Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times, Part 3 · Section 1 · Letter 7

Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times · Part 3 · Section 1 · Letter 7

p. 78To the Honourable Sir Rob. Murrey, this present.

IN General.

1. The External Government of the Church, is so called, 1. From the Object, because it is about the Body; and so it belongeth both to the King, and to the Pastor, who speak to Men as sensible and corporeal. 2. Or, from the Act of Governning; and so it belongeth also to both. For to Preach, and Admonish, and give the Sacrament of Baptism, by the Key of Admission, and to Excommunicate, &c. are outward Acts. 3. From the Matter of Punishment, when it is the Body immediately, or the Goods that are meddled with by Penalty: And so the Government belongeth to the King and Magistrates alone. But this is much plainlier and fitlier distinguished (as Bishop Bilson frequently, and Protestants ordinarily do) by the Terms of Governing, by the Sword, and by the Word: Or, by Co-active, and Spiritual and Pastoral Government (which is by Authoritative Persuasion, or by God's Word applied to the Conscience.)

p. 79II. Though there be an External Government in the two first Senses, given by Christ, as immediately to the Pastors as to the Prince, (they having the Keys of the Church, as immediately committed to them, as the Sword is to the Prince;) yet in the Exercise of their Office, in Preaching, Sacraments and Discipline, they are under the Civil Government of the King, who as he may see that Physicians, and all others in his Kingdom, do their Duties without gross abuse, so may he do by Pastors; tho' he cannot either assume to himself their Office, or prohibit it, yet he may govern them that use it, and see that they do it according to Christ's Law: So that under that Pretence he take not their proper Work into his own hand, nor hinder them from the true Exercise.

III. Though there are many things in the Frame of Canons which I am uncapable of judging of, as concerning another Kingdom, whose Case and Customs I am not perfectly acquainted with, yet I may say these three things of it in general.

1. That I am very glad to see no ensnaring Oaths, Declarations, Professions or Subscriptions in it; no not so much as a Subscription to these Canons themselves. For peaceable Men can live quietly and obediently under a Government, which hath many things in it which they dare not justifie or approve of. It is our Work to obey; it is the Magistrate's Work, and not ours to justifie all his own Commands and Orders before God, as having no Errors: Therefore it is pity to see Subjects so put upon that which is not their Work, upon the terrible Terms as some-where they are.

2. I conceive that this Frame will make a Nation happy or miserable, as the Men are who shall be chosen for the Work. The King having the choice of all the Bishops and Moderators, and the Commissioners having the Absolute Power of nullifying all, if Wise and Godly Bishops and Moderators be chosen, and moderate Commissioners, Piety will be much promoted by these Rules of Government. But if contrary, it will have contrary Effects.

3. Therefore supposing a choice of meet Persons, though the mixtures of the Magistrates and the Churches power here, be such as I cannot justifie (who had rather they were distinctly managed) yet I should be thankful to God, if we might see but as good a Frame of Canons well used in England, and should live peaceably, submissively, and gratefully under such a Government.

To the Particulars.

1. The Name of Bishop appropriated to the Diocesane, will stumble some, who have learned that every Church hath one Bishop (saith Ignatius) Et ubi Episcopus, ibi Ecclesia, saith Cyprian: Therefore they will think that you Un-Church all the Churches of the Land, save the Diocesane. And I could wish that the Name were fitted to the thing, to avoid Errour: but yet I think that none should stick much at this. because it is but de Nomine, and afterwards you seem to leave a true Governing Power, not only in the Presbyters, but in the Pastors and Elders of the Parish-Churches.

7. Seeing your Moderators are truly Bishops, as described (and others also, if the Parishes be true Churches) why is Ordination appropriated to the Bishops so called? Do you intend that he shall do it by Consent of his Synod, or a Presbytery; or by his own Power alone?

2. Is he to suspend, depose, and excommunicate by himself alone (as this General seems to intimate) or only in, and by Consent of his Synod, or Presbytery?

3. The same also I ask as to his [Transplanting Ministers as he sees useful:] for if he may do all this himself ad libitum, it may discourage a Man from meddling with the Ministery, when after all his Study and Labour, it is at the Bishop's pleasure whether he shall Preach, or be Suspended: For though you after say for what Faults he shall be Suspended, yet that signifieth nothing if the Bishop be Judge. Of Appeals as a dear Remedy, and doubtful Men will be diffident. And Transplanting may undo a Minister at the Bishop's Pleasure. And I doubt the absolute Deprival of the People of their Power of Consent, or Dissent, in this and other Cases, of Title to their proper Pastors, will be found 1. contrary to the nature of the Pastoral p. 80Work; 2. to the Scripture; 3. and to all Antiquity, and practice of the Catholick Church for many Hundred Years.

15. If it had been said, that none but such Bishops shall have power to pronounce the Major Excommunication, or that which is now called Excommunication in Scotland, to which Horning, &c. is annexed, it would have less founded to the contradiction of Antiquity, &c. For Suspension from the Communion, which you allow to particular Churches and Presbyteries, is called by many the minor Excommunication, and by some a Temporary Conditional Excommunication; and by others, (as Sir Wil. Morrice) is written against, as an unlawful thing, 'till some just Excommunication precede.

22. Might but the Moderator with his Presbytery (by consent) Ordain, it would more satisfie.

24. In Transplanting both Moderators and Pastors, should not either their own Consent, or the Presbytery's, or People's be made necessary?

31. The words of the Formula of Ordination will be material, as to honest Men's reception, or refusal of the Office.

32. The Office of a Pastor as instituted in Scripture, is not only to Baptize, and celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, but also to Judge by the power of the Keys, whom to Baptize, and to whom to give the Sacrament of Communion, that is, in Subordination to Christ's Prophetical, Preistly, and Kingly Office, to be his Minister in Office; 1. To teach the People; 2. To go before them in Worship; 3. To guide them by the Keys of Discipline. And he is no true Minister that wanteth any one of these Powers, however he may be hindered from the Exercise.

33. At least 1. Necessity ad finem; 2. Scripture; 3. And the Catholick Antiquity, should be so far regarded as to make the People's Consent necessary, though not their Election, at least when they do not by unreasonable Denial forfeit this Priviledge.

35. If this be a limitation of Can. 7. its well.

A. 3. viz. Supposing there be a tolerable Pastor there, and no notorious necessity; for some Parishes may have no Pastor, some worse than none, and some with us (as many in London-Parishes, Stepney, Giles, Cripplegate, Sepulchres, Martins, &c.) have more Souls than ten Men can Teach and Over-see: who must not therefore be forsaken and given up to Satan, what-ever we suffer for endeavouring their Salvation.

47. A Bishop, if he please, may thus causlesly keep most Ministers in his Diocess from Preaching the Gospel, for the most part of their Lives. I had rather be punished as a Rogue at a Whipping Post, before I am fully heard and judged, than have innocent Souls deprived of the usual means of their Salvation under pretence of Punishing me. At least, let no Suspension be valid, longer than the place is competently supplied by another.

48. Will no Mulcts or Stripes satisfie the Law. without Silencing Men, and forbidding them to endeavour Men's Salvation (before their Crimes are proved such as render them uncapable of that work?)

49. But hath the Synod or Presbytery a Negative Voice in his punishment, or not?

50. For Treason and Murder there is reason for it; but if every Man must be deposed from the Ministry, that did ever Curse, Swear, or had any scandalous Vice from his Child-hood, before his Ordination, or Conversion, I doubt the number left will be too small.

53. The old Canons distinguished: Some Crimes left so great a blot as made Men uncapable; others did not so. If such a War should break out, as between the Emperor Henry IV. &c. and the Pope; or between the Houses of York and Lancaster, the prevailing Party will force the Ministers to own him; and if the other Party after prevail, their Crime will be called Treason, and all the Churches left p. 81desolate, and the Peoples Souls forsaken by the Ministers perpetual incapacity; and the King's pardoning Power much restrained.

54. Why should it be left to the Bishop's Will, whether he will restore such a Penitent or not?

56. Peaceable Men will consent that no Ministers should be permitted to Preach, or Talk Seditiously against even those Rules of Government which they do not approve. But this Penalty is so high and severe, that few worthy Ministers will think their Station secure, but will prepare for Banishment. For,

1. These Rules are many.

2. And Derogatory is a large Word, and will extend far.

3. And there are few worthy Ministers that have no Drunkards, Fornicators, &c. for their Enemies to accuse them. E. g. if I lived in Scotland, and should but read Blondel de jure Plebis in regimine Ecclesiastico, and say, it is sound Doctrine, and this in Discourse at my own Table, I might be thus troubled, and banished, it being derogatory to that part of the King's Rules, as here exprest, which deprive the People of all power of Consent, &c. Is it not enough that this Paper of Canons be so far equalled with God's Word, yea, with the very Articles of our Faith, as that the open Oppugners of them have the same Penalty as open Hereticks (who of old were after a first and second Admonition to be avoided;) And surely I think even that this is too much; and yet I would have turbulent Preaching against the Government, or Endeavours openly to subvert it, restrained. But methinks after the first and second Admonition, a competent Mulct might do that sufficiently, till Men go so far as to be turbulent Incendiaries.

63. Shall the Presbytery have a Negative Voice in the Ordination, or be Cyphers?

66. It is well that the Elders Consent is required: but I think it should be the Congregation's: And what if the Elders dissent? Shall that hinder the Relation or not?

93. The number of chosen Ministers in National Synods, will be inconsiderable as to the rest.

96. The use of a National Synod (where all Bishops and Moderators are chosen by the King, and the Commissioner ruleth) being before-hand resolved to be [to Compile a Liturgy, and Rules for all Points of Divine Worship, with the Methods, Circumstances, and Rites to be observed therein;] Many knowing what Liturgy, Subscriptions, Declarations, and Rites, are pleasing to Authority in England, will imagine them in fier…, if not virtually set up already in Scotland, when these Rules are set up.

107. Publick Pennance—And why not? [and Suspension from Communion till penitent Confession be made.] But I know not why Compensations should serve instead of Confession, and Promise of Reformation (without which Money will not make a Man a Christian, nor fit for Church-Communion:) But for any other Pennance, besides one penitent Confession, and Promise of Amendment, and desire of the Churches Prayers for Pardon, I know nothing of it, and therefore meddle not with it.

132. [No Act, Order, nor Constitution] may be Expounded to reach to Scripture Constitutions and Orders, and the proper Acts of the Ministerial Office, if not better explained.

133. The Word [Ecclesiastical Meeting] may be interpreted of particular Synaxes or Congregations of a Parish for Worship, if not limited, which Convocating of the People is part of the Pastor's proper Office, and for a thousand Years was so accounted by the Catholick Church. And if in case of Discord or Heresie, a few Neighbour Ministers meet for a Friendly Conference, to cure it, it seemeth hard to charge them with Sedition.

140. If the Parties be able to come.

143. Many of these Faults should be Corrected by Mulcts, before Men be forbidden to Preach the Gospel. If every Man be Suspended (which I suppose is prohibiting him to Preach and Endeavour Mens Salvation) who useth unsound Speeches, Flattery, or Lightness, I doubt so many will talk themselves into Silence, that a sharp Prosecution will leave many Churches desolate.

145. But what if there be no Preachers to be had? May not the Suspended Preach?

p. 82146. Disobedience to some of the small Ecclesiastical Rules may be punished with Mulcts, without absolute Silencing, especially when able Preachers are wanting. Shall the instructing of the Peoples Souls so much depend on every Word in all these Canons?—But oh, that you would make that good in Practice that [Labouring to get Ecclesiastical Preferment] should be punished, if it were with less than Deposition: It would be a happy Canon.

147. But shall the Synod, or Presbytery carry by Vote, or not?

149. If every Church-Session have this power of Suspension, with power but to say [We declare you unfit for Communion of this particular Church, till you repent,] it would give me great Satisfaction, were I in Scotland. For to speak freely, I take these two Things to be of Divine Appointment. 1. That each particular Church have its proper Pastor, who have the Ministerial Power of Teaching, Worship, (Sacraments, Prayer, Praise) and Discipline; and I desire no more Discipline than you here grant, that is, Suspension from Communion in that particular Church, if also the Person may be declared unfit for it till he Repent. 2. That these Pastors hold such Correspondency as is necessary to the Union of the Churches in Faith and Love. And 3. For all the rest, I take them to be Circumstances of such prudential Determination, that I would easily submit to the Magistrates determination of them, so they be not destructive to the Ends: and would not have Ministers take too much of the trouble of them upon themselves, without necessity.

152. But then you seem here to retract the particular Churches Power again: For if a Man may be debarred the Communion for once sinning (by Fornication, Drunkenness, &c.) why not much more for doing again after Repentance? I differ more from this than all the rest: Is it not enough that the Party may Appeal to the Presbytery? And that the Sessions or Pastor be responsible for Male-Administration or Injury, if proved? This one Canon would drive me out of the Ministry in Scotland: I would never be a Pastor, where I must after the first Crime, ever after give the Sacrament to every flagitio…s Offender, till the Presbytery suspend him; unless they do it very quickly; which perhaps they may never do.

153, 154. No doubt but Iure Divino every true particular Church hath the Power of Excommunicating its own Members out of that particular Church-Communion: (Delivering up to Satan is a doubtful Phrase which I shall not stand on.) But an Excommunication which shall bind many Churches to avoid the Sinner, must be done, or Consented to, by those many Churches. Therefore Excommunication should be distinguished.

156. Sure some few [Ecclesiastical Rules and Proceedings] may be so low as that a Contempt of them may be easilyer punished than with this terrible Excommunication.

Impenitency must be joyned with Scandalous Sins, or else they make not the Person Excommunicable, as is implyed in what followeth.

162. No doubt but every Church may absolve its own Members from that sort of Excommunication which it self may pass: And so may a Presbytery. But if the Magistrate will have a more formidable, Diocesane or National Excommunication, and an answerable Absolution, those Circumstances are to be left to his Prudence, so be it, he deprive not each particular Pastor and Church, of their proper Power and Priviledge plainly found in Scripture, and used many hundred Years through the Catholick Church.

