MINUTE BOOK OF I HI. WIRK.SWORTH CLA 139 



These are the contents of the Directory : — 



" The Ordinance. 



The Preface — 



Of the Assembling of the Congregation. 



Of Publique reading of the holy Scripture. 



Of I'ublique Prayer before Sermon. 



Of the Sacrament of Baptisme. 



Of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 



Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. 



Of the Solemnization of Marriage. 



Of the Visitation of the Sick. 



Of Buriall of the Dead. 



Of Publique Solemn Fasting. 



Of the observation of dayes of Publique Thanksgiving. 



( )f Singing of Psalms. 



An Appendix touching Dayes and Places of Public Worship." 

 The Presbytery, according to the Westminster Assembly, was 

 controlled by three grades of officials : — (i) Ministers, who preached 

 and ruled ; (2) lay elders, who ruled but did not preach ; and 

 (3) deacons, who ministered to the temporal necessities of the poor. 

 Each congregation or parish had its own officers, and was, as it 

 were, a republic complete itself; for the minister and elders con- 

 stituted a body politic for the domestic government of the district. 

 Upon the Presbytery (i.e., the pastor and elders) of each parish 

 devolved the oversight of the church, the maintenance of discip- 

 line, and the administration of censures.* 



Next to the congregational or parish Presbytery, and superior 

 to it, was the Classical Assembly, which was formed of the 

 delegates from the different parochial presbyteries within a certain 

 area. The delegates were to be not more than four and not less 

 than two elders from each congregation, in addition to the mi- 

 nister. The business of the Classical Assembly, or " Classis " as 

 it was more usually termed, may be thus summarised : — 



(a) To take cognizance of the conduct of ministers and elders. 



(b) To admit candidates to office. 



* Censures were of three degrees : — admonition, suspension, and excom- 

 munication. Notorious offenders had to make public confession before the 

 congregation. If incorrigible, they were cut off from the Lord's Supper, and 

 from the right of bringing their children to be baptized. 



