The Humble PETITION OF THE MINISTERS Of the Counties of Suffolke and Essex, Concerning Church-Government.

Presented to the Right Honourable the House of Peers on Fryday, May 29. 1946.

With their Answer thereunto.

Die Veneris 29 Maii, 1646.

ORdered by the Lord Assembled in Parliament, That this Petition and Answer be forthwith Printed and published.

Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.

LONDON: Printed for Iohn Wright at the Kings Head in the Old Bayley. 1 June 1646.

To the Right Honourable the House of Lords now Assembled in PARLIAMENT.
The Humble Petition of the Ministers of Suffolk and Essex.

Sheweth,

THat your solemne League and Covenant, your great and glorious Victories, the expectation of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas, the longing desires of our Brethren of Scotland, the humble Petitions of the Reverend Assembly, and the great City of this Kingdome, the pressing miseries of the Orthodox and well-affected Ministers and People in the Country, cry aloud to your Honours for a setling of Church-Government according to the Word. From the want of this it is, Right Honourable, that the name of the most High God is blasphemed, his precious truths corrupted, his Word despi­sed, his Ministers discouraged, his Ordinances vilified. Hence it is, that Schisme, Heresie, Ignorance, Prophanenesse, and Atheisme, flow in upon us, Seducers multiply, grow daring and insolent, pernicious Books poyson many souls, piety and learning decay apace, very many Congregations ly waste with­out [Page 2]Pastours, the Sacrament of Baptisme by many neglected, and by many re-iterated, the Lords Supper generally dis-used or exceedingly prophaned, confusion and ruine threatning as in all our Quarters.

In all humility therefore acknowledging your unwearied labours for the publique good, your successefull endea­vours for saving this Kingdom, your hopefull beginnings of a blessed Reformation; we out of conscience and in tender regard to the glory of God, and the salvation of our people, beseech your Honours, That a forme of Church-Government, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches, may with all possible speed be perfected, & confirmed by your civill sanction; that Schismaticks, Hereticks, seducing Teachers, and soul-subverting Books, be effectually sup­pressed; That further care may be had of Ordination for a supply of able and Orthodox Ministers, and all good meanes used to make up the sad breaches in this our Sion. So shall the Church of God be setled, your hands strengthned, the sacred Covenant performed, our feares prevented, the Judgements of God diverted.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

