Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times, Part 3 · Section 1 · Letter 9
To my Reverend Friend Dr. Good, Mr. of Baliol Coledge 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 F. 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 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, which hindereth these Gentlemen from other kind of Charitable works. 2. And I must crave your patience (being confident, by your ancient kindness, of your friendly Interpretation) while I tell you, that this day I heard one say, we can expect that Dr. Good do make his Scholars no beter 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, 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—Tho at the same time I received many new books of a sanguine Complexion from other hands without 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 containing 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 pag. 156. I pass by: The main matter is pag. 160. 161. that tho [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 hand 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 wronged 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 those 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 Army were ten to one Conformists, and few, if any Presbyterians, save after, 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 Countries were mostly Conformists and Scarce any Presbyterians.
V. The assembly at Westminster, when they went thither were all Conformists, save about 8 or 9 and the Scots Commissioners.
VI. One of the two Arch-Bishops was a General in the Parliament's Army.
VII. 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.
VIII. The most of the conformable Gentry of my acquaintance that were put upon it, took the Engagement against the King and House of Lords.
IX. The Non-conformable Ministers of Gloucestershier (Mr. Geery, Mr. Capell, Mr. Marshall, &c.) were against the Parliament's War, though the Parliament's Ga…ison was over them. Mr. Bampfield (who hath lain 6, or 7 years in the common Jail for Preaching) with his Brother (sometimes Speaker of the House of Commons) were so much against the Parliament's Cause, that to this day (even while he lay in Jail) he most zealously made his followers renounce it: Many Non-conformists in many Counties were of the same mind.
X. Many of the Non-conformists lived in the King's Quarters, and never were drawn the other way; as Dr. Conant (lately one of them) and others in Oxford, and so in other parts.
XI. Some of the Non-conformists were in the King's Army: Poor Martin of Weeden lost an Arm in his Army, and yet the other Arm lay long with him in Warwick Jail for Preaching.
XII. Almost all the Non-conformists of my acquaintance in England, save Independents and Sectaries, refused the Engagement, and took Cromwell and the Common-wealth-Parliament for Usurpers, and never approved what they did, nor ever kept their daies of Fasting or Thanksgiving. (To tell you of the London Ministers prin…ed Declarations against the intended Death of the King, you will say is unsatisfactory, because too late.)
XIII. Most of the Non-conformable 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 altogether, 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.
XIV. 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.
XV. Who knoweth not that the greatest Prelatists were the Masters of the Principles that the War was raised on, (Bilson, Iewel, &c.) (and Hooker (quite beyond them all?)
XVI. 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, what ever was done or said against the King, by Mr. Ambrose Sparre, Mr. Kimberley, Mr. Lovell, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Reignalds, Mr. Hickman, Mr. Trusham, Mr. Baldwin, senior, Mr. Baldwin, junior, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Waldern (dead,) Mr. Ios. Baker, (dead,) Mr. Wilsby, Mr. Brain, Mr. Stephen Baxter, Mr. Badland, Mr. Bulcher, Mr. Eccleshall, Mr. Read, Mr. Rock, Mr. Fincher, of Wedbury, Mr. Wills of Bremisham, Mr. Paston, &c. I pass by many more. And in Shropshire by old Mr. Sam. Hildersham, old Mr. Sam. Fisher, Mr. Talents, Mr. Brain of Shreusbury, Mr. Barnet, Mr. Keeling, Mr. Berry, Mr. Malden of Newport, Mr. Tho. 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 Wars against the King. It is 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 Non-conformists (without any exception) had their hands stained with the Royal blood? What! Mr. Cooke of Chester, and Mr. Birch, &c. that were imprisoned and persecuted for the King! What! Mr. Geery that died at the news of the King's Dearh? What! Sir Francis Nethersole, and Mr. Bell his Pastor) who wrote so much against the Parliament, and was their prisoner at … 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 Coventree (of whom two Doctors and some others are yet living) first sent me into the Army to hazard my life, (after Nasby Fight) against the Course which we then first perceived to be designed against the King, and Kingdom; nor what I went through there two years in opposing it, and drawing the Soldiers off: Nor how oft I Preached against Cromwel, the Rump, the Engagement, but specially their Wars, and Fasts, and Thanksgivings: Nor what I said to Cromwel for the King (never but twice speaking with him,) of which a Great Privy Counsello…r told me but lately, that being an Ear-witness of it, he had told his Majesty. But yet while I thought they went on Bilsone's Principles, I was then on their side, and the Observator (Parker) almost tempted me to Hooker's 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 that had his last in M.S. But I am willing unfeignedly to to be one of those that shall contiue Silenced, if you can but procure leave to Preach Christ's Gospel only for those that are no more guilty of the King's 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
Your truly Loving friend and obliged Servant, Rich. Baxter. London, Feb. 10. 1673.
