Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, and prayer, with fasting, by those preaching | presbyters to whom it doth belong o. It is agreeable to the word of God, and very expedient, that such as are to be ordained ministers, be designed to 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 of the apostle. He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be ordained '. Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Ver. 6. Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. • 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Acts xiv. 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts xiii. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts xiv. 23. See before.] Tit. i. 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Ver. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 91 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, No given to hospitality, apt to teach : Ver. 3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not a brawler; not covetous: Ver. 4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity: Ver. 5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Ver. 6. Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Tit. i. 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. Ver. 6. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly: Ver. 7. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; Ver. 8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Ver. 9. Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 1 Tim. iii. 7. Moreover, he must have a good report of them No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, if they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him3. Touching the Power of Ordination. RDINATION is the act of a presbytery. OR The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole presbytery, which, when it is over more 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 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 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 imposition of hands doth appertain, for those congregations within their bounds respectively. which are without; lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil, Ver. 10. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. $1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one Concerning Concerning the Doctrinal Part of Ordination of Ministers. 1. NO man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the word without a lawful calling ". 2. Ordination is always to be continued in the church *. 3. Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick church office ". 4. Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, and prayer, with fasting, by these preaching presbyters to whom it doth belong. 5. The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole presbytery, which, when it is over more 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". 6. It is agreeable to the word, and very expedient, that such as are to be ordained ministers, be designed to some particular church, or other ministerial charge. 7. He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qualified, both for life and ministerial abilities, according to the rules of the apostle . 8. He is to be examined and approved by those by whom 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 villages, are these to whom the imposition of hands doth appertain, for those congregations within their bounds respectively. 11. In See before in letter 1. See before in letter. See before in letter ". See before in letter o. Se before in letter ". See before in letter P. Sac before in letter 9. See before in letter r See before in latter $. f 1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. € 2 Chron. 11. In extraordinary cases, something extraordinary may be done, until a settled order may be had, yet keeping as near as possibly may be to the rule ". 12. There is at this time (as we humbly conceive) an extraordinary occasion for a way of ordination for the present supply of ministers. IT The Directory for the Ordination of Ministers. T being manifest by the word of God, that no man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the gospel, until he be lawfully called and ordained thereunto; and that the work of ordination is to be performed with all due care, wisdom, gravity, and solemnity, we humbly tender. these directions, as requisite to be observed. 1. He that is to be ordained, being either nominated by the people, or otherwise commended to the presbytery, for any place, must address himself to the presbytery, and bring with him a testimonial of his taking the Covenant of the three kingdoms; of his diligence and proficiency in his studies; what degrees he hath taken in the university, and what hath been the time of his abode there; and withal of his age, which is to be twenty-four years; but especially of his life and conversation. 5 2 Chron. xxix. 34. But the priests were too few, so that they could not slay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. Ver. 35. And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peaceofferings, and the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. Ver. 26. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people; for the thing was done suddenly. 2 Chron. xxx. 2. 2. Which For the king had taken counsel, and. 2. Which being considered by the presbytery, they are to proceed to enquire touching the grace of God in him, and whether he be of such holiness of life as is requisite in a minister of the gospel; and to examine him touching his learning and sufficiency, and touching the evidences of his calling to the holy ministry; and, in particular, his fair and direct calling to that place. The Rules for Examination are these: "(1.) That the party examined be dealt withal in a bro therly way, with mildness of spirit, and with special respect to the gravity, modesty, and quality of every one. 66 (2.) He shall be examined touching his skill in the original tongues, and his trial to be made by reading the "Hebrew and Greek Testaments, and rendering some portion of some into Latin; and if he be defective in them, enquiry shall be made more strictly after his other learning, and whether he hath skill in logick and philosophy. (5.) What authors in divinity he hath read, and is best acquainted with; and trial shall be made in his knowledge of the grounds of religion, and of his ability to defend the orthodox doctrine contained in them against all unsound "and erroneous opinions, especially these of the present age; "of his skill in the sense and meaningof such placesof scripture "as shall be proposed unto him, in cases of conscience, and in thechronology of the scripture, andthe ecclesiastical history. "(4.) If he hath not before preached in publick with ap"probation of such as are able to judge, he shall, at a competent time assigned him, expound before the presbytery such a place of scripture as shall be given him. "(5.) He shall also, within a competent time, frame a "discourse in Latin, upon such a common-place or con"troversy in divinity as shall be assigned to him, and ex"hibit to the presbytery such theses as express the sum thereof, and maintain a dispute upon them. (6.) He shall preach before the people, the presbytery, "or some of the ministers of the word, appointed by them, "being present. 66 (7.) The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which he is called shall be considered. "(8.) Beside |