ENORMITIES.
The first and main sin, reaching both to our personall carriage and callings, we judge to be, Not studying how to keep Communion and Fellowship with G.o.d in Christ, but walking in a naturall way without imploying of Christ, or drawing vertue from him, to inable us unto sanctification, and Preaching in spirit and power.
_In our Lives._
1. Much fruitlesse conversing in companie, and complying with the sins of all sorts, not behaving our selves as becomes the men of G.o.d.
2. Great worldlinesse is to be found amongst us, minding and speaking most about things of this life, being busied about many things, but forgetting the main.
3. Slighting of G.o.ds worship in their families, and therefore no cordiall urging of it upon others: yea, altogether a wanting of it in some, if it be credible.
4. Want of gravity in carriage and apparell, dissolutenesse in haire, and shaking about the knees, lightnesse in the apparrell of their wives and children.
5. Tippling and bearing companie in untimous drinking inn Tavernes and Ale houses, or any where else, whereby the Ministerie is made vile and contemptible.
6. Discountenancing of the G.o.dly; speaking ill of them, because of some that are unanswerable to their profession.
7. The Sabbath not sanctified after Sermons, which maketh people think that the Sabbath is ended with the Sermon.
8. There are also to be found amongst us, who use small and minced oaths.
9. Some so great strangers to Scripture, that except in their publike Ministerie, though they read many things, yet they are little conversant in the Scripture, and in meditation thereof. A dutie inc.u.mbent to all the people of G.o.d.
_In our Callings._
1. Corrupt entry into the Ministrie in former times, and following the course of defection, though forsaken, yet never seriously repented: as also present entring into the Ministery, as to a way of living in the world, and not as to a spirituall calling.
2. Helping in, and holding in of insufficient and suspected men, who favour the things of this life and keeping the door straiter on them whom G.o.d hath sealed, then upon these who have lesse evidence of the power of grace and holinesse.
3. Partiality in favouring, and speaking for the scandalous, whether Ministers or other persons, teaching them how to shift and delay censures.
4. Silence in the publike cause, not labouring to cure the disaffection of people, not urging them to constancie and patience in bearing of publike burdens, nor to forwardnesse in the publike Cause; whereby Malignants are multiplied: yea some are so grosse herein, that even in publike Fasts little or nothing is to be heard from them sounding this way.
5. Some account it a point of wisdome to speak ambiguously: some incline to justifie the wicked cause, uttering words which favour of disaffection: and all their complaining of the times, is in such a way as may steal the hearts of people from liking of good Instruments in this work, and consequently from G.o.ds Cause: yea, some reading publike Orders, are ready to speak against them in their private conferences.
6. Idlenesse, either in seldome Preaching, as once on The Lords day, or in preparation for publike duties, not being given to reading and meditation: others have but fits of paines, not like other Tradesmen continually at their work.
7. Want of zeal, and love to the conversion of souls, not being weighted with the want of successe in reclaiming of sinners, nor searching in themselves the cause of not profiting, preaching _ex officio_; nor _ex conscientia officii_.
8. Self-seeking in preaching, and a venting rather of their wit and skill, then a Shewing foorth of the wisdome and power of G.o.d.
9. Lifelesnesse in preaching, not studying to be furnished by Christ with power; and so the ordinance of G.o.d teacheth not to the conscience: and thereto belongeth the not applying of the doctrine unto the auditory and times.
10. The indiscreet curing of the indiscretion of pious people and Ministers, whereby G.o.dlinesse hath gotten a deep wound, and profanitie hath lifted up the head, contrary to that wise and gracious order set foorth in the Generall a.s.sembly holden at _Edinburgh_, 1641.
11. Little care to furnish our Armie, either abroad or at home with Ministers; One of our grievous sins and causes of our calamity.
12. Last, it is to be feared that Ministers in secret are negligent to wrestle in Prayer, for a blessing to be poured out upon their labours, contenting themselves with their publike performances.
_Remedies._
1. First, That Presbyteries make great conscience to have all vacant places within their several bounds filled with G.o.dly and able men, where ever they be to be found: and that under pretence of being a helper, or second to another, none be taken in, but such as are able for the same charge.
2. Whereas it is known, that private tryall in Presbyteries are for the most part perfunctorious, the Brethren are hereby exhorted to be more serious, and faithfull herein, as they will be answerable to Christ, the Chief Shepherd: and in a way previous thereto, that Brethren be free, in loving admonition one of another secretly, from time to time; and that whosoever keeps not the Presbyterie or Synod, after grave admonitions may come under further censures.
