pleasure as our master Christ Jesus doth witnes unlesse adulterie be cōmitted which being sufficiently proved in presence of the civill Magistrate the innocent if they so require ought to be pronounced free and the offender ought to suffer death as God hath commanded If the civill sword foolishly spare the life of the offender yet may not the Kirke be negligent in their office which is to excommunicate the wicked and to repute them as dead members to pronounce the innocent party to be at freedome be they never so honourable before the world If the life be spared as it ought not to be to the offenders if fruits of repentance of long time appeare in them and if they earnestly desire to be reconciled with the Kirk we judge they may be received to the participation of the Sacraments and other benefits of the Kirk For we would not that the Kirk should hold them excommunicate whom God absolved that is the penitent If any demand whether that the offender after reconciliation with the Kirk may not marry againe We answer that if they cannot live continently and if the necessity be such as that they feare further offence of God we cannot forbid them to use the remedy ordained of God If the party offended may be reconciled to the offender then wee judge that on no wayes it shall be lawfull to the offender to marry any other except the party that before hath been offended and the solemnization of the latter marriage must be in the open face of the Kirk like as the former but without proclamation of bands This we do offer as the best counsell that God giveth unto us in so doubt some a case but the most perfect reformation were if your Honours would give to God his honour and glory that yee would preferre his expresse commandement to your own corrupt judgments especially in punishing of these crimes which he commandeth to be punished with death For so should yee declare your selves Gods true obedient officiars and your common-wealth should be rid of innumerable troubles We meane not that sinnes committed in our former blindnesse which be almost buried in oblivion shall be called again to examination and judgement But we require that the law may be now and hereafter so established and execute that this ungodly impunity of finne have no place within this Realme For in the feare of God we signifie unto your Honours that whosoever perswades you that ye may pardon where God commandeth death deceives your soules and provokes you to offend Gods Majestie Of Buriall BUriall in all ages hath beene holden in estimation to signifie that the same body which was committed to the earth should not utterly perish but should rise againe and the same we would have kept within this Realme Provided that superstition idolatry and whatsoever hath proceeded of a false opinion and for advantage sake may be avoided and singing of Masse placebo and dirige and all other prayers over or for the dead which are not onely superstitious and vaine but also are idolatry and doe repugne to the plaine Scriptures of God For plaine it is that every one that dyeth departeth either in the faith of Christ Jesus or departeth in incredulity Plaine it is that they that depart in the true faith of Christ Jesus rest from their labours and from death doe goe to life everlasting as by our Master and his Apostles we are taught But whosoever departeth in unbeliefe or in incredulity shall never see life but the wrath of God abides upon him And so we say that prayers for the dead are not onely superstitious and vaine but doe expresly repugne to the manifest Scriptures and veritie thereof For avoiding of all inconveniences we judge it best that neither singing nor reading be at buriall For albeit things sung and read may admonish some of the living to prepare themselves for death yet shall some superstitious think that singing and reading of the living may profit the dead And therfore we think it most expedient that the dead be conveyed to the place of buriall with some honest company of the Kirk without either singing or reading yea without all kind of ceremony heretofore used other then that the dead be committed to the grave with such gravity and sobriety as those that be present may seeme to feare the judgements of God and to hate sinne which is the cause of death We are not ignorant that some require a Sermon at the buriall or else some place of Scripture to be read to put the living in minde that they are mortall and that likewise they must die But let these men understand that the Sermons which be daily made serve for that use which if men despise the funerall Sermons shall rather nourish superstition and a false opinion as before is said then that they shall bring such persons to a godly consideration of their own estate Attour either shall the Ministers for the most part be occupied in funerall Sermons or else they shall have respect of persons preaching at the burials of the rich and honorable but keeping silence when the poore and despised departeth and this with safe conscience cannot the Minister doe For seeing that before God there is no respect of persons and that their Ministrie appertaineth to all alike whatsoever