Fart III. Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 2 breaking and impoverilhing of many Thoufands bythe burning of the City, toge- ther with the lamentableweaknefs and badnefs of great Numbers of the Minifters that were put into the Nonconformih'splaces, did turn the hearts of the molt of the Common people in all parts againft the Bps. andtheir ways, and enclined them to the Nonconformifts, tho fear refrainedmen from fpeakingwhat they thought , e- fpecially the richer fort. § 59. Here Ralph Wails a Gabler of Glocefter publilhed a book containing the Names and partieular hiftoriesof a great Number of Conformable Minifters, in fe- veral Parithes of England, that had been notoriouliy fcandalous, and named their fcandals, to the great difpleafure of the Clergy ; And I fear to the great temptation of riany of the Nonconformifts, tobe gladof other Mensfin, as that which by ac- cident might diminith the intereft of the Prelatifs. § do. The Lord Mohune, a youngman, gave outfome words,which cured a Com- mon Scandal inCourt and Cityagainft the Bp.of Rothefter, as guiltyof molt obfcure Aftions with the faid Lord ; the reproach whereof was long the talkof many forts of perfons, who then took libertyto fpeak freely of the Bithops. § 61. About this lime (yen. 1668.)) the news came of the Change in Portugal, where by no means of the Queen, the King who was a debauched perfon (and Charg- ed byher of infufficiency or frigidity) was put out of his Government (tho not Igo Title, and his brotherby the confent of Nobles, was made Regent, and marryed theQueen, (after a Declarationof Nullity or a divorce) and theKingwas fent as a Prifoner intoan ]Hand, where he yet remaineth : Which News had but an ill found in England, as things went at that time. § 6z. In yan. 1668. I received a Letter fromDr. Manton that Sir ,5ohn Barber toldhim thatit wasthe LordKeeper's defireto fpeakwith him and me, about a Com- prehenfionandToleration : Whereuponcoming toLondon Sir gohn Barber told me that the Lord keeper fpake to him, to bring us to him for the aforefaid end, and that hehad certain propofals to offer us ; and that many great Courtiers were our friends in the bufinefs, but that to fpeak plainly, if we would carry it, we malt make ufe of fuch as werefor a Toleration of thePapifls alfo : Andhe demanded how we would anfwer theCommon Qleftion, What will fattefieyou ? I anfwered him, That other Mens Judgments and Afions about the Toleration of Papihs, we had nothing to do with at this time : though it was no work for usto meddle in. But to thisqueftion, wewere not fo ignorant whomwe had to dowith, astoexpert full fatisfafìion of our delires, as toChurch-Affairs : But the Anfwer muli be fuited to the Senfe of his Qieltion: And if we knew theirEnds, what degree of fatisfaction they were minded to grant, wewould tell themwhat means arenecetfary to attain them. There are degreesof fatisfaftion as to the Number of Perlons tobe fatisfi- ed; and there are divers degreesof fatisftyingthefamePerfon. i.If they will take in Orthodox, Peaceable, Worthy Minis1ers, the Termsmutt be thelarger. x. If they will take in but thegreater part, fomewhat lets andharder Termsmay do it. 3. If but a few, yet lefsmay ferve : for weare not fo vain as topretend that all Nonconfor- mifts are inevery particular of one mind. And as to the Presbyterians nosy focalled, whofe Cafe alone wewere called to confi- der, a . If they would fatisfie the far greateft part of them inanhigh degree, fo as they fhouldthinkthe Churches fetled ina goodcondition ; the granting of what was defired bythem in 166o. would do it, which is the fellingof Church- Government ac- cording to that of A. Bp. Vfher`sModel, and the granting of the Indulgences menti- oned in his Majeftie's Declaration, about Feelef. Affairs. 2. But if they wouldnot give fo high fatisfaltion, the Alterations granted in his Majeftie's Declaration alone, would fo farfatisfie them, as to make them very thankfulto his Majefty ; and not on- ly to exercife . their Office withChearfulnefs, butalto torejoice in the Kingdom'shap- pinefs, whofeUnion would by this be much promoted. 3. But if this may not be granted, at leali the takingoff all fisch impofitions, which make usuncapable of Ex- trollingour Miniltry, would bea mercy, forwhich we hope we Ihould not be un- thankful to God or the King. § 63. Whenwe came to the Lord Keeper, we refolvedto tell him,. That Sir John Barber toldus,his Lorcilhip defired to fpeakwith,us, left it fhouldbe after faid, that we intruded, or werethe movers of it, or left it had been Sir YohnBarber's Forward- nefs, that had beenthe Carafe. He told us why he fent for us, to think of a way of our Reforation ; to which end he had fomePropofalsto offer to us, which were for a Comprehenfion for the Presbyterians, and an Indulgencefor the Independents and the
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