THe General Assembly, after ma­ture deliberation, doth approve the following Rules and Directi­ons, for cherishing Piety and pre­venting Division and Schisme, and doth appoint Ministers & Ru­ling Elders in each Congregation to take special care that these Di­rections be observed and followed; As likewise that Presbyteries and Provincial Synods enquire and make tryal whether the said Directions be duly observed in their bounds, and to reprove or censure (according to the quality of the offence) such as shal be found to be re­proveable or censurable therin. And to the end that [Page 4] these Directions may not be rendred ineffectual and un­profitable among some through the usual neglect of the very substance of the duty of Family Worship, The Assemby 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 such Family be found, the head of that Family is to be first admonished privately to amend this fault; And in case of his continuing therein, he is to be gravely and sadly reproved by the Session. After which reproof, if he be found stil to neglect Family Worship, Let him befor his obstinacy, insuch an offenc,e suspended and debarred from the Lords Supper as being justly esteem­ed unworthy to communicate therein till he amend.

BEsides the publick Worship in Con­gregations, mercifully established in this Land, in great purity; It is expedient and necessary, that Secret Worship of each person alone, and Private Worship of Families be pres­sed and set up, That with National Reformation, the profession and power of Godliness both Personal and Domestick be advanced.

I. And first fot 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 Pastours, within their se­veral Charges, to press Persons of all sorts to per­forme [Page 6] this duty Morning and Evening, and at other occasions, but also 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: First, Prayer and Praises performed, with a special reference as wel to the publick condition of the Kirk of God and this Kingdom, as to the present case of the Family, and every member thereof. Next, Reading of Scrip­tures with Catechizing in a plain way, that the un­derstandings of the simple may be the better enabled to profit under the publick Ordinances, and they made more capable to understand the Scriptures when they are read; Together with godly conferences ten­ding to the edification of all the members in the most holy faith: As also, admonition and rebuke upon just reasons from those who have Authority in the Family.

III. As the Charge and Office of interpreting the holy Scriptures, is a part of the Ministerial calling, which none (howsoever otherwise qualified) should take upon him in any place, but he that is duly called thereunto by God and his Kirk: So in every Family where there is any that can read, The holy Scriptures should be read ordinarily to the Family; And it is commendable that thereafter they confer, and by way of conference make some good use of what hath been read and heard: As for example, if any sin be repro­ved [Page 7] in the Word read, use may be made thereof, to make all the Family circumspect and watchful against the same; Or, if any judgment be threatned or men­tioned to have been inflicted in that portion of Scrip­ture which is read, use may be made to make all the Family fear, lest the same or a worse judgment be­fall them, unless they beware of the sin that procured it: And finally, if any duty be required, or comfort held forth in a promise, use may be made to stir up themselves to imploy Christ for strength to enable them for doing the commanded duty, and to apply the offered comfort; In all which the Master of the Family is to have the chief hand, And any member of the Family may propone one question or doubt for resolution.

IIII. The head of the Family is to take care that none of the Family withdraw himself from any part of Family worship; And seeing the ordinary perfor­mance of all the parts of Family-worship belongeth properly to the head of the Family, The Minister is to [...]r up such as are lasie, and train up such as are weak to a fitness for these exercises. It being always free to persons of quality to entertain one approved by the Presbytery for performing Family exercise; And in other families where the head of the Family is unfit that another constantly residing in the Family approved by the Minister and Session, may be im­ployed in that service; Wherein the Minister and Session are to be countable to the Presbytery. And if a Minister by divine providence be brought to any Family, It is requisite, that at no time he conveen [Page 8] a part of the Family for Worship secluding the rest; Except in singular cases; specially concerning these parties, which (in Christian prudence) need not, or ought not to be imparted to others.

V. Let no Idler who hath no particular calling, or vagrant person under pretence of a calling, be suffer­ed to perform Worship in Families, to or for the same; Seeing persons tainted with errors or aiming at division, may be ready (after that manner) to creep into houses and lead captive silly and unstable souls.

VI. At Family Worship a special care is to be had, that each Family keep by themselves; Neither requiring, inviting, nor admitting persons from divers Families; Unless it be those who are lodged with them or at meal, or otherwise with them upon some lawful occasion.

