History of the Puritans e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. But instead of accomplishing his designs, the number of Puritans increased prodigiously in his reign, which was owing to one or other of these causes. First. To the standing firm by the constitution and laws of their brought over to them all those gentlemen in the house of commons, and in the several counties of England, who found it necessary, for the preservation of their properties, to op pose the court, and to insist upon being' governed according to law these were called state Puritans. Secondly. To their steady adherence to the doctrines of Calvin and 'the synod of Dori, in the points of predestination and grace, against the modern interpretations of Arminius and his followers. The court divines fell in with the latter, and were thought not only to deviate from the principles of the first reformers, but to attempt a coalition with the church of Rome; while most of the country clergy, being stiff in their old opinions (though otherwise well enough affected to the discipline and ceremonies of the church), were in a manner shut out from all preferment, and branded with the name of Doctrinal Puritans. Thirdly. To their pious and severe manner of life, which was at this time very extraordinary. If a man kept the sabbath and frequented sermons; if he maintained family religion, and would neither swear, nor be drunk, nor comply with the fashionable vices of the times, he was called a Puritan: this by degrees procured them the compassion. Of the sober part of the nation, who began to think it very hard, that a number of sober, industrious, and consci entions people, should be harassed out of the land, for scrupling to comply with a few indifferent ceremonies, which had no relation to the favour of God, or the practice of virtue.