PART IL ReverendMr. Richard Baxter. 3¢4 We conclude with the Repetitionof our moreeameft Requeff,That thefe wifeand moderate Propofals may be profecuted, and all things be abated us which we have proved, or fhall prove to becontrary to the Word of God. But if we agree not on thefe things among our felves according to his Majefty's Commiffion,the World may know we did our parts. When the Liberty of ufing the Alterations and Additional Forms which were offered to you according to his Majefty's Declaration, would end all our Differen- ces about MattersofWorlhip: Andwhenyou have had themin your handsfo long, lince you called for them, and have nor, notwithftanding the Importunity of our Requefts, vouchfafed us any Debates upon them, or Exceptions againft them, but are pleafed to lay them by in filence ; We once more propofe to you, Whether the granting of what you cannot blame, be not now the Ihorteft and the fùreft Way to a general Satisfaction. Notehere, That I offered to my Brethren two more Particulars as contrary to the Word of God : which were, a. That none may have leavein Publick Worfhip to ufe a more fuitable orderly way ; but all are confined to ráú Liturgy,which is fodeft tiveand diforderly(which we are even now ready tomanifelt ifyou will receive it.) 2. That none may be a Minifterof the Gofpel that dare not fubje& himfelf by an Oath of Obedience, to theDiocefans in that State of Government which they exercifed in this Land, (contrary to the pra&ice of all Antiquity). Thefe Ten Things I offeredas contrary to the Word of God , but the two Bre- thren with me thought thefe two laft were better left out, left they oceafion new pebatesi though they judged them true. § aog. When I read and delivered thefe - Papers, the Bifhops were much difplea- fed, that I (hould charge fo many things on theChurch as Sin, : Where you may note themarvellous ofcitancy of thefe men, that when they had treated with us fo long, and received fo many large Exceptions and Replys, and in all had heard us open the finfulnefs of their way, they fhould yet imagine that we had accufed their way but of inexpediency, and think to gratifie themlelvesby fuch a poor de- vice. But their main defign was to divide us, while they fet us upon diftinguifh- ing all their fair from their inexpedience,; and they thought that one would take that for inexpedient only, whichothers took to be fin. And they confidered not that we were now treating what Ihould be impofd, and nor what Ihould be obeyed if it were impofed : and that we would chargeSin upon their Impofition,,in many points which might lawfully be done when Impofed, rather than to forfake the Churches. And ifI did the Church any Service in all thefe Debates, it was principally by fru- ftrating their evil defign, of dividingus ; fo that all the Snares that ever they could lay for us, never procured them juff advantage, once truly to fay, that we dif- agreed among our felves. For though there were enow at adiftance,who could not have agreed to all that we did, yet we fo far left them out ( though to the difplea. fare both of thePrelatills and them, that nodifcord was found in any of our Pro- pofals or Debates ) : which cut fame of them more to the heart, than all that elfe we did to their difpleafure. 4 209. By this time, our frequenttrolling of their Expedtations, I fawhad made fome of the Bifhops angry : above all Bithop Morley, who over-ruled the whole bufinefs, and did interefs himfelf in it deeplier than the reff, and was of a hotter Spirit and a readier Tongue. Bur that which difpleafèd themmoth was the freedom ofmy Speeches to them, that is, that I fpake to them as on terms of Equality as to the Caufe; yet with all honourable Titles to theirForfons : For I perceived that they had that eminencyof Power and Interell, that the greateft Lords were glad of their favour, did expe& that the prefence of fo many of them fhould have awed us into fach a filence, or cowardlinefs, as fhould have betrayed our Caufe; or at leaft that their Vehemency, and Pallions, and Interruptions Ihould haveput usout of Countenance : But I intreated them to give us leave , with the due honour of their Perlons, to ufe that neceffary liberty of Speech to them, as hefeemed fuchas are very confident that they plead for the Caufe of God, and the happinefs and healing of a bleeding Church, and that uponthe warrant of the King's Commiffr- on : And I muff fay, that though they frowned at my freedom ofSpeech, they ne- ver once accufed meof anyunmannerly or unreverent Language.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=