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THE LITURGY

JOHN KNOX

THE LITURGY

OF

JOHN KNOX

Received l>y the Church of Scotland in 1564

GLASGOW

JJriutcb at tlu SJnibersit)) JJvcss

Published by Hamilton, Adams < Co., London, and
Thomas D. Mori*on, Gla.<sr/oiv

1886

CAVEN LIBRARY

KNOX COLLEGE

TORONTO

EDITORIAL NOTE.

THERE are few Scotchmen who, being impressed with
a sense of regard for the religious history of their
country, can fail to look with considerable interest on
the series of Confessions, Orders, and Forms which
commonly go under the designation of John Knox s
Liturgy, but more officially termed the Book of Common
Order, printed in part before 15G4, and formally
adopted by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in that year. These formularies were in more or less
general use down to the time of the Solemn League
and Covenant, when they were superseded by the
Confession, Catechism, and Directions, prepared by
the Westminster Assembly. Numerous editions of
Knox s Liturgy continued to be printed, chiefly at
Edinburgh and Aberdeen, till 1643. All of which
though, strange to say, are exceeding scarce, and a
complete copy of any of the editions very rarely to
be met with.

In more recent times, three editions have been

EDITORIAL NOTE.

issued one of these in l$ol, edited by the Rev.
Edward Irving; another in 1840, edited by the
Rev. Dr. Gumming, of London; and a third in 1868,
edited by the Rev. George W. Sprott and the Rev.
Thomas Leishman. These issues, now all exceed
ingly scarce also, have (unfortunately, as some would
think) been modernized in matters of spelling and
other features, thus taking from the book much of
that quaintness which in the estimation of many
ought to be an inherent feature in the work. In the
present issue the old spelling and phraseology, as in
the 1565 edition, is strictly adhered to, and it like
wise contains all that characterizes the best of the
older editions.

When in use, the Liturgy was commonly issued
along with the Psalms, but in other instances the
Liturgy and Psalms were issued separately. This
early translation of the Psalms is peculiarly quaint,
interesting, and expressive, and differs widely from
the more modern one. It was in use down to 1650,
when the somewhat recent translation was adopted.
This early version will, it is intended, be issued
shortly, as a companion volume to, and uniform
with, the present one.

THE LITURGY

JOHN KNOX

THE L i T u E G Y

JOHN KNOX.

QTcmfesstoit of Jaith

Used in the EnylisJic Congregation a> Geneva.
Received nd Approved by the Church of Scotland.

I ISKLEVE and confesse my Louie (*od eternal,
infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, and
invisible, one in substance, and three in persone,
Father, Sonne, and Holy (llioste, who, by his
almightie power and wisdome, hathe not onely of
nothinge created heaven, earthe, and all thinges
therein conteyned, and man after his owne image,
that he might in hym be gloritiede : but also by
his fatherlye providence, governeth, maynteyneth.
and preserveth the same, accordinge to the pur
pose of his will.

f beleve also and confesse Jesus Christe the
onely Saviour and Messias, who beinge equall
with God, ma<le him self of no reputation, but

10 THE CONFESSION

tooke on him the shape of a servant, and became
man in all thinges like unto us (synne except) to
assure us of mercie and forgivenes. For when
through our father Adam s transgression we were
become childrene of perdition, there was no meanes
to bring us from that yoke of synne and damna
tion, but onely Jesus Christe our Lord : who
givinge us that by grace, which was his by nature,
made us (through faith) the childrene of God : who
when the fulnes of tyme was come, was conceyved
by the power of the Holy Ghoste, borne of the
Virgine Marie (accordinge to the fleshe), and
at lenght, by tyrannye of the priestes, he was
gilteles condemned under Pontius Pilate, then
president of Jurie, and most slaunderously hanged
on the crosse betwixte two theves as a notorious
trespasser, where takinge upon hym the punishe-
ment of our synnes, he delyvered us frome the
curse of the Lawe.

And forasmoche as he, beinge onely God, could
not feele deathe. nether, beinge onely man, could
overcome deathe, he joined bothe together, and
suffred his humanitie to be punished with nioste
cruell death : felinge in him selfe the anger and
severe judgement of God, even as if he had bene
in the extreme tormentes of hell, and therfore
cryed with a lowde voice, " My God, my God, why
haste thou forsaken me ? " Thus of his fre
mercie, without compulsion, he offred up him selfe
as the onely sacrifice to purge the synnes of all
the world, so that all other sacrifices for synne
are blasphemous and derogate from the sufficiencie

OF FAITH. 11

herof. The which death, albeit it did sufficiently
reconcile us to God ; yet the Scriptures common!}
do attribute our regeneration to hys resurrection ;
for as by rysinge agayri frome the grave the third
day, he conquered death ; evenso the victorie of
our faith standeth in his resurrection, and therfore
without the one, we can not fele the benefite of
the other : For as by deathe, syrme was taken
awaye, so our rightuousnes was restored by his
resurrection.

And because he wolde accomplishe all thinges,
and take possession for us in his kingdome, he
ascended into heaven, to enlarge that same king-
dome by the aboundant power of his Spirite, by
whome we are moste assured of his contynuall
intercession towardes God the Father for us.
And althoghe he be in heaven, as towchinge his
corporall presence, where the Father hathe nowe
set him on his right hand, committinge unto him
the administration of all things, aswel in heaven
above as in the earthe benethe ; yet is he present
with us his membres, even to the ende of the world,
in preservinge and goverynge us with his effectuall
power and grace, who (when all thinges are ful
filled which God hath spoken by the mowth of
all hys prophets since the world began) wyll
come in the same visible forme in the which he
ascended, with an unspekable majestic, power, and
companye, to separate the lambes frome the goates,
th electe from the reprobate, so that none, whether
he be alyve then or deade before, shall escape his
judgement.

12 THE CONFESSION

MOREOVER, I beleve and confesse the Holy Ghoste,
God equall with the Father and the Sonne, whoe
regenerateth and sanctifieth us, ruleth and guideth
us into all trueth, persuadinge moste assuredly in
our consciences that we be the childrene of God,
bretherne to Jesus Christe, and fellowe heires with
him of lyfe everlastinge. Yet notwithstandinge
it is not siifficient to beleve that God is omnipo
tent and mercifull ; that Christ hath made satis
faction ; or, that the Holye Ghoste hath this power
and effect, except we do applie the same benefites
to our selves which are God s elect.

I BELIEVE therfore and confesse one holye Churche,
which (as members of Jesiis Christe, th onely heade
therof) consent in faithe, hope, and charitie, usinge
the giftes of God, whether they be temporall or
spirituall, to the profite and furtherance of the
same. Whiche Churche is not sene to man s eye,
but onely knowen to God, who of the loste sonnes
of Adam, hath ordeyned some, as vessels of wrathe,
to damnation, and hathe chosen others, as vessels
of his mercie, to be saved; the whiche also, in due
tyme, he callethe to integritie of lyfe and godly
conversation, to make them a glorious church to
him selfe.

But that Churche which is visible, and sene to
the eye, hathe three tokens, or markes, wherby it
may be discerned. First, the Worde of God
conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament,
which as it is above the autoritie of the same
churche, and onely sufficient to instruct us in all

OF FAITH. 13

thinges concernynge salvation, so is it left for all
degrees of men to reade and understand. For
without this Worde, neither churche, concile, or
decree can establishe any point touching salva
tion.

The second is the holy Sacrements, to witt, of
Baptisme and the Lordes Supper ; which Sacra-
mentes Christ hathe left unto us as holie signes
and scales of God s promesses. For as by Bap-
tisine once receyved, is signified that we (aswel
infants as others of age and discretion) being
straungers from God by originall synne, are re
ceyved into his familie and congregation, with full
assurance, that althoghe this roote of synne lye
hyd in us, yet to the electe it shal not be im
puted. So the Supper declareth, that God, as a
most provident Father, doth not onely fede our
bodies, but also spiritually nourisheth our soules
with the graces and benefites of Jesus Christ
(which the Scripture calleth eatinge of his flesh
and driiikinge of his bloode) ; nether must we, in
the administration of these sacraments, followe
man s phantasie, but as Christ him self hath
ordeyned so must they be ministred, and by suche
as by ordinarie vocation are therunto called.
Therfor, whosoever reserveth and worshippeth
these sacraments, or contrariwyse conternneth
them in tyme and place, procureth to him self
damnation.

The third marke of this Church is Ecclesi-
asticall discipline, which standeth in admonition
and correction of fautes. The finall ende wherof

14 THE CONFESSION

is excommunication, by the consent of the Churche
determyned, if the offender be obstinate. And
besides this Ecclesiasticall censure, I acknowlage
to belonge to this church a politicall Magistrate,
who ministreth to every man justice, defending
the good and punish inge the evell ; to whom we
must rendre honor and obedience in all thinges,
which are not contrarie to the Word of God.

And as Moses, Ezechias, Josias, and other godly
rulers purged the Church of God frome supersti
tion and idolatrie, so the defence of Christes
Church apperteynith to the Christian Magis
trates, against all idolaters and heretikes, as
Papistes, Anabaptistes, with such like limmes of
Antechrist, to roote owte all doctrine of devels
and men, as the Masse, Purgatorie, Limbus Pat-
rum, prayer to Sanctes, and for the Deade ;
free wy 11, distinction of meates, apparell, and clays ;
vows of single life, presence at idoll service, man s
merites, with suchlike, which drawe us frome the
societie of Christes Churche, wherein standeth
onely remission of synnes, purchased by Christes
bloode to all them that beleve, whether they be
Jewes or Gentiles, and leade us to vayne confi
dence in creatures, and trust in our owne imagin
ations. The punishement wherof, althogh God
often tymes differreth in this lyfe, yet after the
generall resurrection, when our sowles and bodies
shall ryse agayne to immortalitie, they shalbe
damned to inquencheable fyer ; and then we
which have forsaken all man s wisdome to cleave
unto Christ, shall heare that joyfull voice, "Come,

OF FAITH. 15

ye blessed of my Father, inherite ye the kingdome
prepared for you frome the beginnyng of the
world," and so shall go triumphing with him in
bodye and soule, to remayne everlasting in glorie,
where we shall see God face to face, and shall no
more nede one to instructe an other; for we shall
all knowe him. from the liveliest to the loweste:

/ o

To whome, withe the Sonne and the Holy Ghost,
be all praise, honor, and glorie, nowe and ever.
So be it.

16 OF THE MINISTERS.

ODf the Jttinisters attf) their (Ekrtion.

W hat t hinges are chief ely required in the Ministers.

FIRST, let the Churche diligently consider that
the Minister which is to be chosen be not
founde culpable of any suche fautes which Saincte
Paul reprehendeth in a man of that vocation,
but contrarywise endewed with suche vertues,
that he may be able to undertake his charge,
and diligently execute the same. Secondly, that
he distribute faithfully the Word of God, and
minister the sacraments sincerely, ever carefull
not onely to teache his flock publikly, but also
privatly to adinonisshe them ; remembring alwais,
that if any thinge perysshe throughe his defaute,
the Lorde will require it at his handes.

Of their Office and Deutie.

RECAWSE the charge of the Word of God is of
greater importaunce then that any man is able to
dispence therwith ; and Saincte Paule exhorteth
to esteme them as ministers of Christe, and dis
posers of God s mysteries ; not lordes or rulers,
as S. Peter saith over the flocke. Therfore
the pastor s or minister s chief office standeth in
preaching the Worde of God, and ministring the
sacraments. So that in consultations, judge-
mentes, elections, and other politicall affairs, his
counsel, rather then autoritie, taketh place.

OF THE MINISTERS. 17

And if so be the Congregation, uppon juste
cawse, agreeth to excommunicate, then it be-
longeth to the minister, according to their general
determination, to pronounce the sentence, to the
end that all thinges may be done orderly, and
withoute confusion.

The manner of Elect in ge the Ministers.

THE Ministers and Elders at suche time as there
wanteth a Minister, assemble the whole Congre
gation, exhortinge them to advise and consider
who may best serve in that rowme and office.
And if there be choyse, the Churche appoynte
two or thre, upon sume certayne day, to be ex
amined by the Ministers and Elders.

First, as towchyng their doctrine, whether he
that should be minister have good and sownde
knowlage in the Holy Scriptures, and fitte and
apte giftes to communicate the same to the edifi
cation of the people. For the triall wherof,
they propose hym a theme or text to be treated
privatly, wherby his habilitie may the more
manifestlie appeare unto them.

Secondly, they enquire of his life and con
versation, if he have in times past lyved without
slander, and governed hym selfe in suche sorte,
as the Worde of God hath not hearde evel, or
bene slandered through his occasion. Which
being severallie done, they signifie unto the Con
gregation, whose giftes they fynde moste excellent
and profitable for that ministerie. Appoynting

18 OF THE ELDERS.

by a generall consent, eight dales at the leaste,
that every man may diligently inquire of his life
and manners.

At the which tyine also, the minister ex-
horteth them to humble them selves to God by
fasting and prayer, that bothe their election may
be agreable to his will, and also profitable to the
Churche. And if in the meane season any
thyng be brought agaynst hym wherby he may
be fownde unworthy by lawfull probations, then
is he dismissed and some other presented. If
nothing be alleaged uppon some certayne day,
one of the ministers, at the mornyng sermon, pre-
senteth hym agayne to the Churche, framyng his
sermon, or some parte therof, to the settyng
forthe of his dewtie.

Then at after none, the sermon ended, the
minister exhortith them to the election, with the
invocation of God s name, directing his prayer as
God shal move his herte. In like manner, after
the election, the Minister geveth thankes to God,
with request of suche thinges as shalbe neces-
sarie for his office.

After that he is appointed Minister, the people
syny a psalme and departc.

(Df the (Eltors, attb ** toiuhgng Ihm
(Office anb (Bletftott.

THE Elders must be men of good lyfe and godly
conversation, withoute blame and all suspition ;

OF THE DEACONS. 19

carefull for the fiocke, wise, and, above all
thynges, fearing God. Whose office standeth in
gouverning with the rest of the ministers, in con
sulting, admonisshing, correcting, and ordering
all thynges appertayning to the state of the con
gregation. And they differ from the ministers,
in that they preache not the Worde, nor minister
the Sacramentes. In assemblyng the people,
nether they withoute the ministers, nor the
ministers withoute them, may attempt any thing.
And if any of the juste nombre want, the
minister, by the consent of the rest, warneth the
people thereof, and finalye admonissheth them to
observe the same ordre which was used in chosing
the Ministers.

f tlu golems, attb thdr to attb
(Election.

