Chap. IV. ne H 'Is T 0 R y of t!Je PuRITANS. point of difcipline and toleration, tnade them the r.1ore confiderable, and X. C~arles I. \ encouraged their oppofition to the prejbyterians, who. were for eftablilh- ~ ing their own difcipline, without regard to fuch as differed from them. Prowdings I It is not to be wondered, that fo many parties with different views, of the a.ffem· {hould entangle the proceedings of this venerable body, and protraCt the bly. intended union with theJcots, though as foon as the covenant was taken, they entered upon that affair, the parliament having fent them the following order dated October I 2. I 643. "up 0 N ferious confide ration of the prefent ftate of affairs, the Order to con– " lords and commons aifembled in this prefent parliament do or-/~r ~bout dif– " der, that the aifembly of divines and others, do forthwith confer, and czplme. " treat among themfelves, of fuch a difcipline and government as may be " moft agreeable to God's holy word, and moft apt to procure and pre- " ferve the peace of the church at home, and a nearer agreement with the " church of Scotland, . &c. to be fettled in this church inftead of the pre- " fent church government by archbi!hops, bilhops, &c. which it is re• " folved to take away; and to deliver their advice touching the fame, to " both houfes of parliament with all convenient fpeed." Hereupon the aifembly fet themfdves to enquire into the conftitution of the primitive church, in the days of the apoftles, which being founded upon the model of the jewijh fynagogues, gave the Lighifoots, the Ligh~foot'~ Se/dens, the Co/emans, and other mafters of jewifh antiquities, an oppor- ;er;;t;ss zn tunity of difplaying their fuperior learning, by new and unheard of in- re· · ' terpretations of fcripture, whereby they frequently difconcerted the warmer prelbyterians, whofe plan of difcipline they had no mind !hould receive the fiamp of an apojtolick fanCJion, in the church of England. It was undoubtedly a capital miftake in the proceedings of parliament,. to deftroy one building before they were agreed upon another. The an– cient order of worlhip and difcipline in the church of England, was fet afide above twelve months before any other form was appointed ; during which time, no wonder Jeefs and divijions arrived to fuch a pitch, that it was not in their power afterwards to deftroy them. Committees indeed were appointed to prepare materials for the debate of the aifembly, fame for dijcipline, and others for worjhip, which were debated in order, and then laid afide without being perfeCted, or fent up to parliament to be framed into a law. Nothing can be alledged in excufe of this, but their ba.ckwardnefs to unite with the Jcots, or the profpeCl: the parliament might yet have of an agreement with the king. The 'firft point that came upon the carpet, was the 0RDINAT I ON OF Of ordina·· MrNISTERs; which was the more neceifary, becaufe the bi!hops refuf- tim ed
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