These notes seem to refer to heads of debate, prepared at a committee, December the 4th, 1650.
"1. That there is an office of the ministry instituted by Christ.
"2. That this office is perpetual.
"3. That Christ hath appointed in His word the way of separating men to the office of the ministry.
"4. That election and ordination is that way of Christ.
"5. That this ordination——"
Here the MS. abruptly breaks off.
References to these propositions in subsequent minutes are of frequent occurrence.
[175] The county of Essex was formally divided into classes; and the particular arrangement of them, with the names of the ministers as approved by the Committee of Lords and Commons, still exists, but beyond that, I am ignorant of what was done.
The document entitled, The Division of the County of Essex into Several Classes, &c., 1648, is printed at length, with numerous curious annotations in David's Annals of Evangelical Nonconformity in the County of Essex.