Affembly at Edinburgh, February 10. 1645. Seff. 16.

ACT of the General Aembly of the Kirk of Scotland, approving the propofitions concerning Kirk-Government, and ordination of Minifters.

TH

HE General Affembly being moft defirous and follicitous not only of the establishment and prefervation of the Form of Kirk-government in this kingdom, according to the word of God, books of difcipline, acts of General Affemblies, and national covenant, but also of an uniformity in Kirk-government betwixt these kingdoms, now more ftraitly and strongly united by the late Solemn League and Covenant: And confidering, that as in former times there did, fo hereafter there may arife, through the nearness of contagion, manifold mischiefs to this kirk from a corrupt form of government in the kirk of England: likeas the precious opportunity of bringing the kirks of Christ in all the three kingdoms to an uniformity in Kirk-government, being the happiness of the prefent times above the former; which may alfo, by the bleffing of God, prove an effectual mean, and a good foundation to prepare for a fafe and well-grounded pacification, by removing the caufe from which the prefent preffures and bloody wars did originally proceed: and own the Aflembly having thrice read, and diligently examined the propofitions (hereunto annexed) concerning the officers, affemblies, and government of the kirk, and concerning the ordination of minifters, . brought unto us, as the refults of the long and learned debates of the aflembly of divines fitting at Westminster, and of the treaty of uniformity with the commiffioners of this kirk there refiding; after mature deliberation, and after timeous calling upon, and warning of all, who have any exceptions against the fame, to make them known, that they might receive fatisfaction; doth agree to and approve the propofitions afore-mentioned, touching Kirk-government and ordination; and doth hereby authorise the Commiffioners of this Affembly, who are to meet at Edinburgh, to agree to, and conclude in the name of this Affembly, an uniformity betwixt the kirks in both kingdoms, in the afore-mentioned particulars, fo foon as the same shall be ratified, without any fubftantial alteration, by an ordinance of the honourable houfes of the Parliament of England; which ratification shall be timely intimate and made known by the commiffioners of this kirk refiding at London. Provided always that this act be noways prejudicial to the further difcuffion and examination of that article which holds forth, That the doctor or teacher hath power of the administration of the facraments, as well as the paftor: as alfo of the diftinct rights and interests of prefbyteries and people, in the calling of minifters; but that it fhall be free to debate and difcufs thefe points, as God fhall be pleafed to give further light.

THE

1

Of particular congregations.

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

Of Church-government, and the feveral forts of Affemblies for the fame.

Of the power in common of all thefe Affemblies.

Of Congregational Affemblies, that is, The meeting of the rul ing Officers of a particular Congregation, for the Govern ment 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

OR M

OF

PRESBYTERIAL CHURCH-GOVERNMENT.

THE PREFACE.

JEsus Christ, upon whose shoulders the government is, whose. name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace, 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 it 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 Set 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 also 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.

a If. ix. 6. 7.

22.23.

b Matth. xxviii. 18. 19. 20. Eph. i. 20. 21. Compared with Eph. iv. 8. 11. and Pfal. Ixviii. 18.

Of the Church.

"Here is one general church vifible, held forth in the New Testament a.

TH

The miniftry, oracles, and ordinances of the New Tefta

ment,

ment, 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 vifible churches, members of the general church, are alfo held forth in the New Teftament c.

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