provides," that the laws in being relating to the prefbyterian "religion were not to be suspended, altered, abrogated or "repealed; nor any new law made, but by confent of par"liament." The 36th adds, The 36th adds, "that until a better provision "can be made for the encouragement and maintenance of "able and painful teachers, the present maintenance fhall not "be taken away nor impeached." And TRYERS were ap pointed foon after for preventing fcandalous and unlearned perfons invading the pulpit. This part of the inftrument is, in my opinion, fo far from being criminal, that' it breathes a noble fpirit of chriftian liberty, though it was undoubtedly faulty, in putting popery, prelacy, and licentiousness of manners, upon a level. The open toleration of popery is hardly confiftent with the fafety of a proteftant government; otherwife, confidered merely as a religious inftitution, I fee not why it fhould be crushed by the civil power: and licentioufnefs of manners is not to be indulged in any civilized nation; but if the epifcopalians would have given fecurity for their living peaceably under their new masters, they ought undoubtedly to have been protected; however, the protector did not in every inftance adhere ftrictly to the inftrument.

But though in point of policy the epifcopalians were at this time excepted from a legal toleration, their affemblies were connived at; and several of their clergy indulged the publick exercise of their miniftry without the fetters of oaths, fubfcriptions, or engagements; as Dr. Hall, afterwards bifhop of Chefter, Dr. Wild, Pearfon, Ball, Hardy, Griffith, Farring don, and others. Several of the bishops, who had been kept from publick fervice by the covenant and engagement, preached again publickly in the city, as archbishop Uber, bifhop Brownrigge, and others. Mr. Baxter, who was very far from being a friend of the protector's, fays, " that all men "were fuffered to live quietly, and enjoy their properties "under his government that he removed the terrors and prejudices which hindered the fuccefs of the gofpel, efpecially confidering that godlinefs had countenance and re"putation as well as liberty, whereas before, if it did not "appear in all the fetters and formalities of the times, it "was the way to common fhame and ruin. to common fhame and ruin. It is well known that the prefbyterians did not approve of the.ufurpation,

..

"but

"but when they faw that Cromwell's defign was to do good "in the main, and encourage religion as far as his caufe "would admit, they acquiefced." And then comparing these times with thofe after the restoration, he adds, "I fhall for "the future think that land happy, where the people have "but bare liberty to be as good as they are willing; and if countenance and maintenance be but added to liberty, and "tolerated errors and fects be but forced to keep the peace, "I fhall not hereafter much fear fuch a toleration, nor de'fpair that truth will bear down its adverfaries."* This

was a confiderable teftimony to the protector's administration from the pen of an adverfary.

The protector's first council were, major-general Lambert, lieutenant-general Fleetwood, colonel Montague, afterwards earl of Sandwich; Philip lord viscount Lifle, fince earl of Leicester; colonel Desborough, fir Gilbert Pickering, fir Anthony Ashley Cooper, afterwards earl of Shaftsbury; fir Charles Woolley, major-general Skippon, Mr. Strickland, colonel Sydenham, colonel Jones, Mr. Roufe, Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Major: men of great name in thofe times; fome of whom made a confiderable figure after the restoration. The protector's wife conduct appeared in nothing more than his un'wearied endeavours to make all religious parties eafy. He indulged the army in their enthufiaftick raptures, and fometimes joined in their prayers and fermons. He countenanced the prefbyterians, by affuring them he would maintain the publick ministry, and give them all due encouragement. He fupported the independants, by making them his chaplains; by preferring them to confiderable livings in the church and univerfities; and by joining them in one commiffion with the prefbyterians as TRYERS of all fuch as defired to be admitted to benefices. But he abfolutely forbad the clergy of every denomination dealing in politicks, as not belonging to their profeffion; and when he perceived the managing prefbyterians took too much upon them, he always found means to mortify them; and would fometimes glory that he had curbed that infolent fect, that would fuffer none but itself.

It was happy for the wife and moderate presbyterians, that the protector difarmed their difcipline of its coercive power, Life, p. 86, 87.

VOL. IV.

G

for

for he still left them all that was fufficient for the purposes of religion; they had their monthly or quarterly claffical prefbyteries in every county, for the ordination of minifters, by impofition of hands, according to the directory, to whom they gave certificates, or teftimonials, in the following words:

"WE the minifters of the prefbytery of

-, ha

"ving examined Mr. according to the tenor of the "ordinance for that purpose, and finding him duly qualified "and gifted for that holy office and employment, (no juft "exception having been made to his ordination) have ap"proved him, and accordingly, on the day and year hereafter "expreffed, have proceeded folemnly to fet him apart to the "office of a preaching prefbyter, and work of the ministry, "with fafting and prayer, and impofition of hands; and do "hereby actually admit him (as far as concerns us) to per"form all the offices and duties of a faithful minister of Jefus "Chrift. In witness whereof we have hereunto fubfcribed ແ our names this day of Sept. 1653."