Honourable Sir, The Copy which you sent me goeth no further than to the Visitation of the Sick, viz. to Can. 176. And so much according as I was desired, I have freely and faithfully Animadverted. And in general, here are many excellent Canons, though of many things I cannot Judge, and those few Exceptions I humbly offer to your Consideration, craving your Pardon for this boldness, which I should not have been guilty of, if the worthy Messenger had not told me, that it was your desire. Sir, I rest

Your Humble Servant Rich. Baxter. Iuly, 22. 1670.

p. 83§ 173. I had forgotten one passage in the former War of great remark, which put me into an amazemeut: The Duke of Ormond, and Council, had the cause of the Marquess of Antrim before them, who had been one of the Irish Rebels in the beginning of that War, (when in the horrid Massacre two hundred thousand Protestants were murthered:) His Estate being sequestred, he sought his restitution of it, when King Charles II. was restored. Ormond, and the Council judged against him as one of the Rebels: He brought his cause over to the King, and affirmed that what he did was by his Father's Consent, and Authority. The King referred it to some very worthy Members of his Privy-Council, to examine what he had to shew: Upon Examination they reported that they found that he had the King's Consent, or Letter of Instructions for what he did, which amazed many: Hereupon His Majesty, Charles II. wrote to the Duke of Ormond and Council to restore his Estate, because it appeared to those appointed to examine it, that what he did was by his Father's Order or Consent: Upon this the Parliament's old Adherents grew more confident than ever of the righteousness of their Wars: And the very destroyers of the King (whom the first Parliamentarians called Rebels) did presume also to justifie their Cause, and said that the Law of Nature did warrant them.

But it stopt not here: For the Lord Mazarine, and others of Ireland, did so far prosecute the Cause, as that the Marquess of Antrim was forced to produce in the Parliament of England in the House of Commons, a Letter of the King's, (Cha I.) by which be gave him order for his taking up Arms: Which being read in the House, did put them into a Silence. But, yet so egregious was their Loyalty and veneration of Majesty, that it put them not at all one step out of the way which they had gone in. But the People without Doors talked strangely: Some said, Did you not perswade us that the King was against the Irish Rebellion? And that the Rebels belied him when they said that they had his Warrant or Commission? Do we not now see with what Mind he would have gone himself with an Army into Ireland to fight against them? A great deal more not here to be mentioned was vended seditiously among the People, the Sum of which was intimated in a Pamphlet which was Printed,**We are not meet Judges of the reasons of the Superiours actions. called, Murder will out; in which they published the King's Letter, and Animadversions on it. Some that were still Loyal to the King did wish, that the King that now is, had rather declared, that his Father did only give the Marquess of Antrim Commission to raise an Army as to have helped him against the Scots, and that his turning against the English Protestants in Ireland, and the murdering of so many hundred thousand there, was against his Will: But quod scriptum erat, scriptum erat. And though the old Parliamentarians expounded the Actions and Declarations both of the then King and Parliament, by the Commentary of this Letter, yet so did not the Loyal Royalists; or at least thought it no reason to make any change in their Judgments, or stop in their Proceedings against the English Presbyterians, and other Non-conformable Protestants.

§ 174. In the beginning of December 1670. The Duke of Ormond, as he was returning home to Clarendon House in the Night, was seized on by six Men, who set him on Horseback to have carried him away. But he was rescued before they could accomplish it.

Shortly after, some of his Majesty's Life-Guard surprized**This greatly displeased the Commons. Sir Iohn Coventrig, a Member of the House of Commons, and cut his Nose, which occasioned a great heat in the House, and at last that Act which is newly passed for preventing of the like. Many Murders and outrages, and cutting of Noses were committed also on other Persons. But the greatest Noise was made by certain Dukes and Lords that went in a torrent of Jovialty to a defamed House in a Street, called Whetstone-Park, and when the wretched Women cryed for help, the Beadle came in with some Watchmen, and they killed him presently. Whilst such things went on, the House of Commons was busie about an Act to make all forbidden Meetings for God's Worship, Preaching and Praying by the silenced Ministers, to be severelier yet punished as Routs and Riots.

p. 84§ 175. There happened a great rebuke to the Nobility and Gentry of Dublin in Ireland, which is related in their Gazette in these words. [Dubl. Dec. 27. Yesterday happened here a very unfortunate Accident: Most of the Nobility and Gentry being at a Play, at a publick Playhouse, the upper Galleries on a sudden fell all down, beating down the second, which together with all the People that were in them, fell into the Pit and lower Boxes: His Excellency, the Lord * Lieutenant, with his Lady, happened to be there, but thanks be to God escaped the Danger without any harm, part of the Box where they were remaining firm, and so resisting the Fall from above; only his two Sons were found quite buried under the Timber. The younger had received but little hurt, but the eldest was taken up de…d to all appearance, but having presently been let Blood, &c. recovered. There were many dangerously hurt, and seven or eight killed outright.]

So far the Gazette. About seventeen or eighteen died then, and of their Wounds. The first Letters that came to London of it, filled the City with the report, that it was a Play in scorn of Godliness, and that I was the Person acted by the Scorner, as a Puritan, and that he that represented me was set in the Stocks, when the fall was, and his Leg broke. But the Play was Ben. Iohnson's Bartholomew-Fair, with a sense added for the times, in the which the Puritan is called a Banbury Man, and I cannot learn that I was named, nor medled with more than others of my Condition, unless by the Actor's dress they made any such reflecting Intimations.

§ 176. The Lord Lucas, and the Earl of Clare made two vehemently cutting Speeches before the King (who now came frequently to the Lord's House.) The first declaring the frustration of their hopes, and the addition of much more to their sufferings, Calamities, and dangers since the King came in, and aggravated the stupendious expence of Moneys; and the of the Commons in a Bill then sent up for giving no less than three Millions (said he) at once, and provoking the Lords to stop their Excesses: The other was against the King's sitting so ordinarily in the Lord's House, and that without his Robes, &c. There were Copies of the Lord Lucas's Speech given out, which encreased the offence; and at last it was burned by the Hangman, and ere long he died.

§ 177. The Irish Men, called the Rebels, petitioned the King by the hands of Colonel Richard Talbot, a Papist, Servant to the Duke of York) for a re-hearing against the former Judgments that had deprived many of them of their Lands; that so they might be restored to them, and the English dispossessed, which offended the House of Commons as well as the English Nation, and caused some Votes, which signified their Offence, and the King at present cast aside their Petition.

§ 178. Lamentable Complaints came from the Protestants of France for the severities more and more used against them; their Churches pulled down, and after Montaban, their other University of Lanmors decreed to be prohibited.

§ 179. In the latter end of this Year, the Bishops and their Agents gave out their great fears of Popery, and greatly lamented that the Dutchess of York was turned Papist, and thereupon gave out that they greatly desired that some of the presbyterians (as they called even the Episcopal Nonconformists) might by some abatement of the New Oaths and Subscriptions have better invitation to conform in other things: Bishop Morley, Bishop Ward, and Bishop Dolbin spake ordinarily their desires of it; but after long talk there is nothing done, which maketh Men variously interpret their Pretensions, which time at last will more certainly expound. Some think that they are real in their desires, and that the …indrance is from the Court: And others say, they would never have been the grand causes of our present Case, if it had been against their Wills, and that if they are yet truly willing of any healing, they will shew it by more than their discourses, (as a Man would do when the City was on Fire, that had a mind to quench it) and that all this is but that the Odium may be diverted from themselves, while that which they take on them to fear, is accomplished. But I hope yet they are not so bad as this Censure doth suppose. But it's strange that those same Men that so easily led the Parliament to what is done (when they had p. 85given the King thanks for his Declaration about Ecclesiastical Affairs) can do nothing to bring them to moderate abatements, and the healing of our Breaches, if they are truly willing. For my part, I suspend my Judgment of their Intents, till the Event shall make me understand it. Grant Lord that it be not yet too late; for Charity commandeth us to take nothing of others minds for certain, till we have certain Proof; how perilous soever our Charitable hopes may prove.

§ 180. Mr. Bagshaw wrote a Second Book against my Defence, full of untruths, which the furious, temerarious Man did utter, or the rashness of his Mind, which made him so little heed what he had read, and answered, as that one would scarce think he had ever read my Book: I replied to him in an Admonition, telling him of his mistakes. To which he pretended a Rejoinder in a third Libel, but I found as I was told, that his design was to silence almost all that I said, and to say all that he thought might make me odious, because that those that read his Books would not read mine, and so would believe him, and be no whit informed by my answers at all.

§ 181. This same year 1671. I was desired by my Friend and Neighbour, Mr. Iohn Corbet, to write somewhat to satisfie a good man that was fallen into deep melancholly, feeding it daily with the thoughts of the number that will be damned, and tempted by it to constant Blasphemy against the goodness of God, who could save them, and would not, but decreed their damnation: And I wrote a few Sheets, called, The vindication of God's Goodness, which Mr. Corbet with a prefixed Epistle published.

§ 182. Also Dr. Ludov. Molineus was so vehemently set upon by the crying down of the Papal, and Prelatical Government, that he thought it was the work that he was sent into the World for, to convince Princes that all Government was in themselves, and no proper Government, but only Perswasion belonged to the Churches; to which end he wrote his Paraenesis contra aedificatores Imperii in Imperio, and his Papa Vltrajectinus, and other Tractates, and thrust them on me, to make me of his mind; and at last wrote his Iugulum Causae, with no less than seventy Epistles before it, directed to Princes and men of Interest, among whom he was pleased to put one to me. The good Man meant rightly in the main, but had not a head sufficiently accurate for such a Controversie, and so could not perceive that any thing could be called properly Government, that was no way coactive by Corporal Penalties: To turn him from the Erastian Extreme, and end that Controversie by a Reconciliation, I published an Hundred Propositions conciliatory, and of the difference between the Magistrate's power, and the Pastor's.

§ 183. Also one Dr.††He is now the worthy but envied Pastor of Giles's Cripplegase Church. Edward Fowler (a very ingenious sober Conformist) wrote two Books: One an… Apology for the Latitudinarians, as they were then called; the other entitled, Holyness the design of Christianianity; in which he sometimes put in the word [only] which gave offence, and the Book seemed to some to have a scandalous design, to obscure the Glory of free Iustification, under pretence of extolling Holiness as the only design of Man's Redeemption: Which occasioned a few Sheets of mine on the said Book and Question for reconciliation, and clearing up of the Point: Which when Mr Fowler saw, he wrote to me to tell me that he was of my Judgment, only he had delivered that more generally which I opened more particulary, and that the word [only] was Hyperbolically spoken, as I had said; but he spake feelingly against those quarrelsome men that are readier to censure than to understand. I returned him some advice to take heed, lest their weakness, and censoriousness, should make him too angry and impatient with Religious People as the Prelates are, and so run into greater Sin than theirs, and favour a looser Party because they are less censorious. To which he returned me so ingenious and hearty thanks, as for as great Kindness as ever was shewed him, as told me that free and friendly Counsel to wise and good men is not lost.

§ 184. I was troubled this Year with multitudes of melancholly Persons, from several Parts of the Land, some of high Quality, some of low, some very exquisitely learned, some unlearned; (as I had in a great measure been above twenty years before.) I know not how it came to pass, but if men fell melancholly, I must hear from them or see them (more than any Physician that I know.) Which I mention only for these three uses to the Reader; that out of all their Cases I have gathered. 1. That we must very much take heed p. 86lest we ascribe Melancholy Phantasms and Passions to God's Spirit: for they are strange apprehensions that Melancholy can cause (though Bagshaw revile me for such an intimation, as if it were injurious to the Holy Ghost.) 2. I would warn all young Persons to live modestly, and keep at a sufficient distance from Objects that tempt them to carnal Lust, and to take heed of wanton Dalliance, and the beginnings or Approaches of this Sin, and that they govern their Thoughts and Senses carefully. For I can tell them by the sad Experience of many, that venerous Crimes leave deep wounds in the Conscience; and that those that were never guilty of Fornication, are oft cast into long and lamentable Troubles, by letting Satan once into their Phantasies, from whence 'till Objects are utterly distant, he is hardly got out; especially when they are guilty of voluntary active Self-pollution. But above all I warn young Students, and Apprentices, to avoid the beginnings of these Sins; for their Youthfulness and Idleness are oft the incentives of it, when poor labouring Men are in less danger; and they little know what one Spark may kindle. 3. I advise all Men to take heed of placing Religion too much in Fears, and Tears, and Scruples; or in any other kind of Sorrow, but such as tendeth to raise us to a high Estimation of Christ, and to the magnifying of Grace, and a sweeter taste of the Love of God, and to the firmer Resolution against Sin: And that Tears and Grief. be not commended inordinately for themselves, nor as meer Signs of a Converted Person: And that we call Men more to look after Duty than after Signs as such; …t Self-love on Work and spare not; so you will call them much more to the Love of God, and let them know that that Love is their best sign, but yet to be exercised on a higher Reason, than as a sign of our own Hopes: for that Motive alone will not produce true Love to God. And as the Antinomians. too much exclude Humiliation and signs of Grace, so too many of late have made their Religion to consist too much in the seeking of these out of their proper time and place, without referring them to that Obedience, Love and Joy, in which true Religion doth principally consist.

Reader, I do but transcribe these three Counsels for thee, from a Multitude of Melancholy Persons sad Experiences.

§ 185. This Year Salisbury-Diocess was more fiercely driven on to Conformity, by Dr. Seth Ward, their Bishop, than any place else, or than all the Bishops in England besides did in theirs. Many Hundreds were Prosecuted by him with great Industry. And among others, that learned, humble, holy Gentleman, Mr. Thomas Grove, an Ancient Parliament-Man; of as great Sincerity and Integrity, as almost any Man I ever knew: He stood it out a while in a Law-Suit, but was overthrown, and fain to forsake his Countrey, as many Hundreds more are quickly like to do.

§ 186. And his Name remembreth me, that Ingenuity obligeth me to Record my Benefactor. A Brother's Son of his, Mr. Rob. Grove, is one of the Bishop of London's Chaplains, who is the only Man that Licenseth my Writings for the Press, (supposing them not to be against Law, which else I could not expect;) And besides him alone, I could get no Licenser to do it. And because being Silenced, Writing is the far greatest part of my remaining Service to God for his Church, and without the Press my Writings would be in vain, I acknowledge that I owe much to this Man, and one Mr. Cook, the Arch-bishop's Chaplain heretofore, that I live not more in vain.

