Overtures against Papists, non-Communicants, and Profaners of the Sabbath.
I.
THE Assembly would draw up a Supplication to be presented by the Commissioners of the Presbyterie of Edinburgh to the Councell at their first meeting, for the due execution of the Acts of Parliament and Councell against Papists, wherein it will be specially craved, that the Exchequer should be the Intromettors with the Rents of these who are excommunicate, and that from the Exchequer the Presbyterie may receive that portion of the confiscate goods, which the Law appoints to be imployed ad pios usus.
II. Every Presbyterie would conveen at their first meeting, all known Papists in their bounds, and require them to put out of their company, all friends and servants who are Popish within one moneth: also within that same space, to give their children, sons and daughters, who are above seven yeers old, to be educate at their charges, by such of their Protestant friends, as the Presbyterie shall approve, and finde sufficient caution for bringing home within three moneths such of their children who are without the Kingdom, to be educate in Schooles and Colledges at the Presbyteries sight; to finde caution likewise of their abstinence from Masse, and the company of all Jesuits and Priests.
III. That all, of whatsoever rank or degree, who refuse to give satisfaction in every one of the foresaid Articles, shall be processed without any delay; but those who give satisfaction shall be dealt with in all meeknesse, after this manner: The Presbyteries shall appoint such of their number as they shall find fittest to confer with them so frequently as the Brethren are able to attend, untill the midst of October next, against which time, if they be not willing to go to Church, they shall give assurance to go and dwell in the next adjacent University Town, whether Edinburgh, Glasgow, S. Andrews, or Aberdene, from Novemb. 1, to the last of March, where they shall attend all the diets of conference which the professors and Ministers of the bounds shall appoint to them: by which, if they be not converted, their obstinacy shall be declared in the Provincial Synods of April, and from thence their Processe shall go on to the very closure without any farther delay.
IIII. That every Presbyterie, as they will be answerable to the next Generall Assembly, be carefull to do their dutie in all the premisses.
V. That there be given presently, by the members of this present Assembly, unto the Commissioners of the Presbyterie of Edinburgh, a List of all excommunicate Papists they know, and of all Papists who have children educate abroad, that they may be presented, together with our Supplication, to the Councell, at their first sitting.
VI. That the Councell may be supplicate for an Act, that in no Regiment which goes out of the Kingdom, any Papists bear office, and that the Colonell be required to finde caution for this effect, before he receive the Councels Warrant for levying any Souldiers: also that he finde caution for the maintaining of a Minister, and keeping of a Session in his Regiment.
Item, The Assembly would enjoyn every Presbyterie to proceed against non-Communicants, whether Papists or others, according to the Act of Parliament made thereanent. And suchlike, that Acts of Parliament against prophaners of the Sabbath be put to execution.