The Order of Excommunication and Public Repentance, Treatise 1 – License
THE ORDOVRE OF …XCOMMVNICATIOVN AND OF PVBLICT REPENTANCE, vsed in the Church of Scotland, and commanded to be prented by the generall Assemblie of the same, in the MonethMonth of Iunij. 1569.
PRENTID AT EDINBVRGH BE ROBERT LEKPREVIK. ANNO. 1569,
Albeit that in the booke of discipline the ca… alswe…ll of publict repentance as of excom… nicatioun ar sufficientlie expressed: YIT… cause the forme and ordour ar not so set fu… that euerie Church and Minister may hauehave … rance that they agre with vtheris in proceidi… it is thoght expedient to draw ye ordour, whi… vniuersallie within this Realme shal be ob… ued.
And first we man vnderstand what crymes be vorthy of excōmunicatioun, and what of publick repentence,
IN the first, it is to be noted that all crymes that be the Law of God deserue death, deserue also excōmunicatioun frome the societie of Christis Church, whither the offendar be papist or protestant: for it is no reassone that vnderunder pretense of diuersitie of religioun, open Impietie shuld be suffered in the visible body of Christe Iesus. And thairfor wilfull murtherars, Adulteraris (lauchsullie conuict) Sorserars, Wiches, coniurars, Charmars, and geuars of drynks to destroy children, & oppin blasphemars (as if ony renunce God, deny the trueth, & authoritîe of his holie word, rayll aganis his blessed Sacramētis) such we say aucht to be excōmunicat frome the societie of Christs Church. That there Impictie may be haldin in greatter horrour, & that thay may be the moir deiplie wounded perceaning thame selsis abhorred of the godlie. Aganis such oppin malefactoris the processe may be sū mar, for the cryme being knawin, aduertisment aucht to be geuin to the Superintendent of the diosey, ether be the Minister, or be such as can best geue informatioun of that fact. Except in reformed Townis and vther places where th… Ministerie is plāted with Minister & Elderis according to the act of the general assemblie mad… the 26. of December 1568. And if there b… no Superintendent where the cryme is cōmitte… then aucht the informatioun to pas frome suc… as ar offended to the nixt Superintendent wh… with expeditioun aucht to direct his letters … summunds to the parish Church, where the off… dar hath his residence if the Ministerie be the… planted, & if it be not, or if the offendar hauehave n… certane dwelling place, then aucht the sūmund be direct to the cheif toun and best reform… Church in that diocey, where the cryme w… committed, appointing to the offendar certa… day, tyme, and place, where and when he sh… cōpeir befoir the Superintendent & his assisso… to heir that cryme tryed as tuiching the true… of it, and to ensuer for him self, why the sentence of excommunicatioun should not be pronunced publictlie aganis him. If the offendar lauful… lie warnit compeir not inquilitioun being tak… of the cryme, charge may be geuin be the Sup… intendent to the …isters so many as shalb… thoucht necess… … publicatioun of that sentence to pronu… … same the nixt sonday, th… forme whereof shall ester be declared. Bot an… if the offendar compeir and alledge for him self, ony reassonable defēce, to wit that he wil not be fugitiue frome the law, bot wil abyd the censure thereof for that offence, then may the sentence of excōmunicatiō be suspendit till that the Magistrat be required to try that cause wherein if the Magistrats be negligent, Then aucht the Church frome secreit requisitioun proceid till publique admonitioun, that the Magistratis may be vigilant in that caus of bloode, which cryith vēgeance vpone the hole land where it is sched without punishmēt. If no remedio be them can be found, then iustlie may the Church pronoūce the offendar excommunicat, as one suspect, besidis his cryme, to hauehave corrupted the Iudges reuengeris of the blood: and so aucht the Church to proceid to excommunicatioun, whither the offendar be fugitiue frome the law, or if he procure pardoun, or illude the seueritie of Iustice be meanes whatsoeuer, besy dis the tryell of his innocencie.
If the offendar abyde ane assise and by the same be absolued, then may not the Church pronūce excōmunicatioū, bor iustlie may exhort the man be whose hand the blood was shed to entir in consideratioun with him self how precious is the lyfe of man before God, and how seueirlie God cōmandeth bloode (howsoeuir it be sched, except it be by the sword of the Magistrat) to be punished. And so may inioyne vntounto him suche satisfactionis to be maid publictlie to the church as may bear testificatioun of his obedience and vnfeaned repentance. If the offendar be cōuict and executioun follow according to the cryme, then vpone the humble suyte of him that is to suffer may the eldars & minister of the Church not onlie geue vntounto him consolatioun, bot also pronunce the sentence of absolutioun, and his sin to be remitted according to his repentance and faithe. And thus moche for excōmuuuicatioū of publique offendaris.
AND yit forther woman cōsiddir that if the offendar be fugitiue frome the law, so that punishment can not be executed aganis him, in that caise the Church aucht to delay no tyme, bot vpone the notorietie of his cryme, & that he is fled frome the presence of the Iudge, it aucht to prouunce him exōmunicated publictlie, and so contineuallie to reput him, vntounto such tyme that the Magistrat be satisfied. And so whither the offendar be conuict in iudgement, or be fugitiue frome the law, The Church aucht to procead to the sentence of excōmunicatioun. The forme wherof followeth.
THE FORME.
The Minister in publict audience of the pepill sall say.
IT is cleirlie knowin vntounto vsus that. N. sum… tymes baptised in the name of the father & …f the sone and of the holy ghost, & so reputed …nd compted for one Christiane, hath fearfullie …llin frome the societie of Christs body by cō…itting of cruell & wilfull murther (or by cō…itting filthy adulterie &c.) which cryme be the … of God deserueth death. And because the …iuile sword is in the hand of Godds magistrat who notwithstanding oft winkis at such crymes: We hauing place in the ministerie with greas & …olour of our hartts ar compelled to draw the sword granted be God to his Church. That is to …xcōmunicat frome the societie of Christ Iesus, …ome his bodie the Church, frome participati…un of Sacramentes and Prayeris with the same. The said N. AND THER FOR IN THE NAME AND AVTHORI…IE OF THE ETERNAL GOD …ND OF HIS SONE IESVS CHRIST. We pronnuce the said. N. excōmunicat and …cursed in that his wicked facte, And charges …l that fauore the Lord Iesus so to repute and holde him (or hir) vntounto suche tyme as th… ether the magistrat hauehave punished the offend… as Goddes law commandis, Or that the sam… offendar be reconsiled to the Church agane b… publique repentance: and in the meanty me … earnestlie desire all faithful to cal to God to m… ue the hearts of the vpper powers so to puni… such horrible crymes that malefactors may fe… to offend ewin for feare of punishment, and also to tuiche the heart of the offēdar that he m… deiplie considder how fearfull it is to fall in t… handes of the eternall God. That by vnfean… repentance he may apprehend merciemercy in Ies… Christ and so awoid eternall condemnatioun.