they doe to the rich in respect of their Ministrie the same they are bound to doe to the poorest under their charge In respect of divers inconveniences we think it neither seemly that the Kirk appointed to preaching and ministration of the Sacraments shall be made a place of buriall but that some other secret and convenient place lying in the most free aire be appointed for that use which place ought to be walled and fenced about and kept for that use onely For repairation of the Kirks LEst that the word of God and ministration of the Sacraments by unseemlinesse of the place come in contempt of necessity it is that the Kirk and place where the people ought publickly to convene be with expedition repaired with doores windowes thack and with such preparation within as appertaineth as well to the Majestie of God as unto the ease and commodity of the people And because we know the slothfulnesse of men in this behalfe and in all other which may not redound to their private commoditie strait charge and commandement must be given that within ane certaine day the reparation must be begun and within another day to be affixed by your Honours that it may be finished Penalties and summs of mony must be injoyned and without pardon taken from the contemners The reparation would be according to the ability and number of Kirks Every Kirk must have doores close windowes of glasse thackable to with-hold rain a bell to convocate the people together a pulpit a basen for baptizing and table for ministration of the Lords Supper In greater Kirks and where the Congregation is great in number must reparation be made
these novelties under the name of anoient verities yea without shame or feare to affirme that this last was the primitive and naturall face of their mother It may be seene in these dayes that after a large time this second mysterie working under cover yet alwayes perceived by some in this Land is now at last brought to light according to the warnings of the wise watchmen of this Kirke and hath changed the comely countenance of Christs Spouse further then the lovers of the truth would have thought into the Antichristian complexion of that whore of Babel and without Gods preventing mercie and our speedy repentance the losse of a great substance for a foule conformitie and yet howsoever all men cry that the ancient way was the best and as they love honestie they will be the sonnes of constancie and firmely retaine the ancient Discipline of the reformed Kirke of Scotland They have renounced nothing they have abjured nothing yea if any whisper of a fall from the first love they are quickly marked as wilfull pleading for shadowes and making of schismes and so such as would strive to stand must suffer for their fault who hath wrought the change As that old Painter intending to represent the body of Hercules expressed nothing of the lineaments of his face stature or members contenting himselfe with the resemblance of the Lyons skinne which hee was wont to carrie as the badge of his strength and Trophie of his honour So some of his Prentices for the beautifull face of this Kirke and heavenly proportion of her drivine Discipline do set before the eyes of men of this time who never saw the faire face nor felt the strength of ancient order that roaring Lyons skinne of Episcopacie the greatest monster that this Kirke had conflicted with in the most part of her meetings and whose skin within these few yeares was commonly repute amongst the rest of the spoyles taken from her enemies As it was the courage of wise Cato against the bragges of arrogant Greekes perverting all veritie and antiquitie of Hystorie and usurping the honour of the invention of all things to write a booke de Originibus for vindicating the truth from usurping presumption And as in later times many have happily labored in discovering the Roman inventions and bringing to light the beginnings and progresse of errour and idolatrie creeping in and corrupting that Kirke It were likewise to be wished for the weale of this Kirke and her cause of controversies that the Acts of the generall Assemblies so often visited and prepared for publicke use were now according to the intention and care of the Kirke together with the bookes of Discipline which should be lights for direction and lawes for dicision of controversies arising thereabout faithfully perused and printed For the present necessitie ye have here the first and second bookes of Discipline with certaine Acts of the Kirke for clearing your doubts and confirming the truth against such as delight in vatles of obscuritie and circuits of circumvention As there was never any miracle wrought for confuting of Atheists because every work of God is a miracle against them so there needs no argument to stop the mouthes of adversaries for Discipline who would seem to stand to their own oath and ancient profession because every line almost of these bookes will be an argument against them If truth shall obtrude her selfe to the knowledge of men not suffering them to be so forgetfull and ignorant as perhaps they would seeme God forbid that any should thinke that his resolution to be rich