Chap. V. Tbe HISTORY of the PuRITANS. s6g Firfl, " That we may be fecured of thofe things in practice, of which Cl Kz 1'ng ri.· 'J' d • • • I 1ar es cc we feem to be agree m pnnc1p e; as, x66o. I. " That thofe of our flocks that are ferious in matters of their fa!- ~' c• vation may not be reproachfully handled by words of [corn, or any .tibJ!ra~~l· ' . 1 . d . f t!mr fir;· " abu~ve language, b~Jt may be enco~raged. m t 1e1r u:Jes o ex- paper q[ " horung and provokmg one another 111 their mofl: holy faith, and ofpropofals. " furthering one another in the ways of eternal life. Baxter, part · 2. " That each congregation may have a learned, orthodox, and godly I!. P· :1.3 2 ' " pafl:or, that the people may be publicly infl:ructed by preaching every " Lord's day, by catechifing, by frequent adminifl:ring the Lord's fup- " per and baptifm; and that effectual provifion by law may be made, " that fuch as are infufficient, negligent, or fcandalous, may not offi- " ciate. 3· " That none may be admitted to the Lord's fupper till they per– " fonally own their baptifmal covenant, by a credible profeilion of faith " and holinefs, not contradicted by a fcandalous life. That to fuch on– ,, ly confirmation may be adminiflered ; and that the approbation of the " pallor, to whom the inflruCl:ing thofe under his charge cloth appertain " may be produced, before any perfon receives confirmation. 4· " That an effectual courfe be taken for the fanflification of the " Lord's day, appropriating the fame to holy exerci(es· l~oth in public and " private, without any unneceifary divertifements." " Then for matters in difference (viz.) church government, liturgy, " and cer~monies, we humbly reprefent, · " That we do not renounce the true antient primitive epifcopacy or " prelidency, as it was ballanced with a due commixtion of prdbyters. " If therefore your majefiy in your grave wifdom and moderation, " £hall confiitute fuch an epifcopacy, we £hall humbly fubmit there– " unto. And in order to an accommodation in this weighty affair, " we defire humbly to offer fome particulars, which we conceive were " amifs in the epifcopal government, as it was praCl.ifed before the year « 1640. 1. " The great extent of the biiliop's diocefe, which we apprehend " too large for his perfonal infpection. 2. " That by rea!on of this difability, the biiliops did depute the ad– " miniflration, in matters of fpiritual cognizance, to commiifaries, " chancellors, officials, whereof fame are fecular perfons, and could " not admln!ler that power that originally belongs to the officers of the " church. · 3· " That the biiliops did aifume the foie power of ordination and "jurifdiction t.o themfclves. VoL. rr. · o 4 . 4• '~That
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