Men with Exceptional Gifts (Article 8, Church Order)

My former writing on Article 8 was in part devoted to the stand taken by our Reformed fathers respecting the matter of the necessity of aspirants to the office preparing for their life's work. Their position was that all should prepare, but that persons with exceptional gifts might be freed from the obligation of pursuing the regular course of study at the school. This stand was appraised by me. My views on these matters are now known. To drive home a few points and to avoid being...