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A Concise History of the Ketocton Baptist Association (1808)
The Mode in practice among the Baptists of initiating their Ministers into sacred Office.
IT has been considered by the Baptists, that the preaching of the Gospel is the greatest work in this world, and that ministers have the highest office conferred on them of any others upon earth; therefore it requires due caution lest persons should be introduced into this work, of whom the Lord never required it.
Sometimes persons designed for public usefulness, have manifested it to their fellow members by a gift in prayer above usual, and in their lively exhortations to the church of God, and to others that might resort with them, and by their apparent knowledge of divine things, discovered in their conversation, accompanied with an upright walk and concern for the prosperity and success of the Gospel of Christ.
Sometimes, persons who have become eminent, have laid in obscurity for a considerable while, and gifts and qualifications unknown to the church to which they belonged; in this case, before the church can act upon it, the person signifies to his brethren that he is impressed in his own mind with a sense of the duty of exercising his gift in preaching the Gospel publicly. In either of the cases above stated, the church proceeds, in a church capacity, to call such members to the exercise of their gifts; but it has been thought advisable that it should be done under certain limitations, confining them within the bounds of the church and under the care, in the presence and hearing of the members, who are the proper judges of his public performances.
According as the young candidate improves and appears useful, he meets with encouragement, his limits are enlarged, and sometimes licensed, recommending him to favor and respect. When the church is fully satisfied with his gifts and qualifications for public preaching, the church form a council, and enquiry is made whether the young candidate answers the character and possesses those good qualities, at least in some good degree, as laid down in God's word; for such a person must be found in the faith -full confidence is placed by him in what the Bible reports, his mind being enlightened from above to understand the scriptures, and a knowledge of the connection of the various doctrines contained therein; that such an one is apt to teach; inclines to be engaged in opening and explaining the word of the Lord in his private conversation, and in his public ministry as much as possible, diffusing divine knowledge and administering grace to all that hear him; sober minded, not flighty and fickle, but firm and steady, persevering in the ways of God, without wavering. He is likewise to support a life of sobriety, not given to much wine, or subject to intoxication, but sober, just, temperate, holding forth the word of life; not self-willed, sensible of his own weakness, and that he may possibly err: he therefore ought to be open to conviction, and to receive instruction; not a novice, not a person of a weak mind, for such are generally very conceited; not a person lately converted, for such have not had time to experience their own weakness and the force of temptation, it being a time of Christ's love to them, and their enjoying the rays of the sun of righteousness: were such put forward and encouraged, they might be puffed up and fall into sin, and of course into the condemnation of the Devil; for a proud preacher as much resembles a fallen angel as it is possible for a human creature to do; not soon angry, meet persecution with fortitude, and bear insult for the sake of the Gospel with a becoming patience, as a legacy assigned him; encounter opposition, when contending for the faith, with calmness and composure: he is by found words to convince gainsayers, words expressive of good sense, words consistent with and drawn from the word of God, and by well founded arguments and weighty reasoning, detect and confute those that oppose the truth; no striker, not tyrannical in governing, nor harsh in conversation, so as to wound the feelings of others, but gentle as a nurse in the family of Christ -nor use his bodily strength in wounding or hurting the bodies of men: One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection, (if he has any) guards their morals, prevents reveling and wantonness, and thereby fits himself the better to rule the church of God; faithful as the steward of God, (he being the vessel in which the rich treasure of Gospel truth is deposited) in dealing out the doctrines of the word of God, feeding Christ's servants and handmaidens on the fat things prepared in his holy mountain, in which he is to labor and use all diligence at all times and seasons, being willing to spend and be spent in the good cause. He is to take heed to himself and to the doctrine; guard well his conduct and manner of life, lest he should disgrace his high calling, his acquaintance and hearers lose confidence in him, and be disgusted at his conduct, by which he may be (in his ministerial character) a castaway; he is to preach the truth in its purity and simplicity, without partiality or respect of persons, aiming to shun everything erroneous or absurd, and well support what is advanced with a thus saith the Lord; of good report among those that are without; that he supports an honest character among those that are not members of the church, and that they are led to believe that he goes forth to preach from good motives, and with an aim to be useful.
Although all the rare qualifications may not be possessed in an eminent degree by all that are sent to labor in Christ's vineyard, yet where they do not possess them in some moderate degree, it follows it will disqualify them for the discharge of the important duties enjoined on a Gospel minister. Should such unqualified persons be set forward, they will prove a dead weight on the church, and be a preventative to their being better supplied; and it has appeared among us in this association, (especially to those of better discernment) where a person lacks those talents so essentially necessary to the Gospel ministry, and his judgment so weak that he is not able to teach ethers, that the church under his care and her several members will remain in a state of childhood, or continue to be dwarfs.
