I, John Earle of Traquair, His Majesties Commissioner in this present Assembly, doe, in His Majesties Name, declare, that, notwithstanding of His Majesties own inclination, and many other grave and weightie considerations, yet such is His Majesties incomparable goodnesse, that, for settling the present distractions, and giving full satisfaction to the Subject, He doth allow, like as I, His Majesties Commissioner, doe consent to the foresaid Act, and have subscribed the premisses.
Likeas His Majesties Commissioner read and gave in the Declaration following:—
IT is alwayes hereby declared by me, His Majesties Commissioner, That the practise of the premisses, prohibited within this Kirk and Kingdome, outwith the Kingdome of Scotland, shall never bind nor inferre censure against the practises outwith the Kingdome; which, when the Commissioner required to be insert in the Register of the Kirk, and the Moderator, in name of the Assembly, refused to give warrant for such practise, as not agreeable with a good conscience, His Grace urged that it should be recorded, at least that he made such a Declaration, whatsoever was the Assemblies Judgement in the contrair: And so it is to be understood to be insert here onely vocitative.
Act ordaining the subscription of the Confession of Faith and Covenant, with the Assemblies Declaration.
THE Generall Assembly, considering the great happinesse which may flow from a full and perfect Union of this Kirk and Kingdome, by joyning of all in one and the same Covenant with God, with the Kings Majestie, and amongst our selves, having, by our great Oath, declared the uprightnesse and loyaltie of our intentions in all our proceedings, and having withall supplicated His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, to injoyn, by Act of Councell, all the Lieges in time coming to subscribe the Confession of Faith and Covenant, which, as a testimony of our fidelity to God and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed: And seeing His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties honorable Privie Councell, have granted the desire of our Supplication, ordaining, by civill authority, all His Majesties Lieges, in time comming, to subscribe the foresaid Covenant, that our Union may be the more full and perfect, We, by our Act and Constitution Ecclesiasticall, doe approve the foresaid Covenant in all the Heads and Clauses thereof, and ordaines of new, under all Ecclesiasticall censure, that all the Masters of Universities, Colledges, and Schooles, all Schollers at the passing of their degrees, all persons suspect of Papistry, or any other errour, and, finally, all the members of this Kirk & Kingdome, subscribe the same with these words prefixed to their subscription: “The Article of this Covenant, which was, at the first subscription, referred to the determination of the Generall Assembly, being determined, and thereby the five Articles of Perth; the government of the Kirk by Bishops; the civill places and power of Kirkmen, upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the Generall Assembly, declared to be unlawfull within this Kirk: we subscribe according to the determination foresaid.” And ordaines the Covenant, with this Declaration, to be insert, in the Registers of the Assemblies of this Kirk, Generall, Provinciall, and Presbyteriall, ad perpetuam rei memoriam; and, in all humility, supplicates His Majesties high Commissioner, and the honourable Estates of Parliament, by their authoritie to ratifie and injoyne the same, under all civill paines, which will tend to the glory of God, preservation of Religion, the Kings Majesties honour, and perfect peace of this Kirk and Kingdome.
Aug. 30. 1639.
Act anent Appellations.
THE Assembly appointed, that, in all time hereafter, no Appellations should be, leaping over either Presbyterie or Synod, but to ascend by degrees as from the Kirk Session to the Presbytry, or from the Presbyterie to the Synod, and from the Synod to the Generall Assembly, except it be after the Synod be past, and immediatly before the Generall Assembly, or in the time thereof, and renewes all former Acts made to this effect.