Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times, Part 3 · Section 2

Baxters Narrative of His Life and Times · Part 3 · Section 2

p. 177Additions of the Years 1675, 1676, 1677, 1678, &c.

§. 1. AT this time Mr. Le Blank of Sedan sent to me his desire that I would publish here his Scatter'd Theses in one Volume, which I purposed, and Wrote an Epistle to it: But some Conformists, hearing of it, would not have the Publication to be a Nonconformists work, and so my Bookseller took 50 Books for his Title to the Copy which I gave him, and quit his Interest in it to a Conformist: But Le Blank sent an Epistle of his own, to prevent the Conformists; and died as soon as it was Printed and Published. A Work sufficient to end most of the Doctrinal Controversies of this Age, if the Readers were but capable receivers of the evidence which he giveth them.

§. 2. In Iune, 1676. Mr. Iane the Bishop of London's Chaplain, Preaching to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, turned his Sermon against Calvin and Me; And my charge was, That I had sent as bad men to Heaven, as some that be in Hell;] because in my Book, called, The Saints Rest; I had said, that I thought of Heaven with the more pleasure, because I should there meet with Peter, Paul, Austin, Chrysostom, Ierom, Wickliff, Luther, Zuinglius, Calam, Beza, Bullinger, Zanchy, Paraeus, Piscator, Hooper, Bradford, Latimer, Glover, Sanders, Philpot, Reignolds, Whitaker, Cartwright, Brightman, Bayne, Bradshaw, Bolton, Ball, Hildersh…n, Pemble, Twisse, Ames, Preston, Sibbs, Brook, Pim, Hambden. Which of these the Man knew to be in Hell, I cannot conjecture: It's like those that differed from him in Judgment; But till he prove his Revelation, I shall not believe him: the need which I preceived of taking away, from before such Men any thing which they might stumble at, had made me blot out the Names of the Lord Brooke, Pim, and Hambden, in all the Impressions of the Book (which were many) yet were made ever since 1659; and yet this did not satisfie the Man: But I must tell the Reader, that I did it not as changing my Judgment of the persons; well known to the world: Of whom Mr. Iohn Hambden was one that Friends and Enemies acknowledged to be most Eminent, for Prudence, Piety, and Peaceable Counsels, having the most universal Praise of any Gentleman that I remember of that Age: I remember a moderate, prudent aged Gentleman, far from him but acquainted with him, whom I have heard saying, That if he might choose what person he would be then in the world, he would be Iohn Hambden. Yet these Damning Prelatists are the Men that are for our Silencing, Imprisonment, and Ruin, as if we were unworthy to live on the Earth, because we will not assent and consent to the Liturgy, by which we are to pronounce all Men in England saved, except three sorts, viz. the Excommunicate, Unbaptized, and Self-murderers; that is, of every one of the rest, we must say, That God of his great Mercy hath taken to himself the Soul of this our dear Brother out of the Miseries of this Life, and that we hope to be with him: Were it Hobbs himself, or any one of the Crowd of Atheists, Infidels, Papists, Adulterers, or any Villains now among us, (for such are not Excommunicate) thus we must falsly, contrary to all our Preaching, Pronounce them all saved, or forbidden ever to Preach God's Word: And yet I am condemned publickly for supposing such Excellent persons to be Saved. But Errours and Sins contradict themselves, and Factious Damners, that, for Preferment, Condemn good Men, are ordinarily self-condemned.

§. 3. This maketh me remember how this last year one Dr. Mason (a great Preacher against Puritanes) Preached against me publickly in London, saying, That when a Justice was sending me to prison, and offered me to stay till Monday, if p. 178I would promise not to Preach on Sunday: I answered, [I shall not] Equivocally, meaning [I shall not promise] when he thought I meant [I shall not Preach:] O, these, say the Malignants, are your holy Men! And was such a putid Falshood fit for a Pulpit, from such Men that never spake one word to my face in their Lives? The whole truth is this; The foresaid Tho. Ross, with Philips, being appointed to send me to prison for Preaching at Bra…nford, shut the Chamber doors, and would neither shew or tell me who was my Accuser or Witness, nor let any one living be present but themselves: And it being Saturday, I askt them to stay at home, to set my House in order till Monday: Ross asked me, Whether I would promise not to Preach on Sunday? I answered, No, I shall not: The Man not understanding me, said, We…t, you Promise not to Preach: I replyed, No, Sir, I tell you, I will not promise any such thing: If you hinder me, I cannot help it, but I will not otherwise forbear. Never did I think of Equivocation. This was my present Answer, and I went strait to Prison upon it: Yet did this Ross vent this false Story behind my back; and, among Courtiers and Prelatists it past for currant, and was worthy Dr. Mason's Pulpit-impudency: Such were the Men that we were persecuted by, and had to do with! Dr. Mason died quickly after.

§. 4. Being denied forcibly the use of the Chappel which I had built, I was forced to let it stand empty, and pay Thirty pounds per Annum for the Ground-Rent my self, and glad to Preach (for nothing) near it, at a Chappel built by another formerly in Swallow-street; because it was among the same poor people that had no Preaching, the parish having 60000 Souls in it more than the Church can hold; when I had Preached there a while, the foresaid Justice Parry (one of them that was accused for slitting Sir Iohn Coventree's Nose,) with one Sab…es, signed a Warrant to apprehend me, and on Nov. 9. 1676. six Constables, fo… Beadles, and many Messengers, were set at the Chappel-doors to … it: I forbare that day, and after told the Duke of Lauderdaile of it; and asked him, What it was that occasioned their wrath against me: He desire… me to go and speak with the Bishop of London (Compton:) I did; and he spake very fairly, and with peaceable words: But presently (he having spoken also with some others) it was contrived that a noise was raised, as against the Bishop, at the Court, that he was Treating of a Peace with the Presbyterians: But, after a while, I went to him again, and told him, it was supposed, That Justice Parry was either, set on work by him, or at least a word from him would take him off; I desired him therefore to speak to him, or provide that the Constables might be removed from my Chappel-doors, and their Warrant called in; And I offered him to resign my Chappel in Oxenden-street to a Conformist, so be it he would procure my continued Liberty in Swallow-street, for the sake of the p…or multitude that had no Church to go to: He did as good as promise me, telling me, That he did not doubt to do it; and so I departed, expecting Quietness the next Lord's day: But, instead of that, the Constables Warrant was continued, though some of them begg'd to be excused, and, against their wills, they continued guarding the Door for above Four and twenty Lord's-days after: And I came near the Bishop no more, when I had so tried what their Kindnesses and Promises signifie.

§. 5. It pleased God to take away (by torment of the Stone) that excellent faithful Minister Mr. Tho. Wadsworth in Southwark, and just when I was thus kept out at Swallow-Street, his Flock invited me to Southwark, where (though I refused to be their Pastor) I Preached many Months in peace, there being no Justice willing to disturb us. This was in 1677.

