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TO proceed to the Election of those which are to be Imployed in Preaching the Word of GOD, the Rule of the Apostle must be observed; that Examination and In∣quiry must be made of their Doctrine, Life and Conversation, and that as diligently as may be.
Jesus Christ having established the Preaching of the Gospel, to conduct his Children to the enjoyment of the Salvation which he purchased for them by the Merits of his Death, it is with great Reason that the Authors of our Discipline have begun this Excellent Work, with the Articles which Treat of the Election and Establish∣ing of Ministers, which are the Instruments which God employs for assembling the Saints, and for building up the Body of Christ, as St. Paul speaks. The more weighty this Office is, the more care ought to be taken, that those which are called to it should be enrich'd with Gifts necessary to discharge themselves as they ought; that's to say, That they should be apt to teach; which the National Synod of Gergeau, added in the Year 1601. to the Article which we examin, after these Words, of their Doctrine: 'Tis true, that the purity of Doctrine should be accompanied with Holiness of Life, to the end, that if they are the Light of the World by their Preaching, so also they should be the Salt of the Earth by their good Living. The Apostle, who perfectly knew the importance of this Divine Employment, took par∣ticular care in Chap. 3. of the 1st Epistle to Timothy, and in Chap. 1. to Titus, to prescribe all the Qualities he de∣sires in a good and faithful Minister of the New-Testa∣ment: St. Peter also Treats of them, but in a more ge∣neral manner, in Chap. 5. of his 1st. Epistle.
Thence it is that St. Clement observes in his Epistle to the Church of Corinth, * 1.1 That the Apostles Preached the Word in the Cities, and in the Countrey, and that they Established for Bishops of those which were to believe, the first Fruits of those which they had Converted; that is to
say, The first Fruits of those, which, being awakened at their Preaching, had imbraced the Profession of the Gospel; but he observes also, that he made them not Conductors of the Faithful, until after he had proved them by the Holy Ghost. Tertullian, in all likelihood, thought of this practice, when describing in Chap. 39. of his Apology, the Assemblies of Christians of his time, he saith, That the Elders which had been tried, pre∣sided over them; this proof undoubtedly comprehend∣ing that of their Life and Doctrine: It is also in the same design, that the fourth Council of Carthage Assem∣bled in the Year 398, and Composed of above 200 Bishops, ordered in the first Canon, before all things, To examin him that was to be Consecrated a Bishop, * 1.2 to see if he have a good Natural Wit; if he be apt to Teach; mode∣rate in his Conversation; sober in his Life; diligent in his Affairs; humble, affable, full of Compassion; If he be Learned; if he be Instructed in the Law of the Lord; if he Interprets the Word of God soberly and prudently; if he be vers'd in the Dogma's of the Church, and if he can explain in a clear and plain manner, the Doctrines of Faith. The first Council of Nice also made mention of this Tryal in the Ninth and Tenth Canons; and it shall be shewn on the fourth Article, the exactness that was us'd, to have good Testimonies of those which were to be Esta∣blished in the Ministry of the Church.
Page 54. Edit. Ox∣ford 1633.
Tom. 1. Concil pag. 727.