Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	minister_n	power_n	7,372	5	5.4211	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A83014	An ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament. After advice had with the assembly of divines, for the ordination of ministers pro tempore, according to the directory for ordination, and rules for examination, therein expressed. Die Mercurii, 2 Octob. 1644. Ordered, that this ordinance for ordination, of ministers pro tempore, bee forthwith printed. H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.	England and Wales. Parliament.	1644 (1644)	Wing E1801; Thomason E10_25; ESTC R18247	4,847	18

Die Mercurii 2 Octob. 1644. ORdered that this Ordinance for Ordination of Ministers pro Tempore bee forthwith Printed and that it bee sent to the Assembly of Divines to take care of the printing thereof And that no man do print the same but such as shall bee thereunto appointed by the Assembly H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com. October 3. ORdered by the Assembly of Divines That the Scribes of the Assembly take care of the Printing of this Ordinance Wee do appoint Ralph Smith to print this Ordinance Henry Robrough Adoniram Byfield AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT After Advice had with the Assembly of DIVINES for the Ordination of Mininisters pro Tempore according to the Directory for Ordination and Rules for Examination therein expressed Die Mercurii 2 Octob. 1644. ORdered that this Ordinance for Ordination of Ministers pro Tempore bee forthwith Printed H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com. LONDON Printed for Ralph Smith and are to bee sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible in Corne-bill neere the Royall Exchange 1644. AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT FOR THE Ordination of Ministers pro Tempore WHereas the word Presbyter that is to say Elder and the word Bishop doe in the Scriptures intend and signifie one and the same Function although the Title of Bishop hath beene by corrupt custome appropriated to one and that unto him ascribed and by him assumed as in other things so in the matter of Ordination that was not meet Which Ordination notwithstanding being performed by him a Presbyter joyned with other Presbyters we hold for substance to bee valid and not to bee disclaimed by any that have received it And that Presbyters so ordained being lawfully thereunto appointed and authorized may ordaine other Presbyters And whereas it is also manifest by the word of God That no man ought to take upon him the Office of a Minister untill hee bee lawfully called and ordained thereunto And that the worke of Ordination that is to say An outward Solemne setting apart of Persons for the Office of the Ministery in the Church by Preaching Presbyters is an Ordinance of Christ and is to bee performed with all due Care Wisdome Gravity and Solemnity It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament and by the Authority of the same after advice had with the Assembly of Divines now convened at Westminster that during the present exigencies of the Armies of the Navy and of many Congregations destitute of able and faithfull Ministers of the Gospel and untill a Government of the Church be formed up to the full power and Worke of it and the whole course of Ordination of Ministers in an ordinary way bee set up and setled for all the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland These persons in the City of London being Presbyters Viz. Doctor Cornelius Burges one of the Assessors of the Assembly Dr. William Gouge Mr. John Ley Mr. George Walker Mr. Edmund Calamy Mr. Daniel Cawdry Mr. Stanley Gower Mr. John Conant Mr. Humphrey Chambers Members of the Assembly of Divines Mr. Henry Robrough one of the Scribes of the Assembly Mr. John Downham Mr. Charles Off-spring Mr. Richard Lee Mr. Timothy Dod Mr. James Cranford Mr. Thomas Horton Mr. Thomas Clenden Mr. Arthur Jackson Mr. Samuel Clerke Mr. Emanuel Bourne Mr. Foulke Bellers Mr. Francis Roberts Mr. Leonard Cooke or any seven of them being the whole number present or any seven or more of them being the major part of them that shall bee present may examine approve and ordaine Presbyters according to the Directory for Ordination and Rules for Examination hereafter expressed that is to say First That hee that is to bee Ordained must addresse himselfe to the Ministers appointed to ordaine and bring with him a testimoniall of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes of his diligence and proficiency in his Studies what degrees hee hath taken in the Vniversity and what hath been the time of his abode there and withall of his age which is to bee twenty foure yeeres at the least but especially of his life and conversation Secondly the Ministers appointed to ordaine shall proceed to inquire touching the grace of God in him and whether hee bee of such holinesse of life as is requisite in a Minister of the Gospel and to examine him touching his Learning and sufficiency and touching the evidence of his Calling to the holy Ministery and in particular his faire and direct calling to that place to which he is designed THE RVLES for EXAMINATION ARE THESE 1. THat the party Examined bee dealt with in a Brotherly way with mildnesse of spirit and with speciall respect to the gravity modesty and quality of every one 2. Hee shall bee examined touching his skill in the Originall Tongues and that Tryall to bee made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testaments and rendring some portions of them into Latine And inquiry also shall bee made after his other Learning and whether hee hath skill in Logick and Philosophy 3. What Authours in Divinity hee hath read and is best acquainted with and tryall shall bee made of his knowledge in the chiefe Grounds of Religion and of his ability to defend the Orthodox Doctrine contained in them against all unsound and erroneous opinions especially those of the present age Of his skill In the sense and meaning of such places of Scripture as shall bee proposed unto him In cases of Conscience and in the Chronologie of Scripture and of the Ecclesiasticall History 4. If hee hath not before Preached in publique with approbation of such as are able to judge hee shall at a competent time assigned him and before the Ministers appointed to Ordaine expound such a place of Scripture as shall bee given him 5. Hee shall in a competent time also frame a Discourse in Latin upon such a common place or controversie in Divinity as shall bee assigned him and exhibite to the Ministers appointed to ordaine such Theses as expresse the summe thereof and maintain a Dispute upon them 6. Hee shall Preach before the People and the Ministers appointed to Ordain or some of them 7. The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which hee is called shall bee considered 8. Besides the Tryall of his gifts in preaching hee shall undergoe an Examination in the Premises two several dayes or more if the Ministers appointed to Ordaine shall judge it necessary Thirdly After which hee being approved is to bee sent to the Church or other place where hee is to serve if it may bee done with safety and conveniency there to Preach three severall dayes and to converse with the people that they may have tryall of his gifts for their edification and may have time and leisure to inquire into and the better to know his life and conversation Fourthly In the last of those three dayes appointed for the making known of his gifts in Preaching there shall