For the County of Suffolke.
  • Matth. Laurence.
  • Robert Stansbye.
  • Thomas Cave.
  • Isaac Basil.
  • John Fuellr.
  • Nathaniel Smart.
  • William Fincham.
  • Christop. Glascock.
  • John Wallace.
  • Thomas Warren of Witnesham.
  • Robert Steffe.
  • Robert Cade.
  • William Austen.
  • Thomas Richer.
  • William Redgrave.
  • Matth. Brownrigge.
  • John Cooper.
  • Richard Jennings.
  • John Wilkinson.
  • Thomas Warren of Layham.
  • John Swaine. Sen.
  • William Douglas.
  • [Page 3]Hugh Driver.
  • Barthol. Golding.
  • Henry Yonger.
  • Nicholas Leverton.
  • Barthol. Allerton.
  • John Cary.
  • William Browne.
  • Samuel Hudson.
  • Robert Wicks.
  • Bezaleel Carter.
  • Robert Mead.
  • John Goldson.
  • John Mayer.
  • John Trebicke.
  • Henry Bridon.
  • Samuel Spring. Jun.
  • John Long.
  • Samuel Samwayes.
  • John Rewse.
  • John Witham.
  • Spencer Fell.
  • John Thurleby.
  • Samuel Knapp.
  • Benjamin Farifax.
  • Richard Neach.
  • James Votier.
  • John Clarke.
  • William Cockram.
  • William Hodskins.
  • George Cock.
  • Thomas Fowle.
  • Patrick Lindsay.
  • Richard Olmsted.
  • Thomas Nuttall.
  • William Dowell.
  • Richard Davis.
  • Samuel Peirce.
  • George Germy.
  • Henry Searle.
  • Thomas Batho.
  • George Turnbull.
  • Thomas Sotheby
  • Samuel Spring, Sen.
  • Mathias Candler.
  • Jer. Cateline, Sen.
  • John Swaine, Jun.
  • Henry Cowper.
  • Seth Etcocks.
  • Jer. Catiline, Jun.
  • Richard Rogers.
  • John Whiting.
  • Edward Brasyer.
  • John Cocksedge.
  • John Dodds.
  • Abraham Chaplin.
  • Richard Ward.
  • John Forgon.
  • Isaac Wilham.
  • John Marleton.
  • Rob. Andrews, Sen.
  • Rob. Andrews, Jun.
  • Thomas Peake.
  • James Bacon.
  • Thomas Grunby.
  • Robert Harris.
  • Edward Willan.
  • Christo. Wragge.
  • William Bedell.
  • Nathaniel Cotton.
  • Andrew Chaplin.
  • Zachary Catlin.
  • John Powell.
  • John Dodd.
  • Robert Devereux.
  • Daniel Sutton.
  • Abraham Wright.
  • John Owen.
  • William Cropton.
  • Joshua Randall.
  • William Pickering.
  • Sansuel Bordman.
  • Thomas Crosby.
  • Paul Rainham.
  • Charles Harrison.
  • John Alexander.
  • Ioseph Ward.
  • Richard Golty.
  • Sam. Faireclough.
  • Richard Blackberie.
  • Thomas Turnill.
  • Iohn Allot.
  • Anth. Thompson.
  • Edward Eyres.
  • Robert Cooke.
  • Christopher Burrell.
  • Iohn Westley.
  • Iohn Pindar.
  • Iohn Cradock.
  • Peter Sainthill.
  • Edward Voice.
  • Robert Underwood
  • Iohn Wall.
  • Simon Iackson.
  • Anthony Fenton.
  • Theoph. Luddinton.
  • Ambros. Salmbury.
  • Rich. Chamberlin.
  • Philip Iacob.
  • George-Speed.
  • Robert Howlet.
  • Richard Hunne.
  • Iohn Syer.
  • Iohn Burrough.
  • Clement Raye.
  • Robert Stafford.
  • Iohn Frost.
  • Samuel Bradstreet.
  • [Page]Christopher Peart.
  • Tho. Rewse.
  • George Nelson.
  • Thomas Warren of Polsted.
  • John Brunning.
  • William Munning.
  • John Prat.
  • Robert Asty.
  • John Weld.
  • Isaac Harrison.
  • Samuel Maile.
  • Tho. Walker.
  • John Drake.
  • John Hale.
  • William Chapman.
  • Robert Webbe.
  • Thomas Curtis.
  • Samuel Sutton.
  • Richard Faucet.
  • Robert Sayer.
  • John Prat.
  • Joseph Herdson.
  • Anthony Barthelet.
  • John Ashburne.
For the County of Essex.
  • JOhn Morse.
  • John Ferrar.
  • Tho. Holmsled.
  • Joseph Downing.
  • Alexander Pigot.
  • Robert Harmer.
  • Robert Mercer.
  • Timothy Rogers.
  • Samuel Rogers.
  • John White.
  • Gamaliel Carr. jun.
  • John Okye.
  • George Smith.
  • William Cunning­hame.
  • Thomas Beard.
  • John Ludgater.
  • Tho. Turner.
  • Tho. Simpson.
  • Nath. Bugg.
  • Tho. Lawson.
  • John Lorkin.
  • Thomas Payne.
  • John Hubbert.
  • Samuel Hoard.
  • John Ferriby.
  • Matth. Elliston.
  • Hugh Glover.
  • John Powell.
  • William Hales.
  • Phil. Sanders.
  • Edward Bentall.
  • Robert Powell.
  • John Lavender.
  • Henry Havers.
  • Francis Hill.
  • George Bownd.
  • Elias Pledger.
  • Constant Jessop.
  • John Poole.
  • John Wilson.
  • Robert White.
  • Patrick Weems.
  • John Benson.
  • Ralph Wharton.
  • Edward Ford.
  • Nich. Folgingham.
  • Tho. Lathum.
  • Will. Web.
  • Samuel Collins.
  • Ralph Hilles.
  • John Paynell.
  • Edmund Brewer.
  • I. Gent.
  • Iohn Ovend.
  • Wil. Blackmore.
  • Thomas Watson.
  • John Wood.
  • John Norton.
  • Thomas Dearsly.
  • James Sutton.
  • Francis Gisbrough.
  • Edward Thomas.
  • John Firmyn.
  • R. Moseley.
  • Thomas Templer.
  • Daniel Weld.
  • Israel Heuet.
  • John Symson.
  • Will. Guthrie.
  • Aug. Hill.
  • John Andrewes.
  • Anthony Sammes:
  • Thomas Lawes.
  • Thomas Nicholson.
  • [Page]William [...]uckley.
  • Nathan. [...]ewitson.
  • William Danes.
  • Iohn Shunman.
  • Will. Tabor.
  • Robert Brooke.
  • Tho. Moody.
  • Iohn Reddrich.
  • Isaac Seredge.
  • Iames Maldon.
  • Iohn Wyllys.
  • Nichol. North.
  • Will. How.
  • Nath. Ranew.
  • Samuel Smith.
  • Nehemiah Homes.
  • Christopher Wragg.
  • Francis Chaundler.
  • Nehemiah Long.
  • Iohn Peachie.
  • Iohn Elborowe.
  • Dan. Lathum.
  • Will. Alscough.
  • Samuel Wharton.
  • Iohn Smith.
  • Will. Willis.
  • Iohn Argor.
  • Thomas Pecke.
  • Iohn Church.
  • Tho. Orsby.
  • Edward Wichy.
  • Richard Carnall.
  • Tho. Silverwood.
  • Marmaduke Iames.
  • Samuel Bridge.
  • Edward Clyffe.
  • Ben. Wynington.
  • Samuel Smith.
  • Hierom Iones.
  • Rich. Ba [...]ingtion
  • Anthony Whit [...]ng.
  • Robert Cite.
  • William Pipple.
  • Iohn Malden.
  • Henry Steinmer.
  • Step. Pipple.
  • Iohn Edes.
  • Nath. Carr.
  • Thomas Salter.
  • Robert Peartree.
  • George Wilkinson.
  • George Catony.
  • Edward D [...]wet.
  • Nicholas Beard.
  • Abraham Caley.
  • Iohn Augur.
  • Is. Sutcliffe.
  • Will. Wells.
  • Iames Nonis.
  • Samuel Purchas.
  • Iohn Bedle.
  • Timothy Wood­coffe.
  • Samuel Ainsworth.
  • Robert Rogers.
  • Sam. Nowell.

