in time of divine service; and that the minister and kin session appoint some other way of receiving the same. Act Sess. 48, Aug. 11.

1696. That no minister, kirk-session, or elder, give 1 commendations for charity to any without the bounds their own parishes; nor presbyteries without the boun of their presbyteries; nor provincial synods without the bounds: And that any recommendations so to be give within their respective bounds shall be for a definite tim -Act 19.

1710. It is enacted and declared, That in all time ther after, no petitions for charity shall be transmitted to, nc regarded by the Assembly, unless the petitioners produc therewith ample testimonials as to their life and conver sation; and recommendations from the synod, or presby tery of the bounds where they reside, bearing such person to be truly objects of charity.-Act 8.

1711. Recommended to presbyteries to apply to the justices of the peace, and other magistrates, to put ir execution the laws respecting the poor, and vagrant beg. gars, and to provide work and maintenance for them.

Act 11.

1724. Recommended to ministers, kirk-sessions, presbyteries, and synods, to take effectual care, and use all due means, to get every parish to maintain its own poor; and make application to sheriffs, justices of the peace, commissioners of supply, and heritors in their respective bounds, and to magistrates of burghs, that the laws against vagrant and sturdy beggars be put in vigorous execution : And farther enjoined on synods, presbyteries, kirk-sessions, and ministers, strictly to observe Act 19, Ass. 1696.-Act 7.

1728. Recommended, That a public contribution, through all the parishes of Scotland, for advancing an infirmary or hospital in Edinburgh, for the relief of the sick and wounded poor, be made upon such Lord's days as presbyteries and ministers shall think most proper: And all well disposed persons are exhorted to lay to heart the case of the poor and distressed, and, according to their ability, to contribute to their relief, by encouraging that necessary and charitable design; and ministers are to en

e the same with suitable exhortations; and it is apinted, that the money collected in the several parishes put into the hands of the moderators of the several sbyteries, and by them transmitted to Edinburgh.16.

1731. This recommendation is renewed in Act 7.

1771. Appointed, That in all collections thereafter made the act and recommendation of Assembly 1763, the ethren or presbytery, when they remit the money colected in obedience thereto, to the person named in the et for receiving it, shall transmit at the same time, an tract account of the several sums of money so remitted to the clerks of Assemblies, who shall keep a book for entolling these remittanees, that the church may have thereby an opportunity of knowing the just amount of the several collections made in obedience to the acts of Assemblies.-Act 9.

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

1708. A committee is named to receive reports from presbyteries of the advances made in the subscriptions for propagating Christian knowledge; and take notice how Acts 5, 8, Ass. 1707, have been obeyed; and synods and presbyteries are enjoined to see to the punctual execution of these two acts, and to insert an account of their diligence in their books. Acts 5, 6.-(Nota. These acts are inserted after the index of the other acts of that Assembly.)

1709. All the people of this church are earnestly exhorted to contribute their best endeavours, in their stations, to promote the design of propagating the knowledge of Christ in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and in foreign parts of the world, and particularly, to give part of their substance that way; and a method is laid down for collecting subscriptions for, and contributions of money towards that design; and the commission is empowered to promote the same.—Act 6.

