THE ORDINATION VOWS

OF THE

ASSOCIATE SYNOD OF NORTH

AMERICA;

OR, THE FORMULA OF QUESTIONS TO BE PUT TO MINISTERS AND ELDERS AT

THEIR ORDINATION.*

FOR MINISTERS AND ELDERS.

QUESTION I. Do you believe the SCRIPTURES of the OLD and New TESTAMENT to be the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice?

QUES. II. Do you believe and acknowledge the whole doctrine of the CONFESSION OF FAITH, and CATECHISMS, Larger and Shorter, agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, with Commissioners from the church of Scotland; as these are received in the DECLARATION and TESTIMONY, published in the year 1784, by the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, now the Associate Synod of North America, to be the doctrine taught in the

*This Formula was judicially approved at Philadelphia, November 4, 1784, by the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, now the Associate Synod of North America.

WORD of GOD; and are you resolved, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to maintain this, as the confession of your faith, against all contrary opinions?

QUES. III. Do you acknowledge PRESBYTERIAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT to be of divine institution, and appointed by Jesus Christ, the only King, Head, and Lawgiver of the church, to continue in it to the end of time; and do you adhere to the same, as stated in "The Form of Presbyterial Church Government and Ordination of Ministers," agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and testified for by us: and are you resolved, by the Lord's assistance, to maintain and defend the same against all contrary opinions?

QUES. IV. Do you adhere to the DECLARATION and TESTIMONY of the Associate Synod of North America, for the Doctrine and Order of the Church of Christ, and against the errors of the present time? And do you, in your judgment, disapprove the manifold errors and Latitudinarian schemes prevailing in these United States, which are condemned in that Declaration and Testimony, as contrary to the word of God, to the profession of the faith we make, and to the solemn engagements we in this church are under to continue in that profession?

QUES. V. Do you acknowledge the perpetual obligation of the SOLEMN COVENANT ENGAGEMENTS we in this church are under, as these have been explained in the Declaration and Testimony of the Associate Synod of North America; and are you resolved, through grace, to endeavor faithfulness nadhering to the Testimony maintained by the

Lord's witnesses for these reformation principles we profess-in contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and in attending to all these duties which the Lord in His word has enjoined upon us, and which we in this church are, by these our covenant engagements, bound to perform?

QUES. VI. Do you engage to submit yourself willingly and humbly, in the spirit of meekness, to the admonitions of this Presbytery,*-[of the Session of this congregation,+] remembering that while they act uprightly, they judge not for men, but for the Lord, who is also with them in the judgment; and do you promise that you will endeavor to maintain the spiritual unity and peace of this church, carefully avoiding every divisive course, neither yielding to those who have made defection from the truth, nor giving yourself up to a detestable neutrality and indifference in the cause of God, but that you will continue steadfast in the profession of the reformation principles maintained by us, and by our brethren of the Associate Synod in Scotland; and do nothing directly or indirectly to destroy our unity with them in the cause and work of God; and this you promise, through grace, notwithstanding any trouble or persecution you may be called to suffer, in studying a faithful discharge of your duty in these matters?

QUES. VII. Do you sincerely aim at having the glory of God, love to our Lord Jesus Christ, and zeal for the edification of His mystical body, for

*Since the erection of the Synod, they ordered the following words to be added after "Presbytery," "-"as subordinate to the Associate Synod of North America. †The words enclosed for Elders.

your great motives and chief inducements for entering into the office to which you are now to be set apart, and not any selfish views, or worldly designs or interest?

QUES. VIII. Are you conscious that you have used no undue methods in procuring your call to the office of the holy ministry* [in this congregation+] [to the office of eldership in this congregation?+]

QUES. IX. Do you engage, in the strength of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, to rule well your own family, [if it should please the Lord to give you one§] and to live a holy and circumspect life, following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness?

FOR MINISTERS.

QUES. X. Do you promise through grace to perform all the duties of a faithful minister of the gospel, in preaching it, not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the purity and simplicity thereof, not ceasing to declare the whole counsel of God; as also in catechising, exhorting from house to house, visiting the sick, and performing whatever other duties are incumbent on you from the word of God, as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, for the convincing and reclaiming of sinners, and for the edifying of the body of Christ?

QUES. XI.

FOR MINISTERS.

Do you accept of the call given you, to labor as a minister of the gospel in this

*For ministers ordained without a particular charge.
† For minsters ordained to a particular charge.
For elders.

§ The enclosed words to be used as there is occasion.

congregation; and engage that, through grace, you will endeavor to act in it as a wise and faithful servant of Jesus Christ-maintaining a tender regard to His flock, rightly dividing the word of truth, and watching for souls as one that must give an account?

FOR ELDERS.

Do you accept of the call given you to the office of eldership in this congregation, and do you engage, through grace, diligently and cheerfully to discharge all the parts of that office; in endeavoring to act with a single eye, and an upright heart in judging about the matters of God; and laboring, by all means competent to you in the office to which you are called, for the edifying of the body of Christ?

FOR MINISTERS AND ELDERS.

And all these things you promise and engage unto, through grace, as you will be answerable, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all His saints; and as you would desire to be found among that happy company at His glorious appearing?