16. And finallie, both for the corruption of the Ministerie and remedies thereof, we refer the brethren to the Act of the Generall Assemblie at Edinburgh 1596. revived in the late Assemblie at Glasgow 1638. to bee found in the printed Act concerning the same.
The Generall Assembly Ordains the Enormities above specified to be tryed and restrained, and that the Remedies thereof for that purpose be seriously observed and practised: Recommending especially to Presbyteries and Provinciall Assemblies, that use be made of the same in visitation of Kirks and tryall of Presbyteries.
Commission of the Approbation of the proceedings of the preceding Assembly.
The General Assembly having heard the report of the Committee appointed to consider and examine the proceedings of the Commissioners of the late General Assembly holden at Edinburgh in the yeer 1646. And after serious consideration thereof, finding that the whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the saids Commissioners, contained in the Register subscribed by Mr Andrew Ker their Klerk, and by Mr Robert Ramsay Moderator to the said Committee, do declare much Wisdom, Diligence, Vigilancie, and commendable Zeal; And that the said Commissioners have orderly and formally proceeded in every thing, according to their Commission: Do therefore ratifie and approve the said whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the Commissioners of the said Assembly.
15. Junii 1646. Postmeridiem. Sess. 11.
Act for joyning of the Presbyteries in Orkney and Zetland to the Provincial of Cathnes.
The General Assembly, considering that the Presbyterie of Kirkwall in Orkney and the Presbyterie of Schalloway in Zetland have never met in any Provincial Assembly, where through great abuses and disordres are there committed, Therefore the Assembly hereby joyns the said two Presbyteries to the Provincial of Cathnes and Suterland, And appoints all the Ministers and Elders of the said Presbyteries hereafter, to meet at the said Provincial Assembly, and to have place to reason and vote therein as Members of the said Provincial. And suchlike ordains the saids two Presbyteries to be of subordinate Jurisdiction to the said [pg 311] Provincial Assembly, Declaring hereby, that the said Provincial shall consist of the Presbyteries of Cathnes, Sutherland, Orknay, and Zetland in all time coming. And appoints them to meet onely once in the yeer, in respect of their great distance and interjection of seas; And that the first meeting be at Thurso in Cathnes upon the third Tuesday of August next, and thereafter as shall be appointed by the said Provinciall Assembly.