liament sent the Assembly an order to revise the Thirtynine Articles, for the purpose of simplifying, clearing, and vindicating the doctrines therein contained. The discharge of this task was begun in the committees, and reported from time to time in the Assembly. On the first of these meetings to receive and consider reports, July 12th, "A letter," says Lightfoot, came from Dr. Brownrigge, Bishop of Exeter, to Dr. Featly, or, in his absence, to Dr. Gouge, which was openly read, wherein he excus eth his non-appearance in the Assembly, from the tie of the vice-chancellorship in the University that lay upon him."* The tenor of his excuse shows that he at least did not condemn the calling of the Assembly, nor thought his episcopal function of divine institution. Indeed there were many episcopalians who had not embraced the high theory of Bancroft and Laud, otherwise none could have appeared in the Assembly at all; and yet even Clarendon admits, that "about twenty of them were reverend and worthy persons, and episcopal in their judgments;" + and Fuller says, that "Dr. Westfield (Bishop of Bristol) and some few others seemed the only non-conformists among them for their conformity, whose gowns and canonical habits differed from all the rest." From this it appears that at least one bishop gave his presence to the meeting of that Assembly, which so many of his prelatic brethren since have termed impious and rebellious.

A new disaster having befallen the arms of the Parliament in the defeat of Waller, the Assembly petitioned the Houses to appoint a fast throughout London, Westminster, and the suburbs; requesting that measures might be speedily adopted for promoting reformation, so that the Divine wrath might be averted, and the wounds and miseries of the kingdom healed. This petition was granted; the 21st of July was set apart as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Mr. Hill, Mr. Spurstow, and Mr. Vines, were appointed to preach before the Houses, and the day was observed with great solemnity within the specified boundaries. From this time forward, it was customary to appoint similar fasts, and public sermons before the Houses of Parliament; which sermons were printed by order of Parliament, frequently with prefaces before, or • Lightfoot, p. 5. † Clarendon. Fuller, vol. iii. p. 448.

AS

characterized by all the freshness and trembling ness, and intensity of hopes and fears called fort varying vicissitudes of these eventful and flu times.* The same circumstance proves, that on of the Parliament, the struggle in which they were was by themselves regarded as to the full as m religious as of a political character; and that th not ashamed to acknowledge, that they looked to t and the protection of God for ultimate succes perilous and important contest. It may be add however vehemently the king and his adherents the divine source of the royal prerogative, we do that they attempted to hallow their cause, or Divine aid, by solemn religious acts; but, on the c that in order to draw the utmost possible breadt tinction between themselves and the Purita delighted to indulge to excess in every kind of li ness and immorality; so that they frequently a those counties which were otherwise friendly to t cause, and drove the oppressed people into the the parliamentary armies, as the only way to resc selves and their families from the vicious brutaliti proud and tyrannical cavaliers.

The Assembly continued to discuss the Th Articles, and expended ten weeks in debating first fifteen. But upon the arrival of the Scottish sioners, or rather, soon after the signing of the League and Covenant, a new direction was giv whole course of discussion; so that it is unnec trace that part of the proceedings which led to no result, and which, terminating abruptly and un cannot properly be said to form any part of the As actual proceedings. Let us rather turn to the the Solemn League and Covenant itself.

When the English Parliament determined upon * For the use of perhaps the most complete collection o

lition of the Prelatic hierarchy, they at the same time sug. gested the calling of an Assembly of Divines to deliberate respecting the new form to be established; and they also applied to the Church of Scotland to send commissioners to the intended Assembly. The Scottish Church nominated some ministers and elders to be in readiness; but the English Assembly not having been called till nearly a year had elapsed, serious doubts began to be entertained in Scotland respecting their sincerity, especially when no authorized person appeared at the Convention of Estates held on the 22d June, and prolonged during a fortnight. At length a messenger arrived, stating that the Assembly had met, and renewing their application for the presence of Scottish commissioners.* As the General Assembly was to meet on the 2d of August, and the Convention of Estates at the same time, the matter was referred till then, that it might be fully and authoritatively arranged.

