previs the Presbyteries, and particular Sessiones, appoynted be the said Kirk, with the haill jurisdiction and discipline of the same Kirk, aggried upon be his Majesty in conference had be his Hienesse, with certain of the Ministers, conveened to that effect of the quhilkes articles the tenour followes. MATERS to be entreated in Provincial Assemblies: Thir Assemblies ar constitute for weichtie maters, necessar to be entreated be mutual consent, and assistance of brethren, within the Province, as neede requiris. This Assemblie hes power to handle, ordour, and redresse, all things omitted or done amisse in the particular assemblies. It hes power to depose the office-bearers of that Province, for gude and just cause, deserving deprivation: And generally, thir assemblies hes the haill power of the particular Eldershippes, quhairof they are collected. MATERS to be entreated, in the Presbyteries. The power of the Presbyteries is to give diligent laboures in the boundes committed to their charge: That the Kirks be keeped in gude ordour, To enquire diligently of naughty and ungodly persons: And to travel to bring them in the way againe be admonition, or threatning of Gods judgements, or be corection. It appertaines to the Elderschippe, to take heede, that the word of God be purely preached within their boundes. The Sacraments richtly ministred, the Discipline interteined: And Ecclesiastical guddes uncorruptly distributed. It belangis to this kinde of Assemblies, to cause the ordinances maid be the Assemblies, Provincialles, nationals and generals, to bee keeped and put in execution, to make constitutions, quhilk concernis to prepon in the Kirk, for decent ordour, in the particular Kirk, quhair they governe; Providing that they alter na rules maid be the Provincial, or General Assemblies: And that they make the Provincial assemblies foresaids, privy of the rules that they sall make: And to abolish constitutiones, tending to the hurt of the same. It hes power to excommunicate the obstinate, formal Proces being led, and dew interval of times observed. ANENT particular kirks, gif they be lauchfully ruled, be sufficient Ministry and Session. They have power and jurisdiction in their awin Congregations, in maters Ecclesiastical. And decernis and declairis the saids Assemblies, Presbyteries, and Sessiones, Jurisdiction and Discipline thereof foresaid, to be in all times cumming maist just, gude, and godly in theselfe, Notwithstanding of quhat-sumever Statutes, Actes, Canone, Civill, or Municipal Lawes, made in the contrare. To the quhilkis and every ane of them, thir presentes sall make expresse derogation: And because there ar divers Actes of Parliament, maid in favour of the Papistical Kirke, tending to the prejudice of the liberty of the trew Kirk of God, presently professed within this Realme, jurisdiction and discipline thereof; Quhilk stands zit in the buikes of the Actes of Parliament, nocht abrogated nor annulled: Therefore his Hienesse, and Estaites foresaids, hes abrogated, cassed, and annulled, and be the tenour hereof, abrogatis, cassis and annullis all Actes of Parliament made by ony of his Hienesse Predecessoires, for maintenance of superstition and idolatry, with all and quhat-sumever Acts, Lawes and statutes, maid at ony time, before the day and dait hereof, against the

liberty of the trew Kirk, Jurisdiction and discipline thereof, as the samin is used and exercised within this Realme.

And in speciall, that part of the Act of Parliament halden at Striviling, the fourth day of November, the zeir of god, ane thousand, four hundredth, fourty three zeirs, commaunding obedience to be giving to Eugenius the Paipe for the time: the Acte made be King James the thrid, in his Parliament halden at Edinburgh the twenty four day of Februar, The zeir of God, ane thousand, four hundredth, fourscor zeires. And all utheris actes quhairby the Paipis authority is esta blished. The Acte of King James the third, in his Parliament halden at Edinburgh, the twenty day of November, the zeir of God, ane thousand, four hundredth, three scor nine zeires, anent the Satterday, and uther vigiles to be halie dayes, from Evensang to Evensang.

ITEM, that part of the Act, maid be the Queene Regent, in the Parliament halden at Edinburgh, the first day of Februar: The zeir of GOD, ane thousand, five hundredth fifty-ane zeirs, giving special licence for holding of Pasche and Zule. ITEM, The Kingis Majesty, and Estaitis, foresaidis, declaris, that the 129 Acte of the Parliament halden at Edinburgh, the xxij day of Maij, the zeir of God, ane thousand, five hundredth, fourscoir, four zeires, sall naways be prejudiciall, nor derogate ony thing to the privilege that God has given to the spirituall office-bearers in the Kirk, concerning heads of Religion, matters of Heresie, Excommunication, collation or deprivation of ministers, or ony siklike essential censours, speciallie grounded, and havand warrand of the Word of God. ITEM, Our Soveraine Lord, and Estaitis of Parliament foresaids, abrogatis, cassis, and annullis, the Act of the same Parliament, halden at Edinburgh, the said zeir, ane thousand, five hundredth, fourscoir four zeires, granting commission to Bischoppes, and utheris Judges, constitute in Ecclesiastical causes, to receive his Hienesse presentations to benefices, to give collation thereupon: and to put ordour in all causes Ecclesiasticall: quhilk his Majesty and Estates foresaidis, declaris to be expired in the selfe, and to be null in time cumming, and of nane availl, force nor effect. And therefore ordainis all presentations to Benefices, to be direct to the particular Presbyteries, in all time cumming: with full power to give colation thereupon; And to put ordour to all maters and causes Ecclesiasticall, within their boundes, according to the discipline of the Kirk: Providing the foresaids Presbyteries be bound and astricted, to receive and admitt quhat-sumever qualified Minister, presented be his Majesty, or laick patrones.

