Chap. VI. 'Ibe HISTORY of the PuRITANS~ 2II leading presbyterians in the alTembly and city, had carried it with temperK. Charles I. towards the indepe1idents, and allowed even of a limit~d toleration, they ~ had, in all likelihood, prevented the difputes between the army and par- · liament, which involved them in one common r\lin; they might then have faved the confiitution, and made their own terms with the king, who was now their prifoner; but they were enamoured with the charms of their covenant uniformity, and the divine right of presbytery, which, after all, the parliament would not admit in its full exent. Mr. Ba,xter who was no friend of the independents, fays, " that the presbyterian Baxter's life• " minifiers were fo little fenfible of their own infirmities, that they P· 103. " would not agree to tolerate thofe who were not only tolerable, but " worthy infiruments and members in the churches, prudent men were " for union in things neceflary, for liberty in things unnecifjary, and fir '' charity in all; but they could not be heard." . Great was the refort of the city divines to Sion college at this time, Debates a– where there was a kind of fynod every Monday, to confult proper me- b~uttoltr1 a_- h d I . . d !i h 1r. bl rir. r; · ,r; . twn and t· t o s to propagate re Jg10n, an upport t e auem y at rr 0tmznlter m berty ofcontheir oppofition to the toleration of fectaries; for this purpofe they writ;c.ience. them a letter, dated Jan. I 5· 1645-6. in which they capitulate the arguments of the committee, and befeech them to oppofe with all their might, the great Diana of the independents, and not fulfer their new eihblifhment to be firangled in the birth by a lawlefs toleration. The wholeJcots nation was alfo commanded into the fervice ; ·the par– liament of that kingdom writ to the two houfes at Weflmilifler, Feb. 3· acquainting them, that " it was expected the honourable hozljes would addRu!hw. '' the civil fanaion to what the pious and learned qffembly have advifed; and P· 334· ' ' I am commanded by the parliament qf this kingdom (foys the prifzdent) to " demand it, and 1 do in their names demand it. And the parliament of " this kingdom is perfuaded, that the p!ety and wifdom of the honoura- " ble houfes will never admit toleration of any feC!:s or fchifms contrary " to our folemn league and covenant." At the fame time they appeal' cl t~ the people, ~nd pu~lifhed. a declaration ~gainjl tolerat~on of feC!aries and ~~~i~nd;~1"" liberty of confctence; In wh1ch, after havmg taken notice of their own gai'!ft to/era• great fervices, they obferve that here is a party in England who are en- tion, · deavouring to fupplant the true religion, by pleading for liberty of confcience, which (fay they) is the nouriilier of all herefies and fchifms, They then declare againfi all {uch notions as are inconfifient with the truth of religion, and againfi opening a door to licentioufnefs, which to the utmofi of their power, they will endeavour to oppofe ; and as they have all entered into one covenat, fo to the Jail man in the kingdom they will go on in the prefervation of it. And however the pa,rliament of Englandmay determine in point of toleration and liberty qf conftience, E e ~ · ··· · ~hey
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