faro Volume of the Hillary of the Puritans. 867 imperfect as it was, is much better than the Geneva model, or what the " puritans called their holy dfiipline ;" whichMr. N. will not debate, being no more fond of ecclefraflical power, or oaths ex officio, in the hands of ] =eldi_rs, than in a convocation or bifhop's court. As for the conformi- ty of the two fchemes to fcripture and primitive antiquity, the learned of different perfuafions will judge for themfelves; but our author can have no great reafon to boaft of the largenefs or catholicfm of king ED- WARD'S difcipline, when ht confiders the cruel hardfhips which the puri- tans fettered under it for above one hundred years ; hardfhips which no art ofman can difguife, nor length of time deface I C H A P. II. THERE is a ficond obfervation (lays our author) which naturally The progref offers itfelf upon this occafion, (viz.) that thepuritans did not defareofthecontra- a toleration, but the eftablifhment of their ownfcheme ; fach an ßablifh- ver¡ybetween ment as would have kept all others out of the church. ---- Again, they the iZi- ó y tanf and the exprefly refufed a toleration when f mething of thatTeems to be intendedfor church. them. Which is no impeachment of the truth of Mr. N's hiflory. vindic. P. However to fet this matter in a clear light, it muff be obferved, that for P' 128' the firfi twelve or fourteen years of queen ELIZABETH, the puritans contended only for a reformation of force abufes or imperfections in the hierarchy ; and had thefe been redreffed, the feparation, in all appearance had been prevented, and the malecontents (according to bifhop Burnet) would have had nothing to work upon. But the penal laws, and the queen's injunikions, being executed every year with increafing rigor, in- flead of reconciling the puritans to the church, drove them further from. it., The fpirits of men were heated with controverfy, which produced coarfe and indecent language on both fides. The high behaviour of the bi(hops reflects no honour on their character ; nor do the eager refentrnents of the puritans add any credit to theirs ; though, perhaps, are the more . excufabie on account of their opprefíions. At length a new generation of warmer fpirits arofe, with Mr. Cart- wright (lady Margaret's profef%r in Cambridge) at their head,who, inflead: ofconfining his difputes in the univerfity to the popifh habits, the crois in baptifm, kneeling at the Lord's fupper, and a few other rites and ce- remonies, flruck at force of the main pillarsof the hierarchy, and open- ed the controverfy into leveral other branches, which Teemed to portend its fubverfion rather than amendment. In profecution of this def]gn, the imperfeftionsof the prefnt eflablifhment were laid open, in the fttß and fecond admonition to the parliament, about the year 1572. and a new form of government, like the Geneva platform, propofed in its room; but for this
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