After that, Sir Archbald Stewart of Blackhall, as Counsellour, declaired, by Mr John Hamiltoun, his Minister, that he subscryved the Confession of Faith, as it was first subscryved in the year 1581.
After that, a young Gentleman, of excellent pairtes, called Mr Joⁿ Forbes, brother-German to Craigievar, who had bein in forraigne countries, and in ane Universitie in England long, and drank in the love of the customes of these Churches, and, after he came to Scotland, was confirmed in the lyke opinions in Aberdeene, by the Doctors there, and came onlie occasionallie of purpose to have stayed but ane night, and then retired to Ireland; and, seeing the progres of this Assembly, it pleased God so to worke with him that he was enamoured with it, and, contrare to his former resolution, came in before the Assembly and subscryved the Covenant.
Mr David Mitchells deprivation.
Then was Mr David Mitchells proces red, and the Acts of the Kirk was red in the caces of deprivation.
The Moderatour said—There is a difference betwixt the censures of the Kirk of England and ours. They make a difference betwixt deprivation, deposition, and degradation. They say, deprivation takes away his benefice, deposition his office, and degradation, according to the Priests of old in the Bookes of Martyres, were degradat when they made apostacie from the Roman Religion; and they mentained, with the Papists, that, notwithstanding of all their Censures, there remaines something which they call character indelibellis, which is a certain impression put upon the saule of a man when he receives ordination; but they themselves cannot tell what it is. But censures usit in our Ministers, beside admonition, ar suspension, deprivation, deposition: Suspension for a tyme from exercising the function of the Ministerie; deprivation and deposition we take to be ane, becaus, when he is depryved of his benefice, so of his office. There is ane of thir censures alreadie put on Mr David Mitchell, Minister in Edinburgh. Now ye have to consider what ye have to doe further. Ye have heard the proces, and he has declyned the Assembly, contrare to the Act of the Generall Assembly at Sanct Androwes, the year 1595.
Then the Moderatour asked Mr Robert Douglas opinion, who answered—He is clearlie convict of Arminianisme and many Poyntes of Poperie, and the Censure of the Kirk is deprivation for his false doctrine, and excommunication for declyning the Generall Assembly; therefore, I thinke this Assembly should extirpat such birds, least the Kirk receave prejudice heirafter.
Mr Androw Ramsay said—That he promised to forbeare such doctrine, but did it not; and not only declyned this Assembly, but used meanes to stoppe the course, by letters from the Bishop and Commissioner, commanding the Presbitrie to [desist] from any censure. Therefore he deserves deposition.
Moderatour said—This is a sufficient ground of a Sentence against him, that his doctrine is the doctrine of the remonstrances that they avowed at the Counsell of Dort, contrare to the doctrine of all the reformed Kirkes, whose Commissioners were there; and consequently to the doctrine of the Kirk of Scotland; for he defends universall grace, resistabilitie of Grace—efficacie of Christs death—apostacie of the Saints; so he is both convict of heresie, and obstinatelie glories in the venting of it; and so in respect of his false doctrine and declinatour, merito ejiciendus.
Then the rows were called, and the whole Assembly voiced to his deprivation.
Moderatour said—There is none here, I am sure, more loath to pronounce a sentence of deprivation nor I, who never did the lyke; yet, since place is given unto me, in name of this Assembly, and in name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, I declair, that Mr David Mitchell shall no more exercise the function of the Ministrie; and, for that whilk is laid to his charge, he is not worthie of any Ministration of the word and Sacraments in the Kirk of God, and declares his place to be vacant; and ordaines the Presbitrie of Edinburgh to make intimation thereof in their Kirkes.