Thou shalt not covet Lastly That Authority is lawful which by Choice and common Consent for their mutual benefit and advantage Men agree to and by lawful wayes stipulate and oblige themselves one or more to govern and rule and the rest to obey for this is founded upon the Law of Nature and Nations which teaches all People that Faith in solemn deliberate and lawful Contracts such as this is is most sacredly to be kept inviolated otherwise there could not be any Society Government Law or Living in the World And the Holy Writings confirm the same when they tell us our solemn Compacts and Contracts are to be observed though to our loss and detriment or else we must never expect to ascend the holy and heavenly hill Psal 15.4 except we be such as though we swear that is make a solemn lawful Contract though to our own prejudice in the event and yet nevertheless change not but stand firm to our promise and obligation Now all these several wayes of any Authorities becoming lawful so as to have a just Power and Dominion in making Laws for the determination of indifferent things which amongst many are most conducive to Gods glory and the Publick advantage of those under their Dominion both in Civil and Religious Affairs are most eminently to be found in the present Authority of these Nations First there is Divine Appointment and Ordination whether we respect Monarchy or Episcopacy And if we can prove there were Kings and Bishops in the World when St. Paul wirt his Epistles I think notwithstanding what many have said against it the Case will be clear Rom. 13.1 For saith he there is no Power but of God that is lawful Powers such as the then Roman Emperors who by succession became lawful for we cannot imagine he meant to countenance unlawful and usurping Powers and therefore he adds the Powers that be that is the present Roman Emperors and their subordinate Magistrates and Ministers are ordained of God whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive damnation Now that there were Kings when he writ is plain from that place where he commands That first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for Kings 1 Tim. 2.1 and all that are in Authority If St. Paul's Writings were a Rule for those Ages they are likewise a Rule for us and for all People to the Worlds end and then the Argument will hold good If Kings in St. Paul's time had a Divine Right to their Crowns they have so still or else what was Scripture then is not so now the danger of which consequence is so apparent that I cannot imagine there will be found any that will venture to own it The great question will be Whether there were Bishops then For if there were they likewise by the Apostles Rule were ordained of God or else they had no Power That there were Bishops it is plain for we have the Name very frequent in Scripture Christ himself from whom the rest so often mentioned derived their Office and Authority as before we took notice being called the great Bishop as well as Pastor of our Souls And that these Bishops had a Power and Authority in the Church and exercised the same office in the Government of the Church as the present Bishops do is no less evident and that in this very Point of determining indifferent things in Divine Worship Thus St. Paul takes upon him to order the Church of the Corinthians about the Celebration of the Lords Supper and after that done tells them If there were any other thing in difference or disorder the rest will I set in order when I come 1 Cor. 11.34 And that he did this by virtue of his Office and by a Power derived from Christ the first and great Bishop he tells them That he received of the Lord that which he delivered unto them Ver. 23. And wherever he is positive in giving any Rules or Directions of Government Decency or Order we may assure our selves he does it by virtue of this Power of his Office for otherwise he would tell us it is but his private Judgment or Persuasion which he would not impose upon Christians though he had a fair pretence so to do as appears by that place concerning Virginity and Marriag 2 Cor. 7.25 Now concerning Virgins I have no Commandment of the Lord yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy to be faithful But if any Person shall pretend he did this by virtue of his Apostolical Office which was an immediate Commission from the mouth of Christ at his miraculous Conversion to convince them that a Bishop who was no Apostle had the same Power and exercised the same Office there is nothing more plain than that place in his Epistle to Titus For this purpose left I thee in Crete Tit. 1.5 that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City in which place I think our English Translation has not rightly expressed the meaning of the Original Greek And this seems to be the proper sense of the words that St. Paul having been himself in Crete The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Ordain signifies to constitute and appoint a person over a certain place and employment and set many things in order he left Titus there to place such Priests as he before had Ordained in the several Cities of that Island and put them into the Power and Office of Bishops which he had not done as may appear by the following description of a Bishop what manner of Man he ought to be and for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is Translated Elders it signifies in all Antiquity the best Expositor of the Idiom of words Priests who were therefore so called because always chosen out of the ancientest Converts to Christianity and the longest standers in Religion and the Rule held good concerning Priests as well as Bishops that in their Elections they should not choose a Novice that is one lately converted lest wanting the ballast of age experience and discretion the height of so honorable an office should puff up such an one with pride and so he fall into the condemnation of the Devil And that Titus who was the first or chief Bishop in Crete as well in order of place as time 1 Tim. 3.6 and so had many inferior Bishops under him we have the Postscript or rather Superscription of the Epistle which for any thing can be proved to the contrary may be as ancient as the Epistle besides that he was the first Bishop in order of time we have the testimony of all Antiquity who never once doubted the truth of it So that Monarchy and Episcopacy being then Powers in the World and the Powers that then were being ordained of God it follows plainly that they have
