tody, and the other Copy to be Sealed and laid in fome Secure Place where the Affembly or Commiffion fhall Appoint; As alfo, that a Subscribed Extract of the Proceedings of each General Affembly be fent a little after the rifing thereof to the feveral Synods within this Church to be by them Recorded in a Book.

Civilities

10. As to the Stile of the Affemblies addreffes and Letters to their Soveriegns, or Foreign Churches, and as to the paid by the Stile of their Letters to the Affembly both may be feen in their Church. Printed Regifters, as alfo thefe with the Records of their Commiffions will evidence what Civilities the Church pays in congratulating and attending on the Minifters of State and other Great Men, thus they court their Favour, and Return them their Thanks, all done for the Benefite and Advantage of the prefent Church Establishment.

TITLE XVII.

Of Vifitation of Schools and Universities.

A

LL Schools and Colleges were to be Reformed, Vifitations and none Admitted to Inftruct the Youth pri- of Schools vately or publicly, but fuch as fhould be Tried by the Vifitors & Colleges of the Kirk, James VI. Par. 1. Cap. 11. And even under the were ap late Prelacy, none were admitted to Teach in any public Schools Pointed by Authority without Licence from the Ordinary, Car. zd. Par. 1. Seff. 2. of the Af Cap. 4. SUB FIN. And alfo by the Act of Affembly Decem. fembly. 17, 18. 1638, Art. 4. They Ratify the Acts of Affembly 1565, 1567, and 1595. Whereby Vifitation of Colleges is to be by way of Commiffion from the General Affembly. And the prin cipal Regents and Profeffors within Colleges; and Masters and Doctors of Schools, are to be Tried by them concerning the Soundness of their Judgement in Matters of Religion, their Ability for discharge of their calling, and the honefty of their converfation. It is no wonder the Church think herself much concerned, that thefe Seminaries of Learning be duely regulated, confidering how much it tends to the increafe of Chriftian Knowledge and Learning, and the Advantage of true Piety and Religion. By the General Affembly 1638, they grant Commiffions for Vifitation of the Colleges of Aberdeen and Glas-“ gow. And the Affembly 1639, appoints Vifitations of the Universities of St. Andrew's and Glafgow. Again the Affembly 1640, appoints Vifitations of Glasgow and Aberdeen Colleges, as may be feen in the Index of the Unprinted Acts of thefe and Subfequent Affemblies.

Power of Vifitation

§ 2. The Power of Vifitations of Univerfities, Colleges and Schools is now claimed by the Sovereigns to be their Undoubt-C'amed by ed Right and Prerogative, as is Evident from the Narrative of the Soverthe A&t of Parliament 1690, for the Vifitation of Universities. eign. Vifi

tors Powers The Power granted to the Vifitors by that Act, is only Exe and Work cutive or Judicative, and not Legislative, which neither can nor diftinguifh fhould be: For feeing the Truft wherewith the Legiflators them

ed.

felves are cloathed, is only perfonal, it cannot be Delegated to others, unless they receive Power from their conftituents for that Effect and Purpose. But though their Power could be Delegated, it should not be done: For fome defigning and difaffected Members in fuch Commiffions might fo manage the plurality of a Quorum to Plant and Regulate thefe Nurseries of Church and State, as might pave the Way, and difpofe the Nation more easily for fome pernicious Revolution. The Vifitors appointed in that Commiffion are both Members of Parliament and Minifters: The one Sort I think, is appointed to remove difloyal Teachers, and to confider the Foundations of these Semmaries with the Rents and Revenues thereof, and how the fame have been managed, and to fet down good Rules for the good Management thereof. And Ministers, I think, are Named, to take Trial if the Teachers be Erroneous, Scandalous, negligent, or infufficient, and for ordering the manner of Teaching; and thereupon prefent there humble advice to the states> men for authoritatively they cannot act without delegation from the Church. See the Title about Extraordinary Synods, §1. Who are 3. There is none will grudge the Church the exercise of Ordinarly this power of vifiting Colleges, fo much as those Maiters, who the greatest have ground to fear that their infufficiency and negligence may the Church come to be expofed and discovered upon an exact and judicious Vifitations. trial. Again, there are fome factious Mafters that defire only

Enemies to

ftatesmen to be vifitors, among whom they think fome of their QUONDAM Difciples may be found who will be influenced to favour their ambitious or revengeful defigns.

