II 96 INTRODUCTION. learned divines were appointed to draw up the fundamentals to be presented to the house. Those who acted were Drs. Owen, Goodwin, and Cheynell, and Messrs. Marshall, Reyner, Nye, Sympson, Vines, Manton, Jacomb, and Baxter. Archbishop Usher was nominated, but declined his attendance,* During the national confusions there were many persons denominated fifth monarchy-men, chiefly of the baptist persuasion. They were in immediate expectation of King Jesus, and of the commencement of his glorious, personal reign of a thousand years upon the earth. Though they were avowedly of commonwealth principles, they were extremely hostile to Cromwell's government. t- Several of them having discovered considerable enmity and opposition against the protector, were apprehended and committed to prison ; among whomwere Mr. Rogers, Mr. Feake, and Mr. Vavasor Powell. On account of the rigorous laws still in force, they were kept its prison a long time, under the plea of mercy, and to save their lives. The protector having discovered some inconvenience from the approbation of ministers being left wholly to the presbyterians, he contrived a middle way, by joining the various parties together, and committing the business to certain men of approved abilities and integrity, belonging to each denomination. For this purpose, an ordinance was passed, March 20, 1654, appointing thirty-eight commis- sioners to this office, commonly called TRYERS.' Another ordinance was also passed, for ejecting scandalous, igno- rant, and insufficient ministers and schoolmasters." It appointed certain lay-commissioners for every county, to be joined by ten or more of the best divines, as their assistants. They were required to call before them any public preacher, vicar, curate, or schoolmaster,, reputed to be ignorant, scandalous, or insufficient§ This ordinance, it most be acknowledged, bore hard upon some of the episcopal clergy ; among whom were Dr. Pordage, charged with blasphemy and heresy ; and Mr. Bushnal, charged with drunkenness, profanation of the sabbath, gaming, and disaffection to the government. For these crimes, they were both turned out of their livings.ii Also, by theact for propagating the gospel in Wales, many ignorant and scandalous ministerswere ejected, and others Sylvester's Life of Baxter, part ii. p. 197. t Thurloe's State Papers, vol. i. p. 621, 641. Scobell's Collec. part ii. p. 279. § Ibid. p. 335, 340-347. 1 Neal's Puritans, vol, iv, p. 11; 113.
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