Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/directionsofgeneOOchur 
 
DIRECTIONS 
 
 OF 
 THE G E N E R A L L 
 
 ASSEMBLY 
 
 Concerning 
 
 Secret and Private VV o r s.h ip, and 
 
 mutual! edification, for cheriujing 
 
 Piety , for maintaining Uni ty , and 
 
 avoiding Schiime and Divifion. 
 
 w IT H 
 
 An JB/or obferving thefe D ireclions , and 
 
 for cenjuring fucb as uje to negleB 
 
 Fam ily VVor ship. 
 
 AND 
 
 An dff dgainjl fuch as withdraw tbemfehes 
 
 from the 'Tublike Worfbip in their own 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 EDIN BURG H, 
 
 Printed by By an Tyler \ Printer to the 
 Kings moil Excellent M'ajeftie. 1 64.8. 
 
u; 
 
 *— - 
 
 r 
 
 
 $££ 
 
 V fy^ ; :g 
 
 Edinb. 24. Aug, 1 6*4. 7* 
 
 SeC 15?. 
 
 d^fBfor obferving the following "D 
 Uions y and for cenfuring fuch asufe 
 to negUB Family JVorJJnp. 
 
 IJe Generall Affembly 3 af- 
 ter mature deliberation, 
 doth approve the follow- 
 ing Rules and Directions, 
 for cherifhing Piety and 
 preventing Divifion and 
 ijj Schifme, and doth appoint 
 |l Minifters and Ruling El- 
 " ders in each .Congregation, 
 to take fpeckil care that 
 thefeDire&ionsbe obferved and followed 5 As like- 
 wife that Presbyteries and Provincial! Synods enquire 
 and make trial], whether the iaids Directions be duely 
 obferved in their bounds , and to reprove or cenfure 
 ( according to the Quality of the offence ) fuch" as fhall 
 
 A 
 
 De 
 
be found to be reprovable or cenfurable therein. And 
 tothe end that theie Dire&ions may not be rendered 
 ineffe&ualland unprofitable among forae through the 
 iiiuall negleft of the very fubftance of the duty of Fa- 
 mily Worfhip , The Affembly doth further require 
 and appoint Minifters and Ruling Elders, to make dili- 
 gent fearch and enquiry in theCongregations commit- 
 ted to their charge refpe&ively , whether there be a- 
 mong them any Family or Families which ufe to ncg- 
 left this neceflary duty-, And if any fuch Family be 
 f ound,the head ot that Family is to be firft admonifhed 
 privately to amend this fault ^ And in cafe of his con- 
 tinuing therein , he is to be gravely and fadly reproved 
 bytheSeflion. After which reproof, if he be found 
 ftill to negled Family Worfhip , Let him be for his 
 obftinacy, in fuch an offence, fufpended and debarred 
 from the L o r d s Supper, as being juftly efteemed un- 
 worthy to communicate therein till he amend. 
 
 A Ken 
 
CO 
 
 mm 
 
 mm 
 
 DIRECTIONS OF THE 
 
 Generall AfTembly, concerning 
 Secret and Private JVor/hip and 
 
 mutuall edification,for the cherifbing Piety } 
 
 for maintaining Unity , and avoiding 
 
 Schifme and Divifion. 
 
 |Efidesthe publike Worfhipin Con* 
 gregations, mercifullyefhablifhedin 
 this Land, in great purity 5 It is ex- 
 pedient and neceffar* that Secret 
 Worfhip of each perfon alone , and 
 Private worfhip of Families be pref- 
 fed and fet up : That with Nationall Reformation, 
 the profeflion and power of Godlinefle both Perfo* 
 nail and Domeftick be advanced. 
 
 I. Andfirftfor Secret Worfhip $ Itismoft necef- 
 far 3 that every one apart and by themfelves be given 
 to prayer and Medication, The unfpeakahle benefit 
 whereof is beft known to them who are rnoft exerci- 
 fed therein: This being the mean whereby in a fpe- 
 eiall way communion with God is entertained 3 and 
 right preparation for all other duties obtained: And 
 therefore itbecometh not onely Paftours, within their 
 feverall Charges > to prefle Perfons of all forts to per- 
 
 A 3 form 
 
C6J 
 
 forme this duty Morning and Evening, and atothei 
 occafions , but alfo it i$ incumbe nt to the head of eve- 
 ry Familie, to have a care that both themfelves and all 
 within their charge be daily diligent herein. 
 
