Anent the request made be the Commissioners of Perth to the haill Kirk, that in respect of the inlaik of umquhill Mr John Row, their late minister, ane notable man within the Kirk, and of the greit necessitie that the toune had to be prouydit of a singular good man both for doctrine and good discipline, That the Kirk would favourably grant to the placeing of Mr Thomas Smetoune and John Craige there. The Assembly considering the many impediments why their said breither might not be plantit there, Giues to the said towne any of the ministers following, viz. Mrs Andrew Symsone, James Andersone, John Davidsone, and ordaynes any of them that shall be best lykit of the said Towne, the said minister to be placit at the said kirk.
Sessio 10.
Qwhither if any minister may be removit be the Generall Assembly of the Kirk from his particular flock by consent of his flock for good and reasonable causes? The Kirk answerit therto affirmative.
Qwhither in respect of the present necessitie that there is no Doctors within the realme, ane minister may superceid the office of pastorschip for a tyme and use the office of a Doctor? It was answerit be the Kirke that it may be, be command of the Generall Kirk upon good considerationes.
Sessio 13.
Forsuameikle as be evident experience it is knawne to the Kirk, that of late dayes syndrie apostates are returned within the countrie, and are spread in diverse provinces, as in Angus and in wther pairtes, and no kynde of discipline as yet used against them, to the great sclander of the Kirk of God, grieff of the consciences of good men, and contempt of the acts of the Kirk; The Generall Assembly ordaynes the Commissioners of countries to put the act of the last Assembly to dew execution against them in all poynts, and to use the forme of discipline against them, as is used against adulterers, and this act and ordinance to be followit out be the Laird of Dun against the 10th day of November nixt to come within his province, against the Master of Gray, and uthers suspect of the said apostacie.
Anent the order of Visitors, Forsuameikle as it is considerit be the Kirk to be ane corruptione and to sound to tyrannie, that sic kinde of office sould stand in the persone of ane man, qwhilk sould flow from the Presbyteries, and not the lesse the estate of tyme and laike of present ordour for establishing and constituting of Presbytries, suffers not the present alteratione of Visitors; It is considerit and thocht meit that my Lord Clerk of Register sould be requestit, with the Laird of Dun, Mrs Robert Pont, James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, John Craige, or John Duncansone, or any thrie or foure of them, to lay and devyse ane Platt of the Presbytries and Constitutiones thereof, as best appearit to their judgements, to be reportit be them against the nixt Generall Assembly; and as to the present, appoyntit the Visitors to have the oversicht of the provinces whill the next Assembly.
The Assemblie giues full pouer and commissione to the Laird of Lundie, Bredhaltoune, Andrew Kar of Fawdonsyde, Mrs John Craig, John Duncansone, ministers of the King’s house, Robert Pont, James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, John Craige, Patrick Adamsone, James Boyde, Thomas Smetoune, George Hay, Andrew Hay, Adam Johnstoune, David Fargysone, David M‘Gill, John Prestoune, elder, Commissioner of Edinburgh, or any sax of them, to compeir before the King’s Majestie and Counsell, the 15th of November next to come, and with all reverence crave answer to the articles gine in sen the last Generall Assembly unto his Hienes and honorable Councill, and to reasone and conferr thereupon; with power to thir haill nominat in this commissione, or the maist part of them, to resolve, decerne, and finallie conclude, in name and behalfe of the haill Kirk, with the King’s heines and Councill thereupon, as shall be maist necessar and expedient for the advancement of the glory of God, intertainment of the Evangell of Jesus Christ; sicklyke and alse freely as if they were personallie present, ffirme and stable haldand and for to hald, whatsomever their said breither or the maist part of them in the premisses leids to be done.