Of

blic Wor

fembly

titions in the Lord's prayer, are not exprefsed throughout their prayers; though perhaps neither at the beginning, or conclu fion, or all at once by way of form. But if any notwithstanding, think fit to fay it likewife all at once, the most proper time for that, fome think, would be immediately before the other form used for the minifterial Benediction. VIDE § 29. H. T. $22. After reading of the word, and finging of the Pfalm, of publie the Lord is to be called upon to this effect, viz. To acknow-fore fermon, Prayers beledge our great finfulness, first, by reason of original fin, which, taken out of befides the guilt that makes us liable to everlafting damnation the Direc is the feed of all others fins, hath depraved and poifoned all the tory for pu faculties and powers of Soul, and Body, doth defile our best ac- thip, agreed tions, and were it not reftrained, or our hearts renewed by grace, unto by the would break forth into innumerable tranfgreffions, and greateft General Af Rebellions against the Lord, that ever were committed by the vileft of the fons of men. And next, by reafon of actual fins, ourown fins, the fins of Magistrates, of Minifters, and of the whole Nation, unto which we are many ways acceffory. Which fins of ours, receive many fearful aggravations, we having broken all the commandments of the holy, juft, and good law of God, doing that which is forbidden, and leaving undone that which is enjoined, and that not only out of ignorance and infirmity, but alfo more prefumptuously 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 cloak for our fin, yea, not only defpif ing the riches of God's goodness, forbearance,and long-fuffering, but ftanding out against many invitations and offers of grace in the gofpel. To bewail our blindness of mind, hardness of heart, unbelief, inpenitency, fecurity, backwardness, barrennefs, our not endeavouring after mortification, and newness of life, nor after, the exercise of godliness in the power thereof, and that the best of us have not walked fo fteadfastly with God, kept our garments fo unfpotted, nor been fo zealous of his glory, and the good of others as we ought, and to mourn over fuch other fins as the congregation is'particularly guilty of, notwithstanding the manifold and great mercies of our God, the love of Chrift, the light of the gofpel, and reformation of religion, our own purpofes, promifes, vows, folemn convenants, and other obligations to the contrary. To acknowledge and confefs that as we are convinced of our guilt, fo out of a deep fenfe thereof, we judge ourfelves unworthy of the smalleft benefits, moft worthy of God's fierceft wrath inflicted upon the most rebellious finners, and that he might juftly take his kingdom and gospel from us, plague us with all forts of spiritual and temporal judgments in this life; and after caft us into outer darknefs. Notwithstanding all which, to draw near to the throne of grace, incouraging ourselves with hopes of a gracious anfwer of our prayers in the riches and alK

fufficiency of that only one oblacion, the fatisfaction and inter ceffion of the Lord Jefus Chrift, at the Right-Hand of his Father and our Father, and in confidence of the exceeding great and precious promifes of mercy and grace in the new covenant, through the fame mediator thereof, to deprecate the heavy wrath and curfe of God, which we are not able to avoid or bear, and humbly and earnestly to fupplicate for mercy in the free and full remiffion of our fins, and that only for the bitter fufferings and precious merits of that our only Saviour Jefus Christ. That

the Lord would vouchfafe to fhed abroad his love in our hearts by the Holy Ghoft; Seal unto us by the fame fpirit of adoption, the full affurence of our pardon and reconciliation; Comfort all that mourn in Zion, speak peace to the wounded and troubled in fpirit, and bind up the broken hearted: And as for fecure and prefumptuous finners, that he would open their eyes, convince their confciences, and turn them from darknefs unto light. To pray for fanctification by his Spirit,the mortification of fin dweling in, and many times tyrannizing over us, the quickning of our dead fpirits, with the life of God in Chrift, grace to enable us for all duties of our converfation, and callings towards God and men, ftrength against temptations, the fanctified use of bleffings and croffes, and perfeverance in faith and obedience unto the end. To pray for the propagation of the gospel and kingdom of Chrift to all Nations, for the converfion of the Jews, and the Fullness of the Gentiles, the Fall of Antichrift, and the Haftening of the fecond' coming of our Lord: for the deliverance of the diftreffed Churches abroad, from the tyranny of the Antichristian Faction, and from the cruel oppreflions and blafphemies of the Turk; For the bleffing of God upon all the Reformed Churches, especially upon the Churches and kingdoms of Scotfand, England and Ireland, more particularly for that Church and kingdom whereof we are Members, that therein God would eftablish peace and truth, the purity of all his ordinances, and the power of godliness, prevent and remove herefy, fchifm, profanenefs, fuperftition, fecurity and unfruitfulness under the means of grace, heal all our rents and divifions, and preserve us from breach of our folemn Covenant. Prayers are to be put up for all in fupreme authority, and thofe in fubordinate authority to them, I TIM. ii. 1, 2, 4. Which Prayers are to be directed by their circumstances. We are to Pray for all Paftors and teachers, that God would fill them with his Spirit, & make them powerful in their Miniftery, and give unto all his people Paftors according to his own heart; For the Universities and Schools, and religious Seminaries for Church and common-wealth, that they may flourish more in learning and piety, for the particular City or Congregation, that God would pour out a bleffing upon the Miniftry of the word, Sacraments and Difcipline, upon the Civil Government, and all the Families and perfons therein; For mercy

