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A N ^
ABRIDGEMENT
HISTORY
OF HIS
L/FEan
WITH
An Account of the Minifters, fe'c
who were Ejefted after the R.eftauration, of King Charles II.
Their Apology forthemfelves, and their Adherents, containing the Grounds of their Nonconformity : Their Treatment in xh^ Reign of King Charles^ and King J^w<?j-5 and after the Revolution : And the continuation of their Hiftory, to the paffing of theBillagainflOccafionalConformity,in 171 1.
The ^am <^XA\m, : In Two V O L U M E S. Vol. I.
By Edmund Calamy, 2). 2).
LONDON:
Printed for John Lawrence, at the Angel in the Poultry ; y. Nicholjorty and J, and B. Sprint in Little-Britain j i^. I{pbinjfon in St. Paul's Ghurch-yard, and N. Ciiffe, and D. Jacl^fon in Cheapfide. 1 7 1 3 .
T O T H E
Duke oiDevcnjJnre.
May It pleafe Your Grace,
OVR Acceptance of the former Edition of this JVork^^ emboldens me to lay the Second at Your Graces Feet^ with its fre» fent Additions and Amende ments.
A 2 h
1- ft -ir-na-
The Dedication.
It can he no furpri^ing Tubing to Your Grace, that Your 2)e- fcent from one who appear'^d fo early in the Glorious Caufe of Liberty^ and Your own firm Ad^ herence to the Principles of the RevoluticWl,^ in 'which Your ISJolAe Father -W;^ fo JBive: Yoiir dec lard Averjton ^io iBigO'm try and Terfecution • and Your Zeal for the Proteftant Sm^ cejjion in the lUuflrious Houfe of Hanover ; jhould mal{e
the ' Proteftadr !^^
Qwho are not capahie' of having any fecular Interefl to ^ve^ eppofite to that in T»hich ^hfbur Graces fo heartily engag'd^) Anihitiousoffemring^^YoHr go$d
4. - /: While
The Dedication.
JVhile fome purfue them mth fttrioHS InveHiveSy n^hich they can eajtly dejpije^ they are apt to Flatter themfelves^that a jufi Senfe of Honour:, mU plead for them TOoith tho/e of four Gkaces ISIohk T>if^ofttion : Jnd produce a T^endernep for a "Body of Men^ who endurd great Severities from the Laws of their Coun- try^ before they could be Tolera^ ted '^ and have been rudely inftdted jince they have been under the Jhelter of the AB of Indulgence ; and are at la/i rendred incapable of any publicly Service^ and yet are exceeded by none in a dijtntere/ied JfeBion to their QV E EN and Country^ or in an irreconcilable Averfton to Topery and Slavery.
It
The Dedicatioii.
It u indeed a great wihappinej^^ that Proteftants /hould be Jo much divided^ and that -where there is fuch an Harmony inToints of Faithy there /hould be fuch a i»ant of Charity in Matters of meer Opinion : "But upon compa^- ring the Account here given^ mth the Narratives of others^ Your Grace mU eafilypaf a fudg^ went on 'which Side Charity is mo/i wanting. The Tt»o proper Seafons for an Accommodation in 1662 and 1^88, mhich xpere fo jludioufy lofl^ will be fujjictent to determine that 'Toint -^ together mth the Hi[tory of that Occa-
fional Conformity, nphich
was dejignd to be exprejjive of Charity to thofe^ T»ho have unkindly reprefented it as intended to ferve
a
The Dedication.
a Turn^ though its well k;non?n to have been praBis*d^ before there was any Turn to be fervid hy it.
I can affure Your Grace / have been Faithful and Impart ialy according to the beft Light I could obtain : And rphatever elfe I may be miftaken in, am well fatuffd in this^ that Your Grace has too Noble a Spirit^ to be for our being run down mth Obloquy and Contempt^ meerly becaufe we can t jpeal^ and aU as fome would have us^ from whom we cannot jujlly b^faid to differ morCy than they do among themfelves.
That Your Grace may be long continud aTatron of Liberty ^ a Supporter of the Reform' dKeli^ giony oj our prefent Government,
and
The Dedication.
and the Proteftant Succefjion, as it is happily EfiahlijHd by han? among us ^ and leave a Kace of "Tatriois behind YoUy Eminent for the fame Heredi^ tary Spirit of- Gtandenr and ^enefcence^ to tranfmit %ur Name \and Honour unfiaind to fucceeding Ages^ is 4he T^rayerof many, ^efides^ .\
May it pleafe Your G r a c e, Your Graces
i. '
Moft Hunjble and
Moft Obedient Servant,
Edmuod Calamy^
THE
PREFACE.
IT is well known to many, that Dr. Henry Snmpfon^ who at firft defign'd for the Miniftry, and was af- terwards an eminent Phyfician for many Years in this City, had taken a great deal of Pains in col- lecSting Materials for a Hiftory of Nor.conformity, and Memoirs concerning the Ancient and Modern Noncon- formifts. Several of his Papers having been kindly pnc into my Hands, and of ufe to me in this Work, efpeci- ally in the Second Part ; and amongft the reft, having by me a Plan of his De/ign, I {hall here Communicate it to the World. It was to be Entitled,
" An Ejfay of the Hiftory of PVJ^ITANISM and " 'NOI^CONFOBJAITT: Declaring what (he Men of ** fhofe Chnraciers have done and Jujferd ^ fince tht *' Reformation of Religion /» E N G L A N D." It began with,
The IntroduBion^ or a Preface, (hewing what were the Things contended for, and the Points of Difference, as well in DoBrine as Dijcif>line, Government^ Liturp, 8cc, wherein they deHr'd Refornutioif. And Twenty fix Chapters were to follow in this Order ;
Chap. I. Of fuch as are faid to have Aded or Suffered in the Caufe of Reformation during the Reign of King Henry VMl: Particularly, TiW<j/, Frithy Barnes, Bi.n.y, Lambert, Garret, Hierom, 8cc. Ihewing how fir they jigreed with the Diflenters, or difagreed from them.
With an Appendix concerning Tindal's Tranllation of the Bible,
Chap. II. Of thofe that were the great Promo- ters of the Reformation in the Days of EHveard VI. How far they inclinM to Puriianijm and Noticoufr^ mity, (fo caird in after Times) or hgw avcife thereco .-
a «'^^-
The PREFACE.
^»v of K}dley^ Hooper, CrnnmeTy Latimer , Verrex^ H.irly, Taylor, Pqynet, and Others, compilers of the Common Prayer: Of the Mirreprefcntations given of the 111 by Dr. Heylin.
An appendix of the feveral Unglifh Bibles in publick Ufe hitbeno.
Chaf. III. Of the Attempt that was made for the J^tf- fofin-itio Legum Ecclefinflicarum, in King Edward's Days ; Its beginning, progrels, and frulViation in that, and in 0.ueen E'li^abeth'i Reign afterwards.
C'.\^p. IV. Of other principal Perfons that fuffer'd in the Matiati Days; how far they feem to own the Puri- tan Do6trines and Principles : •&;;(. iipj^erj, Sanders, Bradford, Samuel^ Carele/s, &c.
Chap. V. Of fuch as were Exiles in Queen Mary'*s Reign . Their Congregations and Difcipline at Fratik/ord, ^urlch^ Strashurghy Arrow, Geneva, ^^^fiK ^^*
With an Appendix of the Tranflation of the Bible, and finging Pfalms at Geneva.
Chap. VI. Of thofe that return'd from Exile in the Reign of Queen Eli:{abeth, and became Dignitaries in the Church : Their Temper and Difpolition towards the Nonccnformifts: vi:{, Grindal, Sands j Parl{lmrft^ CoXy Pitktngtov, Noxvel, fVoitingham, Cole^ Humphry s. Turner^ Horn, Jewel, &c. With an Appendix concerning that Tranllarioo of the Bible callM the Bifloopt Bible,
Chap. VII. Of the Queens InjunUions^ and the Con- troverfie moved thereupon, about Conformity to the At- tire, wliereupon divers refus'd Preferment in the Church, and others that had already been prefcrr*d were' now de- priv'd; amongft whi^h were fome thatcamc from Exile: An 1 5f 6. As Covcrdale, Bale, Leaver, Samp/on^ PuUeyn, Carlijlcy Peifecu- Fax, ff^hitehead, Gtlby, Crowly, Goodman, &c. Others lion i. vvere of the fame Mind, and fuffer'd in like Manner, but had never been Exiles: As Gilpin, Morton^ Che/ion^ JKjnglmiS, fVitheri, (Fellow of Queen's College Cam^ bridge) 8cc,
Chap. VIII. Of the Opinion of fome Foreign Divines about thefe Controverfies and Sufferings ; their inrerpofing by Letters to the Queen or Bilhops : Such as Calvin (once and again before it came to Deprivation) P^Martyr, /^nmhy^ Bc:^a, BuUifigcr, Gualter,
Chap]
The P R E F AC B.
Chap. IX. Of the Admonitign to the Parliament • the Authors and Defenders thereof, and Sufferings thereup- on ; and other Troubles thar fell upon divers others Per'etru from the 1 5th of the Queen, till the Death of Archbi- tion U.* fhbp Parker: Which wqsq Edward Dealings Crane, fj/ii- coXy Standoriy Field, Cartmight^ I^bcrp Traven, Fcnn of Coventry, Grembam, Fw'ky Mnrbury, Gaxvton, Sec.
Chap. X. Of the quiet Time whilft Edward Grindat was Archbifliop of Canterbury, and the great coalefcence of Minds, whilft by fo much Moderation and induftri- ous Piety, he prefided in the Church : With ReflejSions upon Dr. Hey tin and others, as to what ihey fay about Grindali:(ers, .;
Chap. XL Of the firft Storm under Archbifhop ^%iV- gift, upon the coming out of his Three ArticJfes, and re- quiring Subfcription to them. Of feteral Troubles oc- cafion'd to the Nonconformifts by the publifhing of Martin-Mar-Prelate, the fpreading of Brownifme, the Madnefs and Treafon of Hac^et, &c. which fome did endeavour to fix on them. Of the feveral Perfons that were troubled, deprived, and filenc'd by this Archbilhop or his Agents, in the High CommiiTion Court, the Star- Perfecu- Chamber, and the Courts Ecclefiaftical: vi:{. Vdal, Tra- tioa 111. ^>ers, Dudly Fenner, Gifford, Bjch. I^ogers^ Perkins, Brown^ LevervpQodyCharkfGardinery Snape, Bainht ig, Jobnfon^ Penry, old Mr. Cavpdry^Scc: John P^yrMs o^ Oxon^ and H^. Wi)i- taker oi Cambridge y notefcaping his frowns and menaces. Chap. XII. Of the Patrons and Favourers of theNon- conformifts during the whole Reign of Queen Eli:[abcth^ by whofe Means under God they weather d out all thefe' Storms: As the Lord Keeper S^cow, the, Lord Treafurer Burleigh, the great Earls of Bedford, fVarwick, Leicefier and Huntington^ the Lords Grey and Hoveard^ S'u Fmnck Walfingham, Sir H^alter Mildmaye, Sir Amiens Pculet, Sir FrancH KjioUes, Mr. Beale, Sec. in the Court ; befides divers eminent Gentlemen in the Houfe of Commons, aiid in the Country.
Chap, XIII. Of their principal Adverfaries amongft the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy : Thofe that ad- ed or wrote moft keenly againft them ; as the Arch- bifljops Parker and fVhitgifi^ the Lord Chancellors tiatton and Bromley; the Lord Keeper Pickering} The Biihops ^Imtr, Cooper, Bridges, Bancroft;
a 2 Dr.
The PREFACE.
Dr. Sutcliff ^ Dr. Co:(ins^ Dr. Stanhope, Mr. B^gers^ Mr. Hoohr^ &c.
C/7/a/). XIV. Of the entrance of King Jnmes. The Con- ference at Hampton-Couu. Of the four Perfons nominated "by the King to reprefentthc Cafe of the Nonconfornnifts ; vi:{. Dr. Reynolds, Sparkj, ChaJertot:, and Kpevojlub ; with an Appendix concerning a Tranflation of the Bible, fol- lowing hereupon, commonly cali'd the Kings Tranfla- tion.
Chap. XV. Of the Convocation that followed not
'long after, and the Conftituiions there made; and the
-depriving, filencing, Infpending, and admonilhing of
above 300 Minifters, during the Time Dr. Bancroft was
Archbilhpp of Canterbury^ fome of which bore thefe great
Pe fs-cu- ' 'Sa.mcs, Hilderjham, Dod^ Pnrl{er, Sherwood, Midgeleyy
lion IV. Burgefi, Bourn, "B/tin, Brad/haw, Taylor,- P^g^^j Carter^
BateSy F{othvQelly Broughton^ Brightman, H^ootton^ Jacoh^
Pike, John Nicols, &c. With a fujl Catalogue of the
reft.
Chap. XVI. Of their Troubles during the Time of Dr. i^^^orj being Archbi(hop, which was a tolerably quiet Interval, efpecially in the latter part of it, and produc'd many Moderate Conformifts, but fuch as were uneafie enough under the Ceremonies, iftid were reputed Puri- tans: Such as Bo//^on, Sibbs, Prejlon, Barnard, Stoughton, Ward of Ipfmch, John Doxvnham, Pemble, Byfield, Dr. ■Gouge, &C. Of fuch as were troubled in other Dioccfes, vi:(. Ames, Hind^ !{. Nichols, 8(C.
■' Chap. XVII. Of their great Vexations whilft Dr. Laud
was Favourite, and Archbifhop, and had his Creatures
a(5iing in their fevcral Diocefcs ; fuch as Dr. iVren, Peirfe^
Perfecii- Lyndfel, (3c. Partly by prefling the legal Conformity to
tioa V. the height, and introducing fome Things that were cajfd
new Conformities; partly by putting down and filencing
all Le£iurers, and partly by fufpending fuch as refus'd to
read the Book, of Sports : Whereupon above a hundred
fled into New-England, and divers into Holland: And
many were forc'd to abfcond, or fiifTei' the trouble of the
Pcrrecu- "High Commil^on; fome of which were, Hooker, Cotton^
lion VX. Eliiot, Stone, Shcpp^rd, Bulkly^ FQtovc^les, Mather, Good^
"win, Sim/on, Jof. Sifnmondi^ H^ard^' Herring, Burton,
Hoxlcy, Edwards, Carter, Tijomas, Crooks, Nevrton, Jenni^
foH^ H^r^thy pVilJcnf Valentim, Archer, Capcl, 3cc,
' ' Chapi
The PRE FA C E.
chap, XVIII. Of the entrance' of ihc Long Parlia- ment, the calling of the AlTembly of Divines, the Nameg and Charaders of thofe that fate, their Bufinefs in their many Seflions from 1643 till 1647, with a Vindication of fuch of them as Ant. a IVood hath afperfed in bis A- thence Oxon. Of the folemn League and Covenant which in this interval was compofed, and in many Pla- ces rigoroufly imposed, to the prejudice of their Caufe, and fequeftring many of the Epifcopal Clergy.
Ch/fp. XIX. Of the State of Religion, and Carriage of thofe heretofore reputed Nonconformifts, from the Time of King Charles the Firft's Death, till the Reftau- ration of King Charles the Second.
Chap. XX. Of their Intereft and Agency for the King's Rfftauration ; and their endeavours for a Reformation after he was reftor'd. Of the Conference at the Savoj. The King's Declaration concerning Ecclefiaftical Afiairs.
Chap. XXL Of the Depriving and Silencing no lefs • than 2000 Minifters by an A(St of Parliament, that took Place Aug, 24. 1 661, Of another Adl againft Conven- ticles the Year following.
Chap, XXIL Of a Third AA of Parliament procured againA them, by which they were oblig'd to quit all Corporations, and the Places they Preach'd at, to live „ ^ Five Miles from them, or be imprifond. t-l^'^Ma
Chap, XXIIL Of a Fourth Ad procured agimft '^ ^^^' them, whereby their Preaching to above Four Perfons, others than of the Family, was declared a Conven- ticle; the Preacher to pay 20/, and the Houfe 2o/.Perfecu- more, (^c, tion IX.
Chap, XXIV. Of his Majefty's Declaration for Liber- ty of Confcience, Mnrch 15. 167^, and of the Liberty of Meeting and Preaching thereupon taken for fome few Years.
Chap. XXV. Of the abrogation of that Declaration : And the prorrading of Liberty not withftanding, in fomc perfecu- Places till the Year i68o; From whence the ipvereft of tio^ x. thefe Perfecutions enfued.
Chap. XXVL An Account of thofe 2000 Nonconfor- mifks that weredepriv'd and (jlenc'd after the Reftaura- tion of King Charles the Second j exhibiting a Lift of thisir Names J fome Ihort Account of the Adings, Wri-
%^ tings.
The P R E F A C t.
tings, md Sufferings of fever al of the moft Eminent aiDongft them ; and the Charaders of fuch of them as jinf. J t4'ocd hath injuriooHy retieded on, and falfly rc- prefented, modeftly Vindicated.
Had this Work been finilh'd, and appear d in the World, it might have been a means of convincing fomc, that Nonconformity hath all along had a elder eonnexion with both oir Civil and Religious fnrereft, than they are willing to allow: And that the prefent Nonconform mifts, (as much as they are inveigh'd againft) A<9t in the main upon the fame Principles with tbofe who have been moft Eminent for rcriou<: Religion ever (ince the Reformation^ But he did not live to accomplifli his Defign, and bis Papers have fince been fcatter'd. Mr. lipgcr Morrice alfo had made great CoUedlions for the fame Ptirpofe, which might yet help in fuch a Defign, when one of fuitable Ability is at leifure for that purpofe.
Thefe Two Volomes which I now publilh, take in the Nine laft Chapters of Dr. S/impfon^s Plan ; and if the other Seventeen Chapters were brought within the compafs of another Volume of the like bulk, I appre- hend it would be an ufeful Work.
I here take for my Foundation, Mr. BaxtA^^i Narra- tive of his Life and Times, which has been Extant fdr feveral Years, and has met with the fame Treatment as he in his Life time was fo much us'd to, both as to his Perfon and Writings ; It has been much valuM by fome, and as much flighted by others : But where it has been moft freely cenfur'd, it has been generally acknowledg'd to contain a Colle(Sion of many valuable Things of di- vers Kinds ; and that an Epitome of it would be accep- table and ufefnl.
' I don't think it needful to trouble the World with a particular Account how I came firft to undertake it: If 1 had thought that would have wanted an cxcufe, I had nfever medled: And tbf reform fhall only fay, that thinking I mightthis Way profitably employ forte Time and Pains, I was willing to do what I could to make mv Abridgement of genferal Ufe. In order to it, tho* I ha^e endeavour'd to fay much in ai litde, yet 1 have nor willingly omitted any Thing that I tho'i Material. I have rcduc'd Thin'gs to that Method that appear 'd to
me
Ue PREFACE.
me moft proper. Perfonal Reflexions and little Priva- cies I have dropt, and Things which were out of date I have pafs'd over lightly. Sometimes I have kept pretty' much to his Language, and fometimes 1 have taken the freedom to ufe my own. I have divided the whole into Chapters, and given Things a little Connexion:' And perhaps have this way taken more Pains, than it needed have coft me, had the Work been entirely new. Of my Performance I muft be contented every one Ihould judge according to their Pleafure; fori could expea no other, whatfoever i might be able to fuggeft to befpeak their Favour.
When Mr. Baxter in his Hiftory comes to the Ad of Uniformity, he fubjoyns the Controverfie bet wen the prefent Conformifts and Nonconformifts which takes up Eleven Sheets. Inftcad of abridging that, I rather had recourfe to his Nonconformity Stated and [^indicated^ in Quarto; which contains the Sum of his Thoughts that are any where extant, upon the feveral Points in Debate. 1 have reduc'd the fubftance of them with- in the compafs of my Tenth Chapter^ which I have En- tituled. The I{eaJons of the Ejected Miniflert for their Nonconformity. And that that Title might be the better anfwer'd, I have drawn in, what has been Written upon the fame Argument by others, with references to the feveral TraSs, where thofe Things of which I have only given the general Heads, will be found con- (ider'd diftindly and at large. The making this Ac- count fuccind, clear, and methodical^ was a Work of more than a little Time and Labour.
I have caft that Chapter into this Method. 1 have firft given their Reafons why they could not comply with the Demands of the A^ of Parlianncnt, in order to the continuance of their publick Miniftry. Then follows a brief Reprefentation of the Grounds upon \
which they f^ill held on in the Miniftry, though they i
parted with their Livings. I have added the Grounds >
upon which many People held chemfelves oblig'd to adhere to them, while they continu'd their Miniftry; how bo.th Minifters and People were defended from the Charge of Schifra ; and upon what Grounds the more Moderate among them yielded to Occafionnl Com- mmiion with the Parilh Churches, even while they
a 4 kept.
The PREFACE.
kept up a ftaced Separation. And upcMi the whole I thmk 1 may ventnre to fay, that he that will take the Pains to perufe that Chapter, may at one view take in the whole Caufe in debate, and fee the ftrengih of the Argument, abftradted from perfonal Brangles and Contefts, which as far as I can difcern, feldom contri- bute eirher Light or Strength.
However, that Chapter having drawn me into a Controverfie with Mr. Ollyffe and Mr. Hondly^ wh» thought it neceffary to Vindicate thcmfelves, from one who had not the leaft thought of affaulting them, and was only Hiftorically relating the Sentiments of others with their Reafons; and there having been fe- veral Books publilh'd on each Side, which all have not leifure to read diftindtly, and which few that do, are able to retain afterwards ; I have taken the Pains in this Second Edition, to give the fubftance of the Arguments in this whole Controverfie on both Sides, referring to the feveral Traces, where the Matters un- der confideration may be feen more at large : And though I don't fuppofe it eafie to fatisfie fome that they are not mifreprefented, unlefs all their Words are given at large, Cwhich quite excludes that compendious way of confidering things, which to many is the moft agree- able) yet I can fafcly fay there is not any Thing that I have delignedly mifreprefented, nor is there any Thing that appeared to me to be Material, that I can remember I have wholly wav'd. My doing this has confiderably enlarged that Chapter, but could 1 have entertainM a Thought that the generality ot Rea- ders would have thought that to be to their damage, it might have favM me not a little Pains.
But if any fhoald think that Chapter dry or tedious^ it may perhaps make the other parts of the Volume re- lilh the better, it having been my endeavour, fo to order u, that there Ihonld be a convenient mixture of Hiftory and Argument running through it: And as this has made it the more agreeable to many, fo 1 have fome realon ro think, thai: fome have been the more difgutted upon that very Account. Belides the fummary of the main Controverfie in the Tenth Chapter, there are feveral conficlerable Points that are elfewhere canvafs'd, and ififertcd in the moft proper Places in the Narrative.
As
The PREFACE.
As for Inftanee, A Debate concerning the Neceirity of a clear and uninterrupted Succefllon in the Miniftry which fome lay fuch a fttefs upon ; page 1 22, 113, (^c I And another, about unwarrantable Impoficions, and the true Senfe of thai celebrated Text, ^om, 14. i, x, 5. pag. 166. The warrantablenefs, the prudence, and the confequences of the Bartholomew Eje(^ion is freely Debated, pag. 183, (^c: And the Account given of the fevcral Attempcs in order to an accomiKodation of the Difference, will appear to contain Argument to convince, as well as Hiftory to inform, fuch as are ftrangers to thefe Matters, but fo far unprejudic'd as to be able to weigh Things with Candor and Impar- tiality.
Mr. Baxters Hiftory proceeds no farther than the Year 1 684 : And therefore in my former Edition, befidts additional Palfages caft all along into the Margin, which I thought might not be difagreeable, I added a continuation ; containing not only an Account of Mr. Baxters Trial, that was never publifh'd before, (in which I had the concurring Teftimony of feveral who were at that Time prefent in the Court) but alfo the State of the Dilfeoters in the Reign of King James^ and in the firft Years of the Reign of King iVilliam and Queen Mary^ And enter'd on the Debates that were on Foot foon after our laft happy Revolution ; endea- vouring to reprefent ihem with all pofTible fairnefs j particularly that about a Comprehenfion , which the Diflenters had at that Time fome realon to have ex- pe(5ted ; nor were they wanting in any requifite or be- coming ftep in order to it ; nor was it their fault that it was not effe(5led. When fo fair an Opportunity will re- turn again, God only knows.
In this Second Edition, befides feveral not inconfidc- rable marginal Additions all along, by way of Confir- mation and Elucidation; and an Account of feveral controverfial Writings on both Sides, inferted in their proper Places; and Remarks on thofe Paflages in the TKird Volume of the CompUat Hijhry of England, in Folio, which unkindly refled on the Perfons or Caufc of the Nonconformifts, there is a continuation of the Hiftory through King H^illiams Reign, and Queen Anne's, down to the pafling the Occafional hiil ih*? laft
Year.
The P R B F A C E.
Year. Thcfe Additions make up a full Third Part of the prefenC Volume. They contain among other Things, fome Account of the Conceflions of the Ec- clehartical Comroilfioners in 1689: The Carriage of the Diflcnters after their Liberty, their Differences among themfelves, and their Treatment from their Brethren of the Church of England : The whole Controverfie about Occdfional Conformity: The Differences of thofe of the Eftablifh'd Church among themlelves, about the Nature, Power, and Priviledges of Convocations, ^c; with a faithf j] Reprcfentation of the fubftance of feve- ral Trcatifes about Toleration^ Church Povper, Liberty, and divers EcclcfiafticAl Matters^ that were publifh*d from 1688 to 171 1. And in the clofe I have fubjoyn'd the {{eformed Liturgy ^ which was drawn up and pre- fented to the Bidiops in 1661; that the World may judge how fairly the Eje(3:ed Minifters have been often repreferited as irreconcileable Enemies to all Li- turgies.
