Part M. Reverend 1Vlr- Richard Baxter. Articles, accordinelq to the r3th of Queen Elizabeth, and the common Subfcrip- tion, approving the Do trine of the Homilies, and this following Declacation againit Rebellion, and Sedition. I, A. B. do hold that it is not Lawful for His Majefty's Subjeas upon any Pretence whatfoever to take Arms againit the Sing, his Perfon, or Authority,' or againft any Authorized by his Legal Commillion : And that there ly- eth no Obligationon me, or any other of his Subje&s, from the Oath com- monly called, the folemn League and Covenant , to endeaveavour any Change of the prefent Governmentof thefe his Majefty's Kingdoms ; nor to endeavour any Reformation of Church or State, by Rebellion, Sedition, orany other un- lawful means. Il. Becanfe the Churches are all fuppofed to have Incumbents, and the pre- feat Non-conformifts being devoted to the facred Miniltry, do hohi it high Sa- criledge to alienate themfelves therefrom ( to pats by their outward wants; ). till by Prefentations to vacant Churches they are better provided, let them have liberty to be School-mafters, or affiltants to Incumbents, or to Preach Le&nres in their Churches, fo it be by their, Confent , whether they be Le&ures already endowed with .(orne Maintenance, or fuch as the People are willing to maintain : And let not the Incumbents be difcouraged by the Bilhops from receiving them t And let fuck places, as, being convenient, are already pofrelled by them for God's Publick Worihip be continued to that ufe, as Chappels, till they can bethus received into Benefices or Le&ures. II1. Becaufe the Piety of Families muft keep up very muçït of the Interelt of Religion in the World, and Multitudes (efpecially in the Country) that can- not read, can do littleor nothing of it in their ownFamilies, and may be great- ly helped by joyning with their more underftanding, pious Neighbours ; let it not be forbidden to any who attend the publick Affemblies at anyother hours, to join with their Neighbours (being of the fame Parifh) who read the Holy Scriptures and Licenfed pious Books, and repeat the publickSermons, andPray, and Praife God by tinging Pfalms, and refute not the Infpe&ion of their law- ful Paftors herein : Nor let itnotbe unlawful for any ftablilhed Minifter to re- ceive his People in fuch Work, or for the Catechifing, and perfonal initru&ing of filch as shall define it. IV. Concerning the Liturgy and publick Communion. i. Let no Man be ptmilbed foromitting the ufe of the Liturgy, if in the Congregation where he is incumbent the greatelt part of it appointed for that time be fometimes (as once a quarter, or half aYear, as the Canon requireth) ufed by himfelf, and every Lord's Day ordinarily (unlefs when ficknefs or other Neceflity hindreth) either by himfelf, or by his Curate or Affiftant : And let none be forced to read theApocrypha publickly for Lellóns. 2. Let no nteer Le&arer be forced to read the the Liturgy himfelf, or to procure another to read it, feeing it is the Incumbent's Charge, and it is fuppofed it will be done. Or if this may not be granted, let the Letterer be only obliged once half a Year, (which is the time limited in the Canon) to read the Greateft part of it appointed for that time. 3. Let not Chriftian Parents he forbidden to dedicate their Children pub- lickly to God, by entering them into the Chriftian Covenant, profeffing, and undertaking on their Behalf, that whichbelongeth to Parents in that Cafe. And let not the Parents be forced to get fuch Godfathers, and Godmothers, as are Atheifts, Infidels, Hereticks, or grolly ignorant what Baptifin and Chrifti- 'anity is, or as, for their wicked Livesare themfelves juftly kept from the Com munion, nor fuels as theyknow have no intention to do what they are to under- take. And ifany Chriftian Parent can get no better to undertake that Office (many now fcrupling it, and none can beforced to it,) let not his Child be de- niedBaptifm, if he be ready to do the Office of a Parent himfelf. 4. Seeing force Minifters think that the ufe of the tranfient Image of the Crofs, as a Sacramental, or dedicating Sign,' In' the Baptifmäl Covenant, and a, Symbol'
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