104 The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. 11. K. Charles I. ed to ordain any who were not in the intereft of the crown : this gave ~ occafion to enquire into the antient right of prefbyters to ordain without a bijbop, which meeting with feme oppofnion, the committee propofed a temporary proviGon till the matter could be fettled, and offered 1hefe two queries. Firft, " Whether in extraordinary cafes, fomething extraordinary may " not be admitted, till a fettled order can be fixed, yet keeping as near to " the rule as poilible? Secondly, " Whether certain minifters of this city may not be appoint– " ed to ordain minifters in the city and neighbourhood, for a certain time, "jure fraternitatis ?" To the !aft of which, the independents entered their diffent, unlefs the ordination was attended with the previous eleCtion of fame church. New difficulties being continually ftarted, upon this and fame other heads, the Jcots commiilioners were out of all patience, and applied to the city mini– il:ers to petition the parliament to call for the advice of the t!lfi:mbly. The petition was prefented September 18. 1644. in which, having reminded the commons of their remorijlrance, wherein they declare, it was not their intention to let loofe the golden reins of difcipline ; and of their national _covenant, wherein they had engaged to the moll: high God, to fettle an Ru!hw. Vol. uniformity in the church; they add, " give us leave we befeech you, Y. p. 780, " in purfuance of our national covenant, to figh out our farrows qt the -« foot of this honourable fenate. Through many erroneous opinions, " ruinating fchifms, and damnable hereGes, unhappil y fomented in this '' city and country, the orthodox miniftry is neglected, the people are " feduced, congregations torn afunder, families diftraCl:ed, rights and " duties of relations, national, civil, and fpiritual, fcandalou!ly violated, " the power of godlinefs decayed, parliamentary authority undermined, " fearful confufions introduced, imminent de{huClion threatened, and in " part infliCted upon us lately in the weft. May it therefore pleafe your " wifdoms, as a fovereign remedy for the removal of our prefent miferies, '' and preventing their further progrefs, to expedite a directory for public " worfhip, to accelerate the eftablifhment of a pu re difcipline and govern– " ment, according to the word of G od, and the example of the bell: re– " formed churches, and to take away all obftruCl:ions that may impede Adviceoftbe" and retard our bumble de fires." Upon this the aifembly were ordered ajfembly. to fend up their humble advice upon this head; which was to the follow– ing effeCt, [September zz.] (viz.) that in this prefent exigency, while there were no prdbyteries, yet it being neceffary that minifters fh ould be 01·d~ined for the army and navy, and for the fervice of many defii– tute congregations, by feme who having been ordained themfelves, have power to join in the fetting apart of others: They advife, ( 1.) That
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=