Houses for distress some are cautious how they go so far The dissenting Subject keeps up close and upon his Market-day keeps his Shop shut as if he were broken or hid his head from Serjeants yea from worse Men than common Bailisss The Informer keeps the Street and hath whom he pleaseth at his command The Parish Officer is in a threefold Difficulty or Strait 1. The Justice of Peace fines him and threatens worse to him if he doth not make distress 2. It goes against his Nature and his Love to his Neighbour Friend Kinsman it goes against his Conscience to distrain the Goods and spoil the Trade and beggar innocent Children he cannot do it but if he do not he shall rue it himself he is sined and he is further threatned The Informer is now pro tempore his superior Officer he must execute his Warrants 3. He is in another Difficulty If he break into his Neighbour's House he is told he cannot justify it by Law by some sage Counsellors the owner of the House and Goods may sue him for breaking into his House He is told he hath but one Remedy when he is sued the Justice will stand by him and the Favour of the Court and Partiality of a Jury will be his Defender But really is not this an hard case that a Man must ruine others or be ruined and do these Actions look as if they did really rejoyce that they are ruled by Law when without Law or against Law he proceeds in hopes of Favour And what is all this for but to get Money for the chief Ruler the noble Informer the Shame and Scourge of his Country Gentlemen and Magistrates that have Wisdom to foresee and sense of what they see are disquieted in their Minds the Envious in hope of encreasing their own Trade are more modest than to approve it and they who are Scorners of Religion make merry at it And this is a true but imperfect face of the times and I divulge no Secrets II. The Sufferings of the Nonconformists have been coursely and darkly opened in the two former Pleas and will be more particularly set forth in what follows Their former Sufferings come upon them again and that with the Addition of more Weight and Violence many have by an indecent Art done what they can to shut up both his Majesties Eyes and Heart I call it indecent because we owe a greater Reverence to the King they have thanked him for his ruling by Law and declared their Adherence to the Church of England as established by Law As soon as they have done this they crave leave to execute the Laws upon Dissenters as if they would take the King at his Word and while the Gracious Declaration was fresh that there might be no room for wonted Mercy and Indulgence except he should recede from his Royal Word almost as soon as sent abroad They seem to oblige the Bishops and the Church by declaring for it as establish'd and thereby tied their Tongues and Pens from supplicating for their Protestant Brethren for if they do they will be interpreted to act contrary to themselves and their own Establishment and no doubt but many a fair Story is told them of I know not what invisible Machinations against them They must look on while a Course is taken which will reflect upon them and their Government as much if not more than a tolerated Nonconformity The more discreet and moderate sort of Magistrates are look'd upon as savouring of Parliamentary Notions either are left out of the Commissions of Lieuetenancy and Peace or act not at all or act by way of Mitigation of Rigor the most declaredly opposite to the Parliaments to Protestant Dissenters seem to act alone therefore the Law falls with multiplied Aggravations upon Preachers and People What was argued by way of Consequence in the second Plea proves now to be true as if it had been a Prophecy The Dissenters are fined for so many Meetings past That there are Fines upon the Officers of one little Market-Town for neglecting to break their Neighbours amounting to 200 l. and the Fines upon one Preacher and his Hearers come to about 1000 l. if they may be exactly levied What is the Case of Populous Places They suffer spiritually bodily really and relatively A Man cannot marry his Daughter to a Dissenting Protestant but he is like one that throws away her Portion a Man cannot put a Child apprentice to a Dissenting Protestant but he is in danger of losing his Money and his Son of losing his Trade by his Master 's not being able to follow it nor to hold many of them are in as bad a case as the Papists if the Laws were fully executed upon them for some Protestants are returned into the Exchequer and their Estates under Composition and the Parts that are left to them are liable to other Laws against them But if the Executioners of the Laws stop at the Composition there would be something left certain to them But the remaning two Parts are subject to these Laws the Oxford and five Mile Act and this against Conventicles and to the Ecclesiastical Courts besides they are obnoxious to Excommunications Significavits Writs de Excommunicatio capiendo to Banishment and Abjuration and Felony if they abjure not Some question whether that Act of Q. E. 35. be in force but several are brought in danger of it as if it were besides to all manner of Taxes and Payments They are more hardly used than Papists Some have paid 20 l. and 5 s. over and over But now their whole Estates will not satisfy the Demands of Informers and Warrants The only way that Men of Estates have is to become Tenants and Servants to secure them by making them over in Trust The Miseries of their Souls are not yet reckoned by me to prevent which they have ventured long by hearing such Ministers as they conceived most profitable But now for endeavouring to flee from the Wrath to come they are fallen under the Vengeance of cruel and merciless Informers and to save their Souls have brought Ruine upon their Estates III. And what is all this for It is for Nonconformity which may be considered two ways 1. Privatively not conforming 2. Positively being Nonconformists to the Laws of Uniformity preaching and holding Religious Exercises this is the Preachers Crime the Crime of the People is hearing or joyning with them in such Exercises of Religion as are without controversy necessary and profitable This and only this is the cause of all those many and great Sufferings of every kind which they have endured and under which no man can comfortably stand without Faith Self-denial Contentment and the Conscience of well-doing and the hope of Eternal Life the great Recompence of Reward And this being the Cause and the sole Cause of their Sufferings it is such as calls for Pity and great Tenderness and is no just Cause of their many Molestations and bitter Sufferings as I