a just and warrantable if not an undeniable Plea to a Divine Right Secondly There is long succession of both of this very Race of Kings for above 600 years and long may their Imperial Crown and Royal Dignity flourish and increase even so long as the Sun and the Moon endure And for the succession of Bishops it is of much an ancienter date and though the time be not certain yet that the Britains did very early receive the Christian Faith and with it Episcopal Government is a thing not to be doubted if we will give any credit to the ancient Historians some of which would persuade us that Britain was Christian as soon or even before Rome it self Lastly there is Choice and a freedom of Election in the House of Commons which represents the gross Body of the Nation and is one part of the Authority thereof as for the Interest which the rest of the most Honourable Peerage have in the management of Publick Affairs it being one of the dear bought Fundamentals of the Magna Charta it was a thing never disputed till the late dayes of Confusion when the very foundations were violently torn up by the roots with the Tempest or rather Hurricane of Religious Rebellion and I hope it will never come to a second Vote that the House of Peers is useless to this Nation or a Government without them So that here is whatsoever is requisite to make any Authority lawful so as to have a just Right and Dominion over all those who live under it for the final determination and conclusion of all indifferent things both in Religious and Civil Affairs That this may appear plain to every apprehension we will give an instance in a point controverted amongst us Prayer is an immediate act of Divine Worship and of it self absolutely necessary to be performed to God Psal 65.2 Matth. 21.13 who is the God of all flesh and therefore unto him shall all flesh come because he heareth prayers and his house is the house of prayer for all Nations But to pray in a set and prescribed form of words or to pray as a mans abilities give him leave or as it is called by Extempore prayer according as the present occasion may seem to require are in their own natures indifferent and I doubt not but if either be done with all due circumstances they may be acceptable to God But now one man is persuaded that set forms in the publick service of God are the best another thinks Extempore prayer the best way So long as this is undetermined by a Lawful Authority every man is obliged to follow his private Opinion because Conscience obliges him to follow that determination of his judgment in indifferent things which he is fully persuaded is the best and conduces most effectually to God's glory and the promoting of Piety But because diversity of Opinion Persuasion and Practice in this Duty is apt to breed Division and Dissention and to prejudice if not ruine that Unity Peace Charity and Order which ought to be preserved inviolate amongst all men especially Christians therefore that Authority which has a just power over us as being of God's appointment of long succession and of our own choice to prevent these disorders and the confusion and dangers which may ensue upon divisions of Mind and difference of Practice interposeth it self and considering that our great Lord and Saviour who tells us he was to be our Example prescribed a set form of Prayer and positively commanded his Disciples so to pray Luke 11.2 When ye pray say Our Father c. That both the Antient and Modern Churches did and do use and approve set Forms of Prayer in Publick Worship that hereby rash and inconsiderate men shall not have liberty to utter any thing before God Mat. 6.7 nor to use vain repetitions as the Heathen did nor which is much worse than they were guilty of in their much speaking for which they thought to be heard non-sense indecent or irreverend expressions that men of greater abilities should not be puft up and those who have not that freedom and fluency of utterance should not be despised in regard for their Piety soundness of Judgment integrity of Life or ability to Govern they may be of as great use in the Church as others That hereby the ignorant and unlearned shall be better able to joyn with him that Ministreth knowing what he is to say than if they did not and with a safe Conscience may say Amen which I am sure to every Ex tempore Prayer they cannot and that all men may by Uniformity be brought to Unity that so necessary Bond of perfection both as to Religion and Civil Policy For these and many other necessary and prudent considerations this Lawful Authority judges it most conducive to God's Glory most agreeable to his Will and most effectual to procure the happiness of those under their Authority both here and hereafter to prescribe and command a set Form of Prayer in the Publick Worship of Almighty God And now that which before was indifferent becomes necessary in point of Conscience because the Scripture is clear in the case that Lawful Authority is to be obey'd in whatsoever it commands that is not simply