The H 1ST 0 R Y of the PuRITANs, Vot. II. King " per, moderation and condefcenfion, which was ufed in it towards its Charles II. cc b I h 1660 . , mem ers. t was never thoug t worth the while to make any fiand- ~ ' ing laws for rites l!nd cufioms that had no c;>ther original but tradi– " tion, much lefs to fufpend men her communion for not obferving "them--" Ib.p. 66, 67. The doClor's propofals for an accommodation were, I, That nothing " be impofed as neceffary, but what is clearly revealed in the word of God. " 2. That nothing be required or determined, but what is fufficiently " known to be indifferent in its own nature, 3· That whatever is thus " determined, be in order only to a due performance of what is in general '' required in the word of God, and not to be looked upon as any part of " divine wodhip or fervice. 4· That no fanClions be made, nor muiCls " or penalties be infliCled, on fuch who only diffent from the ufe of fome " things whofe lawfulnefs they at prefent fcruple, till fufficient time and " and means be ufed for their information of the nature and indifferency -. of thefe things. I am fure (fays the doClor) it is contrary to the pri– " mitive praClice, and the moderation then ufed, to fufpend or deprive " men of their mini!lerial function, for not conforming in habits and " gefl:ures, or the like. Lajl~·, That religion be not clogged with cere– " monies; for when they are multiplied too much, though lawfu}, " they eat out the heart, heat, life and vigor of chrifl:ianity -- " If the doClor had fl:eadily adhered to thefe principles he could hardly have fubfcribed the aa of uniformity next year, much lefs have writ fo warm– ly againfl: the diffenters, as he did twenty years afterwards. But all he could fay or do at prefent availed nothing, the preibyterians were in dif– grace, and nothing could fl:em the torrent of popular fury that was now coming upon them. 1 66 1 • The earl of Clarendon lord chancellor, was prime minifier, and at King's mar- the head of the king's councils. The year began with new fcenes of riage. pleafure and diverfion, . occafioned by the king's .marriage with the infan ta of Portugal, which was confummatedApnl 30. The match was promoted by general Monk and lord Clarendon, if, according to the Oxford hifiorian, the latter was not the firfi mover of it. And it was reckoned very fl:range, that a protefl:ant chancellor fhould advice the king to a popifh princefs, when. a catho.lic king pr.opof7d at the. fame time a protefl:ant confort, But l11S lordfh1p had further VIews, for It was uenerally talked among the merchants, that the irifanta could have no ~hildren, in which cafe the chancellor's daughter,. who had been privately married to the king's brother, mufi fucceed, and her iffue by the duke of York become heirs to the throne; which happened accordingly in the per– fans of ~en Mary II. a.nd ~een .Anne_. ~uch were the ~fpiri~g views of this great man, wh1ch, together With his haughty behaviour, u1 the end proved his ruin. The
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