Baxter - BX5207 B3 A2 1696

94 P END IX Numb. IV. have been made. I believe it concerns you, and fach as you, to be mindful of your own Security, by contributing your help towards the Maintenanceof the PublickPeace. If things are bad now, I believe they are like to be much worfe if a turn Ihould come by the Hand of War. Sir, Narrownefs of Opportunity bath produced the too much undigeftednefs of theee Lines. That the Lord ' may preferve you, and fill you with the Spirit of Wifdom and of Power , is the ' finceredefrreof London, 7aly 23. Tearsfaitbfapy ingaged in trae *than toferveyen, Will. Allen. To the Reverend and bes worthygood Friend Mr. Rich. Baxter inKidderminfler. 1659. S I R, s j Thank you for yours or the 13th currant, which I have: and Ì do confers e 1 that the feveral Tempers and Intereffs of Profeffors of different Perfwafions confidered, a wife Man can have no great hopes (whatever his delires be) ofany ' Gc..eral Accord. And to anfwer your delire in fome account of the progrefs of the Meeting on foot for Agreement. Be pleafed to underftand, that however the Work went on merrily whilft Generalsonly were dwelt on, yet it's almost put to ` a (land when we come to force Particulars which were thought neceffary to be ` defcended to. That whichbath troubled us molt, bath been about fendingforth, ' or furnilhing the Nation with Preachers of the Gofpel. Though we all agree, ' a. That it's all our Duties to promote fach a work: And 2. That the Perlons e imployed in it, mull be godly, found in the Faith , and apt to teach : And ' ;. that they ought to pals under force trial for Approbation ; And 4. that a con - ' venient Maintenance for them Ihould by all meet means be procured ; yet by whom andhow they Ihould be fo approved, as to be made capable of holding ' the Parifh places, we cannot hitherto agree. It was propounded at the Meeting ' this Afternoon, as an Expedient to iffue this bufinell, that confidering thatPatrons ' of Parilh Livings claim a Right of Prefentation, the People of Eledlion, theMa- gittrate of Approbation, and the Elderlhip ofChurches, or Churches themfelves by them, and Power of Miffion and Ordination : And that lince the Magilirate ' bath been hill wont to betruft hisClaimof Approbation in the Hands of Presby- ' tors of one kind or other; and Presbyters of all Perfwafions hold themfelves ob- liged to further the propagation of theGofpel abroad, and claim a Ihare in fend- ' ing Preachers for that end; I fay, thefe Things confidered , and to fatisfie all ' Claims, and yet to makea competent Provifion for the fpreadingofthe Gofpel in ' all the Parithes, it was propofed, r.That the Magifirate might be defrred to be- ` truft his Claim of Approbation in the Hands of a convenientNumber of Presby- ters of the three denominations indifferently, in feveral places of the Common- ' wealth, that none might be bound up by the Power being ingroffed by one or ' two Parties. 2. That no Perron prefented by a Patron, or chofen by the Peo- ' pie, Ihould officiate as a publick Preacher, in any Parilh, without anInfirument ' of Approbation fir(t obtained under the Hand and Seal of at leaft three or more ' of the Presbytersaforefaid. ;. That filch an Infttuument obtained Ihould inveft ' the Preacher with power to receive filch Maintenance as is or shall be fettled by theState, or railed by voluntary Contribution ofthe People. But alas , it was thought by force, that to interefs the Magiftrate in inch a Claim, will not be ' found in the Scriptures o and to have aHand in the Inverting of a Preacher with power to file for Tithes ( whether it were known, whether hewould fo ole it or no) is a thing not to be indured. And I doubt the Party that propounded this Expedient, is liketo be looked lhieon by his Brethren the Anabaprifbs for his la- ' hour, as fit rather tobe ranked among the Presbyterians , as hath been hinted to ° him. The

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