[John Spottiswood2 was a minister of the Scottish Church at the time of the Reformation. The following are the questions put to him, together with his answers, when he was set apart as superintendent of Lothian in March 1561. John Knox presided at this service. A superintendent was responsible for congregations over a very wide area who were without a minister. There were many such parishes, in an age when there was a severe shortage of ministers. A superintendent was not the same as an Episcopalian bishop.]
Question. Seeing that you hear the thirst [trust?] and desire of this people,3 do you not think yourself bound in conscience before God to support them that so earnestly call for your comfort and for the fruit of your labours?
Answer. If anything were in me able to satisfy their desire, I acknowledge myself bound to obey God calling by them.
Question. Do you seek to be promoted to this office and charge for any respect of worldly commodity, riches or glory?
Answer. God knows the contrary.
Question. Believe you not that the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, contained in the books of the Old and New Testaments, is the only true and most absolute foundation of the Universal Kirk of Christ Jesus, inasmuch that in the same Scriptures are contained all things necessary to be believed for the salvation of mankind?
Answer. I hereby believe the same and do abhor and utterly refuse all doctrines alleged necessary to salvation that are not expressly contained in the same.
Question. Is not Christ Jesus Man of man, according to the flesh, to wit [that is], the Son of David, the Seed of Abraham, conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary His mother, the only Head and Mediator of His Kirk?
Answer. He is, and without Him there is neither salvation to man, nor life to angel.
Question. Is not the same Lord Jesus [the] only true God, the eternal Son of the eternal Father, in whom all that shall be saved were elected before the foundation of the world was laid?
Answer. I confess and acknowledge Him in [the] unity of His Godhead, to be God above all things blessed for ever.
Question. Shall not they whom God in His eternal counsel has elected be called to the knowledge of His Son, our Lord Jesus? And shall not they whom of purpose are elected, in this life be justified? And is not justification and free remission of sins obtained in this life by free grace? Shall not this glory of the sons of God follow in the general resurrection, when the Son of God shall appear in His glorious majesty?
Answer. I acknowledge this to be the doctrine of the Apostles and the most singular comfort of God’s children.
Question. Will you not contain yourself in all doctrines within the bounds of this foundation? Will you not study to promote the same, as well by your life as by your doctrine? Will you not, according to the graces and utterance that God shall grant unto you, profess, instruct and maintain the purity of the doctrine contained in the sacred Word of God? And to the uttermost of your powers, will you not gainstand [oppose] and convince the gainsayers [those who contradict (the truth)] and teachers of men’s inventions?
Answer. That I do promise in the presence of God and of His congregation here assembled.
Question. Know you not that the excellency of this office, to the which God has called you, requires that your conversation and behaviour be such as that you may be irreprehensible; yea, even in the eyes of the ungodly?
Answer. I unfeignedly acknowledge and humbly desire the Kirk of God to pray with me, that my life be not scandalous to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
Question. Because you are a man compassed with infirmity, will you not charitably, and with lowliness of spirit, receive admonition of your brethren? And if you shall happen to slide, or offend in any one point, will you not be subject to the discipline of the Kirk, as the rest of your brethren?
Answer. I acknowledge myself to be a man subject to infirmity and one that has need of correction and admonition, and therefore I most willingly submit and subject myself to the wholesome discipline of the Kirk; yea, to the discipline of the same Kirk by the which I am now called to this charge; and here in God’s presence and yours do promise obedience to all admonitions, secretly or publicly given; unto the which, if I be found disobedient, I confess myself most worthy to be ejected not only from this honour, but also from the society of the faithful, in case of my stubbornness; for the vocation of God to bear charge within His Church makes men not tyrants nor lords, but appoints them servants, watchmen and pastors of the flock.
1Taken from Kirkwood Hewat’s Makers of the Scottish Church at the Reformation. The spelling has been modernised.
2Spottiswood is to be distinguished from his son of the same name who became Archbishop of St Andrews. Hewat quotes John Row, the son of another Scottish Reformer, also John, as saying that the elder Spottiswood “would never have consented that his son should have embraced such an office and unlawful calling, as is evident by his grave, wise and holy, ample answers at his admission” to the office of superintendent.
3The people present at the service, from various parts of the Lothians, who had indicated their wish for Spottiswood to be their superintendent.