which were combined with the profession of religion; still, we apprehend, an immense mass of genuine religion will remain. It is freely admitted, that no religion was necessary to make a man talk about seeking God; or to lead him to hear many sermons, and even to make long prayers. All these things were done by many, whose conduct discovered that their pretensions were more than questionable. But when we find along with these, fervent zeal for the fruits of righteousness, the glory of God, and the spiritual and temporal well-being of men; active labours in preaching the gospel, or patient suffering on account of it, the aspect of religious profession becomes very different. It is impossible to doubt the sincerity of such persons. Yet such were multitudes in the days of Cromwell, who are reckoned fanatical precisians, or designing knaves. These very persons became, in the days of the Second Charles and James, confessors and martyrs for the truth. The two thousand ejected ministers, and the ten thousands of the people who suffered the loss of goods and of liberty of country, and even life itself, were, for the most part, the generation of the Commonwealth. Their conduct, perseverance, and sufferings show, that they were not the sickly dreamers, and visionary enthusiasts, they have been reckoned, but men of elevated and scriptural piety *"

Learning never had patrons more zealous for its advancement than at this period, in which two works especially were produced, which have immortalized the names of their authors: one was a "Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews," by Dr. Owen, still called "the prince of theologians," and to whom it is said "the original languages of the Scriptures were as familiar as his mother tongue;" the other was an edition of the "Polyglot Bible," by Dr. Walton. "The Biblia Polyglotta Waltoni, is by far the most valuable and important biblical work which ever issued from the British press; which has rendered immense service to the criticism and interpretation of the Scriptures, and conferred immortal honour on its projectors and editor." Se

*Life of Dr. Owen, p. 185-187.

veral Polyglots had been published by "Catholic princes, prelates, or private individuals. None of the Protestant princes or patrons of learning had yet attempted any work of this nature. It was reserved for England to wipe away this reproach; and that, not during the reign of her royal 'Defender of the Faith,' and under the auspices of her richly beneficed bishops; but during the reign of fanaticism, and under the patronage, though his name was afterwards ungraciously blotted out, of the prince of fanatics OLIVER CROMWELL ! *"

Correctly to determine the character of that extraordinary man, appears extremely difficult, from the peculiar circumstances in which he was placed-from the high commendations of his admirers on the one hand, and on the other from the unmeasured censures of his determined enemies. Cromwell was ambitious, as all allow but it is remarked that his ambition was in a great degree defensive. All parties agree in testifying the strict morality of his private life, his temperance, and chastity: his munificent patronage of science and religion; his public and private devotion; his reverence for the Protestant faith, and his uniform respect for the rights of conscience. "The services which he rendered to his country and to religion are not unknown; and whatever may be thought of his motives, those services were neither few nor small. To the last, his private morals remained untainted; his public regard for religion, and for religious persons, was maintained; and he died with a prayer, becoming a Christian, and not unworthy of the Protector of England.+"

During the Commonwealth no system of church government can be considered as having been properly or fully established. The Presbyterian, if any, enjoyed this distinction. But the ministers who occupied the parish churches, were of various denominations. Many of them were secret friends to the old episcopacy and the liturgy. Many were for a reformed episcopal government. Some were Independents, and a few were Baptists. Cromwell's policy en

Ibid. p. 206, 207

+ Ibid. p. 184.

couraged this diversity; as he dreaded the ascendancy of any one party. No sacrifice of conscience was demanded; no encroachments on religious liberty were practised; no bounds were prescribed to zealous exertion for the souls of men. Every man sat under his vine and his fig tree without fear. The word of the Lord had free-course, and was glorified *.

However that age may have been ridiculed by the profane despisers of the gospel, there are numerous circumstances which clearly indicate, not only a better state of things than is commonly imagined, but an extensive prevalence of scriptural knowledge and genuine piety. The statutes which enforced the strict observance of the Lord's day — the legal prohibition of theatrical exhibitions—the unprecedented circulation of the Scriptures-the vigorous efforts made to propagate Christianity in Wales, Ireland, and among the American Indians the publication of learned theological works, replete with evangelical doctrine and practical piety— and the veneration which the people cherished for a large number of pious, learned, sober-minded, and laborious ministers, among whom were Drs. Goodwin, Owen, Manton, and Bates; and Messrs. Flavel, Charnock, Poole, Howe, and Baxter, whose talents have never been surpassed by the ministers of Christ in any age, and whose imperishable writings still constitute an invaluable treasure, enriching the church of Christ-all these facts, besides the number of great men who were educated by the teachers of this generation, demonstrate that sound learning prevailed, and that the purest religion exerted a preponderating influence over the national character.

