[200] Even the Second Book of Discipline does not sharply distinguish between the lesser and greater eldership or presbytery; and Gillespie admits they were not distinguished in the primitive church, though he holds that both were needed in Scotland to do the work which the one presbytery did in the primitive church (_infra_, pp. 230-233). [201] [The Book of Common Order distinguishes between the weekly meeting of the ministers and elders in their assembly or consistory, and the weekly meeting of the congregation for the interpretation of the Scriptures (Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 411-413; Laing's Knox, iv. 177-179). For the nature and object of the exercise see _infra_, pp. 170-173.] [202] [The bull, which is printed in Concilia Scotiæ, ii. 3, is dated "xiiij kalendas Junij pontificatus nostri anno nono," _i.e._, the 19th of May 1225.] [203] See Schenkel's article, "Kirche," in Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie. [204] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 68; Laing's Knox, ii. 110. [205] See Calvin's Institutes, book iv. chap. ii.--"As no city or village can exist without a magistrate and government, so the Church of God stands in need of a spiritual polity of its own. This is altogether distinct from the civil government, and is so far from hindering or impairing it, that it rather does much to aid and promote it." [206] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 413; Laing's Knox, iv. 203. [207] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 414-417; Laing's Knox, iv. 204-206. If this humanity is not observed in private as well as in public, there is danger lest instead of discipline we fall into a kind of Gehenna, and instead of correctors and educators become executioners of the brethren (Calvin). [208] The form of absolution then appointed to be used was, with consent of Henderson, modified by the Westminster divines into the shape in which it appears in their Directory for Church Government and Excommunication, and as modified was afterwards inserted in our Form of Process of 1707. [209] La France protestant, deuxième édition, iii. 530. [210] Book of Common Order, in Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 412; Laing's Knox, iv. 179. [211] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 587-589; Laing's Knox, ii. 242, 243. [212] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 590, 591; Laing's Knox, ii. 244, 245. [213] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 547; Laing's Knox, ii. 209. [214] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 548-550; Laing's Knox, ii. 209-211. [215] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 561; Laing's Knox, ii. 220, 221. [216] [Dr Mitchell seems to have thought that _handlings_ should be read _haldings_.] [217] Dunlop's Confessions, ii. 562, 563. [The words which in this quotation are enclosed in parentheses are not in the copy of the Book of Discipline preserved by Knox (Laing's Knox, ii. 221, 222). Instead of the words, "if _we_ permit cruelty to be used," that copy reads, "if _you_ permit suche creualtie to be used"; and after the words, "comfort and relaxation," is the clause, "Concludit be the Lordis."]