Church of Scotland; Knox, John, approximately 1514-1572; Reformation -- Scotland; Theology -- Early works to 1800
Whiche day of electioun being come, the hoill Ministeris of that
Province, with thre or mo[436] of the Superintendentis nixt adjacent,
or that sall thairto be named,[437] shall examyn not onlie the
learnying, but also the maneris, prudence, and habilitie to governe
the Churche, of all those that ar nominat; that he who shallbe fund
most worthye, may be burdened with the charge. Yff the Ministeris of
the whole Province should bring with them the voitis of those that war
committit to thair caire, the electioun should be the more fre; bot
alwayis, the voitis of all those that convene must be requirit.[438]
The examinationis must be publictlie maid; those that stand in
electioun must publictlie preache; and men must be chargeit in the
name of God, to voit according to conscience, and not efter
affectioun. Yf ony thing be objectit against any that stand[439] in
electioun, the Superintendentis and Ministeris must considder whether
the objectioun be maid of conscience or of malice, and thei must
ansueir accordinglie. Other ceremonies then scharp examinatioun,
approbatioun of the Ministeris and Superintendentis, with the publict
consent of the Elderis and People, then present,[440] we can not
allow.
[436] In edit. 1621, "with three or foure."
[437] In edit. 1621, "or that shall be thareto nominated."
[438] In edit. 1621, "the votes of them that convene should be
required."
[439] In edit. 1621, "against him that standeth."
[440] Edit. 1621, omits "the present."
The Superintendent being electit, and appointed to his charge, must be
subjected to the censur and correctioun of the Ministeris and Elderis,
not onlie of his cheaf Toun, but also of the hoill Province over the
whiche he is appointed oversear.
Yf his offencis[441] be knawin, and the Ministeris and Elderis of his
Province[442] be negligent in correcting him, then the nixt one or two
Superintendentis, with thair Ministeris and Elderis, may convene him,
and the Ministeris and Elderis of his cheaf toun, (provideit that it
be within his awin Province or cheaf toun,) and may accuse and correct
alsweale the Superintendent in those thingis that ar worthy of
correctioun, as the Ministeris and Elderis for thair negligence and
ungodlie tollerance of his offencis.
[441] In edit, 1621, "his offence."
[442] In edit. 1621, "Elders of the Toun and Province."
Whatsoever cryme deserve correctioun or depositioun of any other
minister, deserveth the samin in the Superintendent, without
exceptioun of persoun.
After that the Churche he establischeit,[443] and thre yeiris be
passed, we require that na man be callit to the office of a
Superintendent, who hath not tuo yeiris at the leist gevin
declaratioun of his faithfull lawbouris in the ministerie of some
churche.[444]
[443] In edit. 1621, "Kirk is established."
[444] In edit. 1621, "in the ministrie of the same Kirk."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account