The admissioun of Ministeris to thair offices, must consist in consent
of the pepill and Kirk quhairto thai salbe appointed, and in
approbation of the learned Ministeris appointed for thair
examinatioun.
We juge it expedient, that the admissioun of Ministeris be in opin
audience; that some especiall Minister mak a sermon tuiching the
deutie and office of Ministeris, tuiching thair maneris,
conversatioun, and lyif; as also tuiching the obedience quhilk the
Kirk aw[393] to thair Ministeris. Commandiment suld be gevin alsweill
to the Minister as unto the peple, boyth being present, to witt, that
he with all cairfull diligence attend upone the flock of Christ Jesus,
over the quhilk he is appointed preacher:[394] that he [will] walk in
the presence of God so synceirlie, that the graces of the Holie Spreit
may be multiplyed into him; and in the presence of men so sobirlie and
uprychtlie, that his lyiff may confirme, in the eyis of men, that
quhilk by toung and wourd he persuaded unto utheris. The people wald
be exhorted to reverence and honour thair Ministers chosin, as the
servandis and ambassadouris of the Lord Jesus, obeying the
commandiments quhilk thai pronunce from Goddis mouth and buyk,[395]
evin as thai wald obey God him self; for quhosoevir heareth Christis
Ministeris heareth him self, and quhosoevir rejecteth thame, [and]
dispyseth thair ministerie and exhortatioun, rejecteth and dispyseth
Christ Jesus.
[393] In Vautr. edit., and edit. 1621, "which the church oweth."
[394] In edit. 1621, "pastor."
[395] In edit. 1621, "they pronounce from God's word."
Other ceremonie then the publict approbatioun of the peple, and
declaratioun of the cheiff minister, that the persone thair presented
is appoynted to serve that Kirk, we can nott approve; for albeit the
Apostillis used the impositioun of handis, yet seing the mirakle is
ceassed, the using of the ceremonie we juge is nott necessarie.
The Minister elected or presented, examinated,[396] and, as said is,
publictlie admitted, man neather leave the floke at his plesour, to
the quhilk he hes promissit his fidelitie and lawbouris; neather yit
may the floke reject nor change him at thair appetite, unless thai be
abill to convict him of suche crymes as deserve depositioun; quhairof
we sall after speik. We meane nott bot that the hole Kirk, or the
most parte thairof, for just considerationis, may transfer a Minister
frome one kirk to another; neather yit meane we, that men quho now do
serve as it wer of benevolence may nott be appointed and elected to
serve in other places; but onis being solemndlie elected and admitted,
we can not approve that thai suld change at thair awin plesour.
[396] In edit. 1621, "examined."
We are not ignorant, that the raritie of godlie and learned men sall
seme to some a just reassone quhy that so strait and scharpe
examinatioun suld not be takin universallie; for so it sall appeir,
that the most parte of [the] Kirkis sall haif no Minister at all: But
let these men understand, that the lack of able men sall nott excuse
us befoir God, gif by oure consent unable men be placed over the floke
of Christ Jesus; as also that amangis the Gentilles, godlie, learned
men war als rare[397] as thai be now amangis us, quhen the Apostill
gave the same reul to try and examyne Ministeris, quhilk we now
follow: And last, lat thame understand that it is alike to have no
minister at all, and to have an idole in the place of a treu minister,
yea and in some case, it is worse; for those that be utterlie
destitute of ministeris wilbe diligent to search for them; but those
that have a vane schaddow, do commonlie without farther cair content
thame selfis with the same, and so remane thai continewallie deceaved,
thinking that thai have a Minister, quhen in verray deid thai have
none. For we can nott juge him a dispensatour of Goddis mysteries,
that in no wyise can breke the breid of lyif to the faynting and
hungrie saulis; neather juge we that the Sacramentis can be rychtlie
ministred by him, in quhais mouth God hes put no sermon of
exhortatioun.
[397] In edit. 1621, "and learned men were also rare."
The cheiffest remedy left till your Honouris and to us, in all this
raritie of trew ministeris, is fervent prayer unto God, that it will
pleis his mercye to thrust out faithfull warkmen in this his
harvest;[398] and nyxt, that your Honouris, with consent of the Kirk,
are bound by your authoritie to compell suche men as have giftis and
graces able to edifie the Kirk of God, that thai bestow thame quhair
greittest necessitie salbe knawin; for no man may be permittit to leve
idill, or as thame self list, but must be appointed to travell quhair
your Wisdomes and the Kirk sall think expedient.
[398] In edit. 1621, "to thurst forth faithfull workmen into this his
harvest."
We can nott prescryve unto your Honouris certane reull how that ye
sall distribute the ministeris and lerned men, quhom God hes alreddy
send unto you. But heirof we ar assured, that it greitlie hindereth
the progress of Christis Evangell within this poore Realme, that some
altogither abstract thair lawbouris from the Kirk, and utheris remane
togither[399] in one place, the most parte of thame being idill. And
thairfoir of your Honouris we requyre in Goddis name, that by your
auctoritie quhilk ye have of God, ye compell all men to quhom God hes
gevin ony talent to persuade, by holsome doctrine, to bestow the same,
gif thai be called be the Kirk to the advancement of Christis glorie,
and to the conforte of his trublit flock; and that ye, with the
consent of the Kirk, assigne unto your cheiffest workmen, not onlie
townis to remane into, but also provinces, that be thair faithfull
lawbouris kirkis may be erected, and ordour established, quhair none
is now. And gif on this maner ye will use your power and auctoritie,
cheiflie seiking Goddis glorie, and the conforte of your brethrein, we
doubt not but God sall bliss you and your interprisses.
[399] In edit. 1621, "altogether."