the freedom to request of him, that as he was our lawful king, in whom all his people (save a few inconsiderable persons) were prepared to centre, as weary of their divisions, and glad of the satisfactory means of union in him, so he would be pleased to undertake this blessed work of promoting their holiness and concord: (for it was not faction or disobedience which we desired him to indulge :) and that he would never suffer himself to be tempted to undo the good which Cromwell or any other had done, because they were usurpers that did it, or discountenance a faithful ministry because his enemies had set them up: but that he would rather outgo them in doing good, and opposing and rejecting the ignorant and ungodly of what opinion or party soever: for the people whose cause we recommend [ed] to him had their eyes on him as the officer of God, to defend them in the possession of the helps of their salvation, which, if he were pleased to vouchsafe them, their estates and lives would cheerfully be offered to his service. And I humbly besought him that he would never suffer his subjects to be tempted to have favourable thoughts of the late usurper, by seeing the vice indulged which they suppressed; or the godly ministers or people discountenanced whom they encouraged. For the common people are apt to judge of governors by the effects, even by the good or evil which they feel: and they will take him to be the best governor who doth them most good, and him to be the worst who doth them most hurt: and all his enemies cannot teach him a more effectual way to restore the reputation and honour of the usurpers, than to do worse than they, and destroy the good which they had done, that so he may go contrary to his enemies; and so to force the people to cry out, we are undone in loss of the means of our salvation: it being a hard matter ever to bring the people to love and honour him by whom they think they are undone, in comparison of those that they think made them happy, though the one have a just title to be their governor, which the other hath not.

And again I humbly craved, that no misrepresentations

might cause him to believe that, because some fanatics have been factious and disloyal, therefore the religious people in his dominions, who are most careful of their souls, are such, though some of them may be dissatisfied about some forms and ceremonies in God's worship which others use and that none of them might go under so ill a character with him, by misreports behind their backs, till it were proved of them personally, or they had answered for themselves for we that better knew them than those that were like to be their accusers, did confidently testify to his majesty on their behalf, that they are resolved enemies of sedition, rebellion, disobedience, and divisions; which the world shall see, and their adversaries be convinced of, if his majesty's wisdom and clemency do but remove those occasions of scruple, in some points of discipline and worship of God, which give advantage to others to call all dissenters factious and disobedient, how loyal and peaceable soever. And I humbly craved that the freedom and plainness of these expressions to his majesty might be pardoned, as being extracted by the present necessity, and encouraged by our revived hopes. I told him also, that it was not for Presbyterians, or any party, as such, that we were speaking, but for the religious part of his subjects, as such; than whom no prince on earth had better; and how considerable part of the kingdom he would find them to be; and of what great advantage their union would be to his majesty, to the people, and to the bishops themselves; and how easily it might be procured,-1..By making only things necessary to be the terms of union. 2. And by the true exercise of church discipline against sin. 3. And not casting out the faithful ministers that must exercise it, nor obtruding unworthy men upon the people. And how easy it was to avoid the violating of men's solemn vows and covenants, without any hurt to any others. And finally, I requested that we might but be heard speak for ourselves, when any accusations were brought against us.

These, with some other such things, I then spake, when some of my brethren had spoken first. Mr. Simeon Ash also

spake much to the same purpose, and of all our desires of his majesty's assistance in our desired union.

The king gave us not only a free audience, but as gracious an answer as we could expect : professing his gladness to hear our inclinations to agreement, and his resolution to do his part to bring us together; and that it must not be by bringing one party over to the other, but by abating somewhat on both sides, and meeting in the midway; and that if it were not accomplished, it should belong of ourselves, and not of him. Nay, that he was resolved to see it brought to pass, and that he would draw us together himself: with some more to this purpose. Insomuch that old Mr. Ash burst out into tears with joy, and could not forbear expressing what gladness this promise of his majesty had put into his heart.

