Page images
PDF
EPUB

of many Godly ministers and people, who could not yield unto them, as by depriving them of the ordinances of God, which they might not enjoy without conforming or fubfcribing to those ceremonies. Sundry good Christians have been, by means thereof, kept from the Lord's table; and divers able and faithful ministers, debarred from the exercise of their ministry (to the endangering of many thousands fouls, in a time of such scarcity of faithful pastors) and spoiled of their livelihood, to the undoing of them and their families. Prelates and their faction have laboured to raise the estimation of it to fuch an height, as if they were no other worship, or way of worship of GOD, amongst us but only the servicebook; to the great hindrance of the preaching of the word, and (in fome places, especially of late) to the justling of it out, as unnecessary; or, (at best) as far inferior to the reading of common-prayer, which was made no better than an idol by many ignorant and superftitious people, who pleasing themselves in these prefence at that service, and their lip labour in bearing a part in it, have thereby hardned themselves in their ignorance and carlesness of saving knowledge and true piety.

In the mean time, papists boasted that the book was a compliance with them in a great part of their service; and so were not a little confirmed in their fuperftition and idolatry, expecting rather our return to them, than endeavouring the reformation of themselves: In which expectation they were of late very much encouraged, when, upon the pretended warantableness, of impofing of the former ceremonies, new ones were daily obtruded upon the church.

Add hereunto (which was not forefeen, but fince hath come to pass) that the liturgy hath been a great means, as on the one hand to make and increase an idle and unedifying ministry, which contented itself with fet forms made to their hands by others, without putting forth themselves to exercise the gift of prayer, with which our Lord Jesus Chrift pleaseth to furnish all his servants whom he calls to that office; So, on the other fide, it hath been (and ever would be if continued) a matter of endless strife and contention in the church, and a snare both to many godly and faithful ministers, who have been perfecuted and filenced upon that occafion; and to others of hopeful parts, many of which have been, and more still would

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

475

would be, deverted from all thoughts of the ministry to other studies; especially in these latter times, wherein God vouchsafeth to his people more and better means for the discovery of error and superstition, and for attaining of knowledge in the mysteries of godliness, and gifts in preaching and prayer. Upon these, and many the like weighty Confiderations, in reference to the whole book in general, and because of divers particulars contained in it; not from any love to novelty, or intention to difparage our first reformers (of whom we are perfwaded, that, were they now alive, they would join with us in this work, and whom we acknowledge as excellent instruments, raised by God, to begin the purging and building of his house, and defire they may be had of us and posterity in everlasting remembrance, with thankfulness and honour;) but that we may, in some measure, answer the gracious providence of God, which at this time calleth upon us for further reformation, and may fatisfy our own confciences, and answer the expectation of their reformed churches, and the defires of many of the godly among ourselves, and withal give fome public teftimony of our endeavours, for uniformity in divine worship, which we have promifed in our foiemn league and covenant: We have, after earnest and frequent calling upon the name of God, and after much consultation, not with flesh and blood, but with his holy word, refolved to lay aside the former liturgy, with the many rites and ceremonies formerly used in the worship of God; and have agreed upon this following directory for all the parts of public worship, at ordinary and extraordinary, Times.

Wherein our care hath been, to hold forth such things as are of divine institution in every ordinance; and other things we have endeavoured to fet forth according to the rules of Christian prudence, agreeable to the general rules of the word of God: our meaning therein being only, that the general heads, the sense and scope of the prayers, and other parts of public worship, being known to all, there may be a consent of all the churches in those things that contain the substance of the service and worship of God; and the ministers may be hereby directed in their administrations to keep like foundness in doctrine and prayer, and may, if need be, have fome help and furniture, and yet so as they become not hereby flothful and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Chrst

in them; but that each one, by meditation, by taking heed to himself and the flock of God committed to him, and by wife observing the ways of divine providence, may be careful to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials of prayer and exhortation, as shall be needful upon all occafions.

e

Of the afssembling of the congregation, and their behaviour in the public worship of GOD.

WHEN

7HEN the congregation is to meet for public worship, the people (having before prepared their hearts thereunto) ought all to come, and join therein; not abfenting themselves from the public ordinances thro' negligence, or upon pretence of private meetings.

Let all enter the assembly, not irreverently, but in a grave and feemly manner, taking their seats or places without adoration, or bowing themselves towards one place or other.

