in whose bounds the university at which they have stu died is situate, either at the end of the last session of their course of philosophy, or immediately before the com mencement of their first session in divinity.-Sess. ult. May 28. (Renewed in 1833, 1834, and 1835.)

The General Assembly, on the report of the committee on Theological Teaching, agree to transmit to presbyteries the overtures relating to attendance on the classes of Church History and Hebrew, and convert the said overtures into interim acts; it being understood that neither of them shall be applicable to such students of divinity as, before this date, have completed the period of regular attendance required by the Acts of Assembly heretofore in force. OVERTURE I.-It is overtured, That, with consent of the presbyteries of this church, it be enacted, that every student of divinity shall, on application to be taken on trials before any presbytery, produce a certificate or certificates of having regularly attended the class of Church History during two of the sessions which he claims to be considered as sessions of regular attendance at the Divinity Hall, if such a class exist in the university or universities at which he has prosecuted his theological studies. OVERTURE II.—It is overtured, That, with the consent of the presbyteries of this church, every student of divinity shall henceforth attend the Hebrew class in one or other of the universities during two of the sessions which he claims as sessions of regular attendance at the Divinity Hall; and that the certificate of such attendance shall in every case be required by presbyteries before receiving any student of divinity on trials. Sess. ult. May

28.

The General Assembly, with consent of a majority of the presbyteries of this church, hereby enact and ordain,

I. That every student of divinity shall, on application to be taken on trials before any presbytery, produce a certificate or certificates of having regularly attended the class of Church History during two of the sessions which he claims to be considered as sessions of regular attendance at the Divinity Hall, if such a class exist in the university or universities at which he has prosecuted his theo

ogical studies. II. That every student of divinity shall enceforth attend the Hebrew class in one or other of the universities during two of the sessions which he claims o be considered as sessions of regular attendance at the Divinity Hall; and that the certificate or certificates of such attendance shall in every case be required by presbyteries before receiving students of divinity on trials; t being understood that a senior and junior class are aught by every Professor of Hebrew at separate hours.

1835. The General Assembly agree to transmit to resbyteries the following overture:-As nothing can be more important to the interests of the Christian Church han the adequate preparation of those who are to sustain the office of the sacred ministry, for the discharge of the duties of that office;-and as an exact and critical acquaintance with the Scriptures in the original languages is an attainment that is indispensable for enabling them, by the Divine blessing, to convey to the minds of the people a just and accurate knowledge of the revealed will of God ;-it is overtured, with the view of more effectually promoting the great end of the Christian ministry in our National Established Church, that a Critical Hebrew Exercise, on some portion of the original text of the Old Testament, be appointed to be prepared and delivered by every theological student, in the course of his attendance at the Divinity Hall, in addition to those exercises that are already prescribed by the church.-Sess. ult. June 1.

1835. The General Assembly transmit the following overture:-It is overtured, That whereas it is of primary importance to the interest of religion in the church, that those who are preparing for the office of the ministry should be in every respect well qualified for that office, and that the church should have every possible evidence of their being so, before they are licensed to preach the Gospel as probationers; and whereas it would evidently tend to promote these important objects to place them, as much as possible, during the whole period of their theological studies, under the superintendence of the presbyteries at whose hands they have the prospect of receiving licence; the General Assembly should enact and ordain,

with the consent of the presbyteries of the church, that every student of divinity be examined by the presbytery within whose bounds he resides, not only previous to his being first enrolled as a student of divinity, and again in certain cases, in the third year of his attendance at the Hall, but that he be examined every year; and that he be required to produce to the Professor of Divinity everysession of his attendance at the Hall, a certificate from the presbytery of his having been examined by them on the progress made by him in his studies, and of the presbytery's satisfaction with the same, as well as a certificate of his good moral character from the minister of the parish, before he can be enrolled.-Sess. ult. June 1.

1835. The General Assembly transmit the following overture:-Whereas it is of great importance, that all who are about to enter upon a course of study, with a view to the exercise of the holy ministry, should possess a good general knowledge of the truths of Scripture; and whereas the Act of Assembly 1827, by which students are appointed to be examined by their respective presbyteries, previous to their enrolment as students of divinity, merely specifies "literature, science, and philosophy, particularly Greek and Latin," as the subjects of examination; it is overtured, That, with consent of the presbyteries of the church, it be enacted, that all students, previous to their first enrolment at the Divinity Hall, shall likewise be examined by their respective presbyteries, upon their knowledge of the Christian religion, as it is exhibited in the catechetical standards of the church, and shall produce to the professors of divinity, under whom their studies are to be conducted, certificates from their presbyteries, bearing that they have passed such examination in a satisfactory manner.-Sess. ult. June 2.

