and by either of them be communicated, without delay, to the Session, that they may have sufficient time to inquire into the characters and conversation of the applicants. The same regulation shall be observed with respect to application from persons of other denominations, and from members who have been more than a year absent, at a distance from the congregation, and do not produce satisfactory testimonials; or who have been debarred, by a judicial sentence, from the communion of the church, and are desirous of re-admission.

3. It is left to the discretion of Sessions, who are best acquainted with their particular circumstances, to fix the time which ought to intervene between application for church-privileges and the obtaining of them. But in ordinary cases it should not be less than eight days.

4. Applicants shall be examined concerning their knowledge, principles, and experience, by the minister or ministers; or by one or more of the ruling elders in conjunction with him, as the Session may judge advisable. Nor shall there be made any distinction between the qualifications requisite for baptism, whether of adults or their infants, and for their admission to the table of the Lord.

SECTION IV. Of TESTIMONIALS.

1. When a member of a congregation is called in provi dence to remove to another, or to some distant place, he is to apply for testimonials of his character and standing in the church, which, if not more than a year old, shall entitle him to sealing ordinances in any congregation under the inspection of the Synod: And without such testimonials, no person, not well known to one or more of the Session, shall be admitted to communion merely on the plea of having been a member of another congregation. In such case, he must either obtain testimonials from the place he last left, or submit to the regulations prescribed in the foregoing Section.

2. To members of unexceptionable character, who are about to remove, testimonials shall, at all times, be granted at their request; but they shall, on no consideration, be given to any person who is known to be corrupt in principle, or immoral in practice, or who is under censure.

3. Members removing to a distance, and neglecting to apply for their testimonials, shall not obtain them in virtue

a Rom. xvi. 1.

of a subsequent application, unless the Session have reason to believe that their conversation, during their absence, hath been as becometh the gospel of Christ.

4. In ordinary cases, testimonials must be signed by the minister or ministers of the congregation, or one of them; and by one or more of the elders.

5. Testimonials of persons who become resident members, are to be carefully preserved by the minister, and new ones to be given in their stead, whenever removal or other occurrence shall render it necessary.*

Chapter V.

Of Classical Assemblies or Presbyteries.

SECTION I. Of the PRESBYTERY in general.

1. THE scripture doth hold out a Presbytery in a

church.a

2. The Presbytery consisteth of all the ministers of the word, within a certain district; each accompanied by a ruling elder commissioned from the Session. An organized congregation that is vacant, but able and willing to support a pastor, hath a right to be represented by an elder, and should never neglect to send one, commissioned by the

rest.

3. The scripture doth hold forth, that many particular congregations may be under one Presbyterial government. The proposition is proved by instances:

1. OF THE CHURCH OF JERUSALEM, which consisted of more congregations than one; and all these congregations were under one Presbyterial government.

That the church of Jerusalem consisted of more congregations than one, is manifest,

1st. By the multitude of believers mentioned in divers places; both before the dispersion of the believers there, by means of the persecution; and also after the dispersion.c

2d. By the many apostles and other preachers in the church of Jerusalem. And if there were but one congregation there, then each apostle preached but seldom; which will not consist with Acts vi. 2.

*

Appendix I. No. 1, 2.

a 1 Tim. i. 14. Acts xv. 2, 4, 6.

4 v. 14. vi. 1, 7. viii. 1.

b Acts i. 15. ii. 41, 46, 47. iv. c Acts ix. 31. xii. 24. xxi. 20.

3d. The diversity of languages among the believers, mentioned both in the second and sixth chapters of the Acts, doth argue more congregations than one in that church. Secondly. All those congregations were under one Presbyterial government; because,

1st. They were one church.d

2d. The elders of the church are mentioned.e

3d. The apostles did the ordinary acts of Presbyters, as Presbyters, in that church: which proveth a Presbyterial church before the dispersion. Acts vi.

4th. The several congregations in Jerusalem being one church, the elders of that church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of government,f which proves that those several congregations were under one Presbyterial government.

And whether these congregations were fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, it is all one as to the truth of the proposition.

Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the several congregations in Jerusalem, and the many congregations now in the ordinary condition of the church, as to the point of fixedness required of officers or members. Therefore, the scripture doth hold forth, that many congregations may be under one Presbyterial government.

