88 OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 



for public reprehension were to be debarred. The 

 other addition that I mean is, that the same ex 

 ercise were used in the universities for young 

 divines, before they presumed to preach, as well as 

 in the country for ministers. For they have in some 

 colleges an exercise called a common-place ; which 

 can in no degree be so profitable, being but the 

 speech of one man at one time. And if it be feared 

 that it may be occasion to whet men s speeches for 

 controversies, it is easily remedied, by some strict 

 prohibition, that matters of controversy tending any 

 way to the violating or disquieting the peace of the 

 Church, be not handled or entered into ; which pro 

 hibition, in regard there is ever to be a grave person 

 president or moderator, cannot be frustrated. The 

 second consideration is, whether it were not conve 

 nient there should be a more exact probation and 

 examination of ministers : namely, that the bishops 

 do not ordain alone, but by advice ; and then that 

 ancient holy order of the Church might be revived ; 

 by the which the bishop did ordain ministers but at 

 four set times of the year ; which were called &quot;Qua- 

 tuor tempora ;&quot; which are now called Ember-weeks : 

 it being thought fit to accompany so high an action 

 with general fasting and prayer, and sermons, and all 

 holy exercises ; and the names likewise of those that 

 were to be ordained, were published some days be 

 fore their ordination ; to the end exceptions might 

 be taken, if just cause were. The third consideration 

 is, that if the case of the Church of England be, that 

 were a computation taken of all the parochian 



