Whereas it is indispensably required, that the honour of God and the Salvation of men be promoted to the best of our abilities, and for this end religious meetings ought to be instituted and encouraged by the pure preaching of the word of God, the lawful administration of the Sacraments, the publick invocation of the name of the Lord, and what fui'ther is belonging to the dutiful worship ; and whereas the Situation of Esopus in New-Netherland requires, that a duly qualified person, be sent thither as a lawfully ordained Minister, who can execute there the ministerial functions in every particular part in conformity to the churcli Government and the word of God, and in unison with tlie laudable usages of the Reformed Churches in this country and who is able to maintain and defend these, Therefore, We, the Ministers of the word of God and Elders of the congregations of Christ, belonging to the Classis of Amsterdam, after the invocation of the name of God, and in his fear, with the approbation of the noble Directors of the West India Company, after a faithful examination in the principal doctrines of the Christian Reformed Church -- and after having received satisfactory evidence of the pious life and requisite talents for the ministry of the Gospel, and after he signed the Netherlands Confession, the Christian Catechism and canons of the National Synod, have ordained the Reverend pious prudent and learned Minister Hermmms Blom witli the Solemn imposition of hands, to preach tliere, both on Water and on the Land and in all the neighbourhood, but principally in Esopus^ the Holy and only Saving doctrine of the word of God, in its purity, to administer the Sacraments agreeably to Christ's institution, with propriety to give an example to liis congregation of publick prayers, to keep them with the aid of his consistory in a good discipl'ne and order, all in conformity to the word of God and Vof 'II. 61