Touching the Doctrine of Ordination.

No man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the word without a lawful calling.[l]

Ordination is always to be continued in the church.[m]

Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick church office.[n]

Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, and prayer, with fasting, by those preaching presbyters to whom it doth belong.[o]

It is agreeable to the word of God, and very expedient, that such as are to be ordained ministers, be designed to some particular church, or other ministerial charge.[p]

He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qualified, both for life and ministerial abilities, according to the rules of the apostle.[q]

He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be ordained.[r]

No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, if they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him.[s]

[l] John 3:27. Rom. 10:14,15. Jer. 14:14. Heb. 5:4.

[m] Tit. 1:5. 1 Tim. 5:21,22. 

[n] Numb. 8:10,11,14,19,22. Acts 6:3,5,6.

[o] 1 Tim. 5:22. Acts 14:23. Acts 13:3.

[p] Acts 14:23. Tit. 1:5. Acts 20:17,28.

[q] 1 Tim. 3:2-6. Tit. 1:5-9.

[r] 1 Tim. 3:7,10. 1 Tim. 5:22.

[s] 1 Tim. 3:2. Tit. 1:7.