MINUTE BOOK OF THE WIRKSWORTH CLASSIS. 



159 



Minist" concerning his ministcriall abilities and godly conversation, which 

 Certificate was approved by the Classis, & he ord r d to preach before the 

 Classical Presbytery at their next Meeting ; & likewise then to bring with him 

 a Certificate of his age and Tytle &c. 



Voted that M' Robert Port' preach the next Ordinacon sermon. 



Ord r d that (in regard of the Nationall fast to be houlden the next moneth) 

 the Classicall fast be not kept the next moneth. 



Voted that M r Pet r Watkinson Past' of the Church att Kirke Ireton manage 

 the business of Examination of the aforesaid M r Samuel Berisford the next 

 Classicall meeting, and likewise voted to moderate next Classical meeting. 



After M r Pet' Coats being mod't' ended wth prayer. 



Wirksworth Classis, \ ( These p'sent at the Classicall meeting 



in the County of Derby, ( ) the said Twentieth day of July 1652 



July 20th, 1652. \ ( viz'. 



Ministers. Others 



Peter Watkinson, moderator 



Shelm'dine M' Henrie Buxton 



Topham of Wirksworth Edward Allen 



M'\ Wiersdale { Gilbert Wallis 



Otefield Germane Buxton 



Myles John Rudiard 



Coke scribe J \ 



M r Pet r Watkinson Pastor of Kirke Ireton being this day moderat' began 

 with Prayer. 



M' Samuel Berisford this day preached his approbacon sermon, & his paines 

 were well approved. After he pduced two Certificates One from M r Blake 

 Pastor of the Church at Tamworth, signifying that the said M r Blake hath 

 made choice of the said Mr. Berisford for his Assistant in the worke of the 

 Ministrie : The other from the Bailiffes & Capitall Burgesses of the said Towne 

 of Tamworth certifying that they doe approve of the said choyce Both w ch cer- 

 tificates were approved by the Classis. 



He also gave Testimonie of the Grace of God in him, of his inward call to 

 & right ende in undertaking the Ministrie, of his competent skill in the originall 

 Tongues & Artes : and likewise in Divinitie : All w c h being well approved by 

 the Classis ; he was ord'd to exhibit his Thesis given him the last sitting of the 

 Classis to be brought in this day w was An Ministerium Anglicanum sit vere 

 Evangelicum, w c h being perused & approved he also maintained a dispute upon 

 the aforesaid Question ; and expounded some text of Scripture pposed by some 

 members of the Classis, wherein he gave good satisfaction which was voted 

 accordingly by the Classis ; & therefore resolved (according to form' vote) to 

 p'ceed to the Ordinacon of him tomorrow in Wirkesworth Church. 



