tion of what the very office of a Minifter implies. For the fake of propriety therefore, as well as uniformity, it is recommended to the Churches, for the future to adopt the following form of a call: viz,

To N. N..

Grace mercy and peace from GOD our FATHER, and JESUS CHRIST our LORD!

"WHEREAS the Church of Jesus Christ at

<< Son.

is at prefent destitute of the stated preach"ing of the word, and the regular adminiftration "of the ordinances, and is defirous of obtaining the "means of grace, which God hath appointed for "the falvation of finners, through Jefus Chrift his AND WHEREAS the faid Church is "well fatisfied of the piety, gifts and ministerial "qualifications of you N. N. and hath good hope "that your labours in the Gofpel will be attended "with a bleffing. Therefore, we [the file and title "" of the faid Church,] have resolved to call, and we "hereby folemnly, and in the fear of the Lord, do "call you the faid N. N. to be our paftor and "teacher, to preach the word in truth and faithful"nefs, to adminifter the holy facraments agreeably "to the inftitution of Chrift, to maintain Christian "difcipline, to edify the congregation and especially "the youth by catechetical inftructions, and, as a faithful fervant of Jefus Chrift, to fulfill the whole

work of the Gospel Miniftry, agreeably to the "word of God, and the excellent rules and confti❝tution of our reformed Dutch Church, established "in the last national Synod held at Dordrecht, and ❝ratified and explained by the ecclefiaftical judica6.6 tory, under which we ftand, and to which you, "apon accepting this call, muft with us remain fu"bordinate.

"In fulfilling the ordinary duties of your Mini"ftry, it is exprefsly ftipulated, that befides preaching upon fuch texts of fcripture, as you may judge proper to felect for our inftruction, you also ex"plain a portion of the Heidelbergh Catechifm on "the Lord's days, agreeably to the established order "of the reformed Dutch Church, and that you far• ❝ther conform in rendering all that public fervice, "which is ufual, and has been in conftant practice "in our congregation; the particular fervice which will be required of you, is [here infert a detail of "fuch particulars, if any there be, which the fitua tion of the congregation may render neceffary; efpe"cially in cafe of combinations, when the service required in the respective congrations, must be afcertained; or when the Dutch and English lan"guage are both requifite, the proportion of each may be mentioned, or left difcretionary as may be "judged proper.]

"To encourage you in the difcharge of the duties of your important office; we promife you in the

"name of this Church, all proper attention, love and "obedience in the Lord; and to free you from "worldly cares and avocations, while you are dif"penfing fpiritual bleffings to us; we the [Elders "and Deacons, &c. the file and title of the Church.] "do promife and oblige ourselves to pay to you the “ sum of —, in payments, yearly and every "year as long as you continue the minifter of this "Church, together with (Such particulars as may "refer to a parfonage or other emoluments.) for the "performance of all which, we hereby bind our"felves, and our fucceffors firmly by thefe prefents. "The Lord incline your heart to a chearful accep"tance of this call, and fend you to us in the fuinefa "of the bleffing of the Gospel of peace! done in "confiftory and fubfcribed with our names this

Attefted by N, N. Moderator of the call.

ART. XXXVII.

Confiftories which have hitherto combined with one or more neighbouring confiftories, in making calls and having a Minister to ferve in common, may not at pleasure break fuch combination; but whenever their fituation and circumftances render them capable of feverally calling a Minister; a reprefention thereof must be made to the claffis, and leave

be first requested and obtained, before their former connections can be diffolved.

II.

GLASS I S.

ART. XXXVIII.

THE reformed Dutch Church holds the middle ftation, between two extremes. On the one hand, the denies all fuperiority of one Minister of Chrift over another, and on the other, confiders independent, unconnected congregations as unsafe and inconvenient. In order therefore, to unite both council and energy, for the promotion of the spiritual interefts of the Church, confiftent with the liberty and dignity of the Gospel difpenfation; her government is administered by claffes, and Synods. A claffis confifts (Art. 41. Church orders) of all the Minifters, with each an Elder, and one Elder from every vacant congregation, within a particular diftrict. In this affembly, an immediate reprefentation of all the Churches within thofe limits is formed; and a power of regulating the common measures for promoting religion, preventing error, and preferv. ing peace within fuch diftrict is lodged. To con

ftitute a claffis are required at last three ministers, and three Elders.

ART. XXXIX.

Claffes are invefted with the power of approving or dilapproving calls, and of ordaining or deposing Minifters,or difmiffing them when called elsewhere. They have cognizance of whatever refpects the welfare of their particular Churches, for the managment of which the confiftories may be incompetent. To the claffes alfo appertain, the receiving and determining all appeals from confiftorial adjudications; as well as all cafes, refpecting either Minifters or people which may arife within their jurifdiction, and are regularly brought before them. The forming new congregations, and determining the boun daries, when contefted between congregations already formed; the continuing combinations, or the diffolution or change of the fame, as may be requested by the people, or be judged necessary among the refpective congregations.

Among the proper powers of claffes, that of examining Students of Theology for their becoming candidates for the Ministry, and of candidates, for their becoming Minifters, is very important; and must always be attended to with great prudence, zeal, and fidelity. This power (which for certain Teafons,) has hitherto been exercifed only by the