The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland. General Assembly
History
The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland. General Assembly
Ecclesiastical law -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history -- 17th century
IV. The head of the Family is to take care that none of the Familie
withdraw himself from any part of Familie Worship: And seeing the ordinar
performance of all the parts of Family worship belongeth properly to the
head of the Family, The Minister is to stirre up such as are lasie, and
traine up such as are weak to a fitnesse for these exercises. It being
alwayes free to persons of qualitie to entertain one approven by the
Presbyterie for performing Familie Exercise; And in other families where
the head of the Familie is unfit, that another constantly residing in the
Familie approven by the Minister and Session, may be imployed in that
service; Wherein the Minister and Session are to be countable to the
Presbyterie. And if a Minister by divine providence bee brought to any
Familie, It is requisite, that at no time he conveen a part of the Familie
for Worship secluding the rest; Except in singular cases, specially
concerning these parties, which (in Christian prudence) need not, or ought
not to bee 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 errours 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 speciall care is to be had, that each Familie keep
by themselves: Neither requiring, inviting, nor admitting persons from
divers Families; Unlesse it be these who are lodged with them or at meal,
or otherwise with them upon some lawfull 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 Familie by it self, to the prejudice of the
publike Ministery, to the renting of the Families of particular
Congregations, and (in progresse of time) of the whole Kirk: besides many
offences which may come thereby, to the hardning of the hearts of carnall
men, and grief of the godly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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