and stately should so suppresse his light and stay his mind from thinking that true which wee would wish were false that were the sinne of a wittie malignant Haec est summa delicti nolle agnoscere quod ignorare non potes It were much better that as many as through ignorance of the established order in the Kirke have beene misled would now repent their negligence and dangerous course when they shall see a good daughter of an evill mother This truth brought to light to be the fruit of our division As persecution in former times hath brought forth purity and heresie the truth of doctrine so hath this fit of distraction among brethren brought this draught of Discipline to the view of the world to so many as have stood by the grace of God to the defence of their profession a strong confirmation and to such as are tossed with doubtings a cleere resolution Let it be no derogation to the truth here expressed nor to the labours of these faithfull Fathers who penned and put in Register the same but a great imputation and guiltinesse lying upon the succeeding age who deprived themselves of such a benefit and the Kirk of such a defence Though the booke of Gods covenant lay long hid in the Temple yet Josiah rejoyced when it came to light Very Jezabel could not be stayed from magnifying of Baal by all the dashes hee suffered from heaven and earth And should not Christians be ashamed to be lesse affectionate to Veritie then she to Idolatrie and namely a truth concerning Christs Kingly Office and the Ministers of his Kingdome without the truth whereof we can neither have comfort of his Prophecie nor Priesthood It is the Lord his great mercy that in the reformation of this Kirk he hath beene preached and professed King Priest and Prophet And it shall be the glory of this Land thankefully to acknowledge that incomprehensible benefit and alwayes carefully to keepe whole without rent and to carrie a reverent estimation to the great worke of the glorious reformation of this Kirke For this effect ye must arme your selves against the Lords of tongues who have said with our tongues will we prevaile Of that generation some will dash you by the name odious of Puritan yet one of that Lordly sort is forced to confesse that Scots Professours are unto him Puritanes from the forme of externall government but not from Religion which both is and may be one and the same where the externall forme of government is different and contrary who albeit they be miserably taken with that their owne forme yet in the rest of the doctrine they are sufficiently Orthodox Others like wicked creditors destroying the obligation whereby they are bound for debtfull obedience summarily deny that ever this Kirk had any approved discipline except that which is printed and placed in the Psalme bookes A third sort making such Pastors who at the beginning were called Super-intendents to be figures patterns forerunners or lievtenants of Bishops such as now are would move the world to beleeve that they follow the first Discipline A fourth kinde wandering in the wildernesse of unbounded indifferency takes upon them to determine all doubts of discipline by honour ease or gaine And some of Gallio's disposition it may be hidly esteeming all Religion a matter of speech spare not to proclaime that striving about such trifles is
needlesse For your incouragement against such and others of the like disposition it hath pleased the Lord to set on worke our pens and in his owne time if presumption bee obstinate hee will inspire them with greater love of his truth to whom he hath given knowledge in measure above them who hath put to their hand and increase their knowledge in whose hearts he hath wrought some love howsoever their knowledge be far inferiour to many of theirs who stand for the truth It is to be remembred that the true friends of discipline are the Ministers of the blessed Evangel of Jesus Christ agreeing in doctrine and administration of the Sacraments and the people of this Realme that professe Christ as he is now offered in his Evangel and doe communicate with the holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirke of this Realme they are publickly administred according to the confession of Faith and that such as were clothed with the Kirkrents or greedily gaped after the same as Abbots Priors Prioresses Bishops Commendatairs and other sacrilegious usurpers of Kirk-livings as they had place in policie and credit in Court or Councell either professedly or craftily have resisted the course of the Gospel and the discipline thereof as may be seen in these conflicts whereby the Kirke hath ever striven for deliverance from their usurpation till now the zeale of benefices having devoured the zeale of discipline old opposites are thought to be her most loving familiars and her old friends her greatest enemies A strange Case and yet very casuall for the Kirk by seeking worldly preferment to lose spirituall servants as one said Never a Minister got a great Benefice but hee spilt it or it spilt him Item that under the name of discipline is to be understood not onely the particulars expressed in these two bookes but also