IV. Concerning Ministers and their Lawful Election.

1. In a Kirk reformed or tending to reformation, none ought to presume to preach, or to minister the Sacraments, until they be called to the same in proper form. Ordinary vocation consisteth in election, examination, and admission; and, because election of ministers in this cursed Papistry has altogether been abused, we think it expedient to treat of it more largely.

It appertaineth to the people, and to every several congregation, to elect their minister. And in case that they be found negligent therein the space of forty days, the best reformed kirk, to wit, the church of the Superintendent with his Council, may present unto them a man whom they judge367 apt to feed the flock of Christ Jesus, who must be examined as well in life and manners, as in doctrine and knowledge.

And that this may be done with more exact diligence, the persons that are to be examined must be commanded to compear before men of soundest judgment, resident in some principal town adjacent unto them; as they that be in Fife, Angus, Mearns, or Strathearn, to present themselves in St. Andrews; those that be in Lothian, Merse, or Teviotdale, in Edinburgh; and likewise those that be in other districts must resort to the best reformed cities or towns, that is, to the city of the Superintendent. There, first, in the schools or, failing that, in open assembly, and before the congregation, they must give declaration of their gifts, utterance, and knowledge, by interpreting some place of Scripture to be appointed by the ministry. This ended, the person that is presented, or that offered himself to the administration of the kirk, must be examined by the ministers and elders of the kirk, and that openly and before all that list to hear, in all the chief points that now lie in controversy betwixt us and the Papists, Anabaptists, Arians, or other such enemies to the Christian religion. If he be found sound, able to persuade by wholesome doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers, then must he be directed to the kirk and congregation where he should serve, that there, in open audience of his flock, in divers public sermons, he may give confession of his faith in the articles of Justification, of the office of Christ Jesus, of the number, effect, and use of the Sacraments; and finally, of the whole religion, which heretofore hath been corrupted by the Papists.

If his doctrine be found wholesome, and able to instruct the simple, and if the Kirk justly can reprehend nothing in his life, doctrine, nor utterance, then we judge the kirk which before was destitute, unreasonable if they refuse him whom the Kirk did offer, and that they should be compelled, by the censure of the Council and Kirk, to receive the person appointed and approven by the judgment of the godly and learned; unless the same kirk have presented a man better or as well qualified to the examination, before this foresaid trial of the person presented by the Council of the whole368 Kirk. As, for example, the Council of the Kirk presents to any kirk a man to be their minister, not knowing that they are otherwise provided: in the meantime, the kirk is provided with another, sufficient in their judgment for that charge, whom they present to the learned ministers and next reformed kirk to be examined. In this case the presentation of the people to whom he should be appointed pastor must be preferred to the presentation of the Council or greater kirk; unless the person presented by the inferior kirk be judged unable for the regiment by the learned. For it must be altogether avoided that any man be violently intrused or thrust in upon any congregation. This liberty must be carefully reserved to every several congregation, to have their votes and suffrages in election of their ministers. But we do not call it violent intrusion when the Council of the Kirk, in the fear of God, and for the salvation of the people, offereth unto them a sufficient man to instruct them; and him they shall not be forced to admit before just examination, as before is said.

2. What may disqualify any person for admission to the ministry of the Kirk.—It is to be observed that no person noted with public infamy, or being unable to edify the Kirk by wholesome doctrine, or being known of corrupt judgment, be either promoted to the regiment of the Kirk, or yet received in ecclesiastical administration.

By public infamy we understand, not the common sins and offences which any has committed in time of blindness, by frailty (if of the same, by a better and more sober conversation, he hath declared himself verily penitent), but such capital crimes as the civil sword ought and may punish with death, according to the word of God. For, besides that the Apostle requireth the life of ministers to be so irreprehensible, that they have a good testimony from those that be without, we judge it a thing unseemly and dangerous, that he shall have public authority to preach to others the life everlasting, from whom the civil magistrate may take the life temporal for a crime publicly committed. And if any object that the prince has pardoned his offence, and that he has publicly repented,369 and so is not only his life in assurance, but also that he may be received to the ministry of the Kirk; we answer that repentance does not take away the temporal punishment of the law, neither doth the pardon of the prince remove his infamy before man.

That the life and conversation of the person presented, or to be elected, may be the more clearly known, public edicts must be directed to all parts of this realm, or at the least to those parts where the person hath been most conversant: as where he was nourished in letters, or where he continued after the years of infancy and childhood were passed. Strait commandment would be given that if any capital crimes were committed by him they should be notified; as, if he hath committed wilful murder, or adultery, if he were a common fornicator, a thief, a drunkard, a fighter, a brawler, or a contentious person. These edicts ought to be notified in the chief cities, with the like charge and commandment, with declaration that such as concealed his known sins did, so far as in them lay, deceive and betray the Kirk, which is the spouse of Christ Jesus, and did communicate with the sins of that wicked man.

3. Admission of Ministers.—The admission of ministers to their offices, must consist in consent of the people and kirk whereto they shall be appointed, and in approbation of the learned ministers appointed for their examination.

