Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHARGES, &c.

To the Clergy of the Diocefan Synod of Dunblane, by Bishop LEIGHTON.

Never before printed.

I. Bishop Leighton's Charge to his Clergy,
September 1662.

FOR DISCIPLINE.

FIRST, That all diligence be used for the repreffing of profaneness, and for the advancement of folid piety and holiness.

Secondly, That not only fcandals of unchastity, but drunkennefs, fwearing, curfing, filthy-fpeaking, and mocking of religion, and all other grofs offences, be brought under church-cenfure.

Thirdly, That fcandalous offenders be not abfolved, till there appear in them very probable figns of true repentance.

Fourthly, That inquiry be made, by the minister, not only into the knowledge, but the practice and track of life, of those who are to be admitted to the holy communion; and all profane, and evidently impenitent, perfons be fecluded, till their better converfation, and obedience to the gofpel, be more apparent.

Fifthly, That family-prayer be inquired after; and they that can, be exhorted to join with it reading of the Scriptures.

FOR

FOR WORSHIP.

First, That, instead of lecturing and preaching both at one meeting, larger portions of the Holy Scriptures, one whole chapter at leaft of each Teftament, and pfalms withal, be conftantly read; and this not as a by-work, while they are convening, but after the people are well convened, and the worship folemnly begun with confeffion of fins and prayer, either by the minifter or fome fit perfon by him appointed.

Secondly, That the Lord's prayer be restored to more frequent ufe; likewise, the doxology and the creed.

[ocr errors]

Thirdly, That daily public prayer, in churches, morning and evening, with reading of the Scriptures, be used, where it can be had conveniently, and the people be exhorted to frequent them; not fo as to think that this fhould excufe them from daily private prayer, in their families and in fecret, but rather as a help to enable them, and dispose them the more for both thefe: and let the conftant ufe of fecret prayer be recommended to all perfons, as the great inftrument of fanctifying the foul, and of entertaining and increafing in it the love of God.

Fourthly, That the younger fort, and the ignorant, be diligently catechifed, at fit times, all the year through; and that work not wholly laid over on fome days or weeks before the celebration of the cominunion; but that the inquiry, at that time, be rather of their good converfation, and due difpofition for partaking of that holy ordinance, as was faid before in an article touching difcipline.

Fifthly, That minifters use fome fhort form of catechifm, such as they may require account of, till a common form be agreed on.

Sixthly, That preaching be plain, and ufeful for all capacities; not entangled with ufelefs queftions

and

and difputes, nor continued to a wearifome length. The great and most neceffary principles of religion, moft frequently treated upon; and oftentime larger portions of Scripture explained, and fuitable inftructions and exhortations thence deduced; and let that be the fermon at that time; which will doubtless be as truly preaching and useful, if not more fo, than infifting, for a whole fermon or more, upon one short verse or sentence.

The Bishop propounded to the brethren, that it was to be reminded, by himself and them both, to how eminent degrees of purity of heart and life their holy calling doth engage them; to how great contempt of this prefent world, and inflamed affections toward heaven, fpringing from deep perfuafions within them of thofe things they preach to others, and from the daily meditation of them, and fervent prayer : and that we confider how ill it becomes us to be much in the trivial conversation of the world; but, when our duty or neceffity involves us in company, that our speech and deportment be exemplarily holy, ministering grace to thofe with whom we converfe; and, (to add but this one thing, fo fuitable to minifters of the gospel of peace), that we be meek and gentle, and lovers and exhorters of peace, private and public, amongst all ranks of men; endeavouring rather to quench, than to increase, the useless debates and contentions that abound in the world; and be always more ftudious of pacific than polemic divinity; that certainly being much diviner than this, for the ftudents of it are called the fons of God.

II. The Bishop's Addrefs after the business was over, October 1665.

After the affairs of the Synod were ended, the Bishop fhewed the brethren he had fomewhat to impart to them that concerned himself, which, though VOL. II.

3 I

it

it imported little or nothing, either to them or the church, yet he judged it his duty to acquaint them with And it was, the refolution he had taken of retiring from this public charge; and that all the account he could give of the reafons moving him to it, was briefly this: The fenfe he had of his own unworthiness of fo high a station in the church, and his wearinefs of the contentions of this church, which feemed rather to be growing than abating; and, by their growth, did make fo great abatements of that Chriftian meeknefs and mutual charity, that is so much more worth than the whole fum of all that we contend about. He thanked the brethren for all their undeserved respect and kindness manifested to himself all along; and defired their good conftruction of the poor endeavours he had used to ferve them, and to affift them in promoting the work of the miniftry, and the great defigns of the gofpel, in their bounds; and if, in any thing, in word or deed, he had offended them, or any of them, he ve ry earnestly and humbly craved their pardon: And having recommended to them to continue in the study of peace and holiness, and of ardent love to our great Lord and Mafter, and to the fouls he hath fo dearly bought, he clofed with these words of the Apoftle: "Finally, brethren, farewell: Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace; and the God of peace and love fhall be "with you."

[ocr errors]

III. The Bishop's Charge, October 1666.

1. It was enacted, That all the minifters do endeavour to bring their people to a high esteem of the Holy Scriptures, and of the reading of them in public; and to give evidence thereof, by reverent and attentive hearing, none being permitted to ftand about the doors, or lie in the kirk-yard, during the

« PreviousContinue »