House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 12 December 1654

Tuesday, the 12th of December, 1654.

Prayers.

Settling the Government.

THE House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Report made by Mr. Hoskins, from the Grand Committee, upon the Government.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider of the particular Enumeration of damnable Heresies; and where it shall be inserted.

Colonel John Birch, Colonel Puresoy, Sir Wm. Strickland, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelsey, Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley, Mr. Yeo. Sir Rich. Lucy, Alderman Gibbs, Mr. Swinton, Mr. Henry Cromwell, Mr. Godfrey, Serjeant Glyn, Major Gibbs, Lord Commissioner Whitlock, Mr. Ceely, Mr. Turnor, Colonel Fynes, Mr. Bulkley, Sir Wm. Masham, Colonel Beale, Sir Anth. Ashly Cooper, Mr. Whitway, Lord Commissioner Widdrington, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Mr. Wakering, Colonel Goff, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Boys, Lord Dacres, Mr. Recorder, Lord Lambert, Mr. Purefoy, Colonel Ireland, Mr. Elvins, Mr. Lechmere, Colonel Jones, Mr. Seliard, Colonel Rous, Major Beak, Colonel Mathewes, Mr. Gewen, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Grove, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Long, Colonel Zanchie, Colonel Whetham, Mr. Nath. Bacon, Mr. Francis Bacon, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Henry Vane, Colonel Bridges, Colonel Welden, Mr. Rous, CommissaryGeneral Whaley, Mr. James Ash, Colonel Thomas Birch, Mr. Maidston, Colonel Fothergill, Lord Broghill, Mr. John Goodwin: And are to meet in the Inner Court of Wards, this Afternoon, at Two of Clock.

Resolved, That the Committee for Religion do sit on Thursday in the Afternoon.

Resolved, That this Word, "Atheism," be Part of the Question.

Religion.

Sir Wm. Masham reports, from the Committee impowered to confer with Divines, touching Articles of Faith, Twenty Articles, with the Proofs thereof from Scripture.

Resolved, That the Thanks of the House be given to the Ministers, whose Assistance the Committee hath made use of in this Business, for the great Pains taken therein: And that Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Rous, Lord Broghill, Mr. Bulkley, and Mr. Maidston, do give them the Thanks of this House, accordingly: And that they do also desire them, from the House, to proceed with, and perfect what they have further prepared, or under their Consideration, or as they judge fit, to be presented to this House for their Consideration, containing such Doctrinal Truths as they conceive fit to be owned by such Ministers as shall receive the publick Maintenance.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Strickland be added to the Committee that was appointed to take the Assistance of the Ministers: And that they have Power to appoint a Quorum of the Ministers.

Resolved, That Three hundred Copies of these Articles be printed, only for the Service of the House: And that they be delivered to the Clerk, to deliver one to every Member: And that no greater Number be printed; nor that any of them be delivered to any others than the Members: And that the same be printed by Thursday Morning next: And that then the same be again taken into Consideration by the House.

Blasphemous Publication.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That a Committee be appointed to consider of these Two Books now presented: The one intituled, "The apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity revived and asserted; or, Twelve Arguments drawn out of Scripture, wherein the commonly received Opinion, touching the Deity of the Holy Ghost, is clearly and fully refuted:" And the other, intituled, "A Twofold Catechism:" Both of them by John Biddle: And have Power to send for the Author before them; and to restrain him, and to suppress his School; and also to send for the Printers and Publishers thereof: And have Power to seize upon, and call-in the Books, and to prevent the further printing of them; and to examine the Particulars of the Books; and to report the same, with their Opinion, to the House.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing: And Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Read, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Grove, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Boys, Mr. Badger, Mr. Ceely, Colonel Goff, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Hobart, Colonel Harvey, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper, Mr. Beale, Colonel Mathew, Mr. Yeo, Mr. Rous, Sir Tho. Honywood, Mr. Shatterden, Mr. Maidston, Major-General Skippon, Mr. Scudamore, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelsey, Colonel Purefoy, Sir Thomas Rous, Mr. Dunch, Mr. Nicholl, Lieutenant-Colonel Baines, be added to this Committee.

Resolved, That the Book, intituled, "The apostolical and true Opinion concerning the Holy Trinity revived and asserted, &c. or, Twelve Arguments drawn out of Scripture, wherein the commonly received Opinion, touching the Deity of the Holy Spirit is clearly and fully refuted;" doth contain impious and blasphemous Opinions against the Deity of the Holy Ghost.

Resolved, That the House doth adjudge the said Book to be burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman.

Ordered, That the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex be required to search for, and seize, all the printed Copies of the said Book; and to cause them to be burnt, accordingly, at the Old Exchange, and in the New Palace at Westminster, on Thursday next.

Resolved, That John Biddle be sent for in Custody, as a Delinquent.

Resolved, That the Serjeant at Arms, attending this House, do seize, and cause to be seized, all the printed Copies of the said Book, to be burnt, as aforesaid.