We judge it expedient, that the admission of ministers be in open audience; that some especial minister make a sermon touching the duty and office of ministers, touching their manners, conversation, and life, as also touching the obedience which the kirk owe to their ministers. Commandment should be given as well to the minister as unto the people, both being present, to wit, that he with all careful diligence attend upon the flock of Christ Jesus, over which he is appointed preacher; that he will walk in the presence of God so sincerely that the graces of the Holy Spirit may be multiplied unto him, and in the presence of men so soberly and uprightly that his life may confirm, in the eyes of men, that which by tongue and word he persuadeth unto others. The people would be exhorted to reverence and honour their ministers chosen, as the servants370 and ambassadors of the Lord Jesus, obeying the commandments which they pronounce from God's mouth and book, even as they would obey God Himself; for whosoever heareth Christ's ministers heareth Himself, and whosoever rejecteth them, and despiseth their ministry and exhortation, rejecteth and despiseth Christ Jesus.

Other ceremony than the public approbation of the people, and declaration of the chief minister that the person there presented is appointed to serve that kirk, we cannot approve; for albeit the Apostles used the imposition of hands, yet, seeing the miracle is ceased, the using of the ceremony we judge is not necessary.

The minister elected or presented, examined, and, as said is, publicly admitted, must not at his pleasure leave the flock to the which he has promised his fidelity and labours; nor may the flock reject nor change him at their appetite, unless they be able to convict him of such crimes as deserve deposition. The whole Kirk, or the most part thereof, for just considerations, may transfer a minister from one kirk to another: nor do we mean that men who now do serve as it were of benevolence may not be appointed and elected to serve in other places; but we cannot approve that once being solemnly elected and admitted they should change at their own pleasure.

We are not ignorant that the rarity of godly and learned men shall seem to some a just reason why so strait and sharp examination should not be taken universally, because it shall appear that the most part of the kirks shall have no minister at all. But let these men understand that the lack of able men shall not excuse us before God if, by our consent, unable men be placed over the flock of Christ Jesus; as also that amongst the Gentiles, godly, learned men were as rare as they be now amongst us, when the Apostle gave the rule to try and examine ministers which we now follow. Let them understand that it is alike to have no minister at all, and to have an idol in the place of a true minister, yea and in some cases it is worse; for those that be utterly destitute of ministers will be diligent to search for them; but those that have a vain shadow do commonly without farther care content themselves371 with the same, and so remain they continually deceived, thinking that they have a minister, when in very deed they have none. We cannot judge a dispenser of God's mysteries him who in no wise can break the bread of life to the fainting and hungry souls; neither judge we that the Sacraments can be rightly ministered by him in whose mouth God has put no sermon of exhortation.

The chiefest remedy left to your honours and to us, in all this rarity of true ministers, is fervent prayer unto God, that it will please His mercy to thrust out faithful workmen into this His harvest; and next, that your honours, with the consent of the Kirk, are bound by your authority to compel such men as have gifts and graces able to edify the Kirk of God, that they bestow them where greatest necessity shall be known; for no man may be permitted to live idle, or as he himself lists, but he must be appointed to travail where your wisdoms and the Kirk shall think expedient.

We cannot prescribe unto your honours certain rule how that ye shall distribute the ministers and learned men, whom God has already sent unto you. But hereof we are assured, that it greatly hindereth the progress of Christ's Evangel within this poor realm, that some altogether abstract their labours from the Kirk, and others remain together in one place, the most part of them being idle. And therefore of your honours we require in God's name, that by the authority which ye have of God, ye compel all men to whom God has given any talent to persuade by wholesome doctrine, to bestow the same, if they be called by the Kirk to the advancement of Christ's glory, and to the comfort of His troubled flock; and that ye, with the consent of the Kirk, assign unto your chiefest workmen, not only towns to remain in, but also provinces, that by their faithful labours kirks may be erected, and order established, where none is now. If on this manner ye will use your power and authority, chiefly seeking God's glory, and the comfort of your brethren, we doubt not but God shall bless you and your enterprises.

4. For Readers.—To the kirks where no ministers can be had presently must be appointed the most apt men that distinctly372 can read the Common Prayers and the Scriptures, to exercise both themselves and the Kirk, till they grow to greater perfection; and in process of time he that is but a reader may attain to the further degree, and, by consent of the Kirk and discreet ministers, may be permitted to administer the Sacraments; but not before he be able somewhat to persuade by wholesome doctrine, besides his reading, and be admitted to the ministry. We know some that of long time have professed Christ Jesus, whose honest conversation deserved praise of all godly men, and whose knowledge also might greatly help the simple, who yet only content themselves with reading. These must be animated and, by gentle admonition, encouraged by some exhortation to comfort their brethren, and so may be admitted to administration of the Sacraments. But such readers as have had neither exercise nor continuance in Christ's true religion must abstain from ministration of the Sacraments, until they give declaration and witness of their honesty and further knowledge.²⁴⁶²⁴⁶The Lords think that none should be admitted to preach unless they are qualified therefor, but rather that they should be retained as readers; and such as are preachers already, not found qualified for that office by the Superintendent, should be placed as readers. (Additio.) [Here and at sundry other points in the Book there are incorporated passages marked "Additio," importing emendations made by the Lords upon the original document submitted by the Compilers. In the present edition these emendations are, in most instances, transferred to footnotes.—Ed.]