and Convocations by their being à secretis with profest Non-conformists by their Self-designing compliances with them under pretence of Moderation similibus whereby they contribute as much to the encouragement of Dissenters as the professed Encouragers themselves like King Charles's Presbyterian Murderers who had the Villany to manage the contrivance but the Cunning to disappear in the Execution These Half-Conformists are the veriest Church-Moles that by their blind Principles and undermining Practices contribute little less to the increase and interest of Non-conformity to the danger and dishonour of the Church than the open Enemy whether Popish or Peevish And of this we have frequent instances particularly in Archbishop Grindal whose indulgence to that Party gave them the first revival in England by his conniving at the Half-Conformists of Yorkshire by his complying first with Beza in procuring a French Church setled in London on the Geneva Principle And afterwards with those who upon their return from Geneva Franckford and other places where they lived during the Marian Persecution were preferred in the Church where they lived for some time Half-Conformists as Cartwright Minister in Warwick Whittingham Dean of Durham Sampson Dean of Christ Church afterwards turned out for Non-conformity with great numbers preferred to Cures in City and Country where they were not wanting to prepare the People for such Innovations as were in after-time to be brought into the Church and by the profest Non-conformists As soon as safety and impunity permitted they broke out into open Schism and still when the Laws just severity frighted them they crept within the Pale of the Church seeming to conform that they might have the Laws protection to shelter their contempt of Authority and under the wing of Episcopacy to breed up their Presbytery When Archbishop Whitgift's zeal and industry had reduced them to that that in all probability their ruptures were crumbling to nothing their then refuge was as Beza advised in his Letter to Cartwright to unite themselves again to the main body of the Church there to be nurtured into contempt of the Churches Government under the indulgence of its Governours And of this kind of Half-Conformists are those who at this very day by outward Conformity have opportunity and by masked Non-conformity want not will through sneaking compliance to betray the Church into her Enemies hands and themselves though they know it not into the veriest contempt and slavery so that in this contemplation we might as the Church of old did by the Waters of Babylon sit down and weep when we remember Zion Zion saith the Prophet tearing her self with her own hands Or as the Tree in the Apologue that was rent and splint and torn asunder by Wedges that came out of its own sides Therefore as we would not hypocritize and dissemble with God and Man as we would not be found Church-Traytors that have espoused a Cause which we are afraid to defend and ashamed to own as we would not be found in conspiracy against our selves and in breach of those solemn Oaths took at our entrance into the Ministry by a dastardly compliance with our own and the Churches Enemies Let us every man to his Tents O Israel with resolution and courage in gain-saying Seducers in daring to look Faction in the Face and opposing it though never so insolent and domineering according to the advice of Mr. Calvin to Bucer that he should take care to avoid moderate counsels in matters of Religion intimating the intense zeal that is required in Ministers in order to the interest and honour of the Church remembring that of the Wise man Eccl. 2. 13. Wo unto them that have a fearful heart and to the faint hands and to the sinner that goeth two manner of ways 3. Their Zeal against Popery a third Expedient So odious is Popery now in England blessed be God for it that even Children will spit at the very naming of it so that a better pretence could never be for the setting up of Presbytery than a shew of the greatest Zeal against Popery and therefore hath it been always accounted the most necessary Tool in the framing of Innovations When the Earl of Bothwel having a mind to the Crown of Scotland could not bring to pass the murder of the King by his dealing with the Witch of Keith nor by his assaulting him first at Haly-rood and afterward at Falkland his last expedient was to join himself with the Presbyterians and act hand in hand with them zealously against Popery and under that holy guise attempted openly to assassinate the King 'T is well known how the very force of this Word Popishly affected blew up three Kingdoms but t'other day hurrying People from the fear of Popery to the prostitution of Christianity it self when to palliate their hellish out-rages against the King they feared not to tax even him of Popery who had said and done as much to satisfie the World of his detestation of Popery and true zeal for the Reformed Religion as the wit of man could devise or the malice of man demand as doth abundantly appear by his Royal Declaration or Manifesto sent from Oxford in 1644. And at this day a fiery zeal against Popery is the best expedient they have 't is that single pretext that supports their Cause to accuse Governours or Government of Popery is an expedient that in England never yet failed to render them odious to the multitude Now that the design of these groundless out-cries against Popery is not so much to keep down