WHereas the word Presbyter, that is to say, El­der, and the word Bishop, do in the Scrip­ture intend and signifie one and the same Function, although the Title of Bishop hath been 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 be valid and not to be 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 he be lawfully called and ordained thereunto; and that the work of Ordination, that is to say, an outward solemne setting a part of persons for the Office of the Ministery in the Church by preaching Presbyters, is an Ordinance of Christ, and is to be per­formed with all due care, wisdom, 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 the severall and re­spective Classicall Presbyters which in their severall and respective bounds, may examine, approve and ordaine Presbyters, according [Page 2] to the Directory for Ordination, and Rules for Examination, here­after expressed, that is to say; First,

First, That he that is to be ordained, must addresse himself to the Presbytery, and bring with him a testimon [...]ll of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes; of his diligence and profici­ency in his Studies; what Degrees he hath taken in the University, and what hath been the time of his abode there, and withall of his age, which is to be twenty foure yeares at least; but especially of his life and conversation.

Secondly, the Presbytery shall proceed to enquire touching the grace of God in him, and whether he be of such holinesse of life as is requisite in a Minister of the Gospell, and to examine him touching his learning and sufficiency, and touching the evidence of his calling to the holy Ministery, and in particular, his fair and direct calling to that place to which he is designed.

• 1 THat the party examined be deall with in a brotherly way, with mildnesse of spirit, and with speciall respect to the gravity, modesty, and quality of every one.
• 2 He shall be examined touching his skill in the Originall Tongues; and that tryall to be made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testament, and rendring some portions of them in­to Latine; and inquiry also shall be made after his other lear­ning, and whether he hath skill in Logick and Philosophy.
• 3 What Authors in Divinity he hath read and is best ac­quainted with; and triall shall be made of his knowledge in the chief grounds of Religion, and of his ability to defend the Orthodox Doctrine contained in them, against all unsound and Erronious opinions, especially those of the present age; of his skill in the sense and meaning of such places of Scripture, as shall be proposed unto him in cases of Conscience, and in the Chronologie of Scripture, and of the Ecclesiasticall History.
• [Page 3]4 If he hath not before preached in publike, with approba­tion of such as are able to judge; he shall at a competent time assigned him, and before the Presbytery, expound such a place of Scripture as shall be given him.
• 5 He shall in a competent time also frame a discourse in La­tine, upon such a common place or controversie in Divinity, as shall be assigned him, & exhibit to the Presbytery such Theses as expresse the sum thereof, and maintain a dispute upon them
• 6 He shall preach before the people, the Presbytery, or some of the Ministers of the Word, appointed by them, being present.
• 7 The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which he is called, shall be considered.
• 8 Besides the tryall of his gifts in preaching, he shall un­dergoe an examination in the Premisses two severall daies or more, if the Presbytery shall judge it necessary.

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

Fourthly, In the last of those three daies appointed for the ma­king known of his gifts in preaching, there shall be sent from the Presbytery to the Congregation, (if it may be done with safety and conveniency,) a publique instrument in writing, which shall publikely be read before the people, & after affixed to the Church door, 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 be no just exceptions against him, the Presbytery shall proceed to Ordination.

Fifthly, Upon the day appointed for Ordination (which is to be performed in that Church where he that is to be ordained is to serve, (if it may be done with safety and conveniency,) a solemn Fast shall be kept by the Congregation, that they may more [Page 4] earnestly joyn in prayer to God for a blessing upon the person and labour of this his servant, solemnly to be set apart to the Office of the Ministery for their good; the Presbytery shall come to the place, or some Ministers of the Word, at the least shall be sent from the Presbytery, whereof one shall Preach to the people con­cerning the office and duty of the Ministers of Christ, and how the people ought to esteem 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 be ordained, concerning his faith in Christ Jesus, & 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 zeal and faithfulnes in maintaining the truth of the Gospell, and purity of the Church, against Error and Schisme; his care that himself and family may be unblameable, and examples to the Flock; 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 indeavours by the help of God; the Presbytery, or the Ministers sent from them, shall solemnly set him apart to the office and worke of the Ministery, laying their hands on him, with a short Prayer or blessing, to this effect.

Eightly, This, or the like Form 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 himself and his people, the blessing which will ac­company his faithfulnesse in this life, and that to come; with all 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 Flock to the grace of God, after the singing of a Psalme, let the Assembly be dismissed with a blessing.

Ninthly, Let such as are chosen or appointed for the Ser­vice of the Army, or Navy, or Colledges, or other Charge, be Or­dained as abovesaid, in such Church as the Classicall Presbytery to which they shall addresse themselves, shall think fit; and such Al­terations made by the Minister that Ordaineth, from the Exhor­tation last before prescribed, as the circumstance of place and per­son shall require.

And be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, and by the authority 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, do bring the Presbytery where he is to be placed, a Testimoniall of his Ordination, and of his abilities and conversation, whereupon his fitnesse for that place where he is to be removed, shall be tryed by his preaching there, and (if it shall be judged necessary) by a further examination, and so, without any new Ordination, he shall be admitted, if he be ap­pointed 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 Presbytery 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 Triall of his fitnesse and sufficiency; and to have the same course held with him in other particulars, as is set down 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 [Page 6] the Register, to be nominated by the Presbytery, of the names of the persons Ordained, with their testimonial of the time and place of their Ordination, and of the Ministers who did ordain them, and of the Charge to which they are appointed; and that no mo­ney or gift, of what kinde 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 the Presbytery or any of them, 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 sum 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 Directory, shall be for ever reputed and taken to all intents and purposes, for lawfull, and sufficiently authorized Ministers of the Church of England, and as capable of any Ministeriall imploy­ment in the Church, with the rights and profits belonging there­unto, as any other Presbyters whatsoever, already ordained, or hereafter to be Ordained; And that all Presbyters, who are here­by appointed and authorized 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 indempnity.

Provided that this Ordinance shall stand in force for twelve Moneths and no longer: Any thing in this Ordinance contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.