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OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

Concerning Secret and Private Worship, and mutual Edification; for cherishing Piety, for maintaining Unity, and avoiding Schifm and Division.

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ESIDES the publick worthip in congregations, mercifully established in this land, in great purity; it is expedient and neceffary, that fecret worship of each person alone, and private worship of families, be preffed and fet up: That, with national reformation, the profeffion and power of godlinefs, both perfonal and domeftick, be advanced.

I. And first, For fecret worship, it is most neceffary, 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 perfons of all forts to perform this duty, morning and evening, and at other occafions; 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 thefe; First, Prayer and praises performed, with a special reference, as well to the publick condition of the kirk of God, and this kingdom, as to the prefent cafe

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of the family, and every member thereof. Next, Reading of the fcriptures, with catechising in a plain way, that the understandings of the fimpler 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 alfo, admonition and rebuke, upon juft reafons, from thofe who have authority in the family.

III. As the charge and office of interpreting the holy fcrip tures, is a part of the minifterial calling, which none (however otherwife qualified) fhould take upon him in any place, but he that is duly called thereunto by God and his kirk; fo in every family, where there is any that can read, the holy fcriptures fhould be read ordinarily to the family; and it is commendable, that thereafter they confer, and by way of conference make fome good use of what hath been read and heard: as for example, if any fin be reproved in the word read, use may be made thereof to make all the family circumspect and watchful against the fame; or if any judgment be threatned, or mentioned to have been inflicted in that portion of fcripture which is read, ufe may be made to make all the family fear, left the fame or a worfe judgment befal them, unless they beware of the fin that procured it. And finally, if any duty be required, or comfort held forth in a promife, use may be made to stir up themselves to employ 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 a question or doubt for resolution.

IV. 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 minifter is to ftir up fuch as are lazy, and train up fuch as

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are weak, to a fitnefs to these exercises; it being always free to perfons of quality, to entertain one approved by the prefbytery for performing family-exercife. And in other families where the head of the family is unfit, that another constantly refiding in the family, approved by the minifter and feffion, may be employed in that fervice; wherein the minifter and feffion are to be countable to the presbytery. And, if a minifter by divine providence be brought to any family, it is requifite, that at no time he conveen a part of the family for worship, fecluding the reft, except in fingular cafes, eípecially concerning thefe 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 perfon under pretence of a calling, be fuffered to perform worship in families, to, or for the fame; seeing perfons tainted with errors, or aiming at divifion, may be ready (after that manner) to creep into houses, and lead captive filly and unftable fouls.

VI. At family worship, a special care is to be had that each. family keep by themfelves. Neither requiring, inviting, nor admitting perfons from diverfe families, unlefs it be thofe who are lodged with them, or at meals or otherwife with them upon fome lawful occafion.

VII. Whatfoever have been the effects and fruits of meetings of perfons of diverse families, in the times of corruption. or trouble (in which cafes many things are commendable, which otherwise are not tolerable) yet, when God hath bleffed us with peace and purity of the gofpel, fuch meetings of perfons of divers families (except in cafes mentioned in thefe directions are to be disapproved, as tending to the hindrance. of the religious exercife of each family by itfelf, to the prejudice of the publick ministry, to the renting of the families of particular congregations, and (in progrefs of time) of the whole kirk. Befides many offences which may come thereby, Pp

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to the hardning of the hearts of carnal men, and grief of the godly.

VIII. On the Lord's day, after every one of the family apart, and the whole family together, have fought the Lord (in whofe hands the preparation of mens hearts are) to fit them for the publick worship, and to bless to them the publick ordinances; the master of the family ought to take care, that all within his charge repair to the publick worship, that he and they may join with the reft of the congregation; and the publick worship being finished, after prayer, he should take an account what they have heard; and thereafter, to fpend the rest of the time, which they may fpare, in catechifing, and in fpiritual conferences upon the word of God: or elfe (going apart) they ought to apply themselves to reading, meditation, and secret prayer, that they may confirm and increase their communion with God, that fo the profit which they found in the publick 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 those who are rude and weaker may begin at a fet form of prayer, but so as they be not fluggifh in ftirring up in themselves (according to their daily neceffities) the fpirit of prayer, which is given to all the children of God in fome measure: to which effect, they ought to be more fervent and frequent in fecret prayer to God, for enabling of their hearts to conceive, and their tongues to exprefs convenient defires to God for their family: and in the mean time, for their greater encouragment, let these materials of prayer be meditated upon, and made ufe of, as followeth.

'Let them confefs to God how unworthy they are to come in his prefence, and how unfit to worship his majefty: and 'therefore earnestly afk of God the spirit of prayer.

They are to confefs their fins, and the fins of the family; accufing, judging and condemning themselves for them, till 'they

'they bring their fouls to fome measure of true humiliation, They are to pour out their fouls to God, in the name of Christ, by the Spirit, for forgiveness of fins; for grace to repent, to believe, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly; and that they may serve God with joy and delight, walking before him.

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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.

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They are to pray for such particular benefits, spiritual and temporal, as they stand in need of for the time (whe❝ther it be morning, or evening) as anent health or sickness, 'profperity or adversity.

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They ought to pray for the kirk of Chrift in general, for all the reformed kirks, and for this kirk in particular, ́ and for all that fuffer for the name of Chrift; for all our fuperiors, the king's majefty, the queen, and their children; for the magiftrates, minifters, and whole body of the congregation whereof they are members, as well for their neighbours abfent in their lawful affairs, as for those that are at home.

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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 doing of his will, and with affurance that them'felves are accepted, and what they have asked according to 'his will fhall be done.'

X. These exercises ought to be performed in great fincerity, without delay, laying afide all exercises of wordly businefs or hinderances, notwithstanding the mockings of atheists and profane men; in refpect of the great mercies of God to this land, and of his fevere corrections wherewith lately he I hath exercised us. And, to this effect, perfons of eminency (and all elders of the kirk) not only ought to ftir up themfelves and families to diligence herein; but alfo to concur effectually, that in all other families, where they have power

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