Parentator. Memoirs of remarkables in the life and the death of the ever-memorable Dr.…

§. 12. But, shall we go on to enquire, whether the People of New-England, were the only People, that were served by him? No, There was a Special Service, of a greater extent, wherein His Glorious Lord Employed and Honoured him. There was an Happy UNION accomplished between those Two Religious Parties, which go under the Names of Presbyterian, ⟨p. 148⟩and Congregational; and which had through Devices of the Great Adversary, kept at more of a Needless Distance from each other than they should have done. Dr. Ann•sley and Mr. Vincent and others, often Declared, That this Union would never have been Effected, if Mr. Mather had not been among them; and they often therefore Blessed GOD, for bringing him to England, and keeping him there. He had Thanks from the Country, as well as the City on that Account: And among the rest, a General Assembly of Ministers in Devon, sent up to London this Instrument.

Junij. 23. 1691. Agreed, That the Reverend Mr. John Flavel, Moderator of this Assembly send unto the Reverend Mr. Matthew Mead, Mr. John How, and Mr. Increase Mather, and give Them, and such Others as have been Eminently Instrumental in Promoting the Union, the Thanks of this Assembly, for the great Pains they have taken therein.

And since it is Proper to be mentioned somewhere, why may I not bring in the mention of it Here? While Mr. Mather was in London, he Cultivated a singular Friendship and Freedom, with that very Great Man, Mr. Baxter, who treated him with a Deference, which he paid unto few other Men. In this Acquaintance, Mr. Baxter not only made this Generous Request unto Mr. Mather, Sir, If you find any Errors in any of my Writings, I request you to Confute them, after I am Dead; But also made unto him a very Respectful Dedication of a Book, which he Published a little before