Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

XXIV. The Assembly having considered the order of the provincial Assemblies, given in by the most ancient of the Ministrie within every Province, as the ancient plateforme thereof, ordained the same to be observed conforme to the roll, registrat in the books of Assembly, whereof the tennour followeth.

The order of the Provincial Assemblies in Scotland, according to the Presbyteries therein contained.

1. The Provinciall Assembly of Mers and Tividaill.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Dunce.	Mers.
Chirnside.	Tividail.
Kelso.	The Forrest.
Erstiltoun.	Lauderdail.
Jedburgh.
Melros.
To meet the first time at Jedburgh, the third Twesday of April.
2. The Provinciall of Louthian.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Dumbar.	e. Louthian.
Hadingtoun.	w. Louthian.
Dalkeeth.	Tweeddaill.
Edinburgh.
Peebles.
Linlithgow.
To meet the first time at Edinburgh the third Twesday of April.
3. The Provinciall of Perth.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Perth.	The Shyrefdome of Perth and of Striviling Shire.
Dunkel.
Aughterardor.
Striviling.
Dumblane.
To meet the first time at Perth, the second Twesday of April.
4. The Province of Drumfrees.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Dumfrees.	Niddisdaill.
Penpont.	Annandaill.
Lochmabane.	Ewsdaill.
Middilbee.	Eskdaill.
	Wachopdaill & a part of Galloway.
To meet the first time at Drumfrees, the second Twesday of April.
5. The Provinciall of Galloway.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Wigtoun.	The Shyrefdome of Wigtoun, and Stewartie of Kirkubright.
Kirkubright.
Stranraver.
To meet the first time at Wigtoun, third Twesday of April.
The Provinciall Synod of Aire or Irwing.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Aire.	The Shyrefdome of Aire
Irwing.
To meet with the Provincial Synod of Glasgowpro hac vice, the first Twesday of April.
6. The Provinciall Synod of Glasgow.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Pasley.	The Shyr. of Lennox, the Barrony of Renfrow, the Shy. of Clydsdail over and nether.
Dumbartane.
Glasgow.
Hamiltoun.
Lanerik.
To meet with the Provincial Synod of Aire and Irwingat Glasgow, pro hac vice.
7. The Provinciall Synod of Argyl, desired to beeerected in several Presbyteries, according to the notegiven in.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Dunnune.	The Shyrifdomes of Argil & Boot, with a part of Lochabar.
Kinloch.
Inneraray.
Kilmoir.
Skye.
To meet the first time at Innereray, the 4 Twesday of April.
8. The Provinciall Synod of Fife.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
St Andrews.	The Shyrefdome of Fife.
Cowper.
Kirkadie.
Dunferling.
To meet the first time at Cowper in Fife the first Twesday of April.
9. The Provinciall Synod of Angus and Merns.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Meegle.	The Shyrefdomes of Forfair and Merns.
Dundie.
Arbroth.
Forfair.
Brechen.
Merns.
To meet the first time at Dundie, the third Twesday of April.
10. The Provinciall Synod of Aberdene.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Aberdene.	The Shyrefdomes of Aberdene and Bamfe.
Kincairdin.
All-foord.
Gairloch.
Ellan Deer.
Turreffe.
Fordyce.
To meet the first time at new Aberdene, the 3 Twesday of April.
11. The Provinciall Synod of Murray.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Innernes.	The Shyrefdomes of Innernes in part, Nairn in part, Murray, Bamf in part, Aberden in part.
Forresse.
Elgin.
Strabogie.
Abernethie.
Aberlower.
To meet the first time at Forresse, the last Twesday of April.
12. The Provinciall Synod of Rosse.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Chanrie.	The Shyrefdome of Innernes in part.
Taine.
Dingwall.
To meet the first time at Chanrie, the 2 Twesday of April.
13. The Provinciall Synod of Cathnes.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Dornoch.	Cathnes.
Weeke or Thurso.	Sutherland.
To meet the first time at Dornoch, the third Twesday of April.
14. The Provinciall Synod of Orkney and Zetland.
The Presbyteries of	The bounds.
Kirkwall.	The Shrefdome of Orkney and Zetland.
Scalloway.
To meet the first time at Kirkwall, the second Twesday of April.
15. The Provinciall Synod of the Isles.
All the Kirks of the North west Isles, viz. Sky,Lewes, and the rest of the Isles, which were lyableto the Diocie of the Isles, except the South-westisles which are joyned to the Presbyteries of Argyll,To meet the first time at Skye the second Twesdayof May.

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.

It is remembered that of old the Synodall Assemblies that were nearest to others, had correspondence among themselves, by sending one or two Commissioners mutually from one to another, which course is thought fit to be keeped in time comming: viz. The Provincials of Louthian, and Mers, &c. The Provincials of Drumfries, Galloway, Glasgow, and Argyll, The Provincials of Perth, Fyfe, and Angus, &c. The Provincials of Aberdein and Murray. The Provincials of Rosse, Caithnes, and Orknay. The Commissioners for correspondence amongst the Synodals to be a Minister and a ruling Elder.

The Assembly recommendeth to the severall Presbyteries the execution of the old acts of Assemblies, against the break of the Sabbath-day, by the going of Milles, Salt-pans, Salmond-fishing, or any such-like labour, and to this end revives and renews the act of the Assembly, holden at Halyrudehouse 1602. Sess. 5. whereof the tennour followeth.

“The Assemblie considering that the conventions of the people, specially on the Sabbath-day, are verie rare in manie places, by distraction of labour, not only in Harvest and Seed-time, but also every Sabbath by fishing both of white fish and Salmond fishing, and in going of Milles: Therefore the Assemblie, dischargeth and inhibiteth, all such labour of fishing as-well whyte fish as Salmond-fish, and going of Miles of all sorts upon the Sabbath-day, under the paine of incurring the censures of the Kirk. And ordains the Commissioners of this Assemblie to meane the same to his Majestie, and to desire that a pecuniall paine may be injoyned upon the contraveeners of this present act.”

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Act Sess. 24. 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 Ministeriall function, refuseth themselves, and with-draw others from the obedience of the acts of the Assembly.