thereof, kept from the Lord's table; and divers able and faithful minifters debarred from the exercise of their ministry (to the endangering of many thousand fouls, in a time of fuch fcarcity of faithful paftors) and spoiled of their livelyhood, 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 there were no other worship, or way of worship of GOD, amongst us, but only the service book; to the great hindrance of the preaching of the word, and (in fome places, especially of late) to the juftling of it out, as unneceffary; or (at beft) as far inferior to the reading of common-prayer, which was made no better than an idol by many ignorant and fuperftitious people, who pleafing themselves in their prefence at that service, and their lip-labour in bearing a part in it, have thereby hardned themselves in their ignorance and carelesness of faving knowledge and true piety.

In the mean time, papifts boafted that the book was a compliance with them in a great part of their fervice; and fo 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 warrantableness of impofing of the former ceremonies, new ones were daily obtruded upon the church.

Add hereunto (which was not foreseen, but fince hath come to pafs) that the liturgy hath been a great means, as on the one hand to make and increase an idle and unedify. ing ministry, which contented itself with set forms made to their hands by others, without putting forth themselves to exercise the gift of prayer, with which our Lord Jefus Christ pleaseth to furnish all his fervants whom he calls to that of fice: fo, on the other fide, it hath been, (and ever would be, if continued) a matter of endless ftrife and contention in the church, and a fnare both to many godly and faithful minifters, who have been perfecuted and filenced upon that occafion;

and

and to others of hopeful parts, many of which have been, and more ftill would be, diverted from all thoughts of the miniry to other studies; especially in these later times, wherein God vouchfafeth to his people more and better means for the discovery of error and superstition, and for attaining of kaowledge 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 inftruments, 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 fome 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 other reformed churches, and the defires of many of the godly among ourselves, and withal give some publick testimony of our endeavours for uniformity in divine worship, which we have promised in our Solemn League and Covenant: we have, after earnest and frequent calling upon the name of God, and after much confultation, not with flesh and blood, but with his holy word, resolved to lay afide the former liturgy, with the many rites and ceremoies formerly used in the worship of God; and have agreed upon this following directory for all the parts of publick wor ship, at ordinary and extraordinary times.

Wherein our care hath been, to hold forth fuch 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 fenfe and scope of the prayers, and other parts of publick worship, being known to all, there may be a confent of all the churches in thofe things that contain the fubftance of the fervice and worship of God; and the ministers may be hereby directed, in their administrations, to keep like foundnefs in doctrine and prayer, and may, if need be, have some help and furniture, and yet fo as they become not hereby flothful and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Chrift in them; but that each one, by meditation, by taking heed to himself and the flock of God committed to him, and by wise obferving the ways of divine providence, may be careful to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials prayer and exhortation, as fhall be needful upon all occafions.

of

Of the Affembling of the Congregation, and their Behaviour in the publick Worship of God.

WHEN the congregation is to meet for publick worship,

the people (having before prepared their hearts thereunto) ought all to come, and join therein; not abfenting themfelves from the publick ordinances through negligence, or upon pretence of private meetings.

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

The congregation being affembled, the minifter, after folemn calling on them to the worshipping of the great name of God, is to begin with prayer,

In all reverence and humility acknowledging the incom'prehenfible greatness and majesty of the Lord, (in whose prefence they do then in a special manner appear) and their ' own vilenefs and unworthirrefs to approach fo near him, with their utter inability of themselves to fo great a work; * and humbly befeeching him for pardon, affiftance, and ac

'ceptance

ceptance in the whole fervice then to be performed: and for a bleffing on that particular portion of his word then to be 'read: and all in the name and mediation of the Lord Jefus 'Chrift.'

The publick 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 reverence to any perfon prefent, or coming in; as alfo from all gazing, sleeping, and other undecent behaviour, which may disturb the minifter or people, or hinder themfelves or others in the fervice of God.

If any, through neceffity, be hindred from being present at 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.

R

Of publick Reading of the holy Scriptures.

EADING of the word in the congregation, being part of the publick 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, fuch as intend the miniftry, may occafionally both read the word, and exercife their gift in preaching in the congregation, if allowed by the presbytery thereunto.

All the canonical books of the Old and New Teftament (but none of those which are commonly called apocrypha) fhall be publickly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed tranflation, diftinctly, that all may hear and underftand.

How large a portion fhall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the minifter; but it is convenient, that ordinarily Kk 4

one

one chapter of each teftament be read at every meeting: and fometimes more, where the chapters be short, or the coherence 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 fcriptures; ordinarily, where the reading in either teftament endeth on one Lord's day, it is to begin the next.

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

When the minifter, who readeth, fhall 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 ftraitned, or rendered tedious. Which rule is to be observed in all other publick performances.

Befide publick reading of the holy fcriptures, every perfon that can read, is to be exhorted to read the scriptures 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,

Of publick Prayer before the Sermon.

FTER reading of the Word, (and finging of the Psalm)

the minister 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 fenfe thereof before the Lord, and hunger and thirst after the grace of God in Jefus Chrift, by proceeding to a more full confeffion of fin, with fhame and holy confufion of face, and to call upon the Lord to this effect;

To acknowledge our great finfulness, First, by reafon of f original fin, which (befide the guilt that makes us liable to