THE Deacons must be men of good estimation
and report, discret, of good conscience ; charitable,
wyse, and finallye adorned with suche vertues as
S. Paul requireth in them. Their office is to
gather the aulmes diligentlie, and faithfullie to
distribute it, with the consent of the Ministers
and Elders. Also to provyde for the sicke and
impotent personnes. Having ever a diligent
care, that the charitie of godlye men be not
wasted upon loytrers and ydle vagabondes.
Their election is, as hath bene afore rehearsed
in the Ministers and Elders.

20 OF THE TEACHERS.

We, are not ignorante that the Scriptures make
mention of a fourthe kynde of Ministers left
to the Churchc of Christe, which also are very
profitable, where tyme and place dothe permit.
But for lacke of opportunitie, in this oure
dispersion and exile, we can not well have the
use therof ; and wolde to God it were not
neglected where better occasion serveth.

These Ministers arc called Teachers <>r
Doctors, whose office is to instructe and teache
the faithfull in soivnde doctrine, providing
with all diligence that the puritie of the
Gospell be not corrupt, either through igno
rance, or evill opinions. Notwithstandyng,
considering the present state of thynges, we
comprehend, under this title sucJie mcanes as
God hathe in his Churche, that it shuld not
be left desolate, nor yet his doctrine decay e for
defaut of ministers therof.

Therfore to termc it by a worde more usuall
in these orir days, we may call it th Order of
Schoolcs, wherin the highest degree, and mostc
annexed to the ministerie and govcrnement of
the Churchc, is the exposition of Godes Wordc,
which is contayned in the Oldc and Ncwe
Tcstamentes.

But becawse menne cannot so well proffet in
that knowledge , except they be first instructed
in the tonges and humaine sciences, (for now
God workcth not commonlie by miracles,) it is
necessarie that seed be sowen for the tyme to
come, to the intent that the Churche be not left

THE WEEKLY ASSEMBLY. 21

barren and waste to our posteritie ; and that
Scholes also lie erected, and Colledges mayn-
tayned, with juste and sufficient stipend.es,
wherin youtlie may be trat/ncd in the know
ledge and feare of God, that in their ripe, age
they may prove worthy members of our Lordc
Jesus Christ, whether it be to rule in Civill
policie, or to serve in the Spirituall ministerie,
or els to lyve in godly reverence and subjection.

To the intent that the ministerie of Godes
Woorde may be had in reverence, and not
brought to contempt through the evill conversa
tion of suche as are called thernnto, and also
that fautes and vices may not by long sufferance
growe at length to extreme inconveniences ; it is
ordeyned that every Thursdaye the ministers and
elders, in their assemblie or Consistorie, diligentlie
examine all suche fautes and suspicions as may be
espied, not onelie amongest others, but chieflic
amongest theym selves, lest they seme to be
culpable of that which our Saviour Christ
reproved in the Pharisies, who coulde espie
a rnote in an other man s eye, and could not see
a beame in their owne. m

And becawse the eye ought to be more cleare
then the rest of the bodie, the minister may not
be spotted with any vice, but to the great
slaunder of Godes Woorde, whose message he

22 THE WEEKLY ASSEMBLY.

beareth : Therfore it is to be understand that
there be certayne fautes, which if they be depre-
hended in a minister, he oght to be deposed ; as
heresie, papistrie, schisrne, blasphemie, perjurie,
fornication, thefte, dronkennes, usurie, fighting,
unlawful! games, with suche like.

Others are more tollerable, if so be that after
brotherlie admonition he amendith his faut : as
strange and unprofitable fashon in preaching the
Scriptures ; curiositie in sekyng vayne questions ;
negligence, aswell in his sermons, and in studying
the Scriptures, as in all other thynges concerning
his vocation ; scurrilitie, flattering, lying, back-
byting, wanton woordes, deceipt, covetousnes,
tauntyng, dissolution in apparell, gesture, and
other his doynges ; which vices, as they be
odious in all men, so in hym that ought to be as
an example to others of perfection, in no wise are
to be suffred ; especially, if so be that, according
to Godes rule, being brotherlie advertised, he
acknowledge not his faut and amend. .

Interpretation of the ^m

EVERIK weeke once, the Congregation assemble to
heare some place of the Scriptures orderly ex
pounded. At which tyme, it is lawfull for every
man to speake or enquire, as God shall move his
harte, and the text minister occasion ; so it be
without pertinacitee or disdayne, as one that
rather seketh to protlit then to contend. And if
so be any contencion rise, then suche as are

THE WEEKLY ASSEMBLY. 23

appointed moderatours, either satisfie the partie,
or els if he seme to cavill, exhorte hym to kepo
silence, referring the judgement therof to the
ministers and elders, to be determined in their
assemblie or Consistorie before mencioned.

24 ELECTION OF

Jorme ani) (Drbour

of the

of the Superintendents,

Quhilk may serve also in Electioun of all uther
Ministers.

At Edinburghe the 9th of Merche 1560 yeiris,
Johne Knox being Minister.

FIRST was made a Sermone, in the quhilk thir
Heids war intreated. First, The necessity of
Ministers and Superintendents. 2. The crymes
and vyces that micht unable thame [of the min-
istrie]. 3. The vert ues required in thame. And
last, Quhidder sick as by publict consent of the
Kyrk wer callit to sick Office, micht refuis the
same.

The Sermone finisched, it was declared be the
same Minister, (maker thareof,) that the Lords of
Secrete Councell had given charge and power to
the Kirkis of Lauthiane, to chuse MR. JOHNE
SPOTTISWODE Superintendent ; and that sufficient
warning was made be publict edict to the Kirks
of Edinburghe, Linlythgow, Striveling, Tranent,
lladingtoun, and Dunbar ; as also to Earles,
Lords, Barones, Gentilmen, and uthers, having, or
quho micht clame to have voite in Electioun, to
be present that day, at that same hour: And,
tharefore, inquisitioun was made, Quho wer
present, and quho wer absent.

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 25

Efter was called the said Mr. Johne, quho
answering ; the Minister demanded, Gif ony man
knew ony cryme or offence to the said Mr.
Johne, that mycht unabill him to be called to
that office ? And this he demanded thryis.
Secundlie, Questioun was moved to the haill
multitude, If thair was ony uther quhome they
wald put in Electioun with the said Mr. Johne.
The pepill wer asked, If they wald have the
said Mr. Johne Superintendent ? If they wald
honour and obey him as Christis Minister ? and
comfort and assist him in every thing perteining
to his Charge ?

They Answer it.

We will ; and we do promeis unto him sick
obedience as becumethe the scheip to give unto
thair Pastour, sa lang as he remains faythfull in
his office.

The Answers of the Pepill, and thair consents
rcccaved, thir Qucstiouns iver proponit unto
him that was to be elected.

Questioun. Seing that ye hear the thrist and
desyre of this people, do ye not think yourself
bound in conscience befoir God to support thame
that so earnestly call for your comfort, and for
the fruit of your labours ?

Answer. If anie thing wer in me abill to sat-
isfie thair desyir, I acknowledge myself bound to
obey God calling by thame.
3

26 ELECTION OF

Questioun. Do ye seik to be promoted to this
Office and charge, for ony respect of warldly
commoditie, riches or glory ?

Answer. God knawes the contrarie.

Questioun. Beleve ye not that the doctrine of
the Propheits and Apostles, conteined in the
btiiks of the Auld and New Testaments, is the
onely trew and most absolute foundatioun of the
universall Kirk of Christ Jesus, insamekill that
in the same Scriptures ar conteined all things
necessary to be beleved for the salvatioun of
Mankind ?

Answer. I verely beleve the same, and do
abhorre and utterly refuis all Doctrine alleged
necessary to Salvatioun, that is not expressedly
conteined in the same.

Questioun. Is not Christ Jesus Man of Man,
according to the flesche, to wit, the Sone of
David, the Seid of Abrahame, conceaved by the
Holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Marie his
mother, the onely Head and Mediatour of his
Kirk?

Answer. He is, and without him thair is
nouther salvatioun to man, nor lyfe to angell.

Questioun. Is not the same Lord Jesus, [the]
onely trew God, the Eternall Sone of the Eternall
Father, in quhome all that sail be saved wer
elected befoir the foundatioun of the world was
layd?

Answer. I confes and acknawlege him in the
unitie of his Godheid, to be God above all
thingis, blessit for evir.

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 27

Qucstioun. Sail not they cjuhome God in his
eternall cotmcell hes electit, be callit to the
knawlege of his Sone, our Lord Jesus ? And
sail not they, quho of purpoise are elected in this
lyfe, be justified ? And is not justification]! and
free remissioun of sinnes obtained in this lyfe by
free grace ? Sail not this glorie of the sonnes of
God follow in the generall resurrectioun, quhen
the Sone of God sail appeir in his glorious
majesty ?

Answer. I acknawlege this to be the doctrine
of the Apostles, and the most singular comfort of
God s childrein.

Qucstioun. Will ye not contein yourself in
all doctrine within the boundes of this founda-
tioim ? Will ye not study to promote the
same, alsweill by your lyfe as by your doctrine <
Will ye not, according to the graces and utter
ance that God sail grant unto yow, profes.
instructe, and maiitene the purity of the doc
trine, conteined in the sacred Word of God
And, to the uttermost of your power, will ye not
ganestand and convince the gaynsayers and
teichers of mennis inventiouns ?

Answer. That I do promeis in the presence
of God, and of his congregatioun heir assembled.

Questioun. Knaw ye not, that the excellency
of this office, to the quhilk God hes called yow,
requires that your conversatioun and behaviour
be sick, as that ye may be irreprehensible ; yea ,
even in the eyis of the ungodly ?

Answer. I unfaynedly acknawlege, and hum-

28 ELECTION OF

illy desyre the Kirk of God to pray with me,
that my lyfe be not scandalous to the glorious
Evangell of Jesus Christ.

Qucstioun. Becaus ye are a man compassed
with infirmities, will ye not charitably, and with
lawlines of spirit, receave adrnonitioun of your
Brethrein ? And if ye sail happin to slyde, or
offend in ony point, will ye not be subject to the
Discipline of the Kirk, as the rest of your
Brethrein ?

The Answer of the Superintendent, or Minister
to be elected.

I acknawlege myself to be a man subject to
infirmity, and ane that hes neid of correction!!
and admonitioun ; and tharefoir I maist willingly
submit and subject my self to the hailsume
disciplin of the Kirk ; yea, to the discipline of
the same Kirk by the quhilk I ame now called
to this office and chairge ; and heir in God s
presens and youris do promeis obedience to all
admonitiones, secretly or publickly gevin ; unto
the quhilk, if I be found inobedient, I confes my
self most worthie to be ejected not onely from
this honour, bot also frome the society of the
Faythfull, in cais of my stubburnness : For the
vocatioun of God to bear charge within his Kirk,
makethe not men tyrantes, nor lordis, but appoynt-
eth thame Servandis, Watchemen, and Pastoris
of the Flock.

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 29

This ended, Questioun man be asked aganc of the
Multitude.

Question. Eequire ye ony farther of this your
Superintendent ?

If no man answer, let the Minister proceid.

Will ye not acknawlege this your Brother, for
the Minister of Christ Jesus ? Will ye not
reverence the word of God that proceids fra his
mouthe ? Will ye not receave of him the ser-
mone of exhortatioun with patience, not refuising
the hailsome medicine of your saules, althocht it
be bitter and unpleising to the flesche ? Will
ye not finally, mantene and comforte him in his
ministry, against all sick as wickedly wald rebell
against God and his holy ordinance ?

The Peple answer eth.

We will, as we will answer to the Lord Jesus,
quho hes commandit his Ministeris to be had in
reverence, as his ambassadours, and as men that
cairfully watche for the salvatioun of our
saullis.

Let the Nobility also be urged with this.

Ye have heard the dewty and professioun of
this your Brother, by your consentis appointit to
this charge ; as also the dewty and obedience,
quhilk God requireth of us towards him heir in

:$0 ELECTION OF

his ministry : Bot becaus that neyther of bothe
are abill to performe ony thing without the
especiall grace of our God in Christ Jesus, quho
hes proraeised to be with us present, even to the
consummatioun of the world ; with unfayned
hairtis, let us crave of him his benedictioun and
assistance in this work begun to his glory, and
for the comfort of his Kirk.

^oThc gratjer.

O LORD, to quhome all power is gevin in
heavin and in eirthe, thow that art the Eternall
Sone of the Eternall Father, quho hes not onely
so luifit thy Kirk, that for the redemptioun and
purgatioun of the same, thow hes humilled thy
self to the deyth of the Croce ; and thareupoun
hes sched thy most innocent bluid, to prepair to
thyself a Spous without spott ; bot also, to retein
this thy most excellent benefite in memory, hes
appointed in thy Kirk, Teichears, Pastores, and
Apostles, to instruct, comfort, and admonische
the same : Luk upoun us mercifully, Lord,
thow that onely art King, Teicher, and Hie
Priest to thy awin flock ; and send unto this our
Brother, quhome in thy name we have chairged
with the cheif cair of thy Kirk, within the
boundis of Louthiane, sick portioun of thy Holy
Spreit, as thareby he may rychtly devyde thy
word to the instructioun of thy flocke, and to the
confutatioun of pernitious erroures, and damnable
superstitiones. Give unto him, gude Lord, a

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 31

mouthe and wisdome, quhareby the enemies of
thy truthe may be confounded, the wolfis ex-
pellit, and driven from thy fauld, thy scheip may
be fed in the wholsum pastures of thy most holy
word, the blind and ignorant may be illuminated
with thy trew knawlege : Finally, That the dregis
of superstitioim and idolatry quhilk yit restis
within this liealme, being purged and removed,
we may all not only have occasioun to glorifie thee
our onely Lord and Saviour, but also dayly to
grow in godlines and obedience of thy most holy
will, to the destructioun of the body of synne,
and to the restitutioun of that image to the
quhilk we wer anes created, and to the quhilk,
efter our fall and defectioun, w r e ar renewed by
participatioun of thy Holy Spirit, quhilk by trew
fayth in thee, we do profes as the blessit of thy
Father, of quhome the perpetuall incres of thy
graces we crave, as by thee our Lord and King,
and onely Bischope, we are taucht to pray, say
ing, " Our Father that art in hevin, &c."

The prayer ended, the rest of the Ministers, if
ony be, and Elders of that Kirk present, in
signe of thair consents, sail tak the elected ~by
the hand, and then the cheif Minister sail gif
the benedictioun as follows :

GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
quho hes commanded his Evangell to be
preiched, to the comfort of his Elect, and hes
called thee to the office of a Watchman over his

32 ELECTION OF

peple, multiply his graces with thee, illuminat
thee with his Holy Spirit, comfort and strenthen
thee in all vertewe, governe and guyde thy
ministry, to the prayse of his holy Name, to the
propagatioun of Christis kingdome, to the corn-
forte of his Kirk, and finally, to the plain dis-
chairge and assurance of thy awin conscience in
the day of the Lord Jesus ; to quhome, with the
Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour,
prayse, and glory, now and ever. So be it.

