THE Generall Assembly taking to their serious Consideration the great darknesse and Ignorance, wherein a great part of this Kingdom lyeth, together with the late Solemn Engagement, to use all means for remedy thereof, doe ordaine every Minister with assistance of the Elders of their severall Kirk sessions to take course, that in every house where there is any who can read, there be at least one Copie of the Shorter and Larger Catechisme, Confession of Faith and Directorie for Familie-worship. And doe renew the Act of the Assemblie August 30, 1639, for a day of weeklie Catechising, to be Constantly observed in every Kirk, And that every Minister so Order their Catethetick Questions, as thereby the People, (who doe not conveen all at one time but by turns unto that exercise) may at every dyet have the chief heads of saving knowledge in a short view presented unto them, And the Assembly considering that notwithstanding of their former Act, these dyets of weekly Catechising are much slighted and neglected by many Ministers throughout this Kingdome, Doe therefore Appoint and Ordaine every Presbytery, to take triall of all the ministers within their bounds once at least in the halfe year, whither they be carefull to keep weekly dyets of Catechising: And if they shall finde any of their number negligent herein they shall admonish for the first fault, and if after such admonition they shall not amend, The Presbyterie for the second fault shall rebuke them sharply, and if after such rebuke they doe not yet amend, they shall be suspended.
4 Aug., 1649. Ante Meridiem. Sess. XL.
Commission for Publick Affaires.
THE General Assemblie Considering how necessary it is for preservation of Religion in this Kingdom, and procecution of the work of uniformity in all his Majesties dominions, That the Commissions formerly granted to that effect be renewed: Therefore they doe renew the power and Commission granted for the Publick affairs of the Kirk by the Generall Assemblies held at Saint Andros 1642, and at Edinburgh, 1643, 1644, 1645, 1646, 1647, and 1648, unto the persons following, viz. Master Alex. Rollock, John Murray, Thomas Lundie, John Freebairne, Geo. Murray, Harie Livingston, William Major, Hew Henderson, Samuel Austine, Mr Gavin Young, David Laing, William Maxwell, John Maccleland, James Erving, Robert Ferguson, John Scot, Thomas Wylie, Hew Eccles, John Bell, Iohn Nevoy, William Gutherie, Iohn Hammiltoun, Hew Peebles, Alex. Douglas, Harie Semple, David Dickson, Pat. Gillispie, James Durham, Robert Bailie, William Hammiltoun, Francis Aird, Iames Nasmith, Richard Inglis, William Summervale, Evan Cameron, Robert Blare, Samuel Rutherfoord, Iames Wood, Iohn Macgill Elder, Alex. Balfoure, William Roe, Iohn Moncreife, Fredrick Carmichaell, Herie Wilke, William Oliphant, George Pitillo, Iohn Robeson, Iames Thomsone, William Rate, Da. Campbell, Andro Cant, Jo. Menzes, Andro Abercromby, Robert Sheyn, William Forbes, Iohn Paterson, Duncan Forbes, William Chalmers, Iohn Annand, William Falconer, Murdoch Mackenzie, Robert Jameson, Gilbert Marshell, Jo. Dallase, Wil. Smyth, Robert Hume, Tho. Suintoun, Iames Stratoun, Jo. Douglass, Iames Gutherie, Tho. Donaldson, Will. Iameson, Iohn Livingstoun, Iohn Scot, Andro Dunkeson, Iohn Dalzell, Arthur Forbes, Iames Fleming, Iames Robison, Hew Campbel, Robert Douglasse, Mungo Law, George Leslie, John Adamson, James Hammiltoun, Iohn Smyth, Hew Mackell, Geo. Hutchison, Patrick Fleming, John Hay, Ephraim Melvill, John Roe, Gilbert Hall, George Benet, Kenneth Cogie, Iohn Crafurd, Ministers: Archbald Marquesse of Argyle, E. of Sutherland, Alex. E. of Eglintoun, Iohn E. of Cassels, Will. E. of Lothian, the Viscount of Arbuthnet, David L. Elcho, ______ Lo. Brichen, Rob. Lo. Burly, Iames Lo. Couper, Sir Archbald Johnstoun of Waristoun Clerk Register, Sir Daniel Carmichael Thesaurer Depute, Sir John Hope of Craighall, Mr George Winraham of Libbertoun, Mr Alex. Person of Southhall, Brodie of that ilk, four of the ordinary Lords of the Session, Arthur Ersken of Scotscrage, Laird of Wauchtoun, Sir David Hume of Wedderburne, Laird of Edzell, Laird of Nidrie, Sir William Scot of Harden, Laird of Greenheid, Laird of Freeland, Laird of Cesnock, Sr. Iames Stewart of Kirkfield, the Laird of Suintoun younger, Laird of Eight, Sir Iames Fraser, Sir Thomas Ker, Laird of Fernie, Sir Rob. Adair, Sheriff of Tiviotdail younger, Tutor of Pitsligo, Sir Iohn Chiesly, Laird of Englistoun, Laird of Leslie younger, La. of Dunbeth, La. of Watertoun, Sir Io. Smyth, Mr Alex. Colvill of Blair, Whitbank younger, La. of Grenock, Galloshiels younger, Buchchantie, Crachlaw, Cloberhil, Dalserfe, Mr Robert