Chap. V. 'I'he HISTO~Y of the PuRITANs. 583 •' feffion that was ever made in matters of religion. It thews the admirKing d d f h k . d h'i ' .I . tl d Charles IT. u able temper an pru ence o t e m.g an s coun~1 m 1at ten er 1660 . " junCl:ure of af!airs ;. it.proves the char!ty a?d moderatiOn of the fuffer- ~" ing bilhops, m thinkmg fuch concelhons jllll: and reafonable for peace er. and unity; and it thews a difpofition in the other party to have accepted " the terms of union confill:e:rtt with our epifcopacy and liturgy. It coner demns the unhappy ferment that foon after followed for want of this " temper; and it may fl:and for a pattern to pofierity, whenever they are " difpofed, to refl:ore the difcipline, and heal the breaches of the church." Another conformift writer add~, " If ever a divine fentence was in the " mouth of any king, and his mouth erred not in judgment; I verily be- " lieve it was thus with our prelent majefl:y, when he compofed that ader mirable declaration, which next to holy fcripture I adore, and think " that the united judgment of the whole nation cannot frame a better or " a more unexceptionable expedient, for a firm and lafl:ing concord of re thefe di!traCl:ed churches." The prefbyterians abvut L ondon were fo far pleafed, that they drew up Acuptable 10 the following addre[s of thanks, in the name of the city minifl:ers, and mojl of t_h• prefented it to the king November I 6, by the hands of the reverend prelbytenMr. Samuel Clark. ~:~ter's Life, Part IT. p. Mofl dread fovereif!n! 2 79• 284. '!!' ~ Kennet P• JII. « w E your majell:y's m~fl: dutiful and loyal. fubjeCl:s, minifl:ers of -a the gofpelm your c1ty of London, having perufed your ma- " jefiy's late declaration, and finding it fo full of indulgence and gracious " condefcenfion, we cannot but judge ourfelves highly obliged, firfl: to " render our unfeigned thanks to God, and next our moll: humble and " heal'ty acknowledgements to your maj efiy, that we may tefl:ify to your " royal felf, and all the world, our juft refentments of your majefl:y's great " goodnefs and clemency therein exprelfed." The addrefs then recites the feveral condefcenfions of his majefl:y in the declaration, _and .conc~udes thus, " We crave leave to profefs, that " though all thmgs ll1 this frame of government be not exaCl:ly fuited to " our judgments, yet your majefiy's mcderation has fo great an influence " on us, that we thall to our utmofl: endeavour the healing of the brea– " ches, and promoting the peace and union of the church-We would « beg. of. your majefly, ":'ith. all humility upon our knees, that re– ·cc ordrnatzon, and the Jurpltce ll1 colleges might not be impofed; and we « hope
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