1. As in the ciuile policie, the haill commoun welth consistith in thame that ar gouernouris or magistratis, and thame that ar gouernit and subiectis; Sa in the policie of the kirk, sum ar appointit to be reularis, and the rest of the memberis thairof to be reulit and obey, according to the word of God, and inspiratioun of his Spirit, alwayes under ane head and cheif gouernour, Jesus Chryst.
2. Againe, the haill policie of the kirk consistit in thrie cheif thingis; in doctrine, in discipline, and distributioun. With doctrine is joint administratioun of the sacramentis.
3. And according to the partis of this diuision, arisit ane thriefald sort of officiaris in the kirk; to wit, of ministeris or preacheris, of eldaris or gouernouris, of deaconis or distributeris. And all thais may be callit be ane generall word, ministeris of the kirk.
4. For albeit the kirk of God be reulit and gouernit be Jesus Chryst, who is the onlie King, Hie Priest, and Heid thairof, ʒit he usis the ministrie of men, as ane maist necessarie middis for this purpois.
5. For sa he hes fra tyme to tyme, befoir the law, under the law, and in tyme of the Evangell, for our greit comfort, raisit up men indewit with the giftis of the Spirit, for the spirituall governament of his kirk, exercesing be tham his awine power, throw his Spirit and word, to the building of the same.
6. And to tak away all occasioun of tyranny, he will that they sould reul with mutuall consent of brethrene, and equalitie of power, euery ane according to thair functionis.
7. In the New Testament, and tyme of the Evangell, he hes usit the ministrie of the apostles, propheits, evangelists, pastouris and doctouris, in administratioun of the word: the elderschip for guid ordour, and administratioun of discipline: the deaconschip to haive the cure of the ecclesiasticall guidis.
8. Sum of thir ecclesiasticall functiouns ar ordinar, and sum extraordinar or temporall.
9. Thair be thrie extraordinar functionis: the office of the apostle, of the evangelist, and of the prophet, quhilk ar not perpetuall, and have now ceisit in the kirk of God, except quhen he pleasit, extraordinarlie, for ane tyme, to steir up some of thame againe.
10. Thair is foure ordinarie functionis or offices in the kirk of God: the office of the pasture, minister or bishop; the office of the docter; the presbiter or eldar; and the deacone.