the Acts Constitutions and practises agreed upon and recorded in the Registers of the Generall and Provinciall Assemblies Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions Thirdly to consider the different conditions of the Kirk in her infancie in her growing and in her ripe age and accordingly to accommodate the discipline to practise as the condition of the time permitted or required and wisely to distinguish betwixt the Kirks purpose and intention in every particular and their possibility to performe and practise as circumstances concurred or were contrary As for example they intended resident Ministers one or moe as Kirks were of largenesse with Elders and Deacons Item Doctors of Divinitie for Schools Assemblies generall provinciall weekely meetings for the interpretation of the Scripture which afterward at Edinburgh the 7. day of July 1579. were judged to be a Presbyterie And they abhorred Anarchie Oligarchie and Hierarchie but with great paines and frequent meetings was abuses condemned and order established so that for lack of ordinary Ministers planted in that respect lack of lawfull Assemblies they were forced occasionally to use Super-intendents and Visiters of Countries who afterward in the generall Assemblie holden at Edinburgh the 4. of August 1590. when Presbyters were well and orderly constitute were declared neither to be necessary nor expedient Fourthly the first and second booke of Discipline penned by the Mininisters of the reformed Kirke and the first booke at the charge and commandement of the great Councell of Scotland subscribed by the greatest part thereof and afterward by many more as may be seene in the Acts of the Kirk the second booke standing insert in publick Register of the Kirk ordained to be subscribed by divers Acts of the Assemblie and confirmed by practise are both for one end To wit to direct reformation in Doctrine Sacraments and exercise of Discipline and to resist Idolatrie and corruptions The first hath more particular purposes The second sets down more fully and particularly the jurisdiction of the Kirk as it agrees or is distinguished from the Civill Policie the Office-bearers of the Kirk with their dutie the Assemblies of the Kirk and distinctions thereof the Patrimony of the Kirk and distribution thereof the Office of a Christian Magistrate in the Kirk certaine heads of reformation with the utility of the said bookes c. Item either of the said bookes confirme the other and neither of them abolish or innovate the other ACTS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY FOR CLEERING AND CONFIRMING THE SAID BOOKES OF DISCIPLINE AND AGAINST THE ADVERSARIES THEREOF For the First Booke BEcause the lives of Ministers ought to bee such Edinburgh Iul. 30. 1562. as thereby others may be provoked to godlinesse It becomes them first to be tried after the triall of the Superintendents if any man have whereof to accuse them in life doctrine or execution of their office After the Ministers must the Elders of every Kirk be tried c. In that whole ordinance anent triall and in the Constitution following anent the subjection of all sorts of Ministers to the Discipline of the Kirk there is no mention of Bishops or any sorts of Prelates as not acknowledged to have any place in the Ministry of the Reformed Kirke Mr. Alexander Gordone called Bishop of Galloway Ibidem making petition for the Superintendencie of Galloway was refused because hee had not observed the order of calling Superintendents and in the meane time was required to subscribe the booke of Discipline Where it is evident that by his Episcopacy he might exercise no Ministeriall dutie and although he was presented by the Lords yet they would not admit him to be Super-intendent except hee subscribed the booke of Discipline And let this be remembred for the subscription of others of whom there may be seene a great number at the end of the said booke It is concluded by the whole Ministers assembled Ibidem That all Ministers shall be subject to their Super-intendents in all lawfull Admonitions as is prescribed as well in the booke of Discipline as in the election of Super-intendents Here observe two things First that Super-intendents might not doe what pleased them Secondly that obedience to bee performed to them was injoyned by the Kirk and set downe in the booke of Discipline and in the election of Super-intendents A Minister lawfully admitted Ibidem shall not bee removed but according to the order of the booke of Discipline so that the said booke is both the warrant of orderly admission and orderly removing According to the fourth head of the booke of Discipline concerning the lawfull election of Ministers Edinburgh Decem. 25. 1562. the Assemblie ordaines That Inhibition shall be made to all and sundry persons now serving in the Ministery who have not entred into their charges by the order in this same head appointed And this Act to have strength as well against them that are called Bishops as others pretending any Ministery within the Kirk It was thought needfull Edinburgh Decem. 25. 1563. for further confirmation of the booke of Discipline that the Earle Marshal Lord Ruthwen Lord Secretar the Commendator of Kilwinning the Bishop of
