30 The HISTORY of the PURITANS.. Chap. 1. King laws according to their votes, efpecially when intere/i does viably turn the Edward VI. Peale; how can the prince or civil magArate depend upon fuck afliflance ? Can we be Pure that interefl or prejudice will never turn the fcale with him ? Or is it likely he fhould have a better acquaintance with the truths Of the gofpel, than his clergy or people? 'Tis highly reafonablc that the prince fhould choofe for himfelf what fide he will be of, when things are much enquired into ; but then let the clergy and people have the fame li- berty, and neither the major nor minor part impofe upon the other, as long as they entertain no principles inconfiflent with the fafety of the go- vernment. When the chri /lian belief had not the fupport of law, everyrbifhop taught his ownflock the be/i he could, and gave his neighboursfuch an account of hisfaith, at, or foon after his confecration, asfatised them; andfo (fays his lordfhip) they maintained the unity of the church. And why might it not be fo flill? Is' not this better upon all accounts, than to force people to profefs what they can't believe, or to propagate religion with the fword, as was too much the cafe with our reformers? If the penal laws had been repeal'd, and the points in controverfy between proteflants and papifs left to a free and open debate, while the civil magiftrate had flood by, and maintain'd the peace; the reformation would certainly have taken place in due time, and proceeded in a much more unexceptionable manner than it did. King Ed- To return to the hif'ory. King Edward VI. came to the crown at the wrd'sCoun of nine years and four months; a prince, for learning and piety, for acquaintance with the world, and application to bufinefs, the wonder of his age. His father, by his Taft will and teftament, named 16 perfons exe- cutors of his will, and regents of the kingdom, till his fon fhould be 18 years of age : Out of thefe the earl of Hertford, the king's uncle, was chofen protector of the king's realms, and governor of his perfon. Befides thefe, twelve were added as a privycouncil, tobe affifting to them; Among the regents fome were for the old religion, and others for the new; but it foon appeared that the reformers had the afcendant, the youngking having been educated in their principles by his tutor Dr. Cox, and the new pro- tedor his uncle being on the fame fide. The heads of the twoparties were thefe, Headsef the For the REr only' ATIoN. Iwo Parties. King Edward, Duke of Somerfet, Proteélor, Dr. Cranmer, Abp. Canterbury, Dr. Holgate, Abp. York, Sir W. Paget, Sec. State, For the Old RELIGION. Princefs Mary, Wriothejley E. of Southampton, Lord Chancellor, Dr. Tonfal, Bp. Durham, Dr. Gardiner, Bp. Wincheßer, L. V.
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