§ 187. And while I am acknowledging my Benefactors, I add, that this Year died Serjeant Iohn Fountain, the only Person from whom I received an Annual Sum of Money; which though through God's Mercy I needed not, yet I could not in Civility refuse: He gave me 10l. per Ann. from the time of my Silencing 'till his Death: I was a Stranger to him before the King's Return; save that when he was Judge (before he was one of the Keepers of the Great Seal) he did our Countrey great Service against Vice. He was a Man of a quick and sound Understanding, an upright impartial Mind and Life, of too much testiness in his weakness, but of a most believing serious Fervency towards God, and open zealous owning of true Piety and Holiness (without owning the little Partialities of Sects) as most Men that ever I came near in Sickness: When he lay sick, (which was almost a Year) he sent to the Judges and Lawyers that sent to visit him, such Answers as these: [I thank your Lord, or Master, for his kindness: Present my Service to him, and tell him, It is a p. 87great Work to Die well; his time is near; all worldly Glory must come down; intreat him to keep his Integrity, over-come Temptations, and please God, and prepare to Die.] He deeply bewailed the great Sins of the Times, and the Prognosticks of dreadful things which he thought we were in danger of: And though in the Wars he suffered Imprisonment for the King's Cause, towards the end he came from them, and he greatly feared an inundation of Poverty, Enemies, Popery and Infidelity.

§ 188. The great Talk this Year was of the King's Adjourning the Parliament again for about a Year longer; and whether we should break the Triple League, and desert the Hollanders, &c.

§ 189. Before they were Adjourned, I secretly directed some Letters to the best of the Conforming Ministers, telling them how much it would conduce to their own, and the Churches Interest, if they that might be heard, would become Petitioners for such Abatements in Conformity, as might let in the Non-conformists, and unite us; seeing two things would do it. 1. The removal of Oaths and Subscriptions, save our Subscription to Christianity, the Scriptures, and the 39 Articles, and the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. 2. To give leave to them that cannot use all the Liturgy and Ceremonies, to be but Preachers in those Churches where they are used by others; submitting to Penalties if ever they be proved to Preach against the Doctrine, Government, or Worship of the Church, or to do any thing against Peace, or the Honour of the King and Governours. But I could get none to offer such a Petition. And when I did but mention our own petitioning the Parliament, those that were among them, and familiar with them, still laught at me for imagining that they were reasonable Creatures, or that Reason signified any thing with them in such Matters. And thus we were Silenced every way.

§ 190. During the Mayoralty of Sir Samuel Sterling, many Jury's Men in London were Fined and Imprisoned by the Judge, for not finding certain Quakers guilty of violating the Act against Conventicles. They Appealed and sought remedy. The Judges remained about a Year in suspense; and then by the Lord Chief Justice Vaughan delivered their Resolution against the Judge for the Subject's Freedom from such force of Fines, that when he had in a Speech of two or three Hours long, spoke vehemently to that purpose, never thing, since the King's Return, was received with greater Joy and Applause by the People; and the Judges still taken for the Pillars of Law and Liberty.

§ 191. The Parliament having made the Laws against Nonconformists Preaching, and private Religious Meetings, &c. so grinding and terrible as aforesaid, the King (who consented to those Laws) became the sole Patron of the Nonconformist's Liberties; not by any Abatements by Law, but by his own Connivance as to the Execution, the Magistrates for the most part doing what they perceived to be his Will. So that Sir Rich. Ford, all the time of his Mayoralty in London (though supposed one of their greatest and most knowing Adversaries) never disturbed them. The Ministers in several Parties were oft encouraged to make their Addresses to the King, only to acknowledge his Clemency by which they held their Liberties; and to profess their Loyalty: Sir Iohn Babor introduced Dr. Manton, and some with him; Mr. Ennis, a Scotch Non-conformist by Sir Rob. Murray, introduced Mr. Whittakers, Dr. Annesley, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Vincent's. The King (as they say themselves) told them, That though such Acts were made, He was against Persecution, and hoped ere long to stand on his own Legs, and then they should see how much he was against it. By this means many score Nonconformable Ministers in London kept up Preaching in private Houses: Some 50, some 100, many 300, and many 1000, or 2000 at a Meeting, by which for the present, the City's Necessities were much supplied. For very few burnt Churches were yet built up again, (about 3 or 4 in the City) which yet never moved the Bishops to relent, and give any Favour to the Preaching of Nonconformists. And though the best of England of the Conformists, for the most part, were got up to London, alas! they were but few: And the most of the Religious People were more and more alienated from the Prelates and their Churches.

§ 192. Those that from the beginning thought they saw plainly what was doing, lamented all this: They thought that it was not without great Wit, that seeing only a Parliament was trusted before the King with the People's Liberties, and could raise p. 88a War against him, (Interest ruling the World) it was contrived that this Parliament should make the severest Laws against the Nonconformists to grind them to dust, and that the King should allay the Execution at his pleasure, and become their Protector against Parliaments; and they that would not consent to this should suffer. And indeed, the Ministers themselves seemed to make little doubt of this: But they thought, 1. That if Papists shall have liberty, it is as good for them also to take theirs, as to be shut out: 2. And that it is not lawful for them to refuse their present Liberty, though they were sure that Evil were design'd in granting it. 3. And that before Men's desig…s can come to ripeness, God hath many ways to frustrate them, and by drawing one Pin, can let fall the best contrived Fabrick. But still remember, that all Attempts to get any Comprehension (as it was then called) or abatement of the Rigour of the Laws, or Legal Liberty and Union, were most effectually made void.

§ 193. At this time there was Printed in Holland, the Thesis, or Exercise Performed at the Commencement, for the Degree of Dr. of Law, by one of the King's Subjects, a Scots-Man, Rob. Hamilton: In which he largely proveth the Necessity of a standing Treasury in a Kingdom, and the power of the King to raise it, and impose Tributes without the People's Consent, and Dedicating it to the King, and largely applying it to England, he sheweth that Parliaments have no Legislative Power but what the King giveth them, who may take it from them when He seeth Cause, and put them down, and raise Taxes according to his own Discretion, without them: And that Parliaments and M…gna Charta, are no impediments to him, but Toys; and that what Charter the former Kings did grant, could be no Band on their Successors (forgetting that so he would also disoblige the People from the Agreements made by their Predecessors (as e. g. that this Family successively shall rule them, &c.) with much more. Whom Fame made to be the Animater of this Tractate, I pass by.

§ 194. There was this Year a Man much talk'd of for his Enterprises, one Major Blood, an English-man of Ireland. This Man had been a Soldier in the old King's Army against the Parliament, and seeing the Cause lost, he betook himself towards Ireland, to live upon his own Estate. In his way he fell in Company with the Lancashire Ministers, who were then Writing against the Army, and against all violence to King or Parliament. Blood being of an extraordinary Wit, falls acquainted with them, and not thinking that the Presbyterians had been so true to the King, he is made the more capable of their Counsel; so that in short he became a Convert, and married the Daughter of an honest Parliament Man of that Countrey: And after this in Ireland he was a Justice of Peace, and Famous for his great Parts and upright Life, and success in turning many from Popery. When the King was Restored, and he saw the old Ministers Silenced in the Three Kingdoms, and those that had Surprized Dublin-Castle for the King from the Anabaptists, cast aside, and all things go contrary to his Judgment and Expectation, being of a most bold and resolute Spirit, he was one that plotted the Surprizing of the D. of Ormond, and of Dublin Castle. But being de…ected and prevented, he fled into England: There he lived disguised, practising Physick, called Dr. Clarke, at Rumford, When some Prisoners were carried to be put to Death at York, for a Plot, he followed and Rescued them, and set them free: At last it was found to be He, with his Son, and three or four more, that attempted to Surprize the D. of Ormond; and to have carried him to Holland, where he had a Bank of Money, and to have made him there to pay his Arrears. Missing of that Exploit, he made a bolder Attempt, even to fetch the King's Crown and Jewels out of the Tower; where pretending Friendship to the Keeper of it, He, with two more (his Son, and one Perrot) suddenly Gagg'd the old Man, and when he cryed out, he struck him on the Head, but would not kill him, and so went away with the Crown. But as soon as ever they were gone, the Keeper's Son cometh in, and finds his Father, and heareth the Cafe, and runs out after them, and Blood, and his Son, and Perrot were taken. Blood was brought to the King, and expected Death; but he spake so boldly that all admired him: telling the King, How many of his Subjects were disobliged, and that he was one that took himself to be in a State of Hostility: and that he took not the Crown as a Thief, but an Enemy, thinking that lawful which was lawful in a War; and that he could many a time have had the King in his power, but that he thought his Life was better for them than his p. 89Death, lest a worse succeed him; and that the number of Resolute Men disobliged were so great, as that if his Life were taken away, it would be revenged: That he intended no hurt to the Person of the D. of Ormond, but because he had taken his Estate from him, he would have forced him to restore the value in Money: and that he never Robb'd, nor shed Blood, which if he would have done, he could easily have kill'd Ormond, and easily have carried away the Crown. In a word, he so behaved himself, that the King did not only release and pardon him, but admit him frequently to his presence. Some say, because his Gallantry took much with the King, having been a Soldier of his Father's: Most say, That he put the King in fear of his Life, and came off upon Condition that he would endeavour to keep the discontented Party quiet.

§ 195. Mr. Bagshaw (in his rash and ignorant Zeal, thinking it a Sin to hear a Conformist, and that the way to deal with the Persecutors was to draw all the People as far from them as we could, and not to hold any Communion with any that did Conform) having Printed his Third Reviling Libel against me, called for my Third Reply, which I Entitled [The Church told of, &c.] But being Printed without License, Lestrange, the Searcher, Surprized part of it in the Press (there being lately greater Penalties laid on them that Print without License, than ever before:) And about the Day that it came out, Mr. Bagshaw died (a Prisoner, though not in Prison:) Which made it grievous to me to think that I must seem to write against the Dead. While we wrangle here in the dark, we are dying and passing to the World that will decide all our Controversies: And the safest Passage thither is by peaceable Holiness.

§ 196. About Ian. 1. the King caused his Exchequer to be shut up: So that whereas a multitude of Merchants, and others, had put their Money into the Banker's hands, and the Bankers lent it to the King, and the King gave Order to pay out no more of it, of a Year, the murmur and complaint in the City was very great, that their Estates should be (as they called it) so surprized: And the rather, because it being supposed …o be in order to the Assisting of the French in a War against the Dutch, they took a Year to be equal to perpetuity, and the stop to be a loss of all, seeing Wars use to increase Necessities, and not to supply them. And among others, all the Money (and Estate, except 10l. per Ann. for 11 or 12 Years) that I had in the World of my own (not given away to others, whom Charity commanded me to give it to for their Maintenance, before) was there: which indeed was not my own; which I will mention to Counsel any Man that would do good, to do it speedily, and with all their might. I had got in all my Life the just Sum of 1000l. Having no Child, I devoted almost all of it to a Charitable Use (a Free-School, &c.) I used my best and ablest Friends for 7 Years with all the Skill and Industry I could, to help me to some Purchase of House or Land to lay it out on, that it might be accordingly setled: And though there were never more Sellers, I could never by all these Friends hear of any that Reason could encourage a Man to lay it out on as secure, and a tolerable Bargain: So that I told them, I did perceive the Devil's Resistance of it; and did verily suspect that he would prevail, and I should never settle, but it would be lost: So hard is it to do any good when a Man is fully resolved, that divers such Observations verily confirm me, That there are Devils that keep up a War against Goodness in the World.

§ 197. The great Preparations of the French to invade the Vnited Provinces, and of the English to assist them, do make now the Protestants Hearts to tremble, and to think that the Low Countries will be Conquered, and with them the Protestant Cause deeply endangered: (Though their vicious worldly Lives deserve God's Judgments on themselves; yet they are a great part of the Protestants Humane Strength.) But the Issue must expound God's purposes, without which Men's Designs are vain.

§ 198. This Year a new Play-House being built in Salisbury-Court in Fleet-Street, called the Duke of York's, the Lord Mayor (as is said) desired of the King, that it might not be; the Youth of the City being already so corrupted by Sensual Pleasures; but he obtained not his desire: And this Ian. 1671. the King's Play-House in Drury p. 90Lane took Fire, and was burnt down, but not alone, for about fifty or sixty Houses adjoyning, by Fire and blowing up, accompanied it.

§ 199. A Stranger, calling himself Sam. Herbert, wrote me a Letter against the Christian Religion, and the Scriptures, as charging them with Contradictions, and urged me to answer them, which I did: And his Name inviting my memory, I adjoyned an Answer to the Strength of a Book heretofore written, by Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury, some-time Ambassador in France, the Author of the History of Henry VII. called de Veritate, being the most powerful Assault against the Christian Religion, placing all the Religion that's certain, in the Common or Natural Notices: I entitled the Book, More Reasons for the Christian Religion, and none against it: Or, a Second Appendix to the Reason for the Christian Religion.

§ 200. The foresaid Mr. Hinkley by his impertinent Answer to my former Letters, extorted from me a large Reply; but when I was sending it him in Writing, I heard that he intended to Print some scraps of it with his Papers, the better to put them off: Whereupon I sent him word he should not have them, till he satisfied me that he would not so abuse them, &c. The rather because, 1. The Subject of them was much to prove that the War was raised in England by an Episcopal Parliament, jealous of other Episcopal Men, as to Popery and Propriety. 2. And it was so much against Diocesanes, and their new Oaths, as would much displease them, 3. And in a sharper stile than was fit for publick View: And as to the first Reason, I was afraid lest any Papists would lay hold of it, to make any Princes, that already hate the the Non-conformists, and Presbyterians, to hate the Conformists and Prelatists also; and so to seem themselves the most Loyal: And I had rather they hated, and cast off the Non-conformists alone, than both. This mindeth me to add that.

