Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

III.

The Doctors and Professors in Divinity shall be Elected by the Synod of the Province where the Academies are, and shall be Examin'd, as well by the Lessons they shall make on the Old and New Testament, according to the Authentick Texts of Hebrew and Greek, which shall be delivered to them, as by Disputation, of one or more days, as shall be thought fit; and being found capable, if they are not Pa∣stors, the hand of fellowship shall be given them, having first of all promised faithfully and diligently to discharge their Duty, and to Teach the Scripture with all purity, according to the Analogy of Faith, and according to the Confession of our Churches, which they shall subscribe.

CONFORMITY.

The Council of Chalons, which was cited upon the first Article, refers to Bishops, and by consequence to their Synods, the Choice and Establishment of those which are to Teach Divinity, and the Mystery of Sal∣vation;

and that of Meaux, which we also cited on the same Article, prescribes the Gifts and Qualities, as well for the Doctrine, as the Life and Conversation; so that we may say, it amounts near to the Establishment of our Discipline, if you except only the form and manner of installation, whereof these two Councils make no mention at all Pope Alexander the 3d, * 1.1 in his Lateran Council An. 1189. uses the 18th Canon, to provide for the establishing and preserving of Schools, in appoint∣ing Pensions to Masters and Regents; it is the subject of the 11th Canon of another Lateran Council, 36 years after that, under Innocent the 3d, which also de∣clares, There ought to be in each Metropolitan Church a Doctor in Divinity, to expound to Priests and others, the Holy Scriptures, and to instruct them in things ne∣cessary for the guide of Souls.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tom. 7. Concil. part 2. p. 660.