Other teftimonials were in this form:

"WE the ministers of Christ, who are called to watch "over this part of his flock in the city of, with the af"fistance of fome others, that we might not be wanting to the "fervice of the church in its neceflity, having received cre"dible teftimonials, under the hands of divers ministers of the "gofpel, and others, of the fober, righteous, and godly con"versation of —, as alfo concerning his gifts for the mi"niftry, have proceeded to make further trial of his fitnefs for "fo great a work; and being in fome good measure fatisfied "concerning his piety and ability, have, upon the day of →

1653, proceeded folemnly to fet him apart to the office "of a prefbyter, and work of the miniftry, by laying on our "hands with fafting and prayer; by virtue whereof we do "efteem and declare him a lawful minifter of Christ, and "hereby recommend him to the church of "nefs whereof we have fet our hands, &c.'

In wit

When the prefbyterians found that their claffes could obtain no power to inflict pains and penalties on those who refused

to

to fubmit to their difcipline, the minifters of the feveral denominations in the country began to enter into friendly affociations for brotherly council and advice. Mr. Baxter, and his brethren of Worcesterfhire, formed a fcheme upon fuch general principles as all good men were agreed in, which he communicated to the reverend Mr. Vines and Gataker; and when he had drawn up articles of concord, he fubmitted them to the correction of archbishop Ufher, and other epifcopal divines, who agreed with him, that no more discipline. fhould be practifed than the epifcopalian, prefbyterian, and independant divines agreed in; that they fhould not meddle with politicks, or affairs of civil government in their affemblies, nor pretend to exercife the power of the keys, or any church cenfures; but only to affift, advife, and encourage each other in propagating truth and holiness, and in keeping their churches from prophane and fcandalous communicants.§ Their meetings were appointed to be once a month in fome market town, where there was a fermon in the morning; and after dinner the converfation was upon fuch points of doctrine or discipline as required advice; or elfe an hour was fpent in difputing upon fome theological question which had been appointed the preceding month. Doctor Warmeftry, afterwards dean of Worcester, and Dr. Good, one of the prebendaries of Hereford, fent Mr. Baxter a letter dated Sept. 20, 1653, wherein they teftify their approbation of the affociation abovementioned, and of the articles of concord.*

In the Weft of England, Mr. Hughes of Plymouth, and Mr. Good of Exeter, prevailed with the minifters of the feveral perfuafions in thofe parts, to follow the example of Worcestershire; accordingly they parcelled themselves into four divifions, which met once a quarter; and all four had a general meeting for concord once a year: The reverend Mr. Hughes prefided in thofe of 1655, and 1656. The moderator began and ended with prayer, and feveral of the epifcopal divines of the beft character, as well as independants, joined with them; "The chief of the prefbyterian and in"dependant divines, who were weary of divifions, and wil"ling to strengthen each other's hands, united in thefe affem* Ibid. p. 149.

§ Baxter's Life, part ii. p. 147, &c. p. 167, &c.

G2

blies,

"blies, though the exafperated prelatifts, the more rigid "prefbyterians, and feverer fort of independants, kept at a "diftance: But many remarkable advantages (fays Mr. "Baxter) attended thefe affociations;" they opened and preferved a friendly correfpondence among the ministers; they removed a great many prejudices and misunderstandings, infomuch that the controverfies and heats of angry men began to be allayed, their spirits bettered, and the ends of religion more generally promoted.

But these country affociations were not countenanced by the more zealous prefbyterians of London, who met weekly at Sion college; they could hardly digeft a toleration of the fectaries, much lefs fubmit to a coalition, but refolved to keep close to the ordinances of parliament, and to the acts of their provincial affembly: They wanted the fword of difcipline, and were impatient under the present restraint; and nothing but the piercing eye of the protector, whofe fpies were in every corner, kept them from preaching, praying, and plotting against the government. However, the country minifters being eafy in their poffeffions, cultivated good neighbourhood, and fpread the affociations through Wiltshire, Effex, Hampshire, Dorfetfhire, Cumberland, Weftmoreland, and other parts; and if I am not mifinformed, there are the like brotherly affociations among the diffenters in feveral -counties to this day.

مي

J

This year died old Dr. William Gouge, born at StratfordBow in the year 1575, and educated at King's college, Cambridge, of which he was fellow. He entered into orders 1607, and the very next year was fettled at Black-Friars, London, where he continued to his death. He commenced doctor of divinity in the year 1628, about which time he became one of the feoffees for buying up impropriations, for which he was ordered to be profecuted in the Star-chamber. In the year 1643 he was nominated one of the affembly of divines, and was in fuch reputation, that he often filled the moderator's chair in his abfence. He was a modeft, humble, and affable perfon, of ftrict and exemplary piety, an univerfal fcholar, and a most constant 'preacher, as long as he was able to get up into the pulpit. For many years he was esteemed the father of the London minifters, and died comfortably

and