202 The HISTORY of the PuRITANS~ VoL. U. K. Charles I. cc precedent. This bufinefs therefore they conceive may be better ma– ~ " naged by a!Jembiies if miniflers and ruling elders. · (4.) "That the ordinance for ordinatio1t of miniflers may be perpe..: " tual. · (5.) "The manner of fubjeCling church-afTemblies to the controul " and decifion of parliament, being very liable to mifl:akes; the exemp– " tion likewife of perfons of diO:inClion from eccleliaO:ical cenfures; and " the adminill:ring the facrament to fame perfons, againll: the confcience '~ of the mini!l:ry and elderiliips; thefe and fame other particulars, being " more than they can admit, they delire may be altered to general fatis– " faClion. · (6.) " As to the articles relating to the perpetual ·officers of the church; u with their refpeClive funClions;, the order and power of church-aiTem– " blies ; the direCtions for public repentance or penance; the rules for •• excommunication and abfolution t all thefe they delire may be fixed,. and fettled purfuant to the covmant, and with the joint advice of the divines of both kingdoms [i. e. the afTembly at Wejlmi1!fler] long fince offered to both houtes. After the delivery of thefe papers by the ]cots commiffioners, and be.: fore the houfes had returned an anfwer, they were publifhed with a pre– face by a private hand, which provoked the houfes to fuch a degree, that April 14. they voted it to be burnt by the hands of the common hang· man, which was done accordingly. April 17. the commons publifhed their anfwer to the commiffioners papers,. in which they declare to the Parliament's world, "that their real intentions. are to fettle religion according to the reply. " covenant,. and to maintain the ancient and fundamental government " of this kingdom. They think it firange that any fober and modefl:: '' men iliould imagine, they·are unwilling to fettle any government in " the church, after they have decldred fo fully for the 'preibyterian; " have taken fo much pains for the fettling it; have p:tifed moll: of the " particulars brought to them by the a[embly of divines; without any " material alteration, fave in the point of commiffioners, and have pub– '' lifhed fOe many ordinances for putting the fame in execution, only be· ' ' caufe they cannot confent to the granting an arbitra,ry and unlimited power " and jurifdiflion to near ten .thouflmd judicatories to be erefled 7vithin this " kingdom, and this demanded in fuch a way, as is not corffiflent with the •$ jitndammtal laws and government if the .fame, and by neceffitry conft· "' qumce, excluding the parliament if England from the exercife if all ec– u clifzaflical jurifliiClion. This fay they, has been the great caofe that •• church-government has not been long fince fettled; and we have the "' more reafon not to part with this power out of the hands of the civil · 4 ' magiilrate" fince. the. ex,Eerience of all ages will manifeft, , that the refor~
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