Popery as to promote Presbytery will appear very probable to any that shall but examine the way and manner of their exercising this Zeal which is threefold 1. Branding with the Name of Papist or Popishly affected every one that is not of or at least that sets himself against their Principle and Practice Archbishop Whitgift a Prelate of the greatest Piety and Learning eminent for his zeal against Popery yet because against Presbytery also they stiled him Beelzebub of Canterbury Pope of Lambeth a monstruous Antichristianism Pope c. and but the other day in Smith's Protestant Intelligence the King's Council is called Popish of the 26 Bishops four are called Protestant and all the rest Popish To that pass are things now brought that whoever will not side vote and petition as they would have them whoever speaks reverently of the Orthodox Clergy of the Order and Discipline of the Churches of England in vindication of loyal Episcopacy against a confused and factious Presbytery is presently a Tory and Popishly affected and why all this but for a Blind or Stratagem to blend and confound Popery and Prelacy that People may not distinguish but destroy one under the name and pretence of the other I shall not insist upon the Malice and Diabolism of these slanderous imputations it will somewhat discover their design if we do but take notice what little reason they have thus to traduce our Church and Church Rulers
Religion the violation of Duty Conscience Peace Order Laws Justice c. and compare it with the Persecution of the Greek Churches and he shall find that all the ravages of the Turks since the taking of Constantinople hath not so disfigured them in two hundred years as these Reformers did in six or seven years in their own native Country Such abomination of desolation is Presbyterian Reformation which Mr. Case says Armies fought for ParlJam nts consult for Ministers pray for and all good People long for And let no body pretend in this as Mr. Baxter doth about the Regicidy that it was a rude conquering Army For read who will their Souldiers Catechism their Zions Plea Christ on his Throne as also their Ordinance on August 28. 1643. and he shall see that all this was done by Authority from the Houses of ParlJam nt and in the fear of God by the advice of the Assembly of Divines 2. The extravagancy of their Reformation will further appear by considering the matter of it or the things to be reformed which are chiefly Episcopacy and the Liturgy 1. Episcopacy an Order which hath been proved abundantly to be founded on no other than Scripture and Apostolick practice Antiquity and Necessity necessary as woful experience hath verified to the support of the English Monarchy according to those words of King Charles the Martyr That he could scarce ever boast of one days felicity after he had once consented to the taking away the Bishops Votes in ParlJam nt Which I take notice of the rather since in a place of note in this Kingdom at the last Election of ParlJam nt in the year 1681. the Rabble of the Faction cried it No Bishops No Bishops the very same words and with the same kind of violence as Dr. Burgess's Myrmidons did before the ParlJam nt House doors in 1641. 2. The other thing to be reformed is the Liturgy whose Reformation from Popery was sealed by the bloud of Martyrs When it was first composed and used the People of England received it as a heavenly treasure sent down by God's great mercy to them All moderate men beyond Seas applauded the felicity of the Church of England in fashioning such an excellent Form for God's publick Worship And the Act of ParlJam nt that first confirmed the same declared it to be done by the special aid of the Holy Ghost as the words of the Act are and Mr. Fox the Author of the Book of Martyrs fears not to say that it was indicted by the Holy Ghost Yet this is that Liturgy which the peevish Professors of these stirring Times would have laid aside for Reformation sake that so as King Charles observes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministers may be left to their liberty and private abilities in God's publick Service where no man can tell to what he may say Amen or what adventure he may make of seeming at least to consent to whatever errours and ridiculous indecencies bold and ignorant men list to vent in their Prayers and other Offices But 't is enough to satisfie any unprejudiced and judicious Reader of the unreasonableness of scrupling the Liturgy that will but consider well those frivolous flaws and exceptions which the great Non-conformity-Champion hath made against it as the best he could devise after the twenty years study he speaks of II. The second thing to be considered in their pretensions above other men in their greater Sanctimony and tenderness of Conscience which were it real as it is pretended I should tremble to think of charging them with the counterfeit and pretence of it onely But that which liables it to the suspicion of Counterfeit lies in these two things 1. The erroneousness of it which is so gross as to call the Design of overturning the Government no Treason the taking up Arms against the King no Rebellion dividing from the Communion of the Church no Schism appropriating to private uses the Church-plate and Revenues no Sacrilege and using the name of God to all this no Hypocrisie How can such thickness of errour consist with true Sanctity and tenderness of Conscience especially if we take tenderness of Conscience