and absolutely unlawful and that for Conscience sake and the obligation which before I might have from my private Opinion or Persuasion ought in Modesty as well as Duty and Charity to give way to the Determinations of my Lawful Superiors in all indifferent things And therefore they who now it is determined either despise it or refuse to use it or to joyn with those who do use it sin against Conscience because against many plain and positive commands of Scripture before mentioned and for which St. Paul seems extremely solicitous as well knowing Pride and Disobedience to be the most natural sins and therefore commands that men be put in mind as being apt to forget their Duty that they be subject to Principalities and Powers Tit. 3.1 to obey Magistrates The very same may be said of any of the rest of those things which are enjoyned by the present Authority of this Nation which by being commanded from indifferent become necessary and with such a dreadful necessity that whosoever resisteth a Lawful Power if St. Paul be to be credited shall receive to themselves damnation And let them seriously take notice of it how light a matter soever it may be made there is no man who does thus wilfully resist and disobey Authority that can hope for Salvation As for those who do it in ignorance I will not determine how indulgent God may be to them But they must know that though God may have winked at their former ignorance yet now he commands them and all men every where to repent And they will be inexcusable if they be ignorant because they will be so It is their duty therefore to look for a better Information of their minds and laying
tells us If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true that is Joh. 5.31 if he had no other witness And therefore he refers the unbelieving Jews to John whom all men accounted a Prophet to the Scriptures which he bids them search to Moses in whom they trusted and in another place to his Miracles and wonderful works which they saw with their own eyes Come we therefore to the common Rule and it is no more but just that they should receive the same measure and stand to the determination of the same Judge to whom they have made their Appeal In the second place therefore Every one of these ways of Government which they would establish with the ruine of the present contradict a known Rule nay many plain Commands of Scripture for whilst they go about to overthrow the old Government and introduce a new One they are disobedient to those that have the rule over them both in Church and State whom they found vested with that Authority and which for any thing they are able to prove to the contrary was of Gods own appointment for so saith St. Paul The powers that be are ordained of God even those Heathen and truly Antichristian Powers how much more then the Supporters and Defenders of the Christian Faith They resist an Authority warranted with long succession supported with many prudent and antient Laws Laws to which they themselves and their Ancestors by their free Representatives in Parliament had given their Vote and Suffrage and therefore by their own voluntary Act and Deed and some of them by the stricter obligations of most Sacred and repeated Oaths they were bound with the strongest ties of Conscience to live under in all dutiful obedience which St. Paul enjoyns under the pain of Damnation the severest of all the penalties God Almighty can inflict upon Mankind and therefore he tells them they must needs be subject for Conscience sake Thirdly in their determination that their way or form of Church Government is the best they do not follow the better more sure and warrantable part of judgment in indifferent things Let them shew us in all Antiquity except some mistranslated places in the English New Testament where Presbyters are falsly rendred Elders the least footsteps approbation defence or practice of any other manner of Government in the Church for this Sixteen hundred years and upwards besides the Episcopal if they can do this then they may lawfully pretend they do not overthrow the Old but revive it by overthrowing the New Model of Government but if they cannot as I am sure if it could have been done we had heard it on both sides of our ears long before this let them dread the fearful doom which the wise Solomon pronounces against those who remove the ancient Land-marks Prov. 24.22 and are given to change for their calamity shall come suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Both of those who fear not God because they fear not their lawful King his Vicegerent but are given to change delighted with Novelties and Innovations Lastly this their determination is far from the judgment of Charity Peace and Unity either with the past or present Ages and much further from promoting the great designs of Gods glory and the happiness of Mankind either here or hereafter Let all Europe witness this sad Truth and particularly these British Isles which by this best way of Government of ancient Albion White and Happy was changed into Aceldama a dismal Field of Blood it were endless to recount what Wars Rapine Sacriledge Desolation and Confusion Bloodshed and most unparallel'd Solemn Murder of Majesty the most sacred thing on earth have been the effects of endeavouring to set up and establish these new wayes of Church Government And wherever any of these new Disciplines did prevail they quickly verified the Advice of young Rhehoboam's hot-headed Counsellors making their little Fingers heavier than the Loins of Episcopacy and changing the Whips with which those Reverend Fathers chastised such as really deserved it into Scorpions Axes and Halters nor did they spare either Life or Fortune that stood in their way or durst oppose them