An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…

As for the maintenance and the continuance of the Office of Ruling Elders, we love not unnecessary Multiplication of questions, let every Church do herein what they find most convenient. The manner of our Church, in these things, is such, as best be fitteth the condition of the same, & such ⟨p. 105⟩as cannot be in reason condemned; Neither is a stipend, nor continuance in the Function till Death, essential to the Ministry of the Church, but separable from the same. The Levites of old served not at all times, but by course, and when they were 50. years old, they were wholly liberat, from the burden and labour (though not from the attendance) of the Levitical service, and Ministers, may still upon the Churches permission, for lawful Reasons, and urgent Necessities, be absent a whole year, and longer too, from their particular charges. The Apostles, when they were first sent through Judea, took no stipend, Mat. 10.8, 9. Neither did Paul take any at Corinth, 1 Cor. 9.18. The Ministers among the Waldenses, work with their hands for their maintenance. The old Patriarchs were Priests and Preachers, to their families, and maintained themselves by the work of their hands, feeding of Flocks, tilling the Ground, &c, These things I do not mention as Rules, to be followed by us, but to show, that the intermission of the exercise of the Ministry, the want of maintenance and labouring with the hands, are not altogether repugnant, nor inconsistent, with the Nature of the vocation, of the Ministers of the word, ⟨p. 106⟩but in some cases hic & nunc, may bee most approvable in them, much more in Ruling Elders. The Revenues of our Church are so small, that they cannot spare, stipends to Ruling Elders, which maketh them willing to serve without stipends, and lest they should be overburdened, with this their service, though they be chosen and called to be Ruling Elders as long as they live, at least till they merit, to be deposed, yet our book of policy alloweth them, that ease of intermission and serving by course, which was allowed to the Levites of old in the Temple. The double honour which the Apostle commandeth to give unto Elders that rule well,¹