156 LIFE Or RICHARD BAXTER. of that work, that we might rejoice in our desired -concord. At last Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Calamy were authorized to name the persons on that side to manage the treaty; and a-commission was granted under the broad seal to the persons nominated on -both sides. I entreated Mr. Calamy and Dr. ,Reynolds to leave me out; for, though I much desired the expedition ofthe work, I found that the last debates had made me unacceptable with my supe- riors, and this would much more increase it, and other men might be fitter who were much less distasted. But I could, not prevail with them to excuse me." Twelvebishops were 'appointed on one side ; and as manyof the leading Presbyterian ministers on the other, including Reynolds, Calamy, and Baxter; with nine assist- ants on each side, among whom, on the Presbyterian side, were menof no less note than.WilliamBates and John Lightfoot. " A meeting was appointed," says Baxter, in his 'account of this affair,' "and the Savoy, the bishop of London's lodgings., named by them for the place." "The commission being read, the archbishop,of York, a peaceable man, spake first, and told us that he knew nothing of the business, but perhaps the bishop of Lon- don knew more of the king's mind in it, and therefore was fitter to speak in it than he. The bishop of' London told us, that it was not they, hut we, that hadseen the seekers of this conference, and that desired alterations in the liturgy; and ,therefore, they had nothing to say or do, till we brought in all that we had- to say against it in writing,, and all the additional forms and alterations which we desired. Our brethren were -very much against this motion, and Urged the king's commission, which required us to meet together, advise, and consult. They told him that by con- ference we might perceive, as we went, what each would yield to, and might more speedily dispatch, and probably. attain, our end ; whereas, writing would be a tedious, endless business; and we should not have that familiarity and acquaintance with each other's minds, which mightfacilitate our concord. But thebishop of London resolutely insisted on it not to do any thing till we brought in all our exceptions, alterations, and additions, at once. In this I confess, above all things else, I was wholly of his mind, and prevailed with my brethren to consent; but, I conjecture, upon contrary reasons. For, I suppose, he thought that we should either be altogether by the ears, and beof several minds amongourselves, at least in our new forms ; or that when our proposals and forms came to be scanned by them, they should find' as much matter of exception against ours as we did against theirs ; or that the people of our persuasion would be dissatisfied or divided about it. And indeed our brethren themselves thought either all, or much ofthis, would come to pass, and our disadvantage would be exceeding
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