§. 270. Taking it to be my duty to preach while Toleration doth continue, I removed the last Spring to London, where my Diseases increasing, this Winter, a flatulent constant Headach added to the rest, and continuing strong for about half a year, constrained me to cease my Fryday's Lecture, and an Afternoon Sermon on the Lord's daies in my house, to my grief; and to Preach only one Sermon a week at St. Iames's Market-house, where some had hired an inconvenient Place. But I had great encouragement to labour there, 1. Because of the notorious Necessity of the people: for it was noted for the habitation of the most ignorant, Atheistical, and Popish about London, and the greatness of the Parish of St. Martins, made it impossible for the tenth (perhaps the twentieth) person in the Parish to hear in the Parish-Church; And the next Parishes St. Giles, and Clement Daines) were almost in the like case; Besides that the Parson of our own Parish, (St. Giles) where I lived, Preached not, having been about three years suspended by the Bishop ab Officio, but not a beneficio, upon a particular Quarrel: And to leave ten or twenty for one, untaught in the Parish, while most of the City Churches also are burnt down, and unbuilt, one would think, should not be justified by Christians, 2. Because, beyond my expectation, the people generally proved exceeding willing and attentive and tractable, and gave me great hopes of much success.
§. 271. Yet at this time did some of the most Learned Conformists assault me with sharp accusations of Schism, meerly because I ceased not to Preach the Gospel of Christ to people in such necessity. They confess that I ought not to take their Oaths, and make their imposed Covenants, Declarations and Subscriptions against my Conscience; but my Preaching is my sin which I must forbear, (though they accuse me not of one word that I say.) They confess the foresaid Matters of fact, (that not one of a multitude can possibly hear in the Parish Churches, through the greatness of some Parishes, the lowness of the Minister's voices, and the paucity of Churches since the burning of the City:) And they confess that the knowledge of the Gospel is (ordinarily) necessary to salvation, and teaching and hearing necessary to knowledge; and that to leave the people untaught (especially where so many are speaking for Atheism, Beastiality, and Infidelity) is to give them up to Damnation: But yet they say that to do so is my duty, because the Bishop is against my Preaching: And I ought to rest satisfied that it is the Bishop, and not not I, that must answer for their Damnation. Alas poor Souls! Must they needs be damned by thousands, without making any question of it? as if all the question were, who should answer for it. I will not believe such cruel men I undertake to prove to them to them, 1. That our English Species of Dio…san …, and Lay Choncellours power of the Keys, is contrary to God's Word, and destructive of true Discipline, and of the Church form and Offices instituted by Christ. 2. That were the Offices Lawful, the men have no true calling to it, being not chosen or consented to by the Clergy, or the People. 3. That if their Calling were good, they have no power to forbid the present Silenced Ministers to Preach the Gospel (but thereby they serve Satan against Christ and Men's salvation.) Paul himself had his power to edification, and not to destruction: And Christ the Saviour of the World, giveth his Ministers only a saving power, and to none a power to samish and damn the people's Souls 4. That we are Dedicated as Ministers to the Sacred Office, and it is Sacriledge in our selves or others, to alienate us from it, while we are not unfit or unable for it. 5. That we are Charged (as well as Timothy) before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the Dead at his appearing, that we Preach the Word, and be in season, and our ef season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, &c. 6. That the Ancient Pastors for many Hundred years did Preach the Gospel against the Wills of their Lawful Princes, both Heathens and A…ians. 7: That the Bishop hath no more power to forbid us to Preach, than the King hath: And these men confess that Ministers unjustly Silenced may Preach against the Will of Kings (but not, say they of Bishops.) 