 II. The ordinary duties comprehended under the 
 exercife of Piety , which fliould be in Families when 
 they are conveened to that efFe<5t , are thefe :' Firft, 
 Prayer and Praifes performed,witha fpechll reference 
 as well to the publike condition of the Kirk of G O D 
 and this Kingdom , as to the prefent cafe of the Fa- 
 milie 3 and every member thereof. Next , Rea- 
 ding of Scriptures with Chatechizinginaplain way, 
 that the underftandings of the fimpler may be the bet- 
 ter enabled to profit under the publike Ordinances, 
 and they made more capable to underftand the Scrip- 
 tures when they are read - 7 Together with godly con- 
 ferences, tending to the edification of all the members 
 inthemoftholy Faith: As alio, admonition and re- 
 buke upon juft reafons from thefe who have Autho- 
 rity in the Familie. 
 
 III. As the Charge and Office of interpreting the 
 holy Scriptures , is a part of the Minifteriall Calling, 
 which none ( howfoeverotherwife qualified ) fhould 
 take upon him in any place , but he that is duely called 
 thereunto by God and his Kirk : So in every Familie 
 where there is any that can read , The holy Scriptures 
 fliould be read ordinarily to the Family^ And it is com- 
 mendable that thereafter they confer , and by way of 
 conference make fome good ufe of what hath been 
 read and heard i As for example, if any fin be repro^' 
 
 ved 
 
(7) 
 
 ved in the Word read, ufe may be made thereof to 
 make all the Familie circumfped and watehfull againft 
 the fame ; Or, if any judgement be threatned or men- 
 tioned to have been infli&ed in chat portion of Scrip- 
 ture which is read , ufe may be made to make all the 
 Family fear, left the fame or a worfe judgement befall 
 them, unleffe they beware of the fin that procured it. 
 And finally, if any duty be required, or comfort held 
 forth in a promife, ufe may be made to ftirre up them- 
 felves to imploy Chrift for ftrengch to enable them 
 fordoing the commanded duty, and to apply the of- 
 fered comfort : In all which the M after of the Family 
 is to have the chief hand •, And any member of the 
 Family may propone ane queftion or doubt for refo- 
 lution. 
 
 1 1 1 1. The head of the Family is to take care that 
 none of the Family withdraw himfelf from any part 
 of Familie- Worfhip : And feeing the ordinary perfor- 
 mance of all the parts of Family- Worfhip belongeth 
 properly to the Head of the Famfly 5 TheMinifteris 
 to ftirre .up fuch as are lafie r and train up fuchasare 
 weakjto a fitneffe for thefe exercifes. It being alwayes 
 free to perlonsof Qualitie to entertain one approuen by 
 the Presbyterie for performing Family exercife$ And 
 in other families where the head of the Family is unfit, 
 that another conftantly refiding in she Family, appro- 
 ver] by the Minifter andSeffion, may be imployed in 
 that fervice *, Wherein the Minifter andSeffion are to 
 be countable to the Presbyterie. And if a Minifter by 
 Divine pro\ idence be^brought to any Familie, it is re- 
 quifite, that at no time he conveen apart of the Fami- 
 
 lie 
 
C8) 
 
 lie for Wcrfliip feduding the reft $ Except in fingular 
 cafes , fpecially concerning thefe parties , which ( in 
 Chriftian prudence J need not, or ought not to be im- 
 parted to others, 
 
 V. Let no Idler who hath no particular calling, or 
 vagrant perfon under pretence of- a calling , be differed 
 to perform Worfhipin Families to or for the fame: 
 Seeing perfons tainted with errours or aiming atdivi- 
 fipn , may be ready ( after that manner ; to creep into 
 houfes and lead captive filly and unliable fouls. 
 
