The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15

"a Roman Catholic Bishop, Bonaven-
tura Giffard, was placed at the head of
the college. The recusant fellows were
elected, and twelve Romanists appoint
in their room. For the time, therefore,
Magdalen, like Christchurch and I'm
versity, fell under the domination of
the Papacy; and to those who abhorred
the change on religious grounds were
added all who disapproved Of the exer-
else of arbitrary power. King James
had thus measured his strength against
that of English Professionalism and
English freedom. The issue could not
be long in doubt, although the King
himself, by further acts of arbitrary
folly, fastened the catastrophe.
THE DECLARATION OF INDULGENCE.
It must have seemed to the King
and his Jesuit advisers a most adroit
stroke of policy to reinstate the power
of Romanism under cover of a uni
versal federation. Would not the boon
to Nonconformity be SO great and
precious, as to enlist its strength in
support of a measure which would
equally give free scope to the Papists
and Romanisers Of the land?
The method by which this was to be
accomplished was as daring as the con-
ception itself. Parliament might be
difficult to deal with, and had not even
been summoned for this year; for as
supplies were then voted for the whole
term Of the reign, and not as now from
year to year, the annual assemblage of
the legislature might be dispensed with
by monarchs bent on absolutism. The
King himself resolved to effect his
purpose by proclamation, paying, how
ever, such respect to the form of the
constitution as to anticipate the con
currence of ''our two Houses Of Parli-
ment, when we shall think it convent
emit for them to meet"
On the 4th of April, 1887, therefore,
the Declaration of Indulgence" was
issued, announcing that hencefolth, by
the royal will, all subjects of the realm
should be protected in the exercise of
their religion, that all penal laws in
matters ecclesiastical should be sus-
pended, that free leave shonld be given
to all "to meet and serve God after
their own way and manner, be it in
private houses or places purposely hired
or built for that use." "We have re-
solved to use our utmost endeavor 70
establish liberty of conscience on such
just and equal foundations as shall
render it unalterable, and secure to all
people the free exercise of their relig-
ion for ever, by which future ages may
reap the benefit of what is so undoubt-
eddy for the general good of the whole
kingdom"
The effect of the Declaration was
immediate. It is hardly wonderful
that many of those who had been pro-
scribed and silenced accepted it as a
new charter Of religious freedom.
Places of Worship were reopened, reas-
sembiing fSgasIobs iisteped agsi ie
i with joy IL NE voice. o. snofl Pastors,
John SIowe returned from Utrecht to
his flock in London: Baxter and Bates
recommended preaching to large audi
ences.
All this, however, was but one side
to the matter. The liberty might
rightly be used; but what was to be
said of the way in which it had been
brought about? For this also many
were ready to thank the king, not too
curiously scrutinizing his motive in
the concession of the boon. Addresses
accordingly poured i'll upon the court,
loyal, grateful, sometimes sycophantic.
But the more far-seeing stood aloof,
content to exercise their ministry, as
right conferred by higher than human
authority, but declining to recognize as
a boon that which the giver was not
entitled to withhold. They felt that to
confer liberty in way like this was
really an act of despotism, and their
souls revolted against arbitrary power,
even when put forth to secure their
rights. Baxter, accordingly, declined
to have any part in these gratulatory
addresses. Howe, with still greater
energy, protested against them, and
withheld his London brethren from
carrying their thanks to court.
THE PROTEST OF THE BISHOPS.
The year 1888 arrived-the centen-
airy of England's great deliverance
from the might of Rome and Spain.
Was another contest now impending,
differing indeed in circumstances, but
the same in its great issue? "a new
lightweight" says Bishop Burnett,
raised new expectations, in which the
surprising events did far exceed all that
could have been looked for"
But the anniversary had no lesson
for the misguided King. With strange
perversity he reissued in the spring his
Declaration of Indulgence, with the
added avowal that he would employ
none, in civil or military service, but
such as ABROAD with him This was no