[HEADIS AND CONCLUSIONIS, &c.]

[CAP. I.]

Off the Kirk and Policie thairof in generall, and quhairin it is different frome the Ciuill Policie.

1. The kirk of God sumtymes is largelie takine for all thame that professis the Evangell of Jesus Chryst, and so it is ane company and fellowschipe, not onlie of the godlie, bot also of hypocrittis, professing alwayis outwartlie ane trew religioun.

2. Uther tymis it is takine for the godlie and elect onlie.

3. And sumtymis for thame quho exerce the spirituall functioun among the congregatioun of thame that profes the trewth.

4. The kirk in this last sence, hes ane certane power grantit be God, according to the quhilk, it usis ane proper jurisdictioun and gouernament, exercit to the confort of the haill kirk.

5. This power ecclesiasticall, is an auctoritie grantit be God the Fader, throught the Mediator Jesus Chryst, vnto his kirk gadderit, and having the ground in the word of God, to be putt in executioun be thame, unto quhom the spirituall gouernament of the kirk, be lawful calling, is committit.

6. The policie of the kirk, flowing fra this power, is ane ordour or forme of spirituall gouernament, quhilk is exercit be the memberis appointit thairto be the word of God: And thairfoir is gevine immediatlie to the office-beirars, be quhome it is exercit to the weill of the haill bodie.

7. This power is diverslie vsit: For sumtymis it is seuerallie exercit, (chieflie be the teacheris,) sumtyme coniunctlie be mutuall consent of thame that bear the office and charge, efter the forme of iugement. The former is commonlie callitpotestas ordinis, and the vtherpotestas jurisdictionis.

8. These two kyndis of power have bayth ane authoritie, aneground, ane finall caus, bot ar different in the maner and forme of executioun, as is evident of the speiking of our Master in the 16 and 18 of Mathow.

9. This power and policie ecclesiasticall is different and distinct in the awin nature fra that power and policie quhilk is callit the ciuille power, and appertenit to the ciuille gouernament of the commoun welth: Albeit thay be bayth of God, and tend to ane end, gif thay be richtlie usit,to wit, to aduance the glorie of God, and to haue godlie and guid subiectis.

10. For this power ecclesiasticall, flowis immediatlie frome God, and the Mediator Chryst Jesus, and is spirituall, not having ane temporall heid on eirth, bot onlie Chryst, the onlie spirituall King and Gouernour of his kirk.

11. Thairfoir this power and policie of the kirk, sould lene upone the word of God immediatlie, as the onlie ground tharof, and sould be tane frome the pure fountanis of the Scripturis, heiring the voce of Chryst, the onlie spirituall King, and being rewlit be his lawis.

12. It is ane title falslie usurpit be Antichrist, to call himself heid of the kirk, and aucht not to be attributit to angell or to mane, of what estait soeuir he be, saiffing to Chryst, the Heid and onlie Monarche in this kirk.

13. It is proper to kingis, princes, and magistrats to be callit Lordis, and dominators ouer thair subiectis, quhom thay gouverne civillie, bot it is proper to Chryst onlie, to be callit Lord and Maister, in the spirituall gouernament of the kirk, and all uthers that beris office thairin aucht not to usurp dominion therein, be callit Lordis, bot onlie ministeris, disciplis, and servandis; For it is Chrystis proper office to command and reull his kirk universall, and euery particular kirk, throw his Spirit and word, be the ministrie of mene.

14. Notwithstanding, as the ministeris and vtheris of the ecclesiasticall estait, ar subiect to the magistrat ciuillie, swa aucht the persone of the magistrat, be subiect to the kirk spirituallie, and in ecclesiasticall gouernament.

15. And the exercise of bayth thais jurisdictionis can not stande in ane persone, ordinarlie.

16. The ciuill power is callit the power of the sword; the uther the power of the keyis.

17. The ciuile power sould command the spirituall, to exerce and do thair office, according to the word of God: The spiritual rewlarissould require the Christiane magistrat, to minister justice, and puniesh vyce, and to mantene the libertie and quyetnes of the kirk within thair boundis.

18. The magistrat commandeth externall thingis for externall peax and quyetnes amangis the subjectis: The ministerie handlit externall thingis onlie, for conscience caus.

19. The magistrat handlit onlie externall thingis, and actionis done befoir men: Bot the spirituall rewlaris iuge baith inwart affectionis and externall actionis, in respect of conscience, be the word of God.

20. The ciuile magistrat cravis and gettis obedience be the sword, and uther externall menis: Bot the ministrie be the spirituall sword, and spirituall meanis.

21. The magistrat nather aucht to preache, minister the sacramentis, nor execut the censouris of the kirk, nor ʒet prescryve ony reull how it sould be done; bot command the ministrie to obserue the reull commandit in the word, and punishe the transgressouris be ciuile meanis: The ministeris exerce not the ciuile jurisdictioun, bot teaches the magistrat how it sould be exercit according to the word.

22. The magistrat aucht to assist, mantene, and fortifie the jurisdictioun of the kirk: The ministeris sould assist thair princes in all thingis aggreable to the word; providing thay negleck not their awin charge, be involving thame selfis in ciuile effairis.

