After prayer, the Moderatour desired the four severall Committies to give in their diligence; and, first, for the north, Mr David Lindsey, Moderatour of that Committie, gave in the summe of the proces against Mr George Gordoune, which was found to bare beine clearlie proven, and the Assemblie did approve the sentence of the Commission against him.
A Supplication from Mr James Sandilands, Canonist in the Kings Colledge of Aberdeine: That whereas the late Commission from the Generall Assemblie had abolished the said facultie whereof he was Professor, did therefore supplicat the Assemblie for annulling the said Act, in respect he was only cited before the Commission to be examined upon his personall carriage, and, therefore, neither had they warrand to doe further, nor he was bound to answer them in further, and that becaus there were not a sufficient quorum there present at that tyme.
The Assemblie, at the desire of the Commisioners Grace, delayed it till the next Session.
As there were some other Reports coming in,
Lowdoun said—The tyme for the Assemblie is now far spent, and the Parliament approaching verie neare; and, doubtles, there are many materiall things to be done before the closure of this Assemblie. It wer fitt that these matters be pretermitted. I shall represent this to your consideration to be thought upon. Since all of these deposed Ministers, who are desirous to be heard, are either such whose faults are so palpable grosse, that on the first view they may be seene to deserve their sentence, these does not deserve in so short a tyme to have re-entrie to the Ministry, and so needs not to trouble the Assembly at this tyme. Others are mainly, declyning the Generall Assembly, who otherwayes are not so vitious, and who, now professing penitence, would be receaved upon their repentance, and the more moderatelie dealt with, that the Commissioners Grace doth now solicite for them. Others also whose proces is more dark and intricat might be laid by at this tyme, that so, if our tyme cutt us schort, whichever is left, it may be of thir personall matters.
To the which motion the Assemblie, with the Commissioners Graces consent, did applaud, and, for that effect, desired the severall Committies to take up a roll of these who were onlie deposed for declyning the Assemblie, and were now supplicants, and to put a difference between these and others who were more grosse in life and erroneous in doctrine; and so, matters being made cleare before they came to the Assemblie, it would facilitat the matter greatlie.
To meit at 4 afternoone.
Sess. 15.—At 4 a clocke in the afternoone.
After prayer, the Moderatour of the Committie for Edinʳ and Jedburgh did report, that they had seene the Supplicatiouns of Mr Robert Hamilton, Minister at Lesmahago, Mr John Hamilton, Minister at Dalserff, Mr William Forbes, Minister at Campsie, Mr James Hamilton, Minister at Hamilton, and we find them of different natures—some of them exceeding humble and penitent to us, others of them nothing so. As for Mr Robert Hamilton, the Committie thinkes he is not to be suddainlie receaved; for he was that ingenuous as to confesse his opinion of universall grace, and said it was verie probable. And lyke wayes his error anent the matter of baptisme.
The matter being put to voiceing, the whole Assemblie, in ane voice, did allow and approve the proces and sentence given out against the said Mr Robert by the Commission.