Chap. X. The HISTORY o/ the Pu.Rit<ANs~ 331 tendered to the co1?Jideration of the nation by the qfficers of the army, 'UJ)tb K. C~ar~es 1. a dejire that they would by.fltbjcription declare thei: concurrence to it f but ~ .. it was carri~d in the negauve. The defign of thts paper was to ' aH~nge the form of government into a kind of commonwealth, without a king or boufe of lords. It was publilhed by way of -probation, that they might learn the (enfe of the nation; but the article rela.ting to religion being peculiar, and giving great off~nce to the presbytenan ~lergy, thall be tranfcribed entire, ''We do not empower our reprefentattves (fay they) " to continue in force, or make any laws, oaths, or covenants, whereby '' to compel by penalties, or otherwife, any perfon to any thing, in or " about matters of faith, religion, or God's worfhip; or reflrain any per- " fon from profeffing his faith, o~ exercife of his religion according to his " confcience, in .zny houfe or place, except fuch as are, or {ball be fet " apart for the public wodhip. Neverthelef.c, the inflruCtion or direCtion " of the nation in a public way, for matters of faith, wor!1lip or difci- " pline, (o it be not compulfive or expre(s popery, is referred to their " difcretion." The AGREEMENT adds, " It is intended that the chrif- " 'tian religion be held forth, and recommended as the public profef!ion " in thrs narion, which we defire may, by the grace of God, be reformed " to the greatefl purity in doCtrine, worfhip, and difcipline, according " to the word of God. The inflrueting the people thereunto in a pub- " lie way, provided it be not compulfive; as alfo the maintaining of able " teachers for that end, and 'for the confutation and difcovery of herefy, " error, and whatfoever is contrary to found doCtrine, is allowed to be " provided by our reprefentatives; the maintenance of teachers may be " out of a treafury, and we defire not by tithes." But befides thefe, " All ~vho profefs faith in God by Jifus Chrifl, howeq;er differing iJJ · ''judgment from the dcClrine, difcipline, cmd 7vorjhip publicly beld f orth,. '' foall be proteCled in the prqf1Jion if their faith, and exercife of tbeir re– " ligion according to their confciences, Jo as they abufe not this liberty to ·' the civil injury if others, or the dijturba1ice qf the public peace." Thefe were j.uft and generous (entiments ; however the fynod forbid their people to fubfcribe them, not only becau(e the AGREEMENT imported a change in the civil government, but becau(e of the mifchiefi that would attend a toleration; their reafons for which they publifhed to the world March 6. I 643, fub fc ribed by fifty nine miniflers. . The provincial aifemblies of Londo1z met regularly every half year, -toC•zmtry offi· th.e year 1655. whm finding themfclves. without power, and not beingciatiom, Willing to apply to the proteClor and his parliament for fupport, they defifled; but there were none legally formed in any other counties of England. However the country minifters entered inro voluntary affociations, and ereCted a fort of claifes for ordination of minifl:ers., and promoting VOL, II. X x friend-
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