And this was the true reason why even those persons who were so violent against Root and Branch of Episcopacy notwithstanding their Solemn League and Covenant yet their Wisdom Fear or Policy would never give them leave to establish Presbytery which they found a Government so imperious absolute and insupportable Nor is this fair and honest dealing in Dissenters to pretend that because all sorts of Government are indisserent therefore why should not theirs be chosen which is the best when by experience we have found the contrary and in the mean time not to allow ours a bare indifferency but to persuade their credulous Followers with the greatest confidence That our way of Government by Bishops is Popish Vnlawful and Antichristian contrary to the Scriptures and that their own way is agreeable to them and the Primitive Discipline of the Church and therefore as a matter of Conscience and the main matter too the one to be avoided and the other to be embraced by all those who hope for Salvation of their Souls That Cause though it be the Good Old Cause betrays it self to be very weak which is to be supported by such unworthy feeble and Corner Arts and Arguments as Pagans and Heathen Philosophers would blush to have been found guilty of As for that common objection of theirs against Lord Bishops we will easily grant them that the Primitive Clergy did not abound in Temporalities but then they had such advantages as I believe none of these People will be willing to gratifie the most beloved of their Pastors withall when they who had possessions sold them and laid down the price at the feet of the Apostles Acts 4 34. to dispose of as to them seemed most sit This would be a hard saying who would bear it nor indeed could it be convenient as the affairs of the World stand at present But these Honours which the present Clergy do enjoy being Temporal are not by us believed to be at all essential to the Office of a Bishop and are only annexed by the bounty of Princes as are also their Estates for the necessary support of the Rank they are in for the encouragement of Learning and Piety and for the advantage of the Publick as it is a Politick Society of Men. And they may as well maintain a Levelling Principle and quarel with all Honours and Estates that are above theirs as with these for if any Temporal Estate or Dignity may by free Gift or Succession divolve upon a Church-man why not these And that this may happen without offence or scandal besides the experience we have had in an Illustrious Peer of this Nation who Earl of Kent not many years ago from a private Priest by succession came to the Honour of one of the first Earls in England I appeal to
onely my sense and opinion but that of all dissenting Parties who therefore propose the determination of them by the establishment of their way as the onely expedient to obtain these excellent ends Thirdly Indifferent things become necessary if they promote Decency and Order because so they are agreeable to St. Paul's general Rule 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order Thus that all should kneel at the Prayers where it is appointed besides that it is a posture of supplicating humility and devout adoration That they should stand up at the rehearsal of the Articles of our Christian Faith and at the Hymns Psalms and Praises are all matters of great decency and order Whereas that one should sit another stand a third lean a fourth lie along at his ease are no less indecent and irreverend than disorderly and confused Thus that Church-men should wear distinct Habits both when they celebrate the Divine Service and at other times such as may shew gravity sobriety purity innocence or distinction of degrees are all decent and orderly and so far therefore necessary Lastly Indifferent things become necessary if they be significantly expressive of our inward profession Thus the Cross after Baptism the Ring in Marriage the Surplice and other Vestments Postures and Gestures having all their outward significations of the inward profession of our minds are necessary for those ends I should speak more fully of these things had not the Learned Mr. Falkner taken such pains about them and sifted them so narrowly as not to leave any just pretence of a quarrel against them to which incomparable Discourse I therefore refer the Reader for an ample satisfaction in all these particulars CHAP. XI Of the Way whereby indifferent things become obligatory to Conscience not only upon a Mans private Persuasion from the forementioned Rules but so as to oblige all persons who live under Government viz. by the Determinations and Commands of Lawful Authority THus far I have shewn the chief among many Considerations whereby any indifferent thing may become necessary so that if any person finds these or any other indifferent things in the Worship or Service of God conduces to these Ends he is obliged in Conscience to the performance of them but this layes only a private obligation and the same that it does upon all other indifferent things and actions which yet remain so by being undertermined But now in regard some of these things though innocent and indifferent in their own Natures may to some Mens Opinions and Persuasions appear very conducive to the before-mentioned Ends others may appear more effectual to some other Persons lest from divers Opinions about these Circumstantials of Religion which are best most decent orderly and edifying there should arise division distraction and confusion in the Service of God as by miserable experience we daily find there does it is requisite that we seek for some stronger obligation whereby those things which are indifferent may become necessary to all and this must be by the determination and commands of a