The admissioun of Ministeris to thair offices, must consist in consent of the pepill and Kirk quhairto thai salbe appointed, and in approbation of the learned Ministeris appointed for thair examinatioun.
We juge it expedient, that the admissioun of Ministeris be in opin audience; that some especiall Minister mak a sermon tuiching the deutie and office of Ministeris, tuiching thair maneris, conversatioun, and lyif; as also tuiching the obedience quhilk the Kirk aw[393] to thair Ministeris. Commandiment suld be gevin alsweill to the Minister as unto the peple, boyth being present, to witt, that he with all cairfull diligence attend upone the flock of Christ Jesus, over the quhilk he is appointed preacher:[394] that he [will] walk in the presence of God so synceirlie, that the graces of the Holie Spreit may be multiplyed into him; and in the presence of men so sobirlie and uprychtlie, that his lyiff may confirme, in the eyis of men, that quhilk by toung and wourd he persuaded unto utheris. The people wald be exhorted to reverence and honour thair Ministers chosin, as the servandis and ambassadouris of the Lord Jesus, obeying the commandiments quhilk thai pronunce from Goddis mouth and buyk,[395] evin as thai wald obey God him self; for quhosoevir heareth Christis Ministeris heareth him self, and quhosoevir rejecteth thame, [and] dispyseth thair ministerie and exhortatioun, rejecteth and dispyseth Christ Jesus.
Other ceremonie then the publict approbatioun of the peple, and declaratioun of the cheiff minister, that the persone thair presented is appoynted to serve that Kirk, we can nott approve; for albeit the Apostillis used the impositioun of handis, yet seing the mirakle is ceassed, the using of the ceremonie we juge is nott necessarie.
The Minister elected or presented, examinated,[396] and, as said is, publictlie admitted, man neather leave the floke at his plesour, to the quhilk he hes promissit his fidelitie and lawbouris; neather yit may the floke reject nor change him at thair appetite, unless thai be abill to convict him of suche crymes as deserve depositioun; quhairof we sall after speik. We meane nott bot that the hole Kirk, or the most parte thairof, for just considerationis, may transfer a Minister frome one kirk to another; neather yit meane we, that men quho now do serve as it wer of benevolence may nott be appointed and elected to serve in other places; but onis being solemndlie elected and admitted, we can not approve that thai suld change at thair awin plesour.
We are not ignorant, that the raritie of godlie and learned men sall seme to some a just reassone quhy that so strait and scharpe examinatioun suld not be takin universallie; for so it sall appeir, that the most parte of [the] Kirkis sall haif no Minister at all: But let these men understand, that the lack of able men sall nott excuse us befoir God, gif by oure consent unable men be placed over the floke of Christ Jesus; as also that amangis the Gentilles, godlie, learned men war als rare[397] as thai be now amangis us, quhen the Apostill gave the same reul to try and examyne Ministeris, quhilk we now follow: And last, lat thame understand that it is alike to have no minister at all, and to have an idole in the place of a treu minister, yea and in some case, it is worse; for those that be utterlie destitute of ministeris wilbe diligent to search for them; but those that have a vane schaddow, do commonlie without farther cair content thame selfis with the same, and so remane thai continewallie deceaved, thinking that thai have a Minister, quhen in verray deid thai have none. For we can nott juge him a dispensatour of Goddis mysteries, that in no wyise can breke the breid of lyif to the faynting and hungrie saulis; neather juge we that the Sacramentis can be rychtlie ministred by him, in quhais mouth God hes put no sermon of exhortatioun.
The cheiffest remedy left till your Honouris and to us, in all this raritie of trew ministeris, is fervent prayer unto God, that it will pleis his mercye to thrust out faithfull warkmen in this his harvest;[398] and nyxt, that your Honouris, with consent of the Kirk, are bound by your authoritie to compell suche men as have giftis and graces able to edifie the Kirk of God, that thai bestow thame quhair greittest necessitie salbe knawin; for no man may be permittit to leve idill, or as thame self list, but must be appointed to travell quhair your Wisdomes and the Kirk sall think expedient.
We can nott prescryve unto your Honouris certane reull how that ye sall distribute the ministeris and lerned men, quhom God hes alreddy send unto you. But heirof we ar assured, that it greitlie hindereth the progress of Christis Evangell within this poore Realme, that some altogither abstract thair lawbouris from the Kirk, and utheris remane togither[399] in one place, the most parte of thame being idill. And thairfoir of your Honouris we requyre in Goddis name, that by your auctoritie quhilk ye have of God, ye compell all men to quhom God hes gevin ony talent to persuade, by holsome doctrine, to bestow the same, gif thai be called be the Kirk to the advancement of Christis glorie, and to the conforte of his trublit flock; and that ye, with the consent of the Kirk, assigne unto your cheiffest workmen, not onlie townis to remane into, but also provinces, that be thair faithfull lawbouris kirkis may be erected, and ordour established, quhair none is now. And gif on this maner ye will use your power and auctoritie, cheiflie seiking Goddis glorie, and the conforte of your brethrein, we doubt not but God sall bliss you and your interprisses.
IV. For Readaris.
To the Kirkis[400] quhair no ministeris can be haid presentlie, must be appointed the most apt men, that distinctlie can read the Commoune Prayeris[401] and the Scripturis, to exercise boyth thame selfis and the kirk, till thai growe to greattar perfectioun; and in process of tyme he that is but ane Readar may atteane to the further gree,[402] and by consent of the kirk and discreit ministeris, may be permittit to minister the sacramentis; but not befoir that he be able somequhat to persuade by holsome doctrine, besydis his reading, and be admitted to the ministerie, as before is said. Some we knaw that of long tyme have professed Christ Jesus, quhose honest conversatioun deserved praise of all godlie men, and quhose knawledge also mycht greatlie help the simple, and yit thai onlie content thame selfis with reading. These must be animated, and by gentle admonitioun incuraged, by some exhortatioun to conforte thair brethrein, and so thai may be admitted to administratioun of the sacramentis. But suche Readeris as neather have haid exercise, nor continuance in Christis trew religioun, must abstene from ministratioun of the sacramentis, till thai geve declaratioun and witnessing of thair honestie and farther knawlege.
* ADDITIO.