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

by John Knox

The election of elders and deacons ought to take place once every year (we judge the first day of August to be most convenient), lest, by long continuance of such officers, men presume upon the liberty of the Church. It hurts not that one man be retained in office more years than one, so that he be appointed yearly, by common and free election; provided always that the deacons, treasurers, be not compelled to receive the office again for the space of three years.

How the votes and suffrages may be best received, so that every man may give his vote freely, every several church may take such order as best seemeth to them.

The elders, being elected, must be admonished of their office, which is to assist the minister in all public affairs of the Church, to wit, in judging and discerning causes, in giving admonition to the licentious liver, and in having respect to the manners and conversation of all men within their charge; for the light and unbridled life of the licentious ought to be corrected and bridled by the gravity of the seniors.

Yea, the seniors ought to take heed to the life, manners, diligence, and study of their minister. If he be worthy of admonition, they must admonish him; of correction, they must correct him. And if he be worthy of deposition, they, with consent of the church and Superintendent, may depose him, if his crime so deserve. If a minister be light in conversation, he ought to be admonished by his elders and seniors. If he be negligent in study, or one that waiteth not upon his charge and flock, or one that proponeth not fruitful doctrine, he deserveth sharper admonition and correction. If he be found stubborn and inobedient to this, the seniors of one church may complain to the ministry of the two next adjacent churches where men of greater gravity are. If he be found inobedient to their admonition, he ought to be discharged from his ministry, until his repentance appear and a place be vacant for him.

Should any minister be taken in any notable crime, such as whoredom, adultery, murder, manslaughter, perjury, teaching of heresy, or any that deserveth death or that may be a note of perpetual infamy, he ought to be deposed for ever. By heresy we mean pernicious doctrine, plainly taught and obstinately defended, against the foundation and principles of our faith. And such a crime we judge to deserve perpetual deposition from the ministry; for we know it to be most dangerous to commit the flock to a man infected with the pestilence of heresy.

Some crimes deserve deposition for a time, and until the person give declaration of greater gravity and honesty. As, if a minister be deprehended drunk, brawling or fighting, an open slanderer, an infamer of his neighbour, factious and a sower of discord, he may be commanded to cease from his ministry until he declare the signs of repentance; upon which the Church shall abide him the space of twenty days or farther, as they shall think expedient, before they proceed to a new election.

Every inferior church shall, by one of their seniors and one of their deacons, once in the year, notify unto the ministry of the Superintendent's church the life, manners, study, and diligence of their ministers, to the end that the discretion of some may correct the lenity of others.

Not only may the life and manners of the ministers come under censure and judgment of the Church, but also that of their wives, children, and family. Care must be taken that ministers neither live riotously nor yet avariciously; yea, respect must be had how they spend the stipend appointed to their living. If a reasonable stipend be appointed, and they live avariciously, they must be admonished to live as they receive; for, as excess and superfluity is not tolerable in a minister, so is avarice and the careful solicitude of money and gear utterly to be condemned in Christ's servants, and especially in those that are fed upon the charge of the Church. We judge it unseemly and not tolerable that ministers shall be boarded in common alehouses or taverns.

Neither yet must a minister be permitted to frequent and commonly haunt the Court, unless it be for a time, when he is either sent by the Church or called for by the Authority for his counsel and judgment. Nor must he be one of the Council in civil affairs, be he judged never so apt for that purpose. Either must he cease from the ministry, which at his own pleasure he may not do, or else from bearing charge in civil affairs, unless it be to assist the Parliament if called upon.

The office of the deacons, as is before declared, is to receive the rents and gather the alms of the Church, and to keep and distribute the same, as by the ministry of the Kirk shall be appointed. They may also assist in judgment with the ministers and elders, and may be admitted to read in the assembly if they be required and be found able thereto.