they, and not the bifhops, had fought the conference, being defirous of alterations in the liturgy; and that therefore there was nothing to be done, till they had brought in all they had to say against it in writing, and all the additions which they defired." The minifters moved for an amicable conference, according to the commiffion, as more likely to answer the great end; but the Bp. of London infifted upon it, "That nothing fhould be done till all exceptions, alterations, and additions were brought in at once." After fome debate, it was agreed, "That they should bring all their exceptions at one time, and all their additions at another time." They accordingly drew up their exceptions, and offered them to the bishops. They propofed, that the liturgy might have nothing in it doubtful, or questioned amongst pious, learned, and orthodox perfons; and particularly mentioned a variety of alterations, which the reader will eafily judge of, from the reasons they afterwards gave for their nonconformity. (See §. V.) Mr. Baxter drew up the additions, or new forms, (for those who might fcruple to use the old) ftiled, The Reformed Liturgy *; which the minifters generally approved, as indeed it was undertaken at their request.

During the interval, the convocation was chofen, which was politicly deferred till now; for had it been called when the king came in, the inferior clergy would have been against the diocefans. But now the diocefan party wholly carried it in the choice. The election was in London, May 2, 1661. Mr. Calamy and Mr. Baxter were chofen by a majority of three voices. But the bishop of London, having the power of chufing two out of four, or four out of fix, that are chosen by the minifters in a certain circuit, was so kind as to excuse them by pitching on others: and fo the city of London had no clerk in the convocation. May the 4th, the paper of exceptions was given in at a meeting with the bifhops. May the 7th, there was a meeting at Sion College of the minifters of London, for the choice of a prefident and affiftants for the next year. Some of the Prefbyterians, upon a pettish scruple abfenting themfelves, the diocefan party carried it, and got the poffeffion and rule of the college. May the 8th, the new parliament and convocation fat, conftituted of men devoted to the diocesan intereft. May the 22d, by order of parliament, the national vow and covenant was burnt by the common hangman.

• That the world might judge of this performance, Dr. Calamy has preferved a copy of it at the end of Mr. Baxter's life.

A pcti

A petition was, by the consent of the minifters, drawn up and presented to the bishops at the fame time with the reformed liturgy; in which they, with great humility and earnestness, defired them to abate their impofitions, in order to the peace of the church; pathetically urged many moving arguments to induce them to a compliance; and begged only that they would grant them the freedom which Christ and his apostles left ❝ unto the churches."

The bishops, after fome delay, fent them a paper of reasonings against their exceptions, without any abatements or alterations at all, worth naming; an answer to which was also drawn up. At last, the commiffion being within ten days of expiring, the minifters fent to the bifhops to defire fome perfonal conference upon the fubject of the papers, which was yielded to; and at the meeting the answer to their laft paper was delivered them. The minifters earnestly pressed them to spend the little time remaining in fuch pacifying conference as tended to the ends mentioned in the king's declaration and commiffion. There is reafon to think, that the generality of the bishops and doctors who were present at these meetings, did not read the reformed liturgy, or the reply of the minifters to their reasons against the exceptions they had given in. So that it seems, before they knew what was in them, they refolved to reject the papers of the ministers, right or wrong. When they came to debates, the minifters defired the bishops to animadvert on the alterations of the liturgy, and declare what they allowed or difallowed in them. But they would not be prevailed with to debate that matter, or give their opinions about those papers. It was then moved, That they would go over the particulars excepted againft, and declare what alterations they could yield to. But they told them, "They had nothing to say "upon that head, till the neceffity of an alteration in general "was proved, which it had not as yet been; they would yield

* Dr. Allen, of Huntingdonshire, clerk in this convocation, earnestly laboured with the bishop of London, that they might fo reform the liturgy, that no fober man might make exception; but was wished to forbear, for what should be, was concluded on. --- Conformist's Plea for Nonconf. pag. 31. So very nice and exact were the high party, that they -would not yield fo much as to forbear the leffons of the Apocrypha: infomuch, that after a long tug at the convocation-house about that matter, a good doctor came out at last with great joy," that they had carried er it for Bell and the Dragon."

❝to all that was proved neceffary, but looked upon none as "neceffary." The minifters urged them again and again with the words of the king's declaration and commiffion; and ob ferved, "It was ftrange, that when the king had fo long

and publicly determined upon the end, and called them to "confult about the means, they should at laft préfume to s contradict him, and determine the end itself unneceffary, " and confequently no means neceffary: and that therefore

all their meetings had been but trifling." They replied, "they must prove alterations neceffary:" The minifters anfwered," they were neceffary to peace and unity, which with❝out them would not be attained :" Which they would by no means yield. This was to draw on a difpute, before the end of which, the time of the commiffion was like to expire. To this therefore the minifters objected.-But nothing else would be yielded to, and fo a difpute was agreed on, to argue the neceffity of altering the liturgy,