as that Party doth in the same latitude with a good Conscience for such a tenderness as to be afraid of sin and to decline the temptations occasions and appearances of evil 2. Their pretended tenderness of Conscience above others is to be suspected upon the account of its great partiality and defect wanting that uniformity which is required to its sincerity When a man shall scruple a Ceremony and yet neglect an Institution of Christ not dare to kneel at the Sacrament yet wholly neglect the Communion boggle at the use of a Ceremony yet openly avow the blackest of Crimes backbitings slanderings schism and sedition is this true tenderness of Conscience or is it not rather as one says a conscience of making no conscience at all But more particularly doth not the partiality and defect of their conscientiousness appear in their notorious uncharitableness and censoriousness rash censuring and condemning slandering and defaming all that differ from them especially Ministers But above all those that oppose their way if subtlety and malice can do it shall be sure to be rendred odious but the partiality and defect of their conscientiousness is most apparent in their old Gnostick Principle of disobedience to Magistrates Will any man believe that Practice to be conscientious or that Religion to be of God which so dishonours God and Christianity that so confronts God's Vicegerent and those in Authority under him which God commands obedience to upon pain of damnation and which as though foreseeing the pretence of Conscience for their disobedience doth so indispensably urge you must needs obey and for Conscience sake and that even Heathen Governours whereas the Governours i. e. the ParlJam nt in part that our Dissenters are to obey are of their own chusing and so the Laws are partly Laws of their own making as made by their own Representatives What they urge for their disobedience is so ludicrous and of so frequent and obvious confutation that 't is a shame to insist upon them But just to mention them as 1. That 't is better to obey God than Man which in the form of an Objection is nothing else but a factious slander intimating as though our Rulers enjoined any thing in disobedience to God 2. A second thing urged for their disobedience is that of Christian Liberty The same that the Gnosticks urged for their revolt from Christianity and which was used among the Jews as a Passport for fugitive Servants and a praetext to all Outrages and Rebellions and which the Gnosticks used to justifie their disobedience to Magistrates Whereas indeed this Christian liberty is a quite contrary thing viz. a discharge from the necessity of observing the Mosaical Law and Rites of Judaism and a power in utramque to do or leave undone things
considering these two things I. That their correspondency of Principles and Practices with the Church of Rome so far as they are erroneous and dangerous is so very apparent to any that understand Popery Ex. gr 1. Both equally deny the King's Supremacy The Papist saith not the King but the Pope is Supream the Presbyter saith not the King but the ParlJam nt Prove saith Mr. Baxter that the King is the higher Power and I 'le offer my head to Justice as a Rebel And Calvin in his Comment upon Amos cap. 7. v. 13. calls them inconsiderate men that had conferred the Supremacy on King Henry VIII 2. The Pope saith an Heretical i. e. a Protestant King is to be deposed The Presbyterian says 't is lawful and commendable to fight against the King for Religion to depose him says Baxter And Martin Mar-Prelate in his second Book advises the ParlJam nt to put down the Bishops whether the Queen would or no. 3. Papists say Heretical i. e. Protestant Kings may be not onely deposed but killed by their Subjects Presbyterians say the same Ministers may excommunicate Princes and after a King is by Excommunication cast into Hell he is unworthy to live upon Earth says Buchanan Guignard the Jesuit hath it France is sick and they must cut the basilick vein to heal her The Presbyter hath the same words concerning King Charles the First Wound that Hazael under the fifth rib you must strike the basilick vein none but it can heal the Plurisie of State And Mr. Love O that our State Physicians would imitate God in cutting off from the Land those that have distempered it meaning the King as his next words shew praestat unus pereat quam unitas And accordingly they have practised as will be shewn in its proper place 4. They both proceed in the same method The Pope first Excommunicates then Deposes then Murders The Presbyter first Deposes the King then Murders Charles Stuart 5. They agree in so much as time The Jesuit i. e. the bloudy Papist and the Presbyter are both of an age the year 1535. is remarkable for the Geneva Discipline and the spawning of the Jesuits Order 6. Papists teach That Truce is not to be kept with Hereticks i. e. Protestants Presbyterians teach That Promise is not to be kept when the preaching of the truth i. e. Presbytery is hindered See their Marg. Not. on Matth. 2. 12. 7. Both will reproach and slander plunder and sequester kill and slay for the Churches good though the Apostle says We must not do evil that good may come thereby 8. Both agree in that Principle that Dominion is founded in Grace 9. 