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A43314
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The government and order of the Church of Scotland
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Henderson, Alexander, 1583?-1646.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing H1432; ESTC R221287
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31,992
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84
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THE GOVERNMENT AND ORDER OF THE CHVRCH OF SCOTLAND NVMB. 23. and 24. How goodly are thy tents O Iacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel for this house full of silver and gold I would not curse for how shall I curse whom God hath not cursed or how shall I defie whom the Lord hath not defied COL 2. 5. Though I be absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joycing and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ. Printed Anno MDCXLI To the Reader MY desires at this time to know and to make known to others the form of Government and order of worship used in the Church of Scotland have brought these following lineaments to light There come daily into my hands without my seeking some one forme of Church Government or other as the divers Authors from their love to Reformation in their judgements did conceive But I must confesse they did the lesse relish with me that they were directions and modells without the example or practise of any of the Christian Churches and were Abstract Idea's of discipline in the minds of men and not Disciplina in Subjecto One I had Titled The forme of government used in the Church of Scotland but being nothing but an Abridgement and containing generalls onely It did not satisfie I found also many of the godly much wearied of the Prelacy who yet bow their shoulder to bear and couch down between the two burthens because being unacquainted with the Government of the Reformed Churches they do not know what to choose and fear as to them who are in the dark is usuall they know not what Such as these do rather suffer themselves to be led away with the policy of Pacuvius at Capua which in such a case was cmmendable then resolve to follow the faith of Abraham when the Lord called him Get the out of thy Countrey c. into a Land which I will shew thee Gen. 12. 1. What he was to forsake and the Terminus à quo of his removing he did know But whether he was to go and the Terminus ad quem he did not know resting assured that God would shew it him In our own affairs we may think the evill known to be better then the good unknown But it holdeth not in the matters of God nor when we speak of Malum turpe and bonum honestum the evill of sinne and the good of obedience But as they who travell from the South to the North losing the sight of the one Pole come in sight of the other and as they go on the North Pole is elevated to them by degrees So is it here if men would once forsake and turn their back upon that which they know to be wrong and would ask the way to Zion with their faces thither ward the Lord would teach them his way I must confesse that I did give too much ear and audience to the misinformation of many so may I call it now after true imformation who would have made me to believe 1. That the true government of that Church was Episcopall and that beside the order of Episcopacy there was nothing in that Church but disorder and confusion through the Parity of their Ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that all did speak and no man did hear any thing of another 2. That they had no certain rule or direction for their publike worship but that every man following his extemporary fansie did preach and pray what seemed good in his own eyes And 3. which was to me an huge rock of offence That they were enemies to Kings for no other cause but that they are Kings and out of a desire of Anarchy did preferre Democracie to Monarchicall Government Great crimes I can not deny and much to be abhorred for they are destructive of all Ecclesiasticall and Civile Order and do break both the staves of beauty and of bonds But upon tryall I did remember that if accusation were guiltinesse no party conld be innocent and found that it was nothing so as was alledged for concerning the first I called to minde the practise of a painter of old who being desired to represent the body of Hercules did expresse nothing of the lineaments of his face stature or members but did onely make a resemblance of the Lyons skin which he was wont to carry about as the badge of his strength and the Trophee of his honour Episcopacy was never the face nor order of that Church In the most part of their assemblies have they conflicted with it and by the strength of God obtaining the victory both of old and much more of late They may well number it among their spoiles The order of their Ministers each one standing in his own station and none usurping over another and the Subordination of their foure kindes of assemblies joyning the consent and obedience of the people are the face and strength of that Church Against the second The form of prayers administration of the Sacraments admission of Ministers Excommunication solemnizing os marriage visitation of the sick c. which are set down before their Psalm-Book and to which the Ministers are to conforme themselves is a sufficient witnesse for although they be not tyed to set formes and words yet are they not left at randome but for testifying their consent and keeping unity they have thelr directory and prescribed order No where hath preaching and the ministery more spirituall and lesse carnall liberty the Presbytery and assemblies encouraging to the one and restraining from the other And against the third Their Confession of Faith the doctrine and prayers of their Church their late declarations and remonstrances and what is contained in â—he conclusion of this Treatise expresse as much respect and reverence to magistracy as any Christian Prince will require I was also strongly drawn to the liking of that Church by the Testimonies given unto their Reformation by some of the most famous witnesses of this age One is of that worthy Scottish Martyr Mr. George Wischeart This Realm shall be illuminate with the light of Christs Gospel as clearly as ever was Realm since the dayes of the Apostles The house of God shall be builded in it yea it shall not lack watsoever the enemy imagine to the contrary the very top-stone the glory of God shall evidently appear and shall once triumph in despight of Satan But alas if the people shall be after unthankfull then fearfull and terrible shall the plagues be that after shall follow Hist. of the Church of Scotland pag. 108. Another of Beza Magnum hoc Dei munus quod una religionem puraÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doctrinae viz. retinendae vinculum in Scotiam intulistis Sic obsecro obtestor haec duo simul retinete ut uno amisso alterum diu permanere non posse semper memimeritis Sicut Episcopi papatum pepererunt ita pseudoepiscopos papatus reliquias EpicureismuÌ„ terris invecturos hanc
