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

Forsuameikle as the brethren of the Presbyterie of Glasgow and Synod of Clyddisdale quho were appointit to deall and conferre with William Earle of Angus, Lord Dowglass, for bringing of him from blindness and superstitione of Papistrie and Idolatrie to the acknowledging of the trewth profest within this realme, did testifie in presence of the Assemblie, that they saw no appearance in his Lordship of conversione from his errors, but that rather by all evident tokens he was the more obstinat and obdurat in heresie of Papistrie, quhilk he some tyme abjurit before be subscryving of the trew religione presently profest within this realme: Therefore the Generall Assemblie ordaynes the Presbyterie of Glasgow to proceed against the said Earle with the sentence of excommunicatione conforme to the censures of the Kirk, with all possible diligence, and that they pronunce the said sentence against him betwixt and the 18 of September nixt to come, to quhom the Assemblie committs their haill power to that effect; discharging and inhibiting any of them to receave any offers of him for absolving of him from the said sentence, without the advyce of his Majestie and Commissioners of the Assemblie had and obtaynit therto.

Forsuameikle as the brethren of the Presbyterie of Perth quho were appoyntit to deall and conferre with Frances Earle of Erroll, for bringing him from blindness and superstitione of Papistrie and Idolatrie to the acknowledging of the treuth presently profest within this realme, did testifie in presence of the Assemblie that they could see no appearance in his Lordship of conversione from his errors, but rather be all evident tokens he was the mair obstinat and obdurat in his erracie of Papistrie, quhilk he sometyme abjurat before be subscryving of the trew Religion presently profest within this realme: Therefore the Generall Assemblie decerns and ordaynes the Presbytrie of Perth to proceed against the said Frances Earle of Erroll with the censures of the Kirk, until the finall pronuncing of the sentence of excommunicatione against him inclusive, with all possible diligence, and that they pronounce the said sentence betwixt and the 18 day of September nixt to come; to quham the Assemblie committs their full power to that effect, discharging and inhibiting any of them to receave any offers from the said noble Lord for absolveing him from the said sentence, without the advyce of his Majestie and Commissioners of the Assemblie had and obtained thereto.

Forsuameikle as be the declaratione of the brethren of the Presbytrie of Irvine, it was made known to the Assemblie, that after long dealing and conferrence had be them with the Lord Semple for bringing him to the acknowledging of the truth and imbracing of the sincere religione, they could not reap any good fruit of their labours and travills taken with him, but be the contrair he still continowit obstinat and indurat in his detestable error of Papistrie and Idolatrie, to the great hurt and evil example of the rest of the country: Therefore the Generall Assembly presently convenit, charges straitly and commands Mr Alex. Scrymgeour, Moderator of the Presbytrie of Irvine, under the pain of infamie and deprivatione from his functione, to pronunce the sentence of excommunicatione against the said Lord Semple, in the Kirk of Irvine, upon Sonday the 14th of August nixt to come, after the sermone, but any delay or impediment quhatsoever, and that the haill brethren of the Ministrie within the bounds of the Synod of Kyle, Carrick, and Cuninghame, intimat the sentence of excommunicatione so pronuncit against the said Lord Semple, every one of them at their awne Paroche Kirkes, upon Sonday nixt and immediatly following thereafter; discharging also and inhibiting the said Moderator and remanent brethren of the said Synod, to receave any offers or satisfactione from the said Lord Semple, but advyce of his Majestie and Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie had and obtained therto.

Sess. 5. 28 Julii.

The brethren appoyntit of before for reviseing and putting in order of the causes of the increase of Papistrie within this realme, and of the overtures for remeiding and suppressing of the same, gave in the saids causes and remedies thereof, of the quhilk the tenor follows:—

The causes of the increase of Papistrie within this realme are thought either to aryse of the pairt of the Ministrie, or else of wthers causes arysing from the Ministrie: First, their negligence to see the youth in every paroche brought up in the knowledge of the trewth by catechiseing, and careless to urge provision for Schooles within their bounds.

Secondly, The rasche and sudden admissione of men to the ministrie that are not able to withstand and convince the adversary in the dayes of apostacie.

Thirdly, The laike of care in ministers to mark the offences, viz. to consider the course of the enemie, and to discover and dilate Jesuites and traffiquers against religione, and uthers pervertit be them.

Fourthlie, The distraction aryseing amang the ministrie, quhill as diversitie of judgment hes drawne them unadvysedly to contrarietie of affectiones, breeding carnall contentions among themselves.

Overtures for remeiding of the Causses forsaids.