The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland Part 9

_Act approving an old Register of the Generall a.s.sembly._

_The whole a.s.sembly (upon the report made to them anent the old Register of the a.s.sembly, gotten from Master_ John Rig) _all in one voice approved the said Register, And ordained the same to make faith in judgement, and outwith in all time coming: as a true and authentick Register of the Kirk of_ Scotland, _conforme __ to the testimonie subscribed by the Committee, to be insert in the Books of a.s.sembly: whereof the tenor followeth:_

We under subscribers, Forsameikle as the late Generall a.s.sembly holden at _Glasgow_, gave power and Commission to us, To peruse, examine, and cognosce upon the validity, faith, and strength of the books and Registers of the a.s.sembly, particularly set down in the Commission given to us thereanent: According whereunto we did carefully view, peruse, and consider the saids Registers, and gave our testimony thereof under our hands, of the validity and sufficience of the samine, to the said Generall a.s.sembly. And now having a new Commission given to us from the Generall a.s.sembly now presently conveened and sitting at _Edinburgh_. To peruse, examine, and cognosce upon the validity, faith and strength of another Register of the a.s.sembly, which was not set down and recommended to us by the said former Commission, which Register beginneth at the a.s.sembly holden at _Edinburgh_ the sixt day of _March_ 1572. and endeth at the a.s.sembly likewise holden at _Edinburgh_ 1573. we have carefully viewed, perused, and considered the said Register: And being deeply and maturely advised, as in a matter of greatest weight and consequence, do attest before G.o.d, and upon our consciences declare to the world, and this present a.s.sembly, That the said Register above exprest, is a famous, authentick, and good Register, which ought to be so reputed, and have publike faith in judgement and outwith, as a valid and true Record in all things, And finds the same to be of the same handwrit, and subscribed by the same Clerk of the Generall a.s.sembly as divers of the said other Registers (formerly perused by us) are. And in testimonie of our solemne affirmation we have subscribed these presents with our hand, at _Edinburgh_ the 14. day of _August_ 1639.

Act Sess. 19. August 27. 1639.

_Act approving the deposition of the Ministers by the Committees._

The a.s.sembly, after the receiving of the whole reports from the Committees, appointed for revising of the processes and sentences, led, deduced, and p.r.o.nounced before, and by the several Commissions granted by the a.s.sembly at _Glasgow_, All in one voice approved the saids whole Processes as orderly proceeded, and the whole sentences p.r.o.nounced therein till, as just and lawful decrees, without prejudice of any favour that can be showne to any person or persons, against whom the said sentences are p.r.o.nounced upon their supplications, or of Justice to such as complain of their processe, and offers to reduce the same upon whatsoever reason competent, by the Const.i.tutions of this Kirk and Kingdome, before the General a.s.sembly and the Commissioners thereof, they being appointed for that effect.

Act Sess. 20. Aug. 28. 1639.

_Act anent receiving of deposed Ministers._

The which day the General a.s.sembly upon the report of the Committees anent these who are deposed by Synods, Doe make this General Act, recommending to the Synods all these who are deposed befor them for subscribing of the Declinator, & reading of the Service book and for no other grosse cause, That upon their true repentance & submission to the Const.i.tutions of this Kirk & upon their purgation and clearnesse from any grosse Faults laid to their charge in any new processe against them, they may be found by the Synod as capable of the Ministrie, when G.o.d grants them an ordinary and lawful calling by admission from the Presbyterie, either in the Church they served in before, or in any other Church.

Act Sess. 21. August 29. 1639.

_Act anent the keeping of the Lords Day._

_The General a.s.sembly recommendeth to the several Presbyteries the execution of the old acts of a.s.sembly, against the breach of the Sabbath Day, by going of Mylnes, Salt-Pannes, Salmond-fis.h.i.+ng, or any such like labour; and to this end revives and renues the act of the a.s.sembly holden at_ Haly-rude-house, 1602. _Sess. 5.

whereof the tenor follows._

The a.s.sembly considering that the conventions of the People, specially on the Sabbath Day are very rare in many places, by distraction of labour not only in harvest and seed-time, but also every Sabbath, by fis.h.i.+ng both of the white fish, and Salmond-fis.h.i.+ng, and in going of Mylnes. Therefore the a.s.sembly dischargeth and inhibiteth all such labour of fis.h.i.+ng, as well white fish and Salmond-fish, and going of Mylnes of all sorts upon the Sabbath, under the pain of incurring the censures of the Kirk: And ordaines the Commissioners of this a.s.sembly, to mean the same to His Majestie, and to desire that a pecunial paine may be injoyned upon the contraveeners of this present Act.

Act Sess. 22. Aug. 29. 1639. _a Meridie._

_Articles and Overtures approved by the a.s.sembly._

That some Commissioners be appointed to visit and peruse the whole Acts of General a.s.semblies, and to marke such Acts as are for the use of the Kirk in General, To extract the same out of the Registers, to the effect that after they be tryed, they may be printed according to the old Acts of the a.s.sembly at _Edinburgh_, _March 7. 1574._ _Sess._ 9.

_The a.s.sembly appoints the Presbyterie of_ Edinburgh, _to have a care of this article, and to report their diligence to the next a.s.sembly._

That course may be taken for restraining of people from pa.s.sing to _England_ to marry, which is the occasion of great in conveniences.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article, and recommends to the Parliament, that they would appoint a pecuniall summe to be payed by the contraveeners._

That the Acts for furnis.h.i.+ng expences to Commissioners, sent by the Presbyteries to the General a.s.sembly, and sent in Commission by Generall a.s.semblies, may be explained; And it be declared that all such Commissioners whatsoever, by their stipends may be furnished by the Kirks of the Presbyterie, according to the order, set down in the Act of the last a.s.sembly, since the errand is common, and the benefit concerneth all: and that order may be taken, how that an expedient voluntarie course, thought fit by the a.s.sembly, shall by advise of Parliament, have the force of a law, for compelling these to pay who are stented, both for the last and this a.s.sembly and in time to come.

_The a.s.sembly allowes this article, and referres the same to the Parliament._

That the Session-books of every Paroche be presented once a year to the Presbyteries, that they may be tryed by them.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article._

That the Act of the 38. a.s.sembly at _Edinburgh_, _October 24, 1578._ Sess.

8. ordaining Ministers who are deposed, to be charged under the pain of excommunication, to dimit their places, that they may be unquestionably vacand, may now be renewed.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article, and remits the same to the Parliament._

The a.s.sembly would revive or renew all former Acts of a.s.sembly against Papists, and excommunicate persons, against haunters with them and receivers of them.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article._

That an uniforme Catechisme may be appointed to be used throughout this whole Kingdome in the examinations before the Communion.

_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article._