3 g6 'The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs. Vot. II Common- " of which, fo plentiful an effufion of the holy 'rpirit upon thofe hopefui wealth. " I 1t · f h b fi r " Wh h 6 p at s among you ts one o t e e pretagesen t e general's ~ letter was read in convocation the houfe rcfounded with chcarful acclama– tions. Dr. Greenwood continued vice-chancellor two years, but was then difplaced for his difaffeetion to the government, and the honour conferred on Dr. Owen. Thus by degrees, the prdbyterians !oil: their influence in the univerfities, and delivered them up into the hands of the indepen– dents. Penollaws taken away. Scobel, p. 131· Ordinances "gai'!fl vice and pro– phanenefi. To ilrengthen the hands of the government yet further, the parliament by an ordinance bearing date Sept. 20. took away all the penal il:atutes fot religion. The preamble fets forth, " that divers religious and peaceable " peopl<:, well aff~eted to the commonwealth, having not only been mo. " lell:ed and imprifoned, but brought into danger of abjuring their country, " or in cafe of return to fuffer death as felons, by fundry ads made in the " times of former kings and queens of this nation, againfi recufants not " coming to church, &c. they therefore enaCt and ordain, " THAT all the claufe9, articles, and provifo's, in the enfuing atls " of parliament (viz.) 1fi E/iz. 23d Eliz. 35th Eliz. and all " and every branch, claufe, article or provifo, in any other act, or ordi– " nance of parliament, whereby any penalty or puni!hment is impofed, or " meant to be impofed on any per!on whatfoever, for not repairing to " their refpeetive pariih churches; or for not keeping of holy days; or ·" for not hearing common-prayer, &c. lhall be, and are hereby wholly ." repealed and made void. " And to the end that no prophane or ricentious perfons may take oc– " cafion, by the repeal of the faid raws, to negleCt the performance of " religious duties, it is further ordained, that all perfons not having a " rea{onable excufe, !hall on every Lord's day, and day of public thankf– " giving or humiliation, refort to lame place of public worlhip; or be pre– "' fent at fome other place, in the praCtice of fome religious duty, either " of prayer or preaching, reading or expounding the fcriptures-" By this law the doors- were [et open, and· the fiate was at 'liberty to employ all fuch in their fervice, as would take the oaths to the civil.go– vernment, without any regard to their religious principles;. Sundry fevere ordinances wer.e made for [u,pprefiing of vice, error, and all forts of prophanenefs and impiety. May 1 o, it was ordained, " that " incejl and adultery !hould be made felony; and that fornication lhould '' be puni!hed with three months imprifonment for the firft offence; and " that
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