he ground. And in all the acts for catechising or
examination before admission to the communion, no inkling of _imposition
of hands_.

IIII. Concerning the administration of the Sacraments _in private places_,
or private baptisme, and communion; findeth that in the book of common
order, set down before the Psalmes, it is said, _That the Sacraments art
not ordained of God to be used in private corners, as charmers and
sorcerers use to doe, but left to the Congregation._ In the Assembly
holden at _Edinburgh_ in _October Anno 1581._ the same year and Assembly,
that the confession of Faith was subscribed: It was ordained, _that the
Sacraments be not administred in private houses, but solemnly according to
good order hither to observed_. The Minister of _Tranent_ was suspended at
that time, for baptizing an infant in a private house: but confessing his
offence, he was ordained to make his publick repentance in the Kirk of
_Tranent_, before he be released. Another Minister was to be tried, and
censured, for baptizing privately, and celebrating the Communion upon
_Pasch-day_, at the Assembly holden in _October __ 1580._ Which acts and
censures make manifest, that our Kirk abhorred whatsoever fostered the
opinion of the necessitie of Baptisme, and giving of the Sacrament, as a
_viaticum_.

All which, and many other acts, grounds, and reasons, being at length
agitated, and with mature deliberation pondered, and libertie granted to
every man to speak his minde; what could be said further, for the full
satisfaction of all men.

The matter was put to voicing, in these words: _Whether the five articles
of_ Perth, _by the confession of Faith, as it was meaned and professed in
the year 1580. 1581. 1590. 1591. ought to be removed out of this Kirk:_
The whole Assembly all in one consent, one onely excepted, did voice that
the five articles above specified were abjured by this Kirk, in that
Confession, and so ought to be removed out of it: And therefore
prohibiteth and dischargeth all disputing for them, or observing of them,
or any of them, in all time comming, and ordains Presbyteries to proceed
with the censures of the Kirk against all transgressours.

Act. Sess. 21. December 17. 1638.

Concerning _Kirk Sessions, provinciall_ and _nationall Assemblies_, the
generall Assembly considering the great defection of this Kirk, and decay
of Religion, by the usurpation of the Prelates, and their suppressing of
ordinaire judicatori