 V Ik At Family worfliip a fpeciall care is to be had, 
 that each Family keep by themfelves* Neither re- 
 quiring , inviting, nor admitting perfons from divers 
 Families $ Unlefle it be thefe who are lodged with 
 them or at meal, or other wife with them uponfome 
 lawfull occafion. 
 
 VII. Whatfoever hath been the effe&s, and fruits 
 of meetings of perfons of divers Families in the times 
 of corruption or trouble ( in which cafes many things 
 are commendable, which otherwife are not tollerable ) 
 Yet when God hath blefled us with Peace and the pu- 
 rity of the Gofpel , fuch meetings of perfons of divers, 
 fam ilies (except in the cafes mentioned in thefe directi- 
 ons } are to be difaproved,as tending to the hinderance 
 oi t\\Q Religious exercife of each Family by it felf , to 
 the prejudice of the publike Miniftery , to the renting, 
 of the Families of particular Congregations , and(in£ 
 progreffe of time) of the whole Kirk: befides ma«d 
 ny offences which may come thereby, to the hard 
 
 ning 
 
(9X 
 
 iiing of the harts of carnal! men y and grief of the 
 godly* 
 
 VII I. On the Lords day, after every one of the 
 Family apart, and the whole Family together have 
 fought the Lord fin vvhofe hands the preparation of 
 mens hearts are ) to fit them for the publike worfliip, 
 and to blefle to them the publike Ordinances v The 
 Mafterof the Family ought to take care that all within 
 his charge repair to the publike Worfhip, that he and 
 they may joyn with the reft of the Congregation 5 
 And,the publike Worfliip being finiihed, after prayer, 
 he fliould take an account what they have heard v And 
 thereafter to fpend the reft of the time which they may 
 fpare, in Cacechifing and .in fpimuaU confereiices 
 upon the Word of God 5 Or el fe (going apart ) they 
 ought to apply themfelves. to reading, meditation, 
 and fecret Prayer, that they may confirm and increafe 
 their Communion with Gad ., That fo the profit 
 which they found in tin publike. Ordinances may { be 
 cherifned and promoved, and they more edified unto 
 eternal! life, 
 
 JX. So .many as can conceivePrayer,aughe to make 
 life of that gift of God : Albeit- thefe who are rude and 
 weaker may begin at.afet form of Prayer •/ But fo, as 
 they be not (luggifli in {lining up in them f elves (ac- 
 :ording to their daily necelFities ) the fpirit of Prayer, 
 vhich is given to all the children of God in fome mea- 
 ore. To which effeft, they ought to be the more 
 ervent and frequent/in fecret Prayer to God ? for en- 
 abling of their hearts to conceive, and theirtoogues to 
 
expreffe convenient defires to God for their Familie." 
 And in the meantime,for their greater encouragement, 
 ietthfcfe materials of Prayer be meditated upon, and 
 made ufeof, as followeth : 
 
 Let them confeffe to God how unworthy they 
 are to come in hisprefence, and how unfit to wor- 
 ihip his Majefty •, And therefore earneftly ask of 
 God the fpirit of Prayer. 
 
 They are to confeile their fins>and the fins of the 
 Family, accufing, judging, and condemning them- 
 felves for them, till they bring their ioules to fome 
 nieafure of true humiliation. 
 
 They are to poure out their fouls to God, in the 
 Name ©f Chrift, by the Spirit, for forgivenefle of 
 fins, for Grace to repent, to beteeve,and to live fo- 
 berly, righteoufly, and godly 5 and that they may 
 ferve God with joy and delight , walking before 
 him. 
 
 They are to give thanks to God for his many 
 mercies to his People, and to themfelves, and el'pe- 
 cially for his love in Chrift, and for the light of the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 They are to pray for fuch particular benefits, 
 Spirituall and Temporal!, as they ftand in need of 
 for the time , ( whether it be Morning or Evening) 
 as health or ficknefle, profperity or adverfity. 
 
 They ought to pray for the Kirk of Chrift in 
 generall, for all the Reformed Kirks, and for this 
 Kirk in particular, and for all that fufFerforthe 
 Name of Chrift * for all our Superiours , The; 
 Kings Majefty, the Queen, and their Childrei 
 for the Magiftrates, Minifters, and whole body 
 
 ti 
 
00 
 
 the Congregation whereof they are members, as 
 well for their Neighbours abfent in their lawful! 
 affairs, as for thofe that are at home. 
 
