the ordinary diets of the synod. 10. 'Tis declared, That such presbyteries, as have already settled a fund for their widows and children, shall be at liberty, either to keep and manage the same themselves, or join with the synod, as they shall think best. Lastly, 'tis declared, That if any event unforeseen shall fall in, that may hinder the execution of the above articles, in the manner proposed, the premises shall be ordered and managed, according to further rules and directions to be given by the subsequent general assemblies of this church.-Act 4. Ass. 1718.

II. The time allowed by the above act, for ministers paying in their contributions, is extended to the term of Whitsunday 1725.-Act 10. Ass. 1728.

III. The time is further extended to the term of Whitsunday 1736, by Act 4. Ass. 1735.

Nota. The above acts superseded by act of parliament 17. Geo. II. amended by act 19. Geo. III. 20. entitled, “An Act for raising and establishing a Fund, for a Provision for the Widows and Children of Ministers of the Church of Scot land, and of the Heads, Principals, and Masters of the Universities."

IV. That the said act of parliament may be easily and effectually executed, 'tis appointed, That every presbytery shall keep a separate register, wherein they shall record the names and parish churches of all the ministers, then members of their respective presbyteries, or who shall thereafter be admitted to a benefice within their bounds, with a particular account, if such ministers be married, with the dates of their first ordination or admission to a benefice in the church of Scotland, the names of all their present children, the day, month, and year, of the birth of such of them as are under the age of sixteen; the names and dates of the birth of such of their children as shall thereafter be born: and likewise of their deaths, as the same shall happen. And ordained, That every presbytery record the names and parish churches of the several ministers, who shall thereafter be ad

mitted to a benefice within their bounds, with the particular dates of their respective admissions; and an account if such ministers be married, with the dates of the then marriages, or such of them as shall happen after their admissions; and shall also record the several facts relating to their children in like manner as above appointed, with respect to ministers then members of the church. And enjoined, That presbyteries record the time of the deaths of ministers, as the same shall happen; with the names of their widows, residing at the time of their deaths, or marriage within their bounds; as also the dates of the several vacancies that were vacant on the 25 of March then last, or shall thereafter happen within their bounds, with the causes of the vacancies. And in general, 'tis ordained, That presbyteries record from time to time, all other things that shall be found necessary by the trustees, for the more easy execution of the said act; and that all ministers now entitled to a benefice in the church of Scotland lodge, from time to time, in the hands of the clerk of their presby teries, a particular condescendence of the facts relating to their respective cases, as the same shall happen; all which facts are ordained to be entered distinctly by presbytery-clerks in the separate register, under proper columns, and regularly. signed by moderators and clerks, and by ministers respectively concerned, from which the presbyteries may annually make up the lists necessary for each year, and transmit the same duly attested to the trustees, as directed in the said act of par» liament.-Act 4. Ass. 1744.

V. The above act renewed, and the observance of it strict ly enjoined; and that it may be more regularly and uniformly observed, appointed, That the several presbyteries keep separate registers according to the plan agreed upon by the assembly, and recorded in their register; and each minister is required duly to report to the presbytery, either by himself or by letter, any alteration which shall happen, from time to time, in his family, at the first diet immediately subsequent to such alteration; or as soon as he possibly can. And appointed,

That synods call for separate registers at least once a-year, and carefully inspect the same, and attest, That they are kept according to the plan referred to in this act; which attestation shall be marked in the synod's records. And 'tis enacted, That every presbytery shall meet annually on such a day, betwixt the 11 of November and the 11 of December, as they shall judge most convenient (the presbyteries in the Western and Northern Isles excepted) and shall at such meetings prepare and transmit to the trustees clerk at Edinburgh, their respective lists for the preceding year, to the end that the trustees may be the better enabled with accuracy to carry on the scheme; and 'tis recommended to, and enjoined on presbyteries, so soon as this act shall come to hand, to insert the same, and also the above Act 4. Ass. 1744, in their separate register, and to acquaint such of their members as are absent of the contents of this Act 4. Ass. 1745.

