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A36061 A directory for the publique worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory bee forthwith printed and published. England and Wales. Parliament. Ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common prayer.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652) 1644 (1644) Wing D1545; ESTC R210506 26,872 96

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them that doe well the terrour of all that doe evill and the great good of the whole Church and of all his Kingdomes for the conversion of the Queen the religious education of the Prince and the rest of the Royall seed For the comforting of the afflicted Queen of Bohemia sister to our Soveraign and for the restitution and establishment of the illustrious Prince Charles Elector Palatine of the Rhene to all his Dominions and Dignities For a blessing upon the High Court of Parliament when sitting in any of these Kingdomes respectively the Nobility the subordinate Iudges and Magistrates the Gentry and all the Commonalty For all Pastors and Teachers that God would fill them with his Spirit make them exemplarily holy sober just peaceable and gratious in their lives sound faithfull and powerfull in their Ministery and follow all their labours with abundance of successe and blessing and give unto all his people Pastors according to his owne heart For the Vniversities and all Schooles and Religious seminaries of Church and Common-wealth that they may flourish more and more in Learning and piety For the particular City or Congregation that God would powre out a blessing upon the Ministery of the Word Sacraments and Discipline upon the Civill Government and all the severall Families and persons therein For mercy to the afflicted under any inward or outward distresse For seasonable weather and fruitfull seasons as the time may require For averting the Judgements that wee either feele or feare or are liable unto as famine pestilence the sword and such like And with confidence of his mercy to his whole Church and the acceptance of our persons through the merits and mediation of our great High Priest the Lord Jesus To professe that it is the desire of our soules to have fellowship with God in the reverent and conscionable use of his holy Ordinances and to that purpose to pray earnestly for his grace and effectuall assistance to the sanctification of his holy Sabbath the Lords day in all the duties thereof publike and private both to our selves and to all other Congregations of his people according to the riches and excellency of the Gospel this day celebrated and enjoyed And because wee have been unprofitable hearers in times past and now cannot of our selves receive as we should the deep things of God the mysteries of Jesus Christ which require a spirituall discerning To pray that the Lord who teacheth to profit would graciously please to poure out the Spirit of Grace together with the outward means thereof causing us to attain such a measure of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and in him of the things which belong to our peace that wee may account all things but as drosse in comparison of him And that wee tasting the first fruits of the glory that is to be revealed may long for a more full and perfect communion with him that where he is we may be also and enjoy the fulnesse of those joyes and pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore More particularly that God would in speciall manner furnish his Servant now called to dispense the bread of life unto his houshold with wisdome fidelity zeale and utterance that hee may divide the Word of God aright to every one his portion in evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and power and that the Lord would circumcise the eares and hearts of the Hearers to heare love and receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word which is able to save their soules make them as good ground to receive in the good seed of the Word and strengthen them against the temptations of Satan the cares of the World the hardnesse of their owne hearts and whatsoever else may hinder their profitable and saving hearing that so Christ may be so formed in them and live in them that all their thoughts may bee brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and their hearts established in every good word and work for ever We judge this to be a convenient Order in the ordinary Publique Prayers yet so as the Minister may deferre as in prudence he shall think meet some part of these Petitions till after his Sermon or offer up to God some of the Thanksgivings hereafter appointed in his Prayer before his Sermon Of the Preaching of the Word PReaching of the Word being the power of God unto Salvation and one of the greatest and most excellent Works belonging to the Ministry of the Gospell should bee so performed that the Workman need not been ashamed but may save himself and those that heare him It is presupposed according to the Rules for Ordination that the Minister of Christ is in some good measure gifted for so weighty a service by his skill in the Originall Languages and in such Arts and Sciences as are handmaids unto Divinity by his knowledge