I am far from having any reafon to repent of my publifhing the former Edition of this Work, noiwith- ftanding all the angry Refledhons I have met with. The repeated Thanks I have had from all Parts, from Perfons of very different Charav5ters and Denominati- ons, are to me more than a Compenfition for all the Gall and Venom that others have pour'd forth fo plen- tifully. I am far from expedting that this prefent Edi- tion will be to the guft of fuch as were incens'd by the former. But they may take their own Way ; i appeal tQ Pofterity, for whom I have taken fome Pams : And I hope they'l judge of Things more coolly, than the in- flamed Age we Jive in.
I have indeed had my (hare of Reproach, and yet am
far from being difcourag'd. For fome Years, there
was fcarce a Pamphlet came out on the Church fide,
in which I had not the Honour of being referr'd to in
the invecf^ive Part of it: But the keen Edge of their
Authors fecm'd to have been fomewhat abated, upon
my taking no notice of their At-
* See dn Apology for the Church tacks,till a Writer who came out the
0/ England, (^c By John Lewis, laft Year * is pleas'd to difcover his
late of Exeter-ffl//<r(re in Oxford, fear leaft I fhould be fuffer'd to
«»</ Mifiifter of Margate. remtin quiet, by rcprcfenting me
The PREFACE.
4i one too much hyajTd, to have any Thing I fay, concerning the Party I have ejpom'd^ believd on viy hnre IVord, This is a flight that I muft confefs 1 little expeAed from one of Mr. Lfww's Charaaer. Time has been when I have had the happinefs of that Gentleman'i Conver- fation, and his Difcourfe and Carriage was fuch as made me apprehcnfivc he was delirous to have the Credit of lingular Temper and Moderation. If my Memory does not fail me, (and 1 believe 1 could pro- duce the Hand of a Voucher that was an Ear Witnefs if ii was needful) he was pleas d very generoufly to give me Thanks for my Abridgement, Which way I fiave incurr'd his Difpleafure fince, I am not aware. However, if it may be any Satisfadiion to him, I here give it him under my Hand, (and I'll certain- ly ftand to it) that I have not half the Zeal for the Piflenting Party, as fome he knows have for another Party, that are too much for monopolizing the Cove* nant Mercy of God, and the profitable Favour of Men, to thofe of their own Stamp and Chara£ter only. And that he mayn't be put upon believing this on my bare PVord^ I can give him this Evidence of it ; that I would go much further in parting with the known Faults, and Infirmities and Imperfeftions of the Diflenten, than the G.entlemen I refer to, would with the Difor- ders and Irregularities of the Party they have fallen in with, which when they have done their beft, they cannot juftifie or excufe.
I would gladly .have fo ordred Matters, as that they that had purchased the former Edition, might have had the prefent Additions by themfclves : But the Nature of the Work would not bear it. However, I can now undertake that in any future Editions, care ihall be taken to prevent any Complaints of detriment in that Refped. I have made fomc Alterations in the Courfe of this Work at the de- fire of Friends, and fometimes have had the be- nefit of help from my Enemies, whom I can at any time thank for what Light they help me to, while I heartily pity them for their Heat and Bigotry.
I have nothing to add, but this, as before, that if I have mifs'd of Truth in any 'Point, it has been
Ue PREFACE.
unwillingly, and upon better Information I ihall be ready to own my Error. I have not been free in Perfonal Reflcdions, which are made with much more eafe than they are born when returned. Va- rious Cenfures will not furprize me, nor will any flarts of Wit affect me. Tis enough for me , if I may have the Approbation cf Men of Temper, I defirc not to offend any ; For I know not the Man, much lefs the Patcy, to whom I bear any Enmity or ill Will.
^TTT
Poft-
Poftfcripr.
THERE being fome who may be willing to fearch into the bottom of that Coniroverfie that hath been depending ever (incc the Rcfor- noation, between the Affertors of the Perfection of the Eftablifh'd Church, and thofe who have adled upon the oppofite Principle, of the Neceflity of a further Re- formation, in order to an happy Settlement ; I have been defir*d in order to their Satisfadiion, to point out the Writings, which may be judg'd to Contain the ftrength of the Caufe of the DifTenters. In compli- ance with which defire, I recommend the following Writings to the perufal of the Curious, who arc, with- out taking Things upon Truft, for feeing with theit own Eyes.
A part of a ^gifter; containing fundry mennorablc Matters, written by divers Godly and Learned in our Time, which ftand for, and defire the Reformation of our Church in Difcipline and Ceremonies, • according to the pure Word of God, and the Law of our Land> 0(ftavo.
De Polheia^ EcclefjafticS Chrifti, & Hierarchicha Oppo- Jita, Libri Tres : Authore Roberto Parkcro Anglo, ad B^gnum Dei doEliUimo, An. Dom. 1 6xi. in Quarto.
A Scholaftical Difcourfe againft Symbolizing with Antichrift in Ceremonies, efpecially in the Sign of the Crofs. An, 1607. in Fol.
Concerning this Book fee Ames's frelh Suit, p,^i,
DidocUvii Alt are Damafcenum, Quarto. 1623.
Dav. Blondelli Apologia pro Sententia Hieronymi de Eplf- copis ^ Presbyteris, Amftel. 1646. Quarto.
Ames*s frelh Suit againft Ceremonies, Quartoi 16^'
Giltejpys Difpute againft Englifhy Popi/h Ceremonies, 8cc. Quarto, 1637.
SmeHymnuui, Quarto. 1 640. The Firft and Second Part.
The Papers that pafs'd in the Conference ar the Savoy in 1661, which were Printed fiift in Quarto, a little af- ter
POSTSCRIPT.
ter the ending of the Conference ; and afterwards raore at large in Mr. Baxter's Life in Folio, and are here Abridg'd.
Biihoip Stilling fleet* shenicum, Quarto. 1662.
Mr. Cor^e/'s Remains, Quarto. 1684.
Mr. Baxter's Englifh Nonconformity, as under King CbarlesW. and King James II, truly Stated and Argu'd, Qparto. 1690,
Mr. Ton^s Defence of Mr. Hemys brief Enquiry into che Nature of Scbifm, Quarto. 1 6^'^,
Vindicia Fratrum Dejftntientium in Anglia, Adverfus KC/. Guliclmi Nicholfii, S.T.P. Defenfionem Ecclejj<e Anglican^e ; AuHore Jacobo Peircio Presbyter 0, O^fiavo. 1710.
He that will be at the Pains to perufc thefe feveral Writings, will find that the Diffenters have much to fay in their own Defence, and little reafon to be troubie- fome to the World by repeating their Pleas, as often as fucb as iove Contention, think fit to renew the Charges that have been fo oft brought againfl them, and as often anfwer'd. What were this but to perpetuate a Difpute, the accommodating which by an amicable Agreement, would be more for dor Intereft and Safety, Peace and Co/nfort on all Hands.
THE
THE
CONTENTS
O F T H I S
VOLUME.
CHAP. I. Mr. Baxter'/ B'rtb and Educntion, early Serioufnejs j and entrance into the Mini- flryi page, I.
CHAP. II. Hk firfl Sentiments concerning Conformity. His acceptance in hii firjl Minijlerial Labours ; and the Difficulties he met with : His Settlement at Kedermin- ftcr. p. 1 1.
CHAP, III. The Oppojftion he at fir ft met with in that Town, His indefatigable Labours^ and the admirable efficacy of his Miniftry in that Place, p. 12.
CHAP. IV. The I{ife and Springs of the Civil fVar, Some brief touches of the Hiftory of the Times^ tiS the cutting off the King, p. 37.
C H A P. V. I{efleHions on public^ TranfaSlions from the Death of Kjng Charles I, to the I{eJiauraticncfKjng Charles II. P- ^i•
C H A P. VI. Mr, Baxter*; ConduB of himjelf during thefe publicly Commotions and frequent Alterations, Bis Behaviour in the Army, and towards Ciomwel. Hk trouble from the SeBaries of thofe Times ; with an Ac- count of their I^fe and Prevalence ^ Principles and Pra- Biees, P- 74-
CHAP. VII. His general Vfefulnefs in the whole Coun- ty, while he remain d in WorcefterOiire. Hk publicly Service by hit pacificatory Endeavours, and other PVays,
p. III.
CHAP. VIII. The TranfaBions in Order to the healing pafid Breaches after King Charles'; t(eftauration. The ^ayoy Conference^ and its fruit Icfi Jjfuc, p. i39-
L/ rl i» 1 •
The CONTENTS.
CHAP. IX. The AH of Vniformity, and B^efleaions upon it ; And the ejeHing and filencing of many worthy Perfons by it. page i8i.
CHAP. X. The Grounds of the Nonconformity of the Minifters who were EjeHed, Their Vindication of themfelvej, and fuch oi adher'*d to them. p* I9S«
CHAP. XI. Mr. Baxter'^ Settlement in London.
The Occafion of his Separation from his beloved People at
' Kederroinftcr. His Carriage to them after he left them,
Hk Labour i in London till he woijllencd. p. 294:
CHAP. XII. Hu own and hi Brethrens Treatment af^ ter their EjeHion^ tiS the Indulgence in 167;. p. 304.
CHAP. XIII. An Account of their Cafe^ from the time of the Indulgence in 1671, till the Death of Kjng Charles II. p* 334•-
C H A P. XIV. Their Cafe in the B^eign of Kjng James II. p. 366.
CHAP. XV. Mr. Baxter'j Manifold Temptations, His Improvements and Alterations as he advanced inTears, Hh Deliverances and Supports. Hvs Inil Sickpefs and Death : And Intereft in Men of Note and Figure in the Days he liv din, . P* 39o*
CHAP. XVI. m H^orks and Writings. p. 41 o.
CHAP. XVIL The Cafe of the Diffenters and their Treatment^ and the new State of Things, in the begin" ning of the I{eign of 1{ing William and Queen MsLiy,
p. 421.
CHAP. XVIII. The Cafe of the Diffenters^ and other Ecclefiafiieal Matters in the following Tears of the I{eign of Kl"S William; p. 484.
CHAP. XIX. An Account of the Cafe of the Dijfenters^ and of other material Incidents in the ^eigh of Queen Anne, tiS the paffing the BiU againfl Occafional Con- formity, /» 1 7 1 1 . p. 4zo.'
THE
THE
LIFE
O F T H E
REVEREND
Mr. Richard Baxter.
CHAP. r.
His Birth and Education^ Early Serioufnefs^ and Entrance into the Miniflry,
FAR the Greater Number of thofe who have bin fent to k(St a Part on the State of this Lower World, have either pafsM off filently, or mifemploy'd their Activity ; fo that their Names are either bury'd in Oblivion, or ftigmatiz'd, to the Warning and Terrour of Pofterity. Among fuch as have made the greatcft Figure while Living, or bin moft applauded after their Deceafe, many have ow'd their Diftinguifli'd Reputation^ to the Stock that JDore them, to their Peculiar outward Helps and Ad- vantages, or to certain Accidental Hits, that are not to be accounted for : While in the mean time, there have in all Ages bin fome few others, who have bin fignaliz'd by their Remarkable Endowments, and ex- traordinary Adions^ the Fame of yvhich hath long
B furviv'd
The LIFE of Chap. L
farviv'd them, and given a Luftre to their Names in The Annals of Time. Such have bin their MerirSj that they have broke thro* all thofe Clouds which En- vy and Malice have rais'd to obfcure them. So Great Bieirings have they prov'd ro the World, that Attempts to detracfl fi om them, have recoil'd upon the Affailants to their own Infamy.
Under the Great Degeneracy of ..the Prefent Age, which is the Matter ot fo juft Complaint, we have had feme Inftances of this kind. Mr. Pjchard Baxter (the Subjedt of the Enfuing Hiftory) cannot be de- ny'd to be one of the Number. His Soul was too Grear for an Ufelefs and Unacftive Life, and his Piety and Integrity too Confpicuous for him lo be juftly Charg'd with perverting his Uncommon Abilities, or mifemploying his Confiderabic Inrereft. His Rife was mean, and his Defcent obfcure; he had no external Advantages to raife and diftinguifli him, but as many Difficulties to break through as moft Men, and yet hath his Perfonal Merit advanc'd his Reputation to that height, that it will outlive the Calumnies of ail his De- tratf^ors. His Birth. . He was a Native of Shropfhire, His Father was a Freeholder of that County, who made no great Fi- gure His Eftate was but fmall; and fo encumbred with Debts, as not to be clear'd without much Thrift and Good Husbandry. His Mother was of the fame County ; being the Daughter of Mr. ^chard Adeney of I{owto7?^ near High Ercal^ the Seat; of the Lord Ncvpjfort. There was he born, November the nth.
1 615, and there he fpent his Vr. Bues declares in his Sermon Infancy, which was fo remark- et his funeral. That he had receird able in nothing as in the Difco-
this Teliimony conccrninx his Early ygj.y ^f ^ ^IQUS IncHnation,
T^cty. H'.s Father faid v^ith Tears ^vhich gave great Hopes to fuch fJrl /'/ ! \ ^]r T t' as obfeiv'd him. When he waa
cnard / ir>pe w.^s SanUihd from , vr r a 1.
the Womb; Tor ^hen he i^ I lit^ ^^^^"^ J5 ^eatS of Age, hc WRS
lie Boy in Coats, if he heard other taken Home by his Parents to
children in Tlay fpeaJc Frofane ^^^^« Connantine , ( a Vlilag^e Words, he vffouU reprove them, to aboUt 5 Miles fronj ^hrovosbury)
f he Tponda of thtm that heard him. where he paft away his Child- hood and Youth, which upon Refledtion, he according to the Wife Man's Ccijf»Jr«p found to be Vanity. Hc
Chap. I. Mr, Elichard Baxter.
He was unhappy in his Edocadon, with Refped h/j eJw Loch CO Learning and Piety. His Sahoolniafters wete/'^f'^^- both Lewd anJ Ignorant. For wane of better Inftru- aers, he fell into the Hands of the Readers of the Vil- lages he livM in. Learning was at no great height in fo remote a Corner of the Land: Neither could much Im- provement be expe(fle4 in fo Barren a Soil. His Greac- eft Help in Granvper Learning was from Mr.John O^en^ Mafter of the Free-School at ^Vroxeter, with whom he continu'dj 'till he had bin fome time Captain of his School ; and advanc d as far as his Aififtance would for- ward him.
He had not afterwards the Advantage of an Aca- demical Education, and yet, (to ufe the Words of the Reverend Dr. Bates) by the Divine BleiTing upon his rare Dexterity and Diligence, his Sacred Knowledge was in that Decree of Eminence, as few in the Uni- veriity ever arrive to. None could be more Deiirous of Academical Helps than he ; but he was depriv'd of them by a Propofal of his SchooImafter*s, much to his Sorrow. When he was leaving his School, Mr. Owen (as may well be fuppos'd out of real Kindnefs) moti- on d his Living with Mr. Rjcknrd J4^ickjlead^ Chaplain to the Council at Ludlow^ who had allowance from the King for one to attend him. There being no others under his Care, he reprefented this as likely to Jdc more Advantageous than a Tutor in the Univerfity. This Motion eaiily took with his Parents, who were much better pleas'd with the Tho'ts of having their Son fo near them, than at a much greater Diftance, and they Toon embrac'd it. Bjc it anfwer'd ncD Ex- pedacion. For Mr. H^ick^end himfelf was no Great Scholar, and he took no trains with his Pupil, tho' he Wasotherwife very kind to him. So that his only Ad- vantage by Living with him, was in the free ufe of his Library, which was open to him : And he having time eno' for Study, improv'd that Priviledge to his utmoft. After he had fpent a Year and half with him, he return d home to his Father ; and foon after, at the Lord Newpons Requeft, fupply'd the Place of his Schoolmafter Mr. John Ovoen for a few Months, while he was wafting away in a Confumption, of which he
B % Intend^
4 The LIFE of Chap. I.
Intending for the Miniftry, he was earneftly Defirous of that Knowledge that was necelTary to qualify him for it. Being difappointed in his Hopes of going to the Univerfity, he apply 'd himfelf lo a clofe Courfe of Study, under the Condudt of Mr. Francis Garbett^ (a Perfon of Great Note and Worth, then Minifter of TVroxeter) and with his Afliftance he run thro* a Courfe of Philofophy. Great was his Induftry ; and nothing troubled him fo much, as the Hindrance he receiv a from his Bodily Indifpofuion, which was very confide- rable. He endeavoured to manage his Studies in a Sub- ordination to Divinity, and was aflifted by the Advice of feveral Neighbouring Minifters, with whofe Help he was making an Hopeful Progrefs, 'till a New Moti- on was made that bid fair for enfnaring him, and had hke to have turn'd his tho'tsinto a quite Different Chan- nel, to the unfpeakable Damage of himfelf and others. But the Purpofe of God [haU ftand. JL Great When he was about 1 8 Years of Age, Mr. H^tckjlead Snare e- perfwaded him to forbear further tho*ts of the Mini- fcap'd. ftry, to leave the Country for the Court, and to make an Intereft for foire Office there, by which he might have an Opportunity of rifing in the World, and be- coming Great and Confiderable. The thing was Plea- fing to his Parents, and upon their Inftigation he came up to White-Hall, being recommended to Sir Henry Herbert^ who was then Mafter of the Revels. He was courteoufly receiv'd, and kindly entertain'd, but found . nothing taking in a Court Life ; fo far from it, that he was daily entertained with what made him very uneafy; Whereupon, after a Month's ftav, he return'd down in- to the Country, reaffnm'd his Former Purpofes, and apply'd himfelf to his Studies with frefli Vigour ; being more Indefatigable in the Purfuit of Knowledge than can eafily be imagind ; 'till at length upon the Earneft Solicitation of Mr. F{ichnrd Foley of Stourbridge, he ac- cepted of the Mafterfhip of a Free-School he had lately ^ ered^ed at Dudley, having an Ufher under him. And by this time God had fitted him for Great Service in His Church, by bringing him to more than Ordinary Serioufnefs, the Means and Methods whereof defer ve particular Obfervation.
The
- — — — - ■ ■ — - — -r » I ,
Chap. I. Mr. Richard Baxter. 5
The Country he liv'd in had very Jittle Preaching. The Clergy of thofe Parts were (generally fpeaking) Lazy and Vitious. Some by forging Orders, had compafsM a Tranflation even from the Stage to the PuJpit. With Amazement be it mentiond, feveral in that Neighbourhood of the facred Minifteriai Fun- <Slion, were more Noted for their Gaming and Drink- ing, than either their Good Preaching or Good Living. There were not above three or four competent Preach- ers all round the Country, and tho' all except one were Conformable, they were Derided by the Com- mon People as Puritans, becaufe not fo carelefs as their Neighbours. In a Word ; there was fcarce the Face almoft of Religion left. In the Village he liv'd in, not X Sermon was to be heard from Year to Year. And the Service was run over very Curforily and Irreve- rently ,• and when that was done, the reft of the Lord's Day was profanely fpent by the whole Town in Dancing under a May-Pole, and a Great Tree. In thefe Circumftances, 'tis amazing he did not fwim with the Stream. He hath indeed himfelf acknow- ledg'd, That the Univerfality of the Corruption did fometimes prove a Confiderable Temptation to him, but the Goodnefs of God preferv'd him. His Father's Good Inftrudtions and Example were lingularly helpful to him, under all thefe Difadvanrages. The time that 7-/,^ Benefit others fpent in Dancing, his Father employ'd in Read* f,, nceird ing and Praying in his Family, and recommending an j^om a Pi- Holy Life. He put him upon a careful Reading the o«* Educn- Hiftorical Part of Scripture, which being Delightful tion. to him, made him in Love with the Bible : And his Serious Speeches of God and the Life to come, poflefs'd him with a Fenr of Sinning; So that He became the firft Inftrument of his Hearty Approbation cf an Holy Life. He found his Father reproach'd for his Singula- rity, and that much afFedted him. The Profane Crew derided him as a Puritan, Becaufe not fo Loofe and Carelefs as they ; which mov'd his Indignation. At firft indeed, hearing the Generality fpeak fcornfully of Puritans, he was apt to think there was Ground for it : Why elfe Ihould there be fo common a Confent in the Cry that was againft them? And he was too unac- quainted with theic Principles or Pradices to be able to
B 3 defend
,5 The LIFE of Chap. I.
defend them. But when he obferv*d his own Father, of whofe fincere Piety he had (o good Evidence, bran- ded with that Name as a Reproach, by a fottifli Drunken fort of People, he caine to difcern that Piety was the Ground of that General Obloquy. For his Father never fcrupled Common-Prayer or Ceremonies, nor ever fpake againft Bifhops, nor lo much as Pray'd but by a Book or Form : And yet being zealous for Piety and Sobriety, Reproving Drunkards and Swearers, and intermixing now and then in his Converfarion fome ie- rious Dilcourfe concerning Scripture and the Life to come, he was re^ilM ty the Name of Puritan, Precifian and Hypocrite; and it was the like with fuch Pious Conformable Minifters too, as the Country afforded, This Obfervation made him loath the Company of thefe Scoffers^ and love Religion the better. r/;<r Irre^U' Many Ways however did his Corruption break iaritles of forth in his Childhood. He was addicted to Lying for his cbi/d' f-ar of Corre61:'ion. He joyn'd fometimes with other hfjvci. Naughty Boys in Robbing Neighbours Orchards of
their Fruit, when he had eno* at home. He was much encJin'd to Play, and that with Covetoufnefs for Money. He was bewitcVd with a Love of Ro- mances and Idle Tales; and tho* he durft not Swear, yer was he fometirries drawn to imitate other Children in fcurrilous and foolifh "Words and Actions. He was too Proud of his feveral Schoolmafters Commendations for his Learning ; and too Bold and Irreverent towards his Parents. Which things he could not in his advan^ ced Years refledl on, without Hearty Concern, Regret, and Sorrow. TheMtam Bbt about the 14th Year of his Age, being under Qj iHs Con forng more than ufual Convidtions of Sin, after his ha- rerjiou. ^'^^^ robbM a Kfeig'h hour's Orchard, it plcasM God he mcrt with ParJoTis of I{cfnlution^ (as Corrtdled by Bumiy) irt the reading of which fuch Impreflions were made Upon his Spirit, as never wore off to the Day ef his Death. Noiy it was that God tbro'ly awakcn'd his Soul, and (hew'd him the Folly of Sinning, and the Miiery of the Wicked, the inexprefljble "VVeight of Thing"; Eternal, and the nectflity of refolving on an Holy Life rhoie than ever before. He had often for- merly had thb'ts df this kind Stirring in his Mind, bat
now
chap. L Mr. Pvichard Baxter.
rtow they catTiei in another manner, with Senfe and Power anci Serioufnefs to his Heart. This caft him in- to Fears about his Condition, and they drove him to Cordial Contrition, ConfefTion and Prayer; and ifla'd ihaferious Refolution of altering his Courfe. Meet- ing afterwards with Dr. Sibbs'j hruifed /^e^.V, he found it dpen'd more of the Love of God to him, and gave him a Hvelver Apprehenfionthan he had before, of the Myfteryof Redemption, and convinc'dhim more than ever, how much he was beholden to Jefus Chrift. By the reading alfo of Mr, Perkins of B^pentancc^ and of 7he Art ^f Living ajid Dying voell^ and fome other of his Treatifes, he was further informed and con- firmM.
Some time after, being in Expedlation of Death, by Uh sphi- a Violent Cough, with Spitting of Blood, of i Years ^^^^^ Ttow Continuance, he was av/aken*d to be yet more ferious ^^^ ^f^^^' and folicitous about the Everlafting Eftate of his Soul. *^'*''^^* He apprehended himfelf to fall fo fhort of that Sence and Serioufnefs which a Matter of that infinite weight required, that he was long in Doubt about his Sinceri- "ty, and fearful that he was yet a Stranger to the true Spiritual and Divine Life. He wondred at himfelf, that he could think and talk of Sin and Hell, of Chri(t and Grace, of God and Heaven, with no more feeling. He cry'd to God from Day to Day, againft this Dead- ncls, and all his Groans were for more Contrition, and . a tender Heart. And between the Expedations of Death, and his Doubts of his own Sincerity in Grace, he was kept in more Care concerning his Salvation, than one of his Natural Temper could (in his own E- fteem) have otherwife bin bro't to. The reading of Mr. Ezek. Culverwel of Faith at this time gave him much Relief. But tho' he had now and then certain glimmerings of Hope and Comfort, yet did his Fears often return again. And long was he kept with the Calls of Approaching Death as it were at one Ear, and the Queftionings of a Doubtful Confcience at the other.
This Method which it pleafed God to take with Ue Benefit him, he often admir'd ; and many were the Benefits of that Ex- which he apprehended he receiv'd from it. According cn'ife. e© his own Account, this kept hini Humble, and
~ B 4 made
8 The LIFE of Chap. I.
made Pride one of the hacefulleft Sins in the WoiW to him. It rcftrainM him from the Sportful Levity and Vanity to which Nature and Youth enclin'd him; and caus'd him to meet Temptations to Senfuality with the grcateft Fear. It made him the better ReliHi the Docflrine of Redemption, and rendred his tho'ts of Chrift the more ferious and affediing. It made the VVorld fcem to him as a Catkafs, without either Life or Lovclinefs. It fet him upon the moft Advantage- ous Method of Study. It caus'd him firft to feek God's Kingdom and his Righteoufnefs ; and moft to mind the one Thing needful : To determine tirft his Ultimate End; by which he was engag* d to choofe and profe- cute all other Studies but as means to that End : And therefore he ftudy'd Pradtical Divinity firft, in the moft Pradiical Books, and in a Pradiical Order, aiming in all Primarily at the Informing and Reforming of his own Soul. So that he had read over and digefted all the Pra£lical Treatifes he could meet with, before he meddled with any confiderable Body of Divinity. By which means his AfFed:ions were carry'd on with his Judgment, and he profecuted all his Studies with Un- weariednefs and Delight. The The Chief Grounds of his Doubts concerning his
Grounds o/Salvation were thefe. Becaufe he could not diftin(^ly his Doubts trace the Workings of the Divine Spirit on his Heart, and Pears, in the Method which Bolton, and Hooker., and I^^^gerj^ and many other Divines defcribe; or poflltively Aflign the particular inftant of his Converfion. Becaufe of * his want of fuch lively Apprehenfions of Things Spiri- tual, as he had of Things Corporeal. Becaufe he had at certain Seafons bin under warm Convidtions even from his Childhood, and had often obferv'd more of Fear than Love in his Duties and ReAraints. Becaufe his Grief and Humiliation was not greater and deeper; and above all , becaufe of his having Sinn'd delibe- rately and knowingly, afcer his apprehended Change, But Converfe with Confolatory Books, the Obfer- vation of other Chri/lians, clofe Confideration, and further Experience, by dcgrpe^ fatisfy'J and quieted him;
Chap. 1. Mr. Richard Baxter.
