IV - Of the Office-bearers in particular, and first of the Pastors or Ministers

Pastors, Bishops, or Ministers, are they who are appointed to particular Congregations, which they rule by the word of God, and over the which they watch. In respect whereof, sometime they are called Pastors, because they feed their Congregation; sometime Episcopi, or Bishops, because they watch above their flock; sometimes Ministers, by reason of their service and office, and sometimes also Presbyters or Seniors, for the gravity in manners which they ought to have in taking care of the spirituall government, which ought to be most deare unto them.

They that are called unto the Ministerie, or that offer themselves thereunto, ought not to be elected without any certain flock be assigned unto them.

No man ought to ingyre himselfe, or usurpe this Office without lawfull calling.

They who are once called by God, and duely elected by man, after that they have once accepted the charge of the Ministerie, may not leave their functions.

The desertours should be admonished, and in case of obstinacie finally excommunicate.

No Pastor may leave his flock without licence of the Provinciall, or Nationall Assembly, which if he doe, after admonitions not obeyed, let the censures of the Kirk strick upon him.

Vnto the Pastors apperteines teaching of the word of God, in season and out of season, publickly and privately, alwayes trauelling to edifie, and discharge his conscience, as Gods word prescribes to him.

Vnto the Pastors onely apperteins the administration of the Sacraments, in like manner as the administration of the Word: For both are appointed by God, as meanes to teach us, the one by the eare, and the other by the eyes, and other senses, that by both, knowledge may be transfferred to the minde.

It appertaines by the same reason to the Pastor to pray for the people, and namely, for the flock committed to his charge, and to blesse them in the name of the Lord, who will not suffer the blessings of his faithfull servants to be frustrate.

He ought also to watch above the manners of his flock, that the better he may apply the doctrine to them in reprehending the dissolute persons, and exhorting the godly to continue in the feare of the Lord.

It apperteines to the Minister after lawfull proceeding by the Eldership, to pronounce the sentence of binding and loosing upon any person, according unto the power of the keyes granted unto the Kirk.

It belongs to him likewise, after lawfull proceeding in the matter by the Eldership, to solemnizate mariage betwixt them, that are to be joyned therein, and to pronounce the blessing of the Lord upon them, that enter in at that holy band in the feare of God.

And generally all publick denunciations that are to be made in the Kirk before the Congregation concerning the Ecclesiasticall affaires belonging to the office of a Minister: For he is as messenger and Herauld betwixt God and the people in all these affaires.