i t o The LI F E of the Part IH the fi,ppofitions that we were fain to go upon in our Confuitation with Dr, li'iGkira, viz, That no change in the Frame of Church-Government will be con- tented to : Othecv ife I thocld have done as we did . in 166o, offered you Arch-bilhop Vfher's Reduction of the Government to the primitive $ate of E- pifcopacy ; and have only defired that the Lay-Chancellours have not the Pow- er of the Keys, and that, if not in every Parilh, at lean in every Rural Dean-. ry, or Market-Town, with the adjacent Villages, the Miniftersmight have the Fedora' power of the Keys fo far as is neceffary to guide their own Admi- niltrations, and not one Bithop, or Lay-Chancellour's Court to have more to do than Multitudes can well do, and thereby caufe almolt all true Difcipline to be omitted. 3. I have forborn to enumerate the Particulars, which we cannot fubfcribe, or (wear to, or praftife, became they are many, and I fear the na- ming of them, will bedifpleaing to others, as teeming to accufe them, while we do but fay, what a Sin fuch Conformity wouldbe in our felves: But if it fhould be ufeful, and dehred, I am ready to do it. But I now only fay, that the matters are far from being things doubtful, or indifferent, or little Sins in our Appre- henfions; of which we are ready to render a Reafon. But I think that this byre Propofal of the Remedies, is the hell, and fhorteft, and leaft oltsnfiveway : In which I crave your Obfervation of there two Particulars. 1. That it is the matter granted, if it be even in our own Words, that will belt do theCure : For whileother men word it, thatknow not our Scruples or Roatons, they mitt our Sente ufually, and make it inelfeftual. x. That the Keaton why I crave that Mini- fters may have impunity, whonfe the greateft part of the Liturgy for the Day; is, 1. To Ihorten the Accommodation, that we may not be put to delay our Con- cord till the Liturgy be altered, to the Satisfaftion of Dilfenters ; which we have taufe to think, will not be done at all. Now this will filently and quietly heal us ; and if a Man omit fame one Collets or Sentence without debateor noire, itwill not be noted, nor be a matter of offence. z. And he is unworthy to be a Minifter that Is not to be [rutted fomoth, as with the ufingor not soling of a few Sentences, os words in all his Miniftration. 3. And aimott every Minifter that I hear all the Year of the molt Conformable, do everydayomit tome part or other, and yet are not Silenc'd, nor takennotice of as offendersat all: And maynot, as much for our Concordbegranted toDiffenters in the prefent cafe. He that thinks that thefe Concelfions will be more injurious to the Church, and the Souls of Men, than our tincharitablenefs and Divifionshave been theft Eleven Years, andare yetlike to he, is not qualifiedto be at all an Healer. In Conclufion, I mutt again intreat you that this Offer may be taken but as the Anfwer of your delire, for your private ufe, and that no Copy be givenof it nor the Author made known, unlefs we have encouragement from our Governours to confult about fuch a work ; and if fo, that more than I maybe confulted, and nothing laid on me alone. I amconfident, were but Dr. Stilling- feet, Dr. Tillotfon, or any fuch moderate Men appointed to confult with two or three of us, on the fafe and needful terms of Concord, we thould agree in a Week's time, fuppofing themvacant for the Bfnfs. Decant. 13. 1673. 1 Reß, Tour bumble Servant, Richard Baxter. The means of uniting the Proteftant MiniCers in England, and healing our lamentable L3ivitions; fuppófing Church-Government maynot be altered. 1, About Engagements. Let no other Covenant , Promife, Oath, Declarati- on, or fubfcription be necelfary to Minifters for Ordination, Inftitution, In- duftion, Ministration, or Poftellion of their maintenance, ( nor to Scholars at the Univerfities, except the ancient Univerfiey Oath) or to School-matters, be- tides the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and the fubfcribing the Do- ttrine and Sacraments of the Church of England, as exprefled in the thirty n ne
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