bytery, or by a committee appointed for that purpose, as may appear most expedient: and the following order fhall be obferved therein,

Sect. V. A day fhall be appointed for the Notice of the inftalment, at fuch time as may Day must be gi- appear most convenient, and due notice thereof given to the con

ven.

gregation.

&c.

Sect. VI. When the presbytery, or commitA Sermon fhall tee, fhall be convened and conftibe delivered, tuted, on the day appointed, a fermon fhall be delivered, by fome one of the members previously appointed thereto; immediately after which, the bishop who is to prefide, fhall ftate to the congregation the defign of their meeting, and briefly recite the proceedings of the presbytery relative thereto. And then, addreffing himself to the minifter to be inftalled, fhall propofe to him the following or fimilar questions:

1. Are you now willing to take the charge Instalment con- of this congregation, as their paffifts in mutual Engagements of tor, agreeably to your declaration at excepting their call?

Minister and

People.

2. Do you confcientioufly believe and declare, as far as you know your own heart, that in taking upon you this charge, you, are influenced by

a fincere defire to promote the glory of God, and the good of his church?

3. Do you folemnly promife, that, by the affiftance of the grace of God, you will endeavour faithfully to discharge all the duties of a paftor to this congregation; and will be careful to maintain a deportment, in all refpects becoming a minister of the gospel of Chrift, agreeably to your ordination engagements? To all these having received fatisfactory answers, he shall propofe to the people the fame or like questions, as thofe directed under the head of ordination; which having been alfo fatisfactorily answered, by holding up the right hand, in testimony of affent, he shall folemnly pronounce and declare the faid minifter to be regularly conftituted the paftor of that congregation. A charge fhall then be given to both parties, as directed in the affair of ordination; and, after prayer, and finging a pfalm adapted to the tranfaction, the con gregation fhall be difmiffed with the ufual benediction.

of Families fhall

Sect. VH. It is highly becoming, that, af Elders and Heads ter the folemnity of the inftalment, the heads of families of give their right Handto their Mi- that congregation who are then prefent, or at least the elders, and thofe appointed to take care of the temporal concerns of that church, fhould come forward to their pastor, and give him their right hand,

nifter.

in token of cordial reception and affectionate regard.

CHA P. XVI.

Of resigning a pastoral Charge.

Sect. I.

The Congregation must be cit

ted and heard.

W

HEN any minifter fhall la bour under fuch grievances in his congregation, as that he shall defire leave to` refign his paftoral charge, the presbytery fhall cite the congregation to appear, by their coinmiffioners, at their next meeting, to fhew cause, if any they have, why the presbytery should not accept the refignation. If the congregation fail to appear, or if their reafons for retaining their paftor be deemed by the presbytery infuffici ent, he shall have leave granted to refign his paftoral charge; of which due record fhall be made, and that church fhall be held to be vacant, till fupplied again, in an orderly manner, with another minifter: And if any congregation fhall defire to be released from their paftor, a fimilar procefs, mutatis mutandis, fhall be obferved.

WHE

CHAP. XVII.

Of Missions.

HEN vacancies become fo numerous in any presbytery, that they cannot be fupplied with the frequent administration of the word and ordinances, it fhall be proper for fuch presbytery, or any vacant congregation within their bounds, with the leave of the presbytery, to apply to any other presbytery, or to any fynod, or to the general affembly, for fuch affiftance as they can afford. And, when any presbytery fhall fend any of their ministers or probationers to diftant vacancies, the miffionary fhall be ready to produce his credentials to the presbytery or presbyteries, through the bounds of which he may pass, or at least to a committee thereof, and obtain their approbati. on. And the general affembly may, of their own knowledge, fend miffions to any part to plant churches, or to fupply vacancies: And, for this purpose, may direct any presbytery to ordain evangelists, or minifters without relation to particular churches: Provided always, that fuch missions be made with the confent of the parties appointed; and that the judicatory sending them make the neceffary provifion for their fupport and reward in the performance of this service.

Sect: I.

СНАР. XVIII.

Of Moderators.

IT

T is equally neceffary in the judicatories of the church, as in other

A Moderator affemblies, that there should be a moneceflary. derator or prefident; that the business

may be conducted with order and dispatch. Sect. II. The moderator is to be confidered as poffeffing, by delegation from the whole body, all authority neces

The Authority and Duty of the Moderator.

fary for the preservation of order; for convening and adjourning the judicatory; and directing its operations according to the rules of the church. He is to propose to the judicatory every fubject of deliberation that comes be fore them. He may propose what appears to him the most regular and speedy way of bringing any bufinefs to iffue. He shall prevent the members from interrupting each other; and require them, in fpeaking, always to address the chair. He fhall prevent a fpeaker from deviating from the fubject; and from ufing perfonal reflections. He fhall filence those who refufe to obey order. He shall prevent members who attempt to leave the judicatory without leave obtained from him. He hall, at a proper feafon, when the delibera.