Then the Clerk proceidit in reading concerning the privat administration of the Sacraments and Confirmation.
Mr John Row said—As for Confirmation, it is one of the five bastard Sacraments, and is expressed in our Confession; and seeing Episcopacie is condemned, the imposition of their handes falles lykewayes.
Moderatour says—I remember againe how circumspectlie and warilie we have gone on in this bussines; not censuring uther Churches, but wishes all thinges may be regulat weill in our owne Church. Neither goe we to trouble any mans conscience with idolatrie, superstition, or any uther thing of that kynd. The question shall be this—Whither or not, according to the Confession of Faith as it was professed in the year 1580 and afterward, festivitie dayes, kneeling, &c., are abjured, and ought to be removed? And if any of the brethren hes any thing to say to cleare this matter, say it.
Mr David Dick said—The first year of my ministerie, when thir thinges began to be agitat, we wer tryed with alse subtle distinctions and insinuations as could be; and, when the matter was brought before our Presbitrie concerning preaching at Zuill Day, the question was made, Whether it was lawfull to preach that day or not? Whereupon I resolved to take the narrowest way I could to try if there were superstition in it; and I waited till the people conveined that day, having no advertisement of any thing to be spocken from me, but only the ordinar course of prayers. And there I fand the Kirk fuller than ordinar; quherupon I tooke occasion to preach against the idolatrie that was lyke to break foorth; and this I fand to be exponed athort the countrie for a Zuill preaching; and out of that I learned to make a distinction betwixt the act and honest intention of some that were slidden aff their feet; ffor they sett downe the act ane way, and pleadit for them ane uther way, and they were practised a third way. I speake not this to excuse the wrong that God hes gotten, but only to excuse some honest mynds a tanto onlie.
Moderatour said—In Sᵗ Androwes, where I live, they professe that they keepe holy these dayes only in tyme of preaching, and yet they have a great bell they ring on these dayes.
Lowdoun said—There is ane thing not to be forgot, that, upon the humble petition of the subjects unto the King, the Kings Majestie hes beene pleased in these Articles given in be his Commissioner, to discharge these thinges by a reall edict; and, withall, did offer to the consideration of the Assembly what thinges they thinke fitt to be represented onto the Parliament; so that none neids to scarre at that. Not only is the Assembly at Perth, which gives auctoritie to them, null, but if any fear the sanction of the civill law, they are abrogat by it also, and full power given to present unto the Parliament what ye thinke farder fitting to be requyred. And for the thinges themselves, let men think of them as they will. The tries are knowne by their fruits. What fearfull obstractions they have bein, usher to all thir thinges that are come since?
Moderatour said—Indeed they have made way for the Service Booke, and are principall limbs of it.
Mr Androw Ramsay said—I allow altogether and think it expedient, that these Articles be removed; but for the information of some I will speake a little. First, What is a holy day? There is twa things to make up a holy day. The first is the commandment of God; the second is the dueties commandit to be performed that day. This may be evinced and cleared out of the fourth precept—“Remember to keep holy,” &c, and thir twa is includit in the same precept—“He rested”—there is a cessation from worke—“and hallowed it”—that is dedicat to holy uses; therefore a cessation from a’ worke, and a dedication to holy uses, makes up a holy day. So these three makes up a holy day—a commandment, a cessation, a dedication. Now for kneilling at the Communion, it is dissonant to the practice of Christ, and discrepant from the practice of the Kirk; and for the action, a Papist could say that the action of the Communion being ane action of joy, we should not use a humble gesture. If a Papist conclude thus, much more we. And for privat Baptisme, it is not to be understood when it is ministred in the church or at publict prayers, but when it is ministred in a privat house; ffor in countrie kirks there is sett doune preaching in week days. As for Confirmation, I altogether condemne it.
Mr Robert Baillie said—For the removing of the Articles of Perth out of the Kirk, I heartilie consent unto it; but to remove them as abjured in the Confession of Faith, so that they all shall be abjured who practised them, I doe not think.
Then the Moderatour stated the question of new againe, and desyrit Mr Robert Baillie to tell his opinion when his voice was speired.