Chap. IV. "Ihe HISTORY of the PuRil'ANS. 99 " the form of government in the primitive church, before the numbers K. Charles r. cc of chriflians in any city were multiplied fo far as to divide into many 1~ " congregations, which 'tis dubious, whether it was the faCt in the apoI.../ ' " files times. " Not that they claim an entire independency with regard to other " churches, for they agree that in all cafes of offence, the offending cc church is to fubmit to an open examination, by other neighbouring cc churches, and on their perfifling in their error or mifcarriage, they " then are to renounce all chriftian communion with them, till they re- lb. p. xS. " pent, which is all the authority or eccleGaftical power that one church " may exercife over another, unlefs they call in the civil magiftrate, for " which they find no authority in fcripture. " Their method of public worlhip in Holla11d was the fame with other '' proteftants; they read the fcriptures of the old and new teftament in their " aifemblies, and expounded them on proper occa!ions; they offered up ''public and folemn prayers, for kings, and all in authority; and though " they did not approve of a prefcribed form, they admitted that pub– " lie prayer in their aifemblies ought to be framed by the meditation and " ftudy of their minifters, as well as their fermons; the word of God was "conftantly preached; the two facraments of baptifm to infants, and the " Lord's fupper were frequently adminiftered; to which was added, fing. " ing pfalms, and a colleCtion for the poor every Lord's day. " They profefs their agreement in doCtrine with the articles of the ~· church of England, and othev reformed churches. " Their officers and public rulers in the church, were paftors, teach– cc ers, ruling elders (not lay but ecclefiaftical perfons, feparated to that fer– '' vice) and deacons. "They pract:ifed no church cenfures but admonition and excommuni– « cation upon obftinate and impenitent offenders; which latter they " apprehended lhoulcl not be pronounced but for crimes of the laft im– " portanco:, and which rnay be rea.fonably fuppofed to be committed con– " trary to the light and conviCtion of the pedon's conference. "In condufion they call God and man to witnefS, that out of a re-p. 24, 25, cc gard to the public peace they had forbore to publj(h their peculiar opi- 27. " nions, either from the pulpit or prefs, or to improve the prefent difpo- " fition of the people to the increafeof their party; norlhpuld they have pub- ,, lilhed that apoiogy to the world, had not their filence been interpreted as "an acknowledgment ofthofe reproaches and calumniesthat have been cafl: er upon them by their adverfaries; but lhould have waited for a fi·e( and o- " pen debate of their fentiments in the prefent aifembly of divines, though er they are fenfible they (hall have the difadvantage with regard to num- " bers, learning, and the ftream of public intereft; however they are de0 2 " termined
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