XIX. GIVE AND TAKE.

THE Archbishop of Spalatro, when Dean of Windsor, very affectionately moved the prebendaries thereof to contribute bountifully towards the relieving of a distressed foreigner, 205reporting him a person of much worth and want; to whom one of the company replied: Qui suadet sua det, Let him who persuadeth others, give something of his own. But the Archbishop, who was as covetous as ambitious, and whose charity had a tongue without hands, would not part with a penny.

The Episcopal party doth desire and expect that the Presbyterian should remit of his rigidness in order to an expedient betwixt them. The Presbyterians require that the Episcopal side abate of their austerity to advance an accommodation .

But some on both sides are so wedded to their wilfulness, stand so stiff in their judgments, are so high and hot in their passions, they will not part with the least punctilio in their opinions and practices.

Such men’s judgments cannot pretend to the exactness of the Gibeonites, Judges xx. 16, that they hit the mark of the truth at a hair’s breadth, and fail not, yet will they not abate a hair’s breadth in order to unity; they will take all, but tender nothing; make motions with their mouths, but none with their feet, for peace, not stirring a step towards it.

O that we could see some proffers and performances of condescension on either side, and then let others who remain obstinate, and will 206embrace no peace, be branded with Pharez, Gen. xxxviii. 29, the breach be upon them.