Baxter - BX5207 B3 A2 1696

278 The LIFE of the LÌB;Ì of any Words in the Alteration, if there were any difference, that is, BithopMor- dey, Bithop Hinchman, Dr. Reignolds, and Mr. Calamy, and if they difagreed, that the Earl ofAnglefey and the Lord Hollis Ihould decide it. As they went out of the Room, I cold the Earl of Anglefey, That we had no other bufneß there that day but the Cloches peaceand welfare, and I wouldnot have been the Man that 'bead bave done fo mncb againft it as he had done that day, far more than he was like to get by it : ( for being called a Presbyterian, he had fpoken more for Prelacy than we expected): And I think by the Confequent that this laying did fome good ; for when I aber found the Declaration amended, and asked him how it came to pats, he intimated to me that it was hisdoing. § Ira. And here youmay note by the way, the fathion of.thefe Times,and the Bate of the Presbyterians: Any Man that was for a Spiritual ferious way of Wor_ -fhip ( though he were for moderate Epifcopacy and Liturgy ), and that lived ac- cording to his Profeffion, was calledcommonly a Presbyterian, as formerly he was called a Puritan, unlefs he joyned himfelf to Independents, Anabaptifis, or tome other Sedt which might afford him a more odious Name. And of the Lords, he that was for Epifcopacy and the Liturgy, was called a Presbyterian , if he endeavoured to procure any Abatement of their Impofitions, for the Reconciling of the Par- ties, or the eafe of the Minitlers and People that difliked them. And of the Mi. nifters, he was called a Presbyterian that was for Epifcopacy and Liturgy, if he con- formed not fo far as to Subfcribeor Swear to the Englifh Diocefan Frame, and all their Impofitions. I knew not of any one Lord at Court that was a Presbyterian; yet were the Earl of Manchefler ( a goodMan ) and the Earl of:Anglefey, and the Lord Hollis called Presbyterians, and as fuch appointed to diredt and help them : when I have heard them pleadfor moderate Epifcopacy and Liturgy my felt; and they would have drawn us to yield further than we did. § r t;. And if ever any hereafter (hall fay, That at King Charles the Second's Relloration, the Presbyterian Caufe was pleaded, and that they yielded to all that was in the King's Declaration, I leave it here on Record to the Notice of Pofterity, that to the bell of my knowledge the Presbyterian Caufe was never fpoken for, nor were they ever heard to petition for it at all: for the red cf the Minifters who carnenot to us, late Pill, and laidnothing; and for my íe1, I ever profeffed myJudgment to be fo far forEpifcopacy, Liturgy, &c. as I have expref fed in my fifth Difputation for Church-Government, and I drew on this Treaty, not as a Presbyterian, but as a Reconciler : and for Mr. Calamy, he pleadedfor no more than I did, whatever his Judgment was ; only at' the Meeting before the King, he pleaded well that the words Bifhops and Presbyters are in Scripture of the fame fignification, and that they differ butgradu, not ordine, which abundance of Epifcopal Men alto hold, as did BithopUfber, and even many Schoolmen , and other Papifts. And as for Dr. Rrignolds,. he was always of Mr. Stillingfleet's mind ( as, I have heard ,him profefs,) That no.Form of Church -Government is determi- ned of in the Word ofGod, but it is variable as occafion requireth. And as for Mr, Aßs, though he was a Presbyterian, yet that good Man being all for Holinefs, and Heaven, and Peace, and, being no Difputer, he went alongwith us, and fpake forno more than we did. Never did we write or (peak a word (that I knew of, who was alwayswith them) for Ruling Elders, nor for the Government of Sy- nods or Presbyteries without Bilhops or hated Prefdents, nor agairift Liturgy in general, nor againft Holydaysin general, nor againft Kneeling at the Sacrament ( but only againft the rejeshing thofe from the Churches-Communion who dare not kneel, as fuppofing it Idolatrous ); nor for any one thing which is proper to Presbytery : Inlòmuch that when they hill fuppofed us to plead for Presbytery, in one Paper I drew up an Enumeration of abundance of Particulars which we never pleaded for, which the Presbyterians ufually hold, and !hewed that we ne- ver medld with their proper Caufe, partly becaufe we were not all of a mind our felves ip every fatafi matter ; and partlybecaufe we knew fuch a Plea would not now be heard ; and partly becaufe we took thofe Terms to be infufficienefor the Churches Union, nor would our felves lay its Concord on fo narrow a Foun- dation. But Mr. Calamy would not let it pats, becaufe it might offend the Presby- terian Brethren, who expected more from us, § t14. But to return to the Hiltory: When I went out from the Meeting on WM. 22. I went dejedted, as being fully fatisfied, that the Form of Goverment in that Declaration would not be Satisfadtory, nor attain thatConcord which. was ourend, becaufe the Pa(tors had no Government of the Flocks ; and I was refol- ved to meddle no more in the Buftnee, but patiently buffer With other Diffenters: Bae,

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