I 1^=^ S 3 I ^CAavaaiH'*^ ^(JAavaani'^ VSCElfj-^ %a3AINI1-3Wv ^^\UIBBARYQ^ ,^ILIBRARY«; ■''aoji]vj-jO>' -i\IIIBRARY(9/: o^lllBRARYQr ,\W[11NIV[R% >■ r o -=r '^a^AINH-J. AWE L'N1VER.V//, .>;lOVAHCElfjv ''^/Sa3AlNn3\\V OFCAIIFOP^. ^OFCALIFORiA ^AavaaiH^"^ '^^(PAavaaii-^ aWEUNIVERS//, ^UDNVSO^^"^ ^lOSA'ir.Fif -.^ -AVlllBRARYGc AlllBRARYQ/- =3 K' ^'aojiivj-jo' ^QF-CAIIF0ff4' ^.OFCMIFO/?^ ^' ^OFCA11FO%. ft ■ =0 S v %0JI1VJ ^^OFCAIIF "^/iajMNH 3wv^ ^ ^/ia]AiNii ]\\v .xNlllBRARYOf ^>\MieRARY/3r^ A\Ul'NIVEB^/A ■< ' ■ ■ ■ ■ ^^ i^ ■•rji«N\'Soi^'~ 9 r '%a3AiNn-3V ,VN^ ^\\M liHIVER5/^. ^vWS AN'CEl/;;^ ? 3 "v/iaJAINO 3WV ^OFCAIIFO/?,,^ li = \\\[ UNI''.EBV/^. '^^iuoNVsni"^'^ .NlOSWGElfj-^ 55 c? -< ^OFCAllFOfi"^ ^OAHvaaiv^^ ,^OFC/UIF v: ^ =■ — < ^ i( i(j¥-iO^^". '^^m;\\. ■■-('mwumy ' ''"'i' 8)11 '■^/muNivwv ^0. BRARVti^ nv3^ 5 ^ ')s-mmi,_ ■;Ya^ jo'^ ^MFIINT IR'I \m ^ \l. ^ AMMIN'" INVSOl^ 'i .^ I % BRARYQf ^ I ^^.^R3AD^',0,- ^NUItfJI' AiiFn 3o « , i-\?.rA!irnDj, .fjrAiifnp,. r>i i^ ? ^ -^6'- >&A-. %...., 8)j! ^;;M•llBRARYG/^ ^tllBRARYOc. i 5 'm\m- 8)1! •Si. 4v i I O _ 3 =( , SOl^'^^' '%a3AINIl]W^-^ 1^' THE PREFACE t O T H E READER. § I I Am very fenfible that this Memorial of Mr. Baxter, and his Hiftorical Ac- counts of the Times which went over him, have been long expeded and mucli defired by the World. And the greater the impatience, the more feverely the delay is like to be relented. But he that well confiders, i. How confufcdly a great quantity of loofe Papers relating thereunto,came into my hands ; all which were to be forted and reduced to their proper places. 2. How much other work was then incumbent on me. 3. How little my inJifpofed and weak hand can write ; (not an Oftavo page in a competently great charader in an hour). 4. How many uncomfortable Providences have fince diverted me j and could not but do (b. f.How much time the orderly difpofal of his bequeathed Library to young poor Students, according to his Injundions on me, took up. 6. How much time my Miniderial Work required ; together with the unavoidable removal of my Habitation and Meeting Place, and the Setling of my Congregation thereupon. He that (l fay) well confiders thefe things (and more that I could fay , were it expe- dient (b long' 10 defain the Reader from the more profitable and delightful Enter- tainment of the Book it felf ; will at lead abate his Cenfures, if not quite lay them by. However, I muft and fhall fubmit my ftlf unto what Conftruiftions the Rea- der fliall think fit to make of my Apology for its delay fo long. §11. As to the Authour of the enfuing Treatife, he appears ?ar negotio, as being very Sagacious, Obfervant, Impartial, and Faithful. The Things here treated on were Things tranfaded in his day, tjuaejue ipfe ■viJtt ; Et t^uorum pars magna fuit. Much he knew and felt, and was himfelf adively and paffively concerned in, and the reft he was inquifitive after, obfervant of, and acquainted with. And being himfelf an hater of falfe Hiftory, he gave the greater heed and diligence to enter into the depths and fprings of what was in his day upon the Theatre of Adion. Much he muft be inform'd of by others neceffarily: and yet he was gready averfe from the reception of things as true, upon too loofe reports. He fanned Intelligence, and Was not eafily impoied upon, in things of moment. Credulity, Ralhnefi, Partia- lity, and Perfidioufhefs, Ignorance and Injudicioufnefs do ill become Hiftorians. Quis nefcit, frimam hif}oria Legem ejje, ne quidfalfi dicere audeat ? deinde ne (jaid vert nen audeat ? Nequa ftijpicio gratia fit in fcribeado? netjua fimuhatis ? Cic.de Orac. lib.ir, and he had realbrf for this thought in that (as the Lord Bacon well obferves ) the Examples of our Anceflurs, the Victjjltudes of Affairs, the Grounds of Civil Prudence, and Mens Names and Reputations do depend upon the Knowledge, the Judicioufnefs and Faithfulnefi of Hiftorians. Diligent Searches , deep and wife Thoughts, faithful Reprefentations and Reports, with honeft Intentions, and generous Deiigns and Aims at Publick Good, render Mens Hiftoriesof Things and Perfons ( as influential upon others,) pleafant and advantageous. Every one is not fit to tell the World the Hiftory of his own Life and Times : Who liv'd therein : what Pod and Station, Truft and Bufine(s,was their afligned Province : what Charaders they bore through their deportment therein : what were the regent Principles, the genuine Spirit, and b main The Treface to the Reader. main End and Scope, of what they did : what they pretendedly or really defignd : what was the Condu(3:,Tenddncy and Refulc of their Confiilts and Adions : where- in they truly failed, and how, and why ? Sudi things as thele call for the greatell: Clearnefs, Freedom and Sincerity, Pains and Judgment ,• and I may add, a great Concern for Tublick Good, which is the loveliefl Property, and clearefi Symptom of a large and noble Soul. Hiftory fhould inform, admonifh, inftruifl^ and reclaim, reform, en- courage Men that read it. And therefore they that write it fiiould Jiap'iejvlA S^Axdviv, i.^.diicern things Excellent , and thofe things in their difference each from othfer^ and in their importance to the Reader j and fo take care that nothing doubtful , falfe, impertinent, mean, injurious, cloudy, or needlefly provoking or refJeding be expofed to Publick View by them ; nor any thing exceffive or defedlive, as rela- ting to the juff and worthy Ends of Hiftory. TheAuchorof the fublequent Hilio- ry (now with God) had an Eagle's Eye , an honeft Heart, a thoughtful Soul, a fearching and confiderate Spirit, and a concerned frame of Mind to let the prelent and lucceeding Generations duly know the real and true ftate and iffues of the Oc- currences and Tranfacftions of his Age and Day ; and how much Judgment, Trutfi, and Candour appear in his following Accounts of Things, the Candid and Impar- tial Reader will eafily and quickly be refolved about. Scandals,arifing from Igno- rance and mifreports of what related to our Church and State greatly affedted his very tender Spirit ; and the removal and prevention of them, and of what Guilt, Calamities and Judgments might or did attend thole Scandals, was what induced Mr. Baxter to leave Pofterity this Hiftory of his Life and Times. , §111. f Memorable Perfons, Confultations, Anions, and Events ( with their relpedjve Epochs, Succeflions and Periods) are the Subjed Matter of Hiftory : Propriety_, clearnefs and vigour of Expreflion is what duly and gratefully reprefents the Matter to the Reader. Accurate Method gives advantage to theMehiory, as well as fatisfa- d:ion to the Judgment. The faithfulnefs, fulnefs, and freedom of relation conci- liates a good Reputation to the Writer by its convincing Influences upon the Rea- der's mind j and thus it powerfully claims and extorts his Submiffion to the evident credibility of what he pernfes : and the weight and ufefulnefs of the Things rela- ted makes the Reader lerious, and concerned to oblervd what he reads : for finding the Matter great, the Expreflion proper atid lively, the Current of the Hiftory or- derly and exad:, and the Purpofes and Ends various and important which the Hi- ifory fubferves, he accordingly values and ufes it as a Treafure. And from thence he extrads fiich Maxims and Principles as may greatly beftead him in every Exi- gence, and in every Station and Article of Truft and Concern, and Negotiation. Hiftory tells us who have been upon the Stage, how they came into Bufinefs and Truft, what was the Compafs and Import of their Province, what they themfelves therein lignified to others ; and what, others to them ; and what all availed to Po- fferity, and how they went off, and lb what Figure they moft deferv'd to make in the Records of Time. , §IV. He that well confiders the Nature of Man, his Relation to God, God s governing f)f Man, and the Conduft of Providence purfuant to God's concerns with Men, and their concerns with him, as alio the Difcipline and Interefts of the Holy War with Sstan, will read Hiftory with a finer Eye and to better purpole than others can. To covet, endeavour, and obtain ability and furniture from Hiftory, Philology , Divi- t\ny^&c. to minifter to difcurfive Entertainment, or Self conceitednefs. Ambition, Preferment, or Reputation with Men, is a defign (when ultimate) lb mean in Gods Eye, lb odious and noylom to others, when by them dilcerned, and lb uncomforta- ble and fatal to our felves when at laft accounted for, as that no wife Man would terminate and center himlelf, or his Studies there. I have feen afl Ibrts of Learning differently placed, ufed, and iffued. I can flay paticndy to fee the laft Reliilts of all 1 have Icen J-earning excellently implanted in a gracious heart : ( So it was in Mr. Baxter, and in feverall^relates, and Conformifts and Non-conformifts, and o- thers: it is fo at this day). I have leen it without Grace; or not lb evidently un- der the influences and conduct of Grace,as I have greatly defired it might have been : and here what Partiality , Malignity, Fac^tion , Domination, Supercilioulriels and Invedives hath his Hiftory and other Learning miniffred unto ! Indeed I'anAified Learning hath a lovely Ihow : And the Learning of gracelefs Perlbns hath in many Inftances and Evid^jnces greatly befriended God's loterelt in the Chriftian World. And The T^reface to the Reader, And the Knowledge which could not keep fbme from doing Miichief in the World, and from their being fitted for Heli, and from drawing others after them thither ; hath yet helped others to heavenlioels and Heaven. But he that well confiders what Man is to God, and God to Man ; what an Enemy degenerate Man is to God and himfelf ; what a fl"ate and frame and pofture of War (in hath put Men into, both againli^ God, themfelves, And each other ; what an Enemy Satan is to all, and what advantages Sin gives him againft usj and how Chrlfi is engaged againft Satan for uSj as the Captain of our Salvation j and how he manages this War by his Spirit. Oracles, Ordinances, Officers, and under- Agents in Church and State, and by the Conduft of Providence over crowned Heads, Thrones, Senates, Armies , Navies, greater and lets Communities, and fmgle Perlbns ; in all things dono by them, for them, or upon them,or againft them: how he u(es,and influences the FacultieSjAAi- ons, Projedls, Confederacies, and Intereih of Men, by poizing them , changing them, and turning them to his own purpofes and praile: He, I fay, that well attends to thefe things in his Hiftorical Readings and Studies, will (to his profit and delight) dilcern God's Providence in and over the Affairs of Men to be expreflive of God's Name, miniftring to his avouched purpoies, and a great Teftimony to his Word and Son, and to his Covenant and Servants. § V. And fuch a Perfbn was the Reverend Author (and in part the Subject Matter^ of the fublequent Treatile. He was an early Votary to his God: fo early as that he knew not when God engaged him firflunto himielf. And hence he in great mea- fures efc^ped thole Evil Habits and Calamities which old Age ordinarily pays lo dear for, though he laments the carelefnefs and intemperance of his firfl: childifh and youthful days. And if the Reader think it ffrange and mean, that thefe, andlbme other pafTages inferiors fttbJiUij fliould be inferted amongfl fo many things far mors confiderable, written by bir»felf\ and pubupied hy me, I crave leave to reply, i. That Conlcience is a tender thing, and when awaken d, it accounts no fin finall, nor any Calamity below moff lerious Thoughts and fenfible and fmart Refentments, that evidently iprings from the leaft Mifcarriage, which might fand ought to) have been prevented. 2. That the apprehenfion of approaching Death made him feverer in his Scrutinies and Refleftions. ;. That he thence thought himielf concerned and bound in duty to warn others againft all which he thought or found fo very prejudicial to his own Soul and Body. 4. That as mean paiTages as thele are to be found in Ancient and Modern Lives and Hilf ories, which pafs not under rigid Cen- lures. y. That the Author wrote this his Hiftory, jparfim&raftim, and it was ra- ther a Rhapfody than one continued Work. So that I hope that the obvious ine- qualities of Style and Matter, (or the Defeds in accuracy of Method (much more the Errours of the Pre(s) will be no fcandal to the ingenuous and candid Readers. 6. And as to my fufFering fuch things to be expofed to publick view ; can any Man take it ill, that I give him what Mr. Baxter left with me to this end ? and had I thought to havt; expunged fome things, and to have altered others , I could not have faid as he himfelf did (in his Preface to the Lord Chief Juftice Hale's Judg- ment of the Nature of true Religion ) ' I take it as an intolerable Piaculum to -put any altering hand of mine to the Writings of fuch a Man But to pafs by this • His ferioulheis in and about the greateft things,and his lolicitous care tofavehis own and others Souls, and his great zeal for Holinels,Truth, Concord and Peace amongft all Chriftians abroad, and in thefe Kingdoms, made him ( when capable thereof) to mind how Matters ftood betwixt God and us; and to enter into the Springs of Publick Affairs and Actions in Church and State : and to take notice of the Origi- nals, Inftruments, Principles, Progrefs, Trads, Traverles, and Refults of Things. How Men were placed, I'pirited, influenced and engaged : and how herein they miniftred to the woes or welfare of the Publick, of rhemlelves, and of Pofterity, And very loth he was that all rtiould be impofed upon and injured by partial or falle Hiffory ; and fb become Deceivers or Deceived, and Scandalizers or Scanda- lized. He well confidered what a faithful Hiftory of his Times might import to all. And hence, having had fiich perfeA underfhnding of all the Things here treated on, from the firff, bethought itnotamifs to write the chiefeft of them in order j that others might know the certainty of things, to the better inftitution of after Condudt and Deportment : and (if it may yet be) to call the Guilty of all Parties yet alive^ to due Repentance, and Returns to God. b 2 § VL The Treface to the Reader. § VI. The following Hiftory takes a confiderable compafs ( from J. D. 1615. to 1684.) and it will entertain the Reader with no fmall variety of ufcful and delightful Matter. I, You have here the Hiftory of God's early, kind, and powerful Dealings with him- felf, fb as to enprinciple and train him up as a Chriftian : and how God touch'd and fix'd his Soul for himfelf in ChrifHan Bonds. God caft that Mantle on him which made his heart to turn and ftand towards him > and be molt ambitious of, and folicitous about his pardon from, fellowlhip with^ devotednefs to, and living with God in the heavenly glory. Then God acquainted him with his natural, de- generate and loll (elf, till Chrift by Grace befriended and relieved him. When ma- king towards, and brought to Chrilt^ he is prefently and fenfibly engaged in fecret and open War with Satan and his own felf And here his Conflids and Temptations are gradually and wifely ordered him, and let loofeupon him ; but every way fuit- ed to his Itrength and benefit. His Exercifes were and mult be fuch asfl>all put hitn to deep Thoughts, clofe Studies, ftrift Guards and Watchings, fervent Prayer, and a quick fenfe of the Neceffity of daily help from Heaven. And Satan is permitted to attack him in all the Articles of his Chriftian Faith, and in the Foundation of his Heavenly Hrpes. He was fo fevcrely urged b. Satan to AtheifmjScepticifm, In- fidelity, and followed with fuch perplexing Difficulties and amazing Intricacies a- bout both Natural and Revealed Religion, as that he had concerned and earned breathings after, value of, and refolution for full Satisfaction about both the Foun- dations and Superltrudure of Religion. Slight Studies , precarious though confi- dent Aflertions, the Publick Vogue and Suffragesof Men, Worldly Interelts, Popu- lar Applaules, and Flefhly Eafe, could fet no (tints and limits to his inquifitive Mind and painfal Searches. His Sotil ever lay open to Evidence: His Eye was (irft upon the Matter to find out that : he then confidered Words as the fit Portraidlures of Things, and Reprefentations of Humane Apprehenfions to mutual Information a- bout Things and Words, And when he obferved Words to he fo equivocal, and of fuch lax, uncertain fence, he was ever careful to give Expreffions their ftrid and ju(t Interpretations, and to be clear about the fixed fenfe of doubtful Terms. And from the accuracy of his Judgment, and finenefs of his Thought, and from the impetii- oufhefs of tiis Defires and endeavours to know Things clearly, orderly and dillinft- ly, aroft that multitude and variety of Diftindions, (' many whereof were thought unuliial, though I never thought yet any of them ufelefs and impertinent as impro- ved by him) which ufually accompanied his Difcourle and Writings. But (to con- clude this Head) clear knowledge of the Name and Kingdom of God in Chrift, well grounded Faitti, lively Hopes, rational Satisfa«aioo about the Safety of his State and Snul, the Soundnefs and due Furniture of his Inner Man in order to his fulfilling after God and Chrift, and an Exemplary Holy Life,an happy Death,a joyful Refurre- d:ion, thelb were the Pkaliire, Ambition and Employment of his Life ; as alio to be found in Chrift,and every way faithful and fruitful to him. And by whatlnftruments. Steps and Methods, God brought him hitherto, this following Account of his, frotn his own Pen will tell you. As alfo to what he ever had recourfefor bis own Perfon- al SatisfadionandRedreis, and how God exercifed and ufed his Parts and Thoughts herein. You have here the Hiftory of his Minifterial 5elf God fet upon his Soul, asone refolv'd to qualifie and anoint it in no ordinary manner, for that Sacred Funftion, whereunto ( after many Temptations and Attempts to fix him in fome other Stati- on and Employment, both from others and himfelf ) by the Call and Condud of liis heavenly Mafter, he applied and kept himlelf at laft. God throughly made him firft to know tlae Soul which he had breathed into him, as to its Faculties, Capaci- ties, Worth and Ufefulnefs. God made him feel and mind that Body wherein this Soul of his was lodged ; and wherein and how far his better Part might be helped or hinder'd thereby : and the two Worlds whereto both Soul and Body were rela- ted : and wherewith they were varioufly concerned. And in this World God fix'd him in fuch a Profped of another, as made him intimately and fharply feel both what, and where, amidll what Circumftances, and to what purpoles he bere abode in painful, exerciled and declining Flefh. And all this gave him great Advantages and Inducements to deal more c!o((5ly, skilfully, diligently, and conftantly, and im- portunately with Souls, about their great Concerns. And what a Tran(cript God made him of what the Apollle fpcaks as to himfelf -ind Timothy, in Col. i.zf 29, the following Hiftory of his KtiUcrminJter (and other) Labours and Succeffes in the Gofpel, will convince you to greit Satisfadion: as alfo of what Opporttions and Deliverances and Prefervations he met with there. And The Treface to the Reader. And you have here fome Tafts and Informations of his Thoughts ahd Stlidifis ; and of his Books and Letters to divers Perfons, of different Stations and Qiiality, and alio of what Pens and Spirits wrote againlt him. He was of fuch Repute and Figure in his day^ as that many coveted to fee his Face, to hear his Voice , and to receive his Refolucion of weighty Cafes of Confcience propofed to him. And in all this you will find that verified of him, which the Lord Bacon hath deliver'd from his Pen, "jiz. Much Reading makes Men full : Much Writing makes them judicious and acute : and much Converfation makes them ready. 1 have been amazed to fee how ha- ftily he turned over Volumes , how intimately he underftood them, how ftrangeiy he retained his Reading^and how pertinently he could ule it to every propoled Cafe. Men flayed not long for what they wrote to him about : and wh*t he wrote was to great fatisfaAion and to the purpofe. He wrote his Books with quick difpatch ; and never, but when he thought them needful, and his duty then to write them* And when as the Reader well confidershis Apology for his Books hereafter menti- oned, let him but ferioufly weigh whar is alledged, and accoidingly form hisCen- fures. His mentioned and recited Cafuiftical Letters and Books, favour at leaff of Thought and Pains ; and perhaps the Reader's patient and attentive minding of both his menrlori'd I3ooks and Letters will not be lofs of time and pains. And though through too much haffe and heediefhels, fome few Efcapes (perhaps Inac* curacies) in the beginning may di!>afle his curious eye; yet a very few Pages fol- lowing will yield him better Entertainment. § VII. But the great things which are as the Spirit of this Hiflory, are the Accounts he gives of the Original Springs and Sources of all thefe Revolutions, Diftradions and Difaflers which happen'd from the Civil Wars betwixt King Charles the Firfl, to the Refloration of Charles the Second, and what was Confequent after thereupon to Church .-nd State. And here we fhall find various and great Occurrences fpringing from difTerenc Principles, Tempers and Interefls ; directed to diffetent Ends, and refolved into different Events and IfTues. The Hifforian endeavours to be faithful, candid, and fevere. Nothing of real ferviceable Truth would he conceal. Nothing but what was influential on, and might, or did affeft thePublick Intereft would he expole to Publick View. Nothing that might be capable of candid Interpretation or Allay, would he feverely cenfure. Nothing notorioufly criminal, and fatal to the Common Good would he pais by without his juff Refentments of it, and fevere Reflexions on ir. As to his immediate Perfonal acquaintance with, or knowledge of the things reported by him, I know no further of that , than as he himlelf re- lates. As to what he received from others by Report, how far his Information was true or faUe, 1 know not. indeed I wrote fwith tender and afFedionate refpeft and reverence to the Do(5tors N^me and Memory) to Madam Owen to defire her to fend me what fhe could, well atteRed, in favour of the Doftor, that I might in- lert it in the Margint, where he is mentioned as having an hand in that Affair at IValltngford Houfi ; or that I might expunge that pafTage. But this offer being re- jefted with more concemptuoulhefs and f inartnefs than my Civility deferved, 1 had no more to do than to let that pais upon Record: and to rely upon Mr. Baxter^ re- port,and the concu-^rent Teff imonies of fuch as knew the Intreagues of thofe Times. Yet that I might deal uprightly and upon the iquare, I have mention'd this ('though obiter) to telfiiie my Refpeds to him with whom I never was but once : but I was treated by him then with very great Civility indeed. \ §VIII. :den\ I cannot deny but it would have been of great advantage to the acceptablenels and ulcfiilnafs of this Book, had it's Reverend Author him^lf reviled, com pleated, and corrected it, and publilhed it himlelf. I am fure it had miaiff red more abun- dandy to my fari-^faftion : for I neither craved nor expefted luch a Truff and Lega- cy as his Manufcriprs. Nor knew I any thing of this his kind purpofe and will, till two or three days before he dyed. My Heart akes exceedingly at every remem- brance of my incumbent Truff : and at the thoughts of my Account for all at laft . I am deeply fenfible of niv' inability for fuch Work ; even to difcouragement, and no fmall Confternation of Spirit. I want not apprehenfions of the Pardon which I fhall need from God, and Candour from Men, both which I humbly beg for as up- on the knee. 1 know the heart and kindnefsand clemency of my God through Je- fus Chrift : But I know not yet what Men will think, fpeak, write concerning me. God fpeak to Men for me, or give me Grace and Wifdom to bear and to im- prove T^he T^reface to the Reader. 1 had neither time nor ftrength to attend the Prefs, fo as to infped the Impreffion fheet by fteet ; and thereupon I trufted to the promifed Care of the Bookfellers : but I found upon review the Errata to be more numerous and grofsby far than ever I expeded. But if the Candid Reader will correct the Errata , as they are ren- dered corrigible to his view, I ftiali think my felf greatly obliged to him. But if the Reader's firft Hiftorical Salute difpleafe him, as being much beneath bis expect- ed Entertainment, one hours reading I hope he will find to be the utmoft Exer- cife of his Patience, from the meannefs of the Matter at his Entrance into the Book. II. As to the Author's ordering and digefting of his own Memoirs, a Rhaplbdy it now appears i and as to method and equality of Stile, fomewhat below what curious Readers might exped j yea, and from what it had been, had it but palTed the Author's ftrider Thoughts and View, Yet we (hall find the Hiftory greatly ufeful, though not exadly uniform ; nor is it fb confufed, as to be incapable of ea- fie References and Redudtions to fuch proper Order as may beff pleafe the Reader: if the Defign be clear and worthy, -viz,, to let in open Light the degenerate Age he lived in : the tnagnalta of Grace and ProviJence as to htmfelf : his Seif-cenfurings on all occafions : Caution and Conduct unto others : and tracing all Events to their genuine Sources and Originals, the judicious Reader will improve fuch things. Tiliere were feveral Papers loolely laid, which could not eafily be found , when needed. And the defecStivenefs of my very much declining Memory, made me for- get ( and the more becaufe of hafte and bufinefs ) where I had laid them after I had found them. And fbme few Papers mention'd, and important here , are not yet found, though fearch'd after ; which yet hereafter may be brought to light amongft Ibme others, intended for the Piblick View, if God permit. The Reve- rend Author wrote them at feveral times, as his other Work and Studies, and fre- quent Infirmities would admit of. And he was more intent upon the Matter than the Method : and finding his Evening Shadows growing long, as the Prefage of his own approaching and expected Change, he was willing (through the importunity of his Friends) to haften the compleating of his Works before he died. And he had rather that the Work was done fomewhat imperfecStly , than not at all. It is true indeed, that he hath left us nothing of the la(t Seven years of his Life, fave his Apology for his accufed Paraphrafe and Notes on the New Teslament , for which he was fo fiercely profecuted , imprifoned, traduced and fined. And though fome prefTed me to draw up the Supplemental Hiftory of his Life, yet the wifelt that I could confult advifed me to the contrary : and I did take their counfel to be right and good J for I well knew my felf very unable to do that uniformly with the reft j 3nd 1 was not inclined to obtrude upon the World what was not Mr. Baxters. Pre- carious Reputation I affed not. That Fame cannot be rightfully my own which is not deferved by me. And if this Preface and my fubjoyned Sermon be but can- didly received, or moderately cenfured, and any way tributary to the Reader's benefit , I ihall rejoyce therein , and not exped his undeferved Commenda- tion. III. I am well aware ( and think it worth my while to take notice ) of feveral Things which may awaken Prejudice, Cenfure, or Difpleafure , and occafion ( if not caufe J Objections and Offence, as to the Treatife and my felf j which I would obviate and prevent ( at leaft allay ) if poflible. I neither love to kindle Flames, nor to enrage them, nor to contribute the leaft breath of fewel to them. I am for Faithfulnefs and Truth in the fofteft ftile and way confiftent with the Ends and Intereft thereof. Flattering Titles and needlefs Pungencies I diftaft. What was the Author's, is not mine. To publifh is not always to aflent. And if Modefty and Self diffidence do make me refrain from Cenlures and Corredions and Expun- (Stions, can that be efteemed culpable ? Efpecially when it is -i/e/ jole Mendiano da- rim, to both my (elf and every Man, how much my Knowledge, Parts, Judgment, Holinefs and Advantages to know what he Reports and Cenfures, come fhort ojf what his were. Mol\ of the Perfons ( if not well nigh all ) cenfured by him , were altogether unknown to me : Nor do I find them all, or many, mentioned by him as utterly ungodly or undone. But as f^ir as Mifcarriages or Negleds upon the Publick Stage did minifter to Sufpicion, and ( to the prejudice thereof) affed: the Publick Intereft ; fo far they are remarked by him with relentmenu If jufilji, the Equity will juftifie the Cenfure; and evidently fhew how much the Intereft of Church and State lay nearer to, and raore upon his Heart than private Friend fhip or The Preface to the Rjeader. or Concerns. But if mjuftly, it is the undoubted right and daty of tho/e that can^ to clear the Cenfured from all their undue Imputations and Afperfions,' and could I do it for them, my Obligations to, and value for this quondam excellent Hif^o- rian and Divine, ftiould not prevent my urmoft cordial Engagements in chat matter namely, to wipe of all A(perfions from the Innocent, or to abate and lelTen them as far as they are capable duly of Allays. But let me meet the Reader with thele cautionary ofters. I. Perhaps it may be thought unmeet by fome that a Dmine fliould turn Hifio- rian. Jn/w. i. Why not as well as Gron«j, DuPleffls, LaJ/ktusy &Cc. yea, and King Ja/net the Firft meddle with writing about Sacred Things. ( 2. ) Mr. Baxter was neither ignorant of, nor unconcerned in, nor unfit for fiich a Work as this • who knew him better than he knew himlelf ? or did more intirely fearch into Affairs ? or lay under greatei Advantages for pious and ju(t Informations? ( 3. ) He had no Advantages, nor heart for Gain or Honour by this his Undertaking. It is known he hath refufcd Preferment, even by King Charles the Second, but Ibught for none. ( 4. ) Writing of Iliftories rather refer to Abilities than to Office. Men may not govern Kingdoms, Cities, nor Societies, till called thereto by fblemn Defignation, be they never fb throughly qualified ; nor can they adminifter in Publick VVorlhip till called thereto by Solemn Ordination, or as Probationers in order to that Ot- fice. But Men may write for God and Common Good if they -be able fo to do. For their Abilities, Opportunities, and Capacity for Publick Service, are a Call Sufficiently and (afely to be depended on. ( 5.^ The Author's Modefty, Humili- ly, and well known Self denial, and evident Remotenels from all Pragmaticalnels and Affe&ation, may well prevent Sufpicion of his Exorbitancy in this his Enter- prize. And ( 6. ) his great Ability and Concern to ferve the Publick Interelf, when as all poffible help was needful, requifice and grateful, may well implead liich bold Retorts upon his Undertaking. Who ftays for a particular Commiffion to extinguilh Flames, or to give needful Informations of inftant Dangers, or of neceffary Condud, when great Calamities or Milcarriages cannot otherwilebe pre- vented ? 2. It is not impoflible that fome will judge him too impudent and unworthy in branding Perlofts with iuch ungrateful Charaders, as do lb evidently expofe the Memory of the Dead and Living, or their Pofterity, and intimate to difgrace. But (i.) Mattersot Fact notorioufly known are IJDeaking things themfelves : and their Approbation or Didike from others Ihould be as Publick as the Things themlelves. Matters of Publick Evidence and Influence are as the Telt of Publick Sentiments, and of the prevailing temper of thofe Communities wherein fuch things were done. And can Civilities of Converfation , or Interelt , or Perlbnal Refpeds and Tendernefs, be an Equivalent with God, to what is expeded by him f(om Bodies Politick, or from his faithful Servants in them. (2.) The Author blames himfelf as freely, and as publickly confeffeth, and blames his own Milcar- riages, as he doth any other. ( ;. j He fpares no Man nor Party , which he fiw culpable, and verily thought reproveable on juff grounds. Nor is he (paring of fit Commendations, nor of moderating his Reprehenfions, where he faw the Cafe would bear it. (4) He was far from Partiality, and addidednels to any Party. Good and Evil, Truth and Fallhood, Faithfulnels and Perfidioufnels, Wifdom and Folly, Confide ratenels and Temerity, &c. they were refpedively commended or dilpraifed wherever they were found> T f- ) Though Oliver Cromwell , ona Pro- tedor, Dr.Owen, and others, feem to he fiarply ceofur'd by him , in the thoughts of tbo/e that -valued them j yet let the afligned Realbns be confidered by the Reader, and let him fairly try his own ftrength in either Jijpro'vtng the Matters of Fact, and fo impeach the Truth of the Hift ory : or in ju/lifytng what was done, and fo implead the Cr;»j;7;<»/ Charge j or in allaying the Cenlureby weighing well how much of their reported or arraigned Mifcarriages may and ought to be alcribed to meer Infirmity or Miftake ; or by preponderating their cenfured Crimes, with other worthy Deeds and Charadersjultly challenging Commendations. For as to Oliver Cromwell, whit Apprehenfions and Inducements governed him, and what hold they took upon his Conlcience, and how far he acted in faithfulnels thereto, as in defigned reference to God's Glory, to the Advancement of Religion , to the Reformation of a de- bauched Age, and to the Prefervadon of thefe Kingdoms from Popery, Slavery, and Arbitrarinefs ( the general Fear and Plea of thefe Kingdoms at that time, ) whether without or with good ground, let others judge) is not for me here to de- termine. I have heard much of his Perfonal and Family Stridnefi and Devotian: c Of The Preface to the Reader. Of his Appeals to God for the Sincerity of his Defigns and Heart, from fome Who have heard him make them as they have credibly told me : Of his Encouragement of lerious Godlinefs, and of the great Difcouragement which Irreligion and Pro- phanenels and Debauchery ever met with from him. Thefe Things were good and great. But from what Principles they came, and by what right from God and Man they were his Redtoral Province, and to what ultimate End he really did di- reft them ; thefe Things require deeper Thoughts than mine, in order to a fbber Judgment on them. . Ic is more than I can do to vindicatij his Right to Govern, and to behead our King, and to keep out another -but I am alway glad of any thing which may allay the Guilt of Men : though I had rather find no Guile (nor any appearance or fufpicion of itj that fhail need Charity or Induftry to ex- tenuate or allay it. God grant thefe Kingdoms greater Care and Wifdom for time to come ; and caufe us to fit peaceably, orderly, obedicntly/ubmiffively and thank- fully under the gracious Government of King William our prelenc rightful and law- ful Soveraign, in (o great Mercy to thefe Kingdoms , whom may the moft high God long preferve, condud, and greatly prolper. ( 6. ) As to the Relatives and under Agents of Oliver Cromwell, 1 offer thefe things: i. The Author would noc cbajgethem with what they never did. 2. Their Difodvantages through the Exi- gencies, Influences, and Temptations of their Day ought to be well confidered , left otherwife Men be intemperate and exceffive in their cenibrious Refieftions or» them. Things now appear (perhaps) in a far clearer Light than heretofore. ;. Inftant Neceffities may admit of greater Pleas : and Men at a greater dift-ance may not fo fitly judge of prefent Duty or Expediency. And 4. there is undoubtedly fuch a thing as interpretative Faithfulnels and Sincerity, which fb far cheers Mens hearts, and (pirits refolution and appeals to God , although the Principles which bear Men up herein may be, and frequently are erroneous, and but meer Miftakes. 5. We know not all that Men can fay, when calmly heard and fairly dealt with, for their own cenfured Adions, by way of Apology or Defence. 6. We muflcon- fider our own felvesas in this World and Body ; and as liable to equivalent ( if not the fame) Dangers and Temptations. The fence and provident reach of that Di- vine Advice, Gal. 6. i. is vaflly great, and greatly ufeful , and would prevent rigid Conffrudions if well attended to. 7. Oli'ver Cromwell's Piogeny ( thofe that are yet alive ) are chargeable no further with his Crimes than they are approved by them : and this I never heard them charged with fince 60. I know them not : but I have been told that they are ferious , peaceable , uleful , commendable Perfbns, and make a lovely Figure in their refpcdive, though more private Stations. 8. As to Dr. Owen, i. It is too well known (to need my proof) how great his Worth and Learning was. Howfoftand peaceable his Spirit, for many of his laft years, if credible Fame bely him not. And perrar'j in melius -,nemlax fatna. He was indeed both a burntng and a fining Light. 2. As to the fVallttigforJ-Honk Affair, and the Doctor's Hand therein ; our Reverend Author confidered him and others as to what he tl.ought cidpable, and of pernicious Confequence and fcandalous Report and Influence, as to both the prefent and fucceeding Ages. He had no Perfbnal Prejudice againft him or others. But as both Church and State were lb dilbrderly endangered and affedted by what was there confulted and done ; lb Mr. Baxter did fb much refent the thing, as to think it fit to be recorded , and accented with fie aggravations ; as a Remonl^rance to the Crime, and as a Warning to theChriftian World. And he is not the only Perfon who hath believed, noticed and blamed that Matter. But that the DoBor is in his great Majiers joys , is what our Author hath reported, his very firm perl'»vafion of, in print. 9. As to our Brethren the Indcfendams, 'tis true that no mean Ferment appears to have been upon the Author's Spirit. But (i.) is he fharper upon them , then on the Treshyterians , Anabaptifls, Prelates, where he thought or found them culpable ? (2.) What Party did our Author wholly fide with? (3) What bofom Friend did he ever fpare wherein he found him reprehenfible .'' (4.) He was fo intent upon Orthodox Dodrines, Ca- tholick Union, Chrifiian Concord and Behaviour, and Peaceable Ufefulnds and Converfation amongff all Proteftants, and upon avoiding Divifions amonglf Chrilt's Followers, as that whatever obflruded thefe Concerns , he was impatient of , and warm againft. Truth, Peace., and Love, was he » Votary to, and Martyr for : and hereunto did he devote moft of his Life and Labours. Dicam quod res est. It is fcandalous that there Ihould be Divifions, Dilfances, Animofities and Contentions, amongff ChrilHans, Protefhints, DifTenters, againll: each other, and in the Bowels of each Party. But much hereof ariles fiom unhappy Tempers, Self-ignorance, Confidence and Inobfervance, want of frequent, patient, and calm Conference and im- The Preface to the Reader. impartial Debates about things controverted, addiftednels to Self-Intereft and Re- putation with our refpedive Parties, impatience of Icvere Thoughts and Studies, and of impartial Conlideration before we fix and pals our Judgm&nr, taking thing? too much upon Truft, Prejudice againft thofe whole Sentiments are different from our own, laying too great a weight upon eccentrical and meaner things, prying too boldly into, and talking too confidently about things unrevealed, or but darkly hinted to us in the Sacred Text, and reprefenting the DoArine of our Chriftianity in our own Artificial Terms and Schemes, and fo confining the Interefl-, Grace, anc! Heart of God and Chrift to our refped:ive Parties : as if we had forgot, or had ne- ver read RotM. 14, 17 — 19. yiBs 10. 34, 35". Gal. 6. 14 16. and Eph. 4= i — 'f. That Perfon whole Thoughts, Heart and Life fhall meet me in the Spirit and Reach of 2 Pet. I. 1— — — II. fhall have my hearty Love and Service , although he de- termine never to hear me Preach,or to Communicate with me all his days, through the Impreflion of his Education or Acquaintance ; though at the fame time I fhould be loth that fuch a narrow Thought fhould be the Principle, Poife and Con- dud of my Church Fellowfhip, Spirit, or Behaviour. God hath, I doubt not, his eminent and valuable Servants in^all Parties and Perfwafions amongfl ChriftianS. An heavenly mind and Life is all in all with me. I doubt not but that God hath many precious faithful Ones amongff the Men called Independants, Preshjteriam, A- nabapttfis, Prelatical And I humbly judge it reafonable that ( i. ) The Mif- carriages of former Parties be not imputed to lucceeding Parties who own not, nor abet their Principles as produdive of fuch pradical Enormities. ( 2. ) That the Mifcarriages of fome particular Perfons be not charged on the reft, until they pro- fe(s or manifeft their Approbation of them. (^.) That what is repented of and pardonedjbe not fo received as to foment Divifions and Recriminations. (4.J That my trud from Mr. Baxter, and faithfulnefs to him, and to Pofterity, be not conftru- ed as the Refiilt of any Spleen in me againft any Peribn or Party mentioned in this following Hiftory. (''5'.) And that we all value that in one another, which God thinks lovely where he forms and finds it. And 6, O Utinam ! that we form no other Teft and Canon of Chriftian Orthodoxy and Saving Soundnefs, and Chrifti- an Fellowfhip,than what the Sacred Scriptures give us as Explicatory of the Chrifti- an Baptifmal Creed and Covenant, as influencing us into an holy Life, and heaven- ly Hopes and Joys. I thought once to have given the World a faithful Abftrad of Mr. Baxter's Dodrines or Judgment, containing the Sence of what he held about Juffification, Faith, Works, ^c. and yet laying afide iiis Terms of Art: that here- by the Reader might difcern the Confonancy of it to the Sacred Text , and to the Dodrinal Confeffions of the Reformed Churches ; his Confiftence with himfelf,and his nearer approach in Judgment to thofe from whom he feems to differ much, than the prejudiced Adverfaries are aware of. But this muft be a Work of Time , if not an Enterprize too great for me, as I juft ly fear it is. But I will do by him as I would do by others, and have them do by me, viz,, give him his owned Explica- tion of the Baot fmal Creed and Covenant, as a fit Teft to try his Judgment byj and if his Doctrines in his other Trcatifes confift herewith, others perhaps will fee more Caufe to think him Orthodox in the moft weighty Articles, and lels to be fiifpedred, notwithftanding his difTerent Modes of Speech. The Things profejfedly beliei/ed by him ( as may be feeu in hk Chriftian Concord } were^ THat there is one only God : The Father , Infimte in Being , iVifdom , GoodnejS , and Power : the Maker, Preferver , and DiJ}>ofer of all things ^ and the moft juii and ■merciful Lord ef AH. That Mankind being fallen by Sin from God and HappineJ?, under the JVratb of God, the Curfe of hit Law, and the Power of the De-vil, God Jo loved the World, that he gave bis only Son to be their Redeewer : who, being God, and one with the Father , did take to him our Nature, and became Man, being conceived of the Holy Ghojl in the Virgin Mary, and born of her, and named JESUS CHRIST: and having Itvd en Earth without Sin, and wrought many Miracles, for a witnejl of hit Truth, he gave up btmfelf a Sacri- fice for our Sins, and a Ranfom for m, infuff'ering Death on the Crofi: and being buried, he IS Lord of all tn Glory with the Father. And having ordained that all that truly repent^ and believe tn him^ and love him above hU things, and/inctrely obey htm, and that to the c X Deatbf The Treface to the Reader. Death jhaUhe faved, and they that wiU not jl)aU he damned, and commanded his Mtni- Jiers to preach the Gojpel to the World : He will come again and raife the Bodies of all Mem jrem Death, and will fet all the IVorld before him to be judged, according to what they haiJt done in the Body : and he will adjudge the Righteous to Life Everlafltng, and the njl to Everlafiing Pumfliment ^ which jimll be Executed accordingly. That God the Holy Gho/l, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, was fnt from the Fa- ther by the Son, to ivfpire and guide the Prophets and Apofiles, that they might fully re- veal the DoBrine of Chrifi ; j^ndby multitudes of E-vident Miracles, and wonderful Gifts to be the great fVitnef of Chri/l and of the Truth of his Holy Word : And alfo to dwell and work in all that are drawn to believe, that, being firfi joyned lo Chrifi their Head, and into one Church which is his Body, and Jo pardoned and wade the Sons of God , they may be a peculiar People janBified to Chrifi j and may mortifie the Fef} , and overcome the World and the Devil : and being zealous of good Works, may ferve God tn HolmeJS and Righteoufnefi, and may live in thejjiecial Love and Communion of the Saints j and m hope of Cbrifi's Coming f and of Everlafiing Life. In the belief hereof the Things confented to wereasfolloweth : THat he heartily took this one GOD, for his only G G D , and his chief Good : and this y ES US C HRIST for his only Lord, Redeemer, and Saviour, and this HOLT G HO S T for his Sanilifr : and the DoBrine bj him revealed, and jealed by his Miracles, and now contained tn the Holy Scriptures, he took for the Law of God j and the Rule of bis Faith and Life : And repenting unfeignedly of his Sins, he did refolve, through the Grace of God, fincerely to obey him, both m Holmefi to God , and Righteouj- neJS to Men, and in Jpecial Love to the Saints, and tn Communion with them j agmnfi ai the Temptations of the Devtl, the World, and his own Fle^) j and this to the Death. If therefore thefe things were Believed and Confented to by him ; and if thefe things do cfi'entiate our Savifig Chrifiianity, and fo be lufficienc to make us all one in Chrift, why fnould lome difFerenc Modes and Forms of Speech, wherewith thefe great Subftantials may and do confift , obtain of Men to think him Heterodox, becauie he ii(es not their Terms ? And why fhould luch Diltances and Difcords be kep: up amongft us, whiUf we all of us own all the foremer.tioned Articles, and are always ready f on all (Ides ^ to renounce whatever Opinions fhall appear to overthrow or ftiake (Lich Articles of Faith, and Covenanting Terms with God and Chrift ? And I cannot but believe that all Chriftians lerioufly bound for Hea- ven, and that are fixed upon thefe Truths, are nearer each to other in their Judg- ments than different Modes of Speech (eem to reprefent them. Of luch great Con- (equence is true Charity and Candour amongft Chriltians. 3. The Reverend Prelates, and the Miniffers and Members of the Church of England, may poilibly diftafte his plainnefs with them, and think him too (evcre upon them: But i. they are no Strangers to his profefTed atid exemplified Mode- ration. Who valued their Worth and Learning more than he did ? Who more en- deavoured to keep up Church Communion with them, by Pen, Difcourfe and Pra<5ti(e, though not cxclulively ? Who more Iharply handled, and more throughly wrote againft, and reprehended total Separation from them than himfelt'? And what DilTenter from them ever made fairer and more noble Overtures , or more ju- dicious Propofals for a hT-ge and lafting Comprehenfion with them, than they know he did ? And who more fairly warned them of the dilmal Conlequences and calamitous Effeibs of Co narrowing the Church of England by the ftri<5l Ads pro- cured and executed againit fo many peaceable Minifters, who thereby were lilen- ced, imprifor,ed,di(couraged and undone ? And how many Souls and Families were ruin'd and fcandaliz'd by their impofcd Terms, another (and that a folemn and greatj Day will ihew e're long. 2. Our Author never yet endeavoured to un- church tlum , nor to ecliple their Worthies ; nor did he ever charge their great Severities on them all. He ever would acknowledge ( .ind he might truly do it ) that they had great and excellent Men, and many fuch amongft them, both of their Lairy and Clergy. 5 He thought ( what I am fuisfied is true) that many of them little knew who and what was behind the Curr.tin, nor what dcfigned nor great Services were doing to France and Rome hereby. 4. And his great Sufferings from them may well ( even as other things ) abate their Cendiring (if not prevent too The Preface to the Reader. too keen Refentments) of thele Hirtorical Accounts of them. j.And to leave rhefe things out was more than Mr. Baxter would allow me, or admit of. Pardon one who a<9:s by Order, not of Choice, 4. That fuch copious and prolix Difcourfes fliould be here inferted about Things fitter for oblfvion, than to he rememhred, may feem liable to Exceptions and Dillall from (bme ; -vtz,. ftich Difcourfes as refpeft the Solemn League and Covenant, the Oxford Ahich occaji- oned no /mall trouble to him, he having written fo many things to ferjwade perfons to be- lie-ve there was. • This Report is related to me as brought down Irom London by no mean Man ; by one of great Repute in his Faculty, and well known through the Nation, frequentlv an Hearer ot Mr. Baxter, and an honourable Perfon. And lam further informed by the fame Hand, That it is there reported that many of-his FriendSj Per- Ibns of Quality about London, know the truth of it. 1. Audax facinus .' What vvill degenerate Man (lick at I We know nothing here that could in the leaf! minilter to iuch a Report as this. I that was with him all along _, have ever heard him triumphing in his heavenly Expectation, aud ever Ipe.ikng like one that could never have thought it worth a Man's while to be, were it not for the great Intereit and Ends of Godlinefs. He told me that he doubted not, but that it would be belt for him when he h^d left this LifCj and was tranflated to the heavenly Regions. 2. He own'd what he had written, with reference to the Things of God, to the very laft. He adviled thofe that came near him , carefully to mind their Soul Conceins. The Ihorcnefsof Time, the inftancy of Eternity, the worth of Souls^, the greatnels of God, the riches oi the Grace of Chrift, and the excellency and import of an heavenly Mind and Life, and the great ufefulnels of the Word and Means of Grace pu.l'uant ro Eternal Purpofes, they ever lay preflingly upon his own Heart, and excorred from him very ufeful Direftions and Encouragements to all that came near him, even to the laft. Infomuch, a&that it a Polemical o, Ca- fuKHcal Point, or any Speculation in Philofophy or Divinity , had been but of- fered to hjni for his Refolution, after the clearelt and briefelt Reprefentation of his Mind, which the Propofers Satisfaction call'd for , he prelendy and mod de- lijjhtfully fell into Converfation about what related to our Chriitian Hope and Woik. ' X ;. Had he thought that there had been no Future State for Man to be Con- cern'd about, why was hefo delighted in a hopeful Race of young Minifters and Chriltiansr to my knowledge he greatly valued young Divines, and hopeful Can- didates for the Aliniltry : He was molt liberal of Counlel and Encour^gemenr to {hem, and nioft inquilitive after, and plealed with their growthlul Numbers and Improvement : And he told me, and i'pake it in my hearing , That he had the greatell Hopes and Expeditions from the fucceeding Generation of them : And he pleafed himfelf with the Hopes and Expeftations of this , that they would do God's Wpik much better than we had done before , and elcape our Errours and DetedF. 4. Any Man that reads his laft Will may eafily fee that his Apprehenfions and .Diipofition did not lavour or fiich Scepticilm as the Report inlinuates. That part thereof which may Confirm the Reader that Mr. Baxter had no fiich Thoughts abiding in him , 1 Ihall here for the Readei's Satisfaftion lay before him ; which is asfolloweth: I Richard Baxter 0/ London Clerk, unworthy Servant of J ejus Chrii} , drawing to the End of this Tranfitory Life, havmg through God's great Mercy the free ufe of my Underfiandtng, do make this my laii Will and Tejtament M]i Spirit I commit, With Trujt and Hope of the Heavenly Felicity, into the Hands of '^cfus ir.j glorified Redeemer and IntcrcejJ'or : and by his Mediation into the hands of God my reconciled Father, the Infinite^ The preface to the Reader, Infinite, Eternal Spirit, Life, Light and Love, mo(t great and wtfe and good , the God of Nature, Grace, and Glory : of ■whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things: My abfolute Owner, Ruler, and BenefaBor ; whofe I am, and whom {though imperfeitly^ IJerve,feek, and trufi ; to whom be glorj for ever. Amen. To htm I render mofi humble thanks that he hath fill' d up my Ltfe with abundance of Mercy, pardoned my Sins by the Merits ofChrifi^, and vouchjafed by his Spirit to Renew afidSeal me as his own^ and to moderate and blefi to me my long Sufferings tn the Flejii, and at laH to fweeten them by hit own Interefi andcomforting Approbation, who taketh the Caufe of Live and Concord as his oven. Now let the Reader judge whether any thing in all this can in the leaft infer his Doubting or Deni.^! of a Future State ; or any Repentance of the Pains he took to eftablifli others in the Belief and Hopes of what the Golpel tells us of as future. It is ftrange to fee how Men can triHe in their Soul-affairs , and how eafily they can receive whatever may mortifie the Life and Joy of Chriftian Godlinels : But we read of fome that have been led Captive by the Devil at his will. But this we may believe, and all lliall find that the Hell which they gave no credit to the report of, they ihall furely feel , and that they Jhall never reach that Heaven which they would never believe Exilient , and worth their ferious looking after. Were it but a meer probability , or poffibility, who will have the be'ter of it? When we reach Heaven, we (hall be in a Capacity of Inliilting over Infidels : But if there be no Future State, they can never live to upbraid us. And it is but folly, madnels, and a voluntary cheating of themfelves, for Men to think that Honour, Parts, or Learning, or Intereft, or Poffeffions can ever skreen them from the Wrath of a negledled and provoked God. And one would think that fuch a Spirit that can fo boldly traduce and afperfe Men, is much below what has adied a Pagan Roman j for even one of themjCOuld lay, Compofitum jus faf^ue animi, San£loj<]ue recefjus Mentis^ &" mcoBum genorofo pectus bonefio Da, cedo • Perf, How little of this Spirit was in the Author and Promoter of this Afperfion, I leave to his own and others Thoughts to paule on ; who he is I know not: But for the fake of his Honour, Soul, and Faculty, I muit and will requelt of God that he may have thofe fbfter Remorfes in his own Spirit in due (eafon, which may pre- vent a fmarter Cenftre fiom the univerfal, ajvful Judge ; and that he woud loberly paule upon what that great Judge has uttered, and left upon record in Matth. 12, 56, 57. for it is what that Judge will abide and try us by. I can eafily forefee that Readers of different forts are likely to receive this Work, with different Sentiments. 1. The Interefted Reader, in things related here, will judge of and relilh what he reads as he finds himfelt concerned therein : He may poflibly look upon himlelf as either commended or expoled, blamed or jultified ; whether juftly or unjuftly he may beft know. But I would hope that his Concernednels for thelntereft of Equi- ty and Truth , and for the Publick Good , will rather make him candid than levere. 2. The Impartial Reader is for knowing Truth in its due and ufeful Evidence, and for confidering himlelf as liable to Imperfeftions if engaged in fuch work as this: and thus he will allow for others Weakneffes, as he would have his own allowed for. ;. Should any Reader be cenlbrious, and ftretch Expreflions and Reports beyond their determined Line and Reach, Ibber and clear Conviftion in this Cale may be their Cure. 4. As to the Judicious Reader, he loves, I know, to lee things in their Nature, Order, Evidence and Ulefulnefs : and if he find Materials, he can difpofe them ea- fily, and phrafe chem to his own Satisfaftion, and at the lame time pity the injudi- cioufnelsof a Publiiher, and the imperfections of the Author. 5. As to the weak Reader ( for judicioufnefs is not every fbber Perlbn's Lot ) it will be harder to convince him beyond his ability of decerning things in their di- ftin(a:nefs, cruth and llrength. 6. As to the by affed Reader, it is hoped that his lecond lerious Thoughts may cure hira of his Partiality. d 7. As The Treface to the Reader. 7. As to the (elfifh Reader, it is bold for any Man to think himfelf Superiour to the reft of Men,and that all muft be a Sacrifice to his own Concerns and Humour: A narrow Soul is a great Infelicity, both to its felt, toothers, and the Publick In- tereft. 8. The Publick Spirited Reader is more concern'd for Truth than for any Thing that Rivals it : his Thoughts and Motto is Magna ei} Veritas & fravakbit ; and he will think himlelf moft gratified when Publick Expedations and Concerns are an- fwered and fecured belf. 9. Thofe that are perfedly ignorant of what the Hiftory is moft concerned in will be glad of better Informations ; and the Things recorded will be (as being No- vel^ molt grateful to him. lo.As to thofe that were acquainted moftly with the Things here mentioned,they will have their Memories refrellied, and meet with Ibmc Additions to their uieful Knowledge. II. And as to my felf, if there be any thing untrue, injurious, or unfit, as to either Publick or Perbnal Concerns, thePublilher hopes that the Reader will not look upon him as obliged to jultifie orefpoufe whatever the Author may have mil- reprelented, through his own Perfonal Infirmities or Millakes; for all Men are im- perfeft, and my Work was to publifiithe Author's Sentiments and Reports , rather than my own : Nor will I vouch for every Thing in this Hilfory, nor in any meer Humane Treatife, beyond its Evidence or Credibility. But let the Reader affure himfelf that I am his, in the beftof Bonds and Services, whilft London, May 13. 1696. I am U.S. A A BREVIATE O F T H E CONTENTS O F T H E Enfuing Narrative : Which was written by Parts^at diflFerentTimes. Part I. Written for the moft part in s 66^. Fter a brief Narrative of his Birth and Tarentage,and large cnt of his Schsot- makers, Mr. Baxter proceeds to an Account of the means of his coming to aferioM fenfe of Religion, and of his perplexing Doubts and their Solutions, ta page 9. of bts bodilyweaknef and indiJpo(ttioni,to '^.ij. offcveral remark- able Deliverances he met with : \\z.from the Temptations of a Court Life} fom being run over by a Waggon ^in a fall from a Horfe ; and from Gaming, p. 1 1, 12. His appljtng himfelf te the Mtnffiry, Ordination ^7 fi6e B{/Jw/>e/ Worcefter, and Settlement in Dudley School as Ma/ler, p.12,1^. His fiudying the Matter of Con- formicy, and Judgment about it at that time, p. 1 5, 14. His removal from Dudley to Bridgnorth, andjucceji there, p. 14,1 y. of the coming out of the Etcsecera Oath , and bis further (ludytng the point o/Epi(copacy upon that occajion, p.iy, 16. Upon occafion of this Etcsetera Oath, he pajjesto the Dtjfatisfactioni in Scotland on the account of the impofi- tion of the Englip Ceremonies, thence to Ship-money in England, thence to the Scots fr^ coming hither, and Jo to the opening of the Long Parliamem,p.l6,i7. After an Account of their Proceedings tillfuch time as a Committee ivascbofen to hear Petitions again/l Scandalous Mtnijters, hejliewshow by that means he came to be fettled in the Town of Kiddennin- fter as Leclurer to a fcandaloas Incumbent, agamfl whom a Petition had been prefented to that Committee, had he not confented to his Settlement under him, p. 1 8, Scc. a fort of a Trediclion of his in a Funeral Sermon preacht afterwards at Bridgnorth, p. 20. His Temp- tations to Infidelity, and to quefion the Truth of the Scriptures, c^c. with the means of bis being extricated out of them, p. 2i,8cc. a remarkable [lory of a falfe Accujation of one Mr. Crofs a pious MmiHer in the Neighbourhood of Kidderminfter, as if he attempted to ravifli a Woman, with its deteSlion.^ p. 24. A return to the Proceedings of the Parliament^ and Account of the Jj>rings and rife of the Civil War, to p. 29. The Cafe of the Country fiated about the Civil Differences between King and Parliament, and the Ecclefialtical Differences between the Prelatical, and the Antiprelatical Party, j?-ow p. ;o. to p. 58. His own fenfe of, and judgment about this matter, p. 59. Here he returns to the feries of bis own Life, and relates a remarkable ftory of his pre(ervation from the fury of the rabble at Kidderminfter, who were enrag'd upon the Churchwardens going to remove a Crucifix aeeerding to order of Parliament, ]p.^Q. upon the Peoples tumultuoufnejS he retired to Glou- d 2 eefter^ The Contents. ceiler, where he fir ^ met with fome of the Anabaptifis, p.40^41. then he retiirhs to Kld- derminrter, where a little after, fome of Eflexes Army (Quarter d : but the) retiring before a fart of the Kings Army, and he finding the Rabble furmts thought not hss (iay jafe, and Co -went with the EITexians ro Woicefter, p. 42. Oftober the ajd, 1640. the day of ' Edge- hill Fight he freacht at Alcefter j and the next day went to fee the pLce of Battel, p.4:5. after this he went to Coventry, where he continued a year, freachmg to the Town and GarrifoK, p 44. he went with fome Country Gentlemen to Weniiji and other places, de- figning to leave Covcatvy ^ but foon return d thither again • and Jhiy'd there another year, having much trouble fiom Sepivnt'i^s, Anabaptifts, and AntinomianSj p. 4f . Of the laynig the Earl of Ellex afide, and the new modellmg the Army, p. 47. 0/ the Scotch Covenant. How far Prelacy was abjur'd in it as it was explain d by the Ajfembly of Di- vines, p. 48. of Cromweiri Interefl, in the new modell'd Army , and the chapge of the old Citifc,^.^!). the Fight at Nafeby and its Confequences, p. Jo. an Account if hu firft coming into the Army prefently after that Fight ; the Principles-and Temper he then found prevail amongH them, p. Jo, J i. How he became a Chaplain to Cc/. Whaliey'i Regiment, and upon what grounds and confederations, p. 5 2. how firenuoufiy he fet himfelf to oppoje the Sectaries in the Army, p. yj. An Account of the feveral Marches and mofi remarkable A5lions of the Army, while he continued in it, from p. 5:4. to p. y8. [_ An Account of a Dijpute he maintained for an whole day together with fome of the Sectaries of the Army, m r/jeCi>«>-c/&y the LordChaficelUur^p.z^^. Z6e Minifters Petition to the King, upon their fight ofthefirfi draught of this Declaration, p.26f. the Alterations of the Declaration which they offer' d,p.'2';'^. a Conference between je- 'veral Di'vines of each fide , about the fore-mention d Declaration, before the King at the Lord Chancellours, andthe cffeBs of it, p.276. of the coming cut of the Declaration with amend- ments, p.zjp.Of MrMaxtQt's preaching before the King,and printing his Sermon,and thefalfe. aecujation of him by Dr. Pierce onthatoccafion, p.279. a CharaSler of Dr.VisTCe, and Ac- count of hu enmity againfi Mr. Baxter, p.280. of the offer of a Bilhcprick 7nade to Mr. Baxter wtthfome others, who joyntly demttrrd about the accept a-rice, p.28 1. Mr. Baxter re- fufes to accept the terms propofed m the fore-mentioned Declaration^ and fends a Letter to the Lord Char.ccllour containing his Reafons,p.2S2. Dr. Regnolds accepts a Biflioprick : other Prefcrmints offer d to other Presbyterians who refused them, p.283. An Addrels of Thanks to the King from the London MmiJlers,for his Declaration, p. 284. a Cenfure of thu De- claration, p z^6. How well this Declaration was put in Execution, p. 287. Mr. Crofton'i ivritingfor the Covenant, and imfrifonment m the lower, p, 288. A falfe report Jf read a- botit of Mr. Baxter, by Mr. Horton, Chaplain to the Earl of Mancheller, p. 289. an ac- count of Mr. BiXtQt's tranfaSlions with the Lord Chancellour, about the Affairs of New- England, p.290. a Letter to Mr. Baxter jf'OWJ the Court and Government of New-Eng- land, p.29r. another from Mr. Norton, p.2^2. another from Mr. E\\iot,p 2^^. Mr.Bix- tet's anfwer to Mr. Elliot, p 29 y. A/r.Baxter'j endeavours to be re/lord to the PeopleofKid- derminfter, from whom he was Jepar ate d upon the returnofthefe^ue^redMinifrersto their Livings, p 298. A Letter of my Lord Chancellours to Sir Ralph Clare about A/r. Baxter'/ rffHrwfoKidderminfter, p.299. Of the Rifing of the Fifth Monarchy men under Venner, about this time, p.^or. of his fublick Minifirytn London, p ;oi. Hts going to the Arch- hiil)op to heirac)',p.7,Si. Of T^L^C^ "BSIJ^- ^DiDLC^CQUi D3^ 1^62. wherein fo many '^iinifiers were fitencd,p.'^SA. of the fad confeejuences of that day, p 385. Mr- Calamy'j tmprifonment for preaching occafionally af' ter the filencing,p 386. the fiate o/fAe Conform ids r,Bates to Mr. Baxter about that affair, p.j/^. of the Dutch War, p.i6 0/ fie Fire of London, ibid, of the Inftrumtntsof the Fire, p. 1 8. The Nonconformift s fet up f per ate publick Meetings, p. 1 9. of the burning of our Ships t To\er!ition, or rtComprehcnrion, p. loo. Mr. Baxter gets a Licenfc,p.i02. the Merchants Lecture ft up at Pinners-Hall ; and Mr. Baxter' s Accujatf ons for his Sermons there, p. 1 03. Malitiofts Writings and Accujations of Parker and others, ibid, a private Conference between Mr. Baxter and Bp. Gunning, p. 104 the Parliament jealous of the growth of Popery, p. 106. a private Conference of Mr. BaxterV w'/ri& Edward Wriy,EJ(]. about the Popijl Controver(ics,p loj. Mr.¥i\ki:ntr writes for Conformity, p.loS. a Letter of Mr. BiXtei's to the Earl of Orery , about a general Union of all Proteftantsagainft Popery, with Propofals for that purpofe,p 1 09,&C. the Strictures return'd upon thefe Propofals, with the A.ifwers to them, from p. 1 1 3 ,f 140. More bitter and malignant Writings again[t tbt The Contents. the Nonconformifts,p.i4i. a Paper of Mr.John Humphreys/or ComfveheTjfiomvkh Indul- gence, that was difiributed among the Parliament men, p. 1 4 5 , 8c c. a great change of affairs m Scotland, p. 147. a Charachr of Mr. Thomas Gouge the/ilenc'd Alinifhr 0/ 5'f. Sepul- chres, p.147. a Letter of Mr.Ba.\tCT's to Dr.Good Mailer o/Baliol CoUedge in Oxford a- hout fame faJJ'ages in a Book he had lately publijh'd,p. i^.S. frefl) Accufations whereby A/y.Bax- ttiwas aJJaulted^Tp.i^ i a Deliverance when he wot preaching over Sf.James'f Markec-houle, p. I5'2. hu fuccelS while he freacb't there '^ and his oppofitton, p. 1^5. a Proclamation publiffj'd to call in the Licenfes, and require the Execution cf the Laws a^amjl the Nonconform i(ts, ib. fal\e Reports about his preaching at Pinners- H;illjp. i f4. Mr. Rn-ater apprehended af a Con- 'venticler,p.l')^. a difference at Court on occafion of Mr.Baxtei'i Sufferings, \>.i ^6. a private Treaty ^efJA^ew Dr.Stillingfleet, Dr.Tillotlbn, Dr. Bates, Dr.Manton, A-lr.haxter, and Mr. 'Poo\,about an A£t forUnion avd Comprebenfion,^.! ^7. An Actforthe Healing and Concord of hu Majefiys Subjeffs in matiers of Religion, then agreed upon among/i them,p.i^S. Petiti- ons Mr. Baxter was then put upon drawing up, which were never prejented, i6c. the Cafe of the City as to the Profecution of Dijfenters, p.iS'^. [faljly p^g^d ^6^. an account of ha trouble with Sir Thomas DaviSjibid. great Debates about the Telt in Parliament, ^.16"]. a Cenfure of it, p. 1^8. a penitent Confejfon of one of the Informers who had given Mr. Baxter much trouble, P171. further troubles that he met with, and weakned, pi?^- a further Account of Sir Matthew Hale, p.i75'' of Mr. Read'j impnfonmetit , p.176. Of the Additions of the years i6y'^^\6y6^i6yy^i6y^^0^c, OF Monfieur Le Blank'j Thefes, p. 1 77. of Dr.]in€s Sermon before my Lord Mayor, and his Charge again^ Mr.BaiHQc,ihid. further troubles he met with, p. 178. a paff age be- tween the Bp.ofExster and Mr.S^ng^v, ibid, an horrid Lie reported of Mr. Baxter ;w a Coffce-houfe about his killing a Tinker, the Reporter whereof was brought openly to confeS his fault, p. 1 79. Mr. Hollingworth'5 Sermon agamjl the Nonconformifls, p. 1 80. a further paf- fage o/5/rMatth. Hale,p,i8i. Dr. Manton'i death, p.182. about the Controverfie of Pre- determination fiarted amongfi the Nonconformifts,by a Book of Mr. How's, ib. of the Popifh Plot and Sir Edmundbury Godfrey 'j murder, &cc. p. 185. of fever al of Mr.Bixter' s fVri- tings,p.i8^. of the Writings of Dr. St\]ling{\eet,Mr.Hir\k\ey, Mr.DodweW, and others, a^ gainftthe Nonconformifs, p. 187, 1 8 8. of the deaths of many of his dear Friends, p. 189. feme further account of Mr. Thomas Gouge, p. 190. of his new apprehenfion andficknefl^ p.i9r. an Account of his Cafe at that time,p.i^2. the Judgment 0/" Saunders and Pollixhn about it, p.i<)^.offome other of his fVritins^s,p.i96. of a Legacy of 600 1. left by Mr.KobCTC Mayot of OKon, to be distributed by Mr. Baxter amsng Si.xty ejecled Minifiers , p. 198. a further Account ofhisfufferings and weaknef, ibid. & p. 199. The /Appendix contains thefe fevcral Pieces following. Numb.I. A Reply to fome Exceptions againf the Worccfterfliire Agreement, ( a largt J^, Account whereof is given at the beginning of the fecond Part of this Narra- tive) and Mr.BaxKr's ChrilHan Concord, written by a nameleji Author, \_fuppofedto be Dr. Gunning] andfcnt by Dr. Warmeftry, p.i. Namb.l1 . Several Letters that pafd between A/r.Baxter and M-.MartinJohnfbn,«/'ff«t the Point of Ordination ; and particularly the necefjity of a conjiant uninterrupted Succeffion,in order to the validity of Minijlerial Fiinilions, p, 18. Numb.ni. Several Letters between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Lamb, p.Ji. Numb.IV. Letters andPapers between Mr. Baxter and Mr. Allen, p.67. Mumb.V. A Letter cf Mr. Baxter'i to Mr. Long o/Exeter, p.io8. Numb.VF. A Rcfolutionof this Cafe ; What's to be done when the Law of the Land com- mands perfns to go to their PariJJ) Church, and Parents rec^uire to go to private Meetings? p.l i r Nunib.VII. A Letter of Mr.Bawets about the Cafe (/"Nevil Symmons Bookfeller, p. iij. Numb.VIH. Mr. Baxter'.* general Defence, of his accufed Writings, caU'd Seditious ami Schifmatical, p.i 19. Nunib.lX./4« AilforConcordyby Reforming Parifli Churchesyond Regulating the Toleration ofDiffinters, p. 127. A Letter to the Right Worpipful Sir E. H. about that matter, p. i;o. Ee plealed (Candid Reader) tocorreft thelb Errours in the beginning thus: PAgc i.linc 2 f.for/i unread f,ne; and after reftr.aiid. p. 2.l.io.aftcr chikj.in the. and l.iy.dcle and. p. 3. 1.35. tor bemg r. hingingme. p.4.I.28.dclc of. and l.40.arter l^otvledge t.wm. I.42. for noiider t.wondred. p.5.l.i7.r.that part c/Pliyikk. p.8.1.29.r.«/«.!//>'. p.i99.1.i4.for he r.it. I.46. for rejciHons r. objeilions. The rell ;:s tlicy occur inter legendum ; for 1 could not attend the I'refi and prevent the Errata. THE THE LIFE O F T H E RE V E R E N Mr. Richard Baxter. Lib. L M^ a r, t i. Y i^at'lier's NaiyiQ. was Richard ('the Son of Richard} Baxttr-: His H.ibitation and Eftate at a Village called Eaton-Confian' ttrie, a mile lioni the fFre^;»-Hill, and above half a mile from Severn River^and five miles from Shrewsbury in Shrof- ^lire : A Village mofl: pleafantly and healthfully fituate. My Mother's Name was Beatrice the Daughter of Richard Adcney of Ro'wto?t,a. Village near Hi^h-^ErcaU.thQ Lord New- ports Seat, in the fame County : There I was born J. D. i6i^. on the izthoi No-vemher, being the Lord's Day, in the Morning at the time of Divine Worjliip ; and Baptized at High- Ercall the 19th day following: And there I lived from my Parents with my Grandfather till I was near Ten years of Age, and then was taken home. My Father had only the Competent Eftate of a Freeholder,free from the Temp- tations of Poverty and Riches : But havingbeen addicted to Gaming in his Youth, and his Father before him, it was fo entangled by Debts, that it occafioned fome excefi of worldly Cares before it was freed. We lived in a Country that had but litde Preaching at all : In the Village where I was born there was four Readers fucceflively in Six years time, ignorant Men, and two of them immoral in their lives j who were all my School-mafters. In the Village where my Father lived, there was a Reader of about Eighty years of Age that never preached, and had two Churches about Twenty miles diftant : His Eye- fight failing him, he faid Common-Prayer without Book ; but for the Reading of thePfalms and Chapters,he got a Common Threfher and Day-I.abourer one year, and a Taylor another year : ('for the Clerk could not read well ) : And at lalt he had a Kinfman of his own, ( the excellentelt Stage-player in all the Country, and a good Gamefter and good Fellow ) that got Orders and fupplied one of his Places I After him another younger Kinfmanjtiiat couid write and read, got Oidcrs : And at the fame time another Neighbour's Son that had been a while at School turn d Mihifter, and who would needs go father than the reft, ventur'd to preach (and sfter g,ot a Living in St^iffordJJnre,) and when he had been a Preaclier about Twelve orSixr^n ye^rs, lie was fain to give over, it being difcovered that his Orders were tbrge^^by the' fif/t ingenious Stagj-Player. After him another Neighbour's Son took Orders', when he had been a while an Attorney's Clerk,and a common Drun- kard, and tipled himfelf into io great Poverty that he liad no other way to live : It B was The LIFE of the Lib. L was feared that he and more of them came by their Orders the fame way with the foremeiitioned Perfon : Thefe were the School-maflers of my Youth (except two of them :) who read Common Prayer on Sundays and Holy-days, and taught School and tipled on the Week-days,and whipt the Boys when they were drunk, fo that we changed them very oU. Within a few miles about us,were near a dozen more Mi- nifters that were near Eighty years old apiece, and never preached ; poor ignorant Readers,and mod of them of Scandalous Lives: only three or four conftant com- petent Preachers lived near us, and thole ("though Conformable all fave one ) were the common Marks of the People's Obloquy and Reproach, and any that had but gone to hear them, when he had no Preaching at home, was made the Derifionof the Vulgar Rahble, under the odious Name of a Furitane. But though we had no better Teachers , it pleafed God to inflru£t and change my Father, by the bare reading of the Scriptures in private,wichout either Preach- ing, or Godly Company, or any other Books bur the Bible: And God made him the Inltrument of my firff Convi&Kf/? and So//a>ow/»e/f for my doubting Soul did fhame away all thefe Thoughts as Fooleries and Childrens Plays. <;. It let rne upon that Method of my Studies, which fince then 1 have found the benefit of, though at the time I was not latisfied with my lelf. It cauled me firft to fck God's Kingdom and his Righteoufnels, andmoft to mind the One thing needful ; and to determine firft of my Ultimate End ; by which I was engaged to choofe out and prolecute all other Studies, but as meant to that end : There- fore Divinity was not only carried on with the reft of my Studies with an equal hand J but always had the firft and chiefell place I And it caufed rae to v.^7k^ ftudy Praclical Divinity firft , in the moft Practical Books , in a Vra^ical Order; doing all purpofely for the informing and reforming of my own Soul. So that I had read a multitude of our Englifli Pradical Treatifes, before I had ever read any other Bodies of Divinity, than Urfine and Ameftus, or two or three more. By t The LI F E of the L i b. 1'. $ By which means my /ijfeBion was carried on with my Judgment: And by that means I prolecuted all my Studies with unweariedne(s and delight : And by thac means all that I read did (lick the better in my memory : and alio lels of my time was loR by lazy intermiffions : fbut my bodily Infirmities always cauled me to lofe ( or I'pend ) much of it in Motion and Corporal Exercifes j which was lome- times by Walking, and fometimes at the Plow, andlach Country Labours). But one lols 1 had by this Method, which hath proved irreparable j That I mill that part of Learning which ftood at the greateft diilance ( in my thoughts) from my IJltimate End,('though no doubt but remotely it may be a valuable nieansj, and I could never fince find time to get it. Befides the Latin Tongue, and but a me- diocrity in Greek ( with an inconfiderable trial at the Hebrew long after j I had no great skill in Languages : Though I faw that an accuratenefs and thorow in- Jight in the Greek and Hebrew were very defirable ; but I was io eagerly carried after the Knowledge of Things^ that I too much neglec^ted the fludy of Words. And for the Mathematkks, I was an utter (tranger to them, and never could find in my heart to divert any Studies that way. But in order to the Knowledge o^ Divinity my inclination was molt to Logtck and Metaphjficks, with that part fhyficks which treateth of the Soul, contenting my lelf at hrlt wich a flighter Itudy of the ret : And thefe had my Labour and Delight. Which occafioned me ( perhaps toofojn ) to plunge my lell very early into the lludy of Contro-verfies ; and to read all the School men I could get ; ( for next Praiitcal Divintty, no Books io liiited with my Difpofition as Jqumns, Scotus^ Durandus, Ockam, and their Difciples j becaufe f thought they narrowly fearched after Truth , and brought Things out of the dark- nefs of Confufion : For I could never from my firft Studies enduse Confufion! Till Equivocals were explained, and Definition and Difiinilion led the way, I had rather hold my Tongue than (peak! and was never more weary of Learned Mens Dif- courles, than when I heard them long wrangling about unexpot* idcd Words or Things, and eagerly Dilputing before they underltood each others Minds ; and ve- hemently aflTerting Modei and Confequeitces and Adjun^s, before they confidered of the Quod fit, the Quid fit, or the Quotupkx. I never thought I underftood any thing till I could anatomtz.e it, and lee the parts difiinctly, and the Conjunilion of the parts as they make up the whole. DifiMton and Method Icemed to me of that ne- ceflity, that without them I could not be (aid to know ; and the Diiputes which fci,ook them, or abufed them, feem but as incoherent Dreams. § 6. And as for thofe Doubts of my own Salvation , which exercifcd me many years , the chiefeff Caules of them were thele : I. Becaule I could not diftindtly trace the Workings of the Spirit upon my heart in that method which Mr. Bolton, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Rogers, and other Divines de- Icribe I nor knew the Time of my Converfion, being wrougiit on by the fore- mentioned Degrees. But fince then I underlfood that the Soul is in too dark and paffionate a plight at firlf, to be able to keep an exaft account of the order of its own Operatiotis ,• and that preparatory Grace being (ometimes longer and (bmetimes fhorter, and the firlt degree of Special Grace being ufually very fiiiall, it is not poflible that one of very many Ihould be able to give any true account of the juH T-.rKc when Special Grace began, and advanced him above the Ifate of Prepara- tion. 2. My lecond Doubt was as aforefaid, becaufe of the hardnefiofi my heart,or want of fuch lively Apprehenfitons of Things Spiritual, which I had about Things Corpo- ral. And though I ftill groan under this as my fin and want , yet I now perceive that a Soul in Flelh doth work lb much after the manner of the Flelh, that it much defireth lenfible Apprehenfions j but Things Spiritual and Diftant are not {o apt to work upon them, and to Itir the Paffions, as Things prell*nt and fenfibie are ; efpecially being known lb darkly as the Ifate and oper.itions of leparated Soulsj are known to us who are in the Body : And that the Rational Operations of the higher Faculties ( the Intellect and Will^ may without lo much paifion, fet God and Things Spiritual higheft within us, and give them the preheminence, and fubjedt all Carnal Interelt to them, and give them the Government of the Heart and Life : and that this is the ordinary ftate of a Believer. ;. My next Doubt was, left Education and Fear had done all that ever was done upon n.y Soul, and Kf^fwtT<7r/o» and L.ove were yet to leek ; becaule 1 had found Convictions from my Childhood, and found more Fear than Love in all my Duties and Refiramts. But P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. But I afterward perceived that Education is God's ordinary Vv^ay for the Convey- ance of his Grace, and ought no more to be iet in oppofition to the Spirit, than the preaching of the Word ; and that it was the great Mercy of God to begin with me fo loon, and to prevent fuch fins as elle might have been my fhame and Ibrrov/ while I Hved ; ami that Repentance is good,but Prevention and Innocence is better j which though we cannot attain in perfe(9:ion, yet the more the better. And I underflood, that though Fear without Love be not a ftate of Saving Grace zv[.<\ greater Lo'i'e to the World than to GoJ be not confiftent with Sincerity; yet a littk predominant Love ( prevailing againft worldly Love ) conjundl with a far greater measure oi Fear, may be a Itate of Special Grace I And that Fear being an cafier and irreflftible Paffion, doth oft obfcure that meafure of Love which is in- deed wit lin us I And that the Soul of a Believer groweth up by degrees, from the more troublefome { but fafe ) Operations of Fear , to the more high and excellent Operations of Complacential Love; even as it hath more of the fenle of the Love of God in Chrift, and belief of the Heavenly Life which it approacheth : And that it is long before Love be lenfibly predominant in refped of Fear ( that is, of Self-love and Self-prefervation), though at the fir Jt it is predomi- nant againft IVorldly Love, And 1 found that my hearty Love of the Word of God, and of the Servants of God, and my defires to be more holy, and eipecial- ly the hatred of my Heart for loving God no more, and my Love to love him , and be pleafmg to him, was not without Ibme Love to himfelf,though it workt more lenfibly on his nearer Image. 4. Another of my Doubts was becaule niyGw/and Humiliation wzs no greater, and becaufe 1 could weep no more for this. But I underftood at laft that God breaketh not all Mens hearts alike, and that the gradual proceedings of his Grace might be one caufe, and my Nature not apt to weep for other Things another : And that the Change of our Heart from Sin to God, is true Repentance; and a loathing of our (elves is true Humiliation I and that he that had rather leave his Sin, than have leave to keep it , and had rather be the moll holy, than have leave to be unholy or Icfs holy, is neither without true Repentance, nor the Love of God. f. Another of my Doubts was, becaufe I had after my Change committed fome Sins deliberately and knowingly : And be they never fo fmall.I thought he that could fin upon knowledge and deliberation had no true Grace, and that if I had but had as Itrong Temptations to Fornication, Drunkennels, Fraud, or other more heinous Sins, I might alio have committed them I And if thefe proved that I had then no Saving Grace, after all that I had felt, I thought it unlikely that ever 1 Jhould have any. This (luck with me longer than any of the reft j and the more, becaule that e- very Sin which I knowingly committed did renew it : And the terms on which I receive Confolation againft it are thele : fNot as thofe tliat think every Sin a- gainft Knowledgedoth nullifie all our former Grace and Unregenerate us ; and that every time we Repent of fuch, we have a new Regeneration : but) 1. All Saving Grace doth indeed put the Soul into a ftate of Enmity to Sin as Sin, and confequently to every known Sin. 2. This Enmity muft Ihew it lelf in Vi Atlual Obedience , and quick- ly and penitently return when we have finned. This much I thought meet to (ay for the fike of others who may fall into the Time Temptations and Perplexities. § 7. The 1 P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ^ § 7. The Means by which God was pleafed to give me feme Peace and Comfort were, ' 1. The Reading of ma;iy Confolatory Books. 2. The obfervation of other Mens Condition : When 1 heard many makt the very fame Complaints that I did, who were People of whom I had the belt efteem, for the uprightnefs and holinefs of their Lives, it much abated my fears and troubles. And in particular it much comforted me, to read him whom I lo- ved as one of the holieft of all the Martyrs, Mr. John Bradford, fubfcribing him- felffo often, [;ihe hard-hearted fmner ; and the mifirable hard-hearted (inmr\ even as I was uied to do my (elf. 5. Anditmuchincreafedmy peac3 when God's Providence called me to the comtortingof many others that had the fame Complaints : While I anfwered their Doubts, I anfwered my own ; and the Charity which I was conftrained to exer- cile for them redounded to my felf, and inlenfibly abated my Fears, and procured mean increaleofquietnefiof Mind. -jv And yet after all, I was glad of TrohahiUties inftead of full undoubted Certawtm • "^.t J-rf and to this very day, though I have no liich degree of Doubt fulnefs as is any great An i66a trouble to my Soul, or procureth any great difquieting Fears, yet cannot Ifiy that ' I have fuch a certainty of my ownfincerity in Grace, as excludeth all Doubts and Fear: of the contrary. § 8. At that time al(b God Was pleafed much to comfort and fettle me by the acquaintance of feme Reverend peaceable Divines; Mr. Garbet (aforefaid ) and Mr. George Baxter of Ltttle IVenlock, (very holy men and peaceable, who laboured faithfully with little fuccefs till they were above fourfcore years of Age apiece •) efpscially old Mr. SarKitel Smith, fometime of Prittlewell in Effex, but then of Cref Jage in Shropjhtre, ( who hath written on the 6th of Hofea, the firft Pfalm , the 2 2d PJalm, the jift Ffalm, the 90th Pfalm, the Eunuch's Converfion, Noah'/ Do-ve, the Great Jffiz,e,an(i other Books: jThis good Man was one of ray moft familiar Friends, in whofe Converfe I took very much delight-who was buried but this Winter 1664. at his Native place at DiuHey in IVvrce/^erJIure. § 9. And becaufe the Cafe of my Body had a great Operation upon my Soul and the Hiftory of it is fomewha: necelTary to the right underftanding of the reft' and yet it is not a Matter worthy to be oft mentioned, I fliall here together give you a brief Account of the moft of my AfHidrions of that kind, referving the men- tion of fome particular Deliverances to the proper place. I was naturally of a found Conftitution, but very thin and lean and weak, and efpecially of a great debility of the Nerves. At feven years old I had the' Meafils, and at fourteen the Small-pox : I too foon after them went into the cold, and after ( in a Loofnefs ) went into a River or Brook to wafh me ; and I eat raw Apples and Pears and Plumbs in great quantities for many years : All which toge ther brought me into a violent Catarrh and Cough, which would not let me fleep quietly in the Night. When this had continued about two years, my Body being very thin, and Confumptions then common in the Country, I was much afraid of a Confumption : And firft I did eat great ftore of raw Garlick, which took off fome part of my Cough, but put an Acrimony into my Blood,which na- turally was acrimonious. ^ After this the Spitting of Blood increaled my fears : After that Sir Henry Herbtrt advifed me to take the Flower of Brimftone, which I continned till I had taken kven Ounces ; v/hich took off moft of the remainder of my Cough , but increa- fed the Acrimony of my Blood. Then an unskilful Phyfician perfwaded me that I had a Heftick, and to cure that I took much Milk from the Cow , and other pituicous cooling things , and conftantly anointed my Stomach and Reins with refrigerating Oils of Violets and Rofes ; and was utterly reftrain^ from my ufual Exercife ! By this time I had an cxtream chillinefs without, and yet a ftrange fcurf on my Tongue, with a con- ftant extream defire of ftretching, that I thought I could almoft have endured a ; Rack ; and an incredible flatulency at the Stomach , and a bleeding at the Nofe. The next Phyfician ("an Aged and Experinced DoAor) was confident the Scurvy was my cltief Diftemper, and thereupon prefcribcd me more Acrimonious Medicaments, Scurvy-grafs, Horfe-radifli, Muftard, Wormwood, &c. which a- bundantly incrcaied my bleeding at the Nofe; infomuch as I bled many times half a Pint or a Pint .1 day, and it co.ntinuing long, I was much weakned : Yet under thislearot the SvUrvy I continued two years taking exceffive quantities of Acri- C monious lo The LIFE of the L i b. 1- monious Things ; eating abundance of Muftard at every Meal, and drinking only Wormwood-beer, d^c. and ufing feme Exercife, as much as time would give me leave. By this time divers eminent Phyficians agreed that my Difeafe was the Hypo- condriack Melancholy, and not the Scurvy. To recite a Catalogue of my Symptoms and Pains, from Head to Feet, would be a tedious interruption to the Reader : I fliall therefore only fay this , chat the Symptoms and EfFeds of my General Indifpofition were very terrible ; fuch .^s a flatulent Stomach, that turn'd all things into Wind ; a Rheumatick head to a ve- ry great degree; and great fharpneis in my Blood, which occafioned me noiiiiall trouble by the excoriation of my Fingers ends,which upon any heat i us'd, or Aro- matick thing I took, would be raw and bloody : and every Spring and Fall, or by any kind of heating, my Nofeftill fell a bleeding, and that with fuch a great vio. lence, and in fuch exceflive quantities, as often threatned my Life : which I then afcribed to fuch Caules as I have fince liv'd to fee my lelf miftaken in ; for I am now fully fatisfied that all proceeded from Latent Stones in my Reins, occafioned by unfuitable Diet in my Youth. And yet two wonderful Mercies I had from God : 3. That I was never overwhelmed with real Melancholy. MyDiflemper never went fb far as to pofl'efs me with any inordinate Fancies, or damp me with finking Sadnefs, although the Phyficians call'd it the Hyfocondriack Melancholy. I had at leveral times the Advice ot no lefs than Six and thirty Phyficians, by whole order I us"d Druggs without number almoft, which God thought not fit to make fuc- celsful for a Cure : and indeed all Authors that I read , acquainted me that my Dileafe was incurable ; whereupon I at laff forfook the Doftors for the molt parr, except when the urgency of a Symptom, or Pain , conftrained me to fcek fome prelent eale. 2. The fecond Mercy which I met with, was, that my Pains, though daily and almoft continual,did not very niuchdilable me from my Duty; but I couid Study, and Preach, and Walk almolt as well if I had been free : (of which more anon). At lafi falling into a iudden and great decay and debility, I went to Sir Theodore Maycrne. who kept me in a long Courfe of Phyfick, which did me fome good for the prefenc ; and after that, riding much in the Army did me more good than a- ny thing : But having one Symptom on me (the conftant excoriation of my three formoff Fingers ends on both Hands to the raw flefh ) he lent me to TunbriJge- Waters, v\here I Ibid three Weeks ; and after that my Defludions and Agitation of the Serous Matter, much encreafed, (though the Excoriation cealed at that time) and haftned my greater ruine. Elpecially one Errour of his did me hurt : He vehemently perflWaded me to the eating of Apples, which of all things in the World had ever been my moft deadly Enemies ; fb that when it was too lace , Dr. A/^T^fr?!? perceived that though Acrimony difpoled the matter, yet nicer fi, and what more I know not : Upon this both he and other Phyficians gave me up as hof)ekfs, through the weakneis thereby occafioned, and concluding that all would end in a Dropfie, ( for my Leggs began to fwells) : By a Friend's peiTwaiion I wrote to Dr. George Bates, ( Archiater to King Charla the S.'cond, as Sir Theodore Mayerne was to King Charles the Firft ) who concurred lb exadly in all points with Dr. Mayerne, as if they had confulted, (the Caieand the Medicaments prelcribcd being unufual ) that 1 marvelled at their Concord : and by both their Counlels ( though neither of them had any confiderable hope of my Life), I was necelTirated , befides other Remedies, tobe ofc in purging, lor all my weaknefs, to prevent a Dropfie. Within a quarter of a year I was able weak- ly ro Preach again ; but continued divers years in languilhing Pains and Weak- ncffes, double or fourfold to what I had before : So that befides all my former In- firmities, ever after this Bleeding my chief Difsafe is a Prcon.uw.i 6'fW(f/af, through thegreac Diminution of Nature's Stock: And juft the fame Symptoms as moit men have about Fourfcoie years of Age, aie added to thofe which I had be- fore. In ((Miiefjeming NeceiTuies my latter Phyficians, after all this, did four or five times t.^ke fJime Blood from me ; and once a fpoonful in about fevcn Ounces oi Se- rtm did coagulate ; but at no oih:r time would one jot of it ever coagulate or co- here. Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 1 here, but was a meer putrilage fine fibru , like thin Ink or Saw-pit Water. To keep this Blood in the relaxed Veflels was now all my Cares, which daily jhed abroad upon my Eyes, and Teeth, and Jaws, and joynts, (b that I had fcarce reft night or day : ( of Ibme of the EffeftSj and my Remedy which God blefTed to my eafc;, I Ihallfpeak more afterward j. With fuch Blood , in a kind of Atro- phic, which hath caufed a very troublefome Drowfinefi to feize upon and follow me, I have lived now thele many years, and wrote all the Books that ever I wrote and done the greatell part of my Service: My chiefeft Remedies are, r. Temperance as to quantity and quality of Food: for every bit or fpoonful too much, and all that is not exceeding eafie of djgeftion, and all that is flatulent do turn all to Wind, and dilbrder my Head. 2. £xercife till I iweat : For if I walk not hard with almoft all my ftrength, an hour before Dinner, and an hour before Supper, till I fweat well, I am not able to digeft two Meals j and cannot expeft to live when I am difabled for Exercife, being preiently overwhelmed withchillinels, flatulency, andlerofity. 5. A conftant Extrintick Heat, by a great Fire, which may keep me ftill near to a Sweat, if not in it : ( for I am feldom well at ea(e but in a Sweat^. 4. Beer as hot as my Throat will endure, drunk ail at once, to make me Sweat. Thefe are the Means which God hath ufed to draw out my days , and give me eafe ( with one Herb inwardly taken j ; which I write for the fike of any Stu- dents that may be near the fame Diftempers ; but almofl all Phyfick did me harm : "~^ And no Aromatical Thing now can I tafte, but it fettcth my Nole a bleeding , though fince I bled a Gallon I am not lb prone to it as before. I havecaft in all this heic together, that the Reader may better underftand other things, and may not too oft be troubled wieh fuch Matters, But now at the Age of near Seventy years, what Changes and fad Days and Nights I undergo, I after tell. § 10. About the Eighteenth year of my Age Mr. Wickjtead, with whom I had lived at LuJloiv, had almoiV perfwaded me to lay by all my Preparations for the Miniltry, and to go to Londvn,AnA get acquaintance at Court, andgetfome Office, as being the only rifing way. I had no mind of his Counlel who had helped me no better before ; yet becaufe that they knew that he loved me, and they had no great inclination to my being a Minifter , my Parents accepted of his Motion : He told them that if I would go up and live a while with Sir Henry Herbert, then Maffer of the Revels,he would quickly let me in a rifing v/ny. I would not be difobedienc, but went up, and (iayed at IVbitehall with Sir H. H. about a month : But I had quickly enough of the Court ; when I law a Stage- Play inliead of a Sermon on the Lord's-days in the Atternoon, and law what Courfe was there in falhion, and heard little Preaching,but what was as to one part againlt the Puritans, I was glad to be gone : And at the lame time it plealed God that my Mother fell Tick, and defired my return ; and lo I revived to bid farewel to thofe kind of Employments and Expedations, While I was in Lmdon I fell into Acquaintance with a fober, godly, underftand- ing Apprentice of Mx.Vhikmon Stephens t\iQ'Sio6\iXQ\\c^ ., whole Name was Hum- fhrey Blundtn f who i5 fince turned an extraordinary Chymilf, and got Jacob Behem his Books tranflated and printed j, whom I very much loved, and who by his Con- folatory Letters and Diredions for Books, did afterwards do me the Offices of an uleful Friend. § 1 1. When I was going home again into the Country about Chriftmas-day, the greateft Snow began that hath been in this Age, which continued thence till Ea- An.\6i^ fier, at which fome places had it many yards deep ; and before it was a very hard Froft, which neceffitated me to Froft-nail my Horfe twice or thrice a day. On the Road I met a Waggon loaded, where I had no paffage by, but on the fide of a bank , which as I palfed over, all my Horles feet flipt from under him, and all the Girths brake, and lb I was call juft before the Waggon Wheel , which had gone over me, but that it plealed God, that fuddenly the Horfes ftopt, without any dil- cernable caufe, till I was recovered : which commanded me to oblerve the Mercy of my Proteftor. § 12. This mindeth me of fome other Dangers and Deliverances which I paft over. At Seventeen years of Age, as I rode out on a great unruly Horfe for plea- fure, which was wont on a fudden to get the Bitt in his Teeth, and let on running ; as I was in a Field of high Ground, there being on the other fide a Quick-let Hedge, a very deep narrow Lane, about a Stories height below me ; fuddenly the Horle C 2 got 12 The LIFE of the L I B. I. ir- oot the Bridle as aforefaid, and let on running ; and in the midft of his running unexpeftedly turned afide, and leapt over the top of the Hedge into tbat deep Lane : I was fomewhat before him at the Ground, and as the Mire laved me from the hurt beneath, fo it plealed God that tlie Horfe never touched me, but he h'ght with two feet on one fide of me, and two on the other i though the place made it marvellous, how his feet could fall befides me. § 15. While I look back to this, it maketh me remember how God at that time did cure my inclination to Gaming : About Seventeen years of Age being at Lud- low Caftle, where many idle Gentlemen had little elfe to do, I had a mind to learn to play at Tables ; and the bell Gamefter in the Houfe undertook to teach me ! As I remember, the firft or fecond Game, when he had fo much the better that it was an hundred to one, befides the difference of our skills, the ftanders by laugh'd at me, as well as he, for not giving it up, and told me the Game was loft : 1 knew no more but that it was not loft till all my Table-men were loft, and would not give it over till then. He told me, rhat he would lay me an hundred to one of it, and in good earneft laid me down ten Ihillings to my fix pence : As foon as ever the Money was down,whereas he told me that there was no poffibilityof my Game, but by one Caft often, I had every Caft the fame I wilhed, and he had every one accoiding to my defire, fo that by that time one could go four or five times about the Room his G.isne was gone, which put him in 16 great an admiration, that I took the hint, and believed that the Devil had the ruling of the Dice, and did it to entice me on to be a Gamefter. And lb I gave him his Ten [hillings again, and re- Iblved I would never more play at Tables whilit I lived. § 14. But to return to the place where I left : When I came home from London, I found mv Modier in extremity of l^'ain, and fpcnt tliat Winter in the hearing of her Heart-piercing Groans, ( fhut up in the great Snow , which many that went abroad did periili iiij till on May the loth (he died. At Kiderminfier, the Town being in want of fire, went all to fliovel the way over the Heath to Stom-bridge, from whence their Coals come ; and fo great and liidden a ftorm of Snow fell, as overwhelmed them ; lb that Ibmo perilhed in ir, and others faved their Lives by g'Stting into a little Cote that fiandethonthe Heath, and others fcaped home with much ado. 5 1 5'. Above a year after the Death of my Mother, my Father married a Wo- man of gieat Sincerity in the Fear of God, Mary the Daughter of Sir Tho. Hiwkes : whole Holineli, Mortilication, Contempt of the World, and fervent Prayer ( in which Ihe fpeat a great part of her Life ) have been fo exceeding Exemplary, as made her a Special Bleffing to our Family, an Honour to Religion, and an honou- rable Pattern to thole that knew her. She lived to be c)6 years old. § 16. Fiom the Age of 21 till near 2 5, my Weaknefs was lo great, that I expe- cted not to live above a year ; and my own Soul being under the lerious appre- henfion cf the Matters of another World, I was exceeding defirous to Communi- cate thofe Apprehenfions to fuch ignorant, prefumptucus, carelels Sinners as the V/orld aboundfeth with. But 1 was in a very great perplexity between my En- couragements and my Difcouragements: I Vj^as confcious of my perfonal infuffici- ency, for want of that mealiire of Learning and Experience, which ia great and high a V/ork required. I knew that the want of Academical Honours and De- grees was like to make me Contemptible with the moft, and confequently hinder the Succels of my Endeavours. But yet expcifting to be fo quickly in another World, the great Concernments of miferable Souls, did prevail with me againft all theie Impediments • and being confcious of a thirfty defire of Mens Converfi- on and Salvation, and of Ibme competent perfwading Faculty of Expreffion.which lervent Affections might help to adtuate, I relblved that if one or two Souls only might be won to God, it would eafily recompenceall the difconour which for want ot Titles I might undergo from Men ! Arjd indeed I had fuch clear Convidions my Iclf of the madnefs of fecure pre- fiiniptuous Sinners, and the unqueftionable Realons which fliould induce men to a holy Life, and of the unfpeakable gieatnels of that Work, which in this hafty Inch of Time, we have all to do, that I thought that Man that could be ungod- ly, if he did but hear thefe things, was fitter for Bedlam, than for the Reputation of a fober rational Man : And I was lb foolifh as to think, that I had lb much to lay, and of fuch Convincing Evidence for a Godly Life , that Men were fcarcea- ble to withftand it j not conlidering what a blind and lenflels Rock the Heart of an obdurate Sinner is j and that old yldam is too ftrong for young Luthtr (as he faid). But thele Apprcheniions determined my choice. §17. Til) P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 3 § i7.Till this time I was fatisfied in theMatter of Conformity: Whilft I was young I had never been acquainted with any that were againft it^ or that queftioned it. I had joyned with theCommon-Prayer with as hearty fervency as afterward I did with other Prayers I As long as I had no Prejudice againft it, I had no ftop in my ~f- Devotions from any of its Imperfeftions. At lad at about 20 years of Age^ I became acquainted with Mr. SimmonJs, Mr. Cradock, and other very zealous godly NonconJbrmifts in Sbrewshoy, and the ad- joyning parts, whole fervent Prayers and (avoury Conference and holy Lives did profit me much. And when I underftood that they were People profecuted by the Bilhops, I found much prejudice arileinmy heart againft thofe that peifecuted them, and thought thofe thatfilenced and troubled fuch Men could not be the ge- nuine Followers of the Lord of l,ove. But yet I relblved that I would Itudy the Point, as well as I was able , before J. would be confident on either fide : And it prejudiced me againft the Nonconfor- mifts, becaule we had but one oF them near us , ( one Mr. Barfiel of Uppngton ) who, though he was a very honeft blamelefs Man, yet was reputed to be but a mean Scholar j when Mr. Garbet , and ibme other ConformiHs, were more Learn- ed Men : And withal, the Books of the Nonconfcrmifts were then fo Icarce, and hard to be got ( becaufe of the danger J that I could not corns to know their rea- fbns. Whereas on the contrary fide, Mr. Garbet and Mr. Saj^uel Smith, did fend mQ Downbam, Sprhjt, Dr. Biirges, and Others of the ftrongeft that had wrote againft the Nonconformifts ; upon the reading of which I could not fee but the Caule of the Cont'ormifts was very juftifiable, and the realbning of the Nonconformifts weak. Hereupon when I thought of Ordination, I had no Scruple at all againft Sub- fcription : And yet (b precipitant and ralh was I, that I had never once read over the Book of Ordination, which was one to which I was coSubfcribe jnor half read over the Book of Homilies, nor exaftly weighed the Book of Common-Prayer,nor was I of fuiiident Underftanding to determine confidendy in fome Controverted Points in the 59 Articles. But my Teachers and my Books having cjuled me in general to think the Con ibrmifts had the better Caufe , I kept oat all particular Scruples by that Opinion. § 18. At that time old Mr. Richard Foley oi Stourbridge in IVorceJter^nre, bad re- covered (bnie alienated Lands at Dudley, which had been left to Charitable Ufes, and added foinethingof his own, and bui't a convenient new School-Houfe, and was to choole his firlt School-Mafter and Ulher : By the means oi James Berry (who lived in the Houle with me, and had lived with him) he defired me to ac- cept it. I thought it not an inconvenient Condition for my Entrance, becaufe I might alfo Preach up and down in Places that were mo ft ignorant, before I pre- lumed to take a Paftoral Charge (to which 1 had no inclination). So to Dudley 1 went, and Mr. Foley and James Berry going with me to Worceftcr , at the Time of Ordination, I was Ordained by the Billiop, and had a Licence to teach School j for which (being Examined) I Subfcribed. § 19. Being fettled (with an Ulher) in the new School at Dudley, and living in the Houle of Mr. Richard Foley Junior, 1 there preached my firft Publick Sermon in the upper Parifh Church j and afterwards Preached in the Villages about ; and there had occafion to fall afreili upon the ftudy of Conformity : For there were many private Chriftians thereabouts that were Nonconformifts , and one in the Houle with me. And that excellent Man, Mr. William Fennn , had lately lived two miles off at Sedgeley, who by defending Conformity, and honouring it by a wonderfully powerful and liiccelsful way of Preaching, Conference, and holy Li- ving, had ftirred up the Nonconformifts the more to a vehement pleading of their Caufe : And though they were there generally godly honeft People, yet fmartly cenforious, and made Conformity no fmall fault : And they lent me Manufcripts and Books which I never faw before ; whereupon I thought it my Duty to let up- on a ferious impartial Trial of the whole Caule. The Caufe of Epilcopacy Biftiop Downbam had much fatisfied me in before ; and I had not then a fufficient Underftanding of the difference betwixt the Argu- ments fur an Epifcopacy in general, and for our Engltjli Diocefans in particular. The Caule of Kneeling at the Sacrament I ftudied next : and Mr. Vaybody fully fatisfied me for Conformity in that. I turned over Cartwright and Whitgift , and others ; but having lately procured Dr. Ames frelh fuit, I thought it my beft way to ftudy throughly Dr. Bnrges (his Father-in-law^ and him, as the likelieft means to avoid diltradion among a multitude of Writers, and not to lofe the Truth iri crowds 14 The LI F E of the L l b. I. crowds of Words ; feeing thefe two were reputed the ftrongeft on each fide. So I borrowed Amefitu his Fn^i Suit, &c. and becaule I could not keep itj I tranfcrihed the ftrength of it the broad Margin of Dr. Burges his RejoynJer, over againlt each Paragraph which he replied to : And I fpent a confiderable time in the rtrideft Examination of both which I could perform. And the refult of all my Studies was as followeth : Kneeling I thought lawful, and all meer Circumllances determined by the Magiftrate, which God in Nature or Scripture hath determined of only in the General.The Surplice I more doubted of; but more inclined to think it lawful : And though Ipurpoled, while I doubted, - to forbear it till neceflity lay upon me, yet could 1 not have jullified the forfaking of my Minilf ry for it ; ( though I never wore it to this day^\ The Ring in Mar- riage I made no Scruple about. The Crofs in Baptifml thought Dr. Ames proved unlawful J and though I was not without (bme doubting in the Point, yet becaule I moff inclined to judge it unlawful^ never once ufed it to this day. A Form of Prayer and Liturgy I judged to he lawful, and in fome Gales lawfully impofed : Our Liturgy in particular, 1 judged to have much diforJer and defettiTjcneji in it, but nothing which Ihould mako the ule of it, in the ordinary Publick Worlhip, to be unlawful to them that have not Liberty to do better. Dilcipline I wanted in the Church, and faw the lad Effects of its negled : But I did not then underftand that the very Frame of Diocelan P/elacy excluded it, but thought it had been on- ly the Bifhops peilbnal negleds. Subfcription I began to judge unlawful, and faw that I finned by temerity in what I did : For though I could flill ule the Common Prayer, and was not yet againft Diocelans , yet to Sublcribe , £.v Animo , That there IS nothing tn the three Books contrary to the IVord of God, was that, which if it had been to do again, I durft not do. So that Suhfcnption, and the Crofi <» Baptifm, and the p-omjjcuous giving of the Lord's Supper to all Vrunknrdsj Swearers, Fornicators, Scot- vers at Godlineji, &c. that are not Excommunicate by a Diihop or Chancellor that is out of their Acquaintance. Thefe three were all that I now became a Ncmoit- forniiH to. But molt of this I kept to ray felf. I daily difputed againO: the Noiiconformifts j for I found their Cenforioulhefs and Inclinations towards Seperation/in the weak- er fort of them j to be a Thrcatning Evil, and concrary to Chriilian Charity on one fide, as Perlecution is on the other. Some of them that pretended to much I,e3rning, engaged me in Writing to difpute the Cafe of Kneeling at the Sacra- ments ; which 1 followed till they gave it over. 1 laboured continually to reprels their Cenforinufiiefs, and the boldnels and bitternefs of their Language againit the Bilhops, and to reduce them to greater Patience and Charity. But I found that their Sulfi;rings from the Bilhops were the great Impediment of my Succels, and ^ that he that will blow the Coals muft not wonder if fome Sparks do fly in his face ; and that to peilccute Men , and then call them to Charity, is like -* whipping Childicn to make them give over Crying. The llronger fort of Chri- ftians can bear Muldls and Imprifonments and Reproaches for obeying God and Conlcience.without abating their Charity or their Weaknels to their Perlecutorsjbut to expedl this from all the weak and injudicious, the young and pailtonatejisagainll: all Realbn and Experience ; I faw that he that will be loved, nnift love j and he that rather chooleth to he more feared th^n loved, mull: exped; to be hated, or lo- ved but diminutively : And he that will have Children, muft be a Father: and he that will be a Tyrant muft be contented with Slaves. § 20. In this Town of Dudky I lived ( not a Twelve-month ) in much com- fort, amongit a poor tracSable People, lately famous for DrunkenneG , but com- monly more ready to hear God's Word with lubmiflion and reformation, than moft Places where I have come: fb that having fince the Wars (ec up a Monthly Le- (fture there, the Church was ufually as much crowded within, and at the Windows, as ever I faw any London Congregation? : ( Partly through the great willingnefs of the People, and partly by the exceeding popuJoufnels of the Country, where the Woods and Commons are planted with I^ailers , Scithe-Smiths ^ and other Iron- Labourers, like a continued Village). And here in my weaknefs I was obliged to thankfulnels to God, for a conveni- ent Habitation, and the tender caie ot Mr. R. Fole/s Wife, a Genie vvoman of fuch extraordinary Meeknels and Patience, with fincere Piety , as will not cafily be believed by thole that knew her not ! who di'^d about two years after. § 21. When I had been but three quarters of a year at Dudley, I was by God's very gracious Providence invited to Br/(/^M<'rr/.i, the lecond Town oi ShropJIiire, to preach there as Affiftant to the wortliy Palfor of that place. As foon as I heard the Part 1. Reverenc/ Mr, Kichatd B^xtti\ . H the place delcribed, I perceived it was the fitteft for me ; for there was juft [iich Employment as I defired, and could fubmit to, without that which I fcrupled, and with fome probability of peace and quietnels. The Minifter of the place was Mr. IViUiam Madfiard, a grave and fevere Atici- ent Divine, very honeit and confcionable, and an excellent Preacher, but lome- whatafflided with want of Maintenance, and much more with a dead-hearted unprofitable People. The Town Maintenance being inconfiderable, he took the Parfonage of 0W^«>7 near the Town, a Village of fcarce twenty Hoiifcs, and 16 defired me to be one half day in the Town, and the other at the Village ; but my Lot after fell out to be moftly in the Town. The place is priviledged from all Epilcopal Jurifdidion, except the Archbithop's Triennial Vifitation. There are fix Pari(hes together, two in the Town, and four in the Country, that have all this Priviiedge. At Bridgnnrtb they have an Ordinary of their own, who, as an Of- ficial, keepeth a confbnt Ecclefialtical Court, having the Jurifdidion of thofe fix Parifhes. This reverend and good man, Mr. Madjrard, was both Ta[hr and Offi. cial, the Place ufually going along with that of the Preacher of that Town ('though Separable ) : By which means I had a very full Congregation to preach to , and a freedom from all thole things which I fcrupled or thought unlawful. I often read the Common Prayer before 1 preached, both on the Lord's-days and Holy-days ; but 1 never adminiltred the Lord's Supper, nor ever Baptized any Child with the Sign of the Crols, nor ever wore the burplici, nor was ever put to appear at any Bilhop's Court. But the People proved a very ignorant, dead-hearted People, ( the Town con- fifting too much of Inns and Alehoulcs, and having no general Trade to imploy the Inhabitants in, which is the undoing of great Towns) : fo that though through the great Mercy of God, my firft Labours were not without Succefs, to the Con- verfion of lome ignorant careleli Sinners unto God, and were over-valued by thofe that were already regardful of the Concernments of their Souls, yet were they not ib fuccefsful as they proved afterwards in other places. Thougli I was in the fer- vour of my Aftedions, and never any where preached with more n'^ehement de- fires of Mens Converfion ( and I account my I.iberty with that meafiire of Suc- cefs which I there had, to be a Mercy which lean never be fufficicntly th.mkful j for) yet with the generality an Applaufe of the Preacher was moft of the fuccefs ' of the Sermon which I could hear of; and their tipling and ill compa.ny and dead- . heartednefs quickly drowned all. §22. Whillf I here exercifed the firft Labours of my Miniftry, two feveral Af- faults did threaten my Expulfion : The one was a new Oath, which was made by An.i6Ao the Convocation, commonly called The Et catcra Oath : For it was to fwear us all, That Tve -would vever Con{ent to the Alteration of the prefent Go'vernmetit of the Church ^ by JrchbiJJjops, Bijljops, Deans, Arch- deacons-, &c. This caft the Minifters through- out England into a Divifion, and new Difputes. Some would take the Oath, and Ibme would not. Thofe that were for it, fiid, That Epifcopacy was Jure Dtvino , and alfo fettled by a Law, and therefore if the Sovereign Power required it, we might well fwear that we would never confent to alter it ; and the King's Approbation of thefe Ca- nons made them (ufficiently obligatory unto us. Thoie that were againfl it, fiid, i . That Epifcopacy was either contra jus Divi- wim , or at beft not Jure Divino^ and therefore mutable when the King and Par- liamentpleafed. 2. Or at leaft that it was undeniable. That Archbi (hops, and Deans, and Chap- ters, and Arch-deacons,c^c, vjtxz noz^W Jure Drjwo: nay, that the £w^///7) frame of Diocefans having many hundred Parifh Churches under one Bifhop in fini gradus, was not only againft the Word of God, but delfrudtive of ail the Epifcopacy which was known in the Church at leaft for 200 years. 5. They laid that it was intolerable to IWear to a blind Et aetera ; for litterally it included all the Officers of the Ecclefiaflical Courts that are now in Exer- ' cife of the Government ; Lay-Chancellors ( that ufe the Keys for Excommunica- tion and Ablolution ) Surrogates, CommilTaries, Officials, and the rcff. And was it ever known that all the Clergy was fworn to luch an Anomalous Rab- ble? 4. They faid that for ought they knew this Goverment in whole, or in fome part, might be altered by the King and Parliament by a Law : And to tie up our ielves by anOach that we would never obey fuch a Law, nor confent to that which the King might command us, this they thought was a Bond of Dilbbedience, next to a Rebellion. 5. They i6 The LIFE of the L i b. I. 5. They faid that it was againft the Subjeds Liberty j which alloweth them fo- berly to Petition the King and Parliament for 8 Redrefs of any Grievance. And if now a Lay-Chancellor's ule of the Keys, e. g. were no burden to the People, we know not how God may make fuch Alterations by his Providence , as may make that a Grievance which now is none. 6. And they faid it was againlf the Priviledges of Parliament, that fuch an Oath Ihould be deviled and impoled upon the Subjeds, without a Law, or the Parlia- ments confent. Thefe and other Realbns were pleaded againft it : ( And afterward when the Parliament took it into confideration, it was Condemned on thefe and other Ac- cpunts). The Minifters of the Country met together at Bridgnorth to Debate this Bufintfs, that they might have no Divifion : and fome few were for the Oath, but more againft if. This put me upon deeper Thoughts of the Point of Epifcopacy, and of the English frame of Church Government than ever I had before : and now I had the opportunity of feeing fome Books, which I never had before. My very dear Vl■\&n6^bAl^.WtUiam Rowhy.^n. Gentleman of Shrewsbury) lent me Gerjomus Buct- rifs his Dij]erlatin de Giiberrtatmie Ecckftee, and DiJoclaves Altare Damajcenttm ; and Ihoftly after I had Parker de Polit. Ecchf. and Bayness Diocejatjes Trial j and I received Bifiicp D^jynj&.w/, and compared his Reaibns with Bucers, Didoclaves, &cc. And though I found not (ufficient Evidence to prove all kind of Epilcopacy unlawful , yet 1 was much latisded that the Engli(l) Dioeefan frame, v/as guilty of the Cor- ruption of Churches and Miniftry, and of the ruineof the true Church Dilcipline, and lubflituting an heterogeneal thing in its ftead. And thus the Et aetera 0.\th, which was impoled on us for the unalterable fub- je7ing towards the Altarj and the Book for Dancing on the Lord's Day, and the Liturgy on Scotland, &cc. and to Sufpend or Silence abundance of Minifters that were conformable, for want of this Super-canonical Conformity ; io accordingly the Parliament confifted of two forts of Men , who by the Con- jandlion of thefe Caufes were united in their Votes and Endeavours for a Reforma- tion : One Party made no great matter of thefe Alterations in the Churcli ; but they faid, Thatif Parli-imsnts were once down, and our Propriety gone, and Ar- bitrary Government fet up, and Law fubjecfted to the Prince's Will, we were then all Shves, and this they made a thing intolerable j for the remedying of which, they fiid, every true E^igliflj Man could think no price to dear : Thefe the People called Good Commoniveahb's Men. The other fort were the more Religious Men, who were alfo fenfible of all thefe things, but were much more fenfible of the In- tereft of Religion; and thefe mctt inveyed againft the Innovations in the Churchi the bowing to Altars, the Book for Sports on Sundays , the Cafting out of Mini- sters, the troubling of the People by the High-Commiflion Court, the Pilloring and Cutting off Mens Ears, fMr. Burtons, Mr. Prins, and Dr. Bajtwicks) for fpeak- ing againit the Bifhops, the putting down Leftuies, and Afternoon Sermons and "^ Expolitions on the Lord's Days, with inch other things, which they thought of greater weight than Ship-money. But bscaule thefe later agreed with the former in the Vindication of the Peoples Propriety and Liberties, the former did the eafilier concur with them againft the Proceedings of the Bifhops and High CommifHon Court. And as foon as their Inclination was known to the People, all Countreys fent in their Complaints and Petitions. It was prefently known how many Miniflers Bifhop Wren { and others of them ) had fiifpended and filenced j how many thou- ftnd Families had been driven to flie into Holland, and how many thoufand into Netv-Erigimd : Scarce a Minifter had been Silenced, that w.is alive, but it was put into a Petition, hh. Peter Sniart oi DurhaTn, and Dr. Lay ton (a Scotch Phyfician, who wro-e a Dook called Stan's Plea againfi the Prelates) were releafed out of their long Iniprifonment : M.X. Burton, Mr. Pr in, and Dr. Bajlwick, who (asisfaid) had been pillored, and their Ears cut off^ and they lent into a (fuppofed) perpetual Ini- prifonment into the diftant Caftles of Gerwj'7, Jerjey, and Carnarvon, were all fee free, and Damages voted them for their wrong : And when they came back to Lofidon, they were met out of the City by abundance of the Citizens, with fiich Accl.iniations as could not but fecm a great Affront to the King, and be much dif- pleafing to him. The Lord Keeper Fmch and Secretary Wtndebank fled beyond Sea, and fived themfelves : The guilty Judges were deeply accuf:d, and fome of them imprifonod for the Caufe of Ship-money. But the great Difpleafure was againft tlie Lord Deputy Wentworth, and Archbifhop Laud : Both thefe were lent to the Tower, find a Charge drawn up again.ft them, and managed prefently againft the Lord Deputy by the ablell Lawyers and Gentlemen of thelloufe. This held them work Part I. Reverend Mr. RichsLvd Baxter. 19 a confiderable time : The King was exceeding unwilling to confent unco his death j and therefore ufedail his skill to have drawn offthe Parliament from lb hot a Pro- {ecution of him. And now began the firfl: Breach among themfelves : For the Lord Falkland, the An.i6^t Lord D'lghy, and divers other able Men, were for the fparingof his Life, and grati- fying the King.and not putting him on a thing fo much dilpleafing to him.The rell laid, If after the Attempt of Subverting the Fundamental Laws and Liberties , no ■^'■ one Man lliall fuffer Death, it will encourage others hereafter to the like. The Londoners petitioned for Jufiice : And too great numbers of Apprentices and others, ( being imboldened by the Proceedings of the Parliament , and not fore-knowing what a Fire the Sparks of their temerity would kindle) did too triumphingly and diforderly urge the Parliament, crying Jufitce, Juftice. And it is not unlikely that fome of the Parliament-men did encourage them to this, as thinking that fome backward Members would be quickned by Popular Applaufe : And withal, to work on the Members alfo by dilgrace, fome infolenc Painter did (ledicioudy) draw the Pidures of the chief of them that were for faving the Lord Deputy , and cal- led them the Straffordians ( he being Earl of Strafford ) and hang'd them with their Heels upward on the Exchange. Though it cannot be expeded that in fo great a City there Ihould be no Perfons fo indifcreet as to commit fuch diforderly Adi- ons as thefe, yet no fober Men Ihould countenance them, or take part with them, whatever ends might be pretended or intended. The King called the(e Tumults : the Parliament called them the Cities Petitioning ! Thofe that connived at them were glad to fee the People of their mind in the main, and thought it would do much to facilitate their Work, and hold the looler Members to their Caufe : For though the Houle was unanimous enough in condemning Ship-money , and the Et catera Oath, and the Bifliops Innovations, &c. yet it was long doubtful which fide would have the major Vote in the matter of the Earl of Strafford's Death, and fuch other Ads as were moft highly difpleafing to the King. But diforderly means do generally bring forth more Diforders, andfsldom attain any good end for which they are ufed. § 28. The Parliament alfo had procured the King to confent to feveral Afts which were of great importance, and emboldened the People by confirming their Autho- rity : As an A<5t againrt the High Com miffion Court, and Church-mens Secular or Civil Power ; and an A&. that this Parliament ihould not be diffolved till its own Confent, (alledglng that the dilTolving of Parliaments emboldened Delin- quents, and that Debts and Diforders were fo great that they could not be overcome by them in a little time ) : Alfo an Ad for Triennial Parliaments. And the Peo- ple being confident that all thefe were figned by the King, full fore againft his will, and that he abhorred what was done,did think that the Parliament which had con- fVrained him to this much, could carry it ftill in what they pleafed, and fo grew much more regardful of the Parliament, and fided with them not only for their Caufe, and their own In tereff, but alfo as fiippofing them the fironger fide C which the Vulgar are ftill apt to follow). § 29. But to return to my own matters : This Parliament, among other parts of their Reformation, refblved to reform the corrupted Clergy, and appointed a Com- mittee to receive Petitions and Complaints againfl them ; which was no fooner un- derffood, but multitudes in all Countreys came up with Petitions againff their Mi- nifters. The King and Parliament were not yet divided, but concurred, and fb no partaking in their Differences was any part of the Accufation of thefe Mini- ftersjtill long after when the Wars had given the occafion ; and then that alfo came into their Articles : but before it was only matter of Infuflficiency, falfe Dodrine, illegal Innovations, or Scandal, that was brought in againft them. Mr. John White being the Chair-man of the Committee for Scandalous Miniflen ( as it was called ) publilhed in print one Century firft of Scandalous Minifters, with their Names, Places, and the Articles proved againft them : where lb much ignorance, infufliiciency, drunkennefs, filthinefs, e^c. was charged on them, that ma- ny moderate men could have wilhed that their Nakednels had been rather hid , and not expofed to the Worlds derifion, and that they had remembred that the Papifts did fVand by, and would make Iport of it. Another Century allb was after pub- liOied. Among all thefe Complainers, the Town of Kgdermin^er in Worcefierjhtrt , drew up a Petition againft their Minifters : The Vicar of the place they Articled againft as one that was utterly infufficient for the Miniftry , prefented by a Papift , un- learned , preached but once a quarter, which was fo weakly, as expofed him to D z laughtsfj 20 The LIFE of the Lib. I. laughter, and perfwaded them that he underftood not the very Subftantial Articles of Chriltianity ; that he frequented AJehoufes, and had Ibmetimes been drunk j that he turned the Table Alter- wile, &c. with more fuch as this. The Vicar had a Curate under him in the Town whom they alfo accufed ; and a Curate at a Chap- pel in theParifli, a common Tippler and aDiunkard, a railing Quarreller, an ig- norant inlufficient Man, who (as I found by Examining himj underftood not the common Points of the Childrens Catechifm, but faid fome good words to them Ibmetimes out of Mufculns's Common Places in Englijli , which was almoft the only Book he bad ; and his Trade in the Week-days was unlawful Marriages. The Peo- ple put their Petition into the Hands of Sir Henrj Herbert Burgefi for Bewdky , a Town two miles diftant. The Vicar knowing his infufficiency , and hearing how two others in his Cafe had fped, defired to compound the Bufjnefs with them j and by the mediation of Sir Henry Htrhert, and otheiSj it was brought to this. That he ihould inftdd of his prefent Curate in the Town, allow 60 /. fer Annum Co a Prea- cher whom fourteen of them nominated, fiiould choofe j and that he fhould noc hinder this Preacher from preaching whenever he plea(ed,and that he himfelf /hould read Common Prayer, and do all elfe that was to be done : and fo they preferred not their Peciiion againft him, nor againft his Curates, but he kept his Place, which was worth to him near 200 /. per Ann. allowing that 60 /. out of ittotheirtefturer. To perform this he gave a Bond of fco /. Thele things being thus (iniflied, Ibmeof them defired old Mr. Lapthorn (a. fa- mous Man, turned from Nonconformity by King James ) to come and preach with them on trial to be their Lecturer : Mr. Lapt horns roughnefs and great inime- thodicainefs, and digreffions, fo offended the intelligent leading Party, that they lejeftcd him fomewhat uncivilly, to his great difplealiire. Hereupon they invited me to them fiom Bridgnorth : The Biiliff of the Town, and all the Feoffees defired me to preach with them, in order to a full determinati- on. My mind was much to the place as {oon as it was delcribed to me j becaufe it was a full Congregation, and moft convenient Temple j an ignorant, rude and revelling People for the greater part, who had neeJ of preaching 5 and yet had a- mong them a fmal! Company of Converts, who were humble, godly, and of good Converfkions, and not much hated by the refl , and therefore the ficter to alTifl their Teacher ; but above all, becaufe they had hardly ever had any lively, ferious preaching among them : For Bridgnorth had made me reiblve that I would never more go among a People that had been hardened in unprofitablenefs under an a- wakening Miniitry ; but either to fuch as never had any convincing Preacher, or to fuch as had profiied by him. As fbon as I came to Kidcrminfier, and had preacli- ed there one day, I was chofen Nemine contradicentc, ( for though fourteen only had the power of choofing, they defired to pleafe the reflj. And thus I was brought by the gracious Providence of God, to that place which had the chiefeft of my Labours, and yielded me the greatelf Fruits of Comfort. And I noted the mercy of God in this, that I never went to any place in my Life , among all my Changes, which I had before delued, defigned or thought of, ( much leis lought j ; but only to thole that I never thought of, till the Hidden Invitation did liirprize me. § 50. When I had been here a while, in the beginning of July, the two Fami- lies which I had lalf lived in, at Dudley snd Bridgnorth, were at once vifired with Sicknefs, and they both fent for me ( upon a conceit of my skill in Phylick ) , but being from home I went to neither of them ; and it proved a molf contagious ma- lignant Fever next the Plague ; Mrs. Foley and Ibme of her Family died: and Mr. Made(}ard, his Wife, and a Gentlewom-m that lived with them, died within a day or two each of other. Being with my old Friend Mr. IVilli'^m Rowley, the lad MefTage came to us ( Mr, Madefiard being his Kinfman ) and I went with him to the Funeral, and preached his Funeral Sermon in fb deep a lenle of the milery of that unprofitable People, and the deep groans which I have heard from their faith- ful Pallor, for their obduratenefs, that I could not forbear to tell them my fears of fome heavy Judgment to come upon that place, which they were more capa- ble of laying to he.irt thin their Paffor's death. I had never before (nor ever did 1 fincej prelume upon fuch kind of Predictions, (nor did I fpeak that with any pretence of Prophefie^ but the cxpreffion of that fear 1 could nor then fuppref : My Text was Ez^ek. 5^. 35. And ■when thu comet h to pa^ {loe tt luill come ) then fliall they know that a Prophet hath been among therrj. And when the War was begun , the Town f being againff the Parliament J was a Garrifon for the King, kept by the Neighbour Gentlemen of the Country j who fortified the Calfle, and when the '^ Par- Part I. Reverenc^ Mr. Richard Baxter. 21 Parliament's Forces came to take the Town, they caft fuch effedual Fire-worl;s from the Caftle as burnt down the Town to the Ground, and burnt alio the great Church where I preached that Sermon , and where Mr. MadHard was intei red : So that the Inhabitants were undone, and fain to lye under Hedge?, ti!! the Com- paffion of others afforded them Entertainment and Habitation. And as for their Church, it was a great while before it was rebuilt , and that after two general Colleftions for it. The firft time that I came among them when the Wars were palt, I chole the fame Text again to preach on, to call their fins againft their faith- ful Pallor to remembrance : But they and I were fo much interrupted with Tears^ that ( with fome Pawles ) I had much ado to proceed on to the end. § 3 1. Whilft I continued at Kedermwfier, it pleafed God to give me much En- couragement by the Succefs of my weak but hearty Labours: As when I was young, I uled to keep a daily Catalogue of my daily Mercies and Sins, but when 1 grew elder I found that Courfe had its Inconveniences, and took up too much time, and therefore I only recorded thofe vvhicii were extraordinary j even fo when I firft entered upon my Labours in the Miniftry, I took fpecial notice of every one that was humbled, reformed or converted ; but when I had laboured long, it pleafed God that the Converts were fo many, that I could not afford time for fuch particular Oblervations about every one of them, left I Ihould omit fome greater Workj but was fain to leave that to their companionate familiar Neigh- bours,and take notice my ielf of Families and confiderable Numbers at once, that came in and grew up 1 fcarce knew how. § 32. All this forementioned time of my Miniftry was part under my fore- delcribed Weakneffes, which were fo great as made me live and preach in fome continual expectation of Death, fuppofing ftill that I had not long to live. And this I found through all my Life to be an unvaluable mercy to me : For, 1. It greatly weakned Temptations. 2. It kept me in a great Contempt of the World. 3. It taught me higlily to efteem of time : fo that if any of it paft away in idle- neis or unprofitablenefi, it was lb long a pain and burden to my mind 1 So that 1 rauft fay to the Praiie of my mo;t wife Condudor, that time hath ftill feemed to me much more precious than Gold or any Earthly Gain, and its Minutes have not been defpifed, nor have I been much tempted to any of the Sins, which go under the name of Vaflime , fince I underftood my Work. 4. It made me ftudy and preach things necejjarj, and a little ftirred up my flug- gilh heart, to fpeak to Sinners with fome Compaflion, as a dying Man to dying ''" Men. Thele, with the reft which I mentioned before when I fpake of my Infirmities^ were the Benefits which God afforded me by Afflidion ! I humbly blefi his graci- ous Providence, who gave me his Treafure in an Earthen Velfel, and trained me up ill the School of Aftlidion, and taught me the Cro(i of Cbrifi Co foon ; that I might be rather Theelogtts Cmcis, as Luther fpeaketh, than Theologns Gloria ; and a Crop'bearer, than a Croji-maker or Impofer. § 3 5. At one time above all the reft, being under a new and unufual Diftemper, ^ which put me upon the prelent ExpeAations of my Change, and going for Com- fort to the Promiles as I was uled, the Tempter ftrongly affaulted my Faith, and would have drawn me towards Infidelity it Ielf. Till 1 was ready to enter into the Miniftry, all my Troubles had been raifed, by the hardnefs of my heart, and the doubcings of my own Sincerity ; but now all thefe began to vani/h, and never much returned to this day : And inftead of thefe, I was now affaulted with more pernicious Temptations ,• efpecialiy to queftion the certain Truth of the Sacred Scriptures; and alio the Life to come, and Immortality of the Soul. And thefe Temptations affaulted me not as they do the Melancholy, with horrid vexing Im- portunity ; but by pretence of fober Reafon, they would have drawn me to a fet- ied doubting of Chriftianity. And here I found my own Mifcarriage, and the great Mercy of God. My Mif- carrtage, in that I h ;d to long negletlred the well iettlmg of my Foundations, while 1 had beftowed (b much time in the SuperftruAures and the Applicatory part I For having taken it for an intolerable Evil, once to queftion the Truth of Scriptures ana the Life to coine, I had either taken it for a Certainty upon Truft , or taken up vvith Common Reafons of it, which I had never well confidered, digefted, or made mine own. Infomuch as when this Temptation came, it feemed at firft to anlwer and enervate all the former Reafbns erf" my feeble Faith, ^ which made me take the Scriptures for the Word of God ; and it fet before me fuch Mount^iins of Difficulty 22 ^^^ LIFE of the L I B. L Difficulty in the Incarnatiotij the Perfon of Chrift, his Undertaking and Perform- ance with the Scripture Chronology, Hiftories and Stile, &c. which had flailed and overwhelmed me, if God had not been my ftrength. And here I faw much of the Mercy of God, that he let not out thefc terrible and dangerous Temptations upon me, while I was weak and in the infancy of my Faith j for then I had ne- ver been able to withftand them. But Faith is like a Tree, whofe Top is fmall while the Root is young and ftiallow : and therefore as then it hath but Imall root- ing, fo is it notliabletothe fhaking Wintis and Tempefts as the big and high- grown Trees are: But as the top groweth higher, fo the root at once grows great- er, and deeper fixed, to caufe it to endure its greater Aifaults. Though formerly I was wont when any fuch Temptation came, tocafl irafide, as fitter to be abhorred than confidered of, yet now this would not give me fati(^ fadion ; but I was fain to dig to the very Foundations, and lerioufly to Examine the Reafons of Chriftianity, and to give a hearing to all that could be faid againtt it, that fo my Faith might be indeed my own. And at lalt I found that iVi/ tam certum cjuamquod ex dubio certum j Nothing is fo firmly believed, as that which hath been fometime doubted cf. § 54. In the dorm of this Temptation, I queftioned a while whether I were indeed a Chriftian or an Infidel, and whether Faith could confift with fuch Doubts as I wasconfciousof : For I had read in many Papiftsand Proteffants, that Faith had Certainty, and was more than an Opinion ; and that if a Man ftould live a godly Lifj, from the bare apprehenfions cf the Probability of the Truth of Scrip- ture, and the Life to come, it would not lave him, as being no true Godlinefe or Faith. But my Judgment clofed v/ith the Reafon of Dr. Jackfins Determination of this Cafe, which liipported me much, that as in the very Alfenting Aftof Fajth there may be fuch weaknefs, as may make us cry, Lord mcreafe our Faith : fVebcUe've^ Lord help cur belief \ fb when Fc.ith and Unbelief are in their Conflift, it is the Ef- feHs which muft (hew us which of them is viAorious. And that he that hath lb much Fai'.h as will caufe him to deny himfelf, take up his Crols, and forlake all the Profits, Honours, and Pleafures of this World, for the lake of Chrill, the Love of God, and the hope of Glory, hath a laving Faitli, how weak Ibever : For God cannot condemn the Soul that truly loveth and lieketh him : And thole that ChrUt bringeth to perfevere in the Love of God, he bringeth to Salvation. And there were divers Things that in tl.ii AlTault proved greac Ailiflances to my Faith. 1. That the Being and Attributes of God were lo clear to me, that he was to my Intelled what the Sun is to my Eye, by which I fee it lelf and all Things : And he leemed mad to me that quelHoned whether there were a God : that any Man Ihould dream that the World was made by a ConHux of Irrational Atoms, and Reafon came from that which had no Reafon, or that Man, or any Inferiour Be- ing was independent ; or that all the being, Power, Wifdom, and Goodnels whicb we converled with, had not a Caufe which in Being, Power, Wiidom and Good- nels, did excel all that which it had caufed in the World, and had not all that for- vialiter -vel eminent er in itleU which it communicated to all the Creatures. Thele, and all the Suppofitions of the Atheift, have ever fince been lb vifibly foolilh and fliameful to my Apprehenfion, that I Icarcefind a Capacity in my felf of doubting of them ; and whenever the Tempter hath joyned any thing againft thefe, with the red of his Temptations, the reft have been the eafier overcome, becaufe of the overwhelming cogent Evidences of a Deity jwhich are always before the Eyes of my Soul; 2. And it helped me much to difcern that this God muft needs be related to us as our Owner, our Governour, and our Benefactor, in that he is related to us as our Creator ; and that therefore we are related to him as his o-wn, his Subjeils , and liis Beneficiaries -^ which as they all proceed by undeniable reliiltancy from our Creation and Nature, fo thence do our Duties arile which belong to us in thole Relations, by as undeniable rcfultancy ; and that no fhew of Realbn can be brought by any Infi- del in the World to excufe the Rational Creature from Loving his Maker, with all his heart and foul and might, and devoting himlelf and all his Faculties to him from whom he did receive them, and making him his ultimate End who is his firft Efficient Caufe. So that GodlineJJ is a Duty fo undeniably required in the Law of Nctuie, and lb difcernable by Rejfon it lelf, that nothing but unrealonablenefs can contradidt it. ;. And then it feemed utterly improbable to me that this God Ihould fee us to be Lolcis by our Love and Duty to him, and that our Duty fhould be made to be our Snare, or make us the mors milerable by how much the more faithfully we perform Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 23 perform it ! And I law that the very Poffibility or Probability of a Life to come, would make it the Duty of a Reafonable Creature to feek it, though with the lols of all below. A. And I faw by undeniable Experience, a ftrange Univerfal Enmity between the Heavenly and the Earthly Mind, the Godly and the Wicked , as fulfilling the Prediiaion Gen. ;, i j. The War between the Woman's and the Serpent's Seed, be- ing the daily Bufinefs of all the World. And I (aw that the wicked and haters of Godlinefs are fo commonly the greateft and moft powerful and numerous, as well as cruel, that ordinarily there is no living according to the Precepts of Nature and undeniable Reafon, without being made the Derifion and Contempt of Men (if we can Icape fo eafily). J. And thei Ifaw that there is no other Religion in the World which can (land in competition with Chriltianity : Heathenifm and Mahometanifm are kept up by Tyranny , and Beaftly Ignorance, and blufh to ftand at the Bar of Realbn : And Judaifm is but Chriftianity in the Egg or Bed. Andweer Detfin, which is the moft plaufible Competitor, is fo turned out of almoft all the whole World, as if Na- ture made its own Confeffion , that without a Mediator it cannot come to God. 6. And I perceived that all other Religions leave the People in their worldly, fenfual, and ungodly ftate ; even their Zeal and Devotion in them, being com- monly the Servants of their Flefiily Intereft: And the Nations where Chriltianity is not, being drowned in Ignorance and Earthly mindednefs, fo as to be thelhame of Nature. 7. And I law that Chrift did bring up all his ferlous and fincere Difciples to real Holinefi and to Heavenly mindednefs, and made them new Creatures, and fee their Hearts and Defigns and Hopes upon another Life ; and brought their Senle into lubjedion to their Reafon, and taught them to refign themfelves to God, and to love him above all the World. And it is not like that God will make ufe of a Deceiver for this real vifible Recovery and Reformation of the Nature of Man ; or that any thing but his own Zsal can imprint his Image. 8. And here I faw aa admirable fuitiblenefs in the Office and Defign of Chrift, to the Ends of God, and the Felicity of Man : and how excellently thefe Super- natural Revelations do fall in, and take their place in fubferviency to Natural Ve- rities ; and how wonderfully Faith is fitted to bring Men to the Love of God ; when ic is nothing elle but the beholding of his amiable attradive Love and Good- nels in the Face of Chrift, and the Promifes of Heaven, as in a Glals, till we fee his Glory. 9. And I had felt much of the Power of his Word and Spirit on my felf j do- ing that which Reafon now telleth memuft be done : And fhall I queftion my Phyfician when he hath done (b much of the Cure , and recovered my depraved Soul (o much to God. 10. And as I (awthefe Afliftances tomyPaith, fo I perceived that whatever the Tempter had to fay againft it, was grounded upon the Advantages which he took from my Ignorance, and my Diftance from the Times and Places of the Mat- ters of the Sacred Hiftory, and fuch like things which every Novice meeteth with in almoft all other Sciences at the firft, and which wife well-ftudied Men can fee through. §3f. All thele Affiftances were at hand before I came to the immediate Evi- dences of Credibility in the Sacred Oracles themfelvej. And when I let my lelf to fearr^ for thole, I found more in the Doftrine, the PrediAions, the Miracles, ar'.?cedent, concomitant, fublequent, than ever I before took notice of : which I ihall not here fb far digrefs as to fetdown, having partly done it in ieveral Trea- tifes ; as The Saints Refi, Part 2. The Unreafonablenefi of Infidelity ; A Saint or a Bruit, in my Chri[iian DireBory ; and fince more fully in a Treacife, called, The Reajons of the Cbri/iian Religion ; my Life of Faith, &c. § 36. From this Aflault I was forced to take notice. That it is our Belief of the Truth of the Word of God, and the Life to come, which is the Spring that fets all Grace on work, and with which it riles or falls, flouriflies or decays, is actuated or ftands ftill. And that there is more of this fecrct Unbelief at the Root than moft of us are aware of; and that our love of the V/or!d,our boldnefi with Sin,our negled: of Duty are caufid henccw 1 obferved eafily in my lelf, that if at any time Sacan did more than at other times weaken my Belief of Scripture, and the Life to come, my Zeal in every Religious Duty abated with it, and I grew more indifferent in Religion tlun befoie :I was more inclined to Conformity in thofe Points which 24 ^^^ LIFE of the L i b. L which I had taken to be finful , and was ready to think , why fhould I be lingular and offend the Biftops and other Superiours , and make my fclf contemptible in the World, and expofe my felf to Cenfures , Scorns , and Sufferings , and all for fuch little things as thefe, when the Foundations themfelves have fo great difficulties, as I am unable to overcome. But when Faith revived, then none of the Parts or Concernments of Religion feemed fmall, and then Man feemed nothing , and the World a Jhadow, and God was all. In the beginning I doubted not of the truth of the Holy Scriptures, or of tfie Life to come, becaufe 1 jaw not the Difficulties which might caufe doubting : After that I jaw them and I doubted, becaule I faw not that which fhould fatzsfie the mind againfb them : Since that^ having feen both Difficulties and Evidences, though I am not fo unraolefted as at the firft, yet is my Faith I hops much Ifronger, and far better able to repel the Temptations of Satan, and the Sophifms of Infidels than before : But yet it is my daily Prayer, That God would increafe my Faith, and give my Snul a clear fight of the Evidences of his Truth, and cf himfelf, and of the invifible World. § 57. Whilfl: I was thus employed between outward Labours and inward Trials, Saran ifirr'd up a little inconfiderable rage of wicked men againfl me. The Town having been formerly eminent for Vanity, had yearly a Shew,\n which they brought forth the painted forms of Giants, and luch like foolery, to walk about the Streets with ; and though I faid nothing againfl them, as being not fimply evil, yet on every one of thols Days of Riot, the Rabble of the moie vicious fort had flill fome fpleen to vent againfl me, as one part of their Game. And once all the igno- rant Rout were raging mad againft me tor preaching the Doftrine of Original Sin to them, and telling them that Infmts before Regeneration, had fb much Guilt and Corruprion, as made them loachfbme in the Eyesof God : whereupon they vented it abroad in the Country, That I preached that God hated, or loathed Infants; fo that they railed at me as I palled through the Streets. The next Lord's Day I clear- ed and confirmed it, and ihewcd them that if this were not true, their Infants had no need of Chriff, of Baptifii, or of Renewing by the Holy GholK And I askt them whether they durft fay that their Children were faved without a Saviour, and were no Chriftians, and whythev baptized them, with much more to that pur- pofe; and aferward they were afhamed and as mute as fifhef. Once one of the drunken Beggersof the Town railed a flander of me. That I was under a Tree with a Woman ( an ill-fam'd Beggar of the Town ) : All the Drunkards had got it in their mouths, before I could find out the Original. I got three or four of them bound to the Good Behaviour, and the Sot himfclf that rai- fid the Slander, confeffed before the Court that he faw me in a rainy day on Hort back ftand under an Oak which grew in a thick Hedge, and the Woman afore- f jid flanding for flielter on the other fide the Hedge under the fame Tree, and that he believed that we faw not one another ; but he fpake it as a Jeff, and the Com- pany were glad of the occafion to feed their Malice. So they all askt me forgive- nels, and I defired the Migiftrate immediately to releafe them all. There lived at Kinver an ancient, prudent. Reverend Divine, Mr. Jolm CroJ?, ( who died fince, Paffor of Matthews Friday-jlreet in London ) : This godly Man had heen the chief means of the good which was done in Kiddermivjler before my coming thither ; when I came, I got him to take every fecond day in a Weekly Lediure. It came to pals once, that a Woman defamed him at Kidderminshr o- penly, and told the People that he would have ravifhed her. Mr. CV.y/ being a, wife Man, fent one before to defire the Bailiff and Jultice to call her to Examina- tion, and he came after and fate in a common dark coloured Coat, among many others, in the Bailiff's Parlour, as if he had been one of the Magiffrate?. The Bailiff called her in, and flie flood impudently to the Accufation : The Bailiff askt her whether fhe knew the Man if Jhe faw him ; which fhe confidently affirm- ed. He askt her, Is it this Man , or that Man, or the other Man, or any there? And fhe fiid, O no, God forbid that fhe fhould accufe any of them. Mr. CrojS laid, Am not I the Man ,• and fhe faid. No, fhe knew tiie Man well enough. And when thev iiad told her that this was Mr. CroJJ, fhe fell down on her knees , and askt him forgivenefs, and confefl that one of his Neighbours (who was his great Accufer at the Eilhops Courts ) had hired her to report it. But the Good Man forgave them all. § 3 8. And here I mufl return to the Proceedings of the Parliament, becaufe the relf will not be well underflood without connoting the Occafions of them which were adminiftred. When the Londoners cried to the Houle for Jujlice,ind honour- ed Part I. R^i;em;^Afr. Richard Baxter. 25 ed thole Members who were for the puniiliment of Delinquents, and dilTionoured thofe that pleafed the King, a Breach began to be made among themlelves : And the Lord Digby, the Lord Falkland,and divers others,from that cime forward joyned with the King ; being not fo immoveable as many of the reft,whom neither hope nor fear nor difcontent would alienate from the Caufe which they thought -veil of. Yet others were tried with the ofFir of Preferments : The Lord Say vva= made one of the Privy Council ; Mr. OUver St. John was made theKing'srSoUicitor, c'e. Buc as this did not alter them, fo others of them would accept of tto Preferment, left they fliould be thought to feek themfelves, or fet their Fidelity to Sale. When tini Earl of Strafford was Condemned, and the King defired to fign the Bill, many I3i- /hops were called to give him their Advice , and it is commonly reported, that Archbiihop U(lur and divers others told him, that he might lawfully concur with the Judgment of his Parliament proceeding according to Law, though his own Judgment were that their Sentence was unjuft : But Dr. Juxon , the Bilhop of Lon- don, adviled him to do nothing againft his Confcience : and others would give no Advice at all. When the King had Subfcribed, and Strafford was beheaded, he much repented it, even to the laft:, as his Speeches at his Death exprefs. And the Judgments of the Members of the Parliament were different about thefe Proceed- ings. Some thought that the King fhould not at all be difpleafed and provoked, and that they were not bound to do any other Juftice, or attempt any other Re- formation but what they could procure the King to be willing to. y\nd thefe faid. When you have difpleafed and provoked him to the utmoft, he will be your King ftill I and when you have late to the longefl, you mufl be dilfolved at laft • you have no power over his Perlbn, though you have power over Delinquent Subjeds : And if he protect- them by Arms, you muft either be ruined your lilves by his difpleafure, or be engaged in a War: Difpleafing him is but exafperating him ; and would you be ruled by a King that hateth you ? Princes have great Minds, which cannot eafily fuffer Contradiction and Rebukes: The more you offend him, the lels you can truft him ; and when mutual Confidence is gone, a W^r is beginning : And if it come to a War, either you will conquer or be con- quered, or come to Agreement. If you are conquered, you and the Common- weal, h are ruined, and he will beabfblute, and fubdue Parliaments, and Govern as he pleafeth. If you come to an Agreement, it will be either fuch as yon force him to, or as he is wiUtng of : If the latter, it may be eafilier and cheaper done before a War than after: \ithQ former, it will much weaken it: And if you Con- quer him, what the better are you ? He will ftill be King : You can but force hint to an Agreement j and how quickly will he have power and advantage to violate that which he is forced to ; and to be avenged on you all for the di^lcafiire you have done him: He is ignorant of the Advantages of a King that cannot forefee this]. Thefe were the Reafons of many that were for pleafing the King. But on the other fide there were Men of divers tempers : Some did not look far before them, but did what they thought was beft at prelent : whether any de- figned the fubduing of the King, and the change of Government, at that time, I cannot tell : For I then heard of no notable Senary in the Houfe but young Sir Henry Vane, (whofe Teftimony was the Death of the Earl of Strafford, when other Evidence was wanting, and of whom 1 Ihall fiy more anon). But the leading and prevailing part of the Houfe were for the Execution of Strafford , and for pu- nifiiing fome Delinquents, though it did difpleafe the King : And itheir Pveafons ( as their Companions tell us ) were fuch as thefe : They faid. If that be your Principle that the King is not to be difpleafed, or provoked, then this Parliament fhould never have been called, which you know he was forced to againft his Will : and then the Ship-money fhould have gone on , and the Subjeds Propriety, and Parliaments, have been overthrown : And then the Church Innovations fhould noc have been controuled, nor any ftop to the Subverters of our Government and Li- berties attempted : then no Members Ihould fpeak freely againff any of thefe in the Houfe ; for you know that all thefe are very difjslealing : And then what do we here ? Could not the King have pleafed himfelf without us ? Or do we come to be his Inftruments, to give away the Peoples Liberties, and fet up that which was begun i Either it is our Duty to reform, and to recover our Liberties, and relieve our Country, andpunilh Delinquents, or it is not ? If it be not , let us go home again : If it be, let us do it and truft God : For if the fears of forefeen Oppofiti- oiis (hill make us betray our Country and Pofterity, wc are perfidious to themj, aadEnimies toourlelves, and may well be faid to be worfe than Infid;!?, muc!.v E rather 26 The LI F E of the L i B. I- rather than they that provide not for their Families; when Infidels have not thought their Lives too good to fave the Commonwealth. And as for a War, the danger of it may be avoided : It is a thing uncertain, and therefore a prelent certain Ruine, and that by our own hand, is not to be cholen to avoid it. The King may fee the danger of it as well as we, and avoid it on better Terms : Or if he were willing, he may not be able to do any great harm : Do you think that the People of Ef}glamL-;r<7» was put upon them, and by that they were commonly known : when they had been called by that name awhile, the vicious Multitude of the Ungodly called all Purttans that were flrift and feiious in a Ho- ly Lite, were they ever fo conformable I So that the lame name in a Bilhops mouth Signified a Nonconformiff, and in an ignorant Diunkards or Swearers nioL.th, a godly obedient Chriftian. Bur the People bemg the greater number, f ecame a- ni». Now the ignorant Rabble J leuing that the Bilhops were againit the Puritans, ( not having wit enough to knowr U'hom they meant) were emboldened the more againfiall thofe whom they cal- led Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 33 led Puritans themfelves, and their Rage againft the Godly was increafed: and they cried up theBilhops, partly becaule they were againft the Puritans, and partly be- caufethey were earneft for that way of Worlhip which they found molt confident with their Ignorance, Carelefnefs, and Sins. And thus the Intereft of the Dioce- fans and of the Prophane and Ignorant fort of People were unhappily twilled to- gether in England. And then on the other fide, as all the Nonconformifts were againft the Prelates, fo other of the moft ferious godly People were alienated from them on all thefe forefaid conjund Accounts. 1. Becaule they were derided and abufed by the Name of P«rif<««/. 2. Becaufe the Malignant Sort were permitted to make Religious Perfbns their common Scorn. 5. Becaule they faw fo many infufficient and vicious Men among the Confor- mable Clergy. 4. Becaufe they had a high efteem of the Parts and Piety of moft of the Non- conformable Mini Iters. 5. Becaule they grieved to fee fo many Excellent Men filenced , while fo many Thoufand were perilhing in Ignorance and Sin. 6. Becaufe though they took the Liturgy to be lawful, yet a more orderly feri- ous Scriptural way of Worfiiip was much more pleafing to them. 7. Becaufe Falling and Praying, and other Exerciles, which they found much benefit by, were fo Itridlly lookt after, that the High Commiffion and the Bilhops Courts did make it much more perillous, than common Swearing and Drunken- nefs proved to the Ungodly. 8. Becaufe the Book that was publilhed for Recreations on the Lord's Day made them think that the Bilhops concurred with the Prophane. 9. Becaule Afternoon Sermons and LeAures, thougii by Conformable Men, be- gan to be put down in divers Counties. 10. Becaule fo great a number of Conformable Minifters were fufjjended or pu- nifhed for not reading the Book of Sports on Sundays , or about Altars, or liich like : and io many Thoufand Families, and many worthy Minifters , driven out of the Land. 11. Becaufe when they faw Bowing towards Altars, and the other Innovations added, they feared worle, and knew not where they would end. 12. And laftly, Becaufe they faw that the Bilhops proceeded lb far as to (wear Men to their whole Government by the Et catera Oath, and that they approved of Ship-money, and other fuch incroachments on their Civil Interefls. All thefe upon my own knowledge were the true Caufcs why fo great a number of thole Perlons who were counted moft Religious, fell in with the Parliament in England'^ infomuch that the generality of the ftrider diligent fort of Preachers joyned with them, though not in medling with Arms, yet in Judgment, and in flying to their Garritbns; and almoft all thole afterwards called TresbyterianSy were before Conform! fts ; Very few of all that Learned and Pious Synod at Weflminjier were Nonconformifts before, and yet were for the Parliament, fuppofing that the Intereft of Religion lay on that fide. Yet did they ftill keep up an honourable efteem of all that they thought Religious on the other fide ; fuch as Bifhop Difuenant, Bifhop Hall, Biiliop Morton, Archbiihop l7/?»er,6cc.But as to the generality ,they went lb unanimoufly the other way,thatupon my knowledge many that were not v/ife enough to underftand the Truth about the Cauleof the King and Parliament, did yet run into the Parliaments Armies,or take their part ( as Sheep go together for Company ) moved by this Argument , [ Sure God wiU not fufter almolt all his moft Religious Servants to err in lb grea? a matter.] And [If all thefe Ihould perilh what will become of Religion.] But thefe were irifufficicnt Grounds to go upon. And abundance of the ignorant forC of the Country, who were Civil, did flock in to the Parliament, and filled up their Armies afterward, meerly becaufe they heard Men (-wear for the Common Prayer and Bilhops .and heard ochers ;)r«iy that were againft them ; and becaule they heard the King's Soldiers with horrid 0jecis, and yet may refilt the King's Letters, even under the Broad-Seal, and his Meffengers or armed Men that ad illegally (becaufe the Law, which hath his Authority and the Parliament's, enable them 16 to do) fo alfomay the Parliament, which is his higheft Court of JulHce. And they laid, that as they have apart in the Legiflative Power, they have part in the SummaPo- tefias, and fo far are not Subjeds. And they faid, that the bare Title of Supreme is no Argument againlt the Conftitution of a Kingdom, though it be exprelled in an O.uh. For the King is IHled, the Supreme Governor of France, and yet the Oath of Supremacy doth not bind us to believe, that no French Man may law- fully bear Arms againlf him. 4. They fry to the foarth,That they wholly grant it ; that though Religion may be the end of a lawful War, yet not of a Rebellion : nor may any Refo mations be performed by any Actions which belong not to the Places and Callings of the Performers. But where the means are Lawful, Religion and Reformation are law- ful Ends. y. To the fifc.'i they fiid. That they agree with all good Chriftians and Prote- ftanrs, that true Authority may not be refilted by any Subjeft : But all Proteftants, or mofi-, agree with them, that a limited Governor, which hath not Authority to do what ho lifts, may perform an Adl of Will, which is no Ad: of Authority j and they maintained, that the higheft Power was in the Law-givers and Laws, and that the Parliament was the higheft Judicature, and that it was Rebellion in them that refilled the Parliament in their legal prolecution of Delinquents, and Defence of the Land and thenilelves : and that Paul, Rom. 1 5. determineth not at all, whe- ther the Emperors or the Senate was the higher Power j and that the Refifters of the Parliament are the condemned Breakers of that Order and Command. 6. To the iixth they faid, that they Charge nothing on the King, but what their Eyes behold, viz. That he hath forlaken his Parliament, and raileth Arms againft them, and protefteth Delinquents : And this they mention but as Matter of Faci ; for the culpability they charge upon his evil Counlellors, and Inftru- ments : For the King being no Subjed, is liable to no Accufations in any of his Courts : But it is thslrtjh, the Papift, and thofe guilty Perfons who would ruineall, to lavethemlelves from Juftice, whom they accufe, and not the King. And what- ever the King's Declarations fiy, Ship-money hath been impofed, the Judges have been corrupted, the German Horle were to have been brought in j the Northern Ar- my was to have been brought up againft the Parliament ; the Houfe was invaded and their Members demanded, a Guard was let upon them, and their Deftrudion (by their Enemies^ was powerfully endeavoured. 7. To the leventh they faid, That for the fupreme legiflative Authority to de- fend ic Iclf and the Land, and for the King's Courts of Juftice to profecute De- linquents (though againft the Kings Will^ is no diHionourto the Proceftant Religi- on, nor any thing like the Papifts Dodrine and Pradices of Rebellion j nor any Juftification of them. If ic wei e, then the very Conftitution of cur ancient Go- vernment or Kingdom, would it Irlf be a dilhonour to our Religion. 8. To the lalt they fiy, That Patience is our Duty fo far as we are called to SafTerings, and God is to be trufied \n the way which he hath appointed us : But if the Jc/JIj Rebels had foretold the Parliament and Juftices of their Infurredion, and then exhorted them to Patience and Non-refiftance and truftingGod, or if a Thief that wouid rob us to exhort us to be patient and not refift, he doth but exhort us to be guilty of his Sin. The Pioteftants Patience was that which pleifed the Irifl)'^ or (if a King muft be brought in as a Party) t\\Q French Mens Patience in the Parifian Mafl ::cie pleafed Charles IX. and the Executioners : And if in all Coun- tries the Proreltants would let the Papifts cut their Throats, and die in the Ho- nour of Patience, it would latisrte thole bloody Adverfaries, who had rather we di- ed in fuch Honciur, than lived without it: But if fuch Patience would be a poor Excule for a Father that fought not to prelerve his Children, much lefs for the Paliamcnt that ftand ftill while Papifts and Delintjuents fubvert both Church and State. Thef; P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 37 Thefe were their Anfwers to their Accufers in thole Points, § ^4. The Sum of thole Realbns which fatisfied many that adhered to the Par- liament, were thele, which I will but briefly name. 1. As to the Danger of the State, the Matters o£ Fail did make it feem undeniable to them : Ship-money they judged not of according to the Sum ; but they thought Propriety was thereby deltroyed, and Parliaments caft afide and made unneceira- ry : And they faw chat this Parliament was called upon the Scots, and then called Dijcontented Lords importunity, after many Parliaments had been dilTolved in dif- plealure, and after they had been long forborn : And the calling up of the Nor- thern Army, and the demanding of the Members, made Multitudes think that thfc ruineof the Parliament was the great Dellgn; and their ungrateful beginning and proceedings made this liem credible, fo that I met with few of that fort that doubtevl of it. But above all, the Two hundred thoufind kill'd in Ireland, afFright- ed^the Pi'rliament and all the L,^nd. And whereas it is faid, that the King hated that, as well as they : They anfwered, that though he did , his hating it would neither make all thofe alive again, nor preferve England from their threatned Af- lault, as long as Men of the like malignity were proteded, and could not be kept out of Arms, nor brought to Juilice. 2. The Endoi the War did much prevail with them : For they thought that to mafter and deftroy the Parliament, was to leave the People hopelefs, as to any Security of their Propriety or Liberties, or any Remedy againft meer M^'ill .' For there is no other Powe.r that may relieve them : And if Parliaments were (b uled before, what would they be, ( faid they ) if by fuch a War they ihould be con- quered. And they thought that the ruine of the State and of Men's Propriety, was liich an End as no mea;is could be lawfully uled for; and that the Frefervatwu of the Kingdom was fuch an Ef.^d as would make lawful any neceflary means , which God himfelf had not forbidden. 5. And th^n as to Authority , they thought that the Legiflative Power is the chiefeft part of Soveraignty ; and that the Parliament having a part in the Le- giflative Power, had lb far inherently a Power to defend it, which no Law can iuppole them to give away : And as the Peoples Reprefentati'ves, they fiippoled them- felves much Intrulted to fecure their referved Liberties, which the Law giveth not the King any Authority to take away. 4. And they fuppoled that Government being that Publick Work which up- holdeth the Common Peace, it is to be done by Publick Inftruments and M^ans ; and that the Kings Laws are his Inftrurrjents of Government, and alio his Publick Courts and Officers : And that the Subjefts cannot know lb well, whether pri- vate Commands or Commiflions be real or counterfeit, nor are lb much bound to take notice of them. And that the Judgments and Executions of the Courts of Jultice, being the EfFe■()» and marcht away ; and the next Day the Earl of Ejfex came to IVorcejtery with many Lords and Knights, and a liourifhing Army, gallantly cloathed, but never tried in Fight. There were with his Army, as Chaplains to the feveral Regiments, abundance of famous, excellent Divines j 'viz-. Mr. Stephen Mard^all and Dr. Burges to the Earl of E/f.v's Regiments, M-. Obediah Sedgwtck to Col Hoiks s'R.cgimzm, 'Dr.Ca- Itbute Dowhtrg to the Lord Roberts's Regiment, Mr. John Sedgwick to the Earl of Stamford's Regiment, Dr. Spurtow, to Mr. Hampdens, Mr. Perkins to Col. Goodwins, Mr. Aloor to the Lord Whartons, Mr. Adoniram Bifidd to Sir Henry Cholrrhys, Mr. Nalton to Col. Grantham's, Mr. Simeon Ajh to the Lord Brooks or the Earl of Man- chefier's, (1 remember not whether) Mr. Morton of Newcafile, with Sir Arthur Ha- felriggs Troopj with many more. Mr. BtficldnnA Mr. Moor quartered with us at Kiderminfier , where were the Regiments of Col. Ej/ex, the Lord Jiharton, Sir Henry Cbnlmeley , and thcLoid Brooks at Bcudeley : while they quartered there, the King's Aimy was upon the March from Shrewsbury towards Oxford : Their way lying through Wolverhampton, foniQ. of theli" Scouts appeared on th.- Top oi Knivcr Eclge, -* , - - r ■ - ■■■-■■ - , ,, , , P A R T I. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 43 Edge, three miles from Kidderminfier : The Brigades in Kidderminfier not knowing but all the King's Army might come that way, marcht off to fVorcefier.and in hafte left a Carriage or two with Arms behind : fome of the Inhabitants liafted to the King's Soldiers, and told them all, which made them come into the Town and take thole Arms. The Fury of our own Rabble, and of the King's Soldiers was fuch, that I law- no lafety in flaying at home : The Civility of the Earl of Ejjex's Army was fjch, chat among them there was no danger ( though none of them knew nie ) : And there was liich excellent Preaching among them at Worcefier , that I ftayed tliere among them a few days, till the marching of the Kings Army occafioned their re- move. Upon the Lords Day following I preached at AlceHer for my Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Clark : As 1 was preaching the People heard the Cannori play,and per- ceived that the Armies were engaged ; when Sermon was done (in the Afternoon^ the report was mor» audible, which made us all long to hear of the facceis : About Sun-fettingCO^oi'. 2;. 1642.) many Troops fled through the Town, and cold us that all was loft on the Parliament fid;;, and the Carriage taken and Waggons plun- dered before they came away ; and none that followed brought any other News. The Towns-men lent a Meffenger to Stratford upon Avon to know the certain truth. About four a clock in the Morning the MclTcnger returned, and told us. That Prince Rupert wholly routed the left Wing of the Earl of EjJ'txs Army j but while his Men were plundering the Waggons, the main Body and the Right Wing rout- ed the reft of the King's Army, took his Standard (but it was loft again ) ; kill'd his General the Earl of Lindjey, and his Standard-bearer , took Prilbner the Earl of Lindlefi Son the Lord WiHoughby, and others ; and loft few Perlbns of Qaality,and no Noblemen but the Lord St. John, eldeft Son to the Earl of Bullinghook : and that the lofs of the left Wing was through the Treachery of Sir Faithful Fortefcue^ Major to the Lord Fteldmg's Regiment of Horfe, who turned to the King when he Ihould have Charged : and that the Vidory wasobtained principally by Colonel Holltii Regiment of London Red-Coats, and the Earl of Ejfexs own Regiment, and Life-Guard, where Sir Vhilif Stapkton, and Sir Arthur Hafekigge, and CoVUrrey did much. The next Morning being willing to lee the Field where they had fought,! went to Edghill, and found the Earl of £/ex with the remaining part of his Army keep- ing the Ground , and the King's Army facing them upon the Hill a mile off ; andabout aThouiaiid dead Bodies in the Field between them, (and I fiippofemany were buried before ): and neither of the Armies moving toward each other. The King's Army prelencly drew off towards Banbury, and lb to Oxford. The Earl of E/ex's Army went back to provide for the wounded, and refrelh themfelves at ff^ar- wich. Cartle, (the Lord Brook's Houie). For my felf I knew not what Courfe to take : To live at home I was uneafie; but efpecially now, when Soldiers on one fide or other would be frequently among us, and we muft be ftill at the Mercy of every furious Beaft that would make a prey of us : I had neither Money nor Friends : I knew not who would receive me in any place of Safety j nor had I any thing to fatisfie them for my Diet and Entertainment. Hereupon I was perfwaded by one that was with me to go to Co- vttftry, where one of my old Acquaintance was Minifter, (Mr. Simon King, fome- dme School-raafter at Bndgenorth ) : So thither I went with a purpofe to itay there till one Gde or other had got the ViAory, and the War was ended, and then to re- turn home again ; For fo wife in Matters of War was I, and all the Country be- lides, that we commonly (iippoled that a very few days or weeks by one other Bat- tel, would end the Wars ; and I believe that no fmall number of the Parliament- men, had no more wit than to think fo to. There I ftayed at Mr. King's a month, but the War was as far from being like to end as before. Whilft I was thinking what Courfe to take in this Neceflity, the Committee and Governour of the City defired me that I would ftay with them , and lodge in the Governour's Houle, and preach to the Soldiers. The offer fuited well with my Neceflities, but I refolved that I would not be Chaplain to the Regiment, nor take a Commiffion ; but if the meer preaching of a Sermon once or twice a week to the Garrifon would fatisfie them, I would accept of the Offer, till I could go home again. (Mr. AfiinalU one of the Minifters of the Town, had a Commiffion from the Earl of Ejfex to be Chaplain to the Garrifon Regiment ; but the Governour and Committee being difpleafed with him, made no ule of him. And when he was difplcaled, as thinking I would take his place, I affured him I had no fuch in- G 2 tenc 44 The L I F E'of the Lib. L tent ; and about a Twelve-month after he died). Here I lived in the Governours Houle, and followed my Studies as quiedy as in a timeof Peace, for about a year^ only preaching once a week to the Soldiers, and once on the Lords Day to the People, not taking of any of them a Penny for either, fave my Diet only. Here I had a very Judicious Auditory j among others many very godly and judi- cious Gentlemen; as Sir Richard Skeffington ( a moft noblCj holy Man ) Col. Godfrey Bofvtle, Mr. Mackworth, with many others; of all which Mr. George Abbot was the chief ( known by his Paraphral? on Job, and his Book againft Bread for the Lord's Day). And there were about thirty worthy Minlfters in the City, who fled thither for Safety from Soldiers and Popular Fury, as I had done, though they never med- led in the Wars ; 'viz.. Mr. Richard Vines, Mr. Anthony Barges , Mr. Burdall , Mr. Brumskill fwho lived with that Eminent Saint the old Lady Bromley, Widow to Judge Bromley, whole only dilcernable fault to mej was too much Humility and Low thought of her felf j. Dr. Bryaft, Dr. Grew, Mr. Stefhetis, A^r. Craddock, Mr. Morton oi Bewdley, (my Ipecial Friend ) Mr. Diamond, good old Mr. Overton, AnA many mo.'-e, whole preience commanded much refped from me. I have caule of continual thankfulnels to God for thequietnefs andlafety, and fober, wile,reIigious Company, with liberty to preach the Gofpel, which he vouchlafed me in this Ci- ty, when other Places were in the Terrours and Flames of War. § 62. When I had been above a year at Coventry, the War was fo far from being ended, that it had difperled it (elf into almolt all the Land : only Msddkfex, Hitrtfcrdjljtre. moft of Bedford and Northamptofijhire were only for the Parliament, and had (bme quietnefs : And Effex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgcflnre, and Huntington- fliire with the Ifle of Eli , were called the Adbciated Counties , and lived as in Peace, becaufe the King's Armies never came near them : and io for the moft part it was with Kafit, Surrey, and Suffex. And on the other fide, HerefordJlnre,lVor- ce/hrjliire, and ShropJJnre, ( till this time ) and almofi: all IVales, ( i'ive Tembrokejlnre^ which was wholly for the Parliament ) were only poflefied for the King, and law not the Forces of tlie Parliament : But almofi all the reft of the Counties had Gar- rilbns and Parties in them on both fides, which caufed a War in every County, and I think there whore few ParlHies where at one time or other Blood had not been ihed. § 65. And here I muft repeat the great Caufe of the Parliaments Ihength and the Kings mine; and that was, That the debauched Rabble through ihe Land, emboldened by his Gentry, and leconded by the Common Soldiers of his Army, took ail that were called Puritans for tlieir Enemies : And thougli/e?/?c of the King's Gentry and Superinur Officers were lb Civil that they would do no fuch thing, yet that was no Security to tiie Country, while the multitude did what they lilt. So that if any one was noted for a ftrii^ and fmious Preacher, or for a Man of a precile and pious Life, he w.is cither plundered, or abukd, and in danger of his Life : So that if a Man did but pray in his Family^ or were but heard repeat a Sermon, or fing a Plalm, they prefently cried out, Rebels, Roundheads, and all their Money and Goods that were portable pioved guilty, how innocent Ibever they were themfelves. I liippole this was kept from the knowledge of the King, and perhaps of many fober Lords of his Council : ( for few could come ■ near thera ; and it is the fite of fuch not to believe evil of thofe that they think are for them, nor good of thoie that they think are againd them). But upon my certain know- ledge this was it that filled the Armies and Garrilbnsof the Parliament withlbber, pious Men. Thousands had no mind to meddle with the Wars, but greatly defi- iired to live peaceably at home, when the Rage of Soldiers and Drunkards would not lufTerthem: Ibme Itayed till they had been impriloned; foms till they had been plundered, perhaps twice or thrice over, and nothing left them ; fome were quite tired out with the abufe of all Comers that quarteied on them ; and fome by the infolency of their Neighbouis; but moft were afraid of their Lives ; and ib they Ibught refuge in the Parliaments Garrilbns. Thus when I was at Coventry the Religious part of my Neighbours at Kiddermmfler that would fain have lived quietly at home, were forced (the chiefeft of them ) to be gone: And to Coven- try they came ; and Ibme of them that had any Ellate of their own, lived there on their own cliarge ; and the reft were fain to take up Arms, and be Garrilon Soldi- ers to get them bread. § 64. Jn Shrcffure, where my Father dwelt, both he and all his Neighbours that were noted for praying and hearing Sei nions, were plundered by the King's Sol- diers, lb th.u ibme cf them had almoil nothing but Lumber left in their Houles : though my Father was lo far from medling on either fide, that he knew not what they P A Fv T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 45 they were doing, but followed his own bufinefs j nor had he feen me, or heard of me of a long time. At this time Col. Mitton, and other Shropshire Gentlemen, refolved to fettle a Garrifon at Went, a little Town in their own Country, eight Miles from Sbrewf- hiiry, and Mr. Machvortb, Mr. Hunt, &c. were earneit with me to go with them becaufe it was my Native Country. I was defirous to be near my Father if I could any way relieve him,and to be ablent a while from CcvtvtryXs^tvQ being fome Dif- ference betvi'een the Earl of Denbigh and the Committee, which went highj: lb I confented to go with them only tor a few weeks, and to return : Their Defign was to get I'ome of my Neighbours thither, who they knew would follow me; and about thirty or forty of them joyned in Colonel Mackworth's Troop and went. As foon as we came thither, and they began to fortifie Wem, the Lord Cafel brought his Army from Sbrni'sburj againft them j where {Sir JVilliamBrereton bringing the CbejJjire Trained Bands to affift the lictle handful at IVem ) the two Armies lay within a Mile sf each o:her two or three Days, and after Ibme little Skirmifhing the Lord Capell drew off, and marcht into Chcjlnre to Nantwich, being alfured thereby to draw off the CbeJIiire A4en, and then refolved the fame Night to return and Storm the Town ; and his Plot took according to his Contrivance ; for that Night he plundered all the Villages about Nantwicb, and at Midnight march'd back another way : The Chejhire Men were quickly on their March, when they heard that the Enemy was plundring their Countrey : and by that time they caaie to Nantwich the Lord Capell was got back again to Wem.TherQ was nothing ahoLit the Town but a Ditch little bigger than fuch as Husbandmen inclofe their Grounds with, and this not finifhed ; and the Gates, new made, had no Hinges^ but were reared up.and there was but very few Men in the Town;e{pecially under the Command ofCol.//«wf ("a plain hearted, honeft,godly Man,entirely beloved,and trufted by the Soldiers for his Honefty) : I went with the Chefliire Men to Nant- wich ; when they came thither , they underftood the Stratagem of the Lord Capell, and heard that they were ftorming Wem ; and Sir William Brereton would have hadl his Men march after them prelently , to relieve Wem ; but the Soldiers were all Commanders, and feeing their own Countrey plundred in their Ablence, and be- ing weary, they all relblved that they would not go ; and (b Wem was given up as lo'.t j but in the Morning about three or four a Clock, when we thought they had been afleep, their Minds all changed, and co Wem they would then go ; but they marcht lb flowly, and halted by the way, that the Lord CapcU's Army had twice ftormed Wem, and being beaten back, drew oiT juft as the Clefliire Men came upon them, and lecured their Retreat by Lee- bridge and the Darknefs of the Night, and the Ignorance of their Fears and Diibrders in the Army that purfiied them. When we came to Wem, we found that the Lord Capell had been twice repulft with much lofs ; Col. fVin flain, and Col. Sir Tho. Scriven mortally wounded, and little Hurt done to any in the Town. § 6). When I had flayed here, and at Longford Gmi^on about two Months or more, and had redeemed my Father oat of Prifon at Lilljhd, I returned to Covens try, and my Neighbours would not flay behind : (the recital of Millitary Paffages there and elfewhere, belongeth not to my prefent purpofe, but as it concerneth the Hiflory of my own Life, and therefore I leave them to fiich as write the Hi- ftory of thofe Wars): When I came to Coventry, I feded in my old Habitation and Imployment, and followed my Studies there in quietnefs for another Year. But whereas whilft I rode up and down, my Body had more Health than of a long time before, when I fetled to my Studies in a Sedentary Life (and grieved for the Calamitous Condition of the Land) I fell weaker than ever I was before : And go- ing to London was long under the Cure of Sir Tbeodere Mejern^ and foraewhat reco- vered, returned again. § 66. The Garrifon of Coventry confifled half of Citizens, and half of Goun- try-men : the Country-men were fuch as had been forced from their own Dwel- lings, the mofl religious Men of the Parts round about, efpecially from Bremicba?n, Sutton-CoUfidd, Tamworth, Nuneaton^ Hmkley, Rugby , &c. Thefc were Men of great Sobriety and Soundnefs of Underftanding as any Garrilbn heard of in England: But one or two that came among us out of New England ( of Sir Henry Vanes Par- ty there) and one Anabaptifl Taylor, had alraoft troubled all the Garrifon, by in- feaing the honeft Soldiers with their Opinions : But they found not that Succefi in Coventry^ as tiiey had done in CromweW Army. In publick I was fain to preach over all the Controverfie* a^iinfl the Anabajjtifts firft, and then againft the Sepa- ratifk ^6 The LIFE of the L i b, L ratifts ; and in private, fome of my Worcefierjhire Neighbours, and many of ths Foot Soldiers were able to baffle both Separatifts, Anabaptifts, and Antinomians^ and fo kept all the Garrifon found : Whereupon, the Anabaptiftsfent to Bedford for one Mr. Benjamin Cox, an old Anabaptift Minifter, and no contemptible Schol- lar, the Son of a Bifliop ; and he and I bad firft a Difpute by Word of Mouth, and after by Writing ; and his Surceafing gave me eafe: In conclulion a few poor Townfmen only were carried away, about a Dozen Men and Women ; but the Souldiers and the reft of the City kept found from all Infedion of Sedaries and Dividers. § 67. While I lived here in Peace and Liberty ,as Men in a dry Houfe do hear the Storms abroad, fo did we daily hear the News of one Fight or other, or one Garri- fon or other won or loft j the two Ne-wbery Fights, Glocejhr Siege, the marvellous Sieges of Tlimouth, Lime, and Taunton, Sir Willtam Waller's Succeftes and Lofles j the Lofi at Newark, the Slaughter at Bolton, the greateft Fight of all at York, with abundance more. So that hearing (iich fad News on one fide or other was our daily Work J infomuch that as duly as I awakened in the Morning I expeded to hear one come and tell me, fucb a Garrifon is won or lofi, or /uch a Defeat recei-vcd or given : And [do you hear the News'] was commonly the (irft Word 1 heard. So miierable were thofe bloody Days, in which he was the moft honourable, that could kill moft of his Enemies. But among allthele I was efpecially plealcd with the Surprize of Shrewsbury^ both becaufe it was done without lofs of Blood, and becaule my Father and many of my dear Friends were thereby redeemed, for when i returned from Went to Co- ventry, it happily feil cut that Sir Fulk Hunkes was made Governor of Shrewsbury by the King, and he protefted my Father while he was there ; But at laft the Gen- try of the Countrey and he agreed not, he being too much a Soldier, and too civil for many of them, and they procured him to be removed, and Sir Rich. Oatlej firft,and after Sk Adich.Eamley made Governors.Sir Fulk Hunkes was confident when lie went, that their Drunkennefi and Carelefirls would /hortly lole the Town ; and (o it did indeed fill out : His old Mother, the Lady Hunkes, he left with my Father, where fhe died between 80, and 100 Years old. Buc when he was gone my Father was made one of the CoUedors of their Taxes for the King, which he juftly performed : Buc he would not forcibly diftrain of tlicm that refufed to pay, as not knowing but they might hereafter recover it all of him ; for which he was laid in Prifon by them that Iwore he Ihould lie and rot there ; But he had been there but a few Weeks, before the Keeper in the night came to him, and beg'd his Favour to fave him and his Houfe, for the Parliaments Souldiers had furpriled the Town : My Father would not believe it, till he heard and law that which conipell'd his Belief ; and with what Joy I need not tell. § 68. There were abundance of ftrange Providences in thele times that fell out for fbme particular Perfons : The marvellous Prefervation of Souldiers by Bibles in their Pockets which have received the Bullets, and fuch like I will not mention. When prince Rupert put the Inhabitants of Bolton in Lancajloire to the Sword, (Men, Women, and Children) an Infant efcaped alive, and was found lying by her Father and Mother, who were (lain in the Streets; an Old Woman took up the Child, and cairied it home, and put it to her Breaft for warmth, (having not had a Child her felf of about jo Years) the Child drew Milk, and lo much, that the Woman nurled it up with her Breaft Milk a good while : The Commitcee de- fired Ibme Women to try her, and they found it true, and that fhehad aconfide- rable proportion of Milk for the Child : If any one doubt of this, they may yet be relolved by Mrs. Hunt, Wife to Mr. Rowland Hunt of Harrow on the Hilly who living then in Manchefter, was one of them that by the Committee was defi- red to ti ie the Woman, and who hath oft told it me, and is a credible, godly, difcreet Gentlewoman, and Wife to a Man of moft exemplary Holinefs, and of the primitive Sincerity without Self feeking, Hypocrifie and Guile. The Maid her ielf thus nurfed up, lived afterwards in London. This putteth me in mind of that worthy Servant of Chrift, "Dr.Teat, who being put to fly fuddenly with his Wife and Children from the Fury of the Irtjl) Rebels, in the Night without Provifion; wandred in the Snow out of all ways upon the Mountains till Mrs. Teat, having no fuck for the Child in her Arms, and he being ready to die with Hunger, rtie went to the Brow of a Rock to lay him down, and leave him that ftie might not fee him die, and there in the Snow out of all ways where nol'ootfteps appeared, Ihe found a Suck-bottle full of new, fweet Milk, which prelerved the Child's Life. In Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 47 In Cornwall, Sir Rich. Green'vik having taken many Souldiers of the Earl oiEJJ'exs Army, fentenced about a dozen to be hanged ; when they had hanged two or threej the Rope broke which fhould have hanged the next : And they (ent for new Ropes fo oft to hang him, and all of thein ftill broke, that they durft go no far- ther,butfaved all therell: : Befides univerlal undeniable Report,! had this oft told me hy Mr. JVooSoufe, an honeft godly (bber Man, a Silvers Son of Jultice Kettleby of S/jrop- jhire, who himfelf flood by expeding Death, and was one of the Number of chem whofe Lives were faved by it. If I would here give an account of all the Military Anions of thofe times which I had the certain knowledge of j the manner of taking and lofing Towns and Caftles, the Progrefs of the main Armies and of the Parties in the leveral Counties, in CheJIure, Lanca^nre, Torkjliire, Derhyjljtre, StafforJf.iire, Shropjfiire, Ltn- colfipire, Gkucefteyfiire, and other Counties wheie particular Wars were carried on^ and between Vemb-ioh^me and the reft of Wales, and alfo the manner of the feve- ral great Fights, efpecially that at Mar^on-tmor near York, it v/ould fill of it felf a- grcater Volume than I intend, and is a matter befides my prefent purpofi , and fit to be done in another manner : And therefore I Ihall pals that by, and proceed in the Narrative of the palTages of my own Life, interpofing only Generals, and the paflages which occafioned them. § 69. When by the great Mercy of God I had lived two years in quictneis at Co- ventry, the Earl of E£ex being weakened by a great lofiin Cornwall, fell under the An.t6^d. great difpleaiure of fome of the Parliament, not as to his Perfon, but as to the Condund the Queen had brought over many Papifts Soldiers from beyond Sea, and formed an Army under General King a Scot, and the King had another great Army with himfelf under the Command of the Earl of Forth,a.nothzt old Scottish General ; To that they had three great Field Armies , befides the Lord Goring's in the Weff, and all the County Parties, the Parliament were glad to defirs Afliftance from the Scots ; (whofe Army was paid off and disbanded before the Eng- lifij Wars). The Scots confented ; but they offered a Covenant to be taken by both Nations, for a refolved Reformation, againft Popery, Prelacy , Schifn, and Pro- phanenefs, (the Papifts, the Prelatifts, the SeAaries, and the Prophane, being the four Parties which they were againft.) This Covenant was propofed by the Parliament to the Confideration of the Sy- nod at Weflminfier : The Synod ftumbled at fome things in it , and efpecially at the word [Prf/dfc/.] Dr. JB«r^ej the Prolocutor , Mr. Gataker, and abundance more declared their Judgments to be for Epifcopacy, even f jr the ancient mode- rate Epifcopacy, in which one ftated Prefident with his Presbytery, governed eve- ry Church J though not forthe £w^/;j7j Diocefan frame, in which one Bilhop, with- out his Presbytery, did by a Lay-Chancellour's Court, govern all thi Presb> ters and Churches of a Diocefs, being many hundieds ; and that in a Secular manner by abundance of updart Secular Officers, unknown to the Primitive Church. Here- upon grew fome Debate in the Affembly j fbme being againft every Degree of Bi- fhops, ('e(p)ecially the Scottijh Divines,) and others being for a moderate Epifcopa- cy. Bur thefe Etigli(l) Divines would not Subfcribe the Covenant , till there were an Part I. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. ^^ an alteration (uited to their Judgments: and fo aParenchefis was yielded to, asde- fcribing that ibrt of Prelacy which they oppo(ed, -viz,. [That is, Ch'trch Govermi:ent hy Archbiilvfs, Bipops, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons , and all other Ecckftasiical Officers defending on that Hierarchy'] All which conjoyned are mentioned as the De- Icription of that Form of Church Government which they meant by Prelacy, ^ls not extending to the ancient Epifcopacy. , When the Covenant was agreed on, the Lords and Commons firft took it them- felves, and Mr, Thom,is Coleman preached to the Houfe of Lords, and gave it theni with this publick Explication, That by Prelacy ■we mean not all Epijcopacy^ kit only the form ■which is here dejcribed. When the Parliament had taken it they fent it to all tlie Garrjfons, and Armies to be taken : and commended it to all the People of the Laiid. And when the War was ended, they caufed all the Noblemen, Knights, Gentlemen, and Officers which had been againft them in the Wars, to take it before they would admit them to Compofition j and take it they did : And they required that all young Mini- fters fhould take it at their Ordination. The Covenant being taken, the Scots raifed an Army to help the Parliainentj which came on and began to clear the North, till at 7'ork fight, the Scots Army , the Earl of A/j«ck/«r's Army, and the Lord Fairfax i Imall Army, joyned Battel againft Prince Rupert's Army, and General King's Army, and the Earl of News- file's Army, where they routed them, and it was thought about yooo were flain upon the place, befides all that died after of their wounds. After this the Scots Army lay ftill in the North a long time, and did nothing, till thereby they became odious as a burden to the Land ; The Scots £!iid, that it was caufed by the Policy of the Sedaries, that kept them without pay, and without orders to March. Their Adverfaries ('the l^ant^s and the Cromwelltavs) (aid it was their own fault, who would not March. At laft they were Commanded to be- fiege Hereford City, where they lay a long time, till the Earl of Montrof, ha- ving railed an Army in Scotland againft them for the King, had made it necefTary for them to return into their own Country, and leave Hereford untaken, and the People clamouring againft them, as having come for nothing into the Coun- try. Some Months after they were gone, Col. John Birch and Col. Morganrtook Here- ford in an hour, without any confiderable bloodihed. The Waters about the Walls being hard frozen, the Governour lent Warrants to the Conftables of the Country neer adjoyning to bring in Labourers to break the Ice j Col. Btrch got thele War- rants, and cauleth one of his Officers in the Habit of a Conftable, and many Sol- diers with Mattocks, in the habit of Labourers, to come the next morning early to the Gates and being let in, they let in more, and liirprized the Town. This much I thought good tofpeak altogether here for brevity of the Scots Ar- my and Covenant, and now return to the new modell'd Army. § 71. The Englijl] Army being thus new modell'd, was really in the hand of Oliver Cromtvell, though leemingly under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax ( who was Ihortly after Lord Fairfax, his Father dying.^ Cromwell's old Regiment which had made it lelf famous for Religion and Valour , being fourteen Troops was divided ; fix Troops were made the Lord Fairfax's Regiment ; and fix Troops WQTS Col. IFhalley's Regiment; and the other two were in Col. Rich's and Sir Ko- ^£rfPye's Regiments. The Confidents of Cro»«M/e/^ were elpecially Col. Ireton, and Major D«/Wo/all, Mr. Rich. Vims, Dr. Lazarut Seaman, &c. who were met by many of the King's Divines, Archbifliop t7/fc«r. Dr. Hamrnnnd, Dr. Sheldon, &c. The Debates here being in Writing were publi/hed, and each Party thought they had the better, and the Parliaments Divines came off with great Honour : But for my part, I confefs thefe tvv/o things againfl thenij though Perfons whom I highly honoured : 1. That they (eem not to me to have anfwered fatisfaftorily to the main Ar- gument fetcht from the Apoftles own Govcrnnient, with which Saravia had incli* ned me to fome Epifcopacy before ; though Miracles and Infallibility were Apo- flolical temporary Priviledgesj yet Church Goveinmcnt is an ordinary thing to be continued : And therefore as the Apoftles had SuccefTors as they were Preach- ers, I Ice not but that they muft have SuccefTors as Church Governors : And it feenieth unlikely to me, that Chrift fhould fettle a Form of Government in his Church, which was to continue but for one Age, and then to be transformed into another Species. Could I be fure what was the Government in the Days of the Apoftles themfelves, I fhould be fatisfied what fhould be the Government now. 2. They feem not to me to have taken the Courfe which fhould have fetled thefe diftraded Churches : Inflead of difjjuting againft all Epifcopacy, they fhould have changed Diocefan Prelacy into fiich an Epifcopacy as the Confcience of the King might have admitted, and as was agreeable to that which the Church had in the two or thiee firft Ages. I confefs, Mr. Vmts wrote to nie as their excufe in this and other Matters of the Aftembly, that the Parliament tied them up from treat- ing or difputing of any thing at all, but what they appointed or propofedto them : But I think plain dealing with fiich Leaders had baen beft, and to have told them thu u our Judgmtnt, and in the matters of God and his Church we will ferve you according to our Judgment, or not at all. ( But indeed if they were not of one Mind among themfelves, this could not beexpeded.) Archbifhop Ujiier there took the righteft courfe,\vho offered the King his Reduction of Epifcopacy to the form of Presbytery : And he told me hixnlelf, that before the King had refafed it, but at the Jfle of Wight he accepted it, and as he would not when others would, fo others would not when he would : And when our prefenc King Charles 11. came in, we tendered it for Union to him, and then he would not : And thus the true moderate healing terms are always reje(9^ed by them that fland on the higher Ground, though accepted by them that are lower and cannot have what they will: From whence it is eafy to perceive, whether Prolperity or Adverfity, the Higheft, or the Loweft, be ordinarily the greater Hinderer of the Churches Unity and Peace. I know that if the Divines and l^arliament had agreed for a moderate Epifcopacy with the King, fome Presbyterians of Scotland would have been againft it, and many Independants of England, and the Army would have made it the matter of odious Accufations and Clamouis : But all this had been of no great regard to remove forefeeing judicious Men from thofe heal- ing Counfels which mult clofe our Wounds whenever they are clofed. Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 6^ § 94. The King fending his final Anfwefs to the Parliament, tlie P.^rliiment hada long Debate upon them, whether to acquiefce in them as a fufficient Ground for Peace j and many Members fpake for relHng in them, and among others Mr. Frin went over all the Kings Confoeffions in a Speech of divers Hours long, with marvellous Memory, and ilicwed the Satisfadorinels of them all, ( and after printed it : ^ ^o ^h^' theHoufi voted that the Kings Conceffions were a fufficienc Ground for a Perfbnal Treaty with him ; and had (uddenly fent a concluding An- fwer, and fent for him up, but at fuch a Cri/is it was time for the Army to belHr them : Without any more ado Crom-well and his Confidents lend CoUonol Vride with a Party of Souldiers to the Houfe, and let a Guard upon the Door; one Part of the Houle (who were for them ) they let in ; another part they turned away, and told them that they muft not come there ; and the third part they impriloned (the Ibbereft worthy Members of the Houfe) j and all to prevent them from be- ing true to their Oaths and Covenants, and loyal to their King : Tofo much Re- bellion, Perfideoul'nefi, Perjury and Impudence, can Errer, 5f //jJjwf/ and Pr de of great SucqelTes, tranfport Men of the highefk Pretences to 'Religion. § 9j. For the true underifanding of all this, it mult be remembred, that though in the beginning of the Parliament there was (carce a noted grofs Seftary known, but the Lord Brook in the Houle of Peers, and young Sir Henry Vam in the Houla of Commons ; yet by Degrees the Number of them increafed in the Lower Houfe; Major Sallowey and fome few more S\r Henry Vane had made his own Adherents: Many more were carried part of the way, to Independency, and Liberty of Reli- gions ; and many that minded not any fide in Religion, did think that it was no Po- licie ever to trult a conquered King, and therefore were wholly for a Parliamentary Government : Of thefe fome would have Lords and Commons as a mixture of Ariltocracie and Democracie, and others would have Commons and Democracie alone ; and lome thought that they ought to judge the King for all the Blood that had been ihed. And thus when the two Parts of the Houle were ejected andi m- prifoned, this third part compoled of the Vanifis, the Independents, and other Sects, with the Democratical Party, was left by Crom-well to do his Bufinefs under the Name of the Parliament of England j but by the People in Scorn commonly called. The Rump of the Parliament. The lecluded and imprifoned Members publilhed a Writing called, their Vindication ; and fome of them would afterwards have thruif into the Houle, but the Guard of Soldiers kept them out, and the Rump were called the Honejt Men. And thefe are the Men that henceforward we have to do within theProgrefs of our Hiftory, as called. The Parliament. § 96. As the Lords were dilaffedled to thele Proceeedings, lb were the Rump and Soldiers to the Lords: So that they pafled a Vote (fuppofing that the Army would Itand by them ) to eflablifh the Government without a King and Houfe of Lords ; and fo the Lords dillolved, and thele Commons fat and did all alone. And being deluded by Cromwell, and verily thinking that he would be for Democracie, which they called a Commonwealth, they gratified him in his Defigns, and them- felves in their difloyal Diftrufts and Fears ; and they caufed a High Court of Ju- ftice to be ereded, and fent for the King from the Ifle of Wight : Collonel Haw- w;owlijhi-tl2 they will mean only Je faiio, and not Je fure, and by [ withcut a King, Sic] they mean not cjuatenAs but Etfi ; and that only de faito p>-o tempore ; ^. d. L will be true to the Government of England, though at the prefsnt the King and Houfe ol" Lords are put out of the Exercife of their power]. Thcfe were the Expofuions cf many Epiicopal Men, and others that took it : But 1 endeavoured to evince, that this is meer jugling and jefting with Matters too great to be jelled with : And that as they might eafily know that the Impolers had another ienle, lo as eafily might they know that the words in their own obvious uliial (enfe among men, mult be taken as the Promifeor Engagement of a Subject as fuch to a Form of Govein- ment now pretended to be eftabliilied : And that the Subjeds Allegiance or Fideli- ty to his Rulers can b- acknowledged and given in no plainer words : And that by luch Interpretations and Stretchings of Confcience, any Treafonable Oath or Pro- mile may be taken, and no Bonds of Society can fignitie much with fuch Inter- preters. § loi. England and Ireland being thus Conquered by Cromwell, (by deluding vvell- meaning Men into his Service, and covering his Ambition with the Lord Fairfax's Generallhip); the Parliament being imprilbned and caftout, the King cut off, and the Rump eftablifhed as a new Commonwealth , ( thole great and Iblid A4en, P/7/;, Hampden, &ic. being long before dead and rid out of his way, vjho elle had been like to have pi evailed again It the Plots of FdBe in the Parliamen;) you \^'ould think there were nothing now ftanding in his way, to hinder him from laying hands upon the Crown. But four Impediments yet ftood before him: i. The nu- merous Cavaliers ( or Royalifts ) ready for new Enterprizss againft him. 2. The Scots, who refolvcd to (lick to the Covenant and the King. ;. The Armj, which niuft be untaught all the Principles which he is now permitting them to learn : ( For thofe Principles which muft bring him to the Crown, are the worlt in the World for him when once he is there). 4. The Minifters of England and Scotland, and all the lober People who regarded them. The firft of thefe he molt eafily (though not without ftruglingj overcame, ma- king his advantage by all their Enterprizes. The fecond put him harder to it, but he overcame them at latt. The third proved yet a greater difficulty, but he feem- ed ablblutely to overcome it, yet leaving ftill (bme Life in the root. The fourth ftrove againft him more calmly and prudently, with invincible Weapons, ancl though tl'.ey were quiet, were never overcome ; but at laft revived the fpark of Life which was left in the third, and thereby gave a Refurre7«rf/^ or ^///Ai/fl/as they are. Some of them were ftartled at thefe Letters, and (O blindnelj l) thought me an uncharitable Cenfjrer that would fay that they could kill the Godly, even when they were on their march to do it: For how bad Ibever they (pake of the Cavaliers, ( and not without coo much delert as to theii- Moralsj they confeiTed that abundance of the Scots were godly Men. And afterward thofe that I wrote to better underftood me. $ lOf At the fmie tinre the Rump for Commonwealth ) who fo much abhor- red Perfccutinn , and were for Liberty of Conlcience, made an Order that all Mi- niftoxs (Irould keep r/W days of Humiliation, tofiftandpray for their Succels in Sco'Lnid: and that we Ihouid keep their Days of Thankfgiving for their ViAories ; .Tiid thi>upon pjin of Sequeftration : fo that we all expefted to bs^urned out : bat tlicy did not execute it upon any lave one in our parts. For my part, inflead of praying and preaching for them, whenany of the Com- mittee or Soldiers were my hearers, 1 laboured to help them to underftand, what a Crime it was to force men to pray lor the Succels of thole that were violating their Covenant and Loyalty, and going in fuch a Caufeto Kill their Brethren : And what it was to force Men to give God thanks for all their Bloodlhed, and to make God's Minifters and Ordinances vile, and lerviceable to fuch Crimes, by forcing Men to run to God on fuch Errands of Blood and Ruine : And what it is fo be fuch P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 67 fuch Hypocrites as to perfecute and caft out thofe that preach the Gofpel, while they pretend the advancement of the Gofpel, and the liberty of tender Confci- ences : And what a means it was to debauch all Confciences , and leave neithei* tendernefi nor honefty in the World, when the Guides of the Flocks, and Preach- ers of the Gofpel fhall be noted to fwallow down fuch heinous Sins. My own Hearers were all fatisfied with my Doftrine ^ but the Committee Meri look fowre, but let me alone. And the Soldiers laid I was fo like to Love, that I would not be right till I was Ihorter by the Head. Yet none of them ever med- led with me farther than by the Tongue, nor was I ever by any of them in thofe times, forbidden or hindered to preach one Sermon, except only one Affize-Ser- mon which the High Sheriff had delred me to preach, and afterward fent me word to forbear, as from the Committee, faying. That by Mr. Adoofs means (the Independent Preacher at the CoUedge) the Comrnittee told him that they defired me to forbear, and not to preach before the Judges, becaufe I preached againft the State : But afterward they excufed it, as done meerly in kindnels to me, to keep me from running my felf into danger and trouble. § 106. Not far from this time the LojoJon Miniders were called Traitors by the A».i6^l Rump and Soldiers for plotting for the King ( a ftrange kind of Treafbn) , be- caufe they had lome Meetings to contrive bow to raife Ibme linall Sum of Money for Majjeyh relief, who was then in Scotland : And Ibme falfe* Brother difcovered * Capt.i4- them, and eight of thera were fent to the Tower , Mr. Arthur Jackfon, Dr. Drake^ '^'""^' Mr. Watfon, Mr. Lcve, Mr. Jenkins, 6cc. and Mr. 'Nalton and Mr, Caughton fled into Holland, where one died, but the other returned and lived to fuffer more by them he fuffered for. Mr. Love was tried at a Court of Juftice, where Edm. Trideaux a Member and Sollicitor for the Commonwealth, did think his Place allowed him to plead againft the Life and Blood of the Innocent. Mr. Love was condemned and beheaded, dying neither timeroufly nor proudly in any defperate Bravado, but with as greac alacrity and fearlels quietnefs and freedom of Speech, as if he had but gone to Bed, and had been as little concerned as the ffanders by. An t honeft Gentleman was f Mr.ci3- beheaded with him for the fame Caule. And at the time of their Execution, or ^°"^' very near it on that day, there was the dreadfulleft Thunder and Lightning and Tempeft, that was heard or leen of a long time before. This Blow funk deeper towards the Root of the New Commonwealth, than will eafily be believedjand made them grow odious to almoft the Religious Party in the Land, except the Seftaries: (Though Ibme malicious Cavaliers laid it v/as good enough for him, and laught at it as good News ) : for now the People would not believe that they fought the promoting of the Gofpel , who killed the Minifters for the Intereft of their Faction. And there is, as Sir Walter Raivleigb nottth. of Learned Men, liich as Vemoftbenes, Cicero, &c. fo much more in Divines of famous Learning and Piety , enough to put an everlafting odium upon thofe whom they fuffer by, though the Caule of the Sufferers were not juftifiable. Men count him a vile and detelf able Creature, who in his paffion, or for his interelt, or any luch low account, fhall deprive the World of fuch Lights and Ornaments , and cut off k much excellency at a blow, and be the Perfecutors of fuch worthy and re- nowned Men. Though the refl of the Minifters were releafed, upon Mr. Jen- kins s Recantation, and Confeffion that God had now convinced him, that he ought to fubmit to the prelent Government. Yet after this, the moft of the Mi- nifters and good People of the Land, did look upon the New Commonwealth as Tyranny, and were more alienated from them than before. § 107. The Lord Fairfax now laid down his Commiflion , and would have no more of the Honour of being Cromwell's Inftrument or Mask, when he faw that . he muft buy it at fo dear a rate. And io Cromwell with applaufe received a Com- mifCon, and entered upon his place. And into Scotland he hafteneth, and there he maketh his way near Edinburgh j where the Scots Army lay : But after long skirmifhing and expedations, when he ^ could neither draw the Scots out of their Trenches to a fight, nor yet pals forward, his Soldiers contracted SicknelTes, and were impatient of the Poverty of the Coun- try,and fo with a weakned ragged Army he drew off to return to England, and had the 5cofi but let him go, or cauteloufly followed him, they had kepc their Peace and broken his Honour : But they drew out and followed him, and overtaking him near Dunbarr, did force him to a Fight, by engaging his Rere j in which Fight beingnotof fa«a/Forf;VWe they were totally rowted, their Foot taken, and their Horle purfued to Edinburgh. Kz §io8. ~6i '^ The LIFE of the "~" Lib. L $ 1 08. Tenthoufand Prifoners of the Foot were brought to Nevjcaftle, where the greatnels of the Number, and the bafenefs of the Country (with their Poverty) and the cruel Negligence of the Army, cau(ed them to be almoft all famillicd : For being {hut up in a Cabbage-Garden, and having no Food, they caft them- felves into a Flux and other Difeales with eating the raw Cabbages ; io that kwa of them furvived, and thofe few were little better ufed. The Colours that were ta- ken were hanged up as Trophies in Wefiminfier-HaU^ and never taken down till the King's Reiteration. § 109. Cromwell being thus called back to Edinburgh, driveth the Scots to Ster- litig beyond the River, where they fortifie themfelves : He befiegeth the impreg- nable Caftle of Edinburgh and winneth itj the Governor, Coll. Willia7n Dunglajjcy laying the blame on his Souldiers that elfe would have delivered It and him j but his Superiors condemned him for the Cowardly Surrender. After this, Cromwell pafleth fome of his Men over the River, and after them moft of the reft: The King with the Scots Army being unable to give him Battle after luch Dilcouragements, takes the Opportunity to hafte away with what Force they had towards England, thinking that Cromwell being caft now fome Days March behind them, by Realbn ot his paffing the River, they might be before him in England, and there be abundantly increased, by the coming in both of the Cava- liers and the reft of the People to him. And doubtlefs all the Land would fud- denly have flockt in to him but for thefe two Caufes : 1. The Succefs of Cromv^ellat Dumbarre and afterwards, had put a Fear upon al! Men, and the manner of the Scots coming away, perfuaded all Men that NeceC- fity forced them, and they were look'd upon rather as flying than as marching in- to England j and few Men will put themielves into a flying Army which is purfued by the conquering Enemy. 2 . The implacable Cavaliers had made no Preparation of the Peoples Mind, by any Significations of Reconciliation, or of probable future Peace : And the Prelatical Divines, inftead of drawing nearer thole they differed from for Peace, had gone farther from them by Dr. Hammond's new way, than their Predeceflbrs were before them ; and the very Caufe which they contended for, being not Co»- cord and Neighbourhood, but Domination, they had given the difl[enting Clergy and People no hopes of finding favourable Lords, or any Abatement of their former Burdens, (b little did their Task-Mafters relent : But contrariwife, they law Rea- Ibn enough to expeft that their little Fingers would be heavier than their Predecef- lbrs Loyns. And it is hard to bring Men readily to venture their Lives to bring themfelves into a Prilbn, or Beggary, or Banilhment. Tliefe were the true Caufes that no more came in to the King : The firft kept off" the Royaliftsand the refi, thefecond kept ofi'the r^/? alone. Yet the Earl of Darby, the Lord Talbott and many Gentlemen did come in to him ; and fome that had been Souldiers for the Parliament, (as Capt. Benbow from Shrewsbury, with Cornet Kinnerjly and a Party of Horfe, and Ibme few more. ) The King's Army of Scots was excellendy well governed ( in comparilbn of what his Father's was wont to be): Not a Souldier durft wrong any Man of the worth of a Penny j which much drew the Aifedions of the People towards them. The Prefence of CoUonel Rich. Graves, and Collonel MaJ]} with them, was the great Inducement to the Parliamentaaans to come in : But another great Impedi- ment kept them off, which was, Cromwell's exceeding fpeedy Purfuit of them j io that People had not time to refolve themfelves confiderately ; and moft were willing to lee what CrowW/'s AiTauIt would do, before they caft themfelves into the Danger j Soldiers may moft eafily be had when there is leaft need of them. I The King came by the way of Lancajhire, and funimoned Shrewsbury in vain ds he pafted by through Shrop^nrc : And when all the Country thought that he was h.iftening to London ( where all Men fuppoled he would have attained his Ends, increafcd his Strength, and had no Refiftance, ) he turned to TVorcefttr, and there ftayedto refreih his Army, CroK^welTs Forces being within a few days March of him. §110. The Army paffed moft by KuLrmifi^er (a Fields Breadth off) and the relt through it : Collo.nel Graves f";nt two or three Melliges to me, as from the King, to come to him ; and afccr, when he wis at l-Vorcefler, fbme others were lent : But I was at that time under lb great an AfHidiion of fore Eyes, that I was not Icarce able to lee th? Light, nor tit to ftir out of Doors : And being not much P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 6^ much doubtful of the Iffue which followed, I thought if I had been able, it would have been no Service at all to the King ; it being fo little on fuch a fudden, that I could add to his Affilhnce. When the King had (tayed a fiw Days at Worcefier, Croimvell came with his Ar- my to the Eaft fide of the City, and after that, maJe a Bridge of Boats over Se- vern, to hinder them from Forage on the other fide ; but becauie (o great an Army could not long endure to be pent up, the King relblved to charge Cromwells Men ; and a while the Scots Foot did charge very gallantly, and fome chiet Pcrfons among the Horfe, The Marquis Hamilton (late Earl of Lanerkhj D,iiig flain : But at lalt the hope of Security lb near their Backs, encouraged the Ki igs Army to retreat into the City, and Cromwelh Souldiers followed them io clofc at the Heels, that Major Swallow of Whalley'?, Regiment firft, and others after him entered Stdbury- Gate with them ; and fo the whole Army fled through the City quite away, ma- ny being trodden down and flain in the Streets ; lb that the King was faign to fly with them Northward, the Lord Willmot, the Earl of Lauderdaik, and many others of his Lords and Commanders with him : Kiderminfier being but eleven Miles from IVorcefier, the flying Armv paft fome of them through the Town, and fome by it : I was newly gone to Bed when the Noile ot the flying Horfe acquainted us of the Overthrow : and a piece of one of Cromwell's Troops that Guarded Bewdley- Bridge having tidings of it, came into our Streets, and ftood in the open Market- place before my Door, to furprife thofe that paft by : Andfo when many hundreds of the flying Army came together, when the 30 Troopers cryed fiand, and fired at them, they either hafted away, or cryed Quarter, not knowing in the Dark what Number it was that charged them : And fo as many were taken there, as fo few Men could lay hold on: And till Midnight the Bullets flying towards my Door and Windows, and the Ibrrowful Fugitives hafting by for their Lives, did tell me the Calamitoufnefs of War. The King parted at laft from moft of his Lords, and went to Bofcobell by the white Ladies, where he was hid in an Oak, in manner fufficiently declared to the World ; and thence to Mofdy, and fo with Mr'. Lane away as a Traveller, and efcaped all the Searchers Hands, till he came fafe beyond Sea, as is publilhed at large by divers. The City o{ Worcefier was much plundered by Cronftvell's Souldiers, and a Party- only lent out afcer the King's Fugitives (for an Army I will call them no more) : the Earl of Derby was taken, and Capt. Benbow of Shrewsbury, and were both put to Death ; the Sentence of Coll. Mackworth difpatched Benbow, becaufe he had been a Souldier under him. The Earl of Lauderdaik, and the Earl oiCraford were fent Prilbners to tVmdfir-Caftle, where they were detained till the Reftoration of the King : Coll. Graves at lalt being releafed by Cromwell, lived quietly at his Houfe, which made him ill thought of, and kept from Preferment afterwards when the King came in. And thus Cromwell's next Impediment was over. § 1 1 1. The Scots Army being utterly difpatched in England (and many oF the Prifoners of Foot fent to the Barbado's, &c. ) part of Cromwell's Army was lent to profecute the Viftory in Scotland, where (briefly ) all their Garrifons at laft were taken, and the Earl of Glencarne, and that learned, religious, excellent Perfon, the Earl o^Balcarres, who kept up the laft Forces there for the King, were fain to fly to the King beyond Sea : And Major General Monk was there left with fome Forces to keep the Country in Subjeftion. § 1 1 2. Cromwell having thus far feemed to be a Servant to the Parliament, and work for his Mafters the Rump or Commonwealth, doth next begin to Ihew whom he leived, and take that Impediment allb out of the way : To which End he firft doth by them as he did by the Presbyterians, make them odious by hard Speeches of them throughout his Army ; as if they intended to perpetuate themfelves, and would not be accountable for the Money of the Commonwealth, &c. and he treateth privately with many of them, to appoint a time when they would dif- folve themlelves, that another free Parliament might be chofen : But they per- ceived the Danger, and were rather for the filling up of their Number by New Eledions, which he was utterly apainft. His greateft Advantage to ftren[:;^hen himfelf againft them by the SeAaries, was their owning the publick Miniftry and their Maintenance ; for though Vane and his party let themfelves to make the Minifters odious by reproachful Titles, and to take them down, yet ftill the greater pan of the Houfe did carry it for a [ober Mmtfiry, and competent Mamtcriance. And when the Quakers and others did openly reproach 70 The LIFE of the L i b. L reproach the Miniftry, and the Souldiers favour them, I drew up a Petition for the Miniftry, and got many thoufand Hands to it in IForcefierJlure, and Mr. The. Fo- ley, and Coll. Jobti Bridgii prefented it ; and the Houi'e gave a kind and piomi- fing Anfwer to it, which increafed the Sedaries Dipleafure againft them : And when a certain Quaker wrote a reviling Cenfure of this Petition, I wrote a De- fence of it, and caufed one of them to be given each Parliament Mao at the Door ; and within one day after they werediffolved : For OowW/ impatient of anymore delay, fuddenly took Harrijvn and fome Souldiers with him (as if God had im- pelled him) and as in a Rapture went into the Houfe, and reprovech the Members for their Faults, and pointing to Vam, calls him a Juglar, and to Henry Martin, and calls him Whoremafter, and having two fuch to inltance in, taketh it for granted that they were all unfit to continue in the Government of the Commonwealth j and out he turneth them : And fo ended the Government of the Rump, and no fore of People exprefTed any great Offence that they were caft out, though all, lave the Sediaries and the Army almoft, did take him to be a Traitor that did it. § 1 1 ;. The young Commonwealth being already Headlefs, you might think that nothing was left to Itand between Cromwell and the Crown : For a Governor there mull be, and who fhould be thought fitter ? But yet there was another Pageant to be played, which had a double end: i. To make the Neceffity of his Govern- ing undeniable. And 2. To make his own Souldiers at laft out of love with Democracie ; or at lealt to make them hateful that adhered to it. A Parliament muft be called, but the ungodly People are not to be trufted with the choice j therefore the Souldiers, as more religious, muft be the Qhoofers: And two out of a County are chofcn by the Officers upon the Advice of their Se<5taTian Friends in the Country. This was called in Contempt, Tbe Little Parliament. This Conventicle made an Adt ( as I remember) that Magiftrates fliould marry People inftead of Minifters, (yet not prohibiting theMiniftersto do their part ) : And then they came to the Bufmefs of Tyches and Minifters; and before this, Har- rifon, being autliorized thereto, had at once put down all the Parifh-Minifters of fVales, becaule tiiat mod of them were ignorant and fcandalous, and had let up a few itinerant Preachers in their ftead, who weie for Number incompefent for fo great a Charge, there being but one to many of thofe wide Parifhesj fo that the People having but a Sermon once in many Weeks, and nothing elfe in the mean time, were ready to turn Papifts or any thing : iVnd this Plight would the Anabap- tifts, and other Sectaries have brought England to ; And all was, i. That the Peo- ple might not be tempted to think the Parilh- Churches to be true Churches : 2. Nor Infant Baptifmto be trueBaptifiii, and fo themfelves to be true Chriftians ; but muft bemadeChriftians and Churches in the Anabaptifts and Separatifts way. Hereupon Harrifon became the Head of the Sedaries, and Cromwell now began to defign the heading of a foberer Party, that were for Learning and Miniftry ; but yet to be the equal Protefior of all : Hereupon in the Little Sedarian Parliament, it was put to the Vote, whether all the Parilh Minifters of England /hould at once be put down or no ? And it was but accidentally carried in the negative by two Voices ; And it was taken for granted, that the Tythes and Univerfities would at the next Oppor- tunity be voted down; and now Crom-wcll muft be their Saviour, or they muft: pe- rilh ; when he had purpofely caft them into the Pit, that they might be beholden to him to pull them out. (But his Game was fo grofty play'd, as made him the more loathd by Men of Underftanding and Sincerity) So Sir CJF.and fome others of them take their time, and put it to the Vote whether the Houle as uncapable of (erving the Commonwealth, (hould go and deliver up their Power to Cromwell irom whom they had received it ; and they carried it in the Afiirmative, and away they go, and (blemnly rclign their Power to him ; and now who but Cromwell and his Army. § 1 14. The intelligent Sort by this time did fully fee that Cromwell's defign was, by ciufing and permitting deftruAion to hang over us, to neceffitate the Nation whether they would or not, to take him for their Governour , that he might be their Protedor : Being refolved that we fhould be faved by him, or perifli : He made more ule of the wild headed Seftaries than barely to fgbt for him : They now Icrve him as much by their Herefies, their Enmity to Learning and Miniftry, their pernicious Demands which tended to Confufion, as they had done before by their Valour in the Field. He can now conjure up at pleafure fome teriible appa- rition, of Agitators, Levellers, or fuch like, who as they affrighted the King from Hampton-Court, ihall affright the People to fiy to him for refuge ; that the hand that wounded them may heal tham. For now he exclaimeth againft the giddinefs of thele P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 71 thefe unruly Men, and earnedly pleadech for Order and Gcvernment , and will needs become the Patron of the Miniftry, yet fo as to iecure all others of their Li- berty. Some that faw his Defign, faid. We will rather all perifh, and fee both Tythes and Univerfities overthrown, than we will any way fubmit to fuch deceitful Ufiu- pationj. Others faid, It is the Providence of God, whoever be the InftrumentS;, which hath brought us into this Necefficy, which we were unable to prevent ; and being in it, we are not bound to choofe our own deftrudion : Therefore Neceffity rc- quireth us to accept of any One to rule us that is like to deliver us. But the generality of the Minifters went the middle way ; and our Confciences thus apprehended the ftate of our prefent Duty : [ We acknowledge that God Al- mighty hath over-ruled in all thefe great Mutations, and hath permitted the perfi- diouliieGof MeOj and their Succefs. And the Common Good being the end of all jult Government, we may not do any thing againft the Common Good, much lels to the Deftrtitttonoi if, under pretence of refifbing an Ufurper, or of Reftoring him who is our rightful Governour. If the Univerfities be overthrown, the Fa- bricks demolilhed, the Lands alienated, the Miniftry put down, the Tithes fold, or given to the People, to engage then all to be againft any means which tend to a Recovery, whatever we contribute to this, we do againft the King and King- dom, and do but cut his Throat in kindnefb : Fbr we pull down the Houle that he may be Mailer of ic, and deftroy the Commonwealth that he may be the Head of it : We ftrengthen his Enemies by our imprudent Paflions : But yet we muff nei- ther Ju nor approve of Evil, for any Good End, nor forbear in our Places feaibn- ably to reprehend it : Therefore it is unlawful for us to Confent to any Governour but the King j or take any Engagement or Oath of Allegiance to any : But it is not unlawful for us tofubfntt to them, by living quietly in our Places, and to make ule of the Courts of Jufticeeftablifhed by Law, yea, and to demand protedion from the Ufurper. For his ftepping into the Ruler's place, and Ufurping the Govern- ment, obligeth him to do all the parts of a Governour s Office, while he is there; and warranteth us to demand it, and accept icof him ; but it doth not at all ob- lige us to obey him or confent to his Ufurpation : Even as we may demand Juftice of a General of Rebels, or a Captain of Thieves; or of Py rates that fhall fiirprize the Ship which we are in : but we are not bound to covfent to his Government, or formally obey him 5 but contrarily todifown his Villany, and to do all that we can againft his Tyranny, which tendeth not to the hurt of the Society : So here, it is our Duty to keep the ftate of things as entire as we can , till God be plealed to reftore the King, that he may find it a whok and not a rumd irrepairable State.3 And thus for my part was my Pradice : I did feafonably and moderately by Preaching and Printing condemn the Ufurpation, and the Deceit which was the Veryliketa means to bring it to pals. I did in open Conference declare Cromwell and his Ad- Maximus herents to be Guilty of Treafon and Rebellion, aggravated with Perfidioufnels and'"'*^ '{"y^ Hypocrifie ; to be abhorred of all good andfober Men : But yet I did not think it^^^'lV^ my Duty to rave againft him in the Pulpit, nor to do thisfo unleafbnably and im- ^^n,f^^ prudently as might irritate him to milchief. And the rather becaufe, as he kept up his approbation of a godly Life in the general, and of all that was good, except that which the Intereft of his Sinful Caule engaged him to be againft j fo I perceived that it was his defign to do good in the main, and to pro- mote the Gofpel and the Intereft of Godlinefs, more than any had done before him ; except in thole particulars which his own Intereft was againft : And it was the principal means that hence-forward he trufted to for his own Eftablilhment, even by doing good : That the People might love him, or at leaft be willing to have his Government for that Good, who were againft it, as it was Ufurpation. And I made no queftion at all, but that when the Rightful Governour was reftored, the People that had adhered to him ( being fo extreamly irritated ) would caft out multitudes of the Minifters, and undo the Good which the Ufurper had done, be- caufe he did it ; and would bring abundance of Calamity upon the Land. And Ibme Men thought it a very hard Queftion, Whether they fhould rather wi/h the continuance of an Ufurper that will do good, or the reftitution of a Rightful Go- vernour whole Followers will do hurt. But for my part I thought my Duty was clear, to difown theUfurper'sSin, what Good foever he would do ; and to per- form all my Engagements to a Rightful Governour.Ieaving the IiTue of all to God : but yet to commend the Good which a Ufurper doth, and to do any lawful thing which 72 ■ The L I F E of the L i b. 1. which may provoke him to do more; and to approve of «o Evil which is done by ?.ny, either Ufurper or a lawful Governour. And thus Jtooa the AfTeftions of the Intelligent fort to Crom-ivell: but the Sim- pler Ibrt believed that he defigned nothing of all that came to pals ; hut that God's Providence brought about all , without his Contrivance or Expei5la- tion. An.i6<% § II f- The little Parliament having refigned their Commiffion to Cromvjell, that we might not be ungoverncd, a JtinHo of Officers, and I know not who ('nor ever could learn, but that Lambert and Berry were two Chief Men in itj did draw up a Writing, called, The Infinonent of the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland]. This Inflrument made OUver Cromwell Lord Protedlor of the Commonwealth : The Lord Mayor and Aldermen, the Judges, and the Offi- cers of the Army, w-ere fuddenly drawn together to Weftmtnfier-Hall, and upon the reading of this Inftrument, inftalled Crom-well in the Office of Protcdor, and fwore him accordingly ; and thus the Commonwealth feemed orice more to have a Head. § 1 16. I fliall for brevity over pals the particular mention of the Parliaments fum- nioned by Crowu/f//; of their difpleafing him by ravelling his Inftrument, and o- ther means, and of his rough and refolute dilTolving them. One of the chief Works which he did was the purging of the Miniffry j of which I fliall fay fbmewhat more. And here I fuppole the Reader to underltand that the Synod of /^rty?w»/»/?er was difTolved with the Parliament; and therefore a Society of Miniflers with (bme others, were chofen by Cromwell to fit at White- hall, under the Name otTj-icrj , who were moftly Independants , but lome (bber Presbyterians with them, and had power to try all that came for Inftitution or In- du(5lion, and without their Approbation none were admitted: This AlTembly of Triers examined themfelves all that were able to come up to London : but if any were unable, or were of doubtful Qualifications between Worthy and Unworthy, they ufed to refer them to fome Minifters in the County where they lived, and to approve them if thej approved them. And becaufe this Aflembly of Triers is molf heavily accufed and reproached by fome Men, I fliall fpeak the truth of them, and fuppofe my word will be the ra- . ther taken, becaufe moft of them took me for one of their boldelt Adverfaries, as to their Opinions, and becaufe I was known to difown their Power, infomuch that 1 refu(ed to try any under them upon their reference, except a very few,who(e Importunity and neceffity moved we (they being fuch as for their Epilcopal Judg- ment, orfomeluch Caule, theTriers were like to have rejeed) The truth is^ that though their Authority was null, and though fome few over-bufie and over-rigid Independants among them, v/ere toolevere againlt all that were Armi- nians, and too particular in enquiring after Evidences of Sandlification in thole whom they Examined, and (bmewhat too lax in their Admiflion of Unlearned and Erroneous Men, rhat favoured Antinomianifm or Anabaptifm ; yet to give them their due, they did abundance of good to the Church : They faved many a Congregation from ignorant, ungodly, drunken Teachers : that fort of Men that intended no more in the Miniflry, than to fiy a Sermon, as Readers fay their Common Prayers, and fo patch up a few good words together to talk the People alleep with on Sunday ; and all the reft of the Week go with them to the Ale- houfe,and harden thsm in their Sin : And that fort of Minifters that either preacht againft a holy Life, or preacht as Men that never were acquimed with it ; ail thole that ufed the Miniftry but as a Common Trade to live by , and were never likely to convert a Soul ; all thefe they ufually rejeded ; and in their ftead admitted of ;uiy that were able ferious Preachers, and lived a godly Life , of what toIIerableO- pinion foever tiiey were. So that thougii they were many of them fcmewhat par- tial for the Independents, Sep.iratifts, Fitth-Monarchy-men and Anabaptifts, and againft the PrelatiRs and Arminians, yet lb great was the benefit above the hurt, which they brought to the Church, that many thoufands of Souls bleft God for the faithful Minifters whom they let in, and grieved when the Prelatifts afterward caft them out again. § 117. And becaufe 1 am faU'n upon this Subjeft, I will look back to the Alte- rations that were m.ule upon the Miniftry by the Long Parliament before, both by the Country Committees and the Synod at TVefimwJler : I know th-it tiiere are Men in the World that defame both the Afters and the Work, and would make the World believe that almoft none but worthy Learned Men were turned out, and that for thsir Fidelity to the King and I3ilhops,and that almoft none but Unlearned and Part J. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ^ 75 and Faiftious Fellows were introduced. But this Age hath taught the World how little the Report of luch Men is to be believed of any others, who fpeak what their Intereft and Malice do command them ; and by thefe are made ftrangers to the. Men they fpeak of, though they dwell among them : For they Converle not with them at all, unlefs in fome wrangling Difpute, when Malice and Paffion feek a Whctftone ; but they talk only with thofe that talk againft them , and eafily be- lieve any fdfe Reports, when once they are lb like the Common Enemy that they defire them to be true. But 1 fhall in this Cafe alfo (peak impartially, neither ju- ilifying what they did^amifi, nor condemning them without caufe. And becauie 1 have paft it by before, I fhall fay fomething of the Wejitmnfier Af- fembly here. This Synod was not a Convocation according to the Diocefan way of Government, nor was it called by the Votes of the Minifters according to the Presbyterian way : But the Parliament not intending to call an Affembly which Ihould pretend a Divine Right to make obliging Laws or Canons to bind their Brethren, but an Ecclefiaftical Council to be Adviferstothemlelves, did think that they belt knew who were the fittefl: to give them Advice, and therefore chofe them all themfelves. Two were to be chofen out of each County ; but fome few Coun- ties ( I know not upon what reafon ) had but one : I fuppofe it was long of the Parliament Men of thofe Counties. And becaufe they would feem Impartial, and have each Party to have liberty to I'peak, they over and above the number chole many Epiicopal Divines, even the Learnedeft of them in the Land, as Archbiffiop l//?;er Primate of Ireland, Dr. Holdjworth, Dr. Hammond, Dr. fFwcop, Bifhop JVefi- ford, Bilhop Prideaux, and many more. But they would not come, becaufi it was not a Legal Convocation, and becauie the King declared himfelf againft it : Dr. Dan. Featley and very few more of that Party came : ( But at laft he was charged with (ending Intelligence to the King's Quarters at Oxford, of what was done in the Synod and Parliament, andwas imprifoned ; which much refleded on the Parlia- ment, becauie whatever his Fad were, he was fo Learned a Man, as was (iifficient to dilhonour tho(e hefuffered by). The Prolocutor or Moderator was Dr. William Twijfe ( a Man very famous for his Scholaftical Wit and Writings in a very fmoorh triumphant Stile) :'The Divines there Congregate were Men of Eminent Learn- ing and Godlinefs, and Minilterial Abilities and Fidelity : And being not worthy to be one of them my felf, I may the more freely fpeak that Truth which I know even in the Face of Malice and Envy, that, as far as I am able to judge by the In- formation of all Hiftory of that kind, and by any other Evidences left us, the Chri- ftian World, fince the days of the Apofllss, had never a Synod of more Excellent Divines (taking one thing with another ) than this Synod and the Synod oi Dort were. This AlTembly was confined by the Parliament to debate only fuch things as they propofed to them : And many Lords and Commons were joyned in Commi(^ fion with them, to ihe that they did not go beyond their Commiffion : Six or (e- ven Independants were joyned with them, tliat all fides may be heard; of whom five were called the Diffentirg Brethren, ( Philip Nye, Thomas Cood-wyn, Jeremiah Bur- roughs, Sydrach Symffon, and Wtlliam Bridge ) who joyned with the reft till they had drawn up a Confeffion of Faith, a larger and a ihorter Catechifm. But when they came to Church Government, they engaged them in many long Debates, and kept that Bufinefs as long as poftibly they could undetermined ; and after that kept it (b long unexecuted in almoft all parts of the Land, faving London and Lan- caflme, that their Party had time to ftrengthen themfelves in the Army and the Parliament, and hinder the Execution after all, and keep the Government deter- mined of, a Stranger to moft of the People of this Land , who knew it but by hearlay, as it was rcprefented by Reporters. For my own part, as highly as I ho- nour the Men, I am not of their Mind, in every Point of the Government which they would have fet up ; and fome words in their Catechifm I could wifh had been more clear j and above all, I could wifh that the Parliament and their more skil- ful Hand, had done more than was done to heal our Breaches, and had hit upon the right way either to unite with the Epifcopal and Independants (which was pof- lible, as diftant as they are) or at leaft had pitched on the Terms that are fit for Univerfal Concord, and left all to come in upon thole Terms that would. But for all this diflent I muft teftifiemy Love and Honour to the Perlons of fu»;h great Sin- cerity, and Eminent Minifterial Sufficiency, as were Gataker, Vines, BurgejS, Wbite^ and the greater part of that AlTembly, L Among 74 The LI F E of the L i fe. 1. ^ ^ J Among other parts of their Truft^ one was to approve of all thst fnould be ad- mitted into any Church Livings. They had no Power to put out any, but only to judge of the fitnefi of fuch as were taken in. The Power of Calling out un- worthy Men, was partly in a Committee of Parliament Men at London, and part- ly in the Committees of each (everal County, according to an Ordinance of Parlia- ment expreffing the Crimes : Herein it was laudable that Drunkards, Swearers, Curfers, Blafpheniers, Hereticks, Fornicators, and fuch fcandalous Perfons were to be cjefted : but it was not well done to put in thole among them that had been againft the Parliament in the War : For the Work of God ftould not give place to the Matters of their Secular Intereft and Policy, as long as the Being of the Commonwealth is fecured : And all the Learned Miniiters in the Land,on one fide and the other, are few enow to do the Work of Chrift: And I believe that thole that were againft them, would have done them leis hurt in the Pulpits where there were lb many Witneffes, than they did in private. But yet I mult needs lay, that in all the Countreys where I was acquainted, fix to one at leaft ( if not ma- ny more ) that were Sequeftred by the Committee , were by the Oaths of Wit- neffes proved infufficent, or fcandalous, or both ; efpecially guilty of Drunkennels or Swearing : and thofe that being able, godly Preachers, were caft out for the War alone, as for their Opinions fake , were comparatively very few. This I know will dilpleafe that Party ; but this is true. And though now and then an unworthy Perfon by finifter means crept into their Places , yet commonly thofe whom they put in, were fuch as fet themfelves laborioufly to feek the Saving of Souls : Indeed the one half of them were very young ; but that could not be helpt , becaufe there were no other to be had. The Parliament could not make Men J^earned nor Godly, but only put in the learnedeft and ableft that they could have. And though it had been to be wilhtthat they might have had leifure to ripen in the Univerfities, yet many of them did as Ambrofe, teach and learn at once fo liiccefsflilly, as that they much increafed in Learning themfelves, whilft they pro- fited others,- and proportionably more than many in the Univerfities do. § ri8. To return from this Digreffion to the Proceedings of Crom-weily when he was made Lord Protector, he had the Policy not to deted: and exafperate the Mini- iters and others that conlented not to his Government, ( having feen what a ftir the Engagement had before made ) : but he let Men live quiedy, without putting any Oaths of Fidelity upon them ; except his Parliaments; for thofe muft not en- ter the Houfe till they had fworn Fidelity to him. The Sectarian Party in his Ar- my and ellewhere,he chiefly trufted to and pleafed, till by the Peoples liibmiflion and quietnefshe thought himfelf well lettled : And then he began to undermine them, and by degrees to work them out : And though he had fo often fpoken for the A- nabaptifts, now he findeth them fo heady, and fo much againft any fettled Go- vernment, and (o let upon the promoting of their Way and Party, that he doth not only begin to blame their unrulinefs, but alfo defigneth to lettle himfelf in the Peoples Favour by fupprefling them. In Ireland they were grown lb high, that the Soldiers were many of them re-baptized as the way to Preferment: and thole that oppofed them they crulht with much uncharitable Fiercenels. To fupprels thele, he lent thither his Son Henry Cromwell^ who (b difcountenanced the Anabaptifts, as yet to deal civilly by them, reprefling their Inlblencies, but not abufing them, or dealing hardly with them ; promoting the Work of the Gofpel , and letting up good and fober Miniftcrs ; and dealing civilly with the Royallifts, and obliging all ,• ib that he was generally beloved, and well fpoken of And Major Ge- neral Ludlow , who headed the Anabaptifts in Ireland, was fain to draw in his head. In England Cromwell connived at his old Friend Harrifon, while he made himfelf the Head of tlie Anab,ipti(ls .-ind Fanaticks here, till he faw it would be an ap- plauded acceptable thing to the Nation to lupprcls him, and then he doth it eafily in a trice, and niaketh him contemptible who but yelierday thought himlelf not much below him : The lame he doth alfo as eafily by Lambert and laycth him by. § 1 19. In thefe times ( elpecially iince the Rump reigned ) lf)rang up (ive Seds at leaft, whole Dodrines were almoft thefime, but they fell into leveral Shapes and Names : l. Tlie Vamfis: 2. The Seekers : 3. The Ranters: 4. The Quakers : j. The Behmenills. I. The Vanifls, ( for I know not by what other Name to make them known ) who were Sir Henry Fane's Dilciples, hrft fprang up under him in new England wlien he was Governor there : But their Notions were then raw and undigelled, and their Party quickly confounded by Gods Providence; as you may lee in a litdd P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 75 little Book oiMT.Tho.WeUs of the Rife and Fall of Antinomianifnijand Familifm \n^ New-England; where their Opinions and thefe Providences are recorded by him A / i^'i*/ that was a reverend Minilter there : One Mrs. Dyer, a chief Perfon of the Sed: A'*^ did firil bring forth a Monfter, which had the Parts of almoft all forts of living •/•/ Creatures, iome Parts like Man, but moft ugly and mifplaced, and feme like Beafh, Birds and Fifhes, having Horns, Fins and Claws ; and at the Birth of it the Bed fl)ook, and the Women prefent fell a Vomiting and were fain to go forth of the Room : Mr. Cotton was too favourable to them, till thb helpt to recover him : Mrs, Hutchmjon, the chief Woman among them and their Teacher, ( to whole Exerciles a Congregation of them uled toaflemble) brought forth about 50 mifhapen Births or Lumps at once ; and being banillied into another Plantati- on was killed there by the Indians. Sir Henry Vane being Governor, and found to be the fecret Faiitor and Life of their Caufe, was fain to fteal away by Niglit, and take Shipping for England, before his Year of Government was at an end. But when he came over into England he proved an Indrument of greater Cala- mity to a People more finful and more prepared for God's Judgments: Being chofcn a Parliament Tvlan, he was very active at firft for the bringing of Delin- quents to Punifhment : He was the Principal Man that drove on the Parliament ro go too high, and aA too vehemently again!!: the King: Being of very ready Parts, and very great Subtilty, and unwearied Induftry, he laboured, and not without Succefs, to win others in Parliament, City and Country to his Way. When the Earl of Strafford was accufed, he got a Paper out of his Father's Cabi- net (who was Secretary of State) which was the chief Means of his Condem- nation : To moft of our Changes he was that within the Houfe, which Cromwell was without. His great Zeal to drive all into War, and to the higheft, and to cherilh the SeAaries, and efpecially in the Army, made him above all Men to be valued by that Party. His Unhappinels lay in this, that his Do(5liines were lb clowdily formed and ex- pTelfed, that few could underlland them, and therefore he had but few true Difci- ples : The Lord Brook was flain before he had brought him to Maturity : Mr. Ster- ry is thought to be of his Mind, as he was his Intimate ; but he hath not opened himfelf in writing *, and was lo famous for Obl'curity in Preaching ( being, laid ^ fofi^^- Sir Benj. Rudtard, too high for this World, and too low for the other ) that he '^l^fy j't^, thereby proved almoft Barren alio, and Va7uty and Sterility were never more hap- rfsi'sfma: pily conjoined : Mr. S^rig is the chief of his mere open Difciples (too well know a t^lflied. by a Book of his Sermons.) This Oblcurity by fome was imputed to his not underftanding himlelf ; but by others to difign, becaule he could fpeak plainly when he lifted : the two Courles, in which he had moft Succefs, andfpake moft plainly werej His earneft Plea for uni- verlal Liberty of Conlcience, and againft the Magiftrates intermedling with Reli- gion, and his teaching his Followers to revile the Miniftry, calling them ordinari- ly Blackcoats, Priefts, and other Names which then favoured of Reproach ; and thofe Gentlemen that adhered to the Miniftry, they laid, were Friefi-ridden. When Cromwell had lerved himlelf by him as his (ureft Friend, as long as he could ; and gone as far with him as their way lay together, ( Vane being for a Fanatii.k Democracie, and Cromwell ^or Monarchy ) atlaft there was no Remedy but they muft part ; and when Cromwell caft out the Rump (as difdainfully as Men do Excrements^ he called Vane ajugler, and iV/<»rf;« a Whoremonger, to excule his ulage of the reft as is aforelaid. When Vane was thus laid by, he wrote his Book called Tie retired Maris Medita- tions, wherein the beft part of his Opinions are fo exprelTed, as will make but few Men his Difciples: His Healing Queftion is more plainly written. When Cromwell was dead, he got Sir Arthur Hafelrigge to be his clofe Adherent on Civil Accounts, and got the Rump fet up again, and a Council of State, and got the Power nmch into his own Hands. When he was in the height of his Power he iht upon the forming of a new Commonwealth, and with Ibme of his Adherents drew up the Model, which was for popular Government j but lb that Men of his Confidencemuft be the People. Of my own difpleafing him this is the true Account : It grieved me to lee a poor Kingdom thus toft up and down in Unquietnefi, and the Minifters made odious and ready to be caft out, and a Reformation trodden under Foot, and Parliaments and Piety made a Scorn, and Icaice any doubted but he was the principal Spring of all: Therefore, being writing againft the Papifts, coming to vindicate our Re- ligion againft them, when they impute to us the Blood of the King, I fully pro- L z 7ed q6 The LIFE of the Lib. I, ved that the Proteftants, and particularly the Presbyterians abhorred it, and fuf- fered greatly for oppofmg itj and that it was the AA of Cromwell's Army and the Sedaries, among which I named the Fam/has one Sort, and I fhewed that the Fryers and Jefuits were their Deceivers, and under leveral Vizors were difperfi: ' among them ; and Mr. Nje having told me that he was long in Italy, I faid, it was confiderable how? much of his Dodrine their Leader brought from Italy' whereas it proved that he was only in Frame and Hehetta upon the Borders of Italy, and whereas it was printed from Italy, I had ordered the Printer to corred it \' fi-om- wardi Italy ] but though the Coppy was corre6Ved, thelmpreffion wasnot : Here- upon Sir Henry Vane being exceedingly provoked, threatned me to many, and fpake againit me in the Houfe, and one Stuhhi ('that had been whipt in the Convo- cation Houfe at Oxford) wrote for him a bitter Book againft me, who from a Vanili afterwards turned a Conformilf, fince that he turned Phyfician, and was drowned in afmall Puddle or Brook as he was riding near the Bath. I confefi my Writing was a means to leflen his Reputation, and make men take him for what Cromwell fthat better knew him) called him a Jugler : and I wifh I had done fb much in time : But the whole Land rang of his Anger and my Danger j and all expelled my prefent Ruine by him. But to ftew him that I was not about Recanting (as his Agents would have perfwaded me) 1 wrote alfb againft his Healing Queftton, in a Preface before my Holy Commonwealth. And the (peedy turn of Affairs did tye his Hands from Executing his Wrath upon me. Upon the Kings Coming in, he was queftioned, with others, by the Parliament, but (eemed to have his Life (ecured : But being brought to the Barr, he fpake fo boldly in juftifying the Parliaments Caufe, and what he had done , that it exalpe- rated the King, and made him refolve upon his Death. When he came to Tower- hiU to die, and would have fpoken to the People, he began fo refolutely as caufed the Officers to (bund the Trumpets and beat the Drums , and hinder him from fpeaking. No Man could die with greater appearance of gallant Refolution, and Fearlefnefs than he did, though before fuppofed a timorous Man : Infomuch that the manner of his Death procured him more Applaule than all the Actions of his Life. And when he was dead his intended Speech was printed, and afterwards his Opinions, more plainly expreffed by his Friend than by himfelf When he was Condemned fome of his Friends defired me to come to him, that I might fee how far he was from Popery, and in how excellent a Temper, (think- ing I would have askt him Forgivenefi for doing him wrong ) : I told them, that if he had defired it, I would have gone to him : but feeing he did not, I (iippofed he would take it for an injury; for my Conference was not like to be fuch as would not be pleafing to a dying man : For though I never called him a Papifl,yet I ftill fuppole he hath done the Papifts (b much Service, and this poor ISlation and Re- ligion fo much wrong, that we and our Pofterity are like to have caule and time enough to Lament it. And fo much of Sir Henry Vane and his Adherents. § 121. The fecond Sed which then rofe up was that called Seekers: Thefe taught that our Scripture was uncertain ; that prelent Miracles are neceflary to Faith j that our Miniftry is null and without authority, and our Worfhip and Ordinances unneceflary or vain j the true Church, Miniftry, Scripture, and Ordinances being loft ; for which they are now Seeking. I quickly found, that the Papifts principally hatcht and aftuated this SecS:, and that a confiderable Number that were of this Profeffion were fbme Papifts , and ibme Infidels: However they doled with the Vanifii,AnA ftieltered themlelves under them, as if they had been the very Cxme. § 122. The third Seft were the Ranters : Thefe alfb made it their Bufinefs as the former, to let up the Light of Nature, under the Name of Chrifl- tn Men, and to difhonour and cry down the Church, the Scripture, the prelent Miniftry, and our Worlhip and Ordinances ; and call'd men to hearken to Chrift within them : But withal, they conjoyned a Curled DoGtr'niz oi Libertinifm , which brought them to all abominable filthinefs of Life: They taught as the Famtltfis, that God regardeth not the Anions of the Outward Man, but of the Heart ; and that to the Pure all things are Pure, (even things forbidden ) : And fo as allowed by God, they (pake moft hideous Words of Blafphemy, and many of them committed Whoredoms commonly : Inlbmuch that a Matron of great Note for GodlineQ and Sobriery, being perverted by them, turned fo Ihamelefs a Whore, that fhe was Carted in the Streets of iWfl». There Part 1. R^^r^??^ Mr. Richard Baxter. 77 were There could never SeA ari(e in the World, that was a lowder Warning to Pro- feffors of Religion to be humble, fearful, cautelous, and Tvatchful : Never could the World be told more lewdly, whither the Spiritual Pride of ungrounded Novices in Religion tendeth ; and whither Profeffors of Striftnefsin Religion may be car- ried in the Stream of Se~c. But I perceived he was a young, raw Scholar of fome Fryar whom he underltood not, and when he fiiould but have commended the Terfeclicn of a Ahnafiical Life ( which is the thing that they (o highly magnifie ) he carried it too far, and made it Teem more neceflary than he ihoukl. They then profefiedto wait for fuch a Coming down of the holy Ghofl: uporj them, as ihould fend them out as his Miffionaries to unite, and reconcile, and heal the Churches, and do wonders in the World ; But its fifteen years ago, and yet they are latent and their work undone. § 125-. Among thefe fall in many other Se;f, as the Papifts do with the Pope : (And if they could bring men to receive the reft, it will be eafie to fpurn down tiie Idol of their Fantafie or pretended Spirit,and to iet on the proper Head again^. To thele alfo muft be added Dr. Gibbon, who goeth about with his Scheme to Pro- lelyte men, whom I have more caule to know than Ibmeof the reft. All thefc with iubtile Diligence promote moft of the Papal Caufe, and get in with the Religious Ibrt, either upon pretence of Aufieritjn MorttficAtion, Angelical Commumc7i, or Clearer Light ; but none of them yet owneth the Name of a Papifi, but what they are indeed, and who fendeth them, and what is their Work, though I ftrongly conjedure, I will not aflert, becaufe I am not fully certain : Let time dilcover them. § 126. The moft among Cromwell's Soldiers that ever I could fiifped for Papifts, v/ere but a few that began as Strangers among the Common Soldiers, and by de- grees role up to Ibmelnferiour Offices, and were moft converfant with the Com- mon Soldiers ; but none of the Superiour Officers feemed fuch, though feduced by them. There is one of them ( Capt. Ezierard ) that was a bufie preaching Sedary ( in appearance ) and difputed for Anabaptiftry , and againft Original Sin (whom Mr. Stephens hath wrote againft, who took him then to be a Papilt; and who hath lately publifhed a Book for the Popilli Religion, as giving the Realbnsof his Con- verlion to them, as if it were a thing that had been lately done : But they permit but nov/ and then one thus to dcted themfelves, to win others by the fame of their Converfion : But the reft muft ftill ply their work, as masked : for fecret Inftru- nients have much advatitages above publick ones. Capt. Everard fince the burning of London, and fince many new Fires have been attempted to confume the reft, was Accufed to Sir Richard Brown, as one that intended to burn the reft of the Ci- ty J and upon learch there was a dangerous Letter found with him, and four hun- dred Hand-Granado's with Earthen Shells, and fill'd up ready with Powder, were found covered under his Billets. There being two of that Name that were Sedaries in Cromwell's Army, I have not yet learned which of them this was. 5 127- Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 75? § 127. Alio the Sociniam made fome increafe by the Miniftry of one Mr. Rt^A le 9. /ID' ^f ibmetimes School-mafter in Gloce^er ; who wrote againft the Godhead oft he lioly Ghoft, and afterwards of Chrift ; whofe Followers inclined much to meer Deifm and Infidelity. § 128. Having gone on thus far with the general Hints of the Hiftory of thofe times, becaule I would not obfcure them by the Interpofitions of my own Affiirs, I now return to thefe, and fhall fet them alio together, that they may be the better underftood. I have related how after my bleeding of a Gallon of Blood by the Nole, I was left weak at Sir Thomas Rous's Houfe at Roui-Lench , where I was taken up with daily Medicines to prevent a Dropfie : And being confcious that my time had not been improved to the Service of God as I defired it had been, I put up many an earneft Prayer to God, that he would reftorc me, and ufe me more fuccefsfully in his Work. And blefled be that Mercy which heard my Groans in the Day of my Diftrels, and granted my Defires, and wrought my Deliverance, when Men and Means failed, and gave me Opportunity to Celebrate his Praife. Whilft I there continued weak and unable to Preach, the People at Kiddermin-' fier had again renewed their Articles againft their old Vicar and his Curate j and upon Trial of the Caufe the Committee lequeftred the Place, but put no one in- to it, but put the Profits into the Hands of divers of the Inhabitants to pay a Preacher till it were difpoled of They fent to me, and defired me to take it, in cafe I were again enabled to Preach : which I flatly refufed ; and told them , I would take only the Leisure , which by his own Confent and Bond I held be- fore. Hereupon they fought to Mr. BrumskiU, and others, to accept the Place , but could not meet with any one to their minds : Therefore they chofe one Mr. Rich- ard Serjeant to Officiate, referving the Vicaridge for fome one that were fitter. When I was able ( after about five Months ) to go abroad, I went to Kidder- mtn/^er, where I found only Mr. Sergeant in Pofleflion ; and the People again ve- hemently urged me to take the Vicaridge : which I denied ; and got the Magi- ftrates and Burgefies together into tlie Town-hall, and told them. That ( though I was offered many Hundred pounds per Annum ellewhere) I was willing to continue with them in my old Ledurers place which I had before the Wars, cxpeAing they fhould make the Maintenance an Hundred pounds a year, and a Houfe; and if they would promile to fubmic to that Doctrine of Chrift, which as his Minifter I fhould deliver to them, proved by the Holy Scriptures, I would not leave them. And that this Maintenance fhould neither come out of their own Purles, nor any more of it out of theTythes fave the 60 /. which the Vicar had before bound him- felf to pay me, I undertook to procure an Augmentation for Mitton ( a Chappel in the Parilh ) of 40 /. fer Annum, which I did j and fo the 60 /. and that 40 /. was to be part, and the reft I was to have nothing to do with. This Covenant was drawn up between us in Articles, and Subfcribed, in which I dilclaimed the Vicaridge and Paftoral Charge of the Parilh, and only undertook theLedure. And thus the Sequeftration con'tinued in the hands of the Towns men, as afore- faid, who gathered the Tythes, and paid me (not an Hundred as they promifed ) but Eighty pound fer Annum, or Ninety at moft, and Houfe-rent for a few Rooms in the top of another man's houfe, which is all I had at Kiddsrmin/ler. The reft: they gave to Mr, Sergeant, and about 40 /. per Annum to the old Vicar, and 6 /, per Annum to the King and Lord for Rents, belides other Charges. But when they had long continued in this way, they feared left fome one elfe againft their wills would get a grant of the Sequeftration from the Committee, and therefore they went privately and got an Order from them to fettle me in the Title, and never fhewed it me, but kept it by them fecredy, only to fecure the Place from a Surprize, and themfelves from repaying what they disburfed. And thus it lay till the King's Coming out of Scotland with his Army to Wor- cefier : and then, their Houfes being full of Soldiers, they brought me the Order, and intreated me, if not to own it, yet to keep itfafe, and to fave them harmlefs by it, if they were called to account. I recite this, becaufe Mr. Thomas Tierce, while he was rageingly fierce to provs me a Thief, and I know not what elfe, doth charge me with taking this Se- j queftration, and fo with taking another man's Bread out of his mouth, and rob- bing the Innocent ; and fb doth Biihop Morley after him ; and Durel, Dr. Boneman^ and many others, from him ; whereas the Place was fequeftred while I was far enough 8o ^he LIFE of the L i b. 1, ■"-■ . Senoiigh off, and I difbwned it, and made a contrary Covenant with the People: But I durft nor till this for my own vindication, left the Towns-men ftould be cal- led to an account for the Sequellration to their undoing; though I knew them to be honeft and juft in the Diftribution of it. And indeed though ( which they knew not ) the Matter of Fad was falls, by which they proved me lb vile a Per- fon, yet I was the lefs careful lb to clear my felf as I might, becaufe I take it to be a thing as juftifiable as to eat Bread, if I had taken the Sequeftracion ; becaufe the man's own Fundamental Right (as it was a thing Confecrated to God/ was null, he being fo infuflicient as not to be owned for a Minifter : As I have great realbn, by all the trial I made of him, to think that he underftood not the Subltance of Re- ligion, the common Catechifm or Creed, lb he was unable to teach the People the very Subftantials of Chriftianity. Once a quarter he Icrapt a few words toge- ther, which he lb l^iid over as to move pity in his Auditors; but woe to the Peo- ple that have no other Paftor then fuch as he: And God's Right being the firftin Dedicated Things, and the Law alfo annexing them to the Office for the Work's fake, and for die lake of the Peoples Souls, he that cannot at all do the Work, and fo is uncapable of the Office, can have no Title to the Place and Mainte- nance. And I cannot believe that the Peoples Souls muft be all untaught and la- crificed to his pretended Legal Right. And another Paftor they were not like to have without the Maintenance, unlels they could have got one that had an Eftate of his own, .nnd would go on warfare at his own Charges, or could live without Food and Raiment: for the Peoples Poverty difabled them from maintaining him : If it had been but a PhyHcians or Surgeon's Place in an Hofpital, which a meet Ignoramus had got for his life , I think to let the People periHi , tor fear of dilpof leffing him of his Place and Pay, had been to be righteous over much, and chari- table over little : And the fifth part was allowed them for their Wives, though they did nothing for ir. And yet this ignorant man was not dilpofleil by force, but by the Power then in poffeffion ; even by Parliamentary Power , when the Lords ( who are the higheft Judicature) fate as well as the Commons, by the King's Law. And he was cait out on Articles fworn for Infufficiency and Scandal. And yet this was done by others, before I came near them : And muft the place be void of a Teacher, becaufe the Parliament would not give the Maintenance to a man that knew not what the Work of a Paftor was. § 129. Befides this ignorant Vicar, there was a Chappcl in the Parilh, where was an old Curate as ignorant as he, that had long lived upon Ten pound a year and unlawful Marriages, and was a Drunkard, and a Railer, and the Scorn of the Country : I know not how to keep him fiom reading , ( for I judged it a Sin to tolerate him in any Sacred Office/ I got an Augmentation for the Place, and got an honell Pieacher to inftrudt them, and let this Icandalous Fellow keep his for- mer Stipjnd of Ten pound, for nothing, and yet could never keep him from for- cing himfelf upon the People to read, nor from unlawful Marriages, till a little before Death did call him to his account. I have Examined him about the familiar Points of Religion, and he could not fay half fo much to me as I have heard a child lay. And thefe two in this Parifh were not all : In one of the next Parilhes, called Jhe Rock, there were two Chappels, where the poor ignorant Curate of one got his living with cutting Faggots, and the other with making Ropes : Their Abili- ties baing anfwerable to their Studies and Employments. §130. In my Labours at Kiddermirsfier after my return, I did all under lan- guilhijig Weaknels, being le'.dom an hour free from pain. Of which I Ihall give a brief Account together, as an addition to the general one foregoing , that I may not bvi oft upon it ; mentioning only foms of thole paflages in which Gods M.rcy inoft afTedied me. Many a time have I been brought very low, and received the Stentence of Death in my lelf, when my poor, hondl, praying Neighbours have met, and up- on chcir Failing and tfarneft Prayers I have been recovered. Once when I had continued w/eak three Weeks, and was unable to go abroad , the very day that they prayed for me, being Good-Friday, I recovered, and was able to Preach and Adminilter the Sacrament the next Lord's Day ; and was better after it: fit being the firft time that ever ladminiftred it): And ever after that whatever Weaknels was upon me, when I had (after Preaching j adminiftred that Sacrament to many hun- dred People, I was much revived and ealcd of my Infirmities. Another Part I. Reverend Mr. Kichavd Baxter. Si Another time I had a Tumour role on one of the Tonfills in my Throat, white and hard like a Bone; above the hardnefi of any Schyrrhous Tumour : I feared a Cancer J being it was round and like aPeafe, as it beginneth : And when I had by the Phyfician'si^-dvile applied fuch Remedies as he thought fitteft, and it no whic altered, but remained as hard as at the firft ; at the end of about a quarter of a Year, I was chek'd in Gonfcience that I had never publickly praifed God par- ticularly for any of the DeHverances which he had vouchfafed me : And being ipeaking of God's Confirming our Belief of his Word by his fulfilling of Promifes, and hearing Prayers, ( as it i5 publillied in the fecond part of my Saints Reft ) I annexed feme thankful mention of my own Experiences ; and liiddenly the Tu- mour vanilhed, and no fign wherever it had been remained : Nor did I either (wal- low it down or fpit it out, nor knew what went with it to this Day. Another time, having read in Dr. Gerhard the admirable EfFetfts of the fwallow- ing of a Gold l?ullet upon his own Father in a Gale like mine, I got a Gold BuU let and fwallowed it ( between 20 j. and 30/. weight) ; and having taken if, I knew not how to be delivered of it again : I took Clyfters and Purges for about three Weeks, but nothing ftirred it ; and a Gentleman having done the like> the Bullet never came from it till he died, and it was cut out : But at lafl: my Neigh- bours let a Day apart to faft and pray for me, and I was freed from my Danger in the beginning of that day. Another time being in Danger of an ^gilops, and ( to be brief) at divers times in divers Weakneffes, Pains and Dangers, 1 have been delivered upon earneft Prayers j fuch as have affured me that God heareth fuch extemporate Prayers as many now deride. And becaufe I am fpeaking of Prayer, I will add one Inftance more or two of the Succefi of it for my Neighbours, as well as for my leif. §731. There liveth yet in Kiddtrminfter a grave and honefi Widow, Mrs. Giles, Widow to Mr. Gtles of Aftley, one of the Committee of that County j Ihe had a Son of about 14 or 15^ Years of Age, Apprentice in Worcefier to a Mercer j he fell into a Feaver, which being removed, ended in a moft violent Epilepfie : The Phyficians ufed all ordinary means for a long time in vain ; fo that Ihe was fain to take him home to her to Kuldertninfler, where the Phylician of the Place and my felf did what wc could for him, in vain, he had 4 or f violent fits in a Day j they were fain to hold a Key between his Teeth to lave his Tongue : At laft the Peo- ple of the Town, at her Requeft, kept a Day of Fafting and Prayer atherlloufe; and the fecond day ( as I remember ) he was fuddenly cured, and never had a Fit iince to this Day ( but fome Tutle Weaknels of his Head fometimes ) : He is now an Apothecary in Wolverhampton. § 132. Another Inftance j Rich- Cook oi Kinver a Mercer, an ancient Ibber God- ly Man, being defirous to live at Kidderrninfter,took the next Houle to mine : The Houfe proved fo fscretly crackt and Ruinous, that he was afraid it would undo him to repair it : This feized him with a Trouble on his Confcience whether he had dons well to remove from Kinver f where he had been long a comfortable Neigh- bour to old Mr. Crofje ) : To revive his Spirits he drank much hot Waters, which inflamed his Blood ; and fo from Melancholy he fell quite Mad. We were forced by the Wars to leave him ; but his Wife procured what means /he could, but all in vain : When he had continued thus four Years, the excellenteft, skilful Men at that Dileafe undertook him, and did what they could, but all in vain. He had ex- ceeding Quantities of Blood taken from him : Some that had feen the Succei^ would have fet upon Fafting and Praying for him in his Prelence : But I difcou- raged them, as thinking it a tempting carnal Men to contemn Prayer, when they faw it unfuccefsful, and I thought they had nocaufe to expeda Miracle : I had no hope of his Cure becaule it was natural or heridatory to him, his Father having much about his Age fallen Mad before him and never recovered. When he had continued in this fad Cale about ten or twelve Years, fome of thele Men would not be dilTuaded, but would Faft and Pray at his Houfe with great importunity ; and many Months they continued it ( once a Fortnight, or thereabouts ) and he was never the better : But at laft he fenfibly began to amend, and is nov^ as well almoft as ever he was before, and fo hath continued for a confiderabletime. § 133. I the rather mentioned thefe Paffages of the Force of Prayer, becaufe being not one in any of them my (elf, nor being prelent with them, there is no matter of appiaring Oftentation, they being a few poor humble Weavers and other Tradelincn only, and no Minifter with them, whole Prayers God hath thus frequently heard for others, and for me ( though at this prelent fome of the Chief of them lye in Prifon, only for praying, and finging Pfalms, and repeating Ser- M mona 82 The LIFE of the Lib. L mons together when they come from the Publick Congregation ). And now I re- turn to the Recital of my own Infirmities. After abundance of Diftempers and Languifliings, I fell at laft into a Flux Hepa- ticm, and after that into manifold other Dangers liicceflively ( too long to be re- cited ) from all which upon earned prayer I was delivered. Once riding upon a great hot-metled Horfe, as I f^ood on a fidelong Pavement in fVorcefier, the Horle reared up, and both his hinder Feet flipt from under him j to that the full Weight of the Body of the Horfe fell upon my Leg ; which ye: was not broken, but only bn4i{ed ; when confidering the Place, the Stones, the Man- ner of the Fall, it was a Wonder that my Leg was not broken all to Pieces. Another time, as I fat in my Study, the Weight of my greatell Folio Books brake down three or four of the higheft Shelves, when I fat clofe under them, and they fell down on every fide me, and not one of them hit me, fave one upon the Arm • whereas the Phce, the Weight, and greatnefs of the Books was fuch, and my Bead juft under them, that it was a Wonder they had not beaten out my Brains, one of the Shelves right over my Head having the fix Volumes o/ Dr. IVahon's Oriental Bible, and all Aujlm's Works, and the Bibliotheca Fatrum, and Mario- rate, Cfc. An other time, I had fuch a Fall from an high Place without much hurt, which flioujd I defcribe it, ic would leem a Wonder that my Brains were whole. All thele I mention as obliged to record the Mercies of my great Preferver to his Praiie and Gloiy. § i;4. At laft my Weaknefs was grown {q great that I was neceflitated to ule Bread Milk four Months together ; and as much longer, or more, I remained fomewhic repaired : But then I fell into a Difcale in my Eyes almolf incredible j I had near every Day for one Year, and every fecond Day for another Year, a fief}) Macula, con)monly called a Tearl, in one Eye, balicles very many in the other j the firft that I had continued divers Weeks, till by the ordinary Method of Cure I had almoft loit my Eye. At lalt I found that Honey alone, or with other things, fix or Icven times a Day applied conflantly diftufled andcuied it in one Day ; and the next Night in my Sleep another Hill came, a fpurions Opthalmy going be- fore, and leaving the Macula bd\xnA if . And 1 found ir came from the extreme thinners of the blood, with the extreme Laxity of the deljilitated Veflels, and the Fatulency pumping up the Matter. Thus 1 continued two Years, curing the Spot one Day, and finding it ftill re- tinned the next Morning ; lo that I had about three hundi ed Pearls in thofe two Years J and though for the tirfl Month I could neither read nor endure the Light, yet the reft of the time I went on with my Studies, though not without Pain and much Dilluib'.nce. No Purging nor outward Applications, nor otlier Medi- cines would Prevent the Return of it ; till at two Years end I wrote toDr.G. Bates for his Advice. The Humidities of my Stomach at the fame time tafting like boiled Vinegar, or Vitrial, he prelcribed me the ufe of Chalk in Subftance (a fpoonful Ihaved in a convenient Liquor) which poweifully precipitateth and dulcitieth acid Humours, and alfo bath a harmlefs corroborating Aftridion f like Magifterial of Corall or Crabs Eyes : ) theuie of this gave a check to my Diflemper, lb that my Spots came leldomer than before : At lalt I had a Conceit of my own that two Plants which 1 had never made trial of, would prove accomodate to my Infirmity, Heatb and Sage, as being very drying and aftringent without any Acrimony : 1 boiled much of them in my Beer initead of Hops, and drank no ether : When I had uftd it a Month my Eyes were cured, and all my tormenting Tooth-aches, and luch other Maladies. Being delirous to know which of the two Hcarbs it was which I was molt beholden to, I tryed the Heath alone one time, and the Sage a!(Hie anotherwhile ; and 1 found it was the Sage much more than the Heath which did the Cure : whereupon I have uled it now this ten Years, and through God's great Mercy, 1 never had a Spot more for many Years ; nor many fince at all : Alfo thele other Effeds have followed ic ; i. It ealeth my Headach. z. I have no other Remedy for my terrible Toothach, inward or outward that will ferve ; nor did this ever fail me, if it hath had but twelve or twenty hours to work. 3. Where- as before I could endure no llrong Drink, but was fain to drink very im&W Beer, oi- Julef Alexantle, and a Spoonful of Wine would have dillurbcd me a Fortnight, C with Ophthalmics, Toothaches, &c.) fince I ufcdSage I can bear the Itrongeft Beer, (lo I difuli: not my Medicine the while. ) 4. The vitiiolate cutting Acidity of my Stomach is more dulcified than I could polfibly have believed it would be. Ill a Word, God hath made this Herb do more for me ( not for Curt but for Eafe ) than Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 83 than all the Medicines that ever 1 ufed from all Phyfitians in my Life: So-that though ftill I am very leldoni without pain, vet my Languilliings snd Pains have been much lefs thele lart ten Years than long before. How it doth all this I am not certain ; but I fuppofe principally(by its great Aftridion, mightily corroborating the relaxed Stomach and VelVels, and Brain, and bv AdriAion of the relaxed Vein, doth hinder the Motion and Shedding abroad of the corrupted Blood tl.ey contain : And alio I am fure it mightily precipitateth and takech off Acidicisr. The way I ule it is, i. Well boiled in the Wort in all my Beer : 2. Well boiled in my Gruel for every Mornings Breakfaii : ;. Upon any Ipecial Necefiity I rakiJ a Spoonful of the Powder ( of the Leaves dryed and mixed with two or three Parts of Sugar) which is the Strongeft Vv-ay of all : So that 1 find the Vertue is moft in the terrene and falivc Parts, and not in any thing liipeificial and volatile. For the Infufion, and Ale made by Int'ufion doth me little Good, nor the Conlerve of the Flowers. I have tried it on others, and find no liich marvelous Effefts as on my (elf ; but leaft on the fat and Itrong, and molt on the lean, old and weak, and that have thin fluid Humours, and laxity of Veflel% and fome inordinate Acrimony. This I thought my lelf obliged to mention to the Praile of my heavenly Phyfician, in Thankfulnefs lor thefe ten Years Eafe ; and to give Ibme hint to others in my Cafe : Though now, through Age and conflant Ufe, this Herb doth leis with me than at the firll ; yet am I neceffitated Itill to u(e it, andquickly to return to it when I have omitted it. After fixteen or feventeen Years benefit it now faileth me, and I forlake it. § 135. 1 lliall next record, to the Praile of my Redeemer, the comfortable Em- ployment and SuccefTes which he vouchlafed me during my abode at Kidcrminfitr, under all thefe WeaknefTes. And i. I will mention my Employmenr. 2. My Succefles. And ;. Thole Advantages by which under God it was procured j in order. I. I preached before the Wars twice each Lord's Day j but after the War but once, and once every Jburfday, befides occafional Sermons. Every Thwfilay Even- ing my Neighbours that wete mofl: defirous and had Opportunity, met nt my Houfe, and there one of them repeated the Sermon, and afterwards they propofed what Doubts any of them had about the Sermon, or any other Cafe of Confci- ence, and I refolved their Doubts : And laft of all I caufed fometimes one, and fometimes another of them to Pray (to exercile them) ; and fometimes I prayed with them my felf : which ( befide finging a Pfalm ) was all they did. And once a Week alfo fome of the younger fort who were not fit to pray in fo great an Af- fembly, met among a few more privately, where they ipent three Hours in Pray- er together, every Saturday Night tlicy met at fome of their Houfes to repeat the Sermon of the lali: Lord's Day, and to pray and prepare themfelves for the follow- ing Day. Once in a few Weeks we had a Day of Humiliation on one Occafion or other; Every Religious Woman that was lately Delivered, inllead of the old Feaftings and Goflipings, if they were able, did keep a Day of Thanklgiving with Ibme of their Neighbours with them, praifing God, and finging Pfalms, and fober- ly Feafting together. Two Days every Week my Alliltant and I my lelf, took 14 Families between us for private Catechifing and Conference (he going through the Parilli, and the Town coming to me ) : I firft heard them recite the Words of the Catechilm, and then examined them about the Senfc, and laftly urged them with all poffible engaging Realon and Vehemency, to anlwerable Affedtion and Pradice. If any of them were ftalled through Ignorance or Balhfulnels, I forbore to prefs them any farther to Anfwers, but made them Hearers, and either examin- ed others, or turned all into Inftrudion and Exhortation. But this 1 have opened more fully in my Reformed Vafior. I fpent about an Hour with a Family, and ad - mittedno others to be prefcnr, left Balhfulnels ihould mike it burthenlbm, or any Hiould talk of the Weakneffes of others : So that all the Afternoons on Mcndaji and Tuefdays I Ipent in this ( after I had begun it ; for it was many Years before I did attetnpt ic J : And my Affiftant Ipent the Morning of the fame Days in the lameFlmployment. Before that, I only catechiled them in the Church; and con- ferred with, now and then, one occafionally. Befides all this, I was forced five or fix years by tlie Peoples Necefiity to pra- clif: Phylick : A common Pleurifie happening one year, and no Phyfician being near, I was forced to advilo them, to lave their Lives ; and I could not afterwards avoid the Importunity of thej Town and Country round about : And bscaule I never once took a Penny of any one, I was crowded with Patients, lb that almolt Twenty would be at my Door at once ; and though God by fnors Sugcefs than I M z expsdsd. 8^ The LIFE of the L i b. I. expefted, fo long encouraged me, yet at laft I could endure it no longer ; partly becaufe it hindred my other Studies, and partly becaule the very fear ot mifcarrying and doing any one harm, did make it an intoUerable burden to me : So that after fbme Years Practice, I procured a godly, diligent Phyfician to come and live in the Town, and bound my felf by Promile to pradife no more ( unlefs in Con- fultation with him in cafe of any (eeming neceffity ) ; And lb with that Anfwer I turned them all off, and never medledwith it more. But all theie my Labours ( except my private Conferences with the Families ) even preaching and preparing for it, were but my Recreations, and as it were the work of my fpare hours : For my Writings were my chiefeft daily Labour ; which yet went the more flowly on, that 1 never one hour had an Amamunfu to didate to, and fpecially becaufe my Weaknefs took up fo much of my time. For all the Pains that my Infirmities ever brought upon me, were never half fo grievous an Afflidion to me, as the unavoidable lofs of my time, which they occafioned. I could not bear (through the weaknels of my Stomach) to riie before Seven a Clock in the Morning, and afterwards not till much later j and fbme Infirmities I laboured under, made it above an hour before I could be dreU. An hour I muft of neceffity have to walk before Dinner, and another before Supper j and after Sup- per I can leldom Study : All which, bcfides times of Family Duties, and Prayer, and Eating, &c. leaveth me but little time toltudy j which hath been the greatelt external Perfonal Afflidion of all my Life. Befides all thefe, every firft Wedne[clay of the Month was our monthly Meeting for Parilh Difcipline ; and every firft Thurfday of the month was the Minifters meet- ing for Difcipline and Difputation : And in thofe Difputations it fell to.my lot to be almoft conllant Moderator ; and for every liich day (uliially j I prepared a written De- termination. All which 1 mention as my Mercies and Delights, and not as my Bur- dens. And every Thurfday befides, I had the Company of divers godly Minifters at my Houfe after the Lecfture, with whom I fpent that Afternoon in the trueft Re- creation, till my Neighbours came to meet for their Exercile of Repetition and Prayer. For ever bleffed be the God of Mercies, that brought me from the Grave, and gave me after Wars and Sicknels,fourteen years Liberty in fuch fweet Imployment ! And that in times of Ufurpation I had all this Mercy and happy Freedom, when under our rightful King and Governour, I and many himdreds more are filenced, and laid by, as broken VelTels, and lufpeAed and vilified as fcarce to be tollerated to live privately and quietly in tiieLandl That God Ihould make days of Licenti- oufnefs and Diforder under an Ufurper fo great a Mercy to me, and many a thou- fand more, who under the lawful Governours which theydefired, and in the days when Order is laid to be reftored, do Ibme of us fit in obfcurity and unprofitable fi- lence, and fome lie in Piifons, and all of us are accounted as the Scum and Swcp- ings or Off Icourings of the Earth. § i;6. I have mentioned my fweet and acceptable Employment j Let me to the praife of my gracious Lord, acquaint you with fome of my Succels : And I will not fupprefsit, though I fore-know that the Malignant will impute the men- tion of it to Pride and Oltentation. For it is the Sacrifice of Thankfgiving which I owe to my moft gracious God, which I will not deny him for fear of being cen- fured as proud , left I prove my lelf proud indeed , while I cannot undergo the Imputation of Pride in the performance of my Thanks for fuch undeferved Mer- cies. My publick Preaching met with an attentive diligent Auditory ! Having broke over the brunt of theOppofition of the Rabble before the Wars, I found them after- wards tradable and unprejudiced. Before 1 ever entred into the Miniftry, God blelTed my private Conference to the Converfionof fome, who remain firm and eminent in holincls to this day : But then, and in the beginning of my Miniftry I was wont to number them as Jewels j but fince then I could not keep any number of them. The Congregation was ulliaily full, lb that we were fain to build five Galleries after my coming thither (" the Church it felf being very capacious, and the moft commodious and Convenient, that ever I was in). Our private Meetings alio were full. On the Lords Days there was no dilbrder to be feen in the Streets, but you might hear an hundred Families finging Pfalms and repeating Sermons, as you pal- fid through the Streets. In a word, when I came thither firft, there was about one Family in a Street that worlhipped God and called on his Name, and when I came away there were fome Streets where there was not part one Family in the ftde P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, 8^ fide of a Street that did not fo; and that did not by profeffing ferious Godlinels, give us hopes of their (incerity : And thole Families which were the worft , being Inns and Alehoules, dually fome ferfovs in each Houfe did feem to be Religious, Though our Adminiftration of the Lords Supper was fo ordered as difpleafed ma- ny, and the far greater part kept away themlelves, yet we had 600 that were Com- municants, ot" whom there was not twelve that I had not good hopes of, as to their lincerity: and thole few that did confent to our Communion, and yet lived Ican- daloufly were Excommunicated afterward : And I hope there were many that had the Fear of God that came not to our Communion in the Sacrament, fome of them being kept off by Husbands, by Parents, by Matters, and fome diffwaded by Men that differed from us : Thole many that kept away, yet took it patiently , and did not revile us, as doing them wrong : And thole unruly young men that were Ex- communicated, bore it patiently as to their outward behaviour, though their hearts were full of bitternels: ( except one, of whom I Ihall fpeak anon;. When I let upon Perlbnal Conference with each Family, and Catechizing them, there were very few Families in all the Town that refuled to come ; and thole lew were Beg- gers at the Towns-ends, who were fb ignorant that they were alhamed it (hould be nianifeft. And few Families went from me without lome tears, or leemingly leri- ous promifes for a Godly Life, Yet many ignorant and ungodly Perlbns there were ftill among us : but molt of them were in theParifn, and not in the Town j and in thole parts of the Parilh which were furtheft from the Town. And whereas one part of the Parilh was impropriate, and payed Tythes to Lay men, and the other part maintained the Church, ( a Brook dividing them ) it fell out that al- molt all that fide of the Paiilh which paid Tythes to the Church, were godly, ho- neft People, and did it willingly without Contention j and mofl: of the bad People of the Parilh lived on the other fide. Some of the Poor men did competently un- derftand the Body of Divinity, and were able to judge in difficult Controverfies: Some of them were fo able in Prayer, that very few Minifters did match them, in order and fulnefs, and apt Expreilions, and holy Oratory, with fervency : Abun- dance of them were able to pray very laudably with their Families, or with others. The temper of their Minds, and the innocency of their Lives was much more laudable than their Parts. The ProfelTors of ferious Godlinels, were generally of very humble Minds and Carriage j of meek and quiet behaviour unto others ; and of blamelefnefs and innocency in their Converfations. And God was plealed alfo to give me abundant Encouragement in the Leftures which I preached abroad in other places ; as at JVorceHer, Chohury, 6cc. but eljaeci- ally at Dudley and Sbeffual ; at the former of which (being the firft place that ever I preached in) the poor Nailers and other Labourers would not only crowd the Church as full as ever I law any in London, but alio hang upon the Windows, and the Leads without. And in my poor Endeavours with my Brethren in the Miniliry , my Labours were not loft ; Our Difputations proved not unprofitable j Our Meetings were ne- ver contentious, but always comfortable ; We took great delight in the Company of each other; fo that I knew that the remembrance of thole days is plealant both to them and me :whenDifcouragements had long kept me from motioning a way of Church-order and Dilcipline, which ail might agree in, that we might neither have Churches ungoverned, nor fall into Divifions among our (elves, at the firft motioning of it, I found a readier Conlent than I could exped:, and all went on ■ without any great obftrufting difficulties : And when I attempted to bring them all conjunftly to the work of Catechizing and Inftruding every Family by it felf, I found a ready confent in moll, and performance in many. So that I muff here to the praife of my dear Redeemer, fet up this Pillar of Remembrance , even to his Praile who hath employed me lb many years in fo comfortable a Work , with fuch encouraging Succels ! O what am I, a worthlefs Worm, not only want- ing Academical Honours, but much of that Furniture which is needful to fo high a Work, that God fliould thus abundantly encourage me, when the Reverend In- ftruftors of my Youth, did labour Fifty years together in one place, and could fcarcely lay they had Converted one or two of their Parilhes I And the greater was this Mercy, becaule I was naturally of adifcouraged Spirit ; lb that if f had preached one Year, andleen no Fruits of it, I Ihould hardly have forborn running away like Jonah, but ftiould have thought that God called me not to that Place. Yea, the Mercy was yet greater in that it was of farther publick Benefit : For fome Independents and Anabaptills that had before conceited, that Parilh Churches were the great Obftruftion of all true Church Order and Difcipline, and that it was 8^ the LIFE of the Lib. I, was impoffible to bring them to any good Confiftency, did quite change their Minds when they fa w what was done at XiJerw;»/?er, and began to think now, that it was much through the faultinefs of the Parilh Minifters, that Parirties ard not in a better Cafe ; and that it is a better Work thus to reform tl:ie Parilhes, than to gather Churches out of them, without great Neceffity. And the Zeal and Knowledge of this poor People provoked rnany in other parts of the Land. And though I have been now abfent from them about (Jx Years, and they have been aflaulted with Pulpit-Calumnies, and Slanders, with Tiireat- nings ?ind Imprifonmencs, with enticing Words, and leducing Reafonings, they yet Hand fafl and keep their Integrity j many of them are gone to God, and (bme are removed , and Ibme now in Prilon, and moft ftill at home ; but not one, that I hear of, that are fallen off, or forfake their Uprightnefs. § 137. Having related ray comfortable Succefles in this Place, I fhall next tell you by what, and how many Advantages this much was eftefted ( under that Grace which worketh by means, though with a free diverfity ) ; which I do for their fakes that would have the means of other Mens Experiments, in mana- ging ignorant and fmful Parifhes. 1. One Advantage was, that I came to a People that never had any awakening Minifl:ry before ( but a few formal cold Sermons of the Curate ) : For if they had been hardened under a powerful Miniftry, and been Sermon Proof, I Jhould have expefted leis. 2. Another Advantage was, that at firft I was in the Vigour of my Spirits, and had naturally a familiar moving Voice ( which is a great matter with the common Hearers) ; and doing all in bodily Weaknefs, as a dying Man, my Soul was the more eafily brought to Serioufnds, and to preach as a dying Man to dying Men ; for drowfy Formality and Cuffomarinefs doth but ftupiiy the Hearers, and rock them afleep : It muft be lerious Preaching, which muft make Men Isrious in hear- ing and obeying it. 3. Another Advantage was, that moft of the bitter Enemies of Godiinsfs in the Town, that rofe in Tumults againft me before, in their very Hatred of Puri- tans, had gone out into the Wars, into the King's Armies, and were quickly kill'd, and few of them ever returned again j and (o there were few to make any great Op- pofition to Godlinels. 4. Another, and the greateft Advantage was, the Change that was made in the Publick Affairs by the Succeis of the Wars ; which, however it was done, and though much corrupted by the Ufurpers, yet it was fuch as removed many and , great Impediments to Mens Salvation : For before, the riotous Rabble had Bold- nefs enough to make (erious Godlinels a common Scorn, and call them all Puri- tans and Precifians that did not care as little for God and Heaven and their Souls as they did ; efpscialiy if a Man were not fully fitisfied with their undilciplined, difbrdered Churches, or Lay Chancellors Excommunications, &c. then no Name was bad enough for him: And theBifnops Articles enquiring after fuch, and their Courts and the High Commiffion grievoully affliciing thofe that did but Faft and Pray together, or go from an ignorant drunken Reader, to hear a. godly able Preacher at the next Parifli, &c. this kept Religion among the Vulgar under ei- ther continual Reproach or Terror, encourageing the Rabble to delpife it and revile it, and difcouraging thofs that eUb would own it. And Experience tell- eth us, that it is a lamentable Impediment to Mens Converfion, when it is a way every where fpoken agalnff, and prolecuted by Superiors, which they muft em- brace ; and when at their firft Approaches they muft go through futh Dangers and Obloquy as is htter for confirmed Chriftians to be exerciled with, than un- converted Sinners or young Beginners: Therefore, though Cromwell give Liberty to all Sefts among us, and did not fet up any Party alone by Force, yet this much gave abundant Advantage to the Gofpel, removing the Prejudices and the Ter- rours which hindered it ; efpecially conlidering that Godlinels had Countenance and Reputation alfo, as well as Ltkrty ; whereas before, if it did not appear in all the Fetters and Formalities of the Times, it was the way to common Shame and Ru- inc : Hearing Sermons abroad when there were none, or worfe at home ; i-'afting and Praying together ; the (Irict Obfervation of the Lord's Day, and (iich like, went under the dangerous Name of Puritanilin, as well as oppollng Bilhops and Ceremoni:?. I know in thefc Times you may meet with Men that confidently affirm, that all Religion was then trodden dovk-n, and Herely and Schifni weretheonly Piety; biit I give Warning to all Ages by the Experience of this incredible Age, that they P A R T I. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 87 they take heed how they believe any, whoever they be, while they are fpeaking for the Intereft of their FaAions and Opinions, againft thofe that were their real or fuppofed Adverfaries. For my part, I blefs God who gave me even under an Ufurper whom I oppo- fed, fuch Liberty and Advantage to preach his Go(pel with Succeft^ which I can- not have under a King to whom I have fworn and performed true Subjedion and Obedience ; yea, which no Age fince the Goipel came into this Land, did before poffefs, as far as I can learn from Hiftory. Sure I am, that when it became a matter of Reputation and Honour to be Godly, it abundantly furthered the Succef- les of the Miniftry. Yea, and I (hall add this much more for the lake of Pofkrityj that as much as I have faid and written againit Licentioufnefs in Religion, and for the Magifkates Power in it, and though I think that Land mod happy, whole Rulers ufs their Authority for ChrilV, as weli as for the Civil Peace ; >et in Com- parilbn of the reft ol the World, I ihail think that Land happy that hath but bare Liberty to be as good as they are willing to be ; aad if Countenance and Mainte- nance be but added to Ltbertj, and tollerated Errors and Seds be but forced to keef the Peace, and not to oppofe the Siibftantials of Chriftianity, I Ihall not hereafter much fear llich Toleration , nor dilpair that Truth will bear down Adver- laries. f . Another Advantage which I found was, that Acceptation of my Perlbn, which Biihop Mjr/e/ and Dean W^rtrw/r/ lo vehemently diffuaded them from (in vain ) : Though to win Eftimation and Love to our lelves only, be an end that none but proud Men and Hypocrites intend, yet it is moft certain that the Grate- fulncfs of the Perfon doth ingratiate the MeiTage, and greatly prepareth the Peo- ple to receive the Truth ; Had they taken me to be Ignorant, Erroneous, Scanda- lous, Worldly, Self feeking, or fuch like, 1 could have expeded fmall Succcls among them. 6. Another Advantage which I had was, by the Zealand. Diligence of the Godly People of the Place ; who thirfted after the Salvation of their Neighbours, and were in private my Affiftants, and being difperfed through the Town, were rea- dy in almofl: all Companies to reprefs feducing Words, and to juftify Godlinels, and convince, reprove, exhort Men according to their needs ; as alio to teach them how to pray ; and to help them tolandifie the Lord's Day : For thofe Peo- ple that had none in their Families who could pray, or repeat the Sermons, went to their next Neighbour's Houfe who could do it, and joined with them j k that fame Houfes ( of the r.blelt Men ) in each Street were filled with them that could do nothing, or little in their own. 7. And the holy, humble, blamelels Lives of the Religious fort was a great Advantage to me : The malicious People could not fay, your ProfefTors here are as proud and covetous as any : But the blamelels Lives of godly People did fhame Oppofers, and put to Silence the Ignorance of foolifh Men, and many were won by their good Conveifation. 8. And our Unity and Concord was a great Advantage to us, and our freedom from thole Seds and Hercfies which many other Places were infeded with. We had no private Church, though we had private Meetings j we had not Paftor againft Paftor, nor Church againft Church, nor Sed againft Sed, nor Chriftian againft Chriftian. There was none that had any odd Opinions of his own, or cenfured his Teacher as erronious, nor queftioned his Call : At Bewdley there was a Church of Anabaptifts ; at IVorcefier the Independents gathered theirs : But we were all of one Mind, and Mouth, and Way : Not a Separatift, Anabaptift, An- tinomian, &c. in the Town ! One Journeyman Shoemaker turned Anabaptift, but he left the Town upon it, and went among them. When People law diver- fity of Seds and Churches in any Place, it greatly hindred their Converfion ; and they were at a lofi, and knew not what Party to be of, or what Way to go j and therefore would be of no Religion at all ; and perhaps derided them all whom they faw thus difagreed : But they had no fuch Offence or Objedion there- they could not ask, which Church or Party fhall I be of j for we were all but as one : Nay, fo Modeft were the ableft of the People, that they never were inclined to 3 preaching way, nor to make Offentation of their Parts ; but took warning by the Pride of others, and thought they had teaching enough by their Paftors, and that it was better for them to beftow their Labour in digefting that, than in Preaching themlelvef. 9, Acd 88 The LIF E of the L i b. I. 9. And our private Meetings were a marvellous help to the propagating of God- linefs among them : for thereby Truths that flipt away were recalled, and the fe- rioulhefs of the Peoples minds renewed j and good defires cherilhed ; and hereby their knowledge was much increafed ; and here the younger fort learned to pray, by frequent hearing others : And here I had opportunity to know their Cafe : for if any were touched and awakened in publick, I Ihould prefently f^:e him drop in to our private Meetings : Hereby alio idle meetings and lofs of time was prevent- ed. And Co far were we from being by this in danger of Schifm or Divi/ions, thac it was the principal means to prevent them : For here I was ufually prelent with themj anfwering their Doubts, and filencing Objections, and moderating them in all. And fame Trivate Adeetifigi 1 iound thzy were exceeding much inclined to: and if I had not allowed them fuch as were lawful and profitable, they Would have been ready to run to fuch as were unlawful and hurtful : And by encouraging them here in the fit exercile of their parts, in Repetition, Prayer, and asking Quefli- ons, I kept them from inclining to the diforderly exercife of them, as the Seftaries do. We had no Meetings in oppofition to the Publick Meetings ; but all in fub- ordination to them ; and under my over-fight and guidance ; which proved a way profitable to all. 10. Another thing which advantaged us was fome publick Difputations which we had with Gainfayers, which very much confirmed the People: The Quakers would fain have got entertainment and let up a Meeting in the Town ( and fre- quently railed at me in the Congregation ) : But when I had once given them leave to meet in the Church, for a Dilpute, and before the i'eople, had opened their deceits and liiame, none would entertain them more, nor did they get one Profclyte among us. Before that, Mr. Juhn Totnbes being Ledurer of Bewdlejr.two miles off us, ( who was repured the moil Learned and able Anabaptift in England) we kept fair Correfpondence tor a longtime, and I lludioufly avoided all Debates with him about Infant Baptilm j till at lafV he forced me to it as I (hall fhcw fur- ther anon , And after one days Difpiite with him of Bewdky, my Hearers were more fetled, and the courle of his Infeflion ftopr. How mean fbcver my own Abilities were, yet I had (Hll the advantage of a good Caufe, and thereby eafily o- pened the vanity of all Pretenders, Deceivers and Dividers that came among us. 11. Another advantage was the great honefly and diligence of my Afliftants : When 1 cami firft to Kiddermtnfter after the Wars, I found Mr. Richard Sergeant there received as their Preacher ; whom they took in a Cafe of Neceffity when they could gat no other : I found him very hone{t,but of no extraordinary Learn- ing, and of no taking utterance, lb that Ibme that were more for Learning than for furious Piety, would have had me taken in his Ifead a very grave , ancient Do- dor of Divinity, who had a mofl promifing Prefence, and tolerable Delivery, and reverend Name, and withal was my Kinfman : But I found at lafl: that he had no relKh of (erious Godlinefi, nor folid Learning or Knowledge in Divinity, but Ifole Sermons out of printed Books, and fet them ofFwith a grave Delivery. But Mr. Sergeant fo increafed in Ability, that he became a Iblid Preacher, and of fo great Prudence in Pradical Cafes, that 1 know few therein go beyond liim ; but none at all do I know that excelleth him in Meeknels,HumilityjSelf-denial and Diligence. No Child ever feemed more humble: No Interett of his own, either ofEftateor Reputation, did everleem to (top him in his Duty : No Labour did he ever refufe which I could put him to : When I put him to travel over the Parifli ( which is near 20 miles about j from Houle to Houfe to Catechize and Inffruft each Family, he never grudged or feemed once unwilling. He preached at a Chappel above two miles off one half the day, and in the Town the other, and never murmured. I nsver heard of the Man or Woman in all that Town and Parifh , that ever faid. This Fault he did ; This Word he fj^ake amifs againft me ; This Wrong he did me ; nor ever one that once found fault with him (lave once one man upon a fhort miflake, for being out of the w.ay when he ihould have baptized a Child): This admirable blamelefnels of Life much furthered our work : And when he was remo- ved two miles from us, I got Mr. Humphrey Waldern to fucceed him, who was very much like him, and carried on his work. 12. Anotiier Advantage was the Prefence and Countenance of honeft Juflices of Peace: Co\on&\ John Bridges, a prudent, pious Gentleman, was i^atron of the Church, and lived in the Parifh, and was a Juflice of Peace : And a Bailiff and Jufiice were Annually chofenin the Corporation, who ordinarily were godly men, and always liich as would be thought [o, and v/erc ready to ule their Authority to fupprefs ■ ■■.■ — , ■! ■ W — — -■ - ■ — ■ — - .■■■>■■ — ,.. - ■■■■■ ■!■ P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ^^ fupprels Sin, and promote Goodnefi. And when once a Sabbath-breaker thought to have overthrown the Officers at Law, Serjeant Fountain being then Judge of Aflize, did fb reprefs his Malice, as difcouraged all others from any more (uch attempts. But now the World is changed ■. 15. Another help to my Succefii was that fmall relief which my low Eftate enabled me to afford the Poor : though the Place was reckoned at near 200 /. per Annum, there came but 90 /. and fometimes 80 /. fer Annum to me : Befidas which , (bme years I had 60 /. or 80 /. a year of the Booklellers for my Books: which litde difpcrled among them, much reconciled them to the Do- jftrine which I taught : I took the apteft of their Children from the School, and fct divers of them to th3 Univerfities; where for 8 /. a year, or 10 /. at mofl, by the help of my Friends there I maintained them. Mr. Vines and Dr. Hill did help me to Sizers places for them at Cambridge : And the Lady Rous allowed me 8 /. a year awhile towards their Maintenance, and Mr. Tho. Fowhy and Col. Bridges alfo aflifted me. Some of them are honeft able Minifters, now caft out with their Bre- thren : But two or three, having no other way to live, turned great Conformifls, and are Preachers now. And in giving that little I had, I did not enquire whe- thsr they were good or bad, if they asked Relief: For the bad had Souls and Bo- dies that needed Charity moft. And I found that Three pence or a Groat to eve- ry poor Body that askt me, was no great matter in a year, but a few pounds in that way of giving would go far. And this Truth I will fpeak to the encouragement of the Charitable, that what little Money 1 have now by me, I got it almofl: all ( I Icarce know how ) in that time when I gave moft : And fince I have had lefs opportunity of giving, I have had left increale. 14. Another furtherance of my work was the Writings which I wrote, and gave among them. Some linall Books I gave each Family one of, (which came to about 800) • and of the bigger I gave fewer: And every Family that was poor, and had not a Bible, I gave a Bible to. And I had found my (elf the benefit of reading to be (b great, that I could not but think it would be profitable to others. ly. And it was a great Advantage to me, that my Neighbours were of fuch a Trade as allowed them time enough to read or talk of holy Things . For the Town liveth upon the Weaving of Rtddermir.fler Stuffs ; and as they ftand in their Loom they can fet a Book before them, or edilie one another ; whereas Plowmen, and many others, arefb wearied or continually employed, either in the Labours or the Cares of their Callings, that it is a great Impediment to their Salvation ; Freeholders and Trades-men are the Strength of Religion and Civility in the Land : and Gentlemen and Beggers, and Servile Tenants, are the Strength of Iniquity; ( Though among thefe forts there are lome alio that are good and juft, as among the other there are many bad.^ And their conftant Converfe and Traffick with London doth much promote Civility and Piety among Trades-men. 16. And I found that my (ingle Life afforded me much advantage : For I could the eafilier take my People for my Children, and think all that I had too little for them^ in that I had no Children of my own to tempt me to another way of ufing it. And being difcharged from the moft of Family Cares ( keeping but one Servant ) I had the greater vacancy and liberty for the Labours of my Calling. 17. And God made ufe of my Pradlice of Phyfick among them, as a very great advantage to my Miniftry ; for they that cared not for their Souls did love their Lives, and care for their Bodies : And by this they were made almoft as obfervanr, as a Tenant is of his Landlord : Sometimes I could fee before me in the Church a very confiderable part of the Congregation, whofe Lives God had made mea means to fave, or to recover their health : And doing it for nothing fo obliged them,that they would readily hear me. 18. And it was a great advantage to me, that there were at laft few that were bad, but fbme of their own Relations were Converted : Many Children did God work upon at 14, or ly, or 16 years of Age : And this did marvelloufly reconcile the Minds of the Parents and Elder fort to Godlinefs: They that would not hear me, wouldhear their own Children: They that before could have talkt againft Godlinefs, would not hear it fpoken againft when it was their Childrens Cafe ; Many that would not be brought to it themfelves, were proud that they had un- derftanding Religious Children : And we had forae old Perfons of near Eighty years of Age, who are, I hope , in Heaven, and the Converfion of their own Children was the chief means to overcome their Prejudice and old Cuftoms and Conceits. N i9- And ^o The LIFE of the L i b. 1. 19. And God made great ufeof StcknejSto do good to many. For though Sick- bed Promiles are ufually foon forgotten ; yet was it otherwife with many among us : And as foon as they were recovered, they firft came to our private Meetings, and fo kept in a learning (tate, till furthe-- Fruits of Piety appeared. 20. And I found that our difowning of the Iniijuity of the Times y did tend to the good of many : For they defpifsd thofe that always followed the ftronger fide, and juitified every wickedneis that was done by the ftronger Party : Though we had judged the Parliaments War to be lawful and neceffary , to lave themfelves and us from the 7ri//j and their Adherents, and to punifh Delinquents in a Courle of Law, while we believed that nothing was intended againft the King or Laws j yec as foon as ever we faw the Cale changed, and CromwelTi Army enter into a Rebel- lion againft King and Parliament, and kill the King, and invade the Scots, and fight againft the King that Should have fucceeded, &c. we openly dilbwned them, and on all juft occafions expreft our abhorrence of their Hypocrifie, Perjury , and Rebellion; (^ except two or three idle drunken Fellows that thought to live by flattering the Times, this was the Senfe of all the Town ). And had I owned the Guilt of others, it would have been my lhame,and the hinderance of my work^ and provoked God to have dilbwned me. 21. Another of my great Advantages was, the true Worth and Unanimity of the honeft Minifters of the Country round about us, who aftbciated in a way of Concord with us : Their Preaching was powerful and Ibber ; their Spirits peace- able and meek, difbwning the Trealons and Iniquities of the times as well as we ; they were wholly addided to the winning of Souls; felf denying, and of moit blamelefs Lives; Evil lf)oken of by no Sober Men ; but greatly beloved by their own P;opIe,and all that knew them ; adhering to no Fadion; neither Epilcopal, Piesbyterian nor Independent, as to Parties j but defiring Union, and loving thac which is good in all. Thele meeting weekly at our Lecture, and monthly at our Difputation, con- ftrained a Reverence in the People to their Worth and Unity, and conlequently furthered my Work, fucii were Mr. Andrctv Tri\]ia.m Miniiter of Bridgnorth, Mr. Tbo. Baldwin Minifter at Cbadjjey, Mv. Jho. Baldwin Miniller of C/e»r,'Mr. Jo[efh Baker \\\vi\^Zx\nWorcefle.r, IsAx. Hinry Oaflmd Mini If er. of Bewdley , Mr. William Spicer Miniller of Stone fan old man lince dead), Me. Richard Sergeant laft Minifter of Stone, }\,\r.Wilsby oiWomborne^yi-T. John Reigaolds ol fVoherhampton, Mr. Jofeph Rocke o\' Rowley, Mv. KichardJVolley oi Sallivarf, Mr. Giles iVolley , Mr. Humphrey JValdernoi Broome, Mr. Edw. Bowcbier o^ Church-hill, Mr. Ambroje Sparry oi Martley, Mr. IVilltaw Kimberley of Ruhnarley, Mr. Ber,j. Baxter of Upton upon Scvern^Mv. Dow- ley of Stoke, Mr. Stephen Baxter, Mr. Tho. Bromivtck oi' Kem/ey, Mv.J. Nott of Shc- nff-hales, withmany Others ; to whom I may adjoyn Mr. John Spilsbury, and Mr. 7«ice one oi Bromjgrcvs., and the other oiWurcefier, Independants, and very honeft, ibber,and moderate men; (who were all nf them now filenced and caft out,though not one of them all had any hand in the Wars for the Parliament, or any yWilitary Employment; only Mr. George Hopkins o( E'vejloam was in the Army, ( a worthy faithful /Winillerallb) and no other of cur Aflbciation that I know of befides my (elf in all the County. 22. Another Advantage to me was the quality of the Sinners of the place. There were two Drunkards almoft at the next Doors to me, who ( one by night, and the other by day) did confrantly every Week, if not twice or thrice a Weak, roar and rave in the Streets like ftark-madmen ; and when they have been laid in the Stocks or Gwl, they have been as bad as (bon as ever they came out : And thcfe werefb beaftly and ridiculous, that, they made that Sin (ot which we were in moft danger^ the more abhorred. 23. Another Advantage to me was thequalityof the Afofiates of the place. If we had been troubled with meer Separatills, Anabaptiits, or others that erred plaufibly and tollerably, they might perhaps have divided us, and drawn away Dilciplcs after them : But we had only two ProfefTors that fell off in the Wars,and ( one or two at moft j that made no Profeffion of Godlinefi were drawn in to ithem. They that fell off were fuch as before, by their want of grounded Undcr- 'ftanJing, Humility and Mortification, gave us the greateft fufpicion of their Sta- bility : And they fell to no lefsthan Familifm and Infidelity, making ajeft of the Scripture, and the ElVentials of Chriftianicy : f Though they fb crefully hid ir, that we could never pofl!;bly have known their Minds, but from the Alehoufe, and Companions with whom they were more free). And as they fei! fiom the Faith, ib they fell to Drinking, Gaming, furious Paftions, horribly abufing their Wives (and MM — — r ■ IB M ! I II Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ^ i ( and thereby faving them from their Errours ) and to a vicious Life. So that they ilcod up as Pillars and Monuments of God's Juftice, to warn all others, to take heed of Self-conceitednefs and HereHes, and ot departing from Truth and Chri- ftian Unity : And fb they were a principal means to keep out all Sedts and Errours from the Town. 24. Another great help to my Succels at laft, was the fore-defcribed Work of Perlbnal Conference with every Family apart , and Catechifing and Intruding them. That which was fpoken to them perfbnally , and put them ibmetime upon Anfwers, awakened their Attention, and was eafilier applyed than publick Preach- ing, and feemed to do much more upon them. 25'.And the Exercife of Church-Difcipline was no (mall furtherance of the Peoples Good : For I found plainly that without it I could not have kepc the Religious Ibrt from Separations and Divifions. There is fomeching generally in their Difpofitions, which inclineih them to diflbciate from open ungodly Sinners, as Men ot another Nature and Society ; and if they had not feen me do Ibmething reafonable for a Regular Separation of the notorious obltinate Sinners from the reft, they would irregularly have withdrawn themielves ; and it had not been in my power , with bare words, to fatisfie them, when they faw we had liberty to do what we would. It was my greateft Care and Contrivance (b to order this Work, that we might neither make a meet Mock-lhew of DKcipline, nor with Independants, un-church the Parifii-Church,and gather a Church out of them anew. Therefore all the Mini- fters Affociate agreed together, to pra(ftii.;e fo much Difcipline, as the Epilcopal, Presbyterians and Independants were agreed on, that Presbyters might and muft do. And we told the People that we went not about to gather a new Church,but taking the Parifh for the Church, unlefs they wereimwilling to owntheirown Mcmberlhip, we refolved to exercife that Difcipline with all : Only becaufe there aie fbme Pa- pifts andFamilifts or Infidels among us, and becaufe in thefe times of Liberty we cannot ( nor defire to ) compel any againft their Wills, wedefired all that didown their Memberlhip in this Parilli Church, and take us for their Paftors, to give in their Names, or any other way fignifie that they do fo : and thole that are not willing to be Members, and rather choole to withdraw themfelves than live under Difcipline , to be filent : And i'o, for very fear of Difcipline, all the Pariih kept off except about Six hundred, when there were in all above Sixteen hundred at Age to be Communicants. Yet becaufe it was their own doing, and they knew they might come in when they would, they were quiet in their Separation; for we took them for the Separatifts : Porthole that fcrupled our Gefture at the Sa- crament, I openly told them that they fhould have it in their own. Yet did I Bap- tize all their Children ; but made them firtt ( as I would have done by Strangers) give me privately, (or publickly if they had rather ) an account of their Faith ; and if any Father were a fcandalous Sinner, I made him confefs his Sin openly with leeming Penitence , before I would Baptize his Child : If he refuied it, I forbore till the Mother came to prefent it, ( for I rarely, if ever, found both Father and Mother lb deftitute of Knowledge and Faith, as in a Church Senfe to be uncapa-_ ble hereof.) Of thofe that refufed to come under Difcipline, Ibme were honefl Perlbns,who by their Husbands, Parents orMafters, were forbidden : Many were grolly igno- rant ; many were prophane and fcandalous j and many were kept off by the Ex- ample and Perlwafions of fome leading Perlons, who were guided by the higher fort of the Prelatical Divines ; who though they could fay little or nothing againft what we did, yet their Religion being too much made up of FatStion and Feilbnal Intereft, they difowned our Courfe as unfuitable to the Intereft of their Civil and Ecclefiaftical Sidings and Defigns. About fix or (even young Men did joyn with us who were addided to Tipling, and one of them was a weak-headed Fellow, who was a common notorious Drun- kard. We could not refule them, becaufe our bufinels was not to gather a New Church, but only to know who owned their own Memberfhip, and who would dilbwn it and withdraw themfelve?. But we told him that he was a notorious Drunkard, that we niuft prefently admonilh him, andejtpeA his humble, penitent Confeffion, and promife of Amendment, or elle we mult declare him unfit for Church-Communion. He lamented his Sin with great aggravation , and promi- fed Amendment j but quickly returned to it again : We admonilhed him ag:iin and again, and laboured to bring him to Contrition and Relblution; and he would fiill confefs it, and ftill go on : I warned him publickly, and prajedforhim feveral N 2 days ^2 The LIFE of the L i b. L days in the Church ; but he went on in his Drunkennefs ftill : At laft i declared him unfit for the Churches Communion, and required them to avoid him accord- ingly C for this was all we did, whether you will call it Excommunication or not ) endeavouring to convince him of his Mifery, and of the neceffity of true Repen- tance and Reformation. If any fhall here ask me, Why w? took this Courle, and did not take all the Parifh for Members without putting the Qucftion to them ; and what Benefits we found by fuch a Courfe of Difcipline ? 1 anfwer firft to the lali Queftion : r. We performed a plain Command of Chrift: and we took Obedience to ba bettter than Sacrifice, and be our belt kind of Wor/hip, and the plealing of God to be the greateft benefit. 2. As is faid before, we kept the Chrrch from irregular Separations, which elfe could never have been done. J. We helpt to Cure that dangerous Difeale among the People, of imagining that Chriftianity is but a matter of Opinion and dead Belief, and to convince them how much of it confifteth in Holineis, and how far it is inconfiftent with reigning Sin ; and fb did vindicate the Honour of Chrift and the Chridian Faith. 4. We greatly (upprefled the pracftice of Sin, and caufed People to walk more watchfully than eife they would have done. Thefe and many other great Benefits accrewed by it to the Church. But if you ask what good the Offenders themfelves received by it, I fliall tell you the truth according to my Experince. All Ibber, godly, well-minded Per- Ibns, if they once fell into any fcandalous Adion fas fcarce two of them ever did) yea the very Civil and Younger fort that were tradable, did humbly confels their Sin, and walk more watchfully. But thole that were cafl out of our Communion were enraged, and made much more Enemies to Godlinefs than before, though we exerciled as much Patience and TenderneG towards them, as Realbn could defire. The Drunkard before-mentioned, after his EjeAion, when he was dru-nk would Hand at the Market-place, and like a Quaker, Cry out againft the Town, and take onhimtoprophefie God'sjudgments agalnft them, and would rage at my Door, and rail and curfe. And once he followed me as I went to Church, and laid hands on me in the Church-yard, with a purpofe to have killed me ; but it fell out that he had hold only of my Cloak, which I unbottoned and left with him ; and before his Fury could do anymore, (it being the Fair-dayJ there were fome Strangers by iu the Church-yard, who drag'd him to the Magift rate and the Stocks. And thus he continued raging againft me about a year, and then died of a Ferer in horrour of Conlcience. Three or four more we were forced to caft out, one for flandering, and all the reft for drunkennels ; and though their wit , and the honefty of their Neighbours and Relations made them live quietly, yet their Enmity was much en- creaTed, and they themfelves fo much the worle, as convinced the ftrid^eft Religi- ous (brt, that Excommunication is not to be ufed but upon great Neceflity. And indeed, how can you expert that he who will ftand it out to an Excommunication, /hould be bettered bvany ordinary means? When private Intreaties and vehement Bkhortations, and Warnings before others, and at laft before the Church, and ear- neft Prayers for them, and all that we could lay or do for many Weeks or Months together, would not makemoft of them lb much as lay. We are forry for our (in ; nor any of them leave their common Drunkennefs j how fhould Excommunication do them good ? If you fay. Why then did you ule it ? I anfwer, For the fake of the reft mor6 than for them : for all the Reafons before-mentioned , and many more which I have laid down in the Preface to my Umverfd Concord. We knew it to bean Or- dinance of Chrift, and greatly conducing to the Honour of the Church; which is not a common prophane Society, nor a Sty of Swine, but muft be cleaner than the Societies of Infidels and Heathens: And I blefs God that ever I made trial of Discipline; for my Expectations were not fruftrate though the ejected Sinners were hardened : The Churches Good muft be firft regarded. As to the other Queftion,Why we dealt not thus by all the Parifh, and took them not all for Members without queftion ? We knew (bme P.ipifts and Infidels that were no Members : We knew that the People would have tliought themfelves wronged more to be thus brought under Dilcipline without and againft their own Confent, than to fuffer them to withdraw. And we thought it not a B'.finefs fit for the unwilling, elpecially at fuch a time as that : But efpecially, I knew that ic was like to be their utter undoing, by hardening them into utter Enmity againft the means that Ihould recover them : And 1 never yet faw any figns of hope in a.iy P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ^3 any Excommunicate Perfon ; ( unlets as they are yet men , and capable of what God will do upon them) except one that humbled himfclf, and begged Abfoluti- on. Now either Difcipline is to be exerciied according to Chrifl's Rule, or not. If nor, then the Church is no purer a Society , as to its Orders, than thofe of In- fidelsand Pagans, but Chrift muft be difobeyed, and his Houfe of Prayer made a Den of Thieves : If yea, then either impartially upon all obftinate impenitent Sinners according to Chrifts Rule, or but onfome: If but on fome only, it will be a Judgment of Partiality and Unrighteoufhefs ; whereas, where there is the fame Caule, there mud ( ufually ) be the (ame Penalty. If on all , then the mul- titude of the Scandalous in almoft all places is Co great, and the EfFefts ot Excom- munication fo dreadful, that it would tend to damning of multitudes of Souls j which being contrary to the defign of the Golpel, is not to be taken for the Will of Chrift : we have our Power to Edification, and not to Deftrudion. A few in cafe of neceffity may be punifhed, though to their hurt , for the good of all j but multitudes muft not be fo ufed. Indeed, a Popilh Interdift, or mock Excommuni- cation, by the Sentence of a Prelate or Lay-Chancellour, may pafs againfl multi- tudes, and have no confiderable Effeft, ( but as it is enforced by the Sword ) : But the Word of God is quick and powerful, and when it is thus perfonally applycd in the Sentencing of a guilty obftinate Sinner, doth one way or other work more ef- fe dually. Therefore in this difficulty there can be but two Remedies devlfed : One is with the Anabaptifts to leave Infants unbaptized, that lb they may not be taken into the Church, till they are fit for the Orders of the Church : But this is injuri- ous to Infants, and againft the will of God, and hath more inconveniences than benefits. (Though for my part, as much as I have wrote againft them, I wi(h that it were in the Church now, as it was in the days oi Tertullian, Nazianz.en, and Aufrin, where no man was compelled to bring his Infants to Baptifm, but all left to their own time: For then Ibme (as Augu^ine, &cc.) were baptized at full Age, and fome in Infancy.) The fecond therefore is the only juft and fafe Reme- dy ; whichis. That by the due performance of Confirmation, there may be a S'ijemn Tranfttim out of the ilate of Infant Church-Memberlhip, into the Ibte of Adult Church- Member^nf^ and due qualifications therein required : and that the un- fit may, till then, be left inter Audttores, without the Priviledges proper to Adult Members ; of which I have fully written in my Book of Confirmation. 26. Another Advantage which I found to my Succelswas, by ordering my Do- drine to them in a fuitablenefs to the main end, and yet fo as might fuit their Dil^ pofitions and Dileafes. The thing which I daily opened to them, and with great- eft importunity laboured to imprint upon their minds, was the great Fundamental Principles of Chriftianity contained in their Baptifmal Covenant, even a right knowledge, and belief of, and fubjedion and love to, God the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghoft ; and Love to all Men, and Concord with the Church and one another : I did (b daily inculcate the Knowledge of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sandifier, and Love and Obedience to God, and Unity with the Church Catholick, and Love to Men, and Hope of Life Eternal, that thefe were the matter of their daily Cogitations and Difcourfes, and indeed their Religion. And yet I did ufually put in fomething in my Sermon which was above their own difcovery, and which they h.id not known before ; and this I did, that they might be kept humble, and ftill perceive their ignorance, and be willing to keep in a learning ftate. ( For when Preachers tell their People of no more than they know, and do not fhew that they excel them in Knowledge, andeafily over- top them in Abilities^ the People will be tempted to turn Preachers themfelves, and think that they have learnt all that the Minifters can teach them, and are as wife as they ; and 'hey will be apt to contemn their Teachers, and wrangle with all their Dodrines, and let their Wits againft them, and hear them as Cenfureis, and not as Dilciples, to their own undoing, and to the difturbance of the Church j and they will eafily draw Dilciples after them : The bare Authority of the Cler- gy will not ferve the turn , without over-topping Minifterial Abilities). And I did this alio to increafe their Knowledge ; and alio to make Religion plealant to them, by a daily addition to their former Light, and to draw them on with defire and Delight. But thele things which they did not know before, were not unprofita- ble Controverfies which tended not to Edification, nor Novelties in DoArine con- trary to the Univerlal Church ; but either fiich Points as tended to illuftrate the great DoArines before-mentioned, or dually, about the right methodizing of them. The opening of the true and profitable method of the Creed , ( or Dodrine of Faith ) the Lords Prayer, ( or Matter of our Defires ) and the Ten Command- ments. ■La^^^ti ■■^- 5/4. The LIFE of the 1, i b. I, merits, ( or Law of Praftice ) which afford matter to add to the knowledge of mofl: ProfefTors of Religion, a long time : And when that is done, they muft be led on Itill further by degrees, as they are capable ; but fo as not to leave the weak behind : and fo as fliall {till be truly fubfervient to the great Points of Faith, Hope, and Love, Holinefs and Unity, which muft be ftill inculcated , as the beginning and the end of all. 27. Another help to my Succefs was, that my People were not Rich : There were among them very few Beggers ,hcc!Luie their common Trade of Stuff weaving would find work for all. Men, Women and Children, that were able : And there were none of the Trades-men very rich, feeing their Trade was poor, that would but find them Food and Raiment. The Magiltrates of the Town were few of them worth 40 /. per An. and nioft not half fo much. Three or four of the Richefi thriving Mailers of the Trade, got but about joo or 600 /. in twenty years, and it may be lofe 100 /.of it at once by an ill Debtor. The generality of the Ma- iter Workmen , lived but a little better than their Journeymen, (from hand to moath^ but only that they laboured not altogether fo hard. And it is the Poor that receive the glad Tidings of the Gofpel, and that are ufually rich in faith, and heirt of the heavenly riches which God hath prcmifed to them that love him ; James 2. y. Do not rich men opprefjou, and draw you bcfere the "Judgmmt Seati ? As Mr. George Herbert faith in his Church Militant : Gold and the Gojpel never did agree : Religion alwajs (ides with V overt j. Ufually the Rich are Proud and Obftinate, and will not endure the due Con- duct of theMiniff'ry : Let them be never fo ignorant, they mulf not be croft in their Conceits and Way j and if they be, they ftorm, and raife Perfecution upon it ; or at leaft draw away a Faction after them. Let them be never fo Guilty (un- lefs it be fbme fwiniih inexcufable Sin) they will not endure to be told of it. Their Gentility feemeth to allow tliem, in the three or four Sins of Sodom, ?ride, Fulnefi of Bread, and Abundance of IdleneJ^,and not co7ifideri7ig the Poor and Needy. And their /«/Mf/? and /^/raf/i" tempt them to further Vcluptuouliiels and Senfuality, to Filthi- nef>, or to Time-w^a/Ziw^ needlefs kinds of Sports: And they muft not be croff in any of this. Do but ofter to LxercileChrift's Difcipline upon anyofthefe, and tell them of their Faults alone, and then before two or three, and when they hear not, tell the Church ; and you will make them hate both you and Difcipline, and lay >ou affeft a Domination, and to trample upon your Superiours, and areas proud as Popes. Chrift knew what he faid , when he faid , How hardly fliall a Rich Man enter into the King^dom of Heaven ! Even as a Camel through the Eye of a Needle. But if a poor man be bad, and hate both Piety and Reproof, yet his oppofition is not (o fierce or fo fignilicant ; he maketh not fo much ado, nor en- gageth lb many with him, nor is fb much regarded by the relt. One Knight ( Sir R. C. ) which lived among us, did more to hinder my greater SuccefTes, than a multitude of others could have done : Though he was an old Man, of greac Courtlhip and Civility, and very temperate as to Dyet, Apparel and Spot rs, and ieldom would Swear any lowder than [ By hu Troth, See] and fhewed me much Perlcnal Reverence and Refpe6t fbeyond my defert), and we converlcd together with Love and Familiarity ; yet ^having no rclifliof this Precilenefs and Extem- porary Praying, and making lb much ado for Heaven; nor liking that which went beyond the pace of Saying the Common frayer, and alfb the Interefl of himfelf and lii5 Civil and Ecclcfiaftical Parties, leading him to be ruled by Dv. Hammond) his coming but once a day to Church on the Lord'sdays, and his Abftaining from the Sicrament, &c. as if we kept not fufficiently to the old way , and becaufe we ufed not the Common frayer Book, when it would have caufed us to be Sequeftred ) did cuife a great part of the Parilli to follow him, and do as he did j when elfe our Succels and Concord would have been much more happy than it was. And yet Ci- vility and yielding much beyond others of his Party, (lending his Family to be Ca- techized and perfonally Inftrudted) did Iway with the worft almoft among us to do the like. Indeed wc had two other Pcrfbns of Quality, that came from other places to live there, and were truly and judicioufly Religious, who did much good, (Col. John Bridges, and at lall Mrs. Hanmer) : For when the Rich are indeed Religions, and overcome their Temptations, as they may be fuppoled better than others , be- caufe their Conqueft is greater, fo they may do more good than others, becaufe their Talents are more. But fuch (comparatively j are always few. iS.Another Part I. Reverend Mr. Kichavd Baxter, 95 a8. Another thing that helped me was, my not medling with Tythes or Worldly Bufinefs J whereby I had my whole time ( except what Sicknefs deprived me of ) for my Duty, and my Mind more free from Entanglements than elfe it woald have been ; and alfo I efcaped the offending of the PeoplCj and contending by any Law Suits with them. And I found alfo that Nature it felf being Confcioiis of the Bafeneft of its Earthly Difpofitionjdoth think ba(ely of thole whom it difcern- eth to be Earthly ; and is forced to Reverence thofe whofe Converfe is fuppofed to be moff with God and Heaven. Three or Four of my Neighbours managed all thofe kind of Bufineffes, of whom I never took Account j and if any one deni- ed to pay their Tythes, if they were poor I ordered them to forgive it them 5 After that I was conftrained to let the Tythes be gathered, as by my Title, to fave the Gatherers from Law-Suits. But if they were able, I ordered them tofeek it by the Magiftrare, with the Damage, and give both my Part and the Damages to the Poor ( for 1 refblveil to have none of it my (elf that was recovered by Law, and yet I could not toUeratc the Sacriledge and Fraud of covetous Men ). But when they knew that this was the Rule I went by, none of them would do the Poor (o great a Kindnefs as to deny the Payment of their Tythes, that were able. And in my Family I had the Help of my Father and Mother in Law, and the Be- nefit of a godly, underftanding, faithful "Servant (an ancient Woman near Sixty Years old ) who eafed me of all Care, and laid out all my Money for Houfe- keeping, lo that I never had one Hour's trouble about it, nor ever took one Day's Account of her for Fourteen Years together, as being certain of her Fidelity, Pro- vidence and Skill. 2y. And it much furthered my Succefs, that I ftayed Ifill in this one Place, (near Two Years before the Wars, and above Fourteen Years after ) j for he that re- moveth oft from Place to Place, may fbw good Seed in many Places ; but is not like to fee much Fruit in any, unlefs fbnie other skilful Hand fliall follow him to water ic : It was a great Advantage to me, to have almofl; all the Religious Peo- ple of the Place, of my own Inftrudting and Informing j and that they were not formed into erroneous and fadious Principles before; and that I ftayed to (ee them grown up to fome Confirmednefs and Maturity. 30. Laitly, Our Succefles were enlarged beyond our own Congregations, by the Ledui es kept up round about : To divers of them I went as oft as I was able j and the Neighbour Minifters ofter than I ; efpecially Mr. Oajland of Be-wdley, who ha- ving a ftrongBody, a zealous Spirit, and an earneft Utterance, went up and down Preaching from Place to Place, with great Acceptance and Succefs. But this Bufi- nefs alfo we contrived to be univerfally and orderly managed : For befides the Ledures let up on Week-days fixedly in feveral Places, we ftudied how to have it extend to every Place in the County that had need. For you muft underltand that when the Parliament purged the MiniUry, they caft out the grolfer fort of infuffi- cient and fcandalous ones, as grofs Drunkards, and fuch like ; and alfo fome few Civil Men that had allifted in the Wars againif the Parliament, or fet up bowing to Altars, and fuch Innovations : But they had left in near one half the Mini- fters, that were not good enough to do much Service, nor bad enough to be caft out as utterly intollerable : Thele were a company of Poor weak Preachers, that had no great Skill in Divinity, nor Zeal for Godlinefs j butpreached weaklythat which is True, and lived in no grofs notorious Sin : Thele Men were not caff outj but yet their People gready needed help j for their dark fleepy Preaching did but little Good : Therefore we refblvedthat fome of the abler Minifters Ihould often vo- luntarily help them ; but all the Care was how to do it without offending them ; And it fell out leafonably, that the Londoners of that County at their yearly Feaft, did colled about 50 /. and fend it me (by that worthy Man, Mr. Thomas Stanley of Bread-fireet ) to fet up a Lefture for that Year : Whereupon, we covered all our D-figns under the Name of ths Londoners Lcfture, which took off the Offence : And we chofe four worthy Men, Mr. And. Trifiram, Mr. Hen. OaJIand, Mr. Tbo. Baldtvin, and Mr. Jof. Treble ( who only now conforraeth ) who undertook to go each Man his Day, once a Month, which was every Lord's Day between thefour^ and to preach at thofe Places which had moft need, twice on a Lord's Day ; but to avoid all ill Conlequents and Offence, they were fometim.es to go to ablec Mens Congregations, and wherever they came to lay fomewhat always to draw the People to the Honour and fpccial Regard of their own Paftors ; that how weak loever they were, they might fee that we came not to draw away the Peoples Hearts from them, but to itrengthen their Hands, and help them in their Work. This Lefture did a great deal of Good ; and though the Londontrs g3.WQ their Mo» ney ^G The LI F E of the L i b. I. ney but that one Year, yet, when it was once let on foot, we continued it volun- tarily (till the Minifters were turned out, and all thefe Works went down toge- ther ). So much of the Way and Helps of thole SuccefTcs, which I mention becaufe ma- ny have enquired after them, as willing v.'ith their own Flocks to take that Courft, which other Men have by Experience found to be effedual. § 138. Having before faid fomewhat of my Troubles with Mr. Tombes, I jlial! here more fully tell the Reader how it was. Mr. Tombs being my Neighbour within two Miles, and denying Infint Baptifnf, and having written a Book or twoagainit ir, he was not a little defiious of the Propagation of his Opinion, and the Succefs of his Writings; and he thought that I was his chiefeft Hinderer, though I never medled with the point: Where- upon, he came conftantly to my Weekly Ledure, waiting for an Opportunity to fall upon that Controveify in his Conference with me: But I lludioufly avoided it ; (b that he knew not how to begin : And he had fo high a Conceit of his Writings that he thought them unanfwcrable, and that none could deal with them in that way. At laft, (bme how, he urged me to give my Judgment of his Writings j and I let him know that they did not fatisfie me to be of his Mind, but went no farther with him : Upon this, he forbore coming any more to our Lefture ; and he un- avoidably contrived me into the Controverly, which I iliun'd j for there came unto me five or fix of his chief Profelites, as if they were yet unrelolved, and defired me to give them in Writing the Arguments which fatisfied me tor Infant Baptifm. I asked them whether they came not by Mr. Jombesi Direcftion : And they confef- (ed that they did. I asked them whether they had read the Books of Mr.Cobbet, Mr. Marpiall, Mr. Lburch, Mr. Blake for Infant Baptifm: And they told me. No, I defired them to read that which is written already, before they call'd for more; and then come to me, and tell me what they had to fay againft them. But this they would by no means do ; but mult have my Writings. I told them, that now they plainly conieffed that they came upon a Defign to promote their Party by conten- tious Writings, and not in fincere Defire to be informed, as they pretended : But to be fliorr, they had no moreModefly than to infiif on their Demands, and to tell me that if they turned againft Infant Baptjim, and I denied to give them my Ar- guments in Writing, they mult lay it upon me. I asked them whether they Would conunue unie(olved till Mr. Tombes and i had done our Writings; feeing ic was (bme Years fince Mr. Blake and he began, and have not ended yet. But no Reafoning (oived the turn with them, but ihey ftill call for my written Arguments: When I law their fa6tious Defign andlmmodefty, I bid them tell Mr. Tombes, that he Ihoiild neither thus command me to lolea Years time in my Weaknels, in quar- relling Vv-ith him, nor yet Ihould have his End in infulting over me, as if 1 fled from the Light of Truth : Therefore I offered him, if we muft needs contend, that we might do it the fhortell: and moll fatisfadory way, and fpend one Day in a Dilpute at his own Church, where I would attend him, ( that his People might not remain unlatisfied, till they law which of us would have the laft Word ) ; and after that we would confider of Writing. So Mr. Tombes and I agreed to meet at his Church on Jan. i. And in great Weaknels thither I came, and from Nine of the Clock in the Morning till Five at Night, in a crowded Congregation, we continued our Difpute ; which was ail fjient in manageing one Argument, from Infants right to Church-Membcrfhip to their Right to Baptiiin: of which he after complained, as if I affaulted him in a new way, which he had notconfidered of ixfore ; But this was not the firft time that I had dealt with Anabaptifts, who had fb much to do with them in the Army as I liad : In a Word, this Difpute f^uisfied all my own People and the Country that came in, and Mr. Tow/'f/sown Townirnen, except about Twenty whom he fiad perverted, who gathered into his Chuich, which never increaled to above Twenty two, that I could learn. So much of that Difpute, of the Writing more anon. § 139. If any fiiall demand whether the increafe of Godlinefs was anfwcrabic in all places to what 1 have mentioned (and none deny that it was with us) 1 anlwer, that however Men that meafiire Godlinefs by their Gain and Intereft and Domina- tion, do go about to perfuade the World that Godlinefs then went down, and was almoft extinguilhed, I muft bear this faithful Witnefs to thofe times, that a^ far as I was acquainted, where before there was one godly profitable Preacher, there was then fix or ten j and taking one Place with another, I conjedure there is a propor- Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. $i proportionable increafe of truly godly People, not counting Hereticksor perfidious Rebels or Church-difturbers as iuch : But this increafe of Godlinefs was not in all places alike : For in Ibme places where the Minifters were formalj or ignorant, or weak and imprudent, contentious or negligent, the Parifhes were as bad as here- tofore. And in fome places, where the Minifters had excellent parts, and holy lives, and thirfted afcer the good of Souls, and wholly devoted themfelves , their time and ftrength and eftates thereunto, and thought no pains or coft too much, there abundance were converted to (erious Godlinefi. And with thoie of a mid- die itate, ufually they had a middle meafare of Succefs. And I mult add this to the true Information of Pofterity, That God did fo wonderfully blcls the Labours of his unanimous faithful Mim(ters, that had it not been for the FaAion of the Pre- latifh on one (ide that drew men off, and the Faftions of the giddy and turbulent Seftaries on the other fide, ( who puU'd down all Government, cried down the Minifters, and broke all into Confufion, and made the People at their wits end, not knowing what Religion to be of); together with (bme lazmefi and fi Ifjlmef iii many of the Miniftry, I fay, had it not been for thefe Impediments, England had been like in a quarter of an Age to have become a Land of Saints, and a Patfern of Holinels to all the World, and the unmatchable Paradife of the Earth. Never were fuch fair opportunities to fandifie a Nation, loft and trodden under foot, as have been in this Land of late 1 Woe be to them that were the C.ufes of it. § 140. In our Aflbciation in this County , though we made our Terms large enough for all, Epifcopal , Presbyterians and Independants, there was not one Presbyterian joyned with us that I know of, ( for 1 knew but of one in all the County, Mr. T/?o. Hall) nor one Independant, (though two or three honeft ones faid nothing againit us) nor one of the New Prelatical way fDr. Hammond's ) but three or four moderate Conformifts that, were for the old Epilcopacy ; and all the reft were meer Catholicks ; Men of no Fadion, nor fiding with any Party, but owning that which was good in all, as far as they could difcern it ; and upon a Concord in fo much, laying out themfelves for the great Ends of their Miniftry, the Peoples Edification. § 141. And the increafe of Seftaries among us was much through the weaknels or the fauitinels of Minifters : And it made me remember that Sefts have moft abounded when the Gofpel hath moft profpered, and God hath been doing the greateft works in the World : As firft in the Apoftles and the Primitive Times, and then when Chriftian Emperours were affifting the Church ; and then when Reformation prolpered in Germany ; and lately in New-England where Godlinels moft flourilhed ; and laft of all here,when (b pleaiant a Spring had raifed all our hopes ; And our Impatience of weak Peoples Errours and Dtjfent, did make the Bufi- nefs worle j whillt every weak Minifter that could not or would not do that for his People which belonged to his place, was prefently crying out againft the Ma- giftrates for fuffenng thele Errours ; and thinking the Sword muft do that which the Word fliould do : And it is a wicked thing in Men , to defire with the Papifts, that the People were rather /(/zW than ;)«rWzw^, and that they might rather know nothing, than miftake in fome few Points ; and to be more troubled that a man contradi^eth us in the Point of Infant Baptifm or Church Government, than that many of the People are fottiflily carelefi of their own Salvation. He that never regard' eth the Word of God, is not like to Err much about it ; Men will fooner fall out about Gold or Pearls, than Swtne or JJfes will. § 142. Ail this Vi^hile that I abode at Kidderminfier , ( though the Rulers that then were made an Order that no Sequeftred Minifter fhould have his fifth part , unlefs he removed out of the Parilh where he had been Minifter, yet) did I never remove the old Sequeftred Vicar fo much as out of his Vicaridge Houfe, no nor once came within the Doors of it ; fo far was 1 from Seizing on it as my own, or removing him out of the Town : But he lived in peace and quietnefs with us, and reformed his Life, and lived without any Scandal or Offenfivenefs, and I never heard that he fpake an ill word of me. And yet as loon as the times were chang- ed, the inftigation of others made him as malapart again, as if he had been awa- kened out ot a fleepy Innocence. § r43. About this time Cromwell fet up his Major Generals , and the Decimation of the Eftates of the Royalifts, called Velmt^uents, to maintain them : And Jamet Berry was made Major General of Worcejlerfhire, Shropjlnre, Herefordfliire, and North- Walet ; the Countreys in which he had formerly lived as a Servant ( a Clark of Iron-works). His reign was modcft and fhort ; but hated and (corned by the Gen- O Jry ^8 ^J^he LI F E of the L i b. I, *"* try chat had known his Inferiority : Cfo that it had been better for him to have chofen a ftrangerpL.ce) : And yet many of them attended him as fubmiffively as if they had honoured him ; fo figniticanj a thing is power and profperity witli worldly minds. § 144. I come now to the End of Cromwell's Reign, who died ( of a Fever ) be- fore he was aware. Fie efcaped the Attempts of many that fought to have di- ipatched him Iboner j but could not efcape the Itroke of God, when his appoint- =<-Ashis ed Time was come, (Though * an Independent, praying for him, laid , [Lord, cunenti) y^^ ask not for hit Life, for that we are Jure of i but that he 7nay ferve thee better than ever reported ^^ ^^^ j^^^ | . ^^ ^^^ diiiionour of that Prefumption which fome men call a farii- ^litrl^Jiy cular Faith {thit is, A believing that they fliall receive v,/hatcver they ask, if they mon that can but ftsdfidly believe that they Ihall receive it, though it be fuch as tiiey have no ever I other promife for, btit that pf Hearing [ believing Erasers ] which they mifunder- heardof. ^^„j ,_ Never man was highlier extolled, and never man was bafelier reported of, and vilified than this man. No ( meer ) man was better and worfe fpoken of than he ; according as mens Intererts led their judgments. The Soldiers and Sectaries mo(t highly magnified him, till he began to ieek the Crown and the EltabliHiment of his Family : And then there were fo many that would be Half-Kings them(elve;s, that a King did (eem intollerable to thern. The Royalifts abhorred him as a moft perfi - dious Hypocrite ; and the Presbyterians thought him little better ,in his management of publick matters. If after io many others I may fpeak my Opinion of him, I think, that , having been a Prodigal in his Youth, and afteryvard changed to a zealous Religiouihels, he meant honelily in the main, and was pious and confcionable in the main courle of his Life, till Profperity and Succefs corrupted him : that , at his firft entrance into the Wars, being but a Captain of Horfe, he had a fpecial care to get religious men into his Troop : Thefe men were of greater underftanding than common Sol- diers, and therefore were more apprehenfive of the Importance and Conlequencs of the War ; ai]d making not Money, but that which they took for the Publick Felicity, to be their End, they were the more engaged to be valiant j for he that maketh Money his End, doth efteem his Life above his Pay, and therefore is like enough to five it by flight when danger comes, if poffibly he can: But he that ma- keth the Felicity of Church and State his End, efteemeth it above his Life , and therefore will the Iboner lay down his Life for it. And men of Parts and Under- ftanding know how to manage their bufinefs, and know that flying is the fureft way to d'iath, and that ftandingtoit is the likeliell way to efcapej there being many uilially that fall in flight, for one that falls in vdiant fight. Thefe things it's probable Cromwell underftood j and that none would be fuch engaged valiant men as the Religious : But yet I conjefture, that at his firft choofing fuch men in- to his Troop, it was the very Efteem and Love of Religious men that principally moved him j and the avoiding of thole Dilbrders , Mutinies , Plunderings , and Grievances of the Country , which deboiff men in Armies are commonly guilty of : By this means he indeed Iped better than he expected. Aires , Desbo- rough, Berry, E-vanfon, and the reft of that Troop, did prove fo valiant, that as far as I could learn, they never once ran away before an Enemy. Hereupon he got a Commiilion to take (ome careof the AflTociated Counties, where he brought this Troop into a doable Regiment, of fourteen full Troops j and all thefe as full of religious men as he could get : Thefe having more then ordinary Wit and Re- (blution, had more than ordinary Succeis ; firlt in Lincohflnre , and afterward in the Earl o( Manchefiers Army at TurkF'ight : With their Succeffesthe Hearts both of Captain and Soldiers fecretly rile both in Pride and Expedation : And the fami- liarity of msny honeft erroneous Men ( Anabaptifts, Antinomians , &c. ) withal began quickly to corrupt their Judgments. Hereupon Crewweil/'s general Religious Zeal, giveth way to the power of that Ambition , which ftill increafeth as his Succeftes do increafe : Both Piety and Ambition concurred in his countenancing of all that he thought Godly of what Sed: foever : Piety pleadeth for them as GoJlj ; and Chanty as Men ; and Ambition fecredy telleth him what ule he might make of them. He meaneth well in all this at the beginning, and thinketh he doth all for the Safety of the Godly, and the Publick Good , but not without an Eye to himfelf. When Part 1. i<^'^r^«^/kfr. Richard Baxter. ^^ When SucceiTes h,id broken tlovvri aii conliderableOppofuion, he was then in the fa^e of his ftrongeft Tempcacions, which conquered him when he had con- quered orhers: He chought that he had hitherto done well, both as to the End And Means, and God by the wonderful Blef ling of his Pi evidence had owned hisendea- vours, and it was none but God that had made him great : He thought that if the War was lawful, the Vidlory was lawful ; and if it were lawful to tight againlt the King and conquer him, it was lawful to ufe him as a conquered Enemy, and a foplilh thing to truft him when they had fo provoked him, (whereas indeed the: Parliament profefTed neither to fight againfi: him, nor to conquer him).He thought that the Heart of the King was deep, and that he lefblved upon Revenge, and that if he were King, he would eafiiy at one time or odier accomplilli it ; and that it wgs a difhoneit thing of the Parliament to (et men to fight for them againfi the King, and then to lay their Necks upon the block , and be at his Mercy j and that if that mult be their Cale, it was better to flatter or pleafe him, than to fight againft him. He faw that the Scots and the Presbyterians in the Parliament, did by the Covenant and the Oath of Allegiance, find themfilves bound to the Peribn and Family of the King, and that there was no hope of changing their minJs in this: Hereupon he joyned with that Party in the Parliament who were for the. Cutting off the King, and trufting him no more. And confequently he joyned with them in raifing the Independants to make a Fradlion in the SyncS at JVeft- mtnHer and in the City j and in Itrengthening the Scdlaries in Army, City and Country, and in rendering the Scots and Minifters as odious as he could, to djiable them from hindering the Change of Government. In the doing of all this, ( which Diftrufi and Ambition had perlwaded him was well donej he tliought it lawful to ufe his Wits, to chooie each Inftrument, and iuit each means, unto its end J and accordingly he daily imployed himfelf, and modelled the Army, and disbanded all other Garrifbns and Forces and Committees, which were like to have hindered his defign. And as he went M^an men in their rifing muft on, thoLiah he yet refolved not what form the New Common- adhcM-e(toaFaaion)butgreatMen iL/iiji-^ 111- I 1 1 -I r that liave ftrength in themfelves, wealth Ihould be molded mto, yet he thought it but realona- ^v^re better to maintain them- ble, that he ihould be the Chief Peribn who had been chief in felves indifFcrcnt and neutral :yet their Deliverance s ( For the Lord Fairfax he knew had but even in beginners to adhere fo the Name). At lalf, as he thought it lawful to cut off the moderately, asthat he be a Man X, ■^ r I 111 1 r I, y r , ot that ouc Faftion which is mote ing, becaule he thought he was lawlully conquered, lo he pjjTable with the other, corn- thought it lawful to fight againft the Scots that would fet him monly giveth beft way. The up, and to pull down the Presbyterian Majority in the Parlia- lower and weaker Faftion is the ment, which would eUe by relforing him undo all which had ^[f ",'" i°"''""/^'°"J ^^""^'t'^ a, r IC111T-? /(J j-11- often leen that a few that are ftiff, colt tnem lo much blood and Trealure. And accordingly he ^p (;,.£. ^^^ ^ g^eat number that conquererh Scotland, and pulleth down the Parliament : being are more moderate : when one of the eafiliir perfwaded that all this was lawful, becaule he had a ^ic Faftions is extinguifhed, the fecret Byas and Eye towards his own Exaltation : For he (and f}'^' "-e^ming fubdivideth u- /-^r^ \ L I 1 I IT-- /■-. It IS commonly feen that Men once his Orficers) thought, that wnen the King was gone a Govern- p^ccd take in with the contrary ment there niuft be ; and that no Man was ib fit for it as he Faftion to tiiat by which they en- himlelf; isbtH dcjervingk, and as having by his /"f/r and great *'^'' L'>rd\cm\imFpy ii, ijffrf/ in the Army, the beft fufficiency to manage it: Yea, ^•^^7' they thought that God had called tliem by SucccJJ'cs to Govern and r.«^2 CVff of the Commonwealth , and of the Intereft of all his People in the Land ; and that if they ftood by and (iiffercd the Parliament to do that which they thought was dangerous, it would be required a^ their hands, whom they thought God had made the Guirdians of the Land. Having thus forced his Confcience to juftifie all his Caufe , ( the Cutting off the the King, the letting up himfelf and his Adherents, tlie pulling down the Parlia- ment and thQ Scots,) he thinketh that the End being good and necefTary, the necef lary means cannot be bad: And accordingly he giveth his Intereft and Caufe leave to tell him, how far Seds fhall be tollerated and commendtd, and how far not j and how far tb.e MiniHry ihall be owned and fiipported, and how far not j yea, and how far Profeflions, Promifes, and Vows Ihall be kept, or broken ; and there- fore the Covenant he could not away with ; nor tiie Minilrers, further than they yielded to his Ends, or uid not openly refift^ them. He feemed exceeding open hearted, by a familiar Ruftick aifefted Carriage, fefpecially to his Soldiers in /port- ing with them ) : but he thought Secrecy a Vertue, and Diiflimulation no Vice, and Simulation, that is, in plain Englilh a Lie, or Perfidioufnefs to be a tolleiable Fault ill a Ca(e of Neceflity : being of the iame Opinion with the Lord Baco?;, ("who was not lb Precife as Leainedj That [ the be[i Co/uf'ojition and Temperature u, O 2 rt loo The LIFE of the L i b. I. to have openne(? in Fame and Opinion, Secrecy in habit , Dijjimulation in feafonabk ufe j and a power to feign if there be no remedy ,] EfSay 6. pag. 3 1 . Therefore he kept fair with all , faving his open or unreconcileable Enemies. He carried it with fuch Diffimulation, that Anabapcifts, Independants , and Antinomians did all think that he was one of them : But he never endeavoured to perfwade the 'Presbyteri- ans that he was one of them j but only that he would do them Jultice, and Pre- ferve them, and that he honoured their Worth and Piety ; for he knew that they were not lb eafily deceived. In a word? he did as our Prelates have done, begin low and rile higher in his Refolutions as his Condition role , and the Promiles which he made in his lower Condition, he ufed as the interefl: of his higher fol- lowing Condition did require, and kept up as much Honeity and Godiinels in the main, as his Caufe and Interell would allow, ( but there they left him ) : And his Name llandeth as a monitory Monument or Pillar to PoOerity to tell them, [The infiabihty of Mzn in firong "Temptations, if God leave him to himlelf: what great SucceS and Ficlories can do to lift up a Mind that once feemed humble : what fride can do to make M^nfelfjJ), and corrupt the Heart with tU defigns : what Jelfijlmefi and ill defigns can do, to bribe the Confcisnce, and corrupt the Judgment, and make imnjufitfie the greateft Erroars and Sins, and fetagainft the clearelt Truth and Du- ty : what Bloodjhed and great Enormities of Life, an Erring deluded Judgment may draw Men to, and patronize; and That when God hath dreadful Judgments to execute, an Erroneous SeiSary, or a proud Self-leeker, is oftner his Inltrument , than an humble. Lamb-like, innocent Saint]. § 14 J. Cromwell being dead, his Son Richard by h/s Will And Teftament, and the jirmy was quietly letled in his place ; while all Men look'd that they Ihould pre- fently have fallen into Confufion and Difcord among themlelves ; the Counties, Cities, and Corporations of England lend up their Congratulations, to own him as Protedor : (But none of us in Worcejierfhire, fave the Independants, medied in it.) He interred his Father with great Pomp and Solemnity : He called a Parlia- ment, and that without any luch Reftraints as his Father had ufed : The Members took the Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance to him ac the Door of the Houfe before they entred. And all Men wondred to lee all fo quiet, in fo dangerous a Time. Many Ibber Men that called his Father no better than a Trayterous Hypocrite,did begin to think that they owed him SubjeHson. They knew that the King was by Birth their Rightful Sovereign j and relblved to do their beft while there was hopes to introduce him, and defend him : But they were afloni/hed at the marvellous Providences of God , which had been agalnft that Family all along , and they thought that there was no rational probability of his Re- fioration, having feen lb many Armies and Rifings and Defigns overthrown , which were railed or undertaken for it : They thought that it is not left to our liberty , whether we will have a Government , or not; but that Govern- ment is of Divine Appointment ; and the Family, Pcrfon or Species is but of a fublervient, lels neceilary determination : And that if we cannot have him that we would have, it followeth not that we may be without : That twelve years time ( from the Death of the lafl: King ) was longer than the Land could be without a Governour, without the Deftruftion of the Common Good, which is the End of Government 1 Therefore that the Subjeds, feeing they are unable to re- fiore the King, mult confent to another : That the Houfe of Commons, having fworn Allegiance to him, have aduaUy fubjefted the Nation to him : And though his Father Trayteroully made the Change, yet the Succeflbr of a Traytor may by the Peoples conlent, become a Governour , whom each Individual muft ac- knowledge by SubjeAion : That the Bilhops and Churches both of Eafi and Wefi, as all Hiliory Iheweth, have profefled their Subjetftion to Uliirpers, in a far Ihort- er time, and upon lighter Reafons : That this Man having never had any hand in the War, (but liippofed to be for the King) nor ever feeking for the Government, and now leeming to own the Sober Party, was like to be ufed in the healing of the Land, &c.] Such Realbnings as thefe began to take with the minds of many, to fubjeft themlelves quietly to this Man (though they never did it to his Father) as ^^''"'^'f now delpairingofche Reflitution of the King : * And I confefs fiich Thoughts Mcns^prc- ^^''^ ^°'"^^'*'hat prevalent with my lelf: But God quickly Ihewed us the root of fent cruel our Errour, which was our limiting the Almighty ; as if that were hard to him Malice, was that was impoffible to us : So that the Reftoration of the King, which we thought tl"' F^'fl? ^^^^ impoflible, was accomplilhed in a trice: And we faw that twelve or eighteen 0^2 Books y^^rs is not long enough to waiton God. wherein l never juftificd his Ul'urpation : BvX Jiidicis "ffic'wm eji ; ut res itn tempora rerum,Sic. The P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. loi The Army fet up Richard Cromwell, it feemeth upon Tryal ; relolving to ule him as he behaved himfelf : And though they fwore Fidelity to him, they meant to keep it no longer than he pleafed them ; And when they law that he be^an to favour the fober People of the Land, to honour Parliaments, and to refpeA the Minifters, whom they called Presbyterians, they prelencly lefolved to make him know his Mafters, and that it was they and nnt he, that were called by God to be the chief Prote(aors of the Intereft of the Nation. He was not fo formidable to them as his Father was, and therefore every one boldly fpurned at him. The Fifth Monarchy Men followed Sir Henry Vane, and railed a great and violent clamorous Party againft him, among the Seftaries in the City : Rogers and Feake, and fuch like Firebrands preach them into Fury, and blow the Coales j But Dr. Owen and his Afllflants did the main Work : He gathereth a Church at ( at Lieutenanr Ge- neral Fleetwood's Qiiarters, at Wallingford Houle, confiding of the adlive Olficers of the Army ( this Church-gathering hath been the Church fcattering Projed ) : In this AlTembly ic was determined that Richard's Parliament niuft be diflblved, and then he quickly fell himfelf : ( Though he never abated their Liberties or their Greatnels j yet did he not fufficiently befriend them) ; DiSium faElum ; almolf as quickly done as determined : Though Col. Richard Ingohhy and fome others, would have (luck to the Proteftor, and have ventured to furprile the Leaders oftheFadi- on, and the Parliament would have been true to him ; yet Berrfs Regiment of Horfe, and fome others, were prefently ready to have begun the Fray againdhim; and as he fought not the Government, he was refolved it fhould coft no Blood to keep him in it : But if they would venture for their Parts on new Confufions, he would venture his Part by retiring to his Privacy : And fo he did ( to latisfiethele pioud diOraded Tyrants, who thought they did but pull down Tyranny ) re- sign the Government by a Writing under his Hand, and retired himfalf, and left them to govern as they pleafed. His Good Brother in Law , Fleetwood, and his Uncle Besborough were lb intoxi- cated as to be the Leaders of the Confpiracy : And when they had puH'd him down, they fet up a few of themlelves under the Name of a Council of State j and fb mad were they with Pride, as to think the Nation would fland by and reve- rence them, and obediently wait upon them in their drunken Giddinefs ; and that their Fadion in the Army was made by God an invincible Terror to all that did but hear their Names. The Care of the Bufinels alfo was, that Oli'ver had once made Fleetwood believe that he fliould be his Succeflbrj and drawn an Inftrument to that purpofe ; but his laft Will difippointed him. And then the Sedaries flat- tered him, faying, that a truly Godly Man that had commanded them in the Wars was to be preferred before fuch an one as they cenfured to have no true Godlinefs. § 14'^. I make no doubt but God permitted all this for Goodj and that as it was their Treafon to fet up Oliver and deftroy the King, fo it was their Duty to have fet up the prelent King inftead of Kichard : And God made them the means, to their own De(f ruftion, contrary to their Intentions, to reftore the Monarchy and Family which they had ruined. But all this is no Thanks to them j but that which with a good Intention had been a Duty ( to take down or not fet up Richard Crom- well ) yet as done by them was as barbarous Perfideoulhefs as moft ever Hillory did declare : That they fliould fo fuddenly, fo fcornfully and proudly pull down him whom they had fo lately let up themlelves and fworn to : And that for no- thing ; they could fcarce tell why themlelves ; nor ever were able to give the World a fairer Reafon for their Villany ( by any Fault they could charge upon him ) than the Munf-er Fanaticks had to give for their Bethlehem Outrages and Rebellion : That they fhould do this while a Parliament was fitting whicli had fo many wife, religious Members ; not only without the Parliaments Advice, but in dcfpight of them, and force him to dilfolve them firft ; as if Perjury and Re- bellion were newly put into the Commandments ; or God had made thefe proud Ufurpers to be the Governors of Protedlor and of Parliaments, and exempted them wholly from the Precept [^ Honour thy Father^ [Let every Sotsl he fid'jeil to the higher Fowers^.Thit they fhould fo proudly defpife not only the Parliament,butall theMiniffers of London and ofrheLand,as to do this,not only without advifing with, and againft their Judgments ; but in a faftiousEnvy againff them,!eft they fhould be too much countenanced :Yea,they did it againft the Judgments of moft of their own Party ( the Independants ), as they now profels themfelves : Yea, Mr. Nye, that was then thought to be engaged in the fame Defign, doth utterly difclaim it, and profefs I02 il^f^ L I F E of the Li b. I. ^.- _^, __— — — -- — ■ profels that his Content or Hand was never to it : But Fride njualfy goeth before DefiruBicn. § 147. And having (aid this of the Crimes of the(e Firebrands of the Army,I mufl: fay fomewhat of the Ssttarian Party in General ; I mean, thole who have been moft addided to Chuxh-DivilionSj and Separations, and Sidings, and Farties,and havere- fufed all terms of Concord and Unity : I doubt not but many of them we'C People that feared God^ who in their Ignorance of the Dodrrine of Church Unity and Communion, have been drawn by Pretences of Purity to follow their Leaders in ways which they underftood not : And I doubt not but the Presbyterians have had their Faults in their Treaties with them j and that politick Statefmen kept open the Divifions for their own Defigns, ( that they might have a Party to weaken the Scots and Presbyterians that would have reftored the King ). But yet I mull: record it to the Shame of their Mifcarriages, that the weaker ar.d younger fort cf Profejjors, have been prone to be paft up with high Thoughts of themlelves, and to over-value their little Degrees of Knowledge and Parts, which fct them not above the Pity of underftanding Men : That they have been fet upon thofe Courfcs which tend to advance them above the Common People in the Oblcrvation of the World, and to fet them at a farther Diliance from others than God alloweth, snd all this un- der the Pretence of the Purity of the Church. That in Pro- The Lord Bacon nameth Four fecution of their Ends, there are few of the AnabiptiRs that Caufcs of Atheifin, 1. ManyDi- have not been the Oppofers and Troublers of the faithful Mi- vifions in Religion. 2. The Scan- jj^ ^ ^^^^^ L^^j ^^j ^^^^ ^-^e Trcublers of their People, daJ of Prieus. 3. A Cuuom of .ltt-j tl-c r 1 n. uji Prophane Scoffing about Holy and the Hmderers of their Succels ; they ftrengthned the Matters. 4. Corrupting profperi- Hands of the Prophane : The Sediaries ( efpeciaily the Ana- ty. Effay id. ^ 5.1. baptifts, the Seekers, and the Quakers) cho(c out the moU able, zealous Miniiters, to make the Marks of their Reproach and Obliquy, and all becaufe they Itood in the Way of their Defigns, and hin- dered them in the propagating of their Opinions : They fet again!} the fame Men that the Drunkards and Swearers fit againft, and much after the lame manner j re- viling them, and railing up falfe Reports of them, and doing nli that the/ could to make them odious, and at laft attempting to pull th:m all down j only they did it more prophanely than the Prophane ; in that they (aid, [Lef the Lord he glo- rified'^ Let the Gofpel he propagated '\ and abufed and prophaned Scriptutig and the Name of God by entituling him to their Fadlion and Mifcarriage?. Yea, though they thought themielves the moft underftanding and confciencious People of the Land, yet did the Gang of them (eldom ftick at any thing which feemed to pro- more their Caufe ; but whatever their Fadion in the Army did, they pleaded for it and approved it : If they puU'd down the Parlianient, impiifon'd the godly faithful Members, killed the King, if they caft out the Rump, if they chofe a Little Parliament of their own, if they letup CromweU, if they let up his Son and pulfd him down again, it' they Ibught to obtrude Agreements on the People, if they one Week ict up a Council of State, and if another Week the Rump were refto- red, if they fought to take down Tythes and Pariili-Minifters, to the utter Confu- lion of the State of Religion in the Land j in all thelb the Anabaptifts, and many of the Independants in the Three Kingdoms followed them ; and even their Pa- llors were ready to lead them to conlenr. And all this began but in unwarrantable Separations, and too much nggravatitig the Faults of the Churches C7id Common People, and Comrron Frayer Book and Miniftry ; which indeed were none of them without Faults to be lamented and reformed : But they thought that becaufe it needed Amendment, it required their obftinate 5c- paration, and that they were allowed to make odious any tiling that was amils; and bccaule it was faulty, if any Man had rebuked them for belying it, and making it far more faulty than it was, inftead of confeding their Sin, they called their Reprover a Pleader for Antichiift or Baal ^ every Error in the Mode of the Common Worfiiipthey had no fitter Name lor, than Idolatry, Popery, Antichri- flianifm, Superfticif)n, Will-worfhip, &c. when in the mean time, many of their own Prayers were ft;ll of Carnil Paflion, Selfifhnels, Faction, Dilbrder, vain Re- pitions, unibund and loathlbm Expreffions, and their DocSrine full of Errors and Confuilion ; andtheie Beams in tlieir own Eyes were matter of no Offence to them : They would not communicate with that Church where ignorant Perlbns or Swearers were tollcraied ( though they themlelves never did their Pait to have theni call out, but look'd the Miniftcrs rtiould do all without them ) j but without any Icruple they would communicate with them that had broke their Vow and Covenant with God anci MaPj and rebslkd againftboth Kipg, Parliamcn"-, and all P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 103 all kind of Government that was fet up ( even by themfelves ) and did all the fore-recited Evils. I know thefe fame Accufations are laid by fomein Ignorance or Malice, againft many that arc guilty of no fuch things, and therefore Ibme will be offended ac me, and fay, I imitate fuch Reproachers : But ihall none be reproved becaufe feme are flandered ? Shall Rebells be juftified, becaufe; fonie innocent Men aie called Rebels ? Shall Hypocrites be free from Conviction and Condemnation, becaule wicked Men call the Godly Hypocrites ? Woe to the Man that luch not a faithful Rtprover ; but a Thoufand Woes will be to him that hatetb nfroof: And woe to them that had rather Sin were credited and kept in Honour, than their Party dit- honoured : and Woe to the Land where the Reputation of Men doth keep Sin in Reputation. Scripture it [i]{ will not fpare a Noah, a Lot, a David, a Hizekt ab, a Jofiah, a Ttttr ,• but will open and fliame their Sin to all Generations : And yet, alas 1 the Hearts of many, who I hope are truly Religious in other Points, will rife againft him that Ihall yet tell them of the Mildoings of thofe of their Opinion, and call them to Repentance. The poor Church of Chrift, thefober, Ibimd religious Part, are like Chrilt that was crucified between two Malefactors ; the prophane and formal Perlecutors on one hand, and the Tanatick dividing Sectary on the other hand, have in all Ages been grinding the (piritual Seed, as the Corn is ground between the Milftones: And though their Sins have luined themfelves and us, and filenced lb many hundred Minilters, and fcattered the Flocks and made us the Hatred and the Scorn of the ungodly World, and a by Word and Delblation in the Earth; yet there are few of them that lament their Sin, but ju- ftify tliemfclves and their iMifdoings, and the penitent MakfaBor is yet unknown to us. And feeing Pofterity muft know what they have done, to the Shame of our Land,and of our (acred Profeffion,let them know this much more alio to their own Shame, that all the Calamities which have befallen us by our Divifions were long forefeen by feeing Men, and they were told and warned of it, year after year : They were told that a Houfe divided againft it felf could not ftand, and told that it would bring them to the Halter and to Shame, and turn a hopeful Reforma- tion into a Scorn, and make the Land of their Nativity a Place of Calamity and Woe ; and all this Warning fignified nothing to them ; but thefe Dudile Profef ibrs bWinly followed a few feltconceited Teachers to this Milery j and no warning or means could ever Itop them. Five dilTenung Minifters in the Synod begun all this, and carried it far on : Mr. Vhtltf Nye, Mr. Iho. Goodwin, Mr. Sydracb Symffon^ and Mr. William Bridge, to whom that good Man ivlr. Jeremiah Burroughs joined himlelf in Name ; but as he never pradifed their Church-gathering way, fb at laft he was contented to have united on the Terms which were offered them, and wrote his excellent Book of Heart Divifions. After this they encreafed, and Mr. Burroughs being dead. Dr. John Owen arole, not of the fame Spirit, to fill up his place; by whom and Mr. Phillip Njfe's Policie the Flames were encreafed, our Wounds kept open, and carried on all, as if there had been none but they confiderable in the World; and having an Army and City Agents fit to fecond them, effedually hindred all remedy till they had dafh'd all into pieces as a broken Glals. O I what may not Prtde do ? and what Mifcaniages will not falfe Principles and Fadion hide ? One would think that if their Opinions had been certainly true, and their Church-Oiders^oo^, yet thelnterefl of Chrift, and the Souls of Men, and of greater Truths, ihould have been fo regarded by the Dividers in England, as that the Safety of all thefe ihould have been preferred, and not all ruined rather than their way fhould want its carnal Arm and Liberty ; and that they fhould not tear the Garment of Chrift all to pieces, rather than it Ihould want their Lace. § 148. And it muft be acknowledged alio impartially, that Ibme of the Presby- terian Minifters frightned the Sedaries into this Fury by the unpeaceableneG and impatiency of their Minds : They ran from Libertinifm into the other Extream, and were fo litde fenfible of their own Infirmity, that they would not have thofe tollerated who were not only toUerable, but worthy Inftruments and Members in the Churches : The Reconcilers that were ruled by prudent Charity always called out to both the Parties, that the Churches muft be united upon the Terms of primitive Simplicity, and that we muft have Unity in things necejfary, and Liberty m things unnccejjary, and Chanty tn all : But they could never be heard, but were taken • for Advcrfaries to the Government of the Church, as they are by the Prelates at this Day : Nay, when in fVorceJlerjIiirc we did but agree to pradice (6 much as all Parties were agreed in, they faid, we did but thereby fee up another Party. We told 104 The LI F E of the L i b. I. told them of Archbifhop U^nt's Terms in his Sermon before the King on Efb./^.i. but they would not hear. The Lord Bacon in his Third Ejjay , and his Confideratwns, Mr. Hales in his treattfe of Schifm, and all men of found Experience and Wifdom, have long told the World, that we muft be united in things NeceJJ'ary, which all Chriftians agree in, or which the Primitive Churches did unite in, or not at all : But nothing lliorter than the Affemblies Confeffion of Faith and Catechifms, and and Presbytery,would fcrve turn with fome. Their Principles were that no others fhould be toleratedj which fet the Independants on contriving how to grafp the SwordI They were (till crying out on the Magiftrate, that he was irreligious, for fufFering Sefts, and becaule he did not bring Men to Conformity : And now they cannot be tollerated therafelves, to preach, nor fcarce to dwell in the Land. The Uni- ting of the Churches upon the Primitive Terms, and the toUerating (not of all, but) of tollerable Differences, is the way to Peace, which almoft all Men approvb of, except thofe who are uppermoft, and think they have the Reins in their own hands. And becaule the fide which is uppermoft are they that have their Wills, therefore the Churches had never a fettled Peace this Thoufand years at leaft j the true way of Settlement and Peace, being ufually difpleafing to them that muft give Peace to others : But thu way hath the mark of being the hefi] in that it is the only way, which every Sed acknowledge for the fecond,and next the beft ; and is it -ii-hich all, except thz predominant Party, liketh. But Wildom is juftitied of her Children. § 149. To confummate the Confufion, by confirming and increafing the Di- vifion, the Independants at laft, when they had refufed with fufficient pervicacy to aflbciate with the Presbyterians ( and the Reconcilers too ) did refolve to fhew their proper ftrength, and to call a General Affcmbly of alLtheir Churches. The Savoy was their Meeting-place. There they drew up a Confeffion of their Faith, and the Orders of their Church Government. In the former, they thought it not enough exprefly to contradift Sr. James, and to fay (unlimitedly ) That tve are juftifiedby the RighteoufneJ^ of Chrijt only, and not by any IVorks ; but they contradidt- ed St. Vaul alfb, who laith, That Faith is imputed for Rightevujnejl. And not only io^ but they e.sprefly aflerted, that [ -we have no other r/ghteoujfiej^ ] but that of Chrift. A Dodtrine abhorred by all the Reformed and Chrillian Churches ; and which would be an utter fhameto die Proteftant Name, if what fuch Men held and did were indeed imputable to the i"bsr Proreliants. I asked fome honeft Men that joyned with them. Whether they fubfjribed this Confeffion ; and they faidiVb. I asked chem why they did not contradiA it ; and they laid that the meaning of it was no more than that we have no other Righteoufhels but Chrift's to be jufttfied by : So that the Indepsndant's Confeffions are like fuch Oaths and Declarations , as fpeak one thing and mean another. Alfo in their Propofitions of Church Order , they widened the breach, and made things much worle , and more unreconcile- abie than ever they were before. So much could two Men do with many honeft tradable young Men, and had more Zeal ior fe^arating StriBnefi , than Judgment to underftand the Word of God, or the htereft of the Churches of the Land , and of themfelves. § i5'o. But it hath p'eafed God by others that were fbmetime of their way, to do more to heal this Breach, than they did to make it wider. I mean the Synod of Neif-England ; who have publilhed fuch healing Propofitions about fiated Synods, and Infatits Church Memberjl)ip, as hath much prepared for a Union between them , 1- Mr. and all other moderate Men : ( And fome * One hath ftrenuoudy defended thole ^^'j.*''^^ Propofitions againft the oppofition of Mr. Davenport, a diffenting Brother). I take this to be more for healing than the Savoy Propofitions can be effeftual to di- T'^M^'r/^'^^' becaufe the New-England men have not blemifhed their Reputation, nor loft ]ht of "^^^ Auchority and Honour of their Judgments, by any liich Adions as the leading Kcw-En)\- Savoyers have done. land hath feiit me a printed Paper of his own, contriving a Healing Form of Synods for conftant Communion of particular Churciies. § rp. When the Army had brought themfelves and the Nation into utter Con- fufion, and h.id let up andpull'd down Richard Cromwell , and then had fet up the /?.'/;/>/) again, and pull d them down again, and fet up a Council of State of them- felves and their Fadion, and made Lambert their Head, next under Fleetwood, ( whom they could u(e almoft as they would ; at laft the Nation would endure them no longer, nor fit (till while the world (tood laughing them to (corn, as aaing over the Munlter Tragedy : Sir George Booth and Sir Thomas Middleton raifed Forces in Ch^iin and North-Wales : (but the Cavaliers that Ihould have joyned with them P A El T I. Reverend Mr. Richatd Baxter. 105 themfailed them almoft all over the Landj a few rofe in fome places,but were quick- ly ruined and came to nothing! Lambert quickly routed tho(e in Cketlnre : Sir Arthur Hafelrigge with Col. Morley get into Pcrtfrnoutb, which is pofTeired as for the Rump. Monk declareth againft them in Scotland, purgeth his Army of the Ana- baptifts, and marcheth into England. ThsRump Party with Ha/drigge divided the Army at home, and fo difabled them to oppoli Monk ; who marcheth on, and all are afraid of him ; and while he declareth himfelf againft Monarchy for a Com- monwealth, he tieth the hands of his Enemies by a lie, and uniteth with the City of London, and bringeth on again the old ejefted Members of the Parliament, and fo bringeth in the King. Sir WtUtam Morrice (his Kinfman) and Mr. Clarges were his great Advifirs : The Earl of M««c/>e/?er, Mv.Calamy, and other Presbyterians, encouraged and perfwaded him to bring in the King. At firit he Joyned with the Rump againft the Citizens, and puU'd down th-j City Gates to mailer them j but at lalt Sir Thomas Allen then Lord Mayor (by the perfwafion of Dr. Jaccmb, and fbme other Presbyterian Minifters and Citizens, as he hath oft told me himfelf ) invited A/o«/^ into the City, and drew him to agree and joyn with them againit the Rump fas they then called the Relids of the Parliament). And this in truth was the k& that turned the Scales and brought in the King : whether the lame men expected to be uled as they have iince bean themfelves, I know not : If they did, their Self denial was very great, who were content to be (ilenced and laid in Gaols, lb they might but bring in the King. After this the old Excluded Members of the Parliament meet with Monk ; He calleth them to lit, and that the King might come in both by him and by them. He agreeth with them to fit but a few days, and then diffolve themfelves and call another Parliament. They conlent- ed, and prepared for the King's Reftoration, and appointed a Council of State, and Diflblved themlelves. Another Parliament is chofen, which calleth in the King , the Council of Sr.ite having made further preparations for it. (For when the Que- fti.^n was. Whether they Ihould call in the King upon Treaty and Covenantj) ( wl.ich fome thought beft for him and the Nation) the Council refolved abfolute- iy to fruil him,Mr. A. cfpecially perfwading them lb to do). And when the King catne in, Col. Birch and Mr. Trin were appointed to Disband the Army, the feveral Regiments receiving their Pay in feveral places,and none of them daring to dilbbey : No not Monk\ own Regiments who brought in the King. Thus did God do a more wonderful Work in the Dilfolving of this Army, than any of their greateft Vidories was, which fet them up. That an Army that had conquered three llich Kingdoms, and brought fo many Armies to deftrudion, cut off the King , puU'd down the Parliament, and fet up and puUd down others at their pleafure, that had conquered fo many Cities and Caftles ; that were lb united by Principles and Intereft and Guilt, and lb deeply engaged, as much as their E- ftates, and Honour, and Lives came to, to have If ood it out to the very utmoft ; that had profeffed {q much of their Wifdom and Religioufnefs ; and had declared fuch high Refolutions againft Monarchy : I fay, thatfuch an Army Ihould have ons Commander among themfelves, whom they accounted not Religious, chat fhould march againft them without Refiftance, and that they Ihould all Hand ftill, and let him come on, and reflore the Parliament, and bring in the King, and disband themfelves, and all this without one bloody Nofe 1 Let any Man that hath the ule of his Underftanding, judge whether this were net enough to prove that there is a God that governeth the World, and difpofeth of the Powers of the World ac- cording to his Will ! And let all Men behold this Pillar of Salt, and Handing Mo- nument of Divine Revenge, and take heed of over-valuing Human Strength, and of ever being puffed up by Vidlories and Succefs, or of being infatuated by Spiri- tual Pdde and Fadion I And let all Men take warning how they, trample upon Government, rebel againft it, or vilifie the Minifters and Ordinances of Chrift , and proudly defpife the Warnings of their Brethren. § 152. And at the fame time while Mofik was marching againft them into Eng- land, the Ibber godly Officers oi Ireland were impatient of the Anabaptifts Tyran- ny : So that Col. John Bridges (the Patron of Kidderm'm(ter) with his Lieutenant Thomffon, and Ibme few more Officers, relblved upon a defperate furprizal of Dub- lin Caftle, (which the Anabaptifts poffeft, with moft of the ftrong Holds ) ; and lo happily Succeeded, that without any blood Ihed they got the Caftle: And that being won, the reft of the Garrifons of all the whole Kingdom yielded without any lofi of Blood; and unlefs one or two, without fo much as any appearance of a Siege. Thus did God make his wonders to concur in time and manner ;andlhew- ed the World the inftability of thole States which are built upon an Army. He P that io6 The LI F E of the L i b. I. that will fee more of this Surprize of £»«W;« Caftle, may read it as printed by Golonel Bridges in a fliort Narrative. Had it not been for that Adion^ it is pro- bable that Ireland would have been the Refuge and Randezvouz for the disbanded or fugitive Army, and that there they would not only have maintained the War, but have irabodied againft England, and come over .ngain, with Relolutions height- ned by their Warnings. The Reward that Col, Bridges had for this Service was the peaceful Teftimony of his Confcienee, and a narrow efcape from being utterly ruined ; being fued as one that after EdgbtU Fight had taken the King's Goods, in an Aftion of Fouricore Thoufand pound : But all was proved falfe, and he being cleared by the Court, did quickly after die of a Fever at Chrfier, and go to a more peaceable and defirable World. §if3. For my own Adions and Condition all this time, I have partly fhewed them in the Second Part : How I was called up to London, and what 1 did there, and with how little Succefs 1 there continued my Pacificatory Endeavours. When I had lived there a few Weeks, I fell into another fit of Bleeding, which though it was nothing Co great as formerly, yet after my former depauperation by that means and great debility, did weaken me much. Being reftored by the mercy of God, and the help of Dr. Bates, ( ^"d the mofs of a dead man's skull which 1 had from Di-, Michhthwair) I went to Mv.Thomas Foley s Houfe, where I lived (in An- Jlin-Fryars) about a year; and thence to T)r.Michletb-ivait's Houfe in Little Brtttatn^ where I tabled about another year : and thence to Moorfidds, and thenceto.^^?ew; from which being at the prefent driven by the Plague, I wait for the further dilpofal of my Almighty and mofl: Gracious Lord. § 1^4. And now I fliall annex for the Reader's fatisfacflion, an Account of my Books and Writings, on what occafion they were written, and what I now judge of them on a review, and after (o much foppofition. § If J. The Books which I have written (andthofe that are written againft me) are io numerous, that 1 confels if they plead not to the Reader for themlelves, I cannot eafily excule my putting the World to lb much trouble. And I was once almoll fain out with my feif, when I faw (uch abundance of Sermon Bocks print- ed in Olivers days, becaufe I concurred witii them in over-loading the World. But God was plcaled to keep tne from Repentance by their Succefs ; and fince then I am more Impenitent herein than ever, as feeing more of the realbn of God's difpo- lal than I faw before. For fince fo many hundred Minifters are filenced, and an AA is now paft in the Parliament to forbid us coming within five miles of any Ci- ty, Corporation, or Burgefs Town ; atrd a former Ad: forbiddeth us fpeaking to above four that are not of a Family ; and knowing what Perlbns are Minifters in many of our places, I now blefs God that his poor Servants have the private help of Books, which are the beft Teachers, under God, that many thoufand Per. fons have. And whereas there are about Fifty Books (' as I remember ) that in whole or in part are written againft me, or fome PafTages in mine ; I blefs the Lord that they have not difturbed or difcompofcd my mind, nor any more hindered me from my greater duty, by Replies ; nor been altogether unprofitable to me : And that none of them, nor all of them, any whit dilabled me from the Service of God by di- minilhing my Eftimation with thole that I have opportunity to lerve, or with the common Readers that may profit by my Labours, but only with the Members of the leveral Faftions. Some are written againft me by Quakers, parries Nayler, and many others : Some by Cletmnt Writer, and other Seekers and Infidels : Some by Vapfts ; fome by Ana- baptifis (Mr. Tonibes, Fijher, and many others ) : Ibme by Reverend Brethren that underftoodnotall Pointsof Dodrine as I did ( which-ever of us was in the right ) (as Mr, Rutherford, Mr. Blake, Mr. Burgef, Dr. Kendall,&CC. ) fome by Antinomam, and fome by Separatifis ; and fome by good Men that were but half poffeft with their Opinions, (as Mr. Eires, Mr. Crandon, Mr. learner, &cc.) : Ibme by proud im- patient Men ; and fome by the Prelatical Party : Ibme by young Men that wanted Preferment, and thought that this was the way to get it ; and Ibme by obfcure Men thatdafired to be taken notice of; and Ibme by Flatterers, that defired to pleale others on whom they did depend ; and Ibme by malicious blood-thirfty Ca- lumniators I Ibme by fadiious Temporizers, (as Stubhs, Rogers, Needham, &c.) ; and abundance by erroneous impatient Men, that could not endure to be contradiiftedin their Miftake?,To many of thele I have returned Anfwers j and that fome others re- main unanlwered, is through the reftraint of the Preft. § 1^6. Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 107 § 1^6. The firrt Book thit ever I publiihed is a fmall one, called, Afhorifms of JujHfication and the Coiienants, Sec. I had tirft begun my Book, called The Saint's Rpft ,• and coming in it toanfwer the Quettion , How in Matth. 25-. the reward is adjudged to men on the account of their good works ? The chief Propofitions of that Book did (iiddenly offer themfglves to me, in order to that Refolution : But I was prepared with much difputing againll Antinomianifm in the Army. At Sir Thom.is Roas's Houfe, in my weaknels, I wrote moft of that Book, and finifhed it wlien I came to Kidckrminfter. I diretfted it to Mr. Vines and Mr. Burgef, out of my highefteem of them,though my perfonal acquaintance with them was butfmall. Mr. F/w« wrote to me applaudingly of ir. Mr. iirtr^g-e/s" thought his Name engaged him to write againd it. Two Faults I now find in the Book: i. It is defeftive, and hath fome Propofi- tions that need Correction, being not cauteloudy enough expreffed. 2. I medled too forwardly with Dr. Otven, and one or two more that had written fome Pafla- ges too near to AntinomianKfn. For I was young,and a ftranger to mens tempers, and thought others could have born a Confutation as eafily as I could do my lelf ? and I thought that I was bound to do my beft publickly, to fave the World from the hurt of publifhed Errours ; not underftanding how it would provoke men more paffionately to infifl on what they once have faid. But I have now learned to con- tradid Errours, and not to meddle with the Perfons that maintain them. But in- deed I was then too raw to be a Writer. This Book was over-much valued by fome, and over-much blamed by others, both contrary to my own efteem of it : It colt me more than any other that I have written ; not only by mens offence, but efpecially by putting me upon long and tedious Writings. Some that publickly wrote againll it, I publickly anfwered.^ And becaufeof the general noife about it, I defiredthofe that would have me of their mind, ro lend me their Jnimadverjions • which proved fo many, that took me up too much of my time to anfwer them. But it was a great help to my Undcr- ftanding : For the Animadverters were of feveral minds; and what one approved another confuted , being further from each other than any of them from me. The fir ft that I craved Animadverfionsfrom was Mr. Burgef, and with much ado extorted only two or three Letters againft Juftification by Works (as he called it ) : which with my Anfwers were afterward publilhed; when he had proceeded to print againft me what he would not give me in writing. The next (and full) Animadverfions which I received, were from Mr. John Warren, an honeft, acute, ingenious man j to whom I anfwered in freer Expreffi- ons than to others, becaule he was my Junior and familiar Friend ; (being a School- Boy at Brtdgenortb when I was Preacher there, and his Father being my Neigh- bour.) Next his I had Animadverfions from Dr. John Walla , very judicious and mode- rate, to which I began to write a Reply, but broke it off in the middle becaufe he little differed from me. The next I had was from Mr. Chriflopher Cartwright of York, (who defended the King againft the Mir([\xt\koi Worcefler ) : he was a man of good reading as to our later Divines, and was very well verft in the Common Road, ( very like Mv. Bur- gefi) ; a very good Hebrician, and a very honeft worthy Perfon. His Animadver- fions were molt againft my diftindlion of Righteouihefi into Legal and Evangeli- cal, according to the two Covenants. His Anfwer was full of Citations out of Amefias, Whittakcr, Davenant, &c. I wrote him a full Reply ; and he wrote me a Rejoynder j to which my time not allowing me to write a full Confutation, I took up all the Points of Difference between him and me, and handled them briefly, confirming my Reafons, for the eafe of the Reader and my felf *. '^This is The next Animadverter was Mv. George Lawfon, the ableft Man of them all, ]|j]^^^^_P"°" orofalmoif any I know in England; efpecially by the Advantage of his Age and very hard Studies, and methodical Head, but above all, by his great skill in Politicks, wherein he is moft exadr, and which contributeth not a little to the underffanding of Divinity.Though he was himfelf near the.^rmw;et I mufl be lb grateful as to confels that my Undcrftanding hath made a better Improvement ( for the fudden llnfible increale of my Know- ledge ) of Grotiui ik '^atisfacttme Chrifti, and of Mr. Lawfons Manufcripts, than of any thing elle that ever I read ; and they convinced me how unfit we are to write about Chriii's Gc'uej-wwewf, duA Laws, a.nA Judgment, &-c. while we underftand nor the true Nature of Govirnmmt, Laws and Judgment in the general ; and that he that is ignorant of Tolttkks and of the Law of Nature, will be ignorant and er- roneous in Divinity and the facred Scriptures. § If 7. 2. The Second Book which I wrote ( and the firft which I began ) was that called. The Sams fvtrlaftivg R(fi : VVhilfl 1 was in Health I had not theleaft thought of writing Books j or of ferving God in any more publick way than Preaching : But when I was weakened with p.reat bleeding, and Iclt lulitaryin my Chamber at Sir John Cook's in Derhyfljire, without any Acquaintance, but my Ser- vant, about me, and was lentenced to Death by thePhyficians, I began to contem- plate more lerioufly on the Evcrlafting Reft which I apprehended my lelf to be jult on the Borders of. And that my Thoughts might not too much Icatterin my Meditation, I began to write Ibmethingon that Subjeft, intending but the Quan- tity of a Sermon or two ( which is the caufe that the Beginning is in brevity and Style difpioportionable to the reft ) ; but being continued long in Weaknels, where I had no Books nor no better Employment, I followed it on till it was en- larged to the bulk in which it is publilhed : The firft Three Weeks I fpent in it was at Mr. No-wel's Houle at Ktrkby-MaHory in Leiccfierpire ; a quarter of a Year more, at the Sealbns which fo great Weaknefs would allow, I bellowed on it at Sir Tho Reus's Houfe at Rous-LenchmWorcefierplre ; and I finilhed it Ihortly after at Kid- thrminfier : The firfi andlafi Parts were firft done, being all that I intended for my own life 5 and the /fc Wand ?/>//■«/ Parts came afterwards in befides my firft In- tention. This Book it pleafed God fo far to blefs to the Profit of many, that it encou- raged mc to be guilty of all thole Scripts which after followed. The Marginal Ci- tations I put in after I came home to my Books j but almoft all the Book it lelf was written when I had no Book but a Bible and a Concordance : And I found that the Tranlcript cf the Heart hath the greateft force on the Hearts of others : For the Good that I have heard that Multitudes have received by thatWriting,and the Be- nefit which 1 h.ive again received by their Prayers, I here humbly return my Thanks to him that compelled me to write it, § T5'9. 5. The Third Book which I publilhed was that which is entituled. Plain Scripture Proof for Infants Church- Memkrjhip ami Baftifm: being the Arguments ufed in P A R. T I. Reverend Afr. Richard Baxter. lo^ in the Difpute with Mr. Tomhes, and an Anfwer to a Sermon of his aiterward preached, O'c. This Book God bleffed with unexpefted Succefs to flop abundance from turning Anabaptifts, and reclaming many both in City and Country, ( and fome of the Officers of the lrt(h and EngUjh Forces ) and it gave a confiderable Check to their Proceedings. Concerning it I fliall only tell the Reader, i. That there are towards the latter part of it, many enigmatical Reflexions upon the Anabaptifts for their horrid Scan- dals, which the Reader that lived not in thofe times will hardly iinderf}and : But the cutting off the King, and rebelling againft him and the Parliament, and the Invading Scotland, and the approving of thefe, C with the Ranters and other Seds that (prang out of them ) were the Crimes there intended j which were not then to be more plainly fpoken of, when their Strength and Fury was fo high, 2. Note, that after the writing of that Book, I wrote a Poftfcript againft that Doftrine of Dr. Burges and Mr. Tbo. Bedford, which I fuppofed to go on the other Extrcam ; and therein I anfwered part of a Treatife of Dr. Sam. Ward's which Mr. Bedford pubiilhed ; and it proved to be Mr. Thomas Gataker whom I defended who is Dr. IVard'i Cenfor ; But I knew it not till Mr. Gataker after told me. But after thefe Writings 1 was greatly in c'oubt [ whether it be not certain that allthe Infants of true Believers are juftified and faved if they dye before a<3ual Sin! My Reafon was, becaufe, it is the lame juftifying laving Covenant of Grace which their Parents and they are in : And as real Faith and Refmtance is that Con- dition on the Parents part which giveth them their right to adual Remiflion and Adoption : So to be the Children ofjuch, is all the Condition which is required in Infants in order to the fame Benefits: And without aflerting this the Advantage of the Anabaptifts is greater than every one doth imagine. But I never thought / with Dr. fVard that all Bap t fed Children had this Benefit, and Qualitati've Sandrifica- tion alio ; nor with Dr. Burgef and Mr. Bedford, that all converted it Age, had inherent Icminal Grace in Baptifm certainly given them ; nor with Bifhop Dave- nant that all juftly baptiled had relative Grace of Juftification and Adoption : But only that all the Infants of true Belifvcrs who have right to the Covenant and Bap- tifm in foro Cteh as well as in foro Ecclefia, have alfo thereby Right to the Pardon of Original Sin, and to Adoption, and to Heiven ; which Right is by Baptilm to be fealed and delivered to them. This I wrote of to Mr. Gataker who returned me a kind and candid Anfwer, but fuch as did not remove my Scruple j and this oc- calioned him to print Bifhop Davenants Difputations with his Anlwer. My Opi- nion ( which I moft incline to ) is the fame which the Synod of Dort exprefleth and that which I conjeAure Dr. Davenant meant, or I am fure came next to. Here note alio, that Mr. Tombes follicited me yet after all this, to write hini down my Proofs of Infants Church- memberlhip out of the circumcifed Church which I did at large, as from the Creation downward, as far as Proof could be expeded in Proportion to the other Hiftories of thole Times. Inftead of lending me an Anlwer to my Papers, he printed lome of them with aninliifficient Anfwer in his laft Book : Thele Papers with a Reply to him I have fince Printed. § 15:9. 4. The Fourth Book which I publiftied is a fmall one, called, 7he right Method for Peace of Confcience and fpiritual Comfort, in thirty two DireBions. The Oc- cafion of it was this : Mrs. Bridgis, the Wife of Col. John Bndgis, being one of my Flock, was often weeping out her Doubts to me, about her long and great Uncer- tainty of her true Sandification and Salvation. I told her that a few hafty Words were not D;re^»o» enough for the fatisfadory refolving of fo great a Cale; and therefore I would write her down a few of thole necelTary Diredions which ihe Ihould read and ftudy, and get well imprinted on her Mind. As loon as I had begun I found i. that it would not be well done in the Brevity which I expeded, 2. And that when it was done it would be as uleful to many others of my Flock as to her ; and therefore I beftowed more time on it, and made it larger and fit for common ule. This Book pleafed Dr. Hammond much, and many Rational Perlbns, and fome of thofe for whom it was written : But the Women and weaker fort I found could not fo well improve clear Reaibn, as they can a few comfortable, warm and pret- ty Sentences j it is Style and not Reafon which doth moft with them : And iome of the Divines were angry with it, for a PalTage or two about Perlcverance ; be- caule I had laid that many Men are certain of their prelent Sandification, which are not certain of their Perfeverance and Salvation j meaning all the Godly that are 1 10 The LI F E of the L i b. L are affured of their Sanaification, and yet do not hold the certainty of Perleve- rance. But a great Storm of Jealoufie and Cenfure was by this and Ibme (uch Words raifed againft me, by many good Men, who lay more on their Opinions and Party than they ought.Therefore^whereas feme would have had me to retract it, and others to leave it out of the next Impreffion, I did the latter, but inftead ot it I publifhed not long after § 1 60. y. My Book called [ R. B's. Judgment ahcut the Verfcverance of Believers ] In which I iliewed them the Variety of Opinions about Perfeverance, and thac Juguftme and Frojpr themfelves did not hold the certain Perfeverance of all that are truly fandified, though they held the Perfeverance of all the Elceft j but held that there are more SantftHied than arc Eled, and that Perfeverance is affixed to the Eled as fuch, and not to the Sandifted as luch. ( which Bilhop Ujher averred to Dr- Kendal h&ioxQ my Face to be moft certainly Jufim's Judgment, though both he and I did incline to another ). From hence, and many other Arguments I inferred, that the Iharp Genfures of Men againft their Brethren, for not holding a Point which Aufiin himfelf was againft, and no one Author can be proved to hold from the Apoftles Days till long after Aufiin, doth argue lefs Judgment and Cha- rity than many of the Cenfurers feem to have. I never heard ot any Cenfure againft thefe PaperS;, though the few Lines which occafioned them had fo much. S 161. 6. Before this I had publifhed two Aflize Sermons, entiruled, TrmChri- ftiantty, one of Chrift's Dominion, and the other of his Sovereignty over all Men as Redeemer : The firft was preached before Judge Atkins, Sir Tho. Rous being high Sheriff : The fecond before Serjeant Glyn, who defiring me to print it, I thought meet to print the former with it. § 162. 7. Alfo I publifhed my Apology againft divers that had printed Books againft many things which I had written. It confifteth of five parts: i. An An- fwerto Mr. Blake. 2. An Anfwer to Dr. XeWa//. 5. A Confutation of Ltuliomi- us Colvinus. 4. An Anfwer to Mr. Crandon. y. An Anfwer to Mr. Epes. The firft, Mr. Blake, a reverend worthy Man of my acquaintance, in a Trea- tife of the Covenants had written much, I thought miftakingly againft me ; and though I replyed without any fharpnefs, it was very difpleafing to 1 lim. Dr. iCeWrf/i was a little quickSpirited Man, of great Olfentation and a Confide- rable Orator and Scholar : He was driven on farther by others than his own Incli- nation would have led him : He thought to get an Advantage lor his Reputation, by a Triumph over John Goodwin and me j for thofe that let him on work woulci needs have him conjoin as both together, to intimate that I was an Arminian ; while I was replying to his firft AfTault, he wrote a fecond ; and when 1 had be- gun a Reply to that, meeting me at London, he w.as fb earneft to take up the Con* troverly, engaging Mr. Vines to perfuade me that Bifhop Ujher might determine it, and I was lb willing to be eafed of luch work, and to end any thing which might be made a Temptation againft Charity, that I quickly yielded to Bifhop l^Jjfn Aibitriment, who owned my Judgment about Univerfal Redemption, Per- feverance, 6^c. but defircd us to write againft each other no more ,- and lb my Se- cond Reply was fuppreft. As for Ltidiot/iicus Cohinm, it is Ludovicus Molmaus a Dodor of Phyfick, and Son to ?et. Moltnaus, and publick ProfelTor of Hiftory in Oxford: He wrote a fmall Latin Tradate againft his own Brother Cyrus Molinaus, to prove that Jufti- fication is before Faith : I thought I might be bold to confute him who chofe the Truth and his own Brother to oppofe. Another fmall Aftault the liime Author made againft me (inftead of a Reply ) for approving o\' Camera and Amtraldus's way about univerfal Redemption and Grace :To which I anlwcred in the Preface to therEook ; But thefe things were (o fir from alienating die Efteem and Affedinn of the Dodor, that he is now at this Day one of thole Friends who are injurious to the Honour of their own Underftandings by overvaluing me, and would tain havcfpent his time in tranllacing fome of my Books into the trench Ton^wQ. Mr. Crandon was a Man that had run from Ariiiinianifin into the Excream of half Antinomianifm, ar.d having an e.Hceliive Ze.il for his Opinions (which leem to be honoured by the extolling of Free-grace ) and withal being an utter ftran- ger to me, he got a deep conceit that 1 was a P.ipift , and in that peifnafion wrote a large Book againft my Aphonfris , which moved laughter in many, and pity in others, and troubled his Friends, as having difaclvantaged their Caul's. Asfbonasthe Book came abroad, tl-,e news of the Author's death came with it, V'ho died a t'ortniglu afccr its birth, i had beforehand got all lave the beginning and Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxtere in and end, out of the Prefs, and wrote fo much of an Anfwer as I thought it wor- thy, before the publication of it. Mr. Ejres was a Preacher in Salisbury of Mr. Crandon's Opinion ; who having preached there for Juftification before Faith , Cthat is, the Jufiification of Eleft Infidels ) was publickly confuted by Mr. Warren, and Mr. IVoodhridge ( a very ju- dicious Miniller of Newbury J who had lived in Neiv England ) : Mr. Woodbridge printed his Sermon, which very perfpicuoufly opened the Doftrine of Juftification after the method that I had done. Mv. Eyres being offended with me as a Partner, gave me Ibme part of his oppofition, to whom I returned an Anfwer in the end : And a few words to Mr. Caryl who licenfed and approved Mr. Crandon's Book, (for the Antinomians were commonly Independants). No one of all the Parties re- plied to this Book, fave only Mr. Blake to feme part of that which touched him. § i6;. 8. Becaufe my Afhorifms had fb provok'd fo many, and the noi(e was ve- ry loud againft them, to make the PalTages plainer which offended them ( about Juftification, Sanftification, Merit, Punilhment, &c.) I wrote a Book , called The Confeffion of my Faith about thole matters : which I gave the World to lave any more of them from mifunderftanding my Afhortfms, and declared my Sufpenfion of my AfhorijmsuW I Ihould reprint them, intending only to correct two or three Paflages, and elucidate the reft : But afterward I greatly affeifted to bring them into a fmall Syftem of Divinity, which having never yet had time to write, I have omitted the reprinting of them to this day j (But fome have liirreptkioufly printed them againft my will). In my Coxifefflon I opened the whole Doftrine of Antinomianifin which I oppo- led,and I brought the Teftinionies of abundance of our Divines, who give as much to other Ads befides Faith, in Juftification as I. And I opened the weaknefs of Dr. Owen's Reafonings for Juftification before Faith, in his former Anfwer to me. To which he wrote an Anfwer, annexing it to his Confutation of Biddle and the Cracovian Catechijm ( to intimate that I belonged to that Party ) that I thought it unfit to make any Reply to it, not only becaufe I had no vacancy from better work, but becaufe the quality of it wasfuch as would unavoidably draw me, if I confuted it, to Ipeak lb much and fo offenfively to the Perfon , as well as the Do- ftrine, that it would have been a Temptation to the further weakening of his Cha- rity, and increafing his defire of Revenge : And I thought it my duty ( when the Readers good required me not to write ) to forbear replying, and to Ist him have the laft word, becaufe I had begun with him. And I perceived that the com- mon diftaft of Men againft him and his Book made my Reply the more unnecef fary. But for all the Writings and Wrath of Men which were provoked againft me, I muft here record my Thanks to God for the Succels of my Controverlal Wri- tings againft the Antinomians : when I was in the Army it was the predominant Infection : The Books of Dr. Criff), Paul Hobjon, Saltmarflj, Cradock, and abundance fuch like were the Writings molt applauded; and he was thought no Spiritual Chriftiao, but a Legalift that favoured not of Antinomianifm, which was lugared with the Title of Free-grace ; and others were thought to preach the Law , and not to preach Chrift. And I confefs, the darknels of many Preachers in the Myfteries of the Goljjel, and our common negleft of ftudying and preaching Grace, and Gratitude, and Love, did give occafion to the prevalency of this Seft, which God no doubt permitted for our good, to review our apprehenfion of thofe Evangeli- cal Graces and Duties which we barely acknowledged, but in our praftics almoft over-lookt. But this Seft that then lb much prevailed, was fo fuddenly almoft ex- tind, that now they little appear, and make no noife among us at all, nor have done thele many years ! In which effeft thofe ungrateful Controverfal Writings of tny own have had (6 much hand, as obligeth me to very much Thankfiilnefs to God. § 164. About that time having been at London, and preached fome Sermons there, one fcrap of a Sermon preached in Wejiminfier-Abbey to many Members of Parliament, was taken by fome one and printed; which is nothing but the naming of a few Diredions whicli I then gave the Parliament Men for Church Reforma- tion and Peace, according to the ftate of thofe Times which it was preached in. (In Oliver Cromwell's time.) § 16'). 10. And when I was returned home I was foUicited by Letters to print many of the Sermons which I had preached in London ; and in fome of them I gratified their defires : One Sermon which I publilhed was againft Mem making light 112 TheLlFEofthe Lib. I, l(g;bt cfChhfii upon Matth. 22. J. This Sermon was preached at Lawrence Jury , v/here Mr. Vines wssPailor : where though I fent the day before to fecure room for the Lord Broghdl, sno che Earl of Si'jf'olk, with whom I was to go in the Coschj vet when I came, the. Crowd hadfo little refpeft of Perfons, that they were fain to go home again., becaufe they could not come within hearing, and the old Earl oifVarwick f who flood in the Abbey j brought me home again: And Mr.F;wej himfelf was fain to get up into the Pulpit, and fit behind me, and I to ftand be- tween his Legs : which I mention that the Reader may underftand that Verfe in my Poem concerning him which is printed, where I fay, That At once one Pulpit held us hath. § i66. II. Another of thofe Sermons which I publilhed was, A Sermonof Judg- ment., Vv^hich I enlarged into a fmall Treatife. This was preached at ?auh at the defire of Sir Cbrtfiopher Pack, then Lord Mayor, to the greateft Auditory that I ever iaw. §167. 12. Another Sermon which I preached at Martin's Church, I printed with enlargement, called, Catholtck Unity ; Ihewing the great neceffity of Unity in real Holinels : It is fitted to the prophane and ignorant People, who are ftill cry- ing out againft Errours and Divifions about leffer matters, while they themfelves do pradically and damnably err in the Foundation , and divide themfelves from God, from Chrill:, from the Spirit, and from all the living Members of Chrift : And it Iheweth how gready Ungodlinels tendeth to Divifions, and Godlineft to the truelt Unity and Peace. § 168. 13. About that time I had preached a Sermon at Worce(ler, which ( though rude and not poliihed j I thought meet to print, under the Title of The true Catbo- lickj and The Catholtck Church defiribed : It is for Catholicifm againit all SeBs i to Ihevi' the Sin and Folly and Mifchief of all Se(fts that would appropriate the Church to themfelves, and trouble the World with the Qaeftion, Which of all thefe Par- ties is the Church .-^ as if they knew not that the Catholick Church is that whole which containeth all the Parts, though fome more pure, and fbme lefs : efpedally it is fuitedagainil theRomifhCIaim, which damneth all Chriftians bcfides them- felves; and itdete<5teth and confuteth dividing Principles: For I apprehended it a Matter of great Neceffity to imprint true Catholicilin on the Minds of Chriitians; it being a moft lamentable thing to obferve how few Chriftians in the World there be, that fall not into one Sed or other, and wrong not the common Intereft of Chriftianity, for the promoting of the Intereft of their Sed : And how lamenta- bly Love is thereby deftroyed, fb that moft men think not that they are bound to love thole, as the Members of Chrift, which are againft their Party, and the Lea- ders of moft Seds do not ftick to perfecute thofe that differ from them, and think the Blood Tof thofe who hinder their Opinions, and Parties, to be an acceptable Sa- crifice to God. And if they can but get to be of a Sed which they think the ho- liefi (as the Anabaptifts and Separatills), or which is the largefi, ( as the Greeks and Papifts) they think then that they are fixfficiently warranted, to deny others to be God's Church, or at leaft to deny them Chriftian Love and Communion. To this fmall Book I annexed a Pofcript againft a ridiculous Pamphlet of one Malpas, an old fcandalous neighbour Minifter, who was permitted to ftay in by the Parliament, ( fo far were they from being over-ftrid in their Reformation of the Clergy) and now is a confiderable Man among them. § 169. 14. When we fet on foot our Affociation in Worcefierjlnre, I was defired to print our Agreement , with an Explication of the feveral Articles : which I did in a fmall Book, called , ChrtHian Concord : In which I gave the reafons why the Epifcopal , Presbyterians , and Indspendants might and fhould unite on fuch Terms, without any change of any of their Principles: But I confefs that the new Epifcopal Party, that follow Grotms too far, and deny the very being of all the Minilkrs and Churches that have not Diocefan Bilhops, arc not capable of Union with the reft upon fuch Terms : And hereby I gave notice to the Gentry and others of the Royalids in England, of the great danger they were in of chang. ing their Eccleficiflical Caufe, by following new Leaders that were lor Grot:anifm. But this Admonition did greatl.y offend the Guilty, who now began to get the Reins ; though the old Epiicnpal Proteftants confeiled it to be all true. There is nothing bringerh greater hatred and fufferings on a Man , than to foreknow the mifchief tbdt Men in power are doing, and intend , and to warn the World of it : For while they are refolutely going on Vi/ith it, they will proclain him a Slanderer that P A R. T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 1^ that rcvealeth it, and ufe him accordingly, and never be ailiamed when they have done it, and thereby declared all which he foretold to be true. §170. if.Having in the Po/;f/cn/>f of my 7r«eC^*^9/;ci:, given a fliort touch a- gainft a bitter Book of Mr. Thomas Pierce's, againft the Puritans and me, it plealcd him to write another Volume againft Mr. Hickman and me, juft like the Man • full of malignant bitternels againl^ Godly men that were not of his Opinion / and breathing out blood-thirity malice, in a very Rhetorical fluent ftyle. Abundance of Lies alfo are in it againik the old Puritans, as well as againll me; and in particu- lar in charging Racket's Villany upon Cartwnght as a Confederate : which I inftance in, becaufe I have (out of old Mr. JjJ)S Library j a Manufcript o^ Mr. Carfwright'i J containing his full Vindication againlt that Calumny, which fome would fain have fattened on him in his time. But Mr. Tterces principal bufinefs was to defend Grotiits : In anfwer to which I wrote a little Treatife, called. The Grotian Religion M/covered , at the Invitation of A^r. Thomas Pierce: In which I cited his own words, efpecially out of his Dif cuffio Apologetici Riwtiani, wherein he openeth his Terms of Reconciliation with Kowe, -VIZ.. That it be acknowledged the Millrefs Church, and the Pope have his Supream Government, but not Arbitrary, but only according to the Canons ; To which end he defendeth the Council of 7re«r it (elt, PopeP?»f's Oath, and all the Councils, which is no other than the French Ibrt of Popery : I had not then heard of the Book written in France, called Grotim Papizans, nor di Sarravins'sEplHes, hi which he witnefleth it from his own mouth. But the very words which I cited con- tain an open Profeffion of Popery. This Book the Printer abuled, printing every Sedion fo diftant, to fill up Paper, as if they had been feveral Chapters. And in a Preface before it, I vindicated the Synod oi Dort (where the Divines of England were chief Members ) from the abufive virulent Accufations of one that called himlelf Tilenm junior. Hereupon Tterce wrote a much more railing ma- licious Volume than the former, ( theliVelieft Exprels of Satan's Image, malignity, bloody malice, and falihood, covered in handfome railing Rhetorick, ( that ever I have feen from any that called himfelf a Proteftant). And the Preface was anfwer- ed juft in the fame manner by one that ftiled himfelf Fbilo-Tiknus. Three fuch Men as this Tilenus junior, Pierce and Gunning, I have not heard of befides in Eng- land 1 Of the Jefuites Opinion in Dodrinals, and of the old Dominican Complexi- on ; the ableft Men that their Party hath in all the Land ; of great diligence in ftu- dy and reading ; of excellent Oratory ( efpecially Tilentts junior and Fierce ) ; of temperate Lives ; but all their Parts lb (harpened with a furious perlecuting Zeal, againft thofe that diflike Arminianifm, high Prelacy, or full Conformity, that they are like the Briars and Thorns which are not to be handled, but by a fenced hand, and breathe out Tercatnings againft God's Servants better than themfelves ; and leem unfatisfied with blood and ruines, and ftill cry, Give, Give ; bidding as lowd defiance to Chri(iian Charity, as ever Arrim or any Heretick did to Faith. This Book of mine of the Grotian Religion greatly offended many others : but none of them could fpeak any Sence againft it, the Citations for Matter of Fa6t being unanfwerable. And it was only the Matter of Fad which I undertook, vizt To prove that Grotias profeft himfelf a moderate Papift : But for his fault in fo do- ing, I litde medled with it. § 171. 16. Mr. Blake having replyed to Ibme things in my Apology, efpecially about Right to Sacraments, or the juft Subjed of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, I wrote rive Difputations on thoie Points, proving that it is not the reality of a Dogmatical ( or Juftifying J Faith, nor yet the Profeffion of bare Afjent ( called i Dogmatical Faith by many ) ; but only the Profeffion of a Saving Faith, which is the Condition of Mens title to Church-Communion Coram Ecclefia : and that Hy- pocrites are but Analogically or Equivocally called Chrijlians, and Believers , and Saints, 5cc. with much more to decide the moft troublefome Controverfie of that Time, which was about the Neceffary Qualification and Title of Church-Mem- bers and Communicants: Many men have been perplexed about that Point, and that Book. Some think it comcth too near the Independants, and fome that it is too far from them ; and many think it very hard, that \_A Credible Profeffien'j of True Faith and Repentance, fhould be made the ftated Qualification ; becaule they think it incredible that all the Jewiih Members were fuch : But I have fifted this Point moreexadly and diligendy in my thoughts, than almoft any Controverfie whatfiiever: And fain I would have found fome other Qualification to take up with^ ( I. Either the Profeffion of Ibme lower Faith than that which hath the Promife of Salvation ; 2. Or at leaft fuch a Profeffion of Saving Faith, as needeth not to CL be 114. The LIFE of the Lib. I. beTredible at all, &c.) But the Evidence of Truth hath forced me from all other ways, and fufFcrcd me to reft no where but here. That Profejfion fiiould be made neceflary without any refped at all to Credtbiltty, and confequently to the vertty of the Fattb profeJJeJ, is tncredtble, and a Contradidion , and the very word Vrofejfwn fignifieth more. And I was forced to obferve, that thofe that in Charity would belive another Vroftjfion to be the title to Church-Communion, do gready crols their own defign of Charity : And while they would not be bound to beliew men to be what they frofefi, for fear of excluding many whom they cannot belie've , they do leave themfelves and all others as not obliged to love any Church-Member asfuch, with the love which is due to a True Chriftian , but only with fuch a Love as they owe to the Members of the Devil ; and fo deny them the Kernel of Charity, by giving the Shell to a few more than elfi they would do. Whereas upon my deepeft Isarch, I am fatisfted that a Credible Profeffion of true Cbrtfiiantty, is it that denominateth ( the Adult ) vi/ible Chnjttam : And that this muft con- tain AlTent and Confent, even all that is in the Baptifmal Covenant, and no more j and therefore Baptilin is called our Chriftning : But withal, that the Indepen- dants bring in Tyranny and Confufion, whilft they will take no Vrofejfion as Cre- dible , which hath not more to make it credible than God and Charity require : And that indeed every man's word is to be taken as the Credible Vrofefwn of his own mind, unlefi he forfeit the Credit of his word, by grofi ignorance of the Matter profefed, or by a Contrary Profeffion, or by an inconfiftent Life : And therefore a Pro- leflton is credible as fuch, of it (elf, till he that queftioneth it doth diiprove it. Elfe the Rules of Humane Converle will be overthrown : for who knoweth the Heart of another lo well as he himfelf : And God who vj'iWfa-vs or da}nn men, not for other mens Anions but their own, will have mens own choafing or refufing to be their inlet or exclufiott, both as to Saving Mercy, and to a Church ftate : And if they be Hypocrites in a falfe Profeffion, the fin and loli Vvill be their own. But I confefi mens Credibility herein hath very various degrees : But though my fears are never fo great , that a man dilTembleth and is not fincere, yet if I be not able to bring in that Evidence to invalidate his Profeffion, which in foro EccU- fits fhall prove it to be incredible, I ought to receive him as a credible Profeflor , though but by a Humane, and perhaps moft dehtle Belief § 172. i7.After that I publilhed four Difputations of Juftification . clearing up further thoic Points in which fome Reverend Brethren blamed my Judgment ; and anfwering Reverend Mi. BurgeJ^ ('who would needs write ibmev\hac againft me in hisTreatile of Imputed Rtghteoufnef ) ; and alfo anfwering a Treatife of Mr. Warner's of the Office and ObjeB of Jufttfying Faith : The Fallacies that abule ma- ny about thoie Points are there fully opened. If the Reader would have the Sum of my Judgment about Juftification , in brief, he may find it very plainly in a Sermon on that Subjed:, among the Morning Exercifes at St. Giles's in the Fields, preached by my worthy Friend Mr. Gibbons oi Black-Fryars, (in whofe Church I ended my Publick Miniftryj; a Learned Judicious Man, now with God. And it is as fully opened in a Latin Difputation of Monfieur le Blanc s of Sedan ; and Placain in Thef. Salmur. Vol. i. de Juliif. haih much to the fame purpofe. § 17;. 18. Near the lame time I publiflied a Treatife of Converfion, being fome plam Sermons on that Subjeft, which Mr. Baldwin ( an honeft young Mini- fter that .had lived in my Houfe, and learnt my proper Charaders, or Short-hand^ in which I wrote my Sermon Notes J had tranlcribed out of my Notes. And thougti I had no leifure , for this or other Writings, to take much care of the ftile, nor to add any Ornaments, or Citations of Authors, I thought it might bet- ter pafs .ns ir was, than not at all; and that if the Author mift of the Applaufe of the Learned, yet the Book might be profitable to the Ignorant, as it proved through the great Mercy of God. §174. 19. Alfbl publifhed a fhorter Treatife on the fame Subfed, entitulcd, A Call to the Unconverted, 8cc. The Occafion of this wa? my Converfe with Bi- Iliop Uper while I was at London, who much appoving my Method or DircSiotis for ?eace of Confctence, was importunate with me to write DireBions fuited to the vari- ous State; of Chriflians, and alio againft particular Sins ; I reverenced the Man, but dilregarded thefe Perfuafion^, fuppofingi could do nothing but what is done as well or better already : But when he was dead his Words went deeper to my Mind, and I purpofed to obey his; Counfel ; yet fo as that to the firfl jort of Men ( the Ungodly ) I thought vehement Perliiafions nieeter than Diredions only : And (b for lu h I publilhedc his little Book ; which God hath blefled with unexpedcd Suc- cels. — ■ ■ ^— ^^i— ^— — I ■ ■! I ■■■■ ■■■ ■ - - . ^ . . I I II I , P A R T I. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 115 cefs beyond all the reft that I have written ( except The Saints Reft ) : In a litrle more than a Year there were about twenty thouland of them printed by my own Confent, and about ten thoufand fince, befides many thoulands by Itollen ImpreC- fionSjWhich poorjMen'ftole for Lucre fake : Through God's Mercy 1 have had Infor- mation of almoft whole Houfholds converted by this (mall Book, which I let ia light by : And as if all this in England, Scotland and Ireland were not Mercy enough to me, God ( fince I was filenced ) hath lent it over on his Meflage to many beyond the Seas ; for when Mr. Elliot had printed all the Bible in the Indians Language, he next tranflated this my Call to the Unconverted, as he wrote to us here : And though it was here thought prudent to begin with the Pradicc of Pie- ty, becaufe of the envy and diftalte of the times againft me, he had finifhed it before that Advice came to him. And yet God would make fome farther ule of it J for Mr. Stoop the Paftor of the French Church in London, being driven hence by the dilpleafure of Superiors, was pleafed to tranflate it into elegant trench, and print it in a very curious Letter, and I hopfe'it will not be unprofitable theie ; nor in Germany, where it is printed in Dutch. § i7y. 20. After this I thought, according to Bilhop Ufiier\ Method, the next fort that I Ihouid write for, is thole that are under the -work of Conwrfiony becaufe by Half-Converfwns Multitudes prove deceived Hypocrites : Therefore I publifhed a fmall Book enticuled, DireSltons and Perfua/ions to a found Converfionz which though I thought more ape to move than the former, yet through the Fault of the covetous Bookfellers, and becaufe it was held at too high a Price ( which hindred many other of my Writings), there were not paft two or three ImpreP fionsof them fold. $ 176. 2 1. About that time being apprehenfive how great a part of our Work lay in catechifing the A^ed who were Ignorant, as well as Children, and efpeci- ally in ferious Conference with them about the Matters of their Salvation, I thought it belt to draw in all the Minifters of the Country with me, that the Benefit might extend the farther, and that each one might have the lefs Oppofition. Which having procured, at their defire I wrote a Catechifm, and the Articles of our Agreement, and before them an earneft Exhortation to our Ignorant Peopleto fubmit to this way ( for we were afraid left they would not have fubmitted to it) : And this was then publifhed. The Catechifm was alfo a brief ConfefTion of Faith, being the Enlargement of a Confellion which I had before printed in an open Sheet, when we fet up Church Difcipline. § 177. -22, When we fet upon this great Work, it was thought beft to begin with a Day of Falling and Prayer by all the Miniiiers at Worcefter, where they defired me to preach : But Weaknefs and other things hindred me from that Day j but to compenfate that, I enlarged and publifhed the Sermon which I had prepared for them, and entitled the Treatife, Gildas Salvtanus ( becaufe I imitated Gtldas and Salvianus in my Liberty of Speech to the Paftors of the Churches ) or The reformed Pa/i or : 1 have very great Caufe to be thankful to God for the Succeis of that Book, as hoping many thoufand Souls are the better for it, in that it pre- vailed with many Minifters to fet upon that Work which I there exhort them to : Even from beyond the Seas, I have had Letters of Requeft, to dired them how they might bring on that Work according as that Book had convinced them that it was their Duty. If God would but reform the Miniftry, and fet them on their Duties zealoufly and faithfully, the People would certainly be reformed : AH Churches either rife or fall as the Miniftry doth rife or fall,(not in Riches and world- ly Grandure ) but in Knowledge, Zeal and Ability for their Work. But fince Bi- fhops were rcftored this Book is ulelefs, and that Work not medled with. § 178. 23. When the part of the Parliament called the Rump or Common- wealth was fitting, the Anabaptifts, Seekers &c. flew fo high againft Tythes and Miniftry, that it was much feared left they would have prevailed at laft : Where- fore I drew up a Petition for the Miniftry, which is printed under the Name of the fforcefierjhire Petition, which being prefented by Coll. John Bridges and Mr. Thomas Foley, was accepted with Thanks ; and feemed to have a confiderable ten- dency to Ibme good Refblutions. § 179. But the Sedaries greatly raged againft that Petition, and one wrote a vehement Inveftive againft it ; which I anlwered in a Paper called. The Defence of the Worcefter\hre Petition ( which by an Over-fight is maimed by the want of the Anfwer to one of the Accufers Queries ). 1 knew not what kind of Perlon he was that I wrote againft, but it proved to be a Quaker, they being juft now rifing, and Q^ z this H^ The LI f E of the L i b. I. this being the firft of their Books, ( as far as I can remember ) that I had ever leen. § 1 80. 24. Prefently upon this the Quakers beg^n to make a great Stirr among us, and aded the Pares of Men in Raptures, and fpake in the manner of Men in» fpired, and every where railed againft Tythes and Minifters. They lent many Papers at Queries to divers Minifters about us : And to one of the chief of them I wrote an An(wer, and gave them as many more Queftions to anlwer, entituling it, Ibe Quakers Catecbijm : Thefe Pamphlets being but one or two Days Wo. k^ were no great Interruption to my better Labours, and as they were of fniali Worth, (o alfo of fmall Coft. The fame Minifters of our Country that are now filenced, are they that the Quakers moft vehemently oppofed, medling little with the reft. The marvellous concurrence of Inftruments telleth us, that one principal Agent doth aft them all. I have oft asked the Quakers lately, why they chofe the fame Miniiters to revile, whom all the Drunkards and Swearers rail againft ? And why they cryed out in our Affemblies, Come do'wn thou Decetver, thou Hireling, thou Dog ; and now never meddle with the Paitors or Congregati- ons ? And they anfwer, i. That thefe Men fin in the open Light, and need none to difcover them. 2. That the Spirit hath his times both of Severity, and of Lenity. But the Truth is, they knew then they might be bold without any Fear of Suf- fering by it : And now it is time for them to fave their Skins ; they fufTer enough for their own Affemblies. 181 . 25-. The great Advancement of the Popifli Intereft by their fecret agen- cy among the Sectaries, Seekers, Quakers, Behmenifts, &c. did make me thiuk it necelTary to do (bmething diredly againft Popery ; and fo I publi/hed three Difpu- tations againft them, one to prove our Religion fafe, and another to prove their Religion unfafe ; and a third to ftiew that they overthrew the Faith by the ill Reso- lution of their Faith. This Book I entituled. The fafe Religion. § 182. 26. About the fame time I fell into troublefom Acquaintance with one Clement Writer of Wbrcefier, an ancient Man that ( had long feemed a forward Pro- feffor of Religiou&eG, and of a good Converfation, but was now perverted to I know not what : A Seeker he profeft to be, but I eafily perceived that he was cif ther A jugling Papift or an Infidel j but I more fulpefted the latter : He had writ- ten a fcornful Book againft the Miniftry, called Jus Di'vinum Presbyterii, and after two more againft the Scripture and againft me, one called Fides Divina, the other's Title I remember not : HisAffertion tome was, that no Man is bound to believe in Chrift that doth not fee confirming Miracles himfelf with his own Eyes; By the Provocations of this Apoftate, I wrote a Book, called. The unreafanablemji of Infidelity y confifting of four Parts : The firft, of the extrinfick Witnefs of the Spirit by Miracles, &c. to which I annexed a Deputation againft Clement Writer, to prove that the Miracles wrought by Chrift and his Apoftles, oblige us to believe that did not fee them. The Second part was of the intrinfick WitneOof the Spi- rit, to Chrift and Scripture. The Third was of the Sin or Blafphemy againft the Holy Ghoft. And the Fourth was .to reprefs the Arrogancy of realbning againft Divine Revelations, All this was intended but as a Supplement to the Second Part of The Samts Refi, where I had pleaded for the Truth of Scripture: But thisSub- jed I have fmce more fully handled in my Reafons of the Chrifitaa Religion. At that time Mr. Gilbert, a learned Minifter in Shropjliire wrote a fmall concife Tradate in Latin ( as againft a Book of Dr. Owen% though his intimate Friend ) to prove that Chrift's Death was not neceffary abfolutely, but of Divine Free Choice ; and in anfwer to that Book, I wrote a brief Premonition to my Treatile againft Infidelity to decide that Controverfy. ^ 18}. 27. Mr. 7ho. Foley being High Sheriff, defired me to preach before the Judges ; which 1 did on Gal.6. 16. and enlarged k to a Treatife, entituled, The Cru- cifying of the World by the Crofs ofCbrifi ; for Mortification j and put an Epiftle fome- what large before it to provoke rich Men to good Works. § 1S4. 28. Some Men about this time perfuaded me, that if I would write a few fingle Sheets on feveral SubjeAs, though the Style were not very moving, yet it would do more good than larger Volumes, becaufe moft People will buy and read them, who will neither buy nor read the larger. Whereupon I wrote firft. One Sheet againfi the Quakers, containing thole Realons which fhould fatisfia all So- ber Men againft their way. § 18 J. 29.The fecond Sheet I called A Winding Sheet for Pe;iey7,containing a Sum- mary of Moderate and Effe<5tual Reafons againft Popery : ( which fingle fheet no Papift hitherto hath anfwered.) §186. Part I. Reverenc^ Mr. Richard Baxter. 117 § i86. 10. The third Sheet was called [ One Sheet for the Mim(try, again/} the Ma- ' Ugnants of all forts ] j containing thofe Reafons for the prelent Miniftry which fhew the greatnefs of the Sin of thofe that fee againft them. It was intended then a- gainll the Quakers and other Seftarian Enemies to the Miniftry : but is as ufeful for thefe Times, and againft tho(ethat on other pretences hate, and fiience, and fupprefs them; and might tell their Confciences what they do. $ 1 87. jr. The fourth Sheet I called [ A Second Sheet for the Mmifiry ] j being a Defence of their Office as continued, againft the Seekers, who pretend that the Miniftry is ceafed and loft : And it may lerve againft the Papifts that queftion our Call for want of a Succeflioh ; and all their Spawn of Sedaries that are ftill fet- tjng themfelves againft the Miniftry, fand againft the Sacred Scriptures). § 188. g2. Mr. William Montford being chofcn BaylifF of Ktdermtnfier, defired Bie to write him down a few brief Inftrudions for the due Execution of his Office of Magiftracy, that he might fo pafs it as to have Comfort and not Trouble in the Review ; which having done, confidering how many Mayors, and BaylifFs, and Countrey Juftices needed it as well as he^ I printed it in an open Sheet to ftick upon a Wall, Entituled, Direilions for Jvfiices of Peace, efpeciaUy in Corporations j for the Difcharge of their Duties to God ; (luited to thole Times.) § 189. 35. Mr. John Dury having fpent thirty Years in Endeavours to recon- cile the Lutherans and Calvanifts, wa.«. now going over Sea again upon that Work, and defired the Judgment of our Aflc-ciation how ic Ihould be (iiccesfully expedited; which at their defire I drew up more largely in Latin, and more briefly in Englifh: The Englilh Letter he printed, a-i my Letter to Mr. Dury for Pacification. § 190. 34. About that time Mr. Jonathan Hanmer of Devenjhire wrote a Trea- tife for Confirmation, as the mo^t expedient means to reform our Churches, and re- concile all that difagree about the Qualification of Church Members ; I. liked the Defign fo well ( having before written for it in my Treatife of Baptifm ) that be- ing requefted, I put a larp^e Epiftle before it • and after that, when fome Brethren defired me to produce more Scripture Proof for it than he had done, I wrote a (mall Treatife called, [ Confirmation and Refiauration the necejfary means to Reformation and Reconciliation.^ But the times changed before it could be much pradifed. § 191. 3 J. Sergea!,it Shephard, an honeft Lawyer, wrotea litde Book of Sincerity and Hypcrtfy ; and. in the end oi it Mr. Tho. Barlow ( afterward Bifhop of Lincoln) wrote (without h'is Name) an Appendix in Confutation of a fuppofed Opinion of mine, that Saving Grace difFereth not Sfecte but Gr<5«/»from Common Grace : To which I replied in a ftiort Difcourfe called [ Of Saving Faith, &c. ] I had moft highly value-i the Author whom I wrote againft, long before, for his Six Exerci- tations in the end of Schibler's Metafhyficks : But in his Attempt againft me, he came qui^tC below himfelf, as I made maiifeft j and he refolved to make no Anfwer to it. In , this Tradate the Printer plaid his part fo ihamefuUj, that the Book is fcarcejiy to be underftood. § 192. %6. Being greatly apprehenfive of the Commonnels and Danger of the Sin of Selfijhmfs, as the Summ and Root of all pofitive Evil, I preached many Ser- mons againft: it ; and at the Requeft of fome Friends Ipublilhed them, entituled.4 Trtatffe of Self-dental ; which found better acceptance than moft of my other, but yet prevented not the ruine of Church and State, and Millions of Souls by that Sin. § 195. 57. After that I publiftietJ, Five Diffutations ahoutChttrch-Gcvernment, in order to the Reconciliation of the differing Parties : In the firft I proved that the Englifu Diocefane Prelacy is intollerable ( which none hath anfwered ) : In the fe- cond I have proved the Validity of the Ordination then exerciled without Dioce- lanes in England ( which no Man hath anfwered, though many have urged Men to be re-ordained ). In the third I proved that there are divers forts of Epifco- pacy lawful and defirable. In the fourth and fifth I fliew the lawfulnefs of fbma Ceremonies and of a Liturgy, and what is unlawful here. This Book being publifhed when Bifhops, Liturgy and Ceremonies were moft de- cryed and oppofed, was of good ufe to declare my Judgment when the King came in ; for if I had faid as much then, I had been judged but a Temporizer : But as it was efFeftual to fettle many in a Moderation, lo it made abundance of Conformifts afterwards ( or was pretended at leaft to give them Satisfaction ) : Though it never medled with the greateft Parts of Conformity ( Renouncing Vows, AfTent and Content to all things in three Books, &c. ) j and though it un- anfwerably confuted our Prelacy and Re-ordination, and confequently the Renun- ciation of the Vow againft Prelacy ; and oppofed the Crofs in Baptifm. But Sic vitan$ itg The LIFE of the L i b. I vitant Stulti Vitia ( as my AphoriCms made fome Arminians ). If you difcover aa Error to an injudicious Man, he reeleth into the contrary Error, and it is hard to flop him in the middle Verity. § 194. ;8- At the fame timel publiflied another Bookagainft Popery, fit for the defenfive Part, and intruding Proteftants how to anfwer any Papift. It is entitu- led, ^ Key for Catholkh, to of en the juglivg of the Jefutts, and fatisfie all that art hut truly willing to underftand whether the Caufe of the Roman or Reformed Churches he of God. In this Treatife, proving that the Blood of the King is not by Papifts to be charged upon Proteftants, I plainly hazarded my Life againft the Powers that then were ; and grievoufly incenfed Sir H. Vane ( as is before declared ) : And yet Mr. J. N. was fo tender of the Papifts Intereft, that having before been offended with me for a Petition againft Popery, and ( a Jultice of all times ) fpake againft it on the Bench, and his Difpleafure encreafed by this Bookj he took occafion fince the King came in, to write againft me for thole very Paftages which condemned the King- killers : Becaule comparing the Cafe with theDodrine and Pradice of the Papifts,! Ihewed that theSedarians and Cromwelianshadof the two a more plaufi- ble Pretence, ( which I there recited ) he confuteth thofe Pretences of theirs as if they had been my own ; thereby to make the World believe that I wrote for the King's Death, in the very Pages where to the h.)zard of my Life I wrote againft it ; when he himfelf took the Engagement againft the King and the Houle of Lords, and was a Juftice under Oliver, and more than fo, figned Orders for thcle- queftring of others of the King's Party. But the great Indignation againft this Book and the former, is, that they were by Epiftles direded to Ri. Cromwell as Lord Protedor, which I did only to provoke him that had Power, to ufe it well, when the Parliament had fworn Fidelity to him j and that without any Word of Appiobation to his Title. Yet thoie that were not prejudiced by partiality againft this Book ( my Key for Ca- tholkh ) have let me know that it bath not been without Succefs : It being indeed a fafficient Armory, for to furniih a Proteftant to defend his Religion againft all the Affaults of the Papifts whatfoever, and teacheth him how to anfwer all their Books. The lecond part doth briefly deal with the French and Grotian Party, that are for the Supremacy of a Council, at leaft as to the Leg?ftative Power, and (heweth that we never had a general Council, nor can it be at all expeded. § 19)-. 59. But the Book which hath furnilhecl my Enemies with matter of Re- viling C wliich none muft dare to anfwer ) is my Holy Commonwealth : The Occa- fion of it was this ; when our Pretorian Sedarian Bands had cut all Bonds and pull'd down all Government, and after the Death of the King had twelve Years kept out his Son, few Men fawnny probability of his Reftitution; and every felf conceited Fellow W.1S ready to offer his Model for a new Form of Government : Mr. Hobbs his Leviathan had plealed many : Mr. Tho. White the great Papilf, had written his Politicks in Eiiglilh for the Intereft of the Protedor, to prove that Subjeds ought to lubmit and fubjed thcmfelves to fuch a Change: And now Mr. James Harring- ton ( they (ay by the help of Mr. H. Neziill ) had written a Book in Folio for a Democracy, called Oceana, ferioudy defcribing a Form near to the Fer:etian, and letting the People upon the Defiies of a Change : And after this Sir H. Vane and his Party were about their Sedarian Democratical Model, which Stubbs defended ; and Rogers and Needham ( and Mr. Bag(})aw had written againft Monarchy be- fore ,\ In the end of an Epiftle before my Book of {^Crucifying the World'] I had fpoken 3 few Words againft this Innovation and Opposition to Monarchy ; and ha- ving e(J3Ccially touched upon Oceana and Leviathan, Mr. Harrington lecmed in a Bethlehem Rage ; for by way of Scorn he printed half a Sheet of foolilli Jeers, in fuch Woids as Ideotsor Drunkards ule, railing at Miniftersas a Pack of Fools and Knaves, and by his gibbcriih Derifion perfuading Men that we deferved no other Aniwer than fuch Scorn and Nonlenle as befeemeth Fools : And with moft info- lent Pride he carried it, as if neither I nor any Minifters underftood at all what Policy was ; but prated againft we knew not what, and had prefumed to fjjeak againft other Mens Art, which ^e was Mafterof, and his Knowledge to fuch Ide- otsas vireinconiprehenfible. This made me think it fit, having given that Gene- ral hint againft his Oceana, to give a more particuar Charge, and withal to give 'the World and him an Account of my Political Principles, and to fhew what I held as well as what I denyed ; which I did in that Book called. Political j^phonfms, or /i Holy Commonwealth, as contrary fo his HeatbeniJIi Commonwealth : In which I plead the Caule of Monarchy as better than Democracy and Ariftocracy ; but as under Part I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ii^ under God the Univerfal Monarch. Here Bifliop Morky hath his Matter of Charge againfl: me ; of which one part is that I fpake againft Unlimited Monarchy, becauje God himfelf hath limited all Monarchs. If I had laid that Laws limit Monarchs, I might among iome men be thought a Traytor, and unexculable : but to fay that God Itmitetb Monarchs, I thought had never before been chargeable with Treafon, or oppofed by any that believed that there is a God. If they are indeed unlimited in refped of God; we have many Gods or no God. But now it is dangerous to med- dle with thele matters: Moft men lay now. Let God defend himfelf. In the end of this Book is an Appendix concerning the Caufe of the Parlia- ments firft War , which was thus occafioned : Sir Francu Nether(ole a Religious Knight, who was againft the lawfulneG of the War on both fides, fent his man to me, with Letters to advife me to tell Cromwell of his Ufurpation , and to coun- lel him to cal! in the King j of which when I had given him fatisfaftion, he fent him again with more Letters and Books, to convince me of the unlawfulnels of the Parliament's War : And others attempting the fame at the fame time ; and the Confufions which the Army had brought upon us, being fuch as made me very much difpofed to think ill of thofe beginnings which had no better an end , I thought it beft to publifh my Detellation and Lamentation for thole Rebellious Proceedings of the Army, ( which 1 did as plainly as could be born , both in an Epiftle to them, and in a Meditation in the end), and withal to declare the very Truth, that hereby I was made fufpicious and doubtful of the beginnings or firft Caufe, but yet was not able to anfwer the Arguments which the Lawyers of the Parliament then gave, and which had formerly inclined me to that fide. I con- confeffed, that if mens Miicarriages and ill Accidents would warrant me to Con- demn the beginnings which were for another Caufe, then I fhould have condemned them : But that being not the'way, I found my felf yet unable to anfwer the firft Realbns ; and therefore laid them down together , defiring the help of others to anfwer them , profeffing my own fufpicion , and my daily Prayers to God for juft fatisfaftion. And this Paper is it that containeth all my Crimes. Againft this, one Tomkms wrote a Book, called, The Rebels Plea. But I wait in filence till God enlighten us. In the beginning of this Book having reprehended the Army, I anlwer a Book of Sir Henry Vane's, called. The Healing Quefiion. It was publilhed when Richard Cromwell was pull'd down, and Sir H. Fane's New Commonwealth was form- ing. § 196. 40. About the fame time, one that called himlelf ^. Johnfin, (but I hear his Name is Mr. Terret ) a Papift, engaged me in a Controverfie, about the per- petual vifibility of the Church ; which afterwards I publilhed j the ftory of which you have more at large in the following part of this Book. In the latter I inferted a Letter of one Thomas Smyth a Papift, with my Anfwer to it, which it (eemath occafioned his recovery from them, as is manifeft in a Letter of Mr. Thomas Stanley his Kinfman ( a fober godly man in Breadfireet ) which I by his own confent fub- joyned. To this Book Mr. Johnfin hath at laft replyed j and I have fince return'd an Anfwer to him. § 197. 41. Having been defired in the time of our Affociations, to draw up thofe Terms which all Chriltian Churches may hold Communion upon ; I publiOied them, though too late for any fuch ufe ( till God give men better minds) that the World might fee what our Religion and our Terms of Communion were ; and that if afcer Ages prove more peaceable, they may have fome light from thole that went before them. Ic coniifteih of three parts : The firft containeth theChriftian Religion, which all are pofitively to profefs , that is, Either to fubfcribe the Scriptures in general, and the ancient Creeds in particular; or at moft, The Confeffion ( or Articles j annexed: e.g. \_ I do be- lieve all the Sacred Canonical Scripture, which all Chrijlian Churches do receive'^ and far' ticularly I believe in God the Either Almighty, Scc.j The fecond Part (^ inftead of Books of unneceffary Canons) containeth levcn or eight Points of Pradice for Church Order, which , fo it be pradtiied, it is no great matter whether it be fubfcribed or nor. And here it muft be underftood that thefe are written for Times of Liberty, in which Agreement rather than Force doth procure Unity and Communion. The third Part containeth the larger Defcription of the Office of theMiniftry, and confequently of all the Ordinances of Worfhip ; which need not be fiibfcri- bed, but none li-.ould preach againft it, nor omit the practice; except Peace re- quire that the Point of Infant Baptifn be left free. This I20 The LIFE of the Lib. I, This fmall Book is called by the Name oi Umverfal Concord ; which when I wrote, i thought to have publifiied a Second Part , -viz,, a large Volume containing the particular Terms of Concord, between all Parties capable of Concord. But the Change of the Times hath neceflarily changed that purpofe. § 198. 42. The next publifhed was a Sermon before the Parliament, the day before they voted in the King, being a Day of Humiliation appointed to that end. It is called A Sermon of Repentance, of which more afterward. §199. 45. The next publilhed was a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen at Vauh, being on their Day of Rejoycing for General MonK% Suc- cels to bring in the King : It is called A Sermon of Right Rejoyctng. § 200. 44 The next was a Sermon of the Life of Faith, preached before the King, being all that ever I was called to preach before him,when I had been fworn his Chaplain in Ordinary : of which more afterward. §2ox. 4^. The next was called A Believer's lafi Work , being prepared for the Funeral of Mrs. Mary Hammr, Mother to my Wife (then intended, but after mar- ried ) : Its ule is to prepare for a Comfortable Death. § 202. 4<^. Before this ( which I forgot in its proper place ) I publiflied a Trea- tife of Death, called, The lafi Enemy to be overcome , (hewing the true Nature of the Enmity of Death, anditsufes: Being a Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Elizabeth Baker , Wife to Mr. Jofeph Baker Minifter at Worcefter j with fome Notes of her Life. § 205. 47. Another was called. The vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite: A Dif covery of the Nature and Mifchief of a Formal vain Religion, preached at Welt- minfter-Abby : with a Sermon annexed of the Projperity of Fools. This being preach- ed at Covent-Gorden was unjuftly accufed, and publiJhed by way of Vindication, with the former. § 204. 48. The next was a Treatise on Luke 10. 42. One thing » needful j called, [ A Saint or a Bruit ] fliewing the Neceffity, Utility, Safety , Honour and Plea- fure of a Holy Life, and evincing the Truth of our Religon againft Atheifts and Infidels and Prophane ones. § 20 J. 49. The next was a Treatifc of Selfkno-wledge, preached at Ttunflan's Weft, called. The Mtfchtefs of Self -ignorance, and Benefits of Self-acquaintance ; which was publiflied partly to vindicate it from many falfe Accufations, and partly at the defire of the Countefs of Bakarres to whom it was direded. It was fitted to the Difeafe of this furious Age, in which each man is ready to devour others, becaufe they do not know themlelves. § 206. fo. The next was aTreatife called The Divine Life -. which containeth three Parts ; The firft is of the Right Knowledge of God, for the imprinting of his Image on the Soul, by the knowledge of his Attributes , &c. The lecond is. Of walking with God. The third is. Of improving Solitude to converfe with God, when ue are forfaken by all Friends, or leparated from them. The Occafion of the publilhing of this Treatile was this j The Countefs of BaU Carres being going into Scotland, after her abode in England, being deeply ienfible of the lofs of the Company of thofe Friends which fhe left behind her, defired me to preach the laft Sermon which ihe was to hear from me on thofe words of Chrift, John 16. 52. Behold the hour cometh,yea is now come, thatyejball be fcattered every man to his own, and jliaU leave me alone ; »nd yet I am not alone , becaufe the Father is with me. ] At her requefl I preached on this Text ; and being afterward defired by her to give it her in Writing, and the Publication being her defign, I prefixed the two other Treatifes to make it more confiderable , and publiflied them together. The Treatife is upon the mofl: Excellent Subject, but not elaborate at all ; being but Popular Sermons preached in the midll of diverting Bufineffes, Accufations, and malicious Clamours When I offered it to the Prefi, I was fain to leave out the quantity of one Ser- mon in the end of the fecond Treatife [ That God took Henoch]: wherein I (hew- ed what a mercy it is to one that hath walked with God, to be taken to him from this World ; becaule it is a dark, a wicked, a malicious, and implacable, a trea- cherous deceitful World, c^-c. AH which the Bifliop's Chaplain mult have ex- punged, becaule men would think it was all fpoken of them ! And io the World hath got a Protection againflthe force of ourBaptifmal Vow. §207. Becaufe I have laid fo much in the Epifiles of thefe two Eooks of the Countefs of Bakarres, the Reader may expeftfome further latiafaftionoi her Quali- ty, and the Caufe. She P A El T 1. