17. And generallie, thir twa thingis aucht thay all to respect; the glorie of God, and edifeing of his kirk, in dischargeing thair dewteis in thair calling.
Off the Office-beraris in particular; and first of the Pasturis and Ministris.
CAP. 4.
1. Pasturis, or bischopis, or ministeris, ar thay wha ar appointit to particular congregationis and kirkis, quhilk thay rewll be the word of God, and ouir the quhilk thay watch, in respect qwhairof, thay ar callit sumetymis pasturis, becaus thay feid thair congregationis, sumetymis episcopi, or bischoppis, becaus thay watche aboue thair flokis; sumetymes ministers, be reasone of thair service and office; and sumtyme presbyteris and seinouris, frome the grauitie in maneris, quhilk thay aucht to haue, in taking cair of the spirituall gouernament, quhilk aucht to be most deir unto thame.
2. Thay that ar callit to the ministrie, or that offer thameselfis tharunto, aucht not to be electit, without ane certain flok be assignit unto thame.
3. Na man aucht to ingeir him self, or usurp the office, without lawfull calling.
4. Thay qwha ar anis callit be God, and dewlie electit be man, eftir that they haue anis accepted the charge of the ministrie, may not leaue thair functionis.
5. The desertouris sould be admonisched, and incaice of obstinacie, finallie excommunicat.
6. Na pastour may leaue his flok, without licence of the provinciall or nationall Assemblie; quhilk gif he do, eftir admonitioun not obeyit, let the censuris of the kirk strik upone hime.
7. Unto the pasture apperteins teaching of the word of God, in seasone and out of seasone, publicklie and priuatlie, alwayis travelling to edifie, and discharge his conscience, as Goddis word prescryuis unto hime.