ought to be restrained nor Ungodliness and Dishonesty for which they should be punished any more than the best of Men But worshipping the true God in Christ by the Spirit according to his Word c. By the foregoing Doctrine they are to be encouraged and protected There is but one thing to their Prejudice their Disobedience to some Temporal Ecclesiastical Laws requiring Subscriptions c. Hear a little further the Doctrine of the Bishops and Doctors To devise Rites and Ceremonies for the Church is not the Prince's Vocation but to receive and allow such as the Scriptures and Canons commend and such as the Bishops and Pastors of the Place shall advise not infringing the Scriptures or Canons And for all other Ecclesiastical Things and Causes Princes be neither the Devisers non Directors of them but the Confirmers and Establishers of that which is good Bilson pag. 252. and Displacers and Avengers of that which is Evil The Ceremonies in divers particular Churches are of divers sorts and that without any Inconvenience at all so they all agree in those unchangeable Laws given by the Universal Head Christ The Reverend Dr. Nowel's Reproof of Dorman p. 25. See Homil. of Fasting second Part. How easy may the Bishops if they pleased take away the Causes of our decried Schism or without any Crime of Schism permit a Diversity to them that are governed by the unchangeable Law of Josus Christ and only differ from their particular and changeable Laws To conclude If the Faith of the Nonconformists be the Catholick Faith as it is in all and every Point and Article even the same which is professed in the Church of England contained in the Scriptures if they are good Men and honest Subjects Then we are taught and exhorted to pray that the King and all in Authority under him may have Wisdom Strength Justice Clemency and Zeal to God's Glory to God's Verity to Christian Souls and the Common-wealth Let us pray they may rightly use their Sword and Authority for the Maintenance and Defence of the Catholick Faith contained in the Holy Scriptures The 3d part of the Homily of Obedience p. 69. Lond. Edit 1673. and of their good and honest Subjects for the Fear and Punishment of the evil and vicious People Object But they transgress the Laws therefore are not good and honest Subjects break the Orders of the Church c. Answ Preaching and hearing the Catholick Faith is I hope no Transgression of the Laws if it be then you do in effect say the Laws are against Godliness and the Exercise of the Catholick Faith They are good and honest Subjects that pray for the King pay Tribute live in Godliness and Honesty therefore they are to be protected and encouraged which was the Proposition to be proved I suppose no Law ought to be construed or executed which in Construction and Execution is contrary to the Catholick Doctrine of the Church of England established by Law The Faith they profess is Catholick their Worship is according to the Scripture and they corrupt the People neither with Sedition or Disobedience The Conditions of Liberty which they refuse are no Article of Catholick Faith or Practice therefore they ought not to be punished according to the Doctrine of the Church of England The second Question is Whether the Nonconformist Protestants are not to be indulged and permitted The former Discourse answers this Question If they do not deserve to be punished but protected and encouraged then they ought to be permitted and indulged while they design and act nothing inconsistent with or contrary to the Duties of good honest peaceable Subjects 2. Permission and Indulgence is the lowest degree of Favour that can be shewed to Catholick Christians and Protestants in a Christian Protestant Kingdom 1. If more be due to the Profession of Christian Religion yea of the Protestant Religion Then a Permission or Indulgence is the least Respect and Favour due to it But more is due to it than Permission therefore that 's the least 2. If Permission was due to Godliness and Honesty from adverse Powers both Jewish and Heathen and if it be due to Reformed Christians in Popish Countries then it is much more due to Protestant Professors in Protestant Kingdoms and States But the former is true therefore much more the latter Of these in particular 1. The Jewish Powers ought to have permitted the preaching of the Gospel to our Saviour and his Apostles because it was of God and God hath Soverign Power in all the World to set up his Kingdom and Laws It was the Sin of the Jews to forbid the preaching of the Gospel it was a Duty in the Apostles to preach it even when forbidden If it was a Sin in the Jews to forbid it they ought certainly to permit it yea they ought to have received and obeyed it If it had been a Duty and no Sin in the Jews to forbid the preaching of Christ it had been a Sin in the Apostles notwithstanding and against that Prohibition to preach it But it was an Obedience to God the higher Power to preach it therefore they who forbad it ought to permit it yea much more it was their Duty to believe it 2. The same Reason will hold all the World over because Christian Religion is from God and teaches the Knowledg and Obedience and Worship of God and the way to Life therefore God may send it all over the World by Men called and sent by him without the Commission of the Powers of the World And if Men knew the Gift of God they ought to esteem it the greatest Mercy and manifestation of Grace that was ever shewed to the Sons of Men. Our Saviour commands his Apostles to go into all the World to preach the Gospel to every Creature It comes among them without their Knowledg and against their Wills Ought it to be received or not if not then God ought not to be obeyed according to his revealed Will which no Man dare affirm if it ought to be received it ought to be permitted and indulged with an overplus of Reverence and Honour Godliness and Honesty was to be priviledged and protected to be cherished ard not extinguished in Heathen Kingdoms 1 Tim. 2.2 They desired to lead quiet Lives free from Trouble and Persecution the use they were to make and did make of their Quietness was the Exercise of Godliness and Honesty To this end they were to pray for Kings and all in Authority And Kings and all in Authority may venture and not fear to give Protection and Security to all that pray for them and that live in Godliness and Honesty under them If protection and Quietness might be expected from Heathens much more from Christians 3. If Refermed Christians ought to be permitted in Popish Kingdoms and States then Christians professing the Reformation may be much more permitted in Protestant Kingdoms and States and by Consequence in this Kingdom Popish Kings and Rulers
