It does not appear that, in the debates on the Comprehension Bill, a single High Churchman raised his voice against the clause which relieved the clergy from the necessity of subscribing the Articles, and of declaring the doctrine contained in the Homilies to be sound.

Nay, the Declaration which, in the original draught, was substituted for the Articles, was much softened down on the report.

As the clause finally stood, the ministers of the Church were required to declare, not that they approved of her constitution, but merely that they submitted to it.

Had the bill become law, the only people in the kingdom who would have been under the necessity of signing the Articles would have been the dissenting preachers.

[88] The easy manner in which the zealous friends of the Church gave up her confession of faith presents a striking contrast to the spirit with which they struggled for her polity and her ritual.