An Apology for the Nonconformists Ministry, Treatise · Part 1 · Accusation 28
The Accusation 28, being made publickly by my old friend Dr. Thomas Good, in his book, called Dubitantius & Firmianus, I will annex a Letter which I wrote in answer to it.
ACCUS. 28.
To my Reverend and Worthy Friend, Dr. Thomas Good, Master of Baliol-Colledge in Oxford.
Reverend and Worthy Sir,
IT is now about a Month since I received a Letter from you, for the furthering of a good work, which I sent to Mr. Foley by his Son Mr. Paul Foley, not having opportunity my self to see him. I have stayed so long for an answer, not hearing yet from him, that I think it not meet any longer to forbear to acquaint you with the reasons of the delay. He liveth quite at the other end of London from me, and my weakness and business keep me much within doors, and it's hard to find him within, except at those hours when I am constrained to be in bed. But I have reason to conjecture that his answer will be, 1. That the rich men whose judgments are for Conformity, are far more numerous than those who are of another mind, and therefore fitter to promote that work. And there are so very few that do any thing for the ejected Ministers, that some of them live on brown bread and water, &c. which hindereth those Gentlemen from other kind of charitable work. 2. And I must crave your patience (being confident by your ancient kindness, of your friendly interpretation) which I tell you, that this day I heard one say, We can expect that Dr. Good do make his Scholars no better than himself. And what reason have we to maintain and breed up men to use us as he hath done in his late Treatise? I got the Book, and was glad to find much good, and several moderate passages in it, (and I knew you so well as that I could not but expect moderation), but when I perused the passages referred to, I could say no more for them, but that I would write to you to hear your answer about them. For I confess they surprized me; though at the same time I received many new Books of a sanguine complection from other hands without any admiration.
I. The first passage referred to, was pag. 104. Which are confessedly things indifferent. This is spoken indefinitely of the Presbyterians. Where have I lived? I know not one Presbyterian living that divideth from you for any thing which he confesseth indifferent. I crave your answer containg the proof of this? at least to name some one of them that we may reprove him. We take Conformity to be so far from indifferent, that we forbear to tell the world the greatness of the sin which we think to be in it, lest men cannot bear it, and lest it should disaffect the people to the Ministry of the Conformists.
II. Your p. 156. I pass by. The main matter is p. 160, 161. that though All the Nonconformists were not in actual arms against the King,—nor did they all as natural agents cut off his Head; but morally, that is, very sinfully and wickedly they had their hands stained with that royal blood; for whosoever did abet these sons of Belial in their rebellions, treasons, murders of their King and fellow subjects, either by consenting to their villanies, praying for their prosperity, praising God for their successes, &c.
The Charge is high: If it be not true, 1. They are almost as deeply wrong'd as you can wrong them. 2. Our Rulers are wronged by being so provoked to abhor them, silence and destroy them. 3. Posterity is wronged by a misinforming History.
I. You are too old to be ignorant that it was an Episcopal and Erastian Parliament of Conformists that first took up these arms in England against the King. The Members yet living profess that at that time they knew but one Presbyterian in the House of Commons. Interest forced or led them to call in the Scots, and Presbytery came in with them. If you doubt of it, see the Propositions to the King at Nottingham, where a limited Episcopacy is one.
II. The Lord Lieutenants that seized on the Militia were far most Conformists, and scarce any Presbyterians at all.
III. The General Officers and Colonels of the Earl of Essex's Army were ten to one Conformists, and few if any Presbyterians save a few deboist Mercenary Scots, if they were such, which I know not; and the General Episcopal himself.
IV. The Major Generals of the Militia in the several Counties were mostly Conformists, and scarce any Presbyterians.
V. The Assembly at Westminster when they went thither were all Conformists, save about eight or nine, and the Scots Commissioners.
V. One of the two Archbishops was a General in the Parliaments Army.
VI. Many of the present Conformable Ministers were in arms against the King, and some wrote for his death, and many of them took the Covenant and Engagement.
VII. The most of the Conformable Gentry of my acquaintance that were put upon it took the Engagement against the King, and House of Lords.
VIII. The Nonconformable Ministers of Gloucestershire, (Mr. Geery, Mr. Capel, Mr. Marshall, &c.) were against the Parliaments War, though the Parliaments Garison was over them. Mr. Bampfield (who hath lain six or seven years in the Common Goal for Preaching) (with his brother (sometimes Speaker of the House of Commons) was so much against the Parliaments cause, that to this day (even while he lay in Goal) he most zealously made his followers renounce it. Many Nonconformists in many Counties were of the same mind.
IX. Many of the Nonconformists lived in the Kings quarters, and never were drawn the other way, as Dr. Conant (lately one of them) and others in Oxford, and so in other parts.
X. Some of the Nonconformists were in the Kings Army. Poor Mr. Martin of Weeden lost an Arm in his Army, and yet the other arm lay long with him in Warwick Goal for Preaching.
