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It is now pretty generally agreed, that receiving the holy sacrament merely as a qualification for a place of civil profit or trust, is contrary to the ends of its institution, and a snare to the consciences of men ;§ for though the law is open, and they who obtain offices in the state know 'beforehand the conditions of keeping them," yet when the bread of a numerous family depends upon a qualification which a man cannot be satisfied to comply with, it is certainly a snare. And though I agree with our author, that "if the minds of such persons are wicked, the law 'does not make them so," yet I am afraid it hardens them, and makes them a great deal worse. How many thousands come to the sacrament of the Lord's supper with reluctance! and, perhaps. eat and drink judgment to themselves; the guilt of which must be chargeable either upon the imposers, or receivers, or upon both. Methinks therefore charity to the souls of men, as well as a concern for the purity of our holy religion, should engage all serious christians to endeavor the removal of this grievance; and since we are told, that the appearing of the dissenters at this time is unseasonable, and will be ineffectual, I would humbly move our right reverend fathers the bishops not to think it below their high stations and dignities, to consider of some expedient to roll away this reproach from the church and nation, and agree upon some security for the former (if needful) of a civil nature, that may leave room (as King William expresses it in his speech to his first parliament) FOR THE ADMISSION OF ALL PROTESTANTS THAT ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY. The honor of Christ, and the cause of public virtue, seem to require it. And for as much as the influence of these acts affects great numbers of the laity in a very tender part, I should think it no dishonor for the several corporations in England, as well as for the officers of the army, navy, customs, and excise, who are more peculiarly concerned. to join their interests in petitioning the legislature for such relief. And I flatter myself that the wise and temperate behavior of the protestant dissenters in their late general assembly in London; with the dutiful regard that they have always shewn to the peace and welfare of his majesty's person, family, and government, will not fail to recommend them to the royal protection and favor; and that his MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, in imitation of his glorious predecessor King WILLIAM III. will in a proper time recommend it to his parliament to strengthen his administration, by taking off those restraints which at present disable his protestant dissenting subjects from shewing their zeal in the service of their king and country.

London, March 6, 1732-3.

DANIEL NEAL.

though not a sacramental test, that to this proposal, that " dissenters should be exempted from all 'pains and penalties for not serving their country in offices of trust," he gave his hearty assent by adding in the margin, most certainly!

Ed.

History of the Test, p. 22.

CHAPTER I.

From the death of Queen ELIZABETH to the death of Archbishop

BANCROFT.

OF the house of the Stuarts. King James's behavior in Scotland

Expectations of the puritans, and of the papists. Early application of

the bishops to the king; of the Dutch and French churches. Millen-

ary petition presented. Abstract of the answer of the university of Ox-

ford, and of the university of Cambridge. Proclamation for a confer-

ence. Conference at Hampton-court. First day's conference between

the king and the bishops only. The oath of a midwife. Remarks on

the first day's conference. Second day's conference with the puritans.

Reformation of doctrine; of preaching; of the service book and cere-

monies. Remarks on the second day's conference; on the third day's

conference. Remarks on the whole. Proclamation to enforce non-con-

formity; remarks, Mr. Cartwright's death and character. Archbish-

op Whitgift's death and character. Proclamations against jesuits and

puritans. The king's speech to his parliament: remarks on it. His

arbitrary government. Proceedings of parliament; of convocation.

Bishop Rudd's speech in convocation about the cross in baptism. Ab-

stract of the book of canons: remarks. Remainder of the canons. Rat-

ification of the canons. Address of the French and Dutch churches to

the bishop of London. Persecution of the puritans revived. Opinion

of the star-chamber about deprivations, prohibitions and petitions; re-

marks. King James's protestation. Bancroft's letter about pressing

conformity. Mr. Lad's, Maunsel's, and Fuller's sufferings. Puritans

retire to Holland. History of the Brownists prosecuted. Of Mr. John-

son and Mr. Ainsworth. Of Mr. Smith, the Brownist. Of Mr. Robin-

son, the first independent. Of Mr. Henry Jacob. Lawfulness of sep-

aration from the church of England argued. Remarks. Abp. Laud's

sentiments of separation. The gunpowder plot: fathered on the puri-

tans. Oath of allegiance. Puritans unwilling to separate from the

church. Abridgement of the Lincoln minister's reasons for not sub-

scribing; their arguments against the book of common prayer; against

the three ceremonies; against the surplice, the cross in baptism, and

kneeling at the sacrament. Answers to the abridgment. Remarks.

Principles of the puritans. Ministers' protestation concerning the king's

supremacy. Their humble petition. Protestation of the ministers of

Devon and Cornwall concerning their loyalty. Remarks. Islands of

Guernsey and Jersey reduced to conformity. Mr. Parker's sufferings.

