the Republican Faction in England pay them their wages and call them their Dear Brethren for their pains And then the Presbyterian war was denounc'd in the Pulpiâ— and in the Parliament-house too long before the Republican broke out openly in the Field What if the first Publick Sticklers were not at that time Declar'd Presbyterians They were yet in the Conspiracy against Bishops though under another Notion and quickly after they Listed themselves under That very Profession as the best cover in nature for their purpose for That Schisme was never without a State-faction in the Belly on 't But nothing is more Notorious then the Intelligence that was held from the Beginning betwixt the Republican Caball and the Presbyterian Divines The one drew the Bellowes and the Other Play'd the Tune And take notice likewise That Presbyterian was a mark of the Faction rather then a note of the Religion and used in Contradistinction to Royallist But Pray'e finish your Repentance Ba. For All the rest of my Sins in this business which I know not of Particularly I do Implicitly and generally Repeâ—â— of and ask of God to give me a particular Conversion c. Ibid 53. Mo. If you have told all the Particulars you know of yoâ—â— Account Mr. Baxter is soon cast up You begin with a Genâ—rall Supposition All that ever I Thouâ—â—â— Said c. without any One Instance or Acknowledgement If you had sayd I have committed many Sins of This kinde and 〈◊〉 That it had been something Your Second Branch of Repentance is for no more discouragiâ—â— Peevishnesse toward Superiours and Then sometimes too 〈◊〉 Encouraging it by being too Sharp your self against what yoâ— took to be Church Corruptions Why Sorry for no MORE discouraging when you were so far from discouraging at all thâ—â— on the Contrary you Repent in the same Period for too 〈◊〉 Encouraging This is at the best but a Lame and a Geneâ—â—â— Particular Repentance That which you make no more of thâ—â— the Spirit of Peevish Quarrelling as if the people had only 〈◊〉 upon a Nettle you should have spoken out and call'd it the Spirit of Contumacy and Rebellion And what is it that yoâ— charge upon your self here more then that you were a little too Mealy-mouth'd But wher 's your Vindication of the Châ—râ—â—-Orders you mention where 's your Determination which 〈◊〉 the Right Superiours Why do ye not tell the People that yoâ— were mistaken in the Opinion of our Church-Corruptions and Instruct them in their Duties of Obedience to God and the King Without so doing That which you call Repentance is oâ—lâ— a Snare to the Multitude and a Scandal to the Government Your next Pang of Repentance is for not Consulting tâ—e best Lawyers that were against the Parliament more Impartially and dilligently then you did Is This the Repentance Mr. Baxter of a Confessor A Râ—pentance without a Confession an arrant peice of Artifice aâ—d Design to put on the Disguise of a Recantation and withoâ—â— any charge or discharge of Conscience to keep in with Boâ—h Parties The Sin does not Ly in your not Advising with Lawyers concerning the State of the Controversy but in Plungiâ—g your self and Others into Bloud hand over head contrary to the Laws of God and man without so much as consulting the grounds of the Quarrell To the Royallists it looks like an excuse of your Disloyalty to the King as who should say 'T is true I was to blame It was a Poynt of Law and I should have taken better Advise upon 't And if the Other Side accuse you as a desertor of the Cause you can acquit your self There too that you have not Repented of any one Poynt to their Prejudice If it be not as I say and that you mean Good Faith do but publish your Loyalty to the World in the manner or to the effect Following and I 'le ask your Pardon I Do Declare that the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament are still the Kings Subjects and that it is not Lawfull for them to exercise any Act of Sovereign Power without or Against the Kings Command or Consent I do lâ—kewise declare that the War Raised by the pretended Authority of the Lords and Commons in 1642. with all their Orders Ordinances and Impositions in pursuance thereof were also unlawfull And that All Acts of Hostility done by Them or their Order against the King or the Party Commssioned by hâ—m during the Command of the Earl of Essex were Acts of disloyalty and Rebellion If you be really the man that you would be thought to be you 'le never Boggle at This Test But if This will not down with ye let me tell you Sir that to my knowledge worse then this has you will make me think of the Lady in the Proverbs that Eateth and wipeth her Mouth and saith I have done no Wicâ—ednesse Ba. You Reflect in These Reproaches either upon my Particular Principles or upon the Principles of the Party or upon Both. As to my self If any man can prove that I was Guilty of hurt to the Person or destruction of the Power of the King or of Changing the Fundamental Constitution of the