II. give great offence to the people." But this request made no CHARLES impression. The king told them plainly, "he would not be restrained himself, when others had so much indulgence: that the surplice had been always reckoned a decent habit, and constantly worn in the Church of England, till these late ill times; and that he had all along retained the use of it in foreign parts; that though he thought himself obliged for the present to connive at disorder, and tolerate a failure of solemnity and decorum in religious worship, yet he would never abet any such irregularity by his own practice, nor discountenance the ancient and laudable customs of the Church in which he was bred." This firmness in his majesty was no small disappointment to these divines: they expected to have found him more compliant with their schemes. However, they declined giving him any more trouble upon this head, hoping to meet with a more favourable opportunity in England. The king restored. The king having been eight or ten days splendidly enter- May 26. tained by the States, went on board the English fleet, arrived at Dover, and was received by the kingdom with all imaginable marks of duty and inclination'. At this happy return, the Church recovered with the crown; though this ground was not gained without some contest with the Dissenting party. Neither is this struggle much surprising, if we consider, that for fourteen or fifteen years last past, the hierarchy had been broken, the Liturgy laid aside, and a new form, both as to worship and government, publicly prevailed. The Presbyterians had several circumstances of advantage to support their hopes. Possession of the chair, the inclination of no small numbers of the people, the countenance of great men, and the king's declaration at Breda, gave this party no uncomfortable prospect. To keep them somewhat sanguine in their expectations, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Spurstow, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Bates, Dr. Manton, Mr. Calamy, Mr. Ask, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Case, and two or three more, were made the king's chaplains in ordinary; though none of them ever preached before his majesty, excepting Calamy, Reynolds, Baxter, Spurstow, and Woodbridge; and none of these but 1 The English preference for monarchy was more than ever confirmed by the horrible disasters of the rebellion, for all the experiments of the democratic party had signally disappointed them, even by their own confession. VOL. VIII. D d Some of the once. ministers wait upon the king and discourse with him ject of Church However, this appearing in the chapel made their Presbyterian access to his majesty the more easy. Το their interest pursue therefore, they waited on his majesty soon after the Restoration, being introduced by the earl of Manchester. In their upon the sub- address, "They recommended the uniting the kingdom in matters of religion: that if his majesty would please to congovernment tribute his assistance, nothing could be more promising than the present juncture: they intreated that the terms of union might include nothing but necessary things: that the true exercise of Church discipline might be allowed: that those ministers who were most serviceable for this branch of the function might not be laid aside, nor unworthy unqualified men put upon the people." and ceremo nies. The king declared himself much pleased with their reconciling temper, and resolved to do his part for promoting what was suggested: but told them withal, "That this agreement could not be expected without something of cession and abatement on both sides that if the issue did not answer, it should not be his fault, but their own: that he was resolved to leave no proper methods unattempted, for procuring a harmony, and drawing the distant persuasions to a good understanding. To this end he desired them to lay some proposals before him touching Church government. That this main difference being once settled, other matters would be easily accommodated." And here his majesty ordered them to set down the full length of their concessions. "They told the king they were but a small number, and had no commission from their brethren to declare themselves upon this head. They desired therefore they might have leave to acquaint their brethren in the country with his majesty's commands, and receive their sentiments upon this argument." The king replied, "that method would be dilatory, and make too much noise: that therefore he had rather the proposals should come from themselves; and that for fuller information, they might communicate this affair with their friends in the city." To this their answer was: 66 They were in no condition either to speak for, or oblige other people: and therefore what they offered his majesty could only be taken for their own sense." The king let them know, "they should be construed no otherwise, and that he did not design to convene a synod or assembly of the other party, but only make use of a few for adjusting this II. Life of matter." Upon this, these divines begged the king, "that when CHARLES they laid their concessions before him, his majesty would order their brethren of the Church of England might deliver in a Calamy's paper of the utmost they could yield: that when the relaxa- Baxter. tions of both sides were compared, the success might the better be conjectured." The king, thinking this reasonable, promised their request. posal for an tion with the episcopal About three weeks after, the proposals were agreed: the Their propaper was mostly drawn by Calamy and Reynolds. It begins accommoda with four preliminary requests: “That serious godliness might be countenanced; a learned and pious minister in each parish party. encouraged; that a personal public owning the baptismal covenant might precede an admission to the Lord's table; and that the Lord's day might be strictly sanctified." After this general introduction, they proceed to particulars. And here they offer, as they pretend, "to allow the true primitive presidency in the Church, with a due mixture of presbyters. That this scheme was necessary to avoid the corruptions, partiality, and tyranny incident to the administration of a