An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed

You have first the Examination of persons to be ordained, and may see that they be able to speak sense, and fit to manage their proper works with judgement and discretion, before you ordain them; And some confidence may be put in a man in his proper calling and work, to which he is admitted with so great care, as we hope (or desire) you will admit them. If you are necessitated to admit some few that are injudicious, or unmeet, we beseech you (not only to restore the many hundred worthy men laid by, to a capacity, but that you will not so dishonour the whole Church, as to suppose all such, and to use all as such, but restrain those that deserve restraint, and not all others for their sakes: And next, you have a Public Rule (the holy Scripture) for these men to pray by. And if any of them be intolerably guilty ⟨p. 21⟩of weaknesses or rashness, or other miscarriages, the words being spoken in public, you have witnesses enow, and sure there is power enough in Magistrates and Bishops to punish them; and if they prove incorrigible, to cast them out. In all other Professions these means are thought sufficient to regulate the Professors. His Majesty thinks it enough to regulate his Judges, that he may choose able men, and fit to be trusted in their proper work; and that they are responsible for all their male-administrations, without prescribing them Forms, beyond which they may not speak any thing in their Charge. Physicians being first tried, and responsible for their doings, are constantly trusted with the lives of high and low, without tying them to give no counsel or medicine but by the prescript of a Book, or determination of a College. And it is so undeniable, that your reason makes more against Preaching, and for only reading Homilies, as that we must like it the worse, if not fear what will become of Preaching also. For, 1. It is known that in Preaching a man hath far greater opportunity and liberty to vent a false or private opinion, then in Prayer. 2. It is known de eventu, that it is much more ordinary. And if you say, [That he speaks not the words of the Church, but his own, nor unto God, but man, and therefore it is less matter:] We answer, It is as considerable, if not much more, from whom he speaks, then to whom he speaks as the Minister of Christ, in his stead and name, 2 Cor. 3. 19, 20.

You have first the Examination of persons to be ordained, and may see that they be able to speak sense, and fit to manage their proper works with judgement and discretion, before you ordain them; And some confidence may be put in a man in his proper calling and work, to which he is admitted with so great care, as we hope (or desire) you will admit them. If you are necessitated to admit some few that are injudicious, or unmeet, we beseech you (not onely to restore the many hundred worthy men laid by, to a capacity, but that you will not so dishonour the whole Church, as to suppose all such, and to use all as such, but restrain those that deserve restraint, and not all others for their sakes: And next, you have a Publick Rule (the holy Scripture) for these men to pray by. And if any of them be intolerably guilty