We have not spoken of the stipend of readers, because, if they can do nothing but read, they can be neither called nor judged true ministers. And yet regard must be had to their labours; but only that they may be spurred forward to virtue, and not by a stipend appointed for their reading be retained permanently in that estate. For a reader that is lately entered, we think forty marks, more or less, as the parishioners and readers can agree, should be sufficient. He must teach the children of the parish, besides reading the Common Prayers and the books of the New and Old Testaments. If from reading he begin to exhort and explain the Scriptures, then ought his stipend to be augmented, until, finally, he come to the honour of a minister. But if he be found unable after two years, then must he be removed from office, and discharged of all stipend, in order that another may be proven as long. It is always to be avoided, that any reader who is judged unable to come at any time to some reasonable knowledge, whereby he may edify the Kirk, shall perpetually be nourished upon the charge of the Kirk. Further, it must be avoided that any child, or person within twenty-one years of age, be admitted to the office of a reader. Readers ought to be endowed with gravity, wit, and discretion, lest by their lightness the Prayers or Scriptures read be of less price and estimation. The readers shall be put in by the Kirk, and admitted by the Superintendent.
For the other sort of readers who have long continued in godliness, have some gift of exhortation, are in hope to attain to the degree of a minister, and teach the children, we think a hundred marks, or more at the discretion of the Kirk, may be appointed; difference being made betwixt them and the ministers that openly preach the word and minister the Sacraments.
There still remain other two sorts of people to be provided for, from that which is called the patrimony of the Kirk, to wit, the poor and the teachers of youth. Every several kirk must provide for the poor within itself; for fearful and horrible it is that the poor (whom not only God the Father in His law, but Christ Jesus in His Evangel, and the Holy Spirit speaking by St. Paul, have so earnestly commended to our care) are universally so contemned and despised. We are not patrons for stubborn and idle beggars, who, running from place to place, make a craft of their begging. Them the civil magistrate ought to punish; but God commandeth His people to be careful for the widow and fatherless, the aged, impotent, or lamed, who neither can nor may travail for their sustentation. For these latter, as also for persons of honesty fallen into decay and penury, such provision ought to be made, that of our abundance should their indigence be relieved.
How, most conveniently and most easily, this may be done in every city, and in other parts of this realm, God shall show you wisdom and the means, if your minds shall godly thereto be inclined. All must not be suffered to beg that gladly so would do; neither yet must beggars remain where they choose; but the stout and strong beggar must be compelled to work, and every person that may not work must be compelled to repair to the place where he or she was born (unless of long continuance he or she have remained in one place), and there reasonable provision must be made, as the Church shall appoint. The order nor sums, in our judgment, cannot be particularly appointed, until such time as the poor of every city, town, or parish be compelled to repair to the places where they were born, or to the place of their residence. There their names and number must be taken and put in roll; and then may the wisdom of the kirk appoint stipends accordingly.
VI. Of the Superintendents.[252]
1. Because we have appointed a larger stipend to these that shall be Superintendents than to the rest of the ministers, we have thought good to signify such reasons as moved us to make difference betwixt preachers at this time; as also how many Superintendents we think necessary, with their bounds, office, the manner of their election, and causes that may deserve deposition from that charge.
We consider that, if the ministers whom God hath endowed with His singular graces amongst us should be appointed to several and certain places, there to make their continual residence, the greatest part of this realm should be destitute of all doctrine. This would not only give occasion for great murmuring, but would be dangerous to the salvation of many. Therefore we have thought it a thing most expedient for this time that, from the whole number of godly and learned men now presently in this realm, there be selected twelve or ten (for into so many provinces have we divided the whole) to whom charge and commandment shall be given to plant and erect churches, and to set order and appoint ministers, as the former order prescribeth, to the districts that shall be appointed to their care, where none are now. By these means your love and common care over all the inhabitants of this realm, to whom ye are equal debtors, shall evidently appear; and the simple and ignorant, who perchance have never heard Jesus Christ truly preached, shall come to some knowledge. Many that now be dead in superstition and ignorance shall attain to some feeling of godliness, and may be provoked to search and seek further knowledge of God, and of His true religion and worshipping. On the contrary, if they be neglected, they shall not only grudge, but also they shall seek the means whereby they may continue in their blindness, or return to their accustomed idolatry. Therefore nothing desire we more earnestly than that Christ Jesus be universally once preached throughout this realm; and this shall not suddenly be, unless men be appointed and compelled faithfully to travel in such provinces as to them shall be assigned.
2. The Names of the Places of Residence, and several Dioceses of the Superintendents.—(1) The Superintendent of Orkney; whose diocese shall be the Isles of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, and Strathnaver. His residence to be in the town of Kirkwall.
(2) The Superintendent of Ross; whose diocese shall comprehend Ross, Sutherland, Moray, with the North Isles of Skye, and the Lewis, with their adjacents. His residence to be in Chanonry of Ross.
(3) The Superintendent of Argyll; whose diocese shall comprehend Argyll, Kintyre, Lorne, the South Isles, Arran, and Bute, with their adjacents, with Lochaber. His residence to be in Argyll.