The Lords Answer to the said Petition.

THe Lords are glad to finde this zeale and care in the Ministery of the Counties of Suf­folk and Essex, for the preventing the fur­ther increase of Heresie and Profanenesse, and for the promoting a growth in the power of godlinesse. The Lords desire you to continue still in y [...]ur endeavours therein, and they will not be wanting to give you all encouragement. They have comman­ded me to give you thanks for your expressions of your good affections to the Parliament and this Cause, and doe assure you [Page 6]that they will improve their power for the suppressing of Er­rour, Heresie, seducing Teachers, and soule-subverting books, and likewise for the setling of Church Goverment according to the Word of God, and the example of the best reformed Chur­ches, to which they hold themselves obliged by their solemne League and Covenant, & that their Lordships have appointed that their Petition with this Answer shall be printed and pub­lished.

John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.

The Answer to the House of Commons to the Ministers Petition.

Die Mercurii 27. Maii. 1646.

THe House being informed that divers Ministers of the County of Suffolke and Essex were at the doore, they were called in, and presented to the House a Petition, intitu­led, The humble Petition of the Ministers of Suffolke and Essex, the which was read.

The Ministers were againe called in, and Mr. Speaker by command of the House acquainted them, That most of the par­ticular desires of their Petition are now under consideration, and they hope will be brought to a settlement speedily: That the House is very sensible, that through some intervening ob­structions the Church Government hath not been so fully set­led as they desire, and that they give them thankes for their good affections, and desire them to put all Ordinances in exe­cution concerning Church Government as lye within their power.

H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
FINIS.

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