Chap. II. The HIS T 0 RY of the PuRITANs. His majelly alfo figned a declaration in which he acknowledged the Commonfi f h . c I · · · 'd 1' f 'I ' h h bl d wealth.' w o. ts 1at 1er 111 marrytng t~to_ an 1.o.atrous am1 y; ana t at t e oo 1651 • lhed Ill the late wars lay at hts fathers door. He expre!fed a deep fen fe ~of his own ill education, and of the prejudices be had drunk in, againft He Jigns the the caufe of God, of which be was now very fenfible. He confeiTed codven,ant,and . a ec ara zon. all the former parts of his life to have been a courfe of enmtty to the Hifl:.Stuarts, word of God. He repented of his cornm!fJioll to Montrofs. He acknow- p. 387. }edged his own fins, and the fins of his father's houfe, and fays, He B6rnct, I'· will account them his enemies who oppofe the cownants, both which he 5 • had take n without any finificr intention of attaining his own ends. He declares his detefl:ation and abho:-rence of all popery, fuperfl:ition, idolatry, and prelacy, and rdolves not to tolerate them in any part of his dominions. He acknowledges his great fin in making peace with the irifb ,-ebe!s, and allowing them the liberty of their religion, which he makes void, refolving for the future rather to choofe affiietion than fin; and tho' he judges charitably of thofe who hwe ~Cted againft the covenant, yet he promifes not to employ them for the future till they have taken it. In the conclufion, his majelly confeiTes over again his own guilt; and tells the world, the llate of the quell:ion was now altered, in as much as he had obtained mercy to be on God's fide, and therefore hopes the Lord will be gracious, and countenance his own caufe, fince he is deter(f1ined to do nothing but with ~dvice of the kirk. Our hill:orians who complain of the prevarication of Cromwell, would Remarks; do well to find a parallel to this in all hillory ; the king took the covellant three times with this tremendous oath, by the eternal and almighty God, who liveth and reigneth fir ever, I will olferve and keep all that is t:011tained herein. Mr. Baxter admits, that theji:ots were in the wrongp. 66. in tempting the young king to fpeak and publifh that, which they might eafily know was contrary to the thoughts of his heart; but furely his majelly was no lefs tG blame, to trample upon the moft facred bonds of religion and fociety. He complied with the rigors of the Jcots difcipline and worfhip: He heard many prayers anq fer mons of great length. " I p. 53• " remember (fays bilhop Burnet) in one fall: day, there were fix fer- •• mons preached without intermiffion. He was not allowed to walk " abroad on fundays; and if at any time there had been any gaiety at " courr, as dancing, or playing at cards, he was feverely reproved for " it, which contributed not a little to beget in him an averfion to " all firict~efs in religion." And thefcots were fo jealous that all this was from nece!Jzty, that they would fuffer none of his old fri ends to come into his prefence and councils, nor fo much as to ferve in ti e army. ' F f f :z. While
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