Series 3 > Register of the consultations of the ministers of Edinburgh and some other brethren of the ministry > Volume 1

64
THE REGISTER OF CONSULTATIONS
tion. iv. It layes ane foundation for ane prelaticall
superintendencie in the Church, and for bringing Presby-
tries and Ministers in subjection under some few in everie
province. The same reason [which ?] pleads for and
seems to justifie the puting of the power of giveing certi-
ficats in order to mantenance in the hands of some few,
will als strongly plead for and no less seeme to justify the
puting of all the Church power in the hands of some few.
v. It is a generall stumbling to all sorts of persons, both
gude and bad, whither against the publict resolution or
for them. vi. It is an introduction to yeeld sundrie of
the most important particulars and questions betwixt us
and the Inglish As, 1. The poynt of acknowledging them
to be the lawfull magistrat be ingageing to live peaceably
under their government. 2. The poynt of their assuming
power over the Church to their nominating and designing
of persons for Ecclesiastick imployments. 3. The poynt
of tolleration, by condescending that sundry of these
persones be of the independent judgements, and that all
the necessar qualifications of a Minister sail consist in this
being a persone of an holy and unblameable conversation,
disposed to live peaceably under the present government,
and who for the grace of God in him and for his knowledge
and utterance is able and fitt to preach the Gospell.
4. Laying aside the ordination and admission by the
Presbytrie as not necessary, what arguments these con-;
comitants and consequents of following the way of the
ordinance doe yeeld againes the same, besides these which
are already sett downe, may be easily collected and putt
in forme by any intelligent reader.
Before we close, we hold it expedient to speake also to
some of the chiefe objections that we brought for justi-
fyeing of this ordinance and of accepting the nomination
made therein. The first is that it is generally granted by
divines that the Magistrat may doe many things in ane
troubled and corrupt state of the Church, which he cannot
doe when the Church is sound and in peace ; and, there¬
fore, the troubled and corrupt state of this Church being
acknowledged by ourselves, it cannot be denyed bot that