wild fancies the World these latter days hath been too sadly acquainted withal And whether Religion get any ground by such things let any man judge or how those men deserve to be cryed up as the only spiritual Preachers who vent Doctrines so destructive to Religion I cannot tell And now Reader after I have begged thy pardon for this tedious preface though I must confess I did not design it much shorter when I first entred upon it I must tell thee that I am not alone in my high esteem for the Church of England No there are thousands in the Kingdom and those men too whose excellent and Regular lives and whose universal learning may justly be speak them a place amongst the most improved men who are ready to defend this Church with both their Tongues and Pens and of such I will only name two the one is that incomparable person Dr. Stillingfleet who in his Sermon upon Matth. 21.43 Pag. 158. calls this Church one of the best Churches in the Christian World and in the same place complains that it should puzzle the wisest of men to find out expedients to keep it from ruine The other is that excellent and no less laborious than learned Dr. Tillotson in a Sermon before the King where he tells us that he had been according to his opportunities not a negligent observer of the Genius and Humour of the several Sects and Professions in Religion and upon the whole matter that he does in his Conscience believe the Church of England to be the best constituted Church this day in the Christian World and that as to the main the Doctrine and Government and Worship of it are excellently framed to make men soberly religious securing men on the one hand from the wild freaks of Enthusiasm and on the other hand from the gross follies of superstition But if thou wilt neither believe them nor me for our bare saying so read the following discourse without prejudice and if through the strength of thy former received apprehensions thou wilt not wholly be drawn over to us yet I hope thou wilt be so far convinced as to believe that neither the Church nor her Officers and publick Dispensers are so had and obnoxious as some men through weakness and others through malice have represented them Farewell POSTSCRIPT Reader THe two first sheets of this small book were most of them preached before the Judges of Assize at Chelmsford in Essex and therefore if thou findest any thing in them as an Appeal to them I pray impute it to that Further Reader I must desire thee if thou meetest with the word why used improperly as sometimes I find upon a perusal of the sheets it is impute it to custome and a mode of speaking upon which score it dropt so unwarily from my Pen. Whatsoever other faults there are give me but the common allowance the ordinary miscarriages of a Press require and I will ask no more THE CONTENTS THE Design of the Treatise laid down 1. To prove that we of this Church have all necessary advantages for gaining eternal life 2. To enquire how it comes to pass such a Church is so generally disesteemed Pag. 5. The first of these proved at large by considering what is necessary to eternal life Two things laid down 1. A sound Belief of all things necessary and the Church found guilty of no defect in that particular p. 6 7. 2. An Holy practise is found necessary and the Church of England found abounding with every thing necessary to promote that p. 10 usque 28. 2. An enquiry how it comes to pass such a Church is despised p. 28. Two sorts of men found faulty p. 29. 1. Professed Enemies Those considered 1. As persons disaffected upon a worldly account p. 29. 2. Persons disaffected upon a pretence of Conscience and Religion p. 31 32 33 34. 2. A consideration of false Friends as Enemies to the Church and those ranked into two sorts 1. As Persons considered in their Political capacity and two ways the Church proved to suffer by them 1. By their vicious lives and conversations especially if they be men of Power and Authority p. 35. 2. By their neglecting the execution of those Laws that are made for the Churches Honour and Safety p. 38. 2. This Church proved to lose its esteem by false Friends considered as persons dedicated to an Holy Office p. 42. Thirteen Reasons more given of the present contempt of the Church of England 1. The misconstruing of Judgments and making every calamity the effect of Gods Anger for the Churches encroachments upon the Rights of Christ p. 46. Three useful and seasonable enquiries proposed to those who are so bold and forward in particularizing the Reasons of Gods Judgments p. 51 53 55. 2. Another Reason of the Churches suffering assigned from the jealousie of many of the Gentry especially those who have swallowed down the Principles of Mr. Hobbs lest the Clergy should encroach too much upon their power in those Countreys where they live p. 56. 3. The Churches loss considered by erecting Schools of Academick studies and thereby poysoning the youth of the Nation p. 62. 4. The Churches loss considered by idle tales against the Reverend Bishops and their regular Clergy p. 65. 