An ansvver to the calumnious letter and erroneous propositions of an apostat named M. Io. Hammiltoun. Composed by M. VVilliam Fouler

❧ THE IX. PRO. Na man ought to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or haldin an rrew Minister or pasteur in Christs Kirke•• ••e ra••. ue the Sacrament of ordour'he impositioun of hands.

❧ I confes indeid that thay▪ ar not to be estemit laufull Mi∣nisters in an w••ill reformit kirk, quha ar not ordinarly callit. ordinare vocatioun consisteth first in the inuart working of the halie spreit in the hart of him, quha is to receaue that bur¦dene, quhairby he may be assurit of an vpricht zealous mea∣ning, and that also God hath indewit him ••ith sum gifts for the discharge of the ••ffice quhairinto he is appoyntir. Se∣coundlie besydes the motioun of Gods Spreit, the Kirk of God ought to take tryall baith of his man••ris and qualyties.

sufficient to discharge a good conscience, to the edificatioun of the flock. quhilks being found, we deny not, bot the impo∣sitioun of hands with solemne prayers was ane ceremonie▪ vsit in ordaning of pasteurs, baith since Christs dayis, and long off befoir, and ʒit be vs is maist diligently obseruit. Sua that na pairt of this proposion being weil vnderstand, maks any thing against vs, except only the nam•• of Sacrament quhilk im∣properly is heir vsit, without warrand of Godis worde or anie guid reasoun.

AD. Of this we euidently may infer that Ca••uin and Be••••, with Tailʒeours & Skinners and vther mechanics quha hes intrudit them self•• in the office of Ministrie neuer ra∣sauid sic ordours ar not to behaldin laufull Pasteurs bot as theauis and reuars quha h•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in amangs Christs flock not by the dur bot by the window.

AN. Sententias loquitur carnifex And a fearfull sentence without all reasoun pronuncit. And althoght condemnit ap∣postat they fere not the force of it, ʒit they man appele to ane mair indifferent ludge. Quhairfoir suld they be reput as thea∣uis and halden as reuars? Is it because thair heads are not sha∣uin? Is it because they are not ordanit be the vsurpit papisticall power. If sa be, nather ware the Apostles Euangelistis &c. to be reputit lauful becaus they war not ordaned by the hie Preasts quha had the ordinar ecclesiastical power. ʒea by the like rea∣sons and saming arguments, they did exagitat the ministerie of S. Iohn the Baptist togither with Christs doctrine, saying who giue the this autority. Bot as to Caluin & Beza & vther Godly learnit men, quhome ʒe comprehend vnder the name of Tail∣ʒours and Skinners, thay had a laufull & ordinar calling in the flocke vnto the quhilk thay preachit. As at mair lenth may be declarit, and is writtin be many vthers.