pected to unite all hearts, by attacking all understandings; the other trusted more to the gradual operation of Christian feeling, by which alone he believed that extended unity would finally be effected. The issue has proved that, in this case, Owen had made the wiser calculation,

CHAPTER X.

1670-1676.

Conventicle Act renewed-Lord Lauderdale-Fears of the Bishops about the increase of Popery-Bishop Ward-Grove-Serjeant Fountain-Judge Vaughan-The King connives at the Toleration of the NonconformistsShuts up the Exchequer-The Dispensing Declaration-License applied for on Baxter's behalf-Pinner's Hall Lecture-Baxter Preaches at different places-The King's Declaration voted illegal by Parliament-The Test Act-Baxter desired by the Earl of Orrery to draw up new Terms of Agreement-Healing Measure proposed in the House of Commons, which fails-Conduct of some of the Conformists-Baxter's Afflictions-Preaches at St. James's Market-House-Licenses recalled-Baxter employs an Assistant-Apprehended by a Warrant-Escapes being imprisoned-Another Scheme of Comprehension-Informers-City Magistrates-Parliament falls on Lauderdale and others-The Bishops' Test Act-Baxter's Goods distrained-Various Ministerial Labours and Sufferings-Controversy with Penn-Baxter's Danger-His Writings during this period.

In the year 1670, the act against conventicles was renewed, and made more severe than ever, several new clauses being inserted, which Baxter believed to have a particular reference to his own case. It was declared, for instance, contrary to all justice, that the faults of the mittimus should not vitiate it, and that all doubtful clauses should be interpreted in the sense most unfavourable to conventicles. It seemed as if the intention of the court had been to extirpate the Nonconformists root and branch; for the act was enforced with the utmost rigour against the most respectable persons among them. The meetings in

f Sheldon again addressed the bishops of the province of Canterbury, urging them to promote, by every means in their power, "so blessed a work as the preventing and suppressing of conventicles," which the king and parliament, "out of their pious care for the welfare of the church and king

London were continually disturbed by bands of soldiers. Dr. Manton, though his friends were numerous and powerful, was sent six months to the Gate-house prison for preaching in his own house, in the parish of which he had formerly been minister.

While Baxter remained quiet at Totteridge, he was sent for to Barnet, by the Earl of Lauderdale, who was then proceeding to Scotland with a project of making some alterations in the state of ecclesiastical affairs in that country. By the king's permission, he consulted Baxter, and offered him, if he would go to Scotland, a church, or a bishoprick, or the management of some of the colleges. Baxter was not to be taken in such a trap, for such in all probability it was; as Lauderdale no sooner went into Scotland, than he became one of the greatest persecutors of the Presbyterian church. In answer to his requests and offers, Baxter, on the 24th of June, 1670, wrote him the following admirable letter, which illustrates his character as a minister, his courtesy as a gentleman, and supplies some particulars respecting his family.

My Lord,

"Being deeply sensible of your lordship's favours, and especially for your liberal offers for my entertainment in Scotland, I humbly return you my very hearty thanks; but the following considerations forbid me to entertain any hopes, or further thoughts of such a removal:

"The experience of my great weakness and decay of strength, and particularly of this last winter's pain, and how much worse I am in winter than in summer, fully persuades me that I

dom," had endeavoured to accomplish in the late act.-Calamy's Abridgment, i. 328-331. Harris also, in his Life of Charles II.,' has given the letter entire, vol. ii. pp. 106, 107. Bishop Wilkins opposed the above act in the House of Lords, notwithstanding the king's request that he would at least be silent.

should live but a little while in Scotland, and that in a disabled, useless condition, rather keeping my bed than the pulpit.

"I am engaged in writing a book, which, if I could hope to live to finish, is almost all the service I expect to do God and his church more in the world-a Latiu Methodus Theologiæ. Indeed I can hardly hope to live so long, as it requires yet nearly a year's labour more. Now, if I should spend that half year, or year, which should finish this work, in travel, and the trouble of such a removal, and then leave it undone, it would disappoint me of the ends of my life. I live only for work, and therefore should remove only for work, and not for wealth and honours, if ever I remove.

"If I were there, all that I could hope for, were liberty to preach the Gospel of salvation, and especially in some university among young scholars. But I hear that you have enough already for this work, who are likely to do it better than I can.

"I have a family, and in it a mother-in-law of eighty years of age, of honourable extract and great worth, whom I must not neglect, and who cannot travel. To such an one as I, it is so great a business to remove a family, with all our goods and books so far, that it deterreth me from thinking of it, especially having paid so dear for removals these eight years as I have done; and being but yesterday settled in a house which I have newly taken, and that with great trouble and loss of time. And if I should find Scotland disagree with me, which I fully conclude it would, I must remove all back again.

"All these things concur to deprive me of the benefit of your lordship's favour. But, my lord, there are other parts of it, which I am not altogether hopeless of receiving. When I am commanded to pray for kings and all in authority,' I am allowed the ambition of this preferment, which is all that ever I aspired after, to live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.' Diu nimis habitavit anima mea inter osores pacis.

"I am weary of the noise of contentious revilers, and have oft had thoughts to go into a foreign land, if I could find where I might have healthful air and quietness, but to live and die in peace. When I sit in a corner, and meddle with nobody, and hope the world will forget that I am alive, court, city, and country, are still filled with clamours against me. When a preacher wanteth preferment, his way is to preach or write a book against the Nonconformists, and me by name; so that the menstrua of the press, and the pulpits of some, are bloody invectives against myself, as if my peace were inconsistent with the kingdom's happiness. Never did my eyes read such impudent untruths, in matter of fact, as such writings contain. They cry out for answers and reasons of my nonconformity, while they know the law forbiddeth me to answer them unlicensed. I expect not that any favour or justice of my superiors should cure this, but if I might but be heard speak for myself before I be judged by them, and such things believed (for, to contemn the judgment of my rulers, is to dishonour them), I would request that I might be allowed to live quietly to follow my private studies, and might once again have the use of my books, which I have not seen these ten years. I pay for a room for their standing in at Kidderminster, where they are eaten by worms and rats; having no sufficient security for. my quiet abode in any place to encourage me to send for them.: I would also ask that I might have the liberty every beggar hath, to travel from town to town. I mean but to London, to oversee the press, when any thing of mine is licensed for it. If I be sent to Newgate for preaching Christ's Gospel (for I dare not sacrilegiously renounce my calling, to which I am conse-. crated per sacramentum ordinis), I would request the favour of a better prison, where I may but walk and write. These I should take as very great favours, and acknowledge your lordship my benefactor if you procure them: for I will not so much injure