the Truth Yea the happiness of the Church of England against your false Challenges and your forehead dares challenge them for Authors So hath their Moderation opposed some appendancies that they have both acknowledged and defended the substance with equal vehemence to your opposition neither do they suffer as you traduce them for seeking another Church Government Would God you could follow those men in Moderate and Charitable carriage as you have outrun them in complaints Doctor Crakanthorp In his Defensio Ecclesiae Anglicanae ch 33. Sect. 15. Puritanum qui Haereticus sit tu opinor in Anglia neminem unquam comspexisti You never saw in England I believe any Puritan Heretical in his Judgment Certe eorum ferè nullus cui quisquam inter vos pietate vitae Sanctimoniâ doctrinâ etiam ne tu quidem qui Magister es in tuo Israele paucis eorum conferendus es Certainly scarce any one of them with whom any men of yours can be compared in Holiness of Life in Learning also not you indeed who are a Master in your Israel worthy to be named in comparison with them Doctor Edward Bulkley in his Apology for the Religion Established being an Answer to Wrights Articles Edit 1608. Art. 5. p. 105 106. There is neither Protestant nor such as it pleaseth you to call Puritans so far forth as I know and believe but as they deny the Popes wicked Supremacy which he hath usurped over the Church of God and Soveraign Princes so they do unfeignedly confess and acknowledge the Kings Power and Authority in his Kingdoms and Dominions and in all Causes and over all persons both Ecclesiastical and Temporal or Political They all say with St. Paul that every Soul ought to be subject to the higher Powers whether they be as St. Chrysostom saith Apostle or Evangelist or Prophet whatsoever he be for this subjection doth not overthrow Godliness They all confess that it belongeth to his Royal dignity to see and procure not only Justice to be executed and peace maintained but also that God be truly and sincerely served according to his will revealed in his Word c. Bishop Andrews Respons ad Bellarmini Apologiam Edit 1610. p. 29. Bellarm. In Britanniâ magna multitudo Puritanorum qui Primatum non ad Regem sed ad Senatum Ministrorum pertinere Resp Putida hac calumnia est Presbyterio forte lis est cum Episcopis cum Rege nulla est Vtrobique regi desertur ultro utrinque quod Caesaris est Caesari redditur Doctor Caves Gospel Preached c. p. 98. Many of the Presbyterian perswasion are not only sound and Orthodox in the main Articles of the Reformed Religion but Learned and able Defenders of it zealous Protestors against all the Horrid wickedness of this Day Jan. 30. and active Instruments in bringing home our Banished King. Doctor Burgess Pref. to Vindicat. of our Ceremonies Some peaceable and very worthy Ministers were cast out after the Conference at Hampton Court Whereupon it was intended to bring them in by a kind of necessity or to loosen from them others c. Postscript To Serious and Compassionate Enquiry The modesty and excellent temper of several ancient Non-Conformist of this Nation is a fair Copy for those to Write after that cannot yet be perswaded to come compleatly over to the Church and I will intreat all sober Non-Conformist to remember after the conference at Hampton Court when the Non-conformists could not obtain their desire they were not Transported with heat and passion but ingenuously promised the Bishops that they would nevertheless Reverence them as spiritual Fathers and joyn with them against the common Enemy Hookers Discourse of Justification p. 41 I doubt not but God was merciful to save thousands of our Fathers living in Popish Superstition inasmuch as they sinned ignorantly Item p. 87. That Churches Deceit hath prevailed over none unto death but only such as took a pleasure in unrighteousness They in all ages whose hearts have delighted in the principal Truth and whose Souls have thirsted after Righteousness if they received the mark of Errour the mercy of God even erring and dangerously erring might save them True state of the Primitive Church Epistle to the Reader I verily believe there are thousands of Papists Lutherans and Calvinists both Learned and Religious who would lay down their Lives for the Truth they profess King Charles the first upon the Covenant Sect. 4. Touching the Discipline and Government of the Church c. Things which are of no clear and moral necessity but very disputable and controverted among Learned and Godly men Sect. 7. Yet as things now stand good men shall least offend God or me by keeping their Covenant in honest and lawful ways since I have the charity to think that the cheif end of the Covenant in such mens intentions was to preserve Religion in purity and the Kingdoms in peace Idem to the Prince of Wales Be confident as I am that the most of all sides who have done amiss have done so not out of Malice but mis-information or mis-apprehension I alledge this not to excuse or justifie those persons much less their Solemn League or Covenant but to show his charitable Sentiment of them allowing good men to have been in the number lead