V.

CHAS. I. A.D. 1646-8.

a new form of vice, hitherto unknown in England. CHAPTER Licentiousness now for the first time began to parade its triumphs, and lust under other names was greeted with applause. The court of James had been coarse, and that of Elizabeth would now be thought indecorous if not indecent; but this new debauchery was unnatural, not practised in secret and with shame, but cultivated as a polite accomplishment. At Oxford was nursed, in defiance of the king's frown and the exhortations of his chaplains, that heartless profligacy which came to a monstrous manhood in the court of Charles II. Of all vices, those which were thus canonized are the most degrading, and to national happiness the most fatal. Other crimes pollute the army or the senate, this defiles the sanctuary of home: the stream of pollution arises where, against other national crimes, the last barrier is erected. It is of the astonishing

mercy of God, and of that alone, that England has recovered from this detested curse without being condemned to pass like other nations through a discipline of fire and blood. This airy, systematic, shameless licentiousness first shewed itself in the royal court at Oxford.*

It was at Oxford too, during the civil war, that a new school of divines appeared, of whom Hammond was the most learned, and Jeremy Taylor the most popular. Between the Laudians and the doctrinal

* “Divers remarkable passages of the ladies in parliament assembled in 1647." In the Somers Tracts. I am ashamed to call attention to this paper, which is a jeu d'esprit from the pen of a royalist; but it is necessary to give my authority for the statement I have made above.

V.

CHAS. I.

A.D. 1646-8.

CHAPTER church puritans, it occupied the intermediate space. It avoided some of the errors of both parties, to whom, however, it made ample satisfaction by new errors of its own. It did not push ritualism and the benefit of the sacraments to the extravagant lengths of the Laudians: it avoided two great mistakes, into which many of the church puritans had gradually fallen, namely, that of ultra-calvinism, and of a mode of preaching in which moral duties were rather implied than taught. In the new school which now appeared morality was everything; while its views of christian doctrine were vague and indistinct. Its teachers were rather christian philosophers than christian ministers: they taught morality in connection with religion; the great verities of christian doctrine they either did not fully appreciate, or fully understand. Jeremy Taylor alarmed his wiser friends by the wildness of his speculations on the corruption of human nature and the doctrine of original sin. Some remonstrated; Sanderson deplored the errors of his friend with tears.* From this time however carelessness of doctrinal truth degenerated into indifference, and indifference into contempt. The church of England saw in another generation a resolute and in some respects a successful attempt (for the contagion spread far and wide and lasted for a century) to dissever christian practice from christian doctrine; to teach the one and obliterate the other.

Tillotson was perhaps the best specimen of these

* Heber's Life of Jeremy Taylor.

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CHAS. I. A.D. 1646-8.

divines. The clearness of his intellect, his noble CHAPTER simplicity, his courageous yet modest spirit, must always command respect. But who could gather the doctrines of the gospel from all that Tillotson has left behind him? An admirable system of morals, keen and searching remarks on human nature and practical life, are to be met with; much to instruct and much to edify; but the one thing which his profession called for, and which he was set apart to teach, is carelessly passed over or studiously concealed. The doctrines of the reformation may be recognised, but they are not distinctly enunciated. The gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God may be admitted, but it is not boldly and clearly preached. Indeed "he was in great doubt," as his friend and scholar tells us, "whether the surest way to persuade the world to the belief of the sublime truths that are contained in the scriptures, concerning God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and concerning the person of Christ, was to enter much into the discussion of those mysteries. He feared that an indiscreet dwelling and descanting upon those things, might do more hurt than good."* With what effect the substitution of moral philosophy in the place of doctrinal teaching and spiritual piety, was attended, the profligacy of the nation after the restoration, and the profound and apathetic irreligion which followed, and which covered England with its gloomy mantle till the accession of George III., bear painful testimony.

* A Sermon preached at the funeral of the late Archbishop, &c. By Gilbert [Burnet] Lord Bishop of Sarum. 1694.

V.

CHAPTER The experiment was long tried and the result is now inscribed in history. At length we have learned this important lesson, that without true religion there is no true morality.

CHAS. I.

A D. 1646-8.

CHAPTER VI.

A.D. 1617-1648.

VI.

A.D. 1647-8.

THE war had scarcely closed when a military CHAPTER despotism followed. For the long period of thirteen years a puritan army gave its law to England. That CHAS. I. ultimate authority which exists in every state, from which there is no higher appeal, was transferred to the army, and there it lay until the ancient constitution, or at least its usages and forms, were revived at the restoration of Charles II. The army was the sovereign, and Cromwell was the favourite; like other favourites, alternately insulted and caressed, and at times supreme, but never in fact allowed to control his masters except by those arts to which a favourite descends. From this period the institutions of the country, the courts of law, the once formidable parliament, and the protector himself at the summit of his pride and greatness, were held in submission to the army. The real power was in the soldiery.

The parliament, which had for some time felt a growing jealousy of the army, was naturally anxious to disband it. The Irish rebellion still continued and had lately broken out with new fury. This supplied a pretext. Twelve thousand troops were