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ABRIDGMENT

OF THE

ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

1560, Dec. 20.] I. THE first General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was held at Edinburgh, on 20th December 1560; and the following is an abstract of its proceedings relative to ecclesiastical affairs.

1. A list of persons who were thought best qualified for ministering the word and sacraments, and to read the common prayers publicly in all kirks and congregations, was given up by ministers and commissioners.

2. A list given up of others thought apt and able to

minister.

3. A presentation by Sir John Borthwick in favour of John Ramsay, as minister of Aberdour and Torry.

Dec. 21.] 4. The parishioners of Restalrig appointed to repair to Leith kirk, and the kirk of Restalrig ordered to be razed and demolished, as a monument of idolatry.

5. Declaration in reference to marriage in the second and other degrees of consanguinity forbidden by the pope, That by the law of God, marriage may be solemnized betwixt parties in the second, third, and fourth degrees of affinity and consanguinity, and such others as are not expressly prohibited by the word of God. The authority of the estates craved to be interposed to this finding, as the law.

Dec. 27.] 6. The election of ministers, elders, and

deacons, to be made publicly in the kirk, and premoni tion to be made upon the Lord's day preceding the day of election.

7. Order that parties for carnal copulation betwixt the promise and solemnization of marriage shall make public confession of their offence.

8. It was ordained, that such as had borne office in the popish church, if their commission was honest, should be supported with alms of the church, like other poor.

9. Resolutions to supplicate Parliament and the Lords of Privy Council, that none be suffered to be Lords of Session, Sheriffs, Stewarts, Bailies, or other judge ordinary, except such as were professors of the reformed religion, and that all ministers of the church be removed from such offices:

10. To petition parliament to take order with the confirmation of testaments, that pupils and orphans be not defrauded, and that laws thereanent may be made in their favour:

11. To petition parliament to inflict punishment upon idolaters, and maintainers of idolatry, and those who say mass, or cause mass to be said, or are present thereat. A list of such persons inserted.

The Assembly was adjourned to 15th January following, but no Assembly was held until May 1561.*

1561, May 27.] II. The second General Assembly was held within the tolbooth of Edinburgh. The Assembly resolved that a supplication should be made to the Privy Council:

1. For suppressing idolatry (popery) throughout the whole realm, and punishing the users thereof, maintainers of the same, members and frequenters thereof:

2. For maintaining a special provision to be made for superintendents; for the erecting and establishing more

* On 17th January 1560, the Book of Discipline was presented to the secret council, and an act passed approving thereof, with a condition that bishops and other beneficed persons should bruik the revenues of their benefices during their lives, they sustaining and upholding the ministry and ministers of the reformed church.

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