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A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland.

WITH

An Act of the General Affembly, Anno 1655, Approving the Same.

Ezek. xliii. 11. And if they be afbamed of all that they have done, fhew them the form of the house, and the fafbion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof; and write it in their fight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

Printed in the Year M,DCC,LV.

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

ACT of the General Affembly of the Kirk of Scotland, approving the Propofitions concerning Kirk-Government, and Ordination of Minifters.

TH

HE general affembly being most defirous and folicitous 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 thefe kingdoms, now more ftraitly and strongly united by the late folemn league and covenant: and confidering, that as in former times there did, fo hereafter there may arise, through the nearness of contagion, manitold mifchiefs to this kirk from a corrupt form of government in the kirk of England: like as, the precious opportunity of bringing the kirks of Chrift in all the three king. doms to an uniformity in kirk government, being the happiness of the prefent times above the former; which may also, 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 now the affembly 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 affembly 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 aforementioned, touching kirk-government, and ordination; and doth hereby authorize 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 aforementioned particulars, to foon as the fame fhall be ratified, without any fubftantial alteration, by an ordinance of the honourable houfes of the parliament of England; which ratification fhall be timely intimate and made known by the commiffioners of this kirk refiding at London. Provided always that this act be no ways 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 interefts 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

THE

CONTENT S.

THE Preface.

Of the Church.

Of the Officers of the Church.

Paftors.

Other Church-Governors.

Deacons.

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 Jame.

Of the Power in common of all thefe Affemblies.

Of Congregational Affemblies, that is, The meeting of the Ruling Officers of a particular Congregation, for the Government

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.

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THE

FOR M

O F

Presbyterial Church Government

Agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines at Westminster; examined and approved, Anno 1645, by the General Af fembly of the Church of Scotland, &c.

The PREFACE.

JESUS CHRIST, upon whofe shoulders the government is, whofe name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (a), of the increafe of whofe government and peace there fhall be no end, who fils 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: be being afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fulfil all things, received gifts for his church, and gave of ficers neceffary for the edification of his church, and perfeeling of his faints (b).

(a), Ifa. ix. 6, 7.

Of

(b), Mat. xxviii. 18.-20. Eph. i. 20—23.

Compared with Eph. iv. 8, 11. and Pfal. lxviii, 18.

Of the Church.

HERE is one general church visible, held forth in the new testa

TH

ment a.

The miniftry, oracles and ordinances of the new teftament are given by Jefus Chrift to the general church vifible, for the gathering and perfecting of it in this life, until his fecond coming b.

Particular visible bodies, members of the general church, are alfo held forth in the new reftament c. Particular churches in the primitive times, were made up of vifible faints, viz. of fuch as, being of age, profeffed faith in Chrift, and obedience unto Chrift, according to the rules of faith and life, taught by Chrift and his apoftles; and of their children d.

4 1 Cor. xii, 12. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: so alfo is Chrift. v. 13. For by one Spirit are, we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. v. 28. and God hath fet fome in the church; first apoftles, fencon darily prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governors, diverfities of tongues. Together with the reft of the chapter.

b 1 Cor. xii. 28. See before. Eph. iv. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: v. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptifm. Compared with v. 10. He that defcended is the fame also that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. v. 11. and he gave fome apostles, and fome prophets, and fome evangelifts, and fome paftors and teachers. v. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift. v. 15. But fpeaking the

Of

truth in love may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Chrift. v. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itfelf in love.

o Gal. i. 21 afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; v. 22. and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea, which were in Chrift. Rev. i. 4. John to the feven churches in Afia, Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the feven spirits which are before his throne, v. 20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou fawelt in my right hand, and the feven golden candlesticks, The feven ftars are the angels of the feven churches; and the feven can. dlefticks which thou faweft, are the feven churches. Rev. ii. 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things faith he that holdeth the feven ftars in his right-hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

d Acts ii. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent and be baptized in the name of Jefus Chrift for the remiffion of fins. and ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoft. v. 41. Kk 2

Then

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