profecuting it further. But if the people be nearly, or entirely, unanimous; or if the majori ty shall infist upon their right to call a minifter; then in that cafe, the minifter, after ufing his utmost endeavours to perfuade the congregation to unanimity, fhall proceed to draw a call in due form, and to have it fubfcribed by the electors; certifying, at the fame time, the number and circumstances of those who do not concur in the call: All which proceedings fhall be laid before the presbytery, together with the call.

viz.

The call shall be in the following, or like form,

of a call.

The Congregation of

The Form being, on fufficient grounds, well fatis fied of the minifterial qualifications of you and having good hopes from our past experience of your labours, that your miniftrations in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interefts, do earneftly call and defire you, to undertake the pastoral office in faid congregation; promifing you, in the dif charge of your duty, all proper fupport, encour ragement, and obedience, in the Lord: And that you may be free from worldly cares and avocations, we hereby promise and oblige ourfelves. to pay to you, the fum of in regular*

payments, during the time,

This blank to be filled up with the words, quarterly, half:

vearly, or yearly, as may beft fuit the congregation.

of your being, and continuing the regular paftor of this church. In teftimony whereof, we have respectively fubfcribed our names, this

day of

A. D.

Attefted by A. B. Moderator of the meeting. Sect. V. But if any congregation shall choose A call may, in to fubfcribe their call, by their elders certain cafes, be and deacons, or truítees, or commitfubfcribed by Elders or Deacons. tee, or either, they shall be at liberty fo to do; but it fhall, in such case, be fully certified to the presbytery, by the minifter, or other perfon who prefided, that they have been appointed, for this purpose, by a public vote of the congregation; and that the call has been, in all other refpects, prepared as above directed.

ment.

Sect. VI. When a call fhall be prefented to A Call fufficient any minifter or candidate, it fhall both for Ordina- always be viewed as a fufficient petition and Instal- tion from the people for his instalment. The acceptance of a call, by a minifter or candidate, fhall always be considered as a requeft, on his part, to be inftalled at the fame time. And when a candidate shall be ordained, in confequence of a call from any congregation, the presbytery fhall always, at the fame time, ordain and install him paftor of that congregation.

be

Sect. VII. The call, thus prepared, fhall be The Call must presented to the presbytery, under prefented whofe care the perfon called shall be; to the Prefby- that, if the presbytery think it expedient to prefent the call to him, may be accordingly prefented: And no minifter or candidate fhall receive a call but through the hands of the presbytery.

tery.

it

Sect. VIII. If the call be to the licentiate of another presbytery, in that cafe the ceed when the commiffioners, deputed from the Call is to the Li- congregation to profecute the call, ther Prefbytery. fhall produce, to that judicatory, a certificate from their own presby

centiate of ano

tery, regularly attefted by the moderator and clerk, that they are in order. If that presby-tery present the call to their licentiate, and he be difpofed to accept it, they fhall then dismiss him from their jurifdiction, and require him to repair to that presbytery, into the bounds of which he is called; and there to fubmit himself to the ufual trials preparatory to ordination.

Trials for Ordination.

Sect. IX. Trials for ordination, especially in a different presbytery from that in which the candidate was licensed, fhall confift of a careful examination as to his acquaintance with experimental religion; as to his knowledge of philofophy, theology, ecclefiaftical hiftory, the Greek and He

brew languages, and fuch other branches of learning as to the presbytery may appear requifite; and as to his knowledge of the conftitution, the rules and principles of the government and discipline of the church; together with fuch written difcourfe, or discourses, founded on the word of God, as to the presbytery fhall feem proper". The presbytery, being fully fatisfied with his qualifications for the facred office, fhall appoint a day for his ordination, which ought to be, if convenient, in that church of which he is to be the minister. It is also recommended that a fast day be observed in the congregation previous to the day of ordination.

Sect. X. The day appointed for ordination" being come, and the presbytery Prefbytery be- convened, a member of the presbytery, ing conftituted previously appointed to that duty, be preached, fhall preach a fermon adapted to

a Sermon fhall

&c.

the occafion. The fame, or another

member appointed to prefide in this bufinefs, fhall afterwards briefly recite from the pulpit, in the audience of the people, the proceedings of the presbytery preparatory to this tranfaction: He fhall point out the nature and importance of the ordinance; and endeavour to impress the audience with a proper sense of the folemnity of the tranfaction.

b See the proofs in sections 1, 2, 3, 4, of chapter 13. c Acts 13. 2, 3.

Engagements

Then addreffing himself to the required of thofe candidate, he fhall propose to him who are ordained the following questions, viz.

1. Do you believe the fcriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice“?

2. Do you fincerely receive, and adopt, the confeffion of faith of this church, as containing the fyftem of doctrine taught in the holy fcriptures"?

3. Do you approve of the government and difcipline of the presbyterian church, as prefcribed in the form of the government and discipline of the presbyterian church in thefe United States?

4. Do you promise subjection to your brethren, in the Lord?

5. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to feek the office of the holy miniftry, from love to God, and a fincere defire to promote his glory in the gospel of his Son"?

6. Do you promife to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel, and the purity and peace of the church; whatever perfecution, or oppofition, may arise unto you on that account?