The HIS T 0 R Y oj the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K. Charles!. who were lefs zealous about clerica\ orders, encouraged or at lea!l: con– ~.~ nived at the lay-preachers, apprehending that in cafes of neceility, pi– ous men of good natural parts might exercife their gifts publicly to the edification of the church; till under this cover they faw every bold en– thufia!l: almo!l: begin to ufurp the office of a teacher. To bring things therefore into a little; better order, the following petition was prefented to both houfes of parliament, OC!ober 6. under the title of the humble petition if many citizens ofLondon, and others. Petitionfor zmordained t reacherr. R ulhw. p. p. 834· « y 0 U R petitioners are deeply fenfible of the extream want of " preaching the gofpel throughout this kingdom, there being '' many hundreds of towns and villages altogether deftitute of any " preaching miniflers, and many others are not well fupplied; by reafon " whereof ignorance, drunkennefs, profanenefs, difaffedion to the par– •' liament, and to others in authority, every where abounds, there being. "' fcarce fo much as the face of religion in many places. There is a great " cry of people from feveral counties of the kingdom, for men to preach " to them the word of eternal life; and there are many men of compe– ., tent gifts and abilities, of good life and hone!l: converfation, who being " willing to employ their talents in the lord's work, and to fubmit them– '' felves for approbation to moderate and judicious men, are yet, by oc-. " cafion of fame fcruples about ordination, difcouraged from eng<1ging i11 " this work of publilhing the gofpel, wherein they might be helpiul to "many. And feeing that in the days of queen Elizabeth, upon occajion " if people's nmjjities, many fuch men were fent forth to publifh the gof– " pel, who had no formal aCt of miniflerial ordination pa!l: upon them, " whofe endeavours the lord bleffed to the good of many fouls, and the ,,, furth er ing of the kingdom's peace; and fince alfo we nothing doubt, " but the propagation of the gofpel throughout this kingdom, and the in– " formation of men in the things of their peace, and the peace and fafcty " of the kingdom, are worthy of your greate!l: zeal, and are not the lea!l: " of your care; " Therefore your petitioners humbly pray, that thofe who fhall be ap– " proved pf as men meet to difpenfe the myfleries of the gofpel, by fuch '' jud.icious, moderate, and able men, whom you in wifdom fhall ap– " -point thereunto, may receive from this honourable houfe encourage– " ment and protection in preaching the gofpel in any place of this king– " dom, or dominior.J of Wales, where need requires, that fo the word of " the lord may have free courfe and be glorified ; ignorant men may be " in!l:ruCted; drunkennefs, profanenefs, and difaffeCl:ion to the parlia– ,, ment, and to others· in authority, may be abendoned; and both the " tcmpor~l
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