The Last Exhortatioun to the Elected.

Take heid to thy self, and unto the Flock com-
itted to thy chairge ; feid the same cairfully,
not as it wer of compulsioun, bot of very love,
quhilk thow bearest to the Lord Jesus. Walk
in simplicity and purenes of lyfe, as it becumethe
the trew servand and ambassadour of the Lord
Jesus. Usurpe not dominioun nor tyrranicall
impyre over thy brethrein. Be not discouraged
in adversity, bot lay befoir thyself the example
of Propheits, Apostles, and of the Lord Jesus,
quho in thair ministry susteaned contradictioun,
contempt, persecutioun and deyth. Feir not
to rebuik the warld of sinne, justice, and juge-
ment. If ony thing succeid prosperously in thy
vocatioun, be not puft upe with pryde ; nether yit
natter thy self as that the gude succes proceided
from thy vertew, industry, or cair : Bot let ever
that sentence of the Apostle remaine in thy hairt ;
" Quhat hes thou, quhilk thou hes not receavit ?

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 33

If thou lies receivit, quhy gloriest thou ? " Com
fort the afflicted, support the puir, and exhort
utheris to support thame. Be not solist for
things of this lyfe, Lot be fervent in prayer to
God for incress of his Holy Spirit. And finally,
behave thyself in this holy vocatioun, with sick
sobriety, as God may be glorified in thy ministry :
And so sail thow schortly obtein the victory, and
shall receave the crown promeised, quhen the
Lord Jesus sail appeir in his glory, quhois Omni
potent Spirit assist thee and us unto the end.
AMEN.

Then sing the 23d Psalme.

34 THE ORDER OF

OF

Qrcclcsiastiaill gisciplhu.

As no Citie, Towne, howse, or familie can mayn-
teine their estate and prospere without policie and
governaunce, so the Churche of God, which re-
quireth more purely to be governed then any
citie or familie, can not without spirituall Policie
and ecclesiasticall Discipline continewe, encrease,
and florishe.

And as the Word of God is the life and soule
of this Churche, so this godlie ordre and discip
line is as it were synewes in the bodie, which
knit and joyne the membres together with decent
order and comelynes. It is a brydle to staye the
wicked frome their myschiefes. It is a spurre to
] iricke forward suche as be slowe and necligent ;
yea, and for all men it is the Father s rodde ever
in a readines to chastice gentelye the fautes com
mitted, and to cawse they in afterward to lyve in
more godlie feare and reverence. Finallye, it is
an ordre left by God unto his Churche, wherby
men learne to frame their wills, and doinges, ac-
cordinge to the lawe of God, by instructing and
adrnonishinge one an other, yea, and by correct-
inge and ponishinge all obstinate rebells, and cou-
temners of the same.

ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE. 35

There are three cawses chiefly which move the
Churche of God to the executinge of Discipline.
First, that men of evell conversation be not nom-
brecl amongest God s childrene to their Father s
reproche, as if the Churche of God were a sanc
tuary for naughtie and vile persons. The second
respect is, that the good be not infected with
compagnyinge the evell ; which thinge S. Paule
forsawe when he commaunded the Corinthians to
banishe frome amongst theym the incestuous adul
terer, sainge, "A litle leavyn maketh sowre the
whole lump of do we." The third cawse is, that a
man thus corrected or excommunicated, might be
ashamed of his faut, and so through repentance
come to amendement ; the which thinge the Apos-
tole calleth, " delivering^ to Satan, that his soule
may be saved in the day of the Lord ; " meaning
that he might be ponished with excommunication,
to the intent his soule shuld not perishe for ever.

First, therfore, it is to be noted, that this cen
sure, correction, or Discipline, is either private or
publike ; private, as if a man cornmitt either in
maners or doctrine against thee, to admonishe
hym brotherly betwixt him and thee. If per-
chauiice he stubburnely resist thy charitable ad-
vertisementes, or els by contynuance in his faut
declare that he amendeth not ; then, after he hath
bene the second tyme warned in presence of two
or three witnesses, and continueth obstinately in
his error, he oght, as our Savior Christ coin-
maundeth, to be disclosed and uttered to the
Church, so that accordinge to publike Discipline,

36 THE ORDER OF

he either may be receyved through repentance, or
els be ponished as his faut requireth.

And here, as towchinge private Discipline, thre
thinges are to be noted. First, that our admoni
tions procede of a godly zeale and conscience,
rather sekinge to wynne our brother then to
slaunder him. Next, that we be assured that
his faut be reprouvable by God s "Woord. And
finally, that we use suche modestie and wisdome,
that if we somewhat dout of the matter wherof
we admonishe hym, yet with godly exhortations
he may be broght to the knowlage of his faut.
Or if the faut apperteyne to many, or be knowen
of divers, that our admonition be done in presence
of theym.

Briefly, if it concerne the whole Churche, in
such sorte that the concelinge therof might pro
cure some daunger to the same, that then it be
uttered to the ministers and seniors, to whome the
policie of the church doth apperteine.

Also in publike Discipline, it is to be observed
that the Ministerie pretermit nothinge at any
tyme unchastised with one kind of ponishement
or other. If they perceyve any thinge in the
Congregation, either evyll in example, sclaun-
derous in maners, or not besemynge their profes
sion ; as if there be any covetous personne, any
adulterer, or fornicator, forsworne, thief, briber,
false witnes-bearer, blasphemer, dronkarde, slaun-
derer, usurer ; any person disobedient, seditious,
or dissolute ; any heresie or sect, as Papisticall,
Anabaptisticall, and such like : briefly, whatso-

ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE. 37

ever it be that might spott the Christian congre
gation, yea, rather whatsoever is not to edification,
oght not to escape either admonition or ponishe-
ment.

And becawse it happeneth sometyme in the
Churche of Christ, that when other remedies
assayed proffitt nothinge, they must procede to
the Apostolicall rodd and correction as unto
Excommunication (which is the greatest and last
ponishernent belonginge to the spirituall Minis-
terie) ; it is ordeyned, that nothinge be attempted
in that behalf with out the determination of the
whole Churche : wherein also they must be ware
and take good heede, that they seme not more
readie to expell frome the Congregation then to
receyve againe those in \vhome they perceyve
worthie frutes of repentance to appeare. Neither
yet to forbyd hym the hearinge of sermons, which
is excluded frome the sacraments, and other duties
of the Churche, that he may have libertie and
occasion to repent. Finally, that all ponishe-
mentes, corrections, censures, and admonitions,
stretche no farther then God s Woorde, with
mercie, may lawfully beare.

MATTH. xvm.

If any refuse to hcare the Congregation, let Mm
be as a heathen, and as a publicane.

38 THE ORDER OF

(Dcber of (Excamntunication,

and of

Public

To THE READER.

Albeit that in the Booke of Discipline the cause*
als weill of publict Repentance as of Excommuni-
tioun, ar sufficicntlie expressed : Yit because the
forme and Ordour ar not so set furth, that everic
Church and Minister may have assurance that they
agree with utheris in proceiding, it is thoyht
expedient to drawe that Ordour which univcrsallie
within this Realme shal be observed.

And First, we man understand what Crymes be
worthie of Excommunicatioun, and what of
publict Repentance.

IN the First, it is to be noted, that all crymes
that be the law of God deserve death, deserve
also Excommunicatioun from the societie of
Christis Church, whither the offendar be Papist
or Protestant : For it is no reason that, under
pretence of diversitie of religioun, open impiety
shuld be suffered in the visible body of Christ
Jesus ; and thairfor wilfull murtherars, adulteraris
(lauchfullie convict), sorcerars, witches, conjurars,
charmars, and gevars of drinks to destroy children,
and opin blasphemars (as if ony renunce God, deny
the trueth and the authority of his Holie Word,

EXCOMMUNICATION. 39

rayll aganis his blessed Sacramentis), such, we say,
aucht to be Excommunicat from the society of
Christis Church, that their impiety may be
haldin in greater horror, and that they may be
the rnoir deiply wounded, perceaving themselfes
abhorred of the godly. Aganis such opin male-
factoris, the processe may be summar : For the
cryme being knawin, advertisement aucht to be
gevin to the Superintendent of the diocey, either
be the Minister, or be such as can best geve
informatioun of that fact ; except in reformed
townis and uther places where the Ministerie is
planted with Minister and Eldaris, according
to the Act of the General Assembly made the
26 of December 1568. And if there be no
Superintendent where the cryme is committed,
then aucht the informatioun to pas from such as
ar offended to the nixt Superintendent, who with
expeditioun aucht to direct his letters of sum-
moncls to the parish church where the ofl endar
hath his residence, if the Ministerie be there
planted : and if it be not, or if the offendar have
no certane dwelling-place, then aucht the sum-
monds to be direct to the cheife town, and best
Reformed Church in that diocy, where the
cryme was committed, appointing to the ofi endar
a certain day, time, and place, where and when
he shall compeire befoir the Superintendent and
his assessors, to heare that cryme tried, as tuiching
the trueth of it, and to answer for himself, why
the sentence of Excomrnunicatioun should not be
pronunced publiklie againis him. If the offendar,

40 THE ORDER OF

lauchfullie warned, compeire not, inquisitioun
being takin of the cryme, charge may be gevin be
the Superintendent to the Ministers, so many as
shall be thoucht necessar for publicatioun of that
sentence, to pronunce the same the nixt Sunday,
the forme whereof shall after be declared : Bot
and if the offendar compeire and alledge for him-
selfe ony reasonable defence, to wit, that he will
not be fugitive from the law, but will abyde the
censure thereof for that offence, then may the
sentence of Excommunicatioun be suspendit till
that the magistrat be required to try that cause ;
wherein if the magistrats be negligent, then aucht
the Church from secret inquisition to proceid till
publique admonitioun, that the magistratis may
be vigilant in that cause of blood, which cryith
vengeance upon the hole land where it is sched
without punishment. If no remedie be them can
be found, then justly may the Church pronunce
the offendar excommunicat, as one suspect, besidis
his cryme, to have corrupted the judges, revengeris
of the blood : And so aught the Church to
proceid to Excommunication, whither the
offendar be fugitive from the law, or if he
procure pardoun, or elude the severity of justice
by means whatsoever besydis the tryal of his
innocencie.

If the offender abyde an assise, and by the
same be absolved, then may not the Church pro
nunce excomrnunicatioun, bot justlie may exhort
the man be whose hand the blood was sched, to
enter into consideration with himself, how pre-

EXCOMMUNICATION. 41

tious is the lyfe of man before God, and how
severely God commandeth blood, (howsoever it
be sched, except it be by the sword of the Magi
strate) to be punished ; and so may injoine unto
him such satisfactionis to be made publikly to
the Church, as may bear testificatioun of his
obedience and unfained repentance. If the
offendar be convict, and execution follow accord
ing to the cryme, then, upon the humble sute of
him that is to suffer, may the Eldars and
Ministers of the Church not only geve unto him
consolatioun, bot also pronunce the sentence of
absolution!!, and his sin to be remitted according
to his repentance and faith. And thus much for
Excommunication of publike Offendars.

And yit farther, we must considdir, that if the
offendar be fugitive from the Law, so that punish
ment cannot be executed againis him, in that caise
the Church audit to delay no time, bot upon the
iiotorietie of his cryme, and that he is fled from
the presence of the judge, it aucht to pronunce
him excommunicated publikly, and so continually
to repute him, untill such tyine that the magistrat
be satisfied : And so whither the offendar be
convict in judgment, or be fugitive from the Law,
the Church aucht to proceid to the sentence of Ex-
communicatioun; the Forme whereof followeth :

The Minister, in picUike audience of the Pepill
sail say,

It is cleirlie knawin unto us that K, some-
tymes baptized in the Name of the Father, and of

42 THE ORDER OF

the Sone, and of the Holy Ghost, and so reputed
and compted for a Christian, hath fearfullie fallin
from the society of Christ s body, by committing
of cruell and wilful murther (or by committing
filthy adultery, &c.), which cryme be the law of
God deserveth death : And because the civil
sword is in the hand of God s Magistrat, who
notwithstanding oft winkis at such crymes, we
having place in the Ministery, with grief and
dolour of our harts, ar compelled to draw the
sword granted be God to his Church ; that is, to
Excommunicat from the society of Christ Jesus,
from his body the Church, from participatioun of
sacraments, and prayers with the same, the said

N. AND THEREFORE, IN THE NAME AND AUTHO-
RITIE OF THE ETERNAL GOD, AND OF HIS SON

JESUS CHRIST, We pronunce the said N. excom
municate and accursed in this his wicked fact ;
and charge all that favor the Lord Jesus so to
repute and hold him (or hir) untill such time as
that either the Magistrat have punished the
offendar as Goddis law commandis, or that the
same offendar be reconciled to the Church again
be publique repentance : And in the mean tyme
we earnestlie desire all the faithful to call upon
God to move the harts of the upper powers so to
punish such horrible cryrnes, that malefactors
may fear to offend, evin for feare of punishment ;
and also so to tuich the hart of the offendar, that
he may deipelie consider how fearefull it is to
fall in the hands of the eternal God, that by
unfained repentance he may apprehend mercie in

EXCOMMUNICATION. 43

Jesus Christ, and so avoid eternal condemnation!!.

The sentence of Excommnnicatiomi ones pro-
nunced, the Church may not stiddanly admit the
murtherar, or convict adulterar, to repentance and
society of the faithfull, albeit that pardon be pur
chased of the Magistrat ; bot first audit inquisi
tion to be taken if the murtherar have satisfied
the party offended, that is, the kin and friendis of
the man slain ; which if he hath not done, neither
is understood willing so to do, the Church in no
wayis may lieare him. Bot if he be willing to
stttisfie, and the freinds exceid measure and the
possibilitie of him that hath committed the
cryme, then audit the Church to put moderation!!
to the unreasonable, iiicaise the Civil magistral
hath not so done befoir. and so proceid with him
that offereth repentance, that the wilfulnes of the
indiscreit be not hinderance to the reconciliatioun
of him that earnestlie craveth the benefit and
society of t lie Church.

