Mr. Hollis his speech to the Lords in Parliament concerning peace. With a motion for some course to be taken for repairing of trade, that so poore tradesmen may be preserved to hold out during these troublesome times. Whereunto is added a relation of a vision of blood in the skie, that appeared about Redding on Tuesday night last.

Mr. Hollis his speech to the Lords in Parliament concerning peace. With a motion for some course to be taken for repairing of trade, that so poore tradesmen may be preserved to hold out during these troublesome times. Whereunto is added a relation of a vision of blood in the skie, that appeared about Redding on Tuesday night last.

Table of contents

[1]

Title page

Mr. Hollis HIS. Speech to the Lords, upon the delivery of a Message from the House of Commons.

A Relation of a Vision of Blood in the Skie, which appeared at Redding on Tuesday night last.

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Title page

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CHAP. VII. Of Deacons.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Preaching of the Word.

CHAP. IX. Of Baptisme.

CHAP. X. Of the Lords Supper.

CHAP. XI. Of the Fast.

Of Thankesgiving.

CHAP. XII. Of Marriage.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Visitation of the sicke.

CHAP. XIV. Of Buriall.

CHAPTER XV. Of Ecclesiasticall Censures.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies for the guiding and governing of the Church.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Consistories.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the composed Assemblies, which are the Colloques and the Synods.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Colloques.

CHAP. XX. Of the Synods.

Here followeth the manner of Installing the Officers of the Church.

The Promise in generall.

Promises Common to Ministers of the Word of God, and to the Elders.

A Promise particular to the Minister of the Word.

A Promise particular to the Elders.

A Promise particular to Deacons.

A Prayer Common for all the Officers of the Church.

Proper to the Minister of the Word.

Proper to the Elders.

Proper to Deacons.

Laying on of hands.

A generall Admonition to the people for all the Officers of the Church.

Speciall for the Minister of the Word.

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Mr. HOLLIS HIS SPEECH TO The Lords in Parliament concerning PEACE. WITH A motion for some course to be taken for repairing of trade, that so poore tradesmen may be preserved to hold out during these troublesome Times.

Whereunto is added a Relation of a Vision of Blood in the Skie, that appeared about Redding on Tuesday night last.

LONDON, Printed for T. Wright. 1643.

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Mr. Hollis HIS. Speech to the Lords, upon the delivery of a Message from the House of Commons.

My Lords,

I Am commanded by the Knights. Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House, to present your Lordships with a Petition now delivered into their House, by divers poor Tradesmen in and about the Citie of London, contaning in the same the great want and necessitie they and their families are fallen into, through the decay of treading. The means and causes that have produced this decay, and the remedies to prevant further miserie, and revive trading: My Lords, it is a common observation, and the experience of former Ages hath made it manifest, that when the sword of warre is unsheathed, famine that [Page] followes, the greatest destruction of all Commonwealths and Kingdomes, witnesse the miserable calamities and troubles that have of late years befallen upon Italy and Germany. If wee call to minde ancient Histories mentioning the fatall destruction of the Easterne Empires, wee shall finde that the first step to their desolation, hath been domestick dissention, and home-bred mutinies, upon which hath followed Nationall warres, and the effects of all hath been famine and pestilence, which hath given a full period to the utter confusion of those Kingdoms. If wee pry and search into the ancient Histories of Italy and Rome, we shall find the only destruction both of that Kingdom and Citie; hath happened only by these occasions, the pride and ambition of the Popes and Bishops of that See, usurping authority to themselves over the Churches in the East, produced the wars between the East Vandals and the Romans, beeween the East and West Gothes, and the Italians, which was the utter desolation of the City of Rome.

First, by Allarick Captain of the West Gothes. Secondly by Adolph their Captain. Thirdly, by Athila King of the Hunns. Fourthly, by Genserick King of the Vandalls. Fifthly Odasar a German. Sixthly Theodericke an East Goth. And lastly, Totela Baldivel.

These Princes by the sword and fire, executed the iust iudgements of God upon proud and wicked Rome; the originall whereof was occasioned by the impurity and uncleanes of the Clergy: and what terrible Famines and grievous pestilencies followed these [Page] warres, is likewise too manifest by History; whereas in the beginning whome Rome first began to lift up her head against Gods true Religion and his anointed Servants, Kings and Emperours, she had been dashed and suppressed, all those bloudy and long warres procured by the Bishops thereof in all parts of the Christian world had bin prevented and avoyded.

My Lords, I have spoken this onely to remember your Lordships of the miseries and calamities that have hapned unto those Nations that have entertained amongst themselves dissension about the diversity of worship of God in Religion, which alwaies hath proved the root and principall means of future destruction, that now in time while opportunity doth serve such occasions of difference as do threaten the the same desolations to the state wherein we live, and whereof we be a part, may by the wisdome of this high Court of Parliment be prevented and avoyded.