lawful Authority which has power to judge which amongst all indifferent circumstances of Divine Worship conduce most to Gods glory and the good of Mankind especially those under their charge and jurisdiction by promoting and maintaining Peace Unity Concord and Piety and after such judgment to pass a final determination which shall lay the double obligation both of a prudent and necessary Law and also of Conscience upon all who live under their Government and expect the advantages of it and therefore owe Obedience to it For otherwise disputes and differences must be endless if Men will not refer themselves to some Umpires and Arbitrators to decide them which must after Men have tyred themselves to find out what these Arbitrators must be at the last be lawful Authority Now that all Dissenters are of the same judgment with us in this Point and believe that a lawful Authority has this decisive Power it is most plain from the frequent instances and repeated importunities which they make to the Supreme Authority to make Alterations in the present or to establish another manner or form of Worship according to their way or however if they cannot hope for such Concessions yet they will Petition that Authority will not interpose it self in these Religious Affairs but leave them to their freedom in the manner of the exercise of their Religion and this is if I mistake them not that which they call Liberty of Conscience And they must either be the greatest Dissemblers and Hypocrites in Nature by begging that from Authority which they believe it has no real Power over or else it plainly implies That it is in the Power of a lawful Authority to determine that Liberty in indifferent things which concern the circumstances of Divine Worship This therefore being acknowledged we have nothing to do but to prove That the Authority which has determined these indifferent things and by consequence now made them necessary to be done and matter of Conscience had a just Right and Power as well as wise and prudent Reasons and Considerations so to do as being a lawful Authority We must therefore consider and examine what is requisite to make an Authority so lawful as that it may of Right challenge such a decisive and determinative Power as that all Persons who live under it shall be obliged in Point of Conscience to submit to its definitive Sentence and take it for a finalis Concordia in all indifferent things and to which no Man can be disobedient without a manifest and wilful sin against Conscience in the breach of those known commands Obey them that have the Rule over you Rom. 13.1 And let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers First therefore that Authority which is of Gods appointment is without controversie a lawful Authority as pleading a Divine Right from him by whom Kings reign Such was the Authority of Moses Aaron Samuel and the Judges and even of Saul a wicked and tyrannous Prince of whom therefore David said to Abishai 1 Sam. 26.9 Destroy him not for who can lift up his hand against the Lords Anointed and be guiltless And it was well for him that he fell into the hands of a Man who was after Gods own heart We have seen some whom a lesser interest than Davids in his death would have tempted to serve him as Epominondas did his sleeping Centinel had they found him sleeping they would have been of Abishai's judgment and have left him sleeping his last But to proceed secondly That Authority is lawful which is warranted by long Succession Prescription is accounted a good and safe Plea and Title for all other Men for their Estates and Possessions certainly much more for the Crowns of Sovereign Princes for hereby their Title passes into Inheritance which is a Right which no Man can violate or invade without being guilty of the breach of that positive and known Command
aside all partiality and prejudice to submit to the truth how contrary soever it may be to their Opinions which by long continuance in are become very strong and habitual to them for without Repentance and Reformation there can be no Pardon I cannot without amazement see some men who appear in other things most nicely Conscientious yet make so slight a matter of this nay many of them the greatest and onely differencing part of their Religion themselves to disobey Lawful Authority and by their Example and Practise if not Doctrine at least in private to teach others to do the same I wish they would consider what dangerous influences such Practises have had and still have upon their Bodies Souls Reputation and Estates and indeed upon every thing that ought to be dear and tender to them Besides the most fatal mischievous and dangerous consequences they have had and if pursued will have still upon the safety and well-being of the Community in which they live which by their disobedience to Laws the onely Fences of Religion Life Right and Property those Deliciae Humanae generis the Darlings of all Mankind they do as much as in them lies to ruine and destroy CHAP. XII Some Considerations shewing the unreasonableness and impracticableness of the desires of those persons who under pretence of Conscience are for erecting of new ways of Church-government or for Toleration or Liberty of Conscience TO shew the great unreasonableness and impracticableness of the desires of all Dissenters there need no more to be said than to make them this Proposal which I dare say may most safely be done That so soon as they shall unanimously have agreed in all particulars and so as to reconcile all Interests and satisfie all Parties what way of Government they would have established they shall receive a gratification of their desires provided in the mean time they submit as becomes good Subjects and Christians to the present And