in the whole Body of Theology but most of all in the holy Scriptures having his senses and heart exercised in them above the common sort of Beleevers and by the illumination of Gods Spirit and other gifts of edification which together with reading and studying of the Word hee ought still to seek by Prayer and an humble heart resolving to admit and receive any truth not yet attained when ever God shall make it known unto him All which hee is to make use of and improve in his private preparations before hee deliver in publike what he hath provided Ordinarily the subject of his Sermon is to be some Text of Scripture holding forth some principle or head of Religion or suitable to some speciall occasion emergent or hee may goe on in some Chapter Psalme or Booke of the holy Scripture as hee shall see fit Let the Introduction to his Text be brief and perspicuous drawn from the Text it self or context or some parallel place or generall sentence of Scripture If the Text be long as in Histories and Parables it sometimes must be let him give a briefe summe of it if short a Paraphrase thereof if need be In both looking diligently to the scope of the Text and pointing at the chief heads and grounds of Doctrine which he is to raise from it In Analysing and dividing his Text hee is to regard more the order of matter then of words and neither to burden the memory of the hearers in the beginning with too many members of Division nor to trouble their minds with obscure termes of Art In raising Doctrines from the Text his care ought to bee First that the matter be the truth of God Secondly that it be a truth contained in or grounded on that Text that the hearers may discern how God techeth it from thence Thirdly that he chiefly insist upon those Doctrines which are principally intended and make most for the edification of the hearers The Doctrine is to be expressed in plaine termes or if any thing in it need explication is to bee opened and the consequence also from the Text cleared
of imposing of the former Ceremonies new ones were dayly obtruded upon the Church Adde hereunto which was not foreseen but since hath come to passe that the Leiturgie hath been a great means as on the one hand to make and increase an idle and unedifying Ministery which contented it self with set Forms made to their hands by others without putting forth themselves to exercise the gift of Prayer with which our Lord Jesus Christ pleaseth to furnish all his Servants whom he calls to that office So on the other side it hath been and ever would be if continued a matter of endlesse strife and contention in the Church and a snare both to many godly and faithfull Ministers who have been persecuted and silenced upon that occasion and to others of hopefull parts many of which have been and more still would be diverted from all thoughts of the Ministery to other studies especially in these latter times wherein God vouchsafeth to his people more and better means for the discovery of Error and Superstition and for attaining of knowledge in the mysteries of godliness and gifts in Preaching and Prayer Upon these and many the like weighty considerations in reference to the whole Book in generall and because of divers particulars contained in it not from any love to Novelty or intention to disparage our first Reformers of whom we are perswaded that were they now alive they would joyn with us in this work and whom we acknowledge as Excellent Instruments raised by God to begin the purging and building of his House and desire they may be had of us and Posterity in everlasting Remembrance with thankfulnesse and honour but that we may in some measure answer the gracious Providence of God which at this time calleth upon us for further Reformation and may satisfy our own Consciences and answer the expectation of other Reformed Churches and the desires of many of the godly among our selves and withall give some publique Testimony of our endeavors for Uniformity in Divine Worship which we have promised in our Solemn League and Covenant VVe have after earnest and frequent calling upon the Name of God and after much Consultation not with flesh and blood but with his holy VVord resolved to lay aside the former Leiturgie with the many Rites and Ceremonies formerly used in the VVorship of God And have agreed upon this following Directory for all the parts of Publique VVorship at ordinary and extraordinary times VVherein our care hath been to hold forth such things as are of Divine Institution in every Ordinance and other things we have endeavoured to set forth according to the Rules of Christian Prudence agreeable to the generall Rules of the VVord of God Our meaning therein being onely that the generall heads the sense and scope of the Prayers and other parts of Publique VVorship being known to all there may be a consent of all the Churches in those things that contain the substance of the Service and VVorship of God And the Ministers may be hereby directed in their Administrations to keep like soundnesse in Doctrine and Prayer and may if need be have some help and furniture And yet so as they become not hereby slothfull and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Christ in them But that each