continued under the gospel, are meant evangelical Pastors, who are therefore by office to bless the people.h 7. To visit his people from house to bouse, as often as may consist with the other duties of his office, and the situation of the people among whom he labours; but in closely connected congregations it ought to be essayed once every year. In these visitations he is to inquire into the spiritual condition of his flock; and to give them such counsel, exhortation, warning, and encouragement, as they may respectively need.i 8. To take care of the poor.k 9. And he hath also a ruling power over the flock as a Pastor.1 SECTION II. TEACHER or DOCTOR. 1. The scripture doth hold out the name and title of teacher as well as the pastor.m 2. Who is also a minister of the word, as well as the pastor, and hath power of administration of the sacraments. 3. The Lord having given different gifts, and diverse exercises according to these gifts, in the ministry of the word; though these different gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by, one and the same minister;o yet, where there are several ministers in the same congregation, they may be designed to several employments, according to the different gifts in which each of them doth most excel :P And he that doth more excel in exposition of scripture, in teaching sound doctrine, and in convincing gainsayers, than he doth in application, and is accordingly employed therein, may be called a teacher or doctor. Nevertheless, 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 ministry.9 4. A teacher or doctor is of most excellent use in schools and universities; as of old in the schools of the prophets, and at Jerusalem, where Gamaliel and others taught as doctors. 5. The scripture acknowledgeth no degrees of rank or dignity among the ministers of the word; but hath established them in a perfect equality of office and authority. h Deut. x. 8. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. ¿ Aets xx. 20. & Acts iv. 34 to 37. xi. 30. Gal. ii. 9, 10. 71 Tim. v. 17. Acts xx. 17, 28. Heb. m 1 Cor. xii. 28. Eph. iv. 11. n Rom. xii. 6, 8. 1 Cor. o 1 Cor. xiv. 3. Tit. i. 9. p See letter ø. 10, 11. q See xiii. 7, 17. 2. Tim. iv. 2. letter p. The names of pastor, teacher, bishop, and presbyter, are but different names for one and the same office. The distinction of superior and inferior clergy, under whatever form or pretext adopted, is highly unscriptural and antichristian.r SECTION III. Other CHURCH-GOVERNORS. 1. As there were in the Jewish church elders of the people, joined with the Priests and Levites in the government of the church; so Christ, who hath instituted government, and governors ecclesiastical in the church, hath furnished some in his church, beside the ministers of the word, with gifts for government, and with commission to execute the same when called thereunto: who are to join with the minister in the government of the church:t which officers reformed churches commonly call Elders. 2. It belongs not to this class of elders to preach the word, or to administer the sacraments; but, as far as relates to the government of the church, their voice in judicatories is equal to that of the preaching presbyters." 1 SECTION IV. DEACONS. 1. The scripture doth hold out deacons as distinct officers in the church.v 2. Whose office is perpetual.w To whose office it belongs not to preach the word, or administer the sacraments; or to join in the government of the church, but chiefly to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poor.x SECTION V. Of PARTICULAR CONGREGATIONS. 1. It is lawful and expedient that there be fixed congregations; that is, a certain company of Christians to meet in one assembly ordinarily for public worship. When believers multiply to such a number that they cannot conveniently meet in one place, it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed congregations, for the better administration of such ordinances as belong unto them, and for the discharge of mutual duties.y 2. The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct congregations, and most expedient for edification, where it is practicable, is by the respective bounds of their dwellings. First, Because they who dwell together, being bound to all kind of moral duties one to another, have the better opportunity thereby to discharge them; which moral tye is perpetual for Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.z Secondly, The communion of saints must be so ordered, as may consist with the most convenient use of the ordinances, and discharge of moral duties, without respect of persons, a Thirdly, The pastor and people must so nearly dwell together, as that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most conveniency. 3. In this society some must be set apart to bear office. SECTION VI. Of the OFFICERS of a Particular Congregation. 1. For officers in a single congregation there ought to be one at the least, both to labour in the word and doctrine, and also to rule. 2. It is also requisite that there should be others to join in the government. 3. And likewise it is proper that there be others to take special care for the relief of the poor. 4. The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the condition of the congregation. 