VII. Whatsoever hath been the effects and fruits of meetings of persons of divers Families in the times of corruption or trouble (in which cases many things are commendable, which otherwise are not tolerable) Yet when God hath blessed us with Peace and the Pu­rity of the Gospel, such meetings of persons of divers families (except in the cases mentioned in these dire­ctions) are to be disapproved, as tending to the hinde­rance of the Religious exercise of each Family by it self, to the prejudice of the Publick Ministry, to the renting of the Families of particular Congregations, & (in progress of time) of the whole Kirk; besides ma­ny offences which may come thereby, to the hard­ning [Page 9] of the hearts of carnal men, and grief of the godly.

VIII. On the Lords day, after every one of the Family apart, and the whole Family together have sought the Lord (in whose hands the preparation of mens hearts are) to fit them for the Publike Worship, and to blesse to them the Publike Ordinances; The Master of the Family ought to take care that all with­in his charge repair to the publike Worship, that he and they may joyn with the rest of the Congregation; And, the publike Worship being finished, after prayer, he should take an account what they have heard, And thereafter to spend the rest of the time which they may spare, in Catechizing and in Spiritual Conferences up­on the Word of God; Or else (going apart) they ought to apply themselves to reading, meditation, and secret prayer, that they may confirm and increase their Communion with God; That so the profit which they found in the publike Ordinances may be cherished and promoved, and they more edified unto eternal life.

IX. So many as can conceive Prayer, ought to make use of that gift of God: Albeit these who are rude and weaker may begin at a set Form of Prayer; But so, as they be not sluggish in stirring up in themselves (ac­cording to their daily necessities) the spirit of Prayer, which is given to all the children of God in some mea­sure. To which effect, they ought to be the more fervent and frequent in secret Prayer to God, for en­abling of their hearts to conceive, and their tongues to [Page 10] expresse convenient desires to God for their Family. And in the mean time, for their greater encouragement, let these materials of Prayer be meditated upon, and made use of, as followeth.

Let them confesse to God how unworthy they are to come in his presence, and how unfit to wor­ship his Majestie; And therefore earnestly ask of God the spirit of Prayer.

They are to confesse their sins, and the sins of the Family, accusing, judging, and condemning themselves for them, till they bring their souls to some measure of true humiliation.

They are to pour out their souls to God, in the Name of Christ, by the Spirit, for forgivenesse of sins, for Grace to repent, to believe, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and that they may serve God with joy and delight, walking before him.

They are to give thanks to God for his many mercies to his People, and to themselves, and espe­cially for his love in Christ, and for the light of the Gospel.

They are to pray for such particular benefits, Spiritual and Temporal, as they stand in need of for the time, (whether it be Morning or Evening) as health or sicknesse, prosperity or adversity.

They ought to pray for the Kirk of Christ in general, for all the Reformed Kirks, and for this Kirk in particular, and for all that suffer for the Name of Christ, for all our Superiours, The Kings Majestie, the Queen, and their Children; for the Magistrates, Ministers, and whole body of [Page 11] the Congregation whereof they are members, as well for their Neighbours absent in their lawful af­fairs, as for those that are at home.

The Prayer may be closed with an earnest desire that God may be glorified in the coming of the Kingdom of his Son, and in the doing of his will; And with assurance that themselves are accepted, and what they have asked according to his will shall be done.

X. These Exercises ought to be performed in great sincerity without delay, laying aside all Exercises of worldly businesse or hinderances, Notwithstanding the mockings of Atheists and profane men; In re­spect of the great mercies of God to this Land, and of his severe Corrections wherewith lately he hath ex­ercised us. And to this effect, persons of eminencie (and all Elders of the Kirk) not onely ought to stir up themselves and their Families to diligence herein; But also to concurr effectually, that in all other Families where they have Power and Charge, the said exercises be conscionably performed.

XI. Besides the ordinary duties in Families which are above-mentioned, extraordinary duties both of hu­miliation and thanksgiving are to be carefully perfor­med in Families, when the Lord by extraordinary oc­casions (private or publick) calleth for them.

