The Order of Excommunication and Public Repentance
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THE ORDOVRE OF • XCOMMVNICATIOVN AND OF PVBLICT REPENTANCE, used in the Church of Scotland, and commanded to be prented by the general Assemblie of the same, in the Moneth of Iunij. 1569.
PRENTID AT EDINBVRGH BE ROBERT LEKPREVIK. ANNO. 1569,
Albeit that in the book of discipline the ca • alswe • ll of public repentance as of excom • nicatioun ar sufficiently expressed: YIT • cause the form and order ar not so set fu • that every Church and Minister may have • rance that they agre with vtheris in proceidi •• it is thoght expedient to draw y e order, whi •• universally within this Realm shall be ob •• ued.
And first we man understand what crimes be vorthy of excōmunicatioun, and what of public repentance,
IN the first, it is to be noted that all crimes that be the Law of God deserve death, deserve also excōmunicatioun from the society of Christis Church, whither the offendar be papist or protestant: for it is no reassone that under pretense of diversity of religioun, open Impiety should be suffered in the visible body of Christ Jesus. And thairfor willful murtherars, Adulteraris (lauchsullie convict) Sorserars, Wiches, coniurars, Charmars, and geuars of drynks to destroy children, & oppin blasphemars (as if ony renunce God, deny the truth, & authoritîe of his holy word, rayll aganis his blessed Sacramētis) such we say aucht to be excommunicate from the society of Christ's Church. That there Impictie may be haldin in greatter horror, & that they may be the moir deiplie wounded perceaning thame selsis abhorred of the godly. Aganis such oppin malefactoris the process may be sū mar, for the crime being knawin, aduertisment aucht to be geuin to the Superintendent of the diosey, ether be the Minister, or be such as can best give informatioun of that fact. Except in reformed Townis and other places where th • Ministry is planted with Minister & Elderis according to the act of the general assembly mad • the 26. of December 1568. And if there b • no Superintendent where the crime is cōmitte • then aucht the informatioun to pas from suc • as ar offended to the next Superintendent wh • with expeditioun aucht to direct his letters •• summunds to the parish Church, where the off • dar hath his residence if the Ministry be the • planted, & if it be not, or if the offendar have n • certain dwelling place, then aucht the sūmund be direct to the chief town and best reform • Church in that diocey, where the crime w • committed, appointing to the offendar certa •• day, time, and place, where and when he sh •• cōpeir before the Superintendent & his assisso • to heir that crime tried as tuiching the true •• of it, and to ensuer for himself, why the sentence of excommunicatioun should not be pronounced publictlie aganis him. If the offendar lauful • lie warnit compeir not inquilitioun being take •• of the crime, charge may be geuin be the Sup •• intendent to the •••• isters so many as shalb • thoucht necess ••• 〈◊〉 publicatioun of that sentence to pronu •• 〈◊〉 same the next Sunday, th • form whereof shall ester be declared. Bot an • if the offendar compeir and allege for himself, ony reassonable defense, to wit that he will not be fugitive from the law, bot will abyd the censure thereof for that offense, then may the sentence of excōmunicatiō be suspendit till that the Magistrate be required to try that cause wherein if the Magistrates be negligent, Then aucht the Church from secreit requisitioun proceid till public admonitioun, that the Magistratis may be vigilant in that caus of blood, which cryith vengeance vpone the hole land where it is sched without punishment. If no remedio be them can be found, then justly may the Church pronounce the offendar excommunicate, as one suspect, besidis his crime, to have corrupted the Judges reuengeris of the blood: and so aucht the Church to proceid to excommunicatioun, whither the offendar be fugitive from the law, or if he procure pardoun, or illude the severity of Justice be means whatsoever, besy dis the tryell of his innocence.
If the offendar abide ane assise and by the same be absolved, then may not the Church pronūce excōmunicatioū, bor justly may exhort the man be whose hand the blood was shed to entir in consideratioun with himself how precious is the life of man before God, and how seueirlie God commandeth blood (howsoeuir it be sched, except it be by the sword of the Magistrate) to be punished. And so may enjoin unto him such satisfactionis to be maid publictlie to the church as may bear testificatioun of his obedience and vnfeaned repentance. If the offendar be convict and executioun follow according to the crime, then vpone the humble suyte of him that is to suffer may the eldars & minister of the Church not only give unto him consolatioun, bot also pronunce the sentence of absolutioun, and his sin to be remitted according to his repentance and faith. And thus moche for excōmuuuicatioū of public offendaris.
AND yet forther woman cōsiddir that if the offendar be fugitive from the law, so that punishment cannot be executed aganis him, in that caise the Church aucht to delay no time, bot vpone the notorietie of his crime, & that he is fled from the presence of the Judge, it aucht to prouunce him exōmunicated publictlie, and so contineuallie to reput him, unto such time that the Magistrate be satisfied. And so whither the offendar be convict in judgment, or be fugitive from the law, The Church aucht to procead to the sentence of excōmunicatioun. The form whereof followeth.
THE FORME.
The Minister in public audience of the pepill sall say.
IT is cleirlie knowin unto us that. N. sum • times baptized in the name of the father & • f the sone and of the holy ghost, & so reputed • nd compted for one Christiane, hath fearfullie •• llin from the society of Christ's body by cō • itting of cruel & willful murder (or by cō • itting filthy adultery &c.) which crime be the •• of God deserveth death. And because the • iuile sword is in the hand of Godds magistrate who notwithstanding oft winkis at such crimes: We having place in the ministry with greas & • olour of our hartts ar compelled to draw the sword granted be God to his Church. That is to • xcōmunicat from the society of Christ Jesus, • ome his body the Church, from participati • un of Sacraments and Prayeris with the same. The said N. AND THER FOR IN THE NAME AND AVTHORI • IE OF THE ETERNAL GOD • ND OF HIS SONE JESUS CHRIST. We pronnuce the said. N. excommunicate and • cursed in that his wicked fact, And charges •• l that fauore the Lord Jesus so to repute and hold him (or hir) unto such time as th • ether the magistrate have punished the offend • as God's law commandis, Or that the sam • offendar be reconsiled to the Church again b • public repentance: and in the meanty me •• earnestly desire all faithful to cal to God to m • ue the hearts of the upper powers so to puni • such horrible crimes that malefactors may fe • to offend ewin for fear of punishment, and also to tuiche the heart of the offēdar that he m • deiplie consider how fearful it is to fall in t • hands of the eternal God. That by vnfean • repentance he may apprehend mercy in Ies • Christ and so awoid eternal condemnatioun.
THE sentence of excommunicatioun o •• pronounced the Church may not suddan • admit the murtherar, or convict adulterar • repentance and society of the faithful, alb • that pardon be purchassed of the magistrate: b • first aucht inquisition be taken if the murder have satisfied the party offended, that is the k • and freindis of the man slane. Which if he has not done, nether is understand willing so to d • y e church in no wayis may hear him. Bot & if •• be willing to satisfy, & the friends exceid measure & the possibility of him that hath cōm • ted the crime. Then aucht the Church to put moderatioun to the unreasonable, in caise the civil magistrate hath not so done before: And so proceid with him that offereth repentance, that the wilsulnes of the indiscreit be not hindrance to the reconciliatioun of him that eirnestlie craveth the benefit & society of the Church.
AND yet may not the Church receive ony excommunicate at his first requeist: bot in such grievous crimes as before ar expressed (of vtheris shall be after spokin) forty days at the least after his first offer may be appointed to try whither the signs of repentance appeir in the offēdar or not. And yet in the meantyme y e Church may comfort him be wholesome admonitiouns assuring him of God's mercy if he be werilie pe nitēt: he may also be admitted to the hearing of the word: Bot in nowyse to participatioun of prayeris nether before nor after sermon. The first forty days expyred vpone his new suit the Superintendent or sessioun may Inioin such panes as may try whether he be penitent or not, the least ar, the murtherar, man stand three several Sōdays in an public place before y e Churchdure bair futed and bair headed cled in base & abject apparaill, having the same wappē w c he used in the murder, or the like bloody in his hand, & in conceived words shall say to such as shall enter into the Church.
THE CONFESSIOVN OF THE PENITENT.
SO far hath Satan gottin victory ouir me that cruelly I have sched innocent blood, for the which I have deserved death corporal and eternal. And so I grant myself unworthy of the cōmoun light or yet of the company of men. And yet because in God there is mercy that passith all measure, and because the Magistrate hath not takin from me this wrechit life, I moste carnestlie desire to be reconsiled again with the Church of Christ Jesus, from the society whereof my iniquity hath caused me to be excommunicated. And therefore in the bowellis of Christ Jesus I crave of yow to pray with me unto God, that my grievous crime may be of him remitted, & also that ye will be suppliantes with me to the Church, that I abyd not thus excommunicate unto the end.
