Reformation in Scotland by John Knox, edited by C J Guthrie (Available from Amazon or free here)
The Book of Discipline is concerned with:
(i) provision for ministers;
(ii) ministers' sons and daughters;
(iii) the care of the poor;
(iv) the necessity of schools, colleges, and universities;
(v) reading the scriptures and family worship;
(vi) services at funerals;
(vii) reparation of churches.
Always good to be reminded that ministers and their family should be cared for by their church: 'Seeing that of Our Master Christ Jesus and His Apostle Paul, we have, 'That the workman is worthy of his reward,' and that, 'The mouth of the labouring ox ought not to be muzzled,' of necessity it is, that honest provision be made for the Ministers, which we require to be such, that they have neither occasion of solicitude, neither yet of insolence and wantonness. This provision must be made not only for their own sustentation, during their lives, but also for their wives and children after them. We judge it a thing most contrarious to reason, godliness, and equity, that the widow and children of him, who in his life did faithfully serve the Kirk of God, and for that cause did not carefully make provision for his family, should, after his death, be left comfortless of all provision. Sorry would we be that poverty should discourage men from study, and from following the way of virtue, by the which they might edify the Kirk and Flock of Christ Jesus.'
A healthy church looks after its minister.
Read the Preface and Chapter 1 of Book 4.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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