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come ye to deſpiſe the diſcipline of the church? is not offenders to be rebuked and chaſtiſed?
Mith. Yes ſtir, a that is very true; but I hae been three or four times throw the Bible an the New Taſtement, an I never ſaw a repenting ſtool in't a; than whare cou d the firſt of them come frae, the Apoſtles had nane of them. But a daft hiſtory tells me that the firſt o' them was uſed about Rome amang the papiſts, an ay whan ony o' them turn'd whigs, they were put on a four neuked thing, like a yarn winnle-blads an rave a their gouls ſindry, till the turned papiſts again; an then for anger, they put them on a black ſtane or ſtool, in the mids of the kirk an the ſack gown opon them, wi' the picture o' the deil an Satan on't; a ſweet be wi' us, we ſudna ſpeak of the ill thief in the kirk but it's a mercy the miniſter's here an he come; but that was the original of your repeating ſtools an whan the whigs chac'd awa the papiſt fouk out o' the kintry, they left a wheen o' their religious pictures, an the ſtool of repentance was amang the ſpoil; but ye ſe no get my bairn to ſit upon a thing as high as a hen-bank, an ilkin body glouring at him.
Meſs John. Woman, I told you formerly that any who refuſes ſubmiſſion to the government of the church, is liable to excomunication: and that we are to put the law in execution againſt adultry and fornication, or the ſin thereof lies partly on our head.
Mith. As for your ſin of adultry, I have naething ado with; I ken my ſon is a