Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A36060
|
A Directory for church-government and ordination of ministers to be examined against the next Generall Assemblie.
|
Church of Scotland.
|
1647
(1647)
|
Wing D1542; ESTC R34740
|
14,967
|
36
|
A DIRECTORY FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT AND ORDINATION OF MINISTERS To be examined against the next Generall Assemblie EDINBURGH Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1647. A DIRECTORY FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT AND ORDINATION OF MINISTERS To be examined against the next GENERALL ASSEMBLY The Preface JEsus Christ upon whose shoulder the Government is whose Name is called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of whose Government and Peace there shall bee no end who sits upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and establish it with Judgement and Justice from henceforth even for ever Having all power given unto him in Heaven and Earth by the Father who raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand far above all Principalitie and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all He being ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things received gifts for his Church and gave all Officers necessary for the edification of his Church and perfecting of his Saints Of the Church THere is one Generall Church visible held forth in the New Testament unto which Generall Church visible the Ministery Oracles and Ordinances of the New Testament are given by Jesus Christ for the gathering and perfecting of the Saints in this life untill his second coming Particular visible Churches members of the Generall Church are also held forth in the New Testament which particular Churches in the primitive times were made up of visible Saints viz. of such as being of age professed Faith in Christ and obedience unto Christ according to the rules of Faith and Life taught by him and his Apostles and of their Children Of the Officers of the Church APostles Prophets and Evangelists were extraordinary Officers in the Church and are ceased The Pastor is an ordinary and perpetuall Officer in the Church To whose Office it belongeth to pray for and with his Flock To read the Scripture publikely in the Congregation which is an holy Ordinance in Gods Church although there follow no immediate explication of what is read To preach the Word to be instant in season out of season To reprove correct instruct rebuke exhort convince and comfort One especiall way of discharging which work of Preaching is by a plain laying down the first principles of the Oracles of God which is commonly called Catechising to administer the Sacraments In the Name of God to blesse the people To take care for the poor And he hath also a ruling power over the Flock as a Pastor In the Scripture we also finde the name and title of Teacher who is a Minister of the Word and hath power of administration of the Sacraments and Discipline as well as the Pastor The Lord having given different gifts and divers exercises according to those gifts in the Ministers of the Word though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister yet where there be severall Ministers in the same Congregation they may be designed to severall imployments according to the different gifts wherein each of them doth excell And he who doth more excell in exposition of Scripture in Teaching sound Doctrine and in convincing gainsayers then he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein may be called a Teacher or Doctor Neverthelesse where there is but one Minister in a particular Congregation he is to perform so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministery A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schooles and Universities as of old in the Schooles of the Prophets and at Jerusalem where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors It is likewise agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God that some others beside the Ministers of the Word be Church Governours to joyne with the Ministers in the Government of the Church which Officers Reformed Churches commonly call Elders These Elders ought to be such as are men of good understanding in matters of Religion sound in the faith prudent discreet grave and of unblameable conversation Deacons also are distinct Officers in the Church To whose Office it belongeth not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take speciall care for the necessities of the poor by collecting for and distributing to them with direction of the Eldership that none amongst the people of God be constrained to bee beggers The Deacons must be wise sober grave of honest report and not greedy of filthy lucre Of Church Government and the severall sorts of Assemblies for the same CHrist hath instituted a Government and Governours Ecclesiasticall in the Church And to that purpose the Apostles did immediatly receive the keyes from the hand of Jesus Christ and did use and exercise them in all the Churches of the World upon all occasions And Christ hath from time to time furnished some in his Church with gifts for Government and with Commission to exercise the same when called thereunto It is agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God that some others besides the Ministers of the Word be Church Governours as was mentioned before It is lawfull and agreeable to the Word of God that the Church be governed by severall sorts of Assemblies Which are Presbyteries and Synods or Assemblies Congregationall Classicall and Synodicall The Scripture doth hold out a Presbytery in a Church which Presbytery consisteth of Ministers of the Word and those other Church Officers who are to joyne with the Ministers in the Government of the Church The Scripture doth hold out another sort of Assemblies for the Government of the Church besides Classicall and Congregationall which wee call Synodicall Of the power in Common of all these Assemblies and the order to be observed in them IT is lawfull and agreeable to the Word of God that the severall Assemblies before mentioned do convent and call before them any person within their severall bounds whom the Ecclesiasticall businesse which is before them shall concerne either as a party or a witnesse or otherwise and to examine them according to the nature of the businesse And that they do hear and determine such causes and differences as shall orderly come before them and accordingly dispence Church censures It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose Office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings who is to vote as well as the rest of the members To begin and end every meeting with prayer To propose questions gather the votes pronounce the Resolves But not to do any act of Government unlesse in and joyntly with the Assembly whereof he is Moderator All the members of these
