Part III. 2Zeverend Mr. Richard Baxter. 63 142. $ I R, .. THE continuance of my Cold, which yet holds me, with thefverity ofthe Weathers hove hitherto hindred nu from anfwering my purpofe of coming unto youat Afton" but yet I hopeere long to obtain theadvantage ofenjoyingyour Company there for a Seafon In the mean time I returnyoumy Thanks for the Communication ofyour Papers ; andfhau on every occafion manifeft, that you have no occafion to quftion, whether I were in earneft in what I propofed, in reference to the Concordyou defagn. For the deftre ofit is continually upon myHeart, and to exprefs that defire on all occafion, I efteem onepart of that Pro- fefion of the Gofpel which I am called unto. Could I contribute any thing towards theAc- complJhment offa holy, fo necefrary a Work, I fhouid willingly fpend myfelf, and be fpent in it. For what you deftgn concerning your prefent Effay, I like it very well, both upon the Reafonsyou mention in your Letter, as alto that all theft who may be Willing and deft- row topromote fo hlef ed a Work, may have Copies by them to prepare their Thoughtsin re- ference to the whole. For the prefent, upon the Libertygranted inyour Letter ( ifI remember it aright) I fhaU tender you a few Quarries s which if they are ufelèf: or needlefs, deal with them ac= cordingly. As 1. Are not the Several: propofed or infifted on, too many for thisfirft Attempt? The general Heads I conceive are not ; but under them, very many Particulars are not only included, which is unavoidable, but expref/ed alto, which may toomuch dilatethe ori- ginal Con ideration ofthe whole. z. Tou exprefly exclude thePapilts, who will alfa fare enough exclude themfelves, and do, from any fuel) Agreement : But bave youdone the fame as to the Socinians, who are numerous, and ready to include themfelvesupon our Communion ? TheCreed, asexpoun- ded in the Four firfi Councils will do it. 3. Whether fume Exprefonsfuited topreventfuture Divifions and Separations, aftera Concord is obtained, may not at relent, toavoid all exafperation, be omitted, asfeeming reflellive on former Aliings, when there was no fach Agreement among us, as is now aimedat? 4. Whether infsfting in particular, on the power of the Magiflrate efpecially asunder civil Coercition and Punfhment, in cafes of Error or Heref :e, be necefJtary in thisfrft At- tempt? Theft Generals occurred to myThoughts, upon my firft reading ofyour Propofals. Iwill now read them again, andJet down, as I parson, fach apprehenftons inparticular, ae. Ihave ofthe Several: of them. To.thefirft Anfwer, under the firft Queftion, Iaffent ; foalto to thefin iPropofal, and the Explanation : f ikewlfe tothe fecond and third. I thought to haveproceeded thus through. out; but I ore-fee myfó doing would be tedious andu elefs ; Ifhau therefore mention only what at prefnt mayfeem to requirefecond Thoughts. As, o. To Propof. g. by chore Inftances [what Words to efe in Preaching, i¿. what Words to Pray, in what decent Habit] do you intend Homilies, prefcribed Forms of Prayer, and Habits fuperadded to thole ofvulgar decent ufe? Prefent Controverfes will fuggeft an efpecial Senfeundergeneral Expreffens. i. under Pof. t 3. Do you think a Manmay not leave a Church, and joynhimfelf to mother, unte/i it befor fach a Caere or Reafon, as hefuppofeth fufficient to deftroy the Be- ingof the Church ? I meet with this nowanfdered inyour i &h. Propol andfofhallfor- bear further particularRemarks, andpafs on. In your Anfwer to the Second Qa. Tour loth. Pofition bath in it fome.wht that will .admit of further conftderation, as I think. Inyour Anfwer to the 3d. Qu. haveyoufuf - jieien y expreffed the accountablenefs of Churches mutually, in cafeofOffence from Male- Adminißratian and Church Cenfures ? Thisaljo I now fee inpart anfwered, Prop. 5th. Ifhali forbear to add any thingas under your infwer to the lafar Queftion about the power of the Magiftrate, becaufIfear, that in that matter ofpunjhing, I ¡hall fame..wbat &geene fromyou; the thouhgh as to weer Coercion I/hall in fome Cafes agree. moltprobable medium for the!attdining of thep Propofals aimed teat yet I Havepert/e the Godgive not an Heart and Mind to defire Peace and Onion, every Exxprefon will be dif- puled, under pretence of Truth and Accuracy : But if theft thingshave aplace in us an- Jderahle to that which they enjoy in the Gofpel; I fee no reafnwhy all the true Difeiples of Cbrili
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