334 177e LIFE ofthe I.IB. I, § 178. The fourth day of May, we had a meeting with the Bifhops, where we gave in our Paper of Exceptions to them ; which they received. § r79. The feventh day of May was a Meeting atSian-GoRedge of all the London Minifters, for the choice of a Prefident and A(Gftants for the next Year t where (Come of the Presbyterians upon a pettifh Scruple abfenting themfelves) the Dioce- fandParty carried it, and fo got the Poffeflion and Rule of the Colledge. § r80. The eighth day of May the new Parliament and Convocation fit down, being conftimtedof Men fitted and devoted to the Diocefan Intereft. § 18r. On the two and twentieth dayof May, by order of Parliament, the Na- tional Vow and Covenant was burnt in the Street, by the Hands of the common Hangman. § 182. When the.Brethren came to examine the reformed Liturgy, and had oft read it over, they part it at laut in the fame Words that I had written it, fave only that they put out a few Lines in the Adminiftration of the Lord's Supper, where the Word Offering was ufed ; and they put out a Page of Reafons for Infant Baptifh,, which had annexed to that Office, thinking it unneceffary ; and they put the larger Litany into an Appendix as thinking it too long; and Dr. Wallis was defired todraw up the Prayer for theKing, which is his Work (being after fome- what altered by us). And we agreed to put before it a fhört Addrefs to the Eifhops, profeffng our readinefs in Debates to yield to the Ihottningof any thing which Ihould be too long, and the alteringof any thing that Ihould be foundamifi. § 181. And becaufe I forefaw what was like to be the end of our Conference, I defired the Brethren that we might draw up a plain and earnelt Petition to the Bilhops,to yield to (uch Terms of Peace and Concord as they themfelves did confefs tobe lawful tobe yielded to : For though we are equals in the King'sCommilron, yet we are commanded by the Holy Ghoft, If it be poble, and as much as in as lietb to live peaceably with all men, Rom, ix. 18. and tofallowpeace with all men, Heb. au. 14. and if we were denied, it would fatisfyour Confciences, and juftify us before all the World, much more than if we only difputed for it : However we might this way have that opportunity to produce our Reafons for Peace, which elfe we were not like to have. 5 184. This Motion was accepted, and I was defired to draw up the Petition, whichI did, and it was examined, and with a Word or twoof Alteration confent- ed to. 18y. When we met with the Bifbops to deliver in thefe Papers, I was required to deliver them ; and if it were po(lible, to get Audience for the Petition before all the Company. I told them, thatthough wowere Equals in the prefent Work, and our appointedbufenell was to treat, yet we were confcious Ofour Place and Du- ty, and had drawn up a Petition to them, which, though fomewhat long, I 'nimbly craved their Confent that I might read it to them. Some were againit it, and f they would have been generally if they had known what was in it; but at laft they yielded to it : But their Patience was never fo put to it by us, asin hearing fo long, and ungrateful a Petition. When I had read it, Dr. Gunning beginneth a long and vehement Speech againft it : Towhich when became to theend, I replyed : But I was interrupted in the midi} of my Reply and was fain to bear it, becaufe they bad bean patient (withmuch ado) fo longbefore. t86. I delivered themthe Petition when I had readit, and with it a fair Copy of our reformed Liturgy, called [Additional Forms and Alterations] of theirs. And they received both, and fo we departed. Our fold Writings are too long to be here infected. 187. After all this, when the Bilhops were to have fent us twoPapers, one of their Concefhons how much they would alter of the Liturgy as excepted againit, and the other of their Acceptance of our offered Forms, or Reafonsagainft them, initeaia of both thefe, a good while after, they fent us fach a Paper as they did be- fore, of their Reafonings againft all our Exceptions, without any Abatements or Alterations at all that are worth the Naming. Our Brethren feeing what they were refòlved to bring it too, and how unpeaceably they managed the Bufinefs, did think heft to write them a plaits Anfwer to their Paper, and not to fupprefs it as we had dune by the Firlt. This Taskalfo they impofed onme, and L went out of.Town to Dr. Spur/law's Houk in Hackney for Retirement, where in eight Days time I drew up,a Reply to their Anfwer to our Exceptions; and the Bre- thren read it and contented -to it ; only wifhed that it had been larger in the lat- terend, where I had purpulely been brief, becaufe I had been too large igtthie be
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