The Minifters, defenders of the established order, required again, that none might have place to vote, but fuch as were authorized with lawfull Commiffion. But this order was not admitted: Yea, the Archbishop answered, that if all Scotland were present there, they should vote.

It was defired by fome, That the Articles might be feuerally voted, as many would agree to fome of them, who would not accept of all: But it was thought meetest to vote them in cumulo, because the denying of one would be to his Maieftie, as the denying of all.

The Archbishop took the roll of the names in his own hand from the Clerk. First, were called the Kings Commiffioners and the Affeffors; then the Noblemen, Bishops, and Barons; then the Doctors and Ministers; and laft of all the Burgeffes.

In end, by plurality of votes the fiue Articles were concluded.

1. Seing we are commanded by God himself, that when wee come to worship him, we fall doun and kneel before the Lord our Maker; and confiddering withall, that there is no part of divine worship more heavenly and spiritual, then is the holy receiving of the bleffed body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift; like as the most humble and reverend gefture of the body, in our meditation and lifting up of our hearts, best becometh so divine and facred an action: Therefor, notwithstanding that our Kirk hath used, fince the Reformation of Religion, to celebrate the holy Communion to the people fitting, by reafon of the great abuse of kneeling ufed in the idolatrous worship of the Sacrament by the Papifts: yet now feeing all memory of by past fuperftition is past; in reverence of God, and in due regard of fo divine a mystery, and in remembrance of fo mystical an union as we are made partakers of, the Affembly thinketh good, that that bleffed Sacrament be celebrat hereafter meekly and reverently upon their knees.

2. Item, If any good Christian vifited with long fickness, and known to the Paftor, by reafon of his prefent infirmity, unable to refort to the Kirk for receiving of the holy Communion; or being fick fhall declare to the Paftor upon his confcience, that he thinks his fickness to be deadly, and shall earnestly defire to receive the fame in his houfe, the Minifter fhall not deny to him fo great a comfort, lawfull warning being given to him the night before; and that there be three or four of good religion and converfation, free of lawfull impediments, prefent with the fick perfon, to com

municat with him; who muft alfo provide a convenient place in his house, and all things neceffary for the reverend adminiftration thereof, according to the order prescribed in the Kirk.

3. Item the Minifter fhall often admonish the people, that they deferr not the baptizing of infants any longer then the next Lords day after the child be borne, unless upon a great and reasonable caufe declared to the Minifter, and by him approved: As alfo they fhall warn them, that without great cause they procure not their children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when great need fhall compell them to baptize in privat houses, (in which cafe the Minister shall not refufe to doe it, upon the knowledge of the great need, and being timely required thereto,) the baptifm fhall be miniftred after the fame forme, as it fhould have been in the congregation and the Minister shall the next Lords day after any fuch privat baptifm, declare in the Kirk, that the infant was baptized, and therefor ought to be received as one of the true flock of Chrifts fold.

4. Item, For as much as one of the moft fpecial means for ftaying the increase of Popery, and fettling of true Religion in the hearts of the people is, that a special care be taken of the trial of young children their education, and how they are catechized; which in time of the Primitive Kirk was most carefully attended, as being most profitable to cause young children, in their tender years, drink in the knowledge of God and his religion; but is now altogether neglected, in respect of the great abuse and errours which creept into the Popish Kirk, by making thereof a Sacrament of Confirmation: Therefor, that all fuperftitions builded thereupon may be refcinded, and that the matter itself being moft neceffary for the education of the youth, may be reduced to the primitive integrity, it is thought good, that the Minister in every paroch fhall catechize all young children of eight years of age, and fee that they have the knowledge, and be able to make rehearsal of the Lords Prayer, the Belief, and ten Commandments, with answers to the queftions of the fmall Catechifm used in our Kirk: And that every Bishop in his vifitation fhall cenfure the Minifter, who shall be found remifs therein; and the faid Bishops fhall cause the faid children to be presented before them, and bless them with prayer for increase of their knowledge, and continuance of Gods heavenly graces with every one of them.

5. Item, As we abhor the fuperftitious obfervation of Festivall dayes by the Papifts, and deteft all licentious and profane abuse thereof by the com

mon fort of profeffors; fo we think, that the ineftimable benefits, receivit from God by our Lord Jefus Chrift his Birth, Paffion, Refurrection, Afcenfion, and Sending down of the Holy Ghoft, were commendably and godly remembered at certain particular dayes and times, by the whole Kirk of the world, and may be alfo now: Therefor the Affembly ordains, that every Minister fhall upon thefe dayes have the commemoration of the foresaid ineftimable benefits; and make choife of feveral and pertinent texts of Scripture, and frame their doctrine and exhortation thereto; and rebuke all fuperftitious obfervation and licentious profanation thereof.

The Bishop proponed an Act to be made, that all Minifters at their admiffion fhould fwear, that they have made no privat paction for diminution of the ftipends, modified be the Commiflioners appointed be the Parliament.

Item, A ratification of the Catechifm allowed at Aberdeen, and printed fince with Priviledge.

Item, That every Minifter have care, that the Act against beggers be obferved in their parishes.

Item, That Mr William Scot and Mr Alexander Henderson be tranfported to Edinburgh.

INDEX.