4º An. 1559. And yet the Law for all these places is the same The Law is uniform but the Practice multiform But if the use of the book both Rules and Things ordered by it be enjoined then it seems strange that the Words should be after the manner of the Church of England for suppose any should compose a Form of Worship begin with some apt Sentences of Scripture then go to an Exhortation to Confession but use another Confession and throughout observe the Rubrick but not the same number of Psalms nor the same Canticles and Lessons or one of the three or ancient Creeds and other Prayers whether this would not be tho not the same things yet after the manner of the Church of England as being after the same Order But take the words as before That no Exercise of Religion to above four and the Family shall be lawful except they use the Common-Prayer Then may some be apt to think that 1. Here is a Conformity allowed by this Act to overthrow and weaken that required by the Act of Uniformity I query If a Minister shall in any publick place so he be neither Parson Vicar or Stipendary read the Common-Prayer altho he do not subscribe nor declare Assent and Consent whether he may not lawfully preach to as large an Assembly as will hear him And so may not a Man that is a Nonconformist in respect of Subscription and Declaration lawfully preach as publickly as he can and so be a legal Nonconforming Conformist as honest Mr. C. called himself and whether this Act doth not strike at the Act of Uniformity 2. Doth it not cast an ill look upon all other Modes of Divine Worship as if no other Form were consistent with the Peace of the Kingdom but what is according to the Liturgy 3. That all that dissent from all things in the Liturgy are Persons to be suspected of the King except such as say or hear the Liturgy and for that Cause are not and by Consequence whether the Execution of it doth not clearly tend to divide between the King and his Subjects and between Subject and Subject yea to make them that are religious appear more formidable than the irreligious 4. And whether it is not to set up a manner of Worship composed by Men above the matter of Worship appointed by God for let the Worship as to the Matter and End and Principle be divine it is not tolerable except it be after that one Manner and Practice I 'll add no more Doubts and Prejudices but come to plain Argument They who ought to be encouraged and protected by the King of England as Supream Governour ought not to be punished ☜ But our Protestant Nonconformists ought to be encouraged and protected Therefore c. They who set up no false and Idolatrous Worship contrary to the Word of God that worship God according to his Word ought to be encouraged and protected by the King of England as Supream Governour and his Laws But such is their Worship in every part Therefore c. I 'll touch the Minor first and then go to the Proposition That Worship which agrees in the right Object of Scripture-matter according to Scripture and to divine Ends is true Worship but such is their Worship Therefore c. To multiply no more Syllogisms I prove the Proposition by the constant Uniform allowed Doctrine of the Church of England And to strike home at one blow thus I argue They who ought to be encouraged and protected and not punished according to the allowed Doctrine of the Church of England explaining the King's Supremacy ought not to be punished by any new or subsequent Law that doth not condemn that allowed Doctrine of the Church as this Act doth not But according to the allowed Doctrine of the Church of England explaining the King's Supremacy they and such as they are to be encouraged and protected Therefore c. This is the Proposition I am to prove the Major being clear Those Reverend Fathers of the Reformed Religion which disputed against the Pope's and proved the King's Supremacy did thus state and explain it Set forth by Hen. 8th Vid. Dr. Bur. 1 Vol. History of the Reform p. 142. in the necessary Erudition of a Christian Man To them specially and principally it pertaineth to defend the Faith of Christ and his Religion to conserve and maintain the true Doctrine of Christ and all such as be true Preachers and Setters-forth thereof and to abolish Abuses Heresies and Idolatries and to punish with Corporal Pains such as of Malice be the occasion of the same and sinally to over-see and cause that the said Bishops and Priests do execute their Pastoral Office truly and faithfully and specially in these Points which by Christ and his Apostles were given and committed to them and in case they shall be negligent in any part thereof or would not diligently execute the same to cause them to redouble and supply their Lack and if they obstinately withstand their Prince's kind Monition and will not amend their Faults then and in such Case to put others in their room and places And God hath also commanded the said Bishops to obey with all Humbleness and Reverence both Kings and Princes and Governours and all their Laws not being contrary to the Laws of God whatsoever they be and that not only propter Iram but also propter Conscientiam With this Doctrine all our best Writers of unquestionable Authority agree See Jewel's Apology Part 1. p. 15. Edit 1570. Apol. c. 11. Divis 3. cut down Groves break down Images coerce and chastise Negligence and Falshood of the Bishop pag. 715. Joshua also Ap. c. 11. Divis 6 8 9 10 11. c. 15. Divis 1 3. c. 17. Divis 1 2. The Reproof of Mr. Dorman with a Defence of the chief Government of Christian Princes by Dr. Alexander Nowel London 1566. p. 24. b. p. 131 143 161. b. Dr. Jo. Rainold's Conference with Hart c. 10. We never affirmed that Princes might cammand what God forbiddeth or prohibit what God commandeth Bishops have their Authority to preach and administer the Sacraments from Christ himself only the Prince giveth them publick Liberty without let or disturbance to do what Christ commandeth Princes suffer and incite them with Peace and Praise to do their Duties Princes may by their Laws prescribe the Christian Faith to be preached the right Service of God in Spirit and in Truth to be used the Sacraments to be administred according to the Lord's Institution Bilson of Subjection pag. 216 217 c. We say that Princes as publick Magistrates may give Freedom Protection and Assistance to the preaching of the Word ministring the Sacraments and right using of the Keys pag. 227 236 240 249. See Bishop Bridges of the Supremacy against Stapleton and Saunders p. 672 673. I 'll quote no more of him There is neither Idolatry in Worship nor Heresy in the Faith of the Nonconformists for which they