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 121 She is Daughter to the late £arl of Seafmb in Scotland, towards the High-lands^ and was married to the Earl of Balcarres, a Covenanter, but an Enemy to Crom- Ti/eU's perfidioufnels, and true to the Perfon and Authority of the King : with the Earl of Gkncarne he kept up the laft War for the King againft Cromwell, and his La- dy, through dsarnefi of Alfecflion, marched with him, and lay out of doors with him on the Mountains. At iaft Cromwell drove them out of Scotland, and they went together bsyond Sea to the King j where they long followed the Court, and he was tjken for the Head of the Presbyterians wich the King, and by evil In- ftruments fell out with the Lord Chancellor, who prevailing againft him,upon Ibme advantage he was for a time forbidden the Court ; the Grief whereof added to the Di'+empers he had contracted by his Warfare on the cold and hungry Moun- tains, calt him into a Confurnption, of which he died. He was a Lord of excel- lent Learning, Judgment and Honefty ; none being praifed equally with him for Learning and Underftanding in all Scotland. Wiien the Ea.v\ oi Lauderdaile (his near Kinfman and great Friend) was Pri- foner in Purtfmouth ahd Windjor-Cafile, he fell into acquaintance with my Books, and fo valued them that he read them all, and took Notes of them, and earneftly commended them to the Earl of Balcarres ( with the King ). The Earl of Bal- carres met at the firll fight with Ibme PafTages where he thought I (pake too favou- rably of the Papifts, and differed from many other Proteftants , and io caft them by, and lent the realbn of his diltalte to the Earl of Lauderdaile : who preft him but to read one of the Books over ; which he did j and fo read them all (as I have leen many of them marked with his hand jj and was drawn to over-value them more than the Earl oi Lauderdaile. Hcr'-upnn his Lady reading, them alio, and being a Woman of very ftrong Love and Friendlhip, with extraordinary Entirenefs fwallowed up in her Husband's Love, for the Books fake and her Husband's fake, Ihe became a moft affedionate Friend to me, before flie ever law me. While fhe was in France, being zealous for the King's Refforation (forwhofe Caufeher Husband had pawned and ruined his Ellate ', , by the Earl of Lauderdaile s dircAion , fhe with Sir Robert Murray ^ get divers Letters from the Paffors and others there, to bear witnefs of the King's fincericy iii the Proteftant Religion ( among which there is one to me from Mr. Caches). Her great Wifdom, Modefty, Piety and Sincerity, made her accounted the Saint at the Court. When Ihe came over with the King, her extraordinary Refpeft? obliged me to be fo often with her, as gave me Acquaintance with her Eminenoy in all the forefaid Vertues: She is of folid Underitanding in Religionj for her Sex ; and of Prudence much more than ordinary j and of great Integrity andConflancy in her Religion,and a great Hater of Hypocrifie,and faithful to Chrid in an unfaithful World ; and fhe is fbmewhat over-much affectionate to her Friend; which hath colt her a great deal of Sorrow, in the lols of her Husband, and fince Sheisfmce of other fpecial Friends, and may coft her more when the reft forfake her , as [jl^'^^rj of many in Profperity ufeto dothofe that will not forfake their Fidelity to Chrift. Ar^la, Her eldcft Son, the young Earl of Balcarres, a very hopeful Youth, died of a ifr.inge Difsale, two Stones being found in his Heart, of which one was very great. Being my conftant Auditor and over refpedful Friend, I had occafion forthe juft Prailes and Acknowledgments which I have given her; which the occafioning of thefe Books hath caufed me to mention. § 208. f r. After our Difpute at the Savoy, fomebody printed our Papers (mofl of them ) given in to them in that Treaty j of which the Petition for Peace, the Reformed Liturgy ( except the Prayer for the King which Dr. IV. wrote ), the large Reply to their Anfwer of our Exceptions, and the two Iaft AddreiTes were my Writing : But in the firft Propofals, and the Exceptions againft the Liturgy, I had lefs to do than fome others. § 209. J 2. When the grievous Plague began at London, I printed a half-lheet (to ftick on a Wall ) for the ule of the Ignorant and Ungodly who were fick, or in danger of the Sicknefs : ( for the Godly I thought had leG need , and would read thole larger Books, which are plentifully among us ). And I the rather did it, becaufe many well-winded People that are about the Sick, that are ignorant and unprepared , and know not what to fay to them , may not only read fo fliort a Paper to them, but fee there in what method fuch Perfbns are to be dealt with in fuch a Cafe of Extremity , that they may themfelves enlarge as they fee Caule. R $110. 122 The LI F E of the L i b. I. § 2IO. J 3. At that time one Mr. Nathaniel Lane wrote to me to intreat me to wrice one iheet or two for the ule of poor Families , who will not buy or read any bigger Books. Though I knew that brevity would unavoidably caufe me to leave out much neceffary matter, or elfe to write in a Stile lb concife and clofe as will be little moving to any but dole judicious Readers, yet I yielded to his per- (wafions, and thought it might be better than nothing, and might be read by many that would read no larger ; and (b I wrote two Sheets for foor Families : The firlt containing the method and motives for the Converfion of the Ungodly. The fe- cond containing the Defcription or Charaftcr of a true Chriftian, or the neceffa- ry Parts of Chrirtian Duty, for the direftion of Beginners in a Godly Life. Thele three laft Sheets were printed by the favour of the Archbiihop's Chaplain, when the Bilhop of London's Chaplain had put me out of hope of printing any more. !^ Of what With all thefe Writings I have troubled the World already*: and thele are all publifcd except Epiftles to other mens Works ; C as one before Mr. Swinnock's Book of Re- ice after-' generation j one before Mr. Hopkins Book ; one before Mr. EeJes-y one before Mr. ward. Adatthew Pool's Model for Advancing Learning ; one before Mr. Benjamin Baxter's Book J one before Mv.Jonathan Hanmer's Exercitation of Confirmation ; one before Mr, Lawrence of Sicknefi; two before two of Mr. Tombe's Books ; and lome others j ( of which there are two that I niufl: give Ibme account of) The Bookleller being to print the Affembly's Works, with the Texts cited at length, defired me by an EpilUe to recommend it to Families : I thought it a thing arrogant and unfit for a fingle Perfon, who was none of the Synod , to put an Epiftle before their Works- But when he made me know that it was the defire of fome Reverend Minifters, I wrote an Epiftle, but required him to put it into other mens hands, to publifh or fupprefs, according to their Judgment : but to be fure that they printed all or none. The Bookfeller gets Dr. AUnton to put an E- piftla before the Book, who inlertedminein a differing Charadcr in his own, (as mine, but not naming me): But he leaveth out a part, which it feems, was not pleafing to a!!. When I had commended the Catechifms for the ufe of Families, I added. That [_I hoped the JjJ'embly intended not all tn that long Confejfion and thofe Ca- techifms, to be impojed as a Te^t of Chrifiian Communion j wor to difown all that fcrupled any -word m it j if they had I could not have commended it for any Jtich ufe, phough it he ufifulfor the infiruBion of Families, &c.] All this is left out, which 1 thought meet to open, leli I be there mifunderftood. Alfo tnke notice that the Poem prefixed to Mr. Vines's Book of the Sacrament, was not piinted bv any order of mine. Having received the printed Book from the Stationer as a Gift, it renewed my Sorrow for the Author's Death ; which pro- voked me to wrice that Poem the fame Night, in the Exercileof my Sorrow, and gave it the Donor for his Book ; and he printed it without my knowledge. §211. Manufcripts that are yet unprinted , which lye by me, are thefe fol- lowing. "■ Since !• * A Treatife in Folio, called, A Chrifiian DireBory , or Sam of PraBical Divi- printcd «/(/, in four Tomes : The firft called C;6r;j?wn£f^;c;6j; The kcond Chrifiian Eccle- tvvicc. fiafiicks'y lihQ thii:d,Chrifiian Oeconomicks; Thz founh,ChrifiianPoliticks. Itcontain- eth bare Direciions for the praftice of our Duties in all thele refpedls ; as Chriflians, as Church- Members, as Members of the Family, and as Members of the Com- monwealth : But there is a fufficient Explication of the Subjeft ufually premifed, and the Diredions themfelves are the Anfwers of moft uleful Cafes of Confcienc« thereabouts, though the Cafes bs not named by way of Queftion: But where it was neceffary the Cafes are diftindly named and handled. My intent in writing this, was at once to fatisfie that motion fb earneflly made by Bi/hop U^ier, mentioned in the Preface to my Call to the Unconverted , which I had been hindrcd from doing by parts before : And I had lome little refpetft to the requeft which was long ago font to him from fbme Tranfmarine Di^'ines, to help them to a Sum of Practical Divinity in the EngU^i method : But though neceffary brevity hath deprived it of all life and luftre ot Stile, it being but a Skeleton of Practical Heads ; yet is it fo large by realbn of the multitude of things to be hand- led, that I fee it will not be of fo common a ufe as I firll intended it. To young A/inifters, and to the more intelligent and diligent fort of A/aftcrs of Families, (who would have a Pradical Directory at hand to teach them every Chrifiian Duty, ajid how to help others in the practice) it may be not unferviceable . a.Ano- P A R T 1. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 123 2. Another Manufcript is called {_* A Chriltian indeed ].- It confifteth of two "^ Since Parts ; The firfl is a Dilcovery of the Calamities which follow the iveakneji and P""^'^^- fatilt't-neil of many true Chri(lians,and Diredions for their ffrengthening and growth in Grace: which was intended as the third particular Tradate in fulfilling theSinceprin- forelaid requeft of Bilhop U^ier j The Call to the Unconverted being for that Ibrt 5 ^^l-"^ ^'" and the Dneiiionsfor a found Converjion, being for the fecond lort, who are yet as for weak it were in the birth : And this being for the weaker and faultier ibrt of Chrilh'ans, chrirtians. which are the third Ibrt. To which is added a fecond Part, containing the juft Defcription of a (bund confirmed Chriftian ( whom I call a Chriftian indeed ) in fixty Charafters or Marks j and with each of them is adjoyned the Charadter of the -weak Chrtfiian, and of the Hjpocrite about the fame part of Duty. But all is but briefly done ( the Heads being many ) without any life or ornament of Stile. Tliis iliort Treatife I offered to Mr. ThowM Grigg , 'the Bifliop of Z,ow Job's* Now Chaplain, to be licenfed for the Pre/s, ( a man that but lately Conformed, and ^^^''' profefTed fpecial refped to me ) j but he utterly refufed it ; pretending that it fa- voured of Difcontent, and would be interpreted as againll the Bifliops and the Times. And the matter was, that in feveral Paifages 1 fpake of the Profperity of the Wicked, and the Adverfity of the Godly, and defcribed Hypocrites by their Enmity to the Godly, and their forlaking the Truth for fear of Suffering, and dc- Icribed the Godly by their undergoing the Enmity of the wicked World, and be- ing ftedfaft whatever it (hall coft them, &c. And all this was interpreted as a- gainft the Church or Vrelatifls. I asked him whether they would licenfe that of mine which they would do of another man's againfl: whom they had no difpieafure ( in the fame words ) : And he told me No : becaufe the words would receive their interpretatiou with the Readers from the mind of the Author. And he askc me, whether I did not think my felf that Nonconformilfs would interpret it as againff the Times. I anfwered him. Yes, 1 thought they would ; and fo they do all thofe PafTages of Scripture which fpeak of Perfecution and the Suffering of the Godly J but I hoped Bibles fhould be licenled for all that. I asked him whether that was the Rule which they went by, that they would licenfq nothing of mine which they thought any Readers would interpret as againff the Bifhops or their Party. And when he told me plainly, that it was their Rule or Refolution, I took it for my final Anfwer, and purpofed never to offer him more : For I defpair of writing that which men will not interpret according to their own Condition and Opinion ; efpecially againft thole whofe Crimes are notorious before the World. This made me think what a troublefome thing is Guile, which, as Se- neca faith, is like a Sore, which is pained not only with a little touch, but fome-* time upon a conceit that it is touched ; and maketh a man think that every Bryar is a Sergeant to Arreft him ; or with Cain, that every one that ieeth him would kill him 1 A Cainites heart and life hath ufually the attendance of a Cainites Confcience. I did but try the Licenler with this fmall inconfiderable Script, that I might know what to expedl for my more valued Writings! And I told him that I had trou- bled the World with fo much already, and (aid enough for one man's part, that I could not think it very necefTary to fay any more to them ; and therefore I fhould accept of his difcharge. But fain they would have had my Controverfal Writings, C about Univerfal Redemption, Predetermination, &c. in which my Judgment is more pleiilng to them ) ; but I was unwilling to publifh them alone, while the Praftical Writings are refufed. And I give God thanks that I once faw Times of greater Liberty ( though under an Ufurper ) j or elfe as far as I can difcern, fcarce any of my Books had ever feen the Light. ;. Another Manufcript that lyeth by me, is a Difputation for fome tJniver- fality of Redemption *, which hath lain by me near Twenty years unfinifhed, part- >fpubliflit ly becauie many narrow minded Brethren would have been offended with it, and fince the and partly becaufe at laft came out after Amyraldus., and Davenant's DiJ/ertations , a Autlior's Treatife of DaU^tis, which contained the fame things, but efpecially the lame j^.^^yV''' Teflimonies of concordant Writers which I had prepared to produce. Read. 4. There is alio by me an imperfed Manufcript of Predetermination, y. And divers Dilputations of fufficient Grace. 6. And divers mifcellaneous Difputations on Icveral Queflions in Divinity, cur- forily managed at»our Monthly Meetings. 7. And my two Replies to Mr. Cartwright\ Exceptions againff my Aphorilms. * ^"'^^ 8. And my two Replies to Mr. Lavjon's Animadverfions on the fame Book. Pfif* • R i 9- And 124 I he L I F E of the L i b. 9. And my Reply to Mr. John ;ry. I abhor the Folly of thofe unlearned Perfons, who revile or defpife Learning be- cauf(B they know not what it is: And I take not any piece of true Learning to be ufelefs : And yet my Soul approveth of the Refolution of Holy Paul, who de- termined to know nothing among his Hearers, ( that is, comparatively to value and make Oftentation of no other Wifdom ) but ( the Knowledge of ) a Cruci- fied Chrift ; to know God in Chrift is Life Etern-al. As the Stock of the Tree affbrdeth Timber to build Houfes and Cities, when the fmall though higher multi- farious Branches are but to make a Crows Nelt, or a Blaze : So the Knowledge of God and of Jefus Chrift, of Heaven and Holynefs, doth build up the Soul to endlefs Bleflednefs, and affordeth it lolid Peace and Comfort; when a multitude of School Niceties ferve but for vain Janglings and hurtful Diverfions and Contenti- ons : And yet I would not difl^uade my Reader from the perufal of Aquinas, Scotus, Ockam, Arminienjts, Durandm, or any fuch Writer ; for much Good may be gotten from them : But I would perfiiade him to ftudy and live upon the effential Do- drines of Chriftianity and Godlinefs, incomparably above them all. And that he may know that my Teftimony is Ibmewhat regardable, I prefume to lay, that in this I as much gainfay my natural Inclination to Subtilty and Accuratenefs in Knowing, as he is like to do by his, if he obey my Counfel. And I think if he lived among Infidels and Enemies of Chrift, he would find that to make good the DoUrine of Faitl) and of Ufe Eternal, were not only his nobleft and moft ufeful Study ; but alfo that which would require the height of all his Parts, and the ut- moft of his Diligence, to manage it skilfully to the Satisfadion of himlelf and others. 4. I add therefore that this is Another thing which I am changed in ; that where- as in my younger Days I never was tempted to doubt of the Truth of Scripture or Chriftianity, but all my Doubts and Fears were exercifed at home, about my own Sincerity and Intereft in Chrift, and this was it which I called Unbelief -^ fince then my foreft Aflfaults have been on the other fide, and liich they were, thac had I been void of internal Experience, and the Adhefion of Love, and the fpeci- al help of God, and had not difcerned more Reafon for my Religion than I did when I was younger, I had certainly Apoftatizedto Infidelity {thow^ iot Atheifm or Ungodlmejs, my Reafon feeth noftronger Arguments,than may be brought to prove that there is no Earth or Air,or Sun). I am now therefore much more Apprehenfivc than heretofore, of the Neceffity of well grounding Men in their Religion, andefpe- ciallyofthe Witnefi of the indwelling Spirit : For I more fenfibly perceive that the Spirit is the great Witnefs of Chrift and Chriftianity to the World : And though the Folly of Fanaticks tempted me long to over-look the Strength of this Tefti- mony of the Spirit, while they placed it in a certain internal Afjertion, or enthufi' aftick Infpiration ; yet now I fee that the Holy Ghoft in another manner is the Witnefs of Chrift and his Agent in the World : The Spirit in the Prophets was his 128 ihe LIFE of the Lib. I, j his firft Witnefi ; and the Spirit by Miracles was the lecond ; and the Spirit by ; Renovation, Sanditicdtion, Illumination and Confolation, aflimilating the Soul to ' Chriit and Htaven is the continued Witnefs to all true Believers : And if any Man I have not the Spirit of Clirift, the fame is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. Even as the Ra- tional Soul in the Child is the inherent Witnefs or EvidencCj that he is the Child cf Rational Parents. And therefore ungodly Perfons have a great difadvantjge in their refilling Temptations to unbelief, and it is no wonder it' Chrift be a Hmnblitig block to the ]ews,and to the Gentiles foblifhnefs.There is many a one that hideth his Temptations to InhJelityjbecaufe he thinketh it a ihame toopenthem,and becaule it may generate doubts in others: but I doubt the imperfedion of molt mens care of their Salvation, and of their diligence and refolution in a holy Life, doth come from the imperfedlion of their belief of Chriflianicy and the Life to come. For my part I muft profels, that when my belief of things Eternal and of the Scripture is moft clear and firm, all goeth accordingly in my Soul,and all Temptations tofinful Com- pliances, Worldlinefb or Flefn-pleafing, do fignifie worfeto me, than an invitation to the Stocks or BcdlamAnA no Petition feemeth more neceffary to me than [Lord in- creafe our Faith : I Believe, help thou my unbelief. \ y. Among Truths certain in themfelves, all are not equally certain unto me j and even of the Myileries of the Golpel, I muft needs fay with Mr. Richard Hook- er Eccl. Polit. tiiat whatever men may pretend, the lubjeiftive Certainty cannot go beyond the nbjedive Evidence : for it is caufed thereby as the print on the .Wax is cauled by that on the Seal : Therefore I do more of late than ever difcern a necef- fity of a methodical procedure in maintaining the Doftrine of Chiiftianity , and of beginning at Natural Verities , as prefuppofed fundamentally to fupernatural ( though God may when he pleafe reveal all at once, and even Natural Truths by Supernatural Revelation ) : And it is a marvellous great help to my Faith, to find it built on fo fure Foundations, and fo confonant to the Law of Nature. I am not fb foo'ilh as to pretend my certainty to be greater than it is, meerly becaule it is a dilTionour to be lefs certain ; nor will I by Ihame be kept from confefling thofe Infirmitie?, which thofe have as much as I, who hypocritically reproach me with them. My certainty that I am a Man, is before my certainty that there is a God j for Quodfacit notum ejt magtsnotum: My certainty that there is a God, is greater than my certainty that he requireth love and holinefi of his Creature : My certain- ty of thu is greater than my certainty of the Life of Reward and Punilhment hereafter : My certainty of that, is greater than my certainty of the endlels dura- tion of it, and of the immortality of individuate Souls: My certainty of the Dei- ty is greater than my certainty of the Chrillian Faith : My certainty of thelChri- ftian Faith in its Eftentials, is greater than my certainty of the Perfedion and In- fallibility of all the Holy Scriptures : My certainty of that is greater than my cer- tainty or" the meaning of many particular Texts, and fo of the truth of many par- ticular Doiftrines, or of the Canonicalnels of fome certain Books. So that as you lee by what Gadations my Underrtanding doth proceed, fo alfo that my Certain- ty difFircth as the Evidences differ. And they that have attained to greater Perfe- (ftion, and a higher degree of Certainty than I, fhould pity me and produce their Evidence to help me. And they that will begin all their Certainty with that of the Truth of the Scripture, as the Prtncipium Cogtiofcendt, may meet me at the lame end ; but they muft give me leave to undertake to prove to a Heathen or Infidel, the I3eing of a God; and the neceflity of Holinels, and the certainty of a Reward or Punilhment, even while he yet denieth theTruth of Scripture, and in order to his believing it to be true. 6. In my younger years my trouble for Sin, was moft about my ABud failings in Thought, Word, or ASiion, ( except Hardnep of Heart, of which more anon). But now I am much more troubled for Imvard DefeBs, and omiflion or want of the Vital Duties or Graces in the Soul. My daily trouble is fo much for my Ignorance of God, and weaknefs of Relief, and want of greater loxie to God, and /Irangenef to him, and to the I ife to come, and for want of a greater willingnefs to die, and longing to be with God in Heaven, as that I take not Ibme Immoralities, though very great, to be in themlelves lb great and odious Sins, if they could be found as leparate trom thefc. Had I all the Riches of the World , how gladly fhould I give them, for a fuller Knowledge, Belief, aVid Love of God and Everlafting Glo- ry I Thele wants are the greateft burden of my Life, which oft maketh my Life it lelf a burden. And I cmnot fino any hope of reaching lb high in thele, while I am in the Flefh, as 1 once hoped before this time to have attained : which maketh me the we?.rier of this finful World, which is honoured vvith lb little of the Know- ledge of God. 7. Here. Part i. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. i 2^ 7. Heretofore I placed much of my Religion in tendernefs of heart, and grie- ving for fin, and penitential tears j and lefi of it, in" the love of God, and Ibdying his love and goodnefs, and in his joyful praifes, than now I do. Then I was little lenfible of the greatnels and excellency of Love and Praife ; thotlgh I coldly fpake the fame words in its commendations, as now I do : And now 1 am lels troubled for want o'i grief and tears (though I more value humility, and refufe not needlul Humiliation): But my Conlcience now iooketh at Love and Dehght: in God and praifing him, as the top of all my Religious Duties, for which it is that I Value and u(e the reft. 8. My Judgment is much more for frequent and ferious Meditation on the hea- venly Bleffednefs, than it was heretofore in my younger days. I then thought that a Sermon of the Attributes of God, and the Joys of Heaven were not the moft excellent ; and was wont to fay, Every body kmiveth ti>a, that God is great and good, and that Heaven is a blejj'ed -place j / had rather hear how 1 may attain it. And no- thing pleafed me fo well as the Doftrine of Regeneration, and the Marks of Since- rity ; which was becaule it was fultable to me in that Ibte : but now I had rather read, hear or meditate, on God and Heaven, than on any other Subjed : for I perceive that it is the Objed that altereth and elevateth the Mindj which will he luch as that is, which it moft frequently feedeth on : And that it is not only u(e- ful to our cewfort, to be much in Heaven in our believing thoughts j but that it muft animate all our other Duties, and fortifie us againft every 7emptatton and Sin • and that the Love of the end is it that is the foije or ipring , which fetteth every Wheel a going, and muft put us on to all the means : And that a Man is no more a Chriftian indeed than he is Heavenly. 9. I was once wont to meditate moft on my own heart, and to dwell all at home, and look little higher : I was ftill poring either on my Sins or Wants or examining my Sincerity j but now, though I am greatly convinced of the need of Heart-acquaintance and imployment, yet I fee more need of a higher work • and that 1 (hould look often upon Chrift, and God, and Heaven, than upon my own Heart. At home I can find Diftempersto trouble me, and fome Evidences of my Peace : but it is above that I muft find matter of Delight and Joy , and Love and Teace it felf. Therefore I would have one thought at home upon my felf and fins, and many thoughts above upon the high and amiable and beatifying Objeds. 10. Heretofore I knew much lefs than now ; and yet was not half lb much ac- quainted with my Ignorance: I had a great delight in the daily new Diicoveries which I made, and of the Light which Jhined in upon me ( like a Man that cometh into a Country where he never was before ): But I little knew either how imperfeclly I underftood thofe very Points, whole difcovery fo much delighted me, nor how much might be faid againft them ,• nor how many things F was yet a ftranger to : But now I find far greater Darknefs upon all things, and perceive how very little it is that we know in compariibn of that which we are ignorant of and and have far meaner thoughts of my own Underftanding, though 1 muft needs know that it is better furniihed than it was then. ir. Accordingly I had then afar higher opinion of Learned Perfbns and Books, than I have now ; for what I wanted my felf, I thought every Reverend Divine had attained, and was familiarly acquainted with : And v/hat Books 1 underftood not byreafonof the ftrangenefsof theTerms or Matter, I the more admired and thought that others underftood their worth. But now Experience hath con- ftrained me againft my will to know, that Reverend Learned Men are imperfed , and know but little as well as I ; efpecially thole that think themfelves the wileit : And the better I am acquainted with them, the more I perceive that we are all yet in the dark: And the more I am acquainted with holy Men, that are all for Heaven, and pretend not much to Subtilties, the more I value and honour them. And when I have ftudied hard to underftand fome abftrufe admired Book , ( as De Scientta Dei, De Provident ia circa ?nalum, de Deer et is, de Fradetcrminatione, de Libert a- te Creattira, &cc.) I bave but attained the Knowledge of Humane Imperfedion , and to lee that the Author is but a Man as well as L 12. And at firft I took more upon my Author's Credit, than now I can do : And when an Author was highly commended to me by others, or pleafed me in fome part, 1 was ready to entertain the whole; whereas now I rakeund leave in the (ame Author, and dilTent inlbme things from him that IJike beft, as well as from others. S ij.At 130 The LIFE of the Lib. I. 13. At firft I was greatly inclined to go with the highefi in Controverfies, oti one fide or other ; as with Dr. Twifje, and Mr. Kutherford, and Spanhemim de Vrovi- dentia, & gratia, &c. But now lean foeafily (ee what to fay againft both extreams that I am much more inclinable to reconciling Principles. And whereas then I thought that Conciliators were but ignorant men, that were willing to pleafe all, and would pretend to reconcile the World by Principles which they did not under- ftand theml'elves ; I have fince perceived that if the amiablenefs bf Peace and Con- cord had no hand in the bufinels, yet greater Light and ftronger Judgment ufually is with the Reconcilers, than with either of the contending Parties ( as with Dave- nant, Hall, UJlnr, Lud. Crocius, Bergim, Strangim, Camera, 8cc. ) But on both ac- counts their Writings are raoft acceptable, ( though I know that Moderation may be a pretext of Errors). 14. At firft the Stile oi Authors took as much with me as the Argument, and made the Arguments feem more forcible : But now I judge not of Truth at all by any fuch Ornaments or Accidents, but by its naked Evidence. 1 5". I now fee more Good and more Evil in all Men than heretofore I did : I fee that Gooi men are not fo^W, as I once thought they were, but have more Imperfections : And that nearer approach and fuller trial, doth make the beft ap- pear more weak and faulty, than their Admirers at a diftance think. And I find that few are fo bad, as ckhsr then malicious Enemies, or cenforious fefarating Profef- fors do imagine. In fome indeed I find that Humane Nature is corrupted into a greater likenefs to Devils, than I once thought any on Earth had been. But even in the wicked ufually there is more for grace to make advantage of, and more to teftifie for God and Holinefs, than I once believed there had been. 16. I lefs admire Gifts oi Utterance and bare 'ProfeJJlon of Religion than I once did ; and have much more Charity for many, who by the want of Gifts, do make an obfcurer Profeflion than they. I once thought that almoft all that could pray movingly and fluently, and talk well of Religion, had been Saints. But Experi- ence hath opened to me, what odious Crimes may confift with high Profeflion ; and I have met with divers obfcure Perfons, not noted for any extraordinary Pro- feflion, or forwardnels in Religion, but only to live a quiet blamelefs Life, whom I have after found to have long lived, as far as I could difcern , a truly godly end fandified Life ; only their Prayers and Duties were by accident kept fecret from o- ther mens oblervation. Yet he that upon this pretence would confound the Godly and the Ungodly , may as well go about to lay Heaven and Hell toge- ther. 17. I am not fo narrow in my Jpecial Love as heretofore : Being lefs cenforiouSj and talking more than I did for Saints, it muft needs follow that I love more as Saints than I did before. I think it not lawful . to put that Man off with bare ■ Church Communion, snd fuch common Love which I muft allow the Wicked, who profelfeth himlelf a true Chriflian, by fuch a Profeflion as I cannot dif- prove. 18. I am not too narrow in my Principles of Church Communion as once I was : I more plainly perceive the difference between the Church as Congregate or vifible, and as Regenerate or Myftical : and between Sincerity and Frofeffton; and that a Cre- dible Proffffioa is proof fufffcient of a Man's Title to Church Admiflion: and that the ProfeTlion is Credible in foro Ecclejia, whichis not dilproved. I am not for nar- rowing the Church more than Chrift himfelfalloweth us; nor for robbing him of any of his flock. I am more f-nfible how much it is the Will of Chrift that every Man be the cboofir or refitfer of his own felicity, and that it lieth moft on his own hands, whether he will have Communion with the Church or not ; and that if he be an Hypocrite it is himfelf that will bear the lofs. 19. Yet am I more apprehenfive th.an ever of the great ufe and need of Ecclefi- aftical DifjipIinCj and what a fin it is in the Paftors of the Church, to make no diftinftion, but by bare Names and Sacraments, and to force all the unmeet againfl their own wills, to Church Communion and Sacraments ( though the ignorant and erroneous may fbmetime be forced to hear inftrudion ): And what a great dilhonour to Chrift it is, when the Church Ihall be as vicious as Pagan and Ma- hometan AlTemblies , and fhall differ from them only in Ceremony and Name. 20. I am much more fenfible of the Evil of Schifm, and of the Separating Hu- mour, and of gathering Parties, and making feveral Sefts in the Church than I uas heretofore. For the Effedts have fhewed us more of the raifchiefs. ar.l Part L Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 131 ,21. I am much more (enfible how prone many young Profeifers are to Spiritual Pride and Self-conceitednefs, and Unrulinefs and Divifionj and io to prove the Grief of their Teachers, and Firebrands in the Church ; and how much of a Mi- nifler's work lieth in preventing this, and humbling and confirming fuch young unexperienced ProfelTors, and keeping them in order in" their progrefs in Reli- gion. 22. Yet am I more (enfible of the Sin and Mifchief of ufing Men cruelly in Matters of Religion, and of pretending Mens good, and the Order of the Church for Adis of Inhumanity or Uncharitablenefs : Such know not their own Infir- mity, nor yet the nature of Paftoral Government, which ought to be Paternal and by Love j nor do they know the way to win a Soul , nor to maintain the Churches Peace. 2;. My Soul is much more affliAed with the thoughts of the milerable World and more drawn out indefire of their Converfion than heretofore: I was wont to look but little further than England in my Prayers, as not confidering the ftate of the reft of the World : Or if I prayed for the Converfion of the Jews, that was al- nioft all. But now as I better underftand the Cafe of the World, and the method of the Lord's Prayer, fo there is nothing in the World that lyeth fo heavy upon my heart, as the thought of the miferable Nations of the Earth : It is the moft afto- nifhing part of all God's Providence to me, that he lb far forfaketh almoft all the World, and confineth his fpecial Favour to lb few : That fo fmall a part of the World hath the Profeflton of Chrifiianity, in comparifon of Heathens, Mahome- tans and other Infidels I And that among profeffed Chriftians there arefo few that are faved from grols Delufions, and have but any competent Knowledge : and that among thofe there are fo few that arc ferioufly Religious, and truly fet their hearts on Heaven. I cannot be affeded fo much with the Calamities of my own Relati- ons, or the Land of my Nativity, as with the Caie of the Heathen, Mahometan, and ignorant Nations of the Earth. No part of my Prayers are fo deeply ferious, as that for the Converfion of the Infidel and Ungodly World, that God's Name may be fanftified, and his Kingdom come, and his Will be done on Earth as it is in Hea- ven : Nor was I ever before (b fenfible what a Plague the Divifion of Languages was which hindereth our fpeaking to them for their Converfion ; nor what a great Sm tyranny is, which keepeth out theGofpel from moft of the Nations of the World. Could we but go among Tartarians, Turks, and Heathens, rfnd ipeak their Lan- guage, 1 ftiould be but little troubled for the filencing of Eighteen hundred Mini- fters at once in England, nor for all the reft that were caft out here, and in Scotland ind Ireland : There being no Employment in the World lb defirable in my Eyes, as to labour for the winning of fuch miferable Souls : which maketh me greatly honour Mr. John Eltot, the Apolfle of the Indians in New-England^und whoever elfe have la- boured in fuch work. 24, Yet am I not fo much inclined to pals a peremptory Sentence of Damnation upon all that never heard of Chrift ; having Ibme more realbn than I knew of be- fore, to think that God's dealing with fuch is much unknown to us .' And that the Ungodly here among us Chriftians are in a far worle Cafe than they. zy. My Cenfures of the Papifts do much differ from what they were at firft : I then thought that their Errours in the DoBrines of Faith were their moft danger- ous Miftakes, as in the Points of Merit, Juifification by Works, AfTurance of Sal- vation, the Nature of Faith, c^c. But now I am allured that their niif-expreflions, and mif underftanding us, with our miftakingsof them, and inconvenient expref- ting our own Opinions, hath made the difference in thele Points to appear much greater than they arej and that in fonie of them it is next to none at all. But the great and unreconciliable Differences lye, in their Church Tyranny and Ufur- pations, andin their great Corruptions and Abafement of God's Worrfiip, together with their befriending of Ignorance and Vice. At firft I thought that Mr. Verktm well proved that a Papift cannot go beyond a Reprobate : but now I doubt not but tliAt God hath many fanftified Ones among them, who have received the true Dodirine of Chriftianity fo pradically , that their contradiAory Errours prevait not againft them, to hinder their Love of God, and their Salvation : but that their Errours are like a conquerable Dole of Poylbn which Nature doth overcome. And 1 can never believe that a Man may not be faved by that Religion, which doth but bring him to the true Love of God, and to a heavenly Mind and Life : nor that God will ever caft a Soul into Hell that truly lovcth him. ,Allb at firft it would difgrace any DoArine with me, if I did but hear it called Popery and Arl- tkhrillian: but I have lone learned to be more impartial, and Jo diflih?; M?nfor iL. 132 T^f^^ LIFE of the L i b. 1. bad Doftrine, rather than the Doarines for the Men ; and to know that Satan can ule even the Names of Popery and Antichrift, againft a Truth. 26. I am deeplieraffli^^ed for the difagreements of Chriftians than I was when I was a younger Chriftian. Except the Cafe of the Infidel World, nothing is fo fad and grievous to my thoughts, as the Cafe of the divided Churches. And there- fore I am more deeply fenfible of the fmfulnefs of thofe Prelates and Paftors of the Churches, who are the principal Caufe of thefe Divifions. O how many millions of Souls are kept by them in ignorance, and ungodlinefs, and deluded by FaBion as if it were true Religion. How is cheConverfion of Infidels hindeied by them ! qnd Chrift and Religion heinoufly diflionoured ! The Contentions between the Greek Church and the Roman, the Papilts and the Proteftants, the Lutherans and the Calvintfii, have wofully hindered the Kingdom of Chrift. 27. I have fpent much of my Studies about the Terms of Chrijiian Concord, and have over and over confidered of the feveral ways, which feveral forts of Reconci- lers have deviled : I have thought of the Papifts way, who think there will be no Union, but by coming over wholly to their Church : and I have found that it is neither poffible nor defirabk. I have thought and thought again of the way of the moderating Papifis, CaJJaiider, Grotit/s, lialwin, &c. and of thofe that would have all reduced to the Hate of the Times of Gregory the Firft, before the Divifion of the Greek and Latin Churches, that the Pope might have his Primacy, and govern all the Church by the Canons of the Councils, with a Saho to the Rights of Kings and Patriarchs and Prelates ; and that the Doftrines and Wordiip which then were received might prevail. And for my own part, if 1 lived in fuch a Ifate of the Church, I would live peaceably, as glad of Unity, though lamenting the Corrup- tion and Tyranny : But I am fully alfured that none of thele are the true defirable Terms of Unity, nor iiich as are ever like to procure an Univerial Concord : And I am as fure that the true Means and Terms of Concord are obvious and eafie to an impircial willing mind. And that thele three Things alone would eafily heal and unite all the Churches. 1. That all Chriftian Princes and Governours take all the Coercive Power about Religion into their own Hands, (though if Prelates and their Courts mult be u- led as their Officers in exercifing that Coerci've Power, fo be \t): And that they make a difference between the approved and the rokrated Churches ; and that they keep the Peace between thefe Churches, and fettle their feveral Piiviledges by a Law. 2. That the Churches be accounted Tolerable, who profels all that is in the Creed, Lord's Prayer and Decalogue in particular, and generally all that they Ihal! find to be revealed in the Word of God, and hold Communion in Teaching, Pray- er, Praifes, and the two Sacraments, not obflinately preaching any Herefie contra- ry to the particular Articles which they profefs, nor feditioufly difturbing the Pub- lick Peace: And that (uch Heretical Preaching, and fuch Seditiom unpeaceablenefi, or notorioHS Wtckednef of Life, do forfeit their Toleration. ;. And that thole that are further Orthodox in thole Particulars, which Rulers think fit to impofe upon their Subjedts, have their puhltck Aiajnt£nance and greater Encouragement. Yea, and this much is become necelTary, but upon fiippofition that Men will ftill be fb (elf-conceited and uncharitable, as not to forbear their unne- cefTary Impofitions. Other wife there would be found but very isw who are Tole- rable, that are not alfo in their meafure to be approvej , maintained and encoura- ged. And if the Primitive Simplicity in Dodrine , Government and Worfhip, might ferve turn, for the Terms of the Churches Union and Communion, all would be well without any more adoj fiippofing that where ChrilHan Magiftrates are, they keep the Peace, and reprefs the Offenders, and exercifeall the Coercive Government: And Hereticks, who will fubfcribe to the C/6r//?;-fy? and partiality might give a fair excufe to the Readers incredulity : (Although indeed the true Defcription of Perlons is much of the very Life of Hiftory, and efpecially of the Hiftory of the Age which I have lived in ; yet to avoid the fufpicion of Partiality I have left it out). Except only w lien 1 Ijaeak of the Crom-welliam and Sediaries , where I ara the more free, becaufe none fufpefteth my Intereft to have engaged me againft them ; but ( with the reft of my Brethren) I have oppofed them in the obedience of my Conicience, when by pleafing them I could have had alniod any thing that they could have given me, and when before-hand I expected that the prefent Governours fhould filenceme, and deprive me of Maintenance, Houfe and Home, as they have done by me and many hundreds more. Therefore I fuppofed that my Delcripti- ons and Cenfures of thofe Perfons which would have enriched and honoured me, and of their Adions againft thjt Party which hath filenced, impoveriihed and ac- cufed me, and which before- hand I expefted fliould do fo, are beyond the Sufpi- cion of Envy, Self-intereft or Partiality: Knot, I there alfo am content that the Reader exercife his Liberty, and believe no worfe even of thefe Menj than the E- vidence of Fad: conftraineth him. Thus much of the Alterations of my Soul, fince my younger years, I thought beff to give the Reader, inftead of all thofe Experiences and Adual Motions and AfFedions, which I fuppofe him rather to have expeded an account of. And ha- ving tranfcribed thus much of a Life which God hath read, and Confcience hath read, and muft further read, I humbly lament it, and beg pardon of it, as finful and too unequal and unprofitable ; And I warn the Reader to amend that in his own, whicn he findeth to have been amifs in mine ; confeffing alfo that much hath been amifb which I have not here particularly mentioned, and that I have not lived according to the abundant Mercies of the Lord. But what I have recorded, hath been efpecially to perform my Vows, and declare his Praife to all Generations, who hath filled up my days with his unvaluable Favours, and bound me to blefi his Name for ever : And alfo to prevent the defedive performance of this Task , by fome overvaluing Brethren, who I know intended it, and were unfitter to do it than my felf. And for fuch Reafons as Junius, Scab et us, Thuanus , and many o- thers have done the like before me. The principal of which are thefe three : r.As Travellers and Seamen ufe to do after great Adventures and Deliverances, I here- by fatisfie my Confcience, in praifing the Bleffed Author of all thofe undeferved Mercies which have filled up my Life. 2. Forefeeing by the Attempts of Bi- fhop Murky, what Prelatifis and PapiOs are like to fay of me, when they have none to contradid them, and how poffible it is that thofe that never knew me may believe them, though they have loft their hopes with all fhe reft, I take it to be my Duty to be fo faithful to that ftock of Reputation vshich God hath in- trufted me with, a« to defend it at the rate of opening the Truth. Such as have made the World believe that Luther confulted with the Devil, K\\zx.Cal'vm was a ftig. matized Sodomite, that Bex.a turned P^pift, &c. to blaft their Labours, I know are very like to fjv any thing by me, which their Intereft or Malice tell them will any way advantage their Caule, to make my Writings unprofitable when I am dead-. 3. That young Chriftians may be warned by the Miftakes and Failings of my unriper Times, to iearn in patience, and live in watchfulnefs . and not be fierce and proudly confident in their firft Conceptions j And to reverence ripe ex- perienced Age, and to take heed of taking fuch for their Chief Guides as have nothing but immature and unexperienced Judp;ments, with fervent Affedions, and free and confident Expreffions ; but to learn of them that have (with holinefs) ftu- dy, time and trial, looked about them as well on one fide as the other, and attain- ed to clearnefs and impartiality in their Judgments. I. But P A R T I. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. i^Tt I. But having mentioned the Changes which I think were for the better^ 1 mulb add, that as I confeffed many of my Sins before, fo fince I have been guilty of many, which becaufe materially they leemed I'mall , have had the lefs reliftence, and yet on the review to trouble more than it" they had been greater done in isno- rance: It can be no fmall (In formally which is committed againli^ Knowledge and Confcience and Deliberation, whatever excufe it have. To have finned while 1 preacht and wrote againft Sin, and had luch abundant and great obligations from God, and made io many promilesagainlt it, doth lay me very low : not lo much in fear of Hell, as in great dilpleafure againli my lelf, and fuch lelf abhorrence as would cauTe revenge upon my lelf, wereic not foi bidden. Wiien God forgiveth me I cannot forgive my lelf; elpecially for any ralh words or deeds , by which I have ieemed injurious, and Ids tendei and kind than I ihould h.tve been to my near and dear Relations , whole Love abundantly obliged me 5 when luch are dead, though we never differed in point of Interelt or any great Matter, every fbwrorcrols provoking word which I gave them, maketh me almoff unreconcile- •able to my lelf: and tells me how Repentarice brought fome of old to pray to the Dead whom they had wronged , to forgive them, in the hurry of their Paf- fion. 2. And though I before told the Change of my Judgment againfl: provoking Writings, I have had more will th.in skill fince to avoid fuch. i mad mention ic by way of penitent Confellion, that lam too much inclined to fuch Ti^onls in Con- troverlal Writings which are tuo keen, and apt to provoke the Perlbn whom I write againlh Sometimes I liilpecS that Age fowreth my Spirits , and lometimes I am apt to think that it is long thinking and fpeaking of liich things that maketh me weary, and lels patient with others that undcrftand them not: And lometimes I am ready to think that it is out of a hatred of the flattering humour which now prevaileth lb in the World, that few Perfons are able to bear the Truth : And I am iiire that I cannot only bear my lelf fuch Language as I ufe to others, but that I exped it. I think all thele are partly Caules ; but 1 am furethe principal Caule is a long Cuffom of lludying how to fpeak and write in the keeneff manner to the common, ignorant, and ungodly People (without which kecnels to them, no Sermon nor Book docs much good ) ; which hath lb habituated me to it, that I am ftill falling into the lame with others •, forgetting that many Miniffers and Pro- fellbrsof Stridtnelsdodelire the greateft iharpnefs to the Vulgar, and to their Ad- verlaries, and the greatell lenity and linoothnefs and comfort , if not honour to themfelves. And I have a llrong natural inclination to Ipeak of every Sul^jeft juft as n IS, and to call a Spade a Spade, d^ "jtrba rebus aptare j fo as that the thing I'poken of may be fuUieff known by the words ; which methinks is part of our Jpeaking truly. But I unfeignedly confefs that it is faulty, becaufe imprudent j (for that is not a good means which doth harm, becaufe it is not fitted to the end ) ; and becaufe whilft the Readers think me angry, ( though I feel no Paflion at fuch times in my (elf j it is fcandalous and a hinderance to the ufefulnels of what I write : And efpecially becaule ( though I feel no Anger , yet which is worle ) I know that there is fome want of Honour and Lovi or TenJerneJI to others j or elle I fhould not be apt to ule luch words as open their weaknels and offend them : And therefore I repent of it^and v.?ifh all over-fharp palliiges were expunged from my Wri- tings, and defire forgivenefs of God and Man. And yet I mull: fay that I am ofc afraid of the contrary Extream, left when I fpeak againfl great and dangerous Er- rours and Sins, ( though of Perlbns otherwiie honeft ) I Ihould encourage men to them, by fpeaking too eafily of them ( as Elt did to his Sons ) , and lelf I fhould (b favour the Perlbn as may befriend the Sin, and wrong the Church. And I muft lay as the New-England Synodifls in their Delence againft Mr. Davenport, pag. 2. Pref. [ We heart iljf defire that as much as may be, all Exprefjlons and Reflexions may he for- horn that tend to break the Bond of Lozie. Indeed fuch ts our Infirmity, that the naked dif- eovery of the fallacy or invalidity of anothers Allegations or A^gutngs u apt tu provoke. Tbu in Vijiutes is unavoidable^^ And therefore I am lels for a difputing way than ever ; believing that it tempt- eth Men to bend their Wits, to defend their Errours and oppofe the Truth , and hindereth ufually their information : And the Servant of the Lord mult not lirive, but be gentk to all Men, &c. Therefore I am moft in Judgment for a Learmngor a Tuaching Way of Converle : In all Companies, I will be glad either to hear rholi fpeak that can teach me, or to be heard of thofe that have need to learn. T hn^ 138 The LIFE of the, Sac, Lib. I, And that which I named before on the by, is grown one of my great Difeafes : I have loft much of that Zeal which I had, to propagate any Truths to others, lave the meer Fundamentals. When I perceive People or Minifters ( which is too common ) to think they know what indeed they do not, and to difpute thole things which they never throughly ftudied, or expeA I Ihould debate the Cafe with them, as if an hours talk would lerve inflead of ?.n acute underftanding and feven years lludy, I have no Zeal to make them of my Opinion, but an impati- ence of continuing Difcourfe with them on fuch Subjeds, and am apt to be lilenc or to turn to fomething elfe : which ( though there be fome reafon for it ) I feel cometh from a want of Zeal for the Truth, and from an impatient Temper of Mind. I am ready to think that People Ihould quickly underftand all in a few words; and if they cannot, lazily todelpair of them, and leave them to them- felves : And I the more know that it is finful in me, becaufe it is partly fo in o- ther things j even about the Faults of my Servants or other Inferiours, if three or four times warning do no good on them, I am much tempted to defpair of them, and turn them away and leave them to themlelves. I mention all thefe Diftempcrs,that my Faults may be a warning to others to take heed, as they call on my (elf for Repentance and Watchfulnefs. O Lord, for the Merits and Sacrifice and Interceflion of Chrift, be merciful to me a Sinner, and forgive my known and unknown Sins, THE 139 THE LIFE OF THE REVEREND Mr. Richard Baxter. L 1 B. I. P A R T II. gitatedby States-men and Divines, by Words and Writings: which made it necefTary to me, to (et my felf to the molt ferious ftudy of thole Points : The refulc of which was, this confident and fetled Judgment, that of the four contending Patties, f the Eraftian, Epifcopal, Presbyterian ^nd Inde- pendant j each one had fome Truths in peculiar, which the other overlookt^or took little notice of, and each one had their proper Miftakes which gave advantage to their Adverfaries ; though all of them had fo much truth in common among them, as would have made theie Kingdoms happy,if it had been unanimoufly and foberly reduced to practice, by prudent and charitable Men. §2. I. The Erafiians, I tlu)Ught, were thus far in tlie right, in alTerting more fully than others the Magiftrates Power in Matters of Religion j that all Coercive Power ( by Mulds or Force ) is only in their hands ( which is the full fence of oar Oath of Supremacy); and that no fuch Power belongeth tothePaftors or Peo- ple of the Church ; and that thus ( as Dr. LtiJov. Molinam pleadeth ) there fhould not be any Imperium in Imperio , or any Coercive Power challenged by Pope, Pre- late, Presbytery, or any, but by the Magiftrate alone; that the Paftoral Power is only Verfwajivt., or exerciled on Volunteers; ytt not private, fuch as belongeth to every Man (to ferfwade) that hath a perfwading Faculty, but Publick and Autho- ritative by Divine appointment : And not only to ferfwade by Sermont or general Speeches, but by particular overfight of their particular Flocks I much like the Au- thority of Plato or Zem in his School, or a Mafter in any Academy of Volunteers, or of a Phyfician in his Hofpital, fuppofingthefewere Officers of God's Inftitution, who could as tht ground of their ptr[ivaftons, produce his Commiffion or CommaoiJ for what they faid and did. But though the Diocclans, and the Presbyterians of Scotland ( who had Laws to enabletheiti ) oppoled thisDoftrinc or the Party at leall, yec I perceived that in- deed, it was but on the ground of their Civil Advantages, as the Magiftrate had impovv'ercd by them by his Lawsj ( which the Erajfians did not contradift ) j ejf- cept Ibme few oi' thi h':g!i!?r Ihflef Ibitj who pleaded as the PapiHs T * for I'wewlidt Hioie< 140 The LI f E of the L i b. I. more, which yet they could not themfelves tell what to make of : But the genf - rality of each Party indeed owned this DoArine ; and I could fpeak with no fober Judicious Prelatift, Presbyterian, or Independant, but confefled that no Secular, or Forcing Power, belonged to any Paftors of the Church as fuch ; and unlefs the Magiftrates authorized them as his Officers, they could not touch mens Bodies or * Archbi- Eftates, but the Conlcience alone * (which can be of none but of AlTenters). fiiopB(//w g J 2.The Epifcopal Party feemed to have realbn on their fide in this,that in the an^ My Primitive Church there were fome Apoftles, Evangelifts, and others , who were profcffeth. general unfixed Officers of the Church, not tyed to any particular Charge ; and had iome Superiority ( fonie of them ) over-fixed Bilhops or Paftors ! And though the extraordinary Parts of the Apoftles Office cealed, with them^ I faw no proof of the Ceflation of any ordinary part of their Office, fuch as Church Government is confefled to be. All the doubt that I faw in this was, Whether the Apoftles thcmielves were conftituted Govemours of other Paftors, or only over-ruled them by the Eminency of their Gifts and Priviledgeof Infallibility. For it feemed to me unmeet to affirm without proof, that Chrift fetled a Form of Government in his Church, to endure only for one Age, and changed it for a New one when that Age was ended. And as to fixed Btfljopj of particular Churches that were Superiours in degree to Presbyters, though 1 faw nothing at all in Scripture for them , which was any whit cogent, yet I law that the Reception of them in all the Churches was (o timely ( even in the days of one of the Apoftles in fome Churches j, and fo general, that I thought it a moft improbable thing, that if it had been contrary to the A- poftles mind, we fliould never read that they themfelves, or any one of their Dif- dples that converted with them, no nor any Chriftian ©r Heretick in the World, ftiould once (peak or write a word againft it, till long after it was generally fedcd in the Curches. This therefore I refolved never to oppofe. § 4. 3. And as for the Presbyterians, I found that the Office of Preaching Presbyters was allowed by all that deferve the Name of Chriftians; and that this Office did participate ( fubferviently to Chrift ) of the Prophetical (or Teaching) the Priefily ( or worfhipping ) and the Governing Power ; and that both Scripture, Antiquity, and the perfivafive Nature of Church Gcvernment, clearly ftiew that all Presbyters were Church Governours, as well as Church Teachers ! and that to, deny this was to deftroy the Office, and to endeavour to deftroy the Churches. And I faw in Scrip- ture, Antiquity and Realbn, that the Aflbciation of Paftors and Churches for A- greement, and their Synods in Cafes of Neceflity, are a plain duty : and that their ordinary ftated Synods are ufually very convenient. And I faw that in England the Perlbns which were called Presbyterians were emi- ment for Learning, Sobriety and Piety : and the Pafiors fo called were they that went through the Work of the Miniftry, in diligent ferious preaching to the Peo- ple, and edifying Mens Souls, and keeping up Religion in the Land. § f. 4. And {01 thi Independant s, I faw that moft of them were Zealous, and very many Learned , difcreet and godly Men ; and fit to be very ierviceable in the Church. And I found in the fearch of Scripture and Antiquity, that in the beginning a Governed Church, and ifiated a/orjliipping Church, were all one 3 and not two leveral things : And that though there might be other by-Meetings in plagss like our Chappels or private Houles, for fuch as Age or Perfecution hindered to come to the mote folemn Meetings, yet Churches then were no bigger ( in num- ber of Perlbns ) than our Parilhes now ( to grant the moft ) : And that they were Societies of Chriftians united for Verfonal Communion ; and not only for Communi- on by Meetings of Officers and Delegates in Synods, as many Churches in Aflbcia- tion be. And I faw if once we go beyond the bounds of [ Perfonal Communion ] as the end of particular Churches, in the Definition, we may make a Church of a Nation, or of ten Nations, or what we pleafe, which fliall have none of the Nature and Ends of the Primitive particular Churches. Alfo I faw a commendable care ciferioris Holmeli and Difcipline in moft of the Independant Churches : And I found that fome Epifcopal Men ( as Bifhop U(Iier himlelf did voluntarily profefs his Judg- ment tome ; did hold that every Bilhop was independant, as to Synods, and that Synods were not proper Governours of the particular Bi/hops, but only for their Concord. § 6. J. And for the Anab.iptifts themfelves (though I have written and faid lb nuich againft them,; as I found that moft of them were Perlbns of Zeal in Reli- giiji), fo many of them were fober godly People, and differed from others but in the Point of Infant Baptilm; orat moll w tlisPoi|its of Prsd$ftination and frce- wi!i Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 141 will and Perfeverance, ( as the Jfjutts differ from the Dowinicam , the Lutherans ifrom the Calvmjis, and the Armtnians from the Centra- Remon/ir*nts ) : And I found in all Antiquity, that though Infant Bapcifm was held lawful by the Church, yet Ibme with TertuUian and Naz,ienz,en, thought it mod coovenient to make no hade, and the reft left the time of Baptifm to every ones liberty , and forced none to be baptized : Infomuch as not only Con/iantme , TbeodcJi»s, and iiach others as were converted at Years of Difcretion, but Augufiihe and many fuch as were the Chil- dren of Chriilian Parents (one or both; did defer their Baptifm much longer than I think they fliould have done. So that in the Primitive Church fome were Baptized in Infancy, and fome at ripe Age, and fome a little before their Death j and none were forced, but all left free ; and the only Penalty ( among men ) of their delay was, that fo long they were without the Priviledges of the Church, and were numbred but with the Cino ( though iomsfny thSt'Hic Magittrate is bound to execute thefe Penalties on Men meeriy as excom- nMi^icate j ) nor no more do the Prelates, when yet the Writ de Excommunicato ^--■'"1 '•• Capiendo, P A R. T li. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 14.3 Capiendo, is the Liia of all their Cenlures ) : But both Parties too much Jebafe the Aiagifrrate. by making him their meet Executioner-^ when as he is the yWjrg where- ever he is the Executioner , and is to try each Cau(e at his own Barr before lie be obliged to punilh any ; and they corrupt the Difcipline of Chrift by mixing ic with lecular Force j and they reproach the Keys or Minifterial Power, as if ic '^"ere a Leaden Sword, and not worth a Straw unleis the Magiftrates Sword entorce it. (And what then did the Primitive Church for Three hundred Years?) And^ worlt of all, they corrupt the Church by forcing in the Rabble of the unfit and un wil- ing ; and thereby tempt many Godly ChrilHafis to Schifms and dangerous Separati- ons. In all this I deny nor^ but that the Magiltrate muft reftrain all forts ot Vice : But not as a Hangman only, that executeth the Judgment of another; nor eo No- mine to punifh a Man becaule he is Excommunicate ( that is moft heavily puniilied already by others ) : Till Magiltrates keep the Sword themfelves, and learn to de- ny it to every angry Clergyman that would do his own Work by it, and leave them to their own Weapons, the Word and Spiritual Keys j & ■valeant quantum valere pojj'unt, the Church fhall never have Unity and Peace ; hucupjue frobatum efi. 3. And I diflikedyewe of the Presbyterians, that they were not tender enough to diffinting Brethren j but too much againft Liberty as others were too much for it J and thought by Votes and Number to do that which Love and ReafoA ihould have done. , fs-., 4. And when the Independents (aid [ A Worjhiping Church unA a Governed Church is and mufi be all one : ] And the Presbyterians faid [ Thej may be aU one though it be not necejjary'] ; yet in their PraAice they would have 16 fetled it, that they fhould no where ^be all one, but ten or twelve worlhipping Churches Ihould have made one Governed Church ; which prepared the way to the Dioeelane Frame j though I confeC it is incomparably better ( becaufe ten or Twelve Churches is not fo ma* ny as a thoufand or many hundred ; and becaule the Paftor of every Church had the Government of his own Flock, in Conjundion with the Presbytery or Synod, though not alone ). § 14. 4. And in the Independent way I difliked many things : As 1. That they made too light of Ordination. 2. That they alfo had their Office of Lay-Elderfliip. 3. That they were commonly Striker about the Qualification of Church Mem- bers, than Scripture, Reafon, or the Practice of the Univerfal Church would al- low J not taking a Man's bare Profejfwn as Credible, as a fufficient Evidence of his Ti- tle to Church Communion, unleis either by a holy Life, or the Particular Narrati- on of the Paflages of the Work of Grace, he fatisfied the Paftors ( yea, and al! the Church ) that he was truly Holy ; whereas every Man's Profeflion is the valid Evidence of the thing profefTed in his Heart, unlefs it be difpoved by him that queftioneth it, by proving him guilty of Herefies or Impiety, or Sins inconfiftent with it. And if once you go beyond the Evidence of [ a fenous fiber Confe/fum 1 as a credible and fufficient fign of Title, you will neveF know where to relt j but the Churches Opinion will be both Rule and Judge, and Men will be let in or kept out, accortiing to the various Latitude of Opinions or Charity in tlie feveral Officers or Churches ; and he will be paflable in one Church who in another is in- tollerable j and fo the Churches will be heterogeneous and confuled. And there is in all this a little ( if not more than a little ) Ipiritual Pride of the Weaker fort of ProfefTors, affediing to be vifibly fet at a greater Diftance from the colder Profer Ibrs of Chiftianity, than God would have them, that Co they may be more obler- vable, and confpicuous for their Holynefs in the World : And there is too much uncharitablenefs in it, when God hath given fincere ProfelTors the Kernel of his Mercies, even Grace and Glory, and yet they will grudge to cold Hypocritical ProlefTors, fo fmall a thing as the outward Shell, and vifible Communion and ex- ternal Ordinances; Yea, though fuch are kept in the Church for the Sakes and Service of the Sincere. 4 And I difliked alio the lamentable tendency of this their way to Diviiions and Sub-divifions, and the nourifhing of Herefies and Sefts. f. But above all I difliked, that moft of them made the People by majority ol Votes to be Church Governors, in Excommunications, Ablblutions, &c. which Chrift hath made an Ad of Office, and fo they governed their Governors and themfelves, 6. Mtl 144 ^^^ LIFE of the L I B. L 6. Alfo that they too much exploded Synods^ refufing them as ftated, and ad- mitting them but upon fome extraordinary Occafions. 7. Alio their over rigidnefs againft the Admiflton of ChriftiahS of other Church- es to their Communion. 8. And their making a Miniftfir to be as no Minifter to any but his own Flock, and to ave been fince filenced and caft out ) that its plealant to me to remember the Converle I had with them ; io aimable are fmccre and upright Men> whofe finglenefs of Heart doth imitate the State of the primitive Believers, when proud, lelf-feeking referved Hypocrites, do turn their beft Endowments into a Reproach. § ; J. When Dr. Wartriefiry and Dr. Good had fubfcribed as above, a while after Dr. IVarmeJiry confulted with his London Brethren : and he received a Paper of Ani- madverfions (not againft the Articles of our Agreement, but ) againft my Ex{)li- cation of them, and my Paftages which oppofe tholi Epifcopal Divines who deny the Miniftry and Churches which have not Prelatical Ordination : Thefe Animarf- verfions he lent to me with a Letter, which fignified his defire of Peace in general, but that he muft not ftrike a League with Faftion, &c. There was no JMame to this Paper, but long time after I learnt that it was Mr. Teter Gunning's, afterwards Bifhop of Ely. I prelently wrote an Anfwer to it, and offered the Dodor to fend In the Ap- it him, if he would tell me the Author. Becaule it is too long to be inlerted here, litndix. I have pat the Paper and Anlwer together in the End, where you may read them. After this I received from Sir Ralph Clare thefe enfuing Papers, as from fome Courtiers (which are of the fame Strain with Dr. Gtmnm£-i) j wliich with my brief Anfwer I adjoin. S I R, Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 151 SI R, TH E Influence and Tower you have in the preftnt Vajlor of your Church ( ivho is r»uch famed abroad, and had in a reverend Efieem as -well for Piety of Life, as for bis Learning, Moderation, and defiring the Peace of the Church ) gives Encourage- ment to your old Acquaintance, and Ajjociate in that One-glorious Court of England to defire the Favour that this inclofed Paper may he presented to hu Chrijhan Vtetv and Con- fuleration j prefuming jo great is his Charity, that he will not leave any ■wounded Soul unhealed, wherein he ts able to befiow h^ Balm. In this he extends not his Chanty alone as to a fingle Perfn, hut ( in me ) there are many more of your Friends included j who would have appeared in Verfon, or met in Conference, were it not our Man/ions are at too great a difiance, and the Malignity and Jealoufy of Times challenges Retirements, rather than Ajjemhlies. It is not civil in us to chalk the Method of Anfwering the Queries ; yet for Eafement Sake and Brevity, it will be jatisfaBory his free Conceffion of any Proposals in the Affirmative to be true without any Enlargement of Reafons j and for thofe Queries which may andmuH admit Dtvifions, Dtfiinciions , and Difcourfe on the Cafe , let the reverend Gentleman ufe his own Form, Judgment and Dtjcretion ; as believing he will proceed with juch Candor and Impartiality , as becometh a Man of his Calling and Eminency ; waving all By-Inter- efis and Relations to any Party or FaElion, either regnant or ecltpH ; which A£i will de- fervedly heighHn the high Efieem he is valued at, and your felf by this Honour done, en- gage me and many more of your old Friends ( in me ) to fubfcribe our felves Your Servants, April 20. i^ff. Theophilus Church, (A feigned Name) Certain Qmries and Scruples of Confcience offered to fome Learned Divines for Rcfolution and Satisfaftion. I,T"V7H ETHER may a Cbriftian Magifirate tolerate Liberty of Confcience in Re- V V ligion and Church Difcipltne without Scandal? 1. Whether may and ought a tender Confcience exercife and ttfe his Liberty and Freedom without Violence inforced by Superiors ? 5. Whether in Matters of Government Ecclefiaftical depending only of FaB, tie gene- ral and perpetual PraBice of the Church from Age to Age, be not a fufficient Evidence and Warrant of the Right, Truth, a?id certainty of the thing ? 4. Whether the Vocation of Bijhops be an Order Lawful tn it felf ? f. Whether the Regiment Ecclejiafiical by Btfhops hath not continued throughout the Chri- jlian Church ever fince the Apofiles , untiU Calvin'j days ? No Church Orthodox dtf- fenting. 6. Whether was there ever fince the Apofile's days fo much as one national Church go- verned by a Presbytery without a Bi{hop untill Calvin'; Days ? If fo, where was the Ori' gtnal ? in what Place? by what Per [ons? of what continuance ? and how was it loH, or changed into Epifcopacy, and upon what Grounds or Motives ? 7. Whether the prejent Mimfiry in the Church of England ( as tt now feparated fi^om their lawful Superiors or Bifliops ) be not Schifmatical ? 8. Whether all thefe Mmificrs that have taken the Oath of Canonical Obedience to their Bijhops, and have backfitden and fubmitted to thoje Powers that violently deprived the /aid Btjhops of their legal Powers and JitrifdiBions, by yielding a voluntary Obedience to their Ordinances, are not under a high Cenfure of Perjury and Schifm ? 9. Whether tho'e Minifiers now pretended to be made and ordained in the Church of England only by their Fellow Mintfiers without a Bifliop., be true Mintfiers or no ; or elje meer Lay Perjons, and bold Ufurpers of the Sacred FunB ion and Order, like Corah and hu Complices ? 10. Whether all thofe Minifiers which are now in aBual poffefilon of the late Incum- bents Parjonages ^nd Cures of Souls ( and deprived for their only adhering and ajfiiling their late lawful Prince and their Govermur, and alfo their Bijhops ) to whom tbey owed all 1^2. The LIFE of the ' L i b. 1, aU Canonical Obedience) without and bejide any Legal hduBion or Admiff.on, may not he re- futed as Intruders and falfe Shepherds ? 1 1. Whether it had not been an excellent part of Chriftian PerfeBion, rather to endure fajjl'vely lof of Liberty, Efiate, and ez/en of Life it felffor the maintenance and defence of the yujt and Legal Rights imjefied in the Church, and the Bifliops it's Superintendent Fa- ff ors, and the Liturgy and Service of the Church, than carnally for Self-intcreJ} and Ends, to comply and fubmit even againfi their knowing Confciences, to a 'violent and meer prevail- ing power and force in the abolifliing of Epifcopal Power, and the daily Prayers and Service ujed in the Church ? 12. Whether allfuch Perfons be not guilty of Schifm and of Scandal given, which Com- wunicate and he prefent in jucb Alimfiers Congregations and JJfemblies, whether in Church or in private Meetings, to bear their Prayers or Sermons, or receive their Sacraments accord- ing to the now prejent mode and form, more ef^^ecially in the participation with them in the Sa- crament of the Eucharifi? Or how far may agoodChriJlian Communicate with jucb with- out jufi Scandal given or taken ? J 3. Whether it be lawful andjufi for any Orthodox Mini/fer or Epifcopanan to accept of any Benefice with Cure of Souls, as the ft ate of the Englifh Church new (fandeth vtfible and ruling, without guilt of Schijm hy compliance to their Form ? 14. Whether as the Condition of the prefent Church of England is. The Mtniflers there- of may not legally, andfo juftifiably, exercife and ufe againfi the late Liturgy of the Church, there being no Statute Law prohibiting the jame ? And whether thofe that continue the Ob- fervtttion of the late DireHory be not perturbers of the Peace of the Church , ejfecially fnce the limitation of trial by a pretended Legality and Command for its obfervance , « expired and not reconfirmed. I f . Whether the old Jewifii Church bad not fet Forms of Prayer ? whither St. John the Baptifl our Saviour's Pracurfor, and our blejfed Saviour bimfelf, taught not their Difciples jet Forms of Prayers, and whether the Chrijlian Church ( ejpecially fince the time of Peace fi-om the violence of Heathenifl) Perfecution) had not, nor generally ufid fet Forms of Pray- er ? And whether the Mimfters now ex tempore Prayers in the Church, be not as well a jet Form of Prayers to the Auditors', whofe Spirits are therein bounded, as any fet Form o£ Prayer ufed in the Church ? 16. Whether may a Chrifiian, without Scandal given, appear to be a Godfather or God- mother to a Child tn theje New /IJjemblies, where the Mimjttr ufeth his own Diilates and Prayers, and not of the ancient Liturgy^ except the Words of Baptifm, I Baptize thee ( A. B. ) in the Name of the Father, &c. 17. Whether any Supream Earthly Pooler or Powers Spiritual or Temporal, joint or fe- farate, can alienate and convert to jecular ufes or imployments any\Hou(es, Lands, Goods, or Things once devoted, offered and dedicated to God and his Church, without grand Sacri- ledge and Prophane^jefi ^ although by Corruption of Perfons and Times they have been either fuferftitioufiy abujed, or too prophanely employed, hut rather to reduce them to their primitive Ufe and Donation ? 18. Whether the ancient Fa/ling Days of the Week and Feftivals of the Church, fetled both by Provincial Synods in the Tear i^Gz. and 1640. and confirmed by the then Regal Power, and aljo hy feveral Statutes and Laws, ought not by aU perfons in Confidence to he fitll obferved, until they be abrogated by the like Powers again ? or how far the Liberty of Confidence therein may be ufed in obfervtng or not obfierving them? the like fior the ufage of the Crofiin Baptifm, and the bumble poHure of Kneeling at the receiving ofithe blefjed Sa- crament of the Lord's Supper ? 19. Which way of fecurity and peace of Confidence may a quiet Chriftian order and dtjpoje bimfelf, his Wife, Children and Family m ha Duty and Service towards God, and enjoy the right ufie and benefit of the Sacraments and other holy Duties, as long as that part of the Catholtck Church wherein he lives , m under perfecution, and the vifiible Rulin£ Church therein IS fain Schijmatical, if not m many par titulars Heretical ? April 20th, 1 6y J. May Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 153 May i4th, i^5$- ^n Anfveer to the foregoing Qnefttons^ fent to Sir R. Clare. AdQuefi. I", rrlther that Confcience owneth the right Reh'gion aud Difcipline \2j only, or the right with Ibme tolerable accidental Errours, or a wrong Religion and Difcipline in the Subftance. The firft the Magiftrate muft not only tolerate, but promote. The lecond he mufi: tolerate rather than do worfe by fuppreffing it. The third he muft fiipprers by all lawful means, and tolerate when he cannot help it, without a greater Evil. I fuppole no Judicious Man will expecfl an exad Solution of lb Comprehenfive a Queftion in few words : And I find not that a large Difcuflion is now expected from me : There are four or five Sheets of my Manufcripts in fome hands abroad on this Point, which may do more to- wards a latisfadory Solution, than thela few words. Ad 2". Either the tender Confcience is in the right, or in the wrong : If in the wrong, the Magiftrates Liberty will not make a Sin to be no Sin ; but the Party is bound by God to reftifie his Judgment, and thereby his Praftice. If in the right, it is a ftrange Qyeftion, Whether a Man may obey God, that hath the Magiftrates leave, till he be enforced by Mens violence ? Doch any doubt of it ? Ad ;". Matter of Gcvemment depending enly on Faii, is a Contradiction : Seeing Government confifteth in a Right, and the Exercife of it. I am not able therefore to underftand this Queftion. Yet, if this may afford any help toward the Soluti- on,! affirm,That the general and perpetual practice of the Church from Age to Age, of a thing not forbidden by the Word of God,will warrant our imitation.I fay [of a thing not forbidden] becaufe it hath been the general and perpetual practice ot the Church, to Sin, by vain Thoughts, Words, imperfed Duties, d^-c. wherein our imitation is not warrantable. . The general and perpetual praHice includeth the Apo- ftles and that Age. But what is meant by [Evidencing the Right oi a thing that de- pendeth only of Faft] or by [Evidencing the Truth and Certainty of a Faift by general and perpetual pradice] ( which is to prove idem per idem), I will not pre- uime that I underffand. Ad 4"". I know not what Bifhops you mean. A Congregational Bifnop overlee- ing the People is undoubtedly lawful : fb is a Congregational BiHiop, being Prefi- dent of a Presbytery which is over that Congregation. Where many Congregati- onal Officers are aliociated, I do not think that a Prefident for a time, or during his fitnefi, ffanding and fixed, is unlawful. The like I may fay of a Prefident of ma- ny of thofe Aifociations again affociated, as in a Province or Diocels : And I be- lieve it w«re a very eafie work for wife, godly, moderate men to agree about his Power : And I would not ieem (b cenlbrious as to proclaim that England wanteth fuch, further than the adual want of fuch Agreement, or juft endeavours there- to, doth proclaim it. I am fatisfied alfo, that the Apoftles themfelves have de jure Succeffbrs in all that part of their work which is to be perpetuated, or continued till now ; though not in their extraordinary Endowments and Priviledges. But if the fence of your Queftion be. Whether one Man may be the (fanding chief Governour of many particular Churches with their Officers , having either fble power of Ordination and JurildiAion (as fome would have) or a Negative Voice in both ( as others ) it would feem great arrogancy in me to be the confident Determiner of fuch a Queftion, which lb wile, learned, godly fober Men,have (aid fo much of on both fides already. /fc/j". I. He that knows how /hort Church Hiftory is in thefe Matters for the firit Age after the Apoftles, at leaft, and hath read impartially what Gerfom, Rticerus, Parker, Blondellus, Salwafius, Altare Damafcen, have laid on one fide ; and Saravia^ Dewnham, Dr. Hammond^ 6cc. on the other ; would fure never exped that I ftiould prefume to pals any confident Sentence in the Point : And it's like he would be Ibmewhat moderate himlelf. 2. 1 lay as before, I know not what you mean by Biftiops : I am confident that the Church was not of many Hundred years after Chrift governed as ours was late- ly in England^ by a Diocefan Bilhop and a Chancellor jCxcluding almoft all the Pret byters. 3. Why do you fay [Since the Apoftles days,] when you before fpoke of the [General and perpetual pradice of the Church } ? X Ad i^^ The LIFE of the Lib. I, Ad 6'°. The word [National Church] admits of divers fences. As it was ufu- ally underftood in England, I think there was none for divers hundred years after Chrift, either governed by Bifhops or without them. They that will lock after the moft encouraging Preftdems, rauft look higher than National Churches. Ad-]"". The Queltion feemsnottomeanany particular truly-fchilrnatical Party of Minifters, but the generality, that live not under the Bifhops : and fo I anfwerwe- gatively, v/iiimg for the Accufers proof. Ads'". 1. 1 know not what the Oath of Canonical Obedience is: therefore cannot give a full Aufwer. I know multitudes of Minifters ordained by Biihops, that never took any fuch Oath. 2. The Powers that violently took down the Bifliops, were the Secular Powers : None elfe could ufe violence. And it were a ftrange Oath for a Man to fwear that he would never obey the Secular Powers if they took down the Bifliops, when' the Holy Ghoft would have us obey Heathen Perfecutors. 3. If it were fo great a Sin to obey thofe Powers, I conceive it muft be fo to the Laity as well as the Miniftry : And I knew but few of the Epifcopal Gentry or others called to it, that did refufe to take the Engagement to be true and faithful to that Power, when the Presbyters here accufed durft not take it. 4. Moft Presbyters that I know do perform all Ecclefiaftical Matters upon fup- pofition of a Divine Diredion, anS not upon the Command of Humane Pow- ers. Ad 9"". The Ordination of nicer Presbyters is not null , and the Presbyters Co or- dained now in England are true Presbyters, as I am ready to maintain. But wait for the Accufer's proof of the nullity. Ad 10". I. This calls me to decide the Controverfie about the late Wars, which I find not either neceflary or convenient forme to undertake. 2. The like I muft fay of deciding the Legality of Induftions and Admit fions. 3. If a worthy Man be caft out, had you rather that God's Worfliip were neg- lefted, and the People perifhed for lack of Teaching, then any other Man fhould be iet over them, though one that had no hand in cafting him out ? Muft the People needs have him or none as long as he lives ? Was it fo when Bifliops were caft out heretofore by Emperours or Councils? I think I may take the Guidance of a deftitute People, fo I hinder not a worthy Man from recovering his Right. 4. I never defired that any fliould be Excluded but the Unworthy, (the Infuffici- ent, or Scandalous, or grofly Negligent ) : And I know but too few of the Ejeded that are notliich : And this Queftion doth modeftly pafs over their Cafe j or elfe I ftiould have laid fomewhat more to the Matter. , Ad 1 1". I. It is a neceffary Chriftian Duty to fee that we do not the leaft Evil for our own fafety : And all God's Ordinances muft be maintained as' far as we can : But as I before difclaimed the Arrogance of determining the Controverfie a- bout our Diocefan Epifcopacy, fo I think not every Legal Right of the Church ( which it hath by Man's Law ), nor every thing in our Liturgy, to be worthy lb (lifFa maintenance, as to the lols ot Life ; nor the loft of Peace : Nor did the late King think fo, who would have let go fo much. But I think that they that did this [carnally for Self-intereft and Ends] -lid grievoufly fin, whether the thing it felf were good or bad : efpecially if they went againft their Confciences. a. I think there is no unlawful Prayers or Service now offered to God in the Church ordinarily, where I have had opportunity to know it. And I think we pray for the fame things, in the main, as we were wont to do; and offer God the fame Service : And that Mr. Ball and others againft the Separatifts^have fufficiently proved, that it is no part of the Worfliip, but an Accident of it felf indifferent, that I uieJiefe Words, or Thole, a Book or no Book, a Form premeditated, or not. And no Separatift hath yet well anlwered them. ^d it\ Such as you defcribed you can hardly know, and therefore not know- ingly Icruple their Communion ; for a Man's ends and knowledge are out of your fij;ht: You can hardly tell who did this (^againft Knowledge and Confcience, car- nally, for Self intereft I But if you mean it of your ordinary Minifters and Con- gregations, I am paft doubt that you are Scliifmatical, ifnotworfe, if you avoid the Aflembiies, and Ordinances mentioned, upon liich Accufations and Suppofiti- ons : And I fliall much eafier prove this, than you will make good your Separa- tion. Ad 4 Part IL Kev^endMr, Richard Baxter. ig§ ^d 1 3"". Permitting, you to fuppofe [Orthodox] and [Epifcoparikn] to be the fame, at prefent ; you may eafily know that the Epifcopal are not all ct a Mind but differ, Ithinkj much more among themfelves, than the moderate Epil'copal and Presbyterians differ : feme maintaining that the Ordination of meer Presby- ters is not null, w ith divers the like things ; which the novel fort doth difclaim. The old Epifcopal Proteftant may not only take a Cure of Souls now, without any Contradiction to his Principles, but may comfortably Affociate with the peaceable Miniftry of the Land, and may not confcionably avoid it. The Novel fort be- fore mentioned, ought to reftifie their miftakes, and lb to take up their duty ; but as they are, I lee not how they can doit in confiitency with their Principles^unlefe under the Jurildiftion of a Bilhop. ,o. Ad 14°". For the Point of the legality of the Liturgy, you call me to determine Cafes in Law, which 1 find my (elf unlit for. And tor the Directory, its Nature is ( according to its Name ) not to impofe Words or Matter, nor bind by human Authority, but to dired: Men how to underftand God's Word concerning the Or- dering of his Worfliip. Now either it direfteth us right or wrong : If wrong, we muft not follow fuch Direr many hondred years, that it (eems to fight with Vtfxxntws La-imnf. Catholick iiule, f>uod fcmfcr, ubtque c^ ab omnibus rece ft urn , &C. Let them therefore juftifie kneeling as lawful that can, fori cannot; and therefore dare not do that which Ihall be an owning of it, when we may freely do otherwile. J. Yet for all this, I fo much incline to Thoughts of Peace, and Clofure with others, that I will not fiy that fitting is of neceffity, nor that kneeling is unlaw- ful (unlefi where other Circumftances make it fb) nor condemn any that differ from me herein : Yea, if Lcould nototherwKe Communicate with the Church in the Sacrament,.! would take it kneeling myfelf, as being certain that the Sacra-- ment is a Duty^and riot c^ttaih that knefeling is a fin : ahfd ih that Cale I believe it isTior. 6. As for them that think kneeling a Duty, becaule of the Canons of the late Bifhops enjbynrngif, I hhve more to fay againft their Judgment than this Paper will contain. Only in a word, 1. If it he the Secular Powers eftablilhing , thofe Canons that binds their Coftfctences, Why do they not obey the preient Secular Powers f n all other things ? Ic is known the King coniented to relax this : And how- ever , this is little to them dist go on the Ground of Divine or Ecclefiaftical Right. And if we muftfo plunge cur felvesinto Enquiries after the Rights cf Secular Go- vernours, before we can know whether to ftand or let at the Sacrament , we are all uncertain what to do in greater Matters : for there are as apparent grounds for our' uncertainty of five hiindrtd years old and more , which this is no place to dive into. And it wouW be as unlawful on this ground to read any other Pfalm or Chapter, but what was of old appointed hv the Day, as to forbear knefclingafthc Sacrament. And perhips on the OopOlients grounds, it would be ftil! asfinful to feftrain a Child or Servant from Dancinj* on the Lord's Day. And if ic be Ec- clefiaftical Authority ih'it they ftick sx, that muft be derived from Chrift, and fo Originally Divine, or itisiicCe. And thi^h fpot to wade fo unl^afonably into the P A R. T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 5^ the main Controverfiej, i. Before they have prov€d their Legiflative Authority • 2. And that this Congregation is Jure Divtno part of their Charge, and under their Jurifdireat Joy to hear that the Work doth prober in your hands : fojhallwe be earneft with t!x Lard for a Blejfing upon your Endeavours. Thus refi Fenrith, Cumberland, Your, unworthy Fellow Labourers Sept. I. i6y3. a in the Work of the Gofpel, Ri. Gilpin Pd/or tft Gray ftock. John Makmillane Pajlor at Odenhall. Roger Baldwin A/»»//?er«>/^PenritK John Billingfley Minilhr of Addinghani. Elifha Bourne Mimfier at Skelron. ' ^ John Jackfon P<>/or 0/ Button. Thomas Turner Treacher of the GoJf^eL * For the Reverend our much efteemed Brother Mr. Richard Baxter, and the reft of the Aflbciated Minifters in the County of Worce- fier, Thefe. To this Letter we return'd the following Anfwer, ReTcrend and Beloved Brethren j WE received your Letters, with love and gladtiefi, ^ for their favour of Viety in general, fo of VeaceahkneJS and Zeal for Unity in Ifecial, which we have now learned to take, not as afeparahle Accident of true Religion, but as an Ejfential part. Wt have reverent Thoughts of many Brethren for their [tngular worth and work , who yet for their ABivity in dividing ways , are the grief of our Souls .• We further honour many as abhorring fuch ways, and being no Friends to any Dividing Principles, nor affive either as Leaders or Followers in the promoting them, who yet are fo paffively and pajjionately un- peaceable, in an impatient Entertainment of every DiJJenter , and making the lejjer Errours of their Brethren to jeem Herefles, if not Truths to Jeem Errours, qf^d putting fuch odious Confiruclions on their Opinions and PraBices, that they do thereby'^iake their godly -and peaceable Brethren feem Firebrands or Monfters to be avoided or contemned ; and fo affright Men intoidtfunion and di faff eBion. We yet more honour many who are more free bith from a&ive and pajjive uripeaeeablenefi, who yet do fat is fie their Confcieitces with this much, but while they exclaim againft Divifons, do little for the healing them. But too fmall is the number of fuch as you, who are up and doing in this healing work. Your Names, dear Brethren, arc doubly precious to us, as are your Lives. We have many helpers, in other Works of Piety ; but too few in this. Indeed, we are following on the Work as being con- fcious of our duty, but concerning the SuccejSwe are between hope and fear. Among our felves in thuCtunty, God hath (irangely facilitated all, and fatisfied mo(t of thoft that feem faithful in hts Work , on the Terms -which we have publtjhed : We hearalfo that in ma- ny other Countjes they are fiirred up to Confultatiens for thefe Ends ; and we perceive that the Excellency and Necejftty ^ Unity, Peace, and (ome RefoYmation, is a little more obfer- ved than it hath been heretofore : and that God begins to dtfgrace Divificns, and to put a zeal for Reconciliation into many of his Miniflirs. Alfa we have made fome Attempts with fame Brethren of another County, where are fome Men of great Learning and Piety, that are of the Epifcopalway ; and we found them not only much approving the Work, but for- ward to promote it with the re/l of their Neighbour Mimflers. Our godly people alfo through God's great mercy, are almofl all very tratlablt to, yea and rejoice in the Work.' Theje things give tts hope, that God is about the Reftoringof his People, and that he is kindling that Zeal for Unity and Reformation jvhich fiiall overcome the Fire of Contention that hath been wafimg ns Jo long. And O that we were as fur e that this Workfiiould proffer, as we are that it is precept ively of God '. For oHr parts, we cannot think that God is ouilding hts Church, tiU we Jee him bring the Materials nearer together, and providing Cement for, a fetled Combination. Of which as we have thefe grounds of hope, fo have we much caufe of trouble and fear, both fom the backivardnefi of Paflors and People to the Work. For we imderjlandp-om other parts how heart lefijome are to fuch a Work j and how averfe tboje are that are deeply engaged already in Parties ! We hear not of thoje hearty inclinati- ons to Peace, in the party wbofe averjnef jfou mention , as we hoped to have done, Ivhen we camefo near them as we do j 7iot croffing, that we know of, any of their Principles, (though Jilenctvg Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. i6^ fikncivg fome). They do in feme neighbour Counties z.ealo^y f reach againft' us, and cry Aown our way as formal and delusory ; waking the People mte-ve that -we make a Partjh and a Church all one, and that to cafi them out of the Church is to cU^ them out of the Parip'y and that we take in aU that wtBcome, be they ne'ver fo had : Though we have fully told them that we are taking in none, but difcermng who are in ; and lliall cajt out all whom they can fro'vefit to be cafi out. Some Brethren alfo of founder Judgments, do fiand at a difiance^ and wiH not come amongfi us, to tell us the Reafons of it. Some in other Counties, that are zJealous to promote the IVork, do meet with fo much oppo/ition, tergiver- fation, and difcouragerxent , that we hear it is like to hinder it with them. Alfo we find no't that love and peaceable inclination m the exafper&ted ^art of the Epifcopal Brethren, as might be expelled from the Sons of Peace. But the greatest dtfcouragement with tu is from our People : for though through the mercy of God diiers of us have encouragement , yet in mofi places the Alultitude hold off , and will not own as- And though Ged fo orders it, that the worf} do generally keep off tbemfelves, and few but Men feeming to fear God do joyn with MS, yet fome few of the moil z.ealous of our People, m fome places , do hold off, as dtjliking the broadntfi of our way. IVefind it » not only in Doilrinals, but Pratlicals, that mofi are for the Extreams, and the mean pleafetb few, but u cenfured of both. No Party will come to m, unlefwe will rejeS all ol her Parties, but them. It is itr thofe dif- engaged Chriflians, that are truly Catholick, and are the Servants of Chrift and not of Men, and that love their Brethren as Chriflians, and not chiefly as of their Party, that the great hope of our Succtfi doth confill : Though fmart Experience may pofjlbly recover fome of the reft. Our hopes depending in this doubtful fiate, we give thanks to God, that he addeth fomewhat to our encouragement by you. We adventured not raflily on what we have done.' It is near a year and half (incewe begun our Confultations. Oitr Profeffion was perufed by BiJJjop Ufher and others : Our Propofitions fcand by many far and near : and all was altered in them that any of them were trended at. Yet it ts far from our ExpeEiations that all fiiouldjoyn only on our Terms : Could we get them to Confultations for Unity and Reforma- tion, and to hold on till they did Jucceed, we had our defire. But indeed wefeefuch exceed- ing di^ercnce in Men f Apprehenfions, and fuch addiBedne^ to their Party in too many, and fucb » loathne^in others to dilfleafe the People, or weaken their own Intereft in them , and haz^ard part of their maintenance that comes fi-om them ; that we do expeB this Work (Ijould go heavily on j and if it pnve otherwtfe, we ihall afcrihc it to the meer good pleafttre of God, and his extraordinary hleffing : for no diiiibt but all the force will be raifed agamjt it, that the intereft of Satan in the ungodly, the heretical Dividers, the dark imperfeil Saints, can procure. But though our greateft Comforts would lye in- the Succefi ( becaufe we work not for our [elves, but for God and hts Church ) yet we find vtry much ix our upright Endea- vours. Indeed we have Experience of much fweetnef^ m the Work : Our very Thoughts and Speeches and Confultations of Peace are fweet. That our Mmds fhould be hereby occafioned to dwell Jo much cnfuch a bleffed Subjed, we find a great advantage to our own Souls j it much compnfeth and calmeth our Minds, and killeth the contrary Corruptions, and difpofetb us to love and tendernefi to our Brethren : So that were we fure to have no other Succefi, we have a plentiful Reward. As our ftudies of Heaven, and preaching of it to our Peo-^ pie, occafionetb juch foretafis that are worth our labour a tboufand fold , fo do the fiudies and attempts for Peace. Brethren, our hearts defire is, that as the Lord hath let fall on you , fome of the fame Spirit of Peace , as on tls his unworthy Servants, that you would joyn with us at the Throne of Grace m profecutionofthis Defign, and follow it bard with Qod and Men, and let us be minded of you tn thofe your Addreffes to God , not only as Chriflians, as you do others, but in ffecial as Peace-makers , that we may proffer in this Work, and the Lord would caU in the Spirit ofDivifton, and command down thofe Winds and Waves that have threatned therumeof his diflreffed Church ; and we hope the Lord will help us to be mindful alfo of you. Truly, it is fweeter treating with God tbim with Men. Tct both mufi be done. And as we defire to refifl all Temptations to Deffondency , jo we hope that the Lord will enable you to break over difcouraging Oppofitions, with fucb fixed victorious Refolution at becomes Men that are engaged in fo fweet a Work, and honou- red to be Leaders under fo faithful, omnipotent, and viilorious a General. Tou love not tl^ Work of Piety in general ever the worfe for oppofition j nor would you fjfrceafe as difcou- raged though you had met with more. Let it befo alfo in particular far Unity ami Refor- mation. We fliall next give you our Anfwer to your three Queflions. I . As we did purpjfelj leave thefiirft Queflion unrefolved, fo we are loth to put the Queflion to any one Ajfociation, much Ufi to all J left lie either agree not, or agree in Toints that may hinder the IVork, when ws forejee the certain difagreement of others. 7.. T* l66 IheLlfEofthe^ L i b. 1. 2. To yturfecond we fay, hi true that we take our Parijhes for true Political Chw-ches, and we take it as probahle ( m4 fa to be judged by m and others') that all thcfe that con- jlantly fubmif to the Ordinances and Mintfitrtal Offices, are true vifible Mtrnbers^and take themfelves for fitch ; exceft they do otherwije dtfcover their diffent. But bccatife whtrePro- fejjions are but implicit, or Uf expref, we have but a probability, and not a full certainty , that aUfuch Perfons do take thcw/elves indeed for Members , and becaufe whtn we call them to ac(juaint us exprejly, whether they take themjelves for Members, or not, they deny it, or refufe to prafejl it, and fo difclaim it, we now firft dijcern that they are no Members ; either not intending to be Juch all t ha while, or 'voluntarily departing now.fre ha've r^ore ajj'urance. of the Truth of our particular vifible Churches, than we have of each Alan's mcm'berpup par- ticularly. For fame do plainly profefthevjfelves Members^ and mofi others da that which amounts to a more ebjcure Profeffion, and which makes them guilty of Hypocrifie, if they tn- tend-nat what they feem to profef : But yet when they contradiS the jeemtng darker Pro- feffion by an open difclairmng tt, then they undeceive us, and ceafe that dijjembling : And Multitudes do openly prcfeji in many places, long ago, that it is their liberty to hear all Men, but they take tis for no Churches, or at leafi they take not themjelves as Members. Befides, when they difclaim our Power over them, they will not come near us to be ijuefiioned,or give any account of their ways, but teUus, We have no more to do with them, than others have wbofe Charge they are not under. Moreover, when they have cafi out themjelves, they are not capable of the fame Cafttng out by as, as thofe that are in \ for it cannot be wholly ab eodein termino. Tetwedonot, asyoufay^refolvetoexercife our Difcipline on thofe only that teflifie Confent j but only agree on no more, leaving the reft to be done as above, and be- yond thu Agreement. ' But that's your third Queflion, to which we fay. That we do not Prop. 1 8. limit our Publick Cenjures to thofe only that expreJJ Confent, as excluding all others, or refolving not to do it on any others : but only refolving here to 'do it. Indeed our Judgment ts, that Jo far as a fcandalotts Chrifiian bath Communion with t*s, fo far he may be caft cut ( not breaking Natural and Civil Bonds). If fame have the Communion of p.irticular Chnrch- Members with us, and others h»ve but the Communion of Chrifiians in Neighbourhood, and ordinary Converfe wherein we have occafiorl to manifeB familiarity, we may And ought to Cafi the former ( on jufi caufe ) out of Church-Communion, and the later, out of familiar Society, or Communion in any Ordinance that intimates Familiarity ; but out of that Church we cannot caft him, when he is not in it. Yet for many Reafons we judged it un- meet to put this lafi into our Agreement. 2. You do miflake otir Reg. lo. 0/ Prop. 19. ;» fuppofing that the Profeffim of Confent there mentioned, doth carry in the front of it, a flam refufal of our Difcipline. For if he profefS Confent , we mu(l take htm as a Member, and ufe him accordingly ; and by that Profeffion, he manifefietb Confent to our Guidance arid Difcipline in general j and the thing that he refufeth is only Actual Obedience to a particu- lar Ail of Difcipline, and that after the difcovery of Confent j which any corrupt Member may do. As for the two Points before mentioned by you, wherein you went not fo far as we, this much we briefly fay, i. Our 19th Prop. Reg. 9. Jfeaks of no Ignorance but what was before exprejfed, viz. of Fundamentals, and that only where we have juft ground of Sujficion of it. 2. We dare not dtjjwade your mutual Affiftance in Pafioral Offices to particular Con- gregations, where there is no offence taken at it. But if the Congregational Brethren pould take it as a making your many Churches to be but one particular Church, or a giving the Pafier of one Church a true Pafioral Power, and confe^uently Charge and Duty over othyr Churches, ( which you know Mr. Burroughs in his Irxnic. makes their great Offence) , then for Unity and Peace fake, we could wi(Ij you did forbear it. Brethren, Our hearty prayer is that the Lord would guide , quicken,- encourage, and fuc- , ceedyoW, in this bleffed Work. But the more excellent it ts, the more Oppefition expeB from Men and Devils, and your own Corruption : But the dearer it cofteth you , and the more unrefervedly J ou devote your felves and rejign all you have to God, for the faithful perform- ance of it, the more Comf^r: may you expect from God, and thefweeter will be your revitws J^ it at a dying hour. Brethren, imitate your Lord: Do the Work of him that fent you while it is day ; for the night cometb when none dtn work. Parewel : \ < Kiderminfter, OtUb. Your Brethren and fellow Servants, I'iich. Baxter, farvis Bryan, in the Name and at the Appointment of the I eft. Brethren P A R T IL Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 1^7 Bretirefti * r> Ecaufe you Dire- Paflorbftheir Church in Vublm, aflbciated with the moderate Piesbyterians there, upon thefe Pro- vocations, and the Perfwafions of Col. John Bridges ( my Neighbour ) : And thsy lent us together their Defiresof Correipondency, with which our Anfwer is here fubjoyned. Honoured and Beloved Brethren in the Lord, IT bath f leafed the good hand of Heaven to bring into our Tarts our much efl-eemed FrienJ Coll. Bridges, in mmh Mercy to us ally and by bim^ as alfo by fever al ether hands to ^ve us fome acquaintance -with the State of Chriffs Affairs among you : tnhich very much obliges us to Sympathife with you according to the jeveral Adminiftrations of Provi- dence, as becomes the Relation of Fellow-members and SubjeSls in ChrilFs ^^m'gdom. Hit Return into your Farts affords us an Opportunity to fgnify the fame, and how much we de- fire to matifcft it by real Dsmonfrattons ; through the good Will of him that dwelt in the Bujl}. In order thereunto, we thought fit to tefitfj our Willingnejs to contribute our utmcjt thrciigh his Affijiance, to the maintaining of a Chrifiian Correfpundency between us, that we may mutually receive and give the Right Hand of Feliowflnp, in a Seafvn of Jo much need. Whiljt the common Enemy is ft ill labouring to divide and dejlroy the Friends ofChrift in aU p.irts, it concerns us nearly to be jo much the more indufttious and aSlive in the promo- ting cfChrift's Intereft againfi his Power and Policy, the bitter Fruits of uncbrifttan Divi- Jtons we have too much tafted of, and through the Lord's Goodnefs have reaped already Jomc Benefit, from our brotherly Afjociation, whereinto we entered not long ago. The prefint Con- dition cf God's People ih Foreign Paris, as among us, calls a loud for a more cordial Uniofi and Communion among all Jtich who dcfire to fear his Name. It's therefore our Hearts De- fire, not to be wanting in our Faith and Prayers, Refolves and Endeavours to the fiilfiUins; of thofe exceeding great and precious Truths do eminently centre in thefe latter Days, that Chrift's Friends may receive one Mind and Heart, to (erve him with one Lip and Shoulder. TVe are thereby much encouraged to requeft your Chrifttah Affiftance, and Bro^ therly Correfpondency, that we may all be the better able in our fever al Stations and Relati- ons to promote more vigorouf.y the Intereft of Chrifi and of his People. After the fad pakings of this Land, and his many turnings of things upfide down, the Lord ispleafcdto promije us a little Reviving, and to open a Door of Hope, even in the Valley of Achor : Your favou- rable help is therefore earnejlly craved, that Ireland ?nay once more partake of the glad Ti-. dings cj Heaven, and the wa?its of fftany Tljoufnid fiarving Souls may be fafonably fupply'd with the Bread of Life. The particular of our Affairs Coll. Bridges will give you a more exacl Account of, and will be ready to convey to as the Signification of your Chrifii- an Compliance with our longing Defire. To the Bkfilng of the moft High we humbly re- commend the care uftbe fever al Nurjeries of Chrisl among you, that the Plants of his Houfe may fiourifij in his Courts, through the Supplies of Chrifi s Spirit, in whom we cordially de- fire to be and appear Your afFeiflionate Brethren Dublin '^.M. 8. D. i6j5-. ifl the Bonds of the Gofpel, July j". to ierve you through Grace^ Sam. Winter Paftor of the Church in Dublin. Claudius Gilbert Paftor of the Church at lAmZnck, Ed. Reynolds M. J. Warren M. Will, Markham. The. Osmonton M. In the Name of the ajjociated Churches of Chrifi in Ireland, Thefe for the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, Paftor of the Church of Chrilt in Kidermiitftcr, to be by hiiTi communicated to the (everd Churches of that AlTociation. Z Our I -JO 7 he LIFE of the .Lib. I, Our Aniwer whereto was as follows : Much honoured and beloved Brethren in the Lord, WE received your welcome Lines from the Hand of our faithful and much irnoured Friend Coll. John Bridges. It 7mch rejotceth us to hear of your brotherly /•fjocia- tion, and the Succefs, and more, that jottr Hearts are enlarged 7i>ith fuch De fires for the farther promoting of this healing Work ; and that you thus breath after the Vmon of the Saints. It doth not only rejoice us on your own behalf, and on the behalf of that defolate Land where you abide, but alfo on the behalf of the Cliurches in general-^ becaufe we fern to difcern the gracious Thoughts of God unto hts People, in founding a R by the Tidni^s of your Concord, we have received a?} increafe of thefe our Hopes and Conjolattons. Go on dear Brethren as One in the Centre of TJnity j and prevail in the Strength of the great Reconciler : This is the way that will prevail at laft j and however it be thought of by others will certainly be comfortable to our felves in the review ; when dividing ways will be all difgraced, and look with another Face than now they do : He that is for Vanity and Love is likeH to have his Approbation ovho'is one, and who is Love. Our Hearts are ovith you and our Prayers [hall be for you, 4hat you may abundantly reap the Fruits of Concord, in the ConviBion of Gain-jayers, and the farther Confirmation and Edification of your own. Tour Motion for a Correfpondency we gladly entertain, and jliall rejoice in the AJfiftance of your Advice and Prayers, and willingly to that end communicate our Affairs. We are now upon a joint Agreement to bring all the ancient Perfons in our ParijJies ( who will not do it in the Congregation ) to our Houfes on certain Days every Week, by turns, to be catechifed or infiruBed as ^lall be 7nofi to their Edification : A Work that requircth fo much unwearied Diligejice, Self-dtnial, and holy Skill, and tt^herein we are like to meet with fo much Refrfrance, and yet doth appear to tis of great neceffttyand ufe, that we earneflly crave your Prayers for fuch Qualifications and Succefies. The State of your Affairs we partly underfiand by the Information of Coll. Brid- ges ; We heartily pray the Lord of the flarvefl to find forth more Labourers among you^ and could we contribute any thi?>g to Jo good a Work, we fhould willingly do it : But able Minifters fit for the Work with you, are too few, and many of them fo weak of Body, that they are unfit for Travel, andmoH of them fo engaged to their Godly People, and the People fo impatient of a Motion for their remove, that the Work will be very hard j but Tife hope to be faithful in our Endeavours whatever be the Succcfr. Brethren we crave your Prayers to God that we may be faithful and Succefsful in his Work j as alfo that Brotherly Correfpondency which yott motion might abide ; and we remain Your Brethren in tlie Fdith of Chrift, Rich. Baxter, Teacher of the Church at Kiderniinfter. Jaivis Bryan> Teacher of the Church at Old Swinford. Henry \ Part II. Re'VerendMr. Richard Baxter. i Henry Oafland, Teacher of the Church at Bewdeley. Andr. Triftram, Teacher of the Church at Clent. Tho. Baldwin, Minifier ^f Wolverly. In the Name of thi ajjociated Minifiers meeting at Kidcrminflero Aiiguft 12. i6j5. To the Reverend our much honoured Brother Dr. Winter, Paftor of the Church at Dublin, to be communicated by him to the alTociated Churches in Ireland j Thefe. They wrote us alfo a Second Letter, which I here fubjoin ; Reverend and much valued Brethren, YOUR jiffeHionate Letter in Anfwer to ours, hy that Honourable Perfon, we have received, and do dejire that thefe Lines may tefitfy our 7hankfulneJS to you for your loving and free Acceptation cf our Di fires of a Brotherly Correfpondencjf. Tho/s Vantings of yours for the Feace and Union of the Saints, we doubt not ■will be to your Comfort at the great Day of your Account : Cod u not ttnjuft to forget your Work and Labour of Lovet Gij on therefore, dear Brethren, in his Strength whoje work it is, and of ivhofe Power and Prefence you have had fo great Experience : We trufi as our Hearts are with you, fo our Prayers jhall not be wanting for you at the Throne of Grace. We thank you for your Joy at our Afjociationand Succefs, and that we flill breath after that happy JFork. Surely if after our long Experiences of thofe woful Defolations that Di- vifions and Difjentions have involved the Sair.ts in, cur Hearts jlwuld not be enlarged after Union and Peace that mujt repair our Breaches, we fljould have Cauje to fujpecl cur Union with, and Love to our Head. We are not ignorant how much the Self-love and Pride of /owe, and the mifguided Zeal cf others cf approved Sincerity, have advanced the Defign of the grand Enemy by over eager and tmbrotherly Bitternef j even in matters circum- fiantial: Neither are we altogether ignorant how fubttlly that old Serpent and Deceiver hath laboured by a pretext of Love, to fwallow up Truth ; it being for a while the only Cry, Love, Love, yet not the lea'sl hint of Truth, which had moFt need of their Charity : being miferably tern and mangled. To which our Charity leads us to fft-tribute the Praije of many of our Brethren, as being unwilling to buy Love with the Lojs of Truth: It is the Apofles Advice that the Truth jlwuld be fpoken in Love, and that we [liould contend earnejily for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. But 2 hanks be to the Lord God of Truth that hath preferved his Darling from the De- vourer, making the way of Love exceeding aimable bccauje of Truth ; Jo that we trufl it will net lie untrodden by the Lord's People, through circmnfiantial Differences, whilB all hold the Form of wbolefom Words, con/idering one another, and walking together in what they are agreed, and waiting upon the Lord for the revealing of that, wherein they differ i ferfeition being referved for another World. That there are any Beginnings, and that by yon we hear of more, we earnefily deflre our Hearts may be duly and thankfully affected therewith ; praying the God of truth and Peace to uphold his Truth, and to flwwer down plentifully the Spirit cf Love and Peace, that as the Lord is One, fo his People may be One. i Tour prefent Work, we are in fame meajure fenfible of its Necejjlty and Weightinefs : Wherefore our Prayers fiiall be for you, that the Lord wbofe Servants ye are, and whofe work It IS would be with you to counfel, encourage, firengthen and proffer you in it, as we crave your daily Prayers for theje Infant Churches, that our God may vouchfafe his Spirit and Prefence to us whofe lot is caft in this WilderneJ^,having many Enemies to conflil} withal from within as well as without ; your Advice and brotherly y^ffi^ance we requeil, as we jhall have Occafwn and Opportunity to communicate our Affairs to you. Laflly, the deep Senfe we have of the extraordinary want of faithful and able Minijiers to carry on the Lord's Work in this dark Land, together with the daily Lryes from many Places of People that are periflnng for want of Bread, prefjeth us to reneov our former Re^^ueft to you for Help m this Day of our Necfffity ; and we are fomcwhat the more emboldned thereto, by the Appehenfton we find you to have of our Condition, however for the prejent you find not how to help us, Z s Tottt 172 The LI F E of the Lj b. I. Jour great Vlenty together with your Ajfociation , and nearveji of Habitat ions makirg your Vaftors attd People as one, befides the Univerjities are with you, ■which ( bleJJ'ed be God) are iveH replenijloed yt/ith many gracious Tlants , to whom your Unamity will doubt- leji be a very great Encouragement to fettle amongfi you ; -whereas our dijtance from them, together with thofe fad Reports which are caB upon this Land, render tts hopehj^ of any confiderable Supply that way. Thefe things we humbly offer as Motives to you for Jfaring fame that may be helpful to m in this Day of our Extream Neceffsty. And now, dear Brg' thren, moH thankfully accepting your Love, we recommend your Perfons, Labours and Flocks to the Care and Overflght of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who u the Chief Shepherd Mid Bijtwp of our Souls, whofe Grace be withyeu. Amen, Your Brethen, unfeignedly Dublin, Jan, i6th. i6y J. loving you in the Lord, Sam. Winter. The. Hook, '\ r Elders of the Church Ol. Huchinfon, C / ^^ Chrift in Dublin, William Markham, r f whereof Dr. Samuel John Price, j C Winter is Pallor. In tjhe Name and by the Appointment of the reft of the Affociated Churches in Ireland. § 37. About this time, Mr. T/ww extolling the Judgment and Learning of Dr. Ralph Brownrigg, Bifliop of Exeter, and advifing me to chuie him as the ficteft Man to treat with for Concord with the Diocefane Party, I wrote to him to that End, and feat with all fome Terms of Concord. He returned me a very kind Letter, profeffing his Willingnefi to prolecute that Work, and withal an anl'wer to'my Pro- polals ; which granted the main Matters which I defired, and w ould have united us all, if fuch terms had been granted when the King came in, and fetled the Church Government ; for he granted with Bi(hop V^her, that every Presbyter is, and muft be a Governor as well as a Teacher of his own Flock; and that fubordi- nate AlTemblies like Rural Denaries might be fet up in every Market Town, or in certain Divifions for the Performance hereof. But becaufe I found him too te- nacious ot the titular Honours of the Bifhops ( which tiiough I could have confented to my felf, yet thofe times would not permit ) I wrote to him no more, and feeing we were not like that way to attain our Ends, which was a prefent Union with that Party : But had I forefesn what fince is come to pafs, I would hare profecuted it farther, that I might have had more of his Confeffions to teftify againft un- peaceable Men. The Letter I wrote to him was as follows : MoH Reverend and much Honoured Sir ! '"T^Hat I an utter Stranger to you fhould make this Addrefi, I fuppofe will be no ' JL ftranger matter to you, than that the Weak fhould feek for help unto the * Strong, and that the Laws of Nature and of Grace fhould tye us to a mutual ' Communication according to our powers. So much of my own time being * fpent in fuch Paper Converle with Men whole Faces I never fiw, hath fomewhac * hardened me to this Attempt : And 1 know, that as far as you excel me in true * Wifdom and Humility, lo far will you excel in Condelcenfion to Inferiours, * and in Readinefs to do good : and therefore I have no doubt of your favourable * Acceptance of this Addrefi, if there be nothing in the Matter or Manner to hin- * der. ' I fhall take leave firlt to tell you my General Errand, with the Ground of it, * and then my Particular one. Nature inclineth ustodefire to know : and Grace ' to delire the right Knowl^d^e of God and of iiis Will ; from himfelf only, who * is the Father of lights, muff we have this Light, and from him by his appointed * M'jans and RevelatioQS. If I learn not of thofe that God hath taught , but ex- Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 173 ' petl: all immediately from himl'elf, I may live in Darknels. Where I hear of * the greateft Revelation from Heaven, thither do I cake it for my Duty to Addrels ' my (elf: and if there were infpired Prophets now as heretofore, I would go to * them : But feeing God now taketh another way, I think I ought to follow him, * and to be a Learner ( if poffible ) of thofe whom he hath any way moli emi- * nately illuminated. And though my Actions may be more ruled by many than * by one, where they have more Authority, yet my Judgment may be better in- * formed by one that excelleth in Light, than by many others. While I have ' made enquiry after theie Divine Communications, the concurrent Vote of my * moft learned, Ibber, judicious Friends hath direded me firft to you, as the Man * who for clearnels and foundnefs of Judgment, is the Oracle of this our Theologi- ' cal World. Though I may Learn of many hundreds, yet did I know where lb ' well to profit, and were ibfirong a Judgment as common as many och^r excellent * Qualifications, in learned Men, I Ihould have taken up nearer home, and not * prefumed to have invited you to any trouble. My firft Qiieftion therefore is in * general, Whether your Mind and Leifure will vouchfafe me the Liberty now and * then to intrude for the Refolution of Ibme Difficulties; not frequently nor con- * tentioufly, butfeldomand as a meer Learner. If you are unwilling, or not va- * cant, fay lb, and rid your felf of this Trouble in a word. * And though the greateft Matters that I would enquire about are Points of Faith * ( wherein if you have taken notice that I have wronged the Church by any of my * crude and hafty Writings, your Check would tend to a Reformation and be wel- * come),yet the particular that at prelent I (hall try your willingnels in, is in Point ' of Difcipline. I have long been very fenfible of the fad Divifions of the Refor- * med Churches hereabouts, and efpecially in England ; and longed to fee the day ' that Ibme wife compaffionate Hand would rightly attempt the Cure. As igno- ' rent Men know not lb much as the Difficulty of things, io I have thought that if ' there were no greater Hinderance in Mens AfFedlions, than in their Principles, it * would be an eafie matter fpeedily to Reconcile the moderate Epifcopal and Prel- ' byterian Divines. My earneft Requeft to you is, that you will be plealed free- ' ly to tell me your Thoughts, how fer this Accommodation following may tend to ' a clofure. m ' I. In every Parilh, where there are more Presbyters than one, let one be the * Chief, and his Conlent chiefly taken in the Guidance of the Church. * 2. Let many fuch Churches be aiTociated ( call it a Clajjis or what you will ) : * and let the fitted ManbeyourPrefident as long as he is fit,that is, during Life,un- ' lefs he deferve a Removal. ' 3. Let divers of thefe Claffes meet once or twice a year in a Provincial Aflem- * bly, and let the fitteft Man in the Province be their ftanding Prefident : Hither- ' to there is no Conceffion on the Presbyterian fide, but that the Prefident jiro tem- ' pre, be turned to a ftanding Prefident ; nor any on the Epifcopal fide, but that ' ( moft neceifary one ) that every Presbyter be acknowledged a Church Guide, * and not a tneer Preacher. ' 4. Let it be left to each Man's Confcience , whether the Prefident be called by ' theName of Billiop, Prefident, Superintendent, Moderator ,c^c. feeing a Name is * no meet Realbn of a Breach. ' y. Let no Man be forced to exprefs his Judgment de Jure , whether the Prefi- ' dent have a Negative Voice in Ordination or Excommunication, nor whether he * be diftinft in order, or only in degree, feeing it is not the ummmotts and right belief * concerning thele things that is of Neceffity ( for then they rnuft have been in our •Creed) but the unanimous and right pra8ice: But let all agree that they will * joyn in thele Claflicaland Provincial Afiemblies, and then only Ordain, and that ' they will not Ordain but when the Prelident is one, unlets in cafe of flat neceffi- ' ty, which is never like to befal us if this way be taken. ' My Queftion now is, Whether the godly, moderate Epifcopal and Presbyteri- ' an Divines, on fuppofition that .tl;ey can at prefent come no nearer to each other, ' may not and ought not thus far to clofe j and thus live in Chriftian Love and U- ' nity J feeing that we are bound to Concord in Praftice fo far as we agree in ' Judgment : and leeing that if any nearer Cloliire be yet neceftiiry, in fuch Uniced ' Bodies, and Amicable" Alfociations, Affemblies, and Correlpondencies, its moft 'likely to be attained this -way ^ and indeed no other chat I can as yet dif- ' eern. ' Thof«- 174 ^^^ LIFE of the L i b. I * Thefe Terms I once propounded to one moft Reverend Prelate now near you, * who told me, That with moderate Men they might fuffice for an Union, If * you are of the fame Judgment I fhould have the ftronger hopes j and if you are * not, I fhall the fooner let them fall. * Were your leifure fuch as to admit of further trouble, I would crave a word * for the Refolution of my own Judgment in thefe Points : * I. I am fatisfied that the Apoftles have Succelfors in all thofe Works that are of ' {landing Neceflity, and that Church Government is one of thofe Works, and that * its improbable that Chrift ftiould fettle one Species of Church-Government in the * Apoftles Hands for an Age, and then change it for ever after, and that they that ' affirm fach a Change muft prove it ; and this Argument flicks clofe. But then ' I would crave one of your ftrongeft Arguments to prove ( though I know that ' the Presbyterians grant it ) that indeed the Apoftles had a power by Office to ' Govern the Seventy, or the Presbyters as inferiour Officers, befides the power- * that they had by the meet intereft of their Gifts, and priviledge of being Eye- ' witnefles of the Works of Chrift, and Ear-witnefTes of his Word. ' 2. If the Apoftles Examples will prove the Right of an unfixed Ambulatory * Epifcopacyjec I would fee how it appears that ever they were fixed to particular 'Churches, or ever any of them had a diftindt and limited Diocefs, where the reft ' had not Charge as well as they. '3. I am fatisfied that very early after the Apoftles the common Government of ' each Church was by a Bilhop and Presbytery : but I can yet fae no Evidence that ' this Church for rjo or 200 Years was any more than one Congregation ; like one * of our Parifhes for number of People : which was Congregate in a City, and ' from the Circumjacent Villages, (as our Independant, or Anabaptift Churches - ' now are) ; while the Multitude were Infidels. I would therefore crave one clear * Proof that the firft fixed Biftiops ruled any more ftanding Congregations ( having * ordinary Afferablies and Communion in the Lord'sSupper ) than ,one only. And ' ' whether the multiplying of Believers did not make a real Change of the former ' Species of Government, while the Bilhop of the City took on him the Govern- ' mentof many Particular Churches, who had but onebeforej and when Bifhops ' fhould have been multiplied as faft as Cliurches were, and as Presbyters were : ' Some Paflages in theeldeft Writers incline me to thefe Thoughts, ofvvhich if they ' be wrong, your Correftion will be moft acceptable. May I crave, if not your ' Solution of all thefe Doubts, yet at leaft your Advice in the firft Cale of Praftice, ' and your Pardon of my Boldnefs, I Oiall undergreat Obligations remain Kiderminfter in Worcefterlhire A humble Reverincer June 8. 16) y. of your great Abilities and Dignity, Rich. Baxter. ■ If you return any thing, Mr. Underbill at the Anchor and Bible in TauVs Church-yard will convey it me. To the very Reverend, and much Honoured, Dr. Brownrigg Bi^op of Exeter, Thefe. Whereto the Bifliop made this fhort Reply : Worthy Sir, I Have received your kind and courteous Letter, the Evidence of your very fioas and peaceable Spirit, which I heartily defire may be a Provocation to others to lead them in- to the ways of Peace. Sir, Your Efieem of me and of my Abilities is the Errour of your Love, and of thofe that have reprejcnted me to you in too great a Character, (quod non humiliter tanfum fed Sc veraciter dico) only I fhall defire to beferviceable to God and brs Church in what I am able. Tour i Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 175 Tour Letter came to my hands at the time of my remo'val from Highgate into the Coun- try, here I ba've continued many Monthi fuffering the trouble and pain of the Stone, ■whtch which hath put me into a long and tedious Courfi of FhyfcL Nov/ I am upon my Jour- ney home-war ds^ from whence, God VJiBrng, I will write to you j being truly fenfible of your Religious Endeavours for fo good a Work as the Compofing of thofe woful Rents made in this Church. The God of Truth and Te ace guide m into the Ways of Truth and Peace, to whofe Grace and Bkjfng I do heartily recommend you, reding, SIR, Highgate July 3. i6yy. Your very refpedtful Friend fwho embraceth your Love, and returns his to you very heartily, Ra. Exon. And not long after I received this Anfwer: Worthy Sir I fAm indebted to you for an Anfwer to your Inut let them all agree that they iviU confiantly joyn in thefe CI affical and Provincial Affem- hlies, and then only Ordain ; and that they will not Ordain but when the Frejident is one j unkfi m Cafe of flat Neceffity, which is never like to befall us if this may be taken- Anfw. y. If by Prefident you underftand the Diocefan , then that the Billiop fliould be deprived of his Negative Voice in Ordination or Excommunication, and io I conceive in other Cenfures and A6tsof Government, is, to make him a meer Shadow without any Authority, like our Scrutators in our Univerfity, to propounc? Graces, and colled Suffrages, and pronounce Sentence : Surely St. Taul inverted Timothy and Tttits with more Power and Authority, both for Ordination and Cen- fures; but then to remedy the Inconveniencies of a wilful Negative, it's fit that an Appeal may be made to a Provincial Synod, that may examine, and if need be, reftine what was amifs in the Negative. That Church BufinefTes were Orcier?;d by the Concurrence of more Presbyters befides the Bifiiop in Cyprian's timCj was fit at that time ; when the Government of Church Affairs was Arbitrary, and not Regulated by Law; in which Cafe it was fafeft for the Bifhop to have the Conlent of others with him : This is not ourCale^ vfc have exprels Canons and Laws laid upon Biiliops, beyond which they cannot go, and fo may well be intiufted with the Execution of the Sentence of the Law, the Sentence of the Judge being only Dedarativa & Executiva, and if hetranfgrefstbofe Rules prefixed, he is liable to Cenfiirc. In our Church plurimum legi, minimum E- fijcopo reltntjuttur, as we fee in Civil Matters, one Juftice of Peace hath the Pow- er of Executing the Sentence of a Law or Statute, but no Arbitrary Power grant- ed tohim. That the BiHiop be diftinft from the Presbyter, whether ordine or gradu , is the Schoolmens Debate, and I conceive may hav^e fuch accord as may not ingender Ifrife. That Ordination be by the Affiftance of Presbyters is already required in our Form of Ordination, and if it be fixed to the Times of Synods it may be eafily granted, and fure that Blame that hath been laid upon our liifhops for Ordaining of infufficient Men is moft what an undue Charge : the Law of the Land hath fee that lownefs of fufficiency in Men to be ordained and inftituted, that if a Bi/hop refufeth to give Orders or Inftitution to a Min prefented by the Patron, he is pu- niftiabieby the Judges: As I have heard , Archbifhop Abbot was fined an Hun- dred pounds in c^le, he did noli adinic a CUrk (b meanly qualified as the Law re- qwires. Some Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 177 Some other Propofals are added in the End of your Letter. Prop. r. T Arn fatisfied that the ApojlUs have Succejfor'i in aU tbofe Works that are of X fianding ISlecefity, and that Church Government u one of thofe Works, and that it is tTKfrobable, thatChrtfi (liould fettle one Species of Church Government in the Afo- files Hands for an Age, and then change it for ever after, and they that a§,rm fucb a Change mttjt frove it. Anfiv. 6. Suppofing what the Apoftles did in ordering of Church Goverhment to be in the Name and by the Authority of Chrift, this AfTertioh I conceive to be very true, and it doth infer a Subordination of all Officers and Members of the Church to the Apoftles, and thole that were their Succeffors. . Prop.2. Whether the Apafiies had a Power by Office to govern the LXX. and the Tresbf' ters as inferior Officers, befides the Tower that they bad by the meer Inter eB of their Gifts ^ and Privtledge of being Eye Wttnejfes of the Works of ChriBy and Ear WttneJJes ef hte Words. Anfw. 7. The extraordinary Gifts of the Apoftles, and the PriviSedge of being Eye and Ear Witnefles to Chrift, were Abilities which they had for the infallible Difcharge oJF their Fundion, but they were not the Ground of their Power and A.uthority to govern the Church. That the Seventy, and fo other Presbyters were inferior to the Apoftles, and un- der their Government, doth appear to me, though at their firft fending by Chrift, they were immediately fubjeft to Chrift, the Apoftles riot being then eftablifhed in the Government of the Church, but when Chrift authoriled his Apoftles with the Power of Government, Veteftas Clavium was committed to them only, not to the Seventy ; and fo we muft conceive that the Colkdge of Apoftles were inverted with the Government of the Church, and the Seventy not having the Keys com- mitted to them were under the Authority of the Apoftles, and (b were Presbyters to the Apoftles Succeflbrs. Prop. 5. If the Afoftks Example witt prove the right of ah ttnfixed, ambalatory Epifco- facy^ yet I would fee how it appears that ever they were fixed to particular Charges, or ever any of them had a dtfiini} and limited DioceJI, where the refi had not Charge as well as they. Anfw. 8. I conceive the Apoftles as Apoftles had an unlimited, and, as you call it, an unfixed, ambulatory Epilcopacy, being lent into the whole World, and noC by Chrift's Inftitution confined to any one fixed Seat ; but yet that hinders not, but that by Confent and Agreement among tbemfelves, they might have a Diftri- bution of their (everal Circuits, as it is feen in the Agreement between St. Peter and St. Paul, which as it did not exclude their original Power over all Churches, lb it did accommodate them to a more opportune Difcharge of their FunAion, and accordingly they fetled their SucceftTors in thole Places, not committing to them an univerfal Jurildidion which was a Perfonal Priviledge of their Apoftlelliip. Prop. 4. 1 am fatisfied that very early after the Apo^les, the common Government cf each Church was by a Btfliop and Presbytery ; but yet I can fee no Evidence that this Church for i jo or 200 Tears was any more than one Congregation, like one of our Parties for Number of People, which was congregated in a City, and fiom the circumjacent Villa- ges ; as our Independant or AnabaptiH Churches now are, while the Multitude were Infi- dels ; I would therefore crave any clear Proof, that the first fixed Bijlwps ruled any more fianding Congregations, having ordinarily Ajjemblies and Communion in the Lord's Supper^ than one only, and whether the multiplying of Believers did not make (Mr. Lamb and Mr. Alh'M ) who were Paltors of an Anabaptilt leparated Church ; The Wife of one of them ( an extraordinary intelligent Woman ) wrote me a Letter that her Husband was in troubled Thoughts ( not about Anabaptiltry, but ) about Separa- tion upon that account, and that if 1 would writeto him now, it might do him good ; which 1 did, and gave him many Arguments to prove that though he Ihould contimre in his Opinion againft Infint-B3ptilrn,yet he ought not to make it a Reafon of denying Communion with his Brethren of another Mind. Thele Ar- guments met with Thoughts of his own that tended the fame way, and in concUi- flOB Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 8 1 — ■ ■■ .1— — .^ 1^. .. — ^■— ■■ ^ ' ~" — ^ " — -— - fjon he was iatisfied : Afterwards the fame Woman perfwaded me to try with Mr. Allen alfo ; who in conclufion was fatisfied : And they diffolved theJr Church. When this was done, the Men being of extraordinary Sincerity and Undcrftand- ing, were V€ry zealous for the redu(5lionof their Brethren of the Anab.iptilts way t And to that end they had a Meeting with divers of the mod moderate Paftors of the Rebaptized Churches : And they defired my Propofals or Terms on which we might hold Peace and Communion with them. I ient them thefe Terms^and they entered into ConfuUation of them, and were in a very hopeful way of Agreement C 1 faw no likelyhood of the contrary ) : And fuddenly the Broils of tlie Army , pulling down Richard Cromwell, and Jetting up I know not what, and keeping all in Confufion, broke off all our ConfultationSj till the King came in : And fince then Men dare not profecute the Agreement, left they be taken as Confjsirators, that do it in preparation to a Plot ; lb unhappily are the Affairs of the Church oft croffed, by Secular Interefts and Divifions in the World. But thefe two Brethren at laft calt off their Anabaptiftry alfo, and are now more zealous than other Men againfl Independency and Separation, by how much the more they fmarced by it. The Terms of Agreement here enfue, with a lliort Difputation preparatory there- to. The Letters that pafs't on this Occafion betwixt Mr. Baxter, and Mr. Lam^ and Mr. Allen, are inferted in the Appendix. Whether it he our Duty to feek Peace with the Anabaptifts ? Feb. 2?, Becaufs I conceive it no very difficult matter to refblve this Qiieftion, I fnail the more briefly difpatch it. Only two Terms do need fome Explication : 1. What we mean by Anabaptijh ? We do not here ule the word with an inten- tion of Reproach ; for that doth lefs befee n a Difputation of Peace ; but we are fain to make ufe of it, as that Name by which that fort of Men are already com- monly known, and diftinguifhed from all others ; as not knowing otherwife how to fpeak intelligibly of them, without ufing Defcriptions and Circumlocutions in- Jtead of well-known Names or Titles , which would be contrary to the Common Rules of Dilcourfe. The Perfbns called by that Name in General, are all that are for the Baptizing of thofe who were baptized in Infancy, as fuppofing it null or unlawful. Of thefe there are more Subdivifions than I will undertake to enumerate : As to our prelent purpofe it may fuffice us to take diftifid notice of thefe four forts of them; i. Thofe that only deny Infant Baptifm, and are for the Neceffity of Re-baptizing. z.Thofe that upon this account do alfo gather Separated Churches, withdrawing from the Churches whereof they were Members, and receiving none into Communion but the Re baptized. 3. Thofe that with the two former do hold many dangerous Er- lours, either Telagim or Antinomian, or any other, which yet do not fb overthrow the Foundation, but that thePerfons holding them may be faved. 4. Thofe that had fuch Errours as are inconfillent with a true Belief of the Fundamentals, and confequently with Salvation. And among the three former forts,we muft diftinguifh between thofe that are peaceable, temperate, and willing of Communion with us, and that endeavour not the ruine of the Church in their praAice : and thofe that are unpeaceablCj and refufe our Communion, and let themfelves to root out the Miniftry, or to deflroy the Faith or Church of Chrift. 2. The word Veace fignifieth feveral things , according to the leveral forts of Men that we are related to, with whom wemuft feek it ; i. There is a Peace of bofbm Friendfhip; and this we owe not to many of the Saints themfelves : For of bofbm Friends we muft have but few. 2. There is a Peace of Adtual Communion in the WorJhipof God, as Members of the fame particular Church: Thus we owe not to every Chriflian ; though fincere in the main.. 5. There is a Peace which is a- mong the Members of all particular Political Churches in the World, as related to each other, and obliged to hold Communion as far as is neceffary for the Conmion Good. 4. There is a Peace which is common to aJl profeffed Chriftians, Mem- bers of the Univerfal Church, though perhaps of no particular Political Church. 5. There is a Peace to be kept with fbber Heathens or Infidels. 6. And there is a Peace to be kept with Enemies, both of us and the Gofpel, as far as we can. I fhall give you my Thoughts about the prefent Queftion, in thefe following Propolitions : Premifing that i. It is not the Peace of bofom Friendlhip that the Queftion intendeth ; and Ergo, we need not ffand on that. 2. Nor is it the Peace that is due to Enemies, or that is due to Infidels and thofe without ; but it is the other forts due to the feveral forts of Chriftians. Prep. J, i82 The LI F E of the L i b. I. Prop. I. We may not have that Peace which u proper to Chri[Hami much hS that tvhich js f roper to Chrifiians in Church-Order, with any that deny the Ejjentiah ofChrifit- anity. , Prop, 2. As for thofe Anabaptifts that in zeal for their Opinion do endeavour the Ex- tirpation of the Mmifiry, or of thofe of thefn that are aguinii thar Opinions, or any otbtr TV ay do attempt that -which ■would tend to the ruine or great damage of the Church, ivemay not have that Peace and Communion with them m with inoffenfive Rrcthrent hut mujf ad- monijh them as fcandalom and grop Sinners, and avoid them , tf after due admonition the^ deftjl not^ and repent not. Prop. 3 . Thofe that deny the Divine Infiitution , or prefent ExiHence of Minifiry, er TVor(hip and Ordinances, or governed Churches, are uncapable of being Members of any true Political Church, and Ergo, we cannot have Juch Church-Communion with them ; and he- caufe their Doilrine is of heinom Con/e^aence, as tending to the defiruQion of all Church- Order, Worflnp and Commttmon, we mu(l rejecl them, tf they Jliall teach it after due Admo- nition. Prop. 4. As for them that think it unlaivful to have Communion with us , unle^ we will renounce our Infant Baptijm, and he rcbaptized, vie cannot have Communion wtth them, in that Cafe, though we would ; hecaufe they rcfufeit with its. Prop. y. We cannot lawfully difown the Truth of God, nor own their Errours for Communion with them ; nor may we yield for any fetch Ends to be rebaptizcd. Prop. 6. We may not lawfully be Members of a Church of Anabaptifts , feparated on that Account from others, (^nor of a7iy other unlawfully feparated Church,') nor ordinarily Communicate with them in their way of Separation, though we might be admitted to it without any other difowning the Truth or owning their Mifiakes. Except it were in a cafe of Necejfety, ( as if fucb a Church were removed among Infidels or grefe Htreticks ) where "ive could have no better Communion in worfeiippmg God, Prop. 7. If any one that Erreth but in the bare Point of Infant JBaptifm, or other Er- rours that feibvert not the Chrifiian Faith, (t)all yet take it to be his duty to propagate thofe Errours, it will be the duty of every Orthodox Minijier, when he hath a Call and findtth it NeceJJary, to defend the Truth of fuch Errours, and to endeavour the efeabliptng of the Minds of the People, and not to let them go on without Controll or ContradtlHon, lejt he be guilty of betraying the Truth and Peace of the Church, and the Souls of the People who are ufetally forelj endangered hereby : The like mufi be done by Private Chrifiians private!/, or according to their Places and Capacities. So much for the Negative ; The Affirmatives follow. Prop. I. The Common Love which is due to all Men, and the Common Peace which mufi be endeavoured with all, must be held or endeavoured as to them that deriy the Efjen- tials of Chrifiianity. But, as is before faid, this is not it that the Quefiion doth in- tend. Prop. 2. It is our Duty to do the befi we can to reclaim any Erroneous or Ungodly Ter- fon from his Errour or Iwpiety, that fo they may he capable of that further Love and Peace a7id Communion with vs, which in their prefent fiatt they are uncapable of. Prop. 3. Thofe that believe not feme Points that are ncceffary to the Confiitution or Communion of Political Churches, if yet they believe in Chrifi j and worflnp God fo far at they know his Will, and live uprightly, may he true Chrifiians , and fo to be efieemed, even when they make themfelves uncapable of being Members of any Political Church. Prop. 4. Some Anabaptifis and others that make themfelves uncapable of being Members of the fame particular Churches with us, or of local Communion in God's WorJJjip, mayydt be acknowledged to be Chrifiian Societies, or truly particular Political Churches , though in ■ tantum corrupt, and fenfuUy feparated. I mean this of all thofe that differ not from tss tn any Article of our Creed or Fundamental of Chrifiian Religion, nor yet in any Fundamen- tal of Church Policy: As e. g. thofe that only re- baptize and deny Infant Baptifm, or alfe held fomc of the le(S dangerous Points of Antinsmianifm or^elagtanijmh but withal hold all the I'lmdamentals neccjjary to Salvation, and Church PoRcy or Communion. Prop. <) . If any Perfon difelaim his Infant Baptifm, and be Re-baptized, and then having • fo fatisfied his Con(cicnce, Jliall continue his Communion yiith the Church where he was a Member, and not feparate from them, and Jliall profef his rpillingnefe to embrace the Truth -J as Joon as he can difeern the Evidence of it, and Jhall live piaceably and inoffenfively under the Over fight of the Church-Guides, we may not Exclude fuch a one from our Communion, but mull continue him a Member of that particular Churchy and live with him in that love 0nd peace as is due to fuch. < -. Prop. 6, P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 183 Prop. 6. Iffttch an ene fltould aljo mi(iakt it to be bis Duty, fubUcklyto enter his DiJJent to the DoBrine of Infant Baftifm, and fo to aojuiefce, and live quietly under the cver/ight of the Miniftry , and in the Communion of that Church, be ought not to he re- jected. Prop. 7. It is our Duty to invite thofe called Anahaptifis now among us, to loving familiar Conferences ; of furfofe i. To narrow our Vtjfercnces as far as is ffjfble, by a true fiating of them, that they feem not greater than they are : 2. And to endeavour, if toffibk yet to come nearer, by reSlifysng ofMifiakes : 3. And to confult how to improz'e the Prin- ciples that we are aU agreed in, to the Common Good, and to manage our remaining Diffe- rences in the mofi peaceable manner, and to the leafi dtflurhance or hurt of tht Chmch. Here come in two more Queftions to be refolved : i.How Jhouldfucb an Attempt be managed? 2. What hope is there of SucceJ!? For the firft, I ftall briefly give in my Thoughts in fome Direftions. DireB. I. Let the Attempt be made with none that deny the Principles of Chri- ilianity or Ghurch-Communion ; but with thofe only that Err j and have fiich Errours as are tolerable. 2. Let only the moft Sober and Judicious be the Agents in this Attempt, who do manifeft fome efteem for the Honour of God and the Common Good, and a willingnels to prefer thefe before any private Interefts of their own or any o- thers. 5. Let prudent hands draw up all thole Points wherein we are agreed ( leaving the Difference no wider than it is ), and let thefe be all fubfcribed to by each Party. 4. Let all thefe Points wherein we are agreed be publifhed in our feveral Con- gregations, that the People may not, by our difagreement in other things, be dag- gered in thefe, nor make that their pretence for any ungodly Principles or Prafti- ces ; but may be the more alhamed of them, when they fee they are condemned by us all. f. Let us next agree to make thefe Common Truths the common and ordinary Matter of our Preaching, and endeavour with our firft andgreateft diligence to pro- mote them, and to perfwade all our hearers to do the like. 6. Let each Party openly dilbwnall thofe that rejed the great and commonTruths, though they may agree with us in thofe Particulars wherein we oppofe each other. And if they be intolerable Errours which they Err in, let us renounce their Com- munion. 7. Lee us next draw up the State of our Difference as clearly , and in as narroW room as is poflible. 8. Let us agree upon fome neceffary Rules for the moft harmlefs managing of thefe Differences ; that the Common Truths and the Souls of Men may be as little hazarded by them as may be, and the known and neceffary Duties of Chriftian Love and Communion, as little hindered. E. g. The moderate Anabaptifts that take not their Opinions to be a fufficient ground for Separation from our Churches, may agree on fuch Terms as thefe fol- lowing. 1. Let there be no withdrawing from the Miniftry and Church of that Place up- on the meer ground of Baptifm. If the Minifter be an Anabaptift,let not us with° draw from him on that ground, and if he be a Px'dobaptift, let not them withdraw from us. 2. If the Paftor be for or againft Infant Baptifm, and think he have a Call to deliver his Judgment, let not the private Member think he is ftiil bound to con- tradiA him, or withdraw ; but having once publickly entered his diffent to that Dodrine, and protefted that his Prefence and Patience doth not fignifie an Own- ing of it ( if his Confcience urge him to go (o far), let him afterward acquiefce and walk refpedfully, lovingly and obediently to the Faftors in all lawful things. ;. Thofe that are fo moderate as to take Infants for Church Members, though not to be Baptized, let them openly make profeffion of it. 4. Thofe that do not take them for Members, if yet they have any more hope: of them than of Heathen Children, or think it a Duty in any fort to dedicate them to God, let them bring them to the Congregation, and there in general profefs their hopes and the grounds of them, and either dedicate them to God, or pro- fefs their willingnels to do it to the utmoft of their Intereft and Capacity, and de- fire God to accept them and blefs them. i. Lee 184. T^he LIFE of the Lib. I, r. Let thole that are for Infant Baptifm profefs that a Perfonal Faith and Re- pent.ince is of Necefltty to the Salvation of all that live to years of Difcretion, and Baptifm without it will not ferve the turn. 6, Let all that are Baptized in Infancy, publickly own and renew that Covenant when they come to years of Difcretion, before they are admitted to the Lord's Supper. Thus far in Confiftency with the Principles of the Moderate, we may yield to each other,and fo hold Communion in the fame Congregations : and the pradice of this doth belong moft to the People. But for thofe that joyn Separation to Anabaptifm, yet if they be any thing mo- derate ( though they go much further from us than the reft ) we may agree on thefe following Terms with them, to manage our Differences to the leaft wrong to the Church and Common Truths. R. I . Let us promiie to go no further from each others Communion, than after ferious Confideration, our Confciences fhall tell us it is our Duty to do. 2. Let us declare that though one part be confident that Infant Baptifm is a Duty, and the other that it is a Sin, yet we judge that they that Err here, while they fin- cerely defire to know the Truth, may be (aved, notwithftanding that Errour, ( What it will prove to the Children, if the Parent accept nor the Covenant for them, and devote them not to God, will be a hard difpute) which I Ihall not now prefume to meddle in). 3. Let it be declared that we take each other for Chriftians, and Churches of Chrift. 4. Let it be declared that we take the rightly called Miniftry of each Church for true Minifters. 5", If any of each others Flock fhall reproach or difown their Minifters and the Churches they are of,meerly becaufe of their Judgment about Infont Baptifm,letthe contrary part, having opportunity, reprove them ftarply,and help to humble them, and bring them to the Confeflion of their Sin, and to Reformation; thatfo proud, unruly, ungodly People may not take ftelter under either Party by the means of any fa(5J:ioufnefs or partiality of ours. 6. Let us never intrude into each others Charge without the Paftors Con- lent. 7. Let us agree that we will not preach for or againft Infant Baptifm, when our Confciences tell us that the Peoples ignorance of greater Truths, or their Ungod- linefs doth require us to deal with them on more weighty Points. 8. Let us preach as feldom for or againft Infant Baptifm, as Confcience will per- mit J and particularly let that which herein wc account the Truth, have but its due proportion of Our Time, compared with the multitude and gieatnels of other Truths. 9. Let thefe Points alio have but an anfwerable proportion of our Zeal, that we make not People believe that they are greater Matters than they are. 10. Let us not endeavour to reproach one another when we think we are bound to fpeak for our Opinions ; that we make not each other uncapable of do- ing the People good. 2. As to the fecond Queftion, What hope of SucceJS ? I Ihall not prefume to de- termine it : Let every Man conjefture as he feethCaufe ; for my own part , I am not quite out of hope,offome mealureof Succelswithfbme few particular Perlbnsj but my hopes are very low as to the generality. ObjeA. I. It ti not our Duty to attempt a Work where there is no hope ofSuccef. Anjw. The Cafe is not (b defperate as to SKCuIe us from the Duty : A poflibility with the leaft probability may ferve to oblige us. Objed. 2. What .' Jhall we cotifint to the Exclufion of Infants fiom their Churches ? Afij'v. No J but confent to improve the common Truths, and perform our Du- ties even to (uch as differ from us in this. Objed:. ^. There it not one of an hundred of them that will confent to thefe Terms. Anjiv. If they will not, who can help it ? when we have tried them,we have done Our Duty, and left them without Excufe. Objeft. 4. Shall wc confefi a Schifmatical Church for a true Church ? AnJw. Every Schifm nuUeth not the Church or Miniftry that is guilty of it : ells moft ot the Churches in the World were nulled : If they rejeft the Eflentials of a Church they are none. - ' ' Obieehe Fropofttions or Articles following^ the Churches in thefe Illa- tions may ha but thofo that bring themlelves to it by the fame Ettimatioh have their Liberty as he. 10. Though Pa pi t II. Reverend Mr. Ri(?Ji3ftd Baxter. ~X97^ 10. Though it,,benotof neceflity,,jteD would Jc' be of |,rgftA;o?^y(?nJ6f)aji-.80d ufe, if the M^igiftrate would be wirh us^, or appoint, jom^ ' i>ub|f|tute,.to r^^ii^c him in all our AlTemblies, that he m-iy be a Witinefs of oar Proceedio^^^^-i^ f^e that we do no vvrongtothe CommonvvcaUhj and 3 void all Suigjcipns tl^Cinf^y be occafioned by Rumors : But principafly that he may fee how far it is meet fo.r,.^im in any cafe to fecond us by his Power. For as in many c^fe tlv^^Pov^er gf tj^Q Magiftrate ought to be ufed to fecond the Miniftry ( as to reftrain Men tVofUBB^- liibing damnable Herefies, from difturbingths Chuidies Peacq, '«^'<;,) I9 jy^^h^jf ic a vile abuie of Magiftrates to require them, to be ,th^, megr^ ^x^ociEJyf^jl^jjf our Sentences, and to punilh Men only becaufe we hava ExcoiiMTjur)ic^^fi^ti»«i, before he know the jultneG of the caufe. As tha Qhurch or jj^iltejs av& J4»c}gj^ es, when the Queftion is [whether fuch a Man is, to be avoided, r,«j«fted, or e.^qpiij,- raanicated for Herefie or any Sin .' j (othe Magiftrate only is Judge vvive(j^f%^<^tw- Ition is, [whether he be to be corporally' puniilisd for Herdie or any Sin? J/.aod therefore he mutt know the caufe. , , . , .\i,.,,,.,^,-T 11. As thofe Neighbour- Minifters that live at conveniei^c DLftince for ifaoK Communion, fhould hold fuch Affociations as aforefaid, iq ttje -(^omi;ouniQ8'/©f Chriftialis and Paitors in fpecial being to be extended as far aS:naturalandHiQral ca? paclty will permit, ic is meet that tl^re be for more extenfive Coii\muiuon, lom$ more'general AlTemblies of the Minifters, to be held by thePel3^t>'.. Wv, ,v^o;^ .^.^S^W-l sCvV 12. Ifthefe Ailociations ihouid attempt any thing unjuft and 'ifljurious Co, i«ha Commonwealth, or a corrupt Majority lliould grow in time to countenance eithec tlerely or Ungodlinefs,or they fhould by Contentions among themfelves difturb the i-'eace. of. the Churches, and divide them, and fall a railing ar, or excommuniqa- ting pcjibnately one a,VOther, ; if is here the Magiftrates Duty to ia^erpofe, and I'e- prebend, and correct them, and difplace the unworthy, and fet all in joint again by Violence, and lecure the Peace cf Church and State. And neither Pope,. Pre- late, nor Cocncil ILould take this Work upon them which is his. And ther^ore Magiftrates ihould be Wife and Holy, and fie for fo great a Charge 4s they uor- dertakc. It mn(t be fitU noted tbit aUthis wai'U'hen Dioccfami were put df/ivw, and ftw faw any. frcbabihty if- rejhrtng thira, and mcmy reltgioui. Frrfunj dreaded fuch a Refio- rattnf. ■ § JO. When CVoaswe/^'sFadion w^re making him Protedor , they drew.i^p; a Thing which they called. [ The. Government 0/ England, &c.j Theiein they,, de- termined that all Ihould have Liberty or free Exercife of their Religion, i^ho pro- fcfjsd Faith in God by Jeftis ChriHj. After this he called a Parliament , whigh Ex- a-.iyned this Inftruroent of Government • and when they came to thole words, the Orthodox Party affirmed, That if thejjpakede re, and not de nomine ,[ FanhmGod hy Jef$ts Chrift 3 could contain no le^than the Fundamentals of Religion : whereupon it was purpoled that all fhould have a due meafure of Liberty who profelled the F«n. damemals. Hereupon the Committee appointed to that Bufmefs were required to nominate certain Divines to draw up in terminii the Fundamentals of Retgion ; to be as a Teft in this Toleration. The Committee being about Fourteen, named e- vcry one his Man : The Lord Brogbill ( after Earl of Orery, and Lord Preddent of Aiunfrer, and one of his Majefly's Privy Council ) named the Primate of Ireland, Archbi Ihop L/JW: When he ( becaufe of his Age and Unwillingneis to wrangle vvich fuch Men as were to join with him; hadrefufed the Service, the Lord Brog- 'jiU nominated me in his Stead : Whereupon I was fpnt. for up to London : But be- fore I came the refl had begun their Work, and drawn up Ibme few of the Pro- pofjtions which they called Fundamentals : The Men that 1 found there were, Mr. Marfial, Mr. Rejfier, Dr. Cheynell, Dr. Goodwin^ T)i\ OweVj Mr. Nye, Mr. Sydj(9^ Hympfen, Mr. Fpics, Mr. Mamon, and Mr. Jacomb. j § J I. I knew how ticklifh a Bufinefs the Enuraerationof fundamentals wa$yan4 of what very ill Confequence it would be if it were ill done j and how unlatiifa- rtorily that Queftion \_Pf hat are your Fundamentals? ^ is ufually anjwered to the Papifts. My own Judgment was this, that we muft diftinguith laefween tlje,^f«/e ( or matter ) and the Words ^ and that it's only the Sen^e that is primarily in^. {pro- perly 1^8 - ^^>-' The LI F B of the — Lib. I. pttXy b\xv fundamntds : and the Words no further than as th^y are needful td ex- prels that Sence to others, or reprefent it to our own Cohcepticjn : that the Word [ Fundamentals T being Metaphorical and Ambiguous, the Word [ EJJentialt'] is much fitter ; it being nothing but what is Ejjential, of Confthutive of true Religion, which is underftood by us uliially when we fpeak of Fundamentals : that >juond rem there is no more Ejjential or Fundamental in Religionj but what is contained in our Baptifmal Covenant, [ I believe tn God the Father, Son and Holy Gho/l-, and give up my [elf in Covenant to him, renouncing the Flejlj, the World and the Devil. ^ He that doth this truly fhall be laved J ov dkjincere Covenanting cou\d noz entitle us to the Blef^ fings of the Covenant : And therefore it is that the Ancient Church held that all that are Baptized duly are in a Juftified State of Life j becaufe all that fincerely give up themfelves in Covenant to God, as our God and Father, our Redeemer and Saviour, our Sandifier and Comforter, have right to the Bleffings of the Co- venant. And ^uoad verba, I fuppofe that no particular Words in the World are Ejjenttals of our Religion : Otherwiie no Man could be laved without the Language which thofe Words belong to : He that underftandeth not Credo in Deum, may be laved if lie believe in God : Alfo I luppole that no particular Formula of Words in any or all Languages is Effential to our Religion : for he that expreffeth his Faith in another form of words, of the lame importance, profefleth a Saving Faith. And as to the Ufe of a Form of Words to exprefs our Belief of the Effential, it is various, and therefore the Form accordingly is variable. If it be to teach another what is the Effence of Religion, a dull hearer muft have many Words, when a quick intelligent Perlbn by few Words can underftand the fame thing, f I believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghojt,'] exprefleth all the Ejjenttals intelligibly, to him that hath learned truly to underftand the meaning of thele Words : But to an ignoranc Man a large plain Catechifin is fhort enough to exprefi the fame things. But as to the Vie of Publtck Profeffions of Faith, to j'atii fie the Church for the Admittance of Members, or to fatisfie other Churches to hold Communion with any particular Church, a Form of Words which is neither oblcure by too much Concilenels, nor Tedious or Tautological by a needlels Multiplication of Words, I take to be the fitted-. To which ends, and becaufe the Ancient Churches had once a happy U- nion on thofe Terms, 1 think that this is all that Ihould be required of any Church or Member ( ordinarily ) to be profefled, [ In General I do believe all that is con- tained in the Sacred Canonical Scriptures, and particularly I believe all explicitly contained in the AncicKt Creed, and I defire all that ts contained in the Lords Prayer, and I refolve upon Obedience to the Ten Commandments, and whatever lelfe I can learn of the Will of God.'] And for all other Points, it is enough to prelerve both Truth and Peace, that Men promile not w preach againfi them, or contradiB them, though they Sub- Icribe them not. § f 2. Therefore I would have had the Brethren to have offered the Parliament the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Decalogue alone as our Eifsntials or Fundamentals j which at leaft contain all that is neceffary to Salvation , and hath been by all the Ancient Churches taken for the Sum of their Religion. And where.is they ftill laid, [ A Sociniafi or a Papi/r -will Subfcribe all this ] I anfwered them, So much the better, and fb much the fitter it is to be the Matter of our Concord : But if you arc afraid of Communion with Papijls and Socinians, it muff not be avoided by making a new Rule or Teff of Faith which they will not Subfcribe to, or by for- cing others to Subfcribe to more than they can do, but by calling them to account wli^never in Preaching or Writing they contradid or abule the Truth to which the) have Subfcribed. This is the Work of Gowr»we»f .- And we muft not think to make /,(j3i 'i ferve inftead oijud^-mint and Execution' nor mufl we make new Lavs as oft as Hcreticks will mil-interpret and liibfcribe the old : tor when you have put in all the Words you can devife, Ibme Hereticks will put their own Sence on them, and Subfcribe them : And we mufV not blame God for nnt making a Law that no Man can imfmterpret or break, and think to make fuch a one our lelves, be- caufe God could not or would not. Thefe Prefumptions and Errours have divi- dcd and diftrafted -the Chriflian Churches, and one would think Experience fhould lave us from them. % ')%■ But thj Brethren rcfolved that they would hold on the way which they had begun : And though they were honeff and competently judicious Men, yet thole that managed the Bufinels, did want the Judgment and Accuratenefs which fuch a Woik required, (thougiithcy would think any Man fupercilious tiiat fhould tell them lb ): And the tinfture of Faction ftuck Ko upon their Minds, that it hindered their Judgment. Tf.e great doer cf all that worded the Articles was Dr. Owen : Mr. Part II. R^^r^WAfr. Richard Baxter. i^^ Mr. Np, and Dr. Goodwin and Mr. SjJ.Sympfon were his Affiftants ; and Dr. Chey- neU his Scribe : Mr. MurJliaH (a fober worthy Man ^ did (omething: the reft ( fober Orthodox Men ) faid little, but fufFered the Heat of the reft to carry all. § j4. When I faw they would not change their Method, I dw al(b that there was nothing for me and others of my Mind to do, but only to hinder them from doing harm, and trufting in their own Opinions or crude Conceits, among our Fundamentals. And presently Dr. Owen in extolling the Holy Scriptures, put in that [ That no Man could know God t^ Salvation by any other means j ; I told him, that this was neither a Fundamental nor a Truth : and that if ^mong the Papifts or any others a poor Chriftian Ihould believe by the teaching of another, without ever knowing that there is a Scripture, he fhould be faved, becaufe it is promifed, that -whofver heliived po'uld be faved. He faid awhile. That there could be no other way of Saving Revelation of JefusChrift: I told him that he was lavingly reveal- ed by Preaching many years before the New Teftament was written. He told us that the Primitive Church was bound to believe no more from the Apoftles but what was written before in the Old Teftament, and proved thence : I told him that by that AfTertion he fubverted the Chriftian Church and Faith: i. By overthrow- ing the Material, 2. and the Formal Objeil of our Faith , or the medium necsfTary thereto, i. For the Matter, it is not in the Old Teftament , [ That thU Jefus U the Cbrifi ; that he is already incarnate, conceived by the Holy Gbojt, born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilled the Law, fuffered,' -was crucified, buried androfe again,afcended into Hear- ven, and u there at the right hand of God tn our Nature, and therein intercedeth for the Chitreh j that he hath inft it iited the Sacraments, fent his Apofilts , given the Holy Gbofi to them to direSi them into all Truth, &c.] with more of the like. 2. That if Chrift and his Apoftles were not to be believed for the Image of God appearing on their Dodrine , and the Divine Atteftation of Miracles confirming it, then Mofes and the Prophets were not for thofe Reafons to be believed : And consequently not to be believed at all; for there was no reafon to believe them, which. Chrift alfo gave us not for the belief of him and his Apoftles. After a deal of wrangling about thefe Thfngs, becaufe the Doftor was the liotter, and better befriended in that Affem- Hy, and I was then under great Weaknefs and Soporous or Scotomatical Ilnels of my Head, I asked their leave to give them the Reafons of my Opinion in Wri- ting : which I brought in, and never received any Anfwer to ir. AnJ yet if Mr. Vines ( who came but (eldom) had not ftuck to me when he was there, they would have made the World believe, Cas Ibme of them endeavoured) that I was Po- pilli, and pleaded for the Sufficiency of Tradition,to Salvation.without the Scrip- ture. But Bilhop U/7«r was of the fame mind with me, and told me, that he had faid the lame to the Jefuits Challenge, Cap. de Tradit. § yj. Many other fuch crude and unfound Paffages (like the Savoy Articles of Juftification after put into the Independant Agreement ) had come into our New Fundamentals : And all becaufe the over-Orthodox DodorsJ Owen and Cheynell, took it to be their Duty in all their Fundamentals to put in thofe words, which (as they (aid ) did obviate the Herefies and Errours of the Divines : Whenas I told them, they (hould make the Rule to look no way but ftrait forward, and put in their Rcjeclions after ( as the Sy-nod of Vort doth), as being the Contradictions of the Rule. One merry paflage I remember occafioned laughter : Mr. Sympfon cauled them to make this a Fundamental, That [ He that aUowetb himfelf or others in any known fin, cannot be faved ]. I pleaded againft the word [ allowed T ; and told them that many a Thoufand lived in wilful fin, which they could not be faid to £ allow themjelves ] in, but confefl'ed it to be fmj and went on againft Confcience, and yet were impenitent, and in a ftate of Death : And that there (eemed a little contradiction between [ known fin ] and [ allowed ] ; ib far as a Man kno-weth that be finnetb, he doth not {^allow'], that is, apptove it. Other Exceptions there were; but they would have their vi/ay, and my oppofition to any thing did but heighten their Refolution : At laft I told them. As ftiff as they were in their opinion and way, I would force them with one word to change or blot out all that Fundamental. I urged them to take my wager j and they would not believe me', but marvelled what I- meant : I told them that the Parliament took the Independant way of Se- paration to be a fin : and wjien this Article came before them, they would laj. By our Brethrens own Judgment we are all damned Men, if we allow the Independants or any other SeAaries in their fin. They gave me no Anfwer, but they left out ail that FundaowntaL The Papers "which I gave them in were thele. . ', Imth' 200 The LIFE of the Lib. I, C Without the Knowledge -of whom by the Revelation of Scripture , there is no ^dt- •vation. ] The Words [ by the Revelation of the Scripture ] I defired might be either here left OUtjOr changed into [ the Revelation of the Gofpel ; or^f^e Word of God. ] To this you will not confent, becaufe it would intimate that there may be another co-ordinate way of Revealing Chrift, befides the written Word by which there ma'y be Salva- tion. I cannot fubfcribe to the Article as it ftands j of which when I have (hew- ed the point of our Difference, I fhall give you my Reafens : I. Our Difference is not de doclrina tradtta] but de modo traJendi : For I have fully acknowledged that there is no Salvation without the Knowledge of the Ef- fentials of the Chriftian Faith. 2. And that the Light of Nature, and Book of the Creatures is infufficient hereunto : So far we are agreed as to the way of the Reve- lation. 3. Nor do I doubt of the full PerfcAion of the Scripture, but deteft the Popifh Dodrines of Traditions or unwritten Verities to fupply what is fjppofed to be wanting in the Scripture, as if it were but i part of God's Word for the re- vealing of thefe fupernatural things : I defired rather that you would more fully ex- prefsthe Scriptures Perfedion and Infallability. 4, Nor is it any doubt between us whether Men fliould wait for farther objedive Revelations or Additions to the written Word, or whether we fhould condemn the Errors of the Enthufiafts herein, we are agreed in all this. 5-. Nor is the Queflion de Officio, whether it be the Duty of all Men to look out after the written Word, as tar as they can, and reft in it. 6. Nor is the Queftion whether the Scripture only have the proper Na- ture of a Rule to Judge Controverfies by. 7. Nor yet whether Scripture be of neceffity to the Church in General. 8. Nor whether it be necefTary as a means to the Salvation of all that have it. 9. Nor whether it be the only fufficient means of fafe keeping and propagating the whole Truth of God, which is neceffary to the Church. 10. But the Quelfion is, of every particular Soul o.n Earth, whether we may thus afTert that there is no Salvation for them, unlefs they know Chrift by the Revelation of the Scripture : And I cannot afTent to the Article for thele Rea- fons J I. It leems a Snare by the unmeet Expreffions. 2. We cannot be certain df the Truth of it, 3. It is not of (b great neceffity as that all fhould be caft out of the Miniftry, though in other things Orthodox, that will not own ir. 4. Moch lels is it a Fundamental : Nor dare 1 judge all ro Damnation, that are not herein of your Opinion. 5-. Itfeemsto metobe injurious to Chriftianity it felf. 6. And ro the prelsnt intended Reformation. 7. And to the Parliament. 8. And to our felves. 1. For thepirft of thefe Reafons ; It is confeffed by fome here, that a Man may be converted by the Doctrine of the Scripture, before he know the Writings or their Authority, and that you intend not to aflert that the divine Authority of the Scripture is that* primum credibile^ which muft needs be believed before any Truth therein contained can be favingly believed. And it is thought by Ibmethat your Affertion is made good if it be but proved that all favingRevekuion that is now in the World, is from Scripture originally, and fubordinate to it, and not co o'di- nate. Bilt the obvious Senfe of your Words will feem to many to be this, that the particular Knowledge of that Perfon who will be faved, muft be by Scripture Re- velation, as the objedive Caufe or Inftrument, even under that Confideration ei- ther in the Mind of the Speaker or Hearer, or both. If it fhould belaid that the Revelation which converted this or that Sinner did arife from the Scriptures a Thou- fand Years ago : But hath fince been taken up as coming another way, and fb there Iiath been an IntermifUon of afcribing it to the Scripture, as to thofe Men by whom it vvas carried down, this will not feem to agree with your ExprefHon?. And feeing many others mult be Judges of your Senfe, who fhall have l-'ower to trie Minifters J hereby you enable them by yourobfcure Expreflions, to wrong the Church, opprefs their Brethren, and introduce Errors : And fo it leems you frame a Snare. 2. And you will put every poor Chriftian in thele Places where Chrilfs Faith is known to many but by Verbal Tradition, into an Impoflibility of know- ing that they have any true Faith, becaufe they cannot know that it came from the Scriptures. , 2. That we are not certain of the Truth of this AfTertion, nor can I be Judge^ T. Becaufe there was Salvation from Adam to Mofes by Tradition, without the written Word j and there was a confiderable fpace of time after Chrift's AfTention before th$ Scriptures of the New Teftament were written : The firft Chrillians were I. -— ■ ■ ■ — — ■ — -I — I ■! , ■ ■■■ -,. . Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 201 were favingly called, and the Churches gathered without thefe Writings, by the preaching of the Doftrine which is now contained in them : And though that be now neceffary to the Safety of the Church and Truth, which was not(b neceffary when the Apoftlcs were prefent, yet it is unproved that there is more neceffary to the Salvation of every Soul now than was in thofe Days : And it is confiderable that it was not only the preaching of the Apoftles, but of all other Publifhers of the Gofpel in thofe Times that was in (fuo genere ) fufficient for Converfion withr out Scripture : Yea, and to the Gentiles that knew not the Scriptures of the 0\6. Teftament. 2. If there be no Salvation but by a Scripture Revelation j then, ei- ther becaufe there is no other way of revealing the Marrow of the Golpel, or be- caufe it will not be faving in another way. But neither of thefe can be proved true : f Ergo ) for the latter : i. The Word of God and Dodrina of his Gofpel may fave if revealed ( fuppofing other Neceflaries in their Kinds ) ; For it luf- ficeth to the formal Objeft of Faith, that it be 'veracitas wvdantts ; and to the ma- terial Objeft, that it be, Hoc verum & bonum revelatum, but it muff be truly reve- latum, though not by Scripture. Ergo 2. God hath promifed Salvation to all that truly believe, and not to thofe that believe only by Scripture-Revelation ; nor hath he any where told us that he will annex his Spirits help to no other Revelation, 2. For the former, [ That there is now in the World no other way of re'vealtng the Mar- row of the Gofpel but by Scripture or from it. ~\ i. It cannot be proved by Scripture, as will appear when your Proofs are tryed. 2. The contrary is defended by moft learned Proteftants. I. A Pracepto, another collateral way of Revelation is commanded by God ; Ergo there's another : 2. From certain Hillory and Experience ; which (peak of " the Performance of thofe Commands ; and the Inftances they give of both are thefe ; I. Minifters are commanded to preach the Golpel to all Nations before it was written, and a Promi(e annexed that Chrift would be with them to the end of the World : In Obedience whereunto, not only the Apofiles, but Multitudes more did lb preach ; which was by delivering the great Mafter- Verities which are now in the written Word : This Command is not rcverft by the writing of the Word : And therefore is ftill a Duty, as to deliver the Gofpel Dou!ts upon the innocent; (o that there Inrereft will certainly lead them to call all thofe Rebels that '[wear not to their Words ; and every Man whole Religion is not ceremonious and com- plemental fhall be called a Presbyterian, and every Presbyterian a Rebel : And whereas heretofore they had no worfe Names to call godly Men by, than the fool- ifb Names of Puritans and Roundheads, henceforth if a Man will not be as bad as others, he Ihall be called an Enemy to the Government : And though not one of forty of the Minifters ever medled with the Wars, they fhall all fare alike if ihey be not Prelatifts. Thus did Men differ in their Expedations. § 76. When I was at London, the new Parliament being called, they prelently appointed a Day of Falling and Prayer for themfelves : The Houle of Commons chofe Mr. Calamy, "Dr. Gauden, and my felf to preach and pray with them at xhe laft St. Margarets Wefiminficr. In that Sermon, I uttered fome Paltagesthat were after Day of A- matter of Ibme Dilcourfe : Speaking of our Differences and the way to heal them,^"' ^^^°' I told them that whether we Ihould be Loyal to our King was none of our Dif- tJ'the plf^ ferences ; in that we are all agreed ; it being not poffible that a Man fhould be liament, v ' true to the Proteftants Principles, and not be Loyal; as it was impoffible to be firphc^f-^^ 7 true to the Papifts Principles and to be Loyal : And for the Concord now wifh d in matters of Church-Government, I told them it was ealy for moderate Men to come to a fair Agreement, and that the lare Reverend Primate of Ireland and my lelf had agreed in half an Hour. I remember not the very Wordj, but you may read them in the Sermon, which was printed by order of the Houfe of Com- mons. , ' ; § 77. As foon as this printed Sermon came abroad, the Papifts were enraged againft me j and one namelefs Gentleman wrote a Pamphlet, to challenge me to make good my Charge: And others fent me Letters with their Names (real or counterfeit ) containing the fime Ch.illengej bat never told me where they dwelt, nor how I might convey an Anfwer to them; whereas the heedlefs Challen- gers might have feen that I fully performed what I undertook, and anfvvered their Challenge before they lent it, in the Sermon it lelf, when I cited Can. 3. of the General Council at the Latcmve under Pope Innocent III, which I have done in other Places again and again to provoke them to mike fome Anfwer to it ; but ne- ver could procure it of them : But to gratifie thefa Gentlemen, I began to write a fuller Proof of what I there aftirmed ; but I wr.s ndvifed not to publifh it, confider- ing the Power and Malice of the Papifts, and !io\v gready ( though they called for rt ) they would be enraged by it, and in likelihood quickly work my Ruine. l?f S78. The 2i8 1 he LIFE of the L i b. J. ■May I. § -78. The next Morning after this Day of Faftingj did the Parliament unani- 1660. the, niouflj' Vote home the King, Nemine contraJicente j and do thac which former owned'tlic Adions had but prepared for. King, and § 79- The City of London about that time was to keep a Day of folemnThankf voted his giving, for General Afow;^« Succefs ; and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen defired Recall. jpjg J.Q preach before them at St. Faul's-Church : Wherein I lb endeavoured to ihevy the Value of thac Mercy, as to fhew alfo how Sin and Mens Abufe might turn it into matter of Calamity, and what fhould be right Bounds and Qualihcations of that Joy. The Moderate were plealed with it j the Fanaticks were offended with me for keeping fuch a Thanklgiving ; the Diocelane Parry thought I did fupprefs their Joy : The Words may be feen in the Sermon ordered to be' printed. § 80. But the other Words about my Agreement v/ith Bifhop UJJ)er, in the Ser- mon before the Pailiament, put me to moft Trouble. For prelentiy many mode- rate Epifcopal Divines came to me to know what thole Terms of our Agreement were: And thinking verily that others of their Party had been as moderate as themfelves, they entered upon Debates for our general Concord ; and we agreed as eafily among our felves in private, as if almoft all our Differences were at an end. Among others I had Speech about it with Dr. GauJcn, who promifed bbiing Dr. Morley, and many more of that Party to meet with Ibme of the other Party at Dr. Bernard's Lodging in Grays-Inn ; there came none on that fide but Dr. Gr.riden, and Dr. Bernard j and none of the other fide but Dr. Manton and my felf : ■ nd fo little was done but only Defires of Concord expreffed : Butwhereas 1 told i . <.}au- den [ That for the Y)oh\\na.\ Part of the Common-Frayer-Book, though I Lr^w that there v;ere many Exceptions againfi it, yet I remembred nothing which I could not ajjtnt to, allowing tt but the favourable Interpretation which the Writings of all Divines are allow- ed'\ : He took Advantage from thele Words to praife my Moderation in the next Book which he printed, as if I had fpoke this of the Liturgy in general, as a Frame of Worfliip, leaving out the firft Words [ As to the Doff final Part'] to which only I limited my Affent : So that I was put in print fo far to vindicate my felf, as to fet down the true Words ; which he never contradifted. Thus Men were every day talking of Concord, but to little purpofe, as appeared in the Iffue. § 81. And becaufel heard thac Dr. Morley was a Moderate Orthodox Man, and had often Meetings with Dr. Manton and others, whom he encouraged with Paci- ficatory Profeffions, and that he had greatert Intereft in the King and the Lord Chancellor, I had a great defire to have one hours Difcourle with him, to knovj^ whether really Concord was intended : And when he gave me a Meeting, and we had ipent an Hour in Difcourle, I found that lie fpakc of Moderation in the general, but came to no particular Terms, but pafl: by what I mentioned of that Nature : But fpeaking much for Liturgies, againft Extemporary Church-Prayers^ he told me at lad that the Janjemfts were numerous among the Papifts, and many among the French inclined to Peace, and that on his knowledge, if it were not for the Hinderances which Calvin had laid in the way, molt on this fide the Alpes would come over to us. And this was all I could get from him. § 02. When the King was to be fent for by the Parliament, certain Divines with ' others were fent by the Parliament and City to him into Holland j viz. Mr. Calamjy Dr. Manton, Mr. Bowles, and divers others j and fome went voluntarily j to whom his Majeity gave fuch encouraging Promifes of Peace, as raifed fome of them to high Expeftations : And when he came in, as he palt through the City towards We^mi'/ifter, the London Minifters in their Places attended him with Acclamations, and by the Hands of old Mr. Arthur Jackfon, prefented him with a Rich-adorned Bible, which he received, and told them it Ihould be the Rule of his Acftions. § 83. About this time I had fome Conference with one (that called himfelf) WiUiam Johnfon, a Papift j the Occafion, Progrefs, and End of which I will here give you at once, to avoid farther Litenuptions by it. When I v.'AS ^t Kiderminfier, i6^<). one Mr. Lavghorn, a Furrier in Tfatbrook, fent me a Sheet of Paper iiibfcribed by IVilliamJohnJon, containing an Argument againJt our Church, for want of perpetual Vifibility; or, That none but the Church of Rome, and thole in Communion with it, had been fucceflively vifible ; cafling all on his Opponent to prove our Churckes condant Vifibility. lie th,.t fent this Pa- per defired me to anfwer it as for (bme Friends of his who were unfai. 'i-.d. I lent hirii an Anfwer ihe next Day after I received it. To this, fbme Weeks 'frer I re- ceived a Reply : Th'i\ Reply had cited many Fathers and Councils, and as the ule is, brought the Cbntroverfy into the Wood of Church-Hiftory. To this 1 orew up a large Rejoinder, and lent it by the Carrier j though I Was not rich enough to keep Part IJ. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 21^ keep an Amanuenfis, and had not leifure my (elf to tranfcribe, yet as it weJi hap- pened 1 had got a Friend to write me a Copy oi" my Re/oinder : For it fell out that the Carrier loft the Copy which I gave him to carry to London, and profefled that he never knew what became of it : And no wonder, when 1 after learnt that my Antagonift lived within five or fix Miles of me, whom 1 fuppo(ed to have lived one. hundred and fifty Miles off: When I expefted an Anfwer, I received a Month ii\ ter an Inlulting Challenge of a fpeedy Anfwer, and this feconded with aiioclier, alj calling for halle. Ifuppofe he thought I had kept no Copy, but as (oonasi could get it tranfcrib'd I fent it him j and I heard no more of Mv.Jobnfvn in a Twtlve- month. When I was at London I went to Mr. Langhome, and dedred him co pro- cure me an Anfwer to my Papers from Mr. Johnfon , or that I might know that I fliould have none : At laft he told me that Mr. Johnfon would come fpeak with me himlelf; which he did, and would have put off all the Bufmefs wirh a few Words, but would promile me no Anfwer. At la(t by Mr. Tillotfon I was inform- ed that his true Name was Ttrret^ and that he lived in the Houfe of a certain No- ■ bieman near our parts, and that being much in London^ he is there the chief Heftor, or great Difputer for the Papifts j and that he was the chief of the two Men who had held and printed the Dilpute with Dr. Vierfon and Dr. Gmtimg : And when I faw what Advantage he .had got by printing that Difpute, I refolved tha^- he (hould not do fb by me, and lb I printed all our Papers j but before I printed^ them, I urged him to (ome farther Conference J and at our next meeting J told him how necelTary it was that we fljould agree firft of the meaning of our Terms> and I wrote down fome few [ as Church, Pope, Council, Bilhop, Herefy, Schifin, dfc.^ which I defired him to explain to me under his Hand promiling him the like whenever he defired it ; which when I had got from him, I gave him Icime Ani- raadverfions on it, Ihewed their Implications ; to which he anfwered, and to that I replyed : And when he came no more to me, nor gave me any Anfwer, I printed all together ; which made him think it neceffary at laft to write a Confutation: whereto 1 have fince publilhed a full Rejoinder to which I can procure no An- fwer. § 84. And not long after, hearing that the Countefs of BrJcanes wasnot well,. I went to vifit her, and found hergrievoudy afflided for her eldeft Daughter, ths Lady /f«w Lindjc) about fixteen or fcventeen Years of Age, who was fuddenly turn-. ed Papift by (he knew not whom. She told me, that when /he firft heard of it fhe defired Dr. Gunning to meet with the Prieft to difpute with him, and try if her Daughter might be recovered, who pretended then to be in Doubt : And that Dr. Gunning firft began to perliiade her Daughter againft the Church of Scotland which fl.e had been bred in, as no true Church, and after difputed but about the Pope's Infallability, and lett her Daughter worfc than before j and that /he took it to be a ftrange way to deliver her Daughter from Popery, to begin with a Condemnation, of the Reformed Churches as no true Churches, andconfeis that the Church and Mihiftry of Kowe was true. She defired me that I would fpeak to her Daughter, and try whether Ihe would yet enter into Conference about the Reafon of her Faith. But Ihe utterly rehifed it, and would fay nothing to that purpofe, but re- fer us to the Church, and profefs her acquiefcence in its Judgment, and when I defired to know of her, how /he knew what was the Judgment of the Church ;- whether it were not meerly the Word of the Prieft that iatisfied her in this, and therefore defired her that ihe would hear that Prieft or Jefuit on whofe Word /he built all her Faith, in the Pre/ence of C>me one that was fit to help her in the Try- al of his AfTertions, andintreated her to procure a Conference in her hearing be- tween him and ni"^, Ihe promi/ed readily that it fhould be don?. The next time I came again, and askt whether /he had /poke with him about it, and whether time and place were agreed on 5 Ihe confidently told me that he was ready to do it when I plea/ed, and that all he defired wasi that my Promife might fecure him from Ac-' culation, and from the danger of the Law, and that was all that he was Iblicitous for. I offered her to bring only two Witneffes on each fide, and that We might htVB two days Conference or Di/jsute; in one of which he (hould give his Rea- fons why /he ought tochange her Religion, and 1 would anfwerthem ; and in ths other I would give my Rea/bns why Ihe ought not to change, and he (hould an- fwer me ; and I thought this the cleareft and moft impartial Method for the dif^ cerning of the Truth. And 1 ptomifed her all the Security which I could pro- cure him from any danger. The next time I came to know the Day, Ihe told ms the Gentleman would not meet nor difpute : 1 defired to know the Rea/bn : But Ihe told ms tliat /he did not know her felf : I intreated her to procure fome other F f 2 tt> 220 The LI F E of the L i b. I, to do it, in whom fhe put the greateft Confidence, and defired her to take the ableft ftie could get among all the Je(uits or Priefts of the Queen or the Queen- Mother, with whom I knew flie was not unacquainted. But Die would not un- dertake for any j whereupon I was forced to urge her with Provocations, and tell This was her, that feeing Ihe was forced to refolve all her Faith into the Word of particular in the end Pfiefts,by which only fiie knew the Senfe of the Church, and all that Hiftory which of A'ov. induced her to believe that Reme was the true Church, llie ieemed very little to re- 1660. g^|.jj i^gj. ^Qy]^ ^j^Q would {o far venture it upon the Words of Men that would not be provoked to an equal Conference in her hearing. The next day I came, I ur- ged her again to procure a Conference : She told me that the Gentleman would not consent : And when I urged her to tell me his Realbn, llie told me that he knew me very well, and that he had very high Thoughts of me, and that it was not now through any fear of Danger, for he durft venture his Life in my Hands ; but fince he knew it was me that he was to meet with, he would not come; buc would not tell her why. And though Itill I told her that there were more enough if he refuted, I could not procure her to bring any of thera to a Difpute. But at laft, when I purpofely continued to provoke them, Ihe told me that he would yield to Difpute, fo it might be done only in Writing, and not a Word Ipoken, nor any thing written but Syllogiftically and according to the (trideft Rules of Dii- putation. I told her, i. That I fuppoled that fhe underftood not when an Argu- ment was in Mood and Figure ; nor what a Fallacy was, and therefore that this was not defigned to her Edification. 2. That I fuppofed that file had not read one of many of all thofe Books already written againlt them which are unanfwered : And if Writing w\\\ lerve turn, a printed Argument is as good as a written one : Nor had fhe read the late Difjiutation between Mr. Johnfon and me : nor were any one( of my Books againft them yet anlwered, and why then fhould I write more till thole were anlwered. 3. I told her that Mv.JohnJon's Writing and mine held us above a Twelvemonth, and yet was not driven to the Head : And 1 asked her whe- ther fhe would be willing to wait a Year or two, and fufpend her Refolution in Re- ligion, till fhe law the luue of our Difputation in Writing. 4. I told her that it was like that he that offered this, imderftood that by his IVlajel<:y's Plealure, I was then newly engaged in another Work, which occafioned him to make this Offer. 5. But yet that her Deceiver might have noExcufe, I offered her that I would do all that hedefired, and manage it in Wiiting, fo be it, he would firft but fpend two Hours in verbal Difputation in the way I had propoled, ■viz. That he fhou Id fpend one Hour in giving his Reafbns for her Change, and I might anfwer them j and the other Hour I would give my Reafbns againff it, and he fhould anfwer me: And after that we would go to it by Writing. But a D^y or two after, when I Came for Anfwer to this Propofal, the Lady was gone, being fecretly ftolen from her Mother in a Coach, and fo I undcrlfood the meaning of this Offer, and never could fee the Face of any of her Priefls. § 8f. At laff it was dif covered that the Man that feducad her and refufed Difpu- tation, was this Mr. John/on (or Terret ) the fame Man that I had before confer- red and wrote with : And yet when I asked her whether it were he, fhe plainly and pofitively laid it was not ; and when a Servant went after her Coach and overtook her in LincoIns-Inn-FieUs, fhe pofitively proniifed to come again, and faid, fhe went but to lee a Friend. Alfo fhe complained to the Qaeen Mother, of her Mother, as if fhe ufed her hardly for Religion, which wasfalfe: in a Word, her Mother told me, that before fhe turned Papift, fhe fcarce ever heard a Lye from her ; and fince then fhe could believe nothing that Ihe laid. This w.?s the Darling of that excellent, wife, religious Lady ( the Widow of an excellent Lord ) ; which made the Affliction great, and taught her to moderate her AfTedions to all Crea- tures. This Perverfion had been a long time fecretly working before fhe knew of ir ; all which time the young Lady would join in Prayer with her Mother, and jeer at Popery till fhe was detefted, and then fhe faid fhe might join with them no more, § 86. They that flole her away, conveyed her to Frimee, and there put her into a Nunnery, where fhe is fince dead. Not long after her departure, fhe lent a Let- ter fuperfcribed to her Lady Mother, &c. and fubfcribed , Sifitr Anna. Maria, See. It contained the Reafbns of her Perverfion : And thoiif^h I knew they were not like to fufFer her to read it, 1 wrote an Anfwer to it, at her Mother's defire, which was fent to her by her Mother. The Letter which I font her the day before fhe was floln away, and the Anfwer to that her Letter from the Nunnery , I thought meet here to infert, which are as followeth. ■,■■■ .. ..^ -r -T-TT r^Miiii ■ ^i.iL II P A K T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 221 The Letter to the Lady Anne Lindfey. Madam ! ' 1^ H E Reafons that moved me to be fo importunate with you for a Conference * X in your hearing with the ableft Jefiiit, Pricft, or other PapKt you could get, ' were (as I told you) i. My very highefteem of your truly Honourable Mother • * whofe Sorrow hach been fo great for your Delufion, that 1 muft cont'efs, though ' but a Stranger, I fufTer much with her by Compaffion. And as it would much ' relieve her if you were recovered, fo if God deny her that Mercy, it will Ibme- * what fatisfie her Confcience,that fhe hath not been wanting in the ufe of means. * 2. And for your own fakCjWhom I the more compaflionate, becaufe you are not * only the Daughter of fuch Parents,but of fo modeft and fober a Difpofition your * felfjthat I am not out of hopes of your Recovery, though the Difeale be luch as ' kw are cured of,that catch it by relapfe and delertion of the Truth. * I can imagine nothing but Confcioufnels of a bad Cauft, that can caufe therri * thus to decline a Conference. You fay thePerfon well knoweth me ( though I * know not him ) and dare truft himfelf, &c. why then will he not meet me to de- ' bate the Cafe? He cannot but have exceeding great odds or advantages of me as * to perlbnal preparations: for they are trained up meerly to this work (I am loath * to lay to deceive) and have all the helps that Art can afford them. I was never * of any Univerfitie, nor had one Months afiiitance of any Tutor in all my Stu- 'dies, of Sciences or Theology. If you can get no Jefuit, Fryar or Prielf that ' will fairly debate his Caufe with one of fo poor Preparations and Abilities, doth * it not (hew that they are lamentably diffidsnc of their Caufe. AH the Conditions ' or Terms that I defire to be before agreed to are but thefe. r. That I may one * day produce my Reafons why you (hould not have turned Papift, and therefore ' fhould return ; and he Anfwer them as I urge them. And that the next day (or * the firft if he defire k) he will produce his Reafons why you ought to turn to ' them as you did, and I anfwer them. i. That we may (peak by turns, \^ithout * interrupting one another. 3. That whatever PalTages mu(t be determined by * Books (or WitnelTes) that are not at hand, they may be noted down, and left till ' there be leifure to perufe them. 4. That there be two Witneffes on each fide (of ' whom one to be a Scribe ) and as many more as he defireth : And I, and thole ' with me, fhall be engaged to do him no wrong by any difcovery of his Perfon, ' to endanger him as to the Law or Governours. This is all that I fliould oblige 'him to betorehand. I agiin intreat you, if one will not, get another to mode- ' rate the Work. I underlfand by you, that the Perfon you depend on avoideth * me not in any Contempt : for you tell me he hath honourable thoughts of me, and ' veil kmweth me. If foj why will he not confer with me, as well as he hath done * with Dr. G«>i»/w^? * For U'ritmg, I. It's like he knoweth that I am here engaged in fb much una- * voidable Work, that I have (carce time to eat or fleep. 2. You cannot but ' know that by Writing it's like to be a year , or many years work : And them- * lelves have cut me out Work enough already for my Pen, if I had no more (and * now would take me off it, that 1 might be forced to omit one). I look not to * live to end a Difpute by Writing, fo many are my Infirmities, and are you con- ' tent to (lav fo long before you have the benefit ? 3. If Writings will be ufcful to ' you, may you not as well read what is wiitten already 'i Many great Volumes ' are yet un^nlwered by them. 4. I have already written divers Writings againd: ' their Delufions ( viz,. The Safe Religion ; A Key for Catholiclis , 8cc. A Wtndmgjheet *for Popery ; The true Cathohck and the Catholick Church dejcribed j A Dijprttatton with ' A/r.Johnlbn ahut the Succejfive Vtfibdtty of the Church] and they never anfweredany * one of them j no not (o much as the (ingle Sheet that ever I heard of. When they ' have anfuered them all, let them cill for more , or oifer writing, j. But yet, ' rather than be wanting to you, let the Peribn but vouchlafe me this Verbal Con- ' ference ftr(f, and try what we can do in a few hours there, and if there (hall then ' appear to be caufe to profecute it by Writing, I intend not to fail of taking the ' firll opportunity for ic, that greater Duties will permit. I have done my part in ' urging you and them with my offer, till you call me unto more. ' In the mean time, M^dam, may I intreat you to read impartially and delibe- ' rately, i. My little Book called, The True CatboUck and Catholick C/'wci6^8cc.( which 222 The LIFE of the L i b. 1. ' I fliall fend or bring you). 2. My Preface before the Difputation with Mr.John- * [on and the Letters in the end, and the Second Part, and then the firft. 3. My * two firft Books againft Popery (The Safe Religiott and The Key) : For your for- ' mer reading of them j before any doubting had made you ohlerve the ftrefs of * Arguments, is nothing ; if you will but now read them again impartially after * your contrary Conceptions, continue aPapift if you can. And truly if you will * not do thus much for your own Soul , becaufe Men engage you to the contrary, * that dare not appear to make good their own Caufe, I miift be a Witnelsagainit * you before the Lord, that you wilfully refufed Inltrudion, and fold your Soul at * too cheap a rate. ' I tried when I was laft with you, to revive your Reafon, by propofing to you ' the Infallibility of the Common Senles of all the World ; and i could not pre- * vail though you had nothing to aniwer that was not againft Common Senfe. And ' it is impoflible any thing controverted can be brought nearer you , or made * plainer than to be brought to your Eyes and Tafte and Feeling: and not yours * only, but all Mens elle. Senfe goes before Faith. Faith is no Faith but upon ' Suppofition of Senfe and Underiianding; if therefore Common Senfe be fallible, * Faith muft needs be fo. ' But methinks yet 1 (hould have hope of reviving your Charity : You cannot ' be a Papift indeed, but you muft believe, that out of their Church ( that is out * of the Pope's Dominions ) there is no Salvation ; and confequently no Juftifica- ' tion and Charity, or faving Grace : And is it poffible you can fo eafily believe * your religious Father to be in Hell ; your prudent, pious Mother to be void of the * Love of God, and in a ftate of Damnation ; and not only me ( that am a Stran- * ger to you ) but all the Millions of better People in the World, to be in the fame * State (ofGracelefnefs and Damnation ) and all becaufe we believe not that the ' Pope is Chrifts Vicar General, or Deputy on Earth, and dare not fubjedl our ' felvcs to his ufurped Dominions i When we are ready to proteR before the Lord, ' as we (hall anfvver it at his Bar, that we would be his Subjeds but for Fear of the ' high Difpleafure of the true Head and King of the Church, and for fear of fin- * ning and Damning our own Souls : And that we are heartily willing to read, and ' ftudy and pray, and hear all that can be faid for them ; and fome of us read as ' much of their Writings as of our own and more ; and would not Hick at Coft or ' Pains, or Lois or Shame ; were it to travail over Land and Sea to find out that ' they are in the Right ( if that would do it, and they be fo indeed ). But the more ' we ftudy, the more we pray to God for his Affiliance, the more diligently we ' fearch, we are the more refolved and convinced, that their way, as ic diftereth ' from ours, is falfe ; and that they are the moft Superfticioiis, Tyrannical, Leprous ' part of the CacholickChurch.condemningthe main Body,bccaule they will not be ' under their abominable Dominion,and will not fin as much as they. We hold all * that was held nccelTary by the Apoftles and the ancient Church j and we dare not * make a new Faith to our (elves, as the Papal Sectaries have done : Muft we re- ' nounte both our Senfe and Rejf:>n, and put out the Eye of Natural Underftand- ' ing, and alfo renounce the Catholick Church and Chriftian Charity, and ftep * intotheThrone, and pronounce Damnation not only upon all the Saints of God * that we have been acquainted with our felves , but alio on the Body of Chrift ' which he died for, even on the far greateft part of the Univerfal Church i and all * this becaufe they will not depart from the Word of God, to corrupt his Dodrine, ' Difcipline and WorlLip, and herein obey an ufurping Vice Chrift ? muft we do 'all this, or elfe be judged to Damnation by the Sedariesof Rome ? For my part, * I Ihall be fo far from fearing their Sentancs, that I appeal to Chiift, whole Body ' they condemn ; and I had rather be tortured in their Inquifition, and cut aslmall * as Herbs to the Pot, and be accounted the odioufeft Wretch on Earih, than be ' guilty of being a Papift at all, but elpecially on liich hcUilh Terms as thefe. If * the gre.'ter part of the Church muft be damned as no part of the Church , it * will be impoffible to prove your Se<5t or Fragment to be the Church , any more ' th.in any otiier. Chrift is the Saviour of his Body, Eph j. 2;, and to him, as to j ' its Head, it's (uhje<^, -ver. 24. and this Body is that which is fandifisd by him, ' ver. •}.«. And hj one Spirit all his Members are haptizeJ into one Body, i Cor. 12. 12, * i:;. Did you never note, where the Unity ol the Body is fullieft delcribed , * that Apoftles themielves are made but Members, and Chnll onlj the Head, i Cor. ' 27, 28, 29. Eph.. 4, 4, y, 7, ir. There is but one Lord, &c. hut dnjerftty of gtfti, * of whom the Apoftles are the chief. And when Thoujands were added to the Church, * (even fisch as jhould be favcd, A(5t5 2.47.) what made them ChriUiansbut the B^p- ' tilmal Part II. R^'uer^WiVfr. Richard Baxter. 225 tiimal Covenant ? and what were they Baptized into, buc into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghofi? P«er or PW bap; ized none into their own Names, nor dare the Pope himfelf, left his Innovation be too vifible. Chrift hath laid, Hi that helie'vetb and » hptiz.edjhall he faveJ, M-ivk 16.16. Did they ever then (lib- jeftany Baptifm to the Biftiop of Rome? Was the Eunuch yicis S. liibjeded t6 the Pope, that only faith [ Ibelicve that Jeftts Chrtfi is the Son of God] and waS Baptized ? If men could not be faved without believing in the Pope, and being fiibjed to the Church of Rome, how comes it to pa(s that none of the Apoftles preached this necelTary Article of Faith ? Why did they never fay. You muft be- lieve in, or be fubjecS: to the Pope of Rome , or you cannot be laved ? Would they be fo unfaithful as to hide a neceflary Article ? Why did Peter himfelf,yf<:7i 2. by Baptifm take Three thoufand into the Church without preaching any of this Dodrine to them. The Golpel profeffeth, that he that hath the Son hath Ltfe,i ]oh. y.i I, 12. and 'whofoe'ver helieveth in him paU not feri(h but havee'verlajting life, Joh. g. 16. and that there ts no condemnation to them that are in Chrtfi Jefts, that walk not after the FleJI) hut after the Spirit. And now up fteps a Man of Rome, and pre- fiimeth to Reverie the Gofpel, and fay, [^It's no Juch mattery for all this theypaU not he faved, unlefi they will he my SubjeUs ? J ' If you fay that thole may be faved that Sin for want of Light ; 1 anfwer, i. On this account your Doftors teach the Salvation of Heathens, ( Are thofe of your Church ?) and fb no otherwife of ChrilHans than of Heathens. 2. Either thefe wanting your Light are in the Church or out. Ifm it, then a Man may be ot the Church without being a Papift, which is againft your Faith. I[ out of it, theri it leems Men out of the Church may be faved, and Chrift is the Saviour of more than his Body, which is againll: your Faith and ours. 5. Who is it that hath fufficient Light ? if all that have heard or read the frivolous Realbnings of the Pa- pifts, then your Parents, and almoit all of us muft perilh : But if it be any other Light which muft be had, you know not what meafure to give us to difcern i^, nor ever will know; and io you make your Church iw^yF^/e, while the Members of it cannot be known : For none can know of another ( by your Rule) whethei' his Light be fufficient or not i And I pray you, are not all the hdians o£ .America, that never heard of Chrift, the Members of your Church ? for their Light liire is not fufficient to Ihew them either the Pope or Chrift. Hath he the heart of d right Chriftian that can thus damn two or three parts of all theChriftians in th6 World, for not believing in a Wretch at Rome, that Ibmetime is an Infidel him- felf, ('for lb was Pope jfo^» 2;. judged to be, by the great General Council at Conflance, even one that believed no Refurredion , which is worfe than a Turk, or Jew, or lome Heathens^. ' And it's a wonder to me, that if your own Soul hath ever been ferioufiy con- verfant with God in Holy Worfhip, you can favour and fuic with the Cantings, and Repetitions, and Stage-Devotions of the Papifts : and that a Latin Mali Ihould be believed to be the acceptable way of Worfhip ; when the Holy Ghoft hath fo plainly and eopioufly dilbwned that ferving of God in an tmknoii>n tongue, I Cor. 14. ; ' Pardon me, if I intreat you to make a deliberate fearch into your Heart and former Ways, and try whether you converted with God in the Spii it, and were lerious in your Faith and Love and Worlhip : If you were not, no wonder if an unlbund fuperfical Religion be eafily let go, and luch an unexperienced Heart carl fuit with a Canting, Carnal, ludicrous kind of Devotion ; or if God fo tar for- fake a Soul that was hot found and ferious in the Religion once profelTed by you. But if it was better with you, then its ftrange your Soul can lb lofeits relifii ; and its ftrangerthat one, that was a Member of Chrift, and in the Church and jufti- fied before, Ihould turn to a Sed that tells them, they were not what they were, and muft come to them for what they had already. ' And whereas all the pretence you Ihew me for your Change was the difference that you found amongit us Protcftants, and our condemning one another, dd you not know that in Policy, greater Differences are tolerated among the Pa- pifts imder the Names of divers Orders, by far than any are between the Pief- byterian, Independant and Epifcopal Proteftants. And that none but ungodly or uncharitable paffionate People with us, do deny any of thele Parties to be true Members 9V the Univerfal Church : If you here met with any one that doth con- demn the other, as no parts of the Church of Chrift, they (pake not according to the Proteftant Religion, apd you can no more charge us with the Railings of every Fellow that is drunk with domineering Pride or Paftion, than with the words of the neJ^t Scold or Quaker, or Papift that you Ihall hear Reviling us. 'I 224 ^^^ LI F E of the L I B. I. ' I have faid more to you than at firft I intended. I look on you as one about * that Age, when Confcience uleth to receive its firft lerious deep Impreflions,afsd ' the Papifts falling in with you juft at that time, ( I doubt before you had hear- ' tjly received the Life of what before you profeffed, and had time to be rooted " and ftablifhed in the Truth ) the opportunity ferved them to your Delufion : * That it may not prove to your everlafting Deftru6Uon, lliall be the Prayers, and * if you admit them, the faithful Endeavours of Dec. J. 1660. Your Servant in obedience to Chrift, though to no Vice-Chrift, Rich. Baxter. The Anfwer to the Lady Anne Lindfey x Letter to her Mother, Madam I IT plealed the truly honourable Lady your Mother to fhew me your Lettef direded to her from Cahce^ and to give me leave to fend you my Animadver- fions upon it: which I am the wiliinger todo, becaufe I perceive you have there contrafted the Reafbns rnoft commonly ufed for the perverting of the Ignorantj and which its likely have prevailed molt with your (elf: ( You mult give me leave to be free and plain with you in the Matters of God and of Salvation j. I think it meet to leave the firft part of your Letter ( of the Point of Obedience) to your Mother's Animadverfions : It is the Doftrinal Part that I fliall (peak to. ' You fay that [ Herefies again fi Faith, exprejfedby the Name of Sects .cut as off from Heauen, and that an Anathema k on them that preach any other Dnclrine than what was preached by the JpofilesJ. How far Herefie cuts off from the Church, I have di- (lincftly (hewed you in the end of my Book againft Mr. Johnson, on that Quefti- on : but while you expe<5l your Mother (hoald confider of your Reafbns , you will not your folf perufe an Anfwer to them, which before was tendered you : whom then can you blame if your Sou! be cheated. Briefly, you err in Con- founding Seils and Herefies, which are not the (lime. Herefies indeed, which are falfe Dod:rines practically inconfiftcnt with the Ejjentials ofChrt/tian Fatth,do cut Men off from a ftate of Life, or fhew them to be Aliens: but lelTer Errours, called Herefies by ignorant or uncharitable Men , do un-C^iurch none. Herein I plead for you: for it they did, then wo to the Church of Rome, that hath (b many Er- rours : And if it be damnable to be a Scit, all Papifts niuli bs damned ; they be- ing as certainly a Sed as there is any in the World : A corrupt part of the Uni- verfal Church, condemning the reft, and pretending to be it (elf the whole, is a Sedt or Party of Schifmaticks : but fuch are the Papifts : Therefore they are a Sed, &c. But this is not the worft ; You confequendy Anathematize all Papifts by your Sentance: for Herefies by your own Sentance cut off Men from Hea- ven : But Popery is a bundle of Herefies : Therefore it cuts off Men from Hea- ven. The minor I prove according to your Churches Principles, that Do(flrine is Herefie which is contrary to a point of Faith : But many of the Papifts Doflrines are contrary to Points of Faith : Ergo,&c. To pafs by now all thofe Points of Popery which are contrary to what the Holy Scripture revealeth for us to be- lieve (which are many ) I only inftancein the Point oi Sovereignty , is contrary to the Determination of our General Councils. That which iscontrary to what a General Council pronounceth to ht believed, is (in the Papifts fence ) a Here- fie: But that the Pope is above a General Coimcil, and that a General Councili is above the Pope are both determined to be believed by General Councih : The lull by the Councils, At ths Laterane Ar\(\ Floreme \ and the (econd by the Coun- cils 3.: Ctinj'/ance md Bafil : They are both Herc:fies therefo'C, becaufe they are both ag.iinft General Councils: and they are both l^oinrs ni' Popery,* becaufe both determined in General Councils, ( as I have proved m my Key , &c.) If you will peiul; a Catalogue in the End of my Book, called The Safe Religion , or 'the Pakt IL Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ' the Thirty two Novelties mentioned in my^^^~Z,n- ,>, ia-, t>. „ > -u ; fee whether Popery be Error If any other^Do^fnf ' col^c^^^y^^ 'c^hy^do^" ?r '" f f "'"' '^'" vT^f'"'^ ^°". ^° P^P'^^- And here you may fee he * Safety of the true Cathohcks that have reiefted Pooerv • Onr Ji^]L;^l-v ' taineS in the Holy Scripture ; we profeli^to havero'chefR^ul^ f Td^y^ ha^" us not (that I know of ) with believing too much by holding any pofKve Error but with believing too httle, becaufe we believe not your fupernuL^ra;A„i4es: ,;And therefore you cannot fay, that we teach any other DoBune thZ Thrift's '■ .though you fancy that we teach not all, becaufe we teach not your Tradition^' But on the contrary we prove that you teach another Dcar^ne^nA ry,any Th which Chrift never delivered to the Church. But yet to abate your feve?e Self ; condemnation let me excufcyou thusfar, as to Gy, char yoiv do ic upon miftake ■ For Gal i. faith not, iUt hrm be accurjed that freacheth another DoShL^ but \alo. ther Gofpl: ] While It IS the fame Gojpel in the Ellentials that is preached and be- ^'il' this ^..rW.belongsnot even to you that err, till you conie to contra- dia the Ejfencc and make it [ another Gofiel ] as well as [ another Doclrtne " If you have made it your whole bulinefs till feven een Years ot Age w i' nay to God to dtreSl you to follow hi, Doitrtne ] it's like that I ( and many another-) have made It at leall as much of our Bufinefi till forty fix Years of Xe as ever you did and with better Advantage, and yet are as confident of the Falfe nefs of your Dodrine, as we are that the Earth doth bear us j here therefore vou * are not beforehand with us. "•wis.iuic juu ' But what have you found that cheated or frighned you into Popery -'if rh, 'vanetyofJudgrKentsQ But you never found the far greater vaHecy imong Pa- pifts ? You never read the voluminous Difpute between the Dominicanes and Te» fuits (to overpafs the reft ) j or perhaps you will ( as others do ) exped that the very fame Opinion be a Herefy in a Cahamfi, and none in a DomLanoTjal 'femff : or a Herely in a Lutheran and none in a Jefutt ■ You will run nut nf r Wbecaufe of Mens diverfity of Complexions^ind Jing a gL^^ D e/fitvTn France, expeft it (hould be efteemed none. If I prove not bffore any impartia" * rh ^'^hL V^'^h'PA?' ^'T ^'' Tl^ and greater Differences amongl/thSve « t!nr pI T1'^-^^'"'V^"l""'^ Proteltants (yea, I doubt not, I may ad? than Greeks, Calv.n.fts, Lutherans, and many more fuch fet together ) then iS your Imagination go for Truth. Bellarnnne -himfelf h,uh enumerated enough '.Knf.rh^-r'^' "-i 7T fi"'"Vf "" P''^^'' h'terfretat^onV But i Vou abufe the Text and your felf with a falfe Interpretation of it, in thefe Words ' An Interpretation is called private, either as to ^he Subp5i M« or as to the 1 rr K •■ ^°." "^? '^l ^fV"". ^^''^ °f^he latter, 'when /he Context £ntv * £nTJ T '^K V" ^Pf 1' ''l^h^i'T^' '' The Apoftle direding them S Vndl ftand the Prophefies of the Old Teftament, gives them this Caufion :That none 'oreled !s SeTo?S '''/''°''? °^ ^^"'^^ ^^ P"^'''^'^ P^^^°»^ niuft be inter preted as fpoken of Davtd or other private Perfons only, of vi^hom the v were mentioned but as Types of Chrift : It is fubjedively a p ivate Intemrefation to reftrain that Scripture (e. g. the Second Pfalm ) to DW or other orEvM.n which the Holy Ghoft intended of , the Meffiah. But herewl " ^^^^^^^ ' 'vate Inter^eters, but only againft a Vrt'vate Interpretation, a. But fuppo^ k were •as youimagin, and the publick Judgment of any Cafe fuppofe a PuSck Wr ; preter . yet every Man muft fee with his own Eyes, and tE private iadgm/nt of Difcretion muft be according to their private; that is. perfonal InterpStTon- Or elfe your Churches Interpretation muft have anoth;r publick irerSZ' vonr n a"°'ht' '"^ K° '"^^^"y '• ^^ ^^ ^^" underftand your Coundr( which « eafiIv^,nH ^'J ^'J^g;;^%^bout ) without another publick Interpretation weCy as eafiiy underftand the Scripture, or at leaft. much of it : And therefore that can ' n'fnV^ '^'^ Sence which you imagine [no Scripture, c^c. ] Yea fan M^hndli^yn^'^'TT^^'P"'^''''^'^' ^"^y°" ma? not'prefui to m unde?- Itand the Commands of Repentance, Faith or Love, without a oublick Com- ' Greek ArlSl T/;^ P"^^^^J"t«';Fetation than that of the Me Chlh: The ' Church TnTV^'?^"''' P*-"^^'^^"^^. and fo all the far greareft part of the *Ste other 3r 'Yl Jexts, which you wreft for the Papal Soveraignty, in a . r r H uS ^^ > ^""^ ? "°'/''^ Interpretation of your Fourth or Third part of < wn,S V K^'x'/'"''^ '" '^^ ^^^"'^ ^ '"^'-^ P"^^t« ^han that of all the reft ' would you have Men care no more for their Souls than to caft chem away upon . ttiC Deiufion ol fuch Reafonings as thefe ? ^ ^ Gg '3. You 226 The LIFE of the Lib. I ' g. You next (peak of [ Interpretations by Jpojleltcal Iraditim ] ; But are fober People capable of fuch a BaffllCj as to lay their Salvation on a Dream that ne- ver had a Being ? Was there ever fuch a thing as an Interpretation of the Bible by Apoftolical Tradition, without which, no Scripture mu(t be interpreted ? Where is that Commentary that the World never knew, and yet all mult know it that will be faved ? Written it is not, by Fathers, Popes, or Councils j and if unwritten, in whofe Memory is it, and how learnt they it ? Not in the Peoples, nor the generality of Pallors, for they ( that were moft learned ) prefume to write their private Interpretations and Commentaries (' never giving usthepublick Com- mentary) and take Liberty to differ about many hundred Texts among themfelves. and are not thele then grofs Delufion?. * 4. You fay, [ the Church is a City fet upon a Hill.'] Chrifl (peaks there of Preachers, but let it be of the whole Church. In good fadnefs can you believe that [ the Uni'verfality of Chrtflians ~\ which is the true Catholick Church, is not more con- fpicuous than the Papal FaBion, or any one particular Part ? Should your Seft be judged more vifible than the whole Chriftian World ? ' f . That the Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth, the TefjeJJors, Keepers and Teachers of God's Oracles, and that the Gates of Hell fliaH not prevail agatnjt it, is moft Cure and comfortable Truth. But what is this to Rome, any more than to Jernfa- lem or Alexandria? Ihe Gates of HeU (hall not prevail againfi the Body of Cbrtfi, the Univerfality of Chriftians, the true Catholick Church : But it may prevail ag^inft Corinthians, Gallateans, Romans, or any particular part : As it prevailed againft Pope John XXIL alias XXIII. to make him deny the Refurrer Form of publick Worftiip ; provided that it be for the matter agreeable unto '^iLe Woidof Godj and fitly lu^t?d to the Nature of the feveral Ordinances, and ' the P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 235 * the neceffity of the Church ; nether too tedious in the whole, nor compofcd of * too fhort Prayers, unmeet Repetitions or Reiponfals, nor too tliflbnanc from the * Liturgies of other Reformed Churches ; nor too rigorouflyimpofed ; nor the Mi- ' nifier lb confined thereunto, but that he may alio make ufe of thole Gifts for ' Prayer and Exhortation which Chrift hath given him for the Service and Edifica- * tion of the Church. ' 2. That inaliiuich as the Book of Common Prayer hath in it many things that * are juftly offenfive, and need amendment, hath been long dilcontinued, and ve- ' ry many, both Minifters and People, Perfonsof Pious, Loyal, and Peaceable * Minds are therein greatly dilTatished ; whereupon, if it be again impofed , will * inevitably follow fad Divifions, and widening of the Breaches which your Ma- * jelly is now endeavouring to heal j We do molt humbly offer to your Ma)e(ty's ' Wildom, that for preventing lb great Evil, and for fetling the Church in Unity * and Peace, ibme Learned, Godly, and Moderate Divines of both Perlwafion?, * indifferently cholen, Tnay be imployedto Compile fuch a Form as is before de-* * fcribed s as much as may be in Scripture words : or at leaft to Revife and eife- ' (ftually Reform the old ; together with an Addition or Inlertion of Ibme other * varying Forms in Scripture phrafe, to be ufed at the Minifter's Choice : ofwhicH f Variety and Liberty there be Inftances in the Book of Common Prayer, 5. Concerning Ceremonies. * We humbly reprefent, that we hold our felvqs obliged in every part of Divine * Worlhip, to do all things decently, in order and to Edification, and are willing * therein to be determined by Authority in liich things as being meerly Circum- * Itantial, are common to Humane AAions and Societies, and are to be ordered * by the Light of Nature and Chriftian Prudence, according to the General Rules * of the Word which are always to be obferved. '' - ' ' And as to divers Ceremonies forrtierly retained in the Church of England, We ' do in all Humility offer unto your Majefty thele etifuing Confiderations. * That the Worlhip of God is in it felf perfeft, without having fuch Ceremo- ' nies affixed thereto. ' That the Lord hath declared himfelf in the Matters that concern his Worlhip, ' to be jf yoa, meeriy becauje he is Excommumcate ("that is, Ibrely punitlu dl) by tbem. ;. Every ftaced full Congregation that had tmtim /ikere, was by Divine Inftita- tion to have a Bifhop of their own, or many if they could be had ; which Bifhops were calkd Elders alfoin the Scripture. And for Order fake, where there werfc many of thefe/he Churches foon placed the Precedency and Modefatorihip in one whom they called by Eminency the Bifttop. "4. Becaufe in the beginning there were no (fated Churches or Altars (ordinai'ih ly ) but in Towns and Cities; therefore the fame Apoflles that ordained Elders in every Church, are laid alio to appoint that they be Ordained Ka^ra Tn^tn , eppi- Aatim, in every Town or City. And it being long before the Villages had Church- es, they were the Parifh or Diocefs of the Bifliops of the Town. And when Ru- ral Bifliops were placed jn thofe Churches, they were fubjecfted to the City Bi- Ihops ; when every Church, as in the beginning, fiiould have had a Bi/hop of their own. f. If yea will return to the Scripture Tattern, every (tated Congregatmt that hath one Altar, muff have Fafiors that have the Go'vernment of the People ; and if yoii wilt return to the primitive Eptjcofacy, eminendy fo calledjetefy one oithefe Cburch- ts Ihould fuive a Bijhop with FeUo-iff Freshpers as his CoUe^ues , or Deacons at leait in (mailer Qiurches. ^ J . '^ _ ^ , ii ^ ■ 6. If you will return to tHe firft drii foweff degree of Corruption of Church-Order ^ you mult have a Bllhop and Presbytery in every City and Town only, fuch as our CorporatioTu atid Bsr^ugks arc , who niuft take c'ai6 alio of the adjacent Vil- lages. 7. For the maintaining of Unity and Concord, and Edifying each other by Coinrhanibn, thelc Bifhops held ordinary Synods or Meeting":, in which by Agree- ments called Canons ( no proper Laws ^ they bound up themfslves in things of mucable Determination, ^d al(b tied themlelvcs to their Duties. 8. Befidtfs thele particular Bifhops, there were General Overfeers of the Church, (ivdi as the ApolHes, Evangelids, and others that fixed not themfelves in relation to any one particular Church, but the Care of many." And that the(e have Sue- ceiiors in this ordinary part of their Work, we do not gainfay. But we humbly crave, that if our DiocelJns will be fuch, they be taken for Archbifhops or Gene- rai ?afiors\ and that they take only a General Charge of the Flock, overleeing the pamcular Palfoi-5 or Bi (hops, and receiving Appeals in (bme Special Ca(es , and not i piiTticulai' Ci>a>ge of each Soul as the particular Bilhopshavc. And thereiore 238 The LI F E of the L i b. I. that they be not charged with ordinary Confirming (or admitting into the (late of Adult Members ) all the People, which will bind theminConfcience to know and try them all, or moft : Nor yet to receive Prefentments of all Scandals, nor to Excommunicate and abfolve, or impofe Publick Penitence, on all that theJe be- long to. 9. If thefe things may not be granted, we muft be bold to leave our Teftimony, that Diocefans affuming the particular Government of all the People , in fb many Churches, as they have in England , are deftruftive i. To the very being of all the pirticular Churches, fave the Cathedral or City where they are j (It being that old Maxim, Ubi von eft Epifcoptts non efi Ecckfia ; viz. in fenfu poltttca ) : 2. And to the Palloral Office of Chrill's Inftitution : 3. And to the moft ancient Epifcopacy. Whenas by the eftablifhing of thele Parochial Bifhops, ( at leaft Oppidatim ) the Diocefans may become of great ufe for the Work of General Overfight. We re- fufe not General Officers, fo they overthrow not the particular Officers arid Churches: As if General Officers in an Army or Navy would be the fble Com- manders, and depofe all the Captains, and confequently make the Difcipline im- poffible. 10. We mod earneftly befeech your Majefty, that in Matters of Dodkrine, Dis- cipline and Worlhip, the Modes and Circumftances and Ceremonies may not be made more neceffary to our Ordination, Inftitution , Miniftration, or Commu- nion than God hath made them,either in Scripture or in the Nature of the thing ; left they be ftill the Engines of our Divifions and Calamity ; but that we may hold our Concord and Communion in Necejfary things, according to the Primitive Sim- plicity ; and may have Liberty in things UnneceJJary, as to Subfcriptions, Promilcs and Pradice j that fo the Churches may have Peace and Charity in both. And that our Difcipline which operateth on the Will, may not be corrupted by unneceflary and unfealbnable violence ; nor any permitted , much lefs confirained to be Members of our Churches and Communion that 'vilifie fucb Priviledges, and cannot be moved by our Exhortations, noT feel the weight of a meer Excommunication. Though a gentle Force is neceffary to compel the Learners or Catechumens to fubmit to the neceffa- ry means of their InftruAion : and to reftrain the petulant from abufing the Wor- ftiip and Worfhippers of the Lord. He that will rather be caft out of the Church by Excommunication, than repent and amend his wicked Life, is fo unfit to be a Member of the Church, that it is moft unfit to drive him into it by Imprifon- ment, Mulfts, or Secular Force : And this is that which doth corrupt and undo the Church. I fhall here Annex Archbilhop V^eri Model of Government, which we now aV fo prefented. the ReduSiion of Epifcopacy unto the Form of Symdical Govern* meat received in the Ancient Church^propofed in the Tear 1^41. as an Expedient for the prevention of thofe Troubles which af- terwards did arife about the Matter of Chmch-Government, Epifcopal and Presbyterial Governmznt conjoyned. Vi, U) The T^Y the Order of the Church of England, all Presbyters are charged to (*) ml- Formof Jl) niftcr the Dodlirine and Sacraments and the Difcipline of Chrift as the Lord on'ricfts *^^^'^ commanded, and as this Realm hath received the fame. And that we might ^i) ^ibidm^^^ better underltand what the Lord had commanded therein , the Exhortation of Arts 20. St. Paul to the Eiders of {b) the Church of Ephejus, is appointed to be read unto ii7, la. ^ them at the time of their Ordination : Take heed unto your felves and to all the Flock, fo^talxn"' ''"'""J^ whom the Huty Ghofi hath made you Overfters, to * rule the Congregation of God, M]ttli.2.^. V/hich he bath purcbafed with his Blood. bi9.ev.i2. Of the many Elders who in common thus ruled the Church oi Ephefas, there 5-^ i9-'5 w,i5 one Prefident whom our Saviour in his EpiJtle to the Church, in a peculiar Y/ ^^' ** manner ii'ikth the (c) Angel of the Church of Epheius. And Ignalifts io another E- piftle 1 Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, ^'^'p piftle written about twelve Years after to the fame Church, calieth theiiilhop rhere- cf. Betwixt which Biihop and the Presbytery of that Church what an hjrmoni- ciis Confent there was in the ordering the CI;arch«Government, the fame Igftati'- us doth fully theie declare by the Presbytery ( with (A) St. Parti) underltanding the Company of the reft of the Presbytery or Elders who then had a Hand, not only in the delivery of the Dodrine and Sacraments, but alio in the Adminiftrati- on of the Diftipline of Chrift. For farther Proof whereof we have that known Teftimony of TertuUian in his general Apology for Chriftians. In (e) the Church are ufed Exhortations, Chaftidiments and divine Cenfures ; for Judgment is given (0 V'tdm with great Advice as among thofe who aie certain they are in the light of God, ''"'"'".''*- and it is thechiefeft forcfliewing of the Judgment that is to come, if any Man hath '("Jn^'^'l"" fo offended that he be banilhed from the Communion of Prayer, and of the AlTem- nt'fy 'cni- bly, and of all holy Fellow/hip. furs dhi- indkatur tnagno cum pondere, ut dpud certos de Dei con^eHu fummumq; futuri Judki't p-£]udkium ejfe. Si quk ita de- liquerit ut a commitmone orationu ^ conventui (fy- oninis Smili commercii rdegatwr. Frxfident probati quiqui fenhres, hi- mrem ifium mnprecio fed tcfiimonk adepti. Tert. Apol. Cap. 39. The Prefidents that bear rule therein are certain approved Elders who have ob- tained this Honour, and not by Reward, but by good Report. Who were no /-fix- other (as he himfelf ellewhere inrimateth ) but thofe from (/) whole hands they de alionm uled to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharift; manihus, quitm p)-d' fidcntium [umimus {[y idem de corona militis. Cap. j. For with theBifhop, who was the Chief Prefidcnt (and therefore fiyled by the lame TertuUian in another place 5,vww(»j (g) Sacerdos for diltindion fake) the reft CgJ Dm- of the Difpenfors of the Word and Sacraments were joined in the common Govern- f 'i"}'^"" ment of the Church. And therefore in matters of Ecclefiaflical Ju.iicat:;te, Cor- ifj^^f',^, wUhs^ Biftiopof iJowe uled the received Form of (h) gathering together the Pros- summui' bytery. Sacerdos qui eft Epif- cupHf, defint Pi-edyteri (fyf Diaconi' Tdeitt de Baptifmo^ Cap. 17. (hj Omni alfu ad me perUti ptacuitcon- tralii Presbyterium, Cornel, apud Cyprian Epif. 46. Of what Perfons that did confift, Cjprian fufficiently declareth^ when he wifii- ed him to read his Letters to (t} the flouriihing Clergy that there did refide or Q^/ft^"' rule with him. . '. :• - ■ •;. m'dm ticm prsfidentj, Cyprian Epift. $5. ad Cornel. The prefence of the Clergy being thought to be (b requifite in matters of Epif^ nrk in the Saxoni Times^ and afterwards into the Body of the (m) Canon-Law it t'l'fj^pl-e'-'' fetf. fentia cle- ,. , . . . , .- j! _ ., "».!i)acH' - ''A ■ -A , ricoritm fu- erum, alioquin imta erit jentenfia Epifcopi mft cleriarum prefentu confirmetiir. Concil. Carthag. j. Cap "i, ftj Eneerption Eibertt, dp. 4^. fmj ij; (^i 7. Cap. A'«/to. * True it i&, that in our Church this kind of Presbyterian Government hath been long difufed, yet ieeing it ftill profefteth that every Paftor hath a right to rulerhc Church ( from whence the Name of Reftor alfo v/as given at firft unto him ) and to adminifter the Difciplineof Chrift, as well as to difpsnce the Dodrine and Sa- craments. And the reftraint of the E\T3rcife of that Right proceedeth only from the Cuftom novy received in this Realm : No Man can doubt but by another Law of the Land this Hindrance may be well removed. And how eafily this ancient Form of Government by the united Suffrages of the Clergy, might be revived again, and with what little fhew of Alteration the Synotlical Conventions of the Paftors of every Parifh n>jght be accorded, with the Prefidency of the Bifhops of each Diocefi and Province, the indifferent Reader may quickly perceive by the per- uial of the enfuing Pr opofitions. ° '^ The Parc- cliijl Go- L vernment anfwera- In every Parifh the Redor or the incumbent Paftor, together with the Church- ^'^ ^° ^^"^ wardens and Sidemen, may every Week take notiee of fuch as live fcandalouOy in scmon in that Satland. 240 Ihe L I f E of the Lib.]. that Congregation, who are to receive fuch feveral Admonitions and Reproofs as ^ the quahty of their Offence fhall deferve ; and if by this means they cannot be re- claimed, they may be prefented unto the next Monthly Synod, and in the mean time be debarred by the Paftor from accefs unto the Lord's Table. 11. The Pres- Whereas by a Statute in the Twenty fixth of King Henry VIII. (revived in the or mTnth- ^'^^ "^^^^ °^ Queen Eliz.abeth ) Suffrages are appointed to be erefted in twenty ty Synods ''x feveral Places of this Kingdom, the Number of them might very well be con- anfvverable formed unto the Number of the (everal rural Deaneries into which every Diocefs is tothtScot- fubdivided, which being done the Suffragan ( Supplying the place of thofs whoixi ujh Pres- jj^g ancient Church were called Chorepifcop ) might every Month affemble a Sy- Ecdefia-"^ nod of all the ReAors, or incumbent Paftors within the Precinft, and according ftical to the major part of their Voices conclude all Matters that fliould be brought into Meeting.; Debate before them. To this Synod [ the Redor and ] Churchwardens might prelent fuch impeni- tent Perfons, as by Admonition and Sufpenfion from the Sacrament would not be reformed ; who, if they fliould ftill remain contumacious and incorrigible, the Sentence of Excommunication might be decreed againft them by the Synod, and accordingly be executed in the Parilh where they lived. Hitherto alfo all things that concerned the Parochial Minifters might be referred, whether they did touch their Docftrine or their Converlation : As alfo the cenfure of all new Opinions, Herefies and Schifms which did arife within that Circuit, with Liberty of appeal if need lb require unto the Diocefane Synod. III. Diocefane Synodsan- j|^g Diocefanc Synod might be held once or twice in the Year as it fliould be to'tiiepro- thought moft convenient, therein all the Suffragans and the reft of the Reftors or vincial Sy- Incumbent Paftors [ or « certain fele£l Number out of every Deanery within that Dio- nodsin cefs "] might meet ; with whole Confent, or the major part of them, all things Scotland. j^\^^ [jg concluded by the Bifhop or * Superintendant ( call him whither you will ) ■rivZ^Xt. or in his Abfence by one of the Suffragans, whom he Ihould depute in his ftead to Super'm- [jg Moderator of that Affembly. Here all matters of greater Moment might be ta- tcndentes ^^^ j^^^^ Confideration, and the Orders of the Monthly Synods reviled and (if menEpilt need be ) reformed. And if here alfo any matter of Difficulty could not receive pi traHim a full Determination, it might be referred to the next Provincial or National f/J.Hieron. Synod. Epift. 