try, by laying their hands on him, which is to be accom panied with a short prayer or blessing, to this effect; Thankfully acknowledging the great mercy of God, in fending Jesus Chrift for the redemption of his people; and for his ascension to the right-hand of God the Father, and thence pouring out his spirit, and giving gifts to men a pofties, evangelifts, prophets, paftors and teachers, for the • gathering and building up of his church; and for fitting and inclining this man to this great work *: To intreat • him to fit him with his holy spirit, to give him (who in ✔ his name we thus fet apart to this holy fervice) to fulfil the work of his ministry in all things, that he may both save himself, and his people committed to his charge.' 9. This or the like form of prayer and blessing being ended, let the minister who preached, briefly exhort him to confider of the greatness of his office and work, the danger of negligence both to himself & his people, the blessing which will ac company his faithfulness in this life, and hat to come; and withal exhort the people to carry themselves to him, as to their minifter in the Lord, according to their folemn promife made before; and so by prayer commending both him and his flock to the Grace of God, after singing of a psalm, let the assembly be dismissed with a blessing. 10. Ifa minifter be designed to a congregation, who hath been formerly ordained prefbyter according to the form of ordination which hath been in the church of England, which we hold for substance to be valid, and not to be disclaimed by any who have received it; then, there being a cautious proceeding in matters of examination, let him be admitted without any new ordination. 11. And in cafe any person already ordained minifter in Scotland, or in any other reformed church, be designed to a. nother congregation in England, he is to bring from that church to the prefbytery here, within which that congrega. tion is, a sufficient teftimonial of his ordination, of his life and conversation while he lived with them, and of the causes of his removed; and to undergo fuch a trial of his fitness and fufficiency, and to have the fame course held with him in other particulars, as is set down in the rule immedi. ately going before, touching examination and admiffion. 12. That *Here let them impose hands on his Head. ! : 12. That records be carefully kept in the several prefbyteries, of the names of the persons ordained, with their testimonials, the time and place of their ordination, of the prefbyters who did impose hands upon them, and of the charge to which they are appointed. 13. That no money or gift of what kind foever shall be received from the person to be ordained, or from any on his behalf, for ordination, or ought else belonging to it, by any of the presbytery, or any appertaining to any of them, upon what pretence foever. Thus far of ordinary rules and course of ordination, in the ordinary way; that which concerns the extraordinary way, requisite to be now practised, followeth. 1. In these present exigences, while we cannot have any prefbyteries formed up to their whole power and work, and that many ministers are to be ordained for the service of the armies and navy, and to many congregations where there is no minifter at all; and where (by reason of the public troubles) the people cannot either themselves enquire, and find out one who may be a faithful minifter for them, or have any with safety sent unto them, for such a folemn trial as was before mentioned in the ordinary rules; especially when there can be no prefbytery near unto them, to whom they may add refs themselves, or which may come or send to them a fit man to be ordained in that congregation, and for that people: And yet notwithstanding, it is requisite that ministers be ordained for them, by fome, who, being set apart themselves for the work of the ministry, have power to join in the setting apart others: who are found fit and worthy. In those cafes, until by God's blessing, the aforefaid difficulties may be in some good measures removed, let some godly minifters in or about the city of London be designed by publie authority, who being associated, may ordain ministers for the city and the vicinity, keeping as near to the ordinary rules forementioned, as poflibly they may: And let this association be for no other intent or purpose, but only for the work of ordination. 2. Let the like association be made by the fame authority in great towns, and, the neighbouring parishes in the several counties, which are at prefent quiet and undisturbed, do to the like for the parts adjacent. 3 Let such as are chosen, or appointed for the service of the armies or navy, be ordained, as aforesaid, by the afsoicated ministers of London, or fome others in the country. 4 Let them do the like, when any man shall duly and lawfully be recommended tothem for the miniftry of any congregation, who cannot enjoy liberty to have a trial of his parts and abilities, and defire the help of fuch ministers so associated, for the better, furnishing of them with such a person as by them shall be judged fit for the service of that church and people. DIRECTORY FOR FAMILY-WORSHIP Approved by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE Church of SCOTLAND, FOR PIETY and UNIFORMITY in secret and private WORSHIP, and mutual EDIFICATION. WITH An Act of the general Assembly, Anno, 1647, for observing the fame. Affembly at EDINBURGH, Aug. 24. 1647. Seff. 10. ACT for observing the Directions of the General Affembly, for secret and private Worship, and mutual Edification, and cenfuring such as neglect Family-worship. T 1 HE general afssembly, after mature deliberation, doth approve the following rules and directions, for cherishing piety, and preventing division and schism; and doth appoint ministers and ruling elders, in each congregation, to take special care that these directions be observed and followed; as likewise, that prefbyteries and provincial synods enquire and make trial, whether the faid directions be duly observed in their bounds; and to reprove or cenfure (according to the quality of the offence) such as shall be found to be reproveable or censurable therein. And, to the end that these directions may not be rendered ineffectual and unprofitable among fome, through the usual neglect of the very substance of the duty of family-worship; the affembly doth further require and appoint ministers and ruling elders to make diligent search and enquiry, in the congregations committed to their charge respectively, whether there be among them any family or families, which use to neglect this necessary duty; and, if any fuch family be found, the head of the family is to be first admonished privately to amend this fault; and, in cafe of his continuing therein, he is to be gravely and fadly reproved by the feffion: after which reproof, if he be found still to neglect family-worship, let him be, for his obstinacy in such an offence, fufpended and debarred from the Lord's Supper, as being justly esteemed unworthy to communicate therein, till he amend. Di DIRECTIONS of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, concerning Secret and Private Worship, and mutual Edification; for cherishing Piety, for maintaining Unity, and avoiding Schifm and Divifion. B ESIDES the public worship in congregations, mercifully established in this land, in great purity; it is expedient and necessary, that fecret worship of cach person alone, and private worship of families, be pref fed and fet up: that, with national reformation, the profeffion and power of godliness, both personal and domeftic, be advanced. I. And first, for secret worship, it is most necessary, that every one apart, and by themselves, be given to prayer, and meditation, the unspeakable benefit whereof is best known to them who are most exercised therein; this being the mean whereby, in a special way, communion with God is entertained, and right preparation for all other duties obtained: and therefore it becometh not only paftors, within their several charges, to press persons of all forts to perform this duty, morning and evening, and at other occasions; but alfo it is incumbent to the head of every family to have a care that both themselves, and all within their charge, be daily diligent herein. II. The ordinary duties comprehended under the exercise of piety, which should be in families, when they are conveened to that effect, are these; firft, prayer and praises performed, with a special reference, as well to the public con! dition of the kirk of God, and this kingdom, as to the prefent cafe of the family, and every member thereof. Next, Reading of the scriptures, with catechising in a plain way, that |