As concerning that Act of the General Assemblie, Anno 1580, whereby Bishops are declared to haue no warrant out of Scripture, if corruption of tyme shall bee regarded, the authoritie of that Assemblie might bee neglected no lesse than that at Glasgow, Anno 1610. But it is ordinarie that prior Actes of Assemblies and Parliamentes giue place to the posterior; for _Posteriora derogant Prioribus_. And there past not full six yeares, when a Generall Assemblie at Edinburgh found, that the Name of Bishops hath a speciall charge and function annexed to it by the Word of God; and that it was lawfull for the Generall Assemblie to admit a Bishop to a Benefice, presented by the Kings Majestie, with power to admit, visite, and depriue Ministers, and to be Moderatoures of the Presbyteries where they are resident, and subject onelie to the sentence of the Generall Assemblie.
As for that Act at Montrose, let them answere to it that haue their calling by that Commission. Wee professe that wee haue a lawfull calling by the election of the Clergie, who are of the Chapter of our Cathedralls, and consecration of Bishops by his Majesties consent and approbation, according to the laudable Lawes and auncient Custome of this Kingdome, and of the Church in auncient tymes; and doe homage to our Soveraigne Lord for our Temporalities, and acknowledge him, _solo Deo minorem_, next vnto God in all causes, and over all persons Spirituall or Temporall; in his owne Dominions supreame Governour. But now wee may take vp _Cyprian_ his complaint, _Lib._ 3. _Ep._ 14. _Quod non periculum metuere debemus de offensâ Domini, quando aliqui de Presbyteris, nec Evangelii, nec loci sui memores; sed neque futurum Dei judicium, neque præpositum sibi Episcopum cogitantes, quod nunquam omnino sub antecessoribus factum est, cum contumelia & contemptâ præpositi, totum sibi vendicent? A’que vtinam non prostrata fratrum nostrorum salute sibi omnia vendicarent. Contumelias Episcopatus nostri dissimulare & ferre possem; sicut dissimulavi semper & pertuli; sed dissimulandi nunc locus non est, quando decipiatur fraternitas nostra à quibusdam vestrum, qui dum sine ratione restituendæ salutis plausibiles esse cupiunt, magis lapsis obsunt._