The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Act discharging promiscuous Dancing.

The Assembly finding the scandall and abuse that arises through promiscuous Dancing: Do therefore inhibite and discharge the same, and do referre the Censure thereof to the severall Presbyteries, recommending it to their care and diligence.

July 20. 1649. Antemeridiem, Sess. 19.

Act concerning the receiving of Engagers in the late unlawfull War against England, to publick Satisfaction, Together with the Declaration and Acknowledgement to be subscribed by them.

The Generall Assembly considering what great offence against God, and Scandall to his People at home and abroad, [pg 445] hath arisen from the late unlawfull Engagement in War against England; whereby, contrary to the Law of God and of Nations, contrary to the Solemn League and Covenant, contrary to the Petitions of almost the whole Kingdom, contrary to the Declarations of the Judicatories of this Kirk, contrary to the Protestations of a considerable part of the Parliament, contrary to the frequent and clear Warnings of the Servants of God in his name, not only an Association in Counsels and Arms was made with Malignant Persons, who had formerly shewn their disaffection to the Covenant in and Cause, but are Invasion of the Neighbour Nation was prosecuted; from whence flowed the oppression of the Persons, Estates and consciences of many of the people of God in this Land, the shedding of the blood of some, the losse and dishonour of this Nation, and severall other Inconveniences: and considering that the Commissioners of the last Generall Assembly, have acquit themselves faithfully in ordaining to be suspended from the renewing of the Covenant, and from the Ordinance of the Lords Supper, such as are designed in their Acts of date the 6. of October & 4 of December last; referring the further consideration and censure of the Persons foresaid to this present Generall Assembly: Therefore the Generall Assembly, for removing of such Offences, and for prevention of the like in time coming, and for restoring of such as are truely humbled, do Declare and Appoint.

I. That all those who have been guilty and censured as aforesaid, and withall do not by their addresses to Kirk Judicatories testify their dislike thereof, and give evidences of their Repentance therefore, That these be processed and continuing obstinate, be excommunicated; But if withall they go on in premoving Malignant Designes, that they be forthwith Excommunicated: As also that all such persons guilty as aforesaid, who after Profession of their Repentance shall yet again hereafter relapse to the promoting any Malignant Designe, that these be likewise forth with excommunicated.

II. That all these who have been guilty and censured as aforesaid, and desire to testifie their Repentance, and to be [pg 446] admitted to the Covenant and Communion, shall besides any Confession in publick before the Congregation subscribe the Declaration herto sub-joyned, of their unfained detestation and renunciation of that Engagement, and all other Malignant courses contrary to the Covenant and Cause, Promising to keep themselves from such ways in time coming, and acknowledging that if they shall again fall into such defection thereafter, they may justly be accounted perfidious backsliders, and breakers of the Covenant and Oath of God, and proceeded against with the highest Censures of the Kirk.

III. That of these who have been guilty and censured as aforesaid, and desire now to testifie their Repentance, Whosoever were formerly joyned in Arms or Counsell with James Graham in his Rebellion, or who were Generall persons or Colonels in the late unlawfull Engagement, Or who went to Ireland to bring over Forces for that effect, Or who have been eminently active in contriving of or seducing unto the said Engagement, or whosoever above the degree of a Leutenant Commanded these parties, that in promoving of the ends of the said Engagement shed blood within the Kingdom, either before that Army of Engagers went to England, or after their return, Or who above the degree foresaid Commanded in the late Rebellion in the North; That none of these be admitted or received to give satisfaction, but by the Generall Assembly or their Commissioners.