X. A.D. 1660. The correspondence however may be useful if it CHAPTER should impress this lesson upon ministers of religion -that it is never wise, and seldom safe, for them CHAS. 11. to lend their influence to a political party for any project however plausible, the reasons and the full scope of which they are not permitted to understand. Baxter expresses his surprise at Gaches' simplicity, and yet allows that he was swayed by his arguments. He clearly He clearly perceived that to admit the king without conditions was to restore prelacy and to crush the puritans. "When I read this reverend man's excessive praises, and his concluding prayer for the success of my labours, I thought with myself, how little doth the good man understand how ill the beginning and end of his words accord! He prayeth for my congregation and the blessing of my labours, when he has persuaded me to put an end to my labours, by setting up those prelates who will silence me and many a hundred more. his loyalty prevailed; and Baxter, with melancholy forebodings, felt it his duty to promote the restoration of the king. At the same time, Charles's "resplendent virtues" were set forth by more interested men, in pamphlets scattered through the kingdom. "He abhors vice," says one of these despicable writers, "because God abhors it. His piety is not less than his justice. His nature inclines him to virtue: as he cannot admit its contrary in himself, so he cannot admit it in another. His constant service of God excites others to live by his example. His private devotions prove him void of hypocrisy. He would have others holy as well as * Baxter, part i. p. 216. Yet X. CHAPTER himself: in short, he is the perfect pattern of piety, but more of patience."* Beguiled by such artifices, CHAS. II. the nation accepted Charles upon his own terms. AD. 1000. The presbyterians went over to Breda rather to capitulate than to treat with their new sovereign. Reynolds, Spurstowe, Calamy, Manton, and one or two others, formed a deputation from the London clergy. Holles and a few of the puritan gentry crossed over too, but without authority from their party, and as it soon appeared only to save or to ingratiate themselves. On the 14th of April, 1660, the king issued his famous declaration, in which he promised a full pardon to all his subjects, those only excepted whom the parliament should hereafter name, and declaring liberty to tender consciences. "No man shall be disquieted or called in question for difference of opinion in matters of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom." The boon appeared to be great; and it was not seen at first that a sting lay in the proviso, which might at any time render it null and void. The presbyterians were not aware how entirely their power was gone: they still hoped to manage the parliament; and the declaration contained the following clause, which gave them satisfaction: "We shall be ready to consent to such an act of parliament as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to us for the full granting that indulgence." From this treacherous paper new troubles arose, which ended in the extinction of puritanism within the * "The three royal cedars (to wit, Charles, the duke of York, and the duke of Gloucester); or Great Britain's royal diamonds, 1660." In the Somers' tracts. church of England, and the formation of the non- CHAPTER conformist party. X. A.D. 1660. If sincerity be consistent with the most perfect CHAS. II. unconcern, Charles was probably sincere. He had no aversion to the puritans as such, provided they could assist him to regain his throne. He cared nothing for the prelatists except as their services were wanted to assert his divine right. His temper was easy and forgiving; though a debauched life at length seared his conscience and he then became hard-hearted if not cruel. Notwithstanding all his solemn disavowals, and those of his indignant courtiers, he was in heart a papist; though too careless, too contemptuous of all religion, to submit at present even to its accommodating discipline, and too politic to avow its outward forms. He had two objects in life, pleasure and a crown; and he seems to have valued the latter chiefly for the former's sake. It was a matter of utter indifference to him whether he cajoled the puritans by swearing to the covenant, the bishops by protesting his fervent attachment to the church of England and his hatred to dissent, or both at once by inveighing in dignified and kingly terms against the papists. He had seen much of all parties in politics and in religion, and unhappily he had seen the worst men of every party -the sordid, the intriguing, and the ambitious; and by these he formed his judgment of the rest. But he was not soured; for he was young and full of hope; and with all his vices his nature seemed incapable of bitterness. On the day of his triumphal entry into London, the clergy, chiefly presbyterians, attended him; they swelled the escort in the exu X. CHAS. II. A.D. 1660. CHAPTER berance of their joy, and the acclamations too. By the hands of a venerable member of their body they presented him with a richly adorned bible, which he graciously received; it should be, he said, the rule of his actions. He was greatly indebted to the presbyterian clergy, at the head of whom was Dr. Calamy. It was he who, with Bates, Manton, Reynolds, and Ashe, (an aged man of eminent holiness and simplicity, honoured and beloved by all,*) had roused the city in the king's favour, corresponded with the earl of Manchester, and influenced, more perhaps than any other man, the wavering decisions of Monk. The presbyterians had never faltered; they had always detested popery and the Laudian system; they had justified the war against the king; but they had been loyal to the throne; they had tolerated Cromwell only as an usurper, and he well knew how thoroughly they hated and despised him. They were men of christian virtues and of pure simplicity. Conscious of no guile, they suspected no deceit; and now they forgot that Charles was a Stuart, and remembered only that he was their king. For a few days all went well. Ten or twelve of the chief presbyterians were named chaplains in ordinary: Calamy and Reynolds first received the appointment; Ashe and Newcomen declined it; Spurstowe, Wallace, Bates, Manton, Case, and others were then admitted; and lastly, on the 25th of June, Baxter became one of the royal chaplains, at the desire of the king himself. A few days afterwards the chaplains asked permission to wait * Baxter, part i. p. 229. X. A.D. 1660. upon him. They spoke with the boldness which CHAPTER became their office and their years, and yet with dutiful respect. I presumed to tell him, says Baxter, CHAS. II. that we spoke on behalf of a people who if they lost the faithful preaching of the gospel would be brokenhearted, whatever else they should enjoy. I told him that the late usurpers so well understood their own interest, that to produce it they resorted to doing good as the most effectual means; and that, with this view, they had placed and encouraged many thousand faithful ministers in the church, even such as detested their usurpation. The chaplains then implored the king to remove those occasions of scruple which pressed hardly upon the conscience of multitudes of religious people, and which gave occasion to designing men to represent them, however loyal and peaceable their conduct, as factious and rebellious. Charles heard them with attention, and returned a gracious answer, professing his earnest wish to bring the prelatists and themselves to an agreement by concessions to be kindly made on both sides. "If this is not accomplished the fault shall be on your part," he said, "and not on mine." He was resolved to see it accomplished; he would attempt the healing work himself. chaplains were delighted, "insomuch that old Mr. Ashe burst out into tears of joy. **The king shewed a candour above his friends of the church party, and always gratefully acknowledged the services of the presbyterians in his restoration. Several of those who had once led the puritans were now sworn of his privy council; these were the earl of Man *Baxter. His |