'T is the business of them both in Protestant Kingdoms by ill interpreting their Princes actions by slandering libelling and the like means to draw Subjects from their Allegiance 10. The Jesuits call themselves the Saintly Brotherhood the Church of Rome the onely true Church and all Hereticks beside themselves The Presbyterians call'd themselves formerly the Godly Party and all others Malignants Now the People of God the Zealous Protestants and all others Carnal Superstitious Formalists Popishly affected c. 11. The Papists formerly Plot Rebell and Massacre by entering into a Covenant called the Holy League as in the Massacre at Paris and Rebellion against King Henry the Third The Presbyterian did the same by entering into a Covenant called the Solemn League as in England and Scotland against King Charles the First 12. Papists warring against King Henry the Third of France in performance of their Holy League have frequent Fastings doubled devotions to persuade weak Consciences that they aimed at nothing but the setting up of Christ's Kingdom and to instruct them to cut their Kings throat as for the love of God and the gaining of Paradise Presbyters in warring against King Charles in performance of their Solemn League had frequent days of Humiliation and Thanksgiving for success in fighting against the King The Papists Holy League and the Presbyters Solemn League were both entered upon a groundless jealousie of the King's Religion In both there is a League with Strangers and Armies raised in the Kingdom against their natural Sovereign who gave them no occasion of the War but the too much gentleness and condescensions of them both In both the Fire of Civil War was blown about by seditious Preachers 13. Papists and Presbyterians both in their distinct Parties do still combine against the Government 14. Both for many years have been the great disturbers of the Peace of all Christendom Tell me says a late Gentile Writer of any Massacre or bloudy Wars or Stratagems against the Magistrate of any Treason or Rebellion whatever within the memory of man but what was carried on by one of these two Parties Papists or Presbyterians and I 'le be content to undergo the bloudy Inquisition of the one and the fate of the two Archbishops Canterbury and St. Andrews murdered by the other Now if they will go no further from the Church of Rome than she hath gone from the Truth let them shew if they can half so many parallels between the Church of England and of Rome 'T is true indeed the Churches of England retain some things that are in use in the Church of Rome but must we disbelieve and difuse every thing as Popish that the Papists believe and use then must we not believe that Christ is the Messias then must we renounce the Word Sacraments and Prayer because the Papists believe and use them But if we will depart no further from the Church in Reformation than she departs from the Truth in Corruption let the Non-conformists shew if they can wherein the Church of England agrees with that of Rome in half so many erroneous Principles and dangerous Practices as the Non-conformist doth What reason then have they so to curse a Church which the Lord hath blessed Her Sisters the Reformed Churches all calling her blessed and joying to behold her order and stedfastness in Christ so to stigmatize with the brand of Popish all that are not peevish and turbulent like themselves II. What Reason have they for it considering what great things the Episcopal Divines have done and suffered above them all along from the beginning of the Reformation to this day in detestation of Popery and attestation of the Reformed Religion as now professed in the Church of England some laying down their lives to testifie against Popery as Cranmer Ridley Latimer c. others standing in the Gap upon all occasions to oppose the return of it with most eminent abilities and greatest zeal above what Non-conformists can pretend to In the beginning of the Reformation when Calvin sent to Cranmer and after that to the Protector Seymour to offer his assistance they rejected him utterly so that neither he nor any of the Consistorian Principle had any hand in the first Reformation in England or have any of them ever since done any
thing comparable to what the Episcopal Divines have against Popery 'T is true Mr. Baxter Pool and two or three more of them have done their parts but what to those many of the Church of England Usher Hall Morton Reignolds Chillingworth Laud Abbot Jewel Bramhall Barlow all Bishops beside Hammond White Buckeridge Sutcliff Stillingfleet Tillotson and many others of our Churches education of as great Learning and Judgment in Religion as holy Lives and as comfortable Consciences as any the World affords which one would think enough to make Malice it self ashamed to charge the Church or Church-men of England with any thing like Popery or Popishly affected Add to this III. If the Church or Church-men be any thing Popishly affected how comes it to pass that the twisted strength and subtlety of Papists with all their hellish malice is engaged chiefly against them as their mortal enemies as though nothing stood in their way but the Church of England that hath the countenance of Laws and Reason Antiquity and Decency to support it never regarding Quakers or Non-conformists as though it were below the wit of a Jesuit to encounter a Non-conformist as one that 's doing the Popes business yet will not be made believe it Now these three things considered judge who will what reason dissenting Protestants have to brand with the name of Popish or Popishly affected the Church or Church-men of England And if so