bounds, and of popish priests who haunt among them and where they hold their meetings; and that they la the same before the commission in November next, or a soon as they can.-Act 5.

1779. The General Assembly express their gratitude to Providence for the privileges enjoyed by this church and the security afforded to the Protestant religion by established laws: They declare their attachment to civi and religious liberty, and they desire that liberty of con science be extended to Protestants of all denominations But they declare their persuasion, that a repeal of the penal laws now against popery would be inexpedient, dangerous, and prejudicial to the best interests of religion and civil society in this part of the united kingdom: They, therefore, express their satisfaction in being assured that the bill for repealing the laws against the growth of popery in Scotland is laid aside; and confide in the wisdom of the legislature that it will not in future be resumed: They express their strong disapprobation of those lawless mobs which have disgraced the cause they meant to serve and recommend to the people under their care to show the influence of their religion by a quiet and charitable spirit, approving themselves worthy of their civil and religious liberties by a peaceable and moderate behaviour.-Act 7.

[All civil effects of the laws against papists abrogated by the Act of British Parliament, 1829.]

PARISHES.

1638. That every minister be obliged to reside in his own parish at his ordinary manse, for the better attending of the duties of his calling, conform to the acts of Assemblies, at Edinburgh, 1563, 1565, 1572, 1595. This is part of Act Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, § 5.

Referred to the several presbyteries, to consider what is fit to be done, to get some proportion kept in the several parishes within their bounds, both as to number and distance of place.-Act Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 8.

That the principal parishes and places of the realm be provided with men of most worthy gifts, wisdom, and exerience.-Act Ass. 1596, ratified by Act Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 9.

That people be obliged to frequent ordinances in the ordinary diets and parishes, is referred as an overture by Act Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 11.

That in presenting either pastors, readers, or schoolmasters, to particular parishes, there be a respect had to the congregation; and that no person be intruded into any office of the kirk, contrary to the will of the congregation to which they are appointed.-Act Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 20.

1648. Recommended to the honourable commission for plantation of kirks to provide real and valid security of competent honest means to ministers in burghs, where they are not sufficiently provided or secured already; and presbyteries are ordained to use all necessary diligence for the prosecuting thereof before the said commission.-Act Sess. 40, Aug. 11.

1701. Presbyteries are appointed to send in to the commission an account of such ministers and preachers as intrude into parishes, that application may be made to the government for removing them according to law.-Act 18. PARISHES quoad sacra-vide NEW CHURCHES.

'PLACES CIVIL.

1638. Declared, That as, on the one part, the kirk, and ministers thereof, are obliged to give their advice and good counsel in matters concerning the kirk, or the conscience of any whatsoever, to his majesty, to the parliament, to the council, or to any member thereof, for their resolutions from the word of God; so, on the other part, that it is both inexpedient and unlawful in this kirk for pastors, separated unto the gospel, to hold civil places and offices, as to be justices of peace, sit and determine in council, session, or exchequer, to side or vote in parliament, to be judges or assessors in any civil judicatory; and all con

trary acts of Assembly are rescinded and annulled, and namely, the act of Assembly 1600, which being pressed by authority, did rather for an interim tolerate the same, limited by many cautions, than in freedom of judgment allow thereof, and presbyteries are ordained to proceed with the censures of the church against such as should transgress therein in time coming.—Act Sess. 25, Dec. 19.

PRAYER.

1711. Recommended unanimously to all the ministers of this church, That, in their public prayers, after praying for her majesty Queen Anne, they expressly mention the Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the Protestant line in that family upon whom the succession of the crown of these dominions is by law established; or that they pray in such terms as their congregation may understand that they mean the Princess Sophia and the heirs of her body, being Protestants. Act 4.

1736. Enjoined on all the ministers of this church, That they pray for her royal highness the Princess of Wales, as well as for the king and royal family.-Act 5.

