time of reading; and if, after warning given them of this, any fhall be found to continue in the fame disorder, they are, by due rebukes and cenfures, to be brought to obedience.

2. That the ministers be careful to direct the readers what parts of the Scriptures are most frequently to be read: as, the hiftories of the gofpel, and the epiftles; and of the Old Teftament, the most intelligible and practical parts, particularly, large portions of the Pfalms at all times, being both so excellently inftructive, and withal fo divine forms of prayers and praifes, and therefore have been fo much used by the Chriftian churches in all ages, and always made fo great a part of their public fervice.

3. That no readers be permitted, but such as are tried and approved by the Prefbytery.

4. That, befides the reading betwixt the second and third bell, which is but as in the interval for those that are come, till the reft do convene, fome part of the Scriptures be read after the laft bell is rung out, and the congregation more fully met, and the minister is come in; either by himfelf, or by the reader at his appointment; one chapter at least, together with fome of the Pfalms, one or more, as they are of length, and of which fome part afterwards may be fung, and fo the people fhall the better understand what they fing. Thus fhall this so useful fo ordinance of public reading of the Scriptures be performed with more folemnity, and brought into greater refpect and veneration, and the people be more univerfally and plentifully edified by it. But, together with this, the reciting of the ten commandments, and the belief, according to the acts of former Synods, is no Lord's-day to be omitted; nor is this only or mainly meant as a help to the peoples learning the words of them, and fo being able to repeat them, but as a folemn publication of the law or God, as the rule of our life, and a folemn profeffion

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of our believing the articles of our Chriftian faith, and for the quickening of our affections toward both.

And as to that exercise of reading the Scriptures, it cannot be imagined that any well-inftructed and folid-minded Chriftian can queftion the great expediency and usefulness of it for all ranks of people: for, befides that many of our commons cannot read, and fo cannot use the Scriptures in private, and too many that can, yet do neglect it, even they that use them most in private, will not only no whit the less, but fo much the more, be well fatisfied and edified with hearing them read in public, and will more reverently and religiously attend to them, and, with the bleffing of God upon them so doing, not fail to find (what others can fay they have often found) divers paffages and fentences falling frequently in upon their hearts in public reading, with particular warmth and divine force, nothing below, if not fometimes beyond, what they ufually find in private.

If the minifter think fit to make his fermon for the time, upon fome part of what, by himself, or by his appointment, hath been read, it may do well; and poffibly fo much the better, the longer the text be, and the fhorter the fermon be; for, it is greatly to be fufpected, that our ufual way of very fhort texts, and very long fermons, is apt to weary people more, and profit them lefs.

But, whatsoever they do in this, they would beware of returning to their long expofitions, befides their fermon, at one and the fame meeting; which, befides the tediousness and other inconveniencies, is apt to foment in peoples minds, the foolish prejudice and proud difdain they have taken against the Scriptures read without a fuperadded difcourfe, in which conceit, for all their zeal against Popery, they seem to be too much of the Romish opinion, as accounting the Holy Scriptures fo obfcure in themselves, that it is fomeway dangerous, or at least altogether unprofitable, to intruft the common people either with read

ing or hearing any part of them at any time, unless they be backed with continual expofitions.

5. That minifters do endeavour to reduce the people from the irreverent deportment they have generally contracted in the public worship; particularly, from their most indecent fitting at prayer; to kneel or ftand, as conveniently they may, that we may worship, both with our bodies and with our fouls, Him that made both, and made them for that very end. Oh! how needful is that invitatory to be often rung in our ears, that feem wholly to have forgot it, "Oh! "come, and let us worship, and bow down and kneel "before the Lord our Maker."

6. That people be frequently and earnestly exhorted to morning and evening prayer in their families, especially the prime families in parishes, as most exemplary.

7. That the way of catechifing be more adapted to the capacity of our rude and ignorant people; and that our fermons, particularly those of the afternoon, may be more frequently beftowed on the most plain and intelligible way of explaining fome point of catechetical doctrine.

8. It was recommended, That convenient utenfils be provided in every kirk, for the adminiftration of the holy facraments.

9. That, according to our great and standing duty, we be ftill more and more zealous and careful, by doctrine and discipline, to purge out all profaneness; particularly, the most common and crying fins, as drunkenness, curfing, fwearing, railing, and bitter fpeaking, and rotten filthy fpeaking, fo ufual amongst the common fort, in their houfe or field labour together, particularly in harvest: and that it be by all minifters recommended to the owners of the crops, and overseers of the reapers, to range them so to their work, and in fuch divifions, as may give leaft occafion to any thing of that kind.

10. That,

10. That, as we ourselves would be exemplary in holiness, we would endeavour that our feniores plebis, or elders of the people, be fo too: and, for that end, rather to have them well chofen, though fewer, than a great number of fuch as too often they are.

11. That the Prefbyteries do inquire of each one of their number concerning the celebration of the communion, that at least our ufual returns of it be neglected by none; for, it is one of the great defects and reproaches of our church, that that great ordinance, being fo useful for the increase of holiness, fhould be fo feldom adminiftered, as with us it is, even where it is ofteneft. For the way of examination in order to it, fomewhat is fet down in our first Synod, which may be looked at, if poffibly it may prove to be of any use.

IV. Paper given in by the Bishop to the Synod, April 1667.

I confefs that my own inactive and unmeddling temper may be too apt to prevail against the known duty of my ftation, and may incline me rather to inquire too little than too much into the deportment of others; and rather to be deficient, than to exceed in admonitions and advices to my brethren, in matters of their duty: And, befides this natural averfion, the fenfe of my own great unworthinefs and filthiness, may give me check, and be a very strong curb upon me, in cenfuring others for what may be amifs, or in offering any rules for the redrefs of it: And there is yet another confideration, that bends ftill further that way; for, I am fo defirous to keep far off from the reach of that prejudice, that abounds in these parts, against the very name of my facred function, as apt to command and domineer too much, that I may poffibly err on the other hand, and fcarce perform the duty of the lowest and most moderate kind of moderator;

moderator; fo that I am forced to fpur and drive up myself against all these retardments, to fuggeft any thing, how useful foever, beyond our road or accuf tomed way, especially, finding how little any thing of that kind takes, and prevails to any real effect.

However, when any thing appears to me of evident reafon and usefulness, and that eafily joins in, and paceth with, our standing cuftoms, I judge it my duty to offer it to you; and I hope, if that ye fhall find it of any use, ye will not reject it, but rather improve it to fomewhat better, that by occafion of it may arise in your own thoughts.

Something of this kind I have formerly moved, concerning the way of dealing with perfons fallen into fcandalous fin: Frequent speaking with them in private, to the convincing and awakening their confciences to a lively fenfe of fin, and directing them in the exercises of repentance, and exhorting them to fet apart fome time for a folemn humbling of their fouls in fafting and prayer; and not to admit them to public confeffion, until they have, to our best difcerning, fome real heart-fense of fin, and remorse for it, and ferious purposes of newness of life.

Likewife, I fuggefted fomewhat touching the way of examining of all perfons, toward their admiffion to the holy communion, befides the ordinary way of catechifing the younger and more ignorant fort; and fome other particulars, much like these, that now I will not repeat.

That which I would recommend at this time, relates to the bufinefs of Privy trials (as they are called) of minifters in their Prefbyteries, toward the time of the Synod; in which I have perceived, in some places, (if I may be pardoned that free word), very much of fuperficial empty form; for the help of which, befides other ways which may be thought on, that which occurs to me at prefent, is this: That fome certain queftions be asked of every minifter before he withdraws; and these be much the fame