 The Prayer may be clofed with an earned defire, 
 that God may be glorified in the commingofthe 
 Kingdome of his Son, and in the doing of his wilh 5 
 And with affurance that themfelves are accepted, 
 and what they have asked according to his will 
 ihall be done, 
 
 X. Thefe Exercifes ought to be performed in great 
 fincerity, without delay, laying alide. all exercifes of 
 worldly bufineffe or hinderances, Notwithftanding 
 themockings of Atheifts, and profane men •, In re- 
 fped of the great mercies of God to this Land, and of 
 hisfevere Corredions wherewith lately he hath ex- 
 ercifed us. And to this effe&, perfons of eminencie 
 (and all Elders of the Kirk) not only ought to ftir up 
 themfelves and their Families to diligence herein-, Buc 
 alf o to concurre effe&ually , that in all other Families, 
 where they have Powerand Charge,the faid Exercifes 
 be confcionably performed. 
 
 X I. Befides the ordinary duties in Families which 
 are abovemencioned, extraordinary duties both of hu- 
 miliation and thankfgiving are to be carefully perfor- 
 med in Families, when the Lord by extraordinary oc- 
 cafions (private or publike) calleth for them. 
 
 X 1 1. Seeing the Word of God requtreth, That 
 ve fhould confider one another to provoke unto love 
 md good works *, Therefore,at all times, and fpecially 
 
 B s in 
 
m 
 
 in this time wherein profanity abounds, and mockers, 
 walking after their own lufts, think it ftrange that/o- 
 £hers*run not wish them to the fame excefle : of riot, 
 Bvery member of thisKirk ought to fthr up thenirel ves 
 and one another to the duties of mutual! Edification, 
 by infttu&km, admonition, reb*vke 3 exhorting one -an- 
 other to irrariifeft-the Grace of God, in denying un- 
 godlinefle and worldly lufts, and in living godly, fo- 
 berly, and righteoufly in this prefent world, by com- 
 forting the feeble minded, and praying with, or, for 
 one another : Whi^h duties t-efpe^tivelyaYe'to be per- 
 formed upon Fpsciail ecea'fiotis offered by divine pro- 
 vidence ^ As natnely,when under any calamity ,crofle, 
 orgre&t difficnhie, c&unfellor comfott is fought, Or 
 wben^n ofFenler-is'go be reclaimed by private admo- 
 nition, and if that be>not effe&uall, by:joyning one or 
 two more kr the admonition, according^ the rule of 
 Chi-ift 5 that in the mouth of two or three wicnefles 
 every word aiay be ; eftabliilied. * 
 
 XI I T. r And becaufe it is HOI given to every one to 
 fpeak a word jnfeafonto^a wearied or rfiftrefFed con- 
 ference, It is expedient, that a perfon (in that cafe) 
 finding no eafe after the ufe of all ordinary means pri- 
 vate and publike, have their addrefle to their own Pa- 
 ftour, or fome experienced Chriftian : But, if the per- 
 fon troubled in confeience, be of that condition, or of 
 that fex , thatdifcretion, modefty,or fear of fcandal, 
 requireth a godly grave and fecret friend to be prefenc 
 with them in their faid addrefle, It is expedient that; 
 fuch a friend be prefent. 
 
 XIV. When 
 
 
XIV. When perfons of divers Families are 
 brought together by divine providence, being abroad 
 upon their -particular Vocations, oratiyneceSkryoc- 
 cafions. As they would have the Lord their GO D 
 with them whitherfoever they go, they ought to walk 
 with GOD, and not negled: the duties of Prayer and 
 Thanksgivings buttake eare that the fame be.peribrm- 
 ed by fuch as the company (hall judge fitted: And that 
 they likewife take heed that no corrupt communication 
 proceed out of their mouth, but that which is good, to 
 the ufe of edifying , that.it may minifter grace to the. 
 hearers. 
 
