viour and sufficiency, (and that the usual school degrees e inquired after, though not made a necessary qualificaon,) or at least should not be found to have retrieved eir lost time at schools by their after diligence: As so, that such as are esteemed to be vain or imprudent, proud, or worldly-minded, by the generality of sober telligent persons, who converse with them, shall be kept ack from that work. Recommended to professors of ivinity, that they require of such students as they emloy in any exercises, testimonials from universities where hey have studied, and places where they have lived. Required, that none be licensed to preach, or be ordained o the ministry, unless they give good proof of their unerstanding Greek and Hebrew: And recommended to all candidates for the ministry, to study also the other oriental languages, especially the Chaldaic and Syriac, so far as they can Also recommended, that they be tried not only in the great controversies in religion, but also in the controversies concerning the government and discipline of this church.-Act 22.

1697. Appointed, That the commissioners from the several presbyteries within this church bring in an account to the General Assembly yearly of all the students of divinity who have passed their trials in order to the ministry, from one Assembly to another: As also, of all others who have not passed trials, that have an eye to the holy ministry, and attend the lessons of the several professors of divinity in the universities, and perform the exercises enjoined them there, that a roll may be made of them, and their names read in open Assembly, and recorded in the registers thereof.-Act 3.

1704. Appointed, That strict notice be taken of such as pass their trials in order to the ministry, and for that end all former Acts of Assembly made in relation thereto, and, in particular, the article allowed by the General Assembly 1596, and approven in the General Assembly 1638, Art. 3, Sess. 7, renewed Sess. 27, Aug. ult. Ass. 1647, anent the age of such; as also, Act 10, Ass. 1694, and Act 22, Ass. 1696, are all ratified and revived: And further ordained, That the catechetic trials be not per

functorily gone about; and that presbyteries appoint som of their number to examine them in their own presence upon the several heads of divinity, and the governmen of the church, and to know what reasons they can give of their faith, and sentiments in these matters; and if they can answer some principal objections, and that pre viously to all other parts of their trials: And that this be not done hastily, but that a particular competent time be allowed for that purpose: and that there be one trial also given to probationers of their gifts as to lecturing: And all the several synods are required and enjoined, at their privy censures, to make strict inquiry how the presbyteries within their bounds have observed this, and other Acts of Assembly made to this purpose.-Act 10.

1705. Recommended seriously to the several presby teries of this church, to keep a watchful eye over all stu dents of theology, and to be careful that none be licensed to preach, or admitted into churches, but such as shall give evidence of their orthodoxy, by signing the Confession of Faith, approven by former Assemblies of this church, and ratified by law in the year 1690, as the confession of their faith; of their good affection to the government of church and state; of their peaceable principles and disposition, by engaging to observe good order, in conjunction with, and due subjection to, the judicatories of this church; and of their literature, by abiding a strict trial; and shall own the presbyterian church government of this church to be agreeable to, and founded upon, the word of God; and promise never to endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof, according to former acts of Assemblies thereanent.-Act 16.

1708. The punctual observance of all acts already made, concerning probationers or intrants to the ministry, is seriously recommended to all presbyteries; and some overtures about licensing probationers, and the trial of them, or intrants to the ministry, are transmitted, and the observance of them recommended, until the next Assembly. Act 13.

1711. Enacted, That none be admitted to trials, in order to be licensed, but such as have attended the profession of

vinity for six years, or have closely followed the study divinity and of the languages, for that space at least, ter they have passed their course of philosophy at the ollege, and made proficiency therein, in case their cirumstances did not allow them to attend the profession; hough it were to be desired that they should attend the rofession of divinity much of that time; but this is not xtended to students having the Irish language; providg that before any presbytery license such students within he said first six years, they first consult the General Asembly, or the commission thereof, in the matter: And is further ordained, That none be licensed in any presytery, except they have resided therein for the space of ix years, or produce to them sufficient testimonials from he presbyteries in whose bounds they have last, or for he most part resided, bearing expressly, that it is the deire of these presbyteries that these students should be ntered upon trials: And such students as come from broad shall produce satisfying testimonials from the proessors under whom they studied; and the time of their being abroad shall be accounted a part of the said six years; but none of these students shall be entered on rials for the space of a whole year after they come to Scotland: And it is also ordained, That the above space of six years being expired, and testimonials produced in manner foresaid, the presbytery which is to take trial of these students shall, before they enter them upon trials in order to be licensed, write letters to all other presbyteries within the synod, acquainting them with their design; and at the next meeting of the synod, they shall also acquaint the synod thereof, and obtain their special advice and judgment in that particular. And the punctual observance of all acts already made concerning probationers and intrants to the ministry is seriously recommended to all presbyteries; and that, before any presbyteries receive any upon trials, in order to his being licensed, three or four of the number be appointed to converse with him, and to take trial of his orthodoxy, knowledge in divinity, particularly the modern controversies, and other necessary qualifications for the ministry, and what sense and impres

sion he has of religion upon his own soul; and that the make report of their diligence herein, before the presby tery admit him to the probationary trials. And presby teries are discharged to put the call of any parish into the hand of the probationer called; and they are appointed to keep the same still in their own hands, until the said probationer's trials be over, and that the presbytery be fully satisfied both as to his sufficiency and fitness for that parish And certain questions are appointed to be put to all such as pass trials in order to be licensed; as also to such as shall be ordained ministers, or admitted to any minis terial charge or parish: And a formula is set down, which they are appointed to subscribe before they be licensed, ordained, or admitted respectively: And the licensing ordaining, or admitting any who shall not give satisfying answers to these questions, and subscribe the formula here subjoined, is prohibited and discharged.-Follow the

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Questions to be put to probationers.-1. Do you be lieve the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners? 2. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, approven by the General Assemblies of this national church, and ratified by law in the year 1690, and frequently confirmed by divers acts of liament since that time, to be the truths of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament? And do you own the whole doctrine therein contained as the confession of your faith? 3. Do you sincerely own the purity of worship presently authorized and practised in this church, and asserted in Act 15, Ass. 1707, entitled, Act against innovations in the worship of God? And also own the presbyterian government and discipline, now so happily established in this church? And are you per suaded, that the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and church government, are founded upon the holy Scriptures, and agreeable thereto? 4. Do you promise, that, through the grace of God, you will firmly and constantly adhere to, and in your station, to the utmost of your power, assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and the government of this church by kirk-ses

ons, presbyteries, provincial synods, and General Assemies? 5. Do you promise, that in your practice you will onform yourself to the said worship, and submit yourself o the said discipline and government of this church, and all never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice r subversion of the same? 6. Do you promise, that ou shall follow no divisive courses from the present esablishment of the church? 7. Do you renounce all docrines, tenets, or opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or inonsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church? 8. Do you promise, that you will subject yourself to the several judicatures of this church?-Follows the

Formula.-I,

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do hereby declare, That I do incerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith approven by the General Assemblies of this national church, and ratified by law in the year 1690, and frequently confirmed by divers acts of iament since that time, to be the truths of God; and I do own the same as the confession of my faith: As likewise, I do own the purity of worship presently authorized and practised in this church; and also, the presbyterian government and discipline, now so happily established therein; which doctrine, worship, and church government, I am persuaded, are founded upon the word of God, and agreeable thereto: And I promise, that, through the grace of God, I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same; and, to the utmost of my power, shall, in my station, assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church by kirksessions, presbyteries, provincial synods, and General Assemblies; and that I shall, in my practice, conform myself to the said worship, and submit to the said discipline and government; and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same: And I promise, that I shall follow no divisive course from the present establishment in this church; renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church.-Act 10.