udging thereof by the rules laid
down in the word; and according to these rules, they that are found
qualified and called, are to be admitted to the ministry by them who are
already invested with it. The charge is given to the office-bearers of
the church, to commit that ministry which they have received "to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also," 2 Tim. ii. 2;
Tit. i. 5. And for their direction in this matter, the qualifications
necessary, both as to character and abilities, are laid down in the
Word, particularly in 1 Tim. iii.; of these qualifications they are
required to make an impartial and deliberate examination, so as to _lay
hands suddenly on no man_, 1 Tim. iv. 22, but to admit to the office of
the ministry those only, who, by this trial, they have reason to judge
are called and sent by Christ.

It is vain to distinguish here between a pastor of a congregation and an
itinerant preacher; as if the call of the church was necessary only to
the former and not to the latter. If by the call of the church is meant
only the choice and call of the people, it is admitted, that this is
only necessary to fix a pastoral relation to that part of the flock; but
a regular admission to the work of the ministry, by the office-bearers
of the church, is equally necessary in the case of all that are employed
in it, whether they have a fixed charge or not. Timothy, who had no
fixed charge, and though pointed out by prophecy as designed for the
ministry, was ordained and admitted to it by the presbytery. And though
Paul and Barnabas had an extraordinary call, yet the prophets and
teachers of the church at Antioch are directed to separate and send them
out, according to the call of the Holy Ghost, to preach the gospel unto
the Gentiles, Acts xiii. A principal design of this seems to have been,
to set an example of procedure to the church in after times.

It appears, then, that the preaching of the gospel is an ordinance or
institution of Christ--that the ministry of that and other ordinances
belongs only to those office-bearers whom he hath appointed and
commissioned for that end--and that in ordinary cases, none can be
acknowledged as sent by him, but such as are admitted to the ministry in
the way above mentioned. These observations would have admitted a much
larger illustration; but as they are, they may assist an attentive
reader to consult his Bible for further satisfaction. It is necessary,
however, to take some