Either at this time, or shortly after, the king required us to draw up, and offer him such proposals as we thought meet, in order to agreement about church government; for that was the main difference: if that were agreed there would be little danger of differing in the rest: and he desired us to set down the most that we could yield to.

We told him, 1. That we were but a few men, and had no commission from any of our brethren to express their minds : and therefore desired that his majesty would give us leave to acquaint our brethren in the country with it, and take them with us. The king answered, that that would be too long, and make too much noise, and therefore we should do what we would our selves only, with such of the city as we would take with us. And when we then professed that we presumed not to give the sense of others, nor oblige them; and that what we did must signify but the minds of so many men as were present; he answered, that it should signify no more; and that he did not intend to call an assembly of the other party, but would bring a few, such as he thought meet and that if he thought good to advise with a few of each side, for his own satisfaction, none had cause to be offended at it.

[2.] Also we craved that at the same time when we offered

our concessions to the king, the brethren on the other side might bring in theirs, containing also the uttermost that they could abate and yield to us for concord, that seeing both together, we might see what probability of success we had. And the king promised that it should be so.

Hereupon we departed and appointed to meet from day to day at Sion College, and to consult there openly with any of our brethren that would please to join with us, that none might say they were excluded: some city ministers came among us, and some came not; and divers country ministers who were in the city came also to us; as Dr. Worth, since a bishop in Ireland, Mr. Fulwood, since Archdeacon of Totnes, &c. But Mr. Matthew Newcomen was most constant in assisting us.

IV.

The first Address and Proposals of the Ministers.'-Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, by Sylvester, pp. 232-6; Cardwell's History of Conferences, pp. 277-86, Oxford, 1849.

May it please your most excellent majesty,

WE your majesty's most loyal subjects cannot but acknowledge it as a very great mercy of God, that immediately after your so wonderful and peaceable restoration unto your throne and

Of the preparation of this paper, Baxter gives the following account:"Mr. Calamy drew up most with Dr. Reynolds; Dr. Reynolds and Dr. "Worth drew up that which is against the ceremonies; I only prevailed "with them to premise the four first particulars, for the countenancing godliness, the ministry, personal profession, and the Lord's day: they were "backward, because they were not the points in controversy; but yielded at "last on the reasons offered them.........I also prevailed with our brethren "to offer an abstract of our larger papers, lest the reading of the larger "should seem tedious to the king; which abstract verbatim, as followeth, at "their desire I drew up."-Life, by Sylvester, p. 232.

government, (for which we bless his Name) he hath stirred up your royal heart as to a zealous testimony against all profaneness in the people, so to endeavour a happy composing of the differences, and healing of the sad breaches which are in the church. And we shall, according to our bounden duty, become humble suitors at the throne of grace, that the God of peace who hath put such a thing as this into your majesty's heart, will by his heavenly wisdom and holy Spirit so assist you therein, and bring your resolutions unto so perfect an effect and issue, that all the good people of these kingdoms may have abundant cause to rise up and bless you, and to bless God who hath delighted in you to make you his instrument in so happy a work. That as your glorious progenitor Henry VII was happy in uniting the houses of Lancaster and York, and your grandfather, King James of blessed memory, in uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland, so this honour may be reserved for your majesty as a radiant jewel in your crown, that by your princely wisdom and Christian moderation, the hearts of all your people may be united, and the unhappy differences and mis-understandings amongst brethren in matters ecclesiastical so composed, that the Lord may be one, and his Name one in the midst of your dominions.

In an humble conformity to this your majesty's Christian design, we, taking it for granted that there is a firm agreement between our brethren and us in the doctrinal truths of the reformed religion, and in the substantial parts of divine worship, and that the differences are only in some various conceptions about the ancient form of church-government, and some particulars about liturgy and ceremonies, do in all humble obedience to your majesty represent,-that inasmuch as the ultimate end of church-government and ministry is, that holiness of life and salvation of souls may be effectually promoted, we humbly desire in the first place, that we may be secured of those things in practice, of which we seem to be agreed in principles.

1. That those of our flocks who are serious and diligent