480 The HISTORY of the PuRITANis. Chap. II. Kingjamesi. fentative of the Scots kirk, yet (lays the bifhop of Landaff) his apparel i6-v was decent, and in all refpe is he gave much fatisfaction. His majefty's inftruétions to them were (r.) to agree among themfelves about the (late of any queftion, and how far it may be maintained agreeably to the fcrip- tures and the doéi rine of the church of England. (2.) To advife the Dutch minifters not to infift in their fermons upon fcholaftick points, but to abide by their former confeon offaith, and thofe of their neighbour reformed churches. (3.) That they should confult the king's honour, the peace of the diftra&ed churches, and behave in all things with gravity and moderation. When all the members of the fynod were afí'embled, they took the fol- lowing oath, in the twenty third feflìon, each perfon ftanding up in his place, and laying his hand on his heart. Therr oath. " T Promife before God, whom I believe and worship, as here prefent, vol.I1Ì. and as the fearcher of the reins and heart, that during the whole p. 62. " courfe of the tranfaétions of this fynod, in which there will be made " an enquiry into, and judgment and decifion of, not only the well known "fivepoints, and all the difficulties refulting from thence, but likewife of " all other forts of doctrines, I will not make ufe ofany kind of human " writings, but only of the word of God, as a lure and infallible rule of "faith. Neither will I have any other thing in view throughout this " whole difcufiion, but the honour of God, the peace of the church, and " above all, the prefervationof the purity of doctrine. So help me my Saviour Jefus thrift, whom I ardently befeech to afíift me in this my defign, by his holy fpirit" Thiswas all the oath thatwas taken (fays bifhopHall) as I hope to be faved. It was therefore an unjuft infinuation of Mr.yohnGoodwin, who in his re-, demption redeemed, p. 3 95. charged them with taking a previous oath to con- demn the oppofite party on what terms foever. " It grieves my foul, fays " the bifhop, to fee any learned divine railing fuch imaginary conjeftures ; but fince I have Peen it, I biefs myGod that I yet live to vindicate " them [16çI.] by this my knowing, and clear atteftation, which I am " ready to fecond with the folemneft oath, if required. The fynod continued to the 29th of May, in which time there were one hundred and eighty feslions. In the hundred and forty fifth fefíion, and 3oth ofApril, the Belgick confection of faith was debated and put to the queftion, which the Englfh divines agreed to, except the articles re- lating to the parity ofminers and eeclefia(ticaldifcipline. They laid they had carefully examined the faid coufesíion, and did not find any thing Brandt, therein, with re ect tofaith and doctrine ' but what was in the main vo1.II[. fp p. 288. .conformable to the word of God. They added, that they had likewüe con-
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