XI. Almost all the Nonconformists of my acquaintance in England, save Independents and Sectaries, refused the Engagement, and took Cromwell and the Commonwealth Parliament for Usurpers, and never approved what they did, nor ever kept their days of Fasting or Thanksgiving. (To tell you of the London Ministers Printed Declarations against the intended death of the King, you will say is unsatisfactory, because too late.)
XII. Most of the Nonconformable Ministers of my acquaintance were either boys at School, or in the University in the Wars, or never medled with it; so that I must profess, that setting them all together, I do not think that one in ten throughout the Kingdom can be proved to have done any of these things that you name against the King.
XIII. We have oft with great men put it to this trial, Let them give leave but to so many to Preach the Gospel as cannot be proved ever to have had any hand in the Wars against the King, and we will thankfully acquiesce, and bear the silence of the rest; make but this match for us, and we will joyfully give you thanks.
XIV. Who knoweth not that the greatest Prelatists were the masters of the Principles that the War was raised on, Bilson, Jewel, &c.) (and Hooker quite beyond them all.)
XV. But because all proof must be of individuals, I intreat you as to our own Countrey where you were acquainted, tell me if you can, I say it seriously if you can, whatever was done or said against the King, by Mr. Ambrose Sparry, Mr. Kimberlye, Mr. Lovell, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Reignolds, Mr. Hickman, Mr. Trustram, Mr. Baldwin, Senior, Mr. Baldwin, Junior, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Waldern (dead), Mr. Joseph Baker (dead), Mr. Wilsby, Mr. Brian, Mr. Stephen Baxter, Mr. Badland, Mr. Butcher, Mr. Eccleshall, Mr. Read, Mr. Rocke, Mr. Fincher of Wedgbury,, Mr. Wills of Bremicham, Mr. Paston, &c. I pass by many more. And in Shropshire by old Mr. Samuel Hildersham, Old Mr. Samuel Fisher, Mr. Talents, Mr. Brian of Shrewsbury, Mr. Barnet, Mr. Keeling, Mr. Berry, Mr. Malden of Newport, Mr. Thomas Wright (dead), Mr. Taylor, &c. These were your neighbours and mine! I never heard, to my remembrance, of any one of them that had any thing to do with the Wars against the King. It's true (except Mr. Fisher and some few) they were not ejected, but enjoyed their places; And did not you as well as they? If I can name you so many of your neighbours that were innocent, will you tell the King and Parliament, and the Papists and Posterity, that All the Nonconformists (without any exception) had their hands stained with the Royal blood? What! Mr. Cook of Chester, and Mr. Birch, &c. that were imprisoned and persecuted for the King! What! Mr. Geery that dyed at the news of the Kings death! What, Sir Francis Nethersole (and Mr. Bell his Pastor) who wrote so much against the Parliament, and was their Prisoner at Kenelworth Castle almost all the Wars!—What may we expect from others, when Dr. Good shall do thus.—
I put not in any excuse for my self among all these. It may be you know not that an Assembly of Divines (twice met) at Coventry (of whom two Doctors, and some others are yet living) first sent me into the Army to hazard my life (after Naseby fight) against the course which we then first perceived to be designed against the King and Kingdom, nor what I went through then two years in opposing it, and drawing the Soldiers off: Nor how oft I preached against Cromwell, the Rump, the Engagement, but specially their Wars, and Fasts, and Thanksgivings: Nor what I said to Cromwell for the King (never but twice speaking with him) of which a great man *The Earl of Orery, who was present all the while, at both times, that ever I spake to Cromwell, which was plainly and faithfully to his displeasure.told me but lately, that being an ear-witness of it, he had told his Majesty. But yet while I thought they went on Bilsons principles, I was then on their side, and the observator (Parker) had almost tempted me to Hookers principles, but I quickly saw those reasons against them, which I have since published. His principles were known by the first book, before the last came out; and I have a friend †The Lord Chief Justice Hale told me he had Hookers last books before, and I now have the last printed long before Bishop Gauden published them.that had his last in M. S. But I am willing unfeignedly to be one of those that shall continue silenced, if you can but procure leave to Preach Christs Gospel only for those that are no more guilty of the Kings blood than your self; and that no longer than there is real need of their Ministerial labour. Reverend Sir, if you will but so long put your self as in our case, I shall hope that with patience you will read these lines, and pardon the necessary freedom of
London, Feb. 20. 1673. Your truly loving friend, and obliged servant, RICHARD BAXTER.
Note, 1. That this Dr. Good was one of the most peaceable, moderate and honest Conformists of my acquaintance; and subscribed our Worcestershire Agreement (published) for Concord; and joyned with us in our Association and Meetings at Kidderminster, and was the man that drew up the Catalogue of Questions for our Disputations at those Meetings; and never then talkt to us of what he here writeth (in a Book called Dubitantius & Firmianus). 2. Mr. Thomas Foley (a Nonconformist Gentleman, eminent for Charity (having built near Stourbridge a Hospital, and endowed it with about 500 l. per annum) being my friend, Dr. Good wrote to me, to move him to give maintenance for two Scholarships in Baliol-Colledge; and I wrote this Letter in answer to that, but the sending was delayed till he was dead.