The congregation being assembled, the minister after solemn calling on them to the worshipping of the great name of God, is to begin with prayer,

' In all reverence and humility acknowledging the incomprehenfible greatness and majesty of the Lord, (in whose 'prefence, they do then in a special manner appear) and their ✓ own vileness and unworthiness to approach so near him, ' with their utter inability of themselves to so great a work; and humbly beseeching him for pardon, assistance, and acceptance in the whole service then to be performed; and ' for a blessing on that particular portion of his word then to be read And all in the name and meditation of the 'Lord Jesus Chrift.'

The public worship being begun, the people are wholly to attend upon it, forbearing to read any thing, except what the minifter is then reading or citing; and abstaining much more from all private whisperings, conferences, falutations, or doing reverance to any perfon present, or coming in; as alfo from all gazing, fleeping, and other undecent behaviour, which may disturb the minifter or people, or hinder themselves or others in the service of God.

If any, through necessity, be hindred from being present at the

the beginning, they ought not, when they come into the congregation, to betake themselves to their private devotions, but reverently to compose themselves to join with the affembly,in that ordinance of God which is then in hand.

Of public reading of the holy Scriptures.

Eading of the word in the congregation, being part of

R the public worship of God, (wherein we acknowledge

our dependence upon him, and subjection to him) and one means fanctified by him for the edifying of his people, is to be performed by the paftors and teachers.

Howbeit, fuchas intend the ministry, may occafionaly both read the word, and exercise their gift in preaching in the congregation; if allowed by the presbytery thereunto.

All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha) shall be publicly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed translation, distinctly, that all may hear and understand.

How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the minister; but is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each teftament be read at every meeting, and fome times more, where the chapters be short, or the coheFence of Matter requireth it.

It is requifite that all the canonical books be read over in order, that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the Scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either teftament endeth on one Lord's day, it is to begin in the next.

We commend also the more frequent reading of fuch Scriputres, as he that readeth fhall think beft for edification of his hearers, as the book of Pfalms, and such like.

When the minifter, who readeth, shall judge it neceffary to expound any part of what is read, let it not be done, until the whole chapter or pfalm be ended; and regard is always to be had unto the time, that neither preaching, nor other ordinance, be straitned, or rendred tedious., Which rule is to be observed in all other public performances.

Befide public Reading of the holy Scriptures, every perfon that can read, is to be exhorted to read the Scriptures privately,

2

[ocr errors][merged small]

478

The Directory for the

privately, (and all others that cannot read, if not disabled by age, or otherwife, are likewife to be exhorted to learn to read) and to have a Bible.

A

Of publick prayer before the sermon.

Fter reading of the word, (and finging of the pfalm)

the minifter who is to preach, is to endeavour to get his own and his hearers hearts to be rightly affected with their fins, that they may all mourn in sense thereof before the Lord, and hunger and thirst after the grace of God in Jesus Christ, by proceeding to a more full confession of fin, with shame and holy confufion of face, and to call upon the Lord to this effect;

• To acknowledge our great sinfulness, First, By reason ' of original fin, which (befide the guilt that makes us liable to everlasting damnation) is the feed of all other fins, hath * depraved and poisoned all the faculties and powers of foul and body, doth defile our best actions, and (were it not restrained, or our hearts renewed by grace) would break forth into innumerable tranfgreffions, and greatest rebellions against the Lord, that ever were committed by the vilest ' of the fons of men. And, Next, By reason of actual sins, our own fins, the fins of magiftrates, of minifters, and of ✔ the whole nation, unto which we are many ways acceffory: • Which fins of ours receive many fearful aggravations, ' we have broken all the commandments of the holy, just and good law of God, doing that which is forbidden, ' and leaving undone what is injoined; and that not only ' out of ignorance and infirmity, butalso more presumptuouf

[ocr errors]

ly, against the light of our minds, checks of our confciences, and motions of his own holy spirit to the contrary, • so that we have no cloke for our fins; yea, not only despising the riches of God's goodness, forbearance, and 'long fuffering, but standing out against may invitations and ' offers of grace in the gospel; not endeavouring, as we ought, to receive Christ into our hearts by faith, or to walk worthy of him in our lives.

،

'To bewail our blindness of mind, hardness of heart, • unbelief, impenitency, security, lukewarmness, barren

* nefs; our not endeavouring after mortification and newness

of

« PreviousContinue »