any such others in doctrine, charity, and manners, which
have dolefully rent the bowels of other Kirks, to the great prejudice of
the Gospel.

Therefore the Assembly, moved with the zeal of God against all abuses and
corruptions, and according to their manifold obligations, most earnestly
desiring and thirsting to promove the work of Reformation, and to have the
comfort and power of true godlinesse sensible to every soul, and Religion
to be universally practised in every Family, and by every person at all
occasions, Doth charge all the Ministers and Members of this Kirk whom
they doe represent, that according to their several places and vocations,
they endeavour to suppresse all impiety and mocking of religious
exercises, especially of such as put foule aspersions, and factious or
odious names upon the godly. And upon the other part, that in the fear of
God they be aware and spiritually wise, that under the name and pretext of
religious exercises, otherwayes lawful and necessary, they fall not into
the aforesaid abuses; especially, that they eschew all meetings which are
apt to breed Error, Scandall, Schisme, neglect of dueties and particular
callings, and such other evils as are the works, not of the spirit, but of
the flesh, and are contrary to truth and peace; and that the Presbyteries
and Synods have a care to take order with such as transgresse the one way
or the other.

Sess. 14. August 6. 1641. a Meridie.

Act _anent Novations_.

Since it hath pleased God to vouchsafe us the libertie of yearly General
Assemblies, It is ordained according to the Acts of the Assembly at
_Edinburgh_ 1639. and at _Aberdene_ 1640. that no Novation in Doctrine,
Worship, or Government, be brought in, or practised in this Kirk, unlesse
it be first propounded, examined, and allowed in the General Assembly, and
that transgressors in this kinde be censured by Presbyteries and Synods.

Act. Sess. 15. August 7. 1641.

_Overtures anent Bursars, and Expectants._

_The Overtures under-written being openly read in audience of the
Assembly, were approved, and declared by them to be Acts of the Assembly,
in all time coming, to be observed_ respective, _as the samine bears._

The Assembly thinks meet for maintaining of Bursars of Divinitie, that
every Presbyterie that consists of twelve Ministers shall maintain a
Bursar, and where the number is fewer nor twelve, shall be joyned with
these out of another Presbyterie wh