Common-Wealth c. Holy Com. Pa. 489.490 I will never gain-sâ—y him if he call me a most persidious Rebell and tell me that I am Guilty of far greater Sin then Murther Whoredome Drunkenesse or such like Ibid. Or if they can solidly Confute my Grounds I will thaâ—â— them and Confesse my Sin to all the World Ibid. Ri. Nay Brother Baxter you must give Me leave to put in â— Word now and first to your Practice then to your Grounds Diâ— not you animate the Party that was in Arms against the King 〈◊〉 much as any man and was That no hurt to his Person Rememâ—â— say you to the Army how far I have gone with you in the Wâ—â— And shall I be affraid of my Old most Intimate Friends c. Holy Com. Pref. Will you have it now that This Army your Oâ—â— and intimate Friends did no Hurt to his Majesties Person Aâ—â— now bethink your self of your Challenge in the Preface to your Hoâ—â— Common wealth Prove that the King was the Highest Powâ—â— in the time of Divisions and that he had Power to make 〈◊〉 War which he made and I will offer my Head to Iustice as a â—â—bell Is not This Destructive of the Kings Power And is not 〈◊〉 a Change of the Fundamental Constitution of the Common-weaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 say that the Members of Parliament considered disjunctly 〈…〉 Subjects but that Conjunctly as a House or Body they 〈◊〉 the Sovereignty Holy Com. Pa. 433. And again pa. 462. Teâ—â— the Parliament hath a part of the Legislative Power eve◠〈◊〉 ENACTING and not only of Proposing is undoubted Ba. Nay if you go to That Richard I shall call You to Aâ—compt for your Practises and Propositions too Do not you
their Fathers I say they are as zealous for These as if Eternal Life consisted in them Where God forbids them there they are as forward as if they could never do enough and where God Commands them There they are as backward to it yea as much against it as if they were the Commands of the Devil himself And for the Discipline of Christ tho all parts of the world have much opposed it yet where hath it been so fiercely and powerfully resisted The Lord grant that this harden'd willful malicious Nation fall not under that Heavy Doom Luke 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me R. B's Saints Rest Part. 3. P. 91. Mo. To see the difference now Gentlemen betwixt your two Spirits The One so meek and like a Christian the Other so clamorous and so Uncharitable What hopes of Unity and Peace or what Pretence to 't so long as these dividing and defaming Liberties are kept a foot Your Friend Richard tells you very well Mr. Baxter that Such Holynesse is a deceiptfull Name that Sâ—tan puts upon Unholynesse and a loathsom Sacrifice to the God of Love You revile the Government and those that Conform to it and yet at the same time you tell the People that you are persecuted You would be thought kinder to his Majesty however in devolving the severity from the King upon the Clergy and yet his Majesty is pleased to minde you that Since the Printin this Declaration severall Seditious Pamphlets and Quaeres have been Published and Scatter'd abroad to infuse dislike and Iealousies into the hearts of the People and of the Army and some who ought rather to have repented the former mischief they have wrought then to have endeavour'd to emprove it have had the hardynesse to publish that the Doctrine of the 〈◊〉 against which no man with whom we have conferred 〈◊〉 excepted ought to be reformed as well as the Discipline â— So that all this yielding was too little it seems to stop the Mouths of an Insatiable Faction But what is it at last that you would be at Ri. I beg of the Clergy that before they any more render Odiâ—â—s These whom they never heard and Vrge Rulers to Execute the Laws against them that is to confine Imprison Excommunicate Silâ—nce and Vndo thâ—m they would be sure what manner of spirit they are of Non-con Plea Part I. Epistle Mo. Sure of what spirit you are do ye say Why Certainly your own Conscience tells you that we are sure of that as Hearing Seeing Feeling and Understanding can make us You are by your own Professions of the Presbyterian Spirit The Spirit that made Perjury the Condition of Life Liberty and Estate to every man in the Case of your Covenant The Spirit that Entred upon Sequestred Livings and left not the Loyal Clergy the Freedome so much as of Teaching a School to supply themselves and their Miserable Families with Bread The Spirit that deny'd the King in his Distresses the Comfort of so much as a Common-Prayer Book or the Assistance of his own Chaplains A greater Rigour and Barbarity then is ever used by Christians to the meanest Prisoners and Greatest Malefactors whom though the Iustice of the Law deprive of Worldly Comforts yet the mercy of Religion allows them the Benefit of their Clergy as not ayming at once to destroy their Bodies and to damn their souls EIK. BAS 207. They that envy my being a King are loth I should be a Christian while they seek to