No. 9.-Act 1592, c. 117.

Vnqalified persones being deprived, the benefice vaikis, and the Patron not presentand, the richt of presentation pertaines to the Presbytery, but prejudice of the tackes, set be the person deprived. Our Soveraine Lord Considering the great abuses quhilkis ar laitly croppen in the Kirk, throw the misbehaviour of sik persones, as ar provided to Ecclesiasticall functions: sik as Parsonages and Vicarages within ony parochin, and thereafter neglecting their charge, ather leave their cure, or els committis sik crimes, faultes, or enormities

that they are found worthy of the sentence of deprivation, ather before their awn Presbyterie, or else before the Synodall or Generall assemblies. Quhilk sentence is the lesse regarded be them. Because albeit they be deprived of their function and cure within the Kirk : zit they thinke they may bruike lawfully the profites and rentes of their saids benefices, enduring their life-rentes; Notwithstanding the said sentence of deprivation: Therefore, our Soveraine Lord, with advice of the Staitis of this present Parliament, declaris, that all and quhatsumever sentences of deprivation, ather pronounced already, or that happenis to be pronounced hereafter, be ony Presbyterie, Synodall, or General assemblies, against ony Parson or Vicar, within their jurisdiction, provided sen his Hienesse Coronation: All Parsones, provided to Parsonages and Vicarages, quha hes voit in Parliament, secreit Councell, and Session, or provided thereto of auld, before the Kingis Coronation, (And Maister George Young, Arch-dean of Saint Andrewes, being specially excepted,) is, and sall be repute in all Judgementes, ane just cause to seclude the person before provided, and then deprived from all profites, commodities, rentes and dewties of the said Parsonage and Vicarage, or benefice of Cure: And that ather by way of action, exception, or reply. And that the said sentence of deprivation, sall be ane sufficient cause to make the said Benefice to vaike thereby. And the said sentence being extracted, and presented to the Patron, the said Patrone sall be bound to present ane qualified person of new to the Kirk, within the space of sex Moneths thereafter: And gif he failzie to do the same, the said Patrone shall tine the right of presentation, for that time alianerly: And the richt of presentation to be devolved in the handes of the Presbytery, within the quhilk benefice lies; to the effect that they may dispone the same, and give collation thereof, to sik an qualified person as they sall think expedient. Providing all wayes, in case the Presbytery refuses to admit ony qualified Minister, presented to them be the Patrone: It sall be lauchfull to the Patrone, to reteine the haill fruites of the said Benefice in his awin handes. And furder, his Hienesse and Estaites foresaides, declairis, that the deprivation already pronunced, or to be pronunced, be ony Presbyterie, Synodall, or Generall assemblies, against ony of the Parsones or Vicars foresaid, sall na-wayes hurt, or be prejudiciall to ony tackes, lawfully set be that Person deprived, before his deprivation, to quhatsumever persones.

No. 10.-Act 1690, c. 1.

Act Rescinding the First Act of the Second Parliament, 1669. Our Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queen's Majesties, taking into their Consideration, that by the second Article of the Grievances presented to their Majesties, by the Estates of this Kingdom; It is Declared, that the First Act of the second Parliament of King Charles the Second, entituled, Act asserting his Majesty's Supremacy over all Persons and in all causes Ecclesiastical, is inconsistent with the Establishment of the Church Government now desired, and ought to be abrogat. Therefore, Their Majesties, with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament, do hereby Abrogat,

Rescind, and Annull the foresaid Act, and Declares the same in the Whole Heads, Articles, and Clauses thereof, to be of no force or effect in all time coming.

No. 11.-Act 1690, c. 5.

Act Ratifying the Confession of Faith, and Settling Presbyterian Church Government.