My Lords, if Dearth and Famine be in a Nation, there can be nothing expected but confusion as well of the rich, as of the poore, It is the Common Proverb, necessity hath no law. There is no delaying of present necessity. It is not to be thought that Millions of men, women and childrdn will starve and perish, so long as there is Corn in the Land of Goshen, or in the custody of Ioseph, It is therefore the desire, my Lords, of the Commons, that as they have compassionately considered among themselves this necessiated Petition of distressed Trades-men, and have limited a day certaine for answering the same, so your Lordships would be pleased to take the same Petition into [Page] your consideration with them, that the petitioners may at the time appointed, receive from both Houses of Parliament, such answer from their demands, as may give them full satisfaction.

My Lords, under favour, I am to speake a word or two of the means that have occasioned the decay in trading, and the remedies to prevent the same for future time, and againe renew Trading, the meanes they conceive is principally want of due execution of Justice upon those persons that have bin the causers, and Authors thereof, and then the remedies, due execution of Justice, without any further protraction of time and the Enacting of such wholsome and good lawes, for the restriction of vice, and maintaining of vertue, both in goverment of the Church and State, as shall be congruent to the word of God, and the peace and prosperity of his Sacred Majesty, and all his Kingdoms, as shall be thought meet by the wisdome and policie of this great & high Court of Parliament, which I further humbly leave to the grave consideration of this Honourable House.

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A Relation of a Vision of Blood in the Skie, which appeared at Redding on Tuesday night last.

UPon Tuesday night last there appeared a skie red as bloud about Redding, halfe a mile long, or more, which was seen so cleare and visible about six of the clock at night, that not onely many people thereabouts did run to see it, but it being apparent so farre that it might be seen to London; there were thousands that went to London-Bridge, and many other places, where they could attaine the prospect, to see it; insomuch that there was a great crowd upon the Bridge, some went into the fields, others to the tops of houses to behold this wonderfull vision, which was in this manner, viz. In length half a mile or more, as it was judged, sharp at the North [Page] end, and broad at the South end: for the length of it was North and South, red as bloud, and very clear, almost in colour like the Moon when she is in an Eclipse; which though it seemed cleere, yet caused rather a darknesse then a light; the length continued much alike, but it grew somtimes broader, and sometimes again it was narrower; there was neither Sun, Moone, nor any Star visible in the skie, which was very black and dark, onely this bloudy vision which appeared in this manner. What can we otherwise judge of, then to be a token of Gods displeasure against the cruell Cavaliers thereabouts, who kill, murder, and slaw the people of God, whose bloud cries to heaven in the ears of God for vengeance against them.

FINIS.

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handle the Ecclesiasticall affaires. And those which shall be chosen to goe to the Colloques and Synods with the Ministers, shall not faile to come thither at the day assigned.

CHAP. VII. Of Deacons.

Article I. THe Deacons shall be ordained in the Church to gather the almes of the people, and to distribute them according to the necessitie of the poore, by the advice of the Consistory.

Art. 2. They shall gather together the almes after the Sermon, and shall procure and keepe faithfully, the goods of the poore: And if necessitie so require, they shall goe from house to house of those that are willing, to gather that which it shall please them to give.

Art. 3. They shall distribute nothing without the advice of the Consistory, if there be not urgent necessitie.

Art. 4. The almes shall be distributed principally to those which are of the houshold of faith, and if there be any overplus, it may serve to helpe the strangers.

Art. 5. To meet with all suspition the Deacons shall keepe the Booke, as well of the receits as also of the distribution of the almes, the which they shall count in presence of the Minister and of one of the Elders.

Art. 6. The Deacons shall render their accompts every Communion day after the latter Sermon, in the presence of the Ministers, the Ancients, and the people, if there be any that will assist them: And therefore they shall be exhorted to be present there.

Art. 7. They shall endeavour that the poore shall be nourished without going about a begging. And they shall make suite to the Governours, that the youth fit for labour, may be set to occupations: And shall advertise [Page] the Masters, the Justices, to the end they may give order that none goe from house to house to beg.

Art. 8. They shall visite the poore, sicke, and impotent, and the prisoners, to comfort and assist them in their necessitie.

Art. 9. They shall be assistant to the Consistory with the Ministers and Ancients, and there shall propose the necessitie of the poore, and tell their advice: but in the choice of other Deacons, they shall have definitive voice.

Art. 10. There shall be two Deacons in every Parish, or else the Elders shall have this charge of gathering and distributing the almes of the people.

The Ecclesiasticall Liturgie, wherein is contained the Preaching of the Word, the Administration of the Sacraments, Marriage, the visitation of the Sicke, wherein also is spoken of Buriall.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Preaching of the Word.

Article I. THe people shall assemble themselves twice every Sunday within the Church to heare the Gospell preached, and shall be assistant to the publike prayers: And also they shall assemble themselves once or twice every weeke upon the dayes, which shall be commodious for the Parishes: And every house-holder shall cause to be present his family.

