The General Assembly Appoints _Monday_ next, betwixt Eight and Twelve a
Clock in the Forenoon, to be set a part for Prayer, by the Members of this
Assembly: And Recommends to all the Members, to meet in the Assembly-House
for that end, at Eight a Clock in the Morning.
Edinburgh _25th._ October 1690. _Ante Meridiem._ Sess. 9.
V. _The proceedings of the Assembly, anent Mr._ Thomas Lining _and
Others._
The General Assembly, having received a Report, from the Committee of
Overtures, anent two Papers given in to the said Committee, and Subscribed
by Mr. _Thomas Lining_, Mr. _Alexander Shields_ and Mr. _William Boyd_,
who had followed some Courses contrary to the Order of this Church;
whereby, “The said Committee out of their ardent Desire of Union in the
Church, Recommend to the Assembly, the Reading of the Shorter of these two
Papers: In which the fore-named Persons Oblige themselves after the
exhibiting of the larger Paper (which they offer, as they profess, for the
Exoneration of their Consciences) and laying it down at the Assemblies
feet, to be Disposed upon as the Assembly should think fit: That they
shall in all required Submission, subject Themselves, their Lives and
Doctrine, to the Cognizance of the Respective Judicatories of this Church,
and equally to Oppose Schism and Defection, in any Capacity, that they
should be capable of. But the said Committee, Judgeth, the Reading of the
larger of the saids two Papers, in full Assembly, to be Inconvenient: In
regard, That though there be several good Things in it, yet the same doth
also contain, several Peremptory and gross Mistakes, Unseasonable and
Impracticable Proposals, and Uncharitable and Injurious Reflections,
tending rather to kindle Contentions, than to compose Divisions:
Nevertheless, the said Committee, gives it as their Opinion, That the
foresaid Offer of the above named Persons their Subjection and Obedience,
to the Authority of this Church, in her Respective Judicatories, contained
in the said Shorter Paper; should be Entertained and Accepted of, by the
Assembly, and they Received into Communion with this Church, according to
their several Capacities.”
Likeas the above named persons, having Compeared, in presence of the
Assembly, and Judicially Owned and Adhered unto their said Shorter Paper:
And the Assembly having heard the above-written Report, of the Committee
of Overtures concerning both the saids Papers; As also the said shorter
Paper, Read in their Presence; The General Assembly, after mature
Deliberation, did Unanimously, and without a contrary Vote, Approve the
above written Report and Opinion of the Committee of Overtures, in the
hail Heads thereof. Which being Intimate to the fore-named Persons, they
Acquiesced thereto. Upon all which the following Act was made.