23. Finallie, as ministeris are subiect to the iugement and punishment of the magistrat in externall thingis, gif thay offend; Swa aucht the magistrat to submit thame selfis to the discipline of the kirk, gif thay transgres in matteris of conscience and religioun.

Off the Partis of the Policie of the Kirk, and Personis or Office-beiraris to whome the Administratioun thairof is committit.

CAP. II.

1. As in the ciuile policie, the haill commoun welth consistith in thame that ar gouernouris or magistratis, and thame that ar gouernit and subiectis; Sa in the policie of the kirk, sum ar appointit to be reularis, and the rest of the memberis thairof to be reulit and obey, according to the word of God, and inspiratioun ofhis Spirit, alwayes under ane head and cheif gouernour, Jesus Chryst.

2. Againe, the haill policie of the kirk consistit in thrie cheif thingis; in doctrine, in discipline, and distributioun. With doctrine is joint administratioun of the sacramentis.

3. And according to the partis of this diuision, arisit ane thriefald sort of officiaris in the kirk; to wit, of ministeris or preacheris, of eldaris or gouernouris, of deaconis or distributeris. And all thais may be callit be ane generall word, ministeris of the kirk.

4. For albeit the kirk of God be reulit and gouernit be Jesus Chryst, who is the onlie King, Hie Priest, and Heid thairof, ʒit he usis the ministrie of men, as ane maist necessarie middis for this purpois.

5. For sa he hes fra tyme to tyme, befoir the law, under the law, and in tyme of the Evangell, for our greit comfort, raisit up men indewit with the giftis of the Spirit, for the spirituall governament of his kirk, exercesing be tham his awine power, throw his Spirit and word, to the building of the same.

6. And to tak away all occasioun of tyranny, he will that they sould reul with mutuall consent of brethrene, and equalitie of power, euery ane according to thair functionis.

7. In the New Testament, and tyme of the Evangell, he hes usit the ministrie of the apostles, propheits, evangelists, pastouris and doctouris, in administratioun of the word: the elderschip for guid ordour, and administratioun of discipline: the deaconschip to haive the cure of the ecclesiasticall guidis.

8. Sum of thir ecclesiasticall functiouns ar ordinar, and sum extraordinar or temporall.

9. Thair be thrie extraordinar functionis: the office of the apostle, of the evangelist, and of the prophet, quhilk ar not perpetuall, and have now ceisit in the kirk of God, except quhen he pleasit, extraordinarlie, for ane tyme, to steir up some of thame againe.

10. Thair is foure ordinarie functionis or offices in the kirk of God: the office of the pasture, minister or bishop; the office of the docter; the presbiter or eldar; and the deacone.

11. Thir offices ar ordinarie, and aucht to continow perpetuallie in the kirk, as necessarie for the gouernament and policie of the same, and na ma offices aucht to be resauit or be sufferit in the trew kirk of God, establishit according to his word.

12. Tharfore, all the ambitious titles invented in the kingdomeof antichryst, and in his usurpit hierarchie, quhilkis ar not ane of thais four sortis, togidder with the offices dependand thairupone, in ane word, aucht all utterlie to be reiected.

How the Personis that bear Ecclesiasticall Functionis ar admittit to thair Offices.

[CAP. 3.]

1. Vocatioun or calling, is commoun to all that sould bear office within the kirk, quhilk is ane lauchfull way, be the quhilk, qualifeit personis is promotit to ane spirituall office within the kirk of God.

2. Without this lauchfull calling it was neuer leisum to ony persone to middle with ony function ecclesiasticall.

3. Thair ar two sortis of calling; ane extraordinar, be God immediatlie, as wer the prophets and apostles, quhilk in kirkis established and weill alreddy reformit, hes na place.

4. The uther calling is ordinar, quhilk besyd the calling of God, and inward testimony of guid conscience, hes the lauchfull approbatioun and outward jugement of men, according to Goddis word, and ordour establishit in his kirk.

5. Nane aucht to presume to enter in ony office ecclesiasticall, without he haue this guid testimony of conscience befoir God, wha onlie knawis the hartis of men.

6. This ordinarie outward calling hes twa partis; electioun and ordinatioun.

7. Electioun is the chesing out, of ane persone or personis maist able, to the office that vaikis, be the jugement of the eldarschip and consent of the congregatioun, whom to, the persone or personis beis appointit.

8. The qualiteis in generall requisit in all thame qwha sould beir charge in the kirk, consistis in soundnes of religioun, and godlines of lyf, according as thay ar sufficientlie set furth in the word.

9. In the ordour of election, it is to be eschewit, that na persone be intrust in ony of the offices of the kirk, contrarie the will of the congregatioun to qwhome thay ar appointit, or without the voce of the elderschip.

10. Nane aucht to be intrusat, or enterit in the places alreadieplantit, or in ony rowm that, vaikis not, for ony warldlie respect: and that quhilk is callit the benefice, aucht to be nothing els, bot the stipend of the minister that is lauchfullie callit and electit.

11. Ordinatioun is the seperatioun and sanctifeing of the persone appointit of God and his kirk, eftir he be weill tryit and fund qualifeit.

