Baxter - BX5207 B3 A2 1696

I04 The LiFEof the LIB.L told themof ArchbifhopUjher's Terms inhis Sermon before the King on Epb.4.3 but they wouldnot hear. TheLord Bacon inhis Third Ellay , andhis Conftderatioo, Mr.Hale,in his Treatife ofSchifm, and all men of found Experience and Wifdom, have longtold the World, that we mutt be united in things Neceffary, which all Chriftians agree in or which the Primitive Churches did unite in, or not at all: But nothing !hotter than the AffembliesConfefffon of Faith and Catechifms, and and Presbytery,would serve turn with fome. TheirPrinciples were that noothers Mouldbe tolerated;whichfet the Independants on contrivinghow to grafp the Sword! They werefull cryingout on the Magiftrate, that he was irreligious, for fuffering Seas, and becaufe he did not bringMen to Conformity : And now they cannot be tollerated themfelves, to preach, nor fcarce to dwell in the Land. The Uni- ting of theChurches uponthe Primitive Terms, and the tollerating ( not of all, but) of tollerable Differences, is the way to Peace, whichalmost all Men approvo of, except chore whoare oppermoft, and think they have the Reins in their own hands. And becaufe the fide which is uppermoff are they that have their Wills, therefore the Churches had never a fettled Peace this Thoufand years at leafi ; the true way of Settlement and Peace, being ufually difpleafing to them that muff give Peace to others : But tomway bath the mark of being the befk; in that it is the only way, which every Sea acknowledgefor the fecond,and next thebeft; and is it which all, except the predominantParty, liketh. But Wifdom is juftifigd of her Children. § 149. To confummate the Confufion, by confirming and increafing the Di- vision, the Independants at loft, when they had refuted with [efficient pervicacy to affociate with the Presbyterians ( and the Reconcilers too ) did refolve to thew their proper ftrength, and to call a General Affembly of all their 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 contradia St. James, and to fay (unlimitedly) That we are juflified by the Rghteoafneß of Chrift only, and not by any Works ; but they contradia- ed St. Paul alto, who faith, That Faith is imputed for Rigbteoafne. And not only fo, but they exprefly afferted, that [ we have no other righteorefnll ] but that of Chrift. A Doftrine abhorredby all the Reformed and Chriffian Churches ; and which would ban utter ,thane to the Proteltant Name, if what fach Men held and did were indeed imputable to the f.ber Proteftants. I asked fome honef Men that joyned with them, Whether they fahfcribed this Confeflion and they faid No. I asked them why they did not contradia it ; and they faid that the meaning of it was no more than that we have no other Righteoufnefs but Chrift's to be juJtj i'ed by So that the Independant's ConfefBons are like fach Oaths and Declarations , as fpeak one thing and mean another. Alfo in their Propofitions of Church Order , theywidened the breach, andmade things much worfe, and more unreconcile. able than ever they werebefore. So mach could two Men do withmany honest tradable youngMen, and had more Zeal forfeparating Striíïneß, than Judgment to underffand the Word ofGod, or the inure of the Churches of the Land , and of themfelves. § 159. But it hath pleafed God by others that werefometime of their way, to do more to heal this Breach, than they did to make it wider. I mean the Synod of New- England; who have publilhed fuch healing Propofitions about fIated Synods, andInfants Church Memberfhip, as bath much prepared for a Union between them, 't Mr. and all other moderate Men : ( And force ' One bath ftrenuoufly defended thofe Mrcixi,asPropofitions ágainf the oppnfstion of Mr. Davenport, a diffenting Brother ). I rts lard. take this to be more for healing than the SavoyPropofitions can be effeauai to di- And Once vide, becaufe the NewEngland men have not blemished their Reputation, nor loft thisMr.E1-the Authotit and Honour of their Judgments, by any filch A&ions as the leading 'jot of 3 g y y 2a,, Ong- Sawyer, have done. land hash femmea printed Paperof his own, contriving a Healing Form of Synods for conftant Communion of particular Clutches. § r5r. When the Army had brought themfelves and the Nation into utter Con- fufron, and had fëë up and pull'd down RichardCromwell , and then had fer upthe Rumpagain, and pull'd them down again, and fet up a Council of State of them- felves and their Fanion, and made Lambert their Head, next under Fleetwood, ( whom they could ufe almoll as they would) at lait the Nation would endure them no longer, nor fit Bill while the world flood laughing them to fcorn, as abhingover the Mien ffer Tragedy : Sir George Booth and Sir Thomas Middleton railed Forces in Chefbire and North-Wales : (but the Cavaliers that Ihould have joyned with them

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