In what 6. Upon Petition from the moft part of the Scottish Nation Cafes they in the North of Ireland, in their own Name, and in Name of fend to o- the rest of the Proteftants there to the General Affembly in Churches. the years 1642, 1643, and 1644: Reprefenting the Extreme ther Churches to the Heathens. Neceffity they had of more Minifters, and how this Church had formerly Supplied other Churches in Germany and France. The Affembly being willing to Sympathize with every Member of Chrifts Body, although never fo remote much more with that Plantation which was a Branch of their own Church, they did for fome Years fend Minifters in Miffion to Supply there, as may be feen by the printed Acts in the Years above-named. But in Affembly 1690 Seff. 8. They Decline to fend any Minifters to Northumberland upon a Petition from fome in that Country, in refpect that thefe people do not belong to this National Church. 7. As it is the conftant prayer and hope of the Reformfhould fend ed Churches that the Kingdom or Chrift may and fhall be Enlarged by fending the Gofpel to the reft of the Heathen; So, in Teftimony of the Sincerity of thefe Hopes and Prayers, they must be joined with futcable Endeavours for spreading the Gofpel among them. This, Church hath not that happy Oppertunity, and Invitation of Concurring Providence to forward that Work that fome other Churches have, through our want of Foreign Plantations, and by being Injurioufly Difpoffeffed of what we had, as the 38 Minute of the Proceedings in Parliament 1701 doth complain. tenance and a Colleague when a Col§ 8. When a Parish, though not of fo great Extent as to releague is quire a new Erection, becometh fo Numerous, that albeit a Mineedful Aged and Sick nifter's Voice may eafily reach them all, the Seats being conMinifters veniently placed: Yet he is not able alone to discharge the cfhould have ther Ministerial Duties, with that Exactnefs and Eafe which both Main Paftors of ordinary Parishes may do, it is but reafonable in that Cafe to join a Yoke-fellow with him. By the Act of Affembly July 30, 1641, It is declared that old Minifters and Profeflors of Divinity, fhall not, by their Ceffation from their Charge, through Age and Inability, be put from enjoying their old Maintenance and Refpect. This doth likeways agree with the 48 Act. Cap. 1. of the French Church Difcipline. And by the Book of Policy CHAP. 7. when Minifters through Age, Sickness, or other Accidents, become uninect to do their Office, in that cafe, their Honour fhould remain to them, their Kirk fhould maintain them, and others ought to be provided to do their Office. Thus they fill enjoy double Honour, viz. Rcverence and Maintenance. Colleagues muft share $9. When a Parish findeth work for two Minifters, and both Office they divide the fame equally between them, nothing can be rea& Benefice, fonably alledged against sharing of their Wages from the Parish accordingly; except it be faid, that he who gets the first Call to the greater Benefice, will from that take advantage to keep poffeffion thereof. Which practice, however it may receive protection from ftrict Law, yet juftice which is mixed with equity and kindnefs condemns it: Seing his Helper or Second is to be always as fit for the the fame charge as he, as is appointed by Affemby 1646, in the firft Remedy propofed againft the Corruptions of the Miniitery. $10. When he who had the greater Stipend (it having To which been neglected at his Entry, to oblige him to divide the fame e- the Parish qually with his Colleague) is now removed by Death, or other- may oblige them, How? ways. Then the Parifh is not obliged to allow the furviving and When? Colleague to fucceed to and uplift the first Stipend, except he be content and engage to amend his Predeceffors manners, which if he refufe to do, at the fight of this Callers and the Prefbytery, then let him only enjoy the Stipend to which he was called. But the most effectual way and proper feafon for obliging Colleagues to fhare their Benefices, is thus to be done at their Calling and Admiffion; Infert in the Call, that as he is to be one of the Ministers of such a Parish, fo he is to have the half of the Stipend: And let his Ordination and Admiffion Act carry that fame Qualification. But Colleagues of confent may prevent this. Publick Work is to 11. By the Act of Affembly December 17, 18. ANNO 1638, one of the Minifters without advice of his Colleague, Minifterial is not to appoint Diets of Communion nor Examination, neither be performto