away with that Error of the times King Charles the Seconds Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs 1660. pag. 5. When we were in Holland we were attended by many grave and Learned Ministers from home who were looked upon as the most able and principal Assertors of the Presbyterian Opinions with whom we had as much Conference as the multitude of Affairs which were then upon us would permit and to our great Satisfaction and Comfort found them persons full of affection to us of Zeal for the peace of the Church and State and neither Enemies as they have been given out to be to Episcopacy and Liturgy but modestly to desire such alterations in either as without shaking the Foundations might best allay the present distempers which the indisposition of the Times and Tenderness of some Mens Consciences had contracted Pag. 17. Item Because some men otherwise Pious and Learned say they cannot conform unto the Subscription required by the Cannon nor take the Oath of Canonical Obedience c. Appendix to the third part of the Friendly Debate pag. 143. Tells us that Doctor Jackson always reverenced their Excellent Parts and good Labours though he disliked the deformity of their Zeal c. Bishop Saunderson on Rom. 14.3 Sect. 29. I make no doubt neither dare I be so uncharitable as not to think but that many of them i. e. Non-conformists have honest and upright and sincere hearts to God-ward and are unfeignedly Zealous for Gods Truth and for Religion They that are such no doubt feel the Comfort of it in their own Souls and we see the Fruits of it in their Conversations and rejoyce at it Judge Hales Discourse of Religion pag. 21.
others to receive them i. e. to have communion with them with singular Humanity use them as Brethren he knew mans imbecility had a feeling of our blindness which are Mortal Men how great it is The Judgment of the Professors of Divinity in the Vniversity of Aberdeen mentioned pag. 707 is not unsuitable to this Subject That the condition of that Church is worse and incomparably more lamentable that is so swelled and puft up with the splendour of its Golden Edifice upon the Foundation or of its Orthodoxy that neglecting Charity and Equanimity and trampling on the Law of Christ fastidiously rejects and Anathematizeth other Churches Orthodox in the Foundation and willing to maintain place with it than is the condition of those Churches who though they are infirm in Faith inferiour in knowledge do yet hold in the Foundation maintain inviolable Charity and after the Example of Blessed Cyprian do neither judge nor separate from Communion those who think otherwise then themselves Dr. Casaubon 's Necessity of Reformation pag. 142. cited by Dr. Puller 's Moderation c. pag. 436. Were there nothing else objected to Papists but this one thing their uncharitable proscribing and Excommunicating all Christians in all parts of the World as in the Council of Trent imposing her Doctrines which were but disputable before to be de fide with an Anathema to such as thought of them otherwise who are not of their Communion and obliging all that adhere unto them to profess the same I should think that one thing a just ground of Separation or forsaking their Communion Dr. Steward 's Englands Case pag. 26. When Men cast out of the Church Catholick and so damn to Hell all those that hold not their Opinions this St. Augustine oft-times calls Schism in the Donatists I could name you those who are guilty of this but I am sure our dear Mother is not who hath been so mild to those who have most highly opposed her Dr. Hammond's Pract. Catech. Vpon Blessed are the Peace-makers We are not to think our own Opinions in Religion such as are not of Faith of such importance as to deny Communion or Salvation to those who differ from us Item of Schism pag. 165. and pag. 166. That as we exclude no Christian from our Communion that will either Filially and Fraternally embrace it with us being ready to admit any to our Assemblies that acknowledge the Foundation laid by Christ and his Apostles so we as earnestly desire to be admitted to the like Freedom of External Communion with all the Members of all other Christian Churches as often as occasion makes us capable of that Blessing And pag. 5. Tell us the Governours of the Church use to inflict that punishment of Excommunication on the most scandalous Sinner And pag. 15. Calls it that very condition into which the Adulterer and obstinate offender is cast by the Censures of the Church Hammond of the Keys chap. 5. Sect. 18. The more shame for the over-easie denouncers of that censure that inflict it for every trivial commission without consideration whether or no repented of or that use this Sovereign Recipe unadvisedly for any other end than Reforming the Profane Dr. Puller 's Moderation of the Church of England pag. 366. It is evident that the Divine Moderation of our Church considers the frame of Man and the uncertainty difficulty and imperfection of Humane Knowledge the weakness and variety of Humane Understandings she alloweth much to the force of Prejudice Education and the power and artifice of Seducers Our