Evangelical and Catholick unity, maintained in the Church of England: or an apology for her government, liturgy, subscriptions, &c.: With answers to the objections of Mr. B. Dr. O. and others, against conformity. Also a vindication of the Lord Bishop of Ely, shewing his way of true and Christian concord. And a post-script in answer to Mr. B's late objections against my self, concerning general councils, &c. By William Saywell, D.D. and master of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge.

The Lord Bishop of Ely's way of Concord, and Endeavour after it.

But his Lordship is highly to blame, be∣cause he will not come up to Mr. Baxter's Terms of the True and only way to Concord. If his Lordship did not endeavour after Concord, amongst all good Christians, and promote the Peace and Unity of the Church, I should confes he did justly deserve Mr. Baxter's Censure; but I am not only fully perswaded, but can certainly prove it, that no man in the World has shewn greater Moderation, or laid a surer Foun∣dation for universal Concord amongst all good Christians, than his Lordship has done; and God be thanked of late years, most of the Church-men are convinced by direful Experience, that his Lordships Catholick Principles, and primitive Moderation, are the soundest in themselves, and necessary for the Churches Peace; and therefore Mr. Baxter cannot but be sensible, that men whom he thought great Favourers of his Party, have shewed themselves to be of another mind, and poured out upon him, the Authority of whole Armies of Saints and Martyrs, and invincible Reasons,

to batter down his Babel Structure, to con∣found the Church, which he has set forth under the specious name, of the True and only way to Concord.

Let us then consider the Bishop of Ely's way of Concord, which is, by uniting in that ancient Catholick and Apostolick Faith, Doctrine, Government, Administration of Sacraments, and Order of Worship, which was instituted by Christ and his Apostles, confirmed by the general Councils, recei∣ved down by the known Custom and Pra∣ctice of the Churches of God throughout all Ages, and approved by the primitive Fathers and Martyrs, and established in this Nation for substance, ever since Chri∣stianity was first planted, (which was within four years after our Saviour's Ascension;) and under those Circumstances and Forms, which have been established by Law ever since the first Reformation; and who can desire a better, or propose a more reason∣able way to Concord than this? For all wise men are willing to take Advice, and to hearken to the sober Resolutions and Counsels of grave and learned Divines, famous for their Integrity and Wisdom. Where then can we hope to find this bet∣ter, than in the constant Tradition of the Church, and the most deliberate Resoluti∣on of the primitive Fathers and Martyrs,

and the ablest men in all Ages? Besides, in the unanimous Profession of that Society which God has chosen peculiarly out of the World, and promised to bless with his perpetual presence, and thereupon has call∣ed it the Pillar and Ground of Truth; and assured us, that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against it. And as it is against the Catholick Faith, to deny that that Pro∣mise is not made hitherto good, so it will puzzle Mr. Baxter's skill in Church-Histo∣ries, or any other mans, to shew that this had not been made good in the visible, publick, undoubted Acts and Traditions of the whole Church in all Ages, from the Apostles time to this very moment. 'Tis needless to reckon up the Particulars wherein all agree, for his Lordships Pro∣fession is the same which is all over the Christian World.

Come we then to consider the Concord the Bishop maintains with all other Chri∣stian Churches. Now there is not one setled Church, established by publick Au∣thority, that he is not at Concord withall, and holds Christian Communion, and would actually embrace, and receive to his Prayers and Sacraments, and count as Mem∣bers of the same Mystical Body, whereof Christ is the Head, though he does not agree with them in their Errors and Sin∣gularities,

and only differs from them, where they depart from the Scripture and the Ca∣tholick Church. Why does Mr. Baxter then weary himself out with inventing new Models and Contrivances, and feigning an endless multitude of Scruples about Church Communion, when all the sober part of the Christian World are generally united already? And they are the great Zealots for the Pope, and such furious Anti-Epis∣copal Dissenters as Mr. Baxter, that hinder all Christian Concord, and set the World •••• a Combustion with their groundless and unnecessary Disputes. Mr. Baxter, I sup∣pose, in his younger dayes, before he had well considered the Terms of Church Con∣cord, and thoroughly understood the State of the Christian Church, saw the Anti-Episcopal Party a prevailing Interest, and so put on a Buff Coat to become like them, when he was engaged amongst the Rebels, against the King, and his Spiritual Fathers in Christ. And now to justifie the Errors of his Youth, would perswade all the World to be of his mind, and make men believe the Breaches are irreconcileable, unless they will palliate his Miscarriages, by making them the Standard of Church Communi∣on; whereas if he would be quiet, and keep within his Station, the Methods of Concord are better already than any he can

offer, and People would be satisfied, and mind their business that concerns them, if he would let them alone. But then Mr. Baxter will be inconsiderable, his Name and Books will make no noise; and that Cause that he has wrote and drawn his Sword for, will appear, indeed as it is, no better than Schism and Rebellion, against the Father of his Country, and the Spiri∣tual Fathers of the Church.

Notes

• 1 Tim. 3.15. Mat. 16.18