.

sure of excommunication, or casting out of the kirk, flagitious or contumacious offenders, are both warranted by, and grounded upon the word of God, and are necessary (in respect of divine institution) to be in the kirk. 5. That as the rights, power, and authority of the civil magistrate are to be maintained according to the word of God, and the confession of the faith of the reformed kirks, so it is no less true and certain, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head, and only King of the kirk, hath instituted and appointed a kirk government distinct from the civil government or magistracy. 6. That the ecclesiastical government is entrusted and committed by Christ to the Assemblies of the kirk, made up of minis ters of the word, and ruling elders. 7. That the lesserand inferior ecclesiastical assemblies. ought to be subordinate and subject unto the greater and superior assemblies. 8. That notwithstanding hereof, the civil magistrate may, and ought to suppress, by corporal and civil punishments, such as, by spreading error or heresy, or by fomenting schism, greatly dishonour God, dangerously hurt religion, and disturb the peace of the kirk; which heads of doctrine the Assembly declare they firmly believe, own, maintain, and commend unto others, as solid, true, and orthodox, grounded upon the word of God, and consonant to the judgment both of the ancient and best reformed kirks; and a more particular examination of these one hundred and eleven propositions is committed and referred to the theological faculties in the four universities of this kingdom, and the judgment of each of these faculties, concerning the same, appointed to be reported to the next General Assembly; and presbyteries are appointed to send their judgment concerning the same to the next Assembly; and any others that please to peruse them, are allowed to make known, or send their judgment concerning them to the said Assembly.-Act Sess. ult. Sept. 1.

1647. A recommendation to parliament, and commission for plantation of kirks, to dismember such kirks as were incommodiously united in corrupt times, and adjoin the same (or kirks incommodiously erected by themselves)

to other kirks, when the present incumbents agree thereto; providing always the present ministers, who have laboured and endured the heat of the day, may enjoy the benefit of such parcels as shall be taken from them, during their life, is approven; and referred to the commission to assist any interested in these particulars, in prosecuting the same before these judicatures.-Sess. ult. Sept. 1.

KIRK-SESSIONS.

1638. An overture, That no minister moderating in his session, usurp a negative voice over the members of his session; and where there are two or more ministers in one congregation, that they have equal power in voicing; that one of them hinder not the reasoning or voicing of any thing, whereunto the other minister or ministers, with a great part of the session, inclineth, being agreeable to the acts and practices of the kirk; and that one of the ministers, without the advice of his colleague, appoint not diets of communion or examination, neither hinder his colleague from catechising, and using other religious exercises, as oft as he pleaseth; is referred to the care of presbyteries, by Sess. 23, 24. Dec. 17, 18. Art. 18. 1639. That the session books of every parish be presented once a year to the presbyteries, that they may be tried by them.-Act Sess. 22. Aug. 29. Art. 4.

1642. That the old session elect the new one, both in burgh and land; and if any place shall vaik, in the session chosen, by death or otherwise, that the present session have the election of the person to fill the vacant room.-Act Sess. 5, Aug. 1.

LECTURING.

1694. It is recommended to the several presbyteries, that they endeavour that ministers within their respective bounds, shall, in their exercise of lecturing, read and open up to the people, some large and considerable portion of

the word of God, to the effect the old custom, introduced and established by the directory, may, by degrees, be revived. Act 9.

1704. The several ministers of the church are appointed and ordained to observe the foresaid Act 9, Ass. 1694, anent lecturing: And it is recommended to presbyteries, at their privy censures, to inquire how the said act has been observed by the several brethren within their bounds, and that an account of their diligence thereanent be inserted in their presbytery books, and that synods, at their privy censures, inquire how presbyteries have observed the said recommendation.-Act 5.

1706. That the several presbyteries, at their privy censures and parochial visitations, inquire diligently how ministers observe the acts of former Assemblies, concerning lecturing and expounding the Holy Scriptures.Act 10.

LETTERS

TO AND FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

1641. A letter from some ministers in England, craving the Assembly's advice respecting the form of church government that should be set up in place of episcopacy then to be abolished: And the Assembly's answer thereto, recommending to them unity in doctrine, discipline, and government with the kirks of Scotland.-Sess. 18, Aug. 9.

