Blake - Houston-Packer Collection BT155 .B53 1653

0 Ordination is ,to be :pat ,on examination or triall. The Covenant of Works Chap . r 9. who are without power out of their own limits. A Minifter or Presbyter is a Catholick or Univerfal Officer, he bath -jua in re, in the whole Church vifible ; for all Minifterial anions, whether of Word or Sacraments ; he bath jue ad rem in the place afligned and appointed him, where alone he is regularly to officiate, and fo hath the title of an Angel or Elder of fi ch a particular Church to which he is called, R.ev. 2, 1, 7. c-c. ASs 20. 17. This is to be done by examination or triall; if no word of Scri- pture did mention it, yet the thing it felfevinces the neceffity of it ; Scripture layes down the requifites or qualifications in Mini - fters. FirIL, For years, not a novice, i Tim. 3.6. Some are old young, which may anfwer force want of years, more fit at twenty foure, then others at thirty. Secondly, Forconverfation; Blameleffe, as she Steward of God; notPelf- willed not foon angry , not given to Wine, no flriker not given to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hof iitalit y a lover of good men, fober, :lull, holy, temperate, Titus 1.7,8. Thirdly, For parts and gifts ; 2 Tim. 2. 15. e,1 workman that needeth not to be afhamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, Tit. 1,9. Holding fall the faithful/ word ae' he bath been taught , that he may be able by found doelrine, both to exhort and convince gaine- layers. Fourthly, For graces of the Spirit, they fhould be as Barnabas, full of the Holy Ghoi and of Faith, e.48 s 1 1.24. From which the gifts of nature muff not be excluded,as ftrength of body in its mea- fure , that the body may in force fort keep pace with the foul. The gift of utterance , that not only his head, but his lips may preferve knowledge ; that he may be able to fpeak , to edification, exhortation , anddcëlrine ; of thefe fuch that ati in Ordination, fhould have knowledge of each of them, fo far,as they may come to cognizance of folne of thefe by letters of commendationfrom fair h[ul perfons, 2 Cor. 3.1. of others by proofe and examination, 1 Tim. 3. io. The Apoftle having laid down the qualifications ofBifhops, and proceeding to that of Deacons, bath thefe words; Let thefe alto be proved, and then let them úfe the office o f a Deacon; both Bifhop and Deacon muff undergo examination, Timothy mull lay hand' fuddenly on none, r Tim. 1.22, He muff then lay on his hands no otherwife but upon proof and trial!, which the

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