§. 6. When Dr. Lamplugh, now Bishop of Exeter, was Pastor at St. … old Mr. Sangar the Minister, thence put out, thought it his duty to abide in the Parish with those of his ancient flock that desired him, and to visit such as desired him in sickness (because many that were against our Preaching, pretended, that we might find work enough in private Visitings and helps:) An old Friend of Mr. Sangar's being sick near St. Iames's Market-house, sent to him to visit her: By that time he had a while Prayed by her, Dr. Lampleugh came in, and when he had done, came fiercely to him, saying, Sir, What business have you here? Mr. Sangar answered, To visit and Pray with my sick Friend that sent for me. The Doctor fiercely laid hold of his breast, and thrust him toward the Door, saying, Get you out of the Room, Sir,] to the great trouble of the Woman that lay sick in Bed by them, having buried her Husband but a little before: Had this p. 179been done to any other than to so Ancient, Grave, Reverend, Peaceable, Moderate and Calm a Man as Mr. Sangar, who had been lawfully called before this Doctor to be Pastor of the Parish, and then Preached no where but to a few in his own small House, it had been more excusable; Mr. Sangar oft profest to me the truth of what I say, which I mention to silence those our Accusers that would have us give over Preaching that we may do such private Work: Wheras, 1. I must be a year speaking that to people, one by one, which publickly I may tell them all in one day: And he, that heareth my Exhortation but once a year, and heareth Seducers, Swearers, Cursers and Railers every day, may wish at last he had better friends than these pretenders to Peace and Obedience, that accuse us. 2. And such Instances shew, that we are envyed as much in our private duty, as in our publick: And did we speak only in private, our Persecutors would then vent their Suspicions of our Doctrin without any Confutation, and would say, We are they that creep into Houses, to lead the silly Women captive. O what a World is this! Where Atheists, Infidels, and the most Beastly Sinners are Members of the Church of England? When did we hear of any of them Excomunicate? and God's faithfullest Servants represented, even by the envious Prelates, and publick-Priests, as the intolerable Criminal persons of the Land for Praying and Preaching when they forbid them, and the necessity of Thousands binds them to it, besides their Ordination Vow.

§. 7. When Dr. William Lloyd became Pastor of St. Martin's in the Fields, upon Lamplugh's Preferment, I was encouraged by Dr. Tillotson to offer him my Chappel in Oxenden-Street for Publick Worship, which he accepted, to my great Satisfaction, and now there is constant Preaching there; Be it by Conformists or Nonconformists I rejoice that Christ is Preached, to the people in that Parish, whom ten or twenty such Chapels cannot hold.

§. 8. About March 1677. fell out a trifling business, which I will mention, lest the fable pass for truth when I am dead. At a Coffee-House in Fuller's-Rents, where many Papists and Protestants used to meet together, one Mr. Dyet (Son to old Sir Richard Dyet, Chief Justice in the North, and Brother to a deceased dear Friend of mine, the some-time Wife of my old dear friend Colonel Sylvanus Tailor,) one that profest himself no Papist, but was their Familiar, said openly, That I had killed a Man with my own hand in cold blood; that it was a Tinker, at my door, that because he beat his Kettle and disturbed me in my Studies, I went down and Pistol'd him: One Mr. Peters occasioned this wrath by oft challenging in vain the Papists to dispute with me: or answer my Books against them. Mr. Peters told Mr. Dyet, That this was so shameless a slander that he should answer it. Mr. Dyet told him, That a hundred Witnesses would testifie that it was true, and I was tryed for my Life at Worcester for it: To be short, Mr. Peters ceased not till he brought Mr. Dyet to come to my Chamber and confest his fault, and ask me forgiveness, and with him came one Mr. Tasbrook, an emiment, sober, prudent Papist, I told him that these usages to such as I, and far worse, were so ordinary, and I had long suffered so much more than words, that it must be no difficulty to me to forgive them to any man, but especially to one whose Relations had been my dearest Friends: and he was one of the first Gentlemen that ever shewed so much ingenuity, as so to confess and ask forgiveness; he told me, He would hereafter confess and un-say it, and Vindicate me as openly as he had wronged me: I told him, to excuse him, that perhaps he had that Story from his late Pastor at St. Giles's, Dr. Boreman, who had Printed it, that such a thing was Reported; but I never heard before the particulars of the Fable. Shortly after, at the same Coffee-house, Mr. Dyet openly confess'd his Fault: and an Ancient Lawyer, one Mr. Giffard, a Papist, Son to old Dr. Giffard, the Papist Physician (as is said) and Brother to the Lady Abergaveny, was Angry at it, and made Mr. Dyet a weak Man, that would make such a Confession: Mr. Peters answered him; Sir, Would you have a Gentleman so disingenuous, as not to right one that he hath so wronged? Mr. Giffard answered, That the thing was True, and he would prove it by an Hundred Witnesses: Mr. Peters offered him a great Wager, that he would never prove it by any: but urging him hard he refused the Wager: He next offered, that they would lay down but five Guinea's to be laid on't on an Entertainment there, by him that lost the Wager; He refused that also, Whereupon Mr. Peters told him, He would cause my friends, if I would not my self, to call him to justifie it in Westminster-Hall; referring the Judgment of Equity to the Company: The Papist Gentlemen p. 180that were present, it's like considering that the Calumny, when opened publickly, would be a Slur upon their Party, Voted, That if Mr. Giffard would not confess his Fault, they would disown him out of their Company; and so he was constrained to yield, but would not come to my Chamber to confess it to me: Mr. Peters moderated the business, and it was agreed, that he should do it there: He would do it only before his own Party: Mr. Peters said, Not so; for they might hereafter deny it: So it was agreed, That also before Mr. Peters, and Captain Edmund Hambden, he should confess his Fault, and ask forgiveness; which he did.

§. 9. Near this time, my Book, called, A Key for Catholicks, was to be Reprinted: In the Preface to the first Impression, I had mentioned with Praise the Earl of Lauderdale, as then Prisoner by Cromwell in Windsor-Castle; (from whom I had many Pious and Learned Letters, and where he had so much Read over all my Books, that he remembred them better, as I thought, than I did my self) Had I now left out that mention of him, it would have seem'd an Injurious Recantation of my kindness: and to mention him now a Duke, as then a Prisoner, was unmeet: The King used him as his special Counsellour and Favourite: The Parliament had set themselves against him: He still professed great kindness to me, and I had reason to believe it was without dissembling. 1. Because he was accounted by all to be rather a too rough Adversary, than a Flatteter of one so low as I. 2. Because he spake the same for me behind my back, that he did to my face. And I had then a New Piece against Transubstantiation to add to my Book, which being desirous it should be Read, I thought best to joyn it with the other, and prefix before both an Epistle to the Duke, in which I said not a word of him but Truth; And I did it the rather, that his Name might draw some Great Ones to Read, at least, that Epistle, if not the short Additional Tractate, in which I thought I said enough to open the Shame of Popery. But the Indignation that Men had against the Duke, made some blame me, as keeping up the Reputation of one whom Multitudes thought very ill of: Whereas …owned none of his Faults, and did nothing that I could well avoid, for the aforesaid Reasons. Long after this he professed his Kindness to me, and told me I should never want while he was able, and (humbly) intreated me to accept Twenty Guinea's from him, which I did.

§. 10. After this one Mr. Hutchinson (another of the Disputants with Dr. Stillingfleet, and Mr. Wray's Friend, one that had revolted to Popery in Cambridge long ago, having pious Parents and Relations) Wrote two Books for Popery, one for Transubstantiation, and another in which he made the Church of England Conformists to be Men of no Conscience or Religion, but that all Seriousness and Conscience was in the Papist and Puritan, and sought to flatter the Puritans, as he call'd them, into kindness to the Papists, as united in Conscience, which others had not. I Answered these Books, and after fell acquainted with Mr. Hutchinson, but could never get Reply from him, or Dispute.

§. 11. Two old Friends that I had a hand heretofore in turning from Anabaptistry and Separation (Mr. Tho. Lamb, and William Allen, that followed Iohn Goodwin, and after became Pastors of an Anabiptist Church) though but Tradesmen, fell on Writing against Separation more strongly than any of the Conformable Clergy; But in Sense of their old Errour, run now into the other Extreme, especially Mr. Lamb, and Wrote against our gathering Assemblies, and Preaching when we are Silenced: Against whose Mistaken Endeavours I Wrote a Book, called, The Nonconformist's Plea for Peace.]

