at the present time do not ordain directly of themselves, but indirectly through the agency of the pastors and delegates of the neighboring churches. The practice is settled; and a deviation from it, by recurring to the ancient method, which evidently originated in part in the peculiar circumstances of the times, would be considered highly objectionable.

If these statements are correct, the members of Ordaining Councils must be regarded essentially in the light of representatives or commissioners of their particular churches; nevertheless they are accountable to Christ, who is the head and ruler of all his followers, for the faithful discharge of their duty. The neighboring churches, met together by their agents, examine the testimonials of the candidate, and the proceedings, which have been had in reference to his settlement; and do all other things, which are authorized and requisite on the occasion.

By means of this well digested and judicious plan, the churches secure their own rights; they effectually consult the wisdom and wishes of sister churches, as they are bound to do by one of their acknowledged principles; and at the same time they greatly promote the peace, order, and purity of the ministry. And such being both the principle and the long-established practice, it falls to each particular church, previous to the ordination of the person, whom it has elected, to send LETTERS MISSIVE to a select number of neighboring churches, inviting them to meet at a particular time and place by means of their pastors and delegates, in order to counsel and aid in that solemn proceeding.*

72. Reasons for calling the neigboring churches to the Council. The majority of the churches assembled are neighbor* See note at the bottom of the next page.

ing churches. It would indeed answer the mere letter of the great general principle, that Congregational churches are not INDEPENDENT, but are bound to hold communion with each other, if any Congregational churches whatever should be called in on such occasions. But it is altogether expedient, and desirable, and has ever been the practice, to select the major part of the Council from the churches in the near vicinity, and not to go to a distance.

The reason of this is obvious.-The churches, which are in near vicinity, are better acquainted with each other's situation and interests; they cherish reciprocally a deeper regard; and hence are generally more prepared to act in the important case of an Ordination with promptness, wisdom, and thorough investigation, than distant churches. In ordinary cases, therefore, (for some cases of peculiar difficulty may sometimes occur, forming

* The LETTER MISSIVE, which is sent on these occasions, is usually in some such form as this, and to the following purport:

The Church [or Congregational Church] in R-
To the Congregational Church in D-

Beloved Brethren;

Through the goodness of our blessed Savior, mitted to extend an invitation and call to Mr.

send Greeting.

we have been per

to settle with us

in the work of the Gospel Ministry. He has seen cause to accept our invitation. In accordance, therefore, with Congregational usage, we request, that you will meet in Council, by your Rev. Pastor and delegates, and advise and assist in the solemnities of his Ordination ; which is appointed to take place on the day of February next, &c.

Wishing you grace, mercy, and peace from God, the Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ, we remain your Brethren in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.

[The particular place and the hour of assembling, and the other churches sent to are made known in the Letter Missive.]

an exception,) it would be unwise to pass them over, and to call in strangers, even though they were governed by the same ecclesiastical principles, and bore the same name. Besides involving an abandonment of those advantages, which have been mentioned, it would be followed by the positive and serious evil of weakening the friendship and love of those, who are required by their situation frequently to meet, and to consult together on the interests of Zion.

§73. Of the admission of lay-members as delegates.

In the LETTERS MISSIVE the churches are commonly invited to attend by their Pastors and Delegates. If they accept of the invitation, the pastor is chosen of course, without any further vote. Nevertheless, the minister is as much a delegate or commissioner of his particular church as the lay-member, notwithstanding this peculiarity in the phraseology of the Letter Missive, and the difference in the mode of choice.

It was almost a matter of course, that the pastor should be particularly invited, or rather be requested to be sent as one of the representatives of the church; the Letter Missive takes it for granted that the church sent to, desires and chooses to be represented by its pastor; but it has always been the practice to invite the attendance of one or more lay members at the same time.

If the principles, already laid down, be correctly stated, then it follows, that the election of lay-members does not alter the nature of the Council, which is essentially representative; and would be so if there were none but ministers present. The practice, however, which prevails, of sending lay members, has ever been highly approved; although their presence may neither alter the nature, nor add to the ability of the assembled body. The practice at least affords an occasion to the lay-mem

bers of different churches to form an acquaintance with each other and with the pastors; it leads them to reflection and examination in respect to the principles of church union and government; and presents an opportunity for the exercise of their prudence and christian feelings. And besides, it was no doubt supposed by the framers of our church constitution, that the attendance of lay delegates at such times, would operate as a check on any tendencies to clerical domination, if such should exhibit themselves.

§ 74. Preparatory proceedings of the Council.

The members of the Council meet at the place appointed. Being called to order by some one of the more aged of their number, who reads the Letter Missive as the foundation of their proceedings, they are organized by the choice of a Moderator and a Scribe. After supplications at the throne of grace, they enter on the business, in respect to which they have been called together. There appears to be no fixed and invariable method in the proceedings of the Council, although the great objects and results are usually the same.

They inquire, however, as a matter of course, for all the papers, which concern the church standing and the proposed ordination of the candidate, viz. the Certificate of church membership, the License to preach, the Call by the church, the Answer to the same, &c. In reference to these papers, if they are found to be satisfactory, it is customary to take a formal vote, That the proceedings of the church and society, and the Answer of the candidate to the Call to settle, are according to Congregational Usage. And this is very proper, because, if there be no evidence of any kind of church membership, or of a License to preach, or of a Call to settle and an Answer to the same, Congregational Usage would render any further proceedings inadmissible. No Council would as

sume the responsibility of proceeding under such cir

cumstances.

§ 75. Further proceedings of the Council.

The Council are not expected by the church, that convenes them, nor would they be permitted by the duty they owe to the Savior, to limit themselves to the mere ascertainment of regularity in the forms of proceeding. Something more is incumbent on them. It is their duty to inquire, as far as may be necessary for their satisfaction, in respect to the literary and moral qualifications of the candidate ; particularly his theological knowledge, his personal religious experience, and the motives, which lead him to the undertaking of a work so arduous. It is incumbent on them likewise, to attend to any objections, which may be made to the candidate from any quarter. Whatever objections are to be proposed, ought evidently to be made during the preparatory deliberations of the Council; and not after proceeding to the religious exercises.

If every thing be found satisfactory, the Council vote to proceed to the Ordination, and this involves the assignment to individuals of the public religious performances, which are customary on these occasions; but it is not common, (and for obvious reasons,) to assign any parts to the lay-members.-The Charge, which from its nature seems to require the experience and the confirmed piety of age, is commonly assigned to the eldest minister on the Council; and the Right Hand of Fellowship to the youngest, or the one most recently settled in the near vicinity. But the practice in respect to both of these parts is sometimes varied from. The Ordination Ser

mon is generally pronounced by some individual, who has been previously designated to that duty by the church in connection with the candidate; the Council