to the afflicted in any inward or outward diftrefs; For feafon able weather, and fruitful feafons, as time may require: For a verting. Judgments that we either feel or fear, or are liable unto, as famine, fword, peftilence, and fuch like. To Pray earnestly for his grace and effectual affiftance to the fanctification of His holy Sabbath, the Lord's-day, in all the duties thereof, that the Lord who teacheth to profit, would graciously pleafe to pour out the Spirit of grace, together with the outward means there. of, caufing us to attain such a measure of the excellency of the knowlege of Chrift Jefus our Lord, that we may account all. things but as drofs, in comparifon of Him, and that we tafting the firft-fruits of the glory to come, may long for a more full and perfect communion with Him. That God would in special manner furnish His Servant now called to difpence the Bread of Life unto His Houfhold, with wifdom, fidelity, zeal and utterance, that he may divide the word of God aright, to every one his portion, in evidence and demonftration of the Spirit and power, and that the Lord would circumcife the ears and hearts. of the hearers to hear in love, and receive with meeknefs the ingrafted word, ftrengthen them against the temptations of Satan, the cares of the world, the hardnefs of their own hearts, and what foever elfe may hinder their profitable and faving hearing. § 23. The Sermon being ended, the Minifter is to give thanks for the great love of God in fending of his Son Jefus Prayers afChrift unto us, for the communication of his Holy Spirit, forter Sermon. the light and liberty of the glorious gofpel, for the admirable goodnefs of God, in freeing the land from Anti-christian darknefs and tyranny, for the reformation of religion, and many temporal bleffings: and to pray for the continuance of the gofpel, and all ordinances thereof in their purity, p wer and liberty: and to turn fome of the most useful heads of the Sermon into fome few petitions, and to pray that it may abide in the heart, and bring forth fruit in the life and converfation. To pray for preparation for death and jugment, and a watching for the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift; to intreat of God the forgiveness of the iniquity of our holy things, and the acceptation of our piritual facrifice, through the merit and mediation of our Great High Prieft and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Public

$24. Notwithstanding of the above Directory for public The meanFrayers, the Minifter may (as in prudence he fhall fee meet) make ing of the ufe of fome part of thefe petitions after the Sermon, or he may offer Directory. up to Godfome of the thanksgivings in his Prayer before Sermon.

and the Au

.25. By the Act of Affembly, Aug. 6th, 1649, their Com- Of Singing miffion being impowered to emit the Paraphrafe of the Pfalms, of Palms, and eftablish the fame for public ufe, they did accordingly con-thority of dude and establish the Paraphrafe of the Pfalms in Metre, now the prefent ufed in this Church, after the Prefbyteries had fent their animad-paraphrafe. verfions thereupon,

the Line.

Singing is 25. It was an ancient practice of the Church, as it is yet not to be in of fome Reformed Churches abroad, for the Minifter or Preterrupt'd by reading of centor to read over as much of the Pfalm in Metre together, as was intended to be Sung at once, and then the harmony and melody followed without interruption, and people did either learn to read, or get moft of the Pfalins by heart; but afterwards it being found, that when a new Paraphrafe of the Pfalms was appointed, it could not at firft be fo eafy for the people to fol low, then became it cuftomary, that each line was read by itself, and then fung. But now having for fo long a time made use of this Paraphrafe, and the number of thefe who can read being increased, it is but reasonable that the ancient custom should be revived, according to what is infinuated by the Directory on this fubject. And that fuch who cannot read may know what Pfalms to get by heart, let fuch be affixed on fome confpicuous part of the Pulpit as are to be fung in public at next meeting of the congregation. It were to be wished that masters of families would paye the way for the more eafy introducing of our former practice by reviving and obferving the fame in their family worship. Scripture § 27. In the 38 Seff. of Affem. 1648, there is an A&t for Songs to be fed in Fa examining the Labours of Mr. Zachary Boyd, upon the other milies, and Scriptuc-Songs. And by Affem. 1706, Seff. 4. the Scriptureprepar'd for Songs by Mr. Patrick Sympfon, Minifter at Renfrew, are republic Ufe. commended to be used in private Families: and in order to pre