For upon further fearch, he found that the firft De- The Meam jj gre^ of Special Grace was ufually very fmall, and of hu Sa- ^
therefore not eafily diftinguiOiable in the feafofi of its tUfaWoH. firft Prevalence from Preparatory Grace : That a Soul in Flelh doth work fo much after the manner of the Flefh, that it much delireth fenfible Apprehenfions ; but Things Spiritual and Diftant are not fo apt to work upon it, and to ftir the Paffions, as Things prefent and fenfible : That Education is God's ordinary way for the Conveyance of his Grace, and ought no more to be fet in oppofition to the Spirit, than even the Preach- J
ing of the Word, or any other appointed Means, on "
which his Bleffing might be expeded : That tho' Fear without Love be not a ftate of Saving Grace, yet that Fear being the eafier, and more irrefiftible Paffion of the two, doth oft hinder that Meafure of Love that is true, from being Difcernable ; And that he who had rather leave his Sin than have leave to keep it, and had rather «
be the moft Holy, than have leave to be Unholy, or lefs '
Holy, is neither without true Repentance nor the Love of God.
But that which moft perplexM him, and which ere- of sinn'mr ated him the Greateft Difficulty, was the finding him- after Con- felf Guilty of known and deliberate Sin, after that he verfion. . had tho't himfelf Convened : This he for a long time could not tell how to Reconcile with true Grace. E- very known Sin he committed, in this refpedl, re- newed his Doubt. He could not fall in with thofe, who reckon that every Sin againft Knowledge nullifies former Grace ; and that every renew'd Ad: of Repea- tance, is attended with a New Regeneration : For this he tho't would be to feek to folve one Difticulty, by in- troducing another that is Greater. At length he fix'd on this Scheme of Tho'ts, which gave him Satisfadion. That all faving Grace doth indeed put the Soul into a ftate of Enmity to Sin as Sin, and confequently to every known Sin : That this Enmity muft flicw itfelf in Vidiory, for bare Striving is not a full Evidence of Sincerity : That this Vidory however is not conftant, for then the Upright would not Sin at all; whereas, He that faith he hath no Sin, deceive tb himfelf: .But that the Children of God neverthelefs do always over- come thofe Temptations, which would draw them to
a
lo The LILE of Ch4p. I.
a wicked unholy State of Life, or to any particuUr Sin which proveth fucb a State, and fignifieih a Heart which 'hath more Habitual Love to the World than unto God j And therefore, tho' in the moft Upright/ Temptations of a lower Son do often prevail, yet is tht Inclination of the Soul ftill tnoft to God : And this is, very pcflible, even ahho* Sin be corhmitted with fome Deliberation. For as Grace may ftrive one Inftant only in one A£t, and then be fuddenly overcome ; fo it may firive longer, and keep the Mirtd en the Cbrifii deration of reltraining Motives, and yet be overcome?: For it is not the meer Length of Confideration which is eno' to fence the Heart againH Sin, but there muft be clearnefs of Light, and Livelincfs in thofe Con{i- derations ; which the Beft have x\6i always Expcrienc^e of. And tho' a little Sin muft, be hated, and Uni-; verfal Obedience muft prove our Sincerity, and no one Sin muft be wilfully continu'd in, yet is it cer/ain that the Servants of God do not often commit Sins ttiaterially Great and Heinous, and yet that they oft^n do commit fome leifer Sins, (as idle Tho'ts and Words, and Dulnefs in Holy Duties, C^c.) and that the Tehi- ptcr oft getterh Advantage even with them, by telling them. That the Sin is fmall, and fuch as God's Ser- vants ordinarily commit. And therefore one Reafon why Idle Words and Sinful Tho'ts are even delibei^=.* ateJy oftner committed than mrtft heinous Sins, is'be- caufe the Soul is not awakenM to much by Feitt and Care to make Reiiftance. Pious Perfbns howevet, be- ing Men commonly of the itioft Knowledge in Divine Things, do therefore when they are drawn into Sin, ordinarily Sin againft mote Knowledge than others. Withall, there are fome Sin^ fo difficult to avoid, ind {ome Temptations fo ftrong, and the Soul at fome Sea- fons is fo fluggifti, and fo indifpos'd to the neccflary Refiftance, that good Tho'ts, which are delibctatcly usM againft them, are at laft born down, and lefs ef- fectual. And as for our Prefent Stock of Habitual Grace, 'tis never fufficient 6f it felf, without Co-ope- rating Grace from Chrift : And therefore, when we provoke him to withdraw his Help, 'tis no wonder if we difcovcr our Wcaknefs, altho' we don't turn back, and go again from God to the Wovld, But yet,
whcD.
Chap, I. Mr. Richard Bixcer. H
N)vhcn ever Perfons thus difpos'd do fall into Sin, they recover again by Repentance ; and the New Nature or Habit of Divine Love within them, will work out the Sin as foon as it hath Advantage. Tho* in the mean Time, 'tis not at all to be wondred at, that fich a Thing as Sin Ihould breed Fears and Uneafinefs. And the beft Way, when all is done, to keep under Doubts and Fears, and maintaio Comfort, is to keep up Adtual Obedience, and quickly and penitently re- turn after Sin is committed.
Such as thefe were the Confiderations by which he was relieved and quieted. And it much encreas'd his Peace to find others in the like Condition : He found his Cafe had nothing Singular ; being call'd by the Providence of God to the Comforting of others, who had the fame Complaints. While he anfwer*d their Doubts, he anfwer'd bis own ; and the Charity he was conftrain*d to exercife towards them, redounded to himfelf, and infenfibly abated his Difturbance. And yet, after alJ, he was glad of Probability inftead of undoubted Certainty. And for the greateft Part of his Life, tho' he had no fuch Degree of Doubtfulnefs as was any great Trouble to his Spirit, or procar'd any finking difquieting Fears, yet he could not fa/ that he had fuch a Certainty of his own Sincerity in Grace, as excluded all Doubts and Fears to the con- trary.
' From the Age of xi, 'till near 13, his Weaknefs His En- was fo great, that he hardly tho't it pofHble he (hould trance upon live above a Year. And finding his own Soul under ff^e Mini* ferious Apprehenlions of the Matters of another A> World, he was very defirous to communicate ihofe Apprehenlions to fuch ignorant carelefs prefumptuous Sinners as the World abounds with. Altho* there- fore he had his Difcouragements, thro' his Senfe of the Greatnefs and Av/fuln^fs of the Work of the Mirtiftry, and his Fear of expofing himfelf to the Cenfure of ma- ny, on the Account of his wanting Academical Edu- cation, Honour and Dignities ; yet expeding to be fo quickly in another World, the great Concernments of piiferable Souls prevail'd with him to engage in it ; and finding in himfelf a thirty Defire of Mens Con- yerfion and Salvation, and a competent perfwading - ' Faculty.
12 The LI F E of Chap. II.
Faculty of ExprelTion, which fervent AfFedlions might help to Adluacc, he concluded, that if but one or two Souls might by his Means be won to God, it would eafily recompence any Treatment he might meet with in the World. And as for his Fitnefs in Point of Learning, he determined to fubmit himfelf to the Judgment of others. And accordingly he applyM him- felf to the Bifliop of fVorcefler-, who after Examination, Ordain'd him, and at the fame Time gave him a Li- cenfe to teach School at Dudley ; the PJace which his Friend Mr. Foley had provided for him.
CHAP. IL
Hif Firji Sentiments concermfjg Conforwity, His Acceptance in bis firfl Minijierial La- hoHrs ; and the Difftculties he tnet with : His Settlement at Kedcrminfter.
Hh Firfi- TN his Younger Years he was troubled with no
Thots oft Scruples about Conformity. He joynd in the
the Contro- -■- Commo7i- Prayer with as hearty Fervency as he af-
yerfy be- terwards did in any other Prnyers. As for the Non-
trifeen the conformifts, he heard them generally run down, and
on °''"^- reprefen'^ed as an Unreafonable, Heady fort of People ;
l^n'-on- ^"'^ therefore, iho' he was perfonally acquainted with
fomiifts. "f^n^ ^f them, he was as forward as others to Cenfure
and Condemn them. But when he was about Twenty
Years of Age, he became acquainted with Mr. 5/w-
monds^ Mr. Cradocl{^ and other Pious Nonconformifts
in and about Shrcvosbury^ whofe fervent Prayers and
Holy Lives and Converfations he found much to his
Edification. Obferving fuch Perfons as tbefe filenc'd
and troubl'd by the Bilhops, be was much afFc(5led,
and refolv'd carefully to ftudy the Caufe in Debate
between them. Confuking the Neighbouring Mini-
fters, they furnifli'd him with Oovonhnrn^ Sprint^ and
Dr. Bur^efjy who had written for Conformity, whom
he carefully read over : But they could help him to
none on the other Side, who were reprcfcnted as mean
Scholars^
Chap. II. Mr. Richard Baxter. 1 5
Scholars, and Men of little Learning. Whereupon, he concluded the Caufe of the Conformifis jaflifiablel and the Reafoning of the 'Nonconformifls weak. And therefore, tho* he had not diftindly at that Time weigh'd Particulars, having never read over the Book concerning Ordination^ nor half the Book of Homilies^ nor fcann'd the Book of Comjyion-Prayer with any ex- adnefs, nor confider'd duly fome controverted Points in the Nine and Thirty Articles ; yet his Teachers and Books having caus'd him in the general to think the Conformifts had the better Caufe, he kept out all particular Scruples by that Opinion, and fo fubfcrib'd as ufually at the Time of his Ordination.
But being fettled at Dudley, Preaching frequently W's fur- both in the Town and the Neighbouring Villages, he thet Study had Occafion and Opportunity to ftudy thefe Matters *"S ''''** more particularly. For he there fell into the Acquain- ^*«^*'<^<''/7- tance of feveral Nonconformifts, whom he apprehend- ed too Cenforious and Bitter in their Inve£lives againft Conformity, while yet he found them Honeft and Godly People. They fupply'd him with feveral Wri- tings on their own Side, and among the reft, with Ames's frejh Suit againft Ceremonies^ which he read over very diftin^ly, comparing it with Dr, BurgefsV ^ejoynder. And upon the Whole, he at that Time came * to thefe Conclufions. Kjieeling he tho't lawful, and all meer Circumftances determined by the Magiftrate, which God in Nature or Scripture hath determin'd of only in the general. The Surplice he more doubted of, but was enclin'd to think it Lawful : And tho' he intended to forbear it 'till under NecefTuy, yet he could not fee how he could have juftified the forfaking his Miniftry meerly on that Account; tho' he never adiually wore it. About the I{ing in Marriage, he had no Scruple. The Crofj in Baptifm, he tho't Dr. jtmes prov*d unlawful : And tho* he was not without fome Doubting in the Point, yet becaufe he moft en- clin'd to judge it unlawful, he never once us*d it. A Form of Prttysr and Liturgy he judged to be Lawful, arid in fome Cafes lawfully impos'd. The Etj^Iif? Li- turgy in particular, he judged to have much Diforder and Defedlivenefs in it, but nothing which fhouli trake the Ufe 'of it in the Ordinary Publick Worlhip,
10
14 The LI FE of Chap. II.
to be unlawful to them who could not do better. He fought for DifcipUne in the Church, and faw the fad Efled:s of its Ncglecft, but he was not then fo fenfible as afterwards, that the very Frame of Diocefan Pre- lacy excluded It ; but tho't it had bin Chargeable on- ly on the Pejfonal Ncgle£ls of the Bifhops. Suhfcrip" tion he began to think unlawful, and repented his Ralhnefs in yielding to it fo haftily. For tho' he could ufe the Common- Prayer^ and was not yet againft Piocefans, yet to fubfcribe Ex Animo^ That there is nothing in the three Booths contrary to the H^ord of God^ was that which he durft not do, had it bin to be done again. So that Subfcription^ and the Crofs in Baptifm, and the Promifcmus Giving the Lord* s^Supper to all Comers, tho* ever fo unqualify'd, if they weie not Excommunicate by a Bilhop or Chancellour who knows nothing of them, were the only Tilings in which he as yet in his Judgment inclinM to Noncon- formity. And yet even as to thefe Things, he kept his Tho'ts to himfelf. He continued to argue with the Nonconform ifts about the Points they diiFer'd in, and particularly Kneeling at the Sacrament; about which be managM a Difpute with fome of them in Writing, 'till they did not think fit to purfue it any farther, He ^ freely reprov*d them for the Bitternefs of their Lan- guage againft the Bifhops and their Adherents, and exhorted them to endeavour for Patience and Chari- ty, but found their Spirits fo exafperated by the hard Meafure they had met with, that they were deaf to his Adjnonitions. Obferving which, he came to this Con- clulion. That he that will have Children, muft be a Fa- ther ; and he that will be a Tyrant, mult be contented with Slaves. fjis labours While he continued 2d. Dudley^ he had a numerous in Dudley Auditorv, and a tra^5tabie People to deal with. The (^ Bridg- Town had before bin famous for Drunkennefs ; but pOJth. he found there a greater Readinefs to hear the Word of God with Submiflion and Reformation, than in moll Places he was acquainted with. But within Three Quarters of a Year, he was by earneft Importunity prevailM with to remove to Bridgnorth^ the fecond Town in Shropfhire^ to be Alfiftant to Mr. fViliiam Madjiard. His Work here being juft what he defired,
with-
Chap. n. Mr. Richard Baxter. 15"
without his being put upon any Thing that he fcrupled, ^n. 1640, with a fair ProbabiUty of Peace and Quiemefs, was his main Inducement to liften to this Motion. For Bridgnorth is a Place priviledg'd from all Epifcopal Ju- rifdi^ion, except the Arch-Bi(hop*s Triennial Viliuti- of>. There is a peculiar Ordinary, who as an Official keeps a conftant Ecclefiaftical Court, having Ju- rifdidion over Six Parilhes, which lye there together which, have all the Privikdge of this Exemption. Mr. Madflard, who then was Minifter, was a grave and fevere Ancient Divine, very Honeft and Confci- entious, and an Excellent Preacher, but fomewhat Af- flided thro* the Scantinefs of his Maintenance, and much mor€ thro* the Unprofitablencfs of his People. He was not only Minifter but Official too. which was a Security to his Alliftant. Tlie Town Maintenance being inconfiderable, he took the Parfonage of O/df- ^«r>neaftheTown, a Village of fcarce Twenty Houfes, defiring Mr. Baxter to fpend one half of the Lords Day in the Town, and the other at the Village. Tho' his Lot afterwards fell out to be moftly in the Town. He was here put upon nothing which he efteem'd un- -lawful. He often read the Common-Prayer before he Preach'd, both on LordVDays and Holy Days ; but he never adminiftred the Lord's-Supper, nor ever Bap- tized any Child with the Sign of the Crofs, nor ever wore the Surplice, nor was he ever put to appear at any Bilhop's Court. He found the People here, ge- nerally Ignorant and dead hearted. The Town con- fifted very much of Inns and Ale-Houfes, and had no General Trade to employ the Inhabitants which is the undoing of many great Towns. So that tho by his firft Labours among them, he was Inftrumental in the Converfion of feveral Perfons, and was generally Applauded, yet be was not fo fuccefsfiil m bis VVorK, as afterwards in other Places, Tippling and III Com- pany rendred his Preaching ineffeduai. ^ He was fcarce well fettled ^^^V'.^ before he was di- 0^^^^^^ fturb'dby the E.t c<etera Oath, which was f^.^"^ ?/> ^"j;, '^ the Convocation then fitting. All ^vere en)^^"^^/;/^'"' fwear, That they muld never Confcnt to the f oration oj the ?\e[ent Government of the ^,^«^^^' ^ /^^^'Cnn Bll^op\ Dems, ArchzD^ams, &c. And that upon
1 6 The LIFE of Chap. II.
An.1640. pain of Expulfion. This was a New Engine of Di-
vifion. Some were Zealous for
* B!fl}op Hall declares that he ne- this Oath ; * Alfercing the Di- ver tender (L this Oath to any one Mi- vine Right of Epifcopacy, which
nifter of his Viotefs, See fame Sj>e- was fettled by Law, they apprc- ciaJties of his Life, drawn up hy headed that upon the Command himfe/f, p. 43. of the Sovereign Power, it was
very warrantable to Swear, ne- ver to confcnt to an Alteration. And the King's Ap- probation of thofe Canons wherein this Oath was en- joyn d, they tho't made them fufficiently Obligatory. But others look'd upon Epifcopacy as an indifferent Thing, mutable when King and Parliament pleasM. Nay, they apprehended the Engli/h Frame, confifting of Arch-Bifhops, Deans and Chapters, and Arch- Deacons ; and Diocefans having many Hundred Pa- rifh- Churches under one Bifliop, as foreign to the Word of God, and deftruc^ive of that Epifcopacy which was known in the Church at leaft for lOo Years. The Swearing to a blind Et cxtera they look'd upon as intolerable ; becaufe it took in all the Officers of the Eccleiiaftical Courts, Lay Chancellours, Surro- gates, CommifTaries and Officials, which was Swear- ing to an Anomalous Rabble. They further pleaded. That this Sort of Government might actually be Le- gally altered by King and Parliament ; and that to (wear before-hand not to obey fuch a Law, was in fuch a Manner to make an Oath a Bond of Difobedi- ence, as was next to a Rebellion. They urg'd, that it was againft the Subjeds Liberty to Petition for Re- drefs of Grievances, among which fome Branches of this Government might well be reckoned : And that it was againrt the Priviledge of Parliament, to have fuch an Oath impos'd without their Confent. The Neighbouring Minifters met together upon this Occa- (ion, to confider what to do : Some were for comply- ing, but more againft it. This put Mr, Baxter upon ftudying the Matter of Epifcopacy, and the Englifh Frame of Church Government afrefli ; and reading Gerjome Bucer his Dijfertatio He Gubernatione Ecciefia^ Didoclnvii Altare Dam/j/cenum^ Parker de Politeia Ec- clefiaftica^ (3 Baynes*s Diocefans Try.i! ; and ^comparing their Rcafons with Bifliop Downafn:^^ he was convin- ced
Chap. II. Mr. Richard Baxter. j j
ced, that cho* all kind of Epifcopacy tvas not fiaciy un- ^Iw. 1640 lawful, yet that the EngUflo Diocefan Frame was guilty of the Corruption of Churches and Miniflry, and of the Ruin of the true Chorcii Diicipline, and fubfticuting an Heterogeneal Thing m ics ilea i. So that this very Oath, which was impos'd m Order to the unalterable fubjeding of the Nation to Dircefans, was a great Means to alienate him frona them, ^rii not him only, but many others with him. They who be- fore tho't it belt to follow their Bufinefs, and live in Quietnefs, and let the Bilhops alone, were rowz'd by the Terrour of an Oath to look about them, ana un- derftand what they did. New Heats were ftirr'a up among the Contending Parties, by the Debates which this Oath occalion'd : And they who wereagainlt ic, be- gan to think better of the Cnufe of Nmicovformity^ and to Honour xht .Nono^nformifts more than before. So that thnf which was defign d for their Ruin, prov'd a great Advantage to chem.
It unhappily fell our, that while this Divided the r r ^^-a Church at Home, the Church of Scot'Und alfo was all J, ^ *■'* in a Flame : For when Things v;ere quictihere under a s^ytland. more moderate Epifcopacy than ours in England^ ( tho' that Nation had bin us'd to Presbytery J a New Com>rjon- Prayer Book ( that is the Englifh One, with fome few Alterations) was impos'd upon them, together with the Englifh Ceremonies. This occafion'd an Infurretftion in Edinburgh^ and many dther Places, A Fire being once kindled amongft them, was not eafily excin- guiih'd. Notwithftanding all the induftry and Care of the Earl of Tre./uaire, che King's Ccmmiirioner, the Number of the Malecontents To encreas'd, rhat there was no opponng them ; but: they got the Power of all the Land into their Hand^the Greatelt Part of the Nobility fallmg in with the Miniiters and their Ad- herents, Hereupon they all enter'ii into a National Covenant, to the fame Purpofe-. as fortr erly that Na- tion had done againft Popcty, preincy and Supeyflinorj^ and to uphold the Gofpel and Beformntion. The Do- lors of Aberdeen DifTented Uomi\\t Covenant^ and ma- ny Writings pafs'd between them and the Covefw»rc> s up- on that Subjeft, 'till at lait the Wars that came on, turn'd the Debates into another Strain.
r. At
IH
i8 The LIFE of Chap. II.
yin. 1640. At ihc very iame Time, a Tax which the King had Ohh s/ 0- •'^H^'o^'^ ^" EngUnA, cajl'd Ship-Money^ ( zs for ihe Money Strengchniiig rhe Navy ) gave general Diiratisfadion. This being done without Confenc of Parliament, there was a Marinuripe all over the Land, efpecially among the Country Nobiliry and Gentry jfor they look'd upon ir as the Ovcrthrovooi the FunHatnental L.^ws or ConftitU' ti- n of the KSvgdom^ and of Parliamejits and Property, This was the Common Cry at that Time, that if once ynrHiitncnts and Property were deftroy'd, the Government: was dilVolvM, and no Man had any Security of Eftate, Liberty, or Life, but the Pleafure of the King, whofe Will would be the only Law. Some deny'd the Pay- ment o^ this Ta:x, and put the Sheriffs upon Diftrain- ing. The Sheriffs, tho' afraid of a future Parliament, did it in Obedience to the King. Mr. Hampden and the Lord Say brought it to a Suit ; Mr. Oliver S^ Jolmy and others, boldly pleading the Peoples Caufe. All the J4.;dges except Mutton and Crook, had, when they were conlulred, given it as their Judgment, That the King in a Cafe of Need might impofe fuch a Tax: And fo Judgment paft for the King in the Suit, which caused the Matter to make much the Greater Noife. TheScotW) The Sects foon after enter'd England vq\i\\ an Army, Broils. encourag'd, as it was fuppos'd, by many of the Englijh Nobility, who tho't there was no other Way to caufe the Calling ct a Parliament to remedy Diforders. The EarJs of Ejfcx^ Pf^arvc>icl{, Bedford, Clare, BuUir.gbroo}{, 'Mulgrave, and Holland^ and the Lords Sny and Brocks were reputed of this Confederacy. But Heylin fays, Thnt the Scots, after they came in^ did perfvoade thefc Perfcns of their Dajiger in England // Arbitrary Govern^ ment voent on ; and fo they Petition'd the King for a Par- liament, which was all tlffeir Confederacy. And this wa^ after their fecond Coming into England too.
The King met the Scots at Uexo-Caftle, A Pacifica- tion was concluded, and a Parliament call'd, and the Scots return'd Home. This Parliament quickly difplea- fing rhe King, he dilfoL'd it, and again undertakes a War agamft the Scots, to which, befides others, the Pa- pilts by the Queen's Means, did voluntarily Contri- bute : Whereupon, the Scots^ complam of Evil Coun- felloius and Papifts, as the Caufe of their renew'd Dangers j and raife their Army again, and enter into
^nglanA
Chap. II. Mr. Richard Baxter.
19
Enghnd, The Engli/h iat To'k Petition the King for a A». 1640- Parliament, and once more it is rclolv'd en, and an Agreement made : But neither rhe Scotti/h nor Ev^Jifh Army was Disbanded; And thns in the Yt-ar 1640, began that which hath fihce bin cail'd the Lmg PnrLA- mem : The moft Celebrated Parliament that ever fate iri Englnyid. ^ . ,
During thefe Northern Stirs, the Earl of Bndgevpaccr, Mr. Bix- who was Lord-Prefidentof the Marches in H-^ales, paf- ter in jhme firg thro' Bridgnorth in his Journey trom Ludlorvxo the ^'*":^f'" fo^ King, Complaint was made to him by fome malicious ^''['■'^"»fcf' Perfons of the Town, that Mr. MrJfiard znd Mr. B^x- ^'^^' ter were defediive in Point ot Conformity ; not fign- ing with the Sign of the C/c/r, nor wearing the v«r- plice, nor praying againft the Scon, who were juft then entring into England^ for which there was a Form of Prayer printed by the Biiliops, tho' nO Command from the King. The Complaint was made on S.itur- day Evening, when the Lord Prefident entered thii Town; and he promis'd them, he would himfelf bi^ next Day at the Church, and fee how Things went. Mr. Mr.dfiArd letir'd, and left Mr. Bixe^, and Mr. Swnw the Reader, to ftand alone. But when the next Day came, the Lord Prelident ibddenly aktr'd his Mind, and went as far as Lichfield ; requiring the Ac- cufers and Bailiffs to fend after him to inform him what was done that Day at Church. Thty failed not to 0- bey his Orders, and threatn'd mighty Things on the Account of Noncompliance ; bur all evaporated at length into Smoak : For he fent them Word in Anfwer; That he had not the Ecchfiafiical Jurifdiilioriy nnd there- fore cculd not Theddh with them.
