XII. For Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures, etc.

To the end that the Church of God may have a trial of men's knowledge, judgments, graces, and utterances, and that such as somewhat have profited in God's Word may from time to time grow to more full perfection to serve the Church, as necessity shall require, it is most expedient that, in every town where schools and repair of learned men are, there be a certain day every week appointed to that exercise which Saint Paul calleth prophesying. The order thereof is expressed by him in these words: "Let two or three prophets speak; and let the rest judge. But if anything be revealed to him that sitteth by, let the former keep silence. For ye may, one by one, all prophesy, that all may learn, and all may receive consolation. And the spirits, that is, the judgments, of the prophets, are subject to the prophets." From these words of the Apostle, it is evident that in Corinth, when the409 Church assembled for that purpose, some place of Scripture was read. Upon this, first one gave his judgment to the instruction and consolation of the auditors, and after him did another either confirm what the former had said, or add what he had omitted, or gently correct or explain more properly where the whole truth was not revealed to the former. And, in case some things were hid from the one and from the other, liberty was given to a third to speak his judgment, for edification of the Church. Above the number of three, as appeareth, they passed not, for avoiding of confusion.

These exercises, we say, are things most necessary for the Church of God this day in Scotland; for thereby, as we have said, shall the Church have judgment and knowledge of the graces, gifts, and utterances of every man within their own body; and the simple, and such as have somewhat profited, shall be encouraged daily to study and proceed in knowledge. And, too, the Church shall be edified; for this exercise must be patent to such as list to hear and learn, and every man shall have liberty to utter and declare his mind and knowledge to the comfort and edification of the Church.

But curious, peregrine,²⁶⁷²⁶⁷Foreign; irrelevant. and unprofitable questions are to be avoided, lest of a profitable exercise there might arise debate and strife. All interpretation disagreeing from the principles of our faith, repugnant to charity, or standing in plain contradiction to any other manifest place of Scripture, is to be rejected. The interpreter, in that exercise, may not take to himself the liberty of a public preacher, yea, although he be a minister appointed. He must bind himself to his text, and not enter on digression in explaining common places. He may use no invective in that exercise, unless it be, with sobriety, in confuting heresies. In exhortations or admonitions he must be short, that the time may be spent in opening of the mind of the Holy Ghost in that place, in following the file²⁶⁸²⁶⁸Thread; sequence. and dependence of the text, and in observing such notes as may instruct and edify the auditor. That contention may be avoided, neither may the interpreter nor yet any of the assembly move any question in open audience, unless he himself410 is content to give resolution without reasoning with any other; but every man ought to speak his own judgment to the edification of the Church.

If any be noted with curiosity, or for bringing in any strange doctrine, he must be admonished by the moderators, the ministers and elders, immediately after the interpretation is ended. The whole members and number of them that are of the assembly ought to convene together, and then examination should be had as to how the person that did interpret did handle and convey the matter, the interpreter being removed until every man have given his censure. After this, the person being called, the faults, if any notable be found, are noted, and the person shall be gently admonished. In that last assembly, all questions and doubts, if any arise, should be resolved, without contention.

The ministers of the parish churches to landward, adjacent to every chief town, and the readers (if they have any gift of interpretation) within six miles, must assist and concur with those that prophesy within the towns; to the end that they themselves may either learn, or that others may learn from them. And, moreover, men in whom any gifts are supposed to be, which might edify the Church, if they were well applied, must be charged by the ministers and elders to join themselves with that session and company of interpreters, to the end that the Church may judge whether they be able to serve to God's glory, and to the profit of the Church in the vocation of ministers or not. If any be found disobedient, and not willing to communicate the gifts and spiritual graces of God with their brethren, after sufficient admonition, discipline must proceed against them; provided that the Civil Magistrate concurs with the judgment and election of the Church. For no man may be permitted to live as best pleaseth himself within the Church of God; but every man must be constrained, by fraternal admonition and correction, to bestow his labours, to the edification of others, when of the Church they are required.

What day in the week is most convenient for that exercise and what books of the Scriptures shall be most profitable to411 be read, we refer to the judgment of every particular church; we mean, to the wisdom of the ministers and elders.