transactions. Most of these were addressed to the Rev. Mr. Spang, his own cousin, and minister of an English congregation in Holland. These letters furnish much information of particulars which will be grateful to the curious.

Dr. Lightfoot, so well known to the literary public, was a leading member of this Assembly, and kept a brief journal of the proceedings for more than a year; but his remarks are very concise, and his journal does not extend to the most interesting period of the transactions of the Assembly. This journal has been published in the last volume of the late octavo edition of his works.

Dr. Ayton, in his "Life of Alexander Henderson," has mentioned some facts, not in the other authorities; but he has added very little to the knowledge of this Assembly, previously possessed.

In the life of Dr. Goodwin, by his son, it is asserted, that this distinguished Independent, who occupied a a large space in the debates of the Assembly, left behind him a journal of the transactions, extending to eighteen volumes of duodecimo, manuscript; but no part of these volumes has ever been published, and whether they are still extant, is entirely unknown to us.

It might have been expected that Lord Clarendon, in his "History of the Rebellion," would have had much to say about the Westminster Assembly, the influence of which was so considerable on the civil affairs of the country; but the whole that he says, is included in one paragraph; which, however, is replete with contemptuous bitterness.

The compiler of the following history has now

indicated the sources from which he has derived his materials. He puts in no claim to original research: if he deserves any credit, it is merely for collecting and arranging what he found scattered in the authors named. For many years he sought for information on this subject, with but little success. He has found the same complaint of a want of information, and a desire to obtain it, in many persons; especially in young ministers, and candidates for the ministry, which induced him to undertake the labour of collecting, under suitable heads, such information as was accessible to him; and if it should prove unsatisfactory to some, whose knowledge is more extensive, yet he is persuaded that it will supply a desideratum to many, who will be gratified with the particulars which he has been able to collect.

WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.

CHAPTER I.

Application to the Parliament by the London Ministers to call a Synod-A bill presented to the King for this purpose at the Treaty of Oxford--The Parliament enact the same in form of an Ordinance--The Ordinance itself--The names of the Lords and gentlemen chosen to sit in the Assembly-Complete List of the Divines nominated in the Ordinance, and those afterwards added.

As early as the year 1641, the London ministers, in a petition to Parliament, requested them to intercede with the King for the calling of a free synod, to take into consideration and remove the grievances of the Church. The Commons, accordingly, in their grand remonstrance, presented December 1, 1641, made mention of the subject, in the following words:"We desire that there may be a general synod of the most grave, pious, learned, and judicious Divines of this island, assisted with some from foreign parts, professing the same religion with us, who may consider all things necessary for the peace and good government of the Church, and to represent the result of their consultations, to be allowed and confirmed, and to receive the stamp of authority."

In the treaty of Oxford, a bill was presented to the same purpose, and rejected. Some time after, Dr. Burgess, at the head of the Puritan clergy, applied again to Parliament, but the Houses were unwilling to take this step without the King's concurrence, until they were reduced to the necessity of calling in the Scots, who insisted, that there should be a uni

formity of doctrine and discipline, between the two nations. To make way for which, the Parliament turned their bill, which had been rejected by the King, into an ORDINANCE, and convened the Assembly by their own authority. The Ordinance bears date, June 12, 1643, and is the very same as the Oxford bill, except in the point of lay assessors, and the article by which the assembly is restrained from exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction or authority. It is entitled, "An ordinance of the Lords and Commons, in parliament, for the calling of an assembly of learned and godly divines, and others, to be consulted with by the parliament, for settling the government and liturgy of the church of England, and for vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the said church, from false aspersions and interpretations." The ordinance itself is as follows:

"Whereas, amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this nation, none is nor can be more dear unto us than the purity of our religion; and for that, as yet, many things remain in the liturgy, discipline, and government of the church, which do necessarily require a further and more perfect reformation, than as yet hath been obtained; and whereas, it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the present church government, by archbishops, bishops, their chancellors, commissars, deans, and chapters, arch-deacons, and other ecclesiastical officers, depending upon the hierarchy, is evil, and justly offensive and burdensome to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and growth of religion, and very prejudicial to the state and government of this kingdom; and, therefore, they are resolved, that the same shall be taken away, and that such a government shall be settled in the church, as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the church at home, and nearer agreement with the church of Scotland, and other reformed churches abroad; and for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine

of the church of England from all false calumnies and aspersions, it is thought fit and necessary, to call an assembly of learned, godly, and judicious divines, who, together with some members of both houses of Parliament, are to consult and advise of such matters and things, touching the premises, as shall be proposed unto them, by both or either of the houses of Parliament, and to give their advice and counsel therein, to both or either of the said houses, when, and as often, as they shall be thereunto required. Be it, therefore, ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, that all and every the persons, hereafter, in this present ordinance named; that is to say, [the names were here written,] and such other person or persons as shall be nominated and appointed by both houses of parliament, or so many of them as shall not be letted by sickness, or other necessary impediment, shall meet and assemble, and are hereby required and enjoined, upon summons signed by both houses of parliament, left at their respective dwellings, to meet and assemble themselves, at Westminster, in the chapel, called king Henry the seventh's chapel, on the first of July, 1643, and after the first meeting, being at least of the number of forty, shall, from time to time, sit, and be removed from place to place; and also, that the said assembly shall be dissolved in such manner as shall by both houses of Parliament be directed; and the said persons, or so many of them as shall be so assembled, or sit, shall have power and authority, and are hereby likewise enjoined, from time to time, during the present Parliament, or until further order be taken by both the said houses, to confer and treat among themselves of such matters and things, touching and concerning the liturgy, discipline, and government of the church of England, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine of the same, from all false aspersions and misconstructions, as shall be proposed unto them by both or either said houses of Parliament, and no other; and deliver their opinion, advices of, or touch