An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament After Advice had with the (Westminster) Assembly of Divines, for the Ordination of Ministers pro Tempore, according to the Directory for Ordination, and Rules for Examination, therein expressed

Because many congregations were "destitute of able and faithful ministers" this ordinance was implemented "until a Government of the Church be formed up to the full power and work of it, and the whole course of ordination of ministers in an ordinary way be set up and settled for all the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland" (p.3).

Interestingly, among the prerequisites to ordination we find that each candidate was to "bring with him a testimonial of his taking of the Covenant of the three Kingdoms (i.e. the Solemn League and Covenant--RB)." Clearly then, no one could be a lawfully ordained minister in any of these three national Presbyterian Churches without swearing the Solemn League and Covenant -- and this being in accord with Scripture, this prerequisite remains binding upon the moral person of the church.

This book lists other qualifications for ministers (prior to examination), along with the rules used during examination -- and includes many other useful points of order (1 Cor. 14:40). 15 pages.