59+· King <:harles II. 166o. ~· Prefbyteri3ns in trou– ble. Rapin. I?· ~64. 1he .HISTORy rj the Pu-RITANS. VoL: n. The pre!byterian clergy were in fame degree affeCted with thcfe cam– motions, though envy itfelf could not charge them with guilt; but it was the wilh and defire of the prelatical party, that they might difcover their uneafinelfes in fuch a manner as might expofe them to trouble; for their ruin was already determined, only fome pretexts were wanting to cover the ddign, particularly fuch as affeCted the peace of the kingdom, and might not refleCt on his majefiy's declaration from Breda, which promi. fed, . that no pcrjon jhou!d be molejled purely for religion. But they were .infulted by the mob in the fireets; when their families were finging pfalms in their houfes, they were frequently interrupted by blowing of horns, or throwing ftones at the windows. The pre!byterian mi-- . nifiers made the befi retreat they could, after they had unadvifedly de– livered themfelves up into the har.ds of their enemies; for while they were careful to maintain an inviolable loyalty to his majefiy's perfon and government, they contended for their religious principles in the prefs ;. {everal new pamphlets were publilhed, and a great many old ones re– printed, about the magiflrates right of impojing things indijfem:t in the worjhip of God-- Agai'?fi bowing at the name qf Jifus- The un– lawfulnefi of tbe ceremonies of the church if England - The common– prayer book unmajked --Grievances and corruptions in church-govern-– ment, &c. mofi of which were anfwered by divines of the epifcopal party. JJp. StillingBut the mofi remarkable treatife that appeared about this time, and !leet's Ireni- which if it had taken place, mufi have prevented the mifchiefs tbat fol– cum, ]owed, was that of the reverend Dr. Edward Stillingj!eft reCtor of Sutton in Bet(fordjhire, and afterwards the learned and worthy bifhop of Worcejler, who firfi made himfelf known to the world at this time by his Irenicmn; or, a weapon falvefor tbe cburch's wounds; printed 1661 ,. in which he attempts to prove, that no form of church-government is· of divine right, an!l that the church had no po~er to impofe things in– different. l £hall beg the reader's attention to a few paifages out of his· Jh. p. 8, 9• preface. " The defign of our Saviour (lays he) was to eafe men of 1c0. " their former burdens, and not to lay on more; the duties he required " were no other but fuch as were neceifary, and withal very juil: and " reafonoble; he that came to take away the infupportable yoke of Jew· " ijh ceremonies, certainly did never intend to g~ll the necks of his dif- . " ciples with another infiead of it ; and it would be firange the church " fhould require more than Chrifi himfelf did, and make other conditions . " of her communion than our Saviour did of difciplelhip. What pof-. '"' fible reafon,can be affigned or given why fuch things lhould not be fuf– '" ficient for communion with a church, which are fufficient for .eternal " {alvation? And certainly thof~ things ar~ fufficient for that, which are ·
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