The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

To the Moderator and Remanent Members of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Right Reverend and Honourable,

“With the greatest Earnestness of longing we have desired, and yet with a Patience perhaps to excess, we have waited, for an Opportunity, to bring our unhappy Differences (of which, all Parties concerned are weary) to a Happy and Holy close; And for this end to have access to apply our selves to a full and free General Assembly of this Church, invested with Authority and Power, in foro Divino & Humano, to Determine and Cognosce upon them. The want of which an Assembly constitute in that vigour, to which through the Mercy [pg 512] of God, This Venerable National Synod hath arrived, hath been the greatest let and impediment of our composing these Differences, in a way, wherein not only we, but all of the same Sentiments would acquiesce. Now having obtained this much longed, and long Prayed for priviledge; We cannot forbear any longer, humbly, to Accost and Address this Venerable Assembly, with a free and Ingenuous Representation of our Minds and Desires. The scope of which is, to Represent these things, which have been most stumbling to us, for the exoneration of our Consciences; and to declare our Design, after we have exhibited our Testimony against these Courses, which we understand to have been Corruptions and Defections in this Church, And laid it down at the Assemblies feet, to be disposed of, as their Wisdoms shall think fit: That we shall in all Required Submission, Subject our Selves, our Lives and Doctrine, to the Cognizance of the Judicatories of this Church, and shall equally oppose Schism and Defection, in any Capacity, that we shall be found Capable of. And here by these presents, we bind and oblige our selves Faithfully, to live in Union, Communion and intire Subjection, and due Obedience in the Lord, to the Authority of this Church in her Respective Judicatories: As witness our Hands at Edinburgh the 22 day of October 1690.”

Thomas Lining.
Alexander Shields,
William Boyd.

Edinburgh 28 of October 1690. Ante Meridiem, Sess. 11.

VI. Act anent Ministers that observe not the publick Orders of the Church.

The Assembly Recommends it to Presbyteries, to take Notice of all Ministers, within their Bounds, whether the late Conforming Incumbents, or others, who shall not observe Fasts and Thanksgivings, Indicted by the Church: Or who shall be found Guilty, of any other Irregular Carriage, in administrating the Sacraments in private, or Celebrating Clandestine Marriages, without due Proclamation of Bans: And to censure them accordingly.