Note 589 — Chapter XXII

Baillie, ii. 357. "They have passed an ordinance, not only for appeal from the General Assembly to the Parliament, for two ruling elders, for one minister in every church-meeting, for no censure, except in such particular offences as they have enumerat; but also, which vexes us most, and against which we have been labouring this month bygone, a court of civil commissioners in every county, to whom the congregational elderships must bring all cases not enumerat, to be reported by them, with their judgment, to the Parliament or their Committee. This is a trick of the Independents' invention, of purpose to enervate and disgrace all our Government, in which they have been assisted by the lawyers and the Erastian party. This troubles us exceedingly. The whole Assembly and ministry over the kingdom, the body of the city, is much grieved with it; but how to help it, we cannot well tell. In the meantime, it mars us to set up anything; the anarchy continues, and the vilest facts do daily encrease."