hinder his Colleague from Catechizing. (to wit, from houfe ed by mutu to houfe) and ufing other religious Exercifes as oft as he al Confent pleafeth. But now the Church-Seffion doth direct as to these and private Diets, for Communion efpecially. Diligence not to be § 12. Colleagues are to apply themfees to Doctrine, ac- hindered. cording to the Gifts wherein they moft excell, and as they fhall agree betwixt themfelves, VIDE DIRECTORY FOR PREACHING THE WORD. How they are to apply their Gifts. TITLE IV. Of Expectants, as alfo of Students and Burfars. TH HE Prefbytery is not only to hinder thofe whom they who they know to be unfit, from entering upon their trials; are that the but also they are to look out for, and ftir up fuch, whofe gifts Prefbytery are promifing, to fubmit themselves unot trial, and that albeit bouldenthe one were a profeffed Student of Theology, and the other were not. courage to euter upon Tryals. Wherein $2. Before any Prefbytery invite Students to pafs their trials, they are to be fatisfied as to the foundness of their prin- the Presbyciples, and of their fober, grave, prudent, and pious Behaviour. tery is to be And it is appointed, that fuch perfons ball produce, Lefore fatisfied be fore they in vite Stu the Prefbyteries who admit them to trials, 'fufficient Teftimodents to en- nials from the Minifters of the Parishes where they lived, and ter upon from the legally eftablished Prefbyteries in whofe bounds, they Tryal Expectants refided, and alfo from the Profeffors of Divinity; See the 10th A&t of Affembly 1694. As alfo, by an A&t of Affembly thereafter, it is recommended to Prefbyteries, before any be admitted to Trials, that they fee their Teftimonials of their paffing their Course in Philofophy, and their obtaining their Degrees of Mafters of Arts in fome Univerfity, And by the 13th Act of Affembly 1696, Probationers that apply to Prefbyteries are not only to bring fufficient Testimonials, but also a Letter of Recommendation from a perfon known to the Prefbytery. And by the 5th A&t of Affembly 1705, Teftimonials from Profeffors of Theology, in favours of fuch as are to enter upon their Trials, are not to be regarded by Prefbyteries, unless they bear their Knowledge of these they recommend to Trials, as to their moral and pious Carriage, as to their progrels in their Studies, and their promifing Parts, and of their good affection to the Government of the Church and State, and Fitnefs to ferve the Church. $3. The Trials of a Student, in order to his being Licenfed to preach the Gospel, do confift in thefe parts, 1. The HOMILY, which is a Difcourfe upon fome Text of Holy Scripture affigned unto him by the Prefbytery, and delivered before them in private. 2. The EXEGESIS, which is a Difcourse in Latin upon fome common Head of Divinity appointed him by the Prefbytery, and delivered before them, at which time alfo he gives in the Subilance of his Difcourfe, comprized in a fhort Thefis or Do&trinal Propofition in paper, which he is to defend, at the Prefbytery's next Meeting, against two or three Minifters who are appointed to Impugn his Thefis. 3. The Prefbyterial EXERCISE and ADDITION: The EXERCISE gives the Coherence of the Text and Context, the Logical Di vifion, and Explanation of the Words, clearing hard and unafual Phrafes, if any be, with their true and proper meaning according to the original Language, and other parallel places of Scripture, propofing and anfwering any Textual Questions that occur, and then a plain and fhort Paraphrafe upon the Text: This is ordinarly the Work of one half Hour. The ADDITI ON gives the Doctrinal Propfitions or Truths, which, without ftraining, may be deduced from the Text fo explained, with Reafons, Amplifications, and pertinent Improvement and Application, as the other half Hour will allow. 4. A Lecture, or Expofition of a large portion of Scripture, ordinatily a whole Chapter. 5. A popular Sermon. Thefe three pieces of Exercife, viz. Prefbyterial Exercife, Lecture and popular Sermon, are to be in the Pulpit before the people. 6. He is to be tri ed in his Knowledge of the Original Languages, by interpreting a portion of the Greek New Teftament AD APERTURAM LIBRI, and reading and expounding a portion of fome Pfalma in Hebrew. Of his Knowledge of Sacred Chronology, Ecclefiaftick History, especially of our own Church, anfwering Extemporay Queftions, of the meaning of hard places of Scripture, on Heads of Divinity polemick or practical, on Cafes of Confcience, on Church Government and Difcipline, and is likeways to be tried as to his piety, prudence and former godly conver fation, A&t of Affembly January 30, 1698. 