A Ratification of the Five Articles of the General Assembly of the
Kirk, halden at Perth in the Moneth of August 1618.
4th August 1621.
Our Soveraigne Lord, with the advice and consent of the Estates of
Parliament presently conveened, ratifies and approves the acts of the
General Assembly of the Kirk, halden at Perth the xxv. day of August,
the year of God 1618, and concluded the twenty-seventh of the same
moneth, _Sessione secunda_. Whereof the tenour followeth.
1. Since we are commanded by God himselfe, that when we come to
worship him, we fall down and kneele before the Lord our Maker, and
considering with all, that there is no part of Divine worship more
heavenly and spiritual, then is the holy receiving of the blessed
body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Lyke as the
most humble and reverend gesture of the body in our meditation and
lifting up of our hearts, best becometh so divine and sacred an
action. Therefore, notwithstanding that our Kirk hath used since
the Reformation of religion, to celebrate the holy communion to the
people sitting, by reason of the great abuse of kneeling used in
the idolatrous worship of the sacrament by the Papists: Yet now,
seeing all memory of by-past superstition is past, In reverence of
God, and in due regard of so divine a mystery, and in remembrance
of so mystical ane union, as we are made partakers of: The Assembly
thinketh good, that that blessed sacrament be celebrated hereafter
meekly and reverently upon their knees.
2. _Item_, If any good Christian visited with long sickness, and
knowne to the pastor; by reason of his present infirmity, unable
to resort to the Kirke, for receiving of the holy communion, or
being sick, shall declare to the pastor upon his conscience, that
he thinkes his sickness to be deadly, and shall earnestly desire
to receive the same in his house: The minister shall not deny to
him so great a comfort, lawful warning being given to him upon the
night before, and that there be three or foure of good religion and
conversation, free of lawful impediments, present with the sick
person to communicate with him, who must also provide a convenient
place in his house; and all things necessary for the reverend
administration thereof, according to the order prescrived in the
Kirke.
3. _Item_, The minister shall often admonish the people, that they
defer not the baptising of infants, any longer then the next Lord’s
day after the child be borne, unlesse upon a great and reasonable
cause declared to the minister, and by him approved. As also they
shall warne them, that without great cause they procure not their
children to be baptized at home in their houses, but when great need
shall compell them to baptize in privat houses, (in which case,
the minister shall not refuse to do it, upon the knowledge of the
great need, and being timely required thereto,) then baptisme shall
be administred after the same forme as it should have been in the
congregation. And the minister shall the next Lordes day after any
such private baptisme, declare in the Kirke, that the infant was
so baptized, and therefore ought to be received as one of the true
flocke of Christ’s folde.
4. _Item_, Forasmuch as one of the most special meanes for staying
the increase of Poperie, and settling of true religion in the hearts
of the people, is, That a special care be taken in tryal 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 yeares, drink
in the knowledge of God and his religion, but is now altogether
neglected in respect of great abuse and errours which crept into
the Popish Kirk, by making thereof a sacrament of confirmation:
Therefore, that all superstitions built thereupon may be rescinded,
and that the matter it selfe being most necessary for the education
of the youth, may be reduced to the primitive integrity.
It is thought good that the minister in every parish shall catechize
all young children of eight yeares of age, and see that they have
the knowledge, and be able to make rehearsal of the Lord’s Prayer,
Belief, and Ten Commandments, with answers to the questions of the
small Catechisme used in our kirke: And that every bishop in his
visitation shall censure the minister who shall be found remiss
therein, and the saides bishopes shall cause the saides children
to be presented before them, and blesse them with prayer for the
increase of their knowledge, and continuance of God’s heavenly graces
with every one of them.
5. _Item_, As wee abhorre the superstitious observation of festival
dayes by the Papists, and detest all licentious and profane abuse
thereof, by the common sort of professors; So we think, that the
inestimable benefites receaved from God, by our Lord Jesus Christ,
his birth, passion, resurrection, ascension, and sending down of
the Holy Ghost, was commendably and godly remembered, at certain
particular dayes and times by the whole kirk of the world; and may
be also now. Therefore the Assembly ordaines, that every minister
shall upon these dayes have the commemoration of the foresaids
inestimable benefits, and make choice of several and pertinent texts
of Scripture, and frame their doctrine and exhortations thereto;
and rebuke all superstitious observation and licentious profanation
thereof.
Which articles and ordinances, Our Soveraigne Lord, with advice
and consent of the Estates, statutes and ordaines to be obeyed and
observed by all his Majesties subjects as lawes in time comming;
Annulling and rescinding whatsomever other acts of Parliament,
constitutions and customes, in so farre as they are derogative to any
of the articles above-written.