It was asked if it be lawfull that ane minister, what title or honor ever he bear, receiving sufficient benefite and provisione off his flock, may leave them, and make his common residence in uther places, sae that his flock is destitute alswell of his doctrine and ministrie, as of uther comforts that the flock should receave of ane faithfull pastor--notwithstanding that worldly reasons may seem to excuse the absence of some? The answer; No minister of the Evangell of Jesus Christ, nor no persone receiving sufficient living for preaching of the Evangell, may, with safe conscience, leave his vocatione, together with his flock, and the place appointed for his ordinarie residence, what patrimonie and oversight that ever he hes, be corruption of tymes, or negligence of rulers, so to doe.
If sic as hes entred in the ministrie, been appointed be the Superintendants, and received of the people, may leave their vocation and follow the world, because they have not sufficient stipend? Answer: Seeing that our Master Christ Jesus pronounces that he is but ane mercenarie, who, seeing the wolf coming, fleeth for his own safeguard, and that the very danger of lyfe cannot be ane excuse for sic as shall fall back from Christ, we nowayes think it lawfull that sic as ance put their hands to the plough shall leave the heavenly vocation and return to the prophane world, for indigence or povertie; lawfully they may leave ane unthankfull people, and seek where Jesus Christ his Evangell may bring forth better fruit; but lawfully they may never change their vocation.
If known murtherers, or convict adulterers, together with sic as committ horrible crymes, may not, upon the notorietie of their fault, be once denounced excommunicat, for declaration that the Kirk abhors sic impietie? Answer: The Kirk may and ought to purge herself of all sic notorious malefactors, provyding the offender be lawfully called and convict, either be their owne confessione or be witnesses. The order to call them for the sclander (for civil things we remitt to the magistrates) we judge to be this: Whensoever sic fearfull crymes are committed, if it be in the countrie, the minister, reader, or exhorter of that place, or if there be none, the minister of the place next adjacent, ought to give notice of the fact to the Superintendant of that diocie, who, without delay, ought to direct his summonds, charging the persons sclandered to compear before him at a certain day and place; or if it be done in towns where order is established, the Session thereof ought to call the accused offenders, who, if they compeir, and either alleadge just defense, or show themselves unfainedly penitent, then must the Superintendant, or Minister and Kirk without the Superintendant, dispense somewhat with the rigour of the punishment, secluding only the offender fra participation of the sacraments till farder tryall of his repentance, and that both their diligence and sentence to be publickly pronounced in the kirks where the offence is known. But if the offender be stubborne, as if he compeir not, or shew himself little touched with his offence, then ought the Superintendant, with advyce of the next reformed Kirk, to decerne him or them to be secluded from participatione of communione with the faithfull members of Jesus Christ, and to be given to Satan for the destruction of the fleshe, whoes slaves (be impietie committed and impenitence showen) they declare themselves to be; and their sentence to be published in all places where the offence is knowne. If the person or persons secluded from the sacrament be negligent in seeking reconciliation with the Kirk, behave themselves insolently or utherwayes then it becomes penitent persones, the Kirk, after admonitione, may proceed to the uttermost; for wanton behaviour, after iniquitie committed, is ane plaine argument of impenitence, and negligence to seek reconciliation declares that contempt lurks in the heart.