House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 April 1645

Die Jovis, Aprilis 17, 1645.

Prayers.

According to former Order, the Grand Committee of the whole House proceeded to the further Consideration of the Business concerning such as are not to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Mr. Whittacre called to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.-

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Prince Elector be made on Tuesday next.-

Mr. Whittacre reports, from the Grand Committee, the Votes passed the Committee, concerning such ignorant and scandalous Persons as are not to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Resolved, &c. That an incestuous Person, appearing to be such, upon just Proof, shall not be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Resolved, &c. That whosoever shall blasphemously speak, or write, any thing of God his Holy Word or Sacraments, shall, upon just Proof thereof, not be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning the State of Man by Creation, and by his Fall, who do not know, That God created Man after his own Image, in Knowledge, Righteousness, and true Holiness: That, by one Man, Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin; and so Death passed upon all Men, for that all have sinned: That thereby they are all dead in Trespasses and Sins; and are, by Nature, the Children of Wrath; and so are liable to eternal Death, the Wages of every Sin.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning the Redemption by Jesus Christ, who do not know, That there is but One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus, who is also, over all, God blessed for ever; neither is there Salvation in any other: That he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary: That he died upon the Cross, to save his People from their Sins: That he rose again the Third Day from the Dead; ascended into Heaven; sits at the Right Hand of God; and makes continual Intercession for us; of whose Fulness we receive all Grace necessary to Salvation.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning the Way and Means to apply Christ, and his Benefits, who do not know, That Christ, and his Benefits, are applied only by Faith: That Faith is the Gift of God; and that we have it not of ourselves; but it is wrought in us by the Word and Spirit of God.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding in the Nature and Necessity of Faith, who do not know, That Faith is that Grace, whereby we believe and trust in Christ for Remission of Sins, and Life everlasting, according to the Promises of the Gospel: - That whosoever believes not on the Son of God, shall not see Life, but shall perish eternally.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of the Knowledge of Repentance, who do not know, That they who truly repent of their Sins, do see them, sorrow for them, and turn from them to the Lord; and that, except Men repent, they shall surely perish.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Knowledge concerning a godly Life, who do not know, That a godly Life is a Life conscionably ordered according to the Word of God, in Holiness and Righteousness, without which no Man shall see God.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding in the Nature and Use of the Sacraments, who know not, That the Sacraments are Seals of the Covenant of Grace in the Blood of Christ: That the Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism, and the Lord's Supper: That the outward Elements in the Lord's Supper are Bread and Wine, and do signify the Body and Blood of Christ crucified; which the worthy Receiver by Faith doth partake of in this Sacrament; which Christ hath likewise ordained for a Remembrance of his Death: That whosoever eats and drinks unworthily, is guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord: And therefore, That every one is to examine himself, left he eat and drink Judgment to himself; not discerning the Lord's Body.

Resolved, &c. That They have not a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning the Condition of Man after this Life, who do not know, That the Souls of the Faithful, after Death, do immediately live with Christ in Blessedness; and that the Souls of the Wicked do immediately go into Hell-Torments: That there shall be a Resurrection of the Bodies, both of the Just and the Unjust, at the last Day; at which Time All shall appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ, to receive according to what they have done in the Body, whether it be Good or Evil: And that the Righteous shall go into Life eternal; and the Wicked into everlasting Punishment.

Resolved, &c. That Those who have a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning the Matters contained in these Eight Articles, shall not be kept back from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, for Ignorance.

Resolved, &c. That the Assembly of Divines be desired, with all convenient Speed, to resolve upon a Confession of Faith of the Church of England; and to present it to the House.

Mr. Rous, Mr. Tate, and Mr. Whittacre, are to acquaint the Assembly of Divines with this last.

Resolved, &c. That a speedy Course be taken for the putting the Directory in present Execution, by Authority of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That an Ordinance be forthwith brought into the House, for the Dispersing of the Directory for Worship into all Parish-Churches and Chapels within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town and Port of Barwick; for the putting of it into present Execution; and for abolishing the Book of Common Prayer; together with some Penalties to be imposed upon such as shall make use of the Book of Common Prayer, or neglect the Directory; or shall write, preach, or publish, any Book written in Contempt or Depravation thereof.

Resolved, &c. That the Examination and Judgment of such Persons as shall, for their Ignorance of such Points of Religion as have been voted by this Committee not to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, is to be in the Power of the Eldership of every Congregation.