deprive me of all things else they are affraid I should save my Soul Ibid. Behold here in a few words the Spirit that you plead for 〈◊〉 〈…〉 poor Creatures We would only have a Toleration of all â—haâ—'s Tolerable he that will Tolâ—rate All is Bad and he that will Tolerate none that differ is Madd R. B's answer to Dr. Stillingfleet P. 84. Mo. If the Church may be Iudge all that are Tolerable are Tolerated allready If the People must be the Iudges the Intolerable must be Tolerated for Company For so long as every Party Makes or Pretends it self to be in the Right all the Dissenters have one Common Plea But in case of any Indulgence to be allow'd it is certainly due to these in preference that are quietest without it I cannot but have great Compassion for any Party that labours under a Religious and Invincible Disagreement and Modesty applies to Authority for Relief For so long as they only tell their own Tale I cannot but in â—harity believe that they have no other design then to do their own businesse But when a Conscientious Pretense comes to be carry'd on by Scandall Invective Reproach and such Methods as are directly Irreligious the dispute is no longer matter of Scruple or Worship but Superiority and Power There may be Religion in telling the Government what you desire but the exposing of your Superiours to the People is Down right Sedition And as you have handled the matter you might e'en with as good a Grace tell the Rabble in plain English Look ye my Masâ—ers here 's a company of Anti-Christian Swearing Drinking Fellows that will not let us have Liberty of Conscience But I would fain hear you two debate the business of Toleraâ—on a little betwixt your selves Ri. What if you shall smite or cast out a supposed Schismatique and Christ shall find an able holy peaceable Minister or other Christian Wounded or Mourning out of doors Pet. for Peace P. 12. Or see a Schismatique wounded and a Saint found Bleeding c. Saints Rest. P. 1â—â— Ba And now you talk of Saints Richard to think of such a Friend dyed at such a time and such a one at another time such a pretious Christian slain in such a Fight and such a one at â—uch a Fight O what a number of them could I name and that all these are enter'd into Rest and we shall surely go to Them but They shall not return to Us. Saints Rest. P. 100. In That State of Rest Angells as well as Saints will be Our blessâ—d Associates Ibid. P. 101. I think Christians This will be a more Honourable Assembly then you ever here beheld and a more happy Society then you were ever of before Surely Pyâ— and White c. are now members of a more Knowing Vnerriâ—g Well-order'd Right-aiming Self-denying Vnanimous Honourable Tryumphant Senate then This from whence they were taken is or ever Parliament will be It is better to be door-keeper to That Assembly whither Twisse c. are Translated then to have continu'd here the Moderator of This. Saints Rest. P. 101. Nay how many Professors will rashly rail and lye in their Passions How few will take well a Reproof but rather defend their sin how many in these times that we doubt not to be Godly have been guilty of
Baxter professe to have in several of your Writings to entertain yet very Reverend Thoughts of the Pybald Assembly His Late Majesty had quite another Opinion of them See his Proclamation Inhibiting the Assembly of Divines anâ— others Summoned to Westminster by an Ordinance of Both Houses of Parliament Bibliotheca Regia P. 328. Iun. 22. 1643. Whereas there hath been a long time a desperate and Seditious design amongst diverse Factious persons to alter the whole Frame Constitution and Government of this Church so long and so happily Established within this Kingdome in pursuance whereof they have discountenanceed and in a manner suppressed the Book of Common Prayer settled by Law driven away Imprisoned Removed very many Learned Orthodox Godly Divines and Ministers from their Cures for discharging their duty and Conscience in Preaching and in their places without the least colour or shadow of Lawfull Authority have Instituted or Deputed mean Factious Persons Unqualify'd with Learning or Virtue to corrupt and poyson the minds of our Good Subjects with Principles of reason and Rebellion and have seized the Rents and Revenues of our Bishops Deans and Chapters for their own private Lucre or Benefit and for the Maintenance of the Army in Rebellion against us Pray Observe my Friends that this was before the Scots were call'd in and the work of men too in Opposition to the Church I come now to your Apostolical Assembly Since These bloudy distempers and when so many Armies are on Foot in several parts of the Kingdom a Bill hath been presented to us for the Calling of an Assembly of such Divines as are mentioned in the said Bill the far greater part whereof are men of no Reputation or Learning and eminently disaffected to the Government of the Church of England and very many of them are persons who have openly prâ—ached