and is to bee removed to another charge hee shall bring a Testimoniall of his Ordination and of his abilities and Conversation whereupon his fitnesse for that place shall bee tryed by his Preaching there and if it shall bee judged necessary by a further examination of him In all which he being approved he is to bee sent to the Church where he is to serve 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 occasion to inquire into and the better to know his life and conversation In the last of these three dayes appointed for the tryall of his gifts in Preaching there shall bee sent from the Presbytery to the Congregation a publike intimation in writing which shall be publikely read before the people and after affixed to the Church door To signifie that such a day a competent number of the Members of that Congregation nominated by themselves shall appear before the Presbytery to give their consent and approbation to such a Man to bee their Minister Or otherwise to put in with all Christian discretion and meeknesse what exceptions they have against him And if upon the day appointed there be no just exception against him but the people give their consent then the Presbytery shall proceed to Ordination Upon the day appointed for Ordination which is to be performed in that Church where he that is to be ordained is to serve A solemne fast shall be kept by the Congregation that they may the more earnestly joyne in prayer for a blessing upon the ordinance of Christ and the labours of his Servant for their good The Presbytery shall come to the place or at least three or four Ministers of the Word shall bee sent thither from the Presbytery of which one appointed by the Presbytery shall Preach to the people concerning the office and duety of the Ministers of Christ and how the people ought to receive them for their works sake After the Sermon the Minister who hath Preached shall 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 Scripture his sincere intentions and ends in desiring to enter into this Calling his diligence in Prayer Reading Meditation Preaching Ministering the Sacraments Discipline and doing all other Ministeriall duties toward his charge his zeal and faithfulnesse in maintaining the Truth of the Gospel and Unity of the Church against Errour and Schisme his care that himself and his Family may be unblameable and examples to the flock his willingnesse and humility in meeknesse of Spirit to submit unto the admonitions of his Brethren and Discipline of the Church and his resolution to continue in his dutie against all troubles and persecution In all which having declared himself professed his willingnesse and promised his endeavours by the help of God The Minister likewise shall demand of the people concerning their willingnesse to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ and to obey and submit unto him as having rule over them in the Lord and to maintaine encourage and assist him in all the parts of his office Which being mutually promised by the people the Presbytery or the Ministers sent from them for Ordination shall solemnly set him apart to the Office and Work of the Ministry by laying their hands on him which is to be accompanied with a short Prayer or Blessing to this effect Thankfully 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 the Father and thence pouring out his Spirit and giving gifts to Men Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors and Teachers for the gathering and building up of his Church and for fitting and inclining this man to this great Work To entreat him to fill him with his holy Spirit to give him whom in his Name we thus set apart to this holy Service to fulfill the Work of his Ministry in all things that hee may both save himself and the People committed to his charge 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 Work the danger of negligence both to himself and his people the Blessing which will accompany his faithfulnesse in this life and that to come And withall exhort the People to carry themselves to him as to their Minister in the Lord according to their solemne promise made before And so by prayer both commencing Him and his Flock to the grace of God After the singing of a Psalme let the Assembly bee dismissed with a Blessing If a Minister be designed to a Congregation who hath been formerly ordained Presbyter according to the forme of Ordination which hath been in the Church of England which we hold for substance to be valide and not to be disclaimed by any who have received it Then there being a cautious proceeding in matter of examination let him bee admitted without any new Ordination And in case any Person already 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 Presbytery here within which that Congregation is a sufficient Testimoniall of his Ordination of his life and conversation while hee lived with them and of the causes of his removeall And to undergo such a tryall of his fitnesse and sufficiency And to have the same course held with him in other particulars as is set down in the rule immediatly going before touching examination and admission That Records be carefully kept in the severall Presbyteries of the Names of the Persons ordained with their Testimonials the time and place of their Ordination of the Presbyters who did impose hands upon them and of the charge to which they are appointed That no Money or gift of what kinde soever shall be received from the Person to bee ordained or from any on his behall for Ordination or ought else belonging to it by any of the Presbyterie or any appertaining to any of them upon what pretence soever Thus far the ordinary rules and course of Ordination in the ordinary way That which concerns the extraordinary way requisite to be now practised followeth In these present exigences while we cannot have any Presbyteries formed up to their whole power and work and that many Ministers are to be ordained for the Service of the Armies and Navie and to many Congregations where there is no Minister at all and where by reason of the publike troubles the people cannot either themselves enquire out and finde one who may be a faithfull Minister for them or have any with safety sent unto them for such a solemn tryall as was before mentioned in the ordinary rules especially when there can bee no Presbytery neer unto them to whom they may addresse themselves or which may come or send to them a fit man to be ordained in that Congregation and for that People And yet notwithstanding it is requisite that Ministers be ordained for them by some who being set apart themselves for the Work of the Ministry have power to joyne in the setting apart of others who are found fit and worthy In these cases untill by Gods blessing the aforesaid difficulties may bee in some good measure removed let some godly Ministers in or about the City of London be designed by publike authority who being associated may ordaine Ministers for the City and the Vicinity keeping as neer to the ordinary rules forementioned as possibly they may And let this association be for no other intent or purpose but onely for the work of Ordination Let the like association be made by the same authority in great Towns and the Neighbouring Parishes in the severall Counties which are at the present quiet and undisturbed to do the like for the parts adjacent Let such as are chosen or appointed for the service of the Armies or Navie bee ordained as abovesaid by the associated Ministers of London or some others in the Countries Let them do the like when any man shall duely and lawfully be recommended to them for the Ministery of any Congregation who cannot enjoy liberty to have a tryall of his parts and abilities and desire the help of such Ministers so associated for the better furnishing of them with a Person as by them shall bee judged fit for the service of that Church and People Cornelius Burges Prolocutor pro tempore Henry Roborough Scrib Adoniram Byfield Scrib FINIS