The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland. Church of Scotland. General Assembly
The provincial Synod of Cathnes.
The Presbyteries of
Dornoch.
Weeke. or
Thurso.
The Bounds:
Cathnes.
Sutherland.
To meet the first time at Dornoch, the third Twesday of April.
14. The provincial Synod of Orkney and Zetland.
The Presbyteries of
Kirkwall.
Scalloway.
The Bounds:
The Shyresdome of Orkney and Zetland.
To meet the first time at Kirkwall, the second Twesday of April.
15. The Provinciall Synod of the Isles
All the Kirks of the North-west Isles, viz. Sky, Lewes, and the rest of the Isles, which were lyable to the Diocie of the Isles, except the South-west isles which are joyned to the Presbyteries of Argyll, To meet the first time at Skye the second Twesday of May.
That the Minister of the place where the Synodall Assembly meets shall preach the first day of their meeting, and give timouse advertisement to the rest of the Presbyteries.
It is remembred that of old the Synodall Assemblies that were nearest to others, had correspondence among themselves, by sending one or two Commissioners mutually from one to another, which course is thought fit to bee keeped in time comming: viz. The Provincials of Louthian, and Mers, &c. The Provincials of Drumfreis, Galloway, Glasgow, and Argyll, The Provincials of Perth, Fyfe, and Angus, &c. The Provincials of Aberdein and Murray. The Provincials [pg 057] of Rosse, Caithnes, and Orknay. The Commissioners for correspondence amongst the Synodals to be a Minister and a ruling Elder.
The Assembly recommendeth to the severall Presbyteries the execution of the old acts of Assemblies, against the break of the Sabbath-day, by the going of Milles, Salt-pans, Salmond-fishing, or any such-like labour, and to this end revives and renews the act of the Assembly, holden at Halyrudehouse 1602. Sess. 5 whereof the tennor followeth.
“The Assemblie considering that the conventions of the people, specially on the Sabbath-day, are verie rare in manie places, by distraction of labour, not only in Harvest and Seed-time, but also every Sabbath by fishing both of whyte fish and Salmond fishing, and in going of Milles; Therefore the Assemblie, dischargeth and inhibiteth, all such labour of fishing as-well whyte fish as Salmond fish, and going of Miles of all sorts upon the Sabbath-day, under the paine of incurring the censures of the Kirk. And ordains the Commmissioners of this Assemblie to meane the same to his Majestie, and to desire that a pecuniall paine may be injoyned upon the contraveeners of this present act.”
Act Sess. 14. December 18. 1638.
The Assembly considering the great necessity of purging this land from bygone corruptions, and of preserving her from the like in time coming, ordaineth the Presbyteries to proceed with the censures of the Kirk, to excommunication, against those Ministers who being deposed by this Assembly acquiesces not to their sentences, but exercise some part of their Ministerial function, refuseth themselves, and with-draw others from the obedience of the acts of the Assembly.
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Act. Sess. 25. December 19. 1638.
Against the civil places and power of Kirk-men.
The generall Assembly, remembering that among other causes of the application of the confession of Faith to the present time, which was subscribed in February 1638. The clause touching the civill places and power of Kirk-men, was referred unto the tryal of this Assembly; entered into a serious search thereof, especially of their sitting on the bench, as Justices of peace, their sitting in Session and Councel, their riding and voting in Parlament: and considering how this vote in Parliament, was not at first sought nor requyred by this Kirk, or worthy men of the Ministerie, but being obtruded upon them, was disallowed for such reasons as could not well be answered (as appeareth by the conference, holden at Halyrude-house 1599. which with the reasons therein contained was read in the face of the Assembly) & by plurality of voices nor being able to resist that enforced favour, they foreseeing the dangerous consequences thereof, in the Assembly at Montrose did limitate the same by many necessare cautions: Considering also the protestation made in the Parliament 1606 by Commissioners from Presbyteries, and provincial Assemblies, against this restitution of Bishops to vote in Parliament, and against all civil offices in the persons of Pastors, separate unto the Gospel, as incompatible with their spiritual function; with the manifold reasons of that Protestation from the word of God, ancient Councels, ancient and moderne Divines, from the Doctrine, discipline and Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland, which are extant in print, and were read in the audience of the Assembly: Considering also from their own experience the bad fruits and great evils, which have been the inseparable consequents of these offices, and that power in the persons of Pastors separate to the Gospel, to the great prejudice of the freedome and libertie of the Kirk, the jurisdiction of her Assemblies, and the powerful fruits of their spiritual Ministerie; The Assembly most unanimously in [pg 059] one voice, with the hesitation of two allanerly, declared, that as on the one part the Kirk and the Ministers thereof are oblidged to give their advise and good counsel in matters concerning the Kirk or the Conscience of any whatsomever, to his Majestie, to the Parliament, to the Councel, or to any members thereof, for their resolutions from the word of God, So on the other part, that it is both in-expedient, and unlawful in this Kirk, for Pastors separate unto the Gospel to brook civil places, and offices, as to be Justices of peace; sit and decerne in Councel, Session, or Exchecker; to ride or vote in Parliament, to be Judges or Assessors in any Civil Judicatorie: and therefore rescinds and annuls, all contrarie acts of Assembly, namely of the Assembly holden at Montrose 1600. which being prest by authority, did rather for an interim tolerat the same, and that limitate by many cautions; for the breach whereof the Prelats have been justly censured, then in freedome of judgement allow thereof, and ordaineth the Presbyteries to proceed with the Censures of the Kirk, against such as shall transgresse herein in time coming.
Act Sess. 26. December 20. 1638.
The Assembly considering the great prejudice which Gods Kirk in this land, hath sustained these years by-past, by the unwarranted printing of lybels, pamphlets, and polemicks; to the disgrace of Religion, slander of the Gospel, infecting and disquyeting the mindes of Gods people, and disturbance of the peace of the Kirk, and remembring the former acts, and custome of this Kirk, as of all other Kirks, made for restraining these and the like abuses, and that nothing be printed concerning the Kirk, and Religion, except it be allowed by these whom the Kirk intrusts with that charge: The Assembly unanimously, by vertue of their ecclesiastical authority, dischargeth and inhibiteth all printers within this Kingdome, to print any act of the former Assemblies, any of the acts or proceedings [pg 060] of this Assembly, any confession of Faith, any Protestations, any reasons pro or contra, anent the present divisions and contraversies of this time, or any other treatise whatsoever which may concerne the Kirk of Scotland, or Gods cause in hand, without warrand subscribed by Mr. Archbald Johnston, as Clerk to the Assembly, and Advocate for the Kirk; or to reprint without his warrand, any acts or treatises foresaids, which he hath caused any other to print, under the paine of Ecclesiastical censures to be execute against the transgressours by the several Presbyteries,