one by meditation by taking heed to himself and the Flock of God committed to him and by wise observing the wayes of Divine Providence may be carefull to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials of Prayer and Exhortation as shall be needfull upon all occasions A DIRECTORY FOR Publique Prayer Reading the Holy Scriptures Singing of Psalmes Preaching of the Word Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of the Publique Worship of God Ordinary Extraordinary Of the Assembling of the Congregation and their Behaviour in the Publique Worship of God WHen the Congregation is to meete for Publique Worship the people having before prepared their hearts thereunto ought all to come and joyne therein not absenting themselves from the Publique Ordinances through negligence or upon pretence of Private meetings Let all enter the Assembly not irreverently but in a grave and seemly manner taking their seates or places without Adoration or Bowing themselves towards one place or other The Congregation being assembled the Minister after solemne calling on them to the worshiping of the great name of God is to begin with Prayer In all Reverence and Humility acknowledging the incomprehensible Greatnesse and Majesty of the Lord in whose presence they doe then in a speciall manner appeare and their own vilenesse and unworthinesse to approach so neare him with their utter inability of themselves to so great a Work And humbly beseeching him for Pardon Assistance and Acceptance in the whole Service then to bee performed and for a Blessing on that particular portion of his Word then to bee read and all in the Name and Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Publique Worship being begun the people are wholly to attend upon it forbearing to Reade any thing except what the Minister is then reading or citing and abstaining much more from all private whisperings conferences salutations or doing reverence to any persons present or comming in as also from all gazing sleeping and other undecent behaviour which may disturbe the Minister or people or hinder themselves or others in the service of God If any through necessity 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 joyne with the Assembly in that Ordinance of God which is then in hand Of Publique Reading of the holy Scriptures REading of the Word in the Congregation being part of the publique Worship of God wherin we acknowledge our dependence upon him and subjection to him and one Means sanctified by him for the edifying of his People is to bee performed by the Pastors and Teachers Howbeit such as intend the Ministery may occasionally both reade the Word and exercise their gift in Preaching in the Congregation if allowed by the Presbytery thereunto All the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Testament but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha shall be publiquely read in the vulgar Tongue out of the best allowed Translation distinctly that all may heare and understand How large a portion shall be read at once is left to the wisdome of the Minister But it is convenient that ordinarily one Chapter of each Testament bee read at every meeting and sometimes more where the Chapters be short or the coherence of matter requireth it It is requisite that all the Canonical books bee read over in order that the people may be better acquainted with the whole Body of the Scriptures And ordinarily where the Reading in either Testament endeth on one Lords day it is to begin the next Wee commend also the more frequent reading of such Scriptures as hee that readeth shall
When the sick person is best composed may be least disturbed and other necessary offices about him least hindred the Minister if desired shall pray with him and for him to this effect 〈…〉 and bewailing of sin Original and Actual the miserable condition of all by nature as being Children of Wrath and under the Curse acknowledging that all Diseases Sicknesses Death and Hell it self are the proper issues and effects thereof Imploring Gods mercy for the sick person through the Blood of Christ beseeching that God would open his eyes discover unto him his sins cause him to see himself lost in himself make known to him the cause why God smiteth him reveal Jesus Christ to his soul for Righteousnesse and life give unto him his holy Spirit to create and strengthen faith to lay hold upon Christ to work in him comfortable evidences of his love to arm him against Temptations to take off his heart from the world to sanctify his present visitation to furnish him with patience and strength to beare it and to give him perseverance in Faith to the end That if God shall please to adde to his dayes he would vouchsafe to blesse and sanctify all means of his recovery to remove the disease renew his strength and enable him to walk worthy of God by a faithfull remembrance and diligent observing of such vows and promises of holinesse and obedience as men are apt to make in times of sicknesse that he may glorifie God in the remaining part of his life And if God have determined to finish his dayes by the present Visitation he may finde such Evidence of the Pardon of all his sins of his interest in Christ and Eternall life by