[THIRTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveint in the Over Tolbooth of Edinburghe, the 24th of Apryle 1576, qwhaire there war present Lords, Barrones, Bischopes of Glasgow, Dumblaine, Dunkeld, Ross, Brechine, Morray, Superintendants of Lawthiane and Angus, and Commissioners of Countries, Townes, Kirks, and Ministers. Mr John Row, Moderator.
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveint in the Over Tolbooth of Edinburghe, the 24th of Apryle 1576, qwhaire there war present Lords, Barrones, Bischopes of Glasgow, Dumblaine, Dunkeld, Ross, Brechine, Morray, Superintendants of Lawthiane and Angus, and Commissioners of Countries, Townes, Kirks, and Ministers. Mr John Row, Moderator.
Sessio 2a.
Anent the pluralitie of offices objectit to Mr Robert Hamilton, minister of St Androis: The said matter being lang debaittit with reasons on every side, and riply advyset, The present Assemblie, in respect of the circumstance of place and congregatione of St Androis, finds and declares the twa offices joynit in his persone to be impatible in him. Anent the advyse and opinione of the brethren gine in the last Assembly concernyng the questione movit, Qwhitherif Bishops, as they are now in Scotland, hes their functione out of the word of God? The haill Assemblie, for the maist pairt, after reasoning and lang disputatione upon every article of the saids brethrene, opinione and advyse, resolutely approvit and affirmit the same and every article thereof, as the same is given be them, quhairof also the tennor is here reportit.
First, the name of a Bischope is commone to all them that hes ane particular flock over the qwhilk he hes a particular charge, alsewell to preach the word as to minister the sacraments, and to execute the ecclesiasticall discipline with consent of his elders, and that is his chief functione in the word of God.
Attour of this number may be chosen some to have power to oversie and visite sic reasonable bounds besides his awne flocke, as the Generall Assemblie shall appoynt, And, in these bounds, to appoynt ministers, with consent of the ministers of that province, and the consent of the flock whom to they shall be appointed; alseweel to appoynt elders and deacones in every congregatione where there is nane, with consent of the people thereof, and to suspend ministers for reasonable causes, with consent of the ministers forsaids; And to the effect that the saids articles condescendit upon be the said Kirk, may be better followit out and ready executione thereupon as appertaineth, Ordaynes the Bishop, who hes not receivit the charge yet of a particular congregatione, to condescend on the morne what particular flocks they will accept to take the cure thereof.
Sessio 5.
Mrs James Lowsone, Robert Pont, Alexander Arbuthnot, William Chrystisone, John Row, and John Craig, with the Laird of Dunn, are ordaynit Commissioners to visite the Colledges of the Universities of St Androis, and to consider the same, the manner and estate thereof, and what they finde to report to the next Assemblie.
The haill Assembly concludit affirmatively, that they may proceed against any unjust possessors of the patrimonie of the kirks in respect of the notorious sclander; and sicklyke that they may proceed against them, be doctrine and admonitione; and last of all, if no remeid beis, with the censures of the Kirk: and, farther, that the patrimonie of the Kirk qwhairupon the Kirk, the puire, the schooles sould be sustained,ex jure divino, leaveand the farther disputation of sic matter to the first of May next; and then the descriptioneof the patrimonie of the Kirk to be inquyrit at that day, and farther reasoning had for resolution of the questione.
Sessio 6.
Certane brethren appoyntit to oversee the booke writtin by Mr George Hay contra Tyrie.
Brethren appoyntit to make ane overture of the policie and jurisdiction of the Kirk: For the wast countrie, the Bishop of Glasgow, Mrs Andrew Melvill, Andrew Hay, James Greige, David Cunnynghame: ffor Lawthiane, Mrs Robert Pont, James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, Clement Little, and Alexander Syme: ffor Fyfe, the Superintendant thereof, with the principall masters of the Universitie: for Angus and Merns, the Laird of Dunn, William Chrystisone, John Row, William Rynd, John Duncansone: ffor Aberdeen, Mr John Craig, Alexander Arbuthnot, George Hay; and thir persones to conveine, ilk cuntrie and rank in the places following, viz. The wast in Glasgow; Lawthiane in Edinburgh; Fyfe in St Androis; Angus in Montrose; the first Tuesday of June nixt to come, to confer and advyse upon the said matter, and make generall meeting or conventione, twa, or ane at leist, of ilk countrie above written, in Striviling, the last day of July thereafter, to communicate and cognosce upon their haill travells and labours taken therein, and to conferr universallie together heirupone, and report what they have fund and conteinit in the said matter, to the nixt Assemblie, qwhilk is appoynt it to be in Edinburgh the 24th of October nixt to come. In case a parliament, the Kirk ordaynes the ministers of Edinburgh to make intimation heirof to the Bischops, Superintendants, and visitors of countries, that the Kirk may be conveint four dayes before the said parliament, and that the barrones and gentlemen be exortit to be present with the commissioners appointit in the provinciall assemblie.