5. Another account of the neglect of this Church from Simoniacal contracts p. 70. Two injuries proved and asserted from hence p. 71 72. With an expostulation with the Lay-Patrons in order to a more conscientious disposal of their livings p. 73. 6. The Churches damage by the careless and remiss attendance of many of her professed admirers upon her publick Devotions and Instructions p. 74 75. 7. The Churches Honour proved lost by a careless consideration of those confusions that followed her dissolution by the pretended Power of the Long Parliament p. 76. 8. This Church found a great loser by misinterpreting and misapplying of several Texts of Scripture Some of those Texts named and the unworthiness and falseness of those interpretations reflected upon p. 78 79 80 81. 9. The credulity and easiness of the Common people to take in whatsoever is suggested by men pretending to more than ordinary Sanctity and Holiness proved another cause of the Churches present ruine p. 82 83 84. 10. The Church proved a loser by the Common peoples stiff adherence to whatever they have heedlesly sucked in p. 85. 11. The ill success of the Church laid at the door of those Atheistical Principles that have spread so far and near in the Kingdom p. 87. An enquiry made after the Reason of the present growth of Atheism p. 88. Four Reasons of it assigned 1. The changeableness of many mens Principles pretending to more than ordinary Godliness p. 88 89 90 91 92. 2. The wicked and vile actions of many boasting of extraordinary piety p. 93 94. 3. Unworthy Scandals and Reflections fastened upon Church-men p. 96. 4. The Non-execution of such Laws which are made on purpose to command the People to wait upon
ungodly men are so ready to punish them for their defence and propagation of it And upon this very account they clap one the other upon the back and resolve unanimously to go on with what they have begun notwithstanding all the opposition they shall meet withal for who would not suffer the loss of Estate Liberty or Life itself in a cause against which such ungodly men are severe and bitter and who would not expect Heaven for a reward hereafter who meet with such harsh and cruel dealings from men who do too much by their oaths and curses betray themselves to be the Agents and Instruments of Hell And though this is but a popular plea and will not hold water when it comes to be thoroughly searched and tryed though laws are never the worse for the wickedness of those to whom the execution of them is committed and though Justice is the same thing when done by a wicked as a Godly Magistrate yet for our Sions sake I could wish with all mine Heart that our Magistrates when such Malefactors are brought before them would execute publick Justice like men who do not appear to sacrifice to their own revenge but who design a publick good to wit the reducing people to those Principles of subjection and obedience without which we must needs be exposed to continual dangers and hazards It is not to be imagined how these refractory persons are silenced when they appear before Magistrates of Prudence and Discretion such as treat them with all tenderness and pity representing to them the evil of their doing and gravely admonishing them against such doings for the time to come executing the Laws upon them with all the symptomes of grief and trouble with all the demonstrations of a Spirit that carries in it true compassion for those who ignorantly err and a readiness heartily to pray for those who are obstinate and wilful this is to follow the Apostles advice to restore our sain Brethren with the spirit of meekness and this is the only way to beget in them a belief that as truly pious tender and gracious spirits may lodge in the Breasts of men every ways obedient to those Laws they by their wily Preachers are made to believe are destructive of the Rights of the Lord Jesus as in any men of any other yea of their own particular perswasion Nay for ought I know this prudent and compassionate carriage may be the occasion of their recovery from their present separation For certainly nothing more pacifies Wrath and Anger from which we all know Nonconformity receives no inconsiderable strength and addition than a word in season a soit word a wise carriage even to Delinquents themselves especially when all this is done by men of Authority and Reputation in their Neighbourhood And therefore I do here put up my hearty Prayers to Almighty God for all our Chiefs and Worthies in whose hands the defence and safety of our excellent and yet despised Church is lodged that as Judgment may run down like water and Righteousness like a mighty stream so That Righteousness may meet with Peace and love and they may kiss each other and as I do not wish the suspension of any Laws wherein the welfare of Societies is wrapt so I do wish that whensoever they are put in execution it may be in such a way as may convince gainsayers and stop the mouths of all those who lye at catch to take advantage from the haltings either of Magistrates or Ministers Lastly This Church loses very much of its deserved reputation