The Parliament being met, fell directly iipon a /^^- ThOi/enlu^ formntion of Church and StatCc Long and Vehement of th: Long Speeches were made aigaihft Ship-Money, againlt the Parlia- Judges that Approv'd it, againfl the Etdetem Onth, and mcnt. the B'/hcps and Convccatioh that form'd it,' and againft jny Lord Strajford^ Arch-Bifhop Laud, and other Evil Counfellours. There w^s at firft.ai marvellous Con- cord among the Men\bers, ihro" the Complication of the Interelts of thofe Caufes, in which ibey federally "did moft concern themfclves. For as the King, bad at oiice impos'd the Ship^Money^ on the Comn.on-Wealtb; itii perirjitted the Bifliops to impof(^upOn the Church " £2 ^beir
20 T^he LIFE of Chap. II.
An. 1640. their Difpleafing Articles, the Book for Dancing on the LordVDay, c^c and to Sufpend or Silence a great ma- ' ny Minifters, for want of Super Canonical Conformity;
fo the Parliament accordingly confifted of Two Sorts of Men, who by the ConjunCliion of thefe Caufes were united in their Votes and Endeavours for a Re- formauon. One Party made no great Matter of the Alterations in the Church, but faid, That if ?arlicmcnts are once dovon^ nnd Property gone^ and Arbitrnry Govern- ment fet up, nnd Law fubjeHed to the Princess J4''iU^ then aU were Slaves ; and this they reckon'd intolerable : For the remedying of it, they faid, No true Englijh Man could thinly any Price too dear. Thefe the People call'd Good Common PVealth''s Men. The other Sort were the more Religious Men, who were alfo fenfible of thefe Things, but much more affected with the Intereft of Religion. Thefe moft inveigh'd againft Innovations in the Churchy the Bowing to Altars^ the Bool^ for Sforts on Sundays, the Cafting out Minifters^ the High-Comm''JJion Court, the Putting down LeHures and Afternoofi Sermons, and Expofjtions on the Lor d'^s- Days ; with other fuch Things, which they tho't of Greater Weight than Ship- Money. But becaufe they who were of this Stamp, a- preed with the others in the Vindication of Liberty and Property, therefore did they of the other Sort the more eafily concur with them, in Oppofition to the Proceed- ings of the Bifhops and High-Commiffion Court^ &c.
Their Difpofition being known, Complaints and Pe- titions were fent in to them from all Parts, with Refe- rence both to Ecclefiaftical and Civil Encroachments. Great Things, fuch as before were tho*t Impradlicable, were compafs'd in a little Time. An A61 pafs'd againft the High'CommiJJion Court, and the Secular or Civil Power of Church Men. Another, That the Parliament (kould not be dijjolvd without its own Confent, And another for Triennial Parliaments. Nay, at length, the King was forc'd to part even with his Favourite the Lord- Deputy Wemworth. All Things in general put on a New Face; of which the Sequel of this Narrative gives a further Account. j± Refor- Among other Important Matters that were deter- mation o/min'd, a i\;formatim of the Clergy was refolv'd on, and th: t/fr^ accordingly a Committee was appointed, to hear Pe- tntended. titions and Co»plaints againit iheai. Multitudes
from
Chap. 11. Mr. Richard Baxter.
21
from all Quarters came up immediately with Petitions An, 1640 againft their Minifters, charging them with Injuff. ciency^ Falfe DoHrinCj Illegr.l Innovations^ or Scandnl, Mr. John Wnite was Chairman , and was the Publifhec of A Century of Scandalous Mlnifters^ which was after- wards follow'd with a Second Century ; both were fill'd with moft abominable Particularities, the concealing which had certainly bin a much greater Service to Reli- gion than their Publication ; which was but making Sport for Atheills, Papifts and Profane.
Amongft other Complainets, the Town of Ksder- ^ p ■ : minfier in iVorceflerfhire had drawn up a Petition a- front ^ ' Kc^ gamft their Vicar and his two Curates, as infufficienc dermin- for the Miniftry, and they put it into the Hands offter, the Sir Henry Herbert^ who was Burgefs for Bewdley. The Octafton of Vicar well knowing his own Infufficiency, agreed to ^/r. Bax- Compound the Bufinefs, and was free to allow 60 /. ter'j Settle- per An. (out of near 200 the Living was vyorth) to a '"'"^ ^^^^'*' Preacher who (hould be cbofen by Fourteen nominated Truftees. He that was chofen was to Preach whenfo- ever he pleas'd, the Vicar ftiil reading the Common- Prayer, and doing every Thing that might be Matter of Scruple ; for all which he gave a Bond of 5 %o /. Here- upon the Bailiflf of the Town, and all the Feoffees in- vited Mr. Baxter to give them a Sermon ; and he upon Preaching once to them, was unanimoufly chofen to be their Minifter. Thus was he Providentially bro't to that Place which had the Chiefeft of his Labours, and yielded him the Greateft Comfort. He was the rather inclin d to liften to the Motion, becaufe it was a full Congregation, and moft Convenient Church ; an Ignorant People for the moft Part, who had great Need of Preaching, and yet who had among them a fmall Company of Converts, who were Humble and Godly, and of a Good Converfation, and not much hated by the reft ; and therefore the fitter to aflift their Teacher : And they had had but little Lively and Serious Preaching amongft them. Here therefore hf^ fixt him- felf, making this remarkable Obfervarion : That among all his Changes he never went to any Place which he had before defired, defign'd or tho't off, but only to thofe Places he never tho't of, 'till the fuddain Invita- tion did furprize him.
C3 CHAP.
2x lie LIFtL of Chap. Hi.
CHAP. IIL
Tfje Oppojition he met ^^Ith at firji /> the Town^ of Kederminfler. His hidefatigable La- honrs^ and the Admirable tfficacy of his Mirujlry in that Place.
H
F, fpenc Two Years at Kjdermlnfter before the War broke our, and above Fourteen Years af- trr ir ; and in all that Time never touch'd the Virandge H 'ufc, tho' aiuhoriz'd by an Order of Par- liament : B t rhe Old Vicar liv'd there peaceably and quiedy, without any Moleftation. He found the PJac^' like a Piece of dry and barren Earth, Ignorance ^nd P}of^77^nrfs^ ias Natives of the Soil, were rife among them : But by the Bleding of Heaven upon his La- hour and Cultivating, the Face of Paradife appeared there in all the Fniirs of I{ighteoufne/s. Ac firft, f{agi and M?cc created him a great deal of Oppofition ; but it wasfbbn over, and a Special Div^'ne Blejfutr,^ gave his unwearied Pains among that People an unprece- dented Succefs. Stranrre In- Before his Corning, the Town, having bin Emi- jjaAcei «/nent for Vnniey^ had a Yearly (hew, in which they Malignity, bro'c forth the painted Forms of Gyants, ro walk a- bout the Streets with. He gave them no Difturbance, yet the Rabble of the more Vitious Sort, had ftill f<')me Spleen to vent againft him, as one Part of their Game And once all the Jgnoiant Rout were Raging ^'iad againft him for Preaching to them the Dodtrine of Original Sin, and telling them, Th.it Infants, before B^"j^encrntiov^ had Ju much Guilt and Corruption as made them loathfonic in the Eyes of God. Whereupon, they vented il Abroad in the Country, That he Preach'd, that G d hated and loathed hfanti. So that they rail'd at him as he pafs'd thro* the Streets. The next Lord's- Da he clrar'd and confirm'd the Dodtrine he had be- fore deliver'd ; and fhewed them, That if it was not true, their Infants had no Need of Chrift, or of Baptifm, or of renewing by the Holy Ghoft. And he ask'd them, VVtJether they durfl fay, that their Children
roere
Chap. HI. M**- R^i^hard Baxter. 2^
were favdvoltkout n Snviour^ and xvcre no Chrijlinns, and xvhy they Bapti:(d them^ &c. And afcerwards ihey were Afliam'd and Silent.
Another Time, one of the Drunken Beggars ot che Town rais'd a Slander of hirii^ TL^t he vpdi i.-id^r a Tree with n iVjman of III Fame, All the Drunkards iiad got it in their Mouths, before he con id find the Ori- ginal. He got three or four of chc^n bound to their Good Behaviour ; and the Sot himfeif that rais'd the Slander, confefs'd before the Court, That he Jnxv him in a I{ainy Day on Horfeback^^ fland under ttn a^ky "^''ich grew in a thick. Hedq^e, and the t^omnn /landing for (hcltcr on tlye other Side the Hedge, under the fam:Tres ; and that he helievd they faw not one another : But he fpake i^t as a left, and the Company were glad of the Qccafion to feed their Malice. They all askt hini For given efs, and he defired the Magiftrate to releafe them. Such Things as thefc were not uncommon at IQdenninfter. For Mr John Crofs, (who afterwards dy'd Minifter of Fn- day'-Jireet in London) being a Preacher there fome Time before this, a Woman defam'd him openly, and told the People he would have Ravifli'd her. Ur.Crojs being a Prudent Man, fent one before to the Bail.tf and luftice to defire them to call her to Exammation, and he came after, and fate in a common dark colour d Coat, among many others, in the Bailifts Parlour, as if he had bin one of the Magiftrates. Ihe BaiLtt cal- led her in, and (he ftood impudently to the Accula- tion. The Bailiff askt her, ^oether fh^ kne^ the M^n if (he faw him ? Which Ihe confidently affirm d. He ask'd her Is it this Man, or that Man, o^ the oth^r Man, or any there P She faid, O .. , Gcd forbid that fi:e floould accufe any of them, Mr. Crofs faid v^;^ ^^otj he Man? And fhe faid, No, fl^e kpevo t^e M.« J^/ -• And when they had told her that this was Mr. C;.//, fte fell down on her Knees, and ask d him F^^^^^^^^ npf*; . and confefs'd. That one of his Nei^^hboms ( his Great tcuftr ac the B.fhop's Courcs) >.aUir^ '- '^ reports. Buc the good Man forgave them both Hovv entirely is the beft eftabUftd Reputation at the Mcy of th^ Hsvcngeful and Mdutou>, any farther than a Wife Providence fences and fcrcens it .
At another Time, the Parhament fend ng down jm Order for the Deraoliaiog of all Statues and foag«
C 4
_f4 The LIFE cf Chap. lir.
of any of the three Perfon. in the Trinity, or of the Virgin M,,)7, which Ihould he found in Churches, or or on Crofles in Church- Yards ; Mr. Baxter was for obeying u The Church-Warden, feeing a Gr.cifix upon the Crofs m the Church-Yard at KfderwiMer, fctupa Ladder to reach it, which prov'd too fliort : He going to feek another, the Drunken Crew in. the Town took tlie Alarum and ran all together with Weapons to defend the.r Crucifix and Church Images. Ic was reportecK Mr. S,xter was the Adior, and him they fot for: Bur. as Providence had order'd it, he was walking about a Mile out of Town, orelfehe
hi Tu lu^^'V^'".^''^'^ h^^H^y^. Miffing him and the Church-Warden too, they went raving about the Streets to feek them : Two Neighbours ran in amongft them to fee if Mr. Baxter was there, and they knocked them down, and fo miferably bruifed them, that they dy d foon after, never recovering the Hurt they rece.v'd. When they had foam'd about halt an Hour, and met not thofe whom they fought
Walk and hearing the People curfing him at their Doors, he wondred what was the Matter ; but quick- 1> found how fairly he had efcap'd. The next I ordV Day he dealt plainly with them, and laid open to them the Quahty of that Adion, and told them. See- tngtheyfo requited him a, to feek bis Blood, he wa, mlli„g to leave them, and fave them from that G„ilt. But the poor Creatures were fo amaz'd and afham'd, that they
S hTm ^^'" *" "'"^ '"^' '"''' '° P^"
Not being at all difcourag'd with this malicious
Oppofition, he laid out himfdf very Laborioufly in
the Work of the Lord among this People, and bad
very eminent Succefs, which under God he look'd
tipon as procur-d by feveral Advantageous Circumftan-
ces, which dcfervc Ohfervation
»•< laho- Before the Civil War, he' preach'd twice every
»•.», Em- Lord s-Day ; but afterwards but once, and once every
floyment asThurJday, bcfides Occafional Sermons. Every Thurl
minte- n^H^'"""i^o'^°'"' °^. •"' Neighbours that had IncI i- minnei. nation and Opportunity met at his Houfe, one of
them repeated the Sermon, and afterwards ihey pro-
pos'd
Chap. 111. Mr, Richard Baxter.
25
pos'd any Doubts about it, or any other Cafe of Confcience, which he lefolv'd. He then caus'd fome- times one, and fometimes another of them to Pray, and fometimes Pray'd wiih them himfelf ; and fo the Meeting brake up with fmging a Pfalm. Once a Week fome of the younger forr, who were not fit to pray in fo great an Affembly, met among themfelves more privately, fpending 3 Hours in Prayer. Every Saturday! Night, they met at fome of their Houfes to repeat the laft Lord's- Day's Sermon, and to Pray and prepare themfelves for the Day following. Once in a few. Weeks, there was a Day of Humiliation kept up- on one particular Occafion or another. Every Religi- ous Woman that was fafely delivered, inftead of the old Goflipings, if jfhe were able, kept a Day of Thankfgiving, with fome of her Neighbours about her, praifing God and finging Pfalms, and foberly Feafting together.
Two Days every Week he and his Alfiftant took 14 Families between them for private Catechizing and Conference. His Method was this: He firft heard them recite the Words of the Catechifm, and then ex- amin'd them about the Senfe, and afcerwards urg'd them with all poflible engaging Reafon and Vehe- mence, to anfwerable AfFedlion and Pradlice. If any were fhy, thro' Ignorance or Baihfalncfs, he forbore to prefs them any farther to Anfwers, but made them Hearers, and either examind others, or turn'd all into Inftrudtion and Exhortation. He fpent about an Hour with a Family, and admitted no others to be prefenr, leaft Bafhfulnefs Ihould make it burthenfom, or any fhould talk of the Weaknefles they obferv'd. His whole Afternoon on Mondays and Tuefdays, was this way employed. Every firfl Wednefday of the Month he had a meeting for Parifli Difcipline : And every firft Thurfday in the Month was a Meeting held of the Neighbouring Minifters for Difcipline and Difputati- on ; in which Difputations he was generally Modera- tour, taking the Pains to prepare a written Determi- nation of the Qneftion to be debated. And every Thurf- day in the Month befides, he had the Company of di- vers worthy Minifters at his Houfe after the Lecture, with whom he fpent the Afcernoon in profitable Con-
yerfation
_^f The LIFE of Chap. TIT.
verfadon, 'tilJ his Neighbours came to meet for their Exercife of Repetition and Prayer. His Sue- His Publick Preaching met with an Actentive Dili- ce/s. gent^ Auditory. The Congregation was ufuaily full.
Iho theCburch was very Capacious and Gomm.di- oas yet afrer his coming thither, they were forcVi to buiJd 5 Galleries to receive the Hearers. Their Pri- vate Meetings alfo were full. On the Lod's Days there was no Diforder to be feen in the Town but yo J might hear a Hundred Families Tinging Pfams, and repeating Sermons, as you pafs'd thro* the Streets. V\henhe firft came thither, there might be about one raniily in a Street that worfliip'd God and calld on his Name ; and when he came away, there was not above a Family on the fide of a Street that did not do It; and that did not by profefTing ferious Godlinefs fir^^A. 1?^ ^°P" °^ ^^^'^^ Sincerity. Nay, in the Worft Faojihes, Inns and Ale-hjoufes, ufqally fome m each Houfe feem'd to be Religious. Tho' the Ad- miniftration of the Lord's Supper was fo ordered as that many were difpleasM, and the far greater part kepta- way themfeives, yet were there 600 Commnnicanrs, of v/hom there were not 12 that he had not good Hopes of as to their Sincerity. And thofe few that did con- lent to Communion, and yet Jiv'd Scandaloufly, were afterward Excommiwicated. He had good reafon to nope. That many who join'd not in Sacramental Com- tnunion with him, were yet Perfons truly fearing God. Some of them being kept off by Husbands, by t'arents, by Mafters, or perfwaded by Men of oppofice Sentiments, rather than Acting according to their own Inclinations and Defires. Tho* they were many that were kept away, yet they took it Patiently, and for- bore Reviling, as if any Wrong were done them. And as for thofc unruly Young Men who were Excom- municated, they generally bore it Patiently as to their outward Behaviour, tho' their Hearts were hill of Bit- ternefs. When he fet upon Perfonai Conference with each FaiDiIy, and Catechizing them, there were very few Families in all the Town that refus'd to come- and thofe few were Beggars at the Towns end, who were fo Ignorant, that they were afliam'd it fhonid be mani- feft. Few Families went away without fome Tears, or feemingly fcrious Fromifcs of a Godly Life. Yet
man^
Chap. III. Mr. Richard Baxter. 27
many Ignorant and Ungodly Pcrfons there were ftill yemainingi but moft of them were in the Parilh, not in the Town, and in thofe Parts of the Parilh which were fartheft from rhe Town. And whereas one Part pi the Parilh was impropriate, and payM Tythes to Lay-Men, and the other Part maintain d the Church, it To fell out, that almoft all that lide of the Parifh which pa)'d Tythe to the Church were godly honeft People,- and did it willingly without Contention, moft of the bad People of the Parilh liv'd on the other tide. Some Poor Men did competently underftand the Body of Divinity, and were able to judge in Difficult Con- troverlies : Some of them were To able in Prayer, that few Mmifters did exceed them in Order and Fulnefs, in apt ExprefHons, and holy Oratory with Fervency. Many of them were ab'e to Pray very laudably with their Families, or with others : The Temper of their Minds, and the Innocence of their Lives, was much more laudable than their Parts. The Profeflbrs of fe- rious Godlinefs were generally of very humble Minds and Carriage, of meek and quiet Behaviour unto o- thers, and of Blamelefnefs and Innocence in their Con- verfations.
God was plcas-d alfo to give him abundant Encou- ragement in the Lectures which he preach'd Abroad in other Places; as at ^orceifer^ Cleobury^ Dudley^ Sheffnaly Sec. where he had full Auditories, and many Converts. Neither were his Labours loft among his Brethren in the Miniftry. Their Difputations were advantageous. Their Meetings were never contentious, but always pro- fitable. When he motion'd a Way of Church Order and Difcipline, (of which hereafter) which all might agree in, that their Churches might not be ungovern'd, nor fall into Divifions amongft themfelves, he was readily liften d to, and his Motion reduced to Pradice. And when he attempted to bring them all conjuncftly to the Work of Catechi:(ing, and'inftrufting every Family by itfelf, he found a ready Confent in moft, and many adlually comply'd with it, much to their Satisfadion. The Praife of all which he freely and heartily afcrib'd 7.;^^ ^j^
to God. yantageotu
* Many were his Advantages in order to this Succefs. cinumftan- He came to a People that had never fate under an av«a- ces which kening Miniftry before. He was himf^lf ir> the Vigour promoted
, , oi this Succefs,
28
The LIFE of Chap. III.
of his Spirits, and had a very moving Delivery • and do- ing aJJ undei- greac BodiJy Weaknefs, as a Dying Man, he was the more ^nrm and enme^t. The greateft Ene- mies of ferious Religion in that Towrt, were carry 'd oflF by the War. He had aJfo the Favour of the Go- vernment on his nde. Before the Civil War, the Rio- tous Rabble had Boldnefs eno' to make ferious Godli- nefs a common Scorn, and call them all Pwitans and Precifinns, that did not care as Jittle for God and Hea-
Yu ^'^^- ^rV^ ^^"^^^^ ^5 ^^^y ^i^- Jf a Man was not tulJy fatisfy d with rheir undifciplin'd diforder'd Churcb- ^u' ^',.^*y"^^^"^^l^<^Ufs Excommunications, ^c If they did but Fa^ and Pray together, or go from an Ig- norant Drunken Reader, to hear a Godly Minifter aC the next Parilh, the Biihop s Articles would enquire af- ter them, and the High Commiflion grievoufly afflid them. After the War, the Cafe in this refpea was mightily aJter'd: For Piety had then full Liberty ; nay, and Countenance and Reputation too. WithaJ, he gam d a Greac Intereft in the AfFedions of the Inhabi- tants of the Town, which is no inconfiderable Thing, tor tho to win Eftimacion and Love to our felves on- ly, be an End intended by none but Perfons egregioully Proud and Hypocritical ; yet it is moft certain, that the Gratefulnefs of the Perfon doth ingratiate the Mef- fage, and greatly prepare People to receive the Truth. He was much affifted by the Zeal and Diligence of the Oodly People there j who thirfted after the Salvation of their Neighbours, and being dlTpersM thro' the Town were ready in all Companies to reprefs feducing Words ^"^!,^ i^ftify Godlinefs; and to Convince, Reprove and Exhort as there wasoccafion. The Holy, Humble and BJamelefs Lives alfo of the Religious fort was a fin- gular Blcfifing. The moft Malicious could not f^iy here. Your Profeilors are as Proud and Covetous as any. But the blamelefs Lives of godly People did Ihamc the Op- pofers, and put to filence the Ignorance of fooiilli Men; and many were won by their Converfation. Their L7- nity and Concord alfo was very Advantageous, and Jheir Freedom from thofe Seds and Hcrcfies which in- tected many other Places. There was no Prtftor ageing Paftor, nor Church a'/ainft Church, nor ScSi aoainii Seff, nor Chrillian tigainn Chnstian. There was not a Sepal raptd, an Annipaptisl^ an Antinomitin in the Town. At
Bevedly
Chap. III. Mr. Richard Baxter. 2 9
Bewdly there was a Church of AnabaptiUs ; at Wor- ccHer the Independents gathered a Church : But here all were of one Mind and Mouth, and Way. One Jour- neyman Shoemaker turn'd AnnbaftOi^ but he ktc the Town upon it, and went amongft them. When Peo- ple faw Diverfity of Setfts and Churches in any Place, it greatly hindred their Converfion; they were at a Lofs, and knew not what Pnrty to be of, or what PVny to go ; and therefore many would be for no Religion at all, but derided all whom they faw difagreed. But they had no fuch Offence or Objection here; they could not ask, Wbkh Church or Party fhall voe be of i For all were but as one. So Modeft were the ableft of the People, that they never were enclin'd to a Preaching Way, nor to make Oftentation of their P/trts ; but took Warning by the Pride of others, and tho't they had Teaching eno' by their Paftors ; and that it was bet- ter for them to beftow their Labour in digefting that, than in Preaching themfelves. The private Meetings that were kept up, were alfo very helpful to the Propn^ gating of Godlinefs. Truths that were flip'd away were thereby recall'd, and the Serioufncls of Peoples Minds renew'd : Good Defires were cherifli*d, and Know- ledge encreas'd. By thefe he had opportunity to know their Cafe : For if any were touch'd and awaken'd in Publick, prefently they came dropping in to the Pri- vate Meetings. And fo remote was the Danger of Schifm or Divifions, that this was the principal Means to prevent them. All being under his Overfight and Guidance, who was ufually prefent with them, anfwer- ing their Doubts, and filencing Objedions, and mode- rating them in all. Some Private Meetings he found were very much defired among them. Had he not al- lowed them fuch as were lawful and prcfxtabUy they would have bin apt to run into fuch as were unlawful and hurtful. And therefore, by encouraging them in fuch a Way, in the fit Exercife of their Parts, in T^e- petition^ Prayer, and asking Queif ion's; He kept them from enclining to the diforderly Exercife of them, in Imitation of the SeBaries, Befides, there were fome publick Dilputations, whereby the People were much confirm'd. The Q^iakers would have made Difturbancc, and fe: up a Meeting in the Tov/n, and raii'd bitterly at Mr. iaxtsr ; But he giving them leave to meet io - " the
30 The LIFE of Chap. lit.
the Church for a Difpucc, and opening before the Peo- ple their Deceits, none would entertain them more, nor did they gain one Profelyte. Mr. Tombes^ the /iyinbaf- tj^y who was Le£lurer at Bewdly, had (haken fome. But after the Difputc held with him, (of which hereaf- ter) the People were fettled, and the Infeaun ftopp'd. Another /ldi/:ritage he bad, was the great Honefty and Diligence of his Alfiftanvs Mr. I{tchard Scjennt, the firftof them, was very Laborious, much belov'd, of a meek and humble Spirit^ and blamelefs Life : Andfo alfo was Mr. Humphry Jyf'^alHern^ who fucceeded him; which rnadethe People fo much the more in Love with the Miniftry, and the more ready to fubmitto Inftru£ti- on. Another Advnntr.ge was the Prefence and Counte- nance of honeft Juftices of the Peace. Col. John Brid- ge:, a prudent pious Gentleman, was Patron of the Li- ving, and liv'd in the Parilh, and was a Juftice of Peace. And a Bailiff, and Juftice were annually cho' fen in the Corporation, who ordinarily were Godly Men, and always fuch as would be tho't fo, and were leady to ufe their Authority to fupprefs Sin and pro- mote Goodnefs. And when once a Sabhnth-hreaker tho't to have overthrown the Officers at Law, Serje- ant Fountain being then Judge of the Afee, did fore- prefs his Malice, as difcourag'd all others from any fur- ther Attempts of that kind. His Readinefs alfo to heip the Poor, was a great Help to his Succefs. He aiTifted them for fome time with his Advice in Phyfick, and was very fuccefsful ; but finding it took up fo much time as to be burdenfome, he at lengrh fix'd among them a Diligent Skilful Phyfician, and bound himfelt to him by Promife, That he would Pra^ice no ynqre in common Cnfes. But be always was Liberal with his Purfe. His ftated Income was not above 90 /. per An^ num: Befides which, he lome Years had 60 or 80/. a Year of the Bookfellers for Bonks ; which being given away anniongft them, except fo much as was necelfary for his Comfortable Subliftence, irtade them much the readier to liften to him. Several of their Children that had Capacities, he took from School, and fenC to the Univerfity, where he maintain'd rhem by his own and others Contributions: Some of which after- 'iwards prov'd very uieful Minirtcrs. His giving away Bibles atid oiher good Booki amotig foUr EnmiUfSi
Chap. in. Mr. Richird Baxter. 21
was a Thing highly pleafing to them. The People ge- nerally were of fuch a Trade as allow'd them time eno' to Read or Talk, of holy Things, which was a- nother Help. His fingle Life alfo was in fome refpeils an Advantage to him. Being free from Family Cares, he had the Greater Vacancy and Liberty for the La- bours of his Calling. And it was alfo fome Com- fortj that there were at laft few that were bad, but fome of their Relations were Converted. Many were wrought on at 14, r^, 16 Years of Age : Which did much towards the Reconciling the Minds of the Pa- rents and elder fort to Godllnefs. Many there were of a conliderable Age, the Converfion of whofe Chil- dren was the Chief Means to overcome their Preju- dice, and old Cuftoms and Conceits. Many did God recover by Sicknefs, and his conftant difowning the Ini- quity of the Times tended to the Good of many ; and fo alfo did the Unanimity of the Miniilers of the Country round, who Affociated in a way of Concord. The Quality of the open Sinners of the Place was fuch, as difcourag'd others. Thofe given to Drunkennefs were fo Beaftly and Ridiculous, that they made thac Sin (of which there was the greateft Danger) the more abhor'd. The Quality of the Apoitate Sinners of the Place was alfo remarkable. They that fell off, (who were not many) were fuch as before by their want of Grounded Underftanding, Humility and Mortificati- on, gave the greateft Sufpicion of their Stability : And they fell to no lefs than Familifm and Infidelity, ma- king a Jeft of the Scripture; and the EflVntials of Chii- ftianity. And as they fell from the Faith, fo they fell to Drinking, Gaming, furious PaiTions, and a grofly Vicious Life : And were thereupon as Pillars and Mo- numents of God's Juftice, to warn all others to take heed of Self-conceitednefs, and Herefies -^ and of de- parting from Truth and Chriftian Unity. Another confiderable Furtherance of the Peoples Good, wai the foremention'd Work of Perfonal Conference with every Family apart, and Catechizing and Inftruding them. That which was fpoken to them Perfonally, and puc them many times upon particular Anfwcrs, awaken d their Attention, and was more eafily apply'd than Pub- liek Preaching, and feem'd to work much more upon them. The Exercife of Church Difcipline was anothec great Helpo " -
