6Lf. The HISTORy of the PuRITANS. Vot. n. Ch~!ffs H. hefs; nnd deiired their lordibips to give the like thanks to the lower houfe 1661 • of c?nvocation, and acquaint them, that their amendments were wtll ~ received and approved, though fome of them met with a confiderable Prcfbyteri– ans indi· Jlrcjs. K. Chron, P• 64I·. Epifcopacy rejlored in Scotland. Burnet. p. IIJ. f.::fc, P• u6, oppofition. From tbe lords they were fent down to the commons, and .inferted in the act of uniformity, as will be feen under the next year. But before this famous aCt had pa!fed either houfe, the prefbyterians were reduced to the utmo!l: difirefs. In the month of March I661-62, the grand jury at Exeter found above forty bills of indictment again!l: fome eminent non .conformifl: minifl:ers, for not reading common-prayer accordir.g to law. They likewife prefented the travelling about of divers itinerant preachers, ejeCted out of fequefiered livings, as dangerous to the peace of the nation. They complained of their teaching [edition and rebellion in private houfes, and other congregations, tending to fo– ment a new war. They alfo prefented fuch as neglected their own pa– riih-churches, and run abroad to hear factious. mini!l:ers; and fuch as walked in the church-yards, or other places, while divine fervice was reading ; all which were the certain forerunners of a general perfecu– tion. In Scotland the court carried their meafures with a high hand, for having got a parliament to their mind, the earl of Midd!eton a mo!l: notorious debauchee, opened it, with prefeming a letter of his majefiy to the houfe ; after which they pa!fed an act, declaring all leagues not made with the king's authority illegal: This firuck at the root of the co· venant made with England i1z r643· They pa!fed another act refCinding all acts made fince the late troubles, and another impowering the king to fettle the government of the church as he jhould pleafe. It was a mad, roaring time (fays the bilhop), and no wonder it was fo, when the men of. affairs were almo!l: perpetually drunk. The king hereupon di– rected that the church lhould be governed by fynods, prefbytm, and kirk feffions, till he lhould appoint another government, which he did by a letter to his council in Scotland, bearing date Aug. I 4, 166r, in which he recites the inconveniencies which had attended the prefl:yte– rian government for the la!l: twenty three years, and ~ts inconfi!l:ency with monarchy. - " Therefore (fays he) from our refpect to the glo– " ry of God, the good and intere!l: of the prote!l:ant religion, and the " better harmony with the government of the church of England, " we declare our firm refolution to interpqfe our royal authority, for rejlor– " ing the church of Scotland to its right government by bijhops, as it ~vas '' /Jifore the late troubles --And our will and pleafure is, that you '! take effectual care to refiore the rents belonging to the feveral bi– cc ihopricks; that you prohibit the affembling of mini!l:ers in their fyno– " dical meetings till our further pleafure; and that you keep a watch. " ful
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=