ioun of the Generall Assemblie, upone the 25 day of June 1650
did emit ane seasonable warning concerning the present dangeris and
dewties unto all the memberis of the kirk. To draw neir to God, to
murne for thair ayin iniquiteis, and for all the synnes,
prophanitie, and bakslydinges of the land, to studie to mak peace
with God in Cryst Jesus, to searche and try our wayis and to return
speedilie to the Lord, and to lift up our hartis with our handis to
God in the heavines, that he may spair and save his pepill, that
thai be not a prey to the enymie," &c. (Nicol's Diary of Public
Transactions in Scotland, p. 17. Printed by Bannatyne Club, Edin.
1836). On the 28th of June, a copy of this warning was presented to
the Scottish parliament, who thanked the commission of the General
Assembly for it, and requested them to delay the printing of it for
a few days, that it might be accompanied with a Declaration from
them suited to the existing crisis (Sir James Balfour's Annals of
Scotland, vol. iv. p. 63.). When the Presbytery of Glasgow met on
the 31st of July, 1650, "the brethrene that wer present declaired
that yei had keepit the fast, that yei had read the warning" (Presb.
Rec). See also Lamont's Diary, 7th July 1650. The appointment of
Fasts to be observed on the Lord's day, was at a subsequent period
disapproved of by the Church of Scotland. "Albeit by the treatise of
fasting emitted by the Assembly 25 December, 1565, the Sundays were
appointed for some fasts as being for the greater ease of the
people, and since by the last act of Assembly 1646, a fast is
appointed on the Sabbath next except one preceding the then
following General Assembly, yet seeing the work to be performed on
the first day of the week is, by divine institution, already
determined, we ought to set about it exactly, which we all
acknowledge to be a thanksgiving and not a fast. Extraordinary
duties are not to interfere with the ordinary, nor is one duty to
shuffle out another. If either should be allowed, it would look
somewhat like the reverse of redeeming the time, for thereby
diligence is rather diminished than doubled in the service of
God."--Overtures of the General Assembly, 1705.--_Ed._]

258 ["The abstinence is commanded to be from Saterday at eight of