ment, whether monarchial, aristocratical, or democratical, and we renounce all jurisdiction that is repugnant, or derogatory to any of these, especially the monarchy of this kingdom, (England.)

CONCERNING THE MINISTERS OF the word.

1. They hold that the pastors of particular congregations, are the highest spiritual officers in the church, over whom there is no supreme pastor, by divine appointment; but Jesus Christ...

2. That there are not by divine institution, in the word of God, any ordinary national, provincial, or diocesan pastors, to whom the pastors of particular churches are to be subject...

3. That no pastor ought to exercise or accept of any civil jurisdiction or authority; but ought to be wholly employed in spiritual offices and duties, to the congregation over which he is set.

4. That the supreme office of the pastor, is to preach the word publicly to the congregation, and that the people of God, ought not to acknowledge any for their pastors, that are not able by preaching, to interpret and apply the word of God to them; and consequently, all ignorant and mere reading priests, are to be rejected.

5. That in public worship, the pastor only is to be the mouth of the congregation to God in prayer, and that the people are only to testify their assent by the word, Amen...

6. That the church has no power to impose upon their pastors or officers, any other ceremonies or injunctions, than what Christ has appointed.

7. That in every church, there should also be a doctor to chatechise and instruct the ignorant, in the principles of religion.

1. They hold that by God's ordinance, the congregation should choose other officers, as assistants to the ministers in the government of the church, who are jointly with the ministers, to be overseers of the manners, and conversation of all the congregation.

2. That these are to be chosen out of the gravest, and most discreet members, who are also of some note in the world, and able, (if possible,) to maintain themselves...

CHAPTER V.

OF THE SPIRITUAL KEYS, OR CHURCH CENSURES.

1. They hold that the spiritual keys of the church, are committed to the aforesaid officers and governors, and to some others.

2. That by return of these keys, they are not to examine and make inquisition into the hearts of men, nor molest them upon private suspicions, or uncertain fame; but to proceed only upon open and notorious crimes. If the offender be convinced, they ought not to scorn, deride, taunt, and revile him with contumelious language, nor procure proctors to make personal invectives against him ; nor make him give attendance from term to term, and from one court day to another, after the manner of our ecclesiastical courts; but to use him brotherly, and if possible, to move him to repentance; and if he repents, they are not to proceed to censure; but to accept his hearty sorrow and contrition, as sufficient satisfaction to the church, without imposing any fines, or enjoining any other outward mark of shame, as the white sheet, &c. But if the offender be obstinate, and shew no signs of repentance, and if his crime be fully proved upon him, and is of such an high nature as to deserve a censure according to the word

of God, then the ecclesiastical officers, with the free consent of the whole congregation, (and not otherwise,) are first to suspend him from the sacrament, praying for him at the same time, that God would give him repentance to the acknowledgment of his faults; and if this does not humble him, then they are to denounce him to be as yet no member of the kingdom of heaven and of that congrega. tion; and so are to leave him to God and the king. This is all the ecclesiastical jurisdiction that any spiritual officers are to exercise against any man, for the greatest crime that can be committed. If the party offending be a civil seperior, they are to behave towards him, with all that reverence and civil subjection, that his honor or high office in the state may require. They are not to presume to convene him before them; but are to go to him in all civil and humble manner, to stand bareheaded, to bow, to give him all his civil titles; and if it be a supreme governor or king, then to kneel, and in a most humble manner, to acquaint him with his faults, and if such, or any other offenders will withdraw, voluntarily, from the communion, they have no further concern with them.

They hold the oath ex officio, on the imposer's part, to be most damnable and tyrannous, against the very law of nature, devised by antichrist through the inspiration of the devil, to tempt weak Christians to perjure themselves, or be drawn in to reveal to the enemies of Christianity, those secret religious acts, which though done for the advancement of the gospel, may bring on themselves, or their friends, heavy sentences of condemnation from the court.

CHAPTER VI.

CONCERNING THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE.

.1. They hold that the civil magistrate, ought to have supreme civil power over all the churches within his domin

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ions; but that as he is a Christian, he ought to be a member of some one of them; which is not in the least derogatory to his civil supremacy.

2. That all ecclesiastical officers are punishable by the civil magistrate, for the abuse of their ecclesiastical offices; and much more, if they intrude upon the rights and prerogatives of the civil authority.

3. They hold the Pope to be antichrist, because he usurps the supremacy over kings and princes; and therefore all that defend the Popish faith, and all that tolerate that religion, are secret enemies to the king's supremacy.'

4. That all arch-bishops, bishops, deans, officials, &c. hold their offices and functions of the king, and at his will, merely jure humano, and whosoever holdeth that the ⚫king may not remove them, or dispose of them at his pleasure, is an enemy to his supremacy."

Notwithstanding the Puritan church followed these declarations, with ten other articles, in which they yield a more full and entire submission to the civil magistrate, and acknowledge more extensively the supremacy of the king; and followed it with a humble petition to his majesty for a redress of grievances, and the enjoyment of the rights of conscience, in their modes of worship, the king was inexorable, and their destruction was sealed..

During this period, the christian church was convulsed to its centre: the Popes were struggling to retain that power, which had exalted the papal throne to the supremacy over all things, spiritual and temporal, on earth, and even in heaven. The Reformers, under Luther, were struggling for liberty of conscience upon the continent, where the sword of spiritual controversy, was drenching the earth in blood. But in England, the persecutions of the Protestant church, against their brethren the Puritans, were, if possible, more unrelenting and bitter, than the persecutions of the Popes themselves. At this time,

flourished Armenius, professor of the university of Ley-. den; who by his principles corrupted the church, in the bosom of the church, and continues to corrupt her to this. day. He died 1609.

In this year, 1610, a new parliament was called, and the sufferings of the Puritans had opened a way, to the hearts of many of its members; bold and dignified specches were displayed against the spiritual tyranny of the bishops, and many petitions were presented to his majesty, against the despotic proceedings of the court of High Commissions, but all to no effect; James was fixed, the persecutions went right on, and the king gave them support. This year the king went down into Scotland, and usurped supremacy over the Presbyterian kirk, and subverted their constitution, thus making the bishops lords of council, lords of parliament, and the king's High Commissioners, in causes ecclesiastical. This kindled a fire in Scotland, which raged through his reign, and opened the way for all the triumphs of the Puritans, in the succeeding reign-1611. This year a new translation of the Bible was effected, at the request of the Puritans, which continues to this day, in all the churches. This request, obtained through the instrumentality of Arch-Bishop Abbot, who had succeeded upon the death of Arch-Bishop Bancroft..

The character of Bancroft we have witnessed, it needs no comment; but the character of his successor, is to be disclosed. A Puritan in heart, he bagan early to dispense his favours to the Puritans; first by checking the spirit of intolerance and persecution, which had marked the character of Bancroft; and next, by such indulgences as were consistent with the duties of his office. The arch-bish op was enabled to effect this lenity, not because the king had softened the rigors of his sentiments, but because the king, the court, and the nation, were sunk in the excesses of a corrupt sensuality, which gave up the affairs of