[383] In edit. 1722, Chap. III.
AS we require Christ Jesus to be trewlie preached, and his holie
Sacramentis to be rychtlie ministerit; so can we not cease to requyre
Idolatrie, with all monumentis and places of the same, as Abbayis,
monkeries,[384] freireis, nunreis, chapellis, chantreis, cathedrall
kirkis, channounreis, colledges, uthers then presentlie are paroche
Kirkis or Sculis, to be utterlie suppressed in all boundis and places
of this Realme (except onlie the Palacies, mansionis, and dwelling
places adjacent thairto, with orchartis and yardis of the samyn): As
also that Idolatrie may be removed from the presence of all personis
of quhat estait or conditioun that ever thai be, within this Realme.
[384] In MS. 1566, "monkis, freiris."
For latt your Honouris be assuredlie persuaded, that quhair Idolatrie
is mayntened or permitted quhair it may be suppressed, that thair sall
Goddis wraith reigne, not onlie upone the blind and obstinat idolater,
but also upone the negligent sufferaris [of the same;] especiallie gif
God have armed thair handis with power to suppress suche
abhominatioun.
By Idolatrie we understand, the Messe, Invocatioun of Sanctis,
Adoratioun of Ymagis, and the keping and retenying of the same: and
finallie all honoring of God, not conteaned in his holie Word.
THE FOURT HEAD, CONCERNYNG MINISTERIS AND THAIR LAUCHFULL
ELECTIOUN.[385]
[385] In edit. 1722, Chap. IV.
IN a Kirk reformed or tending to reformatioun, none aucht [to] presume
eather to preache, eather yit to minister the Sacramentis, till that
ordourlie thai be callit to the same. Ordinarie vocatioun consisteth
in Electioun, Examinatioun, and Admissioun. And becaus that Electioun
of Ministeris in this cursed Papistrie hes altogither bene abused, we
think expedient to intreat it moir largelie.
It apperteneth to the Pepill, and to everie severall Congregatioun, to
Elect thair Minister: And in caise that thai be fundin negligent
thairin the space of fourty dayis, the best reformed kirk, to wit, the
churche of the Superintendent with his Counsall, may present unto
thame a man quhom thai juge apt to feade the flock of Christ Jesus,
who must be examinated alsweill in lyiff and maneris, as in doctryne
and knawlege.
And that this may be done with moir exact diligence, the personis that
ar to be examinated must be commanded to compeir[386] befoir men of
soundest jugement, remanying in some principall towne nyxt adjacent
unto thame; as thai that be in Fyffe, Anguss, Mernyss, or Straytherne,
to present thame selfis in Sanctandrois; those that be in Lowthiane,
Merse, or Teviotdaill, to Edinburgh; and likewise those that be in
other countreis mon resorte to the best reformed citeis or townis,
that is, to the citie[387] of the Superintendent; quhair first in the
scoillis, or failling thairof in open assemblie, and befoir the
congregatioun, thai most geve declaratioun of thair giftis,
utterance, and knawlege, by interpreting some place of Scripture to be
appointed be the ministerie. Quhilk being ended, the persone that is
presented, or that offered him self to the administratioun of the
kirk, must be examined by the ministeris and elderis of the kirk, and
that opinlie and befoir all that list to hear, in all the cheif
pointes that now lie in contraversie betwix us and the Papistis,
Anabaptistis, Arrians, or other suche ennemies to the Christiane
religioun. In quhilk gif he be found sound, abill to persuade by
hailsome doctryne, and to convince the gaynsayaris, then must he be
directed to the Kirk and Congregatioun quhair he suld serve, that
thair, in oppin audience of his flock, in diverse publict sermonis, he
may gif confession of his faith in the articles of Justificatioun, of
the office of Christ Jesus, of the nomber, effect, and use of the
Sacraments; and, finallie, of the hoill religioun, quhilk heirtofoir
hath bene corrupted by the Papistis.
[386] In Vautr. ed., and ed. 1621, "appeire."
[387] In edit. 1621, "the best reformed citie and toune, that is, to
the towne."
