Chap. II. 7'he HISTORY of the PuRITANS. 35 C I-I A P. 11. From the calli?tg the affembly of divines at. Weftminfter to the Oxford parliament. I T has been obferved, that at the fetting down of this parliament, the K. Charles r. refolution of the leading members was to remove the grievances of 1 643· the church as well as !late, and for this purpofc to addrefs the king, ~ to call an affembly of divines to reform the liturgy and difcipline. To forward this defign, the London minillers in their petitions in .the year 1 641. prayed the houfes to be mediators to his majefty for a free fynod, ' and the commons accordingly mentioned it in their grand remonfl:rance of Dec. 1. 164r. "We dljire (fay they) that there may be a generaljj– " nod qf the mofl grave, pious, learned, and judicious divines qfthis ijland, '' ajjifted witbfome from foreign parts projd}i'ng the fame religion with us, " who may co1!fider if all things nece/Jary for the peace and good govern– " ment qf the church, and to reprefent the refult of their co?ifultations, t() " be allowed and cor!ftrmed, and t() receive the }tamp qf authority." In the treaty of Oiford a bill was prefented to the fame purpofe and rejected : Some time after Dr. Burges, at the head of the puritan clergy, applied again to parliament, but the houfes were unwilling to take this ftep without the king's concurrence, till they were reduced to the neceffity of calling in the fcots, who in lifted, that there jhould be an uniformity qf doClrine and dijCipline between the two nations. To make way for which, the houfes turned their bill into an ordinance, and convened the affem– bly by their own authority. The ordinance bears the date June 12. 1643· and is the very fame with the Oxford bill, except in the point of lay- affeifors, and of refl:rain· ing the affembly, from exercifing any jurifdietion or authority ecclefiafl:i– cal whatfoever. It is entitled, An ordinance if the lords and commons in parliament, for the calling qf an Ordinance a!Jembly qf learned and godly divines, and others, to be coifulted 'With by for· callingan the parliament, for flttling the government and liturgy qf the church oj aJ!e'!'bly of England, and for vindicating and clearing of the dofl:rine of the faid~~ili~: church, from fa!fe qjperjions and interpretations. Vol. II. part IlL The preamble fets forth, P· 337· " That whereas amongft the infinite bleffings pf almighty God upcc on this nation, none is, or can be more dear to us, than the purity F 2 "ol
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