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fell into a very bad state of health, so as to be scarce able to stand. He was in this condition, when the justices of peace for the county of Middlesex granted a warrant against him, in order to his being bound to his good behaviour.

They got into his house, but could not immediately get at him, Mr. Baxter being in his study, and their warrant not impowering them to break open doors. Six constables, however, were set to hinder him from getting to his bed-chamber, and so, by keeping him from food and sleep, they carried their point, and took him away to the sessions house, where he was bound in the penalty of four hundred pounds to keep the peace, and was brought up twice afterwards, though he kept his bed the greatest part of the time. In the beginning of the year 1685, Mr. Baxter was committed to the King's Bench prison, by a warract from the Lord Chief Justice Jefferies, for his paraphrase on the New Testament, and tried on the 18th of May in the same year in the court of King's Bench, and found guilty, and on the 29th of June following received a very severe sentence *. In 1686, the king, by the mediation

This trial of Mr. Baxter was by much the most remarkable transaction in his life; and therefore, though we by no means affect long citations, yet, in such a case as this, we are under a necessity of stating things from a person who has given us the fairest account of them, for the sake of authority. On the 6th of May, being the first day of Easter Term, 1685, Mr. Baxter appeared in the court of King's Bench, and Mr. Attorney declared he would file an information against him. On the 14th the defendant pleaded not guilty, and on the 18th, Mr. Baxter being much indisposed, and desiring farther time than to the 30th, which was the day appointed for the trial, he moved by his counsel that it might be put off; on which occasion the Chief Justice answered angrily, I will not give him a minute's time more to save his life. We have had (says he) to do with other sorts of persons, but now we have a saint to deal with, and I know how to deal with saints as well as sinners. Yonder (says he) stands Oats in the pillory (as he actually did in New Palace-yard), and he says he suffers for the truth, and so does Baxter; but if Baxter did but stand on the other side of the pillory with him, I would say two of the greatest rogues and rascals in the kingdom stood 'there' On the 30th of May, in the afternoon, he was brought to his trial before the Lord Chief Justice Jefferies, at Guild-hall. Sir Henry Ashurst, who could not forsake his own and his father's friend, stood by him all the while. Mr. Baxter came first into court, and with all the marks of serenity and composure waited for the coming of the Lord Chief Justice, who appeared quickly after with great indignation in his face. He no sooner sat down, than a short cause was called, and tried; after which the clerk began to read the title of another cause. 'You

blockhead you (says Jefferies), the next cause is between Richard Baxter and the king: Upon which Mr. Baxter's cause was called. The passages mentioned in the information, was his Paraphrase on Matth. v. 19. Mark. ix. 39. Mark xi. 31. Mark xii. 38, 39, 40.

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diation of the Lord Powis, granted him a pardon, and on the 24th of November he was discharged out of the King's Bench. Sureties, however, were required for his good behaviour, but it was entered on his bail-piece by direction of King James, that his remaining in London, contrary to the Oxford act, should not be taken as a breach of the peace. After this he retired to a house he took in Charter-House Yard contenting himself with the exercise

x. 2. John xi. 57. and Acts xv. 12. These passages were picked out by Sir Roger L'Estrange, and some of his fraterony. And a certain noted clergyman (who shall be nameless) put into the bands of his enemies some accusations out of Rom. xiii. &c. as against the king, to touch his life, but no use was made of them. The great charge was, that in these several passages he reflected on the prelates of the church of England, and so was guilty of sedition, &c. The king's counsel opened the information at large, with its agravations. Mr. Wallop, Mr. Williams, Mr. Rotheram, Mr. Attwood, and Mr. Phipps, were Mr. Baxter's counsel, and had been feed by Sir Henry Ashurst Mr Wallop said, that he conceived the matter depending being a point of doctrine, it ought to be referred to the bishop, his ordinary; but if not, he humbly conceived the doctrine was innocent and justifiable, setting aside the innuendos, for which there was no colour, there being no ' antecedent to refer them to. (i. e. no bishop or clergy of the church ' of England named.) He said the book accused i. e. "The Comment on the New Testament," contained many eternal truths; but they who ' drew the information were the libellers, in applying to the prelates of the church of England, those severe things which were written con" cerning some prelates who deserved the characters which be gate. My 'Lord (says he), I humbly conceive the bishops Mr. Baxter speaks of, as your Lordship, if you have read church-history, must confess, were the plagues of the church and of the world' Mr. Wallop, says the Lord Chief Justice, I observe you are in all these dirty causes; and were it not for you gentlemen of the long robe, who should have more wit and honesty than to support and hold up these factious knaves by the 'chin, we should not be at the pass we are.' My Lord, says Mr. Wallop, I humbly conceive, that the passages accused are natural deduc⚫tions from the text.' You humbly conceive, says Jefferies, and I humbly conceive: Swear him, swear him.' My Lord, says he, under favour, I am counsel for the defendant; and, if I understand either Latin or English, the information now brought against Mr. Baxter ⚫ upon such a slight ground, is a greater reflection upon the church of England, than any thing contained in the book he is accused for.' Says Jefferies to him, Sometimes you humbly conceive, and sometimes you are very positive: You talk of your skill in church history, and of your understanding Latin and English; I think I understand 'something of them as well as you; but, in short, I must tell you, that if you do not understand your duty better, I shall teach it you.' Upon which Mr. Wallop sat down. Mr. Rotheram urged, that if Mr. Baxter's book had sharp reflections upon the church of Rome by name, but spake well of the prelates of the church of England, it was to be presumed that the sharp reflections were intended only against the prelates of the church of Rome.' The Lord Chief Justice

