to the communication of his love in Jesus Christ, and the merciful, {gracious dis- tribution of the unsearchable riches of his grace, and the hid treasures thereof l)urchased by his blood, he kfiows no repentance. Of both these you have liad full experience. And though your concernment in the former hath been as emi- nent as that of any i)ersoii whatever in these later ages of the world, yet your interest in and acquaintance with the latter is, as of incomparably more import- ance in itself, so answerably of more value and esteem unto you." — Dedication to His Highness, Olivei-, Lord Protector.
' Wood's Athen. Oxon., iv. 99. Pref. to Cotton's Defenco, Ornie, p 112.
HIS VICE-CHANCELLORSHIP. LIX
purest and most conscientious of Scottish ecclesiastics, after emigrating to America, united the duties of pastor and president of Jersey College with those of a member of Congress, and was only second to Wash- ington and Franklin in laying the foundations of the infant republic.^ Dr Owen, in all likelihood, acted on principles similar to those which swayed the Scottish divine ; and when we consider the avowed and fanatical animosity with which Oxford was regarded by a turbulent party in the state, as well as the active interest which Cromwell and his Parliaments took in the religious condition of the nation, it is easy to conceive how Owen felt that he was only placing himself in a better position for watching over the wellbeing of the university, and for promoting the interests of religion and of religious liberty, by being there to bear his part in the deliberations regarding it. At the same time, with all these facts before us to qualify our censure, we cannot help thinking that when Owen saw the validity of his election so vehemently questioned, he would have consulted his dignity more had he declined to sit.
In the " Instrument of Government " presented by Cromwell to this Parliament, it was proposed that all who professed faith in God by Jesus Christ should be protected in their religion. In the debates which took place on this part of the instrument, its language was interpreted as recommending toleration to those only who were agreed on the fimdamentals of Christian doctrine, — an interpretation which, there is reason to think, injuriously restricted the Protector's meaning. But the question immediately arose, what were fundamentals? and a committee of fourteen was appointed to prepare a statement for the House on this subject ; who, in their turn, committed the woi'k to four- teen divines of eminence. Owen was on this committee ; and, accord- ing to Baxter, had the principal share in " wording the articles." He has been blamed for seeking to limit the blessings of toleration, on the now generally-admitted principle, that a man's religious belief ought not to be made the condition of his civil privileges. But the censure is misplaced. Owen was responsible for the correctness of his answers, — not for the use which the Parliament might make of them; but the abrupt dissolution of the Parliament which, disap- pointed Cromwell's expectations, prevented their being embodied in any legislative measure.^
About the same period Dr Owen was invited by the Protector and his Council to form part of a committee, from whose labours the cause of religion in England reaped great and permanent advantage. We refer to the commission appointed to examine candidates for ordination; whose powers soon after included the ejection of ministers
' Life of Dr Witherspoon, prefixed to works, pp. xix.-xxiii. = Baxter's own Life, p. 205. Neal, iv. 88-91. VOL. I. E
LX LIFE OF DR OWEN.
and schoolmasters of heretical doctrine and scandalous life. Crom- well has been condemned for thus invading the proper functions of the church ; and undoubtedly he did in this measure boldly overstep the province of the legislator; at the same time, he was right in think- ing that the true greatness of his kingdom, and the stability of his government, depended on the pervading influence of religion among the people; and that it was better that the church should in this irregular manner be purged of its hii'elings and money-changers, than left to sink into inefficiency and corruption.
About forty ministers, " the acknowledged flower of Puritanism," were united with a few Puritan laymen, and appointed to this most delicate office. Undoubtedly, the power committed to them was tre- mendous, and, in the hands of unscrupulous men, might have been turned to purposes the most inquisitorial and vile. But seldom has power been less abused, or the rare and incidental mischiefs arising from its exercise, more immeasurably outweighed by its substantial benefits. It afforded, indeed, a tempting theme for the profane genius of Hudibras, to represent the triers, in their inquiries regarding the spi- ritual life of candidates, as endeavouring —
" To find, in lines of beard and face, The physiognomy of grace ; And, by the sound of twang and nose, If all be sound within disclose;"
and high Royalists and partisans like Bishop Kennet, who had pro- bably smarted under their investigations, in their eagerness to find matter of accusation against them, might blunder out unconscious praise. But the strong assertion of the historian of the Puritans has never been disproved, — that not a single instance can be produced of any who were rejected for insufficiency without being first convicted either of immorality, of obnoxious sentiments in the Socinian or Pela- gian controversy, or of disaffection to the present government. Crom- well could, before his second Parliament, refer to the labours of the commissioners in such strong terms as these: " There hath not been such a service to England since the Christian religion was perfect in England! I dare be bold to say it." And the well-balanced testi- mony of Baxter, given with all his quaint felicity, may be held, when we consider that he had looked on the appointment of the triers with no friendly eye, as introducing all the shadings necessary to truth : " Because this assembly of triers is most heavily accused and reproached by some men, I shall speak the truth of them ; and suppose my word will be taken, because most of them took me for one of their boldest adversaries. The truth is, though some few over-rigid and over-busy Independents among them were too severe against all that were Ar- minians, and too particular in inquiring after evidences of sanctifica-