And yit may not the Church receave ony
Excommunicat at his first requeist ; bot in such
grevous crymes as befoir ar expressed (of utheris
shall be efter spokin), fourty day is at the least
after his first offer may be appointed, to try
whither the signes of repentance appeir in the
otfendar or not. And yit in the mean tyme the
Church may contort him be holsome admonitiouns,
assuring him of God s mercy, if he be verily peni
tent ; he may also be admitted to the hearing of
the Word ; bot in no wyse to participation!! of
prayeris, nether befoir nor efter the sermon. The

44 THE ORDER OF

first fourty dayis expyred, upon his new suit, the
Superintendent or Sessiouu may injoyne such
paines as may try whether he be penitent or not :
The least ar, the murtherar man stand three
several Sundayis in a publike place before the
church dore bare-futed and bare-headed, cled in a
base and abject apparrell, having the same
weapen which he used in the murther, or the
lyke, bloody in his hand, and in conceaved words
shall say to such as shall enter into the
church :

The Confcssioun of the Penitent.

So farre hath Sathan gottin victorie ovir me,
that cruelly I have sched innocent blood, for the
which I have deserved death corporall and
eternall ; and so I grant my selfe unworthy of the
common light, or yit of the companie of men :
And yit because in God there is mercy that
passeth all measure, and because the Magistral
hath not takin from me this wretchit lyfe, I most
earnestlie desyre to be reconciled again with the
Church of Christ Jesus, from the societie whereof
mine iniquitie hath caused me to be excommuni
cated ; and therefore, in the bowelis of Christ
Jesus, I crave of you to pray with me unto God,
that my grevous cryme may be of him remitted,
and also that ye will be suppliants with me to
the Church, that I abyd not thus Excommunicat
unto the end.

EXCOMMUNICATION. 45

At the last of the three Sundayis certain of
the Eldaris shall receive him into the Church,
and present him before the preaching place, and
shall declair unto the Minister, that all that was
injoyned to that offendar was obedientlie fulfilled
by him. Then shall the Minister recite unto
him als well the grevousnes of his sin, as the
mercies of God, if he be penitent. And ther-
efter shall require of the Church, If that they
desire any farther satisfactioun ? And if no
answer be gevin, then shall the Minister pro-
nunce his sin to be remitted according to his
repentance, and- shall exhort the Church to
embrace him as a brother, efter that prayer and
thankisgeving be gevin unto God, as efter shall be
descryved.

And thus far to be observed for the Ordour in
receaving of thame that have committed capital
crymes, be it murther, adulterie, incest, witch
craft, or utheris befoir expressed.

Apostates to Papistric.

Eesteth yit one uther kynd of offendaris that
deserve Excommunicatioun, albeit not so sum-
marlie, to wit, such as have bene partakers with
us in doctrine and sacraments, and have returned
back agane to the Papistrie, of have gevin their
presence to onie part of their abhominatioun, or
yit that of onie long continuance, withdrawe
themselfis from the societie of Christis bodie, and
from the participatioun of the sacramentis, when

46 THE ORDER OF

they ar publiklie ministred. Such, no doubt,
declair themselfis worthie of excommunicatioun ;
bot first they man be called either befoir the
Superintendent, with sura joyned with him, or
elis befoir the Eldaris and Sessioun of the best and
nixt Reformed Church where the offendaris have
their residence, who man accuse their defectioun,
exhort them to repentance, and declair to them
the danger wherein they stand.

Whom if the offendar hearith, the Sessioun or
Superintendent may appoynt him ane day to
satisfie the Church publikelie, whom by his
defectioun he had offended. Bot if he continue
stubburne, then may the Sessioun or Super
intendent command the Minister or Ministers to
declair the next Sunday the defectioun of such
ane person, and his obstinate contempt ; and this
advertisement being gevin two Sundayis, the third
may the sentence of Excommunication be pro-
nunced.

Offences that deserve pullikc Repentance, and Order
to proceide thcreintill.

Such offences as fall not Tinder the Civile
sword, and yit ar sclanderous and offensive in the
Church, deserve publike Repentance : and of
these sum ar more haynous than titheris,
fornication, drunkennes used, swearing, cursed
speaking, chyding, feghting, brawling, and com-
inoun contempt of the ordor of the Church,
breaking of the Sabbath, and such like, audit to

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 47

be in no person suffered : Bot the sclander being
knawin, the offendar should be called befoir the
Ministeiy, his cryme provin, accused, rebuked,
and lie commanded publiklie to satisfie the
Church ; which if the offendar refuis, they may
proceid to Excommunication n, as efter shall be
declaired. If the offendar compeir not, summonds
aucht to pass to the third time ; and then incase
lie compeir not, the Church may decerne the sen
tence to be pronunced.

Utheris be less haynous, and yit deserve
admonition, as wanton and vain words, uncomelie
gestures, negligence in hearing the preachingis, or
abstening from the Lordis Table, when it is
publiklie ministrat, suspicion!! of avarice or of
pryde. superfiuitie or ryotousnes in cheir or ray-
ment ; these, we say, and such utheris, that of
the world are not regarded, deserve admonitioun
amongis the membres of Christis body : First,
secretly, by one or two of those that first espy the
offence, which if the person suspected hear, and
geve declaratioun of amendment, then there
nedeth no farther proces.

Bot if he contempne and despiseth admoni
tioun, then shuld the former admonisaris tak to
themselfis two or three faithful and honest wit
nesses, in w r hose presence the suspected offendar
shuld be admonished, and the causes of their
suspitioun declaired ; to whom if then he geve
signification!! of repentance, and promise of amend
ment, they may cut off all farther accusatioim :
Bot and if he obstinately contempne both the

48 THE ORDER OF

said admonitiouns, then aucht the first and second
brethren to signifie the matter to the Ministers
and Eldaris in their Sessioun, who audit to call
the offendar, and, before the complainars, accuse
him als weill of the cryme, as of the contempt of
the admonitioun. If then he acknawledge his
offence, and be willing to satisfie the brethren
befoir offended, and the Sessioun then present,
there nedeth no farther publication of the
offence.

Bot if he declair himself inobedient to the
Session, then without delay the nixt Sunday
aucht the cryme, and the ordor of admonitionis
passed befoir, be publiklie declaired to the
Church, and the person (without specificatioun of
his name) be admonished to satisfie in publique
that which he refused to do in secret : And that
for the first. If he offerris himself to the Church,
befoir the nixt Sunday, the discretioun of the
Ministerie may tak such ordor, as may satisfie als
weill the private personis that first war offended,
as the Church, declairing the repentance and
submissioun of that brother, that befoir appeared
stubburne and incorrigible.

Bot and if he abyde the second publict
admonitioun, when that his name shall be ex
pressed, and his offences and stubburnnes de
clared, then can no satisfactioun be receaved bot
in publict ; yea, it may not be receaved befoir
that he have humblie required the same of the
Ministerie and Sessioun of the Church in their
appointed Assemblie.

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 49

If he continue stubburne, then the third
Sunday audit he to be charged publiklie to
satisfie the Church for his offence and contempt,
under the pain of Excommunication ; the Order
whereof shall efter be declaired. And thus a
small offence or sclander may justly deserve
Excommunication, by reason of the contempt and
disobedience of the offendar. If the offendar
schaw himself penitent betwene the first admoni-
tioun and the second, and satisfie the Ministerie
of the Church, and the brethren that were befoir
offended in their Assemblie, then it may suffice
that the Minister, at commandement of the
Sessioun, declair the nixt Sunday (without com-
peiring or expressing of the person) his repent
ance and submission in these or uther wordis :

It was signified unto you befoir, deirlie belovit,
that one certan brother (or brethren) was noted,
or at least suspected of some offence wherof he
being admonished by one or two, appeared lightlie
to regard the same ; and therefoir was he and his
offence notified unto the Ministerie in their
Assembly, who, according to their deuty and
charge, accused him of the same ; and not
finding in him such obedience as the profession!!
of ane Christian requireth, fearing that such
offences and stubburnnes shuld engender con
tempt, and infect utheris, they war compelled to
notifie unto you the cryme and the proceidingis
of the Sessioun, mynding to have soucht the utter
most remedie incase the offendar had continued

50 THE FORM OF

obstinate. Bot seeing that it hath pleased God
to mollifie the hart of our brother, whose name
we neid not to expresse, so that he hath not onlie
acknowledged his offence, bot also hath fullie
satisfied the brethren that first war offended,
and us the Ministerie, and hath promised to
abstene from all appearance of such evill, as
whereof he was suspected and admonished, we
have no just cause to proceid to ony farther
extremitie, but rather to glorifie God for the
submissioun of our brother, and unfainedlie pray
unto him, that in the lyke caise we and everie
one of us may geve the lyke obedience.

^hc Jormc of Jubliquc Jlepeutiwcc.

IT is first to be observed, that none may be
admitted to publique repentance except that first
they be admitted thereto be the Sessioun and
Assemblie of the Ministeris and Eldaris ; in the
which they aucht sharplie to be examinat, what
feire and terrour they have of God s judgmentis,
what hatred of sin, and dolour for the same, and
what sense and feiling they have of God s
mercies : In the which if they be ignorant, they
aucht diligently to be instructed ; for it is but
ane mocking to present such to publik repentance,
as neither understand what sin is, what repent
ance is, what grace is, nor be whom God s favour
and mercie is purchased. After then that the
offendar shall be instructed in the Assernblie, so
that to have sum taist of God s judgements, bot

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 51

chiefly of God s mercies in Christ Jesus, he may
be presented before the publik Church upon a
Sunday after the sermon, and before the Prayeris
and Psaline, and then the Minister shall say,

Beloved and dearest Brethren, we, be reason of
our charge and Ministery, present befoir you this
brother, that by the infirmitie of the flesh and
craft of Sathan, lies feirfullie fallen from the
obedience of his God, by committing N. of a
cryme, &c. (let the sin be expressed) ; by the
which he lies not only offended against the
Majestic of God, bot also by the same hes gevin
great sclander and offence till his holy congrega-
tioun ; and therefore doeth till his owin confusion
(bot to the glorie of God and our great confort)
present himself here before you, to witnes and
declair his unfained repentance, the thrist and
the caire that he hes to be reconciled with God
throw Jesus Christ, and with you his brethren,
whom he hes offended : and therefore it is
requisite that ye and he understand what assur
ance we have to requyre such publik satisfaction
of him, what profit we audit to learne in the
same, and what profit and utilitie redoundes to
both of this his liumiliatioim.

That publik Ptepentaiice is the institutioun of
God, and not man s invention, may be plainly
gaddered of the words of our Maister, com
manding, " that if ony have offended his brother,
in what sort so ever it be, that he shall go to
him and be reconciled unto his brother." If the

52 THE FORM OF

offence committed against one brother requyres
reconciliation^ the offence committed against
many brethren requires the same. And if a
man be charged be Christ Jesus to go to a man
whom he has offended, and thair be confessioun
of his offence requyre reconciliation^ much moir
is he bound to seik a whole multitude whom he
hes offended, and befoir them with all humility
requyre the same ; for that wo which our Maister
Christ Jesus pronunceth against every man that
hes offended the least one within his Church,
remaneth upon every publik offendar untill such
tyme as he declair himself willing to remove the
same, which he can never do untill such tyme as
he let the multitude whom he hes offended under
stand his unfained repentance.

But because that all men of upricht judgment
agree in this, that publik offences requyre publik
repentance, we pass to the second head, which is,
What it is that we have to consider in the fall
and sin of this our brother. If we consider
his fall and sin in him only, without having
consideration of our selfis, and of our owin cor
ruption, we shall profit nothing, for so shall we
bot despyse our brother and flatter our selfis.
But if we shall earnestlie consider what nature
we bear, what corruption lurketh in it, how
prone and readie everie one of us is to such and
greater impietie, then shall we in the shine of
this our brother accuse and damne our owin
sinnes, in his fall shall we consider and lament
our sinful nature ; also shall we joyne our re-

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 53

pentance, teares, and prayeris with him and his,
knowing that no flesh can be justified before
God s presence, if judgement proceid without
mercie. The profit which this our brother and
we have of this his humiliation, is, that we and
he may be assured that our God is moir reddie to
receave us to mercie, through Jesus Christ his
only Sone, then we ar to crave it. It is not
siune, be it never so grevous, that shall debar us
from his favour, if we seik to his mercie ; for as
all have sinned, and ar by themselfis destitute of
God s grace, so is he reddie to shaw mercie unto
all that unfainedlie call for the same ; yea, he
doth not onlie receave such as come, but he, by
the mouth of his deir Sone, calleth upon such as
be burdened and laidened with sinne, and
solemnedlie promiseth that he will refresh them.
We have besides ane uther commoditie, to wit,
that if we shall heirefter fall into the lyke or
greater (for we stand not by our owin power, but
by grace only), that we be not eschamed in this
same sort to humble our selfis and confesse our
offence. Now, therefore, brother, as we all praise
God in this your humiliation!!, beseiking him that
it be without hypocrisie, so it becummeth ye ear
nestly to considder of what mind and with what
hart ye present your self heir before this Assem-
blie. It is not your sine that shall separate you
from your God, nor from his mercy in Jesus
Christ, if ye repent the same ; bot hypocrisie and
impenitencie, which God remove from you and
us, is nowise tolerable before his presence.

54 THE FORM OF

The Offendar aucht to protest before God, that
he is sory for his sinne, and unfainedly desyreth
God to be mercifull unto him, and that for the
obedience of his deir Sone our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Minister.

We can only see that which is without, and
according to your confessioun judge, leaving the
secretis of the hart to God, who only can try and
search the same. Bot because unfeaned repent
ance for sinne, and simple confessioun of the same,
ar the mere giftis of God, we will joyne our
prayeris with youris, that the one and the uther
may be granted to you and us.

The Prayer.

Eternal and overliving God, Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, thow that by the mouth of
thy holy Propheites and Apostillis hes plainlic
pronunced, that thow desyrest not the death of
ane sinner, bot rather that he may convert and
live ; who also hes sent thy only Sone to suffer
the cruell death of the croce, not for the just, but
for such as find themselfis oppressed with the
burden of sinne, that by him and his advocation
they may have acces to the throne of thy grace,
being assured, that before thee they shall find
favour and mercy : We are convened, Lord, in
thy presence, and that in the Name of this same
our Lord Jesus thy deir Sone, to accuse before
thee our sinnes, and before the feit of thy

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 55

Majesty, to crave mercy for the same. We most
humbly beseche thee, Father of Mercies, first,
that thou wilt tuich and move our harts by the
power of thy Holy Spirit, in such sort, that we
may come to ane trew knawledge of our sinnes;
bot chiefly, Lord, it will please thee to move
the hart of this our brother N., &c., who, as he
hes offended thy Majesty, and ane great number
of this thy holy congregation, by his grevous and
publik sine, so doeth lie not refuse publikly to
acknawledge and confesse the same, as that this
his humiliatioun gevin to the glory of thy Name
presently doeth witnes. Bot because, Lord,
the external confessioun, without the dolour of
the hart, availeth nothing in thy presence, we
most humblie beseche thee, that thou wilt so
effectually move his hart, and ouris also, that he
and we without hypocrisie, damning that which
thy law pronunceth injust, may atteine to some
sense and feiling of thy mercy, which thou hast
abundantly shawen unto mankynd in Jesus
Christ our Lord.