THE sentence of excommunicatioun o… pronounced the Church may not suddan… admit the murtherar, or conuict adulterar … repentance and societie of the faithfull, alb… that pardone be purchassed of the magistrat: b… first aucht inquisition be taken if the murther hauehave satisfied the partie offended, that is the k… and freindis of the man slane. Which if he has not done, nether is vnderstand willing so to d… ye church in no wayis may hear him. Bot & if … be willing to satisfie, & the freinds exceid measure & the possibilitie of him that hath cōm… ted the cryme. Then aucht the Church to put moderatioun to the vnreasonable, in caise the ciuile magistrat hath not so done befoir: And so proceid with him that offereth repentance, that the wilsulnes of the indiscreit be not hinderance to the reconciliatioun of him that eirnestlie craueth the benefite & societie of the Church.
AND yit may not the Church receaue ony excommunicat at his first requeist: bot in such greuous crymes as befoir ar expressed (of vtheris shall be efter spokin) fourtie dayis at the least efter his first offer may be appointed to try whither the signes of repentance appeir in the offēdar or not. And yit in the meantyme ye Church may conforte him be holsome admonitiouns assuring him of Gods mercy if he be werilie pe nitēt: he may also be admitted to the hearing of the worde: Bot in nowyse to participatioun of prayeris nether befoir nor efter sermon. The first fourtie dayis expyred vpone his new suit the Superintendent or sessioun may Inioin such panes as may try whether he be penitent or not, the least ar, the murtherar, man stād thre seuerall Sōdayis in an publict place befoir ye Churchdure bair futed and bair headed cled in base & abiect apparaill, hauing the same wappē wc he vsed in the murther, or the lyke bloody in his hand, & in conceaued words shall say to such as shall enter into the Chruch.
¶ THE CONFESSIOVN OF THE PENITENT.
SO far hath sathan gottin victorie ouir me that cruellie I hauehave sched innocent blood, for the which I hauehave deserued death corporal and eternall. And so I grant my selfe vnworthie of the cōmoun lyght or yit of the company of men. And yit because in God there is mercy that passith all measure, and because the Magistrat hath not takin frome me this wrechit lyfe, I moste carnestlie desyre to be reconsiled agane with the Church of Christ Iesus, from the societie whereof my iniquitie hath caused me to be excōmunicated. And therefore in the bowellis of Christ Iesus I craue of yow to pray with me vntounto God, that my greuous cryme may be of him remitted, & also that ye wilbe suppliantes with me to the Church, that I abyd not thus excommunicat vntounto the end.
At the last of the thre sondayis certane of the Eldaris shal reccaue him into the Church & present him before the preaching place, and shal declair vntounto the Minister that all that was inioyned to that offendar was obedientlie fulfilled by him. Then shall the minister recite vntounto him alsweill the greuousnes of his sin, as the mercyes … God if he be penitent. And thereefter shall …quire of the Church if that they desire any …ther satisfactioun, and if no answer be geuin, …en shall the minister pronounce his sin to be …mitted according to his repentance, and shall …hort the Church to embrace him as one bro…er efter that prayer and thankis geuing be …uin vntounto God, as efter shall be descryued.
And thus far to be obserued for the ordour in …ceauing of thame that hath cōmitted capitall …ymes, be it murther, adulterie, incest wich craft … vtheris befoir expressed.
Resteth yit one vther kynd of offendaris that …eserue excommunicatioun, Albeit not so sum…arlie, to wit, such as hauehave bene parttakars with … in doctrine and Sacraments. And hauehave retur…ed back agane to the papistrie, or hauehave geuin …ere presence to ony parte of there abhomina…un, or yit that of ony long cōtineuance with …aw thame seifis frome the societie of Christis …dy, and frome the participatioun of the Sa…amētis when thay ar publictlie ministrat. Such … doubt declair thame selfis worthy of excom…unicatioun. Bot first they man be called ether …fore the Superintendēt with sum ioyned with …m, or ellis befoir the Eldaris and sessioun of ȳ best and nixt reformed Church, where the of… dars hath their residence, who man accuse the… defectioun: exhorte them to repentance, a… declair theme the danger wherein they stand.
Whom if the offendar herith, the sessioun… Superintendent may appoynt him ane day … satisfie the Church publictlie, whome by his … fectioun he had offended. Bot if he cōtinew s… burne, then may the sessioun or Superintende… command the Minister or Ministers to decla… nixt sounday the defectioū of such ane perso… and his obstinat contempt, & this aduertisme… geuin two sounday is, the thrid may the senten… of excomunicatoun be pronounced.
Offences that deserue publict Repentance, And ordor to proceid thereintill
SVch offences as fal not vnderunder the ciuile swo… and yit ar scladerous and offensiue in th… Churche deserue publict repentance, and … these sum ar more haynous thē vtheris, forni… tion, drunkenes vsed, swering, curssed speaking chyding, feghting, brauling, and commoun c… tēpt of the ordour of the Church, brekin of th… Sabboth, and suchlike, aucht to be in no perso… suffered. Bot the sclander being knawin, th… offendar should be called befoir the Ministeri… his cryme prouin, accused, rebuked, and he cō… manded publictlie to satisfie the Church: which …f the offendar resu…s they may proceid to excōmunicatioū, as efter shall be declared. If the offēdar compeir not, summunds aucht to pas to the thrid tyme. And then in caise he compeir not, the Church may decerue the sentence to be pronunced.
Vtheris be les haynous & yit deserue admonition. As wanton & vain wordes, vncomlie gestures, negligence in hearing the preacheingis, or abstening from thee Lordis table when it is publictlie ministrat, suspitioun of auarice or of pryde superfluitie or ryatousnes in cheir or rayment, these we say & such vtheris yt of the world ar not regarded deserue admonitioun, amonges the mēbres of Christis body. First, secreatlie by on or two, of those that first espy the offence. Which if the persone suspected hear, and geue declaratioun of amendment, then there nedeth no farther processe. Bot if he contempne & dispise the admonitioun, then shuld the formar admonisars tak to them selfis two or thre faithfull & honest witnes, in whose presence the suspected offendar wald be abmonished, and the causis of there suspitioun declared. To whom if then he g…ue significatioun of repentance and promesse of amendment, they may cutt of all f…rther accusatioun. Bot & if he obstinatlie contēpne b… the said admonitiouns, then aucht the first a… secund brethren signifie the mater to the mi… ster and eldaris in there sessioun, who aucht… call the offendar, and befoir the complenars … cuse him alsweill of the cryme, as of ye cōtem… of the admonitioun: if then he acknawledge … offence & be willing to satisfie the brethren b… foir offended, & the sessioun then present the… nedith no farther publicatioun of that offen… Bot if he declair him self inobedient to the sesioun. Then without delay the nixt Sond… aucht the cryme, & the ordour of admonitioun passed befoir be publictlie declared to the Ch… rch. And the persone (without specificatioun … his name) be admonished to satisfie in publi… that which he refused to do in secreit, and th… for the first. If he offerris him self to the Church befoir the nixt Sonday. The discretioun of the Ministerie may tak such ordour as may satisfie alsweill the priuate personis that first war offended as the Church declaring the repentance, & submission of that brother, that befoir appeared stubburne, and incorrigible. Bot and if he aby… the secound admonitioun publict, when that his name shalbe expressed, and his offenses and stubburnes declared, then can no satisfactioun be resaued, bot in publict: yea, it may not be receaued befoir that he hauehave humblie required the same of the Ministerie and sessioun of the Church in there appointed assemblie. If he continew stubburne, then the thrid Sonday aucht he be charged publictlie to satisfie the Church for his offence and contempt, vnderunder the pane of excōmunicatioun. The ordour whereof shall ef…er be declared.