Art. 2. The people being assembled before the Sermon, one shall reade a Chapter out of the Canonicall Scripture onely, and not out of the Apocrypha Bookes: and that it be done by one that hath charge in the Church, or of one of good conversation at the least.

[Page] Art. 3. During the time of prayers, every one shall kneele, having the head bare. Item during the time of singing of Psalmes, and the administration of the Sacraments, and whiles the Minister shall read his Text, every one shall be uncovered, and be attentive to that which is said and done of him.

Art. 4. At the publike Catechismes which the Minister shall make on the Sunday after dinner, he shall chuse a Text out of the Word of God, which is agreeable unto the section he is to treate of, and shall reade in the beginning of the said Text, and shall have it for a foundation of the doctrine which shall be spoken of in the said section.

Art. 5. The doores of the Church shall be shut after the Sermon and publike prayers, to wipe away all superstition. And the sears shall be set in good order, that every one may commodiously understand the voice of the Minister preaching.

Art. 6. The Churches which are dedicated to the speciall service of God, shall not be imployed to any prophane uses: And the Magistrate shall be desired that he would not hold there any civill jurisdiction.

CHAP. IX. Of Baptisme.

Article I. THe holy Baptisme shall be administred in the Church after the preaching of the Word of God, before the blessing.

Art. 2. The Fathers of the children (if they be not upon a voyage) shall with the witnesses stand neere to the child, to present it to God, and make promise for the instruction of it, as they are bound there to doe.

Art. 3. None shall be received to present a childe at the Baptisme, unlesse he have received the Lords Supper, [Page] or else if he be not fit to receive it, and that he make promise to doe it at the next Communion, whereof (if he be a stranger) he shall bring testimony.

Art. 4. He which would present a childe to be Baptised, shall advertise the Minister in good time.

Art. 5. The Minister shall not receive the names of Heathen, of Idolls, names attributed to God in the Scripture, neither the names of Office, as Angels, Baptist, Apostle.

Art. 6. Every Parish shall register all their Baptismes, of the Fathers, Mothers, and Witnesses of children, and of the day wherein they were baptized; and likewise of the Marriages and of the dayes; all which shall be carefully kept.

CHAP. X. Of the Lords Supper.

Article I. THe holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, shall be celebrated foure times in the yeare; at Easter, or the first Sunday of Aprill: the first Sunday of July: the first Sunday of October; and the first Sunday of Januarie: And this shall be done after the Sermon, the which shall be made expresly of this matter, or at the least shall be touched at the latter end of the Sermon.

Art. 2. They shall follow this order; The Table shall be set in some commodious place by the Pulpit, where they shall communicate in order, being set, which is most conformable to the first institution, or standing, as it is the custome of some Churches, the men first, and the women after, and none shall goe away till after the thankesgiving and blessing of the people.

Art. 3. Those which would communicate at the holy Supper, shall be catechised first of all by the Minister, to render a reason of their faith. They ought to know [Page] the Lords Prayer, the Articles of their faith, and the ten Commandements, at the least the substance of them; and renounce the Pope, the Masse, and all Idolatry and Superstition.

Art. 4. None shall be received to the holy Supper, which is not of age and discretion, and which hath not good testimony of his life and conversation, and which doth not promise to subject himselfe to the discipline.

Art. 5. If there be any which is accused in justice to have committed some crime, he shall be exhorted to abstaine from the Communion, till such time as he shall be justified.

Art. 6. There shall not be received to the Lords Supper any of other Parishes without good testimony from his Pastor, or of two of the Elders where there is no Minister.

Art. 7. Those that will not be reconciled, shall be deprived of the Lords Supper.

Art. 8. They shall advertise the people at the least fifteene dayes before the Lords Supper, to the end they may be prepared for it.

Art. 9. Besides the former examination, which is made of the doctrine before they communicate unto the holy Supper, every one ought againe to be catechised once a yeare at the least, according to the commoditie of the Ministers and Parishioners.

CHAP. XI. Of the Fast.

Article I. THe publike fast shall be celebrated in the Church, what time the Colloque or Synode shall thinke it meete, as a day of rest, in which there shall be Sermons in the forenoone and afternoone, with prayers, the reading of the word of God, and singing of Psalmes, all most [Page] meete for the occasions and causes of the Fast, and all by the authoritie of the Magistrate.

Of Thankesgiving.

Art. 2. The solemne thankesgiving must be celebrated in like manner, as the Fast: all the exercises being fitted to the occasions and causes of it.

CHAP. XII. Of Marriage.

Article I. THe promises of Marriages shall be made in the presence of the Parents friends, Governours, or Masters or Mistresses of the parties, and with consent of them, and in the presence of the Minister, or of one Elder or Deacon, who shall receive the promises pure and simple, with invocation of the name of God, otherwise they shall not be received. And as for those that are at their owne libertie, the presence of the Minister or one of the Elders or Deacons is also necessary for the policie.

