dispense the doctrine and sacraments:-and the restraint of the exercise of that right proceedeth only from the custom now received in this realm:-no man can doubt but by another law of the land this hindrance may be well removed. And how easily this ancient form of government, by the united suffrages of the clergy, might be revived again, and with what little show of alteration the synodical conventions of the pastors of every parish might be accorded, with the presidency of the bishops of each diocese and province, the indifferent reader may quickly perceive by the perusal of the ensuing propositions.

1. In every parish the rector or the incumbent pastor, together with the churchwardens and sidemen, may every week take notice of such as live scandalously in that congregation, who are to receive such several admonitions and reproofs as the quality of their offence shall deserve; and if by this means they cannot be reclaimed, they may be presented unto the next monthly synod, and in the meantime be debarred by the pastor from access unto the Lord's table.

2. Whereas by a statute in the twenty-sixth of King Henry VIII, (revived in the first year of Queen Elizabeth,) suffragans are appointed to be erected in twenty-six several places of this kingdom, the number of them might very well be conformed unto the number of the several rural deaneries into which every diocese is subdivided, which being done, the suffragan (supplying the place of those who in the ancient church were called chorepiscopi) might every month assemble a synod of all the rectors, or incumbent pastors within the precinct, and according to the major part of their voices conclude all matters that should be brought into debate before them.

To this synod the rector and churchwardens might present such impenitent persons, as by admonition and suspension from the sacrament, would not be reformed; who, if they should still remain contumacious and incorrigible, the sentence of excommunication might be decreed against them by the synod, and accordingly be executed in the parish where they

lived. Hitherto also all things that concerned the parochial ministers might be referred, whether they did touch their doctrine or their conversation:-as also the censure of all new opinions, heresies, and schisms which did arise within that circuit, with liberty of appeal if need so require unto the diocesan synod.

3. The diocesan synod might be held once or twice in the year as it should be thought most convenient; therein all the suffragans and the rest of the rectors or incumbent pastors (or a certain select number out of every deanery within that diocese) might meet: with whose consent, or the major part of them, all things might be concluded by the bishop or superintendent (call him whether you will) or in his absence by one of the suffragans, whom he should depute in his stead to be moderator of that assembly. Here all matters of greater moment might be taken into consideration, and the orders of the monthly synods revised and (if need be) reformed. And if here also any matter of difficulty could not receive a full determination, it might be referred to the next provincial or national synod.

4. The provincial synod might consist of all the bishops and suffragans, and such of the clergy as should be elected out of every diocese within the province. The primate of either province might be the moderator of this meeting, (or in his room some one of the bishops appointed by him) and all matters be ordered therein by common consent as in the former assemblies. This synod might be held every third year, and if the parliament do then sit, (according to the act for a triennial parliament) both the primates and provincial synods of the land might join together, and make up a national council; wherein all appeals from inferior synods might be received, all their acts examined, and all ecclesiastical constitutions which concern the state of the church of the whole nation established.

May it please your grace,

I would desire you to consider whether presentments are fit to be made by the churchwardens alone, and not rather by

26 Requests verbally presented to King Charles II. [1660.

Then whether in the diocesan

the rector and churchwardens. synod the members of it be not too many, being all to judge, and in their own cause, as it may fall out. Therefore, after this clause," and the rest of the rectors or incumbent pastors," whether it be not fit to interline, "or four or six out of every deanery."

RI. HOLDSWORTH.

We are of judgment, that the form of government here proposed is not in any point repugnant to the Scripture, and that the suffragans mentioned in the second proposition may lawfully use the power both of jurisdiction and ordination, according to the word of God, and the practice of the ancient church.

VI.

Requests verbally presented to King Charles Il in consequence of the Act for restoring the English Clergy.'-Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, by Sylvester, p. 241.

1. That with all convenient speed we may see his majesty's conclusions upon the proposals of the mutual condescencions, before they pass into resolves, and if it be thought meet, our brethrens proposals also.

2. That his majesty will publicly declare his pleasure for the suspension of proceedings, upon the Act of Uniformity,

By the Act 12, Car. II, cap. 17, intituled "An act for confirming and "restoring of ministers," it was enacted that every minister presented to a benefice since the year 1642, (such benefice being then void) and being in possession of the same on the 25th of December, 1659, shall be adjudged the lawful incumbent; and any minister, formerly ejected, not having declared for the king's trial and execution, nor against infant-baptism, shall be restored to his benefice before the 25th of December, 1660, upon taking the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.-Gibson's Codex, pp. 1070-4.

against Nonconformists in case of liturgy and ceremonies, till our hoped for agreement.

3. That his majesty will be pleased to publish his pleasure, (at least to those that are concerned in the execution) that (till the said expected settlement) no oath of canonical obedience, nor subscription to the liturgy, discipline, ceremonies, &c., nor renunciation of their ordination by mere presbyters, or confessing it to be sinful, be imposed on, or required of any, as necessary to their ordination, institution, induction, or confirmation by the seals.

4. That his majesty will cause the revoking of the broad seal that is granted to all those persons that by it are put into places where others have possession, to which none before could claim a right; that is, such as they call dead places.

5. That his majesty will be pleased to provide some remedy against the return or settlement of notoriously insufficient or scandalous ministers, into the places from which they were cast out, or into any other.

VII.

The Bishops' Answer to the first proposals of the London Ministers, who attempted the work of reconcilement.— Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, by Sylvester, pp. 242-7.

CONCERNING THE PREAMBLE.

§11. We first observe, that they take it for granted, that there is a firm agreement between them and us in the doctrinal

The §§ are inserted, as the subsequent Defence of their proposals by the Presbyterian divines refers to them.

truths of the reformed religion, and in the substantial parts of divine worship; and that the differences are only in some various conceptions about the ancient forms of church government, and some particulars about liturgy and ceremonies; which maketh all that follows the less considerable and less reasonable to be stood upon, to the hazard of the disturbance and peace of the church.

§ 2. They seem to intimate as if we did discountenance the practice of those things which, in principles, we allow; which we utterly deny.

In sundry particulars therein proposed, we do not perceive what farther security can be given, than is already provided for by the established laws of this realm; whereunto such persons as shall at any time find themselves aggrieved may have recourse for remedy.

§ 3. 1. We heartily desire (as well as they) that all animosities be laid aside; words of scorn, reproach, and provocation might be mutually forborne; and that, to men of different persuasions, such a liberty may be left of performing Christian duties according to their own way, within their own private families, as that yet uniformity in the public worship may be preserved, and that a gap be not thereby opened to sectaries for private conventicles: for the evil consequences whereof none can be sufficiently responsible unto the state.

§ 4. 2. We likewise desire that every congregation may have an able and godly minister to preach, catechise, administer the sacraments, and perform other ministerial offices as need shall require. But what they mean by residing, and how far they will extend that word, and what effectual provision of law can be made, more than is already done, concerning the things here mentioned, we know not.

§ 5. 3. Confirmation (which for sundry ends we think necessary to be continued in the church) if rightly and solemnly performed, will alone be sufficient as to the point of instruction. And for notorious and scandalous offenders, provision is made in the rubric before the communion; which rules, had they been carefully observed, the troubles of the church