Rebellion and incited the People to take up Armes against us and so are not like to be proper Instruments of Peace in Church or State which Bill having many Clausâ—s in it very derogatory to our Honour and Iust Rights and very Scandalous to the Reformed Protestant Religion not so much as any part being left to Us either in the Choice of the Persons or in Adjoâ—rning or Dissolving the Assembly Bib. Regia Pa. 329. What do you think now of the Worthy Assembly your Men of sound and Loyall Principles of Government and Obedience These are the Men that you declare your selves Resolved to stand or fall by and out of your own mouths a Man may warrant This Assertion that you are no better Friends to This King then that Parliament and that Assembly were to the Laâ—â— Methinks This Testimony of his Late Majesty against your designes and Proceedings should move your Consciences and stare you in the Faces as if it were his Ghost You would have the world believe that the Covenant was never Imposed but that people might take it or let it alone as they pleased That the Assembly silenced no body forced nothing and that Presbytery was only as a Tolerated or Intended thing c. Now how great an Abuse this is upon That part of the Nation that does not know the story will appear out of the Memorials of These Times under the Authority of the Faction it self The Lords and Commons took the Vow and Covenant Iun. 6. 1643. Husbands Collections Fol. 203. and thought fit to have it taken by the Arâ—ieâ— and Kingdome Ibid. Arch-Bishop of Canterbuâ—â—â—â— Temporal Livings Dignities and Ecclesiâ—stâ—â—â—â— Pâ—â—motions Sequestered Iune 10. 1143. 〈…〉 for calling an Assembly of Learned 〈…〉 Thirty of the Layety in the Commission Iune 24. 208. An Order for Ministers upon the Fast-day to pray for a blessing on this Assembly Iune 27.43 The Assembly Petitions Both Houses for a Fast and the removing of Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers destroying Monuments of Idolatry c. Iuly 10. 19â—3 Fol. 240. An Order for Divines that attend the Assembly to go into the Country to stir up the people to rise for their Defense Aug. 10. 1643. Fol. 285. An Ordinance for taking away of Superstitious Monuments Aug. 28. 1643. Fol. 307. An Ordinance to examine Witnesses against Scandalous Ministers Sep. 6. 164â— Fol. 311. Souldiers to take the Covenant Octob. 10 Fol. 359. An Order for the Assembly of Divines to treat of a Discipline and Government the present to be aboâ—ished and to prepare a Directory Octo. 1â— 16â—◠〈…〉 An Order for returning the Names of such as take not the Covenant to the House of Commons Nov. 30. 1643. Fol. 390. An Order for diverse persons to take the Covenant at Margarets Westminster Dec. 12. 1643. Fol. 399. An Ordinance disabling any person within the City of London from any place of Trust that shall not take the Covenant Dec. 20. 1643. Fol. 404. An exhortation for taking the Covenant c. Feb. 9. 1644. Fol. 422. An Order for taking it throughout the Kingdomes of England and Scotland with Instructions Feb. 9. 1644. Fol. 420. A Second Order for demolishing Superstitious Monuments May 9. 1644. Fol. 487. An Order for none to Preach but Ordained Ministers except allowed by Both Houses of Parliament May 6. 1645. Fol. 646. An Order for putting the Directory in Execution Aug. 11. 1645. Fol. 715. Severall Votes for choice of Elders throughout all England and Wales Feb. 20. 1646. Fol. 809. An Order for taking the Negative Oath and National Covenant Iun. 2. 1646. Fol. 889. An Order for putting the Orders of Church-Government in execution Iun. 9. 1646. Fol. 889. An Order for dividing the County of Lancashire into 9. Classes Octob. 2. 1646 Fol. 919. An Order for Abolishing Arch-Bishops and Bishops and settling their Lands upon Trustees for the use of the Common-Wealth Octob. 9. 1646. Fol. 992. An Order for the speedy dividing and settling of several Counties of This Kingdome into distinct Classical Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships Ian. 19. 1647. Scobells Acts 139. The Form of Church-Government to be used in the Church of England and Ireland agreed upon by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament after Advice had with the Assembly of Divines Aug. 29. 1648. Fol. 165. By this time I hope you are satisfy'd that it was a Presbyterian War according to the very Letter Or if the Nonconformists did not begin the War pray'e who bid Ri. Our Calamities began in Differences about Religion and still That 's the wound that most needs Closing c R. B's Fast Sermon 1660. p. 41. Ba. Do not you know that write about the Cause that the War was not founded in Theologicall differences but in Law differences R. B's Letter to Mr. Hiâ—ckly p. 25. Ri. The first open beginning was the Militia Non. Conf. Plea p. 126. Ba. I know how unsatisfy'd many are concerning the Lawfullnesse of the War I cannot yet perceive by any thing which they object but that we undertook our Defence upon warrantable