1795. Enjoined on ministers, That they pray for her royal highness the Princess of Wales, as well as for his majesty King George, his royal consort the Queen, his royal highness the Prince of Wales, and all the royal family; and that her royal highness the Princess of Wales be named immediately after the Prince.-Act 6.

PREACHING.

1646. All persons discharged to preach in public, under the name and notion of an expectant, or under any other pretence whatever, except such as shall be tried and found qualified according to the acts of the General Assembly; and recommended to presbyteries and provincial synods to take special notice thereof, and to censure the Fransgressors accordingly.-Act Sess. 14, June 17.

1695. Recommended to the care of ministers, that besides their ordinary work of catechising, they also preach catechetical doctrine, at such times, and in such manner, as they shall find most conducive to the edification of their flocks.-Act 18.

1720. Recommended to the several ministers of this church, punctually to observe the acts of former General Assemblies, for preaching catechetical doctrine; and that in their catechetical sermons they more especially insist upon the great and fundamental truths, according to our Confession of Faith and Catechisms; such as the being and providence of God, and the divine authority of the scriptures; the necessary doctrine of the ever blessed Trinity in the unity of the Godhead; particularly the eternal Deity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the satisfaction to divine justice made by him, who is our only propitiation; regeneration by efficacious grace; free justification through our blessed surety the Lord Jesus Christ, received by faith alone; and the necessity of a holy life, in order to the obtaining of everlasting happiness; and that they be constant and instant in their prayers to God, that, through his blessing upon their labours, their flocks may be preserved from the infection of dangerous errors, and engaged to maintain a conversation becoming the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is God over all, blessed for ever.-Act 8.

1736. Recommended to all ministers and preachers, seriously to observe and consider the directory of this church concerning the preaching of the word, approven by General Assembly 1645: And in particular, that they be careful to warn their hearers against any thing tending to Atheism, Deism, Arianism, Socinianism, Arminianism, Bourignonism, Popery, Superstition, Antinomianism, or any other errors; and that in their sermons they insist frequently upon the truth, necessity, and excellency of supernatural revelation, the Supreme Deity of the Son and Holy Ghost, as well as the Father, together with the oneness of the Godhead, our sinful state by nature, the necessity of grace, and of faith in Christ; and that they make it the great scope of their sermons to lead sinners

from a covenant of works to a covenant of grace for life and salvation, and from sin to Christ. And it is recom mended to all who preach the gospel, when they handle the doctrine of God's redeeming love, and of his free grace in the justification of sinners, the blessings of the Redeemer's purchase, and the privileges of the new covenant, to study so to manage these subjects, as to lead their hearers into an abhorrence of sin, the love of God and of our neighbour, and the practice of universal holiness, seeing it is one great end of the gospel to destroy the works of the devil, and to teach men to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Upon which account, it is incumbent on all who preach the gospel to insist not only upon the necessity and excellency of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, but also upon the necessity of repentance for sin and reformation from it, and to press the practice of all moral duties, both with respect to the first and second tables of the law, as indispensably necessary in obedience to God's command, to testify our gratitude to him, to evidence the sincerity of our faith, for the benefit of human society, adorning the profession of religion, and making us meet for eternal life, seeing without holiness no man can see the Lord. And it is seriously recommended to all ministers and preachers of the gospel, that in pressing moral duties, or obedience to the law, they show the nature and excellency of gospel holiness, and enforce conformity to the moral law, both in heart and life, not from principles of reason only, but also, and more especially, of revelation. And in order thereto, it is necessary to show men the corruption and depravity of human nature by their fall in Adam, their natural impotence for, and aversion to, what is spiritually good, and lead them to the true and only source of all grace and holiness, viz. union with Christ, by the Holy Spirit's working faith in us, and renewing us more and more after the image of God: And to let their hearers

know that they must first be grafted into Christ, as their root, before their fruit can be savoury unto God; that they must have a new principle to animate, and a new end to direct them, before their actions become gracious and ac