Chap. IV. 2"he HISTORY of the PURITANS. 551 in the temple ofold : Where is their commiffion ? Or what example have K. CharlesI. weof this kind in the new teftament ? The fynagogues of the yews were '63' not confecrated in this manner ; nor was the temple of Solomon confecrated w by a prieft, but by a king. Our Saviour tells his difciples, " that WHERE " SO VER two or three of them fhould be gathered together in his name, " he would be in the midit- of them ; "` and the woman of Samaria, " that the hour was coming, when neither at that mountain, nor at ye- " rufalem, they fhould worfbip the Father." Befides, the changes made by time and various accidents in towns and cities, render it impoflible to prevent the alienation profanation of holy ground for to look no farther than the city of London, would it not be very hard if all the curfes that bifhop Laudpronounced in Greed-church, fhould refi upon thofe who live in houfes built by a61 of parliament, in places where there were confecrated churches or church yards "before the fire of London? Arch- bifhop Parker therefore in his fAntiquitates EcclefiæBritan. p. 85, 86. condemns this pracStice as fuperftitious; nor was there any form for it in the publick offices of the church. But this being obje led to archbifhop Laud at his trial, as an evidence of his inclinations to popery ; we (hall . there fee his Graces defence, with the learned reply of the houfe of com- mons, concerning the antiquity of confeciating churches. A proclamationhad been publifhed laft year, " commanding the arch- Proclamation " bithops and bithops to take fpecial care that the parifh'churches in their fe- Í°r repairing " veral diocefes, being places confecrated to the worfhip ofGod, be kept in Ruthwf' decent repair, and to make ufe of the power of the ecclefiaftical court p.28. . " to oblige the parifhioners to this part of their duty." The judges were allo required not to interrupt this good work, by too eafily granting prohi- bitions from the fpiritual courts. It feems, fundry churches fince the re- formation were fallen to decay ; and fome that had been defaced by the pulling down of images, and other popi(h relicks, had not been decently - repaired, the expence being too heavy for the poorer country parifhes ; it was therefore thought neceffary to oblige them to their duty; and under colour ofthis proclamation, LAUD introduced many of the trappings and decorations of popery, and punifhed thofe minifters in the high cöm -s. million court, that ventured to write or preach againft them. Hislordfhip began with his own cathedral of St. Paul 's for repairing., 163r and beautifying of which, a fubfcription and contribution was appointed Cathedral eré over the whole kindgom. Several houfes and (hops adjoining to the ca- airad. thedral were, by an injunétion of council, ordered to be pulled down, and the owners to accept of a reafonable fatisfaftion But if they would not comply, the fheruf£ of London was required to fee themdemoli(hed. The church of Sr. Gregory's waspulled down, and the inhabitants affigned to. Chr :'s church, where they were to affemble for the future. The- bi-` (hop's
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