Art. 2. The children and those which are under Government, cannot make any promise of Marriage without the consent of their Fathers and Mothers, or of their Tutors, or of their Gardians, in whose power they are.

Art. 3. If the Fathers and Mothers are so unreasonable that they will not accord to so holy a thing, the Consistory shall give them such advice as shall be expedient, to the which if the Fathers and Mothers will not agree, they shall have recourse to the Magistrate.

Art. 4. Even those which have beene married, owe this honour to their parents, not to marry themselves without the advice of their parents, for want whereof they shall be censured.

Art. 5. Those which shall be betrothed, shall promise [Page] with their parents that they shal be married within three moneths after their promises are made, or within six moneths, in case they be in a voyage. And if they will not obey, they shall be pursued by the Ecclesiasticall Censures.

Art. 6. No stranger shall be betrothed, unlesse he have leave of the Right Worshipfull the Governours, or their Leiftenants.

Art. 7. In marriages the degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie shall be diligently observed according to the law of God.

Art. 8. The publication of Matrimony shall be declared three Sundayes, one after another immediately in the Church where the parties dwells, or if they marry in some other Parish, they shall bring good testimony from the Minister that shall have published them, otherwise they cannot be married.

Art. 9. To avoyde the abuse and prophanation of the day of Rest, and the manifest contempt of the Word of God, which is made in the marriage-dayes, it is thought good that marriage be no more celebrated upon Sunday, but on the weeke dayes onely when there is a Sermon.

Art. 10. If any will oppose himselfe against the publication of Matrimony, they must addresse themselves to the Minister first, or to two of the Elders, which shall signifie it to the next Consistory, to come and give the reasons of his opposition: Of which the Consistory shall judge: And if there be any appeale, it shall be referred to the Colloque.

Art. 11. Those which have companied together before they are married, shall not be married before they have made confession of their fault; and if the fault be openly knowne, they shall doe it before all the Church: And if it be lesse knowne, the Consistory shall give order for it.

Art. 12. The promises of Widdowes that would remarry themselves, shall not be received but six moneths [Page] after the death of their deceased husband, that both for the honestie and well seemlinesse, and to meet with many inconveniences. As for the men, they shall be exhorted to stay a certain time also, without constraining them thereunto.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Visitation of the sicke.

Article I. THose which have sicke folke, shall advertise those which have charge in the Church in commodious time to this end, that they may be visited and comforted.

Art. 2. Those which are sicke shall be advertised to make their will in good time, and whilst they are in their good sense, which shall be done in the presence of the Minister or Elder, or some other able men, and worthy of faith, which shall seale the said Testament, to this end they may be approved.

CHAP. XIV. Of Buriall.

Article I. THe dead bodies shall not be brought nor made enter into the Churches: but into the Church-yard ordained for the faithfull.

Art. 2. The kinsfolke, friends, and neighbours of the dead, and as many as the kinsfolkes will pray, even the Ministers, if they be at leisure, as members of the Church and brethren, not in regard of their charge, no more than the Elders and Deacons, and shall goe to conduct the dead corps, for the comelinesse of the buriall: At the [Page] which there shall be neither Sermon, nor prayer, nor ringing of Bells, neither any kinde of other ceremony.

Art. 3. The dead shall not be buried without advertising of the Minister before.

Art. 4. The dead corps of those which are excommunicated shall not be buried among the faithfull without ordinance of the Magistrate.

CHAPTER XV. Of Ecclesiasticall Censures.

Article I. ALL those which are of the Church shall be subject to the censures, as well those which have charge in the Church, as those which have no charge.

Art. 2. The suspention from the holy Supper of the Lord, shalbe published only in matter of heresie, schisme, or other notable fault, of which the Consistorie shall judge.

Art. 3. Those which shall not receive the advertisements and reprehensions of faults made by the Word of God, and which continue hardened, without hope of being brought into the right way after many exhortations, if they cannot be brought againe they shall be excommunicated: whereunto shall be proceeded by three Sundayes, according to the order as followeth.

Art. 4. The first Sunday every one shall be exhorted to pray for the sinner, without naming or declaring the sinne, or the sinner.

Art. 5. The second Sunday the sinner shall be named and not the sinne: the third Sunday the sinner shall be named and the sinne declared, and he excommunicated, which shall so continue as long as he remaineth rebellious.

Art. 6. Those which are excommunicated, are rejected of the Church, that they ought not to be admitted [Page] either to publick prayers, or unto the preaching of the Word.

Art. 7. If any having publick charge in the Church, shall commit any fault which in a private person meriteth publick suspention from the Lords Supper, they shall be suspended from their charge, and if they commit any fault the which in a private person meriteth excommunication they shall be deposed.

Art. 8. And likewise those which have committed any such fault, by the which they are made uncapable of exercising their charge to the edification of the Church, shall be deposed.

Art. 9. If the sinner commeth to repentance, desiring of the Consistory to be received to the peace of the Church, diligent information must be had of his conversation, and shall advise the people thereof the Sunday before he be received, and make confession to have peace of the Church.