85. ■' ad Evagri- ,^ , urn. *^- The pro- The Provincial Synod might confift of all the Bifhops and Suffragans, and luch vincial of the Clergy asfhould be ele<5ted out of every Diocefs within the Province. The a"hich Ei/ilsy &c. §13. I. The Primates Reduftion, though not publiftied in his Life time, was formed raany years before his Death, and fhewed to fome Perlbns ( ready to at- teft the fame ) in the Year 164.0. but it is not confiftent with two other Difcour- fes of the fame Learned Primate ( viz,, the one of the Original of Epifcopacy, and the other of the Original of Metropolitans) both printed in the Year 1641. and written with great diligence and much variety of ancient Learning. In nei- ther of which is to be found any mention of the Redudion aforefaid. Neither is there in either of them propounded any fuch Model of Church- Government, as in the (aid Reduction is contained. Which doubtlefs would have been done, had that Platform been according to his feded Judgment in thofe Matters. In which Reduftion there are fundry things ( as namely the Conforming of Suf- fragans to the number of Rural Deaneries ) which are apparently private Concep- tions of his own j accommodated at that time for the taking off fome preftnt Ani- mofities : but wholly deftitute of any Colour of Teftimony or Prefident from An- tiquity, nor is any fuch by him offered towards the proof thereof. And it would be confidered, whether the Final Refolution of all Ecclefiaftical Power and Jurifdidion into a National Synod, where it feemeth to be placed in that Redudiion without naming the King, or without any dependance upon him, or relation to him, be not deftrudlve of the King's Supremacy in caules Ecclefi- aftical. It is obfervable nevcrthelefs, that even in the Reduftion Archi-Epifcopacy is ac* knowledged. /is for the fuper-added Particulars ^ § 14. I. The Appointment and Eleflion of Suffragans is by the Law already veiled in the King, whofe Power therein is by the Courfe here propoled taken away. § I J. 2. What they mean by Affociations in this place, they explain not; but we conceive it dangerous that any Affociation (whatlbever is underftood thereby) fhould be made or entered into without the King's Authority. § 16. 3. We do not take the Oaths, Promifesand Subfcriptions by Law requi- red of Minifters at their Ordination, Inftitution,d^c. to be unneceffary : although they be refponfible to the Laws if they do amifs : it being thought requifite , as well by fuch Cautions to prevent Offences, as to punifh Offenders afterwards. Up- on all which Confideration it is, that Officers in the Court , Freemen in Cities, and Corporate Towns, Mafters and Fellows of Colledges in the Univerfities, &c. are required at their Admiffion into their feveral relpedlive places to give Oaths for well and truljt performing their feveral refpeftive Duties, their liablenefs to punirti- ment in cafe of Nonperformance accordingly notwithflanding. Neither doth it leem reafonable that fuch Perfons as have themlelves with great leverity prefcribed and exa K k make 2^0 The LIFE of the L i b. I. make advantage of fiich Meetings, as well as to faft and pray ? God and wife Men know that there is fomething more in all fuch Jealoufies of Religious Duties. § 4. Do you really defire that every Congregation may have an able, godly Minifter ? Then calt not out thole many Hundreds or Thoufands that are appro- ved fuch, for want of Re-ordination, or for doubting whether Diocefans with their Chancellors &c. may be fubfcribed to, and let not up ignorant ungodly ones in their Places. Ocherwile the poor undone Churches of Chrift will no more be- lieve you in fuch Profeffions, than we believed that thofe Men intended the King's jujt Fower and Greatn((S, who took away his Life. But you know not what we wean by Kefdence, nor how far we will extend that Word. The Word is fo plain, that it's eafily underftood by thofe that are willing : But he that would not know, cannot underftand, as King Charles told Mr. Henderfon. I doubt the People will quickly find that you did not underlland us. And yet I more fear left many a Parilh will be glad of Non-refidence, even if Prieft and Cu- rate and all were far enough from them, through whofe Fault I fay not. § J. Two Remedies you give us inftcad of what we defired for the Reformati- on of Church-Communion : i. You fay, Confirmation if rightly and felemnly perfornt- ed will alone be jufficient as to the point of InftruSlion. Anjw. But what we defired was neceffary to the right and Iblemn Performance of ir. Doth not any Man that knoweth what hath been done in England, and what People dwell there, know that there are not more ignorant People in this Land than fuch as have had, and fuch as defire Epifcopal Confirmation .'' Is it Sufficient in pint of InftruSiton, for a Bifhop to come among a company of little Children and other People, whom he he never (aw before, and of whom he never heard a Word, and ol whom he ne- ver asketh a Queftion which may inform him of their Knowledge or Life ; and prefently to lay his Hands on them in order, and haftily fay over a few Lines of Prayer, and fo difmils them ? I was confirmed by honelt Birtiop Morton, with a multitude more, who all went to it as a May-game, and kneeled down, and hedif- patched us with that fliort Prayer (6 faft, that I Icarce underftood one word he faid ; much lefs did he receive any Certificate concerning us, or ask us any thing which might tell him whether we were Chriftians ; and I never faw nor heard of much more done by any Englilh Bilhop in his courfe of Confirmation. If you fay that more is required in the Rubrick, I lay then it is no Crime for us to defire it. 2. And for your Provifion in the other Rubrick again fcandalous Communi- cants, it enableth not the Minifter to put away any one of them all, fave only the malicious that will not juft then be reconciled. Be not angry with us, if in for- row of Heart, ^e pray to God, that his Churches may have experienced Pafitrs^ who have (pent much time in lerious dealing with every one of their Parifhes perfonally, and know what they are and what they need, inftead of Men that have converled only with Books, and the Houfes of great Men j or when they do fometimes ftooptcfpeak to the ignorant, do but talk to them of the Market or the Weather, or ask them, what is their Name. § 6. To your Anfwer we reply, Thofe Laws may be well made ftri(9:er : They hindred not the Impofition of a Book to be read, by all Minifters in the ChurcheSj for the Peoples Liberty for Dancing, and otherfuch Sports on the Lord's Day, and this in the King's Name, to the ejeding or lufpending of thofe Minifters that durft not read it. And thofe Laws which we have may be more carefully executed. If you are ignorant how commonly the Lord's Day is prophaned in England by Sporting, Drinking, Revelling and Idlenels, you are fad Paftors that no better know the Flock : If yoa know it, and defire not the Reformation of it, you are yet worle. Religion never prolpered any where (o much, as where the Lord's Days have been moft carefully fpent in holy Exercifes. 1 Concerning ChHrcb-Governmint. ' § 7. Had you well read but Gerfom, Bucer, Didoclavius, Parker, Baynes, Salma- fitts, Blondell, &c. yea, of the few Lines in Bilhop Veer's ReduAion which we have offered you, or what I have written of it in Dtfp. r. rf Church-Government ; you would have feen jufi Reafon given for our Dijjent from the Ecclefiafiical Hierarchy as ftated m England ; and have known that it is unlike the primitive Epifcopacy : But if that which muft convince you, muft be brought nearer your Eyes, by God's help we undertake to do that fully whenever we are called to it. § 8. The Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 25^ 8. The Words which you here except againft with Admiration oi the Co>rup- tions, Partialities, lyranny, which Church-Government by a llngle Perlbn is lyable to, was taken by us out of the Book commonly afcribed to King Charles himlelf call- ed Icon. Bafil. but we purpofely fuppreft his Name to try whether you would not be as bitter againil his Words, as tigamjt ours, and did not elteem Ftdem per perjunas, non perfonas per fidem. And further we reply, it is one thing for a Billiop to rule alone when there aie no Presbyters, or to rule the Presbyters themfelves alone: and another thing when he hath Presbyters yet to rule all the Flock alone ; for by this means, he quoad Ex- ercitium at lealt degradeth all the reft, orchangeth their Office j which is to guide as well as to teach : As it the General of an Army, or theCoUonel of a Regiment Ihould rule all the Souldiers alone; doth he not then depofe all his Captains, Lieu- tenants, Cornets, Corporals, Serjeants, &c. Bat elpecially, it is one thing for Ignatius his Bipop of one Church that had but one Altar to rule it alone (though yet he commandeth the People to obey their Presbyters ) and another thing for an Eng- lijli Diecefan to rule a Thoufand fucb Churches alone 1 And when all is done, do they rule alone indeed ? Or doth not a Lay-Chancellor exercife the Keys ? lb far as is ne- ceffary to Cupprefi private Meetings for Falling and Prayer, &c. and to force all to the Sacrament, and enforce the Ceremonies, and fome fuch things ; and lor the great Diicipline it is almolt altogether left undone. We are (brry that you ftoiild be able to be ignorant of this ; or if you know it, that fuch Camels (tick not with you, but go down fo eafily. Ifjjiances of things amifs. §9. I. That which you cannot grant (that the DiocefTes are to great) you would quickly grant if you had ever confcionably tryed the task which Dr. Ham- mond delcribeth as the Bifliops Work ; yea, but for one Parifti, or had ever belie- ved Ignatius and other ancient Defcriptions o£ a Bifhop's Church. But is it faithful dealing with your Brethren or your Confciences (pardon our Freedom in fb weighty a Cafe ) to difpute as though you made a Bifliop but an Archbilhop to fee by a general Infpedlion of the ParifliPaftors that they do their Office, and as if they only ruled the Rulers of the particular Flocks ( which you know we never ftrove againft ) ? when as no knowing Englifli Man can be igno- rant that our Bifliops have thzfole Gcvernment of Fafiors and People, having taken all JurifdiAion or proper Government ( or next all ) from the particular Pallors of the Parishes, to themlelves alone. Is not the Qaeftion rather as whether the King can rule all the Kingdom by the Chancellor, or a few (uch Officers, without all the Juftices and Mayors ; or whether one Schoolmafter fhalLonly rule a thoufand Schools and all the other Schoolmaiters only teach them. You know that the deprii'mg of all the Parijh Paftors of the^ Keys of Government is the matter of our greateft Controverfies ; Not as it is any hurt to them, but to the Church, and a certain ExcUifion of all true Dilcipline. And 'whether the Office of the Bifliops of particular Churches «»/w< Ordmw, velgradiis, be not for Perfonal Inlpeftion and Miniftration, as well as the Office of a bhoolmafter or Phyfician, vou will better know when you come to try it faithfully, or aniwer fearfully for Unfaithfulnefs. We know that the knowing Lord Bacon in his Cotijiderattons faith lb as well as we. And for what you lay"of Suffragans, you know there are none fuch. .\V '! '■'■ § 10. 2. We are glad that in fo great a matter as Lay-Chancellors Exdrcile of the Ke)s in Excommunications and Abiblutions, you are forced plainly, and without any Exculc toconfefi the Errors of the way of Government. And let this Hand on Record before the World to Juftify us when we fliall be filenced and reproached as Schilinaticks, for defiring the Reformation of liich Abufes, and lor not IWearing Canonical Obedience to fuch a Government. § II. ;. And you have alniolt as little to fay in this Cafe. Mark Reader, that we muft all be filenced, and call out of our Offices, if we fubfcribe not to tha Book of Ordination ex Ammo, as having nothing contrary to the Word of God : And the very Preface of that beginneth-with the Affirmation of this DifiinSlion of Orders, Offices, Functions, from the Apoftles Days, and one of the Prayers afcribeth it to tire Spirit of God ; and yet now it is here (aid, that {^whether a Bi[}jop be a diftin£i Order from a Presbyter or not, is none of the QuejHon ] ; That mult be none ot the Queftion when the King calleth them to treat for a Reconciliation or Unity^ Kk z which ^52 The LIFE of the L i b, I. ~ ■ — — ■ ; — . . which will be out of Queftion againft us when we are called to fubfirihe, or are to be forbidden to preach the Gofpel. And let what is here confefTed for Presbyters Afliftance in Ordination, (land on Record againft them when it is negleded or made an infignificant Ceremony. § li. 4. In the laft alfo you give up your Caufe, and yet it's well if you will amend it. Whether the Canons be Laws, let the Lawyers judge : And whether all the Bifliops Books of Articles ( as againft making Scripture our Table talk, and ma- ny fuch others ) be either Laws, or according to Law, let the World judge. the Remedies offered for reforming thefe E*vils. §1;. I. Whereas to avoid all EKcepdon, or fruftrating Contentions or Delays, we offered only BiHiop V^ers Platform ( fubfcribed alfo by Dr. Hold/worth ) that the World might lee that it is Epifcopacy it felf that we plead for j you tell us rhat it ivof formed many T'ears before bis Death, and is not cmfifimt with two other of bis Dif- courfes : In which either you would intimate that he contradideth himfelf, and could not fpeak confiftently, or that he afterward retradted this Redufe»oif it, either you think this tick^^ Pewfr of the Keys is relblved into the King, or not : If you do think fo , you differ from the King, and from all of your felves that ever we talked with, and you con- tradict all Proteftant Princes, that have openly dilclaimed any fuch Power, and publifhed this to the World to ftop the Mouths of Calumniating Papifts : And we have heard the King, andfomeof you, difcUim it : And how can you then fidy debate thele Controverfies that differ from all Proteftant Kings, and from the Church I But if you your felves do not fo think, had you a Pen that would charge the Archbilhop for deftroying the King's Supremacy ,fbr afferting nothing but what the King and you maintain? And if you knew not that this Spiritual Power of the Keys, as diftind from Magiftratical Coercive Power, isthe Subjedof ourContro- verfie, we difpute to good purpofe indeed with Men that know not what Subjeftit is that we are to difpute about I lb that which way (bever it go^ou fee how it is like to fall J and how Men that are out of the duft and nolle will judge of our Debates. And here we leave it to the Notice and Obfervation of Pofterity, upon the perufal of all your Exceptions, How litde the Englijh Btflwps had to fay againft the Form of Primitive Epifcopacy contained in Archbilhop Uflier's Redudion, in the day when they ratherchole the incrcale of our Divifions,the Silencing of many Hundred faith- P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 255 faithful Minifters , the feathering of the Flocks, the affli it may have no other I And we are content that all Extemporate Prayer be re- IVrained which is guilty of as much Tautology and vain Repetition as the Liturgy is : If this much will latisfie you, we are agreed. 6. Nor Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 255 6. Nor are we againft any fuch Refponfals as are fit to the Ends you mention : If ours are all fuch ( upon impartial Examination), let them ftand. 7, But the Queftion is, i. Whether the Greek and Latin Churches in the three firftAges, or thofe of later Ages, be more imitable. 2. And whether the other Reformed Churches have not more imitated the ancienteft of thole Churches* though we have more imitated the latter and more corrupt. ;. And whether our firftworkbeto ftop the Papifts Mouths by pleafing them,or coming too near them, when we know they that are likeft themin all their Corruptions pleaii them beft. Yet are we not for any unneceflary difference from them, or affeftation of cauflels fingularity. As to the Reformed Churches Teftimony of our Liturgy, Dial! their very Cha- rity become our Snare ? If they had liked our Form of Prayers beft, they would fome of them have imitated us. And our Martyrs no doubt, they honoured as we do, not as fuffering for the Modes and Ceremonies of that Book, as oppofite to the Reformed Churches Mode ( for fo they fufFered not ) ; but as fuffering for the Sound Dodrine and Tri^Worfhip of the Proteftants , as oppofite to Popery and the Mafs. * § 19. Your Reafons to prove your Impofitions not too rigorous, are i. Becaufb they are hy Law : If we tell you thatfo is the Spanifh Inquifition ; you'l fay, we compare our Law-givers to th& Spaniardi : If we fay that your New-mentioned Martyrs were burnt by Law in England, ^ou'l fay that we compare them to Pa- pifts. But all thefe are Laws : And fo are thofe in Reformed Countreys which are againft Bifhops and Ceremonies : Do you therefore think them not too rigorous ? 2. Your other Reafon is, that the Rigour ii no more then is necej]ary to make the Imprjiti- on effectual. You never fpake words more agreeable to your hearts,as far as by your Pradices we can judge of them. Either you mean ejf'eBual to change Mens Judg- ments^ or effeSual to make them go againft their Judgments, or effeBual to rtd them out ef the Land or World. The firft you know they are unfit for : If you think other- wife, would you that your Judgments fliould have fuch kind of helps to have fee them right? The (econd way they will be effedual with none but wicked Men and Hypocrites, who dare Sin againft their Conlciences for fear of Men : And is it worth lo much ado to bring the Children of the Devil into your Church ? The third way of Efficacy, is but to kill or banifli all the Children of God that are not of your Opinion : for it is they that dare not Sin againft Confcience whatever they fuffer : And this is but fuch an Efficacy as the Spaniih Inquifition, and Queetl Mary's Bonfires had, to fend thofe to God whom the World is not worthy of. You know every Man that is true to his God and his Confcience , will never do that which he taketh to be Sin, till his Judgment is changed : and therefore with fuch it can be no lower than Blood, or Banifliment, or Imprilbnment at leaft, that is the Efficacy which you defire : And if no fuch rigour be too much, its pity the French, that murthered ;oooo or4oooo at their Bartholomew days, or as Dr. Petet Moulin faith looooo within a few Weeks, and the Irifh that murthered 200000 had not had a better Caufe : For they took the moft effiBisal way of rigour. But when God maketh Inquifition for the Blood of his Servants , he will con- vince Men that liich rigour was too much, and that their Wrath did not fulfil his Righteoulhcfs. You fhew yourKindnefs to Men's praying in the Pulpit without your Book ; Make good what you fay, that fuch Praying is of no great Antiquity, and we will never contradid you more 1 (^r if we fro've it not the Ancienteft way of Praying in the Chriftian Church, we will give you free leave to hang or bani/h us, for not Subfcribing to the Common Prayer Book : which the Apoftles ufed^and which was impoled on the Church for fome hundred years. But it leems you think that we are beholden to meer Sufferance without Law or Canon for conceived Prayers : How long then it will be (uffered we know ^not ; if we muft live by your Pati- ence. § 20. It feemeth that our Converfe and yours much differ : The inoft that we know or meet with had rather be without the Liturgy : and you lay, Tliat the Peo- fie generally ere well fat isfied with it. By this time they are of another Mind. If it ■were fo, wetake it for no great honour to it ; confidering what the greater Number are in. moft places, and of what Lives thole Perlbns are ( of our Pari/hes and Ac- quaintance generally or for the moft part ) who are for it: Or what thofe are that are againft it, and whom for its fake you defire your ejf\3ual rigour may be exercifed againlh The Lord prepare them to undergo it innocently. 2^6 The LIFE of the Lib.] § 21. Doth there need m more to be (aid for the Ceremonies ? How little will fatisfie ibme Men's Confciences ! Lawful Authority hath in other Countreys caft out the fame Bifliops and Ceremonies which are here received ; Doth it follow that they are good in one Country, and diforderly and undecent in another ? Or that our Authority only is infallible in judging of them ? Is not God's Worlhip perfed without our Ceremonies, in its Integrals as well as its Effmtals ? ^As for Circumfiantials whenyoul'a.w us allow of them, you need not plead for them as againft us. But the Queftion is,whether our Additions be not more then Ctramfiances. § 22. We fuppole that you give all to the Crofs in Baptifm which is necelTary co a Humane Sacrament : And this we are ready to try by juft Difpute. When you fay that never was Moral Efficacy afcrtbed to them, you leem to give up all your Caufe : for by denying this afcrtbed Efficacy, you (eem to grant them unlawful if it be fo : And if it be not fo, let us bear the blame of wronging them. The informing and exciting the dull mind of Man, in its duty to God , is a Moral EfFeift from Moral Efficacy. But the informing and exciting the dull Mind of Man in its Duty to God is an Effecft afcribed to our Ceremonies : Ergo , a Moral Effed from Moral Efficacy is afcribed to our Ceremonies. The major cannot be denied by any Man that knoweth what a Moral Effe6t and Efficacy is : that which worketh not per medum Natura in genere Caufa efficientis naturalis only , but per mo* dum objeBi, vel in genere caufa finalts, upon the Mind of Man, doth work morally : but fo do our Ceremonies : Ergo -lure the Arminians that deny all proper Fhy- fical Operations of God's Spirit, as well as his Word, and reduce all to Moral Effi- cacy, will not fay that Ceremonies have fuch a Thyfical Efficacy more than Moral. And if not fo, the good Effeds here menrioned can be from no lower Efficacy than Moral. And the minor which muft be denied, is in the words of the Preface to the Common Prayer Book, and therefore undeniable. The Word of God it felf worketh but moraliter proponendo objeclum, and fo do our Ceremonies. § 23. There is a great difference between Sacramental Ceremonies, and meer Circumftances, which the Reformed Churches keep. Thefe we confound not, and could have wifhed you would not. Our Crofs in Baptifm is [ A dedicating fign (faith the Canon ) or tranfient Image, made in token that this Child pall not be ajhamed of Chrifi crucified, but manly fight under hu Banner agamfi the Flejh, the World, and the Dfvil, and covtmue Chrtji'sfatthftd Servant and Soldier to hu Lives end. So that I. It is a Dedicating Sign, performed by the Minifter, and not by the Perfbn himfelf, as a bare Frofejfmg Sign is. 2. It engageth the Party in a Relation toChrift f tfj hu Soldier and Servant]. 5. And in the Duties of this Relation againit all our Enemies, as the Sacramentum Milttare doth a Soldier to his General j and that in plainer and fuller words than are annexed to Baptifm. 4. And it is no other than the Covenant of Grace or of Chriftianity it felf, which this Sacrament of the Crofs doth enter us into, as Baptifm alio doth. It is not made a part of Baptilin, nor called a Sacrament, but as far as we can judge, made elTentially a Humane Sacra- ment ad joy ned to Baptifm. The Reformed Churches which ufe the Crofs,we mean the Lutherans, yet ufe it not in this manner. § 24. This is but your unproved Affertion, That the Fault was not in the Cere- monies, but in the Contenders : we are ready to prove the contrary : but if it had been true, how far are you from Pauh mind, expreffed Rom. 14. & i^. and i Cor. 8. You will let your weak Brother perifli, and Ijjare not, fo you can but charge the Fault on himfelf ; and lay Stumbling-blocks before him , and then fave him by your iffetUial rigour, by Imprifonmentor Punifhment. § 2 J. Thole feem a4ewto you that feem many to us : Had it been but one hundred (uch as Cartwnght, Amefiris, Bradjljaw, Parker, Hilderjiiam , Dod , NicoUs, Langley, Paget, Hcring, Baynes, Bates, Davenport , Hooker, TViljon, Cotton, Norton, Shi'pbard, Cobbet, Ward, &c. they had been enough to have grieved the Souls of many Thoufand godly Chriftians ; and enough for any one of the Reformed Churches, had tfiey poflelTed them, to have gloried in ; and many far meaner are yet the glory of the Ancient Churches , and called , and reverenced as Fathers. But we doubt this fame Spirit will make you think that many Hundred more are but a few to be Silenced e're long. And then your Clemency will comfort the poor People that have ignorant or deboilt Readers inUead of Minifters ( for too many fuch we have known j that it was their Paftors faults that obltinately refuled to Conform, when they had promifed it ; that is, that repented of the Sin of their Suhfcription when they difcerned it : And had they never been ignorant enough to Sublcribe, they had never entered : And the many hundreds which you thus kecpfi-om the Miniftry, you make nothing of. § 2(^. Par.t II. Reverenc/ Mr. KichsLtd Baxter, 251 § 26. Whether Diocelanes be a lawful Authority as claiming Spiritual Govern- ment, and how far Men may own them even in lawful things, are Controverfies to be elfewhere managed. We juftify no Man's leaving his Minidrj' upon the Re- fufal of any thing but what he judged unlawful, yea, and what was really (b. § 27. Whether any Off ence ■were given ( though not enough to warrant Separation) let our Argumentations on both fides declare. The faid Declaration of the Church- es Senle is not the fmalleft part of the Scandal. Calling a humane Sacramem, m- diferent, or wo Sacrament, proveth it not to be as it is called. That the Nonconfor- mifts were the Caufe of Separation, who did molt againft it, is eafily faid, and as eafily proved as the Arrians proved that the Orthodox were the caufe of theSchifm of the Luciferans who feparated from the Church for receiving the Arrians too eafi- ly to Communion. § 28. Church Matters in this much differ from Civil Matters; and its one thing to change a Church Cuftom when it dangcroufly prevaileth to corrupt MensUn- derftandings, and another thing when there is no fuch Danger. So Hiz,ekia% thought when he deftroyed the Brazen Serpent, and Paul ( who before circumcifed Timothy ) when he faid. If ye be circumci/ed Cbrifi (liall profit you nothing. Could Men haveforefeen that the Primacy of the Bifhopof Kojwe in the imperial Church- es, would have been fublimated to fuch a challenged Supremacy over all the Chri- Itian World, we fuppofe the Ancients would have held it tlieir Duty to have remo- ved thePrimacy to Ibme other Seat. § 29. According to your Councih will you be judged of God ? The Not-abating of the Impofitions is the cafling off of many hundreds of your Brethren out of the Minitlry, and of many thoufand Chriftians out of your Communion : But the <»^df»»g of the Impofitions, will fo offend you, as to-filence or excommunicate none of you at all : For e. g. we think it a Sin to Sublcribe, or (wear canonical Obedi- ence, or ufethe tranfient Image of the Crols in Baptifm, and therefore thele mufi: caft us out : But you think it no Sin to forbear them, if the Magiftrate abate them, and therefore none of you will be caft out by the Abatement. But it feenieth that your Charity judgeth the bare difpleafiog of your Apetite to the Ceremonies, is a greater evil than the filencing and excommunicating all us, your poor Brethren^ though our Imprifoment follow : Nay, this is not allj For your Difpleafure will be only that another Man fubfcribeth not, crofleth not, &c. while you may do k your lelves as much as you pleale. Whether the cafting out of fo many Miniflers and Chriftians, for fuch things do more fubferve the main ends of fublick Government, than the forbearance would do, if you know nor, we leave you to God's Convidion. As alfb whether thefe things be well impofed, and Mens Obedience to Authority, and the Peace of the Church, and its Uniformity or Unity, be well and juftly laid upon them : Such Concefli- ons indeed might bear you out far. Concerning particular Ceremonies. § ;o. Why then is it not as meet that one Gefture be ufed by all in finging Pfalms or hearing Sermons ? Why doth the Minifters ftand in Prayer, even in the Sacra- ment Prayer, while the People kneel? We Ipeak againft none of your Liberty in ufing either kneeling or Holy-days, and perhaps fome of us mean to ufe bpth our fclves ; but only beleech you, that they may be no more impofed than the ancient Church impofed them, and wedefire no morej and if you reverence Antiquity, why will you not imitate it, in point of Impofition, as well as in the thing it felf But yet that Antiquity was againft Kneeling on the Lord's Day at the Sacrament, and that they had but few of our Holy-days for many hundred Years, we fuppofe you are not ignorant. § 5 1. It's well you have no more to fay againft Liberty to forbear the other three Ceremonies; the more unexculable will you be, when you filence and excommu- nicate ihofe that ufe them nor. § ;2. And its ftrange that meaner underftandings than yours cannot fee why Men Ihould forbear that whi(ib u not to be 'valued -with the Churches Peace : A Lye or a falfe Subfcription, is not to be valued with the Churches Peace : And is it there- fore a Wonder to you that Men fhould fcruple them ? It is fitter Matter for the Wonder of good Men, that after fo long Experience, thofe that will needs be the Lords and Governors in fpiritual Matters > fhould lb refolvcdiy lay the Churches L I Peace 2 $8 the LIFE of the Lib. I, Peace upon fuch things as thefe, where they know beforehand, that Men of no Confcience will all be peaceable, and thoufands of godly People are unlatijlied ; and that they will needs take all for Difturbers of the Peace, who jump not with their Humour in every Ceremony, how willing foever to be ruled by the Laws of God. § 3 3. We are glad that you juftify not Innovation and Arbitrarinefs ; and yet de- fire not fuch a Cure as fome do, by getting Laws which may do their Work. § 34. If your want of Charity were not extraordinary, it could not work ef- feduaily to the afflicting of your Brethren and the Church j when we tell you what will end your Differences, you know our Minds fb much better than our (elves, that you will not helteiie us : But you will be confident that we will come on with new Demands : This is your way of Conciliation ; when you were to bring in your utmoft Conceflions in order to our Unity, and it was promiled by his Ma- jefty, that you fhould meet us half way, you bring in nothing, and perfuade his ^ajefty alfo that he {hould not believe us in what we offer, that it would be fa- tibfa,s will bs ib. generally agreed * on. And it is no way injurious to Epifcopal Powffl-; but moft firmly eftabli/h- ' eth all in it that can pretend to Divine Authority or true Antiquity. It granreth * them much more than Reverend Bifhop Hall (in his Peace-maker ) and many o- * ther of that Judgment, do require ; who would have accepted the fixing of the ' Prefident for Life, as fufficient for the Reconciliation of the Churches. ' 2. It being moft agreeable to t.he'5cripture and the Primitive Government,^^ Is 'likeft tobethe way of a moreUniyerfal Concord, if ever the Churches arrive * on Earth at iuch a Blefltng. However it will be Juqft ^QceptaljJ^ to God, and * to well informed Confciences. .,1;,( ; _.;; ri) . irHr, v' ^ ' * 3. It will promote the Pratfticeof Difcipline and Godlinefs without Difcrder j * and promote Order without the hindering of Difcipljne and G.odlinefs. , ,, •• ' 4. And it is not to be (ilenced ( though in fome refpefts we are loath to men- * tion it ) that it will fave the Nation from the Violation of the Solemn Vow and 'Covenant, without wronging the Church at all , or breaking any other Oath. ' And, whether the Covenant were lawfully impoitd or not, we are affured from ' the Nature of a Vow to God, and from the Caies of Saul, Zedekinh, and others, * that it would be a terrible thing to us to violate it on that pretence. Though we ' are frr from thinking that it obligeth us to any Evil, or to go beyond our Pla- * ces and Callings to do Good, much lefs to refift Authority ; yet doch it undoubc- ' edly bind us to forbear our own Cenfent to thofe Luxuriances of Church-Govern- ' ment which we there renounced, and for which no Divine Inftitution can be * pretended. * It u not only the Presbyterians, hue multitudes of the ' Epifcopal Party, and the Nobility, Gentry, and others that ad- ,. " ™'. "'^'^ f'^"^ cxpretfed in c u'^ J u- 1 x/r • n • -u 1 » u \i7 .u ^ /- - the Petition that was prelented ' hered to his late Majefty, m the late unhappy Wars, that ( at r^^, prefummg to meddle with ' their Compofition ) took this Vow and Covenant +[[And' the Confciences of thofe many of ' God forbid that ever the Souls of ^o many thoufands ihould the Nobility and Gentry, (Z^rc] * be driven upon the Sin of Perjury, and upon the Wrath of + wi f f n ■ u- j •. 'God, and the Flames of Hell: Or. that under Pretence of incbf^i^ waStl^dtth°eS ' calling them to repent of what is evil, they Ihould be urged py prefented, this only bein^ ' to commit io great an Evil. If once the Confciences of the inferred in the room of it. ' Nation Ihould be ib debauched, what good can be expedcd . ciem^JIf^.°"fo""o^ur leVel^'^?^'' 'from them? or what Evil Ihallthey ever after be thought to therTwho wfeve themfelm tL' ' make Conlcience of.'' or what Bonds can be fuppofed to ot^. be under its obligations. And ' lige them ? or how can your Majefty place any Confidence God forbid that we that are Mi- * in th3m, notwithftanding the Oaths of Allegiance and Supre- jj^^^d doVn^^thhi°''t'I) e°ncoIi'""^'' * macy which they take ? or how can they be taken for compe- your u^)tWi Subfedh to aTlff * tent Witneifes in any Caule, or Perfons meet for human con- tlie Confcience of an Oath.] ' verle .''or how fhould thofe Preachers be regarded by their Au- ' ditors that dare wilfully violate their (blenin Vows ? and it would be no Comfort '' nor Honour to yourMajeOy to be the King of a Perfideous Nation. And, what- ' ever Palliation Flattery might at Hand procure, undoubtedly at diffance of time * and place ( where Flattery cannot filence Truth ) it would be the Nations perpe- M m 2 '■ tual 2^8 1 he LI F E of the L i b. I. ' tual Infamy I And what Matter of Reconciliation would it be to the guilty Pa- ' pilts , when we blame their impious Doftrines that have foch a tendency ? How ' loofe would it leave your Majelty's Subjefts, that are once taught to break fuch ' facred Bonds]] Till the Covenant was decried as an Almanack out of date, ' and irs Obligation taken to be null, that odious Fa6t could never have been per- ' petrated againft your Royal Father : Nor your Majeliy have been fo long expul- * fed from your Dominions. And the Obligation of the Covenant upon the Con- * (ciences of the Nation, was not the weakeft Inftrument of your Return. We ' therefore humbly befeech your Majcfty ( with greater importunity then we think ' we fliould do for our Livesj that you will have Mercy on the Souls and Con- =^ This en- ' fciences of your People, [ * and will not urge or tempt them to this grievous clofedpart c Q^jj^^ nor drive them on the infupportable Wrath of the Almighty, whole Judg- left oufof ' '"^"^ " ^' )^inA, where Princes and People muftgive that account, on which the Copy ' the irrcverfible Sentence will depend : For the honour of our Religion, and of that was ' your Majefty's] Dominions, and Reign, we befeech you] , fufFer us not to be prefented. < tempted to the violating of fuch Solemn Vows : and this for nothing I when art ' Expedient is before you, that will avoid it without any detriment to the Church j * nay, to its honour and advantage. ' The Prelacy which we difclaimed is [That of Diocefans upon the Claim of a * Superiour Order to a Presbyter, afTuming the fole Power of Publick Admoniti- * on of particular Offenders, injoyning Penitence, Excommunicating and Abfbl- ' ving ( befides Confirmation ) over (o riiany Churches, as neceflitated the Cor- * ruption or Extirpation of Difcipline, and the ufing of Humane Officers (as * Chancellors, Surrogates, Officials, Commiflaries , Arch-Deaconsj while the un- * doubted Officers of Chrifl: ( the Paftors of the particular Churches ) were hin- * dered from the Exercile of their Office]. ' [ The Reftoration of Difcipline in the particular Churches, and of the Paftors * to the Exercife of their Office therein, and of Synods for neceflary Confultation * and Communion of Churches, and of the Primitive Prefidency or Epifcopacy ' for the avoiding of all Ihewof Innovation and Diforder] is that which we hum- * bly offer as the Remedy : befeeching your Maiefty, that if any thing alTerted * leem unproved, an Impartial Conference in your Majefty's hearing may be al- * lowed us in order to a juft Determination. Concerning the Preamble in your Majeflys Declaration^ "we prefnme only to tender thefe Kequejis. I. "Tp II A T as we are perfwaded it is not in your Majefty's Thoughts to inti- X mate that we are guilty of the Offences which your Majefty here reciteth, fo we hope it will rather be a motive to the haftening of the Nation's Cure, that our Unity may prevent Mens Temptations of that Nature for the time to come. 2. Though we have profeiTed our willingnefs to fubmit to the Primitive Epif- copacy, and a Reformed Liturgy , hoping it may prove an Expedient to an hap- py Union, yet have we exprefled our diflike of the Prelacy and prelent Liturgy, while unreformed. And though Sacriledge and unjuft Alienation of Church- Lands is a Sin that we deteft, yet whether in fbme Cafes of true Superfluities of Revenues, or true Neceffity of the Church, there may not be an Alienation which is no Sacriledge, and whether the Kings and Parliaments have been guilty of that Crime that have m.ide fbme Alienarions,are Points of high Concernment, of which we never had a Catfto give our Judgment: And therefore humbly beleech your Ma- jefty, that concerning thefe Matters, we may not to our Prejudice be otherwifc underRood, than as we have before and here expreffed. 3. That as your Majeffy hath here vouchlafed us your gracious Acknowledg- ment of our Moderation, it might never be faid, That a Miniltry and People of fuch moderate Principles, conlcnting to Primitive Epifcopacy and Liturgy, could not yet be received into the Setdement and countenanced Body of your People, nor polTefi their Stations in the Church, and Liberty in the Publick Worlhip of God. 4. And Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. ^6i 4. And whereas it is exprefTed by your Majefty, That [the EfTence and Foun? dation of Epifcopacy might be prefeived, though the Extent of the JuriWidioni might be altered], this is to us a ground ol" Hope, that Iceing the greatning or the lefl'ening of Epifcopal Power is in your Majelty's Judgment but a Matter o\ Con- venience, the Lord will put it into your Heart to make fuch an Alteration in ther alterable Points, as the Satisfadion of the Coniciences of Ibber Men, and the Healing and Union of thefe Nations do require. - ,■ > As to our Plea for Vrimiti've Epifcopacy , the Offices and Ordinances of Chrifl: muft be (till diltinguilhed from the alterable Accuhnts. Though we plead not for the Primiti've Poverty, Ferfecution, or Reftramts, yet muft we adhere to t.\\Q PrimtttveOr- der and IVorflnp, and Admtmflrations in the Subftance j as believing that the Cir- cumfiantiating of them, is much committed unto Man , but to iiiditute the Onli- nances and Offices is the high Prerogative of Chrift , the Univerfal King and Law^ giver of the Church. . ,,/rf. > Concernwg the Matter of yonr Majejiy^ Concejjions- , as related td our Propofah. i. \ir7'E humbly renew our Petition to your Majefly, for the eflfedual Security W of thofe premiled NecefTaries, which are the Matter of our chiefelt Care^ and whereunto the Controverted Points (ublerve: 'viz,. i. That private Exercifes of Piety might be encouraged. 2. That an able, faithful Miniftry may be kept up, and the infufficient, negligent, fcandalous, and nonrefident, call out. ;. That a. credible Profeflion of Faith and Obedience be pre-required of Communicants^ 4. That the Lord's Day be appropriated to Holy Exercifes without unriecefTary Divertifements. 2. For Church-Government. In this your MajeOy's Declaration , Parifh Difci- pline is not lufficiently granted us. Infenour Synods with their Prefidents are paf- led by ; and the Bilhop which your Maj'efty declareth for, is not Eptfcopts PrafeSf but Eptfcopus Princeps ; indued with Jole Power both of Orditjatioh and JurifdUlion. For though it be (aid, That [the Bifhop Ihall do nothing without the Advice of Presbyters] yet their Confent is not made neceffary, but he might go contrary to the Counfel of them all. And this Advice is not to be given by the Diocefan Synod, or any chofen Reprefentatives of the Clergy, but by the Dean and Chapter, and io many and liich others as he pieafe to call. In all which there being nothing yielded us, which is fufficient to the defired Accommodation and Union, we humbly profecute our Petition to your Majefty, that the Primitive Prefidency with the lefpecftive Synods defcribed by the late Reverend Primate of Ireland, may be the Form of Church-Government eltablifhed among us: At leaft in thefe Three needful Points. ' I. That the Paflorsof the refpedive Paridies may be allowed, not only pub- * lickly to Preach, but perfonally to Catechize or otherwife Inftrud the feveral * Families, admitting none to the Lord's Table that have not perfonally owned their ' Baptifmal Covenant by a credible ProieHion of Faith and Obedience ; and to * admonilh and exhort the Scandalous, in order to their Repentance j to hear the ' Witnefles and the accufed Party, and to appoint fit Times and Places for thefe * things; and to deny liich Perfons the Communion of the Church in the Holy Eii- ' charilt, that remain impenitent ; or that wilfully refufo to come to their Pallors 'to be inllrucfted, ortoanfwer fuch probable Accufations ; and to continue iiich * Exclufion of them till they hive mide a credible Profeffion of Repentance, and * then to receive them again to the Communion of the Church j provided there be ' place for due Appeals to Superiour Power]. All this we beleech your Majefly to expref; under your Fifth Conceffion, be- caufe it is to us of very great weight, at^d the Rubrick is uhlatisf.iAory to which we are referred. > * 2. That all the Paftors of each Rural DeanSrles, having a ftatedPrefident cho- ' (en by themlelves ( If your Majefty pieafe to grant them that liberty) may meet ' once a Month, and may receive Prefentments of all fuch Perfons as notwithftand- *ing 270 T^he LIFE of the h \ b. I, *ingSufpenfion from Communion of the Church, continue impenitent or unre- ' formed, and having further admonifhed them, may proceed to the Sentence of * Solemn Excommunication , if after due patience they cannot prevail. And * may receive the Appeals of thofe that conceive themfelves injurioufly Sul'pended, * and may decide the Caufe.] Or if this cannot be attained , at leaft [^that the * Pallors of each Rural Deanery with their Prefident, may have power to meet » Monthly, and receive all fuch Prefentments and Appeals , and judge whether * they be fit to be tranfmitted to the Diocelan or not : and to call before them and * admonilh the Offenders fo prefentedl. "Yet if Prefentments againft Magiftrates and Mimften be referved only to the Vioccfan Synod, and their Appeals immediately there put in, we fhail therein fubmit to your Ma jelly's pleafure. ' ;. That a Diocefan Synod, confifling of the Delegates of the feveral Rural ' Synods, be called as often as need requireth : and that without the Confent of the ' major part of them, the Diocelan may not Ordain, or Exercife any Spiritual * Cenfures on any of the Minifters : nor Excommunicate any of the People but by ' conient of the Synod, or of the Pallors of the particular Parifhes where they had * Communion. And that not only Chancellors, but alfo Arch-deacom , CommiJJiirks, ' and Officials as fuch, may pafs no Cenfures, purely Spiritual. But for the Exercife of Civil Government coercivel^ by Mulds or Corporal Penal- tics by Power derived from your Majefly, as Suprcam over Pcrlons, and in things Ecclefiaftical, we prefume notatall to interpole: but Ihall fubmit to any that ad by your Majefty's Gommiffion. Our Keafons for the Jlrji part of DifcipliaCy viz. in particular Parijhei, are thefe : IT is necelTary to the Honour of the Chriftian Profeflion , to the integrity of Worfliip, to the daftrudion of Impiety and Vice , to the Prefervation of the Sound , the railing them that are Fallen, the comforting of the Penitent, the flrengthning of the Weak ; the Purity, Order, Strength and Beauty of our Chur- ches, the Vanity of Believers, and the Pleafing of Chrift who hath required it by his Laws. And withal, it is agreeable to the ancient Canons and Prartice of the Churches, and is conlented to by our Reverend Brethren, and lb is no Matter of Controverfie now between us. Yet is not the Rubrick fatisfaftory which we are referred to : r. Becaule it leaves the People at their liberty, whether they will let us knov/ of their intention to Communicate, till the Night or Morning before ; and alloweth us then only to ad- monilh them, when ( in great Parifhes ) it is impoflible for want of time. 2. Becaule it doth allow us to deny the Sacrament to thole only that malicioujly refuje Reconciliation with their Neighbours, and only admonijl) other jcandalous Sinners jto forbear : Though the Camns Forbid us to deliver them the Sacrament. the Keafons why tve infiji on the fecond Fropofaly are thefe : It being agreed on between us, That the younger left difcreet fort of Minifters are unfit to pafs the Sentence of Excommunication, without Advice and Modera- tion by others, and every Church is not like to be provided with grave, difcreer, judicious Guides j the necefltty of thele frequent leffer Synods for luch Moderatim and Advice and Guidance will appear by thele two general Evidences. r. It is the very Nature and Subllanceof the Office of a Presbyter, to have the Power of the Keys for binding and lofing , retaining or remitting Sin ; which therefore together or apart, as there is occafion, they are bound to Exercife. And this being the Inilitution of Jefus Chrill, cannot be altered by Man. In their Or- dination, according to the eflablilbed Order in England, it isfaid, [ Whofe fins thou dofi remit, they art remitted : -whoje fins thou dofl retain, they ore retained']. And they are commanded {_to Mtnifler the Doilnne, Sacraments, and Dtfciplme of Chrifi, at the Lord hath commanded, and as this Realm hath received the jame"], as exprefly as the - '. • . Bifiiopj P A BL ir II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter 271 Bipofs arc. And as the late Primate of Ireland oblerveth in his ReduBion, That thj may the bci'.ter undcrjtand what the Lord hath commanded, the Exhortation of St. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Epheliis u appointed to he read to them at the time of their Or- dination, Tfike heed to your jehes and to all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made you Over(eers, to ( feed or ) rule the Congregation of God which he hath purchafed with ht* blood \. And it is apparent in this Ath 20. 17, 18^ 28. and 1^2;, ij. and 16.4. I Iheff. ^ 12, i;. I Tim. ?.4, 5-. and y. 17. Hth. 13. 7, 17, 24. and other places, that it is the Office of a Presbyter to Overfee, Rule, and Gmde the Flock ( which the Minifterial Rule which confifieth in the Exercife of the Keys, or Ma- nagement and Perlbnal Application of God's Word to the Confciences and Cafes of particrilar Perfons, for their Salvation, and the Older of the Church ; tlie Coer- cive Power belonging to the Magillrate). And this was the Pradice in the Anci- ent Church, as appeareth undeniably in Ignatius, Tertullian, Cyprian, Hierom, Chryfo- fiom.&cc. Cow«/. C4rf^^^.4.Crt».22.2 5,29,32,54,35'336j37.as is confelTed by the chieted Defenders of Epifcopacy. 2. It" all Prefentments and Appeals be made to the BiJIjop and his Cetiffhry alone, it will take from us the P«>7/7; Discipline which is granted us, and caft almoft all Dil- cipline out of the Church. As is mott apparent to them that by experience are ac- quainted with the quality of our Flecks, and with the true Nature of the Pa/loral Work. Confidering i. How many hundred Churches are in a Diocefs. 2. How many thoufand Perlbns are in very many Parifhes : and of thofe what a number are obftinate in wilful grofs Ignorance or Scandal, reiufing to be inftrufted, or admo- nifted Ijy their Paftors. 5. How long, and earneltly, and tenderly Sinners muft be dealth with, before they are cut off by Solemn Excommunication. 4. How unlatisfadory it muft be to the Confcienceof a Biftiop or Synod, to cut dff a Man as impenitent upon the bare report of a Minifter, beforeby full Admonition they have proved him impenitent themlelves ; efpecially when too many Mirtifters are ( to (ay nothing of Paflton that might caule partial Accufations ) unable fo to manage a Reproof and Exhortation, as is neceffary to work on the Confciences of the People, and to convidl Refifters of flat Impenitency. y. What abundance of Work the Biftiop will have befides : Conftant preaching will require time lor pre- paration : Vifitingthe leveral Churches: Confirming all the Souls in fb many hundred Parifhes : ('which alone is more than any one Man can do aright,if he had nothing eHe to do ): Ordaining, Inftituting, and Examining the Perlbns, fo far as to fatisfie a tender Confcience ( ^*^3t takes not all on truft from others, and is but the Executor of their Judgments). Thele, and much more, with the care of Church-buildings, Lands, and his own Affairs and Family, and Sickneffes, and ne- ceffary abfence Ibmetimes, will make this great additional Work , which muft be conliantly performed for fo many hundred Pariflies, t6 be impoffible. 6. Reproofs and Sufpenfion would lb exalperate the Scandalous, that they would vex the Pa- ftors with numerous Appeals. 7. The Paftors will be undone by tr.ivelling , and waiting, and maintaining fuch a multitude of Witrieffes as is neceffary for the profecuting of Prefentments, and anlwering fo many Appeals. 8. The Bufinels will be fb odious, chargeable and troublefom, that Witheffes will ndt coma in. 9. The Minifter by thefe Profecutions and Attendances, will be taken off the reft of his Minifterial Work. 10. Bilhops ( being but Men ^ will be tempted by this intolerable Burden to be weary of the Work, and flubber it over, and caft it upon others, and to dilcountenance the moft confcionable Minifters that moft trouble them with Preientments : which when the Offenders perceive, they will the more infult and vex us with Appeals. ^ So th.it the Dijcouragements of Minifiers-, and ther tt'tt^' Incirpacity of the Bijhops to perform a quarter of this Work, will nullifie Diltipline, as leaving it impoffible. Experience hath told us this too long. And then when our Communion is thus polluted with all that are moft incapa- ble through utter Ignorance, Scandal, and Contempt of Piety, i. Minifters will be deterred from their Adminiftrations to Subjeds lb uncapable. 2. Biihops that are tender Confcienced, will be deterred from undertaking lb impoffible a Work, and of (b ill Succefi. ;. And Men that have leaft tendernels of Confcience, and Care of Souls, and Fear of God's Difplealure, will (eek for and intrude into both places. 4. And the tender confcienced People will be tempted to fpeak hardly of liich undifciplined Churches, and of the Officers ; and to withdraw from them. f . And hereby they will fall under the Difplealure of Superiours, and the Scorn of the Vulgar, that have no Religion but what is fublervient to their Flefh. 6. And io while the moft pious are brought under Dilcountenance and Reproach, and the moft 272 ^^^ L I F E of the Ll B; I. moft impious get the Reputation of being moft Regular and obedient to their Ru- lers, Piecy it ielt will grow into dilerteem, and Impiety efcape its due difgrace : And this hath been the Caufc of our Calamities. 3. As to th3 Liturgy ; it is Matter of great Joy and Thankfulnefs to us, that we have heard your Majdly tnore than once fo relolutely promifing, That [none Jhall fuffer for not ufing the Common Prayer and Ceremonies , but you would (ecure them from the Penalties in the AA for Uniformity, as that which your Declara^ tion at Breda intended], and to find here (b much of yourMajefty's Clemency in your gracious Conceflions for a future Emendation. But we humbly crave leave to acquaint your Majefty, (i.) That it grieveth us after all to hear, that, yet it is given in Charge by the Judges at the Affizes, to indid Men upon that Aft for not ullng the Common Prayer. (2.) That it is not only {_Some abjokte wordj and other exprefflonsj that are offenlive. ('j.) That many (cruple Hfing fonie part of the Book as it is, left they be guilty of countenancing the whole, who yet would u(e it when reformed. ' Therefore we humbly crave that your Majefty will here declarCj [ That it is ' your Majefty's pkafure that none be punilhed or troubled for not ufing the Book ' of Common Prayer, till it be effedually reformed by Divines of both Perfwafions ' equally deputed thereunto]. ' And that your Majelty would procure that Moderation in the Imfojition hereafter, ' which we before defired. 4. Concerning Ceremonies. Returning our humble Thanks for your Majefty's gracious Conceffions C of which we are alfured you will never have caule to re- pent) we further crave, 1. That your Majefty would leave out thole words concerning us. That we [^do not in our yudgments believe the practice of thoje particular Ceremonies -which we except C' gainfi- to he in it felf unlawful^; for we have not fo declared our Judgments. In- deed we have iiid, that treating in order to a happy uniting of our Brethren through the Land, our Work is not to fay what is oar own Opinion, or what will fatufie us ; but what will latisfie io many as may procure the iaid Uniorrj^ • And we have faid, that fome think fame of them unlawful in themfeher , and others hut in- cowvenicnt. And while the Impofers think them but indifferent, we conceived they might reafonabiy be entreated to let them go; for the faving of their Brethrens Confciences and the Churches Peace. We are fure that a Chriftian's Conlcience ftiould be tender of adding to, or diminifliing from the Matter of God's Worfhip in the frnalleft Point j the Laws of God being herein the only perfed Rule, Deut. 12.32. And that a Synod infallibly guided by the Holy Ghoft, would lay upon tlie Churches no greater burden then mccjjary things, Ae King to determine how it Ihould be, as liked himielf. While the Lord Chancellor read over the Preface, there vvas no Interruption, only he thought it beft himielf to blot out thole Words about the Declaration in Scotland for the Covenant [That we did from the Moment it faj]cd our Hand, ask God Fcrgivenefs for our Part in it.'\ The great matter which we ftopt at was, the Word [ Conjent'] where the Bifliop is to confirm by the [Conjent j of the Paftor of that Church ; and the King would by no means pais the Word Confint either there or in the Point of Ordination or Cen- fures ; becaule it gave the Minifters a negative Voice : We urged him hard with a Paflage in his Father's Book of Meditations, where he e.xprefly granteth this [Cow- fcnt \ of the Presbyters j but it would not prevail : .The inoft that I infifted on was from the end of our Endeavours, that we came not hither for a Perlonal Agree- ment only with our Brethren of the other way, but to procure liich gracious Con- cellions from his Majefty, as would unite all the Ibbereft People of theLand : And we knew that on lower Terms it would not be done. Though [Confent] be but a lit- tle Word, it was necefCiry to a very defirable end ; if it were purpoled that the Parties and Divifions fhoiild rather continue unhealed, then we had no more to lay, there being no Remedy : But we were liire that Union would not be attained if Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 277 if no Confent were allowed Minifters in any part of the Government of their Flocks, and lb they (hould be only Teachers without any Participation, and the ruling of the People, whofe Reftors they are called. And when 1 perceived Ibme Offence at what I faid, I told them that we had not the Judgments of Men at our command : We could not in reafbn fuppofe that our ConceflionSj or any thing we could do, would change the Judgments of any great Numbers ; and theretore we muft confider what will nnite us in cafe their Judgments be not changed, or elle we labour to no purpole. § 109. But Bilhop Morley told them how great our Power was, and what we might do if we were willing j and he told the King that no Man had written better of thefe Matters than 1 had done, and there my five Dilpucations of Church Government, &c. lay ready to be produced ; and all was to intirfiate, as if I now contradifted what I had there v/ritten. I told him, that I had bell: rea- (bn to know what I had written, and that I am ftill of the fime mind, and fland to it all, and do not I'peak any thing againft it. A great many words there were about Prelacy and Re-ordination ; Dr. Gunning and Bifhop Morley fpeaking almoll: all on one fide ( and Dr, Hinchman and Dr. Coftns fometimes ) : and Mr. Calamy and my felf moft on the other fide : But I thin!: neither Party doth value the ram- bling Difcourfes of that Day, fo much, as to think them worthy the recording. MnCa/z/wKanlwered Dv.Gnmiwg from Scripture very well againft the Divine Right of Prelacy as a diflinft Order. And when Dr. Gunning told them, that Dr. Ham- mond had (aid enough againft the Presbyterains Caufe and Ordination, and was yet unanfwered : I thought it meet to tell him, that I had anfwered the Subihnce of his Arguments, and laid enough moreover againft the Diocefan Frame of Go- vernment, and to prove the validity of the Englifh Presbyters Ordination, which indeed was unanfwered, though I was very defirous to have feen an Anfwer to it : which I faid becaufe they had got the Book by them , and becaufe I thought the unrealbnablenels of their dealing might be evinced, who force (o many hundreds to be Re-ordained, and will not any of them anfwer one Book which is written to prove the validity of that Ordination which they would have nullified, though I provoked them purpofely in iiich a Prefence. §110. The moft of the time beiftg fpent thus in fpeaking to Particiilars of the Declaration as it was read, when we came to the end, the Lord Chancellour diew out another Paper, and told us that the King had been petitioned alfo by the In- dependants and Anabaptifts, and though he knew not what to think of it him- felf, and did not very well like it ; yet fomething he had drawn up which he would read to us, and defire us alfo to give our Advice about it. Thereupon he read, as an Addition to the Declaration, That [ others alfo be prmitted to meet for Religious JVorjhip, fo he it, they do it not to the difiurbance of the Teace: and that no Jujtice of Peace or Officer dtfturb them\ When he had read it, he again defired them all to think on it, and give their Advice : But all were filent. The Presbyterians all perceived, as (bon as they heard it, that it would fecure the Liberty of the Pa- pifts : and ' one of them whilpered me in the Ear, and intreated me to (ay no- ^ thing, for it was an odious Bufineis, but let the Bifhops fpeak to it. But the Bi- " ihops would not fpeak a word, nor any one of the Presbyterians neither, and (b we were like to have ended in that Silence. 1 knew if we conlented to it , it would be charged on us, that we fpake for a Toleration of Papifts and Se6tarie« : ( But yet it might have lengthened out our own). And if we fpake againft it, ?.ll Seds and Parties would be let againft us, as the Caufers of their Sufferings, and as a partial People that would have Liberty our felves, but would have no others have it with us. At laft, ieeing the Silence continue, I thought our very Silence would be charged on us a Conlent if it, went on, and therefore I only Tiid this, That \^ this Rwerend Brother Dr, Gunning eijen now peaking agaihji SeBs, had named the Fapijls and the Socinians : For our farts we defired not favour to cur jelves alone , and ri- gorous Severity we defired againjt none ! As we humbly thanked his Majefly for hts Indul- gence to our felves, fo we dtfiwguijl] the tolerable Parties from the intolerable : For the former, we humbly crave jud lenity and favour ; hut for the latter, Juch as the two forts named before by that Reverend Brother, for our farts we cinnot make their Toliration our re^uefi ] ; To which his Majefty faid, That there were Laws enough agatnft the Pa- pifts] and I replyed, That we underflood the Queflion to be, whether thofe Laws fhould be executed on them, or not. And (b his Majeily br,;lce up the Meeting of that Day. § I r r. Before the Meeting was diffolved, his Majefty had all aUng told what he would have ftand in the Declaration, and he named four Divines to determine of 278 Ihe LI F E of the Lib.!. pf any Words in the Alteration, if there were any difference, that is, Biihop Mor- Uy, Bifliop Hinchman, Dr. Keignolds, and Mr. Calamy, and if they difagreed, that the Earl of /iw^/e/e/ and the Lord Ho//« iTiould decide it. As they went out of the Room, I told the Earl of AngUjey, That we had no other hu(inefi there that day but the Curches peace and welfare, and 1 wotdd not ha-ve been the Alan that Jliould haz/e done fo mnch agamfi it as he had done that day, jor more than be was like to get by it- : ( for being called a Presbyterian, he had Ipoken more for Prelacy than we expeded): And I think by the Confequent that this faying did fome good ; for when I after found the Declaration amended, and asked him how it came to pals, he intimated to me that it was his doing. § 112. And here you may note by the way, the fafhion of thele Times,and the ftate of the Presbyterians : Any Man that was for a Spiritual ferious way of Wor- ihip ( though he were for moderate Epifcopacy and Liturgy ), and that lived ac- cording to his Profeflion, was called commonly a Presbyterian, as formerly he was called a Puritan, unlefs he joyned himfelf to Indefendmts, Anabaptifis, or fome other Se us by a Law, and not reverfed, I ftould take it to be my Duty to do my belt to procure the full Confent of others, and promote our happy Concord on thefe Terms, and fhould rejoyce to fee the Day that Faftions and Parties may all be fwallowed up in Unity, and Contentions turned to Brotherly Love. At that time he began to offer me A Bilhoprick (of which more anon ). § ii(^. I Ihall here a little look to a pafiage of another Nature. Before this, I was called to preach at Court before the King ( by the Lord Chamberlain who had fworn me his Chaplain , and invited me tinder that Name) : And after Ser- mon it pleafed his Majeity to fend the Lord Chamberlain to require me to print: it. And the Earl of LauJerdale told me, that when he fpake to the King of the great number of Citizens that wrote it in Charaders, and faid that (bme of them would publilh it ; the King anfwered, I will prevent that, for I -wiU have it pMjJ}ey Concejfians in the great point of Parochial Power and Difciplme, and in the Liturgy and Ceremonies, &C. my Soul rejoiced in thattlfulnefi toGod and his Inftruments, andmyCon- fcience prefently told me it was my Duty, to do my beft with my felf and others as far as I bad Interejt and Opportunity, to fupprefs all finful Difcontents ; and having competent Ma- terials now put into my Hands, (without which I could have done nothing ) to perjuade eti my Brethren to Thankfulnefs , and obedient Submiffion to the Govermmnt. Afid being raifed to fome joyful hopes of feeing the Beginnings of a happy Union, I fliaU crave your Lordpip^s Pardon for prefuming to tell pu what farther endeavours will be neceff'ary to ac- complifi) it : I. If your Lordjhip will endeavour to get this Declaration pa/s into an Ati- 2. If you will Jpeedtly procure a Commijfion to the Perfons that are (equally) to be deputed to that work, to review the Common-Prayer- Book, according to the Declaration. 5. If you will further effcBualiy the Re(l oration of able, faithful Minifters (who have and wiU have great Interejt tn the Jober part of the People) to a Jetled fiation of Service in the Church, who are lately removed. 4. If yoa will open fome way for the ejection of the in- fufficient, fcandalous and unable, y. If you will put as many of cur Perjuafion as you can into Btjhopricks ( if it may be, more than three. ) 6. If you will defre the Bijhops to place fome of them in inferior Places of truft j ejpccially Rural Deanrics, which is a Stati- on futtable to us , tn that it hath no Salliry or Maintenance, vor coercive Power, but that (imple , paftoral ferfuafive Fewer which we defire : This much will jet us all in joint. And for my own part ., I hope by Letters this very Week to differ fe the Seeds of SatisfaBi- on into many Countries of England. But my Confctcnce commanding me to make this my very Work and Bufinejs ( unltfi the things granted poultl be revtrjt, which God forbid ) Imuft profeji to your Lordjlup, that I am utterly againjt accepting of a Bijlwprick (as be- cauje I am confcioits that it wiU over-match my Jujficiency, and ajrighf me with the remem- brance of my Account for jo great an Undertaking, &c. fo ) jptcially becaufe it will very much dijabte me from an (jfeBual promoting of the Churchei Peace. As Men will ejueftion all my Are^umentations and Perfuajives, when they jce me in the Dignity which I plead for, but will take me to jpeak my Conjcience impartially, when I am but as one of them, jo Imujt profejsto yottr Lordjhip, that it will jt op my own Mouth, jo that I cannot for Shame f^cak half jo freely as now lean (and will tf God enable me) for Obedience and Peace, while I know that the Hearets will be thinking I am pleading for my felf Therefore J humbly crave, I. That P A RT II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 283 I. That your LorJfliip v^ili put fame able Man of our perfivafion into the place ivhicb you intend me ( Though I now think that Dr. ReignolcJs and Mr. Calamy may better ac- cept of a Bipoprick than 7, which I hope your Lord^np will promote ). / //m^ pjefume to offer fame Choice to your Confideration ; Dr. Francis Roberts of Wrington in Somer- (etihire ( known by bts Works ), Mr. Froyzal of Clun in ShropJhire and Hereford Dioceji (a Man of great worth and goodinterejl ), Mr. Daniel Cawdrey of Billing in Northamptonlhire, Mr. Anthony Burgefi of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickfiiire ( all known by their printed Werks ) ; Mr. John Trap of Glocefterfiiira , Mr. Ford of Exeter, A/r. Hughes 0/ Plymouth, M-. Bampfield e/ Sherborne , M-. Woodbridge of Newbury, Dr. Chambers, Pr. Bryan and Dr. Grew both of Coventry, M-.Brinl- ley 0/" Yarmouth, Mr. Porter 0/ Whitchurch ;« Shropihire, Mr. Gilpin 0/ Cumber- land, Mr. Bowles of York, I>r.Temple o/Brampfton tn Warwickfliire : 1 need name no more. 2. That you will believe that I as thankfully acknowledge your LorJjhip's Favour, as if I were by it poffeffed of a Bijlwprick : And tf your Lordjlnp continue in thofe Intentions, I (Jiall thankfully accept it tn any other fate or relation that may further my Service to the Church and to his Majefty. But I defire for the forementioned Reafons that it may be no Ca- thedral Relation. And whereas the Ficar of the Pari(l} where I have lived will not rejtga, but accept me only as hu Curate, if your Lordjhip would procure him fome Prebendary, or othir place of Competent Profit (for I dare not motion him to any Fajloral Charge, or Place that recjuireth preaching ), that jo be might refign that Vicaridge to me, without his Lofi, according to the late Act, before December, for the fake of that Town ( of Kiddermin- fter ) 1 Jliould take it as a very great favour. But if there be any great Inconvenience or Dffficultiei in the way, I can well be content to be his Curate. I crave your Lordship's par- don of this trouble ( which your own Condefcenfion bath drawn upon you) and remain Nov. I. 1660. Your Lordfliips much obliged Servant, Rich. Baxter. I have prefumed to tender you the inclofed Lift of defired Members of the Indian Corporation , luppofing your Lordfhip will Name what Perlbns of higher Quality you (ce meet. And alfo the French Prd- jeft with th\soi London for a Corporation for the Poor, that by (uch Generals you may be prepared to receive the Londoner's Petition when it is offered. - § 124. Mr. Calamy blamed me for giving in my Denial alone , before we had refolved together what to do. But I told him the truth, that being upon other ne- celTary Bulinels with the Lord Chanceilour, he put me to it on the fudden, (b that I could not conveniently delay my Anfwer. § 127. And Dr. Regnolds alnioft as (uddenly accepted it, iiy'ing, That fome Friend bad taken out the Conge d'eflier for him without bis knowledge. But he read to me a Profcflton direded to the King, which he had written, wherein he profefTed that he took a Bilhop and Presbyter to differ not ordme but gradu, and that a Bilhop was but the Chief Presbyter, and that he was not to Ordain or Govern but with his Presbyter's Afliftance and Confent, and that thus he accepted of the place, and as defcribed in the King's Declaration, and not as it ftood before in England ^ and that he would no longer hold or exercife it than he could do it on thcfe terms] : To this fence it was; and he told me that he would offer it the King when he accepted ot the place; but whether he did or not I cannot tell. He dy'd in the Bifhoprick of Norwich An. 16^6. § 126. On Friday Novemb.z. being AU-Souls-day , the Queen came in : And there were that day on the Thames three Tydes in about Twelve hours, to the common admir.ition of the People. § 127. Mr. Cd/.iwy long (iifpended his Anfwer, fo that that BilTioprick was long undifpofed of; till he faw the iflbe of all our Treaty , which ealily reiblved him. And Di. Mamon was offered the Deanery of Rocbefter, and Dr. Bates the Deanery O o 2 of 284 ^^^ LI F E of the Li b. I. of Co'ventry and Lichfield, which chey both ( after lome time ) refufed : And , as I heard, Mr. Edward Bowles was offareJ the Deanery oiTork (at leaft) which he re* fufed, (and not long after died of the ftone). § 128. When the King's Declaration was paffed, we had a Meeting with the Miniflers of LWaw called Presbyterian (that is, all that were neither Prelatica!, nor of any other S=e mufi vot wi^i evil, that good may come of It. To which 1 replyed, There u no doubt of it : far » it from me to fay that I iifi(J) it y but if I were their Kn^my, I could Scarce wij}) them greater hurt and injury to their Caufe, than to ftt uf juch Men '^ and that thofe are their Enemies, whoever they be^ that perfwade them to cuft cut learned, godly Mmijicrs, and fet up Juch m their room as thefe. Yet did this Mr. Hon on, in his complying weakneis to pleafe that Party, tell Dr. Bolton, That 1 wijfied that they wtre allfuch : And Dr. Bolton told it from Table to Table, and publiflied it in the Pulpit : And when he was queftioned for it, alledg- ed Mr. Horton as his Author. When I went to Mr. Hortcn, he excufed it.and faid, Jhat he thought I had faid fo ; and when I told him of the additional words, by which then I difclaimed fuch a fisnce, he could not remember them ; and that was all the remedy I had j though none of the Brethren prefent remembred any fuch words as he reported. But when the Lord Chamberlain knew of it,he was (b much offended, that I was fain to intercede for Mr. Horton, that it might not prove any hurt to him. And by this following Letter he expreit his diftaft— — . For my ejieemed Friend Mr. Baxter, Thefe. SIR, I Have jufi Caufe to intreat your Excufe for fo abruft a breaking from you : I confefi I was under very great trouble, for the folly of my Chaplain, and could not forbear to exprefi it to htm. I am concerned with a very true refentment for fo imprudent a Carriage. Let me intreat you that it may not reflect upon me, hut that you will believe that I havtfo great a value of you, and am jo tender of your Credit; as 1 cannot eafily pafi by my Chap- lain's indtfcrelion : Ta 1 (liall endeavour to char you from any untrue AQierfiont , andpaS approve my jeif Your a flured Friend, Ed. Mancbefter. P p § 148. 2^0 Ihe LIFE of the L i b. L § 148. 1 fiiall next infert fome account of the Bullnefs which I had lb often with the Lord Chancellour at this time : Becaufe it was moft done in the imer-fpace between the pafling of the King's Declaration , and the Debates about the Litur- gy. - In the timeofCrflwM;ei/'s Government, Mr, John Elliot, with Ibme Affiftant in New-England, having learnt the Natives Language, and Converted many Souls a- mong them ( not to be baptized and forget their Names as well as Creed , as it is among the Spaniards Converts at Mexico, Peru, &c. but to ferious Godiinefs ) j it was found th^tthe great hinderance of the progrels of that Work was the Poverty and Barbaroufnels ot tl^.e People,which made many to live difperfed like wild Beafts in WiMernefles, fo that having neither Towns, nor Food, nor Entertainment fit for Englilh Bodies, few of them could be got together to be fpoken to, nor could the Englilh go far, or (tay long among them. Wherefore to build them Houfes, and draw chem together, and maintain the Preachers that went among then^ and pay School-mafters to teach their Children, and keep their Children at Schooljd^f, Cromwd caufed a CoUedion 10 be made in England in every Parifii j and People did contribute very largely : And with the Money ( befide fbme left in (tock) was bought 7 or 800 /. per Annutn of Lands, and a Corporation chofen to'difpofe of the Rents for the furthering of the Works among th6 Indians. This Land was almoft all bought for the worth of it of one Colonel Beddtngfield, a Papift, an Officer in the King's Army : When the King came in, Beddtngfield leizeth on the Lands a- gain ; and keepeth them, and refuTeth either to furrender them, or to repay the Money ; becaufe all that was done in Crewwell's time being now judged void , as being without Law, that Corporation was now null, and lb could have no right to Money or Lands : And he pretended that he fold it under the worth, in expe- ftation of the recovery of it, upon the King's return. The Prefidentof theCor- / poration was the Lord Steele, a Judge ( a worthy Man ) : The Treafurer was Mr. Henry Jpttrfi, aficT'tfie Members were fuch fober godly Men , as were beft affeAed to NewEnglands Work : Mr. /Ijhurjf (being the moft exemplary Perfon for emi- nent Sobriety, Self-denial, Piety, and Charity, that London could glory of, as far as publick Oblervation, and Fame, and his moft intimate Friends Reports could . tefHfie j did make this (and all other Publick Good which he could do) his Bufi- ne(s : He called the Old Corporation together , and defired me to meet them : where we all agreed, that fuch as had inairred the King's Difpleaftire, by being Members of any Courts of Juifice, in Cromwell's da.ys, fhould quietly recede, and we ftiould try if we could get the Corporation reftored, and the reft contir)ued,and more tit Men added, that the Land might be recovered : And becaufe of our other Bui'inefs, I had ready accels to the Lord Chancellour , they defired me to folicic him about it : fo Mr. /Iflntrji and I did follow the BufineG. The Lord Chancellour at the very fiift was ready to further us, approving of the Work, as that which could not be lor any Fa«a:ion, or Evil end, but honourable to the King and Land. And he told me, That Beddtngfield could have no right to that which he had (old, and that the right was in the King, who would readily grant it to the good u(e in- tended : and that we Ihould have his beff afliftance to recover it. And indeed I found him real to us in this Bufinefs from firft to laft : yet did Beddtngfield by the friendfhip of the Attorney General, and Corns others, fo delay the Bufinefs, as bring- ing it to a Suit in Chancery, he kept Mr. A^mrfl in a Twelve-months trouble before he could recover the LaVid : but when it came to Judgment, the Lord Chancellour fpake very much againft him, and granted a Decree for the New Corporation. For I had procured of him before, the King's Grant of a New Corporation jand Mr. Ajhurft and my felf had the naming of the Members : And we defired Mr* RobtYt Bojle ( a worthy Perfon of Learning and a Publick Spirit, and Brother to the Earl oi Cork) to be Prefident (now Called Governour ) and I got Mr. AjhurH: to beTrenfiirer again, and f:)me of the old Members, and many other godly, able Citizens made up the reft : Only we left the Nomination of (bme Lords to his Majefty, as not prefuming to nominate fuch, ( And the Lord Chancellour, Lord Chamberlain, and fix or feven more were atkled ). But it was Mr. Boyle and Mr. Jjimrfi, with the Citizens, that did the Work : But efpecially the care and trouble of all was on Mr. Apitrfi^. And thus that Bufinels was happily reftored. § 149. And as a fruit of this his Majefty's Favour, Mr. Elliot fent the King, firfl the New Teftament and then the whole Bible, tranflated and printed in the Indian's T>.ingu.ige: Such a Work and Fruit of a Plantation , as was never before pre(ent' ed to a King. And he fent word, that next he would print my Call to the Uncon- verted, and then The PraSliceof Piety : But Mr. Bc/Zf fenthim word it would be bet- ' ter P A B. T II. Reverend Mr. Ricfaard Baxter. ''^^"^i — !—- ■ : : . ,' ; • ~ V "-£'1 'J , ■ . ■ ,■' " ter taken here, if the VraBic ofVietj were printed beFQfQ.any thing oj mine. fAr the prelentthe Revenues of the Land gdeth molt to the maintaining of tne ,P.^el«. Upon the occalion of this Work, I had thefe Letters of Thhriks from the Court and Governour in New-England, and from Mr. Norton and Mr. Ettiot. Reverend and much honoured Sir *-p>H3twewho are perlbnally unknown to you, do in this manner apply our * 1. felves, is rendred not only excufible, but unlefi we will be ingratefal, necei- ' fary, by Obligations from your fclt'3 with whom the intereft of. pppr Strangers in *■ a remote Wildernefs hath been fo regarded as to (hew them kindnefs,an.d that (we * believe) upon the beft account, (i.e.) for the Lord's fake. We have underftood *from thofc that were employed by us, with what loving and cordial readinefsj'ou ' did upon requeft put forth your felf to further our Concernments in our late Ap- ' plications to his Majefty ; for which aft of favour and love we cannot but _re- ' turn our unfeigned thankful Acknowledgments ; and the rather becaule we know ' no Argument that could move your Thoughts in it, but that of the poor Piji)-, * phets Widow, viz,. That your Charity did look upon your Servants as Fearers of * the Lord, Love unto whom, we perfwade our (elves' was the Root that bare this ' Fruit of Love and Kindnefs to us, and that at fuch a time as this. Wc tfuft: the ' faithful God will not forget your Work' and Labour of Love which ybi; have, ' fhewed towards his Name, in miniftring to the help of fome partoF his unworthy *, People who are Exiles in this Wiidernefi we hope for his Names fike, ' Sir, You fhall further oblige this poor People, and do that that will not be un~ * pleafing to him who is our Lord and yours, by the continuance of your Love and * Improvement of your Interefts and Opportunities in our behalf What advan- 'tage God hath put into your hands, andfeferved your weak Body unto, by ac- * eels unto Perfons of Honour and Truft, or otherways, we hope it will be no ' grief of heart unto you another day, if you Ihall improve pare thereof tliis way : , * All that we defire is Liberty to ferve God according to the Scriptures : Liberty * unto Errour and Sin, or to lit up another Rule befides the Scriptures, we neither ' vvifh to be allowed to our lelves, nor would we willingly allow it unto others. If ' in any thing we fhould miftake the meaning of the Scriptures , as we hope it is ' not in any Fundamental Matter that we do lb ; (having therein the Concurrence ' of all the godly Orthodox of the Reformed Proteltant Religion), lb on the other ' hand, in Matters of an inferiour and more difficult Nature (wherein godly Chri- ' ftians may differ, and Ihould bear difference without difturbance) we are willing ' anddefirous to live and learn by any orderly means that God hath appointed for ' our Learning and Inftru£tion j and glad ihall we be of the opportunity to learn * in peace. The Liberty aforefaid, we have by the favour of God, now for many * years enjoyed, and the lime advantaged and encouraged by the Gonftitution of ' our Civil Government, according to Conc^effions and Priviledges granted and ' eltablilhed to us by the gracious Letters Patents of King Charks the Firll, the * continuance of which Priviledges (concerning which his Majeifty's late gracious ' Letter to us hath given us very great encouragement) is our earneff and j ifl de- * fire; for nothing that is unjulf, or not honeft , both in the fight of the Lord, and ' alio of Men, do we leek, or would allow our lelves in. We hope we (hall con- * tinue as faithful Subjeds to bis Mnjelty ( according to our Du(»yJ and be every ' way as beneficial to thelnteted of our Nation, under an E!e(5):ive Government as ' under an Impofed : But liindry particular Perlbns, for private refpedf s . are , as * we hear, earneftly foliciting to bring Changes upon us, and do put in many high ' Complaints againlf us ; in iJDecial, that the Generation of the Quakers, are our * bitter and relllels Enemies, complaining of Perlecution, but are themfelves moft * troubleiome and implacable Perfecutors of us, who defire but to keep our own * Vineyard in peace. Our hope is in God who hath hitherto helped us, and who ' is able to keep open for us a gre4t and effectual Door of Liberty to lerve him, and * opportunity to advance his Name in this Wildernels ; although there be many * Adverfaries, among which he can raile up for us fome Friends ; as he hath dona ' your fclf : And as a Friend lovsth at all times, and a Brother is born for Adver- P p 2 ' fity, 2^2 The LIFE of the L i b. I. * fity, (b may you in this time of our threatned Adverfity, ftill perform the f>artof a ' Friend, as opportunity ferves, we fliall be further much ingaged to Thankfulnefs ' unto God and you, who are. BoHon in New-England^ this SIR, ytbof Jugufi^ 1 66 1. Tour Friends and Brethren in the Faith of Chris}, Jo. Endecott Governour ; With the Conjhit and by Order ef the General Court. To the Rewrendahd much Honoured Mr. Richard Baxter one of his Majefifs Chaflains in Ordinary. Reverend and dear Sir! "TpHough you are unknown to me by Face, yet not only your Labours, but alfo * X your fpccial Afliftance in a time of need unto the promoting the welfare of * this poor Country, certified unto us by Captain Leveret fupon which account our * Gensral Court thought good to return unto you their Thanks in a Letter which ' I hope before this is received) have made your Name both known and precious * to us in thefe Parts. The Occafion of thefe, is in the behalf of one Mr, IViIliam ' Leet Governour of JVfU' H;r/f reftoreth : The Wildom of the Mind, the Righte- ' oulhefs or Reditude of the Will, and the Holinels and Obedience of the Life. ' If we had a right Scheme of Theology ( which I never yet faw) Unity in Tri- ' nity would go through the whole Method : It's ealy to follow it a little way, and * to fee how God's three grand Relations of Owner, Ruler, and Father or End and ' chief God, and the Correspondent Relations in Man, and the mutual Expreffions ' go far in the great parts ot Theology : But when we run it up to the Numerous * and finall Branches, our narrow Minds are loft in the fearch. But the Day is ' coming when all God's Works of Creation and Providence, and all his Truths * /hall be feen to us iino intuitu, as a moft entire, perfed Frame. Pardon my too * many words to you on this. ^ As for the divineGovernmentby theSaints which you mention,! dare not exped: '^fuch great Matters upon Earth, left I encroach upon the Priviledge of Heaven, and ' tempt my own Affedions downwards, and forget that our Kingdom is not of this ' World. Certainly if Ghriftianity be the fame thing now that it was at firft, it is ' much unfuitable to a reigning State on Earth : Bearing the Crofs, Perlecution^ * Self denial, &c. found fomething of another Nature. The Rich will rule in the ' World, and few rich Men will be Saints. He that furveycth the prefent State of ' the Earth, and confideieth that fcarcely a fixth Part is Chriftian, and how linall * a Part of them are reformed, and how fmall a part of them have much of the '' Power of Godlinefi, will be ready to think that Chrift hath called almoft all his * Chofen, and is ready to forfake the Earth, rather than that he intendeth us luch ' blefted Days below as we defire. We Ihall have what we would, but not in this ' World. As hard as we think God dealeth with us, our King's Dominions are yet * for the Power of Godlinefs, the Glory and Paradile of the Earth. Succefs tempt- ' ed fome here into reigning Expedations, and thence into finfiil Aftions and At- * tempts, and hardened them in all ; but God hath done much already to confute * them. Through Faith and Patience we muft inherit the Promife. May I know 'Chrift crucifiedon Earth, andChrift glorified in Heaven, Ilhalibehappy. Dear * Sir, the Lord be your Support and Strength : I reft Tour Weak FeUow-Ser'vant, Richard Baxter. §403. That you may the better underftand thefe Letters, and many other fuch Paflages, you muft know that the great Reafon why my lelf, and fome of my Bre- thren were made the King's Chaplains (in Title) was, that the People 'might think that fuch Men as we were favoured and advanced, and confequently that all that were like us fhould be favoured, and fo might think their Condition happy. And though we our (elves made no doubt but that this was the ufe that was to be made of us, and that afterward we (hould be filenced with the reft in time, yet we thought that it was not meet to deny their OfFer.The People at Lo«vithout any colour of ground from any thing that I had faid , as may be ieen in the print- ed Sermons. § 168. For when the Miniflers were all filenced, feme covetous Bookfellers got Copies of the lall Sermons of many of them, from the Scribes that took them from their Mouths. Some of them were taken word by word ( which I heard my lelf ) : but fomeof us were much abuQd by it j and efpecially my fe!f : for they ftiled it A Farewel Sermon, and mangled lo both Matter and Style, that I could not own it ; befides the printing it to the ofienfe of Governours. So that after- awards 1 writ out the Sermon more at large my lelf ( on Col. 2. 6,j. ) with another 'Difcourfe, and offered them to the Prefs, but could not get them LiCenfed * : for *^^."' .^"'^'^ Reafons afterwards to me mentioned. fcd^an" § 169. On April 2%. was his Majefty's Coronation Day ; the Day being very le- printed, rene and fair, till fuddenly in the Afternoon, as they were returning from WeHmin- "lledD/- fttr-htiU, there was very terrible Thunders, whejj none expefted it. Which made ',^^'''"f , me remember his Father s Coronation, on which, being a Boy at School, an^^hi- clrh]im ving leave to play for the Solemnity, an Earthquake (about two a Clock in the&c. Afternoon) did affright the Boys, and all the Neighbourhood. 1 intend no Com- mentary on thefe, but only to relate the Matter of Fav. Drake. According to the King's Commiflion we were to meet and manage our Confe- rence,in order to the Ends therein cxpreffed. The Commiflion is as followeth : * /^ HARLESthQ Secomi, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, * V^ France An^ Ireland, Defender of the Faith, d^c. To our trufty and well- * lieloved the moft Reverend Father in God accepted Archbifhop o'i Tork, the * Right Reverend Father in God G//(Jer< Bi/hop of Z-o»«/o>7, j'.j'iM Bi/hop of £i«ry5itfw,j'^oj6/i * Biihopof Kochejter, Hetiry Bi/hop of Chichefier, Humphrey Eiihop oi S arum, George * Bi/hopv of IVorce^er, Robert Biihopof Lincoln, Benjarmn Bifliop of Teterburgh, Bry- ' an BS/hop of Chefler, Richard Bilhop of Carlijle, John Bi/hop of Exeter., Edward ' Bifhop ot Norwich, and to our trufty and well-beloved the Reverend Anthony ' Tutkny Dr. in Divinity, John Conant Dr. in Divinity, Pf^tlllam Spwfiow Dr. in Di- ' vinity, John Wallis Dr. iti Divinity, Thomas MantonDr. in Divinity, Edmund Ca- ' lamy Batchelour in Divinity, Richard Baxter Clerk, Atthur Jackfu Clerk, Thomas * Cafe, Samuel Clark, Matthew Newcomen Clerks, and to Oltt' Uuliy and well-belo- ' ved Dr. Earles Dean of tVeflmin^er, Peter Heylin Dr. \ri Divinity, John Hacket Dr. ' irv Divinity, John Barwick Dr. in Divimty, Peter GurtrtingDv, in Divinity, John ' Pierfon 304 The LIFE of the L I B. { Pkrfon Dr. in Divinity, Thomas Pierce Dr. in Divinity ,y^«f^o»;' Sparrow Dr. in Di- V inky, Herbert Ihorndike BAtche\our in Divinity ^ Thomat Horton Dr. in Divinity , Thomas Jacomb Dr.inDivinity JViliiam Bates, John Ravjlmfon Clerk, fVilliam Coop- er Clerk, Dr. John Lightfoot, Dr. John Collins, Dr. Benjamin Woodbridge, and IVU- liam Drake Cici k, Greeting. Whereas by our Declaration of the Five and twen- tieth of OBober laft concerning Ecclefiaftical Affairs, we did amongtt other things exprefs &n efteem of the Liturgy of the Church of jE»g/tf»^, contained in the Book of Coiiimon Prayer, and yetlince we find feme Exceptions mads; againlt (everal things therein, we did by our faid Declaration declare we would appoint an equal number of Learned Divines of both Perfwafions, to review the lame, and to make fuch Alterations therein as Ihall be thought moft neceflary ; and ibme additional Forms in the Scripture phrafe, as near as might be, fuited to the nature of the fe- veral Parrs of Worfhip, we thereforein acconiplifliment of our faid Will and In- tent, and of our continued and conitant Care and Study for the Peace and Uni- ty of the Churches within our Dominions, and for the removal of all Excepti- ons and Differences, and Occafions of Differences, and Exceptions fromamongft our good Subjeds for or concerning the (aid Book of Common Prayer, or any thing therein contained, do by thefe our Letters Patents require, authorize, con- ftitute and appoint you the faid accepted Archbifhop of York, Gilbert Bilhop of London^ JohnWi^o^oi Durham, jfc/6w Bifliop of Rochefter, Henry Bilhop oi Cht- chefter, HuTKphrey Y)i\\\o\> of Sarum, George Bifhop of Worcefier , Robert Bilhop of Lincoln, Benjamin Bilhop of Teterburgh, Bryan Bilhop of Cbefier, Richard Bilhop of Carlijle, John Bifhop of Exeter, Edward Bilhop of Norwich, Anthony Tucknty,John Conant, William Sfurjhw, John IVallu, Thomas Manton, Edmund Calamy , Richard Baxter, Arthur Jackfon, Thomas Cafe, Samuel Clark and Matthew Newcomen, to ad- vile upon and review the laid Bookof Common Prayer, comparing the lame with the moft ancient Liturgies which have been ufed in the Church, in the primitive and purelt Times: And to that end to affemble and meet together, from time to time, and at fuch times, within the fpace of four Kalender Months now next enliiing , in the Mafters Lodgings in the Savoy in the Strand in the County of Middlefex, OX in fuch other place or places as to you fliall be thought fit and con- venient, to take into your ferious and grave Confiderations, the leveral Diredi- ons, Rules and Forms of Prayer, and Things in ths faid Bookof Common Pray- er contained, and to advile and confult upon and about the fame, and the feveral Objedions and Exceptions which fhall now be railed againlt the fame. And if occafion be, to make fuch reafonable and neceflary Alterations, CorreiSHons and Amendments therein, as by and between you and the faid Archbilhop, Bilhops, Dodors, and Perlbns hereby required and authorized to meet and advils as atore- laid, Ihall be agreed upon to be needful or expedient for the giving batisficftion unto tender Confciences, and the reltoring and continuance of Peace and Uni' ty, in the Churches under our ProteAion and Government. But avoiding, as much as may be, all unneceffary Alterations of the Forms and Liturgy . where- with the People are already acquainted, and have fo long received in tiie Cliurch of England. And our will and pleafure is, that when you the laid Archbilhop, Bilhops, DoAors anil Perfons authorized and appointed by thefe our Letters Pa- tents, to meet, advife and confult upon about the Premiles aforelaid, Ihall have drawn your Confultations to i^ny Relolution and Determination which you Ihall agree upon as needful or expedient to be done for the altering, ditninilhing or enlarging the laid Bookof Common Prayer, or any part theieof, that then you forthwith certifie and preleot unto us in Writing, under ydur feveral Hands, the Matters and Tilings whereupon you Ihall fo determine, for our Approbation. And to the end the lame, or {o much thereof as Ihall be approved by us, may be eftablifhed. And forafmuch as the faid Archbifhop and Bilhops, having fiveral great Charges to attend, which we would not difpenfe with, or that the fame Ihould be negleded upon any great occafion whatlbever, and Ibme of them being of great Age and Infirmities, may not be able conltantly to attend the Execuiion of the Service and Authority hereby given and required by us in the Meetings and Confultations aforefaid, We Will therefore, and do hereby require and autho- rize you the faiti Dr. Earles, Peter Hejlm, John Racket, John Barwick, Peter Gun- ning, John Pearfnn, Thomas Pierce, and Anthony Sparrow, and Herbert Thorndike , to fupply the place or places of fuch of the laid Archbilhop and Bilhops (other than the faid Edward Bifhop of Norwich) as fliall by Age, Sicknefs, Infirmity, or other occafion, be hindred from attending the faid Meeting or Confultations, ( That is to fay; that one of you the faid Dr. Earles, Peter Hayltn, John Hacket, John Barwick, Peter Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 305 * Feter Gunnings John Pearfon, Themas Pearce, Anthony Sparrov/, and Herbert Tborn- *dike fliall from time to time fupply the Placeof each one of them, the faid Arch- 'bifhop and Bifhops, other than the faid Edward, Bidiopof Norwich, which ftail * happen to be hindred, or to be abfent from the faid Meeting or Confulcations, * and (hall and may advile, and confult, and determine, and alfo certifie and cxe- ' cute, all, and fingular the Power and Authority before mentioned, in and about ' the Preuiiles as fully and abfblutely, as fuch ArchbiHiop Oi- Bilhops, which fhaH * (b happen to be ablent, ftiould or might do by Vertue of thefe our Letters Pa- ' tents, or any thing therein contained, in cafe he or they were perlonally prefent, * And whereas in regard of the Diftance of fome, the Infirmities of othcis, the * multitude of conitant Imployments, and other incidental Impediments ; fome of ' you the faid Edward Bifhop of Norwich, Anthony Tuckney, John Conant, William ' SfurfioWy John Wallis, Thomas Manton, Edmund Calamy, Rich. Baxter, Arthur, •* Jackfon, Thomas Cafe, Samuel Clarke, and Matthew Newcomen may be hindred 'from the conftant Attendance in the Execution of the Service aforefaid. We * therefore will, and do hereby require and authorize you the faid Tho. Horton, 7ho- * mas Jacomb, WtUiam Bates, John Rawlinfon, William Cooper-, John Ligbtfoot, John ' Collins, Benjamin Woodbridge, and William Drake to fupply the Place or Places of ' fuch the Commiflioners lall above mentioned, as Ihall by the means aforefaid, or * any other Occafion be hindred from the faid Meeting and Confultations ( that is * to lay ) that one of you the faid Thomas Horton, Thomas Jacomb, William Bates, * John Rawlinfon, William Cooper, Dr. Ligbtfoot^ Dr. Covins, Mr. Woodbridge, and * Mr Drake (hall from time to time fupply the Place of each one of the faid Coni- ' miffioners lall mentioned, which (hall happen to be hindred, or be abfent from ' the Meetings and Confultations, and (hall and may advile, confult and determine, * and alfo certifie and execute all and fingular the Powers and Authorities before * mentioned, in and about the Premifes, as fully and ab(blutely as fuch of the faid ' laft mentioned Commifiioners which (hall fo happen to be abfent, Ihould or might * do by vertue of thefe Our Letters Patents, or any thing therein contained, in * cafe he or they were perfonally prelent. In Witne^ whereof we have caufed thefe our Letters to be made Patents. Witnefs Our felf at Weftminfter, the five and twentieth Day of March, in the Thirteenth Tear of Our Reign, Per ipfum Regem Boocker. Note that Dr. Roger Drakes Name being mifvv^ritten William Drake, he there fore went not publickly with us. § 171. A Meeting was appointed, and the Savoy ( the Bifhop of Z,o»(/o»'s Lodg- ings) named by them for the Place. There met us Dr. Frewen, Archbifhop of Tork ; Dr. Sheldon, Bi(hop of London ; Dr. Morley, Bifhop of Worcefier j Dr. Saun- derfon, Bi(hop of Lincoln ; Dr. Cojins, Bifhop of Durham; Dr. Htnchman, Bi(hop of Salisbury ; Dr. Walton, Bi(hop of Chefier ; Dr. Lany, Bifhop of Peterborough ; Dn King, Bithop of Rochefier j Dr. Sterne, Bi(hop of Carli/le ( but the conftantefl Man after was. Dr. Gauden, Bifhop of Exeter ). On the other fide there met, 'Dr. Retgnelds, B'lihop oi Norwich, Mr. Clerk, Dv.Spurftow, Dr. Ligbtfoot, Dr. Wallis, Dr. ALmton, Dr. Bates, Dr. Jacomb, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Rawlinfon, Mr. Cafe and my felf The Commiffion being read, the Archbilhop of Tork (a peaceable Man) Ibake fir{\, and told us, that he knew nothing of the Bufinefs, but perhaps the Bi- fnop of London knew more of the King'i Mind in it, and therefore was fitter to fpeak in it than he. The Bifhop of London told us, that it was not they, but we that had been the Seekers of this Conference, and that deJired Alterations in the Litur- gy ; and therefore they had nothing to lay or do, till we brought in all t|;iat we had to fay againft it in Writing, and all the additional Forms and Alterations which ws defired. Our Brethren were very much againft this Motion, and urged the King's Gommiflion, which requireth us to [ meet together, advife and conjult J : They told him that by Conference we might perceive as we went what each would yield to, and might more Ipeedily difpatch, and probably attain our End ; whereas Writing would be a tedious, endlels Bufinels, and we ihould not have that Familiarity and R r Acquaii\tan5§ J^ The LIFE of the Lib.! Acquaintance with each others Minds, which might facilitate our Concord. But the Bilhop of London refolutely infifted on it, not to do any thing, till we brought in all our Excepttens, iterations and Additions at once. In this I confefs, above all things elfe, I was wholly of his Mind, and prevailed with my Brethren to confent ; but I conjeecalogue,containing the Faith,in which we profefsto af^ iemble for God's Worfhip, and the Law which we have broken by our Sins, Ihould go before the Confeflion and Abfolution ; or at lead before the Prailes of the Church ; which they do not. ^. The Confeflion omitteth not only Original Sin, but all a^ual Sin as (pecified by the particular Commandments violated j and almoft all the Aggravatious of tliofe Sins ; and inftcad thereof, it containeth only the repeated Confeflion, that [ we have erred and grayed from God's ways : That we have followed the Devijes and Defires of our Hearts : That we have offended agamfi bts Laws : That we have left un- done thofe thtngs that we ought to have done, &C.J which is but to fay, \jVe have finned hj Omijjion and Commiffton : ] Whereas Corfeffion being the Exfrejjion of Refentance, /hould be more particular, as Repentance it ielf ftiould be. 4. When we have craved help for God's Prayers^ before we come to them, we abruptly put in the Petition for (peedy Deliverance [ O God make {peed to fave us i O Lord make hajle to help us. ] without any Intimation of the Danger that we defire deliverance from ; and without any other Petition conjoined, 5. It is diforderly in the Manner^ to ling the Scripture in a plain Tune after the manner of reading. 6. [^The Lord be with you. And with thy Spirit ] being Petitions for Divine A(* fiflance, come in abruptly, in the midftor near theendof Morning Prayer; And [ Let m Pray ] is adjoined when we were before in Prayer. 7. Lord have Mercy upon m : Chrifi have Mercy upon us : Lord have Mercy upon us J feeineth an affeAed Tautologie, without any fpecial Caule, or Order here : And the Lord's Prayer is annexed that was before recited : And yet the next Words are again but a Repetition of the foreiaid oft repeated General [ O Lord fiiew thy Met' cy uponus.'\ 8. The Prayer for the King [ O Lord fave the King ] is without any Order put between the forefaid Petition, and another General Rcqueft only for Audience [ And mercifully bear us when we call upon thee^ 9. The lecond CoUeft is intided [for Peace ] and hath not a Word in it of Pe- • tition for Peacty but only for [Deftnce in Ajjaults of Enemies, and that we may not fear their Power. ] And the Prefaces [In knowledge of whom (landetb our eternal Ltfe, and whofe Service is perfeS Freedom 3 have no more evident relpeft to a Petition for \_ Peace'\ than to any other. And the Prayer it lelf comes in diibrderly, while ma- ny Prayers or Petitions are omitted, which according both to the method of the Lord's Prayer, and the Nature of the things, fhould go before. 10. The third Collect intituled Q /or Grace] is diforderly, in that it followeth that for Peace j which belongs to the lafi Petttton of the Lord's Prayer ; and in that in the Conclufion of Motning Prayer, we begin to beg the Mercies for the Day. And it h defeiltve, in that it is but a General Requeft for defence from Sin and Dan- ger. And thus the main parts of Prayer, according to the Rule of the Lord's Pray- fr, and our common NeceflSties are omitted, as may be (een by comparing our Forms with thele. 11. Moft of ourNeceflities are pafled over in the like dcfedive Generals alfo in the Everitig Prayer. 12. The Lttany, which fhould contain all the ordinary Petitions of the Church, omiticih very many pjirtigulars, as may appear in our offered Forms compsred with Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 309 with it : It were tedious to number the half of its omifltons. And it is exceeding diforderly, following no juft Rules of method : Having begged pardon of our fins^ and deprecated vengeance, it proceedeth to E'viltn general, and feme few'Sixns in f articular, and thence to a more particular enumeration of Judgment r, and thence to the recitation of the parts of that Work of our Redemption, and thence to tlie de- precation oi Judgments again, and thence to Prayers for the King and Magifirates, and then for all Nations, and then for Love and Obedience, and then for leveral/afsi of men, and then for all men, and ior Enemies, and then for the Fruits of the Earth y and then for Repentance, Forgivene^ and Grace again, and then turneth to Repetitions of the fame Petitions for Far don and Mercy, and after the Lords Prayer, returneth to the (amerequeft again. Next this, in the midft of Prayer ,it repeateth [Let us prajij. Next is a Prayer againft Adverfty and Perfecutions , which was done before : and both here and through the reft of the Prayers, the deprecation o{ bodily fuffermg hath very much too large a proportion, while j/^»r;f«a/i are too generally and /r/f/?/ touch- ed ; which is unbefeeming the Church ol Chrift, which mindeth not the things oftheflejh, butof the^ff-i;, Rora.8.y,6,7. Next folioweth a reduplicate Petition that God would [arife and help us and deliver m] with aninterpofed Argument from his Ancient Works : which comes in with- out any realbn or order,and is the fame that was before petitioned ; and feems to be fitted to fome fpecial dirtrefs or danger of the Church, and yet mentioneth not that diftrefs or danger ; and is to be uled equally in the profperity of the Church. Next this folioweth the Doxology, as if we were concluding, and then we go on to the fame Requefts lb oft before repeated, for deliverance from \_affli£iions and far- rows ], though perhaps it We not a time of AffliAion with us, but of Joy : and fo it proceeds to ask /org»i/fWf/y, fo often asked, and then four time repeats the Pe- ' tition for Auiitnctj when we draw near an end, and twice repeats the general Pe- tition for Mercy. Next this, while we are praying, we again fay, Let us pray. And then again pray againft delerved Evils, and for Holincfs in general, all out of any order, and oft repeated, while abundance of moft weighty Particulars are never mentioned. N«xt this the Prayer for the King and the Royal Family is again re- peated, which went before : If that were the due place, why fhould not our Pe- titions have been there put in together for them ?but the minds of the Church are thus tofled up and down like the Waves of the Sea, from one thing to another j and then to the firft again , without any regard to order,in the prcfence of the God of Order. Next this, the Bijhops and Curates are prayed for without the Parifls Incumbent, Presbyters, or dfe it's intimated that they are but the Bijhops Curates , or el(e they are called Biibops themfclves ; and no Man can tell certainly which of thele is the lence : And the Preface wouW intimate to tlie People, that it is fome fpecial great marvel for Bifhops and Curates to have Grace: And after all this , there are no par- ticular petitions for them, according to the nature and neceffity of their Work, or of their Congregation, but only rtiis one General Requeft, that they may have God's Grace and Bleffing to pleale him. Laftly f before the Bleffing) is Chryftfo- y?(»m's Prayer, meerly for the granting of ourRequefts, with two Petitions, one for Knowledge, the Other for Life Eternal. The following Prayers and Thanklgivings on particular extraordinary Occafions, are (with the Confeflion , the Prayers for the King, and the Church Militant) the beft compofed of all the daily Common Prayers : But that thele Prayers and Thanklgivings are all placed after the Benedi- ftion, is diforderly. And though it's moft probable that yet it was intended they fhould go before it inufe, there is no fuch thing expreffed in the Book. And thus we fee how unlike the Utany is to the Lorls Frayer, and how far from all juji Order , which is a deformity that fuch Holy Works fhould not be guilty of, I ;. The like defe^tvenefi AnA diforder is in the Communion Collects for the Day. That for the firft Sunday in Advent, hath no Petition for any thing in this Life, but the Generals [ To caft away the Works of Darkntf , and put on the Armour of Ught. That forthefecond Sunday in Advent is a very good Prayer, ( viz.. to learn and obey the Scripture ) : but there is no more realbn why it fhould be appropriate to that day than another, or rather be a common Petition for all days. The fame is true of that for the third Sunday in Advent, which begs no more but [bearing our prayers and lightning our darknef'\. As little realon is thcro for the appropriating that for the fourth Sunday in Advent to that day : which is a General Requeft, that God would (omt among mandfuccottr us. ^lo The LIF E of the Lib. L ^is, znAJpeedily deliver us, who through our fm and ivickedneJS are fore let and hindered] without acquainting us what the wickednels or the lett is which is meant. The Prayer on Chriftmas-day determineth that Chrift was born as on that day, when the world of learned Men are not agreed of the Month or Year, much lefs the Day : And the fame Prayer is appointed for divers days after : fo that if by [day} is meant any other Ipace of time than a Natural Day , then it is no fitter for Chriifmas day than another. If it mean a Natural Day, then it is an untruth on the following days, in the fence of the Impofers. The Colleca on St. Stephens day hath but one Petition. That on St^Johtis day hath nothing in it proper to him in the reafon of it. That the Jews Children are called Innocents, that were two years old ; and that they are fiid to confeis Chrift by dying, and fo muft have a Holy-day. when they confefled him but objedively as Sacrifices did ; that hence we take occafion to pray for the killing of Vices in us, that our Lives may exprefs our Faith, is partly Uncer- tainty (at the beft) and partly incoherence. The Colleft for the Epiphany hath no Petition, but one, for [the fi-uition of the ^U- rious Godhead after thu Ltfe]. The Colled for tlie firft Sunday after the Epiphany is no more pertinent to that day than to another j and is only for the Generals [jhe hearing of our Frayers, the knowing our duty and doing it'\. That for the fecond Sunday after Epiphany is no more pertinent , and is only for audience and peace. That on the third Sunday after thsEpiphany is no more pertinent 5 and hath no- thing but in General, that God will look upon our Infirmities, and help us in all dangers and neceffities. The fame is to be faid of that for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany, which is on- ly for [health of body and foul to pa f and overcome Sufferings'], The Colleftfor the keeping of the Church ia the true Religion, is no more per- tinent to the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, than to another duy. - • . - The Colled on Septuage/Im a Sunday is, [_that we that are jujlly punijljed for our of' fences, maj he mercifully deli'vered ] i when perhaps the Church, is under «0 fpscial Puriifliment : nor is there any reafon for the order of this Prayer, ,^ That on the Sunday caWtd^exageJma hath no reafon of its location or order there : and hath no Petition but that fo'oft repeated one, to be [defended againjt all ad'verfity\ The Petition for C/6>:£. •'•'f;.' There is no more reafon for that order of that" on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is only a Petition [for relief to tu that are ovortbily puniflied], when perhaps we areunderno fpecial Punilhment, but in Profperity. The fame Ataxic is in that on the fifth Sunday in Lent ^ which asketh nothing but 10 hzl^ governed and preferred evermore']. . •,,,.,,., That on the Sunday before Ea/^r, and divers days after, giveth no realbn of Chrift's Incarnation and Death, but that [all mankind JlwuU follow the- example of his humility], and yet muft be ufed rather then that on the lecond Sunday after Eafier, which in fewer words conjoyneth \_both d Sacrifice for Sin, and alfo an Enfa?/jple of Godly Life]. The firft Colled on Cood-fryday hath no Petition , but that God will [ gracioujly heboid this his Family] ( inconveniently alio exprefTed : the Pronoun [tbts] feeming plainly to mean, that particular Congregation j which is not to be Ci\kd Gods Fa- mily, but part of it).. ,\' ' ' ' ', '"'"V , .". ' . V ' The following Colli§, anti innocents, tfje Collcctjs fo? t{)e fitft Bap in Lent, fa? tljc fourtij ^lUmai' after Eafter, fO? Trinity Sunday ," f02 tlje fijCtlj ant> tU)Clftf) ©UnUap aftet Trinity, fo? ^t.Luke'jJ tap, anU Michaelmas 53?. Exception!. We defire that thefe Colleds may be further confidered and debated,as having in them, divers things that we judge fit to be altered. The Order for the AdminijlraUon of the Lord's Supper, Rubrick. cOmanv as intcnn to Ije parta- '1 kers of tijc ipolp Comnumion ftall fiKuifie tijcit Bameis to tfie Curate oijer=nii5fjt, oi elfc in tlje ^O2nino; tefo^c tIjc tJeRinnino; of S^oininff i^japer, o? inmieniatelp after. Rubrick. gnu if anp of tljefe fie a noto?i= 0U5 ciiil Kiier, tfje Curate Ijatiino; Unotofenge tljercof, fljall call ijim, ano aDUerti?e Ijim in anp uiife not to pjefume to tlje loiD'^ Cable- Rubrick. Cftenfljall tlje I9?ieff tefjefttfe Hi* fiiniTip all tfjetenConimanliment0, ann tljc l^coplc luiccung,a3nll after euerp Cbmuuiiitinicnt ask »^oi'j3 mercp fo? tranfsrclTinQ; tOe fj?me. Exceptiov. THe time here affigned for notice to be given to the Minifter, is not fut- ficienr. Exception. We defire the Minifters power both to admit and keep from the Lord's Ta- ble, may be according to his Majefty's Declaration , 2^ Ocloh. 1660. in thefe words, The M'mifier Piall admit none to the Lord i Supper, till they have made a credi- ble Vrofeljion of their Faith , and promifed obedience to the Will of God, according as is exprejjed in the Conjlderations of the Rubnck, before the Catechifm, and that all pojjible di- ligence be ufed for the Infiruclion and Refor-^ mation of Scandalous Offenders , whom the Minifier jJjall not fuffer to partake of the Lord's Table, until they haiie openly declared themfelves to ba've truly repented and amend- ed their former naughty lives, as is parti/ exprejjed in the Rubrick, and more fully in the Canons. Exception. We defire, 1. That the Preface, prefixed by God himlelf to the ten Commandments, may be reftored. 2. That the fourth Commandmene may be read, as in Exod. 20. Deut. j. He hlejjed the Sabbath day. 3. That neither Minifier nor People may be enjoyned to kneel more at the readingofthisjthanofother parts of Scrip- T t 2 cures 324 The LIFE of the Lib. I, tures, the rather becaufe maoy ignorant Perfons are thereby induced to ufe the Ten Commandments as a Prayer. 4. That inftead of thofe ihort Prayers of the People, intermixed with the fe- veral Commandments, the Minifter after the reading of all may conclude with a fuitable Prayer. Kubrick. gftct tijc Creed, if tfteic bc no Sermon, fljall folloto one of tijc ^)oitiilie0alrcanpfet fa2tf),o? Ijere- after to be fct fojtlj \^v common aiitfjojttin after futlj eermoit, iipomilp, 0? Exception. We defire, that the Preaching of the Word may be ftri(5tly enjoined, and not left fo indifferent at the Adminiftration of the Sacraments, as aUb that Miniders may not be bound to thofe things which are are as yet but future a,nd not in being. Two of the Santences here cited are aEj;ljO?t'itiOnj tlje Curate f[)all Be- Apocryphal, and four of them more pro- clare, &c. anti eanicftlP txlmt tfjcm to remember tlje l^ro?, f aping one 0? mo?e of t^efe fentencej3 fol- loujiuff* Cben fljall tlje Cbarcb tuartscn^, per to draw out the Peoples Bounty to their Minifters, than their Charity to the poor. _ ., ^ _, ^ Colledion for the Poor may be better 0? fome Otljcr bp tbcm appOinteb, made at or a little before the departing gatbcr tbe DebOtiOn of tljC PeO- of the Communicants. pie* Exhortation. Wit be come tOgCtljCr at X\S\^ if it be intended that thefe Exhortati- ttme to feeb at tlje LOZbS S)UPPerj ons fhould be read at the Communion, unto tbC lUbiCb in tSoBlS bCbalf 3 they feem to Bs to be unfeafonable. bib pou all tljat be Ijere p?efent,anti befceclj poit foj tlje lo?ij MuiS Cbrift fake tljat pe tDill not refufe to come, Sec. Clje toap anb mean^tbereto (0 firtt to cramine pour Libejs anb Con» berfationjj, anb if pe fljall pcrceibe pour olfenceiEi to be fucb m be not onip againft tSSob, but atfo againft pour l^Jeigbbours, t\yz\\ pc (ball re-- concile pour felbej? unto tljcm, anb be reabp to make Eeftitution ann ©atisJfattion. anb becaufe it I0 requifite tbat no man (boulb come to tlje Ijolp Communion, buttuitb a full trull in *55obsi mcrcp anb toitlj a quiet Confcience. Before the Confeflton. Cljen njall tbi0 general ConfcD fiOn be mabC in the name of all thofe tbat are minbcb to receibe tbe bolp Communion citber bp one of them, 0? elfc bP one of tbe ^^inittersi, o? bp tlje iy?icit bimfclf Before the Confeflion. Cben fball tbe p?ieC 02 tbe 051' Ibop fbeing piefent) llano up, anb turninff bimfelf to tbe people fap tbujs. Before the Preface on Chrifimas day, and 7 days after. •Becaufe tbou bibtl clbe JcfuiS Cbriit tbine onlp ©on to be bo^n ajs tbi!3Dapfocu!35 S'c. We fear this may dilcourage many from coming to the Sacrament, who lye un- der a doubting and troubled Confci- ence. We defire it may be made by the Mi- nifter only. Exception. The Minifter turning himfelf to the People is moft convenient throughout the whole Miniftration. Firjt, We cannot peremptorily fix the Nativity of our Saviour to this or that day particularly : Secondly , it feems in- congruous to aj[firm the Birth of Chrift Upon Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 325 upon Whitfmday ^ and fix days af- and thedefcending of theHoly Ghoftto be on this day for leven or eight days to- ter. accojDino; to tof)ofe mofl true pjomifc t()e tpolp »si)0(l came ooujii tlji0 Dap from ipeatien. Prayer before that which is at the Confecration. W Odoop, anti our ^oul0 luaajeti tlj^ougf) W tnoC P2eciouss falopo. gether. We defire, that whereas thele Words feeni to give a greater efficacy to the Blood than to the Body of Chrift, they may be altered thus, That our finful fouls and bodks may be ckanfed thraugh bis freci- oits Body and Blood. We conceive that the manner of the ipear \X% €> merciful jf atlier, &:c. confecrating of the Elements is not here tDljO tn tfje fame nig^t tljat lie tUajS explidte and diftina enough,and theMi Prayer at the Confecration. nifters breaking of the Bread is not (b much as mentioned. tetrapco, trok bieau, ano luljcn fie I)aii5iijeittf)auk0, OebiaUeit, an5 gaue to W Difciplesi , faping, Cafee, eat, &c. Kubrick. Cfien fliaU tlje spinilfer flrff re^ teiuc tlje Communion in bot& itintijai, ^c. auD after UeUiJcr it to t^e people in tljeirljann^feneclmgi Saviour as near as may be, and that the We defire, that at the Diftribution of the Bread and Wine to the Communi- cants, we may ufe the Words of our ano UJijen {jc oeUiieretl) tlje brcno, lie fljall faP, The Body of our Lord Jefus Cbrifil which was given for thee, freferve thy body and foul unto everlafitng Ltfe, and take and eat this in Remembrance , &c. Minifter be not required to deliver the Bread and Wine into every particular Communicants Iiand, and to repeat the words to each one in the fingular num- ber, but thatit may fiiffice tolpeak them to divers jointly, according to our Sa- viours Example. We alfo defire, that the Kneeling at the Sacrament (it being not that Gslture which the Apoftles ufcd, though Chrift was perfonally prefent amonglf them, nor that which was ufetl in the pureft and primitive times of the Church) may be left free, as it was i. and i. E D W. As touching Kneeling, 8cc. they may be ufcd or left as every Mans Devotion jerveth, with- out blame. Exception . Foraffnuch as every ParijJiioner is not du- ly qualified for the Lord's Supper, and thole habitually prepared are not at all times actually dilpofed, but many may be hindered by the Providence of God, and Ibme by the Diftemper of their own Spirits ; we defire this Kubrick may be either wholly omitted, or thus altered .- Every Miniller fhall be bound to ad- miniftei' the Sacrament of the Lord's Sup- per at leaft thrice a Year, provided there be a due number of Communicants ma- nifefting their Defires to receive. And we defire that the following Rubrick in the Common-Prayer-Book in f and 8 Edw. eftabliflied by Law as much as any other part of iheCommon-Prayer'- Book, may be reltored for the vindicating of our Church in the matter of Kneel- ing at the Sacrament (although the Gellure be left indifferent) [' Although no or- * der can be ib perfedly deviled, but it may be of ibme, either for their Ignorance * and Infirmity, or elte of Malice and Obftinacy, mifconllrued, depraved, and in- * terpreted in a wrong part j and yet, becaule brotherly Charity willeth that fo much *8? Rubrick. gnu note, tfiat t\ittp parii!)(a= Iter fljall Communicate at t&e leaff tljree timcjs in tlje pear, of tDfjici) Eafter to ht onc, aun I^all al= fo recciiie tl)e ©acramentss ano 0= tljcr Eite0, accoioing to tije £)?= Herss m tW OSoofe appointen. 32^ The LI F E of the L I B. I. * as conveniently may be, Offences fliould be taken away, therefore are we willing * to do the fame. Whereas it is ordained in the Book of Common Prayer, in the * Adminiftration of the Lord's Supper, that the Communicant kneeling iT.ouid re- ' ceive the holy Communion, which thing being well meant for a fignification of 'the humble and grateful Acknowledging of the Benefits of Chrifi given unto the ' worthy Receivers, and to avoid the prophanation and diforder whi>.h about the * holy Communion might elfe enfue, left yet the fame Kneeling might be thought * or taken otherwile, We do declare, that it is not meant thereby that any Adora- * tion is done or ought to be done either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine, there * bodily received, or unto any real orefTential Prefence there being of Chrift's na- ' tural Flefh and Blood : For as concerning the Sacramental Bread and Wine, they ' remain ftill in their very natural Subftances, and therefore may not be adored j * for that were Idolatry to be abhorred of all faithful Chriffians: and as concern- ' ing the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Chriff, they are in Heaven, and ' not here, for it is againft the Truth of Chrift's natural Body to be in more places * than in one at one time. Of Tublicl^ "Bapti/m. THERE being divers Learned, Pious, and Peaceable Mi- nifters, who not only judge it unlawful to Baptize Chil- dren, whofe Parents both of them are Atheifts, Infidels, Here- ticks, or Unbaptifed, but alfofuch whofe Parents are Excommu- nicate Perfons, Fornicators, or otherwife notorious and fcanda- lous Sinners ; We defire they may not be enforced to Baptize the Children of fuch, until they have made due Profeffion of their Repentance. Kubrick. patents fljnll ^iXiC notice oiiec niijljtj 0? in tOc nto?ninB, Before Baptifm. Exception. We defire that more timely notice may be given. Rubrlck. anu tljc (Sorifatl)crj3, ann tlje ^otimottjEtjs, aim tfjc people toitO ttjc Ct)ii5i:en3 scc. Rubrick. Ecanp at tijc lont. In the firfl Prayer. %i> tfje 'Baptifm of tljp caelbC' lo^JcTi ©on, &c. tiitifl fanaifie tlje jflooD Jordan, auH all otljcc ujatetjs Exception. Here is no mention of the Parents, in whofe right the Child is baptifed, and who are fitteft both to dedicate it unto God, and to covenant for it : We do not know that any Perfons, except the Parents, or fome others appointed by them, have any Power to content for the Children, or to enter them into Co- venant. We defire it may be left free to Parents, whether they will have Sure* ties to undertake for their Children in Baptilin or no. Exception. We defire it may be fo placed as all the Congregation may beft lee and hear the whole Adminiffration. It being doubtful whether either the Flood Jordan, or any other Waters were landtified to a Sacamental Ufe, by to Part II. R^'u^reWAfr. Richard Baxter. to ttiC £!!9?IttCaI tiJJrttjl'ng ntnap of Chrlft's being baptized, and not necef- @itt, &c. ^3ry to be afferted, we defirethis may be other wile exprefTed. The third Exhortation. Do p?omife bp pou tfiat ht tijei'c Sureties. The Qneftions. DoefttljouMafee, &c. £)oeff t!)ou i)cUei3e, &:c. mat tljou be I3apti?eii, &c. The fecond Prayer before Baptifm. C^nu rccciijc rcmiffion of S)i'ns ljjt> fpititunl 3ae0cnecatioit. In the Prayer after Baptilin. Cljat ft Ijatlj p(cafrti tijcc to tc= ffcnei-ate tijiss infant op tp ijolp ^ptcit After Baptifm. We know not by what right the Sure- ties do promile and an{wer in the Name of the Infant: it leemeth to us alio to countenance the Anabaptiliical Opini- on of the neceflity of an aduai Prof ;(- (ion of Faith and Repentance in Order to Baptifm. That fuch a Protefiion may be required of Pa.'"ents in their own Nan>e , and now folemnly renewed when they prefent their Children to Bap- tifm, we willingly grant : butthea;king of one for another is a Practice whole warrant we doubt of j and therefore we defire that the two firft Interrogatories may be put to the Parents to be anfwer- ed in their own Names, and the laft propounded to the Parents or Pro- parents thus, Will you have this Child Baptiz^ed in- to this Faith ? This expreflton feeming inconveni- ent, We defire it may be changed into this ; May be regenerated and receive the Remijfwn of Sins. We cannot in Faith lay, that every Child that is baptized is regenerated by God's Holy Spirit ; at leaft it is a difputa- ble point, and therefore we defire it may be otherwile expreffec?* Cljen fljall tSe ^^iett mafee a concerning the Crofs in Baptifm, wc CrofSf, Sec. refer to our i8th General. Of Trivate "Baptifm, WE defire that Baptifm may not be adminiftred in a private place at any time, unlets by a lawful Minifter, and in the prefence of a compe- tent Number : That where it is evident that any Child hath been lb baptiled, no part of the Adminillration may be reiterated in publick, under any Limitations ; And therefore we fee no need of any Liturgy in that Gale. Of 328 The LIFE of the L r B. 1 Of the Catechi/m. I i^iefi. w Catechifm. Hat is your Name,&c. 2 Que(i. Who gave you that Name ? /.nf.^p (©otifati)cr0 ann nip ^oO' tnotljtcs ill m 'Baptifnu 5 ^(f//^. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers do for you inBaptifin ? 2 AnC ju ttip OBaptifni, tD|)erciii 3 \aa0 mane a cijilD of (Sod, a £i3emi3cr of C&^ift, aiiD an 3ni)eri= to? of tlje aURuDom at^znuw. Of the Rehearfil of the Ten Com- mandments. lo Anf a^p Dutp totuartigi «^otJ f^ to believe in Sim, ?c. WE defire thefs three firft Quefti- ons may be altered j confidering that the far greater number of Perlbns Baptized within thele Twenty years laft pait, had no Godfathers or Godmothers at their Baptiim : The Hke to be done in the feventh Queftion. We conceive it might be more fifely cxpreffed thus ; Wherein 1 was 'vifibly ad- mitted into the number of the Members of Chr'tjt, the Children of God, and the Heirs f rather than Inheritors) of the Kingdom of Heaven. We defire that the Commandments be inferted according to the New Tranfla- tion of the Bibl?. In this Anfwer there feems to be par- ticular refped to the feveral Command- ments of the firft Table, as in the follow- ing Anfwer to thofe cf the f:;cond. And therefore we defire ic may be advifed up- on, whether to the laft word of this An- fwer may not be added [ fartictdarly on the Lord's day] otherwife there being no- thing in all this Anfwer that refers to tlie fourth Commandment. That thefe words may be omitted^and Anlwer thus given ; 7wo on!/ , Baptifm and the Lord's Suffer. We defire that the entring Infants in- to God's Covenant may be more wari- ly exprefied, and that the wosds may not (eem to found their Baptiim upon a really aclual Faith and Repentance ot their own ; and we defire that a fromtfe may not be taken for a/?er/()rw^wce offuch Faith and Repentance : and elpecially, that it be not arferted, that they ferfurm thefe by the promije of their Sureties, it being to the Seed of Beliewrs that the Covenant of God is made ; and not ( that we can find ) to all that that have fuch believing Sureties, who are neither Parents^nor Pro- farents of the Child, In the general we obferve, That the Dodrine of the Sicraments which was ad- d::d upon the Conference at Hampton-Court, is much more fully and particularly delivered than the other parts of the Catechifm, in ihort Anfwers fitted to the me- mories of Children, and thereupon we offer it to be confidcred : Firfi, Whether there fliould not be a more diftind and full Explication of the Creed, the Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer. Secondly, Whether it were not convenient to add (what feems to be wanting ) (omewhat particularly concerning the Nature of Faith , of Repentance , the two Covenants, of Juftification, Sanftificatioo, Adoption, and Regeneration. j^QNe/f. How many Sacraments hath Chrift ordained, &c ? Anf Ctoo onlp, ais ffenccalip nc* ceflatp to ©alijation, 19 Quefi. What is required of Perfons to be Biiptized ? Anf Bcpentance , tol)Eveb)> tijcp fo?fa{iE fuu anu jfattl), tofjerebp tf\zv ft etifaaij) MitU tljc l^jonitfejs Of\^OD, ?c, 20 Quefi. Why then are Infants bap- tized when by reafon of ther tender Age they cannot perform them .'' Anf. fc0 : tljcp 00 peifo?m fcp t!}£if @)UiTtles , iDljo pjcniifc ann uoto tijcm Ootlj in tOeit jI5anic.0» Of P A R. T II. Reverend Mr. Richard baxter. Of Confirmation. 329 A Lthough we charitably fuppofe the *^ meaning of thefe words was only to exclude the vecejjityof any other Sacra- ments to baptized Infants; yet thefe words are dangerous as to the mifleading of the Vulgar, and therefore we defire they may be expunged. Tlie lafl Rubrick before the Catechifm. ABtj tljat no C^an ftaU tSink tljat anp Detriment fljall come to CbilU^cn \iV Deferciitff of tftcit; Confirmation, ijc (tiail knoiu fo? tcutlj, tljat it (0 certain ftp ^Soti'js aao?ti, tljat Cf)iHi?en beino; bapti- 5eU, ba\3C all tijings necelTatp fo? tijcir valuation, ann be unoonbt' c5lp fabc5. Rubrick afcer the Catechifm. %Q fOOn 30 tIjC Cl)im^en can fap We conceive that it is not a fufficient ill tljClC ^i9Clti)er=tOn0;ue tije arti' qualification for Confirmation,thatChil. t\Z^ of tijC jf attb, tfje LO?ll0 i??aP-- dren be able memoriter to repeat the Ar- Cr, ailB tbC Cen Commannment^, tides of the Faith, commonly called, the anO can anfUier fUCij OtIjCr dUefti* Apoftles Creed, the Lords Prayer, and onS of tIjiSS fljO?t Catecljifm, U. the Ten Commandments , and to an- tljcn fljall tJjep be b?oujjljt to t&e TBtajop, $c. anti tlje 05ifljop fljaU Confirm tljcm. fwer to fome Queftions of this ftort Ca- techifm ; for it is often found that Chil- dren are able to do all this at four or five years old. idly, It croffes what is faid in the third Reafon of the firft Rubrick before Confirmation, concerning the ufageof the Church in times paft, ordaining that Confirmation fhould be miniftred unto them th.it were of peifed Age, that they being inltruded in the Chriftiaq Religi- on, ihould openly profefs their own Faith, and promife to be obedient to the Will of God. And therefore r3dly), we defire that none may be Confirmed but ac- cording to his M.ijelty's Declaration, viz. That Confirmation be rightly and jukmnly fer formed by the Information^ and with (he Confmt of the Minifter of the place. Rubrick after the Catechifin. Clicn fijaK t!jCP be b^OUSbt to tbe This feems to bring in another fort of 'BtftJOp bP one tijat (Ijall be W Godfathers and Godmothers, befides CDatiftUijCCj Ot (JDOUmOtOft^ thofe made ufe of in Baptifm ; and we fee no need either of the one, or the o- ther. The Prayer before the Impofition of Hands. ZllfiO baff bOUCbfafeU to tegene^ This fuppofeth that all the Children rate tbefe tbP ^emantSS bP aXLlatet who are brought to be confirmed, have anU tfjC IpOlP «©l)0(t, ann Ijaft giben the Spint ofChrifi, and the firgiveneji of unto tbem tlje fOlgiiJenefSi of a!l an their fim .Whereas a great number of tOciCfinsi. Children at that Age , having commit- ted many fins fince their Baptilm, do fliew no Evidence of ferious Repentance, or of any Ipecial Saving Grace : And therclorc this Confirmation ( if adminiftred to fuch J would be a perillous and grols Abule. Rubrick before the Impofition of Hands. €()en tbe OBilbop m\i lap bi0 Ijann on cUcrp Cbiio feuctallp- This feems to put a higher value up- on Confirmation, then upon Baptifm or the Lords Supper ; for according to the and Order in the Common-Prayer-Book , every Deacon may Baptize , and every Minifter may confecrate and adminifter the Lord's Supper, but the Bi- ihop only may Confirm. Rubrick Vv The 330 The LIFE of the L I B. I The Prayer after Impofition of Hands. mz make our Ijumblc ©upplica- tionss unto tljfe fo? tljefcCijilD^cn; upon iDljom, after tfje €j;atnpie of t&P ^olp apoftlc^, toe Oaije lain our Dann!3, to ccrtifie tljcnt bp tfjijs @ign of tljjj faijour auD ccaciousi ^ootinefs toujaruss t&em. We defire that the Pradiceof the A- poftles may not be alledged as a ground of this Impofition of Hands for the Con- firmation of Children, both becaule the Apoftles did never ule it in that Cafe, as alio becaule the Articles of the Church of England declare it to be a corrupt imi- tation of the ^pofiles praBice ^A£ts 2 ^. We defire that Impofition of Hands may not be made as here it is, a Sign to cer- tifie Children of God's Grace and Favour towards them , becaule this feems to fpeak it a Sacrament, and is contrary to that fore-mentioned 2 jth Article , which faith, That Confirmation hath no 'vipble Sign appointed by God. The laft Kubrick after Confirmation. We defire that Confirmation may not Bone fljall Jje atmifttCU to tfje IjOlp be made lb necelTary to the Holy Com- ContttlUnton, until fUCOtlme as IjC munlon, as that none fiiould be admit- ran faj> tlje CateCljtfnij anH H con- ted to it unlefs they be confirmed. firnieiJ. Of the Form of Solemni:^ation of Matrimony, Tpt 99an ftau gfiie tlje tOonian a mtno:, f c fljall fureip perfo?m ann keep tljc ^m mr\ Couenant ftettofrt tljem mane, mijercof tljis jRing giucn anli re- ceitieo 115 a Cohen ano intense, ?c. SEeing this Ceremony of the Ring in Marriage is made neceJJ'ary to tt, and a fignificant Sign of the Vow and Co- venant betwixt the Parties; and Ro- mifh Ritualifts give fuch Realbns for the Ufeand Inftitution of the Ring, as are either frivolous or fuperftitious. It is de- fired that this Ceremony of the Ring in Marriage may be left indifferent jio be uled or forborn. tE^E ^an fljaU faPj with my Body This word {_worilnp'} being much al- 1 thee worfhip. tered in the Ule of it fince this Form was firft drawn up ; We defire fome 0- ther word may be uled inltead of it. 3|n tllC I5ame of tlje Jfatljer^antJ ^Thefe words being only ufed in Bap- of toe ©on, aim oftDeipoip *i5ijoft VLxW Deatij ujs uepart Rubrick. COen tOe 93iniaet o? Clerk go^ ing to tlje Lo?D0 %mt, fljaJl fap o? fing t(ji!3 ipJfaim. tnm, and herein the Solemnization of Matrimony, and in the Ablolution of the Sick ; We defire it may be confider- ed, whether they fhould not be here o- mitted, leaft they fhould leem to favour thofe who count Matrimony a Sacrament, This word ''depart'] is here improperly, ufed. Exception. We conceive this Change of Place and Pofture mentioned in thefe two Ku- bricks is needlels, and therefore defire it may be omitted. Next Rubrick. %\)t lp)faini enoeti, ann tlje c^an ann t^c ^Ionian kneeling bcfo?e m Lo^D'jJCatjiea t&e la^icft ttanning at tfje %mt> an5 turniiiB ijijes face, etc Colled. Part 11. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 331 CoUech ConfecrateD tl)e aate of: 9^m\-' monp to fuel) aRCJCcclIent^pftccp. Exception. Seeing the Inftitution of Marriage was before the Fall, and fo before the PjO- mife otXhrift, as alfo for that the (aid Paffage in this Collect (eems to counte- nance the Opinion of making Matrimo- ny a Sacrament, we defire that Claufe may be altered or omitted. Exception. This Rubrick doth either enforce all fiich as are unfit for the Sacrament to forbear Marriage, conti-ary to Scripture, which approves the Marriage of all Men; or elle compels all that many to come to CljC ttCto Uiari'leD PcrfOltjai tfje the Lords Table, though never lb un- fame Oap of t&Eit ^acvinge nUlft prepared : And therefore we defire it teC0iilC tt)e i^Olp COUmiUniOtt- may be omitted, the rather becaulethat Marriage Feftivals are too often accom- panied with fuch Divertifements as are unfuitable to thole Chriftian Duties which ought to be before and follow after the receiving of that Holy Sacrament, Rubrick. Ci^cnflmll fteffin tf)e Contminu- on,anti afta* tlje *S5ofpeI fijaH be faiD La ft Rubrick. Of the Order for the Vijitation of the Sic^, Rubrick before Ablblution. Exception. FOrafmuch as the Conditions of ficic Perfons be very various and diffe- rent , the Minilter may not only in the Exhortation, but in the Prayer alfo bs direfted to apply himfclf to the particu- lar Condition of the Perfbn, as he fhall find moft fuitable to the prefent occafi- on, with due regard had both to his Spiritual Condition and Bodily Weaknefs, and that the Abfolution may only be recommended to the Minifter to be u(ed or omit- ted as he /hall fee occalion. That the Form of Abfolution be Declarati-ve and Condttional, as [I pronounce thee ab- fohed] inftead of [ / ahjohe tbee^ ff thou doefl truly repent and believe. Here i^all tlje fick petfon malte afpecial ;£:onftflrton, $l aftcc fljettt) st'onfeaion tlje l??ieft fijaU abfolue i)iuj aftec •t()t0 fo^t : Our Lord Jelus Chrift, &c. and by his Au- thority committed to me, I abfolve thee. Of the Communion of the Sic^, Rubrick. B&t it ti)t fick pcrfott lie not a- ble to come io Cljurclj , pet fss UcnroujS t(S teccitic t^ Com' inunion in Im li)oufc ; tijcnije itiua giije fenoiBleoge oiiet-nigfjt, o? cifc carlp in tfit^ominQ, to tbe Cu- rate, anu 6nt)(ng a conlienicnt place in tlje fick 93an sf ^oiife, tje fi&aii tl)ete aonitiuKer t!je po\v Communton. COnfider, that many fick perfons ei- ther by their ignorance or vicious Life, without any evident manifeflation of Repentance, or by the Nature of the Difeafe diflurbing their Intelleftuals, be unfit for receiving the Sacrament, It is propofed, that the Minifter be not en- joyned to adminifter the Sacrament toe- very fick Perfbn that fhall defire it, but only as ht fhall judge expedient. Vv z Of The LI F E of the Lib. J Of the Order for the burial of the Dead. WE defire it may be exprefled in a Rubrick, that the Prayers and Exhortati- ons here ufed are not for the benefit of the Dead, but only for the Inftru- dion and Comfort of the Living. Firft Rubrick. C^el9?icl! meeting tl)e Co^pjs at tl)E€l)urcl>S)tiIe,fljan fap, o? ctfe tije isiieft nno Clerk mw fing, gtt. We defire that Minifters may 5e left to ufe their Difcretion in the(e Circura- ftances, and to perform the whole Ser- vice in the Church, if they think fit, for the preventing of thefe Inconveniences which many times both Minifters and People are expofed unto by (tanding in the open Air. The fecond Rubrick. mw tljep come to tf)e ^mt tTje lS)?feft fljatl fap, ^c- jro?armuc6a0it6atlj plcafen 91- migljtj? ^oti,of f)t!3 great mercpto taKc unto Ijimfclf tije %m\ of out tear 15?otljcc Occc DcpnctcD : 2xLtc tijcrefoic commit W "BoDp to tlje c5?oimt> in fute ano certain ijopeof Eefurrection to eternal Life. The firtt Prayer. 2XIe gibe tljec fieartp tf)anfe0 fo? tljat it IjatO pleafcD tljee to Belimr tl3i0 our OD^otftcr out of tfie mife- tiexJ of tlji!ci finful ido^IQ, $c* CI)at me tuitlj tljijs our OS^ot&er, ann all otljcr nepatteti in tfje true ifaitlj of tf))> iMv SdiAxm , map jjaDe our perfert Confirmation anfl 05lif!3. The laft Prayer, Cljat tofien Uie nepart iW life, tue map reft in Ijim, ass our Ijope i? tljis our 'B^otDcr DotO* Thele words cannot in Truth be faid of Perfons living and dying in open and notorious fins. Thele words may harden the wicked^ and are inconfiftent with the largeft ra- tional Charity. Thefe wosds cannot be ufed with re- fpeft to thofe Perlbns who have not by their aftual Repentance given any ground for the hope of their Blefled E- Itate. Of the Thanksgiving of JVomen after Child-^birth com- monly called Churching of Women. Tj;c i^aoman fljall come unto tlje CDurcf) , anD tfiere fliall kneel foiun in fome convenient place niglj unto tljc place luijere tf)e Cable ftannjs, anu tOe l^^icft ftantJ= ing ijp Oct, fljall fap, $c* Kubrick. t2:ijen tijc p^ieft fljall Tap tljis J9falm 121. In regard that the Womens kneeling near the Table is in many Churches in- convenient, we defire that thefe words may be left out , and that the Minifter may perform that fervice either in the Desk or Pulpit. Exception. This PfaUn leems not to be io perti- nent .-islbme other , 'viz.. as Ffalm iij. and Tfal. 128. P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 333 © ILa?ll {0it t&i0 (GUOttian tSP it ^^y ^all out that a woman may dCttJSttt- come to give thanks for a Child born in AnC ^tliCFj pUttetft fiet ttUtt in Adultery or Fornication, and therefore tljCg. we defire that fomething may be re- quired of her by way of Profeflion of her Humiliation,as well as of her Thankf- giving. Laft Rubrick. %\)Z lUonmx tljat conies to gi^e This may feem too like a Jewifli Pu- CljaufeS, tmift OffeC tlje aCCUttOUieO rificatlon.rather than aChriftian Thankf- SDfferincsi. giving. The fame Kubrick. 9ntl if tljerc be a Communion, it We defire this may be interpreted of is COnllCnicnt tljat flje XZiZi^t tIjC the duly qualified ; tor a fcandalous Sin- l^Ol? ^Communion* ner may come to make this Thankf- giving. Thus have we in all humble purfuance of his Majefty's moft gracious Endeavours for the publick weal of this Church, drawn up our Thoughts and Defires in this weighty Affair, which we humbly offer to his Majefty's Commiffioners for their ferious and grave Confideration, wherein we have not the leaft thought of depra- ving or reproaching the Book of Common Prayer, but a fincere defire to contri- bute our Endeavours towards the Healing the Diftempers, and fas loon as may be) reconciling the Minds of Brethren. And inafmuch as his Majefty hath in his gra- cious Declaration and Commiffion mentioned new Forms to be made and luted to the feveral Parts of Worlhip > We have made a confiderable progrefs therein, and ' Ihall ( by God's afliftance ) offer them to the Reverend Commiffioners with all convenient fpeed. And if the Lord (hall gracioufly pleale to give a Bleffing to theie our Endeavours, we doubt not but the Peace of the Church will be thereby letled, the Hearts of Miniilers and People comforted and compofed , and the great Mer- cy of Unity and Stability (to the immortal Honour of our moft dear Soveraign ) beftowed upon us and our Pofterity after us. § i7y. When the Exceptions againft the Liturgy were finifhed, the Brethren ofc read over the Reformed Liturgy which I offered them. At firft they would have had no Kubrick or Directory, but bare Prayers, bccaufethey thought our Commif- fion allowed it not : That at laft they yielded to the Realbns which I gave them, and relblved to take them in. But firft to offer the Bilhops their Exceptions. § 176. At this time was the Convocation cholen : fortill now it was deferred. Had it been called when the King came in, the inferiour Clergy would have been againft the Diocefan and Impofing way : But afterwards many hundreds were turned out that all the old fequeftred Minifters might come in. And the Opinion of Reordination being fet afoot, all thole Minifters, that for Twenty years toge- ther, while Bilhops were laid afide, had been Ordained without Diocefans, were in many Countreys denied any Voices in the Eledion of Clerks for the Convocati- on : By all which means, and by the Scruples of abundance of Minifters, who thought it unlawful to have any thing to do in thechoofing of fuch a kind of AC- fembly, the Diocefan Party wholly carried it in the Choice. § 177. In London the Eledion was appointed to be in Chrift's Church, on the Second day oi May (1661). The London Minifters that were not yet ejedcd , proved the major Vote againft the Diocefan Party, and when I went to have joyn- ed with them, they fent to me not to come, as they did alfo to Mr. Calamy , and C without my knowledge) they chofe Mr. Calamy and me for London. But they carried it againft the other Party but by Three Voices : And the Bifhop of London having the power of choofing Two out of Four (or Four out of Six) that are cholen by the Minifters in a certain Circuit, did give us the great ufe of being both left out, and fo we were excufed, and the City of London had no Clerk in the Convocation. How fliould I have been there baited, and what a vexatious place (hould I have had in fuch a Convocation I $178. 334 1 he LIFE of the Lib. I, § 178. The fourth day of May, we had a meeting with the Biftiops, where we gave in our Paper of Exceptions to them ; which they received. § 179. The feventh diy of May was a Meeting at Ston-CoSedge of all the London Minifters, for the choice of a Prefident and Affiftants for the next Year : where (fome of the Presbyterians upon a pettilh Scruple abfenting themfelves) the Dioca- lane Party carried it, and fo got the Poffeflion and Rule of the CoUedge. § 180. The eighth day of May the new Parliament and Convocation (at down, being conftituted of Men fitted and devoted to the Diocefati Intereft. §. 181. On the two and twentieth day of M*y, by order of Parliament, the Na- tional Vow and Covenant was burnt in the Street, by the Hands of the common Hangman, § 182. When the Brethren came to exainine the reformed Liturgy, and had ofc read it over, they paft it at laft in the fame Words that I had written it, fave only that they put out a few Lines in the Adminiftration of the Lord's Supper, where the Word Offering was ufed ; and they put out a Page of Realons for Infant Baptifm, which I had annexed to that Office, thinking it unneceffary,- and they put the larger Litany into an Appsndix as thinking it too long ; and Dr. Wallis was defired to draw up the Prayer for the King, which is his Work (being after fome- what altered by us). And we agreed to put before it a fhort Addrefs to the Biftops, profeffing our readinels in Debates to yield to the fhortning of any thing which Jhould be too long, and the altering of any thing that fliould be found amifs. § 18;. And becaufe I forefaw what was like to be the end of our Conference, I defired the Brethren that we might draw up a plain and earneft Petition to the Bilhops,tn yield to fuch Terms of Peace and Concord as they themfelves did confefi to be lawful to be yielded to : For though we are equals in the King's Commiffion, yet we are commanded by the Holy Ghoft, If tt be foffibk, and at much as in us lieth to live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12. 18. anA to follow peace with all men, Heb. 12. 14. and if we were denied, it would fatisfy our Confciences, and juftify us before all the World, much more than if we only difputed for it : However we might this way have that opportunity to produce our Reafons for Peace, which elfe we were not like to have. § iS+. This Motion was accepted, and I was defired to draw up the Petition, which I did, and it was examined, and with a Word or two of Alteration confent- ed to. § i8f. When we met with the Bifhops to deliver in thefe Papers, I was required to deliver them ; and if it were poffible, to get Audience for the Petition before all the Company. I told them, that though we were Equals in the prefent Work, and ojr appointed bur.nefs was to treat, yet we were confcious of our PLiceand Du- ty, and had drawn up a Petition to them, whicli, though fomewhat long, I humbly craved their Confetjt that 1 might read it to them. Some were againlt it, and fb they would have been generally if they had known what was in it ; but at laft they yielded to it : But their Patience was never fj put to it by us, as in hearing fo long, and ungrateful a Petition. When I had read it. Dr. Gunning beginneth a long and vehement Speech againlt it : To which when he came to the end, I replyed : But I wasinteirupted in the midil of my Reply ; and was fain to bear it, bscaufe they h.jd be;n patient (with much adoj fo long before. § 186. 1 delivered them the Petition when I had read it, and with it a fair Copy of our reformed Liturgy, called [^Additional Forms and Alterations'] of theirs. And they received both, and fo we departed. Our laid Writings are too long to be here inferted, § iZ~. After all this, when the Bilbops were to have fent us two Papers, one of their Conceffions iiow much they would alter of the Liturgy as excepted againft, and the other of their Acceptance of our offered Forms, or Reafons againft them, if^llead of both thelc, a good while after, they lent us fuch a Paper as they did be- fire, of their Reafonings againft all our Exceptions, without any Abatements or Alterations at all, that are worth the Naming. Our Brethren feeing what they were refulved to bring it too, and how unpeaceably they managed the Bufinefs, did iliink heft to wiitj them a flam Anlwer to their Paper, and not to fupprcfs it as we had drne by the Firlh This Task alfo they impofed on me, and I went out of Town to Dr. Sfurflow^ Houfe in Hackney for Retirement, where in eight D.iys time I drew up a Reply to their Anfwer to our Exceptions ; and the Bre- thren rcid it and conlented to it ; only wifhed that it had been larger in the lat- ter end, where I had purpolely been brief, becaui's I had been too large in the be- ginning. ^ . . II 1 1 ■ - - 1 — - 1 1 l l ■ ■ - . - . - . — Part II. R^^r^WAfr. Richard Baxter, 53^ ginning, and becaufe Particulars may be anfwered fatisfadorily in a few Words^ when the General Differences are fully cleared. § 188. By this time our Commiffion was almoft expiredj and therefore our Bre- thren were earneftly defirous of perlbnal Debates with them, upon the Papers put in to try how much Alteration they would yield to : Therefore we lent to the Bi- ihops to defire it of them ; and at lafl: they yielded to it, when we had but Ten Days more to trear, § J 89. When we nnet them^ I delivered them the Anfwer of their former Papers (the largenels of which I faw difplealed them) and they received it. And we ear* neftly preft them to fpend the little time remaining in tuch pacifying Conference as tended to the ends which are mentioned in the King's Declaration and Commiffi- on, and told them, that fuch Difputes which they had called us to by their manner of Writing, were not the thing which we defired or thought moft conducing td thofe ends. § 190, I have reafon to think that the Generality of the Bifhops and Do(5l:ors pre- ftnt never knew what we offered them in the reformed Liturgy, nor in this Reply, nor in any of our Papers, fave thofe few which we read openly to them. Foi" chey were put up and carried away, and I conjedure fcarce any but the Writers of their Confutations would be at the Labour of reading them over. And I remem- ber in the midft of our laft Difputation, when I drew out the fhort Preface to this laft Reply (which Mr. Calamy wrote, to enumerate in the beginning before their Eyes, many of the groffeit Corruptions which they flifly defended and refu- fed to reform) the Company was more afhamed and filent, than at any thing elfcs that I had laid j by which I perceived that they had never read or heard that very Preface, which was as an Epifile to themfelves : Yea, the chief of them confef- fed when they bid me read it, that they knew no fuch thing : So that it (eems be- fore they knew what was in them, they refblved to rejed our Papers, right or Wrong, and to deliver them up to their Contradiftors. § 191. When we came to our Debates, I firft cravedof them their Animadverfi- ons on our Additions, and Alterations of the Liturgy, which we had put in long before; and that they would tell us what they allowed, or dilallowed in them^ that we might have the ufe of them according to the Words in the King's Declara- tion and Commiffion. But they would not by any Importunity be intreated at all to debate that, nor to give any of their Opinions about thofe Papers. There were no Papers that ever we offered them that had the Fate of thofe : Though it was there that fbme of them thought to have found recriminating matter of Es" ceptions : yet could we never prevail with them to fay any thing about them in Word or Writing ; but once Biihop Morky told us oitUeiv length, to which I an- fwered that we had told them in our Preface,that we were ready to abbreviate any thing which on debate fliould appear too long ; but that the Purity of the Pray- ers made the ordinary Lord's day Prayers far (horter than theits. And finci we had given our Exceptions againfl: theirs, if they would neither by Word nor Writing except againfl: ours, nor yet give their Confent to them, they would not honour their Caufs or Conference. But all could not extort either Debates on that Subject, or any l^eprehenfions ^of what we had offered them. Nor have they finceto this Day, in any of their Writings ( which ever I could fee or hear of ) (aid a Word in way of Exception againft thofe I^apers : Yea, when Roger L'Efirangeh\m{k\i\\wiQ (according to his manner) a malicious Inve(3:ive againlt our feveral Papsrs, when they were afterwards printed, he could find little to fay againlt our Liturgy, but that we left it to the Liberty of the Minifter in feveral Cafes, to pray \_inthefe Words, or to this Senle~\. And is that all the fault ( befides the Length foremention- ed ) ? Did they not know that it belongeth to the Prelates, and not to fuch as we, to deprive Men of their Liberty in praying? If they had defired it, how eafy had it been for them to have daihc out that one Claufe [or to this SenfeJ? and then it had been beyond their Exception. What meafure of Liberty Minifters fhall have, it is not we, but they that muft determine. § 192. When they hadcaft outthatpart of our defired Conference, our next bufinefs was to defire them by friendly Conference, to go over the Particulars which we excepted againlf, and to tell us how much they could abate, and what Alterations they could yield to. This Bifhop Reignolds oft preft them to, and fo did all the reit of us that fpake. But they refolutely infiffed on it, thae they had nothing to do till we had proved that there was any neceffity of Alterati- on, which we had not yet done ; and that they were there ready to anfwer to our Proofs : We urged them again and again with the very Words of the King's Decla- ration 33^ The LIFE of the XTi b. I. ration and Commiffion, i. That the ends expreffed are [/or the removal of all Ex- ceptions tmd Occafions of Exceptions, and Differences fi-om among our good SubjeUs, ] and S_ for giving SattsfaBion to tender Confciences, and the refioring and conttnuance of Peace and Unity in the Churches. ] 2. And the means is [ to make fuch reafonable and necej- fary Alterations, Correilions, and Amendments therein, as pall he agreed upon to be need- ful and expedient, for the giving SatisfaSlion to tender Confciences, and re[lormg and con- tinuing Peace, &c.] We plainly fhewed hence that the King liippofeth thac feme Alterations mnll be made : But the Billiops infifted on two Words [necefjary} Alte- rations, and \_fuch as Jlwuld be agreed on]. We anfwered them. That the Word [necejjary'] hath reference to the Ends expreffed, vtZj. [the fatisfytng tender Confcien- ces ] and is joined with [Expedient']: And its (trange if when the King hath fo long and publickly determined of the End, and called us to conrult of the means, we Ihould prefume now at laftto contradid him, and to determine that the End it felf is unneceflary, and confequendy no means necelTary thereto : What then have ■ we all this while been doing ? 2. And when they are called to [agree'] on fucli necelTary means, if they will take the Advantage of that Word, to [agree on no- thing'] that (o all Endeavours may be fruftrated for want of their Agreement, God and the World would judge between us, who it is that fruftrateth the King's Com- niiflion, and the Hopes of a divided bleeding Church. Thus we continued a long time contending about this Point, [Whether fowe Alterations be fuppojed by the Kings Declaration and Commtjfion to be made by us ? or whether we were afiew to dijpute that Point i But the Bifhops would have thn to be our Task or nonej to prove by Difputation that any Alteration was necejjary to be made ; while they confuted our Proofs. We told them, thac the End being [to fatisfy tender Confciences and procure Unitjf] thofe tender Confciences did themlelves profefe, that without ibme Altera- tion, and that condderable too, they could not be latisfied ; and Experience told them, that Veace and Unity could not without it be attained. But ftill they faid, that none was necejjary, and they would yidd to all that we proved necefjary. And here we weieleft in a very great Strait : If we fliould enter upon Difpute with them, we gave up the End and Hope of our endeavours: If we reiuled it, we knew that they would boall th.u when it came to the fetting to, we would not fo much as attempt to prove any thing unlawful in the Liturgy, nor durft difpute it with them. Mr. CaLuny with ibme others of our Brethren would have had usrefufe the Motion Cff difputing, as not tending to fulfil the King's Commands : We told the Bilhops over and over, that they could not choole but know that before we could end one Argument in a Dilpute, our time would be expired j and that it could not poflibly tend to .my Accommodation : And that to keep off from perfonal Conterence, till within a few Days of the Expiration of the Commiffion, and then torefcjive to do nothing but wrangle out the time in a Difpute, as if we were betvteen jeafl and earnelf in the Schools, was too vifibly in the fight of all the WoilJ, to defeat the King's Commiffion, and the Expedtations of many Thou- lantls, who longed for our Unity and Peace. But we fpoke to the Deaf j they had other Ends, and were other Men, and had the Art to inn the means unto their Ends. For my part, when we law that they would do nothing elfe, I per- fuaded our Brethren to yield to a Difputation with them, and let them underJtand tint we were far from fearing it, (eeing they would give us no hopes of Concord : but withal, firft to profelsto them, that the Guilt of difappointing his Majefty and the Kingdom, lay not upon us, who defired to obey the King's CommiOion, but on them. And fo we yielded to fpend the little time remaining, in deputing with them, rather than go home and do nothing, and leave them to tell the Court that we durft not difpute with them when they lb provoked us, nor were able to prove our Accufuions of the Liturgy. § 19; When this was relolved on, we (pent many Hours with them about the Order of our Difputation : I offered them to fpend one half of the time in the Opponents part, if they would promife to do the like the other half of the time, when we had done, that our Dilputation might be on equal Terms. They refu- ledthis, and aniwered. That it belonged to us only to argue who were the Accu- fers, and nnt at all to them who were on the Defence. 1 told them it was we that are the Defendants againft their Impofitions : They command us to do fuch and fuch things, or eUe we Ihall be excommunicate, filenced, imprilbned, andundone: We defend our lelves againlt this cruelty, by calling upon them to (hew their Au- thority from God for (uch Impofitions : Therefore we Hill call upon them to prove that Gnd hath authoriled them to any fuch thing : And if they refule this, they do give up thsir Caulo. We offered firlt to prove the unlawfulnefs of their Impofitions, if Part U. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 337 if they would afterward prove the lawfulnefs of them, or their Power fo co impofe them. On thefe Terms we ftood with them about two Days^ and they would not yield to prove arty thing at all. At laft I oft declared to them, that we would do our part, and prove their Impofitions unlawful, whether they would do their part or no; but with an open Declaration that we rook them for Deferters of their Caufe. At laft Dr. Fierfin alone undertook that he would difpute for their Parr, when we had performed ours, and we accepted of his Undertaking. § 194. Upon this, feeing it was to be all done in Writihg, the reft of the Com- miffioners on both fides did choole three of a Party to manage the Dilpute, that the other might withdraw themfelves, becaufe they had no more to do. The Bi/hops chole Dr. Pierfon, Dr. Gummg, and Dr. Sparrow *. The other fide chole * Since Bi- T^t. Bates, Dr.Jacomb, and my felf : (for I never medled with the choice of any,^°P^°^ only I would fain have had Mr. WtUiam Mojcs, Mr. Gibbons., and Mr. Matthew ?ooff'^^!^^l^' into the Commiffion, that I might have had their help in Difputing, becaule they i;orwich. were very quick, ingenuous Men, and I could not prevail.) The reft of our Bre- thren prefently withdrew, and hot a Man of them came near us any more ; as fuppofing it contrary to the Agreement : But the Bifhops came (fome of them) from day to day ; indeed on the fecond day they asked whether any more than the Difputants might be prelenc. And I anfwered them, That we cared not how many of thorn were prelent : And after that, others that were not in the Com- miffion asked, whether they might be prefent j and 1 told them the fame. So that there came Dr. P07, 'Dv.Crowtber, and almoft the Room full of them (with two or three Scholars and Lay-men, that as Auditors came in with us ( Mr. Miles, Mr. TtUotfon, &c) § i9y. When 1 began our firft Argument, to prove their Impoficions /■»/«/, Bi- ihop Co/im was oifended at the Word i/inful'] ; and told me that I condemned all the Churches of Ghrift, who all of them impoled Ibme Gefture or other, as much as that came to ; and what intollerable Boldnefs was it in us to charge all the Churches of Chrift with Sin I I anfwered him, i. That many of the reformed Churches did not impofe any fuch thing on their Terms ; that is, to rejeA all from the Miniftry and Communion that conformed nor. 2. It was no Arrogance nor Uncharitablenefi, to charge all the Church and World wich Sin : But he that faith he hath no Sin, is a Lyar : In many things we offend all : It is the Privi- ledge of the Triumphant Church to be without Sin. This they ftormed at, and yet could not tell how to deny it. Bilhop Lany (aid, [That jujiified Verfons have no Sin, and are no Sinners ; becaufe Jufiification taketb it awayX But when I anfwered him by opening the Nature of Juftification, and fhewing that it took not away the Sin it felf, but the Guilt, which is the Obligation to Puniftiment, he was confounded, and unfaid all again, and knew not what he (aid : I told him that he might (ce how near we came to him : I confeffed that if the Controverly were but de Nomine, and he took Juftification, as fome do, for San6lification, or a Change of our Qualities and Adions, then 1 granted him that it took away Sin it felf, but not perfeftly, and therefore Sin ftill remained. Here he and forac more faid, that no Man before me ever took Juftification in any fuch Sence, and they laugh- ed at me : I anfwered, that I was glad to hear him fay fo ; for my fear that he fymbolized with the Papifts was abated, now 1 perceived that he knew not what they held : And Dr. Gunmng anfwered againft hini, and faid that the Papifts dofb ufe the Word. I went on and told him, That I al(b granted that a Man for a cer- tain fpace might be without any A£i: of Sin ; and as 1 was proceeding, here Biihop Morley interrupted me, according to his manner, with vehemency crying out, what can any Man be for any time without Sin! And he founded out his Aggrava- tions of this Dodrine ; and then cryed to Dr. Bates, what fay you Dr. Bates, is this your Opinion ? Saith Dr. Bates, 1 believe that we are all Sinners j but I pray my Lord give him leave to ffeak: I began to go on to the reft of my Sentence, where I left, to (hew the Senle and Truth of my Words ; and the Biihop (whether in Pa(^ (ion or Defign I know not) interrupted me again, and mouthed out the odiouCiefi of my Dodrine again and again, 1 attempted to fpcak, and ftill he interrupted me in the lame manner : Upon that I fat down and told him, that this was neither .igreeable to our Commifiion, nor the common Laws of Difputation, nor the Ci- vil Ufagc of Men in common Converfe, and that if he prohibited me to fpeak, I defired him to do it plainly, and I would defift, and not by that way of Interrup- tion. He told me, I h.id Ipeaking enough if that were good, for I fpake more than any one in the Company : And thus he kept me fo long from uttering the reft of my Sentence, that I fac dov^n and gave over, and told him I took ic for his Pro- X X hibitioij 338^""""""^ TkL I f E of the Lib. 1. ' hibition. At lalt 1 let him talk, and fpake to thofe nearer me, which wonld hear me, and told them, that this was it that I was going to lay, 1 hat I granted Bidsop Lany, that it was poflible to be free from ading Sin tor a certain time, that fo he might have no matter ot Objedion againft me ; and that the Inllances of my Conceilion vvere thele : i. In the time of abfolute Infancy. 2. In the time of to- tal Fatuity or Madnefi, as natural Ideots that never had the ufe of Reafon. 5. In the time of a Lethargy, Carus, or Apoplexy, or Epilepfie. 4. In the time of lawful fleep, when a Man doth not lb much as dream amils : And whether any other Inftances might be given, I determined not. But as I talked thus; Bifliop Morly went on, talking louder than I, and would neither hear me, nor willingly have had me to have been heard. Behind me at the lower end of the Table, flood Dr. Crowther, and he would confute me, and I defended Dr. Lmy, in that Jeroboam made ijrael to Sm : What gather you thence, quoth I, that thty bad no Sin but that, or never finned before : He anfwered yes ; and with a little iSJonfence would defend it, that Ifrael finned not till then : When I had proved the contrary to him in the general Acceptation of the Word [Si» ; ] I told him, that if he took the Word Figuratively, the Gcnuj for a Species, 1 granted him that they finned not that Species of Sin, which Jeroboam taught them, which is in the Text emphati- cally called 5;;; : If he meant that they finned no Sm of Idolatry, or no NattonalSin till then. It was not true, and if it were, it was nothing to our Queftion, which was about Sin in the General, or indefinitely. He told me they Sinned no Na- tional Sin till then. I asked him whether the Idolatry, the Unbelief, the Mur- muring, &c. by which all the Nation, fave Caleb and Jnjhua fell in the Wildernels, and the Idolatry for which in the time of the Judges the Nation was conquered, and captivated, were none of them National Sins? I give the Reader the Inttance of this Odious kind of Talk, to Ihew him what kind of Men wc talkt with, and what a kind of Task we had. § 196. And a little further touch of it I fliall give you: Wlien I beg'd their Compaffion on the Souls of their Brethren, and that they would not unneceflari- ly caft fo many out of the Minii^ry and their Communion : Birtiop Cefns told me that we threatned them with Numbers, and for his parr, he thought the King fhould do well to make us name them all. A charitable and wife Motion ! To name all die Thoufands of England that diffented ficni them, and that had fworn the Covenant, and whom they would after Perlecute. § 197. When I read in the Preface to our Exceptions againft the Liturgy [That i^ter twenty years Calamity, they would rot yield to that which feveral Bipops volunta- rily offered twenty Years before] (meaning the Cnrredions of the Liturgy offered by Archbifhop Ufliir, Archbilhop M'^iUsams, Bilbop Morton, Dr. Pridcaitx, and many others); Bilhop Co/ins anlwered me, That wc threatned them with a new War, and it was time for the King to look to us : I had no iheker from the Fury of the Bifliop but to name Dr. Hammond, and tell him thac I remembred Dr. Hammond infilled on the fame Argument, that twenty Years Calamity fuould have taught Men more Charity, and brought them to repentance and Brotherly Love; and that it is an Ag- gravation of their Sin to be unmerciful after fb long and heavy Warnings from God's Hand : He told me, if that were our meaning, it was all well. And thefe were the moft logical Difcourles of that Bifliop. , § 198. Among all theBifiiops there w.is none who had fo promifing a Face as Dr. Sterne the Bilhopof Cariijk: He look'd lb honeftly, and gravely, and foberly, that I fcaice thought fuch a Face could have deceived me; and when I was in- treating them not to caft out lb many of their Brethren tlirough the Nation, as Icrupeled a Ceremony which they confefs'd indifferent, he turn'd to the reft of the Reverend Bilhops, and noted me for laying [;» the Nation .] He will not fay [«« the Kingdom] laith he, Ufi he own a King'. This was all that ever I heard chat worthy Prelate lay : But with grief 1 told him, that half the Charity which became fo grave a Biihop, might have luHiced to havehelpt him to a better ExpofKion of the Word iNation]^ ; from the Momlis of liich who have lb lately taken the Oaths of Allcgijnceand Suprem.icy, and fworn Fidelit)' to the King as his Chaplains, and had (uch Tcftimonies from him as we have had : ai.d that our cafe was fad, if we coukl plead by the Kings Commillion lor Accommod.uion, upon no no better Terms, than to be noted as Traytors, every time wc uled inch a Word as the {_Na- tkn] ; which ii\ monarchical Writers ulv*. Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 33^ § 199.BHI10P Morley earneftly pleaded my own Book with me (my fifth Dslpur.) as he had done before the King: And I ftill told him, I went not horn any thing in it. He vehemently aggravated the mifchiefs of Conceived Prayer in the Church, and when I told him that all the Adions of Men would be imperteft, while Men were imperfe> , Though we find by^««r Pafers and Conference that in your own perfonal Dothtnes, there is fomething that we take to be agamft the Word of God -^ and per- ceive that we underftand not the Doftrineof the Church in all things alike, yet we find nothing contrary to the Word of God in that which is indeed the Doftrine of the Church, as it comprehendeth the Matters of Faith, diftinft from Matter of Dilcipline, Ceremonies and Modesof Worfliip. As to Dijctplme, there was given into his Majefly, before his Declaration came forth, a Summary of what we think to be contrary to the Word of God , which wc (hall more fully give in to you or any others whenever we are again called to it. For the Common Prayer and Ceremonies we have in our Exceptions and Repljf. delivered you an Account t)f what we take to be unlawful and inconvenient : And we humbly crave that our Realbns may be yet inipartially confidered. At prefcnc we fliall humblv offer you our Judgment concerning the following Particulars, and profefs our readineG to make it good when we are called to it. It is contrary to the Word of God, 1. That no Minifter be admitted to Baptize without the prcfcribed ule of the Tranfient Image of the Crofs. 2. That 342 " The LIFE of the i i d. I, . ^ ■ — — ' : : _____ 2. That no Minifter be permitted to read or pray, or exercife the other px-ts 6f his Office that dare not wear a Surplice. 3. That none be admitted in Communion to the Lbrds Supper , that dare not receive it kneeling: and that all Miniflers be enjoyned to deny ir to fuch. 4. That Minilters be forced to pronounce all baptized Infants to be Regenerate by the Holy Ghoft ( whether they be the Children of Chri(tians or notj. y. That Minifters be forced to deliver the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Chrift, unto the unfit, both in their Health and Sickneis : and that with perfonal application putting it into their hands : and thatfuch are forced to receive it^tiiough againfl: their own wills, in the Confcience of their Impenitency. <$. That Minifters be /orcei to Ablblve the unfit ; and that in abfolute Exprefl fions. 7. "Xlhat they are forced to give thanks for all whom they Bury, as Brethren -whom God in mercy hath delivered and taken to himfelf. 8. That none may be a Preacher that dare not Subfcribe that there is nothing in the Common Prayer Book, the Book of Ordination, and the Nine and thirty Ar- ticles, that is contrary to the Word of God : Thefc are moft of the things which we judge contrary to the Word of God, which at prefent come to our re- membrance. So we humbly defire, that whenever you would have us give you a full enumeration of liich, we may have leave to confult with the reft of our Bre- thren, and deliver it to you by our Common Confenr. And we humbly crave that all thefe Points may be taken into ferious Confideration, and thole of them which we have not yet debated,we are ready to debate and give in our Arguments, when- ever we are called to it, to prove them all contrary to the Word of God. And may we be fo happy as to have this Proposal granted us, we fhall undoubtedly have Unity and Peace. Ad 2'", We fiippefe according to the Laws of diftinguifhing, you fpeak in this fecond Propofal of all things fo inexpedient as not to be contrary to the Word of God. Otherwife the greateft Sins may be committed by mexfedtences : As a Phyfician may murder a Man by giving him inexpedient Medicines ; and a General may deftroy his Army by inexpedient ways of Conduft and Defence. And the Paftor may be guilty of the tjamnation of his People by Doftrines and Applications inexpedi- ent and unfuitabie to their ftate : And a way of worship may be lb inexpedient as to be (infirl and loathfom unto God ; fuch is the Battology or thinking to ba heard for afledted Repetitions or Bablings ; Pharifaical Thankfgivings, that Men are better than indeed they are., with abundance fuch like: But iuppofing that you here fpeak of no fuch inexpedient things, but fuch as are not contrary to the Word of God, We add; Ad I"' , We are thankful that in fuch Matters we may have leave to make any fuch Propofals as are here mentioned : but we ftall not be forward to bufie our felveSj and trouble others about liich little things, without a Special Call: If the Convocation at any time defire an account of our Thoughts about (uch Matters, we ihall readily produce them. And for [ acquiefcing in iheir Judgments in fuch Matters ] what we Three do in that point, is but of (mall confequence : And for others, feeing the Minifters that we fpeak for, were many Hundreds of them difplaced or removed before the advice of the Convocation, and others denied their V6tes, becaufe not Ordained by Diocelans,and others not approving the Conftitution of our Convocations durft not meddle in the choice: We cannot tell how far they will think themfelves obli- ged by the Determination of this Convocation. But this can be no matter of im- pediment to your Satisfaftion or ours : For we are commonly agreed that we are bound in Confcience to obey the King and all his Magiftrates in all lawful things ; and with Chriftian patience to fufter what he infliSeth on us for not obeying in things unlawful : And therefore while we acquiefce thus far in the Judgment of thole who muft make the Decrees of the Convocation to be civilly obligatory, and the King iiitendeth to take their Advice before he determine of luch Matters ; It isall one as to the end, as if we diredly did thus far acquiefce in the Judgment of the Convocation, if the King approve it : But if the King and Parliament difient or difallow the Convocation's Judgment (as it is poflible they may have caufe to do) would you have us acquiefce in it, when King and Parliament do not .'' And for the laft part of the Propofal, by God's Affiftancc , ( if you . do not fi- lence or difable us ) we arc refolved faithfully to teach the People , that the Divi- fion of the Church is worje than inexpedioit j and the Peace of it not to be difturbed for I he avoiding of any fuch inexpediences a§ are not contrary to the Word of God : We Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 34.3 We o->nclude with the Repetition of our moreeajnell Requeii,That thefo wife ard moderate Propofals may be prolecuted, and all things be abated us which we have proved, or (hall prove to be contrary to the Word rit'God. But if we agree not on thole things among our lelves accordFng to his Majelty s Coinmiffion,the World may know we did our parts. When the Liberty of ufing the Alterations and Additional Forms which were offered to you according to his Majelly's Declaration^ would end all our Differen- ces about Matters of Worihip: And when you have had tiiem in your hands lo long, iince you called for them, and have not, notwithftanding the Importunity of our Requefts, vouchfafcd us any Debates upon them, or Exceptions againft them, but are pleafed to lay them by in filence ; We ones more propole to you, Whether the granting of what you cannot blame, be not now the Ihortell and the fureft Way to a general Satisfadlion. Note here, That I offered to mylBrethren two more Particulars as contrary to the Word of God : which were, r. That none may have leave in Publick Worlhip to ufe a more fult.ible orderly way ; but all are confined to this Liturgy,which is fb defective and diforderly Cwhich we are even now ready to manifell if you will receive it.) 2. That none may be a Minifter of the Golpel that dare not (ubjetT: himfelf by an Oath of Obedience, to the Diocefans in that State of Government which they exercifed in this Land, (contrary to the pradice of all Antiquity}. Thefe Ten Things I offered as contrary to the Word of God , but the two Bre- thren wiih me thought thefe two lalt were better left out, left they ocgafion new Pebates, though they judged them true. § 208. When I read and delivered thefe Papers, the Bilhops were muchdifplca- fed, that I fliould charge fb many things on the Church as Sim : Where you may note the marvellous ofcitancy of thefe men, that when they had treated with us lo long, and received (b many large Exceptions and Replys, and in- all had heard us open the finfulnefs of their way, they Ihould yet imagine that we hadacculed their way but of inexpediency, and think to gratilie themfelves by fuch a poor de- vice. But their main defign was to divide us, while they let us upon diitinguifli- ing all their /«»/ from ihek tnexpe^iences; and they thought that one would take tl;at ior in:'xpcc!ient on\y, which others tooktobe/«. And they confidered not that we were now creating what fliould be impcfid, and not what Ihould be obeyed if it were impoled ; and that we would charge Sin upon their lmpofitio?is,\n many points ■which migiit lawfully be done when Impofed, rather than to tbrfake the Churches. And if I did the Church any Service in all thefe Debates, it was principally by fru- itrating their evil defign, of dividing us ; (b that all the Snares that ever they could Jay for us, never procured them juft advantage, once truly to lay, that we dif- ag: ecd among our felves. For though there were enow at a difl:ance,vvho couW not ^. have agreed to all that we die Holy Ghofi hath required us to receive to the Communion ts finful. But to enjoin Aimifltrs to deny the Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament y is to enjoin them to deny the Communion to fuch as the holy Ghofi hatB required MS to receive to the Communion. '!' ' Ergo, to enjoin Minifiers to deny the Communion to alt that dare not kneel in the Rectf'. tion of the Sacrament-, ts a Sin. -. * ' Rtjp. We deny the Minor. Oppon. The Holy Ghofi bath required us to receive to the Communion, even all the •weak in the Fatth, -who ttre charged with no greater Fault than erroneously refufng things lawful as unlawful. '^■ But many of thoje ■who dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament are (at the worfi) but weak in the Faith, and charged with no greater Faulty than erroveoufly refufing things lawful as unlawful. •^••■^ «'*'- ■ ■•' "'■- Lrgo, To enjotn Minifiers to deny the Communion to aU Vifho dare not kneel in the Re- ception of the Sacrament, is to enjoin them to deny the Communion to fuch as the Holy Cbojl hath required m to receive to the Communion. . . .. . , ' Rejp. We lay, This is no true but a fallacious Syllogifm^ of lio due Form : For ' this lleafon. That whereas both Subjed and Predicate of the Conclufion ought ' to be fomewheie in the Premifes, here neither Subject of the Conclufion {viz.. to 'enjoin Minifters to deny, &c.) nor the Predicate of the Conclufion (^viz.. is to en- * join them to deny, &c.) are any where found in any part of either of the Pre- 'mifesj lb that here are not only quatuor, but quinque termini. \ Oppon. Tou have both jubjtct and Predicate in the Fremifes as to the Senfe. If J'tf* will have each Syllable, take it thus. If to en jam Minifiers to deny the Communion to Men for no greater Fault than heinj^ weak in t he Faith, and refufing things lawful as unlawful, be to enjoin them to deny the Communion to Jucb as the Holy Ghoji hath required us to receive to the Communion, then to tnjom Mimfhrs to deny the Communion to all, &C. But to tnjom Minijhrs to deny the Communion to Men for no greater Fault than being weak in the Faith, and refufing things lawful as unlawful, is to enjoin them to deny the Communion to fuch as the Holy Ghofi hath required thtm t« reteive to the Communion. Ergo, To f77;o;w, 6cc. (as in the Minov.) ■ ^ ■ ^-'-wv. \ Y y 3 * Rel^, 348 il^c LI F E of the L i b. I. ' Rejp. We diftinguifli to that Term [things Lawful] : for both Things law ful, * and by no lawful Power commanded to be done are called Juch : And alfo * things lawful, and by a lawful Power alfo commanded to be done, are called *fuch. * If you take tbingt lawful in the former Senle, we deny your Major. If you * take things lawful in the later Senfe, we deny your Mmor. Oppon. h Rom. 14. I, 2, ;. and ij. i. The Apoftk by the Holy Ghofi fpeaking of things lawful and not commanded, yet being him/elf a Chtircb'Governor, commandeth them not, but requiretb even Church-Governors as well as others to receive the DiJJenters and forbear them, and not to make thefe the matter of Cenfure or Contempt. Ergo, thi Minor (or Confeijuence) u good. * Reff. we anfwer four things : i. We deny the Confequence of the Enthy- * meme» ' 2. Our Difcourfe proceeding wholly about things lawful and commanded by a ' lawful Power, they profels to proceed only upon things lawful and not com- ' manded by a lawful Power (in which Senfe only of things lawful, and not ' commanded alfo, we denied yonr Major ) : For they that prove the Major, which * was not denied by us but in (uch a Senfe, profefs to proceed in that Senfe. * ;. Rom. 14. 1,2, 3. fpeaks of things lawful and not commanded by your Ac- * knowledgment : And we all along have profefled to debate about things lawful ' and alfo commanded. So that the Text brought by you, is manifeftly not to the f purpole of this debate. * 4. To receive them in Rom. 14. is not forthwith to be underftood of immediately * receiving to the holy Communion : And for this Reafon again that Text makes f nothing to prove for their receiving to the holy Communion. § 221. When this Anfwer was given in, it was almolt Night, and the Company brake up : And becaufe I perceived that it was hard (efpecially among fuch Diftur- bances) to reduce all in a moral Subjeft (that muft have many Words) to an exad Syllogiftical Form to the laft, without Confufion ; and that the only Advantage they could hope for was to trifle pedantically about the Form of Arguments, I re- fblved to imitate them in their laft Anfwer, and to take the Liberty of more (ex- plicatory) Words. § 222. The next day I brought in our Reply to their Anfwer at large, as here followeth. Oppon. 7he Syllogifms neceffarily growing fo lung, as that the Farts denied cannot be f«t verbatim into the Conclufions, -without offence to thoje that are loath to read that which u pedantick and objcure, we mufi contrail the Senfe, and divide our Proofs. Tit Stnje of your Anfwer to the hypothetical Syllogifm was. That if we jpeak of things lawful and not commanded, then you deny [that tbofethat we mujl deny Communion to are fucb as the Holy Ghofi commandeth us to receive, though thofe were fuch that are dejcribed in the Antecedent \. But tf we mean Juch lawful things as are commanded by lawful Tower, then you [^deny that thefe are fuch as the Holy Gho/l ricjuireth m to receive. -To take away this Anfwer- If your Vifiintlion be frivolous or fallacious, as ap- plied by you m your Anfwer, and one Branch of it, but a begging of the Quefiton, Then your Anjwer is vam, and our Argument fiandeth good. But the Antecedent u true : Er- go, fo u the Confequence. I. It is frivolous and oblcure, and rather making than removing ambiguity, and ergo ufelels. I. 7f M obfcure : For we know not whether you mean [commanded Jimply Tinth- out any Penalty'] or [commanded with the enforcement of a Penalty] : [ tf the latter^ ■whether you mean tt of [a Command with Juch a Penalty at we fpeak agamfi'] or [fame other Penalty]. And whether you mean [commanded by fucb as have a Lawful Power ad hoc3 or [only ad aliud.J Tour dijltntlion mufi necejjarily be dijhngutjlied of before it can be pertinent, and applied to our Cafe : Ergo, tt ts frivolous through ob- fcurity. If you fpeak of a Command without Penalty, or with no other Penalty than fucb as is «»/ii/?«»c i/zifA [Receiving, not delpifing, not Judging, and all the indulgence men- tioned ia the Text then your very DifimUtan granteth us the Caufe. But if you fpeak cf [a Command with fuch Penalty as is tnconfijhnt with the (aid Receiving and other In- dulgences j thtn this Branch of your Dijfinction as applied by you Refp. 2. u but the beg- ging of the Quefiton, tt being luch Commanding that we are proving to be forbidden hy the Text — ■ If there be no Power that may command juch things any farther than ?nay fiand with the Rueption and other Indulgences of the Te: fufion, fliall come laft after our next Reply, § 224. The next day Dr. Gunning brought in a large Difcourfe, in anfwer to Oilf lafl Reply. His Anfwer it lelf was tull of infulting Words, Specially becaufe I ufed the Words [begging the Quellton'] (though (ufficiently explained) as applied to cheni rhat were Reipondencs. I told them that I confeffed it was not an uliial Speech, but I thought it not untie i and that when the Refpohdent wiii needs have the thing qaefticai!^ queftioned to be put into the SuhjeB as-paft-dilputeji-wiHGh Ihould be in the Prf<^t- iat'e, and To would foreftall the Opponents'proof, it !s;ndt unfitly CAWid a begging of the quefiion : But for this I was indiffereni c. They fhonld have it other Terms if they pleafed, it being a Matter that our Gaufe is not concerned in. I took Dr. Gumivgs Pip&v Home, attd brought them an Anfever the next day we met; and though I took not a Copy of his Paper, for want of lime (and he would not lend it m^ after) yet you^wray lee the Sum and Sence trf all his Aniwer in the following Re- gly, (whiciv «5 the former, my Brethren read over and approved of ). ■.>.;;j,io yi.. V 1-^ ,-. .:.\t; -_,-.\: .... . , - . '-- . ,., /-V. The REPLY to the Bijhops Difintants , rphich voa$ not ViV, ■y .-.^r, V. ,. ■ WHettier.it fee our Arguing or your Anfwering that is laxe\ SklSmatory, pc «*^vv And then our next work muft be to fliew you,that indeed your Diftin(ftion is ufe- lels as to the fhaking of our Argument. The latter branch of your Diftindion [ // wi Jpeak of things lawful and commanded'] you apply to the denial of our Antece- dent, or Minor, which we prove ftands good, notwithftanding this your Anfwer. ^ndeed we fpeak of [/y&/«^i lawful as fuch] abftra6ling from command: But weipeak of. things which materially were partly not commanded , and partly commanded: It was 7jot commanded to eat or not eat the Meats in queftion, to keep the Days or not keep them : In thefe they went againft no Law : But to be weak in the Faith, and er roneoufly to take things lawful to be unlawful, and things indifferent to be neceffary ^ and to offend a Brother by the ufe of Liberty on the other fide, were againlf the Commands of God. Now the Scope of our Argument was to (hew , that if you f^Dcak of [a command upon the penalty of the quefiion] your Diftindtion helps you not to /bake our Argument, becaufe as it is true that the Text fpeaketh not of things ly\ and lay, that elle we do but trifle. We reply ; that by adding your own words, and then perfwading us to own them left we trillo , you do worii than trifle^ and your P A R T 11. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 355 your grofs injuftice hath no fair pretence, being againft the Light of our Conclu- sion and Undertaiiing ; we were but to prove that there was no fich difpaiity/i. e. that thi fault of thole that kneel notj was not gieater,and io mu;!i greater as rArghc warrant your penalty: Therefore as you will acknowledge kneeling at the Sacra- ment to be immediately but the command of Mm, and -weakm'^ of Faith, Errour, Cetifurmg, &c. to be immediately againft a command of God, fwhich yet we fp)ke* ot but tor juft denomination, and not to prove a difpai ity to our advantage), i\) if we prove nodifparity againft us, wc do what we imdertake : And that a Sin againft the command of God immediately, is as well worthy of Punilhmenc as a Sia a- gainft the command of Man immediately caterts fanbus is true, and all that we affirmed, and all that we were bound to prove. Yet you importune us to antweryou a Queftion , [^Whether is not the Erroneous re- , fufing of lawful things commanded by lawful Authority, as finful, the refufing of things as Jin ful that were not to he fo refufcd?] We Anfwer you , i. But with them and you it is the Thing in Controverlis, Whether they are lawful Things, or not ? 2.1f they be, What then ? Why you fay, [if fit then even according to your own reafor.irg, :f you reafon at aU, thefe Refufcrs to kneel Jin agatnfi God, and the Rule your fhcs lay doun thereof, ai weli, as thofe Rom. 14.] And what then ? Is there the'relbre a D'Jpanty be- caufe they do alike ? Are fuch as thefe the occafions of your infulting ? VVe /hill thenfiif'ped you have fome grofs Milfake, whenever we fitid you thus infulting. But you fay [That E' go we didfallacioujly injinuate the one to break the Comma7}d uf God, and the other to break the Command of Men^. But really, is it not fb ? If you al- low not theDifHndion inter Leges Divinat df Humanas, you know how fingularyoa are, and what Confequences will follow: If you do, why may we not uf^ iach Denominations ? But yt u fay of thefinfulnels [ft is mo[i e-videmly common to the for- mer with the latter7\ I. If the Controverfiebeyielded you it is 16. 2. And what then ? becaule it is common. Ergo there is fuch a Dijparity as may warrant your grievous penalty. We only prove no fuch Difparity , and we are notably confu- ted, by your proof that the Sinfulnefs^ is common, that is , by yielding what we prove. Next in many words you tell us of a Disparity, i. Becaufe in our Caje kneeling is commanded. 2. Becaufe the things are antecedently helps to piety. To which we have before anfwered : i.God h^xh forbidden all Commands of fuch things, inconfiftenc with the Reception and Forbearance in queftion. 2. Their Sia of Weaknels in Faith, and Errour, were alfo againft Commands. 3. We ihall fhew greater Rea- Ibns of Delparity on the other fide. 4. The thing in queftion (Kneelingj hath no- thing antecedent to the Command to make the refufal of it finful , no nor meet than other Geftures. Of which after. To your third Anfwer we reply ed, [ If Rom. 14. & i f. Jpeak of things lawful ^ and no further commanded than may confijt with \_ Receiving and Forbearing"], forbidding finy other commanding of fuch things, then the Text is mojl pertinent to prove that there ought to be no fuch Commands , and that they are finful ]. But the Antecedent is true : Ergo Here you tell us of manifefi fallacy, of advantageoM Eijuivocation, or elie 3. groSIg' noratie Elencht in the Conclufion ; words eafie to be utceied by you. But if you will (_ profefi all along, as you fiy, to proceed or debate only of things lawful and commanded hy lawful power"] that \s, lawfully, when our very Queftion is, IVhtther fuch things can be fo commanded? and we are proving that they cannot, and you will call it an ignora- tioElenchi, il we will not grant you all in queftion, but will endeavour to prove the contrai^ to what you would have granted, this is that which we before called even the Refpondents begging of the Queftion, when he accufeth the Opponent for pro- ving what he dcnieth, and would put that into the Subjeil as not to be queftioned • which is in the Predicate, and we are difproving. 2. And remember that in your firft Paper we were not cailed to difpute the Parity or Dtjpanty of the Offences : Ergo by iJuch things ] we mean l Juch things ] as are mentioned Rom. 14 ,& i y. And our Conclullon there goeth no further ; that Matter being further to be carried on in its proper place. To your fourth Anfwer we rep'.yed. That ^immediately "] was no Term in our Qieftion : You fay you may diftinguilh: True j but you cannot bind us to prove that the Men that we prove are to be received to Communion, niuft bj immediately received j wlu-n we never affirmed it ; as long as you teil us not whether you fpeak Je immediatio'ietemports, vel conditienis, vel flatus, or what you mean by immediate- ly : Ifi regard of Time, no Man in the Church is itnmediacely to be received to the Sasrameat, till the very time come. Z z 2. W« 354 The LIFE of the Lib. 1. 2. We Argued, \jfthe Holy Ghofi command the receiving of Men to that Church Com. munion in general without exception, whereof the Commanion in ike Holy SacrarKent is a nio[t eminent fart, then he thereby commandeth the receiving them to the Communion m the Sacrament. But, &c. Ergo, Scc. Your Anlwer fignitiech chac ic is a receiving firlt to InHruBion, and not to the Sacrament, till (bme Change be made, you tell us not what, or that it isluch a Receiving as may confilt with denying them the Com- munion. We Ihall now therefore prove in order thefe two Propofuions^ which are to be next proved. 1. That the Reception that P^a/fpeaketh of, is fuch as is not confiflent with de- nial of the Sacrament for thofe faults. 2. That there is no fuch Difparity between their Faults and thofe that refufe to kneel at the Sacrament, as may warrant your Difparity of Penalty orUfage. The firft we {hall prove, i. From the Text before us ; 2. By other Scriptures; 3. By Teftimony of Expofiters, efpecially thofe of your own way in other Things. 1. So to receive one another as Chrifl received us to the Glory of God the Fa- ther,and this not to doubtful Difputation, (or not to judge their doubtful ThoughtsJ and not to defpile or judge one another, but to take each other for fuch as do what we do to the Lord, and let every Man be fully perfwaded in his own Mind ; and fo as to diflinguifii the Points that we differ about from thole in which God's Kingdom doth confiil:, in which whofoever ferveth Chrilt is acceptable to God, and fliould be approved of Men , and fo as to follow the things that edifie and make for Peace, and not Ijy a (tumbling block or occalion of falling in our Bro- ther's way, or deflroy him by the uncharitable ufe of cur Liberty , knowing it is Sin to him that efleemeth it Sin ; but to forbear our felves to ule thole things in Controverfie whereby our Brother (tumblcth or is offended , becaufe he is damned if he ufe them doubtingly ; and therefore to have the belief of their lawfulnels to our felves before God, and to bear with the Infirmities of the Weak, and pleafe them to their Eificatlon, and not to pleafe our felves, that lb being like-minded one towards another, that with one mind and one mouth we may glorifie God : We fay. Thus to receive is not confiflent with the denial of Communion in the Sacrament for thofe Faults, But fuch was the Rcceivi:;g required by the Apoftle Rom. 14. &i). — Ergo He that can ferioufly ponder all thefe Expreffions, and the Scope of the Holy Ghoft, and yet can believe that all this Receiving is but fuch as confifteth with fo! bidding them Communion in the Lord's Supper, which then was lb great a part of the daily Communion of the Church, and alio may confiif with the further Procefs againfl People and Minifters to Excommunication, and Prohibition to preach the Gofpel, which is now pleaded for in our Cale, is of fo llrange a tem- perature of Underllantiing, as that we can have little hope by any Scripture- Evi- dence to convince him. 2. When the Holy Ghoft requireth Men in general to receive others as Church- Members into Church-Communion, with the AfTeftion and Tendernefs here ex- prefled, and doth not except any ordinary part of Church-Communion , it is not lawful for us to interpret it of fuch a Receiving as excludeth the principal part of ordinay Church-Communion. But in Rom. 14. & 1 y. the Holy Ghoft requireth Men in general to receive o- tbSrs as Church- Members in;o Church -Communion with the Affedion and Ten- dernefs here expreffed, and doth not except any ordinary part of Church Commu- nipiiv Ergo it is not lawful fir us to interpret it of fuch a Receiving as excludeth the principal part of Ordinary Communion. The Reafbn of the Major is, Becaufe as the whole containeth all the parts, (b when the whole or general is commanded, if Men may take liberty to except the very principal part where the Law doth not except it, then no Commands can be intelligible,or fuch Interpreters may have liberty to make void the law at their own pleafure. As when ic is laid ^Honour the Ktng'] and Ln tvery Soul he fubjeil to the Higher Powers^ and [not refill] d^c. if Men inay take libeity by interpreting, to except the very principal part cf Honour, and the principal perfbns from Subje- ~:tiJi.Cclmv, A.&S 1S.26. Sc zS. 2. Ecclefia enim Domini comparatur [u- pra 1 1. 2 J. Jumitur hac admonitio ex iis qua deCbrifio qitaditia Matth. 12. 20. 2 ToUrandi junt ij qui ab omnibus animatis ahflinenilum putant, quod quidam facie- bant Religione qi'.adam' ■ ■ Cap. i j. 6, 7. "iva o^'i-jj/.a/ov c» hi <^iml 77 Jh^di^ifli t dsJc] id ejiyUt cum Deum laudatis^ eique preces Junditis, facialis id nett tantum eodem verborum jam — fed & animo plena mutuadekBionis, fine contemptu , fine odio. Habes have vocem cfM^fju/jfov, Ad. 1 1. 46. ubi forma efi Ecclefia perfeitijfima. Adde adejtts 'vocis expHca- tianem id quod efi Ad. 4. 32. Call which includeth Communion in the Eucharift ) ■ i ^,.,, 'V.J. Nalite oh res tales, alii alios kjraternitate abjci?:dere § 225-. This Paper was given in the very laft day of our Commiffion and Di- Ipute : And Dr. Gunning read another which he had prepared for an Iniultation at our Diliniffion, which Paper had fome Miftakes in it, and the Citation of many WitnelTes, who ( as he would have perfwaded us) took the word [Recd'ving'] Rom. 14. Sc I J. as not meaning or including, Receiving to the Holy Communion in the Sacrament. § 226. In the beginning he affirmed that we had refufed roDifputo, till theyh-.d promiled to take their turn, and prove the lawfulneli of their Impofitions. To this I anfwercd. That it was contrary to our open and frequent Proteffion, that we would do our part whether they would do theirs or not ; only I faid, that if they refufed it, we fhould take it for a deferting of their Caufe. This he a while denied : i Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. ' ^^^ I appealed to the Auditors of bis; Party j and th«y giv^, im Aijlyy^r i Dfr S'^es -"""'^ witneffed it, Dr. Jacomb offered his Oath of ir. He told thein that they -.iMfej e Parties. By this timel law mine Error, in giving way for their Dodiorsto crowd in to applgud them and witnefs for them, wheo we had none (or next taaone) of ours there, fuppofing by the Agreemwt thre^.cply muft have itayed. § 227. When Dr, Gunnmg had read his jnfulting Anfwer the day before, and made a great matter of my telling the Relpondent of \J>iggt?ig tht Queftion} diey put Dr. Sander jon, Bilhop of Lincoln, imo the Chiir,that his Learning and Gravity might put a Reputation upon his Sentence (he being a very worthy Man, but for that great Pievilhnefi, which Injuries, Partiality, Temperature and Age had caai-' — ,,ij tj^ led in him) : The Bilhop in a few angry Words pronounced that Dr. Gm»w;w^ had 'i l*>n^7) before our Reply to their Anfwcr to our Exceptions againil the Liturgy, which reciting their Corruptions, and lliewed their CJnpcaceablenels, offended but filencsd them. § 2;o. By this time the Evening of our Lait Day was far gone ; and I defired to know of them, whether we Ihould continue our Difpute any further, as Private Men Voluntarily among our lelves ; for I had many more Arguments, which I delired b;fore to have read all at once, but could not be permitted : Or whether they would receive my Arguments, and the Reply which I hft read. Dr. Pierfoft refolved that he would meddle no more after that Night. Bifhop Morley (aid, he thought it unfit when tihe King's Commiffion was expired tb^t we ihould meddle in it any farther. But Dr. Gunning and I had fo much mind to it, (for I knew that almoll all my Arguments were yet behind, and it was a Caufe that might eafiiy be made very plain) that I told him, I would venture on the Danger for the Love of Charity and Peace, and he agreed that I Ihould fend him in all my Arguments, with the lalt Reply (which he had not anfwered) the next Day. §251. Lafilf, 1 defired Bifhop Morley to refblve us what Account we were jointly to give his Majeily of our Proceedings, that we might not wrong each other ; And fc^ his and tlieir Confent it was agreed on, that we give nothing in our Ac- count to the King as charged on one another, but what is delivered in by the party in Writing : And that all our account was to be this. That we were all agreed on the Ends, for the Churches Welfare, Unity, and Peace, and his M^jefty's Happi- nefi and Contentment, but after all our Debates, were dilagreed of the means. And this was the End of that Afferobly and Commiffion. § 232AS foon as we were gone,I delivered my Papers to aScribe to be tranlcrib'd : And about Eight a Clock or Nine, juft as I was entring theDcor of roy Lodging, Dr. Gunning's MelTenger comes to me, to tell me, that upon further Confideiation, he Ihould receive no more Papers from me after that Day, and fo our farther trou- ble was prevented. 55§ IhaLIFEofthe L i b; Ii § 23 ;. In thelaft ptace, it's time that I give-yoff d Copy oi tbar Vifputauon j and this which folJoweth \sexai}, and aU. ' *n'0 h/I ; - .-jCi ♦• h [Oppon. (Dr. Tierfon, Dr. Gunning, Dr. Sparrow and Dr. P/erc?) *^ My Aflertion » Here we * is. Nothing contained in the Liturgy is finful*. hadagrcat ' This general Aflertion I am ready to make good in all Particulars, in which Debate < our Brethren Ihall chink fit to charge the Liturgy with Sinfulnefs. J|^'^>,, ' And becaufe our Brethren have as yet by way of Difputation, charged no a- havepro- ' ^^^^^ P^''^ o* ^^ ^'^*^ ^^^ Imputation of Sinfulnefs, but that which concerneth ved their ' kneeling at the Communion, therefore my firft AfTertion as to that particular is penal Im- < this. ! : ( fi Po^^'°" 'The Command contained in the Liturgy concerning kneeling at the Commu- I could get * nJon is not Sinful. This Truth I am ready to prove by feveral Arguments. them to no ' Firfi, This only Command [The Minifter fljall deliver the Communion to the more. ' People in their Hands kneeling] is not finful. ' The command contained in the Liturgy concerning kneeling at the Communir * on, is this only Command [The Minifter, &c^ * Ergo, The Command contained in the Liturgy, concerning kneeling at the ' Communion, is not fmful. Refp. Negatur Major. * Oppon. ?rob. Major. That Command which commandeth only an AA in it felf ' lawtul, is not finful. * This only Command [The Minifter fhall deliver the Communion to the Peo- ' pie in their Hands kneeling] commandeth only an Ad in it lelf lawful ' * Ergo, this only command [The Minifter fhall deliver the Communion to the ' People in their Hands kneeling] is not finful. Rej^. Nfgantur Major, & Minor. 'Oppon. Preb. Major — That Command which commandeth an AA in it felf law- ' ful, and no other Ad or Circumftance unlawful, is not finful. ' That Command which commandeth only an Act in it felf lawful, commands ' an Ad in it felf lawful, and no other Ad or Circumftance unlawful • ' Ergo — That Command which commandeth only an Ad in it felf lawful, is not ' finful. Refp. Wc deny the Major^ and (for brevity) give a double Reafon of our Denial. One is, becaufs that may be a Sin per accidens, which is not lb in it (elf, and may be unlawfully commanded, though that Accident be not in the Command. Another is. That it may be commanded under an unjuft Penalty, 2. We deny the Almor for both the fame Realbns. ' Oppo7>. Trcb. Minor. The delivery of the Communion to Perfons kneeling, is ' An Ad in ic felf lawful. ' This only Command [The Minifter fhall deliver the Communion to the Peo- ' pic in their Hands kneeling] commandeth only the delivery of the Communion ' to Perfons kneeling. ' Ergo, This only Command [The Minifter, &€."] commandeth only an Ad in ' it letf lawful. Rejp. We diftinguifh of [delivering to Perfons kneeling] it fignifieth either ex- clufiveiy [to thole and no other] ; or not exclufively as to others ; In the firft Senle we deny the Major j in the lecond Senle we deny the Minor. ' Oppon. You deny both our Propofitions for two Realbns, both the fame : We *makegood both our Propofitions, notwithftanding both your Realbns. ' The Major firft. ' That Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and no other Ad ' whereby any unjuft Penalties enjoined, nor any Circumftance whence diredly * or per accidem any Sin is confequent, which the Commander ought to provide ' againft is not finful. ' That Command which commandeth an Ad in it lelf Lawful, and no other * Ad or Circumftance unlawful, commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and no other * Ad whereby any unjuft Penalty is enjoined, nor any Circumftance, whence di- ' redly or per acctdens any Sin is conlequent, which the Commander ought to pro- * vide againft * Ergo, Tiut Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and no ' other Ad or Circumftance unlawful, is not finful. Re^. P A R T 11. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 35^ Refp. I. The Propofnion denied is not in the Conclufion *. * This was 2. The Major is denied ; becaufe the firH Aii commanded may be fer Accidem a m|ftjke unlawful^ and be commanded by an unjuft Penalty, though no other Ad or Cir- ^"^^'^^^^j. cumftance be fuch. . i\xe Scribci ' OppoH. The Minor next. < That Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, ahd no other ' Ad whereby any unjuft Penalty is enjoincdj nor any Circumftance whence di- ' redly or fer Acddens any Sin is conlequent, which the Commander ought tb * provide againft, commands an Ad in it lelf lawful, and no other Ad or Circum- ' Itance unlawful. * That Command which commands only an Ad in it felf lawful, commandeth * an Ad in it felf Lawful, and no other Ad whereby any unjuft Penalty is enjoined, * nor any Circumftance, whence diredly and fer accidetis any Sin is conlequent, ' which the Commander ought to provide againft 'Ergo^ That Command which commands only an Ad in it felf lawful, com- 'mands an Ad in it felf lawful, and no other Ad or Circumftance unlaw- *ful. * We prove our Major notwithftanding your Realbn alledged. * That Command which hath in it all things requifite to the lawfalnefi of a * Command, and particularly cannot be guilty of commanding an Ad per accident * unlawful, nor of commanding an Ad under an unjuft Penalty, is not linful, not- ' withrtanding your Reafon alledged * That Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and no other * Ad whereby any unjuft Penalty is enjoined, nor any Circumftance whence di- * redly or per acctdens any Sin is confequent, which the Commander ought to pro- * vide againft, hath in it all things requifite to the lawfulncis of a Command, and * particularly cannot be guilty of commanding an Ad per acctdens unlawful ; nor of * commanding an Ad under an unjuft Penalty—— * Ergo, That Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and no * other Ad whereby any unjuft Penalty is enjoined, nor any Circumftance whence * diredly or per acctdens any Sin is confequent, which the Commander ought to * provide againft, is not finful notwithftanding your Reafons alledged. Kejp. The Minor is denied upon the fame Reafons j which you do nothing to remove : Such a Command hath not in it all things requifite to the lawfulnefs of a Command ; becaufe though no other JB be commanded whereby an unjult Penal- ty is enjoined, yet ftill the firfi AB may be commanded fub Toena injujta ; And though no other Ad or Circumftance be commanded that is a Sin per acctdens, yet the firji it /f/f commanded, may be a Sin per acctdens. ' Oppon. Either our Minor is true notwithftanding your Realbn, or elie the firft * Ad may be a Command commanding an unjuft Punifhment, and be an Ad'lawful j * or the firft Ad it felf being lawful in it felf and all Circumftances, may yet be a * Sin per Acctdens, againft: which the Commander ought to provide. * Pojtcrtus tttrumtjtie falfum ; both the later Members are falf&rs-ft-r- Ergo, trim * verum — Therefore the firft is true. Refj>. I. Neg. Major. Becaufe i. TheSubjed is changed : You were to havcfpo- ken of the firfi Act commanded, and you fpeak of the fvrsi AB commanding, in the firii Member. You rtiould have faid, [Elfe the firft k&. may be commanded Jub Pet- nn injujta, and yet be in it felf lawful ] which is true. 2. becaule in the fecond Member where you fliould have fpoken only of the commanded Ctrcumfianees oi the Ad, you now fpeak of all its Circumftances whe- ther commanded or not. 3. We undertook not to give you ai/ our Reafons : The Minor may be faUeupon many other Reafons. ■' And were your Major reduced in the Points excepted againft, we fhould deny the Minor, as to both Members. And we ftiould add our Reafons. - I. That Command which commandeth an Ad in it felf lawful, and only fuch, may yet -be finful prtvdti-vely, by omijfion of feme thing necelTary, fome Mode or Circutnlfaiice. 2. k may finfnlly reftrain, though it finfuUy command not. ;. Ic niay hz finful in Alodis commanding that univerfal!/, or indefenitely, orparti- eufarlj, or jingxlarly, that Ihould be otherwifs ; though in the Circumftances (pro- perly fo called) of the Ad, nothing were Commanded that is finful. 4. k 3^0 The LIFE of the L i b. I, 4. It may through culpable Ignorance be applied to undue Subjeils who are not Ctrcumfiances ; as if a People that have the Plague be commanded to keep Affemblies for Worfhip ; the Lawgiver being culpably ignorant that they had the Plague. Ma- ny more Reafbns may be given. ' Ofpon. We make good our Major by (hewing that the Subjed is not changed, ' thus. ' If whenfoever the firft K&. 5s commanded fub Pcena inju[ia, and no other Ad: is ' commanded whereby any unjult Penalty is enjoined (which were your Words) * the firft kSt commanding muft command an unjuft Puniiliment (which were ' ours) then we have not changed the Subjed ' But the Antecedent is true ; therefore the Confequent. § 234. Thus, Reader, thou haft every Word that was brought by them in this Dilputation, to prove the juftnels of all thofe Impofitions on pain of Excommuni- cation (which infers Imprilbnment, &c.) which have divided this mi(erable bleed- ing Church, and will admit of no Remedy, nor patiently endure him that fhall propose it, or beg for Peace and Charity at their Hands. § 235". The other Arguments which I offered (and they were not accepted or read) were thefe following. In which you muft note that all thefe Arguments were but propofed thus briefly, and not followed up, becauie it was expeded that they ihould have called us to that. And that this Writing was but begun, and many- more Scripture Texts and Arguments omitted, for want of time, and by the Inter- ruption of our Difputation. And concerning the foregoing Reply to Dr. Gunning about the Senfe of Rom. 14. Note, that as 1 was purpofing to have added a multi-' tude of Teflimonies more, to thofe of Dr. Hammond and Grotim.^ the ending of our Difputation did prevent me, and ever fince then I caft by all fuch Thoughts as thefe, foreieeing that now (when they would not endure the means of Peace) my Duty would henceforth lye on the other fide, to plead other Men into true and moderate Thoughts of things indifferent, and Obedience, fb far as the Unity and Peace of the Church required it, and the matters impofed were not finfbl to the Doers, though they might be finful to the Impofers. I knew that henceforth I fhould be as much exercifcd in moderating thofe for whom I had now pleaded, and muft bear fbme ccnfure alfo from many of them. Qatft. Jihs ther it be jufl (or lawful) to enjoin aU Minijlers to deny Communion t» all that dure not kaeelinthe Reception of the Sacrament on the Lord's Dajs? Neg. Becaufe you will needs caft all the Opponent's Work on us, by arguing that we have brought no fufficient Reafons for the contrary (appealing to all Men acquaint- ed with the ju(f Method of Difputation, whether you that have the affirmative, do not hereby fly all juft and equal Difpute, and fhew a Diffidence, of your Caufe) we that have the negative fhall more jufHy by the fame method, caft back your proper Work upon you. If it be juft (or lawful) to enjoin all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament on the Lord's Days, then fome cogent Argument may be drawn from the Nature of the thing, or fupernatural Re- velation, to juftify it. But no Argument can be drawn (for ouglit that ever was yet by the Right Reve- rend Fathers, or Reverend Brethren produced or manifefted to us, or we can tell whereto find, or how to invent) fioni the Nature of the thing, or from fuper- uatural Revelation, to juftify it. Ergo, it is not juft, &c. • If any fuch Argument can be produced, let it be produced, or you forfake your Caufe. (Note thatthis was written before they yielded to be Opponents.) I. Our firff Argument drawn from general Councils, and the Pradice of the Univerfd Church, we handled already : and are ready to bring in fuller Proof. II. And our fecond Argument from Rom. 14, and 15. where the Cafe is purpofc- ly and largely decided, that things of fuch Moment miiftnot be made the matter of Cenlures Rejedions, or Contempt. III. To inpols on the Church things antecedently unnecefTary upon lb great a Penalty as Exclufion from Communion, is a linful thing. But to enjoin all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Jleception cf the Sacrament (for Fear of Idolatry or Scandal) is to impole on the Church Part II. Reverend Mr. Rkhard Baxter. ; 3 ^ i Church things antecedently unneeeif4ry,upon fo great a Penalty as Exclufion fixarxi the Communion. ; :> ^ -,! ,53n>l wn :. ; ! • ;: !;x; > jflin Ergo to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Comraiunion to all that dare not kpeoliri the Reception of the Sacrament is a finful thing. The Major is proved thus : Thai which is contrary to the exprefs Determination of the Holy Ghoft, JHs i j. is a finful thing. But to Impofe onthe Church'Things antecedently unneceffary, upon To great a Penahy as Exclufion from Communion, is contrary to the expreft Dejoermiiiarian oftbeHoly Ghoft^ uiils, 15. 28. ]^^or u feemed gooJ to the Holy Gbofi andt^itUi^4o lay upon you no greater burden than thefe necejjizry things'] : Ergo ic isa^linful thing;: ;li) IM. To croft thjt^peat RBkioCffllarity [^LuiiS-luve -Mriy uud mt 'fiacr^jee^is'-a. Sin. - - ' -.--i ..-'.iJ oj "i;! w .^isi.n ciu'oJ' - ■!! *^«.,<"i • .-.'•..> ^bimi Bu^&3 enjoyn all Miriifters to deny Communion to all that dare pot kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, is to^qrols that great Rule of Cliarityj &c. Ergoit is a. Sin. u iii'l Lnx. s.'o';. :o i.dii'L'n :iOi.'^;. '. . ijjkl;:; xI iL The Major is certain, Chrift. himftlf urging it twice upontheCeremcMiiou^ihy- pocritical Eharifees, Aforf^.9.i;.C^ 12.7. ' "•'- » The Minor is thus proved. To prefer Sacrifice before Mercy (yea, an u»nicef- iar.y Ceremony before Sacrificeand Mercy) is aciofftng of ^t hat Rule. ; But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel ih the Reoeipinion of the Sacrament isto prefer Sacrifice before Mercy, fyea, an unricGbSa- .Ty Ceremony before Sacrifice and- Mercy :) tEr^o it is a croffing of thit •Aule." ^ - - - . ' ■ '-.■-■- The Major I fuppole will not be denied : The Minor is thus proved 1 Y.'"- •' 1. To prefer this genuflexion in the Reception of the Sacrament, before ouf>Bt'^- threns Communion with Chrift and his Church in the Sacrament, and befone-their corroboration and confolation thereby,and before the preaching of the Gofjiel by all thole Minifters that wi^lbe berowpdjB (*i4 by^evea ^vfeenmany Thoulands among us are in grols ignorance for wane of means, and confequently before the Salvation of very many, and the' Worflilp bf God by the Excluded, is to prefer Sacrifice' be- £ais Mercy, yea, an unaeceirary Ceremony before Sacrifice and Mercy. But to enjoyn all Minilters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of theSacrament, is to 'pefer this Genuflexion before all thefe things : £rg^ It -is to prefer 6aoi;ifice before Mercy J yea, an wnneceffary Ceremony ^ before Sacd/ice and Mercy. ....]/. v : i ft'\\-i:ll be. .; iJ i?J.t, r. J.'.^ig 2. If the forbidding of D"t5 ■ ■'■ ''vi.taj ., V. To ufe the Power tbT)eftru>ftion which isi^vehi'tote ufcd to; Edification, 4s ■unjuJh ■' ■' • '■ .'. cLt, :.; ■.' ..' JButto enjoyn all Minilters to deny thejCommunion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, is to ufe the Power to Deftrudtion which is given to be ufed to Edification. ■ -' ■ i^ ' =''■ ' ^-. > ■ ' Ergo, To enjoyn all Minifters to deny the Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament,, is upjuft. : '. The Major is proved 2 Cor. 10. 8. c^ 13. 10. Rom. 1J.2. i Cor. 14. 26. Ro«»..i4. try, 20. :.'•'. vj : .,' i ■ •.:, . « • i k 'li '.>''. For the Minor Ifyil prove if, " r/ fts of the Deftrudion of thePeplbn,* 2, Of manyiochers; ;. Of the Church it felC .i: n;o[-\'j . I. To ufe this Powerito deprive many Thoulands of their Communion with Chrift and hieChurch in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, and confequent- ly of alfl the Benefits thereof, is to ufe it to the Deltrudion of thole Mens Souls. ' But to enjoyn all Minifters to dereyiCommunion t» all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, is to u(e this Power to deprive many Thoulands •of their Communion with Chrift and his Church, in the Sacrament of his Body A a a and 3^2 The LIFE of the~ L i b. I and Blood, and conlequently of all the Benefits thereof : Ergo to en joyn all Mi- nifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacra- ment, is to ufe this Power to the Deftrudiion of thole Souls. 2. To the Deftrudion of many others. II. To ufe this Power to deprive many Thoufand ignorant, ungodly People of the Labours of able faithful Minifters, when thofe People are like to have no competent Preachers of the Gofpel in their ftead,is to ufe this Power to theDeftru- dion of thofe many thoufand Souls. But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all thofe that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, is to ufe this Power to deprive many Thou- fand, &c. ■ Ergo it is to'ule this Power to their Deftrudion. It being fuppofed that it is not any Injunftion tngmtre, but theEnglifh Injundi- dn injpecie that is Ipoken of. The Minor is proved thus : If Tiich an Injundion will Silence a great number of able and faithful Minifters, while there are not competent Preachers of the Gofpel to fupply very many of their Places, then to enjoyn all, &c. is to ufe the Power to Deprive, e^c.—^ But the Antecedent is certain : Ergo, &c. Two notorious Evidences in Matter of Fad do fully prove the Antecedent : I. That there are a great number of able, faithful Minifters, whole Confciences do forbid them to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, though they fuffer Silencing for it : and that the Injundion doth Silence fand Imprifon them ) if they do not deny it them. 2. That there are very many Congregations in Wales and divers parts of England, where are Thou- fands of ignorant ungodly People, that even now have no competent Preachers, much lefs will there be enow when all thefe Minifters are turned out. 3. To the Deftrudion of the Church. III. I. To ule this Power to deprive the Church of a great number of her pious and exemplary Members, that are meet for her Communion, is to ule it to the Churches Deftrudion. But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel at the Reception oi the Sacrament, is to ufe this Power to Deprive the Church of a great number of her Pious and Exemplary Members, that are meet for her Com- munion. " Ergo, To enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Sacrament, is to ufe this Power to Deftrudion. 2. To ufe this Power to the certain and lamentable Divifion of the Church, is to ufe it to the Deftrudion of the Church. But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not kneel in the Reception of the Lord's Supper, is to ule this Power, to the certain and lamenta- bfe Divifion of the Church ; Ergo, To enjoyn all, &c. is to ufe this Power to the Deftrudion of the Church : The Major is undeniable : The Minor I prove thus 1. To divide by force (or conftraint) fo many Thoulands as dare not kneel in Receiving the Lord's Supper, from the reft, is to ufe this Power to the adual and lamentable Divifion of the Church. But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny them Communion , is to divide them by conftraint from the reft : Ergo, To enjoyn all, &c. is to ufe this power to the certain and lamentable Di- V i/ion of the Church. .-. . ■j i .w\'A 2. To maintain and exercife by this Power a Principle of Church Divifion, is to • ufe this Power to the certain and lamentable Divifion of the Church. But to enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not receive kneeling, is to maintain and exercife a Principle oi Church Divifion, (that is,luch as is of its own nature fitted to divide it, and will effed it). Ergo, To enjoyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not Re- ceive kneeling , is to ufe this Power to the certain and lamentable Divifion of the Church. The Minor ( which only needs proof ) I prove thus ; To T> P A R. T II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter, 3 5 To mainrain and exercife this Principle ; That [ Things as unneceflary, (mall and doubtful, as kneeling jn the Reception of the Sacrament of the Lord's SuppsPj are to be made neceffary to the Communion of the Church] is to mair\jain and ex- ercife a Princrple of Church Divifion. But to en joyn all Minifters to deny Communion to all that dare not Receit^e kneeling, is to maintain and exercife this Principle, that [Things as unnecefiaryj fmall and doubtful, as kneeling in the Reception of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, ate to be madeneceflary to the Communion of the Church]. Ergo, To en joyn all, d^c. is to maintain and exercile a Principle of Church- Divilion. The Major fwhich only needs proofs is thus proved. To maintain and exercife fuch a Principle as , i. Never yet was exercifed, but it did divide the Churi^i ; z.anB by which its Divifions have been cauled or cherilhed ever fmce the Roman Ufuipation begun ; 3. and which cannot pcffibly ccnfiftwitli Unity whilft Chriliiansareof fuch different i. Educations, 2. and degrees of ISJ^a- tural Underftanding, 5. and degrees of Grace, is to maintain an4 exercife a Prin- ciple of Church Divifion. But to maintain and exercife this Principle [That Things as unneceffary, fmall and doubtful as kneeling in the Recaption of the Sacrament, are . to be made ne- ceflary tcthe Communion of the Church] is to maintain and exercife fuch a Prin- ciple, as I. never yet was exercifed but it did divide, c^c. Ergo • And thus our Difpute at the Savoy ended, and with it our Endeavours for Recon- ciliation upon the Warrant of the King's Commiflion. §236. Were it n§t a thing in which an Hiflorian fb much concerned in the bufmels is apt to be fufpecl:ed of partiality, I would here annex a Charadcr of each one that managed this bufinefs as they (hewed themfelves. But becaufe ic hath that inconvenience, I will omit it, only telling you what fart each one of them adcd in all this Work. •• The Biftop of £o»^tf« (fince Archbifhop of C told you, and cime but once or twice in all. Bithop Morky was oft there, but not conftantiy, and with free and fluent words, with much earneffnefs, was the chief Speaker of all the Bilhops, and the greateft Interxupter of us j vehemently going on with what bethought ferviceabl^ljp his end, and bearing down Anfwers by the faid fervour and interruptions. Bifhop Co/Joj was there conftantly, and had a great deal of talk with fb little Logick. Natural or Artificial, that I perceived no one much moved by any thing he faid. But two Vertues he fhewed (though none took him for a Magician ) : One was, that he was excellently well verfed in Canons, CouKcils, and Fathers, which he reraembred, when by citing of any Paffages we tried him. The other was, that. as he was of a.Ruflick Wit and Carriage, fo he would endure more freedom of cur Difoourfe with him, and was more affable and familiar than the reff. Bifhop Hinchman (llnce Biihop of London ) was of the moft grave, comely, revere||d Afpe(ft,of any of them ; and of a good infight in the Fath^s and Councils, Ccjins znd he and Dr. Gunning being all chat fliewed any of that skill among us'confiderable: in which they arc all three of very laudable un- dcrflandings, and better than any other of either of the Parties that I met with: And Biihop Hinchman fjjake calmly and flowly, and not very oft : But was as high in his Principles and Refolutions as any of them. Biihop Sanderjon of Lincoln was fbme time there, but never fpake that 1 know of hut what I have told you before : But his great Learning and Worth are known by his Labours *, and his aged Peevifhnefs not unknown. * Since, at his death, he made it hi; rc(jueft that the ejefted Minifters miglit be ufed again : but his requefl -was rejefted by them that had overwit- icd hun, as being too late. Bifhop Gauden w>is our mofl conflant helper ; He and Bifhop Cofms feldom were ablent. And how bitter fbevor his Pen be, he was the only Moderator of .all the Bi- iiiops (except our Biihop Re^WJ^) : He iliewed no Logick , nor medled in any Dllpute, or foint of Learning j but a calm, fluent. Rhetorical Tongue : And if A a a 2 all 3^4 ~~ ^^^ LIFE of the L i b. I. m ■ ■ ■ — - - — - ■ — - ■ — — ■ — - — ^ . _ all had been of his mind, we had been reconciled : But when by many days Con- ference in the beginning, we had got feme moderating Conceflions from him (and from Bilhop Co^m by his means) the reft came in the end and brake them all. Bifliop Luck of St. Davids, fpake once or twice a few words calmly, and fo did Bifhop Nicholfm of Glocefier, and Biihop Griffiths of Jfapb (though no Commiffion- ers ) ; and did no more. Bimop King of Chichefitr I never faw there : Bifhop Warner of Rocbefler was there once or twice, but medlednot that I heard. Biihop Lany of Peterborough was twice or thrice there, and talked as is before recited ; for I remember no more. Bifhop Walton of Chefier was there once or twice, and Ipake but what is before recited, that 1 know of Biihop Sterne oi Carlijle, fince Archbifhop of Tori, was of a.mofl (bber, honeft, mortified Afped, but (pake nothing that I know of , but that weak uncharitable wqrd before mentioneti : fo that I was never more deceived by a Man's Face. Bi/hop ReignolJtCpakQ much the firft day for bringing them to Abatements and Moderation : And afterwards he late with them, and fpake now and then a word for Moderation. He was a folid honeft Man , but through mildnefs and excels of timerous reverence to great Men, altogether unfit to contend with them. Mr.Thorndtke fpake once a few impertinent paflionate words, confuting the O- pinion which we had received of him from his firft Writings, and confirming that which his fecond and laft Writings had given us of him. Dr. Earle, Dr. Heylin, and Dr. Barwtck never came. Dr. Hacket ( flnce Biihop of Coventry and Litchfield ) faid nothing to make us know any thing of him. Dr. Sparrow faid but little ; but that little was with a Spirit enough for the impofing dividing Caule. Dr. Pterfon and Dr. Gunning did all their Work (befide Bifhop Marky's Dilcour- fss) but with great difference in the manner. Dr. Pter/on was their true Logician and Difputant, without whom, as far as I could difcern, we Ihould have had no- thing from them,but Dr. Gunning's paflionate Invedives mixt \fith Ibme Argumen- tations: He difputed acurately, ibberly and calmly (being but once in anypafli- on)breeding in us agreatrelpeA for himjand a perfwafion that if l\e had been inde- pendent, he would have been for Peace, and that if all were in his power , it would have gone well : He was the ftrength and honour of that Caufe which we doubted whether he heartily maintained. Dr. Gunning was their forwardeft and greateft Speaker ; underftanding well what belonged to a Difputant ; a Man of greater Study and fnduftry than any of them, well read in Fathers and. Councils j and of a ready Tongue ; (and I hear and ijelieve of a very temperate Life, as to all Carnal ExcelTes whatfoever ) : but lb vehement for his high impofing Prineiples, and fo over- zealous for Arminia- nifm and Formality and Church Pomp, and fo very eager and fervent in his Difcourfe, that I conceive his Prejudice and Paffion much perverted his Judg- ment, and I am fure they made him lamentably overrun hirafelf in his Dif- courfes. Of Dr. Pierce I will fay no more, becaufe he hath faid fo much of me. On our part, Dr. Bates (pake very folidly , judicioufly and pertinendy when he fpjkc : And for my felf, the reafon why I fpakefo much, was becaufe it was the dcfire of my Brethren, and I was loth to expole them to tliq^iatred of the Bifhops , but was wiliinger to take it all upon my felt,they themfelves having fo much w'lt as to be therein more fparing and cautelous than I ; and I thought that the Da^ and Cauj'e commanded me thofe two things, which then were objeded .igainft me as my Crimes, viz.. fpeakmg too boldly, and too long. And I thought it a Caufe that I could comfortably fuffer for j and fhould as willingly be a Martyr for Charity as for Faith. § 2^7. When this Work was over, the refl of our Brethren met again, and re- folved to draw up an Account of our Endeavours, and prefent it to his Majefty, "Referring ^^"'^ °"'' Ps""^" for his promifed help yet for thofe Alterations and Abatements to ibmc- which wc could not procure ol" the Bilhops : And that firft we fhould acquaint the thinji that Lord Chancellour withal, and cnnfult with him about it. Which we did ; and as pjft be- fggf, 35 ^Q came to him, accprding to my expedation, I found him moft ofFend- fV^waml ^ ^' '^^' ^"'^ ^^^^ ' ^^^ t-<^tn off the diftafte and blame from all the reft. At me about our firft entrance he merily told us. [That tf 1 -were but as fat as Dr. Manton , -we inyicjn- jlwuhl all do well *'\. I told him, if his Lordlhip could teach me the Art of growing '^^h,i^c. far^ he Ihould find me not unwilling to learn,by any good means. He gtew more lerious, I - ■ ' - - .. ■ .-- ..--_■-. ■■ - . ■ . _- __ ^ , . . ^ ^ ^ ^ P A R. T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 3^5 — — , — — — — i ferious, and faid, That I was fevere and ftrift, like a Melancholy Man, and made thole things Sin which others did not : And I perceived he had been poflelTed with difplcafure towards me upon that account, that I charged the Church and Liturgy with Sin j and had not (iippofed that the worft was but imxfediency. I told him that I had Ipoken nothing but what I thought, and had given my Reafons for After other fuch DifcoutlCj we craved his Favour to procure the King's Declarati- on yet to be pad into an A6t, and his Advice what we had further to do. He confented that we Ihould draw up an Addrcls to his Majefty, rendering him an account of all ; but defired that we would firft fltew ic him : which we promi- fed. ^ § 238. When we fhewedour Paper to the Lord Chancellour C^ich the Bre- thren had defired me to draw up, and had conlented to without ai^RUeration) he was not pleafed with fome Paltages in it, which he thought too pungent or pref- fing : but would not bid us put them out. So we went with it to the Lord* Cham- berlain(who had heard from the Lord Chancellor about it^^and I read it to him al- io, and he was carneft with us to blot out fome Paffages as too vehement, and fiich' as would not well be born. I was very loth to leave them out, but Sir Gilbert Ger^ rard ('an ancient godly Man) being with him, and of the feme mind, I yielded (having no remedy, and being unmeet to oppofe their Wifdoms any further) ; And fo what they Scored under we left out, and prefented the reft to his Majefly after- wards. But when we came to prefent it, the Earl of Manchejter (ecretly told the reft,' that if Dr. ReignoUs, Dr. Bates, and Dr. Manton would deliver it, it would be the more acceptable ( intimating that I was grown unacceptable at Court ) : But they would not go without me, and he profeft he defired not my Exclufion : But when they told me of ir, I took my leave of him, and was going away : But he ^nd they came after me to the Stairs, and importuned me to retnrn,and I went with them to take ray Farewel of this Service. But I refolved that I would not be the Deliverer of any of our Papers ( though I had got them tranfcribed and brought them thither): So we defired Dr. Manton to deliver our Petition, and with it the fair Copies of all our Papers to the Bifhops C which was required of us for the King ). And when Bifiiop ReignoUs had fpoken a few words. Dr. Manton deliver- ed them to the King j who received them and the Petition, but did not bid us read it at all. At laft, in his Speeches, fomething fell in which Dr. Manton told him that the Petition gave him a full account of, if his Majefty pleafed to give him leave to read it ; whereupon he had leave to read it out. Theoccafion was, a ftiort . Speech which I made to inform his Majefty how far we were agreed with the Bi-^^-^"^'*" Ihops, and wherein the difference did not lye, as in the Points of Loyalty, Obe- moft of dience, Church-Order, &c. This Dr. Manton alfo fpake ; And the King put the this timp Queltion, [ But v/hojhall be Judge ?