WHereas the word Presbyter, that is to ſay, Elder, and the word Biſhop doe in the Scriptures intend and ſignifie one and the ſame Function, although the Title of Biſhop hath beene by corrupt cuſtome appropriated to one, and that unto him aſcribed, and by him aſſumed, as in other things, ſo in the matter of Ordination, that was not meet. Which Ordination notwithſtanding being performed by him a Presbyter joyned with other Presbyters, we hold for ſubſtance to bee valid, and not to bee diſclaimed by any that have received it. And that Presbyters ſo ordained being lawfully thereunto appointed and authorized, may ordaine other Presbyters. And whereas it is alſo manifeſt by the word of God, That no man ought to take upon him the Office of a Miniſter untill hee bee lawfully called and ordained thereunto; And that the worke of Ordination, that is to ſay, An outward Solemne ſetting apart of Perſons for the Office of the Miniſtery in the Church by Preaching Presbyters, is an Ordinance of Christ, and is to bee performed with all due Care, Wiſdome, Gravity, and Solemnity: It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, and by the Authority of the ſame (after advice had with the Aſſembly of Divines now convened at Weſtminſter) that during the preſent exigencies of the Armies, of the Navy and of many Congregations deſtitute of able and faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpel, and untill a Government of the Church be formed up to the full power and Worke of it, and the whole courſe of Ordination of Miniſters in an ordinary way bee ſet up and ſetled for all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Theſe perſons in the City of London, being Presbyters; Ʋiz. Doctor Cornelius Burges, one of the Aſſeſſors of the Aſſembly, Dr. William Gouge, Mr. John Ley, Mr. George Walker, Mr. Edmund Calamy, Mr. Daniel Cawdry, Mr. Stanley Gower, Mr. John Conant, Mr. Humphrey Chambers, Members of the Aſſembly of Divines, Mr. Henry Robrough one of the Scribes of the Aſſembly, Mr. John Downham, Mr. Charles Off-ſpring, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Timothy Dod, Mr. James Cranford, Mr. Thomas Horton, Mr. Thomas Clenden, Mr. Arthur Jackson, Mr. Samuel Clerke, Mr. Emanuel Bourne, Mr. Foulke Bellers, Mr. Francis Roberts, Mr. Leonard Cooke, or any ſeven of them being the whole number preſent, or any ſeven or more of them, being the major part of them that ſhall bee preſent, may examine, approve, and ordaine Presbyters according to the Directory for Ordination, and Rules for Examination hereafter expreſſed, that is to ſay;

Firſt, That hee that is to bee Ordained, muſt addreſſe himſelfe to the Miniſters appointed to ordaine, and bring with him a teſtimoniall of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes, of his diligence and proficiency in his Studies, what degrees hee hath taken in the Vniverſity, and what hath been the time of his abode there, and withall of his age, which is to bee twenty foure yeeres at the leaſt; but eſpecially of his life and converſation.

Secondly, the Miniſters appointed to ordaine ſhall proceed to inquire touching the grace of God in him; and whether hee bee of ſuch holineſſe of life as is requiſite in a Miniſter of the Goſpel, and to examine him touching his Learning and ſufficiency, and touching the evidence of his Calling to the holy Miniſtery, and in particular, his faire and direct calling to that place, to which he is deſigned.

Thirdly, After which hee being approved, is to bee ſent to the Church, or other place where hee is to ſerve, (if it may bee done with ſafety, and conveniency) there to Preach three ſeverall dayes, and to converſe with the people, that they may have tryall of his gifts for their edification, and may have time and leiſure to inquire into, and the better to know his life and converſation.

Fourthly, In the laſt of thoſe three dayes appointed for the making known of his gifts in Preaching, there ſhall bee ſent by the Miniſters appointed to ordaine (if it may bee done with ſafety and conveniency) a publique Inſtrument in writing, which ſhall publiquely bee read before the people, and after affixed to the Church doore, to ſignifie ſuch a day, any member or members of the ſaid Congregation, or any other perſon or perſons whatſoever, or any of them may put in, with all Chriſtian diſcretion, and meekneſſe, what exceptions they have againſt him; and if upon the day appointed, there bee no juſt exceptions againſt him, the Miniſters appointed to ordaine ſhall proceed to Ordination.

Fifthly, In the day appointed for Ordination, which is to be performed in that Church where hee that is to bee ordained is to ſerve, (if it may bee done with ſafety and convenience) a Solemne Faſt ſhall bee kept by the Congregation, that they may more earneſtly joine in Prayer to God for a bleſſing upon the Perſon and Labours of this his Servant, ſolemnly to bee ſet a part to the Office of the Miniſtery for their good: The Miniſters appointed to ordaine, or ſeven of them ſhall come to the place, whereof one ſhall Preach to the people concerning the Office and Duty of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and how the People ought to eſteeme him for the works ſake.