AND thus ane smal offence or sclander may iustlie deserue excommunicatioun, be ressone of the comtempt & disobedience of the offendar. If the offendar schaw him self, penitent betuene the first admonitioun and the secund, & satisfie the Ministerie of the Church. and the brethren that befoir war offended in there assemblie, then it may suffice that the Minister at cōmandement of the sessioun declair the nixt Sonday (without compeiring or expressing of the persone) his repentance and submissioun, in these or vther wordis.
IT WAS signified vntounto yow befoir (deirlie belouit) that one certane brother (or brethren) was noted or at the laest suspected of some offēce whereof he being admonished be one and two appered lyghlie to regard the same. And therefoir was he and his offence notified vntounto the Ministerie in thare assemblie, who according to thare dewtie & charge accused him of the same, And not finding in him such obedience as the professioun of ane christiane requireth, fearing that such offences & stubburnes should engender contempt and infect vtheris. THEY war compelled to notifie vntounto yow the cryme, & the proceidingis of the sessioun, mynding to hauehave socht the vttermost reamedie in caise the offendar had cōtineued obstinat: bot seing that it hath pleased God to mollifie the hart of our brother whose name we neid not to expresse so yt he hath not onlie acknowledged his offēce, bot also hath fullie satisfied the bretheren that first war offended and vsus the Ministerie. And hath promesed to absteane frome all apperance of such euill … whereof he was suspected and admonished: we hauehave no iust cause to proceid to ony farther extremitie, bot rather to glorifie God for the submissioun of our brother, & vnfeanedlie pray vntounto him that in the lyke caise we and euerie one of vsus may geue the lyke obedience
THE FORME AND ORDOVRE of publict repentance.
IT is first to be obserued, that none may be admitted to publict repentance, except that first thay be admitted thairto be the Sessioun & Assemblie of the Ministeris and Elderis, in the which they ought sharplie to be examinat, what feare and terrour they hauehave of Gods sudgemētes, what haitrent of sinne and doloure for the same: and what sense and feilling they hauehave of Gods mercyes, in the which if they be ignorant they ought diligentlie to be instructed, for it is bot an mocking to present suche to publict repentance, as nether vnderstand what sinne is, what repētance is, what is grace, nor be whome is Gods fauour and merciemercy purchessed. After thē that the offender shall be in the Assemblie instructed so that he hauehave sum taist of Gods Iudgementes, bot cheifly of Gods mercyes in Christ Iesus, he may be presented before the publict Churche vponupon an Sonday after the Sermon, and before the prayeris and Psalme, and then the Minister shall say.
Beloued and derrest brethren we be reasone of our charge & Ministerie present befoir yow this brother, that by infirmitie of fleshe and craft of Sathan hes feirfullie fallen from the obediēce of his God by committing. N. of an cryme … Get the sinne be expressed, by the which he … not onlie offended against the maiestie of Go… bot also by the same hes geuin great scland and offence till his holy Congregatioun: a… therefore doeth till his owen confusioun, (… to the glorie of God and our great confort) p… sent himself heir before yow, to witnesse a… declare his vnfeaned repentance: The thrist a… …e care that he hes to be recoūselled with G… throw Iesus Christ, and with yow his breth… …home he hathe offended: And therefore it requisite that ye and he vnderstand what assrance we hauehave to requyre suche publict sat… faction of him: what profeit we ought to lear… in the same: and what profeit & vtilitie redo… des to boeth of this his humiliatioun.
That publict repentance is the institutioun… God, and not mānes inuentioun may be plan… gaddered of the wordes of our maister, comm… ding that if ony hauehave offended his brother… what sorte so euer it be, that he shall go to hi… and be recounselled vntounto his brother: if the … fence committed against one brother requy… reconsiliatioun: the offence committed again… many brethren requyreth the same. And if … man be chargeit be Christ lesus, to go to an … whome he hath offended, & thair by cōfessing of his offence requyre reconsiliation: mucho moir is he bound to seik an whole multitude whome he hes offended, and before thame with all humilitie requyre the same. For yt wo which our maister Christ Iesus pronunceth against euerie man that hes offended the least one within his Churche, remaneth vponupon euerie publict offender, vntounto suche tyme as he declare him self willing to remoue the same: which he can neuer do vntounto suche tyme as he let the multitude whome he hes offended vnderstand his vnfeaned repentance. Bot because that all men of vprycht Iugement agre in this, that publict offences requyre publict repentance, we pas to the secund head, which is, what is it that we hauehave to considder in the fall and sinne of this our brother: if we considder his fall and sinne in him only, without hauing consideration of our selfes and of our owen corruptioun, we sall proffeit nothing, for so shall we bot despyse our brother and flatter our selfes. Bot if we shall earnestlie considder what nature we beare, what corruptiō lurketh in it, how prone and reddy euerie one of vsus is to suche and greater impietie, then shall we in the sinne of this our brother accuse & dāpne our owen sinnes, in his fall shall we considder & lawent our sinful nature, also shall we ioyne o… repentance, teares, and prayeres with him & hi… knowing that no fleshe can be iustefyed befo… Gods presence, if iudgemēt proceid without m… cy. The proffeit which this our brother & … hauehave of this his humiliation is, that we & he m… be assured that moir reddie is our god to recea… vsus to mercy throwght Iesus Christ, his only so… then we ar to craue it. It is not sin be it neuer… greuous, that shall debar vsus from his fauour if … seik to his mercy: for as all hauehave sinned, & ar… thame selfis destitute of Godis grace. So is … reddy to shaw mercy vntounto al, that vnfenedlie… for the same: Yea, he doeth not onlie resaue su… as come, bot he by the mouth of his deir son… calleth vpone such as be burdened and laiden… with sin, and solempnedlie promeseth that … will refreshe thame.
We hauehave besids ane vther commoditie. T… wit, that if we shall heirefter fall in the lyke… greater (for we stand not by our awin powe… bot by grace onlie) that we be not eschamed … this same sort to humble our self and confe… our offence. Now therefore brother as we … praise God in this your humiliatioun, beseiki… him that it be without hypocrisie. So it becu… eth yow earnestlie to considder of what my… and with what hart ye present your self heir before this Assemblie. It is not your sinne that shal seperate yow from your God, nor from his mercy in Iesus Christ, if yow repent the same: bot hypocrysie & inpenitencie which God remoue frome yow and vsus is no wise tollerable before his presence.
