Act anent Children sent without the Kingdom.
WHEREAS divers Children have been sent without the Kingdom to be bred abroad, and have been or in time coming may be exposed to the temptations of seducers, and drawn away from the Trueth established and professed within this Church to errour of Poperie, or other Sects and Heresies: Therefore the Assembly Ordains, that the Parents or Friends of Children and Minors, shall before they send them without the Kingdom, first acquaint the Presbytery where they reside, that they may have their Testimoniall directed to the Presbytery or Classe within the Kingdom of France, or England, or Ireland; and at the time of these Childrens return from any of the saids Kingdoms, to report ane Testimoniall from the Presbytery or Synode where they lived without the Kingdom of their breeding there, and to shew the same to the Presbytery within the Kingdom who gave them a Testimoniall at their way going. Likeas the Assembly Ordains all Presbyteries to try if any Children have been sent to Popish Schooles or Colledges without the Kingdom; And if any be found, that their names be given to the Presbytery or Commissioners of the Assembly, that the same may be presented to the Honourable Lords of Secret Councell, or Committee of Estates, that their Lordships may be humbly desired by their authority to recall them, that after return to this Kingdom a course may be taken, according to the former Ordinances of Generall Assemblies, for their breeding in the true Religion.
Overtures presented to the Assembly.
I.
THAT correspondence be keeped among Presbyteries constantly by letter without prejudice of personall correspondence when need requires, whereby one Presbyterie may understand what many are doing, and they may be mutually assisting each to other.
II. That for the better breeding of young men to the Ministerie who are not able to furnish themselves in charges to attend in the Universities, that the Presbyteries where they reside appoint some to direct their studies.
III. That it be recommended to all the Universities to condiscend upon the best Overtures for the most profitable teaching of Grammar and Phylosophy, and as they may meet at the Commission of the Generall Assembly to make the matter ripe for the next Assembly.
The Assembly approves these Overtures, and recommends accordingly.
IV. That to the intent the knowledge of God in Christ may be spread through the Highlands and Islands (for in lack whereof the land hath smarted in the late troubles) these courses be taken: 1. Let an order be procured, that all Gentlemen who are able, at least send their eldest sons to be bred in the Inland. 2. That a Ministerie be planted amongst them, and for that effect that Ministers and expectants who can speak the Irish language be sent to imploy their talents in these parts, and that the Kirks there be provided as other Kirks in this Kingdome. 3. That Scots Schools be erected in all Parishes there, according to the Act of Parliament, where conveniently they can be had. 4. That Ministers and ruling Elders that have the Irish language be appointed to visit these parts.