Westminster Confession, week 35

Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day

4: Prayer is to be made for things lawful;^[416] and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter:^[417] but not for the dead,^[418] nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.^[419]

5: The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear,^[420] the sound preaching^[421] and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith and reverence,^[422] singing of psalms with grace in the heart;^[423] as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ, are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God:^[424] beside religious oaths,^[425] vows,^[426] solemn fastings,^[427] and thanksgivings upon special occasions,^[428] which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner.^[429]

6: Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the Gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed:^[430] but God is to be worshipped everywhere,^[431] in spirit and truth;^[432] as, in private families^[433] daily,^[434] and in secret, each one by himself;^[435] so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calls thereunto.^[436]