in all eſtates the licentious and Godles liuing of the multitude, the impunitie of ſinne and wickednes, the cruel and vnaturall murtherers heynous and deteſtable inceſtes, adulteries, ſorceries, and mony ſiclike enormities, with the oppreſſion and contempt of the pure allnaiſt vniuerſal, corruption of iuſtice and iudgement, and mony other euils that ouerflowe this commonwelth, beare euident witnes how ſklender & ſmal ſuceſſe hitherto followit the reformation of religion within this realme. And do prouoke the iudgementes of God, alace, ouerſore aganis vs. And zit nane of theſe impediments, na not they all conioynit together ſuld diſcurage zour Hienes to go fordwart in this Godly warke anis begunne. bot the hope of Gods aſſiſtance, (quho is able to moue heauen and earth quhen pleaſes him) the promiſe of his preſence and grace, and the happie end to followe aucht rather to inflame and raiſe vp zour royal heart mare conſtantlie to fecht and ouercome all the lettes that Satan and his crafty ſupoſts can deuiſe, It appeares weil that GOD hes choſen zou as a ſingulare inſtrument to be as a paterne and enſample to al other princes of zour time; in offring zou ſo faire occaſiones to put the Kirk of God to ful libertie, to purge it from corruption, to eſtabliſh ſic decent and comelie policie within the ſame as his word craues, and to prouide for the lang during and perpetuitie thereof, ſeing it hes pleaſit him to make zour grace from zour tender zouthhead to be brocht vp in the true knawlege and feire of his name: to make the pure doctrine of the Goſpel in perfite vnitie without ony ſchiſme or contrauerſie to be planely & peceably publiſhit throuch all the boundes of zour dominion. And finallie to make this policie of the Kirk to be humblie and earneſtly crauit to be eſtabliſhit be zour Hienes be the maiſt parte of the true ſubiectes of zour realme. Sic preclare occaſions aucht not to be omitted; remembring how all Kings are commandit to kiſſe and embrace the ſonne of God and to be nuriſhers of his Kirk. [Pſal. 2.] Therefore aganis all impediments, propone & oppone the earneſt zele of Dauid quha culd take no reſt nor ſlepe vnto his eyes vntil he had found the place quhair the Lord ſuld haue his reſting place amongis his people. [Pſal. 133 [132].] Call for the wiſdome of Salomon to indew zour grace with a principall Spirit aſwel as in the outwarde policie, in aduanceing the ſpiritual policie of his Kirk. [1. King. 3.] Imitate the feruent faith of Iehoſhaphat, putting his hail truſt in the Lord, and beleuing his Prophetes. [2. Chro. 20.] The diligence of Iehoaſh in reparing the houſe of the Lord. [2. King. 12.] followe the Godly Ezechias in ruting out all monuments of Idolatrie, & depending fermlie vpon the Lord. [2. Chro. 29.] The faithful zong Ioſiah, in making the buke of the Law of God lang time downe smorit, and kept in ſilence: ze vtterly tynt and forgettin, to be publikly red, acceptit be the people, and recommendit to the poſteritie. [2. Chro. 34.] To ſic deligence as this did the Prophetes Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi, exhort the princes of the Iewes. And ſchortly ſic Godly interpriſes as thay haue made the great Conſtantine, the gentle Gracian, the Godly Theodoſe, and ſic otheres to be worthi- {iv} of Eternal memorie & cómendatió. Nether is it aneuch to beginne weil, as did ſome Kings of Iuda & afterwart faintit in thair procedingis: bot there chiefly is requirit conſtancie & perſeuerance,  wt out ſhrinking til thígis be brocht to an gud order, & ſtable eſtate. Nether aucht zour Grace óly luke quhow mekle is done, bot rather quhow mekle reſtis vnperformit, euer thíkíg  yt great diligéce is requirit to go fordwart, & great attédance to be geuin  yt thígs done may abide & cótinually increſſe, til thay come to dew perfectió. This is a mater worthie of zour royal heart, a purpoſe proper for the exerciſe of the viuacie of zour deuine & heich ingine. This is a maiſt faire feild to rine in & exerce the courſe of zour zouth. And a thing maiſt mete to make knawé quhat aucht to be  yt principal ſtudie of a Chriſtiane prince, declaríg quhow nether we zour natural ſubiectis, nether ye godly & faithful of foraine natiós haue in vaine ſa lang lokit for ſome notable & excellent warke to procede fró zour Maieſties autorite for promoting of Gods glorie, & eſtabliſhing of his true religió. The quhilk (na doubt) ſalbe ane exceding honor and perpetual renome, that ſal followe zour Hienes. All other glorie at laſt ſal decay, and all cómendation that reſultes of other princely actes ather is not of lang indurance, or hes cómonly mixit therewith, ſik thingis as be alſwa worthie of blame, bot the honor of this acte ſall indure for euer, and ſalbe fully appreuit be him quhoſe iudgement can na wayis be bot equal and richt, quha is the Eternal Lord of lordis, & King of kingis, quhome with maiſt humble harte and inſtant prayer we beſeik to bleſſe zour Maieſtie with continual and daylie increſſe of his abundant bleſſingis, aſweil ſpirituall as temporall, and to mainteine in welthie proſperitie zour Princelie eſtate to the praiſe and glorie of his halie name; zour aſſured ſaluation, the comforte & quietnes of this cuntrie, the ouerthrawe of the power of Satan, the aduancement of the kingdome of