Master Iohn Row and Iames Lowson were read and nothing said against except that one of the said Mr. Iohn his Articles was referred to further disputation All men being required that had any good reason or Argument to propone in the contrary to alledge the same or if they would not publickly reason on the said head to resort to the said Commissioners where travell should bee taken to satisfie them leaving to them liberty also before the heads be recollected and ordered in one body to make argument as they thinke good against the same The Laird of Dun thought the head given to him obscure The Assembly desired him to conferre with the remanent Commissioners the morne at 7. houres that he may be resolved of the meaning thereof The Remanent heads being prolix were thought good to be contracted in short propositions to be presented to publick reading Sess 2. The head committed to Mr. Androw Hay being read in face of the Assembly nothing was proponed against the same except the Article anent the suspension of Ministers referred to further reasoning David Forgusone his part being read the 18. Article was referred and nothing spoken against the rest The points committed to Mrs. Androw Hay Robert Pont David Lindesay nothing alledged in the contrary The heads committed to Mr. Iohn Craig read some things were desired to be contracted and others referred to further reasoning Sess 3. The whole labours of the brethren taken upon the matter and argument of the policy being wholly read in publick audience of the Assembly it was thought expedient that their whole travailes and worke in this matter being now dispersed should be revised and perused by some brethren and digested and disposed in good and convenient order to be thereafter presented to the Assembly And for that effect the Assembly appointed the brethren Mrs. Iames Lowsone Androw Melvill Iohn Craig George Hay to conveene together to appoint the houres and place thereto and to remaine thereat while the matter be brought to an end And in the meane time if it please any to reason with them in the matter to have accesse thereto Sess 6. Commissioners directed from this Assembly to the Regents Grace for informing his Grace anent the travels of the Kirk in the matter and argument of the policy returned and reported his Grace liked well of their travels and labours they tooke in that matter requiring expedition and hasty outred thereof Sess 9. The brethren appointed to collect the heads of the policie presented of before reported the same gathered and collected in order and digested in one body and all men were required that had good reason or argument to propone to offer them thereto Three heads were called in doubt One de Diaconatu another dejure Patronatus the third de Divortiis wherein they were not resolved nor satisfied As to the rest nothing was thought in the contrary nor opponed thereto These three heads standing in controversie and disputed in utramque partem yet further disputation was reserved to the morne to any man that liked to take the part of reasoning upon him against the said heads Because the matter of the policy of the Kirke collected by the brethren is not yet in such perfect forme as is requisite and sundry things are largely intreated which would bee more summarily handled others required further dilatation for recollecting thereof and putting the same in good order and forme and for avoiding of superfluity and obscurity the substantialls being kept The Assembly presently hath willed their beloved brethren Mrs. R. Pont and Iames Lowson to take travell and labour in the premisses And to the effect that the worke may bee the better compleat and in readinesse against the next generall Assembly which is ordained to begin at Edinburgh the 25. of October next to come the Assembly hath ordained their brethren the Laird of Dun Mrs. Alexander Arbuthnot Androw Melvill Iohn Craig Andrew Hay George Hay Iohn Row David Lindesay Iohn Dunkesone to assemble convene together the 19. of October next in Edinburgh to revise and consider the travels of the said brethren that the same may be the more advisedly proponed publickly as is said In the mean time such as please to reason in the matter to have accesse to the said brethren And likewise ordained the visitours of Countries to make intimation to the Barons that the said work is in hands and to be treated in the next generall convention desiring their presence and concurrence thereto Because the matter of the policy and jurisdiction of the Kirk Edinburgh Octob. 25. 1577. committed to the recollecting forming and disposing of certain brethren being now presented by them was thought expedient to be propounded and intreated the morne after the reading of the generall heads thereof The whole brethren were required to advise with themselves if they found any other head necessarie to be disputed then those and to signifie the same to the Assembly the morne My Lord Regents grace desired the Assembly to proceed forward earnestly in the policie wherein they were labouring and to put the same to an end The rest of this day being consumed in examination of the travells taken upon the policie as is noted thereupon to the next Session the Assembly ordaines it to be proceeded further in Sess 6. This Session being wholly imployed in reasoning upon the heads of the Jurisdiction of the Kirk the same argument was ordained to be followed out the morne so farre as time may serve thereunto The heads of the policie and jurisdiction of the Kirk being wholly read Edinburgh Octob. 