enquirie made from the rest if there bee any knowne scandall fault or negligence amongst them That it may be in a brotherly manner censured like as upon the day of the meeting of the Presbyterie next going before the Synod all the members of the Presbyterie suffer the like inquirie each one a part by all the rest As the Moderator beginneth and endeth everie session before and after noon with prayer so doth he somewhat more solemnlie close the Synod with some pithie and pertinent exhortation and heartie thanksgiving and praier unto God All matters where these Synods are ordinarily kept are with such diligence exped That the Ministers none of them having above a short daies journey and Tuesday being usually the first day of their meeting may return to their charge against the Lords day having notice of the day and place of the next following Synod and carrying with them such acts as are necessarie that they may be made known to their particular Elderships and congregations And thanks may be given in every Congregation for the good proceedings of the Synod and for the libertie of the Churches These Synods are not alwaies held at one time and therefore if there be cause some Commissioners are sent from one Synod to another for their judgement and advice in matters of difficultie which is reported at the following Synod for their further resolution and that so farre as is possible there may bee a conformitie in all things VI. Of Nationall Synods or Generall Assemblies THe nationall assemblie meeteth once in the yeare and the time of the following assembly agreed upon before the rising of the former or oftner pro re nata concerning which some Ministers have commission and warrant from the assemblie to give timely advertisement to the Presbyteries for choosing and sending their Commissioners This great assemblie useth to bee honoured with the Kings Majesties presence either in his royall Person or by his High Commissioner who doth all the parts of a Supreame Civill President In a peaceable ordering of the whole proceedings of so frequent and holy a meeting that all mens reasons and voices may be heard and in acquainting himselfe with the grounds of every constitution that shall be agreed upon that by his Princely authoritie they may be observed and if need require the sanction of the Civill Law may be added for which end also certaine Commissioners from the assemblie are sent to attend the Parliament It doth Consist of Commissioners from the Presbyteries or Classes three Ministers and one Eldâ—r from each Presbyterie who are chosen by the voices of the Ministers and Elders sent from the particular Elderships and of one Commissioner from the Church session of every royall Burgh that there may bee some proportion and equalitie Others also are permitted although not to voice yet to heare propound and debate provided that they first obtaine leave of the Moderator and that it may appear to be done animo aedificandi non tentandi The first day of the assemblie is kept with a solemne fast and humiliation wherein the whole Citie or Towne which is the Seat of the assemblie useth to joyne with powerfull preaching and earnest praiers from morning till night The particular Churches also throughout the Kingdome upon the daies of their publick meeting pray to God for his direction assistance and blessing unto the assemblie that they may bee led into all truth and all the Churches be refreshed with the sweet fruits thereof The next day the Moderator of the preceding assemblie beginneth with praier causeth the Clerk call the Presbyteries and take up the names of the Commissioners Ministers and Elders who give in their Commissions which being read examined and allowed they proceed to the chusing of a new Moderator keeping the same order which is set downe before in choosing the Moderator of the Provinciall Synod The new Moderator calleth for the Records of the Synods and by the voices of the assemblie chooseth a Committee for perusing and trying them a Committee for the bils complaints and petitions to be presented to the assemblie and such other Committees as are ordinarie for preparing of weightie matters for the assemblie and for cutting off idle and impertinent things that the dispatch may be the more speedie and easie when they shall be brought to open debate and voycing all references from Synods appellations grievances complaints petitions are here examined and answered Acts and constitutions for all the Churches are agreed upon with common consent and if there be any considerable contradiction and the doubts and scruples which are made be not satisfied matters are remitted to further deliberation till the next assemblie course is taken for planting of Churches with able Ministers that the Gospell may be spread through the whole Nation Rules are set downe by which the inferiour assemblies shall bee directed in all their proceedings all meanes used that the Church be not wronged neither by confounding the Civill and Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction nor by the abusing or interverting the patrimonie of the Church The Commissioners of each Presbyterie do carrie home with them a true copie of all such acts as doe concerne all the Churches that they may walk by one and the same rule The Moderator giveth forth Summons signed with his own hand and the hand of the Clerke for citing of persons in the name of the assemblie to compare before the next meeting thereof with certification of the censures of the Church in case of disobedience The Conclusion IN the authoritie of these assemblies Parochiall Presbyteriall Provinciall and Nationall and in the subordination of the lesser unto the greater or of more particular Elderships to the larger and generall Eldership doth consist the externall order strength and stedfastnesse of the Church of Scotland which is lovely and comfortable to all fearing God whether Pastor or professors and hath beene very awefull and terrible as an Armie with Banners to all Papists to all Hereticks Schismaticks Hirelings and all ungodly persons As upon the one part they break not the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax but do cherish and labour to bring to ripenesse and use the graine of Mustardseed in sincere beginners and the smallest talent in Preachers having the zeale of God So upon the other part no scandall of proud sinners escapeth censure no heresie or error is sooner hatched but is either presently spied out and crushed by some of the inferiour assemblies or if it be kept on foot and gather strength it is quite suppressed and extinguished in the generall assemblie which meeteth once in the year and never suffereth such bastard births to grow to be one yeare old which is a true and maine cause why no sects nor errours have appeared in the reformed Church of France and in the Churches of Scotland of the Low-Countries so long as they enjoyed the libertie and happinesse of assemblies which they did no sooner by the mercie of God recover but immediately at