if they shall in answer to the offer say That it is impossible to find out such a way of Government as shall please all Men Interests and Parties would it not be the highest frenzie imaginable by removing the present Government of the goodness of which we have had so long experience to introduce any other which can gratifie but one and it may be an inconsiderable Party and in recompence disoblige all the rest and for any thing we know even those who so eagerly desire it as soon as any others since having never yet made a full trial of it though it may look bravely like Saul's Armour upon David 1 Sam. 17.39 it may not prove so easie or convenient but with him they may be willing to put it off again and stick to the old and plain Episcopal Armour of the Shepherds Staff and Sling Besides this way of Government in the Church is so curiously twisted and interwoven with the Politick Government in the State that it is impossible to pick out this part without spoiling the Beauty and unravelling the whole Web and Frame of the Government it is one of the main Pillars upon which this weighty and well-built Fabrick stands and cannot be taken away but it must endanger the fall and ruine of the whole Building and they must be as full of revenge and as blind as Sampson who would by pulling down this Pillar bring the House about their own heads since it is odds but with him they must perish in the common ruine and I hope what ever will they may have their Hair will never be suffered to grow so long again as to recover their Sampson's strength so as to be able to effect it It was this consideration which made as wise and learned a Prince as ever swayed the British Sceptre so frequently tell the Dissenters of his Age No Bishop no King which by the most deplorable experience was verified in his Successor Nor did the fatal consequence end there but after No Bishop no King came marching up a dreadful Army of Negatives No House of Peers No free no full House of Commons No Law no Justice unless it were the High Court so called No liberty no property no safety no security and at last nothing but consusion all admirable effects of changing that Government which before was most safe and easie into that which was most Arbitrary Tyrannical and insupportable If experience be not sufficiently convincing in this particular I know not what new School of Fools or rather Mad-men we must seek for to persuade us to the belief of these Truths But further I wish that all Dissenters would consider with themselves whether this will lead them and what must be the end of it For a Toleration of Disobedience to the Commands of a Lawful Authority is a Principle destructive of all Government of all Religion and even of that which these men would endeavour to establish for we will suppose what they desire that that way of Government which they are so fond of were by the Authority in favour of them established and setled as firmly and strongly as the present Church-Government is it is impossible that it should please all people nay it is most certain it would displease all other Parties whose way was either abrogated to make room for the new one or theirs which was rejected and in probability therefore the greatest part of the Nation and there would not want those who would be able to raise and manage more forcible Objections and Arguments against their way than any they can bring against what is now in being Now they must be unreasonable in the highest measure if they would not grant the same liberty to others who dissent from them and their way which now they desire for themselves since it is not to be doubted but they would have the same and possibly a juster plea of Conscience for themselves which these now make and therefore ought to have Indulgence and Toleration and I would gladly know whether that can be called a Government or onely an Image of it and an empty name where men have liberty to obey it if they please or may be disobedient to it by its own consent if they so please But further what reason can they have to expect any other having shewn them the way to change but that the Authority should still make trial of new Governments and not confine all their kindness to them but still gratifie and oblige first one Party and then another according as the persons who compose that Authority may be favourably inclined to one persuasion or another I hope they would not complain of Injustice in the Lex Talionis or grumble to resign that Power which for their sakes others before them were obliged to do And should the Wheel turn thus round they must with their way expect to be laid in the dust And what strange Alterations Revolutions Settlements and Unsettlements must there be What face of Government or rather what Confusion must of
God's glory and the truth act contrary to the Rule of Truth and Righteousness But if at the last it shall be found that they have not been managed by Conscience but Opinion and Persuasion what can they expect but the greatest severities and insufferable torments and agonies of Conscience the worm that never dies which should put all men upon a strict examination of themselves especially those who pretend to be so much managed by Conscience whether it be a true and good Conscience or onely these Deceivers and Usurpers Opinion and Persuasion Secondly it follows That Indifferent things in Religious Worship laying no further Obligation upon mens Consciences than as they conduce to God's glory and the happiness of the Universe and a Lawful Authority having a Power to put a final determination upon every man's private Judgment and Opinion by declaring which of all these indifferent things they judge most conducive to God's glory and the happiness of all those under their