Chapter 13. Ordination Of Elders
¶1021. When the day appointed by the General Superintendent is come,
there shall be a sermon or exhortation declaring the duty and office of such
as come to be admitted elders; also how the people ought to esteem them in
their office. After this the secretary shall present unto the General Superintendent
all who are to be ordained elders, and say:
I present unto you these persons to be ordained elders.
Then their names being read aloud, the General Superintendent shall say unto the people:
Brethren, these are they whom we propose, God willing, this day to ordain elders, for after due examination, we find that they are called by God to this office and ministry, and that they are persons meet for the same. But if there by any of you who knoweth any valid reason for which any one of them ought not to be received into this holy ministry, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the impediment is.
If any impediment be alleged, the General Superintendent shall not ordain that person until such time as the party accused shall be found innocent.
Then shall be read the following:
The Epistle -- Ephesians 4:7-13.
The Gospel -- John 10:1-16.
And that done, the General Superintendent shall say unto them as hereafter follows:
You have heard, brethren, in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel, and the writings of the apostles, of what privilege and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye are called of God. And now again we exhort you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep in remembrance how great an opportunity, and how weighty an office and charge, ye are called; that is to say, to be messengers, watchmen, and stewards of the Lord; to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide for the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for His children who are in the midst of this evil world, that they may be saved through Christ forever.
We have good hope that you have all weighed and pondered these things yourselves long before this time; and that you have clearly determined, by God's grace, to give yourselves wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you; so that, as much as lieth in you, you will apply yourselves wholly to this treasure committed to your charge, and draw all your cares and studies this way, and that you will continually pray to God the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Spirit; that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, you may wax riper and stronger in your ministry; and that ye may so endeavor yourselves from time to time to minister to the sheep of Christ, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow.
And now that this present congregation of Christ, here assembled, may understand your minds and wills in these things, and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duties; ye shall answer plainly to these things, which we, in the name of God, and of His Church, shall demand of you touching the same.
Do you think in your heart that you are truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the order of elders?
Answer: I believe so.
Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures have all truth necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined, out of the same Holy Scriptures, so
to instruct the people committed to your charge? Will you teach nothing else as necessary to eternal salvation but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scriptures?
Answer: I am so persuaded and have so determined, by God's grace.
Will you then give your faithful diligence, always so to minister the doctrine and ordinances, and the Discipline and ordinances, and the discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded?
Answer: I will so do, by the help of the Lord.
Will you be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word; and to use both public and private admonitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole within your charge, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given?
Answer: I will, the Lord being my helper.
Will you be diligent in prayers, and in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in such studies as help in the love and knowledge of the Lord?
Answer: I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper.
Will you be diligent to discipline your own lives, and the lives of your families, according to the teachings of Christ; and to make yourselves as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ?
Answer: I shall apply myself thereto, the Lord being my helper.
Will you maintain and set forward, as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people, and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge?
Answer: I will so do, the Lord being my helper.
Will you reverently obey your chief ministers, unto whom is committed the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their admonitions in the Lord?
Answer: I will so do, the Lord being my helper.
Then shall the General Superintendent say:
Almighty God, who hath given you this will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same; that He may accomplish His work which He hath begun in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Next follows a prayer by the General Superintendent. When this prayer is done, the General Superintendent and some of the elders present shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the order of elders; the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the General Superintendent saying:
The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Spirit for the office and work of an elder in the church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands. And be thou a faithful dispenser of the Word of God, and of His holy Ordinances; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Then the General Superintendent shall deliver to every one of them, kneeling, the Bible, into his hands, saying:
Take thou authority to preach the Word of God, and to administer the Holy Sacraments in the congregation. Amen.
Then shall come prayer and the following benediction:
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Chapter 14. Dedication Of A
General Superintendent
¶1031. One of the elders present shall offer the following prayer:
Almighty God, who by Thy Son Jesus Christ didst give Thy disciples many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed Thy flock; give grace, we beseech Thee, to all the ministers and pastors of Thy Church, that they may diligently preach Thy Word, and duly administer the godly discipline thereof;
and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same; that all may bear fruit to Thy glory and receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall be read by one of the elders:
The Epistle -- Acts 20:17-35.