8. That were we Lay-men we might teach and exhort (as Lay-men, as Origen did) though we might not do it as Pastors much more being Ordained the Ministers of Christ. And that now to us it is a work which both the Law of Nature and our Office or Vow do bind us to, even a Moral Duty: And that when Christ judgeth men for not Feeding, Clothing, Visiting his Members, it will not excuse us to say; that the Bishop forbad us: That if King, or Bishop forbid us to feed our Children, or to save the lives of drowning, or famishing men, we must disobey them, as being against a great command of God; Love and the Works of Love being the great indispensable Duties. And Souls being greater Objects of Charity than Bodies. 9. That it was in a Case of Pharifaical Church Discipline, (when Christ avoided not converse with sinners when their good required it) that Christ sent the Pharisees to learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: and at two several times repeateth the same words. 10. That Order is for the thing Ordered and it's ends; and a power of Ordering Preachers is not a power to depose necessary Preaching and famish Souls. 11. And I shew them that I my self have the License of the Bishop of this Diocess, as well as Episcopal Ordination; and that my License is in force and not recalled: 12. And that I have the King's License. 13. And therefore after all this, to obey these Silencers (nay no Bishop doth forbid me, otherwise than as his Vote is to the Acts of Parliament, which is as Magistrates,) and to fulfill their will that will be content with nothing, but our forsaking of poor Souls, and ceasing to Preach Christ, this were no better than to end my Life of Comfortable Labours, in obeying the Devil the Enemy of Christ and Souls; which God forbid.
§, 272. Yet will not all this satisfie these men, but they cry out as the Papists, Schism, Schism, unless we will cease to Preach the Gospel: And have little to say for all, but that No society can be governed, if the Rulers be not the Iudge. Yet dare they not deny but a Iudgment of discerning duty from sin, belongeth to all Subjects; or else we are Brutes, or must be Atheists, Idolaters, Blasphemers, or what ever a Bishop shall command us. But under the Censures of these unreasonable Men, who take our greatest Duties for our heinous sin, must we patiently serve our Lord: But his approbation is our full reward.
§ 273 On Iuly 5th (1674.) at our Meeting over St. Iamses's Market-house, God vouchsafed us a great Deliverance.See more of this in my Wife's Life. A main Beam before weakened by the weight of the People so cracked that three times they ran in terrour out of the room, thinking it was falling: But remembring the like at Dunstan's West, I reproved their fear as causeless. But the next day taking up the boards we found that two rends in the Beam, were so great, that it was a wonder of providence that the floor had not faln, and the roof with it, to the destruction of multitudes. The Lord make us thankful.
§ 274 A person unknown professing Infidelity (but w…ether an Infidel, or a jagling Papist, I know not) sent me a Manuscript, called Examen …, charging Scripture with Immorality, Falshoods, and Contradictions, from the beginning to the end, and with seeming Seriousness and Respectfulness import…ned me to Answer him. I was in so great pain and weakness (and engaged in other work) that I sent him word that I had not time or strength for so long a Work. He selected about a Dozen Instances, and desired my Answer to them: I gave him an Answer to them, and to some of his General accusations; but told him, That the rational Order to be followed by a Lover of Truth, is first to consider of the proofs brought for Christianity, before we come to the Objections aganst it: And I proved to him, that Christianity was proved true many years before any of the New Testament was Written, and that so it may be still proved by one that doubted of some words of the Scripture; and therefore the true order is, to try the truth of the Christian Religion first, and the perfect Verity of all the Scriptures afterwards. And therefore Importuned him first to Answer my Book, called, The Reasons of the Christian Religion; and then if I lived, I would answer his Accusations. But I could not at all prevail with him, but he still insisted on my Answering of his Charge. And half a year (or more) after, he sent me a Reply to the Answer which I had hastily given him: And though he before professed, that none in the World but I and his servant knew of it, yet accidentally, by speech with Dr. Stillingfleet, I understood that the same M. S. was sent to him: Therefore I sent him the Reply to mine; and desired him, seeing he had more strength and leisure, to answer alltogether for himself and me, and then I need not do the same.
