Part lit. `Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. . 6. By [Endeavouring] here he únderfandeth only .[unlawful endeavouring] 2nd notPetitioning, or other lawful means : whereasthe Word in the Oath, is abfo- Iute and unlimited ; And I cannot be fo boldas to Swear [not to endeavour] and fe- cretly mean [ except it beby petitioning, or other lawful means] for no fober Man will think, that we may do it by unlawful means, ifhe know them to be fo : And the old.Et cetera Qáth, in 1640. (the Antecelfor ofthis) had [ hot confentingj which could notbe fo limited. And further, it feemsplain, that this cannot be their Senfe, becaufe it is equally applyed to both Governments in the Oath (fave thatthe Church -Government is put firth: ) And who dare fay, that this is the meaning, as to the Government of the -State [Iwill not endeavour the depofing of the King, or the change of Monarchy, unlefs it be by lawful means.]-Whereas the Oath feemeth to me; that it is never tobe done- at all; and no means is lawful for filch anAid : And thereforewe mull fo under - Itand it, as tothe Diocefanes too ; if we will not Swear abfolutely, or univerfally, and mean limitedly, and particularly, yea, and limit, andnot limit the fare Word, as refpefting the feveral Governments, without any colour from the Terms. 17. Lastly, When the Oath Sweareth us [not at any time to.endeavour] which is as plainly an Exclulve of Exceptions as to Time, as canbriefly be tattered, he thinketh that by [ any time] is,meant, [any time, except when the King(hallcommand me the contrary, or the Lawfoal change, &c.] Nowwhen fo much violence mutt be ufed with the Words of filch an Oath, and whenthe Impofers will not (after many Years knowledgeof our Doubts and Diffi- culties) make them any plainer ; and fo whenthey are at the beth to us fo unintelli- gible, and no Lawyer, nor Parliament, that we can fpeak with, can refolveus ; but all the Anfwer we can get from the ParliamentMen,is [You muff understand it in the proper, ufuai Senfe of the Words:] And from the Lawyers, [ An unlawful Commi¡fion is none, and lawful Endeavours are not forbidden] who cantake filch an Oath in Judgment and llprightnefs of Heart, that is fatisfied in the Points fore- mentioned? § zo. The Aft whichImpofeth this Oath, openlyaccufeth the Nonconformable Minilbers (or fame of them) of Seditious Do(trine; and fuch hainous Crimea :' wherefore when it firtt came out, I thought that at fuch an. Accufation no Innocent Perfons fhould be filent; efpeciatly when Papishs,. Strangers, and Pofterity may think, That a Recorded Statute is a fuf lcient Hifhory toprove us guilty ; and the Concernments of the Gofpel, and our Callings, and Men's Souls, are herein touch- ed : Therefore I drew up a Profefion of our judgment, about theCafe ofLoyalty andObedience to Kings andGovernours; and the Reafonswhy we refnfedthe Oath. But reading it to Dr. Seaman, and fume others wifer than my felt, they advifed me to cast it by, and tohear all in filent Patience; becaufe it was not poffibleto do it fo fully and fincerely, but that the malice of our Adverfaries would makean illufe ofit, and turn it all againfhour felves : And the wife Statefmenlaughedat me, for thinking that Reafon would be regarded by fuch Men as wehad todo with, and wouldnot exafperate them the more. § ai. After this, the Minitlers finding the preffure of this Aft fo great, and the lofs like to be fo greatto. Cities and Corporations, forceof them ftudied how totake the Oath lawfully: And Dr. Wil. Bates, being much in feeming,Favourwith the Lord-Keeper Bridgeman,,confultad withhim, who promifed tobeat the next Selllon, aad there on. the Bench to declare openly, That by [Endeavour.] to change the Church-Governmentwas meant[only lawfulEndeavour:]which fatisfying him,hethere- by fatisfiedothers,who toavoid the Imputationof SeditiousDoftrine,were willingto go as far as, they Burl' : And fo Twenty Minifterscamein at theSefGons, and took- the Oath, viz. Dr. Pates, Mr. Sam. Clarke Mr. Sheffield, Mr. Hall, or Mr. Church, Mr. Matth. Pool, Mr. Loot!, Mr. Stancliffe, Mr. Roles, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Smith, Mr. Arthur, Mr. Balboa, Mr:. Brooks, Mr. Overton, Mr. Batchelor, Mr. Cary, Mr. Butler, Mr. ElidIore, Mr. Hooker. And, not long after, Dr. acomb took it, ande Mr. Mayo, and Mr. Newtonoflaunton in Somerfetfhire, being then inLondon: Mr. kohn Howe in Devonfbire; and in Soraerfetíbire, Mr. William Thomas, Mr. Cooper of Southmark (then there.:) And in NortbarnVtonfhire, Dr. Conant (late RegiusProfeffor of Divinity, and Vice-Chancellor in Oxford) and about Twelve morewith him:- I heardof nome-,: e Nonconfin milts that took it. § aa. Dr.
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