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

The qwhilk day, the brethren conveint in this present Assemblie, having considerit nothing is more necessare for the advancement of God’s glory, and his trew religione within the same, than that the chieff rowmes and places within the countrey, such as are noblemen’s houses and families, be plantit with learnit and discreit pastors, able not only to instruct and confirme the saids noblemen, their wives, children, and families, in the trew fear of God and sincere religion presently profest within this realme, but also qwho may be their provident care and diligence, procure that the families of such noblemen be not corruptit with the company of profest Papists, Jesuites, and wthers Seminary Priests, qwho goes about daily to smore and put out the sparks of trew religione and knawledge of God kindled in the saids noblemen’s hearts; and because presently such men cannot be found to undertake the charge of the said noblemen’s families, as said is, Therefore, the Assemblie hes thought good, that for a tyme, brethren meitest for the purpose sould be borrowit from their awne places, to remaine for the space of ane quarter of ane year, continwally with the saids noblemen, be qwhais labours in the meantyme, qwhill ane constant and permanent provisione may be found out for planting of these roumes, the saids noblemen and their families may be confirmit in the truth, and the enemies thereof debarrit from their companies, and thereafter to returne to their awne charges: And in the meantyme, that the presbytries take order that their places be furnischit dureing their absence, and therefore they have elect and nominat the brethren following, to await upon the saids noblemen dureing the space foresaid, viz. Mrs William Scott, minister at Kennaqwhy, to remaine with the Marquess of Huntlie; for the Earle of Erroll, Mr Alexander Lyndsay; for the Earle of Angus, Mr James Law; for the Laird Hoome, Mr James Carmichaell; for the Laird Maxwell, so long as he remaynes in the Castle of Edinburgh, Mr Henry Blyth; for the Lord Heres, Mr Robert Wallace; for the Lord Semple, the Presbytery of Irvine, during his residence within the same; and in caice he remaine within the Presbytrie of Paisley, the said Presbytrie to awayte upon him: and lykewyse for the Earle of Sutherland, the Presbytrie of Edinburgh, because he makes residence within the same: And in caice any of the noblemen make their residence any tyme in Edinburgh, or within the Presbytrie thereof, the Assemblie ordaynes the Presbytrie of Edinburgh to direct two brethren of their number, with the like power as the brethren above specifeit, to awayte upon every ane of the saids noblemen that shall be found resident within their Presbytries; qwhilks brethren forsaid, and every ane of them, shall receive the articles in wreit frae this Assemblie, wherein they shall travell with the saids noblemen; qwhilk articles the Assemblie ordaynes to be pennit be Mrs James Melvill, James Nicolsone, Patrick Galloway, William Scott, and Alex^r Lyndsay, to be given in the morne to the Assemblie, that the brether may consider the same, the tenor qwherof follows:

Instructiones for the Brethren appoyntit be the General Assemblie to attend upon the Noblemen above specifeit.

1. First, ye shall adress yourselves with all convenient diligence and necessar furniture to enter in the companie and families, and there to remaine still with them for the space of three moneths continuall, dureing the qwhilk tyme your principall care shall be publick doctrine, by reading and interpretatione of the Scriptures ordinarly at their tables, and by conferrence at all meit occasions, to instruct them in the haill grounds of trew religione and godliness, speciallie in the heads controvertit, and confirme them therein.

2. Take paines to catechise the families ordinarly every day, ance or twyce at the leist, or so oft as may serve to bring them to some reasonable measure of knowledge and feilling of religione, before the expyring of the tyme prescryvit for your remaining there, and let this action begin and end with prayer.

3. Preass to have their houses purgit of all persons living inordinatly, qwhais ill example might be a sclander to their professione, specially such as are of suspect religione, and found any wayes bussie in traffiqueing against the truth and quietness of the estate of the countrey, and be carefull to hold all such persones forth of their houses and company.

4. Travell to have the kirks plantit with sufficient provision of stipends and well qualified persones, and procure that be authoritie and assistance, the discipline of the kirk may have execution within their bounds.

5. Persuade them to make honest provisione of stipends for the intertainment of resident pastors at their houses and chiefe dwelling-places, and to make choice of learnit, grave, and wyse pastors, to be plantit thereat.

6. Wrge the performance of the articles agriet upon and subscrivit at the tyme of their reconciliatione, and registrat in the books of the Assemblie, qwherout of ye shall extract them.

7. Informe the King’s Majestie from tyme to tyme how they have profited, and what company resortes to them, and qwhat dispositione their company is of.

Qwhilks articles being read in audience of the Assemblie, the brethren approvit the same, and ordaynit them to be insert, with the commission given to the ministers appoyntit to remaine with the saids Lords, in the books of the Assemblie.