LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 57 



to consult the man who had started it, and take 

 his advice, and obtain his consent, as to any 

 new method in which he proposed to handle it. 



However, this book of Mr. Dodwell's was 

 wrote against by Mr. Baxter in his True and 

 only Way of Concord. Which drew a reply from 

 Mr. Dodwell, published in 1681, where he 

 shewed how little that chapter in Mr. Baxter's 

 book which concerned himself, deserved to be 

 called, (what it was entitled,) a Confutation of 

 his book of Schism. 



The controversy having proceeded thus far. 

 Dr. Sharp at length (Anno 1683,) at the special 

 request of the Bishop, put his hand to it, and 

 gave it a finishing stroke. He did not set his 

 name to his work, nor take any express notice 

 of any thing that had been said for or against his 

 sermon, in 1674 ; but, as if he were wholly dis- 

 engaged from any concern in that dispute, he 

 considered the dissenter's plea of conscience as 

 a casuist, and entitled his book, '' A Discourse 

 concerning Conscience,'"' wherein an account is 

 given of the nature, rule, and obligation of it ; 

 and the case of those who sej^arate from the 

 communion of the Church, of England, as by law 

 established, upon this pretence, that it is against 

 their conscience to join in it, is stated and dis- 

 cussed. 



In this discourse he treats fully and distinctly 