§. 275. It pleased God to give me marvellous great Encouragement in my Preaching at St. Iames's: The Crack having frightened away most of the Richer sort (specially the Women,) most of the Congregation were young men, of the most capable age, who heard with very great Attention, and many that had not come to Church of many years, received so much, and manifested so great a Change (some Papists, and Divers others returning publick Thanks to God for their Conversion) as made all my Charge and Trouble easie to me. Among all the Popish, rude and ignorant People who were Inhabitants of those parts, we had scarce any that opened their mouths aganst us, and that did not speak well of the Preaching of the Word among them; though when I came first thither, the most knowing Inhabitants assured me, that some of the same persons wisht my Death; Among the ruder sort, a common Reformation was notifyed in the place, in their Conversation as well as in their Judgments.
§, 276. But Satan, the Enemy of God and Souls, did quickly use divers means to hinder me: 1. By Persecution, 2. By the Charges of the work, and, 3. By the troublesome Clamours of some that were too much inclined to Separation. And first a fellow, that made a Trade of being an Informer, accused me to Sir William Poultney, a Justice near, upon the Act against Conventicles: Sir William dealt so wisely and fairly in the business, as frustrated the Informer's first attempts (who offered his Oath against me,) And before he could make a second Attempt, Mr. David Lloyd (the Earl of St. Alban's Bayliff) and other Inhabitants, so search't after the quality of the Informer, and prosecuted him (to secure the Parish from his Charge of Children) as made him fly, and appear no more. I that had been the first Silenced, and the first sent to Gaol, upon the Oxford-Act of Confinement, was the first prosecuted upon the Act of Conventicles, after the Parliament's Condemning the King's Declaration and Licenses to Preach.
§. 277. But shortly after the Storm grew much greater: The great Ministers of State had new Consultations: The Duke of Lauder dail, the Lord Treasurer, (Sir Thomas Osborne, made Earl of Danby,) The Lord Keeper (Sir Heneage Finch,) the Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Morley) and the Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Ward,) &c. were the Men that the World talk't of, as the Doers of the Business: The first thing, that appeared, was, That His Majesty called the Bishops up to London, to give him Advice what was to be done for the securing of Religion, &c. The Bishops, after divers Meetings and Delays, (the said Duke, and Lord Treasurer, being appointed to meet with them,) at last Advised the King to recall His Licenses, and put the Laws in Execution. Which was done by a Declaration and Proclamation, Declaring the Licenses long since void, and requiring the Execution of the Laws against Papists (most largely mentioned) and Conventicles. No sooner was this Proclamation published, but special Informers were set on Work to Ascertain the Execution; and I must here also be the first that must be Accused.
