the body of the Parliament, city, and country, are for the Presbytery, and love us, and hate the Sectaries; but are all outwitted and overpowered by a few, whom the service and activeness of our army would undo... But of these things, much more than I purposed; only I thought good to let you know the inside of our affairs... These things to you only, and Mr. David [Dickson], and to whom you think expedient... Mr. Samuel [Rutherfurd] and Mr. George [Gillespie] are busy with the press, and I will [shall] be so for one five or six weeks thereafter."

Spang is informed, October 17th, "To clear our reputation, we have printed some of our late papers to satisfy the ignorance of the people in answer to our last paper, the House of Commons have passed sundry very strange and unkind votes, wherewith the Lords have yet refused to concur... Jamesone."b

Another Letter to Spang, seven days later, acquaints him that, "Unhappily, Amyraut's Questions are brought in our Assembly. Many more love these fancies here than I expected. It falls out ill, that Spanheim's book is so long acoming out, while Amyraut's treatise goes in the Assembly from hand to hand; yet I hope this shall go right. The City and Assembly are on a better way than before, to make the Parliament for more liberty to suspend from the table scandalous persons, than they would willingly grant... My piece against the Independents is on the press.'

November 6th, of this year, 1645, the "Committee for Accommodation," first appointed Sept. 13th, 1644, was revived by Order of both Houses; the Lords' committee consisting of the Earls of Northumberland and Manchester, with Viscount Say and Seale, Lord Wharton, and Lord Howard. The Assembly's Committee were at this time, Marshall, Burgess, White, Hoyle, Temple, Smith, Palmer, Seaman, Herle, Goodwin, Nye, Bridge, Hill, Reynolds, Arrowsmith, Young, Vines, Tuckney, Newcomen, Simpson, Burroughes, Dury. Those Committees, with the Scots Cominissioners, met on Monday, the 14th, in the Jerusalem chamber, and re-appointed those "who had formerly been a sub-committee for that purpose," to "consider and prepare matter" for debate at another meeting on the 24th. That day, the chairman of the sub-committee, Vines, reported, That they had not prepared, as they were instructed, "because the Dissenting Brethren," the Independents, "did waive the first part of the Order," touching Accommodation; and that those Brethren were left by the rest, to present their thoughts to this Committee; "not as the result of the sub-committee, but as their own." The Independents accordingly gave in as follows: "The nature of the business puts us upon the second part of the Ordinance of Parliament, The endeavouring to find out some way how far tender consciences, etc., may be borne with.'.. Which," said they, we humbly present to the consideration of this Committee." Whereupon it was resolved, That Masters Goodwin, Nye, Simpson, Bridge, and Burroughes, bring in "upon Thurs

a Let. 119, p. 161-164.

с

b Let. 120, p. 165.

d See back, p. 447.

Let. 121, p. 166, 167.-For Amyraut, see Biog. Universelle. 1811. 8vo. Tome 2, p. 81, 82.

day seven-night, wherein they desire to be borne with in point of Church Government."*

A "Public" Letter of Baillie's, November 25th, reports that "In the Assembly, we are going on with the Confession of Faith. We had long and tough debates about the decrees of Election; yet thanks to God all is gone right according to our mind. That which has taken up much of the Assembly's time and mind, these six or seven weeks, is their manifold Petitions to the Parliament for a full liberty to keep from the holy table all scandalous persons. The Parliament calls this an arbitrary power, and requires the Assembly to make an express enumeration of all the sins for which they intend to censure. After many returns, we gave them in an enumeration of many particulars, but withal [it] craves a general clause to be added... The ministers refuse to accept of presbyteries without this power... We are now hot on the Committee for Accommodation. I tell my mind freely of it in my preface to my Dissuasive from the Errors of the Time,' which is now abroad... The Independents, in their last meeting of our Grand Committee of Accommodation, have expressed their desires for Toleration, not only to themselves but to other sects [!] The Parliament has no great inclination to satisfy either. What may come of this, we know not; only it were our heart's desire that our army at Newark were recruited [!]"b

He tells Spang, November 29th; "I have sent you seven of my 'Dissuasives.'..I expect a shower of Independents about my ears, but I am not [a] feared: I have a reserve of more stories, and I think they will have more to do shortly, for their elusory denial to the Assembly of their model they caused print [to be printed] under the name of a Remonstrance,' to which the Assembly has made a large and sharp Answer," which lays them more even; also, their rejecting of all accommodation, and pleading for a Toleration not only of their separate churches but for the other sects, gives great offence, and will draw out bitter writs quickly against them... Will you entreat Dr. Forbes to press his friend Vossius to print that he told me he had ready against the Anabaptists, the greatest and most prevalent sect here: in tumultuous ways they provoke our chief ministers to public disputations for Pædobaptism."

