dissenter, when this vote was taken, was Dr. Lightfoot; but if Mr. Coleman had not been sick, there would have been two. The Assembly were engaged from May to the latter end of July, in discussing the remaining questions; and in the mean time, the Independents also withdrew, and left the Presbyterians to themselves.

The Assembly, however, since their fright about a præmunire, were very unwilling to come before Parliament, with such answers as their sentiments would lead them to make to the queries which they had so long under consideration. But the London ministers felt themselves under no such restraint, and did not hesitate to come out boldly in giving expression to their opinions. At a meeting which they held at Sion College, they drew up a paper, or rather a treatise, entitled, “THE DIVINE RIGHT OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT BY THE LONDON MINISTERS." In this work they gave a distinct answer to each of the queries sent to the Assembly by the Parliament, and undertook to demonstrate that every branch of the Presbyterial government was of divine right, and boldly maintained that the civil magistrate has nothing to do with the censures of the church, and no right to interfere with them. And to show that they were in good earnest in maintaining this principle, they came to a solemn resolution that they would not comply with the existing establishment until it was delivered from the yoke of the civil magistrate. They also drew up a paper containing their reasons for opposing the principles established by the ordinance of Parliament, which paper they sent to the Lord Mayor of London, who, after consulting with the city council, sent a deputation to the convention at Sion College, offering to concur with them in a petition for redress. Such a petition was accordingly prepared and signed, and sent to the House of Commons, but produced no effect. The Parliament to counteract this combination, published an order requiring the city of London to observe the ordinance relating to the government of the church; and moreover, requiring them to send

copies of the ordinance to every parish within their jurisdiction, and to take effectual care that its provisions should be carried into immediate execution.

Upon this, the ministers of London and Westminster held another convention at Sion College, and now found it expedient to recede from the ground which they had assumed. At this meeting they agreed upon and published "certain considerations, according to which they agree to put the Presbyterial government into practice, according to the present establishment." They still, however, retained and repeated their principle, "That the power of church censures ought to be in the hands of church officers, BY THE WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF JESUS CHRIST. But they admitted that the magistrate ought to be satisfied of the truth of that church government, which by law they authorize. And although it be not right in every particular, yet church officers may act under it, provided they are not required to declare or acknowledge the rule to be right in every point. Therefore, although they conceived the ordinances of Parliament already published, are not a complete rule, nor in all points satisfactory to their consciences; yet, because in many things they are so, and provision being made to enable the elderships by their authority, to keep away from the Lord's Supper all ignorant and scandalous persons, and a further declaration being made, that there shall be an addition to the list of scandalous offences, heretofore enumerated, therefore they conceive it their duty to put in practice the present settlement, as far as they conceive it correspondent with the word of God, hoping that the Parliament will, in due time, supply what is lacking to make the government entire, and rectify what shall appear to be amiss."

Thus, at the last, Parliament maintained its ground, and brought the stout hearts of the Presbyterian ministers of London to a reluctant submission to their authority.

The Presbyterial form of government was now carried into operation in the city of London, and in

other places; but the particulars will be reserved for

another chapter.

CHAPTER XVI.

Sequestration of Ministers.-Ejection of Masters and Professors from the University of Cambridge.

FROM the time of taking the covenant the virtual dissolution of the English hierarchy may be dated; although the actual repeal by an ordinance of Parliament did not take place until some time afterwards. And when the archbishop of Canterbury was suspended for disobedience to the orders of Parliament, all collation to benefices was by the nomination and order of the two Houses. But as soon as the Westminster Assembly were convened, all ecclesiastical matters, by direction of Parliament, went through their hands. The parishes elected their ministers, the Assembly examined and approved them, and the Parliament confirmed them in their benefices. This created much business for the Assembly, and after a while occupied the greater portion of their time, for the number of persons who applied for sequestered livings was very great. To facilitate this business, they were obliged to choose a select committee to attend to it. The names of this committee were, the Rev. Dr. Gouge, Dr. Staunton, Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Smith, Dr. Temple, Dr. Packney, Dr. Hayle, Dr. Burges, Dr. Spurstow, Mr. Sey, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Conant, Mr. Garver, Mr. Colman, Mr. Hill, Mr. Corteel, Mr. Gataker, Mr. Herle, Mr. Hall, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Bathurst, and Mr. Cheynell.

"The method of examination," says Neal, "was this: the names of the ministers who petitioned for livings, or were recommended by either House of Parliament, being published in the Assembly two ór three days before the examination, liberty was given

in that time to make exceptions to their character. If nothing was objected, they were examined by the aforesaid committee, or any five of them, who reported their qualifications to the Assembly, and they then received a certificate of recommendation to the parish for which the application was made; and the scribes were directed to keep an exact list of all ministers recommended to sequestered livings, and to enter the same in a book kept for that purpose.

From Dr. Lightfoot's Journal, it appears that these candidates were required to preach before the committee as one part of their trials; and such trial sermons were often delivered several days in the week, so great was the number of candidates.

The sequestration of ecclesiastical livings, which made so many vacancies, was chiefly owing to the fact, that many of the clergy took part in the civil dispute with the king; and when their livings were situated in a place under the power of the Parliament, they either forsook them, or were ejected as being hostile to the Parliament. But it appears, that at that time, there were in the church many incompetent ministers, and many whose lives were scandalous. These also were ejected, and qualified men substituted in their place.

The University of Oxford and also the town were devoted to the cause of the king; and here he held his court, and here was for a long time the headquarters for the army. The University of Cambridge was also friendly to the royal cause, but the town was favourable to the Parliament, and the place was within their power. A committee of sequestration was appointed for the University of Cambridge, and for removing scandalous ministers in the seven associated counties. The ordinance appointing them, sets forth "that the service of the Parliament was retarded, the people's souls starved by the idle, ill-affected, and scandalous clergy of the University of Cambridge, and the associated counties. The earl of Manchester, therefore, was empowered to appoint committees who should have authority to call before them all

provosts, masters, and fellows of colleges, and all students of the university, all ministers in the counties of the association, and all school masters that were scandalous in their lives, or ill-affected to the Parliament, or fomenters of this unnatural war, or that shall wilfully refuse obedience to the orders of Parliament, or have deserted their ordinary places of residence, not being employed in the service of the king and Parliament. The said committee were also authorized to send for witnesses, and examine complaints against the fore-mentioned delinquents on oath, and to certify the names of the persons accused to the earl of Manchester, who shall have power to eject such as are unfit for their places; to sequester their estates, and to dispose of them as he shall think fit, and place others in their room, being first approved by the Assembly of divines at Westminster. He also had power to administer the covenant to whom he would, and to assign one fifth of the sequestered estates for the maintenance of the wives and children of delinquents.

The Earl of Manchester (formerly Lord Kimbolton) repaired in person to Cambridge, and required the heads of the several colleges to send him their statutes, with the names of their members, and to certify who were present, and who absent, with the express time of their discontinuance. The fellows of a number of the colleges were ejected, for non-residence, not returning after due summons, and for political misdemeanors. The covenant was used as a test, and offered to such as were suspected of being disaffected. The whole number expelled in this and following years, including masters and fellows, according to Dr. Walker, was little short of two hundred; which was something more than one half the graduate members. Out of sixteen heads of colleges, six by compliance kept their places. These were Dr. Bainbrigge of Christ's College, Dr. Eden of Trinity Hall, Dr. Richard Love of Bennet College, Dr. Brownrigge of Katherine Hall, (ejected in 1645,) Dr. Bachcroft of Caius College, and Dr. Rainbow of Magdalen