762. Tie HISTORY ofthe- PUR i 'AÑs..' Chap. X. K, Charles I.." Hereas bithops and other perlons in holyorders, ought not to be en- 1641. tangled with fecular jurifdi?tion (the office of the miniftry beingof The ac l it- " fuch great importance that it will take up the whole man.) And for that Jet. " it is found by long experience, that their intermedling with fecular ju- " rifditions bath occafioned great mifchiefs and fcandals both to church " and Efate, his majefty out of his religious care of the church, and fouls " of his people, is gracioufly pleated that it be enaEted, and by authority " of this prefent parliament be it enaÈted, that no archbifhop or bifhóp, " or other perfon that now is or hereafter (hall be in holy orders, fhall at " any time after the i5th day of February in the year of our lord 1641. " have any feat or place fuffrage or vote, or ufe or execute any power or " authority in the parliaments of this realm, nor (hall be of the privy-. " council of his majefty his heirs or fucceffors, or juftices of the peace of " oyer and terminer or gaol delivery, or execute any temporal authority,. " by virtue of any commifon ; but (hall be wholly difabled, and be "~uncapable to have, receive, ufe, or execute any of the faid offices, " places, powers, authorities, and things aforefaid. " And be it further enaéted bythe authority aforefaid, that all ads from " and after the faid r5th ofFebruary, which (hall be done or executed. " by any archbifhop or bifhop, or other perfon whatfoever in holy orders " and all and every fuffrage or voice given or delivered by them or any of " them, or other thing done by themor any of them, contrary tothe pur " port and true meaning of this prefent aft,, (hall be utterly void to all in- tents, conftru.Etions, and. purpofes." Remarks Thus the peerage of the bi(hops and the whole fecular power of the ufon :t. clergy, ceafed for about twenty years; how far they contributed to it by . their pride and ambition, their fovereign contempt of the laity, and in difcreet behaviour towards their proteftant brethren, has been already xtandhrß. obferved._ Their enemies faid the hand of God was againft them, becaufe :f es. they had given too much countenance to the ridiculing of true devotion P-33. and piety under the name of godlypuritani/m ; becaufe they had filenced great numbers of minifters eminent for learning and religion, for not com- plying withcertain indifferent rites and ceremonies,, while others whowere vicious, and infufftcient for their officewere encouraged; becaufe they made a: adder enquiryafter thofe who fafted and prayed, andjoined together in re- ligious exercifes,.than after thofe who wereguilty of fwearing, drunkennefs, and other kinds of debauchery; becaufe they difcouraged afternoon fer- mons and leftures, and encouraged fports and paflimes on the lord's day;;. becaufe, Allid1411
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