12. The ceremonyis of ordinatioun ar, fasting and eirnest prayer, and impositioun of handis of the elderschippe.

13. All thir, as thay must be rasit up be God, and be him maid able for the wark quhairto thay ar callit; sa aucht thay to knaw thair message to be limitat within God’s word, without the bounds of the quhilk thay aucht not to pas.

14. All thir sould tak thais titles and namis onlie (least thay be exalted and puft up in thame selfis) quhilk the Scripturis givis thame, as thais quhilks import laubour, travell and work, and ar naimes of offices and service, and not of idlenes, dignitie, nor warldlie honour or prehemminence, quhilk be Chryst our Maister is expreslie reprovit and forbiddine.

15. All thais office-beraris sould haue thair awin particular flokis, amangis qwhome thay exerce thair charge.

16. All sould mak residence with thame, and tak the inspectioun and ouersicht of thame, euery ane in his vocatioun.

17. And generallie, thir twa thingis aucht thay all to respect; the glorie of God, and edifeing of his kirk, in dischargeing thair dewteis in thair calling.

Off the Office-beraris in particular; and first of the Pasturis and Ministris.

CAP. 4.

1. Pasturis, or bischopis, or ministeris, ar thay wha ar appointit to particular congregationis and kirkis, quhilk thay rewll be the word of God, and ouir the quhilk thay watch, in respect qwhairof, thay ar callit sumetymis pasturis, becaus thay feid thair congregationis, sumetymisepiscopi, or bischoppis, becaus thay watche aboue thair flokis; sumetymes ministers, be reasone of thair service and office; and sumtyme presbyteris and seinouris, frome the grauitiein maneris, quhilk thay aucht to haue, in taking cair of the spirituall gouernament, quhilk aucht to be most deir unto thame.

2. Thay that ar callit to the ministrie, or that offer thameselfis tharunto, aucht not to be electit, without ane certain flok be assignit unto thame.

3. Na man aucht to ingeir him self, or usurp the office, without lawfull calling.

4. Thay qwha ar anis callit be God, and dewlie electit be man, eftir that they haue anis accepted the charge of the ministrie, may not leaue thair functionis.

5. The desertouris sould be admonisched, and incaice of obstinacie, finallie excommunicat.

6. Na pastour may leaue his flok, without licence of the provinciall or nationall Assemblie; quhilk gif he do, eftir admonitioun not obeyit, let the censuris of the kirk strik upone hime.

7. Unto the pasture apperteins teaching of the word of God, in seasone and out of seasone, publicklie and priuatlie, alwayis travelling to edifie, and discharge his conscience, as Goddis word prescryuis unto hime.

8. Unto the pasture onlie apperteins the administratioun of the sacramentis, in lyk manor as the ministratioun of the word: for baith ar appointit be God as meanis to teache us; the ane be the ear, the uther be the eis and other senses, that be baith, knawledge may be transferrit to the mynd.

9. It apperteinis be the same resone to the pasture to pray for the peple, and namelie for the flok committit to his charge, and to bliss thame in the name of the Lord, qwho will not suffer the blissingis of his faythfull servand to be frustrat.

10. He aucht also to watche aboue the maneris of his flok, that the better he may apply the doctrine to thame, in reprehending the dissolut personis, and exhorting the godlie, to continew in the fear of the Lord.

11. It appertenis to the minister, efter lawchfull proceding be the elderschip, to pronunce the sentence of binding and lowsing upone ony persone, according to the power of the keyis, grantit unto the kirk.

12. It belangis alswa, eftir lawchfull proceding in the mater be the elderschip, to solemnizat the contract of mariage betwix thame that ar joint thairin; and to pronunce the blissing of the Lord on thame that entir in the holie band in the fear of the Lord.

13. And generallie, all publick denunciations that ar to be maid in the kirk befoir the congregationis, concerning ecclesiasticall effairis, belang to the office of the ministrie, for he is as messenger and herauld betwene God and the people in all thais effairis.

Off Doctouris and thair Office, and of Scolis.

CAP. 5.

1. Ane of the twa ordinar and perpetuall functionis that trauell in the word, is the office of the Doctour, quha may also be callit Propheit, Bischop, Eldar, Catechesar; that is, teacher of the Catechisme, and rudiments of religione.

2. His office is to oppine up the mynd of the Spirit of God within the Scripturis, simplie, without sic applicationis as the minister usis, to the end that the faythfull be instructed, sound doctrene teachit, and the puritie of the Gospell not corrupted throw ignorance and euill opinionis.

3. He is different from the pasture not onlie in name, bot in diuersitie of giftis; For to the Doctour is gevine the words of knawledg, to oppine up be simple teaching, the mystereis of the fayth; to the Pasture the gift of wisedome, to apply the same, be exhortatioun to the manneris of the flok, as occasioun crauit.

4. Under the name and office of ane Doctour, we comprehend also the ordour of scoles, in collegis and universiteis, quhilk hes bene frome tyme to tyme cairfullie maintenit, alsweill amangis the Jewis and Christianis as amang prophane nationis.

5. The Doctour being an eldar, as said is, sould assist the pasture in the governament of the kirk, and concurre with the vther eldaris his brethrene, in all assembleis; be reasone the interpretatioun of the word, (quhilk is onlie Juge in ecclesiasticall matteris,) is committit to his charge.