32 The LIFE of Chap. HI.
^An ama- About 6 Of 7 Young Men join d with the Congrega- %inrr In- tion who were addidked to Tipling, and one of them ftanceofan yj^^ ^i weak-headed Fellow, who was a common no- IncorrlgibU forious Drunkard. He was admoniftiM o' his Sin, Smner. npon offering hiii.felf to Communion ; and cold, T/:rtf without an Humble Penitent ConfeJJlon, and Promife of Amendment , he muH be declared Vnfit for Church Communion. He hereupon lamented his Sin with great Bitternefs, and promis'd Amendment; but quickly return'd to it again. He was Admoniih'd over and o- ver, and great Endeavours were us'd to bring him to Contrition and Refolution 5 and he would TtiU con- fefs it, and yet ftill go on. Whereupon, Mr. Baxter "Warn'd him jpublickly, and Pray'd for him feveral Days in the Church : But he went on in his Drun- kennefs ftill. At Jaft, he declared him utterly unfit for Church Communion, and required all to avoid him accordingly, endeavouring to convince him of his Mi- fery, and of the Neceflity of true Repentance and Re- formation. After his Ejedlion, when he was Drunk, he would Hand at the Market-place, and like a Quaker cry out againft the Town, and take on him to Pro- phefy God's Judgments againft them, and would Rage at Mr. Baxter'^ Door, and Rail and Curfe him bitter- ly. And once he foUow'd him as he went to Church,' and laid Hands on him in the Church-Yard, with a purpofe to have kilTd him ; but it fell out that he had hold only of his Cloak, which he unbutton d and left with him ; and before his Fury could do any more, (ic bting the Fair- Day) there were fome Strangers by in the Church- Yard, who dragg'd him to the Magiftrate and the Stocks. And thus he continu*d raging againft him about a Year, and then dy'd of a Feaver^ in Great Horrour of Confcience. Three or Four more were forc'd to be caft out, one for Slandering, and the reft for Drunkennefs : And they were enrag'd, and much the worfe after it, and lb were loud H^arnings to others. Another Advanta^e^ in order to his Succefs among them, was his ordering his Docftrine to them in a Suit- abienefs to his main End ; and yet fo as might fuit their Difpofitions and Difcafes. The Great Fundamental Principles of Chrilfianify^ contJiin'd in the Baptifmal Covenant; even a right Knowledge and Belief of^ and Subje&ion and Love tOy God the Father ^ the Son,
and
Chap. III. Mr. Richard Baxter. 35
and the Holy Ghcfl^ were the Things which he daily o- pen'd to them, and with greateft Importunity laboured to imprint upon their Minds. So frequently did he in- culcate the Knowledge of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sandifier, and Love and Obedience to Him, and Unity with the Church Catholick, and Love to Men, and Hope of Life Eternal ; that thefe were the Mat- ter of their daily Meditations and Difcourfcs, and in- deed their Religion. And yet he ufuaiiy put fomt- thing into his Sermons that was above their Difcovcry, and which they had not known before, ihatchey might be kept Humble, ftill perceive their Ignorance, and be willing to remain in a Learning State; and to en- creafe their Knowledge, and make Religion pleafant 10 them by a daily Addition to their former Light, and to draw them on with Defire and Delight. But thele Things, which they did not know before, were not un- profitable Controverfies, which tended not to Edifica- tion, nor Novelties in Dodtrine, contrary to the Uni- verfal Church ; but either fuch Points as tended to iU luftrate the great Do(Srines of Religion, or ufually a- bout the right Methodizing them, which requires a great deal of Tho't and Accuracy. He was abundantly convinced of the Neceflity of Care in this refped, by long Obfervation : For when Minifters tell their People of no more than they kriow, and do not lliew that they excell them in Knowledge and Abilities, they will be tempted to turn Preachers themfelves : And think- ing that they have learn'd all that their Miniiters can teach them, they will contemn them, an.i wrangle with their Dodrines, and fet their Wits againft them, and hear them as Cenfurers and not as Difcipies, to their own Undoing, and to the Difturbance of the Church ; and they will eafily draw Difciples after them. The bare Authority of the Clergy will not Icrve the Turn, without confiderable Minifterial Abilities. Another Advnntage lay in the Quality of the People as to their Outward Condition. They xvere not Rich. There were few Beggars indeed, becaufe their Cotri- mon Trade 0^ StuffV^-avh^ would find Work for all, Men, Women and Children, that were able: But there were none of the Tradefren Wealthy, their Employment ordinarily finding them but Food and Raiment. Few of the MagUtrates were worth 40 /.
54 The LIFE of Chap. III.
per Annum 'y and moft not half fo much. Three or Four of the Mafter Workmen got perhaps Five or Six Hundred Pound in ao Years; but the Generality of them hv'd little better than Journeymen, from Hand to Movith, excepting that they labour'd not altogether fo hard. This kept them from a great many Tempta- tions which Weahh is attended with, and made them much more pliable and yielding to the Miniftry, than could otherwife have been expedted.
His not meddling with Tythes or IV^rldly Bufinefs was another Advantage to "him. Hereby he had the more Tim£ for his Study, and his Mind was the freer from Entanglements, and he avoided offending the People by contentious Law- Suits. There were three or four of his honeft Neighbours who manag'd for him all Con- cerns of that Nature, and he never took an Account of them. After that he was conftrain'd to let the Tythes be gather d as by his Title, to fave the Gatherers from Law Suits, he gave Orders, That if any Perfons refused to fny who voere Poor, it fhculd he forgiven them : But that if the Perfons were able ^ what was due floouldbe Jought for by the help of the Ma^iftrate with the Damr.ge ; and that both his Part and the Dnynages Jhould be given to the Poor, When this was once known, none that were able would do the Poor fo great a Kindnefs as to refufe Payment. His ftaying fo long in this one Place, was a further Advantage. By this Means it came about, that almoft all the Religious People of the Place were of his own Intruding and Informing ; and he ftay'd to fee them grown up to fome Confirmednefs and Ma- turity. All which Advantages he diftindtly Noted and Recorded, with due Regard to that Providence whereto they were owing, t,. - _ One of his main Difficulties when he fix'd in Kf- hout DiCc' ^^^^^^^^''t was how to fet up any Thing of a true Dif- p/ine. cipline^ without being fatisfy'd with the Shadow of it,
inftead of the ReaJiiy on one Hand, or unchurching the Parifh Church on the other. After mature Tho'cs upon the Matter, he told the People, Toat he w;nt not about to gather a Njw Churchy but would take the Parijh for the Churchy uniefs they were tinwilling to own their Mrmbrtfhip. Al] that did own their Mcmbcrfhip in that Pariih Church, and would own him for their Faftour, he delired to give in their Names, or any
other
Ghap. III. Mr, Richard Baxter. 25
other Way to fignify that they did fo : And thofe who were not willing to be Members, and rather chofe to wichdraw themfelves, than to Jive under Difcipline, he defired to be filenr. And fo thro' fear of Difci- pline, all the Pariih kept off except 600, when there were in all above 1600 at Age to be Communicancs : Yet becaufe it was their own doing, and they knew they might come in when they would, they were quiet. If any fcrupled fitting at the Lord's Table, he openly told them, They Jhould have the Liberty of their own Ge- fture. And he was free to Baptize all their Children : But he made them hrft (as he would have done by Strangers ) give him privately ( or publickly if they had rather ) an Account of their Faith. And if any Father were a Scandalous Sinner, he made him confefs his Sin openly with Teeming Penitence, before he would Baptize his Child. If he refus'd ir, he forbore 'till the Mother came to prefent it. For he rarely, if ever, found both Father and Mother fo deftitute of Knowledge and Faith,as in a Church Senfe to be utter- ly uncapable.
There was one Sir I{alpb CUre who liv*d in the Pa- ^'^ ^o»' riih, who did rtiore to hinder his Succefs, than could ^"*^ '"" have bin done by a great many others. He was a ^'*'' | ^"' Man indeed of great Courtlhip and Civility, and car- ^J t* ^ ry'd it with much Perfonal Reverence and Refpe(5t, and yet coming but once to Church on the LordV Days, and abftaining from the Sacrament, his Exam- ple did much Mifchief ; tho* at the fame Time his fend- ing his Family to be Perfonaliy Inftrudted and Ca- lechiz'd, did win with the worft almoft to do the like. He made a Motion to Mr. Baxter, That he would Communicate with him, if he would adminifter the Sa- crament to him Kneeling, and on a diftin(^ Day, and not with thofe that receiv'd it Sitting. In a Letter in Anfwer to him, he offer'd, // he muld fuhmit to Difci- pline, and take him for his Paftour, and firft hear his F^ea- fonsy if he could not Convince him^ but if he xvoidd profefs that he thot it n Sin agninft God to receive the Sacrament unlefs it were put into his Hands Kjieelivg, and that he durfl not in Confcience takje it otherwife^ he would fo give it him : But as for doing it at a difiin^i ftnted Time from the reft, it would make fuch a Breach or Sciiifm^ as he coul4 have no Hand in»
D 2 He
§6 The LIFE of Chap. HI.
The Cafe of He had alfo Tome Difficulty about the Sequeftrarion the Fica- of the Living of Kedcrmir?f}er^ upon the Account of ridge of Kt- which he was refleAed on by many, but very unjuft- dcrminfler, ]y . p^j. ^^e true State of the Cafe was this. While he was kept away from the Place by a Languilhing IJinefs, not knowing whether God would make any farther Ufe of him, the Towns People tho't fit to re- new their Articles againft their old Vicar and his Cu- rate ; and upon Tryal of the Caufe, the Committee fequeftred the Place, but put no one into it, leaving the Profits in the Hands of divers Inhabitants to pay a Preacher, 'till it were difpos'd of Mr. Baxter y tho' urgently prefs'd, refus'd the Vicaridge, and would have only the Lecfture, which by the Old Man's own Confent and Bond he held before. And at his Return, he found only Mr. Serjeant in PolfefiTion, who was de- fired to Officiate during the Vacancy. Being vehe- mently urg'd again to accept the Vicaridge, he repeated his Refufal, and got the Magiftrates and Burgelles to- gether into the Town Hall, and told them, That tbo he was offe/H feveral Hundred Pounds per Annum elfe- vphere, yet he w/ts vail ling to continue with them in his Old LeBurers PUce^ which he had before the 0^ar^ expelling they (hould make the Maintenance an loo 1. per Annum, with the Addition of an Houfe : Avd if they would promife to fuhmlt to that Dotlrine of Chrij}, which as his Mini- fier he /hould deliver to them, he would never leave them. But he intimated, that this Maintenance fhould neither come out of their own Purfes, nor any more of it out of the Tythes but the 60 1, which the Vicar had before bound himfelf to pay him, But from an Augmenta- tion, eafily to be procur'd : And the reft he would have nothing to do with. This Covenant was drawn up in Articles, and Subfcrib'd ; and he exprefly difclaim'd the Vicaridge and Paftoral Charge of the Parifli, and only undertook the Lecture. And thus the Sequcfira- tion continued in the Hands of the Townfmen, who ga- thered the Tyrhes, and paid him ( not an Hundred, as they promised) but 80/. per Annum, or 90 at moft, and Rent for a few Rooms : The reft they pave to Mr. Serjeant^ and about 40 /. per Anvum to the Old Vi- car, and 6 /. per Annum to the Lord for Rent, befides other Charges. But when they had contmu'd long in this Way, they fearM kaft feme one againft their Will
(hould
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 27
fhould get a Grant of the Sequeftration from the Com- mittee, and therefore they went privately and got an Order from them to fettle Mr. Baxter in the Title, and never fhew'd it him, but kept it fecret, defigning only to fecure the Place from a Surprize, and thernfelvcs from repaying what they disburs'd. But when King Charles came out of Scotland with his Army to H^'orcsjler their Houfes being full of Soldiers, they bro't him rhe Order, entreating him, if he would not own it, yet at leaft to keep it fafe, and to fave them haimlefs by ir, if they were call'd to Account Which is the rather mention'd fo particularly, to clear him from fome Af- perfions, unjuftly caf^: upon him about this Matter.
Upon the Whole ; fo much of the Spirit oF God did Mr. Baxter find accompanying him in his Work at IQdermvnJler, and fo affecT:io!;ate was his Regard to the Loving People of that Place, that he would not willingly have exchanged his Relation to them for any Preferment in the Kingdom, nor could he without Force have bin feparated from them. .
CHAP. IV.
The Rifi and Springs of the Civil War : Some brief Touches of the Hiflory of the Times *till the Cutting off the King.
NOT long after his Settlement at Ksdermwfter, ,
the Civil War began, and the Times rain'd — Blood fo long, 'till the Languifliing State of the
Kingdom was almoft defperate and incurable. He was a Mournful Spedtatour of the Publick Confufions, and made fome Rematks on the Occurrences of the Times, which are not unworthy the Notice of Pofterity.
The Nation had for fome Time before bin under rhe further Difcontent. The General Cry was for Juftice in the Proceedings Punifhment of Delinquents. This went againft the of tU Long King, and was a great Trouble ro his Friends and Fa- Parliament vourites, who none of them knew how foon his own Turn might come. The Lord-Keeper Finch and Secre- tary Wmdehank fled beyond Sea and fav'd themfelves. The Guilty Judges were deeply accus'd in Parliament, jind fome of them ImpriCon* d on the Account of Ship-
P ^ Money
58 The LIFE, of Chap. IV.
^n. 1(541. Money. But the Great Difpleafure was agajnft the * Dr. Parr ^^^^ ^^ Strcjford,2iT\A. Arch-Bi(hop Luud. They were in the Life toth fent to the Tovoer, and a Charge was drawn up of Arch- againft them, and managed prefendy againft the Lord- BifI)o]} Ufh- t)€^\ii^' PVentvoorthy by the ableft Lawyers and Gentle- er, rvhich men of the Houfe. This was a Matter they were long hepuhlifh'd about ; for the King being unwilling to confent to bis tn FV/o, Deach, us'd all his Skill to ftop the Profecution. A inenttoning D^vifion arofe among the Great ones. The Lords Kj/i^- t'o r I "'If ^^^^ ^"^ Digby, and other Perfons of confiderable Note, tin \' '^ ^^^^ ^^^ gratifying tlie King by fp^tfirig him. Others ztpon thti w^rc vehement on the other Side, faying : That if af- Occaf:on ^^^ ^ plain Attempt to fuhvert the Fundnynentnl Ltiws fays he xpas ^^^ Liherti^s, no one Man fhould fuffsr Denth^ it xcould injnr''d by encourage others hereafter in the like. The Londoners Peti- Common tion'd the Houfe for Juftice^ and follow'd them with Tame, in their Cries and Clamours : And an unhappy Painter the Feport drew the Pidiures of the Chief of thofe Members who fpread a- vvere for faving the Lord-Deputy, and call'd thern ^fr^f- broad.about fQy^j^„j^ hanging them with their Heels upward on the he H ^-^^^^^^^' This Procedure made the Lord Di^hy and
KXdye. e ^^^ j^Q^d Falkland heartily fall in with the King's Inte- ('pa'T 6t ]^^^'' being not fo immovable as fome others, whom that rphen neither Hope oor Fear, nor Difcontent, would alienate that Holy from the Caufe which they thought well of. Yet o- Man ivas thers were try'd with the Offer of Preferments. The in fuchLoiA Sny was made one of the Privy-Councii ; and Dangerous Mr. Oliver St. John the King's Solicitor, &c. But as Circumfian- this did not alter them, fo others would accept no Prc- ces, (IS that ferment, leaft they fhould be tho'tto feek thcmfelve*, or aRtffhowere f^c their Fidelity to fale. At length the Earl of Straf- lT r f'''^'^^^^ Condemn d, and the King l^ing defired to ;of '''J Sign the Bill, had the Advice of divers Bi(hops, and rL'H/;: !,"1?"§ ^JV'^' of A.ch-Bii]iopty/^.>, and l^rjuxon Liberty tn Piuiop 01 Lonacn. 1 he totmer'^, as v;as faid, told him,
a'ih him, If
he had advis'd tijt King to pnfs the Bill againd the Earl of Strajj'ord? To which he reply d, I l:now there is fach a Thing mofl wrongfully laid to my Clmrge - forIneithfrg3ve, nor aj^prordof any fuch Advice,astirat the King (hould Af- fcnc to the Bill agninft the Earl ^ baton the contrary told hisMajcdy, thatifhe was fatisfy'd hy what he hnd h.eard at liisTryaljtliat ih/- Earl was nor guilty of Treafon, his Majefty ought not in Confcicncc to confent to hisCondemnatio.n. It may perhaps contribute to the Reader's Satisfafiion to compare the Account here^iven in the Text and Muy^w^ v^ith Hi (hop Huckct'5 Lkfc of ^(h-Bifhop WilUamF, ptfrf. ?. f^^. 1^1. Jhdt
% — -
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 20
That he might lavofully concur with the Judgment of his An. i6ai. Parliament Proceeding according to Law, tho his oxon 'Judgment were, that their Sentence was uvjuft • but the latter advis'd him to do nothing againft his'Con- fcicnce.
There was great Heat auiongthe Members of Parlia- ment in thofe Debates which this Matter occafion d. Some were much againft Difpleafing and Provoking the King, and tho'c themfelves not obiig'd to attempt any other Juftice or Reformation, than what they could bring him to be willing to. And they thus ar- guM : T4^hen you have difpleasd and provoked him to the utmofty he will be your Kjng fliU ; and when you have fate to the longeft, you mu§i be diffolvd at' laft. Tou have no . Power over hps Perfon, tho* you have over Delimjucnt Sub- jeHs. If he prote^ them by Arms^ you muFt either your felves he ruind by his Difpleafure, or engaged in a War, Difpleafing him^ is but exafperating him ; and would ycu be E{uCd by a Kjng that hates you ? The more you offend him, the lefs you can trufi him*, and when mutual Co^fl' dence is gone, a War is beginning. And if it come to a War, either you will Conquer^ or be Conquer^ d^ or come to Agreement : If you are Conquer d^ you and the Common^' wealth are ruind, and the Kjng will be Ahfolute, and neg- leEi Parliaments^ and Govern as he pleafcth. If ycu ccme to an Agreement y it will either be fuch as you force him to^ or fuch as he is willing of : If the latter be the I{efult, it may be done more eafily and cheaply before a War than af- ter : If the former be the Iffue^ it can have no great Strength ; for nothing Violent is lafiing. And if you Conquer him, what are you the better ? He will flill be Kjng, and confequently have the Power cf Avenging him-- felf in his Hands, The Pleas of thofe of the other Stamp were of this Nature : // the Kjng be not to be difpleas'd, then this Parliament fhould never have bin call'd, Ship-Money fhould have gone on, and the Subje^s Property and Parliaments have bin fuffer'd to be over- thrown: Church Innovations fhould not have bin controul*d^ nor any Stop to the Suhverters of our Government and Li- berties attempted. Then no Members fhould fpecl^ freely of any of theje Things in the Houfe ; And what do we here ? Could not the I^ng have pleas' d himfelf without us ? Or 4o we come to be his Inftruments to give away the Peoples Liberties, and Ce$ up that which n begun ? Uither it is our
P 4 Duty
40 The LIFE of Chap, IV.
Jin. 1 64 1. Duty to I{eform^ and to I^covcr ciir Liberties, and ^^ lieve our Country, and Pitw'Jh Dclincjucnts^ or not ? If
- not J let us go Home again. If it bc^ let w do it, and truji
Qod. For if the Fears of fprefeen Oppp/ition /hall make us betrr.y our Count fy and Poflerity, we are Perfidious to them. Enemies to our /elves, and worfe than Infidels. As /or a iVar, the Danger of it may be avoided. It is aThing uncertain ; a-nd therefore a prefent certain l^*in, and that- by our ovon Hand, is nqt to be cho/en to avoid it. The f\Jng viay/ee the Danger of it as well as we^ and avoid it on bet- ter Terms : Or if he were willing, he may not be able^ to do any great Harm, Do you thin^ that the People of Eng- land arc fo mad oi to fight againjl thofc whom they have cho/en to repre/enP them ? To dejiroy themselves and the Hopes nf their Pcfierity ? Do thty not know, that if Par' liamcnts arede/troyd, their Lives and Ejiates are meerly of the Wdl and Mercy 0/ the Conqueror ? And what fear of I{cvengey when we miy continue, ^till we confent to our own Di/folution ? Can we not avoid confenting to it^ *till we fee our /elves cut cf the Danger of [{evcnge ? Thus were Mens Minds divided : But fome unhappy Means fell out to unite them, fo as to caufe thejn to proceed to a
The Tore- War. ^
runmrs of The King had a confiderable Party that adherd to il7€ War. him, made up both of State PoUticians, and Friends of the Ecclefiaftical Hierarchy; who jointly fetthem- felves againll the Parliament, not only becaufe of their apprehended Encroachments on the Civil Power, but • alfo becaufe of the Church Reformation intended. But the Country Party carry'd ail Things with a High Hand, depending upon the Aiififtancc of true hearted Englipcmen if Matters came to Extremity. Many Things fell in to heighten Difconrents. The London Apprentices (enco^^rag'd by fome Members of Parlia- ment) in a Tumultuous Manner brought up their Pe- titions to I'Vefmiv/icr. In one of I heir Progrcflbs they met fome of the Bilhops going to the Houfe in their Coaches: Forgetting Civility, they cry*d out, No Bi- /}:>ops^ and flouted and ijifulied rudely. The Bifliops hereupon in a Fright met together, and declaring themlelvts Deterrd from their Attendance in Parliament by Clamours and Tumults^ drew up a Proteftation again ft aiiy Law that Ihould pafs in their Abfence. This was fo refented by the Parliament, iliat they who fubfcrib'd
ii
Chap. IV. Mr. Elichard Baxter. 41
it were voted Ddinquents, and fent to Prifon, as ^i- An. 1^41. tempting to deftroy the Power of ParJiaments. And e- 'ven Bifliop l-J^^U himfelf was one of ihem. Thcfc nu- merous Petitioners were alfo very OfFenfive to the King, infomuch, that when at another Time they pafsM by M/hite-hall, they were fet upon by fome of hi§ Cavahers, who laying hold of fome cf them, cut off their Ears. There was another Scuffle about M^dji- minfier^ Abbey ^ when Sir i{ich^rd W.Jcman^ that Head- ed them, waskill'd by a Stone from the Abbey Walls. Thefe Tumults made the King not think himfelf fafe, either in the City or near it.
Great were the Jealoufies between him and his Par- liament. He diftrufted them, as thinking they bore hard upon him in every Thing ; and they diOrufted him without any Dependence upon his Declarations or Prooaifes. They were confident he was immoveable as to his Judgment and AfFedions, and that whatever be granted them was" but in Defign to get his Advantage utterly to deftroy them ; and that he did but warch for fuch an Opportunity. They fuppos'd that he utterly a^bhorr'd them, and their Adions againft his Ship- Mo- ney, his Judges, Biftiops, ^c, and charging him with the Brench of former Promifes^ they durft not take his Word in any Thing. This their Diffidence was many ways encreas'd. The two Armies of Scots and Engllfh remain'd undisbanded in the North, 'till the Parliament Ihould provide for their Pay. The EngUfh Army want- ing Pay, were Difcontented : Hereupon rhey enter- tained a Defign to inarch fuddenly up to London^ and Matter the Parliament. This being difcover'd, feveral of the Chief Officers (as Sir Jncob Aftley, O Keal^ and Sii Fulk^Himkj) wereexamin'd, and confefs'd T/?^ryor«e . ne^r the Kjng^ h/id treated with them nbout bringing up the Army. Which Examinations were publilh'd, and faiis- fy'd many, That the K^ng did but wntch vohiie he quieted them with Promifes^ to m^fter them by Force^ and ufe them at h« Pleafure. The Parliament, to prevent any Infalts, provided themfelves with a Guard, which they took to be their Priviledge. The Kiag difcharging them, fet another Guard upon them of his own choofing. This nvade them look like Prifoners ; and they fear'd they who made up the Guard appointed by the Kiog, would
if
42 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
jin. 1541. if commanded become the Executioners of his Wrath upon them. Upon which they difmiflcd them, and caird for a Guard of the City Regiments. At length the King, being advis'd no longer to ftand by and fee himfelf Affronted, took an unprecedented Step in go- ing fuddenly to the Houje of Commons, with a Com- pany of Cavaliers with Swords and Piftols, to charge five of their Members, vi:{. Mr. Pirn, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Hollis^ Mr. Strovod^ and Sir Arthur HnJJerigg, and and the Lord Kjmbolton^ ( afterwards Earl of Mm- chejler, and Lord Chamberlain ) with High-Treafon, Had they bin there, it was fuppos'd they would have bin feiz'd by Force ; bnt upon Notice before-hand, they abfented themfelves, retiring into the City. The Houfe was hereupon Allarum'd, as if their Li- berties or Lives muft be affaulted by the Sword, if they pleas'd not the Court 5 and thereupon they prefently Voted this A£tion, a Breach of their Privi- iedges^ and an Effe^}of the Kjr/gs-Evil CcunfeHcrSy and publilh'd their Votes, to awaken the People to refcue ihem, as if they were in apparent Danger. The King being difappointed, publifheth a Paper, in which he chargeth the aforefaid Perfons with Treafon, as ftirring up the Apprentices to Tumultuous Peti- tioning, &c. But confeffeth his Error in violating their Priviledges.