Mr. Rowse, Sir John Cooke, Sir Wm. Massam, Mr. Selden, Mr. Samuel Browne, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Salloway, Mr. Tate, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Mr. Holland, Mr. Lisle, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Henry Mildmay, and Mr. Young, or any Five of them, are appointed to be a Sub-Committee to draw the Ordinance.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Selden do make his Report to the House concerning the Printing of the Greek Bible, on Tuesday next.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Hill and Mr. Lisle do prepare and bring in an Ordinance, To-morrow Morning, for Martial Law for the County of Kent to continue until the First Day of December next: And that the Court Martial, to be named in that Ordinance, shall have Power to execute such Persons as shall be found guilty of the late Mutiny there, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Ordnance, and the other Officers, do, out of the publick Stores, furnish and deliver unto Sir Christopher Wray and Sir Antho. Irby, or to such other Persons as they shall appoint to receive the same, Two Tons of Match, and Twenty Barrels of Powder, to be forthwith sent to the Governor of Lincolne, for the Service of the said County: And, that after the Garison of Lynn shall be furnished with their Proportion of Musquets out of the Arms there, and the Proportion assigned to Sir Thomas Fairefax his Army shall be first served, That then, out of the Remainder of the said Arms, Four hundred Musquets shall be delivered, and disposed, for the Service of the said County of Lincolne.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall do forthwith furnish One hundred and Fifty Pair of Pistols, with Holsters, Forty Carbines, and One hundred Saddles, with Furniture, for the Supply of those Horse of Colonel Beher and Colonel Dolbeir's Regiment, that are designed to go to Colonel Massey:

Lords Concurrence to be desired.

Resolved, &c. That the One thousand Pounds, formerly appointed for the Horse that were designed to go from several Garisons to Colonel Massey, and charged upon the Excise, shall be allowed, upon Account, to the Horse that were of Colonel Dolbeire's and Colonel Beher's Regiments, and are now designed for Colonel Massey: And Mr. Crew is appointed to acquaint the Committee of both Kingdoms with this Order.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have sent down the Ordinance concerning the Admiralty, which they received from this House; to which they made an Addition; and do agree unto it with that Addition; and desire the Concurrence of this House to the Addition. They do likewise agree to the Ordinance concerning Sir Richard Norton, with one Addition.

They have received a Petition from one Nicolas Ryder; upon which they have made an Order; and desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

They desire this House to take into Consideration the Earl of Nottingham's Petition: The Ordinance formerly sent down concerning the great Park at Windsor.

They have given Leave to the Lady Grandison to go into France; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Committee for Foreign Affairs is appointed to hear the States Ambassadors, on Saturday at Three post meridiem, in the Prince's Lodgings: And desire, That the Members of this House, that are of that Committee, may take notice hereof; and may meet at the Time and Place appointed.

The Amendments to the Ordinance concerning the Admiralty were read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth adhere to the Ordinance, as it went from hence: And

It is Ordered, That, . . a Conference to be desired with the Lords, Reasons be offered for the House his Adhering.

Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Holles, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Prideaux, are appointed to prepare Reasons; and to manage this Conference.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Discharge of the Delinquency of Sir Richard Norton; the which was, only, that these Words, "by the House of Commons," should be left out, were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Order made upon the Petition of Nicolas Ryter, Commander of the Ship called The Golden Sun, which belongeth to the King's Majesty of Denmarke, was read; and assented unto; and was in hæc verba; viz.

Ordered, &c. That the Petition of Nicolas Ruter, Commander of the Ship called The Golden Sun, belonging to the King of Denmarke, be referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs; to relieve the Petitioner, if they shall see Cause; or else to certify the Houses respectively, What their Opinions are therein; that the said Houses may give their further Direction therein.

The Petition of the Earl of Nottingham, directed to the Lords, and from them recommended to this House, was this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords, That the Lady Grandison shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to pass into France.

Ordered, &c. That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, do meet, to hear the States Ambassadors, on Saturday next, at Three post meridiem, in the Prince's Lodgings.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House doth agree to the Amendments to Sir Richard Norton's Ordinance; to the Order upon Nicolas Ryter's Petition: They have taken the Earl of Nottingham's Petition into Consideration: And do agree, That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, do meet on Saturday next, as is desired: They do agree, That the Lady Grandison shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to pass into France.

The humble Petition of John Craven, Messenger to the Committee of both Kingdoms, was this Day presented to the House: And

It is Ordered, That it be, from this House, referred, and particularly recommended, to the Committee of Sussex, to take the Petition into Consideration; and to afford the Petitioner Relief, according as the Justice and Equity of his Pretences shall appear.

Ordered, &c. That the Arrears due to the Earl of Nottingham, out of the old Customs, since the same were disposed by the Parliament, shall be forthwith paid to him by the Committee of the Revenue, until the Time that the Five hundred Pounds Pension was ordered to be paid to him by the said Committee: And it is referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Supply of the Necessities of the Members, where Mr. Rigby hath the Chair, to take the said Earl into speedy Consideration, for his future and further Maintenance.

BE it further Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Members of both Houses of Parliament, of the Committee of both Kingdoms, or any Five of them, shall have Power and Authority, and are hereby appointed, to grant Commissions to all such Governors, Captains, and other Officers, of Forts, Castles, or other military Places and Commands, as are, or shall be, thereunto nominated and approved by both Houses of Parliament. Provided, That this Ordinance shall not take Effect, where any such Power is already granted by Ordinance of Parliament now in Force.