Ieſus Chriſt.    From Edinburgh in our ge-

neral aſſemblie the tent day of

Iulie. 1579.

(∴)

OUR duty craves at all occasions to hold your Highness in remembrance of things pertaining to the advancement of God's glory and weal of his Kirk, wherewith is joined the preservation of your estate and whole body of this commonwealth. For above the common sort of Princes, (who for the most part are either enemies to true religion, or else think that the meddling therewith troubles their estate, and are greatly moved with the wicked Herod [Math. 2.], when they hear the wisemen seeking for Christ to adore him as a King) ye are of God's loving mercy called to this honour and dignity to be maintainer of God's eternal truth, and mutually to be maintained by the same: in such sort, that in all troubles and commotions that any time these 16 years past have disquieted your commonwealth, two things have ever been annexed together and made as it were one quarrel & one cause: to wit, the maintenance of Christ's Evangel, and defence of your royal estate. So that for the most part they that have been enemies to the right religion have been enemies likewise to your authority and crown: as by the contrary, the most fervent favourers of God's truth, have ever been found most faithful subjects unto your Majesty, and maintainers of your welfare and estate. And in this respect (no doubt) has the Eternal at many times when matters appeared almost desperate in men's eyes, granted marvelous success & notable victories to them who sustained your quarrel against the greater forces, crafty & bold enterprises of the adversaries of the same who although many of them outwardly professed the same religion, yet if their attempts had come to effect, it should have been the means to suppress the same, and to erect superstition and idolatry again in place thereof, which our God would not suffer, but rather fought by his own power against them, as well for preservation of his truth revealed of his great mercy amongst us, as of your Highness person and estate to be advancer thereof in time to come. Which indeed, Sir, is no small honour unto you, to have God's cause and yours so linked together, and is an evident token and testimony, that so long is your princely estate able to stand in all stability how long the purity of religion & liberty of Christ's Kirk shall be carefully kept & maintained by you. Then if ofttimes princes have done many things for their friends and confederates, & namely such as have been with them in like danger & hazard of losing or winning, how much more shall it become your Highness to refuse no travails for that cause of Christ's kirk and true religion presently so mixed with your own estate, that both have the selfsame friends and unfriends, and are both appearant to abide together the like danger to fall or to stand. Herefore we were much to be blamed and worthy to be accused of neglecting our duty if we should not from time to time (as opportunity is offered) stir up, and labour to promove your good mind in so worthy and necessary a cause, which is, further & further to advance the liberty of the Gospel and spiritual building of the Kirk of God, by whom ye are promoted & maintained in this your princely estate, to be mutually to your power promoter and maintainer of his glory. And specially now when as being convened in our general assembly, this holy book of God, called the Bible, newly imprinted, was brought before us by the printer thereof, Alexander Arbuthnot, (a man who has taken great pains and travails worthy to be remembered in this behalf) and desired to be dedicate to your Highness with a convenient preface in our common Scots language, we could not omit nor neglect the occasion offered to do the same: Exhorting you most earnestly, Sir, to consider to what place your God has called you, and to remember diligently how the setting forth and authorising of this book chiefly pertains to your charge. Truth it is that the godly (men of the nation of England for the most part) banished from their country for the Gospel's cause and convened at Geneva, who did faithfully and learnedly translate this book out of the pure fountains of the Hebrew, Chaldaic & Greek tongues ought to have their own praise for their labours bestowed to the common weal of them that speak our language. Yet for as much as things once well begun crave & require great diligence to preserve them from decay after that with great labors they have been brought to perfection, one great part of the honor of advancing this work pertains unto you: by whose authority it was of a certain time bypast ordained that this holy book of God should be set forth and imprinted of new within your own realm, to the end, that in every parish kirk there should be at