§ 201. About a Year ago one Henry Fowlis, Son to Sir David Fowlis, an Oxford Man, who had wrote against the Presbyterians with as filthy a Language almost as a man in his Wits could do, having written also against the Papists, His Book (after his Death) was Printed in a large Folio, so opening the Principles and Practices of Papists against Kings, their Lives and Kingdoms, by multitudes of most express Citatio…s from their own Writers, that the like hath not before been done by any Man; nor is there extant such another Collection on that Subject (though he left out the Irish Massacre:) But whereas the way of the Papists is, to make a grievous Complaint against any Book, that is written effectually against them, as injurious (as they did against Pet. Moulin's Answer to Philanax Anglicus, and against Dr. Stillingfleet's late Book) or the contrary; this Book being copious true Citations and History, is so terrible to them, that their method is to say nothing of it, but endeavour to keep it unknown; for of late they have left the disputing way, and bend all their endeavours to creep into Houses, and pervert Persons in secret; but especially to insinuate into the Houses and Fantiliarity of all the Rulers of the World, where they can be received.

§ 202. The Death of some, the worthy Labours, and great Sufferings of others, maketh me remember that the just characterizing of some of the Ministers of Christ, that now suffered for not swearing, subscibing, declaring, conforming, and for refusing Re-ordination, is a duty which I owe to the honour of God's Graces in them. But because no Man can expect that I should be so voluminous as to describe particularly all the Eighteen hundred silenced, I shall but tell you what my own Neighbours were, not speaking by hearsay, but personal acquaintance; herein imitating Thuanus, Micrelius, and many others in the truth and brevity of the Character, but giving you nothing of any unknown Person by bare report.

1. In the County where I lived, in Worcester City, was silenced Mr. Ioseph Baker, born in Stourbridge (whose Wifes Funeral Sermon and Life I printed.) He was a Lear… ed Man, of a blameless Life, Preaching constantly, Catechising the People, and conferring with the several Families (especially before he first admitted them to the Lord's Supper) personally: But of extraordinary Prudence, Calmness, Patience, Gravity… and Soundness of Judgment; neither for Prelacy, Presbytery, nor Independency, as then formed into Parties; but for that which was …ound in all the Parties, and for Concord upon such Catholick terms: The Parish of St. Andrews, where he was Minister, had but about six Pound a year maintenance, of p. 91which he took none, but gave it to a Woman to teach the poor Children of the Parish to read, living upon his own, and some small augmentation granted by the Parliament.

2. At the Cathedral, Mr. Simon Moor was silenced, an old Independent, who somewhat lost the Peoples Love, upon Reasons which I here omit.

3. In the same City was silenced Mr Iuice, (his Son-in-Law) a moderate Independent, and a sober, grave, serious, peaceable, blameless, able Minister.

4. In the same City was silenced Mr. Fincher, a moderate Independent, a zealous able Preacher, of a good Life.

5. At Kemsey, was put out Mr. Tho. Bromwich, an ancient, reverend, able Minister, of an upright Life: But when Bishop Morley was there, and Mr. Collier of Blockley had conformed, he was over-perswaded to take the Declaration: But before he came to profess his Assent and Consent openly, and fully to conform, he was cast into great and long distress of Conscience, and went no farther: But yet by Preaching he used that Liberty that he had so procured.

6. At Vpton, upon Severn, was silenced Mr. Benjamin Baxter, Son to that old holy, reverend Mr. George Baxter, Pastor at little Wenlock in Shropshire, near the Wrekon-Hill, who lived there till about eighty six years of Age, in the constant faithful Preaching and practising of the Gospel. His Son now mentioned was a Preacher of extraordinary Skill, especially in matter and method, so that few that ever I heard excelled him: He lived uprightly to near fifty seven Years of Age, and suffered much by the lowness of his Estate by his Ejection, who before had lived plentifully.

7. His Brother, Mr. Stephen Baxter, though below him in utterance, was of a solid Understanding, and a calm, peaceable Spirit, most humble, and blameless in his Life, and liveth since his silencing in the practise of Physick.

8. At Evesham was silenced Mr. George Hopkins, Son to Mr. William Hopkins, the most eminent, wise, and truly Religious magistrat of Bewdley, (my old dear Friend) at last a member of the long Parliament. This his Son, having long been Pastor at Evesham, was many Years silenced; and when the Oxford Oath came out, he was over perswaded to take it, in his own Sence, and so not to be forced five miles from the People: But he died either on, or very near the same day that he should have had the benefit of it: He was a very judicious, godly, moderate, peaceable, and upright man: He hath one Writing extant, called Salvation from Sin.

9. At Martley was silenced and ejected Mr. Ambrose Sparry, heretofore School-master at Stourbridge, where he was born; he was an ancient sober, peaceable, moderate, humble, godly, judicious man; formerly for the Conformists, but now cast out among the rest: But his great Prudence, and moderation, and Learning, and the chief of Stourbridge being his Friends, caused the Chancellor to connive at last at his teaching the School at Stourbridge again, where he had been in his Youth, where he is yet connived at, and liveth with great acceptance, though he was a while maliciously laid in Goal.

10. At Bewdley was silenced Mr. Henry Oatland, the most lively, servent, moving Preacher in all the County, of an honest, upright Life, who rode about, from place to place Preaching fervently, and winning many Souls to God, besides all his very great Labours with his own People, publickly, and from House to House: And he yet continueth Preaching up and down privately where he can have opportunity, with zeal and diligence: And though those that excelled others in zealous Preaching and acceptance with the People, were apter to be carried (in my Judgment) a little too far from Conformity, and the Prelate's Indignation against the Church-Tyranny, but not at all forsaking Orthodox, and sound Principles, yet so was not he.

11. At Stourbridge was silenced Mr. Iarvis Bryan, Brother to Dr. Bryan of Coventry, a most humble, upright, faithful Minister, of a blameless Life, and sound Doctrine.

12. At Stone was silenced Mr. Richard Serjeant, formerly my Assistant, a man of such extraordinary Prudence, Humility, Sincerity, Self-denial, Patience, and blamelessness of Life; that I know not of all the Years that he assisted me, of any one person, in Town or Parish, that was against him, or that ever accused him of saying or doing any thng amiss. So that though many excelled him in Learning and utterance, yet none that ever I knew, as far as I could Judge, in p. 92Innocency and Sincerity; which made him beloved of all above many abler Men.

13. At Broom was silenced Mr. Humphrey Waldern, my Assistant after Mr. Serjeant, exactly agreeing in the same Character I gave him, in the next degree; of good Learning and Utterance.

14. At Womborne was silenced Mr. Wilsby, an ancient, judicious, peaceable, moderate Divine (who had long kept one of the most learned of the Prelatists in his House.) At**… Bremicham, where he lived privately, he was troubled by Sir Robert Holt, but (under many Infirmities) is yet alive, a man of humility, and an unblameable Life. I mention not the Judgment of any of these, that I may say of all together, that as far as I could perceive, they were neither for Prelacy, Presbytery, or Independency, as now in Parties, but as I said of them before, of the primitive temper, for Concord, on the Terms that all sound and good men are agreed in, and for the practice of that, rather than contending about more: And of the primitive extraordinary Humility and Innocency.

15. The same I must say of Mr. Andrew Tristram, first of Clent, then silenced at Bridgnorth, a Man of more than ordinary ability in Preaching and Prayer, and of an upright Life, and now a Physician.

16. The same I must say of Mr. Iohn Reignolds, silenced at Wolverhamptom, a Man of more than ordinary Ability, for Learning and Preaching, and now also a Physician.

17. At Avely was silenced Mr. Lovel, formerly Schoolmaster at Walverley, who having been supposed still to be not only against the Parliament's Cause, but for the Prelates and Conformity, and never coming into our ministerial Meetings, where we monthly kept up disputations and Discipline, but only extraordinary constant at my Lecture at Kiderminster, he was as a stranger to us all, till the silencing time came, and then he suffered with the most patient and resolved, and hath since appeared, on fuller notice, a prudent and very worthy Man, and is yet living in his patient Silence, aged about sixty two.

18. At Bromsgrove was silenced Mr. Iohn Spilsbury, born in Bewdley, a man accounted an Independent, but of extraordinary worth, for moderation, peaceableness, ability, and ministerial diligence, and an upright Life.

19. At Whitley was silenced Mr. Ioseph Read, born in Kiderminster, and sent by me to Cambridge, and after living in my House, and for one Year my assistant at Kiderminster, a man of great sincerity, and worth.

20. At Churchil was cast out Mr. Edward Boucher, another young man, born in Kiderminster-Parish, of great humility, sincerity, peaceableness, and good ministerial parts; Brother to Iames Boucher, a Husbandman, who can but write his Name, and is of as good understanding in Divinity as many Divines of good account, and moreable in Prayer than most Ministers that ever I heard. And of so calm a Spirit, and blameless a life, that I never saw him laugh, or sad, nor ever heard him speak an idle Word, nor ever heard Man accuse him of a sinful Word or Deed, which I note with Joy, and to tell the Reader, that he, and others of his Temper, in Kiderminster, did by their Example exceedingly farther my success.

21. At Clent was silenced Mr. Tho. Baldwin, a godly, calm, sober Preacher, of a blameless Life.

22. From Chaddesley was cast out Mr. Thomas Baldwin, Senior, who had been our Schoolmaster at Kiderminster, sent to me by Mr. Vines from Cambridge; a good Schollar, a sober, calm grave, moderate, peaceable minister, whose Conversation I never heard one Person blame, for any one Word or Deed; an extraordinary Preacher: Wherefore I desired when I was driven from Kiderminster, that the People would be ruled by him and Mr. Serjeant, and he liveth yet among them, and teacheth them privately from House to House. He was present with me when I had Conference with Bishop Morley when he silenced me, and the witness of our Discourse; which; with the imprisonment of the most Religious and blameless of the Flock, and the experience of the Quality of some Preachers that were sent to the People in my stead, and the rest of the havock made in the Churches, did alienate him so much from Prelacy, and Conformity, and the People with him, that though afterward they got a godly, Conformable Minister, I could not get them to Communicate with him, though I got them constantly to hear him.

p. 93On this occasion I will mention the great Mercy of God to that Town and Country in the raising of one Man, Mr. Thomas Foley, who, from almost nothing, did get about five Thoosand Pound per Annum, or more, by Iron-works, and that with so just and blameless Dealing, that all Men that ever he had to do with, that ever I heard of, magnified his great Integrity and Honesty, which was questioned by none: And being a Religious, Faithful Man, he purchased among other Lands, the Patronage of several great places, and among the rest of Stourbridge and Kiderminster, and so chose the best Conformable Ministers to them that could be got: And not only so, but placed his Eldest-Son's Habitation in Kiderminster, which became a great Protection and Blessing to the Town; having placed two Families more elsewhere of his two other Sons, all three Religious worthy Men. And in thankfulness to God for his Mercies to him, built a well-founded Hospital near Stourbridge, to teach poor children to read and write, and then set them Apprentices, and endowed it with about five hund Pounds a Year per Annum: Such worthy Persons, and such strange Prosperity, and holy use of it are so rare, and the interest of my poor Neighbours in it so great, that I thought meet to mention it to God's Praise and his.

§ 203. There were more Ministers silenced of that Countrey, but I will not be tedious i… naming more of them. A word of the other places where I my self had lived. In Coventry, both the Ministers were cast out. 1. Dr. Iohn Bryan, an ancient Learned Divine, of a quick and active Temper, very humble, faithful, and of a Godly, upright Life, who had so great a fitness to teach and educate Youth, that there have gone out of his House more worthy Ministers into the Church of God, than out of many Colledges in the University in that time. And he had three Sons that were all worthy Non-conformable Ministers, all silenced.

2. Dr. Grew, a Man of a different natural temper, yet both Concordant lovingly in the work of God, a calm, Grave, sober, sedate Divine, more retired, and of less activity, but godly, able, and faithful in his Ministry.

3. At Birmingham was silenced Mr. Wills, a sedate, retired, peaceable, able Divine also, born in Coventry.

4. As for Mr. Anthony Burgess of Sutton Coldfield (a place of near 300l. per Annum, which he left) I need not describe him, he was so famously known in the Assembly, and London, and by his many Learned, Godly Writings, for a Man eminently Learned, and Pious: And though in the old Conformity he was before a Conformable Man, yet he was so far from the New Conformity, that on his Death-bed he professed great satisfaction in his Mind that he had not Conformed.

5. From Walshall was cast out Mr. Burdall, a very Learned able and Godly Divine, of more than ordinary parts and worth, now dead also.

6. At Wedgbury was silenced Mr. Fincher, whom I have seen, but was not much acquainted with, but he was reputed a very Godly Man, and a good Preacher. But I pass by all those I knew not my self.

7. From Rowley had lately removed Mr. Ioseph Rock, and was silenced; a very calm, humble, sober, peaceable, godly, and blameless Minister, and of very good Abilities; like our Worcestershire Ministers before described, as to his temper, and judgment of Church-Government.

8. At Kings-Norton was silenced Mr. Tho. Hall, an ancient Divine, known by his many Writings, of a quick Spirit, a Godly, upright man, and the only Presbyterian whom I knew in that County.

9. At Tippon, Mr. Hinks was silenced, a Godly Preacher, a moderate Independent.

10. At Hales-Owen was silenced Mr. Paston, a sober, moderate, peaceable Minister, of a godly, upright Life.

11. Near Newcastle was silenced Mr. Sound, an ancient Divine, of great Learning, moderation, judgment, and calmness of Spirit, and of a Godly, upright Life, born by Worvile, near Bridgworth, known to me about thirty years ago, who, though, with others, he was of old a Conformist, is far enough from the new Conformity.

p. 9412. At Shrewsbury was silenced Mr. Heath, an ancient, grave minister, moderate, sedate, quiet, religious, eminent for his Skill in the Oriental Languages.

13. In the same Town was silenced Mr. Francis Talents, an ancient Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge, and a good Schollar, a godly, blameless Divine, most eminent for extraordinary Prudence, and moderation, and peaceableness towards all, who in our Wars lived at Saumours in France, and is now there again.

14. In the same Town was silenced Mr. Brian, Son to Dr. Brian, a Godly, able Preacher, of a quick and active Temper, but very humble.

15. At Whitchurch was silenced and cast out Mr. Porter an ancient, grave Divine of great integrity, blamelessness and Diligence, and so excellent a Preacher, that few arrived to his Degree that ever I have heard.