4. By the 1oth Act of Aferably 1704, Prefbyteries are Some Tryals appointed to lay it on fome of their Number to examine the a. e previous Students in their own prefence upon the feveral Heads of Di- to there. vinity, and the Government of the Church, and to know what reason they can give of their Faith, and if they can answer to fome principal Objections of Adverfaries againft it, and that previously to all other parts of their Trial. From all which it appears, that from the Beginning of Trials, to the time they are Licensed to preach the Cofpel as Probationers for the Miniftery, they are a full half Year exercifed in order thereto, allowing the ordinary Meetings for Presbyteries to be once a motnh. Which time for Trials will yet be longer, if we confider the 13th Act of Aflembly 1708, appointing private Trials concerning his Senfe, and Experience of Religion, yet previous to all thefe mentioned. Recordedin the Affenib. 5. By the 3d Act of Affembly 1697, the Commiflioners Expectants from the several Presbyteries within this Church, are to bring & Students in an Account to the General Affembly yearly, of all Expec- Names to be tants or Probationers for the Miniftery. Asaifo, of all Students who attend Leffons of Theology in Univerfities, and per-jy Looks. form the Exercifes enjoined them there, that their Names may be read in open Affembly and Recorded in their Regier. Which is a mean to bind all Candidates for the Miniflery to a circumfpect Walk, that the Church may receive good Impref fions of them. Day of The which Day Form of an preach the his Teftime. the Presbytery of taking to their Confideration, that in Act Lacenf Obedience to the feveral Acts of General Assemblies made a-ing one to nent Tryals in order to Preaching, they had upon the Day of Received fufficient Teftimonials in favours of Mr. Golpel, and A. B. Student in Divinity, and that thereupon they had ap-nial, & Repointed fome of their Number to make Search and Enquiry in-commenda to the Literature and Behavour of him the faid Mr. A. B.tien. Which Brethren having upon the Reported, that according to the Appointment forefaid, they had privately taken Tryal of his. Knowledge in Divinity, and of what Senfe and Impreffion he had of Religion upon his own Soul, Day of A Probati Oner's Engagements when Li cenfed. What Pref Parishes a and that they had Caufe from what they found in the forefaid of The which Day, the Presbytery do Teftify and Declare, that Mr. A. B. Preacher of the Gospel, has, fince his being Licensed by them, preached feveral times both at their Appointment and the Defire of particular Brethren within the Bounds, to their Satisfaction, and that his Carriage, fo far as they know, hath fince that time, been pious, exemplary and edifying as became a Preacher of the Gofpel, and that he hath been obfequious to all their Appointments. Therefore they do by these Prefents Recommend the faid Mr. A. B. accordingly to any Presbytery where GOD in His Providence fhall caft his Lot, for all due and fuitable Encouragement from them.Extracted, &c. 7. By the 10th Act of Affembly 1694, It is Appointed, That when Perfons are firft Licensed to Preach, they hall oblige themselves to preach only within the Bounds, or by the Direction of that Prefbytery which did License them, and they fhall alfo by Promife and Supplication Engage themselves that they fhall be fubje&t to the faid Prefbytery, or to any other Church Judicatory, where in Providence they fhall have their Abode, and that they fhall follow no Divifive Courle; which Engagement is to be Infert in the Body of their Licence, VID. §. II. TIT. 8. LIB. 3. $ 8. By that fame Act it is Appointed, That when they byteries or are Removing from that Prefbytery which did Licenfe them, with them an Extract or their Licenfe, and a Probationer they fhall carry Teftimonial of their Carriage, which they are to produce to may preach in, and fome Prefbytery Conftitute by the Legal Eftablishment, or at when to re-leaft to fome Minifter therein, before they preach within that new his En- Bounds; Which Minifter is not to Imploy them, except in his gagements; own Pulpit, till he give Notice thereof to the Prefbytery at their next Meeting. And they are then to require the fame Subjection and orderly Carriage from them, during their Abode in that Bounds, to which they were Engaged to the Presbytery by which they were Licensed. |