Henry Martin, called him a whore-master. Having two such to instance in, he took it for granted that they were all unfit to continue in the government, and so discarded them, A. D. 1653. The young commonwealth was thus left headless. Nothing might now seem to stand between Cromwell and the crown. A parliament must be called, but the soldiers, as most religious, must be the electors; accordingly two out of a county were chosen by the officers, upon the advice of their sectarian friends in all parts. This was in contempt called The Little Parliament. They made an act, that magistrates should marry people instead of the clergy. They then came to the business of tythes and ministers. Before this, Harrison being authorized thereto, had at once put down all the parish ministers of Wales, because most of them were ignorant and scandalous, and had set up a few itinerant preachers in their stead, who were for number incompetent to so great a charge, there being but one to many of those wide parishes. At length it was put to the vote in this parliament, Whether all the parish ministers in England should at once be put down or not? Which was carried in the negative but by two voices. In the issue, a motion was made, That the house, as incapable of serving the commonwealth, should go and deliver up their power to Cromwell, from whom they had received it. This was carried in the affirmative, and they directly went, and solemnly resigned their power to him; who then carried all before him. A junto of officers drew up a writing, called "The instrument of the government of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland." This instrument made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the commonwealth. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen, the Judges and Officers of the army, were suddenly drawn together to Westminster-Hall, and upon the reading this instrument, installed Cromwell in the office of Protector, and swore him accordingly: thus the commonwealth seemed once more to have a head, A. D. 1656.

One of his chief works was the purging of the ministry. The synod of Westminster was dissolved with the parliament; and a society of ministers, with some others, chosen by Cromwell to sit at Whitehall, under the name of Triers, who were mostly Independents, but had some Presbyterians joined with them, and had power to try all who came for institution or induction; without whose approbation none were admitted. They themselves examined all who were

VOL. I. NO. I.

able

able to come up to London; but if any were unable, or of doubtful qualifications, they referred them to some ministers in the county where they lived. With all their faults, thus much must be said of these Triers, that they did a great deal of good to the church; they saved many a congregation from ignorant ungodly drunken teachers; such as either preached against an holy life, or preached as men who never were acquainted with it, and used the ministry but as a common trade to live by: such as these they usually rejected, and in their stead admitted of any able serious preachers, who lived godly lives, tho' of different opinions.

Cromwell had the policy not to exasperate the ministers and others, who did not consent to his government, but let them live quietly, without putting any oaths of fidelity upon any, except his parliaments, who were not suffered to enter the house till they had sworn fidelity to him. The sectarian party in his army and elsewhere he chiefly trusted to and pleased, till he thought himself well settled; and then he began to undermine them, and by degrees to work them out. Though he had so often defended the Baptists, he now blames their unruliness and their zeal for their own way, and endeavours to settle himself in the people's favour by suppressing them. He had enemies among all parties, and many sought to dispatch him; but he escaped their attempts, and at length died of a fever, Sept. 3, 1658, aged 59. Never man was more highly extolled, or more basely vilified than he, according as mens interests led their judgments.—Mr. Baxter hath left this as his judgment concerning him: "That he began low, and rose higher in his resolutions as "his condition rose; and the promises which he made in his "lower condition, he used as the interest of his higher fol"lowing condition did require; and kept as much honesty "and godliness, in the main, as his cause and interest would "allow him, and there they left him. And that his name "standeth as a monitory pillar to posterity, to tell them the instability of man in strong temptations, if God leave him "to himself," &c. &c.

His son Richard, according to his will, succeeded him. The several counties, cities, and corporations of England, sent up their congratulations to him as Protector. But the army, it seems, set him up only upon trial, resolving to use him as he behaved himself. When they saw that he began to favour the sober people of the land, to honour parliaments, and to respect the ministers called Presbyterians, they presently

sently resolved to make him know his masters. The FifthMonarchy-Men, under Sir Henry Vane, raised a violent clamorous party against him among the city sectaries, A. D.

1659.