§. 12. One Mr. Hollingworth also Printed a Sermon against the Nonconformists, and there tells a Story of a Sectary, that, Treating for Concord, with one afterward a Bishop, motion'd, That all that would not yield to their Terms should be Banished; to shew, that the Nonconformists are for Severity as well as the Bishops. The Reader would think that it was Me, or Dr. Manton,, or Dr. Bates, that he meant, that had so lately had a Treaty with Dr. Wilkins, and Dr. Burton: I Wrote to him, to desire him to tell the World who it was, that by naming none, he might not unworthily bring many into Suspicion; He Wrote me an Answer full of great Estimation and Kindness, professing. That it was not me that he meant, nor Dr. Manton, nor Dr. Bates, nor Dr. Iacomb, but some Sectary that he would by no means Name, but seemed to cast Intimations towards Dr. Owen, one unlikely to use such words, and I verily believe it was all a meer Fiction.

p. 181§. 13. About that time I had finished a book called, Chatholick Theologie; in which I undertake to prove that besides things unrevealed, known to none, and ambiguous words, there is no considerable difference between the Arminians and Calvinists, except some very tolerable difference in the point of perseverance: This book hath hitherto had the strangest fate of any that I have written, except our Reformed Liturgy, not to be yet spoken against, or openly contradicted, when I expected that both sides would have fallen upon it: And I doubt not but some will do so when I am dead, unless Calamities find men other work.

§. 14. Having almost then finished a Latin Treatise, called, Methodus Theologiae, containing near Seventy Tables or Schemes with their Elucidations and some Disputations on Schism, containing the Nature, Order and Ends of all Beings, (with three more) I gave my Lord Chief Justice Hale a Specimen of it, with my foresaid Catholick Theologie; but told him it was only to shew my respects, but desired him in his weakness to read things more directly tending to prepare for death: But yet I could not prevail with him to lay those by, so much as I desired, but he oft gave me special Thanks above all the rest for that book and that scheme: And while he continued weak Mr. Stevens his familiar Friend published two Volumes of his own Meditations, which, though but plain things, yet were so greedily bought up and read for his sake, even by such as would not have read such things of others, that they did abundance of good. And shortly after, he published himself, in Folio a Treatise of the Origination of Man, to prove the Creation of this World, very Learned, but large. He left many Manuscripts: One I have long ago read, a great Volumn in Folio, to prove the Deity, the Immortality of the Soul, Christianity, the Truth of Scripture in General, and several books in particular; solidly done, but too copious, which was his fault. Two or three smal Tractates written for me I have published expressing the simple and excellent Nature of true Religion, and the Corruption and great evils that follow Men's Additaments, called wrongfully by the Name of Religion and contended for above it and against it; and shewing how most Parties are guilty of this sin. I hear he finished a Treatise of the Immortality of the Soul, a little before he dyed. But unhappily there is contest about his Manuscripts, whether to Print them or not, because he put a clause into his Will that nothing of his should be Printed but what he gave out himself to be Printed before he dyed.

He went into the Common Church-yard, and there chose his grave, and died a few daies after (on Christmassday.) Though I never received any money from him (save a Quarter's Rent he paid when I removed out of my house at Acton, that he might buy it and succeed me) yet as a token of his love he left me) forty shillings in his Will, with which to keep his memory I bought the greatest Cambridge Bible, and put his picture before it, which is a Monument to my house. But waiting for my own Death I gave it Sir William Ellis who laid out about Ten pounds, to put it into a more curious Cover, and keeps it for a Monument in his honour.

§. 15. I found by the people of London that many, in the sense of the late Confusions in this Land, had got an apprehension that all Schism and Disorder came from Ministers and People's resisting the Bishops, and that Prelacy is the means to cure Schism, and being ignorant what Church Tyranny hath done in the World, they fly to it for refuge against that mischief which it doth principally introduce: Wherefore I wrote the History of Prelacy, or a Contraction of all the History of the Church, especially Binnius, and Baronius, and others of Councils; to shew by the testimony of their greatest flatterers what the Councils and Contentions of Prelates have done. But the History even as delivered by Binnius himself, was so ugly and frightful to me in the perusing, that I was afraid lest it should prove when opened by me, a temptation to some to contemn Christianity it self, for the sake and Crimes of such a Clergy. But as an Antidote I prefixed the due Commendation of the better humble sort of Pastors. But I must profess that the History of Prelacy and Councils, doth assure me that all the Schisms and Confusions that have been caused by Anabaptists, Separatists, or any of the Popular un…uly Sectaries, have been but as flea-bitings to the Church, in comparison of the wounds that Prelatical Usurpation, Contention and Heresies have caused. And I am so far from wondering that all Baronius's industry was thought necessary to put the best visor on all such Actions, that I wonder that the Papists have not rather p. 182employed all their wit, care and power, to get all the Histories of Councils burnt and forgotten in the World, that they might have only their own Oral flexible tradition to deliver to Mankind what their interest pro re nata shall require.

Alas how small was the hurt that the very Familists, the Munster Fanaticks, the very Quakers, or Ranters have done, in comparison of what some one Pope, or one Age or Council of Carnal, Tyrannical Prelats hath done. The Kingdom of Satan is kept up in the World, next to that Sensuality that is born in all, by his usurping and perverting the two great Offices of God's own institution, Magistracy and Ministry, and wring the Sword and Word against the Institutor and proper end: But God is just.

§. 16. There years before this I wrote a Treatise to end our common Controversies, in Doctrinals, about Predestination, Redemption, justification, assurance, perseverance and such like; being a Summary of Catholick reconciling Theology.

§. 17. In November 1677. Dyed Dr. Thomas Manton to the great loss of London; Being an able judicious faithful man; and one that lamented the intemperance of many self conceited Ministers and people, that, on pretence of vindicating free grace and providence, and of opposing Arminianism, greatly corrupted the Christian Doctrin, and Schismatically oppugned Christian love and concord, hereticating and making odious all that spake not as erroniously as themselves. many of the Independents inclining to half Antinomianism, suggested suspicions against Dr. Manton, Dr. Bates, Mr. Howe, and my self and such others, as if we were half Arminians. On which occasion I Preached two Sermons on the words in Iude [They speak evil of what they understand not.] Which perhaps may be published.

§. 18. This year 1678. dyed Mr. Gabriel Sanger, a Reverend faithful Nonconformist, sometimes Minister at Martin's in the fields. And this day, on which I write this, I Preached the Funeral of Mr. Stubbs a holy Excellent Man, which perhaps may be published, if it can be licensed.

§. 16. Mr. Long of Exeter, wrote a book against the Non-conformists, as Schismaticks, on pretense of confuting Mr. Hale's book of Schism; and in the end cited a great deal of my writings against Schism, and let fall divers passages; which occasioned me to write the Letter to him which is inserted in the Appendix. No. 5.

§. 29. Some young Gentlemen wrote me a Letter desiring me publickly to resolve this Case: The King, Laws and Canons command us to joyn in the publick Parish-Churches, and forbid us to joyn in private Meetings, or unallowed with Non-conformists: Our parents command us to joyn with Non-conformists in their Meetings, and forbid us to hear the Conformists in publick, which yet we think lawful: which of these must we obey? I answered the Case in the Pulpit, and drew it up in writing, and have inserted it among other papers with the end. No. 6.

§. 21. My Bookseller, Nevil Simons, broke, which occasioned a clamour against me, as if I had taken too much money of him for my books: When before, it was thought he had been one of the richest by my means, and I supposed I had freely given him (in meer charity) the gains of above 500 pounds, if not above 1000 pounds. Whereupon I wrote a Letter to a Friend in my own necessary Vindication, which see also at the end. No. 7.

