"The provincial synod of having heard the report of those appointed to revise the presbytery book of and having heard their remarks thereupon, and the said presbytery's answer thereto; and it having been inquired by the moderator, if any other had any complaints to make against the actings of the said presbytery, and nothing appearing censurable, ordered the clerk to attest this in their presbytery-book." And so for the registers of provincial synods and kirk-sessions, mutatis mutandis; and also for the registers of the commissions of Assemblies, by the 8th act of Assembly 1706. But if there be any thing truly censurable in the said books, with respect to discipline, that it be recorded as censured both in the synod book and attestation,

8. All sentences and acts are to be filled up in the records, as all other things should be, according to the priority of their being voted or agreed unto, and that although no extract hath been, or perhaps ever may be called for. And when any thing is omitted in the body of a record, it may be written on the margin, which the modera tor and clerk must subscribe again. When any thing is delete, let it be marked delete on the margin, and subscribed as the other, counting the lines or words blotted out. But interlinings are most improper, and derogatory to that credit which a record should bear. Further, when any blank is left in the record, and yet there is nothing wanting, it may be scored, or which is more proper, filled up with nihil hic deest; which words may be lengthened or shortened according to the bounds of the blank. See the 9th act of Assembly 1706.

9. By the 11th act of Assembly 1703, for the better preservation of their registers, they enact and appoint, that there be two authentic copies thereof, both subscribed by the moderator and clerk; one copy whereof to lie in the clerk's custody, and the other to be sealed, and laid in some secure place, where the Assembly or commission shall appoint; as also that a subscribed extract of the proceedings of each General Assembly be sent, a little after the rising thereof, to the several synods within this church, to be by them recorded in a book.

10. As to the style of the Assembly's addresses and letters to their Sovereigns or foreign churches, and as to the style of their letters to the Assembly, both may be seen in their printed registers; as also these with the records of their commissions will evidence what civilities the church pays in congratulating and attending on the ministers of state and other great men: thus they court their favour, and return them their thanks, all done for the benefit and advantage of the present church establish

ment.

TITLE XVII.

Of Visitation of Schools and Universities.

1. All schools and colleges were to be reformed, and none admitted to instruct the youth privately or publicly, but such as should be tried by the visitors of the kirk, James VI. Parl. 1. cap. 11. And even under the late Prelacy, none were admitted to teach in any public schools without licence from the ordinary, Charles II. Parl. 1. sess. 2. cap. 4. sub fin.; and also, by the act of Assembly, Dec. 17, 18. 1638. art. 4. they ratify the acts of Assembly 1565, 1567, and 1595, whereby visitation of colleges is to be by way of commission from the General Assembly; and the principal regents and professors within colleges, and masters and doctors of schools, are to be tried by them concerning the soundness of their judgment in matters of religion, their ability for discharge of their calling, and the honesty of their conversation. It is no wonder the church think herself much concerned, that these seminaries of learning be duly regulated, considering how much it tends to the increase of Christian knowledge and learning, and the advantage of true piety and religion. By the General Assembly 1638, they grant commissions for visitation of the colleges of Aberdeen and Glasgow. And the Assembly 1639, appoints visitations of the universities of St Andrews and Glasgow. Again, the Assembly 1640, appoints visitations of Glasgow and Aberdeen colleges, as may be seen

in the index of the unprinted acts of these and subsequent Assemblies.

2. The power of visitations of universities, colleges, and schools, is now claimed by the Sovereigns to be their undoubted right and prerogative, as is evident from the narrative of the act of Parliament 1690, for the visitation of universities. The power granted to the visitors by that act, is only executive or judicative, and not legisla tive, which neither can nor should be. For seeing the trust wherewith the legislators themselves are clothed is only personal, it cannot be delegated to others, unless they receive power from their constituents for that effect and purpose. But though their power could be delegated, it should not be done; for some designing and disaffected members in such commissions might so manage the plurality of a quorum to plant and regulate these nurseries of church and state, as might pave the way, and dispose the nation more easily for some pernicious revolution. The visitors appointed in that commission are both members of Parliament and ministers. The one sort, I think, is appointed to remove disloyal teachers, and to consider the foundations of these seminaries, with the rents and revenues thereof, and how the same have been 'managed, and to set down good rules for the good management thereof. And ministers, I think, are named to take trial if the teachers be erroneous, scandalous, negligent, or insufficient, and for ordering the manner of teaching; and thereupon present their humble advice to the statesmen: for authoritatively they cannot act without delegation from the church. See the title about Extraordinary Synods, § 1.