^ And I anfwered him. That Judgtmsnt isfick,or either puhlick or fri-vate : Pr/wrf Judgment called Dz/crfriowsr, which is but the u^e hj^j'^vvhieh of my Reaibn to conduct my Aftions, belongeth to every private rational Man : he had re- Vublick Judgment is Ecclefiaftical or Civil, and belongeth accordingly to the Eccle- cdved. fsafiical Governours (or Paftors) and the Civil j and not to any private Man. And this was the end of thefe Affairs. § 2;9. 1 will give you the Copy of the Petition juft as I drew it up, becaufe I .Here you may fee what thofe words were which could not be tolerated ; a.Becaule it is but fuppofing the under-fcored Lines to be blotted out, and you have it ^s it was prefented without any Alteration. Fov.thoic under Jcored Lines were all the words that were left out. To !^66 The L I f E of the L i Bv i- To the King's moft Excellent Majefty : The due Account and humble Petition- of us Minijiers of the Gojpel lately Cemmiffioned for the Kevierv and Alteration of the Liturgy, May it fkafejour Majefiy ; WHen tbffdiftenipered Nation, wearied wich its own Contentions and Di- vifionP^did groan for Unity and Peace, the wondeiful Providence of the moft Righteous God appearing for the removal of Impediments, their Eyes were upon your Majefty, as the Peribn born to be, under Godjthe Center of their Con- cord, and taught by Affliction to break the Bonds of the Afflicted , and by fixpe- 'rience of the fad Effeds of Mens Uncharitablenefs and Paffiohs, to reftrain all from Violence and Extremities, and keeping Moderation and Mediocrity , the Oyl of Charity and Peace. And when thele your Subjeds Defires were accom- plifiisd in youi* Majefty's peaceable pofTeffion of your Throne, it was the Joy and Encouragement of the Sober and Religious, that you began the Exercile of your Government with a Proclamation full of Chriftian Zeal againft Debauchery and Prophaneneli, declaring alfo your diflike of \J thofe who under pretence of affedi- * on to your Majefty and your Service, aflume to themfelves the liberty of Revi- ' ling, Threatning, and Reproaching others, to prevent that Reconciliation and * Union of Hearts and Affedions, which can only with God*s Bleffing make us re- ' Joyce in each other]. Onr Comforts alio were carried on by your Majefty's early "and ready Entertainment of Motions for Accommodation in thele Points of Difci- plJne and Worfliip in which we were difagread, and your profefled Reloiutions to draw us together by Mutual Approaches, and publifhing your Healing Declarati- on, which was received with the Thanks of your Hoafe of Commons, and the Applaufe of the People, and the fpecial Joy of thofe that longed tor Concord and Tranquility in the Church : In w^hich your Majefty declareth (b much Satisfadiion in the Foundations of Agreement already laid, as that you [ 'Ihould think your ' fjlf very unfortunate, and iuljjed: that vou are defediive in the Adminiftration of ' Government, if any Superftrudtures Itiould fhake thefe Foundations, and contract • *or leflen the blefled Gift of Charity, which is a Vital part of Chriftian Religi-. ''on.'J And as in the faid gracious Declaration, your Majefty refolved to [ * ap- * point an equal numbe^ of Learned Divine's of both Perf^afions to review the Li- * turg^ and to make fuch Alterations as (hall be thought moft neceftary, and fome * additional Forms ( in the Scripture Phrale as near as may be ) fuired unto the ' nature of the feveral parts of Worfliip; and that it be left to the Minifter's * choice, to ufe one or other at his Difcreticn ] ; (b in Accomplifliment thereof, your Majefty among others, direfted your CommiHion unto us for the review of . ' [the feveral DireAions , Rules, and Fornis of Prayer, and things in the faid Book * of Common Prayer contained ] ; and [ ' if occafion be, to make fuch realona- ' ble and neceft"ary Alterations, Corrections and Amendments therein , as by and * between us fnall be agreed lipon to be needftd or expedient for the giving of Sa- * tisfaclion to tender Conlciences, and the jeftoring and continuance of Peace and * Unity in the Churches under your Protedion and Government J and what we [ ' agree upon as needful or expedient to he done, for the altering, diminifh- ' ing or enlarging the faid Book of Common Prayer, or any part thereof, forthwith ' to certifie and pielentit in Writing] to yoUr Majedy. • In Oledicnce to this your Majefty's Commiffion, we met with the Right Reve- • rend Bilhops who required of us, that before any Perfonal Debates , we fhould ' [bring in Writing, all'our Exceptions againft the Book of Common Prayer, * and all tlie Additional Forms which we'defired ] : Both which we performed i and received from them an Anlwer to tlie tirft, and rcrurnt:d them cur full Re- ply : The laft Week of our time, being deiigned to Perl^al Conference, was at the Will of the Rfght^ Reverend Bifhops fj^ent in a particular Difpute by three of each parr, about the finfulnefs o\ one of the Injunftions , from which we defired to be free ; and in (bme other Confeience on the by. And though the Account whicli we are forced to give your Majeily of the Ilfue ofour Conlultations, is that, Ko Agreements are Sublcribed by us , to be offered your Majefty, according to your Expedaiion j- and though it be i;ono of ou intent to call the leaft unmeet Re- - fledions Part IL Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 3^7 fledions upon the Righc Reverend Bifhops and Learned Brethren who think not meet to yield to any confiderable Alterations to the Ends expreffed in )Our Maje- fty's Commiflion, yet wc muft fay^that it is feme quiet to our Minils thac we have not been guilty of your Majefty's and your Subjebuc inconfiderable ; and weikaow our felves that we are like thus too-flfend thofe that are not inconfiderable. Tifae Lord that fearcheth hearts, doth know that it is not fo muchthi avoiding olfSuSering to our felves or any particular Perfons^that is the end of our Endcavoursi (though th^s were no ambitious endj as the Peace and iWelFare of the Church aod JKuingdoms under your Majefty's Governinent : We know that,(uppofing them thaiaie.for the Ceremonies to be as pious and charitable as the reit, it cannot io much offeaid tham that another Man forbsareth «hiem, as i^? n^uft-ofFend that other to be forcdd to ufe them: and vvb know that cohfciencious Men will no: confent to the' pr^xStice of ; t-hings in their Judgments urria^ful , when thofe may yield tliat count the 'Mair ,-:;}ltersbut indiiferent.'^'' ^t' ^T^iqionn^i on nwo aw .,. ; iv'j luc^ (iosat : And for the managemeiitofMhisTreiaitiy^dlt) being agreed at our fii-ft meeting, tliat nodiing be rq)orted as-the^Words orSenc^of either Part, but wliat istiy them delivered in writing, we hiimblv Crave that your Majefty receive no raxire as ours^ and that where is (charged I on any particular- Perlon, he may be anJworahle for himfelf: And though the/Revermd BiJhop&iluve not had time to corifidec'of our Additions to the Liturgy, amJldftoiir Replyt, that yet chey may be confidered be- f©i£ a Determirwtioo bei«ade.' riAnd thougli we feem -to have laboured in vain, we lljall yet lay chisr Work^if Reconciliation and Peace, at the feet of your Maje- fty, befcechiog y^ii to prpteaite fucii a Weffcd Refolution till it attain. Ciccels. We mud needs iKlitve, th^twhea.your Majefty took our Confent to a Liturgy, to,be a Foundation that would.ihfer our Coocwwid, you meant not that we fiiould have no Concord, but by contenting to this Liturgy without any confiderable Al- teration. And whan youadmibrted us with your Reiolution to draw us together, by^yielding on both fid<;sin What iwe could, you meant not that we Ihould be the Boat, and they the B.ink that nwlf not liir.- And when your Majeity commanded ys by your Letters Patents to treat about fiich Alteratiop? ■ asare [' needful or ex- Vpedient for giving SatisfadiriohtlD tender Confidences, and the reftoring and con- 'linuanceof l*eaceand Un,ity]:.werdl' affuced that it was- not your lence , that tliofe tender Coufciences were to be forced to pra^tile all wluch they judged unlaw- ful, ^ and not lo much as a Ceceraony abated them ; Or that our Treaty was only to.convert either port to the Opinion of the otlier ; and that all our Hopes of Con- cord or I..iberty confided only in Difputing the Bilhops into Nonconformity, or c-omlng in every Cereniony to ciieirminds; ; -..ia ^\ . Finally, as your Majefty under God, is the Proteft ion whereto your People flie, aittl as the fame Neceffitieslfill rsmain, which drew forth your gracious Declara- tion, we moli humbly and earnelily befeech your Majefty , that the Benefits of the.iiid Declaratinn may be continiied to your People, and in particular [ That; 'none be piini died or troubled fof not ufing the Common Prayer, till it be efFe- '^ctiull'y reformed] and the Additions made as there exprefled. We crave your Majefty's pardon for the tedioufnels of this Addrefs , and fhall waitin hope, that fo great a Calamity of your People, as would follow the lofs of fcLniAny able faithful Minifters as rigorous Impofitions would caft out, fhall never be. Recorded in the Hidory of your Reign : but that -/le/e .btnpediments of Con- c^id- being forborn , your Kingdoms may flourilbifl Pieyi. and Peace, and this ipay be the fignal Honour of your happy Governmflf, andvitour Joy in the Day of y-oiai" Accounts. Which is the Prayer of •-' ■' ' Your Majefty's "."! Faithful and Obedient Subjeds— « — - § 240. P A R. T II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 3^5) § 240. And in the Conclufion of this Bufinefs, feeing we could prevail with thefe Prelates and Prelatical Men, (after lb many Calamities by Divifions,and when they pretended Defires of Unity), to make no confiderable Alterations at all ; the Reafon of it feeming unfcarchable to fome, was by others confidently conjedurcd to be thele : 1. They extreamly prejudic'd thePerlbns that fought this Peace, and therefore were glad of means to call: them out and ruin them. 2. The EfTeds of the Parliaments Conqueft had exafperated them to the height. ;. They would not have any Reformation or Change to occafion Men to think that ever they were in an Errour, or that their Adv^erfaries had realbnably defired, or had procured a Reformation. 4. Some confidendy thought that a fecret Refolution to unite with the Papids (at leaft as high as the old Defign which Heylin ownech in Lauds, Life ) was the greateft caufe of all : And that they would never have loft fo great a Party, as they did but to gain a greater (at home and abroad together^ § 241. And here, becaufe they would abate us nothing at all confiderable, but made things far harder and heavier than before , I will annex the Conceflions of Archbilhop JJjiiery Archbiftiop WiUiams, Bifhop Morton , Bifhop HoUfwortb, and many others in a Committee at IVeflminjier (before nientionedj 1641. A Copy of the Froceedings of fome Worthy and Learned Divines touching Inno'vations in the Do&rine and Difcipline of the Church o/* England : Together with Confiderations upon the Common Prayer Bjo\. Innovations in DoBrine. 1 .^^rf. T"T"7Hether in the Twentieth Article thefe Words are not inferted, VV Habet Ucclefm authoritatem in Contro'verfiis fidei. 2. It appears by Stetfords. and the approbation of the Licenlers, that (bme do teach and preach, That Good Works are concaufes with faith tn the aii of Juftifcation j Dr. Dove alio hath given Scandal in that point. 3. Some have preached the Works of Penance are fatisfadtory before God. 4. Some have preached that private Confeflton by particular Enumeration of Sins, is neceffary to Salvation, neceffltate medii ; both thofe Errours have been que- ftioned at the Confiftory at Cambridge. y. Some have maintained that the Ablblution which the Prieft pronounceth, is more than Declaratory. 6. Some have publillied. That there is a proper Sacrifice in the Lord's Supper, to exhibit Chrift's Death in the VoJlfaSl, as there was a Sacrifice to prefigure in the Old Law in the AntefaB,3.nA therefore that we have a true Altar, and therefore not only metaphorically (b called, fb Dr. Heyltn and others in the laft Summers Convo- cation, where alfo fome defended, that the Oblation of the Elements might hold the Nature of the true Sacrifice, others the Confumption of the Elements. 7. Some have introduced Pr- /or f/je Dead, as Mr. Brown in his printed Ser- mon, and fome have coloured thcule of it with QuelHons in Cambridge, and difpu- ted, that Frecespro Defim6iif nonfupponunt Purgatonum. 8. Divers have oppugned the certitude of Salvation. 9. Some have maintained the \!iwfu\neiso( MonafiicalFows. lo.Some have maintained that the Lord's Day is kept meerly by Ecclefiaftical Gon- ftitution, and that the Day is changeable. 1 1. Some have taught as new and dangerous Doftrine, that the Subjects are to pay any Sums of Money impofed upon them, though without Law , nay contrary to the Laws of the Realm, as Dr. Sybtborp, and Dr. Manwartng Bifhop of St. Da- vids, in their printed Sermons, whom many have followed of late years. B b b 12. Some 370 The LI f E of the L i b. I. 12. Some have put Scorns upon the two Books of Homilies, calling them either Popular Difcourfes, or a Dodrine ufeful for thofe Times wherein tliey were lie forth. 13. Some have defended the whole grofs Suhjlance o^ Arminianifm, that Eleilio efi txfide pr<«w/«,That the Ad of Converfion depends upon the Concurrence of Man's Freewill ; That the juftified Man may fall finally and totally from Grace. 14. Some have defended Univerfal Grace, as imparted as much to Reprobates as to the Eled, and have proceeded ujejue adfalutem Ethnicorum, which the Church of England hath Anathematized. I J. Some have abfolutely denied Original Sin, and fo evacuated the CroJ^of Chriff^ as in a Difputation at Oxon. \6. Some have given exceffive Caufe of Scandal to the Church : as being fu- fpeded of Socimantjm. 17, Some have defended that Concupifcence is no fin, either in the habit, or firft motion. 1 8. Some have broacht out of Socinm a moft uncomfortable and defperate Do- drine, That late Repentance, that is, upon the laft Bed of Sicknels, « unfi-uitful, ac lead to reconcile the Penitent to God. Add unto thefe^ fame d anger om and Moji repro Knowing affuredlf that the Deadjiiall rife again. ;;. In the Colleg'i, 6cc. Propofitions, about the innocency of Laws which command Things evil by Accident only : where the Bilhop never difcerned (unlels he dilTemble it) the Realbns of our Denial, nor the Propofition denied : The very words of the Dilpute being printed before, and 1 having fully opened the Bilhops Miitakes, in an AnlWer to him, 1 iliall not here Ifop the Reader with it again. § 25-8. But this vehement Invediveof the Bilhop's prefently taught all that de- fired his Favour, and the improvement of his very great Intereft for their Ends, to talk in all Companies at the lame rates as he had done, and to fpeak of me as he had fpoken, and thofe that thought more was necelTary to their hopes, prelented the Service of their Pens. Dr. Boreman of Trinity CoUedge wrote a Book, without his Name, and had no other defign in it than to make me odious j nor any better occafion for his writing than this : There had many years before palt divers Papers C c c between ^78 ^ ^i he LI f E of the L i b. ]• between Dr. Ihomas Hill, then Mafter oF Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and me, &- bout the Point of \ Irhj/ical efficient Predetcrmmation as necejjary to e'very Action natural and free ]: I had written brgsly and earneitly againft Predetermination, and he a little tor it : In the end ol' it, the Calanufies ot the Sa^ftarian times, and fome Sickneffes among my Friends, had occalioned me to vent my moan to hini as my Friend ; and therein to (peak of the doubtiiilneis of the Caufe of the former War, and what reafon there was to be diligent in (earch and prayer about ir. When Dr. Hd was dead, Dr.Boreman came to fee thele Papers : Both the Subjedh he mud needs know were iuch, as tended rather to my Elteeni , than to my Difparage- ment with the Men of theie Times. Certainly the Armmians will, be angry with no Man for being againft Predetermination ; and 1 think they will pardon him for queflioning the Parliaments Wars: Yet did this difingenious Dr. make a Book on this occalion, to feek Preferment by reproaching me, for he knew not what: But to make up the matter, he writeth that it is reported, That / kdld a Man in cold blcod -with my own hands m the Wars : Whereas God knoweth, that I never hurt 3 Man in iny Life, no never gave a Man a ftroke (lave one Man, when I was a Boy, whoie Legg I broke with wreftlinj; in jell ; which almoit broke my heart with grief, though he was quickly cured). But the Dr. knowing that this might be loon dilproved , cautioufly gave me (ome Lenitives to perfwade me to bear ic patiently, telling me that if it be not true, 1 am not the firft that have been thus abufed : but for ought I know,he is the firft that thus abufed me. I began to write an Anfwer to this Book ; but when I (aw that Men did but laugh at it, and thole that knew the Man delpifed it, and diffwaded me from anfwering fuch a one, i laid it by. § 2^9- When tJie Bifliop's Invedive was read, many Men were of many minds, aboot the anlwering of it : Thole at a diftance all cried out upon me to aniwer it ; Thole at lumd did all dilTwade mti, and told me that it would be Lnprilbnment at leait to me, if I did it with the greatelt truth and mildnels pollible. Both Gentle- men and all the City Minilters told me, that it would no: do half fo much good, as my Suffering would do hurt : and that none believed it but the engaged Party, and that to others an Anfvver was not necelTary, and to them it was unprofitable, for they would never read ir. And 1 thought that the Judgment of Men that were upon the place, and knew how things went, was moft to be regarded. But yet I wrote a full Anfwer to his Book, (except about the words in my Holy Com- monwealth, which vvere not to be fpokc to) and kept it by nie , that I might ufe it as there was occafion. At that time Mr. JoJK-ph Glanvdc lent me the offer of his Service to write in my Defence, (He that wrote the Vanttf of .Dogmatizing, and a Wreatife for the Fraextjfence of Souls, he,'mg 2. Pi at onifi, of free Judgment , and of ad- mired Parts, and now one of the Royal Society of Philoiophers , and one that had a too excellive eftimation of me, as far above my defert, as the malicious Party erred on the other lide J : But I diffwaded him irom bringing himlelf into Suffering, and making himlelf unleiviceable for lb low an end : Only 1 gave him ( and no Man elf«) my own AnlWer to perule, which he returned with iiis Approbation of it. §260, But Mr. Edward Bagfliaiv ( Son to \{r, iBagjJiaw the .Lawyer, that wrote Mr. Holtons Life), wuhout my knowledge wrote a Book in Aniwer to the Bilhops: 1 could have wilht he had let it alone : For the Mm hath no great dilputing Fa- culty, but only a florid Epiftolary Scile, and was wholly a Stranger to me, snd to the Matters of Fad , and therefore could fay nothing to them : But only being of a Bold and Roman Spirit, he thought that no Suffering fliould deter a Man from the Imalleft Duty, or caufe him to filence any uleful Truths And 1 had formerly ieen a Latin Dilcourleof his againft Monarchy, which no whit pleafed me, being a weak Argumentation for a bad Caufe. So that I defired no iuch Champion : Ihortly after he went over vvith the E.of Anglejey, whole Houlhold Chaplain he was, iii;o /rc/rt»pli to be far greater than irideed it was; 4 Bat the principal of all was^ my Conference before the King and At the Savoy ; in both which it fell out that Bifhcp' Morley and I were the btrfieft Talkers (except Dr. Gtifttnvg), and that it was my lot to contradidt him, who vvas not fo able either to beat, or fecm t6 beat it,as i thought at lead hisI4V)nour would have inftmAcd him to be. f. An4 rcy'refufing a Bifaoprick increaietJ the indignai tion : And Colonel fi*rf/5i that firftcama to offer it m^, told me, that they would ruine us, if' we reiuiod it : Yet did I parpofely f(i.''bear €ver mentioning it, on all occafions. 6. And it was not the leiift -Caufe, that my being for Primitive Epif- copacy, and not for Presbytery v., ^ftd being not fo fat from them in fome oth^r Points o£ -Docarine and WcrJhip, a^' rtiany Nonconformifts are, they thought I vVal the abler to undermine them. 7. And another Caule was, that they judged of the reft of my Talk and Life, by my Conference ac the Savoy , not knowing that I took that to be my prefent Duty, which Fidelity to the King and Church com-' manded me, faithluily to do, whoever was dilplealed by it : and that when that time was ever, I toOkft to be my Duty, to live as peaceably as any Subjedl in rlie Land, and not to ule m/ Tongue or Pen againft the Government which the King was'pleafed to appoint, however I difallowed it. Thus have ! found the old faying- true, That Reconcilers u(e to be hated on both fidss , and to put their hand in the Cl'ifc, which cloferh upori them and finiilieth them. § 269. The next-time, i won: to the Lord Chanceilour ( about the New-England C!x)rporation) after the Bi&op of /fWjy/cr's Anger and Inv'e6Hve Book he enter- tained me with his ufiial CondelcijRlion and Courrefw, but wich Ibme chiding Lan- guage that I would meddle vvith Dv. Morley to provoke him: which when! had bricrty fpoke to, he followed on his Reprehenfion thus, \_Wai it a hdudfome thing of Air. Baxter, tnjj'takjotoju mild a Mjk as Dr. Earles, Clerk of the Kings Clofet, as when be offered you a Tippet when you preached before the King, to turn away infcorn, and fay, Vie none of your Toyet ? Would not a fairer Jnfwer have been better ?] 1 replyed to him. That 1 ftill perceived more "and more the truth of v/hat I told the Bilhops, what Conlequents would follow the Continuance of unhealed Faftions : and what u(age wcTnuft expe^ however werliVed-, and how little Innocency would do to our vindication I I told him that I never fpake any fuch word as he mentioned, nor ever had fuch a thought in my heart, nor no more fcrupled to wear a Tip- pec than to lit on a Cufhion : Bat I thanked his Lord/hip, that by the benefit of his free Reprehenfion 1 came to underftand how much I had been wronged by this Report to his Majefty, above a year before I heard of it; and might never have heard of it but by him ; and told him that it was ju(f thus in other Matters : And I truly told him, that I was unfeignedly thankful to his Lordlhip, that would liiprovc me fur that to my fice, which others only whifpered behind my back, where 1 had opportunity to defend my (elf. § 270. Hereupon I wrote this following Letter to Dr. Earles ( a mild and quiet Man > who was fince Bifhop of Worcefier , and afterwards Bifhop of Sal'tf- kwyt Reveretid 382 ~~ The LIFE of the L i bTT Reverend Sir I B^ ' T the great Favour of my Lord Chancellour's Reprehetifion, I came to understand how long a time I have fuffered ;« my Reputation ■with my Superiours by jour mifunder- fiandtng me, and mi/informing others, as if when I "was to f reach before the Kwg, 1 had fcornfuUy refufed the Tippet as a Toy : when as the Searcher and Judge of Hearts doth know that 1 had no fuch thought or word. I was fo ignorant in thofe matters, as to think that a * k%\t\i\nTjppet bad been theprtper Infign of a Dr. of Divinity * ; and 1 vertly thought that you of- the Uni- fered it me as Juch : And I had fo much pride as to he fomervhat a(hamed when you offered ver/ity. ^^^ ^^^^ j ^^ff tell you my want of fuch Degrees, and therefore gave you no Anjwer to your fir ft offer j but to your ficond was forced to Jay [^ It belongeth not to me, Sir j. And 1 faidnot to you any more ; nor had any other thought in my heart, than with fome ^}ame to teUyou that I had no Degrees j imagining I jhould have offended others, and made my felf the laughter or fcorn of many ; if I Jhould have ufed that which did not belong to me. For I mufi prafefi that I no more fcruple to wear a Tippet than a Gown, or any comely Garment. Sir, Though this he one of thejmallefi of all the Mtfiakes which nf late have turned to my wrong, and I mufi confefi that my ignorance gave yeu the occafion, and I am far from im- puting It to any ill will in you, having frequently heard that m Charity , and gentlenejS and peaceablenejS of Mind you are very eminent ; yet becaufe I muff not contemn my E[H- matton with my Superiours, I humbly crave that favour and juftice of you ( which I am confident you will readily grant me) as to acquaint thofe with the truth of this bufinefi,whom ttpon mifiake you have miftnformed ; whereby m relieving the Innocency of your Er other, you will do a ivorkof Charity and Jufiice, and therefore not diff leafing unto God, and will much oblige, June 20. 1662. S IRj ; Your humble Servant, Richard Baxter, I have the more need of your yufiice in this Cafe, becaufe my difiance denieth me acceJS to thofe that have received thefe mijreports, and becaufe any publick Vindication of my felf, whatever is faid of me, is taken as an unfufferable Crime, and therefore I am utterly unca- pable of vindicating my Innocency or remedying their Mijiafles. To the Reverend and much Honoured Dr. Earles Dean of Wefiminfier, &c. Theie. To this the Dr. returned this Civil peaceable Anfwer. Hampton-Court, June 23. SIR, I Received your Letter, which I would have anfwered fooner if the Mejjenger that brought it held returned. I muft confefi I wm a little furprized with the beginning of it, as I Was with your Name: but when I read further I ciajed to be fo. Sir, I jhould be heartily '^ O tlijt Jorry and ajhamed to be guilty of any thing like Malignity * or UncharitablenefS, ejpecially to ^'\\{ h'^'^'^^"^ of your Condition ; with whom though I concur not perhaps in point of Judgment in " ' fome particul.irs, yet I cannot but cftecm for your pcrfonal worth and abilities : And indeed your Exprejjions in your Letter are fo civil and ifiginuous, that \ am obliged thereby the more to give you all the fatisfaBion lean. As I remember then when you came to me to the Clofct, and I told you I would furnifii you with a Tippet ; you anfwered me fomethmg to that purpofe as you write '^ but whether the fame Numerical words, or but once, I cannot po- * Thefc fitively fay from my own Memory, and therefore I believe yours : Only this I am fure of, that h«u-/not If^'^ toyLU a; my fecond Jfeakmg, That ' fome others of your Perfwafion had not fcrupled being in ^ at it, which mizht fuppofe ( if yon had not affirmed the contrary ) that you had made me a palTjgc former refujal : Of which giving me then no other re af on, than [ that it belonged not to Irom liiin. *p« J Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 383 yoH \ 1 concluded you -were more firupulous than others were : and perhaps the mavner of your refujing it ( as it appeared to me ) might make me think you were not 'very well plea f fed with the motion: And this it ts likely I might fay, either to my Lord Chaneellottr^titi- thers y though fcrioufly I do not remember that IJpake to my Lord Chancetlour at all concerifi ingtt. But Sir, f nee you give me flow that modeH reafon for it ( which 'b^ the way, is no juH reajon in it [elf, for a Tippet may be worn without a Degree , though a Hood can- not y and It ts no jhame at all to want the/e Formalities , for him that ivawteth not the Subjtance ), but, Sir, I fay ftnce you give that reafm for your refufal, 1 belis'ue you, and (hall corretl that Mtfiake ifi my felf, and endeavour to rediifie it in others, if any upon this occafion, have mijunderfhodyou. In the mean time I pall defireyotir charitable Opinion of my felf, which I jhall bewilltngto deferveupon any Opportunity that is offered me to do you Service, beings S I R, Yoiir very humble Servant Jo.Earles. - To my honoured Friend Mr. Richard Baxter, Thefe. rrT7> .1 :: § 271. Before this, in ]Slovember,m!Lhy worthy Minifters and others were impri'- foned in many Counties ; and among others, diversof my old Neighbours in fVor- cefierjliire : And that you may lee what Crimes were the occafion, I will tell ybn' the Itory of if. One Mr- Ambrofe Sparry, ( a fober, learned Minifter,that had ne- ver owned the Parliament's Cauieor Wars, and was in hisjudgm:nt formoderatd Epifcopacy ) had a wicked Neighbour whom he reproved tor Adultery , who bearing him a grudge, thought now he had found a time to fhew it : He (or his Confederates for him) framed a Letter as from I know not whom, direftedto Mr. Sparry, [That he and Captain Tarrington, ftould be ready with Money arjd Arms. at the time appointed, and that they fhould acquaint Mr. Oafland and Mr. Baxter with it ] : This Letter he pretended that a Man left behind him under a Hedge, who late down and pull'd out many Letters, and put them all up again lave tins, and went his ways, ( he knew not what he was, nor whether he went). This ^ / • / Letter he bringeth to Sir John P (the Man that hotly followed fuch work;) Ti.o^**'^'^' who lent Mr. Sparry, Mr. O.^Jlaiul, and Captain Tarrington to Prilon ! ( This Mr. Oajland was Minilter in BfW/f/, a fervent laborious Preacher, who had done abun- dance of good in converting ignorant ungodly People). And he had offended Sir Ralph Clare in being againft his Ele<5tion as Burgefs in Parliament for that Town). But who that Mr. Baxter Was that thfc Letter named, they could not refolve i there being another of the name nearer, and I being in London: But the Men, elpecially Mr. Sparry, lay long in Prifon, and when the Forgery and Injury was detedsd, h6 had much ado to get out. § 272. Mr. flenry Jackfon alfo our Phyfician at Kiddirmifif-& , aEnd many of my Neighbours were impriloned, and were never told for \*hac to this day ; But Mr; yackfon was io merry a Man, and they were all fo cheeiful there, that 1 think they were relealed the fooner, becaule it appeared lo fmall a Suffering to them. § 273 . Though no one acculed rne of any thing, tior fpake a word to me of ir, ( being thty knew 1 had long been near a Hundred milesoff) yet did they defame me all over the Land, as guilty of a Plot: and when Men were taken up andfent to Prifon, in other Counties, it was faid to be for Baxter's Plot ; ib eafie Was it, and fo neceflary a thing it ieemed then, to calf luch filth upon my Name. - ' § 274. And though through the great Mercy of God, 1 had long been learning not to overvalue the thoughts of Men^ no not fo much as the Reputation nf Ho- nefiy or Innocency, yet 1 was Ibmewhat wearied with this kind of Life, to be e- very day cplumniated, and hear new Slanders raifed of me, and Court and Coun- try ring of that, which no Man ever mentioned to my face; and I was oft think- ing to go beyond Sea, that I might find fome place in retired privacy to live and end my days in quietnels, out of rhenoife of a Peace-hating Generation : But my Acquaintance thought 1 might be more Jerviceable here, though there I might live more in quietnels ; and having not the Vulgar Languageof any Country, to ena- ble . 384 - TheL I F E of. the ' L i b. 1. ble me to pteach to them, or converfe with them, and being fo infirm as no: to be like to bear the Voyage and change of Air : Thele, with other Impeduiieuts which God hid in my way, hindred me from putting my Thoughts in Exeicy- tion. • ' § 275. About this time alfo it was famed at the Court that 1 was married, which went as the matter of a moft heinous Crime, which 1 never heard charged by thern on any Man but on ma. Bilhdp Morley divulged it with all the Odium he couid pofllbly put upon it : telling them chat one in Conference wich him, I laid that Minillers marriage is [lawful, and but lawful-] as if I were now contradicting my lelf And it every where rung about, partly as a Wonder , and partly as a Cririie, whiift they cried, \_This is the Man of Charity']: little knowing, what they talkc of; Infbmuch that at laft the Lord Chancellour told me, Fie heard 1 was marrieti, and wondered at it, when I told him it was not true : For they had affirmed it near a year before it came to pals. And I think the King's Marriage wasfcarce more talk- ed of than mine. § 276. All this while Mr. Calamy and Ibme other Minilfers had been endeavour- ing with thofe that they had Interert in, and to try if the Parliament would pafs the King's Declaration into a Law ,• and Ibmetimesthey had fome hope from the Loid Chancellour and others: but when it came to the trial, their hopes all failed them ; and the Conformity impoled was made ten times more burdenlbme than it ever was before. For befides that,the Convocation had made the Common Prayer Book more grievous than before, the Parliament made a new Aft of Uniformity , with a new Form of Subfcription, and a new Declaration to be made againit the Obli- gation of the Covenant j of which more anon. So that the King's Declaration did not only die before it came to Execution, and all Hopes and Treaties and Petitions were not only dilappointed, but a weight more grievous thanaThoulaxid Ceremo- nies was added to the old Conformity, with a grievous Penalty. § 277. By this means there was a great Unanimity in the Minifters, and the greater Number were call out : And as far as I could perceive, it was by fome de- ligned that it might be fo. Many a time did we beleech them that they would have to much regard to the Souls of Men, and to the Honour o( England, and of the Protellant Religion, as that without any necelfity at all, they would not impofe feared Perjury upon them, nor that which Confcience, and Common Efteem, and Popilh Adverfaries would all call Perjury; that Papiiis might not have this to caft in pur Teeth, and call the Proteftants a Peijured People, nor England or Scotland Pviijiired Lands, Oft have we proved to them that their Caufe and Intereft requi- , . ^ red no lu.h thing : But all was but calling Oyl upon the Flames, and forcing us to ■ think of thatMonOer oi Millan, that made his Enemy renounce God to fave his Life, before he Ibbb'd him, that he might murder Soul and Body at a ftroke. \t Isemed to he accounted the one thing necelfary, which no Reafon mull be heard again/}, that the Presbyterians mull be forced to do that which they accounted Publick Perjury, or to be call out of Trull and Office, in Church and Common- wealtii. And by this means a far greater Number were laid by, than otherwife would have been ; and the few that yielded to Conformity they thought would be defpicable and contemptible as long as they lived, A Noble Revenge, and worthy of the Adors, § 27 S. When the Ad: of Uniformity was pafled, it gave all the Minifters that could not Conform, no longer time than till Bartholomew- day , Auguft 24. 1662. and then they muft be all cad out : (This fatal Day called to remembrance the ^ Or J^ycnch Maflacre, when on the lame Day * 50000 or 40000 Protellants perilhed by iooooo,as Religious Roman Zeal and CharityJ. I had no place,butonly that I preached twice Fet.Moutin a Week by Kequeil in other Men's Congregations fat Mtlhjtreet and Blackfrtars ), witliin'a'' ^"*^ the la(l Sermon that ever I preached in Publick was on May 2j, The Rea- few weeks. '^^ why I gave over Ibpner than moll others was, i, Becaule Lawyers did inter- pret a doubtful Claule in the Ad, as ending the Liberty of Led:urers at that time. 2. Btcaule I would let Authority foon know, that I intended to obey them in all that was lawlul. ;. Becaule I would let all Minifters in England underlland io time, whether I intended to Conform or not : For had I ftayed to the laft" day, lome would have Contormed the Iboner , upon a Suppofition that I intended it. Thcle , with otiier Realons, moved me to ceafe three Months before Bar- fbolomew-dtty^ which many cenlured me for a while, but after, better law the Rea- sons of it, § 279, Part II. R^'ufreWAfr. Richard Baxter. 385 § 279. When Bartholomew- day camQ, about One thoufand eight hundred or Two thoufind Miniflcrs were Silenced and Call out : And the Affedions of molt Men thereupon were fiich as made me fear it was a Prognoflick of our further SulTer- ings : For when Paftors and People fliould have been humbled for their Sins^ and lamented their lormer Negligence and Unfruitfulnels, moft of chem were filled with Difd-iin and Indignation againit the Ptelates^and were ready with Confidence to (ay, [ God will not long fufFer lb wicked and cruel a Generation of Men : Ic will be but a little while till God will pull them down ] : And thus Men were puft up by other Mens finfulnels, and kept from a kindly humbling of (henifelves. § 280. And now came in the great Inundation of Calamities, which in many Streams overwhelmed Thouiands of godly Chriltians, together with their Pallors. As for Example, i. Hundreds of able MiniHers, with their Wives and Children, had neither Houfe nor Bread : For their former Maintenance liived them but fot the time, and itw of them laid up any thing for the future : For many of them had not pad ;o or 40 /. per Annum apiece, and mofl: but about 60 or 80 /. fer An- num, and very izvj above 100/. and few had any confiderableEftatesof their own. 2. The Peoples Poverty was fo great, that they were not able much to relieve their Miniffers. ;. The Jealoufie of the State, and the Malice of their Eiistnies were lb great, that People that were willing tlurft not be known to gi7e to their ejected Pallors, leaff it fliould be faid that they maintained SchiHii , or were ma- king Collodions for fome Plot or Infurredion. 4. The Hearts of the People were grieved for the lots of their Pallors, j. Many places had luch fee over them in their lleads^as they could not with Confcience or Comfort commit the ConduA of their Souls to. And they were forced to own all thele, and all others that were thrult upon them againlf their Wills, and to own alio the undilciplined Churches, by re- ceiving the Sacrament in their feveral Parilhes whether they would or not. 6ThoIe that did not this were to be Excommunicated, and then to have a Writ lUed oac againft them de Excommunicat 10 capiendo, to lay them in the Jail, and leizc on their Elfates. 7. The People were hereupon unavoidably divided among themlelves:' For fome would have nothing to do with thefeimpofed Paftors, but would i;i pri- vate attend their former Pallors only : Others would do both, and take all that they thought good of both: Some would only hear the Publick Sermons: Others would alio go to Common Prayer where the Minilfer was tolerable : Some would joyn in the Sacrament with them, where the Minifler was honeft, and others would nor. And tliis Divilion they long forelaw, but could not poffibly prevent. 8. And the MiniHers themlelvcs were thus alio divided, who belore leemed all one ; for Ibme would go to Churchjto Common Prayer,fo Sacrament5,and others would not:Som3 of them thought that it was their DiKy to preach publickly in the Streets or Fields while the People defired it, and not to ceale their Work through fear of Men, till they lay in Jails, or were all b.'.nillisd : Others thought that a continued Endea- vour to benefit their People priv.uely, would be more ferviceable to the Church, than one or two Sermons and a Jail, at luch a time, when the Multitudes of Suf- ferers, and the odious Titles put upon them oblcured and clogd the benefit of Suf- fering?. And (ome thought that the Covenant bound all to feparate from Common Prayer, and Prelates, and Parilh Communion : And others thought that it rather bound ihem to this Communion and Worlhip in cafe they could have no bitter: and that to teach from Houf^e to Houfe in private, and bring the People to attend in publick, was the molt righteous and edifying way, where the impofed Minilfer was tolerable. 9. Hereupon thole Minilters that would noii ceale preaching weie thrult into Prifons, and Cenfured (fomeof them ) the relt that did not do as they. 10. The relt that preached only fecretly to a few, were lookt on as dilcontented and dilafTetSted to the Government , and on every rumour of a new Plot or Coa- fpiracy, taken up, and many of them laid in Prilon. ri. The Prelatilts and they were hereby let at a further diltance, and Charity more deltroyed, and Reconcilia- tion made more hopelels, and almoft any thine believed that was laid againft a Nonconformilt. 12. The Conforming Part of the Old Miniftry , was alio divi- ded from the reft, and Cenfures let them further at adiftance: (But yet where lerious Godlinels appeared, it kept up Ibms Charity and Refpeft, and united them in the mainj. All thefe Calamities brought another j i;. That the People were tempted to murmur at their Sii[>eriours, and call them cruel Perfecutors, and le- cretly rejoyce if any hurt befel them , and many forgot that they are to Honour their Governours, even when they fulTer by them, and not only to forbear evi! Thoughts and Words againit them, but to endeavour to keep up their Honour with their Subjeds. 14, By all thele Sins, thefe Murmurings and thele Violations . D d d 6f 386 The LIFE of the L i b. L of the IntereO of the thurch and Caufe of Ghrift^the Latid was prepared for that further Inundation of Calamities (by War and Plague and Scarcity; which hath iince brought it near to Defoljtion. §28r. It fell'out ens day in Mr. C4/ only j and that if he ihould Commiflion two or three Men, or more, to kill the Parliament, orburnthe City, or to difpolfels Men of their Freeholds , it were lawful forcibly to refilt. Or if the Sheriff be to raife the ?oj]e Comitatm in obedience to a Decree of a Court of Juflice, to piit a Man into pofTeffion of his I loufe, he m.iy do it forcibly, though the Defendant be Commiflioned by the King to keep it. Becaufe they lay that the Law is to be taken fano Jenfu,Ani.\ not as may lay the Law-givers under fo heavy an Accufa- tion, as the literal unlimited Icncs would do. §290. Part II. Reverend Mr. Richsivd Baxter. 3^9. , § 29c. 4. The fourth Matter of Difference, htingiht O.nh of Canonical Obcdimce, they here alio differ among themfelves. i. Some ot them think that as the NeceP fity of Monarchy and our Relation to the King, doth make the Oath of AHegi-- ance neceflary, or very meet, fo the Neceffity of Prelacy and our Relation to the Prelates, doth make the Oath of Obedience to them I'uftinable and meet : For that which mufi be done, may be promiled and fworn. 2. Others of them (ay. That it is only to the Bilhops as Magiftrates, or Officers of the King, that we I'wear to them. 3. And others fay, That as we may be fubjeft to any Man, in huniili- ty, (b we may promife or fwear it to any Man. And it being but in licit u & bone- fits, that what we may lawfully do, we may fwear to dc. § 291. f. The fifth Controverfie is about Re-ordinatton of fuch as were not Or- dained by Diocefans, but by the Presbyteries which then were (at home or abroad) And here they are alfoof two minds among themfeives. The one fort fiy, That Ordination without Diocefans is a Nullity, and thof^ that are lb Ordained, are no Miniffers but Laymen ; and therefore their Churches, no true Churches { m fenju folttico ) ; And therefore that fuch muff needs be Re-ordained. The other fort fay. That their Ordination was valid before m foro Jpiritmh ; but not mforo cmili^ and that the repeating ofic, is but an afcertaining or a conhrming Ad, as publick Mar- rying again would be, afrer one is privately married, in cafe the Law would ba- ftardizs or dillnherit his Children elfe, "? "o § 292. 6. The fixth Controverfie is about the lawfulpefs of the ^Jfent and Conr fent to be declared, which is to all contained in the Book of Articles, the Book oi Ordination, and the Book of Common Prayer. Thefe comprehend abundance of Particulars ; Ibme Dodrinal, fbme about the Offices and Difcipline of the Church, and Ibme about the Matter, the Order and Manner, and Ceremonies of Worihip. Here they are alfo divided among themfeives : fome few of them taka the words plainly and properly, ( viz„ the willing Conformifts) and think that in- deed there is nothing in thefe Books which is not to be affented and confented to ; And indeed all the Convocation muft needs be of that mind (or the Major part ) and alfb the Parliament ) ; becaufe they had the Books before them to b; perufed, and did examine the Liturgy and Book of Ordination, and make great Altera- tions in them, and therefore if rliey had thought there had been any thing not to be affented and confented to, they would have altered it by corredion, before they had impofed it on the Church. But for all that, the other Party is now fo nume- rous, that I could yet never fpeak with any of them, but went that way,-z;;t,. with the Latitudinarians to expound the v/ords [ all things contained in the Booki'] which they affent and confi:nt to \_All things which they are to tije ] ; and their [ Jj/ent and Confent '\ they limit only to the uje : q. d. [1 do affent, that there is nothing m thefe Books which tnny not lav^fuHf he ujed, and I do confent to the uje of [0 much as belongeth to we] : Though yet they think ( or will not deny but ) that there may be fbme- ihing that may be ill framed and ill impoftd : The reafon of this Expofition they fetch from the word [«/<;] which is founcl after in the Ad of Uniformity, though it be not in the words ot the Delaration. knd for the Books, they fay. It is law- ful to ufe the Common Prayer, and the Ceremonies, Crofs, Surplice, Copes, and Kneeling at the Sacrament, and all that is in that or the other Books to be ufsd, and therefore to declare lb much. §293. More particularly, i. Concerning the Kalendar impofing the ufe of lb m^ny Apocryphal Leffons, they fay that they are read but upon Week-days, and that not as Scripture, but as edifying Leffons, as the Homilies are j and as many Churches have long ufed thetn. And that the Church fufhciently avoideth the Scandal by calling them Apocrypha. $ 194. And 2. for the parcelling and ordering of the Prayers and Relponles as they are, fome of them fay that it is the beff Form and Order, and it's only Fan- cy and Errour which mifliketh them : Others fay that they are diforderly indeed , but that is not the Sin of the JJfers ( when they are impofed ) but of the Framers and Impofcrs. §29^. And 3 as for the Dodrine of the Salvation of Baptized Infants in the Kubrick of Baptifin, and all the reft in that Book, and in the Nine and thirty Ar- ticles, fome of them lay that they are all fbund { tJiz,. the willing Conformilfs) but the unwilling Conformifts fay that thefe are not things to h^ufedhy them,and therefoie not within the Compafs of the declared Jjjent or Confent in the Ad. 3^0 1 he L I F E of the L i b. I. § 296. And 4. as to the Charitable Applications excepted againft in Baptifin, ConfiiTnation, the Lord's Supper, Abfolution of the Sick and Burial, they iay they are but (uch as according to the Judgment of Charity we may ulc : And if there be any fault, it is not in the Common Prayer Book, which u(eth but fuch words as are fit to be u(ed by the Members of (he Church : but it is in the Canons and Difcipline of the Church , which I'uffereth untie Perlons to be Chuich- Menibers. § 297. And J. as for the Ceremonies, they fay, i. That Kneeling is freed from all fufpicion of Idolatry, by the annexing of the Rubrick out of King Edward the Sixth's Common Prayer Book : which though the Convocation refufed, yet the Parliament annexed ; and they are the Impolers, and it is their fence that we muil ftand to. And as it is lawful to Kneel in accepting a fealed Pardon from the King, by his MefTenger, lb is it in accepting a fealed Pardon from God, with the Inve- ftiture of our Priviledges. § 298. And 2. they fay that the Surplice is as lawful as a Gown, it being not impofed primarily becaulb fignificant, but becaule decent, and lecondarily as Jigni- ficant ( lay (bme ) : Or as others (ay, It is the better and fitter to be impoled, be- caufe it is fignificant : and that God hath no where forbidden fuch Ceremo- nies. § 259. And ;. for the Crols in Baptifm, they fay that it is no part of the Sacra • ment of Baptifm, but an appendant Ceremony : that it is the better for being figni- ficant : that it is but a tranfient Image, and not & fixed, much lels a graven Image ; and is not adored : that it is but a frofefmgfign, as words are, or as Handing up, or holding up the hand ; and not any Seal of God's part of the Covenant j and though it be called in the Canons a Dedicating Sign, it is but as it fignifieth the A- d:ion of the Perfin or the Church, and not as it fignifieth the Adion of God recei- ving the dedicated Perfon: And (bme fay. That it cannot be de denied but that according to the old and common ufe of the word [Sacrament] as a Military En- gagement, it is a Sacrament ; yet it is not pretended to be a Divine, but a Humane Sacrament, and fuch are lawful : it being in our definition of a Church Sacrament that it is {Ordained by Chrtji himfelf] : And though Man may not invent New Sa- craments, as God's lealing or invelHng Signs , and (b pretend that to be Divino which is not ; yet man may invent New Human Sacraments, which go no further than the fignifying of their own Minds and Adions.And they fay,That if fuch my- ftical Signs as thele had been unlawful, it is a thing incredible that the Univerlal Church Ihould ufe fuch, as far as can be found, from the Apoflles days ; even the Milk and Honey and Chrylin and White Garment at Eaptilm, and the Station on the Lord's Days, and the oft ufe of the Crofs j and tliat Chrilt fiiould have no one Wimefs that would ever Icrupleor contradiift them, either among the Orthodox, or the Hereticks, as far as any Records of Antiquity do make known. § 300. 7. The feventh Controverfie is about their own practice in Adminiftrati- onsand Church Difcipline. And i. that they mud Minilierially deny the Sacra- ment of Baptifm, to all Children, whofe Parents will not have them ule the Crols, they lay that it is che Chureh that refufeth them by Law, and not they, who are by the Law difabled from receiving them. 2 The fame they fay of their refufing to give the Lord's Supper to any that will not kneel in the Reception of it. They fay tliat it is better to Adminiller the Sacraments to fome, than to none at all ! which they mud do if they refule not them that kneel not. 5 And for the giving of the Sa- craments of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper to the unworthy ffor ail are forced to ule them) they fiy, that the Infants of all in the Church have right to Baptifm, at leaft for their Anceltor's lake, and for the Godfathers and Godmothers, or the Churches lake: And for the Lord's Supper, they have power to put away all that are proved impenitent in notorious Scandal. § ;oi. Having told you what the Conformifls fay for themfelves (as faithfully as will Ifand with brevity) before I proceed, I think it beff to let down here the words, I. Of the Covenant; 2. Of the Subfcription and Declaration; 3. Of the Oaihof Canonical Obedience, before your Eyes ; that while the Subjeft of the Co:itroverrie is before you, the Controverfie it fcif maybe the better underftpod. And I fuppofe the Reader to have all the Books before him to which we are requi- red to Alfenr. The P A d T II. Kev(:Kemi Mr^ S^iqha^rd Baxter. ^^,i The Soleain League and Co vehant;."'' We Boblemcn, 15310110, r%m5i)t0, ana Ociiigiof one Eituraico ja«-- ligion, (jaumg t>cfo?c oucCpeis tIjc ^Io?pof ,anotfjniiteip/u&' lick libEctP, SiafctP, ann \^zuz of tIjc l^insnams, vuijcmu tUiv^msi p?tijate Condition \% incluocn : Sno caUing to minotljc titacO-TDugauD ftloocvl^ioto, Coufpiracics, attcusptis ann ii)?aftifc0 of tijt' eneiM^js of c^oBagauift x\)z trueEeiigion auB v^?ofciro?Q t5ef0ofin"plac£0-,£fp^« ciallp in tOcfc tOJceJl%inpom0 tMtx, fincc t&ei^efo^matia|i iif Eicagij^n, antJ boto mucf) tDeir Eap. li^oiucr, anti l^Kfumption arc of late, attH at t{)t0 time increafcn anti ececcifcD, iujjcieof tljs ncplo^afcie ^sttate of t^e Cturclj antJjKingQom of iieiand, tljc Dtfticficrj caatc of t&e ctjurrtj and fiimgtiom of England, ann tOe Danpcous effatc of tljg COurcij aim JiiingBoui of Scotland, atc p^cfcttt anD pulUick Ccttimoimst (lOg tiate itoU) at lafl (aftet otijcc rnean^ of Supplication, Ecmoit&raiitCj j^io- tellation0 ann ©uffctmjy^) foi iDe p?cfcruattou of oiic fclUes anu our IBleltffion ftom utter Euine ann Dcftrurtion, acco^tiniatfl tljc coinmeir- tiaWc p^1rticE of tljefe i^iniyDome in former times , anu tlje Ciampte of »©o5'0 li)eople in otljer Bationg.after mature Deiitieration, ccfoluen anu nctermineri to enter into a $?5utual ann solemn Leairuc ann couc-- nant : tOOereinioe ail ^ulifcriUe, anneacij one of u0 fo^ ijimfclt, uiitfj our ipanns liften up to tfjcmoft ijiglj *©on , no fiuear : I. -Ytf^iW^y^WiiwtzttW, reaUD ann conttantf)?, t{j?au5i) tfje &-- neuues: Ci)e Eefo?mat!on of EcliiTion in tlje iaini\nom3 of En-^Und ann Ireland, inDortrine, £Oo?n)ip, Difcipiincann after us, mat?, as 'Bicto^en, line in jfaitij ann iioite, t&e lojn map ntiigljt to nuicil ui tijeminiiofus ....' :■ . , if,ij 2. ciiat toe fijall in like wanner, luitljout refpcit of perfons, ennca- Uouc tije ertirpattcn ot pcpci-p,?3?clacp (tbatis.Cijutxij'C'OiJtrnment ijp 2rc!jbifijops,'B'fl3ops, t()eir CljraiceKois ann Commiflancf,s£)ians, Deans ann Cljaptcrs, arcl)=ncacons, aunrm otijcr Ccciefiaftteal Dffi-- cers nepenniniy on tljat ipigtatcl);)) @)upcrrfitii:in, sijerefic, S)C!3iun, ^i^^c= pl)anenefs, anntuljatfoci^n-njaiitcfoimnto 'oc cohtraci' to founn Do- ttrine ann tljc potucr of ©oniiuffs, Icir >ye partake ut ati)er mens im0> ann tljetebp be in nanger to vecei'oe ot tljeir plareue s : Sinn tljat tljc Loan •;niap be one, ann Ijis Ji^ame one in tlje tfj^eemfnExnoms. ^- ?. eae fljiill tuit!) tbe fame fmceritp, rcniitP aim cdnifar»cp in our ft' tjcral eiocdtions,'cnneatiour toitb our cnates an.n JLities, mutuai()> to p^cfecliEtljciaiotts ann Pntiilenges af tljc ^'i)ail laments, ann iiur hh Ijrrttes of tlje iaiuffDoms, ann to prefer ue ann ncfenn tljc i.\inn;'s^a/e= ftics-l^erfou ann QutljoJitP, in tf)e picferuation ann Defence of tljctcuc Eetigton ann JLiberticsof t^e l^inffOoma t Cijat tije. wojin map bear iDltncfs tuitl) our ConfcicnceS of our Lopaltp, ann tljat lue fjabe no tljousljts 02 intention0 to niminiflj ijis ^ajcftics nitt poUJer ann (Jpieat- ^nef0 Si 4 mt 392 --- --- 1 he L I F E oj the Lib.], 4. mz fljall nffo toiti) nil faitljfuliicfs cntcniiottt tlic Dtfcouerp of all fuel) 30 Ijnue liecn, o? fljail be jnccnniaricjs, a^aliiTuantjj, o^. £\)il 3,niTiu* tiientG, lip!3inH2in0tljc Eefomiatiou of Eclujioii, tiiDiniiifl; tije £^tnc; ftom ijis l?£oplc, 0? one of tl)cli\inijtionijQ from anotijci-j o? making a-- np jfaition, oz l^autics, nnionga tljc l3eople canti:ai]> to tiifsj JLeaguc anD CoDcnaiit, Cljat tljev nuip ht b^oiicljt to pubitck <£ria!, ano te- celUc Consign ll?iin(fl3Utcnt, a ^ tljc Degree ofti^elc OfTencess fljall re= quire o?tieferoe,oui)c^up2cam3utiicatoJic0 of botij C^ingnoms rcfpe- aiuel)), 0? otDerjs Ijauing pbiuer troin tfjem fo^ tfjat cffciT, ft)rtll juugc comjenicnt. s. $lnu U)ftcrca0 tljc Ijappiwefs of a bleflcD Peace betlweeu tfjefe Jl^mg- Uoms, Dcnico in former times to our progenitors, is 1)P tbe gooU p?0' Dioence of oDoti grantcnunto us, antiftatljbecn latlelj' concUitJen, auD fetleD bp botl) parliaments, mt fljall caclj one of us, atcormng to out place auD intereft, cnoeaDour tljat tlje)) map remain conjo^jneH in a firm peace ann Onion to all pofteriti' ; an'D tljat juftice map be Done upon tOe trniful ©ppofer^s tljereof, in manner expreffcD in tlje prcccDent ai* tide. 6. mt fljall alfo nccorntug to our places anU Callings,in tlji'^ cotn^ mon caufeef Ecligion, jLibcrtP, anti peace of tljc Unigooms, alfitt ann tefenn all djofc tljat enter iiito tljis League ann Covenant , in tljc maintaining ann purfuing tljereof i 9nti fljall not fuffer our fclljes Hi= reitlp 0? inotrectli', bp uiijatfocber Combination^pctfuinfion orcecrour, to bcDibineti anb luitljBraiun frumtljis blefieD Onion ann Connmttion, tbljctljcr to maUe nefcition to tlje contrarj> part, 02 to giUe our felbejs to a neteffablc innifferencp, o?neutralitpintljis Catifc, uiijiclj 10 muclj concernctlj tljc qpIo?p of *55on,tlje >©oon of tlje laingnoms, ann iponour of tljc £\ingi 03ut fljall all tljenaps of our LiUes ?ealouflp ann coii- ftantlp continue tljercin, againft all fDppofition, ann promote tlje fame acco2tiing to our poU)er,againfl all lets ann jmpcnimcnrs luljatfoeier; gnn tljat luearc not able our fclDcs to fupp2cfs or oDcrccme, xm fljall rebeai ann make knoicn, tljat it map be timeip prtbenten or remoijen x m toljicb Use fljall no as in tljc figljt of «5pon. 3nnbfcaufetljcfc lf\ini\noms are auiltpofmaup %\m ann Proboca* tions againft »iDon, ann Ijis ^011 licfus Cljrift, as is too mamfeft bp our P2cfcnt Dtflreflcs ann Dangers, tlje fruits tljereof, Cclle profefjS ann ncciarc before v^&on ann tfje iao2in, our unftignen nifuc to ht ljum= blenforout oiun ^insannfo2tljc ^ms of tijefe LAingnoms, efpecialip tljat U)c Ijabc not, as lue ougljt, balucn tljc incfiimablc benefit of tljc <^olpel, tljat U)c Ijabc not labourcn for tljc puritp ann pouier tljereof, ann tljat uic ijabc not enncabouren to reccibc cLbrift in our Ijearts, no? to umlk luortbP of Ijim in our libcs,Uiljiclj are tlje Caufes of otljet ^inss ann tEranfirrelTions fo mucb abounning amongft us, Cinn our true ann unfcigncn purpofc, ncfirc, ann enncaoour for our fclbcs, ann all orljerjs unncr'our poluer anncljarge,botlj in publick ann in pribate,in all DutiesJ toe owe to ©on ann i?9an, to amenn our lines, ann eadj one to go be* f02e nnotljcr in tljc erampic of a real Reformation v ^ijar tljc Lorn map turn aiuap bis 2:Uratlj,ann ijeabP Jnnignation,ann eftabliflj tljcfe crijur= cbcs ann lAingnoms in Crutb ann Peace, ann tljis Cobenant toe make in t!)e pjcfrncc of aimlgljtp t&on,tljc ^earcljer of all ljearts,toitlj a true intention to perform tbe fame, as idc fljali anfiuer at tljat great Dap toljen tljc secrets of all Ijcarts fljall be nifclofeOi ^' ft ijumblp befeecft-' ing tl)c Loin to ftrcngtljcn us bp bis Ipoip g)Uirit for tins cnti, ann ta Wefs ^W": Dcftrrs ann procccningsuutb fucb «£^ucccfs, as map be Deli- l3cruncc ann giafctp to bis people, ann cncomagement to otijer Cljri- ftian eijurcljcs irroaning unner, or in nangcr of tbe Poke of anticijri-- ftian CPrannP to io>'n in tlje fame, or like afl"ociation ann Cobenant, to tlje V53102P of c5in,tlje jniargemcnt 01 tbc £>ingnom of Jefus Cljrift, aim tbe peace ann crannuilitp of CbriftianlUngnomsi ann Commoii- lucaltijss. The Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 3513 The Oath and Declaration impofed upon the Lay-Conformijis in the Corporation AB^ the Vejlry AB, &:c. are as followeth : The Oath to be taken. IA. B. ^0 declare and believe, That it is not lawful upon any pretence "whatfoever, to take up Arms agamsi the Ktngy and that I do abhor that Traiterous Fofitton of taking ■ Arms by hts Authority again fl hts Ferfon, or against thofe that are CommiJJioned by him. So •'help me God. The Declaration to be Subfcribed. I A. B. do declare, That 1 h(dd there lyes no Obligation upon me.^ or any ct her Terfon , from the Oath commonly culled. The Solemn League and Covenant ; and that the fame was in it felf an unlawful Oath, and impojed upon the Subjeils iff 'this Realm agattsH the known Laws and Liberties of thii Kingdom. All Veftry Men to make and Subfcribe the Declaration following. I A. B. do declare. That it k not lawful upon any pretence whatfocver, to take Arms againjt tbt King j and that I do abhor that Trait trous P oft ton of taking Arms by ha Auth:rity agatnii hu Ferfon, or againfl thoje that are Commiffioned by him ': And that I will Confirm to the Liturgy of the Church o/" England, as it is now by Law eftahlified^ And I do declare, That 1 do hold there lyes no Obligation upon me, or any other Per/on, from the Oath commonly called. The So\ mn IxA^aQ zndCjOWtimnt, to indeavour any Change or Alteration of Government either in Chircb or State ; and that the fame was i» it felf an unlawfn' Oath, and tmpC Jed upon the Subjeils of this Realm againH the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom. The Decoration : thus Prefaced in the Ad: of Uniformity ; \^ Every Minifler after fuch reading thereof (liall openly and publickly before the Congregation there af- fembled, declare his unfeigned Ajjent and Confent to the ufe of all things in thefaid Book con- tained and prefer ibcd, in thefe words and no other. IA. B. do here declare my unfeigned Affent and Confent to all and every thing contained and prefcribed in and by the Book, Intituled, The Book of Common Prayer and Admini- (hatton of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the ufe of the Church of England ; together with the Pfalter or Ffalms of David ; pointed as they are tobefung or faid in Churches^ and the Form or Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Confecrattng of Bifliops, Priefis and Deacons. The Declaration to be Subfcribed. I A. B. do declare. That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatfoever, to take Arms a- gainfl the King ; and that I do abhor that Traiterous Pojition of taking Arms by his Authority againil his Perfcii, or againft thoje that are Commijfionatcd by him ; and that I wilt Conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by LavJ efiablifi)ed : And I do declare that I do hold there lyes ?;o Obligation upon me, or any other Perjon, from the Oath commonly called. The Solemn League and Covenant, to endeavour any Change or Alteration of Government, cither in Church or State ; and that the fame was tn It jdf an tmlairful Oath, and impojed upon the SubjeHsof this Realm, agamfl the known Laws and Libert its vf this Kingdom. E e e The 394 1 he LIFE of the' '' -Lib.]. E The Oath of Canonical Obedience. Go A. B. Juro quod pra^abo Veram & Cano7ticam Obedicjitiam Epifcop Londinenfi ejufque Succejforibus in omntbus licitis, &,hovefiis. ■ ■ 7- 3 .■.An oV. .U ^ - . •''''* § 302. II. The Nonconformifls, who take not this Declaration, ba'th, Subfcrip- tion, &c. are of divers forts, fome being further diftant from Conformity than o- thers ; fome thinking that (ome of the forementioned things are lawful, and fome that none of them are lawful; and all have not the fame Reafbns for their diffenr. But all are agreed that it is not lawful to do all that is required, and therefore they are all call out of the Exercife of the Sacred Miniftry, and forbidden to preach the Word of God. §503. The Reafons commonly given by them are either, i. Againft the Impo- fing of the things forementioned ; or, 2. Againft the Ufmg of them being impofed. Thofe of the former fort were given into the King aod BiOiops before the Faffing of the Aft of Uniformity, and are laid down in the beginning of this Book ; and the Opportunity being now paft, the Nonconformifls now meddle not with that part of the Caufe, it having feemed good to their Superiours to go againft thetr Reafons. But this is worthy the noting by the way, that all that 1 can fpeak with of the Conforming Party, do now juftifie only the Vfing and Obeying , and not the Impofmg o'lthoiQ things with the Penalty by which they arelmpcled : From whence it is evident, that moft of their own Party do now juftifie our Caufe which we main- tained at the Savoy, which was againft this Impofition ( whilft it might have been prevented), and for which fuch an intemperate Fury hath puriued me to this very day. 2. But it istheRealbns againft our full Obedience to the Impofition of this Conformity, which I am now to rehearfe : but I muft defirethe Reader to remem- ber, that my bare Recital is no fign of my Approbation of all that I recite^though I be one of thofe that dare not Conform. § 504. And firft there are divers genera! Reafons which keep fome of them more than others from Conformity, and drive them further, even from joyning with them in Liturgy or Sacrament. I. Some of them look upon the Principles and Lives of many of thofe who fall in with the eftablilTit Church, as furnilliing them with a lufficient Plea againft Con- formity : For, fay they, it's eafie to obfervc how the Prophane and Vitious and Dcbaucht and Scandalous ( which makes up but too great a part of the Nation ), fall in with that Party in the Church that are for Prelacy and Liturgy ,e^f. and for oppreffing thofe who differ in their Sentiments from them about thele Matters.Now how (ay they, can we fafely joyn in with that Body of Men, that harbours fo many open Enemies to all Religion, as the prophane part of the Nation compre- hends .' But fome who are moreconfiderate, reply. That this is no other than what is the ufual Attendant of a National Effablifimient ; it being a common thing for all thole in a State, who are really of no Religion, in appearance to fall in with that Mode of Religion that is tavour'd by the Law , and moft encouraged by the Prince. § 505'. 2. The fame Perfons fiy. That by Conforming they fiiall o-wn and flrengtb- cn UJurpcn ; who have made a New Office which Chrift never made, and to the great wrong of Chrift, and the peril of the Church, have made themlelves Lords of Gods Heritage : And as he that obeyeth the Pope's Law, is guilty of his U- furpation , fo is he that obeyeth the Prelates Laws, though the Matter commanded were lawful in it ielf But the moderater Nonconformifts are not for thisRealbn; beoaufe,(ay they, it is hnt Counjd as it comech from the Con'vocation ; and ir is the King and Parliament that make a Law of it, whom we muft obey in lawful things. And they fay fur- ther, That we muft not forbear a Duty-, lor fear of Encouraging Men's Ufurpa- tions. § 306. They fay alio, 3 That thcfe Impofitions aiedoneby the Prelates in meer defign to root out godly Minidcrs and Chriftians : And that when they feared that tliC old Conformity would not Icrve turn, they have added fuch new Materi- als of fet purpole, which keep out a Thouland at leaft that would hare yielded to the P A R T II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. '^^ the Old Conformicy ; And what chey aim at fuittier. wheri-fhefyJb|ve tbusdHven out all the able, faithful Miniders, God knoweth. But if we ktin^wiih t^em^aed life the very meins which they have fabiicated for tliis-vcry end, mj rfeittoy tbe In- tereft of Godlinels, though the Act commandedjwei-eindiiTer^rv.vye are made guilty of their Sin. . .. ' : • '. . , . But the moderate Nonconformi'fts fay. That fuch Re^fons astMfo'4re gaadjSe- conds where the Matter is firit proved evil : but i.Thac Mens De/z^K^ are lateht^n their hearts, and the ftronged CoRJsitStui'es will not lerv^ ihftead bt iProof. a. If that it were known to any one of us, not by the EvLdfyice of the thin§.but by.ibnpe other Difcovery, that a lavvful thing is Commanded, with a pernicious defign,. that -will not excuse us from our Obedience, unlefsitjx probable that: the Church, is like to be iaved from ruine, by our forbearance X0 ©bey : And we sTiay do the thing commanded without any participation of ihe Guilt of Mens private, maiici- ous Intentions. -; nib - ■ - - r''!: § 507. 4. Alfo they fay. That we have Covenanted to endeavour a Reformation, and hacl begun it, and therefore fhall be Covenant-breaiiers and fiickflidfirs, ii-we yield to any thing which was to be reformed. -; fiif! •' .i •• -inIi st.,;!' ialf.^ But here the more moderate have niAny Diftindions, between things unlawful and things only jaconvenient, and between thofe that have opportunity to do bet- ter, and thofe tliat have not, and between feldom Communion, and moil ordina- ry. And they fay that things unlawful muflnot be done, whetiier we have cijve- nanted againll them, or not : But for things only inexpedient 01 evil by a.fuperaWe iVecident, they become osr Duties, and no Covenant dilbbligeth us from our Du- ty : 9nd that the Covenant never was intended to oblige us to prefer no IVor^nf be- fore that which is Acfeai've, but only to prefer t!ut wiiich is better before it; And f;hatit fnay be a duty to Cormnunicate fometime with a very faulty Church, in or- der to our Cathoiick Communion with the whole, fo be ir our ordinary partiailar (liommunion be in the purelt Church and Order (catens panhi/s) thar we can have. § ;o8. 5-. And another Reafon given is. That the Aggravation of the Sin of thefe Impolers is very great, that they have been Perfecutors heretofore, and feen antj felt God's Judgments for it, and have been convinced and intreated to return to Charity, and yet they have, with renewed Malice , let themfelves to the. de- bauching of the Confciences of the Kingdom, and to the exrirpition' of Natural Honefty, .ind have brandt^d all their Party with the Mark of Perjury, Perfidiuajne^, and Perfecutton, while they brand the Conlciencious with the Name of Pitrifans^ And therefore they are a Gineration ready for purJitim, and certainly ne.ir fome heavy Curie : And for us to joyn with them that are in the way to Wrath , ig the way to be partakers oj their Plagues. ; ,u.' , : ..■ :■■.'■. But the moderate fay td.this, i. That the Extemtation as well as Che Aggra'oafion of their Sin mull be confidered : And that it mull be remsmbred, that among the Nonconformifls there is a Party of Sectaries, that Rebelled againfl all the Gover- nourstiiat were over them, and cut bfl the King's Head,when they had conquered thofe that are now againft them, in the Field, and lequeflred th$ir Eflates : And that fuch great Provocation may not only fublimate Malice where it findeth it, but greatly exalperate even temperate Men. 2. That it's true that we mult partake with no Men in their Sins,as ever we would elcape their Plagues : but when that which is the Impofers Sin, is become ihtSubjech Duty, God will not plague us with them for doing our Duties. ;. That it is dangerous toprefume toforetel on whom Got! will bring his Judgments in this Life, and toprefume that wearefafe, and they are near perdition ; while all things come alike to all, and tlie differencing Day of Judgment is not yet come. Therefore it is dangerous on liich Propheiles, or Pre- fumptions, or l-ears to go out of the way of any Duty , or to avoid any lawful Communion with the Church. § 509. 6. Again it is laid, That thefe I>vpo/itwnsbs\ng the Engines of Divifion in the Church ( as Mr. i/^/cj himlelf affirmeth), we Ihall be partakers of the Schifms if we ufe them. But the moderate fjy, That indeed if we partake in the Imfofition, we pjrtake in the Guilt of the Divi.fion caufed by it : But wlien they are Impofed, we may do thatwhich in it feU is lawful , without any confent to the Inipolition at alt : Yea, and that which as impofedtendeth to Divifion, may, upon luppotition thit it will be, and is impoledj be praftiled fbmetimes as the way to Unity, and toa- void Divifion. T Ee e 2 § 3I0- ^.^ v.vri The LIFE of the -^ .....i ^L i b. I. § ;io. 7. Laftly it is faid. That the NeceJJlty which is pretended for this Con- formity, is none at all : For,i. As to a Neceffity of Communion with the Church Catholick, it requirech not Perfbnal, Local Communion with each particular Con- gregation ; but that at a diflance we own them fo far as they are to be owned. 2. And for the Efcapingof Punilhment from Men, there is no neceffity of ir, nor yet of our Perfonal Liberty to preach the GofjDeljWhen we cannot do it upon law- ful Terms. But to this the moderate Nonconformifts fay. That i our Catholick Comma- nion requireth that we in Judgment or Praftice feparate from no Church of Chrill which forceth us not to fin, but hold Communion with them as we have a Call and Opportunity. And that we muft not Icparate from one, upon a Caufe that [ is common to almoft all. 2. That though there be no Neceffity of our efcaping Perfecution, nor any abfolute Neceffity of our Perfonal Preaching, yet there is of tills laft an ordinate Hypothetical Neceffity laid upon us by God himfelf j and wo to us if we preach not when we may. So that you fee that thele general Reafons which fome Nonconformifts extend to all, the moderate allow only as Seconds a- gainfl thofe things which firft are proved unlawful. § 511. I. For the particular Controverfie about Diocefans : i. Some of the Non- conformifts are againft all Bifhops, as diftind: from Presbyters, by any other than a Temporary Prefidency or Moderatorfhip. But the molt of them of my Acquain- tance are for the lawfulnels of Ibme ftated Epifcopacy j that is, that there be fixed Trefidtnts or BiJJwps in every particular Church they take to be lawful, as of Hu- mane Conftitution and Eccleliallical Cuftom,contrary to no Law of God. 2. That there be more general Overieers of many of thele Biihops and Churches, as the A- poftleswere ('though without their extraordinary Call and Priviledges) they thiak alfb lawful, if not in fome fort of Divine Inftitution : i. Becaufe Church-Govern- ment being an ordinary (landing work, in that the Apoftles were to have Succef- fors. 2. BecAule they think it incredible if the Apoilles had been againlt particu- lar Primitive Epifcopacy, that no Church or Perfon would have been found on Re- cord to have born witnefs againft it, till it had been fb univerlally received by all the Churches But they are all agreed that the Englijli Diocefan Frame of Government, and fo the Popifli Prelacy, is unlawful, and of dangerous tendency in the Churches. And that this Controverfie may be underltood, the Enghjli Frame muft: here be opened. § 512. There are in England two Archbifhops, and under one of them four Bi- "^ /hops, and under the other One and twenty Biihops: In all Five and twenty Bi- ihops, with Two Archbifhops. Every Bilhop hath a Cathedral Church which is no Pai ifli Church, nor hath any People appropriated to it as Parilhioners : But a Dean with a Chapter of Prebends or Canons, ate the Preachers to. it, and Govcr- noursof-- — Iknownot whom. In (bme Bilhopricks are Three hundred, fome I our liundred, (bme Five hundred, (bme One thoufand, ibme Twelve hundred Pa- ri llies, and fame more. In the greateil Parilhes of Z.c«*/o» are about Thieefcore thouland Souls (^a Martyns, Stepney, Giles Cripplegate ) : in others about Thirty thoafand ( as Giles's in the Fields , Sepulchres ) : in others about Twenty thouland; and in the leffer Parishes fewer. Ufually the greater Country Parifhes in Mai ket Towns have about Four thouland, or Thres thoufand, or Two thou- find Souls : and the ordinary Rural Parilhes about One thoufand in the bigger fort, and Two hundred or Three hundred in the leffer ; fome more, and fome leis. In thele Parifhes the Minifters who have watched over them, ( and of late times in- llruded and catechifed every Family and Perlon, young and old, apart in many placts) do find that the number of thofe that are ignorant of the Perlon and Office ofChiift, and the ElTentiais ofChriftianity, and of all Religion, and of thofe that are ordinary Drunkards, Whoremongers, Prophane Swearers, Curlers, Raiiers, or otherwifc nntoiioufly Scandalous or Ungodly, is not Gnall. For the Government of thele ( befidcs preaching to them, and exhorting thmi, and giving them the Sa- craments), the Parifli Minitter hath no power: He hath no power of judging whofe Children he fliall baptize ; but muft rcfiife none, though the Parents be pro- fefied Heathens or Infidels, it Godfathers and Godmothers bring them to be bap- tized (who yet never adopt them, nor meddle more as Owners of them with their Education, and perhaps know not what Baptifm or Chriftianity is themfelves). They have no power to judge what Perfons of their Parifh fhall be confirmed, or admitted into the number of Adult Communicants : forhat all their Flocks arc im- poled on them. They have no more power than any private Man, to admonilb the Scandalous before Witnefi, or to admonifh them befoje the CI urch, or pray for iheir P A R T 11. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 3517 their Repentance by Name, or to judge who is to be caft out of the Communioft of the Ghurch, or to he Abfblved, nor to deny the Sacrament to any, unlefs for a particular time, when he is juft going to Adminifter it , he lee any there thatar^ notorioufly guilty, and he take chem thenafide, and they will not (b much as fay'. We will do better : And it is uncertain whether he may Sulpend any of thefe, but the Maliciozfi tha.t will not be reconciled: So that tlie Minilteis may read Pi-ayer's and Preach,and miy read an Excommunication or Ablblution when ir is lent thenr, and may, if they pleafe, joyn with the Churchwarden as Informer?, to prefent (bme Men to the Bifhops Court, but C/&?/rc/!)-Gawr«»7e«ns denied them. The Government then of all the(e Churches, and Exercife of Holy Dilciplme, belongeth to the Biftiops in Title ; but tlie Bilhops do and muft Exercifeit in their Courts or Confiftories. In every Diocefs there is one of thefe Courts, where the 'Ordinary Judge is the Billiop's Chancellour, a Lav-man, and a Civil Lawyer ( though in many Cales the Bifliop may fit himfelf if he pleale) : The Court hath aUo a Regifter,and Prodorsto plead Mens Caules, as Counlellers in Civil Courts: And they have fome Fellows called Apparators, who are their Meffengers for Ci- tation, befides the Churchwardens Prelencments, who bring them in Cuftom. This Court is to hear all confiderable Caufes, and determine them by Excommunication^ or Abfolutions, and to fend their Excommunications or Ablblutions written to the Parifli Priert, who is to read them. Buzpro forwa when the Lay-Chancellour hath relblved who Ihall be Excommunicated, they have a Clergy-Presbyter prefent to fpeak the Sentence in the Courr, who yet hath no pnwer, but of meer Pronuncia- tion, but is a Ceremony to put off the Odium from the Lay-Judg; And if he have power as a Presbyter,why do the Bifhops appropriate it to themfelves ? If one that is no Bifiiop may exercife it when a Bilhop bids him, then is it n.)t a thing appro- priatetothe Bilhop's Office. Befides thele there are Arch Deacons, who by them- ielve*, or their Officials, hold (bme kind of hifetiour Court, which dealeth in lef- (er Matters : Some DiocelTes have one Arch-Deacon, (bme two, fome few three or four. The Bifhops fhould go vifitoncea year, and the Arch-Deacon oftner : When they vifit they go to (bme chief Town in the County , and c.iH all the Mi- ni(ters to meet them, where they hear a Sermon, and Dine together ufually. They yearly compile a Book of Articles which Churchwardens arefworn to enquire af- ter, and to preletit the Names of liie Offenders accordingly to the BiOiop's Court. In brief, this is the Fi-ame of our Diocslan Government. To which I only addj That Fees and Money tor Commutation of Penance are much rf their Officers Maintenance; and that fuch as they Excommunicate in moft Cafes, are by a Writ De Excomrr.tmicato Cafimdo to be laid in the Jail, till upon their Repentance they have made their Peace, and are abfblved. § 31;. Having told you what our Government is, let me tell you what, the Exe- cution of it is. The Books ot Articles are fitted (omewhat to the Canons , by thofe Blfhops that are moff moderate and cautelous, and therefore by the Englipj I Canons they may be known : (bme of them ufually are againit Drunkards and Fornicators ; but the main bent of them is againff thofe that wear not the Sur- plice, that Baptize without the Crofs, that omit the Common Prayer, that refufe to Baptize any Infant ,• or that deliV'er the Lord's Supper ro any that kneel not in receiving it ; or that (b receive it without kneeling ; that (fand not up at the Gof- pel, that bow not at the Name Jef»s, ( though they may fit when the fame words are read in the Chapter, and are not required to bow at the Name [^ Chrijl, God'] &c ) Alfo about the Repair of the Church, the Surplice, the Books; that none pifs up to the Church- wall, c$"c. with many fuch things. It is a rare thing for the Churchwardens to prelentany, except Nonconforinifts, that ufe not Ceremonies, &c. Swearers, Drunkards, and Whoremongers are feldom prefented, left Neigh- bours bedifplealed : but Puritans have fome one or other that is more eager in look- ing after them. When any Scandalous Perlbn is prefented, he hath no other Spi- ritual Convidion or Exhortation to Repentance, tending to Convert his Soul., than at any Civil Court ; But telling them that he is Sorry, and paying his Fees or Com- mutation Money, he comes home : But when Confcientious Nonconformiftsare before them, whole Conlcienccs will not let them fay that they are Sorrf ( 'vizSot praying or exhorting others in their Houfes, for giving the Sacrament to them that Itand or lit, &c) they arc ufually Excommunicated. I have been in moff parts of England, and in Fifty years time I never (aw one do Penance, or confefs his Sin in publick, for any Scandalous Crime ; nor ever heard but of two in the Coun- try where I lived ( that Ifood in a White-lheet for AdulteryJ (except in the Ijjace when Bilhops were doivn, and then I have heard many that have penitently con- felfed •398 ■ Thf UlF-A^^the '^ y^k feffed their SiOjand begged the Prayers of the CongregaiioHjand been prayed for) : In a word, their Courts are meerly as Civil Courts^ for Terrour , but not at all to convince Men of Sin, and bring them to Repentance and Salvation, further thi^n fuch Terreur is fit to do it. And note here. That the Difcipline of the Church is i\qt to be judged of by the King's Declaration concerning Eccleliaftical Aftairs,whiQh was never executed before it was void, in thefe refpects : Nor yet by Iqme ef our Reformers or Chroniclers, who tell you how it was exercikd quickly after the In- formation in K}ng Edward's or Quean ElizabetiVi days: As Holliwgjhead, e. £. w^p telleth you of many Suffragans, and of the Piety and Diligence of their Courts , and of Exerciies called Prophefying held up at the Arch-Deacons V^ifit^tions ( a- gajnft the Subverters of which he thunderech) : But as it is in England ^t this d^y, and hath been this Sixty or Seventy years bypaft. § 514. Now concerning this Dioceian Frame (if Government, the Non-S-ithfir-ib^fs (called Puntanshy many ) do judge that it is frnful and contrary to the Worfl of God, both in the Conftttution and in the Admintftratisn of it. And they lay upon ic thefe heavy Charges, the leaft of which it proved, is of intolerable weight. § 51 J. I. They fay, Th^t quantum m fe it dedroyeth (hcFafloral Office, which is of Divine Inflitution, and was known in the Primitive Church : for ic doth de- prive the Presbyters of the third elTential paitof their Office : for it is clear in Scripture, that Chrifl appointed no Presbyters, that were not iabfervi^nt fo him in all the three parts of his Office, as Prophet, Prieft and King, to ffand betvyeerj the People and him iu Teaching, Worfbippingand Governing: And though the ^3u- al Exercije of any one part, may be Sufjpended without the Deftruftion pf the Of- fice, yet to the Office it (elf ( which is nothing but Power and Obligation to exercjle ) one part is as effential as the other : fo then they fay, that [That which deftroyech an elfentinl part of the Paftors or Presbyters Office, defiroyeth the Office as ifllli- tutcd by Chriff J. But theDiocefan ffateof Government deffroyeth,; i^f^. — — rr^ Ergo . The Major will not be denied : The Minor hath two parts ; i. That govern- ing Power and Obligation (over the Flock ) is efTential to the Offi?g of a Paflor or Presbyter as inltituted by Chrift. Which they prove thus • i. The very Nama of Presbyter and Paltor denoteth the Governing Power, and was then vifed in that fence (as * Dr. Hammond hsih well proved ). 2.Thereis nofuch thing found in all the New Tefbment as a Presbyter that had not the Power of Governing his Flpclj Dr. Ham- as well as Teaching it. Me that can find it, let him : Dr. H.immond hath gpne o- mond.An- ver all the Texts in proving it. 3, The Church long after Ijnew no fuch Presby- " Cor "'^ ^^^^ *^ ^"^^ "'^^ '^^ Spiritual Government of the Flock. 4. The Papilfs confijfs that 28.Lit"g7 t'^^y h"*^- the Power of the Keys iw/ow intenori to this day; which is the Spiritual Gpyernmcnt. , 2. The fecond part of the Minor, That the Diocefan jForm deriifith \}^\f, Qq- verning Power to the Presbyters, appearcth i. By their own Confeflions ; .2. By tiie Aiilual Conlfitution, djf^ibling them, and placing che Power elfewlwei: 3. By I the infiance of the forementioned Particulars, and many more : They Ivay? no| " the power of judging who fliall be taken into their Churphes as Members by Bap- ti(m, or Confirmed, or who fhall Communicate, orwhoistobe publickly A^hiot nifhed, Cenfured , Excommunicated, Abfolvpd j buried as a Brotlier dying in Chrift, &c. no nor what Chapter to read in the Church, nor what Garment to wear, nor whjt words of Prayer to put up to God : jn all which they are in^fif E^cutioners of other Mens Judgments, as a Cryep .jetl Presb-ftcrs^ that have no powec of Government but meerly to Teach and Worlhip. That this is a diftin<5t Species^ i^ proved in that i. It wantcth an effential part which the other Sputei h^th, 2. From the Bifhop's own profeffion,who in the bcginningof the Book of Ordination (Subfciibed to ) do declare it plainly determined in Scripture, "-j;?.., 'f'^^at Bilhopsj Prielfs, and Deacons are three dilfind: Orders : which word. Orders is th^ common term to lignihea Species of Church Officers diffind tVotij ftj^iefS/^fgrje i/itlis fani^ Order OV Sfecies. . v I, 1' .-i'^ Thnt this Office is New, is proved i. In that Scripture of Anuquity ncv^r knew if. 2. Dr. Hammond Annot . in yict. 11. and in his f.atin Book ag.^inlf Blondell (Dff jertflt.) profeffeth that it cannot be proved that the word Bi\liop, Pral/ytir^ or Pcfior, figni'ieth in all the Scripture 3ny other than apioper Bjlliopj orth^t jhqrs yv^^.iny tiich Part I!. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 35/^ fuch as we now call Presbyters in Scripture times. And in hi^ Aqfvyer. to tti^ Lcmlon Miniflers, he faith. That for ought he knoweth, all his' 'Brethr'eri.-bt' thi Church of £wg/dw J are of his mind : So that Presbyters that had no Governing Power, were not in Scripture times. And though he fays that the other fort cam6 in before Ignatiuis time, yet i. He faith not that this lort had no Government of the Flock, but that they were under the Bidiop in Government ; fo that yet they are not the Ibrt that we are Ipeaking of. 2. And he doth not prove, any § ;i7. ;. A third Charge which they bring again (l obr Prela'^y is , That it* de- ftroyeth the Species or Form of particular Churches inftituted by Chrift : The Churches which Chrift inftituted are [Holy Societies ajfociated for Ferfonal holy Corti- munion under their f articular Vafton ]; But all fiich Societies are deftroyed by the Did- cefan Frame r-^ — Ergo it is deltrudive of the Form of particular Churches in- ftituted by Chrift.- . ^ They diflinguiih between [Perfonal Local Communion of Saints, !?y Paftors and their Flocks] and Communion of hearts only j and Communion by Delegation or Deputies : i. We have Heart-Communion with all the Catholick Church through the World. 2. Particular Churches have Communion for Concord and mutual Strength, in Synods by their Paftors or Deputies, 5. But [a holy' Communion df Souls or individual Perfon?, as Members of the fame particular Church, for publick Worihip and a holy Life] is fpecifically diftinA from both the former , as is ap- parent, i.By the diftinft end J 2. The diftinft manner of Com murtion, yea and the matter of it. And that this Form of Churches (or Species) is overthrown by this Prelacy, they prove : [ The Churches of Chrift's inftitution were conftituted of Governing F'artorsjand a Flock governed by them in Perfonal holy Communion,every Church having its proper Paftor, or Paftors]. But fuch Churches as are thus conftituted are deftroyed by our Frame of Prelacy : Ergo '- ' '' The Major is confefled de faBo by Dr. Hammond (ttbi fiipra) as to Scripture'ttriifes^- and fuificiently cleared in my Treatife of Epifcopacy. Ignatius his Teftimony along might fuffice, who faith, That \'to every Church there was one Altar, and one Bijfiop, with the Preslyters and Deacons hu Fellow Ser'vants\. A Church of one Altar, and of a thouland Altars; A Church that is for Perfonal Communion, and a Church that hath no Perfonal Communion with her Paftor or Bilhop, or with one of a hun|- dred of her Fellow- Members, a Church which is a Church indeed, and that whicH IS no Church, but only a part of a Church, are more than fpecifically diftinc5t; for indee:! the Name is but equivocally applied to them as diftind: Natures or So- cieties. Every Church (univocally fo called in fenfu politico^ as a governed Society) hath its pars gubcrnans and pars gubernata to conititute it : But fo have not our Pa- rifh Churches as fuch : indeed, as Oratories and Schools (as inftruded and wor- jhipping Societies) they have their Parochial Heads; but as governed Societies they have no Heads proper to themlelves, nor any at all as Churches, but as parts of a Church : For the Diocelan is Head of the Dioceian Church as (uch , and not of a Parocliial Church as fuch, but only as a part of the Dioce!an Church. And as it is no Kingdom which hath no King, fo it is no Political Church wfiich hath no Govcrnour or Paftor. So that Diocelans deftroy particular Churches, as much is in them lyeth. Unlefi any will lay, th.it as one King, as he is perfona naturals, fnay be three, or twenty Kings, as perfona civdis, as related to fsveral Kingdoms ; and fo cneBKhop, ^i perfona natur alts, may yet be a thoufandEcclefiaftical Perfons, as Pa- ftor of fo many Churches : But this being ridiculous , and 3 et faidby none that I have heard oi', I fhall not itand to confute it. ',''""."' ' "~\" "\ • But were ic fo, yet a Paftor that never fieth or'fp'ealseth'to-'his'Peoplej iidf hath any perfonal Communion in Worihip with them, and this according to the Con- ftitution it fcU, is nor of the fame fort with a Scripture Paftor,' i Thefj. y. 12, 1 ;. Hebr. 1 5> 1 7, dfc. which labour among thsm, and preach to them the IVord of God, and watch fir their Souls.Scc. And conifeqir^ntlythe Churches conftituted by them are not of the fame Species. It is one Office pafna'iy to Teach, Overfee, Rule and Worihip with them ; and another to do none of thele to one of a thoufand, but to fend the Churchwardens a Book of Articles. •' § 5 1 8. 4. A fourth Charge iSjThat it (ettech n;i .1 New Church-Form which is unlaw- ful, mftcadof that of Chrift's infHtution ; t.'iac is, a Dioceian Church coniifting of m.iny hundred Parifhes (wb\ch nons ci them nvQ Churches according to thd'Dioce - fan Frame, but parts of one Church ) : It hath been fhewed that- this -Dio'cdSh Church is of another Species than the Parochial, one being for perjond Communroii, which ~^ The LI F E of the L i B. 1. which the other isuncapable of j the far greateft part of the Members never fee- ing their Paftor, nor knowing one another any more than if they lived in feveral parts of the World. And that this Church Form is new, is proved already ; that is, that there was no Diocefan Church having many ftated Congregations and Altars, ( much lefs many hundreds ) and all under one only BiJIwp or Governour, either in Scripture time, or two hundred years after, excepting only that in Akxmdria and Rome, fome fhew of more Affemblies than one under one Bilhop, appeared a lit- tle fboner.) Here note, That it is not an ArMi^wp'i ChurcJi that we are (peaking of, who isbut theGewfr^/ Pafior or Bipop, having other Bi^,cfs and Churches under him; but it is a Church hfima Speciei, commonly called a parttcidar Church, which hath no other Churches or BtJIjops under it. And that none liich was in Scripture times. Dr. Hammond hath manifeded ( there being then no fresbyters diftincft from Bifhops, as he faith on Act. 1 1.) And that there was none fuch of long time after, is abun- dantly proved in myTreatifeof Epifcopacy. § 319. J. The fifth Charge againft the Diocefan Form is. That it e.Ktirpateth r.ht ancient Epifcopacy : which they prove, by what is faid already: The ancient Bifliops were the Heads of the Presbyters and People of one Jingle Church only : To every Church, faith Ignatius, there is one Altar and one Bijliop with the Fresbyters, and the Deacons my Fellow Servants. There was then no Bilhop infima Speciei as diftin<9: from an Archbifr.op, that liad more than one Altar and Church : But now all thele Bifhops of parcicular Churches are put down, and no Church of one Altar hath a Bilhop of its own, but only a Church confiding of many hundred Wor- ftipping Churches. In the ancient times every City that had a Congregation of ChrilHans had a Bifhop ; But now every Bilhop hath many Cities under him,vvhich have all but one Bifhop. For all our Corporations, called Opp'ida, Towns, or Bur. roughs, were then fuch as the word ota/j />gnifted, though we have appropriated the Englilh word [C;ry ] to fome few, that have that Title as honorary in favour from the Prince. § 320. 6. The fixth Charge is. That inftead of the ancient Bij!iops, a later fort of Bilhops is introduced, of a diftincfl 5pea«from all the ancient Billiops : for then there were none but meer Bifhops of particular Churches, and the Archbifhops, Metropolitans, and Patriarchs that had the general overfight of thefe. But ours are of neither of thefe forts: They are not Bilhops of particular worfhipping C^iurches that have one Altar ; but have hundreds of fuch : Nor are they Arch- hijliops ; for they have no Bilhops under them : But thsy are )uft fuch as the Arch- I'lpops or Metropolitans in thofe days would have been, if they had put down all the Bilhops that were under them, and taken all the Charge of Government on them- felves, leaving only Teaching Priefls with the People : Even as the Papifls feign Gregory to have meant, when he fo vehemently denied the Title of Umverfal Bi- fljop, as putting down the Inferiour Bifhops: Now any Man thatthinketh the Spe- cies of Epif.op.icy defcribcd by Ignatius, and u(ed in the I'rimitive times, to be of Divine, or Apollolical Inftitution, mufl: needs think that a Species which having depofed them all, doth ftand up in their ftcad, is utterly unlawful. And therefore this Argument againft Diocefans is not managed by the Presbyterians as fuch, but by thofe that are for the Piimitive Epifcopacy. §321. 7. The feventh Charge againft the Diocefan Form, (and that which flicketh more than all the reftj is, That it m.iketh the Church Goverment or Dtfci- pline which Chrift hath commanded, and all the ancient Churches pradifed, to be a thing tmpoffible to be done, and fb excludeth it j and therefore is unlawful : For to i.\\[pi}ic IVho jliall be the Govcrnours of theCharch, vn hen the meaning is. Whether there j]]j!l be any Government at all (of that fort which Chrift commandethj is the prefent piadiff. For the clearing of this, thefe Queftions are to be debated. Quell r. Whether Chrifi hath snftituted any Church- Dtfcifltne ? 2- H'hat that Difciplme ts which he hath tnfiituted ? 3. Hi/w many Partfiies there be tnaDiocef, and Perfons in a PariJI), who are t» be the Objeils of this Difctphne ? 4. fyho they be that in England are to exercife this DiJcipHne ? § 522. I. Andfor thefirlt Q^ieftion, It is agreed on by all Proteftants that I know of, except lorae of thofe that are called Erajltans ; I fay, fome of them : for I,thli)^thereare very few even of the £r>;y?irf»j that deny it. Dr. Hammond hath \yritten a Treatif? for it. Entitled, Of the Power of the Keys : yea the Papifts differ not from the Proteftants in this point. It will therefore be labour in vain to prove P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 401 § 32 ^. 2. And as to the lecond Queftion, \^Wb(it thu Difiiplme u ?] Ix. Is confide- rable, i. As to x^na Matter ; 2. As to the Virions ; 5. As to the Vlace j 4. As to the Manner ; and f. As to the End. I. As to the Matter ; We are agreed that it confifteth in receiving Per- Ibns into the Church ; in prelerving and healing thole that are in the Church , and in calling out thole from the Communion of the Church which are unfit for it, and in Abfolving and Refloring the Excommunicate when they are penitent. And therefore it is called, The Vower and Exerci/e of the Keys : By thefe Keys, the Door is firit opened to Believers and their Seed, and the Bi- Jhops judge who are Ht to be let in by Baptifm. When -my are lapled into fcan- dalous fin, they are to be proc;;eded with as Chrift hach directed, Matth. i8.i5-,i6, 17. We niuft firft tell men privately of their private Faults,and if they hear us nor, we mufl: take with us two or three ; if they hear not them, we muft tell the Church ; and finally, if they hear not the Church, they mufhbeto us as Heathens and Publicans. And whatfoever is thus bound on Earth Ihail be bound in Hea- ven, and whatfoever is loofed on Earth Ihall be looled in Heaven, verj. 18. The Church is the Body of ChrilV, his Spoule, his Family, hisGaiden; It is a Com- munion of Saints which is to be held in it : It is commanded to put away wicked Perfbns from among them, and not to keep company, ;/' any that n called a Bro- ther be a. fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a ratltr, or a drunkard, Of an extort i- ener, vnth juch a one no not to eat, i Cor, j. 11, 13. And we are to withdraw our (elves from every Brother that -walketh dijorderly, and to note them, and to have no com- pany -with them, that they may be ajhar»ed, 2 ThelT 5. 6, 14. If any come to us, and bring not lound Doftrine, we mufi not receive htm into our haufa, nor bid him good jfted, leji we be partakers of hit evil deeds, 2 John 10. ii. A Man that is an Here- tick, muft, after the firlt and lecond Admonition, be avoided, as Self condemned, Tft. ;. 10, II. And the penitent mull be relfored and re-admitted. All this is a- greed on. § ;24. 2. And as to the Perfom who are Parties in this Tranla£l:ion,we are agreed 1. That it is fuch Perlons as defire Communion with us, that are to be admitted, ( being fit), and fuch as having Communion with us, become unmeet for it that are to be call out, &c. Co that it is to b^ exerciled on Perlbns, fo f,u- as they are to have Communion with us, and not on thole that are uncapable of that Commu- nion. 2* That lententially it muft be done by the Paftor or Governour of that particular Church, which the Perlbn is to be admitted into, or caft out of: And by the judgment of the Paftors of other neighbour Churches, when they alio, as Neighbours, are to refufe Communion with him. 3. Th it executively it is to be done by every one in their places, the Paftors giving or denying the Sacraments, &c. and the People holding or refullng Communion or Company with Men ac- cording as they are judged by the Church. I think there is no Controverfie among us about thefe. § 525-. 3. And therefore the fVork will refolveus of the place ; viz,. That the Ex- ecution muft be in that place where he had or defired Communion, or was capable of it : And therefore that the Judgment Ihould be by thole that being upon the place, have fulleft opportunity to know the Perlbns and the Cale : Even by thole Paftors vho labour amongft the People that are over them in the Lor d^ 1 ThelT. j. 12, 13. who have the luk over them, and preach to them the Word of God, Hebr. 1 3. 7, 17, 24. and not by thole that are ftrangers to them. § 326. 4. And as to the Manner, all Divines are agreed. That it is not to belike the proceedings of a Civil Court, where there is no more to be done, but examine the Caule and pals the Sentence, and execute it by Corporal Penalties and Mulcts: But, I. That it is to be managed by grave Divines, the Phyficians of Souls,for the laving of the Sinner, if it may be, with great lerioufnels, and light, and weight of Scripture Argument, convincing the Erroneous, terrifying the Secure with the ter- rours of the Lord, reproving and admonilhing and perfwading the penitent Offen- der, and all this with Love and Compaffion and due Patience ; and reftoring the Penitent wirh Tendernefs and Conlblation and ncceftary Caution. From all which it is evident, That one (ingle Perfon thus dealt with in cale of Herefie, may hold the Paftor or Bifhop many days time, and one grofs Sinner may hold him many hours time, before this Work can be done as the Nature and Ends of it do reqaire. 2. And it is to be done by the meer Keys of the Kingdom of Chrift, by managing God's Word by particular Application to the Gale and Confcience of the Sinner, and not by outward Force or Penalties. Fff §327 4.02 ih^ L I F E of the Li b. I. § 327. 5. And all this is apparent in the Ends of it ; which is, i. That Church- Communion may be a Communion of Saints , 2, That the Sinner may be laved , and converted to that end j ;. Or however, that others may be warned by his lid Example. 4. And that the unbelieving and ungodly World, may lee the Excel- lency of Chiiftian Religion, and not be hardened in their Infidelity and Impiety. y. Andfo that Chrilt, and the Father by him, may be honoured in his holinelsa- mong the Sons of Men : Thefe are the Ends of Church-Dilcipline. § 528. 5. Andasyou fee what the Difcipline is that is to be Exercifed, fo the Number of Perlbns on whom it isto beexercifed, may be gathered from what is faid in the beginning : where is Ihewed, i. How many hundred Pariflies are in a Diocefi. 2. How many hundred or thoufand Souls in a Parifh : (unlels the very fmalleft^. 5. And how many Hereticks, Atheifts , Papifts, Infidels , or Swearers, Curlers, Railers, Drunkards, Fornicators, and other fcandalous Sinners there are proportionably in moft Pariilies, I leave to the judgment of every faithful Pallor that ever tried it by a particular knowledge of his Flock. § 329. 4. And lartly, who they be that are to Exercife all this Difcipline, I havd ftiewed before ; even one Court or Confiftory in a whole Diocefi, with the incon- fiderable fublerviency of the Arch-Deacon's Court : ( For the Rural Deans do no- thing in it, and are themfelves fcarce known : and the Pallor and Churchwardens do nothing but prelent Men to the Courts, and execute part of their Senten- ces.) § ; JO. All this being laid together, the impoflibility of Chrifl's Difcipline in our Churches is undeniable: r. Becaule by this Computation there mull ftand at once before the Court many thoufand Perfons to be at once examined, convinced, re- proved, exhorted, or a great Multitude at leaft : whtnas they can fpeak but to one at once. 2. Becaule the fecond Admonition which Ihould be before two or three, is there before an open Judicature; which is not fiiited to the appointed End : fo that really our Controverlie with the Diocefans is the fame in efFetifis,&cc.) But thsfe are none of them Denominations a forma. But hence it may be noted , i. That as Bi- ftop Ujher faid. Synods are not properly a Superiour Governing power over the particular Biihops, but only for voluntary Concord. 2, That the Bilhops mujf, againft their wills, grant that all Parilh-Minifters are Je jure Church Governours: or e\k how corns theiv Reprefent at ives to be part of ths Governing-Church, even in Canon-making for common Government (as they judge). As for the Deaio- cratical conceit of them that fay that the Parliament hath their Governing power as they are the Peoples Reprefentatives, and lb have the Members of the Convoca- tion, though thofe reprelented have no Governing power themfelves , it is to pal- pably Self contradiding, that I need not confute it. §^40. 2. A fecond evil Confequence is, thatbynegled of Difcipline (or ex- cluding itj the Vicious want that remedy which God hath provided to bring them to Repentance and Salvation : That God hath appointed Difcipline, is proved from Lev. 19. 17. Matth. 18. ij, 16, 17, 18. i Cor. f. Ttt. i. 13. & i. 15-. d^ 5. 10. i Tim, 5. 5, i^& f. 19, 20, 21, 22, 24. 2 Tim. 3. f. c^ 4. 2. 2 Thef. 3. 6, 14. And as negled of Preaching, io negled of Difcipline teadeth to the hardening of Sinners in their ftns. And when in the Application of Baptifm, Confirmation, the Lords Supper, Abfolution, and all Church Confolations to them, they are all ujed by the Church AS pardoned Sinners, and judged to he fuch (how v'icions ioivsr) thay will tha eafilier believe they are fuch ind3ed, and rejeft all palTages in Sermons that would convince them, and all that would pcrfwade them of the Neceffity of a Change, So that no doubt but many Thoufands are hindered from Converfion and Salvation for want of Difcipline. § 341. 3. And it tendeth to propagate the Sin, as Impunity from Magiftrates or Parents woald do : which made the Apoftle fay , i Cor. j. A little leaven kavenetb the -whole lump: many will be encouraged to do that which undergoeth no more cenfure. § 342. 4. I: keepeth up the Credit of Sin it felf, and gratifieth Satan, while ths Church is deprived of the Publick Means appointed by God, for putting Sin to o. pen (hams, and bruifing the Serpent's Head^by a folemn Condemnation of his Works of Darknels. § 343. J. It depriveth HolinefAnd Obedience oi the honour which God hath ap- pointed for if, by this publick differencing Judgment of the Church, which being, as Ttriullian calleth it, prajudiciitmfttturijudicij, doth reprefent the Jultihcationand Condemnation of that Day ; and wonderfully tend to the publick honour of God- linefs and Hone(}y,and confequently to the Converfion and Eftablilhment of Mens Souls. § 344. 6. It greatly tendeth to the dilhonour of the Church by its pollution : when^s Chriftian Societies (hall be confporcatcd with thofe Vices which are the fhame of Infidels and Heathens ; and thofe of our Communion are in their Lives no better than the Unbelieving World I All Men will think that that is the beft So- ciety which hath the beft People, and will judge rather by Mens Lives than their Opinions. § 345'. 7. And hereby it greatly diflionoureth Chriflianity it felf^ and when the Church is as full of Vices as the Mahomitan Societies are, or the Heathen, it is a publick perfwading ths World that our Religion is as filfj or bad as theirs. § 346. 8. And liereby God himlelf and our blelTed Redeemer are greatly di/ho- noured in the World : As his Saints are his honour, fo when the Communion of Atheilhand Prnphane Perfons, and Oppreflbrs and Deceivers, and Fornicators and Drunkards, is called by us, The Communion of Saints, ic tendeth to make theChurch a Scorn, and to the great dilhonour of the Head of fuch a Body, and the Author of the Chriftian Faith. 40^ The L 1 f E of the L i b. 1, § 547. 9- And it lamentably conduceth to the hardening of the Heathens and In- fidels ot the World, and hindering their Converfion to the ChrilHan Faith : It would make a Reliever's heart to bleed ( if any thing in all the World will do it ) to think that five parts in fix of the World are ftill Heathens, Mihometans and In- fidels, and that the wicked Lives of Chriftians ( with Fopperies, Ignorance and Divifions ) is thegrsat Impediment to their Converfion 1 io read and hear Tra- vellers and Merchants tell, that the Banians and other Heathens in Indoftan , Cam- haiay and many other Lands, and the Mahometans adjoyning to the Greeks, and the Abafmes, &c. do commonly fly from Chriftianity, as the Separatilts among us do from Prelacy, and fay, God will not lave us if we be ChrilHans; for ChrilHansare Drunkards, and proud, and Deceivers, &c. And that the Mahomctavs, and many Heathens have more, both of Devotion and Honefiy, than the common foit of Chriftiahs have that live among them I O wretched Chriftians I that are not con- tent to damn themfelves, but thus lay Rumbling blocks before the World 1 It were better for thefe men that they had never been born 1 But if all thefe notorious ones were dilbvvned by the Churches, it would quit our Prcfeffion much from the dil- honour, and Jhew poor Infidels that our Religion is good , though their Lives be bad. § ^48. 10. Laftly, it galleth the Confciences of the Minifiers in their admini- ftrations of the Sacraments to the openly ungodly and grofly ignorant : It hinder- eth the Comfort of the Church in its Communion : It filleth the Heads of poor Chriftians with Scruples, and their Hearts with Fears; and is the great caule of unavoidable Separations among us, and conlequently of all the Cenfureson one fide, and wrathful Penalties on the other,and uncharitablcnefs on both fides,which follow thereupon. If the Paftors will not ditfer between the precious and the vile, by neceffary regular Diiciplinc ; tender Chriftians will be tempted to difference by ir- regular Separations ; and to think, us Cyprian filth, Thit it belongelh to the People to forfake a fmful Fajior : They will leparate further than they ought ; and will take our Churches as Sinks of Pollution, and fly from the noifomne(s of them ; and come out from among us, for fear of partaking in our Plagues, as men run out of a ruinous Houle left it fall upon their Heads. And then they will fall into Sefts a- mong themlelves, and fall under the hot difplealiire of the Biihops, and then they will be reproached and vexed as Schifinaticks, while they reproach our Churches as Hypocritical and Prophane, that call fuch Societies, the Communion of Saints : This hath been, and this is, and this will be the Caufe of Separations, SeAs, Perfe- cutions, Malice and Ruins in theChriftian WoiU : And it will never be cured, till (ome tolerable Difcipline cure the Churches. § ;49. 10. The tenth and hft Charge againft ourFr-imeof Prelacy is, That by iis ule of Civil or Coercive Power, it at once breaketh the Command of Chrift, and grearly injureth the Civil Government. Both which are thus proved by the Noncontormiifs. § 5 jc. I It violateth all thefe Laws ofChrift : Luke iz. 24, z^-. And there -wot a ftrife among them which of them jlmuld be accounted the greatefi : And he [aid unto them, the Kings of the Gentiles exerci/e LordJJjip over them, and tbef that exerctje Authority upon theffj, are caSed Benefatiors : but ye jhall not be jo ; but he that is greateji among you, Itt him be as the younger, and he that is chief, as he that doth ferve. That is, it is a Mini- Iterial Dignity, and not a Magiftratical, which you are called to : that which is al- lowed to Kings here, is denied to Minifters, even Apoftles : But it is not Tyranny or Abule of Power, but Secular Magiliratical Power it lelf, which is all owed to Kings : Ergo it is this which ii forbidden Minifters. This is the very fence of the Text whicu ii given by Proteftant Epilcopal Divines themlelves, when they rejetS: the Preshyteiians fence, who fay that it forbiddeth Ecclefiaftical Superiority and Powei 01 rni Minifter over another, as well as Coercive. Therefore the old Rhy- mer laid againft the Prelates, Chriftus dixit quodam loco \_f^os nonfic~\ nee dixit joco : Dixit [uts : Ergo ijh Cujm/unt? non cert'o Chrifii. 5i0 I Pet.^. 1,2, 3. Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the overfight there- of, not by conftraint but wiUingly ; tiot for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: Neither as being Lords ever God's heritage, but being enjamples to the Flock. But our Bifhops take the overiight of thofe that are wer among them, and whom they feid not j and they rule Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 407 fule them by conjtraint and not as -voluntary Subjedis , not by Enfample ( for one of an hundred never leech or knoweth them ) but as Lords by Secular Force. Dr. Hammond taketh the word [Confiramt'\ here Adively, not Pafflvely ; not as forbid- ding them to be Bifhops againft their own Wills, but to Rule the Teofle by confiramt againft the Teofks wills. It would be tedious to recite all thole Texts, which command the People to imi- tate the ApoOles as they imitated Chrift, ( whenever ufed Magiftratical tbrce j nor did any oi his Apoftles) and fay that the Weapons of owr -warfare are not carnal ; and that he that warrethentangleth not himfelf with the Affairs of this Life, and that the Servant of the Lord muft not ftiive, but be gentle, &c. § jji. 2. And that this Coercive Church Government is an heinous Injury to Chriftian Magillraces, even where it feenieth to be fubordinate to them, appeareth thuf. 1. Though they do moftly confefs that they can exercifeno Power of Coercion of themfelves, but by the Magiftrates confent, yet do they take it to be the Magi- ftrates duty to confent to it, as if he were not elfe a tender Nurfing Father to the Church : and fo they lay his Conlcience in Prifon,till he truft them with his Sword, or ferve them by ir. 2. They call their Magiftratical Government by the Name of Sptrttttal and Ec clefiaftical Government ; And fo by the Name, they (educe Mens minds , to think that this is indeed the u(e of the Keys, which God hath put into the Churches Handf. 3. Hereby they greatly encourage the Ulurpation of the Pope and his Clergy, who fet up fuch Courts,for probate of Wills,and Caufes of Matrimony,and rule the Church in a Secular manner (though many of them confefs that dWetily the Church hath no forcing Power) : And this they call the Churches Tower, and Spiritual Go- -vernment, and Ecclefiafiical Jurifdiilion^ and (ay that it belongeth not to Kings, and that no King can in Confcience reltrain them of it; but muft protect them in it : And Co they (et up Imperium in Imperio, and, as Bilhop Bedk faid of Ireland, The Pope hath a Kingdom there in the Kingdom, greater than the Kings : ( Again(f which Ludo-u. Molinaiis hath written at large, in two or three Treati(es ) : So that when the Papa! Power in £wg/0ti)l4cf4iiit)g of his Name in vain, and making him the Favourer ot" a Lie. .> .: r| ,f| , , 2. It is a treacherous Breach of Promife to him. . , ,3^;; , ;;. .j^'v. 3 It is a Sin that deeply woundcth an awakened Confcience ,^'9i}i^,reay:^5(ve jt to defpair. ihbn b::::i<\:i-/'rj 4. It overthroweth Humane Societies , and m.iketli a Man ntiCu for Himnajie Converte. For mutual Trufi is the Found »tion or Bond of Societies : .And heyvjaoie Oath is not to be trufted, is not at all to be trufted 4ny further ,th^o his liit§*^t commandeth it. ,11 v,;;. ' ,• ij,u\ J. It expoleth Kings to the Fury of all that dare venture to dr if once SubjeAs be taught that Oaths oblige not, what is there tCk k^iQp thsm ifotti Treafons and Rebellions, but their Carnal Interefls I And if thi;){! ^a once t^augln that Princes take not chemfelvesto be obliged by their Oaths and Covenants, ](tivTi Teachers tempt them to think that they are bound no more to thsii'j^pineS', as be- ing unc^.pable of Truft. So that the Dot^rine of Perjury , that di/obligeth hdcn from under Vows and Covenants, is clitmolt traiterous pernicious Dn J. It expoleth the Kingdom, Church and Religion, which is gajjty.r^of it tiOjcft- proach ; yeaj the greateft reproach of ail its Adverfaries ; making then) vyprie than many Heathens. 1 n^j 6. h bringeth the Judgments of God on a Nation : Fur God wi'l not hold therp guiltlef that taketh hts Name in vam. Saals Polterity inuft be hanged bctbre tiie Fa- mine could be ftayed, becaufe Saul had broken the Vow made to the GiheoMites by Ja^ua, -zSam. zr. And this heavy JudgmeRt on Ew^/^W at this cKiy, which fal- leth on London and many Corporations, terrifying many that rea^ the Corporatir on Aft, which catleth all out of Truftand Power, who dilciaim not abfblucely aU ffhligation of ths Vow or Covenant as on themfelves or any other, 7/ And how can one that enterethinto the Minifiry by publick owning Perjury arid Falilioisd, ever look for any acceptance of his Miniltry by Men,; oi- bietlingon it ( or himfelf in it at leaft ) from God ? Hath God need of Lies and Perjury to his Sewicei Shall we offer fuch a Sacrifice to him that is moft Holyy^nd this under pretence ohat we defied to ferve him by the preaching of his Gbljiel?, Witlv ;\viiat face oan we preach againitany. Sin to the People, when our DeclarationSjSubfcripi tions, andPuWick Ad ions have tirft told them rhatjPferjury it felf may be eonj- mkccd ?- liay, if this ihouid prove to be perjurious^ the Covenant bsing obligatory, then would fhcie terj-ibleConfequents follow. § 397. 2. And then thsy fay, That fuch enonmousi Crimes as thete ihould be ^- voided with much more /e^jr than lefler tins : as a Man will left venture upon thi danger of the i^laguey than of thfr Meafles ; or:i}poji a defperate Precipice th;n an ea^ie Fall ; and will avoid moro it wound at the Heart, than a prick of the Fin- ger : And therefore. no Rational N4ah can expe^jthat here they thould be v^i^pr rous.. ., . :s ;''■ ' ■■;,,.. •:■■ § 35-8., ju-'And they addi. That %iog Affirmatives -bind not ddfempcr , and Po/ir live Duties are not Duties at all timaj,: therefore to a Man that i? rationally feai^jui and in doubt of io great a tin as Perjiir^, the preaching of the Golpei can Ije no Duty,.,tiH thofe Doubts be fufficiehtly removed : And therefore! t|)^y, wonder to pcrceivis that abundance are brought to Conformity by this Argument, [I am fure it IS a Duty. to preach the Gofpel : but hum-not jure that it is a fin tp conform : therefore Uncertainties muft gi've place to Certainties^. For it is not a Duty to one of many hun- dreds to. preach the Gofpel 1 but only of Minifters,: Nor is it any more a Mini- Ifer's Duty that cannot do it wichout finful Conditions, than it is a Womans Du- ty, nTherefofeib fir as any Man doubtetih whether thCiTerms bs lawful, he mart: needs doubt whether it be his Duty (yea, or lawful^ for him to preach : No Man Can be turer'that it is his Duty to preach, than heisiure that the Conditions of his preaching ard lawful. But on the other*. tide, a Man may for feme time well judge that preaching is no Duty to him, thoaghhebe not liirethat the Condition is fmful, if he hiv&but rational caule of dotihiin'g: eljaecially wheti it is no lc(i than Perjury that he feareth. uablxo ion b/.r v j. 3fp. 4. Liut they fay,! If ■ it fhduld prove that the Covenant is obligatory, it Would proveljcha.lin 33 ishdrdtobimaichedi i. For a Miniiterof ^it; Gojpel to be to guilty : 2. And this upon pretence of Serving God : g; And this upon delibe- ration. 4. And to declare, the juftifioation of .three Kingdoms from lb greu a G g g guile, 4.IO Ihe LIFE of the ■ Lib. 1. guilt, even from the higheft to the lowed : and fo to hinder them all fiom repent- ing ; and to Sublcribe to it, that their Vows oblige them nor, and the violation of them is no fin. And if Perjury be a damning fin, hereby to endeavour the damna- tion of fo many thoufands, and all the Plagues and Mileries on the Land that Per- jury may bring, y And to declare againft lb needful a Reformation, that it is no Du- ty at all for Rulers or Subjeds to endeavour it ; no not if they have fvorn to do it. 6. And to put down all this under my Hand, as fome Conjurers have done that have covenanted with the Devil, and given him their Hands toir. All this is exceeding terrible, if this Vow prove obligatory. § 560. y. In this Cale they fuppofe that it is dangerous for Men to go againft the concurrent Judgments of Cafuifts, yea, of their own Cafuifts, in the Cafe of Vows: And they know not how to fave Subfcription, from the enmity of the determina- tions of Dr. Sanderfvny and all other ordinary Cafuifts. And thele aie the general Reafons of their fear. § 561. But I fliall hear tell you what they grant about the obligation of the Co- venant. 1. They aflert that it can bind no Man to any thing that is finful. 2. No nor to any thing that may hereafter be finful , nor from any thing that may be a Duty, when it cometh tobe fuch: though it were neither Sin nor Duty at the making of the Vow. ;. That it bindeth no Man therefore againft Obedience to the King, though the thing be in it felf indifferent, and was not commanded by the King when they vowed: For if a Man might prevent the Commands of Prince or Parents by his own Vows, he might free himfelf from his Obedience. The Command of God, to obey Kings and Rulers is antecedent to our Vows, and above our Vows, and can- not be evacuated or avoided by them. Therefore if there be any indifferent thing in the Covenant, I will obey the King if he command or forbid it, contrary to the Covenant. 4. That we take our felves bound by the Covenant to nothing , hut what is our Duty if there were not fuch Covenant : Not that a Vow doth not bind a Man to things before indifferent : We confefs it doth : But becaufe this Vo-w included and in- tended nothing meerly indifferent : For it is the Judgment of Proteftants, and fo both of the Fratmrs and the Takers of it, that the ufe of a Vow is not to make new Duties to our felves which God never made, but to bind us to that which God had made our Out/ before. Elfe it is a taking of the Name of God in vain. All the doubt therefore is but whether it be a fecondary Obligation to that which God had before obliged us to. So that there is no one Adtion material!y,whofe doing or not doing we take to depend upon the Covenant's obligation primarily or alone j nor do we imagine any thing to be our Duty, which would not be fo, if the Covenant had never had a being. f . That if the Covenanters did then fuppofe that they were bound to defend and obey the Parliament in that War, and to bring a contrary Party to punifh- ment, yet now there can be no place for any fuch Imagination ; becaule the Par- liament is not in being, the War and Difference of Parties is ended ; Ceffante mate- rut ctjjat cbhgatiu, & cejjantibus perfoMU & rerun* jlatu : It is now paft doubt that we are bound to obey the King, and that there is none to ftand in competition for oUr Obedience : lb that as a League with thofe perjons it cealeth with the perfons. ' 6. Thar ir we liad been allowed but to Sublcribe, Th^t [^there is no Obligation-"— - to endeavour ur.liwfuliy'] or \_by any unlawful means'] We had not Icrupled lodKclaim- ing any Obligation, as on our felves or any other Subjects. Thus far there is no Controverfie among us about the Covenant. . § 562. I come now to the Non-Subfcribsrs particular Scruples , which are fuch as thele. r. They lay, That ail Men confiflingthat an Oath or Vow u obligatory, they muft fee good proof that this particular Vow is «o//» before they can exempt it from the common force of Vows: But fuch proof they have never leen , from Mr. Fuliwood^ Mr, Sttleman, Dr. Gauden, or any that hath attempted it, and on whom it is in- « umhent : but rather admire that Men of fo great Judgment and Tendernefs of Conlcience ihouldever be fatisfied with fuch halting Argunicnts ; which they had long ago more fully confuted, if the Law had not forbidden them. They herein argue as the Bifhops in another Cafe : Uncertainties mult give place to Certain- ties, ceteris paribus: But tiisy are certain in geneial that Vows are obligatory, if materially lawful : and they arc uncertain tliat this Vow it materially unlawful, and lo not obligatory : Ergo tbcy darC not lay that no Man is obliged by it. §J6}. '■ ■■'■ ■■ — " ■■■ — - r , -., ■ , ■ - - - ■ ■ P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 41 1 § ;6}. 2. They fay, That all the World confeffeth that a Vow obligfch mrene- cejjaria, to that which is antecedently a Duty : but they propound it to coiifiJera- tion, whether all thefe things following, which are in the Covenant are certainly no Duties antecedently. 1. [To endeavour m our fever al Places and Callittgs, the prefervalion of the Reformed Religion^ 2. [The Reformation of fVorflsipyDifciplineyand Church- Government according tothe Word of God, in Ens;land]. 3. [To bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearefi conjunQion and uniformity in Religion^ 4. [To endeavour the extirpation of (not Epifcopacy, but^ Prelacy, that is, Church- Government by Archhifiiofs, Eifliops, their Chancellours, Commifjaries, &c. i that is the fore delcribed Frame : Whether that Frame be 16 blamelels as to be^ allowable I leave to their Judgments who have weighed what is before faid. 5. [The Extirpation of Popery^. 6. To endeavour [the Extirpation of Super/}ition[\ 7. And [0/ Herefie] 8. And [of ProphaneneJS] 9. And of [whatfoever fhall be found contrary to found DoBrine and the Power of God- linejS2 10. [To endeavour ■with our Eflates and Lives to defend the King's Majefty''s Perfon and Authority, in the prefervation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the King- doms ?] and [not to diminijii his MajeflfsjuH Tower and GreatnefSf] 11. [To be humbled for our own fins and the fms of the Kingdoms,^ 12. I^To amend our Lives, and each one to go before another m the Example of a real Re- formation^ . If all thele be not Duties, let the queflion be, Whether any one of them be a Du- ty ? And then. Whether that which is antecedently a Duty by Divine Obligation, be not further lb by Self obligation, when it is vowed with an Oath .^ Or whether a Vow bind not to a Duty ? But this is but by the by, about the fence of the Impofers of Subfcription expreft in the Corporation Ad. But it is only [ the Alteration of Church Government'] which the prefent Controverfie is about : And if all that was faid againft our Prelacy onthefirft Controverfie prove it a Duty to endeavour an alteration of the Church- Government, then the Controverfie is at an end. § ;64. 5. They fay. That all Men confefs that an Oath and Vow is obligatory in a lawful master, though it were not antecedently neceffary: But whether [ in their Places and Callings'] to endeavour an alteration of the Church-Government be not lawful, is the queftion. Here i. let it be obferved, what the matter of the Vow is : 2. Who be the Perlbns whofe Obligations are in queftion. 1. The matter of the Vow was not to extirpate Epifcopacy in general, nor the Primitive Epifcopacy in particular, but only the foredefcribed Ew^/z/J; Diocefan Prelacy , in Specie: which ] prove beyond all denial : i.Becaufe that which was not in being in England could not be extirpated out of England: But it was not the Primitive Epifcopacy, or any other fort, but the prelent Diocelan Prelacy which was in being in England : Ergo no other could be extirpated. 2. Bscaule when the Covenant was debated firft in the Synod at V/eflminfler, abundance of Divines who Subfcribed the Covenant, did openly profefs that they were not againft Epifcopacy ; and would not confent to it in any liich fence. 5. BecaufSthe faid Divines upon that profeffion, cauled the Defcription of the word [Prelacy] tobeexpred in a Parenthefes, which is only the Delcripcionof our Diocefan Frame: which is to be (een in the words of the Co- venant. 4. Becaufe when the Houfe of Lords ( who impoled \t) did conjundily and folemnly take the Covenant, Mr. Tho. Coleman who preached and gave it them, did openly declare at the giving and taking of it, that it was not all Epifcoj>acy that they renounced or vowed hv this Covenant to extirpate , but only the Dioce- lan Prelacy there defcribed. All this, with the words themfelves, I think is fuffi- cient Evidence of the matter of that Claufe. §365-. 2. And for the Per/ow/, here are efpecially three forts in queftion : i. The King, 2. The Parliament, ;. The People. The firft queftion is. Whether the Peo- ple (in the number allowed by the Ad) may not by humble petition endeavour a re- forming Alteration of the Prelacy ? 2. Whether Parliament Men may not law- fully fpeak and vote for ir ? 3. Whether King and Parliament may not alter it, by altering the Laws? If all thele Adions be the endeavouring of a Duty, or of a lawful Thing in their ftveral ? laces and Callings, and that be the very thing which the Vow obligeth them to^ then the queftion is,Whether hereto it do not bind them.-' G g g 2 § 366. 412 The LIFE of the Lib. 1. § ■^66. i.To fay that the People may not lb much as fetition for a Thing (b much concerning their Felicity, is to take away, not only that Liberty which the King hath in many of his Declarations againft the Parliament, profelTed to maintain, but al(o fuch Liberty as Lawyers lay is woven into the Conltitution of the Kingdom by the Fundamental Laws, and cannot be taken from them but bv changing the Conftitution, yea, and reducing them to a ftate below that of a Subjedt. § %6-j. 2, To fay that a Parliament Man may not Jpeak or 'vote for (uch an alte- ration, feemeth to be againff the old unqueftioned Priviledge of Parliaments, which was never denied by the King who oppofed them in other things. And this Opini- on alfo by fuch an Alteration of Parliaments, would alter the ConiHtuted Govern- ment of the Land. § ;68. J. To fay that the King and Parliament may not alter Prelacy by altering the Law, doth leem to be the higheft Injury toSoveraignty, by denying the Legit- lative Power. § 369. If it be a thing which the People may not petition for, nor Parliament vote for, nor fpeak for, nor King and Parliament alter , then either becaufe the Law of God difableth them, or the Common Good forbiddeth them, or the Laws of the Land reftraineth them from : But it is none of thefe : Ergo 1. It is before fhewed. That no Law of God hath eflablilhed the E»ilijli Form of Prelacy ; nay, that the Law of God is repugnant to it. 2. And that the Common Good forbiddeth not the Alteration, but requireth it. ;. And that no Law reftraineth in any of the three formentioned Cafes is plain, in that there is no Law againft the Peoples Petitioning as afoiefaid, nor can be without alteration of the Government : And the King with his Parliament are a- bove Laws, and have power to make them, and to abrogate them. So that it feem- eth a thing that may be done ; and a Vow turneth a may be into a w?«/ be, where it is of force. And thus far they think that there is no great difficulty in the Con- tro"erfie. §370. Before I tell you their Anfwers to the contrary Reafons, I may tell you that not only Dr. Sander[on granteth, but all Conformifts that ever 1 talkt with hereabout, do agree with us in thefe following Points. 1. That we niuft here diftinguiOi between the Actum Imperant is, the ABum Juran- tisy and the Materiam Juramenti : the Ad of the Parliament impoling it ; the A6t of the Perfbns taking it ; and the Matter of the Oath or Vow. 2. And alio between the Sinfulnefiof an Oath (the Ad of the Swearer) and the Nullity of it. 5. And that if the Impofers Ad be finful, and the Taking Ad be finful, yet the Oath is obligatory if the Matter vowed be not unlawful, and the Aciffs Jurandt were not a Nullity as well as a Sin. 4. That if there be fix Articles in a Vow, and four of them be unlawful , this doth not difoblige the Swearer from the lawful part : Otherwife an unlawful Claule put in, may free a Man from a Vow for the inoft neceflary Duties. 5. That if a Nation take a Vow, it is a ferfonal Vow to every individual Perlbn in thar Nation who took it, 6. That if there be in it a mixture of a Vow to God, and a League, Covenant or Promile to Men, the Obligation of the Vow to God may remain , when as 3 League or Covenant with Man ceafech : unlefs when the Vow is not co-ordinate, but lubordinate to the League or Covenant, as being only a Vow or Oath that it fhall befaitht'ully performed. 7. That if a Vow be impofcd in lawful proper Terms, it is not any unexprefted Opinion oT the Impofers, that maketh the Matter unlawful to the Taker. 8. That if thelmpofsrs be many Perfbns naturally making one coUedive Body, no fence of theirs is to be taken asCKplicatory, but what is in the words or other- wife; publickly declared to the Takers : Becaufe they are fuppofed to be of different minds among themfelves.when they agree not in any Expofition. 9. That though a Subjed ought to take an Oath in the fence of his Rulers who impofe it, as far as he can underlland it j yet a M,in that taketh an Oath from a Robber to hve his Life,is not alway bound to take it in the Impofers fence,ifhe take knot againft the proper fence of the words. 10. That though a Subjed Ihould do his beft to underftand the Impofers fence, for the right taking of it, yet as to the keepngoiit, he is bound much to the lencs in which he himlelf took it, though poffibly he mifunderftoud the Impofers. § ?7i Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 413 § ;7J. Now to their Anfwer to theReafonsof the Conformifts. Object. I. The End was evil ; to change the Government of Church and State witk^ out Law, which was jet led by Law : The BijJiops were a part of the Houfe of Lords, ani therefore could not he cafi out but by their own confent, and the whole 'Parliament'' s With the King. Anfw. I. It is not the ill ends of the Perfons impofing that can difoblige the Ta- ker, unlels it had been the finis proximui ipfius Juramenti efTential to the Vow it felf, and infeparable from it. The Ends of Parliaments may be manifold and unknown, which the People cannot know,nor arebouad tofearchafter.The words of the Vow k felf are [«« our [everal Places and Callings we jiiaU endeavour^ : And this Was the ex^ . prefled work and end;And this was not doing any thing againft Law.lfa difcontented Perfbn now Ihould fay, that the Parliamenis End in the Ad: of Uniformity, and that againft Conventicles, was Perfecution and the Suppreflion of Religion , and therefore they are not to be obeyed, how would this hold, while 'Uniformity and, Teace are the publijiied Ends, and the reft are either uncertain or impertinent to us. 2. Whether indeed the Impofers Ends were ill, is a Controverfie fit to be touch- ed by it felf. They thought fuch a Change of Church- Government was a gooj End : And for doing it agamft Law they put not that into the Swearers part, in this CUufe ; and profeffed the contrary themlelves. But if they did themfelves purpofc to do that againjt Law, which others fwear to do [?« their Places and Calling "] that is, according to Law, are thole others therefore not obliged to do what they vow- ed to do according to Law, becaule the Impofers intended to do their part againft Law ? ;. I fuppofe all the King's Party who took the Oath at their Compoftion , had no ili end in it, and are they not then to interpret it by their own Ends, as it is their Per- lonal Vow ? 4. If we teach Men that the bad Ends of the Impofers do difoblige Men from per-', forming Vows materially good, take heed left it follow that it will difoblige them much more from obeying Coww«« ratione mediorum : becaufe the keeping of a Vow about things lawful, is plea- fing to God, though the matter vowed were indifferent. And if this hold not true, then wicked men can fcarcely ever be obliged by any Oath or Vow to God or their Supert- onrs, becaufe they have wrong Ends in all , or moil things which they do. But this laft part of the Anlwer is needlefs^ becaufe the former are of undoubted cef- tainty. ' _ ^'.j § 571^. 4. The fourth Reafon againft the Covenant is , That it wasfmfuUy talt^, Anfw. I. It may be finfully taken of one ( that had no iufficient Motives,or had evil onesj and not of another: This Objedion chargeth fin on the King and all the Lords^ and Knights and Gentlemen '6f his part, who rook it unwillingly ; v^hen none of them have been heard Ipeak for themfelves, nor have produced the R.eaf:)ns that moved them to take it. 'o^:;; /Vi fjji 2. If this were all granted of King and Kingdoms (that they (inned in taking it) it proveth no more, bm the a^m jurandi was a fin, and not the materia jura- menti evil • which is no proof of the nullity of the Obligation. . Many a Man op Woman that finned in marrying ( for wrong ends, or without juft eaufe, &c>) is yet bound by the Marriage Covenants. Many things ixejinful that are not nulli- ties. A rafh, or ignorant, or cauflefs V^ow is iinful ^uoad acliitm, and yet obligatory if it bi lawful efuoad materiam, and be no nullity. When it is either really wo Fow, or thething vowed be forbidden of God., then it is not to be judged obligatory. § 377. The fifth Realbn againit the Obligation is, from Numb. jo. That it was nulled by the King's declared dijjent. To which it is anfwered by theNon-Subfcribsrs, I. That the Text is nothing to the Point, or ait leaft, no Man can be fure it is. For, I. it (peaketh only de materia non necefi'aria ; but the Covenant is liippoled by the Non-Sahicnbirs to fyc^k de materia necejjaria. 2. The Text exprefly limiteth tlie indulgence to a daughter in the family, or a wife, and doth not extepd ic to the ffronger Sex. ^. It limiteth it to Families, where the Ruler is ftill at hand, and extendeth it not 10 Kingdoms. 4. It doth not prove the Obligation null from the beginning, but only dilTolved afcerward by the Father's or Husband's difpenfation ( 35 many Verfcs exprefs ). 5. Therefore to pretend a parity of reajon, for a King's difpenfing^ 4.1^ The LIFE of the Lib. J. difpenfing with his Subjefts Vo»ws, js a bare pietence, and unproved , and difpro- ved. 6. If it would hold, thtn it is in the power ot Kings to fave all their Sub- jecbs from the guile of Perjury, by dilpenfing with ail thi-ir Vows. 7. This Law if* Nnmbers is no farther in force than it appearecii to belong to the Law of Nature, or of Chrift : For as Mofesh Law, jt dy'd with Chrift, and was nailed to his Crofs: Though the general equity of it be ftill of force. 8. How many Thoufands in this Latid and Scoihmd never knew of the. King's Declaration againfi: the Covenant ? How then could that difpenfe with their Vows, which they never knew of, nor portiWy could know of, being in the Parliamenrs Garrilbns or Quarters ? 9.Whafs this to all thofe that took it when clu King was dead, and therefore could not di- fpehfe with their Oaths ? lO. What is this to the King hiinfelf, who took it long after his Father's Death, over whom no man had a difpenling Power? 11. What's this toall thole that took it after the prelent K'ftg ^'^^ taken it, and publilhed a Declaration for it ? Did not this then confirm {h& Obligation? (Though for my part I am one of thofe that think that the Scots did tli, immannerlj , dij obedient ly , unlaii/fully, inhumanly, foohjJUy, in forcing theKmgto take tbeCo'venant again ft his will, and to fub- Ifjh fohiirfl) a DecUration againfi h/s Father s A£iiens, contrary to ha own jfudgment). Yet ir h hisopeii Declarations, iand not his (e.crct Unwillingnels, which hisdiftant Subjects- coil Id take notice of So th.u this realon feemeth Ihotigly to make againit the pleaders ol it, becaule of the King's confiPmrtig, A, ';,.: o; . § ^78. 6. The fiKch Reafon is, L That the Feofle cf.nnot lawfully endeavour the cbavge of Chttreb Go'vernment without the .Ki/^T Anfit:(.'\c> l^.mnoc the Suhjeih jutttion, 4nd tha'Pi^rliament Jpeak and vote wkho\iL him ,.mx^ petition hii>i alio ? 2. Cannot a Bi^ep lawfully advile the King; do doit , jJl^jie^King ask his. Advice ? , 3.Cannot the Subjeds endt:avour it if theKingcommaud';tJ\tm? Are tjiey all boutid-tp dif- n bey the King i( he Ihould command tlieir S«fvi^« for the Change of Prelacy in- t6 the Primitive EpifcopacyrXheirP/'^ce and Galling is to do it when the K^g com- fej^rkkth-tliem : And lo many ai them underitood as^d took it: And iti^e^tjieth coo near a kin to Rebellion, to faycbait no.Sub)e^nV-ment^cru>d''in'4he Act of Uniformity, but another']. Anfw. This is ib thiii a ftift, that th&jK'in'ghimlelf doth not own if.,, hut faith, That his Enemies , drove fif>i* to it agaitifl his will, ki\i..{irj!itatts mnTandu]A\\i various Names and , Cales oi- Pe^^lons- mi'ae an O.ith or Qovdnant not ito be the fatne I Bccaule it's laid in the toiSi'l''ing {}^^ Noble mtn, Knights, &c. and not [^^f the King and Nobles f\ they fup- rtt^liftoitiet: Noffie or Per/«7tinMi«tkit fpeciftcally another Covenant. Or -becauie woh\vrfii\ioi jirbTt&itig tl>e King's Petfoii, b-iioaged not ;Cp,hi!t» to.taka''i ,^ ;. !i£§'x8«; Jf.- .Acother Reafon is,i .^.That ih^iXi^g li'as forced to nj, Anfwf^ The more ttyAj^'t4<^itied!a(retbey that did ir, then : Wirt ali-tho World acknowledgech f hat the Wiifs/'Man' canhoc be forc«diab(olutely :. and.t-iiat a voluntary -hA, though eau- ltd by nvCcllity or tcrrour, is moral ; and that a Promif; made tp Man ;(,much n!JtoFb-*'Vow:co iGod) in rndterja lictta, thouRb forc^ by -a.Rt)l^t¥r that would uke aw<»y wies Life,' niff)' yac be Otiiigatory. A M^n that maj' Criwie whether he will Vh-»^^ die, is bihundiby his Towjif he chooieit, before i^e^lx: .Though yet the ehiofihg it hV4'^ pQlHbly be hb la). . i j .. .. .. 1, -iijn^ JJf ;■ ^ My; TuUwood^ igp^ti JRiCafon is , That the Ki?>g v^as pre-engaged tOxtaki the I£i^t0rion OathiM Heir.ofthe.Gro')Au,.and confefjiuntlj engaged toEpifcopacy^ iifid^ confer ^ktiiUy be wxu Dot obliged e^gam^ it b^ the Cozitnapt. , . , ^,] - Anfwiyi-'U he'iwire not- obliged to tike' the Crov^n, he w^s not obliged W^titke-'ftiar Q.iHv If hs> wt re obliged uhder the; Pi^vU of a Sin .60- take ihe Crown, theii-CAWti the Bifth, and othcf Princes th4t,Uave laid iiown Crowns, or refuted them^'tiavefiivied i.x'unlelsfomepcctiijair Reaibp bu.here brought), fiat tKis^isnot rtffirnretitbyjnfyvThata Prince may not lawfull); ,fefu(l«, aCroyvn, .un-" lefs when'»CJWouiilhji>.idixTieJ;Iappine£of theKingdomr ". ; .i.j . .-.oi-^-. !' i.'jBe miightliAve jidcen the Crown with an alteration of that Oath :, Who ever d^o^■i-l . 'ii/I < »o': •«! ih'ihn^Jy ' e'-iadn-' : .rrtUx^- ■ ■ ■(■ , -<^« bn-- ,. - c'..,.; ^ . / (itsMhOj P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ;. Who can prove that it is any violation of that Oath, or wrong to [ the li- hertks of the Church'] which the Kingfweareth to preferve,to change the Preucy in- to the Primitive Epifcopacy? b> taking down Lay-Chancellors, and reftoring Pa- ftoral Power, &c. any more ihan it was co take down Abtpots, and to cart out the Pope, and to lubjeft the Clergy to the Magiilrate, who before were much exempt ; All thefe feem to be much more againfl the Liberties of that which was called the Church when this Oath was formed, than the Ihewing Mercy to Prelates and thd whole Land, by reducing them toi a lawful rank, can be. 4. Do any Cafuilfsin riie World teacli fuch Dodrine, That a former Oath is null, beciufe fome Conveniencies required the taking of a later ? J. If this hold true, then God's Law which is former and higher than all, having firft made it (as many Non-Subfcribers think ; a fin to cherifh the Diocefan Frame at all, and con'equently to fwear to do ir, tlie queftion is, Wherher the Obligiti- on to fwear the upholding of them, or the Obligation not 10 fwear it, were the greater ? § ;82. 10. Mr FuUwood's further Reafon is. That [it U injuftke to caB out fo ma- ny Men from their pojj'ejjed Dignities and Efiates j and therefore nu Vow can oblige any to Anfw. I. If indeed ;: were fo, then the Vow extending but to our Places andCal- lings, cannot bind us to it : But is it any Injuftice to make a Law againft Pi-elacy in Specie, and to let their Places and Honours die -with them? The Government may be (b altered without putting out any Man, if none be put in toliicceed them when they die. 2. And what if the King continue them as Church-Magiftrates ( only to do what his own Officers may do, to keep the Churches Peace as Juftices ) and con- tinue their Baronies and their Lands and Places in Parliament, and only reform the pretended Spiritual Power of the Keys : would not this have been a taking down of Prelacy without the wrong of any ? 3. Or what if he had taken down all their Power, and given them a Writ of Eale, and therewith left them, durante vita, their Eftates and Honours ? Would this have been any inj iry to them? 4. If Prelacy be as finful as the Non-Subfcribers foregoing Arguments would prove, can it be injufticc to fave a Man from Sin and Hell? and to fave all the Churches from fuch Calamity, for fome fleflily abatements that follow to a fevsr Perlbns ? 5-. Was it injuftice to put down the Abbots ? Or cannot King and Parliament do good by Laws to the Church or Commonwealth, whenever a fingle Perfon or a few do iuffer by it ? 6. Efpecially where the Maintenance is Publick, and given for the Work, and the Work is for the Publick Good ? Doth any Prince fcruple the removing of an intolerable Pilot or Captain from a Ship ? Or an intolerable Minifter from the Church ? Or an intolerable Officer from the Court, though it be to his lofi ? For my part, I never accufed them for cafting out lb many Hundred Minifters from their Livings or Benefices, upon fuppofition that it be no wrong to Chrift and Mens Souls to caft us out of the Church ; but ihould rather juftifie it. § 38;. II. The laft and not the weakeft Realbn againft the Obligation of the Covenant is. That [^ tf tt were lawful before for fubje£is to petition, and Parliament Men to jpeak and vote againft Prelacy, yet now tt is not j becaufe by thisA5i the Parliament hath made it unlawful. Anfw. I. The Parliament doth only declare their fenfe of a thing paft [ that no Man ts bound] and not enaii by a Law that no Man jl)all henceforth be bound. 2. If it had been otherwile, all Proteftants contcfs that neither Pope , nor any Earthly Power can dilpenfe with Oaths and Vows. :}. They do not fo much as prohibit all Men to endeavour an alteration of Go- vernment in the Church, but only forbid them to fay, That they are bound to it by the Covenant. 4. They have allowed Subjeds to petition for the change of Laws, fb they do it but ten at a time. y. The Parliament is not by any Man to be accufed of fuch a Subverfion of Li- berties and of Parliaments Priviledges, and of the Conftitution of the Kingdom, as to forbid Subjeds peritioning, and all Parliament Men fpeaking, and to difable the King and Parliament from changing a Law when they (ee caufe: If they ihould doanyof thi?, the Charges now brought againft the Long Parliament, would teach and allow us to fuppofe all to be null, H h h ^ If 4i8 The LIFE of the L i b. I 6. If the Laws of God bs againft Prelacy, thofe oblige above all Humane Laws. And he that fhoiild forbid another to fave him or his Neighbour when he is drown- ing , doth not by that prohibition make the faving of them unlawful before God. § ;84. Now to the Latitudinarians addition of Reafons ^e modo & fenfu. i.They fay that the A£t extendeth not to the King at all, when it biddeth us fubfcnhe, th at [^there is no Obligation on me, or any other perfon ] ; for Laws being made for Subje^s, are to be interpreted only of SubjeBs, unleJS when the King is named. To this it iseafily anfwered. That they diftinguifh not between the King as the SubjeB of a Law, and the King as the ObjeB of my Afjertion or Belief. It's true, that the Law fpeaketh of SubjeBs only whenever it fpeaketh of the Duty of Subjeds ; and the King is no Subjeft : But it is as true, that the Law fpeaketh of the King only, whenever it fpeaketh of the Prerogatives of the Crown and Soveraign- ty J and as the ObjeB of the Subjeds Ads of Loyalty. The queftion is not here. Who is commanded by this AB ? but who is obliged by the Covenant or Vow ? And if I be commanded to fay, that [no perjonis obliged^ without any limitation, I can with no realbn except the King, whom the Law excepteth not : Princes may be obliged by Vows as well as others, and their Obligations may be the Subjed of our Aflertions and Belief § 385'. 2. The (econd Reafon is, Becaufe the King's Government is part of that whofe elteration is deslared agamfi, therefore he can be none oftbe[^any other perfens^j. Anfw. I. So the Prelates are the Perfons whofe Government is here mentioned, and yet no doubt they are included in the [any other perfons^'y as their Chancellors, CommiiTaries, Deans, &c. 2. Tf the King may he included, when it is faid, That no Man mufi extirpate Monarchy 'yXio not the Kingj much more when it is iaid,That no Man may extirpate Prelacy ; for there the reafon of the Objedion faileth. § 386. 15. Thev further fiy, That ^the AB meaneth only that no Man it bound by the Vaw to endeavour againjt Law, as by Rebellion, Sedition, Treafon, &c. and not that SubjeBs may not petition, Parliament Menjpeak, or King and Parliament alter the Law : which they prove, becaufe it WiS taking up Arms and illegal AB tons only that the old Parliament was blamed for. Anfw.Th'is one pretence hath drawn abundance of laudable Perfons to Subfcribe: but how unfatisfadory it is, may thus appear : i. Why then could it never he pro- cured to have the word [unlawfullyJi put into the Ad ? when it was know that in that lence none of us would have fcrupled it. 2. All Cafoifls agree that Univerfal Terms in or about Oaths and Vows, muft not be imderftood any otherwife than UniverJaHy, without apparent cogent Realbn : On luch Terms as thefe elfe a Man may take any Oath in the World, or dilclaim any : The Parliament hathexadly tyed Subfcribers to the particular words, and they long deliberated to exprels their own fence : And they fay \_neither I nor any other perjonj^ and now cometh an Expofitor, and faith. The King is not the (^ any ether per/on^ What I Is he no Perfon ? or is lie not another Perfon ? So they fay [no Obligation Itetb on us to endeavour'], and the Latitudinarian faith, That I may endeavour it, and that they mean no Endeavour but unlawful. This contradidory Exception and Expofition is againll all common Ufe and Juftice, and fuch as will allow a Man to cheat the State, by faying or unlaying any thing in the World. 3. We have many a time told fome Latitudinarians how this matter may befbon decided if they will : The Parliament hath paft another Ad with the felf fame words in it, making it Conffcatton for any Man to fay, That ^^^he or any other perfon is obliged by the Covenant to endeavour any Alteration of Church-Government 3 • Let them vviicc or lay openly [Men are obliged by the Covenant to endeavour it by lawful means j hut not by unlawful J : and let them give leave to another to accufe them in a Court of JuRice for thefe words ; and let it be there tried and judged, and then the fence of the Law will be declared : If they be in the right the Acculer fhall lofe his Coffs, and no danger can befal them. If they be not in the right, they will be puniflied by Conftlcation : And is not the hazard of fuch a Law Suit cheap enough for a Man to fave himiilfand others from (b great a Guilt, as the Jufiification of three Kingdoms in the Sin of Perjury ( if it lb prove )? And yet I could never hear of the Man that would .mzard his ElUte thus on the confidence df his Expo- fition of the Law J but multiiudes venture their Souls upon it. 4, The P A R T IJ. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 41 5 4. The Parliament, who is the Expounder of their own Laws, have given us their fence of the Subjed of our Controverfie, in a former Law , which puts al| out of doubt : For in the Corporation Adt all Men are put out of Power and Trufl, who will not declare, that (abfolutely, without any limitation) [ There is na Obligation upon me or any other ferjon, from the Oath called, &c. ] lb that all Obligation to any thing at all by that Vow, is in this nioft important Ad denied, and the profemon of this denial thus impoled. By which it is palt doubt that the Law- makers fence is againft all Obligation abfolutely. f. And that it is fo, is well know to thofe that know what was faidin the Parlia- ment, when among the Commons this Reafbn carried it j fix.. Tliat if any Obliga- tion at all be acknowledge it, even to things lawful, every Jedittous ferfon -will be left to think that he is bound to all which he conceiveth lawful, which withfome will be to refist the King or commit Treafon : Therefore all Obligation abfolutely mull be dented. I confefs -fuch Villains there may be, and they fhould be carefully reftrained ; but as I doubt this Ad of Parliament will no whit change their belief of their Obligations ( for they will think Parliaments cannot difpenle with Oaths or with the Laws of God) fb it is a fad remedy for fuch villanous Errours, to difoblige Men from the lawful part of Vows, for fear lelt they take the unlawful to be ilawful : As it is to teach Men to take nothing which God commandeth, to ba their Duty, for fear lead the/ ihould take ther Stn to be their Duty. § 387. Objsd. Bui what if the Bfjhop give me liberty to put in the word [unlawfully^ or to Subfcrtbe only in that fence • may J net then lawfully do tt ? Anfw. This was the only Expedient to draw in Nonconformifts heretofore, and lb it hath proved of late again. But I diftinguidi, i. There is much difference be-\ tween Subfcribing the very words of the Ad, with the verbal or by- addition ol your own Explication, and the putting in of your Explicatory words into the Sen- tence which you Sublcribe. 2, Between Subfcribirtg this as the impofed Declarati- on in the Ad, and Subfcribing it only as another thing. 5. Between t\\Q fecret and the o/>f» Explication of your Mind. For my part, if the word [ unlawfully 1 had been joyned to [endeavour'^ by the Law-makers, I would not have Icrupled to Sub- fcribe that part of the Declaration. But i. the Bifhop is not the Law-maker, and therefore hath no more power than a private Man to expound the Law : Nor is he fo much as a Judge in this bufinels ( who may expound it in order to the decilion of a particular CaufeJ; but only a Wttnef that you Subfcribe. 2. If )ou only Subfcribe the very words of the Declaration, and Jpeak your Explication, or write it in a by-paper, you do then provide an infufficient Plaifler for the Sore : you do that which is evil in it felf, and would ciire it by an unefTedual accidental Medi- cine : You harden both the Impofers and Subfcribers by your Scandal, while you are faid to Subfcribe the very thing impofed, whofi fence is fo plain, that your Ex- pofition is but an apparent ludicrous diflortion. As if I were commanded to Subfcribe this Sentence [ God hath no knowledge ncr no love ] ; The Impofer under- ft andeth it vulgarly and blafphemoufly : The words in the inoft llrid aad proper fence are true (which cannot be faid in our Cafe) : becaufe knowledge and love are fpoken primarily of the Creatures Ads, and are not in God formaliter , but emi* venter, that is, fbmewhat more excellent which hath no other name, becaufe we' have no formal Conceptions of them, but muft fpeak of God after the manner of Men, while Man is the Glafs and Image by which we know him : yet would I not Subfcribe this impofed Proppfition, while the Impofer meaneth it blafphemoufly j becaufe it is a heinous Scandal to be faid to Subfcribe and own fuch Villany, and ia to encourage others to it ; no though I might exprefs my fence. 3. Efpecially I may exprefs it but privately, where the Remedy againft the Scandal will be inef- fedual : But if you may Subfcribe the whole Sentence with your own words therein, and that not as it is the impofed Declaration ("which is otherwife expound- ed by the Law- makers themfelves) but as another, and may make this as publick and nbtoiions as your Subfcription it felf is, then I havelefs to fay againft it. Therq are no woids ucterable which a Man may not put a good fence on if hepleafe: And yet I durff not fo far play with Death, and comply with the Spirit of Impiety, as, to Subfcribe that [There is no God, or God is unjuft, or unwife, or unholy, &c.y though I had liberty to fay, I mean it in this or that fence Which is true and warrantable. § ?88. 4. Another Motive of the Latitudinarians to Subfcribe is, That by [_to en- deavour anj Change or Alteration of Government tn the Church^ is meant only [any cbangi of the Species of our Church-Government , and noc any Reformation of integral or acch Cental Defeds, or Depravations, H h h ? Anfw,i, ^2o The L I F E of the L i b. J, jinfw. I. And yet thele very Men do profefi to believe, with Mv.Sttllwgfltet^hit no Form of Church-Government is of Divine Aff ointment or Impofition : And if lb, why is it not lawful for the King and Parliamenc to change that which God hath not made neceflary ? Or for Subjeds to endeavour it by Petition ? 2. It is agreed on by Caluifts ( and their Bilhop of Lincoln Dr. Sandtrfon , with the reft) That Oaths are to be taken jenfu [iniHore, and fo are Laws, and thofe elpecially which determine of the Obligation of Oaths : But it is an unwarrantable audacious liberty for any Subjed unnecefTarily thus to turn an Umverjal Enunciation into a Definite and Particular ; and when the Law faith [ any alteration of Govern- mental to fay that {^fome alteration^ is not included. Their reafon is becaufe it is faid [o/] and not [Jn] Government. Anfiv. There is no Language ("much lels the Engltfli) that alloweth you fuch a fence of thefe two Prepofitions, as if [o/] muft needs mean the Species, and [in] may mean only the Integrity or Acadentt. We dare not be lb bold as to feign fuch a Difference and Latitude of fence , to be in the Prepofition [of] unlefi we could prove it. 3. • Will it not be taken for Treafbn if you make the fame *Andthe lame [of] is annex- Expofition of the other Claufe of the Declaration, and fay that ed to both [the Government of ^^e King and Parliament meant no more, than to fiy that no Church or State). Therefore if »..ljli/- j m-i it be treafonable to expound it Man is bound by the Covenant to endeavour an tpntial or Sfe- in your fence, of the One, it is cifick Change of State-Government '^ or no greater Change than fure unlawfij fo to expound it as what may leave it flill in the Sfecies of a Monarchy. Or do you to the Other. believe that they meant no mart ? and that they determined not againft fuppofed Obligations to lower Changes of the Royal Government ? 4. There is not the accurateft Grammarian and Logician of them all, that can tell juft what may be faid to Specifie 3 Government , and what but to integrate it ; and juft how far a Change may go before it may be called a Clwnge of the Species. y. But fuppofe all this were nothing : It is clearly proved that it is not the Genus of Eplfcopacy, but the Species of Engltjh Prelacy ( defcribedj which the Covenant meansch. And I have proved already that a £>ecifick alteration of this Prelacy is lawiul ; and whether alfo not-neceffary let the impartial Reader judge. I have ask- ed the mod Learned of the Diocefan Party that I could meet with, this Queftion, Whether ic be not lawful for the King and Parliament to take down Chancellors, and all Lay-Judges in Spiritual Courts, and Deans, Arch-deacons , CommifTaries, and the Courts themfelves, and to take down a Bifhop of a Thoufand or many Hundred Churches, and to fet up a Bifhop in every Market Town with the adja- cent Villages, yea, or in every great Parifh, to govern with his Presbyters, as it wns'm Ignatimhhdiys ( arid in Cyprians)} And never Man of them denied it lawful for them to make fuch a Change, if they faw it meet. I have asked them further, Whether they would not call this a Change of Government dejpeck , or according to the fence of the Ad; ? And they all confeft it : C For if they did nor, the Ad and Declaration would herein do them no good f, but t I pray ask the Law-givers, Jeave private Men to endeavour (uch an Alteration, which they "Src^, this oatht Z •^"0^ i^ ^" the Alteration that ever we defired of them ; and for mill-, if you endeavour to extir- which they have called US Vresbyterians ) I ha"e asked them fur- pate the Englijh Prelacy, but not ther, Whether a Vow turn not a licet into an oportet ? And they to root out all Epifcopacy. ngygr deny it. Where then can you imagine any remaining difference ? Why this was all that they faid. That it was not this Species of Prelacy , but Epilcopacy in genere which the Covenant 11 o for a Mind prepared and meant, and conlequently the Ad meaneth (I. Which I have pro- .vilhng to know tlu: Truth. ^^ j ^^ ^^^ ^^j^ evidently untrue ; there being no other Epi/copacy but our Prelacy then exilicnt, nor Epifcopacy ever named in the Covemnt in genere, but this Prelacy, being exadly delcribed, and this purpofely for the deciding of this very Duubt, by the means of Mr. Gar a/lfr. Dr. Surges, and many more in the Aflemblies who renounced the extirpation of all Epilcopacy, and the Lords having taken the Covenant in that openly declared fence : But iup- pofe all this had not been (b: Doth not a renunciation of the Gf»«f contain the Spe- cies i And if any Man voweth againft the G>»w, miffaking it to be all Cm(\A, will not his Vow bind him againft that 5;>«/ej which indeed is finful, though not a- gainft the others ? As fuppofe that a Man (hould think that All fwearing and Accu- ling others were a fin, and foto fave himfelf from thefiid lias, fhould Vow to God againft them all : If afteiward this Man dilcovcr that Ibme /wearing before a Magi- fhate is a duty, and feme accufwg of another, is he not for all that flill bound againft prophaxi P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. prophane and rajl) /wearing ? and malicious or mjujt accajing, which indeed are fins ? for therein he was not mjftakcn. So if Men had (as they did not ) upon milUke make a Vow againft all Epifcopacy or Prelacy as a fin , and afterward difcover fhat one fort is a Duty, and the other a Sin, do they not remain obliged againlt that wherein they were not miftaken ? 6. Laftly, Let it be noted, That though it be faid in the Declaration [ o/] Go- vernment, yet it is added [»'« the Church'] and not [of the Church] : which is as much againft them as the other is for them, (eeming to intimate, that it is not the Fornl enly Confiitutive of the Church, which they here intend. § J 89. y. Some leading Independents lay, That it -was ejjintial to this Voii^to bt al- fo a League : and as a League it u eeafeJ, by the cejfation of Perfans and Occapons. ThiJ ihift they were put upon firft themfelves (being the firft that nullified thele Bonds^ that they might do what they did againft the Covenant, and niaite it as an Alma- nack out of date. Anfv/.i. Though as A Political hfirumevt, it be called by one NatHe, A SolMti League and Covenant , and fo all the parts of it do make one Inftrliment, yat 1. The formality of it as a League, and as a Vow, are different. 2. And as a Vow to Godj and a Moral Aft of Man, there are in it as many diftindt Vowi as there aA Matters vowed. The League is not the «!and PURITANS : For Lfecutors j the moft odious Names do moft potently tend to the extinguilhing of Charity, and the increafe of the Difference between them. § 593. III. The next Controverfie is Political: That [it ^ not U-wful on any fre- tence wbatfoever to take up Arms againji the King ; or as is after fatd, agaiT>{l any Com- mtffionated by him]. In this the Lawyers are divided, yea and Parliament them- felves ; one Parliament faying one thing, and another another thing. And thfe poor ejeded Minirters of England are commonly fo little ftudied in the Law, that in thefe Controverfies they muft lay as they are bidden, or fay nothing : And they think it hard that when Lawyers and Parliaments cannot agree , every poor igno- rant Preacher muft be forced to decide the Controverfie, and fay and lubicribe which of them is in the right, upon pain of being caft out of their Office and fi- lenced : which they think as hard as if they were required to decide a Controver- fie between Navigators, or Pope Zachary and Boniface's Cafe about the Antipodes, or elfe be filenced. We are ready to Sublcribe [That King Charles the Second is our lawful King, and that ive owe him Obedience in all his lawful Commands,and that we are bound to defnd his Per/on, Dignity, Authority and Honour with cur Lives and Elates againft all his Enemies, and that neither Parliamtnts nor any other at home or abroad, have any power to judge or hurt his Perfon, or depoje him, or dimini^i any of his Power ; and that it IS not lawful on any pretence whatfoever to conjfire agamji htm, or tfiir up the Peo- ple to Sedition, or to take up Arms again/i^ either his Authority or his Perjon , or againfi rt;?j lawfully Commiffioned by htm j or any at all CommiJJioned by htm, except he btmjelf by a contrary Commiffion, or by his Law do enable us, or not forbid us, or when the Law of Nature doth oblige us^. In all thefe Cafes we are ready to Subfcribe : And one would think this much might procure our Peace. But that which is fcrupled by the Non fubfciibers is as followeth. The words [on any pretence whatfoever j ftudioufly put into a Form of Declara- tion by a Parliament, are fo univerfal, as to allow no Latitudinarian Evafions or Limitations or Exceptions by any Man that is fincere and plain hearted, and doth not Equivocate with God and his Governours: Now 1. Though the King's Authority or Perfon may not be rcfifted by Arms, they are not certain that his I'f^dl may not in any Cafe be refifted. 2. Though none Authonz^ed, that is Legally Commtjfioned by him may be refilled, yet they are not certain that all that are Commiffioned by him are Authorized or Legally Commiffioned. 5. Either this Declaration requireth us to fiippofe that the King never will Com- miffion any illegally ; or elfe that though he do, yet fuch may on no pretence what- Ihever be refifted by Arms, If the former be the fence, then either it is becaule no King will do it, or only becaulo no King 0/ England will do ic. 'The former, all Hiftorians, Politicians, Lawyers and Divines, are againft. And the latter hath no Evidence of Certainty to us. But yet if that had been the fence , we fhould have conlcnted [that on fuppofidtji the King commiffion Men legally, they art not to be refifledy Part II. Reverend Mr^ Richard Baxter. 42 reJijledX But this no Man will fay is to be (uppofed, as an Event certainly and u- niverfally future. But if the worll that is poffible might be fuppofed poffibiej then in thefe (everal Cafes they are doubtful. 1. In Ca(e that a Man pretend to have the King's Commiflion, but doth not Ihew it me, what am I then to do ? 2. In Cafe he fhewit me under the Privy Seal, and another Ihew the Broad Seal to aCominiffion to refift him. 5. In Cafe he fhew the Broad Seal, and I know not whether ^it be counterfeit or furreptitioufly procured. 4. In Cafe that by the fault of Officers, or forgetfulnefs, or any other caufe, one Man fhould have a Commiffion to defend and command a Ship or Fort, or Coun- try, and another Jhew a Commiffion of the fame date to command and defend the fame Ship, Fort, or Country, and to refifl: any that oppofe him ; Is it unlawful for both of them here to obey the King's Command ? y. In caic that -:ny fhall fiiew or pretend a Commiffion for any illegal AB, as to take Mens Piirfes by the High-way, to break into their Houfes, and take their Mo- ney and Goods, and leize their Efbtes, or kill their Families : Or to lay a Tax upon the Country without the Confent of Parliament ; or to ravifh Mens Wives, or Daughters, or to burn the City, or if two or three ftiould ihew a Commiffion to come into the Houle of Lords or Commons, and kill them all in the piace,c$-c. It is certain that a Sword is Arms, and that to fight in a Man's own Defence is to take up Arms : Or if any fay it muft be the fighting of many together only that isi CiW^AthQ Taking up of Arms, as that is not to be underffood by the words which have no fuch relfridion, f j no Man knoweth ho-w many it mufl be that by concur- rence muft make the Ad to be a Taking up of Arms. We have put fome of thefe Ca(es to Parliament Men, and they tell us, That in any fuch Cafe they would ufe their Arms to defend themfelves : But thefe are fingle Members : What the Hou- fes mean, we know not, hut by the words : And no words can be more exclufive of any Exception, than thefe, That [jt is not lawful on any pretence ■whatfoever']. AUb, what if Saul gives Commiffion to his Armour-bearer to kill him ? Might not a Subjed by Arms defend the King, and refcue his Life, againft his Will and Commif fion ? And what if a Court of Juitice decree a Subjed the PofTeffion of his Houle and Land , and require the Sheriff of the County to put him in polfeffion, and to raife the PoJJe Comttatus to do it, if there be refiitance ; And what if the Perfbn to ba ejeded ihew a Commiffion from the King to keep poffeffion, contrary to this Judgment ; is it unlawful for the Sheriff to obey the Court ? ( And the Tojje Comt- tatus ot Torkjinre hath been a confiderable Army J. § 394. The Things which increafe the Doubt of the Non-fubfcribers in this Cafe, are thefe : I. Becaufe if, as it isfaid by fome, the Laws are the Kings Laws, and the Ads of his fFi//, as well as his Commiffions are : Then if his Law and his Commijfion be conrradidory, I mult need difbbey the King which fbever I difbbey, and reliffthe King's Will which loever I refift. We have no Laws but what are Ads of the King's Will; and till they are repealed, they ftill exprefs his Will. 2. Becaufe th.it the Laws are made purpofely to be the Subjeds Rule of Obedience, being alfb the Rule of Judgment in all Courts ; and being that Ad of the King's Will which the Subjeds have publick certain Notice of: They know that the Laws are indeed the King's Laws, and are not counterfeit : And they are of univerfal obligation : But a Seal to a Con>mi(fion may poffibly be counterfeit, or the Subjed can have no luch certifying notice of it. 5. And they know that the King is not himfelf every where prefent, to tell his doubtful Subjeds, which fignification of his Will he owneth, and which they fhould prefer ; and chat he governeth his Kingdom by his Courts and Officers ; they fit and (end forth their Orders in his Name : And a known publick Court of Juftice, feemeth to be a more credible declarer of the King's Will,than a Stranger or particular Perfbn, who faith that he hath his Commiffion. It is the Form of the Law, to be the Ad of the Governing Will of the King, and the ufe of his Courts, to declare it, and expound it, and judge by it for his Subjeds ; But a priva!b Com- miffion wanreth thtfe Advantages. 4. Becaufe they think that the Law of Nature, and the Confiitution of the Kingdom mufb elfe lubmit to this Declaration : For if two or three, or more, ihew a Com- miffion to kill all the Parliament, and fire the City, Nature feemeth to allow thena Self defence ; and Parlia?/yents Cwhich are part of the Conjtitution ) are Vain if they have no better S;curitv for their Lives. f. They 424 ^^^ L I F E of the L I B. i, y. They find a Statute of King Edward the Third, That if any Man bring from the King a Command under the Little Seal, or the Great Seal,to require any Judge to go againft Juftice, or to contradift it, the Judge ftiall go on, as if it lignified nothing : And the Sheriff's forcible Affiftance, may bepart ofhis Judgment_,orthe legal Confequent. 6. Elfe no SubjeAfeemeth to have any Security for his Eftate or Life, lior the Subjed any Liberties: For if their Eftates or Purfes be taken a- And we fear left by this we way,or their Lives affaulted by pretended Com miflions, or Taxes put it in the power of the Lord impofed contrary to Law, what remedy have they ? To fay they Keeper or ChanceUor to Depofe piay queflion the Inftruments at Law, is vain and worfe, as long as Lrc^^monfto an^7fehe that Law, whatever it decreeth,mu{t fubmit to a Commiffion,and onall his Fort5,Garrifons,Navies, niuft never refifl it,nor ufe any force ofArms,though againft a fin- Treafurcs, Guards, ^c. gle Man for its own Execution.Who will begin a Sui-^ at Law, a- gainft the King's Will atall,if he firflf^now that his Will muft not be refifled,and that the End will but be his greater ruinc ? 7. They faid, King James afTerting in his Writings (for Monarchy^ that a King may not make War againfl his whole Kingdom : In cafe then that he fhouLd do it, they are uncertain that the whole Kingdom might not at all refill hiscommiflioned Officers, 8. They find the late King Charles the Firft, in his Anfwer to the Nineteen Pro- pofitionsof the Parliament, alTerting a Proteding Power in the Lords, and-fetting up the Laws above his own Will. 9. They know that the Laws are made by King and Parliament, and Commif- fions here fuppofed to be by the King alone : And the whole Authority of all parts feemeth more than of one alone. 10. They find that it hath been familiar with Lawyers to prefer the Law before the King's Commifltons ; and Parliaments have been of that mind : And they are too weak to Condemn them all in their own Faculties. 11. They find that the greatefl Defenders of Monarchy of all Forreign Law- yers, even Barclay and Grottus, have inflanced in many Cafes in wtrich it is, as they fay, lawful by Arms to relifl a King I And we pretend not to more skill in Laws than they. 12. They find that even thegreateft Epifcopal Divines, approved by our Prin- ces, and moft Learned Defenders of Monarchy and Obedience, do yet let up the Laws above the King,and write more in this Cafe than we can confent to. Mr. The. Haoker fwhom King Charles the Firft commended to his Children to be readj fpeak- cth fo very high, not only in his whole Eighth Book ( dedicated by Bifliop Gau- den to the King ) but alfo in his Firft Book ( which was extant when King Charles the Firft commended his Works) that for my part I do not believe him, ( that the Body as fuch hath the Legiflative Power, and that the King is Jin^tdis major and univerfis TKinor, with much of tlie like : And therefore I have wrote a full Confu- tation of him in t!ie Fourth Tome of my Chri(lian DtreBory. And yet he is one of themoft magnified Authours with the Birtiops. And Ibis Bifhop Bilfony who in his Treatife for Chnjlian Subjeilion, dedicated to Queen Eliz,abeth, hath that terri- ble pafTlige for rcfifiing Kings before-recited §2^' 13. And they find that not only Poltttcians fpeak more in this Cafe than we al- low, ^nd the Roman, Greek, and other Hiftorians ; butthe Hiftorians and Chroni- clers of this Land. For inftance, HoUtngjliead Ltb. i. in his Chapter of Parliaments, laith, [This Hoiifc hath themojl high and abfolute Voiver of the Realm : For thereby Kings and rntghty Princes have from time to ttme been defojed from their Thrones '^ Laws either enailed or abrrgated, Offenders of all jorts fum^ied , and corrupted Religion cither dtfan- nuUed or rtfcrt»ed' which commonly is divided into fwo Houfes or Parts, 6ic. ] Here is mcie fhenl .ilfent to, or tnink to be juflifiable. Now when all ihcle fay fo much more for Refilhince than we judge found, it feemeth hard to us to go fo fur contra- ry to them all (in Matters of other Mens Profeffion ) as to Subfcribe, Thac on no fretcnce whatfoever no one Cominijfmiatcd by the King, may be re/ifitd by taking up Arms. 14. An'y we read how Dr. Main-w airing, and other Divines, have been condem- ned by Parliament for Matters of this Nature. And whatever any Latitudinarian may l,iy, we are fure that \on ?m pretence v-'hatfoe-ver] are words that excluc^e all thefe for"- mentioned Pretences from being lawful. And if ic ytt be faid , That it is dif- loyal to fiippofe that any fuch illegal Con^miflion w. ill be granted , we do not fup- pofvj that it will bs fo, but if it be not pojfible to be fo, 'n this Age or another, then wc are contented to Subfcribe this Claule; For Parliarutncs will not differ about Im- poflibUitiei. jpf. P A R T II. Renjerend Mr. Richard Baxter. 425 § 59 J. Incident to this Controverfie are other Claufes of the Declarai!l refufe things lawful and hoiiejt. Arfw. I. But it is in the relation of our lawful Ordinaries that v/e are required to jwear this Obedience to them. It may be lawful and honelt to do the things com- manded, when it is neither lawful nor honeft to (iibjed; my lelf to the Commander as his Subject-; The mod juft Authority that is can command us nothing but Iscita & honeft a. And \i Cromwell or the Engaging piece of the Parliament had required me to fwear Obedience to them m Ileitis & homfiis, I think to have done it had been a fubjefting my (elf to them as my Governours, which had neither been //«- turn nor honeftum. If a Rebel now fhould ufuip Authority againft the King's will, for the Government of Ireland or Scotlund, he that would go (wear. Obedience to him in licitis & honeflis I think would be didoyaL 2. And it is Obedience according to the C««o«,which is their Jn licitis. df homflis']: And this is to Lay-Chancellors Exercife of the Keys, and many other things whicb are fuppoled licita & honefla, but not yet proved to be fb. §400. Objev//n^fzo«, Excommunication arid Ab/olut ion, and. in the exercife of this power : But the power of the Keys is not Magiftratical. §40;. V. The fifth Controverfie is about Re- ordination. Now in this the Non- conformids are the more Hue, i. Becaule in our mod Publick Meetings b. fore the King and the Lords and the Bifhops, fomeofthem (as Dr. GH»»i»^ oft ) have o- penly de;Iared that tlie Ordination whicli hath been in England without Bifiops is null,jnd thole that were fb Ordained without them are no Miniders, tut Lay-men. And his Majedy himfelf hath fignified openly his own Judgment accordingly, that he would no more take the Sacrament from iuch then from Lay men. So that ic being thus openly declared to be their fence, and no one of their Bifliops or Do- (ftois contradiding it, we have reafon to think that by fubmitting to h~ Re- ordain- ed. Men do interpreratively confefs the nullity of their former Ordination. 2. And it is a new thing, contrary to the Judgment and Pradice of all the Reformed Churches. Part II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 427 Churches. 3. And there is a Canon among thole called the Apoftles which is ex- prefi againft it, commanding the Depoficion of the Ordaineisand Ordained. 4. I have fully proved in my Dijputation of Church Government, That the faid Ordination without Diocefans is valid, and better than the Prelaces, and was performed by liich Bifhops as were in Ignatius's days; w:j:..City-Paflors who had Presbyters under them : And no Man hath attempted to anfvi/er what I have there faid. y. And at baft to be Re-ordained, leemeth but a taking of God's Name in vain, and a (blemn pray- ing to God for that which they have already, and a pretending de novo to receive that Authority which they had before. And to come, as upon a Stage, thus ludi- croufly to play with holy Things, to fulfil the Humours, and confirm the claim of Ufurpers, is fomewhat hard. § 404. VI. The fixth Controverfie is about the firft Declaration, [ 7 .y againit them ! They were (corned as Puritans as their Brethren, butefcaped all the particular Exceptions and Obloquy which many o- thers underwent : But as one was cheerful. To the other was fro:n his Youth fur- . prized with violent Fits of Melancholy once in a few years, wbich though it di- ilraded him not, yet kept him,* till it was over, in a molt delpondent Caie, and next unto Defjjair: And in his health he was over humble, and had too mean Thoughts of himlelf and all that was his own, and never put out himlelf among his Brethren into any Imployment which had the leaft ftew of Oflentation. Lels then a year before he died, he fell into a grievous fit of Melancholy, in which he was fo conljdent of his Gracelefhefs, that he ufualiy cried out, [O n»t one Jpark of Grace, not one good Dcfire or Thought ! I can no more pray than a poft ! If an Angel fi-om Heaven -would tell i/ie that I have true Grace, 1 would not believe hitrf]. And yet at that time did he pray very well ; and I could demonflrate his fincerity fb much to him in his Defiresand Life, that he had not a word to fay againd it; But yet was harp- ing flill on the fame firing, and woul4 hardly bz perfwaded that he was Melancho- ly. It pleafed God to recover him from this fir, and fhortly after he told me, That now he confelTed that what I faid was true, and his Deipair was all but the effedl of Melancholy, and rejoyced much in God's deliverance: But fhortly after came cut the Bartholomew kSc, which call him out of his Place and Miniftry, and his heart being troubled with the lad Calb of the Church, and the multitude of Miniffers ca(t out and filenced, and at his own unferyiceablenefs, it revived his Melancholy (which began to woi k alfo with iomc fears of Want, and his Family's Diftrefs), and this caft him fo low, that the violence of it wore him away like a true Marafmffs., fo that without any other Diieafe, but meer Melancholy, hi con- fumed to Death,continuing ftill his lad Defpondency^ and Self-cond-'mning Means. By which it appeareth how little Judgment is to be made of a Man's Condition by his Melancholy Apprehenlions, ortheladnefs of his Mind at Death : and in what a different manner iMen of the fame Eminency in Ilolineis and Sincerity may go to God I Which I have the rather fiiewed by the inftance of thole two Saints, than whom this Age hath fcarce produced and fet up a pair more pious, humble, julf, fincere, laborious in their well performed Work, unblameable in their Lives, not medling with State Matters, nor Secular Affairs, and therefore well fpoken of by all I Only the htereft of the piece of the Long Parliament ( which ejeded the reft-, and was called The Rump, and cheridied QromweU till he pulfd them down alfo) did caufe them to perfecute Mr. Naltcn, with many other London Miniflers, at the time when Mr. Love was beheaded by them, for being true to the Covenant in endeavouring to reff ore the prefent King : And then when good old }Av.Jackfont Dr. Drake, ( a very holy man) Mr. Jenkins, and ma.ny more of them were in the Tower Prifbners, Mr. Ndton and Mr. Cawton were gladi^to fly into Holland , where the latter died, and the former lived to fee himlelf, and every one of thole impri- loned Miniffers, with the reft of their Brethren, all caft out, and forbidden upon piin of Imprilonment and Banifliment to preach the Gofpsl in the Kings Domi- nions. § 422. And as we were forbidden to preach, fo we nere vigilantly watcht in private, that we might not exhort one another or pray together ; and ( as 1 fore- told them oft, they would u(e us when they had filenced us) every Meeting for Prayer was called a dangerous Meeting for Sedition, of a Conventicle at leaft. I will now give but one inftance of their kindnefs to my fe!f. One Mr. Beak in Ilit- ro»>G,jrr/e» having a Son (his only Child, and very towardly and hopeful) who had been long fick of a dangerous Fever, ( as I remember a Quartan ). and by relapie brought lb low that the Phyficians thought he would die, defired a few Friends, of whom I was one, to meet at his Floufe to pray for him : and becaufe it pleafed God to hear our Prayers, and that very night to reftore him, his Mother fhortly after falling fick of a Fever, we were defired to meet to pray tor her Recovery fthe iafl day wtien flie was near to Death ^ : Among thofe that were to be there, it fell OEt, 432 The LIFE of the . Lib. I, out, through fome other occafions, that Dr. Bates and I did fail thenj, and couW not come : But it was known at fFeftmmfier that we were appointed to be there! Whereupon two Juftices of Peace were procured from the diftant parts of the Town, one from Weftminjter, and one from Clerkcmvell, to came with the Parlia- ments Serjeant at Arms, to Apprehend us I They came in the Evening, when part of the Company were gone, ( theie were only a few of their Kindred there, be- fides two or three Miniiters to pray ) : They c.ime upon them into the Room where the Gendewoman lay ready to die, and drew the Curtains, and took fome of their Names, but miffing of their Prey , returned dilhppointed I What a joy would it have been to them that reproached us as Presbyterian leditious Schilma- ticks, to have found but fiich an occifion as fraying -with a dying Wummi., to have laid us up in Prifon! Yet that dime Week, there was publilhed a witty malicious Inveftive againft the filenced Minifters, in which it was affirmed , that Dr. BaUi and I were at Mr. Beal\ Houlefuch a day keeping a Conventicle ! But theLyar had fo much extraordinary modefty, as within a day or two to print a fecond Edi- tion, in which thofe words (foeafily to be difproved ) werelefc out. Such Eyes were every where then upon us. * § 42;. Many holy excellent Minifters were about thefe times laid in the Jails in many Counties, for private Meetings to preach and pray ! and fome for venturing to preach publickly in Churches vvhich had no Miniilers : (f'^i' fo many were calt out, that all their Places could not prefently be liipplyed ). In Cbejliire Mr. Cook of Chefier was imprifoned, who not long before had lain long a Prilbner in Soutbwark (by Lambert's Vd&ion) for Delivering up Ci6e/?<;r to Sir George Booth for the Refto- ring of the King. In Somerfetjliire were imprifoned Mr. Norman oi Brjilgwater, - Mr. Allen of Taunton, and others : In DorfetjJiire were imprKoned Mr. Francts Bamf- fielcl, Mr. Veter Ince, f taken at a private Meeting in Shafubury) Mr. Sacbevertll , and divers others : In Dorchefitr Jail they preached to the People of the Town who. came to them, every day once, and on the Lord's Day twice ; till at laft the Jay- lor was corrected, and an Order made againft Jaylors letting in People into the Prifbns to hear. The reft at laft were releafed upon fome Bonds given for their .jt'f- good Behaviour, but Mr. F ranc i^ B ani^ield abode in the Common Jail fevcral years, although he was all along igainlt tHeParliaments War. His 'Qiot\\ZT ,Mr .J.Bampfidd, was a Member of m.iny Parliaments, and Speaker of the Parliament in Richard Crom- Tvclh time, which the Army broke : He was Recorder of Exeter ; and though he ftqueftred Recorder, had Satisfaction from the City for his Place, yet he (,fucceetl- inghimin time of C»ow5Z'e//'sUfurpa,tionj reftored to the Poor of the City all that he had received in that place, and perfwaded Minifters to re- "<■ Eutfincc, akf, Fr.wcU iu- ftore * all that they received from Sequeftrations irrtime of the vingfall'n into the Opinion for Ufurpation, becaufe it Was not Law that gave it them ( Though the Saturdi'y Sihhith,(Mc. their , r.ii.n j u-i 1 ij i-'i' lj Affiifters thinkriiemfelvcs jufli- '"^Y "'^^ °ut their Bread while they preached , which was hard- ficd foratflifting them. ly reftored). He was chofen by the Gentlemen of the Well: to carry their Remonftrance to encourage General Monk when he. came in ^ He isa Manof moft exernplary Sincerity and Confcientioufnels : He ne- ver took the Covenant, nor any other Oath in his Life, till he was a Member of the Parliament that brought in the King, and then he was put upon taking the Oath of Supremacy, which I had much ado (being my dear and much valued Friend) to perlwadc him ro, lb fearful was he of Oaths, or any thing that was doubtiul and like to fin : ^t hith this piudent holy Man been laid in Jail as well as his Brother, becaule (having a woriiiy Minifter, Mr. Fhilips, in his Houfc) he would let open his Doors, and meet freely for preaching and prayer in his Houle, forbidding none : But though he and his Brother were the likeft Men I knew io England fuccelsfuUy to have perfwaded thofe that are contrary minded, that it is unlawful for a Parliament to take up Arms to defend themfelves, or punilh Manu- fadures, againft the Will and Word of the King, yet this would not keep either of them out of Prifon : And fo their endeavours for that work were ftopt againil their wills. § 424. It is worthy the mentioning how God's ftrange Judgments about thii time, were turned by the Devil to his own advantage. Moft certainly abundance of real Prodigies and marvellous V/orks of God were done, which lurely he did not caufe in vain ! But the over- fervent fpirits of fome Fanaticks(Eifth-Monarchy- men) caufcd them prelently to take them up boldly with the Commentary oftheir •own Applications, and too haftily venting Matters of Common Report before they were tried, they publilhed at feveral times three Volumes of the Hiftory of thefe Prodigies, in which there were divers leffcr Matters magnified, and fome tilings vvhidft P A R. T II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter, ' 433 which proved falfe I And though upon fkidleft Examination both I and all Men are convinced that very many of the Things were true C as the drying up of the Rivsr Derwent in Darbyjlitrc, upon no known Caufe, in Winter, the Earth opening and fwallowing a Woman near ^Jlihurn in the fame County, upon her own Impre- cation.the Appearance ot an Army to many near Montgomery ,inber of the ejeBed Miniflers might be fo great , as to force them to be glad of a general Toleration, which tnight take in the Papijts: And if you ibmh. to ^ and it out, the) -will yet bring you to it m defpight of you : They will increafe your Burdens, and lay you aU m Prijons, till you are glad to petition for fuch a Toleration : and [land it out as long as you can, you Jliall be forced to procure the Tapifts Liberty j and the odium of ttfiallnot Ije on the Bijhops, but on you that are fo much agamfi it : The Ri-. (iiops jhaUjpeak ogainfi it j and they will force you to beg for it who are agamfi it : And if you will not do it now, you do but fiay till the Market rife, and your Sufferings be made greater, and you jh. ill be glad to do it at dearer rates. On the Other fide, the Presbyte- ri^ns laid, It is ag.unfi our Covenatit to promote Popery and Schtfm, and whatever we fuffer, we will ncvtr do it : nor will we contrail that odium with the People , nor contri- bute fo much to betray them by deceiving them ! And if wt (hould do it, we are affured we Jbatl be never the better for it : for the Toleration Jtiall be clogged with the Renunciation of all Obligations fi-om the Covenant, or fome one other particular Condition, which pall fee/n no matter- of Religion, which they know we will not conform to, and the Vapifis wiU^ and jo when we have petitioned for a Common Liberty, we jliali have the odium, and they only the Libertyi And thus they late ftill, and medled not with that Bufmefs. S 427. For my own part, I medled but little with any fiich Bulinels fince thefail- rng of that which incurred fo much difplealure ; and the rather becaufe, though the Brethren Commiffioncd withmelluck to me as to ths Caufe, yet they were not forward enough to bear their part of the ungrateful part in the management, nor of the confequent difpleafure: But yet when an Honourable Perfonwas earneft with me, to give him my Judgment, Whether the way of 7«(/«/(^e«;c or Co»>pre^e»//ow was more defirable , that he might difcern which way to go in Parliament himlelf j I gave him my Thoughts in the following Paper , though 1 thought it was ;o lit- tle purpofe. kkJ? SIR,' 434 The LI F E of the Lib.!. SIR, YOur firft Qieflion is, Whether the way of Comprebenjion or Indulgence be more dejl- rable? Anfiv. If the Comprehenfion were truly CW/rai/? and Catholkk, upon the Terrrs of the Piimitive Simplicity in Dodrine, Difcipline and Worlhip, extending to al! that the Apoftolick Churches in their times received j it vvould end all our Diife- rences and Mileries, except what in this imperfefl: ftate of the Church Militant muft be ftill expected: and it would prevent the fin and everlafting v\oe of mul- titudes of Souls. But becaufe there is no hope of this, by reafon of the ignorance, impiety, uncharitablenefs, malice and faftioufnefs of the Times; rebus fie ftantibus, it is moft evident that no Friend of the Church Ihould be for Comprebenjion without Indulgence ; nor for Indulgence without the Enlargement of the kGt of Uniformity to a greater Cowprf^CT/zo« ; but for the Conjun^wn of both: which v;ill' attain the ends of both, and avoid the chief Inconveniencies of either alone. 1. The way of Comprchefj/ion alone is not fufficicnt (on Terms not Catholick, which muft be expeded ): r. liccauie fuch Comprehenfion will ftill leave cut many worthy Perfbns, whole Gifts God would have cxercilcd for his Churches Service. And he that lightly valueth the preaching of theGofpel, and the faving of Souls, would rather choofe to have a Milftone hangd about his Neck, and be caft into the Sea, than unneceflarily to filence any faithful Minifters of Chrift. . 2. Becaufe even the Culpable fiiould be punilhed but according to the meafure of their offence: Thofe therefore whole Labours are like to do more good in the Church than their Faults to do harm, ihould be Correfted for thole Faults, with fuch perlbnal gentle Chaftiftment, as may not take them off their Labours for the Church. It is a lighter Punifhment to honeft Minifters, to make Brick as the Ifraelites in Egypt, fo they may withal but preach the Gofpel, than to be forbiJden to preach lor the Saving of the People. See i 7'/&f//'. 2. 14, i j', 16. 3. Efpecially confidering that the lofs by filencing them redoundeth to the Souls of others, efpecially the igno- rant and prophane : and why fhould other Mm be denied the Means of their Sal- vation, and lb perilh, becaufe a Minifter differeth from the State in fome lelfer things ? 4. Confidering alio that there are not competent Men enough to do the Work of the Gofpel without them ; Nay, there will be much want when all are employed, y. It is defirable that his Majefty have Power to indulge the Peace- .-jLle, and abate Penalties, asinhis Wifdom he Ihall lee moft conducible to the Vcaceof Church and State, and not to be too much tied up by an indilpenlable Efta- blifhiTient. Thtfs Realbns ( and many more ) are confiderable for the way of Indulgence. 2. 1'he way of Indulgence alcne is not fufficient ; but firft-, the Law fhould be n\\i\c mc^xQ Co;nprehenfi-ve : i. E'^caufe indeed the prefent Impofitions and Reftri- dions of the Law (confidering alio the direful Penalty) are fuch (efpecially the Declaration and Subfcription required), as the Age that is further from the heels of Truth, will fo defcribe and denominate, as will make our Pofteiity wifh too late that the good of Souls, the welfare of tlie Church, and the Honour of our Nation had been better provided for. 2. I'ecaule it is exceeding defirable that as much firengtb and unity as may be, may be found in the eftabliliied Body of the Clergy : which will be the g'ory of the Church, the advantage of the Gofpel , the prevention of many fina ol Uncharitablencls, and the great lafety and eafe ot his M;ijefty and the Realm: When as meer Indulgence, (iffruftrated by Reftiiclions, will be unfatif. la(3ory,and nnt attain its ends; but if any thing large and full) will drain almoftall theeftabli'hed Churches, of a more confiderable part of the People than I will now mention; and will keep much dilimion among the Minifters. ;. If there be no way but that of Indulgence^ it will load his Majefty with too much of the offence and murpiur of the People. If he indulge but few , thole that expedcd it will lay all the blame on him : If he indulge all or moft that arc meet for it, he will much offend the Parliament .ind Prelates, who will think tlie Law is vain : But a power of indulging a fmall Number, when the moft are embodied by a Comprehenfion, will be leiviccable toGodand the King, and the Common Peace, and juftly of- finf've unto none. 4. The Indulgence will be hardly attained by fb many as neeci it, and ate meet for it; moft being diftant, many friendlefs and moneylefs, and too many mifreprefented by their Adverfariis as unworthy, y. If the Indulgence b; for private Meetings only, it will occafion fuch Jealoufies that they preach Se- dition, Part IJ. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 4,35' dition, &c. as will not permit them long to enjoy it in peace. Thefe and many more Reafbns are againft the way of Indulgence alone. It is therefore moft evi- dent that the way defirable, is firrt a Comprehenfion of as many fit Perfons as may be taken in by Law ; and then a power in his Majefty to indulge the Remnant fo far as condueeth to the Peace and Benefit of Church and State. Your (econd Qi^ieftion is, What abatement it 4efirable for Cemprehenfion ? I anfwer ; Suppofe there is no hope of the Terms of Primitiz/e Simplicity and Ca- tbolicijm, but that we fpeak only of what might now be hoped for. I. It is moft needful that the old and new Subfcriptions and Profeffionsof Affent and Content to all things in the Book of Ordination, Liturgy, and the two Arti- cles concerning them be abated, 1. That the Declaration be abated ; efpecially as to the difobliging all other Per- fons in the Three Kingdoms from the endeavouring in their places any lawful Alte-. rations of the Government of the Church : And that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be the Tefl of Mens fubjedion. ;. That the Minifter be not bound to u(e the Crofs and Surplice, and read the Liturgy himfelf, if another ( by whomfoever ) be procured to do it : So be it he preach not againft them. 4. That ( according to P^)pe Leo III. determination in fuch a Cafe) the Bilhops do by a general Confirmation ( in which each Man approveable to have liis part, upon due trial) confirm the Ordination formerly made by lawful Paftors without Diocefans, without reordaining them. y. That what the Courts will do about Kneeling at the Receivinfl; of the Lord's Supper may be done by others, and not the Minifter forced to rffufe Men meerly on that account. 6. It is very defirable that Oaths of Obedience to the Diocefan be forbo'-n, as long as Men may be punilhed for Difobedience. 7. It is exceeding defirable that Reformation of Church-Government (by Suffra- gans, and the Rural Deanries. &c.) be made according to his Majelty's Willexpref^ fed in his Declaration concerning Ecclefiaftical Affairs. To your third queftion. Of the Extent and Terms of the Indulgence^ it being to be Jeft to his Majefty's Wifdom, I fliall not prefume to give you my Anfwer. § 428. Inftead of Indulgincc and CoTKprehenfov, on the laft day of June i66^, the AA againft Private Meetings for Religious Exercifes paft the Houfe of Com- mons, and ihortly alter was made a Law. The Sum of it was, That [every Perfon above fixteen years old, ivh^ is prefent at avy Meeting under colour or pretence of any Ex- erctje of Religion, in other manner than is alhwed by the Liturgy sr Vraclice of the Church of England, where there ure five Perfons more than that HoujJjold, jhtll for the firfi Of. feme by a Jufiice of Peace be Recorded, and fcnt to Jail three Months till he pay five found '^ and for the fecond Offence fix Months till he pay ten pound -^ and the third time, being convtihd by a Jury, fliall be banijhed to fime of ;^e( American) Plantations, except- ing N&W'Eng\a.nd or Mnginh. The Calamity of the Ad, befides the main Mat- ter was, I. That it was made lb ambiguous, that no man that ever I met with, could tell what was a violation of it, and what not ; not knowing what was [ al- lowed by the Liturgy or Pradife of the Church of England in Families}, becaufe the Liturgy medleth not with Families, and among the diverfity of Family Pra- dice, no man knoweth what to call the Pradice of the Church, z. Becaule lb much Power was given to the JulHccs of Peace, to record a man an Offender .without a Jury, and if he did it caufelelly, we are without any remedy, feeing he was made a Judge : According to the plain words of the A §433. P A R T II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 437 § 4? ;. My Judgment was for the holding of Communion with AiTemblies of both Parties j and ordinarily I went to feme Pari/h Church, where I heard a Learned Minifter that had not obtruded himfelf upon the People, but was cholen by them, and preached well, ( as Dr. Wilkins, Dr. TtUotfm, Mr. Nefl, &c.) and t joyncd alfo in the Common Prayers of the Church : And as oft elfe as I had fi: opportunity, I privately preached and prayed my felf , either with Independents or Presbyterians that defired me ! And I profefled to all upon all occafions, that though I juftified not all things which they held or did in any of their Churches, yet as long as they made not any Sin of mine a Condition of my Communion with them, I would occafionally joyn with any true Church in pubiick or private; fo be it they preached not for Herefie, nor againft a holy and peaceable Life^ nor turned not their Strein to Sedition or uncharitable Reviling one another : E- ven as I would hold occasional Communion with a Church of Lutherans, or Greekig or j^bulfines, if I pafled through their Countreys. Though cattru fanbus I pre- ferred Publick Afjembltes, which have the Magiitrates Countenance, before Private ;; yet I more preferred thole that have pure Worfhip and Difcipline and powerful Preaching, before the fcandalous, undifciplined, ignorant Churches, of ignoranc and formal lifelefs Minifters. And fofar as I had my choice, my moft ufual Com- munion Ihould be with thofs AiTemblies that I thought the belt ; yet would I have occafional Communion with others, as Members of the Catholick Church, to fhew my Catholick Communion with all the Body of Chrift. Yea, and my ordinary Communion Ihould be with a Church that ufed the Common Prayer, rather thani with none, or with a worfe : And the Lord's Day I would fpend in Church Com- munion ( it being principally appointed to that end ), and not in any meer Family Wor/hip, or Meetings with a few Chriilians occafionally which met not as a Church. This was my Refolution : But the confidence of many on the other fide was as great as mine could be : And their Arguments as many (though I thought not lb good ) : Many Books came out againft hearing Common Prayer, and againft hearing any of the prelent Parifti Minifters : One faid to be by Mr.Jobxi Godwin,3.nd another by one Mr. Brown oi PVorcefierJhire (a fervent, injudicious, honeft Fifth- Monarchy-man) and many more that made the Common Prayer to be no lels tl.an Idolatry. Becaufe it was not prelcribed by the Scripture, they laid it is falfe Worfhip; and falfe Worfhip they faid was one Species of Idolatry j by which ar- guing they would have made every fault in any of our Prayers or other Worfhip to be Idolatry ; For Scripture prelcribeth not any diforder or other fault in Pray- er, but forbiddeth it : and fo they may on the fame account call it falfe Worfhip and Idolatry : But many honefl People were led to depart too far from the Parilh AC femblies, and from Charity and Unity it lelf, by fuch weak realbnings as thele. Yea, many turned Quakers, becaufe theQiiakers kept their Meetings openly, and went to Prifbn for it cheerfully ; and becaufe they would not joyn with the late impofed Miniftry and Worfhip, which was fo bad in their efteem, that their hearts role againft any Debate in which we would but quelfion it. When I hear men cry out againfl us as dangerous Schifmaticks, even when we deny not Communion with the conformable'Parifh Minifters , meerly becaufe we ceafs not preaching when the Magiftrates and Prelates command us fo to do, not- withftanding the notorious necefSty of the People ; it bringeth to my thoughts two remarkable Paffages there met with. The firft of the Eafiem Churches (Aley.andria,Antioch,C^farea, 8cc.) which ftuck to their old Paftors in private Meetings , and refuled the new obtruded Bi- Ihops fufpeded of Arrianifm, notwithftanding the Emperour Valeni his Prohibiti- on, and his contrary Commands, and his perfbnal violent Impedition. The like was done in Conftantius'i time. The fecond is of many Bifhops in Africa who by Genfericm were forbid to preach, and when they obeyed him not, their Tongues were cut out : And God by a Mi- -^ ^^Ky ^ racle juftified their Difbbedience to the King, and they fpake as well as when they had their Tongues : Among many Hiftorians who report this, I remember two credible ones, who profels that they law and heard the men Ipeak themlelves, af- ter the cutting out of their Tongues ; One is Vi^(n Vtieinfis^ and as 1 remember the other is ^naat Gez,iMt, $1^4^ 438 The LIFE of the L i b/L § 434- I confels fome of thofe that were for Separation from the Pari(h Chur- ches (pake To plaufibly, that it was no wonder that moll of the Religious fort fol- lowed them. They (aid that 1. We have but lately fworn in the Covenant agalnft Superftition, and for a Re- formation : and IliaU we all fo foon return to Liturgies and Ceremonies, &c. at the Will of Man? 2. As Conformity, fo Separation, is now another thing than it was when the old Non-conformifts wrote againrt the Bro-wnifis, the Churches being far more polluted. g. We are commanded to avoid them that walk diforderly, and not to bid them goodjpeed that bring faUe Dodtrine, and not to eat with them,&c. And Cyfnan faith^ That it belongeth to the People to avoid a bad Paftor, and that if they do it not, they mufV not think themfelves innocent, though Synods caft them not out. And what fin, fay they, can be more heinous, than to break their Vows with God fo Iblemnly, and in fuch dreadful Expreffions, made.-* and to Subfcribe under their Hands, That neither Prince nor People in Three Kingdoms, ought to reform fuch a corrupted undifciplin'd Church , no not though they have Sworn to endeavour it ? and not only to be Perjured themfelves, but to juftifie Three Kingdoms in the Guilt of Perjury ; to difiionour our Nation before all the World, and teach them to name it hfuU Perfidorum, the Perjured IJland: To declare openly for the ablbiute Slavery of the Kingdoms, whofe Liberty their Anceftors preferred before their Lives J declaring that it is not lawful by Arms to fave my Purfe or Throat froai Thieves, if they (ay they have the King's Commiflion for it I or (hew it : To Af- lent and Confent unfeignedly to all the Corruptions impofed on them I To make all this a Mini((crial Sin, by Publilhingor Reading it before all the Congregation : To turn to all this unfaithfully, without ever Debating the Cafe with tlie able(t that differed from them ; or elfe going on when they were Silenced in Con- ference , and had nothing to fay 1 Are thele men for us to hold Communion with ? 4. God will be worfhipped with the beftjand curleth them that offer him the blmd and lame, when they have better in their Flocks. y. The Churches are not only undifciplined, but the Paflors by Subfcription juftifie if, and compel by cruel Perfecution all Men to Communicate with them thrice a year, both the Good againfl their Confciences , and the Bad againfl the Word of God. to their Condemnation : And (hall we Communicate with fuch > § 4 J 5". To thefe fad and heavy Accufations we anfvvered, 1. The Covenant bound us to our beff to reform: but did not bind us to fin, that is, to forfake all Chriftian Churches among us, and all Publick Worfhip, when we cannot reform as vve defirc. As I am bound to amend all the Difbrders and Faults of my own Praj'crs, but not to give over praying till lean amend them. Kay, tl-.e Covenant hincisth us to come to the AfTemblies, in that it bindeth us agsinft Schilm, Prophanenefs, and whatf^evtr is againfl (bund Dodriae and Godli- nefs. 2. I confefs that Conformity is not the fimc thing as it was in the Broivnijis time : But yet rhe Difference is not (o great as to make Separation lawful now , which was unlawful then. In one great I^oint the Ca(e of the Church was worfe then, than it is now : in that the multitude of the People being new turned from Popery by the bare Will of the Qaeen and Parliament , were far more ignorant than now they arc i when the Golpel hath made the People much more under- ftanding and reformed ; infomuch that in fome f few ) great Towns and Pa- rifhes, a confiderable part of the People, are zealous Profelfors of Religion that daily worfhip God in their Familief. ;. There is a great deal of Difference between God's Commands to a Church to caft out and avoid particular Sinners by way of Difciplinary jleformjtion, and a particular Perfbn's avoiding vi-hokC^urchis, and that before the Neighbouring Churches have in any Synod declaied them unfit for our Communion : The for- mer may be found, but any Command for the latter you will hardly find in Scrip- ture; but contrarily it was the prafticeof Schii'maticks and Hereticks : For how jcan you proceed in Chrifl's method of Admonition with (uch whole Churches ? At leaft, till they are notorioufly Ilerccical, or intolerably corrupt and obflinate therein P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 439 therein you cannot avoid them. The Churches of Corinth , Galatia, Epheftts, Sar- Ju, LaoJtcea, Tbtatyra, &c. had foul Corruptions , and are commanded to exe- cute Dilcipline on the Members j but no Members commanded to forfake riie Churches, but the contrary. As to Cyprians words, its true, that a People that care for their Souls mufl depart from an Heretical or utterly intolerable Miniflerj as they that Jove their Lives will do from a Phyfician that would kill them : But there is a great deal of difference between Verjonal Faults^ and Minift'erial Faults, (as between a Drunkard and an Herettck)., and between a tolerable minijhrial Fault ( as all imperfeft Men are guilty of in their feveral meafiiresj and an int clcrabk ons : and between the Defertion of a whole Congregation, and of the leffer partj when the reft will not forfake the Minifler. I deny not but you are bound to forbear committing the care and guidance of your Souh to a Man whole Alimfi trial Faults are intolerable. And fuch are, i. The utterly Ignorant and InfiifTicient ; 2. The Preachers of Herelie, or Doftrine contrary to the necefTary Points of Religion; ;. And thofe that fet themlelves to preach down Godlinefs, or preach for a wick- ed Life, ( if any fuch there be ) : But you muft remember how in their Fadious Zeal, all Parties or Sedl:s of Tate among us, were wont to preach againlf one ano- ther, and yet that was not taken for preaching ag.iinfi Godlineis, though the Perfbns were never lb godly that they preached againft. And as you recount all that may aggravate their fin, fo you muft in jufiice remember all that may exte- nuate it : Remember therefore, i. Tliat for the Common Prayer and Ceremonies and Prelacy , multitudes of worthy holy Men conformed to them heretofore, from whom you would not have leparated j fuch as Dr. Frefion, Dr. SMs, Dr.Tajr- lor, Dr. Staughtott, Mr. Gattaker^ and molt C by far ) .of the late Synod at Wefi^ mincer : And for the reft of the Conformity, remember the Matter and the Ttrnp- tation: Vov t\\Q Matter, it is much about Political Things, where it is no wonder if Divines on either Mt are ignorant or erroneous : and if they be unacquainted with the Power of Kings and Parliaments, when Lawyers and Parliaments them- felves arc dif^igreed about them. And for the Temptation, remember that fuch hor- rid Mifcarriages, as the the Rebellious pulling down of King and Parliament, kil- ling the one, and cafling out and imprifoning the Members of the other, and the attempting the taking clown of all the Miniltry, and the ruining of all Order by armed Seftaries, with the multitude of Sefts that fwarm'd among us, I fiy thefe Effetfts, with the Kings miraculous Reftoration, and the ruine of fuch an Army without one drop of Blood, are things that might eafily draw Men to judge that the Covenant was but a League for the promoting of an unlawful War,and there- fore is utterly null : And fpecially it concerneth you to remember, that it was the Independents that firft taught them the nullity or non-obligation of the Covenant, calling it a ceafed League, and an Almanack out of date, which they were forced to do that they might violate it: And yet you do not now call them Perjured, and aggravate their Sin, and fay. They kill'd the King and conquered Scotland, when they had fWorn the contrary in the Covenant : Nor do you feparate from them on this account : Nay, it is moflly the Independents that are now for Separation from the Prelatifts as Perjured, who went before them in the nullifying of this Vow. 4. We diffwade you not from worfhipping of God with the beft you have, fb you will but remember,that Love and Concord and honourable Solemnity are con- Jiderable Ingredients to make up the beft : and that it is not beft to fpend the Lord's Days in no Church- worfhip at all, but meerly with a few that are met occaflonal- ly, becaufe you cannot worfhip him publickly as you would j and that that may be the kff which you have liberty to perform, which is not the beft which you could do if you had liberty. J-. And though the Churches be too much undilciplined, and all Communicate, fb are the Reformed Churches of Helvetia , which are numbered with the beft, where Difcipline never was let up. In Conclufion, He that feparateth from one Church, for a Caufe common to almoft all the Churches in tlie World ,^ doth go too near a Separating from all the Churches in the World : But fo it is here i For almoft all the Churches in the World have worle Minifters and worfe Mem- bers, and as bad a form or way of Worfhip as thefe in England : And it is a terri- ble thing to think of Separating from all or moftof the Univerlal Church of Chrift on Earti). 4.40 I he L I F E of the Lib. 1. § 4;6. But the Ejeded Presbyterian Minifters that would not come to Common prayer in Publick, went more moderately to work, and faid, 1. We do not feparatc from every Congregation that we joyn not with in Per- Ibn : Elfe every Man doth feparate every day from all the Congregations in the World fave one : If they are not Separatifis for not joyning with us, then neither are we for not joyning with them, no more than for not joyning with the Anabap- tifts and Independents : We may confefs them to have a true Miniftry, and be true Churches ; but their faultinefs we mult not Countenance. 2. We were lawfully called by Chrift to feed our particular Flecks : And if thefe Men cad us out of the Temples and Maintenance , and get into our Places, and the more ungodly half of the Parifhes, for fear of Man , conform to them, it doth not follow that we are ablblved from our Office and Duty for the reft , or mufl bring them to the dilbrderly way of Worfhip which they violently impofed onus. § 437. To thele I anfwered, 1. That it's true, that meer Abjence is ho Separation : But when a Party call and invite you to joyn with them, and you publickly accule their way, and never joyn with them at all, you feem to tell the World that you take it to be unlawful: And that hath (bme degree of Separation ; to avoid them as a Company unmeet to ba joyned with. 2. Though you Offices to your People ceale not, yet you have your power to Edification and nor to De(lru(Stion : And if a tolerable Minifter be put into your Places, its confiderable whether it ht not moft to your Peoples Edification, Unity, Charity and Peace, to take them with you to the Publick Aflemblies, and help them neverthelefs at other times your (elves as much as you can : And whether both helps be not more than one : Efpecially when you cannot preach to above four your felves, without Imprifbnment and Banifliment, and then you cannot preach at all. And whereas it's eafie to let a paffionate Stoutnefs tranfport us, and think that Tyrannical Church-Ufurpers muft not be encouraged by our Compli- ance; the meek Spirit of Chriftianity, when it fifteth thefe reaibnings, will find in them too much of Self and Paffion when Unity, Charity and the Churches Edifi- cation is on the other fide. § 4j8. And whereas fome Men are much taken with this Reafon, That thefe times have more Light than the old Non-conformiftsever had, and therefore that is not exculible in us which was lb in them, I muft confefs I have great reafon to be- lieve the clean contrary, if by Light they mean Knowledge, that the old Non- conformifts had much more infight into thefe Controverfies than Profeflbrs have of late : For, 1. We know that when the Parliament had caftout Bifliops, Liturgy and Cere- monies, the generality both of Minifters and People, took it for granted that they Were all bad, and (b liad more Light than their Forefathers had, before tiiey ever ftudied the Controvcrfies : 1 have askeJ many of them that have boafted of this Light, whether ever they read what Cart-wright, BraJjhaw, Anns, Parka; Baynesy Gerfonie, Rucer, Didoclavius, Salmajiui^ BlonJell, Beza, df'c. have (aid on one fide j and whit Saraz-ia, Bilfon , I-Vhtrgift , CcveH , Dowtiham, Burges, Hocker, Taybody, Hammond, Sic. have faid on the other fide ; and they have conleli they never throughly ftudied any one of them. 2. And we fee it by experience, that one of thole Men have written more on thefe Subjeds, tlianany of thole can lay or underftand, who boaft that they have greater Light. How weakly do they talk againft Bilhop?, Liturgy, and Ceremo- nies in comparilbn of thefe ancient Non-conformifts I However , that which was Truth then, is Truth now : And we have the lame Scripture to be our Rule as they had : Therefore let them that fay they iiave more Knowledge, bring it forth and try it by d-.e Law and Teftimnny, Ifa. 8. 2c. § 4;9. Having lived tiirce yeais and more in London, and finding it neither a- gree with my health or ftudi^Js, ( the one being brought very low, and the other interrupted) and all Publick Service being at an end, I betook my leifto live in the Country ( at Ailon) that 1 might let my felf to writing, and do what Ser- vice I could for Pofteiity, and live as much as poflibly 1 could out of the World. Thither I came 16^5. July 14. where I followed my Studies privately in quiet- fiefs, and went every Lord's Day to the Publick Aflembly , when there was any Preach- Part II. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 441 Preaching or Catechizing, and Iprnc the leit of the Day with my Family ( an J a few poor Neighbours that came in ) j Ipendii-g now and then a day in London, and die next year 1664. I had the Company ot" divers godly faithful Friends that Tabled wich nie in Summer, with whom I iblaced my lelf with much content. Having almolJ finiihed a large Treatife, called , A Chnfiian Dtrtthry, or Sum if FraUical Dtvtntty , that 1 might know whether it would be Licenfed for the Prefs, I tried them with a fmall Trcatifeof The Characters of a Som.l Clyri/iian, as diffe- renced from the IFeak Chrtfttan and the Hvpocrite : I offered it Mr. Grig the Bi- fliopof LowJews Chaplain, who had betn a Non conform id, and profeli an ex- traordinary refpsf^/;i)Wi /^r the Cenx'ir/icn of the UngoJj ^ and the third was InfiruBions for a Holy Life : for the ufe of poor Families that cannot buy great- er Books, or will not read them. § 440, March 26. being the Lord's Day l6C^). as I was pleaching in a Private Houle, where we received the Lords Supper, a Bullet came in at the Window a- mong us, and part by me, and narrowly milt (he Head of a Siiterin lavi of mine that was there, and hurt none of us; and we could never diliover whence it came. § 441. In yttweJbllowing an ancient Gentlewoman vyith her Sons and Daughter, came four Miles in her Coach to hear me Preach in my Family, as tut of Ipecial Refped to me : It fell out that ( contrary to our cuftom ) we let her knock long at the Door, and did not open it ; and fj a ficond time when fhe had gone away and came again j and the third time /he came when we had ended : Ihe was (o earneft to know when flie might come again to hear me, that I appointed her a time : But before Ihe came, 1 had lecrct intelligence from one that was nigh her, that Jhe came with a heart exceeding full of Malice, relblving , if poffible, to do me what Mifchief Ihe could by Acculation : and To that Danger was avoid- ed. § 442. Before this, divers Forreign Divines had written to me , and cxpedted fuch Correfpondence as Literate Perlbns have v;ith. one another : But I knew lb well what eyes were upon me,and how others had beenuled in Ibme fuch accounts, that I durft not write one Letter to any beyond the Sejs : By which fome were offended , as little knowing our Condition here : Among others , Air.yraldns fent one upon the occafion of a word of honelt Luda. Mohn:iLS, qui nos redemit /anguine fuo, cum Ecclefia Anglicana turn tui peculiarem curam jujcipere dignetur. Quid de rebus vejlris exiftimem, Jcire potes ex Epi- ftola qua Paraphrafmi meam in Pjalmos fereniftimo veftro Regi dicavi. Itaque nihil hie add^m nifii quod qui ad te fcribit, ejl tibi, Vir Reverende, Ad omne obfcquium paratifTlmus A MT RAL DV S. \ To P A R T II. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 443 To the Re Saivgall in Helvetia Reformat a,i 6 A- Your humble and moft fril 1663. Affecaionatc Servant John SoUicoffer, unworthy Servant of Chrift. The vigilant Eye of Malice that Ibme had upon me, made me underftand that ( though no Law of the Land is again ft Literate Perfons Correfpondencies beyond Seas, nor have any Divines been hindered from it, yet ) it was like to have pro- ved my ruine, if I had but been known to anfwer one of thele Letters, though the Matter had been never fo much beyond Exceptions. So that I neither anfwered this nor any other,ftve only by word of mouth to the Meflehger ; and that but in fmall part ; for much of this (in the latter part) was Matter not to be touched. Otir Silencing and Ejedion he would quickly know by other means, and how much the Judgments of the Englipi Bifhops did differ from theirs about the Labours and Perlbns of fuch as we. § 443. About this time I thought meet to debate the Cafe with fome Learned and Moderate Ejected Minifters of Z,oWo» , about Communicating fbmetimes in the Parifh Churches in the Sacraments : ( For they that came to Common Prayer •nnd Sermon, came not yet to Sacrainents). They defired me to bring in myjudg- ment and Realons in writing : which being debated, they were all of my mind in the main, That it is lawful and a duty where greater Accidents preponderate nor. But they all concurred unanimoufly in this,That if we did Communicate at all in the Pari In Churches, the Sufferings of the Independents and thofe Presbyterians that cculd not Conimunicate there, would certainly be very much increaled, which now P A R T il. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 4.45 now were fomewhat moderated by concurrence with them. I thought the Cafe very hard on both fides, That we that were fo much cenfured by tl.em for going fomewhat Further than they, muft yet omit that which elfe muft be our Duty, meerly to abate their Sufferings that cenfiire us : But I refolved with them to for- bear a while, rather than any Chriflian fliould fuffer by occafion of an aftion of mine, feeing God will have Mercy and tiot Sacrifice, and no Duty is a Duty at all times. § 444. In July 1665. the Lord Jflihy font a Letter to Sir John Trevor, That a worthy Friend of his, in whofe Cale the King did greatly concern himfelf, had all his Fortunes caft upon my Refolution of the enclofed Cafe, which was, V/hetber a Vrotefiant Lady, of firtB Education, might marry a Paptfi, in hope of his Converfion , he fromifin^ not to diflurb her in her Religion. It came at Six a Clock Afternoon, and knowing it was a Cafe that mud becauteloufly relblvcd at the Court, I took time till the next Morning, that I might give my Anfwer in Writing. The next day the Lord Jfljley wrote again, with miny words to incline me to the Affirmative ; for the Lady told them (he would not confent unlefs I fatisfied her that it was law- jul. (Who the Lord and Lady were I know not at all, but have an uncertain Con- jedure) : So I fent the following Refolution. The Cafe was thm cxprejfed. Whether one that was bred a ftrift Proteftsnt, and in the moft fevere ways of that Profeffion , lived many years without giving offence to any; well known in her own Country to be fiich ; may without offence to God, or Man, marry a profeft Roman Catholick, inhopesof taking him off the Errour of his ways, he engaging never to dilturb her ? My Lord's Letter was as follows. SI R. THere is a very good Friend of mine, and one his Majefly is very much concerned for, that this enclofed Cafe has the power of his fortunes. None but that worthy Divine Mr. Baxter can fatisfie the Lady j this has been the way by which the Romantfis have gained very much upon tis : they are more powerful in perfwafion than our Sex j ■ befides, the putting this Cafe Jliews fame inclination to' the Perfon, though not to the Religi- on. Sir, if Mr. Baxter he with you, pray let me have his Opinion to this Cafe in writing under it, ff herein you may oblige more than you think for. Tour very affe^ionate Friend to ferve youf ASHLEY. For his much honoured Friend Sir John Trevor, at ABon To this Cafe I drew up the following Anfiver , and fent it to Sir John Trevor, to be by him coni/eyed to my Lord Afliley. SIR, ' -If Hough I cannot be infenfible how inconvenient to my felf the Anfwer of this ' i Cafe may poffibly prove, by difpleafing thofe who arc concerned in it, and * medling about a Cale of Perfons utterly unknown to me, yet becau(e I take ic * CO be a thing which Fidelity to the Truth , and Charity to a Chriftian Soul re- * quiretb, I Jhall fpeak my Judgment whatever be the Conlequents. But I muft * crave 44^ The LIFE of the L r b. I. ' crave the pardon of ch^t Noble Lord, who defired my Anfwer might be Sublcri- ' bed to the Cafe, becaule Necedity requiieth more words than that Paper will well ' contain. ' The Queftion about the Marriage, is not AnfaSlum vakat ? bat ^n fieri deheat ? * There is no affirming or denying without thefe neceflary Dift!n'i Thoughts and Writings of Allronomers)did in the Winter andSpring along time appear before thefe Calamities. Yet under all thefe Delolations the Wicked are /j.W<;»«^/, and caft all on the Fanaticks : and the true dividing Fanaticks and Sectaries arc not yet humbled for former Mifcarriages, but caft all on the Prelates and Impofers : And the ignorant Vulgar are Itupid, and know not what ule to make of any thing they feel : But thoulands of the fober, prudent, faithful Servants of the Lord, are mourning in lecret, and waiting for his Salvation; in Humility and Flope they are itaying thcmlelveson God, and expecting what he will do with them. From Z,o»cvs no Obligation from the Forv called the Solemn League and Covenant on any Perfon ^ no not from their Vow againfl Popery, Schifm, or Prophanenefs, nor their Vow to Defend the King, nor their Promife of Repentance for their Sins. And who can but fear that fuch an univerfal Sin mult be yet more fliarply puniflied, when fuch a Scourge as this had no better effefts? § 2. The Number that died in London (bcfides all the reft of the Land) was about an Hundred Tlioufand, reckoning the Quakers^ and others, that were never •put in the Bills of Mortality, withthofe that were in the Bills. § 3. The richer fort removing out of the City, the greateft Blow fell on the Poor. At the firltlbfew of the Religioufer fort were taken away, that (according to the mode of too many fuch) they began to be puffed up, and boaft of the great -difference which God did make : But quickly after, they all fell alike. Yet not many pious Miniftei-s were taken away ^ I remember but Three, who were all of my own Ac(}uaintance. i. Mr. Grunman^ a G.rm.m^ a very humble, holy, able Minifter^ but \>z\n% a Silenced Non-conformift, was fo poor, that he was not able to remove . his Family. 2. Mr. Crofs^ a worthy Miniiler, that had long ago lived with the J' ^['^^ famous Religious Ladv Scudamore :, and being Silenced, was entertained by Richard then.buc I Hambdot^ Efq* in his Hoafe at London -^ and flying from the Plague into the Country, think not died with his Wife, and ibme Children, as foon as he came thither, inthcHoufe of "^ the ■ A a a a that P'^"^' The L I FE o] the_ _ Part. Ill that Leai-ned and Worthy Man, Mr. Skm?, another Silcnc'd Miuifter, and his Bro- ther in Law ;, who being fhiic up, gave God Thanks for liis Deliverance, in a very Learned and Profitable Treatifc, which he Publifhed theveiipcn. And lince being- found (not only very Learned, but) moderate, and holding Communion in tlie Publick Aflemblies, and a peaceable Man, hath got connivance to Teach a Publick School, a great favour in thefe Times. 3. Mr. Eoherts^ a Godly Wdjh Minifter, who alfo tiying from the Plague, fell Sick, as far off, as hQX.wc(in Sb'trvshiiry and Ofrveftry^ and died on a little Straw, while none durft entertain him. § 4. It is fcarce pofiible for People that live in a time of Health and Security, to apprehend the dreadfulncfs of that Peftilence ! How fearful People were, thirty or forty, if not an hundred Miles from London^ of any thing that they bought from any Mercer's, or Draper's Shop;, or of any GootU that were brought tothera^ or of any Perfon that came to their Houfes. How they would lliut their Doors againft their Friends^ and if a Man palled over the Fields, how one would avoid another, as we did in the time of Wars ^ and how every Man was a Terrour to another ! O how finfuily unthankful are we for our quiet Societies, Habitations and Health ! § s. Not far from the place where 1 fojourncd, at I\Irs. Fleetwood's,^ tliree Mi- nsters of extraordinary worth were together in 'one Houfe, Mr. Ckarkfon^ Mr. Sat^. Crcdock^. 2nd Mr. Terry ^ Men offingular Judgment, Piety, and Moderation; a'nd' the Plagrie came into the Houfe where they were, one Perfon dying of it, which caufedmany (that they knew not of ) earneftly to pi'ay for their Deliverance ^ and it pleafed God that no other Perfon dyed. § 6. But one great Pjcnefit the Plague brought to the City, that is, it occafioi^- ed the Silcnc'd Minifters more openly and laborioudy to Preach the Gofpel, to the exceeding comfort and profit of the People ;, infomuch, that to this Day the free- dom of Preaching, which this occafioned, cannot, by the daily Guards of Soldiers, nor by the Imprifonments of Multitudes, be rcftrained. The Miniltei-s that were Silenced for Nonconformity, had evcrlince 1662. done their Work very privately, Itw.-istheand to a few (not fo much through their timoroufnefs, as their loathnefs to offend Pl:.gue the King, and in hope ftill that their forbearance might procure them fome Liberty ; that ^ and tln-oiigh fome timoroufnefs of the People that (hould hear them.) And when brcugiit the Plague grew hot, moil of the Conformable Miniftcrs ficd, and left their Flocks, the:n out -^^ ^,^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ j.|.