Grant, Lord, unto this our brother, the
repentance of the hart, and sincere confession of
the mouth, to the praise of thy Name, to the
confort of thy Church, and to the confusion of
Sathan. And unto us grant, Lord, that albeit
we cannot live altogether cleine of sinne, yit that
we fall not in horrible crymes to the dishonor of
thy holy Name, to the sclander of our brethren,
and infamy of thy holy Evangel, which we
professe. Let thy godly power, Lord, so

56 THE FORM OF

strengthen our weaknes, that nether the craft of
Sathaii, nor the tyranny of sinne, draw us utterly
from thy obedience. Give us grace, Lord,
that by holines and innocencie of lyfe, we may
declaire to this wicked generatioun what differ
ence there is betwixt the sones of light and the
sones of darknes ; that men seeing our gud
workis, may glorify thee, and thy Sone Jesus
Christ, our only Saviour and Kedemer ; to whom
with Thee, and the Holy Spirit, be all honor
praise, and glory, now and ever. Anien.

The Prayer finished, the Minister shall turnc
him to the Penitent brother, and in full
audience shall say:

You have heard, brother, what is your dewtie
towardes the Church, which ye have offended, to
wit, that willingly ye confesse that cryme that
you have committed, asking God mercie for the
same, and so that ye may reconcile your self to
the Church which ye have offended. You have
hard also the affection and care of the Church
towardes you their penitent brother, notwith
standing your grevous fall, to wit, that we all hen-
present joyne our sinnes with your sinne ; we all
repute and esteime your fall to be our owen ; we
accuse our selfis no less then we accuse you.
Now, finally, we joyne our prayeris with youris,
that we and ye may obtene mercy, and that by
the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us,
therefore, brother, have this confort of vou, that

PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 57

ye wil openlie and simplie confesse your cryme,
and give to us attestation of your unfained re
pentance.

The Penitent shall then openlie confesse the
cryme, whatsoever it be, and shall desyre God s
mercie, and pray the Church to call to God for
mercie with him, and unfainedly desyre that he
may be joyned againe to their society and
number.

If the Penitent be confounded with shame, or
such ane one as cannot distinctlie speik to the
confort and instruction of the Church, the Minis
ter shall mak repetition, that every head may be
understood by it self, and thereafter shall ask the
penitent if that be his confession, and if so he
beleveth. His answer affirmative being receaved,
the Minister shall ask the congregation if they
judge any farther to be requyred for their satis-
factioun and reconciliation of that brother. No
contradictioun being made, the Minister shall say
to the Penitent :

We have heard, deir brother, your confession,
for the which we from our hartis praise God ; for
in it the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath confounded
the Devill, and broken down his head and power,
in that, that you, to the glorie of God, have
openly damned your self and your impiety,
imploring grace and mercie for Christ Jesus his
Sones sake. This strenth, submission and
obedience, cannot proceid from flesh and blude,
5

58 THE FORM OF

but is the singular gift of the Holy Ghost :
acknowledge, therefore, it to be gevin unto you by
Jesus Christ our Lord ; and now tak heed, lest at
any tyme ye be unmyndfull of this great benefit,
which no doubt Sathan doth invy, and will assaile
by all means possible, that you may abuse it. He
will not cease to tempt you to fall againe in such,
or crymes more horrible ; bot resist the devill,
and he shall flee from you. Live in sobrietie; be
instant in prayer, commend your self unfainedly
to God, who as he is faithfull, so shall he give to
us victorie over sinne, death, and Sathan, and
that by means of our Head and soveraigne cham
pion Jesus Christ ; to whom be all praise, glory,
and honour, now and ever. Amen.

Ane Admonition to the Cliurch.

It is your dewtie, Brethren, to tak example of
this our penitent brother: First, That ye be
unfainedly displeased in your own harts for your
sinnes : Secondarly, That with this our brother ye
accuse them in the sight of God, imploring grace
and mercie for your offences committed : And
last, if any of you shall after this publikly offend,
that ye refuse not with the like reverence to
satisfie the Church of God, offended in you. Now
only resteth, that ye remit and foryet all offences
which ye have conceaved heretofore by the sinne
and fall of this our brother ; accept and embrace
him as ane member of Christ s body ; let none tak
upon him to reproche or accuse him for any

PUBLIC Rp;PENTANCE. 59

offences, that before this hour he hath committed.
And that he may have the better assurance of
your good will and reconciliation, prostrate your
selfis before God, and render him thanks for the
conversion and repentance of this our brother.

Tke TJuanksgeving.

Heavenly Father, Fountaine of all mercy and
consolation, we confesse our selves unworthy to
be counted amongis thy children, if thou have
respect to the corruption of our nature ; but
seeing it hath pleased thy Fatherly goodnes, not
only freely to chuse us in thy deir Sone our Lord
Jesus Christ, by his death to redeme us, by his
Evangel to call us, and by his Holy Spirit (which
both are thine) to illuminate us ; but also that
thou hast commanded thy Word and holie Evangel
to be preached, to the end that the penitent shall
have an assurance of the remission of their
sinnes, not onlie for a tyme, bot even als oft as
men from sorrowfull hartis shall call for thy
grace and mercie. In consideration of this thy
Fatherly adoption and ineffable clemencie shawen
upon us, we cannot bot praise and magnifie thy
Fatherlie mercie ; an testimonie whereof we not
onlie feile in our selfis, bot also see the same
evidentlie in the conversion of this our brother,
whom Sathan for an tyme held in bondage, bot
now is set at freedome by the power of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and is returned againe to the
societie of his bodie. Grant unto us, heavenlie

60 THE FORM OF

Father, that he and we may more and more be
displeased for our shines, and proceid in all
manner of gud worlds, to the praise of thy holy
Name, and edification of thy Church, by Jesus
Christ our Lord and only Saviour. So be it.

The Thankcsgiving being finished, the Minister
shall rcquyrc of the Penitent, if that he will
be subject to the Discipline of the Church, in
caise that he after offend : Who answering
that he will, the Minister shall say, in maner
of Absolution :

If thou unfainedly repentis thy former iniquity,
and beleves in the Lord Jesus, then I, in his
Name, pronunce and affirme that thy shines ar
forgevin, not only on earth, but also in heaven,
according to the promises annexed with the
preiching of his Word, and to the power put in
the Ministerie of his Church.

Then shall the Eldaris and Deacons, with
Ministers (if anic be), in the name of the
hole Church, take the reconciled brother by the
hand, and embrace him, in signe of full
reconciliation.

Then after shall the Church sing the CIII.
Psalmc, so much as they think expedient ; and
so shall the Assctnblie, with the benediction, be
dismissed.

EXCOMMUNICATION. 61

Jfonne of (Excommunication.

AFTER that all admonitions, both private and
pnblict, be past, as before is said, then must the
Church proceid to Excommunication, if the
offender remain obstinate. The Sunday, there
fore, after the thrid publik admonition, the
Minister being before charged by the Session or
Elders, shall thus signify unto the Church after
the sermon :

It is not unknowen unto you, with what lenity
and carefulnes the Ministerie and the whole
Church, by private and publict admonitions, hath
sought 1ST., etc., to satisfie the Church, and to
declare himself penitent for his grevous crymes
and rebellion, by the which he hath offended
God s Majestic, blasphemed his holie Name, and
offended his Church ; in whom to this day we
finde nothing bot stubburnnes : We cannot, there
fore, of conscience, wink anie longer at the dis
obedience of the saide N., lest that his example
infect and hurt uthers : We are compelled, there
fore, in the feare of God, to give the said N. into
the hands and power of the devill, to the destruc
tion of the flesh, if that by that meane he may be
broght to the consideration of himself, and so
repent and avoide that fearfull condemnation that
shall fall on all inobedient in the day of the Lord
Jesus. And lest that onie shuld think that we

G2 THE FORM OF

do this of manlie presumption, without the assur
ance of the Scriptures, ye shall shortlie hear
what commandement and authoritie we have so
to do.

First, We have the commandement of our
Maister and Savionr Jesus Christ, to holde such
for ethniks and publicanes as will not hear the
voyce of the Church : but plaine it is, that this
obstinate N. hath contemptuouslie refused all
wholsome admonitions, and therefore we (not one
or two, but the whole Church) must holde him as
a publicane, that is, as one cut off from the bodie
of Jesus Christ, and unworthie of anie societie
with him, or with the benefites of his Church,
till his new conversion and his receaving againe.

Secundarly, We have the command of the
Apostle St. Paul, and that fearful sentence, which
he, being absent, did notwithstanding pronunce
against the incest, with his sharpe rebuke to the
Corinthians, because that with greater zeale and
expedition they expelled not from amonges them
that wicked man. And if anie thinke that the
offence of this foir-named obstinate is not so
hay nous as that of incest, let such understand,
that mercie and favour may rather begraunted til
anie uther sinne then to the contempt of holesome
admonitions, and of the just and laughfull ordin
ances of the Church. For uther sinnes, how
haynous so ever they be (so be it that they
deserve not death), as by unfeaned repentance
they ar remitted before God ; so upon the same
humblie offered unto the Church, order may be

EXCOMMUNICATION. 63

taken, that the offeiidar may be conforted, and at
lenth restored to the societie of the Church
againe : but such as proudlie contempne the
admonition of the Church, private or publike,
declare themselfes stubburne, rebellious, and
altogether impenitent, and therefore most justlie
ought they to be Excommunicate.

The precept of God gevin under the law, to
expell from the middes of God s people such as
were leprous (without exception of persons), is to
us an assurance that we ought to expell from the
societie of Christ s body such as be striken with
spiritual leprosie ; for the one is no lesse infective
and dangerous then is the uther. Xow, seeing
that we know Excommunication is God s ordi
nance, let us in few words understand the
utility and use of the same.

By it, first, the Church is purged of open
wicked doers, which is no small commodity, con
sidering that we feght in the middes and eyes of
this wicked generation, which seiketh in us
nothing more than occasion of sclander. Second-
arly, By it is the Church and every member of
the same reteaned in obedience and feare, whereof
all have need, if the frailtie of our flesh shall be
rightly considdered. Thirdly, By it we exercise
ane singular \vorke of charity, while that we
declare our selfes carefull to kepe the flock of
Christ in purity of maners, and without danger to
be infected : for, as it war a worke both
uncharitable and cruell to joyne together in one
bed persones infected with pestilent or uther

64 THE FORM OF

contagious and infective sores, with tender
children, or with such as war hole, so it is no
lesse crueltie to suffer amonges the flock of Jesus
Christ such uther obstinat rebelles : for trew is
that sentence of the Apostle, " A little leaven
corrupteth the whole masse." But lest that we
shuld seme to usurpe power owir the Church, or
to doe any thing without the knowledge and con
sent of the whole body, for this present we delay
the sentence, willing, such as have any thing to
object in the contrair, to propone the same the
nixt Session day, or eles to signify the same to
some of the Ministeris or Eldaris, that answer
may be gevin thereto ; and in the meane tyme we
will call to God for the conversion of the im
penitent.

A Prayer for the Obstinat.

Eternall and overliving God, Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, whose verie property is to
shaw mercie, and to restore life, even when to
man s judgement death hath gottin dominion over
thy creatures: for thou first soght, called, accused,
and convicted our father Adam after his trans
gression ; and being so dead in sinne, and thrall
to Sathan, that he could nether confesse his
offence, nor yit ask mercy for the same, thou by
thy free promises of mercy and grace gave unto
him a new lyfe and strenth to repent. The
same ordor must thou kepe, Lord, with all thy
chosen children of his posteritie ; for in mannis

EXCOMMUNICATION. 65

corrupt nature there can be no obedience, whill
that thou by operation of thy Holy Spirit worke
the same. And therefore, we most humbly
beseke thee, for Jesus Christ thy Sones sake,
pitifullie to look upon this thy creature, who ones
was baptized in thy Name, and hath professed
himself subject to thy religioun and unto the
discipline of thy Church, whoine Sathan, alas,
now so blyndeth, that obstinately he contemneth
the one and the uther. We have followed, O
Lord, the reule prescribed unto us by thy deir
Sone our Lord Jesus Christ, in admonishing and
threatning him ; bot hidderto have profited
nothing concerning him and his humiliation.

But, Lord, as thou alone knowes, so may
thou alone change and mollifie the harts of the
proud and impenitent : thou, by the voce of thy
Prophet Nathan, wakened David from his dedlie
securitie : thou, without anie prophet, bet down
the pryde of Manasses in the prison, after he had
sched the blood of thy servandis, and had
replenished Jerusalem with all kynd of inipitie :
thou turned the hart of Peter at the look of thy
deir Sone our Lord Jesus Christ, efter that feir-
fullie, with horrible imprecationis, he had thrise
openlie denied him.

Lord, thy mercies without measure endure
for evir, to the which we efter long travell do
remit this obstinat and impenitent ; earnestlie
desiring thee, Father of mercies, first so to
peirse his hart with the feir of thy severe judge
ments, that he may begin to understand, that

60 THE FORM OF

thus contemning all holesome admonitions, he
provokis thy wraith and indignation againes
himself. Open his eyis, that he may see how
feirful and terrible a thing it is to fall into thy
hands : and therefter mollifie and oynt his hart
by the unction of thy Holy Spirit, that he may
unfeanedly convert unto thee, and geve unto thee
that honour and obedience that thou requirest in
thy holy word ; and so to our confort that now
mourn e for his rebellion, that he may subject
himself to the just ordinance of thy Church, and
avoide that feirfull vengeance that most assuredly
shall fall upon all the inobedient. These thy
graces, heavenly Father, and farther, as thou
knowest to be expedient for us, and for thy
Church universall, we call for according as we
are taught to pray be our soverane Maister,
Christ Jesus, saying, OUR FATHER, &c.

The sccund Sunday, eftcr the sermone and publict
prayeris, the Minister shall, in audience of the Iwle
Church, ask the Eldars and Dcaconis, who man
sit in an eminent and proper place, that there
answer may be heard

The Minister.

Hath N., whom the last day we admonished,
under the pain of Excommunication, to satisfie
the Church for his publict sclander and con
tempt of the Ministerie, be himself, or be any
uther, offered his obedience unto you ?

EXCOMMUNICATION. G7

They shall answer e as the Truth is, yea or nay.

