P AR T II. ReverendMr. Richard Baxter. $49 § 29. There were at that time, two forts of Epifcopal Men, who differed from each other, more than the more moderate fort differed from the Presbyterians. The one was the old common moderate fort, who were commonly in Dottrine Calvinifls, and took Epifcopacy to be neceffary ad beneeffe Miniflerü â Eeelefa', but not ad de; and took all thofeofthe Reformedthat had not Bifhops, for true Churches and Miniffers, wantingonly that which they thought would make them more com- pleat. Theother fort followed Dr. H. Hammond, and ( forought we knew) were very new, and very few : Their Judgment was (ashe afferteth in Annat. in Att. u. & in Defertat.) that all theTexts of Scripture which 1peak of Presbyters, do mean Bifhops, and that the Office of Subjett.Presbyters was not in the Church in Scripture Times, ( but before Ignatius wrote it was ) but that the Apoftles planted in every Church only a Bishop with Deacons, but with this intent (afferred but never proved) that in time, when the Chriflians multiplied, theft Bifhops ( that had then but one Church a piece ) fhould ordain Subjet- Presbyters under them, and be the Paftors of mafiy Churches : And they held that Ordination without Bishops was invalid, and a MiniftryYoordainedwas null, and the Reformed Church- es that had no Bifhops, nor Presbytersordained by Bishops, were no true Church- es, though theChurch ofRome be a true Church, as having Bifhops : Thefe Men inDo&trine were filchas are called Arminian : And though the other fart were more numerous and elder, and tome of them raid that Dr. H Hammond had given away their Cade ( becaufe hereby he confeffeth that de fella, the Churches were but Congregational or Parochial, and that Every Church had a Bilhop, and no Subjeâ Presbyters were ordained by the Apoftles, or in Scripture time, which is almóft all that the Presbyterian delire) yet Dr. H. Hammond and the few that at firft followed him, by their Parts and Intereft in the Nobility and Gentry, did car- ry it at last against the other Party. Now in my Chriflian Concord, I had confef- fed that it was only the moderate ancient Epifcopal Party which I hoped for Agreement with ; it being impoflible for the Presbyterian and Independant Party to affociate with them that take them and their Churches, and all the reformed Minifiers and Churches that have not Epifcopal Ordination, for null : And know- ing that this Opinion greatly tended to the Divifion of the Chriltian Churches, and gratifying the Papifls, and offending the Proteflants, I fpake freely against ir, which alienated'that party fromme. Having fetled our Affociations Dr. Warmerflry ( after Dean of Worcefer) and Dr. Thomas Good ( after Prebend of Hereford) were willing to have a Conference with us, in order to bring in the Epifcopal Party in Shrapfhire ( where they then lived ) to our Affociation : Accordingly we met with them at Clcobury in Shrop- fhire ; and our Articles were read over by Dr. Warmerflry, and examined one by one, and in the conclufion they profeffed their very good likeing of our Delign, and that they purpofed to join with us, but they thought it not meet at that pre- lent, being but two, to fubfcribe their full Affent left it should feem over hafty to their Brethren, and fhould hinder the Affociation, which they Defrred to promote: But yet at prefent they fubfcribed as followeth : Sept. 20. 1651. g ;o.TX E whofe Names are under written, having badConference with divers ofour // Brethren of the MinifsryofWorceiletíhire, concerning their Agreement and Ajciation, for the promoting of Peace and Unity, and Reformation of their refpetlive Congregations, according to the Wordof Gad, do by theft Prefents approve of theirChri- flian Intendments in the general, as being fisch that in Reference to theprefent Condition of the Church, we conceive to conduce very much to the Glory of God, the Promotion of Hoynefs, the reflraint of Sin, the removing of Scandal, and the f tling of God's People in Cbrifüan Unity andConcord. Wotnefs our Hands, the Day andTear above written, THO. WARMESTRY. THO. GOOD. ('This is that Dr. Warmeflry, who, when I was filenced by Bifhop Morley, and he made Deanof Woroefter, came purpofely to my Flock, to preach thole vehement tedious Inveetives of which more hereafter. ) 31. In our Affociation we agreed upon a MonthlyMeetingat certain Market- Towns for Conference about fuch Cafés of Difcipline as required Confultation and
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