Gif his doctrine be found holesome, and able to instruct the simple,
and if the Kirk justlye can reprehend nothing in his lyiff, doctryne,
nor utterance, then we juge the Kirk, quhilk befoir wes destitute,
unreasonabill if thai refuse him quhom the Kirk did offer; and that
thai suld be compelled, by the censure of the Counsall and Kirk, to
receive the persone appoynted and approvin by the jugement of the
godlie and lerned; unless that the same Kirk have presented a man
better or alsweill qualifeid to the examinatioun, befoir that this
foirsaid tryell wes takin of the persone presented by the counsall of
the hoile Kirk. As, for example, the Counsall of the Kirk presentis to
any kirk a man to be thair minister, not knawing that thai ar
utherwayis provided: in the meyntyme, the Kirk is provided of ane
uther, sufficient in thair jugement for that charge, quhom thai
present to the lerned Ministeris and next reformed Kirk to be
examinated. In this case the presentatioun of the Pepill, to quhom he
suld be appointed pastour, must be preferred to the presentatioun of
the Counsall or greater Kirk; unless the persone presented by the
inferiour Kirk be juged unabill for the regiment by the lerned. For
altogither this is to be avoided, that any man be violentlie
intrused[388] or thrust in upoun any Congregatioun. But this libertie
with all cair must be reserved till everie severall Kirk, to have
thair votis and suffragis in electioun of thair Ministeris. But
violent intrusioun we call nott, quhen the Counsall of the Kirk, in
the feare of God, and for the salvatioun of the pepill, offereth unto
thame a sufficient man to instruct thame; quhom thai sall not be
forced to admitt befoir just examinatioun, as befoir is said.
[388] In Vautr. edit., and edit. 1621, "intruded."
II. QUHAT MAY UNABLE ONY PERSOUN, THAT HE MAY NOTT BE ADMITTED TO THE
MINISTERIE OF THE KIRK.
IT is to be observed that na persone, noted with publict infamye, or
being unabill to edifie the Kirk by hailsome doctrine, or being knawin
of corrupt jugement, be eather promoted to the regiment of the Kirk,
or yit receaved[389] in Ecclesiasticall administratioun.
[389] In Vautr. edit., and edit. 1621, "or yet retained."
_Explicatioun._
By publict Infamye we understand, nott the commoun synnes and offences
quhilk any hes committit in tyme of blindnes, by fragilite; (gif of
the same, by a better and more sober conversatioun, he hath declared
him self verielie penitent;) but suche capitall crymes as the civile
swerd aucht and may punishe with deith by the wourd of God. For
besydis that the Apostill requyreth the lyif of Ministeris to be so
irreprehensible, that thai have a gude testimonye from those that be
without; we juge it a thing unseimlie and dangerouse, that he sall
have publict authoritie, to preiche to utheris the lyiff everlasting,
from quhom the civile Magistrat may tak the lyiff temporall for a
cryrme publictlie committed: And gif ony object, That the Prince hes
pardoned his offence, and that he hes publictlie repented, and so is
not onlie his lyiff[390] in assurance, but also that he may be
receaved to the Ministerie of the Kirk; we answer, That repentance
dois nott tak away the temporall punishment of the law, neither doth
the pardon of the Prince remove his infamye befoir man.
[390] In edit. 1621, "and so not only his life is."
That the lyiff and conversatioun of the persone presented, or to be
elected, may be the more cleirlie knawin, publict Edictis must be[391]
directed to all partis of this Realme, or at the leist to those partis
quhair the persone hath bene most conversant: as quhair he wes
nurischit in letteris, or quhair he contineuit from the yeiris of
infancie and childhood war passed. Strait commandiment wald be gevin,
that if any capital crymes wer committit by him, that thai suld be
notified; as, gif he hath committit wilfull murther, adulterie, a
commoun fornicatour, gif he war[392] a theiff, a druncard, a feychtar,
brawlar, or contentious persone. These Edictis audit to be notified in
the cheiff cities, with the lyik charge and commandiment, with
declaratioun that suche as concealled his synnes knawin, did deceave
and betray (so far as in them lay) the Kirk, quhilk is the spous of
Jesus Christ, and did communicate with the synnes of that wicked man.
[391] In edit. 1621, "should be."
[392] In edit. 1621, the words transposed, "if he were a common
fornicator." Vautr. edit., corresponds with the text.