Art. 10. The second Sunday he shall present himselfe before the Pulpit, and shall confesse his fault, asking pardon of God and of the Church by his owne mouth, in ratifying onely that which the Minister shall have said of his repentance.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Ecclesiasticall Assemblies for the guiding and governing of the Church.

Article I. IN all Ecclesiasticall Assemblies the Ministers shall be Moderators, to gather the voyces, to impose silence, and to give sentence according to the pluralitie, and to give the Censures; to the which they shall be subject as well as others.

Art. 2. All Censures shall be done in meeknesse of spirit and doctrine.

[Page] Art. 3. All Assemblies shall be begun and ended by prayers and thankesgiving; and it shall be done by him that is then Moderator.

Art. 4. All those which there shall be assistant, shall speake by order, without interrupting one of the other.

Art. 5. None shall depart from the Assembly without leave.

Art. 6. All Ecclesiasticall matters there shall be intreated of, and decided by the Word of God, without taking upon them any civill Jurisdiction.

Art. 7. If there come any matter of importance, which cannot be decided in the lesser Assemblies, they shall be sent to the greater. And likewise if any man doe feele himselfe grieved with the judgement of the lesser, he may appeale to the greater: And there shall be nothing in the greater handled, which hath not been handled before in the lesser, unlesse it be in a matter which is remitted.

Art. 8. For all the things that are memorable in all the Assemblies, there shall be a Register made, which shall be done by a Scribe appointed in every one of the Assemblies.

Art. 9. The Ecclesiasticall Assemblies shall not be daysmen in causes and matters civill, yet the particular members of it as private persons may, but yet very rarely, when it is for making an end of debate, and the same of great consequence.

Art. 10. He which hath been deprived of the Communion, or suspended from his Charge by an assembly, shall be reestablished by the same.

These Assemblies are either simple, or compound; simple, as the Consistories.

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CHAP. XVII. Of the Consistories.

Article I. THe Consistory is the assembly of the Ministers and Elders of every Church, for the Government of it, and to watch over the manners and doctrine, and to correct the vices, and encourage the well-doers, where the Deacons, together with the proposants, may be assistant to the Ministers, to the end to fashion them in the discipline and guiding of the Church.

Art. 2. The Consistories are to be assembled every Sunday, or other dayes and houres ordained, according to the commoditie of the Consistories, to consult of the affaires of the Church.

Art. 3. None shall be called to the Consistory without the advice of the Minister and of two Elders, in case of necessitie at the least: and every Elder or he that giveth sommance, shall call them of his quarter, as shall be ordained.

Art. 4. The Elders shall not report the secret faults, not having observed the order commanded by Jesus Christ, Matth. 18. Reprehending in secret the faults that are secret.

Art. 5. The Minister or Elders shall not name to the Consistorie, those whose faults they shall bring to the Consistorie, without the advice of the said Consistorie.

Art. 6. The censures of the Consistorie shall be given before every Communion in the most commodious day; wherein the School-Masters also shall be censured.

Art. 7. The Consistorie shall choose those which ought to goe to the Colloques.

Art. 8. The correction of faults and offences, appertaineth to the Consistories, excommunication excepted.

[Page] Art. 9. In Ecclesiasticall Assemblies the Consistories shall make inquisition of the faults which shall come before them; and shall adjure the parties in the name of God to speake the truth.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the composed Assemblies, which are the Colloques and the Synods.

Article I. AT the beginning of the Assembly there shall be called the Minister and the Elders, which ought to be assistants there.

Art. 2. The persons who are named to be assistants shall not misse to be present there, upon paine to be censured at the next assembly, unto the which they shall be called.

Art. 3. The Articles of the former assemblies shall be read before they enter the affaires, to the end to know if they have been executed: And at the end of every assembly the Elders shall take a copie of that which hath been determined there: to the end that all may walk after the same rule.

Art. 4. In every Assembly there shall be a Scribe to write that which shall be resolved of by the Company.

Art. 5. At the end of every assembly they shall give a brotherly censure of the Consistories, in generall of the Ministers and Elders, which shall be assistant there, and principally of that which hath been done in the assembly during the action.

Art. 6. The excommunication shall be onely concluded in these assemblies.

Art. 7. The Masters the Justices shall be prayed to cease the exercise of Courts, ordinary and extraordinarie in the dayes of the Colloques and Synods, to this end [Page] that they which ought to be there assistant may not be hindred.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Colloques.

Article I. THe Colloque in the Assembly of the Ministers and Ancients deputed of every Church, in every one of the Governments of those Iles, for the government and entertainment of the Discipline.

Art. 2. The Colloques shall be assembled foure times in the yeare; ten dayes before every Communion: In which day there shall be the proposition of the Word of God, following the forme which is before established in the Chapter of Ministers.

