O make Thy Church, dear Saviour, They see Thee face to face. Amen. ¶ Then the Moderator, or the Minister appointed, shall say, Let us pray. ¶ The PRAYER may be offered in these or other fitting words : GOD, the Father eternal, who hast made Thy risen and ever-glorious Son, Jesus Christ, Head over all things to Thy Church: Bestow upon these Thy servants, whom we bless in Thy Name, the sevenfold gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may be endowed with power to preach Thy Gospel, and may prove their fitness to serve Thee in the Ministry of the Word. Grant unto them riches of heavenly wisdom, and guidance of divine love, that they may live near to God and near to man, in fellowship with Thy Son. Strengthen their faith, confirm their courage, and deepen their joy in work for Thee, renewing in their hearts and on their lips the glad tidings of salvation, and giving unto them the great reward of those that turn many to righteousness. So may the time of their probation bear fruit unto everlasting life, and lead them into the full assurance that Thou hast called and blessed them for the ministry of the Gospel. Lord, hasten the coming of Thy kingdom; build up Thy holy Church throughout the world; hear the prayers and prosper the labours of all Thy good and faithful servants; and Thine shall be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. THE ORDER FOR THE ORDINATION OF MINISTERS. ¶A Candidate for the Holy Ministry, having made proof, as required by the Form of Government, of his fitness to preach the Gospel, and having received a duly attested call to the Pastorate of a congregation, and having fully satisfied the Presbytery that he is qualified for the sacred office, shall be presented for Ordination. When the Presbytery shall approve a Candidate who has fulfilled all the other requirements of the Form of Government, but has not received a call to the Pastorate of a particular congregation, he may be ordained to the work of the Ministry as an Evangelist, and the necessary changes shall be made in the following Order. The day appointed for Ordination being come, and the Presbytery convened, a Minister previously designated shall conduct Divine Service according to the usual Order, or such special Order as the Presbytery may deem proper, and the same, or another appointed to preside, shall conduct the ORDINATION, saying as follows: THE Presbytery of The words in brackets throughout this Order are to be omitted at the ordina is here assembled to ordain to the sacred office of the Ministry, A. B., [whom you have called to be your Pastor. We have duly considered the call which you have presented to him through us.] We have diligently inquired into his soundness of doctrine and holiness of life, and are certified of his meetness in respect to gifts and learning for this excellent work, as required in God's holy Word. We, therefore, present him before you to receive ordination with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. tion of an Evangelist. ¶ Then the Candidate shall stand before the Presiding Minister, who shall say: DEARLY beloved in the Lord, you have heard both in your examination by the Presbytery, and in the words already spoken in this place, and in the lessons taken out of Holy Scripture, of what dignity and of how great importance is this Ministry whereunto you are called. And now again we exhort you, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you have in remembrance unto how high and weighty an office you are to be ordained; that is to say, to be a messenger, watchman, and steward of the Lord, to teach and admonish, to feed and provide for, the Lord's family; and to look for the sheep of Christ that are dispersed abroad in the midst of this evil world, that they may be saved through Him for ever. We have good hope that you have well weighed these things before this time, and that you have clearly determined by God's grace to give yourself wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you; so that you may daily grow stronger in your Ministry, and may be a wholesome and godly example and pattern for the people to follow. And now that this present congregation of Christ may also understand your mind and will in these things, and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duty, you shall answer plainly to all these things which we, in the Name of God, and of His Church, demand of you. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice? Answer: I do so believe. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures? Answer: I do so receive it. Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United States? Answer: I do. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord ? Answer: I do. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to seek the office of the Holy Ministry from love to God and a sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel of His Son? Answer: I have been thus induced. Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the Gospel and the purity and peace of the Church; whatever persecution or opposition may arise to you on that account? Answer: I do so promise. Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all private and personal duties, which become you as a Christian and a Minister of the Gospel; as well as in all relative duties, and the public duties of your office; endeavouring to adorn the profession of the Gospel by your conversation; and walking with exemplary piety before the flock over which God shall make you overseer? Answer: I do so engage, relying on God's grace. AT THE ORDINATION OF A PASTOR: ARE you now willing to take the charge of this congregation, agreeably to your declaration at accepting their call? And do you promise to discharge the duties of a Pastor to them, as God shall give you strength? Answer: I am willing, and I do so promise, the Lord being my Helper. Or, AT THE ORDINATION OF AN EVANGELIST: ARE you now willing to undertake the work of an Evangelist; and do you promise to discharge the duties which may be incumbent on you in this character as God shall give you strength? Answer: I am willing, and I do so promise, the Lord being my Helper. The Candidate, having answered these Questions in the affirmative: The Presiding Minister shall propose to the People the following QUESTIONS, requesting that they answer them in the affirmative by holding up their right hands: Do you, the People of this congregation, continue to profess your readiness to receive A. B., whom you have called to be your Minister? Do you promise to receive the Word of Truth from his mouth, with meekness and love; and to submit to him in the due exercise of discipline? Do you promise to encourage him in his arduous labour, and to assist his endeavours for your instruction and spiritual edification? Do you engage to continue to him, while he is your Pastor, that competent worldly maintenance which you have promised; and whatever else you may see needful for the honour of religion and his comfort among you? ¶ The People having answered these Questions in the affirmative : The Candidate shall then kneel, and the Presiding Minister shall by Prayer, and with the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery, according to the Apostolic example, solemnly Ordain him to the holy office of the Gospel Ministry, using if he will one of the following Prayers: Let us pray. ALMIGHTY God and everlasting Father, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth by Thy wisdom, and hast from the beginning ordained for Thy Church the Ministry of Reconciliation, giving some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the Ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ; Look in mercy, we beseech Thee, on this Thy servant, upon whom we lay our hands in Thy Name [here the Presiding Minister and the other Ministers shall lay their hands upon the head of the Candidate], and whom we thus ordain and set apart to the holy office of the Ministry. Pour down upon him the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, confirming in heaven what we do in Thy Church on earth, and owning him as a true Minister of the Gospel of Thy Son. Vouchsafe to |