Sixthly, After the Sermon ended, the Miniſter which hath Preached, ſhall in the face of the Congregation demand of him who is now to bee Ordained concerning his Faith in Christ Jeſus, and his perſwaſion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion, according to the Scriptures, his ſincere intentions and ends, in deſiring to enter into this calling, his reſolution to be diligent in Prayer, Reading, Meditation, Preaching, Miniſtring the Sacraments, and doing all Miniſteriall duties towards his charge, his Zeale, and Faithfulneſſe in maintaining the Truth of the Goſpel, and unity of the Church againſt Error and Schiſme, his Care that himſelfe and family may bee unblamable, and examples to the Flocke, and his Reſolution to continue in his duty againſt all trouble and perſecution.

Seventhly, In all which having declared himſelfe, profeſſed his willingneſſe, and promiſed his endeavours by the help of God; the Miniſters appointed to ordaine, ſhall ſolemnly ſet him apart to the Office and work of the Miniſtery, laying their hands on him, with a ſhort Prayer or bleſsing to this effect.

Eigthly, This, or the like forme of Prayer, or bleſsing being ended, let the Miniſter who preached, briefly exhort him to conſider the greatneſſe of his Office and Worke, the danger of negligence both to himſelfe and his people, the bleſsing which will accompany his faithfulneſſe in this life, and that to come; and withall let him Exhort and Charge the people in the name of God, willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Miniſter of Chriſt, and to maintaine, incourage, and aſsiſt him in all the parts of his Office. And ſo by prayer commending both him and his Flocke to the grace of God, after the ſinging of a Pſalme, let the Aſſembly bee diſmiſſed with a bleſsing.

9. Let ſuch as are choſen or appointed for the Service of the Army, or Navy, or Colleges, or other Charge, be Ordained as aboveſaid, in ſuch Church, as the Miniſters appointed to Ordaine ſhall thinke fit; and ſuch Alterations made by the Miniſter that Ordaineth, from the Exhortation laſt before preſcribed, as the Circumſtances of Place and Perſons ſhall require.

And be it further Ordained by the ſaid Lords and Commons, and by the Authoritie aforeſaid, that every Perſon formerly Ordained a Preſbyter, according to the forme of Ordination, which hath been held in the Church of England, and is to be removed to another Charge, doe bring to the Miniſters appointed to Ordaine for that County where he is to be placed, a Teſtimoniall of his Ordination, and of his Abilities and Converſation, whereupon his fitneſſe for that place whither he is to be removed, ſhall be tryed by his preaching there, and (if it ſhall be judged neceſſary) by a farther Examination, and ſo, without any new Ordination, he ſhall be admitted, if he be a proved as fit for that place: And if any Perſon Ordained Miniſter in Scotland, or in any other Reformed Church, be deſigned to a Congregation in England, he is to bring from that Church, to the Miniſters appointed to Ordaine for that Countie, where he is to be placed, a ſufficient Teſtimoniall of his Ordination, of his life and converſation while he lived with them, and of the Cauſes of his Removall; and to undergoe ſuch a Tryall of his fitneſſe and ſufficiencie, and to have the ſame Courſe held with him in other particulars, as is ſet downe in the foregoing Rule and Proviſion touching the Examination and admiſſion of Perſons formerly Ordained in England.

And it is further Ordained that Records be carefully kept by the Regiſter to be nominated by the Miniſters appointed to Ordaine, of the Names of the Perſons Ordained, with their Teſtimoniall, the time and place of their Ordination, and of the Miniſters who did Ordaine them, and of the Charge to which they are appointed: And that no Money or Gift of what kind ſoever ſhall be received from the Perſon to be Ordained, or from any on his behalfe, for Ordination or ought elſe belonging to it, by any of the Miniſters appointed to Ordaine, or any appertaining to any of them, upon what pretence ſoever, Except to the Regiſter for the Entry, Inſtruments and Teſtimonials of his Ordination, which ſhall not exceed the ſumme of Ten Shillings for each Perſon Ordained.

And it is yet further Ordained by the Authority aforeſaid, that all Perſons who ſhall be Ordained Presbyters according to this Directorie, ſhall be for ever reputed and taken to all intents and purpoſes for lawfull and ſufficiently authoriſed Miniſters of the Church of England, and as Capeable of any Miniſteriall imployment in the Church, with the Rights and Profitts belonging thereunto, as any other Presbyters whatſoever already Ordained, or hereafter to be Ordained; And that all Presbyters who are hereby appointed and authoriſed to Ordaine, and ſhall (according to this preſent Directory) Ordaine any Preſbyters, are hereby declared to performe an acceptable Service to this Church and Kingdome, and ſhall have the Protection of both Houſes of Parliament for their Indemnitie.

Provided, That this Ordinance ſhall ſtand in force for twelve Moneths and no longer; Any thing in this Ordinance conteyned to the contrary in any wiſe notwithſtanding.