16. At Baschurch was cast out and silenced Mr. Lawrence, a solid, calm, peaceable, godly man, and a good Preacher, who hath wrote a Treatise about Sickness: He was lately in trouble, and his Goods taken away for preaching in a private House, where but four Neighbours were present, on pretence that a little Daughter of the House that came newly from School, and another Child made the Supernumeraries, which put him to a tedious Suit: A…d Mr. Powis, an able Lawyer of that Country, who had ever before carried it moderately, and soberly, being entertained against him, whether pro more, or why I know not, at the Bar called him a Seditious Fellow (who was far from it) and spake of him revilingly, and eagerly, and about a week or fortnight after died almost suddenly.

17. At Wem was silenced, and long imprisoned in the Common Goal, Mr. Parsons, a moderate, ancient Minister, having but used the word [King] in his Sermon, relating to Christ, an ignorant profane Enemy witnessed that he said somewhat against the King, for which he so long suffered: And for the very same Cause Dr. Brian was accused, and Mr. Field before-mentioned, kept in Prison in the Gatehouse till he there died.

18. At C…un was silenced Mr. Froysell, an ancient Divine, of extraordinary worth, for Judgment, moderation, Godliness, blameless living, and excellent Preaching; who (as many of the rest) hath in poverty, and Sickness, and great Suffering continued to preserve the Peace of his Conscience.

19. Many more worthy men in that County were cast out and silenced. Mr. Barnes, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Berry, Mr. Malden of Newport, (a very Learned Man) Mr. Champian, Mr. Thomas Wright of Kinnersley, (a Man of extraordinary Learning, Ability, and Moderation, and Peaceableness) and divers others, all men of Godliness, and upright Lives, and great Ministerial Diligence, those of them that survive living in great Poverty, most of them having nothing, or next to nothing, of their own: And the Charity that should maintain them and their Families, is clogg'd with so great Poverty, through the burning of London, the decay of Trade, Taxes, &c. that alass their Relief is very small.

§ 204. To give any Description of the London Ministers so well known, would be superfluous; viz. 1. Old Mr. Simon Ash, old Mr. Arthur Iackson, Mr. Asalton, all dead: (three, Men of excellent Humility, and sincere Godliness, and good Abilities) Mr. Calamy, Dr. Seaman, (of great Learning) Mr. Sheffield, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Gouge, (that wonder of Charity, Humility, Sincerity, and moderation) Mr. Wickins, Mr. Hawler, Mr. Cradacote, Mr. Peter Vink, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Haviland, Mr. Samuel Clark, Mr. Ienkins, (that Sententious Elegant Preacher) Dr. Bates, (a Learned, Judicious, moderate Divine) Mr. Matthew Pool, (that Learned most industrious Man known by his Abreviation of the Criticks) Mr. Sangar, Mr. Needler, (two very humble, grave, peaceable Divines) Mr. Rawlinson (an ancient grave Divine of great Ability,) Mr. Iohn Iackson, Mr. Lie, Mr. Case, (an old faithful Servant of God,) Dr. Drake, (that wonder of Humility and Sincerity, now with God) Mr. White, (such another, now with him,) Mr. Croston, Mr. Woodcock, (a Man of great ability, and readiness) Mr. Hurst, Mr. Pledger, Mr. Tatnall, Mr. Lee, (known by his Learned Latin Tract on the Revelation,) Mr. Low, (an ancient grave Divine, whom I have heard at Ludlow forty Years ago) Mr. Church, (a calm worthy man, lately dead, that had abundance of Children, p. 95and almost nothing.) Mr. Benton, Mr. Barham, Mr. Wells, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Strethill, Mr. Dawkes, with more that I cannot remember. And those called Independents, Mr. Nye, Mr. Caryll, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Greenhill, Mr. Brookes, Mr. Wood, Mr. Rose, (an humble Godly man) Mr. Mead, Mr. Barker, and Mr. Venning, (two excellent Preachers, and moderate godly, worthy men:) Besides those that are come thither since, Dr. Tho. Goodwin, and Dr. Owen from Oxford (Men better known than my Description could make them) Dr. Wilkinson (thence also (Mr. Collins, &c. Iohn Goodwin, now dead, I need not describe.

§ 205. But because there are some few who by Preaching more openly than the rest, and to greater Numbers, are under more Men's displeasure and censure, I shall say of them truly but what I know. 1. Dr. Manton (who lately lay six Months in Prison) is a Man of great Learning, Judgment, and Integrity, and an excellent, most laborious, unwearied Preacher, and of moderate principles.

2. Dr. Iacomb is known to be a Man of Gravity, sober and moderate Principles, and hath still held on Preaching, in the House, and under the Protection of the excellent, sincere, humble, godly, faithful Lady, the Countess Dowager of Exeter, Daughter to the Earl of Bridgewater, to the utmost of her Power a comfort to all suffering, faithful Ministers and People, and in all this excelling those of her Rank and Generation.

3. Dr. Annesley is a most sincere, godly, humble Man, totally devoted to God, worthily to be joyned with his two great intimate Friends, Dr. Drake, and Mr. White, whose Preaching in those two greatest Auditories, Giles's Cripplegate, and Paul's Church, did very much good till he was silenced.

4. Mr. Thomas Vincent is a serious, humble, godly Man, of sober Principles, and great Zeal and Diligence, whose Experience in the Plague time engaged him in the work, as is before declared: His Brother equal to him, and is but lately come out of Prison.

5. Mr. Ienoway is a Man of extraordinary devotedness to God, and zeal for the good of Souls, and of great humility, and holiness of Life, and an excellent Preacher.

6. Mr. Wadsworth is an able judicious man, devoted wholly to God, and to do good. Before he was cast out, he preached constantly, and zealously taught all his People also House by House, hired another to help in that work; gave Bibles to the poor People of his Parish, and expended not only his time and strength, but his Estate on these Works, with much also which he got from others towards it: Insomuch that when he was turned out, the Peoples Lamentation might have melted a heart that had any Compassion. Since then he preacheth (through the Peoples desire and necessity) at one Congregation there, at Newington-Butts, and another at Theobalds by turns, and never taketh any maintenance from either. His Assistant. Mr. Parsons, I before named.

7. Mr. Watson is so well known in London for his Ability and Piety that I need not describe him, however, quarrelled with by the debate-maker.

8. Mr. Thomas Doolittle, born in Kiderminster is a good Schollar, a godly man, of an upright Life, and moderate Principles, and a very profitable, serious Preacher.

9. Mr. Chester is a man of a very sober, calm, peaceable Spirit, sound in Doctrine and Life, and a grave and fruitful Preacher.

10. Mr. Turner is a man of great Sincerity, and extraordinary humility, and profitable Labours and Industry.

11. Old Mr. Stubbs, who joineth with him, is one of a Thousand, sometimes Minister at Wells, and last at Dursley in Gloucestershire, an ancient, grave Divine, wholly given up to the Service of God, who hath gone about from place to place Preaching with unwearied Labour since he was silenced, and with great Success, being a plain, moving, fervent Preacher for the work of converting impenitent Sinners to God: And yet being settled in peaceable Principles by aged Experience, he every where expresseth the Spirit of Censoriousness, and unjust Separations, and Preacheth up the ancient zeal and sincerity, with a Spirit suitable thereunto.

12. Mr. Whitaker, Son to the famous Ieremy Whitaker, is a Man of great calmness, Moderation, peaceableness, and Soundness in Doctrine, and in Life.

p. 9613. Some others there are, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Patrick, Mr. VVest, &c. whom I am not acquainted with.

§ 206. Besides these, there are many in London that come out of other Countries. I will name but some few that I can speak of with most assurance. 1. Mr. Iohn Corbet, sometimes Preacher in Gloucester, and after at Chichester, and after at a place in Hampshire (200l. per Annum, which he left to keep the Peace of his Conscience,) liveth privately, and quietly; a Man of extraordinary Judgment, …, moderation, peaceable Principles, and blameless Life, a solid Preacher, well known by his Writings, (the interest of England, the History of Gloucester War, Rushworth's Collections, which were much of his Composure.

2. Mr. Wilson, sometime of the Charter-House, and since of Peterborough, hath such universal Praises follow him from all the Country about Peterborough, of his …are Skill, ability, Piety, diligence, and extraordinary success, the multitude of People there that he did good to, that it made my Heart ake to think that our Sins had brought us under such Prelates as think it a Service acceptable to God to deprive Cities and Countries of such Men, and put no better in their places than they have done.

3. Mr. Stancliff from Stanmore an Excellent Man, of marvellous fullness and accurateness in Prayer, and it's like he is the same in Preaching, though I never heard him.

4. Mr. Vaughan, Minister of Grantham, where he was laid in Goal for not Conforming, and thence went to Barmudas with his Family; and from thence was discouraged by the Quakers, and returned to England, and liveth in London, obscurely, and in a very low Condition; an able, sober, Godly, Judicious, moderate man, and of great worth.

5. Mr. Silvester, from Nottinghamshire, (Mr. Trueman's Friend) a Man of excellent meekness, temper, …ound, and peaceable Principles, godly Life, and great ability in the ministerial Work.

6. Mr. Hodges, (living lately with the Lord Hollis,) a grave, ancient, Godly, moderate Divine, who answered the Debate-maker.

7. Mr. Richard Fairclough, a Man of great sincerity, and soundness of Judgment, moderate Principles, and a godly, upright Life, and of great quickness of parts, and fervency, and diligence, by which at Mells in Somersetshire, he excelled most Men in excellent Labours and success.

8. His Brother, a very solid, judicious, grave, and worthy Minister, of equal moderation, and peaceableness.

9. Mr. Tobias Ellis, a Man of great sincerity and zeal, and desire to do good, and devotedness to God, (who falling into the Life of a private Schoolmaster) doth follow it with almost unimitable diligence, living with very little Sleep, less Food, great Labour, and delight in all, by which he hath been saved better than by all physick from a Melancholly Inclination.

10. Richard Morton, Dr. of Physick, whom I should have named as Minister of Kinvar, near Kiderminster, Son to my old Friend, Mr. Robert Morton, Son-in-Law to Mr. Whateley of Banbury, minister at Bewdley; Dr. Norton is a Man of great gravity, calmness, sound Principles, of no Faction, an excellent Preacher, of an upright Life, now practising Physick.

11. Mr. Button, though not a Clergy-man (being never ordained, or in the Ministry, yet) is not to be left out: Being put out of his place of Canon of Christ-church in Oxford, Orator to the University, an Excellent Scholar, but of a greater Excellency, a most humble Man, of a plain, sincere Heart, and blameless, and a great Sufferer, who, besides a great loss in his Estate, was about six Months in Goal for teaching privately two Knights Sons, who perswaded him to it: Many of his Neighbours of Brentford being imprisoned with him for serving God privately, by Ross, the Scottish Justice, who imprisoned me, which they chearfully endured.

But there are so many more that I must proceed no further.

p. 97§ 207. Besides there are many in the Villages round about London, and that were thence cast out. As; 1. Mr. Clarkson from Mortclack, a Divine of extraordinary worth, for solid Judgment, healing, moderate Principles, acquaintance with the Fathers, great Ministerial Abilities, and a Godly, Upright Life.

2. Mr. Samuel Cradock, Elder Brother to Dr. Cradock, of Greys-Inn, who left a place in Somersetshire of about 300l. per Annum to preserve his Conscience, a Man of great Solidity and Piety, and Ministerial Ability, but extraordinary for meekness, Humility, Moderation, and Peaceableness, known by his useful Writings.

3. Mr. Pareman put out at Harrow on the Hill an ancient, grave, sound, pious, sober, aud peaceable Divine.

4. Mr. Taverner, put out at Vxbridge, an ancient, grave, peaceable Divine, of an unblamed Life.

5. Dr. Spurstow put out at Hackney, an ancient, calm, reverend Minister, one of the Writers of the Book called, Smectymnuus.

6. Which maketh me remember Dr. Tuckney, whom his Widow married; an ancient Learned, Godly Divine, sometime Minister of Boston in Lincolnshire, then one of the Assembly, and long Regius Professor, called Doctor of the Chair in Cambridge, which place he performed with so good acceptance, as that I need not commend his ability any further: Only he was over humble, and backward to disputes, and to put out himself in great appearances, notwithstanding that place of publick Exercise.

I would further mention Dr. Arthur of Clapham, Mr. Gilbert of Brentford, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Warrham of Henden, and many more, if I were willing to go beyond my ocquaintance, upon reports.

§ 208. And though it cannot be thought that one man that lived so retiredly should know very many, yet I could name you excellent men, known to me either throughly, or in some measure, whose Excellencies make their Names very precious to me. For Instance, 1. Mr. Truman lately dead.

2. Mr. Iohn Warren of Hatfield Broadoke, in Essex, a man of great Judgment, and ministerial Abilities-moderation, Piety, and Labour: The place whence he was cast out hath had no minister since to this day, though a great Town, and in the Bishop of London's Gift, because the means is so small that none will take it: And yet he cannot have leave to preach rather than none: But he gets now and then one by his Interest to Preach occasionally, and he heareth them in publick, and then himself instructeth the People in private as far as he can obtain connivance.

3. Mr. Peter Ince, in Wiltshire, a solid, grave, pious, worthy, able minister, living with Mr. Grove, that excellent, humble, holy, Learned Gentleman, who himself is now driven out of his his Country for receiving, and hearing such in his House.

4. Mr. Iohn How, m…nister of Torrrington, in Devonshire, sometime Houshold-Preacher to Oliver Cromwell, and his Son Richard, till the Army pulled him down; but not one that medled in his Wars: He is a very Learned, judicious, godly man, of no Faction, but of Catholick, healing Principles, and of excellent ministerial Ablities, as his excellent Treatise, called, The Blessedness of the Righteous, sheweth.

5. Mr. Ford of Exeter, is a man of great Ability, as his Book called, The Sinner's Araignment at his Bar, sheweth; a Reverend Divine, of great esteem for all ministerial worth, with the generality of sober men: And I hear a high Character of Mr. Clare, near him, and many more there; but I know not those.