§. 22. The controversie of Predetermination of the acts of sin, was unhappily shared this year among the Non-conformists; on the occasion of a sober modest book of Mr. How's to Mr. Boil against an objection of Atheistical men: And two honest self-conceited Non-conformists, Mr. Dauson and Mr. Gale, wrote against him unworthily. And just-now a second book of Mr. Gale's is come out wholly for Predetermination, superficially and inperficially touching many things, but throughly handling nothing; falsely reporting the sense of Augustin, or at least of Prosper and Fulgentius, and notoriously of Iansenius, &c. and passing divers inconsiderable reflections on some words in my Cath. Theol. Especially opposing Strangius, and the excellent Theses of Le Blank, with no strength or regardable Argument. Which inclineth me (because he writeth in English) to publish an old Disput in English against Predetermination to sin, written 20 years ago, and thought not fit to be published in English; but that an antidote against the porson p. 183of Mr. Gale's Book, and the scandal that falls by it on the Nonconformists is made necessary. Mr. Gale fell sick, and I supprest my answer lest it should grieve him. (And he then dyed.)

§ 23. A paper from Mr. Polehill, an excellent learned Gentleman occasioned the answer which perhaps may be published.

§ 24. Continued backbitings about my Judgment concerning justification, occasioned me to write the summ of it in two or three sheets; with the solution of above thirty controversies unhappily rais'd about it.

§ 25. One Mr. Wilson of Lancashire long importuned me by a friend, to write somewhat against needless Law-suits, and for the way of voluntary reference and arbitration; which I did in a Sermon on 1 Cor. 6. Is there not a wise Man among you? (which is lost by the Bookseller).

§ 26. I wrote an Answer to Mr. Iohnson Alias Terret, his Rejoynder against my book of the Churche's visibility; But Mr. Iane the Bishop of London's Chaplain refused to License it. But at last when the Papists grew odious he Licensed it and my Methodus Theologiae: And the former is Printed, but by the Bookseller's means in a Character scarce legible.

§ 27. About Oct. 1678. Fell out the murder of Sir Edmond Berry Godfrey, which made a very great change in England. One Dr. Titus Oats had discovered a Plot of the Papists, of which he wrote out the particulars very largely; telling how they fired the City, and contriving to bring the Kingdom to Popery, and in order thereto to kill the King: He named the Lords, Jesuits, Priests, and others, that were the chief contrivers; and said that he himself had delivered to several of the Lord's their Commissions; that the Lord Bellasis was to be General, the Lord Peter Lieutenant General, and the Lord Stafford Major General, the Lord Powis Lord Chancellor, and the Lord Arundel of Warder (the chief) to be Lord Treasurer. He told who were to be Arch Bishops, Bishops, &c. And at what Meetings, and by whom, and when all was contrived, and who were designed to kill the King: He first opened all this to Dr. Tongue, and both of them to the King and Council: He mentioned a multitude of Letters which he himself had carried, and seen, or heard read, that contained all these contrivances: But because his father and he had once been Anabaptists, and when the Bishops prevailed turned to be Conformable Ministers, and afterward he (the Son) turned Papist, and confessed, that he long had gone on with them, under many Oaths of Secrecy, many thought that a man of so little Conscience was not to be believed: But his Confessions were received by some Justices of the Peace; and none more forward in the Search than Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey, an Able, Honest, and diligent Justice. While he was following this Work, he was suddenly missing, and could not be heard of: Three or Four Days after he was found kill'd near Marybone-Park: It was plainly found that he was murthered: The Parliament took the Alarm upon it, and Oates was now believed: And indeed all his large Confessions, in every part, agreed to admiration. Hereupon the King Proclaimed Pardon and Reward to any that would confess, or discover the Murder. One Mr. Bedlow, that had fled to Bristow. began, and confessed that he knew of it, and who did it, and named some of the Men, the Place and Time; It was at the Queen's House, called Somerset-House, by Fitz-Gerald and Kelley, Two Papist Priests, and Four others, Berry the Porter, Green, Pranse and Hill. The Priests fled; Pronse. Berry, Green and Hill were taken: Pranse first confest all, and discovered the rest aforesaid, more than Bedlow knew of, and all the Circumstances; and how he was carried away, and by whom: and also how the Plot was laid to Kill the King. Thus Oates's Testimony, seconded by Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey's Murder, and Bedlow and Pranse's Testimonies, became to be generally believed. Ireland, a Jesuit, and Two more, were Condemned, as designing to Kill the King: Hill, Berry and Green were Condemned for the murder of Godfrey, and Executed: But Pranse was, by a Papist, first terrified into a Denyal again of the Plot to Kill the King, and took on him to be Distracted; But quickly Recanted of this, and had no Quiet till he told how he was so Affrighted, and Renewed all his Testimony and Confession.

After this came in one Mr. Dugdale, a Papist, and confessed the same Plot, and especially the Lord Stafford's interest in it: And after him more and more Evidence daily was added.

p. 180…man, the Dutchess of York's Secretary (and one of the Papists great Plotters and Disputers) being surprized, though he made away all his later Papers, was hanged by the Old Ones, that were remaining, and by Oates his Te…imony. But the Parliament kept off all Aspersions from the Duke: The Hopes of some, and the Fears of others of his Succession, prevailed with many.

§ 28. At last the Lord Treasurer (Sir Thomas Osborne made Earl of Danby) came upon the stage having been before the object of the Parliament and People's jealousy and hard thoughts. He being afraid that somewhat would be done against him, knowing that Mr. Montague (his Kinsman) late Ambassadour in France had some Letters of his in his keeping, which he thought might endanger him, got an order from the King to seize on all Mr. Montagues Letters, who, suspecting some such usage, had conveyed away the chief Letters; and telling the Parliament where they were, they sent and fetcht them, and upon the reading of them were so instigated against the Lord Treasurer they impeached him in the Lords House of High Treason.

But not long after the King disolved the long Parliament (which he had kept up about 17 or 18 years). But a new Parliament is promised.

§ 29. Above 40 Scots men (of which 3 Preachers) were by their Council sentenced to be not only banished but sold, as servants (called slaves) to the American Plantations: They were brought by ship to London: Divers Citizens offered to pay their ransom: The King was petitioned for them: I went to the D. of Lauderdale; but none of us could prevail for one man: At last the Ship-Master was told that by a Statute it was a Capital crime to Transport any of the King's Subjects out of England (where now they were) without their consent, and so he set them on shoar and they all escaped for nothing.

§ 30. A great number of Hungarian Ministers had before been sold for Gally slaves, by the Emperour's Agents, but were released by the Dutch Admiral's Request, and some of them largely relieved by Collections in London.

§ 31. The long and grievous Parliament (that silenced about 2000 Ministers and did many works of such a nature) being dissolved as aforesaid, on Ian. 25. 1678. A new one was chosen and met on March 6 following: And the King refusing their chosen speaker (Mr. Segmore) raised in them a greater displeasure against the Lord Treasurer thinking him the cause; and after some days they chose Serjeant Gregory.

§ 32. The Duke of York a little before, removed out of England by the King's Command; who yet stands to maintain his Succession.

§ 33. The Parliament first impeached the foresaid Papist Lords for the Plot, or Conspiracy (the Lord Bellasis, Lord Arundel, Lord of Powis, Lord Scafford, and Lord Peter); and after them the Lord Treasurer.

