Propositions for Propagating the Gospel

I. For supply of all parishes in England with able, godly, and orthodox ministers, it is humbly propounded:

1. That the sheriff of each county, do speedily give account to this, or some other committee of every respective parish within the said county that has no minister, and what maintenance each of the said vacant parishes have belonging to them.

2. That each of the said sheriffs do also certify to the committee the names of such ministers as have no livings, that reside in each county, and that so many of them as shall be found able, godly, and orthodox, be placed in such vacant parishes as by the said committee shall be thought fit.

3. That for the further supply of those parishes who shall yet want ministers, the propositions from Mr. Owen, and the rest of those reverend ministers be proceeded in.

II. For settling of right constituted churches, it is humbly propounded:

1. That all present churches that are gathered, and others, so soon as they shall be gathered, do signify to the committee of the universities, or elsewhere, whom they have chosen, or shall choose for their pastor; and that such, and only such, be declared right constituted churches, whose pastor shall be approved by the said committee to be able, godly, and orthodox.

2. That when any of the said pastors die, or leave them to take up some other call or employment, they choose and present another pastor within six months, and to have one settled with them within twelve months, by approbation from the said committee, or to dissolve or disperse themselves into other churches.

3. That the committee for the universities, or where shall be appointed, keep a catalogue of all right constituted churches in all parts of England, and the pastors names.

III. For preventing persons of corrupt judgements, from publishing dangerous errors and blasphemies in assemblies and meetings, it is humbly propounded:

1. That every pastor of each right constituted church, give under his hand a testimony to every individual member in fellowship with him, that shall be approved by the church to be orthodox, and himself judged to be able to speak in assemblies and meetings.

2. That none presume under a penalty to speak in any assembly, or meetings, but ministers of the Word, members of churches, with such approbation as aforesaid, or which shall freely be permitted by those whose proper place it is to speak in the said assemblies and meetings, except only upon liberty granted to propound, or desire their opinions, and acquiesce without replies, or disturbance by disputes except it be meetings purposely for disputes.

3. That where assemblies or meetings of people be kept up, some person or persons, undertake to speak and manage the same, who are either ministers of the Word, have emission from some right constituted church, or certificate from two or more, able, godly, and orthodox ministers of their sufficiency to speak, and soundness in the faith, except masters to their families, or school-masters to their scholars, or others, to such as by their callings fall under their government and charge.