the space of forty days past, should be presented to the Lord Treasurer, or his clerk, to receive also civil execution upon his majesty's charges, in manner mentioned in the act, is ratified and approven; and presbyteries are ordained to cause send in to the procurator or agent for the kirk, minutes and notes of the sentences of excommunication within their bounds, bearing the time and cause thereof, under the hand of their moderator or clerk, or of the minister that pronounced the sentence, for the end above mentioned; and that particular account be craved hereof in every General Assembly.

1646. George Earl of Seaforth ordered to be excommunicated, and intimation to be made thereof in all the kirks of Scotland. Sess: 10, June 13.

1704. That the sentence of excommunication being first intimated throughout all the churches within the presbytery where the said sentence was pronounced (if the persons continue obstinate), the presbytery shall then give an account thereof to the synod, who shall appoint the like intimation to be made in all the churches within their bounds; and if, notwithstanding of this and other due means used to reclaim them, they still continue obstinate, in that case, that an account of their names, and sentences passed against them, be brought by the said synod to the General Assembly, that they may appoint intimation thereof to be made throughout all the churches of the kingdom; and that at the foresaid respective intimations, ministers take occasion to hold forth the sad state and condition of the excommunicated persons, and that they inform the people how to carry towards them. Act 9.

Excommunication Less-Vide Form of Process, cap. 8, vol. i. of Compend., page 160.

Excommunication Greater-Vide Form of Process, cap. 3, vol. i. of Compend., page 146, and cap. 8, page 160..

FASTS.

1642. A day of fasting and humiliation is appointed for the causes mentioned in Act Sess. 13, Aug. 6.

1644. That not only the members of the General Assembly, but all the congregations also of the town where the Assembly holds, be exercised in fasting and humiliation, the first day of the meeting of the General Assembly, for craving the Lord's blessing on that meeting; and that public worship be in all the kirks thereof that day, for that effect.-Act ult. Sess. 7, June 4.

1646. But the said act, as to public fasting in the congregation, is suspended, until the matter were further considered; the exercises, for the members of the Assembly at their first meeting, being still observed according to the ancient and laudable practice.-Act Sess. ult. June 18.

1690. A solemn national fast and humiliation is appointed to be kept for the public defections and sins of the land, both in the late and present times; whereof see a long narration in the act; which also contains a serious exhortation to repentance and the performance of several duties, and to fervent prayer for several blessings therein mentioned.-Act 12.

1699. Another fast, for the like causes, is appointed by .Act 6.

1700. Another, by Act. 5.

1701. Another, by Act. 9.

1704. It is recommended to the several presbyteries to appoint a fast to be observed within their respective bounds, for the like causes, by Act 26.

1705. It is recommended to the several synods and presbyteries, to set apart a day for public fasting and prayer for her majesty's preservation and the protestant religion, by Act 17.

1706. A solemn fast and humiliation is appointed for the same causes with the former; and particularly, for the result of the treaty, then on foot, betwixt Scotland and England, by Act 19.

1709. A solemn fast is appointed for a dearth and threatened scarcity.—Act 8.

1710. A fast is appointed for the great and crying sins of the land.-Act 6.

1710. All ministers and members of this church are appointed religiously to observe all fasts and thanksgivings, whether appointed by the church, or the supreme magistrate, for just and necessary causes: And presbyteries and synods are appointed to take particular notice of the due observation of this.-Act 7.

1722. It is appointed, That the several presbyteries at their first meeting after every public fast or thanksgiving, whether by civil or ecclesiastical appointment, call the several brethren within their bounds to an account how they observed such fasts and thanksgivings, and record their diligence therein. And synods are enjoined, at their privy censures, and at their revising of the presbytery books, to take particular notice how the present and the above Act 7, Ass. 1710, have been observed by presbyteries, and the several ministers therein: And they are appointed to record their diligence in their books. -Act 4.

1726. A national fast is appointed for the causes mentioned in Act 5.

1741. The several presbyteries within the church are appointed to fix upon a particular day in the month of June for the observance of a fast on account of a scarcity, and a war under which the nation was groaning.Act 4.

1756. A solemn national fast is appointed for the reasons set forth in the act; and supplications proper for the occasion enjoined.-Act 6.

1783. It is recommended to all ministers to take such methods as shall appear to them most effectual to fix the attention of all ranks upon the lessons of contrition, thankfulness, and liberality, which then the dispensations of providence, and the seasonable supply of provisions especially taught. This recommendation is appointed to be transmitted to presbyteries as soon as possible.-Act 7.

FATHER OF AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD.

Vide Form of Process, cap. 4, vol i., page 148.

FORMULA.

1694. Appointed, That the following formula be acknowledged and subscribed upon the end of the Confession of Faith:-" I, A. B., do sincerely own and declare the above Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this church, and ratified by law, in the year 1690, to be the confession of my faith; and that I own the doctrine therein contained to be the true doctrine, which I will constantly adhere to: As likewise, that I own and acknowledge presbyterian church government of this church, now settled by law, by kirk-sessions, presbyteries, provincial synods, and general assemblies, to be the only government of this church; and that I will submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof; and that I shall observe uniformity of worship, and of the administration of all public ordinances within this church, as the same are at present performed and allowed."Act 11...

1717. The presbytery of Auchterarder is appointed to give Mr. William Craig an extract of his license to preach the gospel: And the said presbytery, or any other presbytery within this national church, are discharged to require subscriptions of any young men, to be licensed to preach the gospel, or ordained to the office of the ministry, to any formula, but such as is, or shall be agreed to and approven by the Assemblies of this church: And the Assembly declared their abhorrence of the proposition required by the said presbytery of Mr. Craig, viz. “And further, That I do believe, that it is not sound and orthodox to teach, that we must forsake sin, in order to our coming to Christ, and instating us in covenant with God,"

as unsound and most detestable, as it stands and was offered by the said presbytery to be subscribed by Mr. Craig: But the ministers of the said presbytery not being present to answer for themselves, they were appointed to be cited before the commission, to answer them in the matter above written; and the commission is appointed to determine therein, as they shall find just.-Act 10.

1718. The brethren of the presbytery of Auchterarder, having compeared before the commission, and represented what they intended by the said proposition, and the commission having accepted of the sense they offered of it, with this declaration always, that however sound and orthodox they were in their meaning, and what they intended by that proposition, yet they had expressed it in words very unwarrantable and exceptionable: And the commission having admonished them and discharged them to use that expression in time coming, and the brethren of Auchterarder having engaged to observe this prohibition, the Assembly approved of their commission's proceedings in this matter; and, for vindication of their brethren of Auchterarder, appointed the above to be printed among their public acts.-Act 8.

GAELIC BIBLE.

1826. The General Assembly authorize and ordain the version of the Scriptures, in Gaelic, approved of by the society for propagating Christian knowledge, with the version of the psalms and paraphrases now attached to it, and no other version, to be used in the churches and chapels within the bounds of this church, where public worship is conducted in the Gaelic language.-Act 4. Sess. 8, May 26.

HIGHLANDS.

1646. That the knowledge of God in Christ may be spread through the Highlands and Islands, agreed, 1. That an order be procured that all gentlemen who are