of the Soul

pare them for the public ufe of the Church, this was renewed in Affem. 1707, and by the 15 Act of Affem. 1708, their Commiffion is inftructed and appointed to confider the printed Verfion of the Scriptue Songs, with the remarks of Prefbyteries thereupon, and after examination thereof, they are authorised and impowered to conclude and emit the fame, for the public ufe of the Church: the prefent Verfion of the Pfalms having been ordered in the fame manner, in the year 1649. The defignf 28. Though a Believer be afflicted, yet he is to fing fince & Intention it is fuch a duty as prayer is, tendeth to cheer the foul's dif in Singing. pofition, and to fweeten and mitigate the crofs unto it. Complaints of our fins and failings may be mournful Songs. And because God hath redeemed, pardoned and comforted others; therefore we are to rejoice in the hope and defires of the fame to ourfelves. Though the fubject of a fong doth not always quadrate with our cafe, yet unto a judicious attentive perfon there is always fome attribute of God, fome providence or word of His, in that very fubject to be praifed. In the imprecatory Pfalms, we fing to the praife of Divine juftice, againft the malicious enemies of His Church, like unto thefe that the Pfalmift did aim against.

Minifterial

with a

$29. The Minister ufeth to dismiss the Congregation benediction folemn Bleffing or Prayer to God for them, which ordinarily is in thefe or the like words, 2 Cor. xiii. 14. "The Grace of the

"Lord Jefus Chrift, the Love of God the Father, and the "Communion of the Holy Ghoft be with you all, Amen ;" but when Probationers for the Miniftery are preaching, they ufe to pronounce the Bleffing with this variation, inftead of "be with You," they fay," be with Us." And the Moder ators of General Affemblies obferve the fame ftile-in pronouncing of the Bleffing at their diffolution. Yet feing no Minifter of a Congregation, doth put up that public Prayer alone, it would therefore feem, it fhould always run in the ordinary file of other Congregational Petitions, viz. "Be with Us."

30. Minifters their Bowing in the Pulpit, though a Lawful Bowing in Cuftom, is hereafter to be laid afide, for fatisfaction of the defires the pulpit to of the Synod of England, February 7th, 1645.

TITLE II.

Of Family Worship.

be luid afds

1.1. BY Afembly 1694, they approve of the following Neglector

Act of Affembly 24th, August 1647, revived Habitual

rules and directions, for private and fecret Worship, and mutual of Family Worship edification, for cherishing Piety, maintaining Unity, and avoid- Cenfurable ing Schifm and Divifion. And Minifters and Ruling Elders are by Sufpenrequired to make diligent fearch in the congregation, whether fion from there be among them any Family which neglects to perform Fa- the Lords mily Worfhip; And if any fuch be found, the head of the Fa.. Table mily is first to be admonished privately, to amend his Fanlt, and in cafe of his continuance therein, he is to be gravely reproved by the Seffion: After which reproof, if he be found ftill to neglect Family Worship, let him be fufpended from the Lord's Supper.

§ 2. The Head of every Family is to have a care, that both Secret Wor themfelves and all within their charge be daily diligent in per-performed. hip to be forming of fecret worship, and be given to Prayer and meditation.

3. The ordinary Duties of Families conveened for the ex- What Faercife of piety are thefe, first, Prayer and Praises; next reading mily Wor of the Scriptures, with Catechizing in a plain way together, hip is. with Godly Conferences, as alfo admonitions and rebukes upon just reafons.

tures to be

4. The Master of a Family though of the beft Qualifica- Reading tions, is not to take on him to interpret the Scriptures; Yet it of the Scrip is commendable, that, by way of conference, they make fome Improv'd in good ufe of what hath been read and heard. As for example, Family-conif any fin be reproved in the word read, ufe may be made there ference. of, to make all the Family Circumfpect and Watchful against the fame; Or, if any Judgment be threatened, or mentioned to have been inflicted in that portion of Scripture which is read, afe may be made, to make all the Family fear, left the fame or a worse Judgment befal them, unless they beware of the fins that