CHAPTER IV.

Religious Life in England from the Death of Elizabeth to the Death

of Cromwell.

James .I. loses his love of Presbytery—The Puritan petition-Action of the Universi-

ties-Conference at Hampton Court--Effect of the king's policy on the Pu-
ritans--Persecution-Puritan opinion during James's reign—The king obtains an
unconstitutional opinion from the council and judges—New translation of the
Bible—The Book of Sports’--State of society-Rise of the High Anglican school
of churchmen—The Court party-Puritans and patriots—The Puritan and his
Bible—Social position of the Puritans—Uses of this retrospect-Charles's im-
policy- Language of his friends-What may be said for the Commons from 1625
to 1629--Parliaments in abeyance : arbitrary rule-Laud's theory of Church and
State--State of public feeling at this time-War inevitable, and why--Religious
feeling in the Long Parliament-Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton released—Po-
pular ovation--Committee of inquiry concerning oppressed ministers—Petition
from the Londoners against Episcopacy, December, 1640—The Commons deny
legislative power to the clergy–Laud charged with high treason--Opposition to
secular functions of the clergy—Bill to abolish the hierarchy—Impeachment of
the bishops - The Commons begin their reforms in public worship- The Assem-
bly of Divines—Scotch Alliance: 'the League and Covenant—The Covenant
modified at Westminster- The Directory for Worship, August, 1645--Fall of
the hierarchy--Proceedings against the Episcopal clergy-Committees and the
clergy-Persecution of the Puritan ministers — The Anglo-Catholic clergy ne-
glect and disparage preaching-Social position of parochial clergy in seventeenth cen-
tury-Cases of immorality before Sir E. L'ering's committee-Sum of the evidence
adduced—“White's Century of Scandalous Ministers '--Charles's injunctions
to the clergy-Position assumed towards the country by the king and by the par-

CHAPTER III.

Ground taken by the Bishops in 1660.

Unfair and discourteous proceeding of the bishops—Their Answer to the terms of

conformity named by the ministers, and Baxter's Rejoinder—The prelates and

Usher's Reduction-Baxter's remonstrance—The Liturgy and ceremonies

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CHAPTER IV.

Concessions from the King-Declaration from Worcester House.

The King becomes a church reformer-New Declaration-How received by the

ministers—The Meeting at Worcester House-Difficulty as to the word

consent,' and as to toleration–The Revised Declaration—The offer of the

bishoprics- The London Ministers thank the King for the Declaration—The

Declaration a failure—Popular feeling-Scandals among the clergy · Page 245

.

CHAPTER V.

Case of the Nonconformists in the Conference at the Savoy in 1661.

Preliminaries to the conference- The Commission—The prelates take the same

course as in 1660-Baxter dissents from his brethren-His exceptions to the

Book of Common Prayer—The joint 'Exceptions' from the ministers--The

Nonconformists on ancient liturgies—Exceptio to vestments, the intoning

of the Lessons, as to pastoral discipline, preaching, kneeling at communion,

baptism, the catechism, confirmation, visitation of the sick, the burial service-

Summary--Baxter's liturgy–The Petition for Peace'

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CHAPTER VIII.

Parliament and the Act of Uniformity.

The ecclesiastical question in the Convention Parliament–The Convention Parliament

and the King's Declaration—Venner's insurrection, and its uses to the Govern-

ment–The election for the City of London ; defeat of the Government-

Meeting of the pensionary parliament—The bishops restored to their seats in

parliament-Action of parliament in respect of the Liturgy—The session of 1662

-The King's new policy-The Act of Uniformity-Summary Page 316

CHAPTER IX.

The Independents in relation to the Act of Uniformity.

The 'moderate' Independents—Humble petition and advice from the parlia-

ment to Cromwell, 1657–Meeting of the Independents at the Savoy, 1658–

Their opinion on the duty of the magistrate with respect to religion-Their

liberality-Milton and the Independents—The consistent Independents-Milton

on the civil power in ecclesiastical causes—The Independents and Presbyterians

-Odium on the former under the Restoration, and why-Ejected Independents

Page 335
CHAPTER I.

Bad Treatment and a Good Confession.

Charles is not satisfied—Another Declaration, how a failure-Repudiated by Par-

liament-Spies and informers still — The Conventicle Act—The Five-mile Act

-The Nonconformists and the sufferers from the plague-Sufferings of the

Nonconformists – Instances from the persecution-Nonconformists' testimony.

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