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ask_v king_n james_n of_o bless_a memory_n who_o sweet_a affability_n the_o world_n well_o know_v how_o it_o come_v about_o that_o there_o be_v so_o few_o heresy_n and_o error_n of_o doctrine_n broach_v and_o prosecute_v to_o the_o public_a disturbance_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n unto_o which_o the_o wise_a and_o learned_a king_n be_v say_v to_o have_v return_v this_o answer_n that_o every_o parish_n have_v their_o pastor_n ever_o present_a with_o they_o and_o watch_v over_o they_o that_o the_o pastor_n have_v his_o elder_n and_o deacon_n sort_v with_o he_o that_o he_o with_o they_o once_o a_o week_n meet_v at_o a_o set_a time_n and_o place_n for_o the_o censure_n of_o manner_n or_o what_o ever_o disorder_n fall_v out_o in_o the_o parish_n so_o as_o he_o by_o this_o mean_n perfect_o know_v his_o flock_n and_o every_o aberration_n of_o they_o either_o in_o matter_n of_o opinion_n or_o practice_n and_o lest_o any_o error_n or_o heresy_n may_v seize_v upon_o the_o
forth_o and_o declare_v it_o before_o any_o hand_n be_v lay_v upon_o his_o head_n for_o his_o full_a admission_n notwithstanding_o all_o which_o care_n of_o our_o dear_a mother_n the_o church_n of_o england_n if_o it_o shall_v be_v think_v meet_a that_o any_o further_a act_n of_o trial_n shall_v pass_v upon_o those_o which_o be_v suitor_n for_o ordination_n how_o easy_o may_v it_o be_v order_v that_o at_o the_o monthly_a or_o if_o need_v be_v more_o frequent_a meet_v of_o the_o minister_n within_o the_o same_o presbytery_n or_o deanrie_n they_o may_v be_v appoint_v to_o make_v trial_n of_o their_o gift_n and_o undergo_v such_o further_a examination_n of_o their_o ability_n as_o shall_v be_v think_v requisite_a ere_o they_o shall_v be_v present_v and_o admit_v by_o the_o bishop_n and_o his_o presbytery_n to_o that_o holy_a function_n and_o whereas_o it_o be_v much_o stand_v upon_o that_o it_o be_v meet_v the_o people_n who_o soul_n must_v have_v right_a in_o he_o to_o who_o trust_n they_o be_v commit_v shall_v have_v some_o hand_n in_o their_o consent_n to_o that_o pastor_n by_o who_o they_o must_v be_v feed_v it_o must_v be_v say_v that_o beside_o their_o devolution_n of_o their_o right_n to_o the_o patron_n who_o as_o their_o trustee_n present_v a_o minister_n for_o they_o it_o may_v be_v no_o prejudice_n at_o all_o to_o the_o power_n which_o by_o law_n and_o inheritance_n be_v settle_v upon_o the_o patron_n that_o the_o person_n who_o his_o choice_n pitch_v upon_o be_v appoint_v before_o hand_n to_o preach_v for_o a_o trial_n to_o that_o congregation_n to_o which_o he_o be_v so_o design_v and_o if_o either_o for_o his_o voice_n or_o other_o just_a exception_n he_o be_v find_v unmeet_a for_o they_o that_o another_o more_o fit_a may_v be_v recommend_v by_o the_o say_a patron_n to_o the_o place_n but_o if_o through_o faction_n or_o self-will_n or_o partiality_n the_o multitude_n shall_v prove_v peâ—vish_a and_o fastidious_a they_o may_v in_o such_o a_o case_n be_v overruled_a by_o just_a authority_n as_o for_o matter_n of_o censure_n it_o may_v not_o be_v deny_v that_o there_o have_v be_v great_a abuse_n in_o the_o manage_n of_o they_o both_o upon_o ecclesiastical_a person_n and_o other_o suspension_n of_o minister_n upon_o slight_a and_o insufficient_a cause_n both_o ab_fw-la officio_fw-la and_o beneficio_fw-la have_v be_v too_o rife_a in_o some_o place_n of_o late_a time_n and_o the_o dreadful_a sentence_n of_o excommunication_n have_v too_o frequent_o and_o familiar_o pass_v upon_o light_n and_o trivial_a matter_n how_o happy_a be_v it_o if_o a_o speedy_a course_n may_v be_v take_v for_o the_o prevention_n of_o this_o evil_a in_o the_o conference_n at_o hampton-court_n a_o motion_n be_v strong_o make_v to_o this_o purpose_n but_o without_o effect_n if_o the_o wisdom_n of_o the_o present_a parliament_n shall_v settle_v some_o other_o way_n for_o the_o curb_n of_o contumacious_a offence_n against_o church-authority_n it_o will_v be_v a_o act_n worthy_a of_o their_o care_n and_o justice_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n as_o for_o this_o and_o all_o other_o ecclesiastical_a proceed_n it_o may_v with_o much_o facility_n and_o willing_a consent_n of_o all_o part_n be_v order_v that_o the_o bishop_n shall_v not_o take_v upon_o he_o to_o inflict_v either_o this_o or_o any_o other_o