Not long after, the Lord Dighy and feme other Ca- valiers, attempted at Kjngfton upon Thames to have •fuddenly got together a Body of Horfe, which the Parliament highly refented. But the Party was difli- pated, and he was Voted a Delinquent, and orderM to be Apprehended : But he fled to France, and thence wrote to the King, ( which Letters were intercepted ) advifing him to retire from the City to fome Place of Strength : Which they tool^ as an Advice to make open War upon them. The Irifh ^"^ x.\itxt was nothing that wrought fo much with Majfacre ^^^ People as the Iri/h Maflfacre and Rebellion. The mnd Rebel' ^^'7^ Papifts made an unexpedted Infurredion in all /ion. Parts of that Kingdom at once, and feiz'd upon al-
moft all the Strong Places in the Land, and it was very wonderful chat Dublin efcap'd, which was to have bin furpriz'd with the reft, OHcb, 23. 1641.
they
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. j^-^
they murther'd Two Hundred Thoufand Perfons. Men, Women and Children were moft
cruelly us'd, the Women ript up and ^^^^ ^"' John Temple'* treated moft Filthily and Barbaroufly, ^'V/ory ; Dr. Junts'j .v^r, and Infants us'd like Toads or Vermin. '•'<^»t'^ "f f/^e f-v^m/n^^- Thoufands of thofe who efcap'd, came '^^'^ff^'^'^rlofOvt,- Stript and-almoft FamilVd to Dublin, ^1 ^M^^^ toaV<tu,,n. and afterwards into England to beg their Bread. Mul- titudes of them were driven together into Rivers, and caft over Bridges and Drown'd. Many Witnefles fwore before the Lords Juftices, That at Portdovon-Bridge^ a Vifion every Day appcar'd to the PalTengers of Naked Perfons, landing up to the Middle in the River, and crying out ^evenge^ Revenge, In a Word ; fcarce any Hiftory mcntloneth the \i]<i,Q. Barbarous Cruelty with this. The Irijh deciar'd, they had the King's Commiffion for what they did : And many e- ven at that Time, weighing all Circumftances, be- lieved as much, while others reprefented it as an hor- ridly Unjuft and Scandalous Afperfion upon his Ma- jefly ; but as Providence orderd it, a certain Memo- rable Particularity help'd to fet this Matter in a juft Light. The Marquefs of Antrim^ who was a Noted Man among the Lijlo Rebels, having had his Eft ate Sequeftred, tho't fit, upon the Reftauration of King Charles the Second, to fue for the Reftitutioii of ic. The Duke of Ormond and the Council judg'd againft . him as one of the Rebels. Whereupon he bro'c his Caufe over to the Kin^, and affirm'd, That what he did was by his Father's Confent and Authority; and the King referred ic to fome worthy Members of his Privy- Council, to examine what he had :o fhew. Upon Examination, they reported, That they found he hnd the Kings Confent, or Letter of InftruHlons for what he did, which amaz'd many. Hereupon King Charles wrote to the Duke of Ormond and the Council, To reftore his^ E- ftate, becaufe it appear'd to thofe appointed to Exa- mine it, that what he did was by his Father's Order or Confent. The Lord M^tT^arine, and others in Ire- land^ not fully fatisfy'd with this, tho't fit fo far to profecute the Matter, as that the Marquefs of Antrim was forc'd to produce in the Houfc of Commons a Letter of King Charles the Firft, by which he gave him Order for ihe taking up Arras, which being read in the Houfe, - ' ^ produc'4
44 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
Jin. 1541- produc'd a general Silence. * The whole Account ^ jjj ^ of it, with a great many furprizing Particulars, was in many P^t)lifh'd in a Pamphlet call'd. Murkier will out, Ac JPamphlets the Time when this Barbarity was committed, all Eng- ieen Ye- ^^^^ ^as fiU'd wi[h Fear. People were afraid both of fictled on ^^^ ^^'7^ and of the Papifls at Home : Infomuch, that vrith great '^htn the Rumour of a Plot was fpread about a little Seyerity, after in Londcn^ the Poor People all the Countries over, ferinfertlng were ready either to run to Arms, or hide themfelves, this Paf' thinking the Papifts were coming to cut their Throats. f^e of the YhQ Parliament was folicitous to fend Help to Dubtw, ^r^Kc/} to prevent its being loft. The King prefs'd to go over Th "w^T ^'"^^^^^i ^^^^1 which nothing could be more difagreeable ofammons ^^ ^^em, who were afraid leaft getting at the Head of has been ^^^ Armies he fliould unite them both againft them, told 'if it in ^"^ ^y ^^^ Abfence make a Breach, and hinder the Pro- a Letter to ceedings of the Houfes. The few that were left in them^fpreai Dublin, defended themfelves, tho' under prefling Necef- timongft fities, andfcnt over Word, That the lnih.threntned, that them before
the ^oth of January ^ and I hare had hard Katnes given me by federal. But if they kpouU conftder that I report it from Mr. Baxter, it might abate their Cenfures. If he was imposed upon in this Matter^ I cannot J)elp it. I don't iook upon my felf as refponjible for the Truth of it. jind fet had I found they had any of them difproy'd it^ I /hould hare forbnrn infertinq^ it. That fome of the Irifli Rebels did counterfeit the King^s Commijfon, is not call'd in iQueftion by this "Relation. That may hare fufficient ^roof : And yet if a Letter ryas actually produc'^d in the Houfe of Commons^ from King Charles the Firfi to the Marquef of Antrim, impowering him to take up Arms^ I don't fee hov? He can be charg'd vfitb any fuch Counterfeiting. And if King Charles was thereupon fatisfy'd to let the Marque fs keep his Lftate, I can- not fee why others Jhould be fo dijiurbed that Fojierity fI)ould knoKp it. But let the TaCl of the Letter be difproVd 5 let a true Copy of the Letter that was read in the Houfe of Commons, ( the Original of tpinch I am in* form'd was once in the Taper Office wherever it is now ) be publifl)''d to the World, with Evidence of its being genuine ; and let it appear that that Let- ter gave the Marquefs no Order or Commiffion to take up Arms, and no fur- ther Diflurbance need be feared from this Story. J ^jan't give any Credit to it my felf:, and would readily ufe my Endeavours to fatisfy others^ if they fiould be fo weak ai ftill to believe it. And I don't fee that any Thing far- ther can be reafonably dcfird of me. Whoever was the Author of the Tampit- let call d Murder will out, if he vfas the Author of the Letter too ; or if the Letter was not to the Furpofe mention J^ 'tis an horrid Impofition on the Horld: But if tlje Letter was Genuine, and to the Purpofe mentioned, it defences fo»- (iieration : And lUl this ii difproyeii Out-Crys are injtgnifcant,
when
Chap. IV. Mr, Kichard Baxter. 45-
TQhen they had done with the ha?jdful thnt wai left in An. i ^a\ . Ireland, they would cowe/wfo England, and deal with the Parliament and Protefiants here, Thefe Threatnings v%7ith the Name of 200000 murder'd, and the Recital of the monftrous Cruelties of thofe Canibals, made many Thoufands in England think, that nothing could be more neceflary than for the Parliament to put the Country into an Armed Pofture, for their own Defence.
At length the King leaves London, and goes North- Tf^e opening ward, and marches to Hull, where Entrance was de- ^/^^'^^ *^'»'^- ny*d him by Sir John Hotham. The Parliament pub- Jifh'd their Votes to the People, That the Kjng mijlcd by Evil Coimfely was raifing a fVar againfl his Parliament, They nam'd Lord Lie^i tenants for the Militia of the fe- verai Counties, and the Kingnam'd others by aCommif- fion of Array, and each command the faid Lord Lieute- nants to fettle the Militia : And both King and Parlia- ment publifh'd their Declarations, jaftifying their Caufe. The Parliament chofe the Earl of E/Z'e.v for General, and refolve to raife an Army, for, the Defence of Kjng and Parliament^ and the Liberties of the SubjeHs, agaivji Evil Counfellours and Delinquents', They publifli'd a Remon- ftrance of the State of the Kingdom, and a Declara- tion of the Caufes of their taking up Arms : Which two Writings contain the Sum of their Juftification.
. The King went to Nottingham, where he fet up his
Standard. There were but about 2000 that came in to him there ; whereas the Londoners quickly filFd up a Gallant Army for the Earl of EJfcx, and the Citizeris bro't in their Money and Plate, and the Women their Rings to Guild-hall^ for the paying them. The King from Nottingham offered a Treaty, and fent fome General Pro- pofals. The Parliament fent him Nineteen Propofals 'of their own : Oflfering, That if he would disband his Ar- myy come to his Parliament, give up Delinquents to a legal Courfe of Jufiice, &C. he fhould find thm Dutiful, The Great Bone of Contention was the Militia. The King pleaded, *Twas his by Law, and would not part with the Power of it. The Parliament pleaded, ^ That as Things flood, they muft eltijer fecure it, or give uj* the Proteftant Religion^ the Laws and Liberties of the Land, and their own Ncckj, to the iViil of Papifls and ■pslinihms.
In
46 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
An, 1641. In this Conteft between King and Parliament, the
/-f^^,.^'//^'"wemoverto him. A great Part of the Knights and adherd to Gentlemen of EmUnd adhcx'd to him, except in Mid- the King dlefex, Ejfex, Suffolk^, Norfclk^^ and Camhridge-Jhire, and to //% where the King never came with his Army. Moft of Parliament. ihtw Tenants follow'd them, and moft of the poorer Sort of People throughout the Nation. On the Parlia- ment's Side, were the fmaller Part of the Gentry in moft Counties, and the greateft Part of the Tradefmen and Freeholders, and the middle Sort of Men, efpe- cially in thofe Corporations and Countries which de- pend on Cloathing^ and fuch Maniifadiiires. To them alfo adher'd the far greater Part of thofe thro* the Na- tion, who were Friends to a Religious StriHnefs, and Enemies to Formality and Profanenef's,S:ipeYftition and Im- mar/i/ity. It was not indeed properly Bellum Epifcopalc^ the Bifhops War, tho* by many fo ftil'd. For Thou- fands that wilh'd for Good Bi/bops^ were on the Parlia- ments Side. But the Generality of thofe who were call'd Puritans and Precifiatis^ and were for Serious Godlinefs, both Minifters and People adher'd to the Parliament. On the other Side, they who were for Lonfenejsf Sxvear^ ing^ Garni fig, and Drinking ; the Minifters and People who were againft the ftri^ Obfervation of the Lord's- Day^ and fond of Dancing and Recreations at thofe fa- cred Seafons, that plac'd all their I{eligion in going to Church, and hearing Common- Prayer^ that were againft: ferious Preaching, and for running down all thofe who were ftri(^er than therofelves, ihefe adher*d aJl along to the King. Which one Conftderation was the Thing that determin'd many fober and honeji Perfons which Side to take. The Nation was long before divided SomeRefle-\^[Q two Parties, with refpedt to i^r/zj^»c«5 Matters^ the ^lom on brief Confideration of the Rife and Progrefs of which ^.^^^^i^'/^'^'Divifion, adds not a little Light to the yiniincfities y £>'/- ^ijjcj^ ^ejg aj fjj^j Time on Foot. ' Thus then ftood
t]TZt!!^n f he Cafe.
from the ^^ unhappily fell out in the Days of Qjieen M-iry, Time of the ^^^^ ^^^ ^pformcrs being Fugitives at F'nnkford, fell in- Reforma- ^^ ^ Divijhn : One Part of them were for Diocefans^ tion, and the Engli/h Litwgy and Ceremonies^ that they might
no
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 47
no more than needs depart from the PapiftSf nor feem -^- '^41. Inconftant by departing from what King Edward had begun. The other were for Calvin s Difcipline and H^ay of PVorpoip ; for the fetting up of Parochial Difcipline in- ftead of Diocefan ; and to have a Government in every particular Church, and not only One over a Thoufand or many Hundred Churches ; and for a plain and fe- rious Way of Worlhip, fuited as near as polTible to the Word of God.
Thefe two Parties returning into England^ the D/o- cefan Party got Queen Eli:{abeth\ Countenance, and were Prefert'd, and their Way fet up. The other Party Fetition'd, and Hop'd, and Waited, but were Difcoun- tenanc'd, Rebuk'd, and by Law Supprefs'd. The Dif- countenanc'd Party were fervent Preachers, and of Ho- ly Lives: And fo were many of the Bilhops alfo in tbofe Days. Had they who fucceeded them been herein generally like them, they had in all Probability been more Honour'd and lefs AiTaulted. But when Jewel, Pill{inton^ Grindal, and fuch like were dead, many fuc- ceeded them, who were Men of another Stamp. The filenc d Oifciplinarians (as they were ftil'd ) did by their Writings, fecret Conference and Preaching, and their Godly Lives, work much upon fuch as were Religioufly addicted. So that this Opinion fpread very much, Thtit a j'uft Parochial Difcipline would very much I{eform the Church, and that Diocefam by excluding it cherifh'd Vice, The Prelatical Party finding their Places and Power, Lands and Lordlhips, aflfaulted by this Opinion, tho*t it necelfary more and more to fupprefs the Promo- ters of it. Hereupon, putting Epifcopacy, Liturgy and Ceremonies into theSubfcriptions which they impos'd on all that would be Miniflers or Schoolmaftcrs, they kept and caft out many worthy Men. For fome that were for Liturgy and Ceremonies, were not for Diocefans, but for Parilli Difcipline ; and fome that were for Bifliops were not for the Ceremonies ; and fome that were for the reft, yet fcrupled fome one 5 and he that could not fubfcribe to all, was forbidden to preach the Gofpel : Whereas in the mean Time, many Btfliops Preach'd but feldom, and abundance of Places had ignorant Rea- ders who could not Preach, qr weak Preachers whofe Performances were very mean, and ipany of them were
alfo Scandalous in their Lives.
Hereupon
48 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
ubt. 1541. Hereupon, the Difciplinarians cry'd out of the Seve- rity and Impofitions of the Prelates, and the Ignorance and Scnnd.ilous Llvet of many of their Minifters : And they on the other Side, vehementJy inveigh'd againft the Noficonformijls. They call'd them Puritans^ which was the Name whereby they were commonly known. And in Procefs of Time, the Vidous Multitude call'd all Puritans that were Strict and Serious in a Holy Life, tho' ever fo Conformable. So that the fame Name in a Bifhbp's Mouth, fignify'd a Nonconfonniji ; and in an ignorant Drunkard's or Swearer's Mouth, a God/y Ohe" (iiAjt Chriftian, Now the ignorant Rabble hearing that the Bt'/hops were againft the Puritans, were the more embolden'd againft all thofe which they gave that Name to, and their Rage againft the Godly was the more encrcas'd ; and they cry'd up the Bi/hops, partly becaufe ihey were againft the Puritans, and partly be- caufe they were earneft for that Way of Worfhip which they found moft fuitable to their Ignorance, Carelefnefs and Formality ; and thus the Intereft of the Diocefans, and of the Prophane and Ignorant Sort of People, v/as unhappily twifted together in the Nation.
Many alf<) were much fet againft the Bi/h^ps, by obferving Men of Parts and Piety (ilencd, while in- fnfficient and vicious Men were encourag'd and pre- ferred among the Clergy, and many Thoufands of the People were perifhing in Ignorance and Sm, for want of Help. And it not a little difturb'd them, to fee Fafting and Praying, and other Religious Exercifes which they found Beneficial, fo ftridlly look'd after, and punilh'd in the High Commijfioyi and the Bifhops Courts^ as if more Perilous than Common Swearing and Drunkenncfs prov'd to the Ungodly : And it ad- ded to their Difturbance, to have a Book publifh'd for Recreations on the Lord's- Day , with the Biiliops Appro- bation, as if they concurr'd with the Profane : That Afternoon Sermons and Le&urcs, tho' carry d on by Con- formable Men, were put down in divers Counties : Thar fo great aNumber of ConformableMinifters were fufpendcd or punifhed for not Reading the Book ot Sports, or about Altars, (3c, And fo many Thoufand Fami- lies, and many worthy Minifters, driven out of the Land : That Bowing towards Altars, and other Inno- vations
Chap. rv. Mr, aichard Baxter. .^
' — — — — 47
vations, .fere daily bro't in by the Hyper-Conformijis An. 164. none knowing where they would end : And finally ^
That the B.lhops proceeded fo far, as to fwear Men to their whole Government by the Et c.vrcm OatL and that thejf ,,pp. cv dofShip-Momy and other fuch Encroach- ments on their Civil Inrerefts. Thefe were the Caufes why lo many of thofe who were counted moft Reli- gious telj m with the Parliament.
It hath indeed been alFerted, rhni it was Seditious Preachers who /itn d up the People, and were the Caufc of all the Commotions. Which is a notorious Falfitv Many indeed there were, who difcover'd their diflikfe ot the- Book of Sports, and Bowing to Altars, and Diminilhing Preaching, and Silencing MiHifters ^c and were glad that the Patliameiic attempted a Reforl Ration ; but very few even of thefe ftirr'd up to War but were fearful of the Gonfequences : But this is cer- tain. That whether they did fo more or lefs, they were almoft all of them Conformsble Mihifters, the Laws and 3ifliops having caft out the No?ico,?fo>TniJ} s'hng eno before. They who made up the Affembjy im/i- m^fter, and who thro* the Land were the Honour of rhe Parliament's Party, were almoft all fuch as had till then Gonform'd, and tor k thofe Things to be Law- ful in Cafe of Neceflity, but jong'd to have that Nccef- iity remov'd.
. ^ Having afterwards the Advantage to be on theRiHn^ Side, it had undoubtedly been both their Wifdotn and the Nations Intereft, to have kept fome Bounds with- out running Things to Ejftremity. Had they endea- vour'd only the Ejedion of Lay-Chancellours, the Reducing the Diocefles to a narrower Compafs, or ihc Setting up a Subordinate Difcipline, and the Corredt- ing and Reforming the Liturgy , fo as to leave nothing juftly Exceptionable, in all Probability it had been pa- tiently born, and the Confufiohs the Nation afterwards run into had been prevented. There is good Reafon to fuppofe it, becaufe BifllOp Vjher, fVilUams, and Morton^ and many othet Epifcopal Divines w^ich them, agreed in certain Points of Reformation *, They had Cenfur'd * ^ t^>H the moft remarkable Innovations^ both in Doi5lrine and ^*^?" '** *^^ Difcipline ; andconcurr'd in altering the Common-Prayer^ ^*""^* ^'Z** fp as to obviate the Objections againft it ; and if any ^^^' ^^9- Thing of this NaciKe would have fuific'd, bad been like-
E ly
JO The LIFE of Chap. IV.
* Thii ii ly to have fallen in heartily with the Parliament's Inte- contradifi- reft: But finding an univerfal Change inliftedon, and edhyBijho^ t\\2Li nothing iliort of the utmoft Extremity would fa- Hacket *« risfy, they lurn'd againft the Parliament and their Inte- his Life 0/ reft, and were as much difpleas'd as any ; except Arch- J^n '* Bifhop PVUliams. who afterwards took up Arms for the ^'/^^^ Parliament*
TheReafotti The Reafons alledg'd by thofe who adhered to the of the Far- Parliament, were briefly thefe. They tho't the Dan- liamenta- get of the State evident from fundry Matters of Fadk. rians' Ship-Money they found threatned the Overthrow of
Property. Many Parliaments had been dilfolv'd in Difpleaiure, after they had been long forborrt The calling up the Army, and demanding the Members, fatisfy'd them that the Ruin of the Parliament was de- fign'd. And the Murder of fo many Thoufand* in Ireland convinc'd them they were far from being Se- cure, while Men of the like Malignity were prote^ed, and could not be kept out of Arms, nor bro't to Ju- ftice. They tho't the Prefervation of a Kingdom was fuch an End to aim at, as would make any neceffary Means lawful, which God himfelf had not forbidden. The Parliament having a Part in the Legiflative Pow- er, they tho*t had fo far inherently a Power to defend it, which no Law can fuppofe them to give away : And as the Peoples Reprefentatives they fuppos'd them intrufted to fecure their referved Liberties, which the Law givcth not the King any Authority to take away. . They tho'c that the Judgments and Executions of the Courts of Juftice, being the Effeciis of Laws which King and Parliament have made, are of greater Au- thority than contrary Commiflions or Commands from the King alone. It confirmed them to hear it own'd fo generally, that the Sheriffs of Counties may in fome Cafes rai^c the Pojfc Comitatus^ tho' the King forbid ir, or grant a Commilfion to hinder it. They faid, That it belongeth to the Parliament to judge its own Members ; and that if on Pretence of punilhing fuch of tjicm as ^o offend, the King may come and fetch away, or denr.and thofe that difpleafe him, Parlia- ments and Liberties, and all the Security of them is gone. Many were confirm'd by the King's Anfwer to their Propofitions, wherein it was declar'd, That the Legijlntive Poxver woi in Kjngy Lords and Commons j and
thn%
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 5 1
that the Government was mix*d, and not Arhitrnry -
which they thought it muft be,if his Commiflions were
of greater Power than his Laws and Courts, and if no
'Refiftance might be made againft fueh as executed an
• Illegal Commiffion. The War ( they (aid ) was not a-
gainft the King, but his Delinquent Subjeds. They
pleaded, Bnrclrjy, Grotius de Jure Belli & Pact's, Hooker
' and Bilfiif, who all own the Lawfulnefs of Refinance
in fome Cafes, and in fuch Circumftances as thciirs
then were. Grotius fays particularly, Thr.r if fevernl
Perfons have a Part in the Summa Poteftas, ( of which
Legiflatiori is a Chief AH ) each Part hath naturally the
Power of defending its own Intereji in the Sovereignty^ a-
gainft the other Part if they invade it. And that if in
fuch a PVar they Conquer, the Conquered Party loofeth to .
them Im Share. hvAihiLi this h^o tvnc, ihtt it holdcth,
tho the Law expre/Iy fay^ That one of the Parties floal I have
the Power of the Militia : It being to be underjicod that
he fhaS have it againft Foreign Enemies, and Delinquents^
iind not againft the other Part, But to go on with the
Hiftory.
\ '■ The King marching from Nottingham to Shrewsbury^ A further 'fiird up bis Army out of Shro-pfhire^ fVorceftcrfkire, He- Account of refordfldire, and H^nles. And the Earl of Effex march'd ^M ^^*** -^ith a Gallant Army to iVorceJler, Many excellent ■^' '^42* Divines were Chaplains to the feveral Regiments. Mr. Stephen Marfhnl and Dr. BurgeJJ, to the General's own Regiments. Mr. Obndinh Sedgwick^, to Col. HoU Iks Regiment. Dr. Calibute Downijig^ to the Lord i^o- berts's Regiment. Mr. John Sedgwicf^, to the Earl of Stamford's Regiment. Dr. Spurftow, to Mr. Hamf den's. Mr. Perkins^ to CoI. Goodwln\, Mr, Moor, to the Lord iVhdrtons. Mr. Adoniram Byfieldy to Sir Henry ■Cbolmley's. Mr. Nalton, to Col. Grantham's. Mr. Si- mean A/h^ either to the Lord Brook's or the Earl of Manchefter's, Mr. Morton of Ncw-Caftie, with Sir Arthur Haflerigg's Troop. With many more. On OBober the 23d 1 642, was the Battle at Edge-Hill, be- tween the two Armies ; in which the Advantage was on the ParliamentsSide. The King^s Army drew off to- wards Oxford ; and Effcxs towards Coventry, for Re- frefliment. There were a great many other Fights, particularly related by the Hiftorians of thofe 1 imes, who may beconfultcd by fuch as therein dcfirc Infor-
E % mation.
