Iesus then that the zeale of Christ Iesus his glory provoke and move you to set his oppressed Kirk at freedome and libertie wee feare your sharpe and suddaine punishments and that the glory and honor of this enterprise be reserved unto others And yet shall this our judgement abide to the generations following for a monument and witnesse how lovingly God called you and this nation to Repentance what counsellours God sent unto you and how you have used the same If obediently ye heare God now calling we doubt not but he shall heare you in your greatest necessitie But if following your owne corrupt judgements ye contemne his voice and vocation we are assured that your former iniquitie and present ingratitude shall together crave great punishment from God who cannot long delay to execute his most just judgements when after many offences and long blindnesse grace and mercy offered is contemptuously refused God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ by the power of his holy Spirit so illuminate your hearts that ye may cleerly see what is pleasing and acceptable in his presence and so bow the same to his obedience that ye may preferre his revealed will to your owne affections And so strengthen you by the Spirit of Fortitude that boldly yee may punish vice and maintaine vertue within this Realme to the praise and glory of his holy Name to the comfort and assurance of your own consciences and to the consolation and the good example of the posterity following Amen By your Honours most humble servitors From Edinburgh the 20. of May. 1560. Act of Secret Counsell 17 Januarii anno 1560. WEE which have subscribed thir presents having advised with the Articles herein specified as is above mentioned from the beginning of this book thinkes the same good and conforme to Gods Word in all points conforme to the notes and additions hereto eiked and promises to set the same forward to the uttermost of our powers Providing that the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Prelates and benificed men which else have adjoyned them to us bruik the revenues of their benefices during their life times they sustaining and upholding the Ministry and Ministers as herein is specified for the Preaching of the Word and ministring of the Sacraments sic subscribitur James Hamiltoun Archbald Argyle James Stewart Rothes Boid William Lord Hay Alexander Cambell M. Alexander Gordoun Glencarne Vchiltrie Sanquhare S. Jhones William of Culrosse Drumlangrig Bargannie yonger Lochinvar Cunninghamhead James Haliburtoun Ihone Lochart of Bar. Jone Schaw of Halie Scot of Haning James Maxwell George Fentoun of that ilk Andro Ker of Fadounside Andro Hamiltoun of Lethane Deane of Murray The second Booke of Discipline Heads and Conclusions of the Policie of the Kirk CHAP. I. Of the Kirk and policie thereof in generall and wherein it is different from the civill policie THE Kirk of God sometimes is largely taken for all them that professe the Evangell of Iesus Christ and so it is a company and fellowship not onely of the godly but also of hypocrites professing alwayes outwardly the true Religion Other times it is taken for the Godly and Elect only and sometimes for them that exercise spirituall function in the congregation of them that professe the truth The Kirk in this last sense hath a certain power granted by God according to which it uses a proper jurisdiction and government exercised to the comfort of the whole Kirk This power Ecclesiasticall is an authoritie granted by God the Father through the Mediator Iesus Christ unto his Kirke gathered and having the ground in the Word of God to be put in execution by them unto whom the spirituall government of the Kirk by lawfull calling is committed The Policie of the Kirk flowing from this power is an order or forme of spirituall government which is exercised by the members appointed thereto by the Word of God and therefore is given immediately to the office-bearers by whom it is exercised to the weale of the whole body This power is diversly used for sometime it is severally exercised chiefly by the teachers sometime conjunctly by mutuall consent of them that bear the office and charge after the form of judgement The former is onely called potestas ordinis and the other potestas jurisdictionis These two kinds of power have both one authority one ground one finall cause but are different in the manner and forme of execution as is evident by the speaking of our Master in the 16 and 18 of Matthew This power and policy Ecclesiasticall is different and distinct in the own nature from that power and policy which is called Civill power and appertaineth to the Civill government of the Common wealth albeit they be both of God and tend to one end if they be rightly used viz. to advance the glory of God and to have godly and good subjects For this power Ecclesiasticall floweth immediately from God and the mediator Jesus Christ and is spirituall not having a temporall head in the earth but only Christ the only spirituall King and governour of his Kirk It is a title falsly usurped by Antichrist to call himself head of the Kirk and ought not to be attributed to Angel nor man of what estate that ever he be