mislead the minds of the less judicious into erroneous notions; and therefore all the ministers of the church are prohibited and discharged to use, by writing, printing, preaching, catechising, or otherwise teaching any of the positions contained in the representation and book, condemned as erroneous, under pain of the censures of the church, conform to the demerit of the offence. Ordained that presbyteries, synods, and commissions of the Assembly, take particular care that the premises be punctully observed by ministers and members of the church; particularly the presbyteries and synods within whose bounds any of the brethren who signed the representation reside. The desire that the above Act 5, Ass. 1720, be repealed, is refused, and appointed that the ministers who signed the representation, though deserving a higher censure, be only rebuked and admonished by the moderator, in hopes that the great lenity used towards them, shall engage them to a more dutiful behaviour in time coming. -Act 7.

1755. Recommended earnestly to ministers to exercise the vigilance, and to exert the zeal, which becomes their character, to preserve those under their charge from the contagion of those abominable principles of infidelity and immorality, which are openly avowed in books published of late in this country, and to stir up in them a solicitous concern to guard against them, and against the influence of those who are infected with them. -Act 4.

BOURIGNONISM.

1701. The writings that go under the name of Madame Antonia Bourignon, found to be freighted with impious, pernicious, and damnable doctrines: Such as, 1. Denying the permission of sin, and the infliction of damnation and vengeance for it. 2. Ascribing to Christ a twofold human nature, one of which was produced of Adam before the woman was formed, and the other born of the Virgin Mary. 3. Denying the decrees of election and reprobation, and loading these acts of grace and so

vereignty with a multitude of odious and blasphemous expressions, particularly wickedness, cruelty, and respect of persons. 4. Asserting that there is a good spirit and an evil spirit in the souls of all men before they are born. 5. Maintaining that the will of man is unlimited, and that there must be in man some infinite quality, whereby he may unite himself to God. 6. Denying the doctrine of divine prescience. 7. Asserting the sinful corruption. of Christ's human nature, and a rebellion in Christ's natural will to the will of God. And 8. Asserting a state of perfection in this life, and a state of purification in the life to come; that generation takes place in heaven; that there are no true christians in the world; and several other errors contained in the said book. And ratifying and confirming the sentence of suspension past by the commission of assembly 1700, against Dr. George Gardin in Aberdeen; and further, actually deposing him from the office of the ministry, and prohibiting and discharging him from exercising the same, or any part thereof, in all time coming, under the pain of the highest censures of the church, for his being led away by a spirit of error and very gross delusion, and infected with the foresaid impious, blasphemous and damnable errors.-Act 11.

1701. The book entitled an Apology for Madame Antonia Bourignon, of which the said Dr. George Garden is alleged to be the author, found to contain a mass of dangerous, impious, blasphemous, and damnable errors, and is therefore condemned unanimously; and 'tis seriously recommended to all synods and presbyteries within this national church, and particularly to the synods of Aberdeen and Perth, to advert to, and enquire anent the spreading of the said errors, and to use all effectual means for preventing the same, conform to the acts of former assemblies made against the spreading of errors, and particularly, Act Sess. 7, Ass. 1647. And it is recommended to the said judicatories, that in perusing the said book, and enquiring anent the spreading of the errors therein contained, any thing found to fall under Act 11, Sess. 5, Parl. 1695, or under any other acts of parliament made against blasphemy, be represented to his majesty's advo

cate, to the effect that the laws may be put in due execution.-Act 10."

1709. It is earnestly recommended to presbyteries to use all effectual means to prevent the spreading of the dangerous errors of Bourignonism, and other errors, as enjoined by the above Act 10, Ass. 1701, and other acts therein mentioned; and the commission is instructed to use all suitable endeavours for that purpose, and particularly, that care be taken to suppress the meetings of such as are tainted with these errors.-Act 12.

