tions are ended, put the question and call the votes. If the judicatory be equally divided he fhall poffefs the cafting vote.

If he be not wil

ling to decide, he shall put the question a fecond time: and if the judicatory be again equally divided, and he decline to give his vote, the queftion fhall be lost. In all questions he fhall give a concife and clear ftate of the object of the vote; and the vote being taken, fhall then declare how the question is decided. And he fhall likewife be empowered on any extraordinary emergency, to convene the judicatory, by his circular letter, before the ordinary time of meeting.

The Minifter

Church Seffion.

Sect. III. The paftor of the congregation fhall always be the moderator of perpetual Mo- the church feffion; except when, derator of the for prudential reasons, it may appear adviseable that fome other minifter fhould be invited to prefide: in which cafe the paftor may, with the concurrence of the feffion, invite fuch other minifter as they may fee meet, belonging to the fame presbytery, to prefide in that affair. In this judicatory, there

fore, the moderator is continual: but, in the vacancy of any church, the moderator fhall be the minifter fent to them by the presbytery; or invited by the feffion to prefide on a particular occafion. In congregations, where there are colleagues, they fhall, when prefent, alternately prefide in the feffion.

Sect. IV. The moderator of the presbytery fhall be chofen from year to year,

The Moderators

catories, how to be chofen.

of the other Judi- or at every meeting of the presbytery, as the presbytery may think beft. The moderator of the fynod, and of the general affembly, shall be chofen at each meeting of those judicatories: and the laft moderator prefent fhall open the meeting with a fermon, and fhall hold the chair till a new moderator be chosen.

T fhall be the privilege of any member of a

judicatory to speak, in his proper order, to any question, with leave from the moderator. The moderator fhall give leave to the person who firft rifes; but if two, or more members, are judged to have rifen at the fame time, the moderator shall determine which shall speak first. Any member shall have a right to propofe any queftion, relative to the bufinefs of the church, or to the interests of religion, and to have it put to vote provided only, that his motion be feconded by another member. If any member conceive his privilege to be unjustly controuled by the moderator, he may appeal to the judicatory,

who fhall determine the point of privilege by a vote and the moderator and member must submit to the fuffrage of the judicatory.

E

CHA P. XX.

Of Clerks.

VERY judicatory fhall choofe a clerk, to record their tranfactions, whofe continu-. ance fhall be during pleafure. It fhall be the duty of the clerk, befides recording the tranfactions, to preferve them carefully; and to grant extracts from them, whenever properly required; and fuch extracts, under the hand of the clerk, fhall be confidered as authentic vouchers. of the fact which they declare, in any ecclefiaftical judicatory, and to every part of the church.

СНАР. XXI.

Of vacant Congregations assembling for public Worship.

Co

NONSIDERING the great importance of weekly affembling the people, for the public worship of God; in order thereby to im

prove their knowledge; to confirm their habits of worship, and their defire of the public ordinances; to augment their reverence for the most high God; and to promote the charitable affections which unite men moft firmly in fociety: It is recommended, that every vacant congregation meet together, on the Lord's day, at one or more places, for the purpose of prayer, singing praises, and reading the holy fcriptures, together with the works of such approved divines, as the presbytery, within whose bounds they are, may recommend, and they may be able to procure; and that the elders or deacons be the perfons who shall prefide, and select the portions of fcripture, and of the other books to be read; and to fee that the whole be conducted in a becoming and orderly manner.

CHA P. XXII.

Of Commissioners to the General Assembly.

Sect. I. HE commiffioners to the gene

THE

ral affembly fhall always be ap Commiffioners pointed by the presbytery from hall be appoint which they come, at its last stated Meeting of the meeting immediately preceding the resbytery. meeting of the general affembly ;

ed at lait itated

provided, that there be a fufficient interval, between that time and the meeting of the affembly, for their commiffioners to attend their duty in due feafon; otherwife, the presbytery may make the appointment at any stated meeting, not more than seven months preceding the meeting of the affembly. And as much as possible to prevent all failure in the reprefentation of the prefbyteries, arifing from unforeseen accidents to thofe first appointed, it may be expedient for each presbytery, in the room of each commiffioner, to appoint alfo an alternate commiflioner, to fupply his place, in cafe of neceffary abfence. Sect. II. Each commiffioner, before his

Conimiflion.

name fhall be enrolled as a member

Form of a of the affembly, fhall produce, from his presbytery, a commiffion under the hand of the moderator and clerk, in the following or like form: viz.

der in the congregation of

as

the cafe may be ;]" (to which the presbytery may, if they thing proper, make a fubftitution in the following form, "or in cafe of his abfence, then

congregation of

[or

bishop of the