The Government and Order of the Church of Scotland

The Governement and Order OF The Church of Scotland.

A Description and not a Demonstration of the Church of Scotland is intended; non jus sed factum, their doing simply and not the reason of their so doing is desired: The delineation therefore of the face of that Church, without artificiall Colours and dispute of her comelinesse and beauty, is nakedly expressed in two Parts: The one of her Officers, the other of her Assemblies.

p. 1I. Of the Officers of the Church.

BEside the ordinary and perpetuall Officers, which are Pastors, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons. The Church of Scotland hath no other at this time, nor did at any time acknowledge any other: These being warranted by Christ and his Apostles, the extraordinary Ministers unto whom his will was revealed, and being sufficient for all the necessary uses of the Churches, as Exhortation, Teaching, administration of the Sacraments, Government, and distribution.

The Offices of Apostles, Evangelists, and Prophets were extraordinary, and continued in the Christian Church, so long as by the Will of God, it was needfull for the well of the Church; who although in regard of their order, degree, manner of p. 2Ministration, and the places, which they did hold, which is called successio in gradum eundem. They have properly none to succeed them: yet in respect of their doctrine, holinesse of life, and substance of their Ministery, which is successio in caput, all faithfull Pastors, lawfully called to their functions, are their successors: And in this sense not only their first reformers, who had somewhat extraordinary, but all their faithfull Ministers since, who have laboured in the Word and Doctrine, for the planting, preserving and purging of Religion to the edification of the Church, and no other, are successors to the Apostles.

The Office of a Bishop consisting in power or priority above a Pastor, as having no warrant in the Scripture, as being a member of the wicked Hierarchy of the Pope (for, although this priority of Prelates had place in the Church before the Pope ascended to the top of his Ambition; yet every corruption in doctrine, worship, but especially in government, which, since the mystery of iniquity began to work, is retained by the Pope, and by his authority is p. 3obtruded upon the Church, they conceive to be His) and as a cursed tree, which amongst them hath brought forth no better fruits, then heresie, and errors in doctrine, idolatry and superstition in worship, Tyranny and persecution in Government, and leudnesse, and profanity of life both in Pastors and People; They have abjured and removed out of their Church, together with all the branches of that Hierarchy, and all the offices, titles, dignities, and courts depending thereupon as may be seen in their confession of faith, Books of discipline, and acts of assemblies of old, and of late.

p. 3In the beginning of their reformation they had no constitute Presbyteries, nor such provinciall and generall assemblies as they had afterward, and upon the other part they had superintendents, visiters of certain parts of the Countrey, and Commissioners for Provinces: But they who desire to know the constitution and condition of that Church, must distinguish between her infancy, and her riper age, between her desires, designes, and endevours, and her attainments, proceedings and performances; p. 4for how soon it was possible for them, presbyteries and assemblies, which from the beginning had been intended, were erected and established; And no sooner was this brought to passe, But superintendents and all others of that kinde, which at first were of necessary use in visiting the Country, and in planting of Churches, were declared to be neither necessary nor expedient for the Church.

The Church of Scotland hath been disquieted and much troubled with Episcopacy since the beginning, and at last by the ambition of vain men, by the power and working of civill authority, and by the corrupt assemblies of Ministers, had some footing, and was in end raised to a great height, and did become a mountain. And yet the office of a Bishop was never received in that Church. But when some Ministers, who in regard of their benefices were called Bishops, had, by their own usurpation and the slavish disposition of their brethren, obtained some degree and power over them. They did come into England, and, without the consent or knowledge of the p. 5Church, received consecration, and returning home, did consecrate others like themselves.

p. 5II. Of their calling.

AS no man ought to presume to enter into any office Ecclesiasticall without an inward calling from God, who only discerneth the intentions, and desires of the heart, whether they be earthly or heavenly, whether they be set upon the glory of God, and edifying of the Church, or upon the means of this life; So are there none here admitted without the approbation and judgement of men according to the rules of the Word, and the received order of the Church.

This outward calling of the Officers of the Church doth consist in Election and Ordination, after due triall and examination of their soundnesse in religion, and godlinesse of life: For the better understanding of the order of the calling of their Ministers, it is to be considered,

That in every one almost of their Classes, or greater Presbyteries, there be Students of p. 6Divinity; whereof some, if they have opportunity of their Studies, do make their abode within the bounds of the Presbytery, and attend the meetings thereof: Others, who are the greater part, stay at the Universities, and in the time of vacation come home and wait upon the Presbytery.

The abilities of both the one sort and the other, are tryed in private, before the Presbytery, and how soon they are found fit to come in publike, they enter upon the exercise or prophecy with the Ministers of the Presbytery, and at sometimes are employed and allowed to preach before the people: By which mean their gifts and abilities are known to the people, as their manners are manifest by their conversing amongst them.