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Sum of the first Book of Difcipline.

I. Doctrine.

Told Teftament, fhall be taught in every Kirk

He Word of God only, which is the New and

within this Realm; and all contrary Doctrine to the fame fhall be impugned und utterly fuppreffed.

We affirm that to be contrary Doctrine to the Word, that Man has invented, and imposed on the Confciences of Men, by Laws, Councils, and Conftitutions, without the exprefs Command of God's Word,

Of this kind are Vows of Chastity, disguised Apparel, fuperftitious Obfervations of Fafting-days, Difference of Meats for Confcience Sake, Prayer for the Dead, calling upon Saints, with fuch other Inventions of Men. In this Rank, the Holy-days invented by Men, fuch as Chriflmas, Circumcifion, Epiphany, Purification, and other fond Feafts of our Lady; with the Feafts of the Apoftles, Martyrs and Virgins, with others, which we judge utterly to be abolished forth of this Realm, becaufe they have no Affurance in God's Word. All Maintainers of fuch Abominations, should be punished with the Civil Sword.

The Word is fufficient for our Salvation; and therefore all Things needful for us are contained in it. The Scriptures fhall be read in private Houses, for removing of this grofs Ignorance.

He Sacraments, of Neceffity, are joined with the
Word, which areTwo only, Baptifm and the Table

of the Lord. The Preaching of the Word must preceed the Ministration of the Sacraments. In the due Adminiftration of the Sacraments, all Things fhould be done according to the Word, nothing being added, nor yet diminished. The Sacraments fhould be miniftred, after the Order of the Kirk of Geneva. All Ceremonies and Rites invented by Men should be abolished, and the fimple Word followed in all Points.

The Ministration of the Sacraments in no ways should be given him, in whose Mouth God has not put the Word of Exhortation. In the Miniftration of the Table, some comfortable Places may be read of the Scriptures.

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III. Idolatry.

LL Kind of Idolatry and Monuments of Idolatry fhould be abolished, fuch as Places dedicate to Idolatry and Relicks. Idolatry is all Kind of worshipping of God not contained in the Word, as the Mafs Invocation of Saints, Adoration of Images, and all o ther fuch Things invented by Man.

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IV. The Miniftry.

O Man fhould enter in the Ministry, without a lawful Vocation. The lawful Vocation ftandeth in the Election of the People, Examination of the Miniftry, and Admiffion by them both. The extraordinary Vocation has another Confideration, seeing it is wrought. only by God inwardly in Mens Hearts.

No Minifter fhould be intruded upon any particular Kirk without their Confent; but any Kirk be negligent to elect, then the Superintendent, with his Council, fhould provide a qualified Man within Forty Days.

Neither for Rarity of Men, Neceffity of Teaching, nor for any Corruption of Time, fhould unable Perfons be admitted to the Miniftry. Better it is to have the Room vacant, than to have unqualified Perfons, to the Scandal of the Miniftry, and Hurt of the Kirk: In the Rarity of qualified Men, we fhould call unto the Lord, that he, of his Goodnefs, would fend forth trueLabourers

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to his Harveft. The Kirk and faithful Magiftrate should compel fuch as have the Gifts, to take the Office of Teaching upon them.

We fhould confider, first, whether God has given the Gifts to him whom we would choofe; for God calls no Man to the Ministry, whom he arms not with neceffary Gifts.

Perfons noted with Infamy, or unable to edify the Kirk by wholfome Doctrine, or of a corrupt Judgment, fhould not be admitted, nor yet retained in the Ministry: The Prince's Pardon, nor Reconciliation with the Kirk, takes not away the Infamy before Men; therefore publick Edicts fhould be fet forth in all Places where the Perfon is known, and strict Charge given to all Men, to reveal, if they know any 'capital Crime committed by him, or if he be scandalous in his Life.

Perfons prophaned by the Kirk, fhall be examined publickly by the Superintendent and Brethren, in the principal Kirk of the Diocefe or Province.

They fhall give publick Declarations of their Gifts, by the Interpretation of some Places of Scripture.

They shall be examined openly, in all the principal Points that now are in Controverfy; when they are approven by the Judgment of the Brethren, they should make fundry Sermons before their Congregations, before they be admitted.

In their Admission, the Office and Duty of Minifters and People fhould be declared by fome godly and learned Minifter; and fo publickly, before the People, fhould they be placed in their Kirks, and joined to their Flocks at the Defire of the famen: Other Ceremonies, except Fafting with Prayer, fuch as laying on of Hands, we judge not neceffary in the Inftitution of the Miniftry.

Ministers, fo placed, may not for their own Pleasure leave their own Kirks, nor yet their Kirks refuse them, without fome weighty Causes tried and known; but the General Affembly, for good Causes, may remove Minifters from Place to Place, without the Confent of the particular Kirks.

Such as are Preachers already placed, and not found

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qualified after this Form of Trial, fhall be made Readers: And fo for no Sort of Men fhall this Rigour of Examination be omitted.

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Eaders are but for a Time, till, through reading of the Scriptures, they may come to further Knowledge and Exercise of the Kirk, in exhorting and explaining of the Scriptures. No Reader fhall be admitted within Twenty-one Years of Age; and unless there be an Hope, that by Reading he should shortly come to Exhorting. Readers, found unable, after two Years Exercife, for the Miniftry, fhould be removed, and others as long put in their Room.

No Reader fhall attempt to minifter the Sacraments, until he be able to exhort and perfwade by wholfome Doctrine. Readers in Landwart fhall teach the Youth of the Parochines.

Minifters and Readers fhall begin ever fome Book of the Old or New Teftament, and continue upon it unto the End, and not to help him from Place to Place as the Papists did.

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VI. Provifion for Minifters.

He Minifters Stipend fhould be moderated, that neither they have Occasion to be careful for the World, nor yet wanton, nor infolent any wife; their Wives and Children fhould be fuftained, not only in their Time, but alfo after their Death.

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cons.

VII. Elders and Deacons.

En of the best Knowledge, Judgment and Converfation fhould be chofen for Elders and DeaTheir Election shall be yearly, where it may bẹ conveniently obferved. How the Votes and Suffrages may be best received with every Man's Freedom in voting, we leave to the Judgment of every particular Kirk. They fhall be publickly admitted and admonished of their Office; and alfo the People, of their Duty to them, as their first Admiffion.