6. Mr. Hughes of Plymouth, a very Reverend, Learned, Ancient Divine, long ago of London, an excellent Expositor of Scripture, was in his Age laid so long in Prison (for silencing was not suffering enough for so excellent a Man) that he fell by it into the Scurvy, and died soon after. His Treatife of the Sabbath is Printed since his Death.

p. 987. Mr. Berry in Devonshire, an extraordinary humble, tender-conscienced, serious, godly, able Minister.

8. Mr. Benj. Woodbridge of Newbury, who came out of New-England to succeed Dr. Twisse; a Man of great Judgment, Piety, Ability, and moderate Principles, addicted to no Faction, but of a Catholick Spirit.

9. Mr. Simon King, some-time of Coventry, since near Peterborough, who first Entertain'd me at Coventry in the beginning of the Wars, when I was forced to fly from Home; a Man of a solid Judgment, an honest Heart and Life, and addicted to no Extremes, and an able Scholar (long ago chief School-Master at Bridgnorth.)

Divers others of my own Acquaintance I could describe, in Wales, in Derby-shire, Cheshire, York-shire, and other Counties; but I will end with a few of my old Neighbours that I had forgotten.

10. Old Mr. Samuel Hildersham, about 80 Years old, only Son to the Famous Arthur Hildersham; a Conformist formerly, but resolved enough against the New Conformity: A grave, peaceable, pious, learned Divine, cast out of Welsh-Felton in Shrop-shire.

11. Mr. Tho. Gilbert, of Edgmond in Shropshire, an Ancient Divine, of extraordinary Acuteness, and Conciseness of Stile, and a most piercing Head, as his small Lat. Tract. of the necessity of Christ's Satisfaction, sheweth.

12. Mr. Samuel Fisher, an Ancient Reverend Divine; some-time of Withington, then of Shrewsbury, turned out with Mr. Blake, for not taking the Engagement against King and House of Lords; then lived in Cheshire, and thence cast out and Silenced; a very able Preacher, and of a goldy Life.

13. My old Friend, Mr. Will. Cook, bred up under Mr. Iohn Ball, a Learned Man, and of a most godly Life, and unwearied Labour. Like the first Preachers, he can go in poor Clothing, live on a little, travel on Foot, Preach and Pray almost all the Week, if he have opportunity, in Season, and out of Season, trampling on this World as dirt, and living a mortified laborious Life. Being an old Nonconformist and Presbyterian, he was greatly offended at the Anabaptists, Separatists, and Sectaries, and Cromwel's Army, for Disloyalty to the King, whom they Beheaded, and this King whom they kept out; and therefore joyned with Sir George Booth, now Lord Delamere, in his Rising to have brought in the King: And being then Minister in Chester, persuaded the Citizens to deliver up the City to Him: For which he was brought to London, and long Imprisoned: But all this would not procure his Liberty to Preach the Gospel of Christ, without the Oaths, Subscriptions, Declarations, Reordination, and Conformity required.

14. To these I may subjoyn my old Friend Mr. Pigot, chief School-master of Shrewsbury.

15. And my old Friend Mr. Swaine, some-time School-master at Bridgnorth, and since a godly fervent Preacher in Radnor-shire: But I must stop.

§ 209. Let the Reader note, That there is not one of all these that was put out for any Scandal, but meerly not Subscribing, &c. and Conforming; nor one of them all that ever I heard any Person charge, or once suspect of Wantonness, Idleness, Surfetting, Drunkenness, or any scandalous Sin. And of those of the Prelatists that were Sequestred by the Parliament, I knew not one, that I remember, that was not accused upon Oath of Witnesses of Scandal; though doubtless others knew some such. Not including the siding in the Wars, which each side called scandalous in the other; and which yet but a small part of these named by me, medled in, that ever I could learn.

§ 210. Therefore I conclude, That we that know not the Mysteries of God's Judgments, saw not what a Mercy it was that God took to Himself, before they were Silenced, such Excellent Men as Dr. Twiss, Dr. Gouge, Mr. Iohn Ball, Mr. Gataker, Mr. Ier. Whitaker, Dr. Arrow Smith, Dr. Hill, Mr. Strong, Mr. Herbert Palmer, and most of the Assembly, with many more such. Nor yet that God took away such Men as Bishop Davent, Bishop Hall, Arch-Bishop Vsher, Bishop Morton, yea, and Dr. Hammond, before they were under a Temptation to have a Hand in the casting out of so many excellent worthy Men (which yet I am confident by my p. 99own personal Knowledge of him, that Vsher, had he lived, would never have done.)

§ 211. This Year the King began the War upon the Dutch, in March 1671/2. About the 16 or 17 Day was a hot Sea-fight, while our Ships Assaulted their Smirna Fleet of Merchants, and many on both sides were killed, which was most that was done. And about the 18th. Day the King Published a Proclamation for War by Sea and Land: The French, the Elector of Cologne, and the Bishop of Munster, being with dreadful Preparations to invade them by Land.

§ 212. Now came forth a Declaration giving some fuller Exposition (to those that doubted of it) of the Transactions of these Twelve Years last, viz. His Majesty, by Virtue of His Supreme Power in Matters Ecclesiastical, suspendeth all Penal Laws thereabout, and Declareth, That he will grant a convenient number of Publick Meeting-Places to Men of all sorts that Conform not; so be it,

1. The Persons be by Him approved.

2. That they never meet in any Place not approved by Him.

3. And there set open the Doors to all Comers.

4. And Preach not Seditiously.

5. Nor against the Discipline or Government of the Church of England, saving that the Papists shall have no other publick Places, but their Houses (any where, under their own Government,) without Limitation or Restriction, to any number of Places or Persons, or any necessity of getting Approbation; so that they are immediately in possession of a securer and fuller Liberty, than the Protestant-Nonconformists hope for; for how, or when they will get Churches built, we know not, till that be done they are more terribly restrained form Meeting than before: And who will build Churches that have no Security to enjoy them one Week, time will shew: And all this is said to be for avoiding the danger of Conventicles in private, &c. when yet the Papists are allowed such Conventicles in as many Houses as they please.

§ 213. A Paper sent from one Mr. Edwards, a Lawyer of Kingston, received from a Papist, (Mr. Langhorn) as a Challenge, was sent to me as by him, with desires of an Answer; which occasioned my Book, called, The Certainty of the Protestant Religion without Popery.

§ 214. When the King's Declaration for Liberty was out, the London Nonconformable Ministers were incited to return His Majesty their Thanks. At their Meeting Dr. Seaman, and Mr. Ienkins (who had been till then most distant from the Court) were for a Thanksgiving in such high applauding Terms, as Dr. Manton, and almost all the rest dissented from; and some were for avoiding Terms of Approbation, lest the Parliament should fall upon them; and some because they had far rather have had any tolerable state of Unity with the publick Ministery, than a Toleration; supposing,

1. That the Toleration was not chiefly for their sakes, but for the Papists, and that they should hold it no longer than that Interest required it, which is inconsistent with the Interest of the Protestant's Religion and the Church of England: And that they had no security of it, but it might be taken from them at any time in a Day.

2. Because they thought that it tended to continue our Divisions, and to weaken the Protestant Ministery and Church, and that while the Body of the Protestant People were in all places divided, one part was still ready to be used against the other, and many Sins and Calamities kept up. And the present Generation of Nonconformists like to be soon worn out, and the Publick Assemblies to be lamentably disadvantaged by young, raw, unqualified Ministers, that were likely to be introduced. They concluded therefore on a cautelous and moderate Thanksgiving for the King's Clemency and their own Liberty: And when they could not come to Agreement about their Form, the Lord Arlington Introduced them to a verbal Extemporate Thanksgiving, and so their Difference was ended as to that.

p. 100§ 215. This Question, Whether Toleration of us in our different Assemblies, or such an Abatement of Impositions as would restore some Ministers to the Publick Assemblies by a Law, were more desireable? was a great Controversie then among the Nonconformists; and greater it had been, but that the hopes of Abatements, called then a Comprehension) were so low as made them the less concerned in the Agitation of it: But when ever there was a new Session of Parliament, which put them in some little hope of Abatements, the Controversie began to revive, according to the measure of those Hopes: The Independents, and all the Sectaries, and some few Presbyterians, especially in London, who had large Congregations, and Liberty and Encouragement, were rather for a Toleration. The rest of the Presbyterians, and the Episcopal Nonconformists, were for Abatement and Comprehension. The Reasons of the former were,

1. The Parliament will abate so little, as will take in but few.

2. It will tempt the rest to stretch their Consciences.

3. It will divide us.

4. It will leave those that Conform not under greater Contempt and Severities.

5. We shall have much purer Worship and Discipline as we are.

6. What Corruptions are not now removed by this Abatement will be the faster settled, and the Reformation left more hopeless: The grosser are our Church-Corruptions, the more hope of a Reformation.

Some that were of the other Mind on the contrary thus stated their Desires. We would not have Abatements alone, but besides that a Toleration of all that are Tolerable: And when they ask us, What Abatements will satisfie us, and procure our Vnion with them? We will truly tell them in several Degrees, [So much will satisfie all, and procure a perfect Vnion: So much less will take in most, or half; and so much less will take in a few: And we must take that measure which you will grant us, in whose power it is. And their Reasons were such as aforesaid for this Choice:

1. They said that it is the Religion which obtaineth the Publick Churches, and Maintenance which will be the Religion of the Land, and which the Body of the People will be of.

2. If we are shut out wholly thence, so bad a sort will come in, as will be ready to strike up an Agreement with the Papists, and let them in on pretence of Concord or Moderation, when worldly Interest shall require it.

3. If we are shut out of the Publick Churches, we shall still be look'd on as their Enemies with Jealousie and ill will, and as Separatists with Reproach.

4. Few of the Rich and Rulers will joyn with us, and so we shall prepare Parliaments and Justices by Alienation to further Severities against us.

5. The work of Conversion will go slowly on; for we shall speak to few but those that are already Religious, and the Conformists, who are very many of them cold and lifeless, must be the Preachers to the Ignorant, and Vicious, and Ungodly: And so the Land will grow worse and worse.

6. We shall keep open a Door for all Sectts and Schisms, and the Reproach of them all will be cast on us.

7. We shall be still uncertain of the continuance of our Liberty for one Week: It is easie to find Reasons to cast us out of all, when-ever Interest or Wrath shall require it.

8. We are a hated People to too many of our Superiours; and it is not for our Sakes that Liberty is granted us; we shall hold it no longer than the Papists will; for whose sakes we have it, that they also may have theirs: And that they will grant it us no longer than the Interest and Increase of their Religion requireth it: p. 101And that which is for the Interest and Increase of their Religion, is contrary to ours.

9. There are already about 500 that are dead, and have Conformed, since our Silencing, and the rest will all be quickly dead: And then all will fall quietly into the Conformists hands, and the Churches be more corrupt than if now we get but a half Reformation.

10. And it shall be no Division of us, to have half taken into the Publick Churches: for we must love each other, and promote the Work of Christ in each others hands, as the old Godly Conformists and Nonconformists did, and we now do with the Godly Part of the Conformists: Our Work is not to keep up a Combination against our Superiours, nor to strengthen a Faction, but to Combine for Godliness, and to strengthen our selves in the proper work of the Gospel: which we must do, though some Conform, and some do not.

11. And our Superiours will be the less Jealous of us as to Sedition, when they see us so divided in Point of Conformity, than if they see us strengthened by the Unity of a distinct Party.

12. And especially, the Unity of such as Conform, with the present Conformists will strengthen the Publick Ministery against Papists, Infidels, and all Vngodliness: And our continued Division will be the strength of all these.

13. And it is a weighty Consideration, that the keeping up of the different Parties tempteth all the People of the Land, to continual Censuring, Uncharitableness, and contending, and unavoidably destroyeth Love and Concord; and so keepeth Men in constant Sin.

On all these Reasons they were most for as much Union with the Parish-Ministers, and joyning with them, as the Parliament would allow them.

§ 216. But now they found that there was little hopes of obtaining any such thing: For they that were most for Toleration were most against our Comprehension by Abatement of any of the Impositions; and they were many.

1. All the Papists, and their secret Friends, were most opposite to Abatements: For it was their Design from the beginning to get our Pressures to be as sharp as possible, that so we might have as much need as they of a Toleration, and might be forced to Petition for the opening of the Door, by which they might come in, or speed at least no worse than the Nonconformists.

2. Those that were for the Increase of the Regal Power and Interest, did very well know, that the more grievously good People (and so great a number) were used by Parliaments and Laws, the more certainly Nature and Interest would lead them, to fly from them to the King, for ease and refuge: And also, that when Men's Religion and Liberties are in the Power, and at the Mercy of the King, their Estates must be so too: For who will not rather part with his Money than his Liberty and Religion? Yea, and Men's Hearts will be more with him that saveth them, than with those that destinate them to Jayls and Beggery.

3. And the Independents, Separatists, and all the Sectaries, were commonly against a Comprehension, for the Reasons before given. Only the visible Necessities of the Nation do so strongly work towards it, that doubtless in time, they will prevail with the Wills of those that are for the Protestant Religion, and for Property; but whether Consent and Repentings will come too late, God only knoweth, and time must tell us.

§ 217. In the end of May, 1672. was another Sea-Fight with the Dutch, with like Success as the former. The Earl of Sandwich, and others of ours lost, and they parted without any notable Victory or Advantage of either Party, but that they had kill'd one another. duplicate page p. 98duplicate page p. 99duplicate page p. 100duplicate page

p. 102§ 218. In May and Iune the French suddenly took abundance of the Dutch-Ga…sons.

§ 219. In Iuly and A…gust the Dutch-Rabble tumultuously rose up against their Governours, for the Prince of Orange, and murdered De Wit, and his Brother.

§ 220. In Answer to a Book of Dr. Fulwood's, I now Published a small Book, without my Name, against the Desertion of our Ministry, though prohibited, proving it Sacriledge to Alienate Consecrated Persons from the Sacred Office to which they are Devoted.