At the last of the three sondayis certain of the Eldaris shall reccaue him into the Church & present him before the preaching place, and shall declare unto the Minister that all that was enjoined to that offendar was obedientlie fulfilled by him. Then shall the minister recite unto him alsweill the greuousnes of his sin, as the mercies •• God if he be penitent. And thereefter shall •• quire of the Church if that they desire any •• there satisfactioun, and if no answer be geuin, • en shall the minister pronounce his sin to be •• mitted according to his repentance, and shall • hort the Church to embrace him as one bro •• er after that prayer and thankis giving be • uin unto God, as after shall be descryued.
And thus far to be observed for the order in • ceauing of thame that hath committed capital • ymes, be it murder, adultery, incest wich craft •• vtheris before expressed.
Resteth yet one other kind of offendaris that •• eserue excommunicatioun, Albeit not so sum • arlie, to wit, such as have been parttakars with •• in doctrine and Sacraments. And have retur • ed back again to the papistry, or have geuin • ere presence to ony parte of there abhomina • un, or yet that of ony long cōtineuance with • awe thame seifis from the society of Christis •• dy, and from the participatioun of the Sa • amētis when they ar publictlie ministrat. Such •• doubt declare thame selfs worthy of excom • unicatioun. Bot first they man be called ether •• fore the Superintendēt with sum joined with •• m, or ellis before the Eldaris and sessioun of ȳ best and next reformed Church, where the of • dars hath their residence, who man accuse the • defectioun: exhort them to repentance, a • declare theme the danger wherein they stand.
Whom if the offendar herith, the sessioun • Superintendent may appoint him ane day •• satisfy the Church publictlie, whom by his •• fectioun he had offended. Bot if he cōtinew s •• burn, then may the sessioun or Superintende •• command the Minister or Ministers to decla •• next sounday the defectioū of such ane perso •• and his obstinate contempt, & this aduertisme •• geuin two sounday is, the thread may the senten •• of excomunicatoun be pronounced.
Offences that deserve public Repentance, And ordor to proceid thereintill
Such offenses as fall not under the civil swo •• and yet ar scladerous and offensive in th • Church deserve public repentance, and •• these sum ar more heinous thē vtheris, forni •• tion, drunkenes used, swering, cursed speaking chyding, feghting, brauling, and common c • tēpt of the order of the Church, brekin of th •• Sabbath, and suchlike, aucht to be in no perso •• suffered. Bot the sclander being knawin, th •• offendar should be called before the Ministeri •• his crime prouin, accused, rebuked, and he cō • manded publictlie to satisfy the Church: which • f the offendar resu • s they may proceid to excōmunicatioū, as after shall be declared. If the offēdar compeir not, summunds aucht to pas to the thread time. And then in caise he compeir not, the Church may decerue the sentence to be pronounced.
Vtheris be les heinous & yet deserve admonition. As wanton & vain words, vncomlie gestures, negligence in hearing the preacheingis, or abstening from thee Lordis table when it is publictlie ministrat, suspitioun of avarice or of pride superfluity or ryatousnes in cheir or raiment, these we say & such vtheris y t of the world ar not regarded deserve admonitioun, amongst the menbres of Christis body. First, secreatlie by on or two, of those that first espy the offense. Which if the person suspected hear, and give declaratioun of amendment, then there needeth no farther process. Bot if he contempne & despise the admonitioun, then should the formar admonisars take to them selfs two or three faithful & honest witness, in whose presence the suspected offendar wald be abmonished, and the causis of there suspitioun declared. To whom if then he g • ue significatioun of repentance and promise of amendment, they may cut of all f • rther accusatioun. Bot & if he obstinatlie contēpne b • the said admonitiouns, then aucht the first a •• secund brethren signify the mater to the mi •• ster and eldaris in there sessioun, who aucht •• call the offendar, and before the complenars •• cuse him alsweill of the crime, as of y e cōtem •• of the admonitioun: if then he acknawledge •• offense & be willing to satisfy the brethren b • foir offended, & the sessioun then present the •• nedith no farther publicatioun of that offen •• Bot if he declare himself inobedient to the sesioun. Then without delay the next Sond • aucht the crime, & the order of admonitioun passed before be publictlie declared to the Ch • rch. And the person (without specificatioun •• his name) be admonished to satisfy in publi •• that which he refused to do in secreit, and th •• for the first. If he offerris himself to the Church before the next Sunday. The discretioun of the Ministry may take such order as may satisfy alsweill the private personis that first war offended as the Church declaring the repentance, & submission of that brother, that before appeared stubborn, and incorrigible. Bot and if he aby • the secound admonitioun public, when that his name shall be expressed, and his offenses and stubbornness declared, then can no satisfactioun be resaued, bot in public: yea, it may not be received before that he have humbly required the same of the Ministry and sessioun of the Church in there appointed assembly. If he continue stubborn, then the thread Sunday aucht he be charged publictlie to satisfy the Church for his offense and contempt, under the pane of excōmunicatioun. The order whereof shall ef • er be declared.
AND thus ane small offense or sclander may justly deserve excommunicatioun, be ressone of the comtempt & disobedience of the offendar. If the offendar show himself, penitent betuene the first admonitioun and the secund, & satisfy the Ministry of the Church. and the brethren that before war offended in there assembly, then it may suffice that the Minister at commandment of the sessioun declare the next Sunday (without compeiring or expressing of the person) his repentance and submissioun, in these or other words.
IT WAS signified unto yow before (deirlie belouit) that one certain brother (or brethren) was noted or at the laest suspected of some offense whereof he being admonished be one and two appeared lyghlie to regard the same. And therefoir was he and his offense notified unto the Ministry in there assembly, who according to there duty & charge accused him of the same, And not finding in him such obedience as the professioun of ane christiane requireth, fearing that such offenses & stubbornness should engender contempt and infect vtheris. THEY war compelled to notify unto yow the crime, & the proceidingis of the sessioun, mynding to have socht the uttermost reamedie in caise the offendar had cōtineued obstinate: bot seeing that it hath pleased God to mollify the heart of our brother whose name we neid not to express so y t he hath not only acknowledged his offense, bot also hath fully satisfied the brethren that first war offended and us the Ministry. And hath promesed to absteane from all appearance of such evil •• whereof he was suspected and admonished: we have no just cause to proceid to ony farther extremity, bot rather to glorify God for the submissioun of our brother, & vnfeanedlie pray unto him that in the like caise we and everyone of us may give the like obedience
THE FORME AND ORDOVRE of public repentance.
IT is first to be observed, that none may be admitted to public repentance, except that first they be admitted thairto be the Sessioun & Assemblie of the Ministeris and Elderis, in the which they ought sharply to be examinat, what fear and terror they have of God's sudgemētes, what haitrent of sin and doloure for the same: and what sense and feilling they have of God's mercies, in the which if they be ignorant they ought diligently to be instructed, for it is bot an mocking to present such to public repentance, as nether understand what sin is, what reap̄tance is, what is grace, nor be whom is God's favor and mercy purchessed. After thē that the offender shall be in the Assemblie instructed so that he have sum taist of God's Iudgementes, bot chiefly of God's mercies in Christ Jesus, he may be presented before the public Church upon an Sunday after the Sermon, and before the prayeris and Psalm, and then the Minister shall say.
Beloved and derrest brethren we be reason of our charge & Ministry present before yow this brother, that by infirmity of flesh and craft of Satan hes feirfullie fallen from the obedience of his God by committing. N. of an crime 〈◊〉 Get the sin be expressed, by the which he 〈◊〉 not only offended against the majesty of Go • bot also by the same hes geuin great scland and offense till his holy Congregatioun: a • therefore doeth till his owen confusioun, ( 〈◊〉 to the glory of God and our great confort) p • sent himself heir before yow, to witness a • declare his vnfeaned repentance: The thrist a • •• e care that he hes to be recoūselled with G • throw Jesus Christ, and with yow his breth •• • home he hath offended: And therefore it requisite that ye and he understand what assrance we have to require such public sat • faction of him: what profeit we ought to lear • in the same: and what profeit & utility redo •• des to both of this his humiliatioun.