If he hath soght the favoris of anie within the
Ministerie, with promise of obedience, then shall
farther process be delayed, and he commanded to
appeir before the Sessioun in there nixt assemblie,
where ordor may be takin for his publict repent
ance, as in the former head is expressed. If he
have not labored to satisfie the Church, then shall
the Minister proceid and say :

It can not but be dolorous to the bodie, that anie
one membre thereof shuld be cut off and perish ;
and yit it audit to be more feirfull to the
membre then to the bodie, for the membre cut
off can doe nothing but putrifie and perish, and
yit the bodie may reteine lyfe and strenth. Bot
the rebellioun of this obstinat may proceid in one
part from ignorance ; for it may be that he under -
standeth not what excommunication is, and what
is the danger of the same ; I shall therefoir in
few wordes oppin the one and the uther.

Laughfull excommunication (for the thundringis
of that Itomane Antichrist ar bot vanity and
wynd) is the cutting off from the body of Jesus
Christ, from participatioun of his holy sacramentis,
and from publict prayeris with his Church, be
publike and solemned sentence, all obstinat and
impenitent personis, efter dew admonitionis :
which sentence, lawghfullie pronunced 011 earth, is
ratified in heaven, by bynding of the same sinnes
that they bynd on earth. The danger hereof is

8 THE FORM OF

greater than man can suddauly espy ; for seeing
that without the body of Jesus Christ there
abydeth nothing bot death and damnation to
mankynd, in what estait shall we judge them to
stand, that justly are cut off from the same ?

Yea, what horrible vengeance hangeth upon
them and their posteritie, notable and severe
punishmentis may instruct us : Cain the
murtherar was not accursed in his awin person
only, bot that same malediction rang in his
posteritie, and upon all that joyned therewith,
till that all mankynd was destroyed by water
(eight persons reserved). Cham lykewyse was
accursed in his sone Canaan, the severity whereof
proceded evin to the exterminion of that hole
race and nation. The sempill word of our
Maister Jesus Christ caused the figg-tree suddanly
to wither. At the voyce of Peter, Ananias and
Sapphira war striken to death. The same God
and Lord Jesus, with the power of his Holie
Spirit that then was potent and just, wirkis evin
now in the Ministerie of his Church, the con
tempt whereof he will in no wyse suffer un
punished. And therefoir ye that have acquent-
ance or familiarity with the foir-named obstinat,
ileclair unto him these dangeris, and will him not
to tempt the uttermoist. And thus yit again let
us pray to God for his conversion.

Let the former Prayer be publicity said.

The thrid Sonday, let the first questioun be
proponed by the Minister to the Eldaris and

EXCOMMUNICATION. 69

Deaconis, concerning the submission of the
Obstinat, so oft admonished, as was proponed the
second. If repentance be offered, let ordour be
takin, as is befoir said, with a charge to the
Church to prayse God for the conversion of that
brother. If repentance be not offered, then shall
the Minister expone wherein the persoue that is
to be Excomnumicat hath offended, how oft and
by whom he hath bene admonished, als weil
privatelie as publictly ; and shall demand of the
Eldaris and Deaconis if it be not so : Whose
answer receaved, the Minister shall ask the hole
Church if they think that such contempt shuld
be suffered amonges them : and if then no man
mak intercession for the obstinat, the Minister
shall proceid, and say :

Of very conscience we are compelled to do that
which to our hartis is most dolorous, to wit, to
geve over in the handis of the Devill, this foir-
named obstinat contemner 1ST., whom ones we
esteimed a membre of our body ; and that not onlie
for the cryme that he hath committed, bot much
rather for his proud contempt and intollerable
rebellioun, lest that our sufferance of him in this
his impietie shuld not only be imputed unto us, bot
also that he shuld infect uthers with the same
pestilence. And therefore we man use the last
remedie, how grevous that ever it be unto us :
and yit I desire you, for more ample declaratioun
of your Christian charity towards him, ye pray
with me unto God, now for the last, for his cou-
versioun.

70 THE FORM OF

The last Prayer "before, the Excommunicatioun.

Omnipotent, Eternall, and Mercifull Father,
who, for that good-will that thou bearest unto us
in Jesus Christ thy deir Sone, wilt not the deatli
and destruction of a sinner, but rather that he,
by inspiration and moving of thy Holie Spirit,
convert and live ; who also doest witnes the
vertew and strenth of thy word to be such, that
it causeth the mountains to schaik, the rockes to
tremble, and the floods to drie up ; behald, we
thy children and people here prostrat before thee,
most humblie beseik thee, in the Name of thy
deire Sone our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou wilt
move and peirse the hart of our impenitent
brother, whom Sathan so long hath indured and
hardened ; let it pleise thy Majestic, be the
vertew of thy Holie Spirit, that thou wilt mollifie
the same. Expell his darknes, and by the light
of thy grace that thou wilt so illuminat him, that
now at lenth he may feil, first, How grevously
he hath offended againis thy Majestic : and,
secondarly, againis thy holie Church and
Assemblie. Give him thy grace to acknawledg,
accuse, and damne als weil befoir us whom he
hath offended, as befoir thy presence, this his
proud contempt, lest that we, by the same pro
voked, be compelled, with all our griefis, to cut
him off thy mysticall bodie, w r horn we, Lord,
unfeanedly desire to retene within thy Church, as
a lyvely member of thy deir Sone our Lord Jesus.
Heir us, merciful Father ; call back again this

EXCOMMUNICATION. 71

our impenitent brother that now temlith to
eternal destruction ; that we al, who befoir thy
presence evin for his rebellion do murne, may
receave him again with gladnes and joy, and so
render prayse and honour unto thee befoir this
thy holie Congregatiou.il.

We grant our selfis, Lord, unworthy whom
thou should heir, because we cease not to offend
thee by our continual transgression of thy holy
precepts. Look not upon us, mercifull Father, in
this our corrupt nature, bot look thou to thy deir
Sone, whom thou of thy mere mercie hast
appointed our Head, great Bishop, Advocat,
Mediator, and only Propitiator. In him and in
the merites of his death. We humblie beseche
thee mercifullie to behald us, and suffer not the
most innocent blude of thy deir Sone, sched for
us, and for this our impenitent brother, to be
prophaned by the tyranny and slight of Sathan.
Bot, by the vertew of the same, let this our
impenitent brother be broght to imfeaned repent
ance, that so he may escaip that feirfull con-
demnatioun, in the which he appeireth to fall.
This we ask of thee, heavenly Father, in the
boldnes of our Head and Mediator Jesus Christ,
praying as he hath taught us, OUR FATHER, &c.

If after this Prayer the Obstinat compcir not to
offer his Repentance, then shall the Minister
proceid, and say:

Brethren, seing that as ye have heard this
obstinate and impenitent persone, N., hath so

72 THE FORM OF

grevously offended against God, and against this
his holy congregatioun, who by no means (as ye
may perceave) can be broght to repentance ;
whereof it is evident by the word of God, that he
is fallin from the kingdome of heaven, and from
the blessed society of the Lord Jesus :

And we, albeit with dolour of our hartes, may
now execute that which the commandement of
Jesus Christ, and the practise of his Apostle,
schaweth that of our office we aucht to do, to wit,
that we shall publictly declair and pronunce such
to have no society with us, as declair themselfis
obstinat and rebellious agains all holsome admoni
tions, and the blessed ordinances of his Church :
and that we may do the same, not out of our awin
authority, bot in the name and power of our Lord
Jesus Christ, befoir whom all kneis are compelled
to bow, let us Immblie fall down befoir him, and
on this maner pray, and pronunce this sentence:

The Invocations, of the Name of Jesus Christ, to
c.vcommunicat the impenitent, togither with the
Sentence of Excommunication.

Lord Jesus Christ, the only and eternall
King of all the chosen children of thine heavinly
Father, the Head and Lawgiver of thy Church,
who by thy awin mouth hast commanded that
such offendars as proudlie contemne the admoni-
tiouns of thy Church shall be cast out from the
society of the same, and shall be reputed of thy
professouris as prophane ethnicks ; we, willing to

EXCOMMUNICATION. 73

obey this thy precept, which also we have receaved
be institution!! of thy Apostile, ar here presently
convened in thy Name, to Excommunicate and
cast furth from the societie of thy holie bodie, and
from all participation!! with thy Church in sacra-
mentis or prayeris, N". ; which thing we do at thy
commandement, and in thy power and authoritie,
to the glorie of thy holy Name, to the conserva
tion and edification of this thy Church, in the
which it hath pleised thee to place us Ministers,
and to the extreme remedie of the stubburne
obstinacie of the fore-named impenitent. And
because thou hast promised thy self evir to be
with us, bot especially with such as uprightly
travel in the Ministery of thy Church, whom also
thou hes promised to instruct and guyde by the
dictament of thy Holie Spirit, we most humblie
beseche thee so to governe and assist us in the
execution of this our charge, that whatsoevir we
in thy Name do here pronunce on earth, that thou
wilt ratifie the same in the heavin. Our assur
ance, Lord, is thy expressed word ; and there
fore, in boldnes of the same HEIR I, IN THY
NAME, and at the commandement of this thy
present Congregatioun, cut off, seclude, and
excommunicat from thy body, and from our
societie, N., as one persone sclanderous, proud, a
contempnar, and one member, for this present,
altogither corrupted and pernitious to the bodie.
And this his sin (albeit with sorrow of hart) by
vertew of our Ministerie, we bynde and pronunce
the same to be bound in heaven and earth. We
6

74 THE FORM OF

farther geve over in the handis and power of the
Devill the said N., to the destructioun of his
flesh, straitlie charging all that professe the Lord
Jesus, to whose knawledge this our sentence shall
cum, to repute and hald the said N. accursed,
and unworthie of the familiar societie of Christians:
declaring unto all men, that such as herefter
befoir his repentance shall hant or familiarlie
accompanie with him, ar partakaris of his impiety,
and subject to the lyke condemnation. This our
sentence, O Lord Jesus, pronunced in thy Name,
and at thy commandement, we humblie desire
thee to ratifie according to thy promise. And yit,
Lord, thou that earnest to save that which was
lost, look upon him with the eyis of thy mercie, if
thy good pleasure be ; and so peirse thou his hart
that he may feile in his breist the terrours of thy
judgementis, that by thy grace he fruictfully may
be converted to thee ; and so damning his awin
impietie, he may be with the lyke solemnitie
receaved within the bosome of thy Church, from
the which this day (with greif and dolour of our
hartis) he is ejected.

LORD ! in thy presence, we protest that our
awin affections move us not to this severitie, but
onely the hatred of sin, and obedience that we
geve to thy awin commandement. And there
fore, heavenlie Father, we crave the perpetuall
assistance of thy Holie Spirit, not onlie to brydill
our corrupted affections, but also so to conduct us in
all the course of our hole lyfe, that we nevir fal

EXCOMMUNICATION. 75

to tlie like impietie and contempt, bot that con-
tinuallie we may be subject to the voce of thy
Church, and unto the Ministers of the same, who
trewlie offer to us the Word of lyfe, the blessed
Evangel of thy onlie belovit Sone Jesus Christ;
to whom with thee and the Holie Spirit be all
prayse, glorie, and honour, now and ever. So
be it.

The Sentence pronunced, ami the Prayer ended,

The Minister shall admonish the Church, that
all the faithfull hald the Excommunicat as an
ethnike, as before is said ; that no man use his
familiar companie ; and yet that no man accuse
him of onie uther cryme than of such as he is
convicted of, and for the which he is excom-
municat, bot that everie man shall secretlie call
to God for grace to be granted to the excom-
municat. Such as have office in the Minis-
terie may upon licence required of the Church,
speik with the excommunicat, so long as hope
resteth of his conversioun bot if he contineu
obstinat, then audit all the faithfull utterly to
abhor his presence and communication. And yit
aucht they more earnestly to call to God that
Sathan in the end may be confounded, and the
creature of God fred from his snares by the power
of the Lord Jesus. And with the accustomed
benediction the Assemblie shall be dismissed,
after they have sung the CI. Psalme, or one por
tion thereof, as it shall pleise the congregatioun.

76 THE FORM OF

^Ehc (Drftoutc to receabe the (Exormmunmit
agaric to the odctie of the Church.

FIRST, we must observe, that such as deserve
death for the cryme committed, never be admitted
to the Societie of the Church, untill such tyme as
either the magistrate punish according to the law,
or elles pardon the cryme, as before we have said:
but such as for uther offences and for there con
tempt ar excommunicat, may be received when
they shall earnestlie seike the favouris of the
Church. They must begyne at the Ministerie,
the Eldars, and Deaconis, who must expone there
repentance to the Minister or Ministers in their
Assemblie : a day may be appointed to the Ex
communicat to present himself before them. The
signes of his repentance aught to be diligentlie
inquired, as what hath bene his behaviour sence
the tyme of his excommunication, what he will
offer for satisfaction to the Church, and unto whom
he hath exponed the griefe and dolour of his hart.
If the Excommunicat be found penitent and
obedient in all things, the Minister the nixt
Sonday may geve advertisement to the hole
Church of his humiliation, and command them
to call to God for increase of the same : the nixt
session day the Minister may appoint to the Ex
communicat such satisfaction as they think most
expedient ; to the which if the excommunicat
fullie agree, then may the said Ministerie appoint

ABSOLUTION. 77

unto him a certane day when he shall fulfill the
same.

For this is principallie to be observed, that no
excomnmnicat persone may be receavid to the
societie of the Church again, until such time as
he hath stand at the church dure, at the least moe
Sundayis than one ; Which dayis being expirid,
and the hole satisfaction complete, some of the
Eldars shall passe to the excommunicat, efter that
the formar prayer of the Minister in the pulpet
be ended, and shall present him to an certan
place appointed for the penitents, where he shall
stand in the same habite, in the which he maid
satisfaction, untill the sermon be ended : And
then shal the same Eldars that broght him into
the Church present him to the Minister, with
these or the lyke wordis :

This creature of God is, N., that for his wicked-
nes and obstinat rebellion hath bene Excommuni
cat from the bodie of Jesus Christ, bot now, by
the power of the Spirit of God, is called back
again by Repentance, so far as the judgement of
man can persave, for he hath not only craved the
favours of the Ministrie that he might be receaved
into the bodie of the Church again, bot also most
obediently hath subjected himself to all that we
have commanded, for trial of his humiliatiouii :
And therefoir we present him befoir you to be
examinat ; and if his repentance be sufficient, to
be receaved again to the bodie of the Church.

