up religious exercise in families And that the Pastor from his particular knowledge of the flock committed to him may apply his doctrine and pray the more pertinently in publike The third is Examination of all sorts of persons who are not known to have some good measure of knowledge before the Communion All these parts of the Ministery in publike and private are performed more diligently or negligently according to the faithfulnesse or unfaithfulnesse of the Minister who hath according to his work his praise or censure at the visitation of the Church by the greater Presbytery No Minister there is suffered to be a non-resident or to have the charge of more Churches But if two small contiguous Parishes be united by the assembly to make up a competent congregation he Preacheth sometime in the one and sometime in the other Church as the people do desire and the Eldership doth direct 2. The order of Baptisme NO other but the Pastor who preacheth the Word hath the power of the Ministration of the Sacraments And concerning Baptisme it useth not to be hastened before some day of the publike meeting of the Congregation nor delayed after but upon necessary impediments and is never ministred in private houses Notice is given thereof in due time to the Pastor and that by the Father of the child if he be not justly hindered that a word may be spoken to him in season After Sermon on the week dayes and after Sermon in the afternoon on the Lords day The Pastor remaining in the same place where he hath Preached and having water in a large Basin provided with a fair Linnen-cloth in a convenient place and in a decent manner The Father or in his necessary absence some other man who is reputed godly presenteth the child to be Baptized The action is begun with a short and pertinent prayer next some words of instruction touching the Author nature use and end of this Sacrament the duties to be performed in the one time of the person to be Baptized and of the parent or viceparent Thirdly he that presenteth the childe maketh confession of the Faith into which the childe is to be Baptized and promiseth to bring up the childe in that Faith and in the fear of God Fourthly the Minister being informed of the name of the childe Baptizeth the childe so named by sprinkling with water Into the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost Lastly the Minister concludeth as well the publike worship for that time as the action with thanksgiving for the Word and Sacraments and with prayer for a blessing and with such Petitions as he useth at other times after Sermon and in end dismisseth the Congregation with the blessing 3. The order of ministring the Communion or the Lords Supper THe Sacrament of the Lords Supper is more frequently ministred in some Congregations then in other according to the number of the Communicants and the Proficiency of the People in the way of Christ and in some places upon one Sabbath in other places upon two or three Sabbaths as it may be done most conveniently which is determined by the Minister and Eldership of the Church None are admited to the Lords Supper but such as upon examination are found to have a compeâ—ent measure of knowledge in the grounds of Christian Religion and the doctrine of the Sacraments and are able according to the Apostles Commandement and professe themselves willing to examine themselves and to renew their Covenant made with God in Baptisme promising to walk as beseemeth Christians and to submit themselves to all the Ordinances of Christ. The ignorant the Scandalous the obstinate and such as are under Censure or publike admonition in the way to censure are not admitted Neither are strangers received but upon sufficient testimony or otherwise be very well known The Sabbath day next before the Communion shall be celebrated publike warning thereof is made by the Pastor and of the doctrine of preparation to be taught the last day of the week or at least toward the end of the week That the Communicants may be the better prepared by the use of the means both in private and publike Upon the day of the Communion notice being given after the doctrine of preparation of the houres of meeting which useth to be before the ordinary time observed other Sabbaths a large Table decently covered is so placed as that the Communicants may best sit about it and the whole Congregation may both hear and behold The Preface prayers and preaching of that day are all framed to the present matter of the Sacrament and the duties of the receivers after Sermon immediatly the Pastor useâ—h an exhortation and debarreth from the Table all ignorant prophane and scandalous persons which being done he goeth from the Pulpit and sitteth down with the people at the Table where the bread standing before him in great Basins fitly prepared for breaking and distribution and the wine in large Cups in like manner he first readeth and shortly expoundeth the words of Institution shewing the nature use and end of the Sacrament and the duties of the Communicants next he useth a prayer wherein he both giveth thanks especially for the Inestimable benefit of Redemption and for the means of the Word and Sacraments particularly of this Sacrament and prayeth earnestly to God for his powerfull presence and effectuall working to accompany his own Ordinance to the comfort of his people now to communicate The Elements thus being Sanctified by the Word and Prayer the Minister Sacramentally breaketh the bread taketh and eateth himself and delivereth to the people sitting in decent and reverent manner about the Table but without difference of degrees or acceptions of persons these that are neerest the Minister having received the bread do divide it from hand to hand amongst themselves when the Minister delivereth the bread according to the commandment and example of Christ he commandeth the people to take and eat saying Take ye eat ye this is the Body of the Lord which is broken for you Do it in remembrance of him After all at the Table have taken and eaten the Minister taketh the Cup and drinking first himself he giveth it to the neerest saying This Cup is the New Testament in the Blood of the Lord Iesus which is shed for many for the remission of sins drink ye all of it for as often as ye do eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come All this time the Elders in a competent number and in a grave and reverent manner do attend about the Table that all who are admitted to the Table may have the bread and wine in their own place and order of sitting the Minister also continuing in his place after the giving of the Elements doth either by his own speech stir up the Communicants to Spirituall meditations of faith of the great love of God in Christ and of the Passion of Christ and to holy affections
