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!fied, both for life and minifterial abilities, according to the rules of the apostlec.

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 minifter for a particular congregation, if they of that congregation can fhew just cause of exception against hime.

10. Preaching presbyters orderly affociated, either in cities or neighbouring villages, are those to whom the impofition of hands doth appertain, for those congregations within their bounds respectivelyf.

11. In extraordinary cafes, fomething extraordinary may be done, until a fettled order may be had, yet keeping as near as poffibly may be to the ruleg.

12. There is at this time (as we humbly conceive) an extraordinary occafion for a way of ordination for the present fupply of ministers.

See before in letter q. d See before in letter r, e See before in letter s.

f1 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 prefbytery.

g 2 Chron. xxix. 34. But the priests were too few, that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them till the work was ended, and until the other priefts had fanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to fanctify themselves, than the priests. v. 35. And alfo the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the fervice of the house of the Lord was fet in or

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der. v. 36. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done fuddenly. 2 Chron. xxx. 2. For the king had taken counfel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerufalem, to keep the paffover in the second month. v. 3. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not fanctified themselves fufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerufalem. v. 4. And the thing pleased the king, and all the congregation. v. 5. So they established a decree, to make proclamation throughout all Ifrael from Beer-fheba even to Dan, that they fhould come to keep the paflover unto the Lord God of Ifrael, at Jerufalem: for they had not done it of a long time in fuch a fort as it was written.

The Directory for the Ordination of Minifters. IT being manifeft by the word of God, that no man ought

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to take upon him the office of a minister of the gofpel, 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 folemnity: we humbly tender these directions, as requifite to be obferved.

First, He that is to be ordained, being either nominated by the people, or otherwife commended to the presbytery for any place, must addrefs himself to the presbytery, and bring with him a teftimonial of his taking the covenant of the three kingdoms, of his diligence and proficiency in his ftudies; 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 con

verfation.

2. Which being confidered by the presbytery, they are to proceed to enquire touching the grace of God in him, and whether he be of fuch holiness of life as is requifite in a minifter of the gospel; and to examine him touching his learning and fufficiency, and touching the evidences of his calling to the holy ministry, and in particular his fair and direct calling to that place.

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The Rules for Examination are these;

1. That the party examined be dealt withal in a brotherly way, with mildness of spirit, and with special respect to the gravity, modefty, and quality of every one.

2. He shall be examined touching his skill in the origi'nal tongues, and his trial to be made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Teftaments, and rendering fome portion of fome into Latin; and, if he be defective in them, enquiry fhall be made more ftrictly after his other learning, and < whether he hath skill in logick and philofophy.

3. What authors in divinity he hath read, and is best ac• quainted

quainted with: and trial fhall be made in his knowledge of the grounds of religion, and of his ability to defend the orthodox doctrine, contained in them, against all unfound and erroneous opinions, especially these of the present age; of his skill in the fenfe and meaning of fuch places of fcripture as shall be proposed unto him, in cafes of conscience and in the chronology of the scripture, and the ecclefiaftical history.

4. 'If he hath not before preached in publick with approbation of fuch as are able to judge, he fhall at a competent time affigned him, expound before the presbytery fuch a place of fcripture as fhall be given him.

5. He shall alfo, within a competent time, frame a difcourfe in Latin, upon fuch a common place or controverfy in divinity as fhall be affigned to him, and exhibite to the prefbytery fuch theses as express the fum thereof, and maintain a dispute upon them.

6. He fhall preach before the people, the presbytery, or some of the minifters of the word appointed by them, being present.

7. The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which he is called fhall be confidered.

8. Befide the tryal of his gifts in preaching, he shall undergo an examination in the premiffes two several days, and more if the presbytery fhall judge it neceffary.

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9. And as for him that hath formerly been ordained a minifter, and is to be removed to another charge, he shall bring a testimonial of his ordination, and of his abilities and converfation, whereupon his fitnefs for that place shall be tried by his preaching there, and (if it fhall be judged neceffary) by a further examination of him.'

In all which he being approved, he is to be fent to the church where he is to ferve, there to preach three several days, and to converfe with the people, that they may have trial of his gifts for their edification, and may have time and occafion

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occafion to enquire into, and the better to know, his life and conversation.

4. In the last of these three days appointed for the trial of his gifts in preaching, there fhall be fent from the presbytery to the congregation, a publick intimation in writing which fhall be publickly read before the people, and after affixed to the church door, to fignify that fuch a day, a comperent number of the members of that congregation, nominated by themselves, fhall appear before the presbytery, to give their confent and approbation to fuch a man to be their minister; or otherwife, to put in, with all Chriftian difcretion and meeknefs, what exceptions they have against him: and if, upon the day appointed, there be no juft exception against him, but the people give their confent, then the presbytery shall proceed to ordination,

5. Upon the day appointed for ordination, which is to be performed in that church where he that is to be ordained is to ferve, a folemn fast shall be kept by the congregation, that they may the more earnestly join in prayer for a bleffing upon the ordinance of Chrift, and the labours of his fervant for their good, The presbytery fhall come to the place, or at least three or four minifters of the word fhall be fent thither from the presbytery; of which one appointed by the presbytery, fhall preach to the people, concerning the office and du ty of ministers of Christ, and how the people ought to receive them for their works fake.

6. After the fermon, the minifter who hath preached, fhall, in the face of the congregation, demand of him who is now to be ordained, concerning his faith in Christ Jesus, and his perswasion of the truth of the reformed religion, according to the fcripture; his fincere intentions and ends in defiring to enter into this calling; his diligence in praying, reading, meditation, preaching, miniftring the facraments, difcipline, and doing all ministerial duties towards his charge; his zeal and faithfulness in maintaining the truth of the gofpel,

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and unity of the church, against error and schism; his care that himself and his family may be unblameable, and examples to the flock; his willingness and humility, in meekness of fpirit, to fubmit unto the admonitions of his brethren, and discipline of the church; and his refolution to continue in his duty against all trouble and perfecution.

7. In all which having declared himself, profeffed his willingness, and promised his endeavours, by the help of God: the minifter likewife fhall demand of the people, concerning their willingness to receive and acknowledge him as the minister of Chrift; and to obey, and submit unto him, as having rule over them in the Lord; and to maintain, encourage and affift him in all the parts of his office.

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8. Which being mutually promised by the people, the prefbytery, or the minifters fent from them for ordination, shall folemnly fet him apart to the office and work of the ministry, by laying their hands on him, which is to be accompanied with a fhort prayer or bleffing, to this effect;

Thankfully acknowledging the great mercy of God, in 'fending Jefus Chrift for the redemption of his people; and ' for his ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and thence pouring out his Spirit, and giving gifts to men, apostles, evangelifts, prophets, paftors, and teachers, for 'the gathering and building up of his church; and for fitting and inclining this man to this great work +: To intreat him

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to fit him with his holy Spirit, to give him (who in his name we thus fet apart to this holy fervice) to fulfil the work of his ministry in all things, that he may both fave himself, ' and his people committed to his charge.'

9. This or the like form of prayer and bleffing being ended, let the minister who preached, briefly exhort him to confider of the greatnefs of his office and work, the danger of negligence both to himself and his people, the bleffing which

+ Here let them impofe Hands on his Head,

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