6. Bot to preache unto the peple, to minister the sacraments, and to celebrat mariagis, perteins not unto the Doctour, unles he be utherwayis ordourlie callit; howbeit the pasture may teache in the scoles, as he qwha hes also the gift of knawledge oftentymis meit thairfoir, as the examples of Policarpus and utheris testifie.

Of Eldaris, and thair Office.

CAP. 6.

1. The wordEldar, in the Scripturis, sumetyme is the name of aige, sumetyme of office.

2. Quhen it is the name of ane office, sumetyme it is takine largelie, comprehending alsweill the Pastouris and Doctouris, as thame quha ar commounlie callit seinors or eldaris.

3. In this divisioun, wee call thais eldaris, quhome the Apostles callis presedentis or gouernouris.

4. Thair office, as it is ordinary, swa is it perpetuall, and alwayis necessar in the kirk of God.

5. The eldarschip is ane functioun spirituall, as is the ministrie.

6. Eldaris anis lawchfullie callit to the office, and having giftis of God meit to exercyse the same, may not leave it againe.

7. Albeit sic ane number of eldaris may be chosine in certane congregationis, that ane pairt of thame may releif ane uther for ane reasonable space, as was amang the Levittis under the law, in serving of the temple.

8. The number of the eldaris in euery congregatioun cane not be weill limitat, bot sould be according to the boundis and necessitie of the peple.

9. It is not necessar that all eldaris be also teachearis of the word, albeit they aucht cheiflie to be sic, and swa ar worthie of double honour.

10. Quhat manner of personis thay aucht to be, we refer to the expres word, and namelie, the Canonis wryttine be the Apostles.

11. Thair office is, als weill seuerallie as coniunctlie, to watche diligentlie upone the flok committit unto thair charge, bayth publicklie and privatlie, that no corruptioun of religioun or maneris enter thairin.

12. As the pastouris and doctouris sould be diligent in teacheing and sowing the seid of the word, so the eldaris sould be cairfull in seiking the fruitt of the same in the peple.

13. It apperteins to thame to assist the pastour in examinatioun of thame that cumis to the Lordis table, and in visiting the seik.

14. They sould be cairfull to caus the actis of the Assembleis, als weill particular as prouinciall or generall, to be put in executioun.

15. Thay sould be diligent in admonisching of all mene of thair dewteis, according to the reull of the Evangell.

16. Thingis that they cane not correct be privie admonitioun, thay sould bring to the assembly of the eldership.

17. Thair principall office is, to hauld assembleis with the pastouris and doctouris (quha ar also of thair number) for establisching of guid ordour, and executioun of discipline: Unto the quhilks assembleis all personis ar subject, that remane within thair boundis.

Of Eldarschipis, and Assembleis, and of Discipline.

CAP. 7.

1. Eldarschippis and assembleis, ar constitute commonlie of pasturis, doctouris, and sic as commounlie we call eldaris, that laubour not in the word and doctrine, of quhome, and of quhais severall power, hes bene spokine.

2. Assembleis ar of four sortis: For ather ar thay of particular kirkis and congregationis ane or ma, ather of ane province, ather of ane haill natioun, or of all and diuers nationis professing ane Jesus Chryst.

3. All the ecclesiasticall assembleis, haue power to convene lawchfullie togidder for treating of thingis concerning the kirk, and pertening to thair chargis.

4. Thay haue power to apoint tymis and places to that effect; and ane Assemblie to appoynt the dyet, tyme, and place for ane uther.

5. In all assembleis, ane moderator sould be chosine be commoun consent of the haill brethrene conveint, quha sould propone materis, gather the voitis, and caus guid ordour be kepit in the assembleis.

6. Diligence sould be tane, cheiflie be the moderator, that onlie ecclesiasticall thingis be handlit in the assemblie, and na melling with ony thingis pertening to the civile jurisdictioun.

7. Euerie assemblie hes power to send furth frome them of their awine nomber, ane or ma visitouris to sie how all thingis be reulit in the boundis of thair jurisdictioun.

8. Visitatioun of ma kirkis is na ordinar office ecclesiasticall, in the persone of ane man; nather may the name of ane bischop be attributit to the visitour onlie; nather is it necessar to abyd alwyse inane man’s persone, bot it is the part of the eldarschip, to send out qualifeit personis to visit,pro re nata.

9. The finall end of all assembleis is, first to keip the religioun and doctrine in puritie, without errour and corruptioun: nixt, to keip cumelines and guid ordor in the kirk.

10. For the ordouris caus, thay may mak certane reulis and constitutionis apperteining to the guid behaviour of all the memberis of the kirk in thair vocatioun.

11. Thay haue power also to abrogat and abolish all statuts and ordinances concerning ecclesiasticall materis, that ar found noysume or unprofitable, or aggrie not with the tyme, or abusit be the peple.

12. Thay haue power to execut ecclesiasticall discipline and punischment upone all transgressouris, and proud contempnaris of guid ordour and policie of the kirk, and swa the haill discipline is in thair handis.

