The Grotian religion discovered, at the invitation of Mr. Thomas Pierce in his Vindication. With a preface, vindicating the Synod of Dort from the calumnies of the new Tilenus; and David, Peter, &c. And the Puritanes, and sequestrations, &c. from the censures of Mr. Pierce. / By Richard Baxter, Catholick.

SECT. LXXVII.

YOU cannot more convincingly shew * 1.1 your selves true Catholicks, and free from the partial designs of the Romanists, which I mentioned, then by a readiness for a truly Catholick Pacification. Will you then begin at home? our breaches are wide enough, and have continued long enough: Forbear▪ your reproaches and uncharitable courses that tend to widen them. You complain that you are persecuted: will you but yield to terms of Peace and Piety, such as are not fitted to a Party, but to the in∣crease of Faith and Holiness, and the good of all? and I would be one that should with all possible importunity Petition for your Liberty. Will you lovingly consult with your Brethren whom you now re∣proach and censure, to find out, 1. The way of nearest Closure and Agreement; and 2. Of such a Brotherly forbearance in the points wherein you cannot Agree, as most tendeth to maintain our Unity and Peace, and promote the common Truths that we are agreed in? If you would but signifie your Readiness to such an healing

course, that the Protestant Churches might be strengthened, and owned, and faithful Ministers of both perswasions might (not be degraded as by many of you they are, nor persecuted as you say you now are, but) be used for the service of their Ma∣ster, and none of their gifts lost to the Church of Christ; we should then be the more confident that you are not for a fa∣ction but the Christian Catholick Interest: Especially if in deeds as well as words, you will manifest this Consent. I dare boldly say, on long consideration, that the terms of Peace are within our reach, even such as moderate men should agree upon: Were it as easie to find a Peaceable Disposition, the work would be soon done. Without con∣sulting the Presbyterians in the point, I dare venture to say with very great confi∣dence, that they will yield to the terms that Bishop Hall himself hath propounded as sa∣tisfactory in his Peace-maker, pag. 47, 48, 49, 50, 51. and Bishop Ʋsher in his Modell called the Reduction, &c. Are you moderate Episcopal Divines! Why then are we not agreed without any more ado? Two of your own Bishops, (as Pious, Reverend, Learned men, as most ever the Church had) have already laid down the

terms, (To which I may add Forbes his Ire∣nicon.) If you are agreed, we are agreed: I mean, very many that I know to be of my own mind in this; and very many of the most learned, godly Presbyterians in England. I agreed with Bishop Ʋsher in a quarter of an hour, proposing to him some Healing terms, which he professed were suf∣ficient with moderate men, though with others he found they would not take. When we attempted our Association in this County, we purposely left our terms so wide as that we might have Communion with Godly Episcopal men as well as others. But when two of them (Learned moderate men) approved of our Design, and were about to joyn with us (though of another County) in promoting it, a famous, learned man of the New way (of Mr. Ps. acquaintance, and one of his Epi∣stelers) by an unpeaceable writing blasted all: perswading one of them not to Cove∣nant with Schism, and (in my judgement) fomenting a Schism, and that by poor in∣sufficient reasonings, under pretence of avoiding Schismaticks. In a word; Peace is before you: If you love it, and are real∣ly friends of it as you pretend; accept it, that the Church may have the benefit. If

you refuse it, pretend not to be lovers of it; and blame your selves if you choose rather to smart, then to suffer the Churches wounds to be healed: And you shall give us leave to enjoy the comfort of our de∣sires and endeavours for Unity and Peace, whether we attain them or not.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 77.