WHereas the word Presbyter, that is to say, Elder, and the word Bishop doe in the Scriptures intend and sig­nifie one and the same Function, although the Title of Bishop hath beene by corrupt cu­stome [Page 2]appropriated to one, and that unto him ascribed, and by him assumed, as in o­ther things, so in the matter of Ordination, that was not meet. Which Ordination not­withstanding being performed by him a Presbyter joyned with other Presbyters, we hold for substance to bee valid, and not to bee disclaimed by any that have received it. And that Presbyters so ordained being lawfully thereunto appointed and authori­zed, may ordaine other Presbyters. And whereas it is also manifest by the word of God, That no man ought to take upon him the Office of a Minister untill hee bee lawful­ly called and ordained thereunto; And that the worke of Ordination, that is to say, An outward Solemne setting apart of Per­sons for the Office of the Ministery in the Church by Preaching Presbyters, is an Ordi­nance of Christ, and is to bee performed with all due Care, Wisdome, Gravity, and Solemnity: It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, and by the Authority of the same (after advice had with the Assembly of Divines now con­vened [Page 3]at Westminster) that during the pre­sent exigencies of the Armies, of the Navy and of many Congregations destitute of able and faithfull Ministers of the Gospel, and untill a Government of the Church be formed up to the full power and Worke of it, and the whole course of Ordination of Ministers in an ordinary way bee set up and setled for all the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland, These per­sons in the City of London, being Presby­ters; Ʋiz. Doctor Cornelius Burges, one of the Assessors of the Assembly, Dr. William Gouge, M ^r. John Ley, M ^r. George Walker, M ^r. Edmund Calamy, M ^r. Daniel Cawdry, M ^r. Stanley Gower, M ^r. John Conant, M ^r. Hum­phrey Chambers, Members of the Assembly of Divines, M ^r. Henry Robrough one of the Scribes of the Assembly, M ^r. John Down­ham, M ^r. Charles Off-spring, M ^r. Richard Lee, M ^r. Timothy Dod, M ^r. James Cranford, M ^r. Thomas Horton, M ^r. Thomas Clenden, M ^r. Ar­thur Jackson, M ^r. Samuel Clerke, M ^r. Emanu­el Bourne, M ^r. Foulke Bellers, M ^r. Francis Ro­berts, M ^r. Leonard Cooke, or any seven of [Page 4]them being the whole number present, or any seven or more of them, being the major part of them that shall bee present, may ex­amine, approve, and ordaine Presbyters ac­cording to the Directory for Ordination, and Rules for Examination hereafter expressed, that is to say;

First, That hee that is to bee Ordained, must addresse himselfe to the Ministers ap­pointed to ordaine, and bring with him a testimoniall of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes, of his diligence and proficiency in his Studies, what degrees hee hath taken in the Vniversity, and what hath been the time of his abode there, and with­all of his age, which is to bee twenty foure yeeres at the least; but especially of his life and conversation.

Secondly, the Ministers appointed to or­daine shall proceed to inquire touching the grace of God in him; and whether hee bee of such holinesse of life as is requisite in a Minister of the Gospel, and to examine him touching his Learning and sufficiency, and touching the evidence of his Calling to the [Page 5]holy Ministery, and in particular, his faire and direct calling to that place, to which he is designed.

Thirdly, After which hee being approved, is to bee sent to the Church, or other place where hee is to serve, (if it may bee done with safety, and conveniency) there to Preach three severall dayes, and to converse with the people, that they may have tryall of his gifts for their edification, and may have time and leisure to inquire into, and the better to know his life and conversa­tion.

Fourthly, In the last of those three dayes [Page 9]appointed for the making known of his gifts in Preaching, there shall bee sent by the Ministers appointed to ordaine (if it may bee done with safety and convenien­cy) a publique Instrument in writing, which shall publiquely bee read before the people, and after affixed to the Church doore, to signifie such a day, any member or members of the said Congregation, or any other per­son or persons whatsoever, or any of them may put in, with all Christian discretion, and meeknesse, what exceptions they have against him; and if upon the day appointed, there bee no just exceptions against him, the Ministers appointed to ordaine shall proceed to Ordination.

Fifthly, In the day appointed for Ordina­tion, which is to be performed in that Church where hee that is to bee ordained is to serve, (if it may bee done with safety and conve­nience) a Solemne Fast shall bee kept by the Congregation, that they may more earnest­ly joine in Prayer to God for a blessing upon the Person and Labours of this his Servant, solemnly to bee set a part to the Office of [Page 10]the Ministery for their good: The Ministers appointed to ordaine, or seven of them shall come to the place, whereof one shall Preach to the people concerning the Office and Duty of the Ministers of Christ, and how the People ought to esteeme him for the works sake.