§ 221. There came out a Posthumous Book of A. Bishop Bromhall's, against my Book, called, The Grotian Religion: In which, 1. He passeth over the express words of Grotius, which I had cited, which undoubtedly prove what I said; yea, though I had since largely Englished them, and recited them in the Second Part of my Key for Catholicks, with a full Confirmation of my Proofs. 2. And he feigneth me to make him a Grotian, and Confederate in his Design; when-as I (not only had no such Word, but) had expresly excepted him by Name, as imputing no such thing to him. And before the Book was a long Preface of Mr. Parker's, most vehement against Dr. Oxen, and some-what against my self: To which Mr. …ndrew Marvel, a Parliament Man, Burgess for Hull, did Publish an Answer so exceeding Jocular, as thereby procured abundance of Readers, and Pardon to the Author, Because I perceived that the Design of A. Bishop Brombal's Book was for the Uniting of Christendom under the old Patriarchs of the Roman Imperial Church, and so under the Pope, as the Western Patriarch, and Principium Vnitatis, I had thought the design and this Publication look'd dangerously, and therefore began to write an Answer to it. But Mr. Simmons, my Bookseller, came to me, and told me, That Roger Lestrange, the Over-seer of the Printers, sent for him, and told him, That he heard I was Answering Bishop Bromball, and Swore to him most vehemently, that if I did it, he would ruin him and me, and perhaps my Life should be brought in question: And I perceived the Bookseller durst not Print it; and so I was fain to cast it by; which I the easilier did, because the main Scope of all the Book was fully answered long before, in the fore-said Second Part of my Key for Catholicks.

§ 222. Many Changes in Ireland much talk'd of, I pass over.

§ 223. Dr. Fulwood wrote a jocular deriding Answer to my Treatise, against Sa…ilegious Desertion of the Ministry, and after that Printed an Assize Sermon, against Separating from the Parish-Ministers. Divers called on me to Reply to the first, and I told them I had better Work to do, than Answer every Script against me: But while I demurred, Dr. Fulwood wrote me an extraordinary kind Letter, offering to do his best to the Parliament for our Union and Restoration, which ended my Thoughts of that; but I know not of any thing to purpose done.

§ 224. Mr. Giles Firmin, a Silenced Minister, writing some-what against my Method and Motions for Heavenly Meditation in my Saint's Rest, as too strict, and I having Answered him, he wrote a weak Reply, which I thought not worthy of a Rejoinder.

§ 225. On Octob. 11. I fell into a dangerous Fit of Sickness, which God in his wonted Mercy, did in time so far remove, as to return me to some Capacity of Service.

§ 226. I had till now forborn, for several Reasons, to seek a License for Preaching from the King, upon the Toleration: But when all others had taken theirs, and were settled in London, and other places, as they could get opportunity, I delayed no longer, but sent to seek one, on condition I might have it without the Title of Independent, Presbyterian, or any other Party, but only as a Nonconformist: And before I sent, Sir Thomas Player, Chamberlain of London, had procured it me so, without my knowledg or endeavour. I sought none so long,

1. Because I was unwilling to be, or seem any Cause of that way of Liberty, if a better might have been had, and therefore would not meddle in it.

2. I Lived ten Miles from London, and thought not just to come and set up a Congregation there, till the Ministers had fully settled theirs, who had born the burden there in the times of the raging Plague and Fire, and other Calamities; lest I should draw away any of their Auditors, and hinder their Maintenance.

p. 1033. I perceived that no one (that ever I heard of till mine) could get a License, unless he would be intituled in it, a Presbyterian, Independent, Anabaptist, or of some Sect.

The 19th. of Novemb. (my Baptism-Day) was the first Day after ten Years Silence, that I preached in a tolerated Publick Assembly (though not yet tolerated in any Consecrated Church) but only (against Law) in my own House.

§ 227. Some Merchants set up a Tuesday's Lecture in London, to be kept by six Ministers at Pinner's-Hall, allowing them 20 s. a piece each Sermon; of whom they chose me to be one. But when I had Preached there but four Sermons, I found the Independents so quarrelsome with what I said, that all the City did ring of their back-bitings and false Accusations: So that had I but preached for Unity and against Division, or unnecessary with-drawing from each other, or against unwarrantable narrowing of Christ's Church, it was cryed abroad, that I preached against the Independents; especially, if I did but say, That Man's Will had a Natural Liberty, though a Moral Thraldom to Vice, and that Men might have Christ and Life, if they were truly willing, though Grace must make them willing; and that Men have power to do better than they do, It was cryed abroad among all the Party, that I Preached up Arminianism, and Free-Will, and Man's Power, and O! what an odious Crime was this.

§ 228. Ianuary 24. 1672/3. I began a Friday-Lecture at Mr. Turner's Church in New-street, near Fetter-Lane, with great Convenience, and God's encouraging Blessing; but I never took a penny of Money for it of any one. And on the Lord's Days I had no Congregation to preach to (but occasionally to any that desire me) being unwilling to set up a Church and become the Pastor of any, or take Maintenance, in this distracted and unsettled way, unless further Changes shall manifest it to be my Duty: Nor did I ever yet give the Sacrament to any one Person, but to my old Flock at Kiderminster. I see it offendeth the Conformists, and hath many other Present Inconveniencies, while we have any hope of Restoration and Concord from the Parliament.

§ 229. About this time Cornet-Castle, in Iersey, was by Lightning strangely torn to pieces, and blown up which was attended with many notable Accidents, an account whereof was published.

230. The Parliament met again in February, and voted down the King's Declaration as illegal. And the King promised them that it should not be brought into President. And thereupon they consulted of a Bill for the ease of Nonconformists, or Dissenters, and many of them highly professed their resolution to carry it on: But when they had granted the Tax,, they turned it off, and left it undone; destroying our shelter of the King's Declaration, and so leaving us to the Storm of all their severe Laws, which some Country Justices rigorously executed, but the most forbore.

§ 231. On February 20. I took my House in Bloomsbury in in London, and removed thither after Easter with my Family: God having mercifully given me three years great Peace among quiet Neighbours at Totteridge, and much more Health or Ease than I expected, and some opportunity to serve him.

§ 132. The Parliament sat again, and talked as if they would have united us by abatement of some of their Impositions: But when they had voted down the King's Declaration of Toleration as Illegal, and he had promised them that it should never be drawn into a Precedent, and that they had granted a large Tax, they frustrated the hopes they had raised in some Credulous Men, and left all as they found it.

§ 133. Many impudent railing, lying Books were published against the Nonconformists about this time: Sam. Parker Printed one against Mr. Marvell, and therein tells the World, what wicked, intolerable Persons we are to keep up Divisions in the Church about things which we our selves confess to be lawful; and that at Worcester-House (before the King, as he was told) we professed that there was nothing in the Liturgy, which we took to be unlawful, but that we pleaded only for tenderness or forbearance towards others.] Whereas, 1. There was no mention of any such thing as Worcester-House, or before the King. 2. Our Business before the King at Worcester-House was to have the King's Declaration p. 104about Ecclesiastical Affairs, read, and both Parties to say what they had against it, and then the King to tell what he would have pass in the draught. And the Lord Chancellor (Hide) had by mistake put something of that, which P…rker mentioneth in the first Draught, which was privately shewed us by him, and we had told him that he mistook us, we had never said any such thing: We had indeed said, that the Work, which we were called to, was not to tell how much we our selves thought to be Lawful or Unlawful in the Government, Worship, and Ceremonies, but what was the necessary means of uniting all his Majesty's Protestant Subjects, who yet were not of the same Apprehension about each Ceremony among themselves: Whereupon the Lord Chancellor had blotted out that passage which said, [They were glad to find us approving of the Liturgy, &c.] and only put in [of a Liturgy;] as is yet to be seen in the Declaration Published, and in the first Draught of it, (which I have a Copy of.) And it was after at the Savoy, where the Liturgy was treated of; where, 1. We gave in those Exceptions against many things in the Liturgy, which were Printed: And among others, against divers Untruths, [as when divers Weeks after Christ's Nativity-day, East…, Whitsunday, it was to be said in the Collects, that [On that Day Christ was born, rose, the Holy-Ghost came down, &c.] 2. We disputed many days against an Imposition of the Liturgy, as Sinful. 3. Being demanded by Bishop Cousins (in the Chair) by a Writing, as from some great one, (as he spake) that we should give in an Enumeration of what we took to be flat Sins in the Liturgy, as distinct from meer Inconveniences, I brought in ten Particulars the next Morning, of which my Brethren put out two, meerly for fear of angering them, and the other eight we presented to them, and never had a word of Answer, but an angry rebuke for offering to charge a whole Church with Sin, (as they spake) yet doth this Man tell the World that we professed our selves to take it to be all Lawful.

And what if we had done so? Is the Liturgy all that Nonconformists stick at? Is the Canonical Subscription and Oath of Obedience, and Re-ordination, &c. no more?

And doth not the Nation know that it was only the old Conformsty which was then questioned, and that the new was not in being? And that the Act of Uniformity was since made, wherein, besides Re-ordination, is the new Declaration, and new Subscription, and since that the new Oxford Oath? Such Impudency it was that assaulted, and rendered us odious to the ignorant, contrary to publick notoriety of Fact, yet visible in Print to all the World.

§ 234. Another at that time wrote that I had written, that the Supreme Power might be resisted for Religion: And another, (a Papist, writing for Toleration) that I wrote that the …uthority of any of the Peers might warrant Subjects to take up Arms against the King.] Things that I never wrote or thought, or any thing like them, but have written very much to the contrary: But it is our Lot to fall into the Hands of such Men, as have banished all Modesty in their Calumnies.

§ 235. About the beginning of May in my Walk in the Fields, I met with Dr. Gunning, now Bishop of Chichester, (with whom I had the contention and fierce Opposition to all the motions of Peace at the Savoy,) and at his Invitation went after to his Lodgings, to pursue our begun Discourse: which he vehemently professed that he was sure, that it was not Conscience that kept us from Conformity, but meerly to keep up our Reputation with the People, and we desired alterations for no other ends; and that we lost nothing by our Nonconformity, but were fed as full, and lived as much to the Pleasure of the Flesh in Plenty, as the Conformists did: And let me know what odious thoughts he had of his poor Brethren, upon Grounds so notoriously false, that I had thought few Men that lived in England could have been so ignorant of such matters of Fact. But alas, what is there so false and odious which exasperated factious, malicious Minds will not believe and say of others? And what Evidence so notorious which they will not out-face? I told him that he was a stranger to the Men he talked of; that those of my Acquaintance, (whom he confessed to be far more than of his) were generally the most Conscionable Men that p. 105I could … on Earth: That he might easily know Reputation could not be the thing which made them suffer so much Affliction; because 1. many of them were young men, not pre-engaged in point of Reputation to any side. 2. He knew that we lost, by our Nonconformity, that Worldly Honour, which we were as capable of as he and others: We did not so vilifie the King, Parliament, Lords, Bishops, Knights, and Gentry, who were most against us, as to think it a piece of Worldly Honour to be vilified by them, and called Rogues, and sent to the common Goals among Rogues, and branded to the World, as we are in the Oxford Act of Confinement, and banished five Miles from Cities and Corporations: Our Consciences would not allow us to say, that he, and such … he, who were Clergy-Lords, and Parliament-Barons did conform out of Pride or Love of Reputation; and which was the liker to a reasonable Conjecture? That he should be moved by Pride who chuseth the way of worldly Wealth and Domination, and Honour, giving Laws to his Brethren, and vilifying them, and trampling on them at his Pleasure, as on a company of contemned, scorned Wretches; or they that chuse the way of this Contempt and Scorn with Poverty and Corporal Distress? Whose honour is it that such Men seek? You account their Followers the refuse of the World as you do them. And if they themselves think better of them, yet they will know that they are … of the meaner sort, and that poor Men have little to spare for others; and we are not so sordidly dis-ingenious as not to be sensible that to be beholden to poor Men that want themselves, for our daily Bread, is not the work of Pride, but putteth our Humilty to it to the utmost. It's foolish Pride, which chuseth the hatred and scorn of the Great Men of the World, instead of Dignities and Honour, and chuseth to suffer Scorn and Imprisonment among poor Men, to whom we must be beholden for a beggerly Sustenance. And as for the Plenty and fullness which they upbraid us with, it telleth us that there is nothing so immodest and unreasonable which some Mens Malice will not say. Do they not know into what Poverty London is brought by the late Fire, and want of Trade? And what Complaints do fill all the Land? And how close-hunded almost all Men are that are themselves in want? And Ministers are not so impudent as to turn Beggers without Shame? I had but a few days before had Letters of a worthy Minister, who, with his Wife and six Children, had many Years had seldom other food than brown, Rye Bread and Water, and was then turned out of his House, and had none to go to: And of another that was fain to spin for his Living: And abundance I know that have Families, and nothing, or next to nothing of their own, and live in exceeding want upon the poor Drops of Charity which they stoop to receive from a few mean People. And if there be here and there a rich man that is Charitable, he hath so many to relieve, that each one can have but a small share. Indeed, about a dosen or twenty Ministers about London, who stuck to the People in the devouring Plague, or in other times of Distress, and feared no Sufferings, have so many People adhering to them, as keep them from Beggery, or great want; and you judge of all the rest by these, when almost all the rest through England, who have not something of their own to live upon, do suffer so much as their Scorners will scarce believe. It is no easie thing to have the Landlord call for Rent, and the Baker, the Brewer, the Buther, the Taylor, the Draper, the Shooemaker, and many others call for Money, and Wife and Children call for Meat and Drink, and Cloaths, and a Minister to have no Answer for them, but I have none. And the Bishop had the less modesty in standing confidently to my Face of his certainty of our losing nothing by our Non-conformity, when he himself knew that I was offered a Bishoprick in 1660. and he got not his Bishoprick, (for all his extraordinary way of Merit) till about 1671, or 1672: and I had not a Groat of the Ecclesiastical Maintenance since the King came in; nor, to my best remembrance, ever received more than the fon… Pound even now mentioned, as a Salary for Preaching these Eleven Years; nor any way for Preaching the Sum of eight Pound in all those Years: Yea, on this occasion, I will not think it vain to say, that all that I remember that ever I received as gifts of Bounty from any whosoever since I was silenced (till after An. 1672.) amount not in the whole to 20 l. besides ten Pouud per Annum which I received from Serjeant Fountain till he died, and when I was in Prison, twenty pieces from Sir Iohn Bernard, ten from the Countess of Exeter, and five from Alderman Bard, and no more, which p. 106just paid the Lawyers, and my Prison Charge (but the expences of removing my Habitation was greater:) And had the Bishop's Family no more than this? In sum, I told the Bishop that he, that cried out so vehemently against schism, had got the Spirit of a Sectary: and as those that by Prisons and other sufferings were too much exasperated against the Bishops, could hardly think or speak well of them, so his cross Interests had so notoriously spoiled him of his Charity, that he had plainly the same temper with the bitterest of the Sectaries, whom he so much reviled. Our Doctrinal Discourse I overpass.