Burnet younger, Mr Tho. Murray, Iames Eleis, Laird Kennedie, Alex. Iaffray, Iames Sword, George Porterfeild, Mr Rob. Barclay, Hew Kennedey, Will. Glendoning, Thomas Macbirnie, Rob. Lockart, Mr Iames Campbel, Iohn Carsane, Iohn Boswell, Alex. Douglasse, Mr Alex. Skeen, William Broun, Elders; Giving unto them full Power and Commission to do all and every thing for preservation of the Established Doctrine, Discipline, Worship and Government in this Kirk, against all who shall endeavour to introduce any thing contrarie thereunto; And for prosecuting, advancing, perfecting and bringing the works of uniformitie in Religion in all his Majesties dominions to a happy conclusion conform to the former Commissions granted by preceding Assemblies thereanent.
And to that effect appoints them or any nineteen of them whereof 13 shall be Ministers, to meet in this Citie to morrow the 7 of this instant, and thereafter upon the second Wednesday of Novemb. February and May next, and upon any other day, and in any other place they shall think fit: Giving also unto them full power, to send Commissioners to the Kingdom of England, for prosecuting the Treatie of Uniformitie as they shall find conveniencie, and to give instructions and Commissions to that effect conform to former Commissiones granted hereanent: And Likewise in case delinquents have no constant residence in any one Presbyterie, or if Presbyteries be negligent or overawed, in these cases The Assembly gives to the persons before named power of censuring Compliers and persons disaffected to the Covenant, according to the Acts of the Assembly, Declaring alwayes and providing, that Ministers shall not be Deposed, but in one of the quarterlie meetings of this Commission; And further authorizes them as formerlie, with full power to make Supplications, Remonstrances, Declarations and Warnings, to Indict Fasts and Thanksgivings as there shall be cause, to protest against all encroachments upon the Liberties of the Kirk, and to Censure all such as Interrupt this Commission or any other Church Judicatorie, or the execution of their Censures, or of any other sentences or Acts Issuing from them; And with full power to them to Treat and Determine in the Matters referred unto them by this Assemblie, as fullie and freelie as if the same were here fully expressed, and with as ample power as anie Commission of anie former Generall Assemblies hath had or been in use of before: Declaring also that all opposers of the Authoritie of this Commission in matters intrusted to them, shall be holden as opposers of the Authoritie of the General Assemblie, and this Commission in their whole Proceedings are Comptable to and Censurable by the next General Assemblie.
Directorie for Election of Ministers.
WHEN any Place of the Ministrie in a Congregation is vacant, it is Incumbent to the Presbyterie with all diligence to send one of their number to Preach to that Congregation who in his doctrine is to represent to them the necessitie of providing the place with a qualified pastor, and to exhort them to fervent prayer and supplication to the Lord that he would send them a Pastor according to his own heart: As also he is to signifie that the Presbyterie out of their care of that Flock will send unto them Preachers, whom they may hear, and if they have a desire to hear any other, they will endeavour to procure them an hearing of that person or persones upon the sute of the Elders to the Presbyterie.
2. Within some competent time thereafter, the Presbyterie is again to send one or more of their number to the said vacant Congregation, on a certain day appoynted before for that effect, who are to conveen and hear sermon the foresaid day; which being ended, and Intimation being made by the Minister, that they are to goe about the Election of a pastor for that Congregation, the Session of the Congregation shall meet and proceed to the Election, the action being moderated by him that Preached; And if the people shall upon the intimation of the Person agreed upon by the Session acquiesce and consent to the said person, Then the matter being reported to the Presbyterie by Commissioners sent from the session, they are to proceed to the triall of the person thus Elected, And finding him qualified, to admit him to the Ministry in the said Congregation.
3. But if it happen that the Major part of the Congregation dissent from the person agreed upon by the Session, In that case the matter shall be brought unto the Presbyterie, who shall Judge of the same; And if they doe not find their Dissent to be grounded on Causlesse prejudices, they are to appoynt a new Election in manner above specified.