Friday, October 19, 2018

On Pastoral Visitation - Church of Scotland General Assembly Act 10, 1708.

"The following articles are unanimously recommended to the ministers of this church, not as binding rules, but as a help to them in their visiting of families: viz., that ministers visit all the families in their parish, at least once a year, if the same be large, and oftener if the parish be small. And in the management of this work it is advised, 
1. That ere a minister set out to this work, he labour to have his own heart in a suitable frame for it. 
2. That he choose such a time in the year, as his people may be best at leisure to meet with him: and that due intimation be made of the minister's design to visit, that the people may order their affairs so that he may find them at home. 
3. That he be accompanied with the elder of the bounds; with whom he may confer before they go forth to the work, about the state and condition of the persons and families of these bounds, that the minister may be able to speak the more suitably to their condition, and as may be most for edification. 
4. When they enter a house, after a short account of the design of the visit, they are to take an account of the names of the family, parents, children, and servants, and inquire for certificates from those who are lately come to the parish, and to mark them in the roll for catechizing: and to take notice who can read, and of the age of children when capable of catechizing. 
5. Then the minister may speak to them all in general of the necessity of regeneration, and the advantages of serious religion and godliness: of piety toward God, and justice and charity towards men. 
6. And next, more particularly to the servants, of their duty to fear and serve God: and to be dutiful, faithful, and obedient servants, and of the promises made to such: recommending to them the reading of the Scriptures as they can, and prayer in secret, and love and concord among themselves: and in particular, a holy care of sanctifying the Lord's day. 
7. The minister is to apply his discourse to the children, as they are capable, with affectionate seriousness; showing them the advantages of knowing, loving, seeking, and serving God, and remembering their Creator and Redeemer in the days of their youth, and honouring their parents; and to remember how they are dedicated to God in baptism; and when of age, and fit, and after due instruction of the nature of the covenant of grace, and seals thereof, to excite them to engage themselves personally to the Lord, and to desire, and pray for, and take the first opportunity they can of partaking of the Lord's Supper; to be specially careful how they communicate at first, much depending thereon: and such of the servants as are young, are to be exhorted hereto in like manner, exciting them also to daily reading of the Scriptures and to secret prayer, and sanctifying of the Lord's day. 
8. After this he should speak privately to the master and mistress of the family, about their personal duty towards God, and the care of their own souls' salvation, and their obligations to promote religion, and the worship of God in their families; and to restrain and punish vice, and encourage piety, and to be careful that they and their house serve the Lord, and sanctify the Lord's day. After this, it may be fit to exhort masters to take care that God be worshipped daily in their family, by prayer, and praise, and reading of Scripture. They should inquire of them concerning the conversation and behaviour of the servants, and their duty towards God and man, and how they attend the worship of God in the family, and the public worship on the Lord's day, and how they behave after sermon: if any of them be piously inclined; if they make conscience of secret prayer, and reading of the Scripture: if there be catechizing, and instructing of the ignorant and weak; if due care be taken in educating the children, and particularly if they be put timeously to school, and how they profit thereat: and how the Lord's day is spent after sermon, in the family and in secret: all which the minister may mix with suitable directions, encouragements, and admonitions, as he shall see cause, and most for edification. 
9. He may inquire who have Bibles, and encourage them who are able to get Bibles of their own, to make diligent and religious use thereof, and to recommend to parents and masters of families, to have the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and other good books, for instruction in faith and manners. 
10. If any be tainted with errors, or given to vice, they should be particularly dealt with, and spoken to, either privately or before others, as may be most for edification, and all in the family are to be exhorted to watch and edify one another, and to carry towards any who walk disorderly according to the rule, Matt. 18 : 15. 
11. If there be any difference or division, either in the family or with the neighbours, the minister should endeavour to remove the same, and to make peace and to ex cite to follow it with all men, as far as possible. 
12. It may be also inquired of those who have received tokens to communicate the last season for it, whether they have made use of them or not, and those who have communicated may be inquired privately, how they have profited thereby, and excited to remember to pay their vows to the Lord. 13. If there be any in the parish who keep not Church communion with us, whatever their motives may 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 exonerate their own consciences before God and his people, waiting, if God peradventure will prevail with them; who can tell, but our making them sensible of our tender love and affection to their persons, especially to their souls, giving them all due respect, and doing them all the good we can, yet still discountenancing their sin, may in the end be blessed of God for their good. Jude 22, 23; 2 Tim. 2 : 23, 25. All this should be carried on with dependence on God and fervent prayer to him, both before a minister set forth to such a work, and with the visited, as there shall be access to, and opportunity for it." .

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