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cise of his ministry, as assistant to Mr. Silvester, and though no man was better qualified than he, for managing the public affairs of his party, yet he never meddled with them, nor had the least to do with those addresses which were presented by some of that body to King James II. on his indulgence. After his settlement in Charter-House Yard, he continued about four years and a half in the exercise of public duties, till he became so very weak as

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said, Baxter was an enemy to the name and thing, the office and person of bishops.' Rotheram added, that Baxter frequently at tended divine service, went to the sacrament, and persuaded others to 'do so too, as was certainly and publicly known; and had, in the very book 30 charged, spoken very moderately and honourably of the bishops of the church of England. Mr. Baxter added, 66 My "Lord, I have been so moderate with respect to the church of England, "that I have incurred the censure of many of the dissenters upon that "account." Baxter for bishops, says Jefferies, that's a merry conceit indeed: Turn to it, turn to it.' Upon this Rotheram turned to a place where it is said, That great respect is due to those truly called to be bishops among us,' or to that purpose. Ay, saith Jefferies, this is your Presbyterian cant; truly called to be bishops; that is himself, and such rascals, called to be bishops of Kidderminster and other such places: Bishops set apart by such factious, snivelling Presbyterians as himself; a Kidderminster bishop he means: Ac'cording to the saying of a late learned author, and every parish shall 'maintain a tithe-pig metropolitan.' Mr. Baxter, beginning to speak again, says he to him, Richard, Richard, dost thou think we will bear thee poison the court, &c. Richard, thou art an old fellow, an old knave; thou hast written books enough to load a cart, every one as full of sedition (I might say treason) as an egg is full of meat. Hadst thou been whipped out of thy writing trade forty years ago, it had been happy. Thou pretendest to be a preacher of the gospel of peace, and thou hast one foot in the grave; it is time for thee to 'begin to think what account thou intendest to give. But leave thee to thyself, and I see thou wilt go on as thou hast begun, but, by the grace of GoD, I will look after thee. I know thou hast a mighty party, and I see a great many of the brotherhood in corners, waiting to see what will become of their mighty don, and a doctor of the " party (looking to Dr. Bates) at your elbow; but, by the grace of Almighty God, I'll crush you all. Mr. Rotheram sitting down, Mr. Attwood began to shew, that not one of the passages mentioned in the information ought to be strained to that sense, which was put upon them by the innuendos, they being more natural when taken in a milder sense, nor could any one of them be applied to the prelates of the church of England without a very forced construction. Το evidence this he would have read some of the text: But Jefferies cried out, You shall not draw me into a conventiele with your anno⚫tations, nor your snivelling parson neither.' 'My Lord, said Attwood, I conceive this to be expressly within Roswell's case lately before your Lordship. You conceive, says Jefferies, you conceive amiss; ' it is not.' My Lord, says Mr. Attwood, that may use the best authority, permit me to repeat your Lordship's own words in that

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to be forced to keep his chamber. Even then he ceased not to do good, so far as it was in his power and as he spent his life in taking pains, so to the last moment of it he directed his Christian brethren by the light of a good example. He departed this life December 8, 1691. A few days after his corpse was interred in Christ Church, being attended to the grave by a large company of all ranks and qualities, especially ministers, and amongst