52 .i-y.^ili-^i^ 1^ ^^^^9:}^'
. mation. But ti\aj; ^i^[Hich upon . the Whple was the g^^ac^Caufe of j xhp Par J laments Strength, and the Kings Ruin, was that ih^ Debauched RabfcJe thro the I.and emVoIdenM, by his Gentry, and feconded by the Cooapnon Solaier^j(?:f hi5 Army, toi k aJl.that were call d Bplyr/tns for their Bjp^mies. And il^' fume of the K'ngs Gentry and ouperl>ur Officers we^e fo Civil, vthac they would do no. fuch Thing, ycc that was no i Security to the Country, while the Multitude did woat they Jiit. So that if any one was noted for a ftnd: and fanious Preacher, or fgr a Man of a Pious Life, he was either plun^'crcd or a{}ufed, and in danger of his Life. •And . if a Man did but pray in his Family, or wei:e buc heard r»'p-.-.^t' a Sermon, or (ing,a,Pfalro, they pie- . fently c^y'd cui: £{cifcis, H^undhcadsy ar^d all their Money artd G001I5 that were portable, prpv'd Guilty, how Jn- pdcenc loever they were themfciN es. This was it that filled the Armie$ and C»arr Tons of tne Parliament with Sober, Pi®us Men'. Thoufands had no Mind to med- dle, Nvith the Wafp,' bjit greatly deiired to iive Peace- ably at Home, when tlx- Rage of Soldiers and Drun- '- kards would not lirfFer them. Some :fiay'4 'dll they had, bern Imprifori'd. Some 'till^hey had been Plun- der d twi' e or .thrice over, and hadj nothing leff thcrn.. Some; were qmte ured oir^c : wiih the Abufe of all Comers Th^-quarrer d on ihcm ; and fome b> the Jo'olenoy of ff>ferii KeighboL-rs. But nijoft were afraid An 16 A A, ' -heir Live and fp fought Refuge in the Parliament'^
. ' TJlons. qP ^ /^ _ 'ftcr-thc War had been carry 'd on for /ome Time, / • r/V'*'<' ' Great Ut)ceitainty in what it would/lflbe; there
ti 't Jtng.h. a great Change made on the Parlia-
Side, which had confiderable ' Confequences. ; Ear] of *\lftx being weakened by a great Lofs in ffrf /, was laid by, and another General chofen. The Bcnfoti.^ given lor this Change were thefe. Becaufe of rhe Dijf'lutenejs of many of bis Soldiers, who were grown too like the King's Soldiers in Profancnefs and L xtdf?rfs : And withal, it was urg*d, That the Re- volt of Sir Faithful Fortcfcue, Sir ^chard Greetiville^ Colont- J Vny^ and others, was a fuificient Evidence, that they who had not a Senfe of Religion, were not much to be truRed, but might ea(iJy be hired by Mo- ney to betray (hem. It was dUcover'd> That the
Cari't
Chap. IV. Mr, Kichard Baxter.
5^
Earl's Judgment was againft Ending the War hy the Sword, and that he and the wifeft Men ab >ut hiai were for aiming only to Force a PntljicntoryT.eaty^ and againft a Conqueft. For he tho't, if the Kiug ihouJi Conquer, the Government of the Kingdom would be- come Arbitrary, and the Subjeds Property and Libe/cy would be loft : And that if he fhould Conquer, the Parliament would fwaljow up the Prero'rativc of the King, and the PrhiUdges of the Lords, aiid not krow bow to fettle the Eihte of the Kingdom or the Church, without injuring others, and running into Extreams' and falling into Divisions amongft themfeJ es. And therefore the New Regulators tho't that bv Delay, he gave the King an Advantage, and wearied out and ruin'd the Country ; aiid faid, TW/z^ Edge-Hill, New* bury, and other PUces, he had not profecuted his Vitiory^ hut flood ft ill^ andjavp the Kjngs Army I^treat^ andtipver purfud them^xvhen it had been eafy to have ended the M^.irs. But the main Spring of the Alreration, was the Preva- Jence of the SeBarian Intereft in the Houfe, joyn'd with Cromvpcl^s in the Army, which now began to can y all before it. Many honeft and intelligent People in- deed were for new Modelling the Army, putting out the Loofer Men, and taking in thofe who were mo^e ftridt and fober, but Vane and Cromwel joining toge- ther, outwitted and over-reacht the reft, and earned on their own Particular Intereft fuccefsfuUy. The Me- thod they took for comparing this Defign wicho^t Di- fturbance, by ftirring up againft ihemfeh es the Forces they disbanded, was hy 2iS elf-denying Vote in the Houfe, pafs'd to this Purpofe : That becavfe Commands in the Army had much Pay^ and Parliament Men foould keep to the Service of the Hou/cy therefore no Parliament Men Jhould be Members of the Army, This put out at once the Earl o^ Effex, and Earl of Manchefter, the two Ge- nerals; ^ndSiiiVilliam Waller, a valiant Major- Gene- ral, an4 a great many Colonels j and to avoid Sufpi- lion, Cromwei himfeif was put out at the firft. They then chofe for General Sir Thomas Fairfax, Son to the Lord Ferdinando Fairfax, who had been in the Wars beyond Sea, and had foughc valiantly for the Parlia- ment in Tork/hire. He was therefore chofen, bccaufe neither too Great nor too Cunning to be commanded by the Parliaoiem j nor toofubtilfor Cromwel to make
E J a Tool
52
,:,,^:^l.l,IrE of Cnap. ly.
. raation. But cl\at; ^f Hjch upon . the Whole was the .gK^aD-Caufe of ; xh^, Par J laments Strengch, and the Kings Ruin, was that ih^ Debauchi^d RabhJe thro the X.and enV;oIden\l.by his Gentry, and feconded by the ComtnonSoluier,sp.f bis Army, to< k all thai Were caild Pui 'M^i for their h^jp^mies. And ihfj lime of the Kings Gentry and Superlur OlEcers were (o Civil, that they would do no. fuch Thing, yet that was no gSecurity to the Country, while the Multitude did woat they Jilt. So that if any one was noted for a ftritfl and famous PrcachtT, or fgr a, Man of a Pious Life, he was cither plunticred or aj^ufed, and in danger of his Life. And; if a Man did but pray in his Family, or were ^buc heard rrpv^c a Sermon, or fing a,Pfalro, they pie- rfentJy cy'd cut ^bcis, J^undheadsy aqd all their Money and Gooii3 that were portable, prpv'd Gudty, how Jn- jioccnc loevcr they were themfclves. ThL> was it that ^Ucd the Armies and C»arr fons ot tne Parliament with Sober, Pious Men'. Thoufands had no Mind to med- die.Nvith th^ Warp,- bjit gr^-atly deiircd to iive Peace- ably at Home, when ilx- Rage of Soldiers and ,Drun- V kards would not' lirffer them. Spm« fiayd *dli they . > bad, be<^n Impriforrd. Some 'till they had been Plun-
der d twj. e or .thrice over, and had nothing leff - them.. Some were quite Ured oiy^-; wi;h the Abufe of Oiii Comers ih^quarrer d on fhcm j and (ome b> the r^'olen'.y Ci .Nhrir KeighbouTS. But nioft were afraid An i6a±,-^' '^^^^ h\^^ and fo fought Refyg^e ii^-^e Parliament's T^i fi;tfoflSj-. •" -.0 -♦i-
fter-thc War had been carry 'd on for fome Time, Great Unceitainty in what it would JflfuCi there r Itng vh. a great Change made on the Parlia- Side, which had confiderable Confequences. >,; v Earl of ' Jf^x being weakened by a great I ofs in jC',; '/,nprf /, was laid by, and another General chofen. -The Hcah*i> given for this Change were thefe. Becaufe of rhe Dijf iutinejs of many of his Soldiers, who were grown too like the King's Soldiers in Profancnefs and L xtdtfrfs : And wi(hal, it was urg'd, That the Re- volt of Sir Faithful Fortcfcuf, Sir I{ichard Greetiville^ Colont'J V) ry, and others, was a fuificient Evidence, that th<'y who had not a Senfe of Religion, were not much to be truAed, but might ea(i]y be hired by Mo« ney to betray theoi. it was diicover'd. That the
£arri
or
i
tl
'ay-^^
Chap. I v. Mr. Richard Baxter.
5?
cf lilt
wii no -waat
'•1 Lite. : were
^y Eiknlo.
:»* wri
' '? ,•(•
Earl's Judgment was againft Ending the War by the Sword, and that he and the wifeft Men ab mt him were for aiming only to Force a Pn^ificntoryT.eaty^ and' againft a Conqueft. For he tho't, if the king ihouii Conquer, the Government of the Kingdom would be- come Arbitrary, and the Subjecits Property and Libe/cy would be loft : And that if he fhou'd Conquer, the Parliament would fwalJow up the Prerogative of the King, and the Prhiledges of the Lords, and not know bow to fettle the El!ate of the Kingdom or the Church, without injuring others, and running into Extreams, and falling into Divifions amongft themfeJ es. And therefore the New Regulators tbo't that bv Delay, he gave the King an Advantage, and wearied out and ruin'd the Country ; and faid, r/>/tf^^ Edge-Hill, New- bury, and other Places, he had not profecutcd his Victory^ butftoodjiill^ andjnvp the Kjngs Army ^treat, andnever furfud themywhen it had hen eafy to have ended the M^ars. But the main Spring of the Alreration, was the Preva- lence of the SeBarian Intereft in the Houfe, joyn'd with CromvpcCs in the Army, which now began to cany all before it. Many honeft and intelligent People in- deed were for new Modelling the Army, putting out the Loofer Men, and taking in thofe who were mo^e ftricSt and fober, but Vane and Cmmvcel joining toge- ther, outwitted and over-reacht the reft, and carried on their own Particular Intereft fuccefsfuUy. The Me- thod they took for compafifing this De(ign witho'U Di- fturbance, by ftirring up againft ihemfelves the Forces they disbanded, was hy 2.S elf-denying Vote in the Houfe^ pafs'd to this Purpofe : That becaufe Commands in the Army had much Pay, and Parliament Men floould kpep to the Service of the Houfe^ therefore no Parliament Men Jhould be Members of the Army. This put out at once the Earl of Effex, and Earl of Manchefter, the two Ge- nerals; 2.nd SiiiViUiamf4^aller, a valiant Major- Gene- ral, and a great many Colonels ,* and to avoid Sufpi- tion, Cromvoei himfelf was put out at the firft. They then chofe for General Sir Thomas Fairfax, Son to the Lord Ferdinando Fairfax, who had been in the Wars beyond Sea, and had foughc valiantly for rhe Parlia- ment in Torkfhire. He was therefore chofen, bccaufe neither too Great nor too Cunning to be comnianded by the Parliament j nor too fubtil for Cromwel to make
E ? a Tool
54 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
a Tool of. He being chofen, CromvoeCs Men could not be without hirn : And therefore the Self-denying Vote muft be thus far difpensM with, That Cromnelxr\2i^ be in the Army, tho' no other Member of the Houfe were allow'd it 5 and To he was made Lieutenant-General. An. i(54<;. The Army being thus new Modell'd, was really in Ciomwci's the Hands ot Crc??iwel, tho* feemingly under Fairfjix's Jnterefi in Command. Not long after the Change, was the Fight the New- at Nafehy^ where the King's Army was totally routed 7nodeIl^d and put to flight, and about 5000 Prifoncrs taken, with '^'''"•^'''"^ all the Kings Ordnance and Carriage, and abundance ^l'','- ^ ^^ of his own Letters to the Queen and others inhisCabi- -'^ ' •^^' net: Which letters the Parliament printed, thinking ihey contained furh Things as greatly clouded the Re- putation of his Word and Cauie. Cromvoei in the Ar- my did all, and chofe almoft all the Officers. He firft made Ircfon Commiirary-General ; and wheii any Troop or Company was to be difpos'd off, or any con- fiderable Officer's Place was void, he was Cure to put a St£lary into the Place And when the Brunt of the War was over, he look'd not fo much at Valour as O- pinion : So that by Degrees he had Headed the greaicft Part of the Army with Anabaptifts^ Antihomians^ Scekr ers or Scparatifts^ at bcft ; and he ty'd all together by the Point of Liberty of Covfcience, which was theCom- lyion Intere/^ wherein they united. At length the Par- liament came to be fulicitous about keeping them from An. 16 a6. Tumults and Difobedience. But Sir Heii^y Vane Confe- Aft. 1547. ^^^"^^^"8 wi^h them, they procur'd 'the Hcufc to Dis- band almoft all the honeft County Forces and Garri- fons, which might have oppos'd them in their Defigns, and fo the Army went on with little Fear of Oppo- fition. The next Defign of Vane and Cromvocl was to ufc the Army to model the Parliament. With this Aim they ftir up the Houfe to pafs lome Votes, which they km-w would be moft difpleafingto the Army, and then ftir up the Army to the deepeft Refentn.ent. The Parliament Voted, Tl:)at Part of the Army fhos'.d go for Ireland, Pa^t be disbanded^ and Part continud. The Of- ficers told the Army, This was to Divide them, and De- prive them of their Pay^ And to get nn Advantage on them to I{uin them oi ScFinrieSy &c. A rare Reward for all their Services ! Ai Triploe-Heatb they emcr'd into an
Engagement;
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 55
Engagement to ftick together, and were drawing up a Declaration of their Grievances. Col. Edward Hariey acquainted the Houfe with it. Cromwel flifly deny'd it and faid it was a Slander, akho' deep in the Secret, as he afterward acknowledg'd, when he Headed them in their Rebellion. The Parliament order'd all thar were faithful to forfake them ; and feveral Officers, as Gene- ral F/»c/7^r, Mz]oT ^Ifop^ Major Huntington, and others with a confiderable Number of common Soldiers, did fo ; but not being able to make a Body to refift them, it prov*d a great Addition to their Strength. For now all that were againft them being gone, they fiird up their Places with Men of their own Mind, and fo were ever after the more Unanimous, — —Upon this, Cromrvelznd his Obedient L^mhs (as he call'd them) advanced in their Defign, came nearer the City, anddrewupanlmpeach- ment againft eleven of the moft adive Members of the Houfe ; Sir Philip Stapleton^Slx H^iliiayn Lcwm, Col. HoU liSy ^11 John Maynard^ Mr. Glyv, Col. Edward Hariey^ &CC. And when they had forc'd the Houfe to feclnde them, as under Accufation, they Jet fall their Suit, and never profecuted them, nor proved them Guilty. Having ad- vanced thus far, they expeded to havefeund the Houfe very Pliable and Yielding, but were ftill difappointed. The City took Courage, and under the Condud: of two Major- Generals, Mnjfey and Pcint:^^ were for defend- ing the Parliamenc againft the Army ; but the Army fpeedily advancing, the Hearts of the Citizens fail'd them, and they let the Army enrer the City in Triumph. Whereupon, Majfey and Hollis, and others of the ac- cufed Members, fled into France ; and among the reft Sir Philip Stapletm^ who dy'd of the Plague x\g2.x Calais,
As for the King, when Oxford was Bfiieg'd by the Par- OftheKittg^i liament's Forces, having no Army left, he efcap'd to the fi'i»s tothc North, and call himfelf upon the Scots^ who lay there ^**^'"'^-'^ '- "^^d with an Army. The Scots were puzled how to Oeer in ^'^^^ft^^* this Critical Jundure ; To fend him back to the Englifh "^'j'f ^'■ Parliament, feem'd Unfaithful, when he had caft him-{j^^^ J^.^'^'f. felf upon them : To keep him, would divide the two J^^^^^^// Kingdoms, and be follow'd with a War from England, for which they were not provided. After long Conful- tations, the Terror of the Conquering Army made them deliver him to the Parliaments Commiffioners, upon two Cpnditions : That the King's Perfon Ihould be pre-
E ^ fov'd
56 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
f£rv*d in Safety and Honour ; And that their Army ihould have half the Pay that was due to them advancM immediately. The Parliament hereupon appointed (Zo\. Greaves^ and Major- General Broven^ to attend the King at Holmby-Houje in Nonhawptcvjhire. Cornet Joice by Concert with the Leading Part of the Army, fetchc him ihence, and kept him amongft them, till rhey canfie to Hampton-Court^ where he was Guarded by Col.PVfoal- ley. The Army fawn'd upon the King at firft ; they blam'd the Aufterity of the Parliament, tvho had de- ny'd him the Attendance of his own Chaplains ; and of his Friends, in whom he took moft Pleafure. They gave Liberty for his Friends and Cha|)lains to come to him, and pretended that they would fave him from the In- civilities of the Parliament and Presbyterians. And vvhen the Parliament made him Propofals, they pre- fented him with Propofals of their own. But all on a fuddain they began to cry for Juftice upon him. A Council of AgitatouYs was chofen among them, of y/hich Colonel Jama Berry was President. They drew up a Paper call'd, The Agreement of the People^ as the Model or Form of a New Common-wealth. Cromrvel feems to be againft them ; and while they were con- tending, a Letter came to CoJ. iVnalleyy (from an un- ^cnown Hand ) intimating a Defign of rhefe Agitntotns to Surprize and Murder the King. Some think that this was fent from a Real Ftiend, but moft think it •was contrived by Crorfiwel, to affright the King out of the Land, or into fome defperate Courfe, which might give them Advantage againft him. The Colonel gave the King a Sight of the Letter; and be thereupon efca- ped fecjretly with two Confidenrs only to the Jjle of iVight^ committing himfelf to Col. Hnmmond^ who was Governour of a Caftle there : And here Cromwel bad him in a Pinfold, and was more fecure of him than before. While the King was confin'd, feveral Armies were rais'd in his Favour. One in Pembroke- foire^ by Major- General Langbom ; another in Scotland, by the Duke of Hamilton ; a third in Ksnt^ by the Lord G'^ring • and a fourth in Ejjex^ by Sir Charles Luc.is : But were all Defeated. At length the Parlia- ment fent to the King, while he continu'd in this Ifland, fome Propofitions to be confcnted to in order tp his Reftot^tion. Some of them he Granted, and
others
Ghap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 57
others he Refas'd. The chief Thing he ftuck at, was The utter Abolifhirig of Epifcopacyy and the Alienating of Bi'fhops^ and Deans and Chapters Lands. Upon which Mr. Marfhal, Mr. Vines^ and Dr. Sejr?ian^ were fent down as Commiflloners to difcourfe with him about it, in order to his Satisfaction. They debated the Matter with A^'C^I-Billiop ZJfhe , Dr. Hammond, Di\ Sheldon^ and others of the King's Divines. The Debates were printed, and each Party thought they had the better. Arch-Bifhopt^yfe."/ then ofFet'd the King his Redudi- oh of Epifcopacy to the Form of Presbytery, which the King would have accepted ; and had it been accepted oa jhe other fide, might have be^n the Foundation of a .a- 0ing Agreement.
The King fending his Final Anfwers to the ParUa- ment, there were warm Debates among thm, 14^ ether they Jhotild acqwefc: in them Ji a fuyic^ent: ^y .und for Peace? And at laft they Voted his Conceffions a iufficient Ground for a Perfonal Treaty with him, and were fcr fending for him up accordingly. But Crowxvel and his Confidents, feeing all their Defigns would be utterly (Jifappointed by this Method of Procedure, fent Col. Pride to the Houfe with a Party of Soldiers, who Guarded the Door. Such Members as were to their Purpofe they let in, others they turn d away, and fome they Imprifon'd ; and the Remainder of the Houfe was henceforward caird the I{ump. The Secluded and Im- prifon'd Members publilVd a Writing call'd their Vin- dication; and fome of them would afterwards have thruft into the Houfe, but the Guard of Soldiers kept them out ; and the ks^mp were cry'd up for the only Honeft Men. They pafb'd a Vote to eftablifh a Go- vernment without a King and Houfe of Lords ; and fo the Lords diflblv'd, and thefe Commons fate and did all alone. They ereded an High-Court of Juftice \ v rhat the brought the King to his Tryal, Condemned him, and Paf>isisth9* ereded a Scaffold at White- Hall-Gate^ and there before they ABed
• behind the
Curtain^ had a conjiderahle Hani in thefe Commotions and their Tfagicallf- fucy there is yery good Eyidence. In the CoUefiion of Letters at the end of Dr. Parr's Life of Arch-Bi/hop Uflier, there is one written by Bp. Biamhall, (then Abroad) to that Arch-B'i[hr>p. 'Tis Hum. 293. wherein is this Ac- count. That in 1646. by Order from Rome, abore a i co of the Bomi/h Cler^ were fent into England, confiUing o/Englini, Scots, andhi^^ who
58 The LIFE of Chap. IV.
had been K- 2i^yi\\ AlFcmbly of People Beheaded him. The Lord ducatcd in General Vnhfax Itood by all the while, full of Regret, 1 iance,lt>i- [5^. Xrick'd and Oveipower'd by his Lieutenant. At ly, Germa- ^.j^^ time of the King's Death, he was in wonderful ny, ^ an Perplexity, and when Mr. CnUmy\^ and fome other Mi- \[ho mere ^^^^^^ ^^^^ were with him, would have perfwaded him moTl^ of ^^ Rcfcue the King, his Troubles fo confounded him,
them Soldi- ers in the 'Parliament'' s jirmy, and- were to hold Correjpondence vith the Ro- mamjls that jvae in the King's -A^^yi ^ho were not as yet admitted to the Grand Secret. Upon conferring together in 1^47. enquiring into the Keafons of each others Meafures^ they froduc'd Bulls ar.d Licenfes for their Warrant. Upon tvhich^ ffeing their Capacity of haying Secret Influence^ they wrote to their fereral Conrcnts, eJJ>ecially the Soibonifts, to kir^w whether the taking off" the K'nir rva^ a Thing to be fcrupled ? ^The anfwcr return d was this^ That it might Lawfully be done^ for Mother Churches Jldvancement. Agreeable where- to is the Account given by Vr. Peter du Moulin in his Vindicaiion of the Sincerity of the Proteftant Religion, written in Anfwer to a Jefuitical LI- htl^ caWd Philanax Anglicus 5 where he tells ttf. That thi Tear before the Kings Death-i a Sele£} Number of Englifh Jefuites were fent from their whole Tarty in England, frfi to Paris, to confult with the Vacuity o/Sorbon, then altogether Jefulted^ to whom they put this Quefiion in Writing ; That feeing the 5f<?fe o/' England i3?<«i /« a likely Frofpeit to Change Government^ whether it was Larpful for the Catholich to work that Change^ for the Advancing and Securing of the Cathalick Caufe /« England, by making away the King ? Which was anfrver''d Affirmatively. After which, the fame Ter fans went to Komc^ •where the fame ^uefiion being propounded and debated, it was concluded by the Tope and his Council, That it was both Lawful and Expedient for the Ca' tholicks to promote that Alteration of Stale. U hen the blow was ailually gi- ven, and ihe'FaU exclaimed again/l, the Pope commartded all the Papers about that ^ueflion to be gather d and burnt. According to which Order, a Roma^ nift at Paris had a Copy of thofe Papers winch he had by him, demanded f-om him-^ but he refusd to give it, and ff)ew'd it a Proteftant Friend of his. This Account Vr. Du MouVm fir/i publiflfd in the Tear 1661. It immedi- ately firuck a Terrour at Sonntrret-Houfe, where the Queen Mother then re- fided with her jefuites nbcut her, and where jhc at thai time entertain'd the very Lord who conduced the Jefuites in their Progrefs forementioned, as a principal Officer of her Houfe. By her Means they demanded Juftice of the King a;rainji this Author., for the Affront he had put upon them by publifh- iHg fuch a Narrative. The DoHor offer d to give full Proof in Juflification of his Report, whenfoever he was required by Autltbrity, and to produce liv- "^ Wit>ujfes of the Truth of it. Upon confiiieratlon therefore they tho't it befi to ktep Silence, not daring to exafperate him. And they injiftrd no farther than that the Secretary of State, Sir William Morrice, jbould be ordered to write to him, to charge him to forbear Printing any ihin^ for the future in ^ngiiih, tonfidermg it ts^as pot his Kative lAugua^ti TnU was accordingly
Chap. IV. Mr. Richard Baxter. 50
ihac they darft let no Man fpeak to him. Cromvod (as ^o«e. And it was faid) kept him Praying and Confulting, 'till tlie ^^'°' '^-'^ Stroke was given. But when a Jictle atcer, War was /''^'^^ ^"^'^^ determined againft Scotltvd^ he laid down his Commiifi- ^'^^ ^^'»' on, and never had to do with the Army more : And ^^/ fi'^^^^i^ Cromwel became General in his ftead. ^'^^' "^f^^^'
rvardsj and
lert^e asoft repeated-, y:t did they think fit to contime fiUnt, Tvithout eyer ealUng him into ^te/tlon before the Judgci^ according to hn deflre ' To this Mr. Piynn'5 Account may be added, who ift a Book called^ TIic 1 nw and Per- feft Narrative, p 46. relates thU Pajfa're : That tiin<r Charjts, h^ylnr i„ the Treaty tn the Ifle of Wight, agreed to 5 firia b'iUs againft Pcp^ry'^ the fefuites in France at a General Meeting there, prefently refoh d to brin'r' him to jfuftice, and tah off hU Head, by the Torver of their Friends in the Army, of which the King hirnfelf was certify d by an Exprefs from thence, a fid rpflyi to provide againft it, but two Days before his Removal by the Army &otn that IJland, in Order to thii Execution. All which confiderd, m.ike> the 'Saffage related by Mr. Baxter, in hit Hiflory, Tart 2. p. 373. muih the more Credible ; the Story is this. One Mr. Atkins of GloccrlLrOiiie, Bro- ther to Judge Atkins, being beyond Sea, with others that had fery'd KInr Charles the Tirft, fell into intimate Acquaintance with a Tneft, that had been (or then was) Governour nf one of their CoUedges in Flander^. They agreed not to meddle with each other about Religion, and fo continued iheif Triendfhip long. A little after the King was Beheaded, Mr. Atkins mec this Prieft in London, and going into a Tavern with him, faid to him in his Familiar way : What Bufmefs have you here i I'll warrant you come about fome Roguery or other? Whereupon the Prieft told him, as a Great Secret, That there were 50 of them here in London, who bj Inftruftions from Cardinal Mazarine, did take care of Publick Affairs, and had fate in Council, and debated the Queftion, Whether the Kin? (hould be put to Death, or not? And that it was carry'd in the Aihi*- mative, and there were but two Voices for the Negative , which was his own and anothers. And that for his Part he could not concur with them, as forfeeing what Mifery this would bring up- on his Country. This Pajfage was fir ft trjd to Mr. Baxter, ij Mr. James Stanfield, a Glocefterfhire Minifter , who had it fi-sm 3.V. Alk'ins hirnfelf : And afterwards relating it to Dr. Thomas Goad, wljo was well AccjuaiTtted with the faid Mr. Atkins, he deftred him to enquire of him concerning it', and he afterwards told him, Tim Mr Atktm ai- fur'd him it was true. Which Particularity of -^o of the Jcfuitical Crew coming about that time from France w//// a Special Commijjt^n, agrees r cry well with the Account given in a Book call'd, The Fiir Wijrning, printed many Tears before ; wherein is thii pajfage : That ^O Prices were met by a Proteftant Gentleman between Roan and Dicp, to whom they (taking Iiira for one of their Party; declar'd, That rhey were going in-
TLc
6o The LIFE of Chap. IV.
to EngUni The Minifters all this Time generally Preach'd and
and would Pray'd againft Dinoyalty. Tbey drew up a Writing ro
take^Arms ^^^ ^^^^ General, (which was printed) declaring their
2plnlnt ^l^horrence of all Violence againft the Perfun of the
JlrZyl^nd ^^"^' ^"^ "'■g'"g tiioi and his Army to take heed of
endeavoux-
to be Ag^ltatour:.
