either, as without shaking foundations, might best allay the present distempers, which the indisposition of the time, and the tenderness of some men's consciences had contracted. For the better doing whereof, we did intend, 5 upon our first arrival in this kingdom, to call a synod of divines, as the most proper expedient to provide a proper remedy for all those differences and dissatisfactions which had or should arise in matters of religion; and in the mean time, we published in our declaration from Breda, 10" a liberty to tender consciences, and that no man should be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matter of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom; and that we shall be ready to consent to such an act of parliament, as upon mature 15 deliberation shall be offered to us, for the full granting that indulgence."

Whilst we continued in this temper of mind and resolution, and have so far complied with the persuasion of particular persons, and the distemper of the time, as 20 to be contented with the exercise of our religion in our own chapel, according to the constant practice and laws established, without enjoining that practice, and the observation of those laws in the churches of the kingdom; in which we have undergone the censure of many,

25 of comprehension. Whether the king's government had foreseen and provided from the first, that such should be the issue of the matter, and had dissembled with the presbyterian party, or were originally sincere in their promises, and had afterwards discovered the impossibility of carrying them into effect, is a question on which, as strong evidence 30 may be produced on each side, it is not necessary to pronounce a judgment. It is manifest, however, from the reference made to synods and acts of parliament, that the arrangements and concessions of the declaration were, in themselves, only conditional and temporary, whatever might be the designs of his majesty's government. Commons' Journals. 35 Kennet's Register, p. 209. Neal, Purit. vol. iii. p. 58. Burnet's Own Times, vol. i. p. 322. Bates' Sermon on Baxter. Collier, vol. ii. p. 873. Hallam, vol. ii. p. 182. Lingard, vol. vii. p. 362.

as if we were without that zeal for the church which we ought to have, and which by God's grace we shall always retain; we have found ourself not so candidly dealt with as we have deserved, and that there are unquiet and restless spirits, who without abating any of their own 5 distemper in recompense of the moderation they find in us, continue their bitterness against the church, and endeavour to raise jealousies of us, and to lessen our reputation by their reproaches, as if we were not true to the professions we have made: and in order thereunto, 10 they have very unseasonably caused to be printed, published, and dispersed throughout the kingdom a declaration heretofore printeda in our name during the time of our being in Scotland, of which we shall say no more than that the circumstances, by which we were enforced 15 to sign that declaration, are enough known to the world; and that the worthiest and greatest part of that nation did even then detest and abhor the ill usage of us in that particular, when the same tyranny was exercised there by the power of a few ill men, which at that time had spread 20 itself over this kingdom; and therefore we had no reason to expect that we should at this season, when we are doing all we can to wipe out the memory of all that hath been done amiss by other men, and we thank God, have wiped it out of our own remembrance, have been ourself 25 assaulted with those reproaches, which we will likewise forget.

Since the printing this declaration, several seditious pamphlets and queries have been published and scattered abroad to infuse dislike and jealousies into the hearts of 30 the people, and of the army; and some who ought rather to have repented the former mischief they have wrought,

a a declaration heretofore printed] The declaration issued in August 1650, in which the king embraced the covenant, condemned the wicked measures of his father, lamented his mother's idolatry, and ab- 35 jured all popery, superstition, prelacy, heresy, schism, and profaneness.

than to have endeavoured to improve it, have had the hardiness to publish, that the doctrine of the church, against which no man, with whom we have conferred, hath excepted, ought to be reformed as well as the disci5 pline.

This over passionate and turbulent way of proceeding, and the impatience we find in many for some speedy determination in these matters, whereby the minds of men may be composed, and the peace of the church To established, hath prevailed with us to invert the method we had proposed to ourself, and even in order to the better calling and composing of a synod (which the present jealousies will hardly agree upon) by the assistance of God's blessed Spirit which we daily invoke and suppli15 cate, to give some determination ourself to the matters in difference, until such a synod may be called as may without passion or prejudice give us such further assistance towards a perfect union of affections, as well as submission to authority, as is necessary: and we are the rather 20 induced to take this upon us, by finding upon the full conference we have had with the learned men of several persuasions, that the mischiefs, under which both the church and state do at present suffer, do not result from any formed doctrine or conclusion which either party 25 maintains or avows, but from the passion, and appetite, and interest of particular persons, who contract greater prejudice to each other from those affections, than would naturally rise from their opinions; and those distempers must be in some degree allayed, before the meeting in a 30 synod can be attended with better success, than their meeting in other places, and their discourses in pulpits have hitherto been; and till all thoughts of victory are laid aside, the humble and necessary thoughts for the vindication of truth cannot be enough entertained.

35

We must for the honour of all those of either persuasion, with whom we have conferred, declare, that the pro

fessions and desires of all for the advancement of piety and true godliness are the same; their professions of zeal for the peace of the church the same; of affection and duty to us the same: they all approve episcopacy; they all approve a set form of liturgy; and they all disprove 5 and dislike the sin of sacrilege, and the alienation of the revenue of the church; and if upon these excellent foundations, in submission to which there is such a harmony of affections, any superstructures should be raised, to the shaking those foundations, and to the contracting and 10 lessening the blessed gift of charity, which is a vital part of Christian religion, we shall think ourself very unfortunate, and even suspect that we are defective in that administration of government with which God hath entrusted us.

15

We need not profess the high affection and esteem we have for the church of England as it is established by law, the reverence to which hath supported us with God's blessing against many temptations; nor do we think that reverence in the least degree diminished by 20 our condescensions, not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of ceremony, which however introduced by the piety, and devotion, and order of former times, may not be so agreeable to the present, but may even lessen that piety and devotion, for the improvement whereof 25 they might happily be first introduced, and consequently may well be dispensed with; and we hope this charitable compliance of ours will dispose the minds of all men to a cheerful submission to that authority, the preservation

bthe professions and desires of all] "The king treated them [the non- 30 conformist ministers] very respectfully, and renewed his professions of his earnest desires of an accommodation of the differences; told them he was well pleased that they were for a liturgy, and yielded to the essence of episcopacy; and promised them that the places where the old incumbents were dead, should according to their desire be confirmed 35 to the possessors." Baxter's Life, p. 143.

whereof is so necessary for the unity and peace of the church; and that they will acknowledge the support of the episcopal authority to be the best support of religion, by being the best means to contain the minds of men 5 within the rules of government: and they who would restrain the exercise of that holy function within the rules, which were observed in the primitive times, must remember and consider that the ecclesiastical power being in those blessed times always subordinate and subject to 10 the civil, it was likewise proportioned to such an extent of jurisdiction, as was most agreeable to that; and as the sanctity, and simplicity, and resignation of that age did then refer many things to the bishops, which the policy of succeeding ages would not admit, at least did other15 wise provide for, so it can be no reproach to primitive episcopacy, if where there have been great alterations in the civil government, from what was then, there have been likewise some difference and alteration in the ecclesiastical, the essence and foundation being still preserved. 20 And upon this ground, without taking upon us to censure the government of the church in other countries, where the government of the state is different from what it is here, or enlarging ourself upon the reasons why, whilst there was an imagination of erecting a demo25 cratical government here in the state, they should be willing to continue an aristocratical government in the church, it shall suffice to say, that since by the wonderful blessing of God the hearts of this whole nation are returned to an obedience to monarchic government in the 30 state, it must be very reasonable to support that government in the church, which is established by law, and with which the monarchy hath flourished through so many ages, and which is in truth as ancient in this island as the Christian monarchy thereof, and which hath always in 35 some respects or degrees been enlarged or restrained, as hath been thought most conducing to the peace and