§. 278. A litle before the King had Recalled his Licenses, knowing on what Accusations they would proceed, according to the Act of Uniformity; I did, to Obviate the Accusation, deliver, in Words and Writing, this following Profession, [Though when I began to Preach in this place, I publickly professed, That it was the notorious Necessity of the People, who are more than the Parish-Church can hold, which moved me thereunto, and that we Meet not in Opposition to, or Separation from the Publick Churches; yet perceiving that by some we are misunderstood, I repeat the same Profession: And that we Meet not under colour or pretence of any Religious Exercise in other manner, than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England: And that were I able, I would accordingly Read my Self.] For the understanding of this, it must be known, 1. That being my Self unable both to Read and Preach, I had an Assistant, who daily Read the Scripture-Sentences, the 95th Psalm, the Psalms for the Day, the two Chapters for the Day, Singing the Psalms appointed for Hymns, using the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Decalogue; all which is the Greatest part of the Liturgy, though none of the Common Prayers were used. 2. That I forbear the use of much of the Common Prayer, which I think lawful and good, meerly because many of the Nonconformists could not bear it. 3. That the Act against Conventicles punisheth none but [those that meet on colour, or pretence of any Religious Exercise in other manner than according to the Liturgy and practice of the Church of England.] 4. That my Judgment was, that my Meeting was not such, and that I broke no Law: And therefore I made this open Profession, as Preparatory to my Answer before the Magistrate; not expecting that any such means should free me from suffering in the least degree, but that it should conduce to the clearing of my Cause when I Suffered. But, upon this Paper, those that are unable, or unwilling to suspend their Censures, till they understand the Cause, and that cannot understand Words in their plain and proper signification, but according to their own Preconceptions, did presently divulge, all over the Land, many false Reports of it and me: The Separatists gave out presently, That I had Conformed, and openly declared my Assent and Consent, &c. And so confidently did they affirm it, that almost all the City believed it: The Prelatists again took the Report from them, and their own willingness that so it should be, aud reported the same thing: In one Episcopal City they gave Thanks in Publick that I Conformed: In many Counties, their News was, That I most certainly Conformed, and was thereupon to have a Bishoprick (which, if I should, I had done foolishly in losing Thirteen years Lordship and Profit, and then taking it when I am dying.) This was divulged by the Conformists, to fortisie their Party in the Conceits of their Innocency, and by the Separatists, in Spleen and Quarrelsome Zeal! But confident Lying was too common with both. And yet the next day, or the next day save one, Letters fled abroad on the contrary, that I was sent to Gaol for not Conforming.
§. 279. Not long before this, having Preached at Pinners-Hall for Love and Peace, divers false Reports went currant among the Separatists, and from them to other Nonconformists, that I Preached against the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness, and for Justification by our own Righteousness, and that the Papists and Protestants differ but in Words, &c. So that I was constrained to publish the truth of the Case, in a sheet of Paper, called, An Appeal to the Light. Which, though it evinced the falshood of their Reports, and no one Man did ever after justifie them, that ever I could hear of, yet did they persevere in their General Accusation; and I had Letters from several Countries, that the London Accusers had Written to them, that I had both in the Sermon, and in that Paper, called, An Appeal to the Light, done more to strengthen Popery, than ever was done by any Papists. This was the reward of all my Labours, from the Separating Independents.
§. 280. So sinfully ready are Men to receive false Reports, that many of sober Principles, and some of my most intimate Friends, believed them, and were ready to second the Defamation: But when-ever they came to me, and debated the Case, and heard me speak, every Man of them confessed their Error, and Misunderstanding. The secret fomenters of the Accusing Reports and Quarrels, did it with such Privacy and Caution as beseemed Wise Men: But the open Backbiters were especially some very few more Ministers, accounted earnest judicious Men: But the Women, and Independent Men were the chief.
§. 281. This greatly rejoyced the Persecuting Prelatists; and, 1. They hence inferred, That the Nonconformists were as bad a People as they had reported them, and that whatever was thought Judicious, or Moderate, in any of my Writings, Preaching, or Conversation, the Nonconformists had no right to any Imputation of it, or Reputation by it, because I was one that they disowned: 2. They would hence have drawn me off from the Nonconformists, telling me, That I was worse spoken of, and used by such, than by the Prelatists. To both which I answered, 1. That they knew not the Nonconformists so well as I… and that tho' the London-Separatists, and a few other weak and passionate persons, made all this noise, yet the generality of the Ministers and sober People, especially in the Countrey, were of my mind: 2. That all this Censure and Clamour was a very small thing, in comparison of what I suffered by the Bishops, who had these 13 years, if not more, deprived me of all Ministerial Maintenance, and also forbidden me to Preach Christ's Gospel, though I did it without pay; and had sent me among Rogues, to the Common Gaol; and had deprived me much of the end of Life, which is more to me than Life it self.