§ 236. This May, a Book was Printed and cried about, describing the horrid Murther of one … Baxter in New-England by the Anabaptists, and how they tore his Flesh, and flead him alive, and persons, and time, and place were named: And when Mr. Kiffen, sensible of the Injury to the Anabaptists, searcht it out, it proved all a studied Forgery; Printed by a Papist, and the Book Licensed by Dr. Sam. Pa…ker, the Arch-bishop's Chaplain, there were no such Persons in being as the Book mentioned, nor any such thing ever done: Mr. …issen accused Dr. Parker to the Kiug and Council: The King made him confess his Fault, and so it ended.

§ 237. In Iune was the second great Fight with the Dutch, where again many were killed on both sides; and to this day it is not known which Pa…ty had the greater Loss.

§ 238. The Parliament grew into great Jealousies of the prevalency of Popery: There was an Army raised, which lay upon Black-Heath encamped, as for Service against the Dutch: They said that so many of the Commanders were Papists as made Men fear the design was worse. Men feared not to talk openly that the Papists having no hope of getting the Parliament to set up their Religion by Law, did design to take down Parliaments, and reduce the Government to the French Model, and Religion to their State, by a standing Army: These Thoughts put Men into dismal Expectations, and many wish that the Army, at any rate might be disbanded. The Duke of York was General: The Parliament made an Act that no man should be in any office of Trust, who would not take the Oaths of Supremacy, aud Allegiance, and receive the Sacrament according to Order of the Church of England, and renounee Transubstanstiation. Many supposed Papists received the Sacrament, and renounced Transubstantiation, and took the Oaths: Some that were known, sold, or laid down their Places: The Duke of York, and the new Lord Treasurer, Clifford, laid down all: It was said, they did it on supposition that the Act left the King impowered to renew their Commissions when they had laid them down: But the Lord Chancellor told the King that it was not so; and so they were put out by themselves. This settled Men in the full belief that the Duke of York, and the Lord Clifford were Papists; and the Londoners had before a special hatred against the Duke, since the burning of London, commonly saying, that divers were taken casting Fire-balls, and brought to his Guards of Soldiers to be secured, and he let them go, and both secured and concealed them.

239. The great Counsellors that were said to do all with the King in all great matters, were the Duke of York, the Lord Clifford, the Duke of Lauderdaile, the Lord Arlington, the Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Chancellor (that is, Sr. Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Earl of Shaftsbury,) and after them the Earl of Anglesey (lately Mr. Annesley.) Among all these, the Lord Chanchellor declared so much Jealosie of Popery, and set himself so openly to secure the Protestant Religion, that it was wondered how he kept in as he did; but whatever were his Principles or Motives, it is certain he did very much plead the Protestant Cause.

§ 240. In Iune, Mastricht was taken by the French, but with much loss; where the Duke of Monmouth, with the English, had great Honour for their Valour.

§ 241. In August, four of the Dutch East-India Ships fell into our Hands, and we had the third great Sea-fight with them, under the Command of Prince Rupert, where we again killed each other with equal Loss: But the Dutch said they had the Victory now, sand before, and kept days of Thanksgiving for it: Sir Edward Sprag was killed, whose death the Papists much lamented, hoping to have got the Sea-power into his Hands. But Prince Rupert, (who declared himself openly against Popery, and had got great Interest in the Hearts p. 107of the Soldiers) complained sharply of the French Admiral, as deserting him (to say no worse:) And the success of these Fights was such as hindered the Transportation of the Army against the Dutch, and greatly divided the Court-Party, and discouraged the Grandees, and Commanding Papists., &c.

§ 242. In September, I being out of Town, my House was broken by Thieves, who broke open my Study-Doors, Closets, Locks, searcht near 40 Tills and Boxes, and found them all full of nothing but Papers, and miss'd that little Money I had, though very near them: They took only three small pieces of Plate, and medled not (considerably) with any of my Papers, which I would not have lost for many hundred Pounds: Which made me sensible of Divine Protection, and what a Convenience it is to have such a kind of Treasure, as other men have no mind to rob us of, or cannot.

§ 343. The Duke of York was now married to the Duke of Modena's Daughter by Proxy, the Earl of Peterborough being sent over to that end.

§ 244. The Lady Clinton having a Kinswoman (wife to Edward Wray, Esq) who was a Protestant, a…d her Husband a Papist (throughly studied in all their Controversies, and oft provoking his Wife to bring any one to dispute with him) desired me to perform that office of Conference: They differed about the Education of their Children; he had promised her, (as she said) at Marriage, that she should have the Education of them all, and now would not let her have the Education of one, but would make them Papists: I desired that either our Conference might be publick, to avoid mis-reports, or else utterly secret before no one but his Wife, that so we might not seem to strive for the Honour of Victory, nor by dishonour be exasperated, and made less capable of benefit. The latter way was chosen; but the Lady Clinton, and Mr. Goodwin, the Lady Worsep's Chaplain, prevailed to be present by his consent. He began upon the point of Transubstantion, and in Veron's Method would have put me to prove the Words of the Article of the Church of England, by express Words of Scripture, without Exposition. I distinguished the two parts of the Controversie, 1. Whether there be Bread after Consecration? 2. Whether there be Christ's Body: And the first I proved by express Scripture, and I thought gave him enough: And after two or three hours he brake off fairly, but yielding nothing. He after affirmed that a Woman was but a Nurse, aud no Governour to her Children, and that if he commanded them to deny Christ, they were bound to obey him; else Families would be Confounded.

§ 245. I had fourteen Years been both a necessary, and voluntary stranger at the Court; but at this time by another's invitation called to attend the Duke of Lauderdaile, who still professed special kindness to me, and some pious Scotsmen, (being under suffering, one absconding, another sequestred and undone) and craving my interposition for them, I went to him, and desired his Pardon and Clemency for them, which he readily granted: And being to reprint my Key for Catholicks, where his Name was in too low a manner in the Epistle (he being then a Prisoner in Windsor-Castle) I told him that to omit it might seem a Neglect, and so to mention him, would be an injurious dishonour, and therefore if he pleased, I would put to it an Epistle Dedicatory, which he consented to, and approved of the Epistle before it was Printed: But being fain to leave out the second part of the Book, and much of the first, that the rest might be licensed, I printed instead of that left out, a new Treatise on the Subject, on which I disputed with Mr. Wray, called, Full and easie Satisfaction, which is the true Religion: Wherein Popery is brought to sence of the meanest Wit. But some were offended that I prefixed the Duke's Name; as if it tended to honour him at that time when he was decried as a chief Counsellour for absolute Monarchy, for the War with the Dutch, and a standing Army; and he was threatned as soon as the Parliament sat; but went into Scotland as Commissioner, and called a Parliament there; for my part I never lookt for a Farthing Profit, by any great Man, nor to my remembrance ever received the worth of a farthing from any of them: But I would not in Pride deny any Man his due honour, nor be so uncharitable as to refuse to make use of any Man's favour, for Sufferers in their distress. The matters of their State Counsels are above my reach.

p. 108§ 246. In October the Lord Clifford (called the chief of the secret Council) having the Summer before been at Tunbridge Water, fell into several Distempers, and shortly after died: So near is the fall of the greatest to his Rising, which was a great blow to his Party.

§ 247. Mr. Falkener, Minister of Lin, a sober, learned Man, wrote a book for Conformity, which that Party greatly boasted of as unanswerable: Indeed he speaketh plausibly to many of the Nonconformists smallest Exceptions, against some particular words in the Liturgy, and some Ceremonies; but as to the great Matters, the Declaration, and the Oxford Oath, and Subscription, and Reordination, and the Image of the Cross, as a Symbol of Christianity, and dedicating sign in Baptism, the Ministers denying Baptism to those that scruple the Cross, or to the Children of those that dare not forbear Covenanting for their own Children in Baptism, and lay it all on Godfathers, the rejecting those from the Lord's Supper, that dare not take it kneeling, the Thanksgiving at Burials for the happiness of notorious, impenitent, wicked Men, and other such like, his Defence is so poor and slight, as is fit to satisfie no Judicious Man; that is not prepared for Errour by Interest and Will. But, pro captu Lectoris, &c.

§ 248. On the 20th. of October the Parliament met again, and suddenly voted that the King should be sent to about the Duke of York's Marriage with an Italian Papist (a-kin to the Pope) and to desire that it might be stopt (he being not yet come over.) And as soon as they had done that, the King, by the Chancellour, prorogued them till Monday following, because it is not usual for a Parliament to grant Money twice in one Session.

§ 249. On Monday, when they met, the King desired speedy Aid of Money against the Dutch, and the Lord Chancellour set forth the Reasons, and the Dutch unreasonableness. But the Parliament still stuck to their former resentment of the Duke of York's Marriage, and renewed their Message to the King against it; who answered them, that it was debated at the open Council, and resolved that it was too late to stop it.

§ 250. Some one laid in the Parliament-House (they say near the Speaker's Chair) a wooden Shooe, such as the Peasants wear in France, with some Beads, and on one end drawn the Arms of France, and on the other the Arms of England, and written between, Vtrum horum mavis accippe. And Henry Stubbs (now Physician, once under Library-Keeper in Oxford, who was accounted an Infidel, and wrote against Monarchy for Sir Henry Vane, and against me, perswading the Army, and Rump to question me for my Life, and after was drawn by the Court to write against the Dutch) now Printed a Half-Sheet called, The Parit Gazette, containing many Instances, where Marriage by Proxy had been broken; for which he was sent to the Tower.

§ 251. On Friday, Oct. 31. The Parliament went so high as to pass a Vote that no more Money should be given till the eighteen Months of the last Tax were expired, unless the Dutch proved obstinate, and unless we were secured against the danger of Popery, and Popish Counsellours, and their Grievances were redressed.

252. The Parliament Voted to ask of his Majesty a day of Humiliation, because of the Growth of Popery, and intended solemnly to keep the Powder-Plot, and appointed Dr. Stillingfleet to Preach to them (who is most engaged by writing against Popery:) but on the day before, being Nov. 4. the King (to their great discontent) prorogued the Parliament to Ian. 7.

§ 253. The seventh of Ianuary the Parliament met again, and voted that their first work should be to prevent Popery, redress Grievances, and be secured against the Instruments, or Counsellours of them. And they shortly after voted the Dukes of Buckingham, and Lauderdale unfit for trust about the King, and desired their Removal: But when they came to the Lord Arlington, and would have accordingly Characterized him without an Impeachment, it was carried against that Attempt: And because the Members who favoured the Nonconformists (for considerable Reasons) were against the rest, and helped off the Lord Arlington, the rest were greatly exasperated against him, and reported that they did it because he had furthered the Nonconformists Licenses for tolerated Preaching.

p. 109§ 254. Sir Anthony Ashley Cowper (…ometimes one of Oliver's Privy-Council) having been a great Favourite of the King (for great Service for him) and made Earl of Shaftshury, and Lord Chancellour, and great in the secretest Councils, at last openly set against others on the account of Religion, earnestly declaming against Popery, and becoming the Head of the Party that were zealous for the Protestant Cause, and awakened the Nation greatly by his Activity: And being quickly put out of his place of Chancellourship, he by his bold and skillful way of speaking, so moved the House of Lords, that they began to speak higher against the danger of Popery than the Commons, and to pass several Votes accordingly. And the Earl of Shaftsbury spake so plainly of the Duke of York, as much offended, and it was supposed would not long be born. The Earl of Clare, the Lord Hollis, the Lord Hallifax, and others also spake very freely: And among the Bishops only (that I heard of) Sir Herbert Crofts (who had sometimes been a Papist) the Bishop of Hereford. And now among Lords and Commons, and Citizens, and Clergy, the talk went uncontrolled that the Duke of York was certainly a Papist, and that the Army lately raised, and encamped at Black-heath, was designed to do their Work, who at once would take down Parliaments and set up Popery. And Sir—Bucknall told them in the House of such Words that he had overheard of the late Lord Treasurer Clifford, to the Lord Arundell, as seemed to increase their Satisfaction of the Truth of all; but common observation was the fullest satisfaction. In a word, the offence and boldness of both Houses grew so high, as easily shewed men how the former War began, a…d silenced many that said it was raised by Nonconformists, and Presbyterians.

§ 255. The third of February was a publick Fast (against Popery) the first (as I remember) that (besides the Anniversary Fasts) had ever been since this Parliament sate (which hath now sate longer than that called the long Parliament did before the major part were cast out by Cromwell:) But the Preachers, Dr. Cradock, and Dr. Whitchcot, medled but little with that Business, and did not please them as Dr. Stillingfleet had done, who greatly animated them, and all the Nation against Popery by his open and diligent endeavours for the Protestant Cause.

§ 256. During this Session the Earl of Orery desired me to draw him up in brief, the Terms and Means, which I thought would satisfie the Non-conformists so far as to unite us all against Popery; professing that he met with many Great Men that were much for it, and particulary the New Lord Treasurer, Sir Thomas Osborn, and Dr. Morley, Bishop of Winchester, who vehemently profess'd his desires of it: And Dr. Fullwood, and divers others had been with me to the like purpose, testifying the said Bishop's resolution herein. I wisht them all to tell him from me, that he had done so much to the contrary, and never any thing this way since his Professions of that sort, that till his real Endeavours convinced Men, it would not be believed that he was serious. But when I had given the Earl of Orery my Papers, he returned them me with Bishop Morley's Strictures, or Animadversions (as by his Words and the Hand I had reason to be confident) by which he fully made me see that all his Professions for Abanement, and Concord, were deceitful Suares, and that he intended no such thing at all. And because I have inserted before so much of such transactions, I will here annex my Proposals, with his Strictures, and my Reply.