XII. Seeing the Word of God requireth, That we should consider one another provoke unto love and good works; Therefore at all times, and especially [Page 12] in this time wherein profanity abounds, and mock­ers walking after their own lusts think it strange that others run not with them to the same excesse of riot, Every member of this Kirk ought to stir up themselves and one another to the duties of mutuall Edificati­on, by instruction, admonition, rebuke, exhorting one another to manifest the Grace of God, in denying un­godlinesse and worldly lusts, and in living godly, so­berly and righteously in this present world, by com­forting the feeble-minded, and praying with, or for one another: Which duties respectively are to be per­formed upon speciall occasions offered by divine pro­vidence; As namely, when under any calamity, crosse, or great difficulty, counsell or comfort is sought: Or when an offender is to be reclaimed by private admo­nition; and if that be not effectuall, by joyning one or two more in the admonition, according to the rule of Christ; That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

XIII. And because it is not given to every one to speak a word in season to a wearied or distressed con­science, It is expedient, that a person (in that case) finding no ease after the use of all ordinary means pri­vate and publick, have their addresse to their own Pa­stour, or some experienced Christan: But if the per­son troubled in conscience be of that condition, or of that sex, that discretion, modesty, or fear of scandall requireth a godly, grave, and secret friend to be present with them in their said addresse, It is expedient that such a friend be present.

[Page 13]XIV. When persons of divers Families are brought together by divine providence, being abroad upon their particular Vocations, or any necessary occasions, As they would have the Lord their GOD with them whithersoever they go, they ought to walk with GOD, and not neglect the duties of Prayer and Thanksgiving, but take care that the same be perform­ed by such as the company shall judge fittest: And that they likewise take heed that no corrupt communicati­on proceed out of their mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.

The drift and scope of all these Directions is no o­ther, but that upon the one part the power and pra­ctice of godlinesse among all the Ministers and Mem­bers of this Kirk, according to their severall places and vocations, may be cherished and advanced, and all im­piety and mocking of Religious Exercises suppressed; And upon the other part, that under the name and pre­text of Religious Exercises, no such meetings or pra­ctices be allowed as are apt to breed errour, scandall, schisme, contempt or misregard of the publick Ordi­nances and Ministers, or neglect of the duties of parti­cular Callings, or such other evils as are the works not of the Spirit, but of the Flesh, and are contrary to Truth and Peace.

SInce it hath pleased God of his infinite goodnesse to blesse his Kirk within this Nation with the riches of the Gospel, in giving to us his Ordinan­ces in great purity, liberty, and with­all, a comely and well-established or­der: The Assembly, in the zeal of God, for preserving Order, Unity & Peace in the Kirk, for maintaining that respect which is due to the Ordi­nances and Ministers of Jesus Christ, for preventing Schism, noysome Errours, and all unlawfull practices which may follow on the peoples with-drawing them­selves from their own Congregations, Doth charge e­very Minister to be diligent in fulfilling his Ministerie, to be holy and grave in his conversation, to be faithfull in preaching, declaring the whole counsell of God, and as he hath occasion from the Text of Scripture, to re­prove the sins and errours, and presse the duties of the time; and in all those, to observe the rules prescribed by the Acts of Assembly; wherein if he be negligent, he is to be censured by his own Presbytery. As also ordains every Member in every congregation, to keep their own [Page 15] Paroch Kirk, to communicate there in the Word and Sacraments: And if any person or persons shall here­after usually absent themselves from their own Congre­gations, except in urgent cases made known to, and ap­proven by the Presbytery, The Ministers of these Con­gations whereto they resort, shall both in publike by preaching, and in private by admonition, shew their dis­like of their withdrawing from their own Minister; That in so doing, they may witnesse to all that hear them, their due care to strengthen the hands of their fellow-labourers in the work of the Lord, and their de­testation of any thing that may tend to separation, or any of the above-mentioned evils; Hereby their own Flock will be confirmed in their stedfastnesse, and the unstable spirits of others will be rectified. Like as the Minister of that Congregation from which they do withdraw, shall labour first by private admonition to re­claim them; And if any after private admonition given by their own Pastour do not amend, in that case the Pa­stour shall delate the foresaid persons to the Session, who shall cite and censure them as contemners of the comely Order of the Kirk; And if the matter be not taken order with there, It is to be brought to the Presbytery: For the better observing whereof, the Presbyteries at the Visitation of their several Kirks, and Provincial Assem­blies, in their censure of the several Presbyteries, shall inquire hereanent; Which Inquiry and Report shall be registrate in the Provincial Books, that their diligence may be seen in the General Assembly.