The offender ought protest before God that he is sory for his sinne, and vnfeanedly desyreth God to be mercyful…vn to him, and that for the obedience of his deare Sone our Lord Iesus Christ.
THE MINISTER.
WE can only se that which is without, and according to your confessioun Iudge, leauing the secreites of the hart to God, who onlie can try and search the same. Bot because vnfeaned repentance for sinne, and simple confession of the same, are the mere giftis of God, we will ioyne our prayeris with youris, that the one and the vther may be granted to yow and vsus.
THE PRAYER.
ETernall and euerleuing God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, thow that by the mouth of thy holy Propheites and Apostilles, hes plane lie pronunced that thow desyrest not the death of ane sinner, bot rather that he may conuert & liue: who also hes send thy only Sone to suffe… the cruell death of the Croce, not for the iust… bot for suche as find them selfes oppressed with burden of sinnes. That by him and his aduocation they may hauehave accesse to the throne of thy grace, being assured that before the they shall find fauour and mercy. We are conuened (… Lord) in thy presence, and that in the name of this same our Lord Iesus thy deare Sone: to accuse before the our sinnes, and before the feit of thy maiestie, to craue mercy for the same. We moste hūblie beseche the ô Father of mercyes, first that thow will tuiche and moue our hartes by the power of thy holy Spirite in suche sorte, that we may come to ane trew knawlege of our sinnes: Bot cheifly, ô Lord, it will please the to moue the hart of this our brother. N. &c. who as he hes offended thy maiestie, & an great nūber of this thy holy Congregation by his greuous and publict sinne, so doeth he not refuse publictlie, to acknowledge & confesse the same, as that this his humiliatioun geuin to the glorie of thy name presentlie doeth witnes: Bot because, ô Lord, the external confessioun without the dolour of the hart auaileth nothing in thy presence, we moste humblie beseche the that thow wilt so effectuallie moue his hart & oures also, that he and we without hypocrysie, dampning that which thy Law pronunceth iniust, may atteane to some sense and fealing of thy mercy, which thow hes aboundantly shawen vntounto mankynde in Iesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, ô Lord, vntounto this our brother the repentance of the hart, and sincere cōfession of the mouth to the praise of thy Name, to the cōforte of thy Church, and to the confusion of Sathan. And vntounto vsus grant ô Lord, that albeit we cā not liue altogether clene of sinne, yet that we fal not in horrible crymes to the dishonour of thy holy Name, to the sclander of our brethren, and infamie of thy holy Euangell which we professe. Let thy godlie power, ô Lord, so strenthen our waiknes, that nether the craft of Sathan, nor the tyrannie of sinne draw vsus vtterlie from thy obedience. GiueGive vsus grace, ô Lord, that by holynes and innocencie of lyfe, we may declare to this wicked generatioun what difference there is betuix the sōnes of light, & the sonnes of darknes, that men seing our gude workis may glorifie the and thy Sone Iesus Christ our only Sauiour and redemer, to whome with the and the holy Spirite be all honour, praise, and glorie now and euer. Amen.
THE PRAYER FINISHED the Minister shall turne him to the pen… tent brother, and in full audience shal say.
YE hauehave hard brother what is your dewti… towardes the Church which ye hauehave offended, to wit, that willinglie ye cōfesse that cryme that ye hauehave committed, asking God mercy for the same, and so that ye may reconseill your sel… to the Church, which ye hauehave offended. Y… hauehave hard also the affectiō & care of the Church towardes yow there penitent brother notwithstanding your greuous fall, to wit, that we all heir presentioyne our sinnes with your sinne, we all repute and esteame your fall to be our owen: we accuse our selfes no les then we accuse yow: now finallie we ioyne our prayeres with youris, that we and ye may obtene mercy, and that by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. Let vsus therefore brother hauehave this conforte of yow, that ye will oppenlie and semplie confesse your cryme, and giuegive to vsus attestation of your vnfeaned repentance.
The penitent shall then oppenlie confesse the cryme whatsoeuer it be, and shall desyre Gods mercy, and pray the Church to call to God for mercy with him, and vnfeanedly desyre that he may be ioyned againe to their societic & nūber. IF the penitent be confounded with shame, or suche one as can not distinctlie speik to the confort and instruction of the Church, the Minister shall mak repetition, that euerie head may be vnderstand by the self, and thereafter shall ask the penitent if that be his confession, & if so he beleueth. His answer affirmatiue being resaned, the Minister shall ask the Congregation if they ludge any forther to be requyred for their satisfactioun, and reconsiliation of that brother. No cōtradictioun being made, the Minister shal say to the penitent.
We hauehave hard deare brother your confessiō, for the which we from our hartis praise God, for in it the Spirite of Iesus Christ hath confoūded the Deuill, and broken doun his head and power in that, that ye to the glorie of God hauehave oppenly dampned your self and your impietie, imploring grace and mercy for Christ Iesus his Sones sake. This strenth, submission and obedience can not proceid from fleshe and blude, bot is the singular gift of the holy Ghost. Acknowledge therefore it to be geuin vntounto yow by Iesus Christ our Lord, and now tak head least at any tyme ye be vnmyndefull of this great benifite, which no doubt Sathan doeth inuy, & will assaile by all meanes possible that yow may abuse it: he will not cease to tempt yow to fall againe in suche or crymes more horrible. Bot resist the Deuill and he shall flee from yow. Liu… in sobrietie, be instant in prayer, commend you… self vnfeanedlie to God, who as he is faithfull, s… shall he giuegive to vsus victorie ouer sinne, death, & Sathan, and that by the meanes of our head and Souerane campioun Iesus Christ, to whome be all praise glorie and honour now & euer. Amen.
Ane admonition to the Church.
IT is your dewtie brothren to tak exemple of this our penitent brother: first, that ye be vnfeanedly displeased in your owē hearts for your sinne:, secundarly, that with this our brother ye accuses thē in the syght of God, imploring grace and mercy for your offences committed: and last, if any of yow shall after this publictlie offend that ye refuse not with the lyke reuerence to satiffie the Church of God offended in yow. Now only resteth that ye remit and for yet all offences which ye hauehave consaued heretofore by the sinne and fall of this our brother, accept and embrace him as ane member of Christs body: let none take vponupon him to reproche or accuse him for any offences that before this hour he hath committed. And that he may hauehave the better assurance of your good wil and recōciliation pro…rate your selfes before God, and render him …ankes for the conuersion and repentance of his our brother.
The thankes geuing.
HEauenly Father, fontane of all mercy and consolation, we confesse our selfes vnwor…hie to be compted amonges thy children, if …how hauehave respect to the corruption of our nature: but seing it hath pleased thy fatherly good …es, not only frelie to chuse vsus, in thy deare sone our Lord Iesus Christ, by his death to redeme vsus, by his Euangell to cal vsus, and by his holy spirite (which bothe are thyne) to illuminate vsus.
