Acts: 1760

The principal acts of the general assembly, convened at Edinburgh, May 15, 1760.

I. Sess. 1, May 15, 1760.—The King's Commission to Charles Lord Cathcart produced, and ordered to be recorded.

The General Assembly, &c.

II. Sess. 1, May 15, 1760.—The King's most gracious Letter to the General Assembly, presented to them by his Majesty's Commissioner.

George, R., &c.

III. Sess. 3, May 17, 1760.—The General Assembly's Answer to the King's most gracious Letter.

May it please your Majesty, &c.

IV. Sess. 6, May 21, 1760.—The General Assembly's Address to the King, on Account of the signal Successes of his Arms since the last General Assembly.

May it please your Majesty,
We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, met in a National Assembly, take this first opportunity of approaching your sacred person, with our most humble and sincere congratulations upon the signal and uninterrupted success with which, since our last meeting, it hath pleased Almighty God to bless your arms. All the efforts of your Majesty's enemies have been disconcerted or defeated, while every battle fought by your fleets and armies hath led to victory, every armament hath accomplished its intention; and as the operations of war have been more extensive, they have likewise been more prosperous than those any former age can boast of. These great events we have observed with the utmost gratitude to your Majesty, under whose prudent and vigorous administration we enjoy such distinguished blessings; nor have we ceased continually to offer up our devout acknowledgments to the Lord of Hosts, from whom alone strength and wisdom are derived, and who hath enabled us both to fight and to overcome.

But amidst our rejoicings for victories obtained in every part of the world, it was with the utmost concern that we beheld the approach of domestic calamity, and were witnesses of the alarm and terror which the invasion, threatened and attempted by the French King, spread among the inhabitants of this part of the island, sensible, at that juncture, both of the danger to which they were exposed, and of their inability to exert themselves in repelling your Majesty's enemies with such vigour as their principles of religion and loyalty would naturally have inspired.

We have always reckoned it an important part of our duty to animate the people committed to our care with zeal for the Protestant religion, with veneration for our happy constitution, and with attachment to your Majesty's person and family, nor have our unwearied endeavours been unaccompanied with success; and it is with great pleasure we can assure your Majesty, that the wisdom, justice, and lenity, of your Majesty's administration, your paternal attention to the welfare of this part of Great Britain, and your magnanimity in reposing confidence even in those who, from their former conduct, could not hope for such marks of your royal favour, have operated with a most powerful and happy influence, and have gone far towards overcoming ancient and unreasonable prejudices. Our constant intercourse with the people under our charge gives us the best access to be acquainted with their principles and inclinations; and we think ourselves called upon by our duty to your Majesty, as well as in justice to them, to assure your Majesty, that the members of this National Church (of whom the great body of the people is composed) have discovered such sentiments as become British subjects, upon every appearance of danger with which your Majesty's kingdoms and government were threatened, that they would embrace with joy every opportunity of exerting themselves in defence of both, and would act with such spirit and loyalty, as would render Great Britain still more formidable to its enemies, and add to its internal strength and security.

That Almighty God may long preserve your Majesty's important life; that he may bless your royal family; that he may continue to go forth with your fleets and armise; and that, after blessing your Majesty with success in war, he may enable you to put a period to the desolation and calamitites of Europe by a lasting peace, are the daily and fervent prayers of,
May it please your Majesty, your Majesty's most faithful, most dutiful, and most loyal subjects, the Ministers and Elders met in this National Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Signed in our name, in our presence, and at our appointment, by
Robert Hamilton, Moderator.

V. Sess. ult., May 26, 1760.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for Reformation of the Highlands, and Islands, and for Managing his Majesty's Royal Bounty for that end.

The General Assembly do hereby nominate and appoint the Rev. Dr Robert Hamilton, Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh, their Moderator, &c.; to be a committee of this Assembly for reformation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, &c. (The terms of the Act are the same as last year.)

VI. Sess. ult., May 26, 1760.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for discussing Affairs referred to them.

The General Assembly, &c.

VII. Sess. ult., May 26, 1760.—Act appointing the Diet of the next General Assembly.

The next General Assembly of this National Church is appointed to be held in this place, upon the third Thursday of May next, being the 21st day of that month, in the year 1761.

Collected and extracted from the Records of the General Assembly, by
George Wishart, Cls. Eccl. Scot.

Sess. 5, May 20, 1760.—Overture of an Act and Rules concerning the Election and Qualifications of Members of Assembly.

(Re-transmitted.)

Sess. 5, May 20, 1760.—Overture for an Addition to be made to the Sixth Act of the Assembly, 1759, against Ministers making Agreements with their Heritors. (fn. 1)

The General Assembly do agains transmit to the consideration of the several Presbyteries, the overture transmitted by last Assembly, for an addition to be made to the 6th Act of the Assembly, 1759, against minister making agreements with their heritors, with this addition, "That manses shall be particularly mentioned as one of the things about which agreements shall not be made, but at the sight, and with the advice and consent of the Presbytery of the bounds;" and appoint that they send up their opinion thereon to the next Assembly.