CHAPTER 12.

Certain Special Heads of Reformation which we crave.

1. All that has been spoken of the offices of the Church, the several (separate, distinct) power of the Office-bearers, their conjunct power also, and last, of the Patrimony of the Church, we understand it to be the right reformation which God craves at our hands, that the Church be ordered according thereto, as with that order which is most agreeable to the Word. But because something should be touched in particular concerning the state of the country, and that which we principally seek to be reformed in the same, we have collected them under these heads following :--

2. Seeing the whole country is divided into Provinces, and these Provinces again are divided into Parishes, as well in landward as in towns; in every parish and reasonable congregation there should be placed one or more Pastors to feed the flock, and no Pastor or Minister to be always burdened with the particular charge of more churches or flocks than one only.

3. And because it will be thought hard to find out Pastors or Ministers to all the parish churches of the realm, as well in landward as in towns, we think that by the advice of such as commission may be given to by the Church and Prince parishes in landward or small villages may be joined in some places, two, or three, or more together, and the principal and most commodious churches to stand, and be repaired sufficiently, and qualified Ministers placed thereat; and the other churches which are not found necessary may be suffered to decay. their church-yards always being kept burial places; and in some places where need requires, a single parish, where the congregation is too great for one church, may be divided into two or more.

4. Doctors should be appointed in Universities, Colleges, and in other places needful, and sufficiently provided for; to open up the meaning of the Scriptures, and to have the charge of Schools, and teach the rudiments of religion.

5. As for Elders, there should be some to be censurers of the manners of the people, one or more in every congregation; but not an Assembly of Elders in every particular church, but only in towns and famous places, where resort of men of judgment and ability to that effect may be had, where the Elders of the particular churches round about may convene together, and have a common Eldership and Assembly-place among them, to treat of all things that concern the congregations of which they have the common oversight.

6. And as there ought to be men appointed to unite and divide the parishes as necessity and commodity (convenience) require, so should there be appointed by the general Church, with the advice of the Prince, such men as fear God and know the state of the country, who are able to nominate and design (mark out) the places where the particular Elderships should convene, taking consideration of the dioceses as they were divided of old, and of the state of the country and provinces of the realm.

7. Likewise concerning Provincial and Synodal Assemblies, consideration were easy to be taken; (it would be easy to take consideration); how many and in what places they should be held, and how often they should convene, ought to be referred to the liberty of the general Church and order to be appointed therein.

8. The National Assemblies of this country. called commonly the General Assemblies, ought always to be retained on their own liberty, and have their own place; with power to the Church to appoint times and places convenient for the same, and all men, magistrates. as well as inferiors, to be subject to the judgment of the same in ecclesiastical causes, without any reclamation or appellation to any judge, civil or ecclesiastical. within the realm.

9. The liberty of the election of persons called to the ecclesiastical functions, and observed without interruption so long as the Church was not corrupted by Antichrist, we desire to be restored and retained within this realm, so that none be intruded upon any congregation, either by the Prince or any inferior person. without lawful election and the assent of the people over whom the person is placed. as the practice of the Apostolical and Primitive Church and good order crave.

10. And because this order which God's Word craves, cannot stand with patronages and presentation to benefices used in the Popish Church: We desire all them that truly fear God earnestly to consider that for so much as the names of patronages and benefices, together with the effect thereof, have flowed from the Pope and corruption of the Canon law only, in so far as any person was intruded or placed over churches having curam animarum; and for so much as that manner of proceeding has no ground in the Word of God. but is contrary to the same, and to the said liberty of election, they ought not now to have place in this light of reformation. And therefore, whosoever will embrace God's Word. and desire the kingdom of his Son Christ Jesus to be advanced, they will also embrace and receive that policy and order which the Word of God and upright estate of this Church crave. otherwise it is in vain that they have professed the same.

11. Notwithstanding as concerning other patronages of benefices that have not curam animarum, as they speak; such as chaplaincies, prebendaries rounded upon temporal lands, annuals, and such like, may be reserved to the ancient patrons, to dispose of them, when they become vacant, to Schools and Bursars, as they are required by Act of Parliament.

12. As for the Church rents in general, we desire that order be admitted and maintained among us that may stand with the sincerity of God's Word and practice of the purity of the Church of Christ :To wit, that as was before spoken, the whole rent and patrimony of the Church, except the small patronages before mentioned, may be divided into four portions: One thereof to be assigned to the Pastor for his entertainment and hospitality.: Another to the Elders, Deacons, and other Officers of the Church, such as Clerks of Assemblies, takers up of the Psalms, beadles and keepers of the church (care-takers), so far as is necessary; joining therewith also the Doctors of Schools, to help the ancient foundations where need requires: The Third portion to be bestowed upon the poor members of the faithful, and on hospitals: The Fourth for reparation of the churches and other extraordinary charges as are profitable for the Church; and also for the Common benefit, if need require.

13. We desire therefore the ecclesiastical goods to be uplifted (collected) and distributed faithfully to whom they appertain, and that by the Ministry of the Deacons, to whose office properly the collection and distribution thereof belong, that the poor may be answered of (assured, paid) their portion thereof, and they of the Ministry live without care and solicitude: As also the rest of the treasury of the Church may be reserved, and bestowed to their right uses. If these Deacons be elected with such qualities as God's Word craves to be in them, there is no fear that they shall abuse themselves in their office, as the profane collectors did before.

14. Yet because this vocation appears to many to be dangerous, let them be obliged as they were of old to a yearly count to the Pastors and Eldership; and if the Church and Prince think expedient let cautioners (sureties) be bound for their fidelity, that the Church rents be in no way dilapidated.

15. And to the effect this order may take place, it is to be provided that all other intromitters with the Church rents, collectors general or special, whether it be by appointment of the Prince or otherwise, may be denuded of further intromission therewith; and suffer the Church rents in time coming to be wholly intromitted with by the ministry of the Deacons, and distributed to the use before mentioned.

16. And also to the effect that the ecclesiastical rents may suffice to these uses before the which they are to be appointed, we think it necessary to be desired that all alienations, setting of rues or leases, of the rents of the Church, as well lands as tiends, in hurt and diminution of the old rentals, be reduced and annulled, and the patrimony of the Church restored to the former old liberty. And likewise that in times coming, the teinds be set to none but to the labourers of the ground, or else not set at all, as was agreed upon and subscribed by the nobility of before.