Part III. ¶Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter. t 5 7 Bates Mr. Pool, and mc, to treat of an Aft of Comprehenfion and Union ; and that they were encouraged to it by force Lords both Spiritualand Temporal. We n5etto confider whether fuch an Attempt was fate and prudent, or whatwas not offered by forceBithops, asa fnare tous: I told themmy opinionthat Experience would not Coffer any Clunk! to believe any better of Ionic Bithops, but that they knew Dr. Stifineeet and Dr. Tillorfon to be the Iikelielt Men to havea hand in an Agreement, if fach a thing Ibould be attemptedand therefore that they would make themfelves theMallets of it to defeat it, and no better iifue was to be ex- peftedas from them : But yet that th& two Daftorswere Men of fo much Learn- ing,Honefty and lateral., that I took itas our Duty, to accept theoffer, and to try with them, how far we could agree, and fo try them fief whether they would pro- mife usfecrefy, unlefsit came to maturity to befurther notified by Confent : And that we might hope for this Slimfs, as quickly to agree with thefe two Men, and in timeit might be force advantage toour defired Unity, that our Terms were fach as thefe twoworthy Men contented to. § 287. AccordinglyDr. Manton and I were defired by the reft to try them : We went toDr. Tillotfon who promifed Morleyand Bithop Wardthat had fet them on work, and the Earl of Carlile'andHalifax chiefly who encouraged them. Here- upon weagreed to meet the nextweek withhim and Dr. Stillingfleet, to try how far we couldagree onthe Terms. I had before drawn up the form of an Healing Aft, and read it to no onebut Mr. Hampden (who told me it would never pafs) : Be- fore the next MeetingDr. Manton wasfain to abfcond at the Lord Whartons, being deigned (as is aforefaid) to theCommonGoal (fuch wasthe Treaty which we were invited to : But I went alone, and met the twoDoftors: I found them fincere in the bufinefs, and conceitedthat BilhopMorley and Ward were fo alto. Upon their pro- mife of fecrecy, I freely told them my énoughts of the Bilhop of Winchefter, and what an attempt I had lately madewithhim (befides all heretofore) at the requeft of the Earlof ()eery, and that after his Calls for Concord, hegrantedme no one abate- ment or alteration or indulgencedefired : f(hewed them theform of theAft which I had prepared; Theydefired meto leave it with them to confideron. Shortly af- ter Dr. 2 illotfon brought me a Draught with feveral omilliions and alterations ì I drew opmy own again, with forcelittle alterations, required by his Draught : This he and I debated, till wecame to an agreement ofthe whole : I was then defired to Communicate it to foine Nonconforming Brethren : Dr. Manton wasgone into the Coantrey: Dr. Bates was lick -1' Commanleated it toMr. fobnCornet, Mr. Talents Mr. Pool, Dr. yacomb, and Mr. Humphrey : When we had made fah further flnalll Corrections as all agreedon, Mr. Pool and Ivrere defired tomcet.the two rloffots for a further procedure. Theyanet us, andwe again read the Draught, but would give them noCopy; and agreed with them that they fhould take the prefent time whileBilhop Morley was out of Town (as liken to fruflrate) and to delire Bifhop Ward, anddkifhap Pierfon of Chefier (a Learned fober Man) tomeet es, and to hear what we hadagreed ou, and promifeus fecrecy (Bifhop. Ward once came in upon us, when we weretogether, but withdrew.) They promifed us totry it fpeedily: But whentheyhad only in General told Blihop Ward, cire. how far we had gone, and how fair we were for Agreement, and told themforce of the particular Materials, there wasa full end of all theTreaty; TheBifhops had nofurther to go : We had already carryed it too fir. Hearing nomoreof theDoftors, we feat to know how theCafe went, and underftood bythem, that their Hopes and Labours were at an end. I feat to Dr. Tillotfon to Knowwhether they would give me leave to tell any to promote our Concord, how far they agreed withus, that their Names might be fameadvantage to the work : And he wrote to me as followeth. " Apr. II. t675. Sir, t took thefirft opportunity after you were with asto £peak- " totheBilhopof Sal.who promifed to keep thematter private,andonly to acgaint " theBilhop of Ch.with it inorder to aMeeting : But upon foineGeneral Difcourfe " I plainly perceived leveret things could not be obtained : However hepromifed to " appoint atime. of Meeting, but I have not heard fromhim line : I am unwilling " our Name fhould be afed in this Matter ; not but that I do molt heartily delire an Accommodation, andihall always endeavour it : But I am fare it will be a " prejudice to me, and fignify nothing to the effefling of the thing, which as Cir- " cnmfhances are cannot pats in either Houfe, without theConcurrence of a cone- " derahle part of the Bithops, and the Countenance of His Majefty ; whichat pre- " feat I fee little reafon to expect. I am, Your affectionate Brother and Servant "eWI-171otfon. § 288.
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