The ordovre of excommvnicatiovn and of pvblict repentance vsed in the Church of Scotland, and commanded to be prented by the generall Assemblie of the same, in the moneth of Iunij. 1569.

The Minister in publict audience of the pepill sall say.

IT is cleirlie knowin vnto vs that. N. sum∣•• tymes baptised in the name of the father & ••f the sone and of the holy ghost, & so reputed ••nd compted for one Christiane, hath fearfullie ••••llin frome the societie of Christs body by cō∣••itting of cruell & wilfull murther (or by cō∣••itting filthy adulterie &c.) which cryme be the •••• of God deserueth death. And because the ••iuile sword is in the hand of Godds magistrat who notwithstanding oft winkis at such crymes: We hauing place in the ministerie with greas & ••olour of our hartts ar compelled to draw the sword granted be God to his Church. That is to ••xcōmunicat frome the societie of Christ Iesus, ••ome his bodie the Church, frome participati∣••un of Sacramentes and Prayeris with the same. The said N. AND THER FOR IN THE NAME AND AVTHORI∣••IE OF THE ETERNAL GOD ••ND OF HIS SONE IESVS CHRIST. We pronnuce the said. N. excōmunicat and ••cursed in that his wicked facte, And charges ••••l that fauore the Lord Iesus so to repute and

holde him (or hir) vnto suche tyme as th•• ether the magistrat haue punished the offend•• as Goddes law commandis, Or that the sam•• offendar be reconsiled to the Church agane b•• publique repentance: and in the meanty me •••• earnestlie desire all faithful to cal to God to m••∣ue the hearts of the vpper powers so to puni•• such horrible crymes that malefactors may fe•• to offend ewin for feare of punishment, and al∣so to tuiche the heart of the offēdar that he m•• deiplie considder how fearfull it is to fall in t•• handes of the eternall God. That by vnfean•• repentance he may apprehend mercie in Ies•• Christ and so awoid eternall condemnatioun.

THE sentence of excommunicatioun o•••• pronounced the Church may not suddan•• admit the murtherar, or conuict adulterar •• repentance and societie of the faithfull, alb•• that pardone be purchassed of the magistrat: b•• first aucht inquisition be taken if the murther haue satisfied the partie offended, that is the k•• and freindis of the man slane. Which if he has not done, nether is vnderstand willing so to d•• y^e church in no wayis may hear him. Bot & if •••• be willing to satisfie, & the freinds exceid mea∣sure & the possibilitie of him that hath cōm••∣ted

the cryme. Then aucht the Church to put moderatioun to the vnreasonable, in caise the ciuile magistrat hath not so done befoir: And so proceid with him that offereth repentance, that the wilsulnes of the indiscreit be not hinderan∣ce to the reconciliatioun of him that eirnestlie craueth the benefite & societie of the Church.

AND yit may not the Church receaue ony excommunicat at his first requeist: bot in such greuous crymes as befoir ar expressed (of vthe∣ris shall be efter spokin) fourtie dayis at the least efter his first offer may be appointed to try whi∣ther the signes of repentance appeir in the offē∣dar or not. And yit in the meantyme y^e Church may conforte him be holsome admonitiouns assuring him of Gods mercy if he be werilie pe nitēt: he may also be admitted to the hearing of the worde: Bot in nowyse to participatioun of prayeris nether befoir nor efter sermon. The first fourtie dayis expyred vpone his new suit the Superintendent or sessioun may Inioin such pa∣nes as may try whether he be penitent or not, the least ar, the murtherar, man stād thre seuerall Sōdayis in an publict place befoir y^e Churchdure bair futed and bair headed cled in base & abiect apparaill, hauing the same wappē w^c he vsed in the murther, or the lyke bloody in his hand, &

in conceaued words shall say to such as shall en∣ter into the Chruch.