bee sent by the Ministers appointed to ordaine if it may bee done with safety and conveniency a publique Instrument in writing which shall publiquely bee read before the people and after affixed to the Church doore to signifie such a day any member or members of the said Congregation or any other person or persons whatsoever or any of them may put in with all Christian discretion and meeknesse what exceptions they have against him and if upon the day appointed there bee no just exceptions against him the Ministers appointed to ordaine shall proceed to Ordination Fifthly In the day appointed for Ordination which is to be performed in that Church where hee that is to bee ordained is to serve if it may bee done with safety and convenience a Solemne Fast shall bee kept by the Congregation that they may more earnestly joine in Prayer to God for a blessing upon the Person and Labours of this his Servant solemnly to bee set a part to the Office of the Ministery for their good The Ministers appointed to ordaine or seven of them shall come to the place whereof one shall Preach to the people concerning the Office and Duty of the Ministers of Christ and how the People ought to esteeme him for the works sake Sixthly After the Sermon ended the Minister which hath Preached shall in the face of the Congregation demand of him who is now to bee Ordained concerning his Faith in Christ Jesus and his perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion according to the Scriptures his sincere intentions and ends in desiring to enter into this calling his resolution to be diligent in Prayer Reading Meditation Preaching Ministring the Sacraments and doing all Ministeriall duties towards his charge his Zeale and Faithfulnesse in maintaining the Truth of the Gospel and unity of the Church against Error and Schisme his Care that himselfe and family may bee unblamable and examples to the Flocke and his Resolution to continue in his duty against all trouble and persecution Seventhly In all which having declared himselfe professed his willingnesse and promised his endeavours by the help of God the Ministers appointed to ordaine shall solemnly set him apart to the Office and work of the Ministery laying their hands on him with a short Prayer or blessing to this effect Thankefully acknowledging the great Mercy of God in sending Jesus Christ for the Redemption of his people and for his Ascension to the right hand of God the Father and there powring out his Spirit and giving gifts to Men Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastours and Teachers for the gathering and building up of his Church and for fitting and inclining this man to this great Worke to beseech him to fill him with his holy Spirit whom in his name wee * Here let them impose their hands on his head set apart to this holy Service to fulfill the work of his Ministery in all things that hee may both save himselfe and the people committed to his charge Eigthly This or the like forme of Prayer or blessing being ended let the Minister who preached briefly exhort him to consider the greatnesse of his Office and Worke the danger of negligence both to himselfe and his people the blessing which will accompany his faithfulnesse in this life and that to come and withall let him Exhort and Charge the people in the name of God willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ and to maintaine incourage and assist him in all the parts of his Office And so by prayer commending both him and his Flocke to the grace of God after the singing of a Psalme let the Assembly bee dismissed with a blessing 9. Let such as are chosen or appointed for the Service of the Army or Navy or Colleges or other Charge be Ordained as abovesaid in such Church as the Ministers appointed to Ordaine shall thinke fit and such Alterations made by the Minister that Ordaineth from the Exhortation last before prescribed as the Circumstances of Place and Persons shall require And be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons and by the Authoritie aforesaid that every Person formerly Ordained a Presbyter according to the forme of Ordination which hath been held in the Church of England and is to be removed to another Charge doe bring to the Ministers appointed to Ordaine for that County where he is to be placed a Testimoniall of his Ordination and of his Abilities and Conversation whereupon his fitnesse for that place whither he is to be removed shall be tryed by his preaching there and if it shall be judged necessary by a farther Examination and so without any new Ordination he shall be admitted if he be a proved as fit for that place And if any Person Ordained Minister in Scotland or in any other Reformed Church be designed to a Congregation in England he is to bring from that Church to the Ministers appointed to Ordaine for that Countie where he is to be placed a sufficient Testimoniall of his Ordination of his life and conversation while he lived with them and of the Causes of his Removall and to undergoe such a Tryall of his fitnesse and sufficiencie and to have the same Course held with him in other particulars as is set downe in the foregoing Rule and Provision touching the Examination and admission of Persons formerly Ordained in England And it is further Ordained that Records be carefully kept by the Register to be nominated by the Ministers appointed to Ordaine of the Names of the Persons Ordained with their Testimoniall the time and place of their Ordination and of the Ministers who did Ordaine them and of the Charge to which they are appointed And that no Money or Gift of what kind soever shall be received from the Person to be Ordained or from any on his behalfe for Ordination or ought else belonging to it by any of the Ministers appointed to Ordaine or any appertaining to any of them upon what pretence soever Except to the Register for the Entry Instruments and Testimonials of his Ordination which shall not exceed the summe of Ten Shillings for each Person Ordained And it is yet further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid that all Persons who shall be Ordained Presbyters according to this Directorie shall be for ever reputed and taken to all intents and purposes for lawfull and sufficiently authorised Ministers of the Church of England and as Capeable of any Ministeriall imployment in the Church with the Rights and Profitts belonging thereunto as any other Presbyters whatsoever already Ordained or hereafter to be Ordained And that all Presbyters who are hereby appointed and authorised to Ordaine and shall according to this present Directory Ordaine any Presbyters are hereby declared to performe an acceptable Service to this Church and Kingdome and shall have the Protection of both Houses of Parliament for their Indemnitie Provided That this Ordinance shall stand in force for twelve Moneths and no longer Any thing in this Ordinance conteyned to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding FINIS