Letter from King Charles I. to the General Assembly; wherein he promises to ratify in parliament the constitutions of the Assembly 1639, is recorded in Sess. 1, July 20; and the Assembly's answer thereto, in Sess. 18, Aug. 9.

1642. Another letter from King Charles I. to the Assembly, in Sess. 1, July 27.

1643. Another letter from him to General Assembly in Sess. 1, Aug. 2: And the Assembly's answer thereto, giving his majesty a short hint of their proceedings in the public affairs of religion, in Sess. ult. Aug. 19, of that Assembly.

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1642. Letter from some ministers in England to the General Assembly, shewing their desire that presbyterian church government should be established amongst them; that there should be an uniformity in doctrine, discipline, and government betwixt the nations; one confession of faith, one directory of worship, one public catechism and form of government; and craving the Assembly's advice respecting the means of advancing that work, and their assistance therein; and the Assembly's answer to that letter, shewing their earnestness with God, and the endeavours used by them, both with his majesty and the parliament of England, for the foresaid uniformity; and entreating that that work may be prosecuted with diligence by the joint labours of some divines in both kingdoms, who may prepare the same for the view of a more frequent and ecclesiastical meeting of the best affected to reformation in England, and of the commissioners of the General Assembly in Scotland; that in the end, it might be approven by the General Assembly here, and of all the kirks there in the best way that may be; and at last, of the National Assembly, when met there: And shewing them that the Assemblies at Edinburgh shall, in their name, receive and return answers for promoting so great a work.-Sess. 11, Aug. 5.

1642. A letter from the General Assembly to the commissioners from Scotland at London entreating them to use all lawful means, arguments, and occasions, to advance unity in religion, and uniformity in church government, betwixt the kingdoms.-Sess. 11, Aug. 5.

1642. A letter from the distressed professors in Ireland, after the rebellion, to the General Assembly, begging to be supplied with ministers, and an answer thereto, are recorded in Sess. 13, Aug. 6.

1643. Another letter from Ireland to the same effect, and begging that ministers fled from them might be declared transportable, that they might lie open to a call from them, is recorded in Sess. 4, Aug. 5.

1643. And in answer to the above, there is a commission granted to some ministers to go to Ireland.-Sess. ult. Aug. 19.

1643. Another letter from some ministers in England to Assembly 1643, craving the help of their prayers in their present public danger from a popish and prelatical party, and their advice in what remains to be done further by them, for making their own and their kingdom's peace with God, and what may be the happiest course for uniting the protestant party among them more firmly against Antichrist.-Sess. 8, Aug. 10, Ass. 1643: And the Assembly's answer to the letter of these ministers, comforting them in their sad calamities, and encouraging them to go on in the Lord's work, and to enter with this kirk into a perpetual covenant with the Lord, for themselves and their posterity.-Sess. ult. Aug. 19.

1643. Letter from the assembly of divines in England to the General Assembly 1643, thanking them for their zealous assistance and concurrence in furthering the work of reformation.-Sess. 14, Aug. 17, Ass. 1643: And the Assembly's answer to that letter of the assembly of divines in England, shewing their affection to them, and sympathy with them in the work of the Lord, and that they had approven of the draught of the solemn league and covenant betwixt the kingdoms, and had commissioned some brethren to treat with them of the common affairs of religion and safety.-Sess. ult. Aug. 19.

1644. Letter from the presbytery with the army in England to General Assembly 1644, giving them an account of the state of their affairs, and entreating them to stir up the people to prayer and humiliation, that God would preserve peace and truth at home, and make the people of England fit to embrace the intended reformation.Sess. 2, May ult. Ass. 1644: And the Assembly's answer thereto, shewing that they had set down an order to be kept thereafter, in sending ministers to the army, which they had sent with their answers.-Sess. 6, June 3.

1644. Letter from the synod of divines in the kirk of England to the General Assembly 1644, to the same purpose with the letter from the commissioners at London. -Sess. 7, June 4; and the Assembly's answer thereto.

1644. Letter from the commissioners at London to the