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

1. Concerning the manner of chooseing of him that shall have vote in Parliament in name of the Kirk: It is condescendit upon, that he shall first be recommendit be the Kirk to his Majestie, and that the Kirk shall nominat sax for euery place that shall have need to be filled, of qwham his Majestie shall choose ane, of qwham he best lykes; and his Majestie promises, oblisses, and binds himselfe to chuse no wther but ane of that number: And, in caice his Majestie refuses the haill, upon ane just reasone of insufficiencie, and of greater sufficiencie of uthers that are not recommendit, the Kirk shall make ane new recommendatione of men according to the first number, of the qwhilk, ane be his Majestie shall be chosen without any farther refusall or new nominatione, and he that shall be chosen be his Majestie shall be admittit be the Synods.

2. It is concludit, that the Generall Assemblie shall have the nominatione or recommendatione of him that in name of the Kirk shall vote in Parliament, qwho shall take the advyce of the Synods and Presbytries thereanent direct from them in wreit; and the Synod shall have liberty to nominat alsewell within their province as outwith, provyding that, if there be a man within their province meit for the place, cæteris paribus, he be preferrit to ane wther.

3. Anent the rent: It is advysit, with ane consent, that the Kirk being plantit sufficiently, the Colledges and Schooles already erectit not prejudgit, that the King’s Majestie shall provyde him to all the rest that may be obtainit of that benefice qwherto he is preferrit.

As to the Cautiones to keep him that shall have vote in Parliament from corruption, they be these following:—

1. That he presume not, at any tyme, to propone at Parliament, Counsell, or Convention, in name of the Kirk, any thing without ane express warrand and direction of the Kirk, and such things as he shall answer for, to be for the weell of the Kirk, under the paine of depositione from his office: neither shall he consent or keep silence in any of the saids Conventiones, to any thing that may be prejudiciall to the will and libertie of the Kirk, under the same paine.

2. He shall be bound, at every Generall Assemblie, to give ane account anent the discharge of his Commission sen the Assemblie gangand before, and shall submitt him to their censure, and stand at their determinatione qwhatsomevir, without appellatione, and shall seek and obtaine ratificatione of his doings at the said Assemblie, under the paine of infamie and excommunicatione.

3. He shall content himself with that part of the benefice qwhilk shall be given in be his Majestie for his living, not hurting nor prejudgeing the rest of the ministers of the kirk within his benefice, plantit or to be plantit, or any uther minister of the countrey qwhatsoever, and this clause to be insert in his provisione.

4. He shall not dilapidat in any wayes his benefice, neither make sett nor dispositione, without the speciall advyce and consent of his Majestie and Generall Assemblie; and for the greater warrand heirof, he shall interdyte himself not to dilapidate his benefice, nor consent to the dilapidatione thereof made be uthers to the Generall Assemblie, and shall be content that inhibitiones be raisit on him to that effect.

5. He shall binde faithfully to attend upon his awne particular congregatione qwhereat he shall be minister, in all the poynts of a pastor, and hereanent shall be subject to the tryall and censure of his awne Presbytrie and Provinciall Assemblie, as any other minister that bears not Commissione.