That public repentance is the institutioun • God, and not mannes inuentioun may be plan •• gaddered of the words of our master, comm • ding that if ony have offended his brother • what sort so ever it be, that he shall go to hi • and be recounselled unto his brother: if the 〈◊〉 fence committed against one brother requy • reconsiliatioun: the offense committed again • many brethren requireth the same. And if 〈◊〉 man be chargeit be Christ Jesus, to go to an 〈◊〉 whom he hath offended, & their by confessing of his offense require reconsiliation: mucho moir is he bound to seek an whole multitude whom he hes offended, and before thame with all humility require the same. For y t woe which our master Christ Jesus pronunceth against every man that hes offended the least one within his Church, remaneth upon every public offender, unto such time as he declare himself willing to remove the same: which he can never do unto such time as he let the multitude whom he hes offended understand his vnfeaned repentance. Bot because that all men of vprycht Judgment agre in this, that public offenses require public repentance, we pas to the secund head, which is, what is it that we have to consider in the fall and sin of this our brother: if we consider his fall and sin in him only, without having consideration of our selves and of our owen corruptioun, we sall proffeit nothing, for so shall we bot despise our brother and flatter our selves. Bot if we shall earnestly consider what nature we bear, what corruptiō lurketh in it, how prone and reddy everyone of us is to such and greater impiety, then shall we in the sin of this our brother accuse & dāpne our owen sins, in his fall shall we consider & lawent our sinful nature, also shall we join o • repentance, tears, and prayeres with him & hi • knowing that no flesh can be iustefyed befo •• God's presence, if judgment proceid without m • cy. The proffeit which this our brother & 〈◊〉 have of this his humiliation is, that we & he m •• be assured that moir reddie is our god to recea •• us to mercy throwght Jesus Christ, his only so •• then we ar to crave it. It is not sin be it never • grievous, that shall debar us from his favor if 〈◊〉 seek to his mercy: for as all have sinned, & ar •• thame selfs destitute of Godis grace. So is 〈◊〉 reddy to shaw mercy unto all, that vnfenedlie •• for the same: Yea, he doeth not only resaue su •• as come, bot he by the mouth of his deir son •• calleth vpone such as be burdened and laiden • with sin, and solempnedlie promeseth that •• will refresh thame.
We have besides ane other commodity. T •• wit, that if we shall heirefter fall in the like • greater (for we stand not by our awin powe • bot by grace only) that we be not eschamed 〈◊〉 this same sort to humble our self and confe •• our offense. Now therefore brother as we 〈◊〉 praise God in this your humiliatioun, beseiki •• him that it be without hypocrisy. So it becu • eth yow earnestly to consider of what my •• and with what heart ye present yourself heir before this Assemblie. It is not your sin that shall separate yow from your God, nor from his mercy in Jesus Christ, if yow repent the same: bot hypocrysie & inpenitencie which God remove from yow and us is no wise tolerable before his presence.
The offender ought protest before God that he is sory for his sin, and vnfeanedly desireth God to be merciful • vn to him, and that for the obedience of his dear Sone our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE MINISTER.
WE can only se that which is without, and according to your confessioun Judge, leaving the secreites of the heart to God, who only can try and search the same. Bot because vnfeaned repentance for sin, and simple confession of the same, are the mere giftis of God, we will join our prayeris with youris, that the one and the other may be granted to yow and us.
THE PRAYER.
ETernall and euerleuing God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, thow that by the mouth of thy holy Propheites and Apostilles, hes plane lie pronounced that thow desyrest not the death of ane sinner, bot rather that he may convert & live: who also hes send thy only Sone to suffe • the cruel death of the Cross, not for the just • bot for such as find them selves oppressed with burden of sins. That by him and his aduocation they may have access to the throne of thy grace, being assured that before the they shall find favor and mercy. We are conuened ( 〈◊〉 Lord) in thy presence, and that in the name of this same our Lord Jesus thy dear Sone: to accuse before the our sins, and before the feit of thy majesty, to crave mercy for the same. We moste hūblie beseech the ô Father of mercies, first that thow will tuiche and move our hearts by the power of thy holy Spirit in such sort, that we may come to ane true knawlege of our sins: Bot chiefly, ô Lord, it will please the to move the heart of this our brother. N. &c. who as he hes offended thy majesty, & an great mumber of this thy holy Congregation by his grievous and public sin, so doeth he not refuse publictlie, to acknowledge & confess the same, as that this his humiliatioun geuin to the glory of thy name presently doeth witness: Bot because, ô Lord, the external confessioun without the dolour of the heart availeth nothing in thy presence, we moste humbly beseech the that thow wilt so effectually move his heart & ours also, that he and we without hypocrysie, dampning that which thy Law pronunceth iniust, may atteane to some sense and fealing of thy mercy, which thow hes abundantly shawen unto mankind in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, ô Lord, unto this our brother the repentance of the heart, and sincere confession of the mouth to the praise of thy Name, to the comfort of thy Church, and to the confusion of Satan. And unto us grant ô Lord, that albeit we cā not live altogether clean of sin, yet that we fall not in horrible crimes to the dishonor of thy holy Name, to the sclander of our brethren, and infamy of thy holy Evangel which we profess. Let thy godly power, ô Lord, so strenthen our waiknes, that nether the craft of Satan, nor the tyranny of sin draw us utterly from thy obedience. Give us grace, ô Lord, that by holiness and innocence of life, we may declare to this wicked generatioun what difference there is betwix the sonnes of light, & the sons of darkness, that men seeing our gude workis may glorify the and thy Sone Jesus Christ our only Savior and redeemer, to whom with the and the holy Spirit be all honor, praise, and glory now and ever. Amen.
THE PRAYER FINISHED the Minister shall turn him to the pen • tent brother, and in full audience shall say.
YE have hard brother what is your dewti • towards the Church which ye have offended, to wit, that willingly ye confess that crime that ye have committed, asking God mercy for the same, and so that ye may reconseill your sel • to the Church, which ye have offended. Y • have hard also the affectiō & care of the Church towards yow there penitent brother notwithstanding your grievous fall, to wit, that we all heir presentioyne our sins with your sin, we all repute and esteame your fall to be our owen: we accuse our selves no les then we accuse yow: now finally we join our prayeres with youris, that we and ye may obtene mercy, and that by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us therefore brother have this comfort of yow, that ye will oppenlie and semplie confess your crime, and give to us attestation of your vnfeaned repentance.
The penitent shall then oppenlie confess the crime whatsoever it be, and shall desire God's mercy, and pray the Church to call to God for mercy with him, and vnfeanedly desire that he may be joined again to their societic & mumber. IF the penitent be confounded with shame, or such one as cannot distinctly speak to the confort and instruction of the Church, the Minister shall mak repetition, that every head may be understand by the self, and thereafter shall ask the penitent if that be his confession, & if so he believeth. His answer affirmative being resaned, the Minister shall ask the Congregation if they ludge any forther to be required for their satisfactioun, and reconsiliation of that brother. No cōtradictioun being made, the Minister shall say to the penitent.
We have hard dear brother your confessiō, for the which we from our hartis praise God, for in it the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath confounded the Devil, and broken down his head and power in that, that ye to the glory of God have oppenly dampened yourself and your impiety, imploring grace and mercy for Christ Jesus his Sones sake. This strenth, submission and obedience cannot proceid from flesh and blood, bot is the singular gift of the holy Ghost. Acknowledge therefore it to be geuin unto yow by Jesus Christ our Lord, and now take head least at any time ye be vnmyndefull of this great benifite, which no doubt Satan doeth inuy, & will assail by all means possible that yow may abuse it: he will not cease to tempt yow to fall again in such or crimes more horrible. Bot resist the Devil and he shall flee from yow. Liu • in sobriety, be instant in prayer, commend you • self vnfeanedlie to God, who as he is faithful, s • shall he give to us victory over sin, death, & Satan, and that by the means of our head and Souerane campioun Jesus Christ, to whom be all praise glory and honor now & ever. Amen.
Ane admonition to the Church.
IT is your duty brothren to take example of this our penitent brother: first, that ye be vnfeanedly displeased in your owē hearts for your sin:, secundarly, that with this our brother ye accuses thē in the sight of God, imploring grace and mercy for your offenses committed: and last, if any of yow shall after this publictlie offend that ye refuse not with the like reverence to satiffie the Church of God offended in yow. Now only resteth that ye remit and for yet all offenses which ye have consaued heretofore by the sin and fall of this our brother, accept and embrace him as ane member of Christ's body: let none take upon him to reproach or accuse him for any offenses that before this hour he hath committed. And that he may have the better assurance of your good will and reconciliation pro • rate yourselves before God, and render him •• ankes for the conversion and repentance of his our brother.