But the assembly at Wallingford House did the main business; it was there determined, that Richard's parliament must be dissolved: and it was almost as soon done as determined. As he sought not the government, so he was resolved it should cost no blood to keep him in it; and therefore he resigned it by a writing under his hand, and retired. The nation being tired with changes, soon discovered their uneasiness. Sir G. Booth and Sir T. Middleton raised forces in Cheshire and North Wales for K. Charles, but being disappointed in the cavaliers who should have joined them, Lambert soon routed them: and at the same time Sir Arthur Haslerigg seizes Portsmouth for the Rump. Monk purges his army in Scotland of Baptists, and marches into England. The Rump party with Haslerigg divided the army at home, and so disabled them to oppose Monk, who marched on, to the great surprize of all. At first, he joined with the Rump against the citizens, and pulled down the city gates to terrify them; but at length, being invited into the city by Sir Thomas Allen, then Lord Mayor, he joined with them against the Rump, which was the very thing that turned the scales, and brought in the King. Monk calls together the old secluded members, agreeing with them that they should sit but a few days, and then dissolve themselves and call another parliament. They consented, appointed a council of state, and dissolved themselves. In this council it was put to the question, "Whether they should call in the King upon treaty and covenant, or entirely confide in him ?" After some debates, it was resolved to trust him absolutely. The new parliament meeting, presently appointed a day of fasting and prayer for themselves. The House of Commons chose Dr. Gauden, Mr. Calamy, and Mr. Baxter, to carry on the work of the day. The very next morning, May 1, 1660, they unanimously voted home the King, who being sent for from Holland, Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Bowles, and others were deputed by the parliament and city to attend him. His Majesty gave them such encouraging promises, as raised in some of them very high expectations. When he made his entrance, May 29, 1660, as he passed thro' the city towards Westminster, the London ministers, in their places, attended him with acclamations, and by the hands of old Mr.

Arthur Jackson, presented him with a richly-adorned Bible; which he received, telling them " It should be the "rule of his government and of his life."

SECT. III.

Attempts for a Coalition. The Savoy Conference, and its fruitless issue.

WHEN

دو

HEN the King was received with the general acclamations of his people, the expectations of men were various, according to their several interests. Some plain and moderate Episcopalians thought of an union with the Presbyterians. The more politic part of them knew that all their ancient power, honour, and revenues would be restored, and none suffered to share with them. But many of the Presbyterians were in great hopes of favour. Besides promises from men in power, they had an assurance from K. Charles himself, in his declaration from Breda, April 4, 1660, in these words, "We do declare a liberty to tender "consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted, or called " in question, for differences of opinion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom.' To cherish their hopes, ten of them were made the King's chaplains in ordinary, tho' none of them ever preached, except Mr. Calamy, Dr. Reynolds, Mr. Baxter, Dr. Spurstow, and Mr. Woodbridge, once each. By this means, having easy access to his majesty, they waited upon him with Lord Manchester, recommending to his serious consideration the union of his subjects in religi ous matters, begging that only necessary things might be the terms of it. The king declared himself highly pleased with their inclinations to agreement, and resolved to do his part to promote it; but told them, "It could not be expected but "by abating something on both sides, and meeting in the "midway. He therefore desired them to offer him some * proposals, in order to an agreement about church-govern"ment, this being the main difference, and to set down the "most that they could yield to." They also begged that their brethren on the other side might do the same. king promised they should.

The

After this, the ministers met from day to day at Sion College, to consult openly with any of their brethren that would join with them, that none might say they were excluded. Many of the city ministers assembled, and many

country

country ministers, then in town, joined them, of whom Mr. Newcomen was the most constant. In about three weeks they agreed to a paper of proposals, in which (after an humble address to his majesty, and four preliminary requests, viz. That serious godliness might be countenanced, and a learned and pious minister in each parish encouraged; that a personal public owning the baptismal covenant might precede an admission to the Lord's Table; and that the Lord's Day might be strictly sanctified) they offered to allow of the true primitive presidency in the church, with a due mixture of presbyters, in order to the avoiding the evils which are incident to the administration of a single person; and for reforming which they proposed, that Bp. Usher's "Reduction of episcopacy into the form of synodical government received in the ancient church," should be the ground-work of an accommodation; that suffragans should be chosen by the respective synods; the associations be of a moderate extent; the ministers be under no oaths, or promises of obedience to their bishops; and that the bishops should not govern by their own will only, but according to canons and constitutions to be established by act of parliament. They owned the lawfulness of a prescribed form of public worship; but desired, that some learned, pious, and moderate divines, of both parties, might be employed either to compile a new liturgy, or to reform the old; adding some other forms in scripture phrase, to be used at the minister's choice.-As to the ceremonies, they humbly represented, that the worship of God was perfect without them; that they had ever since the reformation been matter of contention; that they were at best but indifferent, and in their own nature mutable; and therefore they begged, that kneeling at the sacrament might not be imposed; that the surplice, the cross in baptism, and bowing at the name of Jesus, might be abolished; and that care might be taken to prevent future innovations contrary to law.

Quickly after the king's return, many hundreds of worthy ministers were displaced, because they were in sequestrations where others had been cast out by the parliament. The ministers, waiting upon his majesty with their proposals, signified their full satisfaction that all such should be cast out as were in any benefice belonging formerly to one that was not grossly insufficient or debauched; but humbly begged, that all who had succeeded scandalous persons might hold their places as also where the old incumbents were dead;