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

Item, The reasone moving the Assemblie to grant the mair willinglie to the two Articles concerning the reproving of his Majestie’s laws, was this; his Majestie’s earnest and constant affectione to the religion and obedience to the word was evidently knawne to the haill Assemblie, and that it was his Majestie’s declaratione, will, and intentione, allwayes to frame his lawes and whole government according to the same, for the qwhilk causes the said Assemblie agreed to the said Article.

Anent the Article ordayning that no man’s name be expressit in pulpit, except in notorious crymes, &c., the poynt of notorietie is farther defynit, if the cryme be so manifest and knawne to the world that nulla tergiversatione celari possit.

Anent the Article ordayning that no conventions of pastors be, without his Majestie’s knawledge and consent: His Majestie’s consent is declarit to be extendit to all and qwhatsumever forme either of Generall Assemblie or speciall Synodall, permittit and authorised be his Heines’ lawes, according as they have warrant in the word of God, as being the most authentic forme of consent that any king can give.

Anent the Article concernyng provisione of pastores to burroughs: It is declareit that the reasone thereof was and is, that his Majestie was content, and promised, that qwhere the Generall Assemblie finds it necessar to place any persone or persones in any of the saids townes, his Majestie and the flock shall either give their consent thereto, or else a sufficient reasone of the refusall, to be proponit either to the haill Assembly, or to a competent number of the Commissioners thereof, as his Majestie shall think expedient.

Answers to the rest of his Majestie’s Questiones, according as they were proponit of his Heines and Commissioners in the present Assemblie.

First, Anent the propositione movit be his Majestie to the Assemblie, craving that before the conclusione of any weightie matters, his Majestie’s advyce and approbatione [be] cravit therto, that the same being approvit be his Majestic, may have the better executione, and, if neid beis, be authorized be his Heines’ lawes: The Assemblie craves most humbly, that his Majestie, either be himselfe or his Heines’ Commissioners, in matters concernyng his Majestie’s estate, or the haill estate of his subjects, and uthers of great weight and importance, that hes not been treatit of before, wold give his advyce and approbatione therto, before any finall conclusione of the same; and, for the better obedience to be given to such lyke statutes in tyme comeing, that his Majestie wold ratifie the same, either be act of his Heines’ Parliament or Secret Counsell, as shall be thought needfull: the qwhilk his Majestie promised to doe, according to his Heines’ propositione, qwhilk was acceptit and allowit of the haill Assemblie.

The Assembly ordaynes that there be ane uniformitie in the ordinatione of the ministrie throughout the haill countrey, be impositione of hands, and that they be admitted to certaine flocks, upon the qwhilk they shall be astrictit to attend, according to the Acts of the Assemblies made of before, and ordayns that nane that are not admittit to the ministrie be promovit to teach in publick and great rowmes, except upon very urgent necessitie, in defect of actuall ministers, they be ordained to supply such wants be the Presbytries, Generall or Provinciall Assemblies, qwho shall take diligent order that they keep themselves within the bounds of their gift, and speciallie in applicatione.

That no pastores exercise any jurisdictione, either in making of constitutiones or leading of proces, without the advyce and concurrence of Sessions, Presbytrie, Provinciall or Generall Assemblie.

That all Sessiones be electit with consent of their awne congregationes: that all Sessiones, Presbytries, and Provincialls, use such forme in all their proces as may be found lawfull, formall, and able to abyde tryall, the qwhilks shall be registrat in matters of importance; and, to that effect, ordaynes the proceedings of private Sessiones to be sichtit at Presbytries, and the proceedings of Presbytries at Provinciall Assemblies, and Provinciall Assemblies at the Generall Assemblies.

The Assemblie ordaynes, that in the exercises, qwhen the ministrie are convenit at their Presbytries, no applicatione be used.