Christ as may cause his inward man to be renewed while his outward man decayeth that he may behold Death without fear cast himself wholly upon Christ without doubting desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and so receive the end of his Faith the Salvation of his Soule through the only merits and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ our alone Saviour and All-sufficient Redeemer The Minister shall admonish him also as there shall be cause to set his house in order thereby to prevent inconveniences to take care for the payment of his debts and to make restitution or satisfaction where he hath done any wrong to be reconciled to those with whom he hath been at variance and fully to forgive all men their trespasses against him as he expects forgivenesse at the hand of God Lastly the Minister may improve the present occasion to exhort those about the sick person to consider their own mortality to return to the Lord and make Peace with him in health to prepare for sicknesse death and judgement and all the dayes of their appointed time so to wait untill their change come that when Christ who is our life shall appear they may appear with him in glory Concerning Buriall of the Dead WHen any person departeth this life let the dead body upon the day of Buriall be decently attended from the house to the place appointed for publique Buriall and there immediately interred without any Ceremony And because the customes of kneeling down and praying by or towards the dead Corps and other such usages in the place where it lies before it be carried to Buriall are Superstitious and for that praying reading and singing both in going to and at the Grave have been grosly abused are no way beneficiall to the dead and have proved many wayes hurtfull to the living therefore let all such things be laid aside Howbeit we judge it very convenient that the Christian friends which accompany the dead body to the place appointed for publique Buriall doe apply themselves to meditations and conferences suitable to the occasion and that the Minister as upon other occasions so at this time if he be present may put them in remembrance of their Duty That this shall not extend to deny any civill respects or differences at the Buriall suitable to the ranke and condition of the party deceased whiles he was living Concerning Publique Solemne Fasting WHen some great and notable Judgements are either inflicted upon a People or apparently imminent or by some extraordinary provocations notoriously deserved as also when some speciall blessing is to bee sought and obtained Publique solemne Fasting which is to continue the whole Day is a Duty that God expecteth from that Nation or people A Religious Fast requires totall abstinence not only from all food unlesse bodily weaknesse doe manifestly disable from holding out till the Fast be ended in which case somewhat may be taken yet very sparingly to support nature when ready to faint but also from all worldly labour discourses and thoughts and from all bodily delights although at other times lawfull rich apparell ornaments and such like during the Fast and much more from what ever is in the nature or use scandalous and offensive as garish attire lascivious habits and gestures and other vanities of either sexe which we recommend to all Ministers in their places diligently zealously to reproove as at other times so especially at a Fast without respect of persons as there shall be occasion Before the Publique meeting each Family and person apart are privately to use all religious care to prepare their hearts to such a solemne work and to be early at the Congregation So large a portion of the Day as conveniently may be is to be spent in Publique Reading and Preaching of the Word with singing of Psalmes fit to quicken affections suitable to such a Duty but especially in Prayer to this or the like effect Giving Glory to the Great Majesty of God the Creator Preserver and Supreame Ruler of all the World the better to affect us thereby with an holy reverence and awe of Him Acknowledging his manifold great and tender mercies especially to the Church and Nation the more effectually to soften and abase our hearts before him Humbly confessing of sins of all sorts with their severall aggravations justifying Gods righteous Judgements as being farre lesse then our sins doe deserve yet humbly and earnestly imploring his mercy and grace for our selves the Church and Nation for our King and all in Authority and for all others for whom we are bound to pray according as the present exigent requireth with more speciall importunity and inlargement then at other times Applying by faith the Promises and Goodnesse of God for Pardon help and deliverance from the Evils felt feared or deserved and for obtaining the blessings which we need and expect together with a giving up of our selves wholly and for ever unto the Lord. In all these the Ministers who are the mouthes of the people unto God ought so to speak from their hearts upon serious and through premeditation of them that both themselves and their people may be much affected and even melted thereby especially with sorrow for their sins that it may be indeed a Day of deepe humiliation