Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 8. And when I had perused these papers (in M. S.) I told him that yet one thing was left out, that the Episcopal party would many of them stick at more then he, and that is, a Negative voice in Ordination in the President, to which and the rest I proposed this for accommodation in brief [1. Let every particular or Parish Church have a Bishop and Presbyters to assist him, where possibly they can be had. 2. Let all these Associate and their several Associations have a stated President. 3. Let all men be at liberty for the name, whether they will call him a Bishop, President, Moderator, Superintendent, or the like. 4. And for the Negative voice in Ordination, let all Ministers of the Association agree that de facto they will not Ordain without him, but in Cases of Necessity; but let every man be left free to his own Principles on which he shall ground this practice, and not be bound to consent, that de jure a Negative vote is due to the President.] These terms did I propose to the Bishop for Accommodation, and entreated him to tell me plainly his judgement, whether they are satisfactory and sufficient for the Episcopal party to yield to for Peace and Communion? and his answer was this [They are sufficient, and moderate men will accept them, but others will not, as I have tried: for many of them are offended with me for propounding such terms.] And thus this Reverend Bishop and I were agreed for Peace in a quarter of an hour; (the truth of which, I solemnly profess:) and so would all the Ministers and Christians ⟨p. 346⟩in England, if they were not either wiser or foolisher, honester or dishonester then he and I. And this I leave on Record to Posterity, as a testimony against the dividers and contenders of this age, [That it was not long of men of the temper and principles of this Reverend Archbishop and my self, that the Episcopal party and their dissenting Brethren in England, were not speedily and heartily agreed: for we actually did it.] To no honour of mine, but to the honour of this peaceable man, and the shame of the unpeaceable hinderers or refusers of our Reconciliation, let this testimony live, that Posterity may know whom to blame for our Calamities; they all extol Peace when they reject it and destroy it.

§. 8. And when I had perused these papers (in M. S.) I told him that yet one thing was left out, that the Episcopal party would many of them stick at more then he, and that is, a Negative voice in Ordination in the President, to which and the rest I proposed this for accommodation in brief [1. Let every particular or Parish Church have a Bishop and Presbyters to assist him, where possibly they can be had. 2. Let all these Associate and their several Associations have a stated President. 3. Let all men be at liberty for the name, whether they will call him a Bishop, President, Moderator, Superintendent, or the like. 4. And for the Negative voice in Ordination, let all Ministers of the Assciation agree that de facto they will not Ordain without him, but in Cases of Necessity; but let every man be left free to his own Principles on which he shall ground this practice, and not be bound to consent, that de jure a Negative vote is due to the President.] These terms did I propose to the Bishop for Accommodation, and intreated him to tell me plainly his judgement, whether they are satisfactory and sufficient for the Episcopal party to yield to for Peace and Communion? and his answer was this [They are sufficient, and modrate men will accept them, but others will not, as I have tryed: for many of them are offended with me for propounding such terms.] And thus this Reverend Bishop and I were agreed for Peace in a quarter of an hour; (the truth of whch, I solemnly profess:) and so would all the Ministers and Christians