Then shall the Minister render thanks, first to
God for that part of his humiliation, and also de-

78 THE FORM OF

sire the Church of God to do the same with him.
Therefter he shall addresse him to the person ex-
communicat, and first shall lay befoir him his sin;
therefter, the admonitions that war gevin unto
him to satisfie the Church for the same; and last,
his proud contempt and long obstinacie, for the
which he was excommunicat : And of every one
he shall require his peculiar confession, with ac
cusation of himself, and detestation of his impietie ;
Which being receaved, he shall render thanks to
God as followeth :

We thank the mercie and goodnes of God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, for this thy con
version, N., into the which thou hast not so much
aschamed thy self, as that thou hast confounded
and ovircome Sathan, by whose venoum and de-
ceaveable entisements thou hitherto hast bene re
bellious to the holsome admonitions of the Church:
And yit because we can hot onlie see that which
is externall, we will joyne our prayeris with thyne,
that thy humiliation may proceed from the heart.

Let the Prayers appoynted to be said in the rc-
ceaviny of the Penitent [supra, p. 5J^} be said
also here : Which ended, let the Church and
the Penitent be admonished as there is ex-
prcmed : except that the cryme of his Excom
munication must cvir be aggredged and mcn-
tionat.

ABSOLUTION. 79

$3raner -contemhtg his rcaatring to
the Church.

LORD Jesus Christ, King, Teachar, and our
eternal Preist, who with the preaching of thy
blessed Evangel hes joyned the power to Lynd
and lowse the shines of men, who hes also pro-
nimced, that whatsoevir by thy Ministers is bound
on earth shall be bound in the heavin, and also
that whatsoever is lowsed by the same, shall be
lowsed and absolved with the in the heavin; look,
( ) Lord, mercifullie upon this thy creature N., etc.,
whom Sathan of long tyme hath haldin in bondage,
so that not onlie he drew him to iniquitie, hot also
that he so hardened his hart, that he despised all
admonitiouns; for the which his sin and contempt
we war compelled to excommunicat him from our
bodie. Bot now, Lord, seeing that the Spirit
of our Lord Jesus Christ hath so far prevaled in
him, that he is returned to our society, it wil
pleise thee, for the obedience of our Lord Jesus,
so to accept him, that his forinar inobedience be
never laid to his charge, bot that he may increase
in all godlines, till that Sathan finally be trodden
under his feit and ours, by the power of our Lord
Jesus Christ ; to whom with Thee and the Holy
Spirit be all honor and glorie, now and evir. So
be it.

r ^Ehe Jormc of Jtbsohitioun.

IN the Name and authoritie of Jesus Christ, I,
the Minister of his blessed Evangel, with consent

80 THE FORM OF

of this hole Ministery and Church, Absolve thee,
N. from the sentence of Excommunication, from
the sin by thee committed, and from al censures
led againes thee for the same of before, according
to thy repentance, and pronunces thy sin to be
loused in heavin, and thee to be receaved again
to the societie of Jesus Christ, to his bodie the
Church, to the participation!! of his Sacramentes,
and, finally, to the fruition of all his benefits, in
the name of the Father, the Sone, and the Holy
Spirit. So be it.

The Absolution pronounced, the Minister shall
then call him Brother, and geve him admonition
to watch and pray, that he fall not in the lyke
tentation, that he be thankfull for the mercie
shawin unto him, and that he shaw the fruictis
of his conversion in lyfe and conversatioun.

Thereftir the hole Ministerie shall embrace
him, and such utheris of the Church as be nixt
unto him ; and then shall a Psalme of thankis-
geving be song.

This Or dour may ~be enlarged or contracted as
the wisedomc of the discreit Minister shall
think expedient ; For we rather shaw the way
to the ignorant, than prescribe Ordour to the
learned that cannot be amended.

Jlne grayer.

PRESERVE the publict face of thy Church, within
this Eealme, Lord : Dilait the kingdome of thy
Sone Jesus Christ universally; and so farther dis-

ABSOLUTION. 81

clois and brek down the tyrannic of that Romano
Antichrist, by the power of thy Sone our Lord
Jesus Christ. So be it. ANNO 1567.

Rom. 16. Soli sapienti Deo per Jcsum Christum
(jloria in perpetuum. Amen.

This Book is thocjht nccessar and profitable, for
the Church, and commanded to lie printed be
the Generall AssemUic. Set furth be JOHNE
KNOX Minister; and sighted be us whose names
follow, as we war appointed be the said Gene-
rail AssemUic.

JOHNE WILLOK. DAVID LYNDESAY.

M. JOIINE CRAG. GUILIELMUS CHEISTISONIS.

ROBEET PONT. JAMES GREG, etc.
JOHNE Row.

THE VISITATION

Visitation of the Sirhc.

]>ECAWSE the Visitation of the Sicke is a thyng
verie necessarie, and yet notwithstandyng, it is
hard to prescribe all rules appertaynyng ther-
unto, wee refer it to the discretion of the godlie
and prudent Minister ; who, accordinge as he
seethe the pacient affected, either may lift hym
up with the swete promesses of Godes mercy
through Christe, if he perceive hym moche afrayde
of Godes thretenynges ; or contrarie wise, if he
be not towched with the felinge of his synnes,
may beate hym downe with Godes justice. Ever
more like a skilfull phisition, framyng his medi
cine accordyng as the disease requireth ; and if
he perceyve hym to wante any necessaries, he
not onelie releveth hym accordyng to his abilitie,
but also provideth by others that he may be fur-
nissed sufficiently. Moreover, the partie that is
visited, may, at all tymes, for his comforte, sende
for the Minister; who dothe not onelie make prayers
for hym there presentlie, but also, if it so requyre,
commendeth hym in the publique prayers to the
Congregation.

Jl Jpraijer to be saib in Visiting
of the

O OUR good God, Lord and Father, the Creator
and conserver of all things, the fountaine of all

OF THE SICK. 83

goodnes and benignitie, like as (among other thine
infinite benefites which thou of thy great goodnes
and grace doest distribute ordinarly unto all men)
thou givest them health of bodie, to the end that
they shulde the better knowe thy great liberalitie,
so that they might be the more ready to serve
and glorifie thee with the same : So contrariwise,
when we have il behaved ourselves in offending
thy Majestic, thou hast accustomed to admonish
us, and call us unto thee by divers and sundry
chastisements, through the which it hath pleased
thy goodnes to subdue and tame our fraile flesh :
but especially by the grievous plagues of sicknes
and diseases, using the same as a meane to awake
and stirre up the great dulnes and negligence that
is in us all, and advertising us of our evil life by
such infirmities and dangers, especially when as
they threaten the very death ; which (as assured
messingers of the same) are all to the flesh ful
of extreme anguish and torments, although they
l^e, notwithstanding, to the spirit of the elect as
medicines bothe good and wholesome; for by them
thou doest move us to returne unto thee for our sal
vation, and to cal upon thee in our afflictions, to have
thine helpe, which art our cleare and loving Father.
In consideration whereof, we most earnestly
praye unto thee our good God, that it w T olde
please thine infinite goodnes to have pitie on this
thy poore creature, whome thou hast, as it were,
bound and tyed to the bed by most grievous
sickenes, and brought to great extremitie by the
heavines of thine hand.

84 THE VISITATION

Lord ! enter not into a compt with him, to
render the rewarde due unto his workes; but throw
thine infinite mercy remitte all his faultes, for the
which thou hast chastised him so gently, and be-
holde rather the obedience which thy deare Sonne
Jesus Christ our Lorde hath rendred unto thee ;
to wit, the sacrifice which it pleased thee to accept
as a full recompense for all the iniquities of them
that receive him for their justice and sanctifica-
tion, yea, for their onelie Saviour.

Let it please thee, God ! to give him a true
zeale and affection to receive and acknowledge
him for his onlie Eedeemer ; to the end also that
thou mayest receive this sicke person to thy
mercie, qualifying al the troubles which his
shines, the horror of death and dreadful feare
of the same, may bring to his weake conscience.
Neither suffer thou, O Lord, the assautes of the
mightie adversarie to prevaile, or to take from
him the comfortable hope of salvation, which
thou givest to thy dearely beloved children.

And forasmuche as we are all subject to the
like state and condition, and to be visited with
like battel when it shal please thee to call us
unto the same ; we beseech thee most humbly,
Lord, with this thy poore creature whome thou
now presently chastisest, that thou wilt not ex
tend thy rigorous judgment against him, but that
thou wouldest vouchsafe to shewe him thy mercie,
for the love of thy deare Sonne, Jesus Christ our
Lord : who, having suffered the moste shameful
and extreame death of the crosse, bare willingly

OF THE SICK. 85

the faute of this poore patient, to the end that
thou mightest acknowledge him as one redeemed
with his precious blood, and received into the
communion of his body, to be participant of
eternal felicitie in the companie of thy blessed
Angels. Wherefore, Lord, dispose and move
his heart to receave by thy grace, with all
mekenes, this gentle and fatheiiie correction
which thou hast layed upon him ; that he may
indure it patiently, and with willing obedience,
submitting himself with heart and mincle to thy
blessed wil and favourable mercie, wherein thou
now visitest him after this sorte for his profit and
salvation. It may please thy goodnes, Lord 1
to assist him in all his anguishes and troubles:
and although the tongue and voice be not able to
execute their office in this behalf to set foorthe
thy glorie, that yet at least thou wilt stirre up
his heart to aspire unto thee onely, which art the
onelie fountaine of goodnes ; and that thou fast
roote and settle in his heart the swete promises
which thou hast made unto us, in Christ Jesus,
thy Sonne our Saviour, to the intent he may
remaine constant against all the assautes and
tumultes which the enemie of our salvation may
raise up to trouble his conscience.

And seing it hath pleased thee, that, by the
death of thy dear Sonne, life eternal shuld be
communicated unto us, and by the shedding of
his blood the washing of our shines shulde be de
clared, arid that by his Eesurrection also, both
justice and immortalitie shulde be given us ; it

86 THE VISITATION

may please thee to applie this holie and holesome
medicine to this thy poore creature in such ex-
tremitie, taking from him all trembling and
dreadful feare, and to give him a stoute courage
in the middes of all his present adversiteis.

And forasmuche as all things, heavenly
Father, be knowen unto thee, and thou canst,
according to thy good pleasure, minister unto
him all suche things as shal be necessarie and
expedient; let it please thee, Lord, so to satisfie
him by thy grace, as may seme most mete unto
thy Divine Majestic.

Receive him, Lord, into thy protection, for he
hath his recourse and accesse to thee alone ; and
make him constant and firme in thy commande-
ments and promises : and also pardon all his
sinnes, both secret and those which are manifest;
by the which he hath moste grievously provoked
thy wrath and severe judgements against him ;
so as in place of death (the which both he and
all we have justly merited), thou wilt graunt unto
him that blessed life, which we also attend and
loke for by thy grace and mercie.

Nevertheles, O heavenly Father, if thy good
pleasure be that he shal yet live longer in this
worlde, it may then please thee to augment in
him thy graces, so as the same may serve unto
thy glorie : yea, Lord, to the intent he may con-
forme himself the more diligently, and with more
carefulnes, to the example of thy Sonne Christ
Jesus ; and that in renouncing him self, he may
cleave fully unto him, who, to give consolacion

OF THE SICK. 87

and hope unto all sinners, to obteine remission of
all their sinnes and offences, hath caried with him
into the heavens the theefe which was crucified
with him upon the crosse.

But if the time by thee appoynted be come,
that he shall departe from us unto thee, make
him to feele in his conscience, Lord, the frute
and strength of thy grace ; that thereby he may
have a new taste of thy fatherlie care over him
from the beginning of his life unto the very end
of the same, for the love of thy deare Sonne Jesus
Christ our Lord.

Give him thy grace, that with a good heart,
and full assurance of faith, he may receive to his
consolation so great and excellent a treasure : to
wit, the remission of his sinnes in Christ Jesus
thy Sonne, who now presenteth him to this poore
persone in distres, by the vertue of thy promises
reveiled unto him by thy worde, which he hath
exercised with us in thy Church and congrega
tion, and also in using the Sacraments, which
thou therein hast established for confirmation of
all their faith that trust in thee unfainedly.

Let true faith, Lord, be unto him as a most
sure buckler, thereby to avoyde the assautes of
death, and more boldely walke for the advance
ment of eternal life ; to the end that he, having a
most livelie apprehension thereof, may rejoyce
with thee in the heavens eternally.

Let him be under thy protection and gover
nance, heavenly Father ; and although he be
sicke, yet thou canst heale him; he is cast downe,

88 THE VISITATION

but thou canst lift him up : he is sore troubled,,
but thou canst send redresse ; he is weak, thou
canst send strength, he acknowledgeth his unclean-
nes, his spots, his filthines, and iniquities, but thou
canst wash him and make him cleane : he is
wounded, but thou canst minister most sovereigne
salves ; he is fearful and trembling, but thou canst
give him good courage and boldnes : To be short,
he is, as it were utterly lost, and as a strayed
shepe ; but thou canst cal him home to thee
againe. Wherefore, Lord, seeing that this poore
creature (thine owne workmanship) resigneth him
self wholly into thy hands, receave him into thy
merciful protection. Also we poore miserable
creatures, which are, as it were, in the field, ready
to fight till thou withdraw us from the same,
vouchesafe to strengthen us by thine Holie Spirit,
that we may obtaine the victorie in thy name
against our deadlie and mortal enemie ; and fur
thermore, that the affliction and the combat of
this thy poore creature in most grievous torments,
may move us to humble ourselves with all reverent
feare and trembling under thy mightie hand, know
ing that we must appeare before thy judgement
seat, when it shal please thee so to appoint. But,
O Lord, the corruption of our fraile nature is such,
that we are utterly destitute of any meane to ap
peare before thee, except it please thee to make
us suche as thou thy self requirest us to be ; and
further, that thou give us the spirit of meknes
and humilitie, to rest and stay wholly on those
things which thou onely commandest.

OF THE SICK. 89

But forasmuche as we be all together unworthy
to enjoy such benefites, we beseche thee to receive
us in the name of thy dear Sonne our Lord and
Master, in whose death and satisfaction standeth
wholy the hope of our salvation.

It may also please thee, Father of comfort
and consolation, to strengthen with thy grace
those which imploy their travel and diligence to
the ayding of this sicke persone, that they faint
not by overmuch and continual labour, but rather
to go heartilie and cherefully forwarde in doing
their indevours towardes him : and if thou take
him from them, then of thy goodnes to comfort
them, so as they may paciently beare suche de
parting, and prayse thy Name in all things. Also,
heavenly Father, vouchesafe to have pitie on all
other sicke persons, and such as be by any other
wayes or means afflicted, and also on those who
as yet are ignorant of thy trueth, and apperteine
neverthelesse unto thy kingdome.

