Texts of the Directory for Church Government
Manuscript:
“The humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines now sitting by Ordinance of Parliament, at Westminster, Concerning the Church, Church Officers, and Church Government.”
Sent to Parliament on 11 December 1644, this text represents an early draft, which, as the assembly reminds the two houses, is unfinished, lacking “Some other particulars” that would follow “with all convenient speed” (document 45, MPWA 5:127-138). Written in the clear hand of Cornelius Burges, the manuscript’s provenance suggests it is the original copy presented by the assembly to the House of Lords.
Braye Manuscripts, fos. 1r-4v. Westminster College Library, Cambridge. Document 45 (MPWA 5:127-138).
(Directs to University of Cambridge Digital Library)
1647 Edinburgh Edition
PROPOSITIONS | Concerning | CHURCH GOVERNMENT | AND | ORDINATION | OF | MINISTERS. || EDINBURGH: | Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the | Kings most Excellent Majestie. || 1647
This first print edition, published in Scotland, is based on the incomplete manuscript submitted to parliament in 1644 (document 45, MPWA 5:127-138) together with an earlier manuscript on the doctrinal part of ordination and including a Directory for Ordination of Ministers (document 20, MPWA 5:63-69.)
English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) R26711; Wing (2nd edition) W1445.
(Directs to Google Books)
1647 London, Edinburgh Edition
PROPOSITIONS | Concerning | CHURCH – GOVERNMENT | AND | ORDINATION | OF | MINISTERS. || EDINBURGH: | Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the | Kings most Excellent Majestie. 1647. | And reprinted at LONDON for | Robert Bostock, at the Kings head | in Pauls Church-yard. 1647.
Printed in Edinburgh and London, this edition contains two sections: the first is a reprinting of Edition 1 (with minor variations). The second contains the assembly’s final version of its directory for church government (document 77. MPWA 5:204-221), but concludes by repeating the end of document 20 concerning the “Extraordinary way” of Ordination “requisite to bee now practised.”
English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) not listed. Wing (2nd edition) W1446. Note irregular pagination [2], 3-17, 22-23, 20-21, 18-19, 24-40 p.