Summary. BOOK II. specific mention of bishops, priests, and deacons, instead ' of a more general designation, the reintroduction of 'Bel and the Dragon into the calendar, and other similar alterations, though none of them new in principle, 'seemed designed to convince the Nonconformists that, instead of any wish to admit them to further power or 'privilege within the church, there was a distinct and 'settled desire to restrain and exclude them. So strongly 'did they themselves feel this conviction, that it was proposed on their behalf, in the house of lords, that 'the existing liturgy should be continued, and all the ' corrections made in convocation should be abandoned.” It is simply natural that the ministers of religion should be zealous religionists. The ark is entrusted specially to their hands. It becomes them to guard it with solicitude and firmness. The episcopal clergy, moreover, had passed through some bitter experiences. of late, such as no class of men in the same circumstances could be expected wholly to forget. Hence we are prepared to make a large allowance in their favour, should their conduct betray feelings tinged considerably with resentment. It is evident there were church of England divines at the Restoration who were not disposed to make a harsh use of their returning power, but would have assented to somewhat liberal concessions, in the hope of burying the painful memories of the past. But this better class were a minority. The strength of their party was not with them. Such men must have seen, that while much had happened to excuse some signs of partiality, and even of injustice, on the part of their brethren, nothing had happened to warrant them in descending to the artifice and insincerity which had * Cardwell's Conferences, 387, 388. VII. characterized their proceedings, in resolving to learn CHAP. absolutely nothing from all the bitter fruits of our religious controversies during the last hundred years; and, least of all, in deciding to grant nothing to the men to whom they had promised not long since to grant almost anything. The leaders in the Savoy conference, and in the convocation, were deep in this treachery. It was bad enough that resentment should become cruelty. It was worse that cruelty should become fraud. Now we know their minds, we will make them all knaves if 'they conform.' 'Pity you have made the door so 'strait,' was a later observation. Not at all,' was the reply; had we supposed so many would have conformed, we would have made it straiter.' Such are the words attributed to Sheldon, the master spirit in these proceedings. But we do not need these words to reveal the temper of that evil hour. The language of the deeds then done is fully to that effect. More honourable men would have resisted the stream; but they were appalled by it, and it was allowed to flow on.* * In a volume, consisting partly of printed papers, and partly of MSS., preserved in the Library of the Congregational Church, George Street, Plymouth, is a manuscript letter from a person who was present at the Savoy Conference towards its close, in which is this sentence:— The prelates would yield nothing, but the whole quorum of them entertained Mr. Baxter's reasonings with hisses.' As this is from an eye witness, it is entitled to some credit, but I know of no other authority on the point. BOOK II. The ecclesiastical question in the Convention parliament. CHAPTER VIII. Parliament and the Act of Uniformity. T will now be proper to retrace our steps, and to see what was doing in parliament while the divines and the government were occupied in bringing matters to the issue stated in the last chapter. We learn from a private source, that on the 9th of July, 1660, the house of commons resolved itself into a committee on religion. This was somewhat more than two months after the meeting of parliament. The future of the established church was the question thus raised. But the notices which have reached us in regard to what was done are so fragmentary and obscure, as to give us but little definite information. It is clear, however, that a great difference of opinion was manifested. Sir Heneage Finch, the attorney-general, said the religion of the church of England was not a something to seek; and it was clear that his object was simply to restore the establishment of the past. But others were not exactly of his mind. The majority seemed desirous that nothing should be hastily done, and that the first step should be to convene a synod of divines to deliberate on the question. Be it so, said Prynne; but let it be remembered that a synod can determine nothing; the ultimate authority on such questions rests with the king and parliament. Darkness came on that long summer day, and these earnest commoners were still in high debate. So intent were the Presbyterian members on giving utterance to their thoughts, that they called for lights. The Episcopalians, whose policy for the present was to keep such discussions in abeyance, resisted this innovation. Candles, however, were brought in. Twice they were extinguished. The third time, their dim light was effectually guarded. Great, we are told, was the disorder. At ten o'clock it was voted, That the king should be desired to convene a select number of divines, to treat concerning that affair, and 'the committee not to sit again until the 23rd of 'October next.'* But the subject was not to be thus laid at rest. A week later, the Presbyterian members brought up the question anew. Nearly all who now spoke declared themselves favourable to an episcopacy, but were at the same time careful to state that it should be a moderate, and not the old, episcopacy. The Episcopalians pleaded that his majesty was in communication with divines of both persuasions, and that it was accordingly expedient, and only respectful to the king, to wait the result of those efforts. In the end, after a debate of seven hours, and again at ten o'clock at night, the old resolution, recommending the assembling of a synod, and a suspen * Parl. Hist. iv. 79, 80. CHAP. BOOK II. Sion of further discussion to the 23rd of October, was carried a second time.* The Convention par On the 25th of October, Charles issued his Decla liament and ration on ecclesiastical affairs. Declaration, followed the reader has seen. the King's The proceedings which The house of commons returned thanks to his majesty for this evidence of his care in behalf of the church. Many of the members would have proceeded at once to the introduction of a bill which should convert the royal Declaration into law. But it was urged by the Episcopalians, that as the document spoke of a synod of divines who were to consider the proposed changes, such a measure would be premature. A month later, however, the question was again raised; and a bill was brought into the lower house designed to embody his majesty's concession in a law. But again there was earnest debating. Some ventured to speak of the toleration ceded by the king as too great. Others were content to urge that the subject should be left to the new parliament, and to the houses of convocation which would be assembled with it. On the motion for a second reading of the bill being put, it was lost by a majority of 183 against 157. That decision brought the ecclesiastical labours of the convention parliament to a close. The royalists were persuaded, that in the new parliament, which was to be convened in the spring, their numbers would be much greater, and the case of the church would be completely in their hands. † Parliament was dissolved on the 24th of December. The new parliament was not to assemble before the 8th of May. Events during this interval did not promise * Parl. Hist. 82-85. Ralph's History of England, i. 15, 16. |