An Answer to Forbes Peaceable Warning, Section
To fill vp this last sheet, I have heere subjoyned some Acts and constitutions of our Kirke, for the sitting of ruling Elders in the generall Assemblyes, Provineiall synods, and Presbyeeries, or as they are called in the book of Policie, the Common Elderships.
IN the first booke of Discipline the office and power of Elders are described, where wee have these words,
If hee, that is, the Minister, bee worthie of admonition, they, that is, the Elders, must admonish him, or correction, they must correct him, and if hee bee worthie of deposition, they with consent of the Kirk▪ and Superintendent, maye depose him, so that his cryme deserve so. If they might do so with the Superintendent, they may doe as much with Ministers in a Presbyterie, which is come in the rowme of Superintendents.
In the assembly holden in December anno 1562 it was ordained. that the Superintendent, give sufficient advertisement to the particular Kirks of the time and place appointed for the synodall convention, that the Minister with an Elder may repare to the place appointed. Power was granted to Superintendents in their synodall conventions, to translate Ministers from one Kirk to another, with consent of the most part of the Elders and Ministers.
In the assembly holden in Iune anno 1563 it was ordaind that everie Superintendent cause warne the Shyres, towns and parish Kirks within his jurisdiction to send their commissioners to the generall Assembly.
In the assembly holden anno 1568 in Iulie, when order was set downe to bee followed in choosing Commissioners with power to vote in the generall Assembly, it was ordainde that Ministers, and Commissioners of shyres shalbe chosen at the Synodall convention of the diocie, with consent of the rest of the Ministers and Gentlemen, that shall conveene at the said synodall convention.
In the generall assembly holden in Februar 1609 we find registrated, that the Superintendent of Angus & Merns Coomm…ssioner at that time for the shiresdomes of Aberdeene & Bamse, had deprived the Principall. Subprincipall, and some Regents in Aberdeene, with advice and consent of the Ministers, Elders and Commissioners present, which is, alledged before in the first Chapter.
In the book of policie, or second booke of discipline agreed upon anno 1578 we have these conclusions.
In the end of the sixth chapter. There, that is, the Elders, principall office is to hold assemblies with the Pastors and Doctors, who are also of their number for establishing of good order, and execution of discipline.
In the 7 chapter. It is meete that some of the Elders bee chosen out of everie particular Congregation to concurre with the rest of their Brethren in the common Assembly, that is, the Presbyterie▪ and to take up the delations of offences within their owne Kirks▪ and bring them to this assembly. This wee gather out of the practise of the primitive Kirk where Elders or colledges of Seniors were constitute in Cities, and famous places.
The Power of election of these who beare ecclesiasticall charges pertaineth to this kinde of assembly within their owne bounds, beeing well erected and constitute of many Pastours and Elders of sufficient abilitie.
By the like reason, their deposition also pertaineth to this kind of Assembly, as of them that teach erronious and corrupt doctrine. that bee of slanderous life, and after admonition desist not, that bee given to schisme or rebellion against the Kirk, manifest blasphemie, symonie &c.
Provinciall assemblyes wee call lawfull conventions of the Pastors, Doctors and other Elders of a province, gathered for the common affaires of the Kirkes thereof.
The Nationall assembly, which is generall to us, is a lawful convention of the whole Kirkes of the realme, or nation wher it is used, or gathered for the common affaires of the Kirke & maye bee called the generall Eldership of the whole Kirkes within the Realme,
In the leter sent by King Iames to Noblemen and Gentlemen anno 1581 for furtherance of the erection of presbyteries wee have these words. It is thought impossible to attaine to any formall order likely to have continuance to the posteritie over our whole realme, while the ancient bounds of the diocies bee dissolved, where the Parishes are thick together, and small be united, and where they be ever great, and of larger boundes be divided, and thereafter presbyteries or Elderships constitute for a dozen of parishes or thereabouts, some more, some fewer, as the commoditie of the countrie lyeth, wher the ministrie and Elders in these boundes conveening maye commodiously exerce discipline, and take order in the affaires of the Kirke, so far as shall be appointed, before the cognition bee brought to the synodall assembly.
In the assembly holden at Sainct Andrewes in Aprile, 1582 in answere to some, concerning Elders wee have this answere. Concerning such Elders as verse not in the word their resort to the Presbyterie shall bee no farther urged strictly, than the weightinesse & occasion upō intimation and advertisement made by the Pastors and Doctors shall require, at which time they shall give their concurrence, yet such as may commodiously resort are to bee exhorted to bee present at all times.