13. The first kynd and sort of assembleis, although thay be within particular congregatiounis, zet thay exerce the power, auctoritie, and jurisdictioun of the Kirk with mutuall consent, and thairfoir beiris sumtyme the name of the Kirk.

14. Quhen we speik of eldaris of the particular congregationis, we mene not that euery particular paroche kirk cane, or may haue thair awin particular eldarschip, speciall to landwart, bot we think thrie or four, ma or fewar, particular kirkis, may haue ane commoun eldarschip to thame all, to judge the ecclesiasticall causes.

15. Albeit it is meit that sum of the eldaris be chosine out of euerie particular congregatioun, to concur with the rest of thair brethrene in the commoun assemblie, and to tak up the delationis of offencis within thair awin kirkis, and bring thame to the Assemblie.

16. This we gadder of the practise of the primitiue kirk, wheras eldaris or colleges of senioris wer constitute in citeis and famous places.

17. The power of thir particular elderschippis, is to uis diligent laubour in the boundis committed to thair charge, that the kirkis be kepit in guid ordour, to inquire diligentlie of nauchtie and unrewlie personis, and travell to bring thame in the way againe, ayther be admonitioun or threatning of Goddis judgements, or be correctioun.*[49]

18. It perteins to the eldarschip, to tak heid, that the word ofGod be purelie preichit within thair boundis, the sacraments rightlie ministrat, the discipline menteind, and the ecclesiasticall guidis uncorruplie distribute.*[49]

19. It belangis to this kynd of assembleis, to caus the ordinancis maid be the assembleis, provinciallis, nationallis and generallis, to be keipit, and put in executioun.*[49]

20. To mak constitutionis quhilk concerneτο πρεπονin the kirk, for the decent ordour of thais particular kirkis qwher thay gouerne, (prouyding thay alter na reulis made by the generall and provinciall assembleis, and that thay mak the provinciall assembleis foirsene of the reulis that thay sall mak,) and to abolische thame tending to the hurt of the same.*[49]

21. It hes power to excommunicat the obstinat.*[49]

22. The power of electioun of thame qwha bearis ecclesiasticall chargis, pertenis to this kynd of assemblie, within thair awin boundis, being weill erectit, and constitut of mony pastouris and eldaris of sufficient habilitie.

23. Be Eldarschip is meint, sic as ar constitut of Pastouris, Doctouris, and sic as now ar callit Eldaris.

24. Be the lyk resone, thair depositioun also pertenis to this kynd of assembleis, as of thame that teache erroneous and corrupt doctrine; that be of sclanderous lyfe, and eftir admonitioun, desist not; that be gevine to schisme or rebellion contrare the kirk, manifest blasphemy, simony, and all corruptioun of brybis, falset, periurie, huredome, thift, drunkinnes, fechting, worthie of punischment be the law; usurie, danshing, infamie, and all utheris deservine separatioun frome the kirk.

25. These also qwha ar fund altogidder insufficient to exerce thair chargis, sould be deposit, Quhairof uther kirkis wald be aduertesit, that thay resaue not personis deposit.

26. Albeit thay aucht not to be deposit quha throw aige, seiknes, or uther accidents, becum unmeit to do thair office; in quhilk cace thair honour sould remane unto thame, their kirkis sould mentene thame, and utheris aucht to be proydit to do thair office.[50]

27. Provinciall assembleis we call, lawfull conventionis of the pastouris, doctouris, and eldaris of the province, gadderit for the commoun effairis of the kirkis tharof, quhilk also may be callit the Conference of kirkis and brethrene.

28. Thir assembleis ar institut for wechtie materis necessar to be intraitit be mutuall consent and assistance of the brethrene within the provincis, as neid requyris.*[49]

29. Thir assembleis haif power to handle, ordour, and redres all thingis ommittit or done amiss in the particular assembleis.*[49]

30. It haith power to depose the office-beraris of that province, for guid and just caus deserving depriuatioun.*[49]

31. And generallie, thir assembleis haue the haill power of the particular elderschippis qwhairof thay ar collected.*[49]

32. The nationall assemblie,(quhilk is generall to us,) is ane lawchfull conventioun of the kirkis of the haill realme or nation, wher it is usit and gadderit, for the commoun effairis of the Kirk; and may be callit the Generall Elderschip of the haill kirkis within the realme.

33. Nane ar subiect to repair to this assemblie to voit, bot ecclesiasticall personis, to sic ane number as sallbe thocht guid be the same assemblie; not excluding uther personis that will repair to the said Assemblie, to propone, heir, and resone.

34. This assemblie is institute, that all thingis ayther omittit, or done amis in the provinciall assembleis, may be redressit and handlit:And things generally, seruing for the weill of the haill body of the kirk in that realme, may be foirsene, intreattit, and set furth to Goddis glorie.

35. It sould tak cair, that kirkis be planted in places quhair thay ar not planted.

36. It sould prescryue the reull how the uther twa kynd of assembleis sould proceid in all thingis.

37. This assemblie sould tak heid, that the spirituall jurisdictioun and civile be not confoundit, to the hurt of the kirk.

38. That the patrimony of the kirk be not diminished nor abused.

39. And generallie concerning all wychtie effairis that concerne the weill and guid ordour of the haill kirk of the realme, it aucht to interpone auctoritie thairto.