Church makes a great reserve of Dispensation to persons of Modest Humble Docible and peaceable Spirits and proportions her Censures to the degrees of Malice and the Unchristian Temper which appears in Offenders Dr. Cumber on the Common-Prayer in the Commination Discipline with-held in favour of Dissenters least the imposing it there should make this Holy Means of Reformation despised rather than obeyed Item pag. 369. Dr. Puller Wherefore the Institution of a Christian Man made by Cranmer saith the Bishops are not bound so precisely but they may attemper and forbear the execution of their Jurisdiction when by so doing the cure of the offenders and the tranquility of the Church may be furthered Item pag. 35. According to Equity our Church desires all her Laws may be Interpreted Benignius Leges interpretandae sunt c. She admits of a Mitigation of a rigid Sentence And pag. 11. Disposeth them where the Laws press too hard upon particular persons to relax the Rigour of them Pag. 370. Wherefore those who in Execution of the Church Discipline abuse the most excellent Temper of the Church in the constitution of her Laws under the pretence of Ecclesiastical Authority verily they most of all deserve the Churches Rod and the dire point of her Anathema Let it be considered said Bishop Tailor Ductor Dub. L. 3. pag. 259. How Great a reproach it is to Ecclesiastical Discipline if it be made to Minister to Covetousness and to the needs of Proctors and Advocates Bishop Bramhall pag. 14. Vindicat. of the Church To exclude none from Catholick communion and hope of Salvation either Eastern or Western or Southern or Northern Christians which profess the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Fathers established in the first General Councils and comprehended in the Apostolick Nicene and Athanasian Creeds and lastly to hold an Actual External Communion with them in votis in our desires and to endeavour it by all lawful means Item pag. 17. There is not the like necessity of communicating in all Externals there is not so great conformity to be expected in ceremonies as in the Essentials of Sacraments Bishop Bilson of Subjection Part 2. pag. 223. Edit 4. It is a most pernitious fancy to think that divers Nations and Countries differing by Customs Laws and Manners so they hold one and the same Rule of Faith in the Bond of Peace cannot be parts of the Catholick Church Communicant one with another The Communion of Saints standeth not in External Rights Customs and Manners but in believing the same truth tasting of the same grace resting on the same Hope calling on the same God rejoycing in the same Spirit whereby they be scaled sanctified and preserved unto the day of Redemption Causes of Decay of Christian Piety pag. 285. As Christ when he forewarned his Disciples of the ensuing persecution tells them not only they should be killed but they should be put out of the Synagogue so now as if Christians were emulous of every branch of Jewish Cruelty we transcribe that part of the Copy too and either by causeless Excommunicating others or separating our selves we deny the benefit of Publick Communion to each other Item pag. 280. Every Petty difference c. pag. 287. Would we indeed comport with the Example of those happy Times of the Primitive Church we should have prayed for the Conversion of Dissenters not laid Anathema's upon them and prayed for their confusion Item In his
understanding 'T is enough that such agreement is not necessary yea I take the other step 't is impossible Our Tempers Capacities Educations Genius's Converses Interests Accidents are strangely divers therefore our apprehensions must needs be different Decay of Piety p. 409 Not that I suppose it possible to extinguish all diversities of opinions among men who from their differing faculties and other guiltless occurrents may and will have their judgments severally disposed Doctor Barrows Vol. 3. Serm. 8. Men seeing by several lights relishing by diversly disposed palates and measuring things by differing standards we can hardly do or say any thing Religious or Civil which if approved or applauded by some will not be disliked and blamed by others in this irreconcileable diversities and inconsistency of mens apprehensions Design of Christianity Christians because of the diversities of their capacities educations and other means and advantages some points may be most plainly perceived by some to be delivered in the Scripture which cannot be so by others with the like ease Doctor Stillingfleets Irenicum p. 21. Argu. 2. The peace and settlement of Christs Church not depending upon a condition never likely to be attained in this world which is the agreement and uniformity of mens opinions for as long as mens faces differ their judgments will. The True state of the primitive Church p. 2. Mens understandings are as various as their speech or their countenance otherwise it were impossible there should be so many understanding and moderate yea and conscientious men also Papists Lutherans Calvinists all in such opposition one against another Conf. Plea for the Non-Conformists part 4. pag. 40. How