Imatges de pàgina
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7. Do you engage to be faithful, and diligent, in the exercise of all private and perfonal duties, which become you as a Chriftian and a minister of the gospel; as well as in all relative duties, and the public duties of your office, endeavouring to adorn the profeffion of the gofpel by your converfation; and walking, with exemplary piety, before the flock over which God fhall make you overfeer?

When the candidate is to be ordained as the paftor of a particular congregation, the following question fhall be added.

8. Are you now willing to take the charge of this congregation, agreeably to your declaration at accepting their call? And do you promise to discharge the duties of a paftor to them, as God fhall give you ftrength'?

Sect. XI. The candidate having anfwered these questions in the affirmative, Engagements required of the the moderator fhall demand of the People. people:

1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profefs your readiness to receive whom you have called, to be

your minifter?

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2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth, with meeknefs and love;

k See the epiftles to Timothy and Titus throughout.

11 Pet. 5. 2.

N n

and to fubmit to him, with humility, in the due exercise of difcipline"?

3. Do you promife to encourage him in his arduous labour, and to affift his endeavours for your inftruction and fpiritual edification"?

4. And do you engage to continue to him, while he is your paftor, that competent worldly maintenance which you have promised; and whatever elfe you may fee needful, for the honour of religion, and his comfort among you"?

Sect. XII. The people having anfwered

these questions, in the affirmative, by Mode of or- holding up their right hands, the dination. candidate fhall kneel down, in the most convenient part of the church: Then the prefiding bishop fhall, by prayer", and with the laying on of the hands of the prefbytery, according to the apoftolic example, folemnly ordain him to the holy office of the gospel ministry. Prayer being ended, he shall rife from his knees: and the minister who prefices fhali firft, and afterwards all the members of the prefbytery in their order, take him by the right hand, saying, in words to this purpek, "We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of this mi

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niftry with us"." fiding, or fome other appointed for the purpose, fhall give a folemn charge in the name of God, to the newly ordained bishop, and to the people, to perfevere in the discharge of their mutual duties; and fhall then, by prayer, recommend them both to the grace of God, and his holy keeping; and finally, after finging a palm, fhall difmifs the congregation with the ufual bleffing. And the prefbytery shall duly record the tranfaction.

After which the minifter pre

CHA P. XV.

Of Translation, or removing a Minister from one Charge to

another*.

Sect. I.

N

O bishop fhall be tranflated from one church to another, nor shall he receive any call for that be made by the purpose, but by the permiffion of the Prefbytery.

Tranflation to

prefbytery.

r Gal. 2. 9. Acs 1. 25.

f2 Tim. 4. 1, 2.

t Mark 5. 24. Heb. 2. 1.-See also letters m, n, o.

* See note a, at the beginning of the last chapter, page 402.

Mode of Pro

Jations.

Sec. II. Any church, defiring to call a fettled minister from his prefent charge, cedure in Tranf- fhall, by commiffioners properly authorised, represent to the presbytery the ground on which they plead his removal. The presbytery, having maturely confidered their plea, may, according as it appears more or lefs reafonable, either recommend to them to defift from profecuting the call; or may order it to be delivered to the minister to whom it is directed; if the parties be not prepared to have the matter iffued, at that presbytery, a written citation shall be given to the Minister, and his congregation, to appear before the presbytery at their next meeting. This citation thall be read from the pulpit in that church, by a member of the presbytery appointed for that purpose, immediately after public worship; so that, at least, two fabbaths fhall intervene, betwixt the citation, and the meeting of the presbytery at which the cause of tranflation is to be confidered. The presbytery, being met, and having heard the parties, fhall, upon the whole view of the cafe, either continue him in his former charge, or translate him, as they shall deem to be moft for the peace and edification of the church ; or refer the whole affair to the fynod, at their next meeting, for their advice and direction.

the Minifter

Sect. III. When the congregation, calling Mode of Pro- any fettled minifter, is within the cedure when limits of another presbytery, that is of another congrégation fhall obtain leave, from Prefbytery. the presbytery to which they belong, to apply to the presbytery of which he is a member: And that presbytery, having cited him and his congregation as before directed, fhall pro ceed to hear and iffue the caufe. If they agree to the tranflation, they fhall releafe him from his prefent charge; and having given him proper testimonials, shall require him to repair to that presbytery, within the bounds of which the congregation calling him lies, that the proper steps may be taken for his regular fettlement in that congregation: And the presbytery to which the congregation belongs, having received an authenticated certificate of his release, under the hand of the clerk of that presbytery, shall proceed to install him in the congregation, as foon as convenient. Provided always, that no bifhop or paftor shall be tranflated, without his own con fent previously obtained.

Sect. IV. When any minifter is to be fettled in a congregation, the instal Inftalment conflitutes the paf- ment, which confifts in conftitut toral Relation, ing a pastoral relation between him and the people of that particular church, may be performed, either by the pref

&c.

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