40. Thair is besydis this, an uther mair generall kynd of assemblie, quhilk is of all nationis or of all estaits of personis within the kirk, representing the universall kirk of Chryst, quhilk may be callit properlie the Generall Assemblie or Generall Counsall of the haill kirk of God.

41. Thais assembleis wer appointit and callit togidder speciallie, qwhene an great schisme or controversie in doctrine did aryse in the Kirk, and war conuocat at command of the godlie Emperours being for the tyme, for the auoiding of schismes within the uuiversall kirk of God: Quhilk becaus thay pertene not to the particular estait of ane realme, we ceiss forder to spek.

Of Deaconis and thair Office; the last ordinar Functioun in the Kirk.

CAP. 8.

1. The wordΔιάχονοςsumtymis is larglie takine, comprehending all thame that beir office in the ministrie and spirituall functioun in the kirk:

2. Bot now, as we speik, it is tane onlie for thame to whome the collectioun and distributioun of the almous of the faithfull and ecclesiasticall guidis does apperteune.

3. The office of the deacone sa takine, is an ordinar and perpetuall ecclesiasticall functioun in the kirk of Chryst.

4. Of what properties and dewteis he aucht to be that is callit to this function, we remit to the manifest Scripturs.

5. The deacone aucht to be callit and electit as the rest of the spirituall officiaris, of the quhilk electioun, wes spokine befoir.

6. Thair office and power is, to resseaue and distribut the haill ecclesiasticall guids, unto thame to quhom they ar appoyntit.

7. This they aucht to do according to the juigement and appointment of the Presbyteries or Elderschipis (of the quhilk the deaconis ar not) that the patrimony of the kirk and pure, be not converted to privat mennis use, nor wrangfullie distributit.

Off the Patrimony of the Kirk, and Distributioun thairof.

CAP. 9.

1. Be the patrimony of the kirk we mene, quhatsumeuer thing hath bene at ony time befoir, or sallbe in tyme cuming gevin, or be consent and universall custome of cuntreis professing Christiane religioun, applyit to the publick use and utilitie of the kirk.

2. Swa that onder the patrimony we comprehend first, all thingis gevin, or to be gevin to the kirk and seruice of God, as lands, bigginis, possessionis, annual rents, and all siclyke, quherewith the kirk is dotit, ather be donationis, fundationis, mortificationis, or ony uther lawchfull title, of Kings, Princes, or ony personis inferiour to thame, togidder with the continuall oblationis of the faithfull.

3. We comprehend also, all sic thingis as be lawis and custome, and use of countreis, hes bene applyit to the use and utilitie of the kirk, of quhilk sort ar the teindis, mans, glebis, and siclyk, quhilks be commoun and be municipall lawis and universall custom ar possessit be the kirk.

4. To tak ony of this patrimony be onlawfull meanis, and convert to the particular and prophane use of ony persone, we hald it ane detestable sacrilege befoir God.

5. These guidis ecclesiasticall, aucht to be collectit, and distributit be deacons, as the word of God appointis, that thay quha beiris office in the kirk be provydit for, without cair and solicitud.

6. In the apostolicall kirk, the deaconis war appoyntit to collect and distribut quhatsumeuir thingis war collectit of the faythfull tobe distribut unto the necessitie of the sanctis; sa that nane laickit amang the faithfull.

7. These collectionis war not onlie of that quhilk was collectit in manir of almous, (as sum supponis,) bot of uther guidis, movable and onmovable, of lands and possessionis, the pryc quhairof was brocht to the feit of the Apostles.

8. This office continewit in the deaconis handis, quha intromettit with the haill gudis of the kirk, ay whill the estait thairof was corruptit be Antichryst, as the ancient canonis beris witnes.

9. The same canonis mak mentioun of ane fourfald distributioun of the patrimony of the kirk, quhairof ane part was applyit to the pasturis or bischoppis for thair sustentatioun and hospitalitie; ane uther to the eldars and deaconis, and all the clergie; the thrid to the pure, seick personis and strangers; the ferd to the uphald and uther effairis of the kirk, speciall extraordinar: We add hereto, the scoles and school-maisteris, quhilk aucht and may be weill sustenit of the same guids, and ar comprehendit under the clergie, to quhame we joine also clerkis of assembleis alsweill particular as generall; syndickis or procuratouris of the kirkis effairis, takaris up of the psalmis, with siclyk uther ordinar offices of the kirk, sa far as thay ar necessar.

Of the Office of a Christiane Magistrat in the Kirk.

CAP. 10.

1. Althoght all the memberis of the Kirk be hauldine, euery ane in thair vocatioun, and according thairto, to advance the kingdome of Jesus Chryst sa far as lyis in thair power; zit cheiflie and namelie, Christiane Princes, Kingis, and uther magistrats, are haldine to do the same.

2. For thay ar callit in the Scripturis nurissaris of the kirk, for sameikle as be thaime it is, or at least aucht to be, menteind, fosterit, uphaldine, and defendit agains all that wald procure the hurt thairof.

