and as you desire to be comforted in the day of
your accompts, to make right use of the light that is holden forth therein
from Gods Word.

August 3. 1648. _Antemeridiem_, Sess. 26.

_Act for censuring Ministers for their silence, and not speaking to the
corruptions of the time._

The Generall Assembly, taking to their serious consideration, the great
scandals which have lately encreased, partly through some Ministers their
reserving and not declaring of themselves against the prevalent sins of
the times, partly through the spite, Malignity, and insolency of others
against such Ministers as have faithfully and freely reproved the Sins of
the times without respect of persons, Do therefore for preventing and
removing such scandals hereafter, Appoint and Ordain, that every Minister
do by the word of Wisdom apply his Doctrine faithfully against the publick
Sins and Corruptions of these times, and particularly against the Sins and
Scandals in that Congregation wherein he lives, according to the Act of
the Generall Assembly 1596. revived by the Assembly at _Glasgow_, 1638.
Appointing that such as shall be found not applying their Doctrine to
corruptions, which is the Pastorall gift, cold, and wanting of Spirituall
zeal, flatters and dissembling of publick sins, and especially of great
Personages in their Congregations, that all such persons be censured
according to the degree of their faults and continuing therein be
deprived; And according to the Act of the Generall Assembly 1646. _Sess._
10. That beside all other scandals, silence, or ambiguous speaking in the
publike Cause much more detracting and disaffected speeches be seasonably
censured; As therefore the Errours and exorbitancies of Sectaries in
England are not to be passed in silence, but plain warning to be given of
the danger of so near a contagion, that people may beware of it, and such
as neglect this duty to be Censured by their Presbyteries, So it is
thought fit and Appointted by the Assembly, conform to the foresaid Acts.
That the main current of applications in Sermons may run along against the
evils that prevail at home, and namely against the contempt of the Word,
against all profanesse, against the present defection from the League and
Covenant, against the unlawful Engagement in War, against the unlawful
Band and Declaration of the Date of the 10. of June ordained to be
subscribed by all the Subjects, and other unjust Decrees established by