any Person to meddle with any Function Ecclefiaftica!.

There are two Sorts of Calling, one Extraordinary, by God immediately; as was that of the Prophets and Apoftles, which, in Kirks established, and already well reformed, hath no Place.

The other Calling is ordinary, which, befides the Calling of God, and inward Testimony of a good Confcience, hath the lawful Approbation, and outward Judgment of Men, according to God's Word, and Order established in his Kirk.

None ought to prefume to enter into any Office Ecclefiaftical, without this Teftimony of a good Confcience before God, who only knows the Hearts of Men.

This ordinary and outward Calling hath two Parts, Election and Ordination. Election is the choofing out of a Perfon or Perfons, moft able, to the Office that vakes, by the Judgment of the Elderfhip, and Content of the Congregation, to which the Perfon or Perfons fhall be appointed.

The Qualifications requifite in all them who fhould bear Charge in the Kirk, confift in Soundness of Religion, and Godliness of Life, according as they are fufficiently fet forth in the Word.

In the Order of Election is to be eschewed, that any Perfon be intruded in any Offices of the Kirk, contrary to the Will of the Congregation to which they are appointed, or without the Voice of the Eldership.

None ought to be intruded, or placed in the Places already placed, or in any Place that vakes not, for any worldly Respect: And that, which is called the Benefice ought to be nothing elfe but the Stipend of the Minifters that are lawfully called.

Ordination is the Separation and Sanctifying, of the Perfon appointed, to God and his Kirk, after he is well tried and found qualified.

The Ceremonies of Ordination are Fafting, earnest Prayer, and Impofition of Hands of the Eldership.

All thefe, as they must be raised up by God, and by him made able for the Work whereto they are called ; fo ought they to know their Meffage to be limited with

in God's Word, without the Bounds of the which they ought not to pass.

All these should take those Titles and Names only (left they be exalted and puft up in themselves) which the Scriptures give unto them, as thefe which import Labour, Travel, and Work, and are Names of Offices and Service, and not of Idleness, Dignity, worldly Honour or Preheminence, which by Chrift our Mafter is exprefly reproved and forbidden.

All thefe Office-bearers should have their own particular Flocks, amongst whom they exercife their Charge: And should make Residence with them, and take the Inspection and overfight of them, every one in his Vo

cation.

And generally these two Things ought they all to refpect; The Glory of God, and Edifying of his Kirk, in discharging their Duties in their Calling.

CHA P. IV.

Of the Office-bearers in particular, and firft of the Paftors or Minifters.

Aftors, Bishops, or Minifters, are they who are appointed to particular Congregations, which they rule by the Word of God, and over the which they watch: In refpect whereof, fometime they are called Paftors, because they feed their Congregation; fometime Epifcopi, or Bishops, because they watch over their Flock; fometime Ministers, because of their Service and Office; fometimes alfo Prefbyters or Seniors, for the Gravity in Manners which they ought to have in taking Care of the Spiritual Government, which ought to be most dear unto them.

They that are called unto the Ministry, or that offer themselves thereunto, ought not to be elected, without fome certain Flock affigued unto them.

No Man ought to ingyre himself, or ufurp this Office, without a lawful Calling.

They who are once called by God, and duly elected by Man, after that they have once accepted the Charge

of

of the Miniftry, may not leave their Functions. The Deferters fhould be admonished; and, in cafe of Obftinacy, finally excommunicated,

No Paftor may leave his Flock without Licence of the Provincial or National Affembly; which if he do, after Admonitions not obeyed, let the Cenfures of the Kirk ftrike upon him.

Unto the Paftor appertains teaching of the Word of God, in Seafon and out of Seafon, publickly and privateIv, always travelling to edify, and to discharge his Confuience, as God's Word prefcribes to him,

Unto the Paftors only appertains the Administration of the Sacraments, in like Manner as the Administration of the Word: For both are appointed by God, as Means to teach us, the one by the Ear, and the other by the Eyes and other Senfes; that by both, Knowledge may be transferred to the Mind.

It appertains, by the fame Reafon, to the Paftor, to pray for the People, and namely for the Flock committed to his Charge; and to bless them in the Name of the Lord, who will not fuffer the Bleffings of his faithful Servants to be fruftrate.