34. New fires breaking out enrage the People against the Papists: A great part of Southwark was before burnt, and the Papists strongly suspected the cause. Near half the buildings of the Temple were burnt: And it was greatly suspected to be done by the Papists. One Mr. Bifeild's house in Holbourn and Divers others so fired (but quenched) as made it very probable to be by their Conspiracy. And at last in Fitter-Lane it fell on the house of Mr. Robert Bird (a Man employed in Law, of great Judgment and Piety) who having more wit than many others to search it out, found that it was done by a new Servant Maid, who confessed it first to him, and then to a Justice, and after to the Lords, that one Nicholas Stubbes a Papist having first made her promise to be a Papist, next promised her 5l. to set fire on her Master's house, telling her that many others were to do the like, and the Protestant Hereticks to be killed by the middle of Iune, and that it was no more sin to do it than to kill a Dog. Stubbes was taken, and at first vehemently denyed, but after confessed all, and told them that one Giffard a Priest and his Confessor engaged him in it, and Divers others, and told them all as aforesaid, how the Firing and Plot went on, and what hope they had of a French Invasion. The House of Commons desired the King to pardon the woman (Eliz. Oxley) and Stubbes.

§ 35. If the Papists have not Confidence in the French Invasion, God leaveth them to utter madness to hasten their ruine: They were in full junctness through the Land, and the noise of rage was by their design turned against the Nonconformists; But their hopes did cast them into such an impatience of delay, that they could no longer stay, but must presently Reign by rage of blood. Had they studied p. 185to make themselves odious to the Land, they could have found out no more effectual way, than by Firing, Murder, and Plotting to kill the King: All London at this day is in such fear of them, that they are fain to keep up private Watches in all streets (besides the Common ones) to save their houses from firing: Yea, while they find that it increaseth a hatred of them, and while many of them are already hanged, they still go on; which sheweth either their confidence in Foreign Aid, or their utter infatuation.

§ 36. Upon Easter day the King dissolved his privy Council, and settled it a new, consisting of 30 men (most of the old ones) the Earl of Shaftsbury being President, to the great joy of the People then, tho since all is changed.

§ 37. On the 27th of April. 1679. Tho it was the Lord's Day the Parliament State, excited by Stubbes his Confession that the Firing Plot went on, and the French were to invade us, and the Protestants to be murdered by Iune 28, and they voted that the Duke of York's declaring himself a Papist was the cause of all our dangers by these Plots, and sent to the Lords to concur in the same Vote.

§ 38. But the King that week by himself and the Chancellour acquainted them, that he should consent to any thing reasonable to secure the Protestant Religion, not alienating the Crown from the Line of Succession, and Particularly that he would consent that till the Successour should take the Test, he should exercise no Acts of Government, but the Parliament in being should continue, or if none then were, that, which last was, should be in power, and exercise all the Government in the Name of the King.] This offer took much with many; but most said that it signifyed nothing. For Papists have easily Dispensations to take any Tests or Oaths, and Queen Mary's case shewed how Parliaments will serve the Prince's will.

§ 39. Divers Papists turned from them to the Protestants, upon the Detection of their wickedness and bloody Principles and minds: And among others Mr. Hutchinson, that called himself Berry, against whom I lately wrote. He first wrote for the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and after forsook them seemingly for a time.

§ 40. When I had written my Book against Mr. Gale's Treatise for Predetermination, and was intending to Print it, the good man fell sick of a Consumption, and I thought it meet to suspend the publication; lest I should grieve him and increase his sickness, of which he dyed. And that I might not obscure God's Providence about sin, I wrote and preached two Sermons to shew what great and excellent things God doth in the World by the occasion of Man's sin: And verily it is wonderful to observe that; in England, all Parties (Prelatical first, Independents, Anabaptists, especially Papists, have been brought down by themselves, and not by the wit and strength of their Enemies, and we can hardly discern any footsteps of any of our own Endeavours, wit or power in any of our Late Deliverances, but our Enemies wickedness and bloody Designs have been the occasion of almost all. Yea, the Presbyterians themselves have suffered more by the dividing effects of their own Covenant, and their unskilfulness in healing the Divisions between them and the Independents and Anabaptists, and the Episcopal, than by any strength that brought them down; tho since men's wrath hath troden them as in the dirt.

§ 41. In April I finished a Treatise of the only way of Union and Concord, among all Christian Churches: In three parts. 1. Of the Nature and Reasons of Union an Concord. 2. Of the true and only Terms. 3. Of the Nature of Schism, and the false Terms on which the Church will never unite.

§ 42. Two years ago by the Consent of many Ministers I Printed one Writing called the Judgment of Nonconformists, concerning the Parts or Office of Reason in Religion; which having good acceptance, by the same Men's consent, I yielded to the Printing of three more, one of the difference between Grace and Morality; Another called the Nonconformists Judgment about things indifferent commanded by Authority: And another What Nonconformity is not, disclaiming several false Imputations; To which I added a 4th of Scandal. But when they were Printed some of our Political friends in Parliament and else where, were against the publishing of them, saying, they would increase our sufferings by exasperating, or offend some Sectaries that, dislike some words: And so I was put to pay (23l.) for the printing of them and suppress them.

§ 43. I wrote also Divers Treatises of Nonconformity: One opening their case by a multitude of Quere's: Another by way of History and Assertion specially p. 186vindicating them from the Charge of Schism. Another to prove it their duty to continue preaching tho forbidden, &c.

§ 44. The Earl of Argyle told me that being in company with some very great men, one of them said, that he went once to hear Mr. Baxter preach, and he said nothing but what might beseem the King's Chappel; and concluded that it was his Judgment that I ought to be beaten with many stripes, because it could not be through ignorance, but meer faction that I conformed not: And the Bishops and Clergy to this day, make unstudied Noble Men and Gentlemen believe, that we confess all to be lawful, and meer Inconveniences which we deny Conformity to (O inhumane Impudence! A Plot of Satan to tempt men never more to believe Clergy men's History!) Hereupon the said Earl of Argyle (after many others) desiring me to write down the points that we deny Conformity to, I wrote. 1. The case of the Nonconformists in a brief History. 2. An Index of about 40 or 50 of the points that we cannot conform to: but barely naming them without proof to avoid prolixity, which may expose them to any Pretender's Confutation. And at the importunity of a friend, this week (May 2.) I permitted the shewing them to the Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Barlow: who is a Man firmly zealous against Popery, of great Reading and Learning, long a publick Professor of Divinity in Oxford, and esteemed of as equal at least with the best of the Bishops; And yet told my friend that got my Papers for him, that he could hear of nothing that we judged to be sin, but meer inconveniences: When as above 17 years ago, we publickly endeavoured to prove the sinfulness even of many of the old Impositions; and our petition for peace was printed, in which we solemnly professed that nothing should hinder us from Conformity, did we not believe it to be sin against God, and endangering our salvation. Yet thus talk the best and Learnedest of them, as if they had dwelt a thousand Miles from us, and had never heard our Case. Some would persuade us that they are all meer hardened impudent Worldlings that know all to be Lies, which they thus speak: But I am persuaded that this is too hard Censure, and that some, yea many of the Clergy think as they thus speak, because the Schism of the Age doth make them meer strangers to us, knowing little more of our minds than what they hear from one another by such Reports: And yet we never had leave to speak or write our Case, to tell men what it is that we think sin in the New-Conformity, much less to give our Reasons.

§ 45. The firing fury going on still (God leaving the Papists to self-destroying madness) on Friday night May 9. Some Papist prisoners bribing the Porter, they set the prison on fire, and burnt much of it down; the Porter and they escaping together: which put the Parliament to appoint the drawing up of a stricter Law to prevent more firing: But what can Laws do to it?