Jurisdiction by promoting and preserving Peace Unity and Charity Therefore that all persons who live under their Authority are bound in Conscience to submit to those Determinations and from thence-forward to esteem that which before was in its own nature indifferent to become necessary because hereby many known Duties and particularly that of Obedience to Magistrates without which there can be no happiness on Earth are performed to the satisfaction of an absolute and indispensible Obligation of Conscience Lastly it follows That all men are bound in Conscience to promote and endeavour the well-being of the Lawful Government under which they live and as much as in them lies the happiness of all Mankind even here in this life Nor can they follow the Dictates of true Religion or Conscience whatever they may pretend or imagine who for their private Opinions make Parties break Laws despise Governments give disturbances to the Peace and Security of their Native Countrey at home and by promoting Faction Dissention and Division give encouragement to our Enemies abroad And by too just fears from what has been of what may be again by the same ways and artifices to make mens minds uneasie and their lives unhappy And should their Designs succeed a second time to involve so many millions in the calamities of War Confusion Ruine and Desolation These have been and are the proper effects of Disobedience to Laws and Lawful Authority and let all Dissenters look well to it for they will find here is no Conscience no Religion to be found in such ways and ends to which their Separation and Division do most infallibly lead them I wish I could conclude this Discourse with the most persuasive Arguments and irresistable Reason That all Christian People and especially those Dissenters of these Nations would seriously consider with themselves whether these Discords and Differences about Religious affairs will in the end lead them and in time turn back again before they come to the dismal brink of those Precipices Misery here and Damnation hereafter which when by a too late Repentance they would avoid they will not be able I wish they would no longer abuse that glorious name of Conscience to countenance those Irreligious practises of Disobedience Uncharitableness Dissention and Separation Let them consider what it is in this World that is most desirable and whether they do not act point blank contrary to their own Interest and Happiness both here and hereafter and directly against the publick Good of the Community of which they are Members and whether they may not justly fear that by these dangerous and unlawful practices they should so far exasperate Authority as to exercise its utmostrigors and severities upon them as being out of all hopes to reclaim them by gentle means and justly jealous of their malicious secret and ill designs in reality against the State though the pretence be onely against the present Church and its Government Let them consider that if they desire to have peace within their private Walls and plenteousness within their stately Palaces if they desire to enjoy quiet of mind at home tranquility peace and unity one amongst another that Justice should run down as a River and Righteousness us a mighty Stream That Truth should spring out of the Earth and Righteousness look down from Heaven That Mercy and Truth should meet together Righteousness and Peace should kiss each other and that glory may dwell in our Land If they desire to be safe from intestine and domestick troubles secure from Forreign force and invasion to be loved respected and honoured by their Friends and Allies dreaded by their greatest Enemies to be great in Riches great in Fame and greater in all Goodness and Virtue to be the joy and glory of all Lands If they desire these there is no way to obtain them but by uniting our selves with this common Bond and indissoluble Chain of a good Conscience towards God and all men which will teach every man his duty keep every man quietly peaceably and contentedly in his place and station and secure unto us all those dear Delights of Humane Nature Peace Property and Religion If they desire these thus must they endeavour after them and if they will not endeavour after them we cannot but judge that they do not desire them And I am sure if they do not desire these blessings both for themselves and all others they neither deserve them nor any love pity favour countenance or kindness but ought to be look'd upon not as men but fierce and savage Beasts Wolves Tigers and Bears given to Prey Rapine and Ravage and they may easily ghess what will follow if once they come to be look'd upon and esteemed such Lastly if they have any love or kindness for their Souls or ever hope for eternal Salvation it must not be expected without obedience to God obedience to Government and obedience to Conscience After all this I will hope that those happy days will shine upon us Psal 122 3. in which we may say Our Jerusalem is built as a City that is compact or at unity with it self And that we shall be able to sing that glorious and triumphant Song of Praise and Thanksgiving Psal 48.1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the mountain of his holiness Beautiful for situation the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the North the City of the great King God is well known in her Palaces as a sure Refuge To hasten which blessed and happy Age let every good Christian lay to his helping hand and his praying heart by endeavouring to follow the example of the great Apostle St. Paul which is the great Concern and Interest of every Man both in reference to Happiness here and hereafter Keeping alwayes a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards all Men. FINIS