substantial Piety by which they hope to be saved themselves Duresce duresce Peace upon Israel The Conformist's fourth Plea for the Non-Conformists containing chiesly Relations of the Sufferings of many Non-Conformists in several Parts of England will be shortly published The Case and Cure of Persons excommunicated according to the present Law of England With some friendly Advice to persons pursued in inferior Ecclesiastical Courts by malicious promoters both in order to their avoiding Excommunication or delivering themselves from prisons if imprisoned because they have stood excommunicated four by Days Mr. Jekyl's Sermon intituled Religion makes the best Loyalty which was prepared for that great Assembly of Protestant Lords Gentlemen and Citizens that was to meet at St. Michael's Corn-hill on 21 April last to give God thanks for the Preservation of his Majestie 's Person the Protestant Religion and Protestant Subjects from the Popish Plot and many Sham-plots c. is now published Sold by Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard THE Conformist's Third Plea FOR THE NON-CONFORMISTS WE may think a Suspension of Severity and a powerful Interposition between the Threatning and the Execution would be proper and seasonable of great Service and Advantage but the infinitely wise God Saviour and King of his Church whose Thoughts are deep and unsearchable may think it sufficient that they that love him have his Promise that all things shall work together for good to them Let them that are instructed to know his Will do it and that know his Promises believe him and that have renounced the World freely part with their small share in it But to me the state of things appears dark confused and disconsolate and being engaged further than I thought at first the same Motives that prevailed with me before prevail'd with me to go on not from a private or factious Discontent but to prevent as much as I can the horrid Sins of some and the greivous Sufferings of others and to discharge mine own Duty which will bring the greatest Peace to my now grieved broken and afflicted Spirit But to come to some special matter give me favour to run over these four things I. To represent the State of our Times II. The Sufferings of the Protestant Dissenters III. For what IV. By whom they suffer I. We are a most sinful and sinfully divided Generation so broken that none but God can keep us from falling to pieces like a Pot-sheard broken like a broken earthen Vessel in which there is no pleasure Our Reason cannot propose nor consult Expedients to make us whole and happy because Interests worldly Policy and a contemptible Art or private Cunning to get or save the things that perish in their use and by their Abuse undo and ruine the Owners doth stir up Sedition in our Passions against our Reasons The Gospel hath been so generally despised that it hath not begotten in us a Faith and Love that unites to Christ and to one another We have not Faith enough to purify our Hearts to overcome the World to act as for a Crown of Glory and a Kingdom that cannot be moved If we believed a World to come how little should we strive for this If we had Love enough to cover a multitude of Sins to forgive one another to love as Brethren and our Neighbour as our selves we should not be so jealous and suspicious nor contentious nor selfish as we are One great thing is wanting which is the Wisdom from above described by St. James Chap. 3.17 Which is first pure then peaceable gentle easy to be entreated full of Mercy and good Fruits without Partiality without Hypocrisy There is a great Reproach cast upon the Church and the greatest of all cast upon the Dissenters as Dividers but it is an ignorant or malicious Reproach for there is nothing whole but the Church and Body of Christ They are united to Christ the Prince of Peace by one Spirit Faith and Love and to one another by the same Bonds and Principle Schism and Faction are from the Flesh and Devil No sooner do Joseph and his Brethren know one another to be Brethren but they fall upon one anothers Necks and kiss and weep and repent of all their Unkindnesses and express the dearest Love Paul and Barnabas dissent and part but both agree to promote the Kingdom of Christ They that are not and will not be reconciled to God are the great Dividers and Breakers of the Peace they are made up of Lusts of the Flesh which divide and draw several ways for their Satisfaction Whence come Wars and Fightings come they not hence even of your Lusts which war in your Members There is Dissention in the Mind and in the Passions between the Law in the Mind and Heart and the Lusts of the Mind and Flesh till the Conscience comes to be past feeling and the Sinner falls under a reprobate Mind and then what Confusion follows when they call Good Evil and Evil Good put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness what open Defiance is bid to God and Christ what dissenting from and Nonconformity to the sacred Baptismal Covenant the holy Rules of a Gospel-Conversation There is a Law of Faith of Love of Repentance and the Penalty is heavy upon them that do not obey it there is a Law of Righteousness of following Peace and Holiness without which no Man can see the Lord Who transgress these Laws and multitudes more Yea who is the Man that is guilty of all And what Sin so great now a days and in all times as Nonconformity Who rob by the High-ways who kill and steal who curse and damn who have Wo who have Sorrow who have Contentions who have Bablings who have Wounds without cause Who have Redness of Eyes Nonconformists Who make the greatest Trouble to Justices and Magistrates Nonconformists Who fill Prisons and breake them Who take leave of the World at Tyburn and other Places Nonconformists Who draw Swords send Challenges fight Duels and murder one another first with Wine and Drink and then kill their dear Companions Nonconformists and Dissenters But now there is a Distinction to be made some Dissenters are tolerable and some intolerable the drunken Nonconformist is tolerable he hath not only taken the Oaths but swears the other is a sober Nonconformist and taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy will not acquit him and he is intolerable The Nonconformists that assemble to worship God are intolerable and thousands that worship him not at all are too commonly let alone But are not Malefactors punished yes they are but their Crimes are against Civil Peace or Righteousness and not immediately for Irreligion But the Nonconformist Dissenters from arbitrary and variable Impositions are punished heavily and smartly for religious assembling and no other Cause as is proved in the second Plea and is cleared hereafter And upon this the Kingdom is extreamly divided and troubled There is a mighty Party in the Land that