Prefby. $4. As to Grammar Schools, the power of vifiting them teries may remains with Prefbyteries: for by the 23d Act, Par. 1693, it yet Vifit is declared, that all School-Masters and Teachers of Youth in Schools Schools, are and fhall be liable to the trial, judgment and centwice a fure of the Prefbyteries of the bounds for their fufficiency,

Grammar

Year.

qualifications and deportment in the faid office. By the Act of Affembly, 7th Feb. 1645, they appoint that every Grammar-School be vifited twice in the year, by vifitors to be lappointed by Prefbyteries and Kirk-Seffions in land-ward Parishes, and by the Town-Council in Burghs with their Minifters: and where Univerfities are, by the Univerfites, with confent always of the patron of the Schools, that both the fidelity and diligence of the Mafters, and proficiency of the Scholars in piety and learning may appear. Enquiry is also to be made if Mafters be diverted from due attendance by any other employment. By the 13th Act, Affembly 1706, fomewhat of the fame na ture is enjoined, viz. That Prefbyteries vifit Grammar Schools tiwce a year, by fome of their own number.

amine

ters at their Admifion.

5. By the forefaid A&t 1645, they appoint, that no School- Who Ex Mafter be admitted to Teach a Grammer School in Burghs or other confiderable Parishes, but fuch as, after Examination by School Mafthe Minifters, Deputes of the Town and Kirk-Seffion, and Paroch (which is, I think, the Heritors) fhall be found skilful in the Latine Tongue, not only for Profe, but alfo, for Verfe, and fhall be alfo approved by the Prefbytery therein.

Corre

6. By the forefaid Act, they appoint that at the time of every General Affembly, the commiffioners directed thereto from fponding of Universities Universities, meet and confult together for the advancement of Piety and Learning, and keeping of an uniformity in Doctrine and good Orders among the Universities, what they do this way is not to Bind the Univerfities, till it be prefented to the General Affembly, and receive their authority, as may be gathered from the Affemblies Act, 18 June 1646. This of New is Enacted by the 6th Act of Assembly 1707.

TITLE XVIII.

Of a General Council of Proteftants.

A

Weftminf

$1. S Provincial Affemblies may, and do correfpond correspond with other Provincial Affemblies, fo may Gener- ing with Foreign al Affemblies with the Affemblies of other Churches. In a Churches, Manufcript of the Acts of Affemblies, Edinburgh October 25. fuch as mag 1577, You will find that Cafmer having written to the Queen of deburgh England, of a Council to be held at Magdeburgh, for Establish- 1577, and ing the Auguftane Confeffion: The Queen wrote thereof to the ter 1643.the Regent in Scotland, who communicated her Letter to the Af- Expences fembly, and defired they might send some of their Number to & fafe Conaffift thereat. Whereupon the Affembly named Mr. Andrew duct of CorMelvill, and fome others. And fome Minifters and Eiders were refpondents fent from the General Assembly, to the Affembly of Divines at Weftminifter, in Order to carry on the Unity and Uniformity in Religion and Church-Government. It belongs in these cafes to the Civil Powers of thefe Nations from which they go to take care that their charges be honestly defrayed. And the States in whofe dominions the council is to be, ufe to grant a fafe conduct to the Foreign Correfpondents. VIDE in the Title of Gen. Affem. about the Church of Campyere.

The Au

2. In the Book of Policy of the Kirk agreed unto ANNO 1581, They fay, befide thefe Affemblies, there is another more thority of General kind of Affembly, an Univerfal Affembly of the Church General of Chrift in the World, which was commonly called an Ecume. Council. nic Council, reprefenting the Univerfal Church, which is the Body of Chrift: Their warrant to meet, and the authority of their meeting must be as good and as great, with respect to National and General Affemblies or convocations, as the authe

ner of Con

rity of these are, with refpect to Provincial Affemblies or Synods. The man- 3. If the Proteftant princes and common-wealths would condefcend and concert, that their fhould be a General Council vocating & Proportion- at fuch a time and place; Then the National or rather Provincial ating there. Aflemblies, at the appointment of their respective Sovereigns, preientation might meet and delegate one Paftor and Elder for each Province

Matters of faith almoft agreed to already.