Bot also that thow hath commanded thy word and holy Euangell to be preached, to the end, that the penitent shall hauehave an assurance of the remission of their sinnes, not only for a tyme, bot euen als oft as men from sorrowfull hearts shall call for thy grace and mercy. In consideration of this thy fatherlie adoption and ineffable clemencie showen vponupon vsus we can not bot praise and magnifie thy fatherlie mercy: an testimonie whereof we not only feale in our selfes, but also seith the same euidentlie in the conuersion of this our brother, whome Sathā for an tyme held in bondage, bot now is set at fredome by th… power of our Lord Iesus Christ, and is returne againe to the societie of his body: Grant vntounto vsus heauenlie father, that he and we may more … more be displeased for our sinnes, and procei… in all maner of good workes, to the praise of th… holy name, and edification of thy Church, by Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour. So bei…
The thankes finished, the Minister shall requyre of the penitent if that he wil be subiec… to the discipline of the Church, in caise tha… he after offendeth, who answering that he will, the Minister shall say in maner of absolution.
If thow vnfeanedly repentis thy former iniquitie, and beleues in the Lord Iesus, then I in his Name pronunce and affirme that thy sinnes ar forgeuin not only in earth, but also in the heuen according to the promises annexed with the preiching of his word, and to the power put in the Ministerie of his Church.
Then shal the Elders & Deacons with Ministers if any be, in name of the hole Church take the reconsealed brother by the hand, & embrace him in signe of full reconsiliation. There after shall the Churche sing the .103. Psalme, so muche as they think expedient. And so shall the Assemblie with the benediction be dimissed.
¶ The forme of excommunication.
AFter that all admonitiones, bothe priuate & publict be past, as before is said, then must the Church proceid to excommunication, if the offender remaine obstinate. The Sonday therefore after the thrid publict admonition, the Minister being before charged be the Session or Elders, shall thus signifie vntounto the Church after Sermon.
It is not vnknowen vntounto yow, with what lenitie and carefulnes the Ministerie and the whole Church by priuate & publict admonitions hath soght. N. &c. to satisfie the Church, and to declare him self penitent of his greuous crymes & rebellion by the which he hath offended Gods Maiestie, blasphemed his holy Name, and offended his Church, in whome to this day we finde nothing bot stubburnes, we can not therefore of conscience wink any longer at the disobedience of the said. N. least that his exemple infect and hurt vthers, We are compelled therefore in the feare of God to giuegive the said. N. in the hands & power of the Deuill, to the distruction of the fleshe, if that by that meane he may be broght the cōsideration of him self, & so repent, & a… id that fearful cōdempnation that shall fal on… inobedient in the day of the Lord Iesus. A… least that ony shal think that we do this of ma… lie presumptioun without the assurance of th… Scriptures, ye shall shortlie heir what commandement and authoritie we hauehave so to do.
First, we hauehave the commandement of our m… ster and Sauiour Iesus Christ, to holde suche fo… Ethnikes & publicanes, as will not heir the vo… of the Church. But plaine it is, that this obs… nate. N. hath contempteously refused all ho… some admonitions, and therefore we not one … two, but the whole Church must holde him a… ane publicane, that is, as one cutted of the body of Iesus christ, & vnworthie of any societie with him, or with the benefites of his Church, till hi… new conuersion and his resauing againe.
Secundarly, we hauehave the command of the Apostle S. Paule, and that feareful sentence, which he being absent did notwithstanding pronunc… against the incest, with his sharp rebuke to the Corinthianes, because that with greater zeale & expedition they expelled not frome amonge… them that wicked man. And if any think that ye offēce of this foirnamed obstinate, is not so haynous, as that of the incest, let suche vnderstand, that mercy and fauour may rather be granted til any vther sinne, then to the contempt of holesome admonitions, and of the iust and laughfull ordinances of the Church. For vther sinnes how haynous that euer they be (so be it that they deserue not death) as by vnfeaned repentance they are remitted before God, so vponupon the same humblie offered vntounto the Church, ordour may be taken that the offender may be conforted, & at lenth restored to the societie of the Church againe: but suche as proudlie contempne the admonitions of the Church, priuate or publict, declare thame selfes stubburne, rebellious, and altogether impenitent, and therefore moste iustlie ought they to be excommunicate.
The precept of God geuin vnderunder the Law to expell from the middes of Gods people, such as were leprous (without exception of persones) is to vsus an assurance that we ought to expell from the societie of Christes body suche as be striken with spirituall leprosie, for the one is no les infectiue and dangerous then is the vther. Now seing that we knowe excommunication is Gods ordinance, let vsus in few wordes vnderstand the vtilitie and vse of the same.
By it first is the Churche purged of oppen wicked doers, which is no smal commoditie, cōsiddering that we feght in the myddes and eye of this wicked generation, which seiketh in … nothing more then occasion of sclander. Secundarly, by it is the Church and euerie member o… the same reteaned in obediēce and feare, where of all had neid if the frayltie of our fleshe shal… be rightly considdered. Thridly, by it we exe… cise ane singulare worke of cheritie, whill tha… we declare our selfes carefull to kepe the flock of Christ in puretie of maners, and without danger to be infected: for as it were an work both vncheritable and cruell to ioyne together i… one bed persones infected with pestilēt or vth… contagious and infectiue sores with tender children, or with such as were hole: so is it no … crueltie to suffer amonges the flocke of Ies… Christ such obstinat rebelles. For trew is th… sentence of the Apostle, an lytill leauen corrupteth the whole masse. But least that we shall sen… to vsurpe power ouer the Church, or to do an… thing without the knowledge and cōsent of th… whole body, for this present we delay the sentence, willing such as hauehave any thing to obie… in the contrair to propone the same the nixt Se… sion day, or elles to signifie the same to some … the Ministeris or Eldaris that answer may be g… uin thereto, and in the meane tyme we will call to God for the conuersion of the impenitent.
¶ The prayer for the obstinat.
ETernall and euerlyuing God, Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, whose verray propertie is to shewe mercy, and to restore lyfe, euen whē to mannes Iudgement death hath gottin dominion ouer thy creatures: for thow first soght, called, accused, and conuicted, our Father Adame after his transgression, & being so dead in sinne, and thrall to Sathan, that he could nether confesse his offence, nor yet ask mercy for the same. Thow by thy fre promyses of mercy and grace, gaue vntounto him an new lyfe, and strenth to repēt. The same ordour muste thow kepe, ô Lord, with all thy chosen children of his posteritie. For in mannes corrupt nature there can be no obedience, whill that thow by operation of thy holie Spirite worke the same. And therefore we moste humblie beseke the for Iesus Christ thy Sones saik pitifullie to look vpone this thy creature, who ones was baptised in thy name: & hath professed him self subiect to thy religioun, and vntounto the discipline of thy Church: whome sathan (allace) now so blyndeth that obstinatly he contēpneth the one and the vther. We hauehave followed ô Lorde, the rewlle prescribed vntounto ws by thy deir Sone our Lord Iesus Christ in admonishin… and threatning him, bot hidderto hauehave profite nothing concerning him & his humiliatioun.