The next, is also to Spang, but without date. "The first impression of my Dissuasive' is away already. It is going again to the press. I get thanks for it from many. I wish you might put Forbes to go on with his history, especially of the Anabaptists, Libertines, and such as presently vex us... These [the Anabaptists] and the Sectaries also most increase amongst us. Tombes, a minister of London, has printed a large book for them, wherein he dares us all... Some six or seven weeks ago, the humour of the faction who guides here, towards

a From p. 12-15, of "The Papers and Answers of the Dissenting Brethren and [the rest of] the Committee of the Assembly of Divines: given in to the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons and Assembly of Divines with the Scotch Commissioners, for Accommodation; at the Revising of that Committee: 1645. Printed, 1648." 4to. pp. 123.

b Let. 122, p. 168, 169. c 1645. 4to. pp. 24.

d Let, 123, p. 169, 170.

us seemed not to be friendly... We were content to have the Committee for Accommodation renewed for our opposition to their designs: in this, was the main fountain of their evil talent against us: . . we would, for peace's cause, dispense with them in very many things, but they are peremptory, they will not hear nor speak of any accommodation, but they will, by all means, have their separate churches. They plead for a Toleration to other sects as well as to themselves; and with much ado could we get them to propone [propound] what they desired to themselves. At last they gave us a paper:.. in our answer, we flatly denied such a vast liberty, and backed it with reasons, and withal are begun to show what indulgence we could, for peace' sake, grant. Here Mr. Marshall, our chairman, has been their most diligent agent to draw too many of us to grant them much more than my heart can yield to, and which to my power I oppose. As yet, we are not come to express our rash bounty, and some things have intervened from God that I hope will stay the precipitancy of some whom I expected should have been more opposite to all toleration of separate congregations than, when it comes to a chock, [brunt] I found them: 1. Thomas Goodwin, the last meeting, declared publicly that he cannot refuse to be members-nor censure, when members-any for Anabaptism, Lutheranism, or any errors which are not fundamental, and maintained against knowledge, according to the principle in the Apologetic. This ingenuous and most timeous albeit merely accidental fession, has much allayed the favour of some to their Toleration. 2. Some good friend has informed [of] the City-ministers that they, in their meeting at Sion College, have resolved unanimously to petition the Assembly against all such tolerations. 3. The other day Say and Wharton moved in the House of Lords, to adjourn—that is, really to dissolve the Assembly. 4. The Independents are stickling too openly to have the Common Council of London modelled to their mind. 5. Instead of their long-expected model, they presented a libel of invectives as reasons why they would present no model to the Assembly: this, underhand, they caused print; and when the Assembly had drawn up a sober and true answer, and got an order from the House of Lords to print it, they make their friends in the House of Commons as yet to keep it in. All these are alarms to make us, if we be not demented [distracted] as many the best men here are, to be the more wary of their toleration."a

pro

An undated" Public Letter" contains these remarks, that "God has helped us to get the body of the ministry of all the land to be cordially for us, and the City is now striking in; which we hope shall carry it, and get up a straighter Government, and also exclude toleration of sects more than many men here do desire! We have had many bickerings with the Independents in the Grand Committee about an indulgence for their separate congregations... For this point, both they and we contend tanquam pro aris et focis. Had it been God's will to have made our army here this last year successful, we should have had few debates for any of our desires; but the calamities of our country [Scotland] and weakness of our army, make the sects and their friends bold, and very insolent."b

a Let. 124, p. 170-172. b Let. 125, p. 174,175.