Dr. Raynold's death and character. Death of Mr. Brightman. Ad-

vances of the prerogative. Death and character of Arminius. Pro-

ceedings of parliament. Speech against bishops and their courts: a-

gainst grievances in the state. King's speech. Sundry petitions about

grievances in favor of the puritans. Reasons for amending the act

of supremacy; and for reforming the ecclesiastical commission. Griev-

ances in the execution of the ecclesiastical commission. Affairs of

Scotland. Course of Scots conformity. Episcopacy restored in Scot-

land. Ordination of their bishops. Archbishop Bancroft's death and

CHAPTER II.

From the death of Archbishop Bancroft to the death of King James I.

ABBOT made archbishop. Account of all the translations of the bible

into English; Wickliffe's new testament, 1380; Tindal's new testament

1526; first edition of the bible, 1535; Matthew's bible, 1537; Cran-

mer's bible, 1539; Geneva bible, 1559: Bishop's bible, 1568; Rhe-

mist testament, 1582; and bible, 1609, 1610; last translation by or-

der of king James I. 1611 King James's zeal against Vorstius. Here-

tics burnt, Bartholomew Legate, and Edw. Wightman. State of the

court. The king marries his daughter to the elector Palatine. Death

and character of Henry prince of Wales. New methods of raising

money. Abstract of the reformation in Ireland. Rise of the Scots

parliament in Ireland, and of their discipline. Articles of the church

of Ireland. Remarks. Rise of the Independents in England. Their

manner of erecting a church. The king's discourse in the star-cham-

ber. Mr. Bayne's death and character. Progress of the arminian con-

troversy in Holland. Synod of Dort. Names and instructions of the

English divines; their oath. Behavior of the remonstrants, and of

the English divines: censures of the synod. Proceedings in Scotland.

Five articles of Perth, ratified in parliament. Selden's recantation.

Mr. Bradshaw's death and character. Book of sports published. Re-

marks. State of the protestant religion in the kingdom of Bohemia.

Elector Palatine chosen king of Bohemia, acceptable to the puritans,

but disliked by the English court. Remarks. Puritans settle in New-

England. Mr. Robinson's parting speech to his congregation. Colony

of New-Plymouth. Rise of the Arminians at court. Their remon

strance against the papists. The king's arbitrary behavior. Laws

against the papists relaxed. Mr. Knight's sermon against the prerog-

ative. Oxford decree. The king's instructions to restrain the preach-

ing the doctrine of Calvin. Remarks. Archbishop Abbot accidentally

kills a man, and retires from court. Death and character of Mr. By-

field. The Spanish match. Articles of marriage, sworn to by the king

and prince of Wales. Archbishop Abbot against them. Prince of

Wales goes to Madrid. The match broke off. A new parliament.-

the king's answer to their petition. Remarks. French match. The

King dies. Summary state of religion in this reign. Character of

king James and of the court. A supplement, exhibiting an history of

the Baptists, and of the proceedings of the synod of Dort.

From the death of King James 1. to the dissolution of the third parlia-
ment of King Charles II. in the year 1628.

Character of king Charles I.; of his queen; the duke of Bucking-
ham; archbishop Laud; lord chief justice Finch; the council-table;
the star-chamber; the high-commission; state of arminianism and of
popery. Causes of the increase of popery. Petitions of the commons,
with the king's answer. Remarks. The king contributes to the loss
of Rochel. Mr. Montague cited before the commons ; censured by par-
liament. Bishops' letter in his favor. Parliament dissolved. Arbi-
trary methods of raising money. The king's coronation.
A new par-
liament. Articles exhibited against Montague. Conferences between
the Calvinists and Arminians. The king puts an end to the contro-

versy. Restraint of the press in favor of arminianism; complaint of

the booksellers; and in favor of popery. Gentlemen, citizens, and oth-

ers, imprisoned on account of the loan. Sibthorp's and Manwaring's

sermons for the prerogative. Archbishop Abbot suspended for refusing

to licence Sibthorp's sermon. Other reasons of the archbishop's sus-

pension. Bishop of Lincoln favorable to the puritans. War with

France. A new parliament. Petition of right. Manwaring's severe

sentence: he is pardoned and preferred. Montague consecrated bishop

of Chichester. Sibthorp preferred. Parliament's remonstrance, and

the king's answer. A jesuit's letter about the growth of arminianism.

State of religion in Ireland. Protestation of the Irish bishops against

a toleration of popery. Proclamation of lord deputy Falkland against

the papists. Bishop Bedel's account of their numbers Remarks.-

Laud made bishop of London. The king's declaration before the thir-

ty-nine articles. Petition of the calvinists against it. Proceedings of

the parliament. Speeches of Mr. Rouse, Mr. Pym, Sir J. Elliot, and

Mr. Secretary Cook. Protestation of the commons against arminianism.

Remarks upon bishop Laud's answer. Arbitrary proceedings of the

Court with the parliament. Several members taken into custody. The

king's speech at the dissolution of the parliament. Remarks. Libels

against the ministers. The king's declaration of his reasons for dissolv-

ing the parliament. A proclamation against prescribing a time for

calling parliaments for the future. Death and character of Dr. Preston.

From the dissolution of the third Parliament of King Charles I. to the

death of Archbishop Abbot.

