Chap. II. 'lbe HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITAN S.' 43I fou nd means to mortify them ; and would fometimes glory that he had O liver · r h Id r. ffi b · fc If P roteElor, embed that mfolent !ect, t at wou !U er n~~e ~tIt eh. h <1 1653· It was happy for the wife and moderate prewytenans, t. at t e prote,,or ~·; dilarmed their difcipline of its coerci ve power, for he filii left them all State of ~he that was fufficient for the purpofes of religion; they had their monthly prcsbytmans, or quarterly c~afiical yreiby teries in every. county, for. tbe ordination of mi nill:ers, by tmpofi tton of hands, accord tng to the dtreClory, to whom . they gave certificates, or tefiimonials, in the following words : "w E the min ifiers of the ·preibytery of --- having examin:. Copies of tef- " Mr. --- according to the tenor of the ordinance .for that timonials. " purpofe, and finding him duly q ualified and gifted for that holy office " and employment, ( no jufl: exception having been made to his ordination) " have approved him, and accordingly on the day and year hereafter ex- " preifed , have proceeded folemnly to fet him apart to the office of a '' preaching preibyter, and work of the m inifl:ry, w ith fufiin g and " prayer, and impofition of hands; and do hereby actually admi t him " (as fa r as concerns us) to perform all the offices and duties of a faith- " fill minifl:er of Jefus Chri fl:. In witnefs whereof we have hereu nt(}' " fLtbfcribed our names this -- day of September I 653·". Other tcfl:imonials were in this form : "w E the min.ifl:ers o~ Chrifl:,. who are called to .watch over this " part of hts flock m the ctty of--- wtth the ailifl:ance " of fome others, that we might not be wanting to the fervice of the " , church in its neceility, having received credible tefl:imonials, under the " hands of divers minifl:ers of the gofpel, and others, of the fober, " righteous, and godly converfation of---- as alfo concerning his « gifts for the miniflry, have proceeded to make further trial of his fit– " nefs for fo great a work; and being in fome good meafure fatisfied " concerning his piety and ability , have upon the day of-- 1653. " proceeded folemnly to fet him apart to the office of a preibyter, and " work of the minifl:ry, by laying on our han ds with fafiing and prayer; " by virtue whereof we do efl:eem and declare h im a lawful minifl:er of " Chrifl:, and hereby recommend him to the chu rch of--- In. f' witnefs whereof we have fet our hands, &c."· When
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