Bot ô Lord as thow allone knowes, so may thow allone change and mollifie the hartes … the proude and impenitent. Thow by the vo… of thy Propheit Nathan walkened Dauid from his dedlie securitie. Thow without ony prophe… bet doune the pryde of Manasses in the presone efter that he Shad ched the bloode of thy se… uandis, and had replenished Ierusalem with … kynd of impietie. Thow turned the hart of Pete… at the looke of thy deir Sone, oure Lord Ies… Christ efter that feirfullie with horrible imprecationis he had thrise oppinlie denyed him.
O Lord thy mercyes without measure in dure so euir. To the which we efter long trawel do rem… this obstinat & impenitēt. Earnestlie desiring th… ô father of mercies, first so to peirse his harte… the feir of thy seueir iudgemēts yt he may begi… to vnderstād that thus cōtemning all holsome a… monitions he prouokis thy wraith & indignatio… against him self. Oppen his eyis that he may s… how feirful & terrible â thing it is to fal into th… hands: & thereftir molifie and oynt his harte b… the vnction of thy holie spirit. That he may vnfeanedlie cōuert vntounto the, & geue vntounto the that honour and obedience yt thow requirest in thy holie worde, & so to our cōfort that now murne for his rebellioun, that he may subiect him self to the iuste ordinance of thy Church, & a woide that feirfull vengeance that most assuredlie shall fall vpone all the inobedient. These thy graces Heauinlie Father, & Farther as Thow knowest to be expedient for vsus & for thy Church vniuer… sall we call according as we be taught to pray be our Souerane Maister Christ Iesus saying. OVR FATHER. &c.
THE secund Sounday efter sermone & publict prayeris the minister shall in audience of the hole Church ask the Eldars & Deacons, who man sit in ane eminent & propir place, that there answer may be hard.
THE MINISTER.
HATHE N. whome the last day we admonished vnderunder the pane of excommunicatioun to satisfie the Church for his publict sclander and contempt of the ministerie be him self or be any vther offerred his obedience vntounto yow.
They shall answer as the trueth is yea or nay.
IF he hathe soght the fauoris of any withi… the ministerie with promise of obedience, then shall farther processe be delayed, and he commanded, to appeir before the sessioun in there nixt assemblie where ordour may be takin for his publict repentance, as in the formar head is expressed. If he hauehave not labored to satisfie the Church, then shall the minister proceid and say.
IT can not be bot dolorous to the bodie that any one membre thereof should be cut of and perish, and yet it aucht to be more feirfull to the member then to the bodie, for the membre cut of can do nothing bot putrefie and perish, & yit the bodie may reteane lyif and strenth. Bot the rebellioun of this obstinat may proceid in one parte frome ignorance for it may be that he vnderstandeth not what excōmunicatioun is, and what is the danger of the same: I shall there foir in few wordis oppin the one and the vther.
Laughfull excommunicatioun (for the thondringis of that Romane Antichrist ar bot vanitie and wynd,) is the cutting of frome the body of Iesus Christ, frome participatioun of his holy S… cramentis, and frome publict prayeris with his Church. by publict & solemned sentence all obstinat and impenitent personis eftir dew admonitionis, which sentence laughfullie pronunced in earth is ratified in the heauin, by bynding of the same sinnes that they bynd in earth. The danger heir of is greater then man can …udandlie espy, for seing that without the body of Iesus Christ, ther abydeth nothing bot death & dānation to mankynd, in what estait shall we iudge thame to stand that, iustlie, ar cutted of frome the same.
Yea, what horrible vengeance hyngeth vponupon thame and there posteritie, notable and seueir punishmentis may instruct vsus. Cain the murtherar was not accurssed within his awin person… onlie, bot that same maledictioun rang in his posteritie, and vponupon all that ioyned there with, til that all mankynd was destroyed by watter (Viiy. personis reserued) Cham lykwyse was accurssed in his sone Canaan, the seueritie wheir of proceded euin to the exterminion of that hole rase and natioun.
THE sempill worde of our Master IESVS Christ caused the Fig Tree suddanlie to wither. At the voce of Peter, Ananias, and Saphira, war striken to death. The same God & Lorde Iesus with the power of his holie spirit that then was potent and iust, wirkis euin now in the ministerie of his Church. The contempt wheir of he will in nowise suffer vnpunished. And therefoir ye that hauehave acquentance or familiaritie with the soirnamed obstinat declair vntounto him those dangeris and will him not to tempt the vtermoist, & thus yit agane let vsus pray to God for his conuersion.
Let the formar prayer be publictlie said.
THE thrid Sonday let the first questioun be proponed by the minister to the Eldars and …conis cōcerning the submissiō of the obstinat so oft admonished as was proponed the secund: if repentance be offered let ordour be takin as is befoir said, with one charge to the Church to prayse God for the cōuerssioun of that brother. If repentance be not offered, then shal the minister expone whereinto the persone that is to be excōmunicat, hath offended how oft, & by whō he hathe bene admonished alswell priuatlie as publictlie, and shall demand of the Eldaris and Deaconis if so was not, whose answer resaued, The minister shall ask the hole Church, if they think that such cōtempt shuld be suffered amāgs thame: and if then no man mak intercession for the obstinat, the Minister shall proceid and say.
OF Verray conscience we ar compelled to do that which to our hartis is most dolorus, to wit, to geue ouer in the handis of the Deuill this foir named obstinat contempnar. N. whome ones we esteamed one member of our body, and that not onlie for the cryme that he hathe cōmitted, bot muche rather for his proude cōtempt and intollerable rebellioun lest that our sufferance of him in this his impietie shuld not only be imputed vntounto vsus, bot also that he shuld insect vthers with the same pestilence. And therefore we man vse the last remedy, how greuous that euer it be vntounto vsus. AND yit I desire yow for more ample declaratioun of your christiane cheritie towards him, ye pray with me vntounto God now for the last for his conuersioun.
THE last prayer before the excōmunication.
OMnipotent, Eternall and mercyfull Father, who for that good will that thow bearest vntounto vsus in Iesus Christ thy deir Sone, will not ye death and destructioun of ane sinnar. Bot rather that he by inspiratioun and mouing of thy holie spirite cōuert & liue: who also doeth witnes the vertew & strenth of thy worde to be such, that it causeth the Montanes to schaik, the Rockes trēble, and the Floodes to dry vp. Behald we thy children & peple heir prostrat before thee, moist humblie beseik the in the name of thy deir Sone our Lorde Iesus Christ. That thow will moue & peirse the harte of our impenitēt brother whom Sathan so long hathe indured and hardened: let it pleis thy Maiestie be the vertew of thy holie spirite, that thow wilt mollefie the same. Expell … darknes and by the lyght of thy grace that know wilt so illuminat him that now at length he may feill first how greuouslie he hathe offended aganis thy Maiestie. And secundarlie against thy …olie Church, & assemblie: Geue him thy grace …o acknawledg, accuse, & dampne alsweil befoir vsus whom he hath offēded as befoir thy presence this his proude contēpt, least that we be the same prouoked be cōpelled with all our greiffis to cut him of thy mysticall body, whom we ô Lorde vnfeanedlie desire to reteane wt in thy Church as one lyuelie mēber of thy deir Sone our Lorde Iesus, heir vsus mercyfull father, cal bak agane this our Impenitēt brother yt now tendith to eternal destructiō. That we al who before thy presence euin for his rebellion do mourne may receaue him agane with gladnes & ioy, & so render prayse and honour vntounto the befoir this thy holie cōgregatioun.
