The HIS 1' 0 R Y of the PuRITANs: VoL. H. K. Charles!. 11 of our religion; and forafmuch as many things as yet remain in the difcip– ~ " line, liturgy, and government of the church, which neceifarily require " a more perfeCt reformation. And whereas it has been declared and " refolved, by the lords and commons alfembled in parliament, that " the prefent church government by archbi01ops, biiliops, their chan– " cellars, commiifaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and o– " ther ecclefiaflical officers depending on the hierarchy, is evil, and juil– « ly offenfive and burdenfome to the kingdom, and a great impediment " to reformation, and growth of religion, and very prejudicial to the " ilate and government of this kingdom, that therefore they are refolved; " the fame iliaJI be taken away, and that fuch a government lhall be " fettled in the church as may be moll: agreeable to God's holy word', « and mail apt to procure and preferve the peace of the church at home, " and nearer agreement with the church of Scotland, and other reform– " ed churches abroad. And for the better effeCting hereof, and for the " vindicating and clearing of the doCtrine of the church of England " from all falfe calumnies and afperfions, it is thought fit to call an af– " fembly of learned, godly, and judicious divines, to confult and advife " of fuch matters and things touching the premifes, as lhaJI be propofed " to them by both, or either houfes of parliament ; and to give their " advice and counfel therein to both, or either of the faid houfes, when " and as often as they lhall be thereunto required. " Be it therefore ordained by the lords and commons in this prefent " parliament al!embled, that all and every the perfons hereafter in this " ordinance named (the ordinance here names the perfons] and fu ch " other perfons as lhall be nominated by both houfes of parliament, or " fo many of them as ll1all not be Jetted by ficknefs, or other neceifa– " ry impediment, lhall meet and alfcmble, and are hereby required and " enjoined, upon fummous figned by the clerks of both houfes of par– " liament left at their feveral refpeetive dw<lllings; to meet and alfemble " at W eftminfier, in the chapel called king Henry the feventh's chapel; "on the fidl: of July, 1643· and after the firfi meeting, being at leafr " of the number of forty, lhall from time to time fit, and be removed "' from place to place;. and alfo, that the faid aifembly £hall be dilfolved •' in fuch manner as by both houfes of parliament !hall be direCted. And " the ]aid AssEMBLy jha!! have power and authority, and are hereby en– " joinedfrom time to time, during this prefent parliament, or tillfurther " order be taken by both the faid houji:s to confer and treat among them– " ji:lves of jitch matters and things concerning the !it~rgy~ difcipline, ~nd "government of the church of England, or the vmdtcatmg and c!earmg " of the doClrine of the fame, .from all Ja!ft ajpeljions and mifco'?flruClirms, "as jha!l be propofed by either or both houfes of parliament, and no other, "ana
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