Arbitrary methods of government in the state. Bishop Laud's scheme
for governing the church. The king's instructions about lecturers.-
Character of the lecturers. Proceedings against them Mr. Bern-
ard's sufferings; Mr. Charles Chauncey's; and Mr. Peter Smart's.-
The rise of the Massachusett's-Bay colony in New-England; their
church covenant; the hardships they underwent; their farewell request
to the church of England. The numbers of the planters that went
over in the first twelve years. Bishop Davenant, Mr. Madye, and oth-
ers, censured for preaching upon predestination. Dr. Leighton writes
against the bishops; his sentence, sufferings, and character. Innova-
tions introduced. Bishop Laud's consecration of Creed church, St.
Giles's church, and others. Remarks. A proclamation for repairing
churches. The Cathedral of St. Paul's repaired. Decorations and
paintings of cathedrals and other churches; viz. Canterbury, Durham,
and Lambeth chapel. Puritan preachers expelled the university for
preaching against arminianism. Hardships of Mr. Crowder.
Elliot removes to New-England. Death of Mr. Arthur Hildersham
and of Mr. Robert Bolton. Feoffees censured in the star-chamber, and
their impropriations confiscated. Sufferings of divers ministers for
preaching against church ornaments. Henry Sherfield's Esq. : trial,
defence, and sentence of the court. Mr. Workman's sufferings. Bishop
Laud's care of the press. Regulations of the English factories in Hol-
land. The king's progress into Scotland. His usage of the Scots par-
liament. Acts passed.
Acts passed. Bishop Laud's behavior in Scotland. His
regulation of the king's chapel in Edinburgh. Death and character of
archbishop Abbet.

Mr.

CHAPTER V.

From the death of archbishop Abbot, to the beginning of the commotions
in Scotland, in the year 1637.

Laud advanced to the see of Canterbury. Wakes and revels on the
Lord's-day countenanced. Archbishop Laud's letter about them.—
Bishop of Bath and Wells's answer. Their original use. Feasts of
dedication. Church ales. Clerk ales. Bid ales. Declaration for
sports on the Lord's day. Of the morality of the sabbath. Remarks.
Hardships of the puritans with relation to the declaration. Sufferings
of Mr. Wilson and others for not reading it. Sufferings of Mr. Snel-
ling and his reasons for not reading the book of sports. Alterations in
the service book. Bowing at the name of Jesus. Communion tables
turned into altars. Mischiefs that attended it. Arguments for and
against it. Of bowing towards the furniture of the altar of the cathe-
dral of Canterbury. Consecration of the furniture. Injunctions
against lecturers. Laud's account of the state of his province. The
sentence of the star-chamber on Mr. Prynne, Dr. Bastwick, and Mr.
Burton. The Rev. Mr. Cotton removes to New England; and Mr.
Davenport, and Mr. Hooker. Dr. Ames's death and character. The
thirty-nine articles received in Ireland. Remarks. Mr. Sheppard re-
moves to New-England. French and Dutch churches obliged to con-
formity. Laud's injunctions to them. They are broken up. Foreign
protestant churches disowned. Brief for the Palatine ministers: Laud's
exceptions to it. Death and character of Mr Hugh Clark, and of Mr.
John Carter. Sufferers for non-conformity. Mr. Chauncey's recanta-
tion. Sufferings of the church-wardens of Beckington. Laud's ac-
count of his metropolitical visitation. Indiscreet zeal of the puritans.
Mr. Bulkley and Mr. Richard Mather remove to New-England. Af-
fairs of Scotland. Book of canons for Scotland. Remarks. Death
and character of Dr. Sibbes. The archbishop promotes the business of
the ecclesiastical courts; and holds them in his own name contrary to
the law. New statutes for Oxford. Bishop's articles of visitation ille-
gal. Church-wardens' oath. Abstract of Bishop Wren's articles.
Mischief of them. Bishop Montague's articles of enquiry concerning
several sorts of lectures. Bishop Pierse's usage of the lecturers. The
grandeur of the church. Pride and ambition of the clergy. Sufferings
of Mr. Rogers of Dedham; of Mr. Nathaniel Rogers; and of Mr.
Whiting. Second sufferings of Prynne, Burton and Bastwick; and
their sentence. Archbishop Laud's speech in the star-chamber. The
eruel sentence disgusts the whole nation. The trial and sentence of
bishop Williams. The sentence of Mr. Osbaldeston and Mr. Lilburne.
Courage of the puritans. Libels dispersed against the archbishop.
Press restrained. Further severities. The king forbids the laity to
go out of the kingdom without a license; and the ministers. Remarks.
Approach of the clergy towards popery. Uninterrupted succession of
bishops. Invocation of saints. The mass, and real presence, and au-
ricular confession, preached. Remarks. Design to unite the two
churches. Laws against papists suspended. They are favored and
promoted at court; their numbers and influence. Lord Clarendon's
account of them. The civil liberties of England destroyed. Lord
Clarendon's representations of the times. Remarks.

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