single person." The things which they chiefly blamed in the English hierarchy, were; "The great extent of the bishops' diocese; their deputing commissaries, chancellors, and officials to act in their stead; their assuming the sole power of ordination and jurisdiction; and acting so arbitrarily in visitation articles." Besides this, they objected, their bringing in new ceremonies, and suspending ministers at pleasure; for reforming these evils, as they called them, they proposed that bishop Usher's notion of episcopal government might be received as the ground-work of an accommodation. This primate's scheme is couched under the four following propositions, 872. I. Usher would have it, "That in every parish the rector, Primate or the incumbent pastor, together with the churchwarden Usher's plan for and sidemen, may every week take notice of such as live episcopal government. scandalously in the congregation; who are to receive such several admonitions and reproofs, as the quality of their offence shall deserve; and if by this means they cannot be reclaimed, they may be presented unto the next monthly synod, and in the mean time, be debarred by the pastor from access unto the Lord's table. "II. Whereas, by a statute in the 26th of Henry VIII, (revived in the 1st of queen Eliz.), suffragans are appointed to be erected in twenty-six several places of this kingdom, the number of them might be very well conformed unto the several rural deaneries, into which every diocese is subdivided; which being done, the suffragan (supplying the place of those who, in the ancient Church, were called 'chorepiscopi,') might every month assemble a synod of all the rectors or incumbent pastors within the precinct, and, according to the major part of their voices, conclude all matters that should be brought into debate before them. To this synod the rector and churchwardens might present such impenitent persons as, by admonition and suspension from the sacrament, would not be reformed; who, if they would still remain contumacious and incorrigible, the sentence of excommunication might be decreed against them by the synod, and accordingly be executed in the parish where they lived. Hitherto, also, all things that concerned the parochial ministers might be referred, whether they did touch their doctrine or their conversation; as also the censure of all new opinions, heresies, and schisms, which did arise within that circuit, with liberty of appeal, if need so require, unto the diocesan synod. "III. The diocesan synod might be held once or twice in the year, as it should be thought most convenient; therein all the suffragans, and the rest of the rectors or incumbent pastors, 'or a certain select number out of every deanery within that diocese,' might meet; with the consent of the major part of whom, all things might be concluded by the bishop or superintendent (call him which you will), or, in his absence, by one of the suffragans, whom he should depute in his stead, to be moderator of that assembly. Here all matters of great moment might be taken into consideration, and the orders of the monthly synods revised, and, if need be, reformed. And if here also any matter of difficulty could not receive a full determination, it might be referred to the next provincial or national synod. “IV. The provincial synod might consist of all the bishops and suffragans, and such of the clergy as should be elected out of every diocese within the province. The primate of either province might be the moderator of this meeting (or, in his room, some one of the bishops appointed by him), and all matters be ordered therein by common consent, as in the former Id. II. assemblies. This synod might be held every third year, and CHARLES if the parliament do then sit, both the primates and provincial synods of the land might join together, and make up a Smith's national council, wherein all appeals from inferior synods might Vit. Jacob. be received, all their acts examined, and all ecclesiastical constitutions which concern the state of the Church of the whole nation established." Usser. nisters refine Usher. The Presbyterian divines refined upon this plan, and went These mifarther in their demands. They moved, "that the suffragans upon archshould be chosen by their respective synods; that districts bishop may be reduced to a moderate extent; that ministers should be under no oaths, or promises of obedience to the bishops, as being responsible for all breaches upon the law; that the. bishops may not govern at discretion, but be restrained to the direction of canons, or constitutions; and that these should be either made or confirmed by act of parliament. "As to the liturgy, they owned the lawfulness of a prescribed form of public worship; but desired withal, that some learned, pious, and moderate divines of both parties might be employed either to draw up a new Liturgy, or reform the old one. And here they propose the adding some variety of composure couched in Scripture phrase, to be used or omitted, as the minister should think fit. As to the ceremonies, it was their humble opinion, divine service was perfect without them; that in matters of worship God has declared himself a jealous God; that most of the Reformed Churches abroad rejected the English ceremonies; that at home they had been matter of dispute and contention ever since the Reformation; that many pious and useful ministers had been silenced upon this score, and separations from the Church occasioned from hence; that these externals were no immutable circumstances, and See two therefore they intreated that kneeling at the sacrament might papers of proposals, not be imposed; that the wearing the surplice, the cross in &c. humbly baptism, and bowing at the name of Jesus, rather than of to his maChrist or Emanuel, might be laid aside; and that care might jety by the Presbyterian ministers. be taken to prevent innovations contrary to law." Farther they desired the king, "that none of their ministers might be ejected from sequestered livings where the episcopal incumbents were dead; that his majesty would please to give a public signification of his pleasure, that no oaths, subscriptions, or renunciation of orders might be required till the presented |