1644 PRESBYTERIAN / PURITAN. Directory for the Publique Worship of God - Replaced Common-Prayer.

Very rare first issue of the Directory for Public Worship, i.e. the Westminster Directory, which was a manual or worship approved by the Puritan Parliament in 1644 to replace the Book of Common Prayer and subsequently adopted in Scotland in 1645. 

In 1644, a new form of worship was presented to the Westminster Assembly of Divines as a replacement for the Common Prayer, but wishing to resist the prescriptive nature of the Common Prayer, the present was issued, giving more liberty to Presbtyrian, Independent, and Dissenting divines as well as expression to their unique callings, gifts, and places of ministry. 

The first section in handsome black letter, the work addresses Scripture, Preaching, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, Fasting, the Singing of Psalms, etc. 

A Directory for the Publique Worship of God, Throughout the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Together with an Ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of Common-Prayer: And for Establishing and Observing of this Present Directory throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales. London. Printed for Evan Tyler, Alexander Fifield, Ralph Smith, and John Field. 1644. 40pp. 

Very good; professionally removed from an important sammelband of mid-17th century works on religious liberty, Prebsyterianism, the Baptists, etc., and now expertly preserved in archival wraps. Very minor foxing and occasional stains.