The Generall Assembly, considering the manifold prejudices redounding to the Kirk in Generall, and private Congregations in particnlar; through the restoring of Ministers once deposed to the same places wherein formerly they served: As also, how derogatorie it would prove to the weight of that sentence of Deposition; Do therefore ordain, that no Minister deposed, shall be restored again into that place where formerly he served.
Renovation of the Commission for the publick Affairs of the Kirk.
The General Assembly taking to their consideration, That in respect the great Work of Uniformitie in Religion in all his Majesties dominions, is not yet perfected, (though by the Lords blessing there is a good progresse made in the same) there is a necessity of renewing the Commissions granted formerly for prosecuting and perfecting that great Work; Doe therefore Renew the Power and Commission granted for the publick Affairs of the Kirk by the Generall Assembly, held in S. Andrews in the year 1642. upon the fifth day of August post meridiem, Sess, 12. And by the Generall Assembly held in Edinburgh in the year 1643 upon the 19. day of August, Sess. ult. And by the late Generall Assembly held at Edinburgh in the year 1644. upon the third of June, Sess. 6. to the Persons afternamed, viz. Mr Andrew Ramsay, Mr Alexan. Henderson, Mr Robert Douglas, Mr William Colvil, Mr William Bennet, Mr George Gillespie, Mr John Oswald, Mr Mungo Law, Mr Robert Lawrie, [pg 288] Mr John Adamson, D. John Sharp, Mr George Leslie, Mr Andrew Fairfowle, Mr David Calderwood, Mr Andrew Blackhall, Mr James Fleeming, Mr Robert Ker, Mr John Macghie, Mr John Dalyell, Mr Andrew Stevenson, Mr Robert Lander, Mr James Robertson, Mr Patrick Sibbald, Mr Robert Carson, Mr Alex. Spittall, Mr Alex. Dickison, Mr James Smith, Mr John Gibbison, Mr James Symton, Mr Ephraim Melvill, Mr Alex. Somervell, Mr Robert Eliot, Mr George Bennet, Mr Robert Blair, Mr David Forret, Mr Arthur Mortoun, Mr Samuel Rutherfurd, D. Alex. Colvill, Mr Andrew Bennet, Mr James Wedderburn, Mr Walter Greg, Mr John Moncreiff, Mr John Smith, Mr Frederick Carmichaell, Mr Patrick Gillespie, Mr John Duncan, Mr James Sibbald, Mr Robert Bruce, Mr John Hume at Eccles, Mr Mungo Dalyell, Mr Alex. Kinneir, Mr Thomas Ramsay, Mr William Turnbull, Mr James Guthrie, Mr Thomas Donaldson, Mr William Jameson, Mr David Fletcher, Mr Andrew Dunkison, Mr Robert Murray, Mr David Weemes, Mr John Hall, Mr John Freebairn, Mr David Drummond at Creist, Mr George Murray, Mr Henry Guthrie, Mr Robert Wright, Mr Andrew Jaffray, Mr Bernard Sanderson, Mr Alex. Iran, Mr Thomas Chalmers, Mr Andrew Lawder, Mr Hugh Henderson, Mr John Levingstoun, Mr James Blair, Mr James Bonar, Mr John Burne, Mr John Bell, Mr Hugh Mackale, Mr Matthew Birsbane, Mr David Elphingstoun, Mr David Dickson, Mr George Young, D. John Strang, Mr Robert Baillie, Mr Patrick Sharp, Mr Robert Birnie, Mr Evan Camron, Mr George Symmer at Megle, Mr Andrew Fleck, Mr Patrick Lyon, Mr John Lindsay, Mr Sylvester Lammie, Mr George Fogo, Mr David Strachan, Mr Andrew Cant, Mr William More, Mr William Davidson, Mr John Paterson, Mr William Jaffray, Mr Thomas Mitchell, Mr George Cummin, Mr Joseph Brodie, Mr William Lawder, Mr David Rosse, Mr Ferquhard Mackleman, Ministers; And Archbald Marquesse of Argyle, John Earle of Crawfurd-Lindsay, Alexander Earle of Eglintoun, William Earle of Glencarne, John Earle of Cassils, Charles Earle of Dumfermling, James Earle of Tullibarein, John Earle of Lauderdale, James Earle of Annandale, William Earle of Lothian, James Earle of Queenesberry, William Earle of Dalhousie, William Earle