Baxter's testimony deserves the highest regard, as he was fully agreed with no party on the subject of church government. He says:"I do not believe that ever England had so able and faithful a ministry since it was a nation, as it hath at this day; and I fear that few nations on earth, if any, have the like. Sure I am the change is so great within these twelve years, that it is one of the greatest joys that ever I had in the world to behold it. O how many congregations are

Ibid. p. 287.

now plainly and frequently taught, that lived then in great obscurity! How many able, faithful men are there now in a county, in comparison of what were then! How graciously hath God prospered the studies of many young men that were little children in the beginning of the late troubles, so that they now cloud the most of their seniors! How many miles would I have gone twenty years ago and less, to have heard one of those ancient, reverend divines, whose congregations are now grown thin, and their parts esteemed mean by reason of their juniors! I hope I shall rejoice in God, while I have a being, for the common change in other parts that I have lived to see; that so many hundred faithful men are so hard at work for the saving of souls. I know there are some, whose parts I reverence, who being in point of government on another mind from them, will be offended at my very mention of this happy alteration; but I must profess, if I were absolutely prelatical, if I know my heart, I could not but choose for all that to rejoice. What! not rejoice at the prosperity of the church, because men differ in opinion about its order! Should I shut my eyes against the mercies of the Lord? The souls of men are not so contemptible to me, that I should envy them the bread of life, because it is broken to them by a hand that had not the prelatical approbation. O that every congregation were thus supplied ! *"

Liberty being allowed to all Protestants during the protectorate, to publish their own opinions on church government, several denominations besides the Presbyterians now began to make a figure in England, the Independents, the Baptists, and the Quakers.

The Independents arose with the Reformation, affirming, with the nineteenth article of the church of England, that "the visible church is a congregation of faithful men, in which the Word of God is faithfully preached, and the sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance." They declared, that every congregation of believers is properly a Christian church, according to the institutions of the New Testament; and that it is in no respect subject to the pope, a

* Orme's Life of Baxter, vol. i, p. 191, 192.

prelate, or a king, in matters of religion: the institutions of Jesus Christ alone, as contained in the Scriptures, being binding upon Christians. Disallowing all responsibility to any human tribunal, in respect to spiritual affairs, they were called Independents, as already mentioned. After the martyrdom of Udall, in the last century, his principles increased, and the first modern Independent church was formed in England in 1607, of the Baptist denomination: the first modern Independent church admitting children to baptism, was formed in 1633; but their meeting was privately held on account of spies from the star chamber and high commission courts.

Perceiving the importance of exhibiting to the nation a statement of their principles, permission was obtained of the government, for the bishops and deacons of the congregational churches in England and Wales, to hold a public meeting for that purpose in London. "About two-hundred elders and messengers, from above one hundred churches, assembled at the Savoy, September 29, 1658, and continued together till October 12. Mr. Griffiths was chosen clerk, and Drs. Owen and Goodwin, Messrs. Nye, Bridge, Caryl, and Greenhill, were appointed a committee to prepare the heads of agreement, which were brought in every morning, discussed, and the statement to be adopted unanimously agreed to. The whole was afterwards published, entitled, "A Declaration of the Faith and Order, owned and practised in the Congregational churches in England; agreed upon and consented to by the elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy, October 12, 1658." At this period the Congregational, or Independent, churches in England and Wales amounted to nearly two hundred, including about seventy Baptists.

The Quakers arose during the Commonwealth. By their peculiarities, and their unconquerable zeal in preaching several of the great doctrines of the gospel, they gained many adherents. Their founder was George Fox; a man of obscure family, but possessing sincere piety; persevering in labours, unwearied in his benevolent exertions, and of invincible patience in suffering for Christ. His enthusiasm at