The thanks giving.
HEauenly Father, fontane of all mercy and consolation, we confess our selves vnwor • hie to be compted amongst thy children, if • how have respect to the corruption of our nature: but seeing it hath pleased thy fatherly good •• es, not only frelie to choose us, in thy dear sone our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death to redeem us, by his Evangel to cal us, and by his holy spirit (which both are thine) to illuminate us.
Bot also that thow hath commanded thy word and holy Evangel to be preached, to the end, that the penitent shall have an assurance of the remission of their sins, not only for a time, bot even als oft as men from sorrowful hearts shall call for thy grace and mercy. In consideration of this thy fatherly adoption and ineffable clemency shown upon us we cannot bot praise and magnify thy fatherly mercy: an testimony whereof we not only feale in our selves, but also seith the same evidently in the conversion of this our brother, whom Sathā for an time held in bondage, bot now is set at freedom by th • power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is return again to the society of his body: Grant unto us heavenly father, that he and we may more 〈◊〉 more be displeased for our sins, and procei • in all manner of good works, to the praise of th • holy name, and edification of thy Church, by Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior. So bei •
The thanks finished, the Minister shall require of the penitent if that he will be subiec • to the discipline of the Church, in caise tha • he after offendeth, who answering that he will, the Minister shall say in manner of absolution.
If thow vnfeanedly repentis thy former iniquity, and beleues in the Lord Jesus, then I in his Name pronunce and affirm that thy sins ar forgeuin not only in earth, but also in the heaven according to the promises annexed with the preiching of his word, and to the power put in the Ministry of his Church.
Then shall the Elders & Deacons with Ministers if any be, in name of the hole Church take the reconsealed brother by the hand, & embrace him in sign of full reconsiliation. There after shall the Church sing the .103. Psalm, so much as they think expedient. And so shall the Assemblie with the benediction be dimissed.
The form of excommunication.
AFter that all admonitiones, both private & public be past, as before is said, then must the Church proceid to excommunication, if the offender remain obstinate. The Sunday therefore after the thread public admonition, the Minister being before charged be the Session or Elders, shall thus signify unto the Church after Sermon.
It is not unknown unto yow, with what lenity and carefulness the Ministry and the whole Church by private & public admonitions hath sought. N. &c. to satisfy the Church, and to declare himself penitent of his grievous crimes & rebellion by the which he hath offended God's Majesty, blasphemed his holy Name, and offended his Church, in whom to this day we find nothing bot stubbornness, we cannot therefore of conscience wink any longer at the disobedience of the said. N. least that his example infect and hurt vthers, We are compelled therefore in the fear of God to give the said. N. in the hands & power of the Devil, to the destruction of the flesh, if that by that mean he may be brought the consideration of himself, & so repent, & a • id that fearful cōdempnation that shall fall on • inobedient in the day of the Lord Jesus. A • least that ony shall think that we do this of ma • lie presumptioun without the assurance of th • Scriptures, ye shall shortly heir what commandment and authority we have so to do.
First, we have the commandment of our m • ster and Savior Jesus Christ, to hold such fo • Ethnikes & publicanes, as will not heir the vo • of the Church. But plain it is, that this obs • nate. N. hath contempteously refused all ho •• some admonitions, and therefore we not one 〈◊〉 two, but the whole Church must hold him a • ane publicane, that is, as one cutted of the body of Jesus christ, & unworthy of any society with him, or with the benefits of his Church, till hi • new conversion and his resauing again.
Secundarly, we have the command of the Apostle S. Paul, and that fearful sentence, which he being absent did notwithstanding pronunc • against the incest, with his sharp rebuke to the Corinthianes, because that with greater zeal & expedition they expelled not from among • them that wicked man. And if any think that y e offense of this foirnamed obstinate, is not so heinous, as that of the incest, let such understand, that mercy and favor may rather be granted til any other sin, then to the contempt of wholesome admonitions, and of the just and laughfull ordinances of the Church. For other sins how heinous that ever they be (so be it that they deserve not death) as by vnfeaned repentance they are remitted before God, so upon the same humbly offered unto the Church, order may be taken that the offender may be conforted, & at lenth restored to the society of the Church again: but such as proudlie contempne the admonitions of the Church, private or public, declare thame selves stubborn, rebellious, and altogether impenitent, and therefore moste justly ought they to be excommunicate.
The precept of God geuin under the Law to expel from the middes of God's people, such as were leprous (without exception of persons) is to us an assurance that we ought to expel from the society of Christ's body such as be stricken with spiritual leprosy, for the one is no les infectiue and dangerous then is the other. Now seeing that we know excommunication is God's ordinance, let us in few words understand the utility and use of the same.
By it first is the Church purged of oppen wicked doers, which is no small commodity, cōsiddering that we feght in the mids and eye of this wicked generation, which seiketh in 〈◊〉 nothing more then occasion of sclander. Secundarly, by it is the Church and every member o • the same reteaned in obedience and fear, where of all had neid if the frayltie of our flesh shall • be rightly considdered. Thirdly, by it we exe • cise ane singular work of cheritie, whill tha • we declare our selves careful to keep the flock of Christ in puretie of manners, and without danger to be infected: for as it were an work both vncheritable and cruel to join together i • one bed persons infected with pestilent or vth •• contagious and infectiue sores with tender children, or with such as were hole: so is it no 〈◊〉 cruelty to suffer amongst the flock of Ies •• Christ such obstinate rebels. For true is th • sentence of the Apostle, an lytill leaven corrupteth the whole mass. But least that we shall sen • to usurp power over the Church, or to do an • thing without the knowledge and consent of th • whole body, for this present we delay the sentence, willing such as have anything to obie • in the contrair to propone the same the next Se • sion day, or elles to signify the same to some 〈◊〉 the Ministeris or Eldaris that answer may be g •• uin thereto, and in the mean time we will call to God for the conversion of the impenitent.
The prayer for the obstinate.
ETernall and euerlyuing God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose verray property is to show mercy, and to restore life, even whē to man's Judgment death hath gottin dominion over thy creatures: for thow first sought, called, accused, and convicted, our Father Adame after his transgression, & being so dead in sin, and thrall to Satan, that he could nether confess his offense, nor yet ask mercy for the same. Thow by thy free promises of mercy and grace, gave unto him an new life, and strenth to reap̄t. The same order must thow keep, ô Lord, with all thy chosen children of his posterity. For in man's corrupt nature there can be no obedience, whill that thow by operation of thy holy Spirit work the same. And therefore we moste humbly beseke the for Jesus Christ thy Sones saik pitifullie to look vpone this thy creature, who ones was baptized in thy name: & hath professed himself subject to thy religioun, and unto the discipline of thy Church: whom Satan (alas) now so blyndeth that obstinately he contēpneth the one and the other. We have followed ô Lord, the rewlle prescribed unto ws by thy deir Sone our Lord Jesus Christ in admonishin • and threatening him, bot hidderto have profit nothing concerning him & his humiliatioun.
Bot ô Lord as thow allone knows, so may thow allone change and mollify the hearts 〈◊〉 the proud and impenitent. Thow by the vo •• of thy Propheit Nathan walkened David from his dedlie security. Thow without ony prophe • bet down the pride of Manasseh in the presone after that he Shad ched the blood of thy se • uandis, and had replenished Jerusalem with 〈◊〉 kind of impiety. Thow turned the heart of Pete • at the look of thy deir Sone, our Lord Ies •• Christ after that feirfullie with horrible imprecationis he had thrice oppinlie denied him.
O Lord thy mercies without measure in dure so euir. To the which we after long trawel do rem • this obstinate & impenitēt. Earnestlie desiring th • ô father of mercies, first so to peirse his heart • the feir of thy seueir judgments y t he may begi • to understand that thus cōtemning all wholesome a • monitions he prouokis thy wraith & indignatio • against himself. Oppen his eyis that he may s • how feirful & terrible â thing it is to fall into th • hands: & thereftir molifie and oynt his heart b • the unction of thy holy spirit. That he may vnfeanedlie convert unto the, & give unto the that honor and obedience y t thow requirest in thy holy word, & so to our comfort that now murne for his rebellioun, that he may subject himself to the just ordinance of thy Church, & a woide that feirfull vengeance that most assuredly shall fall vpone all the inobedient. These thy graces Heauinlie Father, & Farther as Thow knowest to be expedient for us & for thy Church vniuer • sall we call according as we be taught to pray be our Souerane Master Christ Jesus saying.
