MINUTE BOOK OF THE WIRKSWORTH CLASSIS. 1 45 



and then to be affixed to the church doors, calling on the said 

 congregation to put in what exceptions they had against him. 



If no objection was raised on the day appointed for ordination 

 (which was to be performed in the church where the candidate was 

 to serve, " if it may be done with safety and convenience,") (a) a 

 solemn fast was to be kept by the congregation, {b) the Presbytery 

 (or at least five ministers of the Word) were to come to the place, 

 (c) a sermon to be preached by one of them on the office and duty 

 of a Minister, {d) the preacher to catechise the candidate before 

 the congregation on his faith, calling, diligence, etc., etc., (e) the 

 Presbytery {i.e. , the ministers and elders) to lay their hands on the 

 head of the candidate whilst a "short prayer or blessing," solemnly 

 setting him apart for the office and work of the ministry, was said, 

 and (/) finally, an exhortation was addressed to the new 

 minister and his congregation, concluding with a prayer, the 

 singing of a psalm, and a blessing. 



It was further ordered, that anyone who had been ordained 

 " according to the forme of Ordination which hath been held in 

 the Church of England," need not, if his testimonials were good, 

 be further ordained, but was to be tested in his preaching, and by 

 further examination, if necessary. 



Another paragraph provides that " Records be carefully kept by 

 the Register (or Scribe), to be nominated by the Presbytery, of 

 the names of the persons ordained, with their testimonials, etc., 

 etc., and of the charge to which they are appointed" — no money 

 or gift to be paid to the Presbytery except the fee to the Register 

 for the entry, Instrument and Testimonials of his Ordination, 

 which was not to exceed ten shillings. 



In forming a due estimate of the state of religious England 

 during the Great Rebellion, it is of no little importance to bear in 

 mind the very great care bestowed by the Presbyterians on their 

 candidates for ordination, the considerable learning that was 

 expected of them, and the laying on of hands by ministers (many 

 of them themselves episcopally ordained) in the rite itself. It was 

 this very question of ordination that drew to the Presbyterians so 

 large an amount of support from timorous Episcopalians, and 