least one thereof kept, to be called the common book of the kirk, as a most meet ornament for such a place and a perpetual register of the word of GOD, the fountain of all true doctrine, to be made patent to all the people of every congregation as the only right rule to direct & govern them in matters of religion, as also to confirm them in the {ii} truth received and to reform and redress corruptions whensoever thay may creep in. Certainly we have great occasion both to glorify the goodness of God toward this country, and also highly to extol and commend your Highness' most godly purpose and enterprise. O what difference may be seen between these days of light when almost in every private house the book of God's law is read and understood in our vulgar language and that age of darkness when scarcely in one whole city (without the cloisters of monks and friars) could the book of God once be found, and that in a strange tongue of Latin not good but mixed with barbarity, used and read by few, and almost understood or exponed by none. And when the false-named clergy of this realm abusing the gentle nature of your Highness' most noble Grandfather of worthy memory made it a capital crime to be punished with the fire to have or read the New Testament in the vulgar language, yea, and to make them to all men more odious as if it had been the detestable name of a pernicious sect, they were named New Testamenters, Verily if we would weigh these matters aright, men should neither so advance the time passed neither yet accuse this present age, when this only spiritual comfort of God's word ought justly to be preferred to all the vain worldly wealth of the years past before: but rather with most thankful hearts praise and extol the infinite goodness of our God who has counted us worthy to whom he should open free an heavenly treasure, and raised us up the heroical spirits of princes, and namely of your grace, for the outsetting of the same. Wherefore seeing it has pleased the goodness of our God to show such favour and benevolence toward your Highness and this your country that now the truth of the Evangel is freely truly and sincerely preached throughout all places under your subjection, of very duty the next care and study ought to be how this divine work may more and more be furthered and performed, and also maintained and continued that the purity of religion may long time remain amongst us, to the comfort of this present age, and of all posterities to come. And so much the rather that the neglecting of this point in other places has been occasion that most notable and happy beginnings has oft times not taken such end and success as apparently might have followed if the like provision had been made for the continuance as pains & travails were taken for planting of true religion. But as the errors of others may make us circumspect so should the rare and singular benefits of God lately shown to this realm encourage your Highness & your whole subjects in hope that this notable & excellent work of the spiritual edifying of the house of God shall take good success and happy end in your hands, for since the time it pleased God to devolve the government of this realm and care of establishing his kirk in your person, being then but an infant of tender age, continually such success has followed that not without just cause the minds of many are erected in that expectation that God shall some day use you as an instrument to perform greater things for the welfare of his Kirk, than either we will presently utter, or by natural reason can be made probable. We omit now to speak how miraculously the truth of God's word was first sown in this country by feeble & weak instruments, or largely to dilate how mercifully things were brought to pass without great inconvenience or cruel bloodshed, and how the liberty of the Evangel has been so graciously granted to us without any extreme harm and damage, which other great & potent nations these many years with extreme troubles and fearful battles to the great loss of their lives and goods, has long sought for, and yet never fully obtained; neither mind we at this present to declare how wonderfully your grace has been preserved even from your conception and birth to this day, how happily factions & controversies concerning your royal estate have been settled and extinguished, and shortly how many and notable works above all worldly expectation enterprised in your most happy name have been brought to lukkie [blessed] end and good effect, the favour & blessing of God continually following them with better success than men durst either hope for or desire. These things and many others more particular (the ample discourse whereof we remit unto the histories) as they testify unto us the bountiful