156 MINUTE BOOK OF THE WIRKSWORTH CLASSIS. 



Supper to some Parishion rs of Wirkesworth* not only to ye offence of the 

 Minister and Godlie people there but also to the great hinderance of 

 Reformacon &c. It is therefore ordered that the Scribe of this Classis give 

 special notice to the said M r Wiersdale to make his appearance before the 

 Classis at their nest meeting &c. 



It is this day voted that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (being long 

 neglected in most Congregacons within this Classis) be therefore seriouslie 

 considered of by the Classis &c.f 



Ord r d that the next Classicall fast be kept att Bonteshall the second 

 Thursday of the next moneth where and when M r Edward Pole Pastor 

 ibid hath p'mised the Classis to p'cure two Sermons preached. 



Ord'd that M r Pet r Cotes Pastor of the Church att South Wingfield 

 moderate the next Classicall meeting. 



Ord r d that M r Edward Pole Pastor of Bonteshall preach the next meet- 

 ing of the Classis. 



M r Thomas Shelm'dine being this day Mod r ator ended with prayer. 



These psnte att the Classicall meeting the 

 said 18th day of May 1652, viz 1 . 



Wirkesworth Classis 

 in Comitatu Derbiag 

 May 18, 1652. 



Minist rs Others 



' Coats Mod r at r < M r John Sclat r 



SheWdine William Storer 



Watkinson Edward Allen 



Wiersdale Gilbert Wallis 



M r I Topham de Wirkesworth ~\ Richard Varden 



Pole Germane Buxton 



Otefield John Rudiard 



Myles William Jesopp 



. Coke scrbe \ William Alsopp 

 M r Pet r Coates pasf of the Church att Southwingfield being Mod r ator 

 began with pray r . 



M r Edward Pole pastor of the Church att Bonteshall p r ached this 



Classicall meeting & his Sermon being orthodoxe & seasonable had there- 

 fore the thanks of the Classis returned &c. 



* The Presbyterians were peculiarly jealous of the interference of the minister 

 of one congregation or presbytery with the members pertaining to another. 

 According to the form of government agreed upon by the Westminster 

 Divines, excommunication from the Lord's Supper could be pronounced by the 

 ministers and elders (i.e. the Presbyter)') of any parish or congregation, and 

 that excommunication held good for all other Presbyteries, unless the con- 

 demned person could successfully prosecute an appeal before the Classis of the 

 district. 



+ With regard to the Lord's Supper, the Directory laid down that it was 

 "frequently to be celebrated" after the morning sermon — " the Table being 

 decently covered and so conveniently placed that the Communicants may 

 orderly sit about it or at it . . . . the Bread in comely and convenient 

 vessels .... the Wine also in large Cups." 



