The qwhilk protestatione was ratified, reiterat and confirmed be his Majestie; and after long reasoning upon the saids Articles, the brethren were demittit.
Sessio 6a. Martii 4o.
Anent the Articles proponit be his Majestie to be resolvit and answerit be the Generall Assemblie, the brethren, after long conferrence and mature deliberation, concluds and answers to the samen, in manner and forme as after follows:
1. First, That it is lawfull to his Majestie, be himself or his Heines’ Commissioners, or to the pastors, to prepare in ane Generall Assemblie, qwhatsoever poynt his Majestie or they desires to be dissolved or to be reformed in matters of externall government, alterable according to circumstances, provyding it be done in right tyme and place, animo edificandi, non tentandi.
2. The Assembly ordaynes that no minister shall reprove his Majestie’s lawes, statutes, acts, and ordinances, unto the tyme that first he be advysit with his Presbytrie, Synodall, or Generall Assemblies, complaine and seek remedie of the same from his Majestie, and report his Majestie’s answer, before any further proceeding.
3. No man’s name should be expressit to his rebuke in pulpit, except the fault be notorious and publick, qwhilk notorietie is defynit, if the persone be fugitive, convict be ane assyse, excommunicat, contumax after citation or lawfull admonitione; nor yet should any man be descryvit openlie be any uther circumstances except publick vyces alwayes damnable.
4. The brethren finds that no persone sould use applicatione qwherin he hes not ane chief respect to the edifying of his awne flock and present auditor.
5. The Assemblie ordaynes every Presbytrie to take diligent accompt of the pastor’s doctrine, and that he keep himself within the bounds of the word.
6. The Assemblie superceeds to answer to the 6th Article unto the next Generall Assemblie; and, in the mean tyme, suspends all summar excommunicatione qwhill the said Assemblie.