The Assembly approves the Overtures foresaids, and ordains them to be observed: and for the last, the Assembly being confident of [pg 137] the readinesse of the Judge Ordinar to restrain and punish these faults, Do therefore ordain all Presbyteries to give up to the Justice, the names of the Adulterers, incestuous persons, Witches and sorcerers and others guilty of such grosse and fearfull sins within their bounds that they may be Processed and punished according to the Laws of this Kingdom; and that the Presbyteries and Synods be carefull herein, as they will answer to the Generall Assemblies, And because that Witch craft, Charming, and such like proceeds many times from ignorance, Therefore the Assembly ordains all Ministers, especially in these parts where these sins are frequent, to be diligently Preaching, Cathichising, and conferring, to inform their people thereintill.
Sess. 11. Aug. 5. 1642.
Act against Petitions, Declarations, & suchlike in name of Ministers, without their knowledge and consents.
The Generall Assembly being informed, that after the Petition presented to the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell by the Noblemen Burgesses, and Ministers, occasionally met at Edinburg the 31. day of May last by-past, had received a very gracious Answer, There was another Petition given in to their Lordships upon the 2 day of June last, entituled, The Petition of the Nobilitie, Gentrie, Burrows, Ministers, and Commons: which as it was not accompanied with any one Minister to the Lords of Privie Councell, so all the Ministers of this Assembly, disclaimes and disavoweth any knowledge thereof, or accession thereto, And the Assembly conceiving that the Kings Majestie Himself, and all the Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdome may be deluded and abused, and the Kirk in Generall, and Ministers in particular injured and prejudged by the like practises hereafter, Do therefore prohibite and discharge all and every one to pretend or use the name of Ministers to [pg 138] any Petition, Declaration, or suchlike at any time hereafter, without their knowledge consent and assistance: And if any shal doe the contrary, ordaines Presbyteries and Provinciall Assemblies to proceed against them with the highest censures of the Kirk.