108 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. fession, should use another, both of more effect, and also " framed according to the state and time. And tlire same " ended, the people tosing a psalm in metre in a plain tune, 'E as was and is accustomed in the French, Dutch, Italian, " Spanish and Scottish churches : that done, the minister to " pray for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, and to pro- " reed to the sermon. After the sermon, a general prayer " for all estates, and for our country of England, was 4, devised : at the end ofwhich prayer was joined the Lord's "prayer, and a rehearsal of the articles of belief; which " ended, the people to sing another psalm as afore. Then " the minister pronouncing this blessing, The peace ofGod, " Ste. or some other of like effect, the people to depart. " And as touching the ministration of the sacraments, sundry " things were also by common consent omitted, as supersti- " lions andsuperfluous. "o Our learned and pious divine undoubtedly took an active part in the formation of the church at Frankfort. The pious exiles having comfortably settled their new congregation, entered into a friendly correspondence with their brethren who had settled at other places. In their letter addressed to the exiles at Strasburgb,-signed by John Bale, William Whittingham, JohnFox, and fourteen others, they conclude by saying : We have a church freely granted to preach " God's word purely, to minister the sacraments sincerely, and to execute discipline truly. And as touching our " book, we will practice it so far as God's word doth assure " it, and the state of this country permit."i They wrote also to their brethrenwhohad fled to other places, signifying how comfortably they were settled, and inviting them to Frankfort. Upon the arrival of Dr. Cox and his friends, Troubles of Frankeford, p.3. + Ibid. p. 20. Dr. Riehard Cox had been preceptor and almoner to King Edward, and dean of Oxford and Westminster, but was now fled from the persecution of Queen Mary. He was a high churchman, a bigot to the English ceremos, nies, and of too imperious a disposition. On his return borne, Queen Elizabeth made him Bishop of Ely, which he enjoyed to his death. He scrupled for some time to officiate in the royal chapel, on account of the queen's retaining the crucifix, with lights on the altar; and w hen he con- sented, it was, he said, with a trembling conscience. He was violent in his opposition against the puritans. as well in hisowncountry, asat Frankfort. He wrote to Archbishop Parker, to go onvigorously in reclaiming or punishing them, and not be disheartened by the frowns of those court-favourites who protected them ; assuring him, that he might expect the blessing of God on his pious labours. When the privy council interposed in favour of the puritans, and endeavoured to skrecn them from punishment, he wrotea bold letter to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh ; in which he warmly expostulated with the council, for meddling with the attain of the church, which, he
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=