§. 282. While I was thus murmured at by Backbiters, Sectaries and Prelatists, when the King's Licenses were recalled as aforesaid, I was the first that was apprehended by Warrant and brought before the Justices as a Conventicler. One Keting, an ignorant fellow, had got a Warrant, as Bayliff and Informer, to search after Conventicles (Papists and Protestants) which he prosecuted with great animosity and Violence: Having then left St. Iames's (the Lease of the House being out) I Preached only on Thursdays at Mr. Turner's; and by the Act I am to be Judged by a Justice of the City, or Division where I Preach, but to be distreined on by Warrant from a Justice of the Division or County where I live. So that the Preaching-place being in the City, only a City-Justice might Judge me: Keting went to many of the City-Justices, and none of them would grant him a Warrant against me; Therefore he went to the Justices of the County, who lived near me, and one Sir Iohn Medlicot, and Mr. Bennet (Brother to the Lord Arlington) ignorant of the Law herein, gave their Warrant to apprehend me, and bring me before them, or some other of His Majesty's Justices: The Constable and Informer gave me leave to choose what Justices I would go to. I went with them to seck divers of the best Justices, and could find none of them at home, and so spent that day (in a case of pain and great Weakness) in being carryed up and down in vain: But I used the Informer kindly, and spake that to him, which his Conscience (tho' a very ignorant fellow) did not well digest. The next day I went with the Constable and him to Sir William Poultney, who made him shew his Warrant, which was signed by Henry Mountague (Son to the late worthy Earl of Manchester) as Bayliff of Westminster, Enabling him to Search after Mass-Priests and Conventiclers; but I hear of no Mass-Priests save one that was ever medled with to this Day; and that one delivered (as we all desired.) Sir William shewed him, and all the Company, in the Act, that none but a City-Justice had Power to Judge me for a Sermon Preached in the City; and so the Informer was defeated: As I went out of the House I met the Countess of Warwick, and the Lady Lucy Mountague, Sister to the said Mr. Henry Mountague, and told them of the Case and Warrant, who assured me, That he whose Hand was at it, knew nothing of it; and some of them sent to him, and Keting's Warrant was called in within two or three days. But it proved that one Mr. Barwell, Sub-Bayliff of Westminster, was he that set Keting on work, and gave him his Warrant, and told him, How good a Service it was to the Church, and what he might gain by it: And Barwell sharply Chid Keting for doing his work with me no more skilfully: And the Lord of Arlington most sharply Chid his Brother for granting his Warrant: And within a few days Mr. Barwell riding the Circuit, was cast by his Horse, and died in the very Fall. And Sir Iohn Medlicot, and his Brother, a few weeks after, lay both dead in his House together. Shortly after Keting came several times to have spoken with Me, to ask me Forgiveness, and not meeting with me, went to my Friends in the City with the same Words (when a little before he had boasted, how many Hundred pounds he would have of the City-Justices for refusing him Justice. At last he found me within, and would have fal'n down on his knees to me, and askt me earnestly to forgive him: I askt him what had changed his mind: He told me that his Conscience had no peace from the hour that he troubled me; And that it increased his Disquiet that no Justice would hear, nor oue Constable of forty execute the warrant, and all the people cryed out against him; But that which set home was Mr. Barwel's Death (for Sir Iohn Medlicot's he knew not of). I exhorted the Man to an Universal Repentance and Reformation of Life, and he told me he would never meddle in such Businesses, nor trouble any Man, and promised to live better himself than he had done.
§ 283. A little before Dr. Manton's Meeting also was surprized, and he having notice of it before, was absent, and got Mr. Bedford to preach for him: For it was resolved to have sent him to the Common Goal, upon the Oxford Act, as a refuser of the Oath, besides the penalty of a Conventicle: The justices were Mr. Ball (Brother to Dr. Ball Preacher at the Temple) the violentest of them, and Mr. Rose and Mr. Philips, the same two Men that had sent me to the Goal four years before; They offered Mr. Bedford the Oath, but it proved that he had taken it before, and so far defeated them: But he was fined accordingly to the Act in 20l. (and the place 40l.) which the Lord Wharton, the Countesses of Bedford, Manchester and Cl…re, and other hearers paid: But two of the Justices swore that he said, that the King did not in good earnest desire the execution of this Law; which he professed he never said); And for this the King sent him to Prison.
