belief in the efficacy of infant baptism; and the quakers from taking an oath if they professed a general belief in Christianity, promised fidelity to the government, and made a declaration against transubstantiation. This act, therefore, cautious and meagre as it appeared, gave a freedom to the dissenting world which it had hitherto been destitute of.
William III.
William made a resolute effort also to heal the great schism of the church, and admit, by a comprehensive bill, the main body of nonconformists. By this bill as first passed, it was proposed to excuse all ministers of the established church from the necessity of subscribing the thirty-nine articles; they were only to make this declaration:—
"I do approve of the doctrine, and worship, and government of the church of England by law established, as containing all things necessary to salvation; and I promise in the exercise of my ministry to preach and practise according thereunto."
The same looseness of declaration was extended to the two universities. Presbyterian ministers could be admitted to the pulpits and livings of the church by accepting from a bishop a simple command to preach, administer the sacraments, and perform all the ministerial offices of the church. Except in a few churches, the clergyman might wear the surplice or not, as he pleased; might omit the sign of the cross in baptism; might christen children with or without godfathers and godmothers; might administer the sacrament to persons sitting or kneeling, as they pleased. Besides this it proposed a commission to revise the liturgy, the canons, and the constitution of the ecclesiastical courts. But it was soon found that no such sweeping changes could be effected. There was no determined opposition to the revision of the liturgy, but the danger to the rites and ceremonies on which the high church laid so much stress soon called forth a powerful resistance. It was represented that all manner of anomalous and contradictory practices would soon rend to pieces the harmony and decorum of the church. The presbyterian and the puritan would set at defiance the most honoured practices of the establishment. The dissenting body were as much
