Chap. X. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS.' 335 There were two oiher perfons concerned in this work, who might prob- K. Charles I. ably have the other parts of fcripture allotted them, not here mentioned, ~J viz. Mr. Dow1zham, and Mr. Readmg. When pofterity lhall ii?part!ally re~iew the labours of t.his q/Jemb~ o/'lheir<ham~ di·vines, and confider the t1mes w wh1ch they fat, they will have a JU!l: ter. veneration for their memory ; for though their fentiments in divinity were in many inftances too narrow and contraO:ed, yet with all their faults, amongft which their perfecuting zeal for religion was not the leaft, they were certainly men of real piety and virtue, who meant well, and had the intereft of religion at heart ; and mo!l: of them poffeifed as much learning as any of their cotemporaries ; the names of Lightjoot, Se/den, Gataker, Greenhill, Arrowfnitb, Twf/Je, biihop Reyno!ds, Wal!is, &c~ will always meet with efteem from the learned world; and had they not grafped at coercive power, or jurifdietion over the confciences of men, their charaCters would have been unblemilhed. Mr. Baxter who knew Baxter':i moft of them, fays " they were men of eminent learning, godlinefs, Life, p. 7'31 " minifterial abilities, and fidelity; and being not worthy to be one of "them myfelf (fays he), I may more fully fpeak the truth which I know, " even in the face of malice and envy, that as far as I am able to judge by " the information of hirl:ory, and by any other evidences, the chriftian " world, fince the days of the apofUes, had never a fynod of more ex- ,, cellent divines than this fynocl, and the fynod of Dort." The DIVINE RIGHT of the presbyterian government firft threw them into heats, and then divided them, engaging them fir!l: with the parliament, and then with the i12dependents and erqjfians. Their oppo!ing a toleration raifed them a great many enemies, and caufed afecelfion in their own body, for - after they had carried the queftion of DIVINE RIOH T, the independents and eraftians deferted them, after which they found it very difficult to mufl:er as many as WO!lld make a houfe. Had the parliament diffolved them at that j11nCture, they had feparated with honour, but they dwindled by degrees as has been related ; the bufinefs of the church being now tranllated to the provincial affemblies. We have already remembered the two former of thefe affemblie~, the Proceeding~third met May 3· this year, and chafe the reverend Mr. Whitaker mode- of the 3d rator. In the fourth fdlion they agreed to prefent a fecond petition ' toj;ovincialaj~ the parliament in the name of the province, humbly to defire, r:. "That /fj;(· " they would renew the confideration of their former petition. 2. That. '' w~uld eftablilh the two catechifms of the affembly of divines, and ap- " pmnt them to be publicly taught throughout the kingdom.. 3.. That « they would add their civil fa!i!Ction to the new confeflion of faith •. ~ +·· That the direcl:ory for public worlhip may be better obferved ; anii '' tha~
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