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 [pg 469] Uniformitie as they shall find conveniencie, and to give Instructions and Commissions to that effect conform to former Commissiones granted thereanent: 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 & 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 shal 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 of her 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 beholden as opposers of the Authoritie of the Generall Assemblie, and this Commission in their whole Proceedings are Comptable to, and Censurable by the next Generall 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, [pg 470] 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.
4. But if a lesser party of the Session or Congregation shew their dissent from the Election without exceptions relevant and verified to the Presbyterie, Notwithstanding thereof the Presbyterie shall go on to the trials and ordination of the person elected; Yet all possible diligence and tendernesse must be used to bring all parties to an harmonious agreement.
5. It is to be understood that no person under the Censure of the Kirk because of any scandalous offence is to be admitted to have hand in the election of a Minister.
6. Where the Congregation is disaffected and Malignant, in that case the Presbyterie is to provide them with a Minister.