In like manner on those that suffer persecution,
tormented in prisones, or otherwise troubled by
the enemies of the veritie, for bearing testimonie
to the same. Finally, on all the necessities of
thy people, and upon all the ruins or decayes
which Satan hath brought upon thy Church.
Father of mercy ! spread forth thy goodnes upon
all those that be thine ; that we, forsaking our
selves may be the more inflamed and confirmed,
to rest onely upon thee alone. Graunt these our
requestes, our deare Father, for the love of thy
deare Sonne our Saviour Jesus Christ; who liveth
7

90 VISITATION OF THE SICK.

and reigneth with thee in unitie of the Holy
Ghost, true God, for evermore. So be it.

<Df gurgall.

THE corps is reverently brought to the grave,
accompanied with the Congregation, without any
further ceremonies: which being buryed, the Min
ister if he be present, and required, goeth to the
Church, if it be not farre of, and maketh some
comfortable exhortation to the people, touching
death and resurrection.

FORM OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 91

(Drber of public i*Horshtp.

When the Congregation is assembled at the houre
appointed, the minister useth this confession
following, or fyke in effect, exhorting the people
dilligently to examin themselves, following in
their hartcs the tenor of his wordcs.

^hc (Confession of our innes.

O ETERNALL God and moste mercifull Father, we
confesse and acknowlage here, before thy divine
majestie, that we are miserable synners, conceyved
and borne in synne and iniquitie, so that in us
there is no goodnes. For the fieshe evermore re-
belleth against the spirite, wherby we contynually
transgresse thy holy preceptes and commaunde-
mentes, and so purchase to our selves, through
thy just judgement, death and damnation.

Notwithstandinge, heavenly Father, foras-
moche as we are displeased with our selves for
the synnes that we have committed against thee,
and do unfeynedly repent us of the same, we
moste humbly beseche thee, for Jesus Christes
sake, to shewe thy mercie upon us, to forgive us
all our synnes, and to increase thy Holy Spirite
in us. That we acknowla<nnge from the bottome

92 THE FORM OF

of our hartes our owne unrightousnes, may from
hensforth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and
affections, but also bringe forth suche fruites as
may be agreable to thy moste blessed wyll; not for
the worthynes therof, but for the merites of thy
dearely beloved Sonne Jesus Cliriste, our onely
Savyour, whom thou hast already given an obla
tion and offeringe for our synnes, and for whose
sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wylt
denye us nothinge that we shall aske in his name,
accordinge to thy wyl. For thy Spirite doth as
sure our consciences that thou arte our mercifull
Father, and so lovest us thy childrene through
hym, that nothinge is able to remove thy heavenly
grace and favor from us. To thee, therfore,
Father, with the Sonne and the Holy Ghoste, be
all honor and glory e, worlde withowt ende. So
be it.

<3ln other (JTonfcssion nnb Jrajjcr

Commonly used in the Church of Edinburgh, on
the day of commune prayers.

O DREADFUL and most mightie God, thou that
from the beginning hast declared thyselfe a con
suming fyre against the contemners of thy most
holy precepts ; and yet to the penitent sinners
hast alwayes shewed thy selfe a favourable Father,
and a God full of mercie ; We, thy creatures, and
workmanship of thine owne handes, confesse our
selves most unworthye to open our eyes unto the

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 93

heavens, but farre lesse to appeare in thy pre
sence. For our consciences accuse us, and our
manifest iniquities have borne witnes against us,
that we have declined from thee. We have bene
polluted with idolatrie ; we have given thy glorie
to creatures ; we have sought support where it
was not to be founde, and have lightlyed thy
most holesome admonitions. The manifest cor
ruption of our lives in all estates, evidently
proveth that we have not rightly regarded thy
statutes, lawes, and holy ordinances ; and this
was not only done, Lord, in the time of our
blindnes, but even now, when of thy mercie
thou hast opened unto us an entrance to thine
heavenly kingdome by the preaching of thine
holy Evangel, the whole body of this miserable
liealine stil continueth in their former impietie.
For the most parte, alas ! following the footesteps
of the blynde and obstinate Princesse, utterly
despise the light of thyne Evangel, and delyte in
ignorance and idolatrie ; others lyve as a people
without God, and without all feare of thy terrible
judgementes. And some, Lord, that in mouth
professe thy blessed Evangel, by their sclanderous
lyfe blaspheme the same. We are not ignorant,
O Lord, that thou art a righteous Judge, that
cannot suffer iniquitie long to be unpunished
upon the obstinate transgressors ; especially, O
Lord, when that after so long blindnes and
horrible defection from thee, so lovingly thou
callest us again to thy favour and fellowship, and
that yet we do obstinately rebel. We have,

94 THE FORM OF

Lord, in our extreme miserie, called unto thee ;
yea, even when we appeared utterly to have beene
consumed in the furie of our enemies, and then
didest thou mercifully incline thine eares unto us.
Thou foughtest for us even by thine owne power,
when in us there was nether wisdome nor force.
Thou alone brakest the yoake from our neckes,
and set us at libertie, when we by our foolishnes
had made our selves sclaves unto strangiers : and
mercifully unto this day hast thou continued with
us the light of thine Evangel, and so ceasest not
to heape upon us benefites both spiritual and
temporal. But yet, alas ! Lord, we clearly see
that our great ingratitude craveth farther punish
ment at thy handes, the signes whereof are evi
dent before our eyes. ( . ) For the whispering of
sedition, the contempt of thy graces offered, and
the mainteinance of idolatrie, are assured signes
of thy farther plagues to fall upon us in particular
for our greivous offences. And this unmeasurable
untemperatnes of the ayre doeth also threaten
thine accustomed plague of famine, which com
monly followeth riotous excesse and contempt of
the pore, wherewith, alas, the whole earth is re
plenished. ( . ) We have nothing, Lord, that
we may lay betwixt us and thy judgement but
thyne only mercie, freely offred to us in thy
deare Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, purchased to
us by his death and passion. For if thou wilt
enter in judgement with thy creatures, and keepe
in minde our greivous synnes and offences, then
can there no flesh escape condemnation. And,

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 95

therefore, we most humbly beseeche thee, O
Father of mercies, for Christ Jesus thy Sonnes
sake, to take from us these stony hearts, who so
long have heard aswell thy mercies as severe
judgements, and yet have not bene effectually
moved with the same ; and give unto us hearts
mollified by thy Spirit, that may both conceive
and kepe in mynde the reverence that is due
unto thy Majestic. Looke, Lord, unto thy
chosen children labouring under the imperfections
of the fleshe, and grant unto us that victorie that
thou hast promised unto us by Jesus Christ thy
Sonne, our onely Saviour, Mediator, and Law
giver : To whome, with thee and the Holy Ghost,
lie all honour and praise, now and ever.

Jl donfessioit of

To be used before Sermon.

TRUETH it is, LORD, that we are unworthy to
come in thy godly presence, by reason of our mani
fold sinnes and wickednes, much lesse ar we wor-
thie to receave any grace or mercy at thy handes,
if thou shulde deale with us according to our de-
servings ; for we have sinned, Lorde, against thee,
and we have offended thy godlye and divine
Majestic, if thou should beginne to reken with
us even from our first conception in our mothers
wombe, thou canst find nothing at al in us but
occasion of death and eternall condemnation : for
trueth it is, that first we are conceaved in sinne,

96

and in iniquitie was every one of us borne of oure
mother ; al the dayes of our lyfe we have so stil
continued in sinne and wickednes, that rather we
have geven oure selves to folio we the corruption
of this our fleshely nature then otherwaies, with
that earnest care and diligence to serve and wor
ship thee our God, as it become us; and therefore
if thou should enter in judgement with us, just
occasion hast thou not onely to punishe thir our
wretched and mortal bodies, but also to punishe
us bothe in bodie and soule eternally, if thou
shoulde handle us according to the rigour of thy
justice. Bot yet, Lord, as on the owne part
we acknowledge our owne sinnes and offences,
together with the fearefull judgements of thee
our God, that justly be reason thereof thou may
powre upon us, so also on the other parte we ac
knowledge thee to be a merciful God, a loving
and a favourable Father to al them that unfainedly
turne unto thee. Wherefore, Lord, we thy
people, and the workmanship of thine owne
handes, most humbly beseche thee, for Christ
thy Sonnes sake, to she we thy mercy upon u.s,
and forgive us al our offences, impute not to us
the sinnes of oure youth, neither yet receave thou
a rekening of us for the iniquitie of our olde age;
but as thou hast showen thy self merciful to al
them that hath truely called unto thee, so shew
the like mercy and the lyke favour unto us thy
poore servands. Indue our hearts, God, with
such a true and perfect acknowledging of our
sinnes, that we may powre forth before thee the

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 97

unfained sighs and sobbes of our troubled hearts
and afflicted consciences for our offenses committed
against thee. Inflamme our hearts with such a
zeale and fervencie towardes thy glorie, that all
the dayes of our lyfe our onely studie, travel, and
labour may be to serve and worship thee our God
in spirit, in trueth, and in veritie as thou requyrest
of us ; and that this may be the better performed
in us, preserve us from all impediments and staye.s
that in any waies may hinder or stop us in the
same ; but in special, Lord, preserve us from
the craft of Satan, from the snares of the worlde,
and from the noughtie lustes and affections of the
fleshe. Make thy Spirit, God, once to take
such ful possession and dwelling in our hearts,
that not onely al the actions of our life, but also
al the wordes of our mouth, and the least thought
and cogitation of oure mincles, may be gydit and
rueled thereby. And, finally, graunt that al the
time of oure lyfe may be so spent in thy true fear
and obedience, that altogether we maye ende the,
same in the sanctification and honoring of thy
blessed Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to
whome, with thee, and the Holy Ghost, be al
honour and glorie for now and for ever. So
be it.

98 THE FORM OF

31 Confession nf innes, an& petitions,

Made unto God in the tymc of our extreamc
troubles, and yet commonly used in the
Churches of Scotland, before the Sermon.

ETERNAL and everlasting God, Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, thou that showest mercy, and
kepest covenant with them that love and in
reverence kepe thy commandements, even when
thou po wrest foorth thy hote displeasure and just
judgments upon the obstinat inobedient ; we here
prostrat our selves before the throne of thy
Majestic, from our hearts confessing, that justelie
thou hast punished us by the tyrannic of strangers,
and that more justelie thou mayest bring upon
us againe the bondage and yoak which of thy
mercy for a season thou hast removed. Our
kings, princes, and people in blindnes have re
fused the word of thyne eternall veritie ; and in
so doing, we have refused the league of thy
mercy offered to us, in Jesus Christ thy Sonne,
which albeit thou now of thy meere mercy hast
offered to us againe in such aboundance, that
none can be excused by reason of ignorance ; yet
not the lesse to the judgement of men, impietie
overnoweth the whole face of this realme. For
the great multitude delyte them selves in ignor
ance and idolatrie : and suche, alas ! as appeare
to reverence and embrace thy word, do not ex-
presse the fruits of repentance, as it becometh the

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 99

people, to whome thou hast showed thy selfe, so
merciful and favourable. These are thy juste
judgements, Lord, whereby thou punishest
sinne by sinne, and man by his owne iniquitie,
so that there can be no end of sinne, except thou
prevent us with thy undeserved grace. Convert
us, therefore, Lord, and we shall be converted ;
suffer not our unthankfulnes to procure of thy
most just judgements, that strangers againe impire
over us, neither yet that the light of thy Evangel
be taken from us. But howsoever it be, that the
great multitude be altogether rebellious, and also
that in us there remaineth perpetual imper
fections, yet for the glory of thine owne name,
and for the glory of thine onely beloved Sonne
Jesus Christ, whose veritie and Evangel thou of
thy meere mercy hast manifested amongst us : it
wil please thee to take us in to thy protection,
and in thy defence, that all the w r orlde may know,
that, as of thy meere mercy thou hast begone
this worke of our salvation amongst us, so of this
same mercy thou wilt continue it. Graunt us
this, mercifull Father, for Christ Jesus thy Sonnes
sake. So be it.

This done, the people singe a Psalmc all together,
in a playne tune ; which ended, the Minister
prayeth for th assistance of God s Holy Spiritc,
as the same shall move his hartc, and so pro-
cedeth to the Sermon. Usinge after the Ser
mon this Pro.yer followinge, or suche lyke.

100 THE FORM OF

31 Jpntgcr for tht cHholc Estate
of Olhnstcs (Ehurche.

ALMIGIITIE God and moste mercifull Father, we
humbly submit our selves, and fall downe before
thy Majestic, besechinge thee frome the botome
of our hartes, that this seede of thy worde, nowe
sowen amongest us, may take suche depe roote, that
neither the burninge heate of persecution cause it
to wither, nether the thorny cares of this lyfe do
choke it, but that as seede sowen in good grownde,
it may bringe forth thirtie, sixtie, and an hundreth
folde, as thy heavenly wisdome hathe appointed.
And becawse we have nede continuallie to crave
many thinges at thyhandes, we humbly beseche
thee, heavenly Father, to graunt us thy Holy
Spirite to directe our peticions, that they may
procede frome suche a fervent minde as may be
agreable to thy moste blessed wyll.

And seinge that our infirmitie is hable to do
nothinge without thy helpe, and that thou arte
not ignorant with how many and great tempta
tions, we poore wretches are on every side inclosed
and compassed, let thy strengthe, Lord, susteyne
our weaknes, that we beinge defended with the
force of thy grace, may be savely preserved against
all assaultes of Satan, who goeth abowte continu
ally like a roaringe lyon, sekinge to devoure us.
Encrease our faith, O mercifull Father, that we do
not swarve at any tyme frome thy heavenly worde,
but augment in us hope and love, with a carefull

PUBLIC WORSHIP. 101

kepinge of all thy commaundementes, that no
hardnes of harte, no hypocrisie, no concupiscence
of the eyes, nor intysementes of the worlde, do
drawe us away frome thy obedience. And seinge
we lyve nowe in these moste perillous tymes, let
thy Fatherly providence defende us against the
violence of all our enemies, which do every where
pursue us ; but chiefely againste the wicked rage
and furious uproares of that Roinyshe idoll, ene-
mie to thy Christe.

Fordermore, forasmoche as by thy holy Apostle
we be taught to make our prayers and supplica
tions for all men, we praye not onely for our
selves here present, but beseche thee also, to
reduce all suche as be yet ignorant, from the
miserable captivitie of blinclnes and error, to the
pure understandings and knowlage of thy heavenly
trueth, that we all, with one consent and unitie
of myndes, may wourshippe thee our onely God
and Saviour. And that all pastors, shepherds,
and min