saving to Christ the onely head and Monarch in the Kirk Therefore this power and policy of the Kirk should leane upon the word immediatly as the onely ground thereof and should be taken from the pure fountains of the scriptures the Kirk hearing the voice of Christ the only spirituall King and being ruled by his laws It is proper to Kings Princes and Magistrates to be called Lords and dominators over their subjects whom they govern civilly but it is proper to Christ onely to be called Lord and Master in the Spirituall government of the Kirk and all others that bear office therein ought not to usurp dominion therein nor be called Lords but only Ministers Disciples and servants For it is Christs proper office to command and rule his Kirk universally and every particular Kirk through his spirit and word by the ministery of men Notwithstanding as the Ministers and others of the Ecclesiasticall estate are subject to the Magistrate civill so ought the person of the Magistrate be subject to the Kirk spiritually and in Ecclesiasticall government And the exercise of both these jurisdictions cannot stand in one person ordinary The Civill power is called the power of the Sword and the other the power of the Keys The civill power should command the spirituall to exercise and to doe their office according to the word of God The spirituall rulers should require the Christian magistrate to minister justice and punish vice and to maintaine the liberty and quietnes of the Kirk within their bounds The Magistrate commandeth externall things for externall peace and quietnesse amongst the subjects the Minister handleth externall things onely for conscience cause The Magistrate handleth externall things only and actions done before men but
they govern Providing that they alter no rules made by the Provinciall or generall Assemblies And that they make the Provinciall Assemblies foresaid privie to the rules that they shall make and to abolish Constitutions tending to the hurt of the same It hath power to excommunicate the obstinate for mall processe being led and due intervall of times observed Anent particular Kirkes if they bee lawfully ruled by sufficient Ministers and Session they have power and Jurisdiction in their owne Congregation in matters Ecclesiasticall And decrees and declares the Assemblies Presbyteries and Sessions Jurisdiction and Discipline foresaid to bee in all times comming most just good and godly in the selfe Notwithstanding of whatsoever Statutes Acts Canons Civill or Municipall lawes made to the contrary To the which and every one of them their presents shall make expresse derogation And because there are divers Acts of Parliament made in favour of the Papisticall Kirk tending to the prejudice of the liberty of the true Kirk of God presently professed within this Realme Jurisdiction and Discipline thereof which stand yet in the bookes of the Acts of Parliament not abrogated nor annulled Therefore his Highnesse and Estates foresaid hath abrogated cassed and annulled and by the Tenour hereof abrogates casses and annulles all Acts of Parliament made by any of his Highnesse Predecessours for maintenance of superstition and idolatry withall and whatsoever Acts Lawes and Statutes made at any time before the day and date hereof against the liberty of the true Kirk Jurisdiction and Discipline thereof as the same is used and exercised within this Realme And in speciall that part of the Act of Parliament holden at Sterling the fourth day of November the yeare of God 1443. yeares commanding obedience to be given to Eugenius the Pope for the time The Act made by King Iames the third in his Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 24. of February the yeare of God 1480. yeares And all other Acts whereby the Popes authority is established The Act of King Iames the third in his Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 20. of November the yeare of God 1469. yeares anent the Saturday and other vigils to be holy dayes from Evensong to Evensong Item that part of the Act made by the Queene Regent in the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the first day of February the yeare of God 1551. yeares giving speciall licence for holding of Pasche and Zuill Item the Kings Majesty and Estates foresaid declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the two and twentieth of May the yeare of God 1584. yeares shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing from the priviledge that God hath given to the spirituall Office-bearers in the Kirk concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie excommunication collation or deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall censures specially grounded and having warrant of the word of God Item our Soveraigne Lord and Estates of Parliament fore-said abrogates casses and annihilates the Acts of the same Parliament holden at Edinburgh the said yeare 1584. yeares granting commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse presentation to Benefices to give collation thereupon and to put order to all causes Ecclesiasticall which his Majesty and Estates afore-said declares to bee expired in the selfe and to bee null in time