5. Officers, not disqualified by misdemeanors in their stations, ought ordinarily to retain their offices for life. Chapter III. Of the Election of Church Officers. SECTION I. Of the ELECTION of Pastors. 1. NO person can be chosen pastor to any congregation who has not been regularly licensed to preach the gospel. 2. The choice of a pastor to a particular congregation belongs to the male members thereof, who, whenever such a choice is necessary, are to be convened, by the elders, for that purpose. 3. The members, thus convened, having appointed a mo z Deut. xv. 7, 11. Mat. xxii. 39,-17. a 1 Cor. xiv. 26. Heb. 24, 25, James ii, 1, 2, derator of the meeting, shall delegate one or more of their own number to the Presbytery,* under whose inspection they are placed, to apply for the moderation of a call.t 4. The commissioners, thus authorized, appearing before the Presbytery, and, having presented their commission, shall be interrogated concerning the provision which the congregation have already made for a minister, the maintenance they intend to give him, and their prospects of being able to fulfil their engagements. If the presbytery receive such satisfaction on these points, as, in connexion with other circumstances, shall, in their judgment, warrant a moderation, they shall grant it accordingly. If not, they shall deliver their objections in writing, to the commissioners, to be laid before the congregation at their return. 5. When a moderation is granted, the Presbytery shall appoint one of their number to preach on a week-day, as soon as convenient, in the petitioning congregation, and tơ moderate in the preparation of a call. 6. The form of a call being drafted, the minister, after concluding public worship, shall, in presence of the congregation, demand the name of the person for whom the call is designed, and, having twice distinctly mentioned it, shall require such members as favour the nomination to hold up their right hands, and afterwards, such as are against it. 7. If there be more than one candidate, the moderating minister shall, in the manner now described, take the votes of the congregation on each nomination. The greatest number of votes, not less than a clear majority, constitutes an election. 8 Although a majority of votes must be considered as expressing the sense of a congregation, yet it is desirable that their choice should be unanimous, or nearly so. It is, therefore, judged advisable, in cases where the majority is small, that the call be not hastily prosecuted, unless the minority cordially acquiesce: and, on the other hand, public order and Christian love require a minority, however, respectable, not to persist in opposition without weighty reasons. *For the form of a commission see Appendix I. No. 3. A minister, deputed by the Presbytery to a vacant congregation, presiding in the meeting at which a call is to be made out for a particular person, ascertaining the votes of the people, and certifying the whole proceeding for presbyterial decision, is said to moderate a call. 9. If it appear that the members of the congregation have not been duly notified, or that, by any accident, a large proportion of them has been detained from attending, the minister may defer the election another week, without a new order from the Presbytery: nor shall he be obliged to preach on this second day of election, unless he omitted it on the first. 10. After the election, the call shall be signed, first by the elders and deacons of the congregation, and then by the electing members respectively. After this, the ordinary hearers, though not entitled to vote, may, if they please, affix their signatures to the call as adherents. 11. The call subscribed, witnessed by two or more respectable persons not members of the congregation, if they can be obtained, and attested by the moderating minister, shall be transmitted to the Presbytery by a commissioner or commissioners duly authorized.* 12. The call being now in the hands of the Presbytery, shall be by them proceeded in, as hereafter prescribed. SECTION II. Of the ELECTION of ELDERS and DEACONS. 1. When a vacancy in either of these offices is to be filled, or the number of officers to be enlarged, the existing officers should previously confer among themselves, and, after mature deliberation, nominate such of their brethren as they judge most eminently fitted for official stations, and as may meet the approbation of the congregation. 2. If a congregation be destitute of officers, the oldest and most experienced members should, upon conference with each other, and with the other members, as they have opportunity, agree on a nomination of elders and deacons. 3. After due notice given in public, the electing members shall be assembled, some time in the week, days of fasting and thanksgiving excepted, for the purpose of choosing such officers, and the number of them as shall be necessary. 4. At this meeting, the candidates, nominated as afore、 said, shall be publicly proposed. In this nomination, however, the congregation are by no means obliged to concur; but it is lawful for any member to propose any other member in the room of any of the aforesaid candidates. 5. When the congregation, on being interrogated, by the *For the form of a call, and of its attestation, see Appendix 1. No. 4, 5. |