ICotvithftand'.ng the Abundant Kyidenfe of the Concern of the Papifts in this jifair, many haye taken tfte pccdom to Char^^e it on the Presbyieri- ans, but -very unjujily. He that voould fee the7n fully Vindicated, may Con- fitlt The Conformifts firft Plea for tlx Nonconformifts, vhere there is an Appendix dejtgn'd on purpofe to wipe of tbat AJperfim. Their Carriage in the vhole matter is tfure particularly related, and their Innocence cleared by Authentlck Eridence.
^ In December, 1648. The General, and the Army fent to fey er at of the City Ministers to meet the Officers of the Army^ in their Confultations about Matters of Religion. Some of them, as Mr. Calamy, Air. Marflial, Mr. Afh, A/r. Whi taker, Afr. Sedgwick, CJrc. attended them^ apd manifeJl.d their difike of their Anions: And afterwards ahoye 40 c/ the City Alj ni Tiers fent , a Letter to the General, te/lffying their Concurrence with their Brethren afore-;. faid; freely declarin>r agatnsl their ^Seizing and Imprifoning the Verfon of the King, &c. And afterttfards^ when the King's Trial came o«, they publi/h'd a Vindication of tltemfelyes-., declaring before the vpJ^ile Worl((^ that that vhich put them upon a fearing for the Parliament at firft, wm the Propoiti- cns and O'ders of the Lords and Commons, June I o, 1642. for bringing in of Money and Plate -, wherein they were ajfurd it fhould be m otlurwife ern- floyd^ than to maintain the Proteftant Religion, the King's Authrity, His JPerfoft in his Royal Dignity, the fiee Courfe of Justice, the Laws of the Land^ the Peace of the Kingdom, and the Priyiledges of ParUament, againfi any Force which fhould oppofe them. That, they were wholly unfutisfyed with the fr ceedings, jince the Exclufon and Imprifonment of the Members of the lioufe of lommons; and held themfeha bound in Duty to God, Religion^ the King., Parliament, and Kingdom, to profefs before God, Angels and Men, that they Eerily belieyd, the taking away the Life of the King in the way of Trial then depend'n:^, was not only not a<i^reeable to any Word of God, the Prtnciples of the PiotelianC Religion, (never yet ftaind with the leaft drop of the Blood of M King) or the Fundamental Confiitution of the Kingdom ; but contrary to them : As alfo, to the Oath of Allegiance, the prote/iation of May 5. 1 641. and the Solemn League and Covenant, f-om all which, or any of which Engagements^ they knew not any Power on Earth able to Abfolre them or others. And laft- ly, thty warn'd and exhorted in the Ji^ame of the peat God, all that belonged to thtir charges and Miniftry, ta keep clofe to the Hays of God, the Rules of Jteilion, and Fundamental Conftitution and Goyernment of the Kingdom, not fufering themfehcs to be feduc'd from it, by being drawn to fabfcribt the late Models, or Agreement of the People, which dircHly tmdcd to fubvert the Fundamental Goycrmnent ; and to mvtm bitterly for the Sin< of all degrees of
fuch
€hap. I V. Air. Elichard Baxter.
fuchanAdion: And th^y prefented it to him, when Men-, and tlie King was in danger. Neither was this the Aa on- ^^S "/ God 'ly of a few • for there were 60 of the Presbyterian Mi-'^^*^ f^e nifters of London, who fub*fcrib*d the Writing, together ^^^^<^ ^«- with many Country Minifters. -f!^'*,'* '^
--(:.■'. • . . ^ '6/ence of
. they might mt dare to draw upon themfches and the Kingdom the Blood of their Sovereign. This wof fuhf crib'' d by ^
^orn^nus Buirges, D.'p, Will, douge, T>. D. ' Edi. 5U^iLon,, D.D. .T}io. Temple, D. D, ■ ^Geprge' Walker, ^ '• .Edm. Calainy," Jer. Whi taker, . . Dan. Cawdrey, WiU Spunlow, D. p. _ La. Seaman, D. D, Simeon Afhe, Thomas Cafe, Nrc. Proffer, Tho. Thorowgood, Ed w. Corbet, Hen. Roborough, John Downham, Arthur Jackfon, J.?mes N a Icon, Thomas Caw ton,
■ Charles' Off- fpring,' ^ Samuei Clark, -,'
Francis Roberts, ■Samuel Bolton, Map. Kaviland, John Sheffield, WillramKarrifon, -William Jenkjn, " John Viner,' Elidad Blackwell, John CrolTe, John Fuller, William Taylor, Peter Withara, Francis Peck, Chrift. Love, J. Wallis, D. D. Thomas Wattfon, William Wickins,
Thomas Manton, D. D. Thomas Gouge, Williim Blp.ckmoic, Robert Mercer, Ra. Robinfon, Johh Glafcock, Thomas Whaccly, Jonathan Lloyd, John Wu'ls, Benj. Needier, Nath. Sraniforch, Steven Watkins. Jacob Tice, John Stileraan. Jofias Bull, John Devereux, Paul Ruflel, Jofhua Kirby, Arthur Bailiam.
The pubii/hing of this Taper,- iphifh was Intitled, A ferious and faithful Reprien Cation, of the Judgments of the Minifters of the Gofpel within the Province of London, in a Le:ter to the General and Council of U'ar, 74«.'f8. 1^48. delivered by fomeof the Subfcribers^ was a plain running <r great. lizard as Things then flood, and may be )uftly reckon d an Evidence of the great Integrity and Hone fly of the Ferfons that fubjcrib'd it : jtnd therefore a late Author *, who does not
always pafs the mofi farourable Cenfures * Compleat Hiftory of LngUnd that mi'^ht be defiid upon Men of their in Folio, To/. 3. p. 175. CharaCler, declares. That in Juliice to
the greater part of the Presbyterian Minifters, it muft be acknowledged, that when they faw too late the fad IlTue of Things, they did then labour to prevent the Execrable Faft of putting the King to Deatii. But, he addsy alas (which was more we hope than they knew) it was all to no purpofe. But if he would really hare done them Juftice, he jhould have Qwnd this to hay€ hem 4 rtry bold and (ouragioM A^kn as thi Tima ih.n
Ani
62 The LIFE of Chap. V.
fverc ^ be- And thus thefe Inteftine Commotions came to an caufe they ifjQe^ little tho'c off at firft by any that began them,
hereby ex- which caiinot but furprize all future Generations. *tfperat€d thofe who
had the Fower in their Hands y in the lafl decree: And if he would haye added Charity to Juftic*^, (rvhich makes a good mixture^ he might haye for- born hislaji Rcfle^ion^ unlefs he had good Pr»of at hand-, that they intended their B.efrrefentation only for an injtgnifieant Tlourijh, tpithout any efeSt ; r?hich in their Circumfiances vfas not yery likc/y. And to fuj^cEi any Thing of ihat kindy of Perfons in tffhofe Carriage tlte Credit of Religion it concern d, un- iefs there be Proofs tpill not eafily be excused from Cenforioufnefs. Tor them in their Circumfi antes to maJce fuch aDeclaratton^ wot to difcharge their Confcienc'es in the yietff of the greatefi Danger^ which alone ii fujjlcient Eyidence that they were in earnefi : Wlyereas^ if Men fay and unfay upon the fame Sub' jecty and declare one Thing one Tear^ and another the next^ and haye Intereji to ftvaythcm todiminiji) what they haye faidy and are afraid to fland to what they know to be true and Right, (which is a Cafe that has been fnmetimcs known) "'tis truly hard to know when they are in Larnef}^ or when Tofierlty Tnay depend upon them.
CHAP. V.
RefleClhfis on Pnblick TranjaUions^ from the Death of King Charles the Fir ft ^ to the Reftduration of King Charles the
Second,
An 1(^49. ^"T"^^^ King being taken out of the way, Crom- The Bit' I ^''^» pretends to be for a Common-wealth, 'till
Zazemcnt, ^^ had laid a fufficient Foundation for his own
Advancement. The I{t4mp prefently drew up a Form of an Enoaffement, to be Subfcrib'd by all Men of the Age of 1 8 Years and upwards ; vi:{, J do prowi/e to be Tme and Fnithful to the Common-vpealth <ii if » won? esia' yiifVd^ without n Kj^i^ or Houfe of Lords, Without this Engn^cmfrit no Man muft have the Benefit of Suing another at Law, nor have any Mafteriliip in the Uni- verfitics, nor Travel above fo many Miles from their Houic?, CJ^c. Mr. yims and Dr. f{atnbovo were hereup- on put o\u of their Headlhips in the Univerfity, and
Mr.
A vi
Ghap. V. Mr. Richard Baxter* 62
Mr. Sympfon and Mr. Sadler put in their Places: Dr. i^.y- nolds alfo was caft out of the Deanry of Chri^ Church Oxoriy and Dr. Oxven^ fucceeded him. The Covenant was now laid afide, as an Almanack out of Date. Many Epifcopal Divines wrote for the Engagements and plead- ed for taking it, upon the fame Diltindtion of De Facto & De Jure, as hath fince beert fo Celebrated among us. But the Moderate Church Party and the Presbyterians refus'd it.*
Tho' Cromvpel had ConquerM England and Irelatid, Cromwel'i tho' the Parliament was Imprifon'd and caft • out, the T)[fjknhief. King cut off, and the E{ump Eftablilh'd as a New Com- mon-wealth ; yet were there ftili feveral Impediments to his laying hands upon the Crown according to his defire. There were ftill many Cavaliers, who were ready for new Enterprizes againft him. The Scots x^- folv'd to ftick to the Covenant and the King. The Ar- my alfo created him no fmall Difficulty, who muft be un- taught all the Principles which he had been inftilling into them with fo much care. For he well knew, that thofe Principles that were requifiie to bring him to the Crown, would be the worft in the World, when once he had gotten it. And at the fame time he knew very well, that the Minifters of England and Scotland, and the fo- ber People who regarded them, were very muchagainft him. As for the Royalifts, he after fome Struggling crufli'd them, making his Advantage by all their Enter- prizes. As for the Army, he was never wholly without his Uneafinefs. As for the Body of the Minifters, and the foberer Part of the Nation, he could never get them heartily tg fall in with his Ambitious Dcfigns ; They kept quiet indeed, but never were in his Intereft, and waited but for a favourable Opportunity to turn the Scale. And as for the Scots, tho' they put him to it at firft, yet he at leiigth overcame them, and rcach'd his Defigns upon them. Quickly afcer the King's Death, they difpatched Meffengers to his Son, Charles the Second, to defire him to come over to them, and take the Crown : But firft they treated with him about taking the Covenant,
and
^ Many of the Minifters of Chediire 4«^ L^nc^niire, and the Fart ^ aj- joyning, fubllflM the Reafons of ihcW Kefufal of this Fng^igcmcnl, %^hle marty of the Prelatical Stamp printed their Reafonsfor taking it.
64 The LIFE of Ghap. V.
and reno'ncing the Wars, and the Blood that had been fhed in them by his Father's Party. So great were his Neceflities, that he could not but comply with them. He took the Covenant, and publilh'd a Declaration to the World, Ihr^t he did it Voluntarily nnd Heartily^ and that he Lamented the Sins of his P^jher*s Houjcy ticknovo- hdging the Gin It of tic Blqod of the late fV.^.rs^ &c, and hereupon had the whole Kingdom at his Command '.At. id5o. and Difpoftl. This was no (boner uhderftood, than an Invalion of ihe Scots was refolv'd on, to keep them fron^ Invading England^ without ftaying 'till they made an Entrance upon the Land as formerly. So that CrornvQel Was Opon them with an Army, before they were well fettled in their Affairs. Without .any De- Jay he advanced towards Edinburgh^ where the Scotch Army lay intrcnch'd : But after long Skirmilhing and Expedlations, when he cov'.ld neither draw the Scots out of their Trenches to a Fight, nor yet pafs forward, Bii Succefs j^jg Soldiers fell Sick, and were impatient of the Po» erty wibcotland. ^f ^^^ Country ; and fo with a weakned ragged Army he drew off ro return to England: and had the Scots but let him go, or cautioufly followed him, they had in all Probability fecur'd themfelves, and broken his Honour. But at length they drew out, and foliow'd him, and overtaking him near t>unbarr^ forcd him to a Fight by engaging his Rear. They were totally Touted in Fight, and had their Foot taken, and their Horfe purfu'd to Edinburgh. Ten Thoufand Prifoners •were bro't to Kevo-Caftle, where being negietSted they were moft of them FamilhM. The Colours that were taken, were hung up as Trophies in M^cjlminjier- Hal/^ and never taken down till the King's Reftauration. CrowTP^/ enters £^/«/7wr^/j Triumphantly, and drives the Scots to Sterlings beyond the River, where they forti- fy *d themfelves. He took the impregnable Caftle of Edinburgh^ after a fhort Siege, and then pafs'd his Ar- my over Sterling River, in purfuit nf the Scotj. Kmg Charles with the' Scotch Army, not being a^'!e to fight bim, haftily advances towards England^ hoping that great Numbers of the En^l Jh would join themfelves to him. But many Things concurr d to hinder his ex- pedled Fncreafe. The Manner of the Scits coming a- way, perfwaded People that NcciTity fojc'd tn^ni. and they Were rather look d upon as Flying, than ^s Ald.ch-
Chap. V. Mr, Elichard Baxter. 65
ing into England, And few will put themfelves into a Flying Army, which is purfu d by a Conquering E- nemy. Witha], it was .altogether uncertain, how the Country would have been treated,had they now appear'd for the King, before they were affur'd of an Amnefty of part Diforders, and an Abatement of their former Burthens. And at the fame time, the Event was very uncertain, the Fame of the late Vidtory at Dunbarr had rnade great Impreflion, and Cromwel's fpeedy Pur- fuit raisM fuch an Expectation, that People were gene- rally willing to fee how I'hings would encline upon an Engagement between the two Armies, before they'd difcover themfelves ; So that tho'the Earl of Derby, the Lord Talbot J and fome GentL^men, joyn d themfelves to the King's Army, yet the Country in general would not follow their Example. The King came by the way of Lancnjhire, and fummon'd Shrewsbury in vain, as he pals'd thro' Shropfhire : But when all tho't he was haft- ning towards London, where it was commonly appre- hended he might have attain'd his Ends, encreas'd his An. 16 $i: Strength, and had no Reiiftance, he turn d to Worccfter, and there refrelh'd his Army. Cromxvsl overtook him there, and fought to ftraiten him: But not enduring to be pent up, the King refolv'd to Charge him; and the Scots at firft behav d themfelves gallantly : but at length, ^^^^ ^. ^^^ thinking they had a Security behind them, they retreat- J\i^J^J.^ ed into the City, and at the fame time Cromveets Soldi- ^^^ ers purfu d them fo clofe at the Heels, that they enter'd the City with them. The Surprize of this was fo great, that the whole Army fled thro* the City in great Confufion, many being trodden down and flain m the Streets, and they were utterly rouced. ^ In their flighty the Troopers that were fcatier'd up and down the Coun- try, difpatcb'd many of them. The Marque fs of H^- milton (late Earl of Lanerick) was (lain. The Earl of Derby and Capt. Bcnb^vp of Shrewsbury v/ere both taken, and put to Death. The Earl oi L^-tidprdMc, and the Earl of Craford, were fent Prifoners to iVtndfjr-Caftle, where they were detaind 'till the King's Reftoration. As for King Charles, when he feparated him ell from his Lords, he went to Bofcohl by the iV.j^te In- dies, where he was hid in an Onk, in a manner luffici- ently declarM to the World; and ihence loMo/ey: After which he accompany'd Mrs. Unc as a IraveHer
6G The LItE of Chap. V.
and efcap'd all the Searchers Hands, 'till he carre fafe beyond Sea.
Tiie Sects Army being utterly difpers'd in Englnndy and many of the Prifoners of Foot fent to the Bari adoes zndoi\\e\' American Plantations, parr of c'^^^^w^/'s Ar- my wasdifpatch'd into Scotland to profecutc the Victo- ry there. All their Garrifons at laft were taken, and the Ear] c^Glencar??, and the Noble Ear] o^ Bnlcnrres^ (who kept up the laft Forces there for the King) were forc'd to fly to King Charles beyond Sea. Upon which Major-General Mo)it^\Nis left there, with fome Forces to keep the Country in Subjeftion. uin. i6^\. A little before the Fight at l^orcesfer, divers Perfons Mr. LovL'i^ere feiz'd on in London for holding CorrefpondenCe Tryal ^"^ vvith the King. Many of them were Presbyterian Mi- Hxecutton. nij^ers, who for meeting together to contrive how to raife a fmall Sum of Money for Majfefs Relief in Scot- land, were charg'd with Plotting ageing the Government, Eight of them were fent to the Tower. Mr. Arthur Jaclfon, Dr. Drake, Mr. PVatfon, Mr. Love, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Thomas Cnfe, Mr. I{nlph E^obirijon, and Mr. ^ch.Heyrick^ S<c. And Mr.iV^/fow, and Mr. Cnvghton tied into Holland, Mr. Love was Try 'd at a Court of Juftice, where Edmurd Prideaux Efq; a Member ofthei^w/^/', and Solicitor for the Comrnon-vQcalth^ tho't his Place aJlow'd him to plead a- gainft the Life and Blood of the Innocent. Mr. Love was Condemn d and Beheaded, dying neither Time- roufly, nor Proudly in any deCperate Bravado, but with as great Alacrity and fcarlefs Quietncfs, and freedom of Speech, as if he had but gone to Bed, and had been as little concern 'd as the Standcrs-by. A worthy Gen- tleman, Mr. Gibbons^ was Beheaded with him for the fame Caufe. And at the time of their Execution, or very near it on that Day, there was the dreadfulleft Thunder, Lightning and Tempeft, that was heard or feen of a long time bciore. This Blow funk deeper to- wards the Root of the New Common-wealth, than will eafily be believ'd at a diftance. The reft of the Mini- flers were releas'd upon Mr. Jenkjn's Recantation, and Submillionto the Government. Cromwcl Cromwel, being fiufli'd by his Succefs in Scotland, tho'c difcards the he m'lf^hi now do what he pleas'd. Having thus far Rump Par fecmd to be a Servant to the Parliament, and to have iiamcnt. work'd for his Mailers the ^mp or CommQn'Wcaltbf he
WIS
Chap. V. Mr, Richard Baxter. 67
was at length for fetting up for himfelf. In order to this he firit ferves them as he had betore done the Presbue- rians, fceking to make them odious by hard Speeches throughout his Army, as if they intended to perpetuate themielves, and would not be Accountable for the Mo- ney of the Common- wealth, &c. and then he treats pri- vately with manv of them to diflblve themfelves; that another free Parliament might be chofen: But they per- ceiv'd- the danger, and were rather for filling up their Number by New Elcdions, which he was utterly againft. Impatient at laft of further delay, he fuddenly took Har- rifon and fome Soldiers with him, and in a fort of a Rap- -^' ' ^5 3' ture went to the Houfe, and reproveth the Members for their Faults, and pointing to Vnne calls him a Jugler, and to Henry Martin^ and calls him Whoremafter; and ha- ving two fuch to inftance in, takes it for granted that they were all unfit to continue in the Government, and fo he Difcards them. Few People being griev'd at their being laid afide, tho' all except the Sedaries and the Army, touk^-bim for a Traytor that was the Inftrument.
The Young Common-wealth was thus left Headlefs. The Little Nothing might now feem to ftand between Cromwel and Parlu- the Crown. For a Governour there muft be : And who ""''"'• fitter than himfelf ? But Care muft firft be taken to make theNeceflity of his Government undeniable, and to make his Soldiers out of love with Democracy^ or at leaft to make them hateful that adher'd to it. And therefore a a Parliament muft be call'd, but the ungodly People are hot to be trufted with the Choice j therefore the Soldiers^ as more Rehgious, muft be the Choofers: And two out of a County are chofen by the Offi- cers, upon the Advice of their Sectarian Friends in all t^arts^ This was in Contempt call'd Tl.e Little Pnr^ liament. This Conventicle made an Ad, Th^t Migi- ftrates jhould Marry People inftead of Minifiers*. And then they came to the Bufinefs of Tythes and Minift- rs. Before this, Harrifon being authorized thereto, had at
F 2 • once
*77;c AaOrder% That the Perfons to be Married fhould come before fume Juftlce of the Peace: That the Man and Woman fhould pronounce i he Words before him, and he pronounce them lawfuUy Married. See Scobel s ^ol- kftion of St;itutes. Thns fays Mr Tallents of Shrewsbury m a Letter to we, / and others have Married many before a Jufiice, he faying nothi»^> t,ia only dedarin^ the Manhge w<u Falid*
68 The LI F E of Chap. V.
once put down all the Parifh Minifters of Waks^ becaufe
that moft C)f them were Ignorant and Scandalous, and
had fet up a few Itinerant Preachers in their ftead, who
were for Number incompetent for fo great a Charge,
there being but One to many of thofe wide Parilhes: So
that the People having a Sermon but once in many Weeks,
an.{ nothing elfe in the mean time, were ready to turn
Papifts, or any Thing clfe. And this is the Plight which
the /inahaptiji J ^2ind other Sedlaries, would have bro*tthe
whole Land to. And all was with this Defign, That
the People might nor be tempted to think the Parifh
Churches to be true Churches, or Infant Baptifm true
Baptifm, or therafelves true Chriftians; but might be
convinc'd, That they muft be made Chriftians and
Churches in the way of the Anahnptifts and Separatisls,
Hereupon, Harrifon became the Head of the Se^aries^
and C'rmvpsl now began to defign the Heading of a So--*-
berer Party, that were for Learning and Mmiftry, while
yet he was the Equal Proccclor of all. At length it was
put to the Vote in this Parliament, PVnether all the Parifb
Mlnijh'rs of England fhould at once be put aovon or no? And
it was but accid.fr)tally carry'd in the Negative by two
Voices. And it was taken for gianred, that Tithes and
ZJnivc fities would next be voted down ; and now Cram-
wc! muft be their Saviour, or they muft perifh: When
he had purpofd. caft them into the Pit, that they might
be Seho!ding to hiun to pv 11 them out. In the Iflue, Sir
C. I'V. a ^d <"oaie others, take their time, and put it to
•the \ ore. PV I -ei tht t-JouJc^ ai incapchlc of Jerving the
C '.'. ^';, P:ould go ^ful deliver up their Power unto
CroMiwj], fr VI vrhom they had rcceivd it } They carry'd
it ii. the A^r native, and away they go, and folemnly
r^fign theii Power to him; who then carries all before
fiim. Hs Snbtiity lay here; he caus'd and permitted
^^-^rui^ on to hang over the Nation, to Niccftitate
, whether they would or not, to take him for ihe'r
'"'>i-ir. that he m:^ht be their Proredlor. A Juntlo
"■ :s drew up a Writing, called. The hiftnimcut of
yn.nt f the Cornm 'u-wcalth of England, Scot-
' iland. Thi<; Inftrument made Oiiver Crom-
ivj Pjott^i^or of the Commfn-wealth. The Lord
• v and Aldermen, the Judges and OiHceys of
ny were fiuidainly drawn togrther to H^elbniyifter-
I upon the Reading this Inftrument inftall'd
Crom^
Chap. V". Mr. Richard Baxter. 5q
CrcmvQcl in the Office of PrcteHor^ and fwore him ac- cordingly; and thus the Common-wealth feem'd orce more to have a Head — ^As for rhe Proceedints of the Parliamenrs which he caU'd in hi^ Protedlorihip, th.^ir difpleafing him by Ravelling hir Inrtriimenr, an.^ his rough and refolutediiiblving them, the Fartici'lais may be feen in the Common Hiiiorians of the times.
One of his Chic 1 Works was the Pwgivg of the Mi- rhe Triert n'iftry. The Synod of Weftminfter was dilTolv'd with the ofMmjitrs. Parliament : And therefore a Society of Mmifters with fome others, were chofen by Crcjnvoel to Cii at I4^hite-' Hn!!^ under the Name of Triers^ who were moftly In- dependents, but had fomc Presbyterians join'd with 'em, and had Power to try all that came tor Inflirution'or In- duction, and without their Approbation none were ad^ mitted. They themfelves examin'd ail that were able to come up to London: But if any were unable, or of doubtful Q.ualitications, they referred them to fome Mi- nifters in the County where they livM, and approv'd them, if they approv'd rhem : And with all their Faults, thus much n«ui4 be faid of thefe Triers, that they did a great deal of Good to the Church, rhey fav'd many a Congregation from ignorant ungodly Drunken Teachers. That fort ot Minifters that either preacht againft an Ho- ly Life, or preacht as Men that never were acquainted with ic; all thofe that us a the Miniftry but as a Com- mon Trade to live by, and were never likely to Convert a Soul, all thefe they ufualiy rejeded; and in rheir ftead admitted of any that were able ferious Preachers, and liv*da Godly Life, of what Opinion foever they were that was tolerable.
He had the Policy not to exafpera:e the Minifters and An. 16 $6. others, who confented not to his Government; bur he Cromwei.'i let Men live quietly, without pmring any Oaths of Fide- CoMduH: iity upon them ; except hisParliamenrs, which were not ^^'^e rra- fuffer'd to enter the Houfe, 'till they had Tworn Fideli-