A Short View of the Prelatical Church of England 1, Part 2 – Errata
A ſhort draught of Church Government.
1. In every Pariſh.
THat there be a meeting of choiſe men, for wiſedome gravity, and love of Religion, to wit, Elders, and Overſeers of the poore, in other Churches called Deacons, the number more or fewer, as the place ſhall require.
Theſe with their Paſtour to come together as often as ſhall be judged fit, at a ſet time and place, once a MonethMonth, to looke unto all within the Pariſh, concerning their religion, their honeſt behaviour, and peaceable demeanure, and to ſee all abuſes reformed, according to the word of God, and according to the good and Eccleſiaſticall lawes, which ſhall be preſcribed unto them.
This will free us from all weekely corrupt Courts, and free the people from all burthenſome expences, and not ſuffer ſinne to raigne as it doth in every Convocation.
2. In every Diviſion or Circuit.
That there be a Presbytery of choſen Miniſters, the beſt learned, the graveſt, and the godlyeſt men, to ſit with the Superintendent or preſident.
The meeting to be appointed at a certaine time and place once a quarter, and in every meeting a new Election to be freely made, of thoſe that ſhall be of the Presbytery.
Theſe are to ſee how the government is to bee obſerved in Pariſhes, how Miniſters and Overſeers doe diſcharge their duties: at this meeting Miniſters gifts are to be ſhewed and tryed, that ſuch as come thither may bee edified and inſtructed.
III. In every County.
That the Biſhop be a Paſtour over a particular Congregation, reſident and painefull there, and with him out of the ſeverall Circuits be choſen a certaine number to bee his aſſiſtants in this Aſſembly, once every halfe yeare.
In this to ſee how every presbyterie with the ſuperintendents or preſidents doe demeane themſelves, to ſee offences in them puniſhed without all partiality.
Here worthy Miniſters to be ordained, and without respect of perſons: and here the vnworthy to be judged and cenſured, as they ſhall deſerve, and the reſt encouraged.
IV. In every Province.
That there be a Provinciall Synod gathered once a yeere of Paſtorall Biſhops, godly and learned ſuperintendents or preſidents, and out of every County, certaine learned and grave Divines ſelected, and the number to be according to the Circuits in every County.
In this to looke into County Aſſemblies, and to ſee that all things be well ordered according as they ought to be, that Biſhops, ſuperintendents or preſidents, demeane themſelves aright, or elſe to endure a cenſure as well as others.
V. In the whole Nation.
That a generall Aſſembly Nationall be gathered once in 3 yeare, of choſen men, to conſult for the generall good of all, to make Canons, and to eſtabliſh Eccleſiaſticall government.
Of the Excellency of this Government.
I. It may ſtand with a Monarchy, for what is here that juſtly can be ſaid to hinder it?
II. It takes off all Prelaticall Lordly tyranny, for every part is ſubordinate to another, the Parochial meeting to the Superintendent and his Presbytery, this Presbytery to the County Aſſembly, this Aſſembly to the Provinciall Synod, and this to the Nationall Convocation.
III. Jt keepes Biſhops and Paſtours to their Spirituall function, and ſuffers them not to intermeddle in Civill and worldly affaires.
IV. Jt ſets up a learned and preaching Miniſtery, and caſts out the before mentioned Prelaticall deſtroying Clergie.
V. It furthers the power of Religion, in Families, Villages, Townes, Cities, in Vniverſities, and in Princes Palaces.
VI. It's Chriſts government, and eaſie yoke, freeing Gods people from great payments, as hath before beene named, from all the corruptions of the Courts, which all the Land doth groane under, from that cruell Oath ex officio, and that unlimitted high Commiſſion grievous to be borne.
Ir's a government that aymeth at godlineſſe, and not at greatneſſe and gaine.
Jt makes none jealous of painefull Paſtours, none to be offended at Chriſtian meetings, as if they were Conventicles, none to envie other mens graces, but ſtirreth vp to watch one over another, and freely to admoniſh one another, to further one another to Heaven.
It graceth very highly the godly and learned Laity.
Its grounded vponupon the word, proceedeth by the word, rejecting the Popiſh Canon Law, Popiſh Ceremonies, Popiſh ſuperſtitions, and Idolatry, and all mens vaine inventions, in Doctrine, Sacrament, worſhip, and government of CHRIST.
The Concluſion of all is this, and the ſumme of my deſire, viz. that there may be a full Conformity in Doctrine, and Diſcipline, with the reſt of the Proteſtant Churches of Scotland, reformed Church of France, Geneva, &c.
1. For this will prevent future differences betwixt the two Nations.
2. Prevent the removeall of many of the Kings good ſubjects into other Countries, with many other benefites.
This I humbly requeſt to be taken into ſerious conſideration, which being done, will bring a bleſſing vponupon this Kingdome and Church.
Courteous Reader take notice, that in pag. 10. & Section 3d. that for foure hundred thouſand pounds, read foure hundred thouſand pounds, per annum.
FJNIS.
End of the text · Richard Bernard, A Short View of the Prelatical Church of England 1 (1641)