not have been so unwise as to make exchange of it with Prelacy we would have forsaken all things rather then have forsaken it It is more strange that any should have been found amongst them at any time to speak or to do against their own Church But after you have with your reason and minde made a generall survey of all societies there is none more grave more dear then that which each one of us hath with his Countrey Parents are dear Children Friends familiars are dear But our native Countrey alone taketh all these within her compasse for which what good man would doubt to die could his death serve her for good So much the more detestable is their barbarity who have with all kinde of wickednesse rent asunder their native Countrey and both are and have been exercised in overturning her from the very foundation If a Patriote spoke so of his Countrey a Citizen so of his Republike what should the Christian born baptized and bred in Scotland think and say if he have been borne there not only to this mortall but to that immortall and everlasting life No children on earth have better reason to say Wee are not ashamed of our Mother and it were to be wished that the saying were reciprocally true Thirdly having the pattern of all the Reformed Churches before us and this example so neer unto us what need we to stand amazed as not knowing what to choose To abide that which we have been is neither profitable nor possible To conjoyn the two in one is but the mixture of Iron with Clay and must needs make the distemper greater It were well for us and no other well for us can I see that laying aside our high conceit of our selves and the low esteem of other reformed Churches We would resolve to follow them as they follow Christ and not to despise the government of Christ because they seeme to be but Mole-hils But to conforme to them because they are conforme to Christ and to the pattern shewed in the Mountain What reciprocation of giving and receiving in matters of Religion hath beene betweene this and the Scottish Nation may be knowne by the words of Beda but speaking in his own idiome according to the grounds of popery Not long after the Monkes of the Scottish Nation who lived in the Iland Hii with the Monasteries under their power were brought into the rite of observing of Easter and of shaven Crownes The Lord bringing it so to passe he should have ascribed it to another spirit Which certainly was done by the marvellous dispensation of divine mercy that because that Nation who had the science of divine knowledge did willingly and without envy communicate the same to the people of England that the same Nation afterward should by the Nation of the English attain unto the perfect rule of living in these things which they had not before The Governement and Order OF The Church of Scotland A Description and not a Demonstration of the Church of Scotland is intended non jus sed factum their doing simply and not the reason of their so doing is desired The delineation therefore of the face of that Church without artificiall Colours and dispute of her comelinesse and beauty is nakedly expressed in two Parts The one of her Officers the other of her Assemblies The first part I. Of the Officers of the Church BEside the ordinary and perpetuall Officers which are Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons The Church of Scotland hath no other at this time nor did at any time acknowledge any other These being warranted by Christ and his Apostles the extraordinary Ministers unto whom his will was revealed and being sufficient for all the necessary uses of the Churches as Exhortation Teaching administration of the Sacraments Government and distribution The Offices of Apostles Evangelists and Prophets were extraordinary and continued in the Christian Church so long as by the Will of God it was needfull for the well of the Church who although in regard of their order degree manner of Ministration and the places which they did hold which is called successio in gradum eundem They have properly none to succeed them yet in respect of their doctrine holinesse of life and substance of their Ministery which is successio in caput all faithfull Pastors lawfully called to their functions are their successors And in this sense not only their first reformers who had somewhat extraordinary but all their faithfull Ministers since who have laboured in the Word and Doctrine for the planting preserving and purging of Religion to the edification of the Church and no other are successors to the Apostles The Office of a Bishop consisting in power or priority above a Pastor as having no warrant in the Scripture as being a member of the wicked Hierarchy of the Pope for although this priority of Prelates had place in the Church before the Pope ascended to the top of his Ambition yet every corruption in doctrine worship but especially in government which since the mystery of iniquity began to work is retained by the Pope and by his authority is obtruded upon the Church they conceive to be His and as a cursed tree which amongst them hath brought forth no better fruits then heresie and errors in doctrine idolatry and superstition in worship Tyranny and persecution in Government and leudnesse and profanity of life both in Pastors and People They have abjured and removed out of their Church together with all the branches of that Hierarchy and all the offices titles dignities and courts depending thereupon as may be seen in their confession of faith Books of discipline and acts of assemblies of old and of late In the beginning of their reformation they had no constitute Presbyteries nor such provinciall and generall assemblies as they had afterward and upon the other part they had superintendents visiters of certain parts of the Countrey and Commissioners for Provinces But they who desire to know the constitution and condition of that Church must distinguish between her infancy and her riper age between her desires designes and endevours and her attainments proceedings and performances for how soon it was possible for them presbyteries and assemblies which from the beginning had been intended were erected and established And no sooner was this brought to passe But superintendents and all others of that kinde which at first were of necessary use in visiting the Country and in planting of Churches were declared to be neither necessary nor expedient for the Church The Church of Scotland hath been disquieted and much troubled with Episcopacy since the beginning and at last by the ambition of vain men by the power and working of civill authority and by the corrupt assemblies of Ministers had some footing and was in end raised to a great height and did become a mountain And yet the office of a Bishop was never received in that Church But when some Ministers who in regard of their