Art. 3. The Ministers of Alderney and Sparke, shall meet once a yeare at the least, at the Colloque at Gernsey, and they shall choose the most fit time to come in.

Art. 4. The Colloque shall choose those which ought to goe to the Synode, and shall give them Letters testimoniall of their sending.

CHAP. XX. Of the Synods.

Article I. THe Synode is the Assemblie of Ministers and Elders, deputed by the Colloques of these Iles.

Art. 2. The Synode shall be assembled from two yeares to two yeares, in Gersey and Garnsey by course, unlesse necessitie doe constraine to assemble it sooner▪ In which case those of the Ile where the Synode is to be holden, may hasten▪ it by the advice of both the Colloques.

[Page] Art. 3. In every Synode there shall be chosen a Minister to governe the action, and a Scribe to register the actions.

Art. 4. The Minister of the place where the assembly is made, shall make a prayer in the beginning of the first sitting.

Art. 5. The Colloques shall mutually advertise one another of the generall things they have to propose to the Synode in commodious time, to this end that every one may have time to think of it more ripely. And they shall give some advertisement thereof before the Colloque, which goeth next before the Synode, so farre as they may: And as for things of smaller importance, they shall be communicated of in the day of the first sitting.

These Articles touching the Discipline, are so set downe that so much and so farre as they are grounded upon the Word of God, they are immoveable: And as for the points that are meerely Ecclesiasticall, that is to say, framed and set downe for the commoditie of the Church, according to the circumstance of persons, time, and place, they may be changed by the same authoritie they have been instituted.

Here followeth the manner of Installing the Officers of the Church.

The Promise in generall.

YOu promise before God, his elect Angels, and his Church, that you will serve him faithfully in this Office, taking heed to your selfe, to this end, that in this vocation of God, you may walke worthily, so as it becommeth a good servant of God, without abusing it to serve your owne affections, or to be pleasing unto men, but that you use it with a good consciente, carrying all [Page] that you doe in this office to the glory of God, and to the edification of the Church, principally of that over which you are set: giving in all things good example unto all, namely, in keeping and taking good heed to the pollicy as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill, procuring the good and honour of the Kingdome of England and of the Ile: taking paines that the people may live in good order, peace and union one with another, and in subjection and obedience to the Government of his Majestie, the right Worshipfull the Governours, his Lieftenant, the Bailiefe, and the Justices, not consenting to any thing which is repugnant to the Lawes Civill, Pollicy of the Countrey and Kingdome, and the Ecclesiasticall Censures. All which you shall doe so farre as your office doth require, that is to say, without being prejudiciall to the libertie of a good conscience.

Furthermore, You shall not abandon or leave off your Charge for any discontentment, or tediousnesse, or any thing whatsoever: unlesse it be by the consent of the Consistory, or other to whom it appertaineth: At which Consistory you shall attend (if there be no hinderance) the Sunday, after the Catechisme to handle the Ecclesiasticall affaires: And you shall take heed of not disclosing any thing that hath been handled, to the parties or any other persons (unlesse it be that they ought to know it) in paine of being rejected from the Company: Remembring alwayes that you must render an account of the charge which hath been committed unto you; to the end that you may heare his most amiable voice, It is well done good servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord. Finally, that which toucheth you most neerly in regard of the particular charge you are called unto.

Promises Common to Ministers of the Word of God, and to the Elders.

YOu doe promise that you will feed and governe the flocke of Christ, which is committed unto you, [Page] which is his house, according to the pollicy that our Lord Jesus Christ hath established in his Church, in having a care not by constraint, but willingly and with a ready courage, not for gaine or unseemely honour, but onely having regard to the glory of God, and to the salvation of the people: Not raigning over the Church, but in humilitie and feare, following the Word of God.

You promise also to have an eye and watch upon the flocke, to admonish and comfort in particular, according as neede requires: Also to reprehend the private faults, and to bring to the Consistorie the publick faults; to the end the scandalls of the Church may be hindred.

You shall attend the Colloques and Synodes at all times, when you shall be deputed thereunto, revealing nothing of that which hath been handled to the parties, or any of the persons, unlesse they ought to know it, upon paine to be rejected from the company.

You promise to take carefull heed of the accompts of the Deacons at the Communion day, or at least at the Communion dayes of September and Easter, and that after the second Sermon of the Sabbath; in which day ordinarily there is no Consistorie kept, or else the Sunday following, according to the opportunitie of the Church.

A Promise particular to the Minister of the Word.

