The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

The Generall Assembly considering the manifold inconveniences that follow upon the sending of the children of Noblemen and others of quality to Forraign Countries wherein Popery is professed, especially that thereby such children are in perill to be corrupted with Popery, and so corrupt these Families and Persons to which they belong, whereby that wicked root of damnable Idolatry, Errour and Heresie may again be occasioned to spring up and trouble many, and provoke the most High GOD to wrath, and to cause his Majestie leave this Land to strong delusions to believe lies; Therefore They Do in the name of GOD, Charge and Require all the Presbyteries of this Kingdom to observe and practice the Rules and Directions which are made in former Generall Assemblies for preventing of the said fearfull inconveniences, and namely the Overtures against Papists, non-Communicants, and Profaners of the Sabbath approven in the Generall Assembly held at St. Andrews in the year of God, 1642. and the Act anent children sent without the Kingdom made in the Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, Anno 1646. And that they use all diligence for putting in execution the Acts of Parliament and secret Councell made against Papists & Excommunicate Persons; And that they register their diligences thereanent in their Presbyterie Booke which are summarily to be recorded in the Synod Books from time to time, That the Generall Assembly may see how these laudable Acts are put in execution, which here are presented with some necessary additions in one view.

1. That every Presbyterie give a List of all Excommunicate Papists they know to be within their bounds to the [pg 430] Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, and of all Papists; yea of them also who professe to have renounced Popery, but yet have their children educated abroad, with the names of these children that are abroad, according to the fifth Overture of the Generall Assembly, 1642.

2. That every Presbyterie conveen at their first meeting all known Papists within their bounds, and such as having professed to renounce Popery have their children abroad, and cause them finde sufficient caution for bringing home within three moneths such of their children as are without the Kingdom; to be educated in Schools and Colledges at the Presbyteries sight if they be Minors; and to be wrought upon by gracious conference, & other means of instruction to be reclaimed from Popery if they be come to perfect age.

3. The Parents, Tutors or Frinds of Children and Minors shall, before they send them without the Kingdom, first acquaint the Presbyterie where they reside, that they may have their Testimoniall directed to the Presbyterie or Classe within the Kingdom or Dominion beyond Seas whither they intend to send their Children; And at the time of these Childrens return, that they report a Testimoniall from the Presbyterie or Synod where they lived without the Kingdom, to the Presbyterie who gave them a Testimonial at their going away, according to the Act anent Children sent without the Kingdom Anno 1646.

4. That all Presbyteries give the names of such Pædagogs as were abroad with the children of Noblemen within there bounds, and diligently enquire whether these Pædagogs do continue stedfast in the true Religion, and continue in their service, or whither these Pædagogs do either become corrupt in Religion, or (continuing constant) are removed from their charge and by whom they are removed, and that they signifie these things to the Generall Assembly from time to time or their Commissioners, That they may represent the same to the High Court of Parliament, Lords of secret Counsell or Committe of Estates, for such remedie as shall seem expedient to their Honours, for preventing of and purging the land from the plague of Idolatrie.

5. That such Parents, Tutors or Friends as either send away Children to forraign parts infected with Idolatry without such Testimonialls as aforesaid, or do not recall them who are already abroad within such time as is above prefixed, or do remove from them their Protestant Pædagogs (that they may the more easily be infected with Popery) be processed and in case of not amending these things, be Excommunicated.

6. That the names of such as are Excommunicated for these or any other causes, be sent in to the Generall Assembly from year to year, that (from thence) their names may be notified in all the Kingdom, and that the Acts of Parliament and secret Counsell may be put to execution against them, and all diligence used for that effect; and that by the effectuall dealing of the Generall Assembly, with the Parliament, Lords of secret Counsell, or Committee of Estates, their Lordships may Enact such further, just and severe civill Punishment on such Excommunicants for Terror to others, as shall be found necessary for purging this Covenanted Land from all Abominations.

Because persons addicted to Idolatry will use all means for their own hardening in their Superstitious and Idolatrous way, even within the Countrey; Therefore all known Papists, or persons suspect of Poperie upon probable grounds are to finde Caution before their Presbyteries, for their abstinence from Masse, and from the Company of all Jesuits, and Priests according to the second Overture against Papists, made Anno 1642. Also Presbyteries are to presse them to finde such Caution; And to observe what persons put their Sons or Daughters to such Families as are tainted with Popery within the Land, the same being a speciall mean to corrupt them with Idolatry, And to cause such Parents recall their Children, or else proceed with the Censures of the Kirk against them.

All which Overtures, Presbyteries are seriously required and Ordained to observe diligently with Certification, That they shall be severely censured, If they shall be found remisse or negligent in any of these points, which are so [pg 432] necessary for keeping of the Lords House and People unpoluted with Error, Idolatry, or Superstition.