Quhair ministers are not in practise of excommunicatione, or will be contemnit in their executiones, it is necessar that the Superintendant, or some uther sufficientlie qualified and authorised, use the same.
If it be lisum to the minister to proceed against the magistrats who will not put to execution the acts of Parliament concerning discipline, and uther particular acts universallie agreit upon be their owne particular congregatione, with the sentence of excommunication?
This is else concludit; admonitions passing dwely before, against them.
Promise of marriage, per verba de futuro, sall be made, according to the ordour of the reformit Kirk, be the minister, exorter, or reader, takand cautione for abstinence till the marriage be solemnizat.
If ane man ravishe a woman against her will, and her parents, and strike her parents under silence of night, and the magistrat will put no correction thereto, Qwhither if the Kirk sould proceed with monitors and excommunicatione to satisfie the sclander? It is lawfull.
Qwhat order shall be taken with her, who, committing fornication with a man, does suffer the same man heirafter to marrie her own sister, and, hearing the bands proclaimit, wad not reveall the impediment, but, be concealing of the cryme, was guiltie of the incest following? Answer, Baith he and she to be punishit according to the discipline of the Kirk, but chiefly the man, and the second cannot be his wife.
Qwhat order shall be taken with them that impugnes proclamation of bands, and chieflie be infamie, and proves not? Let sic persones be punischit according to the discipline of the Kirk as infamous.
It is altogether unthankfull be any minister of God’s word, to receave any benefice be the presentation of a laick persone patrone, under pactione and condition made with the patrone thereof, tending to simonie, viz., that the patrone have the great part of the teinds and the minister the small portione thereof.
What order shall the Superintendant take with a man that hes suitit libertie to marrie thir three or four yeares, being, before his owne particular kirk, inhibited to marrie, because he deflorit a virgine, being his own servant, lest he wald take her to his wife, seeing the judiciall law is not yet receavit, and alse the man hes her discharge of marriage under the forme of instrument before the decreit was pronuncit against him be his awne particular kirk, all things being trew according to the narrative? It is thocht the decreit gine for sic ane cause may be reduced be the Superintendant, and the man may obtaine liberty to marrie: yea, and there is injurie done to him alreadie.