Provided always, that nothing of this kind shall be done without the concurrence of the individual in question, unless by the advice of presbytery.

VIII. If any particular church, by a vote of members in full communion, shall prefer to elect ruling elders o deacons for a limited time in the exercise of their functions, this may be done; provided, the full time be not less than three years, and the session or board of dea cons be made to consist of three classes, one of which only shall be elected every year; and provided, that elders, once ordained, shall not be divested of the office when they are not re-elected, but shall be entitled to represent that particular church in the higher judicatories, when appointed by the session or the presbytery.

IX. Deaconesses may be elected to office in a manner similar to that appointed for deacons, and set apart by prayer. They shall be under the supervision of the session, and their duties shall be indicated by that body.

CHAPTER XIV.

F LICENSING CANDIDATES OR PROBATIONERS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

I. THE Holy Scriptures require that some trial be previously had of them who are to be ordained to the ministry of the gospel, that this sacred office may not be degraded, by being committed to weak or unworthy men; and that the churches may have an opportunity to form a better judgment respecting the talents of those by whom they are to be instructed and governed. For this purpose presbyteries shall license probationers to preach the gospel, that, after a competent trial of their talents, and receiving from the churches a good report, they may, in due time, ordain them to the sacred office.* II. Every candidate for licensure shall be taken on trials by that presbytery to which he most naturally belongs;

1 Tim. iii. 3. 2 Tim. ii. 2.

k1 Tim. iii. 7. 3 John 12

and he shall be considered as most natural'y belonging to that presbytery within the bounds of which he has ordinarily resided. But in case any candidate should find it more convenient to put himself under the care of a presbytery at a distance from that to which he most naturally belongs, he may be received by the said presbytery, on his producing testimonials, either from the presbytery within the bounds of which he has commonly resided, or from any two ministers of that presbytery in good standing, of his exemplary piety, and other requisite qualifications.

III. It is proper and requisite that candidates applying to the presbytery to be licensed to preach the gospel, produce satisfactory testimonials of their good moral character, and of their being regular members of some particular church. And it is the duty of the presbytery, for their satisfaction with regard to the real piety of such candidates, to examine them respecting their experimental acquaintance with religion, and the motives which influence them to desire the sacred office.' This exami nation shall be close and particular, and, in mos: cases, may best be conducted in the presence of the presbytery only. And it is recommended that the candidate be also required to produce a diploma of bachelor or master of arts, from some college or university: or, at least, authentic testimonials of his having gone through a regular course of learning.

IV. Because it is highly reproachful to religion, and dangerous to the Church, to entrust the holy ministry to weak and ignorant men, the presbytery shall try each candidate as to his knowledge of the Latin language, and the original languages in which the Holy Scriptures were written. They shall also examine him on the arts and sciences, the Bible in his vernacular, on theology, natural and revealed, and on ecclesiastical history, the sacraments and church government; provided, that if the examination Rom. ii. 21, in connection with letter (, page 574. n See letter (), and (*), page 374.

in theology be unsatisfactory to one-fourth of the presbyters present, they may demand a further examination, in writing, on questions proposed by them, and by the presbytery, questions and answers to be filed by the presbytery. In lieu of examinations in Latin and in the arts and sciences, the presbytery shall have discretion to accept his diploma of Bachelor or Master of Arts. And in order to make trial of his talents to explain and vindicate, and practically to enforce the doctrines of the Gospel, the presbytery shall require of him: (1) A thesis in Latin or other language, on some common head in divinity; (2) a critical exercise in exegesis; (3) a lecture, or exposition of several verses of scripture; and (4) a popular sermon

V. These, or other similar exercises, at the discretion of the presbytery, shall be exhibited until they shall have obtained satisfaction as to the candidate's piety, literature, and aptness to teach in the churches." The lecture and popular sermon, if the presbytery think proper, may be delivered in the presence of a congregation.

VI. That the most effectual measures may be taken to guard against the admission of insufficient men into the sacred office, it is recommended that no candidate, except in extraordinary cases, be licensed, unless, after his having completed the usual course of academical studies, he shall have studied divinity at least two years, under some approved divine or professor of theology; and no candidate shall receive license to preach until he has been under the care of presbytery for at least one year, except in extraordinary cases and by consent of three-fourths of the members of presbytery present.

VII. If the presbytery be satisfied with his trials, they shall then proceed to license him in the following man ner: The moderator shall propose to him the following questions: viz.

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

" 1 Tim. iii. 2. Apt to teach. See also the foregoing notations. • See letter (2), page 374.

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doc trine taught in the Holy Scriptures?

3. Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity of the Church?

4. Do you promise to submit yourself, in the Lord, to the government of this presbytery, or of any other presbytery in the bounds of which you may be called?

..

VIII. The candidate having answered these questions in the affirmative, and the moderator having offered up a prayer suitable to the occasion, he shall address himself to the candidate to the following purpose:—' "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by that authority "which he hath given to the Church for its edification. we do license you to preach the gospel, wherever God iu 'his providence may call you: and for this purpose, may "the blessing of God rest upon you, and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart.-Amen!" and record shall be made of the licensure in the following or like form: viz. the the pres

At bytery of

day of

having received testimonials in favor

of of his having gone tl rough a regular course of literature; of his good moral character; and of his being in the communion of the Church: proceeded to take the usual parts of trial for his licensure: and he having given satisfaction as to his accomplishments in literature; as to his experimental acquaintance with religion; and as to his proficiency in divinity and other studies; the presbytery did, and hereby do, express their approbation of all these parts of trial: and he having adopted the confession of faith of this church, and satisfactorily answered the questions appointed to be put to candidates to be licensed; the presbytery did, and hereby do license him, the said to preach the gospel of Christ, as a probationer for the holy ministry, within the bounds of this presbytery, or wherever else he shall be orderly called.

IX When any candidate for licensure shall have occa

sion, while his trials are going on, to remove from the bounds of his own presbytery into those of another, it shall be considered as regular for the latter presbytery, on his producing proper testimonials from the former, to take up his trials at the point at which they were left, and conduct them to a conclusion, in the same manner as if they had been commenced by themselves.

X In like manner, when any candidate, after licensre, shall, by the permission of his presbytery, remove without its limits, an extract of the record of his licensure, accompanied with a presbyterial recommendation, signed by the clerk, shall be his testimonials to the pres bytery under whose care he shall come.

XI. When a licentiate shall have been preaching for a considerable time, and his services do not appear to be edifying to the churches, the presbytery may, if they think proper, recall his license.

CHAPTER XV.

OF THE ELECTION AND ORDINATION OF BISHOPS OR PAS TORS, AND EVANGELISTS.

I. WHEN any probationer shall have preached so much to the satisfaction of any congregation, as that the people appear prepared to elect a pastor, the session shall take measures to convene them for this purpose: and it shall always be a duty of the session to convene them, when a majority of the persons entitled to vote in the case, shall, by a petition, request that a meeting may be called.

II. When such a meeting is intended, the session shall solicit the presence and counsel of some neighboring minister to assist them in conducting the election contemplated, unless highly inconvenient on account of distance; in which case they may proceed without such assistance.

III. On a Lord's Day, immediately after public wor ship, it shall be intimated from the pulpit, that all the