98 , The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. XII. K. Charles I. of the feveral parts of the city, and was called the morning exercife. The 'C 6 fervice was performed by divers minifters, and earneft interceßìons were made in the prefence of a numerous and crowded audience, for the wel- fare of the public as well as particular cafes. When the heat of the war was over, it became a cap:flicad le6lure, and was carried on by the matt learned and able divines till the reftoration of king Charles II. Their fermons were afterwards publifhed in feveral volumes quarto, un- der the title of the Morning Exerc f s s each fermon being the refolu- tion of force practical cafe of confcience. This leaure though in a different form, is continued among the proteftant difienters to this day. Some time after another morning lellure was fet up in the Abbey- church ofWellminfder, between the hours of fix and eight, for the benefit of that part of the town, and efpecially of the members of parliament; it was carried on by 'Dr. Staunton, Mr. Nye, Marfhal, Palmer, Herle, Whitaker and Hill, art members of the affembly of divines. In fhort, there were ledtures and fermons every day in the week in one church or another, which were well attended, and with great appearance of zeal and affediion. Men were not backward to rife before day, and go to pla- ces of worship at a great diftance, for the benefit of hearing the word of God. Such was the devotion of the city of London and parts adjacent, in there dangerous times 1 i eformation Nor was the reformation of manners lets remarkable ; the laws againft of manners vice and profanenefs were fo ftridt, and fo rigoroufly put in execution, the city that wickednefs was forced to hide itfelf in corners. There were no 'd parts ad- jacena gaming honks, or houfes of pleafure; no profane fwearing, drunkennefs, or any kind of debauchery to be Peen or heard in the ftreets. It is com- monly Paid, that the religion of thefe times was no better than hypocrify and dtfmulation ; and without all doubt, there were numbers of men who made theform of godlinefs a cloak to dífhonefty ; nay 'tis probable, that hypocr», and other floret immoralities, might be the prevailing fins of she,age, all open vices being fupprefred; but íti11 I am perfuaded, that the body of the people were fittcerely religious, and with all their faults, I fhould rejoice to fee in our days, fuch an appearance of religion, and all kinds of vice and profanenefs fo effe&ually difcountenanced. In thecamp 'If we go from the city to the camp of the earl of Efex, we thail find no the earl oilers probity of manners among them, molt of his foldiers being men who Effex, did not fight fo much for pay, as for religion and, the liberties of their Memorials, country. Mr. Whitlock obferves, `° that colonel Cromwel's regiment of ;p, 68. " horfe were molt of them freeholderspas, who engaged in the war upon ea principles of confcience; and that being well armed within, by the fa- " tisfadionof their confciences, and without with good iron arms, they would
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