Decreet, 29 December 1698, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tenth Day of May J^aj vj^c nyntie Eight years

A1698/5/4

A1698/5/4¹

Act

Act of the Synod of Lothian and Tweddale anent the observation of a Fast with the causes therof

Follows the Causes of the fast.
Edinburgh The sixth day of May J^aj vi^c nyntie Eight, post meridiem The Provincial Synod of Lothian and Tweddale met here, taking to their Consideration, The Dispensation of God in his providence with respect To the season of the year, in this cold and unkindly spring: Did Judge that God was thereby calling them, and the people under their charge, To solemn Humiliation for averting his Threatned Judgements, And Therfore appointed Twesday The seventeenth of this moneth of May To be observed as a day of solemn fasting and Humiliation in all the churches within The Bounds of the said synod for these causes following: (1mo) That Notwithstanding the Light of the Glorious Gospell shining among us, There is a great Contempt of the Gospell, much Ignorance and ungodliness in the Land, and self-seeking, and Luke-warmness in the matters of God among all Ranks of persons, and profanness and wickedness grow, The shamefull sins of Drunkenness and uncleaness Swearing, Sabbath breaking, The Totall neglect by some and superficial performing by others, of the worship of God, Both in secret and in families, abound in City and Countrey, and by frequent murder Blood Toucheth Blood. (2) That notwithstanding of vows and Engadgements national and personal, and after severe Judgements and signal mercies and after solemn Humiliation people go on in their sins and Continue Inpenitent hard heartede and unreformed. (3) That for these and other sins The wrath and displeasure of God is visible against us in the unkindly cold and winter-like Spring, wherby God Threatens to blast, our Expectations and hopes, of the fruits of the Earth, and cutt off man and beast by famine and That already a great Dearth arisen, and In many places of the Land They have great Want both of food and seed, and the Cattell and sheep die in great numbers and yett wee are not duely afraid therewith, But there is Generally a wofull stupidity and Security. (4o) The dangerous state of the Church both att Home and abroad Through the spreading of Blasphemous and atheistical opinions contrary to, and destructive of the fundamentall principles of Religion, and the Increase of popery in diverse places, The divisions in some, and Desolations in other pairts of this Church and that In diverse places abroad, These of the Reformed Religion are under persecution and others in fear and Danger. For these beside many other causes mentioned in former fasts wee have cause to humble our selves by fasting and prayer and to be afflicted and mourn and Weep and to Turn unto the Lord, and to pray That he would Turn us unto him, and pardon our sins and The sins of the Land, and That he wold Turn from his wrath and send Kindly weather, which may cherish the fruits of the Earth for food To man and Beast, That he would heal our Breaches plant our desolate places, Stop the Growth of praphaness and popery and other Corrupt opinions, and grant Deliverance and Rest, and safety to his suffering people, and preserve his Church and advance the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus, and That for his Churches sake he would Long preserve, and richly Bless our King, direct and Guide him in his Government That under him the people may Live a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honesty. Extracted by sic subscribitur.