To the first, concerning the making known of Mr. H. opinions to the Classis from his own hand writing. Here I must take leave to enquire 2 or 3 things of the Answerer, after I have declared the course that is taken in the Classis with those that are to be admitted into any Church that standeth under them, which is this.1 For trying the fitness of Ministers for any pastoral charge, in any Church combined with others, under a Classis, ⟨p. 69⟩the Classis, under which it is, requireth of them, that are to be admitted, Subscription to the Catechism, and to the Belgic confession of faith, and to the determination of the Synod of Dort, and to every point of doctrine in them, with a promise to teach and defend that doctrine, and that they will, neither publicly nor privately, directly, nor indirectly, either speak or wright any thing against the same, and that they will reject, oppugn, resist and drive from the Church, as much as in them lieth, all errors that fight against the same, &, by name, those that are condemned, in the same Synod. And, if it happen that they fall into any doubt or opinion contrary to the former doctrine, they promise, that they will not propose, defend, preach, or wright the same, privately, nor secretly, before they have declared the same to the Consistory, Classis, or Synod, and subjected it to examination, being ready willingly to submit them selves to their judgement, under the penalty of being suspended from their ministry, if they do otherwise. And, if the Consistory or Synod, upon great cause of suspicion, for conservation of the purity of doctrine, and concord, shall exact of them a declaration of their opinion concerning any point of the Confession, Catechism, or Synodical explication, they do promise, under the same penalty, to be ready thereunto, reserving to themselves the right of appealing, if they think themselves injured. And they promise, by all means, to defend the Canons of the National Synod, at Dort. Anno 1619.
To the first, concerning the making knowne of Mr. H. opinions to the Classis from his owne hand wrighting. Here I must take leave to enquire 2 or 3 things of the Answerer, after I haue declared the course that is taken in the Classis with those that are to be admitted into any Church that standeth under them, which is this.1 For trying the fitnes of Ministers for any pastorall charge, in any Church combined with others, under a Classis, ⟨p. 69⟩the Classis, under which it is, requireth of them, that are to be admitted, Subscription to the Catechisme, and to the Belgicke confession of fayth, and to the determination of the Synod of Dort, and to every point of doctrine in them, with a promise to teach and defend that doctrine, and that they will, neither publickly nor privately, directly, nor indirectly, either speake or wright any thing against the same, and that they will reject, oppugne, resist and drive from the Church, as much as in them lyeth, all errours that fight against the same, &, by name, those that are condemned, in the same Synod. And, if it happen that they fall into any doubt or opinion contrary to the former doctrine, they promise, that they will not propose, defend, preach, or wright the same, privately, nor secretly, before they haue declared the same to the Consistory, Classis, or Synod, and subjected it to examination, being ready willingly to submit them selves to theyr judgement, under the paenalty of being suspended from theyre ministry, if they doe otherwise. And, if the Consistory or Synod, upon great cause of suspition, for conservation of the purity of doctrine, and concord, shall exact of them a declaration of theyr opinion concerning any point of the Confession, Catechisme, or Synodicall explication, they doe promise, under the same paenalty, to be ready thereunto, reserving to themselves the right of appealing, if they thinck themselves injuryed. And they promise, by all meanes, to defend the Canons of the Nationall Synod, at Dort. Anno 1619.
- 1What the Classis requireth of ministers to be admitted by them.