goodness of God, both toward your majesty and this realm, so ought they to stir up all hearts to thankfulness, and cheerfully encourage you to pass forward in this great work of reformation of religion and building the spiritual temple of the Lord. The foundation whereof being already laid by publick universal preaching of true doctrine throughout the whole realm, it resteth that the work may be prosecute and the building brought to a good perfection by establishing of discipline and meet policy in the kirk of God, not taken out of the Cisterns of traditions of men, but of the pure fountains of God's holy word. Which thing wisely begun in your Highness' name by your first Regent of godly memory, and ordained by act of parliament to be followed forth, has been diligently pressed for, from time to time, but especially now since the acceptation of the government in your own person: when as not only most lovingly & willingly ye did receive the book of the policy of the kirk offered by them who were direct to your majesty in name of the general kirk, but also was very careful to find out men meet for conference upon the heads of that same, lamenting for the rarity of such kind of persons as were desired to confer thereupon, & has appointed divers times & places where such conferences in your name & at your commandment have been had, not without fruit & agreement in many {iii} heads to be passed in laws, but with expectation of greater things after to follow upon further conferrence, providing such men be appointed thereto as your Highness wished, and we most earnestly crave whereinto we doubt not of your own good will as of before, for it should be but travail lost whatsoever has been hitherto bestowed therein, if the work shall not be followed forth, and brought to good show and end. Whereunto we exhort your grace most effectuously, for nothing can be found more proper & ganand [suitable] wherein a Christian prince of such expectation as ye are, should give a true proof of the good & sound affection which he bears to the advancement of God's glory, and of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Truth it is that Satan ceases not neither will cease hereafter to object many and great impediments to the hindrance of this Godly enterprise of bringing the spiritual building of the house of God to perfection, which we always are in good hope (adjoining thereto our continual prayers) your good and heroic zeal shall overcome, albeit not without some hard difficulties and wearisome lets, even of them who ought of duty to put their hands to this work. We read in this book how many & difficult impediments were offered to Zerubbabel and the Jews to stop the building and repairing of the temple of Jerusalem. Sometime they were expressly contramanded by the edicts of the great monarch, Sometimes by the threatening of their adversaries round about them. Sometime by domestical enemies, hypocrites, crafty worldlings and oppressors of their brethren, Yet against all these the Prophet oppones the commandment of God and promise of his assistance to perform the work. [In the books Ezra & Neh. Hag. 12.] The like or rather greater impediments be objected this day, against the spiritual building of God's house. The Kings and great monarchies of the earth threaten wrek [vengeance] and destruction to all them that shall meddle with this work. The false named Kirkmen that pretend to be biggars [builders] up, demolish it, and if they had power, would cast down all to the ground, as their wicked conspiracy concluded at Trent does specify. In[to] what coldness the former zeal of many is now changed; yea, what carelessness of matters of Religion in all estates it may more than evidently appear. The insatiable covetous[ness] of everyone to apply & appropriate to themselves, the common rents of the kirk, does overtruly declare what conscience men have, (and specially the greatest, whose antecessours lived more honourably upon their own) to be manifest transgressors indeed, of that Religion which in word to their shame boldly they profess. And last of all, the manifest corruption of our lives in all estates the licentious and godless living of the multitude, the impunity of sin and wickedness, the cruel and unatural murders heinous and detestable incests, adulteries, sorceries, and many suchlike enormities, with the oppression and contempt of the poor almost universal, corruption of justice and judgment, and many other evils that overflow this commonwealth, bear evident witness how slender & small success hitherto followed the reformation of religion within this realm; And do provoke the judgments of God, alas, oversore against us. And yet none of these impediments, no not they all conjoined together should discourage your Highness to go