THe Generall Assembly, after conside­ration of the great controversie the Lord hath against the Land, for the manifold transgressions of his known Commands, and continued despising of Grace and Reconciliation offered through Jesus Christ, whereby trans­gressions might have been, and yet may be pardoned, and amended; And after acknowledgment of the just Quarrell he hath against us all his Ministers, for the sins of our Per­sons and Calling, for which he hath so shaken the Judicatories and Assemblies of this Kirk amongst us, and doth threaten to cast down altogether the hedge of Discipline, and to thrust all his Mi­nisters for a time from their places; Do seriously exhort and charge all and every one intrusted with the holy Ministry, to stir up themselves to seek the LORD more carefully, and settle their own peace with him, and to make full proof of their Ministry, so long as the day of his patience continueth: And in particular, to bee [Page 4] more diligent in the means of acquainting the people with the Scri­pture, and grounds of Religion held forth in the Catechism, And to this end does Recommend,

1. That every Minister do so dispose of the time appointed for the reading of Scripture, as both the Order of the Directory, and Act of Uniformity in the point of Lecture, may be observed; That two Chapters being read, one of the Old Testament, and the other of the New, after reading of the first, some few Observations of the chief Doctrines being held forth, and propounded briefly and plainly to the people, time may be left to read the second Chap­ter, and to give some brief Observations on it also, as the time al­lowed will suffer.

2. For promoving the work of Catechising, the Assembly, be­sides that they renew the Act for Catechising weekly,

• 1. Recom­mends that also every LORDS Day, when the people do most fre­quently conveen, some competent portion of the Catechism be ex­plained before the whole Congregation (without prejudice of the Preaching) And Recommendeth that in this publike Cate­chetick instruction, the points that are handled, be propounded by question, to be answered by some called up for that purpose.
• 2. And because many being bashfull to speak in publike audience, do either altogether absent themselves, or if they must compear, are so distempered with fear, that the edification is marred; The Assembly Recommendeth this Overture, that the Minister, in the publike Catechetick Instruction, call up some that are more able in knowledge, and prepared before, to answer the points that are to be interrogat and explained, that all the Congregation may the more freely drink in knowledge, and more frequently attend such exercises; and that others, that are not so fit to speak in publike, be tryed in their knowledge, at the more private dyets of exami­nation, or in their families.
• 3. That Ministers, beside publike teaching and instructing, be carefull, and make conscience to teach and instruct from house to house, and frequently visite the families [Page 5] within their charge, on purpose for this very work; And try what pains Parents and Heads of Families take to instruct such as are under them, according to their station: and, if they find them negligent herein, to admonish them: and if, after oftner admoni­nition, they continue in that sinfull negligence, to bring them to more publike admonition before the Session.
• 4. That the Mini­sters and Sessions of every Congregation see, that such as have Schools in their bounds, exercise the young ones under their charge in getting the Catechism by heart, which will much serve to further the publike Catechetick Doctrine.
• 5. And that the Minister, with some of the Session appointed for that effect, do every quarter of a year, or so often as they can conveniently, vi­sit the Schools in their bounds, to try what diligence is used in this: And if these that teach Schools shall be found negligent herein, and after admonition shall continue [...] that [...] b [...] taken to get them removed, and others put in their place.

The Assembly Recommends to Presbyteries to be seriously thinking upon further Overtures, which may b [...] conduceable for making Catechizing further usefull, and may ser [...] for promoving the knowledge of GOD in the land, and to bring their thoughts to the next Generall Assembly.

THe General Assembly having, out of their ear­nest desire of the Peace and Unity of this Kirk, condescended upon an Overture of Peace, and not onely propounded it to some Brethren who were here, opposite to the publict Judi­catories of this Kirk; But also in pursuance of that end, Ordained the said Overture, to be presented and offered by the severall Presbyte­ries or Synods, to all in their respective bounds, who hes Prote­sted against, and Declined, or consented or adhered unto the Pro­testations and Declinatours made against this and the preceeding Generall Assemblie, and the conditions therein contained, to be required of them; And considering the great prejudice like to arise to this Kirk, by increasing of our unhappie differences and distractions, if young men shall be admitted into the Ministry, which shall still blow the fire of contention, and continue in avow­ed opposition to, and contempt of the publick Judicatories, Therefore Ordaines Presbyteries to take speciall care, that upon the calling of any Expectant to a particular charge of the Ministry, [Page 7] before they admit him to his trialls, they require him under his hand, to passe from the Protestations and Declinatours against this and the preceeding Generall Assemblie, if he hath been ac­cessory to the same, and to promise and give assurance that he shall abstain from holding up debates and controversies, about matters of differences in this Kirk, since the Assembly 1650, in Preaching, Writing, or other wayes. Upon the performance whereof, the Presbyterie shall proceed to his trialls, if not, in that case, the Presbyterie shall forbear to proceed untill the next Ge­nerall Assembly, leaving liberty to the Presbyterie and Congre­gation for planting of the place otherwise. And the Assembly Or­daines and requires that Presbyteries be not sudden to lay by such young men as at first refuses or scruples to perform these conditi­ons mentioned, but that pains be taken upon them to convince them of the reasonablenesse thereof, and to perswade them to embrace them, and to give them a competent time for that effect.

