[TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, begun and halden at Edinburgh the saxt of March 1573(4); In the qwhilk war present, Earles, Lords, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Mr Andrew Hay was chosen Moderator.
The Generall Assembly, begun and halden at Edinburgh the saxt of March 1573(4); In the qwhilk war present, Earles, Lords, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Mr Andrew Hay was chosen Moderator.
Sessio.
The Kirk ordaynes all Commissioners of townes and provinces, that they seek out the haill rentalls of the hospitalls within their bounds respective, and give the same in to their Bischops, Superintendants, or Commissioners, schawand how the samen are usit and abusit, to the effect that my Lord Chancellar may receave the same, and report to my Lord Regent’s Grace; and this to be done betwixt and the tenth of April next to come.
Unto the Lord Regent’s Grace, of Privie Councill, with uthers of the Estates conveint with his Grace, the Kirk Generall, now assemblit, wishes everlasting health in Christ.
Unto the Lord Regent’s Grace, of Privie Councill, with uthers of the Estates conveint with his Grace, the Kirk Generall, now assemblit, wishes everlasting health in Christ.
It is not unknawne that holy ministrie of God that hes chosen to himself a kirk, and that frae the beginning, whilk shall continow for ever, and the same is the congregatione and companie of the faithfull professors of Christ; and in his kirk God hes appointit his ministers to ministrat, and calls men to be ministers of the same, that be the samen ministrie, the elect of God may be callit, regenerat, and nourishit to everlasting life. For preservation of the holie ministrieand kirk in puritie, the Lord has appointit Assemblies and Conventions, not only of the persons appointed to the ministrie, but also of the haill members of the kirke professing Christ; the whilk kirk of God hes continwallie used and still uses the same assemblies, sanctified be the word of God, and authorised be the presence of Jesus Christ. It is also knawne unto your Grace, that sen the tyme God blessed this countrey with the light of his evangell, the haill kirk maist godlie appointed, and the same be act of parliament authorised, that twa godlie Assemblies of the haill generall Kirk of this realme sould be ever ilk year; alswell of all members thereof in all estates as of the ministers: the qwhilk Assemblies hes been sen the first ordinance, continuallie keepit in sic sort, that the maist noble thereof, the hiest estate, hes joynit themselves be their owne persone, in the Assemblies, as members of one bodie, concurrand, votand, and authorizand all things there, proceeding with their brether: And now, at this present, the Kirk is assemblit according to the godly ordinance, and looks to have concurrence of their brethren in all estates, and wisches of God that your Grace and Lords of Privie Councill, will authorize the Kirk in this present Assemblie, be your presence, or be uthers havand your commissioune in your Grace and Lordship’s name, as members of the Kirk of God; ffor, as your Grace’s presence and the nobilities should be unto us most comfortable, and so most earnestlie wished of all, so your Grace’s absence is to us most dolorous and lamentable; whereof follows the want of ane great part of the members that weill cannot be absent from the treiting of these things that perteins to the Kirk and policie thereof, in assembly altogether, to be handlit be the advyce of all, and to the qwhilk end the Assemblies are appointit, the authoritie thereof your Grace knawes to be sic as the contempt of it tends to the dishonour of God; and, therefore, as ye esteem your selves to be members of Christ and of his Kirk, schaw the fruits thereof; of the qwhilk it is not the leist to joyn yourselves to the Kirk, not only be hearing the word and receaving the sacraments, but also in conveining with your brether in the holy assemblies: The qwhilk to doe we giue you admonitione in the name of the Lord; extending this admonitione to every persone, of whatsoever estate, that are present with your Grace; and specially we admonische the Bishops, and sic as are of the ministrie, to joyne themselffs with us, according to their ministrie and dewtie, utherwayes they will be thocht unworthy of office they beare. The tyme the Kirk will sittwill be short, and tyme would not be neglected, and yet the Kirk is not so rigorous but that men may, after their presence gine in the Assembly, have libertie, as tyme requires, wait upon their laufull business; and this admonitione we giue your Grace with all reverence and humility; and that chiefly in respect that your Grace, be your awne articles and questiones sent to the Kirk, where your Grace desyres first to be admonished charitably whensoeuer offences aryses, before the same be utherwayes traducit.
Certain war appointit to penn the heids concerning the jurisdictione of the Kirk, and to present the same to the Assemblie.
Anent the jurisdiction of Bishops in their ecclesiasticall functione; the Kirk presently assemblit hes concludit, that the same shall not exceed the jurisdiction of superintendants, whilk heretofore they have had and presently hes, and that they shall be subject to the discipline of the Generall Assemblie, as members thereof, as the superintendants hes been heretofore in all sorts.
That no Superintendants nor Commissioners for kirks planting, haue nor shall giue collatione of benefices, nor admitt ministers, without the assistance of thrie of their qualified ministers of their province, who also shall give their testimonialls to the said Superintendant commissioners, subscryvit with their hands in signe of their consent thereto; and in like manner, that no Bischops giue collatione of any benefice within the bounds of Superintendants within his diocie, without their consent and testimonialls, subscryved with their hands; and that Bischops, within their awne dioces, visite be themselues where no superintendants are, giue no collatione ordinare upon benefices, without consent of three weell qualified ministers, as said is, of superintendants and commissioners to plant kirks.
Sessio 5.
Commissioners war appointit to convein with my Lord Regent’s Grace and Lords of Secret Councill, to conferr and reason upon the heads concerning the policie and jurisdictione of the Kirk, and sic uther heads and articles as shall be proponit be his Grace and Councill to them.
Sessio 7.
As concerning the appointing of syndrie kirks to ane minister; to the end the matter may be plainer, and the mynde of the Kirk knawne to all men herein, the Kirk hes declarit, that howbeit syndriekirks be appointit to ane man, yet shall the minister make his residence at ane kirk, qwhilk shall be properly appointit to his charge, and he shall be callit principallie the minister of that kirk; and as concerning the rest of the kirks to the qwhilk he is nominat, he shall haue the oversicht and help therein, in sic sort as the Bischop, Superintendant, and Commissioner shall think expedient, and as occasion shall serve from his awne principall charge: The qwhilk on no wayes he may neglect; and this order only to remane qwhill God of his mercie shall thrust out moe labourers unto his harvest.