^-j. £xtrcmity : whereupon divers Non-conformiffs pitying the dy- fccret^'^ ing and diftrcffcd People, that had none to call the impenitent to Repentance, nor narrow ^^ 'I'^'P ^'^^i'' ^o prepare for another World j nor to comfort them in their Terrors, Meetings when about Ten Thonfand dyed in a Week, refolved that no obedience to the Laws imo puD- of any mortal Men who foe vcr, could juffifie them for neglcc'ting of Men's Souls and Jick. Bodies in fuch extremities ^ no more than they can juftifie Parents for faniilhing their Children to death : And that when Chrift flvill fay, Inafmuch as ye did it not to one of thefe, ye did it not to mc. It will be a poor excufe to fay, j^Lord I was forbidden by the L-.m.J Tliereforc they refilved to Itay with the People, and to go in to the forfakcn Pulpits, though prohibited, and to preach to the poor People before they dyed^ andalfotovilit the Sick, and get what relief they could for the Poor, cfpcci- ally thofe that were (luit up. Thofe that fet upon this work, were Mr, TIjomas Fincent^ late Minider in Milk-ftrect-^ with fome Strangers that came thither, fmcc they were Silenced, as Mr. Chcfler^ Mr. ";ianeway^ Mr. Turner^ Mr. Grimes^ iNlr. Franklin^ and fome others. Thofe heard them one Day oft, that were lick the next, and qnichly dyed. The Face of Death didfo awaken both the Preachers, and the Hearers, that Preachers exceeded thcmfelves in lively, fervent Preaching, and the People crowded conftantly to hear them ^ and all was done with fo great Seriouf- nefs, as that, through the Bleffmg of God, abundance were converted from their Cirelcfncrs, Impenirency, and youthfiil Lulls and Vanities^ and Religion took that liold on the Peoples Hearts, as could never afterward be loofed. § 7. And at the fimc time, whilft God was confnmmg the People by thefe 1|udgnients, and the Nonconformills were labouring to fave Men's Souls, the Parli- ament ( wliich fate at Oxford^ whither the King removed from the danger of the plague) was bufie ir. making an Aft of Confinement, to make the Silcnc'd Miniflcrs Cafe incomparably hardei- than it was before, by putting upon them a certain Oath, which if they rcfufcd, they mull not come (except the Road) within five Miles of ' any City, or of aay Corporation, or any place that fcndethliurgeffes to theParlia- * ment-, or of any place where-ever they had been Miniffers, or had preached fince the Act of Oblivion. So little did the Senfc of God's terrible Judgments, or of the neccflities of many hundred thoufand ignorant Souls, or the Groans of the poor People ' Part III. %everend Mr. Richard Baxter. People, for the Teaching which tlicy liad loft, or the fear of the great and final Reckoning, affed the Hearts of the Prelatilts, or ftop them in their way. The chief Promoters of this among the Clergy, were faid to be the Arch-bilhop of Canterbury ^v^nd^Dv. Seth-Ward^ the Bifhop of Sa/wi'Kr^ : And oneof the great eft Ad- verfarics of it in the Lord's Hoiife, was the very Honourable Earl of Southampton^ Lord Treafiirer of England -^ a Man that had over adhered to the King, but undcr- ftood the intereft of his Country, and of Humanity. It is without Contradiftion Reported, that he faid, No homft A hen they have no Money to Stock tiieir Land. §11. Yea, they allowed them not to be kept as common Beggars, on the Alms of the Parilh ;, but when by the Law, every Beggar is to be brought to the place of his Birth, or laft abode, and there to be kept on Alms ^ No Minifter niuft come, within five Miles of the Parilh where he ever exercifed his Miniftry •, nor any that were born in Cities and Corporations, muft come within five Miles of them for felief. § 12. In this ftrait, thofe Minifters that had any Maintenance of their own, did find out fome Dwellings in obfcurc Villages, or in fome few Market -Towns, which were na Corporations : And thofe that had nothing, did leave their Wivesand Children, and hid themfelves abroad, and fometimes came fecrctly to them by night. But ( God bringing Good out of Men's Evil ) many refolved to preach the more freely in Cities and Corporations till they went to Prifon ; Partly, becaufe they were then in the way of their CalUng,in which they could fuffer with the greater peace j and partly, becaufe they might fo do fome good before they fulFered ;, and partly, becaufe the People much defired it, and alfo were readier to relieve one that laboured for them, than one that did nothing but hide himfelf j and partly, becaufe when they lay in Prifon for preaching the Gofpcl, both they, and their Wives and Children, were like to find more pity and relief, thanif they Ihoiild forfake their People, and their Work. Seeing therefore the Qiicftion came to this, Wliether Beggary and Famine to themfelves and Families, with the deferting of their Callings, and the People's Souls, was to be chofen, or the faithful performance of their Work, with a Prifon after, and the People's Compainon ? They thought the latter, the more eligible. § 1 3. And yet when they had fo chofen, their Straits were great, for the Country was fo impoveriflicd, that thofe of the People who were willing to relieve the Minifters, were not able : And moft that were able, were partly their Adver- faries, and partly worldly-minded, and ftrait-handed, and unwilling. And, alas ? it is not now and then a Shilling, or a Crown given (very rarely) which will pay Houfe-Rent, and maintain a Family. Thofe Minifters that were unmarryed, did eafilier bear their Poverty;, but itpicrcetha Man's Heart to have Children crying, and Sicknefs come upon them for want of wholfom Food, or by drinking Water, and to have nothing to relieve them. And Women are ufiially lefs patient of Suffering than Men ^ and their Imp.uicnce would be more to a Husband than his own wants. I heard but lately, ofa good Man, that was fain to Spinas Women do, togetfome- thing towards his Family's relief ( which could be but little ^ ) and being Melan-' choly and Difeafed, it was but part of the Day that he was able to do that. Ano- ther ( Mr. Ch.ulwkk in Somcrfct ) for a long time had little but brown Rye Bread and Water for himfelf, his Wife, and many Children, and when his \Vife was ready to lye in, was to be turned out of Door, for not paying his Houfe-Rent. But yet God did mercifully provide fome Supplies, that few of them either perifhed, or were expofcd to fordid unfeemly Beggary: But fome few were tempted againft their fumier judgments to Conform, § 1 4, The Oath impofed on them was this. / A B, DoSwar, 7hit it if not Imful^ upon any pretence whatjoever ^ lot.iie Anns aiainjl the Kinjr : Md th.it I do abhor th.it Traytoroiu Pofition^ of taking Arms by his ^Autho/nvy againfl hi'i^rioK of Government, which they fearle.aft they endeavour by taking this Oath. 4. Becaufe they think that by this means the Subjeft Ihall never come to any cer- tain Knowledge of the Rule of his Duty, and confequently, of his Duty it felf. For it is not pofFible for us to know, 1. What is to be called a CommilTion, and whatnot^ and whether an illegal CommilTion be no Commiflion (as the Lawyers, fome of them, tell us) and v.hat Commiflion is illegal, and what notj and whether it mufl: have the broad Seal, or only the little Seal, or none. 2. Nor can we know when a Commiflion is counterfeit. The King's Commanders in the Wars, never fliewed their Commiflions to them that they fought againll, at leafl; ordinarily. , „ ,, There was a * CoUonel of the King's, fmce his coming in, that brought a Com- rS" million. Sealed with the broad Seal, to fcize on all the Goods of a Gentleman in *'"""'• Btjhoffgate-ftrcet^ in London ^ by which he carried them away : But the Commiflion being proved counterfeit, he was hanged for it. But a Man that thus Seizeth on any Gentleman's Money, or Goods, maybe gone before they can try his Com.miflTion, if they may not vefifli'him. But the Parliament, and Courts of Juftice, are the Legal, publick Kotifiers of the King's mind; and by them theSubjefts can have a regular certain notice of it. So that if the Parliament were concluded to have no part m the Lcgillative Power, but th.e King's meer wiU to be our Law;, yet if the Parliament and Comtsof Juftice, be ereftcd as the publick Declarers of his wiU to thePeoi)le, theyfecm more regardable and credible, than the words of a private unknown Man, that faith he hath a Commiflion. ^ 5. And they think that this is to betray to the King, and give the Chancellour, ov Lord-Keeper, power at hispleafure, to depofe him from his Crown, and difpoflefs liiin of liis Kingdoms. For if the King ( by Law or Commiflion ) fliall fettle any Tnifly Subjeft m the Government, of Navy, or Militia, or Foits, and command them to refifl: all that would difpoflefs them •, yet if the Lord ChanceUor have a de- fign to depofe the King, and Ihall Seal a Commiflion to any of his own Creatures or Confidents, to take"])oflefllon of the faid Forts, Garifons, Militia and Navy, none, upon pain of Death, muft reflft them, but be taken for Traytors, if they will not be Traytors : yea, though it v.'crc but whilfl: they fend to the King to know his Will. And when Traytors have once got poflcflion of afl the Strengths, the de- tefting of their fraud will be too late, and to Sue them at Law wiU be in vain. And ]ie tliat rcmembreth. That our Lord Ciianccllor is now baniflied, who lately was the chief Minifter of State, wifl think that this is no needlefs fear. 6. And they think that it is quite againfl: the Law of God in Nature,which obligeth us to quench a Fire, or favc the Life of one that is alfaulted ( much more of our fclvcs) againfl: one that would kill him:, and that clfe we fliafl be guilty of Murder. And according to the proper Senfe of this Oath, If two Foot-boys get from the Lord ChanceUor a Commiflion to kill all the Lords and Commons in Parliament, or to fet the City and afl the Country on Fire, no Man may by Force of Arms refifl; them; lx)rds and Commons may not fave their Lives by force, nor the City their Houfes : And by this way no Man ftiall dwell or travel in fafety; while any Enemy or Thief rnav takeaway his Life, or Purfe, or Goods, by a pretended Cbmmiflion ; and if we defend our felves, bi:t while we fend to try them, we are Traytors : and tew have the means of fnch a Tryal. n. They think by' this mean<;, no Sherifl* may by the Pojfe Conntatm execute tlie Decrees of any Coiirt of Jufl:!ce, if any cm but get a CommilTion for the con- trary, 8. Thcf C6 1- The L I F E of the Part III. 8. They think that Taxes and Subfidies may be raifcd thus vvithont Parliaments-, and th^t all Men's Eltates and Lives are at the meer will of' the King, or the Lord Chancellor: For if any be Commiflloned to take them away, we have no remedy : For to fay that we have our Aftions againll them in the Courts of juftice, is but to fay, that wlien all is taken away, we may cad: away more if we had it. For what good' will the Sentence of any Court do us, if it pafs on our fide, as long as a Com- miffion againft the Execution of that Sentence mult not be refilled, unlefs a piece of Paper be as good as an Eftate ? 9. And they think that by this Oath, we Swear to difobey the King, if at any time he command us to endeavour any alteration of the Churcli-Government, as once by this Coinmidlon to fome of us, he did, alrnit the Liturgy. 10. And they think that it is a ferviug the Ambition of the Prelates, and an al- tering of the Government, to Swear never to endeavour any alteration of Church- Government ; yea, and to put the Church-Government before the State-Govern- ment, and lb to make the Prelacy as unalterable as Monarchy, and to twift it by an Oath into the unalterable Conftitution of the Government of the Land, andfoto difable tiie King and Parliament from ever endeavouring any alteration of it. For if the Subjeds may not at any time, nor by any means endeavour, the King will have none to execute his Will if he endeavour it. And if Divines, who (bouldbe themoft tender avoidcrs of Perjury, and all Sin, fliall lead the way in taking fuch an Oath, who can expeft that any others afiier them fhould fcruple it ? And it was endeavoured to have been put upon the Parliament. 11. And tl'.ey think that there is a great deal in the ErtgliO} Dioccfian Frame of Church-Government, which is very finful, and which God will have all Men in their places and callings to endeavour to reform (as th:it the Bifliop of the lowefb de- gree, inftead of ruling one Church with the Presbyters , ruleth many hundred Churches, by Lay-Chancellors, who ufe the Keys of Excommunication and Abfo- lution, 6Y.y And they take it for an Aft of Rebellion againft God, if they ihould Swear never to do the Duty which he commandeth ^ and fo great a l3uty as Chui'ch- Reformation in fo great a Matter: If it were but never to pray, or never to amend a fault in themfelves, they durft not Swear it. , .12. This Oath ieemcth to be the fame in Sence, with the Et ca^tera Oath, in the Canons of 1640. That we mil never confmt to an alteration of the Govtrnment^ iy ylrch-Bifljoj-'s^ F-iJhops^ Dcjus^ &c. And one Parliament voted down that^ and laid a heavy charge upon it ^ which no Parliament fmce hath taken off. . ■ 1 3. As the National Vow and Covenant feemeth a great Snare to hinder the Union of the Church among us, in that it layeth our Union on an cxclulion of Prelacy; and fo c.\'c!udeth all thole learned worthy Men from our Union, who cannot con lent to that E.scluiion ^ fo the laying of the Kingdoms and Cliurches Union upon the F.nglifl) Prelacy, and Church-Government, lb as to exclude all that cannot confcnt to it, doth fcem as fure an Engine of Divilion. We think that if our Union be centered but inChriftthe King of all, and in the King, as his Ojfficcr, and our Sovcraign under him, it may be eafic and fure ; But if we mull: all unite in the Englifli Frame of Prelacy, we muft never Unite. § 15. Thofc that take the Oath, do (as thofe that Subfcribe) rcfolvc that they will underftind it in a lawful Senfe (be it true or falfe ) and fo to take it in tiiat Senfe : To which end they fay that nullum ini([i'.um tft in Le^e f cffumendum^ and that all publick Impolltions muft be taken in the beft Senfe that the Words will bear. And by force and ftrctcliing, what words may not be well interpreted? But the Nonconformifts go on other grounds, and think that about Oaths Men muft deal plainly and lincerely, and neither ftretch their Conftiences, nor the Words; nor mtcrpret univerfd- Terms partiailary, but according to the true meaning of tlie Law -givers, as far as they can underftand it; and whore they cannot, accord- ing to the proper .and ufual ligni'ication of the Words. And the Parliament them- felves tell us, Thatxhis is the true Rule of interpreting their Words, Beyond which thei-efore vve.darc not fti'ctcli thcui. - § .\6. And therefore, 14, Tiiey dare not take the Oath, becaufe if it be not to betaken in tlie proper or ordi'.vuy Senfe of the Words, then they are fure that they cannot undedland it (for it doth not plcafe the Parliament to expound it.) And Oaths muft be t.tken-in Truth, judgment, and Rightcoufnefs, and not ignorantly, when wi" Isiiow that vvc underftand the:n not. > § 1 7- The Part ill. Reverend Mr. K'ldutd Baxter. § 1 7. The Lawyers ( even the honefteft) are commonly for a more ftretchidg Expofition. And the fe that fpeak out, fay, Tliat an illegal Comniifllon is none at all. But we cur felves go further than this would loads vs^ for we judge That even an illegally commillioned Perfon, is not to be refifted by Arms, except in fuch Cafes as the Law of Nature, or the King himfelf, by his Laws, or by a con- trary Comminion, alloweth us to refill him. But if Commiflions Ihould be contra- didrory to each other, or to the Law, we know not what to Swear in fuch a cafe. § 18. But, becaufe much of the Cafe maybefeenin thefe following Qiieftions which upon the coming out of that Aft, I put to an able, worthy, and fincere Friend, with his Anfvvers to them. I will here Infert them, (w^^. Serjeant /"omm- tain.J Queries upon the Oxford Oath We prcfuppofe it commonly refolved by Cafuifts in Theology, from the Law of Nature,ahd Scripture, 1. That Perjury vs a Sin^ and fo gnat a Sin^ cii tendeth to the ruin of the Peace of Kingdoms^ the Life of Kings ^ and the Safety of A, ens Souls^ and to make Men unfit for Humane Society^ T^^'^fl-, '"' Convtrfe^ till it he repented of. 2. That he that Sioeareth contrary to h'v5. judgment^ vs Perjured^ though the thing trove true. 3. That Tve mujl tale an Oath in the Impoler's Senfe, as near as we can know it if he be our Lawju! Govcrrour. 4. That an Oath is to he taken fenfu ftriftiore, and in the Senfe of the Rulers Im- pfingtt^ if that be known -^ 'f^^f, h ^^^ Words interpreted according to tfx common ufe of A^en of t\\3X. Profeflion, about that fubjed : u^nd VTiiverfals are not to be interpreted as Particulars^ nor muft we limit them^ and diflmguifh^ without very good proof . 5. That wljere the Senfe is doubtful^ we arefirfi to ask which vs the probable Senfe he- fore we ask^ which is the bell and charitablefl Senfe ; and muft not take them in the befi Senfe^ when another is more probable to be the true Senfe. Becaufe it is the Truth and not the Gocdnefs , which the "Under ft andmg frft conftdereth. Otherwife^ any Oa.h almofi imaginable mtght be taken -^ there being few Words fo bad^ which are not fo ambiguous as to bear a good Senfe ^ by a forced Interpretation. ylndSubjeOs muft not cheat their Rulers by feenvng to do what they do not. . 6. Put when both Senfes are equally doVhtful^ we ought in Charity to take the heft. 7. If after all A'leans faithfully ufed to know our Rulers Senji^ our own Vnderftand- ings much more tncline to think one to be, their meaning ^ than the other ^ we muft not ^0 againft our Vnderftandings. 8. That we are to fuffofe our Rulers fallible^ and that it's pojfib'.etkir decrees maybe contrary to tlx Law of Cod j but not to fufpeB them without plain caufe. Thefe things fuppofed, v;e humbly crave the Refolution of thefe Queftions, about the prcfcnt Oath, and the Law. Qu. I . Whether {upon any pretence wbatfoever'} refer not to \l_any Commifftonated by lAin} as well as {totlx King~\ himfelf? 2. Whether {not lawfuTl extcndcth only to the Law of the Land ^ or alfo to the Law of Gcd in Nature ? 3. Whether {_I Swear that it vs not lawful] do not exprefs my peremptory certain DetciTninatioo, and be not nwre than C ^ Swear that in my Opinion it is not law- ful rj 4. What is the ITraytorous Pofnion~\ here meant ^ (for here is only a Subjeft with- out a Pr^dicite, which is no Pofttion at all, and is capable of various Predicates ? ) 5. If the King, by Aft of Parliament, commit the Trufl of his Navy, Garrifon, or Militia, to one durante vita^ and fliould Commifllonate another, by force, to ejeft liim, whether both have not the King's Authority? or which ? 6. If the Sheriff raifc the Pojfc Conmntatus to fupprefs a Riot, or to execute the Decrees of the Courts of Jufticc, and fight with any Cowwi;^'^'"''^ to refift liim, and ihall keep up that Power, while the Commijftoned Perfons keep up theirs, which of them is to be judged by the Subjefts to have the King's Authority ? 7. If Z^^Jhe LIF E of the Part 111. 7. If a Parliament, or a Court of Juftice, declare. That the King by his Laws coi^iirianti^tlrM'to afllfl: the Sheriffs and juftices,' nouvithftanding any Goitlmiflion to the •CoMraty' under the great or little Seal ^ And one fiiewus a Cormniflion to the deh^ary V which mull we take for the King's Authority? ri 9.- Whether this extendeth to the Cafe ofKingJo/j^, who delivered the King- dom to the JPOpe? Or, to tliofe Inllances of Bilfon\ Barcky ^ Grotins ^ &:c. of changing the Government, putting by the true Heir, to whom we are Sworn in the Oat^ of Aiifeg^iance, &c. if Subjefts pretend Commiffion for fuch Adls ? t"''5»; \/Vhether Parliament, Judges in Court, or privatcMen, may, by the King's Authority in'his Laws, defend their Lives ;!gainit any that, by a pretended Com- miflioriinvadcth them, or their Purfts, Houfcs^ or Companions ? 10. Whether we muft take every Affirme-^ to have a CommifTion, if helhewit not ? Or every fnewn Comminion to be current^ and not furreptitious, though con- trary to Law? ■ • 1 1. Whether he violateth not this Oath, who (hould endeavour to alter fomuch of tlic Legillavive Power as is in the parliament, or the Executive, in the Eftabliihed Couks of Jull'ice? Or, is it meant only of Monarchy as fuch? '. 12. Doth he not break tl,iis Oath, who fhould endeavour to change the Fer/t>M Go- 'zft'M;7?>, as well as he .that would change the Form of Government ?' "'''^'I's/ If 'fo,^cforh it not alfotye us to thePeiTons of Church-Governours ; inJ]ionatcd by him^ (d) ^hi'ptfjiiimc'eyo} fuch Conimijfjon. And that 1 will not at anytime endeavour afiy alteration. of Goz'e:'-nment, either in Church or State. Ce) %;%'iifydpiftWn. ^^^ ■ (I)) For)!''- '^'Hieftsofhis Majefty's Dominions. (') ]"•■' \iithority, brhis Pcrfon, the Law forbidding both. (d) WlcLiici it b6 his Parliament, Courts of Juilice, Legal Officers, or any other Perfon- p.'Iioti .il by his publick Laws, or his Commifllon : fuppofing that no con- thj\c iiid Commimons (by over-light, or otherwife) do Arm the Sub- jedsagamii CuCii otl^er. (e) ljii\\ Hot endeavour any alteration of State -Government at all, cither as to the Pei^Tort'dfthc KinS, Of the Species of Government, either as to the Legiflative, or.Ex'ecmive Power, as in the King himfclf, or his Parliament, or Eftabliihed Courts (ji'f Jufridti.' A n'cT therefore I declare. That I take all the rcR: of this Oath, only in a^cule tonliftfiht v,'ith this Claiifc, implying no alteration in the Government. And r'X\ lH'ondoavb'nr no alteration of tlic Coercive Government of the Church, as it is . in the King, according to the Oath of Supremacy : Nor any alienation of the Spiritual Powers Part 111. Reverend Mr. Kichivd Baxter. Power of the Keys from the Lawful Bifhops and Pallors of the Church : Nor will X endeavour to reftore the Ancient Difcipline (by removing the Spiritual Government by the Keys, out of the Hands of Lay-Chancellors, into the Hands of fo many able Paltors, as the number of Churches, and neceflity of the work requireth) nor any other Reformation of the Church, by any Rebellious, Schifmatical, or other unlaw- ful means vvhatfoever j ( nor do I believe that any Vow or Covenant obligeth me thereto-) declaring, notwithftanding, that it's none of my meaning to bind my felf from any Lawful Means of fuch Reformation^ nor to difobcy the King, if at aay time He command me, to endeavour the Alteration of any thing jultly alterable. The General Anfxver wm as foUowetk UPon Serious Confideration of the Aft of Parliament, Entitled, u4n Afi for Re- firainmg of Nonconformifls from Inhabiting in Corporations ^ And of the Oath therein mentioned, I am of Opinion, That there is nothing contained in that Oath according to the true Senfe thereof. But that it is not Lawful to take up Arms againft the King, or any Authorifed by his Commiffion^ or for a private Perfon to endea- vour the Alteration of the Monarchical Government in the State, or the Government by Bifhops in the Church : And that any Perfon (notwithftanding the taking of fuch Oath) if he apprehend that the Lay-Judges in Bilhop's Courts (as to Sentence of Ex- communication for Matters meerly Ecclefiaftical, or for any other Caufe) ought to be Reformed ^ or that Bifhopricks are of too large extent, may fafely Petition or ufe any lawful Endeavour for Reformation of the fame : For that fuch Petition or other Lawful Endeavour, doth not tend to the Alteration of the Government, but to the amendment of what fhall be found amifs in the Government, and Reformed by Law- ful Authority, and thereby the Government better Eltablifhed. And, I conceive every Expofition of the faid Oath, upon Suppofition, or Prefumption of an Obligation thereby, to any thing which is contrary to the Law of God, or the Kingdom is an illegal, and a forced Expofition, contrary to the intent and meaning of the faid Oatk and Aft of Parliament ; for it is a RvJle, nullum iniquum eft m Lege prtefumendum. And an Expofition tending to enjoyn any thing contrary to the Law of God would make the Aft of Parliament void, which ought not to be admitted, when' it bears a fair and plain Senfe, which is no more. Than that Subjefts ought not to take up Arms againft their Lawful King, or fuch as are lawfully Commiffionated by him - and for private Perfons to be unquiet in the place wherein they live, to the dillur' bance of the Government in Church or State. 'John Fountain^ Feb. 6. iddj, 'the Particular Anfvper was as foUovoeth. NO T at prefent to difpute the things prcfuppofed (although I may not grant all in tlie Fourth, and fome other of the Pofitions, to be warranted by the Law of Nature or Scripture) I add as necelTary to the Refolving of the Queltions upon the Aft of Parliament, That in the Expofition of Afts of Parliament, if there may be a fair and rcafonable Conftruftion made of the Words, not contrary to the: Law of God or Reafon, that Conftruftion ought to be made thereof, and that any Expofition, whicli tends to make it fenficfs, or contrary to the Law of God and Reafon or to fuppofe any wicked thing enjoyned thereby , is a forced Conftruftion^ and contrary to Law, being deftruftive to the very Jil of Parliamenti I hereupon lay afide any A nfwcr to the Fourth and Eighth Qiicftions, whidi may, peradventure bethought nicer Cavils againft the Aft, though I knowing the Temper of the Pro- pounder, have a more charitable Opinion of him. But I do apprehend, thattho' there may want a Word to make a Logical Polition, concerning the Traytcrom Po- Jition mentioned in the Oath, yet there is a plain Senfe in the Oath, wc(. That itis unlawful to take up Arras againft the King ^ and that if any would nrake a diftin- ftion, and afRrm, That though the unlawfulnefs were admitted to take up Arms againft him, yet by his Juthortty, they might take up Arms againft lus Perfon, or againft thofe that are Commijfumed by him, in purfuancc of fuch CommilTion, fuch ao Affirmation and Pofition as this, is Traytorous, and to be abhorred } aaid there is B b b b facfl I o ' " The L IFEoJ the Part III, fuch a plaia Senfe in it, as every one that hath common Reafon underftands it fo^ and thei'tfoix Qiwdmccjfariofubmtelligitur nondsejl. And I do not believe, that any who propound the Quellions to be refolved, dothemfelves imagine, that the Par- liament had any thought of vvliat is mentioned in the Eighth Queftion, for nullum iniqy.um in Lege prafumendum. Upon confideration of the Aft, I apprehend the Makers thereof had an apprc- henfion, that there were three forts of People which might have a dangerous influ- ence upon the King's Subjefts, if not rightly principled, w:5\ Minifters oi- Preachers, School-Maftcrs, and fuch as did Table and Boai'd Children, and therefore did pro- vide to reftrain them from doing hurt to the Kingdom, in keeping the Minifters out of the populous Places of t!i 3 Kingdom, or where they were beft known, and mo-t likely to prevail, and that no Ciiildren might be poifoned with Principles deftruftivc to Government. The Principles which they feared were thefe. 1. That in fome Cafes it might be lawfiil to take up Arras againfl the Supreme Magiftratc, at leaft by a diltindion unwarrantable, in taking up Arms againfl: his Authority, againll his Perfon, or fuch as he did Commifnonate. 2. That private Perfons might endeavour to alter the Government in the Church or State where they lived. For the difcovery of fuch as were of thefe dangerous Principles, I conceive the Oath is framed,^ which is Eftablifhed by this Aft, and any who, holdeth thefe Princi- ples may not faiely take it j but if he hold not thefe Principles he may. jind 05 to the Queflions. T. That the Words {_u^on any pretence whatfoever~\ intheOathrefer only to tlic King himfelf. • 2. That \lLarvful'] comprehends any Law obligatory, 3. That it is only according to the Opinion and Judgment of him that takes it. 5. He that hath the Lawful Comtnijfwn is the only Perfon that hath Authority by the King's Commiflion. 6. I conceive the Sheriff! 7. That Commiflion wliich is according to Law. 9. I conceive they may. 10. I conceive a Commiflion muft be fhewn, if required-, and that a furrcptitious and void Commiflion, contrary to Law, is no Commiflion at all. 11. I underftand not the Latitude of this Qiieftion ^ but 1 conceive the Senfe of the Oath is not to endeavour the Alteration of Monarchical Government in the State. 1 2. Though I conceive it utterly unlawful to endeavour to change the Perfon of the Govcrnour, yet, that being fufficiently provided againfl; by the former Laws, 1 do not conceive that it was intended by the Makers of the Law in this part of the Oath, to intend more than the Alteration of the Government. 1 3. Anfvvered before • And yet if the Perfon of the Supreme were included in the State-Government, I do not conceive that it would extend to the Governours under him in the Church, for they in;iy be juflily removed in Cafe of Crime, &c. 14. I conceive both. 15. I conceive its the Englijh rorm of Church-Government ; and yet that is no breach of the Oath to endeavour, in a lawful way, to make more Bifliops, and Iclfer Bifliopricks. 16. 1 do not think the Oathbindeth not to endeavour to alter the Aftors or Go- vernours in the Church, fo it be done by lawful means; and that it is lawful, noc- withfl:anding the Oath, to endeavour to alter Lay-Qiancellors in a lawful way. 1 7. I conceive it is not. 1 8. 1 conceive it doth not. There are fo many things put in the lafl: Queftion, of the Senfe of the Oath, as wlD require more difcufllon, than the prcfent Opportunity admits. John Fountain^ Feb. 13, 166^. Sir Part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 1 Sir John Maymrd alfo told me, Tliat an illegal Comminioii is no Commiffion (though privately, being the King's Serjeant.) ' » § 1 9. But that all thefe Anfwers Ihould rather refolve me not to take this Oath than any way fatisfie me to take it, may thus appear. 1. He confcfleth, that the Principle feared was. That infomc Cafes it is lawful to take up Arms againll the Supreme Magiftrate, or by his Authority againft thofe Com- raiffioned by him. And yet implicitly granteth it in the Cafes intimated in the Eighth Qiieftion. 2. He confedeth that another feared Principle was. That private Ferfons may en- deavour to alter the Government of the Church : And he coafefleth. That by law- ful means we may endeavour it, in a great part of it. And as to the Particulars : 1 . He thinketh that the Words [] on any pretence what- foever J refer to the King only : whereas in my Confcience, I think that the Authors of the Oath meant it alfo [^as to any Commijfwned by him ^ ] otherwife there is no- thing in all this Oath againit taking Arms againft any Commiffioned by the King, fb they do not pretend his own Authority for it. And upon my knowledge, a great part of thofe that Fought for the Parliament went on other grounds ^ fome thinking Parliaments and People above the King, ashcing fingulii A fajor^ & univerfi^ Mmor^ ( as iyooicr fpeaks, Ecckf. Pol. Lib. 8.) fome thinking that the Law of Nature did warrant them •, and fome, that the Scripture did require them to do what they did. And can I believe that it was none of the Impofers Intention by the Oath, to provide againft any of thefe Opinions ? If really it were not, then a Man that taketh this Oath may, notwithftanding it, believe. That though it be not lawful to take Arms againft the King, nor againft his Armies, by pretence of his Authority, yet upon four other grounds it is lawful to take up Arms againft his Army. i. Becaufeas Wtliiui., and other Politicians fay, the Majcftas realvs is in the People. 2. Becaufe fome Lawyers fay, That the People of England have, as Hooker and Btlfon calls them, fore-pri-:(cd Liberties^ which they may defend, and the Parliament hath part of the Le- giflative Power, by the Conftitution of the Kingdom. 3. Becaufe the Law of Na- ture and Charity requireth the Defence of our Selves, Pofterity and Country. 4, And becaufe Scripture requireth the fame. They that will fay, That the Oath hatli left all thefe Pleas or Evafions for Fighting againft the King's Armies, do make it utterly ufelefs to the ends for which it was in- tended, and make the Authors to have been ftrangely blinded. 2. Note, That he takes the Word ULawfuO to extend to all I.«wj, of Nature, Scripture, or whatever : And, 3. That he takes thefe Words {_Itvsmt Lawful~\ to mean no more than {_I]udge., or think it is not LavrfuW} As if all our Parliament Men, with the Learned Bifhops, had not had Wit enough to have faid fo,if they had meant fo ^ but faid one thing, and meant another. 4.1 confcfs, I ftick not much on the Fourth Quaere ^ but its plain, that the Subjecl named is capable of various Predicates, yea, of contrary; and [_of taking Arms'^ may be applied to an oportct., a licet .^ a faBum efi^ yea, or a non Itcet :, though the licet I doubt not is their Scnfc. 5. Note., That the Anfwer to the Fifth., is a meer/'K^m^ o^the Anfwer : For the Qiieftion is. Whether the Aft of Parliament, or the private Commilfion be more Authoritative ? And he anfwereth, That which is Lawful j which implieth, that he was not willing to fpeak out. 6. iVo^c, that he plainly concludeth, that a Sheriff hath the King's Authority, to refill by the PoJJc Comit.itiis the King's Commiffioned Officers, that would hinder him from Executing the Decrees of a Court of Juftice : And doth not this either crofs the intent of the Impofers, or give up the whole Caufe ? Doth it not grant, that cither it is lawfiil by the King's Authority given to the SheritFby the Uiw, &c. for him by Arms to refift the King's Comminioners? Orelfe, that they be rcfifted, as not Commijftoned., becaufe their Commiflion is unlawful ? And what did the Parlia- ment's Army delire more? If a Sheriff", by the Sentence of an inferiour Court, may raife Arms againft the King's Army, as not Comminioned, you will teach the Par- liament to fay. That their Judgment is greater than an inferiour Court's. 7. And itispoftible, That Commilfions may be contrary ( of the fame date) who then can know which is the Traytor ? B b b b 2 8. The 12 The LI h E of the Part III 8. ThsSevcnthis ;i putting ofFtlie Anfwcr, like the f//t/?. 9. Note efpecially that of the Eighth Quitre, which implyeth divers Inftances of: Cafes, in which Grotius^ Barclay^ Bilfon^ &c. fay, That it is Lawful to take Arms againll the King, he feemeth wholly to grant it, and maketh it but like a Cavil, to fuppofe that thi>fi: Cafes ever came into the Parliament's Thoughts. And I am much in that of the good Man's Mind. But if they will Swear me to an Univerfal, while they forget particular Exceptions, that will not make the Oath Lawful to me. Tor, I. It is not certain to me, That they would have excepted thofe things if they had remembred them. 2. Much lefs can I tell which, and iiow many things they would have excepted, 3. And how could the wit of Man devife Words more exclufive of all Exceptions, than to fay [_lt vs not Lanfui on any pretence whatfoever ? ~\ Arc thofe in the Eighth Quaere [_no pretences vchatfoejtr ^'] 1 dare not thusllretch ray Con- fcience about an Oath, when 1 know that tlic Authors were Learned, Crafty, wil- ling to extend it far enough, and Men that underftood Lnghjh^ and fpake in a m.at- ter of their own Concernment and Employment. Therefore by [jiny pretence what- foever 3 1 cannot think that they meant to exclude fo many Pretences, as the Eighth Cafe fpeaks of. 1 o. Note alfo. That he alloweth Parliaments, Judges, or private Men, even by the King's Authority in his Laws, to defend their Lives, their Houfes, Ellates, Purfes, and Companions, againft fuch as are Commiflioned to Surprize them.Wluch is becaufe hetaketh fuch to be really no Commillions. And fo the Pailiaraent, and their Army,\vould fay in a Word, That the King's CnmniilTions to his Armies were no Commiilions. But this (which the Lawyers wholly reft on) I think in my Coa- fcience was fo contrary to the Impofcrs Senfe, that if it had been then mentioned, they would have exprefly put in feme Words againft it. And if an illegal Com- milfion be no CommiflTion, then there are not two forts of Commillions, one legal^ and the other illegal (unlefs fpcaking Equivocally.) And this comes up to what Richard Hooker^ and the long Parliament Hiid, viz.. That the King can do no wrong - becaufe if it be wrong., it is not to be taken for the King's ^{I. 1 1 . Note alfo. That a Commifiion muft be Ihewn, if required, and an illegal one is null. And which of the Parliament's Souldiers ever faw the CommilTions of thofe whom they Fought againft? Not one of many Thoufands. And was this, think you, the meaning of the Impofers of the Oath, that it fhould be left to Men's Liber- ty to take an illegal Commiflion for none? If this were declared, who of all the Parliament's Army would not take this partoftheOatli? .1 2. To the Eleventh he anfvvereth, That the Oath is againft altering Monarchy, (which none doubts of:) But whether the Power of Parliaments, or Courts of Juftice be included, the good Mqn thought it not beft to underftaud. 13. He thinks that by \^C'o7/ernmcnt^ is meant only the 5pec;w (Monarchy) and npt the Pcrfon of the Kiug ( as being fufficiently fecured elfewhere) whereas there is no fuch limitation in the Words :, but that he is to be efteeoied a Changer of the Government, who would dcpofe the King, and fet up an Ufurper. 14. But if it do fecure tlic Kin^s Pcrfon (as I think it doth, and fhould do) he thinks it extendeth not to the Perfons of the Church-Governours, becaufe by Law they may be altered. But i. Here is no difference made in the Oath, unlefs it be that the Government of the Church, is put before that of the State. 2. Therefore the .Qjieftion is. Whether this Oath be not contrary to thofe former Laws, and do not fettle the Bifhops and Chancellors as fal^ as the King ? As to the plain Senfe of the Words, I find no difference : And as to the meaning of the Law-makers, it is "hard othcrwifc to know it, feeing they arc of fo many minds, and various degrees of Capacity among themfelves. 15. And ii is here confeiled. That the Clergy-Government is included ; yea, and that tlic Oath meancth tlic EngUfh Species ^ and yet he thinketh that it prohibiteth not lawful Endeavours, to make more Bifhops, and to take down Lay-Chancellors.- whereas, i . Chancellors arc the Governours, for the greateft part. 2. And as a Congregational Church doth fpecifically differ from a Diocefs of 1000, or 6oq Churches:, the former dc finc^ being for Perfonal Communion in God's Worfhip, and not the latter ■., fo therefore the Bifhop of a Congregation muft needs differ f];)eci- I'.cally, from the Bifhop of futh a Diocefs. Therefore fo to change, were to change tlie Species of the Government, as I am confident the Bilhops themfelves would fay, if tlie QiiclHon were put to ihcm. 16. By Parr HI %everend Mr, Richard Baxter. i ^ 1 6. By C Endeavouring ~\ here he underflandeth only Q unlawful endeavouring ~\ and not Petitioning, or other lawful means : whereas the Word in the Oath, is abfo- lute and unlimited •, And I cannot be fo bold as to Swear [jiot to endeavour'^ and fe- cretly mean H exceiit it he by petitioning^ or other lawful means'] for no fober Maa will think, that we may do it by unlawful means, if he know them to be fo : And the old £t cetera Oath, in 1640. ( the AnteceiTor of this) had {_mt confenting'y which could not be fo limited. And further, it feems plain, that this cannot be their Senfe, becaufe it is equally applyed to both Governments in the Oath (fave that the Church-Government is put firft: ) And who dare fay, that this is the meaning, as to the Government of the State [^ I will not endeavour the dcpo/ing ofthe King^ ox xhz change o'i Monarchy^ unlefs it be by l.twful means.] Wherais the Oath fecmeth to me, that it is never to be done at all -^ and no means is lawful for fuch an Aid : And therefore we muft fo under- ftand it, as to the Diocefanes too ^ if we will not Swear abfolutely, or univerfally^ and mean limitedly^ and particularly., yea, and limit., and not limit the fime Word, as refpeding the feveral Governments, without any colour fi-om the Terms. 17. Laftly, When the Oath Sweareth us [_not at any time to endeavour] which is as plainly an Exclufive of Exceptions as to Time, as can briefly be uttered, he thinketh that by \_ any time ] is meant, {any time^ except when the KingfJiall command me the coYitra-y^ or the Lawfhall change., &c.] Now when fo much violence mull be ufed with the Words of fuch an Oath, and when the Impofers will not (after many Years knowledge of our Doubts and Diffi- culties) make them any plainer •, and fo when they are at the bell to us fo unintelli- gible, and no Lawyer, nor Parliament, that we can fpeak with, can refolve us ^ bat all the Anfwer we can get from the Parliament Men,is QYou mull underftand it, in the proper, ufual Senfe of the Words : ] And from the Lawyers, Q An unlawful Commijfion is none, and lawful Endeavours are not forbidden ] who can take fuch an Oath in judgment arid Uprightnefs of Heart, that is fatisfied in the Points fore- mentioned? § 20. The Aft which Impofeth this Oath, openly accufeth the Nonconforraable Miniilers ( or fome of them) of Seditious Doftrine ^ and fuch hainous Crimes : wherefore when it firfl came out, I thought that at fuch an Accufation no Innocent Pcrfons fliould be filent^ efpecially when Papifls, Strangers, and Pofterity may think, Tiiat a Recorded Statute is a fufficient Hiftory to prove us guilty ^ and the Concernments of the Gofpel, and our Callings, and Men's Souls, are herein touch- ed: Therefore I drew up a ProfefTion of our Judgment, about the Cafe of Loyalty and Obedience to Kings and Governours ■., and the Reafons why we refufed the Oath. But reading it to Dr. Seaman^ and fome others wifer than my felf, they advifed me to call it by, and to bear all in fileut Patience^ becaufe it was not poffible to doit fo fully and fincerely, but that the malice of our Adverfaries would make an ill ufe of it, and turn it all againft our felves : And the wife Statefmen laughed at me, for thinking that Reafon would be regarded by fuch Men as we had to do with, and would not cxafperate them the more. § 21, After this, the MiuiHers finding the prelliire of this Aft fo great, and the lofs li.ke to be fo great to Cities and Corporations, fome of them (tudied how to take the Oath lawfolly : And Dr. IVill. Bates., being much in feeming Favour with the ]_,ord-Kecper Bridgeman., confultcd with him, who promifcd to be at the next Seflion, and thereon the Bench to declare openly. That by \_ Endeavour] to change the Church -Government was mcAnt.[_only lawfulEndeavour\]vi\iich. fatisfying him,he there- by fatisfied others,who to avoid the Imputation of Seditious Doftrine, were willing to go as far as they durfl : And fo Twenty Miniilers came in at the Seffions, and took the Oxrli, uix.. E>r. Pates., Mr. Sam. Clarke., Mr. Sheffield., Mr. Hall^ or Mr. Churchy Mr. Mattk Pool., Mr. Lood., Mr. Stancliffe., Mr. Roles., Mr. Ltrrt?, Mr. Smith., Mr. Arthur , Mr. B.ijlwick , Mr. Brooks^ Mr. Overton., Mr. Batchelcr., Mr. C?ry, Mr. Butler., Mr. Wildiore., Mr, Hooker. And not long after. Dr. Jacomb took it, and Mv. Mayo.^ and Mr. Newton o{ Taunton in Somerfetfhire., being then in ioW(r/o« : Mr. John Howe in Devonfhire ■., and in Somtrfcifhire., Mr. William Thomai., Mr. Cooper oi Soutbwa>-k (then there : ) And in Northamptonfl)iye, Dr. Conant (late Regius ProfefTor of Divinity, and V ice-Chancellor in Oxford) and about Twelve more with him: I heai-d of no inoi e Noncoufnrmifts that took it. § 22. Dr. 14 The L IF E of the Part III. § 22. Dr. Bates wrote me prefently the following Letter, which becaufe it fhewcth the Tnith of their Cafe and Inducements, I think meet here to add ; the rather, becaufe when they took the Oath, the Lord-Keeper left out the Word \j)y!ly.'] And Judge Keeling openly told them. That he was glad that fo many of them renounced the Covenant^ with more fuch like j which made Mr. Clarke openly tell him, That tliey took this Oath only in fuch a Senfe as they conceived to be not inconfiftent with the Covenant : And becaufe the People in London reviled the Mi- nifters as Turn-Coats when they had done ^ which Infultings and Revilings much grieved fome of them. Dr. Bates's Letter of their Cafe about the Oath. Dear Sir, 1 Judge it due to our Friend/hip^ and neceffary for my Fame^ to give you an account of what paji among fi us in Reference to the Oath. In fever al Afeetings of the Aiinijlers^ the fpecial Enquiry was about the meaning of the Word Endeavour, Whether to he un- derfiood in the univtrfal Extent^ fo as to exclude all Regular^ or only tumultuous andftdi- tious y^dtngs. The Reafons nhich perfuaded us to under Jland it in a qualified Senfe ^ wtrs 1. The Preface to the yiB, which declares^ the occafton and the end of the Oath ^ was to prevent the dijlilling the Poifon ofSchifm and Rebellion j now it vs a b:own Rule^ ratio juris eft jus j from whence it appears.^ That only Schifmatical and Rebellious Endeavours are ex- cluded.^ to avoid which^ there was an anttcedtnt Obligation. 2. It vs ncctffary to interpret this Oath in congruity with former Laws ^ in particular.^ with that which concerns tumul- tuous Petitions^ wherein this Parliament declares it to be the privikdge oftheSubjeii to com- plain.^ rcmonjirate Petition to King or Parliament ., or to advife with any Alefnber of Par- liament .^ for the altering of any thing amifs in the Government of Church or State., Efta- Uifhed by Law. If Endeavour be taken in its Latitude., it is a perfet} contradiOion to this Law. 3. The Tefiimmics of fever al Members of both Boufes^ who ajfuredus that in the Debate., this was the declared Senfe of the Parliament. Sir Heneage Finch told me the intention of it was only to have fecurity from us., without any rejpeii to our Judgments con- cerning the Government J that we would not dijlurb the Peace., and that it was impofed at tins Scafon., m regard of our Wars with France and Holland. He added., it wojs « telfera of our Loyalty., and thofe who refufed it., would be looked on as Perfons referving themfelvcs fir an Opportunity. My Lord Chamberlain faid., the Bifhops 0/ Canterbury and Winchefter declared., it only excluded Seditious Endeavours ■., and upon his urging that it might be exprejfed., the Arch Bi/hop replyed., It fhould be added :, but the King being to come at Two of the Clock., it could not.,with that Explication befent down to the Houfc of Commons.,and returned up again within that time. The Bi/hop of Exeter told Dr.Tillotfon, That the firfi Draught of this Oath was in Terms a Renunciation of the Covenant -^ but it was anfvered., they have fujfercd for that already., and that the Mini/lers would not recede., it was therefore reafonablc to require fecurity in fuch Words., as might not touch the Cove- nant. 4. The concurrent Opinion of the Judges., who are the jiuthori^ied Interpreters of Law, who declared that only tumultuous and feditious Endeavours are meant. Judge Bridgman, Twifden, Brown, Archer, Windham, Atkins, who were at London, had agreed in this Senje. Some of the Mini/lers were not fatvsfied., becaufe the Opinion of a Judge m his Chamber was no Judicial AU ^ hut if it were declared upon the Bench^ it would much rcfolve their Doubts. I addrejfedmy Self to my Lord Bridgman, and urged him., th.it fime it was a A'fatter ofConfcicnce., and the Oaths were to be taken in thegreate/l /hnplicity^ he would finccrely give me his Opinion about it. He profejfed to tne., that the Senfe of the Oath was., only to exclude feditious and tumultuous Endeavours, and faid, he would go to the Se/finns., and declare it in the Court. He wrote down the Words he intended to fpcak., and upon my declaring., that if he did not exprefs that Qonly feditious Endeavours] were meant., I could not take the Oath : he put in the Paper (before me) that word, and told mc, that Judge KceWng was of his Mind, and would be there, and be kind tons. The Mini/lers e/lecmed thvs the tno/l publick Satisfiilion for Confcicnce and Fame, and feveral of them agreed to go totheSt/ftons, and take the Oath, that hereby, ifpojfiblc, they parr. Hi. "Reverend Air. Richard Baxter. 15 they might vindicate Religion from the J mentation offailion and Rebellion and make n evident that Confliences only htndt^eth their Conformity. Sone of the mofi unfatvsfied were refolved to t:tke it. \i'e came ;;f the afternoon on Friday to the Court , where feven Altnt- fias bad taken it in the Aiorni.ig : At our appearance , the Lord Bridgniaa addrejl him- felfto uf in th:fe Words: Gentlemen , I perceive you are corae to take the Oath I am glad of it : The intent of it is to diiiinguilh between the King's good Subjects and thofe who are mentioned in the Act , and to prevent Seditious and Tumultuous Endca vours to alter the Govei nment : Mr. Clark fiid , in thk Scnfe we take it. Tl^e Lord Kcdingfpake withfome quicknefs , Will you take the Oath as the Parliament hath ap- pointed it. I reply td , A:y Lord , We a-re come hither to attcft our Loyalty , and to declare rue wi'l not feditio'ifly endeavour to alter the Government. He ivaijilent and we took the '■ Oath , being i 3 in number. After thv; the Lord Keeling told m , He was glad that fo many had taken the Oath ^ and with great vehemency faid-., We had renounced the Covenant ( in two Principal Points ) that damnable Oath , which fticks between the Teeth of lb many. And he hoped , That o/s here was one King , and one Faith , fo there ■would be one Government : And sfwe did not Conform , it would be judged we did this to fave aftakc. Thefe Word' being uttered, after by hhs Silence he had approved what my Lord B. had fpoke of the S nfe of the Aii , and our exprefs Declaration , that in that Senfe ' we took it :, you m.y imagine hor fw^ridng thty were to us : It ipjs not pojfihle for us to ' recoiled our fclves from the Confufton which this caufed ., fo as to make any rep'y. We re- tired with l.idmf , and what the confquences will be , you may eafily fore-fee. Some will reflet upon in with feverity ^ ji^Jgi>^g of the nature of the Ailion bythh check of Providence, . Others who were nfolved to take the Oath , recoil from it ; their jealouftes being increafed. , Ifliall trouble you ao longer , but affureyou , That notwithfianding this accident doth not invalidate the Reafons for the lawfulnefs of it , in our apprehenfions ^ yet thefore-hght of this would have caufed us tofufpend ou-- proceedings. The good Lordfanffifie this Providence tous .^ and teach us to commit our dear eft Concernments unto bim , in the performance of our Duty , to whofe Froteihon I commend you , and remain London , Feb. ii. Yours intirely, William Bates, After my Lord Keeling^ Speech, Sir John Babor enquired of Lord Bridgman whilll he was on the Bench , Whether the Minifters had renounced the Covenant? Heanfwer'd, the Covenant was not concerned in it. Mr. Cilamy.^ Watfon ., Gouge and many others, had taken the Oath this Week, but for this unhappy Accident* My Lord Brid^^m.m , came to the Seflions , and declared the Senfe of the Oath with my Lord Chancellor's allowance. ' But all the Reafons contain'd in this Letter , feem'd not to me to enervate the force of the fore-going Objections , or folve the Difficulties. § 24. A little before this , I?. B^ and Sir^^^S. committed fuch horrid wicked- x^afri>^ ■ iiefs in their Drinking (ading the part of Preachers , in their Shirts , in a Balcony, with Words and Aftions not to be named, ) that one ( or both ) of them was openly . 1 fa cenfured for it in Wvlminjlcr-Hall , by one of the Courts of Juftice. ( You will fay ' ■'"^' Sure it was a (hauicfiil Crime indeed.) And (hortly after a Lightning did feize on the Church where the Monuments of the -were , and tore it , melted the Leads, and brake the Monuments into fo fniali pieces , that the people that came to fee the place , put the Scraps , with the Letters on , into their Pockets , to ftiew as a Wonder and more wonderful than the confumption of the reft by fire. * § 25. In this time the Haunting of Mr./I-/ow])e//c;>i's Houfein Wiltjhire , with ftrangc Noifes and Motions, for very many Months together , was the Common Talk • Of which Mr. Jof. Glanvil having wrote the Story , I fay no more. ' <^ 16. The Number of Minifters all this while , either imprifoned , fined , or other- wife afflifted for preaching Chrift's Gofpcl , when they were forbidden , was fo great that I forbear to mention them particularly. § 27. The War began with the Dutch whom the French adifted. § 28. The Plague which began at Aaon , July 29. 1 665. being ceafed on March i , following, I returned home^ and found the Church-yard like^a plow'd field with Graves , and many of my Neighbours dead •, but my Houfe ( ijear the Church-yard; nninfedted i6 The LIF E of the uninfefted, and that part of my Family , which I left there, all fafe , thro' the great mercy of God , my merciful Protertor. § 29. About this time the French furprized St. Chrijlofhers , and feme other of cur - Plantations in the Wejl Indies , and the Dutch took our Plantation of Siranam. And the Wars prcceedijig nearer home , in the end of Jtme 1 666. in the which many were kill'd on both fides, and the D. oiTork fo near the danger, as that he ventur- ed himfelf in fight no more. Among others , the E. of M.irlhorou^h being [lain there was found about him a Letter written to Sir Hugh Vollird , Comptroller of the King's Houihold •, in which ( being awaken'd by Sea-dangers ) he difclaim'd Sadducifm , and pleaded for the Soul's Immortality^ which was Printed, becatife being inti'mate Friends , they were both before fuppofed to be Infidels and Sudducces , that believed no Life after this. § 30. On July 2$. was the 2d great Sea-fight , in which the EngUJh had the better : And ia Augufl we feemed to prevail yet more ^ infomuch that Monk was faid to pro- ceed fo far as to enter their Harbour , ahd burn 1 20 Ships in tlie River , and to burn a Thoufand Houfes on the Land, and give the Seamen the Plunder^ for Which in the end of Auguji the King appointed a Day of Thankfgiving to be kept in ; onion which was done ^ though many muttered , that it was not wifely done , to provoke the Dutch , by burning their houfes, when it was eafy for them to do the like by us on our Sea-Coafts •, and fo to teach them the way of undoing us , while neither party gained by fuch doings. And that it was no good fign of future profperity when thofe that believed not, that there is a God , or at lead: that his providence difp'ofeth of fuch things , woiild give God folemn Thanks for an unprofitable burning of the Houfes of innocent Protejiants. And our Confidence was then grown fo high , that we talkt of nothing but bringing down the Dutch to our mercy , and bringing them to Contempt and Ruine : But our Height was quickly taken down, by the lofs of many Hamhorough fliips firll , and then by a lofs of many of our men, in an Attempt upon their Merchaiy; fhips in the Sound at Denmark ; but efpecially by the firing of the City of Lon- don. § 31 . On Septemb. 2. after midnight , London was fet on fire ^ and on Sept. 3. tlie Exchange was burst ^ and in Three Days almofl: all the City within the Walls and much without them. The fcafon had been exceeding dry before , and the Wind ia the r.«/}, where the Fire began. The people having none to condud them aright could do nothing to refill: it, but ftand and fee their Houfes burn without Remedy' the Engines being prefently out of Order , and ufcleis. The ftreets were crowded with People and Carts , to carry away what Goods they could get out : And they that were moll: aftive , and befriended (by their Wealth) got Carts , and i-i ved much ^ and the reft loft almoft all. The Lofs in Houfes and Goods is fcarcely to be valued : 'And among the reft , the Lofs of Books was an exceeding great Detriment to the Intereft of Piety and Learning : Almoft all the Bookfellers in St. Patdh Church-Yard brought their Books into Vaults under St. Pauh Church , where it was thought almoft impof- fiblc that Fire fhould come. But the Church it felf being on fire, the exceeding weight of the Stones falling down , did break into the Vault , and let in the Fire , and they could not come near to fave the books. The Library alfo of Sion-Colkd'/e was burnt , and moft of the Libraries of Minifters , Confovma!)le and Nonconformable, in the City •, with the Libraries of many Nonconformifts of the Countrey , which had been lately brought up to the City. I faw die half burnt Leaves of Books near my Dwelling at J(hn fix miles from London •, but others found them near W'mdfor , al- moft twenty miles diftant. At laft , fome Seamen taught them to blow upfom'c of the next Houfes with Gunpowder , which ftopt the Fire. And in fomc places it ftopt as wonderfully as it had proceeded , without any known Caufe. It ftopt at fJolborn- Bridge ., and near St. DunjlanhOnwrch in Fleet -Jl'ree t ., and at Fefulch-eh Cfiurch(when the Church was burnt,) and at C/jr//^'s Church (when the Church whs burnt,) and near Alderfgate and Cripplegate , and other places at the Wdl , and in Juf^in Friars (the Dutch Church ftopt it , and efcaped,) and in Bi/hopfgatcfireet and Leadenhull-jlreet , and Fenchurch-ftrcet , in the midft of the Streets, and fhort of the ToiPfr, and all beyond the River {Southvoarl^ cfcaped. Thits was the bcft , and one of the faireft Cities in the world turn'd into AOics and Ruines in Three Days fpacc , with many fcore Chur- ches , and the Wealth and Ncceilaries of the Inhabitants. The Number of Houfes arc recorded by others §32. Part 111. Keverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 17 § 32. It was a fight that might have juvea any Man a lively fenfe of the Vanity of fliis World, and all the Wealth and Glory of it, and of the fdciire conflagration of al) the World. To fee the Flames mount up towards Heaven, and proceed fo fnriouf- ly without rcftraint : To fee the ftreers filled with people altonifhed, that had fcarce fenfe left them to lainent their own calamity. To fee the fields filled with heaps of Good^,and fumptnous Buildings, curious Rooms, coftly Furniture and Houfliold-Stulf: Yea, VVarehoufes and furnifhcd Shops and Libraries, &c. all on a flame, and none durft come near to receive any thing. To fee the King and Nobles ride aboiii tiie ftreets, beholding all thcfc Defolations, and none could aiford the leafc Relief. To fee the Air, as far as could be beheld, fo filled with the fmoak, that the Sun fhiiied through it, with a colour like Blood ;, yea even when it was fetting in the IVeJl, it fo appeared to them that dwelt on the Weft fide of the City. But the dolefiillefl fight of all was af- terwards, to fee what a ruinous confiifcd place the City w?5, by Chimneys and Stee- ples only ftanding in the midft of Cellars and heaps of Rubbifn ^ fo that it was hard to know where the ftreets had been, and dangerous, of a long time to pafs through the Ruines, becaufe of Vaults, and fire in them. No man that feeth not fuch a thing, can have a right apprehenfion of the dreadfulnefs of it. § 33. The Extent of the Fire fconfuining the City within the Walls) calleth to my remembrance, that a Fortnight before, one Mr. Caril^ a Gentleman of a great Ellate in Suffex^ and faid to be one of the mofl underftanding and fober fort of Pa- pifts, firflfent, and then come to havevifited me, as earneftly defiring my Acquaint- ance ., and then fent me a Paper to anfwer, being Exceptions agaiuft the Preface to my book, called, The afe Religion ; written by one that profelfed great Refped; to ine, andadefire to debate thofe Controverfies with me-, fand it proved to be CreJJy^ the Champion that at that time was moft forward and fuccefsful in Difputes.) And in that Paper, fpeaking of the Pope's Licenfing Whore-houfesat Home ^ he faith, that it is vvorfe in Z.oM^o«, where are whole ftreets that have not fomuch as the Rebuke of any Penalty, but when they die, the Churchmen bury them as the reft, with confi- dence, that God in mercy hath taken to himfdf the Souls of thofe dear Brethren and Sifters departed. I anfwered his Paper, and to that pafTage faid. That I was not acquainted in the Suburbs ('towards the Court j : but I never heard of any fuch thing ;, and if he knew it, he would do well to tell the Magiftrates (who know it not) what ftreets thofe be : But for the City, within the Walls, my Acquaintance more enabled me to fay, that I did not believe that there was in all the World fuc^ a City for Piety, Sobriety and Temperance. And about a Fortnight after, that part was burned, and the reft, that he accufed, did efcape. ^ 34, And this is the Tliird terrible Judgment which London fuffered, fince the King's Return. Firft, many fcore of their Faithful Teachers were filenced, and calt out, and afterwards banilhed, or confined Five Miles from the City : And next, in 1665. the plague and other ficknefs confumed about an Hundred Thoufand : And when they 'began to be fetled in their Habitations again, the Flames devoured their Houfes dnd their fubftance. And it is not hard for the Reader here to imagine how ^, many Thoufands this muft needs caft into utter Want and Beggary : And how many Thoufands of the formerly Rich were difabled from relieving them. And how dole- ful the Cafe then mult needs be, when good people, that were wont to relieve others, were caft into fuch diftrefs, and few able to help them And at the fame time fo ma- ny Hundred Families of filenced Minifters to be relieved, that looked to London mofl for Help. And after the Five the Charitable were difabled ^ and alfo were in no fmall ftraitswhen they had a little to give, between the Minifters and the diftrefi^ed Citi- zens, whom to give it to : fuch are eafilier heard of than felt. And it was not the leaft part of the Calamity, that when people faw the Number of the indigent to be fo great, that when they had done their beft, it feemed as if they had done nothing-, and alfo that on this pretence, other lying Beggars pretended themfelves to be London- ers^ it difcouraged many from doing what they could and ought. §3«;. Among others, the Famoufeft Perfon in the City, who purpofely addifted himfelf to works of Mercy, was my very dear Friend, Mr. Henry j-'fhurft^ a Dra- per fa man of the Primitive fort of Chriftians for Humility, Love, Blamelefsnefs, Meeknefs, doing good to all as he was able, efpecially needy filenced Minifters (to whom, in Lancashire alone, he allowed loo /, perJnn. and in London was moft famous for their fuccour), and doing hurt to none. His care now was to fblicit the Rich a- broad, for the relief of the ]yoov honcit Londoners : And Mr. Thomas Gouge fthe fi- lenced Minifter of Sepulchres Parifh, Son to Dr. IVill. Couge^ and fuch another man, Cccc _ wktf ig' Ibe L i FE o] the Part III who made Works of Charity a great part of thcbufinefsof his Life,) was made the Treafurcr : And once a Fortnight they called a great Number of the needy together to receive their Alms. I went once with Mr. ^'^JJmrft to his Meeting, to give them aa Exhortation and Counfel, as he gave them A'nis, and faw more caufc, than I was fcnii - ble of before, to be thankful to God, that I never much needed relief from o- thers. § 36. It was not the leafl: obfervable thing in the time of the Fire, and after, con- fidering the late Wars, and the multitudes of disbanded Soldiers, and the great grief and dilcoatent of the J.ondomrs^ for the Silencing and Banifhing of their Paftors that yet there were heard in the time of their Calamity, no paflionate Words of" difcontent or di/honour againfl; their Governours, even when their Enemies had fo oft acCT.fed them of feditious Inclinations, and when Extremity might poffibly have made them defperate. § 37. But yet alas ! the Effeft of all thefe dreadful Judgments was not fuch as might have been hoped for, but ftill one Party cafl: all the Giufeujxm another, and the two Extreams did look more at each other's Faults than at their own. There was no confefiing the Sin of Ferfccution, or lilencing Chrill'sMiniiters by the one lide but they jnfiificd their ways, and hated thofe that differed from them, as much as ever : There was no lamenting the Corporation PERJURY by the Citizens that had taken the Declaration and Oath, and had fiicceeded them that were put out, be- caufe they feared an Oath. There was no lamenting former Scandals, Rebellions, or Divifions, by the other Extreme ^ but the Dividers cryed out, its long of the Per- feaitors, and the perfecuters cryed out, its long of the Schifmatkks^ and it is God's juft Judgment on the City, that hath been fo much againft the King and the Bifhops ; and God would not pardon them tho the King did: So that while each fide called the other to r°p?ntance, they did both fly from repentance more and more : And if there were not between them a fober party, that lamented fm mofb but were guilty of lealt. We ihould fee no Pragnofticks of any thing but utter defblation. § 38. The greit talk at this time was, Who were the burners of the Gty ? And the-e came in fo many Teilimonies to prove that it was the plotted weapon of the ■ a"^ Papifis^ as caufed the Parliament themlelves to appoint a Committee to enquire after '' it, and receive information : Whereupon a Fr-eM.^fe'w.^jj.f proved a Pafift at laft, tho »^_ the prodigal Son of a ycnch Protellant) confeft openly and conftantly to the laft, that *^^^^ he began the fire,hired to it by another French Papi/i(A debauch'd fellow )that was gone : The Man was fent through all the mines, and fhewed them truly the houfe which he fired (where it began), which then the Neighbours themfelves could not eafily have done. For which he was tryed at the Seflions, and upon his conftant Confeflicn was condemned and hanged. Sir Fobert ^roob being Chairman of the Committee, abun- dan-'.p of "Tcdimonics were received ; that in many parts of the City men were fcert to cafb fire balls into the houfes •, and fome ftrangers taken vith fiery materials in their pockets; and fome that were taken firing houfes were brought to the Guard of Soldi- » diers, and to the Dnke of Tork^ and never heard of afterward : With more fiach mat- ter out of theCountrey where Divers Papifis foretold the fire; And the Teilimonies were fhortly after Printed, which is the reaP">n why I give them to yon -no more par- cularly. And many ftories go about with very credible and nndenied Reports, that be not in the Printed papers : As that of Sir Francis Peter (a Jefuited Papift) who had Lodgings in FMhorn^ next to a houfe that had flood empty (incc theplugue : Where a llnoak breaking out, caufed the Lord CravanznAthc Lord yljlley to {cck to quench the fire ; bs^tthcy tvere fain to.breakopen Sir Fruncis /'rttr's Doors, bccaufe he would not let them in : And afterward he defended liis flayers with his fword, and wounded oneM^in before they could apprehend him : And they found between the two houfes upontheGnttcrs, a fire kindled with bed-mats and fuch like things, which they put ont ; But the matter was filenccd and no more faid of it. In Shroppvre a Papifi came toSirThom.xs ll^olrich^ and took his Oath that one of the PendriCshrethven that had hid the King after Worcejlrr flight, had told him before, that London would be fnortly burnt. Many other fuch teflimonics were given in -^ but it came to nothing ; and Sir I^ohert Brooks the Chairman of the Committece, went fhortly after into France^ and as iie was ferrycd over a River was drowned (with his Kinfman) and^^he bufincfs medled V. ith no more. So that the difcontcnted Citizens feared not to accufc the Courtiers, as the fautors of the PMifl^ in the plot •, the rather bcc.wfe that fome cryed out re- joycingly. Now the Rebellious City is ruined, the King is abfijlute, and was never King indeed till now. But of the reft I refer you to the Printed papers. ^ § 39- Part HI. lieverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 19 _^___^_^_,,,.,._^,^^.,^__^^^^_.^,.^^^.......^.^ -♦ — - ^_ — •— ■ § 39. Br.t fome good rofc out of all thefe Evils : The Churches being burnt, and he Farifti MJnifters gone (tor want of places and maintenance) the Nonconfonnifti were now more rcfolved than ever, to preach till they were imprifoned : Dr. Manton had his rooms full in Cowwt-C.'ifiifM-, Mr. Thomas Fincent^ Mx. Thomas Doolittk^Dr. Stimuli Anncflcy^ Mr. Wadsworth^ Mr. lamxvay at Rotherfrith^ Mr. Chefter^ Mr. Franklin^ I^lr. Turner^ Mr. Grimes^ Mr. Nathaniel rincent^ Dr. Jaco?nb^ (in the Countefs oi Exc- ter'i,-h'otift') and Mi\ Thomas IVatjon^ &c. Did keep their Meetings very openly, and prepared large Rooms, and fome of them plain Chappels, with Pulpits, Seats, and Galleries for the reception of as many as could come. For now the peoples ncceflTity was unqncftioaable: l-or they had none other to hear, faving a few Churches that could hold njiconliderable part of the people; So that to forbid them now to hear the Nonconjortnips^ was all one as to forbid them all publick worfliiping of God, and to Command them to forfake Religion and to live like Jthafts : And thus to forbid them t.0 fcek for Heaven when they had loll: almoft all that they had on Earth, and to take from therathciv fpi ritual Comforts, after all-their outward Comforts were.gone, they thought a Cruelty fo barbarous, as to be unbefeeming any Man, that would not own himfelf to be a Devil. But all this little moved the Ruling Prelates, faving that lh:ime refti ained them trom imprifonjng thePreachdrs fo hotly and forwardly as before. The Independents alfo fet up their Meetings more openly than before ;, efpecially JSir.Criffiths^Mr. Brooks^Mr. Caryi^I',lv. Barker^Sic. And Dr. Owen fwho had before kept far off") and Mr. Philip Nie^ and Dr. Thomas Goodrvin^ who were their Leaders, came to the City. So that many of the Citizens went to thofe Meetings called pri- vate, more, than went to the publick Parifh Churches. § ^.o. Yet at the fame time it happily alfo fell out that the Parifh Churches, that were left ftanding, had the befl and ablelt of the Conformifts in them ^ efpecially Dr.^'-'tillijnfieet, Vv.Tillofon^ Mr. M^hite^ Dr. Outram Dr. Patrick^ Mr. Gifford, Dr. Whitclxot^ Dr. Norton^ Mr. Neft^ &c. So that the moderate fort of the Citizens,heard either fort, in publick and private indifferently j Whilft thofe on the one extreme repropched all Mens preaching fave their own as being feditious Conventicles; And thofe on the other extreme, would hear none that did Conform •, Or if any heard them, they would never joyn with them in the Common prayers nor the Sacra- ments. § 41, Mr. PW«pNye before this (feeing the Independents like to fall under the greater fuffei ings, if they refiifed to hear in publickj had written a Manufcript to prove it lawful to hear Conformable Parifh Miniflers (but not medling with Com- mon Prayer or Sacraments). (For before the Wars in 1 639 or 1 640 he and Mr. Tho- mu< Goodwin^ had fall'n off from hearing or joyning in Common Prayer and Sacra- ments with the Parifhes, and my Lord Say and Mr. Pirn and fome others had got them to a difpute with Mr. John Balt^ the Nonconformift who as fame faith, utterly baffled them). But when Mr. Nye\ Manufcript came out, one Mr. Stoneham of their own party confuted it, maintaining that to hear the Conformable Miniffers was a fin. And before that a Pamphlet came out in Mr. JofcM Goodwin'' s- name before his death, to prove Prelatical Preachers to be no Teachers or Miniflers of Chrift, and the Com- mon Prayer to be Idolatry : And a fharper than that to the fame purpofe came out from a young hot fifth Monarchy Preacher of Worcefter/hire called Mr. Brown. Which Mr. "ohn Tombes the Anabaptifl aufwered, proving Parifh Communion lawful. To which Brown largely replyed, and Mr. Tombes made fome fhort defence. § 42. About this time they renewed the talk of liberty of Confcience ffor their ordinarv ends, to keep people in hopes): Whereupon many wrote for it (efpecially fAiw 'ohn Humfrees and Sir Charles Wrd/ley\ and many wrote againft it, as Dr. Perin- ch /, and others niofbly without Names ^ for the Conformifts were now grown fo hardened as not only to do all themfclvcs that was required of chem, but alfo to th' nk then-.fel ves fafticient for the whole Miniftcrial work through the Land, and not b liy to confent to their filencing of their brethren, but alfo to oppofe their reftituti- 01, and write molt vehemently againft it, and againft any toleration of them : So little do men know when they once enter into an Evil way, where they fhall ftop. Not that it was fo with all, but with too many, efpecially with moft of the young men, that were of pregnant wits, and ambitious minds, and had fet themfelves to feek preferments. § 43. On which accounts a great part of thofe that were called LatttudinarianshZ' gan to change their temper, and to contraft fome malignity againft thofe that were much more Religious than tlK-infelves. At firft they were only Cambridfe Armini- C c c c ? ans. 2 J he L 1 fEoj the Part IIL (JMJ, and fome of them not fo rrnich ; and were mucli for new and free Philofophy,and efpecially for Cartes ; and not at all for any thing Ceremonious : But being not fo Itrift in their Theology or way of piety as fome others, they thought that Conformity was too fmall a matter to kjeep them out of the r\linifi:ry. Biitaft rwards* many of them grew into fuch a diilafte of the Weaknefs of many feripus Chrillians, who would have fome harfh pbrafes in Prayer, Preach ing and difcourfe, that thence theyfeem- ed to be out of Love with their very. Doftrines, and their manner of worftiip- ing God: Of which more anon. § 44. li\ Jme 1657. the Dutch came up the River of Thames^ apd Sir Edward ■ Sprag^ a Papift, that was Governour of our Fort at Sheermfs had not fortityed it, and deferted it ; And fo they came up to Chatham^ and burnt fome of our grcatefb Ships, and took away fome, while we partly lookt on, and partly refifted to no great purpofe. And had they but come up to London^ they might have done much more. This cafl: us into a great confternation.. § 45. At this time the King came in perfon among the Citizens, to pcrfwade them not to defert him, and made a Speech to them at Tower- Hill fnot here to be recited) : And he had now great Experience of the Loyalty of the Citizens, who after fuch fufferings, and under fuch prefluresin matters of Confcience, and of worldly Interelt, even in fuch extremity, were. neither proved to do or fay any thing that was contrary to their fidelity to the King. • § 45. The firing of London (which was raofl commonly fuppos'd to be done by the Papifts, and the Wars with the French^ did raife greater Jealoufies of the Papifti'than had appeared before • fo that weekly News came to XoM^fow from many Counties, that the Papifts were gathering Horfe and Arms, and that fome of them had got Troops, under pretence of the Militia or Fohmteers to be ready for our defence. The Parlia- ment hereupon declared themfelves more againfl: them than was expected ; wfiich greatly troubled the Papifts. The Royalifts hi many Countries vyere almbft ready to difarm them ^ efpecially the E. of Derby in LancaP^ire, was wholly true to the Prote- ftant Intereft. Whereupon the Papifts thought it policy to live more privately, and to ceafe their oftentation, and to obfcure their Arms and Strength, and to do their work, in a more fecret way. And fome of them Printed an Addrefs to the Royalifts, to plead kindnefs and affinity of difpofitions with them, telling them that they hoped that they, that had fought,and fuffercd in one canfe for the King, againft the Puritans^ Ihould have continued in the fame Union and Kindnefs, and that they would not have been fo much againft them : This was anfwered folidly by Dr. Loid. And dbubtlefs the Papifts had never fo great a deieftion and difappoint-ment fmce the King came in. For they feemed to think that the Parliament and Royalifts had been fo diftrafted with malice and revenge, againft the Puritans^ as that they would have been content that London was burnt, and would have done any thing that they would have them, even againft themfelves, their Countrcy, their Religion and Pofterity, fo it had but favour- ed of that revenge. But it proved otherwifc. § 47. Whileft that all thefe Calamities, efpecially our lofs and difgrace by th. Dutch^ muft be laid on fome or other, the Parliament at laft laid all upon the Lord Chancellor Hide ^ And the King was content it Ihould be fo. Whereupon many Speeches were made againft him, and an Impeachment or Charge brought in againft him, and vehemently urged •, and among other things, that he counfelled the King to Rule by an Army (which many thought, as bad as he was, he was the chief means of hindering.) And, to be fhort, when they had firft fought his Life, at laft it was concluded that his banifhnient ftiould fatisfy for all : And fo he was baniihcd by an Acl, during his Life. The fale of Dunkirk to the Fench^ and a great comely Houfc which he had new built, increafed the difpleafure that was againft him : But there were greater Caufts which ' muft not Name. § 48. And it was a notable providence of God, that this Man that-had been' the grand Inftnnrient of State, and done almoft all, and had dealt fo cruelly with the Nonconformifts (houldthusby his own friends he ca.ftout and baniftiCd, while thofc that he had perfecuted were the moft moderate in his Caufe, and many for him. And it was a great eafc that befell good people throughout the Land by his de- jcftion. For bis way was to decoy men into Confpiracics , or to pretend plots, and when upon tlie rumour of a plot the innocent people, of ma- ny Countries were laid inprifon, fotliat no man knew when he was fafe. Whereas fmce then, the Laws have been made more and more feverc, yet a Man knowetha little better what to expeft, when it is by a Law, tliat he is to be trycd. And it is jiota- Part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 2 1 notable, that he, that -did fo much to make the Oxford Law forbaniniing Minifters from Corporations that took not that Oath, doth in his Letter from France fince his banilhment fay, that he never was in favour fmce the Parliament Sat at Oxford. § 49. Before this the Duke of ^wd/jjf/^iiw, being the head of his Adverfaries, had 1. been ovcrtopt by him, and was fain to hide himfelf, till the Datcfc put us in fear and then he appeared and rendered himfelf, and went prifoner to the Tovoer •, but with fo ; reat Acclamations of the People in the Streets as was a great Difcouragement to I'le Chayict-llor : And the D. of Buckingham was quickly fet at liberty. Whereupon .;s the Chancellor had made himfelf the head of the Prelatical party, who were all for fctting up themfclves by force, and fuftcring none that were againft them j fo Buck- ingham would now be the head of all thofe parties,' that were for liberty of Confci- ence : For the Man was of no Religion, but notorioufly and profefledly luftful j And ct of greater wit and parts, and founder Principles as to the intereft of Humanity and the Common good, than moft Lords in the Court. Wherefore he Countenanced Fanaticks and Sedaries among others,x without any great fufpicion, becaufe he was , known to be fo far from them himfelf " Tliougli he marryed the Daughter and only Child of the Lord Fairfax^ late General of the Parliament's Army, and is his heir Tiereby, yet far enough from his mind j but y6t a defender of the Priviledges of Hu- * ''^- ' manity. § 50. Before this alfo the Earl of 5rr/?o/ had attempted to pull down the Chancel- • lor^ and to bring in a Charge againft him into the Parliament : But the King foon quelled him j And being a Papft , he hath lain latent or quiet ever fmce as unfit to appear in publick bufinelFes - And Buckinpham performed the . Work. § 5 1 . In October following the Parliament gave thanks to the King for removing the Lord Chancellor : But they were vehement in feeking an account of tlie Moneys . wliich have been granted for the publick fervice, and alfo to have an account of the bu- iinefs at Chatham^ by whofe fault it was that the Dutch were unrefifted and furprized our fhipping : And Committees were appointed for thefe purpofes, and a great deal of talk and ftir was made about them for a long time ; but they could never attain their ends ^ but they that were faulty had friends enow to procure their fecurity • And tho the Parliament grudged at it, and fometimes talkt high, yet tliis made no al- teration in oin- Affiurs. § 52. One notable diladvantage which we had by the Djitc/? attempt was, that it ^ drew down<:iur new raifed hi-land ^ouldlers into A>«t towards Shernefs^ where the un- heakhfiil Air c?.ft fuch abundance of them into ficknefs, and kili'd fo many, as greatly weakened many -^ Divers of the moft forward Gentlemen of the Countrey there loft tlicir Lives ^ And thus we have taught an Enemy how to undoe us, if he can but force us to keep our Inland-Soldiers who are not ufed to that Air, about the mouth of the Thames ^ their bodies are no more able to endure it, than if it were the mortalleft of our Foreign plantations. § 53. Bat'the great ftir of thefe Timei was about Money -. The Parliament faid,that never had the like fumms been laid on the fubjcfts of this Land^ and that the old way of payments by five or lix fublidies afa time, was fuch a trifle in Comparifon of this, as that it would be fcarce obfervable : After ijiany vaft fums granted by way of Land-Taxes, Royal Aid, Poll-money, ^c. there was fetled, for continuance, the .'Chimney-money, and feveral Excifcs, and the Cuftoms, and the Wine-Ta-K for a li- mited Time, ire. But all was fo much too little, that more was ftill needed and de- manded. The Countrey -people cried out, We are undone. ■ The Tenants at Will did fo many of them give up their Farms, that the Gentlemen cried out, // we have any metre Land-Taxes.^ roe are undone. What the People faid of the Parliament, and what of the Court, and what of the Bilhops, and what of the Women, I (hall not write.: But Lofers and fufferers will- take leave to talk. But the Parliament grew more ur- gent to have an account of the moneys,' as not believingthat it was poITiblc fairly to expend fo much. The Perfons that were made a Committee for examining Accounts, were ver^ eminent for Ability, and Impciitiality, and fmcerity :, (Mr. iVilliam Fier- point., the Lord Brucrton^ Co\^ Thompfon^ and abundance more) They laid the great blame on Sir Geo. Cartsyct, Treafurcr for the Navy -. He "was acaifed deeply in the Houfe of Commons : Heexcufcd himfelf by laying much on the King's Privy-feals : The Parliament faid, that thofe Moneys v/cre not to have been laid out on private Ufes. After long time, the King and Council called the Lord Bruerton., Col. Thom- fo4^ and fome others, aiid^ftiarply rebuked them, as injuriou'^ Perfons, and fuch as fought 2 2 The LIF E of the 'V art ill fought to difcontent the Parliament, and make DifFereaces, &c. And His Majerty undertook the Decifion of the Bull ncfs, and acquitted Sir Gedr£e Carttret-^ and the Parliament grudged, but acquiefced. § 54. When the Chancellour was banifhed, Sir OrUndo Bridgman was made Lord Keeper i a Man that by his feeming moderation to the Nonconformills, (though a . zealous Patron of Prelacy) got himfelf a good Name for a time ;, and at firft, whilfl ' ' the D. of Buckingham kept up the Cry for Liberty of Confcience, he feemed to com- ply with that Defign, to the great difpleafure of the Ruling Prelates. But when he faw, that that Game would not go on, he turned as zealous the other way -, and now wholly ferveth the Prelatical lutereft, but is not much valued by cither lidc •, but ta- ken for an uncertain, timerous man. High Places, great Bufmelfes and Difficulties, do fo try Mens Abilities and their Morals, that many who in a low or middlc^ltation, obtained and kept up a great Name, do quickly lofe it, and grow defpifed and reproa- ched Perfons, when Exaltation and Trial bath made them known. Befides that, as in profperous times the Chief State Minillers are praifed, fo in evil and fuffering times, they bear the blame of what is amifs. ^ yurj^'i^ § ^5. Aboutthis^time, the E. of S^ (a Papilt) having a very fair Wife (Daughter /-r to the E. of C^'fapTll alfo (with whom lived Mr. Johnfon^ alias Tmet^ the Difpu- «^ '^ 7 ting Champion for Popery) -^ (he liked other men fo much better than her Husband, that fhe forfook him, and kept her fclf fecret from his knowlcdg : But he believing that the Duke of Buckingham kept her fecretly, was not content to lofe his Wife, but he would alfo lofe his Life. And fending the Duke of Buckingham a Challenge, they met and fought the Duke having Capt. Nohms and Jenkins with him, and the Earl of Shrervsbwy^ Bernond^ Hovoard^ and another : Where Howard kill'd Jmkim^ and the DukewoundedtheEarl, of which wounds he dyed •, And the King paixloned^the Duke ^ but ftriclly prohibited Duels for the fiiture. The Duke alfo and the Marquefs of Donefier had a skuffle at boxing in an open Committee of Parliament. § 56. When the D. of 5«ci/;»2^/A7w came firft into this high favour, he was look- ed on as the chief Minifter of ftate inftead of the Chancellor :;, and fliewed himfelf openly for Toleration or Liberty for all parties in matters of God's worfhip: And then others alfo feemed to look that way, as thinking that the King was for it. Whereupon thofe that were moft againfl: it grew into feeming difcontent. The Bp. ;• of Winchcfier Aiorky^ was put out of his place of Dean of the Chappcl, and Bp. Crofts of Hereford (who feemed then to be for moderation) was put into the place : But it was not long till Crofts was either difcouragcd, or as fome faid upon the Death of a Daughter, for grief did leave his place and the Court ^ And * Di-. the Bp. of 0-v/bj'(i* was brought into his place, and Dv.Crevo (the fon of that wife mndj'orL and pious Man the Lord Crew) was made Clerk of the Clofet. § 57. At the fame time the Minifters of London who had ventured to keep open Meetings in their houfes, and preached to great Numbers contrary to the Law, were by the King's favour connived at ^ So that the people went openly to hear them without fear : Some imputed this to the King's own inclination to liberty of Confci- ence ^ fome to the D. of Buckingham'- <, prevalency :, fome to the Papifis Intereft, who werefor liberty of Confcience tor their own Interelt : But others thouglit that the '•' Papijis were really againft Liberty of Confcience, and did rather defirc and de- iign that utmoft feveritics might mine the Puritans^and caufc Difcontents and Divi- fions among cur felves, till we had liroken one another all into pieces, and turned all into fuch Confufions, as might advantage them to play a more fuccefsful Game, than . ever Toleration was like to be.. But whatever elfe was the fecret caufc, it is evident that the great viliblc caufewasthe burning ot London^ and the want of Churches for the people to meet in ; It being at the hrfl: athingtoo grofs, to forbid an undone people all publick worfliiping of God, with too great rigour-, And if they had • been fo forbidden, poverty had left them fo little to lofe as would have made them dcfpcrately go on. Therefore fome thought all this was, to make Neccffitji feem a favour. § 58. But v.'hatever the caufe of the Connivance v/as, it is certain that the Coun- trey Minitlcrs were fo much encouraged by the boldnefs and liberty of thofe at Lon- , don, that they did the like in mofl: parts of I-jii'Jand^ and Crowds of the mofl: Rcligi- oully inclined people v^cre their hearers ^ And fome few got,ina travelling way, into Pulpits where they were not known and the next day went av/ay to another place.,. And this, efpecially with the great dif:ontents of the people for their manifold payments, aitd of Cities and Corporations for the great decay of Trade, and the breaking Part ill. Keverend Mr. Kidiird Baxter. 2i breaking arid impoverifhing of many Thoufands by the bu!;ning of the City, toge- ther with tiie lamentable weaknefs and badnefs of great Numbers of the Minifrers that were put into the Nonconformifl's places, did turn the hearts of the moft of the Common people in all parts againft the Bps. and their ways, and enclined them to the Nonconformilts, tho fear reftrained men from fpealcing what they thought , c- fpccially the richer fort. § 59. Here F.i'.ph Wallis a Cobler of Ghcejier publiflied a book containing the Names and particular hiftories of a great Number of Conformable Minifters, in fc- veral Pariflies of England, that had been notorioufly fcandalous, and named their - fcandals, to the great diipleafure of the Clergy ^ And I fear to the great temptation of many of the Nonconformifts, to be glad of other Mens fin, as that which by ac- cident might diminiih the interell; of the Prelatifts.. § 60. The Lord Mohune^ a young man, gave out fome words, which canfed a Com- mon ^candal in Court and City againlt the Bp. of Rochefter^ as guilty of molt obfcure Aftions with the faid Lord j the reproach whereof was long the talk of many forts of peirfons, who then took liberty to fpeak freely of the Bilhops. § 6\. About this time (Jm. i668.) the news came of the Change in Portugal^ where by no means of the Queen, the King who was a debanched perfon (and Charg- ed by her of infufficiency or frigidity) was put out of his Government (tho not his Title, and his brother by the confent of Nobles, was made Regent, and marryed the Queen, (after a Declaration of Nullity or a divorce) and the King was fcnt as a Prifoncr into an I/li-md^ where he yet remaineth : Which News had but an ill found in England^ as things went at that time. . §.62. InJ-2«. 1668. I received a Letter from Dr. Afanton^ that Si r .Vo'j« Barle y t-Z^^jt-^U told nim that it was the Lord Keeper's deilre to fpeak with him and me, about a Com- ^ nrehenfion and Toleration : Whereupon coming to London Sir "john Barber told me, that the Lord keeper fpake to him, to bring us to hii^ K)r the aforefaid end, and that he had certain propofals to offer us ; and that many great Courtiers were our friends in the bufinefs, but that to fpeak plainly, if we would carry it, we muft make ufe of fuch as were for a Toleration of^the Papijls alfo : And he demanded how we w^ouldanfwer the Common QiieHrion, What will fatvsfie you ? I anfwered him. That other Mens Judgments and Aftions about the Toleration of Papifts, we had nothing to do with at this time : though it was no work for us to meddle in. But to this queftion, we were not fo ignorant whom we had to do with, as to exped fiiU fatisfadion of our defires, as to Church-Affairs : But the Anfwer mull be fuited to theSenfeof his QiiclHon: And if we knew their Ends, what degree of fatisfadion they were minded to grant, we would tell them what means are neceflary to attain them. There arc degrees of fatisfadion, as to the Number of Perfons to be fatisfi- ed • and there are divers dogrees of fatisfying the fame Perfon. 1 . If they will take in all Orthodox^ Peiceabk^ Worthy Mmifters^ the Terms mnft be the larger. 2. If they ■will take in but the greater part, fomewhat lefs and harder Terms may do it. 3. If but a few, yet lefs may ferve : for we are not fo vain as to pretend that all Nonconfor- mifts are in every particular of one niind. And as to the Ireshyterians now fo called, whofe Cafe alone we were called to conll- der t . If they would liitisfie the far greateft part of them in an high degree, fo as they Ihould think the Churches fctled in a good condition ; the granting of what was defircd by them in 1 660. would do it, which is the fetling of Church-Government ac- cording to that of A. Bp. "JfljcrH Model, and the granting of the Indulgences menti- oned in his Majeftie's Declaration, about JEff/t/! Affairs. 2. But if they would not give fo high fatisfadion, the Alterations granted in his Majeftie's Declaration alone, would fo far fatisfie them, as to make tliem very thankful to his Majcfty ^ and not on- ly to exercifc their Office with Chearfiilnefs, but alfo to rejoice in the Kingdom's hap- pincfs, whofe Union would by this be. much promoted. 3. But if this naay not be granted, at Icall the tukihg off all fuch impofitions, which make us uncapable of Ex- erciling our Miniftry, would be a mercy, for which we hope we fhould not be un- thankful to God or the King. § 63. When we Qame to the Lord Keeper, we refolved to tell him. That Sir 'john larher told us,his Lordlhip defired to fpeak with us, left it (hould be after fliid, that we intruded, or were the movers of it, or left it had been Sir John BarberH Forward- nefs, that had been the Caufe. He told us why he fcnt for us, to think of a way of our Reftoration -^ to which end he had fome Propofals to offer to us, which were for a ComrTehenfion for the Presbyterians, and an Indulgence for the Independents and the M_ 77?g LI F E of the^ Partlil. tl'.erelt : Wc askt him, .Whether it was iiis Lordlhip's plcaiure that we fl^oiild offer him our Opinion of the means, or only receive what he offered to us He to!d '^"s That he had fomewhat to offer to us ■ but we might alfo offer cur cwn'to l^m I toM ' hun, Tiiat I did think we could offer fuch Terms, no wav injurious to the wrlhie of any, which might take in both Presbyterians and Independents and all found Chnlhans, into the Publick Eftablifhed Miniftry. He anfwered. That that was a thing that lie would not have • but only 'a Toleration for the refl Whi-h bein-^ none of our bufinefs to debate, we defired him to confult fuch perfons about it -^l were concerned in it. And fo it was agreed, that we ihould meddle witli the. Com- prehenliou only. And a few Days after he fent us his Propofals. § 64. Wlien we faw the Propofals, we perceived that the bufinefs of the Lo-d Keeper, and his way, would make it unfit for us to debate fuch Cafes with himfelf^ And therefore we wrote to him, requefting, th.it he would nominate Two Learn* €d peaceable Divines to treat with us^ till we agreed on the fittelt Terms • and that Dr. Bates might be added to us. He nominated Dr. WHhns (who we then found was the Author of the Propofals, and of the whole bufinefs, and his Chaplain Mr Burton. And when we met, we tendered them fome Propofals of our own and' fome Alterations which we delired in their Propofals (for they prefently rejeaed ours and would hear no more of them • fo that we were fain to treat upon theirs alone ) ' § 65. The Copy of what we offered them is as followeth. I. that ffceCredenda and Agenda m ReUgion^ being diftinguijhed, no Profc/fjon of JC- [em he required^ but only to the Holy., Canonical Scriptures ingeneral^ and to the Creeds and 36 yirticks m particular. And no Oath., Fromife or Ccnfmt he required fave only the re- nevptng of the Covenant which in Baptifm rve made to God., and appomife If Fidelity in our Mimflry^ and the Oaths of Mcgiance and Supremacy to the King. u4nd for all leffer mat- ters., let It fuffice., that the Lam may refrain us from preaching agatnft any Eftablihud Do- fir me ^ or a^amji Epifcopacy . Liturgy or Ceremonies^ and from all Male- M,niniflrations or Church-Tyranny^ or Jnjuftice about the Sacraments ; and that we be punifhable acccrrdin? tl the quality of the Offence. * ^ „^\ ^^' ^'/' ^''f'H """^ '^H^^^ ^ Neceffity of many more publick Jffemhltes for God's Hoy/hip^ beftdesthofe m theyetftanding Parijh-Churches, ve humbly conceive that it would much conduce to fhe re-edifying of the Churches and City., and the contenting of ,nany and thcdramngoff the people from more private Meetings-., if a competent Nnmber of the Aum d Cnurches be allowed to fuch fober Prot eft ants., as will repair them, with the fame li- berty and Security for pojfcjfon, as the French and Dutch in London have their Churches ■ the people chuftng their Paftors^ and maintaining them : Or if hhs Majeftfs Bounty allow them any Stipend, that none have that Stipend whom Im Alajefty approveth not And that the Paflors be not fffercd to introdncc there any Herefie or Idolatry ■ but /hall treich the Do- Orine of the facred Scriptures not oppofing the Doffrines or Orders of the Church and /Jjall wo-^jip God according to the Liturgy, or the Afembl/s Diredory, or the Reformed Li- turgy offered by the Conwiifioners \66o. as they defire. ■ \\\. 1 hat all fuch be capable of Bern fees, who fubfcribe and fwear as is aforefiid and hemg of Competent Abilities, fjall he lawfully Ordained; or if already ordained are con- firmed by the late Aa, or jhall be confirmed by any Commijfioncdby his A/ajefty • Wy being obliged fome time to read the Liturgy, and fnnetimes to adn.imfter the Sacramn'' accord- ing to It (abating the Ceremonies), /nd to be often pre fent when it iy read ■ which fliall be ordinarily or conftantly done • and the Sacrament admimftrcd as oft as is required by Law byhimftlfor fjme other allowed Minifttr. And that thofc who will only fuhfcrihe and /wear 06 w ahovefmi, being ordained alfo as aforefad, but cannot fo far conform to the .liturgy may be allowed to preach and Catechize publieily, ai Lctiurers, cr Am.mts to fome others ; .md to have fuch further Liberty about the Sacraments, as by tuft Regulations fliall he tnade fife to Religion and the publick peace. There is another way which would fatufie almoft all • by allowing each party fuch a Mini- fiey whofe Ordination and Miniftration they do make no fcruple at ; which would prevent all private Chnrches, and perhaps .ill Face of Schifm among m ; which is if in every Pa- ri[h where any party di/ffnteth fro:n the Lftabli/hcd way, the Diffentcrs be left at liberty ei- ther to communicate with any Neighbour- l-anfh, or to chtife an AJ/iftant for the Incumbent whirl Ajjiftantfhall be mamtaimd by themfelvesfunlcfs the Incumbent will voluntarily contri^ bute 3 Part II J. %:.verend Mr. Richard Baxter. 25 ~- I '■ . ., ^ t . ■■ I. ■ I- bu.tt)\ /nd /:,_■•] oftici,! e one hdf of the Day ^ as the Incumbent doth the other., having karje iod:< It . ■;:::■. UJTT to the foref/td DWeUory^ or tha Additional Liturgy offered 1660. (or at k.-,(i to h ve the ufe of the Clwch at fuch I Jours m the hicitmknt dutb not there off- ci.:te]- I'he 1: ,hk receiving the Comimmion from each^ according to their five^-al Judj/- nients. .■■ y^ fogrear a Rul>tme ^3 ours is^ e.mno't'he cured without fume inconver.i- encef^ whico m..,' l- here ob]efled^ yet fi^h Lans may be made for the Regulation of this Liberty^ .isr,:ay rcftrain all t udion^ Contention^ and A/utual Contempt^ or Injuries ande- ven the Naming ihemfclves Members of difiinit Chunhes^ m might.befhewed. § 66. The Copy of the Lord Keeper's^ 'or Dr. WilkinsV Propfals. ■ In order to Comprehenlion, it is Humbly Offered, 1. That fuch perfons^ o/s in the late times of difrder have been ordained by Presbyters /hill be admitted to the Exerctfe of the Minifttrial I'undlion^ by the Impofition of the Hands of the Bi/hoP^ rvith thus, or the like Form of Words : [Take than Authority to PreacH the Word of God, and to Minillcr the Sacraments in any Congregation of theChui'tho £«^/.2«£^ where thou (halt be lawfiilly appointed thereunto ] An Expedient much of thvs Nature iPds praflifed and allowed of in the Cafe of the Gatharifts and Melcfians Vid Stb C.mon Concil. Nic. & ynodical Epijlleof the fame to the Churches of Egypt Gelalius' Cyzicemis, ;/. Com, A'^ic. 2d part. ' ' 2. That all [>erfons to be admitted to any Ecclefiafiical FuncHion^ or Dignity or the Em- ployment of a Sch^nl-mafter (after the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy) /hall (inflead 'of all former Subfcript ions') be required to fubfcribe this^ or the like Form of Words VI A B do hereby profefs and declare. That I do approve theDoftrines, Worfliipand Go- verAment Eftabliflied in the Church of England ^ as containing all things neceflary to Salvation ; and that Iwill not endeavour, byrayfelf, or any other, diredly or indi- rectly, to bring in any Doftrine contrary to that which is fo Eftablifhed .- And I do hereby promife. That I will continue in the Communion of the Church of Enplmd and will not do any thing to difturb'the Peace thereof. ' 3. That theGeJlure of Kneeling at the Sacrament ^ and the ufe of the Crofs in Baptifm and bowmg at the Na-ne of Jtfut^ may be left indifferent^ or may be taken away as fhall be thought ?noft expedient. 4. That in Cafe it be ^-ovght fit to revicro and alter the Liturgy and Canons^ for the fat'vs- andfiiall promife^ Th a it /hall be conftantly ufedat the time and place accufiomed. In order to Indulgence of fuch Protectants as cannot be comprehended under the publick EUablilhment, it is Humbly offered, 1 . That fuch Protcjiants may have liberty for the Exerctfe of thetr Religion in publick and at their ovm Charges to build or procure j laces far their publick Worjhip^ either mthin or near Towns^ as /hall be thought mo/l Expedient. • 2. That the Names of all fuch per fans who are to have this Liberty he Regi/lred^ together with the Cmgregations to which they belongs and the Names of their Teachers. 3. Thatjvery one admitted to this liberty^ be di fabled to bear any pfiblici Office^ (but /hall fine for Officers of Burden. 4. r^nd that upon /hewing a Certificate of their being lifted amoifg thofe who arc indulged, they flull be freed from fuch legal penalties, as are to be infliQed on thofe who do not frequent theif Parifh-Churches. ^ 5. ylnd fuch perfons fo indulged /hall not for their meeting in Conventicles be puni/hed by Confifcatnn of E/lates. 6. Provided that they be obliged to pay all publick Duties to the Pari/h where they inhabit under penalty . 7. This Iridulgence to Continue for three years. Dddd That 3 4 ^ f-'^ ^ i Ft o] the • Part i JI Theft the Liturgy may be altered by omitting,- f^v. BY urtttj^ the nacd them. And wc offered them the following form which was not what we defircd, but more x.\\2n'Dr..Wtiktns (zkcx_h\\ o{ Ciicfler) would grant vfeVfHllprofeffing himfelf willing of more, but that more woidd not pals with the Par- ^.!. T- Part Hi. lievereml Mr. Richard Baxter. ~~ ^'c ; 22:- Parliamcnt, and ib would tniltratc all our Attempts J § 68. Tiie paper offered by us. 1. Thofe who Bave been ordained only- by mccr Presbyters, or the Frcfidrnts o' their Sy^ nods /hall he mftituted, and authorized to excrcife their' A.inijlry(and admitted to Benefices) therein m fiich manner and by fuch perfom ashy his ." ajefly '/hill be thereto ap'^ointed by this form and words alone ITake^ &c.l Provided that thofe who defire it, have leave to give in their poftjfions that they renounce not their Ordination, nor take it fir a muity and that they take this, as the Jiiagtfraies Licenfe and Confirmation, and that they he not conjirained to ufe any wordi thmfelves which are not confiftem with this profejfion 2. Jll ptrfon^ to be admitted by Ordination, Inftttution, Licenfe, or otherxvifc, into any Eccleftafiical iun^ion and dimity, or to any preferment in either Vnivefity, or to the Employ- ment of a Schoolmafier, fhall Ji-Jl take the Oaths of yUlegiance and Supremacy, and inftead of all other Oath', Siufcriptions and Declarations (except the ylncient Vniverfity Oath) /hall be required only to fubferibe to this form of Words : J. A. B. Do hereby profefs and Declare >ry unfeigned afent to the truth of all the holy Canonical : criptures, and to the ylrticles of the Creed [and to the Doflrine of the Church of England contained in the 36 Articles'] or \jo the DoiJrinal part of the 39 y.rticles of the Church o/Eng'and3! or \_excepting only the 3 Jrticles of Ceremonies and Prelacy r\ And I do hold that theDoBrine,Wurjh!p aridCovernment there eftaUifhed doth containall things abfolutely neceffary to fulvation -• And I will not knoivm^ly by my felf or any other, endeavour to bring in any Dottrine contrary to this aforcfaidfi eftablifhed. And it is my true Fefolution to hold Communion with the Churches of England, and faithfully to preferve the peace and happincfs thereof. r nd ad thofe who are qualified with abilities according to the Law, and take the Oaths and Declarations abovefaid, fhall be allowed to preach Leffures and Occafional Urmons and to Catechize and to be prefented and admitted to any Benefice, or to any Eccleftafiical, or Acade- mical promotions, or to the teaching of Schools. 3. Every perfon admitted to any Benefice with cure of Souls, fhall be obliged himfelf, on fome Lord's day^ within a time pre .xed to read the Liturgy appointed for that day (when it isfatisfa^orily altered), and the greatefi part of it in the mean time, and to be often prefent at the reading of it andfometimes to adminifter the , acra : ent of the Lord's Supper, accord- ing to tbe /aid Liturgies ; And it fhall by himfelf or fome other allowed Mintfter he con- fimtly ufed in his Chusch, and the Sacraments frequently adminifired as is required by the Law, 4. The 4tfc tvas againft the Ceremonies without alteration, in their own words Jave about bowing at the Name i'efus, as after. 5. No Bifhop, Chancellor, or ether Ecclcfiafiical Ofiicers fhall have power to filence any allowed Afintfler, or fufpend him ab officio vel beaencio, arbitrarily, or for any caufe with- out a known Lam: And in cafe of any juch arbitrary or injurious Jilencing and fufpenfion there fhall he allowed an appeal to fome of his A/ajcfiie's Courts of Juftice, fo as it may he profecuted in a competent time, and at a tolerable expence, being both Bifiiops and Presbyters and all Eccleftafiical perfons are under the Government of the King, and punifhable by him, for grofs and injurious male-adminifirations. 6. Though wey.idge it the Duty of Miuifiers toCatechizx, infiruli, exhort, dircff and comfort the people per finally as well aspublickly uponjuft occafion, yet lefi A pretended- necefjity of Examinations before the Sacrament of tbe Lord's Supper, or an unwarrantable firidnefs fhould introduce Church-Tyranny, and rvrong the faithful by keeping them from the Commu- nion, let all thofe he admitted to the Communion who fince their Infant baptifm ha-ve at years of difcretion manifefied to the Bifhop, or the Minifters of the Pari/h Church where they live^ a tolerable under fianding of the Ejfential points of Faith and Godlinefs, that is, of the Bap- tifmal Covenant, and of' the nature and ufe of the Lord's Supper, and have per finally owned before them or the Church, the Covenant which by others they made in Baptifm, profcjfing their /fefolution to keep the fame, in a Faithful, Godly, Righteous, Charitable and Temporal Life, and are not fince this profejfion revolted to Atheifin, Infidelity, or Herefy, (that is the deny- ing of fome Effential Article of faith) and live not impenitently in any grofs and fcandalous fin ; And therefore in the Regifier of each Parifh let all their Names be written, who have ei- ther before their Confirmation or at any other time thus underftandingly owned their Baptifinal Covenant, and a Certificate thereof from the jUinifier of the place fhall ferve without any further examination, fur their admiffwn to C6mmunion in that or any other Parifh Cljurch vhere they fhall after live, till by the aforefaid revolts they have merited their fufpenfion. D d d d 2 9e- '^^ The L I F E cf tie Partiii- 7. Becaufe in many families there arc none who can read or j'r«?>', or cMl'to ren':embrance vhat thiy have heard to edify themfdves and f^md the Lords djy tn holy txcnifes^ and many of tkfe live fo ftr from the Churchy that they go nwre fildo;n than thv rtji^ and thtrefore have great need of the ajfifiunce of their Neighbours^ it is not to be tshtn for a Conventicle or unlawful meeting when Neighbours fhall peaceably joyn t-getber in reading the Scri'^^ture or any good books^ or repeating publick Sermcns^ and prayings and '■ngir.g If-.Uns to Cod^ nhitfi tky do it under the inf^eliion of the A inifltr^ and not in of^pofition to the p'blick ^ifft.jnbltts. Nor yet that meeting where the A'tnifler fhall privately Catechise hi; Neighbours^ or pray with them^ when they are in pckncfs^ danger^ or diflrefs^ tho per fins of fever al Famtiies J hall be pTtftnt. 8. Whereas the Caxion. and Riibrick forbid the ad'iijfion of notorious fcandalous finners to the Lords table^ be it enabled that thofe who are proved to dtridt! or fcorn at Chrifiianity^ or the holy Scriptures^ or the Life of Feward and Funijhnent^ or the ferious pradice of a Codly Ltfe^ and flriB obedience to Cods Commands^ fhall be numbered with the Scandalous finners mentioned in the Canon and Kubrick, and not admitted, before repentance^ to the holy Communion. § 69. The following paper wiU give you the reafons of all our alterations of their form of Words ; But I muft add this, that we tliought not the form of Subfcrip- ticn fufHc lent to keep out a Papift from the eftablifhed Miniftery [much lefs from a Toleration, which we medled not withj. And here and in other alterations I bore the blame, and they told me that no Man would put in fuch doubts but I. And 1 will here tell Pofterity this Tnth as a Myftery fyet only to the blindj which muft not now be fpokcn, that I believe that I have been guilty of hindering our own Liberties in ah Treaties that ever 1 was employ'd in : For I remember not one iu vviuuh there was not fomc crevice, or contrivance, or terms oft'ered, for iuch a Toleration, as would have let in the moderate Papifis with us : And if we would but have opened the Door to let the Paptfis in, that their Toleration might have been charged upon us^ as being for our fakes, and by our requeft or procurement, we might in aii like- lihood have had. our part. But though, for my own part, I -"m not for Cruelty againft Papifts, any more than others, even when they are mcft cir.el to us, but could allow, them a certain degree of liberty, on Terms that fhall fecurt the common Peace^ and the People's Souls ^ yet I fhall never be one of them that by any renewed pref- fures or feverities, fhall be forced to petition for the Papifis liberty :;, it they muf' have it, let them Petition for it themfelves : Ho crzh oi jefuits or Prelates^ fhal! thunder me, cudgel me, or cheat me into the Opinion, that it is now necelTary for our own Miniftry, Liberty, or Lives, that we, I fay, we Nonconformifis, be the fam.ed In- troducers of the Papifis Toleration ^ that fo neither Papifts, nor Pielatifts may bear the odium of it, but may lay it all on us. God do what he will with us, his way is beft, but I think that this is not his way. § 70. Upon thefe Alterations, I was put to give in my Reafons of them • which were as followeth. The Reafons of our Alterations of^our Propofals. I . T Put in [^Prefidents3 &c. to avoid Difpute^ whether fuch were meer Presbyters^ or 1 (as fome think) Bifhops. 2. I leave out [^ times of diforder, 3 becatife it will elfe exclude all that were Ordained by Presbyters fince the King came in. 3. I put in [^ Inflitu- ted and Authorized] to intimate that it is not an Ordination to the Minifi^y inge>:e'-al^ but a deftgnaticH to a particular Charge, and a legal Licenfe, &c. 4. C By fr.ch as by his [yiaiefty,"^^.]] becaufc it is not for us to offer our [elves to a Diocefans Jn;pofitwn of Hands ftt that manne -, hit if you put it in other Words, wc cannot help it. 5. There 0-e three things which the Nonconformifis here fcruple. i. Renouncing their Or dina'^ion ; 2. Rcordi- iiation (which is like Rebaptization.) 3. Owning the iftocefan Species cf Prelacy ; (for the Presbyterians are againfi all PreLicy, and the Epifcopal Nonconformifis are againfi the Englifn Frjme, as cmitrary to that in the time 0/ Cyprian, he.) Thtrefore bccaufe th'efe Words fo much fcern to exprefs a Re-ordination by Diocefans, 1 . by thefign of Impofition of Hands. -2. By the /uthorifing Words, 3. md put in of pur^ofe to fatvsfe them that think the Parr 111- %everend Mi. Richard Baxter. the Preshyte^-ium no Afinijim. 4. In a time vphen this hath been fo ptblickly declared ■, they cannot fiibmit to all this xcitbout either a Declaration to the contrary in the Law or a Liberty by the Luvd- o-.ven them tu frofefs their own Henfe^ in the three particulars queflioned^ .that they renounce not their Ordination^ nor t ike this ui Re-ordination ^ nor o.vn the Diocefan Pre- lacy^ M iifiinafrom the old Epifiopacy (though tky willfuhmit \o it.) 6. As hy Clnftitu- ted ~] we intend ad'nittance to a Pajloral Charge^ or Authority to adminiflcr Sacraments vpe defire that may he plainly mferted ; feeing he that only preacheth (oi Pruhatione-rs may do] hith no need of this, nor do any fcruple to hear him. Or ifthty do, while he bath no charge tky • • ty turn their back on him j while a ALm is a LeGurer only to meer rolunteers, there is no ufe for this. II. I . We mention the Vniverftty, hecaufe many were turned out of their Fellow/hips the^e for non-fuhfcrihing, &c. 2. We would have the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy ma^.': necefary. 3. The profcjfed belief of the Scriptures and Creed, we take to be needful to Adrnttance : That which was the only ancient Catholick VrokSioii/hould not be left out of our^. 4. The profejfed Ajftnt to the Doihme of the Church o/England, (and not only to approve it in tantimij fe.mcth needful tofatiffie the Sufpicioiis, and to/hut out Papifts and Hereti:ks fom the comprchenfion. 5. Tet the word [approve] as related to the IVorJhip and Cover nmnt (though reJlriiUvely) will on --any Ac.ountsbefcrupled; and that is need- lefs. 6. 5o Cabfolutely] as pyned to [necellary] is needful to avoid Ambiguity and jufi tcriifle. 7. The word [promife] recjuireth fuller certainty than Qrefolve] "doth ; and it binflcth us, not to alter our judgments, which if not in our power in fuch a cafe. 8. Tfce Word Qcontinue] is a ncedkfs\md entangling Word, and will deprive m of the ufe of tht Indulgence, ifwejhould ever changeour minds. But if (as fomefay) it be only the Com- munion of Faith and Love, fuch as we owe to Neighbour-Churches, and not Subjection, nor local prefence in Worfhtp, let that be but txyrejfed, and every fober Perfon will promife/f. 9. To prowfc to [preferve the Peace and Happinefs of the Church] is a fuller Word than C to do nothing to dilturb the peace j] and yet more dear, and plainly relateth to the whole Church, III. We put Cbowing at the Name of 7e/itf, rather than, &c,'2 to avoid the imputa- tim of Impiety, left we be thought to be againft bowing at that Name fimply, when it is but as comparatively and exclufively to others. IV. \. \_\ncz^t tilths Xhoxi^^^t, ^c.'\ We muft fuppofe it thought fit. 2. This whole Vndertahng v: proper only to them that take a Cure, and not for an occafional or fet Leiiurcr. 3. It will anfner our Senfe if you put it thus; C Shall read the Liturgy, when fatisfaftorily altered, and fome confiderable part 'till then, if it be delayed. ] 4. The profejfion of the Lawfulnefs, is but a needlefs temptation, as to him that vs bound actually to ufe it. 5. And the promife that it fljalkbe conftantly ufedmay be hindered by Jicknefs, or Jo many Cafualtics, that its much fafer to bind them only by a Law. 6. And tkwt the Event] only muft be cxpreffed [that it be ufed ] by who fe procurement foever, fo It be done. I may think it unlawful to procure another to do that, wUch I cannot do my felf and yet fome other may procure it. In the Second Article I forgot to tell you. That voe annex the grant of the defired liberty, tfter the Subfcription, left elfe our hopes befi-ujhate, when we have done all. The Reafons of the added Articles arc apparent in themfelves. The Sum of all our Reafons w. It is confeffed that our Pfjrafe will ferve the Ends of our Super iours ; and we are certain that they willfitisfie a far greater number than the other will do, and to their greater e.jfc and tpuiet ofConfcience, that they may not feel themfelves ftill pinched anduneafte, and kept under defires of further changes : And we arefure that we are much letter able our felves, to plead down Afen's ObjeRions, if n be thus worded, than a/i the other way. And we would fain have this no patch or palliate Cure, but fuch as may caufe the now drooping Dijfen'ers-, to rejoyce under the Government, and to perceive it to be their Intereft to defend it againft all Attempters of a Change. § -71. But becaufe the grand flop in our Treaty was about Re-ordination, and Dr. Wilkins ftill infilled on'tliis. That thofe Confciences muft be accommodated who took thcra for no Minifters vrhn were ordained without Bilhops, and fome Wordi were 3 8 The Li F E of the ParrUL vvciepiit into their Propcials, which feemed to fi^nifie a Reordination j though he denied inch a lignincation, we were put to give ia this, following Paper. The Eeajons why we cannot confent to RecrdinatiGn. -■ W7 ^ ^'^^'^ '^"^ caufdejly confent to the up: of fuch IVoY ds as imply an untruth, viz. \/y -j-iiaj- £-,ch as were Ordained by Lawful Palters, and the Prcfideats of their Synods, are not lawful Minifters of Chrift, in an Eccleliafti al Senie. II. Vt^e dare not confent to the taking of God's Name in vain^ by ufing holy Exprejfions^ and a Divine Ordinance^ either as a Scenical Form, or to confirm an Error. III. IVe dart, not caufdefly go againjl the Judgment of the VniverfA Church of all Jges, who have condemned Heordinatwn^ a'i they did Fcbaptiz.:!t!on. The Canons, called the yipofiies^ depofing both the Ordaintrs^ and the Ordained. IV. We dare not fo jar wrong the Proteftant -Churches, a$ to do that which importeth, That their Miniflry h null, and confequently all their Churches null (politically taken. ) V. We dare not fo far vrrong all the People of England, and all other Proteftant- Churches, nho have lived under the Minifiry oj rneer Presbytrrs, or fuch Bif:ops as rvere • Ordained only by Presbyters, as to tempt them to think, that all the Sacraments were nulli- ties -which they received j and fo that they are all unchrijlened or unbaptii.ed : even Den- mark and thofc parts of Germany, which kive fomi kind of Bf bops, had their firft Or- dination of them by Pomeranus, and others, that were no-Bifiiops. Jlnd mofi Froteflants hold That Baptifm is null, which is not per lor ■■ed ';y a Mmifier of Clmfi. Becav.fe no one elfe is y^uthoriz^d to deliver God's part of the Caven.mt, or to receive the Covenant er^ or inveft him in the Chriftian State and Privi.eges. VI. We dare not fo far ftrenghthen the caufe of the Anabaptills, as to dtclare thus far. That all the People .of England, and all Pr' tefrant-Cluirches, as were Baptized by fuch as had not Ordination by Diocefans, are to be Fe-b Uud. VII. We dare not fo fir harden the Papijls, and honour their caufe, nor tc-r.pt the People to Popery, as to feeni to confent, that their Churches, AUni/try and Baptifm is true and the Protejl.int Afmifiry, Churches and Baptifn is falfe : Nor dare we teach them, if ( which God forbid} they-fhould ^et the .owe^ of governing us, to call us all again to be Ke ordained and I\e'baptiz.ed : Our Liturgy bidding iis to take private Bap- tifm as valid., C if the Child was Baptized by any Lawful Minifter ] intim.iting that ' elfc it is invalid: and fo that feemcth th. jtid^mtnt of the Church 0/ England. VIII. We dare not tempt atiy other Se^s, or V fur per s to expert, that as oft as they can pet the upper kind, we mufi be Re-ordained and Fe-baptiz.ed at their plcafure. IX. We dare not make a Scbifrn in our Congregations, by tempting the Fafiors *o rejeB moil of the- People from the Communion, 06 unbaptiz^d Ferfons. ^. Wc dare not d'fhonour t'oe I'mg and Parliament fo fir as to en^^,.; age them, to confirm tkfe Errors by an AB of Parliament ; Enabling (rea.'y) Re-ordin.ition. And I R. 13. ihuft p'fofcfs. That having eight Tears ago, written a Treatifc purpnfdy to prove the validity of the late Ordi-nation, by the Synods of Presbyteries in England (though I never praclifed any my felf) and having openly called for fo'ueCuufutation of it ■ I -never cotdd procure a-ny to this day : And therefore am the more exci'fibJe if I err. (Though I was my felf Ord.iined by a Bifhop.) Note, That by Ordination, we mean the Solemn Scpar.itim of a Perfun from the num- ber of the Laity, to the Sacred Ahniftry in general; and not the defignation^ appointment, or determination of him to this or that particular Flock or Church ; nor yet a tJieer Eccle- jiuflical Confirmation of his former Ordination, in a doubted Cafe : Nor yet the ,". agi- llrate's Liccnfe to exercife the Sacred Admiflry in his 1 ominions ; All whn h we believe on juft Occafion, may be frequently given and received : yJnd we thcrehy profefs to confcit to no more. § 72. Befides the forefaid Alterations of their Propofals, we offered them this following Emendation of the Liturgy, containing in fome Points Icfs, and in feme Points more, than their own Propofals ('for in this Dr. WHkins was not ftreightj The Part ill. /{ ever end M>\ R ichard Baxter. 99 The moft'necejfary Alterations of Alterations very defirable ■ the Lituro^y. alio. nrHat the old Prd€^cc be rcllored inflead ■^ of the new one. The Order for all Prielts, Deacons, and CurateSj to read the Liuirgy once or twice every Dny, to be put out. The Riibrick for the old Ornaments, which were in ufc in the fecond Year of Edrv. VI. pvx out. The Lord's Prayer to be ufcd intirely with the Doxologies. Add to the Rubiick before the Com- munion thus : Nor fliall any be admit- ted to the Commiinion, who is grofly ig. noranr of the Eflcntials of Chrillianity ^ or of that Sacrament ; or who is an Atheift, Infidel, or Heretick, ( that is, denyeth any Ellential part ot Religion ) nor liny that derideth Chrillianity, or tlie Holy Scriptures ^ or the ftrict obey- ing of God's Commands. Read the Fourth Commandment as it is in tlie Text, 'yiz.. God hkjfed the Sabbath Day. Add to the Communion Rubrick^ C None fhall be forced to Communicate - becaufe it is a high Privilege, which the Unwilling are unworthy of ^ and fo are thofe who are confcious that they live impcnitently in any «recret or open hai- nous fin : And becaufe many confciona- blc Perfons, throrgh Melancholy, or too hard thoughts of themfclves, have fo great fears of unworthy receiving, that it were like to drive them to defpair, or diftraftion, if they are forced to it be- fore they are fatisfied. Therefore let Popery and Prophanenefs be expreiled, by fome fitter meaiis than this. In the Prayer before the Confecration Prayer, ]^iit out C That ou^linfnl Bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our Souls wadied by his precious Blood, ] and pr.t it thus : That our fufful Souk and Bodies may be clcanf;cl by his Sacri- ficed Eo.ly and Blood. "j^Hf Lord's Prayer^ and Gtoria Patri.^ fddomer t'.fid. Begin -with the Prayer for the ftcond Sun- (fjiy in Advent, for Divine yijjiftance ■ dy iyme other. ' Let none he fm-ced to hear the Decalogue hteeling ; becaufe the J^nor.mt.,\vho tale them for ?\^^ti-i^ are fandjlizjed and hardened by it. Let none be forced to ufc Godfathers at their Childrens JSjptifn^ who can (cither Fa- rent) be there to perform their Duty. Or a leaft^ let the Godfathers be Jmt as the ancient Smfors; whofe Office m^, i. To atteft the Patents Fidelity^ 2. ^nd topromife to bring up the Child in Chriftian nurture.^ if the Parents dye^ or prove defer ters. Becaufe Minifiers fubfcribe to the 25th. ^■rticle .of the Church's Dodrine, rvhicly faith [ Thofe Five^ commonly called Sacra- ments.^ that is Confirmation, dr. an not to be connted for "^acraments oftheGofpel being fuch as have grown partly of the corl rupt following of the Apofiles. I- or they kive not any vtjible fign or ceremony ordain- ed of God.'] Therefore in the Coiled for Confirmation, ;>«? o«r[;ilpon whom after the Example of the Holy Apoltles, we have now laid our Hands, to certifie them by this fign , of thy favour and gracious goodnefs toward them. * Holidays left indifferent., five rni^y that all be retrained from open labour.^ and con- tempt of them. Ffpecially [ Holy Inno- cents Day, St. Michael'^ Day, and All- Saints] becaufe there is no certainty that they were Holy Innocents., yind its har/J) to k(ep.a Holiday for one yingel. And all true Chriflians being Saints^ we .keep Holi- days for our filves. The Book of Ordination^ reftored as it waf. * » 1 et there be liberty to nfe Chrifl's own Form of Delivery, recited by St. Paul I Cor. 1 1 . changmg only the Perfnn, ^Take, Eat, this is Chrift's Body, which &c.'2 Lct'Chriftian I'arents be permitted to ofl~cr their own Children to God in'Bap- tifm, and enter ti'cm into the Holy Covenant, by ufing thofe Words that are now impofcd on the Godfathers. That where any Minifl-er dare not in Confcicncc Baptize the Child of proved Athcifts, Infidel?,^ grofs Hereticks, Fornicators, or other fuch notorious Sinners as the Canon forbiddeth us to receive to the Communion (both Parents bein<^ fuch' and the Child in their power and polTcfllon,) that Mmifter fliall not be forced to do it ; bat the Parent; (hall procure fome other ro do it. For 92 l^he LI F E of the _^^ Part I II for \j.vilt thou be Baptifed^ put [jrih thou have this " hild B.ipt'^^cd.'] The Crofs and t^e Siirplice left at liberty, and kneeling at tiie Ad of Recei\^- ina;, and bowing at the Name [je/ii/] rather than LJ^rifi^ Gnd^ &c.'] "After Baptifm put C Seing this Child is Sacramcntally Regenerated.^ And in the Prayer following put it, QThat it hath plcafedThes Sacramentally to Regene- rate and Adopt this Infant, and to incorporate him into thy Holy Church.] Inllead of the new Rnbrick Qit is certain by God's Word, drr.] put CTrueChri- ftian Parents have no canfe to doubt of the Salvation of their Children, dedicated to God in Baptifm, and dying before they commit any aftual fin.] In the Exhortation put it thus, L Doubt not therefore, but earncllly believe. That if this Infant be fincerely dedicated to God, by thofe who have that power andtrnfl-, God will likev^ifc favourably' receive him, &c. Let- hot Baptifm be privately adminiftred, but by a lawful Minifter, and before 'fufHcieat WitneflTes .• and when it is evident that any was fo Baptized, let no part of the Adminiftrationbe reiterated. A:^'j to the Rubrick of Confirmation (or the Preface) CAnd the tolerable Un- -':-■■ -;'jj.iT>g of the fame Points, which are neceflary to Confirmation, with this owi;mg of their baptifmal Covenant, fhall be alfo required of thofe that are not .:ov>^^rmed before their admiffion to the holy Communion. it be lawftil for the. Mijiifter to put other Qiiefl-ions befides thofe in the Ca- ■ f'lp fhe Learners to uncierftand j and alfo to tell them the meaning lo as he goeth along. . ' ■ :. '■ .• Alterations in the Catechifm ( or atiother allowed.) Q\XJ Hat is your Name ? VV y-. N. Q. M^en was this Name given you ? yJ. In my Baptifm.* Q. What was done for you in your Baptifm ? A. I was devoted to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft,* and cntred into his Holy Covenant, and engaged to take him for my only God, my reconciled Father, my Savipur, and my Sandifier : And to believe the Aiticles of the Chriftian Faith, and keep God's Commandments fincerely all the Days of my Life j Renouncing the Devil, and all his works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the fmful Lufts of the Flelh. Q. What A ercy did you receive from God in this Covenant of Baftifm ? A. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoflr, as my reconciled Father, my Saviour and my Sanftifier, did. forgive my Original Sin, and receive me as a Member of Chrift, and of his Church, ^d as his Adopted Child, and Heir of Heaven. Q^ Do you think that you arc now hound to keep this Covenant^ and to believe and live according to it ? ■ • • « J. Yes, Verily, &c. Q. Rehcarfe^ &c. , J. I Believe, ire. Kii. What^ ^c. A. Firft, &c. Q. What be the Commandments of God^ whichyou have Covenanted to obferve ? A. The Ten Commandments written by God in Stone, befides Chrift's Precepts in the Gofpel. Q. Which be the Ten Commandments ? ' After the Anfwer to \^What is thy Duty towards Godi'2 add, QAnd to keep holy the Day which he feparateth for his Worihip.] la the next, let C ^^ i''^^' no ntaJice, &c3 be put before t to be true and ']ujt.~\ ^''\n the Anfw. to the Qiiefl:. after the Lord's Prayer, after [_ all People'} put {_ that \vc may Honour and Love him, as our God j That his Kingdom of Grace may be fct up in our Souls, and throughout the World, and his Kingdom of Glory may comc.^ and that God's Law, and not Men's finfol Lufh and Wills r.ay be obeyed, and Kartli may be liker unto Heaven. And I Pray, i/c.'} Q. How p^i-cHL keverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 33 ex HoiP m.wy Sacraments of the Covenant of Grace, hath Chrift Ordamcd in his 'a. Two only, Baptifm, and the Supper of the Lord. o' What me.incfi thou. &:c. • .,.,"- ^ a A I mean that Solemn Covenant! ng with God, wherein there is an outward vi- able fisn of om- giving np our felves to Him, and of his givmg his Grace m Chriltto'us-. bcin^ ordained by Chrift himfelf, as a means whereby we receive that Grace, and a pledge to allure us of it. To O What is the inrvard Spiritual Grace ? . ^ .,' . a :■ i° Tlie pardon of our Sins by the Blood of Chrift, whofe Members we are made , and a death unto lin, &c. ^ SLft/hfrSe'XJ Children of the Faithful, to whom^God's Promifes are mi; and are bVthem devoted unto God, to be entered into Covenant vvithHim, E^hL^wnappoLtment, which when they come to Age, themfel.es are bound to ^^Afta'the next Anfwer add, L And for our Communion with Him, and with his Church.H , -n c 5rThf «r,e«fpS:i&t Si„s, a„:mumon for the fame r IJltlrnLd letth" Afm'fier be at libmy to change the words thuf_ IForaJmuch r(''LrfpS»^ '^dt^L out of th. irld thejoul of this deceajed perfon, r.c 45 n ^^'f i'f7\r!'X'/rIL • a K^fn-rtiiionofthemft and wt]uft Jorne to joy, mdfometo cmmt ^^^^^^^^'^^tm^,;%J^ii.ve theehmty thanks for that it hath TST'^^c ^ft^^t^TUcr oJof\he Jifcriesfof this finfi4 ..rld^: And m- W TJt\Mdt fouls of tne^uc\ed torn and miftry- We bcfeech thee to conva-t ficad of It put If''^^''' "Jr'j, reoentaace • And teach us to fiend this little time m an us all from fin,y true 2ii'±ltfmtybe ah^ays prepared or Death and Judgment .» "t^^^'tdT^^^^'^o leJlt \ .. L hope IS th..our brother £^:^rf5S}^^s?o>S;;:it^SseU^^^^ .«. .e«..a^.« ^"^it'the Pfalms in the Parifi^OMnhes be read m the laft Tranfiation , ^ , , f k L^ icier he Lreviated, by leaving out the fl^ort rerficles and Rejponfes -, Oreifi kt, thT^fnifter have leroe to omit them : and in times of cold or hafte, to omit fome ^ tSS:^ ^e^-:£not rra,, let the Mnifi^ read all the Pfalms h^felf : le- '-^f:^t^^fil tr;^^r:i^:t'^y^^0.mmfjion.^^^^^^ be *^'Ail things in the Cmon cmr..y to any thing in this Ait to be void and null. And all things repeated in any fmna Law, that is contrary to thts Aff. R ., We infected fhefe Rubtiicks and Orde.s, becaufe they gave us more hope , ^ ■ u^" Air.Iii ;ns of the Liturgy would be granted, than the reft : And there- ^ w^^houS" Si t gS Z dy as mu.h I we could. And yet we uUifted moft t e e e 3 4 The LI F E "of 'the' "~ Part" HI on the other part, becaufe therein it was dcfired, that till the Liturgy wiis Otisfafto- ni/ reformed, we (hould not be conftrained to read it, but only innietimes the j;'e.j- tu jw/'i of it : Which words 1 offered my felt, kit elfe the whole fhould have been frullrate- and becaufe the very words of the Scripture (the Ffulms, Sentences, Hymns, Chapters, Epiftles, Gofpels, &c.) are the far £n--:ter prt of the Liturgy •, fo that by this we fliould not have been forced to ufe any more, or any thing fa'u- ■p!ed. § 74. Before we concluded any thing, it was defired, that feeing the Earl of Mim- c-fct/fer^Lord Chamberlain, had been our clofeft Friend, we fliould not conclude with- oi.t his notice : And fo at a Meeting at his Houfe, thefe Two more Articles, or Fro- pofals, were agreed to be added : Fiz.. " l.lfljereas the Sentence of Excommunicatioy: may be fajfed upon very light Occafions^it " is Jmmbly defired^ that no Mimfier jhull be cor.plkd to pronoume fiah fentence againfi " hts confciencejntt that fume other be thereunto appointed by the Bifhop^ or the Court. " II. That no per fonf hall be punfhedfor not repairing to his omi Farifh-church^whogoeth . " to any other ParifJj-church xir Chappcl within the Diocefs. (Vox by the Bifliop's Doftrine it is the Diocefan Church that is the lowelt Political Church, and the Parifhes arebutp^wrj of a Church: For there is no Bifliop below the Diocefan. Therefore we go not from our own Church, if we go not out of the Dio- cefs J § 75. When thefe Propofals were offered to Dr. Wdkim^ and the Reafons of them : 1 . Fie would not confbnt to" the claufe in the firfl: Propof. [^Provided that thofe rvho de- ftre it have leave to give in their Profejfton^ that they renounce not their Ordination, &c.3 Where was our greatelt ftop and difagreement. 2. He would not have had fubfcription to the Scriptures put in, becaufe the lame is in the Articles to which we iiibf-ribe ^ I anfwer'd , that we fubfcribed to the Articles becaufe they were materially contained in the Scripture, and not to the Scriptures becaufe they were not in the Articles, I thought it needful for Orcier- fake, and for the right defcriptionof our Religion, that we fubfcribe to the Scriptures firft : And to this of. laft he confented. 3. He refufed the laft part of the fifth for Appeals to Civil Courts, faying there was a way of Appeals already, and the other would not bo endured. 4. The two next (the6th andj/th) he was not forwai'd to, but at laft agreed to them, leaving out the' Claufe in the (5th for Regiftring Names. 5. The two laft added Atticles alfo were excepted againft. But in the end it was agreed (as they faid, by the the Lord keeper's Confent) that Sir Matthexv Hale Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer fhould draw up what we agreed' An into the form of an Aft to be offered to tfie Parliament. And therefore Dr. Wdkins and I were to bring our Papers to him, and to advife farther with him, for the wordingof it, becaufe of his eminent Wifdora and Sincerity. § 76. Accordingly we went to him, and on Ccnfultation with him, our pro- pofals were accepted, with the alterations following. 1. Inftead of the Liberty to declare the validity of our ordination, which would not be endured , it was agreed that the terms of Collation fhould be thefe [lake thou Legal j-.uthority to preach the Word ojciod^ and adminijler ihe Holy Sacraments in any Congregation of England, where t}x)U fhalt be lawfully appointed thereunto f] That fo the word Legal might Ihew that it was only a general Licenfe from the King that we received, by w hat Miiufter foever he pleaicd to deliver it: And if it were by a Bilhop, we declared that \^c (hould take it from him but as from the King's Miniitcr. For the Paper which I gave in againft Re-ordination, convinced Judge Halcs^ and Dr. Wilkim^ that the renunciation of former Ordination in England was by ho mc.ms to be exaftcd or done. 2. Our Form of Subfcription remained unaltered. 3. The Claufe of Appeals, we left out. 4. The lourth, tifthj and Seventh palled, leaving out the Chufc of Regiftring Nanies. 2. The Part ill. Kevf'reiid Mr. Richard Baxter. 35 5. Ihs firit of the added Articles tl'cy thought-'reafonable ^ but put it out only, lefi by overdoing we (hould clog the rell, and fiuftrate all, wLh thofe that we ■were to deal with. 6. The other added Article th.cy laid by, for the fame rcafon, and alfo, left it Ihould be a Ihelt'^r to Reoifant Papilb. And thus it was agreed. That tiie Papers fhould be all delivered to the L,orcl Chief Baron, to draw them up into an Adt. And becaufe I lived near him, he was pleafed to Ihew mc the Copy of his Draught, which was done according to all cur Senfe j but fecretly, left the noife of a prepared A A (hould be difplcaling to the Paryament. But it was never more called for, and fo I believe he burnt it. §77. Becaufe they objcfted. That by the laft Article we (hould befriend the Papifts, and cfpcciailv by a Claufe that we oflercd to be infertcd in the Rubrick of the Liturgy, C ^^■^^ ■-'^'^ S.;cra:nent is to be givsn to none that are unvci ling at ;>, 3 and 1 ftood very much upon tliat with them,"that we muil not corrupt Chrift's Sacra- ment, and all our Churclies, and Difcipline, and injure many hundred thoufand Souls, only to have the better advantage againft Papifts ^ and that there were fairer and better means to be ufsd againft ihem. Upon their Enquiry what means might be fubftituted, I told them, that belidcs fome others, a fubfcription for all the Tolerated Congregations or Minifters, diftinct from that of the Eftabliihed Mi- niftry, as followeth, might difcovcr them. § 78. The Subfcription of the Eftabliihed Miniftry. " / do hereby pro fefs and declare rny unfeigned belitf of the Holy Canonical Scriptures^ " tn the infallible^ intr':.^ and perfect- Rule of Divine Faith^ and Holy Livings fup- " pofing the Laws of Nature; and alfo my belief of all the Articles of the Creed^ ** and of the 36 Articles of the DoCtrim und Sacraments of the Church o/England. Or elfe the Subfcription before agreed on (though this be much better j) fuppofmg the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy alio be taken.- The Subfcription of all that have Toleration, I A. B. do hereby profefs and declare^ mthont equivccnicn and deceit^ That I be- lieve Jeftis Chrifi to be the only Go7/t:rnii'i^ Head of the Vniverfal Church ^ and the *' Holy Canonical Scriptures to be the infallible^ intire^ and perfeB Rule of Divine " Fatth^ and Holy Livings fi'-ppofiyig the Laws of Nature -^ and thit I believe all "• the Jlrticks of the y'ncient Creeds^ called the Apoftlc's and the Nicene -, And " that I xrill not knowingly oppofe any fticle of the [aid Holy Canonical Scriptures^ " or Creeds ^ not of the Creed called Athanalius'^ .• Nor will I publick'y^ feditiou/ly^ " or unpeaceabiy deprave^ or cty down the Doifrines^ Government^ and Worfhip '■'■ EJiMi/hed hy the Laws.-] %'his doth exclude the Effentials of Popery, and yet is fuch as ail fober, peace- able Perfons that need a Toleration, m;ly fubmit to. § 79. It hath oft times grieved me in former times, to hear how unskilfully fome Parliament-Men went about to exclude the Papifts, when they were contriving how to take olfthe Teft and Force of the Law, compelling all to the Sacrament. Some muft have a Subfcription that muft name Purgatory and Images.^ and praying to Saints J and '^ujlificaiion by Works^ and other Points, which they could neither rightly enumerate nor ftate, to fit them for fuch a ufe as this ^ but would have made all their work ridiculous, not knowing the Edentials of Popery, which are only to make up fuch a general Teft for their E.v'cluiion. § 80. But I ruppoil* the Ac^i'.^tr will more feelingly think, when he findcth upon what terms we ftrive (and all in vain) for a little liberty to preach Chrift's Golpcl, even upon the hardeft Terms that will but conlift with a good Confcience, and the fafety of our own Souls ^ he will think, I fay, what a cafe fuch Minifters and fuch Cirjiches now are in ? And how ftrange (or rather fad than llrange) is it. That E c e c 2 Chriftian ^6 The L I F E of the I'o^niil Ctu-ifiian Bifliaps, that call themfelvcs the Pafrovs arid Fathers of the Church, fhould [>ut vs ou fiich Terms as thefc, wlien A^s aS. ult. Tumi preached in his owa Houie to as many as came to him, none forbidding him, avcn under Heathens, &c. And if the I^cader be fo happy, as to live in Days of the Chiirclies Peace, and Liberty^ and- Rcfoimation, he will be apt to ceiifure us for yielding to fuch hard Terms as here v,c do : Wlio if he had been in the time and place with us, and fean that we coiild have the Gofpel upon no other Terms, he would pity rather than cenfure the Churches and us. , § 8i. Nay, how joyfully would (I believe 1400 of) the Nonconformable Mi- nifters of England (at Icaft ) have yielded to Fhefe Terms, if they could have got them. But, alas ! all this labour was in vain : For the aftivc Prelates and Prclatifts fo far prevailed, that as foon as ever the Parliament met, without any delay, they took notice, That there was a rumour abroad of fomc Motions or Ad: to be offered for Comprehenllon or Indulgence -, and voted, That no Man (hould bring in fuch an Ad into the Houfe ; and fo they prevented all talk or motion of fucha thing j and the Lord Keeper that had called us, and fet us on work, himfelf turned that way, and talk'd ^fter, as if he underftood us not. if dx. %zu ^ ^^' ^" ^t^'K I <568. Dr. Cre'ighton^ Dean of WtJh^ the mofl famous, loquacious, 1^ ready-tongu'd Preacher of the Court, who was ufed to preach Calvin to Hell, and tlie Calvinijls to_the Gallows^ and by his fcomful reviling,s and jells, to fet the Conrt on a Laughter, was fuddenly, in the Pulpit, (without any licknefs) furprized with Aftonifliment, worfethan Dr . Souths the Ox/or^-Orator, had been before himj '^•J'-" and when he had repeated a Sentence over and over, and was fo confounded, that he could go no further at all, he was fain, to all Men's wonder, to come down. And his cafe was more wondei-ful than almoft any other Man's, being not only a fluent, cxtemporatc Speaker, but one that was never known to want w-ords, efjpecially to c.xprefs his Satyrical or bloody Thoughts. § 83. In July Mr. Taverner, late Minifter of ZJxhridge^ was fentenc'd to A/eip- gate-Goa\^ for Teaching a few Children at Brainford ^ but paying his Fine prevented it : And Mr. Button of Brainford, (a mofl humble, worthy, godly Man, that never was in Orders, or a Preacher, but had been Canon of Chrifl's Church in Oxford^ and Orator to the Univerfity) was fent to Goal, for Teaching two Knight's Sons in his Houfe, having not taken the Oxford-Oath, by one Rofs a Juftice (a Scot, that was Library-Keeper at Wefiminfter ) and fome other Jujiices : And many of his Neigh- bours of Brainford were fent to the fame Prifon, for worfhipping God, in private, together ;, where they all lay many Months (iix as I remember.) And I namethefe, becaufe they were my Neighbours ; but many Countries had the iike ufagc. Yea, Bifhop Cro/»,that had pretended great Mdderation,fent Mr. Woodward,a. worthy filen- ' ccd Minifter of Hereford-fhire, to Goal for fix Months. So lie were imprifoned upon . the Oxford- J{1, and fomc on the Aft againfl Conventicles. § 84. In September, Col. PhiUtps ( a Courtier of the Bcd-cbamkr, and my next Neighbour, who fpake me fair ) complained to the King of me for Preaching to great numbers : but the King put it by, and nothing was done, at that time. §. 85. About this time Dr. Manton ('being nearelt the Court, and of great Name among the Presbyterians, and being heard by many of great Qiiality)- was told by Sir John Babor, That the King was much inclined to favour the Non-cMfor- mifs, and that an Addrcfs now would be accepted, and that the Addrefs muft be a thankful Acknowledgment of the Clemency of his Majefly's Government, and the Liberty which we thereby enjoy, &c. Accordingly they drew up an Addrefs of Thankfgiving, and I was invitecl to joyn in the prelenting of it (hut not in the Pen- ning j for I had marr'd their Matter oft enough :) But 1 was both fick and unwilling, having been oft enough imployed in vain : But I told them only of my fickncfs. And lb Dr. A f anion. Dr. Bates, Dr. jacombe, and Mr. Ennis, prcfcnted it : what accep- tance it had with the King, and what he faid to them, this Letter of Dr. Afa7iton's will tell you. But the Copy of the Acknowledgment I cannot give you, . for 1 never favv it, nor fought to fee it, that 1 remember, for I perceived what it aimed at. Dr. Part 11 { Reverend Mr. R ichard Baxt er. Dr. Manton's Letter to me at A&on. s I R T Udi under rejlraint till mm^ and could not fend you m accomit of our reception with A tae King. It was virry gracious -^ He tom pleaftd once a)td again to figmfie how m- cept.ibk our Mdrefs was^ and how much he wm perfuadcd of our Peaccalkmfs ■ Pyintr that he had knorcn us to be fo ever f, nee his return ■ promt fed m^ tb»t he would do hvsutmU to get us comprehended within the Publick Eflahhfhment^ and would remove all Bins for he could wijhthat there had been no Bounds nor Bars at all, but that all had been'sea tijat we might have had liberty enough-^ but fomething mujl be done for publick Peace*- ^owever we could not he ignorant^ that this was a work o/difficiilty and time, torn it fully enetXcd for our Jffurance: Jnd there fm-e we mufi wait till Bufinefes could be ripened In the mean time he wiflid m to ufe our Liberty temperately, and not withfuch open Offeitce and Scandal to the Government : Htfaidour Afcetings were too numerous, andfo (beftdes that they were agamft Law^ gave occafton to many clamorous People to come with complaints: tohim^ as if our deftgn was wholly to undermine the Church ■ and to fay Sir Thefe are they that you protect againft the Laws. He injlanccd in the folly of Farrinsdon'^r Vreachngmthe Play-Houfe : We told him wc all dtfliked the Mion, and that he had been Jorely rebuUd for affronting the Government under which we live, with fo much peace (but J forgot to difclam him .- ) He inflamed m one more, {hut with a Preface, that he had a great refpea for the Perfon, and hus Worth and Learnin?^ who draweth in aU the Couwrey round about to him,:; this PetfonisMr. Baxter of A&on ; he inflamed in him becaufeof a late Complaint jrom a Juftice of Peace, who had a mind to be nibling at him ' bnt feared ttwould he with the offence qf his Majefiy, we imagine Rofs to be the perfon.' I replyed That you went to the publick, did it in the interval, between Morning and Evening Service* beginning at Twelve. Tljat tbefirfl Intendment was for the benefit of your own Fanih- ^at this great Company vas not invited by you, but intruded upon you; that it was hard to exclude thofe, who m Charity might be fuppofcd to come with a thirfi after the meam of Edification. I aliedged the general necejjity, and that Nonconformifls were not all of a piece, and if people of unfober principles in Religion wo'e permitted to preach, a neceffity lay npon us, to take the like liberty, that thofe who have invincible fcruplcs againft the publick way, may not be left as a prey to thofe who might leave bad imprcfjions upon them which would neither be fo fafe for Religion, nor the publick peace. To which His Maiefly re- ply d. That the riffle raffie of the people were not offuch Confideration, they being apt to run after every new Teacher; but people of Quality might be intreatcd to forbear to meet or at leafl not m f-.ch multitudes, left the publick Scandal t.iken thereby, mipht obftruCl h'is Intentions and Dcfigns for, our good : He feemed to be well enough plea fed whm I fu^r. gefled that our Sobriety of Doctrine, and tnedling only with weighty thi}igs\nd remem- brance of I Am m our prayers, with refpea, ^reftrved an efteem of hvs Per fon and Govern- tnent m the Hearts of his people, and that poffibly people of another humour might feafon toemwith worfe InfuUons: Then Arlington pluck' d him by the Coat, as deCmng him to note It. Finally, I told him. That you would have waited upon him with us if you had not been under the Confinement of a Difeafe : Thvs vs the Sum, exprefs words I have not bound ny fc.f mto, only kept as near as I can remember : Since this our Addrefs hath been confM by the Cabinet Council, and .,p,phved; the Bufmefs was debated, whether itfkould be made publick, mofi were f,rr that Opinion, but the final refultwas, that we jhoitld be left at liberty to fpeak of it withfuch Rejlnaions as our Wifdom fhuld fumd Wc mti him privately in 7ny Lord Arlington'. Lodgings. I am now m very greathafle I muft abruptly take leave of you, with the profeffion that I am. Sir, Yonr Faithful Brother and Servant. Some other things, when they come to mind, I will acquaint you mth. CoveHt-Cardtn, ttiis ; riday Morning. 37 § S6. But 58 ' . IBe LI F E of the Parr 111. §S6. But the Minifter that offered this acknowledgment did neither publifh it, nov give out any Copies of it, I fuppofe left they ilioiild be tlionght to be thePerfons that were opening; the Door to a Toleration which fhoidd take in the Papifts : For ever fince the King himfclf publifhed a Declaration of his purpofe to give fuch a Liberty as they alfo fhould have their part iu , and by the Ob- fervationx)f all that palled before and fince, by-ftanders made this Eptome of their Evpeclions. 1. The Pj pills niiifl: have the Liberty of exerciling their Religion, 2. The State mull: notbe reproached by it, as intending PojTery. 3. TheBilliops miift have no hand in it, left they be taken to intend the fame, whidi fome of the People are already too apt to believe, efpecially fince they refu- fed Concord with the Minifteis, and are for their lilencing, and fo great feveri- ties againft them. 4. ThePapills muft not be feen in it themfelves, till they can be fure to carry it, left itftir up the Parliament and People againft them. 5. Therefore it muft be done by the Noncoiifornuits. 6. The Presbyterians are four and will nor. 7. The Independent Leaders are for the doing it, but they dare not fay fo, for fear of becoming odious with the Presbyterims, Parliament and People : (And they intend no good to the Papiftsby ic when they have done,but to ftrengtheii themfelves) Therefore they dare not appear in ji till the Presbyterians join with them. 8. When the fmart of the Presbyterians is greater, it -may be their Stomachs will come down : Who knoweth whether Extreiiiity Inay nT force them, rather todefirc apart in a common Liberty, th^n to fee others lave it while they lie in Goals. 9. At leaft when they wait and '..- : i.,. .,....= ... ■: - ;.ty, that which is givea to all others, will feem to be given chiefly in compaflion to them tl'.-.t were the sufferers^ aniibeir iSIecel'nries wi;i make it faid, that they were the Caufes. 10. And when it is granted, it is ealie to diftinguirn, &c. And the Presbyte- rians are the backwarder on thefetwo accounts,' i . When they are known to be . the moft adverfe to Popery, and to have made their Covenant, and oppcfed the • Biihops, &c. on that account, and Uifpect the Bifhops to deUgn again fuch a Confederacy as h'cylm defendeth and confeffeth, and to have promoted their fi- lencing to this end •, after all this to force thefe Sufferers to take on them the task and odium of procnrin? the Papift's Liberty, while they that would have it, cry out againft it , feeemeth to them fo intolerable an Injnry, that they can- not willingly fubmit to. 2. Becaufe if they had a part in a common Toler-.tion tliey believe it is very eafie to turn them out of it quickly, and leave the Papi.ls in, by fome Oath \\hichilrall bedigeftible by a Papift, and not by them (fuch as, the Oxford Oath, or fome others) 1 1. But cither they are miftaken in fome of thefc Conclulions, or elfe the Pa- pifts defire to have two Strings to their Bow, For Heylin (in Lmfs Life) and 7Wjf^;4? (m three late Books) do plainly tell the World, that one Bulinefs to be done is, to open the Door of the Church of Enghnd fo wide, by reconci- ling means, that the Papifts might be the eafilicr brought in to us, and may find- nothing to hinder the moderate fort from coming to our AlRmblies (!iy the Pope's confent) and foaii notes of piftinftion may fofarceafc. But one part of the Pa pifti themfelves are as hipjito.the Rifliops, as the Bi (hops to us j nothing but all will fcrve their turns: Whether they will have Wit enough to take lefs at the firlc, 1 hope yet the Wifdom of the Siipcriours will keep us from knowing by experience. - ' But after all this, we were as before, and the talk of Liberty did but occafioa The writing many bitter Pamphlets againft Toleration : And among others, they have gathered out of mine , and other Mens Books all tiiat we had tiien faid a;ainlc Liberty for Popery, and for .Qiiakers railing againft the Minillers in the open Congregations, and this they applied now, as againlt a Toleration of. or.r felves-, becaufe the bare name of Toleration did ftem inthe People's Earsto ferve their turn, by fignifying the fame thing. And becaufe we had faid, that ■ Men Ibould not be tolerated to preach againft Jefiis Chrilt and the Scriptures, . thev would thence juftitic themfelves for not tolerating us to preach for Jefus Clirift, unlefs we would be dcliheracc Liars, and ufe all their Inventions. And thofe Part III. 'Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, 29 thofe fame Men, who when Commiflloned with us , to make fuch , iterations tnthe Liturgy as were necelfary tofithfie tender Coy!faence5~\dAdi maintain thaC«o alteration was neceff.iry to fjtisfie them , and did moreover contrary to all our importujiity, make fo man y new burdens of their own to be anew impofed on us , had no\v little to fay, but that they raufl: be obeyed, becaufe they are impofcd. Before the irapoling Laws were made, they could by no means be kept from mqking them, that when they were made, they might plead Law againit thofe that denied to ufe their Impofitions . Before the Law was made, they pleaded the Ceremonies and Formalities will be all duties when their is a Law made for them, Lrgo. a Law (hall be made not only for them, but for fwearing, unfwearing, fubfcribing, declaring all things impofcd to be fo true, and fo good, thatwealfcnt and confent to all : And when the Laws are made, then, O what Rebels are thefe that will not obey the Law ! Then they try out. If every Man fhall be Judge what is Lawftil, and fhall prefer his own Wit above tlie Law, what is become of Order and Government : • How inconfdtent are thefe Rebellious Principles with a Commonwealth, or any Rule or Peace. ] As if they knew not, that the fame words may be faid for obedience to the Laws about Religion under Lutherans Calvintfts^ Arrians^ Papifis^ Turks^ &c. And if Hobb''s Leviathan be not fet up a Magiflrate, that mufi: be Mafter of our Religion, what fignifieth all this ? -Yet had this talk been more ingenuous by Men that had found all thefe Laws, and could not proc ure them to be amended : But for thofe Men that firft refolutely procure them for thefe ends, to plead them afterwards in this manner, as the reaiba of all their Adions and violence, is like the Spider in the Fable, to make Webs with great Induftry to catch the Flies, and hang them in their way, and then to rccufe them of a mortal Crime for coming into their Webs : Or to make Nets to catch the Fiih, and take them in it, and then accufe them for coming into their Nets. I fpeak not this of the Law -makers, but of the Prelatical Commiffioners before- mentioned, and their after Praftices. § 88. About this time, or before, came out a Book called J friendly debate be- tween a Conformifi^ and Nonconformifl ^ written (as was doubted) by Dr. Simon Fa- tricky which made much talk ^ and a fecond part after that- and a third pait, with an Appendix after that. He had before written a Book called the Pilgrim^ which with many laudable things, had fharply pleaded that Obedience muft enter the defini- tion of Juftifying faith -^ and had cenfurcd tartly thofe that taught otherwife : And by this he incurred as 6arpa cenfure by many of the Nonconformifts : Some thought that this exafperated him j others thought that without exafperation he followed his own Genius and Judgment. He was one of thofe then called a Latitudinarian , a fo- ber, learned, able Man, that had written many things well, and was w-ell e- nough eftccmed. But this Book was fo dif-ingenuous and virulent as caufed- mofl Religious People to abhor it for the ftrain and tendency, and probable Effefts. It cannot be denied, but that many godly, zealous Minifters are guilty of weaknefs of Judgment and expreffion, and that many miftakcs are found among them (for who is it that hath no Errors ? ) And it cannot be denied but that the greater number of the common People who are ferioufly Religious and Confcionable, are yet much weaker in Judgment and Language than the Minifters : (For if fudden Converfion and Repentance as foon as it hatli changed a Man's mind, and will, and life, in the matters which his Salvation lieth on, did alfo poffefs hi^ with all the exaclnefs of Notions and Langi'.age which Academicks attain to in many years Iludy, to what purpofe were Academies, and thofe Studies? And then it would be as miraculous a work as the firfl gift of Tongues.). This Learned Man having met with the". . weak paflages 9f fome Minifters (efpecially Mr. Bridge^znA feme of the then Inde- / pendent Party, who in an exceflTive oppofitionto ^c Arrrunians fpake fomething' unwarily, if not unfoundly under the pretence of extolling free Grace) he fcrapes thefe together for matter of Reproach : And having heard the crude and un- meet ExprefTions of many well-meaning Women and unlearned private Men , e- fpecially that are inclined mofl: to Sclf-conceitedncfs, and unwarrantable fingularities and reparation, he bundleth up thefe, and bringeth them all forth in away of Dia- logue between a Conformilt and a Nonconformift, in which he maketh the Noncon- formift fpeak as foolifhly as he had a mind to reprefent him,and only fuch filly things as he knew he could ealily Ihame. 'And while he pretendeth but to humble the Nonconformifts for over-valuing rhemfelves, and cenfuring others as ungodly and erroneous, and to Oiew them wh.it erroui-s and weakncfles arc among thcmfelves, he 40- Jbe L l.FEvjthe Fart III he fpeaketh to the Noncontbrmifts in general ( though acknowkclging f^>me faber Perfons to be among them) that whLh is nothing to the caufe ot Non-conformi- ty- and laboureth to prove that the Religion of the Non-coufovmifts is fooHjh^ ri- diculous, &c. As if be fhould have fought to prove the Religion of Chnjtians^ or Proteftants foolilh, becaufe there are ignorant perfons among them. And in- ftancing in .things that concern not Non-conformity, but Prayer, and Preaching, and Difcourfe of Religion, the Book did exceedingly fit the humours not only of the haters of the Non-conformifts, but alfo of allthe prophane defpil'eis and de- riders of ferious Godliuefs : So that it was greedily read by all that deiired mat- ter of Contempt and Scorn againll both Non- conformity and Picry, aijd was greatly fitted to exafperate them to further Perfecutions, and to harden them in impenitency, who had already made fuch doleful havock in the Church. It was as fit an Engine to. dellroy Chriftian' Love on both fides, and to engage Men in thofc ways which Itiil more deftroy it, as any thing of long time hath been pub- lifhed. It is true, that in many things they were real weaknefTes which he detefted, and that he knew more himfelf than moft of thofe whomhe expofedto-fcorn : And it is true, that many of them by their ccnforioufnefs of the Couformifts, did too much i nil igate fuch Men: But it is as true, that while Chrift's Flock coniiilech of weak "ones in their Earthly State of Imperfedtioa, and while his Church is an Hof- pital, and he the Phyfician of Souls, it ill becometh a Preacher of the Gofpel to teach the Enemies of Chrilt and Holinefs , to call all the reproach of the Difea- fcs upon the nature of Health, or on the Phyfician, or . to expofc Chrift's Fa- mily to fcorn for that weaknefs which he pittieth them for, and is about to cure • if he hadfirlt told us where we we might hnd a better fort of Men than thefe' faulty Chriltians," or could prove them better who meddle with God, and Heaven, and Holinefs, but formally and complimentally on the by, he ■ had done fomething. And it is certain that nothing fcarce hardened the faulty perfons more in their Way and weaknefTes, than his way of reprehending them. For my part I fpeak not out of partiality •, for he was pleafed to fingle me out for his Commendations, and to exempt me from the Accufations. But it made my Heart to grieve to perceive hov/ the Devil only was the gainer, whilft Trurh and Godliriefs was not only pretended by both parties, but really intended. , § 89. Yea it would have grieved the heart ot any fober Chriftian to ob- fcrve how dangeroully each party ofthe Extremes didiempt the other to impeni- tenitency and furtiier Sin i Even when the Land was all on a Flame, and we- were all in apparent danger of our ruin by ovV Sins and Enmities, the unhap- py prelates began the Game, and cruelly caft out 1800 Minifters : and the peo- ple thereupon efteciiing them Wolves, and malignant profecutors, fled tiom them as the Sheep will do from Wolves, not conhdering, tliat notwith- ftanding their Perfonal Sin, they ftill (outwardly) profefled the fame Prote- ftant Religion ; and when any Prclatift told the Sectaries (rf their former Sin (Rebellions or Divifions) they heard it as the woi ds of an Enemy, and were mere hardened in it againft P..epentar]cc than before , yea, were ready to take that for a Vertue which fuch Men reproached them for, when as before they had begun from Experience to ^cpent : And on the other- Ijde, when the Prelatifts faw what Crim.es the Army-party of the ,Sedaries had before committed , which they aggravated from their, own Intereft, they noted alfo al the weaknellcs of judgment and Exprcfllon in Prayer, which they met with, not only in the weak- er fort of Minifters, but of the very Women, and pnl earned People' alfo, and turned all this not only- to the reproocii of all the Seftaries, but (as their Pafli- on , Intereft, and Faftion led them) of all thii Non-conformifts alfo, of whom the far greateft part were much more innocent than themfclves. § 9c. And fo fubtil is Sat.n in ufing his Inftruments that by their wicked folly cryinaout inalicioully for repentance^ he hindered almoit all open Confeflion and Pro- feflion of repentance, on both fides. For thcfe ielf Exalters did make their own -Intcieil: and Opinions to pafs with them for the fure Expofitor of the Law of God and Man : And they that never truly underftood the old Difference between the Kin^and /'arliamcnt, did ftate the Crime according to their own Ihallow paffionate conceits, and then in every book cryed out. Repent^ Repent* Repent of dWyour Rebel- lions from firfl to laft •, you Fresbytcrjjns he^an the IVar^ and brought the Kin£s head to the block tko the Independents cut tt off : And as they put in Lies among fume truths, r . ' ' fo Part iil. Kevcr end Mr. Kidurd Baxter.' ^t fo the people thought they put in their Duties among their fins, when they called them to repent ^ And if a man had profelfed repentance fol- the one without the other, and had not meniioned all that they expected, and made his Confeflions ac- cording to their prefa-ipts, they would have cryed out, Ti-aytors, Traytors, and have pvclTed every word to be the Proclamation of another War ^ So that all their calling for repentance was but an ylmhufcade and Snare, and moft effeftually prohi- bited all open repentance, becaufe it would have been 1 reafon if it had not come up to their mofb unjuft meafnres ^ And all mm thought lilencc fafer with fuch men, than Confeflion of fm -. (And the icftaries were the more perfuaded that their fin was no fm) : And this occafioned the gr-eater obduration of their Enemies, who cryed nut None of them all repenteth, and therefore they arc ready to do the fame again •' And fothey juftifyed themfelvcs in all the Silencings, Coniinings, Imprifonments' &c. Which they intlifted on them, and all the odious reprefentations of them. § 91 . But that great Lie that the Freshytcnans in the Englifh Parliament began the ■ War, is fuch as doth as much tempt men that know it, to qucftion all the Hifbory that ever was written in the World, as any thing that ever I heard fpoken : Rea- der, I will tell it thee to thy admiration. When the War was firit raifcd, there was but one Prafcyfernm known in all the Parliament j There was not one Presbyteri- an known among all the Lord Lieutonants whom the Parliameu*: Committed the /, Jli- tia to : There was not one Presbyterian known among all the General Officers of the Earl of Ejfex Army j nor one among all the Englifl] Colonels, Majors or Captains, that ever I could hear of fThere were two or three Iwearing "-'cots^ of whom Vrrey turned to the King : Wkat their opinion was I know not, nor is it confiderable). The truth is. Presbytery was not then known in England^ except among a few ftrdi- ous Scholars, nor well by them. But it was the moderate Ccnformifts and Epifco- pal Proteftants,' who had been long in Parliaments crying out of Innovation-, A) mi- nianifm, Popery, but fpecially of Monopolies^ illegal taxes, and the danger of Arbi- trary Government, who now raifed the War againft the reft whom they took to be guilty of all thefe things : And a few Independents were among them, bv:t n^^ confi- derable Number. And yet thefe Conformifts never cry out [_Repent ye / pifcopal Con'ormifts-^ for it was you that began the War.~\ Much lefs [^Repent ye . rmintan Croti- an^ innovcling prelates^ who ircre reducing us fo near Rome as Heylin in the Life ot Laud defer iheth •, for it was you that kindled the Fire^ and that fet your own party tJous agamji yoUj and made them wifh for an Epifcopacy doubly reformed 1 with better Bifhops 2 with lefs fecular power ^ and fmaller Diocefles. J §' 92. Some moderate worthy men did excellently well anAver this Book of Dr. Patrick?. •, fo as would have ftated matters rightly ^ but the danger of the Times made them fupprefs them, and fo they were never printed •, But Mr. Fowles late Minifter at Thiflenorih printed an Anfwer, which fufficiently opened the faul- tinefs of what he wrote againft •, but wanting the Mafculine ftrength, and caute- loufnefs which was neceflary to deal with fuch an Adverfary, he was quickly anfwer- ed (by faftening on the weakeft parts) with new reproach and triumph ^ And the Author was doubly expofcd to futFering : For whereas he was fo neer Conformity as that he had taken the Oxford Oath, and read fome Common prayer, and thereiore by connivance was permitted to preach in SoMj/>Pj/ijri to an Hofpital, where he had 40/. per . nn. and was now in expectation of Liberty at a better place in Bridewell^ he was now deprived of that :, And yet had little relief fromjche Nonconformilts, becaufe he Conformed fo far as he did * : And having a numerous family was in great- * ^^ ^ftcr want. Contorm- § 93. The next year came out a far more virulent book called, Ecc'ejiaflical Fohcy^ written by Sa?n. Parker a young Man of pregnant parts, who had been brought up am.cng the Scftaries, aad feeing fome weaknedes among them, and being of an e:ii';cr Spirit, was turned with the Times into the contrary extreme for which he giveth thanks to God ; And judging of thofe called Puritans and Nonconform ifts by the people that he was bred amongfr, and being now made Arch-Bifhop Sheldon's, houf- hold Chaplain, where fuch work was to be done, he writeth the moft fcornfally, and rafhly, and prophanely, and cruelly, againft the Nonconformifts, of any man that ever yet alfaulted them (that I have heard of : ) And in a fluent fervent ingenious ftyleof Natural Rhetoric-k, poureth out floods of Odious reproaches, and (with in- , cautelous Extremities) faith as much to make them hated, and to ftir up the Parlia- ment to deftroy them as he could well fpeald'' And all this was to play the old gamCj at once to pleafc the Devil, the Prelates and theprophane, and fo to cwift all three F f f f „ iato 4: " The L i F E of the Fart ill into one party ^ than which if prelacy be of God, a gr enter injury could not be done to it •, being the fureft tryed way to engage all the RtUgim^^ if not the Sober al- fo of the Laud againft it. § 93. Soon after, Dr. 7o/jM On-e;t firft tryed to have engaged me to anfwerit, by tehing me and others that I was the fittelt Man in England for that work (on what .'ccov.nt I now enquire not). But I had above all men been oft enough fearched in the malignant fire, and contended with tlicin with fo little thanks from the Inde- pendents (tho they could fay little againft it) thiit 1 refolved not to meddle with them any more, without a clearer call than this : And befides Patrick and that Party by excepting m.e from thofe whom they reproached (inrefpeft of Dodrine, difpo- fition and pradice) made me the unfitteft perfon to rife up againit them : Which if 1 had done, they that applauded me before, would foon have made me feem as odious almoftastlierefb : For they had fome at hand,that, in evil fpeaking, were fuch Ma- ilers of Language, that they never wanted Matter^ nor Words^ but could fay what they lifted as voluminoufly as they defired. § 94. Whereupon Dr. Oxren anfwered it himfelf,felecl:ing the moft odious Dodri- iial Allertions, (with fome others) of Parkcfs book •, and laid them fo naked in the Judgment of all Readers that ever I met with, that they concluded Pi-jr^er could ne- ver a'nfwer it : Efpeclallybecaufe the Anfwer was delayed about a year. By which Dr. Owen\ efteem was much advanced with the Nonconformifts. § 95. But Parker covX-xW A to have his Anfwer ready againft the Seffions of the Parliament (inO^ot. 1670.) And ftiortly after it came cut: In which he doth with the moft voluminous torrent of naturall and malicious Rhetorick fpeak over the fame things which might have been Comprized in a few Sentences ^ viz.. The Non- conformifts^ Calvinifts^ Presbyterians.^ Hugonots.^ are the moft villanous unfufierable fort of fanft ified Fools, Knavesj and unquiet Rebels that ever were in the World : With their naughty Godlinefs, and holy Hypocrifie and Villanies, making it neceflary to fall upon their Teachers, and not to fpare them •, for the Conquering of the reft. But yet he putteth more Exceptions here of the Soberer, honell, peaceable fort (whom he loveth but pittyeth for the unhappinefs of their Education) and in par- ticular fpeaketh kindly of me) than he had done before. For when he had before perfuaded men to fall upon the Minifters, and faid [\Vhat are an hundred men to be valued., in Comparifon of the fafety of the whole.'] When Dr. Owen and others common- ly underftood him as meaning that there was but a 1 00 Nonconformable Minifters (when 1800 were filenced)he found out thisftiiftto abate both the Charge of malig- nant Cruelty, and Untruth, and (aith that he meant that he hoped the feditious hot headed party that milled the people were but a few : Whereby he vindicated fifteen hundred Nonconformable Minifters againft thofe Charges which he and others fre- quently lay on the Nonconformifts (by that name. ) But the fecond part of the Matter of his book, was managed with more advan- tage ^ becaufe of all the Men in England Dr. Ov'cn was the Chief that had Headed the Independents in the Army with the grcateft height, and Confidence, and Ap- plaufe, and afterward had been the greater perfi^ader of Fkctwood^ Daborough end the reft of the Officers of the Army who were his (gathered Church., to Compel Aich. '7/'owwe//todinblvehisParliam.ent-, which being done, befell wi:h it, and the King was brought in : So that Parker had fo many of his Parliament and Army Sermons to cite, in which he urgeth them to juftice, and prophefyeth of the ruine of the Wcftern Kings, and telleth them that their work was to take down Civil and Eccleliaftical Tyranny, with fncli like, that the Dr. being neither able ro repent (hitherto) or to juftify all this muft be filent, or only plead the Art of Oblivion : And fo I fear his unfitnefsfor this Work was a general injury to the Nonconformifts. 4 § 96. And here I think I ought to give Pofterity notice, that by the Prelatift's malice, end unveafonable implacable Violence, Independency and Separation got greater advantages, againft Presbytery, and all fctled accidental cxtrinlick order and merns of Concoid, than ever it had in thcfe Kingdoms fincc the World began. For powerful and Godly Preachers (though now moft filenced) had in twenty years libc; ty brought fuch numbers to fciious Godlinefs, that it was vain for the Devil or his Servants to hope that fullering could make the moft forfake it. And to the Prclatifts . they would never turn, while they faw them for the fake of their own Wealth and lordlhips, and a few Forms and Cercmonic% filcnce fo many hundred worthy felf- denying Minifters, that had been Inftmments of their Good, and to become the Sou of the prophane malignant Enmity to the far greatcft part of the moft feiious Re^ ligiou Par'r 11 1| %everend Mi, Richard Baxter. 45 ligioiis People m Three Kingdoms. • And Presbyterians were forced to forbear all Exercife of their way ; tbey durff not meet together , Syncdically ) milefs in a Goail They could not rordinarily be the Pallors of Paiifh-Churches, no not for the p-iraie pait of the Work, being driven five Miles from all their former Charges and Auditors, and from every City and Corporation : Which Law while they durft not (for the moft part of them) obey, they were Ui\ to live privately as Ihll flying from a Goal, and to preach t» none but thofe that fought to them and thruft in upon then?. So that their Congregations were, throngh neceffity jufb oflndependent and Separating Shape, and outward Praftice, tliough not upon the fame Principles. And the common People (though pious) ixc fo apt to be led by outward palpable Appearances, that they forgot both former Principles and f'-d EtFefts and Prafxices (though fuch as one would think Ihould never have been for- gotten, at leafl: by them who fuffered all thefe Confufions and Calamities as the Fruits •.; yea, more than fo, i . the Senfc of our common F;iultinefs • 2 and the neceffity of our prefent Concord- 3. and the hardineis of grating upon fiiftering Perfons: 4. and the reconciling nature of our common Sufferings: made us think It unfeafonable and finhd (though after ten Yeaj-s) to tell one another never fo gently ot our former Fauks, or to touch upon our dift^rcnt Principles ■ but 'twas thought belt to bury all.m filence, whilft the Fruits of them fpread more and lea- vened a great part of the Religious People of the City, yea, of the Land. ' • _ § 97. And it was a great Advantage to them, that their felected Members be- mgtyed by Covenants, ftuck clofe to them, and the Presbyterians Affemblies (un- lefs they gathered Churches in their way) were but unknown or uncertain People for a great part : And fo the only order feemed to be left in the gathered Churches. ^ % 98. And another Advantage was, That being more than the reft againft the Biihops, Liturgies, Ceremonies, and Parifh-Communion, they agreed much better with the difpofition and paffions of moll of the Religious fufFermg People And thofcof us that were of another mind, and refiifed not Parifh-Communion in fome Places and Cafes, were eafily reprefented by them to the People as luke-warm Temporizers, Men of too large Principles, who fupt the Anti-chriftian Pottaee though we would not cat the Flefh. And a few fuch Words behind our backs* wrought more on the Minds of many, efpecially of the meaner and weaker fort ot' People, than many Volumes of Learned Argument : This weaknefs we cannot denv to their Accufers. ^ § 99- But whoever be the Secl-Malters, it is notorious. That the Prelates (tho' not they only ) are the 5ed-niakers, by driving the poor People by violence and the vicioufnefs of too many of their Inftrumcnts, into thefe alienations and extreams • (though I confers that Men's guilt, in the Days of Liberty of Confcien-e mull lilencc both Mafters and Difciples from juftifyiug thcmfclves.) When I think of our Cafe, and thmk of Chriil's way of ullng Parables, I am inclined' to intcnx>fc a few. ^ § 100. In the WcJl-IndieT^ the Natives make Bread of a Root wMch is noifon . till correfted, and tl^.cn it is tolerable Bread : The Europeans had a Controverfie with the Indians^ and another among themfelves: The Indiam faid That their Roots were the better, becaufe our Wheat confiftedof fo many fmall incoherent Grains, and was divilible even unto Atoms : To prove whiclv they did grind it to Flower on thcMiH, and then triumphing crycd, lee what Dull your Corn is come ^toj Ihe ChrtjiiMv faKi, that their Wheat was better than the /w^/Ws Roots as being more agre>r.blc to the Nature of Man • and that all thofe Atoms misht be'ce- menred by a skilful hand, and fermented into a wholfora Mafs, and baked into better Bread than theirs. On the other fide, in a Place and Year where Fmlifh Corn was W feme of the C/;r;yh-.^.did eat of the /«^/.« Bread ^ butthe reft maintained that It was unlawftil, becaufe the Root had poifoninit- and therefore thev would r,u..or live without. The other anfwered them, That the Poifon was eafilv fepa- ' able from tnc reft, and a wholfome Bread made of it, though not fo good as ours he Contention increafed, and the Rcfufcrs called the other Murderers as ner- ^i.aamg Men to cat Poifon : And the other called them ignoran". »;Hf- Murderers who would famun themfelves and their Families. When the reviling and cenfure V.^.\ continued a while, the Famine grew^«> hot, that one half of the Refiifcredved an;! r>K le.t by pinching hunger and dear-bought Experience, were grft induced to F f f f 2 try 44' The LI F Eofthe Part III try, and after to feed on the Indian Bread, to the prefervation of their Lives. But e'er long, the Enghjh Wheat profpered again ^ and then the Europeans fell into three Parties among themfelves. One Party joyned with the Induns^ and faid the Indian Bread is beft^ for that faved our Lives when the fw^/j/Zj failed us: Therefore it fhall be made Banifhment or Imprifonment to low or fpeak for the EngUjh (or Euro- pean) Grain or Bread. Another Party reviled thofe that drew their Fathers to ea't Indian Bread, and laid, fhall we be befooled, and go againft our Nature, and our common Senfes, our Tafte, our experience of Strength and Vivacity ? Do we not fee that the Englijh is beft ? Therefore they were Tray tors that drew our Fore-fathers to eat the others, and thefe are inhuman Tyrants that now compel Men to it. But the third party faid, The Englijh Bread is belt, which we never denyed j but the Indian Bread was a thoufand fold better than none : we only ufed it when we could get no better -^ which was no changing of our Minds, but of our Praftice. And we will do the like in the like cafe of necefTity. Yea, though it grieveth us to be put to it by our own Countrey-men, we will rather eat now the Ind.an Bread, than be familhcd by Banifhment, or in a Prifon. How this Cohtroverfie will end, time will fhew : But every fide harh fo learned Men, that it's never like to end by Dif- puting^ for every one can fhame his Adverfary's Words. But either another Famine^ or a plenty of European Bread, with liberty to ufe it, is like to end it, if it ever end. § loi. The like Controveriic fell cut in the /ni-x whether v^^f ot Horfa were to be preferred, as fittefl for Man's nfe. The Jn'tms faid j4(fes^ becaufe it had been their Countreys ufe ^ and tiorfcs were fo "uruly, ihat trey would run away with the Rider, and caft their Burdens, to the c;iager of Men's Lives. The Europeans laid, the ho^fcs might be fo ufed, as to be more tame, and fo made far more ufeful than the ^res ^ and fome little inconveniencles and perils mull be endured for a greater good. At laft, all the £;(»'ope.m - wyei dyed ^ and then the £n^^/', and of y?(f?o«,Chaplain in ordinary to the King,- &c. His Curate was a weak, dull young Man, that fpent moll of his time in Ale-houfcs, and read a few dry Sentences to th"? People, but once a day. But yet becaufe he preached true Dodtrine, and I had no better to hear, I con- llantly heard him when he preached, and went to the beginning of the Common Prayer; and my Houfc .fatcing the Church-Door, within hearing of it,' thofe that heard me before, went with me to the Church-, fcarce three that I. know of in the Parifh rcfufing, and when I preached after thcpublickExercife, they went out of the Church into my Houfe. It pleafcd the Dr. and Parfon that 1 came to Church, ^nnd brought othei-s with me : But h.c was not able to bear the fight of Peoples crowding , into my Houfe, though they heard him alfo*-, fo that though he fpake me fair, and wc lived in feeming Love and Peace fwhile he was there) yet he could not long endure it. And wlien 1 had brought the People to Church to hear him, he would fall upon them with groundlcfs Reproache:-., as if he had done '- ■ r.rpcfcly to diivc them away, and yet thought that my preaching to them, ' » >- aifcitwas in a Houfc, did all the mifchief, though he never acciifed nic of a- • iiy thing that I fpake.' For I •preacticd nothing but Chriflianitv and SubmifTion to or.r Sujjcriours ; Faith Repentance, Hope, Love, Humility, Self-dtnial, ISlesk- iicfs. Patience, and Obcdicncfh, ■ §:io5. But he was tlic .more offended l)ccaufe I came not to the Sacrament vvith him. Though I communicated Tn the other parifh-Churches at Jiondon^ .nnd el few here.; 1 was loth to offend him by giving him the Reafon ; which was iiwl he being ccmmoilly reputed a Swearer, a Curfe^ a RaiJcr, &c. in thofe tender i Parr III 'lieverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 47 tender times it would have been fo great an offence to the Congregational Brethren if 1 had Communicated with him (and perhaps have haftened their fufferings who durft not do the fame) tliat I thought it would- do more harm than good. § 106. The laftyearof my abode at .3<7o«, I had the happincfs of a Neighbour whom I cannot eatily praife above his worth : Which was Sir Mat. Hale Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer^ whom all the Judges and Lawyers of £Mg-/.TO<^ admired for his skill in Law, and for his julHce, and Scholars honoured for his Learning, and I highly valued for his fincerity, mortification, fclf-dcnyal, humility, conlcientioufnefs and his clofe fidelity in friendlhip. When he came firlt to Town, 1 came not near' him left being a filcnced and fuipedled pcrfon (with his Superiors) I fliould draw him alfo under fufpicion, and do him wrong: Till I had notice round about of his deilve of my Acquaintance ^ And I fcarce ever converfed fo profitably with any other pei-- fon in my Life. * * i have § 107. He was a Man of no quick utterance, but often hefitant ; but fpake with fmce wric- great reafon. He was mofl: preciicly jult •, infomiich as I believe he would have loft ^^'^ "^5f all that he had in the World rather than do an unjuft Ad : Patient in hearing the ^[^"j'-,,^; ^* tedioufeft fpcech which any Man had to make for himfclf ! The pillar of Juftice, the ° Reftige of the fubject who feared Oppreflion, and one of the greateft Honours of his Majeftie's Government : For with fome more upright Judges, he upheld the honour of the Enghfh Nation, that it fell not into the reproach of Arbitrarinefs, Cruelty and utter Confufion. Every Man that had a jnft caufe was almolt palt fear, if they could but brmg it to the Court or Aflize where he was Judge (for the other Judges feldom contradicted him.) He was the great Inltrument for rebuilding London : For when an Aft was made for deciding all Controverfies that hindered it ; it was he that was the conftant Judge, who, for nothing followed the work, and by his Fnidence and Juftice removed a multitude of great Impediments. His great advantage for in- nocency was that he was no Lover of Riches or of Grandeur, His Garb was too plain ^ He ftudiouQy avoided all unnecelFary familiarity with great perfons, and all that manner of Living which fignifyeth Wealth and Greatnefs. He kept no greater a family, than my felf. I lived in a fmall houfe, which for a pleafant back-fide he had a mind of : But caafed a ftranger (that he might not be fafpefted to be the Man) to know of me whether I were willing to part with it, before he would meddle with it; In that houfe he livcth contentedly, without any pomp, and without coftly or trou- blefome retinue or vifitors ^ but not without Charity to the poor : He continueth the ftudy of Phyficks and Mathematicks Hill as his great delight : Me hath himfelf written four Volumes in Folio (three of which I have read) againft Atheifm, Saddu- ceifm and Infidelity, to prove firlt the Deity and then the immortality of Man's Soul, and then the truth of Chriftianity and the holy Scripture, anfwering the Infidels Objeclions againft Scripture ; It is ftrong and mafculinc, only toO tedious for impa- tient Readers: He faith, he wrote it only at vacant hours in his Circuits to regulate his mcditiitions, finding that while he wrote down what lie thought on, his thoughts were the cafilyer kept clofe to work, and kept in a method, and he could after try his former thoughts, and make further ufe of them if they were good. But I could not yet perfuade him to hear of publifhing it. The Conference which I had frequently with him, (moftly about the immortality of the Soul, and other Foundation points, andPhilofophical) wasfo edifying, that his very Qiieftions and Objections did help me to more hght than other mens foluti- ons. Thofe that take no Men for Religious who frequent not private Meetings, &c. took him for an Excellently righteous moral Man : But t that have heard and read his ferious Expreffions of the Concernments of Eternity, and feen his Love to all good Men, and the blamlefsnefs of his Life, &c. thought better of his Piety than of mine own. When the People crowded in and but of my Houfe to hear, he open- ly fhewed mc fo great rcfpeft before them at the Door, and never fpake a word againft it, as was no fraall encouragement to the Common People to go on-, though the other fort muttered that a Judge Ihould feem fo far to countenance that which they took to be againft the Law. He was a great Lamenter of the Ex- tremities of the Times; and the violence and foolifhnefs of the predominant Clergy, and a great defirer of fuch abatements as might reftore us all to fervice- ablencfs and Unity. He had got but a very fmall Eftate ( though he had long the greatefl: Prafticc •, ) becaufe he would take but little Money, and undertake no morebufinefs than he could wcil difpatch. He often offered to the Lord Chan- cellor to refign his place, when he was blamed for doing that wlucli he fuppofed w'as Juftice. 43 JbeLiFtolWe Paitlil juilice. He had beeathe Learned Seldenh intimate friend, and one of his Executors: And becaiife the Hohb'ums and other Infidels would have perluaded the World that S el- den was of their mind ^ 1 defn-ed him to tell me truth therein : And he afTured me that SeldcH was an earnell ProfelTor of the Chriltian Faith, and lb angry an Adverfa- ry to Hobbs that he hath rated him out of the Room. § 1 oS.This year 1669 theLord Mayof of Londonvi-a Sivlf^ IliamTurner^a. Man Con- formable, and fuppofed to be for Prelacy -^ but in his Government, he never dilturbed the Nonconformable Preachers, nor troubled men for their Religion •, And he fo much denyed his own gain, and fought the Common good and punifhed vice, and promoted the rebuilding of the City, that I never heard nor read of any Lord May- or who was fo much honoured and beloved of the City : Infomr.ch that at the End of his year, theychofe him again and would have heai'd of no other, but that he abfolutely refufed it, partly as being an ufual thing, and partly (as was faidj be- caufe of a Mellage from his fuperiours : For the Bifhops and Courtiers who took hira for their own, were mofl difpleafed with him. § 1 09. The liberty which was tukeu by the Nonconformifts in London^ by reafon of the plague, the fire, the connivance of the King, and the refolved quietnels of the Lord Mayor, did fet fo many Preachers through the Land (as is faidj on the fame work, that in Likelyhood many thoufand Souis are the better for it ^ And the predominant Prelates murmured and feared : For they had obferved that when fcri- ous Godlinefs goeth up, they go down. So that they beltirred themfelves diligently to fave themfelves and the Church of England from this dreaded danger. § 110. At this time our Parfon Dean Rive got this following advantage againlt me ('As I had it from his own mouth j. At Wolverhampton in Staffordjhirc where he was Dean, were abundant of Papifts, and Violent Formalifts : Amongft whom was one Brif/irdle an Apothecary, who in Conference with Mr. Reignolds fan able Preacher there filenced and turned out j by his bitter words tempted him into lb much in:iifcretionas to fay that Qthe Nonconformifts were not fo contemptible for Number and Qiiality as he made them, that molt of the people were of their mind, that Cromircl tho an Ufuvper had kept up England againfl the Dutch, &c. And that he marvelled that he would be fo hot again ft private Meetings, when ac >-'<7o« the Dean fuiFcred them at the next door.] With this advantage BrafgWdk writeth all this greatly aggravated to the Dean. The Dean haftens away with it to the King as if it were the difcovery of a Trcafon. Mr. Reignolds is queftioned, but the Ju- flicesof the Country to whom it was refencd, upon hearing of the bufinefs,found meer imprudeiice heightened to a Crime, and fo '-elealed liim : Br.t before this could be done, the King exafperatcd by the name of Crommll and other unadvifed words, as the Dean told me, bid him go to the Bilhop of London from him, and him fo to the fupprelTion of my Meeting (which was reprefented to him aifo as much greater than it wasj whereupon two Jultices were chofen for their turn to do it : One Rofs^ of Brainford^ a 5cot„ before-named, and one Phillips^ a Steward of the A. Bilhop of Canterbury. § 1 1 1 Hereupon ^o/iand Thilips fend a Warrant to the Conftableto appreliend inc a;:J bring me before them to Frainford. WMien I came, they Ihut out all perfons from the Room, and would "not give leave for any one perfon, no not their own Clerk or Servant, or the Conftable to hear a Word that was laid be- tween us. Then told mc that 1 was convift of keeping Conventicles contrary to Law, and fo they would tender mc the Oxford Oath. I defired my Accufers might come Face to Face, and that 1 might fee and fpeak with the Witneiles that trflified that 1 kept Conventicles contrary to the Law ^ which I denied, as far as I underftood Law •, but they would not grant it. I prelfcd that I might fpeak in fhe hearing of fome Witncflcs, and not in fccrcr ^ for I fuppofed that they were my Judges, and that their prefence and bufinefs made the place a place of Judica- ture, where none Iliould be excluded, or at lea.t fome Ihould be admitted. But I could not previil: Had Irefolv^edon filencc, they were refolved to proceed, and 1 tlionght a Clniftian Ihould rather fubmit to violence, and give place to Injuries, tlian ftand upon his right, when it will give others occaiion to account him obfti- nate. I asked them vVhether I might freely fpeak for my felf, and they faid yea, but when V bc?antu fpeak, ftill interrupted me, and put me by,: Only they told me, that private Meetings had brought us to all our Wars, and it tended to raifenew Wars, and /"oyi told me what he had fuffered by the War, (who, it's fiid was but a poor Boy, and after a Schoolmafter) and I'hiUips having but one Leg, Fair lU. %everend Mr. Richard Baxter. ' ^'^ Leg, told me he had loft his Leg by the Wars • and I thought then there was no remedy, but Preachers mull be lilenced, and live in Goals'. But with niuch importunity 1 got them once to hear me, while I told them why I took not aiy Meeting to be contrary to Law, and why the Oxford Aft concerned me not and they had no Power to put that Oath on me by thcAcl : But all theAnfwer I could get, was, Tkn tbty were fxthjicd of rrhat they did.And whcn,am.ong other rea- ibningsagainft their courfe, I told them 1 thought Chrift's Minifters had in many Ages been Men eiteemed, and ufed as we how arc, and their Affliclers have in- fulted over them, the Providence of God hath ftill fo ordered it, that the Names and Memory of their Silencers and AOliders have been left to Pofterity for a Reproach, infomuchthat I wondered that they that fear not God, and care not for their own, or the People's Souls, fliould yet be fo careleft of their fame when Honour feemeth fo great a matter with them. To which /?o/} anfweicd, that he defired no greater Honour to his Name, than that it fliould be rcmembred of him that he did this againfi; me,and fuch as I, which he i-j — . — ' — — ■.~ §113- Heie it is to be,, noted that the Att agaiail Coaveiiticles w.ii long ago expired^ that I was never Convict of a Cojiventicle while that Law was in" force, nor fince : that the Oxford Att fappofeth .; jbc Convift of a Conventicle ^ and doth not enable them to Convicf me, without another Law ; That really they had none but iJo/i's Man to witnefs that 1 preached, who crept in but the Lord's Day before, and heard me only preach on this Text. Mat. 5. £lejfed are the meek ^ for they /hall inhtrit the Earth'} prelfeth efpecially Quietnefs and Patience towards our Governours, and denying all turbulent, unpeaceable, and feditious difpofiti- ons and nraftices. § 114. They would have given me leave to ftay till A4onday before I went to Goal, if I would promife them not to preach the next Lord's Day, which I de- nied to promife, and lb went away the next Morning. § 115: This was made a heinous Crime againfi: me at the Court, and alfo it was faid by the — that it could not be out of Confcience that I preached, elfe why did not my Confcience put me on it fo long before. Whereas I had ever preached to my own Family, and never once invited any one to hear me, nor forbad any : So that the difference was made by the people, and not by me. If they come more at lafl than at firit, before they had ever- heard me, that fignified no change in me. But thus mull v/e be judged of, where we are abfent, and our Adverfa- ries prefentj and there are many to fpeak againft us what they pleafe, and we are banifhed from City and Corporations, and cannot fpeak tor our felves. S iid. The whole Town of A&onvitrt greatly exafperated againft the Dean, when I was going to Prifon^ infomuch as ever fince they abhor h-m as a felfifh Perfe- aitor : Nor could he devife to do more to hinder thefuccefsof Lib(reldom) Preach- ing there: But it was his own choice. Let them hate mc, fo they fear me: And fo I finally left that Place, being grieved moft that Satan had i>revailed to ftop the poor People in fuch hopeful beginnings of a common Reformation, and that ! was to be deprived of the exceeding grateful Neighbourhood of the Lord Chief Baron Hale^ who could fcarce refrain Tears when he did but hear of the firft War- rant for my appearance. § 1 17.I knew nothing all this while of the rife of my trouble^ but I refolvedto part in Peace on my part with the Dean, not doubting but it was his doing. And fo I vvent to take my leave of him, who took on him to be forry , and fwore it was none of his doing , and to prove it, told me all the Story before mentioned ^ that fuch a Letter he received from Wolverhampton^ and be- ing treafonable, he was fain to acquaint the King writh it : And when he fav/ my Meeting mentioned in the Letter, he examined him about them, and he could not deny but they were very numerous ^ and the King againft his Will fent him to the Bifhop of London to fee it fuppreft. I told him that I came not now to expoftulate or exprcfs any Ofi'ence , but to endeavour that we might part in Love. And that I had taken that way for his afllftancc , and his Peo- ple's good, which was agreeable to my Judgment, and now he was trying that which was according to his Judgment :^ and which- would prove the better the end will fiiew. He expoftulated with me for not receiving the Sacrament with him, and offered me any Service of his which I defired, and I told him I dcfired nothing of him, but to do his People good, and to guide them faithfully, as might tendtotheir Salvation, and his ov.n, and fo wc parted. §118, As I went to Prifon I called of Serjeant fountain^ my fpccial Friend, to take His Advice (for I would not be fo injurious to Judge ^/(t/c) And he perufed my Jl.ittimus^ and in fliort advifcd me to leek for a Jzfjbeas Corpus^ yet not in the vfiial Court (the King's-Bench ) for rcafons known to all that know the Judges, nor yet in the Exchequer, left his Kind ncfs to mc ihould be an Injury to Judge /v'-j/c, andfo to the Kingdom (and tlie Power of that Court therein is que- ftioncd) but at the Common-Pleas, which he faid might grant it, though it be not ufual. §119. But my grcateft doubt was whether the King would not take it ill, that I rather fought to the Law than unto him i^ or if 1 fought any releafe rather than continued in Prifon. My Imprifonmcnt v;as at pre fent no great Suffering to me, for I had an honeft Jay lor, who fhevved me all the Kindncfs he could :, I had a large room, and the liberty of walking in a fair Garden ^ and my Wife was ne- ver fo chearful a Companion to me as in Prifon, and was very much againft my fccking to be releafcd, and (lie had brought fo many Neceffaries, that we kept Houfe Part 111. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. . 51 Houie as contciuedl> and comfortably as at home, though in a narrower room, aad I had the lip,ht of more of my Friends in a day, than ^ I had at home in half a Year : And r knew that if I got out againfl: their Will, my fufFerings would ■ be never the nearer to an cud. But yet on the other fide, i . It was in the e.Ktream- eit heat of Summer, when io«a'p« was wont to have Epidemical difcafes : And the hope of myniying inPrifonI have reafon to think, was one great iriaucement to fome of the Inn:ruments,to move to what they did.2. AnS my Chamber being over the Gate, which was knockt and opened with noife of Prifoners jufl: under me alniolt every Night, I had little hope of flceping but by day, which would have been likely to have quickly broken my ftrength, which was fo little, as that I did but live. 3. And the number of Vifiters by day, did put me out of hope of Studying, or doing any thing but entertain them. 4. And I had neither leave at any time to go out of Doors, much lefs to Church on the Lord's Days, nor on that Day to have any come to me, nor to Preach to any but my Family. Upon all thefe Confiderations, the advice of fome was, that I (hoiild Petition the King, but to that I was averfe, i. Becaufe I was indifferent almoft wiiether I came out or not •, and I was loth either to feem more afflifted or impatient than 1 was or to beg for nothing. 2. I had avoided the Court , and the Converfe of all' great Men fo m:iny years on purpofe, that I was loth to creep to them now for nothing. 3. And I expefted but to be put upon fome promifc Which I could not make, or to be rejecied. 4. I had fo many great Men at Court who had profell extraordinai7 Kindnefs to me, (tho' 1 was never beholden to one Man of them all for more tlian Words) that I knew if it were to be done, they w«uld do it without myfeeking.- And my Coiinfellor, Serjeant Fo««to"M,advifed menot to feck to them, nor yet refufc their Favour if they offered it, but to be wholly padive as to the Court : but to fcek my Freedom by Law, becaufe of my great weak- ncfs, and the probability of future Peril to my Life. And this Counfel I fol- lowed. § 1 20. The Earl of Orery I heard, did earnefty and fpecdily fpeak to the King how much my Imprifonment was to his dis-fervice. The Earl of Manche- fier could do little,but by the Lord Jrlingtdn^who with the Duke oi Buckingham fcerh" ed much concerned in it : But the Earl of Lauderdale^ fwho would have been for- wardeft had he known the King's tpind to be otherwifej faid nothing. And fo all my great Friends did me not the leaft Service, but made a talk of it, with no Fruit at all. And the moderate honeft Part of the Epifcopal Clergy were much offenfled, and faid, 1 was chofen out defignedly to make them all odious to the People. But ^/jjt/ ^^ Sir lohn Bahor often vifiting me, alTured me. That he had fpokento the King about -/i It anJ^w^cn all had done their bell) he was not willing to be feen to relaxe the i,aw and difcouragc Juftices in executing it, ^c. but he would not be offended if I fought my Remedy at Law fwhich moll thought would come to nothing.) § 121.' Whilll I was thus unrefolved vvnich way to take, Sir John Babcr de- ftriu ' a Narrative of my Cafe, I gave him one, which he fhewed the Lord Arling- ton; which I will here infert, and I will joyn with it two other Scripts, one which I gave as Reafons to prove. That the Aft againfl Conventicles forbad not my Preaching: Another which I gave all my Counfellors when they were to plead my Caufe about the Error of the 5WJtr«>wHf. § 1 22. The Naruthc of my Cafe. t The Oath cannot be impofed on me by the Act. Firfi^ Becaufe I never kept any Conventicle of Unlawful AQembly proved. 1. By'Convcnticles and Unlawful AITemblics for Religious Exercifes, the Laws do . mean only the Meetings of Recufaats, Separatifts, or fuch as Communicate not with the Church of England^ or fuch AflTemblies as arc held in oppofition to the Ghurch- Alfemblies, and not fuch as are held only by the Conformable Members of the Church, in meer Subordination to the Church- A iTemblics, to promote them But all Meetings whidi 1 have held arc only of this latter fort, G g g g i Ta; 52 The LiF E of the Part III. The former Propofition is thus proved. 1. The Canons give the Senfeof the Word C Conventicles^ (for it is a Chnrch- Term, about Churthr Matters.) But the Canons mention but two forts of Conventi- cles, one of Presbyters, when they meet to make Orders or Canons for Church- Difcipline •, the other of People who meet under the Profeffion of bdng a Churclj' diliind froM the Church of '£wg/^«^i f and neither of thefe is my Cafe, j ; 2, The Statute of the 35 oi El'n. expoundeth it accordingly^ charging none of Unlawfhl Afl'embling, but fuch as Separate, or Communicate not with the Church. 3. There is no other Statute that faith otherwife, 4, The Rubrick and Law alloweth Conformable Minifters to keep many Religious ' AITcmblies, which are not in the Church, being but Subordinate,as i . At the Vifi- tation of the Sick, where no numbers of Neighbours are prohibited to be prefent : Sermons at the Sftttk^ Sturbridge-fair, &c. 2. At private Baptifms, 3. At private Communions, where any Family hath an impotent Perfon thatcaa- not Communicate at Church. 4. At the Rogation Perambulations, where it was ufual to Fcaft at Houfes in their way, and there for the Miniftcr to inflruc\; the People, and to Pray, and ling Plalms. 5. The Laborious fort of Conformable Minifters, have many of them ufed to re- peat their Sei mons to all that would Aflemble at their Houfes : Which Repeating was as truly Preaching, as if they had Preached the fame Sermon in feveral Pulpits.Thcre- fore all Meetings, bcfides Churcb-Mectings, are not Conventicles, nor thofcthat are in Subordination to them. 5. Even the late Expired Aft againfl Conventicles, forblddeth no Religious Excr- cifes, but {i.ich as arc otherwife than the Liturgy or Praftice of the Church ^ and di- {tinguifliing exprefly between the Exercifes and the Numbers^ doth forbid no num- ber, whcH the Exercifes are not otherwife, as aforefaid, tolerating even unlawful Exercifes to the number of Four, but not to more. The Second Propofition C That my Meeting§.were never Unlawfiil Conventicles] is proved. i\ I do conftantly joyn with the Church in Common Prayer^ and go at tiic begin- ning. 2. I Communicate in the Lord's Supper with the Chutch of England. 3. I am no Nonconformift in the Senfe of the Law, becaufe I Conform as far as the Law requircth me (having been in no Eeclcfiaftical Promotion, May i. 1662. tht Law rcquirctli me not to uibfcribe, declare, drc. till 1 take a Cure or Lcfture, &c. 4. I fomctimcs repeat, to the Hearers, the Sermon v.'hich I heard in the Church. 5. 1 exhort tlic People to Church-Communion, and urge tlicm with fufficicnt Ar- guments, and Preach ordinarily againft Separation, and Schifm, and Sedition, and Difloyalty. 6. I have commanded my Servant to keep my Doors (hut at the time of Publick Worfhip, that none may be in my Houfe that while. 7, 1 go into the Church from my Houfe, in the Peoples figlit, that my Example, as well as my Doftrinc, may pcrfuade them. 8. In all this, I fo far prevail, that the l*3eighbours who hear me, do commonly go to Clnirch, even to the Common- rr.iyir :, and 1 know not three, or two of all the Parifh, that ufe to come to me, who rcfufc it :, which fucccfs doth (hew, what it is 1 do. 9. 1 have long offered the Paftor of the Parifh (the Dean of W^/W/or) that if he would but tell me, that it is his judgment, that I hinder his Succcfs, or the People's Good, rather than help it, 1 will remove out of the Parifh, which he never yet hath done. 10. I liave the Now-Arch-Bifhop's Licenfc ( not rcverfcd, nor difabled) to Breach in the Diocefs of London^ which I may do by Law if I h;id a Church. And 1 offered the I")can to give over my Meetings in my Houfe, if he would permit me ro Preach (without Hire) fomctimcs occafionally in his Church, which I am not dilabltd to do. By all this it appCarcth, that any Meetings are not Unlawful Convenricles. 1 1 . And riotous they arc not, for my Houfe being ;uft before the Church Door^he Fame Perfous go out of the Qiurcl) ijuo my Houfe, and out of my Houfe into the Church : MPart III. ' Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 54 Church- fo that if one be riotous, both muftbe fo. And I perform iTO Exercife at all, contrary to the DQctrine or thePniftice of the Churchy but when the Curate readeth only in the Evenin^^ and doth not Preach or Catechize, when he hath done One part, 1 do the other which he oinittcth. 2. The Oath cannot be impofcd on mc, bccaufc I am none of the three forts of OlFenders there mentioned. Thefirft fort in the Act.lre4iich as have not Subfcri- hed. Declared, and Conformed, accordiui^ to the Act of Uniformity, and iij^Und. t J,£. I. . 54 The LIFE of the Part III yirg. T . That which the Scripture exprefly alloweth, is not contrary to the Li- turgy and Praiftice of the Church of yngl.md. But to Preach and Teach /even Mul- titudes) in Houfes (and other places) not fo Confccratcd, the Scripture exprefly alloweth : Ergo — — . The Major is proved, i . Becafife the Book of Ordination requireth, that all that are Ordained, fhall promife to Cli^ftruft the People out of the Holy Scripture, be- ing pcrfuaded that they contain fufficiently aU Doftrine required of NecelTity to Sal- vation -^ and to teach no other : And with all Faithful Diligence to banifli all Do- ftrines contrary to God's Word : And to ufe both publick and private Monitions' and Exhortations, as well to the Sick as to the whole, as need fhall require, andoc- cafion fhall be given. 2. The fame Sufficiency of the Scripture is afTerted in the 6th. Article of the Church. And Jrtick 20. bindeth us to hold. That it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing contrary to God's written Word. So Art. ^\. more. 3. The faid Scriptures are appointed by the Kubrick to be read as the Word of God hinifelf. 4. The Law of the Land declareth, That nothing fhall be taken- for Law which is contrary to the Word of God. 5. The Firfi and Second Homily fhew the fufFxiency of it, and necdTity to all Men. The Minor is proved i . from Ads 10. 20. 7, 8, & 28. lafr, & 8. 4, 25, 35. & 10, 34. & 12. 12. 2 Tim. 4. 1,2. Mat. 5. i, 2. A-Iark i. 13. & 10. i. Luke 5. 3. & 13. 25. 2. From thofe Texts which command Chriflr's Minifters to Preach, and not forbear : Therefore if they be forbidden to Preach in the Temples, they mufb do itelfewhcre. Johmi. 15, 1 5, 17. i Cor. 9. 16. Aits ^. 18, 19,20.2 Tim, 4. I, 2. Luke 9. 62. » 3. From the Expofitory Praftiee of the llniverfal Church in all Ages. 4. From the Expofitory Praftice of the Church of England, who Breached in Houfes in the time of their late Rcftraint by Cromwel. /rg. 2. The Church of Englmd bindeth Minifters to Teach both publickly and privately, in their Oi'ttination, as afore recited. 2. In the Liturgy for the Fifitatinn and Communion of the Sick, it allowrth private Exhortation, Prayer, and Sacraments. 3. The 1 3 CjnoH requireth that the Lord's Day, and other Holy-Days, be fpeat in publick and private Prayers. And the very Cmon 71. which mofl reftraintth us from Preaching, and Adminiftring the Sacrament in private Houfes, doth exprefly except Times of nccefftty, when any is fo impotent as he cannot go to Chuixh, or danger- oujly fJci, &c. 4. The inflruftirig of our Families, and Praying with them, is not difaflowed by the Church. And 1 my fclf have a Family, and Perfons impotent therein (who cannot go to Church) to Teach. y^rg. 3. The -:(5 C./w. condcnlncth every Minifter, who voluntarily reliuvquiflieth his Miniflry, and liveth as a Lay^Man : Ergo, We muft forbear no more of the Mi- nifterial Work than is forbidden us. Fvf 2. The number of Perfons prefcnt above Four, cannot be meant by this Aft, ,is that which niakcth the Religious Excrcife to be [in other manner than allowed by the Liturgy or FraU'fc of the Church.'] . * Jrg. T. Becaufe tlic m.mncr of the Fxercife, and the number of Perfons are nioji rx^rcfly dijlinguijhed : And the rcftraint of the number is exptefly affixed only to them who fhall ufe fiich unallowed manner of Religious Exercifes; not medlingat all v.'irh other?. The Words [at winch Conventicle^ &c. J do fhew the Meeting to be • before- Part 111. Reaver end Mr. Richard Baxter. 55 before defcribed by the m-rr.yier of'Excrcife'. ' Otherwife the Words would be worfe than Non-fcnfe. 2. Becaufe if tlie Words be not fo interpreted, then they muft ccndemn all our Church Mefitinjis {orhavinj, .'Aave four. As if they had laid [_ where Fivj aye met it is contrary to the Litur^ of the Church~\ which caniiit be. If it be faid, That for above Four to mett in a Houfe \s not allowed by the Chureh.^ t Anfwer ;, , I. That is a Matter which this Aft mcddleth not with, as is proved by the forcfaid diltingnifhing thz manner (fExcrafe^ from the number of Perfons. 2. Nor doth the Aft fpeak of private Houfes, or put any difference between them and Churches, but equally rcltraineth Meetings in Churches, which are for dtfjllovced Excrcifes 0] Religion. 3. Nor is it true in it felf, that the Chmxh difalloweth the number of Five in private Houfes, as is proved before. But it contrarily requireth, that at private Communions there fliall be ^Neighbours got to Communicate] and not fewer than three or two. 3 And at private Baptifms, and other occafions, the number is not limited by the Church at all. 3. Becaufe the Aft is direfted only againll feditious Seftaries, and their Conventicles. 4. Becaufe the Words of the Aft fiiew, that the Law-makers concur with the fence of the Church of England , which is no v/here fo ftrift againffc Nonconformity as in the Cmons : And in thefe Canons, w^.. 73, and 11. A Con- venticle ispurpofely and plainly defcibed to be fuch pother Meetings, Allem- blies or Congregations, than are by the Laws held and allowed, which challenge to themfelves the Name of true and lawful Churches Q Or elfe fecret Meetings of Prieltsor Minifters to confult 'upon any matter, or courfe to be taken by them, or upon their motion or direftion by any other, which may any way- tend to the impeachment, or depriving of the Doftrine of the Church of England^ov the book of Common-Prayer ,or of any pait of the Government and Difcipline] of the Church. So that where there is no fuch Confultation of M'lnifiers^nor no Ajfem- hlies that challenge to themfelves the Name of true and Lawful Churches^ diftinft from the allowed Aflemblies, there are no Conventicles in the fence of the Canons of the Church of England., which this Aft profeileth to adhere to. The fame Sence is exprell alfo in Can. i o.which defcribeth Schifraaticks : CWho- foever (hall affirm that fuch Minifters as refiife to fubfcribe to the Form and man- ner of God's Worfhipin the Church of England., "pi'c^nhed in the Communion- Book, and their Adherents may truly take unto them the Name of another Church, not eftablilhed by Law ;, and dare prefume to publifh, that this pretended Church hath long groaned under, &c. — 3 And in the 9th Ginon, where the Authors of Schifm are thus dcfcribed^ fWhofoever fhall feparatc themfelves from the Communion of Saints, as it is ap- proved by the Apoftle's Rules in the Church of England., and combine themfelves together in a new Brotherhood, accounting the Chriftians who are conformable to the Doftrine, Government, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Church of England^ to be prophane, and unmeet for them to join with in Chiiftian Profef- fion.--] Pro. 3. If our manner of Religious Exercifes did differ in fome meer degrees or Circumltanccs from' tlut which is allov/ed by the Liturgy, and Praftice of the Church , it ouglit not no be taken to be the thing condemned in this Aft. Arg. I. Otherwife the Juflicc? tiiemfelv.es, and almoft all his Majefty's Subjefts, cither are already obnoxious to the Mulfts, Imprifonments, and Baniihments, or may be they know not how foon. .'^rg. 2. And otherwife no Subjeft muft d?.re to goto Church, for fear of incur- ring Irnprifonment or Banilhmenr. The reafon of both is vifible. i. Alrapft all conformable Minifters do either by fomconjiflions of Prayers, or oiher pmts of the Liturgy, or by fome alierati- 56 The LI F E of the PartlH ons, many times do that which is diflbnant from the Liturgy, and pradlife, or Canons of the Church. I have feldom been prefent where fomewhat was not contra- ry to them. 2, Becaufe moft conformable Minifters do now Preach without Licenfes - which is contrary to the exprefs Canons of the Church. 3. Becaufe few of the King's Subjeds, or none can tell when they go to Church, but they may hear one that hath no Licenfc, or that will do fomcwliat diflbnant from the manner of the Church. Pro. 4. Preaching without Licenfe bringeth me hot Within the Penalty of the Ail. y,rg. I . Becaufe 1 have the Archbifliop's Licenfe. Arg. 2. Becaufe a Licenfe is not ncceflary for Family Inftrudion. -^g- 3- Becaufe elfe mod of the Conformifts would be as much obnoxious, which is nor. fo judged by the Bifhops themfclves. § 124. (3.)T^ff Errors of the Mimmas^ with the explication of the Oxford J{f. fHis Act containeth, I. The end and Occajlm y that is, the preferving of Church and Kingdom, from the Danger of jDoifonous Principles, IL The Defcription of the dangerous Perfoni. i . in the Preamble : Where they are i. Nonconfurmifts^ or fuch as have not fubfaibcd and declared according to the Act of Uniformity, and other fubfequent Afts. 2. They, or fome of them, and other Perfons not ordained, according to the Form of the Church of Eng- land, who have fince the Aft of Oblivion preached in Unlawful Aflemblies, and liave fettled themfelves in Corporations. 2. in the Body of the Aft, where are two parts anlwering the two aforefaid in the Preamble, i . The firfl: Subjeft defcribed is, Non-fuhfcrtbers, and Non-declarers^ according to the Aft of Uniformity, ire. That is, Non-conformifts ; who alfo have not taken the Oath, (which is here prefcribed as a preventing Remedy. 2. The fc- cond Subjeft is C AH fuch PedbnsasyZ;^// Preach in unlawful Meetings, contrary to Laws, which muft needs refer to the fecond branch of the Preamble, and mean only Cf"ch Nrmccyiformifls, and umrdained Perfons as flhttt fo Preach-^ the Word {_fh.tll'\ fignifying that it muft be after the paffidg of xXvvi Jd. ITT. The Offence prohibited h being, or coming after March 24. 1665. within five A'j'iles of my Corporation, or of any place, where Jince the A^ of Obli'vion, they have been Farfons, Vicars, I edurers, &c. Or have preached in an nnlawful Jffctnhly, contrary to the Lares, before they have in open Sejfwns taken the Oath. That is, who have done this iince the Aft of Oblivion before this Aft (it being the purpofc of this Aft to put all thofe who rtiall again after this Aft preach in Conventicles, in the lame Cafe with them, who fince the ylil of Oblivion were Parfons, Vicars, (s'c. That is, that none of them fliall come within five miles of any place where they were twhzv Incumbents, or Convent icier s, bt fore this j4ii fince the uB of Oblivion, IV. The Penalty is, i. 40 I. for what is pajl , (which the after taking of the Oath will not favc them from. ) 2. And fix tnonths Jmprifonment alfo for fuch of them as fhall not Swear, and fubfcribe the Oath and Declaration offered them. So that in this Aft the Offence it felf prohibited is Coming within five miles, &c. But the qualification of the fubject offtnding ^ is abfolutcly necejjary to it. So ih-dt the Mittimus for an offence againft this Aft, muft fignifie. That A''. N. liaving not fubfcribed and declared, according to the Afts of Uniformity, and o- ther fubfequent Afts , pr b«ing uot ordaiacd atcordijig to the Form ot the Cliurch of E>tgknd PartlXL Reverend Mr. KidnrA Baxter. 57 England, and having Unce the Aft of Oblivion preached- in an unlawful AHem- bly: and alto hath fo preached fince this Aft •, and hath not taken. the- ''Oath here required, is proved by Oath to us to have been, or come fince Mai-. 24. 1665. Within five Miles of a Corporation, or a place where he was aa incum- bent, or preached in a Conventicle^ before this Aft fince the Act of Oblivion j and alfo' hath refufed before' us tofwear and fubfcribe the' faid' Oath, &c. Now iii this Mittimus, i . Here is no mention that R. B. h.itb not fubfcrihcd and ■declared already according to the ^ct of Uniformity -^ or is ^ . Non-conformijt -' 'nor ■yet that he is not ordained- accordirtg to the Form of the Church of •Eyi<^- land. ■'''•■■'■■ - :';-.../' r' .;. .! ;:;,);.; .:■'■.. • •-■'"• ■ 2. Nor is there any mention that he hath preached in an unlawful Afletribly fnce the A:t of Oblivion ;' mitdi lefs , /i«ce thisj4ct. fwhich muft be faid)--^- •- 3. Nor that ever they had proof of his not takmg the 'Oath before ,fet- ihat ever he was Convift of Preaching before he took it. ' "■ ' -''^ •? 4. The Offence itfelf is not here faid to be proved by Oath at all, wx..C64tffig or being within five Miles, &c. But another thing, w';^. his Preaching in an iin- iawful Meeting, is faid to be proved by Oath, which this Act doth not' enafcle them to take fuch proof of As for the Word in the Aiittimus , \_ wherS ' he ' now dwelkth 3^ it cannot be underftood as a part of Depofition. i . Becaufe it js exprefled but' as the Juftice's Aflertion, and not fo much as an \iand~\ or Conjunftion 'put be- fore it to fhew that they had Oath made of it, as well as of Preaching., ^ •• 2. Becaufe the Word [now dwellethj muft be takcn/r/c^/)''or /^rjc/y ; \i ftrictly it referreth but to the time of the Writing of the Mittitmis , which was twf'o days after the Conftable's Warrant ^ and no Accufer, Witnefs, or other Perfbn was fufFeredto be prefent ; and therefore it muft needs be biit the Juftice's own' Words, or Aflertion, without proof. Or if Q novo dvcelleth~\ be taken laxly for a diftant time ; then note, that here is not any mention of Proof that there was any juft or cOnfiderable diftance between his [Preaching'} and his [^dwelling here'] but he might go away the next hour after his Preaching, notwitftanding any thing here mentioned. For any Man that Preacheth, is in the place where he Preacheth while he Preacheth ; and 'if he go av/ay the next hour, it muft be confidered in what time he can go five Miles; But if [norp'} be taken for the Wit- nelTes Words, here is no intimation of the leaft diftance. And none can unagine that the Law meaneth that the Preacher Ihall be five Miles off the next Mi- nute, or Hour. And indeed, feeing no Man can tell how many hours muft be al- lowed it is plain that the Aft meaneth that the Pcrfon muft be firft Ic^^ally Con- vict of Preaching in an unlawful Aflembly fand alfo of not having conformed or taken the Oath) before the Oath is made of his not removing five Miles, 3. This Ac^, not at all enabling the Juftices to take Oath about the Conven- ticles ; but only about Qnot coming within five Miles] and there being but one De- pofition mentioned [where he now dwellech] being a very part of that one Tefti- mony, if it be not the Juftice's own Words ^ it foUoweth that this Oath muft be made before the Aft againft Conventicles was expired; becaufe no other Aft cuableth them to take fuch an Oath : And then the [mm dwelkth'} will fignifie long ago, without any notified diftance from his Preaching. '"■:"■:,/' ' ' , 4. If [where he now dwelletif] be part of the Depofition, then fo muff the fol- lowing \N otds [not having take}i and fitbfcribed the Oath,) which Charity forbiddcth 11^ to believe that they fvvore, feeing I was never accufed of it, and it's not pof- fible that they, or any Man living Ihould know that 1 have not taken it hereto- fore! 5. Here is no Oath that Richard Baxter Preached in a Conventicle bdFore this Aft, whicli is to be proved as well as that he did it after. The great difficulty in this Aft is, whether the general Words [all fuch Perfons as (hall take on them to Preach} be not to be taken as expounded in the Preamble limited to Non-conformifts, and the ttn-ordained, as aforc&id. And it's plain, tWk it's not to be extended to Conformifts. i . Becaufe the Law doth not difhonour them fo far as to fufpeft them of poifonous Principles. 2. Elfe what ruin would it make in the Church, when every Paftor muft no more come within five Miles of his Charge f no not the dignified Clergy) if any Enemy ftiall fecretly fwcar that tkeyoncc preached in an unlawful Aflembly. 3. All the Conformable Clergy, Hhhh jw<* 58 Part III. and their Council are of this mind : For none of them take this Oath at the Sefllons ; and therefore none of them think they arc bound to take it. Note it is to be taken tmoffcred % and that on the Pcnalt y of 40 /. if they come within nvc Miles of their Charge, though they were never fo willing to take it after. Objeilion i . The Conformifts need it not, becaufe they keep no Conventicles, ^nfw. J. They are commanded many private Meetings, as private Vifitations of the Sick, Baptifms, Communions, Perambulations in the Roj^ation-W'eek ( whea they ufe in Houies by the way to fpend the time in Pious Inftruftions, Prayers, &c.') And many of them repeat their Sermons in their Houfes, which is as much Preaching as any thing 1 have ever done. 2. And there aie few publick Aflerablics, where fome-what is not done contrary to the Liturgy, by OmilTions, &c. 3. And every Man hath fome Enemy, who may Swear that thefe are unlawful Af- femblies. 'Ofij. 2. The Conformifts have already Subfcribed. u^nfw. I . That proveth that this Acl intend cth thera not, (and therefore not mf , who Conform as far as any Law rcquireth me.) 2. It is one tiling to [_py I am of Opinion'} and another thing to H Swear that fo it ur\ 3. I may fay that [^the Covenant hindeth me not to endeavour any yiltcrationof Church-Government'^ ealilier than Swear [^Tbat I will never at any time tndtavour »>] \vhen we once already fo far endeavoured it by Command, 1 660. as J-fa Alajejly's Gracious Declaration about Ecclef Jjfairs exprejjeth-^ even while contrary Laws were in force. § 12.5. While I flayed in Prifon, I faw fome-what to blame my felf for, and fcme-wliat to wonder at others for, and fome-what to advife my Vifitors about. 1. 1 blamed my Self that I was no more fenjibk of the Spiritual part of my Af- flidtion, fuch as was the interruption of my Work, and the poor People from whom I was removed, and the advantage Satan had got againft them, and the lofs of my own publick Liberty, for worlhipping in the AlTcmbliesof his Servants. 2. 1 marvelled at fome who fuffered no more, than I, (as Mr. Rutherford^ whea he was confmcd to Aberdeen) that their Sufferings occafioned them fo great Joys as they cxprcfs ! which fure was from the Free Grace of God, to encourage others by their Exranples, and not that their own Impatience made them need it much more than at other times. For furely fo fmall a Suffering necdeth not a quarter of the Patience, as many poor Nonconformable Minifters (and Thoufands others) need, that arc at liberty ^ whofc own Houfes, through Poverty, are made far worfe to them, than my Prifon was to mc. 3. To my Vilitors I found Rcafon, i. To intreat my ^^OK-Neigliboun, not to let their Palhon againft their Parfon, on my account, hinder them from a due regard to his Doctrine, nor from any of the Duty which they owed him. 2. To blame forne who aggravated my Sufferings, and to tell them. That I had no mind to fancy my felf hurt before 1 felt it : I cfcd at home to confine my felf volun- tarily almofl as much .• I had ten-fold more publick a Life here, and converfe with my Friends, than I had at home : If 1 had been to take Lodgings at London for fix Months, and had not known that this had been a Prifon, and had knock'dat the Door and ask'd for Rooms, I fhould as foon have taken this which I was put into, as moft in Town (fave only for the Interruption of my lleep : ) That it fhcweth great wcakncfs to magnifie a fmall Suffering, and much worfcto magnificour fclves and our own Patience, for bearing fo fmall a thing ^ ( tlwn which moll ix)or Men ia ^tmland bear more every Day.) I found Caufc to dcfire my Brethren, that when they fuffered, they would remem- ber that the dcfica of S-.itnn v.as more againft their Souls than their Bodies : and that it was not the Icafl of his hopes to dcitroy their Love, which wcs due to thcfe by whom they fuffered, and todifhonour Superiours, and by aggravating our Suf- ferings, to render them odious to the People : A$ alfQ to make us take fuch a poor Suffeiujg Part III. Reverend Mr. ii'idiard Baxter. 59 Suffering as t!,i;, for a figu of true Grace, inftead of Faitli, Hope, Love, Mortifi- cation, and a Heavenly Mind ^ and that tire lofs of one Grain of Lave, was worfe tlnan a' long Imprifonment : And that it much more concerned us, to be f>n-e iha.p we deferved not Suffering, than that we be delivered from it, and to fee that we wronged not our Superiours, than that they wrong not us ; feeing wc are not near fo much hurt by their Severities, as we are by our Sins. Some told me, that they hoped this would make me ftand a little further from the Prelates and their Wor- {hip than I had done. To whom 1 anfwercd, That I wondred that they ihould think that a Prifon fhould change my Judgment : I rather thought now it was my Duty to fct a If rider watch upon my Paffions, left they fhould pervert my Judg- ment, and carry me into Extreams, in oppofition to my Atfiiclors. (And not paft a Year and half after, two Gentlemen turned Quakers in Prifon.) If PalTion made me lofe my Love, or my Religion, the lofs would be my own. And Truth did not change, bccaufq I v,'as in a Goal.The temper of my Vifitors called me much to this kind of talk. , ^ ,, ^ ■ , § 1 26. When 1 was in Prifon, the Lord Chief Baron, at the Table at Serjeant i Inn^ before the reft of the Judges, gave fuch a Charaaerofme openly, without fear of any Man's difpleaflire, as is not fit for me to own, or recite, v^'ho wasfo much reverenced by the reft ( who were- every one Strangers to me fave by hear- ty) that 1 believe it much fettled their Reiblutions. The Lord Chief Juftice Faughan was no Friend to Nonconformity, or Puritans, but lie had been one oiSel- den\ Excaitors, and lb Judge H.ik'''. old Acquaintance : Judge Tyrell was a wcll- afFec^ed foberMan, and Serjeant FoKKt^m's Brother-in-Law by Marriage, and fomc- time his Fellow-CommifFioner for keeping the Great Seal and Chancery : Judge Archer was one that privately favoured Religious People : And Judge Wtld^ though greatly for the Prelates way, yet (was noted for ; a Righteous Man. And thefe were the Four Judges of the Court. § 1 27. My Habeas Corpus being demanded at the Common Pleas^ was granted, and a Day appointed for my Appearance : But when I Came, the Judges, I believe, having not before ftudiedthe Oxford-AQ:^ when Judge IffW hadfirftfaid [l hope you vail not ufc to trouble this Couf t with fuch Caufes,3 asked whether the King's Council had been acquainted with the Cafe, and feentheOrder of the Court : which being denied, I was remanded back to Prifon, and a new Day fet : They fufFered me not to ftand at the Bar ^ but called me up on the Table (which was an v.nufual refpccl-) and they fent me not to the F/fcf, asisufual, but to the fame Prifon, which was a greater favour. • § 1 28. When 1 came next, the Lord Chief Juftice coming towards Wejltninftei HaJl^ went into White-Hall by the way, which caufed much talk among the People. When he came, Judge Wild began, and having fhewed tliat he was no Friend to" Conventicles, opened the Act, and then opened many defauUs n\X\\t Aiittimm^ for which he pronounced it invalid •, but in Civility to the Juftices faid, that the Aft was fo Penned, that it w^as a very hard thing to draw up a Mittimm by it (wfiich was no Co'npliment to the Parliament.) Judge Archer next fpake largely againft the Afittitnuf, without any word of difparagement to the main Caufe : And fo did Judge Tyrell after him ( I will not be fo tedious as to recite their Arguments :) Judge r^j^km concluded iti the famcmahnejr, but with thefe two Singularities above the reft. 1. That he made it an Error in the Mittimus^ that the WitneUes were not named :, feeing that ( the Oxford-kO. giviag the Juftices fo great a power; if the Witnctics be unknown, any innocent Perfon may be laid in Prifon, and fhall never ■know where, or againft whom to feck remedy (which was a Matter of great mo- ment.) , , , , 2: When he had done with theCaufe, he made a Speech to the People, and told them, That by the appearance, he perceived that this was a Caufe of as great Ex- pedation as had been before them, and it being ufual with People to carry away things by the halves, and their ihifrepol-ts might miflead others, he therefore ac- •quainted them, That though he uild'ef ftood that Mr. Baxter was a Man of great Learning, and of a good Life, f± he having this fingularity, the Law was againft Conventicles, and it was only upi)h the Error of the Warrant that he was releafed • "and that they ufe in their Charge at AfTizes to enrjijire after Conventicles, and they arc a'-^ain'!: the l/m • fo that^if they that made the 'iJ/;Uw«!w had but known how H ft B K i- ■ ""to 6o The LI F E of the Part HI to make it, they could not have delivered him, nor can do it for him on any that {hall fo tranfyefs the Lawf. This was fiippofcd to be that which was refolved on,at White- HaU by the way. But he had never heard vi/hat I had to fay in the main Caufe, to prove my felf no TranC- grelTor of i!ic Law : Nor did he at all tell tliem how to know, what a Conventicle is which the Common Law is lb much againft. § 1 29. Being difcharr^ed of my Imprifonmcnt, my Sufferings began ; for I had there better Health, than I had of a long time before or after ;, I had now more exafperated the Authors of my Imprifonment • I was not at all acquit as to the main Caufc ;, they might amend their AJittimm^ and lay me in again : 1 knew no way how to bring my main Caufc fwhether they iiad power to put the Oxford-Osxh on me) "to a legal Tryal_: And my CounfcUors advifed me not to do it, much lefs to queftion the juflices for falfe hnprifonment, left' I were born down by power. I had now a great Houfe of great Rent en my Hands, which I mull not come to: i had noHoufe to dwell in ^ I knew not what to do with all my Goods and Family -^ I mull: go out oi Middkfex-^ I mufl not come within live Miles of City, Corporation, &c. where to find fuch a place, and therein a Houfe, and how to remove my Go'ods thither ; and what to do with my Houfe the while, till my time expired, were more trouble than my quiet Frifon by far ^ and the Confcquents yet worfe. § 1 30. Gratitude commandeth me to tell liie World who were my Benefadors in my Imprifonment, and Calumny as jnuch obligcth me,, becaufe it is faid among fomc, that I was enriched by it • Serjeant Fountain''^, general Counfel ruled me ■ Mr. Wallop, and Mr. OjfiCy fent me their Counfel, and would take nothing. Of four Serjeants that pleaded itiy Caufc, two of them, Serjeant Windham (afterwards Ba- ron of the Exchequer) and Serjeant Sifc, would take nothing. Sir John Bernard (a Perfori that I never faw but once) fent me no lefs than Twenty Pieces ; and the Countefs oi Exeter Ten Pound ; And Alderman Bard Five ;, and I received no more - V but I confefs more was offered me, which I refiifed ; and more v^ould have been' but that they knew I needed it not. And this much defrayed mv Law and Prifon Charges. , § 131. When the fam.e Juftices faw that I was thus difcharged, they were not fatisfied to have driven me from JRon, but they make a new Mittimus, by Counfel. as for the fame (fuppofed) Fault, naming the Fourth oijme as the Day en which I preached, and yet not naming any Witnefs ( when the Ad againft Conventicles was expired loiig before. ) And this Mittimm they put into an Officer's hands in London, to bring me not to Ckrkenmtt, but among the Thic\es and Murderers, to the common Jail at Neirgate, which was fince the Fire (which burnt down all' the better Rooms) the molfc noifom place that I have heard of (except the Tower Dun- georl) of any Prifon.-ln the Land. § 132. The jiext Habitation which God's Providence chofe for me, wasatTo^ fmaVr, near Barnet, where for a Year, I was fain, with part of my Family fcpara- tedfrom the reft, to take a few mean Rooms, which were fo extreamly fmoaky and the phce wjthal fo cold, that 1 fpcnt the jr/wfcr in great pain: one quarter' of a Year by a fore Sciatica, and feldom free from fuch Anguifh. § 133. It wo".ld trouble the Beader for me to reckon up the mmy Difeafes, and Dangers for thcfe ten Years paft, in, or from which, God hath delivered me 1 tliough It be my Duty not to forget to be thankful, SeTcu Months together I was lame, with a ftrange Pain in one Foot, Twice delivered from a Bloody Flux • a ' fpunous Gitaradt in my Eye (with incelTant Webs and Net-works before it) hath continued thdc eight Years, without difabling me one Hour from Reading or Wri- ting: I have hadconflant Pams and Languors, with inaedible Flatulency in Sto- °^'' >,5>'!";^^'''-^^'^'^'' B*V^^',^*^«^^' f^*^' ""'"^ K'cjft^ ^ut worft of all, either painhil Diftcntions, or ufually vertiginous or IlupifyingConquefls of ray Brain, fo that I have rarely one Hour's, or quarter of an Hour's cafe. Yet, through God's Mercy, I was never one Hour Melancholy, and not many Hours in a Week difabled "^Hj>' ,'" '^^ ^^''K fave that I loft time in the Morning, for want of being able tff rife early: And lately, an Ulcer in my Throat, with a Tumour, of near half a Yearns continunucc, is healed v.idiout any me ins. In ail which I have fou«d fuch mcrcifu! Difiwfals of God, fuch luitable Chaflifemcnts for my Sin, fuch plain An- swers of Prayer, as leave mc unexcufabje if they do me not good. Belides many fud- dcn and acuter Sickncflcs, which God Imh delivered rac ^ora, not here to Le num- bred : Part 111. Ke^verend Mr. R ichard Baxter. 6 1 4 —__—————— — ■ . : "* bred ^ his ii\)holdin2, Mercy imder fuch continued weaknclTes, with tolerable, and fel- dom difabling Faias, hath been unvaluable. § 154. 1 am next to give fome Ihort account of my Writings fince 1665. i. A fmall MS. lyeih by me, which I wrote in Anfwer to a Paper which Mr, Caryl of 5«//'ex fcnt me, written by CrcUy (called now Seremis) about Popery. § T 3 V 2- ^l''- ^-'f" of Hamldm^ Miniftcr, fending me the Copy of a Popifh Let- ter^ as fpread about Oxford^ under tiie Mask of one doubting of Chriftianity, and calling; the Scholars to a Trial of their Faith, in Principles, did by the Juggling Fraud, and the (lighcnefs of it, provoke me to write my book called, Ik Reaibns of the Chrijliaii Religion. And the Philofophy of Gajfcndus^ and many more bcfides the Hobbians, now prevailing, and inclining men to Sadducifm, induced me to write the Jppendix to it, about the I amortaltty of the Soul. § I 36. 