THE secund Sounday after sermon & public prayeris the minister shall in audience of the hole Church ask the Eldars & Deacons, who man sit in ane eminent & propir place, that there answer may be hard.
THE MINISTER.
HATHE N. whom the last day we admonished under the pane of excommunicatioun to satisfy the Church for his public sclander and contempt of the ministry be himself or be any other offerred his obedience unto yow.
They shall answer as the truth is yea or nay.
IF he hath sought the fauoris of any withi • the ministry with promise of obedience, then shall farther process be delayed, and he commanded, to appeir before the sessioun in there next assembly where order may be takin for his public repentance, as in the formar head is expressed. If he have not labored to satisfy the Church, then shall the minister proceid and say.
IT cannot be bot dolorous to the body that any one member thereof should be cut of and perish, and yet it aucht to be more feirfull to the member then to the body, for the member cut of can do nothing bot putrefy and perish, & yet the body may reteane lyif and strenth. Bot the rebellioun of this obstinate may proceid in one parte from ignorance for it may be that he understandeth not what excōmunicatioun is, and what is the danger of the same: I shall there foir in few words oppin the one and the other.
Laughfull excommunicatioun (for the thondringis of that Roman Antichrist ar bot vanity and wynd,) is the cutting of from the body of Jesus Christ, from participatioun of his holy S • cramentis, and from public prayeris with his Church. by public & solemned sentence all obstinate and impenitent personis eftir dew admonitionis, which sentence laughfullie pronounced in earth is ratified in the heauin, by bynding of the same sins that they bind in earth. The danger heir of is greater then man can • udandlie espy, for seeing that without the body of Jesus Christ, there abideth nothing bot death & damnation to mankynd, in what estait shall we judge thame to stand that, justly, ar cutted of from the same.
Yea, what horrible vengeance hyngeth upon thame and there posterity, notable and seueir punishmentis may instruct us. Cain the murtherar was not accurssed within his awin person • only, bot that same maledictioun rang in his posterity, and upon all that joined there with, til that all mankynd was destroyed by watter (Viiy. personis reserved) Cham lykwyse was accurssed in his sone Canaan, the severity wheir of proceeded euin to the exterminion of that hole rase and natioun.
THE sempill word of our Master JESUS Christ caused the Fig Tree suddanlie to wither. At the voice of Peter, Ananias, and Sapphira, war stricken to death. The same God & Lord Jesus with the power of his holy spirit that then was potent and just, wirkis euin now in the ministry of his Church. The contempt wheir of he will in nowise suffer unpunished. And therefoir ye that have acquentance or familiarity with the soirnamed obstinate declare unto him those dangeris and will him not to tempt the vtermoist, & thus yet again let us pray to God for his conversion.
Let the formar prayer be publictlie said.
THE thread Sunday let the first questioun be proponed by the minister to the Eldars and ••• conis concerning the submissiō of the obstinate so oft admonished as was proponed the secund: if repentance be offered let order be takin as is before said, with one charge to the Church to praise God for the cōuerssioun of that brother. If repentance be not offered, then shall the minister expone whereinto the person that is to be excommunicate, hath offended how oft, & by whō he hath been admonished alswell priuatlie as publictlie, and shall demand of the Eldaris and Deaconis if so was not, whose answer resaued, The minister shall ask the hole Church, if they think that such contempt should be suffered amāgs thame: and if then no man mak intercession for the obstinate, the Minister shall proceid and say.
OF Verray conscience we ar compelled to do that which to our hartis is most dolorus, to wit, to give over in the handis of the Devil this foir named obstinate contempnar. N. whom ones we esteamed one member of our body, and that not only for the crime that he hath committed, bot much rather for his proud contempt and intolerable rebellioun lest that our sufferance of him in this his impiety should not only be imputed unto us, bot also that he should insect vthers with the same pestilence. And therefore we man use the last remedy, how grievous that ever it be unto us. AND yet I desire yow for more ample declaratioun of your christiane cheritie towards him, ye pray with me unto God now for the last for his conuersioun.
THE last prayer before the excommunication.
OMnipotent, Eternal and merciful Father, who for that good will that thow bearest unto us in Jesus Christ thy deir Sone, will not y e death and destructioun of ane sinnar. Bot rather that he by inspiratioun and moving of thy holy spirit convert & live: who also doeth witness the virtue & strenth of thy word to be such, that it causeth the Montanes to schaik, the Rocks tremble, and the Floodes to dry up. Behald we thy children & people heir prostrat before thee, moist humbly beseik the in the name of thy deir Sone our Lord Jesus Christ. That thow will move & peirse the heart of our impenitēt brother whom Satan so long hath endured and hardened: let it pleis thy Majesty be the virtue of thy holy spirit, that thow wilt mollefie the same. Expell 〈◊〉 darkness and by the light of thy grace that know wilt so illuminate him that now at length he may feill first how greuouslie he hath offended aganis thy Majesty. And secundarlie against thy • olie Church, & assembly: Geue him thy grace • o acknawledg, accuse, & dampne alsweil before us whom he hath offended as before thy presence this his proud contempt, least that we be the same provoked be compelled with all our greiffis to cut him of thy mystical body, whom we ô Lord vnfeanedlie desire to reteane w t in thy Church as one lyuelie menber of thy deir Sone our Lord Jesus, heir us merciful father, cal back again this our Impenitēt brother y t now tendith to eternal destructiō. That we all who before thy presence euin for his rebellion do mourn may receive him again with gladness & joy, & so render praise and honor unto the before this thy holy cōgregatioun.
We grant our selfs ô Lord, unworthy whom thow should heir, because we cease not to offend the by our continewal transgressing of thy holy precepts. Look not vpone us merciful father in this our corrupt nature, bot look thow to thy deir Sone, whom thow of thy mere mercy hath appointed our head, great Bishope advocate, Mediator, and only Propitiator, in him • nd in the meritis of his death. We humbly be •• che the mercyfullie to behald us, & suffer not •• e m ••• nnocent blode of thy deir Sone sched • or 〈◊〉 for this our impenitent brother, to be • rophaned by the tyranny & slyght of Satan.
Bot by the virtue of the same let this our • mpenitent brother be brought to vnfeaned reap̄tance, that so he may eschaip that feirfull condemnatioun in the which he appeareth to fall. This we ask of the ô heauinlie father in the boldness of our head, and Mediator Jesus Christ, praying as he hath taught us. Oure Father.
IF eftir this prayer the obstinate compeir not to offer his repentance, then shall the Minister proceid and say.
Brethren seeing that as ye have hard this obstinate and impenitent person. N. hath so greuouslie offended against GOD, and against this his holy cōgregatioun, who be no means as ye may perceive can be brought to repentance, whereof it is evident by the word of God that he is fallin from the Kingdom of Heaven and from the blessed society of the LORDE JESUS. AND we (albeit with dolour of our hearts) may now execute that which the •• mandemēt of Jesus Christ, and the practice of • Apostile schaweth that of our office we au • to do. To wit. that we shall publictlie declare • pronunce such to have no society with us, declare thame selfs obstinate & rebellious aga •• all hoisome admonitiounis, and the blessed o • dinances of his Church, & that we may do th • same. Not of our awin authority, bot in th • •• me and power of our Lord Jesus Christ b • fore whom all kneis ar compelled to bow. L • us humbly fall down before him, and on th • manner pray, and pronunce this sentence.
The inuocatioun of the name of Jesus Christ to excommunicate the impenitent, To gitther with the sētense of excōmunicatioun.
OLORDE Jesus Christ the only & eternal King of all the chosin children, of thy Heauinlie Father, the head and lawgeuer of thy Church, who by thy awin mouth hath commanded that such offendars as proudlie contemp •• the admonitiouns of thy Church, shall be ca • out from the society of the same, & shall be reputed of thy prosessouris as profane Ethnics • We willing to obey this thy precept which also we have received be institutioun of thy Apostile ••• heir presenlie conuened in thy name to excō ••• nicat and cast forth from the society of thy ••• lie body. and from all participatioun with ••• y Church in Sacramentis or prayeris. N. •• Which thing we do at thy commandment, & in ••• y power & authority to the glory of thy ho ••• name. To the conseruatioun and edification •• this thy Church, in the which it hath plesed •• he to place us Ministers: And to the extreme •• emedie of the stubborn obstinacy of the fore ••• amed impenitēt, and because y u hast promessed •• hy self, euir to be with us. Bot specialie with • uch as uprightly travel in the ministry of thy • hurch whom also thow hes promised to instr • ct & guide be y e dictament of thy holy spirit.