§ 284. An Accident at this time fell out, which occasioned a little seeming stop of my trouble; which I will relate as the Duke of Lauderdail told it me himself, who was present. The Lord Falcon-brigde being with the Bishop of Salisbury (Ward) after reported that the Bishop told him, that it was nothing of the Bishops, but of the Lord Treasurer, that the Act was thus Executed: The Lord Treasurer charged it as an injury on the Bishop: The Lord High Chamberlain (E. of Lindsey) told it Bishop Morley, who told it Bishop Ward, who went to the Lord Treasurer and Complained of it as a false injurious report of the Lord Falconbridge; The Lord Treasurer took him to the King, who sent for the Lord Falconbridge, who (before the King, the D. of Lauderdail, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord High Chamberlain, &c.) was accused by Bishop Ward for a false report of his words: The Lord Falconbridge could not make it good, but tho he spake not those very words, he took the Scope of his Speech to be of that Importance: The King (said the Duke to me) said [I must tell you this my self: I called the Bishops to give me their advice, what was to be done for the present securing of the Church, and the Protestant Religion, and they told me, that there was something to be done, but they thought it not safe for them to give advice in it: I told them that I took this for a Libel; and askt them who, or what they were afraid of: And I appointed these Lords to see them give their Answer. Among other passages the Lord Falconbridge said that the Bishop called the Execution of the Law [a trick]: The Bishop Answered [I said not that the Execution of the Law was a trick; but that to begin with Mr. Baxter was a trick of some, to make it thought that we are unreconcilable to the most moderate and peaceable Men.] And thus they were drawn in to give their seeming Judgment against my suffering (tho there was great reason to think that Papists and Prelates were the Contrivers of it.)
§ 285. For the better understanding of many of these matters, it must be known, that at 2 or 3 of the last Sessions of Parliament, Bishop Morley had, on all occasions in the Company of Lords, Gentlemen and Divines, cryed out of the danger of Popery, and talkt much for abatements, and taking in the Nonconformists, or else we are like all to fall into the Papists hands; so that there were no Lords or others for agreement, but he made himself the head of their Design, and so got an Interest still in the work, as the forwardest desirer of it: Dr. Fulwood, Mr. Collyer, and Divers others, came to me to advise about a way of Concord, as encouraged by this Bishop's words: I sent him word by them all, that I had heard these many years of these agreeing pe…emaking purposes and desires of his Lordship, but having known so much of his Endeavours to the contrary I intreated him by some Deeds to convince me of his sincerity, for till then I was not able to believe it. And the Event shewed that my incredulity was not without cause.
§ 286. At this Sessions of Parliament approaching, he set upon the same Course again, and Bishop Ward as his second and chief Coagent joyned with him, and they were famed to be the two Bishops that were for Comprehension and Concord, none so forward as they: At last Dr. Bates brings me a message from Dr. Tillot son Dean of Canterbury, that he and Dr. Stillingfleet desired a Meeting with Dr. Manton, Dr. Bates, Mr. Pool, and me, to treat of an Act of Comprehension and Union; and that they were encouraged to it by some Lords both Spiritual and Temporal. We met to consider whether such an Attempt was safe and prudent, or what was not offered by some Bishops, as a s…are to us: I told them my opinion, that Experience would not suffer any Charity to believe any better of some Bishops, but that they knew Dr. Stillingfleet and Dr. Tillotson to be the likeliest Men to have a hand in an Agreement, if such a thing should be attempted, and therefore that they would make themselves the Masters of it to defeat it, and no better issue was to be expected as from them: But yet that these two Doctors were Men of so much Learning, Honesty and Interest, that I took it as our Duty, to accept the offer, and to try with them, how far we could agree, and so try them first whether they would promise us secresy, unless it came to maturity to be further notified by Consent: And that we might hope for this Success, as quickly to agree with these two Men, and in time it might be some advantage to our desired Unity, that our Terms were such as these two worthy Men consented to.