After due enquiry being made, and finding the person proposed for the work of the ministry possesses in some good degree these necessary qualifications, the conclusion is, that such an one be set apart for the work of the ministry, in the way and manner following:
A day is appointed by the church for his solemn ordination. Some neighboring ministers of the same community are requested to attend in conjunction with, and aid to the church. The proposed person for ordination being informed of the intention of the meeting, and his attendance requested. The church, the ministers and the candidate being met at the place and time appointed, the church signifies to the ministers present their call of a certain individual member of their body to the work of the ministry, and that they are satisfied with his gifts, his knowledge of divine truth, and the goodness of his moral conduct, of which they have satisfactory trial, and that in their judgment such an one promises public usefulness, and as such they desire the ministers, according to divine precedent and primitive example, to set him apart or appoint him to the work to which he hath been called.
The ministers then proceed in concurrence with the church, first, to enquire of the young preacher respecting a work of grace in his soul, and what evidence he enjoys of his new birth, and whether he ever exercised faith in the Son of God, embracing the Saviour as his all in all; looking to Him as his righteousness and strength, and the only foundation on which his hopes rest for eternal life. If satisfaction be given respecting an internal change, they proceed in asking questions concerning some doctrinal points, such as the being of the one living and true God -of His existence and perfections -of the Holy Trinity -of the incarnation of God's dear Son, and the great work of salvation accomplished by His mediation -of particular election and particular redemption -of the fallen and degenerate state of Adam's progeny -of effectual calling by unfrusterable grace -justification by imputed righteousness -protection of the saints and their certain perseverance in grace, their everlasting rest in ultimate glory, and the entire ruin of the wicked in everlasting destruction.
Proof being given of the soundness of his faith and his knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel, the next enquiry is made into the motives that induced him to enter into the work of the ministry; whether a deep sense is impressed on his mind that it is a duty enjoined on him to preach the Gospel and that disquietude and guilt would lie on his conscience was he to decline the work; whether he has well considered the importance of declaring the whole council of God; whether he is sensible of his own weakness and the need of an Almighty arm to support and bear him up; whether he has counted the cost; whether he is willing to meet insult and persecution, withstand temptations, lay aside the world and self-interesting views, and yield up body, soul, time and talents, and count the office of a Bishop a goodly work under every circumstance, be it ever so trying.
The answer to the above questions being satisfactorily given, the subject for ordination kneels down and the ministers impose their hands on his head, expressing words something like the following:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus, we lay hands on thee our Brother, whereby thou art openly declared and appointed a minister of Jesus Christ, vested with full authority to preach the Gospel, administer the ordinances thereof, to walk in and comply with every duty Christ hath enjoined on His servants or ministers of His word."
They then withdraw their hands, prayer being made before hands were laid. Often when hands are withdrawn, prayer is again made, after which the right hand of fellowship is given to the newly ordained person, by the ministers present, and he welcomed into the Lord's vineyard, rejoicing that one more is brought into the help of the Lord against the mighty. They then, according to custom, in few words, give him his charge:
"Brother -It is an important work you are called unto -try to magnify your office -you are entrusted with the gospel; give attendance to reading and close study of the holy scriptures; be instant in preaching the word, whenever opportunity offers; feed, take care of, and nourish Christ's sheep and lambs, for they are precious in His sight; labor in birth for souls, it is the laborer that will meet with a recommendation; in your public preaching, give each of your hearers their portion in due season, as a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; steadily look to the chief shepherd for increase of strength, for warmth of heart, and that He may give you high and sublime ideas in great variety, making your mind a treasury to contain useful knowledge, out of which things may be brought forth, both new and old: -It is a great, a good and profitable thing to be an able Minister of the New Testament, and may you be made as a polished shaft in God's quiver, and the fruits of your labor be in abundance, that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive a crown of life, and shine as the stars for ever and ever in the kingdom of our Father, and dwell in the light of God and the Lamb."
But some may be surprised, that among the many qualifications necessary for a Gospel Minister, that that of a liberal education and acquaintance with the original languages is not included; school learning is highly esteemed among the Baptists, and those who have been called to, and exercised public offices, have very sensibly felt the inconvenience they had to labor under for want of it; but it is not considered essentially necessary -and that without a person cannot be a Gospel Minister. Where the author of nature has endowed a person with strong intellects, and formed the mind with a superior capacity, capable of taking in high and sublime ideas, of digesting mysterious and intricate subjects, and of acquiring great things; in addition to nature the God of Grace has renewed him in the spirit of his mind, and drawn the divine image on his heart, and given him to know God and His dear Son, whom to know is life eternal. In addition to all this, His gifts and talents are conspicuous, and shine with lustre -and give clear evidence that they were bestowed by Him who ascended on high and gave gifts unto men.
For a person of this description, forever to remain in silence, merely for the want of a school education, would be a pity: -It would be like a beautiful flower blooming in a desert, unnoticed but by few and enjoyed by none, sending forth its fragrant perfume, and godly favor, then fade, withers and die; so where distinguished talents are confined in obscurity and never make a public appearance, it proves a great and unspeakable loss to mankind.
Men of great learning, and able divines, candidly say that all their learning never helps them to one spiritual idea.
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