of Lanerick, Archbald Lord Angus, [pg 289] Vicount of Arbuthnet, James Vicount of Frendraught, Alexander Lord Carleys, James Lord Johnstoun, John Lord Yester, John Lord Balmerino, Alexander Lord Balcarras, John Lord Loure, John Lord Barganie, Sir Patrick Hepburn of Wauchtoun, Sir John Hope of Craighall, Sir Archbald Johnstoun of Waristoun, Sir David Hume of Wedderburn, Sir Frederick Lyon of Brigtoun, Sir Alexander Areskine of Dun, Sir Alexander Fraser of Phillorth, Sir William Baillie of Lammingroun, Hadding of Glennegies, Sir Thomas Ruthven of Freeland, James Macdougall of Garthland, Sir Alexander Murray of Blackbarronie, William Drummond of Rickartoun, Sir William Scot of Hardin, Sir Andrew Ker of Greenhead, Sir William Stuart, Sir Alexander Schaw of Sauchie, Alexander Brodie of that Ilk, Mr George Hume of Kimmerjame, Sir John Smith, Mr Alexander Colvill Justice Depute, John Binnie, Archbald Sydsers, Laurence Henderson, James Stuart Gilbert Sommernell, John Semple, Mr Robert Barclay, Patrick Leslie, James Law, Mr Robert Cuninghame, George Gardin, William Glendunning Elders. And for discharging the said Commission, Appoints the persons aforesaid, or any ninteene of them, whereof fifteen shall be Ministers, to meet at Edinburgh upon the 14. of this moneth of February and upon the second Wednesday of May, August, November, and of February next to come, and upon any other day, or in any other Place they shall think meet. Giving unto them full power and Commission to do all and every thing for prosecuting, advancing, perfecting, and bringing the said Work of Uniformity in Religion in all his Majesties Dominions to an happy conclusion, conforme to the former Commissions granted by the saids Assemblies thereanent: And further, Renewes to the Persons afore-named, the power contained in the Act of the said Assembly, 1643 Intituled, A reference to the Commission anent the Persons designed to repair to the Kingdom of England, As also the power contained in two several Acts of the said late Assembly 1644. Sess. 16. made Against secret dis-affecters of the Covenant, and, For sending Ministers to the Army. With full power to them, to treat and determine in the matters aforesaid, & in all other matters referred [pg 290] unto them by this Assembly, as fully and freely, as if the same were here particularly expressed, and with as ample power as any Commission of former General Assemblies hath had, or been in use of before; They being alwayes for their whole proceedings countable to, and censurable by the next General Assembly.
Renovation of the Commission to the Persons appointed to repair to the Kingdom, of England, for prosecuting the Treaty of Uniformitie in Religion.
The Generall Assembly, Taking to their consideration, that the Treaty of Uniformity in Religion in all his Majesties Dominions is not yet perfected, though by the Lords blessing there is a good progresse made in the same, Do therefore Renew the Power and Commission granted to the Persons formerly nominate by the two preceding Assemblies, and by their Commissioners sitting at Edinburgh, for prosecuting the said Treatie of Uniformitie with the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Reverend Assembly of Divines there, or any Committees appointed by them. Giving unto them full power to do all and every thing which may advance, perfect, and bring the said Treatie to an happy conclusion conforme to the former Commissions granted to them thereanent.
The General Assemblies Answer to the Right Reverend the Assembly of Divines in the Kirk of England.
Right Reverend and welbeloved in the Lord Jesus,