They likewise appointed a committee to examine the paper called the agreement of the people, [hereafter to be mentioned] and tendered to the consideration of the na tion by the officers of the army, with a desire that they would by subscription declare their concurrence to it; but it was carried in the negative.* The design of this paper was to change the form of government into a kind of commonwealth, without a king or house of lords. It was published by way of probation, that they might learn the sense of the nation; but the article relating to religion being peculiar, and giving great offence to the presbyterian clergy, shall be transcribed entire: "We do not empower our representatives (say they) to continue in force, or make any laws, oaths, or covenants, whereby to compel by penalties, or otherwise, any person to any thing, in or about "matters of faith, religion, or God's worship; or restrain any person from professing his faith, or exercise of his religion according to his conscience, in any house or 'place, except such as are or shall be set apart for the 'public worship. Nevertheless, the instruction or direction of the nation in a public way, for matters of faith, worship or discipline, so it be not compulsive or express 'popery, is referred to their discretion." The agreement adds, "It is intended that the christian religion be held forth, and recommended as the public profession in this nation, which we desire may, by the grace of God, be reformed to the greatest purity in doctrine, worship, and 'discipline, according to the word of God. The instructing the people thereunto in a public way, provided it be not compulsive; as also the maintaining of able teachers for that end, and for the confutation and discovery of her'esy, error, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, is allowed to be provided by our representatives; the 'maintenance of teachers may be out of a treasury, and we desire not by tithes." But besides these, "All who profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, however differing in judgment from the doctrine, discipline, and worship pub licly held forth, shall be protected in the profession of their 'faith, and exercise of their religion according to their

* Rushworth, p. 1258.

'consciences, so as they abuse not this liberty to the civil injury of others, or the disturbance of the public peace." These were just and generous sentiments; however the synod forbad their people to subscribe them, not only because the AGREEMENT imported a change in the civil government, but because of the mischiefs that would attend a toleration; their reasons for which they published to the world March 6, 1648, subscribed by fifty-nine ministers.

The provincial assembies of London met regularly every half year, to the year 1655, when finding themselves without power, and not being willing to apply to the protector and his parliament for support, they desisted; but there were none legally formed in any other counties of England. However, the country ministers entered into voluntary associations, and erected a sort of classes for ordination of ministers, and promoting friendship and peace among themselves, many of the independent ministers joining with them the associations met once a month, at one or other church in the county, and, after prayers and a sermon, conferred upon the state of religion, and gave their advice upon such cases as were brought before them in a neighborly and friendly manner.

To return to the parliament, which was now recruited with such presbyterian members as had absconded, or deserted their stations, while the army was quartered in the neighborhood of the city; these gentlemen, finding they had the superiority in the bouse, resumed their courage, and took the opportunity of discovering their principles and spirit, in passing such a law against heretics as is hardly to be paralleled among protestants. It had been laid aside by the influence of the army for above nine months, till

+ Bishop Warburton says, that they did apply to the protector," and received such an answer as they deserved." A deputation of the London ministers went to him to complain, that the cavalier episcopal clergy got their congregations from them, and debauched the faithful from their ministers. "Have they so?" said the protector: “I will take an order with them ;" and made a motion, as if he was going to say something to the captain of the guards; when turning short, But hold!" said he, "after what manner do the cavaliers debauch your people ?" "By preaching," replied the ministers. "Then preach BACK again," said this able statesman; and left them to their own reflections. Ed.

§ Scobel's Collect. cap. cxiv. p. 149.

May 1, when it was voted, that all ordinances concerning church government referred to committees, be brought in and debated; and that the ordinance concerning blasphe. my and heresy be now determined, which was done accord. ingly. This was one of the most shocking laws I have met with in restraint of religious liberty, and shews, that the governing presbyterians would have made a terrible use of their power, had they been supported by the sword of the civil magistrate. The ordinance is dated May 2, 1648, and ordains, "That all persons who shall willingly 'maintain, publish or defend, by preaching or writing, the 'following heresies with obstinacy, shall, upon complaint, and proof, by the oaths of two witnesses, before two justices of the peace, or confession of the party, be committed to prison, without bail or mainprize, till the next gaol de. livery; and in case the indictment shall then be found, and 'the party upon his trial shall not abjure his said error, and his defence and maintenance of the same, he shall suffer 'the pains of death,† as in case of felony, without benefit of clergy; and if he recant or abjure, he shall remain in 'prison till he find sureties that he will not maintain the 'said heresies or errors any more; but if he relapse, and 'is convicted a second time, he shall suffer death as before. The heresies or errors are these following:

* Mr. Neal has done himself honor by the strong terms of reprobation, in which he speaks of this intolerant, iniquitous, and eruel ordinance. It cannot be condemned in too severe terms: though Dr. Grey insinuates, that there was occasion for it in the "monstrous opinions," as he calls them, which prevailed in those times; and for which he refers to Edwards's Gangræna. "Besides the severity of the penalties, which this ordinance denounced, the mode of process which it appointed," as I have observed in another place, "was arbitrary and repug 'nant to the constitution of this country in particular, as well as opposite to the general principles of equity and justice: for it allowed "neither the privilege of a jury, nor the liberty of an appeal. Such is the operation of religious bigotry." See a REVIEW of the life, charneter, and writings of the Rev, John Biddle, p. 52. The nature of this ordinance is fully considered from p. 48–56. Ed.

+ Death under Constantius, the son of Constantine, was made the punishment of Idolatry: the like sentence is here inflicted upon the worshippers of the one only living and true God, the creator and gov ernor of the world. "How fluctuating and convertible," observes an excellent writer, "are all penal laws in religion."

Dr. Disney's Life of Dr. Jortin, p. 136-7. Ed

1. "That there is no God.

2. "That God is not omnipresent, omniscient, almighty, eternal, and perfectly holy.

3. "That the father is not God. that the son is not God, that the Holy Ghost is not God, or that these three are ́not one eternal God; or, that Christ is not God equal with the Father.

4. The denial of the manhood of Christ, or that the godhead and manhood are distinct natures; or, that the humanity of Christ is pure and unspotted of all sin.

5. "The maintaining that Christ did not die, nor rise ' again, nor ascend into heaven bodily.

6. "The denying that the death of Christ is meritorious ' on the behalf of believers; or, that Jesus Christ is the " son of God.

7. "The denying that the holy scriptures of the old and 'new testament are the word of God.

8. "The denying of the resurrection of the dead, and ' a future judgment."

The ordinance proceeds to specify some other errors of less demerit, and says, "That whosoever shall maintain 'or defend them, shall, upon conviction by the oaths of 'two witnesses, or by his own confession before two justices of peace, be ordered to renounce the said error or ❝ errors in the public congregation of the parish from whence the complaint comes, or where the offence was commit'ted, and in case of refusal he shall be committed to prison 'till he find sureties that he shall not publish or maintain 'the said error or errors any more. The errors are these 'following;

1. "That all men shall be saved.

2. "That man by nature hath free will to turn to God. 3. "That God may be worshipped in, or by pictures or 'images.

4. "That the soul dies with the body, or after death 'goes neither to heaven, or hell, but to purgatory.

5. "That the soul of man sleeps, when the body is dead. 6. "That the revelations, or workings of the spirit, are a rule of faith or christian life, though diverse from, or 'contrary to the written word of God.

486

THE HISTORY

CHAP. 10.

7. "That man is bound to believe no more than by his reason he can comprehend.

8. "That the moral law contained in the ten commandments is no rule of the christian life.

9. "That a believer need not repent, or pray for par don of sin.

10. "That the two sacraments, of baptism and the Lord's supper, are not ordinances commanded by the word of God.

11. "That the baptism of infants is unlawful and void ; and that such persons ought to be baptized again.

12. That the observation of the Lord's day, as enjoined by the ordinances and laws of this realm, is not ac'cording, or is contrary to the word of God.

13. That it is not lawful to join in public or family prayer, or to teach children to pray.

14. "That the churches of England are no true churches, nor their ministers and ordinances true ministers and ordinances; or, that the church government by presby'ters is antichristian or unlawful.

15. "That magistracy, or the power of the civil magistrate, by law established in England, is unlawful. 16. "That all use of arms, though for the public defence (and be the cause never so just) is unlawful.”

This black list of heresies was taken from the speeches or writings of the papists, arminians, antinomians, arians, baptists, and quakers, &c. of those times. The ordinance was a comprehensive engine of cruelty,* and would have tortured great numbers of good christians and good subjects. The presbyterians of the present age are not only thankful that the confusion of the times did not permit their predecessors to put this law into execution, but wish also that it could be blotted out of the records of time, as it is impossible to brand it with the censure equal to its demerits.

The indignation which the liberal mind feels at the principles and spirit of those, who, themselves recently suffering under the hard hand of intolerance, could frame and pass such a law, is somewhat relieved by finding that it did not pass without much opposition.

Whitlocke's Memor. p. 302. Ed.