of love joy godly sorrow thankfulnesse and whatsoever may concern them at that time or causeth be read the history of the Passion or some other part of Scripture which may work the same effect After all at the Table have received the Cup they rise from the Table and return in a quiet manner to their places another company cometh to the Table and so a third and a fourth till all have received in the same manner as the first during which time of removing of the one and approaching of the other the whole Congregation singeth some part of a Psalm touching the Passion or the love and kindenesse of God to his people as Psal. 22 or 103 c. After the last company hath received the Minister rising from the Table goeth to the Pulpit where after a short speech tending to thanksgiving he doth againe solemnely give thankes unto God for so great a mercy and prayeth as on other Sabbaths The prayer ended all joyn in singing a Psalm of praise sutable to the occasion and are dismissed with the blessing before which none are to depart unlesse in case of necessity The Communion being thus celebrated in the forenoon the people meet again in the afternoon at which time the Minister teacheth the Doctrine of thanksgiving and closeth the publike and solemn worship of that day from which the people use to depart refreshed with the grace and peace of God and strengthened with new and fresh resolutions to serve the Lord. 4. The order of publike fasting or humiliation SOmetimes the fast or humiliation is of larger extent to be observed by all the Churches in the Kingdome sometime more particular of one or more Congregations Sometimes the fast is kept one day only sometimes all the dayes of the week Sometimes on the Sabbath only especially in the Countrey Churches Sometimes upon some day of the week also as in Cities or Towns They neither make difference of dayes for humiliation nor do they keep any set fasts or feasts all is disposed and done according as the occasions and causes do presse or require as may serve most for the end intended and may best ply with the opportunities and necessities of the Congregation The Sabbath next before the fast notice is given of the Causes of humiliation and of the times to be observed with earnest exhortation to the people to prepare themselves for afflicting their soules and extraordinary humiliation In many places especially in Cities Towns and greater Villages or where the people may conveniently assemble The day before the fast the doctrine of preparation to the fast is taught expressing the nature and use thereof for averting the wrath of God The dayes of the fast from morning to evening are kept holy unto the Lord in the nature of an Extraordinary Sabbath with abstinence from meat and drink from delights and worldly labours with the exercises of reading the Law plain preaching interpretation and particular application deep humiliation and renting of the heart for sin large and hearty confessions of sin fervent supplications and earnest seeking of God by prayer for pardon with singing of penitentiall Psalms after which they have many times found wonderfull deliverances and extraordinary blessings from Heaven 5. The order of marriage ALthough marriage be no Sacrament nor part of the Worship of God yet they conceive that the Matrimoniall conjunction of Christians and members of the Church is most conveniently solemnized in the face of the Congregation with instruction out of Gods Word of the Institution use and ends of marriage and of the duties of married persons and with blessing by the Minister and with the prayers of the Church The parties are contracted before they be married and before they be contracted if there be any suspicion of their ignorance they are examined in the grounds of Religion and in their knowledge of the mutuall duties which they owe each to other Notice also is given of the consent of Parents or vice-Parents and that neither of them is contracted before to any other party nor any impediment from the degrees of Affinity or Consanguinity prohibited The contract and purpose of marriage is also published three severall Sabbaths before the same be solemnized and if there be nothing objected to hinder their marriage then are they solemnly married in the face of the Congregation before the ending of 40 dayes from the time of the contract They require for marriage the free consent of the parties come to the yeers of discretion and the knowledge and consent of the Parents they do not allow of the marrige of Infants nor secret and clandestine contracts and marriages nor do they use any idle rites or superstitious Ceremonies in the time of the Solemnization 6. The Order of Buriall of the dead THough Buriall be no part of the Worship of God nor of the work of the Ministry yet they think meet that an honest and competent number of Christians accompany the Christian friends of the dead unto the Grave that they may confer and comfort one another by the way and to see the Buriall done in a grave and decent manner remembring that sin is the cause of death that Christ hath overcome death and the grave and that they who die in the Lord shall rise again to life everlasting Their Burials are without singing or reading which the superstitious do conceive to be profitable for the dead without Funerall Sermons which do beget superstition and tend to flartery make the Gospel to be preached with respect of persons and are most pressed by such as do least regard Sermons at other times and without Feasting with affectate shews of mourning and any further pomp or Ceremony than civill differences and respects do require They conceive for many reasons that the places of the assembling of the people for the Word and Sacraments ought not to be places of Buriall which is therefore forbidden and for the most part is forborn in that Kingdom Registers are ordained to be kept of the namâ—â— and times of all that are baptized of all that are married and all that are married IV. Of Doctors and their Office and of Schools THe Church of Scotland hath had no other Doctors but Masters and Professors of Divinity in Universities and Colledges of which some use to be chosen to be Elders of particular Churches and Commissioners to the Nationall Assembly and besides these the Teachers of more private and particular Schools They use to be examined and tried both in their learning and life by the Presbitery and their charge is not only to bring up their schollers in humane literature and liberall Arts but also in Civill Conversation and good manners but especially in the Grounds of Christian Religion by way of Catechisme As the Doctors of Colledges do keep the meetings of the Presbitery and by course do prophesie or make the exercise with the Ministers so also do the masters of private Schooles for the greater part of them who