3. Oft Conference with the Lord Chief Baroii Hale., put thofc Cafes into my mind, which occalioned the writing of another fliort Piece, of the Nature and Immortality of the Soul, by. way of Qiicltion and Anfwer f not printed. J § 137. 4. The great Weaknellcs, and Paffions, and Injudicioufnefs of many Reli- gious Perfons, and the ill etfeLts ^ and cfpccially perceiving that the Temptations of the Times,, yea the very Repi'oofs of the Conformifts, did but increafe them among the feparating party, caufed me to offer a book to be Licenfed, called, DireBions to weak Chri (linns how to grow in £r ace ^ with a fecond part, being Sixty Charadcn of a ~Sound Chrifiiatt., with as many of the iVtai Chrijlian and the Hyyocrttc:, Which 1 the rather writ to imprint on men's minds a right apprehenfion of Chriftianity, and to be as aConfeffion of our Judgment in this malignant Age, when fome Conformifts would make the World believe, that it is fome menftruov.s thing compofed of Folly and Sedition , which the Nonconformifts mean by a Chr'iftian and a Godly Man. This Book came forth when I was in Prifon, being long before refnfed by Mr. Grigg. § 138. 5. A Criflian Dire^ory^ orSumm of Ptadical Divinity in Folio, hath lain finiftied by me, many years ^ (and fince twice printed. § 1 39. 6.My Boqkfeller defiring fome Additions to my Sermon before the King, 1 added a large Direftory of the whole Life of Faith^ which is its Title, which is pub- liflied. § 1 40. 7. Abundance of Wojmen firft, and Men next growing at London^ into fc- l)arating l^rinciple> ; Some thinking that it was fin to hear a Conformift ; and more, 'That it is a fin to pray according to the Common Prayer with them ^ and yet more. That it is a fin to Communicate with them in the Saaainent : And the Con- formifts abominuiing their Houfc-Meetings as Schifmatical - and their Diftance and PaiTions daily increaling, even among many, to earneft delires of each other's Ruine,l thougHt it my Duty to add another part to my book of DireiHons to weak Chrijliansy being Pireiiions w hat courfe they mult take to avoid hein^ Divide-rs., or troublers of the Churches : The rather becaufe I knew what the Papiits and Infidels would gain by bur Divifions, and of how great neccffity it is againft them both, that the honclt mo- derate part of the Conformifts, and the Nonconformifts, be reconciledj or at Icaft grow not into mortal Enmity againft each other. This Book was offered to Mr. Sam. Parker., the Archbiiyop's Chaplain to be Licenfed, but he refnfcd it •, apd fo i purpofcd tocaft it by : But near two years after, Mr. Grovc^ the BiOiop of London's Chaplain (without whom 1 could have had nothing of mine Licenfed, I think) did Li • cenfc it, and it was publilhcd ^ of which more anon. §141. 8. Al;)0ut this time I heard Dr. Owen talked very yieldingly , of a Concord between the Independents and Presbyta-ians (which all feemed willing of.) I had before, about 1 6 58. written fomevi^hat in order to Reconciliation ^ and I did (by the invitation of his Speeches) offer it to Mr. 6V0. Griffiths to be confidered : And near a twelve-month after he gave it rtic again, without taking notice of any thing in it. I now rcfolved to try once more with-Dr. Owen : And though all our buUnels with each other had been contiadidlion-, I thought it my Duty without any thoughts of for- mer things, to go to him, and be a Seeker of Peace : which he feemed to take well, and cxpreficd great delires of Concord, and alio many moderate Conceflions, and how heartily he would concur in aav thing that tended to . a good agreement. I told him. That 1 muft deal freely uitq him", that when 1 thought of what he had donefor- nierly, I was much afraid left one that had been fo great a breaker, would not be made an Inftnjmeht in hcalijig : But in other Rcfpeds I thought him the fitteft man in Eng- litmUtr thii Work^ paVUy bccaufe he could underftand the Cafe, and partly, becaufe 63 J be L i F.E oj the Fart III his Expei-ieuce of the Hiimours of Men, and of the niif.hicfiof dividing Principles and Piactifcs, had been fo very great , that if Experience fhoiiJd njake any man wife, and fit for an healing Work, it Ihouldbe him: And that a book which lie had lately written (a Catechifm for Independencyjoffenfive to others, was my chief Motive to make this Motion to him ; becaufe he there giveth up two of the worlt of the Prin- ciples of popularity •, acknowledging, 1 . That the People have not the Power of the Keys. 2. That they give not the Power of the Keys, or their Office-Power to the Paftors. I told him that I had before this driven on an Agreement between the Preriy mans and Indcfmdents^ in another manner,- but that I plainly Taw, that while the Lord Chancellor, and fuch others, were ftill talking of Plots and Confpiracies, they would be fo jealous of our Union, that they would give out, that we were ftrengthenin:' our feives by it, as a Confederacy againft the King -^ and it would have tended to the fudden increafe of our Suffering. He anfwered me, That for his pait, he thought the Work fo neeeflary, that he would trufl: God, and over-look fuch dingers. I told him, That the danger being fo vifible. Prudence in the management of the W-ork was our Duty, though not carnal Policy to defert it. The great difficulty had always been to find out the Terms on which we muft be United, if ever it be done : This was it wh.ich could not be done in the AfTenibly at Wfjiminfttr^ nor in all the Years of our Liberty and Difference ever fince. And this is a thing which a few Hands may difpatch, much better than many. I told him therefore, that my Opinion was. That he and 1 only (hpuld firft try whether we could come to Agree- ment in Principles ^ and that none living might know of our Attempt till it was fini- nifhed ^ that if we could not agree, the notice of our Failing might not be a hindrance toothers, nor a reproach to our feives j but if we did agree, it were eafie to make ufe of the Terms agi-eed on, when ever Pnidence fliould tell us it was conducible to our Ends ^ and to get two or three of a fide to Subfcribe it firll, till it were fit to make it publick for the ufe of more. This much we agreed on, and our next Qiieftion was of the method. I told him that as to the pofitive Terms of Concord, I thought that thofe Effmtials of Religion and Communion^ .which are the Terms that all Chrillians muft agree in, mull be ours-, and that we had not any new Terms to devife -, but only fome new Means to bring us to confent to Communion upon thofe Terms. To which end I thought it would be a good way to draw up a Writing, containing all the Points of Difciplinc, which the two Parties are really agreed in fgreat and fmall,) that while the World teeth the extent of their Agreement, the few things which they differ in may fcem fo feiall, among all thofe, and uot to be fufficient to hinder their Communion. He approved of the Motion, and defired him to draw it up; which when he put off, I delired that each of us mie^ht bring in a Draught ^ but he would needs caft it on me alone. ; A' When 1 had drawn up abundance oiThefes as the Matter of our commoii Concord, and left them with him, the next time 1 came to him, he commended the thing, but faid, that they were too many, and I could do it in a nanowcr room. I per- ceived by this, that his Thoughts were, that many that were among them, would not eraot all thofe Points, and fo it muft be wider yet. I told hi'm, that if he chan- ged the Delign, we muft change the Weans : If he thought it the better way to draw up only thofe Points which are neccflary to our Agreement, then we mv.il do it in as narrow a compafs as may be ^ which being determined of, I urged him again in vain to do if: but he caft it upon mc, and I brought him fpeedily a Draught of fo many of the things which both freshyurians and Independents are agreed in, as are ne- fc^fl-ny to their Praftical Concord and Communion, with refpcd to tlie things in which they arc, or fcem difapreed. When he had kept them a few Weeks, 1 wait- ed on him again and arain •, and he told mc, that it was the faii-^ft Offer, and the likelicll Means, tliat ever he yet faw ^ and lie favv nothing yet bi.t that it might well conduce to the End intended. I delired him to give me his Animadverlions, i. Of all that he took to be talfc or unfound in it. 2. Of all that he thought the two Parties were not ocrced in. 3. Of all that he tf ought, inconvenient and unapt to the End in- tended. 4. Of all that he thought unneccflary : which he c^.n 'c.ited to, and Ihortly after lent mc tills Letter ;%\hich intimateth his purpcfc of coming to me, becaufe I invited him to take the C^untl7 Air with me, in a Cold that he had, &{.) Part IIL Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 63 § 142. S ! R, 'T' // £ continuance of nty Cold, tchich yet holds: me^ mth the feverity of the Weather* have hitherto hindrcd me from itnfwcring my purpofe of coming unto you at Afton •" but yet I hope ere long to obtain the advantage of enjoying your Company there for a Sea/on- In the mean time Irtturnyou my Thanh for the Co'tanunication of your Papers-, andjha^ on every occafion nianifefi, that you have no cccafion to qu-Jlion, rrhcther I were in earneft in -what I propofed, in reference to the Concord you deftgn. For the dtftre of it w continually upon my Heart, and to exprcfs that defire on all occafion, I efteem one part of that Pro- fejfwn of the Gofpel which J am called unto. Could I contribute any thing towards the Ac- complijhment offo holy, fo nccejfary a Work, I fhould willingly fpend myfelf, and be fpent in ft. For what you deftgn concerning your prefent Effay, I like it very well, both upon the Rcafons you mention in your Letter, as alfo that all thofe who tnay be willing and defi- roiu to promote fo hltffed a Worh, may have Copies by them to prepare their Thoughts in re- ference to the whole. For the prefent, upon the Liberty granted in your Letter ( if I remember it aright ) J /hall tender you a few Queries •, which if they are ufelefs or needlefs, deal with them aC' cordingly. Js I. Are not the Sever als propofed or infifted on, too jnany fur this firji Attempt ? The gener.1l Heads I conceive are not ; but under them, very m.my Particulars are not only included, which if unavoidable, but expreffed alfo, which may too much dilate the ori- ginal Conjideration of the whole. 2. Tou exprefly exclude the Papifts, who will alfo fure enough exclude themfelves and do, from any fuch Agreement .- But have you done the fume ai to the Socinians who are tmrnerous, and ready to include themfelves upon our Communion ? The Creed, ai expoun- ded in the Four firji Couniils nill do it. 3. iVhethtr fome Exprejfions fuited to prevent future Divifions and Separations after a Concord is obt.vned, may not at prefent, to .nvoid all exafperation, be omitted, asfeeming refieiiive on former Aiiings, when there was no fuch Agreement among us, a^ is now aimed at ? 4. Whether infijling in particular, on the power of the Magifirate, efpecially as under Civil Cocrcition and Punjhment, in cafes of Error- or Herefie, be nccejfary in this firji At- tempt ? Thefe Generals occurred to my Thoughts, upon my firfl reading of your Fropofals. I will now read them again, and fet down, as I pafs on, fuch apprehenfions in particidar as I h.ive of the Sever als of them. To the fir ft Anfrer, under the fir ft Que ft ion, J affent; fo alfo to the fir ft Fropofil, and the Explanation : Likcwlfe to the fccond and third. I thought to have proceeded thus through- out; but I fore -fee my fo doing would be tediom and ufelefs ; J fhaU therefore mention only what at prcfin ' may fern to require fecond Thoughts. As, 1. To Propof. 9. by thofe Inftances dwhat Words to ufe in Preaching, in what Words to Pray, in what decent Habit^ do you intend Homilies, pnfcribed Forms of Prayer, and IJibi's fuper added to thofe of vulgar decent ufe F Prefent Controverfics will fuggeft an efpecial Scnfe under general Expreffmns. 2, Vnder Pof. 13. Do you think a Man tnay not leave a Church, and joynhimfelfto j^otber, unlcfs it be for fuch a Caufe or Reafon, ashe fuppofeth fufficiivt to deftroy the Be- tng of the Church ? I meet with this now anfmed myour i8th. Proj^.^f. and fofjjall for- bear further particular Remarks, andpafs on. Jn your Anfwer to the Second Qa. Tour loth. Pofition hath in itfome-what that will i^>nit of fur tier conftderation, as 1 think. In your Anfwer to the 3d. Qii. have you fu"^- fickntly expreffed the account ablenefs of Churches mutually, in cafe of Offence from Male- Admintftration and Church Cenfures ? Thi/s alfo I now fee in part anfwercd Prop. cth. Ifhall forbCitr to add any thing a/s -under your .- nfver to the Uft Qucftion, ahx>ut the 'power of the Magtftrate, beaufe I fear, that m that matter ofpun:p::g, 1 Jhallfome-what dilftnt from yoH; though OA to meer Coercion I floall in fome Cafes agree. Vpon the while Matter, I jud^eyour P-ropofds worthy'^of great Conftderation, x-id the . tiioft proLible medium for the att-iming of the End aimed at, that yet I have perv.ftd. If Cod give not an Heart and Mind to dcftre Peace and "Jnim, every Exprtjfwn will be dtf- futed, under pretence of Truth and Accui-acy : But if thtfe things have a pUce in m an- fitrabU t» thtit whish tky enjoy in tk- (Jofpel, J fee no reafon wly all the true Dtfiitles of Chriji 64 J he L lFEojtbe_ """ Part Chrift might not upon thefe^ and the like Principles^ condefccnd in Love unto the Fraffi ^^l Concord and yigreetnent^ which not one of them dare deny to be their Duty to Aim ^K Sir^ I {hall Pray that the Lord would guide and profper you in all Studies and End'j.:vours^ for the Service ofChriJl in the World, efpecially in thvs your Defer e and Study for the In- troducing of the Peace and Lwe promifed amongfl them that Believe, and do beg your Prayers. Your truly afreftionate Brother, 5^*??. 25. 1 568. And unworthy Fellow -Servant, Jchn Owen. § 143. For the Underftanding of this,' you mult knciw. i. That the way which we came to at laft, for the publication of the Term's, if he and I had agreed fecretly, fiiould be. That as 1 had Printed fuch a thing called Vniverfal Concord^ \66o. which was neglected, fo I would Print this as the Second Part of the Vniverfal Concord, that it might lye forae time expofed to view in the Shops, before we made any further ufc of it, that fo the State might not fufped us for our Union, as if we intended them any ill by doing our Duty : which courfe he approved. 2. That I oft went to him, and he had written this Letter ready to fend me, and fo gave it me into my hand ; but we firft debated many things in prefence, in all which there remained no apparent Diiagreement at all, fo far as we went : And in particular, the^reat Point about feparating in the Cafes enumerated, heobjcfted no more but what I anfwered, and he feemed to acquiefce. 3. But I fo much feared that it would- come to nothing, that I ventured to tell him what a difficulty I feared it wonld be to him to go openly and folly according to his own Judgment, when the Repu- tation of former Actions, and prefent Intereft in many that Vould cenfure him, if he went not' after their narrowed judgment, did lye in his way, and that I feared thefe Temptations more than his Ability and Judgment. But he profcfFcd foil Re- folutions to follow the Bufmefs heartily and unbyalfedly, and that no Intereft Ihould move him. And fo I defired him to go over m.y Propofals again, and faften upon every 'Word that was either unfound, or huixfol, or unapt, or unneceiTary, and every fuch Word fhould be altei'ed : which he undertook to do ; and fo that was the way that wc agreed on : but when I came home, I firft returned him this fol- lowing Anfwer to his Letter and Exceptions. Feb. 16. \66Z. S I R^ UPon the perufal of Youi-s when I came home, I find your Exceptions to be moft- ly the fame which you fpeak j and therefore fliall be the briefer in my Anfwer, upon Suppofition of what was faid. To your Firft Qu. I anfwer, I am as much for Brevity as you can poffibly wi(h : fo be It our Agreement be not thereby fruftrated, and made infui^cient to its ends. I would defne you to look over all the Particulars, and name me not only every one that you think unfound, but every one which you judge u-.yrofitabk or needle fs. But if wt; leave out that which moft, or tna>:y will rtcjuire, and r.cne have any thing againft, it will but ftop our Work, and make Men judge of it, as you did of the want of a longer ProfefDon than the Scriptures againft SuciwampK : And it will con- tradict the Title, The Jufi Terms of . grament : For our Terms will be infuffi- cieut. And as to your Words [jhe firft attempt'} my bufmefs is todifcovertheywj^«'e«t Terms at firft, that fo it may facilitate Confcnt : For if we purpofely leave out any ncedfolpart as for [_a fccon'd animpt~} we bring toKrcwi't upon our Srft Elfay ;, and before part III. Reverend Mr. liichiid Baxter. 6< before the fecond, third^. and perhaps twentieth Attempt have been ufed to bring us to Agreement, by Alterations, and crofs Humours, and Apprelicnfions, things will go as they have done, and all be pulled in pieces. Therefore we mufl: if pofllble, find out the fufiicient Terms before too many hands be ingaged in it. Your own Excejitions here fay. That if too many Explications had not afterward occur- I • red, you had been unfatished in that which went before. And you know what Mr. Nye is wont to fay againlt drawing a Hnfe over our Differences (though for my part I know no other way where wc agree not in particulars, but to take up with an Agreement in Generals.) But where indeed we do agree in Particulars, 1 know no Reafon why we fhould hide it, to make our Difference to fccm greater than ic is. 2. The Reafons, why I make no larger a Profeffion neceffary than the Creed and Scriptures^ are, becaufe if we depart from this old fiifficient Catholkk Rule^ we narrOw the Church, and depart from the old CathoHcifm : And wc Oiall never know where to reft : From the fame Reafons as you will take in Four Councils, another will take in 5/x, and another Eighty and the Pafifls will fay, Whj( not the reft, as well as thefe ? 3. Becaufe we fhould Sin againft the Churches 1 200 Years Experience, wliich hath bern torn by this Conceit, That our Rule or Profeffion muft be altered to obviate every new Herefie. As if yon could ever make a Creed or Law which no Offender fhall mil-interpret, nor hypocritically profefs. By this means the Devil may drive us to make a new Creed every Year, by Sowing the Tares of a new Herefie every Year. Hilary hath faid fo much againft this, not fparing even the Nicene Creed it felf, that I need fay no more thap he hath done upon that Argument of Experience but only that if 30 or 40 Years Experience fo much moved him againft new Creed- making, what fliould 1 200 Years do by us ? 4. And the Means will be certainly Fruitlefs, feeing that Hereticks are ufually Men of wide Confciences, and if their Intereft require it, they will Equivocate, as Men do now with Oaths and Subfcriptions, and take any Words in their own Senfe. 5. And the Means is needlefs, feeing there is another and fitter Remedy againft Herefie provided, and that is not making a new Rule or Lavo^ but judging Hereticks by the Larv of Cod already made. Either they are Hereticks only in Hearty or in Tongue alfo, and Expreflion : If in Heart only, we have nothing to do to Judge them. Hcart-Jnfidels are and will be In the Churches. If they be proved to be He- reticks in Tongue^ then it is either before they are taken into the Communion of the Church, or after. If before^ you are to ufe them as in cafe of i)roved Wickednefs • that is, call them to pcblick Repentance before they be admitted : If it be after^ they mnft be admoniflicd, and Rejected after the firft and fecond contemned Admo- nition: And is n()t this enough? And is not this the certain regular way ? Is it not co\ifuhon to put Larv for Judgment^ and fay there wants a new Law or Rule^ when there wants but a due Judgment by the Rule in being. 6. Laftly^ Wc fhall never have done with the Papijls^ if we let go the Scripture- Sufficiency. And it is a double Crime in m to do it, who Difputc with them fo ve- hemently for it. And we harden and juiti fie Church-Tyranny and Impolitions when we will do the like ourfclvcs. If there be nothing againft Socintanifm in the Scripture, it is no Herefie : If there be fas fure there is enough, and plain enough) Judge them by that Rule, and make not new ones. But if any will not hold to this truly Catholick Courfe, I ftiall next like your Mo- tion very well, to take up with.' the Creed, as Expounded in the 4 Firft Councils, ciWcdGefieral : which 1 can readily fubfcribe my felf,but it's better let them all alone, and not to be fo fond oioneonely Engine^ which hath torn the Church for about 1 200 Years. I mean departing^ from the Ancient Rule, and making aew Creeds asd Form* of Communion. I i i i Ttf 4 I'd The Ll F E of the Part To yom Third Qu. i . I fuppofe yon obferve that what 1 lay about Separ^itioif^ is not under the tfmd Head ( of the Concord of Neighbdur Churches •, but under the fecond Head of the Concord of Members in the fame particular Churches) and were you not heretofore at Agreement in your own Churches? And is it not the Duty and Jntercfi of your own Giurches to keep Unity, and that the Members fcparatc not unjuftly whether you agree with other Churches or not? 2. Either what I fay about Separation is that which we are all ( now Uniting ) agreed in, or not : If it be, it honoureth our Brethren to profcfs it, and can be no Reproach or OfTeuce to them to declare it ; If any have finned againft their own prefent Jud^ent, 1 hope they are not fo Impenitent, as to dellre us to forbear agreeing with their orni Judgments^ becaufe it is againft ihzvc former fns. And here is no Word faid Hiftorically to upbraid any with thefe Sins at all. But if we are not all agreed thus far againft Separation, I defire you to name the Terms which we agree not in, and then we (hall fee whether we iray leave them out, or whether it. render our Concord defperate and impoffible ( of which anon.) To your Fourth Qu. Tfie Jealoufjes and Errors of thefe Times do make it neceflary to our Peace, to make fome Profeflion of our Judgment about Magiftracy ^ and I think there is nothing queftionable in this. 1 am lure there is nothing but what many of the Congregational-Party do allow ; but if you come to Particulars, ' I (hall confider of them again. The particular Exceptions which you Obliterate not your felves are but thefe. t . To Qu. Prep. p. Whether I mean prefp-ibed Forms^ and Homilies^ and Habits^ by the Terpis [what Words to ufein Preaching and Prayer^ &c.3 ^nfrv. That which 1 fay as plain as I can is, i. That a determination of fuch Circuniftances is not a fmful Addition to God's Word, nor will allow the People therefore to avoid the Churches Comniunion. 2. That it belongs to the Paftor's Office to determine them (what Words he fhall Preach and Pray in, (re.) Therefore you have no caufetoask my meaning about impofing upon him^ but only whether he may fo far impofe upon the flock^ as to ufe his own Words in Preachings Prayer^ &c. 3. That yet if the Paftor deterniinc thefe Circumftances dejlruiii-vely^ the People have their Remedy. And is not this enough ? Why muft I tell you whether you may read a Sermon (or Homi- ly) of your own Writing, or another Man's unto the People ? Or if you do, whe- ther they muft feparate? Or elfe if you read a Prayer, ire. Either you deter- mine inefe things to the Churches hurt^ or not ? If not, why fhould they blame you, or Separate ? If you do, they have their Remedy, But whether you do or not, I now decide not. If we meddle with all fuch Particulars, we fhall never agree : more than thofe muft be left to liberty. You think our Particulars are too many already, and would you have more? And if the Controverfiesoftiie Times will tempt any to Expound our General Terms of Agreement amifs, we muft not go from Geneials for that. To the Tenth Prop. You fay there is fometbing that will admit of a farther Con- fideration : Whereupon I confidered it, and have added l^iuppofing it he a publici Pro- ■ ftjjion of Chrifiiantty which is made:'} Becaufe, though the People are not b und to try the Pcrfons before-hand, that are fo to be received to Communion, yet fcney may ordinarily expeft, that wl en they are admitted, their Profeflion be publ'ick, or made known to the Church, which 1 imply'd before. And now, 5«V, I pray give me leave to fpeak fome-what freely to the Caufe it felf, ('alTiring you I fhall patiently, if not thankfully receive as free Language from you or oilier;.) I (hall 1 . mention what it is tliat we have to do j and 2. what Reafons we have fjr doing it. _ Cm Bufir.efs is to heal Chiirch-Divifmu^and Hcart-Bivijhns ^ therefore you muft give us leave to fay muih againft Divifions or Separations which are unjuji^ becaufe this is our e«i, and all tlie reft is but the means ^ and if you would have us leave out that^ it is all one as to fay C Let its agree to have no yfgreemc^t or Vnity ^] or Q we will ht healed, fo wc may continue to be unhealed j] or, [do but excufe us from Ccw- cord. Part III lievereud Mr. Richard Baxter. 6 J cord, and we will agree with you.] The Reafon why we would bear with othtr Dtf- Urmcei^ is becaufe n't cannot hear with the abfnce ofVnity^ Love and Peace, elfe we may let all go to Divifioiis, without any more ado. And the grc;it things which hinder the rresbytei-iam and Moderate Ipifispal A. en^ tiom cloiing with you, are principally thefc. 1. Becaufethey think tliat your way tends to deftroy the Kingdom of Chrill by dividing it, while all Excommunicate Perfons, or Hereticks, or humorous Peifons, may at any time gather a Church of fuch as Separate from the Church which they belonged to, though it be on the account of Uhgodliuefs, or Impatience of Difci- pline &c. and then may fland on equal Terms with you y efpecially when you are not for the conflant Corrcfpondcncy of Churches in Synods, by which they may ftrengthen themfelves againft them. 2, They think, while ycu feem to be for a firiaer Difcipline thm others, that your way rorufualPraaice) tendcth to extirpate Godlinefs out of the Land ^ by taking a very few that can talk more than the reft, and making them the Church, and fhutting out more that arc as worthy, and by negleding the Souls of all the Pariih elfe, except as to fome publick Preaching ; againft which alfo you prejudice them by un^ft Rejcdions •, and then think that you may warrantably account them un- worthy : bccaufe you know no worthinefs by them, when you cftrange your felvcs from them, and drive them away from you. They think that l\ri/h-Refortnatioit tendeth to the making Codlinefs univerful, and X.\\2.t your Separation tendeth to dwin- dle it to nothing, 1 know that fome of you have fpoken for endeavouring the good of all • but (pardon my plainnefs) I knew fcarce any of you that did not by an unjuji efpoufing of your fetv^ do the People a double Injury, one by denying them their Church-Rights, without iny regular Church Juftice, and the other by lazily omit- ting moft that fhould have been done for their Salvation. In our Countrey almoft all the reft of the Minifters agreed to deal ferioufly and orderly with all the Families of their Parifhes (which fome did to their wonderful benefit) except your Party, and the highly Epifcopal, and they ftood off. The doubt was when I came to Ki- derminjier. Whether it were better to take 20 ProfeiTors for the Church, and leave a Reader to head and gratifie the reft ? Or, to attempt the juft Reformation of the Farifh ? The ProfeiTors would have been beft pleafcd with the firft and I was for the latter, which after full tryal, hath done that which hath fatished all the Pro- feiTors : So that profefled Piety, and Family- Worlhip fin a way of Humility and Unity) was To common, that the few that differ among fome Thoufands are moft- ly afliamed of their Difference on the account of Singularity, and would feem to be Godly with the reft. The laft Week I had with me an honeft Scotchman, and one of my Jcton Neighbours, and I asked him how their Nation came to be fo unanimous in the approbation of Godlinefs without any Sed, And he told me that ufually they had twelve Elders in a Parifh, and every one took their Divifion and ob- fervcd the manners of the People, and if any Family prayed not, &c. They ad- monifhed them, and told rhe Paftor ; and that the Paftor then went to them (though many Miles off) and taught them to Pray, and led them in it, and fet them upon other means as wc teach Children to read : And that once a Week they had a meeting of the Elders, to confult about the good of the Pariih, and once a Week a meeting of the People to pray and confer, and receive refolution of Doubts, before the Paftor, and every Lord's Day after Sermon, they ftayed to difcourfc of the things Preached of, that Objedions might be anfwered, and thofe urged to their duties that had nothing to fay againft it. This, and more, the Scotchman averred to me. My Jcton Neighbour told me, that there is now but one Perfon (a Woman) in all this Town and Pariih that was here admitted to the Sacrament, and that the reft were partly by this courfe (and other rea- fons) diftalled, and their didikc encreafcd, and partly negletted and left to them- felves -. That of rich Families, ( Mr, Rous, Major Skippous, Collonel Sely and Mr. Humphreys) were admitted while the reft were refufed, or neglefted :'And that one furviving Perfon who was admitted, it but a Sojourner here. Where- as upon a little Tryal, I am able to fay, that there are comparatively few openly fcandalous Perfons in the Town ^ that there arc many tpfco, I have reafon to believe do feriouHy fear God, and are fit for Church-Communion : That almoft the whole Town and Pariih (even thofe that feemed moft averfe ) are defirous and ^ 'I'ii ^ diligent 68 'The L I F E of the Part III diligent to hear, even in privatCj andfeemtobe defirous of Family-helps, and deliregood Books to read in their Families. And I hear not of one PerfonTor hardly any if one) that fpeak againft the itrifteib Godlinels, buc commonly rather take part with thofe that are judged to fear God.Even the very Inns and Alc-hou- fes themfelves do fignific ho Oppofition or iU-rvill -. In a vvord, the willingaefs feem- eth fo great and common, that if I were their Pallor, and had linie to go to them in private, and try, and promote their Knowledge (wliich comes not at once) I fee no reafon to doubt but Godlinefsmight become the common Complexion of the Parifh. I fpeak thistofhew you (if Experience ilgnifie any thing with you,) that your feparating way tendeth to Lazinefs, and the grievous hinderance of that Godlineib-. which you feem to be move zealous for than others, and tkit the way of Reforming Parifh- Churches , is riot fo hopelefs as you make youi^felves believe it is,Somc one wrote lately Exceptions to Mr. E/wf,upon his Prppofals,in which he ask- cth.' him, {\Vhat Jhall ont\ or tiro^ or three in a pctnjh do^ ivho ufiulfy aft as many in mofi^ orniany Farijles as are ^r /or Co>?7wj.'iw/o'/;, &c.]] Men lirft eftrange themfelves from the poor People, whom they fliould teach with tenderncfs, and diligence, and then they think their ignorance of the People ground enough to Judge them ig- norant, and talk oime or two in a Parifh. ButChvift will find many more, I am paft doubt, even Members of his A'fyflical Church , than thefe Men can do of the vifihle^ which is much larger. And you cannot fay, if there be any duTerence of SuccefTes, that it is only from the difference of Fcrfons,, and not of the feve- ral ways : For here where I live were two of tl'C worihiell: Perfons of your way CMr. iVyf, and Mr. Elford) whofe ability and Fieiy were beyond aU'queftion, and fo v/as their great advantage then. But yo-jr v;ay is your difadvantage, and ChrifV''-, Friends Ihcv.ld fufpeft that way of Loncuring Godlinefs, which tendoth' to dirniniJh it, or fupprels it. I tell youfomefewof the things oaenfive lo vrur Breihren, that you may fee wherein our Agreement muft give Sati:fafi:ion. The, reii; I now omit. I hi^d thonght to have faid more of tho Rcar:>ns why you lliould heartily pro- mote it. But I will now fay but thefe two tilings, i . Tliat he that can conllder what the ctfefts of our Divifions have been upon Church- and State, and the Lives of forac, and the Souls of Thoufands, both of the openly ungodly, and ProfefFors, and that knows how great a Reproach they are now to our Profeflion, and harden- ing of the Wicked, and hinderance to that good even of the beft, and yet doth not thirft to fee them healed, hath fmallfenfe of the intereft of Chrilt, and Souls. 2, That he, that confidcreth what it was to continue fuch Divifions unhcal'd for 2o Years, under fuch Warnings and Calls to Unity • and to do what v/c have done againft our felves and others, after fuch fmart, and in fuch a manner to the laft, is molt dreadfully impenitent, if Repentance do not now make him zealous for a Cure, And in particular, \i you^ and Mr. Nye^ and I, be not extraordinary zxalous for this work, there are fcarce three Men to be found in the World, that will be more haiaoufly guilty, and without excufe : (I need not tell you why. J And truly, ifwchave z:e«/, and yet not j^jV/ for fuch a Cure, fwhcn all fay that the People are willinger than the Paftors) it will be a Ihame for us to cry out on them, that Silence lis: as if fuch Shepherds were necclTary to the Flock, that have skill to Wound, and none to Cure. Therefore, as I am heartily glad or your forwardncfs and willing- nefs to this Work, pardon me for telling you, I will 'judge of it by the Ffeffs. I addrefs my fclf to you alone, bccaufe I know that Vnderfianding and Experience are great Afliftants (to lead on Charity) in this Work •, and there is no dealing with them that undcrftand not the Cafe. And I will hope that the EfFed will flrevv, that no Flumours of others (Men of narrow Minds, and Interefts, and injudicious Paffions) fhall preval with you againft fo great a work of Repentance, and Love to God and Godlinefs, and the Souls of Men. Again, Pardon this Freedom ufed by Tour much Homourin^ u'Jnd Vnwa-thy Brother^ Rich, Ba.xter. § 144. After Part III ~~ %verend M. Richard Baxt er. § 1 44-. After this J waited oa him at London again, and he came once to me to . Lodgings, when I was in Town ^ncar h.m • ) And he told me, that he receiv- ed my chdme Letter, and perceived that 1 fiifpeired his Reality in the Bufinefs • bur ^ "f^.io hearty in it, that I (hould fee that he really meant as he fpake, concluding u /- MT J r-^v-' -■---"—"-"'•_'•'""- "^ '^ciij J ui^diit ab lie ipase, conclud in thefeW^rds lloufluUfce n, and wy Prairwt Jhuli re;:roach your D^ffidenctl tOid him, 1 hat it I tore-faw lus Temptations, and were willint^ to heln him Premoniuon to ot'ercome them, I meant not that as an Acciifation • but thanked Jim for his Promife torcpm'.cb my Diffidence by Im Praake, and fuch an Event would bfe his Honour and Irt it reproach me and fpave not, fo be it the Wori^ were done But again, I^eftred tJiat no one living might know of it, till he and I had finiftied our attempt. And thus I waited for his Animadverhons, 1, ^ '-^5- About a Month after I went to him again, and he had done nothine but was ftill hearty for the Work. And to be rtiort, I thus waited on him time after time, till my Papers had been near a Year and quarter in his Hand, and then I defired him to return them to me, which he did, with thcfe Words T / am m a mll-mjhcr to thofe Mathematicks ■^■] without any other Words about them or ever giving me any more Exception agaiixfl them. And this was the iifuc of my third At tempt for Union with the Independents. . § 146. Having long (upon the Sufpenfion of my Aphorifms) been purpofin- to M'^JJ'f^^r^f °^^^r^^^^^' ^T'bsganit: I never yet few a Scheme or Method of Phyficks or Theology, which gave any Satisfaction to my Reafon • Tho' many have attempted to exercife more accuratenefs in Diftribution, than all others could not eafily difcover, but not fo eafily amend. I had been Twenty Six Yeir^ convinced that Dichotomizing will not do it ■ but that the Divine Trinity in Uni?v hath expreft it felf in the whole Frame of Nature and Morality : And I had fo lone been thinking of atrr.e Method, and making fome fmall Attempts, but I found my feif infufficieut for it; and fo conlmued only thinking of it, and ftudyin- it all thefe Years. _ Camp.mclU I faw had made the fairell Attempt'that ever I SmadT in the Pnnciples of Nature (andCommenm after him^) but yet as I believe he quite mift It in his firfl: operative Principles of Heat and Cold (miflakingthena! ture of Cold and Darknefs- J fo he run his three Principles, which he callethPrl malities into many fubfequent Notions, which were not provable or coh'erent • Having long read his FhyMs, Metaphyficks, de Senfu rerum, and JtheifirmTri: umpbatu^ 1 found him mention his Ueology, which put me'in hope, that he had there alfo made fome Attempt, but I could never hear of any oie that had feen any flich Book of his: At laft Mr. Geo. La.fon^ TbcopoUtka Im. o'^'^^hk^^^^^ duced Theology to a Method more Political and righte/in the main, than any th!t I had feen berore him : But he had not hit on the time Method of the FefiHa Trini tatv,- and fome long Debates by Writing between him ahd me, whichliad gone before ( about 7 tears ) had engaged him to make good his firit Papers in thofe rniilakes about the Office of Faith in Juftification (as Juftiiyin^ only as Chr-m Pro pitiation as theObjea otit :) Of which in that Book he faithYo much (to the pkv rather than fatisfaftion of the Judicious:) his Book being otherwife the roundell and moft abounding with Light of any one that I have feen. But the very nS tv of explaining the Three Articles of Baptifm, and the Three Summaries of Re L gion (the Creed Lord's Prayer, and Decalogue) hath led all the common Se- chifms that go that way (of which Vrfine Correfted by Parous is the chiS) in?o a truer Method than any of our exaftelt Dichotomizers have hit on, ( no exceptTn^ Treleattuf^ Solmius, or yfwe/7w, which are the belt.) ^-^ccpung Jn VwJ: '^ll^. ?^^^I^ ''v ^^'"^^f convinced me. That as Phyficks are prefuppofed m Ethicks and that Morality is but the ordering of the Rational Nalure Sits ^n°"a'nd of ^oS'" ^^'^'^"'^1 '"^ Metaphyf&s, which opened the 5a?ure of Man, and. of God, which are the Parties contrafting, and the creat Subjects of Sir/I Morality, is more needy pertinent to a' Method of ?heolc2raad Ihould have a larger place in it, than is cominonly thought and given to it^ Y« I '^o The LI F E of the Pdrtllt hiew how Uncouth it would fcein to put fo niuchof thefe Doftrines into a Body of Divinity : But the three firil Chapters oiCenefis afllired m6, 1 hat it was tlie Stri- ptuve-Method. And when I I'.ad drawn up one Scheme of the Creation, and Teat it the L.ord Chief Baron (becaufe of our often Communication on fuch Subjcfts, and being now banilhed from his Neighbourhood, and the County where he lived) he received it with fo great Approbation, and importuned me fo by Letters, to go on with that work, and not to fear being too much on Philofophy, as added fome- what to my Inclinations and Refolutions. And through the great Mercy of God, in my Retirement at Totteridpe^ in a troublefome, poor, fmoaky, fuftbcating Rooni, in the midft of daily pains of the Sciatica, and man;,' worfe, I fet upoii^ andfiiiilhed all the Schemes, and half the Elucidations in the end of the Yfear i66^. and the be- ginning of 1 670. which coft me harder Studies than any thing that ever 1 had before attempted. § 1 48. In the fame time and place, I alfo wrote a large Apology for the Non- conformifls : Partly, to prove it their Duty to Exercife their Miniftry as they caa when they arc Silenced :, and partly to open the State of the Prelacy, the Subfcriptions, Declarations, &c. which they refufe: for the furious Reviiings of Men didfoin- creafc, and their Provocations, and Accufations, and Infultings, were fo many and great,' that it drove me to this work as it were againft my will : But when I had done it, I faw that the Publication of it would ( by Imprifonment or Banifhraent) put an end to my other Labours, which made me lay it by ; for I thought that the finifhing of my Metbodtis Theologia: was a far greater work : But if that had been done, I think I (hould have publifheAit whatever it had coft me. § 149. This Year 1670 ray forementioned Cure of Church Divifiom came out. which had been before caft by, which occafioned a ftorm of Obloquy among almoft all the feparating Party of ProfefTors, and filled the City and Country with mat- ters of Difcourfe : which fell out to be as foUoweth. 1 had long made ufe of two Bookfellers, Mr. I'ytm^ and Mr. Sin moms ^ the former, lived \vi London and the later in Kiderminfier : But the latter removing to London^ they envyed each other, in a meerdefire of gain, one thinking that the other got more than he was willing fliould go befides himfelf. Mr. Tyton firft reftifed an equal Co-partnerfhip with the other : "Whereupon it fell to the others (bare to Print my Life ofFattb^ and Cure of Church Divifiom^ after my Dire^ions to makChriJlians^ together: Which occafioned Mr. Tyton to tell feveral that came to his Shop, that the Book, as he heard, was a- gainil private Meetings, at leaft, at the time of Publick, and made thofe Schimaticks that ufed them : Mr. Simmons met with a credible Citizen that gave it him under his Hand, that Mr. Tyton faid that [_ he might have had the Printing of the Book, but would not, becaufe it fpake againft thofe things which he had feen nie Praftife &c. • ■] which were all grofs Untruths ^ for the Book was never offered him, nor had he never feen a word of it, or ever Ipoken with any one that had feen it, and told him what was in it. Mi". Tyton being a Member of an Independent Chtirch, this fort of People the eafilicr believed this ^ and fo it was carried among them from one to one, firft that I wrote againft private Meetings, and then that /accufed them allofSchifm, and then that / wrote for Conformity, and laftly, that /conformed j fo that before a Line of my Book was known, this was grown the common Fame of the City, and thence of all the Land, and fent as certain into Scotland and Ireland : yea they named the Text that / preached my Recantation Sermon on befr-rc th e King, as ftirring him up to Cruelty againft the Nonconformifts. So common was the Sm of Back-biting and Slandering among the Separating Party, fo it were but done at the fecoad hand •, and they that thought themfolves to^ good to joyn with the Confcrmifts, or ufe their Liturgy, or Communion, yet never fhick at the com- mon carrying of all thefe Falftioods, becaufe they could fay, a good >"an told it me. So that Thoufands made no bones of this, that would not have defiled themfelves with a Ceremony, or an impofed Form of Prayer, by any means. Yea, the Streets rang with Reproaches againft me for it, without any more proof. Some faid that /took p.avt with the Enemies of Godlincf;, and countenanced their Church-Tyranny \ and fomc faid that I fought to reconcile my felf to them., for fear of further Suffering : And thus tlie Chriftians that were moft tenderly afraid of the J /itnrgy and Ceremonies, were fo little tender of receiving and vending the moft dif- ingenuous Part ill. "Reverend Mr. Richard BaxterT""^ ingenuous Falfhoods, as if they had been no matter of Scruple. So eafie is a finful Zeal, aadfo lordly is true Chriltian Zeal maintained. § 1 50, At the fame time there fell out a Cafe which tended to promote the Ca- lumny. The old Reading Vicar of Kidermmfter dyed, about the Day of the Date of the Ad againfl: Conventicles) Sir Ral^h Clare^ his chief Friend, and my Applaudcr but Remover, being dead a little before ^ the old Patron, Collonel yohn BYid<^es Sold the Patronage to Mr. Tfjomas Foley^ with a condition, that he fhould preicnt me next, if 1 were capable ^ which he promifed, as alfo, that he would Prefent no other but by my confent. Becaufe I had done fo much before to have continued iil that place, and had defired to Preach there but as a Curate, under the Reading Vi- car, vfhQw J refufed a Bifhoprick, andtheVicaridge was now come to be worth 200 I. per -Ann. and this falling void at the lame time, when the Independents had tilled the Land with the Report that I was Writing againft them for Conformity j hereupon the Bilhops therafelves believed it, that the love of Kidermmjhr would make me Conform ; and they concun^ed iu vending the Report, infomuch that one certainly told me, that he came then from a worthy Minifter, to whom the Arch-bifhop of Tork ( Sterne ) fpake thefe Words, \_ Take it on my Word^ Mr. Baxter doth Conform and M gone to \m Beloved Kiderminfter.] And fo both Parties concurred iu the falfe Report, though one only raifed it. § 151. Another Accident fell out alfo, which promoted it. For Mr. Crofton having a Tryal, ( as I hear upon the Oxford Aft of Confinement ) at the Kin/s Bench ^ Judge KeeUmg fa id, Tou need not he fo kjjly^ for J hear that Mr. Crofton m about to Conform^} And Judge Morton faid, C -And I hear that Mr. Baxter hath a Book in the Prefs aguinft their private Meetings : Judge Rainsford faid fomewhat that he was glad to hear it ; and Judge Morton again. That it was but time for the Quakers in Buchngham-fhire., he was confident were Afted by the Papifts ■ 'for they fpake for Purgatory already.] This Talk being ufed in fo high a Court of Juftice by the Grave and Reverend Judges, all Men thought then that thty might lawAilly believe it and report it. So Contagious may the Breath of one Religious Man be as to infeft his Patty ; and of that Religious Party, as to infcdt the Land, and more than one Land, with the belief and report of fuch ungrounded Lies. § 1 52. At the fame time, in the end of my Life of Faith, I Printed z Revocation of my Book called Political Jphorifms., or A Holy Cofnmon-wealth ; which exafperated thofe who had been for the Parliament's War, as much as the former, but both to- gether did greatly provoke them. Of which I mufl: give the Reader this Advertife- mcnt. 1 wrote that Book 1659. by the provocation of Mr. 7 f«/e, and take that to he. good or bad^ which they feel do them good or hurt at the prefeut : And becaufe the People's Alienation from the Prelates "and Liturgy, and Parifh-Churches, did feem to make againft the Prelates, and to make for the Nonconformift's Intercjl^ they thought it not Prudence to gratifiethe Prelates fo far as to gain-fay it. And fo they confidered not from whence dividing Principles come, and to what they tend, and what a difgrace they are to our Caufe, and how one of our own Errors will hurt and difparage us more, than all the cruelty of our Adverfaries •, and that linful means is feldom blelfcd to do good. § 1 5-^. But upon fore -fight of the tendernefsof Profelfors, / had before given my Book to the Perufal of Mr. ^ofc« Corbet^ my Neighbour, ( accounted one of the moft Calm, as well as Judicious Nonconformifls) and had altered every Word that he wifhed to be altered : And the fame / had done by my very worthy Faithfiil Friend, Mr. Richard I'airclovgh^ who Pcrufed it in the Prefs, and /altered almoft all that he wilhed to be altered, to take off any Words that feemed to be too Iharp. But all did not fatisfic the guilty and impatient Readers. § 1 5<5. For ^vhcn the Book came out, the Separating Party, who had received before an odious Charafter of it, did part of them read and interpret it by the Spcftacles and Commentary of their Pafilons and fore Conceits^ and the molt of them would not read it all ^ but took all that they heard for granted : Tin; hotteft that . - was againil it was Mr.|£^. Ba^fhaxo^ a young Man, who had written formerly againil Monarchy, had afterward written for me againil Bifhop Morley -^ and being of a refolutc Roman Spirit, was fent firft to the Toivtr^ and then laid there in 5he horrid Dungeon (where the damp cafting him into the Fixmorrhoids, the Pain caufcd that Sweat which faved his Life :) Thence he was removed to Southl y-Cuflk^ near Pi^rtf- tmuth^ ia the Sea, where he lay Prifoner many Years ^ where Vivafor Poml (an ho- ncft injudicious Zealot of Jf'.?/ej) being Ids Companion, heightncd him m his Opinions. He Part Hi., ILevcrend Mr. Kichixd Baxter. 73 He wrote agaiull rnc a Pamphlet fo full of"unt7uths and Spleen, and fo little pertj- nent to the Cauic, astliat I never met with a Man that called for an Anlwerto it : But yet the ill Principles of it made me think, that it needed an Anfwcr, which 1 wrote. But I found that Party grown fo tender, expeding little but to be applau- ded for their Godhncfs, and to be flattered, while they expected that others Iliould be moft fharply dealt with, and indeed to be fo utterly impatient ofthatLangua2;e in a Confutation which had any fuitablenefs to the defert of their Writings, tha^t I purpofed to give over all Controverlial Writings with them, oranv other, without great necelTity : And the rather, becaufe my own Stilc is apt to be guilty of too much freedom and Iharpncfs in Difputings. § I 57. The next to Mr. BugPjavo (now again in Prifon for not taking the Oath of Allegiance it felf, ) who behind my Back did moft revile my Book, was Dr. Owm • whether out of Defign or Judgement, I cannot teH ■ but ordinarily he fpake very bitterly of it :, but never wrote to me a Word againfi: it : He alio divulged his dillent from thePropofals for Concord, which I offered him, though he would fay no more againfl: them to my felt, th.+n what I have before expreifed. § 1 58. At this time alfo one Hinkky of Norfield, near Wmefler-fnire^ deiiVing to be taken notice of, wrote a virulent Book againit the Nonconformifts, and particular- ly fome Fallhoods againft me, and a vehement Invitation to mc to publilhthe Reafons of my Nonconformity ^ when he could not be fo utterly ignorant as not to know, that I could never get fuch an Apology Licenfed, and that the Law forbad me to Print it imlicenfed, and that he hiaifelf taketh it for a Sin to break that Law. Rut fuch im- pudent Perfons were ftill clamouring againit us; §139. By this time my own old Flock at Kideminjler began (fome of them) to Cenfure me: For when the Bifliop, and Deans, and many of their Curates, had preached long to make the People think me a Deceiver r, as if this had been the only way to their Salvation, the People were hereby fo much alienated from them, that they took them for Men unreafonable, and little better than mad ; infomuch as that they grew more alienated from Prelacy than ever, Alfo, while they continued to repeat Sermons in their Houfes together, many of them were laid long in Jayls, (among Thieves and common Malctaftors; which increafed their ExafperatioHS yet more. They continued their Meetings Vvhilfl: their Goods were Seifed on, and they were Fined and Punilhed again and again. Thefc Sufferings fo increafed their Aver- fation, that my Book againfl Church-Divifions coming out at fuch a time, and a Pre- face which 1 put before a Book of Dr. Bryanh^ in which I do but excufe his Speaking againft Separation, they were many of them offended at it as unfeafonable ^ and judg- ing by feeling Jntereft and PcjJJion^ were angry with me for ftrengthening the Hands of Perfecutors, as they call it^ whereas if I had called the Biihops all that's nought, I am confident they wosld not have blamed me. And they that fell out with the Bi- ihops for calling me out, and fpeaking ill of me, were (fome of them) ready to fpcak ill of mc, if not to caftme off, becaufe I did but perfuade them of the Lawfiilnefs of Communicating in their Parifh-Church, with a Conformable Miniftcr in the Li- turgy. (j 1 60. At this time, as is faid, the old reading Vicar dying it was caft on me to chufe the next : But the Religious People (who were the main Body of the Town, and Parifli) would not fo much as chufe a Man, when they might have had their choice ^ no, nor fo much as write or fend one word to one about it, left they fhould feem to confent to his Conformity, or to be obliged to him in his Office. Whereupon I alfo refufcd to meddle in the Choice and the rather becaufe fome of the malignant flanderous Prelatills who write of me, as Dmei^_ Vfirange^ and many others have done, would in likelyhood have fiid, that I con- tracted for fome Commodity to my felf ^ and becaufe Mr. Foley the Patron was a truly honcit Religious Man, who, 1 knew would make' the belt choice he could. § 161. When he had chofcn them a Minifler (whom they themfelves commend- ed for an honefl Man and a good Preacher, and rather wifhed him than another) I wrote a Letter to them to advifc them to join with the laid Minifter in Praf- ers and Sacrament ^ becaufe I had before advifed them not to own the Mini- ■ftry of Mr. Dance^ for his utter incapacity and infufficiency, but if ever they had a K k k k toierabier 74 ne L I F E of the Part ill tolerable Man, to own him, and CommunkaLe v/ithhim. Andbecaiife hewas the ■ bcft, that the Patron by their Confent, could chiifc, and for many Reafons, which I gave them. Hut their Sufferings hid fo far alienated them from the Prelates, that the very ruinour of this Letter was talkt of as my Book againft Divifions was, fo that it was never fo much as read to them. § 162. And here it is worth the nothing, how far Intcrefb fea-etly fwayeth the Judgments of tlic belt. A few Miniflers, who have a more taking way of Preaching than the reft, and being more moving and affectionate, are for that way now. which mofl: fuitcth with the Inclination of the People who mofl elleera them, which is to go far enough from the Conformills, ( or tco far) but the reft who are Icfs followed by the People, are genei-ally more- for Peace, and Moderation. § 163. This Year the Acl againil Conventicles was renewed, and jriad'e more fevere than ever : And (as all that ever I fpake with of it, fuppofed) v.ith an Eye upon my Cafe , they put in divers Claufes : As tliat the fault of the Mit- timus llx)u!d not diiablc it :, that all doubtful Ciaufcs in the Act fhould be in- terpreted, as would molt favour the fupprelFion of Conventicles^ that they that fled or removed their Dwelling into another County, (hould be purfued by Exe- cution, (ro this Scnfc) What a ftrait is a Man in among People of fuch Ex- tremes ? One fide purfueth us with implacable Wrath , while we are charg- ed with nothing but Preaching Chrift's Gofpel in the molt peaceable manner we can : And the other cenfureth us, as Compilers' with Perfeaitors and Ene- mies to Piety, becaufe we defnc to live peaceable with all Men, and to fepa- rate from them no further than they feparate from God. ^- §164. Their own Laws againft Conventicles hinder us from doing their own Wills. They write and clamour againft me for not pcrfwading the People to. Conformity : And when 1 ivould draw them but to that Communion, which I had within my felf, the Law difableth me to Communicate a Letter to them , feeing no more than four muft meet together • wkich way among many hundred or thoufand Didenters, would make many Years work of Communicating that one part of my Advice. Thus do our Shepherds ufe the Flocks. § 165. At this time Mr. Giles Firmtn^ a worthy Minifter that had lived in New-England^ writing againft fome Errors of Mr. Hooker^ Mr. Shtpherd^ Mr. Daniel Rogers^ and lAx. Perkins^ gave mc alfo alfo a gentle reproof, for tying Men too ftriftly to Meditation •, whereto I wrotcafliort anfwer, called,^ /"c- "jtexv of the Doctrine of Meditation. § \66. A worthy Lady was perverted from the Lord's Day to the Saturd^tyr Sabbath, dcfiring my Judgment, and Mr. Francis Bamftld. a Minftcr, who hath lain about fevca Years in Dorcheftcr -GoA (the Brother of Sir /ohn Bamficld^ de- ceased.') being gone to the fame Opinion, and many following them, I wrote by the Perfwafion of fome Friends, a fmall Traftate alfo on that Subject, to prove the divine appointment of the Lord's Day, and the ceiratioa of the Jem/h Sab- bath. § 1 67. Dr. Iranian (though he had the greateft Friends, and promife of Fa- vour of any of the Presbyterians) was fent Prifoner to the Gatehoufe for Preach- ing the Gofpel in his own Houfe, in the Parifh where he had been called formerly tothcMiniftery, and for not taking the OA:/or^/-Oath, and coming within five Miles of a Corporation ^ where he continued fix Months : but it proved convenient to his eafc, bccaiife thole fix Months were fpent in London^ in a hot jiurfuit of fuch private Preaching, by Bands of Soldiers, to the terrour of many, and the death of fome. § 168. Madam, the King's Sifter dyed in Fr^Mce, when file returnedfromvifiting His Majefty in England., to his very great grief \ § 169. Sir John Babor talkM to the Lord Arlington of our late Tteaty upon the Lord Keeper's Invitation, with Bifliop JVilkins ^ whereupon Dr. Mantofi fent to me, as from him, to Communicate the Terms and Papers. But they v.erc ^V /IHon from whence they had driven me, ancU I had medlcd enough in fuch Matters only to my eoft. So that though he faid tlic King was to fee them, I could not then anfwer his defiic, and I heard no more of it. S 170- Part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. yc § 1 70. Upon the Publication of my Book againft Divifions, and the Rumour of my Conforming, the Earl of Lauderdale invited me to fpeak with him : Wiiere he opened to mc the purpofe of taking oiFthfc Oath of Canonical Obedience, and all Im- pofitions of Conformity in Scotland^ fave only that it fhould be necelfary to lit in Presbyteries and Synods with the Bifhops and Moderators (there being already lu Liturgy, Ceremonies, or Subfcription fave only to the Doftrine of the Churd; :) Hereupon he exprelTcd his great Kindnefs to me, and told me he had the King's ■ Confent to fpeak with me,and being going into Scothmd^t offered me wliat phce in - Scotland I would choofe, either a Church, or a CoUedge in the Univerfity, or a Biflioprick : And fhortly after, as he went thither, at Barnet he fent for me j and I gave him the Anfwer following in thefe Papers, befides what I gave him by word to the fame purpofe. But when he came thither, fuch Afts againft Conventicles were prefently made, as are very well woithy the Reader's ferious Perufal, who would know the true Complexion of this Age. § 171- A^y Lordj REing deeply fenfible of your Lordfhip's Favours, and in fpecial of your Liberal Offers for my Entertainment in tcotland^ 1 humbly return you my very hearty Thanks : But thefe Confiderations forbid me to entertain any hopes or further thoughts of fuch a remove. I. The Experience of my great Weaknefs and decay of Strength, and particular- ly of this laft Winter's Pain, and how much worfe I am in Winter than in Sum-jer^ doth fully perfuademe. That I fhall live but a little while in Scot/.Wii, and that in adiCibled, ufelefs Condition, rather keeping my Bed than the Pulpit. ^_rt.j-»w» jr..„..^ -A-",/ / — i- oj v--requinng yet near a Years labour more.) Now if I fhould go fpend that one half Year, or Year which fhould finifh that Work in Travel, and the trouble of fuch a Removal, and then having intended Work undone, it would difappoint me of the ends of ray Life: (For I live only for Worl^ and therefore fhould remove only for Work^ and not for Wealth and Honour^ if ever I remove.) 3. If 1 were there, all that I could hope for were liberty to Preach the Gofpel ot Salvation, and efpecially in ^omz Vniverfity among young Scholars. But I hear that you have'enough already for this Work, that are like to do it better than I can. 4. 1 have a Family, and in it a Mother-in-Law of 80 Years of Age, of Honour- able Extraft, and great Worth, whom I muft not negleft, and who cannot Travel. And it is to fuch a one as I, fo gf eat a bufinefs to remove a Family, and all our Goods, and Books fo far, asdeterreth me tothinkofit (having paid fo dear for Re- movals' thefe 8 Years, as I have done, and being but yefterday fettled in a Houfe which I have newly taken, and that with great trouble and lofs of time.) And if 1 fhould find ScotZ-iw^ difagree with me (which 1 fully conclude of) to remove all back again. All this concurreth to deprive me of this Benefit of your Lordfhip's Favour. But, my Lord, theie are other Fniits of it, which I am not altogether hopelefs of Recei- ving. When I am commanded to pray for Kings, and all in Authority, 1 am allow- ed the Ambition of this Preferment fwhich is all that ever I afpired after) to Itve a qukt and peaceable Life^ in all Godlinefs and Honefiy. Din nimvs habitavit anima mea inter ofores pacts. I am weary of the Noife of contentious Revilers, and have oft had Thoughts to go into a Foreign Land, if I could find any where! might have a healthful Air, and quietne&j that I might but Live and Die in peace. When I fit in a Corner, and K k k k 2 sncddlt 92 I he L 1 FEoj the Fare Hi meddle with no Body, and hope the World will forget that I am alive, Court, City, and Country is ftill fiU'd with Clamours againft me ^ and v;heii a Preacher wanteth Preferment, his way is to Preach, or write a Book againft tlie Nonconformills, and me by Name : So that the Menflrm of the Prefs (and Pulpits of Ibme) is ferae Bloody Invedives againft my felf, as if my Peace were inconliltent with the King- dom's Happinefs : And never did my Eyes read fuch impudent Untruths in Matter of Faft, as thefe Writings contain •, and they cry out for Anfwers and Reafons of my Nonconformity, while they know the Law forbiddeth me to anf-ver them (Un- licenfed. I cxppd not that any Favour or Juftice of my Superiours Ihould Cure any of this: But, T. If I might but be heard fpeak for my fclf, before 1 be judged by them, and fuch things believed. (For to contemn the ji:dgment of my Rulers, is to difhonour them.) 2. I might live quietly'to follow my private Study, and might once again have the ufe of my Books ( which I have not feen thefe ten Years, and pay for a Room for their ftanding at Kiderminfier^ where they are eaten with Worms .and Rats, having no fecurity for my quiet Abode in any place, enough to encourage me to fend for them:) And if 1 might have the Liberty that every Beggar hath, to Travel from Town to Town, I mean, but to London^ to over-fee the Prefs, when any thing of mine is Licenfed for it. And, 3. If 1 be fent to Nexcgate for Preaching Chrifl's Gofpel ^ ( For 1 dare not facri- legioufly renounce my Gilling to which I ami Confecratcd, }tr Sacramentum Ordinw) if I have the Favour of a better Prifon, \vhere I may but \v.dk and arite • Thefe I fhould take as very great Favours, and acknowledge your Lordfhip my Benefaftor if you procure them. For I will not fo much injure you as to defire, or my Reafon as to expeft, any greater Matters ^ no not the Benefit of the Law. 1 think I broke no Law in any of the Preachings which I am accufed of ^ and / raoft confidently think, that no Law impofeth on me the Oxford-0ai\ any more than any Conform- able Minifter ^ and /am pall doubting the prefent Mittimus for my /mprifonraent is quite without Law. But if the Juftices think otherwife now, or at any time, /knov/ no Remedy, / have yet a Licenfe to Preach publickly in Zom^oh Diocefs, under the Arch->-.ilhop's own Hand and Seal, Which is yet valid for occafional Sermons, tho' not for Leftures or C\ires : But I dare not ufe it, becaufe it is in the Bifliop's power to recall it. Would but the Billiop ( who one would think fhould not be againft the Preaching of the Gofpel j not re-call my Licenfe, I could preach occafional Ser- mons, which would abfolve my Confcience from all Obligations to private Preach- ing. For 'tis not Maintenance that I exped : I never received a Farthing for my Preaching, to my Knowledge, fmce May i. 1662. /thank. God / have Food and Raiment without being chargeable to any Man^ which is all that / defire j had / but leave to Preach for nothing ^ and that only where there is a notorious Neceffity. / humbly Crave your Lordlhip's Pardon for the tedioufnefs j and again return you my very great Thanks for your great Favours, remaining • My Lord, Your Lordlhip's Humble, "JuKe 24. 1670. Much Obliged Servant, Richard Baxter. One Part III. Reverend Air. Kiclurd Baxr*' 93 One Reafon more alfo, as additional, movcth me, That the People of Scotland A oiild have fiich jealous Thoughts of a Stranger, efpecially at this time when Fame hath rung it abroad that I Conform, that I fhould do little good amon't^ them aud efpecially when there are Men enough among therafelves, that are able, if Impedi- ments were removed. Another Letter to the E. o/Lauderdale. . I Scarce account him worthy the Name of a Man^ much lefs of an £«£;7/»-i>«4iMj and leaft of all oi z CMfiian^ who is not fenfible of the great 5/«/izy-, and Kingdom^ and Churchy and a greater Comfort to your Confcience, than all worldly Greatuefs can afford. For the Means, / am not fo vain as to prefume to offer you any other Particulars, than to tell you, that / am perfuaded. That if there were Crll a Command from His Majefty to the Bifhops of Chefter and Norwich on one fide, and two Peaceable Men on the other, freely to Debate and offer fuch Expedients as they think moft proper to heal all our Divifions, they would foon agree ; And when they had made that Preparation, if fome more fuch Moderate Divines were joyned 78 The II F E of the Part III. to them ( as Dr. StiUm^fieet^ Dr. TiUotfon^ Dr. Outram, Dr. Pierfon^ Dr. Whitchcot^ Dr. More^ Dr. Worthington^ Dr. ir^ai?, Dr. Barlow^ Dr. Ti^/Zy, Mr. Gijford^ &c. on one fide ^ and Dr. Conant^ Dr. D:Um£ham , Dr. Langley^ 2nd many more that 7 could Name on .the other fide -,) they would quickly fill up, and Confirm the Con- cord. And fuch a Preparation being made, and (hewed His Majclty, certainly he would fonn fee that the Inconveniences of it, will be fo great, as the Mifchiefs of our Divifions are, and are like to be (for the further they go, as a Torrent, the more they will fwell, and Violence will not end them, when it feemeth to allay them.) And oh ! what a Pleafure would it then be to His Majefty, to Govern a Concordant People, and to feel the /ffedions and Strength of a Vnited Kingdom^ and. to have Wen'« Religious Zeal engage them in a Fervency for his Love and Service ! And what a Joy would it be to the Pallors to be Beloved of their Flocks ! And what a Joy to all the Honell Subjefts, to live in fuch a Kingdom, and fuch a Church! And that this Wo.ik may notfeem over-difficult to you, when your Lordlhip fhall Command it, I fhall briefly tell you, what the generality of the Sober Nonconfor- mills hold ^ and what it is that they defire, and what it is that they refufeas finfiil, that when they are underftood, it may appear how far they are from being, intoler- able, either in the Kingdom or the Church. My Lord, . Pardon this boldnefs of ''June 24. I (570. four Humble Servant Rich. Baxter. To the Right HonouY able, the E. of Lauderdale, H'vs Jl-fajejly''s Commiffioner for Scotland. §172. When the E. of Lauderdale was gone into Scotland^ Sir Rob. Murrey^ (s worthy Pcrfon, and one of (Jrf/^^aw-Colledge-Society, and the Earl's great Confi- dent) fent me the Frame of a Bodyof Church-Difciplinefor 5cof/^c/, and dcfircd my Aniraadverfions on it. I had not Power to Tranfcribe them, or make them known -^ but you may Conjefturc what they were by my Animadverfions. Only I may fay. That the Fram.e was very handfomely contrived, and much Moderation was in it, but the main Power ef Synods was contrived to be in the King. To the Honourable Sir Rob. Murrey, thU prefent. tN General. ■*• L" The External Government of the Church, is fo called, i . From the Objedt, bccaufe it is about the Body ;, and fo it belongcth both to- the King, and to the Pa- ftor, who fpeak to Men ^s fenfible and corporeal 2. Or, from the Act of Goz cm- ning -^ and fo it belongeth alfo to both. For to Prtacfc, and Mmoni/h^^ and give the Sacrament of Baptifm^ by the Key of Admiflioii, and to Excommunicate, &c. are outward Afts. 3. From the /tfatter of Punifhment, when it is tbe Body immedi- ately, or the Goods that are meddled with by Penalty : And fo the Government be- longeth to the King and Magiftratcs alone.But this is much plainlier and fitiicr diftin- guiihcd fas Bifhop Bilfon frequently, and Proteftants ordinarily do ) by the Terms of Gffvcrning^ by the Sword, znA by the Ward: Or, hy Co-aQive^jLvA Spiritual mA Pa- Jloral Government ( which is by yluthorit.ttive Perfuafton, or by God's Word applied to the Confcience.j ir. Though P^i;fjH______^^wt7/rf' Mr. Richard Baxter. ^11 Though there be an External Government in the two firft Scnfes, given by ChvifV as immediately to the Pallors as to the Prince, (they having the Keys of tlie Church, ns immediately committed to them, us the Sword is to the Prince- ) vet in X^^^Kxeweoitht,rOffkc in Prcaclung, Sacraments andDifcipline, they are under thccrjdcorvermnento\ the King, who as he may fee that Phyjicians, and all others in his Kmgdom, do their Duties without grofs abufe, fomay he do by Pallors ■ the' he cannot eitlicr al ume to himfelf their Ojf.ce^ or frohtbh it, yet he L^ lovern them that ufe it, and lee that they do it according to Cln-ift's Law : So that undcr that Pretence he take not their jnopcr Work into his own hand, nor hinder them from t!ie true Exerciie. Ill Thoiigh there are many things in the Frame of Canons which I am uncapable of ludging of, as concerning another Kingdom, whofe Cafe and Cafloms 1 ana not rcrfeclly acquainted with, yet 1 may fay thefc three things of it in general u That I am very glad to fee no enfnaring Oaths, Declarations, Profeflions or Subicnpnoris m it- no not lo much as a Subfcription to thefe Canons themfelves For peaceable Men can live quietly and obediently under a Government which hath many things in it which they dare not iultillc or approve of. It is our Work to obey. It IS t\ic Magtflr ate' s Work, and not om to j«//;/z> all his own Comw^«^x and Orders before God, as having no Errors : Therefore it is pity to fee Subjerts fo put upon that which is not their Work, upon the temble Terms as fome-where thev are. ■' 7. I conceive that this Frame will make a Nation happy or mifcrablc as the Men are v;ho (hall be chofen tor the Work. The King having the choice of all the Bilhops and xModerators, and the Comminioners having the Abfolute Powder of nullifying all, if Wife and Godly Bifliops and Moderators be chofen, and moderate Commifli- oners. Piety will be much promoted by thefe Rules of Government. But if con- trary, it will have contrary EfFecls. 3. Therefore fuppofmg a choice of meet Perfons, though the mxtwes of the A'la- gtflratesax\Ax\\t Churches power hzvc, be fuch as I cannot juftifie fwho had rather they were dtftmaiy managed) yet I fllould be thankful to God, if we might fee but as ?oo^ a Frame of Canons xfellujedm England^ and fliouldlive peaceably, fubmiffively and gratefully under fuch a Government. To the FarticuU, s. I . The Name of Bifhop appropriated to the Diocefine, will fhimble fo ne who have learned that every Church hath one Bijhop (faith /^«jtoj) Et ubt Evifcofus iki Ecclefia, faith Cyprun : Therefore they will think that vou Un-Church all the Churches of the Laid, lave the Diocefine. And I could wifli that the Name were fitted to the thing,, to avoid Errour: but yet I think that none Jhould flick much at this bccaufe it is but dc JVomme, and afterwards you feem to leave a tnie Governing Pone.- not only in the Presbyters, but in the Paflors and Elders of the Parifti- Churchcs, - Seeing your Moderators are truly Bijhops, as defcribed ( and o^kri alfo, if the Panihes be true Churches) why is Ordination appropriated to the Bifliops fo called > Do you intend that he (hall do it by Confcut of his Synod, or a Presbytery ■ or by his own Power alone ? ■> y j t j 2 Is he to fufixrnd, dcpofe, and excommunicate by himfelf alone (as this Gene- ral lecms to intimate) or only in, and by Confent of his Synod, ox Presbytery} 3. The fame alfo I ask as to his iTranfpl.mting Minifiers as he fees ufeful ■ ] for Jt he may do all this hmifelf ^^ /ii/f«,„, it may difcouragc a Man from meddling with the Miniflcry, when after all his Study and Labour, it is at the Biftops plea- fure whctJier he fhall Preach, or be Sufi)endcd : For though vou after fay for what taults he (hall be Sufpended, yet that fignilicth nothing if the Bifhop be ludgc. Of Appeals as a dear Remedy, and doubtful Men will be diffident. And tranfplant- ing m:iv uado a Minifter at the Bifhop's Plcafure. And I doubt the abfolute Dcpri- valot the People ofthcir Power of Confent, or Dillent, in this and other Gifes, of 1 ulc to their proper Pallors, will be foand i . contrary to the nature of the Paflo- • rai 79 §o 7hs LI F E of the Part IIL ralWork:, 2. to the Scripture ;, 3. and to all Autiqiiity, and praftice of the Catho- lick Church for many Hundred Years. 15. If it had been faid, that none but fuch Biihops flnll have power to pronounce the Aiajor Excommunication^ or that which is now called Excommunication in tcot- land^ to which Horning, &c. is annexed, it would have lefs founded to che contra- diftion of Antiquity, &c. For Sufpenfion from the Communion, which you allow to particular Clmrches and Preshytcyies^ is called by many the minor Excommunication^ and by fome a Temporary Conditional Excommunication ^ and b y others, (as Sir WU. Morrice) is written againfl:, as an unlawful thing, 'till fome jult Excommuni- cation precede. 22. Might but the Moderator with his Preshytcry (by coafent/ Ordain, it would more fatisfie. 24. In Tranfplanting both Moderators and Pallors, fhould not either their own Cojilent, or the Pr€sbytcry\ or People's be made ffccelTary ? 3 1 . The words 'of tlie Formula of Ordination will be material, as to honeft Men's reception, or refufal of the Office. 32. The Office of a Pallor as inflituted in Scripture, is not only to Baptize, and celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, but alfo to Judge by the power of the Keys, whom to Baptize, and to whom to give the Sacrament of ConirQunion, that is, in Subordination to Chrift's Prophetical, Prieftly, and Kingly Office, to be his Minifter in Office ^ t . To teach the People , 2. To go before them in Worffiip ^ 3. To guide them by the Keys of Difcipline. And he is no true Minifter that wanteth any one of thefe Powers, however he may be hindered from the Excf cife, 33. At leaft I. Neceffity ^^//Mew;, 2. Scripture^ 3. And the Catholick Antiqui- ty, fhould be fo far regarded as to' make the People's Confent neceffary, though not their Eleftion, at leaft when they do not by unreafonable Denial forfeit this Priviledge. 35. If this be a limitation of CaM. 7. its well, X 3, viz.. Suppofing there be a tolerable Paftor there, and no notorious necelli- ty -, for fome Parifhes may have no Paftor, fome worfe than none, and fome with us (as many in ZoKc/oM-Parilhes, Stepney^ Giles^ CrippkgaU^ Sc^ulchres^ Martins^ &c,) have more Souls than ten. Men can Teach and Over-fee : who muft not therefore be forfaken and given up to Satan, what-ever we fuffer for endeavouring their Sal- vation. 4.7. A Bilhop, if he pleafe, may thus cauflclly keep mofl Minifters in his Diocefs from Preaching the Gofpel, for the moft part of their Lives. I had rather be pu- nillied as a Rogue at a Whipping Poll, before 1 am fully heard and judged, than have innocent Souls deprived of the ufual means of their Salvation under pretence of Puniffiing me. At leaft, let no Sufpenllon be valid^ longer than the place is com- petently fupplied by another. 48. Will noMulfls or Stripes fatisfie the Law. without Silencing Men, and for- bidding them to endeavour Men's Salvation (before their Crimes arc proved fuch as render them uncapable of that work ? ) 49. But hath the Synod or Frahyury a Negative Voice in his puniffinient, or not? 50. For Treafon and Murder there is reafon for it ^ but if every Man muft be dcpofed from the Miniftery, that did ever Curfe, Swear, or. had any fcandalous Vice from his Child-hood, befoie his Ordination, or Converfion, I doubt the num- ber left will be too fmall. <;3. The old Canons diftinguifhed : Some Crimes left fo great a blot as made Men uncapable :, others did not fo. If fuch a War fhould break out, as between the Emperor Hmry IV. &c. and the Pope ^ or between the Houfes oiTork and Lan- cafltr^ the prevailing Party will force the Minifters to own him •, and if the other Party after prevail, their Crime will be called Treafon, and all the Churches left defolate. Part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 8i defolatc, and the Peoples Souls foriaken by the Mioifters perpetual incapacity ^ and the King's pardoning Power much reftraincd. 54. Why fiiould it be left to the Bilhop's Will, #hether h« will rcftore fuch a penitent or uoi ? 56, Peaceable Men will confent that no Minifters (hould be permitted to Preach, or Talk SeditiouQy againft even thofe Rules of Government which they do not .ap- prove. But this Penalty is fo high and fevere, that few worthy Miniftcrs will tliink their Station fecure, but will prepare for Rinifhment. For, 1. Thefe Ruhi are many. 2. And Derogatory is a large Word, and will extend far. 3. And there are few worthy Minifters that have no Drunkards, Fornicators, (*rc. for their Enemies to accufe them. £; g. if I lived in Scotland^ and fliould but 'read Blondel Je jure Pleb'us in regimine Ecdefiajiico^ and fay, it is found Dodrine, and this in Difcourfe at my own Table, I might be thus troubled, and banilhed, it being de- rogatory to that part of the King's Rules, as here expreft, which deprive the People of all power of Confent, 6'c. , Is it not enough that this Paper of Canons be fo far equalled with God's Word, yea, with the very Articles of our Faith, as that the open Oppugners of them have the fame Penalty as open Hereticks (who of old were after a firft and fecond Admonition to be avoided ; ) And furely I think even that this is too much ^ and yet I would have turbulent Preaching againft the Government, or Endeavours openly to fubvert it, reftrained. But mcthinks after the firll and fe- cond Admonition, a competent Mulft might do that fufflcicntly, till Men go fo far as to be turbulent Incendiaries. 63. Shall the Presbytery have a Negative Voice in the Ordination, or be Cy- phers ? 66. It is well that the Elders Confent is required : but I think it Ihould be the Congregation's : And what if the Elders diflent ? Shall that hinder the Relation or not ? 93. The number of chofenMinifters in National Synods, ^'i\\ be inconfiderablc as to the reft. 9(j. The ufe of a National Synod (where all Bifhops and Moderators are choftn by the King, and the Commiflloner rulcth) being before-hand refolved to be {to Compile a Liturgy^ and Rules for all Points of Divine Wor/hip, with the Methods^ Cir- cumjiances^ and Rites to be l^ferved therein .,"] Many knowing what Liturgy, Sub- fcriptions Declaration^ and Rites, ars plealing to Authority in England^ will imagine tnem in fiert^ if not virtually fet up already in Scotland^ when thefc Rules are fet up. 107. Publick Pennance — — And why not .' C and Sufpenfim from Communion tiO petutent ConfeJJion be made."}. But I know not why Comfenfations fhould ferve inftead of Confeffion^ and Fromife of Reformation (without which Money will not make a Man a Chriftian, rior fit ;for Church-Comfhunion : ) But for any other Pennance, befides one penitent Confcjfion , and Prontife of Amendment^ and defire of the Churches Prayers for Pardon, I know nothing of it, and therefore meddle not with it. 132. C A/b -^<7, Order ^ nor Conjlitution"^ maybe Expounded to reach to 5rr/- fture Conjiitutions and Ordirs^ and the proper ^ffs of the MinifterLil Office, if not better explained. 133. The Word C Eccle/iaftical Meeting ~] may be interpreted of particular Sy- naxcs or Congregations of a Parilh for Worlhip, if not limited, which Convoca- ting of the People is part of the Paftor's proper Office, and for a thoufand Years was fo accounted by the Catholi^ Church. And if in cafe of Dilcord or Herefie, a few Neighbour Minifters meet for a Friendly Conference, to cure it, it feemeth hard to charge them with Sedition. 1 40. If the Parties be able to come. 143. Many of thefe Faults fliould be Corrected by Mulcts, before Men be for- bidden to Preach the Gofpcl. If every Man be Sufpended (which Ifuppofe is pro- hibiting him to Preach and Endeavour Mens Salvation) who ufeth unfound Speeches^ Flattery^ or Ligktnefs^ 1 doubt fo many will talk themfelves into Silence, that a Iharp Profccution will leave many Churches defolatc. 145. But what if there be no Preachers to be had? Way not tlic Sulpended Preach ? L 1 I I :^(.D'i£- 82 The LIFE of the Partlll >. — 1 46. Difobedieuce to ibme of the imall EaleliafticalRules may be punifhed with Mukts, without abfolute Silencing, cfpecially wlien able Preachers are wanting. Shall the inllruding of the Peebles Souls fo much depend on every Word in all thele Canons/" But oh, that. you would make that good in Practice that {^Ljbourina to ^ct Ecckftajljcal Preferment^ fnould be puniflted, if it were with lefs th.ui Ele^o- fition : It would be a happy Canon. 147. But fhall the Synod, or Presbytery carry by Vote, or not? 149. If every Church-Seflion have this power of Sufpenfion, with power but to fay [_ We decLire you unfit for Communton of this partkuUr Churchy till you repent^ '} it would give mc great Satisfadion, were I in Scotland. For to fpeak fixely, I take thefe two Things to be of Divine Appointment, i. That each particular Church Wave its proper Pallor, who have the. Minifterial Power of Teaching, Worfhip, (Sacraments, Prayer, Praife) and Difcipline ;, and I delire no more Difciplincthau you hei-e gra»t, that is, Sufpenfion from Communion in thit particular Church, if aJfo the Perfon may be declared unfit lor it till he Repent. 2. That thefe Paftors hold fuch CoiTefpondency as is ne^elliiry to the Union of the Churches in Faith and love- And 3. For all tbe reft, I take them to beCircumftances of fuch prudential Determination, that 1 would eafily fnbmit to the Magiltrates determination of them, fo ihcy be not delfrudive to the Ends .■ and would not have Minifters take too much of the trouble of them upon themfclves, without necellity. 152. But then you fecm here to retradt the particular Churches Power again: For if a Man may be debarred tiic Communion for once finning (by Fornication, Dninkennefs, &c.) why not much more for doing again after Repentance ? 1 differ more from this than all the reft : Is it not enough that the Party may ^'/'/'f^/ to the Presbytery ? And that the Seflions or Pallor be rejponfibk for Male-Admiiiiltration or Injury, if proved ? This one Canon would drive me out of the Miniftry in Scotland : I would never be a Pallor, where I mult after the firit Crime, ever after give the Sacrament to every flagitious OiFendcr, till the Presbytery fufpend him ; unlefs they do it very quickly ^ which perhaps they may never do. 153, 154. No doubt but 'jure Divino every true particular auirch hath tlje Power of Excommunicating its own Members out of that particular Church-Com- munion : ( Delivering up to Satan is s doubtful Phrafe which 1 Ihall not Hand on.) But an Excommunication which fliall bind many Churches to avoid the Sinner, mull be done, or Confented to, by thofe 7nany Churches. Therefore Excommunication Ihould' be diflinguilhed. 156. Sure fome few 'iEcclefiaJlical Rules atid Proceedings'} maybe fo low as that a Contempt of them may be eafily er punifhed than with this terrible Excommunica- t?on. jfrnpenitettcy muft be joyned with Scandalous Sins, or elfe they make not the Perfon Excdmmiinicable, as is unplyed in what followeth. 1 62. No doubt but every Church may abfolte its own Members from that fort of Excommunication which it felf may pafs .- And fotoay a Presbytery. But if the Ma- giftrate will have a more formidable, Diocefane or National Excommunication, and an anfwerable Abfolution, thofe Circumftances are to be left to his Prudence, fo be it, he deprive not each partiailar Paftor and Church, of their proper Power and Pirvrledgc plainly fouHd in Saipturc, and ttfed many hundred Years through thcCapholick Gliurch. promur'able Sir^ The Copy which you fcnt me goeth no furtlm r than to the Vili- tationofthc Sick, viz.. to Can. ti6. And fomuch according as I waidcfircd, I have freely and faithftilly Animadverted. And in cencralj here are many excellent Canons, though of many things I cannot Judge, andthofe tew Exceptions I humbly offer to your Confideration, craving your Pardon for this boldncfs, which I fhould not liavc been guilty of,, if the worthy Mefleugcr had not told me, that it was your defire. Sir, I reft July 22.1673. Tour Httmlle Servant .V. *■ S 173- ^ Part III. "Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 85 % 173- 'J had forgotrcn one paflac-c in the former War of great remark, which ^ ..t me into an amazement : The Duke of OriiMd^ and Council had the caiifc of the Marquefs of .^Ktr/w before them, who had been one df the /r//7j Rebels in the bej^inning of that War, (when in the horrid MafTacre two hundred tho\i- fand Proteftants were murthered :,} His Ellate being fequeftred he fought his le- ftitutioa of it, when King Cbarls II. wlis reftored. Ormond^ and the Conn :il judged againfl: him as one of the Rebels : He brought his ' caufe over to the King, and affirmed that what he did was by his Father's Confcn: and Authori- ty, The King referred it to feme very worthy Members of his' Privy -Council' to examine what he had to (hew : Upon Examination they reported that they found that he had the King's Conftat, or Letter of' Inftrudions for what he did, which amazed many: Hereupon His Majefty, Charles II. wrote totheDulce of Ormond and Council to reftore his Eftate , betaufe it appeared to thofe ap- pointed tp examine it, that what he did was by his Father's Order or Confent- Upon this the Parliament's "old Adherents grew more confident than ever of the righteoufncfs of their Wars : And the very deftroyers of the King fwhom the firfl Parliamentarians called Rebels) did: prefume alfo to jnilific thir Caufe and faid tliat the Law of Nature did wal^rant them. * ' But it ftopt not here: For the hor d A faiarine^ aw ji others of IMund did fo far profeaite the Caufe, as that the Marquefs of ylntrhn was forced to produce in the Parlram.ent of Ingland in the Houfe of Commons a Letter of the King's, (Cha I.) by which be gave him order for his taking up Arras : Which being read in the Houfe, did put them into a Silence. But yet fo eVrci^ious was their Loyalty and veneration of Majefty, that it put them' not at all one^ilen out of the way which they had gone in. But the People without Doors talked ftrangely : Some faid, Did you not perfwade us that the King was af^ainfl: r)ie JriPi Rebellion ? And that the Rebels belied him when they faid that^they had his Warrant or Commiffion ? Do we not now fee with what I\Iind he would have gone himfelf with an Army into Ireland to fight againll tliem ? A great deal more nof here to be mentioned was vended feditioufly among the People the Suir. of which was intimated in a Pamphlet wliich was Printed, called Mmder*w win out -^ in which they publifhedthe King's Letter, and Anima'dverfio'ns on it notme« Some that were ftiU Loyal to the Kmg did wifh, that the King that now is hadJ«''S«of rather declared, that his Father did only give the Marquefs of Antrim Com-^'"^^°"* mifiionto raife an Army as to have helped him ^ainft xht Scots ^ and that his°^'^^^^''' turning againfl; the Enilifh Proteftants in Ireland, and the murdering of fomanyS'ionr hundred thoufand there , was againfl: his Will : But quod firiptum erat faiptim erat. And though the old Parliamentarians expounded the Adions and Declarations both of the then King and Parliament, by the Commentary of this Letter, yetfo did not the Loyal Royalifls • or at Icaft thought it no rcafon to make any change in their Judgments, or fl:op in their Proceedings ac^ainlt the Fniliflj Presbyterians, and other Non-conforn>able Proteftants. ° ^ § T74, In the beginning ef December 1670. The Duke of Ormond, as he was returning home to Clarendon Houfe in the Night, was feized on by fix Men who.fct him on Horfeback to have carried Iiim away. But he was refcued before they could accomplifli it. Shortly after, fomeof his Majefty's Life-Guard furprized * Sir ^ohn Coven-* This trig, a Member of the Houfe of Commons, and cut his Nofe, which occafioned a greatly great heat in the Houfe, and at laft that Aft which is newly palled for prevent- '^''P'^^'^^ ing of the like. Many Murdcts .-\nd outrages, and cutting of Nofes were com- ^^' ^'^'"' mitted aifo on other Perfons. But d)e greatcft Noifewas made by certain Dukes "^°°^ nnd Lords that went in a torrent of Jovialtyto a defamed Houfe in a Street caU '* led Whetftone-P^vrk, and when the wretched Women cryed for help, the Beadle came in with fome Watchmen, and tjfcy killed him prefently. Whilft fuch things went on, the Houfe of Commons was bufic about an Aft to ma'ke all forbidden Meetings for God's Worlhip, Preaching and Praying by the filenced Minifters to be fcverelieryet punilhed as Routs and Riots, • * LIU 2 S I7S- ,84 '/ ^^^ LIFE of the Part I fl § 175. There happened a grint rebuke to the Nobility and Gentry of Du^olin in Ireland^ vvhicl^s related in their Gazjttte in thefe words. [_ Duhl. Dec. 27. " Ye- " fterday happened here a very unfortunate Accident : Moft of the Nobility and " Gentry being at a Play, at a publick Playhoufe, the upper Galleries on 3 fud- " den fell all down, beating down the fecond, which together with all the Peo- " pie that were in , them, fell into the Pit and lower Boxes : His Excellency, " the Lord * Lieutenant, with his Lady, happened to be, there, but thanks be t» " God cfcapedthe Danger without any harm, part of the Box where they were " remaining firm, and fo refifting tbe Fall from above ^ only his two Sons were "' found quite buried under the Timber. The. younger had received but little *' hurt, but the eldeit was taken up dead to all appearance, but having prefent- *' ly been let Blood, K/oK, alas! they were but fey/: And the moft of thcReligious People were more and more alienated firom the Prelates and their Churches. § 192.. Thofe that froip the beginning thought they faw plainly what was doing, limented all this : They thought that it was not without great Wit, that feeingonly ^ Parliament was truftcd before the King with the People's Liberties, and could raife - a\V^ 88 ' 7hc LI F E of the Part III a War againft him, ( Intercft ruling the World) it was cxintrivcd that this Parlia- ment iliould make the fevereft Laws againft the Nonconformilts to grind thera t» duft, and tliat the King fhould allay the Execution at his pleafure, and become their Proteftor againft Parliaments ; and they that would notconfent to thii fhould fuf- fer. And indeed, the Minifters therofelves feemed to make little doubt of this: But they thought, i . Tljat if Papip ftiall have liberty, it is as good for them alfo to take theirs, as to be fnut out : z. And that it is not lawful for them to refufe their prefent Liberty, though they were fure that Evil were delign'd in granting it. 3. And that before Men's defigns can come to ripeacfs, God hath many ways to fruftratc tlicm, and by drawing one Pin, can let fall the beft contrived Fabrick. But Itill remember, that all Attempts to get any Comprehenfion (as it was then called) or abatement of the Rigour of the Laws, or Legal Liberty and Union, were moft effeftually made void. § 193. At this time there was Printed ia HoUand, thcThefts^ or Exercife Per- . formed at the" Commencement, for the Degree of Dr. of Law, by one of the King's Subjects, a Scots-Man, Rob. Hamilton : In which he largely proveth the Necefiity of a ftanding Treafury in a Ringdom, and the power of the King to raifc it, and impofe Tributes without the People's Confent, and Dedicating it to the King, and largely applying it to England^ he fheweth that Parliaments have no Legiilative Power but what the King giveth them, who may take it fi-om them when He fceth Caufe, and put them down, and raife Taxes according to his own Difcretion, with- out them : And that Farliammts and Magna Charta^ are no -impediments to him, but Toys j and that what Charter the former Kings did grant, could be no Band on their Succeflbrs (forgetting that fo he would alfo difoblige the People from the Agreements made by Sieir PredecefTors ( as e. g. that this Family fucceffively (hail rule them, 6'c.) with much more. Whom Fame made to be the Animater of this Tradate, Ipafsby. ^ § 1 94, There was this Year a Man much talk'd of for his Enterprifes, one Ma- jor Bhod.^ an EngU/h-man of Ireland. This Man had been a Soldier in the old King's Army againft the Parliament, and feeing the Caufe loft, he betook himfelf towards Ireland, to live upon his own Eftate. In his way he fell in Company with the Lan- cafhire Minifters, who were then Writing againft the Army, and againft all violence to King or Parliament. Blood being of an extraordinary Wit, falls acquainted with them, and not thinking that the Presbyterians had been fo true to the King, he is made the more capable of tlfcirCounfelj fo that in fhorthe became a Convert, and manned the Daughter of an honeft Parliament Man of that Countrey ; And after this in Irelayidhe was a Juftice of Peace, and Famous for his great Farts and upright Life, and fuccefs in turning many from Popery. When the King was Reftored, and Vie law the old Minifters Silenced in the Three Kingdoms, and thofe that had Sur- prized Dullin-Cajlle for the King from the AnMhaptfls.^ caft afide, and all things go contrary to his judgment and Expectation, being of a moft bold nnd ien:>lutc Spirit, he was one that plotted the Surprizing of the D. oiOrmond., and of Dublin Cajole. ^ But being detected and prevented, he fled into Enghnd -. There he lived difguifed,g3| pradifmg Phyfick, called Dr. Clarke, at Rumford When fome Prifoners were car-^ ricd to be put to Death at Tork, for a Plot, he followed and Rcfcued them, and fct them free : At laft it was found to be He, with his Son, and three or four more, that attempted to Surprize the D. of Ormond ; and to have earned him to Holland^ where he had a Bank of Money, and to have made him there to pay liis AiTcars. ] Miffing of that Exploit, he made a bolder Attempt, even to fetch the King's Crown and Jewels out of the ToiPfr ^ where pretending Fricndftiip to the Keeper of it, He, with two more (his Son, and one Perrot) fuddenly Gagg'd the old Man, and when he crycd out, he ftruckhim on the Head, but would not kill him, and fo went away with the Crown. But as foon as ever they were gone, the Keeper's Son eometh in, ai:d finds his Father, and hcarcth the Gifc, and runs out after them, and Flood, and his Son, and /'tr/'ot were taken. Zf/00^ was brought to the King, andexpeded Death :, but^hc fpake fo boldly that all admired him : tdling the King, How ihany of his Subjefts were difobligcd, and that he was one that took himfelf to be in a State ofHoftility: and that he took not the Crown as a Thief, but an Enemy, thinking that lawful which was iawfiil in a War ; and that he could many a time have had , ihc King in his power, but that he thought his Life was better for them than his Death, Part 111. Keveremi Mr. Richard Baxter. 89 Death, left a worfe fiicceed hirfi ^ and ihat the number of Refohjte Mca difobliged were io great, as that if his Life were taken away, it would be revenged : That he intended no hurt to the Perfon of the D. of Ormcnd^ but becaufe he had takeiji his Eftate from him, he would have forced him to refcore the value in Money : and that he never Robb'd, nor ihed Blood, which if he would have done, he could cafily have kill'd Ormond^ and eafily have carried away the Crown. In a word, he To behaved hlnifclf, that the King did not only releafe and pardon him, but admif him frequently to his prefence. Some fay, becaufe his Gallantry took much with the King, having been a Soldier of his Father's : Moft fay. That he put the King in fear of his Life, and came off upon Condition that he would endeavour to keep the difcontented Party quiet, § 195. Mr. Bagfljarv (in his rafh and ignorant Zeal, thinking it a Sin to hear a Conformilf, and that the way to deal with the Perfecutors was to draw all the People as far from them as we could, and not to hold any Communion with any that did Conform) having Printed his Third Reviling Libel againil me, called for ttiy Third Reply, which I Entitled [ The Church told of^ &c.'3 But beiag Printed without Licenfe, Lejl:ran£€, the Searcher, Surprized part of it in the Prefs ( there being lately greater Penalties laid on them that Print without Licenfe, than ever before : ) And about the Day that it came out, Mr. Bag[haw died ( a Prifoner, though not in Prifon :) Which made i^ grievous to me to think that I mult feem to write againft the Dead. While we wrangle here in the dark, we are dying and palRng to the World that will decide all our Controverfies : And the fafeft PafTage thither is by peaceable HoUnefs. § 1 96. About "^Jan. I '. the King ctufed his E.vchequer to be ihut up : So that whereas a multitude of Merchants, and others, had put their Money into the Ban- ker's hands, and the Bankers lent it to the King, and the King gave Order to pay out no more of it, of a Year , the murmur and complaint in the City was very great, that their Eftatcs fliould be (as they called it) fo furprized : And the ra- ther, becaufe it being fuppofed to be in order to the Aflifting of the French in a War againft the Dutch^ they took a Year to be equal to perpetuity, and the ftop to be a Jofs of all, feeing Wars ufe to increafc Neceflipes, and not to fupply them. And among others, all the Money (and Eftate, except lo /. per Ain. for ii or rz Years) that I had in the World of my own (not given away to others, whopi Charity commanded me to give it to for their Mamtenance, beforej was there : which indeed was not my own •, which I will mention to Counfel any Man that would do good, to do it fpeedily, and with alt their might. I had got in all my Life the juft Sum of looo /. Having no Child, 1 devoted almoft all of it to a Chari- table life ( a Free-School, &c. ) I ufed my beft and ableft Friends for 7 Years with all the Skill and Induftry I could, to help me to fome Purchafe of Houfeor Land to lay it out on, that it might be accordingly fetlcd : And though there were never more Sellers, I could never by all thefc Friends hear of any that Reafon could en- courage a Man to lay it out on as fecure, and a tolerable Bargain .• So that I told them, 1 did pefccive the Devil'?, Refiftance of it ^ and did verily fufpeft that he wouldi' prevail, and 1 fhouid never fettle, but it would be loft: 'So hard is it to do any good when a Man is fully refolved, that divers fuch Obfervations verily confinri mc^ That there nre Devils that keep up a War againft Goodnefs in the World, § 1 97. The great Preparations of the French to invade the Vnited Provinces^ and of the Fr.^li/h to afTid them, do make now the Proteftauts Hearts to tremble, and to think that the Low Countries will be Conquered, and with them tht Protefiant Caufe deeply endangered : ( Though their vicious worldly Lives deferve God's Judgments on themfelvcs ^ yet they are a great part of the Protefiants Humane Strength. ) But the Ifliie niuft expound God's purpofes, without which Men's Dc- figns are vain. § 1 98. This Year a new Play-Houfe being built in Sali/sbury-Court in fleet-Streei^ called the Duke of TorVs^ the Lord Mayor (as is faid) dcfired of the King, that it might not be ^ the Youth of the City being already fo corrupted by Senfiial Pleafurcs j' but he obtained not his defire ; And this Jan. 1 67 1 . the King's Play-Houfe in Drury M m m m JLmt^ 90 " The LIFE of the PaitlU Lane took Fire, and was burnt down, but not alone , for about fifty or fixty Houfes ad)oyning, by Fire and blowing up, accompanied it. § 1 99. A Stranger ,cailing himfelf 5ijw. //trk?-t,wrote me a Letter againft theChri- ftian Religion, and the Scriptures, as charging them with Contradiftions, and urged me to anfwer them, which 1 did : And fe-Name inviting my memory, I adjoyncd an Aniwer to the Strength of a Book heretofore written, by Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury, fome-time Ambaflador in France^^thz Author of the Hiftory of Uinry VIL called de reritate^ being the moft powerful Allault againfl: the Chriftiaa Religion, placing all the Religion that's certain, in the Common or Natural iVoticw. ' 1 entitled the. Book, Mnre Reafms for the Chrljlian Religk/i^ and none agMKj't it : Or, a Stcond -Jf^endix to the Reafon for the Cb-'ifiian Rd'gion. . .§ 200. The forefaid Mr, HtnUcy by his impertinent Anfwer to ray former Letters, extorted from me a large Reply ^ but when I was fending it him in V^^riting, 1 heard that he intended to Print fome fcraps of it with his Papers, the better to put them off: Whereupon 1 fent him word he (hould not have them, till he fatisfied me that he would not fo abufe them, ire. The rather becaufc, i. The Subject of them was much to prove that the War was raifed in England by an Epifcopal Parliament, jealous of other Epifcopal Men, as toPo- texy and Propriety. 2. And it was fo. much againft Dioccfams^ and their new Oaths, as would much difpleafe them, 3. And inafharper ftile than was fit for publick View : And as to the firft Reafon, I was afraid left any Papifts would lay hold of it, to make any Princes, that already hate the the Non-conformifts, and Presbyterians, to hate the Conformifts and Prelatifts alfo ^ and fo to feem themfelves the moft Loyal : And I had rather they hated, aad caft off the Non- conformifts alone, than both. This mindeth me to add that.. § 201. About a Year ago one Benry Fowlis^ Son to Sir David Foxolis^ an Ox- ford U.axiy who had wrote againft the Presbyterians with as filthy a Language al- moft as a Man in his Wits could do, having written alfo againft the Papifts, His Book (after his Death) was Printed in a large Folio, fo opening the Princi- ples and Praiiicesoi Papifts againft Kings,their Lives and Kingdoms, by multitudes of moft exprefs Citations from their own Writers, that the like hath not be- fore been done by any Man ; nor is there extant fuch another Colledtion on that Subjeft (though he left out the Irifh Maflacre : ) But whereas the way of the Pa- pifts is, to make a grievous Complaint againft any Book, that is written efFeftu- ally againft them, as injurious (as they did againft Pet. Moulm's Anfwer to Phi- lanax Atglicus^ and againft Dr. StiUingfieeth late Book) or the contrary ^ this Book being copious true Citationsand Hiftory, is fo terrible to them, that their method is to fay nothing of it, but endeavour to keep it imknowa ^ for of late they h.avc left the difputing way , and bend all their endeavoras to creep into Hci^fes, and pervert Perfons in fecret ^ but efpecially to infmuate into the Houfes and Familiarity of all the Rulers of the World, where they can be received. § Id. The Death of fome, the worthy Labours, and great Sufferings of others, maketh me re.member that the juft charafterizing of Ibme of the Miiiiftcrs of Chrift, that now faffered for not fwearing, fubfcibing, declaring, copfcrmmg, and for refufing Re-ordination , is a duty which 1 owe to the honour of God's Graces in them. But bccaufe no Man can exped that I ftioujd be fo volu- minous as to defcribe particularly all the Eighteen hundred lilenccd, I fhall but tell you what my own Neighbours were, not fpeaking by hear&y, butper- fonal acquaintance ^ herein imitating Thuamts., Micrelius^ and many others in the truth and brevity of the Character , but giving you nothing of any unknown Perfon by bare report. 1 I. In the County where Wivcd^m H'orcefier City, was filencedMr. Jofeph Bahr^ born h\ Stourbridge(who{c Wifes Funeral Sermon and Life 1 printed,)He vv.is a Learn- ed Man, of a blamclefs Life, Preaching conftantly, Catcchiiing the People, and conferring with the feveral Families fefpccially before he firft admitted them to the Lord's Supper ) perfonally : But of extraordinary Prudence, Calmnefs, Pa- tience, Gravity, and Soundncfs of Judgment -y neither for Prelacy , Presbytery, nor Independency ,as then formed into Parties-, but for that which was found in dli the Parties, and for Concord upon fuch Catholick terms : The Parilh of St. yine drews^ where he was Minifter, had but about fix Pound a year maintenance , of which Part iiL 'Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ' 91 which he took none, but gave it to a Woman to teach the poor Children of tl.eparifh to read, living upon his own, and fomc fmall augmentation granted by the Parliament. *^ 2. At the Cathedral, Mr. Simon Moor \vz% filenced, an old Independent, wlto iomewhat loft the Peoples Love, upon Reafons which 1 here omit. &^ 3. In the fame City was filenced Mr jiM/ce, ('his Son-in-Law j a moderate Inde- pendent, and a fober, grave, ferious, peaceable, blamelefs, able Miniftcr. 4. In the fame City was filenced Mr. fincher^ a moderate Independent, a zea- lous able Preacher, ot a good Life. 5. At Acw/fy, was put out Mr. Tho. Bromwkh^ an ancient, reverend, able Mi- niftcr, of an upright Life : But when Bilhop yl/or/c)' was there, and Mr. Collier of Bkckley had conformed, he was ovcr-perfwaded to take the Declaration : But before he came to profefs his Aflent and Confent openly , and fully to con- form, he w^as cad into great and long dillrefs of Confcience, and went no far- ther: But yet by Preaching he ufed that Liberty that he had 10 procured. >i 6. At Vpton^ upon Severn^ was filenced Mr. Betijatnm Baxter^ Son to that old holy, reverend Mr. George Baxter , Pallor at little Wenlotk in Shro^/hire^ near the li^itkon-Htll^ who lived there till about eighty fix years of Age ,,in the tonftant faithful Preaching and praftifing of the Gofpel. His Son now mentioned was a Preacher of extraordinary Skill, efpecially in matter and method, fo that few that ever i heard Excelled him : He tived uprightly to near fifty feven Years of Age, and fuffered much by the lownefs of his Eftate by his Ejeftion, who be- fore had lived plentifully. 7. His Brother, Mr. Stephen Baxter^ though below him in utterance, was of a folid UnJerftanding, and a calm, peaceable Spirit, moft humble, and blamelefs in his Life, and liveth fmce his filencing in the praftife of Phylick. 8. At Eve/ham was filenced Mr. George Hopkins^ Son to Mr. IVilliafn Hopkins^ the molt eminent, wife, and truly Religious magiftrate of Bewdley^ (ray old dear Friend) at laft a member of the loag Parliament. This his Son, having long been Paftor at Evejhant^ was many Years filenced • and when the Oxford Oath came out, he was over perfwaded to take it, in his own Sence, and fo not to be forced five miles from the People : But he died either on, or very near the lame day that he fhould have had the benefit of it : He was a. very judicious, godly, mo- derate, peaceable, and uprighynan : He hath one Writing extant, called Salva- tion from Sin. 9. At Martley was filenced and ejefted Mr. yimhrofe Sparry , heretofore School- mafter af Stourbridge.^ vvhere he was born j he was an ancient fober, peaceable, moderate, humble, goaly^ judicious man ^ formerly for the Conformifts , but now call out among the reft : But his great Prudence, and moderation, and Learning, and the chief of Stourbridge being his Friends, caufed the Chancellor to connive at laft at his teaching the School at Stourbridge again, where he had been in his Youth, where he is yet connived at, and liveth with great acc«ptance, though he was a while malicioully laid in Goal. I o. At Bewdley was filenced Mr. Henry Oatland^ the moft lively, fervent, moving • Preacher in all the County, of an honeft, upright Life, who rode about, from place to place Preaching fervently, and winning many Souls to God, befidcs all his very great Labours with his- own People, publickly, and from Houfe to Houfe : And t^i yet continueth Preaching up and down privately where he can have opportunity, with 7cal and diligence : And though thofe that excelled others in ■zealous Preaching and acceptance with the People, were apterto be carried (in my Judgment) a little too far from Conformity, and the Prelate's Indignation againll the Church-Tyranny, but not at all forfaking Orthodox, and found Principles, yet fo was not he. 11. At Stourbridge was- filenced Mr. Jarvis Bryan.^ Brother- to Dr. Bryan of Coventry^ a moft humble, upright, faithful Minifter, of a blamelefs Life, and found Dodrine. 12. At Stcne was fiknccd Mr. Richard 5erJM«f, formerly my Affiftant, a man of fuch extraordinary Prudence, Humility, Sincerity, Self-denial, Patience, and blamelcfsQefs of Life • that I know not of all the Years that he afliftcd me, of any oneperfon, in Town or Parilh, that was againft him,' or that ever accufed him of faying or doing any thng amifs. So that though many excelled liim in Learoing and utterance, yet none that ever I knew, as far as I could Judge, in M m m m 2 Innccency 92 Ihe L L Pt o] the Fart III Tnuoccncy and Sincerity -^ which made him beloved of all above many abler Men. 13. At J5 ^oow was filenced Mr. Humphrey Waldern^ my ^JTiftant after Mr. Ser^ jeant^ exaftly agreeing in the fame Charafter I gave him, in the next degree ^ of good Learning and Utterance. 1 4. At Wombwnc was filenced Mr. Wilshy^ an ancient, judicious , peaceable, moderate Divine (who had long kept one of the moft learned of the Prelatifts *Biming-'^'^ his Houfe. ) At * Bremicha7n^ where he^lived privately, he was troubled by tm. Sir Robtrt Holt ^ but (under many Infirmities) is yet alive, a man of humility, and an miblameable Liffc. I mention not the judgment of any of thefe , that I may fay of all together, that as far a^ I could perceive, they were neither for Prelacy, Presbytery, or Independency, as now in Parties, but as I laid of them before," of the primitive temper, for Concord, on the Terms that all found and good men are agreed in, and for the praftice of that, rather than • contending about more: And of the primitive extraordinary l-?iimility and In- nocencency. 1 5. The fame I mull lay of Mr. Aulrcjr Trijlnim^ fsrft of Cto?f, then filenced at Bridgnorth^ a Man of more than ordinary ability in Preaching and Prayer, and of an upright Life, and now a Phyficiaii. 16. The fame I muft fay of Mr. John Ragnolds^ filenced at IVohverhamptom^ a Man of more than ordinary Ability, for Learning and Preaching, and now alfo aPhylician. 17. At ylvely was filenced Mr. io:/e/,' formerly Schoolmafter at iF.^/2/er/y/, who -ihaving been fuppofed ftill to be not only againft the Parliament's Caufe, but for the Prelates and Conformity, and never toming into our minifrerial Meetings, where we monthly kept up difputations and Difcipline, but only extraordinary conftant at my Lefture at Kidcrminjhr^ he was as a ftranger to us all, till the filencing time came, and then he fuftercd with the moll patient and refolved, and hath fince appeared, on fiiUer notice, a prudent and very worthy Man, and is yet living in his patient Silence, aged about fixty two. 18. AtBromsgrove was filenced Mr. 'Jo\m Sphhury ^ born in ^Bewdky^ a mau accounted an Independent, but of extraordinary worth, for moderation, peacea- blcnefs , ability, and minifterial diligence, and an upright Life. 19. At Whitley was filenced Mr. Jofeph Read^ born in Kidcrminjier^ and feat by me to Cambridge^ and after living in my Houf% and for one Year my afBllant at KideriJiinJlet'^ a man of great fincerity, and worth. 20. At Churchil was cafl: out Mr. Edward Boucher, another young msu , born ill R'idenni>iJler-?2Yiih^ of great humility, fincerity, peaceableneis, and good mini- fterial parts j Brother to James Boucher^ a Husbanfnian, wlu) can but write his Name, and is of as good underfl"anding in Divinity as many Divines of good account, and more able in Prayer than moft Minifters thr.t ever I heard. And of focal m a Spirit, and blamelefs a life, that I never fav/ him l.ugh, or fad, nor ever heard him fpeak an idle Word, nor ever heard Man accufe him of a finfiil Word or Deed , which I note with joy, and to tell the P.eader, that • he, and others of his Temper, in Kideryninjler, did by their Example exceedingly farther my fucccfs. ?A. At' Cknt was filenced Mr, TTjc .F^Wipm, a godly, calm, fober Preacher, of 3 bi?!me1efs Life. z ■} , From Chaddefley was cafl out Mr. Thomas Baldwin^ Senior, who liad •been our Schbolmafter.at Kidcrminjler, fent to mc by Mr. Fines from Cambrid£e-, a good Scholbr, a fobcr, calm grave, moderate, peaceable miniflrer, whofe Con- verfiilion 1 never iieard one Verfon blame, for any one Word or Deed ^ ai^extraordinary Preacher: Wherefore i defircd when 1 was driven iwm Ktder- ininjier^ that the People would be ruled by him and Mr. Servant, andheliveth yet among them, ^d tcncheth them privately from Houfe to Hoofe. He was prcfent with mc when I had Conference with Bilhop Morky rvhen he filenced me, andtiic witiiefs of our Difcourfe •, which, with the imprifonincnt of the moft Religious and blamclefs of the Flock, and the experience of the Qiiality of feme Preachers th;!t were fcnt to the People in my Read, and the idl of the havock made in the Churches, did alienate him fo much from Prelacy, and Coni'ormi- tv, and The People with liim, that though afterward they got a godly, Conforma- ble Mini Iter, I could not get them to Communicate with him, though 1 got them •onJlantly to hear him. Oa Part ill. Reverend Mr, Kidmrd Baxter. , ^o On this occafion 1 will mention the great Mercy of God to that Town and Country in the railing of one ^an, Mr. Thonas Foky^ who, from almort: nothing,' did get about five Thoofand Pound per Jnnum, ur more, by Iron-works, and tliat with fo juft and blamelefs Dealing, that all Men that ever he had to do with, that ever I heard of, magnified his great Integrity and Honefty, which was queitioned by none : And being a Religious, Faithful I\lan , he purchafe(i ar mong other Lands, the Patronage of icveral great places, and among the rcli of Stourbridge sx\d Kidermmfter ^ and fo chofe the bell: Conformable Minifte^to them that conld be got : And not only fo, but placed his Eldeft Son's Habita- tion in Kidtrrmnfle'-^ which became a great Froteclion and Blefiing to the Town ^ having placed two Families more elfewhere of his two other Sous, all three Religious worthy Men. And in thankfulnefs to God for his Mercies t^ him, built a well-founded Hofpital near Stourbrtdge^ to teach poor childrei:ej^ with more that I cannot remember. And thofe tailed In- dependents, Ml-. Nye^Ur. Caryli^ Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Grembill, Mr. 5>-oo(:ej, Mr, Wooi^jMr, ^o/e, (an humble Godly man) Mr. A lead, Mv. Barker, and Mr. Tw- Hf»g, (two cvcellent Pre'achers, and moderate godly, worthy men: ) Belides thofe that are come thither fmcc. Dr. Tho. Goodvsin, and Dr.., Omn from Oxford ( Men better known than my Defcription could make them) Dr. Wilkmfon ( thence alfo( Mv. Collins, Sic. john Goodmn,novf dead, l^ccd not defaibe. § 205. But bccaufe there are fome few who by Preaching more openly than the reft, and to greater Numbers, are under more Men's difpleafure and cen- fure, I Ihall fay of them truly but what I know. i. Dr. Mantoyi (who lately lay fix Months in Prifon) is a Man of great Learning, Judgment, and Integrity, and an excellent, moft laborious, unwearied Preacher, and of moderate princi- ples. 2. Dr. Jaco'tib is known to be a Man of Gravity, fober and modevaty; Princi- ' pies, and hath llill held on Preaching, in the Houfe, and under the Procectiori of the excellent, fincere, humble godly, faithful Lady, the Countefs Dowager of Exeter, Daughter to the Earl or Bridgewater , to the utmoft of her Power a comfort to all fuftering, faithful Minilters and People, and in all this excelling thofe of her Rank and Generation. 3. Dr. Jnne/lcy is a moft fincere, godly, humble Man, totally devoted to God, worthily to be joyned with his two great intimate Friends, Dr. Drake, and Mr. White, whofe Preaching in thofe two greatefl: Auditories , Giles's Cripplegate, and Paufs Church, , did very much good till he was filenced. 4. Mr. Thomas rinccnt is a ferious, humble, godly Man, of fober Principles,' and great Zeal and Diligence , whofe Experience in the Plague time engaged him in the work, as is before dcclaied : His Brother equal to him, and is but lately come out of Prifon. i . 5. Mr. JenoTPoy is a Man of extraordinary devotednefs to God, and zeal for the good of Souls, and of great humility, and holinefs of Life , and an excellent Preacher. 6. Mr, Wadsrvorth is an able judicious man, devoted wholly to God, and^^o do good. Before he was caft out, he preached conftantly, and zealoufly taught all his People alfo Houfe by Houfe, hired another to help in that work •, gave Bibles to the poor People of his Parifli , and expended not only h is time and ftrength, but his Eftate on thefe Works, with much alfo which he got from o- thers towards it : Infomuch that when he was turned out, the Peoples Lamen- tation might have melted a heart that had any Compaffion. Since then he preach- eth ("through the Peoples defire and neceffity ) at one Congregation there, at Newin^ton-hutts, and another at Theobalds by turns, and never taketh any main- tenance from either. His AfEHant. Mr Par fom, I before named. 7. Mr. Watfon is fo well known in London for his Ability and Piety that I need not defc'ibe him , however, quarrelled with by the debate-maker. 8. Mr. Thomas Doolittle^ born in Kiderminfter is a good Schollar, a godly man, of an upright Life, and moderate Principles, and a very profitable, ferious Pre2cher.^ ■ 9. Mr. Chefier is a man of a very fober, calm, peaceable Spirit, found in Do- £lrinc and Life, ^and a grave and fruitful Preacher. 1 o. Mr. Turner is a man of great Sincerity , and extraordinary humility, and profitable Labours and Induftry. 1 1 . Old Mr. Stubbs , who joineth with him, is one of a Thoufand , fomc- times Minifter at ]VeHs , and laft at ■ Dur/Jey in Cloucejlerfliire , an an- cient, grave Divine, wholly given up. to the Service of God, who hath gone about from place to place Preaching with unwearied Labour fince he was filenced, . and with great Succefs, being a plain, moving, fervent Preacher for the work or converting impenitent Sinners to God : And yet being fettled in peaceable Prin- ciples by aged Experience, he every where exprelleth the Spirit of Cenforiouf- nefs, and unjuft Separations, and Prcacheth up the ancient zeal and fincerity, with a Spirit fuitable thereunto. 1 2. Mr. Whitaker, Son to the famous Jeremy Whitaker^ is a Man of great calm- n^s. Moderation, peaceablencfs, and Soundncfs in DoCtrine, and in Life. 13. Some 9^ ■ The LI F E of the Part III 1 3. Some others there are, Mr. 6r/«,w, Mr. trMkhn^ Mr. Fatuck^ Mr. fVeJr^ &c. whom 1 am not acquainted with. § 206. Befides thefe, there are' many inXwr/ojuhat come out of other Conn- tries. I will name but Tome fe-.v that I can Ipeak of with moft alllnance. 1. Mr. john Corbet^ fometime; Preacher in Gloucejitr^ and after at Chtchefter, and after at a place in Nampjhire (200 /. per ^4nnian^ wliich he left to keep the Peace of his Confcience, ) liveth privately , and quietly ^ a Man of extraordinary judgment , ftayednefs , moderation , peaceable Principles , and blamelefs Life, a folid Preacher , well known by his Writings, ( the intercft of England^ the Hiftory of Clouccfcr War , RuJ}morty% Colledions, which were much of his Compofure. a. Mr. WiUon, fomerime of the CharUr-Houfe^ and lince of Peterborough^ hath fnch univerfal Praifes follow him from all the Country about Peterbonugh^ of his rare Skill, ability, Piety, diligence, and extruordinai y fuccefs , the mukitnde of * People there that he did good to, that it made my Heart ake to think that our ■Sins had brought us under fuch Prelates as think it a Service acceptable to God to deprive Cities and Countries of fuch Men, and put no better in their places than they have done. 3. Mr. Stanclijf ivom Stanmore an E.xcellcnt Man, of marvellous fuUnefs and accuratenefs in Prayer, and it's like he is the fame in Preaching, though I never heard him. 4. Mr. Faughan^ Minifter of Grantham^ where he was laid in Goal for not Conforming, and thence went to Barmudas with his Family ^ and from thence was difcouraged by the Quakers, and returned to England^ and liveth in London^ obfcurelv , and in a very low Condition j an able, Ibber, Godly, judicious, mo- derate man, and of great worth. , 5. Mr. SJlvefter^ from Nottmgham/hirc^ TMr. Truetnans Friend) a Man of ex- cellent meeknefs, temper, gfound, and peaceable Principles, godly Life, and great ability in the minifterial Work. 6. Mr. Hodges^O'mng lately with the Lord Hollis^)a gravc,ancient, Godly, mode- rate Divine, who anfwered the Debate -maker. - 7. Mr. Richard Fairclough^ a Man of great fincerity and foundnefs of judg- ment, moderate Principles, and a godly, upright Life, and of great quicknefs of parts, and fervency, and diligence, by which it Af ells in Somerfetjhire ^ he ex- celled ■ moll Men in excellent Labours and fuccefs. 8. His Brother, a very folid, judicious, grave, and worthy ^1inifter, of equal moderation, and peaceablenefs. 9. Mr. Tohiai £W«, a Man of great fincerity and zeal, and defire to do good, and devotednefs to God, (who falling into the Life of a private Schoolmalter) doth follow it with almoft unimitable diligence,living with very little Sleep, kfs Food, great Labour, and delight in all, by which he hath been faved better than by all phy lick from a Melancholly Inclination. 10. Rickird Morton^ Dr. of Phyiick, whom I fhould have named as Mini- fter of Ktnviir^ near Kidertninjler^ Son tp my old Friend , Mr, Robert Morton , Son-in-Law to Mr. Wkiteley of ^rt'«fc«j'^, minifter at Bevadley^ Dr. A^rtow is a Man of great gravity, calmnefs, found Principles, of no Fad ion, an excellent Preacher, of an upright Life, now pniftifing Phyfick. 11. Mr. Buttcn^ though not a Clergy-man (being never ord'ained, or in the Miniftry, yet) is not to be left out : BSing put out of his place of Canoa.of Chriji-rhurrh in Oxford^ Orator to the Univerfity, ^n Excellent Scholar, but of a greater Excellency , a moft humble Man , of a plain , fincere Heart, and blamelef'^, and a great Sufferer, w'ho, befides a gicat lofs in his Eftatc, was a- lx)ut fix Months in Goal for teaching privately two . Knights Sons, who per- fwadedhim to it: Many of hii Neighbours of Brtntfordhcing impriibned with him for fcrving God privately, by RoJ}^ the Scottilh juftice, who imprifoned me^ which they chearfiilly endured. But there are fo many more that I muft proceed no further. §207. Part III. %everend Mr, Richard Baxter. 97 § 20-^. Eelldes there are many ia the Villages ronrid about London^ and that were thence call out. As, i. I\lr. Clarkfm fiom Afortclack^ a Divine of extraordinary worth, tor folid Judgment, healing, moderate Principles, acquain- tance with the Fathers, great IMinilbcrial Abilities , and a Codly , Upright Life. 2. Mr. Samuel Cradvck^ Elder Brother to Dr. Cradock^ of Greys-Inn^ who left a place in Some*- fit/hire of about 300/, per Annum to preferve his Confcience, a Man of great Solidity and Piety, and Miniflerial Ability , but extraordinary for meekneis, Humility, Moderation, and Peaceablenefs, known by his ufeful Wri- tings. 3. Mr. Pareman put out at //^rroip on the HJ// an ancient, grave, fotiiid, pious, fober, aud peaceable Divine. 4. Mr. Taverncr^ put out at Vxhridge^ an ancient, grave, peaceable Divine, of an unblamed Life. 5. Dr. Spurjiow put out at Hackney^ an ancient, calm, reverend Minifter, one of the Writers of the Book called, Smeiiymnuus. 6. Which maketh me remember Dr. Tuckney^ wRom his Widow married ; an an- cient Learned, Godly Divine, fometime Minifter of Bofion in Lincoln/hire^ then one of the AfTembly, and long Fe^ius ProfelTor, called Doftor of the Chair in Cambridge, which place he performed with fo good acceptance, as that I need not commend his ability any forther-. Only he was over humble, and back- ward to difputes, and to put outhimfelf in great appearances, notwithftanding that place of publick Exercife. I would further mention Dr. Arthur of Clapham, Mr. Gilbert of Brentford^ Mr. Perkins, Mr, Warrham oi Henden, and many more, if I were willing to go beyond ray ocquaintonce, upon reports. § 208. And though it cannot be thought that one man that lived fo retiredly ihould Imw very many, yet I could name you excellent men, known to me either throughly, or in fome meafure, whofe Excellencies make their Names ve- ry precious to me. For Inftance, i . Mr. Truman lately dead. 2. Mt. John Warren of Hatfield Proadoke, in Ejfex, a man of great Judgment, and minifterial Abilities- moderation, Piety, and Labour : The place whence he was caft out hath had no minifter llnce to this day, though a great Town , and in the Bifhop of I o;idon\ Gift, bccaufe the means is fo fmall that none will take it: And yet he cannot have leave to preach rather than nonei But he gets now and then one by his Intereftto Preach occafionally, andhe heareththem in publick, and then himfelf inftiiidteth the People in private as far as he can obtain connivance. 3. Mr. Peter Ince^ in Wilt/lvre, a folid, grave, piotis, worthy, able minifter, livng with Mr. Grove, that excellent, humble, holy. Learned Gentleman, who himfelf is now driven out of his his Country for receiving, and hearing fuch in his Houfe'. 4. Mr. John Now, m?nifter of Torrrington, in Devon/hire, fometime Houfhold - Preacher to Oliver Cromwell, and his Son Richard, till the Army pulled him down ; but not one that medled in his Wars : He is a very Learned, judicious, godly man, of no Faftion, but of Catholick, healing Principles, and of excellent mini- fterial Ablities, as bis excellent Treatife, called. The Bleilednefs of the Righteous, Iheweth. 5. Mr. Ford of fxctcr, is 3 man of great Ability, as his Book called. The Sin- ner's Araignment at his Bar, fheweth ; a Reverend Divine, of great efteem for all rhinifterial worth, with the generality of fober men : And I hear a high Cha- rafter of Mr. Clare, near him, and many more there ; but I know not thofe. 6. Mr. hughes of Plymouth, a Very Reverend, Learned, Ancient Divine,long ago of London, an excellent Expolitor of Scripture , was in his Age laid fo long in Prifon (for filencing was not fuftering enough for fo excellent a Man) that befell by it into the Scurvy, and died foon after. His Treatife of the Sabbath is Printed fincc his Death. N n n n' 7, Mr. 9 8 The L I F E of the PartlH 7. Mr. Berry in Devonflnre^ an extraordinary humble, teader-confcienced, ferious godly, able .1 inifter. 8. Mr. Ben]. Woodhridge of Newbury^ who came out of New-England to fucceed Dr. Twijfe -^ a Man qf great Judgment, Piety, Ability, and moderate Principles, ad- dicted to no Faction, but of a Catholick Spirit. 9. Mr. Simon King^ fome-time of Coventry^ fince near Peterborough^ who firft En- tertain'd me at Coventry in the beginning of the Wars, when I was forced to fly from Honie^ a Man of a folid Judgment, an honeft Heart and Life, and addicted to no Extremes, and an able Scholar ( long ago chief School-Mafter at Bridgtwth.) Divers others of my own Acquaintance I coiild defcribe, in Wdes^ in Derhy'/hire^ Che/hire J Yorh/hire^ and other Counties ^ but I will end with a few of my old Neigh- bours that 1 had forgotten. 10. Gld Mr. Samuel HilderPiam^ about 80 Years old, only Son to the Famous Arthur Hilderjham ^ a Conformift formerly, but refolved enough againft the New Conformity : A grave, peaceable, pious, learned Divine, caft out of IVd/h-Felton in Shro^-Jhire. 1 1 . Mr. Tho. Gilbert^ of Edgmond in Shropfljtre^ an Ancient Divine, of extraor- dinary Acutenefs, and Concifenefs of Stile, and a moft piercing Flead, as his fmall Lat. TraB. of the neceiTity of Chrift's Satisfaction, (heweth. 012. Mr. Samuel Fi/her, an Ancient Reverend Divine^ fome-time oi IVithington^ then of Shrewsbury., turned out with Mr. BUl 1 1, This Year tl»= King began the War upon the DHtc\m March 167!. A.boirt the 1 6 or 17 Day was a hot Sea-fight, while our Ships Aflaulted their Smirna Fleet of Merchants, and many on both fides were killed^ which was moft that was done And abont'the 1 8f/;. Day the King Publifhed a Proclamation for War by Sea and Land : The Frcr.ch^ the EkcTior oi Cologne^ and the Biihop of Munfter, be- ina with dreadful Prcparaticas to invade them by Land r- / , ^ "& •> 1 ' Now came forth a Declaration giving fome fuller Expolition (to thofe that doubted of it) of the Tranfaftions of thefe Twelve Years laft, w^ His Ma- jeftv by Virtue of His Supreme Power in Matters Ecdefiaftical, fufpendeth all ?c- ■ nal Laws thereabout, and Declareth, That he will grant a convenient number of Publick Meeting-Places to Men of all iorts that Conform not , fo be it, 1. The Perfons be by Him approved. 2. That they never meet in any Place not approved by Him. 3. And there let open the Doors to all Comers. 4. And Preach not Seditioully. r ^ r^u u ct 1 j r - < Noragainfl; the Difcipline or Government of the Church of Bz^/onformity, but meerly to keep up our Rcfiutation with the People, and we deiircd alterations for no other ends ^ and that we loft nothing by our Non- conformity, but were fed as full, and lived as much to the Plcafurc of the Flefh ' in Plenty as the Conformifls did : And let me know what odious thoughts he had of^ his poor Brethren, upon Grounds fo notorioully flilfe, that I had thought few Men that lived in England could have been fo ignorant of fuch matters of Faft. But alas, what is there fo falfe and odious which exafperated factious, malicious Minds will not believe and fay of otheis ? And what Evidence' fo notorious which they will not nut-face? I told hiin that he was a ftranger to the Men he talked of ^ tliat thofe of my Acquaintance, (whom he coiifef- fed to be far more than of his) were generally the molt Confcionable Men that , i could-J Part III. 'Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. 105 I eould find on Earth : That he might ealily know Reputation could not be the thing which made them fufler fo much Affliftion-, becaufe i. many of them were young men, not pre-engaged in point of Reputation to any fide. 2. He knew that we loft, by our Nonconformity , that Worldly Honour which we were as capable of as he and others : We did not fo vilifie the King Parliament' Lord?, Bifhops, Knights, and Gentry, who were moll againft us, ' as to think it a piece of Worldly Honour to be vilified by them, and called Rogues and fent to the common Goals among Rogues, and branded to the World, as we' are in the Oxford Aft of Confinement, and banillied five Miles from Cities and Corporations : Our Confciences would not allow us to fay, that he, and fuch as he, who were Clergy- Lor ds^ and Parliament-Barons did conform out of Pride or Love of Reputation •, and which was the liker to a reafonable Conjefture j That he ftiould be moved by Pride who chufeth the way of worldly Wealth and Domination, and Honour, giving Laws to his Brethren , and vilifying them and trampling on them at hi^ Pleafure, as on a company of contemned, fcorn- ed Wretches ^ or they that chufe the way of this Contempi and Scorn with Poverty and Corporal Diftrefs ? Whofc honour is it that fuch Men feek ? You account their Followers the refiife of the World as you do them. And if they themfelves think better of them , yet they will know that they are moftly of the meaner fort, and that poor Me* have little to fpare for others ; and we are not fofordidly dif-ingenious as not to be fenfible that to bebeholdeii to poor Men tliat want themfelves, for our daily Bread, is not the work of Pride, but putteth our Humilty to it to the utraoft. It's foolifh Pride, which chufeth the hatred and fcorn of the Great Men of the World, inftead of Dig- nities and Honour, and chufeth to fuffer Scorn and Impriforaent among poor Men, to whom we muft be beholden for a beggerly Suftenance. And as for tha Flenty and fullnefs which they upbraid us with, it telleth us that there is nothing fo immodell and unreafonable which fome Mens Malice will not fay. Do they not know into, what Poverty London is bronght by the late Fire, and want of Trade? And what'Cornplaints do fill all the Land ? And how clofe-handed almoft all Men are that are themfelves in want ? And Minifters are not fo impudent as to turn Beggcrs without Shame? I had but a few days before had Letters of a worthy Minifter, who, with his Wife and fix Children, had many Years had feldom o- ther food than brown, Rye Bread and Water, and was then turned out of his Houfe, and had none to go to : And of another that was fain to fpin for his Living : And abundance 1 know that have Families, and nothing, or next to nothing of their own, and live in exceeding want upon the poor Drops of Charity which they ftoop to receive from a few mean People. And if there be here and there a rich man that is Charitable, he hath fo many to relieve, that each one can have but a fmall fharc. Indeed, about a dofen or twenty Minifters about London^ who ftuck to the People in the devouring Plague, or in other times of Diftrcfs, and feared no Sufferings , have fo many People adhering to them, as keep them from Beggery, or great want i^ and you judge of all the reft by thefe, when almoft all the reft through England^ who have not fomething of their own to live upon, do fuffer fo much as their Scorners will fcarce believe. It is no eaue thing to have the Landlord call for Rent, and the Baker, the Brew- er, the Butcher, the Taylor , the Draper, the Shoocmaker, and many others call for Money, and Wife and Children call for Meat and Drink , and Cloaths, and a Minifter to have no Anfwer for them, but •/ have none. And the Bifliop had the lefs modefty in ftanding confidently to my Face of his certain- ty of our tofing nothing by our Non-conformity^ when he himfelf knew that I wa5 offered a Bifhoprick in i6<5o. and he got not his Bilhoprick, ffor all his extraordinary way of Merit) till about 1 67 1 , or 1(572: and I had not a Groat of the Ecclefiaftical Maintenance fince the King came in • nor, to my beft re- membrance, ever received more then the font Pound even now mentioned , as a Salary for Preaching thefe Eleven Years; nor any v/ay for Preaching the Sum of eight Pound in all thofc Years : Yea, on this occafion, I will not think it vain to fay, that all that I remember that ever I received as gifts of Bounty from a- ny whofoever fince I was filcnced (till after yln. 1 672.) amount not in the whole to xqI. befides ten Pouud ^er ./^"mwkw which I received from Serjeant fowwr^m till he died, and when I was in Prifon, twenty pieces from Sir John Bernard^ ten from the Countefs of Exctir,\ and five from Alderman jPV, the Lord /y ^ Are you fure that the King may not lawfully endeavour any Reformation r Or ^•as'his De'clararation about Ecclefiaftical Affairs a fin ? 6 What if any humbly petition the King and Parliament for any fuch Reforma- tionVas that Laymen may not have the Power of the Keys over a whole Dioccfii, aud aU the Parochial Pallors be denied it) ^ is it certainly a fm ? p p p p I %H ii6 The LI F E of the Part II I 7. If a man Vow (though finfuUy) to do a thing which he may lawfiilly do, if he had not vowed it, are you fure it is a fin (and not Duty j to keep that Vow in Ma- teria Licita (which he thinketh Necejfaria) ? I put the Qiieftion as de futuro^ if I and Millions fliould make fuch a Vow ((K/^^iiWy, without and againfl the Will of my Su- perioursj for the time to come, ape you fure that it bindeth no man of them all ? i believe, that no private arbitrary Vow can foreftall my due Obedienceto my Gover- nours : But antecedent Duty fo made by God (as Reforming by Uwful means of Endea- vour)^ it is fuppofed they do not forbid : For every Member of the Church is ia his place obliged to promote the Common Good by lawful means : as they might for- bid us all to exhort or a Jmonilh any finner ^ or to pray, or preach, or difpute a- gainft fin, as well as to petition againft it. 2. And 'tis fuppofed that every Bifhop^ or Parliatnent-man^ or Fukr^ is not forliddcn all fueh lawful Endeavours ; and fo that a Prohibition rendereth it not (to them at leaji) unlawful. For I fpeak of no other Cafe. But how fad a Cafe is that Nation in, where the Clergy would have all men take them for fo infallible and pcrfed, without the fmalleft Fault or Errour in their Go- vernment, as that neither Parliament-man, Clergy-man, nor any one of the Peo- ple, may by lawful means endeavour the icaft Reformatiou of them : when even the Roinan Bifhop of Clokcejier^ Godfrey Goodman^ writeth fo iharply againft the L^- Chanccllor's Power of the Keys ? 2. Prop. The Nomonformifls hold it high Sacriledge {t9 alienate themfelvesj} Strifl. (e) But what if they be fufpended^ or ftlenced by Authority ? Anf. I. When it is by true Juthority^ doing it either jujlly^ or clfe imjufily^ in caft their preaching be unneccffury^ or kfs neccfjary than Obedience to the un]uft prohibitifw we will furceafe, and take it as a ficknefs or difablcment. But if it bedone by Vfur- pers^ like Papal Prelates, or by our Govcrnours uulawfully, in cafe that our preach- ing remain more necejfary to the Publick Cood^ than obedient forbearance ^ we will cxer- cife our Miniftry till Death, Prifon, or other Force difable us. If you ask, IVIw /halt be Judge '^ 1 anfwer, i. The Afagijlrate, by publick Decifion^ in Order to his oipm £x- ecution^ and if he do it unjufily, God is the Avenger. 2. And the Miniflcr by a pri- vate Rational Judgment of Difcrction, difcerning Duty from Sin j and if he were, God and Man, will punifli him ^ if not, C;cd will reward him. 2. lalfoask, V^ tiz not ConJianttusznA.FaUns (tho Erroneous) Lawful Princes? And did not the holy Bilhops of the Eap^ refiifcto furceafe their Miuiftration when they prohibited them ? And do not Papifts, and other Protcftants, as well as Bp.' Bilfon and Andrews^ asi'<^e. That we mult do the like upon fuch unjuft Prohibitions? And hath our Diocefan more power to filence us than the King ! Or were we Confe- eratcd to the Miniftry in our Ordination, on that Condition, to preach till forbidden unjuftly ? And did not the Apoftles and all Paftors, for 300 Years, Exercife theirMi- niftry againft the Wills of Lawful Magiftrates (tho Heathens, j 2. Prop. CTo preach Lectures with the Incumbent's Confent.3 Stx'xdf. (/) \_j4ndviiith the Allowance of the Bi/kop."} Anf And that is. Let King and Parliament by Law allow us to preach Chrift'3 Gof^icl, if the Biftiop will allow us fo to do •, and let the Law leave it to his power to forbid us : And what Good will Laws then do us for our Miniftry, when thefe E- leven Years have already told us what we muft tnift to from the Bilhops (fome at leaft.) Provide fuch fupply for the Subjefts Souls, as tlrnx Numbers and Neceffitics require, that the meaning may not be QZ,e{ men be f^rded^ if the Bifhop confcnt^j and fof my part, I'll Joyfully be filent. But I will not fo far deny my Scnfc and Reafon (and the Scnfc of the Countrey alfoj as to believe this is done, if another will but confidently fay it's done, or fay that we do more harm than good ■■, no more than I will believe there are no EngUfhmnt in England. 2. Prop. Let not the Incumbent be dilcouraged by the Bifhop from receiving them ] St rid, Q) So they wiU conform."} . :tA»f. So they will conform as far ae aforefaid, or as in the Propofals : But other- Wife, if it be prefeut,fvill Conformity, that muft ftill be neceflary,what arewefpeak- ing for ? This was written iu order to our Concord, by the means of fome Alterati- ons or Abatements of Confornfity, becaufe it was told abroad that fome Bifbops were Part III Rfiverend Ml Richard Baxter. 1 1 c^ie willing of fuchathing: Aud is it meant that if we Conform^ they will abate •,..forae Conformity. 3. Prop. Let it be forbidden, &c. Cabout joyning in Family Worfhip — ] Strift. (/j) CThat is, let Conventicles be allowed in all places.] .:lr.fw. Yes, if needtnl and orderly Worlbipping God, and helping each other towards Heaven be Conveiiticling ^ the Heathens fo called the Chriftian AlTemblies. This Stridurc more mortif^feth our hopes of healing, than any of the reft ; For we ice bere that the Silencing and Imprifoning, and Undoing of the Minifters, will not liitisfy ^ the People alfo mufl have their Crofs and Conventicles mult be Written on it. One would think the Limitations here put fhould have fiitisfied any man that is tor Faith^ Hope and Char it)/, i. We moved it for none but thofe that attend the Publick AlTemblies. 2. And fo it be not at the Hours of Publick Worlhip. 3. And but for Neighbours of the fame Parifh (becaufe many cannot Read, nor remember what they have Read, nor help their own Families, nor underlland themfelves the Chriftian Faith.) 4. We delired this Liberty in no E.xercifes, but reading the Scriptures, or Licenfcd Pious Books, and repeating the Publick Sermons of their Paftors, and Praying and Singing Pfalras. 5. We piotioned this much for none but thofe that herein refufe not the Infpeftion of their Lawful Pallors, to prevent all ill EfFedts. 6. And for the Minilter himfelf to repeat his Sermon, or Catechize, or Inftruft his People that will come to him. And is this the intolerable Evil, worthy to be avoided at the rate of all our Calamities ? Are all our Divillons better than the enduring of this ? If any Limitations necelTary had been omitted, I might liave cxpefted to have found them named, which 1 do not. But, i. No Man's de- nial can make us ignorant* of it, that too great a Part of the People in moft places iCDOW not what Baptifm, Chriliianity, or the Catechifm are ^ and many hundred thoufands cannot Read. 2. And that few Minillcrs foperfonally inflruft them as their need requireth (nor can do for fo many) : or by their Inftruftion they have not cured them. 3. That to go to their Neighbours on the Lord's Day, to hear ' again the Sermon, which they had forgotten, and to Praife God, and hear the Scripture, or a good Book that is Licensed, read, hath done great good to many . Souls. 4. That otherwifc fuch Ignorant Perfons as we fpeak of, except at Chui"ch- time, cannot fpend the Lord's Day to any Edification of themfelves or Families. 5. Men are not hinder'd from Feafting, Drinking, Playing together frequently, and in greater Numbers. Why then (by Bifhopsj from reading the Scripture, or a Licens'd Book or Sermon ? 6. That God hath Commanded Provoke one another ta , Love and to good works: y^nd exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, left any be hardened tlirough the deceitfulnefs of fin ; Heb. 10. 24. and 3. 13, And Cornelius had his Friends with him in his Houfe for God's Servics, ^^s 10, and y4ffs 12. 12. Jn Alar/s Houfe many were gathered together praying. And we find not that even the Jews were ever forbidden it by the Pharifees themfelves : And he that feeth his Brother have (bodily ) need, and ihutteth up the Bowels of his Compaffion from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him ? And the need of Souls is more com- mon, and to be Compaffionated. Rules may Regtdate Charity in both cafes ; but may forbid it, or the necelFary Exercife? of it in neither. He fhall Perifh as guilty of Murder that lets the Poor Die for want of his Relief, tho he be forbidden to relieve them, unlefs when the hurt would be greater than the good. Love and Mercy are tQo great duties for a Bifhop to null or difpenfe with : We put no private Man on Minifterial Aftions, but in his own place to fhew mercy to Souls. To fiy, that oiv this pretence Schifm^itical Meetings will be held, is no more to the people than to fay, that all Errours and Wickednefs may be kept up by Pretences of Reafon, Truth, Piety, Scripture, Honefly, &c. But we mufl not therefore fay. Away with Reafon, Truth, &c. But I hope God's Servants will Die rather than defert their Mailer's Work. 4. Prop. I. [The greatefl: part of it] — {once a QuarttrJ — (of Reading the Li* turgy by LeAures.) Striift. (j) {\Vhy not all as well as the greateft part ? Why not always as well as once A Quarter ?] Jnfw. 1. 1 know that here and there a word maybe fcrupled ('as the reading of Sell and the Dragon, or fuch like) which filently pail by, maketh no diflurbance ; And I think the Scrupling of fuch a word, defervcth not that all the Peoples Soulf . ke Punilbed for it, with the lofs of all their Teachers Labour?. 2. t 1 16 The L i Ft oj the Part IH 2. 1 never hear one Conformifl that Jlvth it all:- And why may not one be for- born as well as another ? 3. All the Liturgy for the day will be work too long and great , that weak Men that have no Curates cannot Read all, and Preach or Catechize alfo. If you fay that Preaching and Catechizing then may be omitted ^ I anfwer, They are God's Ordinances, and needful to Men's Souls : And feeing Prayer and Preaching are both Duties, proportion is to be obferved , that neither may be (hut out : If you account the Liturgy better than Preaching, yet every parcel of it intirely is not fure of fo great worth, as to cafi out Freaching for it. Rich parfons, that have Cu- rates, may, between them, do both j but fo cannot poor Countrey Minifters that are alone, and are fickly. And as to the \_Alrvays^ i . The Canon limateth fome but to once in half a year, ( which is lefs. ) 2. The Conformable City-Preachers, that have Curates, very rarely Read it., 3. Elfe what fbould Men do with Curates , if they mufl always Read them- felvcs ? 4. A weak Man may do both once a Qiiarter, that is not able (o do it every day. 4. Prop. 2. — It is fuppofed it rvill- be done. 1 — *' Striii. (k) Yes, once a Quarter .^ for yon would have no '^ian obliged to do it oftner j " nor all of it then neither. Anfev. Read and believe as you can. The words were Z Iff^ ^^^ Congregation^ where he k Incumbent., tkcgreatejt part of it appointed for that time .^ be fometimes (^ai once a Quarter ) ufed by himfclf and every Lordh-day ordinarily (unlefs Sickn$fsf^c ) either by himfclf or by hvs Curate or JJJifiant : 3 Is every Lord^s-day but once a gar- ter ? Or can it be every day done.^ and no one obliged to do it ? 4. Prop. 3, Let not Chriftian Parents be forbidden to dedicate their Children publickly, &c. " Strict. (/) Chriftian Parents arc not forbidden to prefent their Children to be " Baptized : But the Church in favour to the Infants, appoints others (in cafe the " parents Ihculd die, or negleft their duty) to have a Paternal care of them, i« " order to their Education, for the performance of their Baptifmal Covenant : *' That which follows is not worth the Animadverting, being nothing elfe but an *' Uncharitable and Scandalous Infinuation. ■< yinf I. Read and believe what is forbidden. C Then fhall the Priejl fpeak to ths Godfathers and Godmothers on this mfe •, Dearly Beloved — This Infant muft alfo faith- fully promife by you that are bis Sureties (— Th.it he will renounce the Devil., &c.'] — -/ demand therefore, Doft thou in the name of this Child renounce, &c. ] The Godfathers .sad Godmothers muiti^Ay., I renounce them all. Doft thou believe, 5(.c. Anfw. Mlthii I ftedfajlly believe. Qiiell. Wtlt thou be Baptii.ed in this Faith rj Anfw. That is my deftre. Q. Wilt thou obediently keep, &c. Anfw. / will. — They are after to Name the Child. After the Prieft fhall fay to the Godfathers and Godmothers —Forasmuch as this Child hJth promifed by you th.it are his Sureties to renounce — — to believe in God., and to ferve him— It ts your parts and duties to fee that this Infant be taught fo foon as he fhall be able to learn, what a Solemn Fow, Promife and Frofefftm he hath here made by you, &;c. ] See the reft. So that here, AU, the Covenanting A^ion on the Infant's part, is made the proper xyork of h'viS'Arcties, called Godfathers and Godmothers, without one word of the Pa- rent*doing it, or any part of it : And then cometh the Canon, and farther faith, ( Can. 29. ) \_ No Parent fhall be urged to be prefent, nor be admitted to atfwer as God- father for his own Child; nor any Godfather or Godmother fhall be fuffercd tojnake any other Anfwer or Speech, th.m by the Book of Common Prayer ts prefcribed in that behalf. ] The Anfwering forbidden, is the Coven.mting in the Child's Name. This is exprefly forbidden the Purrnt ( whole and part,) and Iclb it (hould be thought that he is one ^gcnt with the Sureties, as he is not to fpeak fo not to be urged .to be prefnt. Yet he is not forbiddtn to be prefent ; but he is forbidden to fpeak any Covenanting Pro- mife (ff IVord. And this was it that 1 mentioned ;, in ftead of which, you fay, he may [_ Prefent the Child 3 — Whatever you call Prefentmg, I know not, but 1 calkt only of Covenanting. 2. And Part III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 119 2. Ancf why fty yon it is C In cafe the Parents die, or negtcd their Duty, ] when the Pareats are forbidden ( though they have Sureties with them ) fo much as to proraife it as any cf thir Duty, or to fpciik as Promifing-Parties in it. 3,^ Whether this ''fe be [_a>i Zlnchjntab'.e and :'candalous Infmuation 3 is all a Cife about Matter of Fact-^ And the Qiieftion is, whether the Author or I be the truer Hiftorian : My Narrative which 1 ftand to is this. I . God's Law and Man's requires Parents to offer Children to be Baptized ; and the Kubrick before Private Baptifme forbids deferring it longoi: than the firft or fecond Sunday. •* Z. They may not be Baptized without Godfathers as aforefaid. 3. No Parent can force any to be a Godfather againfi his Will. 4. Multitudes take it for a fin to be Sureties on the Terms of the Liturgy, and therefore will and do refufe it. 5. Many Thoufands know not what Chriftiaxiity, or the Baptifmal Covenant is, as we know by PeiTonal Conference with our Flocks and others, .where we have lived. So common is grofs Ignorance among the Vulgar. 6. Many of the Learned fort difpute with us frequently, that indeed Baptifm is not to Contain anv Covenant, or Vow at all. 7. So rare is it tor Sureties to take the Child for their ovm, or intend to do all in his Education which they are to promife, that, to my beft knowledge, I never knew one in all my life that ever feriouOv llgnified to the Parents fuch an Intent. But they ufually think that they are but IVitncjfes^ and are at moft but to give the Parents Counfel to do what they promife to do tbanfeives. 8. Were but all People told , that they mull take the Child for their ovm, as far asthis Animadverter mentioneth, and folcranly before God to undertake to do all* that themfelves for the Child, which they Promife ( by the Book ) I ferioufly pro- fefs, that I cannot fay, that ever I knew one Surety that feared God, that I had caufe to believe had undertaken it, unlefs thofe, that indeed took home the Child of dead Parents ( or an expofed one ) as their own. The Rich never intend to give away their Children, nor that the Sureties Educate them. And few would l?e' Sureties for the Children of the Poor, if they mult take them fo for their own , becaufe of the Charge of keeping them. So that I am fully perfwadcd, that were the Vow and Undertaking thus underltood, not one of Forty, where-ever I have lived, could have any Godfathers for their Children, unlefs they will take fuch as know not what they do, or make no Confcience of it , and of whom the Parents cannot reafonably believe that they intend any fuch thing. And, de jure, its plain, that it is not lawful to draw any Many, in fo great and holy a Work, to do that which he ■undcr/kandeth not at all, and to Promife and Un- dertake that before God and the Church, which onr Confciences tell us, he never intendethto perform , nor do the Parents intend to caft it on him. I pafs by the Difficulty of three feveral pcrfons Educatiug the fame Child. And now confider , whether it be a Scandalous Infmuation, for a Man to befeech the Bilhop, that his Child may not be refiifed, and be Unbaptized ( and fb denyed Chriltian burial if he die •, and worfe than thnt, according to the Liturgy) and liimfelf puniflied becaufe he brings not Sureties ; if rhef Man will there pjofefs that he could procure no Sureties, who underftood what they are to do , and e.^c- prefs to them any Serious Purpofe to perform it ? Is this an Odious or Scandalous Requeft ? 4. Prop. n. 4, Of the Image of the Crofs, z'>\\^cA. in. Baptifme. " Stri(i. (m) If any think the Sign of the Crofs in (or rather after) Baptifm^ " to be a Sacramental Sien ; they may .as well think fo of the fame Sign, in flags, " or fhips, or hmne; s ■, for vvc afcribe no more efficacy to one than to the other : *' whereas it is the fo-^inalis ratio of a Sacrament to be a Afeans not only to fignifie, "but to confer Grace non ponentibus obfccm,\y\nc\\ our Church doth not afcribe to this, *' or any other Ceremony of Humane Inilirution ; Or that the Sign of the Crofs is *' anv Sacramental, biit a Teaching birn on'v, as the Surplice is ; And fuch Teach- " ing Signs Mr. Baxter grants may be lawfL-illy appointed by the Magiftrate, and " made ufe of in the Serv.ice of God, though not as an EfPential part thereof ^nf I . You will fay ( afte>- -Baptifn : ) For you make it not part of Baptifm, Imt a third Sacrament, as I think 1. As iVp The LlFEofthe Part III. 2. As to your Dcfcription of a Siicramcnt, the Church taketh the vrord from the old Common ufe, where {z-i M.irumns noteth ) Sicramcntum was an Oath or Covenant, Quod eoSacratw horn) ad rem certam, ut ad Aftlitijm : ut Fejl. c^',; jpa- Tt^^THik : He is bound by a Sacrament, Qtti Sacratur' fide r.trerpqfita -^ ac turn Sa- cramento dicitur interrogari qiud.im .• See the Military Sacrament there defcribed. And the Soldiers had their Sti^mata^ which our Crofs doth imitate^ though tran- liently. Without this Sacrament they were no Soldiers, and might not fight againft tlie Enemy : And TertulUan dilTwadeth , Ne humanum Sacr amentum Dlvim Super- inducant , opening the Analogic of one to the other. In the laxer and more bor- rowed Senfes it concerneth us not ( as Sacramentttm is ipfares Sacrata, vel iffe Mi- les vd perfona^ nor as it is Quodvis yjr.vnentum^ or Sanda ( ohligatio ) nor vet in thelargclt Eccleliaflical Senfe, as it is the Tranllation of ^ut'si^iov^ and fignifietha Sacred Myftcrious Doctrine, or Action. But in the Special Church-ufe, it lignifi- eth either more largely a Solemn Signal Inveftiture in any Sacred Relation •, and fo we may grant x.\\t Ronanijls that Ordination is. a Sacrament, and Matrimony, as . Sandified, &c. Or moft ftriftly for the Sacramental Solemnizing of the Cove- nant of God, which is our prefent Senfe, And to this it is ncccflary , That i. it be a C'gn ufed for the folemn fignification of A-futual Confent ^ that is, of Man's profeffed Confent^ as dedicated to Chrift^ and of Chrifi^s acceptance^ and Collation of the Coven.nit-benefits ^ 2. And that hereupon it be the Tejfera^ or Symbol of our Chrifti- anity. But. that it off nite a qualitative change on the Receiver's mind or heart, is not necelTary to the being of a Sacrament, nor yet that it be inftituted to do fo, by Contact, or Phyhcal Operation, per modum Natune'^yslihoMt Intellectual Confideration^ and Moral Operation. * The Firfl: will be granted ( that the effecting of fuch Qiialities is not neceflary to it. ) And as to the 2d, Obferve that we grant as followeth ; 1 . That Sacra- ments, by Inveftiture, or Delivery of Right- as Inltruments, convey all that Re- lative Grace, which the Covenant of God doth give immediately to Confenters. 2. ThaC it A/orally worketh alfo Holy Qualifications by Man's Confiderin/-Improvetnent. ' 3. And that with the ufe of it, though not by the Jnftrumentality of it, God may Thyftcully^ox yl.'J>"iJCM/0M/7y, without any /econ^M«ye, give qualitative grace to Infants^ or whom he pleafe, in a way to us unknown. But that this laft is not EfTential to a Sacrament, I am now to prove. I . All that is eflfntial to a Sacrament is found in the Sacrament as ufed by the Adult. ( Yea, they are the more notable, and Excellent Subjects, to whom it was firji adminiftred ; and the Cafe of Infants is more obfcure , and non notum per ignoti- us, fed ixnotius per notius probandum efi. ) But the Sacrament as adminiftred to (or ufed by) the ir^«/f, doth neccftarily contain no more than^ i. mutual covenanting^ 2. The Inftrumcntal Conveyance , or Confirmation of the Relative Grace of the Covenant ( or TmO 3- Moral Aptitude to work holy Qualities. 4. And that it be Symbnlum Ordhiis, id eft, Chriftianifmi. 1. This is proved as to the . • Ti''^ ^<^ff ef pf it is an Ima^-e^ though Traa.a!ous, in his VVorlhip ; As to the Form and Uf?i; i. It. is the Covenant of Chiiflianity it fclf, that it is about ; And it is no lefs than our Solemn E^^'-l^ing^ I'roftjfng and Oi4i^ing ^%''h that we are Refolved Chrifiians^ and wiWktcpthat Co. tnani ^ even the fame Covenant that is folcmnized alfo by Baptifm. All the Duties of the Covenant on our parts, we thus folemnly bind our felves to ^^erform valiantly to the Death, in Terms like the Sacrammtum Militare. The Canon 30. let us know that it is ul'ed {to dedicate Chil' dren by that Badg to hk fervice^ wbofe benefits befiowed on them in Baptifm the Name of the Crofs doth reprefent : ] And Hit's an Honour. ible badg vhireby the Infant vs Dedicated to the Service of him that Died on the Crofs.'] So that on the Receiver'' s part it wants no- thing of a Sacrament. 2. That it is alfo ufed as God's Means of Delivering us the Relative Grace of the povenant, I conceive for thefe Realbns. 1 . The yUlult is not to Sign himfilf\ bur the Vii:-iiftcr who is Chriji's Jgent (not fo much as asking, wilt thou be figned, ? ) dothy/^w ji^yi With the Sign of the Crofs^ in token thathefhaU not beajhamedtoconfifs the Faith of Cbrijl Crucified^ and manfully to Fight under his Banner., againft Sin, theWurld ^'.nd theD^vil^ and to continue Chrifi's faithful Servant and <' oldier to their Livc's end. ' Avacn. ... 2, The Crofs and. the BeKtfits^ with Chnjl CrucifisJ.^ are herehy Reprefnted. 3*. The Churches Publick ProfclEcn, that this ifi their Dedicution of the Child., im- portcth plainly Cod's jicceptance of him that is Dedicated : For who dare offer that to God which he fuppofeth, ;not tli^it Cod y-kcepteth., as offered: And God's ac- ceptance oi X.\\t dedicated pcifon into the State, relation and benefits of Chriftanity, is the very grace on God's purt.^vilvLch hifftntid to a Divine Sjcw/Me»t ftri'Ctly taken. And is this no grant of /i-^tr^f/ 6Y.jfe? I. And that to the Adult the Crofs is a Mora] means of internal and Qualitative Grace I think you will not deny A Moral means operateth ob\e(lively., by Teaching the Intilled : by reprifnting the nioving-objeil., ^ndhy E?:c(tation of the iVtU: And how eminently is all this here intended? In General the Liturg. (of Ceremony ) feith . [_ They arefuih as are apt to fir up the dull mind of Man to the reniirr.hranoeojhls Duty to O'od by fome notable and fpecial Jigniftcation ly nhich he m.iy he edified.'^ And isthi; po Gracicm Work ^ And it is Chriji Crucified., and his benefits that by the Crcfs a-re n- ^refvnied to iVi'ii ufc. And is not that to operate morally on mind and will ac- cordingly ? And the Words tell us particr.larly that it is to ftir us up and oblige us to the Adual Manful fighting under Chrift's Banner, againft fin, c'rc. and not be alhnmcd to confefs him. And is not this a moral gracious Operation? When as the Gofi'd woiketh by the Ear^ fo the Crofs by the Fye and Thought -. It is net Grace that tlie Gofpel is to work ? And is it not a means of working it, as well as the iacramcnts ^ Yea and in the fame {oYtafCatfaliy ? Doubtlcfs then here is the Crac^ of the Covenant to Xicvorought.^ as well as the Duty of it promifcd. . 4, And laflly that it is the >ynibol and Budge of our Chriftianity the Canon twice profcfieth. So thatl think here is an intire third Sacrament of the Covenant of Grace ^ in- vcntitious and humane, and aot of God's making. A.nd if you could prove (as you never Part 111. Keverertci Mr, Richard Baxter. 123 any more for his Soul thereon, than if you did it not, or no? If you <*> ( as thev did that ufed the Crofs of old, and the Papills now ) then you exped God's inward Grace upon the ufe of the Crofs. If you look not that the Child's foul be ever the better for it,it's pity Baptifm Ihould be denyed them that dare not ufe it • or fo many Minifters be filenced about it. But \\:i6.\t\i\\t fonte great and notable facr omental ufei (as the fore-named) though tu): ali^ 1 durftuot prefume on fuch an inventitious facramcntal fign. I have oft laid ; 1 doubt whether the King wonld not think his Prerogative invaded, if any. Ih^uld prefume to inftitute a new Badg,befides his Garter and Star^ of the Order of the Knights of the Garter •, much more a Symbol or Badg for all his Subjeds ^ and deny them the Knighthood or Jw Suhditi who rcftife ir. But too long of this. ' 4. Prop. About compelling the Unfit to receive the Lord's Supper. Strict. The Church doth not compel any to receive the Sacrament that is unfit : hut pun- ni/heth them that are unfit ^ and negleif the making of themfelvesfit fhf it^ by breaking off' their Sins by Repentance. jinfw. Alas ? poor Souls, that muft have (uch a Cure ! It fecms by this that this Church fuppofeth. i . That all Men can Cure all their Unfitnefs : i. And that a Prifon is the way to make them willing. We Nonconformifts contrarily think That, I. A Willing perfon may be Uncured of fome unfitneflcs. 2. And that a Prifon is no fit cure for fuch ^ nor for fome others. We think that a MclanchoUy or Timerous Perfon is unfit, who would be like to be diftraSed by the fear of un- worthy Receiving : We arc fure that all that we can fay will not Cure fuch Fears in very many : If Conformifts can do it, and will not, they are to blame : We know that the Perfon himfelf, though willing, cannot do it. We will not believe that Chriit would have them laid in Goal to aire them. But if the Bifliops will take that courfe, it mult be fuffered : We judge all our prefent Infidels, Sadducees, and Socimans unfit, if not the Papifts : And they offer their Prote- ftations that they cannot change their Judgments : We think a Goal unapt to change them ; but rather with meeknefs to inftrud Oppofers, if God perhaps will give them Repentance to the acknowlegment of the Truth, 2 Tim. 2. 25. Yea though after the Chancellour's admonition (or better means^they be erroneous ftilf. Verily if ' your way were throughly praftifed , and fuch Church-Laws executed and all dwelt in Goals, that are unfit for the Sacrament (after your teaching' and admonition, and Excommunication) the Landlords would find a great dimi- nution of their Tenants, and the Goalers would have more Tenants thqn many 1 ords, and it were ncceflary to have a Goal in every Parifh. This is your w;iy of comforting the timerous ^ but who fhould there maintain them all, I know not. But if Goalers be the molt effeftual Converters of Souls, I think more Clergy-Men than Non-conformifts need their help, that obtam it not ; And they may poffibly put in for the Tythesand Church-Revenues. " StriH. Is any Minilter required to give the Sacrament of ChTilt*s Body and *' Blood to any unbaptized Perfon ? Is not this a groundlcfs, and llanderous iA- "• finuation ? Nay, is any Minifter forced or required to give the Sacrament to " any notorioufly wicked, or prophane Perfon ? See the Rubrick before the Com- '' munion. That which follows fecms to aim at an introducing of Auricular *' Confelfion, or the fetting up an Independent, Ecclefiafticali jurisdidion in e- ** very Minifter over his own Parifh. jinf. I. Your Charge is caufelefs : I find in the Canons and Rubrick, .thate- very Parifhioner muft receive: And thofe unbapjized (as many born of Ana- haptifts arc) I find not defcribed or named, as excepted in the Canon or Ru- brick, nor that any at age are forced to be Baptized, and yet are forced by Penalty to Communicate : So that I confefs I am fo ignorant as not to know whether I Ihould be punifhed by the Bifliop, if I reftifw an un-baptized Parifhi- Q,qqqi oneri 1 2 4 The L I F _ E of the Part 11 1 onci- -. Bur, yet 1 verily think, that the meaning of the Makers of the Litiir- £V and Canon was otherwife -, and 1 intended no mere but to enumerate them whom Wc'would have Power not to ^^^ive the Sacrament to ^ ^. d. Not only tlie un- baptived (plainly to be named) but alfo the reft followiiip. 2. If by notorioujly uicked, you mean thofe that the Bilhop or Chancellour Ivath Excommunicated, we may keep them av.ay ; Or if the Congregation will lay, that they are offended by their Crimes , then they may be admoiiifhed to forbear •, but if they will not forboarupon the Adm.onition, or at leaft will e- very time fay, that they arc fully purpofed to amend (as moft v;icked Men will do) Ifmd not by the Kubrick, that we can refufe them ^ except it be one that is obltinatc in Malice, when (at that time) de'lired to be reconciled • but the Canon feemeth to give: more Pov/er. 3. Our Cafe is this: "We know that many are profefled Infidels , and many imderftand not what Baptifm, orChriftianity, or the Lord's Suppei- arc, in the very. Edentials (in uiany Places I doubt the greater part of the Parilh : ) A great number live in heinous Sins, CDrunkennefs , Fornication, Swearing, ilan- dcving, . <:n\ J The ignorant, and Infidels, the Miaifter would inltrud, but they will not come to him , nor fpeak to him., but retufe to give him any account or anfwer. Almoft all are Baptized in Lnfoncy, and at Age come to Church and never owned, that the Minifter kuoweth of, their Baptifmal Covenant any othcr^vifc. We know not that we have Power to exclude the groOy igno- rant: If we had, it muft be, if any will witnclsthat his Neighbours are fo*" Ig- norant as to be iincapable (which what private Man can and will do ? ) of dfc if they will come and fay before others^ L am fo Ignorant ^ which few if any ever will, till God do humble them : And who will fome and offend the fcandalous, by witnefling againfl them , unconftrained , though they will openly report ic to one another. How few of the In&dels, Socintans^ grofs Ignorants or fcandalous here in London^ are by the Witneifes accufed to the Minifters as fnch? If we have the moft credible Report that half our Country Parifhioners or a quarter, (more or lefs) are grofly Ignorant of the EfTcntials of Chrifti- anity, and we fmd it tme by fo many of the fnfpefted as will talk with us • we mtill: receive all the reft, with all the Infidels, and wicked Livers, that none will become Acoifers of, though we know much our felvcs to confirm re- port. ■ And if they tell us, we will have aothing to do with you out -of the Pulpit , we will give you no account of our knowledge or Faitli 5 nay, we take you not for any of our Paftors- yet muft we do the office of a Paftor to them, and give them the Sacrament, and vy.e. are fetting 'up yiurtculM Coufejfton^ if wc do but, as their Teachers, require, on Juft Sufpicion any account of their Knowledge, or Faith, or upon -our Kflowledgc^ offer firft perfonally to inftaid them. And if wc dcfire elfc but to fl;fpend our own Att, tho they have their Appea^-.ivc arrogate Jndcfcndtnt; 7^oirt/-i;ilfcj:;'; .'.-i ■ ir;d ■ . : , "'..••4J Fro^iM.'S. CT^ ptiblilh ' Excommunkaticm againfi bii Confctcme. .-■_:. y.-:-r' . ■ ; . •, ... ^ ^ ,. ■ . " Str'iB. [^Afaiitffi/j/j, viz. the MinLfte^;\Gonfciencc. Is not this to make cvc- " ry Minifter an Ilidcpci'.dent, Ecclel^aftical Judge ? And that not only cxclu- " lively to Utiy-Chancellours,- but to Ilifhops themfelves alfo ; as apperfrs by "the words, Cor anyothcr.^] yliifiv. I .. No, let thcIndrfTcrcnt jii,di.'e. An Ecclefiaftick Judge is Judex publicus ; but here is- nothing but judicium difarctionis privatum^ liifpending my own Aft, and mcdling v/ith ho Man's clfe. Doth he judge Eccleliaftically, who fpeaketh not a word, nor m.cdlcth with the Caufc any more- than any one in the Congre- Igaiion ? - i- yow is he an Jndqjctidcnt Judge where he is ?;o Judge ? Yea, and where tlie <3ilbop,and Chancellour ai-c the Judges, and none refifteth or controlleth them? He had not been Independeat^had he made himfelf Judge , allowing an u^f^ peal. 5. Serioufly, do you take it to be each Minifter's Duty to pronounce all Ex- communications, and abfolutious which are fent them, witfeout exception, or not ? If yea, tlien if Bifhops again Exco.Qimunicatc theb" own Kings (as often they Part 111 %everend Mr. Richard Baxter. 125 — . — -= — — — ■ — m^ — they h?.ve done; we miifb obey, whicli I will not do. Or if an Jrnan L'x- conmninicatc the Orthodox • or a PapiJt a Proteltant as fuch ^ or aay Bifhop m Malice or on falfe Accufations Excommunicate the Faithfulleit of the Flock, yea, or all thcParifh, imift we obey? For my part, (call me as you plcafe if you Excommunicate the wifelt, and molt Religious, and (ociiervvift) moll obedi- ent of my Flock, for Covenanting in Baptifm for Ins own Child , for refilling - the Crofs^ for not kneeling at the reception of the Sacrament , for reading"-* a Chapter, or repenting a Sermon to his Family, while his Neighbours hear him, 1 will bear your iilen^ng and Priipns, rather than pronounce that Ejcom- miuucation. Ij : But if you allow any Exceptions, our Confciences muft be the difcerning judges, whether it be that excepted Cafe or not. Elfe it is no Exception. But O what Groans befeem poor Miniilers, if this be indeed their Care,tliat jofl:, or unjuft, whatever Confcience fay againft it, we muft pronounce all Ex- lommunieations and Abfolutions (and confequently do all fuch other things) as a Lay-ChanJcUour, or Biihop fhall command us ; unlefs they could prove td ' us that God will juitilie our abfolute Obedience , how heinous foever the a- iliou be ! This is not to be the Minilters of Chrift, no, nor of Men , but their abfolute Slaves, though to our Damnation, and our Brethren's wrong. If you have any tcnderneis for our Confciences, when you have enow more at hand to pro- noun:e your Sentence, would you not fct one to do it that doth not fcruplc it, and ipare a Miniftei", that protcfteth he dare not doit for fear of Dam- nation? ' • • ' " 4 Pro^. n. 9. {To travel -long Journeys, or ncglecT: their Studies. — - *' Striil. They need not, for they may appear by Pro£lo«. 1 — Jnfvp. There is fomc Comfort in that : But if I have a Parifh of five Tho«- fand, or ten Thoufand Souls (more or lefs) and it pitve that the tenth part of the Parilh be either grolly ignorant of the Eflentials of Chriflianity, or In- fidels, Papiits, Fiereticks, Schifmaticks, Dninkards, Swearers, Ribalds, Railers, or otherwifc ficandalous, fuch as the Canon forbiddeth me to give the Sacra- ment to, and I prefent each of thefe to the Chauceliour's Court^ or half of them, I doubt Prodfor's Fees, in the Profecution, will take up more than all the Tythci come to^ and leave me neither Cloaths nor Bread. If you fay, it is not fo with others, I anfwer, I know what Men are among whom I have li- ved, in all places, and I know what the Canon bids me do ^ but why other Men do it not , and fave themfelves, I am- not bound to give an account, nor yet to imitate them. And whether thefe Prcftors will fave: tnc harmlefs, and plead my Caufe as the Cafe reqiiireth, 1 cannot tell. 4 Vrof. «. lo. Let it be left to their Prudence whom they vvill abfolve in 'Sick- nefs, jnd give the Sacrament to in private. ~\ — '-'- StriH.x. I know no Law that erijoyns the contrary, • /.»f\v, Ruhr. CAfter which ConfefTion the Pried (hall abfolve him (if he 1mm- bly and heartily defirc it) after thisfort— -] And if he will but fay thefe Words, C 1 humbly and heartily defire it] the Miniftcr hath not Power to for- bear an abfolute abiblution. " Striii. 2. I am glad thev allow the giving of the Sacrament to the Sick : " but that the Sick fhould chnfc what ConfefTors they*pleafe, and confequent*-'. ' " ly exclude their own Minilters from the exercife of the molt proper, and /' moll important Arts of his Miniflerial Function •, befides that it fcems to '" interfere with what is faid in the firll word of this Paragragph, viz.. That " their own Minifler is belt acquainted with the Penitence or Impenitence of " his People j bcfides this, I fay. It fcems to be a trick to draw all ConfeOlons to ' " themfelves, as the Fryars have done in the Church of Rome., from the Secular '* Clergy, or Parilh-Priell in that Church. 126 The LI F E of the Parr III Mfw. I. The miftake had no Caufe in the Words: There was no ex- clufion of any Parifli-Miniftcr mentioned, who is willing; no, nor any Excufc of any that is unwilling, fr»m any other Office in Vifitation ^ but only that the unwilling may not be forced to abfolve any in thofe abfolutc Words [\ abfolvc thee from all thy Sins^ when hebelieveth verily, that the Perfon is Impenitent, But 1 had no thought, or word of excluding any Prieft,as is here fuf^fted. 2. But as the Church of Rome alloweth Men ro cpnfefs to what Pricft they plcafe, 1 know not how you can hinder any uviig Man from doing it, with- out letting a Guard upon his Doors, or forbidd'.:ig any, fave the Parifh-Pricft, to vifithim, which is inhumane. This day, while I was writing rhis, a Parilh- Miniftcr came to me to lament his Sin, and told me that he had lived idly, and wickedly at the llnivcrfity, and ever fince, and had taken the Miniilryon him, without any regard to his own Soul, and the People's, and had no Learning, or Knowledge fcarce of the Catechifm j and that he had not read any Divinity, in Latin or EngUfl)^ but only out of two or three Englifh Books, patched up fome Sermons-, not undcrftanding a Latin Author, nor having read others: I asked him how he got ordained : He faid, that was eafie by Friends, ire. And that he was going to put himfelf into a Playhonfe, becaufe his Living was but forty Pound fer jinnum^ but God convinced him by the way. Now 1 would know. If I lie dyinginfucha Parilh, mull I confefsmySin to noManbutfuch an one as this ? Why make you not the fame Laws about Phyficians, that no Man muft take any other thaa fuch a Sot, if it be his Lot to be appointed him ? Why may not I confcfs my Sins to more thairone ? Yea, to my Friend that is no Prieft ? Prep.id. Let the words at Burial which import the Juftification and Salvation of the Deceafcdbe left to the Miniftcr's difcretion, who hath known the Perfon's Life and Death. * ** Strict. As to leaving the Omiflion, or ufe of thefe Words, (which they " point to) in the Burial of the Dead to the difcretion of the Minifter, what ** IS it but to give him Power of Sainting, or Damning whom he plea- " feth ? 3 v^m/ They iare not only Chrift*s Minifters, but yours, if not your Cryers^ or Slaves, if they may not be truftcd with the fpeaking, or not (peaking of a Word, in fo weighty a Cafe. There are, I ftill fee, greater matters than Ceremonies that we differ in. The Cafe is this— ^Thcre iwarm among u; now many open profeffed Infidels, that openly deride Chrift and the the Scripture, and plead againft the Immortality of the Soul , and many agaiuft the Being of God :, There are many Papilbs, Hereticks , Schifmaticks, common Adulte- rers, openly owning it. Fornicators, Dnmkards, Rlafphcmers •, many have been Condemned for Trotfonj Murder, Theft;, &c. The Conformifts themfelves Preach, and write that luch cannot be faved without true converting Repent- ance : We arc commanded at the Burial of ail Men to fay thefe Words [_ForaS' much as it hath ^leafed Almighty Cod., of his great Mercy., to take unto himfelf the Soul of our dear Brother here departed 3 and [we give thee hearty Thanks for that it hath f leafed thee to deliver this our Brother out of., &c. and {that we may reji in him., as our Hope is., this our brother doth : 3 Thefe words import the Perfon's juftification, and Salvation. We are to except no Perfon from this form of Burial, except, i. Thofe that die unbaptized (though the Children of true Believers: ) 2. The Excommunicate (though for not paying fees, or not con- forming againft ConfcieHce. ) 3, And thofe that have laid violent Hands on themfelves, ( though true Believers in a Fever, Frenzy, or Dilhaftion. ) Some die in the aft of Dmnkennefs, fome murder each other in Duels, and that in Dninkenncfs (as lately was done near my Door,) fome fcorn the Minifter and the Gofpel to the death : Now we muft openly pronounce all thefe Saved. for fear of having Power to Sainty and Damn whom we will : But we appe^ to hnmanity it fclf. Qu. I,' ^arc III. ^Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 127 Qusp. 1. Whether 1 damn any Traytor, or Mrrderer, or impenitent Infidel, . mecrly by fayiiig nothing of his Cafe, or not pronouncing him to be faved : And r.'hethcr I Saint thofe that I bury in their own prefcriljed words, any otherwife th?.n they Saint all Men ? Quejl. 2. Whether we expofe not our Miniilry to the fcorn of every Infidel, and Hcretick, and Adu'tcrcr, when they can fay to us, C What Falfe Deceivers are you, to Preach and Write Damnation againft. us, and proclaim us all faved when we die. 3 0_XvyJ. 3. Whether any thing can more probably debauch the World, and keep MeiTtTom Repentance, and fo fill Hell, and damn the people, than to perfwadc all Men, that every ignorant perfon, that never knew what a-iriflianity was, eve- ry impenitent Infidel, Adulterer, or wicked pcrfon, is faved v/hen they die. Doth not this give the Lie to all our Preaching the contrar;/ to them in the Pulpit ? Do we not Teach them not to believe us ? Or elfe it difableth us from telling them, that there is any Kell for them hereafter. If you fay, we prefrme that they Repent^ I Anfwer, If it be prcfumed that all Men repent at laft, and are fa- ved, even they that make no prcfefllon of any Repentance, but juflific their Infide- lity, or Hcrefie, or Schifm, or die in the Aft, or in utter Ignorance, as a Heathen, then why may we net prefumc the like of all the World, and fo lay by the Go- ^1, and all our talk of future punifhment ? Qued. 4. And is he worthy to be trufted with the Care of Souls, as a Minifter of "Chrift, that may not be trufted ( I fay not, to f^eA^ but ) to fufpmd one word at any time, which is thus Written for him t© fay ? Judge, by this ( with the Offices of Baptifm, Confirmation, Communion and Abfoluticn ) what is a Pricfl's Office under fuch Bilhops, and whether he have the Paftoral Power, cither inde- pendently, or dependently at all. 4. Prop. n. 1 1 . Let no Minifter be forced to deny the Communion to godly perfons, that think it unlawful to kneel. " Striif. [_ Why may not our Church forbad the giving of it to thofe that will *' not kneel, as well as the Presbyterians here and in Holland^ forbid the giving of it *' to thofe that will not fit? 3 ^nfiv. I. I never knew one Presbyterian here that did fo : And their Directory did not fo. And if any one fhould do fo, I am fure it is a rare Perfon. And the Av.thor of thcfe words is no liker to know them than I. This therefore was not well faid. 1. Whether they in HolUnd do fo, I know not : But if they do, Do you think it well ? 1 think otherwife, and all Nonconformifts that I converfe with. We take not a gefture to be crime enough to cut off Men from Communion with the Church. And if you think otheirwifc, or durfl; Excommunicate a Man for being Lame, or having the Gout in his knees,Why muft we all needs ;>r^cf//f zs. you judge and execute fo cruel a Sentence, any more than kill men when-ever you bid us { The Canon hath no Exception, Can. 27. C ^0 Aimifter^ ichcn he cekbrateth the Com- munion, (hall ^xittinjy adminijler the fame to any but to fuch as kneel^ under fain ofSuf- pen (/«. 3 4. Prop. u. 1 2. Let Minijiers haxc leave to open the meaning of the Cate- ehifm — (It is much to be wifh'd that it were amended. ) " Strict. 1 . I know no Law which forbids them to do fo. 3 Jnfw. I. That it is good news : fomc think fo : And others think, that the Kubrick and Canon, Commanding them to Teach perfons the Catechifin, meancth, that we mult only teach tlicra the words : And I remember the Articles in Par- liament, againll Bilhop Pierce, contained, that among other things, that he forbad Miiiifters Expounding the Catechifme in the Afternoon, faying, it was as bad as Preaching. And the Sence, as to us, will be, what plcafe the Bifhop. '■'■Strict. 2. IhnoTono netd it hath of mending , nor who are wife enough to a- '• mend it. yinfiv. I am forry for it * but cannot help it. 4. Prop. id. C — Some few quickening words of Exhortation — 3 " Strict. 3. TThe words prefcribed both in Baptifin and the Eucharifl, are quick- "** ening enough, and more edifying perhaps ajid fafe, than mi Extemporary fancy « can add unto them. '} Anfv. i . Yovi 28 Ibe L i ft oj the iirt 111 Anfw. I. You know not what is moll quicke rung and euil'yin^ to all other mcitj fo well, as fomc know what is fo to themfclves. 2. All that kno^v Hiniiane Nature, know, that Cuftomarincl"-; duUeth, and theufo of words many hundred times over ufually afted Icfs than when there is fome va- riation i though it were to be wifht it were net fo. 3. Why mufl in Extemporary fancy xizz^'i be the Author? May not a man /re- medttitc a icwftntemes as well as a fermon ? Or if it were ex tempore, is he fit to be a Preacher that cannot fpeak a few fentences on fo great a fubjeft, with fate and edifying w Olds ? 4. Is it imfufer to give a Preacher leave to utter a few Sentences of the Sacra- ment at the Delivery, than to Preach a whole Sermon of it ? And is he not c- qually refponfible for both ? But we infilt not on this, as if we could not Admi- nifter without it. Prop. 4. n. 1 3.3 The Surplice indifferent in the Parilh Churches—]] *' Strict. 1 had rather that, or any other of the Ceremonies fhould be taken a- " way quite, than left indifferent : for that would be to ellablifli Schifm by a Law, " and to bring it into the Church inftead of excluding it out of the Church ^ which, " of two Evils is much the lefler. 3 ylrjf. I think not : for we fee things left indifferent make no Schifm : One ufeth the' Surplice in the Pulpit, and another not : One Prayeth before Sermon, And another only bids them Pray : One Prayeth after Scrmon,and another not : One at the Singing of Pfalms doth fit, another ftand ^ and it maketh no Schifm. And the Ccnvocatiou, 1540, Commend /;zti;^e)Y;j9' about Bowing towards the Altar: Therefore that Convocation was not of your mind. But either way will ferve us. Prop. 5. — \^ Not l^to remnuce their Ordination ~\ or be Re-ordaia'd— 3 " Strict. They are not : Neither doth their Re-ordaining imply that they are : " but only that they are not fufficiently qualified to Officiate in our Church.] ynf. What Qualification is it that that they want? Generals here decides not tlie Cafe. If it be only the Qualification of Ugal Authority, or Licenfi , Why will not the giving of that qualifie them? Or what necefllty is thereof Rc-ordi- Bation ? But when you, as well as we, profefs, that Re-ordination , when real, is unlav/ful, and yet you require their Ordination de Nova^^ virhich they call Ke-ordina- tion^ Doth not this tell the World that you take the firit for null ? 6. Trop. C No Excommunicate Perfon, as fucb, to be Imprifon'd and Undone, but fuch whofe Crimes deferve it. " F-tnct. Contempt of Authority is one of the greateft Crimes, and for that it " is that men are Excommunicated firft, and afterwards Iinprilbn'd. Why doth " not this Exception lie againft fuch as are Outlawed in the Chancery, as u-cU as a- " gainft thofe that are Excommunicated ? Aifw. Bccaufc the Gaufe diff'ereth. £. g. I believe I have had m'.ikitudes with me Conformable as well as others, who being of timerous, or melancholy Confti- tutions, and under Temptations and Trouble of Mind, c'l.re not receive the Sa- crament, for fear of doing it unworthily, and of eating and drinking Damnati- on, and the Devil ^entring into them., ( according to the words of the Liturgy , which affright them : ) and they never Communicated in their Lives ( at above 30 years ot Age,) and have oft been going, and never durfl: venture : One of them was with me within this hour : Some that have ventured have fain Diftraft- ed, and fome near it by Terror and Temptations .• You can tell them rcafnn againfb nil this : And fo can 1, and have done it as like as oft as mofl: of your Curates : and yet they arc Uncured. And I muft not fay how little is done in too many places to cure their Ignorance, or Timcroufnefs, which is the canfc. And are you fui\c that all thefe poor troubled timerous Souls are worthy of utter tuine as Contemners of Authority ? For not Communicating tlicy muft be Excommuni- cated, and after Imprifon'd, and undone in the World, even during life, unlefs they can be changed by you. Every Man deferveth not utter ruin, who doth not all the go.,d tl.ar lie can do. But cm- fuch a perfon change their own minds and yi;.?K5, bcc.iufe you give them reafon for it ? I know they cannot. And when Clirift tenderly carrieth his Lambs in his Arms , and will not break, a bruifed Reed \ Shall I, in his Name, as his Minifter, Excommunicate them, and deliver tkem Part III. K^x'^rewi Mr. Richard Baxter. 12 them up ( if not to the Devil ) to the Magiflrate to be Bcggered, and perpetu - ally Imprifoned ? Let rae rather bear the wrath of all the Prelates on earth, and all that they can lay or do againft me. Prof. 7. But who flull be judged tolerable it doth not become us , &c. — 3 '■'■■Strict. As it doth not become you to be Judges of what is, or what is not to- " krable in the cafe of others j fo it doth much leC; become you to be Judges of ** what is, or what is not to be granted in your own cafe. ] .Anf. We never arrogated any of your Power over our Brethren • We have formerly, in our Folly, hoped that we might prefume to be Petitioners , though not "^fudges what is to be granted us. Wc are not afhamed to confefs, that we did defire leave to Preach Chrift's Gofpel j But we become not Judges in the Cafe of our Superiours Acts. But by ( or without ) your leave, we mufl: be di/- cerning Judges of our own Duty or 5m, whatever it coft us. And, I think, no fo- ber Chriflian will give the contrary, under his hand, as his Judgment. Prop. id. C That no Licenfcd Miniftrers Ihall Preach againft any of the Do- ftrine, &c. ~\ *' Strict. It feems Vnlicenfed Minifters may be allowed to fpeak for or againft •* what they lift. .^Infw. Our Cafe is hard with you. I put in [_Licenfed., or Vnlicenfed -.,2 And the firft Honourable and Learned Perfon that faw it, thought [Vnlicenfedf] Ihould be put out, hecaufe it was unmeet for us to tell His Majefty whom he Ihould tole- rate, or how fiir ^ but to meddle only with our own Cafe, who defired Licenfes .• And now for blotting out that word, and not mcdling with any others, wc are cenfured, as motioning, that the Unlicenfcd may fay what they lift : Thus all our Peace-making motions have been long interpreted by fomc. Prop. id. p That all Magiftrates be excepted from all open Perfonal Re- bukes, and difgracefiil Cenfurcs, or Excommunications, becaufe, &c. *' Strict. Wc take Excommuaication to be an Ordinance of God, from which *' Magiftrates are not to be exempted. y'nf. I. God never ordained that a Lay-Chancellor fhould Excommunicate them. 2. God never gave power to any to excommunicate a King, Prince, or other Ruler ( if any at all ) but that particular Paftor to whom by voluntary Confent he commirteth the Charge of his Soul. The Independents that think as vou, are yet more modeft in this, in that they fubjeft the Ruler to none but the chofen Paftor of that particular Congregation which he voluntarily joyneth himfelf to. 3. Is not the World much abufed when they arc told that it is the Presbyterians, that are for excommunicating Princes, and not the Epifcopal ? For my part I am fully of the mind of Bifhop Bilfon^ and Andrews ( in '< ortura Torti) in this ; that to an Impenitent wicked Ruler, I would fufpend my own Aft of giving him tlie Sa- crament, with Chryfoftomh refolution rather to fuffer : But my Judgment is that no Bifhop nor Minifter ( efpecially one that is not his proper Paftor ) may lawfully ufe any oj-en perfonal rebukes.^ or difgraceful cenfures or Excommunications againft Kings^ Judges or Honourable Magiftrates : And my Reafon, no Papift, Prelate, Presbyte- rian, cr Independent, is able to refel , viz,, from the fifth Commandment. . The ftabliftied perpetual Law of God Commandeth us to honour them. Difgraceful Exconnnunication is not^ccidcntally, but pur'pofedly a diftionopring them : For Men are excommunicated that they may be fhamed. The after-pofitive Inftitution of Excommunication nuUeth not this antecedent Moral Law : but nnift give place to it, Jnd bindcth not againft it. I farther prove that, i . Becaufe all Men confels that this laft is but a Law of Order., and that Order is for the fake of the end and thing Ordered, and that it oft obligeth not when it ceafeth to be a means to that end, or would deftroy it ^ And that £,£. If you knew that an Excommunication of a Kinn, or Judge would prove the DiflbUition of that Church, it were not Law- fiil : Therefore neither when it expofeth the Magiftrate to the reproach or Con- tempt of the Subjefts, and fo Ihaketh the very frame of the Kingdom, or Go- rcrnment. The Magiftrate's honour for the good of the Kingdom is more R r r r neceflary The LTF E of the Part 111 ncceiTify than his Diflionoiir aad fhamc can be to the Order of that particular 'Church. 2. And a fufpending of the Pallor's Aft of delivering him ths Sacrameut, with an humble admonition, may better attain the Lawful end. 5. Chrift himfelf hath oft taught us this Expofition of his Law. When he did - eat with Publicans and fmncrs, he preferred their repentance, before the pohtive Order of net being famdiar with fuch, as being never intended in fuch a Cafe. When the Difciples pluck't the Ears of Corn, and himfelf cured the fi-.k on the Sabbath day, he proveth that the pohtive Law of Reft was intended to give place to the Moral Law of Necclhty and Charity, and proveth it by the inflance of David and the Officiating Pricils •, and twice fendeth the contrary minded Pharifees to learn what that meanedi, / will have mercy ( a Natural Duty ) and not ( at that timt ) faaifice (a pofitive inftitution : ) And they, that will pretend a ^ofuive Lam of Order for a Congrcgatkn^ to the difhoncuring of Kings and Judges^ and Ma- fijlratei^ and making them contemptible, and fo unable to govern, do Pharifaically fet up Pofitives againll natural moral Duties. By which means Popes and "^itri- archs and other Prelates, have wronged Princes, and troubled the world too much already. Do you no better juftifie the Common flandcj-, how much the Non- conformifts are againfl; the honour of Magiftrates in comparifon of the Church of EngLmd. I know feme Non-conformifts think as yon : but others do not. See the old Non-conformills judgment againft excommunicating Kings in a Latin Treat, De vera. irGinuina Chriji. Relig. Juthore Mmiflro Jnglo^ An. i(5i8. pag. 280. 4. Moreover, the execution of the fentcnce of Excommunication on Princes and Rulers, will Icfsconllft with the lionour that is due to them, than tFie fentenceit felf .• For to avoid theyr that they may he afhamed., to turn arvay from^ not to be fami- liar with them, to keep them out of the Church 2X3\\ God's fpecial Church-worfhip, are things that we cannot do, without negled of much of our duty to them ^ We mufi: attend them and obey them with honour : I know a General Council hath forbidden Bifhops to carry themfelves with Lorvlinefs at the tables and in the pre- fenceof Piinces and great men ^ And I know that fome think that E.xxommunicats Princes have forfeited their honour and it is lawful to difiionour them, yea and all wicked Princes who deferve Excommunication ^ and 1 know Mr. Hooker in his£fc/ " Strict. And Churches abroad both have been and will be our Ccmpurgators, and " I wifhthe Presbyteriuns of England and Scotland would be content to Itandto the ; " judsment ot all the rreshytcrianChm:ch.c% abroad, whctbcv they may not with- " out Vin conform to all that (by our Church) is required of them. Nay, whether " they can refufe to Conform without fm. ynf. Content ; 1 and all of my mind profefs, that we viill accept your offer : But we wilh as fmcerely that you would Hand to it. Not that we take any Men for the Lords of our Faith.- but let them hear us fpeak, and if they lay, that it is lawful ( or not a heinous fin in us ) to Conform, we will acquiefce and never more accufc you as perfecutors, but lilently undergo all the Accufation of Schifm. But then by the Churches^ you mull not mean any odd pertbns, but the Churches indeed. • '•'■Strict. EfpeciaBy in this Conjuncture of time, when we have ib great reafon to " fear the prevailing of the Common Enemy againft us both -, and confequeutlv, not " only the Endangenng, but the utter ruining of the Protcilant Religion, and that " not only here, but perhaps in all the World belldcs ^ the guilt whereof will lie e- " fpecially at our Doors if we do not agree. . nf. \. What is the great reafon you have to fear tlie prevailing of the Common Enemy, and utter ruin of the Proteftant Religion. Is it from our State at homp ? Or from abroad? If the later, we underftand it not, nor who is the Caufe. If the former, Where lyeth the danger? Is it in the increafe of Papifts, as to Quality or Number of perfons ? Did not you caufc the Silencing of 1 8oo Minifters, and there- by ( and otherwife ) the difalFecfing of many Hundred thoufand people (I think) who would have loved and Served you ? Did not you help to Banifh them Five Miles from ( not the Court only ) but all Cities and Corporations, and Places of their former Mmiftery ? Did you not undertake all the Minifterial Work, without them ^ And fay, you could do it better without them than with them, as being fuffi- cient your felves. Did not one of you tell me, that you thought any Congregation was better to have none, then fuch as I ? Do you not ftill here conclude, that unleft we will conform to every Oath, Subfcription, Word, drc. It's better that we be oat of yourChurch than in it ? And do you, after all your Undertakings and Sufficiency, now bring us fo fad an account of your fuccefs ? Have you been bringir/g our Reli- gion to no better a pafs ? Have high and low been no better inftnifted and prefer- red by you ? Hath Popery been no better refifted by yon in thofe Places whence you Banifhed us ? Do you now come and tell us, that we have great reafon to fear the utter ruin of the Proteftant Religion ? Is this your account of your underta- ken Stewardfliip ? What hands then is the Church fain into, if it be fo ufed ? 2. O let us all hear and fear what Man may come to : Would our Agreement do anv thing to prevent this terrible danger which you defcribc :, And \. iil you ftill tell all the World, That rather than we (hall sot, be compelled ag;!iaft our Confci- cnces (to our Damnation if we obey) to Declare, tliat wc aflent and confent to eve- ry word, yea, and ufe every word in all your Liturcv , to Declare, That Millions whom we Kaow not, if they Vow in their Places and Calling, to endeavour a Refor- mation of the Church ( were it but in Lay- Men's power of the Keys ) are not ob- liged by that Vow : rather than we (hall be fu!Ter ed not to Swear Obedience to the Bifbops (though we arc refponfible to the Law for any Difobedience^) rather than we (hall be Suffered to forbear the Image of the Crofs in Ikptifm, or to forbear to pronounce every wicked Man favcd that we Bury, or to fuffer a Parent to Cove- nant in Baptifm for his own Child •, or rather than wc fhall be endured to forbear turning Godly People that dare not kneel , frofn Church-Communion, and pro- nouncing them Excommunicate every fix Months if the Chancellor or Bifliop bid us ^ Rather tbaa this (hall be granted us, we (hall have no Agreement, the Com- mon Enemy (hall prevail, thcProteftant Religion (hall not only be endangered, but utterly ruin'd here, and throughout the World ! And is it fo indeed ? And yet would you make us believe that you are againft the ruin of it ^ who will not prevent.it atfoeafiea rate.? What good doth it do you forme to fubfcribe as ex yinimo, that there is not a word in your Liturgy or Ordination, contrary to the Word of God , and that I aflent and confent to all that is in it ? When 1 am without this rcfponnblc for all OmilTion, orOppofition to it. Wc offer, if ne- cefTary, to take our Oaths, as in the prefeace of God , the Judge of all, that wc would agree with you, and obey you too in any thing, except that which we judge to be forbidden of God: We offer our Rcafons, which perfwade us, that you Pare III. %everend Mr. Richard Baxter. 157 your Impolitions obeyed would be our fin, and heinous fin: We are paft doubt / that youf Aiifwers to tliem are Irivolous, You dare not allow us to bring all into the Light, and to Print our Cafe and Reafons, that the World may Judge of them: We that pay fo dear for cur Diflent, arc as likely to be Unbiafied , 3.% you that have the Wealth and Honours of the World .' And were it not liket to be moved by our Reputation witli the poorer fort, than yoii by your Reputa- tion with the Great and Honourable, if not the moft. And if yet we be milla- ken, fo i% all the World in as great a Matter, as molt things now in Qiieftion. You call them Indifl'crcnt : We think them not fo.: And yet fhall Proteltant Religion be iMin'd in all. the World , rather than ■ you (hould not have your will ill our obedience to yon , in ever y prefcribed Word , Ceremony , Covenant or Oath, after all this ?. " Strict. And at Ours indeed of the Church-party, if we require uhat cannot '' be confented to without iin: 3 Jnf. Ex ore tiio - — What you required of old we debated i(56o, and you never gave us an Anfwer to what we largely offered you, in Confutation of your Defertce : And how then did you think we fhould know we Erred ? Not by what you kept fecret in your thoughts. And, as to the New Conformity, -we never had leave to give our Reafons againfl it, by Word or Writing. Grant us but that leave, and if we do not openly prove, that to Conform would hc ourjln^ and very heinous lin (not medling with any Men's Confcience but our own) call us Schifmaticks, and go on to ufe us as you have done. Which, I fay, as to my felf, who offer to alTume that differing , as the penalty of my Error, if I err ^ but not to juitifie you, if it were fo, who are no more allowed by Chrift to-fhut all that Or to deiiy Baptifm-to the Children of all that Scrurle Cr'^l^n?, them , or that infift on their duty of Covenanting in their Children's Name themfelves ? Did he ever fay, that your New Snbfcription , De- claration , Oath , or Re-ordin«ion ire J^awful ? I think not. 4. He that can fubmit to your Governmeat , that is , peaceably obey you with- out fin , cannot threibr^ Subfcribe, that you ftand by a Divine Right, or that all is faultlefs , and nothing altenble in your Government, He would have lived peaceably in //r^d when the Pi iefthood was Corrupted , and the High-Places not taken down, or in the Greek Church, where aix many faults, or among the Arme- mav or Aba/Hnes • but he would have lain in Gaol rather than make a Covenant (Contrary to ])art of his Baptifmal Vow ) never to obey God in endeavouring any reformation of thefe in his place and Calling, telling all others, that none of them are br.-imd to do it, no not if they had Vowed it •, Or rather than he would have Subfcribed his Approbation and Confent to all, and Covenanted to live and die im- penitcntly herein : He taketh not thefe for things indifferent. But we find that you will not let men live under you quietly op Terms of patient ihbmifnon, unlefs they.be fully of your mind. You fay the Propofer propofcth notthe alteration of the Government ^ There- fore it may be fubmitted to without fin. 3 He propofcth it not becaufe he know- eth you would not confent : Bilhop Vflier\ Primitive Epifiopacy was the Govern- ment defired in vain, for our Healing, 1660. But again, I fay, All, that may be ruhvitted to, may not, by Subfcriptions, Covenants', or Oaths, be juftified and approved. 5. LnQily, As. to tke profs, he then thought, and thinks ftill, that it is for- bidden by the Second Commandment, and that as an Image and Symbol of Chri- fLianity, and a New Humane Sacrament, of which before. If pofTibly Light may have any Acceptance, 1 will ad joy n thefe Quefiions for the Opponent whofoever. Qu. t . Do you not believe in your Confcience, that Agreement would be more eafie and common on our Terms of Meer Chrifiianity^ and Thinj^s Necejfary^ than on Yours, by adding many things doubted of, andneedlefs? Will not more a- grce in the Creed^ than in Jquinash Sums, if it were all tnie ? Q. 2. Doth not the knowledge of Humane Darknefs, and Variety of Educati- ons, Tempers, Intcrefts, Converfe, 'b'c. and the Paucity of very knowing Men con- vince yoxi, that Concord mult be iu few, and great, and evident things ? Part 111. Revnend Mr. Richard Baxter. 139 ^ 3. Doth not the Experience of all Ages prove it paft doubt ? Q^ 4. Doth not thcConfcience of your own Frailty, and imperfeft Knowledge modeiate you ? Dare you fay. That you are not ignorant of plainer and greater things than v/e fuffer about ? (I 5. Do you not hold. That God mufl be firfl obeyed, and none agai aft him? And Ihoiild not a defire to obey God firft be cherifhed ? And do you cherifh it by fayin^:, to us, C Though you think it a heinous fm to conform^ yet do it^ er Suffer for your Diffcnt s Q, 6. Was it not an Aft of Chrift's Wifdom, Mercy and Soveraignty , to make the Baptifmal Covenant ( which the Church explained by the Creed ) to be the Stablifticd llniverfal Tell and Badge of his Difciples and Church-Members ? And did it not feem good to the Holy Ghoft, and the Apoftles, j4cts 15, to Im- pofe cmly necejfu^y thittps ? And is it not a Condemning , or Contradicting God need led y, to take a Contrary Courfe ? Q^ 7, Is not Chrift's way, and the firft Churches, moft likely to fave the Peo- ple's Souls, and yours to damn them ? For you will confefs, that Chrift's few evi- dent neccDary Conditions of Chriftianity would fave Men, if Bifhops and Rulers added no more. But if a multitude more (which you count Lawful) are added, then the Nonconformifts to them are in danger of Damnation, for the Crime of Contempt of your Authority .• So that (onfequently you make all your Impofiti- ons needful to Salvation, and fo make it far harder to be faved, than otherwife it would have been. '1 Q^ 8. What hindcrcth any debauched Confcience from entering into your Mi- niltry, who dare Say, or Swear any thing j while he that feareth an Oath, or a Lie , may be kept out ? And againit which of thefe Ihould you more carefully Ihut the Door ? Q^ 9. If Agreement be deflrable , Which fide may more eafily , and at a cheaper rate yield and alter, you or we ? If you forbear Impofing an Oath, Sub- fcription, Declaration, or Ceremony, it would not do you a Farthing's-worthof hut .• If we Swear, Subfcribc, Declare, Conform, we take ourfelves to be heinous and wilful finners againft God .- You call that Indifferent, which we believe is Sin. ^10, Do you not confefs, that you are not Infallible ? yea, and fubfcribe, that General-councils arc not ^ even in matters of Faith ? And yet muft we fubfcribe onr Afient to every word in thefc Books, or elfe be Silenced, or Suffer? Do thefe well confift ? Q^ 11. Dare you deny, that many of your Silenced Brethren Study as hard as you to know the Truth, and have as good Capacity ? And are they not as like to be Impartial , who fnffer as much by their Judgment, as you gain by yours ? Jadge but by your felves. Doth their kind of Intereft tempt you more than your own to partiality ? ^ I 2. Is it not grofs Uncharitablcnefs, and Ufurpation of God's Prerogative, to lay. That they do it not out of Confcience , when you have no more from the nature of their Caufe, Motives, or Converfation, to warrant fuch a Cenfure ? And they are ready to take their Oaths, as before God, that were it not for fear of finning , they would Conform. O. I 3. Do your Confciences never ftartle, when you think of Silencing 1 800 ■fuch Minifters ? and depriving fo many Thoufand Souls of their Miniftry ? I Thcfs. 2. is,i<5. Q. 14. Can you hope to make us believe while wc dwell in En^laKd^ that thi People's Ignorance and Vice is fo far Cured, or the Conformifis, for Number and S f f f 2 ^ahty. 4Q The L I F E of the' Part ill Qii.iUty^ are fo fufficieiit, without the Nonccnformilts, that they fhould reft Silent, on fuppolitiou, their Labours are unneceOary ? ^15. Is not the lofs of a Faithful Teacher, where, through Paucity^ or lln- qualifycdnefs of the Conformal)le, he is necelfary, a very great Affliftion to the People ? And, Do the Innocent Flocks defcrve to fuller in their Souls for ouv Nonconformity 'f O. 16. Could not Men of your great Knowledge find out fome other Punifli- mcnt for us ( fuch as Drunkards, Swearers, Fornicators have ) which may not hurt the People's Souls, nor hinder the Preaching of Chrift's Gofpel ? Q. 17. Seeing at Ordination, we profefs, that all things necelTary to Salvation arc tn ( or provable by ) the Scripture , Do you not confef?, that your Invmu- tmcvlce are not neceflary to Salvation ? And is the NoncouformiU's Miniftry no more necenary? Q. 1 8. How fay you. That only Chrillianity is necelfary to a Member of the llniverfal Church, and fo much more be necellary to the Members of particular Churches, and the Univerfal confift of them .'' : Q. 19. Did any National Church Impofc any one Liturgy, or Subfcription be- fides the Creed, or any Oath of Obedience to the Bilhops, for 300, 400, 500 years after Chrift's Nativity .? Q. 20. Can you Read Rom. 14. and 15, and not believe th^t it bindeth the Church-Rulers as well as the People / Q: 21, Did the Ancient Difcipline, not enforced by the Sword for 300 years, 4o Icfs good than yours .? Or was any Man Imprifon'd or Punilh'd by the Sword to nomine., becaufe Excommunicate, as a Contemner of Church-power in not re- penting, for many Hundred years after there were Chriftian Magiftrates .' Q.. 22. Hath not the making falfe Conditions of Communion , and making llnneceirary things necelfary thereto, been the way, by which the Papifts have Schifmatically divided Chriftians <" Q: 23. Should not Bilhops be the moll skilful and forward to heal, and the molt backward to divide or pcrfecute / Qi 24. Could you do more to extirpate Epifcopacy, than to make it liateful to the People, by making it hurtful /" 25. Would you do as you do, if you loved your Neighbour as your felves, and loved not Superiority ? Q. 26. Were not thofc, that Gildas called no Minifters, fuch, as too many now, obtruded on the People ? And was not the Cafe of the Bilhops that St. Martin feparatcd from to the Death, like yours, or much fairer.' §. 257. A little after fome Great Men of the Houfc of Commons drew up a Bill , as tending to our Healing , to take off our Oaths , Subfcriptions and Decla- rations , except the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance , and Subfcriptions to the Doftrineof the Church of r^^/^jflii, according to the 13th. of ///;(. But fhewing it to the faid Bfhop of Wimhefler , he caufed them to forbear , and broke it .• And inflcad of it he furthered an Aft only to take of j4(]cnt and Confmt , and the Remnaation of the Goverivr.mt ; which would have been but a Cunning Snare to make us more remedilefs and do no good ; feeing that the fame things with the repeated Claufes would be flill by other continued Obligations required, as may be fecn in the Canon for Subfcvii^ion, Act, 2. and in theO-r/or^-Act, for the Oath, and confining Refafers. And it's credibly averred, that when molt of the other Bifliop-i Were againlt even this enfnaring Ihew of abatement , he told them in the Houfe Part III. "Reterend Mr. Richard Baxter. 14 s Honfe C ihas bad it becti but to abate us a Ceremony, he would not have fpoken in It : But he knew that we were bound to the fame things ftill, by other Claufes or Obligations , it thete were Repealed. ] §. 258. But on fcb: 24. all thefe thinjjis were Suddenly ended, the Kim; early Tuddenly , and unexpeaedly Proroguing the Parliament till Novanber Whereby the Minds of both Hoiifes were much troubled, and Multitudes greatly cxafperated and alienated from the Court : Of whom many now faw that the Leading Bifhops, bad been the great Caufes of our Diftraftions ■ but others hating the Nouconfor- mifts more j were ftill as hot for Prelacy and their Violence as ever. §. 259. All this while the afpiring fort of Conforraifts, that looked for Prefer- ment, and theChaplams that lived in fuUnefs ; and other Malignant FaaioKii Clergymen , did Write and Preach to ftir up King, Parliament, and others to Violence and Cruelty, againft the Liberty, and blood of the Nonconformifts who lived quietly by them in Labour and Poverty , and medled not with therf:' ( beiides their necelfary Diflent. ( Some railed at them as the moil intolerable Villains in the World •, efpeically S. Pjrker ( jocularly confuted and detected by Mr. Af.irvd a Parliament Man, ] and one Hkkeringhill^ and others, came near him in their malignity ^ And Papifts, taking the advantage, fct in and did the like. One Wrote , [ a Sober Enquiry of the Reafons why the Nonconformable Miniftcrs were ftill fo valued by the People , ] ( which was their grievous vexation, ) And pretended many Caufes , I know not whether more malignantly or foolifhly,\vhich none could believe but Strangers, and thofe that were blinded by the' Facti- on, Malignity, or Falfe Reports. One Dr. y'jktton^ Chaplain to the Duke of 0?-- mmd^ Wrote a Book, i . To perfwade thofe to Subfcribe who held it lawftil , and forbore it only for fear of offending others ^ falfly inlinuating , that this was the Nonconformifts Cafe j when I never knew one Man fuch among them all to this day. 2. To ftir up Rulers to Violence, to Ruine us, perfwading them that it is no Perfecution : And the Man was not afi'aid to profefs to the World C That M he rcM going to meet us at the Bar of God, the Reafon why fo many Subfcribed not, was Reputation and Interefi, Pride and Covetoufnefs ^ ^j And that he might not' feem Stark Mad with Malice, in charging Men with Covetoufnefs, that I loft all,and lived fo poorly upon the Charity of others ( moftly poor themfelves, ) he giveth you 2 proofs of their covetoufnefs. i . That by Non-conformity they got Living for their conformable Sons. 2. That they loft notheng by their Non-conformity ( as Bilhop CJMWMmj- alfo vehemently told me .- ) words which tell the world that Hiftory is no more credible to Pofterity, than either the Concent of all Parties, or the notoreity of iact, or the honefty of the Writer, can make it fo, by being known as it's evidence ; Words which tell you that it's hard to dcvife words,fo falfe and impudent,befeeming the Devil himfelf were the fpeaker, which Carnal Clergy-men may not be drawn with great confidence to utter. For i . of the 1 000, or 2000. Minifters that were Silenced, 1 have not yet heard of thirty in all, uor of twenty, or twelve yet living, that have Conformable Sons in the Miniftry, And of thofe 1 know not of one that Conformed by his father's confent. And why fhould not ths father's Conformity be the likcr to help his fon to a Living than his Non-confor- mity, V7hen the far grcateft part of the Prefcnters or Patrons are Conformifts ? And would not covetoufnefs rather make both father and fon Conform, that both might have Livings, than the fon alone? And do a thoufand or 1 600' Minillers, that have no Conformable fons in the Miniftery, refiifc Conformitv, that 20 or 40 of other Miniftcr's fons may have Livings ? Did I not confider that, among Sfraw^m and yl/.?%«4«rj, any thing may be believed that is bad, I fliould think the Devil a fool for playing his game fo unskilfully. 2. And that theylofe nothing, by lofing all their Church maintenance now above eleven years together, is a thing hardly to_ be believed by their poor families , or neighbours, who know that many go in rags and want bread, and even in London, more than one have lately died of Colds and Difeafcs, contrafted by poverty and want of the necelTary Comforts of Life. And it is a wonder of God's mercy, and the honour of cha- ritable People, efpecially in Lt/nJon^ that it is not fo with a very great number of them. § 260. This Malignity inviteth me once more to recite my ownc.ife: I have loft not only the Bilhoprick which they oilercd me by Non-conformity, but all Mi- mflxrial maintenance thefc eleven years now near 24. years in 168 J. I havethefe eleven years Preaclied for nothing : I know not to my rcmembraace that I have received ,4.3 ^Ihe LI F E of the Paitlir rcLC»vcd a groat, as fcr Preaching thefe eleven years, but what 1 have returned ( un- Icfs 1 may call about the fum of ten pounds which fonle perfons gave me en parti- cular occaf:ons, and 35 lb. which three gave gave me in the jail to defray my Pri- fon-charges, by that name, or ten pounds ptr Jm. which Sergeant Fountain gave me till he dyed, to whom 1 never Preached, nor was it on that account ) only four pounds 1 received for Preaching the IMerchant's Lefture, and 6 lb. more was olfered me as my due, and fome offered me fomewhat afta- a year'sPreaching at Mr. Turner^s Church ; but'l fent it every penny back to them, and refolvcd ( while it is as it is) to take no money for my Preaching, i . Becaufe I preach but in other men's Churches, to people that maintain other Minifters already, 2, Becaufe I want not, but have to give, when multitudes arc in great neceflity. 3. Becaufe i will be under no temptation by dependence or obligation which may hinder me from dealing plain- ly with Diffenters and Offenders. 4. Becaufe I perceive that, when men's purfes are Ibught to, it tempteth many to queftion whether we fincerely feek the good of their Souls. On all which Accounts & not (I think ) from proud difdain, I have fo E~>edicated or infcribed, ever offered me a groat, favethe City of Coyentry and the I ady AOKJ-, each a piece of Plate of about 4.1b. value: And whereas the fifeeuth Bcok printed is my due from the Bookfellcr, which I ufe, for almoft all of them, to give my fricnds,which amounteth to many thouiands,! remember not that every one perfon, noble or ignoble offered me one groat to this day, for any book I gave them. And I mention all this, becaufe 1 am not capable of confuting the malicious calumniators by diif ant inffanccs fo well as by my own cafe ■, But yet that the Rea- ders may partly conjedfure, at the cafe of many of my Brethren, by niy own : who yet never received a groat from my Inheritance or Patrimony ( my poor kindred having much move than all : ) Were not malice impudent thefe Apologies were necdleis, for men, that the world feeth are turned out or all. Yea we our felves pay conftantly to the maintenance of the Conformable Minifters, though we have no part our felves. And 1 can truly fay that I have offered money to my old acquaintance, who live filenccd in a very poor and hard condition, who have ftiffiy refufed it becaufe they lhoii;:ht it unlawtul while they had Bread and Drink, to take money while many of tiieir Brethren were in greater need. And at the fame time while thefe envious Preachers cryed outagainft our Preach- ing, and pcifwaded men how fully we were maintained, they laboured for Lav/s to jncicafe tlieir fctled maintenance, and fome of them in my hearing Preached how miieiable a cafe the Clergy were in, were they left to the people's kindncfs and bounty: And yet proclaim our fulnefs, who are left to the kindnefs of thofe few r who alio pay fully their Tythes to the Parifh Miniflers) who, thefe Envyersfay, are but the fiiiaUer and poorer fort in the Land ; which comparatively is true, ( tliough by this time I think the far greatefl part arc grown into dillike with the pvefeni- Prelates, who yet cleave to their Church. ) And if their noble, rich, and numerous followers would leave them in want, were they left to their Charity, it Teems they take their Church to confift of men much more covetous, and lets Reli- ginus and liberal than our few poor men. §. 76\. The Lord's day, before the Parliament v.'as dilTolved, one of thefe Pre- laiilfs Preached to them to pei f.vadc them that we are obftinate, and not to be to- lerated, nor cured by any means, but Vta^eance^ urging them to fet Fire to the Fa- ^"■Qt, and teach us by Scourges or Scorpions, and open our eyes with Gall. Yet none r offer to Auif.ority the Reafons of rur Nnn-conformity. Bur this is not tlic fn It proof that a carnal, worldly, proud, rngndiy Clcrpie, who never were fcriocs in tlieir own prcfeiTed belief, nor felt the power of what they Preach, have been, in moft Ages of the Church, its greateft phiguc, and the greatell: iiindcrers of Holincfsand Concord by making their fonna- iities and Ceremonies the iclt of Holinefs, and their Worldly hrtcrell and Domi- nation the only cement of Concord: And O how m'lcli hath Satan done again ft Chrilfs Kingdr-m in the World, by fetting up Paftorsand Rulers over the Churches, to fight againft Chrilt in his own name and h\rery, and to deftroy piety and peace, by a pretence of promoting them ! ^. 262, This lorefaid Preaciiei; brings to my remembrance a Silenced Minifter who en Part in. Reveren d Mr.' Richard B^xt. who heard the Sermon, Mr. John Humfhrey^ a maa not ftraic and tadious m Doctnn Government or Wornup, as his Books ihew for the middle way about Ele-lion' Juftificatlon,^^. aad his tormer Writings, forgiving the Lord's Supper to the Uu' godly to convert thenj, and his own Rcordiaation, and writing tor Reordinaiion • The former SelTions of Parhamen he printed a Iheet for Concord, byreftorm- fome filenced Mimfters, and tolerating others, for wluch he was Imprifoned (as was Dr. Ludovicus Molm.-eus M. D. Son to old Peter for writing his P.uroytus aeainlt the Prelatifts : but dehvcrcd by the Commoa Aft of Pardon. And this Seffion the Ikid Mr. ««wrpfcrey again printed another fheet, and put it into the hands of many Par liameut men ; which though (lighted, and fruftrate by the Prorogation of the Hoiife, yet I thiiilc hath fo much reafon in it, than I Ihall here annex it thouc^h it fpeak not at all to the nghtcoufnefs of our Caufe, and the Reafonsoif our Non- conformity, that the Reader may fee upon what T^nms we flood : But the truth is, when we were once contrived into the Parliament s inquifition and perfection it was refolved that we fhould bcfavcd by the King or not at all ^ and that Parlia- ments and Laws Ihould be our Tormenters, and not our Deliverers any more. H3 Mr. John Humphrey's Papers given to the Parliament-Men. Com^^ehen^ ^ 'ndul^cnce. Niljil eft jam diliumtiiiodnon fuitdiSum prius. Terence. IT hath pleafcd his .Majefty by feveral gracious Overtures to commend a Uni- on ot his Pioteflant Sribjefts to the confideration of a Parliament. A de- fign full of all Princely Wiulom, Honefty, and Goodnefs. In this Atchievcment there is a double luterefl: (1 apprehend) to be diftinguiftied and weighed ^ that of Relifjon it felf, and thatof the ATjWow. The advance of Religion doth confifb much in the Uuity of its Profeflors, both in Opinion aad PraStice^ to be of one Mtnd^ and one Heart, and one way (in Difcipline and Worlhip) fo far as may be according to the Scriptures. The advance of the Nation does lie in the freedom and flourifhing of Trade, and uniting the whole Body in the common Benefit, and dependence on the Government. The one of theie befpeaks an £- ft Mifhed Order and kcotnyiodation •, the other befpcalvi Indulgence^ Liberty of Con- fcitnce, or to'eration. For while People are in danger about Religion, we dare ant launch out into Trade ■ (fay they) but we mull: keep our Moneys, be- ing we know not into what ftra'ts we (hall be driven ; and when, in refe- rence to their Party, they are held under feverity, it is eafie tor thofe, who are deiigning Heads, to mould them into Wrath and Fadion ^ which, without that oc- calion, will melt, and difTolve it felf into bare Dident of Opinion, peaceably re- joycing under the Enjoyment of Protection. The King we know is concerned, as Supreme Govermur, and as a Chriftian Pro- teftunt Govepnour. As he is King^he is to feek the welfare of the Nation, as he is a Chriftian the Flourifhing of Religion •, and the Proteftant Religion particularly is his Intcreft, as this Kingdom doth lie in Ballance (he being the chief Party) with its Neighbour Nations. The Judgment now of fome is for a Comprehending AS, which may take in thofe who are for our Parochial Churches, that feverity then might be ufed for reclaim- ing all whofoever feparate from them : The Judgment of fome others is, for a free and equal AU of Grace to all indilFerently (the Papillswith mod excepted) whether fcparatifts or others, abhoning Comprehenflon, as more dangerous to them, upon that Account mentioned, than all the Afts that have paifed. Neither of thefc Judge up to the fuM interefl: of the King and Kingdom, as is propofed. It becomes not the Presbyterian^ if his Princijjles will admit him to own our Parochial Church- es, and cnioy a Living, to be willing to have his Brethren, the Independents, s^iven up to Perfecution : And it becomes not the Separatift, if he may but enjoy iiisCon- fcieacc, to Repine, or cuvy at the Presbyterian for reaping any further Emolument, feeing 144 The LI F E of the Part IIL feeing both of them (fuppofing the later may do fo) have as nnicli at the bottom as can be, in their Capacities, deiired of either. It is au Aft therefore of a mixt Gomplexion, providing both Comprehtnfion and Indulgence fqr the different Par- ties, muft ferve our Purpnfe. And to this end (as we may humbly hope) there is a Bill at prefent in the Houfe, A Bill for the eafe of the Proteftant Dijfentcr in the buf.ntfs of Relipon. Which that (upon this prcfcnt Prorogation) it may be cafi: into this Model, I muft prefent the fame, yet in a little farther Explication, There are two forts fwe all knov«) of the Prbteftant Dijjenters^ one that own th« Eftablilbcd Miniftry, and our Pari(h Congregations, and are in Capacity of Union upon that account, defiring it heartily upon condcfcenfion to them in fome fmall matters: The other, that own not our Churches, and fo are uiicapable of a Con- junftion, who do not, and cannot defire it, or fcclc it. For the Owe^that which we propofe is a farther Latitude in the prefent Cooftituted Order, that fuch may be received, and this we call Corner shenfton^ or Accommodation. Let us fuppofe that nothing clfe were required of a IMan, to be a Minifter of a Parifh than tliere is to the Farifhioner to be a Member of a Purilh Church, as part of the National : If a perfon Baptifed will come to Church, and hear Common-Prayer, and receive the Sacrament, and does notliing \^orthy of Excommunication, he is, he may, he muft be received for a Parochial Member : In like manner, If a Minifter firft ordained (and fo fpz/cop.?///, or Ciajfcally approved for his Abilities for that fimftion) v\'ill but read the book of Liturgy, and Adminifter the Sacraments accord- ing to it, and does nothing v.hich deferves fufpcnfion fwe appeal to all this indiffe- rently fober) why fliould not this fuif cc a Man, for the enjoying his Living, and ex- ercifing the Office unto which he is called ? For the ofkr, there is indeed nothing can be done to bring thofe in, and joyn them with us in Parochial Union ^ yet is tliere this to be propofcd, that you bear with them, and not let any he perfecuted meerly for their Confciences^ and that we call Indulgence -or Toleration. If the Presbyterian now may be comprehended^ he will be fatisfied, to aft at his Miniftry without endeavouring any yJltcration other- wife of Epifcopacy : If the Congreiationalift be indulged^ he will be fatisfycd tho he be not Comprehended^ for that he cannot fubmit unto, and fo fhall there be no Difo- bligation put on any, but all be pleafed, and enjoy the eafe of this Bill. Let but the Grounds of Ccmprehenfion be laid wide enough to take in all who can own, and come into the publick Liturgy (which we fuppofe as yet to be the greater weight of the Nation), and when the Countenance of Authority, and all State-Emoluments are caft into one Scale, and others let alone to come of it, without perfccutiontoin- tlamethem, or preferment to encourage them (efpecially if one Expedient be ufed which Ihall not pafs unmentioned in the clofe, that fuch as came in may find it really better to tliem, to be a Prieft to a Tribe, than a Levite to a Family) we need not doubt but time the Mifircfs of the Wife and Unvvife, will difcover the peaceable I Hue of fuch Counfels. And here let me paufc a little -, for metbiaks I fc; v.hat Iccfnles hang on the Fevei of the Parliament- Hoitfe at this Motion, what prejudices, I mean, and Imprcflions have been laid on the Members by former Afts, There was a fpeech delivered by the tlicn Chancellour in Chri/t-Churih Hail in Oxford^ to the Parliament there, and the Schollars alPcmbled, Wherein the Glory of contriving the Oxford-Oath^ and Confcquently of the like former Impolitions, was moll magnificently^ as well as fl'itefully enough arrogated to its proper Author. It was. it feems, the defigned Policy of that Great Man, to root thofc Pt inciples out of Men's mind^ upon which the late Wars .as he fupj-ofed) were buildcd, and he would de it by tiiis Invention, to wit, the Impolingupon them new Declarations^ Oaths and Suhfcriptions^ of a flrain framed contrary to thofe Principle?. 1 do remember now the fentence of Efdras to the Ap^'logue of the Angel, where the Woods and the Seas would encounter one another. F^rily (fin's he} it was a fooli/)j purpofe -^ for the trees could not cf~.mc down from the hills, nor the Waves get up from the fhoars. I muft fay the fame of this Policy. It was i e.illy a great vanity to think that folk fhould be made to fwear away their thoughts and beliefs Whatfoever it is we think or believe, we do think it, wr muft think it, we do believe it, we mult believe ;t, notwitliftanding auy of thefe oritward Impolirions. The honeft Man indeed will refufe an Injunftion againit his Confcience, the knave will fwallow it, but both retain their Principles-^ which the Jaft will be the likeliell to put any villanous FraiHce on. On the Contrary, there is nothing Part Hi. Reverend Mr. R'ichard Baxter- j:,45 nothing could be advifed more certain, to keep the Covenant, and fuch Principlci alive in Mens heart'*, and memories than this perpetual injoyning the Renunaution of it. Nor may yau wonder, if that Leflbn link deep into Men's flefh which you ' will tea.hthem with Brhrs and Thorns^ as Gideon taught the Men of tuccoth, Be- fides, it is the moft impoUtick thing that ever could liave been, for fuch Contents 3$ are of that dangerous Confequence to Majclly and the Government to have tlism once difputed, or brought into queltion, to be put into thefe Declarations, Oaths and Subfciiptions, v.'hich necelTitates the Examination of them to fo many. It was the wifdom of the Ancient Church, inftead of Contention about the Jewiih Ceremo- nies, to take care they might have an honourable burial : And I dare fay if than great Lord Chancellor had but put oft" his Cap to the Covenant, and bidden it a fair ■ Adieu only, he lliould have done more towards its Extirpation, than by all this ite- rated trouble to Men's Confciences. And if it (hall therefore pleafe the fucceeding JJinfters of our Sta'c, inftead of going to root out the Principles of hmovutwn which are got into people, by this means (which is no means to do it, but the means to rivet them more in us), to endeavour rather to root out the Caufes from ns which make men willing to entertain fuch Principles, and dcfire Change ; I fuppofe their Policy will prove the founder. The way to eftablilh the Throne of the King is this to mal^e it appear, that all thofe Grievances^ and all thofe Goud things which the Peo- ple in the late times expefted to be removed^ or to ht obtained, by a Common Weulth or a Change of the Government, may be more elFedually accomplilhed by a Kin*^ in the Afts of his Parliament. ' , I am fenfibl- how my Threrrt rifeth upon me, and that I begin to fhoot wide • I take my Aim therefore again, and two things, in earnell, I would expefl from' this B;//, as the fumm of what is ueceiTary to the end of it, our Eafe, if it be made to ferve the turn. The one is, that Bifhop Laud be confined to his Cathedrals : and the other, that ChanceUour Hide be totally expelled our Afts of Parliament. By thefirft^ I mean, that the Ceremonies in the ordinary Parifli Churches be left to the Liberty of the Minifter, to ufe, or ufe them not, according to his Confcience and Prudence toward his own Congregation : And by ihs latter, that all thefe new de- vifed Oaths, Subfcriptions and Declarations together with the Canonical Oath, and the Subfcription in the Canons be fufpended for the time to come. If that be too much Ifliallcontentmy felf with a modeller motion, that whatfoever thefe Declarations be, that are required to be made, fuhfcnbed ov [worn, they may be impofed only as to the Matter and End, leaving the Takers but free to the ufe of their own Exprefli- ons. And tliis Expedient 1 gather from my Lord Cook, who hath providently as it were, againftfucha fealbn, laid in this oblervation : The form of the Subfcription fet down in the Canons, rati fed by King James, was not expreffed in- the -iii of the i ■^th of Elizabeth, Inftit. p. 4. c. 74. And Confequently if tlie Clergy injoyed this free- dom untill then, in reference to the particulars thcrem contained, what liinders why they might not have the fame reltored, in reference alfo to others.? It is true, that it may feem hard to many in the Parliament, to ««ozrreign Lordjhall he taken and refuted the only fiqnrtie Head in Earth of the Church of England, called Fcclefia AngUcana. Now if it Ihould pleafe the King and Parliament, to allow and approve thefc >eprate Mietin^s^ and Stated Places for IVorfloi^^ by a Law, as His Majefty did by his Declaration, 1 mull profefs that, as fuch All'emblies by this means mufl: be conftituted immediately integral farts of the Church as National, no lefs than our Parilh Cougregations : So would the Congre- gate Churches (at Icaft thofe that underltand themfelves) own the King for Head over them, in the fame fenfe as we own him Head over ours, that is as much as to fay, for the fupreme coercive Governour of all (in this accidental regard) both to keep every feveral Congregation to that Gofpel-order themfelves profefs • and to f.ipeivifc their Confutations in things indifferent, that nothing be done but in fu- bordinatidn to ihc peace of the Kingdom. Well, Let us fuppofe then a liberty for thefe feparate AlTcmblies under the vifita- tion of his Majefty and his Juftices, and not the Bilhops ^ I would fain know what were the Evil you can find in them. If it lie in any thing, it mufb be in that you call Sc'j//>«. Separation then let us know, in it felf fmiply confidered, is nothing, neither good, nor Evil. There may be reafon to divide or fe^.-,rax fome Chrifti- ans from others out of prudence, as the Cathechumens of old, from the fully infiruil- ed^ for their greater Edification ^ and as a Chappel or two is added to a Parifh- Church when the people elfe were too big a Congregation. It is not all Divifiott then or Se'^,arati6n that is Schifm ; but finful Divifton. Now the fupreme Authority as National Head, having appointed the Parochial Meetings, and required all the Subjects of the Land to frequent them, and them alone, for the Acknowledging, Glorifying, or National fcrving and worfhiping the only true God, and his Son, whom we" have generally received : And this Worfhip or Service, in the nature or it being intrinfecally good, and the external Order (fuch as that of time and place, and the like Circumftances ' being properly under his Jurifdic'lion, it hath feemed to Hie hitherto, that unlefs there was fomething in that order or way prefcribed which is fmful, and that required too as a Condition of that Communion, there is no Man could refufe his attendance on thefe Parochial Aflemblies, without the fin of Difobedience, and confequently his feparation thereby becoming finful, proves Schifr.i : But if the Scene be altered and thefe feparate Aflemblies made Lcj^al^ the Schifm, in reference to the National Church, upon the fame account, does vanifh. Schifm is a feparation from that Church whereof w« oi'.