The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland / With Which Are Included Knox's Confession and The Book of Discipline

by John Knox

But, because this accursed Papistry hath brought such confusion into the world that neither was virtue rightly praised nor vice severely punished, the Church of God is compelled to draw the sword, which of God she has received, against such open and manifest offenders, cursing and excommunicating all such (as well those whom the civil sword ought to punish as the others) from all participation with her in prayers and Sacraments, until open repentance manifestly appear in them. As the order of Excommunication and proceeding to the same ought to be grave and slow, so, being once pronounced against any person of what estate and condition that ever he be, it must be kept with all severity. For laws made and not kept engender contempt of virtue, and bring in confusion and liberty to sin. Therefore we think this order expedient to be observed before and after excommunication.

If the offence be secret and known to few, and rather stands in suspicion than in manifest proof, the offender ought to be privately admonished to abstain from all appearance of evil. If he promises to do this, and to declare himself sober, honest, and one that feareth God, and feareth to offend his brethren, then may the secret admonition suffice for his correction. But if he either contemns the admonition, or, after promise made, do show himself no more circumspect than he was before, then must the minister admonish him; to whom if he be found inobedient, the Church must proceed according to the rule of Christ, as after shall be declared.

If the crime be public and such as is heinous, as fornication, drunkenness, fighting, common swearing, or execration, then ought the offender to be called into the presence of the minister, elders, deacons, where his sin and offence ought to be declared and aggravated,[265] so that his conscience may feel how far he hath offended God, and what slander he hath raised in the Church. If signs of unfeigned repentance appear in him, and if he require to be admitted to public repentance, the ministry may appoint unto him a day when the whole Church conveneth together, that, in presence of all, he may testify the repentance which before them he professed. If he accept, and with reverence make testimony, confessing his sin, condemning the same, and earnestly desiring the congregation to pray to God with him for mercy, and to accept him into their society, notwithstanding his former offence, the Church may and ought to receive him as a penitent. For the Church ought to be no more severe than God declareth Himself to be, who witnesseth that, in whatsoever hour a sinner unfeignedly repenteth, and turns from his wicked way, He will not remember one of his iniquities; and the Church ought diligently to avoid excommunicating those whom God absolveth.

If the offender, called before the ministry, be found stubborn, hard-hearted, or one in whom no sign of repentance appeareth, then must he be dismissed with an exhortation to consider the dangerous estate in which he stands; with the assurance that, if the ministry find in him no other token of amendment of life, they will be compelled to seek a further remedy. If he within a certain space show his repentance, they must present him to the Church as before is said.

But if he continue in his impenitence, then must the Church be admonished that such crimes are committed amongst them, and that these have been reprehended by the ministry, and the persons provoked to repent; also, because no sign of repentance appeareth unto them, that they could not but signify unto the Church the crimes, but not the person, requiring them earnestly to call to God to move and touch the heart of the offender, so that suddenly and earnestly he may repent.

If the person malign, then, on the next day of public assembly, the crime and the person must be both notified unto the Church, and their judgment must be required, if that such crimes ought to be suffered unpunished amongst them. Request also would be made to the most discreet and to the nearest friends of the offender to travail with him to bring him to knowledge of himself, and of his dangerous estate, and a commandment be given to all men to call to God for the conversion of the impenitent. If a solemn and a special prayer were made and drawn for that purpose, the thing should be the more gravely done.

On the third Sunday, the minister ought to inquire if the impenitent have declared any signs of repentance to any of the ministry. If he hath, the minister may appoint him to be examined by the whole ministry; either then, instantly, or at another day affixed to the consistory.[266] Should the guilty person's repentance appear, as well of the crime as of his long contempt, then may he be presented to the Church, and make his confession, and be accepted as before is said. But if no man bear witness to his repentance, then ought he to be excommunicated; and, by the mouth of the minister, consent of the ministry, and commandment of the Church, such a contemner must be pronounced excommunicate from God and from the society of His Church.

After this sentence no person, his wife and family only excepted, may have any kind of conversation with him who is excommunicate; be it in eating and drinking, buying or selling, yea, in saluting or talking with him, except that it be at the commandment or with licence of the ministry, for his conversion; that he by such means confounded, seeing himself abhorred by the faithful and godly, may have occasion to repent and so be saved. The sentence of his excommunication must be published universally throughout the realm, lest any man should pretend ignorance.

His children, begotten or born after that sentence and before his repentance, may not be admitted to baptism until either they be of age to require the same, or else the mother, or some of his especial friends, members of the Church, offer and present the child, abhorring and condemning the iniquity and obstinate contempt of the impenitent. If any think it severe that the child should be punished for the iniquity of the father, let them understand that the Sacraments appertain only to the faithful and to their seed. Such as stubbornly contemn all godly admonition and obstinately remain to their iniquity cannot be accounted amongst the faithful.