1710. The exact observation of the above Act 6, Ass. 1709, is enjoined where the same is not yet done, and

presbyteries are appointed to see the same done, an return to the secretary of the Society for Propagat Christian Knowledge a report of their diligence; and i recommended to the several synods concerned in Highlands and Islands, to inquire what parishes in th bounds want schools, what parishes need more scho than one, and how many they need; what is the ext of these parishes in length and breadth: As also, w ministers have more churches or places of worship th one, and whether these churches stand in different isla or not; and if there be a school for every kirk or islan or any persons in these places to teach children to rea or any catechists: As also in what places popery abour most, and where catechists will be needful: And sync are appointed to send an impartial and true account the above particulars to the secretary of the said societ subscribed by their moderator and clerk, that the said s ciety may have the whole matter before them, in ord to the disposing of the annual rents of their stock whe it is most needful; and all ministers, and other charitab persons, are seriously exhorted to put their contribution into the hands of the treasurer to the society. And tha there may be the greater plenty of fit instruments to b employed in the design of propagating Christian know ledge, the Assembly did again appoint the one half of th whole bursaries of all the presbyteries in Scotland, to b bestowed on hopeful and pious students, having the Irish language, for the space of four years, according to the teno of Act 10, Ass. 1710. And the several synods are en joined to see all the foresaid appointments put in due execution, and that they report an account of their diligence herein to the Assembly from time to time, and to the commissions of this and subsequent Assemblies: And likewise, the whole synods and presbyteries within this church are ordained to give all due encouragement, countenance, and assistance to the said society, and those employed by them, as they shall be orderly applied to for that effect, from time to time.Act 11.

1712. Upon a long representation from the committee of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, giving a distinct account of the diligence of that society, in pro

ation of the ends of their erection, and the progress ey had made in their work, and of the things that hinred the further advancement thereof, the Assembly resformer recommendations to the several synods, presteries, sessions, ministers, and charitable persons, desirg that the judicatures above mentioned would follow e method prescribed by Act 6, Ass. 1709, and Act 11, s. 1710, in furthering subscriptions and contributions, ad report to the society; and the several presbyteries are trictly enjoined to report to their synods a distinct acount of what they have done at any time before this, or hat they shall hereafter do, in order to forward that pious ndertaking, and that in the method prescribed by the aid two acts; particularly, presbyteries are appointed gain to require an account of the diligence of all the ministers within their bounds in this matter, and to record their reports in their books; and the several synods are ordained to take a particular account of the diligence of their respective presbyteries, and record it in their synod books; and the several presbyteries and synods are appointed to send a full and distinct report of their diligence in this matter, subscribed by their moderator and clerk, in manner prescribed by the said two acts, to the commission: And the commission are appointed to give in a list of such presbyteries and synods as shall omit to send in their accounts to the Assembly; and persons of all ranks and degrees are earnestly exhorted, according to their abilities, to contribute to the advancement of this Christian undertaking.-Act 5.

1713. The Assembly commend the diligence of the Sociey for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and their commitee. They recommend to all ministers and elders, and charitable persons, to concur in that work; and again renew the acts and recommendations of preceding Assemblies to synods, presbyteries, and particular ministers, for furthering subscriptions and contributions; and appoint presbyteries to call for an account of the diligence of ministers and sessions in this matter, at their privy censures

parochial visitations, and record their reports in their presbytery books; and synods are ordained, at their privy

censures, to take a particular account of the diligence their presbyteries, and record the reports of presbyter in their books; and synods and presbyteries to send a port of their diligence herein, subscribed by their mo rator and clerk, to the commission: And the commissi is instructed to call for the foresaid accounts, and see the observation of this and former recommendations; a lay before the Assembly an account of such synods a presbyteries as shall neglect to send in to them reports their diligence in this matter.-Act 5.

1714. Upon a representation from the committee of th society, giving an account of their procedure, the e tent of their stock, the number of schools erected by then and the success and progress of the said schools; and r presenting the defects of some ministers, in their way collecting for the society; the Assembly renews forme recommendations in their favours; and farther recommend to presbyteries to look for persons qualified for servin the society as schoolmasters; and to send an account o them, with certificates in their favours, to the society o their committee: And a committee is appointed to mee with the said committee of the society, and advise jointly what further may be done for the society's benefit, and by the society, for fully satisfying all persons of the fairness and exactness of their management; upon whose report the Assembly found the said society as well secured against the danger of future events as any society can be ; and they empowered their commission to appoint public intimations to be made in all the churches of an additional representation of the further progress and success of the society, which the committee of the society were preparing.-Act 13.

1715. Upon the petition of the committee of the society, the Assembly recommends a public collection at all the church-doors in Scotland, upon such days as the several presbyteries and magistrates of burghs shall think fit, for buying books to the society's scholars, and settling more schools; and former recommendations in favours of the society are renewed; and the same are appointed to