The of the word 1 John ïïi. 27. Jol lieved ? and how s in him of whom the and how shall the member therefore from whence Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas ; thou art fallen, and repent, and namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, do the first works; or else I will and Silas, chief men among the bretanes, which I also hate. Joined och, and Syria, and Cilicia. 562 The Form of Church-Government. Of Synodical Assemblies. Touch THE scripture doth hold out another sort of assemblies for the government of the church, beside classical and No man ought congregational, all which we call Synodical k. Pastors and teachers, and other church-governors, (as Ordination is also other fit persons, when it shall be deemed expedient,) Ordination is are members of those assemblies which we call Synodical , some publick ch , as , A man can rec be a subordination of congregational, classical , provincial , 11.14 How it and national assemblies, for the government of the church sa tim in whom el Of Ordination of Ministers. considered, either the doctrine of ordination, or the song preach except power of it. Touching of peace, and bri things saith he that holdeth the with Acts xx. 17, 28. (See in leto prophesy lies in seven stars in his right hand, who terh.) walketh in the midst of the seven not, neither golden candlesticks; Ver. 2. I know Paul and Barnabas had no small . 3. And hast borne, question. Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders came with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to this thou hast, that thou it is written, How feet of them that good things ! Jer. P Lord said unto k Acts xv. 2. When therefore them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem un. to the apostles and elders about this chem them, neither spa prophesy unto yo divination, and and the deceito v. 4. And no i pour unto himse ed of God, as w Tit. i, 5. thee in Crete, in order the thi and ordain eld had appointed I charge thee Lord Jesus m together for to consider of this matter. Ver. 22. Then it pleased the apostles and elders, angels, that th without prefe ther, doing Ver. 22. Lay man, neither nien's sins: 1 But remove thy candlestick out of his by them after this manner : The thren : Ver. 23. And wrote letters apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antie I John Touching the Doctrine of Ordination. N° man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the word without à lawful calling '. Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick church office ". Every I John iii. 27. John answered and n Numb. viii. 10. And thou shalt said, A man can receive nothing, ex bring the Levites before the Lord, cept it be given him from heaven, and the children of Israel shall put Ho Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call their hands upon the Levites : Ver. on him in whom they have not be 11. And Aaron shall offer the Levites lieved ? and how shall they believe before the Lord, for an offering of in him of whom they have not heard ? the children of Israel; that they may and how shall they hear without a execute the service of the Lord. Ver. preacher ? Ver. 15. And how shall 14. Thus shalt thou separate the they preach except they be sent ? As Levites from among the children of. it is written, How beautiful are the Israel: and the Levites shall be nine. feet of them that preach the gospel Ver: 19. And I have given the Leof peace, and bring glad tidings of vites as a gift to Aaron, and to his good things ! Jer. xiv. 14. Then the sons, from anong the children of Is. Lord said unto me, The prophets rael, to do the service of the children prophesy lies in my name : I sent of Israel in the tabernacle of the conthem not, neither have I commanded gregation, and to make an atonement them, neither spake unto thenı : they for the children of Israel: that there prophesy unto you a false vision, and be no plague among the children of divination, and a thing of nought, Israel, when the children of Israel and the deceit of their heart. Heb. come nigh unto the sanctuary. Ver. V. 4. And no man taketh this ho 22. And after that went the Levites pour unto himself, but he that is call in to do their service in the tabered of God, as was Aaron, nacle of the congregation, before m Tit. i. 5. For this cause left I Aaron, and before his sons: as the thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set Lord had commanded Moses concernin order the things that are wanting, ing the Levites, so did they unto them. and ordain elders in every city, as I Acts vi. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look had appointed thee. 1 Tim. v. 21. ye oụt among you seven men of honest I charge thee before God, and the report, full of the Holy Ghost and Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect wisdom, whom we may appoint angels, that thou observe these things, over this business. Ver. 5. And the without preferring one before ano saying pleased the whole multitude ; ther, doing nothing by partiality. and they chose Stephen, a Ver. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no full of faith and of the Holy man, neither be partaker of other Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, nien's sins: keep thyself pure. and Nicanor, and Timon, and Bb4 Parmenas, Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposi- No man is to be or tion of hands, and prayer, with fasting, by those preaching megation , if they of presbyters to whom it doth belong. exception against It is agreeable to the word of God, and very expedient, that such as are to be ordained ministers, be designed to Touchin some particular church, or other ministerial charge P. He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qualified , both for life and ministerial abilities, according to the rules ORDINATION The power of of the apostle". He is to be examined and approved by those by whom is in the whole pre tängregations than he is to be ordained'. No fixed or not fixed, It is very requi can conveniently 1. Because the a there any rule w 2. Because the in a presbytery tery did ordain. The preachin cities or neighb Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of given to hospitality, apt to teach : Ver. 3. Not given to wine, no striker , before the apostles; and when they not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient ; power in ordinatid had prayed, they laid their hands on not a brawler; not covetous : Ver. 4. them. One that ruleth well his