The Presbyterie or eldership of Edinburgh was erected upon the penult of May 1581. consisting of fifteen or sixtene Ministers of the Kirks adjacent within foure or five myles, and some Barons and Gentlemen elders out of everie Kirk for that effect. So the right of ruling Elders in presbyteries was put in practice at the first erection and constitution of Presbyteries, and none were constitute without them.
This forme and order was a great eye-fore to M. Patrick Adamsone pretended Bishop of Saint Andrewes, as the Reader maye see in his Declaration set foorth under the Kings name, but falsely in these turbulent times anno 1584 and 1585. Where…unto an answere was made by such as were men of chiefe note in our Kirk, I insert here onelyonly the answere following so far as concernes this point.
As to the eight intention, it is accursed and proceedeth from the verie instinct of Satan, manifesting hims…lfe without cloak & colour. For there is damned. first the name of Presbyterie▪ next the office bearers in the Presbyterie, and thirdly th…ir authoritie and jurisdiction: The assemblyes of Ministers and Gentlemen called by you a popular confusion▪ is called in the Scriptures by Christ himself the Kirk and by the Apostle Paull, presbyterie or eldership, Elders that labour not in the word, but censuring manners, are called rulers and governours, to which office Gentlemen, and other qualified persons, who are not Ministers maye bee ca…led, This presbyterie conveened in the name and authoritie of the Lord Iesus, hath a spirituall power proceeding immediatly of God, and neither of Angell or man, to rule his Kirk, to reason, de liberate and conclude in matters ecclesiasticall, whose conclusions, resolutions and deliberations, are of such sort, that what they bind or loose on earth according to Gods word, is bound or loosed likewise in the heavens, and whosoever contemneth the authoritie thereof, should bee esteemed among the children of God, as an Ethnick or publican.
The author of a learned Dialogue written likewise in these times reporteth, that the same usurping Prelate had approved this order by his owne hand writt. He protested himselfe before God afterward, when hee made his recantation, that hee was commanded by the Chancelour and Secretar for the time to set foorth the Declaration and promised, if God spared his life to write in defence of the forme and order of the Presbyteries established.
In the Assembly holden in May 1586, we have these conclusions, 1. It is found that all such as the scripture appointeth governours of the Kirke, to Wit, pastors, doctors & elders may conveene to the generall assembly and vote in ecclesiasticall matters, & all others that have any sute, or other things to propone to the assembly maye bee there present, to give in their sutes, propone things profitable for the Kirke, vnd heare reasoning, but shall not vote. 2. There are foure ordinarie office, bearers set downe to us by the scriptures, to wit Postors Doctors, Eiders and deacons, and that the name of Bishop ought not to bee taken, as it hath beene in time of Papistrie, but is common to all Pastours and Ministers.
In the assembly holden in August 1590 it was ordained that all that did then beare, or were hereafter to beare office in the ministerie subscribe the heads of discipline set down in the booke of policie, under the paine of excommunication, speciallie to the heads controverted 2nd opposed by the adversaries to our discipline, and consequently to the constitution of presbyteries consisting of Ministers, and ruling Elders.
I wonder that any should doubt of the meaning and practise of our Kirk, seeing they are not ignorant that Elders have place in sessions. or elderships of particular Kirks, & in generall assemblyes, the lowest and the highest judicatories, but that that they should likewise have place in presbiteries and provinciall Synods, seing presbyteries are made up by the particular elderships, and provinciall Synods by presbyteries. One minister maye governe like a Pope his parish without Elders, if fifteene or sixteene ministers may governe fifteene or sixteene parishes without them.
The affaires of the Kirke, and matters of Religion are a common cause, which Ministers ought not to engrosse to themselves.
Our Elders have not sit in prebyteries these many yeeres, not by law annulling or abrogating the former constitutions, but partly through their owne negligence, partly through the pride, or ill conscience of some ministers in some part, so that is fared with us, as with the Kirke of old, of which Ambrose complaineth writing on. 1 Tim. 5.
Vnde & synagoga, & postea ecclesiae seniores habuit, quorum sine consilio nihil agebatur in ecclesia. Quod qua negligentia obsoleverit nescio, nisi forte Doctorum desidia ant magis superbia, dum soli volunt aliquid videri.
FINIS,
End of the text · David Calderwood, An Answer to Forbes Peaceable Warning (1638)