thus fitted are admitted and ordained 9. It is so far from being any part of their Office that it is altogether inconsistent with it to disturb the Peace or sow Sedition against Heathen Magistrates or to derogate from their Authority much more to do any such thing against Christian Magistrates that profess the Truth to whom they are engaged by more and stricter Bonds 10. Their Persons and Estates are subject to the Magistrates Power and Laws their Consciences to God and in him and for him to them as his Ordinance but to require more of them than of other Subjects carries in it a vehement Suspicion injurious to Religion because a Suspicion of them more than others 11. They cannot impose themselves upon any People as their Teachers but if any are desirous of their Labours or accept their Pains and find benefit thereby how can they that are given to the Work refuse to instruct and minister to them any more than Paul and Silas when constrained by the importunity of Lydia Acts 16.15 Will it not instil an ill Opinion of our Rulers and Laws if they shall say Good People I would preach instruct exhort and comfort you but I dare not I am forbidden and it may cost me my Liberty and more than I am worth Would it not be a sowing of Sedition among the People to tell them Orthodox and faithful and skilful Preachers dare not preach the Truth no not in Corners except to a very few 12. Their Office is Divine and their Calling not of Men but of God their chief Encouragements are spiritual and heavenly but they ought to be protected encouraged and maintained with all needful and competent Susistence for their bodily and ministerial Support and Comfort in their Work and live of the Gospel 13. The Temporalities in the Donation of the Supream Powers or private Patronage may be given to whom they please but still as accountable to God they should not be denied to Persons fitted for the Work of the Ministry nor given to Men more suitable to their Fancies than the Mind of God Magistrates and Patrons have Rules for their Direction as Inferiours have for theirs 14. And therefore Superiours have need of great Wisdom and Wariness to discern who are fit and worthy and who not and what are the necessary Conditions to capacitate Men for the temporal Rewards and Subsistence lest by their unnecessary Jealousy and Arbitrary Qualifications they reject Men that are furnished with the most necessary Qualifications of Learning and Holiness which contain Peace and Honesty Men that fear a Net may starve for want of Corn It is hard Fare to swallow and eat Scruples of Conscience 15. Governours may deprive Ministers of their Temporal Maintenance remove them from their Stations for their Non-compliance with their Laws and Orders but no humane Power can deprive them of what they could not give them nor take away from them viz. their ministerial Abilities and Authority I think it clear nothing can eject them or un-make them but the Privation of those things which could make them Ministers The Crimes for which Ministers might be deposed are either Impiety Unrighteousness and Immorality few in Number but gross in Quality And lest I be thought too positive let me propound some Questions 1. Whether those Men who are fitted by Christ for the Ministry that are moved and assisted by the Holy Ghost that are devoted to Christ and his Work that are invited to preach by many that are moved with Compassion towards many People that want that have had Success in their Labours are not obliged in Conscience to preach the Gospel as often as much and to as many as they can 2. Whether it be a sufficient Reason to refuse to admit such otherwise able and worthy Men or to eject and silence them because they cannot subscribe swear declare what a few Men without asking Counsel and Direction of God by solemn Fasting and Prayer or by Deliberations with the fairly and equally chosen Representatives of the whole Church did resolutely carry on by ways and Instruments of their procuring We have our Ember Weeks for Ordination and why not before framing Conditions upon which Continuance or Deprivation did depend of many hundreds of able Ministers I do not question the lawful Authority of Governours or detract from Order and Government but the Question is Whether Rulers should wholly reject such Men as are duly qualified with Gifts necessary for the Office of the Ministry who refuse no Catholick but Conditions dubious in their Sense and unnecessary in their nature and kind 3. But granting that the Rulers of the Church can justify to Christ their Rejection of qualified Men which is not past doubt from those publick Stations and Endowments of the Church and charge of Souls yet what Harm or Danger can come to precious Souls by the profitable and wholsome Labours of learned judicious and sound Christian Ministers endowed with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of the Catholick Church Why should not they preach the Word Why may not People hear them Or why should not we accept their Help and repute them our Fellow-Labourers and rejoyce in their Success 4. Have any of us that conform heard any of them vent in the Pulpits in former times while they had the Liberty of their Pulpits any disloyal or rebellious Doctrine any Fanaticism inconsistent with sound Reason and the Oracles of God the Faith of the Catholick or Reformed Churches Name the Men admonish them labour to reclaim them and testify against them If they were such Seeds-men why did not the Church after her Restitution cite them and proceed against them to Excommunication and Ejection as intolerable Men But on the contrary Do we not remember our selves and have we not heard others remember what manner of Men they were both in the Universities and Countries Do we not remember some of them as Governours of Colledges as Tutors as Preachers in the University City and Country and why may not they who have been our Teachers teach others by whom we are saved and effectually called by whom we believed become blessed Instruments and Ministers by whom others may believe be born again and saved Is Nonconformity an Extinction of the Spirit of Light Truth Purity and Power in them Doth Nonconformity separate them from Christ Are they none of his because they cannot submit to the Inventions of some who were not so much as Bishops when they vehemently coucurred to bring us to this pass and were restless to pass some of their particular Problems into a Law to which all Men must declare Assent if the Assent be declared in their sense As I should think it a great Sin not to succour my Father or Brother in want and distress so I do think it a great Sin not to relieve my Fathers and Brethren in Jesus Christ by a Faithful Testimony and Apology when they are oppressed and in danger of Prisons
