This did not please the others; Baxter almost lost his character for orthodoxy by his proposal; Dr.Owen, in particular, forgetful of his own past, was now bull-mad for the "fundamentals." They were drawn out at last, either sixteen or twenty of them in all, and handed to Parliament through the sub-Committee.

Thus illuminated, Parliament, after a debate extending over six days (Dec.

4-15, 1654), discharged its mind fully on the Toleration Question.

They resolved that there should certainly be a toleration for tender consciences outside the Established Church, but that it should not extend to "Atheism, Blasphemy, damnable Heresies to be particularly enumerated by this Parliament, Popery, Prelacy, Licentiousness or Profaneness," nor yet to "such as shall preach, print, or avowedly maintain anything contrary to the fundamental principles of Doctrine held forth in the public profession,"-- said "fundamental principles" being the "fundamentals" of Dr.Owen and his friends, so far as the House should see fit to pass them.

They were already in print, with the Scriptural proofs, for the use of members, and the first of them _was_ passed the same day.