Qwhair the parsonage and viccarage pension at any kirk are now severall benefices, to be all unitit and annexit in ane, for the better sustaining of the minister there.
Thir six hundred kirks to be devydit in fyftie Presbytries, twenty to every presbytrie, or thereabout.
Thrie of thir Presbytries, or moe or fewer, as the countrie lyes, to make ane diocie, according to ane forme after following, to be considerit of.
Of thir number, certaine of the Presbytries shall be the Synodall Assemblie, and ilk Synodall Assemblie shall appoynt the place within that province for thair nixt Synodall.
Of persones direct from the Synodall Assemblies, shall the Generall Assemblie consist.
Kirks devydit in quarters shall be provydit to ane man:—And if these quarters be annexit to any uther benefices, the quarters to be disseverit out of the provisiones of the persones to be provydit to these benefices when they vaike.
The Kirks devydit unto Prebendaries, to be gine to the ministers as they vaik. All benefices provydit to ministers, to be devydit the yeir of their deceis, equallie betwixt their wyfes, children, or executors, and the intrant minister.
Young men new come from schooles, shall only be promotit to the benefices and stipends in the low degree; and the eldest, of the greatest learning and judgement, to be promotit to the highest rank; and so to ascend gradatim, as they shall be judgit and tryed worthiest, from three year to three year, for the better eschewing of ambition and avarice; and that the chairges of the greater congregationes shall not be committit to young ministers at the first, nor shall they be preferrit to the eldest, of greater gravitie and judgement, at the first.
The estate of all prebendaries to be agnoscit and considerit, qwhilks are foundit upon the teynds of the paroche kirks, and qwhilks are temporall lands, To the effect that sic Prebendaries as are foundit upone teynds, may accress to the living of the ministers serving at the kirks, and the uthers to be provydit for the helpe of the schooles in the best forme that may be devysit.
And alwayes the Laik Patronages to remaine haill and unjoynit or provydit, except it be with consent of the patrones.