 The drift & fcope of all thefe Diredionsis no other 
 but that upon the one part, the power and practice, of 
 godlinefTe among air the Minifters : & Members of this 
 Kirk, according to their feverall places and vocations^ 
 may be cherifhed and advanced 3 and all impiety and 
 mocking of Religious exercifes flipprefled -And upon 
 the other par^ that under the. name and pretext of .Re- 
 ligious Exercifes, no£uch : meetingsorpra<ftkesbe at- 
 lowed 3 as are apt to breed errour,! candall^fchifrn.ccpn- 
 tempt or mil- regard of the publike Ordinances and 
 Minifters, ornegledl oi the duties of .particular 'Cal- 
 lings^ or fuch other 'evils' as are the works not of the 
 Spirit but of. the Flefh, and are contrary toTruth'and 
 Peace, 
 
 %^£. Kef. 
 
 <*JB 
 
w 
 
 r 
 
 «&» *f> <•&* **» *5*^»A I £*i £*♦ X^li^* £^ *$* l£** *** 
 
 JB again jlfuch as withdraw themfehes 
 
 •from tbepiblike worjlrip in their own Congregation. 
 
 \i\ct it hath pleated G O D of his infinite 
 goodnefle to blefle his Kirk within this 
 Nation, with the riches of the Gofpel, in 
 giving to us his Ordinances in great purity, 
 liberty , and withall, a comely and weil-eftabliflbed 
 order : The Affembly, in the zeal of God, for pre- 
 ferving Order,Unitie and Peace in the Kirk, for main- 
 taining that refpsd which is due to the Ordinances 
 and Minifters of Jefus Chrift, for preventing Schif me> 
 noifomeErrours, and all unlawfull practices, which 
 may follow on the Peoples with-drawing themfelves 
 from their own Congregations, Doth charge every 
 Minifter to be diligent in fulfilling his Miniftery, to 
 be holy and grave in his converfation,to be faithfull in 
 Preaching, declaring the whole counfel of GOD, and 
 as he hath occafion from the Text of Scripture, to re- 
 prove the finnes & errours, and prefte the duties of the 
 time •, & in all tho(e,to obferve the rules prefcribed by 
 the A<fts of Affembly-, wherein if he be negligent,he is 
 to be cenfureel by his own Presbyterie. As alio ordains 
 every member in every congregation ,to keep their own 
 
 Paroch 
 
m 
 
 Paroch Kirk , to communicate there in the Word and 
 Sacraments - 7 And if any perf on or perfons fhall here* 
 after ufually abfent themfelves from their own Con- 
 gregations, except in urgent cafes made known to, 
 and approven by the Presbyterie , The minifters of 
 thefe Congregations whereunto they refor^fhall both 
 in publike byPreaching.and in private by admonition, 
 fliew their diflike of their with-drawing from their 
 Cfwn Minifter •, That in fo doing , They may wicnefle 
 to all that hear them, their due care to ftrengthen the 
 hands of their fellow-labourers in the work of the 
 Lord, and their deteftation of any thing that may tend 
 to Separation, or any of the above-mentioned evils: 
 Hereby their own Flock will be confirmed in their 
 ftedfaftnefie, and the unflable fpirits of others will be 
 rectified. Likeas the Minifter of that Congregation 
 from which they do withdraw, fhall labour firft by 
 private admonition to reclaim them : And i£ any after 
 private admonition given by their own Paftour>do not 
 amend, in that cafe the Paftour fhall dilate the fore- 
 faid perfons to the SeiTion , who fhall cite and cenfure 
 them as contemners of the comely order of the Kirk 5 
 And if the matter be not taken order with there, It is 
 to be brought to the Presbyterie: For the better ob- 
 ferving whereof , the Presbyteries at the Vifitation of 
 their feverall Kirks and Provincial AffemblieSjin their 
 cenfure of the feverall Presbyteries, fhall inquire here- 
 anent : Which inquiry and report fhall be regiftrate in 
 the Provincial Books, that their diligence may be feen 
 in the Generall Affembly. 
 
 Cxf . Ker. 
 I I N I $. 
 

 . 
 
 
 
 
V 
 

 SSspB 
 
 Ki9 
 
 ^^m