own howe single congregatio • 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands sudden- having his children in subjection with assume to itself ly on no man, neither be partaker of all gravity: Ver. 5. (For if a man other men's sins: keep thyself pure. know not how to rule his own house , Acts xiv. 23. And when they had how shall he take care of the church ordained them elders in every church, of God ?) Ver. 6. Not a novice, lest, and had prayed with fasting, they being lifted up with pride, he fall in commended them to the Lord, on to the condemnation of the devil. Jerusalem, w whom they believed. Acts xii. 3. Tit. i. 5. For this cause left I thee in congregations w And when they had fasted and pray- Crete, that thou shouldest set in order ed, and laid their hands on them, the things that are wanting, and orthey sent them away. dain elders in every city, as I had apP Acts xiv. 23. [See before.] Tit. i. pointed thee. Ver. 6. If any be blame5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, less , the husband of one wife , having position of han that thou shouldest set in order the faithful children, not accused of riot, things that are wanting, and ordain or unruly: Ver. 7. For a bishop must elders in every city, as I had appoint- be blameless , as the steward of God; Acts xx. 17. And from not self-willed, not soon angry, not Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and call given to wine, no striker, not given ed the elders of the church. Ver. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, of hospitality, a lover of good men, and to all the flock over the which sober, just, holy, temperate ; Ver. 9. the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, hath been taught, that he may which he hath purchased with his able by sound doctrine both.io own blood. exhort and to convince the gain91 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sayers. vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, within their bo ed thee. to filthy lucre; Ver. 8. But a lover Holding fast the faithful word, as he be which are withou reproach, and the Ver. 10. And let proved; then let of a deacon, bein | Tim. v. 22. ) on no man, net other men's sins si Tim. ïïl. 2 be blameless, si Tim. iii. 7. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which claris position of hands doth appertain, for those congregations No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, if they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him. Touching the Power of Ordination. ORDINATION is the act of a presbytery": The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole presbytery, which, when it is over more 011 congregations than one, whether those congregations be fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, it is indifferent as to the point of ordination". It is very requisite, that no single congregation, that can conveniently associate, do assume to itself all and sole power in ordination : 1. Because there is no example in scripture that any the single congregation, which might conveniently associate, did assume to itself all and sole power in ordination; neither is there any rule which may warrant such a practice. 2. Because there is in scripture example of an ordination Ng in a presbytery over divers congregations; as in the church of Jerusalem, where were many congregations: these many congregations were under one presbytery, and this presbytery did ordain. The preaching presbyters orderly associated, either in cities or neighbouring villages, are those to whom the im within their bounds respectively. Concerning which are without; lest he fall into wife, vigilant, sober, of good ben reproach, and the snare of the devil, haviour, given to hospitality, apt to Ver. 10. And let these also first be teach. Tit. i. 7. For a bishop niust proved; then let them use the office be blanieless, as the steward of God. of a deacon, being found blameless, ti Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly gift that is in thee, which was on no man, neither be partaker of given thee by prophecy, with the other men's sins : keep thyself pure, laying on of the hands of the pres $i Tim. üi. 2. A bishop then must bytery: be blameless, the husband of one 51 Tim. iv. 14. [See ix lètter!.}. Bb 5 w Sie 1. N° 12. There is att to to take upon hi 11. In extraordin Concerning the Doctrinal Part of Ordination of Ministers. mer be done, until a man ought to take upon him the office of a mining as near as possib ster of the word without a lawful calling ". extraordinary occas 2. Ordination is always to be continued in the church. 3. Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person present supply of m some publick church office Y. The Director 4. Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, and prayer, with fasting, by these IT being manifest preaching presbyters to whom it doth belong ? 5. The power of ordering the whole work of ordination until he be lawful is in the whole presbytery, which, when it is over more that the work of o congregations than one, whether those congregations be care , wisdom, gra fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, it is these directions, a indifferent as to the point of ordination o. 6. It is agreeable to the word, and very expedient, that the people, or oth such as are to be ordained ministers, be designed to some en place, must a particular church, or other ministerial charge 6. 7. He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qua. three kingdoms lified, both for life and ministerial abilities, according to studies ; what de the rules of the apostle R. 8. He is to be examined and approved by those by whom hi sage, which is he is to be ordained d. 9. No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, if they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him. 10. Preaching presbyters orderly associated, either in cities or neighbouring willages, are these to whom the imposition of hands doth appertain, for those congregations with them were the within their bounds respectively", 1. He that is to with him a testir what hath been his life and con 11. In 82 Chron. xxix. were too few, so th slay all the burnt fore their brethre and until the other bed themselves; f more upright in themselves than to And also the bur abundance; with offerings, and th every burnt-offe of the house of order. Ver. 3 joiced, and all had prepared t! was done sudde a See before in letter? See before in letter $. 82 Chron. bytery, |