benefices were called Bishops had by their own usurpation and the slavish disposition of their brethren obtained some degree and power over them They did come into England and without the consent or knowledge of the Church received consecration and returning home did consecrate others like themselves II. Of their calling AS no man ought to presume to enter into any office Ecclesiasticall without an inward calling from God who only discerneth the intentions and desires of the heart whether they be earthly or heavenly whether they be set upon the glory of God and edifying of the Church or upon the means of this life So are there none here admitted without the approbation and judgement of men according to the rules of the Word and the received order of the Church This outward calling of the Officers of the Church doth consist in Election and Ordination after due triall and examination of their soundnesse in religion and godlinesse of life For the better understanding of the order of the calling of their Ministers it is to be considered That in every one almost of their Classes or greater Presbyteries there be Students of Divinity whereof some if they have opportunity of their Studies do make their abode within the bounds of the Presbytery and attend the meetings thereof Others who are the greater part stay at the Universities and in the time of vacation come home and wait upon the Presbytery The abilities of both the one sort and the other are tryed in private before the Presbytery and how soon they are found fit to come in publike they enter upon the exercise or prophecy with the Ministers of the Presbytery and at sometimes are employed and allowed to preach before the people By which mean their gifts and abilities are known to the people as their manners are manifest by their conversing amongst them Out of the number of these Proposants or as they call them Expectants the Pastor is nominated to the vacant place by the Eldership and by the Minister if any be with the consent and good liking of the people and if they can pitch upon none within the bounds of their own Presbytery they have their liberty to make their choice of an Expectant of good esteem and report in some other Presbytery The Person thus known and nominated is by the particular Eldership named to the greater Presbytery where he is examined of his skill in the Languages Latine Greek and Hebrew in his interpreting of Scripture in the controversies of Religion in his gift of exhortation in the holy and Ecclesiasticall History and Chronologie And first of all Of his life and manner of conversation wherein if he be found vitious or scandalous he is not to be admitted to any other examination Being thus examined and found qualified for that charge he is sent to the vacant place that the people hearing him may have the greater assurance of his gifts for edification After the people have heard him some Minister of the Presbytery is appointed to preach to that people of the necessity of the Ministery of the excellency of a faithfull Minister of the qualities of a Minister and of the obedience due to the Gospel or of some such Theme And at the same time a publike Edict is served That if any person or persons have any thing to object against the literature doctrine or life of such a man why he may not be a profitable Minister of such a Parish They shall appear before the Presbytery in such a place and at such a time that their objections may be tryed and discussed Upon the day appointed the Door-keeper of the Presbyterian meeting doth call three severall times if there be any to object against the Person nominated and if any thing be alleadged against him by any of that particular flock or any other to whom he is known it is duely and equally pondered by the Presbytery and if it be found to have any weight or the case be doubtfull the ordination is suspended till a more perfect triall Otherwise if there be nothing but silence they use to proceed So that no man is here obtruded upon the people against their open or tacite consent and approbation or without the voices of the particular Eldership with whom he is to serve in the Ministery But if the person nominated be a Pastor of some other flock and his faithfulnesse known in his former charge this processe is spared and his translation more speedily expede if there be no impediments of another kinde Upon the day appointed for accomplishing his election and for his ordination which is in due time made known to the Congregation and agreed upon with them a Fast is ordained to be kept with more than ordinary supplication for the assistance and blessing of God in a work of so great concernment And one of the Pastors of the Presbytery is appointed to preach to that people of the mutuall duties of Pastor and people All which being done the party who during the time of the exercise of publike worship hath been sitting in a conspicuous place before the Pulpit accompanied with the Elders and some Ministers of the Presbytery is called up and demanded concerning his willingnesse and desire to serve the Lord JESUS for the good of that people with other questions of that kinde and the people also are demanded whether they will receive him for their Pastor and submit themselves unto his Ministery in the Lord. Both having declared their readinesse and mutuall consent The Minister cometh from the Pulpit and with so many of the Ministers present as may conveniently come neer lay their hands upon his head and in the Name of JESUS do appoint him to be the Pastor of that people praying that from JESUS CHRIST who is at the right hand of the Father and giveth gifts unto men he may finde the demonstration of the Spirit and the power and blessing of GOD in his Ministery to the comfort of that people Therafter the whole Eldership give unto him the right hand of fellowship And last of all the Minister goeth to the Pulpit and concludeth the whole action with pertinent thanksgiving and prayers a Psalm is sung and the Assembly dissolved with the blessing By this it may appear that Pastors or Presbyters are not there admitted at large without assignation to a particular flock like Masters of Art or Doctors of Physick They conceive it to be as preposterous for Ordination to go before the Election of Ministers in the Church as it is first to Crown a King or Install a Magistrate and thereafter to choose him next in the ordination of their Ministers they use none of the ridiculous toyes and apish conceits of Popery but according to the simplicity of the Apostolicall and ancient Church content themselves with Fasting Prayer and Imposition of hands Prayer to bring down a blessing upon the person on whose head the hands are laid and Fasting to make the prayer to ascend the more
