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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 July 2023
Okey returned to England late in 1651 or early in 1652 and in February of the latter year was in London. In that month he was among the officers of the army and prominent divines, who drew up and presented to a committee appointed by the House a comprehensive set of proposals for the propagation of the Gospel throughout the country. The greater number of the proposals were concerned with the method of selection of ministers, whose duties were defined as “ to attend the solemn Worship of God, in Prayer, Reading, and Preaching the Word, Catechising, expounding the Scriptures; and, as Occasion shall require, visiting the Sick, and instructing from House to House; residing amongst the People to whom they are sent, and using all Care and Diligence, by all Ways and Means, to win Souls unto Christ.” Another proposal was that “Care be taken for removing the Residue of Ministers, who are ignorant, scandalous, Non-Residents, or Disturbers of the publick Peace; and likewise of all School masters, who shall be found Popish, scandalous, or disaffected to the Government of this Commonwealth.” A wide measure of religious toleration was proposed and a request made for the suppression of a practice which the succeeding years have been unable to eradicate : “That the Parliament be humbly desired to take some speedy and effectuall Course for the utter suppressing of that abominable Cheat of Judicial Astrology; wherby the Minds of Multitudes are corrupted, and turned aside from Dependency upon the Providence of God, to put their Trust in the Lyes of Men, and Delusions of Satan.” The proposals were considered by the committee and eventually reported to the House in February, 1653.
In August 1652, the officers of the army, who were growing weary of the failure of Parliament to do anything constructive for the settlement of the country, formulated their proposals for reform. On 12th at a General Council of Officers held at Whitehall it was ordered that Commissary General Whalley, Colonels Okey, Barkstead, Hacker and Goffe and Lieutenant Colonel Worsley should present the Petition to Parliament on the following day.
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