The Diatribe Proved to be Paradiatribe, Part 3 · Ordinance – Declaration
Die Sabbathi, 26 April. 1645.
IT is this day O…dered and Declared by the Lords and … in Parliament …ſ…abled, That no …erſon be permitted to Preach, who is not O…dained a Miniſter either in this, or ſome other Re…o…med Church; except ſuch as (intending the Miniſtery) ſhall be allowed for the …yall of their …, by thoſe who ſhall be appointed thereunto by bo…h Houſes of Parliament.
It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and publiſhed; And that it be forthwith ſent to Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, with an earneſt deſire and recommendation from both Houſes, That he take care that this Ordinance may be duly obſerved in the Army; and that if any ſhall tranſgreſſe this Ordinance, that he make ſpeedy repreſentation thereof to both Houſes, that the Offenders may receive condigne puniſhment for their contempts. It is further Ordered by the Lords and Commons, That this Ordinance be forthwith ſent to the Lord Mayor and Committee of the Militia in London; to the Governours, Commanders, and Magiſtrates of all Garriſons, Forces, Places of ſtrength, Cities, Towns, …orts and Ports: And to the ſeverall and reſpective Committees of the ſeverall and reſpective Counties, with the like injunction unto them reſpectively; and that they take care that this Ordinan…e be duly obſerved in the places aforeſaid reſpectively, and that they make ſpeedy repreſentation to both Houſes of ſuch as ſhall offend herein, that they may receive condigne puniſhment.
Die Jovis, 31. Decemb. 1646. A Declaration of the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, Againſt all ſuch Perſons as ſhall take upon them to Preach or Expound the Scriptures in any Church or Chappel, or any other publique place, except they be Ordained either here or in ſome other Reformed Church.
THE Commons aſſembled in Parliament do Declare, That they do diſlike, and will proceed againſt all ſuch perſons as ſhall take upon them to Preach, or Expound the Scriptures in any Church or Chappel, or any other publique place (except they be Ordained either here or in ſome other Reformed Church, as it is already prohibited in an Order of both Houſes of 26. April, 1645.) And likewiſe againſt all ſuch Miniſters or others, as ſhall publiſh or maintain by Preaching, Writing, Printing, or any other way, any thing againſt or in derogation of the Church-government which is now eſtabliſhed by the authority of both Houſes of Parliament. And alſo againſt all and every perſon or perſons, who ſhall willingly and purpoſely interrupt or diſturb a Preacher who is in the publique Exerciſe of his Function: And all Juſtices of Peace, Sheriffs, Mayors, Bailiffs, and other Head-Officers of Corporations; And all Officers of the Army are to take notice of this Declaration; and by all lawfull wayes and means to prevent offences of this kind, and to apprehend the offenders, and give notice hereof unto this Houſe, that thereupon courſe may bee ſpeedily taken for a due puniſhment to be inflicted on them.
For the Example of the beſt Reformed Churches, if thereby you underſtand (as ſome do) thoſe of New-England, how ever their Elders ſpeak … part as you have done, yet by their Practiſe they make it eſſentiall (for why elſe is it that they put the power and a…t of Ordaining into the peoples hand, or ſome of their deputing when they have no Officers?) and in their Doctrine they hold it Neceſſary by Divine Inſtitution *.Church Government and Church Covenant diſcuſſed. pag. 67.
For thoſe of the ſeparation, theſe are the words of their Confeſſion, Art. 23. that every Chriſtian Congregation hath power and Commandment to elect and ordaine their own Miniſterie according to the rules in Gods word preſcribed.—And if there be a commandement for Ordination, as well as for Election, why ſhould not the former be eſſential…, as well as (in their account) the latter is. Whether every congregation have the power is no part of the preſent queſtion and therefor… as they affirme it. I deny it and paſſe it by.
Thoſe who are wont to …e called Non-conformiſts, in that book of Common-prayer which they adviſed *Print…d at Lon…on by Ro. W…de-gra…e.they ſpeak of the Election and Ordination of Miniſters to the Election they call in neighbour-Miniſters. After that (ſay they) he is to be ordained by the laying on of the hands of the Elderſhip, with theſe words pronounced by the Mi…iſter thereunto appointed [According to this lawfull calling, agreeable to the word of God, wherby thou art choſen paſtor IN THE NAME OF GOD, ſtand thou charged with the paſtorall charge of this people over which the Holy-Ghoſt hath made thee Overſeer, to governe this flock of God, which he hath purchaſed with his bloud.] Among th…m there are two of great eminency, whoſe expreſſions I ſhall here adde. One, the Reverend Mr. Arthur Hilderſam, who (in that letter which Johnſon in his Treatiſe of the Miniſtry *Page 117.pretends to anſwer) makes a right Ordination into the office, a ſubſtantiall part of a true Calling to the Miniſterie. The other Mr. H. Jacob (whoſe old books have furniſhed thoſe who are known among us by the name of Independents, with their new light and all ſubtilties wherby they would be thought to diſtinguiſh themſelves from Browniſts) There are two eſſentiall parts of Calling to the Miniſtery (theſe are his words *Atteſtation ch 8. pag. 299.) Election and Ordination. And though he make Impoſition of hands but a ceremony, yet he adds Howbeit I ſuppoſe Chriſts Church offendeth in omitting of it, for though it be but a ceremony, yet it is Apoſtolick. And howſoever in this place he reputes it but a Ceremony, yet elſewhere *Declaration pag. 39. The Divin… beginning and inſtitution of Chriſts true viſible or Miniſteriall Church. Argum. 7.he makes it to be of the foundation neceſſary to ſalvation ordinarily, and unchangeable by men.
Whether theſe latter witneſſes be to be reckoned among Proteſtant Divines, eſpecially in your account, I ſhall leave it to you to judge.
But let this ſuffice at preſent to the queſtion of Ordination.