YOu promise that you will deliver the most holy Word, and Sacraments of God, in all faithfulnesse, purenesse, and reverence, that you will take paines in teaching the people which are capable, in convincing those which contradict, in casting downe the proud, in erecting and lifting up the humble, in bringing againe those that are strayed out of the way, in cutting rightly the word of truth, as a good workman, which needeth [Page] not be ashamed, and as a good and wise Steward of the House of the Lord, distributing the spirituall meate as well to every one apart, according to his abilitie, as in common to all the family. You shall doe this in all diligence, being earnest in time and out of time: And for this cause you promise to follow with all care and diligence, all meanes and helpes of studie, things proper to execute & honour your said Ministery, which notwithstanding shall be done in all simplicitie and easinesse, as well in words as in sentences, to this end, that the rudest and most unlearned, and the Church may be edified by it. Above all, you shall imploy your selfe in studying the holy Scriptures, to this end, that being well instructed touching the Kingdome of Heaven, you may be like a good Father of a Family, who is able to draw out of his treasure both old and new things.

A Promise particular to the Elders.

YOu promise to be assistant unto the Ministers of the Word, for the Government of the Church, over the which you are appointed, and shall take heed to the Ministery of the Word; First, that the Church be not unprovided, and that being established it may be reverenced, and therefore you shall have an eye to them as well for the holy doctrine, as for their holinesse of life, and afterwards upon the rest of the Church, especially upon those which are committed more neerly to your charge. And therefore if there shall come any discord between any of your quarter, you shall endeavour to accord them by good and brotherly advisement, and if they will not obey, you shall summon them to come to the Consistorie to have some convenient remedy thereof, which you shall doe principally in the Visitation before the Communion: Also you shall goe at every Communion throughout all the Families of your quarter, as well to [Page] your neighbours, as those that are of your own houshold, to know whether they live in the feare of God, whether they frequent preaching, if they doe pray in their houses, their particular prayers evening and morning, before and after meate.

Furthermore, You doe promise to visit the sicke of your quarter, and when there shall be need, you shall call with you the Ministers of the Word to comfort them; finally, you shall procure that all things in the assemblies may be done in good order and seemlinesse.

A Promise particular to Deacons.

YOu promise to receive, dispence, and keepe faithfully, and without deceipt or acceptation of persons, the goods which are given to the poore; you shall gather the almes of the poore given by the people at the going out of the Church after the Sermons, and especially on the Sabbath day: And if that necessitie so require (because of some extraordinary need) you shall goe by the houses of those which are willing, to gather some come or other almes, according to the good will or discretion of well disposed people. And to wipe away all evill suspition, you shall count out of hand the almes received (which shall be set down in writing) in the presence of the Ministers, and one or two of the Elders: And for this cause you shall have a Booke, wherein to Register as well the things that are received as those that are laid out.

You doe promise that you will not give any almes without communicating it unto the Ministers and the Elders, that you distribute the almes, first of all unto those that are of the houshold of faith; and if there be any overplus, you may let it run down unto strangers from the Church.

You do promise to visit the poore, sicke, and to cause them to be tended and looked unto, and to inquire of the [Page] necessitie of other poore, principally of your quarter, and to the end that they may be nourished by the almes of the Church, without letting them wander and range about the streets, or other Parishes. And you shall procure that those which are meet to be put to occupation, that they may be imployed, of the which, you shall advertise the Constables, or those which have the charge of Justice, to the end that they may not be suffered to beg.

A Prayer Common for all the Officers of the Church.

OH Lord God, Father of light, from whom commeth every good and perfect gift, we doe pray thee most humbly in the name and favour of Jesus Christ, thy onely Sonne our Saviour, who being ascended into heaven in glory, doth not cease to inlarge towards as thy gratious liberalitie of Officers, for the work of the Ministery, and building of thy mysticall bodie, wee most humbly pray thee, that seeing it hath pleased thee to call this our brother to the service of the Church, that thou wouldest so fashion and fit him to so holy a charge, that he may quit himselfe in all diligence, imploying himselfe faithfully and with a fervent zeale to all that which belongeth unto his charge. Give him prudency to governe himselfe well in it, and force to execute all things that appertaine to him in regard of his office. Above all things, fill him with the spirit of thy feare, to the end that he may be preserved from all scandall, confusion, and the allurements of this present world, of the snares and ambushments of Sathan, giving him patience and constancy, that he may acquit faithfully his dutie as much as humane frailtie may suffer: Blesse thou his labour, to the end that nothing hinder the holy worke which is in his hands; Shew also this grace to every one of us, to acknowledge [Page] him as set and ordained of thy hand in this most holy vocation, that we may be led by him, without withstanding the order thou hast established in thy Charge: And that by this means remaining in thy obedience, thou mayst be glorified in us, and thy Church may receive continuall growth, to the good and salvation of thy children:

Proper to the Minister of the Word.