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No, you shall not,' says he. You need not speak, for you are an author already, though you speak and write impertinently.' Says Attwood, I cannot help that, my Lord, if my talent be no better; but it is my duty to do my best for my client.' Jefferies thereupon went on, inveighing against what Attwood had published: And Attwood justified it to be in defence of the English constitution, declaring that he never disowned any thing that he had written. Jefferies several times ordered him to sit down, but he still went on: My Lord,' says he, ⚫ I have matter of law to offer for my client;' and he proceeded to cite several cases, wherein it had been adjudged, that words ought to be taken in the milder sense, and not to be strained by innuendos. 'Well,' says Jefferies, when he had done, you have had your say.' Mr. Williams and Mr. Phipps said nothing, for they saw it was to no purpose. At length says Mr. Baxter himself, "My Lord, I think I can clearly au"swer all that is laid to my charge, and I shall do it briefly. The "sam is contained in these few papers, to which I shall add a little by "testimony:" But he would not bear a word. At length the Chief Justice summed up the matter in a long and fulsome harangue.

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is notoriously known (says he) there has been a design to ruin the king and the nation. The old game has been renewed, and this has been the main incendiary. He is as modest now as can be; but time " was, when no man was so ready to bind your kings in chains, and your nobles in fetters of iron; and to your tents, O Israel. Gentlemen, for God's sake, don't let us be gulled twice in an age,' &c. And when he concluded, he told the jury, That if they in their consciences believed he meant the bishops and clergy of the church of England, in the passages which the information referred to, they must find him guilty, and he could mean no men else; if not they must find him not guilty. When he had done, says Mr. Baxter to him, "Does your Lordship think any jury will pretend to pass a verdict upon me, upon such a trial ?" I'll warrant you, Mr. Baxter,' says he, don't you trouble yourself about that.' The jury immediately laid their heads together at the bar, and found him guilty. As he was going from the bar, Mr. Baxter told my Lord Chief Justice, who had so loaded him with reproaches, and yet continued them, that "A. "predecessor of his had had other thoughts of him:" Upon which he replied, That there was not an honest man in England but what took him for a great knave.' He had subpoenaed several clergymen, who appeared in court, but were of no use to him, through the violence of the Chief Justice. The trial being over, Sir Henry Ashurst led Mr. Baxter through the crowd, (I mention it to his honour) and conveyed him away in his coach. On June the 29th following, he had judgment given against him. He was fined five hundred marks, to lie in prison till he paid it, and be bound to his good behaviour for seven years. Calamy's Abridgement, Vol. I. p. 368--372.

them not a few of the established church, who very prudently paid this last tribute of respect to the memory of a great and good man, whose labours deserved much from true Christians of all denominations. He was a man, to speak impartially from the consideration of his writings, who had as strong a head, and as sound a heart, as any of the age in which he lived. He was too conscientious to comply from temporal motives, and his charity was too extensive to think of recommending himself to popular applause by a rigid behaviour. These sentiments produced such a practice as inclined some to believe he had a religion of his own, which was the reason that when Sir John Gayer bequeathed a legacy by will to men of moderate notions, he could think of no better expression than this, that they should be of Mr. Baxter's religion.* We need not wonder that a person so little addicted to any party should experience the bitterness of all, and in truth, no man was ever more severely treated in this respect than Mr. Baxter, against whom more books were written, than against any man in the age in which he lived. His friends, however, were such as the bare repetition of their names might well pass for a panegyric, since it is impossible they could have lived in terms of strict intimacy with any other than a wise and upright man. But the best testimony of Mr. Baxter's worth may be

* Sir John Gayer did, by his last will and testament, bequeath a considerable sum of money to persons lately entered into the ministry, and young students for the ministry, with this restriction, that they should be such as were neither for domination nor unnecessary separation, but of Mr. Baxter's principles. His lady, being of the established church, inclined to pay the legacy to such as were within Sir John's description of her own community. Upon this a Chancery suit was commenced, wherein it was proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that Mr. Baxter was a nonconformist; whereupon a decree went in favour of the plaintiffs. This was certainly a very singular case, and much for the honour of Mr. Baxter, since it plainly appears that Sir John Gayer thought him a man of distinguished piety and uncommon moderation; and, on the other hand, neither church nor dissenters could be prevailed on to part with their right in him, but actually tried it in a court of equity.

We have already mentioned many of his court friends, to whom we ought to add the famous Duke of Lauderdale, the Earl of Balcarras, a Scotch nobleman of the name of Lesley, and at the head of the Presbyterian interest in that kingdom. The great Chief Justice Hale, who honoured him with an intimate friendship, gave a high encomium of his piety and learning to all the judges, when he was in prison on the Oxford act, left him a legacy in his will, and several large books in his own hand-writing, on the matter of their conversations; Alderman Ashurst, Sir John Maynard, Sir James Langham, Sir Edward Harley, &c.

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