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 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 From the death of King James 1. to the dissolution of the third parlia- Character of king Charles I.; of his queen; the duke of Bucking- 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 Arbitrary methods of government in the state. Bishop Laud's scheme Mr. CHAPTER V. From the death of archbishop Abbot, to the beginning of the commotions Laud advanced to the see of Canterbury. Wakes and revels on the |