3. That accuracie be used as visitation of Kirks, and that the Elders one by one (the rest being removed) be called in, and examined upon oath upon the Ministers behaviour in his calling and conversation.
4. That course be taken to divide Congregations in parts, and by the help not only of Elders in their severall parts, but of neighbors also, the evils, and neglect of persons and families, may be found out and remedied.
5. That every Minister be humbled for his former failings, and make his peace with G.o.d, that the more effectually he may preach repentance, and may stand in the gap, to turne away the Lords wrath: runing between the Porch and the Altar, fighing and crying for all the abominations of the land.
6. Speciall care would be had, that Ministers have their conversation in heaven, mainly minding the things of G.o.d, and exercising faith for drawing life out of Jesus Christ the fountain of life, arming themselves thereby with power against the contagion and wickednesse of the world.
7. Care would be had of G.o.dly conference in Presbyteries, even in time of their refreshment, and the Moderator is to look to it, that good matter be furnished thereto.
8. It is also very necessary for every Minister that would be fruitfull in the work of the Lord, to bring home the Word of G.o.d to his own heart and conscience, by Prayer and Meditation, both before and after the publike ordinance.
9. Use would be made of the roll of the Parish, not onely for examination, but also for considering the severall conditions and dispositions of the people, that accordingly they may be admonished, and particularly prayed for by the Ministers in secret.
10. It is very expedient that Ministers have more communion among themselves for their mutuall stirring up, and strengthening of their hands in the Lords work, and rectifying of these who are not incorrigible.
11. That Ministers in all sorts of companie labour to bee fruitfull, as the Salt of the earth, seasoning them they meet with, not only forbearing to drink healths (Satans snare, leading to excesse) but reproving it in others.
12. All Ministers would be carefull to cherish the smoaking flax of weak beginnings in the wayes of G.o.d, and ought couragiously to oppose all mockers and revilers of the G.o.dly.
13. As at all times, so specially now when the Lord is calling us all to an account; it becomes the Ministers of Christ, with all diligence and faithfulnesse, to improve their Ministerie to the utmost, to be instant in season and out of season; yea, even singally to imploy their time in private, in reading of, and meditating on Scripture, that the word of G.o.d may dwell plentifullie in them.
14. That the providing the Armies with Ministers be preferred to any congregation, and these who are appointed to attend the same, and are deficient, be without delay severelie censured according to the Act of the General a.s.sembly; And that all Ministers not only in publike, pray for our Armies, specially these that are to incounter with the b.l.o.o.d.y enemie within the land, but also continually bear them up before the Lord, that their lives being reformed, their hearts and hands may be strengthned, and their undertaking at last blessed of G.o.d; with successe.
15. That beside all other scandals, silence or ambiguous speaking in the publike cause, much more detracting and disaffected speaches be seasonablie censured; and to this effect, all honest hearted Brethren would firmlie unite themselves in the Lord, the younger honouring the elder, and the elder not despising the younger.
16. And finallie, both for the corruption of the Ministerie and remedies thereof, we refer the brethren to the Act of the Generall a.s.semblie at _Edinburgh_ 1596. revived in the late a.s.semblie at _Glasgow_ 1638. to bee found in the printed Act concerning the same.
_The Generall a.s.sembly Ordains the Enormities above specified to be tryed and restrained, and that the Remedies thereof for that purpose be seriously observed and practised: Recommending especially to Presbyteries and Provinciall a.s.semblies, that use be made of the same in visitation of Kirks and tryall of Presbyteries._
_Commission of the Approbation of the proceedings of the preceding a.s.sembly._
The General a.s.sembly having heard the report of the Committee appointed to consider and examine the proceedings of the Commissioners of the late General a.s.sembly holden at _Edinburgh_ in the yeer 1646. And after serious consideration thereof, finding that the whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the saids Commissioners, contained in the Register subscribed by Mr _Andrew Ker_ their Klerk, and by Mr _Robert Ramsay_ Moderator to the said Committee, do declare much Wisdom, Diligence, Vigilancie, and commendable Zeal; And that the said Commissioners have orderly and formally proceeded in every thing, according to their Commission: Do therefore ratifie and approve the said whole Acts, Proceedings, and Conclusions of the Commissioners of the said a.s.sembly.
_15. Junii 1646. Postmeridiem._ Sess. 11.