We grant oure selfis ô Lord, vnworthy whome thow shuld heir, because we cease not to offend the by oure continewal transgressing of thy holie preceptes. Looke not vpone vsus mercyfull father in this oure corrupt nature, bot looke thow to thy deir Sone, whome thow of thy mere mercy hathe appointed oure head, great Bishope aduocate, Mediator, and onlie Propitiator, in him …nd in the meritis of his death. We humblie be…che the mercyfullie to behald vsus, & suffer not …e m…nnocent blode of thy deir Sone sched …or … for this our impenitent brother, to be …rophaned by the tyranny & slyght of Sathan.
Bot by the vertew of the same let this oure …mpenitent brother be broght to vnfeaned repētance, that so he may eschaip that feirfull condemnatioun in the which he appereth to fall. This we ask of the ô heauinlie father in the boldnes of oure head, and Mediator Iesus Christ, praying as he hath taught vsus. Oure Father.
IF eftir this prayer the obstinat compeir not to offer his repentance, then shall the Minister proceid and say.
Bretheren seing that as ye hauehave hard this obstinat and impenitent persone. N. hathe so greuouslie offended against GOD, and against this his holie cōgregatioun, who be no meanes as ye may perceaue can be broght to repentance, whereof it is euident by the word of God that he is fallin frome the Kingdome of Heauen and frome the blessed societie of the LORDE IESVS. AND we (albeit with dolour of our hartes) may now execute that which the … mandemēt of Iesus Christ, and the practise of … Apostile schaweth that of oure office we au… to do. To wit. that we shall publictlie declair… pronunce such to hauehave no societie with vsus, declair thame selfis obstinat & rebellious aga… all hoisome admonitiounis, and the blessed o… dinances of his Church, & that we may do th… same. Not of oure awin authoritie, bot in th… …me and power of oure Lorde Iesus Christ b… fore whome all kneis ar compelled to bow. L… vsus humblie fall doune before him, and on th… maner pray, and pronunce this sentence.
The inuocatioun of the name of Iesus Christ to excōmunicat the impenitent, To gitther with the sētence of excōmunicatioun.
OLORDE Iesus Christ the onlie & eternall King of all the chosin children, of thy Heauinlie Father, the head and lawgeuer of thy Church, who by thy awin mouth hath cōmanded that such offendars as proudlie contemp… the admonitiouns of thy Church, shall be ca… out frome the societie of the same, & shal be reputed of thy prosessouris as prophane Ethnicks… We willing to obey this thy precept which also we hauehave receaued be institutioun of thy Apostile …heir presenlie conuened in thy name to excō…nicat and cast furth frome the societie of thy …lie bodie. and frome all participatioun with …y Church in Sacramentis or prayeris. N. … Which thing we do at thy cōmandement, & in …y power & authoritie to the glorie of thy ho…name. To the conseruatioun and edification … this thy Church, in the which it hath plesed …he to place vsus Ministers: And to the extreme …emedie of the stubburne obstinacie of the fore …amed impenitēt, and because yu hast promessed …hy self, euir to be with vsus. Bot specialie with …uch as vprightlie trauel in the ministerie of thy …hurch whom also thow hes promissed to instr…ct & guyde be ye dictament of thy holie spirit.
WE most humblie beseche the so to gouerne & assist vsus in the execution of this oure charge. That whatsoeuir we in thy name do heir pro…unce in earth, that thow wilt ratifie the same in …he Heauin. Oure assurance ô Lor…le is thy expressed word. And thairfore in boldnes of the same. HEIR I IN THY NAME AND at the cōmandment of this thy present congregatioun …ut of, seclude, & excommunicat frome thy bodie, and frome oure societie. N. as one persone selanderous proude contempnar, and one member for this present all to gither corrupted … pernicious to the bodie. And this his sin (al… with sorow of hart) be vertew of oure minist… we bynd and pronunces the same to be bo… in Heauin and Earth. We farther geue ouer the handis, & power of the Deuill the said. … to the destructioun of his fleshe, Straitlie ch… geing all that profes the LORDE IESVS. … whose knawledge this our sentence shal cum, … reput and hald the said. N, accurssed, and … worthie of the familiar societie of Christian…
Declaring vntounto all men that such as heires… befoir his repentance shall hant, or familiar… accumpanie him, ar partakaris of his impietie, … subiect to the lyke condemnatioun. This o… sentence ô Lorde Iesus pronunced in thy na… & at thy cōmandemēt we humblie desire the… ratifie according to thy promis. And yit Lord yu that come to saue that which was lost, look vpone him with the eyis of thy mercy, if th… good pleasour be. And so peirs thow his hart, he may feil in his breist the terrours of thy Iudgementis, that by thy grace he fructfullie ma… be conuerted to thee. And so damning his aw… impietie, he may be with the lyke solemnitie r… ceaued within the bosome of thy Church, fro… the which this day (wt greif and dolour of ou… hartis) he is elected.
LORDE in thy presence we protest that …urawin affections moue vsus not to this seueritie: …ot onlie the hatrent of sin, and obedience that …e giuegive to thy awin cōmandement. And therfor … Heauinlie Father we craue the perpetuall asstance of thy holy spirit, not onlie to brydill …ur corrupted affectionis, bot also so to conduct …s in all the cours of our hole lyf, that we neuir …ll to the lyk impietie & contempt: Bot that cō…inuallie we may be subiect to the voce of thy Church, and vntounto the Ministers of the same, who treulie offer to vsus the word of lyfe the blessed Euangell of thy onlie belouit Sone Iesus Christ. To whome with the and the holy spirit be all prayse glorie & honour now & euer. So beit.
The sentence pronunced & the prayer ended. THE Minister shal admonish the Church yt all the faithfull hald the excōmunicat as an Ethnik …s before is said, that no man vse his familiare company. And yit that no man accuse him of o…y vther cryme, then of suche as he is cōuicted of, and for the which he is excommunicat.
Bot that euerie man shall secretlie call to God for grace to be granted to ye excōmunicat. Such …s hauehave office in the Ministerie may vpone liceence required of the Church speik with the … communicat, so long as hope resteth of his co… uersioun: Bot if he cōtinew obstinat then au… all the faithfull vterlie to abhor his presens a… cōmunication: And yit aucht thay more earn… lie to call to God that Sathan in the end may … confounded, & the Creature of God fred fro… his snares by, the power of the Lorde Iesus. A… wt the accustomed benediction the assembly s… be dimissed efter they hauehave song the 101. pl… or one portion thereof, as it shall pleise the … gregatioun.