25. 1577. and thought good that the same should be presented to my Lord Regents grace as agreed upon by reasoning among the brethren saving the head de Diaconatu which is ordained to be given in with a note that the same is agreed upon by the most part of the Assembly without prejudice of further reasoning to the effect that the said heads may be put in Mundo disposed and set in good order according to the mind of the Assembly The Assembly hath willed Mrs. Iames Lowson Robert Pont David Lindsay and the Clerke of the Assembly to labour with diligence therein and the same being put in Mundo by them according to the originall to be seene and revised by Iohn Dunkeson David Forguson the Laird of Dun Mr. Iames Carmichael and Iohn Brand and being seen by them according to the said originall to be presented by the said Mrs. Iames Lowson Robert Pont and David Lindsay together with a supplication penned and delivered to them by the Assembly unto my Lord Regents grace and in case conference and reasoning bee sought by his grace upon the said heads presented to his grace the Assembly hath ordained the Laird of Dun Mr. Patrick Adamson Iohn Craig Iohn Row Alexander Arbuthnot Androw Melvill Iames Lowson Robert Pont David Lindsay Androw Hay George Hay and Iohn Dunkeson to concurre and await upon the said conference as they shall
Assembly to give their assistance and counsell in such things as appertaine to Christian Religion and preaching of the true word and further to know the Ordinance of the Kirk to be made thereanent Adam called Bishop of Orknay and Commissioner Edinburgh Decem. 25. 1567. was accused that he being Bishop and Commissioner occupied the roome of a Magistrate in the Session his sheepe wandering without a Pastor and retaines in his company Sir Francis Bothwel a rank Papist to whom he hath given benefices and placed him as Minister in those Kirkes as also that hee solemnized the marriage of the Queene and Earle of Bothwell c. and for the said causes was deprived Alexander called Bishop of Galloway Ibidens Commissioner accused that he hath not visited these three yeeres by-gone or thereby his Kirkes within his charge that he hath given himselfe over altogether to hant the Court and cleane left the office of visiting and planting the Kirkes and hath now procured to be one of the Session and privy Councell which cannot agree with the office of a Pastor or Bishop and also hath resigned Inchschaffray in favours of a yong child and set divers lands in few Compeiring granted publickly that hee had offended in all things were laid to his charge And for certaine considerations the Assembly continued him still untill the next Assembly upon certaine conditions of his diligence in his Charge No man ought to injoy or possesse the patrimony of the Kirk Edinburgh Iulti 1. 1568. without doing of their dutifull service And because it is knowne that there are many of that number to whom God hath given such gifts wherethrough they might profit greatly in the Kirk of God it was thought necessary that admonitions bee made by the whole Assembly to such as brooke benefices that they apply themselves according to the gifts given to them by God and as the Kirk shall judge them able to enter in the Ministery and continue therein And because all the said Persons are not present to heare the voice of the Assembly It is ordained that Super-intendents and Commissioners that shall be appointed for planting and visiting of Kirkes give the same admonitions particularly to the said Persons within their bounds requiring them in name of the Assembly to beat the next generall Assembly c. An Article presented to my Lord Regents Grace Ibidem bearing that it is thought very unreasonable that the Papists enemies to Gods Kirk and this Common-wealth and others that labour not in the Ministery shall possesse freely without imposition the two part of the benefices and the Kirk which labours shall not possesse the third The Bishop of Orknay restored againe Ibidem and Mr. Iohn Row appointed Commissioner of Galloway Ordaines Alexander Gordane sometimes Commissioner of Galloway to repaire to the next generall Assembly of the Kirk Edinburgh Julii 5. 1569. to answere to such things as shall bee laid to his charge c. and in the meane time inhibites him to use any function within the Kirk of God conform to the Act made against him the 8. of Iuly 1568. in the generall Assembly Adam B. Ibidem of Orknay was accused for not fulfilling of the injunctions appointed to him by the Assemblies in them of Iuly 1568. Adam of Orknay being called to the office of a Bishoprick Sterling Febr. 25. 