comming of none availe force or effect And therefore ordaines all Presentations to Benefices to be direct to the particular Presbyteries in all time comming with full power to give collation thereupon and to put order to all matters and causes Ecclesiasticall within their bounds according to the Discipline of the Kirk providing the fore-said Presbyteries be bound and astricted to receive and admit whatsoever qualified Minister presented by his Majesty or laicke Patrons THE FIRST BOOKE OF DISCIPLINE To the great Councell of Scotland now admitted to the Regiment by the providence of God and by the Common consent of the Estates thereof Your Honours humble Servitours and Ministers of Christ Jesus within the same wish grace mercy and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with the perpetuall increase of the holy Spirit FRom your Honours weereceived a charge dased at Edinburgh the 29. of April in the yeare of our Lord 1560. requiring and commanding us in the name of the eternall God as wee will answer in his presence to commit to writing and in abooke deliver to your wisedomes our judgements touching the reformation of Religion which heretofore in this Realme as in others hath beene utterly corrupted upon the receit whereof so many of us as were in this Towne did conveene and in unity of minde doe offer unto your wisedomes these subsequents for common order and uniformity to bee observed in this Realme concerning doctrine administration of Sacraments election of Ministers provision for their sustentation Ecclesiasticall discipline and policy of the Church Most humbly requiring your Honours that as you looke for participation with Christ Jesus that neither ye admit any thing which Gods plaine word shall not approve neither yet that ye shall reject such ordinances as equity justice and Gods word doe specifie For as wee will not bind your wisedomes to our judgements further then wee are able to prove by Gods plaine Scriptures so must we most humbly crave of you even as ye will answer in Gods presence before whom both ye and wee must appeare to render accounts of all our facts that ye repudiate nothing for pleasure and affection of men which ye bee not able to improve by Gods written and revealed word The first head of Doctrine SEing that Christ Jesus is he whom God the Father hath commanded onely to bee heard and followed of his sheepe wee judge it necessary that his Gospell bee truely and openly preached in every Church and Assembly of this Realme and that all doctrine repugnant to the same be utterly repressed as damnable to mans salvation The explication of the first head LEst that upon this generality ungodly men take occasion to cavill this wee adde for explication By preaching of the Gospell wee understand not onely the Scriptures of the new Testament but also of the old to wit the Law Prophets and Histories in which Christ Jesus is no lesse contained in figure then wee have him now expressed in verity And therefore with the Apostle we affirme that all Scripture inspired of God is profitable to in struct to reprove and to exhort In which bookes of old and new Testaments we affirme that all thing necessary for the instruction of the Church and to make the man of God perfect is contained and sufficiently expressed By the contrary doctrine wee understand whatsoever men by lawes counsells or constitutions have imposed upon the conseiences of men without the expressed commandement of Gods word such as bee the vowes of chastity for swearing of marriage binding of men and women to severall and disguised apparells to the superstitious
the Church findes necessary besides money for buying of other provision to his house and other necessaries the modification whereof is referred to the judgment of the Kirk to bee made every yeare at the choosing of the Elders and Deacons of the Kirk Providing alwayes that there bee advanced to every Minister sufficient provision for a quarter of a yeare before-hand of all things But to him that travels from place to place whom wee call Superintendent who remaines as it were a month or lesse in one place for establishing of the Kirk and for the same purpose changing to another must consideration bee had And therefore to such wee thinke six chalders beere nine chalders meale three chalders oats six hundreth merkes money to bee eiked and paired at the discretion of the Prince and Councell of the Reasme to bee payed to him in manner foresaid The Children of the Ministers must have the liberties of the Cities next adjacent where their Fathers laboured freely granted They must have the priviledges in Schooles and bursisses in Colledges That is that they shall be sustained at learning if they be found apt thereto And failing thereof that they bee put to some handy-craft or exercised in some vertuous industry whereby they may bee profitable members of the Common-wealth and the same we require of their Daughters To wit that they bee vertuously brought up and honestly doted when they come to maturity of yeares at the discretion of the Kirk And this in Gods presence wee witnesse wee require not so much for our selves or for any that appertaine to us as that wee doe it for the increase of