Our Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majesties, and three Estates of Parliament, conceiving it to be their bound duty, after the great deliverance that God hath lately wrought for this Church and Kingdom, in the first place to settle and secure therein, the true Protestant religion, according to the truth of God's Word, as it hath of a long time been professed within this land: As also the government of Christ's Church within this nation, agreeable to the word of God, and most conducive to the advancement of true piety and godliness, and the establishing of peace and tranquillity within this realm; And that by an article of the claim of right, it is declared, That prelacy, and the superiority of any office in the church above presbyters, is, and hath been a great and unsupportable griev ance and trouble to this nation, and contrary to the inclinations of the generality of the people ever since the Reformation, they having reformed from popery by presbyters, and therefore ought to be abolished: Likeas, by an act of the last Session of this Parliament, prelacy is abolished; Therefore their Majesties, with advice and consent of the said three estates, do hereby revive, ratifie, and perpetually confirm, all laws, statutes and acts of Parliament, made against popery and papists, and for the maintenance and preservation of the true reformed Protestant religion, and for the true Church of Christ within this kingdom, in so far as they confirm the same, or are made in favours thereof. Likeas, they, by these presents, ratifie and establish the Confession of Faith, now read in their presence; and voted and approven by them, as the publick and avowed confession of this Church containing the sum and substance of the doctrine of the Reformed Churches; (which Confession of Faith is subjoined to this present act.) As also they do establish, ratifie, and confirm the Presbyterian Church government and discipline; that is to say, the government of the Church by kirk-sessions, presbyteries, provincial synods, and general assemblies, ratified and established by the 114th act, Ja. 6. Parl. 12, anno 1592, intituled, Ratification of the Liberty of the True Kirk, &c., and thereafter received by the general consent of this nation, to be the only government of Christ's Church within this kingdom; reviving, renewing, and confirming the foresaid act of Parliament, in the whole heads thereof, except that part of it relating to patronages, which is hereafter to be taken into consideration: And rescinding, annulling, and making void the acts of Parliament following, viz.; act anent Restitution of Bishops, Ja. 6, Parl. 18, cap. 2; act ratifying the acts of the Assembly, 1610, Ja. 6, Parl. 21, cap. 1; act anent the election of Archbishops and Bishops, Ja. 6, Parl. 22, cap. 1; act intituled, Ratification of the Five Articles of the General Assembly at Perth, Ja. 6, Parl. 23, cap. 1; act intituled, For the

Restitution and Re-establishment of the ancient government of the Church by Archbishops and Bishops, Ch. 2, Parl. 1, Sess. 2, act 1 ; anent the constitution of a National Synod, Ch. 2, Parl. 1, Sess. 3, act 5; act against such as refuse to depone against delinquents, Ch. 2, Parl. 2, Sess. 2, act 2; act intituled, Act acknowledging and asserting the right of succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland, Ch. 2, Parl. 3, act 2; act intituled, Act anent religion and the test, Ch. 2, Parl. 3, act 6; with all other acts, laws, statutes, ordinances, and proclamations, and that in so far allanerly as the said acts, and others generally and particularly above-mentioned, are contrary or prejudicial to, inconsistent with, or derogatory from the Protestant religion and Presbyterian government now established; and allowing and declaring that the Church government be established in the hands of, and exercised by, these Presbyterian ministers who were outed since the first of January, 1661, for non-conformity to prelacy, or not complying with the courses of the times; and are now restored by the late act of Parliament, and such ministers and elders only as they have admitted or received, or shall hereafter admit or receive: And also that all the said Presbyterian ministers have, and shall have, right to the maintenance, rights, and other privileges by law provided, to the ministers of Christ's Church within this kingdom, as they are, or shall be, legally admitted to particular churches. Likeas, in pursuance of the premises, their Majesties do hereby appoint the first meeting of the General Assembly of this Church, as above established, to be at Edinburgh, the third Thursday of October next to come, in this instant year 1690. And because many conform ministers either have deserted, or were removed from preaching in their churches, preceding the thirteenth day of April 1689, and others were deprived for not giving obedience to the act of the Estates made in the said thirteenth of April 1689, intituled, Proclamation against the owning of the late King James, and appointing publick prayers for King William and Queen Mary: Therefore their Majesties, with advice and consent foresaid, do hereby declare all the churches, either deserted, or from which the conform ministers were removed or deprived as said is, to be vacant; and that the Presbyterian ministers exercising their ministry within any of these paroches, (or where the last incumbent is dead,) by the desire or consent of the paroch, shall continue their possession, and have right to the benefices and stipends, according to their entry in the year 1689; and in time coming, ay, and while the Church, as now established, take further course therewith. And to the effect the disorders that have happened in this church may be redressed: their Majesties, with advice and consent foresaid, do hereby allow the general meeting, and representatives of the foresaid Presbyterian ministers and elders, in whose hands the exercise of the Church government is established, either by themselves, or by such ministers and elders as shall be appointed and authorized visitors by them, according to the custom and practice of Presbyterian government throughout the whole kingdom, and several parts thereof, to try and purge out all insufficient, negligent, scandalous, and erroneous ministers, by due course of ecclesiastical process and censures; and likewise for