3. There is none will grudge the church the exercise of this power of visiting colleges, so much as these masters, who have ground to fear that their insufficiency and negligence may come to be exposed and discovered upon an exact and judicious trial. Again, there are some factious masters that desire only statesmen to be visitors, among whom they think some of their quondam disciples may be found, who will be influenced to favour their ambitious or revengeful designs.

4. As to grammar schools, the power of visiting them remains with presbyteries; for by the 23d act, Parl. 1693, it is declared, that all school-masters and teachers of youth in schools, are and shall be liable to the trial, judgment, and censure of the presbyteries of the bounds, for their sufficiency, qualifications, and deportment in the said office. By the act of Assembly, 7th Feb. 1645, they appoint that every grammar school be visited twice in the year, by visitors to be appointed by presbyteries and kirk-sessions in landward parishes, and by the town-council in burghs with their ministers; and where universities are, by the universities, with consent always of the patron of the schools, that both the fidelity and diligence of the masters, and proficiency of the scholars in piety and learning, may appear. Inquiry is also to be made if masters be diverted from due attendance by any other employment. By the 13th act, Assembly 1706, somewhat of the same nature is enjoined, viz. that presbyteries visit grammar schools twice a year by some of their own number.

5. By the foresaid act 1645, they appoint, that no schoolmaster be admitted to teach a grammar school in burghs or other considerable parishes, but such as, after examination by the ministers, deputies of the town and kirk-session, and parish, (which is, I think, the heritors,) shall be found skilful in the Latin tongue, not only for prose, but also for verse, and shall be also approved by the presbytery therein.

6. By the foresaid act, they appoint that at the time of every General Assembly, the commissioners directed thereto from universities, meet and consult together for the advancement of piety and learning, and keeping of an uniformity in doctrine, and good order among the universities. What they do this way is not to bind the universities, till it be presented to the General Assembly, and receive their authority, as may be gathered from the Assembly's act, 18th June, 1646. This of new is enacted by the 6th act of Assembly 1707.

TITLE XVIII.

Of a General Council of Protestants.

1. As Provincial Assemblies may, and do correspond with other Provincial Assemblies, so may General As semblies with the Assemblies of other churches. In a manuscript of the Acts of Assemblies, Edinburgh, October 25. 1577, you will find that Casmir having written to the Queen of England, of a council to be held at Magdeburg, for establishing the Augustine confession, the Queen wrote thereof to the Regent in Scotland, who communicated her letter to the Assembly, and desired they might send some of their number to assist thereat. Whereupon the Assembly named Mr Andrew Melvill, and some others. And some ministers and elders were sent from the General Assembly to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, in order to carry on the unity and uniformity in religion and church government. It belongs in these cases to the civil powers of these nations from which they go to take care that their charges be honestly defrayed. And the states in whose dominions the council is to be, use to grant a safe conduct to the foreign correspondents. See tit. 15. § 9.

2. In the Book of Policie of the Kirk agreed unto anno 1581, they say, beside these Assemblies, there is another more general kind of Assembly, an universal Assembly of the Church of Christ in the world, which was commonly called an oecumenic council, representing the universal church, which is the body of Christ. Their warrant to meet, and the authority of their meeting, must be as good and as great, with respect to National and General Assemblies or convocations, as the authority of these are, with respect to provincial assemblies or synods.

3. If the Protestant Princes and commonwealths would condescend and concert, that there should be a general council at such a time and place; then the National, or rather Provincial Assemblies, at the appointment of their respective Sovereigns, might meet and delegate one pastor and elder for each province consisting of an hundred