3. So it pertenit to the office of a Chrystiane magistrat to assist and fortifie the godlie proceding of the kirk in all behalfis; and namelie to sie that the publick estait and ministrie thairof be mantenit and sustenit as it appertenis, according to Goddis word.

4. To sie that the kirk be not invadit nor hurt be fals teacharisand hyrlingis, nor the rowmis thairof occupyit be dum doggis or idill belleis.

5. To assist and mantene the discipline of the kirk, and punish thame civillie, that will not obey the censur of the same; without confounding alwayis the ane jurisdiction with the uther.

6. To sie that sufficient provisioun be made for the ministrie, scoles, and the puir: And gif thay have not sufficient to await upone thair chargis, to supplie their indigence evine with thair awine rentis, gif neid requiris: to hauld hand to thame, alsweill concernyng thair awin personis, sayfing thame frome injurie and oppine violence, as concerning thair rentis and possessionis, that thay be not defraudit, reavit, nor spulzeit thairof.

7. Not to suffer the patrimony of the kirk to be applyit to prophane and onlawchful uses, or to be devoirit be idle belleis, and sic as haue na lauchfull functioun in the kirk, to the hurt of the ministrie, the scoles, the puir, and utheris godly uses, quhairupone the same aucht to be bestowed.

8. To mak lawis and constitutionis aggreable to Goddis word, for the aduancement of the kirk, and policie therof; without usurping ony thing that pertenis not to the civill sword, bot belangis to the offices that ar mere ecclesiasticall; as is the ministrie of the word and sacramentis, using of ecclesiasticall discipline, and the spirituall executioun thairof, or ony part of the power of the spirituall keys, quhilks our Maister gaif to the Apostles, and thair trew successouris.

9. And although Kingis and Princes that be godlie, sumtymis be their awin auctoritie, (whene the Kirk is corruptit, and all thingis out of ordour,) place ministeris, and restoir the trew service of the Lord, efter the example of sum godlie kingis in Judea, and divers godlie Emperours and Kingis, also in the licht of the New Testament, zit quhair the ministrie of the Kirk is anis lauchfullie constitut, and thay that are placed, do thair office faithfullie, all godlie princes and magistrats aucht to heir and obey thair voice, and reverence the majestie of the Sone of God speaking be thame.

Off the present Abuses remaining in the Kirk, quhilks we desyr to be reformit.

CAP. 11.

1. As it is the dewtie of the godlie magistrat to mantene the present libertie quhilk God of his mercie hes grantit to the preacheing of his word, and the trew ministratioun of the sacraments within this realme; sa is it to provyd, that all abusis as zit remaining in the Kirk, sould be removit, and utterly takine away.

2. Thairfoir, first, the admissioun of men to Papisticall titles of benefices, sic as seruis not, nor hes na functioun in the reformit Kirk of Chryst, as abbottis, commendatoris, priouris, priouressis, and uther titles of abbayis, quhais places are now for the maist pairt be the iust jugements of God demolished and purgit of idolatrie, is plaine abusioun, and is not to ressaue the kingdome of Chryst amangis us, bot rather to refuse it.

3. Of the lyke natour ar the deanis, archdeanis, chanteris, subchanteris, thesauraris, chancelaris, and uthers having the lyke titles flowit frome the Paip and canon law onlie, wha haue na place in the reformit Kirk.

4. Siclyk, they that war callit of auld, the chapteris and conventis of abbayis, cathedrall kirkis, and siclyk places, seruis for nathing now, bot to set fewis and takis (gif ony thing be left) of kirk-landis and teindis, in hurt and prejudice thairof, as daylie experience teiched, and thairfoir aucht to be allutterlie abrogat and abolischit.

5. The Kirks also quhilks ar unitit and joynit togidder be annexatioun to thair benefices, aucht to be seperated and diuidit, and gevin to qualifeit ministeris, as Goddis word cravis.

6. Neither aucht sic abuseris of the patrimony of the Kirk of Chryst, to haue voit in Parliament, nor sit in counsall under the name of the kirk and kirk-men, to the hurt and preiudice of the libertie thairof, and lawis of the realme maid in fauouris of the Reformit Kirk.

7. Mekleless is it lawfull, that ane persone amangis thais men sould haue fyue, sax, ten, twentie, or ma kirkis, all hauing thecharge of saulis, and bruik the patrimony thairof, ayther be admissioun of the prince, or of the Kirk, in this licht of the Evangell; for it is bot mockage to craue reformatioun whare sic hes place.

8. And albeit it wes thocht guid for avoiding grett inconuenientis, that the auld possessouris of sic benefices quha imbracit the religioun, sould inioy be permissioun, the twa pairt of the rentis quhilks thay possesst befoir, induring thair lyfetymis, zit it is not tollerable to continew in the Kirk lyke abuse, and gif thais places and utheris benefices of new to als onmeit men or rather onmeitar, quha ar not myndit to serue in the Kirk, bot leid a lone and idle lyf as the utheris did quha bruikit thame in the tyme of blindnes.

9. And insafar as in the ordour tane at Leyth in the zeir of our Lord Jaj. vc. seventie-ane year, it appeiris that sic may be admittit, being fund qualifeit, &c. ather that pretended ordour is agains all guid ordour, or ellis it must be onderstandit not of thame that be qualifeit to worldlie effaires to serue in the court, bot sic as ar qualifeit to teache Goddis word, havand thair lawfull admissioun of the Kirk.

