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THE

CONTENTS.

THE Preface.
Of the Church.

Of the Officers of the Church.

Paftors.

Other Church-Governors.

Deacons.

Of particular Congregations.

Of the Officers of a particular Congregation.
Of the Ordinances in a particular Congregation.

Of Church-Government, and the several sorts of Assemblies for the fame.
Of the Power in common of all thefe Affemblies.

Of Congregational Affemblies, that is, The meeting of the Ruling officers of a particular Congregation, for the Government thereof.

Of Claffical Affemblies.

Of Synodical Affemblies.

Of Ordination of Minifters.

Touching the doctrine of ordination.

Touching the power of ordination.

Concerning the Doctrinal part of the ordination of Minifters,
The Directory for the ordination of Minifters.

THE

FOR R M

OF

PRESBYTERIAL CHURCH-GOVERNMENT,

The PREFACE.

ESUS CHRIST, upon whofe fhoulders the govern

JES

ment is, whose name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace a, of the increase of whofe government and peace there shall be no end, who fits upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish ft with judgment and justice, from henceforth even for ever; having all power given unto him in heaven and in earth by the Father, who raifed him from the dead, and fet him at his own right-hand, far above all principalities and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but alfo in that which is to come, and put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all: he being afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, received gifts for his church, and gave officers neceffary for the edification of his church, and perfecting of his faints b.

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Of

Ifa. ix. 6. 7. ¿Mat. xxviii. 18, 19, 20. Eph. i, 20, 21, 22, 23. Compared with Eph. iv. 8, 11. and Pfal. Ixviii. 18.

TH

Of the Church.

HERE is one general church visible, held forth in the new teftament a.

The ministry, oracles, and ordinances of the new teftament, are given by Jefus Chrift to the general church visible, for the gathering and perfecting of it in this life, until his fecond coming b.

Particular visible churches, members of the general church, are also held forth in the new teftament c. Particular church

a 1 Cor. xii. 12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: fo alfo is Chrift. v. 13. For by one fpirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one fpirit. v. 28. And God hath fet fome in the church; firft apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governors, diverfities of tongues. Together with the rest of the chapter.

I

b 1 Cor. xii. 28. See before. Eph. iv. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; v. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptifm. Compared with v. 10. He that defcended is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might Gill all things. v. 11. And he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers, v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the

es

measure of the ftature of the fulness of Christ. v. 15. But speaking the truth in love may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. v. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

è Gal. i. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; v. 22. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea, which were in Chrift. Rev. i. 4. John to the feven churches of Asia, Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven fpirits which are before his throne. v. 20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou fawelt in my right hand, and the feven golden candlesticks. The feven ftars are the angels of the feven churches: and the feven candlesticks which thou faweft, are the feven churches. Rev. ii. 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephefus write, Thefe things faith he that holdeth the feven ftars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven

golden

es in the primitive times, were made up of visible faints, viz. of fuch as, being of age, profeffed faith in Chrift, and obedience unto Christ, according to the rules of faith and life, taught by Christ and his apostles; and of their children d.

Of the Officers of the Church.

HE officers which Chrift hath appointed for the edification of his church, and the perfecting of the faints, are, fome extraordinary, as apoftles, evangelifts, and prophets which are ceafed.

THE
Tcation of church, and

Others ordinary and perpetual, as paftors, teachers, and

golden candlesticks.

d Acts ii. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent and be baptized in the name of Jefus Chrift for the remiflion of fins, and ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft. v., 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the fame day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls. v. 47. Praifing God, and having favour with all the people; and the Lord added to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved. Compared with Acts v. 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified in Chrift jefus, called to be faints, with all that in every place, call upon the name of Jefus Chrift our Lord, both theirs and ours. Compared with 2 Cor. ix. 13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration, they glorify God for your profeffed fubjection unto the gospel of Chrift, and for your liberal diftribution unto them and unto all men. Acts ii. 39. Fer the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar

other

off, even as many as the Lord our
God fhall call. 1 Cor, vii. 14. For
the unbelieving husband is fanctifi-
ed by the wife, and the unbelieving
wife is fanctified by the husband,
elfe were your children unclean,
but now are they holy. Rom. xi.
16. For if the first fruit be holy, the
Inmp is alfo holy; and if the root
be holy, fo are the branches. Mark
x. 14. But when Jefus faw it, he
was much displeased, and faid unto
them, Suffer the little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not:
for of fuch is the kingdom of God.
Compared with Mat. xix. 13. Then
were there brought unto him little
children, that he fhould put his
hand on them and pray: and the
difciples rebuked them. v. 14. But
Jefus faid, fuffer little children, and
forbid them not to come unto me;
for of fuch is the kingdom of hea-
ven. Luke xviii. 15. And they
brought unto him alfo infants, that
he would touch them; but when
his difciples faw it, they rebuked
them. v. 16. But Jefus called them
unto him, and faid, Suffer little
children to come unto me, and for-
bid them not; for of fuch is the
kingdom of God.
• Jer.

●ther church-governors, and deacons.

ΤΗ

Paftors.

HE paftor is an ordinary, and perpetual officer in the churche, prophefying of the time of the gospel f. First, it belongs to his office,

To pray for and with his flock, as the mouth of the people unto God g, Acts vi. 2, 3, 4. Acts xx. 36. Where preaching and prayer are joined as several parts of the fame office h. The office of the elder (that is, the paftor) is to pray for the fick, even in private, to which a bleffing is especially promifed;

e Jer. iii. 15. And I will give you paftors according to mine heart, which fhall feed you with knowledge and understanding. v. 16. And it shall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, faith the Lord, they fhall fay no more, the ark of the covenant of the Lord; neither fhall it come to mind, neither fhall they remember it, neither fhall they visit it, neither shall that be done any more. v. 17. At that time they fhall call Jerufalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations fhall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerufalem: neither fhall, they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

f 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the overfight thereof, not by conftraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. v. 3. Neither as being lords over Gods heritage, but being enfamples to the flock. v. 4. And when the chief fhepherd fhall appear, ye fhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelifts, and fome pa

stors and teachers, v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift; v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Christ.

g

Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the difciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we fhould leave the word of God, and ferve tables. v. 3. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. v. 4. But we will give ourfelves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts xx. 36. And when he had thus fpoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

h James v. 14. Is any man fick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. v. 15. And the prayer of faith fhall fave the fick, and the Lord fhall raise him up; and if he have committed

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