Chap. VI. 'l'he HIS T 0 RY of the PuRITANS. million, but the bilhop of London in filling peremptorily upon his own Cl King II h " d b . . h . . . d Jarles • method, the ot ers con1ente to nng m t e1r exceptrons at one time, an r66r. their additions at another. For this purpofe bilhop Re)'no/ds, Dr. Wa!lis, ~~ and the rell of the preibyterian party, met from day to day to collect lb. P· 3o6. their exceptions; but the additions, or drawing up a new form, was intrufl:ed with Mr. Baxter alone. " Bilhop She/don faw well enough (fays " Burnet) what the eftetl: would be of obliging them to make all their P· r8o; " demands at once, that the number would raife a mighty outcry againll " them, as a people that could never be fatisfied." On the other hand the prefbyterians were divided in their fcntiments; fome were for infifl:- ing only on a few important things, reckoning that if they were gained, and an union followed, it might be caller to obtain others afterwards. But the majority, by the influence of Mr. Baxter, were for extending their defires to the utmofl:, and thought themfelves bound by the words of the commiffion, to offer every thing they thought might conduce to the peace of the church, without confidering what an afpetl: this would have with the world, or what influence their numerous demands might have upon the minds of thofe, who were now their fuperiors in numbers and frrengtb; but when they were put in mind that the king's commi/Jim ga\Oe them no power to alter the government of the church, nor to infill: upon archbi!bop Ufher's model, nor fo much as to claim the conceffion of his majefry's late declaration, they were quite heartlefs; for they were now convinced that all they were to expect was a few amendments in the liturgy and common-prayer book. This was concluded before-hand at court, and nothing more intended than to drop the preibyterians with the lhow of decency. The miniilers were. under this further hardlhip, that they were to tranf- Hardjhips if atl: for a body of men from whom they had no power, and therefore the prcfbyte~ could not oblige to abide by their decifions; they told the king and the rians. prime minifier, that they l110uld be glad to confult their abfent brethren, and receive from them a commiffion in form, but this was denied, and they were required to give in their own fenfe of things, to which they confented, provided the bilhops at the fame time would bring in their conceffions; but thefe being content to abide by the liturgy as it then frood, had nothing to offer, nor would they admit of any alterations but what the prefbyterians ihould make appear to be nece!fary. With this dark and melancholy profpetl: the conference was opened. *It would interrupt the 4 fl. 2 courfu . * N. B, Alltha papey,s relating to the co~iference at the Savoy are collec7td in a book, m· lzt.u/ed, THE HISTORY 0~ NON·CONFORMITY, asitwasarguedand fiatedbycom– mdJioner~ on both fides appomted uy his maje!ty king Charles !I. in the year r66I, Gtfa• vo, Edit. 2d. I]OS.
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