WE most humbly beseech the so to govern & assist us in the execution of this our charge. That whatsoeuir we in thy name do heir pro • unce in earth, that thow wilt ratify the same in • he Heauin. Oure assurance ô Lor • le is thy expressed word. And thairfore in boldness of the same. HEIR I IN THY NAME AND at the commandment of this thy present congregatioun • ut of, seclude, & excommunicate from thy body, and from our society. N. as one person selanderous proud contempnar, and one member for this present all to gither corrupted •• pernicious to the body. And this his sin (all •• with sorrow of heart) be virtue of our minist •• we bind and pronunces the same to be bo •• in Heauin and Earth. We farther give over the handis, & power of the Devil the said. • to the destructioun of his flesh, Straitlie ch • geing all that profess the LORDE JESUS. • whose knowledge this our sentence shall cum, •• reput and hald the said. N, accurssed, and •• worthy of the familiar society of Christian •
Declaring unto all men that such as heirs •• before his repentance shall hant, or familiar • accumpanie him, ar partakaris of his impiety, •• subject to the like condemnatioun. This o •• sentence ô Lord Jesus pronounced in thy na •• & at thy commandment we humbly desire the • ratify according to thy promise. And yet Lord y u that come to save that which was lost, look vpone him with the eyis of thy mercy, if th • good pleasour be. And so peirs thow his heart, he may feil in his breist the terrors of thy Iudgementis, that by thy grace he fructfullie ma • be converted to thee. And so damning his awe • impiety, he may be with the like solemnity r • ceaued within the bosom of thy Church, fro • the which this day (w t grief and dolour of ou • hartis) he is elected.
LORDE in thy presence we protest that •• urawin affections move us not to this severity: •• ot only the hatrent of sin, and obedience that •• e give to thy awin commandment. And therefore •• Heauinlie Father we crave the perpetual asstance of thy holy spirit, not only to brydill • ur corrupted affectionis, bot also so to conduct • s in all the cours of our hole lyf, that we neuir •• ll to the lyk impiety & contempt: Bot that cō • inuallie we may be subject to the voice of thy Church, and unto the Ministers of the same, who treulie offer to us the word of life the blessed Evangel of thy only belouit Sone Jesus Christ. To whom with the and the holy spirit be all praise glory & honor now & ever. So beit.
The sentence pronounced & the prayer ended. THE Minister shall admonish the Church y t all the faithful hald the excommunicate as an Ethnik • s before is said, that no man use his familiare company. And yet that no man accuse him of o • y other crime, then of such as he is convicted of, and for the which he is excommunicate.
Bot that every man shall secretly call to God for grace to be granted to y e excommunicate. Such • s have office in the Ministry may vpone liceence required of the Church speak with the •• communicate, so long as hope resteth of his co • uersioun: Bot if he cōtinew obstinate then au • all the faithful vterlie to abhor his presens a • communication: And yet aucht they more earn • lie to call to God that Satan in the end may •• confounded, & the Creature of God fred fro •• his snares by, the power of the Lord Jesus. A •• w t the accustomed benediction the assembly s •• be dimissed after they have song the 101. pl •• or one portion thereof, as it shall pleise the •• gregatioun.
The ordoure to receive the excommunicate again to the society of the Church.
FIrst we must observe that such as deserve d • ath for y e crime committed, neuir be admit • to the society of the church unto such time • ether y e Magistrate punish according to the la • or ellis pardon the crym, as before we have sa •• Bot such as for other offenses & for there contempt ar excommunicate may be received whē the shall earnestly seek the fauouris of the church They must begyne at the Ministry the Elda •• & Deaconis, who must expone there repenta • to the Minister, or Ministeris in there assembli • â day may be appointed to the excommunic • to present himself before thame. The signs o • his repentance aucht to be diligently inquired, as what hath been his behavior sense the time of his excommunication, what he will offer for satisfaction to the Church: And unto whom he hath exponed the grefe and dolour of his heart: If the excommunicate be found penitent & obedient in all things: The minister the next Sunday may give aduertisment to the hole Church of his humiliation, and command theme to call to God for increase of the same: The next session day the Minister may appoint to the excōmnicat such satisfaction as they think most expedient to the which if the excommunicate fully agre, then may the said Ministry appoint unto him me certain day when he shall fulfill the same.
FOR this is principalie to be observed, that no excommunicate person may be receauid to the so cietie of the church again, unto such time y t he have stand at y e church dure, at the least mo Sōdays then one. Which days being expirid, and the hole satisfaction complete, some of the Eldars shall pas to the excommunicate, after that the formar prayer of the Minister in the Pulpet be ended. And shall present him to an certain place appointed for the penitents, where he shall stand in the same habit, in the which he maid satisfaction until the Sermon be ended. And then shall the same Eldars that brought him in the Church present him to the Minister with these or the like words,
THIS creature of Godis, N. that for h •• wickedness and obstinate rebellion hath been •• cōmunicat from the body of JESUS CHRIS • bot now by the power of the spirit of God called back again by repentance, so far as the judgment of man can persaue, for he hath not o •• craved the favors of the ministry, y t he my g • be received into the body of the Church aga •• bot also most obedientlie hath subjected hi • self to all that we have commanded, for tryell •• his humiliatioun: And therefoir we present hi • before yow to be examinat, & if his repentan • be sufficient to be received again to the bod • of the Church.
Then shall the Minister Rander thankis, fu • to God for that parte of his humiliation, & also desire the Church of God to do the same with him. Therefter he shall addres him to the person excommunicate. And first shall lay before him his sin, therefter the admonitions that wa • geuin unto him to satisfy y e Church for the sam. And last his proud contempt & long obstinaci • for the which he was excommunicate. And of everyone he shall require his peculiare confession with accusation of himself, and detestatioun o • his impiety. Which being received he shall render thankis to God as followeth.
WE thank the mercy and goodness of God through Jesus Christ our Lord for this thy conversion. N. In to the which thow hast not so much eshamed thyself, as that thow hast confounded & owircome Satan, by whose wentoum & deceauable entismentes thow hethertohast been rebelliouse to the wholesome admonitionis of the Church: And yet because we can bot only see that which is external We will loyne our Prayeris with Thyne, that this thy humiliation may procead from the heart.
Let the prayeri sappoynted to be said in the receaueing of the penitent be said also heir: which ended let the Church and the peniteut be admonished as there is expremed. Except that the cry me of his excommunication most euir be Aggredged and mentionat.
The prayer cōteanīg his receuaing to y e church.
LORDE Jesus Christ King, techar, and our eternal Priest, who with the preaching of thy blessed Evangel hath joined the power to bind and lowse the sins of men: who hath also pronounced, that whatsoeuir by thy ministeris is bound in earth, shall be bound in y e Heauin.
And also that whatso euir is lowsed by the same, shall be lowsed & absolved with the in the Heauin, look ô Lord mercysullie upon this thy creature. N, &c. whom Satan of long time hath holdin in bondage, so that not only he drew him to iniquity, bot also that he so hardened his heart that he despised all admonitiouns, for the which his sin and contempt we war compelled to excommunicate him from our body. Bot now ô Lord, seeing that the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ hath so far preualed in him. That he is returned to our society, it will pleis the for the obedience of our Lord Jesus so to accept him, that his formar inobedience be never laid to his charge. Bot that he may increase in all Godlines till that Satan sinallie be troddin under his feit and ours, by the power of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the and with the holy Spirit be all honor and glory now and euir. SOBEIT.
The form of Absolutioun.
IN the name & authority of JESUS CHRIST I the Minister of his blessed Evangel with cosent of this hole Ministry & Church, Absolue the N. Frome the sentence of excōmuncation, from the sin by the committed, and from all Censures led against the for the same of before according to thy repentance. And pronunce thy sin to be lowsed in Heauin, and the to be received again to the society of Jesus Christ, to his body the church. To the participatō of his Sacraments,. And finally to the fruitioun of all his benefits. In the name of the Father, the sone and the holy Spirit. So be it.
The absolution pronounced, the Minister shall then call him Brother & give him admonition, to watch and pray, that he fall not in the like tentatioun. That he be thankful for the mercy shawin unto him and that he shaw the fructis of his conversion in life & conuersatioun.
Therefter the hole Ministry shall embrace him, & such vthers of the Church as be next unto him: and then shall one Psalm of thankis giving be song.
This order may be enlarged or contracted as the wisdom of the discreat minister shall think expedient: For we rather shaw the way to the Ignorant, then prescribe order to the learned, that cannot be amended.
ANE PRAYER.