same Fault as saith the Scripture Nah. 1.9 as the learned Mr. Beveredge in his Notes upon those Canons hath observed Is it likely these should be Canons of the Apostles contrary to 1 Cor. 5.11 Or if they be genuine and ancient how disagreeing is the modern Usage of the Nonconformists who are convicted of no such Crimes according to the ancient Canons but yet who are for their Nonconformity punished in several Courts and several times and ways Deposition is judged Punishment sufficient saith Zonaras so Aristenus for to subject to a double punishment omnino inhumanum est is altogether inhuman Other Canons command a Bishop Presbyter or Deacon to be deposed that beat offending Believers or Infidels that have done wrong Can. 27. If a Bishop Presbyter or Deacon obtain his Dignity with Money let him be deposed and he that ortained him Can. 29. If a Bishop have made use of Secular Princes to obtain a Church let him be deposed and excommunicated If a Presbyter contemning his own Bishop shall separate from him and set up an Altar without Cause or blameless either in respect of Religion or Justice let him be deposed Can. 31. But this is not the Case of our Nonconformists Duarenus reckons the deposing and ejecting Crimes to be 1. Simoniacal Ambition 2. Incontinency 3. Perjury 4. Manslaughter 5. Treason 6. Or besides these Crimes any legal Infamy But Panormitan admonisheth that they were not to observe the Severity of the ancient Canons because the Men of this Age are not like those ancient Men or Men of ancient Times Duaren de sacris Eccles-Ministris c. l. 8. c. 6. There are other Causes which touch not our Brethren but other Men much nearer 2. In what they do they proceed upon Principles common to all Christians and Protestant Churches in taking the Word of God for their Rule as a divine and perfect Rule The Christian Faith as they of the Church of Rome had explained it was a Submission to the Church The Reforming finding that this was the Spring of all their Errors and that which gave them Colour and Authority did on the other hand set up the Strength of their whole Cause on an explicit believing the Truth of Scriptures because of the Authority of God who had revealed them saith the Reverend Dr. Burnet History of the Refor Book 3. p. 286. It were easy to be copious on this Argument They who began the Reformation laboured in translating and publishing the Scriptures and would have all their Doctrines tried by them The Reverend Bilson bids the Papists Prove your Religion and Service which you stoutly and falsely term Catholick to be commanded by Christ or else Women and Children be they never so silly will collect by the manifest Words of our Saviour that their Promise in Baptism doth straitly bind them from believing your Errors and admitting your Masses until you shew good and effectual Warrant out of the Word of God that you do what Christ did and teach what he taught without adding or altering any jot For this is the Duty that Baptism requireth of us to believe no Teacher but one which is Christ to follow no Stranger to regard and obey no Lord or Law-maker in the Church but only the Son whom the Father appointed to be Master and Leader Subject part 1. foreing to Religion p. 18. and Ruler of the Gentiles This being a Principle common to all the Protestant Reformers they who hold it and no other repugnant to it or inconsistent with it Jewel's Apolog. c. 16. Divis 1 2. C. 17. Divis 1 2. every true Protestant must needs hold they ought not to be punished for walking after it And suppose any particular Man or Denomination of Men err in their Superstructures and Consequences yet whether that Error be not a tolerable Error and not a punishable Crime which is consistent with Piety and Charity may be left to the Judgment of every charitable Christian 3. According to this Rule and Principle they frame their Worship and model their Government and Discipline and they that keep to that though by different Schemes having their Flaws and Failings they cannot err a damnable Error and if not damnable it is want of Charity that will judg it intolerable And there are those General Rules and Directions which direct us as by a Patern they direct us to our End God's Glory and mutual Edification the outward manner Decency and Order and altho in particular Decencies and Rules of Order there may be a Diversity yet all agree about Order and the greatest Disagreement is in some Points of Decency which are but Accidents which are no Parts of Divine Worship as the Reverend Bishop Abbot writes The Means by Christ the Spring and Pranciple the holy Spirit the Matter Word and Sacraments Traditions p. 844 in Defence of Mr. Perkins and do properly and immediately respect Men. It is a hard Case to punish all Men that are not of the same Complexion or that cannot see alike clearly tho they walk with us in the same way of Faith and Holiness and Peace The Church of Christ never bred that Notion that Church-Unity and Communion doth consist in Accidents no more than Humane Nature in Complexion Shape Stature or of Children in Cloaths of the same Colour Fashion Length c. 4. And once again they are punished for Nonconformity and besides what hath been said elsewhere in particular besides the Consideration of the wicked Design Sedition Rebellion and Schism and the odious Pretence take the Law in the Strictest Sense of it and any Exercise of Religion in other manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England seems to be forbidden by it It seems to be unsafe for any to punish upon this Law and it is hard to be punished by it it signifies something but certainly what is very dubious For in the Liturgy i. e. Book of Common-Prayer there are two things only 1. Rules Directions and Orders called Rubricks 2. The Parts of the Worship and Ceremonies ordered prescribed and directed by them It seems the meaning of the Law is That no other Exercise of Religion shall be lawful without the Common-Prayer both Matter and Rites according to the Rubrick but then the Words of the Act agree not because the Practice of the Church in many Places is different from the manner of the Liturgy as others have proved by Instances The Practice of all Cathedrals may not be alike for ought I know The Practice of the Cathedral and Parish-Churches are not the same as all Men know nor of one Parish like another while so many go beyond the Rule the Practice of some Churches and Colledge-Chappels and some Chappels differ from others some reading all Psalms and Canticles and Chapters on Wednesdays and Fridays and others reading only some Prayers and the Litany * And this is according to the manner of the Church of England in Q Eliz. days Vid. Injunct