II. By the instance oF THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS; for, First, That there were more congregations than one in the church of Ephesus, appears by Acts xx. 31. where is mention of Paul's continuance at Ephesus, in preaching, for the space of three years: and Acts xix. 18, 20. where the special effect of the word is mentioned; and ver. 10 and 17 of the same chapter, where is a distinction of Jews and Greeks and 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9. where it is assigned as a reason of Paul's stay at Ephesus unto Pentecost, that a great and effectual door was opened unto him; and ver. 19. where is mention of a particular church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla, then at Ephesus, as appears from Acts xviii. 19, 24, 26; all which laid together, doth prove that the multitude of believers did make more congregations than one in the church of Ephesus.

Secondly, That there were many elders over these many congregations, as one flock, appeareth.s

d Acts ii. 47. v. 11. viii. 1. xii. 5. xv. 4. xxi. 17, 18. f See letter e.

6, 22.

36, 37.

e Acts xi. 30. xv. 4, g Acts xx. 17, 25, 28, 30,

one

Thirdly, That these many congregations were church, and that they were under one Presbyterial government, appeareth.h.

4. The authority of the Presbytery reacheth to all things that concern the particular churches within their bounds, which do not belong to sessional or synodical jurisdiction: such as deciding on appeals from church-sessions, and other references brought orderly before them-rebuking gross or contumacious offenders-directing the censure of excommunication--approving or censuring the sessional records— appointing supplies of preaching and other ordinances to vacancies-examining and taking charge of students of theology-examining and licensing candidates for the ministry-ordaining, installing, removing, and judging ministers-disjoining or uniting congregations-resolving cases of conscience-inquiring into the state of the churches under their inspection; and rectifying any disorders, abuses, or other evils, by which any of them may suffer.

5. Although the number of members in Presbyteries cannot be determined by any general rule, yet, that the affairs of the church of CHRIST may be properly conducted, it is proper that a Presbytery consist of not less than two ministers, with two elders.

6. As the office of minister includeth that of elder, a Presbytery, if no elders attend, may be constituted by ministers alone, provided their number be not less than three.

7. Presbyteries should meet as frequently as the situation of the ministers will admit: but they are strictly required to meet at least once in six months. Besides their stated meetings, they should meet occasionally, when any urgent business demands immediate attention. In these cases, the moderator hath power to convene the Presbytery, and shall always do it at the request of two members.

8. All occasional meetings of Presbytery shall be called by letters addressed from the moderator to the ministers thereof respectively; or by personal information.

SECTION II. The duty of Presbyteries with respect to STUDENTS of DIVINITY.

1. As an able, evangelical, and faithful ministry is of unspeakable moment to the peace, the purity, the prosperity, and the glory of the Christian church, Presbyteries are bound to use their utmost diligence in training up young men for that holy office.

h Rev. ii. 1, 6. compared with letter g.

2. No person can be admitted as a student of divinity without previous examination, by a committee of Presbytery, as to abilities, education, and piety; and every applicant for such admission must produce, as an essential preliminary, testimonials of his having been in full communion with the Christian church.i

3. As great literature and abilities, without the sanctifying grace of the LORD JESUS, are not only useless, but pernicious to vital religion, no person, whatever be his eminence in either, shall, on any consideration, be admit ted by a Presbytery, to study for the ministry, unless they have ground to believe that he hath some saving acquaintance with the power of godliness.k And Presbyteries are enjoined to be particularly careful, as well as tender, in this inquiry, that the honour of JESUS CHRIST, and the eternal interests of men, be not betrayed through negligence or partiality.

4. Since many whom the LORD hath blessed with excellent endowments, and with the saving grace of his SPIRIT, are deterred by groundless fears, or disabled by penurious circumstances, from prosecuting theological studies, Presbyteries are especially required to make inquiries after such, and to encourage and aid them to become qualified for the holy ministry.

5. Students should attend, if possible, the meetings of judicatories.

SECTION III. Of licensing CANDIDATES.

1. In ordinary cases, no student of divinity can be admitted to trials for licence, without a course of theological study, during three full years, after the time of his being received by the Presbytery.

2. No student of divinity shall be taken on trials for licence, without producing satisfactory testimonials, as well of his unexceptionable conduct, as of his proficiency in classical and philosophical literatore.

3. The candidate must, on examination by the Presbytery, give proof of his skill in the original languages of the scriptures of his acquaintance with ecclesiastical history, and with the doctrines of our holy religion. He shall be examined, especially, on the Deistical, Socinian, and Arminian controversies; on the nature of the sacraments; on k 2 Cor. i. 4.

i 1 Tim. iii. 6.