PReserue the public face of thy Church with in this Realm ô Lord: Dilait the Kingdom of thy Sone Jesus Christ universally. And so farther disclois and brek down the tyranny of that Roman Antichrist by the power of thy Sone our Lord Jesus Christ. So Beit.
ANNO. 1567.
Rom. 16.
Soli sapienti Deo per Iesum Christum gloria inperpetuum: Amen.
This book is thoght necessar and profitable for the Church & commanded to be printed be the General Assemblie. Set forth be John Knox Minister.
And sighted be us whose names follow. As we war appointed be the said general assēble.
- John Willock.
- M John Crag.
- Robert Pont.
- John Row.
- David Lyndesay.
- Guilielmus Christisonis.
- James Greg. &c.
THE form and order of the election of the Superintendent which may serve in electioun of all other Ministers. At Edinburgh. the 9. of Marche. ANNO. 1560. John Knox being Minister.
FIRST was maid â Sermon in y e which thi heads, wer entreated. First the necessity of Ministers, & Superintendents. 2. The crimes & vices y t might unable theme of the ministry. 3 The verteous required in theme. 4. And last whethir such as by public cōfent of the Church wer called to such office might refuis the same.
The Sermon finished. It wes declared be the same Minister maker thereof. That the Lord's of Secrete Coūsall had given charge & power to the Churchis of Lowthyane to cheis M. John Spottiswod, Superintendent and that sufficient warning wes maid be public edict to the Churchis of Edinburgh, Lynlithgu, Striueling, Trenent, Hadingtoun, and Dunbar, as also to Erles, Lord's, Baronis, Gentilmen, and vthers haueand or that might clame to have vote in electiō to be present that day at that same hour.
And therefor inquisition wes maid who wer present & who wer absent, after wes called the said M. John who answering, the Minister demanded give any man knew any crime or offense to the said M. John, that might unable him to be called to that office. And that he demanded thryse. Secundarlie question wes moved to the hole multitude give there wes any other whom they wald put in election with the said M. John y e peopel wer asked if they wald have the said M. John superintendent? If they wald honor and obey him as Christ's Minister and confort & assist him in everything pertening to his charge?
They answered.
We will & we do promeise unto him such obedience as becūeth y e Scheip to give unto there Pastor so long as he remaneth faithful in his office
The answers of peopele and there consent received. These questionis wer proponed to him that wes to be elected. Questioun.
Seeing that ye here the thrust and desyir of this people, do ye not think youre self bound in conscience before God to supporte theme that so earnestly call for youre confort & for the fruit of youre labors.
answer.
If anything wer in me able to satisfy there desyir I acknowledge myself bound to obey God calling by theme. Questioun.
Do ye seek to be promoted to this office and charge for ony respect of wordly commodity reches or glory. Answer.
God knoweth the contrair,
Questioun.
Beleue ye not that the doctrine of the Prophets & Apostils contened in the books of the new and old Testaments is the only true and moste absolute fundatiō of the universal church of Christ Jesus. Insomuche that in the same Scriptures ar conteaned all things necessary to be believed for the salvation of mankynd.
Answer.
I veralie believe the same, and do abhor and utterly refuse all doctrine alleged necessary to salvation that is not expressedlie cōtened in the same. Questioun.
Is not christ Jesus, man of man according to the flesh To wit, the Sone of David, the seid of Abraham cōceauid of the holy GHOST, borne of the Virgin his Mother, the only head and mediator of his Church. Answer.
He is, and without him there is nether salvation to man nor life to Angel.
Questioun.
Is not the same Lord Jesus the only true God the Eternal Sone of the Eternal father, in whom all that shall be saved wer elected before the fundatioun of the Worlde was laid. I acknowledge and confess him in the unity of his Godhead to be God abuife all hings blessed for euir. Questioun.
Shall not they whom God in his Eternal cōsale hath elected, be called to the knowledge o • his Sone our Lord Jesus, & shall not they who of purpose ar called in this life be Justified and where Iustificatioun and free remissioun of sins is obtened in this life be free grace. Shall not the glory of the Sons of God follow in the general Resurrectioun when the Sone of God shall appear in his glorious Majesty.
Answer
This I acknowledge to be the doctrine of the Apostle and the most singular comfort of God dis children.
Questioun.
Will ye not then conteane yourself in all doctrine within the bounds of this fundatioun? Will ye not study to promoue the same alswell be your life as be your doctrine? Will ye not according to the graces and utterance that God shall grant unto yow profess, instruct, and manteane the purity of the doctrine conteaned in the Sacred word of God and to the uttermost of your power? Will ye not ganstand & convince the gainsayars and the teacharis of mennis inventions.
Answer.
That do I promise in the presence of God and of his congregatioun here assembled.
Questioun.
Know ye not that the excellency of this office to the which God hath called yow requireth that your conversation and behavior be such, as that ye may be Irreprehensible, yea even in the Eyis of the ungodly.
Answer.
I vnfeanedlie acknowledge and humbly desire y e Church of God to pray with me that my life be not slanderous, to the glorious Evangel, of Christ Jesus.
Questioun
Because ye ar â man compassed with infirmities, will ye not cheritablie & with lowlynes of spirit receive admonitioun of youre brethren? And give ye shall happin to flyide or offend in any point? Will ye not be subject to the discipline of the Church as the rest of your brethren?
The answer of the Superintendent or
Minister to be elected.
I acknowledge myself â man subjected to infirmity and one that hath nead of correctioun and admonition and therefore I most willing he subject myself to the holsom discipline of y e church yea to the discipline of the same Church by the which I am now called to this office and charge and heir, in God dis presence and yours do promise obedience to all Admonitions secreatlie or publicte geuin, unto the which If I be found inobedient I Cōfes myself most Worthie to be eiectted. Not only from this Honore, bot also from the society of the faithful in case of my stubbornness. For the vocatioun of God to hear charge within his Church maketh not men tyrants nor lords, bot appoineth them seruandis, watchmen, and pastors to the flock.
Thus ended questioun must be asked again of the multitude.
Questioun.
Require ye any farther of this your Superintendent?
Answer.
If no man answer let the Minister proced:
Will ye not acknowledge this your Brother for the minister of Christ Jesus? Will ye not reverence the word of God that proceedeth fra his mowth? Will ye not receive of him the Sermon of exhortation with patience? Not refusing the holesom medicine of your Saul's? Although it be bittir and vnplesing to the flesh? Will ye not finally manteane and confort him in his ministry against all such as wickedly wald rebel against God and his holy ordinance.
The people answereth.
We will: as we will answer to the Lord Jesus who hath commanded his Ministers to be had in reverence, as his Ambassadors and as mē that curfullie watch for the Saluatiō of our Sawles.
Let the Nobility be urged with this.
YE have hard the dewitie and profession of this our Brother by youre consentis appointed to this charge as also the dewitie and obedience, which God requireth of us towards him here in his Ministry: But because that nether of both ar able to perform anything without the especial grace of our God in Christ Jesus who hath promessed to be with us present, euin to the consummatioun of the world with vnfeatred hartis, let us crave of him his benedictioun and assistance in this work begun to his glory & for the confort of his Church.
THE PRAYER
O LORDE to whom all power is geuin in Heauin and in Earth. Thow that art the Eternal Sone of the Eternal Father, who hast not only so loved thy Church, that for the redemptionu & purgatioun of the same, thow ha • humbled thyself to the death of the Cross, an • thereupone hast sched thy most innocent blod • to prepare to thyself â spous without spot, bot also to reteane this thy most excellent benefit in recent memory, hath appointed in thy Church Teachers, Pastors & Apostles, to instruct, cōfo • & admonish the same: look vpone us mercyfully ô Lord thow that only art King, Teacher, and hie Preast, to thy awin flock: and send unto this our Brother, whom in thy name we have charged, with the chief cair of thy Church within y e boundis of L. such portion of thy holy spirit, as thereby he may rightly deuyid thy word 〈◊〉 the instructioun of thy flock, and to the cōfutatioun of penitious errouris, & damnable superstiouns. Geue unto him good Lord, â mowth & wisdom whereby the ennimes of thy truth may be confounded, the Wolffes expelled, and dreuin from thy Fald, thy Scheip may be fed in the wholesome Pastures of thy most holy word, the blind & ignorant may be illuminated with thy true knowledge, finally that the dregs of superstitioun, and Idolatry which yet resteth within this Realm being purged and removed we may all not only have occasiont to glorify 〈◊〉 our only LORDE and Saluiour, bot also • ylie to grow in Godlines & obedience of thy • ost holy will, to the destruction of the body 〈◊〉 sin & to the restitution of that Image to the which we wer ones created & to the which after our fall & defection wear renewed by participation of thy holy spirit, which by true faith in the we do profess as the blessed of thy Father, of whom the perpetual increase of thy graces we crave, as by the our Lord, Kinge and only Bischop we ar taught to pray.