1710. All ministers, in whose parishes the gross errors and heresies going under the name of Bourignonism, abound, are appointed to preach most particularly and faithfully against the same; and all presbyteries, in whose bounds the same prevail, shall oblige all schoolmasters, teachers, governors of youth, and chaplains, within their province, to subscribe the confession of faith, as the confession of their faith; and if any of the foresaid persons refuse to do the same, the presbytery shall thereupon declare them incapable of such offices, and apply to the heritors and heads of families concerned, in order to their discharging the said persons from the said offices; and in case of their refusal to comply therewith, that the presbytery send up the names of the foresaid persons refusing to sign the confession of faith, to the commission of assembly, with the names of the parishes and families in which they reside, that the commission may proceed against all such, as they see cause: And all presbyteries, in whose bounds there are any society of Bourignonists, avowedly professing these principles, and dispersing books containing the same, are ordained to send to the commission an exact and full account of the particular leading persons of the said societies, together with the names and errors of the books they are dispersing; and the commission is enjoined to take the most effectual measures for suppressing the same; and instructed to apply to the government, for hindering incorrect, false, and spurious translations of the Bible, to be spread abroad. And it is recommended to the professors of divinity within this church, to make a full collection of the errors of Antonia

Bourignon, and of such other errors as reflect upon the nature, person, and offices of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, to write a confutation of the same,Act 9.

BURSARS.

1641. Enacted, That every presbytery consisting of twelve ministers shall maintain a bursar of divinity; and where the number is fewer than twelve, they shall be joined with those out of another presbytery, whose number exceeds: When this course is not already kept, that it be begun without delay; and every provincial synod is ordained to give an account of the number of bursars constantly entertained by their province, to the next ensuing Assembly.-Act Sess. 15, Aug. 7, Art. 1..

1643. Enacted, That young students that have the Irish language be trained up at colleges in letters, especially in the study of divinity: And to this effect, it is recommended to presbyteries and universities to prefer to bursaries hopeful students having that language, that they, by their studies, in process of time attaining to knowledge, and being enabled for the ministry, may be sent forth to preach the gospel in these Highland parts, as occasion shall require.-Act Sess. 13, Aug. 16.

1644. Presbyteries are ordained to put the foresaid overture for maintaining bursars in practice, with all diligence; and to make account thereof to the next Assembly.-Act Sess. 7, June 4.

1645. Enacted, 1. That every bursar of theology have yearly paid him for his maintenance, £100 Scots, at least. 2. That the said maintenance be taken forth of the kirk penalties, according to the design of the first act for maintaining bursars. 3. That every presbytery consisting of twelve kirks in number, maintain a bursar yearly at the university. - 4. That when presbyteries are fewer in number, that they join with other presbyteries to make up that number, and the superplus of the number to be ordered and disposed of by the presbyteries and synods; and that their books bear records thereof. 5. That the

kirks of these presbyteries be proportionally stented, according to the communicants in each parish. 6. That the maintenance be collected by the moderator of every presbytery, by equally divided portions; the one half to be brought to the winter synod, and the other half to the summer synod, to be sent to the bursars; and that the several synods take an exact account thereof, and see that all be rightly done, and that their books bear the report thereof to the General Assembly. 7. That the time of bursars' abode at the schools of divinity exceed not four years, which being expired, or in case before the expiring of the said time, any be removed either by death, or by some calling to a particular charge, another be presented to the said benefice. 8. That in case any prove deficient in payment of the said maintenance for the time to come, that it shall be carefully exacted by the synods, and sent over to the General Assembly, to be disposed of by them, as they shall find expedient, so that no person may have benefit from their slackness and neglect. 9. That all bursars of theology bring sufficient testimonials yearly from the universities where they are bred, of their proficiency and good behaviour; and that they be also ready to give proof of their labours to the several synods, if it shall be required; and if they be found deficient, that they be denuded of the said benefice, and others more hopeful placed in their room; and presbyteries who have not already done it, are appointed to begin and enter upon the maintaining of their bursars, in manner foresaid, in the year 1645. And it is recommended to presbyteries, to make choice of such for the burse, as are of good report, inclined to learning, and have passed their course of philosophy, and to try their qualifications before they send them to universities.-Act Sess. 14. Feb. 7.

1647. The foresaid overtures concerning the providing of bursars for divinity, are recommended to presbyteries and synods; and they are appointed to report their diligence to the next Assembly.-Act Sess. 28. Aug. ult.

1648. Synods are ordained to crave accounts from presbyteries, at every provincial meeting, how they have