Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754 v1

'Chap. IV. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 157 Thegeneral affembly declared their approbation of the difcipline of the Queen reformed churches of Geneva and Switzerland; and for a parity among Ehbbu`h' miniflers, in oppofition to the claim of the bifhops as a fuperior order. All church affairs were managed by provincial, ciafiical, and national affemblies ; but thefe aéts of the general affembly, not being confirmed by parliament, epifcopal government was not legally abolifhed, but tacitly fufpended till the king came of age. However, the general affembly (hewed their power of the keys at this time, by depofing the bifhop of Orkney for marrying the queen to Bothwel, who was fuppofed to have murdered the late king ; and by making the countefs of .e'rgyle do pe- nance for addling at the ceremony. C H A P. V. From thefeparation of the Proteftant Non- conformifis, to the death ofarchbilhóp PARKER. THOUGH all the puritans of thefe times, would have remained within the church, might they have been indulged in the habits and a few ceremonies, yet they were far from being fatisfied with the HIERARCHY. They had other objeftions befides thofe for which they were deprived, which they laboured inceffantly throughout the whole courfe of this reign to remove. I will fet them before the reader in one view, that he may form a compleat judgment of the whole contro- verfy. Firfl, They complained of the BISHOPS affet ing to be thought a fu- Objettiensof perior order to Prefbyters, and claiming the foie right of ordination, and the puritans, the ufe of the keys, or the foie exercife of ecclefiafìical difcipline. They hg°'. h"e difliked the temporal dignities and baronies annexed to their office, and the church. their engaging in fecular employments and trufts, as tending to exalt them too much above their brethren, and not fo agreeable to their charaéters MqS. p.174. as minUers of Grill, nor confident with the due difcharge of their fpi- ritual fun&tion. Secondly, They excepted to the titles and offices of archdeacons, deans, chapters, and other ocials belonging to cathedrals, as having no founda- tion in fcripture or primitive antiquity, but intrenching upon the privi- leges of the prefhyters of the feveral diocefes, Thirdy,

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