whether it be not probable that by their factious and extravagant zeal against Popery they design not onely the overthrow of Popery but the increase of their Party and the promotion of their Interest also But once more IV. If there be any Church of England men Popishly affected I heartily wish in the Apostles words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were utterly cut off from among us and here will every true Church of England man say heartily Amen A Second way that they have of exerting their zeal against Popery whereby they increase their Party and promote their Interest is to amuse the People with the Fears and Jealousies of a Popish Revolution I confess this being purely politicae considerationis is beyond my Province but with humble deference to Superiours suppose we the worst even that of a Popish Successor yet have we many good allays to the extravagance of that Jealousie viz. all Offices and Power being in the hands of Anti-Papists there being so many strict Laws in force against Popery and the King's offer and readiness to concur in making more or any other thing that is lawful just and honest to secure us against it To instance in the revolution of Queen Maries reign is vain for there being now in the two Kingdoms so universal a detestation and loathing of Popery which was not then what Prince in the World would offer to set up that Religion so much against his own interest so utter inconsistent with his quiet and safety and which will so certainly involve him into continual fears and troubles most desperate dangers and inconveniences as that which next to Hell is most formidable and abominable to almost all his Subjects and that which they will scarce ever be brought to submit to Upon these and many the like considerations wise men think it not adviseable to forward a Popish revolution by exasperating the Heir to the Crown with the factious and unnecessary fears of a Popish succession and to abandon our quiet and security for meer future possibilities to make our selves certainly miserable before-hand for fear of being miserable hereafter Like Gundamore the Spanish Ambassadour who procured a valiant English Knight to be put to death as he said not for any hurt he had done but for fear of doing hurt 3. A third way they have of exerting their zeal against Popery whereby they increase their Interest and Party is by appropriating to themselves the reputation of the zealous Protestants and greatest opposers of Popery which will appear as impudent a cheat as it is a falshood if by zeal and opposing we mean not factious but onely such as is of regular and religious tendency to the overthrow of it when 't is considered 1. How abundantly the Episcopal Divines have out-done them in opposing and keeping out Popery as hath been noted before to which I add that of Dr. Saunderson That all along frâ—m the beginning of the Reformation our Biâ—â—ops with others of the Prelatick Party were the Principal if not the only Champions to maintain the cause of Religion against Popery and in these latter times none have slept in the Gap more readily nor championed the cause of Religion agaâ—nst Popery with more dexterity zeal and gallantry than the Episcopal Divines by whose endeavours some that have been bred Papists have been gained to our Church others that began to waver were confirmed and setled in the Protestant Religion but I profess says he as in the presence of Almighty God and before the World that I have not known or at least caâ—not call to remembrance so much as one single example of any of this done by any of our Anti-ceremonian Brethren whether Presbyterian or Independent But 2. These Non-conformists are so far from being the truly zealous opposers of Popery that as the same Dr. Saunderson observes they are really and eventually though not intentionally the great Promoters of the Roman Interest among us and that several ways 1. By putting to their helping hand to the pulling down of Episcopacy the main Bulwark against Popery as having the support of Laws Reason Scripture and Antiquity against it 'T is well known says he what rejoicing that Vote against Episcopacy brought to the Romish Party how in Rome they sang their Io Paeans upon the tidings thereof saying triumphantly now the day is ours now the fatal blow is given to the protestant Religion in England they could not but foresee that if the old Government of England a main pillar in the Building were once dissolved the whole Fabrick would be sore shaken if not presently shattered and ruined that things would presently run into confusion distractions and divisions as the event soon shewed 2. They promote the Interest of Rome says that learned Author by opposing it with more violence than reason in opposing Popery he observes the Episcopal Divines have done it by dint of Argument the Non-conformists by opprobrious clamours revilings c. so that it hath been obsâ—rved says he that in Lancashire and other places where there are most and most rigid Presbyterians there are the most and most zealous Papists Thus that judicious and learned Prelate 3. Non-conformists promote Popery by causing those divisions in the Church which Jesuits have endeavoured among us as more conducible to Popery than all their strength of Argument as is said to be determined at Rome in their concilium de propaganda fide And as Mr. Baxter observes in his Collections out of Contzen the Jesuite and in his Defence of the Principles of