74 The L I F E of the Part HI 'tolerableMan, to ownhim, andCommunicate withhim. Andbecaufe hewas the belt, that the Patron by their Content, could chufe, and for many Reafons, which I gave them. But their Sufferings had fo far alienated them from the Prelates, that the very rumourof this Letter was talkt ofas my Book againft I7ivifons was, fo that it was never fo much as read to them. § 162. And here it is worth the nothing, how far Intereft fecretly fwayeth the Judgments of the belt. A few Minifters, who have a more taking way of Preachingthan the reff, and being more moving and affectionate, are for that way now which molt filiteth with the Inclinationof the People who molt effeem them, which is to go far enough from the Conformiffs, ( or too far) but the reft who are lefs followed by the People, are generally more for Peace and Moderation. ` § 163. This Year the Aft againft Conventicles was renewed, and made more revere thanever : And (as all that ever I fpake with of it, fuppofed) with an Eye upon my Cafe they put in divers Glaufes As that thefault of the Nit- tiinus Ihould not difable it ; that all doubtful Claufes in the Ad Ihould be in- terpreted, as would molt favour the fuppreffion of Conventicles; that they that fled or removed their Dwellinginto another County, should be purfued by Exe- cution, (to this Sente) What a Emit is a Man in among People of tuch Ex- tremes? One fide purfueth us with implacable Wrath, while we are charg- ed with nothing but Preaching Chrift's Gofpel in the molt peaceable manner we can : And the other cenfureth us, as Compliers with Perfecutors and Ene- mies to Piety, berate we delire to live peaceable with all Men, and to fepa- ratefrom themno furtherthan they feparate fromGod. § 064. Their own Laws againft Conventicles hinder us from doing their own Wills. They write andclamour againft me for not perfwading the People to conformity : And when 1 would draw them but to that Communion, which I had withinmy Pelf, the Law difableth me to Communicate a" Letter to them Peeing no more than four muE meet together ; which way among many hundred or thoufand Diffenters, would make many Years work of Communicating that one part of my Advice. Thusdo our Shepherds ate the Flocks. § 065. At this time Mr. Giles Firmin, a worthy Minilter that had lived in Nero-England, writing agäinft force Errors of Mr. Honker, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Daniel Rogers, and Mr.Perkins, gave me alto alto a gentle reproof, for tying Men too ffriftly to Meditation; whereto I wrotea fhort anfwer, called, ARe. view of the Doctrine of Meditation. § 166. A worthy Lady was perverted from the Lord's Day to the Saturday- Sabbath, defiring my Judgment, and Mr. Francis Bamfteld a Minfter, who hash lain about fevers Yearsin Dorcheffer-Goal (the Brother ofStr John Bamfield,de-. ceafed) being gone -to the fame Opinion, and many following them, I wroteby the Perfwafion of Tome Friends, a fmali Tra Tate alto on that Subject, to prove the divine appointment of the Lord's Day, and the ceffation of the yewfh Sab- bath. § 16-i. Dr. Manton (though he had the greateft Friends, and promife of Fa- vour of any of the Presbyterians) vvas fent Prifoner tothe Gatehoufe for Preach. ing the Gofpel inhisown Honee, in the Parilh vvhere he had been called formerly to theMiniltery, and for not taking the Oxford-Oath, and comingwithin fiveMiles . ofa Corporation; where he continued fix Months: but it proved convenient to his safe, becaufe thole fix Months were (pent in London, in a hot portait offilch private Preaching, by Bandsof Soldiers, tothe terrour of many, and thedeath of Tome. § 168. Madam, the King's Sifter dyed inFrance, when thereturned from vifiting His Majelty in England, to hisvery great grief. § s69. .Sir John Baler talk'd to the Lord Arlingtonof our late Treaty open the LordKeeper'sInvitation, with Bifhop:Wilkins ; whereupon Dr. Manton tent tome, as fromhim, to CommunicatetheTerms and Papers. But they were at Alton from whence they had driven me, and I had medled enough in 1'1)6 Matters only to my colt;. So that though lie fold the King was to fee them, I couldnot then anfwer his defier, and I heard no moreofit. g 170:
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