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

Domestick Remedies.

1. Let care be taken of conscionable receiving of servants, that they have testimonials of their honest behaviour: And let all such as give testimonials take heed that these to whom they give them, be free of scolding, swearing, lying and such like more common sins, as well as fornication, adultery, drunkennesse and other grosse and hainous evils; let the ordinary time of giving Testimonials be in face of Session: And if an extraordinary exigent be: let it be given by the Minister with consent of the elder of the bounds, wherein the person craving the Testimoniall hath resided; If they have fallen or relapsed in scandalous sins, let their Testimoniall bear both their fall and Repentance.

2. Let care be had that the Worship of God be practised, and Discipline exercised in Families, according to the Directory for Family Worship in all things as was appointed in the General Assembly 1647, especially in the Ministers constant Catechizing of the Family, and in the performance of the Duties of the Sabbath by all the members thereof.

3. Let persons to be married and who have children to be baptized, who are very rude and ignorant, be stirred up and exhorted, as at all times, so especially at that time, to attain some measure of Christian knowledge in the grounds of Religion, that they may give to the Minister, before the Elder of the Bounds wherein they live, some accompt of their knowledge, that so they may the better teach their family and train up their children.

4. Let every family that hath any in it that can read, have a Bible and a Psalm-Book, and make use of them; and where none can read, let them be stirred up to traine up their children in reading, and use any other good remedie the Minister and Session can fall on.

Generall Ecclesiastick Remedies.

1. Let the Remedies which were given at Perth 1645, and are mentioned in the Generall Assembly 1646, anent the Sins of Ministers be put in execution.

2. Let suspension from the Lords Sacrament be more carefully executed.

3. Let persons relapse in Adultery (or above) quadrilapse in Fornication (or above) or often guilty of other grosser scandals, be Excommunicat somewhat more summarly nor in an ordinary processe (except there be more nor ordinary signes, and an eminent measure of Repentance made known to the Session and Presbyterie) both for the hainousness of the Sins and continuance therein, and also for terrour to others; And these not to be relaxed from the sentence of Excommunication without evidence, and undeniable signes of Repentance.

4. Let unpartiall proceeding be used against men of all quality, for their scandalous walking, and in particular for drunkennesse, swearing, and other scandalous sins. And this to be tryed at the Visitation of Kirks.