Chap. IX. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 703 CunE1a prius tentanda, fed immedicable 'minus K. Charles I. Enfe recidendum eft, ne parsfincera trahatur, 1641. The reading this bill was very much oppofed, becaufe it was brought in contrary to the ufage of parliament, without first asking leave; however, it was once read and then adjourned for almoll two months ; a little before the kingwent to Scotland it was carried by a majority of thir- ty one voices to read it a fecond time and commit it to a committee of the whole houle, of which Mr. Hyde [lord Clarendon] was chairman, who made ufe of fo much art and induftry to embarrais the affair, that after twenty days the bill was dropt. Sir Edward Deering's fpeech in the committee will give light into His fpeech in< the fentiments of the puritans of thefe times; " The ambition of fome the cammit- " prelates (lays he) will not let them fee how inconfiftent two contra_ ref. " ry funftions are in one and the fame perfon, and therefore there is 29 5 295. &c. " left neither root nor branchof that fo good and neceffary a bill which p 9 " was lately Pent up, and confequently no hope of fisch a reformation " ° as we all aim at ; what hopes then can we have, that this bill, which " ¡hikes at root and branch, both of their feats of j sftice, and of their " epilcopal chairs in the church will pats as it is, and without a tender " of fome other government in lieu of this, fince the voices are ftill " the fame which threw out your former bill --." Sir Edward there- fore propofed another form of government, if the houle (hould think, fit to abolifh the prefent, which was in a manner the fame with arch. bifhop lifter's hereafter mentioned, As, firft, That every (hire (hould. " be a diftinft diocefe or church. Secondly, That in every (hire or " church twelve or more able divines should be appointed, in the Da- " ture of an old primitive confiant prefbytery. Thirdly, That over " every prefbytery there fhould be a prefident, let him be called bop,, or overfeer, or moderator, orfuperintendent, or by what other name- " you pleafe, provided there be one in every (hire, for the government " and direftion of the prefbytery, in the nature of the fpeaker in the " houle of commons, or chairman of a committee." Accordingly it was refolved, yuly so. " flat ecclefsa/lical powerfor the government of the church be exercifed by cometloners." July 3 i. refolved, " That " the membersfor every county bring in the names ofnine perfons ta be ea- " clea/lical commykners, on whom the power of church government fiat' " be devolved ; but that no clergyman be ofthe comm /òn."' This was de figned as a temporary provifion, and thews that the puritans- of there: times did not intend the prefbyterian government, but only a reduftion< ofepifcopacy to, what they apprehended a more primitive ftandard.;., and=
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