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.

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Item, Because the provisione of learnit, wyse, and peaceable men to be ministers at chief Burrowtownes in vaickand places, such as Edinburgh, Perth, Aberdeene, Bamff, and uther places vaickand, is ane most effectuall meane to root out Poprie and perpetuat the trew professione of religione; it is therefore ordaynit that the burrowtowns be provydit with the most learnit, wyse, and peaceable men that may be had; and because the commissioners of the towne of Edinburgh hes no commission from the said toune anent the provisione of ministers to the vaickand places within their said kirk, therefore the care thereof is committit to the saids commissioners, to quhom it shall be injoynit in their commission, that they sie the same performit; and as to Perth, the Assemblie ordaynes my Lord Bischop of Galloway to deall with the Commissioners of the towne of Perth for provisione of that vaickand place; and sicklyke ordaynes the Provost of Aberdeene to advyse with the counsell anent the planting of the said kirk, to the effect sufficient and qualified men may be nominat and provydit to the saids places before the dissolving of this present Assemblie.

Item, Because ane speciall care should be had of the places of noblemen their residence, chiefly of such as were thoucht to inclyne to Poprie; therefore the Assemblie statutes and ordaynes, that the Lords Archbischops and Bischops, with the advyce of their Synods, take care that most learnit and discreet persones of the ministrie be appoyntit to attend the saids places, and be transportit thereto, sic as the kirks of Bellie, North Berwick, Cockburnespath, Paslay, and wthers places quhere noblemen make residence, chiefly those quho are thought to inclyne to Poprie, and that they have a care of their maintainance and sufficient provisione; and if the same be small, that these that are appoyntit to attend at the saids kirks carie their livings and rents with them quhill farther order be taken.

Item, Forsuameikle as ane of the maist speciall means for staying the increase of Poperie, and settleing of the trew religione in the hearts of the people, is, that ane speciall care may be taken in the tryell of young children, their education, and how they are catechisit, qwhilk in the meantyme of the primitive church was most carefully attendit, as one of the most effectuall meanes to cause young children in their tender years drink in the trew knowledge of God and his religione, but is now altogether neglected in respect of the great abuse and errors quhilks creip in into the Popishe church, upon the said good ground he bigging thereupone ane Sacrament of confirmatione; therefore, to the intent that all errors and superstitione quhilk hes been biggit upon the said ground may be rescindit and taken away, that the matter itself being most necessar for educatione of youth may be reducit to its owne integritie:

It is statute and ordaynit that the Archbishop and Bischops in the visitatione of the kirks, either be themselves, or qwhene they cannot overtake the bussiness, the minister of the paroche, make all young children of such yeares of age be presentit before them, and to give confession of the faith, that so it may appear in quhat religion they have bein traynit up, and that they be commendit to God by prayer at the tyme, for the increase of knowledge and continwance of his grace with them after that tryall; that the minister of the paroche, every two or three years, ance at the least, re-examine them, that after sufficient growth in knowledge they may be admittit to the holy communione; and it is desyrit that ane supplicatione be direct to the King’s Majestie, humbly craving that it wold please his Hienes to injoyne ane punischment upon such parties as either do not present their children, or shall be found negligent in their right instruction, and that they be callit and convenit therefore before the High Commission.

Item, It is statute that the simple professione of the faith underwritten be universally receavit throughout this whole kingdome, to the qwhilk all hereafter shall be bound to swear and sett their hands; and in speciall all persones that bear office in the Church, at their acceptatione of any of the saids offices, and lykewayes Students and Schollars; of the qwhilk Confessione the tenor follows:—

Here to insert the Confession of Faith.[57]

Item, It is statute and ordaynit that a Catechisme be made, easie, short, and compendious, for instructing the common sort in the articles of religione, qwhilk all families shall be subject to have, for the better informatione of their children and servants, qwho shall be halden to give accompt thereof in the examinationes before the communione: and for the better effectuating heirof, the Assemblie hes ordaint Mr Pat. Galloway and Mr John Hall, ministers at Edinburgh, and Mr John Adamsone, minister at Libbertone, to forme the said Catechisme, and to have the same in readiness before the first day of October nixt to come, to the effect the same may be allowit and printed with the King’s Majestie’s licence; the qwhilk Catechisme being so printed, it is statute and ordainit that no uther hereafter be printed within this realme, nor used in families for instruction and examinatione of their bairnes, servants, nor the people, in all tyme coming.

Item, It is statute and ordaynit that ane uniforme order of Lyturgie or Divine Service be sett doune to be read in all Kirks on the ordinarie dayes of prayer, and every Sabbath day before the sermone, to the end the common people may be acquainted therewith, and by custome may learne to serve God rightlie: and to this intent, the Assemblie hes appoyntit the saids Mr Patrick Galloway, Mr Peter Elliot, Mr John Adamsone, and Mr W^m. Erskine, minister at {blank space}, to revise the Book of Common Prayers contenit in the Psalme Book, and to sett doune ane common forme of ordinary service to be used in all tyme hereafter, quhilk shall be usit in all tyme of common prayers in all Kirks quhere there is exercise of common prayers, as lykewise be the minister before the sermone quhere there is no reader.

Item, It is statute and ordaynit that in all tyme hereafter, the holy Communion be celebrate in all Kirks within this realme at the tymes following, viz. in Burrowtownes, the Communion shall be celebrate four tymes in the year, and twyse in the year in landward Kirks, so that ane of the tymes alseweel in Burrowtounes as landwart shall be at the tyme of Eister yearly; and if any persone shall not communicat ance in the year at ane of the foresaid tymes, that it shall be humbly requyrit of his Majestie that the penaltie of the Act of Parliament may be exactit of such persones with all rigour.

Item, It is thoucht most necessare and expedient that there be ane uniformitie of Church discipline throughout the whole Kirks of this Kingdome; and to that effect it is statute and ordaynit that a Book of Cannons be made, published in wreit drawn furth of the Books of formall Assemblies, and quhare the same is defective that it be supplied be the Cannons of Counsell and Ecclesiasticall Conventiones in former tyme, the caire quherof the Assemblie be thir presents committs to the Richt Reverend James Archbishop of Glasgow, and W^m. Struthers, minister at Edinburgh, quho shall put in forme the said Ecclesiasticall Cannons, and present them to the Commissioners appoyntit be this Assemblie; to quhom power is given to try, examine, and after their allowance and approbatione thereof, to supplicat to his Majestie that the same may be ratified and approved by his Royal authoritie, with priviledge to put the same in print.