§ 104. ecclesiAkStical ordinances. 479
resemblance to the ancient Prophets as the Pastors to the Apostles. He himself had the prophetic gift of luminous and convincing teaching in a rare degree. . Theological Professors occupy the highest rank among Teachers.
3. The Ancients or Lay-Elders watch over the good conduct of the people. They must be God-fearing and wise men, without and above suspicion. Twelve were to be selected — two from the Little Council, four from the Council of the Sixty, and six from the Council of the Two Hundred. Each was to be assigned a special district of the city.
This is a very important office in the Presbyterian Churches. In the Institutes^ Calvin quotes in support of it the gifts of government.^ " From the beginning," he says,^ "• every Church has had its senate or council, composed of pious, grave, and holy men, who were invested with that jurisdiction in the correction of vices. . . . This office of government is necessary in every age." He makes a distinction between two classes of Elders, — Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders, — on the basis of 1 Tim. 5:17: "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of. double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching." ^ The exegetical foundation for such a distinction is weak, but the ruling Lay-Eldership has proved a very useful institution and great help to the teaching ministry.
4. The Deacons have the care of the poor and the sick, and of the hospitals. They must prevent mendicancy which is contrary to good order.^ Two classes of Deacons are dis-
^ Kv&epvflceLs, 1 Cor. 12:28; comp. Rom. 12: 8.
2 Inst. IV. ch. III. § 8.
^ In his Commentary on the passage. Comp. Inst. IV. ch. III. § 8 : " Guhernatores fuisse existimo seniores ex plebe delectos qui censurce morum et exercendcc disciplince una cum episcopis prceessent." The distinction was first made by Calvin and followed by many Presbyterian and some Lutheran divines, but it is denied by some of the best modern exegetes. Paul requires all presbyters to be apt to teach, 1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 2 : 2 ; 2 : 24. See Schaff's History of the Apostolic Church, p. 529 sq.
* Acts 0:1-3; Phil. 1 : 1 ; 1 Tim. 3 : 8 sqq. ; 5 : 9, 10.
480 THE REFORMATION IN FRENCH SWITZERLAND.
tinguished, those who administer alms, and those who devote themselves to the poor and sick.^
5. Baptism is" to be performed in the Church, and only by ministers and their assistants. The names of the children and their parents must be entered in the Church registers.
6. The Lord's Supper is to be administered every month in one of the Churches, and at Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas. The elements must be distributed reverently by the ministers and deacons. None is to be admitted before having been instructed in the catechism and made a profession of his faith.
The remainder of the Ordinances contains regulations about marriage, burial, the visitation of the sick, and prisons.
The Ministers and Ancients are to meet once a week on Thursday, to discuss together the state of the Church and to exercise discipline. The object of discipline is to bring the sinner back to the Lord.^
The Ecclesiastical Ordinances of 1541 were revised and enlarged by Calvin, and adopted by the Little and Large Councils, Nov. 13, 1561. This edition contains also the oaths of allegiance of the Ministers, Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Deacons, and the members of the Consistory, and fuller directions concerning the administration of the sacraments, marriage, the visitation of the sick and prisoners, the election of members of the Consistory, and excommunication.^
A new revision of the Ordinances was made and adopted by the General Council, June 3, 1576.
§ 105. The Venerable Company and the Consistory.
The Church of Geneva consisted of all baptized and professing Christians subject to discipline. It had, at the time of Calvin, a uniform creed; Romanists and sectarians
1 Comp. the Inst. IV. ch. III. 9.
2 " Les corrections ne soient sinon medicines pour reduyre les pecheurs a nostre Seigneur." ^ Opera, X. Pars I. 01-124.