306. The LIFE of the LIB.I. Acquaintancewith each others Minds,. which might facilitate our Concord. But the Bilhóp of London refolutely infilted on it, not to do any thing, till we brought in all our Exceptions, Alteration and Addition at once. In this I confefi, above all things elfe, I was wholly ofhis Mind, and prevailed with my Brethren to content; but! conjerSture, upon contrary Reafons, For I fuppofe he thought that we fhould either bealtogether by the Ears, and be of leveral Minds among our felves, at leaf} in our new Forms ; or that when our Propofals and Formscame to be fcanned by them, they Ihould find as much Matter ofException ogainf ours, as wedidagainft theirs; or that the People of our Perfualion would be diffatisfied or divided about it : And indeed our Brethren themfelves thought either all, or muchof this would come to pats, and our Difadvantage would be exceeding great. But F told them the Reafons of my Opinion : x. That we Ihould quickly agree on our Exceptions, or offer none but what we were agreed on. z. That we were engaged to offer them new Forms ( which was the Expedient which from the Beginning I had aim- ed at and brought in, as the only way ofAccommodation, confidering that they should be in Scripture Words, and that Minilters Ihould choofe which Forms they would.) a. That verbal Difputes would be managed with mitch more Contention. 4. But above all, that elfeour Caufe would never be well underltood by our Peo- ple, or Foreigner.}, or Pofìerity ; but ourConference andCauf would be mifreported and publilhed as the Conference at Hampton-Court was to our Prejudice, and none durf contradict it. And that what we fatd for our Cauf, would this way come fully and truly to the Knowledge of England and of other Nations ; and that if we refufed this Opportunity of leaving upon Record our Teftimony againft Cor- ruptions, for a jult and moderate Reformation, we were never like to have the like in haftagain. And upon thefeReafons I told the Bifhops that we accepted of the Task which they impofed on us; yet fo as to bring all our Exceptions at one time, and all our Additions at another time, which they granted. § 172. When we`were withdrawn, it pleated our Brethren prefently to divide { the undertaken Work: The drawing up of Exceptions againff the Common-Prayer, they undertook themfelves, and were to meet from day to day .for that end: The drawing up of the Additions or new Forms they impofed upon me alone, becaufe I had been guilty of that Defign from the beginning, and of engaging them in that piece of Service (and fume of them thought it would prove odious to the Inde. pendents, and others who are againit a Liturgy as fach) : Hereupon, I departed from them, and came among them no more tilt I had finilhed my Task ( which was a Fortnight's time). Myleifure was too (host for the doing of it with that Accuratenefi, (which a Bulnefs of that Nature Both require) or for theconfulting with Men or Authors: I could not Kaye time to make ufeofany Book, fave the Bi- ble and'tny Concordance ( comparing all with the Affemblies Direáory, and the Book of Common-Prayer, andHammond L'Effrange.) And at the Fortnight's end I brought it to the other CommifBoners. § 173 And here for the better understanding of this Work, I muff give the Reader rhefe few Advertilements. t. That one of my chief Reafonsfor the doing of. this Workwas, that if real- ly the Declaration Were in force and executed, our Brethren that fcrupled theufe of the Common Prayer, might have the Liberty of Ming fuck Forms taken out of the Word of God, which they need not Scruple. a. And another was, That the Nation might fee that in our Defiles of reforming the Liturgy we were not for none, or for a worfe. 3. That it might be àftanding Witnefs to Pofterity, bothagaini the Sectarians, whowould have all Reformers tun into Extreams, andagainst our Slanderrers who would make the World believe that we do ruts into Extreams, 'and are again}} all I iturgies, and a Record that once filch a thing was propofèdwhich we could our lèlves agreee in. 4. I made it an Moire Liturgy, but might not call it fo, becaufe our Committal required us to call it Addirienrto, or Alteration of the Book ofCommon:Prayer. p. I put in the Direblive Part called Rubricks, that the reft might not be unintel ligthle, and the whole defeltive. 6. 1 put in the Forms and Order of .pifcipline, partly becaufe elfe we fhould never have had Opportunity therein to exprefsour Minds ; and partlybecaufo indeed it belonggeth to the Integrity of the Work, and tofhew the difference between their l;ind,óf Difsipline in ChancellorsCourts, and ours by Palors in Chriltian Con- go-egátions. 7. Note
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