by those mean and seamy provisions and supplies that are made for many of her Children whose educations and improvements entitle them to greater encouragements than most of the Vicaridges in England are endowed withal and till this be remedied as I hinted somewhat before we must never have things so prosperous and successful on the Churches side as she does indeed deserve For 't is impossible considering how things go and are apprehended by the major part of the World for Clergy-Men to conciliate a just respect to themselves and thereby to recommend the Government to the love and liking of the Vulgar without such Incomes as are agreeable to their Function and will enable them to be of the giving as well as receiving hand And truly when I have sate down sometimes and considered with my self the several reasons and occasions of the late cruel and blondy War I could not but resolve both it and the dreadful consequences of it amongst some other things into this of which I am now complaining and I have often thought that it had not been possible for the people of England to have been drawn into such a combination and confederacy against so excellent a Prince had they not been strangely perverted and abused by some discontented and self-seeking knaves And who they were 't is no hard matter to conjecture for if you had gone before the War into Cities and incorporated Towns where usually the spiritual Livings are made up of few and petty Tythes there you should have found a Male-contented Gentleman had fixt his habitation making some tolerable snow of Hospitality especially to the Mayor or Aldermen and their Brethren and by his advice and means a factious Preacher brought in depending upon voluntary subscriptions for his livelihood who by tones and gestures by shrugs and winks by all popular artifices was continually suggesting suspicions of the Government to the people the Dames especially who they say in those places and in those times governed the Right Worshipful themselves and the great Themes of their Discourses were the Wickedness of the times the encroachments of the Bishops upon the Rights of the Lord Jesus the stinting of the spirit by Forms of Prayer the severe dealing with the people of God that was themselves but withal which was a great cordial to their oppressed spirits the great Reasons of the Saints joyful expectation of better times fetched out of Daniel or Revelations places admirably fitted to the Dames apprehensions and understandings with an hundred such like popular insinuations as these and by this means the people were taught to suspect their Governours as Enemies to the cause of God and from thence brought to an hatred of them and so by degrees fitted for any undertaking these cunning Leaders should in the name of God and the Lord Jesus animate them unto And by these ways were the people of England seduced into the most unnatural rebellion which ended in the most horrid Murther that History can parallel Whereas had these Great Towns been furnished with such Encouragements as might have invited men of integrity and learning to have sate down amongst them the People had been better taught and consequently disposed to nothing but what was expressive of Loyalty and Obedience of their hearty affection and esteem for him to whose care and Government the providence of God had committed them For let but the common people hear nothing but what is
A MODEST PLEA FOR THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND By Richard Hollingworth A. M. and Vicar of West-Ham near London Confusion in Religion will as certainly follow every mans turning Priest or Preacher as it will in the State where every one affects to rule as King King Charles the First his Life and Meditations Octavo page 275. LONDON Printed for R. Royston Bookseller to his most Sacred Majesty at the Angel in Amen-corner 1676. TO The Right Reverend Father in God HENRY Lord Bishop of LONDON My Lord IT is observed that the Enemies of our Church notwithstanding in the memory of many now alive they acted such things as were impious and diabolical and but some few years ago were beholden to an act of Pardon to secure to them their Lives and Estates yet are so fond of themselves and their Opinions still that they lift up their heads with their former confidence and print and preach themselves the only People of God in opposition to that great Body of men who do orderly comply with the Kingdoms Laws And withal are at this time using all artifices whatsoever to pull us up both root and branch once again So very thankful are they for all his Majesties gracious condescensions to them But seeing they are so resolved and nothing can oblige them I think every true Son of the Church ought to use the Talent God hath given him to obviate their designs and to discover those wily methods by which they pursue the Churches ruine which I am sure is a more justifiable undertaking than theirs let their pretences be never so specious and taking amongst the more rash and inconsiderate part of Mankind And from this Principle of Love and Honour to the Churches peace and safety does this little Book make bold to appear abroad and particularly to fly into your Lordships Arms as the most proper Sanctuary for protection and defence from all those rude assaults which our Adversaries are too well acquainted with the practice of which if your Lordship will be pleased to condescend to it shall everlastingly be acknowledged as one of the greatest Honours done to Your Lordships Faithful and Obedient Servant Richard Hollingworth Imprimatur Tho. Tomkyns Ex Ed. Lambethan Jan. 15. 