ate in the exercise of the same, they are desired to
make choice, and such manner as they best like, of certain magistrates
in every one of their congregations, which we could wish might be four
in each of them, to be auditors in cases of differences or distaste, if
any through variety of opinions, that may be grievous or injurious to
them, shall fall out. And such auditors or magistrates shall have power
to examine the matter, and inform themselves, to the end that if they
think it of sufficient weight, they may acquaint the phylarch with it,
or introduce it into the Council of Religion; where all such causes
as those magistrates introduce shall from time to time be heard and
determined according to such laws as are or shall hereafter be provided
by the Parliament for the just defence of the liberty of conscience."

This order consists of three parts, the first restoring the power of
ordination to the people, which, that it originally belongs to them,
is clear, though not in English yet in Scripture, where the apostles
ordained elders by the holding up of hands in every congregation, that
is, by the suffrage of the people, which was also given in some of
those cities by the ballot. And though it may be shown that the apostles
ordained some by the laying on of hands, it will not be shown that they
did so in every congregation.

Excommunication, as not clearly provable out of the Scripture, being
omitted, the second part of the order implies and establishes a national
religion; for there be degrees of knowledge in divine things; true
religion is not to be learned without searching the Scripture; the
Scriptures cannot be searched by us unless we have them to search; and
if we have nothing else, or (which is all one) understand nothing else
but a translation, we may be (as in the place alleged we have been)
beguiled or misled by the translation, while we should be searching the
true sense of the Scripture, which cannot be attained in a natural way
(and a commonwealth is not to presume upon that which is supernatural)
but by the knowledge of the original and of antiquity, acquired by our
own studies, or those of some others, for even faith comes by hearing.
Wherefore a commonwealth not making provision of men from time to time,
knowing in the original languages wherein the Scriptures were written,
and versed in those antiquities to which they so frequently relate, that
the true sense of them depends in great part upon that