FOrasmuch as it doth appear , that divers Ministers , who , by the Law , have no right to preach or remain in those Paroches which did belong to their Cure , do notwithstanding presume to assemble His Majesties Subjects in Churches and elsewhere , to preach , administer the Sacraments , and to keep Conventicles and disorderly Meetings ; and do go about to corrupt and disswade the people from that affection , duty , obedience and gratitude they owe to His Majesties Government , the Laws and Authority established , under which the Kingdom doth enjoy this great tranquility and the blessings thereof : As likewise , that many Subjects do countenance and joyn in these unlawfull Meetings , contrary to the Acts of Parliament prohibiting the same . Therefore , the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council , in discharge of the Trust reposed in them , for preserving the publick Peace and the Laws in their Authority and Vigor , and that turbulent and dis-affected Ministers may not have such opportunity , as they have hitherto had , to continue their evil practices in seducing too many people into wayes of Schisme , Separation and Sedition , tending to the disquieting and overturning of the established Government of the State , as well as that of the Church ; and in pursuance of what is recommended by His Majesty and the Estates of Parliament , in the late Act of the tenth of July , intituled , Act against Separation and Disobedience to Ecclesiastical Authority , Do hereby command and charge all Ministers , who are or shall be found to preach seditiously against the Government of Church and State , who entered in or since the year , one thousand six hundred and fourty nine , and have not since obtained Presentations from their lawfull Patrons , and Collations and Admissions from their Ordinary , and have notwithstanding continued to preach or exercise any duty , proper to the Function of the Ministers , either at these Paroch Churches where they were Incumbents , or at any other place , House or family , to remove themselves , their families and goods belonging to them , within twenty dayes after publication hereof , out of these respective Paroches where they were Incumbents , and not to reside within twenty miles of the same , nor within six miles of Edinburgh or any Cathedral Church , or three miles of any Burgh Royal within this Kingdom ; with certification , that if they fail to remove themselves , as said is , and to give exact obedience hereunto , ( unless they have the permission of the Lords of Privy Council , or of the Bishop of the Diocess ) they are to incur the penalties of the Laws against movers of sedition , and to be proceeded against with that strictness that is due to so great contempts of His Majesties Authority over Church and State . And do hereby inhibit and discharge all Heretors and Housholders in Burgh or Land , to give any presence or countenance to any one or more of these Ministers , removed by this Act , to preach or exercise any act of the office of a Minister ; with certification , if they , after publication hereof , shall presume so to do , they are to be proceeded against according to Law . And being likewise informed , that divers Ministers who were entered by lawfull Presentations before the year , one thousand six hundred and fourty nine , and do still continue in the exercise of their Ministry , do yet forbear to attend Ecclesiasticall Meetings appointed by Authority , and to exercise Discipline in their Paroches , without giving any account of their Administrations , to the great detriment of the Order and Peace of the Church ; Therefore , they command and charge all those Ministers to keep the diocesian Synods , and other Ecclesiasticall Meetings appointed by Authority ; with certification , that if , after publication hereof , they fail so to do , and disobey the Acts of Parliament and Council made thereanent , they are to be proceeded against as contemners of His Majesties Authority . And Ordains these presents to be printed , and published at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh , and other places needfull , that none pretend ignorance .