Sixthly, After the Sermon ended, the Mi­nister which hath Preached, shall in the face of the Congregation demand of him who is now to bee Ordained concerning his Faith in Christ Jesus, and his perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion, accor­ding to the Scriptures, his sincere intentions and ends, in desiring to enter into this cal­ling, his resolution to be diligent in Prayer, Reading, Meditation, Preaching, Ministring the Sacraments, and doing all Ministeriall duties towards his charge, his Zeale, and Faithful­nesse in maintaining the Truth of the Gospel, and unity of the Church against Error and Schisme, his Care that himselfe and fami­ly may bee unblamable, and examples to the Flocke, and his Resolution to continue in his duty against all trouble and persecution.

[Page 11] Seventhly, In all which having declared himselfe, professed his willingnesse, and pro­mised his endeavours by the help of God; the Ministers appointed to ordaine, shall so­lemnly set him apart to the Office and work of the Ministery, laying their hands on him, with a short Prayer or blessing to this effect.

Eigthly, This, or the like forme of Prayer, or blessing being ended, let the Minister who preached, briefly exhort him to con­sider the greatnesse of his Office and Worke, the danger of negligence both to himselfe and his people, the blessing which will accompany his faithfulnesse in this life, and that to come; and withall let him Exhort and Charge the people in the name of God, willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ, and to maintaine, incourage, and assist him in all the parts of his Office. And so by prayer commending both him and his Flocke to the grace of God, after the singing of a Psalme, let the Assembly bee dismissed with a blessing.

[Page 13] 9. Let such as are chosen or appointed for the Service of the Army, or Navy, or Colleges, or other Charge, be Ordained as abovesaid, in such Church, as the Ministers appointed to Ordaine shall thinke fit; and such Alterations made by the Minister that Ordaineth, from the Exhortation last before prescribed, as the Cir­cumstances of Place and Persons shall require.

And be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, and by the Authoritie aforesaid, that every Person formerly Ordained a Pres­byter, according to the forme of Ordination, which hath been held in the Church of England, and is to be removed to another Charge, doe bring to the Ministers appointed to Ordaine for that County where he is to be placed, a Testimoniall of his Ordination, and of his Abilities and Con­versation, whereupon his fitnesse for that place whither he is to be removed, shall be tryed by his preaching there, and (if it shall be judged neces­sary) by a farther Examination, and so, without any new Ordination, he shall be admitted, if he be a proved as fit for that place: And if any Person Ordained Minister in Scotland, or in any other Re­formed Church, be designed to a Congregation in [Page 14] England, he is to bring from that Church, to the Ministers appointed to Ordaine for that Coun­tie, where he is to be placed, a sufficient Testimo­niall of his Ordination, of his life and conversa­tion while he lived with them, and of the Causes of his Removall; and to undergoe such a Tryall of his fitnesse and sufficiencie, and to have the same Course held with him in other particulars, as is set downe in the foregoing Rule and Provi­sion touching the Examination and admission of Persons formerly Ordained in England.

And it is further Ordained that Records be carefully kept by the Register to be nominated by the Ministers appointed to Ordaine, of the Names of the Persons Ordained, with their Te­stimoniall, the time and place of their Ordina­tion, and of the Ministers who did Ordaine them, and of the Charge to which they are ap­pointed: And that no Money or Gift of what kind soever shall be received from the Person to be Ordained, or from any on his behalfe, for Ordination or ought else belonging to it, by any of the Ministers appointed to Ordaine, or any appertaining to any of them, upon what pre­tence soever, Except to the Register for the [Page 15] Entry, Instruments and Testimonials of his Ordi­nation, which shall not exceed the summe of Ten Shillings for each Person Ordained.

And it is yet further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that all Persons who shall be Ordained Presbyters according to this Directorie, shall be for ever reputed and taken to all intents and pur­poses for lawfull and sufficiently authorised Mi­nisters of the Church of England, and as Cape­able of any Ministeriall imployment in the Church, with the Rights and Profitts belonging thereunto, as any other Presbyters whatsoever already Ordained, or hereafter to be Ordained; And that all Presbyters who are hereby appoin­ted and authorised to Ordaine, and shall (accor­ding to this present Directory) Ordaine any Pres­byters, are hereby declared to performe an accep­table Service to this Church and Kingdome, and shall have the Protection of both Houses of Par­liament for their Indemnitie.

Provided, That this Ordinance shall stand in force for twelve Moneths and no longer; Any thing in this Ordinance conteyned to the con­trary in any wise notwithstanding.