He ought also to watch over the Manners of his Flock, that he may the better apply the Doctrine to them, in reprehending the diffolute Perfons, and exhort ing the Godly to continue in the Fear of the Lord.

It appertains to the Minister, after lawful Proceeding by the Eldership, to pronounce the Sentence of Binding and Loofing upon any Perfon, according unto the Power of the Keys granted unto the Kirk,

It belongs to him likewife, after lawful Proceeding in the Matter by the Elderfhip, to folemnize Marriage betwixt them that are to be joined therein; and to pronounce the Bleffing of the Lord upon them that enter into that holy Band in the Fear of God.

And generally all publick Denunciations, that are to be made in the Kirk, before the Congregation, concerning the Ecclefiaftical Affairs, belong to the Office of á Minifter: For he is as a Meffenger and Herald betwixt God and the People, in all thefe Affairs,

С НА Р.

CHAP. V.

Of Doctors, and their Office; and of the Schools,

Ο

Ne of the Two ordinary and perpetual Functions

that travel in the Word, is the Office of the Doctor, who may be also called a Prophet, Bishop, Elder, Catechifer; that is, Teacher of the Catechifin, and Rudiments of Religion.

His Office is, to open up the Mind of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures, fimply, without fuch Applications as the Minifters ufe, to the End that the Faithful may be inftructed, and found Doctrine taught; and that the Parity of the Gofpel be not corrupted through Ignorance, or evil Opinion.

He is different from the Paftor, not only in Name, but in Diversity of Gifts: For to the Doctor is given the Word of Knowledge, to open up, by fimple Teaching, the Mysteries of Faith; to the Paftor the Gift of Wif dom, to apply the fame by Exhortation to the Manners of the Flock, as occafion craveth.

Under the Name and Office of a Doctor, we comprehend alfo the Order of Schools, Colledges, and Univerfities, which hath been from Time to Time carefully maintained, as well among the Jews and Chriftians, as among the profane Nations.

The Doctor being an Elder, as faid is, fhould affist the Paftor in the Government of the Kirk, and concur with the Elders, his Brethren, in all Affemblies, by reafon the Interpretation of the Word, which is only Judge in Ecclefiaftical Matters, is committed to his Charge.

But to preach unto the People, to minifter the Sacra ments, and to celebrate Marriages, pertain not to the Doctor, unless he be otherwife called ordinarily; how. beit, the Paftor may teach in the Schools, as he who hath the Gift of Knowledge oftentimes meet for that End, as the Examples of Polycarpus and others teftify,

T

CHAP. VI.

Of Elders, and their Office.

He Word Elder, in the Scripture, fometime is the Name of Age, fometime of Office. When it is the Name of any Office, fometime it is taken largely, comprehending as well the Paftors and Doctors, as them who are called Seniors and Elders.

In this our Divifion, we call thefe Elders, whom the Apoftles call Prefidents or Governors: Their Office, as it is ordinary, fo it is perpetual, and always neceffary in the Kirk of God. The Eldership is a spiritual Function, as is the Miniftry.

Elders, once lawfully called to the Office, and having Gifts from God meet to exercise the fame, may not leave it again. Albeit fuch a Number of Elders may be chofen in certain Congregations, that one Part of them may relieve another for a reasonable Time, as was among the Levites under the Law, in serving of the Temple,

The Number of the Elders, in every Congregation, cannot well be limited, but fhould be according to the Bounds and Neceffity of the People.

It is not neceffary that all Elders be alfo Teachers of the Word, albeit the Chief ought to be fuch; and fo are worthy of double Honour.

What Manner of Perfons they ought to be, we refer it to the express Word, and namely, to the Canoas written by the Apostle Paul.

Their Office is, as well feverally as conjunctly, to watch diligently over the Flock committed to their Charge, both publickly and privately, that no Corrup tion of Religion or Manners enter therein.

As the Paftors and Doctors fhould be diligent in teaching, and fowing the Seed of the Word; fo the Elders fhould be careful in feeking after the Fruit of the fame in the People.

It appertains to them to affift the Paftor in Examination of them that come to the Lord's Table. Item, in vifiting the Sick.

They should cause the Acts of the Affemblies, as well

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