Chap. IV. The HIS T 0 RY rif the PuRITANS. IOI' Lord Clarendon and Mr. Eachard reprefent the independents as ignorant K. Charles I. and illiterate enthufiafis; and though Mr. Rapin confeifes, he knew no- ~· thing of their rife and progrefs, he has painted them out in the moft dif- Tt1eir vindi– advantagious colours, affirming " that their principles were exceeding cation. Vol. " proper to put the kingdom into a flame ; that they abhorred monarchy,XII. P· 2 9.0·· " and approved of none but a republican government, and that as to re- " ligion, their principles were contrary to all the refi of the world; that " they would not endure ordinary minifiers in the church, but every one " among them pr.ayed, preached, admonifhed, and interpreted fcripture, cc withollt any other call, than what himfelf dr.ew from his fuppofed· " gifts, and the approbation of his hearers." 'Tis fDrpriling fo accurate an hifiorian fhould take fuch liberties with men whofe principles he was fo little acquainted with, as to fay, theindepen– dents abhorred monarchy, and approved of none but a republican government; whereas they aifDre the world in their apology, that they prayed publicly for kings, and all in authority. This was no point of controverfy be– tween them and the pre£byterians, for when they had the king in their cuftody they fen,ed him on the knee, and in all probability would have re– fl:ored him to the honours of his crown, if he had complied with theil' propofals. 'iVhen they were reproached with being enemies to magiftracy, a declaration was publifbed by the congregational Jocieties in and about London, in the year 1647. wherein they declare, " that as magifl:racy and 8 •~ government in general is the ordinance of God, they do not difapprove P· •· " of any form of civil government, bllt do freely acknowledge that a king- " ly government, bounded by juft and wholefome laws, is both allowed ~y " God, and a goad accommodation unto men." And if we may believe Dr. Wehvood, when the army refolved to fet afide the prefent king, the govern• ing party would have advanced the dDke of Gloucejter to the throne, if they could have done it with fafety. With regard to religion Rapin adds, their principles were contrary to all the reft qf the world; and yet they gave their confent to all the doCtrinal articles of the aifembly's confeffion of faith, and declared in their apology, their agreement with the doCtrinal articles of the church of England, and with all the protefiant reformed ehurches in their harmony of co'!fdfions, differing only about the jurifdiction of cla!fes fynods and convocations, and the point of liberty of con– fcicnce--Our hifiorian adds,. that they were not only averje to epijcopacy, but would not endure jo much as ordinary mini)lers in the church. 'Ihey maintained, that every man might pray in public, exhort his brethren and, interpret Jcripture, without any other call than what himfe!fdrew from his zeal and fuppofed gifts, andwithout any other authority than the approbation of his hearers. Here his annotator Mr. 'IindaJ rightly obferves, . that he has mifiaken the independents for the brownijls; the independents had . their
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