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temporal Lands, Annuals, and fuch like, may be referved unto the ancient Patrons, to difpone hereupon, when they vaike, to Scholars and Burfars, as they are required by Act of Parliament.

As for the Kirk-rents in general, we defire that Order be admitted and maintained amongst us, that may ftand with the Sincerity of God's Word, and Practice of the Kirk of Chrift;

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To wit, That, as was before spoken, The whole Rent and Patrimony of the Kirk, excepting the fmall Patronages before-mentioned, may be divided in four Portions, one thereof to be affigned to the Paftor for his Entertainment and Hospitality; another to the Elders, Deacons, and other Officers of the Kirk, fuch as Clerks of Affemblies, Takers up of the Pfalms, Bedals and Keepers of the Kirk, fo far as is neceffary, joining with them alfo the Doctors and Schools, to help the ancient Foundations, where Need requires: The third Portion to be bestowed upon the poor Members of the Faithful, and on Hofpitals: The fourth for Reparation of the Kirks, and other extraordinary Charges, as are profitable for the Kirk; and alfo for the Common-wealth, if need require.

We defire therefore the Ecclefiaftical Goods to be uplifted, and diftributed faithfully to whom they appertain; and that by the Miniftry of the Deacons, to whose Office properly the Collection and Diftribution thereof belongs; that the Poor may be answered of their Portion thereof, and they of the Miniftry live without Care and Solicitude; as alfo, the reft of the Treasure of the Kirk may be referved, and beftowed to their right Ufes.

If thefe Deacons be elected with fuch Qualities as God's Word craves to be in them, there is no Fear that they fhall abufe themfelves in their Office, as the profane Collectors did before.

Yet, because this Vocation appeareth to many to be dangerous, let them be obliged, as they were of old, to give a yearly Account to the Paftors and Elderfhip; and,

if the Kirk and Prince think expedient, let Cautioners be obliged for their Fidelity, that the Kirk-rents nowife be dilapidate,

And, to the Effect this Order may take Place, it is to be provided, that all other Intromitters with the Kirkrent, Collectors general or fpecial, whether it be by Appointment of the Prince, or otherwise, may be denuded of further Intromiffion therewith, and fuffer the Kirk-rents, in Time coming, to be wholly intromitted with by the Miniftry of the Deacons, and diftribute to the Ufe before-mentioned.

And also, to the Effect that the Ecclefiaftical Rents may fuffice to thefe Ufes for the which they are to be appointed, we think it neceffary to be desired, that all Alienations, fetting of Feus, or Tacks of the Rents of the Kirk, as well Lands as Tiends, in Hurt and Diminution of the old Rentals, be reduced and annulled, and the Patrimony of the Kirk restored to the former old Liberty.

And likewife, that in Times coming the Tiends be fet to none but to the Labourers of the Ground, or else not fet at all; as was agreed upon, and subscribed by the Nobility before.

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The Utility that ball flow from this Reformation to all Eftates.

Eeing the End of this fpiritual Government and Policy, whereof we fpeak, is, that God may be glo fied, the Kingdom of Jefus Chrift advanced, and all, who are of his myftical Body, may live peaceably in Confcience; therefore we dare boldly affirm, that all thofe who have true Refpect to thefe Ends, will, for Confcience Caufe, gladly agree and conform themfelves to this Order, and advance the fame, fo far as lieth in them, that their Confcience being fet at Reft, they may be replenish'd with fpiritual Gladness, in

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giving full Obedience to that which God's Word, and the Teftimony of their own Confcience, do crave; and in refufing all Corruption contrary to the fame.

Next, We fhall become an Example and Pattern of good and godly Order to other Nations, Countries and Kirks, profeffing the fame Religion with us; That as they have glorified God, in our continuing in the Sincerity of the Word hereto, without any Errors (Praise to his Name ;) So they may have the like Occafion in our Converfation, when as we conform ourselves to that Difcipline, Policy and good Order, which the fame Word, and Purity of Reformation crave at our Hands. Otherwife that fearful Sentence may be justly said to us, The Servant knowing the Will of his Master, and not 'doing it, &c.'

Moreover, if we have any Pity or Respect to the poor Members of Jefus Chrift who fo greatly increase and multiply amongst us, we will not fuffer them to be longer defrauded of that Part of the Patrimony of the Kirk, which justly belongs unto them: And by this Order, if it be duly put to Execution, the Burden of them fhall be taken off us, to our great Comfort; the Streets fhall be cleaned of the Cryings and Murmurings of them, fo as we shall no more be any Scandal to other Nations, as we have hitherto been, for not taking Order with the Poor amongst us, and caufing the Word which we profefs to be evil spoken of, giving Occafion of Slander to the Enemies, and offending the Confciences of the Simple and Godly.

Befides this, it shall be a great Ease and Commodity to the whole common People, in relieving them of the building and upholding their Kirks, in Building of, Bridges and other like publick Works; to the Labourers of the Ground, in Payment of their Tiends; and fhortly in all thefe Things whereunto they have been hitherto rigorously handled by them that were falfly called Kirk-men, their Tackfinen, Factors, Chamberlains and Extortioners.

Finally,

Finally, To the King's Majefty, and Common-wealth of the Country, this Profit fhall redound, that the other Affairs of the Kirk, being fufficiently provided, according to the Diftribution, of the which hath been Spoken, the Superplus, being collected in the Treasure of the Kirk, may be profitably employed, and liberally bestowed upon the extraordinary Support of the Affairs of the Prince and Common-wealth; and efpecially of that Part, which is appointed for Reparation of Kirks, So to conclude, all being willing to apply themselves to this Order, the People fuffering themselves to be ruled according thereto; the Prince and Magiftrates not being exeemed, and they that are placed in the Ecclefiaftical Eftate rightly ruling and governing; God fhall be glorified, the Kirk edified, and the Bounds thereof enlarged; Chrift Jefus and his Kingdom fet up; Satan and his Kingdom fubverted; and God fhall dwell in the Midft of us, to our Comfort, through Jefus Christ ; who, together with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, abides blessed in all Eternity, Amen.

Affembly at Edinburgh, 4 August 1590. Sess. 10.

FOR

NOR as much as it is certain, that the Word of God cannot be kept in its own Sincerity, without the holy Difcipline be had in Obfervance: It is therefore by Common Confent of the whole Brethren, and Com. miffioners prefent,, concluded, That whofoever hath born Office in the Miniftry of the Kirk within this Realm, or that presently bears, or shall hereafter bear Office herein, fhall be charged by every particular Prefbytery where their Refidence is, to fubfcrive the Heads of Discipline of the Kirk of this Realm, at Length fet down, and allowed by Act of the whole Affembly, in the Book of Policy, which is Registrate in the Affembly Books; and namely, the Heads, controverted by Enemies of the Difcipline of the reformed Kirk of this Realm betwixt and the next fynodal Affemblies of the Provinces, under the Pain of Excommunication, to be execu

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ted against the Non-fubfcribers; and the Prefbyteries which fhall be found remifs or negligent herein, to re ceive publick Rebuke of the whole Affembly: And to the Effect the faid Difcipline may be known, as it ought to be, to the whole Brethren, it is ordained, that the Moderator of each Prefbytery fhall receive, from the Clerk of the Affembly, a Copy of the faid Book under his Subscription, upon the Expences of the Prefbytery, betwixt and the firft Day of September next to come, under the Pain to be openly accused in Face of the whole Affembly.

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