Likeas the Assembly considering the prejudice of Elders com­ming to Presbyteries for strengthening a faction in opposition to the publick Judicatories, Ordains, that Presbyteries shall require the same things fore-mentioned of every Ruling Elder that comes to sit and act in Presbyteries, and in case of his refusall, shall not admit him to act as an Elder in the Presbyterie, but require the Kirk Session from which he is sent, to make choise of, and send another, who for the Peace of this Church, shall agree to perform the conditions required.

THe Generall Assembly, considering the obligations that lyes upon all Ecclesiastick Judicatories, and Ministers within this Land, by the commande­ment of GOD, and our Covenants, and Engage­ments taken upon us, before GOD and the World (whereunto they resolve, in the power of the LORDS might, constantly to adhere) and to shew themselves faithfull, and zealous in all their administrations, for the LORD, and for advan­cing the Work of Reformation, and particularly, considering that the condition of this time doth require in speciall wayes, that in trying, admitting, removing, and deposing of Church Officers, censuring of scandalous persons, dispensing of Ordinances, recei­ving of penitents, the rules of the Word of GOD, and constitu­tions of this Kirk be diligently put in execution and acuratly ob­served.

Therefore,

The Assembly Ordains, that Presbyteries and Synods, in ad­mitting of Persons to the Ministry, be acurate in their trialls, ac­cording [Page 9] to the order prescribed in this Church, that none be admitted to the holy and high function, but such as are qualified according as is required in the Word of GOD, and constitutions of this Kirk, both for knowledge in the mysterie of godlinesse, and abilities to teach and con­vince the gain-sayers, as also in conversation and godli­nesse, that they lay hands suddenly on no man, nor be par­taker of other mens sin, and for this end that every Pres­byterie be carefull to have gathered together such Acts of Assemblies as concerneth the triall of Ministers, and have them before them, whensoever any person is called to any place of the Ministery, and is upon his trialls.

2. Ordaines that Presbyteries and Synods, in their re­spective bounds, make conscience, that such Ministers as are found either ignorant and not apt to feed the people of GOD with knowledge and understanding, or erroneous in their judgement in matters of Religion, or are scandalous in their life and conversation, and are not examples unto their flocks in godly and holy walking, or disaffected to the work of Reformation, be censured according to the degree of their offence and Acts of Assemblies. And for this end, that they be frequent and acurate in visitation of Kirks, and therein make conscienscious use of the rules prescribed for visitations, and of such Acts of former Assemblies, as holds forth the duties of Ministers, and the grounds and causes of censure.

3. Ordains that, where Ministers lawfully deposed, are unlawfully admitted and not according to the Order pre­scribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies, or intrudes themselves into places, Presbyteries and Synods make use of that Power and Authority which CHRIST hes put in their hands, to remedie the same, and to censure such dis­orders and enormities, as they deserve, And that people [Page 10] be not accessory unto, or concurring with any Ministers that are deposed, in intruding themselves into places no [...] give them any countenance that does so, as they would not draw upon themselves the wrath of GOD, by con­temning and despising CHRISTS Ordinance of Discipline, And that no Presbyteries nor Synods proceed to open the mouths of, or readmit unto the Ministery, and de­posed Ministers, but according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies, As they will be an­swerable unto the Generall Assemblie.

4. Ordaines that Sessions be carefull that none be ad­mitted to be Elders in Congregations, but such as are in some competent measure able and qualified with know­ledge of Religion, and understanding of the dueties of their calling, for discharging the dueties of that Office, and of a blamelesse christian and godly conversation; And that before any be admitted to be an Elder, the Persons name that is designed, be publickly intimate to the Congre­gation the LORDS Day before, that if any have any thing to object against him, they may come and present the same to the Session or to the Minister. And that if any Elder be found negligent in the duties of his charge, and continue so after admonition, or scandalous in his life and conversation, or to be a neglecter of the worship of GOD in his Family, he be removed from and purged out of the Session.

5. Ordaines that Sessions and Presbyteries be carefull, and make conscience by all means to censure impartially all persons of whatsoever rank or condition, that are scanda­lous, either in things of the first, or in things of the se­cond Table, according to the Rules and Order which Christ hath prescribed in his Word, and to proceed to the highest censures, with such as are grossely and obstinatly scanda­lous [Page 11] or are ignorant, and contemn, and continuedly ne­glect the means of knowledge, as publike and private cate­chizing, &c. after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means used to reclaim and gain them.

6. Ordaines that Ministers and Sessions in Congregati­ons be carefull, as they will be answerable to CHRIST JESUS, to debar from the LORDS Table, all such per­sons as are found not to walk sutably to the Gospel, and being convinced and admonished thereof, do not reform; As also all such as have not knowledge to examine them­selves, and to discern the LORDS Body. And that for the more orderly performing of this, the Minister in exami­nation of the people, have some of the Elders alwayes with him, and represent unto the Session such as are found grossely ignorant, that by order of the Session they may be debarred.

7. That Presbyteries and Sessions make conscience, that such persons as are found scandalous, and are under cen­sure for that cause, be not received nor absolved from their censure, unlesse they give such satisfaction and evid [...]nces of their repentance, as are expressed in the Acts of the Assemblies, concerning the receiving of penitents.