Page:The Leveller movement; a study in the history and political theory of the English Great Civil War (IA levellermovement01peas).djvu/85

 believed was the command of the Scriptures interpreted in the light of reason.

It was ominous that this principle was challenged as early as 1641. The House of Commons had on May 3 commanded the taking of a protestation to defend the “true reformed Protestant religion expressed in the doctrine of the church of England” against all popish innovations. Henry Burton, in The Protestation Protested, put a high interpretation on this oath and warned those who took it that they incurred a heavy obligation; for, while so many things of a popish flavor remained in the liturgy, discipline, government, and ceremonies of the Church of England, a man taking the Protesta-