MINUTE BOOK OF THE WIKKSWORTH CLASSIS. 



I8 5 



chosen to bring in to the Classis the next meeting after, a Thesis upon some 

 point controverted betwixt us & the Socinians.* 



Voted, that Mr Peter Watkinson declare their errors at the next Classical] 

 ing. 



This day M r James Sutton Student in Divinitie addressing himselfe to the 

 Classis for ordination was ordered to preach his approbation Sermon in the 

 Parish Church at Wirkesworth uppon Tuesday the 29 of May next. 



Ordered that the next monthlie Lecture be kept at Hognaston the second 

 Thursday in June next, M r John Sclater desired to procure two Sermons. 



Voted that M r Thomas Shelmerdine be Modtrator the next meeting, and 

 that M r Peter Watkinson preach the Classicall Sermon, who being Moderator 

 this day ended with Praier. 



John Rudyard, Scribe. 



Wirkesworth Classis \ 

 in the County of Darby ^ 

 June 19, 1655 / 

 Ministers 



I These p'sent at the Classical meeting the said 

 1 19 day of June 1655 



Others 



Tho : Shelmerdine Mod r 

 Peter Watkinson 

 Peter Coates 

 Martin Topham 

 Robert Porter 

 John Otefield 

 Brands Topham 

 Samuel Moore 

 Thomas Myles 



) 



Mr. Henry Buxton 

 Gilbert Wallis 

 Tohn Heapie 

 John Rudyard 



This day M r Peter Watkinson 

 preached the Sermon well ap- 

 proved. 



M r Thomas Shelmerdine being moderator this day began with praier. The 

 said M, Tho : Shelmerdine (according to former order) made an oration to the 

 Classis. 



Afterwards M r Peter Watkinson (according to former order) declared the 

 Socinian Errors ; amongst which this was one ; viz' : that there is no need of 

 any speciall illumination of the Spirit of God to the right understanding of the 

 Scripture. 



* The Socinians were at this time extremely numerous in Poland, but had 

 very few adherents in England. Their leader here was one John Hiddle, whom 

 the Presbyterians wished to put to death as a heretic, but Cromwell opposed 

 this, and lie passed most of the Commonwealth period in prison or in banish- 

 ment at the Stilly Isles. He had just now been released from prison and was 

 in the full swing of controversy. It is rather a singular commentary on the 

 Presbyterian zeal against Socinianism, to reflect that in less than one century, 

 viz., about 1730, the great majority of the old Presbyterian congregations in 

 England lapsed into Socinianism or [Jnitarianism, In 1824, out of 206 

 Unitarian meeting-houses in Kngland and Wales, no less than 170 had 

 originally been Presbyterian. 