and the Angel stood over London with his drawn Sword as our Jerusalem then the King and Court and Parliament removed to Oxford and when many Churches were empty God stirred up many of the Nonconformists to go and preach up and down then they had the use of Churches and numerous Assemblies and gained many Souls to God by them and drew the Hearts of a desolate People to themselves which could never since be alienated from them And when the Popish Faction opposed by the Loyal Persons got an Act to remove them from Corporations they were then most imployed in the Capital City in spight of their Adversaries and God protected them and the Plague proved their Sanctuary from that Law Next Year the City was burnt and the Inhabitants of the principal Parts of it were driven into Corners and the Nonconformists had the advantage Who that knew them would not entertain them as Comforters in a distracted ruined Condition Then the Conformists were driven out of Churches too and some felt the loss of Livings to teach them Compassion towards their ejected Brethren and the common Enemy of them both shewed the World what he would do with us as well as them And I am confident if now the Nonconformists could be rooted out the Church-men shall not stand long after them no tho they should which God forbid comply with them Popish Mercy is like raging Fire takes all before it and even turning shall not save us and they who are so officious to serve their Interest now may not come off so well with their Reward as Adonibezek did Many suffered great Losses lived in great danger and distraction by that Corporation-Act but the Enactors could never accomplish their full design by it the very Souldiers that were imployed to keep out People and to guard the Meeting-places were not pleased with their Office and shewed Civility to the Ministers in some places Their Sufferings went against the common sense of Men but so captions were some Men so zealous rather so jealous to justify their Resolutions that strange Stories were carried and dispersed of seditious Doctrines Preachers were presented as Incendiaries to incense the Magistrate against them that it was dangerous for the Preachers to quote some Texts of Scriptures and just cause there is why such unchristian Spirits should be afraid of Scriptures 7. After all this Distraction and Trouble His Majesty sent out his Declaration of Indulgence and they became licensed Preachers It is true the Parliament at their next meeting declared againstit as contrary to the Laws and his Majesty called it in but it proved and proves profitable to the Nonconformists several ways 1. The very Parliament that was against the Declaration continued rather favourable towards the Nonconformists than sharp the Laws continued but the Execution cooled and abated 2. Such as built Tabernacles and the most convenient Places they could held them and their Congregations stuck to them and both without Molestation until now that their old Friend awakes as one out of sleep lest they should sow good Seed in the Field 3. Though that Declaration of Indulgence Nor could at that time as is to be seen in what follows of the Sufferings of the Nonconformists and the Licences granted them cannot protect them from the Arrests of Mens Passions nor from the violent Hands of such as are like Saul's against them yet they do clearly vindicate them from the odious Slander of seditious and evil Men. For can it be thought that the King would have so little regard to Truth Faith Peace to his own Safety and the Preservation of his Subjects from the infection of wicked and cursed Principles as to grant Licences to seditious Preachers to Doctors of Rebellion or Underminers of Church and State they are most the saine Men who were licensed by the King if the King was deceived in them if they are dangerous and evil Men testify against them and no greater Favour is desired for them but Truth and Justice Let them that clamor against them and asperse them do it and preserve their Honour and Reverence of the King immaculate if they can Christianum esse Nonconformistam esse aut est Crimen aut non est so Crimen est cur non interficis confitentem si Crimen non est quid persequeris innocentem Cyp. contra Demetrianum Tract 1. And so much for that by way of Apology now follows the second Query 2. Whether it be not hard to silence suppress and punish the Orthodox Nonconformists for endeavouring the everlasting Salvation of precious Souls by their Preaching and other Religious Exercises I cannot call to mind more than three things that can be urged against them or to justify their Sufferings 1. They transgress the Laws and Orders of the Church made by the Bishops Rulers and Fathers of the Church 2. They transgress against the Statutes of the Land and why should they be priviledged or spared if they transgrest 3. They are Men uncalled to preach the Gospel and it is fit such Men should be restrained To the first It may be answered waving the Disputes about Church-Rulers and the Restriction of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction that the present Terms of Ministerial Liberty were not the Result and Decrees of all the Bishops of the Church after Consultation and free debate supposing all the Power to be lodged in them but we know that our Ecclesiastical Laws are made by our Convocation and enacted and established by the Civil Power whether there was any Debate or Disputation about these Impositions is not altogether unknown We read that in the Council at Jerusalem met to consider a Case as plain and easy as any of our Matters can be supposed to be that they came not to a Determination till after much disputing there was nothing but open dealing The Apostle of the Circumcision did not protest against the Apostle of the Uncircumcision as unfit to be there no tart Reprehensions or Magisterial Checks were given but what concerned the whole Church was debated by the whole Church the Apostles and Elders and the Church Acts 15.6 7 22. and nothing resolved but after Consideration and Disputation they give the Churches of Antioch an account of their Consultation and lay upon them none but necessary things without either Penalty or Sanction but this from which if you keep your selves ye shall do well I cannot think that the Reverend Mr. Baxter doth reflect upon all or most of the Bishops Ver. 29. by his frequent mention of Ithacius and Idacius but well knows our Impositions to be the Will and Pleasure of but a small number of them and if it be so we may question the Right which a few Bishops had to make Laws for the whole Church till we see their Patent 2. But they transgress other Temporal Laws made by lawful Authority 1. A lawful Authority is made up of several Estates in this Kingdom whereof one is chosen by the free Votes of the