vertue and learning and for the profite of the posterity to come It is not to bee supposed that any man will dedicate himselfe and his Children so to God and to his Kirk that they looke for no worldly commodity but this cankered nature which wee beare is provoked to follow vertue when it seeth profite and honour thereto annexed and contrarily then is vertue in many despised when vertuous and godly men are without honour and sory would wee bee that poverty should discourage men from studie and following of the way of vertue by which they might edifie the Kirk and flock of Christ Jesus Nothing have wee spoken of the stipend of Readers because if they can doe nothing but reade they neither can bee called nor judged true Ministers and yet regard must bee had to their labours but so that they may bee suprred forward to vertue and not by any stipend appointed for their reading to bee retained in that estate To a Reader therefore that is newly entred fourty merkes or more or lesse as Parishioners and Readers can agree is sufficient Provided that hee teach the Children of the Parish which hee must doe beside the reading of the common prayers and bookes of the old and new Testament If from reading hee begin to exhort and explaine the Scriptures then ought his stipend to bee augmented till finally hee come to the honour of a Minister But if hee bee found unable after two yeeres then must hee bee removed from that office and discharged of all stipend that another may bee proved as long For this alwayes is to bee avoided that none who is judged unable to come at any time to some reasonable knowledge whereby hee may edifie the Kirk shall bee perpetually sustained upon the charge of the Kirk Farther it must bee avoided that no child nor person within age that is within twenty one yeares of age bee admitted to the office of a Reader But Readers ought to bee endued with gravity and discretion lest by their lightnesse the prayers or Scriptures read bee of lesse price or estimation It is to bee noted that the Reader bee put in the Kirk at the admission of the Super-intendent The other sort of Readers who have long continued in godlines and have some gift of exhortation who are of hope to attaine to the degree of a Minister and teach the Children wee thinke an hundred merkes or more or lesse at the discretion of the Kirk may bee appointed so that difference bee made as is said betwixt them and the Ministers that openly preaches the word and ministers the Sacraments Rests yet two sorts of people to bee provided for upon that which is called the Patrimony of the Kirk to wit the poore and teachers of the youth-head Every severall Kirk must provide for the poore within it selfe For fearefull and horrible it is that the poore whom not onely God the Father in his Law but Christ Jesus in his Evangell and the holy Spirit speaking by Saint Paul hath so earnestly commended to our care are universally so contemned and despised Wee are not Patrones for stubborne and idle beggars who running from place to place make a craft of their begging whom the civill Magistrate ought to punish But for the Widow and Fatherlesse the aged impotent or lamed who neither can nor may travell for their sustentation wee say that God commands his people to bee carefull and therefore for such as also for persons of honesty fallen into decay and poverty ought such provision to bee made that of our aboundance their indigence might bee relieved How this most conveniently and most easily may bee done in every Citie and other parts of this Realme God will shew you wisedome and the meanes so that your mindes bee godly inclined thereto All must not bee suffered to begge that gladly would so doe neither yet must beggers remaine where they would but the stout and strong beggers must bee compelled to worke and every person that may not worke must bee compelled to repaire to the place where hee or shee was borne unlesse of long continuance they have remained in one place and there reasonable provision must bee made for sustentation as the Kirk shall appoint The order nor summes in our judgements can not particularly bee appointed unto such times as the poore of every City Towne and Parish bee compelled to repaire to the places where they were borne or of their residence where their names and number must bee taken and put in roll and then may the wisedome of the Kirk appoint stipends accordingly The Head of the Super-intendents BEcause wee have appointed a larger stipend to them that shall bee Super-intendents then to the rest of the Ministers we have thought good to signifie to your Honours such reasons as moved us to make difference betwixt Preachers at this time as also how many Super-intendents wee thinke necessary with their bounds office election and causes that may deserve deposition from that charge Wee consider that if the Ministers whom God hath endowed with his singular graces amongst us should bee appointed to severall places there to make their continuall residence that then the greatest part of the Realme should bee destitute of all doctrine which should not onely bee the occasion of great murmur but also bee dangerous to the salvation of many And therefore wee