1569. and promoted to the profits thereof and suffered by the Kirk receives charge to preach the Evangell to bee also Commissioner of the Country of Orknay which hee received and exercised for a certaine space while now of late he made a Simoniacall change with the Abbacie of Hali-rudhous although yetbrooking the name and stiled Bishop of the same contrary to all lawes both of God and Man made against Simony Secondly he dimitted his cure in the hands of an unqualified person without the consent of the Kirk leaving the flock destitute without a shepheard whereby not onely ignorance is increased but also most aboundantly all vice and horrible crimes there are committed as the number of 600. persons convict of incest adultery and fornication beares witnes Thirdly hee hath given himselfe daily to the execution of the function of a temporall Judge as to bee a Lord of Session which requires the whole man and so rightly in naither can hee exercise both And stiles himselfe with Romane titles as Reverent Father in God which pertaines to no Minister of Christ Iesus nor is given to any of them in Scripture Fourthly in great hurt and defraud of the Kirk he hath bought all the thirds of the Abbacie of Halirudhous at least he hath made Simoniacall change thereof with the rents of Orknay Fifthly he hath left the Kirks partly unplanted and partly planted but destitute of provision Sixtly some of the Kirkes are sheepfolds and some of them ruinous Seventhly he hath traduced both publickly and privatly the Ministers of Edinburgh absented himselfe from preaching in that Kirk and from receiving the Sacraments Excommunication directed against Patrik called Bishop of Murray to bee executed by Mr. Robert Pent Commissioner their Edinburgh Julii 5. 1570. with the assistance of the Ministers of Edinburgh Robert Bishop of Catnes to assist Iohn Gray of Fordel in visiting the Kirkes there Edinburgh Mart. 5. 1570. Iohn Bishop of Saint Andrewes accused Edinburgh Aug. 6. 1573. first that he had given a benefice to Mr. George Lauder suspect of Papistrie 2. That he oversaw adultery in Brauntiland 3. He suffered M. Magnus Hulcio lie uncontrouled under old adulterie 4. That he visited by others and not by himselfe 5. That in his default the exercise of Saint Andrewes was likely to decay 6. That such as had offended in Lowthian he receives in Saint Andrewes and admits some to function in the Kirk that are not able and untried chiefly such as come out of Lowthiane and Mers The whole Assembly heares that he hath received the name of Bishop Ibidem Mr. James Paton B. of Dunkell but hath not used the office of a Bishop within his bounds hee hath not proceeded against Papists he is suspect of Simony betwixt the Earle of Argile and him anent the prosites of the Bishoprick he is suspect of perjury in receiving the same Bishoprick because he gives acquittances and the Earle receives the silver of the Bishoprick Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway accused Ibidem 1. that hee intrused himselfe in the office of the Ministery within the burgh of Edinburgh 2. He perswaded and enticed the people to rebell against our Soveraigne Lord 3. Hee refused to pray for our Soveraigne Lord approving another Authority 4. Being forbidden by the generall Assembly to have any intromission with the Parishoners of Halyrud-hous he compelled them to receive the Sacrament then abused by him within Edinburgh causing his pretended Baillies and the men of warre to compell the said poore people 5. Being sworne by his solemne oath for due obedience to our
their calling CHAP. IIII. Of the Office-bearers in particular and first of the Pastors or Ministers PAstors Bishops or Ministers are they who are appointed to particular Congregations which they rule by the word of God and over the which they watch In respect whereof sometime they are called Pastors because they feed their Congregation sometime Episcopi or Bishops because they watch above their flock sometimes Ministers by reason of their service and office and sometimes also Presbyters or Seniors for the gravity in manners which they ought to have in taking care of the spirituall government which ought to be most deare unto them They that are called unto the Ministery or that offer themselves thereunto ought not to be elected without any certain flock be assigned unto them No man ought to ingyre himselfe or usurpe his office without lawfull calling They who are once called by God and duely elected by man after that they have once accepted the charge of Ministery may not leave their functions The desertours should be admonished and in case of obstinacy finally Excommunicate No Pastor may leave his flock without License of the Provinciall or Nationall Assembly which if he doe after admonitions not obeyed let the censures of the Kirk strike upon him Unto the Pastors apperteins teaching of the Word of God in season and out of season publikly and privately alwaies travelling to edifie and discharge his conscience as Gods word prescribes to him Unto the Pastors onely apperteins the administration of the Sacraments in like manner as the administration of the Word For both are appointed by God as meanes to teach us the one by the care and the other by the