VI.—And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person dissenting from the Church of England, as aforesaid, shall hereafter be chosen, or otherwise appointed to bear the office of High-Constable, or Petit-Constable, Church-Warden, Overseer of the Poor, or any other Parochial or Ward Office, and such person shall scruple to take upon him any of the said offices, in regard of the Oaths, or any other matter or thing required by the law to be taken or done, in respect of such office, every such person shall and may execute such office or employment by a sufficient deputy, by him to be provided, that shall comply with the laws on this behalf. Provided always, the said deputy be allowed and approved by such person or persons in such manner as such officer or officers respectively should by law have been allowed and approved.
Persons in Orders, how exempted from 17 Car. II., cap. 2, 13, 14 Car. II., cap. 4.
VII.—And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no person dissenting from the Church of England in Holy Orders, or pretended Holy Orders, or pretending to Holy Orders, nor any Preacher or Teacher of any congregation of dissenting Protestants, that shall make and subscribe the Declaration aforesaid, and take the said Oaths, at the General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace, to be held for the County, Town, Parts, or Division where such person lives, which Court is hereby empowered to administer the same; and shall also declare his approbation of, and subscribe the Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute made in the 13th year of the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, except the 34th, 35th, and 36th, and these words of the 20th Article, viz. 13 Eliz., cap. 12.[The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith, and yet] shall be liable to any of the pains or penalties mentioned in an Act made in the 17th year of the reign of King Charles II., entituled, 17 Car. II., cap. 2.An Act for restraining Non-Conformists from inhabiting in Corporations; nor the penalties mentioned in the aforesaid Act, made in the 22nd year of his said late Majesty’s reign, for or by reason of such persons preaching at any meeting for the exercise of Religion; nor to the penalties of £100 mentioned in an Act made in the 13th and 14th of King Charles II., entituled, 13 and 14 Car. II., cap. 4.An Act for the Uniformity of public prayers, and administration of Sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies; and for establishing the form of making, ordaining, and consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in the Church of England, for officiating in any Congregation for the exercise of religion permitted and allowed by this Act.
Taking the oaths, &c., to be registered.
VIII.—Provided always, that the making and subscribing the said Declaration, and the taking the said Oaths, and making the Declaration of approbation and subscription to the said Articles, in manner as aforesaid, by every respective person or persons hereinbefore mentioned, at such General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace as aforesaid, shall be then and there entered of Record in the said Court, for which 6d shall be payed to the Clerk of the Peace, and no more. Provided that such person shall not at any time preach in any place but Meeting doors to be unlocked.with the doors not locked, barred, or bolted, as aforesaid.
Anabaptism.
IX.—And whereas some Dissenting Protestants scruple the baptizing of infants, be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every person in pretended Holy Orders, or pretending to Holy Orders, or Preacher or Teacher, that shall subscribe the aforesaid Articles of Religion, except before excepted; and also except part of the 27th Article teaching Infant baptism, and shall take the Oaths, and make and subscribe the Declaration aforesaid, in manner aforesaid, every such person shall enjoy all the privileges, benefits, and advantages, which any other Dissenting Minister, as aforesaid, might have or enjoy by virtue of this Act.
Teachers exempt from Offices.
X.—And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Teacher or Preacher in Holy Orders, or pretended Holy Orders, that is a Minister, Preacher, or Teacher of a Congregation, that shall take the Oaths herein required, and make and subscribe the Declaration aforesaid; and also subscribe such of the aforesaid Articles of the Church of England, as are required by this Act in manner aforesaid, shall be thenceforth exempted from serving upon any Jury, or from being chosen or appointed to bear the Office of Church-Warden, Overseer of the Poor, or any other Parochial or Ward Office, or other Office in any Hundred of any Shire, City, Town, Parish, Division, or Wapentake.
Justices of Peace may tender the Oaths, &c.