And in regard of his particular Charge, we most humbly pray thee, that this our brother which thou hast called to the Ministery of thy holy Word, to the which even the holy Angells are insufficient, thou wouldest enlarge him with the true keowledge of the wonderfull secrets thereof, and with a singular wisdome, by the which he may know how to dispence and apply to every one, according to the circumstance of time, of places, and principally of persons, that he may have his mouth opened to declare in all libertie and boldnesse, truly spirituall, the mystery of the Gospell; As also all that which is meete for him to declare; And also to administer the holy Sacraments in all puritie and reverence: Give to every one of us this grace, that we may receive as well the one as the other, in all humilitie and trembling of heart, not as comming from men, but (as the truth is) comming from thee the living God, thereby to be quickned eternally to

Proper to the Elders.

be an Elder and watchman, graunt thou that he being given for helpe to the Ministers of the Word in the government, and as the eares of the body of the Church, he may apply himselfe with such diligence to know the estate as well of the faith as of the manners of the flocke, principally of those over the which he hath more particular charge, that by this meanes he may as well admonish, reprehend, comfort, and encourage every one, according as there is need; as also to certifie the Ministers of the Word of it, that the Ministers by help thereof may with more profit addresse their doctrine to the Church of God. Give also this grace to every one of us, that we [Page] may obey and reverence him as well in private admonitions, as the rest of the guiding of the Church, as a father whom God hath set to watch over our soules, to this end he may doe it with cheerfulnesse and not with griefe to

Proper to Deacons.

be a Deacon, that thou wouldest graunt him thy Spirit, first of simplicitie, to distribute the treasure of the church without acceptation of persons; and then the spirit of discretion, to discern of the estate of every one of the poore, and especially of those which are of his quarter. Finally, and above all, the spirit of compassion, to execute his dutie towards the poore (principally towards the sicke and weake) in all joy and readninesse, to the end they be not put to further sorrow: Touch also the hearts & entrayles of every one of us, that following thy liberalitie towards us, we may willingly and frankly distribute of our goods to sustain the necessitie of the afflicted, as members of the same bodie, and entertaining the communion, which ought to be between the faithfull, we may shew by effect that we are true members of the Church.

Laying on of hands.

I lay upon him the hands in the name of the Consistory, by which imposition of hands, you are advertised that you are set apart from the affaires of this world, whether they be your own or any others (in so much as they may hinder the charge you are called unto) to be dedicated & consecrated to the holy service of God. Moreover, that in doing your dutie faithfully, roundly, and in all simplicitie (as before God) you shall be assured of the assistance of the hand of God, helpfull unto you in all your necessitie: And therefore that you be not discouraged for the afflictions that may come upon you in executing your charge, rather that you may sustain constantly and in all patience, contempt, shame, and reproach of men given in this world, both which things being signified by this ceremony, God by his mercy and faithfulnesse accomplish and perfect in you, in the name of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Saviour.

[Page]

A generall Admonition to the people for all the Officers of the Church.

ANd as for you Brethren and Sisters know, that the dutie of the Church towards the Brother present, is to receive him willingly, as sent of God, bearing him honour and reverence, in regard of his Charge, the which he executeth towards you: Take heed that you murmur not against him, or against his Ministery in any sort whatsoever, for the Lord will not leave unpunished the contempt of his servants, and much lesse the murmuring and rash rebellion against their persons: As the horrible examples that may be seene in the Scriptures doe plainly testifie. It is also required of you that you pray unto God for him, to this end that he may execute the office God hath called him unto in all wisdome and faithfulnesse, referring all to Gods glory, and the edification of his Church, whereof he hath charge.

Speciall for the Minister of the Word.

Which you shall doe so much more carefully for him in regard that his charge is of so great importance, as well for the glory of God, as for the salvation of us all, as you have partly understood by the dutie which hath been already recited. To the end that speech may be given him and a mouth opened in all boldnesse to make known the secret of the Gospell, and to speak frankly as it behoveth him to speak. Secondly, it is meet you know that the office of the Church towards the Ministers is to entertaine them honestly, according to their power and abilitie: for it is good reason that seing they sow spirituall things, they should reap the corporall things: And that the Oxe that treadeth out the graine, should not want feeding, as St Paul teacheth: Therefore also you shall have this our Brother for recommended as touching his entertainment.

FINIS.

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Information about this book

Title statement

Mr. Hollis his speech to the Lords in Parliament concerning peace. With a motion for some course to be taken for repairing of trade, that so poore tradesmen may be preserved to hold out during these troublesome times. Whereunto is added a relation of a vision of blood in the skie, that appeared about Redding on Tuesday night last.

Holles, Denzil Holles, Baron, 1599-1680.

Edition statement

1643

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86477

ID [STC]

Wing H2478

ID [STC]

Thomason E90_18

ID [STC]

ESTC R19938

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99860786

ID [PROQUEST]

99860786

ID [VID]

112911

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86477)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 112911)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 16:E90[18])

Source

— Mr. Hollis his speech to the Lords in Parliament concerning peace. With a motion for some course to be taken for repairing of trade, that so poore tradesmen may be preserved to hold out during these troublesome times. Whereunto is added a relation of a vision of blood in the skie, that appeared about Redding on Tuesday night last., Holles, Denzil Holles, Baron, 1599-1680..

Extent

[2], 6 p.

Printed for T. Wright,. London :: 1643.. (Annotation on Thomason copy: "feb 24 1642".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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