284. 1 he L I FE of the LIB.I_ of Coventry and Licbfeld, which they both ( after 'tome time) refufed: And, as I heard, Mr. EdwardBowles was offered the Deanery of York (at leaf}) which he re- futed, (and not long after died of the thane). § 128. When the King's Declaration was patted, we had a Meeting with the Minigers ofLondoncalled Presbyterian ( that is, all that were neither Prelatical, nor of any other Soft) io confutt with them about their returning Thanks to the King for his gracious Declaration; that fo it might appear that mofe that were not with us were thankful for it, as well as we. At the firft Meeting theCity Mi- nifters firft voted their Thanks to be given to us for our Labours in procuring it Nemine contradicente : But old Mr. Arthur 5'ackfen (a very worthy Man) and Mr. Crofton, fpake againR returning Thanks to theKing : Not that they werenot truly thankful; but becaufe theirThanks, would lignifiean approbation of Billions and Archbifhops which they had covenanted againft. This I undertook to confute, by proving, that the Bilhops and Archbishops in the King'sDeclaration are not ejuf dens) oeiei with what they were before : And thatthere is the fameName, but not the tame Thing ; and withal by proving that the Covenant did not meddle againR all Bifhops and Archbilhops, but only chofeof theEnglifh Dioceffn Species: And that there was a Specifical Difference, I proved, in that by theKing's Declarati- on theEflbntiall at leali of Church-Government is reffored to the Paftors, whereas before the Pastors had noGovernment; and this altereth all the Frame, as much, as if you let the Foundation-Walls, and Roof of your Houfehand, and all that is vifiblewithout, but within you pull down thePartitionsand turn it intoa Church. For before every Bishop was the lowelt and tole Governour ( with his Court and Confilfory) of many hundredChurches : and now everyPallor is the lowelt Go- vernour of his Flock, and the Bithop is but the Superiour Governour of the lower Governours and the Flocks: and indeed are all Archbilhops, though they have the Nameof Bishops Rill. Moli of the Minifters were fatisfied, but to me re- mained unfatisfied to the end. § xz9. But at the next Meeting, thofe that were fatisfied refolved upon Thankf- giving to the King, and they drew up this following Writing. To the King's molt Excellent Majefty : The humble and grateful Acknowledgment of nsany Miniflers of the Gofÿel in and about the City of London, to his Royal Majefly for his gracious Concefons in his Majesty's lateDeclaration con- cerning EcclefafticalAffairs. MittDread Savereaign.' E your Majelty's molt Dutiful and Loyal Subjeáts, Minigers of the Go- fpel in your City of London, havingperufed your Majelly's late Declarati- on concerning Ecclefialfical Affairs, and finding it to the joy of our hearts, fo ` full of Indulgence and graciousCondefcenfion, we cannot but judge our felves ' highly obliged, in the firft place to render our unfeigned Thanks to our good God, who hath to mercifully inclined your Majelly'sRoyal heart to this Mode- ` ration, and next our molt humble and hearty Acknowledgments unto your Sa- cred Majefty, that we may teffifie to your Royal Self,and all the World,our juft Refentment of your Majelly's great Goodnefs and Clemency therein expreífed. May'it pleafeyour Majeffy, The Liberty of our Confeienees and the free Exercife of our Miniliry in the Work of our Great Lordand Maffer, for theConverfion of Souls, ought to be, and are more dear to us, than all theProfits and Prefermentsof this World ; and ' therefore your Majefty's Tendernefs, manifefted in thefe fo high Concernments, ' doth wonderfully affect us, and raise up our Hearts to an high pitch of Gra- ' titude. Wo
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