Prefident of.

confifting of an hundred Parishes. Only from each diftinct Sovereignty, though confifting of lefs than fifty Parishes, there might be at least a reprefentation of the Church therein by one Paftor and Ruling Elder.

$4. Moft of the Churches being already bound and obliged to own and maintain that CONFESSION OF FAITH, which they have by their Canons authorized and approved; And there being an univerfal harmony in the Doctrine contained in all the Confeffions of the Reformed Churches; The work of a General Council as to matters of Faith,would, in all probability be sweet and eafy: And if in what relateth to the Worship, Discipline, or Government of the Church there fhould be fome mif-underftandings, God should even reveal this unto them. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the fame rule, let us mind the fame things, PHIL. ÏÏ3. 15, 16.

Time of $5. If this Council were once met and conftitute, and counMeeting & tenanced by the authority of their feveral Sovereigns, then they might appoint the time and place of their next Council, which this council might be every feventh Year; And let one from different Churches. be chofen to the Chair at every New Council. To prepare the way for fuch a Catholic Meeting, it were fit in the mean time to have a correfpondence kept among all the Churches. VID. SI. H. T.

The Benefit $6. In the fubordination of these Affemblies, Parochial, Presby. of this Sub- terial, Provincial and National, the leffer unto the greater, doth Ordination. confift the external order, ftrenth and ftedfaftnefs of the Churcle

of Scotland. And when it fhall pleafe the Lord to make ready and difpofe the nations for a General Council, then fhall that beauty and ftrength appear more remarkably in the whole Catholic Church, which is the Body of Chrift. Then fhould the Churches be established in the faith, increased in number daily; And as they went through the cities, delivering them, the decrees to keep, that were ordained of the Apoftles and Elders, which were at that General Council, A&ts xvi. 4, 5. They fhould give occafion to many to rejoice for the confolation. Such a time is rather to be wished than hoped for. VID. § 1. TIT. 1H. LIB.

The End of the First Book

BOOK II.

TITLE I.

Of Lecturing, Preaching, Catechifing, Public Prayers before and after Sermon, Singing of Pfalms, and Minif

terial Benediction.

$ I.

BY

Y the 15th Act of Affembly 1707, they declare Nothing to that there are fome innovations fet up of late by be admitted Prelatifts in their public Affemblies, which are dangerous to this in the Wor flip of God, Church, and manifeftly contrary to the conftant practice and but what is known principle thereof, which is, that nothing is to admitted prefcribed in the worship of God, but what is prefcribed in the Holy in Scripture Scriptures. Therefore they discharge the practice of all fuch innovations in divine worship within this Church, and Minifters are required to inform their people of the evil thereof.

How the

on doth AF

femble.

§ 2. All are to enter the Affembly in a grave and feemly manner, take their Seats or places without adoration, or bowing Congregati. themselves towards ene place or other. If any through neceffity be hindered from being prefent at the beginning, they ought not when they come into the Congregation, to betake themselves to their private devotions, but reverently compofe themselves to join with the Affembly in that ordinance of God, which is then in hand. Molt of what is faid on this Title, may be found in the Directory.

the time of

3. The Congregation being Affembled, the Minifler, after Their Be Solemn Calling on them to the Worshipping of the Creat Name haviour in of God is to begin with Prayer. The public Worthip being wordtip. begun, the people are wholly to attend on it: forbearing to read any thing, except what the Minifter is then Reading or citing: much more are they to abflain from all private whisperings, conferences, falutations, or doing reverence to any perfon prefent, or coming in, as alfo from all Cazing, Sleeping, or other endecent

Behaviour.

read and b

54. Reading of the Word in the Congregation, being a part Why the of the public Worfhip of God (wherein we acknowledge our Word is to dependence upon him, and fubjection to him) and one mean be pabfely Sanctified, by Him for the Edifying of His People, is to be whom? performed by the Paftors and Teachers, and Preachers Licenf ed by the Prefbytery thereunto, who fhou'd (as EZRA and his companions did NEHEM. viii. 8.) Read in the Book, in the Law