The ordinance which they had secured from Parlia- ment in 1648, however, never went into practical opera- tion, for as soon as Cromwell and the Independents rose into power, they showed an uncompromising hostility to the Presbyterians. This was partly owing to the re- sistance the latter had made to the trial and execution of Charles I, insomuch that they had to be driven out of the House of Commons by force before those measures could be effected. London and its neighborhood were, meanwhile, formed into twelve presbyteries, constitut- ing the Provincial Synod of London, which continued to hold regular half-yearly meetings till 1655, the meet- ings of presbyteries being continued till a later date; but the whole Presbyterian system was overturned by Cromwell's Committee of Triers, composed of thirty- eight persons of different sects, who were appointed in place of the Assembly for the examining and approving of all persons elected or nominated to any ecclesiastical office. Cromwell's policy aimed at bringing all ecclesi- astical matters under the immediate control of the civil power.
On the Restoration, Charles II no sooner found him- self firmly seated on the throne than he proved false to the Solemn League and Covenant which he had sworn to observe, restored prelacy to its former power, and gave up the Presbyterians, who had exerted themselves for his return to persecution. The fruitless Savoy Con- ference (q. v.) was followed by the Act of Uniformity, which was carried into effect on St. Bartholomew's Day, Aug. 24, 1662. Two thousand conscientious ministers who would not consent to be episcopally re-ordained, to assent to the Book of Common Prayer, or to abjure the Solemn League and Covenant, were then ejected from their benefices, and wandered forth to a life of poverty. Sixty thousand of the laity were imprisoned or fined, 5000 of whom died in prison, and the fines, confiscations, and other consequent losses of property amounted to £2,000,000 sterling. See Nonconformists.
After the Revolution, and the passage of the Act of Toleration in 1689, Presbyterianism revived, chapels sprang up in every part of the kingdom, and within twenty-five years the Presbyterians numbered 800 con- gregations. They became one of the " three denomina- tions" who received the recognition of the State and were permitted to petition the crown in a corporate capacity, and in the business meetings of deputies from these denominations the Presbyterians had two repre- sentatives for one Baptist and one Independent.
Prosperity, however, proved more injurious than per-
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 530 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
sacution, and there was an abatement of zeal and spirit- ualitv. Besides this, another cause operated disastrous- ly. In 1691 th" Presbyterians were induced to enter into Articles of Agreement with the Independents. As a consequence, Presbyterian discipline began to be re- laxed, the system was not carried out, the office of ruling elder was allowed to be dropped, the disuse of Church sessions naturally followed, presbyteries and synods wen- given up, the churches became virtually independent, and finally Arian and Socinian errors in- fected the ministers and congregations to such an alarm- ing extent that the name Presbyterian became By y-
mous in England with Socinian or Unitarian; old en- dowments, legacies of Presbyterians, being in many in- stances enjoyed by 1 'nitarians. Notwithstanding the numerous Presbyterian houses of worship which had been erected, the organization of Presbyterianisra was very imperfectly kept up. The " discipline" which has flourished so well in Scotland under the form of -Kirk Session" never obtained a lirm footing in England, nor have the English Presbyterians ever possessed a com- pletely organized system of presbyteries, synods, and General Assembly. Along with the extensive devia- tion from sound doctrine among the English Presbyte- rians there arose a strong feeling of discontent with the compulsory subscription of the Thirty-nine Articles which the Toleration Act required from all Dissenter-. The subject was discussed in various pamphlets ; and at length, constrained by the force of public opinion, gov- ernment passed an act in 177!) by which every preacher or teacher of any congregation who scrupled to declare and subscribe his assent to any of the articles was al- lowed to make and subscribe instead thereof the decla- ration of Protestant belief, and was thereby entitled to similar exemptions. A subsequent statute renders qual- ifying in the case of Dissenters for the exercise of min- isterial functions unnecessary, except in obedience to a legal requisition. But although forced subscription to the Vxticles was no longer required, the Protestant Dis- senters, including the Presbyterians, still retained their own symbolic books which Coincided ill doctrine with the Thirty- nine Articles. Up to this time both Pres- byterians and Congregationalism were in the habit of requiring confessions of faith at ordinations, and on such occasions ministers of both denominations frequently took part in the religious services. At tin- present day numbers of churches exist in England originally planted on a Presbyterian foundation, which are only Presby- terian in name, being, in fact. Socinian in faith and Independent in government. Probably there are not less than 170 such churches; hut. protected by acts of Parliament and decisions of the lord-chancellors, they remain unmolested in the enjoyment of their endow- ment j.
There existed, however, for some time in England a few congregations connected with the Church of Scot- land and with the Scottish Secession Church. The for- mer organized into a separate ecclesiastical body in