The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland / Wherein the Headis and Conclusionis Devysit Be the Ministers and Commissionaris of the Particular Kirks Thereof, Are Specially Expressed and Contained.

by Unknown

Anent the questione movit into the Assembly, if it be proper to them to declare be the word of God, what marriages are lawfull, and what unlawfull, so far as concerns the spirituall part thereof? It was answerit affirmative, that it was proper.

Sessio 3^a. Junii 25.

Ordaynes the presbytries in all pairts of the country to proceed against the Papists within their bounds, with the sentence of excommunicatione; and because of the weakness of the Presbytrie of Inverness, ordaynes them to proceed therin with the advyce of Mrs George Monro, John Monro, John M‘Kenzie, and Andrew Crombie.

Forsuameikle as diverse Papists and suspect of Papistrie, after their subscriptione and oathes, pretending deadly feads, abstayning from the table of the Lord, whereby they utter themselves in effect and in heart to continow Papists; Therefore the Assemblie ordaynes the Presbytries where such persones are, to proceid against them with the sentence of excommunicatione so long as they refuse to communicat, in the samen manner as if they had not subscryved and given oath.

Forsuameikle as diverse persones being cut off from the societie of the Kirk be sentence of excommunicatione pronuncit against them, notthelesse they are receavit and intertaynit as if they were true members of Christ’s Kirk, to the great contempt of God, and evill example of wthers: The Assemblie therefore ordaynes the presbytries where such persones are, to proceed against them according to the Acts of the Kirk, under the paine of publick rebuke in face of the haill Assemblie of the brethren of the presbytrie, if fault be found in them, and making of humble confession upon their knees of their offence, in caise the same be found in them as said is, and under the paine of depositione of the minister in whais default the said ordinance of the Kirk is not execute, and that the same penalty and executione be usit and strick upon them, that hes intercommuning, intelligence, or familiaritie with the saids excommunicats, qwhilk is usit against the resetters forsaids, under the same paine.

Sessio 4^a. Eodem die.

Forsuameikle as there is diverse persones professing with us the veritie of the Gospell, qwhilkis nevertheless the space of diverse years, under pretence of deadlie feads, hes withdrawen and daily withdrawes them from participatione of the holy table, declareing thereby how little they esteem that great benefite, and in effect, as it were, cutting off themselves from communion of the faithfull; Heirfore ordinance is given to all Presbytries within their bounds, to charge all persones abstayning from the communion be reason of deadlie feads, notwithstanding thereof, as it becomes Christians to do, to participat the said holy table; and in caise they be obstinate and refuse, to proceed with the censures of the Kirk against them; it being alwayes considerit be the Presbytrie, that if there be any infirmitie or hinderance of conscience that refuses, in that caise the said Presbytrie shall travell with the saids persones to bring them to their deutie and participatione of the said table, granting with good advyce and discretione some reasonable tyme as to resolve themselves, within the qwhilk if they giue not obedience, and refuses to participat as said is, that the said Presbytrie proceed against them with the sentence of excommunicatione.

Sessio 5^a. Junii 26.

The King’s Majestie’s Commissioners desyrit of the Assemblie, that he might have ane choise of such twa of the Ministrie his Majestie nominat, in place of Mrs John Craig and John Duncansone. The Assemblie hes found meet and votit that a certaine number of the most grave, learnit, and best disposed brethren of the haill ministrie be chosen and nominat be them, out of the qwhilk it may please his Majestie to nominat twa unto that effect.

Commissioners to be appoyntit before the end of this Assemblie to advyse his Majestie of the choyse to be made of them qwhais names shall be sett down before the Assemblie dissolve, craving his Heines’ Commissioners to make his Majestie foreseen, that they may knaw on whom his eyes are sett, and be resolvit before their loosing.