fervently This liberty of Election is in part prejudged hindred by Patronages and Presentations which are still in use there not by the rules of their discipline but by toleration of that w ch they cannot amend in the mean time procuring that in the case of presentations by Patrons the examination and tryall by the Presbytery is still the same The Congregation where he who is presented is to serve is called if they have ought to object against his Doctrine or life after they have heard him or that their consent may be had And if he be found Reus ambitus or to have gone about to procure a presentation he is repelled declared incapable of that place No Pastor may thrust himself upon a flock nor after his entry desert his charge or remove himself to another Congregation at his own pleasure The Deserters if any be are appointed to be admonished and in case of obstinacy to be excommunicated If a Minister upon lawfull and urgent causes desire to remove from one Congregation to another of if a Minister be called to another Congregation for which he is more fit or be called forth upon grave considerations for some publike employment tending to the common benefit of the Church This is not done by private transaction and particular agreement of Ministers and Congregations but by the wisedom and authority of the Presbyteries or Assemblies of the Church Nor is it done by them but upon such reasons as should move that Church wherein for the present he ministreth to give her consent for whose supply also either a convenient course is presently taken or the way of supply is seen to be easie The Minister thus removed from one Church to another receiveth no new ordination but by vertue of his first ordination he serveth in the place unto which he is called and elected Only at his admission one of the Presbytery who is appointed to preach of the duty of Pastors and people and to pray for a blessing recommendeth him to the Congregation who have before declared their willingnesse and desire to receive him and the Congregation to his care and fidelity And the Pastor if any be together with the Elders with whom he sitteth before the Pulpit take him by the hand Pastors and Ministers of the Word through old age sicknesse or other infirmitie being disabled to bear the weight and discharge the duty of their Pastorall charge Do notwithstanding still retain the honour of their office and comfort of maintenance during their lifetime And they performing what they are able in reaching government visitation and catechising others are joyned with them by the Presbytery and with the consent of the people to be their fellow labourers and to undergo the main charge The same course of election and admission for substance and in form according to the nature of their office is observed in the calling of other Officers as Ruling Elders and Deacons At the beginning and where there be none the Pastor with the gravest holiest and those of the soundest judgement and best affection to Religion do choose them with the consent of the rest of the people And where particular Elderships are already constitute the Pastor and the Elders who are now in office do choose such as are to succeed those who are removed by death or any other way or by vicissitude are to relieve such as are now in place And that the election of one or moe at first or afterward may proceed with the consent of the people their names are published and made known to the congregation by the Pastors that if ought may be objected against any of them why they may not be received to the office of an Elder or Deacon it may be examined and if it be found important others may be chosen When the day of their admission cometh the Pastor having fram'd his doctrine to the purpose calleth them up and remembring both them of their duty in their charge and the people of their submitting themselves unto them they arâ— solemnly received with lifted up hands giving their promises to be faithfull III. The discharge of their duties in particular and first of the Pastor 1. The order kept in Preaching THe Pastor is bound to teach the Word of God in season and out of season and beside all occasionall and week day Sermons which in Cities and Townes use to be at least two dayes every week The Congregation doth assemble twice on the Lords day and for this end notice is given of the time by the sound of a Bell. When so many of all sorts men and women masters and servants young and old as shall meet together are assembled The publike worship beginneth with prayer and reading some portion of holy Scripture both of the Old and New Testament which the people hear with attention and reverence and after reading the whole Congregation joyneth in singing some Psalm This reading and singing do continue till the Preaching begin At which time the Minister having prefaced a little for quickening and lifting up the hearts of the people first maketh a prayer for remission of sin Sanctification and all things needfull joyning also confession of sins and thanksgiving with speciall relation to the hearers After which in the forenoon is another Psalm and after the Psalm a prayer for a blessing upon the preaching of the Word His Text is ordinarily some part of that Book of Canonicall Scripture which in his judgement he conceiveth to be fittest for the times and the condition of his flock The Doctrine deduced is explained and confirmed by Scripture and fitly and faithfully applyed all in such methode manner and expression as may most edifie the hearers After Sermon he praiseth God and prayeth again for a blessing joyning earnest petitions for the Church Vniversall and for the coming of the Kingdom of Christ for all the afflicted Churches for the Churches in his M ajest Dominions for the Church of Scotland Ministery and People for the King the Queen the Prince and their whole Royall Progeny for all the members of that particular Congregation as well absent in their lawfull affairs as present for all that are afflicted among them in body minde or means The prayer ended a Psalm is sung and the people dismissed with a blessing In the afternoon either the same order in all things almost is followed in performing the parts of publike worship or some part of the Catechisme is expounded and thereafter so much time as may be spared is bestowed in Catechising some part of the Parish warned particularly to attend Beside the publike means they have other three helps for edification one is an ordinary course of Catechising on such dayes of the week as are judged to be fittest by the Pastor and Eldership Another is the visitation of families by the Pastors and the Elders each one in his own quarter for trying the manners of the people whether they walk worthy of the Gospel for setting and holding