The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS~ VoL. II. Commonthe opinion of the council of France, that he iliould agree with the fcots ~~alth. upon the befl: terms he was able, which he did accordingly, as will be re– ~ lated the next year. The fifth provincial a!fembly of London met the beginning of May at Sion College, the reverend Mr. Jack/on of St. Michael Woodjlreet mode– rator. A committee was appointed to prepare materials for proof of the divine right of preibyterial church government. The proofs were exa– mined and approved _by this, and the affembly that met in November fol– lowing, of which Mr. !f7alker was moderator, Mr. Calamy and Mr. Jacifon a!fe!fors, and Mr. B!ackwell fcribe. The treatife was printed,, and afferts .A'ugmento-– tion ofpoor livings by tithes and firft fruits, &c. Scobel, p. 41, IIJ. {1.) That there is a church government of divine infiitution. (2.) That the civil magifl:rate is not the origin or head of church go– vernment. And, (3.) That the government of the church by fynods and cla!fes is the government that Chrifl: appointed. It maintains feparation from their churches to beJchij!n ; that minifl:ers former!y ordained by bi!hops need not be re-ordained : And for private chrifiians in particular churches to af– fume a right of fending perfons forth to preach, and to ·adminifier the facraments, is in their opinion, infufferable. The parliament did all they could to fatisfy the malecontent prefbyte– rians, by fecuring them in their livings, and by ordering the dean and · chapter lands to be fold, and their names to be extinCt, except the deanry. of Chrijl Church, and the foundations of Wtjlmit!fler, Winche(ler, and Baton fchools. The bi!hops lands, which had been fequefiered fince the year I 646. were now by an ordinance of 'June 8. I 649. vefied in the hands of new trufiees, and appropriated to the augmentation of poor livings in the church. The firfi fruits and tenths of all ecclefiafiical livings" formerly payable to the crown, were vefl:ed in the fame hands, free from all incumbrances, or trufl:, that they iliould pay yearly, all fuch falaries, ftipends, allowances nnd provifions, as have been fettled and confirmed by parliament, for preaching minifters, fchool-mafiers, or profeffors in the univerfities; provided the affignment to any one do not exceed one hund– red pounds. 'Tis further provided, that the maintenance of all incumbents fhall not be lefs than one hundred pounds a year, and the commiffioners of the great feal are empowered to enquire into the yearly value of all eccle– :fiafiical livings, to which any cure of fouls is annexed; and to certify into the court of Chancery, the names of the prefent incumbents who fupply the cure, with their refpeCtive falaries ;. how many chapels belong to parilh– churches, and how the feveral churches and chapels are fupplied with·· preaching minifters; that fo fome courfe may be taken for }.lroviding for a bet-
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