SUPERSTITIOUS OBSERVANCES.

1638. Funeral sermons are discharged, as savouring of superstition.-Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 22.

1640. That idolatrous monuments be taken down, de

olished, and destroyed, with all convenient diligence; nd the care of that work is committed to presbyteries and rovincial assemblies within the kingdom; and that their ommissioners report their diligence therein to the Assemly.-Act Sess. 2, July 29.

1645. That whatsoever person or persons, after the late of this act, should be found guilty of keeping of Yule lay, and other superstitious days, be proceeded against by kirk censures, and shall make repentance therefor, in he face of the congregation where the offence is commited; and that presbyteries and provincial synods take paricular notice how ministers try and censure delinquents of this kind within the several parishes; and scholars or students, being found guilty, be severely disciplined and chastised therefor by their master; and in case the masers of schools or colleges be accessary to the said superstitious profanity, by their connivance, granting of liberty of vacancy to their scholars, at that time, or any time thereafter, in compensation thereof, that the masters be summoned by the minister of the place to compear before the next ensuing General Assembly, there to be censured according to their trespass; and if scholars, being guilty, refuse to subject themselves to correction, or be fugitives from discipline, that they be not received into any other schools or colleges within Scotland.-Act Sess. ult. Feb. 13.

SYNODS.

1638. The order of provincial assemblies or synods, as then given in by the most ancient of the ministry within every province, as the ancient platform thereof, ordained to be observed, conform to the roll registrated in the books of Assembly.-Sess. 23, 24, Dec. 17, 18, Art. 11.

ROLL OF PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIEs and presbyteRIES
IN EACH PROVINCE.

The Provincial Assemblies.

1. Of Merse and Teviotdale, containing the presby

teries of Dunse, Chirnside, Kelso, Earlston, Jedburgh Melrose. Within the bounds of Merse, Teviotdale, then Forest, Lauderdale.

2. Of Lothian, containing the presbyteries of Dunbar, Haddington, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, Peebles, Linlithgow -Bounds, East Lothian, Mid-Lothian, Tweeddale, West Lothian.

3. Of Perth, containing the presbyteries of Perth, Dun keld, Stirling, Auchterarder, Dumblain.- Bounds, sheriffdom of Perth, Stirlingshire.

4. Of Dumfries, containing the presbyteries of Dum fries, Penpont, Lochmaben, Middlebee.-Bounds, Niths dale, Annandale, Ewesdale, Wauchopdale, and a part of Galloway.

5. Of Galloway, containing the presbyteries of Wig ton, Kirkcudbright, Stranraer.-Bounds, sheriffdom of Wigton, stewartry of Kirkcudbright.

6. Of Air or Irvine, containing the presbyteries of Air, Irvine. Bounds, sheriffdom of Air.

7. Of Glasgow, containing the presbyteries of Paisley, Glasgow, Lanark, Dumbarton, Hamilton.-Bounds, shire of Lennox, barony of Renfrew, shire of Cliddesdale, Over and Nether.

8. Of Argyle, containing the presbyteries of Dunmoor, Kinloch, Sky, Inverary, Kilmoir.-Bounds, sheriffdoms of Argyle and Bute, with a part of Lochaber.

9. Of Fife, containing the presbyteries of St Andrews, Kirkaldie, Cupar, Dunfermling.—Bounds, sheriffdom of Fife.

10. Of Angus and Mearns, containing the presby teries of Aberbrothick, Meigle, Dundee, Forfar, Brechin, Mearns. Bounds, the sheriffdom of Forfar and Mearns.

11. Of Aberdeen, containing the presbyteries of Aberdeen, Kincardine, Alfoord, Deer, Ellon, Turreff, Fordice. -Bounds, the sheriffdom of Banff and Aberdeen.

12. Of Murray, containing the presbyteries of Inverness, Forres, Elgin, Strathbogie, Abernethy, Aberlour.Bounds, part of the sheriffdoms of Inverness, Nairn, Murray, Banff, and Aberdeen.

13. Of Ross, containing the presbyteries of Chanonrie,