The H 1ST 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K. Charles I. fore both houfes of parliament and the a!fembly together; and the faft ~ was obferved with great folemnity in all the churches within the limits abovementioned. Next day a committee of divines was appointed to ·con!ider whJt a– in tbe mendments were proper to be made in the doch inal articles of the church ~};;~],~· of England, and report them to the aflembly, who were ten weeks in debating upon the firft.jifteen, before the arrival of the jcots commiffioners; the defign was to render their fenfe more exprefs and determinate in fa– vour of calvinijm. 'Tis not nece!fary to trouble the reader with the theological debates; ·but the articles, as they were new modelled, being Alterati<ns Appe, dix. mrely to be met with, I have placed them in the appendix, with No I. the original articles of the church, in oppofite columns, that the rea– der by comparing them may judge, whether the alterations are real im– provements. Ce>ifures of ·As the affembly were for firengthening the doctrines of the church an tinomian- againft arminianijin, they were equally fel icitous to guard againft the op– Ifrn. pofite ex tream of arttinomianijin, for which purpofe they appointed a Parliamazt and affimbly apply to tbe .fcots. oommitt-ee to perufe the writing of D r. Crijp, Eattm, Saltmarjh, and others; who having drawn out feme of their moft dangerous pofitions, reported them t.0 the affembly, where they were not only condemned, but confuted in their public fermons and writings. At this time the interefl: of the parliament was fo reduced, that they wefe obliged to caH•in the affift.ance of the Jcots. The confervators of the peace of that kingdom had appointed a convention of the ftates, June 22. _ under .pretence of fecuring their coun try againH the power of the royal army in the north ; and a general a!fembly, Aug. 2. to confider the fta te of religion. His majefty would have prevented their m eet:.. ing, bu t that being lmpraCi:icable, he gave orders to limit their confulR fhw tations to .the concerns of their own cou ntry; bu t the parliament of ·v~1.· v: England fen t the e-arl of Rut/and, Sir William Armyn, Sir H. Vane, p. 463, 466, Mr. Hatcher, M r. Darley, and two divines from Weflmin.fler, (viz.) Mr. 469. Marjba! and Mr. Nye, with letters to each of thefe affemblies, defiring their afliftance .in the wa r, and the affiftance of fome of their divines with tbofe at W eftminjier, t0 fettle an uniformity of religion and ch urch government between the two nations. To enforce thefe requefis they .de– livered .a letter from the aifembly, " fetting forth the deplorable con– ,, clition of the kingdom of E ngland, wh ich was upon the edge of a " moft. defperate precipice, ready to be fwallowed up by Satan and his " inftruments.; they reprefent the cruelty of their enemies againft fuch· '' as fall into their hands, being armed again ft them, not on ly as men, '' but as chriftians, as proteftan ts, and as reformers, and that if they " !hould be given up to their rage, they fear it will endapger the fafe ty of
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