Part III. 11Zeverend Mr. Richard Baxter. VI. We delire that no Excommunicate Perfon, as fuel), maybe imprifoned, and ruined in his Ettate, but only fuch whofe Crimes, in themselves confidered, dc- ferve it. VII. As we delire all this Liberty to our felves, fo it is our Judgment and Delire, that Chriftian Lenity be used to all truly Confcientious Diflenters, and alto the Tolerable may be Tolerated, under Laws of Peace and Safety : But who (hall be judged Tolerable, and what frail be the Laws or Terms of their Toleration, we prefumenot uncalled to make our felves Counfellours or Judges. But for avoidingthe inconveniences, which the foretold Conceffions to. our felves may feetnto threaten to the Church, we hope it will fuffice, if there beaLawmade for the Regulation of the Bilhops, the Minifters and the Flocks : That People or Ministers uncivilly revile not one another : That no Licens'd Ministers shall Preach against anyof the Do&rine of the Church ; nor againft Episcopacy, Liturgy, orthe Eftablifhed Ceremonies : Thatall Magistrates be excepted from all open perfonal Rebukes, or difgraceful Censures, or Excommunications, becaufe (Ceteris Paribus) poliitive Initituted Orders give place to Nataral morals, fuch as the Fifth Command- ment containeth : That all negligent or scandalousMinifters be Punished according to the Meafure of their Fault :.And theomiffion of Preaching, Liturgy or Sacra- ments, shall be Punifh'd (not presentlywith forbidding them to doany thing, be-, caufe they do not enough, but) withthe Sequeftrationof their Church-maintenance, viz. That they lofe a month's Profit of their Benefice fora month's Omitfion, and fo' on proportionably. And that thofe whofe Infufficiency, Merely or Crimes, arefilch as that their Miniftry Bothmore hurt than good, be totally call out : And that the Bilhops may not Silence,Sufpend, Depriveor Excommunicate any Minifter Arbitra- rily, butby a known Law, and incafe of Injuftice, we may have fufficient remedy by Appeals: And that no former Law or Canon, which is contrary to anyof this betherein inforce. r. IfSacraments werebut left free to adminiltred, and received bynonebut Vo- lunteers. a, And Liberty granted the Miniftersto Preach in thofe Churches where the Common-Prayer is read by others, I think it would take in all, or almoft all the Inde- pendents alto. (3. Supposing the Doorleft open, according to the firlt Article) Thefe three would unite us almost alL But I have mentioned the rest, besaufe the lint of these will not be granted. I 1 3 TheStrictures returnedupon these Propofals, with the Anfwers, My Lord, IReturn you this Paper withanAnfwer to theStrictures ; not with any hopes of Agreement with the Author : For whoever he is, I'have no hope of Peaceor Healing by him ;.orby his content, accordingto the Principlesand Rigour hem ea- preffed. i. Prop. [Suppofing the Church-Government may not be altered.] Strut. a)[All the particulars following dodirectly, or indirefly, either overthrow or undermine the Church Go- vernmene. Anfw. if by[the ChurchGovernment] be meant (as the Propounderdidmean) theConititutioncontaining theDiocefan frame, with Deans, Arch-Deacons, Lay- Chancellours, as Governingby Excommunication and Abfolution, there is nothing in these Propofals incompetent with that Frame, normotioning anyalteration of it. (Thothere is that in it, which our Judgmentstake to be very great fm : For wecan quietly liveunder a Government Gnful, while we are not put to fm byour content- ing to the fin of others.) But if by [the Government]be meant the wholeExercise of their Government, according tothe A& of Uniformity and the Canons, weconfefs that every abatement delired byqs, is againtk it : And if we could do all requir'd by the Góverpo.urs, wewçxe full Çonformifts, and neededngge of this. Flu
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