pastor of the parish shall pray with the congregation, preach the
Word, and administer the sacraments to the same, according to the
directory to be hereafter appointed by the Parliament.
Nevertheless such as are of gathered congregations, or from time
to time shall join with any of them, are in no wise obliged to
this way of electing their teachers, or to give their votes in
this case, but wholly left to the liberty of their own
consciences, and to that way of worship which they shall choose,
being not popish, Jewish, or idolatrous. And to the end they may
be the better protected by the State in the exercise of the same,
they are desired to make choice, and such manner as they best
like, of certain magistrates in every one of their congregations,
which we could wish might be four in each of them, to be auditors
in cases of differences or distaste, if any through variety of
opinions, that may be grievous or injurious to them, shall fall
out. And such auditors or magistrates shall have power to examine
the matter, and inform themselves, to the end that if they think
it of sufficient weight, they may acquaint the phylarch with it,
or introduce it into the Council of Religion; where all such
causes as those magistrates introduce shall from time to time be
heard and determined according to such laws as are or shall
hereafter be provided by the Parliament for the just defence of
the liberty of conscience."
This order consists of three parts, the first restoring the
power of ordination to the people, which, that it originally
belongs to them, is clear, though not in English yet in
Scripture, where the apostles ordained elders by the holding up
of hands in every congregation, that is, by the suffrage of the
people, which was also given in some of those cities by the
ballot. And though it may be shown that the apostles ordained
some by the laying on of hands, it will not be shown that they
did so in every congregation.
Excommunication, as not clearly provable out of the
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