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Customs of Primitive Churches, Of the election of a minister

Discussion in 'Baptist History' started by rlvaughn, Mar 27, 2017.

  1. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    PROP. VIII. Of the election of a minister

    VIII. The election, or outward call, of a person to the ministry is an act of his church, excited by knowledge of God’s having endowed him with some,[1] and a belief of his having endowed him with all ministerial qualifications: the act admits of the following gradations; first their moving him by common suffrage to a private trial of his believed qualifications: the motion complied with, and proof given, they, secondly, vote him, by the like suffrage, to be a minister; and give him a written certificate of the vote to be a warranty of licence to preach in public, when occasion requires: next, he is ordained, and settled, of which more in the next propositions. The above transactions require several meetings of the church and party concerned, fasting; together with the presence of persons (at least of one) already in office; who shall open the meetings with prayers suitably prefaced; moved and direct the affairs decently and in order; and close the same meetings with prayers, praises, and benedictions.

    1. Every minister is such by an act of his own church. No man or set of men can do that for a church. Nor yet one church for another. All Scripture examples are against these last, and in favour of the former process. Matthias was appointed a minister by his own church. The first deacons were made such in, and by their own church, Act. vi. 3. The persons mentioned in Act. xiv. 23 became elders in, and by their respective churches. The chief difference between ordinary and extraordinary ministers is, that the latter were made officers immediately by God; the former mediately viz., by means of the church.
    2. The above act whereby a man is brought into the ministry, is not left to the option of the church; but is excited by a knowledge of his having some, and a belief of his having all ministerial qualifications: for as the Israelites pitched no where, nor moved any whither but as the divine pillar directed; so cannot a church pitch on which they please to be a minister, nor proceed as they think fit until God points out the man by qualifying him first for the office. These discoveries of his designation of the person command their notice, and direct their proceedings. See prop. vii, ver. 5.
    3. The first part of the above act of the church is, their moving the person by their common suffrage to a private trial of his believed special qualifications, viz. of his aptness to teach; spirit of prayers; skill in the mysteries of the gospel, &c. His common qualifications are supposed to be known, viz. sense; utterance; temper; freedom from the guilt of gross sins; endowment with moral excellencies; and inclination to the office. Long acquaintance with the person affords a proof of these; and long acquainted with him the church must be, or choose a novice, which is prohibited. 1 Tim. iii. 6. But the other talents are of such a nature as to admit of no sufficient proof short of the exercise of them. Let these [also] first be proved, and then let them use the office &c. 1 Tim. iii. 10. Try the spirits, whether they be of God; for many false prophets &c. 1 John iv. 1. Thou hast tried them, which say they are apostles, &c. Rev. ii. 2. Let the prophets speak—and let the other judge, 1 Cor. xiv. 29. False brethren [viz. teachers, Act. xv. 1.]unawares brought in, who came in privily &c. Gal. ii. 4. Ye know the proof of him, Phil. ii. 22. Make full proof of thy ministry, 2 Tim. iv. 5. Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, 2 Cor. xiii. 3.
    4. The said motion accepted, and proof given, the church {act} secondly, by their common suffrage to vote the person to be a minister; and to give him a written certificate of the transaction. We read of ministers that carried letters of commendation to, and from, churches. 2 Cor. iii. 1. These [it is reasonable to suppose] were certificates of their call to the ministry, and good character; and of the nature of authority or licence to preach publicly. See 3 Joh. 9. 1 Cor. 16. 3.
    5. Next, he is to be ordained, and settled. See prop. ix. x.
    6. The above gradations by which a person is brought to the ministry, and settled in a church require several meetings of the church, viz. (1) A meeting to move the matter to the candidate; and after trials (2) a meeting to elect him to be a minister; at this he may be ordained, if all things allow it; if not they must (3) Have a meeting for his ordinations, which is commonly the case. At this he may also be set over the church or installed, if expedient; if not they must (4) Have a meeting to make him their bishop, pastor, or elder &c.
    7. The presence of person already in office (at least one) is requisite. One may do; as may be argued from the case of Titus in Crete, ch. i. 5, and the personal directions given to Timothy, 1 Tim. v. 12. But two, or more, suit better; for then there will be a presbytery, 1 Tim. iv. 14. There is no example of a church (without any minister) that fixed a man in the office; but many examples of churches that furnished themselves with ministers with the help of other ministers. The apostles were present when the church of Jerusalem appointed Matthias, Act. i. Simeon, Lucius and Manaen were present in the church of Antioch when Paul and Barnabas wereseparated to the work, Act. xiii. Paul and Silas were present when the churches of Greece chose them elders, Act. xiv.
    8. Those meetings should be attended with fastings; and (by means of the assisting officers) with addresses, prayers, praises, and benedictions. So Peter addressed the church of Jerusalem previous to their choice of Matthias, and prayed, Act. i. 15, 24. So the church of Antioch fasted, when Paul and Barnabas were separated unto the work Act. xiii. 2. The churches of Greece did the same with commendations to the Lord; which mean prayer, or benediction, or praise, or each. Act. xiv. 23.
    9. To be continued…

