C~ap. III. T'he HI 8TORY of tbe PuRITANS. +53 d fi f h Oliver rnini f1ers, as their affifrants, an empowers any ve, or rn~re o t em, Protellor. to call before them any public preacher, leCl:u.rer, parfon, vicar, c~rate, 1 6 54 . or fchool·mafler, who is or fhall be reputed tgnorant, Jcanda!ous, mfof- ~ jicient, or negligent; and t? receive all articles or charges that fhall .be ~xhibited againll them on this account; and. to proceed to t~e exammation and determination of fuch offences, accorclmg to the followwg rules. " Sncb minifl:ers and fchool-maflcrs !hall be accountedji:anda!ous in " th eir lives and converfations, as !hall hold or maintain fuch blafphemous " or atheifrical opinions, as are punifhable by the aCl:, entitled an act " aoainfl feveral blafphemous and atheiflical opinions, &c. or that 01all " b~ guilty of prophane [wearing and cudi.ng, pe1jury, and fubornation " of perjury ; fuch as maintain any popi01 opinions, required to be ab– " jured by the oath of abjuration; or are guilty of adultery, fornication, " drunke nnefs, common haunting of taverns, or ale-houfes; frequent " quarrellings or fightings ; frequent playing at cards or dice ; prophan– " ing of the fabbath ; or that do allow and countenance the fame in their '' families, or in their parilbes. Sucb as have frequently read or ujed the " common prayer book in public jnce the Jirfl if Jan. lafl; or )hall at any " time hereqfter do the fame. Such as publicly and prophanely fcoff at " the firia profei11on, or profeffors of godlinefs. Such as encourage or " countenance wbitfrm -a!es, 71Jakes, morrice-dancing, may.poles, flage-plays, '' or fuch like licentious praaices. Such as have declared, or !hall declare " by writing, preaching, or otherw_ife publifhing, their difatfeaion to " the prefent government. " Such minifrers !hall be accounted negligent, as omit the public excr– " cife of preaching and praying on the Lord's d8y (not being hindered by '' necdf.uy abfence or infirmity of body;) or that are or fha\1 be non-re– " fid en ts. Such fchool- mafl:ers !hall be accoun ted mgligent, as abfent them– " felves from their fchools, 2nd wilfully neglect to teach their fcholars. " Such minifl:ers or fchool-maflers {hall be accounted ignorant and in– " fi!f!icient, as iliall be fo declared and adjudged by the commiffioners in " every county, or any five of them, together with five of the minifrers , " mentioned in the ordinance," The lay-commiffioner? were to p:oceed upon ?ath, both for and againfl: <J:heir.itt– the. P.erfon accufed; but w cafes of rgnorance or uifi1ficicncy, they were toflrt~Cfums. be JOll1e d by five of the affiflant clergy at leafr; and if ten of the commiffioners, whereof five to be minifl:ers, gave it under their hands that the party was ignorant or info.fficient, then the fa id minifl:er or fch~ol-mafl:er was to be ejeCl:ed, and the faid judgment entered in a regifier book with the reafm thereif. After ejeCl:ment, the party might not preach or teach fchool m the panfh from whence he was ejeCl:ed; but convenient time was to be allowed for his removal, and the.fifths referved for the fupport of his family, .
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