§ 46. On the Lord's day May 11th 1679. The Commons sate extraordinarily, and agreed in two Votes, first that the Duke of York was uncapable of succeeding in the Imperial Crown of England. 2. That they would stand by the King and the Protestant Religion with their Lives and Fortunes, and if the King came to a violent Death, which God forbid, would be revenged on the Papists.

§ 47. The Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland, Iames Sharp was Murdered this Month. The Actors (a Servant hardly used by him (or a Tenant) drew in some Confederates) since suffered.

§ 48. The Parliament shortly dissolved while they insisted on the tryal of the Lord Treasurer.

§ 49. The Scots being forbidden to preach and Meet in the open Fields, being led by a few rash men, at a Meeting being assaulted defended themselves, and so were many drawn into resistance of the Magistrate, and were destroyed.

§ 50. There came from among the Papists more and more Converts that detected the Plot against Religion and the King: After Oates, Bedlow, Everard, Dugdale, …ranse, came Ienrison a Gentleman of Gray-Inn, Smyth a Priest, and others: But nothing stopt them more than a Plot discovered to have turned all the odium on the Presbyterians and Protestant Adversaries of Popery: They hired one Dangerfield to manage the matter; but by the industry p. 187of Colonel Mansel (who was to have been first accused,) and Sir William Waller, the Plot was fully detected (to have forged a Plot as of the Presbyterians, or Dissenters, and many great Lords. And Dangerfield confest all, and continueth a stedfast Convert and Protestant to this day.

§ 51. But my unfitness, and the Torrent of late Matter here, stops me from proceeding to insert the the History of this Age: It is done, and like to be done so copiously by others, that these shreds will be of small signification: Every year of late hath afforded matter for a Volume of Lamentations. Only that Posterity may not be deluded by Credulity, I shall truly tell them, That Lying most Impudently in Print, against the most notorious Evidence of Truth, in the vending of cruel Malice against Men of Conscience, and the fear of God, is become so ordinary a Trade, as that its like, with Men of Experience, ere long to pass for a good Conclusion. [Dictum vel scriptum est (a Malignis) Ergo falsum est.] Many of the Malignant Clergy and Laity, especially Le Strange the Observator, and such others, do with so great Confidence publish the most Notorious Falshoods, that I must confess it hath greatly depressed my Esteem of most History, and of Humane Nature. If other Historians be like some of these Times, their Assertions, when-ever they speak of such as they distaste, are to be Read as Hebrew, backward; and are so far from signifying Truth, that many for one are downright Lies. It's no wonder Perjury is grown so common, when the most Impudent Lying hath so prepared the way.

§ 52. Having published a Confutation of Mr. Danvers about Infant-baptism, one Mr. Hut. binson an Anabaptist in a reproachful Letter called me to review what I had written on that Subject: And in a few sheets I published it, called, [A Review of my thoughts of Infant-Baptism] which, I think, for the brevity, and perspicuity fittest for the use of ordinary doubters of that point: And Mr. Barret hath contracted my other Books of it, in certain Quaere's.

§ 53. The act restraining the Press being expired, I published a Book that lay by me to open the case of Nonconformity, called, A Plea for Peace: which greatly offended many Conformists; tho I ventured no farther but to name the things that we durst not conform to: Even the same Men that had long called out to us, to tell them what we desired; and said, We had nothing to say, could not bear it. The Bishop of Ely, Dr. Gunning, told me, He would petition Authority to command us to give the reasons of our Nonconformity, and not thus keep up a Schism and give no reason for it. The Bishop of London, Dr. Compton, told me, That the King took us to be not sincere, for not giving the reasons of our dissent. I told them both, it was a strange Expectation, from Men, that had so fully given their reason against the old Conformity in our Reply, and could get no Answer; and when their own Laws would Excommunicate, Imprison, and Ruin us, for doing any such thing as they demanded: But I would begg it on my knees, and return them most hearty thanks if they would but procure us leave to do it. Yet when it was but half done, it greatly provoked them; And they Wrote and said, That without the least provocation I had assaulted them: Whereas I only named what we stuck at, professing to accuse none of them: And they thought Seventeen years Silencing, Prosecuting, Imprisoning, Accusations of Parliament men, Prelates, Priests and People, and all their Calls [What would you have? Why do you not tell us what you stick at?] to be no provocation. Yea, Bishops and Doctors had long told Great Men, That I my self had said, That it was only things inconvenient, and not things sinful, which I refused to Conform to, Whereas I had given them, in the Description of Eight Particular things in the old Conformity, which I undertook to prove sinful; and at the Savoy began with one of them; And in the Petition for Peace, offered our Oaths, that we would refuse Conformity to nothing but what we took to be sin. And now when I told them what the Sins were, O what a common Storm did it raise among them! When Heathens would have let Men speak for themselves before they are Condemned, its Criminal in us to do it Seventeen years after.

§ 54. Dr. Stillingfleet being made Dean of Pauls was put on as the most plausible Writer to begin the assault against us, which he did in a printed Sermon proving me and such Others Schismaticks and Separatists. To which I gave an answer which I thought satisfactory (Dr. Owen and Mr. Alsoy also answered him) To all which be wrote some what like a Reply.

p. 188§. 55. Against this I Wrote a second Defence, which he never answered.

§. 56. One Mr. Cheny (an honest weak Melancholy-Man) wrote against my Plea for Peace, to which I Published an Answer.

§. 57. One Mr. Hinkley Wrote against me long ago, which occasioned some Letters betwixt us; and now he Published his Part, and put me to publish mine; which I did, with an Answer to a Book, called Reflexions, &c. and another, called, The Impleader, and a Re-joynder to Mr. Cheny-Long of Exeter was one of them.

§. 58. Because a Book, called, The Counterminer; Le Strange, and many others, endeavoured still, as their Chief Work, to perswade Rulers and all, that we cherished Principles of Rebellion, and were preparing for Treason, Sedition, or a War: I much desired openly to publish our Principles about Government and Obedience, but our Wise Parliament-Gentlemen were against it, saying, You can publish nothing so truly, or warily, but Men will draw Venom out of it, and make use of it against you. But having been thus stopt many years, it satisfied not my Conscience, and I published all, in a Book, called, A second Plea for Peace. And it hath had the strange fate of Being Unanswered to this day; nor can I get them to take notice of it: Though it was feared it would have been but …ewel to their Malice, for some ill effect. I added to it, The Nonconformists Iudgment about things indifferent, about Scandal; The difference between Grace and Morality; and what Nonconformity is not.

§. 59. Upon Mr. H. Dodwell's provocation I published a Treatise of Episcopacy that had lain long by me; which fully openeth our Judgment about the difference between the old Episcopacy, and our new Diocesans, and Answereth almost all the Chief Writers which have Written for such Prelacy, specially Bishop Downance, Dr. Hammond, Saravia, Spalatensis, Setavius, &c. I think I may freely say, it is Elaborate, and had it not done somewhat effectually in the undertaken cause, some one or other would have answered it ere now. It makes me admire that my Cathol. Theology, our Reformed Liturgy, my Second Plea for Peace, (that, I say, not the first also) and this Treatise of Episcopaoy could never … an Answer from any of these fierce Accusing Men; when as it is the Subjects of these Four, which are the Controversies of the Age (and Rage) by these Man so much insisted on. But I have since found some Explication about the English Di… cesanes necessary; which the Separatists forced me to publish, by misunderstanding me.