1674. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Reader I Am not ignorant by what slights and methods such honest and well designed Books as this are answered it is but telling the credulous vulgar that the man that writ it is unacquainted with the power of Godliness that the seed of Cain will be envying the seed of Seth and the Children of the bond-woman insulting over those of the free and the work is done and the book laid aside as not good enough for waste paper That I may therefore prevent this give me leave to aver thus much in mine own behalf that the Christian Religion is a thing so admirably wise in its contrivance so great an Instance of Divine Power in its production and so amply demonstrative of a never to be parallel'd love and goodness it is so every way fitted to the needs and necessities nay to the delight and entertainment of the minds of men and accommodates it self to them so fully in every condition that should a thought at any time crowd and thrust it self into my soul that invites me to any neglect or contempt of it I must either forsake my Principles or else I must throw it out with all becoming wrath and indignation And I pray God I may no longer make any abode in this house of clay than I may one way or other be instrumental to recommend it to the choice and liking of all men within my knowledge and acquaintance And though I dare not confidently boast of my self yet so fully am I satisfyed of the truth and Divinity of its Author of the excellency of its Doctrines and Principles of the advantages that naturally as well as those by promise flow from a severe and honest from an impartial and universal practice of its Rules and Methods that I think I could for its Honour and its further obtaining in the World part with all that is near and dear to me And therefore should I think that any thing in this small Treatise did tend in the least to lessen its esteem and to expose so excellent a Systeme to the scorn and laughter or to the contempt and disdain of any person I would by my own hands revenge my self upon it for being guilty of so bainous a piece of wickedness and out of a just resentment of its unworthiness to appear in the world either sacrifice it to the flames or bury it among the filth and ordure of an unsavoury dunghill No so lovely a thing is this excellent Religion in my eyes and I assure you this loveliness does not appear to me from bare sensible impressions or warm touches upon my fancy but from rational convictions of mind and understanding that I cannot forbear admiring and honouring any person upon whose soul I see any stroaks or lines of Religion drawn and who by his carriage and behaviour evidences himself devoted to its Interest and Service Yea though these persons differ from me in Judgment or any particular opinion yet if the difference issues merely from the weakness of their minds or the necessary impositions of their first education and there appears no mixture of the stubbornness and obstinacy of a resolved will which gives the formality to sin I do declare that I can cohabit with them as Brethren treat them as Intimates and Familiars and serve them with the affection of a real and uninterested Friend And those men whom God hath received and no otherways can I judge of such whom I find in a Zealous pursuit of essential holiness and goodness and more cool and careless in promoting remote opinions and needless theories and speculations I dare not judge but hope to meet them at the last day and with them to enter into a possession of those Glories which Christ is gone to prepare for all his Faithful Followers And therefore if any person enquire how it comes to pass that I have exposed a Book to publick view wherein so many whom it may be they greatly esteem for holiness and strict walking are so much concerned and so severely reprehended I reply 'T is none of their holiness I reprove God forbid but those ungodly practices and unseasonable divisions which many of them themselves once eagerly complained and petitioned against and which I am confident will in the end be bitter to them And further I do aver that it is no particular man I exercise my zeal in the following discourse against but formed bodies and united Factions of men who in companies and numbers flock together and publickly break those Laws the preservation of the honour of which is so necessary to us in all our capacities and circumstances whatsoever And when the same Authority that hath bound and reined them in shall think good by Laws to let