^ht or are bound to be Mem- bers : if the fupreme Authority thcnloofe our obligation to the Pari fh- Meeting, fo that we are bound no longer, the iniquity (I fay, upon this account) is not to be founds and the Schifm gone. Lo here, a way opened for the Parliament (i^ they pleafe) to rid the Trouble and Scruple of Schifm (at once) out of the Land. If they pleafe not, yet is there fomething to bethought on for the Separsitift in a way of /ofiwr- ance^ that the innocent Chriftian, at leaft, as it was in the time of Tm/.jm, may not be fouiht out unto Punijhment : Efpecially when fuch a tokratisn only is dcfired, as is confillent with the Articles of Faith^ a Good I.ife^ and the Govern ent of the Nation. And now I turn me totlie Houfes. My Lords and Gentlemen! I will fuppofe you honell perfons, that would do as you would be done unto ^ that would not wrong anyj or if you did, would make them recompense. There hath been very hard Acls palfed, which when the Bills were brought in, might haply look fmooth and fair to you ^ but you faw not the Covert Art, fccrct Machination, and purpofe- ly contrived fnares againft one whole Party. If fuch a form of. words would not, another (hould do their bufinefs. By this means, you in the firft place, your fclves, fonicof you wercoverftript: Multitudes difpoireft of their Livings : The Vine- vard Let out to nthers.ThcLordJefus^the Mjflxf of ir deprived of many of his/.i/fib- ful Labourers: And the poor fhecp('.\hat had they done?) bereft of their accumflomed fpiritual food, to the hazard of their Eternal Souls. Among many Arguments therefore for Liberty in other Papers, from Policy^ Convenience^ Reapm ofState^ and Ktafon of Religion^ I have this one to offer you of a more binding Nature, an Argu- ment from Jj25tr, D:ar-, Prebendaries.^ thit arc alfo P.rfons., ReClors Vicars :, who have BeiieHcc^ and Honours by heaps, and by the budi^l. If it (hall pleafe you therefore in thh^fV/ on the Anvil, or in another, to take Cognizance of Plnrjltties., that, for the preventing an Idle, Scandalous, Covctoufly overgrown un- profitable Miniftery, every Man who hith more than one Care 'of Souls, or one Dignity, fln'l givetheniup intoa pnblic'< /lock, or to a general Diftribution you Ihall d;^ the Church right, and the Ejc'^cd right, you fhall give f ;ch Drones'thcir Due, and God his Due, and ftrcw the way by this means for the miking your Grace intended in this Biil, of fignification. In the Name of God, Sirs, let me move you to this, if it were only f-fac vice., for a prcfent needful Conjundiori of us at this fea- fon. Wc fee the )a\vs of Popery, and the Seftary opening upon us, if the fobcr Proteltant Intereft be not united, we perifh. I know who will be ready to ftamp here and throw dull in the Air, for it is thefe Sons of the ^o-fc-Lcc:h^ whofe voice is fixWGtveGive., that will never be contented with a fingle portion. A Drgmty there- fore with a Living let them be allowed : but one Dignity and one Cwe of Souls fhould be all, tho they cut themfelves with Lances. It is this damn'd hard objeftion at the bottom, the Priefrs Covctoufnefs and Corniption, rather than their Difpute about things indiiFerent, that really hinders the Church's peace and profperity. To Conclude. According to what every Man's mind is moft upon fthe Publick Intereft, or his own) fuch is his value more or lefs. § 263. About this timo was a great change of Affairs in Scotland-., their Parlia- ment concurring with this of England., in diftafting the prefent Councils and Pro- ceedings fbut not fo much Proclaiming the danger of Popery, as Aggravating the Burdens and Grievances of the People, againfl: the great Commiffioner the Duke of L.wde'-d.iil : ) So that Duke Hamilton became the Head of the Oppolition, and moil of the Nobility and Commons adhered to him, and were againfl D. of Laude-rdail -. And the Parliament went fo high that D. Lauderdail was fain to Adjourn them : Whereupon D. Hamilton came to England with their Grievances to the King (with fome of the Nobility). But the King, tho he gave him fair refpect, fharply rebuked him aad their Proceedings, and fluck clofe to D. Lauderdail againfl all oppofition. § 254. At lafl D. Laudo-diil found the way to turn their own Engin againfl themfelves, and v.-hereas many of their Grievances had been fettled by themfelves by Art of Parliament (while they were niled by him), he acquainteth the Kins how hea^;^' and unfuffcrable they were, and fo the King, by a Letter, releafeth t':cm : And among their burdens was a great income fettled upon D. Han:ilton for fome fervice, Lofs or Loan to the King, by his PredeccfTors, which he that had complain- ed of Gricv.nces was now to lofc by the King removing the Grievances: Where- upon he profciied th-t he lud been fliU ready to remit thofe Revenues ■., but he could not do it in this way of a Letter againfl a Law,lefl by the fame way another Letter fhould take awiv the rcfl of his Eflate .- And he got the hands of Lawyers to teltify it was againfl Law, and fent it to the King, who in dif^^lcafure rejefted his Narrative, and fo the Diflention in Scotland iuCTcafed. ^ 265. At this time ( pril \6-!.^.) God hath fo much increafed my Languifhing, and laid me fo low, bv an iuceflant inflation of my head, and tranflation of rny great ';atulency thirher to the Nerves and Members, increafing thefcten or twelve weeks to greater pains, that I have reafon to think that my time on Earth will not be long : And O how Good hath the Will of God proved hitherto to me ? And will it not b? befb at 'ail ? Experience caufeth me to fay to his praife. Great peace have they that love his Law, and nothing fhall offend them ; And tho my ficfh and heart do fail, God is the Rock of my heart and my portion for ever. § 266. A'' this time came out my Book called, Tfce poor Afan's Family Bool •.,vih\ch theremembran:e of the great ufe of Mr. Dents Plain A fan's path Tray to Heaven (now laid bv) occalioned me to write, for poor Countrey Families who cannot buy or read many Books. § 16-:. I will not here pafs by the Commemoration of one among many of th? worthy filcnccd Minilcrs of London., that fuch Examples m.ay provoke more to fome imitation, "'/t. Mr. Thnrnas Gouge : He is the eldefl Son of old Dr. William Cov.ge Deceafed : He was Paflor to that great Parifh called Sepulchres ; whence he T 1 1 1 z was 14b Jhe L i FE oj ibe Fart III was e'lefted, with the refc of his brethiea at tlie time when the reltored Prelatej aded like themfelves. I never heard any one peribn, of what rank, fort or fed fo- cvcr, fpeak one word to hisDiflionoar, or Name any fault that ever they diar^ed on his I ife or Dodrine, no not the Pielatills themfelves/ave onlv tliat he conforin- ed not to their Impofitions, and that he did fo much good with fo great Induftiy : Godblelfcd him with a good Eitate, and he liberally ufed it in works of Charity ; When the fire confumed much of it, and when he had fettled his Children, and his wife was taken from him by Death ^ of an hvaidrcd and fifty pound a year that he had left, he gave an hundred of it to charitable ufes. tlis daily work is to do all the good he can,with as great diligence and conftancy as other Men labour at thtirTrades -. He vifiteth the poor, and feeketh after them: He writeth books to ftir up the rich to devote (at leaft) the tenth part of their Eftates to works of Charity : He goeth to the rich to perfwade and urge them-, He colledeth moneys of all that he can prevail with, and travelleth himfelf (tho between 60 and 70 years old) mto Wales Winter and Summer, and difperfeth the money to the poor labouring perfecuted Minifters : He hath fettled himfelf in the chief Towns of li'ales a great number of Schools, for Women to teach Children to read, having himfelf undertaken to pay them for many hundred Children: He printeth many thoufands of his own pradical Books, and giveth them freely throughout Wjles^ (at his own charge) .• And when I do fomethingof the like by mine, he undertaketh the Diltribution of them : He preacheth inlFiiks himfelf till they drive him from place to pkce by perfecution ; when he returneth home, he vifiteth the Pvifoncrs, and helpeth them to books, and preacheth repentance to them : The poor and the ignorant are thofe that lie liveih lor, doing good to Soul and Bodv daily, fave that he Solicitcth the PJch to contri- bute to fuch ufes. The reading of Mr. Jcf. Allen's Life hath raifed his RefoliVLion and Adivity to fuch a Courfc of Life, which was far higher than other Mens before. ^ 268. Mr. fhcrlocFs book before mentioned making a great noife, and h; and the Author of the fober Inquiry, and others of them, when they reproach^ ^:her Nonconforraifis being plcafed to put in fome Exceptions of me by Name, I thought my felf the more obliged to difown their Mifcarriages. And I firft in Difcourfe fought to convince Mr. Sheiock ^ and left: he (hould not either underftand or report me aright (Writings being furer Vindications than Memory) I feat him fome Aai- inadverfions, which have fmcebeen Printed. § i6p. My old friend Dr. Thomas Good now publilhed a book called, Duhit.mtius and Ftr -i.mus. ugainft Atheifm, Infidelity, Pcpery, and then Presbytery, Ind.-pen- dcncy, and Anabsptiflry ^ very fupcrficial : He was formerly indeed a profelfed ■ re- latift, but moderate, and himfelf never hindered from his Miniitcrial work and maintenance, and ioyned with us in our Difputations at f'edermirtfler, and our Con- cord in rrVtc.^tryZ.jVc among the difienting parties. Yet being Canon of Hereford and Mr. of Baliol Colhdge in Oxford (tho old, waiting for more) he aflertcd in his Book, that thev were confeiTed things indifferent that we refufed Conformity for and that all the Nonconformlfts (without Exception) had a hand in the late King's Death, on? ^^'-n' or other,by Confcntjd'c. The Impudency of which affertion mov- ed mc to wiite the Couiradidion here adjoined. To my Reverend Friend Dr. Gooi, Mr. of Baliol Coledge in Oxford. Revercud and Worthy Si)\ TT is now about a Month lincc 1 received a Letter from you for the furthering of a good work, which I fent to Mr. foleji by his Son Mr. Paul F. not having oppor- tunity mv felr to fit him : I have Hayed fo long for an Anfwer, not hearing yet from him, th.at I thi.^k it not meet any longer to forbear to acquaint you with the Rcafons of the delay : He liveth quite at the other end of London from me, and my weaknefs and bufinefs keep me much within Doors, and it's hard to find him within except at thofs hours when I amconft:rained to be in bed. But I have reafon to Coa- Pare ill. lieZ'-erend Mr. [xkhcLrd ii^xtcr. 149 Coujefture tiiac hi a AnHver will be i. That the Rich mzn whnfe ]^ldsmenL^ arc tor Contormic/,ai-e far more iS!am:rons thaa thof^ of aaother mind, and therefore fitter Lo promote thnt work : And there are fo very few that do any thing for the ejected Minillers, that iomc of them live oa brown bread and water, which hin - dereth thefe Gentlemen from other kind of Charitable works, i. And I mufl crav.-r your patience ( being confident , by your ancient kindnefs , of your friendly Interpretation ) while I tell you , tlut this day I lieard one fay, we can expeftthat Dr. Good do make his Scholars no better than himfelf : And what rcafon have we to maintain and breed np Men, to ufe us as hehirh done in his late Treatife. I i:,otthe book, and was glad to find much good, anl feveral moderate palTagesin it (And I knew you fo well, that I could not but e^pecl moderation) : Hut when I peruled the paflages referred to, I could fay no more for them, but that I would write to you, to hear your Anfwer about them. For J confefs they furpriz- ed me — -Tho at the fame time I received many new books of a fanguine Completi- on firom other hands without Admiration. I. The firfl pallage referred to waspag. 104. CfF^/cfc are cmfejfedly things indiffer- c;it~\. Thisisfpoken indefinitely of the Presbyterians : Where have! lived ? I know not one Presbyterian living that divideth from you for any thing which he confefleth indifferent : I crave your Anfwer containing the proof of this ; At leafl: to name fomeoneof them that we may reprove him. We take conformity to be fo far from indifferent, that we forbear to tell the World the greatnefs of the Sin which we think to be in it, left Men cannot bear it, and lelb it (hould difaffed the people to the Miniltry of the Conformifts. II. Your pag. 156. I pafsby: The main matter is pag. 160. \6\. that tho [_All the Nonconformijls were not in ABual ^ '.rms againft the King nor did they all as natu- ral /Agents cut off his head ^ but morally^ that is^ very /in fully and mchedly, they had their handftained with that Royal blood: For whofoever did Abet thefe Sons of Belial in their Rehelhons^ Treafom^ A Murders of their King and fellow Sub'jefls^ either by confenting to their I'illanies^ P'^^i fo^ ^'■'C"' Profptrity^ praifing Cod for their Succeffes^ &c. The Charge is high : If it be not true. i. They are almoft as deeply wronged as you can wrong tl^m. 2. Our Rulers are wronged by being fo provoked to abhor them. Si- lence and Deftroy them. 3. Pofterity is wronged by a mifinformiug Hiftory. I. You are too old to be ignorant, that it was an Epifcopal and Eraftian Parlia- ment of Conformifts, that firft took up thofe Arms in England againft the King ; The Membsvs yet living profefs that at that time they knew but one Prcsbyrorian in the Houfe of Commons -. Intcreft forced or led them to call in the Scots, and Presbytery cime in with them. If you doubt of it, fee the Propofitions to tha King at Nottingham^ where a Limited Epifcopacy is one. II. The Lord Lieutenants that feizcd on the Militia were far moft Conformifts, and fcarce any Presbyterians at all. III. The General Officers and Colonels of the Earl of Effex Army were ten to one Conformifts, and few, if any Presbyterians, fave after, dcboift. Mercenary Scots, if they were fuch, which I know not : And the General Epifcopal himfelf. IV. The Major Generals of the Militia^ in the feveral Countries were moftly Conformifts and Scarce any Prebyterians. V. The alTembly at Weflminfler^ when they went thither were all Conformifts, fave about 8 or 9 and the Scots CommifFioners. VI. One of the two Arch-Bi(hops was a General in the Parliament's Army. VII. Many of the prefent Conformable Miniftcrs werein Arms againft the King, and fome wrote for his Death, and many of them took the Covenant and En- gagement. viir. ^o The LI F E of the Part ill VIII. The moft of the conformable Gentry of my acquaintance that were put upon it, took the Engagement againll the King and Houfc of Lords. IX. The Non-conformable Minifters of Gloncefierjhkr ( Mr. Geery^ Mr. Ca^ell^ Mr. '■ arfhall^ &c. ) were againit the Parliament's War, though the Parliament's Garrifon was over them. Mi". Bampfield ( who hath lain 6, or 7 years in the common jail for Preaching ) with his Brother ( fometimes Speaker of the Houfe of Commons ) were fo much againft the Parliament's Canfe, that to tliis day ( evea while he lay in Jail ) he molt zealoufly made his followers renounce it : Many Non-conformifts in many Counties were of the fame mind. X. Many of the Non-conformifts lived in the King's Quarters, and never were drawn the other way ^ as Dr. Comnt ( lately one of them ) and others in Oxford^ and fo in other parts. XI. Some of the Non-conformifbs were in the King's Army : Poor Martm of IVcv- den loft an Arm in his Army, and yet the other Arm lay long with him in Warwick Jail for Preaching. XII. Almoft all the Non-conformifts of my acquaintance in En£land^ favc Inde- pendents and Seftarics, refufcd the Engagement, and took Cmnmfl and the Com- mon-wealth-Pavliament for Ulurpers, and never approved what they did, nor ever kept their dales of Fafting or Tliauksgiving. ( To tell you of the London Mini- ilers printed Declarations againft the intended Death of the King, you will fay i; unfatisfaftory, becaufe too late. ) Xni. Moft of the Non-conformable Minifters, of my acquaintance, were either boys at School, or in the Univerfity, in the Wars, or never medled with it : fo that I muft profefs that fetting them altogether, I do not think that one in ten throughout the Kingdom can be proved to have done iany of thefe things that you name, againft the \< ing. XIV. We have oft with great men put it to this trial. Let them give leave but to fo many to Preach the Gofpel, as cannot be proved ever to have had any hand in the Wars againft the King, and we will thankfully acquiefce, and bear the Silence of the reft : make but this Match for us, and we will joyfully give you thanks. XV. Who knoweth not that the greateft Prelatifts were tlie Mafters of the Principles that the War was raifed on,(5/7/oM,JeiPf/,&c.) ( and Hooker (quite beyond them all ? ) XVI. Br.t becaufe all proof muft be of individuals, I intreat you as to our own Countrey where you were acquainted, tell me if you can, I fay it ferioufly if you can, what ever was done or faid againft the King, by Mr. Amhrofe -^ .''■''f, i*^Ir. Kimhtrky^ Mr. LoveU^ Mr. Com^Jcr, Mr. Reignalds^ Mr. Hichnan^ ^{\\Tru(hum^lAr. BMmn\, lenior, Mr. Baldwin^ junior, Mr. Sergeant^ Mr. Waldern ( dead, ) Mr. Jof. Baker ^ (der.d,) Mr. IViUhy^ Mr. Brian^ Mr. Stephen B.txter, Mr. Budlcul^ Mr. Bitkber, Mr. Ecde/h-ill^ Mr. Read^ Mr. Rod, Mr. Fimher, of IVedbury, Mr. IVills of Bre ■ i/hvv^ Mr. Pafton, &c. I pafs by many more. And in Shropjiire by old Afr. Sanr. HilderfhAm, old Mr. Sam. Ft(her, Mr. Talmts, Mr. Brian of Shreusbury, Mr. Bnrttet, Mr. AVfim^, Mr. 5«'ry, Mr. .\fA'dcc\oX Newport, MwJho.U'rij^ht fdead, ) Mr. Ttylof, \-c. — Thefe were your Neighbours and mine : I never heard to my remembrance of any one of them that had any thing to do with Wars againft the King. It is true (except Mr.Fifher, and fomc few) they were not ejcif^ed, but enjoyed their places •, And did notion as well as they ? If I can name yon fo many of your Neighbours that were innocent, will yon tcU the King and Parlian-.cnt, and the Pipift?, and Poftcrity, that all the Non-conformifts ( without any exception ) had their hands ft.iined with the Royal blood • What ! Mr. Cooke of Cheiler, and Mr. Birch, .^c. tlut were imprifoned and perfccuted for the King / What ! Mr. Gcery that died at the news of the King's Death ? What ! Sir Francis Nether fok, and Mr*, Bell his Paftor ) who wrote fo mrc'i againft the Parliament, and was their prifoner at Part Hi. lieverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 15 at Kmchvorth Caftic almoil all the Wars. What may wc expedc from others, when Dr. Good fliall do thus 1 put not in any Excufc for my felf amoijg all thefe. It may be you know not that an Aliembly of Divines ( twice met) at Covmme (of whom two Doftors and fomc others are yet living ) firft fent me into the Army to hazard my life, ( after Nashy Fight ) againfl: the Courfe which we then firll perceived to be defigned againll the Kiflg, and Kingdom j nor what I went through there two years in oppoling it, and drawing the Soldiers off: Nor how oft I Preached againlt Cumwd, the Rump, the Engagement, but fpecially their Wars, and Falh, and Thankfgivings : Nor what I faid to Cromwd for the King ( never but twice fpeaking with him, ) of which a Great Privy Counfellonr told me but lately, that being an Ear-witnefs of it, he had told his Majelly. But yet while I thought they went on Bilfone's, Principles, I was then on their fide, and the Obfervator ( P^-rkcr ) almoll tempted me to Hooker\ Principles, but I quickly faw thofe Reafons againlt them, v/hich 1 have fince publilhed. His Principles were known by the firfl: Book,before the laft came out, And I have a friend that had his laft in /w. S. But I am willing unfeignedly to to be one of thofe that fhall contiue Silenced, if you can but procuje leave to Preach Chrift's Gofpel only for thofe that are no mor^ guilty of the King's blood, than your felf, and that no longer than there is real need of their Minifterial Labour. Reverend Sir, If you will but fo long put your felf as in our Cafe, I fhall hope that with patience you will read thefe Lines, and pardon the neceflary freedom of Yo«r truly Loving friend and obliged Servant, Lmdon^ Feb. lo. 1673. Rich. Baxter. §. 270. Taking it to be ray duty to preach while Toleration doth continue,' I removed the laft Spring to London^ where my Difeafcs inaeafing, this Winter* a flatulent conftant Headach added to the reft, and continuing ftrong for about half a year, conftrained me to ceafe my Fryday's Ledure, and an Afternoon Ser- mon on the Lord's dales in my houfe, to my grief; and to Preach only one Sermon a week at St. James's Market-houfc, where fome had hired an inconvenient Place. But I had great encouragement to labour there, i . Bccaufe of the notorious Neccflity of the people : for it was noted for the habitation of the moil ignorant, Atheiftical and Popifh about London^ and the grcatnefs of the Parifh of St. Aiartins^ made it im- poflible for the tenth ( perhaps the twentieth ) perfon in the Parifh to hear in the Pa- rifh-Church ^ And the next Parifhcs St.G'/fcj, and Clement Damn)'v}tTz almoft in the like cafe-, Befides that the Parfon of our own Parifh, (St. 6;7a) where I lived, ^ / Preached not, having been about three years fufpended by the Bifnop ah Officio^ hal]/*^ ^^ not a bmefido^ upon a particular Qiiarrel : And to leave ten or twenty for one rmtaug'.^t in the Parilh, while moll of the City Churches alfo are burnt down, and unbuilt, one would think, fhould not be juftified by Chriftians, 2. Bccaufe, be- yond my cxpedation, the people generally proved exceeding willing and attentive and tradable, and gave mc great hopes of much fuccefs. §. 271. Yet at this time did fome of the moft Learned Conformifts alfault me with fliarp accufations of Schifm, meerly bccaufe I ccafcd not to Preach the Gofpel of Chrift to people in fuch necelFity. They confefs that I ought not to take their Oaths, and make their impofcd Covenants, Declarations and Subfcriptibns againft my Confciencc ^ but my Preaching is my liu which I muft forbear, ( though they accufc mc not of one word that I fay. ) .They confefs the forefaid Matters of fed, ( that not one of a multitude can poffibly hear hi the Parifh Churches, through the grcatnefs of fomc Parifhes, the lowncfs of the Minifter's voices, and the pau- city of Churches fince the burning of the City : ) And they confefs that the know- ledge of the Gofpel is ( ordinarily ) ncLelTary to falvation, and teaching and hear- ing neceflary to knowledge ^ and that to leave the people untaught ( efpccially where fo many are*fpcaking for Athcifm, Bcalliality, and Infidelity ) is to give them up to Damnation : But yet they fay that to do fo is my duty, bccaufe the Bilhop is againft my Preacliing: And I ought to reft fatisficd that it is the Bifhop, and not not I, that muft anfwer for their Damnation. Alas poor Souls ! Muft they needs be damned by thonfand'i, without making any qucftion of it? as if all the qucftion were, who Ihould anfwer for it. 1 will not believe f«ch cruel mcD I ^52 ^^^^^ ^ / F £ of the Parr lil 1 undertake to prove to them to them, i. That cur Zk^/{/Z) Species of X'ioctfm prelacy and Lay Chonccllonrs power of the Keys, is contrary to God's Werd, and deftaiftive of true Difcipline, and of the Church form and Offices inftituted by ; Chrift. 2. That were th.c Ofti.es Lawful, the men have no true calling to it, being not chofen or confentedio by the Clergy, or the People. 3. That if their Calling v?ere coed they have no power to forbid the prefent Silenced Minillers to Preach the Gofpel' ( but thereby they ferve Satan againft Chrift and Men's falvation. ) Faul liimfelf had his power to edification, and not to dellruftion : And Chrift the Saviour of the World, giveth his Minifters only a {living power, and to none 3 power to famidi and damn the people's Souls 4. That we are Dedicated as Mi- ' nillers to the Sacred Ofiicc, and it is Sacriledge in our fclvcs or others, to alienate us from it while we are not unfit or unable for it. 5. That we are Charged (as well as 7)mothy ) before God and the Lord Jefus ChriR,who fhall judge the quick and the Dead at his appearing, that we Preach the Word, and be in feafon, and out ef feafon, reprove, rebuke, exhort, &c. 6. That the Ancient Paftors for many Hundred years did Preach the Gofpel againft: the Wills of their Lawful Prince? both Heathens and Ariians. 7. Thar the* Bilhcp hath no more power to forbid us to Preach, than the King hath : And thefe men confefs that Minifters unjuftly Silenced may Preach againfl: the Will of Kings ( but not , fay they ofBifhops. ; 8. That were vte Lay-men vve might teach and exhort fas Lay- men, as Origen did ) though we might not do it as Paftors much more being Ordained the Minifters of Chrift. And that now to us it is a work which both the Law of Nature and our Office or Vow do bind us to, even a Moral Duty : And that when Chrift judgeth men for not Feeding, Clothing, Vifiting his Mem- bers, it will notexcufcus to fay-, that the Biffiop forbad us: That if King, or Biftiop forbid us to feed our Children, or to favc the lives of drowning, or fa- milhing men, we muft difobey them, as being againft a great command of God ^ Love and the Works of Love being the great indifpenfable Duties. And 5ouls being greater Objcfts of Charity than Bodies. 5). That it was in a Cafe of Phari- faical Church Difcipline, ( when Chrift avoided tiot converfe with finncrs when their good required it) that Chrift fent the Pharifecs to learn what thismeaneth, 1 will have mercy and not facrifice : and at two feveral times repeateth the fame words. 1 o. That Order is for the thing Ordered and it's ends ; and a power of Ordering Preachers is not a power to depofe necellary Preaching and famifli Souls. II. And 1 ftiewthem that I my felf have the Licenfe of the Biftiop of this Diocefs, as well as Epifcopal Ordination ;, and that my Licenfe is in force and not recalled': 12. And that I have the King's Licenfe. 13. And therefore after all this, to obey thefe Silencers ( nay no Biihop doth forbid me, otfcerwife than as his Vote is to the Afts of Parliament, which is as Magi ft rates, ) and to fulfill their vnW that will be content with nothing, but our forfaking of poor Souls, and ceaf- ing to Preach Chrift, this were no better than to end my Life of Coinfortable Labours, in obeying the Devil the Enemy of Chrift and Souls • which God forbid. ^, 27^. Yet will not all this fatisfic thefe men, but they cry out as the Papijls^ Schirm,Schifm, unlefs we will ceafc to Preacli the Gofpel : And have little to fay for all but that No fockty can be governed, if the Rulers be not the 'Judge, Yet dare they not deny but a "judgment ofd'tjcernmg duty fromfm^ bclongcth to all Subjects ^ or clfe we are Brutes, or muft be Atbeifts, idolaters, Blafphemers, or what ever a Bifnop Iball command us. But under the Cenfures of thefe unrcafonable Men, who take our gvcateft Duties for our litinous fin, muft we patiently ferve our Lord : But his approbation is our full reward. §. 273. On July ^th ( 1674. ) at our Meeting over St, Jamfah Market-houfc, See more God vouchfafed us a great Deliverance. A main Beam before weakened by the of this weight of the People fo cracked that three times they ran in terrour out of the in my voom thinking it was falling: But rcmcrabring the like at Dut^ans Weft, I rc- NVife's proved their ircar ascaufelefs. But the next day taking up the boards we found ^''^^'^' that two rends in the Beam, were fo great, that it was a wonder of provi- dence that the floor had not fain, and the roof with it, to the deftrudtion of mul- titudes. The Lord make usthankftil. S. 274- Fart ill. Reverend Mr. Kidurd Baxter, 153 §. 2^4. A psvfon unknovyn profcffing Infidelity ( but wbether an Infidel, or a iugling Papilt, 1 know not ) fent me a Manufcript, called Examen Scriptwcc^ cbarg- iog Scripture with Immorality, Fallhoods, and Contradictions, from the beginning to the end and with feeming Serioufnefs and Refpeclfiilnefs importuned me to An- fwer him. 1 was ia fo great pain and weaknefs ( and engaged in other work ) that 1 fent him word that I had not time or ftrength for fo long a Work._ He fciedled about a Dozen Inftances, and defired my Anfwer to them ; I gave hun an Anfwcr to them and to fome of his General accuf^tions ^ but told hira. That the ratioual Order to' be followed by a Lover of Truth, is firft to confider of the proofs brought for Chriftianity , before we come to the Objeclions aganft it : And I proved to him that Chrijlianity was proved tnic many years before any of the New Teftament was Written , and that fo it may be ftill proved by one that doubted of fome words of the Scripture •, and therefore the tme order is, to try the truth of the Chrtfiian Religion firit , and the perfect Verity of all the Scriptures afterw^ards. And therefore Importuned him firft to Anfwer my Book, called, The Reafons of the Clntftian Religion ^ and then if 1 lived , I would anfwer his Accufations. But I could not at all prevail with him , but he ftill infifted on my Anfwering of his Charge. And half a year ( or more ) after , he fent me a Reply to the Anfwer which I had haftily given him .■ And though he before profefTed, that none in the World but I and his fervant knew of it , yet accidentally, by fpeech with Dr. Stil- lingficet , I nnderftood that the fame M. S. was fent to him : Therefore I fent him the Reply to mine ^ and defired him, feeing he had more ftrength and leifure, to aofwer alltogether for himfelf and me , and then 1 need not do the fame. §. 275. It pleafed God to give me marvellous great Encouragement in my Preaching at St. James's -. The Crack having frightened away moft of the Richer fort f fpeically the Women,) moft of the Congregation were young men, of the moft capable age, who heard with very great Attention , and many that had not come to Church of many years , received fo much, andmanifefted fo. great a Change ( fome Papifts, and Divers others returning publick Thanks to God for their Con- verfton) as made all my Charge and Trouble «afie tome. Among all the Popifh, rude and ignorant People who were Inhabitants of thofe parts, we had fcarce any that opened their mouths aganft us , and that did not fpeak well of the Preaching of the Word among them ^ though when 1 came firft thither , the moft knowing Inliabitants aflured me, that fome of the fame perfons wifht my Death ^ Among the ruder fort , a common Reformation was notifyed in the place , in their Coii- verfation as well as in their Judgments. §,276. But Satan, the Enemy of God and Souls , did quickly ufe divers means to hinder me : i . By Pevfecution , 2.. By the Charges of the work , and , 3. By the troublefome Clamours of fome that were too much inclined to Separation, And firft a fellow, that made a Trade of being an Informer, accufed me to Sir WiUiant Poultney^ a juftice near, upon the Aft againft Conventicles : Sir WiUiam dealt fo wifely and fairly in the bufinefs, as fruftrated the Informer's firft attempts (who offered his Oath againft me,) And before he could make a fecoixi Attempt, Ux. David Llaydiyht Earl of St.Man\ Bayliff) and other Inhabitants,fo fearch't af- ter the quality of the Informer, and profecuted him ( to fecure the Parifti from his Charge of Children ) as made him fly, and appear no more. I that had been the firft Silenced, and the firft fent to Gaol, upon the Oxford- Ad: of Confine- ment, was the firft profecuted upon the Aft of Conventicles,after the Parliament's Condemning the King's Declaration and Licenfes to Preach. §. 2-77. But fhortly after the Storm grew much greater .- The great Minifters of State had new Confultations •• The Duke of Lauder datl^ the Lord Treafurer, (Sir Ttowds Osborne^ made Earl of Danty,) The Lord Keeper ( Sir Heneage Ftnch,) the Bifhop oUllnchepr (Dr. Mor ley) and the Biihoii o{ Salisbury (Dv War d^^^ic. were the Men that the World talk't of, as the Doers of the Bufinefs : The firft thing, that appeared, was, That His Majefty called the Bilhops Up to London, to give him Advice what was to be done for the feairing of Religion &c. The Bilhops, after divers Meetings and Delays, ( the faid Duke, and Lord Treafurer, being appointed to meet with them,) at laft Advifed the King to recall His Li- cenfes , and put the Laws in Execution. Which was done by a Declaration and Proclamation, Declaring the Licenfes long fince void, and requiring th^Acecuti- on of the Laws againft Papifts f moft largely mentioned ) and Conventicles. No fooner was this Proclamaiion p\ihlilhed,but fpecial Informers were feton Work U u u » to 154 The L I F E of the Fartlil to Afcertain the Execution ; and I muft here alfo be the firft that muil be Ac- aiied. §, 278. A litlc before the King had Recalled his Licenfcs, knowing on what A^ccnfations they would proceed, according to the Act of Uniformity- I did, to Obviate the Accufation, deliver, in Words and Wvitinsr, this following Profefll- on, {^Thfugh when J began to Freacb in this phtce, J puhlti-klyjrofcjjcd , That it rvas the notorious Necejf.ty of the Feopk^ vho are more than the Fuvifli-Church can hold, tpvkh moved me thereunto, and that we Meet nat in Cppofiticn to, or Uparaion from the Publick Churches; yet perceiving that ly fome rve are mi fwJer flood, I repeat the fame Frofejfion .- y^nd that we Meet not under colour or pretence of any Religioiu Exerctfc in other manner , than according to the 1 iturgy and Praffice of the Church of England .• y^'ffd that vere / able, J would accordingly Read ny Self. 3 For the r.nderllanding of this, it nii'.ft be known, i. That being my Self unable both to Read and Preach, 1 had «n Afiiftant, who daily Read the Script •;rc-Sentcnccs , the 95th Ifalm , the Pfahns for the Day , the two Chapters for the Day, Singing the Pfulms appointed for Hymns , nfing the Lord\ Prayer , the Creed , and the Decalogue •, all which is the Greatefl part of the Liturgy , though none of the Common Prayers were nfed. 2. That I forbear the v.fe of much of the Common Prayer, which I think lawful and good, meerly bccaufe many of the Nonccnformifts could not. bear it. 3. That the Aft againfl: Conventicles pii- nifheth none but C_f/;o/e that meet on colour , or pretence of any Religions Exercifi- in other manner than according to the Liturgy and pradice of the Church of England. 3 4. That my Judgment ' was, that my Meeting was not fuch, and that I broke no Law : And therefore I made this open Profcffion, as Preparatory to my An- fwer before the Magiflrate ; not expefting that any fuch m.eans Ihould free me from fuffering in the leafl; degree, but that it fhould conduce to the cle.ii ing of my Caufe when I Suffered. But, upon this Paper, thofe that are unable, or un- willing to fufpend their Cenfures, till they underftand the Carifc , and that can- not underlland Words in their plain and proper fignification, but according to their own Preconceptions, did prcfently divulge, all orer the Land, many falfc Reports of it and me : The Separatifts gave out prefently. That 1 had Conform- ed, and openly declared my AflTent and Confent, &c. And fo conudently did they affirm it, that almoll all the City believed it : The Prelatifls again took the Report from them, and their own willingncfs that fo it (hould be, aud reported the fame thing : In one Epifcopal City they gave Thanks in Publick that I Con- formed : In many Counties, their News was. That I moff- certainly Conformed, and v.'as tliereupon to have a Bifhoprick ( which, if I fhould, I had done foolillv- ly in lofmg Thirteen years Lordlbip and Profit, and then taking it when I am dying. ) This was divulged by the Conformifts , to fortifie thcii Pany in the Conceits of their Innocency, and by the Separates, in Spleen and Qr.arrelfomc Zeal! But confident Lying was too common with both. And yet the next day, or the next day fave one, Letters fled abroad on the contrary, that I v.as fent to Gaol fornot Conforming. §. 279. Not long before this, having Preached at Pinners-HaW for Love and Peace, divers falfe Reports went currant among the Scparatifls, and from tlicm to other Nonconform ills, that I Preached againft the Imprti'.rion ot Chrift's Righte- oufncfs, and for Juftification by our own Righteoufnefs, and that the Papifts and Proteflants dilTer but in Words, McQ.- IVut the Women, and Independent Men were the chief. §. 23 1, This greatly rejoyced the Perfecuting Prelatifts, and, i. They hence inferred. That tlie Nonconformiils vv^re as bad a People as they had reported them, and tliat whatever was thought judicious, or Moderate, in any of niy Wri- tings, Preaching, or Converfation , the Nonconformiils had no right to anv Im- putation of it, or Reputation by it, bccaufe 1 was one that they difowned : a.Thcv would hence have drawn me otF from the Nonconfornulls , telling me, That 1 was v.crfc fpoken of, and ufcd "by fuch, than i)y th« Prelatilts. Tolwth which 1 anfweixd , r. That they knew not the Nonconform) If s fo well as I .- and that tho' tlie Lo«i(JK-Scparatifts, and a few other weak and pafl'ionate pcrlbns, made all this noife, yet the generality of the IMinillers and fo!)er People , efpccialiy in the Coiintrey , were of my mind : 2.. That all this Ccnfure and Clamour was a very fmall thing, in comparifonof what I fuffcred by the Bilhops , whohadthefc 13 year'^ , if not more , deprived me of all Miniltevial Maintenance, and alfo forbid- den me to Preach Chrift's Gofpel, though 1 did it vathcut pay - and had fent me among Rogues, to the Common Gaol •, and had deprived me much of the end of Life , which is more to me than Life it felf. §. 282. While, I was thus murmured at by Backbiters Seftaries aad Prelatifts, when the King's Liceiifcs vvere recalled as aforefaid, I wasThe firft that was appre-. bended by Warrant and bi-ought before the Jufliccs as a Convcnticler. One Keting^ an ignorant fellow , had got a Warrant, as Bayliffand Informer, to fearch after Conventicles ( Papifts and Proteftants ) wliich he profecuted with great animofity and Violence: Having then left St. .7/f'»>"H/f >•, was he that fet Keting on work, and gave him his Warrant, and told him, How good a Service it was to the Church, and what be might gain by it .• And Barrvell ftiarply Chid Keting for doing his work with me no more skilfuUy : And the Lord' |# Arlington moft (harply Chid his Brother for gi-anting his Warrant: And within A few days Mr. Barwell riding the Circuit, was caft by his Horfe, and died in the very Fall. And Si» John Medlicot^ and his Brother, a few weeks after, lay both dead in his Houfe toge- tlier. Shortly after Keting came fcveral times to have fpoken with Me, to ask me Forgivenefs , and not meeting with me , went to my Friends* in the City with the fame Words (when a "little before he had boafted, how many Hun- dred pounds he would have of the City-Juftices for refnfing him Juftice. At laft he found me within, and would have fal'n down on his knees to rac, and U u u u 2 ask't jVo "The LIFE of the Part ill askt me earnelliy to forgive him : I askt him wliat had changed his mind: He told me that his Coiifcience had no peace from the h6ur that he t(-oubled me ^ And thar it incieafed his Difquist that no juftice vvoul^ hear, nor one Confcable of forty ex- ecute the warrant, and all the people cryed out againft him -, But that which fet home was Mr. Bi/nre/'s Death (for Sir Jofen A1sdlkotW-izV.\\c.w not of). I exhorted the Man to an Univerfal Repentance and Reformation of Life, and he told me lie would never meddle in fuch BufinelTes, nor trouble any Mzmi, and promifed to live better himfclf than he had doi^e. § 283. A little before Dr. Manton\ Meeting alfb was furprizcd, and he having notice of it before, was abfent, and got Mr. Bedford to preach for him : For it was refolvcdto have fent him to thfe Common Co^/, upon the O-^-for.i Act, as a refufer of the Oath, beiides the penalty of a Conventicle .■ The juftices w ere Mr. Ball (Bro- ther to Dr. BMl Preacher at the Temp'c) the violenteft of them, and Mr. ^ofe and Mr. Philips^ the fame two Men that had fcnt me to the Goal forv vcars before •, They offered Mr. Bedford the Oath, but it proved that he had taken it before, and fo far defeated them : But he was fined accordingly to the Aft in id. (and the place 40/.) which the LordlVharton^ theCountelfes of Bedford, Manchefier and Clure, and other hearers paid : But two of the Jnftices fwore that he faid, that the King did not in ^ood^ameft defJre the exectition of this Law ^ which he profefled he never faid) ^ And for this the King fent him to Prifon. S 284. An Accident at this time fell out, which cccafioned a little feeming ftop of m'y trouble:^ which I will relate as the Duke oi Lauder dall told it me himfelf,who w^ prefent. The Lord Fakon-hrigde being with the Bifhop of Saliskry {Ward) after reported that the Bifhop told him, that it was nothing of the Biihops, but of the Lord Treafurer, that the Aft was thus Executed : The Lord Treafurer char- ged it. as an injury on the Bifhop : The Lord High Chamberlain (E. of Lindfey) told it Bifhop A-forley, who told it Bifliop Ward^ who went to the Lord Treafurer and Complained of it as a falfe injurious report of the Lord Falconbridge -^ The Lord Treafurer took him to the King, who fent for the Lord Falconbridge, who (before the King, the D. of Lauderdail^ the Lord Treaftirer, the Lord High Chamberlain, &c.) wasaccufed'by Bifhop Ward for a falfe report of his words : The Lord Falconhridge could not make it good, but tho he fpake not thofe very vtords, he took the Scope of his Speech to be of that Importance : The King (faid the Duke to me) faid \_ I titujl ell you this my fef : I called the Bifhop f to give me their advice, what was to be clone for the pre fen' fecurina of the Church, and the Proteftant Religion, and they told me, that thee wa<: fometh'.ng to he done, hut they thought it not fafe for them to give advice in it : I told them th.it ' foct this for a LiheUt, and askt them who, or n'hat they were afraid cf : And I appointed thefe Lords '0 fee them give their yinfver. Among other paffages the Lord "alc'onhridge faid that the Bidiop called the Exeaitioh of the Law [^ t-ncV] : The Bifliop Anfwered \_I faid not that the Execution of the Law was a trick •, but tb.it to begin with An'. Baxter was a trick of fome, to make it 'bought that we are umeconcilalle to the mo ft moderate and peaceable "''en.'} And thus they were drawn in to give their feeming h.idgment againft my fufferin^; (tho there was great reafonto think that Pa- pifts and Prelates were the Contrivers of it.) § 285. For the better underftanding of many of thefe matter;^, it muft be known, that at 2 or f of the lafb Seffions of Parliament, Bifhoj) Aid that there lyeth nv oUigaHon 0* wf, or any of his A/ajeftie's Subjeih frum the Oath commonly called the folemn League and Covenant^ to endeavour any Change of the prefent Government of his Majeftie^s Kingdoms^ nor to endeavour tty reformation or niter ution of the Church Government (as it iAtow ly Law eftMiflied) by Rebdlim^ Stditi- . on^ or any vthe^ unlawful means. II. And be it enacted. by, ere, — That in fuch Churches or places of pubiick noc- fliip where the Liturgy is read, and the Sacraments of Baptifm and the Lord's Sup- per accordingly adminiftrcd, by the Incumbent, or the Lecturer, or Curate, or other Miniftcr, no other fliall be punilhed for not uling it there, or for not bapti- zing, or not adminiftring the Lord's Supper ; provided that fiich other Minifter bft oft prefent at the reading of the Liturgy, and th-:t he read it himfelf at leall twice R year, and as often baptize Children (if olicred tiicreto) and adminifter the Lord's iiupper according to the Liturgy, if he have cure of Souls. Provided that no Mi- nister Ihall be [Hinifhed as guilty of Omillion, for any brevity v/hich is caufcd una- voidably by ficknefs, wcaknefs, or any jnlt extraordinary caufe .■ But if otherwife the Liturgy be in any Church difufed, the Incumbent fiiall be punifliable as is already appointed bj the Law. And Part 111 ^CLcrend Mr. Richard Ba^ct^r^^ And Be it eaaacd---that no Parent fhall be forbidd"^entcr hisownChild into Covenant with God i;i bapt.fm, by fpcakingfiichpromifing and undertakingwords as by the Liturgy and Canon arc now required of the Godfathers and Godmothers alone- Nor fhall any Miniftcr be forced againll bis Conlcicnce to baptirc anv Child who iinot thus oiFcred to God by oneof the Parents, or by fuch a pro parent as taketh She Child for his own, and undertaketh the Chrillian Education. Be it alfo Enadcd that no pcrfon fhall be conftraincd againft his Confcience to the ufc of the Crofs in Baptilin, or of the Surplice, nor any Minifterto deny the Lord's Supper to any for not receiving it kneeling ; nor read any of the Afooy^ha for LefTons ■ nor to punilh any Excommunication or Abfolution againil his Confcience • but the Bifhop or Chan- ccllour whodecreeth it fhall caufc fuch to publifh it as are not dilTatisfyed ^o to do or fhall only af5x it on the Church-Door. Nor fhall anyMinifrer beconftrained at Bu- rial tofpeak only words importing the falvation of any perfon, who within a year received not the Sacrament of Communion, or was fufpended from it actordin' to the Rubnckor Canon, and fatisfyed not the Minifber of his ferious Repentance.^ in. And whereas many pcrfons having been ordained as Presbyters by Parochi- al Paftorsm the times of Ufurpatioa and Diftradion, hath occalloned many Difficul- ties; for the prefent remedy hereof, be it Enafted. — That all fuch perfons as before this time have been ordained as Presbyters by Parochial Pallors only, and arc quali- fycd for that Office as the Law requircth, fhall receive power to exercife it from a Bifhop by a written Inftrament (which every Bifhop in bis Dioccfs is hereby im- powcred and required to Grant; in thefe words and no other {To A. B o*'C in the Country ofD. Take thou Authority to exerclfe the Office of a Presbyter, in any thcc and Congregation m the King's Domtnions whereto thou fhall be lawfully called.^' And this pradicc fufficing for prefent Concord, no one fhall be put to declare his Judgment whether This^ or That which he before received, fhall be taken for his Ordmatinn nor (hall be urged tofpeak any words of fuch iignification ; but each party fhall be left to Judge as they fee caufe. IV. And whereas th« piety of Families, and Godly Converfe of Nei-rhbours is a great means of prefcrving Religion and Sobriety in the World, and left'^the Aft for fuppreffiag fcditious Conventicles fhould be mif-interpreted as injurious thereto be It declared— that it is none of the meaning of the faid Aft, to forbid anv fpch' Fa- mily Piety or Converfe, tho more then four Neighbours fhould be peaceablv pre- fent, at the Reading of the Scriptures, or a Liccnfed Book, the finging of a 'Pfalm repeating of the publick Sermons, or any fuch Exeicife which neither the Laws nor Onons do forbid they being perfomed by fuch as joyn with the allowed Church- Af- femblies, and refufe not the Infpeftion of the Miniflers of the Parifli ; Efpecially where perfons that cannot read arc unable to do fuch things at home as bv Can. 1 3. isenjoyned, ' ' V. And whereas the form of the Oath and Declaration, impofcd on perfons of Office and Trull in Corporations, is unfatisfaftory to many that arc Loyal and pcacciiblc, that our Concord may extend to Corporations :)<( well as Churche<;, r,e it Enaaed—— That the taking of the Ozthi of Allegiance and Supremacy, and' the Declaration againfl Religion and Difloyalty, here before prefcribed, fhall to all Ends and purpofej fulKcc inlbead of the faid Oath and Declaration. VI. And whereas there are many peaceable Subjefts, who hold all the EfTcntials of the Chriftim Faith, but conform not to fo much as is required to the Eflahlifhed Miniflry and Church-Communion, Be ?t Enafted that All and only they who IhaU publickly take the Oaths of AVegiance and Supremacy, before fome Court of Juilice, or at the open Seffions of the County where they live, and that then and there Subfcnbc asfoUoweth. C ^ A. B. do nnfeignedly Jfand to my Ba^tifmil Cornant, and do believe all the Articles of the Creeds called theJpoJHes,tht Nicenc,^.^ Conflanti- Qopohtanc ; and the Huth of the holy Canonical Scriptwes, and do renounce all that K contrary hereto, "] fhall be fo far tolerated in the Exccrcife of their Religion, as His Majefty, with the advice of his Parliament or Council, {hall from time to time, find confiftcnt with the peace and fafcty of his Kingdom*. VII. 59 i6o The L IFEojtbc Part III VII. And left this AA for Concord, (hould occafion Difcord, by emboldening unpcaccable and unruly or heretical men, be it enaded that if any either iii the allowed or the Tolerated AjfemUiei that (hall pray or Preach Rebellion, Sedition, or againfl the Government or Liturgy of the Church, or ihall break the Peace by tumults or otheiTvife, or ftir up uuchriftian hatred and ftrife, or fhall preach againft, or othcrwife oppofe the Chriftan verities or any Article of the facred Doftrine which they fubfcribe, or any of the 39. Articles of Religion, they fhall be punilhcd as by the Laws againft fuch Offences is already provided. / will here alfo jinnex the Copies offome Petitions^ which I was fut to draw «^, which never were frefented. I. The firft was intended while the Parliament was fitting to have been offered j b«t wife Parliament-Men thought it was better forbear it. II. The fecond was thought fit for fome Citizens to hate offered j but by the famt CounccI it was forboru. III. The third was thus occafioncd : Sir John Babor told Dr. Manton that the Scots being then fufpcftcd of fome infurrcdion, it was expefted that we renewed the profeflion of our Loyalty, to free us from all fufpicion of Confpiracy with them. We faid that it fscmed hard to us that we fhould fall under fufpicion, and no caufe allcdged : We knew of no occafion that we had given : But we were ready to profefs our continued Loyalty, but delired that we might with it, open our juft refeatment of our Cafe. They put rae to draw it up : but when it was read, it was laid by, none daring to plead our Caufc fo^ freely and lignify any fenfe of our hard ufage. I. May it Pleafe Your Majejiy^ with the Lords and Commons Aflembled in Parliament. WHen the Common profclHon of refolved moderation had abated Men'i fear< of a Silencing Prelacy ; and the publifhed Declarations of Nobilitic and Gentry againft all diriding Tiolcnc* and revenge, had hclpt to unite the endeavours of Your Subjeifls which profpered for Your Ma]ejiie\ defired Re- ftoration ; when God's wonderful providence had difTolved the Military Powers of Ufurpers, which hindered it; and when Your welcome appearance. Your AS of Oblivion^ Your Gracious Declaration about Ecclefiafcical Affairs ( for which the Houfe of Commons folem«ly gave you thanks ) did feem to have done aiueh to the Cure of our Divifions j we had fome hopes that our common revived Love and Concord, would have tended to Your Majejly^ and our common joy, in the hat-* mony, ftrength and profpevity of Your Kingdoms •, and that we might among your inferiour Subjedts have enjoyed our part in the common tranquility. But the year 1661. difTolved thofe hopes, fixing our old Difficuties, and adding mortf, which fince then alfo have been much increafed : Beeing confccrated and vowca to the facred Miniftry, we dare not dcfert it, loft wc fhortlv appear before ou^ Judge, in the guilt of facriledgc, 6c perfidioufncfs againft Chnft and the people's Souls. But we arc forbiden tocxcrcife it, ualefs we will do that which we profefi as Men that arc palling to our final Doom, wc vvovild readily do, were it not for fear of God's difpleafui « jind our Damnation. Deprivation of all Miuifterial main- tenance, wjtli heavy Miilfts ( on fuch as have not money to pay ) and long Im- prifonments in the Common Goals with Malefadors, and banifhment ( to thofe that fliall furvivc them ) and that into remote parts of the World, were the pe* Baltics appointed for us by your Laws. Voluminous reproaciies arc publiflied a- gainfc us j in which our Supcriours and the World are told, that wc hold that things indifferent are made unlawful by the Commands of lawfiil Gover- nours. Pare ill. 'Rrjm'ud Mr, Richard Baxter. ~ i6i nours, and that we arc °uiky of Do*^rines inconfiftent with the Peace and Sale- ty of So^iecica , and thai we arc moved by Pride and Covetoufncfs j as it we were proud of Meii'i bvCivn, and v.xjvc[uui of fordid Want ard Bcggery and arabicious of a Gaol ^ isiid that we are Unpcaceablc, Difloyal, Odious and Intole- rable Pcrfon*. Left we (hould feeni over-quenilous , and our Petitions thcmfclves (bonld prove ofFeniivc , we h.ive been iilcnt under Twelve years fufFerings ( by which divers Learned and holy Divines have been luftcned home to Glory ) hoping that Exm- ricnce would have effect uai'.y fpoUen for us, when we may not Spc.k for our felvcs. And did we believe that our own preffures were the greateft coniev^uent Evil and that the People's knowledge, and piety, and the allowed Minifrcrs Number Vnffi- cicncy and Diligence , were fuch as made our Labours needUfs , and that the Hi- ftory of our Silence and Sufferings would be the future Honour of this Age and the future Comfoix of your Souls, and theirs that inftigatc you againll us lifore our Common Judge, we would joyfully be filent, and aacpt of a Difmiffion. But being certain of the contrary, we do this once adventure, humbly to tender to 'Your Majefty, and Your Parliament, thefe following Requcfts. 1 . Bccaufe God faith. That he that hateth his Brother i» a Murderer, and hath not Eternal Life -. We humbly crave leave once to Print and Publifli the true State and Reafons of our Nonconformity to the World ^ to favc Mens Souls from the guilt of unjull Hatred and Calumny : And if we err, wcraay be helped to Re- pcnuncc by a Confiitation, and the Notoriety of oar ftiame. 2. That in the mean time this Honourable Houfc will appoint a Committee to confider of the bell means for the Healing our Calamitous Divihous, before whom wc may have leave at lafl; to fpcak for our felvcs. 3. That thefe annexed Profcffions of our Religion and Loyalty may be recei- ved , as from Men that better know their own Minds than their Accufers do, and who, if they durftrfielibcratcly Lie, Ihould be no Noncoaformifts. 4. That if yet we muft fuffer as Malcfaftors, wc may be puniflied but as Drun- kards, and Fornicators are, with fomc Penalty which will conilft with our Preach- ing Chrift's Gofpel, and that (hall not reach to the hurt or danger of many Thou- fand Innocent People's Souls, till the Re-buildiug of th« Burnt -Churches, the lef- fening of great Parilhes, where one of very many cannot hear and worlhip God ^ and till the quality and number of the Conformable Minifters, and the knowledge, piety, and fobricty of tlie people have truly made our Labours needlefs j and then we fhall gladly obey your Silencing Commandu. And whereas there are commonly r-eckoncd to be in the Pariflies withorst the Walts, above Two hundred rhoufand perfons, more than can come within the FariOi Churches, they may not be compelled in a Chriftian Land to live as A- theills, and worfe than lufrdels and Heathens, who, in their manner, publickly worfhip God. The Profejfitn of our RcUpon. 1 X B. Do willingly profefs my continued rcfolvcd confeut to the Covenant of Chriftianitv which 1 made in my Baptifm, with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, forfakins^ the Devil, the World, and the fmful Lufts of the Flcfh : And I profefs my Belief of the Ancient Chriftian Creeds, called. The ^■^oftks The Nicene^ and. The Con/I^>if»«opoiit^«t',and the Dodrine of the Blejfed Trinity^ rellicr ojjcned in that afcribcd to yithanaftus : And my Coafcnt to The Lord's Traytr^ a^ the Summary ot HolyDclires, aad to The Dec*]ogue^ with Chrijt's Infiituttms^i^ the Summary Rule of Chriftian PraAicc : And to all the Holy Canonical Scriptures^ as tlic Word of God : And to the Doftrine of the Church of England profef- fcd in the 39 Articles of Reh^ion^ as in fence agreeable to the Word of God : And I renounce all Herefies, or EiTOurs, contrary to any of thefe j And I do hold that the Book of Commm frayer , and of Bifliops Priefts and Deacons, contain- cth in it nothing fo difa^zrecablc to the VV'ord of God, as maketh it unlawful to live in the Peaceable Communion of the Church that ufeth if. X X X r T»f i62 The LI F E of the Part 111 The PrcfeJJlon of cur Jryalty end Obeditr.ce, 1 dowilUngly, and without Equivocation and Deceit, take the Oaths oj Allegi- ance, and the King's Supremacy, and hold my felf obliged to perform them. I dcteh all Doftrines and Practices of Rebellion and Sedition : 1 hold it. unlawful for any of His Majefly's Subjcds, upon any pretence whatfoever , to take Arms againft the King, His Ferfon , Authority, Dignity, or Rights, or againll any Authorized by his Laws or CommilTions: And that there is no Obligation on me or aay other of his Subjecls, from the Oath Commonly called, The Solemn League and Covenant , to endeavour any change of the prcfent Government of theie His Majefty's Kingdoms ^ nor to endeavour any Reformation of the Church , by Re- bellion , Sedition , or any other unlawful means. Tht Overplus ^ as a remedy againfl Suf^kion. We believe and willingly embrace all that is written in the Holy Scriptures for the power of Kings and the Obedience of their Subjects , and the linfulnefs of Re- bellion and Refiftance. And concerning the fame we confent to as much as is found in any General Council , or in the Confcllion of any Chrifcian Church on Earth ( not rerpe(Sing Obedience to the Pop^, ) which ever yet came to our knowledg j or as is owned by the Confent of the Greater part of Divines, Politicians, Law- yers or Hiftorians in the Chriftain World , as far as our Reading hath acq;iainted us therewith. II. To the Kings mofl Excellent Maje§iy ; The Humble Pe^ tition offime Citizens of London , on the behalf of this City^ and the Adjoyning PariJ/jes^ Sheweth^ THat the Calamitous Fire 1 666, with our Houfes and Goods, Burnt down near 90 Churches, few of which are yet Re-edifyed ^ And divers Parifhes, whofe Churches yet fland , are fo great, that it is but a fmall part of the Inhabitants that can there hear : whereby great Numbers are left in ignorance , and as a prey to Papifts and other Seducers , and which is worfe, to Atheifm , Infidelity , and Irrcligiourncfs : And if many of their ancient ejeftcd , lilenccd Paftors, who, for refuting certain Subfcriptions , Declarations , Promifes, Oaths and Prafticcs, are called Nonconformifts , had not through great Ditficulties and Sufferings e.ver- cifed their CompalTion to the people's Souls, in Preaching and Vifiting the Sick, they had been yet more miferable deftitute and forfaken. Your Petitioners being fcnfible, that Chriftians profefTing the Belief of a Life to come , and that the holy Scriptures ihould not, by fuch Judgments , as our Plagues and Flames be hardened againft God, but be awakened to Repentance and Holinefs of Life , and that fo Great and Honourable a City, Ihould not, after ali, turn worfe than Infidels and Heathens, who are taught by T-Iature, publickly to Worfliip God , do humbly requeft , that till the Great Parilhcs have Capacious Churches or Chappels,and the ruined Churches are re-built, and furniflied with able Conformable Minilters, thofe Proteftant Nonconformilts who will Teach the peo- ple where others do not , may not be therefore punifhed, or be forbidden, and the Souls of many Thoufands which arc hailing to another World, be deprived of fuch ncccflary helps , the Preachers being refponlible for whatever they fpcak or do amifs. This Necefiary Compadion to this famous City , even to the Souls of Men , which we humbly crave will more oblige Your Majefby's Loyil Subjefts , to Pray for the Coutinuancs of Your Profpsrous Reign. III. To Part ill. Kever end Mr. Ixichird Baxter. III. To the Kings mofi EzcellentMajefty ^ The humble Frofef- fon of Gratitude and Suljetlion ot fome Eje&ed , Silenced Minijiers of Chrifl^ on the behalf of themfehes and many ethers. IShy it plcafc Your Majcfty, WE Your Majefty's Subjcfts, Dedicated to the Sacred Ofricc, from which wc mull not Perfidioiilly and Sacrilegioully alienate our felves, once (vainly) hoped that the Eftabliihed Publick Miniltry might have received Men of our Size of Science and Confcience, till all the Churches had been furnidied with Wifcr Better Men : But God ( for our Sins and Trial ) and Men ( we know not why ) have othcrwifc decreed. We choofe not this Calling ( nor our coftly Nonconformity ) as the way of Wealth or Worldly Honour ^ Nor ever cxpeft- cd that God fhould make us a Golden-Bridge to Heaven ^ Nor deiire to be Lords over God's Flock , or Rule them by Conftraint, remembring who faid, C Bm with you it /h.iU not be fo : ^ Gjin is not ourGodlincfs^ or Church-Glory^ but Gedli- nsfs our Guin ^ We like not Divest Qioice fo well as Aiaryh j But yet could gladly have cicaped both La2.ari'.s and Aiartha\ ftraits, and have ferved God without diftradion : Wc have Flefli that is not in love with Suflering, nor am- bitious to live on Alms : It is Divine Relief that muft keep thofe Men's Con- fciences from a timerous or treacherous furrender, which are befiegcd by Sixteen years Poverty and Reproach, and from the Proph.memfs of ftllinf their Birtb-ri^ht for a Morfel : But ( though Senfibility of our Brethren's Sufferings, be not Im- patient Mnrmuring^ yet j it is a more Grievous Burden^ which conflraineth us at laft to Speak, 'Z//2.. That fo great a part of our maturefl Age ( in which by the experience of good and evil, our own and others, we fhould have been far wifer ladfitter to ferre God in his Church, than wc were in unexperienced Youth) fhould be fo far loft as it hath been, as to the Work to which we were Ordained : That ( ilahcard ) wc fhould be fuppofcd fo Erroneous, or Criminal , as that no Punillv mcnt of our Bodies can give fatisfaftion Avithout the fuflering of the Souls of Men, by our forbearing to Preach the Word of Life ! Ihat while with grieved Souls wc muft fee the fad Divilions aud Sidings that Prevail, and the doleful advanta- ges that Satan hereby getteth , for the mine of Piety , Love and Peace , and the increafc of Atheifm , Infidelity and Malicioufnefs , and Confufion , and every evil work , and are told fo loudly, by our notorious Neccfllty, that all our Endea- vours conjunct would be too little .• When we have forcfeen and foretold all this, and ufcd our moft earneft Requefts and Endeavours to have prevented it \ We muft yet be defamed by Tongues and Prcfs, as the Authors and Fomenters of it, and as men of Unfociable and unruly humours , and of Unpeaceable Sdiifmatical and I'cdi- tious Principles • That being thus rendered odious, wc are made uncipable of Pub- lick or Private ufe to Multitudes, whofe Lives declare tlicir need of help. That many whom we muft /owowand reverence^ arc hereby drawn into the guilt of Calumny and Injury to the Church, as well as to us, whofe Cafe and Rcafons ( as to tl;e NexQ Conformity ) they never underftood , or heard. That fo many Men's minds, and Zeal and Parts fhould be fo ill imploycd on all fides, as to be raking in the blecdine; Wounds which they arc obliged to the uttcrmoft of their Diligence to heal : That while Preachers arc againit Preachers, and Hea- venly Love and Joy is turned into Envying and Strife ^ Wc fhould go for the A/en that blow the Coals, and rob Your Majefty of the Honour and Joy of Ruling an Unanimous Minillery, and a Peaceable, Loyal, Unfufpedcd People ^ Wc muft not be guilty of fettin^ jo li^ht by Your Majejl/s Intcrefi^ and Tour judgment of us, and Favour to us, and the Interefi of the Churchy and the Feoplc''s Souls^ as to remain flill fdent under all this. And, with prcateft reverence of God, wc muft profcfs. That if the faithful fearch of our Confcicnces fhould flicw us, that all tliis is cau- fcd by any felf-feeking, or willfulncls of ours ^ and that we were not fliil wil- ling, at the dearcit rate ( except finwng^ which is no way to Peace ) to clofc thcfc Wounds, but preferred any Worldly Interetl before the Peace and Harmony of Jouls, wc (hould take it to be Kin to Judai's Siji, and fhould tremble to think, X X X X a how j64 The LIFE of ihe Part III. how <|nickly a revenging God would judge us, and what a difmal entrance upon Eternity fuch guilty Souls are like to have. BQt tho fenfe and confcience thus complain, it is but the introdurtion to ouvth.ztik- ful acknou'ledgmmt of the favours which your Majefty hath vouchfafed us : Your Cle- mency, protcftion and forbearance hath revived our comforts, which coDlIft in that work which is the bulinefs of our Lives. Our Loyal fidelity {hall exprefs onr gr at iinde more than words : And becaufe fome in this alfo would render us fufpefted, we take ■ it for ourDuty to profefs,that tho we take not and digefb not,aseafily a$ is expedted, all Subfcriptions, Declarations and Oaths, which are of late impofcd. It is not from any Princhle of Difloyalty : For we firmly hold that every Soul mufb be fubjeft to the Higher Powers, not only for iVratkhnt Confcience fake : And that Honour:, and Obe- dience in Lawful things^ and patience under wrongful prefiures is our Duty to our Ru- lers:; In (hort, we know not oione word in icri^twc^ one Canon of any General Council^ one Confeffwn of any Chriftian Church on Earthy which fpcaketh mo^e for fuhjtits Suh- mijfion^ and peaceable obedience to Kin£s^ than we do heartily acknowledge .■ And we be- lieve that no -z/oip or Co^/e/J<;(Wf of our own, can difoblige us from any part of this obedience, or warrant us to Rebel. We would not have the King of Howe (the pretended vicar of theKi'ng of Kings) to be King over your Majefty or your King- doms ^ The world's Experience lowdly telleth us that Clergymen are fitter to be kept by the >word in Peac? and Quictnefs^ than to be trufted with the Sword ^ and we would not have Kings be m.ade their Executioners : For we are paft doubt that the Controverfm and Contentions of the Worldly Tyrannical^ and the ftlf-conceited Clergy^ have been many hundred years more Calamitous to theChriJlian World^ than the mofi bloody Wars : We are our felves fo far from defiring Grandeur and Dominion^ that we would not be fo much as the Tafors of any hut Confcnters ^ and wifh that the Cler- gie's State were fuch as neither jfarvcd or ftraitened the diligent Labourers^ nor fo tempted and invited Ambitious Worldly minds ^as \.\\zt fuch^ being the feekers, mufiufual- /y be the Mafters of the Church, who are likeft to be Enemies to the holy Dodfrinc which condemneth them. We long, we pray, we groan for the Concord of the Chri- ftian World: And we /Tj-e/wfe that whoever Ihall be the hlejfed and honoured Inftru- mentsof that work, muftdo it by breaking dividing Engines, and making the primitive ftmplicity, the terms of Vnion •, even a few plain, certain, necejfary things ; while the Sword of the Magi fir ate conftraineth the turbulent, to peace and mutual forbearance in the reft : Wc are not for cruelty to any : We greatly approve of your Majefties Averf- ncfs to perfccution. But we believe that it is the Learning, Godlinefs and Con- cord of the Miniftry, which fhall be publickly fettled by your Laws, which mult be the chief means of preferving Religion, Loyalty and Peace, and therefore muft deep- ly refent it that we are rendered fo unferviceablc in that kind, and that well meaning men (liould fo long mifunderftand our caufe, and judge, defame and ufc us as if we were the hinderers of that fweet agreement which our Souls moil earneflly defire, and would purchafe by any Lawful price. In fumm, the belief of the Heavenly Glory through Chrtft, kindling the Love of God and Man, and teaching us to live Soberly, Righ- teou/ly, and God'y, and the Government of Alagiftrates keeping all in peace upon thefe terms^ is the Religion and State that we dcfire. And the grief of our Souls for the prefent Divifions doth call up our thankfiil remembrance, that once by your Majefty's favour, we were Commiffwned to fpeak fot- our felves about the old Conformity, and to treat with your Bijhops for fuch Alterations as were nccedary to our Concord : And that your Majefty publifiied fo Gracious a De- claration of Ecclefiaffical Affairs, as, had it lived, had prevented our prefect frailions ; yea 1 hat your Houie of Commons gave your Majefty the publick Thanks for your healing means -. (Tho now fome take all our Divifions and DiftralHom, to be a fmallcr evil, than the Terms of that your Majcfty's Declaration would be j. And if ever your favour allow us to fpeak for our felves alfo ai to the JSlew Conformity, and to o- pentothcvvoild,the matter and reafons of our_ Nonconformity, wc cannot doubt but it would much abate the Cenfurcs and Injuries of Multitudes that underftand ;'•; not,- and confcqucntly abate their guilt, andal' unhyothe^ly Difiances and Uhifms, and '^len's unthankful dillike of your Majefty's Clemency. And fo far as God by your Ma- jcfty's favour Oiall open our Lips, that our mouths miy Hicvv foixh his praifc, we fliall be obliged to greater thankfulnefs to your Majefty, and to pray for your pious and profperous Reign, and that we may all live a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godlinefs and Honefty, asbecometh your Majefty's Loyal Subjects. §28p. Part I II. Revemi d Mr. Richard B^t^ ^ § 239. While the faid two Bifhops werelraudulently iceming t^l^T^IT^inhl^ Treaty then- caufe required them outwardly to pretend that they would not have me troubled ; but underftand I was ItUI the lirlt that ^vas haunted after and perfe- cuted : A nd even while I w^as in this Treaty, the informers of the City (fet on work by the Bifhops) were watching my preaching, and contriving to load me with di- vers conviaioiis and hnes at once : And they found an Alderman Juftice even in the Ward where I preached, fit for their Defign, one Sir TW^.r. D,^is who under- ftood n Jt the Law, but was ready to fcrve the Prelates in their own way To him Oath was made againft me, and the place where I preached, as for two Sermons which came to thrceicore pounds fine to me, and fourfcore to the owner of the nlace where we ailembled : But I only was fought after and profecutcd § ipo^Thc Reader muft here underftand the prefent cafe of the City as to fuch things .- The Execution ot thefe Laws, that were to mine us for preaching was fo much agamft the hearts of the Citizens, that fcarce any could be found to execute them: Tho the Corporation Oath and Declaration had new moulded the City (and all the Corporations of the l,and, excepi fomc few (-nTuunton. ire.) which were utterly diifolvedby it) yet were the Aldermen for the moft part utterly averfe to fuch Im- ployment, lo that whenever an Informer came to them, tho (chey forfeited an 1 00/ every time that they retufed to execute their OfSce, yet fome fhifted out of the way* and loine plainly denyedand repulfed the Accufers, and one was fued for it ■ And Alderman Forth got an Informer bound to the behaviour for breaking in upon him m his Chamber agamft his will. Two fellows caUed Strowd and AhnifhilhtczmQ the General Informers in the City, and fome others under them. XxizW London notwithftanding that the third parts of thofe great Fines might be givea the Informers, very few would be found to do it: And thofe two were prefcntlv fallen upon by their Creditors on purpofe, and Afunjhal laid in the Compter for Debt, where he remained for a confiderable time • but Strowd ( keeping a Cof- fee-Houfe) was not fo deep in debt, but was bailed. Had a Stranger of another Land come into London^ and feen five or fix poor ignorant forry Fellows (un- worthy to have been infenour Servants to an Ordinary Gentleman) hunting and infulting over the ancient Aldermen, and the Lord Mayor himfclf, and all the Reverend, faithful Minifters that were ejeftcd, and eighty nine Churches were dellroyed by the Fire, and in many Pariflics the Churches yet ftanding could not hold a fixth, or tenth part of the People, yet thofe that Preached ^r nothing were profecuted to utter ruin, with fuch unwearied cagernefs fure he would have wondered what thefe Prelates and Profecutors are; and 'it may convince • us that the term J'l^.Qom, given in Saipture to fome Men (tranllated falfc Accufers) is not unmeet : When Men pretending to be the Fathers of the Church dare turn loofc half a dofen paltry, fiily Fellows that know not what they do, to be, to fo many Thoufand Sober Men, as Wolves among the Sheep to thcdiftraflion of fuch a City, and the difturbance of fo many thoufand for worfliipping God. How lively doth this tell us, that Satan, the Prince of the Aereal Powers workcth in the Children of Difobedieace , and that his King- dom on Earth is kin to Hell, as Chrift's Kingdom is to Heaven. § 291. When 1 undcrftood that the delign was to ruin me, by heaping up Convi£tions, before 1 was heard to fpeak for my felf, 1 went to Sir Thomas Davis, and told liim that I undertook to prove that I broke not the Law and defircdhim that he would pafs no Judgment till I had fpoke for my felf before my Accufers • But I found him fo ignorant of the Law, as to be fully pcrfwaded, that if the Informers did but fwear in general that I kept Ian mUrv- ful meeting in Fretence of a Religions Excrcife in other nunner than according to the Liturgy and praSice of the C/jwrcfc 0/ England! he was bound to take this general Oath for Proof, and to record a judgment; and fo that the Acc-ufers were in- deed the Judges, and not he : I told him that any Lawyer would foon tell him the contrary, and that he was Judge whether by particular Proof they made j;ood their general Accufation, (as it is in cafe a Man be accufed of Felony or Treafon, it is not enough that Men fwear that he is a Felon or Traytor, they mull name .w'hat his Fad was, andprovc him guilty : ) And I was at charge in Feeing Counlellors to convince him, and others ; and yet I could not perfwade him out of his miftakc ; I told him that if this were fo, any two fuch Fellows might defame, and bring to Fines, and Punilhment, himfclf, and all the Magi- llratei and Parliament-Men thcmfelvcs, and all that meet in the Parifh-Church- ib6 'J he L i Ft oj the Fart III es, aad Men had no Remedy. At hit he told me that he v»ould confult with other Aldermea at the Seflions, and they would go one way : Whea the Seffions came I went to Guild-HJl^ and again defired him that 1 might be heard before I was Judged : But though tlic other Alderman (fave two or three) were a- gainft fuch doings, I could not prevail with liim, but (profeinng great Kindnefs) he then laid all on Sir John Howell^ the Recorder, faying, that it was his Judg- ment, and he mull follow his Advice. I defired him, and Sir Tfcow.w ^//e», that they would defire of the Recorder, that I might be heard before I was Judg- ed, and that if it mufl: pafs by his Judgment, that he would hear me fpeak : But I could not procure it •, the Recorder would not fpeak with me : When I faw their Refolution, I told Sir Thomas ■ Davi:^ if 1 might not be heard, I would record to Pofterity the injuftice of his Judgment, and Record : But I perceived, that he had already made the Record, but not yet given it in to the Seffions : At laft, upon Confultation with his Leaders, he gi anted me a hearing, and three of the Informers met mc at his Houfe, that hi d fworn againft me : I told them my particular Cafe , and asked them what m^de my Preaching a Breach of that Law, and how they proved their Accufation? They firfc faid, Becaufe I Preached in an unconfecrated Place : 1 told them, i . That the Ad only laid it on the manner of the Exercife^ which the Place was nothing to : And, 2. That it was the Prafticc of the Church of EngLnd to Preach in unconfecrated Places, as at Sturbrid^e-Fair , at the Sfittk^ at Whitehall-Court^ arfd many fuch like. They next faid, {^Becaufe I am a Nonconformijiri I eafily convinced them that I am not a Nonconformift in Law-fence, but in the fame cafe with a Conformift that hath no Benefice (whatever 1 am in confcie.nce), the Law obliging me to no more than I do. And if I were, that is nothing to the manner of the txtrcife. Their laft and great proof was, that 1 ufed not the Common Prayer. I under- took to prove to them that Law ccmmandeth the ufe_ of the Common Prayer only in Church Meetings, and not in every other fubordinate or by- Meeting for Religious Exercifes, fuch as ours was : And that it was not the fenfe of the A& that Conformable perfons that Communicate in the Liturgy with the Parifh Churches, Ihould be judged Conventiclers, whenever above four of them joyncd in a Religious Exercife without the Liturgy : For elfe all Tu- tors in the Univerlity fhould be punilhable, and all School-mafters that teach their Scholars and pray with them (if above 1 6 years of age) and they that •inftrua Prifoners at Newgate^ and they that exhort and pray and fing Pfalmi with them at the GaHoros^ with many fuch Inlbnces : We ought not to judge fo uiicharitablv of King and Parliament, unconftrained,' as to think that they would allow Multitudes to meet at a Play-houfe, a Mufick-houfe, a horfe-racc, a Bear-baiting, or Dancing, or any game, and allov/ many to meet at a CofFee- houfe, Ale-houfe, or Tavern, or in any private houfe, and do, on pain of ut- ter mine, only forbid Conformable perfons, to joyn more than four, in fing- ing a Pfulm^ or reading a Chapter or a Licenfed book, or in praying together, or Conference tending to Religious Edification. In Summ,thcy confeft they could not Anfwcr mc,nor prove their charge,bot they ftij] believed that I was guilty.' The Jufricewasfofar from thinking that they proved it , that he motioned to them to Retrad their Oaths ( or elfe ftill he thought tliat he muft condemn mc : ) They dcnycd to do that, and faid, That the Birtiop airiired . them , That it was a Convcnticlc,and I was guilty : I defired them,if it muft all lie upon the Bifhop, that I might Speak with them to the Bilhop for my felf •• They told mc. That it was the Arch-B«(hop of CrfKffrfcMry , and they were all jiift now going to him , and pr^unifcd to bring mcword when I might Speak with him :_ But I heard no more of them of that : But the Jufticc retraded not his Judgment , but delayed a Month or more, to give out his Warrant todiftrein, though I daily lookw^en they take ray books (for they will find but little elfe : ) Though both juftice and Accufcrs have before witnefsconfclfed that they cannot prove me guilty, but one profefleth to go on the belief of the Recorder , and the other of the Arch- bifnop. §. 292. But God hath more mercy on thefe ignorant Informers , than on the Pharifiical Inftigators of them : For thofc repent, but no Prelate, ( fave one ) that I licar of, doth repent .• One of them that Swore againft me, went t^\e next Fqft to Redriff, to Mr. RofcwelPs Church , where a Faft was kept , where liearing three part lii. Keverend Air. Richard Baxter. 167 tiiiee Miiiiftefs pray and preuLh , his le.rt was melted, and v.itli Tears, he lament- ed his toimcr coiirfc, and paitivularly his Acculing me, and ieemeth refolvcd for a new reformed Courfc of Life , and is retired from his former Company to that end. And a third ( the chief j of the Informers lately in the Streets , with great kin-lnefs to me, profeifed, that he v/ould meddle no more (coming by when a half diuiaftcd Fellow had Sii ici; me on the head with his Staff, and furioully revi- led at me for Preaching , with the titles of Rogue , Villain, Hypocrite. Traytor, &c. ( as the Prelatilts and Papifts often do. ) §. 293. The Parliament meeting ^pr. 13. they fell firft on the D. of Lauder daJe^ icncwine their delire to the King, to remove him from all publick Enployment and Tnift; His chief accufing Witncfs was Mr. Bu^'net ^ late Publick-Profeflbr of Tka- hfje at Clafcoto, who faid, That he askt him whether the Scots Army would come into EmlMd^ and laid ^ \Vhat if the Dillenting Scots Hionld Rife , an Jri/h Army fliould cue their Throats , &c. But becayfe Mr. Burnet had lately magnified the faid Duke in an EpijH: before a publifhed book , many thought his witnefs now to be more unfavoury and revcngeftiU : Every one judging as they were affedtcd. But the King fent them Anfwer, That the words were fj^okeu before his late Aft, of pardon , which if he (hould Violate , it might caufe jealouiies in his Subjects, that he might do fo alfo by the Ad of Indemnity. §. 2 y4, "Their next Alfaultwas againit the Lord Treafurer , who found more Friends in the Hcufe of Commons, who at lait acquitted him. §. 295. But the great work was in the Houfe of Lords, where an Aft was brought in to impofe fuch an Oath on Lords , Commons , and Magillrates, as is Impofcd by the Oxford- Ad: of Confinement on Minillers, and like the Corporation- Oath ( of which more anon. ) It was now fappofed that the bringing the Parlia- ment under this Oath and Teft was the great work which the Houfe was to perform : ThcSumm was. That none Commiflioned by the King maybe by Arms rcfiftcd, and that they would never endeavour any alteration of the Government of Church or State. Many Lords fpake vehemently againft it, as deftruaive to the Privileges of their Houfe , which was to Vote freely, and not to be preobliged by an Oath to the Prelates : The Lord Treafurer, the Lord Keeper , with Bifhop Merley and hUho'p IVard ^ were the great Speakers for it. And the EsltI of Shaftsbury ^ Lord //oflw, the Lord HaUifax , the D. of Buckingham , the Earl of Salisbury , the chief Speakers againft it : They that were for it, being the Major part, many of the reft Entered their Proteftation againft it .• The Protefters the firft time ( for they protefted thrice more afterward) were the Duke of Buckingham^ the Marquefs oiWinchcJier^ the Earls of Salisbury^ Brijlol^ Barkfliire^ § 296. TheProtefting Lords having many days ftriven againft the Teft, and be- ing overvoted, attempted to joyn to it an Oath for Honejiy and Confcience in thefe words. " {\ do f^'ear that I will never by threats, injunctions, promifes, or invita- " tions, Ijy or from any perfon whatfoevcr, nor from the hopes or profpecT:s of any " gift, place, office, or tiiift whatever, give my vote, other than according to my " opinionandconfcience, as I (hallbetruly and really perfwaded upon the debate " of any bulinefs m Parliament]]. But the Bilhops on their fids did cry it down and caft it out. § Z97. The Debating of this Text did more weaken the Intereft and Reputati- on of the Bilhops with the Nobles, than any thing that ever befelthem fince the King came in-, fo much doth unquiet overdoing tend to undomg. The Lords that v/ould not have heard a Nonconformift fay half fo much, when it came to be their own cafe, did long and veh.emently plead againft that Oath and Declaration as im- pofcd on them, which they with the Commons had before impofed on others. And they cxercifed fo much liberty for many days together in oppoling the Bifhops, and free and bold fpeechcs againft their Teft, as greatly turned to the Bifhops Difpa- ragement, efpcciai'iy the Earl of Shaft sbury^ the Duke of Buckingham^ the Earl of Briftol the Marquefs of IVinchefier ^ the Earl of Salisbury^ the Lord Hollif^ the Lord Hallifuic^ and the Lord of Jksbury. Which fet the Tongues of Men at fo much liberty, that the common talk was agjunft the Bifhops: And they faid, that upon Trial, there were fo few found a- mong all the Billiops, that were able to fpeak to purpofc ( Bifhop MorUy of Win^ flbc/fer, and Bifhop H'^r^i of S^iistw*-^ being their chief Speakers ) that they grew Very low alfo , as to the Reputation of their parts. ^. 298. That / at — c_.. j68 7k LI F E of the Part ill. 5. 29?. Atlaft, thoug;h the Teft wa? carried by the Ma)nrity, yet thofe, that were againft it, with others, prevailed tcmake fo great an alteration of it, as made it quite another thing, and turned it to the greitelt difadvantage of the Bifhops, and the grcateft accommodation of the Caufc of the Nonconformif^s^ of anv thing that this Parliament hath done For they red\iced it to thcfc words, of a Declaration and an Oath, C" I ^. B. do declare , That it is not lawful, on any pretence whatfoever, " to take Arms againfl: the King j And that I do abhor that Traiterous Pofition, *' of taking Arms, by His Authority, againft His Perfon, or againft thofe that " are Commiffioned by him according to Law, in time of ixcbellion and War, in ** afting in purfuance of fuch Commiflion, C" I y^. B. do Swear, that I will not endeavour an Ahcration of the Prote- " ftant Religion now eftablilhed by Law in the Church of Enpland: nor will I *, endeavour any Alteration in the Government of this Kingdom in Qiurch or " State, as it is by Law Eftabliflied. §. 299. This Declaration and Oath thus altered, was fiich as the Nonconfor- mifts would have taken, if it had been ofl'crcd them in ftead of the Ox/br contrary to all our Preaching, Pronounce them all laved, or forbidden ever to Preach God's Word :. And yet i am condemned publickly for fuppofing fuch Excellent perfons to be Saved. But En ours and Sins contradict themfelves, and Faftious Damners, that, for Preferment, Condemn good Men, are ordinarily felf-condcmned. 5. 3. This maketh me remember how this laft year one Dr. Mafon ( a great Preacher againft Puritanes ) Preached againft me publickly in London^ dyii^g. That when a Juftice was fending me to prilbn , and offered me to ftay till Monday,, if Z 7. V. L i would lyS The LTF E of'tbe Part III I would promife not to Preach on Sunday : I anfweied, [_1 Jhull not '] Equivocal- ly, meaning {_ I fiall not poivJfe~\ when he thought I meant [_I/}:iail not Freach-.'} O, thefe, fay the Malignants , arc your holy Men.' And was iuch a piitid Falihood fit for a Pulpit, from fuch Men that never fpake one word to my face in their Lives? The whole truth is this ^ The forefaid Tho.Eofs^ with FhiUp^ being appointed to fend me to prifon for Preaching at Brainford, (hut the Cham- ber doors, and would neither flievv or tell me who was my Accufer or Witnefs , nor let any one living be prefcnt but themfelves : And it being Saturday , I askt them to flay at home, to fet my Houfc in order till Monday : ReJ's asked me. Whether I nould promife not to Preach on Sunday ? I anfwered. No , / Jhall not : The Man not underftanding me, faid, Well^ you Promife not to Preach .- I replv- ed. No Sir, I tell you^J will not promife any fuch thing : Jf you hinder me^ I cannot help it^ but I will not otherwife forbear. Never did 1 think of Equivocation. This was my prefent Anfwer, and 1 went ftrait to Prifon upon it .- Yet did this Kofs vent this falfc Story behind my back;, and, among Coin tiers and Prelatifts it pall for currant, and was worthy Dr. Mafon's Pulpit-impudency : iiuch were the Men that we were perfecuted by, and had to do v^ich.'- Dr. Ai a fin died quickly after. §. 4. Being denied forcibly the ufe of the Chappel which 1 had built, I was for- ced to let it ftand empty , and pay Thirty pounds per Annum for the Ground- Rent my fclf, and glad to Preach (for nething) near it, at a Chappel built by ano- ther formerly in Swalhro-Jlreet ;, bccaufc it was among the fame poor people that had no Preaching, the parifh having 60000 Souls in it more than the Chiuxh can hold j when I had Preached there a while , the forefaid juftice Parry ( one of them that was accufed for flitting Sir John Coventret's Nofe, ) with one Sabbes , figned a Warrant to apprehend me, and on Nov. 9, 1 676. fix Conftables, four Beadles,, and many Meflcngcrs, were fet at the Chappel-doors to execute it : I forbirc that day,and after told the Duke of Lauder daile of it •, and asked him, What it was that oecafioncd their wrath againft me : He defired me to go and fpeak with the Biftiop of London ( Cotnpttn : ) I did ;, and he fpake very fairly , and with peaceable words: But prefently (he having fpoken alfo with fome others) it was contrived that a noife was raifed, as againft the Bifliop, at the Court, that he was Treating of a Peace with the Presbyterians : But, after a while, I went to him again, and told him, it was fuppofed. That Juftice Pofry was either fet on work by him, or at lealt a word from him would take him off ^ 1 dcfircd him therefore to fpeak to him, or provide that the Conftables might be removed from my Chappel-dcors, and their Warrant called in ^ And I offered him tq refign my Chappel in Oxenden-flreet to a Conformift,fo be it he would procure my continued Liberty in Svcallow-Jlrcet^ for the fake of the pcor multitude that had no Church to go to : He did as good as promife me , teUing me. That he did not doubt to do it ^ and fo I departed, expefting Qiuetnefs tl;e next Lord's-day : But, in- ftcad of that, the Conftables Warrant was coiuinued , though fome of them bcgg'd to be cxcufed, and, againft their wills, they continued guarding the Door for above Four and twenty Lord's-days after : And I came near the Bilhop no more, when Ihad fo tried wlrat their Kindneflcs and Promifes lignific. §. '5. It plcafed God to take away (by torment of the Stone ) that excellent faithful Miniftcr Mr. TloWadfuorth in Soutbtrark ,and juft when 1 was thus kept out at ,'^vMttoW'Street , his Flock invited me to Southwark , where ( though I refufed to be their Paftor ) 1 Preached many Months in peace , there being no Juftice wil- ling to difturb us. This was in 1677. ^ §• '5- When Dr. Lamplugh^ now Bilhop of fxcfcr, was Paftor at St. Martin's^ old Mr. Sangar the Minifter, thence put out, thought it his duty to'abide in the pavifii with thofeof his ancient t^iotk that deflrcd him, and to vitit fuch as deiircd him in fickncfs (becaufe many that were againft our Preaching, pretended, that we igight find work enough in private Vifitings and helps :) An old Friend of Hf.- •'•"'^'^•3»''s being fick near St. Jirw;«'s Market- houfe , fent to him tovilither: |}y that time he had a while Prayed by her , Dr. Ljinpkugh came in , and when he had done , came fiercely to him , faying , Sir, What bufinefs have you here ? Mr. Sangar anfwered , To vifit and Pray with my fick Friend that fent for me. The Doctor fiercely laid hold of his breaft, and thnift him toward the Door, faying, Get you out of the Room, Sir, "^ to the great trouble of the Woman that lay fick iji Bed by them , having buried her Husband but a little before: Had this been Part III. R^L'^reW Mr. Richard Baxter. iyo been done to any other than to fo Ancient, Grave , Reverend, Peaceable, Mo- derate and Calm a Man as Mr. Sangar ^ who had been lawfully called before this Doftor to be Paftor of the Parifh , and then Preached no where but to a few in his own fraall Houfe, it had been more cxcufable ; Mr. Sanyar oft profeft to me the truth of what 1 fay, which I mention to fdencethofe our Accufers thai;, would have us give over Preaching that we may do fuch private Work.- Whcras i. I muft be a year fpeaking that to people, one by one , which publickly I may tell them all in one day : And he, that heareth my Exhortation but once a year , and heareth Seducers, Swearers, Gurfers and Railcrs every day, may wifh at lall he had better friends than thefc pretenders to Peace and Obedience , that accufe us. z. And fuch Initances fhcw, that we sxz envyed as much in our private duty as in our publick : And did we fpeak only in private , our Perlecutors would then vent their Sufpicions of our Doctrin without any Confutation , and would fay , We arc they that creep into Houfes, to lead the filly Women captive. O what a World is this ! Where Athcills , Infidels , and the mofl Beaftly Sinners are Members of the Ghnrch of EnglanP. When did we hear of any of them E.xcomunicate .? and God's fatithfallelt Servants reprefentcd, even by the envious Prelates, and publick- Priefts, as the intolerable Criminal perfons of the Land for Praying and Preaching when they forbid them , and the necellity of Thoufands binds them to it , befides their Ordination Vow. §. 7. When Dr. Wi'llan Lloyd became Pador of St. Martinh in the Fklds , upon LamfugVi Preferment , I was encouraged by Dr. Tillotfon to offer him my Chappel in Oxmden-Street for Publick Worfhip , which he accepted , to my sieat Satisfacti- on , and now tliere is conftant Preaching there ; Be it by Conformifts or Noncon- formifts I rejoice that Chrifl is Preached , to the people in that Parifh , whom ten or twenty fuch Chapels cannot hold. §, 8. About Aiarch 1677. fell out a trifling bufinefs , which I will mention, left the fable pafs for truth when I am dead. At a Coffee-Houfe in Fuller^s-Rents^yvhsrs many Papifts and Proteftants ufed to meet together , one Mr. Dyet ( Son to old Sir Richard Dytt^ Chief Juftice in the North, and Brother to a dcceafcd dear Friend of mine, the fome-time Wife of my old dear friend Colonel Sylvams Tailor^ ) one that profeft himfelf no Papift , but was their Familiar , faid openly , That I had killed a. Man with 7ny own hand in cold blood -^ that it was a Tinker^ at my door that be- saufe he heat his Kettle and dtfturbed me in my Studies , / went down and PijloPd him .- One Mr. Peters occafioned this wrath by oft challenging in vain the Papifts to dif- putewithme: oranfwer my Books againft them. Mr. Peters told '^v. Dyet That this was fo fhamelefs a flander that he fhould anfwer it. Mr. Dyet told him, That a hundred Witnefles would teftifie that it was true , and I was tryed for my Life at Worcefter for it : To be fhort , Mr. Peters ceafed not till he brought Mr. Dyet to come to my Chamber and confeft his fault , and ask me forgivenefs , and with him came one Mr. Tasbrook , an cmiment , fober , prudent Papift , 1 told him that thefe ufages to fuch as I , and far worfe , were fo ordinary , and I had long fufFered fo much more than words , that it muft be no difficulty to me to forgive them to any man , but efpecially to one whofe Relations had been mv deareft Friends .• p.nd he was one of the firft Gentlemen that ever (hewed fo much ingenuity, as fo to con- fefs and ask forgivenefs j he told me , Uc would hereafter coufefs and un-fay it, and Vindicate me as openly as he had wronged me : I told him, to excufe him, that perhaps he had that Story from his late Paftor at St. Giles\ Dr. Boreman^ who had Printed it, that fuch a thing was Reported ^ but I never heard before the par- tiailars of the Fable. Shortly after, at the fame CofFee-houfe, Mr. Dyet openly confefs'd his Fault : and an Ancient Lawyer , one Mr. Giffard^ a Papift, Son to old Dr. Giffard , the Papift Phyiician ( as is faid ) and Brother to the Lady yibe-rga- veny^ was Angry at it, and made Mr, Dyet a weak Man, that would make fuch a Confeftion : Mr. Peters anfwered him j Sir, Would you have a Gentleman fo dif- ingenuous, as not to right one that he hath fo wronged? Mr. Gijfard anfwered That the thing was True, and he would prove it by an Hundred WitneQcs • Mr. Peters offered him a great Wager , that he would never prove it by any : but urging him h.ard he refufed the Wager : He next offered, that they would lay down but five Guinea's tT be laid on't on an Entertainment there, by him that loft the Wager \ He refufed that alfo. Whereupon Mr. Peters told him , He would caufc my friends, if I would not my felf, to call him to juftific it 'mWeJlmmfier-Fiall • referring the Judgment of Equity to the Company : The Papift Gentlc- Zzzz a men 180 The Lit E oj the Part III men that were prcicnt, it's like confiderinj^ that the Calumny , when open- ed pnblickly, would be a Slur upon their Party, Voted, That it Mr. Gtffa-i-drfovAA. not confefs his Fault, they would difown him out of their Company j and fo he was conftraincd to yield, but would not come to my Chamber to confefs ie to me : Mr. Peters moderated the bufinefs , and it was agreed, tliat he fhould doit there : He would do it only before his own Party : Mr. Peters laid , Not fo ^ for they might hereafter deny it : So it was ag,reed , That alfo before Mr. Pe- urs and Captain Edmund Hambden^ he Ihould confefs his Fault, and ask forgivc- nefs 1 which he did. §. 9. Near this time , my Book , called, yi Key for Catho'.icks, was to be Re- printed : la the Preface So the firft Impreflion, I had mentioned with Praifc the Earl of Lauderd.ile, as then Prifoner by Cromwell in Windjor-Ca'Mt -, ( from whom I had many Pious and Learned Letters, and where he had fo much Read over all my Books , that he rcmembred them better, as I thought, than I did my fclf .• ) Had 1 now left out that mention of him, it would have feem'd an Injurious Re- cantation of my kindnefs : and to mention him n»w a Duke, as then a Prifoner , was unmeet : The King ufed him as his fpecial Counfellour and Favourite : The Parliament had fet themfelves againfi; him : He ftill profeflcd great kindnefs to me and I had reafon to believe it was without diflembling. i. Bccaufe he vvas accounted by all to be rather a too rough Adverfary, than a Flatteter of one fo low as L 2. Becaufe he fpake the fame for me behind my back, that he did to my face. And 1 had then a New Piece againfi: Tranfubftantiation to add to my Book, which being dcfirous it fiiould be Read, I thought beft to jovn it with the other and prefix before both an Epiftle to the Duke, in which I faid not a word of him but Truth ; And I did it the rather , that his Name might draw fome Great Ones to Read, at leaft, that Epiftle, if not the (hort Additional Traft- ate in which 1 thought 1 faid enough to open the Shame of Pofery. But the In- dignation that Men had againft: the Duke, made fome blame me, as keeping up the Reputation of one whom Multitudes thought very ill of: Whereas I owned none of his Faults, and did nothing that I could well avoid, for the aforefaid Reafons. Lont' after this he profelTed his Kindnefs to me, and told me I Ihould never want while he was able, and (humbly) intreatcd me to accept Twenty Guinea's from him, which I did. , ' ^ §. 10. After this one Mr. //«fc-fcm_/o« ( another of the Difputants with Dr.Siil- ling'fieet and Mr. Wrafs Friend, one that had revolted to Popery in Cambridge long ago having pious Parents and Relations ) Wrote two Books for Popery, one for Tra'nfubftantiation, and another in which he made the Church of Enjjland Confor- mifts to be Men of no Confcience or Religion, but that all Serioufnefs and Confci- euce was in the Papift and Puritan, and fought to flatter the Puritans , as he call'd them into kindnefs to the Papifts, as united in Confcience, which others had not. ' I Anfvvered thefc Books, and after fell acquainted with Mr. IMcbinfon^ but couid never get Reply from him, or Difpute. ^. II. Two old Friends that I had a hand heretofore in turning from Ana- baptiftry and Separation ( Mr. Tho. Lamb, and William Jllen^ that followed John Coodirin, and after became Pallors of an Anabiptift Church ) though but Tradef- men fell on Writing againft Separation more ftrongly than any of the Confor- mable Clergv • But "in Senfe of their old EiTOur , run now into the other Ex- treme efpecia'lly Mr. Lamb^ and Wrote aganill: our gathering Aifemblies, and Preaching when we arc Sileoccd : Againft whofe Miftaken Endeavours I Wrote a Book, calkd , The Nomonformifl\ Plea for Peace. ] ^. 1 2. One Mr. Bollingworth alfo Printed a Sermon againft the Nonconformifts, ^-, and there tells a Story o^ a Scfta|-y, tliat. Treating for Concord, with one after- ward a I?i(hop, motion'd, That all that would not yield to their Terms flimild be Baniftied :, to {hew, that the Nonconformifts are for Severity as well as the Bifhops. The Reader would think that it was Me, or Dr. Manton^, or Dr. Bates^ that hcmcant, that had fo lately had a Treaty with Dr. Wilkins^ and Dr. burton : 1 Wrote to hrm, to dcllrc him to tell the World who it was, that by naming none, he misht not unworthily bring many into Sufpicion : He Wrote me an Anfu'cr fulLof great Eftimacion and Kindnefs, profeftiag. That it was not me that he meant, nor Dr. Manton, nor Dr. Bates^ nor Dr. Jacomb, but fome Seftary that he would'by no means Name, but feemed tocaft Intimations towards Dr. Orpf«,onc unlikely to ufc fuch words, and 1 verily believe it was all a meer Fidion. §. 13. About Parrlll. Reverend Mr, Richard Baxter. iSi ^ — Arminians and Calv'inifls^ excopt fomc very tolerable difference in the point of perlevc- rance : This book, hatii hitherto had the ftrangelt fotc of any that I ha/e writ- ten, except our Reforms^ Liturgy^ not to be yet fpokea againft, or openly co^ tradifted, when 1 expected that both fides wonld have fallen upon it : Aod. I do'.iht not but fome will do fo when 1 am dead, ulilcfs Calamities fiud men other work. §. 14. Having almofl: then finifhcd a Z-:-?f;« Trcatifc, ci\\c6.^ Msthodus Theologif,^ containing near Seventy Tables or Schemes with their LUucidatioas and fome Difputations ou Schifm, containing the Nature, Order and Ends of all Beings ( with three more ) I gave my Lord Chief juftice Hale a Specimen of it, with my forefaid CaMick Theologk-^ but told him it was only to fhew my refpefts, but de- ilred him ii his weaknefs to read things more dircftly tending to prepare for death. : But yet I could not prevail with him to lay thofe by, fo much as I defircd, but lie oft gave me fpecial Thanks above all the reft for tkxt book and that fchemc .- And while he continued weak Mr. Stevens his familiar Friend publiflied two Volumes of his own Meditations,which,though but plain things,yet were fo greedily bought up and read for his {;ike,even by fuch as would not have read fuch things of others, that they did abundance of good. And fhortly after, he publifhed himfelf, in Folio aTreatife of ths Origination of A fan, to prore the Creation of this World, very Learned, but large. He left many Manufcripts : One / have long ago read, a great Volumn in Folio, to prove the Deity, the Immortality of the Soul, Chrilti- anity, the Truth of Scripture in General, and feveral books in particular ; folid- ly done, but too copious, which was his fault. Two or three fmal Tractates written for me I have publilhed cxprefling the firaple and excellent Nature of troc Religion, and the Corruption and great evils that follow Men's Additaments, called wrongfully by the Name of Religion and contended for above it and a- gainft it •, and fhewing how moft Parties are guilty of this fin. /hear he finifiied aTreatife of the Jmmortality of the Soul, a little before he dyed. But unhappily there is contefl: about his Manufcripts, whether to Prjnt them or not, becaufe h« put a claufe into his Will that nothing of his fhould be Printed but what he gave out himfelf to be Printed before he dyed. He went into the Common Church-yard, and there chofe his grave, and died a few daies after (on Chriftmaflday. ) Though I never -received any rao- Qey from him ( Hive a Qiiarter'r Rent he paid when I removed out of my houfe at JOon, that he might buy it and fucceed me ) yet as a token of his lova lie left me) forty fhillings in his Will, with which to keep his memory I bought ths greateft Cimhrtdge Bible, and put his picture before it, which is a Monument to my houfe. But waiting for my own Death I gave it Sir William Ellis who laid out about Ten pounds, to put it into a more curious Cover, and keeps it for a Momj«. ment in his honour. §. 15. I found by the people oi London that many, in thefenfe of the late Con- fufions in this Land, had got an apprehcnfion that all Schifm and Difordercam* from Minillcrs and People's refifting the BUhops, and that Prelacy is the means to cure Schi.nn, and being ignorant what Church Tyranny hath done in the World, Chcy fly to it for refuge againft that mifchief which it doth principally introduce: Wherefore I wrote the Hiftory of Prelacy, or a Contra£tion of all the Hiftory of the Church, efpecially Knnius, and Baronius, and others of Councils ; to {hew by the tcftimony of their greateft flatterers what the Councils and Contentions of Prelates have done. But the Hiftory even as delivered by Binnius himfelf, waj fo ugly and frightful to mc in the perufmg, that I was afraid left it fhould prove when opened by me, a temptation to fnme to contemn Chriftianity it felf, for the fake and Crimes of fuch a Clergy. But as an Antidote I prefixed the due Com- mendation of the better hi^mble fort of Paftors. Butlmuft profefs that the Hi- ftory of Prelacy and Councils, doth allure me that all the Schifms and Confufions that have been caufed by An-ih-r^tfts, Separatids, or any of the Popular unruly Seiftaries, hnve been but as fiea-bicings to the Church, in comparifon ot the wounds that Prelatical Ufurpation, Contention and Herefies have caufed. And I am fo far fiom wondering that all Baroniui'i induftry was thought necelfary to put the beft vifor on all fuch AiSions, that I wonder that the Papfis have not va-. th.er 182 ' Tije L i FE oj the Fart III ther employed all their wit, care and ix)wer, to get all the Hiftories Oi Councils burnt and forgotten in the World, that they miglit have only their own Oral flexible tradition to deliver to Mankind what their intereit pro re nata jhail require. - Alas how final was tlie Imrt that the very Fatnilifts, the Munfter Fauaticks, t!ie very Quakers^ or Ranters have done, in coaiparifon of what fome one /"oj-e, or one Age or Council of Carnal, Tyrannical Prehts hath done . The Kingdom of Satan is kept up in the World, next to that Scnfnality that is born in all, by his ufurping and perverting the two great Offices of God's owninftitution, Magifiracy and Mi- niftry, and wring the Sword and Word againll the Inftitiitor and proper end ; But God is juft. §. 1 6. Three years before this I wrote a Treatife to end our common Controvcrfies, in Doftrinals, about Prcdeftination, Redemption, jufirification, af- furance, perfevcrance and fuch like^ being a Summary of CathoUck reconciling Theoloay. §. T7. In November 1677. Dyed Dr. Thomas Manton to the great lofs of London •, Being an able judicious faithful man j and one that lamented the in- temperance of many felf conceited Minifters and people, that, on pretence of vin- dicating free grace aad providence, and of oppofing Armiiiianifm, greatly cor- rupted the Chriftian Doftrin, and Schifmatically oppugned Chriflian love and concord, hereticating and making odious all that fpake not as erronioufly as them* fclves. Many of the Independents inclining to half Antinomianifm, fuggefted fufpicions againft Dr. Manton^ Dr. Bates^ Mr. Howe^ and my felf and fuch others, as if we were half Arminians. On which occafiou / Preached two Sermons on the words in Jude \_They fpe.ik evil of what they iindtrftand not.'} Which per- haps jnay be publifhed. §. 18. This year 1678. dyed Mr. Gabriel Sanger^ a Reverend faithful Non- conformift, fomctimes Minifter at Al*rtin\ in the fields.. And this day, on which I write this, / Preached the Funeral of Mr. Stuhbs a holy Excellent Man, which per- haps may be publilhed, if it can be licenfed. §. 1 6. Mr. Long of Exeter^ wrote a book againft the Non-conformifts, as Schif- maticl?s, on pretenfe of confuting Mr. Hale\ book of Schifm :, and in the end cited a great deal of my writings againft Schifm, and let fall divers paflages ; which occafioned me to write the Letter to him which is inferted in the Appen- dix. No. 5. fj. 29. Some young Gentlemen wrote me a Letter defiring me publickly to refolve this Cafe : The King , Laws and Canons command tis to joyn in the yublick Piffi/h-Churches^ and forbid its to joyn in private Meetings^ or unallow- td vritb Non-conformijls : Our parents command us to joyn with Non-cvnformtfts in their Meetings.^ and forbid us to hear the Conformijis in publick^ which yet we think fawftil : which' of thefe ?nuft we obey ? I anfwered the Cafe in the Pulpit, and drew it up in writing, and have inferted it among other papers with the end. No. 6.. , §.21. My Bookfeller, Nevil Simons .^ broke ^ which occafioned a clamour againft me, as if I had taken too much money of him for my books : When before, it was thought he had been one, of the richeft by ray means, and I fup- pofed 1 had freely given him ( in meer charity ) the gains of above 500 pounds, if not above i 000 pounds. Whereupon / wrote a Letter to a Friend in my owu ncccffary Vindication, which fee alfo at the end. No. 7. §. 22. The controverfic of Predetermination of the afts of fim was unhappily (harcd this year among the Non-conformifts ^ on the occafion of^a fober modefl book of Mr. How\ to Mr. Boil againft an objcftion of Atheiftical men : And two honeft felf-conccited Non-conformifts, Mr. Daufon and Mr. Gale., wrote againft him unworthily. Andjuft-now a fecond book of Mr. C^/e's is come out whol- ly for Predeteimination, fuperficially and inperficially touching many things, but throughly handling nothing j falfely reporting the fenfe of Jugujlin^ or at leaft of Profjer and Fulgentius^ and notorioudy of Janfenius., &:c. and pafllng divers inconfidevable reflexions on fome words in my Cath. Thcol. Efpecially o^ pofing5trj«^««^, and the excellent Tfce/tf of Le B/awi, withno ftrcngth or regard- able Argument. Which inclineth me (bccaufe hewriteth in F.ngli/h) to publifli an old Difput in £«^/{/7j againft Predetermination to (in, written 20 years ago, and thought not fit to be publilhed in Englifh ^ but that an antidote againft the poi- fon Part HI. 'Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 183 iba of Mr, O'ale's Book, and the fcandal that falls by it on the Nonconformifts is made TKTceflary. Mr. G::k fell lick, and I fupprelt my anlwer leil it ihould grieve him ( -Vud he thca dyed.) § 23. A paper from Mr. Pokhill, -an excellent learned Gentlemaa occafioned the anlwer which perhaps may be piiblifhcd. § 24. Continued backbitings about my Judgment concerning jullification occafi- oned me to write the fumm of it in two or three ihcets -, with the folution of above thirty controverfies unhappily rais'd about it. § 25. One Mr. IVHfon of Lancujhire \on'^ importuned me by a friend to write fomewhat again it needlefs Law-fiiits, and tor the way of voluntary reference and arbitration ; which I did in a Sermon on i Car. 6. Js there mt a wife Man amov^ you ? (which is loft by the Bookfellcrj. . * § 26. 1 wrote an Anfwer to Mr. Jobnfort Jlias Tenet., his Rejoyndef againft my book of the Chur:hs'3 vilibility :, But Mr. Jane the Biihop of London^ Chaplain re- tufed to Licenfe it. But at laft when the Papifts grew odious he Liceufed it and my Adethodus Theolo^'ue : And the former is Printed, but by the Bookfeller's means in a Charafter fcarce legible. § 27. About on. 1678. Fell out the murder of Sir Ldmmid Berry (Jodfrey which made a very great change in England. One Dr. Titm Oats had difco- vered a Plot of the Fapifts, of which he wrote out the particulars very large- ly ^ telling how they fired ths City, and contriving to bring the Kingdom to Popery, and in order thereto to kill the King : He named the Lords, Jefu- its, Priefts, and others, that were the thief contrivers j and faid that he him- felf had delivered to feveral of the Lord's their CommilTions j that the Lord Bella/is was to be General, the Lord Peters Lieutenant General, and the Lord Stafford Major General, the Lord Fowls Lord Chancellor., and the Lord .Arundel of Warder (the chief) to be Lord Treafurer. He told who were to be ArchBi- fliops, Bifhops, n> tftny thtughti of Infant-Baptifm '} which, 1 think, for the brevity, and perfpicuity fitteft for the ufe of ordinary doubters of that point : And Mr. Barret hath contra- ded my other Books of it , in certain Qu^e^. §. 55. The aft reftraining the Prefs being expired , I publifhed a Book that lay by me to open the cafe of Nonconformity , called, A PUa for Peics : which great- ly offended many Conformifts ^ tho I ventured no farther but to name the things that we durft not conform to : Even the fame Men that had long called out to us, to tell them what we delired \ and faid , We had nothing to fay , could not bear it. ThcBifhopof£/y, Dx . Gunning ^ told me. He would petition Authority to com- mand us to give thercafons of our Nonconformity, and not thus keep up a Schifm aud give no reafon for it. The Bilhop oi London^ Dr. Compton^ told me, That the King took us to be not lincere , for not giving the reafons of our diifent. I told them both , it was a ftrange Expeftation , from Men, that had fo fully given their realbn againft the old Conformity in our Reply, and could get no Anfwer;, and when their own Laws would Excommunicate, Imprifon, and Ruin us, fordoing any fuch thiig as they demanded : But I would begg it on my kneos , and return them moft hearty thanks if they would but procure us leave to do it. Yet when it was but half done, it greatly provoked them •, And they Wrote and faid, That without the leaft provocation I had affaulted them : Whereas I only named what weftuck atjprofcffingto accufc nose of them: And they thought Seventeen years Silencmg, Profecuting , Imprifoning , Accufations of Parliament men , Prelates , Priefts and People, and all their Calls [What would you have ? Wiy do you not tell ut what you ftkk at ? ] to be no pjovocation. Yea, Bifhops and DoAors had long told Great Men , That 1 my felt had faid , That it was only things inconvenient , and not things iinful, which I refufed to Conform to , Whereas I had given them, in the Defcription of Eight Particular things in the old Conformity, which I undertook to prove finful ^ and at the Savoy began with one of them ^ And in the Petition for Peace, offered our Oaths, that we would refufe Conformity to nothing but what we took to be fin. And now when I told them what the Sins were , O what a common Storm did it raife amoag them ! When Heathens wou/d have let Men fpeak for themfelves before they arc Coidemaed , its Criminal in us to do it Seventeen years after. §. 54. Dr. Stillingfieet being nude Dean oi Fouls was put on as the moft plau- '- fible Writer to begin the aflault againft as , which he did in a printed Scririou proving me and fuch Others Schifmaticks and Separatifts. To which I e,:ive an anfvver which I thought fatisfaaory ( Dr. Oxven and Mr. Jlfop alfo anfwcrcd him ) To all which he wrote fomc what like a Reply, Aaaaai ^-IS- Againft ib8 The L ItB oj the Fart III §.55, Againft this I Wi"ote a fecond Defence , which he never anfwered. §. 56. One Mr. Cheny (an honeft weak Melancholy -Man) wrote againft my Tkafcr Fence , to which I Pubiiihed an Anfwer. §. 57. One Mr. HinUey Wrote againft me long ago , which occafioned feme Letters betwixt us ^ and now he Publiflied his Part, and put me to publifli mine ^ which 1 did, with an Anfwer to a Book, called Reflexions^ &c. and another, called, I'be Jmfle^er , and a Rc-joyndcr to Mr, Cheny-Lon^ of Exeter was one of them. §, 58. Bccaufe a Book, calkd. The Counterminer •, Le Stranie^znd. many others, endeavoured ftill, as their Chief Work, to pcrfwade Rulers and all, that we che- rilhed Principles of Rebellion, and were preparing for Trcafon, Sedition, or a War : 1 much defired openly to publifli our Principles about Government and Obedience, but our Wife Parliament-Gentlemen were againft it, faying. You can publilh nothing fo truly, or warily, but Men will draw Venom cat of it, and make ufe of it againft you. But having been thus ftopt many years, it fatisfied not my ConfcLence , and 1 pubiiihed all, in a Book, called, A fecond Ilea for lesee. And it hath had the fttange fate of Being Unarifwered to this day •, nor can I get them to take notice of it .- Thoagh it was feared it would have been but Few el to their Malice, for fome ill cffed. I added to it. The Noncortformifis fudgneftt about things indifferent , ahmt Scandal -^ The difference between Grace and Morof- lity ^ imd what Nonconformity is not, ^. 59. Upon Mr. M DodmWi provocation I publifhed a Treatife ©f Efifco^a- ty that kid lain long by me •, which fully openeth our Judgment about the diffe- rence between the old Epifcopacy, and our new Diocefans, and Anfwercth almoft all the Chief Writers whi' h have Written for fuch Prelacy , fpecially Bifhop Bovmance^ Dr. Hammond,^ Saravia,, Spalatenjis^ Setavius^ &c. I think I may freely fay, it is Elaborate, and had it not done fomewhat effectually in the undertaken caufe, fomc one or other would have anfwered it ere now. It makes me admire that my Catkol. Theology^ our Reformed Liturgy^ my Second Plea for Peace^ ( that, I fay, not the firfi alfo ) and this Treatife of Efifcopcy could never procure an An- fwer from ^ny of thefe fierce Accufmg Men ^ when as it is the Subjefts of thefe Four , which are the Controverfies of the Age ( and Rage) by thefe Men fo much inflated on. But I have fmce found fome Explication about the Englifh Dio- tcfanes nccellary ; which the Scparatifts forced me to publifh, by mifunderftand- ing me. . §. 60. Mr. Hinkley grew more moderate, and Wrote' me a Reconciling Letter ; but Loag of Exceter ( if Fame mifreport not the Aponimous Author ) Wrote fo f.crce a Book, to prove me, out of my own Writings, to be one of the worft Men living on Earth ( fiill of Falfhoods, and old r^etrafted Lines, and half Sen- tences ) that I never faw any like it •, And being overwhelmed with Work and Weaknefs, and Pains, and having leaft 7.eal to defend a Perfon fo bad as 1 know i?ay felf to bc^ 1 yet never Anfwered him , it being none of the matter in Con- trovcrfie, whether I be good or bad. God be Merciful to me a Sinner. §. 61. 1 pubiiihed alfo an Apologv for the Nonconformifts Preaching, proving It their duty to Preach, though forbidden, while they can ^ And Anfwering a Multitude of Objedors againft them, Folclis^ Aloriey^ Gunning^ Parker^ Patrick^ Druell, Saymll^ Jfhton^ Good^ Dodwell^ 2;c. With Reafons to prove, that the ho- aeft Conformiits fliould be for our Preaching. §. 62. 1 publilhui a few Shoets, called, J Moral Prognojlication^ what will bc- JUll the Churches, as gathered only from Moral Caufcs. ' ' ^. 63. Bccaufe the acci\fation of Sdiifni is it' that makcth all the noifc againft tb,c Nonconformifts, in the Tvlouths of their Perfccutors, 1 "Wrote a few Sheets , cajlcd, A fcMTch for the Er^ltf}} Schifmauek:,^ comparing the Principles and Prafti- ccs of both Parties, and Icavmg it to. rbp Reader to Judge, who is the Schifma- tick; (hewing, that the Prelatifts have- in'- the Canons «£/o frt(f?o, Excommunicated all ( Nobility, Gentry, Clergy and People) who do but aftirm, that there is any thing finful in their Liturgy, Ccremonii*^' or Church-Govemnicnt, even to the lovreit Officer ^ And their Laws cafc'usouc of the Miniftery into Goals, and then they call us Schifmaticks fdr not oort>ing to tlieir Churches .- Yea, though we come to them confcantly, as I hav6"d a particular remembrance of me : but of him before. Next died Mrs. Coxe , Wife to Dr. Thomas Coote ( now Prefidcnt of the Col- ledge of Vhyficians ) a \Voman of fuch admirable compofure of Humble, Serioos Godlincfs , mceknefs , patience , exadnefs of Speech and all behaviour , artd great Charity , that all that I have faid in her Funeral Sermon is much fhort of her worth. Next died my moft intire Friend Alderman Henry y4/hhurjl^ commonly taken for the moft exemplary Saint that was of publick notice iu this ditry • fo found in Judgment, of fuch admirable Meeknefs, Patience, Univerfal Chaficy, Studious of Good Works, and large therein , that we know not whcr« to find his Equal. Yec though fuch a Holy Man, of a ftrong Body, God trycd his pati«ice by the terrible Difeafe of the Scone in the Bladder •, And, in cxtrerrrtty of torment he endured tb be Cut, and two broken Stones taken out by Thirty pieces and more, with ad- mirable patience : And when the Wound was almoft healed, he Was fein to be Cut sgain of a third Stone that was left behind ; and after much fuffering and pa- tience, died, with great peace and quietnefs of Mind j and hath left behind him the perfume of a moft honoured Name, and the Memorials of a moll cxemj^stry Life, to be imitated by all his Dcfccndeuts. Next my dear Friend Mr. John Corbet^ of juft the Uke temper of Body and Soul, having endured at Clnchefter rnnny years Torment of the fame Difeafe , coming up to be Cut, died before they could Cut him, and had juft three fuch Stones in his Bladder as Mr. Jfhw(i\ were : his worth is known in Gloucefiit ^ Chiehefier., Lon- don, and by his Writings to the Land, to be beyond what I have pi»blifhed of him, in his Funeral Sermon. He having lived in my Houfe before, ahd greatly honou- red by my Wife ^ She got not long after his excellent Exemplary Wife ( Il)atigh'- tcr to Dr. Twtfs ) to be her Companion, but enjoyed that comferf but a little while, which I have longer enjoyed. §. 67. Near the fame time died my Father's fecoad Wife, Mary^ the Daughter of Sir Thomas //imij^and Sifter to Sir lulVe Hmh^ the King'^ Govcrnour bf Shrembitrym.t\\t Wars: Her Mother, the old Lady //tw^r, died at my Father's Houfe, between Eighty and One hundred years old. And my Mothcr-in-Law died at Ninety fix ( of a Cancer ) in perfeft Underftanding, having lived from her youth in the grcateft Mortification, Aufterity to her Body, and conftarioy 6f ?rave: liud all Devotion, of any one that ever I koew ; la the hatred of all lin, ftriawsfs 90 The L IF E of the Part III ftriftncfs of UniTerfal obedience, and for Thirty years longing to be with Chriit; In conftaat daily acquired infirmity of body ( got by avoiding all Exercife, and long fecret prayer in the coldefl Seafons, and fuch like ) but of a con- ftitution naturally ftrong : afraid of recovaring when ever flie was ill : For feme days before her death (he was ib taken with the Ninty full Ffalm^ that (he would get thofe that came ucar her to read it to lier over and over j which Pfalm alfo was a great means of Comfort to Old Beza^ even againfl his Death. §. 68. 5oon after dyed Jane Afatthews aged Seventy fix. My Heufc-kccper fourteen years : though mean of quality, very eminent in Kiderrr.injler ^ and the parts about for Wifdom, Piety, and a holy^ Sober, Righteous, Exemplary .Life. -■:^-T And many of my OlA Hearers and Flock at A idermmfter dyed not long before. Among whom a mean Freeholder James butcher of W*nnenon^ hath , left few equal to him for all that feemeth to approach perfection in a plain Man: O how many holy Souls arc gone to Chrift out of that one Parilh of Kidcrminfler in a few years, and yet the Number feemeth to increafe. §. 69. The Bosk which I publilhcd called The Poor Man^s Family Bco^t, was fo well accepted, that I found it a ufcful work of Charity to give many of them ( wfth the Call to the Vnconverted ) abroad in many Countries, where neither J, nor fnch others had leave to Preach (and many Fiundreds fince, with good f«ceefi, ) §. 70. The times were fo bad for Idling Books, that 1 was fain to be my ,felf at tlie charge of Printing my Methodus Theologia:, forae fricads contributed about Eighty pouads, towards it ^ It coll me o.ie way or other about Five hundred pounds: About Two hundred and fifty pounOsI received from rliofe Non-coiv fermifts that bought them. The Contrary party fct themfelves to hinder tlie falc of it, becaufe it was mine, tho' elie the Oodrine of it, being half Philofo- phical, and half Conciliatory would have plcafed the Learned part of them. But mofl lay it by a:s too hard for them, as over Scholallical and exact. I wrote it afid my EngUfli Chriftian Directory to make- up one Compleat Body of Theology .The Latin one the Theory, and the En^Ujh one the Pradical purt. And the latter is commonly accepted becaufe lefs diffiadt. §.71. My fhort piece againfl: To^ny called The Certainty of Chriflianity vfithtut Popery^ proved of ufe againfl Infidels as well as- Papijis. But mofl deceived men will not be at the labour to ftudy any thing that is dillind and exad, but take up w it li the firft appearances of things. S- 72.- The Mifcrable State of Youngmen in london^ was a great trouble to my Mind i Efpecially Rich men's Sons and Servants, Merchants and Lawyers Appren- .ticcs and Clarks, carried away by the fleih, to drinking. Gluttony, Plays, Gaming, Whoring, Robbing their Mafl:ers,c'rc. I wrote therefore a fmalTradate for fuch, called Ctmpajjionate Counfcl to Xoung men .- Sir Robert y'tkins contributed towards the charge of Printing it, and I gave of them in City and Country One thouHmd five hundred, befidcs what the Bookfcllcr fold : But few will read it that mofl: need, tf. 73. About this time ^iycd my dear friend lAwTlxmas Gouye^ of whofc Life you may fee a little in Mr. Clark's laft book of Lives : A wonder of fincerc in- duftirie in works of Charity ; It would make a Volume to recite at large jtlic Chari- ty he ufed to his poor Parifliioners at Sepulchres ( before he was Ejeded aiid Silen- ced for Non-conformity •, His Conjundion with Aldcrnm J/hurjf and fome fjch others, in a weekly Meeting, to take account of the honelt poor familiti in the City that were in great want, he being the Trcafurer jmd Vilir.er ;, Jus voluntary -Catechizing the Chrift's Church boyes when he might not preach :, The many thonland Bibles Printed in WclfJ} that he difperfed in Wales ^ The Pr.Ulice of Fiety^ The Whole Duty of A'f an ^ AfyCall^ and many thoiifando of his ovvn. Wri- ting, given fre«ly all over Wales ., his fetcing up about Three hundred or Foiu" hun- dr(3 Schools in Wales to teach Children only to read, and the C itcchife, bis in- dirflry to beg money for all this, befidcs moll of his own Eihtc kid out on it-, His Travels q^ 9.x Wales once or twice a year to vifite his Schools and fee to the Execution : This was true Epifcopacy of a filcnced Miniltcv, f who yet wehc con- ilaotly to the Parifli Churchc>, and was authorized by an old Univen'ity Licenfe to Pare III. 'Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. ' 191 to Preach occalionally, and yet for i'o doing was Excommunicate even in IVates while he was doing all this good. ; He Terved God thus to a healthful age ( Seven- ty four or feventy fix,) 1 never faw him fad, but always chearful. About a fort- night before he dyed he told me that Ibmetime in the night fome final trouble came to his heart, he knev; not what-, And without licknefs, or pain or rfear of death, they heard him in his fleep give a groan, and he was dead. O how holy and blelled a Life, and how eafie a Death ? §. 74. Finding the Succcfs of my Family Dialogue I wrote a fecond pait 168 r and 1682, tailed The Cittthifing of Houjhoulds teaching Houfholders how to in- ftrud their Families, Expounding, Firft, the Law of Nature : Secondly, The Evi- dence of the Gofpsl : Thirdly,the Creed : Fourthly,the Lord's Prayer : Fifthlv the Commandments : Sixthly, the Ml niftry : Seventhly, Baptifm : Eighthly, the Lord'5 Supper. It is fuitcd to thofe that are Paft the common little Catechifm • And I think thefe two Family-books to be of the greatell Common ufe of any'that I have publifncd : If Houflioulders would but do their parts in reading good books to their Houlholds, it might be a great Supply where the Minillry is dcfedive: and no Miuilhy will feive fufficiently without Men's own Endeavours for them - felves and families. §.75. Having been for retirement in the Cquntrey from Jii/y till Ju^ufi 14. T682, returning in great weaknefs, I was able only to Preach twice, of which the lalt was in my ufuai Ledure in New-fir eet^ and it fell out to be Aujiufi 1^. juft that day twenty year, that I ('and near Two thoufand more) had been by Law forbidden to Preach any move. I was fenlible of God's wonderful mercy that had kept lo many of us Twenty years in fo much Liberty and Peace, while fo many fcvere Laws were in force againft us, and fo great a number were i-ound about us who wanted neither malice nor power to afflid us. And fo I took that day my leave of the Pulpit and publick Work, in. a thankful Congregation. And it is like indeed to be my lalt. §. 76. But alter this when I had ceafed Preaching, I was ( being newly rifed firom Extremity of pain ) fuddenly furprized in my houfe by a poor violent lur former, and many Conftables and Officers, who rufht in and apprehended me, and ferved on me one Warrant to feize on my perfon for coming within five miles of a Corporation, and five more Warrants, to diftrain for an Hundred and ninty pounds, for five Sermons. They caft my Servants into fears, and were about to take all my Books and Goods, and I contentedly went with them towards the Juflice to be fent to Jail, and left my houfe to their will : But Dr. TfiottiM Cox^ meeting me, forced me in again to my Couch and bed, and went to five Juftices and took his Oath ( without my knowledge ) that I could not go to Prifon without danger of Death : Upon that the Jultices delayed a day till they could fpeak with the King, and told him what the Doclor had fworn j and the King consented, that at the prefent imprifonment Ihould be forborn, that I might die at home. But they Executed all their Warrants on my Books and Goods ^ even the bed that I lay ficfc on, and fold them all : and fome friends paid them as much money as they were prized at, which I repayed, and was fain to fend them away. Tiie Warrant againft my perfon was figned by Mr. Parrey and Mr. Phillips : The five Warrants againft my Goods by Sir James. Smith and Sir James Butcher: And I had never the leaft notice of any accufatioD, or who were the Accufers or WitnelTeSj much lefs did I receive any Summons to appear, or anfwer for my felf, or ever law the Juftices or Accufers. But the Juftice that fign'd the Warrants for Execution laid, that the two Hiltons folicited him for them, and one Bueke led the Conftables that dift reined But though 1 fent the Juftice the v/ritten Deeds which proved that the Goods were none of mine f nor ever were ) and fent two Witnefles whofe hands were to thofc Conveyances, I offered their Oaths of it, and alio proved that the books I had many years ago alienated to my kinfman, this fignified nothing to them, but they feized and fold all neverthelefs ^ And both patience and prudence forbad us to trie the Title at Law, when we knew what Charges had been lately made of jultices, and Juries, and how others had been ufed If they had taken only my Cloak they fhould have had my Coat alfo, and if they had taken me on one Clieek t would have turned the other : for 1 knew the cafe wasfuch that he that will not put up one blow, one wrong or flander, fhall fnfier two, yaa many more. Unt 19- ne LIFE of the Fart Hi. But when they had taken and fold a'i, and I borrowed fome Bedding and Ne- ^elT-iries of the Buyer, 1 was never ti:c quieter: for they thrcatned to come upon me again , and take alias mine, whofefoever it was, which they found in my pofieflion : So that 1 had no remedy , but utterly to forfake my Houfe and Goods and all, and take f;crct Lcdgings diftant in a ftranger's Houfe. But having a long Leafe of my own Houie , which binds m.e to pay a great- er Rent than now it is worth , whenever I go 1 muft pay that Rent. The reparation from my Books would have been a greater part of my fraall Afiliftion, but that 1 found 1 was near the end botli of that Work and Life v> hie h needeth Books •, and fo I eafily let go all : Naked came I into the World, snd naked muft I go out. But 1 never Vv-anted iefs ( %vhat Man can give ) than when Men had taken all : My old Friends ( and Strangers tome ) were fo Liberal, that I was fain to re- ftrain their Bounty : Their kindnefs was a furei- and larger Revenue to me than my own. But God was pleafed quickly to put me pafl: all fear of Man, and all defire of avoiding fuffeving from them by Concealment ■, by laying on me more him- felf than Man can do .• Their Imprifonment, with tolerable Health, would have feemcd a Palace tome ^ And had they fur mc to death for fuch a Duty as they Perfccute me, it would have been a joyful end of my Calamity. But day and night I groan and languifli under God's julb afflicting hand ^ The pain whicit before only tired my Reins, and tore my Bowels, now alfo fell upon my Blad- der, and fcarce any part or hour is free. As Waves follow Waves in the Tem- pefluous Seas, fo one pain and danger followeth another, in this fmfnl miferable Flefli : I die daily, and yet remain alive : God, in his great Mercy , knowing my dulncfs in health and eafe, doth make it much eafier to repent and hate my fin, and loath my felf, and contemn the World, and fubmit to the Sentence of death with willingnefs , than otherwife it was ever like to have been. O how little is it that wrathful Enemies can do againft us, in comparifon of what our fin, and the Juftice of God can do ? And O how little is it that the beft and kindeft of Friends can do, for a pained Body, or a guilty finful Soul, in compari- fon of one gracious look or word from God. Woe be to him that hath no better help than Man : And blefled is he whofe help and hope is in the Lord. But I will here tell the Reader what I had to fay , if I had been allow'd a hearing. The CASE of R. B. §• 19- T TAving been profecutcd as offending againft the Oxford Confimng- JTl Act, and findhig that my filence may occafion the guilt of fuch as undcrftand not my Cafe , and being by God's hand difabled pcrfonally to appear and plead it , I am neccflltated to open it by Writing, to undeceive them that raiftake it. I. As to the Scnce of that Law, I conceive that it reachcth to none but Non- conformifts -^ and that bccaufe they arc fufpedcd to teach Schifm and Rebellion. For though the body of a Law fometeme extend further than the Title , yet when the title contained! both the end of the Law , and the Defcription of the pcrfons meant ( as hear it doth ) it is expofitory to the L,aw .- Therefore the words 3 ali fuch'] in the third Paragraph, muft mean |2 allfuth asaforeftid^ viz. Nonconfor- mifs'} and not [_iill fuch others^ ] viz. Conformijls : For, 1 . The Confcirmifts are fuppofcd to be from under the Sufpicion. 2. And clfe it may ruin many Churches : If the Curate omit the Liturgy, or .part, and the Incumbent Prcadi, it will be made an Unlawful Aifcmbly, by the fame 3. line Pare ill. Ke'verevJ Mr. Richard Baxter 193 fame rcalbii that Hoiile- Meetings are lb called, for want of. the Liturgy j For the \ '-: impofoth rl'.':: Liturgy un Churches, but not on Houfcs. ?,. Mm/ Conformifi-s have lliil ufed to repcit their Sermons in tlicir Hoofes to more than fcnr Neighbours, without the Liturgy : And if any fiicli thinf^' be judg'd a Conventicle, to Fine the Inannbcnt Forty pounds, and Banifh~]- teftants muft be told that Recufancy is all their Duties: And going to -the Publick Churches a fin : And vvho can for fhame drive Papifts to fin ? And if thus they could draw all Proteftants to forfake the faid Churches, they would, like a deferted City and Garrifon'd Fort, be open and ready for their poffefiion. And while the Papifts and Malignants are ftudying how to caft out all the Godly Conforming Minifters, that the Dudfilc remainder might be prepared for Popery, the feparating part of the Independents and Anabap- tjjis, and f(5me.few hot Scjtch Presbyterians, go before them, and tell all the People that it .is unlawful to hear them,* and to own them as Minifters or Cliuiches, and to have Communion with them in the Liturgy or Sacraments, Ei'^when,theriggurof Profecutors hath brought it to that pafs that they muft ItaiVj? juch or none, as to Church wc«-(hip. •' ' '• ''&;ctb4 fo many ill prifon, for tins Error, to the dilhonourof iGod, and fo many iBQrejike to be ruin'd by it, a;id the fcpaVating party,by the temptation of fufFering, %ici fo tar ]n"cvailed with the molt llrift, and zealous Chriftians, that a great Num- ^•'wefe of- their miud, and the Non-conformable Minilters,whofc Judgment was ^^ihll.Lliis feparation, durft not publilh their diflikeof it, partly becaufe of (harp andliittcrCcnfures of the Separatills,and 'who took them for Apoftates or Carnal Teinpbrizers that communicated in publick, and partly for fear of Encouraging PerfiwUtion againll: the Separatills, and partly for fear of lofing all opportunity of teaching them ( and fome that had no hope of any other friends or maintenance, or Auditors thought they might be filent, ) On all theie account's, I, that had no g;\thered Church, nor lived on the Contribution of any fiich, and was going out of the world in pain and Languor, did think that 1 was fitted to bear men's Cen- fures, and to take that reproach on my Iclf, which my brethren were lefs fit to beiv, who might live for farther Service. And at the; Importunity of the Book- feiler , I coniented to publifh the Reafons of my Con'imunicating in the .Parifti- Churches, and a2;r.inft Separation. Which when it was coming out, a Manufcript of 1^8 The L I F E of the Part III of Dr. Onen's (who was lately dead ) containing Twelve . Arguments againft fuch joyjiing with the Liturgie, and publick Churches, was fent me, as that which had fatisfyed Multitudes'- I thought that if this were unanfwercd, my labour would be much loft,becaufe that party would Itill fay Dr. Owra's Tw elvc Arguments con- futed all: Whereupon I haftily anfwered them, but found after that it had been miore prudent to have omitted his Name : For on that account a fwarm oi revilers in the City poured out their keeneft Cenfures, and three or four wrote againft me, whom' I anfwered. ( I will not name the men that are known, and two of them a:e yet unknown ) But they went on feveral Principles, fome Charged all Com- munion with the Liturgie, with Idolatry, Antichriftianity, and perjury and back- flidiiig: One concealed his judgment, and quarrel'd at by-words. And ano- ther — turned- my Treatife of Epifcopacy againft me, andfaid it fully proved the Duty of Separation, 1 was glad that hereby I was called to explain that Treatife, left it fhould do hurt to miftakers when I am dead ^ and that as in it I had faid much againft one extream, I might leave my Teltimony againft the other I called all thefe writings together, a Defence of Catholick Communion. And that I might be Impartial 1 adjoyned two pieces againft Dr. Sbei'lock that ran quite into the con- trary Extreames, unchurching almolt ^all Chriftians as Schifmadcks. 1 confefs 1 wrote fo fharply againft him as muft needs be liable to blame^wich thofe that know not the man, and his former and latter Virulent and ignorant Wri- tings. §. 8i. About this time one Mr. Robert Mayot oi Oxford, a very Goldly Man, that devoted ail his Eftate to charitable m'es, a Conformift, whom 1 never faw, dyed, and befidcmany greater Gifts to Jhhington,&.c. gave by his laft Will Six hun- dred pounds to be by me diftributed to Sixty poor Ejefted Minifters, adding that he did it fiof^ becav.fe they were Non-oonformifis^ hut bccanfe many fuch vcere poor and pons. But the King's Attourney Sir Robert Sarvyer Sued for it in the Chancery, and the Lord fCeeper iVortib gave it all to the King. Which made many refolvc to leave nothing to charitable ufes after theirDeath, but do what they did while they lived, §. 82. Under my daily pains I was drawn to a work which I had never the leait thoughts of ( and is like to be the laft of my Life, ) to write a paraphrafe on thei\7ifw Tewament, Mr. "John Humphrey having long importuned me, to write a paraphrafe en the Epiftle to the Romans, when 1 had done that, the ufefulnefs of it to my felf drew me farther and farther till I had done all. But having con- fcflcd my ignorance of the Revelations, and yet loth wholly to omit it, I gave but General Notes, with the Reafons of my uncertainty in the greateft difficulties : which I know will fall under the fharp Cenfure of many. But Truth is more va- luable than fuch men's praifes. 1 fitted the whole by plaiunefs to the ufe of ordi- nary Families. §. 83. After many times deliverance from the Sentence of death, pn Novem- ber Twenty, One thoufand fix hundred eighty four ^ in the very Enteranceof the Sev^ntycth year of my Age, God was pleafed fo greatly to increafe my painful Difeafes, as to pafs on me the Sentence of a painful death : By conftant pain by an iucredible quantity of flatulency in Stom.ach and all the Intcftines and Reins, from all th::t 1 eat or drink, my Stomach not able to difgeft any meat or drink, but turning all to tearing pain ; Befides.the pain of the Stone in Reins and oft in the bladder ; aud urine black like dirt and mortified blood. But God tuinetb it to my good, and giveth me a greater willingnefs to die, than I once '.hcught 1 ftiould ever have attained. The Lord teach me more fully to love Ifis Will, and reft therein, as much better than my own, that oft fti-iveth a- giinfc ic §. 84. A little before this while I lay in pain and languilliing, the Juftices of SelTions, fent Warrants to apprehend me ( about a Thoufand more being in Citalot^ue to be rail bound to the good behaviour. I thought they would fend me Six months to Prifonfor not taking the Oxford Ozth, and dwelling in London, and fo I refuied to open my Chamber door to them, their Warrant not being to break it open. . P.r.t they fet fix Officers at my Study-door, who watcht all night, . and kept mt from my bed and food, fo that the next day 1 yielded to them ; who carried mc ( fiarce able to ftand ) to their SclTions, and bound me in Four hundred pound bond, to the good behaviour : I defired to know what my Grime was, and who Part III Reverend iVir. Richard Baxter. 199 who my Accufcrs^ but they told me it was for no fault, but to fecure the Govern- mc'it in evil Tirhes ^ and that they had a Lift of many fufpedcd perfons that muft do the like as well as I. I defired to know for what I was numbred wiili the > irfpeit, and by whofe accnfation, but they gave me good words and would not .f,ll me. I told them I had rather they would fend me to Jail tlian put me to v/rong others by being bound with me, in bonds that I was like to break to morrow : for if there did but five perfons come in when I was praying, they would cake it for a breach of the good behaviour : They told mc, not if they came on other bufinefs, unexpedtedly, and not to a fet meeting •, Nor yet if we did no- thing contrary to Law, or the praftife of the Church. 1 told them our innocency •^as not now any fecurity to us : If two beggar women did but Hand in the llrec".c and fwear that I fpake contrary to the Law tho' they heard me not, my bonds and liberty were at their will : For 1 my felf lying on my bed, heard Mr. I. P. Preach in a Chappclon the other fide -of my Chamber, and yet one Sibil Dafh zndmiza- u:h Ca^idl fvvore to die Juftices that it was another that Preached ( Two mifcrabli; poor women that made a Trade of it, and had thus fworn againft very many v,:oTthy peribns in Hackney and eliewheve, on which their Goods were feized on tor gi«ac Mulfts or Fines. But to all this I had no Anfwer, bnt muft give bond, when they knew that 1 was not like to break the Behaviour, unlefs by l>ing in bed in pain. §.85. But all this is fo fraall apart of my fuffering in comparifon of what I bear in my flelh, t'.iat 1 could fcarce regard it : And it's fmal in comparifon of what others fufter ^ Many excellent perfons die in Common Jails ; Thoufands ruin'd : That holy hnmble Man, Mr. RofemU is now under a verdict for death as a Traitor for Preaching fomc Words, on the witnefi, and Oath of Hilton's Wife (and one or two more Women ) whofe Husband liveth profefledly on the Trade, for which he claimeth many Hundred or Thoufand pounds. And not only the man profeffeth, but many of his hearers witnefs that no fuch words were fpoken, uor any that befecmed not a loyal piudcnt man. But we have been too long unthank- ful, when all our Lives, Eftatcs, .and Liberties, are in the power of any Whores Beggars, Enemies or malicious Papijls^ that will but fwear that we are guil- ty, that God hath marvelloully fo long reftrained them : and that forcing us into fecret Meetings out of our publick , hath fecured the Lives of many. §. 85. December Eleventh, I was forced in all my pain and weaknefs to be carried to the Sejfions-ho'tif!^ or clfe my bonds of Four hundred pounds would have been judged forfeit : And the more moderate Juftices that promifed my difcharge would none of them be there, but left the Work to Sir Wtiliam Smith and the reft, who openly declared that they had nothing againft me, and took me for Innoc-ent, but yet 1 muft continue bound, left others fhould expeft to be difcharged alfo, which I openly refiifed : But my Sureties would be bound, left I fhould die in Gaol, againft my declared Will, and fo I muft continue. Yet they difcharged others as' foon as 1 was goae. I was told that they did all by inftructions from, &c. and that the main end was to reftrain me from writing : Which now fhould I do with greateft Caution, they will pick /- out fome thing which a Jury may take for a breach of my bonds. I have written againft Popery fo much already that my Confcienc? will now allow me fdence : But whereas one Separatift hath interpreted ray Treatife of Epifcopacy as jufti- fying Separation, and Mr, Faldo hath by grofs miftake fallly accufed me as a Lyer for laying that his Congregation a Church worfliipped many years without finging Pfalms ( and Sacraments ) ( forfooth becaufe he took them not then for a CliuVch) I muft fufpend my Anfwer to them and all fuch ^ tho' I know the Papijis will take it for a Confutation of all my writings againft them, to fay [] his own brethren^ JProtejiants and Dijfenters have poved him a Lyer. ]| This I muft bear from Sepa- rating Non-conformifts, while the Juftices that bind and trouble me, openly de- clare me innocent. And I am told that the Papijis will not endure me to write againft the Separatifts, no more than againft themfelves, becaufe they need their help to pull dov/nthe Godly Parifh Miniftcrs. j§. 87. Many French Miniftcrs fentenced to Death and Banilhment, fly hither for refuge : And the Church men relieve them not becaufe they are not for Englifh Diocefans and Conformity •, And others have many of their own dif- trcITed •I y ^■-— ^i™^w I bw IP Qoo The LI F E of the Part III t veiled Miiiiltevs and acquaintance lo relieve, tliat few ai'e al)le. But the Chief that now lean do is to help fuch, and the Silences Minifters-here and the poor, as the Almoner of a few Liberal friends who tvuit me with their Charity. ^. 88. As to the prcfent State of England, the Plots, the Execution of Men High and Low, the Publick Counfels and Dellgns , the Quality and Practice of Judges aiidBilhops, tlie SefTions and Jufticcs, the quality of tlie Clergy, and the Univerfities and Patrons, the Ciiurch-Governmcnt by the Keys by Lay-Civilians, the ufage of Minifters, and private Meetings for Preaching or Prayer, the Ex- peftations of what \i next to be done, ib'c. The Reader mult expeft none of this fort of Hiflory from mc ; No doubt but there vail be many Volumes of it, by others tranfmitted to polterity ^ who may do it more fully than I can now do. §. 89. January Seventeenth, I was forced again to be carried to tlicSef- fions, and after divers dales good words which put me in expeftation of free- dom, when I was gone, one iufticc. Sir Deerham laid that it's like that thefe perfons folicited fo for my liberty that they might come to hear mc in Conventicles : and on that they bound me again in Four hundred pound bond for above a Qiiarter of a year f and fo it's like it will be till I die, or worfe- Tho' no one ever accufed me for any Conventicle or Preaching fince they took all my Books and Goods above two years ago, and I for the mofl part keep my bed. §. 90. Mr. Jenkins dyed in Newgate this week ( January Nineteenth, 168'. ) as Mr. Bampfield^ Mr. Raphfon, and others died lately before him. The Prifon where are fo many fufFocateth the Spirits of aged MinLllers. But blelFed be God that gave them fo long time to Preach before, at chea- per rates. §. r, Warmftrye. Honoured and Worthy Sir, SalutetM & Officia in Cbrifio Jeftt Autore Salutis. Except. TS~t^OR Chriftian Concord, Mr. fitf.\/e»- cannot write more willingly, nor SeB: I. ■ I you be more ftrongly inclined to meet any fiich motion , then you ■ " well know the Heartsof very many of your B;ethren,tobe already -■*■ agreed in that. And I believe I have given you evidence in all my former Difcourfes with ycu (uncontradided by any acftion of minej that I the meancO- of the fervants of your Order,do make it the butt and aime of all my weak Studies and Labours in order to the glory and fervice of God, and Chrifl: our Lord who liath fo hightly injoyned it, 2. But this bars us not, but obliges us well to con- fider, whether this Worcefier Agreement be a true Union in Ecclefiaftical Peace, or the carrying on a Schilmatical Combination , reaching to enclofe in the Epifcopal Divines alio. ;. That they may now at length by this approve of the Presbyters Declaration to the World, of the noneceflity of continuing <:heir Canonical Obe- dience to their Bifhops in Chrift, ('which was the firft wheel that fet.a work this fad Revolution, the ejedin^, out of the Church (I mean out of their principal proper place in the Church) the Bifhops and Pallors, the Succelfors of the Appftles in the Church) wfiether this be fo or no • I fiy,l muft requelt you to judge by confidering. Reply to SeB 1. I ftiall not unwillingly believe and acknowledge that your love to Concord is grea- ter than mine, when I fee you more ZicalouJIy Jtekivg it , and hear of your Motions and niodtr at t Rational Attempts to i hat end. And I (hall begin to hope well of y ou,when you ate but willing to accept luch motions from any others , or at leafl^ not to /jind.^r tire Concoid of )our Bicthren. 2. Schifmatical Combinations are againft the U- mted Churches, or the United Mcinbcrs of one particular Church. We uilite or combine ng.iinf): no jurh Churches or Me»)beri , nor againft any thing but proplianenefs and wickedncfs, and againfl the dilunion, difcoid, and alienation of Brethren, atxl the utter negled ot tlie Ordinances of Chrifr. Our utmoft caie and endeavour is to' heal a Schifm ; and if they that do their befl tOi^w/ I X. Numb. L Pope as the Tnnctpum unifatu, and vifible Head of the Church ; and in the Reman Church AS the Heart of the Church Catholick , denominating the whole; He is a Schifmatick with fame others that owns not every Order or Ceremony which they maintain. For my part I fhould think , that he that centreth in Chrift, and hol- deth the found and wholfome Doftrine contained in the Creeds of the Church^and niaintaineth love and unity with all Chriftians, to the utmoil extent of his natural capacity,even with all that he is capable of holding Communion with, is no Schif- matick, nor his attempte for that end Schifmatical Combinations. If there were a Bilhop in this Diocefs , and he (hould go one way (fuppofe he command that all Churcli Aflemblies be at [uch a time, and all worfliip m juch a form') and all the Pi ef- byters and People go another way' (whether they do well or ill , (o the thing itfelf be tollerahle) and will not meet at the time, nor woilliip God in the form which he prefcribeth, I fliould think I were guilty of Schifm if 1 feparated from all thefe Churches , and guilty of ungodlineli if I wholly forfook and forbore all publick worfhipof God.becaufe I could have none according to the Bilhops commanding ' Much more if there were no Biftiop ia the Diocels at all. ' This feerns to be our cale, in refpeft of both Worlhip and Dilcipline (atlealf for the moft parr). Is that man guilty of no Schifme, nor Impiety , who will rather have no Difcipline exer- ciled at ail on the profane and Icandalous^ but all Vice go without controul, and the rage of Mens fins provoke Heaven yet more againft uSj who will rather have no Minifterial Worlhip of God, in Prayer or Praile, no Sacraments, no Solemn AflTem- blies to this end, no Minifterial Teaching of the people , but have all Mens Souls given over to perdiiionj the bread of life taken from their mouths, and God depri- ved of all his Worfhip, then any of this ftiould be done without Bilhops ? That had rather the Church doors were fliut up, and we lived like Heathens, than we ftiouH Worfliip God without a Bilhops Commands? and that when we have none to com- mand us . J. We diftinguifli of the necoffity of Bilhops j either it is a neceffity ad bene tffe for the right ordering of the Church when it may be had ; or it is a neceffity ai tffe to the very heing of 4 Church, or of Go I X. Numb. L of true Minifters? 8. But what are all thefe Words of mine to the Agreement ? Thofe are but mine own Thoughts, which none are defired to confent to. You fhould have produced fomewhat from our Articles of Concord, and not from ?ny Words. Except, to Se£}. 4. Do they take in yjour acknowledged Grounds of all parts, (Epifcopal and all) who would have us acknowledge them Presbyters ordained in this Church with- out Bipiops, not by neceffity as in the Churches wherein no Proteftant Biihop could be had i unlefs their Chriftian Charity can take Countenance to fay that none of our Biflwfs were Proteftants, and that then they muft have had no* Ordination at al|, or Ordination by Papifts (requiring of them the Acknowledging the Popes Ecclefiaftial Supremacy) which was the confefled Cafe of thofe Proteitants beyond Seas, from whence they would fain borrow a Cloak for their Fad : but the Co- vering is too fhort, though they argue while the World endures, there is a vafl dif- ference betwixt neceffity and voluntary Engaging by Covenant, and reiinquifhing, cafting off, and laying by true Catholick, Protelbnt Bifhops. Reply to SeB. 4. Yes, Sir^ I am confident I take in the Grounds of the Epifcopal Proteftants : (But I dare not fay yours, for I do not know you) nor are you able to manifeftthe contrary ; i. Neceffity may juftify Ibme things, that elfe were unjullitiablc, and the ablenceof fuch Neceflicy may prove them finful: But if Presbyters may judly or- dain in cafe of neceffity, then you will hardly prove our Ordination null, for want of that Neceffity^ though you ftiould prove it irregular. It feems you thinkthat Lay Men may baptize in cafe of neceffity j if fo, you may prove it /tnful, but hardly null, where Nectffity is not. 2. It is an incredible Aflertlon againff the Sun, thatall thofe Proteftants beyond Sea, had fuch a Neceffity, and could not have Proteftant B7^ops. Put out Mens Eyes, and then tell them this. Were the Low Countries fb far from England that they could not poffibly have borrowed a Bifhop to Ordain ? Was notBilhop Carleton at the Synod of Dort with them ? why did not that Synod defire this Curtefy ? It is faid, he protefted for Bifhops in the open Synod, and that he took their Silence for Confent, and alfo, that (bme after told him, that they would have them if they could ; as if Silence were any Sign of Confent againfi their own eftablilhed Difcipline. Who kno\^snot that their loathnefs to difpleafe King James, of whom they had then fo much need, might well caufe them to keep Silence, about that which was not theBufinefs of the AfTembly, as long as they held their prefent Government ? and if Ibme faid they would have Bifhops if they could, it is plain it was but few, for if mofi had been willing, what hindered them ? -If you lay the Ci'vil Powers, I Aniwcv, I. The Ecclefiafticks fo taught them and defired the Presbyterian Govern- ment of them.z.They might have run the hazjrd of a Perfecution as well as we and the civil Rulers of this Nation are as much at leait againft it as theirs : So fo.me gather from Moulin i Word to Bifhop Andrews, andfome few other Mens, that the French Churches would fain have Bifhops ; as alfo they are faid to have offered Obedience to the Papift Biihops, if they would turn Proteftants : when as it is known they are againff Bifhops, and if any particular Perfons are for it, it is againft the Eftablifh- ment of their Churches. Perhaps they might think their Form of Government not of fuch Moment as to rejed: Epifcopacy, if it might come in with fiich an Ad- vantage as the turning of the Papift Eiihops would have brought : But what is that to prove that they would have Bifhops and could not ? Crotms Isnew France as well as you, whoever you are; and he tells us another Story of them, Difcuf. Apologet. Riijtt. That they wilfully caft out the Order of Bifhops as far as their Authority could reach ; what i'mpoffibility hath their been thefe hundred Years lor France^ Belgia, Helvetia, Geneva, with the reft of the Proteftant Churches to have had Bi- fhops if they had been willing ? They had Hermannusoi Colen, Vergeriusoi Ju^inop. came among thtm ^Spalatenfis would tiave ordained fome in his Paffage ; if no Englifh Bifhop could have been got thithetjhow eafy had it been to have fent one to receive Epifcopal Conlecration here, and then to have gone home and ordained more ? It may be you would make us believe the like of the Church of 5cor/ IX. Numb. I. neither, but to the Epifcopal) yet i. It follows nevertheiels that the Papifts of the two are to be preferred as true Minifters, before them that are none. 2. And if we dilpute with the Papift, -which is the true Church, and fet againft thsm only Eleven or Twelve (for lo many you reckon on) Englifh Billiops (and if there be any Irifh or Scotidi) with thofe of the Clergy that adhere to them (Quality and Number confidered) whom the People know not where to find, nor can etijoy, what Suc- cels isfuch aDifpute like to have, either with the People, or with the Adverfiry? will they not tell us, our Church is invifible, eipecially when thele few Bilhops are dead ? Except, to SeB. 6. 2, Whether in this Worcefierfliire AlTociation, whofoever will enter into it doth not therein oblige himfelf to acknowledge that Presbyters (while there remain alive fourteen, or thirteen, or twelve Catholick Proteftant Bilhops) may proceed to publick Excommunications, and Abfolutions in f$ro Ecckfiajfico, without -asking thofe Bilhops Confent, allowance, or taking any notice of them. See Reiolutiota 12,13,14,15". and the Scope of the whole Book. Replj to SeB. 6, To your fecond C^yeftion I anfwer. The Term [ExcommunicatioTi] v/e ufe not. This Term is ufed to fignify, fometimes a delivering up to Satan, and carting out of the Catholick Church, fometimes only a Minifterial Declaration that fuch a Perfon (hould be avoided- by the People, acquainting them with their Duty, and requiring them to perform it : fometimes it fignifies the Peoples aftual Avoidance. In the former Senfe we have let it alone ; and that which you call your Exco?n»3uoi' catio Major we meddle not with, much left do we ufurp a compelling Power for the Execution. The other we know to be confiftent with the Principles of Epif- copal Proteftants (if not alfo with Papifts) yea, even when there is. a Bilhop refi- dent in the Diocsis, it being but part of our teachingand guiding Office as Presby- ters of that Congregation ; but I have faid enough of this in my Explications already. 2. But what if there be twelve latent Bifhops in England (when for my part I I- hear not of above two or three) have they Power not only to ordain, but alfb to govern other Diocefies which have no Bilhops? Yea,muft they needs govern them ? I. Woe then to the Churches oi England, that niuft live under luch Guilt devoid of all Government.. 2. Woe to the Sinners themlelves, that mull be lefc without Chrirt's Remedy. 3. Woe to particular Chriftians that muft live in the continual Breach of Gods known Law, that faich [widi fiich go not to eat, &c.] for want of a Bi'lhop to Execute it. 4. Wee to the few Bilhops that be^ for if all the Autho- rity be in them, then the Duty and Charge of executing it is only on them ; and then they are bound to Impoflibilities, one Bilhop muft Excommunicate all the Of- fenders in a gi^eat part of the Land, when he is not futficient to the hundredth part of the Work. Then when all the Bilhops in England are dead, five one or two, they aiethe fole Paliors of England, and all Difcipline mufl be call: away for want of. their Sufficiency. Then it leems the Death of one Bilhop, or two or three, doth adually devolve their Charge to another, and who knoweth which other? This is new Canon. Mot only Proteftant Bilhops, but Ibme Papifts confefs, that when a Bifhcp is dejd, the Government remains in the Presbyters till another be c'iofcn : fure they that govern (the People at leaft) with him whilft he is living (as isconfeflcd) need not look on it as an alien, lupereminent, tranfcendent Work,\ when he is dead. Bilhop Bromball againft Mtl. p. 127. gives People a Jiidg~ ment of Difcretton, and Paftorsa Judgment of Dircdion, and to the chief Pa- ftors a Judgment of Jurildidion. You may go well, allow us by a Judgment of Diiedion to tell the People that they Ihould avoid Communion with an open wick- ed Man, even while a Bifhop is over us j Seldcn de Syne. c. 8, 9, 10. and will tell you another Tale of the way of Antiquity in Excommunication and Abfolution than you do hear: But of this enough in the Books. Except. toSeB. 7. 3. Doth not he oblige himfelf alio to acknowledge that not only Presbyters (««- conununi governing) butone lingle one of them, may proceed to Exconununicati- and Abfolution »« foro Eccle/taflico ? Reply to SeB. 7. Your third Qjeftion I anfwer by a Denial, There is no liich Obligation. The Declaration of the Peoples Duty to avoid fuch an one, is by one ; io is every Sermon, ib is your Epifcopal Excommunication. Doth not one, and that a Pre;bytQr declare orpublilh it ? Bm for Advifing and determining of it, we have tyed Numb. I. ATT EN T) IX. tyed our felves not to do it alone, though for mine own private Opinion f doubt, not eafily to prove that one fingle Bifhop or Paftor hath the Power oif the Keys, and may do all that we agree to. do. Exceft. to Seff. 8. 4. That not only one fingle Presbyter ; hue one whole Ordination was never by any Bifhop to be Presbyter, (where aUo Bilhops were that might have been fougtic unto) hath that Power aUo of Excommunication, &c. Reply to Seit. 8. Vouc fourth is anfwercd in the reit, if his Ordination have only in the Judgment t)f Epifcopal Protef^ants (yea, of fome Papifts) an Irregularity, but not a Nuiiity, then he hath Power to do fo much as w6 agree on : Your Exception is as much i- gainft his other Miniftrations. Except, to Sei}. 9. I fpeak only of the EfTence of their AfTociation ; not infixing on what Mr.B. L Except. SeH. ii. And elfewhere by Irony , he adds, O what a rajh thing it was to imp-ijhn (though when he was imprtfoned , I believe it was by the Name of Dr. Wren, or Bijliop Wrsn) for excotfjmtmicatiitg, depriving^&c. p.^i. and p. 68. (To begin at home it is mod certain, according to many ancient Canons (which are their Laws) our EngUfh Bilhopswere incapable of ordaining j for they loft their Authority by in- volving themfelves in lecular and piiblick Admini(trations, Canon 80. /ipolhlig. ] N. B. ThatCrfwowis ;o. beyond the Canons Apoftolical, for even the Papilhtlie^n- felves admit but of fifty genuine, and he would ejeft all our Bilhops by the 8cch Canon Apoftolical : [Loft their Authority alio for negled of inftruding tiicir Flocks, moft or many of them, and many' more for mn Rejidence, &e. Reply to SeH. 11. And why not \jVrcn~] without any further Title , as well as Calvin, Luther, Biza, ZanchyfirotiHs^&c. 2. Let the indifferent Reader perufe all my words, and blame me if he can. What ? feems it fo fmall a matter in your eyes to exp^l lb many rhoulc=nd Chriftisn Families, and filence and lufpend and deprive lb many able Minifters, in fo linall a room, andfbdiort a time i as that it isdilobedicnce to our Fathers njtto confent to their punilhment ? It feems then thele filly Lambs muft be de?ou;ed,no: only without refiftancc , but without complaint, or accufing the Wolves ; bscauli they fay, they were our Fathers ? God never let luch Saturnine Fathers over his Church, lo as to authorize them in this , or to prohibite a juft remedy. He never gave them power for Deftruiftion but for Edification. 3. What I laid of our Bi- Ihops incapacity upon that reafon was exprefly ad hominem,Aga.inii mine own Judge- ment, wz,. upon fuppofition thatthofe Canons are of liich force as thofe imagine againft whom 1 difpute. 4.The Canon 80 ApoJ}, wasallb brought ad hominem^for though it be confeffed not of equal Antiquity with the reft , yet for that Antiquity they have, it is known how much uCe thole men make of their ruppofedjAuthority. But are there not enough others that may evince the point in hand befides that ? you may eafily know it,and in many Ca.aons that null their Office who co.ne in by the Magiftracy. Exception to Seif. 12, And whereas we are ready to make good againft all the Papifts in the world, that our Englilh Proteftant Bifhops had due Ordination in Queen Eliz. ^nd KingEJ- wards time, by luch who had been Ordained in King Henry the Eighths time j Mr. Baxter te\\s us, the Popifli Bifliops who Ordained in the days of Hen. 8. and many Ages before, had no power of Ordination, (and this hefpeaks as his ownjudgmentj not only from theconfequences of his Adverfaries ,• for he adds,this I prove, in that thsy received their Oi"dination from no otherBifhopsof the Province nor Mecropo- litan, but only from the Pope fingly ? yec this is ail the Argument he hath to over- throw (confequentially upon our objedions) the Ordination of thole Proteftant Bi- Hiops, which himlelf acknowledges Learned, Pious, Reverend Men j and all that Ordained ', or were Ordained , in Hen. 8. & 7. and many Ages before, as he l^ith. And indeed if his Dilcourle were of any force, not only in our Ertglilh Church, b;K alio in all the Churches of the Weft, Frame, Spain, Polonia, Swedland, Denmark, and throughout the Empire of Germ.zny, for thele and thole many Ages before which helpeaksof, and. all this that our new Presbyterians of Eww^/^/W, (Voluoteers in Ordaining, and bjingO.dained without Bilhop5, without pretence of nccellity, yea or difliculty, or colour of difficulty, except what thsmfclves had created : fwherein they have as little Communion with the Proteftants beyond leas, as they have with the Epifcopal Proreftantsof the true Reformed Church oi EngLv>d) m.iy be ac- knowledged good and lawful Presbyters and Paftors, with power conjunitim &. divi- fiTv, any one of them alone (as Mx. Baxter thinks) to Excommunicate and Ablblve in foro Eccltfiafitco. Reply to SeB. lz< The word [ Duel may fignifie either fuch as is not nuU, or elfe fuch as \i fully regular , or elle fuch as they had Authority to perform, who did ordain, though they might have fome Faults or Irregularities : If you take it in thefirft Senle,miny will yield it,who yet denyitinthelalf,asfiippofing in loiiie Cafes Ordination Paffive may be.valid,and fb due in the Receiver-, when yet Ordination A(ftive,is without all juftAuthority in the Ordainer : Though this may lecm ftrange, I am ready to give Ibme Realons for ir. ■It muft be iti the laft Senie, cnnjund' with thefirft, that y,ou muft take the Word [Due'] if you will fpeak tothe point in Hand. 2. I do exprefly lay thire that it is [according to the Dodrine of the Objcftorsconlequentially}, that I affirm this (not affirming or denying it to be mine own Judgment) and to that end bring the Proof which Mumb. 1. AT T E NV I X. which is mentioned : And yet you are pleafed to affirm that I [(peak it as my owri Judgment, and not only from the Confequences of Adverfaries.j Suppofing your Grounds, (which I confidently deny) that an uninterrupted Succeffion of due Au- thoritative Ordination is necefTary abfolutely to the Being of the Minifterial Call- ing ; I doubt not but all the unhappy Confequences will be unavoidable whichyou mention concerning the Churches of all the Weft : But whether it be you or I that is to be blamed for thofe Confequences, it is not your Word only that muft de- termine, and I am willing to try by weight of Realbns. Except, to Se£l. i j. And now for the Proof of all this, the whole weight is laid by this Book. r. Upon an Argument a comparata : If they, the Proteltants beyond Seas are lawful Paftors and Presbyters (who(e Neceffity and Plea of Neceffity publickiy to have been made by thofe, thefe pur new Presbyterians cannot deny) then our new or- dained ones by Presbyters, are Presbyters alfb (though they want all fuch Pretence, all colour of Neceffity, for themfelves were the firft Authors of it, to thofe that cjeAed them, which yet did not bring a Neceffity neither, which we all know) It" Neceffity be pleaded to be above Ecclefiaftical Laws, (as fomstimes it hath difpen- led even with divine pofitive Laws themfelves) then they pro imperio will be above them by their own Magifterial eivbaJ'na. and by Confequence if they will take this to themfelves, that whatlbever is lawful to others upon neceffity, is, and ihall be lawful to themfelves without Neceffity, they may in the next place. Pope-like, take to themfelves to difpenfc with divine pofitive Laws, alfobecaule neceffity has fometimes difpenfed with them. . Reply to SeB. IJ. , i.You may as well lay, we dare not fay the Sun Shineth,as that we dare not deny the Proteftant Churches to have been without Bifhops to this day through neciffity againft their Wills j when in almoft all of them the full Power Civil and Eccleu- altical is fuppofed to be among themfelves j though I deny not but fome particu- lar Perfons among them would fain have Bilhops, yet I think very few, in comparifon of thole that were willing to be rid of them, when they were recei- ved here. 2. You boldly affirm without Proof that the Minifters of this County, who were not ordained by BiHiops, were EjeBors of them, or Authors of the Ne- ceffity. :;. I Ihewed you before we have more Neceffity than you mention, aoid befides a Neceffity whereof we ate not guilty, there may be a culpable Neceffity which yet may free our calling from a nullity, though not our fehes from Sifi. What if God fhould permit all the Churches of Ethiopia^ or the Greeks to deny thsjui Di' 'vinum of Epifcopacy, (which is poffible, as well as to permit the Reformed Churches to do ir) and fo to fet up Ordination by meer Presbyters ? (while 1 fpeak to you on your own Grounds) I luppole this to be their Error, and fo their Sin: yet would you prefently unchurch them all, and rather have God's Worlhip for- born, as to the Publick ? There be many among us, who are againft Diocelan Bi- lhops, who give us good teftimony of a fincere . Heart, impartial ftudying of the Point, with as much felf-denial and earneft Prayer for God's Diredion, as any E- pifcopal Man that ever I knew ; and yet remain againft Epifcopacy, This kind of Neceffity may fure free their Calling from the Charge of Nullity (which needs nbt this Plea) j though it could not free them from the Charge of Error. Except, to SeB. 14. Inftead of anfwering one Word to Ignatius (God's Holy Saint and Martyr) his re- nowned Epiftles (which he knew lately vindicated) or to all the ancient Fathers avowing tn terminis the jt4s divinum of Bifhops above Presbyters, and the Bifhops Ible Power of ordaining; or producing any to the contrary^ he fills up his Books with Citations of modern Mens Writings, which they all wrote charitably for the Patronage of thole poor afflided Proteftants, who had no Bifhops becaufe they could have none : So that as well his Aiuhoiities as his Realbns are all drawn a locd eomparatorum, arguing weakly fioni the Priviledge of neceffity, to their licentioiiA nefs, with, or without Neceffity, which is one continued Sophifm. Reply to SeB. 14. I. Though Ignatius were both a Satnt and Holy, yet I know not what call I had in thole Papers to meddle with him: Unlefs I muft needs difpute the point of E- pilcopacy, which I did difclaim. 2. As I would not undtrvaluc the lata Vihdica-. cation of Ignatius, lb I would not have you fo far overvalue it, as to think it Ihoulc^ io eafily and potently prevail (i.) With ail thofe that fee not any Cogency in the Arguments, or fufficiency in the Anfwers to the contrary Objedions. (z.) Or with hole that will take Scripture only for the Teft of this Caufe. (j) Or with thole B that lO I^ "P E j^ "Si jf. s i«uititP: i that are confident tharyouc^n'never prove tha^ Ignathu fp^ks'(of t)««/Ji«Bi/hiif»^;, •but onlyoTitheBifhops of particular Ghurdi;es. g. YoyE'ri^k',of (?al! the Ancient Fathers av'awing intirminis the Bifliops fdle pjoWer of ordairtih^'d^OTf^but'difcredic the- reft of your Words r- You fuppole us litttr Strangers bo:h tb'ffiolef athdrs, and thfe Engli(h Bilhops, who maintain tHatPreibyfters muft be thdr .Coadjutors in Oi*- diriarion. 4. Wh4tif 1 flionld grant that all the Fatherf\A^quliJI' have BilhapStjo have the fole Power of Ordaining oi-dinari^y, 'and for Order' §i^e* And •(b^f ''ft is a Sin of Diforder where unneceffarily it is doneotherwifc ? tl^.at's'ndthing'to'ifie QuelHcn thati hadinhand J whichis, whethc^r fuch Ordination by Presbyters be not only irregular but null, and whether an xyjinterruptedSucceflion be neceiTary to our Office ? J. I plainly perceiV^ here ^gain, that you are Itiathtp fpeak but ■your Mind ; but you leem to diffenriVom theie charitabl;i Maintainers of the Pro- teftants: Why elfedo you"iet Igmtim and the ancient Fathers as the Pirty that I fhculd have refpefted ihftead ot theJfe, if youjdid not think that' the Fathers atod thefs Men were contrary? 6. My fenfinels was to prove 'tbat /according to" (he 'Principles of the Proteitant Bifhops jh England, our Ordination was not null, eo 'Nomine, becaufe wiAout a Bilhop] now I am blamed for proving this by Moderb "Writers, and not Fathers. If you willdifclaihi the Modern Prcteftant Bifhops do 'iiot pretend to be of their Party, blit fpeak plainly : If I (fill up my Bjiibk Wkh •fuch Citations) then I'hope I was n'or deficient in bringing the T$fiimonies of thp Proteilant Epifcopal Divines, and yet many, iriore I cOu'd|dte to that end. '."j-T'o that of the Proteltants Neceffity enough is'faid; till yout' Words are canonical, 'oir your Proof ftronger. I do not think but there are fome Proteftant BirtiOf;s (ib called at lealt) in France znd Holland now, that Wfint out ol Brtta:n znd Ireland, why cannot they ordain them Bifhops in their extream Neceffity.? Why did the angry Bifhops fo revile poor Crt/fiw, Beza, the Churches of Gdniva, Scotland, .ind many others, for cafting oat Bifhops, and letting up Presbytery/.|f all were done "ori k jufHfiable NecefTity ? But enough of this: -• ■ - Except:, to SeB. xy. '-But that thefe Authors cited by him may be authentigal ; all the Proteftant.Di- ■vines of England, 'are branded as Popifh, that fincethe Reformation have defended aeainit the Pope that Bifhops are 'lure Dtvino (for fo I fay it was direA Popery tnac firfl denied Bifhops ro be jure Di'vino, witnefs the Pope's and Papelins canvai- ftng in the Council of Treat, to opprels by Force and Tyranny, the far major and more learned part of theCouncil that contended for lb many Months withSufFrages, .Arguments, and Proteftations, Proteftant like, to have it defined, that Billiops were 'ft&< Dtvino, and only the Pope and his Titulars, and Courtiers fuffered it not to be •propounded, lealf it fhculd be, as certainly it would have been, defined; for then Popesand Presbyterians could not have lorded it fo) : Thus the chiefeff, and molt pious, and learned Bifhops of our Englifh Church mult be branded for Popifh; Bi- shop Andre-iVi, Mount ague. White, &c. Reply to SeB. ij. ' .1. If you deny the Authors cited by me to be authentick, pretend not to ad- 'tiere to the Epifcopal Proteftants ; for fure thefe are fuch. 2. You do not well to -fay that (all the Proteflant Bilhops are branded as Popifh, that fince the Reforma- tion have defended againfl the Pope, that Bifhops are jureDivino) either fhew the Words where I fb brand them, or elfe do not tell us that your Words are true ■ftliough in a matter of Faft before your Eyes) ; we may well queftion your Argu- "^rncnt, when we find you fb untrue in reporting a plain V/riting. Indeed our late BiHiops (and thofe moff that were moft fufpeded to be Popifh) did ffand moft up- on the jui Divmiim, which many of the firft did either dilclaim or not maintain: But it rtcver came into my Thoughts to brand all for Papifts that did own it. Do T-notciteDoafWiJOTe, and others, as Proteftant Bifhops, who yet maintain it? yea, Btlhop Andreu't, whom you name? this is' not fair. 3. As for the Trent Quar- rel about Bifhrps, I Uy but this if the Spanifli Bifhops, and the reft that flood for ' the jusDfvinum of Epifcopacy there, were no Papifis, then thofe that I (poke of in JErgland weie none ( mu^h lefi): And I muft cry you mercy for fo efteeming thtirt. ■ Except, to SeB. 1 6. ."' xfie jd Argument is from the uncertainty of SuccefHon, which might have done "tljfe ITereticks good Service in the old times, when St. hemeus indTerttilltan mufter Hij^ iigainfhhem Siitceflionsof Catholick Bifhops that ever taught as the Church then tnu^ht againlj the Ifcrecicks. Refljr JN'umb. I. Al> T E N T> 1 X li Rej)ly to SeB. i6. I. It leemsyou are confident of an uninterrupted Succeffion of authoritative Or- dination, though you feem to think none authoritative but Epifcopal. But ib were not the Proteflant Biftiops, who took the Retbrmed Churches to have true Minifters, and to be true Churches, when yet Epilcopal Ordination is interrupted with them. Such are all thofe with whofe Words, you lay, I fill my Book, to whom 1 may add Men (which is ftrange) that were thought nearer your own way. As Bilhop BromhaH in his late Anfwer to Militerim, who yet would have the Pope to be the Prmcipium Unitata to the Church, and the Anfwer to Fontanfts's Letter, faid to be Dr. Stewards, befidcs Dr. Fern ; yea, if you were one of thofe that would yield that Presbyters may ordain, yet I am (till unperfuaded that you are able to prove an uninterrupted Succeffion of Authoritative Ordination, and if you are able I ftiould heartily thank you if you would perform it ; and ieeing it is (a Neceffary, it is not well that no Epifcopal Divine will perlbrm it : If you are not able, mcthinks you ihould not judge it fo neceffary ; at leaft except you know them that are able: If you calt it on us to dtfyro've that Succeffion, I refer you to our Anfwer to Bellarmine and others in thofe Papers, as to that point. 2. As for Tertulltan 3nd IreTneufy and others of the primitive Ages, pleading liich Succeffion, I anfwer, i. It is one thing to maintain an uninterrupted Succeffion, then when and where it was certain, and another to maintain it now, when it is not. 2. It is one thing then to maintain that fuch a Succeffion was de fatto, and another to affirm that it muft be, or would be to the end of the World, which thole Fathers did nor. It was the Scope of Irenaus and Tertullian not to make an uninterrupted Succeffion of ftanding abfolute neceffity ad ejje Officii, nor to prophecy that ib it ihould Ifill be, and the Church ihould never want it j but from the prefent certain^- ty of fuch a Succeffion de faSlo, to prove that the Orthodox Churches had better Evidence of the Soundnefs of their Faith, than the Hereticks had. If this be not their meaning, I cannot underftand them ; it was eafythen to prove the Succeffion, and therefore it might be made a Medium againft Hereticks, to prove that the Churches had better Evidence than they: But now the Cafe is altered, both through time and Sin. It might have been proved by Tradition without Scrip- ture, what was found Dodirine, and what not, before the Scripture was written : An Heretick might have been confuted in the Days of the ApofHes without their Writings, and perhaps in a great meafure fome time after : but it follows not that they may be fo to the End of the World. Thofe that heard it from the Mouth of theApoltles, could tell the Church what Dodrinethey taught ; but how uncertain a way Tradition would have been to acquaint the World with God's Mind by that time it had pafTed through the puddle of depraved Ages, even to k^jj. God well knev/, and therefore provided us a more certain way. So is it alio in this Cafe of Succeffion, as the Fathers pleaded.it againft the Hereticks, to prove the Soundnefs of the Tradition of thofe Churches. Except, to SeB. 17. Againft all which, a Quirk it (eems lay, that if fecretly any of then had had but a lecret Canonical Irregularity,aU the following Succeffions were null : But the evident Truth is much otherwife that the Church never anuUed the Atts or Ordi- nations made by Bilhops, which the Catholick Church then had accepted and re- puted Catholick Bifliops ; though afterwards they came to know of any Secret Ir- regularities, or canonical Dilablings had they then been urged or profecuted by any, againft thole Bifhops, and then they Ihould have been accepted for Bilhops by the Church no longer. Reply to SeEl-i-]. I. I have proved, and more can do, open and not only fecret Irregularities in the Church of Rowe'j Ordinations, known a Triorc, and not only after the Ordina- tions. The Multitude of Proteftant Writers, even Englilh Bifhops have made that evident enough againft the Pope, which you call a Querk ; general Councils have condemned l^opes as Hereticks and Infidels, and yet they have ordained more. 2. If it were otherwife, yet all your Anfwer would only prove, that we muft Ibme-' times take them fur Bidiops who were none (when the Nullity is lecret) but not that they are Bifhops indeed, or have Authority. It is one thing to lay that God will make their Ads as uleful to the honeft Receiver, as if the Ordainer had done it by juft Authority : and another to lay, that liich an Ordainer had Authority, bccaule his Incapacity was not known or judged j that is becaufe it was not then known that he had none. 2. Moreover, if the Catholick Churches Acceptation and Reputation Cwhich you mention would ferve turn, tiien i. It were well worth B i the 12 AT T E N T> I X. JNumb. I. the knowing what you mean by the Catholick Church, do you mean the whole, or only a Part ? If the whole, then few Minifters orBifhops muiV be fb accepted, for who is known to all Chrittians in the World ? If a Part, then what Part muft it be ? what if one Part repute him a true Minifter or Bilhop, and the other a falfe or none, which is very common ? If you fay it is the People over whom he is Paftor, then nothing more common then for them to be divided in their Judg- ments : If you fay it is the greater part, then we lliail be at utter Uncertainties for our SucceflSon, as little knowing what the greater part of the People thought of our PredecelTors ; if you mean the Superior Biiliops, then a Metropolitan it feems is the Catholick Church when a Bilhop is to be judged of, and it is like a Patriarch for a Metropolitan, and the Pope for him. But as i. We know not how thefe judged of our Predeceffors. 2. So we little believe that thefe Mens. Judgments can n3ake a Man to be a Bifliop that is none, or make him have a Power which elfe he had not ; this is worfe than the Dodrine which hangs the Efficacy of the Sacra- ments on the Priefts Intention : It's like the Faith of fome that think to make a Fali^hood become true by believing it true. 5. And you know it is the Pope whole Succeffion we are queftioning ; and which is the Catholick Church that muft accept and repute him a true Pope? If the Council of Bafd were the Catho- lick Church, then you know how Eugenius was reputed ; and then where is our ' Succeffion ? I doubt not but true Chriftians that are not guilty of the Nullity of the Ordination, nor knew it, may have the Benefit and Bleffing of fuch a Man's Adminiftrations, and they may be valid to the Receiver : But that is on another ground (which I have lately manifelfed to another in debating this Caufe) and not that the Adminiftrator had any true Minifterial Authority from God. Again, I refer you to my Anfwer to Bellarmim and others in thofe Papers. Except, to SeB. 18. V.G. Put cafe one not baptized thought to have been baptized,had (per ignorantiam faSi) been promoted to be Biihop, Archbifhop or Patriarch, yet 16 long as the Church knew it not, nor himfelf perhaps, but did accept him bona Ftde, though iffo FaBo had it been known, fuch had been uncapable of Epifcopal Order, yet being fo accepted by the Catholick Church, Ordinations done by him were not null, nor did he interrupt the Succeffion, but (latente omnidefeBu bafti[?m) he was a true Bifhop, though after his Death by any Writing they had come to difcoverit, for the Church as all Judicatures rightly proceeds fecundum allegata & probata-, the fame I fay of fecret Symor.y V. S. But on the other fide to fpeak now to the Prei- byterian Cale. Reply to SeB. 18. Nay then put Cafe the Man were not Ordained, and the Church took him to be Ordained : you lay the Church muft proceed Jecundum allegata & probata, doth not this give up your Caufe, and yield all that I plead for ? which is, that an au- thoritative Ordination, and fo an uninterrupted Succeffion is not fimply and abfo- lutely neceflary to the being of the Miniftry : For you confels your Churches Re- putation may ferve without it. By the way take head leaft you either make the People to be none of the Catholick Church, or at leaff , you give a Power to the People to make Minifters Bilhops and Popes by their bare Thoughts without Ordi- nation, or io much as Eledion. But then you will remember, that if Reputation without juft Ordination may lerve turn, I know not but thole among us may be Mi- nifters whom you difclaim : For the Paftors and People of all the Proteftant Churches in Europe (except your felves here) do take fuch for Minifters (fo far as it is poffible by Writings, Profeffions, and Practices to know their Minds) and I hope they are as good a part of the Catholick Church as the Popj and his Confiftory are. If Reputation dien will make Paftors without Ordination, we may have as good a Plea as thole you plead for. For the cale of Symony you mention, fee what I cited out of Dr. Hammond, and you know fure that many Canons make Ordinati- ons null, and the Office null, tf]o FaBo, whether ever the Party be queftioned in Judgment or not : fuch Canons and Laws are equal to Sentences. A Cafe alio may be known that is never quellioned and Judged, who could queftion the Sodomiti- cal unclean murderous Popes, though it was commonly known ? I take it for grant- ed therefore that the Knowledge degraded them without a Judgment according to your own Words here (unlels one part of them contradid the other.) Except, to SeB. 19. The lame ancient Church which did make void and annul conftandy all Ordina- tions made by meet Presbyters,whether they Schifinatically arrogated tothemlelves to be Bilhops (and were not, nor lb reputed by the Church) or otherwife upon any Numb. L AT T EN T> 1 X. i^ any Pretencion whatfoever (for at that time no neceffity could be with any Co« lour, nor was pretended). Reply to SeB. 19. I. But is it the Judgment of the Ancient Church that will ferve to degrade or null a Miniftcr of this Age? if lb, then all your former Arguing is in the Dull : For though your Popes had none to Judge them Wicked and Uncapable then, yet the ancient Church before them did make void and null the Office and Ordinaaons of fuch as they. If it muft be a prelent Power that muft do it, we have not yec been called to any Judicature about it. 2. Your Parenthefis (eenis to intimate that if the Presbyters be but Reputed Biihopsby the Church, then their Ordinations are not null : All's well on our fide then, except you only or the Romanifts be the whole Weftern Church : For not only Paftors and People here do take Presbyters to be Bifhops, having Power of Ordination, but fo do the reft of the Reformed Churches, or at leaft moft of them. They think that the primitive Bilhop was the Bifhop of one particular Church, and not of a Diocefs, or many Churches. -». You talk of neceffity again, but you would not fay, that neceffity would have ex- cu(ed them then, if there had been fuch ; though it feems you would be thouc'hc to judge of the Reformed Churches as the Proteltant Bilhops do, or elfe hide your Judgment in part. Except, to SeB. 20. Thefe Three Fallacies are the Summ of all his Arguments, rather popular Ca- lumnies, for want of Argument to cry out, thefe Men are not Protedants, at leaft in this, fee pag. 49. fin. thefe are PopiJh who contend for Succeffion of Ordi- nations. Reply to SeB. 20, I (ee nothing to forbid me to (ay that thele few frivolous Exceptions, and the Name of Fallacies, Sophifnris, &c. is the Summ of your Oppofition j and how far you manifeft your lelf to be free from Popery, I leave to others to judge • for I will not, till I know you. Except, to SeB. 21. And here give me leave, becaule there is a Mask of Chriftian Concord and Cha- rity even to the embracing the Epifcopal Party alfo, pretended in this Union, lee me a little give you a tafte of the Spirit of this Charity of theirs, whether it be like the true genuine Chriftian Spirit and Love : Befides the Charity he allows to Bifiiops which I have writ out unto you in my Second Page, to which you may add, that of pag. 74. [The late Bilhops, even in the Judgment of all moderate Men that ever 1 (poke with, did very many of them deferve to be put down, and More reckons four, fVren, Land, &c. but come we to the Charity he allows E- pilcopal Divines (as he calls them). Reply to SeB. 21. If by (a Mask) you intimate a dilTembling Pretence, he that better knows my Heart than you, will be Judge between you and me concerning this, but I dare not lay that my Charity is of as high a Degree as theirs that have more of that Chriftian Grace; But I bewail any Uncharitableneis , and beg Pardon of God and Man. 2. But where found you any Mask of Concord in my Book, as with any Bilhops but the Proteftant Bilhops and their Followers ? I never extc-nded ic to others : Not that I have not Charity to them, or vA^ not Concord with them, but that it is impoffible till they change their Minds. And here I put it to your lelf, and to all of your own way, to tell me, what you would have wilhed me and all the Minifters of our Aftbciation to have done for Concord with you ? and whether you will not confefs it impoffible till one party change their Minds .^ for the prefent Rulers will not have Epilcopal Ordination, nor allow any in the PubiickExercileof the Miniftry, butthofe that come in by meer Presbyters (in your Efteem). Many of ths Minifteis after earneft ftudy and Prayer cannot be (atiafied that Epifcopacy is Jure Vivinoflv lawful : it is not in their power to change their own Judgments. Till they do change them and procure Epilcopal Ordinati- on, you will not taki them for any Minifters at all ; no nor joyn in the Affocia- tion leaft you be guilty of acknowledging them Minifters ; what means then have we left for Concord with fuch as you ? Only this , Renounce your Miniftry ; all muft forbear Preaching and Baptizing , and all Miniltcrial Duties : all forfake the Congregations of Chrift here , and throughout EvgLnd that are inthefjme cafe, and then you will be at concord with us ; but what concord ? not as fellow Pa- ftors J that cannot be, when we muft firft renounce that Office ; the meaning then of >our defired Concord is this , give up all ycur Offices and Churches to us , and let ^ JT T E N T> 1 X, Numb. L let us alone, to have oar way, and do all, and then we will have Concord with you as our people whilftyou obey us. Truly we have found your PredecefTors ftep Fa- thers, and hard Task-mafters ; yet the Lord knows my heart,thatl take it far more eafie incomparably, and initfelf defirable to fuch as I, to be Ruled then to RuIe,to Obey then to Command, fo be it we be not commanded to fin againd God,and run into Hell. But when we have allforlaken our Churches and Offices for peace with you, is all the work done ? i. How fhall we do for peace with God and Confci- ence,for over-running his work, and ftarving Souls. 2. How fhall we bear the cryes of poor People tor the Bread of Life ? 5. What Ihall God s Worftip and our Con- gregations do ? Who fhall fupply our Places ? are there able faithful Men enough of your Way ? O that we could lee them I It is not two or three or ten in a Coun* try that would ferve turn. If there be enough, why did you permit fo many drunken, fottilh Readers, and fo many hundred wicked Livers, which the Church is not well rid of yet? See the Centuries of thofe rejsfted in the Beginning, while Mr. White was Chairman, I never owned the calling out of any worthy or tollera- ble Man for Loyalty ; yet what Reproaches did he and others undergo for cafting outlucha pack of Swearers, or Drunkards, or Adulterers, or the like ? is there no Concord to be had with you but by giving up our poor People to fuch as thefe again ? For my part I love Charity and Peace better than ever I did, but Charity hath Eyes, or is guided by Eyes. I am not a Stranger in England, I knew Multi- tudes of the old Epifcopal Clergy that were ignorant or of wicked Lives, and the great Hinderances of the Salvation of their People, when they fhould feek to fave. 1 knew but here and there one of them that was learned and godly farious Preach- ers. Thole Men I love and honour according to their Worth,as much as any Men of any party : Thefe only did we defire Concord with as Minifters : and alas if it be not to be had without forfaking all our Charges, and giving up a whole Coun- try to fo few of thefe, the Will of the Lord be done ; for I will never believe that this is his Will till you bring other Reaibns for it then yet any of you all have pub- lickly done. And I warn all honeft Epilcopal Divines,that they take heed of drawing your Guilt upon them, and of concurring with Men of fuch dangerous Principles as you are ; your way to Concord muft be like the Romanifts (the greateft Schif- maticks on the Face of the Earth) who cry up Unity, Unity, but themfelves mufl be the Centre, or it mult be only in their Way and on their Term?. They will unite with no Chriltians in all the World that aie not of their Party, (for a Party they are, though they will be called the CathoHck Church) and do not you go this way too far ? You will have Concord with none as Minifters, but thofe of your own Party, all the reft mult be no Minifters with ycu, nor their People take them for Cich. Durft yoy (whoever you are, for I know you not) be bound to anlwer for us, and bear u/nuc before God in Judgment, if we fhould ail give up our Places or preach no moie ? durft you be bound upon pain of Damnation to your Iclves to fave all our People from being condemned for it if they fhould all renounce and foriake us, and al! the Minifteria! Worfhip of God which we peiform, and the Churches we guide ? Alas it is not your telling us, that the Holy Saint Ignatius is lately vindicated, that will fatisfy our Confciences in a Cafe of this Moment, even to leave God unworlhipped Publickly, and our People untaught, and let Satan raign, and Souls perifh by ihoufands for fear of faving them vvithout Epifcopal Ordination. If you ftill fay that we Ihould be of your Mind, and be ordained by Bifhops, we again lay our judgments are not at our Command j we cannot believe what we hft, 1 know multitudes of Anti-Epifcopal Men that ftudy as faithfu'ly and leek God's Diredion as heartily as any of you all (and yet cannot fee the Juftnefi of your Caufe, (though whether it be juft or not, I purpofely forbear to pals my Cenfure) if ftill you fay, it is our Wilfulnels or Peevilhnefs ; I leave you, as Uliirpers of God's Prerogative, and pretending to that Knowledge of our Hearts which is ?. ftep above the Papal Arrogation of Infallabiiity. Nay, leeing I have gone lb far, I will add this ; do you not imitate the Papifts in the main Point of Recu- lanfy, by which we were wont to know them in England? Nay, we had many Church Papifts that went not io far i muft not you, as they, have People difclaim our Miniftry and Aftemblies, and not join in them for fear of ovyning unordained Men, Be not too angry with us, 1 pray you, if we call not luch Proteftants ; or at ieaft if wi; take it for impoffible to have Concord with them. 2. 1 muft alfb 1 jell you that are offended at my Saying, that thofe particular Bifhops named, defer- J^ed to be caft out, that if you be one that dare own them in their Ways, or would iF^ave the Church have fuch as they, yea, that do not deteft and lament their Mif Carriages, leem to your fslf as Pious as you will^^ you are no Man for our Com- pany Numb. I. AT^T E-M V iX. H pany and Concord. Do you coir.p'.ain of me for want of ChrifHan Chariry and yet would you haVe theChurcH have fbch Biihops as woulijcaft out fuch: Mert Zi Aimi, Varker, Bainet, Bra^ifiiatv, DoJ, HiltiBrJ}A!Vit,ywizh Mdlcitudes of as'miri- rlil, able. Godly Men as the World knew, and ka;7t i'o many drunken readin* Sots, feme (thereabouts) Faggot Makers or Rope. Makers^ many that did ^find that lately whether we will or not , till the lata Ad:) get their Living by unlvWul Marriages, and fuch Courier is is a Sham 3 to Mention,' yeaj would you h^vt'l^il. fliops that would do as your BiJhop Wren, Pierce, and the others did' whole Acou'-l lations are upon Record. Pnow dealing with,Avill foon by their INJ umbers oblqi^rs allother Pfe]|= tie^that'how trouble our Peace, »^;(/.j5 I X. Numb. 11. if I yield it you, is nothing againft our Agreement. ;. The Tb'irdl cannot dif^ pute w ell till 1 know what you will yield in the excepted Cafe. I would defire ycu, as a more orderly and effedual way to our Ends, to do thefe three Things : i. Tell me plainly whether ycu take the Reformsd Churches of Holland, France^ Scotland, Hehetia, Gmfva, &c. for true organized Churches, and their Paflors for true Pa- ftors and Presbyters ? and Ordination by Presbyters to be valid in their Cafe. 2. feeing you plainly feem to take an uninterrupted Succeflion of authoritative Ordi- nation to be of flat Neccflity to the being of the Miniftry, will you give, u§ a clear Proof of fuch a Succeflion de Fa^o, either to your felf, or any Man now li- ving. I earneflly intreat you deny me not this, nor fay it is needlefs ; I have told you the need of it inthofe Papers. Again I pray you put it not off. 3. Seeing you profefs to be for Concord, and yet reje<9: our Terras, as a Schifmatica! Com- bination, will you propound your own Terms, the loweft condefcending Terras which you can pofTibly yield to, which raay tend to our Clofure ? If you only con- tend againlb our JVay and will not find a better, nor ufe any Endeavours of your own in its f^ead, what Man of Reafon will believe your Profeffion of [the flrong Inclination of the, Heart to Concord and Peace] ? I again intreat you infiead of contending, to perform thefe Three things, which will exceedingly further the much defired Work. And for my part, though you and Millions of Men oppofe it, I am relblved, by the Grace of God, to defire, pray, and labour for Peace and the Unity of the Church, upon Honeftand Poffible, not Romifhor Sinful Terms, while I am ^^'■^5.^^55. ^ich, "Baxter. N°. II. Mr. JohnfonV Fir/l Letter to Mr. Bax- ter, about the Toint of Ordination. SIR, ' 'U 'y E I N G very much unfatisfied in the reading of your lateDifcourfe con- * B"^ cerning the Interruption of the Succeflion of the Miniftry, I thought good ' MLJP to take Advantage from your own Offer, friendly and freely to debate the 'Q^ieftion with you : And I (hall lay out my Thoughts to you in this Method ; * r. I will give you the Realbns which makes me (if it be Papiffical) to abet thePa- ' pills in pleading for an uninterrupted Succeflion. 2. I will reply to your Argu- ' ments, whereby you difpute the Succeflion of the Miniftry of England to be inter- * rupted. 3. I will offer you fbme Reafons why an infallible Proof of the Point is * notnecefTary in the Cafe. 4. I will produce fuch Arguments asfhall put it beyond 'doiibdngj andfbfhall leave indubitable, though not infallible Proof of the Qiie- ' ftiort in your Hands. * I. Fii-J}, I ft all give you the Reafons why I plead Co ferioufly for the uninter- ' rupted bucceffion, and I ihall do this in the firft place, becaufe all the reft will b& ' Supervacaneous, if it be a Matter of no great Confequence, whether there be a ' Succeffi.n or not. If therefore you can latisfy my Arguments whereby I plead ' for the N-ceffity, and give ms Reafon enough to underftand, that an Uninterrup- ' tir»n of the Succeflion is not much material, I will (ave my ielf the Trouble of ' Conliuing what you have faid againft it, and you fome Trouble of making a need- * lefi Repl . * Nnw the firft Reafon which induceth me to believe that it is a matter of much * rr.ore Confequence than you talk of, is the Serioulhels of our Divines in their En- * deavours fo prove that the Bifhops in Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth's Days * weie Ordained by Biftiops, againft the Calumnies of Sandas. Rellifon, Chahmtey, * and other Jefuits, who in their Writings would have bore the World in Hand, that * the Succeflion of the Miniftry of England had been interrupted at the Reformati- * on, becaufe there were none but Popilh Bifhops to Ordain them, and they ' would nor, and (o none did. But as you know, had deviled a Story of the Nag's- ' Head Ordination. Now you alio know there hath been much Endeavour made • by c Mumb. 11 AT T E N T> 1 X, i^ ' by learching the Arcbtva at Lambeth to clear up the Ordination of pur firlt Refor- * raers, that thereby they might invalidate the Papifts Calumny of our Succeffion, * being interrupted. But if Succeffion in Office (for Succeffion in Dodrine I nei- * ther fpeak of, neither did they plead for) be a matter of fo fmall a Confequence, * our learned Country-Men might have laved themfelves much Labour and Trou- ' ble, and in a few Words have told thejefuits, that an Uninterruption of Succef- * fion was a thing not worth pleading for : But on the other fide, we fee them ac- * knowledge Succeffion in Office to be neceffary, and contend that there hath * been no iiich Interruption in our Miniftry. * II. The Second Argument which perfuades me to believe that the pleading for a Succeffion is of great Moment, is this, 'viz,. That without this 1 do not under- ftand how we that are now Minifters can be faid to have our Authority from Chrift : For we muft have it from him either mediately, or immediately. But we cannot have it mediately from him,5f the Succeffion be interrupted j for if we have it mediately from him, we muft have it by the Mediation of Ibme Perfon, who ?.t length had it immediately from him : But if the Succeffion be interrupted, we cannot have it from any Perfon that bad it immediately from him, or his Apo- flles. This is a kind of Contradiftion in adjeEio, and therefore we cannot have it mediately from Chrift : If you deny the Confequence, and fay, that we may have our Authority from Chrift mediately, though we have it not from Ibme Perfon who had it immediately from him. I demand how j if you fay by the Mediation of his written Word. I anfwer, that the written Word is no fit me- dium to convey the Authority of the Miniftry now a days upon any Men : And that upon this Account ; The giving of Authority which we talk of, is an Adi- on terminated upon fum itidi'vidnum in this Age. But the Scriptures meddle not with any of the Individuums of thefe times, and therefore it cannot give any Au« thority unto any fingle Perfon now a days. ' The Adajor 1 think is clear, the Minor I prove thus : If the Scripture meddle with any of the Indiiiiduums of this Age, it doth it either quoad Nomen, or quoad AdjtmSium aliudincomunicabik, or by fome general Dilcription which may be per- fonally and particularly applied to (ome individuum. But I am confident you will not fay it doth either of the two former ways, neither doth it (fay I) by the third way, and therefore not at all. That it doth not give any Authority to any lin* gle perfon by way of general Difcription I prove thus : If it doth, it muft be in fome fuch Form of Words , or Words of equivalent to thefe. They that are thus and thus qualified may be Minifters of the Word : but there is no' fuch Form of Words in Scripture. There is I confefs (uch a Form of Words its the Scripture as this. They that preach the Word fhall be thus and thus quali- fied. But if any individuum fhall venture upon the Application of this Propofition,' to take the Authority of the Miniftry upon himfelf ; The Application I conceive muft proceed in this Form. But I am thus, and thus, and thus qualified : there* fore I may preach the Word. But this is to proceed ex omnibus affirmativss in the lecond Figure, which you know makes a wild Conclufion. If you fay that there is fuch a Form of Words, which being the Major, may be (b accommodited to any fingle Perfon in the Minor, as he rnay thereby infer this Conclufion ^ Therefore I, M.J. or I, K. B. have Authority to preach the Gofpel, and this without refpeft to any Aftion to be performed by fome Perfon, quaji mediante ; then 1 will yield that 1 have been beating the Air all this while. 1 have faid no- thing to the firft Branch of the firft Propoficion, concerning our having our Ao-' thority immediately from Jefus Chrift, neither do I intend till I know that it will be denied. * Authority I conceive to be far different from either Abilities to undergo an Ira-' ployment, or a willing Mind to undertake it, or Conveniency of Habitation for the Dilcharge of it, or the Defire of any kind of Men inviting a Man to it : I fiy, I conceive Authority for the Difcharge of any Office to be very far wide from any one of thefe, or altogether : For a Man may have all thele, and yec want Authority. For Example, in civil Matters : A Gentleman may be abun- dantly qualified to be a Juftice of the Peace, he may have a willing Mind to do his Country Service in that way, his Habitation for fuch an Imployment may be more than Convenient, he may be put upon it, and invited to it by his Country Neigh- bours ; and yet for all this, no Man will take him for an Officer in the Common- wealth, till his Name be in the Commiffion from the Supreme Magiftrafe, and he taken his Oath as a Stipulation to the fupream Magiltrate on his Partj for hisr C 7! » Faithful- 20 JT T E hi T> I X, Numb. 11. ' Faithful Difctiarge in it. Neither would any underftanding Man think himfdf ' obliged to obey his Warrants, if he ftiould have the Confidence to ilTueouc any be- ' fore thele compleating Ads be done, notwithftanding all the former Pieparati- ' ons towards it. ' In like manner to the thing in Hand about Ecclefiaftical Officers : A Man, I. ' doubt not, may have competent Qualifications for the Work of the Minritry, he ' may have a willing Mind to the Employment, he may have an Habitation fit for ' the Overflght of fuch a Congregation, he may be invited by them to undertake * the Care and Overfight of them ; and yet, for all this, rill Jefus ChrilJ-, the Su- * preme Governor of his Church, iTiall by his Vicar'ws Epifcopos, put his Name into * the Commiffion and take reciprocal Security from him for his faithful Difcharge ' in it he neither can, nor ever was elfeemed a Minifter duly authorized. And * therefore, though God as in the Cafe of a Civil Magiilrate, may very fitly and ' properly be faid to do all as you urge, I think out oi Spalatenfis : So he may be faid ' in the Cafe of Ecclefiattiacal Officers to be faid properly and fidy to do allj yet he ' doth not all the Work without the Mediation of his Vicegerents, and 1 cannot ' fee but that part of the Work which he hath left for them to do, is as necellary for ' the compleating and perfeding of the Work, as that which he doth without their ' Mediation ; and by cotifequence, if that part of the Work be left undone, ' the whole Work is as imperfeft and incomplete, as if this had been dons, but * the other Parts left undone. Here is in this, I confefs, fome thing taken pro con- ^ feffo, that Jefus Chrift hath fome Vice-gerents here on Earth, and that he hath * left fome part of this Work in their Hands for them to do : Which being a Mat- ' ter ot Faft, fhall be proved when I know it is denied. * HI. But Thirdly, My Third Argument is this : I do therefore plead for an un- * interrupted Succeffion, becaufe it appears to me that mofl of the Invaders and In- ' truders upon the Minifterial Office, are very/mucii ff rengthened and juftified in * their Schifm and Ufurpation, if Succeffion be not material. For I will not deny 'bur many of them are Men competendy qualified, and all of theni willing to un- * dertake the Work, live conveniently, or will live conveniently to difcharge the "■work sre chofen by a Number of Chrifiians who call them out to it : Now if all • *fthismake them Miniliers authorized, why do we clamour againft them ? why do *iWe not give them the Right Hand of Fellowfhip and Brotherhood in the Work '"of the Lord .'' It you fay, tiiey take this Courfe for their Gall, when there is no ' ncctffity J if you fay, this is a Courie only to be ufed in extream Necefitty ; when '-^dilicr the Panics think that there are no Church Officers in being, or thole that *'4reinbe;ngbe lo corrupt and wicked, as either they will not give them Orders, ' iJi' (hey dare not take Orders from them. I anfwer, Tiiat this extreme neceffity is * their Cafe : They think there be no liach things as Chrifls Church Officers now in ' l>iinf; ; or if they be, they are fuch as either will not give them Orders, or fuch * ;as tliey dare take no Orders from : And therefore they are fi ill excufable upon * (vfch an Hypothefis as you propound. V/hereas, do but grant a Succeffion unin- * terruptcd necelfaiy, it will uncontroukbly follow, that triey are therefore no Mi- ' niiWis of Chrift, becaufe they have not been fet a part by fuch who at length * took their Authority from Chrilt's own Hands. at * If yen fay that there is a neceffity of a DifJDcnfation in eafeof a general Apoftacy, % although the difpenfing witk Ordination in fuch Extremity doth furnilh Seftaries 'vcith a Foundation to build *their Schiftis upon. I anfwer, i. That we fuppole **>4at wluclvvet neverfell our, nor ever is likely to fall our. There was never yet *'(r.-^ti * after fuch or fuch a Maner, it is too much Gosifidence for any Man toljiy, or gti * about to prove, that fuch an O.dinance may be performedjaS'Well znotlar.Wnv * or after another Manner f when as the Fitnefs of the Manner of doing t^tha ' thing done, is not founded in Naturli Rei, but in hem flacito mfiMmztK^: JRorkir * much tlierefore as Chrift hath revealed to. his Church that itis.hig Mirjd/ or; Wilt * that hisQiurches Officers Ihould be let a part b' Impo.lcion.of Han'J^',;.ir dQi}!^ * therefore follow that Impnfition of Hands is necejTary qnd cfiential to their Sev>af * ration : If you ask me how I know that it was Chrift's Will and Miady dha<- Im- ' pofition of Hands (hould beuled in the Ordination of Mjinilfersj: XaniWesi^Jt •■ That if you expeft I (hould (hew an exprefi Coramwd f6r.it, 1 asinofvy'ecJg^ t(t^c$ *• is none : Or any implicite Command,. I acknowledge 1 know none: 13ijc Tejaitj * with all, that the Mind and Will of Chrifl may be othervviie niadekn.own. Tho($ * Scriptures where Impofition of Hands.is fpoJien of, commented uponiby^tJieUnH * vei-lal PratJlice of the Church of Chrift from the fkfl: Age, until this wild,; CKor- *-"bitant, 'laft Century, feem to me a moft clear Eyidencg what the. Will QfCbr.i^>is *- Church of God : I fijall likewiledo that wlien I know that- it is required, jand &\\ * the refi in the Argument granted, ' And now. Sir, if this interruption of Succe/fiori, being yielded, doth neceff^- * rily cart out fome of the Eifentials in Ordinatigrij if it ftjreffgthens the Hands of * Intruders, if it hinders us from having our Audiority from Chrift j if our learitetl * Cou.ntryTmen have taken ' . , ,' M, Johnfom .^^' Mr. Baxt f r'i- Reply to Mr. Johrifon, agahji the ahfohtte Netefjity of Ordlwation^ and of an Hnrnterrupted SnccejJton thereof frov-i the Apo files ^ to ths Bdng of the Mtnijieria.1 Q^ce. I Return you tlMsA'afwer to yours," biit o^ \\\M Condition, tfcat' before you'maH ariy P.ei3ly to tt, ypu perform the other Parts of your undertaken Task, or at leaft, the two laft ; ' ftjj- 1 think it a ftr'faftr way in fuch Cafes as this, to argue g nonfii^o ad non infl-itutu'm ^{thc Churbh hath not hjd (iich an uninterrupted Succef^ fion : £r^, God hath' not niade it ablbluteJy necelfary) than from a luppoled Iw'i- IHtu'iori to an anfwerable Event (God h.;rh made it abfohitely neceflary : Erj-^ .«he Ciiurch hatk enjoined it) ; becaufe ic iv incomparably more eafy to dilcern the Aju«.**'f of fuch pu,blick Faift, than to' djf2:er» the meaning of thofe Texts which ^'ili be 4lifeur^i? b^ ^^''^ Party in thele cotufoVerted cireumftahtial Points : And you know we muft ar^"^ ^ notiore ad mlnw fidtum', andnot contrarily.' I could wifh tife Que/lipn had f^^en c'xadtiy ftar.ed by joint Conlent, to aVt>id tedious Explicati- ons and Excurfions^ >ye'"^uft firft diftingnilK the Succeflfion of Office, and Suc- cefljon of brdinatiott to tKi>-* Office: Onr Queftion is not dirgaiy of the former, hi 22 AT T E N T> 1 X, Numb. IL for even the Ufurper fucceedeth in the Office as a Ufurper, and it is part of our Controverfy, whether the later (Succeflion of Ordination) be of flat Necefficy to the former (Succeflion in Office). It being then the Neceffity of an uninterrupted Succeflion of Ordination that we enquire after, itmuft be known what we mean by Ordination. K*sir)i/^(, the Word commonly uled is but Confittuo : Ordination in General then is any Conftitution of a Man in the Office of the Miniftry. Here we muft diftinguifh between the Conftitution it felfj and the Moditm Confiituendi : It's one thing to ask whether Ordination be neceflary j and another, wiiecher Im- poficion of Hands, or prefent Fafting and Prayer be neceflary j yea, or the Pie- lence of the Perfon Ordaining ; feeing a Man may be Ordained, Conflituted or authorifed, pr literas abfentts, and not only per manus 'vel 'verba prafenta, whether this Mode be as meet as any, we now queftion not. Alio its one thing to ask whe- ther God's Ordination be neceflary, and another, whether Man's be neceflary. Alfo it is one thing to enquire of the Neceflity of the Fad of Ordaining ; and ano- ther, of the Neceflity of a juft Authority in the Ordainer to do jt ; where ic will be needful to confider what is of Neceflity to the Conftitution of llich Autho- rity, and what deftroys it : Before all which it would be necefl"ary to know what the Ordainer's Work is, and to what and how far his Power extends : But this I am not now to meddle in. That a Divine Ordination is of Neceflity, to the Li- gitimation of our Galling in foro Dei, 1 grant ; as alio, in foro Confctentix Mini' ftrantis. That authoritative Ordination of Men, is neceflary Ordink Gratia, when it may be obtained, and where God's Providence doth not make it naturally, or morally impoflible, I alfo grant. That Impofition of Hands with fblemn Prayer, is the moft convenient manner, and ncceflfary for the Ordainer to ule, NeceJJltate Tracepti & Mediiad bene effe Ordinationu, I alio grant. That the Power of Ordain- ing is ordinarily only in the Hands of Chrift's Ecclefiaftical Minifters, I acknow- ledge (whether Bifliops or Presbyters we now queftion not) and that it is not di- volved to any others, but in Gale of Neceflity. The Things then that I deny are, that Impofition of Hands, or prelent Prayer, or the Prefence of the Ordainer are of Neceflity to our Office. That the true, juft Authority of an Ecclefiaftical Or- dainer is of Neceflity to the being of our Office : And confequently, that an unin- terrupted Succeflion of Juft, Authoritative, Ecclefiaftical Ordination from the Apoftles, is of abfoUue neceflity to the being of our Calling. Nay, that any Au- thoritative Human Ordination at all, befides the Peoples meer Conlent is of fuch abfolute, indifpenfable Neceffity ad ejje Officii ; all this I deny. And my Opinion is, that in Caie of a failing of all Ecclefiaftical Authoritative Ordination, the Ma- giftrates Ordination may fiiffice ad eJJe Officii : And in cafe both fail, the Peoples meer A.cceptance, Confent, or Ele<5bion may fuffice, fuppofing the Perfon meetly qualified. And whether you will call this ad: of the People a Conftitution, or Or- dination, or not, I am indifferent. Certainly K*3j5it,w» oft fignifies the Conftitu- ting, v\hich is not an Aft of Government, or fuperior Authority. But no Term hath fo much need of Explication as the Word (Office) or (Miniftry) which is the Terminus of Ordination. An Office is a' ftated Power or Authority, or Facul- ty with Duty of doing certain Works to certain Ends. The Minifterial Office of a Presbyter, is to be differenced ab ohjeSo & a fine. The Authority and the Duty in a lawful Officer go together : Such a one only is in (enfu primario & propria an Officer : But he that is a Ufurper, or hath no lawful Call, may yet both i. Have all the Duty of that Office lying upon him, and by his own Intrufion oblige him- felf to the Performance, and yet want the true ftiuthoiity for performing it, feeing he came in without God's Call, and there is no Power but of God. 2. And he may have tlx Name of an Officer, though given him but analogically, or in fenftc fecund ar 10 & ccclefiaftito. 3. And the Church may owe him that Relpeft and Ob- Icrvance due to a lawful Officer (the Reafbn is, becaule ic is one thing to know who is a truly lawful Officer ; as in Matter of Memberfliip, I am bound to ufe ma- ny as true Chriftiarts, even all that have the Profeflion of fuch) \vho yet are not fuch : So am I bound to take all thofe for lawful Officers that have the external To- kens of fuch, (ecing we cannot know any further ; though they be not fuch indeed). 4. And all that Man's Mir>ifterial Adions are valid to the Church that doth her Duty in obferving him, and yet they are all null or unlawful, and flat Sins to the Performer. The Reafon of the later is, both becaufe no Man can lawfully do that which he hath no Authority given him for, and becaule r.tmm'', ex propria crimine de- hetur benfficium ; andEr^o, his Ulurpation cannot fecure hinv The Reafon of the former is, becaufe Duty and Benefit go together, and therefore the Church that per- formeth but her Duty in taking thole to be truly called Paftors that leem fo to be, having Numb. II. dT T E N T> I X. 23 hartng thofe Tokens which fKe is bound to judge by as probable, muff needs have the Benefit of his Miniftry in their way of Duty j for God requireth no Duty in vain: As alfo becaufe nerKwi debcUtr pati'd ex ahena culpa, qua talis ejl. Novv whe- ther we fllall difpute de ficcejjltate orJtfiathms aci cffcium 'Virurii'& hgitimum profric &" frimario fic MBur/i, & in for Deii Or only as ad Ofjichim anatogicum fecmdario (^ min^s froprie in joro tantumecclefia fc dtBiftn? is to be confidtved. How far your Senfc wrh concur I know not, but in refpeft of both chefe do I hold my former Negations. Yet further, before I either anfwer your Arguments, or determine of the Sen(e of our Queftion, it is very neceffary that the end of our Enquiry be underftood, which'in order muft go before the me^ns. I tike it for grjnre'd, 'thdc you do net difpute this queftion as neceffary to be determined in order to oli/' Allb- ciarloHj before you can join with theprefent MiniOry : Or yet asnecdlary tqthe Determination of that further Queftion^ whetlisr thofe are true Minilters th^t^rd not Orddioecf by Bilhops ? and thofe true Organized Churches that have only ffet Mif^f!ers?'forif I thought this were your end, I would difpute many other' Qti^.' ftib'iis iifV, before we came to this j end try firft whether you cmld prove that the' Presbyteiian Churches cannot produce a Succeflion of true Ordination, on ti:"d fantie' Grounc's as the Epifcopal for the main. But I fiippofe your -fen-Js are iciiriis other, and in fpeci.il thofe mentioned in your Paper : I conjedure that I fhaU hoik eft* approich your Senfe> if I ftate theQueflion thus j Whether an Ordination' ^f EcclefialHcal Men, having ju!^ Authority thereto, be 5n all Times and Cafes linfce the Apoftles of abfolute Neceffity to the very being of the Miniiteiial Office, both coram Deo, & coram Ecchf.'M and conlequently an uninterrupted Succeflion off ".ch Ordina:ion be of the finie NecefSty ? For if I fhould put the Qtieflion about iaii pofirion of Hands, or de modo aliquo ordinandi, 1 know not but 1 miglit mifi of ydtrf Senfe on one Side j and en the other, if I fhould extend it to all Ordinacioij, whe- ther by Mngiif rates or ethers. Ad 1'". Yovir Firff Argum.ent I fuppofe fhould be formed thus : That which the Englifh BifKops thought necelfary to prove againft the P.ipifVs, that is necefiary to be proved againfl ther.i : But the Englifh Bilhops thought it nccelTa! y againft tlie Pa^ifis to prove the JNon-interrupiion of their Suecetlion in jull Ordination : Er- go, Kejp. I. Concedo totum : It was receflary to prove it againft the Papiffs arguino ad Hory.ir.CfHy becaufe it is the way of fuller Conviftion and Satii.fa(ft:on v^hena Alail can confute an Adverfsry on his own Grounds. It will much fhorten the Difpute when we fijew them, that though we fhould grant the Neceffity of fuch Succelliort, yet we need not grant the Nullity of our Calling. 2. 1 deny that theEnglilh Bi- lhops much Icfs the Church of England ^^A^ ever judge "it neceffary any farther than ad Hominef/i: i. Becaufe it' is apparent that they do ordinarily in their Writing^ fpeak againff the Papiff;, fuppofed Neceffity of Ordination, as I inftanced out of lome of them in mv Book. It is known to be a Point wherein the Proteffancs hav6 commonly cppofed the Papifff. z. It is known to be but the later declining Gene- ration of Bilhops, fiich as Montague, Land, and their Confederates, moft in King Charles his Days, very few in King Jamesi, and fcarce any at all in Queen Ehz.a- krb's, that do join with the Papiltsin pleading the Neceffity of Succeflion : Everf fuch Men as were as zealous againft Qneen Eliz,abeth's Epifcopal Proteftant?, as againft the Papifts, at leaft many of them. 3. The reft do cxprefly mention Suc- cefEon, and confute the Fable of the Nagi-Head Ordination in Cbeapjide, to prove the Papifts Slanderers : So much to your Minor, j! If thar will not lerve, 1 deny your Major: All is not neceifiry that they thought neceffary : Proteftants pretend, not to Infallability in Controverfals. Many more, perhaps ten to one at leaft, of the Englifh Clergy held it nrt neceffary, unlefi as aforcfiid. Ad 2"^. Your (econd Argument hath all the Strength in it, or rather fhew of Stt«n?gth : firft we mull needs diftinguiih of your Terms (Mediately and Immedi- ately). A Conlticution rray be laid to be from Chrift mediately, either in Re- fped to a mediating Perlon, or to fome mediating Sign only. Alfo it may be fiid to be n.ediante perfoiaa\ i. when the I^srfbn is the cau/ie totalis fubordinata confiiiu^ e»di, as having himfeif received the Power from God, and being as from himfelf to convey it unto Man. 2. Or whsn the Perfon is but Catifa fer accidens. 3. Or when he is only Caufa five ejua non, 'vel ^luieni/s imfedsmtnta removit, "vel quatejim tj:ts Ailiones funt condittones 7Jicej[Jarie. And lo I at^f.ver, I. Immediately in the firft abfolute Senfe &" exdudcndo prfonas & res, no Man ever had any Right communi- cated, or Duty impofed on nim by God, unlcfs perhaps the immediate Imprefs, or ftipernatural Revelation of the Holy Ghoft to feme Prophet or Apoftle might be faid to do this. Mofes hinifslf had the Ten ComTnaiidmencs written' in Stone, which werg d^P "P E Isl T> I X, Numb. II, were fgjja meJiama? Thole that heard God fpeak (if any immediately without Angelical Inteipofition) did receive God's Commands medtante 'verhrum figno. So did the Apoftles that which they had from the Mouth of Chrift. 2. God is fo ab- folutely the Fountain of all Power, that no Man can either have or give any Pow- er, butderivatively from him, and by his Commiflion; Man being no farther the Efficient of Power, than he isfo conftituted of God; the general way of his giving it, muft be by the Signification of God's Will j and lb far as that can be fufficiently difcovered, there needs no more to the Conveyance of Power. Whether A4en be properly efficient Caufes of Church Power at all, is a very hard Queftidnj ef'peci-. ally as to thole over whom they have no fuperior governing Power. As Sfalaten- fn hath taken great pains to prove that Kings or other Sovereigns of the Common- wealth have their Commiflion and Power immediately from God, though the Peo- ple fometimes may choqfe the Man (for the Power was not given to the People firft, and then they give it the King : but God lets them name the Man, on whom lie will immediately confer it) fo poffibly may it be in Ordination of Chiurch- Officers. Three ways do Men mediate in the Nomination of the Perfon ; i. When they have Authority of Regiment over others, and explmitudive potefiaiu. do convey efficiently to inferior Officers the Power that thefe have. Thus doth" tlie fuprcam Redor of the Commonwealth to his Officers; and Ergo, they arecal-^ ed the'Kings Officers, and hehaththe choice of the very Species, as well as of the individual Officers. Now this way of mediating is not always, if at all neceflary or polTible in the Church ; for the Papifts themlelves confefs, that the Pope is Or- dained or authorized without this way of Efficiency : for none have a Papal Pow- er to convey to him ; His Ordination cannot be ABrfs Superiors. And the Coun- cil of Trent could not agree whether it were not the Cafe of all Bilhops to hold their Office immediately from Chrift, though under the Pope, or whether they had their Power immediately from the Pope as the prime Seat on Earth, of all Church Power who is to convey their Parts to others. How the Spanilh Biiliops held up their Caufe is known : And it was the old Doftrine of the Church, that all BiHiops were equal, and had no Power one over another, but all held their Pow- er diiectly from Chiift, as Cyprian told them in the Council of Carthage. Add to this, that the true old Apodolical Epifcopacy was in each particular Church, and not over many Churches together (I fpeak of fixed Bilhops) till the matter beco- ming too big to be capable of the old Form, Corruptio umns fuit gemratio alterius r and they that upon the increafe of Chrifiians, Ihould have helpt the Swarm into a new Hive, did, through natural Ambition of ruling over many, retaine divers Churches under their Charge, and then ceafed to be of the Primitive Ibrt of Bi« fiiops : Non eadem fuit res, non muntis idem ; etiamfi idem mmm retinerent. So that truly our Parilh Minifters, who are fole or chief Paftors of that Church are the old fort of Bilhops ; for as Ambrofe, and after him, Grotiiis argues, qui ante fe ahe- rum non hahchat, Epifcoptts erat : That is, m eadem Ecckfia qui fitperiorem non habet). So that not only all Diocefan Bilhops, but alfo all Parochial Bilhops are Ordained per fares, and lb not by a governing Communication of Power ; which is that fe- cond way of Ordination, when men that are of equal Authority have the Nomi- nation of the Perfon. Now whether or no he that ordaineth an Inferior as a Dea- con, or any other, do convey Authority by a proper Efficiency, as having that firfi: in himfelf which he dodi Convey; yet in the Ordination of Equals, it Teems not to be fo, tor they have no Government over the particular Perfons whom they Or- dain, or Churches to whom they Ordain them ; nor could they themlelves exercile that governing Power over that other Congregation, which they appoint another to ; lo that they leem to be but Caufts Morales, or fine quibus non, as he that lets the Wood to the Fire is of its burning, or as he that openeth you the Door is of your bringing any thing into the Houfe : So that if you will call the Ordainer of an Infe- rior caufam equivocam, and the Ordainer of an Equal, caufam uni'vocam, yet it is but as they morally and improperly caufe. The Third way of Mediating in the Nomi- nation of the Perlbn, is by the meerEledion of Inferiors, as the Apoftles did bid the Church o^ Hierufakm choofe outfeven Men whom they might conftirute Dea- cons. I have been tedious, perhaps, without need on this; but the Summ is this, that a fubordinate efficient Caule is no neceflary Medium for the conveyance of Power, if at all, yet not always (I mean a Perlbn) but ths Mediatio Signi Voluntatis Divina, may oft lerve without any more ; or plainly in leveral Cales, mediatio legu cum perfoua qualificatione may fufficc, fine mediatione judtcis. But to come cloler, where you lay (the written Word is no fit Medium) I anfwer, i. The written Word in cafe of a failing of Ordainers is a fufficient mediate Inllrument j but though Mumb. II. ATT E N T) t^'X, 1j though in [lio genere it be fufficjenc, yet other things muft concur in their kind aifo^ Viz,. For the Qualification of the Subject ,• whereof one is the efFed of Nkrui'e^ Art, and Grace, that is Abilities ; anotherof the Spirit, that is Willingncfs, vvl^ch may al(o be moved by other Caufes ; and the third of Providence, vix,. Oppo4ii*' nity. • 2. Magjftrates ConfHtution in the faid Cafe of Miniflerial failing, is-^ Ixn- ther Medium diftinft from Scripture. So that if Miniftersfail, Magiftrates ai'etfte'' Judges ; if both fail, the People have /;we regemine judicium difcretionis : Their Jadg- menc of Difcretion hath a fufficient Objed and Difcovery of Gods efficient Corilli- tUtion. I. In the Law, which is then the inftrumental Efficient. 2. Iri.thePei'-' fons Abilities. 3. His Willingrtefi. 4. The Peoples own Willingnef?. y. (Oppor- tunity. You add (the giving of Authority which we talk of is an Aftion termina- ted upon an Individuum in this A^e : But the Scripture meddles not with any of thi hdmiduums of thefe Times : Er^o) I fuppole by (meddles not with) you mean (ter- minateth it not on). The Ahfior^ which you knew I would deny, yod prove chuti (jf it do, either tjuoad nemm,' or i^uoad adjurtSlum aliud incomm'uvicabile, or per' defer ip-^ timem ) I unfv/eryferdcJcriftioheniabadJMBis, but it is not always neceffary ttirft' that they be incommunicable, at lead moit of them ; for God may poffibly pro- pound to the People more ihahone or two that may feem fit, and leave them to choofe, and (b their Choice ftiaU be the thing that makes the differeride, itid God thereupon convey the Power. 'You add (if the Word doit by defcription, itmuft" be by Ibme fuch Form of Words ; They that are thus and thrfs qualified may be Minifters of the Word : But there is no fuch Form : Er^ayi anfwer, I liippofe that by (Form) you mean, qtioad fenfwn, and not tjuoad verba. And then I fay, there is fuch a Sentence in the Law as this, If by (thus and thus Qualified) you in- clude all the Signs that were before exprefled. And beCauft we are now at the Quick, I will not put you off vvith the bare part of a Refpondenti But give you the Reafons of my denying your Minor. I firft fuppofe it granted, thar God hath in his Law detepmined i. T>e genere, that there (hall be Minifters. 2. De fpcie^ that there fliall be fuch forts of Minifters in his Church, and that not only ^uoad nomsn^ but quoad defiiitionem, & d'tff'ereniiam confiituti'vam, that is the N.itiire of tlieir Work and Powers the Objeft about which, and the end to which it is to be employed, 3. That the Pbrlbns aredefcribed from their neceflary Qualificatir ns, who fhal! be Subjects of this Form, i Tim. ;. Tit. r. and in other Places. 4. That all that is now left to be done is but to judge and determine of the particular Peribn, who is raolt capable of this Form, .ind lb far to be the Medium of his receiving the Pow- eti 5'. That this Judgirig and Determination muft be per fjgna, from' the Perfbns' Qjialificatihns, agreeing to the Rule. 6. That God hath made Ecclefihftical Offi- cers the :ordihalfy authoritative Judge? of this Qiieition, Who-is the qualified Per- ibn .'' Thos nlifch I conjedure that we are agreed in ; fo that the Form in the Law is nbt'only, i THey that Preaciv^he Word, Ihall be thus and thus qualifiecf/^'but:: ['Met* thus aii'd thus qualified-j^w// be' appointed to Preach the Word: J Now that' Which I a^iVtO'prove is, that the firft part- bf the Conftitution remains ift forcfc' (that tl^re //w// be Minifters thus qualified) though the other Part, concerning thei- wjy dt'thett Ordination may '-ceale: and t^iat Magiftrates Defrgnation, or Peo- p:€6-Ele(^©n \xp6n the'difcerriing of the Qua'Tifieations is a fufficient Nomination of tire Perfoh :"-'ind fo God doth by his Lav*- eotivey the Power i% truly to the Perfbn thns-Nominated, as he doth to the Perfoh Nominated by a-Bilhbp ordiiiariiy : The f.yifta L'^w being God's 'only Inftrument'of this ConV^6yarice, whoever tiomi- nsttes.. "To this endl ftiall kydown divers Af^fements, and thbtigh I coiicludenoc ftill the ftn^e thing, you Ihall lee that ali^doth, ad iundem- Jcofum collimare ; aiKf that either the Obligation' to i^gular miniiberidl Ordination- nfiay-coale, or tliSt-aU Ways caafe nOc when that cealetb^ or that -the other ways are fufficient for Nomina- tion of the individual Perfon, ind fo of prefsiving the Eitiftence of the'Speeies,' for theie three^ra^the things to be proved. ■ '•' S'I< ■CeJJante'.tKateria cejj'atoblifatio, fed hie W ieftitt i/el dijfdri foteft Materia': ' Ergo^ The Mi/or Is |)aftqueltion : The A/