§. 60. Mr. Hinkley grew more moderate, and Wrote me a Reconciling Letter; but Long of Exceter (if Fame misreport not the Anonimous Author) Wrote so fierce a Book, to prove me, out of my own Writings, to be one of the worst Men living on Earth (full of Falshoods, and old …racted Lines, and half Sentences) that I never saw any like it; And being overwhelmed with Work and Weakness, and Pains, and having least zeal to defend a Person so bad as I know my self to be; I yet never Answered him, it being none of the matter in Controversie, whether I be good or bad. God be Merciful to me a Sinner?

§. 61. I published also an Apology for the Nonconformists Preaching, proving it their duty to Preach, though forbidden, while they can; And Answering a Multitude of Objectors against them, Fowlis, Morley, Cunning, Parker, Patrick, Druell, Saywell, Ashton, Good, Dodwell, &c. With Reasons to prove, that the honest Conformists should be for our Preaching.

§. 62. I published a few Sheets, called, A Moral Prognostication, what will befall the Curches, as gathered only from Moral Causes.

§. 63. Because the accusation of Schism is it that maketh all the noise against the Nonconformists, in the Mouths of their Persecu…ors, I Wrote a few Sheets, called, A search for the English Schismatick,] comparing the Principles and Practices of both Parties, and leaving it to the … to Judge, who is the Schismatick; shewing, that the Prelatists have in the Canons ipso facto, Excommunicated all (Nobility, Gentry, Clergy and People) who do but affirm, that there is any thing sinful in their Liturgy, Ceremonies, or Church-…, even to the lowest Officer, And their Laws cast … of the Ministery into Goals, and then they call us Schismaticks for not … to their Churches: Yea, though we come to them constantly, as I have …, if we will not give over Preaching our selves; when the parishes I lived in, Lad … Fifty thousand, the other Twenty thousand Souls in it, more than can come within the Church-doors. This p. 189Book also, and my Prognostication, and, (which I most valued) my True and only way of Vniversal Concord, were Railed at, but never Answered (that I know of,) no more than those fore-mentioned.

§. 64. One Mr. Morrice, Chaplain to Arch-bishop Sandcroft, Wrote a Learned and Virulent Book against my Abstract of the History of Bishops and Councils; and against a small Book of Mr. David Clerkson, against the Antiquity of Diocesancs: To this Mr. Clerkson and I conjoyned our Answers; In mine, … Epitomixed Iob Ludolphus History of Habassia in the Preface; and, I think, sufficiently Vindicated my History of Councils, and so think they that were greatly taken with Mr. Morrice's book till they saw the Answer. And Mr. Clerkson hath shewn himself so much better acquainted with Church History than they, that whether they will attempt to answer his Testimonies (and mine in my Treatise of Episcopacy) which disprove the Antiquity of Diocesanes, or will trust only to possession, power and noise, I know not.

§. 65. Mr. H. Dodwell, and Dr. Sherlock, by publick accusation, called me out to publish a Book; called, An Answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock, confuting an Vniversal Humane Church-Sovereignty, Aristocratical and Mon…chical, as Church-Tyranny and Popery, and defending Dr. Isaac Barrow's Excellent Treatise against it. (For Dr. Tillotson had newly Published this Excellent Post humous-Treatise, and Sherlock quarrel'd with it.) In this I confuted Mr. Dodwell's Treatise of Schism, and many of his Letters and Conferences with me, which I think he will pass by, lest his own Reply should make those know him who read not mine.

§ 66. In a short time I was called with a grieved heart to Preach and Publish many Funeral Sermons, on the Death of many Excellent Saints.

Mr. Stubbes went first, that Humble, Holy, Serious Preacher; long a blessing to Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, and other parts, and lastly to London, I had great reason to lament my particular Loss, of so holy a friend, who oft told me, That for very many years he never went to God by solemn Prayer, without a particular remembrance of me: but of him before.

Next died Mrs. Coxe, Wife to Dr. Thomas Coxe (now President of the Colledge of Physicians) a Woman of such admirable composure of Humble, Seri… Godliness, meekness, patience, exactness of Speech and all behaviour, and great Charity, that all that I have said in her Funeral Sermon is much short of her worth.

Next died my most intire Friend Alderman Henry As…rst, commonly taken for the most exemplary Saint that was of publick notice in this City; so sound in Judgment, of such admirable Meekness, Patience, Universal Charity, Studious of Good Works, and large therein, that we know not where to find his Equal. Yet though such a Holy Man, of a strong Body, God … his … by the terrible Disease of the Stone in the Bladder; And, in … to be Cut, and two broken Stones taken out by Thirty pieces and more, with admirable patience: And when the Wound was almost …aled, he was fain to be Cut again of a third Stone that was left behind; and after much … and patience, died, with great peace and quietness of Mind; and hath left behind him the perfume of a most honoured Name, and the Memorials of a most exemplary Life, to be imitated by all his Descendents.

Next my dear Friend Mr. Iohn Corbet, of just the like t…mper of Body and Soul, having endured at Chichester many years Torment of the same Disease, coming up to be …, died before they could Cut him, and had just three … in his Bladder at Mr. Ashurst's were: his worth is known in Gloucester, …, London and by his Writings to the Land, to be beyond what I have published of him, in his Funeral Sermon. He having lived in my House before, and greatly hono… red by my Wife; She got not long after his ex… … Wife (… to Dr. Twiss) to be her Companion, but enjoyed that comfort … while, which I have longer enjoyed.

§. 67. Near the same time died my Father's second Wife, Mery, the Daughter of Sir Thomas …, and sister to Sir … in the Wa…s: Her Mother, the old Lady …, died at my Father's House, between Eighty and One Hundred years old. And my Mother-in-Law died at Ninety six (of a Cancer) in …, having lived from her youth in the greatest Mortification, … to her Body, and … of Prayer and all Devotion, of any one that ever I knew: In the hatred of all sin, p. 190strictness of Universal obedience, and for Thirty years longing to be with Christ; In constant daily acquired infirmity of body (got by avoiding all Exercise, and long secret prayer in the coldest Seasons, and such like) but of a constitution naturally strong: afraid of recovering when ever she was ill: For some days before her death she was so taken with the Ninty first Psalm, that she would get those that came near her to read it to her over and over; which Psalm also was a great means of Comfort to Old Beza, even against his Death.

§. 68. Soon after dyed Iane Matthews aged Seventy six, My House-keeper fourteen years: though mean of quality, very eminent in Kiderminster, and the parts about for Wisdom, Piety, and a holy, Sober, Righteous, Exemplary Life.

And many of my Old Hearers and Flock at Kiderminster dyed not long before. Among whom a mean Freeholder Iames Butcher of Wanmerton, hath left few equal to him for all that seemeth to approach perfection in a plain Man: O how many holy Souls are gone to Christ out of that one Parish of Kiderminster in a few years, and yet the Number seemeth to increase.

§. 69. The Book which I published called The Poor Man's Family Book, was so well accepted, that I found it a useful work of Charity to give many of them (with the Call to the Vnconverted) abroad in many Countries, where neither I, nor such others had leave to Preach (and many Hundreds since, with good success.)

§. 70. The times were so bad for selling Books, that I was fain to be my self at the charge of Printing my Methodus Theologiae, some friends contributed about Eighty pounds, towards it; It cost me one way or other about Five hundred pounds: About Two hundred and fifty pounds I received from those Non-conformists that bought them. The Contrary party set themselves to hinder the sale of it, because it was mine, tho' else the Doctrine of it, being half Philosophical, and half Conciliatory would have pleased the Learned part of them. But most lay it by as too hard for them, as over Scholastical and exact. I wrote it and my English Christian Directory to make up one Compleat Body of Theology, The Latin one the Theory, and the English one the Practical part. And the latter is commonly accepted because less difficult.

