hath done any wrong, to be reconciled to those with whom he hath been at variance, and fully to forgive as he expects forgiveness. He may also improve the present occasion, to exhort those about the sick person to consider their own mortality; and in health, so to prepare for sickness, death and judgment, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they may appear with him in glory. When sick persons desire the prayers of the congregation, it is like an intimation and suit to those who have any moyen with God to pray for them in secret, and continue so to do, as well as in public.

TITLE VII,

Of Burial of the Dead, Lyke-wakes, and Dirgies.

1. By the Directory for worship, upon the day of burial, the dead body is to be attended decently, suitable to the rank of the deceased party, to the burial-place, and there immediately interred, without any ceremony. It is most convenient that at such occasions we have me. ditations and conferences suited thereto, and that the minister, as upon other occasions, so at this time, if he be present, may put them in remembrance of their duty.

2. By the old Book of Discipline in Mr Knox's time, annexed to the old paraphrase of the Psalms, after burial, the minister, if present, and desired, goeth to the church, if it be not far off, and maketh some comfortable exhortation to the people, touching death and the resurrection; but by the act of Assembly 1638, sess. 23, 24. art. 22. all funeral sermons are discharged.

3. By the act of Assembly 1643, sess. 9. they discharge burials, and hanging of honours, broads, and arms of persons, of whatsoever quality, within the kirk where the people meet for public worship; for perhaps at some times the people would be incommoded. with open graves. Bishop Hall of Norwich was of opinion, that God's house was not a mere repository for the bodies of the greatest saints.

4. By the acts of Assembly 1645, sess. 8, Assembly

1701, sess. ult. all lyke-wakes are discharged, as fostering superstition and profanity through the land. No doubt, dirgies have likewise had as bad effects; and from the same reason may be also understood to be discharged.

TITLE VIII.

Of Ministerial Visitation of Families.

1. It hath been the laudable practice of this church, at least once a year, (if the largeness of the parish, or bodily inability, or other such like do not hinder,) for ministers to visit all the families in their parish, and oftener if the bounds be small, and they able to perform it. Among other reasons for these annual visitations of families, this may be one, that because, by the order prescribed by our Lord, Math. xviii. there may be several offences known to ministers, elders, or neighbours, which may justly keep back offenders from partaking of the Lord's supper; and yet it were disorderly and unedifying to remove these offences in a public way. These visitations may serve to purge a congregation of such private scandals.

2. Although in regard of the different circumstances of some parishes, families, and persons, much of the management of the work must be left to the prudence and discretion of ministers, in their respective oversights; yet these following directions are offered by Assembly 1708, April 27, as helps for the more uniform and successful management thereof, that it be not done in a slight and overly manner, which supposeth the universal practice thereof through this church, and that the total neglectors may be censured therefor as supinely negligent.

3. Such a time of year is to be chosen for ministerial visitation, as the families which he visits may be best at leisure to meet with him; and if that time should happen immediately after the communion, then it is seasonable, as it were, to beat the iron while it is hot. Time

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ous intimation is to be made to them of the visitation; and the elder of that bounds of the parish which is to be visited, is to accompany the minister; and they should previously confer together concerning the condition and state of the persons and families of those bounds.

4. When they enter a house, they are to express their wishes and desires for the blessing of God upon it, and that above all, that their souls may prosper: then let them take an account of the names of the family, inquire for testimonials from them who are lately come to the parish, and mark them in the roll for catechising, and let them take notice who can read, and of the age of children capable to be catechised; then the minister is to speak to them all in general, of the necessity and advantage of godliness, of justice and charity towards man. 5. He is next, more particularly, to speak to servants of their duty, to serve and fear God; to be dutiful, faithful, and obedient servants, and of the promises made to such, commending to them the reading of the Scriptures, and secret worship, and love and concord among themselves, and in particular, a holy care of sanctifying the Lord's day.

6. The minister is to shew the children and young servants the advantage of knowing, seeking, and loving God, and remembering their Creator and Redeemer in the days of their youth, and to mind them how they are dedicated to God in baptism; and when of age, and after due instruction in the nature of the covenant of grace, to excite them to engage themselves personally to the Lord, and to design and prepare for the first opportunity they can have of partaking of the Lord's supper, to be especially careful how they at first communicate.

7. Then he is to speak privately to the heads of the family about their personal duties towards God, and the care of their own souls; and their obligation to promote religion and the worship of God in their family, and to restrain and get vice punished, and piety encouraged, and to be careful that they and all in their house serve the Lord, and sanctify his day. He is more particularly to enquire, 1. Whether God be worshipped in the family,

by prayers, praises, and reading of the Scripture? 2. Concerning the behaviour of servants towards God and towards man, if they attend family and public worship? How they sanctify the Lord's day? And if they be given to secret prayer and reading the Scriptures? 3. If there be catechising in the family? if their children be trained up in reading, according to the act of Assembly, August 10. 1648? in all which the minister may intermix suitable directions, encouragements, and admonitions, as may be most edifying.

8. The minister is to enquire who want Bibles: And if they be not able to buy them, let the poor's box be at the expenses; and recommend to the heads of the family to get the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and other good books, for instructing in life and faith, according to their ability. 2do, Those who are tainted with error or vice are to be admonished secretly, or in the family, as may most edify; and all are to be exhorted to carry toward such as walk orderly according to the rule, Matth. xviii. 15. 3tio, The minister is to endeavour to remove divisions in the family, or with their neighbours, and exhort them to follow peace with all men, as far as is possible. 4to, Let it be inquired who have communicated, that they may be called to an account privately how they have profited, and put in mind to pay their vows to the Lord. Confer also with others about the causes of their not communicating.

9. As for those who pretend conscience for not keeping communion with us, or whatever their motives be, ministers ought to deal with God for them, and with themselves, in such a way as may be most proper to gain them, and exoner their consciences, waiting if peradventure God will prevail with him. Who can tell if their making them sensible of their tender love and affection to their persons, especially to their souls, giving them all due respect, and doing them all the good they can, yet still discountenancing their sin, may in the end be blessed of God for their good, Jud. v. 22, 23. 2 Tim. ii. 24,

25.

10. Seeing in the whole of this work, there is great

need of much prudence, zeal for God, and love to souls; visitation of families should be carried on with dependence on God, and fervent prayer to him, both before the minister set forth to such a work, and with the visited, as there can be access to, and opportunity for it.

TITLE IX.

Of Sanctification of the Lord's Day; and observing Fust and Thanksgiving Days.

1. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy, as our Shorter Catechism beareth, authorized by Assembly, August 28th, 1648; from which we may gather what the church understands by sanctifying or profaning of the Lord's day, and so will either approve or censure.

2. By the act of Assembly 1647, concerning family' worship, Direct. 8, the master of the family ought to take care, that all within his charge repair to the public worship, which being finished, he is to see the rest of that day spent in the private and secret exercises of piety. Care is also to be taken that the diet on that day be so ordered, that neither servants be unnecessarily detained from the public worship of God, nor any other persons hindered from sanctifying that day. Private preparation is likewise to be made for the Sabbath, by prayer and such holy exercises, as may dispose to a more comfortable communion with God in his public ordinances. See the Directory.

3. When some great and notable judgments are either. inflicted or imminent, or by some extraordinary provocation notoriously deserved; as also, when some special blessing is to be sought or obtained; when great duties are called for, or when sins are extraordinary for their number or nature, then it is that a church may injoin