various are the degrees of light and the dictates of Conscience even in good wise and self-searching men and that even in a division of judgment and practice The first cause is different degrees of Light and means of attaining knowledge Some are more deep and quick searching and industrious have better means and opportunities of knowing I do not now take notice of the biasses of education prejudice pre-possessions and passions of Men nor the influence of the world upon mens alterations Kidders Sermon of peace p. 24. It is indeed very possible after all that the best men may differ from each other Mr. Wakes Sermon on Rom. 15.5,6,7 p. 8. Mens different capacities and opportunities and tempers and educations considered 't is in vain to expect that all good men should agree in all their notions of Religion any more then we see they do in any other concerns whatsoever And p. 9. That mens understandings are different and they will argue different ways and entertain different opinions from one another about the same things and yet may nevertheless deserve on all sides to be esteemed very good and wise men for all that Serious and Compassionate Enquiry It is true indeed there may be and must be diversities of apprehensions in several points of Christianity while men are of different capacities Mr. Cooks Sermon on Rom. 12,18 p. 7. It cannot possibly be meant their agreement in judgment Rom. 12,16 for that you know cannot be forced one mans mind though he would himself cannot always be bent to anothers perswasion yet there are some among us great pretenders too to holiness who value no agreement like that in principles if they can but meet with a man that jumps with them in sentiments he is cherished and embraced as a knowing man well enclined and disposed to good things Argument for Tol. in differences of Opinion Printed 81. p. 2. Had God intended we should be all of one opinion as indeed that we should be of one Faith he could have made every thing as clear and plain in the Holy Scripture and as undoubted as any p. 4. Idem By way of illustration let us make a supposal that a Master biddeth three or four of his Servants do such or such a thing and that the Servants differ about the sense and meaning of the command one understanding it one way another another way and a third in this the fourth in that according to the judgment of their own discretion and this is our Case we all are equally servants not bound to that sense of the word which another gives indeed some servants are to bring the word to others but those others not bound to the sense of it further than they are perswaded it is their Masters search the Scriptures and try the spirits c. Principles and Practices of Moderation c. p. 310. It is no less unreasonable to malign our brethren because they are not in every thing of our judgment than to quarrel with each other upon the account of the unlikeness we observe in our faces and constitutions Mr. Tulli's Sermon of Moderation p. 17. Let us not therefore if we have any sense of Moderation and temper persist to dress up things in hideous and portentous shapes to frighten and exasperate one another but let us rather ascribe the differences amongst us to error of judgment the prejudices of education infelicity of Constitution or to any other of those either innocent or excusable causes which render an intire unity of opinions an impossible thing That Mutual Favour and Forbearance of one another in Love is necessary among Christians in their Diversities of Judgments EDward the Sixth Queen Elizabeth King James the First King Charles the First and Second and King James the Second all gave their Toleration and Indulgence to the several Churches Dissenting from us the Dutch at Colchester Walloones at Norwich and French at London and at Canterbury or elsewhere King James the First of Blessed Memory in his Letters to the States of the Vnited Provinces March 6. 1613. Magis Autem e re fore si Ministris vestris stricte imperetis ut pacem colant se invicem tolerando in ista opinionum sententiarum discrepantia Eoque justius videmur vobis hoc ipsum suadere debere quod neutram comperimus adeo deviam ut non possint cum fidei Christianae veritate cum animarum salute consistere But it would be more advantageous if you did give a strict charge to your Ministers to keep the Peace by mutual Toleration of one another in the difference of Opinions and Judgments And therefore we seem more justly to give you this Counsel because we find neither of these Opinions so Erroneous but that they may consist with the Truth of the Christian Faith and the Salvation of their Souls Bishop Hall 's Letters to Duraeus Why do we profess Christian Charity if we do pertinaciously refuse to Indulge the difference of our Brethren from us in these Scholastick Problems so he calls the differences between Lutherans and Calvinists when we know that our benign Saviour most mildly tolerated and silently passed by more grievous in his own Domesticks King Charles the First 's Message of a Treaty from Oxford March 3. 1643. He desired the Members of both Houses of Parliament to consult and