§. 71. My short piece against Popery called The Certainty of Christianity without Popery, proved of use against Infidels as well as Papists. But most deceived men will not be at the labour to study any thing that is distinct and exact, but take up with the first appearances of things.

§. 72. The Miserable State of Youngmen in London, was a great trouble to my mind; Especially Rich men's Sons and Servants, Merchants and Lawyers Apprentices and Clarks, carried away by the flesh, to drinking; Gluttony, Plays, Gaming, Whoring, Robbing their Masters, &c. I wrote therefore a smal Tractate for such, called Compassionate Counsel to Young men: Sir Robert Atkins contributed towards the charge of Printing it, and I gave of them in City and Country One thousand five hundred, besides what the Bookseller sold: But few will read it that most need.

§. 73. About this time dyed my dear friend Mr. Thomas Gouge, of whose Life you may see a little in Mr. Clark's last book of Lives: A wonder of sincere industrie in works of Charity; It would make a Volume to recite at large, the Charity he used to his poor Parishioners at Sepulchres (before he was Ejected and Silenced for Non-conformity; His Conjunction with Alderman Ashurst and some such others, in a weekly Meeting, to take account of the honest poor samilles in the City that were in great want, he being the Treasures and Visiter; his voluntary Catechizing the Christ's Church boyes when he might not preach: The many thousand Bibles Printed in Welsh that he dispersed in Wales; The Practice of Piety, The Whole Duty of Man, My Call, and many thousands of his own Writing, given freely all over Wales; his setting up about Three hundred or Four hundred Schools in Wales to teach Children only to read, and the Catechise, his industry to beg money for all this, besides most of his own Estate laid out on it; His Travels over Wales once or twice a year to visite his Schools and see to the Execution: This was true Episcopacy of a silenced Minister (who yet went constantly to the Parish Churches, and was authorized by an old University License p. 191to Preach occasionally, and yet for so doing was Excommunicate even in Wales while he was doing all this good.) He served God thus to a healthful age (Seventy four or seventy six,) I never saw him sad, but always chearful. About a fort-night before he dyed he told me that sometime in the night some small trouble came to his heart, he knew not what; And without sickness, or pain, or fear of death, they heard him in his sleep give a groan, and he was dead. O how holy and blessed a Life, and how easie a Death?

§. 74. Finding the Success of my Family Dialogue I wrote a second part 1681 and 1682, called The Catechising of Housholds teaching Housholders how to instruct their Families, Expounding, First, the Law of Nature: Secondly, The Evidence of the Gospel: Thirdly, the Creed: Fourthly, the Lord's Prayer: Fifthly, the Commandments: Sixthly, the Ministry: Seventhly, Baptism: Eighthly, the Lord's Supper. It is suited to those that are Past the common little Catechism; And I think these two Family-books to be of the greatest Common use of any that I have published: If Houshoulders would but do their parts in reading good books to their Houshoulds, it might be a great Supply where the Ministry is defective: and no Ministry will serve sufficiently without Men's own Endeavours for themselves and families.

§. 75. Having been for retirement in the Countrey from Iuly till August 14. 1682, returning in great weakness, I was able only to Preach twice, of which the last was in my usual Lecture in New-street, and it fell out to be August 24. just that day twenty year, that I (and near Two thousand more) had been by Law forbidden to Preach any more. I was sensible of God's wonderful mercy that had kept so many of us Twenty years in so much Liberty and Peace, while so many severe Laws were in force against us, and so great a number were round about us, who wanted neither malice nor power to afflict us. And so I took that day my leave of the Pulpit and publick Work, in a thankful Congregation. And it is like indeed to be my last.

§. 76. But after this when I had ceased Preaching, I was (being newly risen from Extremity of pain) suddenly surprized in my house by a poor violent Informer, and many Constables and Officers, who rusht in and apprehended me, and served on me one Warrant to seize on my person for coming within five miles of a Corporation, and five more Warrants, to distrain for an Hundred and ninty pounds, for five Sermons. They cast my Servants into fears, and were about to take all my Books and Goods, and I contentedly went with them towards the Justice to be sent to Jail, and left my house to their will: But Dr. Thomas Cox, meeting me, forced me in again to my Couch and bed, and went to five Justices and took his Oath (without my knowledge) that I could not go to Prison without danger of Death: Upon that the Justices delayed a day till they could speak with the King, and told him what the Doctor had sworn; and the King consented, that at the present imprisonment should be forborn, that I might die at home. But they Executed all their Warrants on my Books and Goods; even the bed that I lay sick on, and sold them all: and some friends paid them as much money as they were prized at, which I repayed, and was faint to send them away. The Warrant against my person was signed by Mr. Parrey and Mr. Phillips: The five Warrants against my Goods by Sir Iames Smith and Sir Iames Butcher: And I had never the least notice of any accusation, or who were the Accusers or Witnesses, much less did I receive any Summons to appear, or answer for my self, or ever saw the Justices or Accusers. But the Justice that sign'd the Warrants for Execution said that the two Hiltons sollcited him for them, and one Bucke led the Constables that distreined

But though I sent the Justice the written Deeds which proved that the Goods were none of mine (nor ever were) and sent two Witnesses whose hands were to those Conveyances, I offered their Oaths of it, and also proved that the books I had many years ago alienated to my kinsman, this signified nothing to them, but they seized and sold all nevertheless; And both patience and prudence forbad us to trie the Title at Law, when we knew what Charges had been lately made of Justices, and Jurles, and how others had been used If they had taken only my Cloak they should have had my Coat also, and if they had taken me on one Cheek I would have turned the other: for I knew the case was such that he that will not put up one blow, one wrong or stander, shall suffer two, yea many more. duplicate page p. 190duplicate page

p. 192But when they had taken and sold all, and I borrowed some Bedding and Necessaries of the Buyer, I was never the quieter: for they threatned to come upon …e again, and take all as mine, whosesoever it was, which they found in my possession: So that I had no remedy, but utterly to forsake my House and Goods and all, and take secret Lodgings distant in a stranger's House. But having a long Lease of my own House, which binds me to pay a greater Rent than now it is worth, when-ever I go I must pay that Rent.

The separation from my Books would have been a greater part of my small Affliction, but that I found I was near the end both of that Work and Life which needeth Books; and so I easily let go all: Naked came I into the World, and naked must I go out.

But I never wanted less (what Man can give) than when Men had taken all: My old Friends (and Strangers to me) were so Liberal, that I was fain to restrain their Bounty: Their kindness was a surer and larger Revenue to me than my own.

But God was pleased quickly to put me past all fear of Man, and all desire of avoiding suffering from them by Concealment; by laying on me more himself than Man can do: Their Imprisonment, with tolerable Health, would have seemed a Palace to me; And had they put me to death for such a Duty as they Persecute me, it would have been a joyful end of my Calamity. But day and night I groan and languish under God's just afflicting hand; The pain which before only tired my Reins, and tore my Bowels, now also fell upon my Bladder, and scarce any part or hour is free. As Waves follow Waves in the Tempestuous Seas, so one pain and danger followeth another, in this sinful miserable Flesh: I die daily, and yet remain alive: God, in his great Mercy, knowing my dulness in health and ease, doth make it much easier to repent and hate my sin, and loath my self, and contemn the World, and submit to the Sentence of death with willingness, than otherwise it was ever like to have been. O how little is it that wrathful Enemies can do against us, in comparison of what our sin, and the Justice of God can do? And O how little is it that the best and kindest of Friends can do, for a pained Body, or a guilty sinful Soul, in comparison of one gracious look or word from God. Woe be to him that hath no better help than Man: And blessed is he whose help and hope is in the Lord.

But I will here tell the Reader what I had to say, if I had been allow'd a hearing.