Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Directory for the Publick Worship of God; Part 16 of 16


Note:  This is the final article in this series through "The Directory for the Public Worship of God."  Past articles can be read under the label below.

Touching Days and Places for Publick Worship.

THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord's day, which is the Christian Sabbath.

Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued.

Nevertheless, it is lawful and necessary, upon special emergent occasions, to separate a day or days for publick fasting or thanksgiving, as the several eminent and extraordinary dispensations of God's providence shall administer cause and opportunity to his people.

As no place is capable of any holiness, under pretence of whatsoever dedication or consecration; so neither is it subject to such pollution by any superstition formerly used, and now laid aside, as may render it unlawful or inconvenient for Christians to meet together therein for the publick worship of God. And therefore we hold it requisite, that the places of publick assembling for worship among us should be continued and employed to that use.

Comment and analysis:  This final installment commends the Lord’s Day as the only Christian “holiday.”  The Directory, thus, sees no place for Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc.  Or, for that matter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, (or even) Reformation Day, etc.  It also rejects superstition over the actual physical place of worship.

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