10. As to bischoppis, gif the nameεπισχοποςbe properlie takin, thay ar all ane with ministeris, (as was befoir declairit;) for it is not the name of superioritie and lordschip, bot of office and watching.

11. Zit, becaus in the corruptioun of the Kirk, this name, as utheris hes bene abused, and zit is lyk to be, we cane not allow the fashioun of thais new chosine bischoppis, nather of the chapteris that ar electouris of thame to sic office as thay ar chosene.

12. Trew bischopis sould addict thame selfis to ane particular flok, (quhilk sindry of thame refusis,) nather sould thay usurp lordship ouer thair brethrene, and ouer the inheritance of Chryst, as thais men do.

13. Pastouris, insafar as thay ar pastouris, hes not the office of visitatioun of ma Kirkis joint to the pastureschip, without it be gevin thame.

14. It is ane corruptioun, that bischopis sould haue fordar boundis to visit, nor thay may lawchfully.

15. Na man aucht to haue the office of visitatioun, bot he that is lawchfullie chosine be the presbytrie thairto.

16. The elderschippis being weill establishit, hes power to send out visitouris, ane or ma, with commissioun to viseit the boundiswithin thair elderschippis. And siclyk eftir compt tane of thame, ather to continew thame, or renew thame frome tyme to tyme, to the quhilks elderschippis thay sall be also subiect.

17. The criminall jurisdictioun joint in the persone of ane pastoure, is ane corruptioun.

18. It aggreit not with the word, that bischoppis sould be pasture of pasturis, pasturis of mony flokis, and ʒit without ane certane flok, and without ordinar teiching.

19. It aggreit not with the Scripturis, that thay sould be exemit fra correctioun of thair brethrene, and discipline of the particular elderschip of the Kirk, whereat they sould serve; nather that thay sould usurp the office of visitatioun of uther kirkis, nor ony uther functioun besyd uther ministers, bot safar as beis committit to thame be the Kirk.

20. Heirfoir, we desyr the bischoppis that now ar, ayther to aggrie to that ordour that Goddis word requyris thame, and as the generall Kirk will prescryue unto thame, not passing that boundis, nather in ecclesiasticall nor civile effairis, or ellis to be deposit frome all functioun in the Kirk.

21. We deny not in the meane tyme, bot ministeris may and sould assist thair Princes quhen thay ar requirit, in all thingis aggreable to the word, quhidder it be in Counsall or Parliament, or utherwyse, providing alwayis thay nather negleck thair awin chargis, nor throw flatterie of Princes, hurt the publick estait of the kirk.

22. Bot generallie, we say, na personis, under quhatsumeuer title of the kirk, and speciallie the abused titles in Papistrie, of Prelats, Conuents, and Chapteris, aucht to attempt ony act in the kirkis name, ayther in Counsall, Parliament, or out of Counsall, having na commissioun of the reformit kirk within this realme.

23. And be act of Parliament it is providit, that the Papisticall kirk and jurisdictioun sould have na place within the same, and na bischop nor uther prelat in tymis cuming, sould use ony jurisdictioun flowing from his auctoritie.

24. And againe, that na uther ecclesiasticall jurisdictioun sould be acknawlegeit within this realme, bot that quhilk is, and salbe within the reformit kirk, and flowing therfra.

25. So we esteme halding of chapetirs in Papisticall maner, ayther in cathedrall kirkis, abbayis, collegis, or uther conventuall places, usurping the name and auctoritie of the kirk, to hurt thepatrimony thairof, or use ony uther act to the preiudice of the same, sene the ʒeir of our Lord 1560 ʒeiris, to be abusioun and corruptioun, contrar to the libertie of the trew kirk and lawis of the realme, and thairfoir aucht to be annullat, reducit, and in tymis cuming utterlie dischargit.

26. The dependences also of this Papisticall jurisdictioun ar to be abolished, of the quhilk sort is the mingled jurisdiction of the commissaris, in safar as thay mell with ecclesiasticall materis, and haue na commissioun of the kirk thairto, bot war erectit in tyme of our Soverainis mother, whan thingis war out of ordour. It is an absurd thing, that sindrie of thame, having na functioun in the kirk, sould be ingis to ministeris, and depose thame fra thair rowmis: Thairfoir, ather thay wald be dischargit to meddle with ecclesiasticall matteris, or it wald be limitat to thame in quhat materis thay might be Juges, and not hurt the libertie of the kirk.

27. Thay also that of befoir war of the ecclesiasticall estait in the Papis kirk, or that ar admittit of new to Papisticall titles, and now ar tollerat be the lawis of the realme, to posses the twa pairt of thair ecclesiasticall rentis, aucht not to haue ony forder libertie, bot to intromet with the portioun assignit and grantit to thame for thair lyfetime, and not, under the abusit titles quhilks thay had, to dispone the kirk rentis, set takis and fewis thairof at thair plesour, to the greit hurt of the kirk, and pure lauboraris that dwell upone the kirk-landis, contrarie to all guid conscience and ordour.

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