VI. The strict observance of former acts respecting what is required from presbyteries relative to the fund for a provision to the widows and children of ministers, is enjoined. And 'tis added to the foregoing Act 4. Ass. 1745, That when synods inspect and attest the separate register, they are required to report their diligence to each general assembly: That the annual lists be transmitted from time to time to the trustees, and sent to the several presbyteries; and in case presbyteries shall fail in making their annual returns at the time, and in the manner foresaid, that the trustées exert those powers the law has put into their hands, for obliging presbyteries, to transmit their lists in a regular and uniform manner: And that each minister transmit to the collector his bond for L. 30, according to the form established by the general assembly, so soon as notice shall be given him by the trustees or their clerk, there is money in the collector's hands for payment of the same, as such ministers shall be answerable to the assembly-Act 4. Ass. 1747.

VII. "Tis appointed, That for the future, the separate registers be divided into as many parts, as the respective pres

byteries consist of parishes; and that the facts respecting the ministers and vacancies of every parish be stated under its own proper head, or division, marked with the name of the parish: And further, That when the abstract of the acts relative to the widows' fund is transmitted, every presbytery and university shall cause it to be bound up with a separate quire of paper, in order that whatever regulations shall be found necessary with respect to the fund, may be copied into the book; by which means the whole of the rules concerning the fund will be always at hand.-Act A. Ass. 1757.

WITCHCRAFT*.

I. That all ministers within the kingdom carefully take notice of charmers, witches, and all such abusers of the people, and urge the acts of parliament to be executed against them; and that the commissioners from the assembly to the parlia ment recommend to the said supreme judicature, the care of the execution of the laws against such persons, in the most behoofful way.-Act Sess. 2. July 29. Ass. 1640.

II. The assembly taking to heart the abundance and increase of the sin of witchcraft, in all the sorts and degrees of it, in that time of reformation, and finding the occasions of it to be these, especially, 1. Extremity of grief, malice, passion, and desire of revenge, pinching poverty, solicitation of other witches and charmers; for, in such cases, the Devil assails them, offers aid, and much prevails. 2. That the reasons and causes of Satan's prevailing are gross ignorance, great infidelity, want of the love of the truth, which God hath made so long and clearly to shine in the land, and profaneness of life. 3. That the means and ways to bring them to a confession and censure are, That a standing commission for a certain time be had from the lords of secret council, or justice-gene. ral, to some understanding gentlemen and magistrates, within the bounds of presbyteries that should crave it, giving them

* See Scandals, 11, 12.

power to apprehend, try, and execute justice against such persons, as are guilty of witchcraft within these presbyteries; because many parishes wanted the concurrence of civil magi strates. 4. That the grounds of apprehending them may be, a reigning bruit of witchcraft, backed with delations of confessing witches being confronted with them; also depositions of honest persons, malefices committed, or curses used by them: That being apprehended, honest and discreet persons be appointed to watch them lest they should be suborned or hardened by others, or destroy themselves. 6. That ministers be careful at all times, especially morning and evening, to deal with them by prayer and conference, while they are in prison or restraint. 7. The assembly found that the means to prevent this wickedness are, That ministers be every way careful and painful, in warning people of the dangers thereof, and of Satan's temptations, both privately and publicly, and to instruct them in the knowledge of the gospel, and grounds of religion, by plain catechising, to urge lively faith in Christ, which faith witches bestow otherwise; also to press holiness of life and fervent prayer in private, in families, and in public, that they be not led into temptation; and to use the censures of the kirk against profaneness, such as cursers, whores, drunk, ards, and such like, for over such the Devil gets great advantage. And, finally, for preventing this heinous sin, that people seek knowledge, study to believe, walk in holiness, and continué constant and instant in prayer; and because charming is a sort and degree of witchcraft, and too ordinary in the land, all ministers are enjoined to take particular notice of them, to search them out, and such as consult with them; and that the elders carefully concur in such search; and that an uniform way of censuring those charmers, and such as employ them or consult with them, be thought upon; and every presbytery is ordained to take into their consideration, by what other ways or means the sins aforesaid of witchcraft, charming, and consulting with witches and charmers, and sicklike wickedness may be tried, restrained, and condignly