Complete Works of Rev Thomas Smyth, D D

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: RULES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Preamble. Necessity for these Rules. Although this Church adopt the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government, and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, as the rule of their faith and practice, yet inasmuch as there...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: RULES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Preamble. Necessity for these Rules. Although this Church adopt the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government, and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, as the rule of their faith and practice, yet inasmuch as there are several matters in the mode of government and discipline, left there undetermined, by which a variety of practice is introduced into the churches, under the care of the General Assembly, the following additional rules are adopted. RULE I. Elders. The Elders of the Church shall be elected by the male members, and shall be ordained with the imposition of hands, in the presence of the congregation. RULE II. Elders. All such elections shall be decided by a majority of two- thirds of the members present, who shall have two weeks notice of the nomination of candidates for that office; which nomination shall be made by the Session then in office. RULE III. Admission to the Church. No person shall be admitted a member of this church who does not, on examination by the Pastor, or officiating minister, gives satisfactory evidence of a renewal of heart, and of faith and repentance towards God. RULE IV. Admission to the Church. All applications for admission to church membership, shall be made to the Session, through the Pastor. And notice ofsuch intended application shall be given as long as possible before some regular meeting of the Session. RULE V. Admission to the Church. The Session shall examine every candidate prior to admission. RULE VI. Public Profession. All who may be admitted to membership, shall make a public profession of their faith, and enter into solemn covenant with Almighty God, in the presence of the congregation, ..