Chap. IV. The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. 531 li':ft.declare under their. ha11ds, ~ha~ they. believed the war raifed b! both R;;~~~;: h01:Jes of parliament agau![t the km!( ~vas ;ujt an~ lmifu!, ttlljuch t11ne as 1659 . force and violence was ufed upon the parhament m 1648. -- Tl_1ey re- ~1 pealed the oath of abjuration of Charles Stuart --They appowted a new council of fiate and declared for a free commonwealth-- for a learned and pious m'iniitry -- for the continuance of tilhes,. and for the augmentation of fmaller livings by the tenths and firfi-fm!ts -– They refolved to encourage the two univedities, and all other fchools ?f learning-- And (to content the independents) they voted, that provt– fion !'nould be made for a due liberty of confcience in matters of religion, according to the word of God. Thus all things feemed to return to the condition they were in at the Pmbytery treaty of the Jjle of Wight. The prefbyterians being now again in the Jtc~d. f~ddle, a day of thankfgiving was kept; after which the city miniflers 5 ;, 7 ;: P• petlttoned for the redrefs of fundry grievances; as " I. That a more ef- " ft:Clual courfe be taken againfi papifis. 2. That the quakers be pro- " hibited opening their ihops on the fabbath day. 3· That the public " minifiers may not be diiturbed in their public fervices." They requefied the houfe to eltabli(h the aff~mbly's confeffion of faith, directory, and catechifms; to appoint perfons for approbation of minifiers, till the next parliament !hall take further order; and to call another aifembly of divines, to be chofen by the minillers of the feveral counties, to heal the divifions of the nation. In anfwer to thefe requefl:s, the houfe agreed to a bill March 2, for approbation of public minifters, according to the direCtory, and named Mr. Manton, and feveral others of the prefbyterian perfu afion, for that {ervice; which paffed into an act }/larch I 4· They declared for the aifembly's confe{lion of faith, except the 3oth and 31 fl: chapters of difcipline, and appointed a committee to prepare an aCt, declaring it to be the public conjejJion of faith qf the church qf England, The aCl: paffed the houfe A/arch 5, and was ordered to be printed; Dr. Rey– nolds, Mr. Manton and Galamy to have the care of the prefs. On the fame day they ordered the JOlemn league and covenant to be re-printed, and fe.t !:lfl jn every church in England, and read publicly by the minifier once every year. T~~~- prefbytery was refiored to all the power it had ever enjoyed ; and Prelhyte– the minilters of that perfuafion were in full poifeffion of all the livings rians in full in England. A reform was made in the militia; and the chief placel1ho!fef!iot~ of e na ron, of profit, trufi, and honour, were put into their bands. The army w~s in difgrace ; the independent~ deprived of all their influence, and all th~~~s managed ?Y the prefbytenans, fupported by Monk's forces. After d11S the long parhament paifed an aCt for their own difioluti<m, and for Y y y 2 calling
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