After two days debate about the order of the difputation, Dr. Pierfon alone undertook to difpute on the fide of the bishops, when the minifters had discharged the opponent's province; which was accepted, Three of a party were chofen on each fide to manage the difpute. The bishops chofe Dr. Pierfon, Dr. Gunning, and Dr. Sparrow; the minifters chofe Dr. Bates, Dr. Jacomb, and Mr. Baxter: and they met to dispute accordingly. But there were so many speakers, and fo many interruptions, and fo many perfonal reflections, that it was to very little purpose, At length, Bp. Cosms produces à paper as from a confiderable perfon, containing a method to end the controverfy; which was, " to put the complainers "upon diftinguishing between the things they charged as

finful, and thofe which they oppofed as inexpedient only." The three difputants on the minifters fide, were defired to draw up an answer to it against the next morning; which they did, and charged eight things as flatly finful, and contrary to the word of God, viz, "that no minifter be admitted to bap"tize without using the fign of the crofs:-or officiate with" out the furplice,-That none be admitted to the Lord's

Supper, without receiving it kneeling, &c. &c." After a great deal of loose discourse, they came at length to the dif pute, which was managed in writing: the fole argument was, "the finfulness of enjoining minifters to deny the communion to all that dare not kneel." The ministers proved their affertion thus; That it was denying the facrament to

thofe

those whom the Holy Ghoft commands us to receive; urging Rom. xiv. 1, 3. "Him that is weak in the faith receive "you, but not to doubtful disputation, &c." The epifcopal divines answered, "That that text was not to the purpose, "because it fpeaks of things lawful and not commanded; "whereas the debate was about things lawful and alfo com"manded; and, withal, becaufe the receiving there mentioned, is not to be underflood of immediately receiving "perfons to the holy communion." The Presbyterian difputants replied: "The text forbids any fuch commands of "things lawful, as are not confiftent with receiving and for"bearing and that it muft neceffarily take in receiving per"fons to the Lord's Supper, because it requires the receiving "men to that church-communion in the general, of which "the facrament is a most eminent part, &c." But when Dr. Gunning had read certain citations and authorities for the other fide, Bp. Cofins, the moderator, put the question, “All

you that think Dr. G. has proved that Rom. xiv. speaketh "not of receiving the facrament, fay Aye." Upon which there was a general cry Aye, aye, among the hearers of the epifcopal party, of whom there were many in the hall, whereas the Prefbyterians had but two or three.

At length the epifcopal divines became opponents upon the fame question, and argued thus: "That command, which "enjoins only an act in itself lawful, is not finful." This Mr. Baxter denied. They then added; "That command, "which enjoins an act in itself lawful, and no other act or "circumstance unlawful, is not finful." This alfo Mr. Baxter denied as he did fome other propofitions of theirs. At length, finding themselves embarraffed, the dispute broke off with noise and confufion, and high reflections upon Mr. Baxter's cloudy imagination, and his perplexed, scholastic, and metaphyfical manner of diftinguishing; and Bp. Saunderfen being in the chair, pronounced that Gunning had the better of the argument. Bp. Morley afferted in print, that Mr. Baxter's affertion was not only falfe, but deftructive of all authority, human and divine. Upon this the whole nation almost was filled with tragical exclamations against the abominable affertion of one of the difputants at the Savoy, "that things not evil of themfelves, may have accidents fo

evil as may make it a fin to him that shall command them.” And thus ended the difpute at the Savoy, and all endeavours

for

for reconciliation upon the warrant of the king's commiffion. It may not be amifs to add fome remarks upon the temper and carriage of the commiffioners on both fides; feveral of whom feldom or never appeared: as Dr. King Bp. of Chester, Drs. Heylin, Barwick and Earle. Sheldon Bp. of London came feldom, tho' he, with Henchman and Morley, had the chief management of affairs. Others who were prefent, did not much concern themselves in the debate, as Dr. Frewen Abp. of York, Bps. Lucy, Warner, Saunderfon, Laney, Walton, Sterne, Dr. Hacket, and Dr. Sparrow.--Dr. Morley was the chief fpeaker. His manner was vehement, and he was against all abatements. He frequently interrupted Mr. Baxter.-Bp. Cofins was conftant, and tho' inclined to moderation, faid fome very fevere things. He appeared well verfed in the canons, councils, and fathers.-Bp. Gauden was never absent. He often took part with the Prefbyterian divines, and was the only moderator among the bishops, excepting Reignolds, who fpoke much the first day for moderation, but afterwards only. now and then a qualifying word, tho' he was heartily grieved for the fruitless iffue of the conference.

Of the difputants, Dr. Pierfon (afterwards Bp. of Chefter) difputed accurately, foberly and calmly, and procured for himself great refpect from the Prefbyterian minifters, who thought, if all had been in his power, it would have gone well for them. Dr. Gunning was the moft forward fpeaker, and ftuck at nothing. Bp. Burnet says, that he used all the arts of fophiftry in as confident a manner as if they had been found reasoning that he was unweariedly active to very little purpofe, and being very fond of Popifh rituals and ceremonies, he was much fet upon reconciling the church of England to Rome. Accordingly when Dr. Bates urged it upon him, that on the fame reasons as they impofed the crofs and furplice, they might bring in holy water, and lights, and abundance. of fuch ceremonies of Rome, which we have cast out; he anfwered, "Yes; and fo I think we ought to have more, and "not fewer."

On the fide of the Prefbyterians, Dr. Horton never appeared, nor Dr. Drake, because of a misnomer in the commiffion. Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Tuckney, and Mr. Woodbridge were prefent only once or twice.-Dr. Bates and Dr. Manton behaved with great modefty. The chief difputant was Mr. Baxter, who had (fays Mr. Neal) a very metaphyfical head and fertile invention, and

was