8. This office continewit in the deaconis handis, quha intromettit with the haill gudis of the kirk, ay whill the estait thairof was corruptit be Antichryst, as the ancient canonis beris witnes.
9. The same canonis mak mentioun of ane fourfald distributioun of the patrimony of the kirk, quhairof ane part was applyit to the pasturis or bischoppis for thair sustentatioun and hospitalitie; ane uther to the eldars and deaconis, and all the clergie; the thrid to the pure, seick personis and strangers; the ferd to the uphald and uther effairis of the kirk, speciall extraordinar: We add hereto, the scoles and school-maisteris, quhilk aucht and may be weill sustenit of the same guids, and ar comprehendit under the clergie, to quhame we joine also clerkis of assembleis alsweill particular as generall; syndickis or procuratouris of the kirkis effairis, takaris up of the psalmis, with siclyk uther ordinar offices of the kirk, sa far as thay ar necessar.
Of the Office of a Christiane Magistrat in the Kirk.
CAP. 10.
1. Althoght all the memberis of the Kirk be hauldine, euery ane in thair vocatioun, and according thairto, to advance the kingdome of Jesus Chryst sa far as lyis in thair power; zit cheiflie and namelie, Christiane Princes, Kingis, and uther magistrats, are haldine to do the same.
2. For thay ar callit in the Scripturis nurissaris of the kirk, for sameikle as be thaime it is, or at least aucht to be, menteind, fosterit, uphaldine, and defendit agains all that wald procure the hurt thairof.
3. So it pertenit to the office of a Chrystiane magistrat to assist and fortifie the godlie proceding of the kirk in all behalfis; and namelie to sie that the publick estait and ministrie thairof be mantenit and sustenit as it appertenis, according to Goddis word.
4. To sie that the kirk be not invadit nor hurt be fals teacharis and hyrlingis, nor the rowmis thairof occupyit be dum doggis or idill belleis.
5. To assist and mantene the discipline of the kirk, and punish thame civillie, that will not obey the censur of the same; without confounding alwayis the ane jurisdiction with the uther.
6. To sie that sufficient provisioun be made for the ministrie, scoles, and the puir: And gif thay have not sufficient to await upone thair chargis, to supplie their indigence evine with thair awine rentis, gif neid requiris: to hauld hand to thame, alsweill concernyng thair awin personis, sayfing thame frome injurie and oppine violence, as concerning thair rentis and possessionis, that thay be not defraudit, reavit, nor spulzeit thairof.