Within the Church of England from 1632 to 1642 BY NANCY ELNORA SCOTT THESIS PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA 1912 PREFACE. The following monograph is a study of the religious ideas current in the Church of England during the epoch from 1632 to 1642. This period, the ten years just preceding the Civil War, was chosen because it was one of intense religious excitement in which the Anglican position presented the curious paradox of the combination of toleration in matters of belief with the rigid enforcement in matters of practice of conformity to her own Articles. It was a period of great activity on the part of the national Church. Her ranks contained some of the most brilliant men she has ever produced. Their opinions on the religious situation during this troubled period when the Church was involved in the struggle which resulted in her overthrow by the Long Parliament are available, since most of them wrote extensively. It has been my purpose through a study of their own words to arrive at their reasons for withholding in matters of practice, in the outward forms of worship, that liberty which in matters purely of belief they so readily granted. To make clear the cause of the limits which they accordingly put upon toleration as we understand it, I have endeavored to sketch in the following chapters their conception of a comprehensive Church through which the necessity for freedom of belief need not result in the sacrifice of unity of organization. For the use of the works of Archbishop Laud and of Bishop Hall I am indebted to the courtesy of the Philadelphia Divinity School. I also wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance of my colleague, Miss Laura C. Green, in reading manuscript and proof-sheets. WILSON COLLEGE, May, 1912. NANCY E. SCOTT. 259720 |