The prayer ended the rest of the Ministers if any be, and Eldars of that Church present, in sign of there consent shall take the eliected be the hand.
The chief minister shall give the benedictioun as followeth.
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath commanded his Evangel to be preached to the confort of his elect, and hath called the to the office of â Watcheman owir his people, multiply his graces with the, illuminate the with his holy spirit, comfort and strenthen the in all virtue, govern & guide thy ministry to the praise of his holy name, to the propagation of Christ's Kingdom: to the comfort of his Church & finally to the plain discharge and assuran •• of thy owin conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus, to whom with the Father and with th •• Holy Ghost be all honor praise & glory no •• and euir. So Beit.
The last exhortatioun, to the elected.
TAK head to thyself and unto the flock committed to thy charge, fead the same cairfullie no • as it wer be compulsion bot of verray lufe which thow bearest to the Lord Jesus, Walk in simplicity and pureness of life as it becumeth the true seruand and the Ambassador of the Lord Jesus, usurp not dominion nor tyrannical authority owir thy brethren, be not discoraged in aduertsitie, bot lay before thyself the example of the Prophets, Apostles, & of the Lord Jesus, who in there Ministry sustened contradiction, contempt, persecution, and death, fear not to rebuke the world of sin, Justice, and Judgment. If anything succeid prosperuslie in thy vocatiō be not puffed up with pride, nether yet flatter thyself as that the good succes proceaded from thy virtue industry or cair. Bot let euir that sentence of the Apostle remain in thy heart: What hast y u which thow hast not received? If thow have reteaued why glories thow? Confort the afflicted support the poor and exhort vtheris to support them. Be not solist for things of this life, bot be fervent in prayer to God for the encrase of his holy Spirit. And finally behave thyself in this holy vocation with such sobriety, as God may be glorified in thy Ministry. And so shall thow schortlie obrein the victory, & shall receive the Croune promised when the Lord Jesus shall appear in His Glory, whose omnipotent Spirit assist the and us to the end.
SING 23.
The Electioun of Eldars, and Deaconis, in the Church of Edinburgh.
BEfore that there was any public face of true religioun within this Realm, it pleased God of his mercy to illuminate the harts of many private persons, so that they did perceive and understand the abuses that was in the Papistioall Church & thereupone they did withdraw them selfs from participation of there idolatry.
And because the Spirit of God will never sufer his a win to be Idill and Void of all Religion, men began to exercise them selfs in reading of the Scriptures secretly within there awin houses and thereunto war added secrete prayers, publictlie made within the houses, after •• hort proce • of time God gadthered Houses to gidder, in one 〈◊〉 to the same exercise, some times in the 〈◊〉 , & some times in houses by night & then • egan men inspyred (no doubt by the Spirit of God to consider that diverse Houses & variety of persons could not be kept in good obeiean •• , and honest fame without ouerfearis, Eldaris and Deacones. And so began that small flok to but theme selve, in such order as if Christ Jesus, had plainly triumphed in the midst of them by the power of his Evangel and so they did elect some to occupy the supreme place of exhortation, and reading, sum to be Eldaris, and helparis to them for the oversight of the flok, & some to be Deacones, for the collection of almus to be distributed to the poor of there awin body. Of this small beginning is that order y t now God of his mercy hath geuin unto us publictlie within this Realm, & principally within this Toune of Edinburgh proceeded. For when it pleased y e merciful goodness of our God, to give the victory to the Evangel of his dear Some our Lord Jesus, & to suppres & beat downey pride of the enemies of all true Religion within this Realms. Of the principales of such as we knowin to be men of good conversation and honest same in the privy Church, wer cho •• Eldaris, and Decones to rule with the Minister. In the public Church: which burdene they precientlie sustened â Ʒeir and more, and then because they could not (without Neglecting o • there awin private houses) longer wait upon public charge they desired that they might 〈◊〉 releaued, and vthers might be burdened in the room, which was thoght â petitiō reasonable, 〈◊〉 the whole Church. And therefor it was grant •• unto theme that they should nominat, & give 〈◊〉 in election such personages as they in there o • •• iences thoght most apt & abil to serve in that charge: providing that they should nominate dowble mo persons then wer sufficient to serve in that charge, to the end that the whole congregatioun might have there free vote in there election, & this order hath been ever observed since that time in the Church of Edinburgh: y t in the old sessioun before there departing nominates 24. in election for Eldars, of whom 12. as to be chosin, and 32. for Deacones, of theme 26. to be elected which persons ar publictlie proclaimed in the audience of the whole church vpone â Sunday before noon after Sermō, with admonition to the Church that if any mā know any notorious crime or cause that might unable any of those persons to enter in such â vocatioun that they should notify the same, the next thurisday to the session, or if any knew any persons more able for y t charge they should notify the same unto the said sessioun, to the end that no man without the Church should complein • y t he was spoiled of his liberty in electioun.
The Sunday following in the end of the sermon before noon the hole Communicants at comanded to be present at after noon, to give there votes as they will answer before God to such as they think most able to bear the charge of the Church with the Ministers. The votes of all being received the scrolles ar delivered to any of the Ministers, who keipeth the same secreate from the sight of all men, til the next thurisday, then in the session he produces them that the Votes may be counted, Where the maniest votes without respect of person, hath the first place in the Eldarschip & so proceading till the number of tuelf be cōpleit, so that if â poor man excead the riche mā in votes he preceadeth him in place and it is called the first, second, and thread Eldar, euin as the votes answereth: and this same is observed in the election of the Deacones.
The fryday after that Judgment is tane what persons ar elected for Elders and Deacones to serve for that Ʒeir, the Minister after his Sermon readis the same names publictlie, & geues commandment publictlie that such persons be present in the Church the next Sunday at sermont before noon in the place to be appointed for theme to accept that charge, that God by the plurality of votes had laid vpone theme. Who being conuened, the minister after sermon readis the names publictlie, the absents ar noted & the presents ar admonised, to consider the dignity of that vocation, whereunto God hath called there, the duty that they awe to the people the danger that lyis vpone theme, if they be • und negligent in that there vocation: And fi • allie the duty of the people towardis the per • ons elected w c being done this prayer is red.
THE Prayer in the election of Eldaris & Deaconis.
OEternall & everlasting God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of thy infinite mercy and goodness hast chosin to thyself â Church of the lost seade of Adam, which thow hast ever reulled by the Inspiration of thine holy spirit. & yet not the les hast alwayis used the ministry of men as well in preaching of thy word & administration of thy Sacraments, as in giding of thy flok & providing for the poor within the same as in the Law, Prophets & in thy glorious • angel we have witnessis which order ô Lord y t of thy mercy hast now restored to us again after that the public face of thy Church hath been deformed be the tyranny of that Roman Antichrist. Grant unto us ô Heauinlie Father hearts thankful for the benefits y t we have receaned, and give unto these our Brethren, elected to these charges within thy Church, such abundance of thy holy spirit that they may be found vigilant, and faithful in that vocatioun whereunto thow of thy mercy hast called them.
And albeit ô Lord these small beginnigis ar •• temned of the proud world, yet Lord thow 〈◊〉 thy awin mercies saik bless y e same, in such so • y t thy Godly name may be glorified superstitio • & idolatry may be rooted out, and virtue may be planted, not only in this generation, but also to the postirities to come. Amen. grant 〈◊〉 this merciful Father for Jesus Christ thy Sone saik in whose name we call unto the as he hath taughtvs saying.
And so with the rehearsal of the Beleif after the which shall be song this portion of the 103. psalm verse 19. The Heavens hie a • and so to the end of that psalm.
After the which shall this schort admonition be geuin to the elected.
Magnifie God who of his mercy hath called yow to rule within his Church: be faithful in your Vocation, show yourself Zealous to promote Vertew feir not the faces of the wicked, but rebuke there wickedness. Be merciful to the poor, & support them to the vtermost of your power, and so shall ye receive the benediction 〈◊〉 God present and everlasting.
•… d save the Kings Majesty and give unto him 〈◊〉 Spirit of Sanctificatioun in his Ʒong age. •… esse his regent & such as assist him in upright •… unsal, & ather fructfullie convert, or suddanlie •… found the enemies of true Religioun, and •… f this afflicted common Wealth.