People of such a rank as have an Interest in the Land I have heard some doubt whether that House of Commons were so truly their Representatives because many of them were obtruded upon the People and many indirect and unlawful ways were taken to sort them together But 2. waving that succeeding Parliaments have marked out these Laws to give them an Expiration and were it not for Fomentations and high Drops used by some to keep them in Life and Vigor they had been buried in neglect by this time 3. But granting they are in as full force as ever yet Laws are compared to the Grape which being too much pressed yieldeth an hard and unwholsome Wine as the wise Lord Chancellor ‖ Wise and moderate Discourse concerning Church-Affairs p. 37. Bacon said To press out such a Wine and force an exhausted party to pay dearly for it is not the way to nourish good Blood in such a diseased Body as ours is But having spoken of this in the Second Plea I shall add no more here but reserve something for a Postscript concerning what I said in that 3. The last Prejudice against them is that they are Men uncalled to preach Answer All of the Seniors of them had Episcopal Ordination others have another kind and most if not all I plead for have the internal and I dare say would chearfully answer all the Interrogatories in the Examnation in the ordering of Priests except a part of the last But my Answer is that when the calling of Ministers hath been doubted of or questioned as the calling of our Bishops and Ministry hath been by the Papists Our most Reverend Fathers have insisted upon one certain Rule of Trial of true Ministers and Pastors Hear what our famous and blessed Bishop Jewel preached By this therefore Sermon on 1 Cor. 4.1 2. fol. 223. my Brethren shall you soon try whether they are the true Servants of God for if they shall only disclose unto you the Will of God if they shall preach unto you the Secrets of God's Gospel and the Glory of his holy Name then are they true Servants then are they Christ's Ministers and faithful Dispensers of God's Secrets c. In these our days the Ministers of God and Preachers of his Gospel are evil spoken of among all Men some say they are unlearned they are Crafts-men Some say they preach they cannot tell what they speak against Prayer Faiting Alms-deeds and all other good Works Unto all this I say it is sufficient for us to be found the Servants of God and faithful Dispensers of God's Secrets When Paul came from Berea to Thessalonica and began to preach the Gospel there the People ran to their Books searched the Scriptures and when they found in all Points they agreed therewith then they believed Paul Even so let us do good Brethron let us examine and try their Doctrine with the Touchstone of God's Word and confer their Teaching their Discipline with the Scriptures of the Holy Ghost and then be you Judges then if you see that we teach you nothing but the Mysteries of God Folio 225 226. So Dr. Benefield de Sacerdotio Evangelico §. 43 besides Bilson c. above quoted that we disclose to you the Will of God if you see we preach unto you no other thing than the Secrets of God's Gospel esteem us to be the Servants of God the Ministers of Christ c. There are some other popular Prejudices instilled into many and dispersed to no other effect but to foment ill Nature Passion and a Spirit of Faction such is that of a late Writer who writes Defence of Dr. Stilling pag. 70. They set up Schismatical Conventicles and preach People into Scruples and Factions How knows he that by his own hearing or by hear-say How many hath he cured that resorted unto him for Satisfaction It is no wonder that People are abused into a Suspicion that their Nonconformity is but a Pretence a conscientious Disguise to cover Rebellious Principles that they began the War which was as impossible as it is historically untrue That they preach in Barns and other places out of dislike of Churches I suppose if they were offered Churches they would not refuse them But as Conventicles are counted as places of Disgrace so it 's an Unhappiness they have no better and a greater that they may not have them His Gospel who was laid in a Manger may be preached in a Barn if there be no room for his Preachers in better places The Primitive Christians were glad of any places The Waldenses preached in Barns who were glorious Confessors of the Christian Verity And to avoid both Danger and Offence some of our Nonconformists have preached in Caves and Pits to whose Honour or Dishonour be it spoken These Prejudices cast out of the way it were easy to out match these Prejudices but I will not use a hand to record what is not to be heard without Trouble but it is not unfit to take notice of so much as belongs to the Question in hand and no more than will serve to prepare Mens Minds to believe there are Complaints which should affect and move the Hearts of our Rulers to hearken to the Motions of the Reconcilers and Peace-makers And that I may handle a tender Point with as much Tenderness and Modesty even towards them that make the Hearts of Christians groan and mourn I 'll proceed by Questions 1. What had the Parishes and Congregations of England done to provoke the few but potent Managers of our Ecclesiastical Affairs to deprive them of some of the most painful vigilant successful exemplary Pastors that ever any Church enjoyed The most learned Lord Chancellour Bâcon said of the Bishops As for their easy silencing of them in such great scarcity of Preachers it is to punish the People and not them Wise and moderate Discourse p. 35. It must be confessed we all had sinned but most notoriously two sorts of People first those that could not endure sound Doctrine nor Reproofs and hate to be reformed and others who knew not the time of the Visitation were too sleepy and luke-warm and could too easily part with those who laboured to win them and bring them to God by Repentance Faith and Love Could they put in better in their rooms Was there too many and could hundreds be spared then why had some one Man many Livings Was it because there were too many or why might not many that seldom or never well could preach be rather maintained and eased Was this to do as our Saviour commanded Pray ye to the Lord of the Harvest to send Labourers into his Harvest See Bishop Jewel's Sermon on that Text. 2. What had the Preachers done to merit silencing I could fill up my Page with Queries but I will keep close to the general Point If they will not subscribe declare and swear such prescribed Forms they are judged by the Law to be mute The