After several days of anxious expectation by the Scottish General Assembly, the English commissioners arrived on the 7th of August, and were received by a deputation of the Assembly on the following day. The English commissioners were, from the Lords, the Earl of Rutland and Lord Gray of Wark, the latter of whom declined the journey; from the Commons, Sir William Armyn, Sir Harry Vane the younger, Mr. Hatcher, and Mr. Darley; and from the Assembly of Divines, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Nye. They presented their commission, giving them ample powers to treat with the Scottish Convention and Assembly,-a Declaration of both the English Houses,-a letter from the Westminster Assembly, and a letter subscribed by above seventy of their divines, supplicating aid in their desperate condition. "This letter," says Baillie, was so lamentable that it drew tears from many." The leading statesmen and divines in Scotland immediately took these matters into serious and most anxious deliberation. All were of opinion that it was necessary to assist the English; but how that assistance should be given they could not so readily determine. At one time the prevalent idea was, that Scotland should interpose as a mediating power, without altoBaillie, vol. ii. p. 80.

† Ibid., vol. ii. p. 89. All the documents referred to, with their answers, may be seen in the Acts of Assembly, 1643.

when they had seen the treaty concluded at Duns to be burned by the hands of the hangman, and th denounced as rebels. And as the English Parlia not hitherto exhibited any similar insincerity, the reason for equal distrust with regard to their dec while the Scottish statesmen and ministers coul perceive, that if the king should succeed in subjug English Parliament, he would then be able to as land with an irresistible force.

Still there was one difficult point. The Eng missioners sought to enter into a civil league with for the defence of the civil liberties of both But as the entire spirit of the contest in which had been engaged was of a religious character, i of religious liberty, and had been conducted to ous issue by the strength of a religious covenant i the nation had entered, the Convention and Ass sisted upon a religious covenant between the twol To this the English commissioners at length ass the suggestion of Sir Harry Vane, that the two id very properly be combined; and hence the bond between the two countries was so framed as to both subjects, and received the designation of Tr LEAGUE AND COVENANT.

This important document was framed by the Alexander Henderson, moderator of the Assembly before the English commissioners. At first the somewhat at its terms, some of them wishing for latitude of expression, to leave room for the int of the Independent or Congregational system. In a slight compromise was made, no specific pla reformation of religion in England or Ireland bei except that it should be "according to the Wor and the example of the best reformed Churches this mode of expressing the general principle, al tisfied; and after receiving the approbation of t

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1643, passed unanimously* amidst the applause of some, and the bursting tears of a deep, full, and sacred joy of others; and in the afternoon, with the same cordial una nimity, passed the Convention of Estates. This," says Baillie, seems to be a new period and crisis of the most great affair which these hundred years has exercised these dominions." He was not mistaken; it was indeed the commencement of a new period in the history of the Christian Church, though that period has not yet run its full round, nor reached its crisis,-a crisis which will shake and new-mould the world.

It is customary for a certain class of writers to say, that in the discussion respecting the Solemn League and Covenant, there was a contest of cunning between the English commissioners and the Scottish Covenanters, and that the superior subtlety of Sir Harry Vane enabled him to beguile the Scottish negotiators, who, in their blind attachment to their own Presbyterian system, could not conceive that anything else was meant by the expression, "The best reformed Churches." This is but a weak invention of the enemy. In the beginning of the year 1641, the Scottish commissioners had both suggested the idea of a closer agreement between the Churches of England and Scotland, and disclaimed the presumption of urging their system upon the mightier kingdom. And in the ordinance summoning the Assembly, one object is said to be, to obtain a nearer agreement with the Church of Scotland, and other reformed Churches abroad." Further, the Church of Scotland had delayed the framing of a directory, very much that she might be the more at liberty to accommodate her procedure to what might be resolved upon by the English Assembly, when it should have accomplished its task. It would appear, therefore, that there was no craft nor overreaching on either side; and that, so far as there was a compromise, it was one of candor and frankness, well understood by both parties, for the purpose of leaving matters open to a full and fair discussion.

When the Solemn League and Covenant had thus re

* The Lord High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Hope, declined assenting to the Covenant in his official capacity, but personally he gave his cordial concurrence.

† See Appendix.