Then shall another read:
The Gospel -- John 21:15-17 or Matthew 28:18-20.
After the sermon is ended, the elected person shall be presented by two elders saying:
We present unto you this elder, chosen to be a general superintendent for the next quadrennium.
Then the leader shall call upon the congregation present to pray, saying:
Brethren, it is written in the Gospel of Luke, that our Saviour Jesus Christ continued the whole night in prayer before He did choose and send forth His twelve apostles. It is written also in the acts of the Apostles, that the disciples who were at Antioch did fast and pray before they laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them forth. Let us therefore, following the example of our Saviour Christ and His apostles, first go to prayer before we send forth this person presented unto us, to the work we trust the Holy Spirit hath called him to do.
Then shall follow prayer:
Almighty God, giver of all things, who by Thy Holy Spirit has appointed divers orders of ministers in Thy church; mercifully behold this Thy servant now called to the work and ministry of a general superintendent; and replenish him so with the trust of Thy Word, and adorn him with the innocency of life, that, both by word and deed, he may faithfully serve Thee in his office, to the glory of Thy name, and the edifying and well-governing of Thy church, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end. Amen.
Then the leader shall say to him that is to be dedicated:
Brother, forasmuch as the Holy Scripture commands that we should not be hasty in admitting any person to a position of leadership in government of the church of Christ, which Christ hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of His own
blood; before you are admitted to this ministration I will examine you on certain articles, to the end that the congregation present may have a trial and bear witness how you are minded to behave yourself in the church of God.
Are you persuaded that you are truly called to this administration, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ?
I am so persuaded.
Are you persuaded that the Holy Scripture is the Word of God and contains sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ? And are you determined out of the same Holy Scripture to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but the shed blood of Christ applied to the human heart and life as set forth in the Word of God?
I am persuaded and determined, by God's grace.
Will you then faithfully exercise yourself in the same Holy Scripture, and call upon God by prayer and study for the true understanding of the same, so that you may be able to teach and exhort the Bible truth, and to withstand and convince the gainsayers?
I will so do, by the help of God.
Are you willing with faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word, and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to seek and promote the Bible truth?
I am willing, the Lord being my helper.
Will you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, that you may show yourself in all things an example of good works unto others, so that God can receive glory?
I will, the Lord being my helper.
Will you maintain and set forward, as much as shall lie in you, quietness, love, and peace among all men; and faithfully do God's will and work in the church as shall be committed unto you?
I will, by the help of God.
Will you be faithful in ordaining, sending or laying hands upon others?
I will, by the help of God.
Will you show yourself gentle, and be merciful, for Christ's sake, to poor and needy people, and to all strangers needing help?
I will, by God's help.
Then shall the leader say:
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who hath given you a good will to do all these things, grant unto you strength, wisdom, and power to perform the same; that He accomplishing in you the good work He hath begun, may find you perfect and blameless at the last day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And remember, that thou stir up the grace of God which is given thee; for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Following prayer by the leader, some of the elders present shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected person kneeling before them upon his knees, the leader saying:
The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Spirit, for the office and work of a general superintendent of the church of God now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then shall the leader deliver him the Bible saying:
Give heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine. Think upon the things contained in this Bible. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and to thy doctrine; for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not; hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcast, seek the lost. Be so merciful, that you may not be too remiss; so minister discipline that you forget not mercy; that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the neverfading crown of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Immediately following the benediction shall be said the following prayers:
Most merciful Father, we beseech Thee to send down upon this Thy servant Thy heavenly blessing, and so endue him with Thy Holy Spirit that he, preaching Thy Word, be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all patience and doctrine, and a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in deed, and in purity; that faithfully fulfilling his course, so that Christ and His church may be strengthened and built up in the hearts of the people to the glory of God. Amen.
Help us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy holy name, and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.