eyes and other senses that by both knowledge may be transferred to the minde It appertains by the same reason to the Pastor to pray for the people and namely for the flock committed to his charge and to blesse them in the name of the Lord who will not suffer the blessings of his faithfull servants to be frustrate He ought also to watch above the manners of his flock that the better he may apply the Doctrine to them in reprehending the dissolute persons and exhorting the godly to continue in the feare of the Lord. It appertains to the Minister after lawfull proceeding by the Eldership to pronounce the sentence of binding and loosing upon any person according unto the power of the keys granted unto the Kirk It belongs to him likewise after lawfull proceeding in the matter by the Eldership to solemnizate mariage betwixt them that are to be joyned therein and to pronounce the blessing of the Lord upon them that enter in at that holy Band in the feare of God And generally all publick denunciations that are to be made in the Kirk before the Congregation concerning the Ecclesiasticall affaires belonging to the Office of a Minister For he is as messenger and Herauld betwixt God and the people in all these affaires CHAP. V. of Doctors and their Office and of the Schooles ONE of the two ordinary and perpetuall functions that travell in the Word is the Office of the Doctor who may be also called Prophet Bishop Elder Catechiser that is teacher of the Catechisme and rudiments of Religion His office is to open up the minde of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures simply without such applications as the Ministers use to the end that the faithfull may be instructed and sound Doctrine taught and that the purity of the Gospell be not corrupted through ignorance or evill opinions He is different from the Pastor not only in name but in diversity of gifts For to the Doctor is given the word of knowledge to open up by simple teaching the mysteries of faith to the Pastor the gift of wisdome to apply the same by exhortation to the manners of the flock as occasion craveth Under the name and office of a Doctor wee comprehend also the order in Schooles Colledges and Universities which hath been from time to time carefully maintained as well among the Jewes and Christians as also among the prophane Nations The Doctor being an Elder as is said should assist the Pastor in the government of the Kirk and concurre with the Elders his brethren in all assemblies by reason the interpretation of the Word which is onely judge in Ecclesiasticall matters is committed to his charge But to preach unto the people to Minister the Sacraments and to celebrate mariages pertaine not to the Doctor unlesse he be otherwise called ordinarily howbeit the Pastor may teach in the Schooles as he who hath the gift of knowledge oftentimes meet for that end as the examples of Polycarpus and others testifie c. CHAP. VI. Of Elders and their Office THE word Elder in the Scripture sometime is the name of Age sometime of Office When it is the name of any Office sometime it is taken largely comprehending as well the Pastors and Doctors as them who are called Seniors or Elders In this our division we call these Elders whom the Apostles call Presidents or Governours Their office as it is ordinary so is it perpetuall and alwayes necessary in the Kirk of God The Eldership is a spirituall function as is the Ministery Elders once lawfully called to the office and having gifts from God meet to exercise the same may not leave it again Albeit such a number of Elders may be chosen in certaine Congregations that one part of them may relieve another for a reasonable space as was among the Levites under the Law in serving of the Temple The number of the Elders in every Congregation cannot well be limited but should be according to the bounds and necessity of the people It is not necessary that all Elders be also teachers of the Word albeit the chiefe ought to be such and swa are worthy of double-honour What manner of persons they ought to be we referre it to the expresse word and namely the Canons written by the Apostle Paul Their office is as well severally as conjunctly to watch diligently upon the flock committed to their charge both publikely and privately that no corruption of Religion or manners enter therein As the Pastors and Doctors should be diligent in teaching and sowing the seed of the Word so the Elders should be carefull in seeking the fruit of the same in the people It appertains to them to assist the Pastor in examination of them that come to the Lords Table item in visiting the sick They should cause the acts of the assemblies as well particular as generall to be put in execution carefully They should be diligent in admonishing all men of their duty according to the rule of the Evangell Things that they cannot correct by private admonitions they should bring to the Eldership Their principall office is to hold Assemblies with the Pasiors and Doctors who are also of their number for establishing of good order and execution of Discipline unto the which Assemblies all persons are subject that remain within