Greit men offending in sic crymes as deserves sackcloath; they should receave the samen as well as the puire.
No Superintendent nor Commissioner, with advyce of any particular kirk of their jurisdictione, may dispense with the extreamitie of sackcloath prescryvit be the acts of generall discipline, for any pecuniall soume ad pios usus.
Ane man willing to dimitt his benefice simpliciter, sould dimitt it in the hands of the just patrone.
[TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, begun and halden at Edinburgh the saxt of March 1573(4); In the qwhilk war present, Earles, Lords, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Mr Andrew Hay was chosen Moderator.
Sessio.
The Kirk ordaynes all Commissioners of townes and provinces, that they seek out the haill rentalls of the hospitalls within their bounds respective, and give the same in to their Bischops, Superintendants, or Commissioners, schawand how the samen are usit and abusit, to the effect that my Lord Chancellar may receave the same, and report to my Lord Regent’s Grace; and this to be done betwixt and the tenth of April next to come.
Unto the Lord Regent’s Grace, of Privie Councill, with uthers of the Estates conveint with his Grace, the Kirk Generall, now assemblit, wishes everlasting health in Christ.
It is not unknawne that holy ministrie of God that hes chosen to himself a kirk, and that frae the beginning, whilk shall continow for ever, and the same is the congregatione and companie of the faithfull professors of Christ; and in his kirk God hes appointit his ministers to ministrat, and calls men to be ministers of the same, that be the samen ministrie, the elect of God may be callit, regenerat, and nourishit to everlasting life. For preservation of the holie ministrie and kirk in puritie, the Lord has appointit Assemblies and Conventions, not only of the persons appointed to the ministrie, but also of the haill members of the kirke professing Christ; the whilk kirk of God hes continwallie used and still uses the same assemblies, sanctified be the word of God, and authorised be the presence of Jesus Christ. It is also knawne unto your Grace, that sen the tyme God blessed this countrey with the light of his evangell, the haill kirk maist godlie appointed, and the same be act of parliament authorised, that twa godlie Assemblies of the haill generall Kirk of this realme sould be ever ilk year; alswell of all members thereof in all estates as of the ministers: the qwhilk Assemblies hes been sen the first ordinance, continuallie keepit in sic sort, that the maist noble thereof, the hiest estate, hes joynit themselves be their owne persone, in the Assemblies, as members of one bodie, concurrand, votand, and authorizand all things there, proceeding with their brether: And now, at this present, the Kirk is assemblit according to the godly ordinance, and looks to have concurrence of their brethren in all estates, and wisches of God that your Grace and Lords of Privie Councill, will authorize the Kirk in this present Assemblie, be your presence, or be uthers havand your commissioune in your Grace and Lordship’s name, as members of the Kirk of God; ffor, as your Grace’s presence and the nobilities should be unto us most comfortable, and so most earnestlie wished of all, so your Grace’s absence is to us most dolorous and lamentable; whereof follows the want of ane great part of the members that weill cannot be absent from the treiting of these things that perteins to the Kirk and policie thereof, in assembly altogether, to be handlit be the advyce of all, and to the qwhilk end the Assemblies are appointit, the authoritie thereof your Grace knawes to be sic as the contempt of it tends to the dishonour of God; and, therefore, as ye esteem your selves to be members of Christ and of his Kirk, schaw the fruits thereof; of the qwhilk it is not the leist to joyn yourselves to the Kirk, not only be hearing the word and receaving the sacraments, but also in conveining with your brether in the holy assemblies: The qwhilk to doe we giue you admonitione in the name of the Lord; extending this admonitione to every persone, of whatsoever estate, that are present with your Grace; and specially we admonische the Bishops, and sic as are of the ministrie, to joyne themselffs with us, according to their ministrie and dewtie, utherwayes they will be thocht unworthy of office they beare. The tyme the Kirk will sitt will be short, and tyme would not be neglected, and yet the Kirk is not so rigorous but that men may, after their presence gine in the Assembly, have libertie, as tyme requires, wait upon their laufull business; and this admonitione we giue your Grace with all reverence and humility; and that chiefly in respect that your Grace, be your awne articles and questiones sent to the Kirk, where your Grace desyres first to be admonished charitably whensoeuer offences aryses, before the same be utherwayes traducit.