The ordoure to receaue the excōmunicat agane to the societie of the Church.
FIrst we must obserue that such as deserue d… ath for ye cryme cōmitted, neuir be admitte… to the societie of the church vntounto suche tyme… ether ye Magistrat punish according to the la… or ellis pardon the crym, as before we hauehave sa… Bot such as for vther offences & for there cōtempt ar excōmunicat may be receaued whē the shall earnestlie seik the fauouris of the church They must begyne at the Ministerie the Elda… & Deaconis, who must expone there repenta… to the Minister, or Ministeris in there assembli… â day may be appointed to the excommunic… to present him self before thame. The signes o… his repentance aucht to be diligently inquired, as what hathe bene his behauour sence the tyme of his excōmunication, what he will offer for satisfaction to the Church: And vntounto whome he hath exponed the grefe and dolour of his hart: If the excōmunicat be found penitent & obedient in all thingis: The minister the nixt Sonday may geue aduertisment to the hole Church of his humiliation, and command theme to call to God for increase of the same: The nixt session day the Minister may appoint to the excōmnicat such satisfaction as they think most expediēt to the which if the excommunicat fullie agre, then may the said Ministerie appoynt vntounto him me certane day when he shall fulfill the same.
FOR this is principalie to be obserued, that no excōmunicat persone may be receauid to the so cietie of the church agane, vntounto such tyme yt he hauehave stand at ye church dure, at the least mo Sōdayis then one. Which dayis being expirid, and the hole satisfaction complete, some of the Eldars shall pas to the excommunicat, efter that the formar prayer of the Minister in the Pulpet be ended. And shall present him to an certane place appointed for the penitents, where he shall stand in the same habite, in the which he maid satisfaction vntill the Sermone be ended. And then shall the same Eldars that broght him in the Church present him to the Minister with these or the lyke wordis,
THIS creature of Godis, N. that for h… wickednes and obstinat rebellion hath bene … cōmunicat from the body of IESVS CHRIS… bot now by the power of the spirit of God called bak agane by repentance, so far as the iudgemēt of man can persaue, for he hath not o… craued the fauors of the ministerie, yt he my g… be receaued into the bodie of the Church aga… bot also most obedientlie hath subiected hi… self to all that we hauehave cōmanded, for tryell … his humiliatioun: And therefoir we present hi… befoir yow to be examinat, & if his repentan… be sufficient to be receaued agane to the bod… of the Church.
Then shall the Minister Rander thankis, fu… to God for that parte of his humiliation, & also desyre the Church of God to do the same with him. Therefter he shall addres him to the persone excommunicat. And first shall lay before him his sin, therefter the admonitions that wa… geuin vntounto him to satisfie ye Church for the sam. And last his proud contempt & long obstinaci… for the which he was excōmunicat. And of euerie one he shall require his peculiare confession with accusation of him self, and detestatioun o… his impietie. Which being receaued he shal render thankis to God as followeth.
WE thank the mercy and goodnes of God through lesus Christ oure Lorde for this thy conuersion. N. In to the which thow hast not so muche eshamed thy self, as that thow hast cōfounded & owircome Sathan, by whose wentoum & deceauable entismentes thow hethertohast bene rebelliouse to the holsome admonitionis of the Church: And yet because we can bot onlie see that which is externall We will loyne our Prayeris with Thyne, that this thy humiliation may procead frome the hart.
Let the prayeri sappoynted to be said in the receaueing of the penitēt be said also heir: which ended let the Church and the peniteut be admonished as there is expremed. Except that the cry me of his excōmunication most euir be Aggredged and mentionat.
The prayer cōteanīg his receuaing to ye church.
LORDE Iesus Christ King, techar, and oure eternall Preist, who with the preaching of thy blessed Euangell hath ioyned the power to bynd and lowse the sinnes of men: who hath also pronunced, that whatsoeuir by thy ministeris is bound in earth, shal be bound in ye Heauin.
And also that whatso euir is lowsed by the same, shal be lowsed & absolued with the in the Heauin, looke ô Lord mercysullie vponupon this thy creature. N, &c. whome Sathan of long tyme hathe holdin in bondage, so that not onlie he drew him to iniquitie, bot also that he so hardened his harte that he dispised all admonitiouns, for the which his sin and contempt we war cōpelled to excōmunicat him from our body. Bot now ô Lorde, seing that the spirit of our Lorde Iesus Christ hath so far preualed in him. That he is returned to our societie, it will pleis the for the obedience of our Lorde Iesus so to accept him, that his formar inobedience be neuer laid to his charge. Bot that he may increase in all Godlines till that Sathan sinallie be troddin vnderunder his feit and ours, by the power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, to whome with the and with the holie Spirit be all honor and glorie now and euir. SOBEIT.
The forme of Absolutioun.
IN the name & authoritie of IESVS CHRIST I the Minister of his blessed Euangell with cosent of this hole Ministerie & Church, Absolue the N. Frome the sentence of excōmuncation, frome the sin by the commited, and frome all Censures led aganst the for the same of before according to thy repentance. And pronunce thy sin to be lowsed in Heauin, and the to be receaued agane to the societie of Iesus Christ, to his bodie the church. To the participatō of his Sacramēts,. And finallie to the fruitioun of all his benefits. In the name of the Father, the sone and the holy Spirit. So be it.
The absolution pronunced, the Minister shall then call him Brother & geue him admonition, to watche and pray, that he fall not in the lyke tentatioun. That he be thankfull for the mercy shawin vntounto him and that he shaw the fructis of his conuersion in lyfe & conuersatioun.
Therefter the hole Ministerie shall embrace him, & suche vthers of the Church as be nixt vntounto him: and then shall one Psalme of thankis geuing be song.
This ordour may be enlarged or contracted as the wisdome of the discreat minister shall think expedient: For we rather shaw the way to the Ignorant, then prescribe ordour to the learned, that can not be amended.
¶ ANE PRAYER.
PReserue the publict face of thy Church with in this Realme ô Lord: Dilait the Kingdome of thy Sone Iesus Christ vniuersallie. And so farther disclois and brek doune the tyranny of that Romane Antichrist by the power of thy Sone oure Lorde Iesus Christ. So Beit.
ANNO. 1567.
Rom. 16.
Soli sapienti Deo per Iesum Christum gloria inperpetuum: Amen.
This book is thoght necessar and profitable for the Church & cōmanded to be printed be the Generall Assemblie. Set furth be Iohne Knox Minister.
And sighted be vsus whose names follow. As we war appointed be the said generall assēble.
Iohne Willock.
M Iohne Crag.
Robert Pont.
Iohne Row.
Dauid Lyndesay.
Guilielmus Christisonis.
Iames Greg. &c.