    Customs of Primitive Churches, Morgan Edwards, pages 17-19
     
  2. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    PROP. VIII. Of the election of a minister, continued

    9. Here follows a narrative of proceedings at two church meetings; the one was to move a person to a trial of his supposed gifts; the other to choose him to be a minister. At the first, the church met fasting, according to previous notice; public service being over and the rest of the congregation dismissed the minister addressed them in words to this effect.
    10. “We are come together in the name and with the power of the Lord Jesus; and that fasting, according to notice. The design of the meeting (as many of you know) is, to consult and determine something on the case of our brother _______, who is inclined to the ministry from a consciousness of an inward call thereto. The external call is the business of the church, which you are bound to give, or deny him, according as you know and believe him to be, or not to be fitted of God for the office. He is no novice; for you know the man and his communications. If you know him to be given to wine; to be a striker; or covetous; or greedy of filthy lucre; or a brawler; or accused of riot; or unruly; or a polygamist; or self-willed; or apt to be soon angry; or have an ill report of them that are without; or is defective in understanding, or utterance; or if ye believe on good grounds, that he has not aptness to teach; or has not the spirit of prayer; or is not skilled in the mysteries of the gospel; ye are forbid all aiding and abetting towards introducing him to the ministry. But if, on the other hand, ye know him to be blameless; (the husband of one wife); vigilent; sober; of good behavior; given to hospitality; patient; (ruling well his own house); a lover of good men; just; holy; temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught; able by sound doctrine to exhort and convince gainsayers; having a good report of them that are without; and especially if ye have reason to believe he has aptness to teach; has the spirit of prayer; and is skilled in the word of righteousness ye are bound to give your suffrage in his favour; for by endowing him with those qualifications God marks him out as a proper object of your choice. Wherefore let us ask help of God to act the wise and faithful part in this matter.
    11. “The kingdom of the Lord are we! and with us are the keys of his kingdom! But we are what we are by thy sovereign grace! and have what we possess by thy unmerited bounty; for thine is the kingdom, and thine is the power! Will it please the king of saints to be in the midst of us now? and at this time reign over us in a special manner? that with the presence and power of the Lord Jesus we may do the thing that pleaseth him on earth, and may obtain the concurrence and {ratification} of heaven! Is he whom the Lord hath designed for the ministry before him? Is our brother _______ the man? Is he really fitted for the ministry, who appeareth to us so to be? Is his disposition to the sacred office the effect of a touch which thy finger hath given to his conscience, or is it owing to some other cause? Shall we encourage him to a probation in the ministry, or shall we forbear? Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show us these things! Even so Lord Jesus, Amen.”
    12. After prayer the minister desired the brethren to speak their minds freely touching the thing that had been moved to them. Much was said, and all in favour of the motion. Then the minister put the matter to the vote, saying,
    13. “You who think it your duty to encourage our brother _______ to a proof of the ministerial qualifications which you know, or believe him to have, show it by the lifting of your hand.”
    Hands were lifted up. Then he put the negative to them, in words to this effect,
    14. “You who {hold} yourselves bound to oppose the motion, show it by like sign.”
    No hands were lifted up. Then the person was called in whom the minister bespoke thus.
    15. “You are, sir, by the unanimous suffrage of your church moved to the exercise of the gifts which they believe you have; we would know whether you will accept the call?”
    He signified willingness to comply. Then was informed of the set time when he was to give specimens of his ministerial abilities; and the church required to attend. After that the minister prayed in words to this effect.
    16. “Let the thing which we have now done please the, O Lord! for thou knowest that doing thee a pleasure has been our end; and that a sense of duty, exited by indications of thy will, was our motive. Thou hast taught us to pray that many labourers may be sent to the harvest! We have done as thou hast commanded! And no sooner hath one stood up among us, professing a mission from thee and rendering credible the profession by an appearance of ministerial qualifications, than we have hasted to be workers together with God! If we rightly interpret these things, confirm us more and more therein by what we may further see in thy servant, and hear from him, so as not to leave a doubt behind! Help him, good Lord, to make a full proof of his ministry and mission! Help us to judge truly and impartially; for we would not dare abase the power we have because it is thy power, delegated to us as an accountable trust; If we err, will our dear Lord convince us of the error, and forgive; even so, Lord Jesus, Amen.

    Then were sung the following lines. The music by Mr. Arne.


    [​IMG]

    He, bounteous still, bids others rise,
    In lieu of each that fails, or dies;
    Nor shall the order cease;
    And when he sends by whom he’ll send.
    He makes the means attain the end,
    By adding the increase.

    Let each that hears the preached word,
    Admire this goodness of their Lord,
    And in his praise agree;
    For ministers, their work, and call,
    Their shining gifts, their use, and all
    Are fruites of his decree.

    Then the minister dismissed the church with the usual benediction. See the manner, Prop. iv. ver. 40.

    To be continued...

    Customs of Primitive Churches, Morgan Edwards, pages 19-21
     
  3. Billx

    Billx Member
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    The information is very good. The problem is churches get in a hurry and thereby circumvent the process.

    The pastor needs to be qualified, recommend, examined and evidence a call to that parish. Then voted finally accepting the call as Gods will
     
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