4.3o The L l FE of the L a B. I, why thePapifs shouldnot haveLiberty of Worfhip as well as others ; and that it was better for them to have it, than forall us to go without it. But the Presbyte- rians Rill anfwered to that motion, That the King might himfelf do what he plea. fed : and if his Wifdom thought meet to give Liberty to the Papilts , let the Pa- pigs petition for it as they did for theirs : But if it be expe&edby any that it (hall be forcedupon them, to become Petitionersfor Liberty for Popery, they thould'no. ver do k, whatever be the'iffue : Nor !hall it be faid to be their work.. § 418. On the 26th of Decemb. (1662.) the King fent forth a Declaration, ex- pre(Bng his purpofe to grant fome Indulgence or Liberty in Religion * a. The Declaration for Li- ( with other matters) not excluding the Papilts, many of whom betty . Nextthe wasforokrreed to baddefervedfo well of him '. When this came out the eje&ed be added to the Declaration of Minifters began to think more confidently of fome Indulgence Ecclefiaftical Affairs gave them to themfelves : Mr. Nye alto,- and fome others of the Indepen- the free Exercife of their Reli- dents, were encouraged to go to the King, and when they carne goon. 3. The forefaid Motionnext back, told us, That he was now refolved to give them Liberty. it. On the g y Second of anuary Mr.Nyecame to me,to treat aboutour 4. This Declaration Dec. s6. owning the King's Declaration, by returning him Thanks for it ; sfSa.expretly promiYedit them. and I perceived that it wasdefigned that we mutt be the Deft. s Our Treaty after fer on revs or Procurers of it : But I told himm Refolutions to meddle foot by theLord Keeper Bridg- no more in filch Matters, having incurred already fo much ha- man woidd have offered itthem g And by breakingall thefeoffers, }red anddif leafure by endeavouring Unity : And theyell of the we are our &Ives in our prefent Minigers altohad enough of it, and refolved that theywould not afflidted Rate. meddle : fo that Mr. Nye and his Brethren, thought it partly long of us that they miffof their intended Liberty. But all were averfe to have any thing to do with theIndulgence or Toleration of the Papigs, thinking it at leaft unfit for them. § 4t9 The Independent Brethren alfo told me, That the Lord Chancellorhad told them that their Liberty was motioned before when the King's Declaration carne out, and that we fpake againf it, even I by name. But when I told them what words I fpake (before recited) they had no more tofay: But now they grew greatly affe&edto the E. of B. (a Papilt) thinking that the King's Declaration wasprocured byhim, and that he and the Papifts mug be the means (for their own ends)to procure our Liberty: But the Declaration tooknot at all with thePar- liament or People, and theE. of B. fetting himfelf againf the Lord Chancellor (accufinghim by Articles of High Treafon in the Lord's Houfe),was cagoffby the King as an Incendiary, and forc'd to hide his head. § 420. Good old Mr. Simeon Afb was buried the very aven of Bartholomewday, and went feafonably to Heaven at the very time when he was to be call out of the Church. He was one ofour oldeft Non-conformiffs (of theold Strain ; for now Conforming is quite another thing than before the Wars): He was a Chriftian of the Primitive Simplicity : not made for Controverfte, nor inclined to difputes, but ofa holy Life, and a cheerful mind, and of a fluent Elegancy in Prayer , full of Matter and Excellent Words : His ordinary Speech washoly and edifying : Being confined much to his Houfe by the Gout ( and having a good Efate, and a very good Wife, enclined to Entertainments and Liberality) his Houfe was very much . frequented by Minifters : Hewas always cheerful, without profufe Laughter or Liberty, or vain Words : never troubled with doubtings of his Interef in Chrift, but rafting thecontinual Love of God, was much difpofed to the Communicating of it to others, and Comfortingdeje&ed Souls: His eminent Sincerity madê him exceedinglyloved and honoured; infomuch as Mr. Garaker, Mr. Wbittaker, and o- eher the molt excellentDivines ofLondon, when they went to God, defired him to preach their Funeral Sermons: He was zealous in bringing in the King; ha- ving been Chaplain to the Eatl of Mancheo'erin the Wars, he fell under the oblo- quy ofthe Cromwellian, for crofling their DDefigns : He wrote to Col. Sanders, Col. Barton, andothers in the Army whenG, Monk came in, to engage them for the King. Having preachedhisLe&ure in Gambill, being heated, he took cold in the Vefry, and thinking it would have proved but one of his old fits of the Gout, he went to Highgate; but it turned to a Fever : He died as he dived , in great Congo lation, and cheerful Exercife of Faith, moleftedwith no Fears or Doubts difcern- able : exceeding glad of the Company ofhis Friends: and 'greatly encouraging all about him, with bis joyfulExpreliions in refpe& of Death, and his approach. ingChange,- fo that no Mancould feem to bemore fearlefs of it. When he had at lag lain fpeechlefs for force time, as foon as I carne to him, gladnefs fo excited hisSpirits, that he fpako joyfully and freely of his going to God to thofe about him :
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