1 Gen. xxxix. 21, 22.
XX MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER
favour and preferment, I believe will appear shocking, at this distance, to all impartial lovers of liberty and of their country, and fix a brand for ever upon the gratitude and politics of those times.
Some time after his imprisonment, when the indulgence was re- newed, he preached in a large room taken for him in Whitehart Yard, not far from his house ; but there also he was at length dis- turbed. A band of rabble came on the Lord's-day morning to seize him ; but the doctor, having notice of it overnight, escaped their fury. Mr James Bedford was got to preach for him, who had taken the Oxford oath. When they found themselves disappointed, they were in a great rage, and took the names of several ; but did not detain the minister, for their malice was levelled against the doctor. The good Lord Wharton was there, whom they pretended not to know ; and upon his refusing to tell them his name, they threatened to send him to prison ; but they thought better of it. The place was fined forty pounds, and the minister twenty, which was paid by Lord Wharton.
Sir John Baber, his near neighbour, and who owed all his prefer- ment at court to the doctor's interest there, continued his hearty friend, though a great courtier. He often visited the doctor, by which means he had opportunity of greater intelligence than most others. About this time there happened some difference among the ministers of the city, about the manner of addressing the king for his indulgence. Some contended earnestly to have it expressed more largely, and others opposed it ; for though they always thought they had a right to their libei'ty, they feared giving any countenance to the dispensing power, or advantage to the Papists ; which were things well known to be iii view, and much at heart at that time. The difference came to be known at court, and there were apprehensions of ill consequences. Sir John Baber carried Dr Manton and Dr Bates to Lord Arlington's, at Whitehall, who was then Secretary of State, it was supposed, by his order. When they were together, the king, to their great surprise, came into the room — it was thought by design. Dr Bates pressed Dr Manton to address the king for his indulgence ; which he did in a few words, and with great caution ; but it was kindly accepted by the king, and well approved by the ministers, when it was communicated to them ; and put a happy end to their contentions about it.i It was by the means of Sir John Baber that Dr Manton and Mr Baxter were invited to confer with the Lord Keeper Bridgman, about a comprehension and toleration, in the year 1668. They afterwards met with Dr Wilkins and Dr Burton. Pro- posals were drawn up and corrected by mutual consent ; in pursuance of which the excellent Judge Hale prepared a bill to be laid before the next session of Parliament ; but it was rejected upon the first motion by the High Ciiurch party.2 In the year 1674, Dr Manton and Mr Baxter, with Dr Bates and Mr Pool, met with Dr Tillotson and Dr Stillingfleet, to consider of an accommodation, by the encouragement of several Lords, spiritual and temporal. They canvassed several
^ Dr Manton gives a particular account of this interview, in a letter to Mr Baxter. — ij/^ Part III., p. 37.
^ Dr Calamy's Abridgment, vol. i., pp. 317, 342.
OF THOMAS MANTON, D.D. Xxi
draughts, and at lengtli all agreed in one ; but when it came to be communicated to the bishops, several things in which they had agreed could not be obtained, and the whole design miscarried. So easy a thing it has ever been found for wise and sober men to adjust m.atters of difference, and agree upon terms of accommodation ; when nothing will satisfy unreasonable prejudice, and where the lust of power, and the bias of interest, strongly lead men the other way.
When the indulgence was more fully iixed in 1672, the merchants, and other citizens of London, set up a lecture at Pinner's Hall. Dr Manton was one of the six first chosen, and opened the lecture. He was much concerned at the little bickerings which began there in his time, and afterward broke out into scandalous contentions, and an open division at last. Mr Baxter was often censured for his preaching there ; and once published a sheet upon that occasion, which he called, ' An Appeal to the Light.' His preaching upon these words, ' And ye will not come unto me, that you might have life,' in which he fully justified the great God, and laid the blame of men's destruction upon themselves, though it was followed by another upon these words, ' Without me you can do nothing,' occasioned a great clamour against him among some people of which he complained to Dr Manton. The doctor, on his next turn, in the close of his sermon, pretty sharply rebuked them for their rash mistakes, and unbecoming reflections upon so worthy and useful a person. It was observed, that his reproof was managed with so much decency and wisdom, that he was not by any reflected upon for his freedom therein. He has been heard to express his esteem of Mr Baxter in the highest terms ; namely, that he thought him one of the most extraordinary persons the Christian church had produced since the apostles' days ; and that he did not look upon himself as worthy to carry his books after him. This was the opinion of one who knew him with the greatest intimacy for many years, and was a great judge of true worth.