Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .B352 1835 v1

142 LIFE OF RICH. I ARD BAXTER. acting; but others, in the fever of their loyalty, hoped much from the gratitude of Charles, and trusted to the notion of his having learned wisdom from the fate of bis father,-and suffered themselves to be duped by the letters which his courtiers procured to be written from France and Holland commending his devotion and his zeal for the Protestant religion. "When I was at London," says Baxter, "the new parliament being called, they presently appointed a day of fasting and prayer for themselves. The house of commons chose Mr. Calamy, Dr. Gauden, and myself, to preach and pray with them at St. Marga- ret's, Westminster. In that sermon, I uttered some passages which. were afterwards- matter of some discourse. Speaking of our dif- ferences, and the way to heal them, I told them that whetherwe should be loyal to our king was none of our differences. In that, . we were all agreed ; it being not possible that aman should be true to the Protestant principles, and not be loyal; as it was impossible to be true to the Papist principles, and to be loyal. And for the concord now wished in matters ofchurch government, I told them it was easy for moderate men to come to afair agreement, and that the late reverend primate of Ireland andmyself had agreed in half an hour. I remember not the verywords, but you may read them in the sermon, which was printed by order of the house of com- mons." " The next morning after this dayof fasting, the parlia- ment unanimously voted home the king." "The city of London, about that time, was to keep a day of solemn thanksgiving for General Monk's success ; and the lord mayor and aldermendesired me to preach before them at St. Paul's church ; wherein Ì so endeavored to show the value of that mercy, as to show, also, how sin andmen's abuse might turn it into matter of calamity, and what shouldbejight bounds and qualifications of that joy. The moderate were pleased with it; the fanatics were offended withme for keeping such a thanksgiving; and the dioce- sanparty thought I* did suppress their joy. The words may be seen in the sermon ordered to be printed. "But the other words about my agreement with Bishop Usher, in the sermon before the parliament,put me to most trouble. For presently many moderate Episcopal divines came to me to know what those terms ofour agreement were. And thinking verily that others of their party hacr been as moderate as themselves, they entered upon debates for our general concord; and we agreed as easily among ourselves in private, as if almost all our differences were at an end. Among others, I had speech about it with Dr. Gauden, who promised to bring Dr. Morley and many more of that party to meet with some of the other party at Dr. Bernard's lodgings. There came none on that side but Dr: Gauden and Dr.

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