To Spang, undated: "Matters are near some crisis. I pray God it may be happy. I count the King's party utterly undone... London is not willing to quit what both parliaments [Scotch and English] granted to them before, and therefore did offer petition upon petition to have their own militia, as in the propositions agreed to by both kingdoms was settled. The Lords were willing to let it go so: the Commons, foreseeing that such a power in the hands of London, though under the Parliament, yet makes them masters of the Parliament; also gives them power over the city of Westminster and all the suburbs, which they had not before; so demur upon the matter, and are content to hear the contrary petitions of Westminster and the suburbs, which may draw the business of the propositions to so great a length as they please. In the mean time, the King's extremity makes him very impatient of such delays. The City is much grieved that what before was without a question granted to them, should now be taken away This controversy makes them the more willing to look into the ways of the Sectaries... The City is in so good a temper these two months as we could wish... The Sectarian party would gladly be at a breach with us; but the affection which France and the City declares towards us, does a little bridle them."

In a "Public Letter, December 2nd," these incidentals appear, "Our army [of Scots is come to Newark... The Independents here plead for a Toleration both for themselves and other sects. My 'Dissuasive' is come in time to do service here. We hope God will assist us to remonstrate the wickedness of such a Toleration... An 'Accommodation,' in just terms, we were well content with; but the Independents always scorned it. Yet ere long I think they will beg it when it will not be granted."b

Then follows a Letter headed "For Mr. Roberts," but without a date: "Reverend and Beloved Brother,.. Yesterday the Assembly's Petition was frowned upon in both Houses; notwithstanding, we purpose, God willing, on Thursday to give in a remonstance of a more full and high strain... I heard yesterday, that Mr. Lilburn has a Petition for the Sectaries, subscribed with the hands of a great many thousands... If your city will countenance Mr. Peter's sermon on the day appointed, they do but go on as they have begun. Send back this letter with the bearer; for we had need to beware what papers be in any of your studies, since, the other day, it was earnestly pressed in the House that Mr. Jenkins', Mr. Cranford's, and, as I think, Mr. Fisher's studies should be presently sealed up, and searched. These be but the beginnings of evils."

Let. 126. p. 176-178. b Let. 127. p. 178, 179. e Let. 138. p. 179, 180.

CHAP. LXII.

39

COTTON'S "WAY OF THE CHURCHES." ANIMADVERSIONS UPON COTTON'S "KEYS" AND "WAY." -HIS DEFENCE.

FOR another contribution necessary to the obtaining of a full and correct insight into the opinions and practices of our ancestors, we resort to "The Way of the Churches of Christ in New England: Or, The Way of Churches walking in Brotherly Equality, or Co-ordination, without Subection of one Church to another: Measured and examined by the Golden Reed of the Sanctuary. Containing a full Declaration of the Church-Way in all particulars. By Mr. J. Cotton, Teacher of the Church at Boston in New England. — Published according to Order. Lond. 1645." 4to. pp. 116.

The Epistle to the Reader, "satisfying," say they who superintended the passing this treatise through the press,-" his desire of a fuller declaration of the Church-Way," commences with remarking that "Although our Brethren of a different judgment from that Way, have not, all this while, held forth unto us what Discipline they intend; nor yet have pointed us to any Platform settled in adjacent kingdoms; but rather have lured off our eye with intimations that they intend some variation; yet how many [times], how long [time], have [they] even dulled our ears with expostulations for a fuller declaration of ourselves, whose hands they know are much bound up, and our single selves in an incapacity to be representative of others! The unwillingness of Licensers to license our tracts; and the earnest endeavours of some to move complaints against two or three of our most moderate books, that with hard travail got a convoy of licences to cut through the presses, are not dumb witnesses how much our way is barred, and our hands tied short...

"With much ado, we have presented you with a fuller 'declaration' of all our Way, according to the Scriptures, in this learned yet modest treatise... If all things in this treatise as now printed, do not answer punctually word for word to the first written copy, let the reverend author, and the candid reader, pardon us... Lest any should imagine that every thing in the Keys' doth not fit all the wards in this treatise to a hair, we will here insert Mr. Cotton's own words.. coming.. while this Epistle lay under the Press, namely, 'If you think the draft of Church-Discipline which was sent over in your ship, varieth from that of The Power of the Keys 'b sent over the year after; you may have some occasion so to conceive, from some difference of expression in logical terms, but not a jot in any doctrine of divinity, or church-practice.. To Mr. R. M.' Divers objections, formerly, laid against the printing of this book, to the saddening of the author; some whereof are now answered by the late season of printing it; others by the necessity of them that conscientiously and candidly cry out for a Sce back, p. 155. b See back, p. 259.