Directory for Public Worship

Directory for Public Worship, a code of regulations concerning the different parts of public worship, drawn up by the Westminster Assembly in 1644, ratified by the English parliament in the same year, and adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on the 3d February, and by the Scottish parliament 'without a contrary voice,' on the 6th February 1645. It was on express order from both Houses of the English parliament that the Westminster Assembly addressed itself to the work of preparing this Directory, to supply the place of the Book of Common Prayer, which had been abolished. In Scotland it was hailed as conducive to 'a happy unity and uniformity in religion among the kirks of Christ in these three kingdoms, united under one sovereign,' and to 'the corroboration of peace and love between the kingdoms.' Many of the regulations of the Directory are still complied with in all branches of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, but in many things it has been generally departed from. The Directory is printed in vol. v. of Neale's History of the Puritans, and is usually appended to the Confession of Faith.