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

Tryall of the Presbytries.

Let the Moderator be inquyrit if they keep up ordinar conventions; if they have the monethly discourse upon the common heads and disputationes; if they visite the haill kirks within their bounds sen the last generall visitatione; if they take weekly and monethly accompt of their breither’s diligence in the discharging of their dewtie be teaching and visiting of their families, and such lyke; if there be any of the number that be insolent and will not acquiesce in the determinationes of his brethrene; if there be any eylist or divisione amang the brethren; qwhat unplantit kirks are in the bounds.

Qwhilk forme the Assemblie thinks good, and ratifies and approves the same, and ordaynes it to be universallie observed in all tyme coming in all visitationes within this realme, and ordaynes the power of the visitors to be direct conforme to the acts of the Generall Assemblie.

The said day, the brethren appointit to visite the petitiones of the Synodall of Fyffe condescendit upon the answers following:

Answers to the Petitiones of the Synod of Fyffe.

1. Finds that the Generall Assemblie should be appoyntit to be keepit according to the act of Parliament, halden at Edinburgh the 5 of June 1592 years, qwherof the tenor followeth, so far as concerns that poynt: “And sicklyke ratifies and approves the Generall Assemblies appoyntit be the said Kirk, and declares that it shall be lawfull to the Kirk and ministers every year, ance at the least, and oftener, pro re nata, as occasion and necessitie shall requyre, to hald and keep Generall Assemblies; provyding that the King’s Majestie, or his Commissioners with them, be appoyntit be his Hienes, being present at ilk Generall Assemblie before the dissolving thereof, nominat and appoynt ane tyme and place qwhen and qwhere the next Generall Assemblie sould be; and in caice neither his Majestie nor his saids Commissioners beis present for the tyme in that towne qwhere the Generall Assemblie beis halden, that in that caice it shall be leisume to the said Generall Assemblie be themselves to nominat tyme and place qwher the next Generall Assemblie of the Kirk beis keepit and halden as they have been in use.”

2. If his Majestie shall proceed against ministers according to his Majestie’s awne declaration made and inactit in the Generall Assemblie halden at Dundie {blank space} Session 10, the desyre of the second article is satisfyit, and no wther thing meinit therby.

3. Thinks it expedient that the Act anent the applicatione in the exercise be interpret not to forbid the wseing of the word of God in applicatione to the generall ends thereof, qwhilk is lawfull to exercise after this manner. This head of doctrine serves for refutatione of such ane error, for the rebuke of such ane vyce, for comforting of a person or people in such a case; and as for particular and personall applicationes, leaves it to be advysit qwhither it shall be in tyme coming or not, and how far any thinks good that this be reasonit in the Presbytries, and then commission sent with their reasons to the next Assemblie thereanent; and, in the meantyme, no invocatione to be wsit anent personall applicationes.

4. Let all commissiones be giuen and wsed from this furth, according to the four acts of the Generall Assemblie.

5. Finds that doctors hes had, and may have, vote in the Generall Assemblie, they havand ane lawfull commissione for that effect, according as it hes been found and declarit be the Generall Assemblie halden at Edinburgh 10th Maii 1586, and at {blank space} 1581, qwher it is found and declareit be the act of the Generall Assemblie, that doctors should concurr with the elders as brethren in all Assemblies.