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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A43314 The government and order of the Church of Scotland Henderson, Alexander, 1583?-1646. 1641 (1641) Wing H1432; ESTC R221287 31,992 84

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concern the particular Churches there represented as the examination ordination suspension and deposition of Ministers scandals of Ministers in doctrine life or any part of their calling the decerning of excommunication references and appellations from particular Elderships and the amending of any thing that hath beene negligently or weakly done by them the answering also of questions and requests from other Presbyteries Churches or persons or sending of Commissioners in some cases to other Churches or Presbyteries whether to admonish or advise them or to seek counsell from them but so that they have no autho●ity wi●hout the limi●s of their own consociation The Ministers and Elders who are Commissioners together with the expectants and others who are pleased to be present meeting in the place and at the day and houre appointed which useth to be one halfe houre after nine a clock in the forenoone whereof warning is given by the sound of a bell that so all the affaires of that day unlesse there be somewhat extraordinary to hold them longer may bee exped against mid-day doe begin with prayer and proceed to the textuall interpretation of Scripture which is done by the Ministers each one in his own place by course or by the expectants whose names are set forth in a table or written in the Register of the Presbyterie for that end after the first speaker some other who followeth in order and is also appointed by the Presbyterie the day before speaketh in the second place collecting some doctrines one or moe upon the text expounded and shewing the use thereof The second speaker having ended about eleven a clock the exercise is closed with thanksgiving by him who spake first The matter of each dayes exercise is some portion of that particular book of the Old or New Testament agreed upon in the Presbyterie once every moneth some common place or controversie is handled unto which the exercise giveth place for that day The ground is read in Scripture the state of the question propounded the arguments for the truth pressed and vindicated from the Sophistication of the adversaries but the arguments contra are left to bee proponed in the Presbyteriall meeting by such Ministers as are called by the Moderator to dispute upon the propositions or Theses exhibit the day of the meeting next before by the contraversar and are propugned by him the Moderator being praeses of the disputation That the Presbyterie may go thorow all the controversies they have also a table wherein they are all digested in order so that each minister or expectant knoweth a moneth before what is next to be treated The exercise or common head of controversie ended in publick the people depart and the Ministers and Elders with others who are permitted to bee present goe to the private place of their meeting where all being set in order and the Moderator having begun with prayer the doctrine delivered in publick is examined and each one of the Presbyterie and expectants either approveth or in charity and sobernesse of spirit propoundeth his doubt against any point spoken of which being done the speakers for that day are called upon they being apart at this time their interpretation and doctrine approved and they encouraged or if there be cause they are in a brotherly manner admonished The doctrine censured for this they call the censure of the doctrine The matters before mentioned to be the subject of the Presbyteriall jurisdiction are propounded modestly debated and either concluded or taken to further deliberation or remitted to the Synod and so the meeting concluded with prayer The Moderator either continueth in his place betweene one Provinciall Synod and another or for a shorter time but they think it not fit to change the Moderator at every meeting The Presbyteries also do visit the severall Churches within their bounds either by holding their full meetings at the Churches or by sending their commissioners thither that they may see how the ordinances of Christ are used and obeyed by the Minister Eldership and all the congregation and that if any thing be amisse it may be rectified V. Of Provinciall Synods THe whole Kingdome is by the wisdome of the Generall assemblie so divided in Provinces as the Ministers and Elders may for vicinity of place best meet in Provinciall Synods without respect to Episcopall Dioceses the particular Churches whereof are so far cast a sunder in Scotland that they cannot conveniently joyne in provinciall Synods The provinciall Synode is of the same constitution with the Presbyterie and doth consist of all the Ministers and one Elder having commission as before from each particular Church within the province It meeteth ordinarily twice a yeare but the place the time of the meeting are chosen according to the conveniencie of the Churches of the province and as the exigence of their affaires doth require The Moderator of the former Synod openeth the Synod with a Sermon fit for such an assembly and after Sermon setting himselfe downe in his place with the clerk of the Synod who for the most part is one of the Ministers chosen by plurality of voices beginneth with prayer causeth the names of the Ministers to be read who not only answer for their owne presence the absent being noted but also give up the names of the Commissioners from the severall Churches which are written down by the Clerk and their commissions also read if need be and proceedeth to the choosing of a new moderator The Moderator is thus chosen A list is made by the former moderator of foure or five of the ablest men for wisdome authority and dexterity for such an employment which is approved by the consent of the Synod And if any member of the Synod be pleased to adde any other so qualified to the list his name is joyned with the former and out of this list the Moderator is chosen by the suffrages of the Ministers and Elders and set in the place of the former Moderator The new Moderator first of all calleth for the Registers of the severall Presbyteries and putteth them in the hands of the Ministers of other different Presbyteries to be revised and examined That by the Records it may bee knowne how they have kept order and performed what hath beene recommended unto them by the preceeding Synods And what and how matters have been treated by them at every session that they may be censured or allowed which upon the report of the revisers is accordingly done in the face of the Synod If there be any references from the Synode before they are first debated and determined and thereafter new matters are brought into deliberation What was obscure or difficult for the Presbyteries or might concerne them all in common is here resolved and ordered what hath beene done amisse is redressed And if any difficultie arise which doth not fall under some Church constitution it is referred to the nationall assemblie Before the assemblie be desolved each Presbyterie is set a part by course and