Chap. VI. 'Ihe HI ST 0 R Y of the PuR.IT.ANS. 189 It may feem abfurd to begin the reformation of the church, with an K. Charles I· ordinance appointing c!aflii:al presbyter> to ordain mininers within .their ~ feveral diflriels, when there was not as yet one c!a.ffical presbytery 1n all Power of or– England; but the urgency of affairs required it; the fcarci ty of miniil:ers dination gi– would not fuffer delay till the whole fabrick of preibytery was erected ; ~~n tbolthe • a.il ern y pro• therefore to fupply th1s defeCl: for the prefent, the whole buflnefs was tempore. intruned with the ajfembly, who voted December 24that a committee Vide App.. for examination of miniil:ers (hou!d fit every 'Tuefday and 'Thur.fday in the ~o Ill. P– afternoon at two of the clock, and the members of the affembly (hould at-ut. tend in their turns, as they £hall be nominated and appointed by the fcribe, according to the order of their names in the regifier book, five at a time, and each to attend a week. While the point of ordination was depending, committees were chofen <H d' . • • J. oe zvz!zt to prepare materials for a new form of difc1plme and church government; right of pma meafure of the greater confequence, becaufe the old form was diffolved, bytery. and no other as yet e!hbliilied in its room. Here the independents a- ~~~~1~PP· greed with the preibyteri~ns, · that there was a certain form of church go- Chapte~ of vernment laid do1vn in the new teftament, which was oj divine i1?[titution ; eh. govern– but when they came to the queil:ion, what that government was? and, ment. whether it was binding in all ages of the church? both the erafiians and in– dependents divided againil: them. The propofition was this, that the ftripture holds forth, that many particular congregations may, and by DIVINE INSTITUTION ought, tobeunderone presbyterial government. The debate lail:ed thirty days; the eraflians did not except againil: the preibye terial government as a political injlitution, proper to be eil:abliilied by the civil maginrate, but they were againil: the claim of a divine right. Upon this occafion &/ftrode Whitlock, Efq; one of the lay-commiilionen; il:ood up, and made the followingfpeech, Mr. Prolocutor. « I Mig~t bluili to fpeak in this reverend affembly, upon the q.ueil:ion Oijrllionr of " now m debate before you, had I not, by the honour of bemg one the eraftians. " of your n1embers, feen your candor to others, and obferved you to be Whit!. " moft capable to give fatisfaCl:ion to any fcruple here, and to enable fuch mem, P·· 95· " as I am, to fatisfy objeCl:ions abroad, whereof I have met with {ome· " your quefiion not being under fecrecy. • •• By government all men uru:lerfl:and the prudent and well ordering of " perfons and affairs, that men may live well and happiJy; and by the "government if the church, the ordering and ruling of perfons and mat– " ters having relation to the woriliip of God in fpiritual matters. ·~ The word .presbyter was in gveat honour among the Jews, being " g1vcn .to the members of their great fanhedrim, and therefore is no~ ~ " now
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