the commonwealth of oceana-第21章
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ing to the directory to be hereafter appointed by the Parliament。 Nevertheless such as are of gathered congregations； or from time to time shall join with any of them； are in no wise obliged to this way of electing their teachers； or to give their votes in this case； but wholly left to the liberty of their own consciences； and to that way of worship which they shall choose； being not popish； Jewish； or idolatrous。 And to the end they may be the better protected by the State in the exercise of the same； they are desired to make choice； and such manner as they best like； of certain magistrates in every one of their congregations； which we could wish might be four in each of them； to be auditors in cases of differences or distaste； if any through variety of opinions； that may be grievous or injurious to them； shall fall out。 And such auditors or magistrates shall have power to examine the matter； and inform themselves； to the end that if they think it of sufficient weight； they may acquaint the phylarch with it； or introduce it into the Council of Religion； where all such causes as those magistrates introduce shall from time to time be heard and determined according to such laws as are or shall hereafter be provided by the Parliament for the just defence of the liberty of conscience。〃 This order consists of three parts； the first restoring the power of ordination to the people； which； that it originally belongs to them； is clear； though not in English yet in Scripture； where the apostles ordained elders by the holding up of hands in every congregation； that is； by the suffrage of the people； which was also given in some of those cities by the ballot。 And though it may be shown that the apostles ordained some by the laying on of hands； it will not be shown that they did so in every congregation。 Excommunication； as not clearly provable out of the Scripture； being omitted； the second part of the order implies and establishes a national religion； for there be degrees of knowledge in divine things； true religion is not to be learned without searching the Scripture； the Scriptures cannot be searched by us unless we have them to search； and if we have nothing else； or （which is all one） understand nothing else but a translation； we may be （as in the place alleged we have been） beguiled or misled by the translation； while we should be searching the true sense of the Scripture； which cannot be attained in a natural way （and a commonwealth is not to presume upon that which is supernatural） but by the knowledge of the original and of antiquity； acquired by our own studies； or those of some others； for even faith comes by hearing。 Wherefore a commonwealth not making provision of men from time to time； knowing in the original languages wherein the Scriptures were written； and versed in those antiquities to which they so frequently relate； that the true sense of them depends in great part upon that knowledge； can never be secure that she shall not lose the Scripture； and by consequence her religion； which to preserve she must institute some method of this knowledge； and some use of such as have acquired it； which amounts to a national religion。 The commonwealth having thus performed her duty toward God； as a rational creature； by the best application of her reason to Scripture； and for the preservation of religion in the purity of the same； yet pretends not to infallibility； but comes in the third part of the order； establishing liberty of conscience according to the instructions given to her Council of Religion； to raise up her hands to heaven for further light； in which proceeding she follows that （as was shown in the preliminaries） of Israel； who； though her national religion was always a part of her civil law； gave to her prophets the upper hand of all her orders。 But the surveyors。 having now done with the parishes； took their leave； so a parish is the first division of land occasioned by the first collection of the people of Oceana； whose function proper to that place is comprised in the six preceding orders。 The next step in the progress of the surveyors was to a meeting of the nearest of them； as their work lay； by twenties； where conferring their lists； and computing the deputies contained therein； as the number of them in parishes； being nearest neighbors； amounted to 100； or as even as might conveniently be brought with that account； they cast them and those parishes into the precinct which （be the deputies ever since more or fewer） is still called the hundred； and to every one of these precincts they appointed a certain place； being the most convenient town within the same； for the annual rendezvous； which done； each surveyor； returning to his hundred； and summoning the deputies contained in his lists to the rendezvous； they appeared and received The seventh order； requiring； 〃That upon the first Monday next ensuing the last of January； the deputies of every parish annually assemble in arms at the rendezvous of the hundred； and there elect out of their number one justice of the peace； one juryman； one captain； one ensign of their troop or century； each of these out of the horse； and one juryman； one coroner； one high constable； out of the foot。 The election to be made by the ballot in this manner。 The jurymen for the time being are to be overseers of the ballot （instead of these； the surveyors are to officiate at the first assembly）； and to look to the performance of the same according to what was directed in the ballot of the parishes； saving that the high constable setting forth the urn shall have five several suits of gold balls； and one dozen of every suit； whereof the first shall be marked with the letter A； the second with the letter B； the third with C； the fourth with D； and the fifth with E： and of each of these suits he shall cast one ball into his hat； or into a little urn； and shaking the balls together； present them to the first overseer； who shall draw one； and the suit which is so drawn by the overseer shall be of use for that day； and no other； for example； if the overseer drew an A； the high constable shall put seven gold balls marked with the letter A into the urn； with so many silver ones as shall bring them even with the number of the deputies； who being sworn； as before； at the ballot of the parish to make a fair election； shall be called to the urn； and every man coming in manner as was there shown； shall draw one ball； which； if it be silver； he shall cast it into a bowl standing at the foot of the urn； and return to his place： but the first that draws a gold ball （showing it to the overseers； who if it has not the letter of the present ballot； have power to apprehend and punish him） is the first elector； the second the second elector； and so to the seventh； which order they are to observe in their function。 〃The electors as they are drawn shall be placed upon the bench by the overseers； till the whole number be complete； and then be conducted； with the list of the officers to be chosen； into a place apart； where； being private； the first elector shall name a person to the first office in the list； and if the person so named； being balloted by the rest of the electors； attains not to the better half of the suffrages in the affirmative； the first elector shall continue nominating others； till one of them so nominated by him attains to the plurality of the suffrages in the affirmative； and be written first competitor to the first office。 This done； the second elector shall observe in his turn the like order； and so the rest of the electors； naming competitors each to his respective office in the list； till one competitor be chosen to every office： and when one competitor is chosen to every office； the first elector shall begin again to name a second competitor to the first office； and the rest successively shall name to the rest of the offices till two competitors be chosen to every office； the like shall be repeated till three competitors be chosen to every office。 And when three competitors are chosen to every office； the list shall be returned to the overseers； or such as the overseers； in case they or either of them happened to be electors； have substituted in his or their place or places；