forward in this godly work once begun. But the hope of God's assistance, (who is able to move heaven and earth when pleases him), the promise of his presence and grace, and the happy end to follow, ought rather to inflame and raise up your royal heart more constantly to fight and overcome all the lets that Satan and his crafty supposts [supporters] can devise. It appears well that GOD has chosen you as a singular instrument to be as a pattern and ensample to all other princes of your time; in offering you so fair occasions to put the Kirk of God to full liberty, to purge it from corruption, to establish such decent and comely policy within the same as his word craves, and to provide for the long [en]during and perpetuity thereof, seeing it has pleased him to make your grace from your tender youthhood to be brought up in the true knowledge and fear of his name: to make the pure doctrine of the Gospel in perfect unity without any schism or controversy to be plainly & peaceably published through all the bounds of your dominion. And finally to make this policy of the Kirk to be humbly and earnestly craved to be established by your Highness by the most part of the true subjects of your realm. Such preclare [clear] occasions ought not to be omitted; remembering how all Kings are commanded to kiss and embrace the son of God and to be nourishers of his Kirk. [Psalm 2.] Therefore against all impediments, propone & oppone the earnest zeal of David who could take no rest nor sleep unto his eyes until he had found the place where the Lord should have his resting place amongst his people. [Psalm 133 [132].] Call for the wisdom of Solomon to endue your grace with a principal Spirit as well as in the outward policy, in advancing the spiritual policy of his Kirk. [1. King. 3.] Imitate the fervent faith of Jehoshaphat, putting his whole trust in the Lord, and believing his Prophets [2. Chro. 20.]; The diligence of Jehoash in reparing the house of the Lord [2. King. 12.]; follow the godly Hezekiah in rooting out all monuments of Idolatry, & depending firmly upon the Lord [2. Chro. 29.]; The faithful young Josiah, in making the book of the Law of God long time down smored [smothered, suppressed], and kept in silence: yea utterly tint [lost] and forgotten, to be publicly read, accepted by the people, and recommended to the posterity. [2. Chro. 34.] To such diligence as this did the Prophets Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi, exhort the princes of the Jews. And shortly such godly enterprises as they have made the great Constantine, the gentle Gratian, the godly Theodosius, and such others to be worthy {iv} of Eternal memory & commendation. Neither is it enough to begin well, as did some kings of Judah & afterward fainted in their proceedings: but there chiefly is required constancy & perseverance, without shrinking, till things be brought to a good order, & stable estate. Neither ought your Grace only look how much is done, but rather how much rests unperformed, ever thinking that great diligence is required to go forward, & great attendance to be given that things done may abide & continually increase, till they come to due perfection. This is a matter worthy of your royal heart, a purpose proper for the exercise of the vivacity of your divine & high ingeny. This is a most fair field to run in & exercise the course of your youth. And a thing most meet to make known what ought to be that principal study of a Christian prince, declaring how neither we your natural subjects, neither the godly & faithful of foreign nations have in vain so long looked for some notable & excellent work to proceed from your Majesty's authority for promoting of God's glory, & establishing of his true religion. The which (no doubt) shall be an exceeding honour and perpetual renown, that shall follow your Highness. All other glory at last shall decay, and all commendation that results of other princely acts either is not of long endurance, or has commonly mixed therewith, such things as be also worthy of blame, but the honour of this act shall endure for ever, and shall be fully approved by him whose judgment can no ways be but equal and right, who is the Eternal Lord of lords, & King of kings, whom with most humble heart and instant prayer we beseech to bless your Majesty with continual and daily increase of his abundant blessings, as well spiritual as temporal, and to maintain in wealthy prosperity your Princely estate to the praise and glory of his holy name; your assured salvation, the comfort & quietness of this country, the overthrow of the power of Satan, the advancement of the kingdom of

Jesus Christ.    From Edinburgh in our General

Assembly the tenth day of

July, 1579.

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