§ 287. Accordingly Dr. Manton and I were desired by the rest to try them: We went to Dr. Tillotson, who promised Morley and Bishop Ward that had set them on work, and the Earl of Carlile and Halifax chiefly who encouraged them. Here-upon we agreed to meet the next week with him and Dr. Stillingfleet, to try how far we could agree on the Terms. I had before drawn up the form of an Healing Act, and read it to no one but Mr. Hampden, (who told me it would never pass): Before the next Meeting Dr. Manton was fain to abscond at the Lord Wharton's, being designed (as is aforesaid) to the Common Goal (such was the Treaty which we were invited to: But I went alone, and met the two Doctors: I found them sincere in the business, and conceited that Bishop Morley and Ward were so also. Upon their promise of secrecy, I freely told them my thoughts of the Bishop of Winchester, and what an attempt I had lately made with him (besides all heretofore) at the request of the Earl of Orery, and that after his Calls for Concord, he granted me no one abatement or alteration or indulgence desired: I shewed them the form of the Act which I had prepared; They desired me to leave it with them to consider on. Shortly after Dr. Tillotson brought me a Draught with several omissions and alterations: I drew up my own again, with some little alterations, required by his Draught: This he and I debated, till we came to an agreement of the whole: I was then desired to Communicate it to some Nonconforming Brethren: Dr. Manton was gone into the Countrey: Dr. Bates was sick: I Communicated it to Mr. Iohn Corbet, Mr. a…ents, Mr. Pool, Dr. Iacomb, and Mr. Humphrey: When we had made such further small Corrections as all agreed on, Mr. Pool and I were desired to meet the two Doctors for a further procedure. They met us, and we again read the Draught, but would give them no Copy; and agreed with them that they should take the present time while Bishop Morley was out of Town (as likest to frustrate) and to desire Bishop Ward, and Bishop Pierson of Chester (a Learned sober Man) to meet us, and to hear what we had agreed on, and promise us secrecy (Bishop Ward once came in upon us, when we were together, but withdrew.) They promised us to try it speedily: But when they had only in General told Bishop Ward, &c. how far we had gone, and how fair we were for Agreement, and told them some of the particular Materials, there was a full end of all the Treaty; The Bishops had no further to go: We had already carryed it too far. Hearing no more of the Doctors, we sent to know how the Case went, and understood by them, that their Hopes and Labours were at an end. I sent to Dr. Tillotson to know whether they would give me leave to tell any to promote our Concord, how far they agreed with us, that their Names might be some advantage to the work: And he wrote to me as followeth.
Apr. 11. 1675. Sir, I took the first opportunity after you were with us to speak to the Bishop of Sal. who promised to keep the matter private, and only to acqaint the Bishop of Ch. with it in order to a Meeting: But upon some General Discourse I plainly perceived several things could not be obtained: However he promised to appoint a time of Meeting, but I have not heard from him since: I am unwilling my Name should be used in this Matter; not but that I do most heartily desire an Accommodation, and shall always endeavour it: But I am sure it will be a prejudice to me, and signify nothing to the effecting of the thing, which as Circumstances are cannot pass in either House, without the Concurrence of a considerable part of the Bishops, and the Countenance of His Majesty; which at present I see little reason to expect. I am, Your affectionate Brother and Servant, Iohn Tillotson.
§ 288. A short time after told these Doctors what these same Bishops were even then contriving when they cryed up Agreement, and set them on this work, even to bring things much higher than they were, by putting on Oath on the Lords, Commons and Magistrates; of which more anon. But because some would know the Terms which we agreed on, I shall here annex the Form, to a word; only telling them that would understand it, 1. That it is not what we would have; had we our Choice, but what we would possibly hope might have been granted us: We had not the least hopes of more. 2. That we did not so annex the latter Particulars, as if we would not have been glad of the former alone, could no more be had: For the bare opening of the Door, for our Entrance, would have done something for a present shift. 3. That the passage that shortening Common Prayer in extraordinary Cases should not be punishable, had several uses, which unless we had opportunity here to open, as we debated it, cannot be suddenly understood by each Reader: And many will say that too much or too little is yielded, that know not our Circumstances and hear not our Reasons: But it may somewhat satisfy considering Men that both parties did agree in the form here annexed; tho the Bishops had rather all our Distractions and Miseries were by the greatest Cruelty continued.