important_a censure_n without_o the_o concurrence_n of_o his_o presbytery_n which_o shall_v be_v a_o mean_n in_o all_o likelihood_n to_o prevent_v any_o inconvenience_n that_o may_v arise_v from_o the_o wont_a way_n of_o judicature_n as_o for_o the_o coassession_n of_o a_o lay-presbytery_n in_o sway_v these_o affair_n of_o church-government_n you_o well_o know_v how_o new_a it_o be_v some_o of_o you_o may_v have_v be_v acquaint_v with_o the_o man_n that_o bring_v it_o first_o into_o any_o part_n of_o this_o island_n and_o what_o ground_n there_o be_v for_o it_o either_o in_o scripture_n or_o antiquity_n i_o appeal_v to_o your_o judgement_n sure_o the_o late_a learned_a author_n of_o the_o counsel_n for_o the_o reform_v the_o church_n of_o england_n although_o otherwise_o a_o vehement_a assertor_n of_o the_o french_a discipline_n ingenuous_o confess_v that_o however_o those_o protestant_n which_o live_v under_o popish_a governor_n have_v do_v wise_o in_o depute_v some_o choice_n man_n select_v out_o of_o their_o congregation_n who_o they_o call_v elder_n to_o share_v with_o their_o pastor_n in_o the_o care_n and_o management_n of_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n yet_o those_o protestant_a church_n which_o live_v under_o the_o government_n of_o protestant_a prince_n may_v with_o the_o safety_n of_o those_o respect_n which_o mutual_o intercede_v betwixt_o pastor_n and_o people_n forbear_v any_o such_o deputation_n for_o as_o much_o as_o the_o supreme_a magistrate_n transfer_v for_o the_o most_o part_n to_o himself_o that_o which_o be_v the_o wont_a charge_n of_o those_o depute_a elder_n conclude_v that_o those_o man_n do_v mere_o lose_v their_o labour_n who_o so_o busy_o endeavour_n on_o the_o one_o side_n to_o disprove_v the_o antiquity_n of_o the_o lay-eldership_n and_o on_o the_o other_o by_o weak_a proof_n to_o maintain_v clean_o contrary_a to_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o apostle_n that_o the_o text_n of_o saint_n paul_n 1_o tim._n 5.17_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v of_o pastor_n and_o lay-elder_n thus_o he_o with_o what_o fair_a probability_n i_o leave_v to_o your_o judgement_n neither_o be_v it_o any_o intention_n of_o i_o to_o meddle_v with_o any_o piece_n of_o that_o government_n which_o obtain_v in_o other_o the_o church_n of_o god_n but_o only_o to_o contribute_v my_o poor_a opinion_n concerning_o the_o now-to-be-settled_a affair_n of_o our_o own_o what_o shall_v i_o need_v to_o suggest_v unto_o you_o the_o dangerous_a under-working_n of_o other_o sect_n secret_o endeavour_v to_o spring_v their_o hide_a mine_n to_o the_o overthrow_n both_o of_o the_o one_o government_n and_o the_o other_o whereof_o without_o speedy_a remedy_n perhaps_o it_o will_v be_v too_o late_o to_o complain_v no_o doubt_n the_o wisdom_n and_o authority_n of_o that_o great_a senate_n who_o you_o also_o serve_v to_o advise_v will_v forthwith_o interpose_v itself_o to_o the_o prevention_n of_o those_o mischief_n which_o the_o variety_n of_o these_o heresy_n and_o sect_n though_o some_o of_o they_o cloak_v with_o the_o fair_a pretence_n threaten_v to_o this_o poor_a church_n it_o be_v no_o boot_n for_o i_o to_o tell_v you_o that_o the_o less_o disunion_n there_o be_v the_o more_o ground_n of_o safety_n and_o that_o where_o the_o holy_a purpose_n of_o reformation_n may_v be_v effect_v with_o the_o least_o change_n there_o must_v needs_o be_v the_o most_o hope_n of_o accordance_n the_o rest_n to_o the_o wise_a application_n of_o the_o powerful_a and_o judicious_a it_o be_v enough_o for_o i_o to_o have_v thus_o bold_o shoot_v my_o bolt_n among_o you_o and_o to_o have_v thus_o free_o discover_v my_o honest_a and_o well_o mean_a thought_n to_o so_o able_a judgement_n what_o i_o want_v in_o my_o poor_a endeavour_n shall_v be_v supply_v with_o my_o prayer_n that_o god_n will_v be_v please_v to_o compose_v all_o our_o miserable_a distraction_n and_o to_o put_v a_o happy_a issue_n to_o the_o long_a and_o perilous_a agitation_n of_o this_o woeful_o totter_v and_o bleed_a church_n and_o kingdom_n which_o the_o good_a god_n of_o heaven_n vouchsafe_v to_o grant_v for_o his_o great_a mercy_n sake_n and_o for_o the_o sake_n of_o the_o dear_a son_n of_o his_o love_n jesus_n christ_n the_o just_a amen_n septemb._n 12._o 1644._o philalethirenaeus_n finis_fw-la iren._n advers._n haeres_fw-la l._n 3._o c._n 3._o