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will accompany his faithfulness in this life, and that to come; and withal exhort the people to carry themselves to him, as to their minister in the Lord, according to their folemn promise made before; and fo by prayer commending both him and his flock to the grace of God, after finging of a pfalm, let the affembly be difmiffed with a bleffing.

10. If a minister be defigned to a congregation, who hath been formerly ordained presbyter according to the form of ordination which hath been in the church of England, which we hold for substance to be valid, and not to be disclaimed by any. who have received it; then, there being a cautious proceeding in matters of examination, let him be admitted without any new ordination.

11. And in cafe any person already ordained minister in Scotland, or in any other reformed church, be defigned to another congregation in England, he is to bring from that church to the presbytery here, within which that congregation is, a fufficient testimonial of his ordination, of his life and converfation while he lived with them, and of the caufes of his removal; and to undergo fuch a trial of his fitness and fufficiency, and to have the fame course held with him in other particulars, as is fet down in the rule immmediately going before, touching examination and admiffion.

12. That records be carefully kept in the several presbyteries, of the names of the perfons ordained, with their testimonials, the time and place of their ordination, of the presbyters who did impofe hands upon them, and of the charge to which they are appointed.

13. That no money or gift of what kind foever shall be received from the perfon to be ordained, or from any on his behalf, for ordination, or ought elfe belonging to it, by any of the presbytery, or any appertaining to any of them, upon what pretence foever.

Thus

Thus far of ordinary Rules and Course of Ordination, in the ordinary Way; that which concerns the extraordina-. ry Way, requifite to be now practifed, followeth.

1. In these prefent exigences, while we cannot have any presbyteries formed up to their whole power and work, and that many minifters are to be ordained for the fervice of the armies and navy, and to many congregations where there is no minifter at all; and where (by reafon of the publick troubles) the people cannot either themselves enquire, and find out one who may be a faithful minifter for them, or have any with fafety fent unto them, for fuch a folemn trial as was before mentioned in the ordinary rules; efpecially when there can be no presbytery near unto them, to whom they may address themselves, or which may come or fend to them a fit man to be ordained in that congregation, and for that people: and yet notwithstanding, it is requifite that minifters be ordained for them, by fome, who, being fet apart themselves for the work of the miniftry, have power to join in the fet ting apart others, who are found fit and worthy. In those cafes, until, by God's bleffing, the aforefaid difficulties may be in fome good meafure removed, let fome godly minifters in or about the city of London be defigned by publick authority, who, being affociated, may ordain minifters for the city and the vicinity, keeping as near to the ordinary rules forementioned, as poffibly they may: and let this affociation be for no other intent or purpose, but only for the work of ordination.

2. Let the like affociation be made by the fame authority in great towns, and the neighbouring parishes in the feveral counties, which are at the prefent quiet and undisturbed, to do the like for the parts adjacent.

3. Let such as are chosen, or appointed for the fervice of the armies or navy, be ordained, as aforefaid, by the affociated ministers of London, or fome others in the country.

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4. Let them do the like, when any man fhall duly and

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lawfully be recommended to them for the ministry of any congregation, who cannot enjoy liberty to have a trial of his parts and abilities, and defire the help of fuch minifters fo affociated, for the better furnishing of them with fuch a perfon as by them shall be judged fit for the service of that church and people.

FINI S.

THE

DIRECTORY

FOR

FAMILY-WORSHIP,

APPROVED BY THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE

CHURCH of SCOTLAND,

FOR

PIETY and UNIFORMITY in Secret and Private WORSHIP, and mutual EDIFICATION.

WITH

An Act of the General Affembly, Anno 1647, for obferving the fame.

Affembly at Edinburgh, Aug. 24. 1647. Seff. 10.

Act for obferving the Directions of the General Assembly, for fecret and private Worship, and mutual Edification, and cenfuring fuch as neglect Family-worship.

HE general Affembly, after mature deliberation, doth approve the following rules and directions, for cherishing piety, and preventing divifion and fchifm; and doth appoint minifters and ruling elders, in each congregation, to take fpecial care that thefe directions be obferved and followed; as likewife, that prefbyteries and provincial Synods enquire and make trial, whether the faid directions be duly obferved in their bounds; and to reprove or cenfure (according to the quality of the offence) fuch as fhall be found to be reproveable or cenfurable therein. And, to the end that thefe directions may not be rendered ineffectual and unprofitable among fome, through the ufual neglect of the very subftance of the duty of family worship; the affembly doth further require and appoint minifters and ruling elders to make diligent fearch and enquiry, in the congregations committed to their charge refpectively, whether there be among them any family or families, which use to neglect this neceffary duty; and, if any fuch family be found, the head of the family is to be firft admonished privately to amend his fault; and, in cafe of his continuing therein, he is to be gravely and fadly reproved by the feffion: after which reproof, if he be found ftill to neglect family-worfhip, let him be, for his obstinacy in fuch an offence, suspended and debarred from the Lord's fupper, as being juftly esteemed unworthy to communicate therein, till he amend.

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