far as may stand with truth and peace the greater assemblie is carefull to preserve the power and authoritie of the lesser and therefore matters belonging to inferiour assemblies are commonly remitted unto them by the greater There one Church were it never so great hath not authoritie over another nor is it governed by any extrinsecall power but all the particular Churches are of equall power and authority and are ruled and judged by themselves and their owne intrinsecall power in assemblies composed and consisting of their officers and commissioners from them II. Of Particular Elderships in Parishes THe particular Eldership or Church-session consisteth of one or moe Ministers and of Elders so many in number as the proportion of the Congregation doth require who ordinarily do meet once in the week The Deacons are alwayes present with the Elders not for government but that they may make knowne the case and necessities of the poore and may consult and receive direction for their supply The Minister of the parish is alwayes moderator of this Meeting and if there be moe Ministers then one the moderator is either chosen or they doe moderate by course providing that none bee moderator while any matter is treated which concerneth his own particular The matters treated by this eldership are such particulars as concerne the worship of God in that Church as what dayes of the week are meetest for assembling to the publick worship if it may be had be thought necessary what houres on the Lords day before and after noone which are variable according to the length or shortnesse of the day in Summer and Winter what times are fittest for publick Catechising and for visiting of particular families how often and at what times the Lords Supper is most seasonably ministred all which are proper for keeping of order in that Church and cannot be so fitly determined by a superiour assemblie the Elders also do here delate scandalous persons and bring them to publick repentance according to the forme prescribed in the greater assemblies But if there be any doubt or difficultie or if the offences and scandals be great and hainous or if the delinquents adde obstinacie and impenitencie to their fault then are they warned to appear before the greater Presbyterie there to receive order for their censure or to be sent home again to give satisfaction or to make their repentance in their owne Church where they have given offence and where the fault was committed For example a man behaving himselfe scandalouslie with a woman both unmaried and single persons is first admonished and rebuked if fornication appeare he is called before the Eldership brought to the sense and confession of his fault and ordained to make his publick repentance according to the order of the Church and to abstaine from all scandalous behaviour afterward But if he prove obstinate hee is conveened before the greater Presbyterie the matter is examined and either he promiseth to give obedience to his owne Eldership or in case of continued obstinacie the censures of the Church proceed against him But if there bee a scandall of adulterie or murder the noise and scandall whereof is far spread and filleth all mens eares round about the parties are brought before the greater Presbyterie and the particular Eldership doth before prepare the parties for their appearance before the Presbyterie The same faults which are brought before the particular or greater Presbytery in an ecclesiasticall way are also punished by the civill magistrate and the pecuniall mulct or penalty is given to the Deacons to bee kept in the Church treasure for the benefit of the poore or other pious uses Nothing useth to bee done by the lesser or greater presbytery in ordering the publicke Worship in censuring of delinquents or bringing them to publick repentance but according to the setled order of the Church and with expresse or tacite consent of the congregation and if there be any new emergents that cause doubting or haesitation the matter is remitted to the greater assemblies of the Church III. The Order of Excommunication ALL baptized persons when they come to age and discretion are not admitted to the Lords table but such onely as either upon examination are found to have a competent measure of knowledge in the principles of Religion doe professe that they are beleevers and doe live unblameably or comming from another Congregation bring with them sufficient testimonie that they are such or are otherwise well knowne and approved The Minister and Elders use all meanes in private and publick to bring all others within the parish to knowledge faith and holinesse of life that they may be fitted for the Lords Table But this not admission to the Communion is one thing and excommunication of haynous or obstinate offenders is another thing very different In case of obstinacie and wilfull impenitencie even when the offences are not so great and scandalous they proceed to excommunication but with great meeknesse longsuffering and by many degrees the censure being so weighty and they desirous to gaine the sinner to repentance If any person walke unworthy of the Gospell or commit any trespasse he is unlesse the scandall bee publike and notorious admonished first secretly by one next by two or three more And thirdly If he contemne both then according to the order prescribed by our Saviour Mat. 18. The matter is brought before the Minister and Elders where he is accused both of the trespasse and of the contempt If he cannot yet be brought to repentance then is the matter in some measure made knowne unto the Congregation and hee called before the greater Presbytery where if he give signes of his repentance he is remitted to satisfie his owne session But if he persist in his obstinacie then by the Ordinance of the Presbytery the particular eldership is to proceed against him with the censures of the Church even to excommunication The matter being thus heard knowne and judged and the whole processe revised by the greater presbytery the next Sabbath without delay the trespasse and order of admonitions are declared to the Congregation and the person without specification of his name admonished yet to satisfie Which if he still refuse to doe the next Sabbath his name with his offence and contempt are published if he yet continue obstinate then the next which is the third Sabbath is he charged publickly to satisfie for his offence and contempt under the paine of excommunication If now he offer himselfe to the particular Presbyterie then do they at the appointment of the Presbyterie give order for his publick repentance the removing of the scandall and his reconcilement to the Church otherwise the Minister proceedeth in this ordâ—r The Sabbath after the third publick admonition the Minister with consent of the Eldership is to make knowne to the Congregation that such a person is to be excommunicated warning all that have any thing to object against it that they appeare the next session day And