Read Ebook: The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church Of Scotland General Assembly

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TO THE READER.

For the present it seemed necessary that such of the Acts and Constitutions of the Assembly as are of most general concernment should be published in print; the correct writing of so many Copies as were called for, not being possible to be exped in due time, and the Kirk having resolved upon this course in former times, which, had it been keeped, our defection through the almost invincible ignorance of the proceedings of the Kirk, had not proven so dangerous and deplorable.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AT GLASGOW.

Act Sess. 6. November 27. 1638.

The Moderatour desired that if any of the Assembly had any thing to say against the said testimonie for the books, that they would declare it, and finding none to oppon, yet be appointed the day following, to any to object any thing they could say; and if then none could object the Assembly would hold the Registers as sufficient approven.

Act. Sess 7. November 28.

Anent the report of the Assemblies judgement of the authority of the books of Assembly; The Moderatour having desired that if any of the Assembly had any thing to say, they would now declare it, otherwise they would hold all approved by the Assembly.

The whole Assembly all in one voice approved these books, and ordained the same to make faith in judgement, and out with, in all time commitit, as the true and authentick Registers of the Kirk of Scotland, conform to the testimonie subscribed by the Committie, to be insert with the reasons thereof in the books of Assembly: Whereof the tenour followeth.

Having carefully viewed, perused and considered the first registers, and every one of them, and being deeply and maturely advised, as in a matter of greatest weight and consequence, do attest before God, and upon our conscience declare to the world and this present Assembly, that the saids foure registers above expressed, and every one of them, are famous, authentick and good registers: which ought to be so reputed and have publick faith in judgement and out with ad validem it the records in all things, and that the said fifth & greatest book, beginning at the Assembly 1560. and ending 1590. being by the hand writs of the Clerk, cognosced, and tryed, and agreeable to the other four registers, in what is extant in them, ought be free of all prejudice and suspicion, and received with them. And in testimonie of our solemne affirmation, we have made these presents with our hands.

Subscribitur, Master Andrew Ramsay. Master John Adamson. Master John Row. Master Rohre Murray. Master Alexander Gibson. Master James Boner. Master Alexander Peerson. Master Alexander Wedderburn.

Act. Sess. 12. December fourth.

Act. Sess. 13. December 5. 1638.

Act. Sess. 14. December 6. 1638.

Therefore the Assembly all in one voice hath rejected and condemned, and by these presents doth reject and condemne the said book, as contrare to the confession of our Faith, and repugnant to the established government, the book of Discipline, and the acts and constitutions of our Kirk: prohibits the use and practise of the same; and ordains Presbyteries to proceed with the censure of the Kirk against all such as shall transgresse.

This Assembly ordained the book of Policie to be insert in the register by the act following.

Immediatly after the inserting of the book of Policie, called there the book of Discipline, the Assembly ordained that the confession of Faith be subscribed as followeth.

In the same Assembly it is acknowledged that the estate of Bishops is condemned by the Kirk, a commission for erection of moe Presbyteries was renewed: and a new ordinance made for subscribing the confession of Faith, and to proceed against whatsoever persons that would not acknowledge and subscribe the same.

Act. Sess. 17. December 10. 1638.

All which, and many other acts, grounds, and reasons, being at length agitated, and with mature deliberation pondered, and libertie granted to every man to speak his minde; what could be said further, for the full satisfaction of all men.

Act. Sess. 21. December 17. 1638.

The Assembly findeth it necessar to restore, and by these presents restoreth all these Assemblies unto their full integritie in their members, priviledges, liberties, powers, and jurisdictions; as they were constitute by the foresaid book of Policie.

Act. Sess. 23, 24. December 17. 18.

Anent the report of the Committie, appointed for considering what constitutions were to be revived, or made of new, they proponed the overtures following: which were read and allowed by the whole Assembly, or by them referred to the consideration of the severall Presbyteries.

The tennour of the advise of the brethren; depute for penning the enormities and corruptions in the ministerie, and remead thereof, allowed by the generall Assembly here conveened. 1596.

Corruptions in their persons and lives.

Anent generall Assemblies.

That the Minister of the place where the Synodall Assembly meets shall preach the first day of their meeting, and give timouse advertisement to the rest of the Presbyteries.

Act Sess. 14. December 18. 1638.

The Assembly considering the great necessity of purging this land from bygone corruptions, and of preserving her from the like in time coming, ordaineth the Presbyteries to proceed with the censures of the Kirk, to excommunication, against those Ministers who being deposed by this Assembly acquiesces not to their sentences, but exercise some part of their Ministerial function, refuseth themselves, and with-draw others from the obedience of the acts of the Assembly.

Act. Sess. 25. December 19. 1638.

Act Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.

Act. Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.

Act Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.

The Assembly considering the acts and practise of this Kirke in her purest times, that the Commissioners of every Presbyterie, Burgh, and Universitie, were both ordained to take, and really did take from the Clerk; the whole generall acts of the Assembly, subscribed by the Clerk: Whereby they might rule and conforme their judicatorie themselves, and all persons within their jurisdictions, unto the obedience thereof: Considering the great prejudices we have lately felt out of ignorance of the acts of Assembly, Considering also the great necessity in this time of reformation, beyond any other ordinarie time, to have an extract thereof: The Assembly ordaineth be this present act, that all Commissioners from Presbyteries, Burghes and Universities, presently get under the Clerks hand an Index of the acts, till the acts themselves be extracted, and thereafter to get the full extract of the whole generall acts, to be insert in their Presbyterie books, whereby all their proceedings may be regulate in time coming. Likeas the Assembly recommendeth unto every Kirk Session, for the preservation of their particular Paroch from the reentrie of the corruptions now discharged, and for their continuance in the Covenant, anent doctrine, worship and discipline now declared, to obtain an extract of these acts: especially if they be printed: Seeing their pryce will no wayes then be considerable: as the benefite both of the particular Parish, and the interest of the whole Kirk, in the preservation thereof from defection is undenyable: seeing Presbyteries are composed of sundry Parochins, and so must be affected, or infected as they are, as Provinciall and generall Assemblies are composed of Presbyteries, and so must be diposed as they are.

Act Sess. 26. December 20.

Act Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.

Act. Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.

To The Kings Most Excellent Majestie:

Most gracious Soveraigne,

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AT EDINBURGH, 1639.

Sess. 8. August 17. 1639.

Sess. 8. August 17. 1639.

Sess. 18. Aug. 26. 1639.

Act Sess. 19. August 27. 1639.

Act Sess. 20. Aug. 28. 1639.

The which day the General Assembly 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 Constitutions 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 God 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.

The Assembly 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 fishing both of the white fish, and Salmond-fishing, and in going of Mylnes. Therefore the Assembly dischargeth and inhibiteth all such labour of fishing, 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 Assembly, to mean the same to His Majestie, and to desire that a pecunial paine may be injoyned upon the contraveeners of this present Act.

That the Acts for furnishing expences to Commissioners, sent by the Presbyteries to the General Assembly, and sent in Commission by Generall Assemblies, 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 Assembly, 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 Assembly, 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 Assembly and in time to come.

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

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

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