Vnity To these I might add Envy the Canker of the Mind the daughter of Discontent and constant Enemy of Peace Covetousness the Root of all Evil. Envy being the shadow of Honour and real Worth and Sacrilegious Covetousness the Ravenous Harpie that preys upon the small Patrimony of the Church which usually is the great perswasive to prophane and Rapacious Natures to treat her as the Atheistical Dionysius did his Apollo who rob'd him of his golden Robe alledging it was too cold for his Godship in Winter and too heavy in Summer but because these Fall in with Interest and Ambition I will not under different Names repeat the same things over again to nauseat the Judicious and tire the indifferent Reader with reiterated Tautologies CHAP. V. HAVING thus shewn what it is that impedes our Happiness and which therefore must of necessity be removed from the Minds of Men before there can be any Possibility of their Embracing Truth Unity and Charity in the next place we come to manifest the necessity of Vnion the only Expedient which can procure the Common Happiness of Mankind Now to make this appear we must look into the Main End and Design of all Religion here in this Mortal State of Life in order to that future Condition of a Glorious Immortality and that we may the better apprehend what that is we must consider the Commands and Precepts of Religion and at what they aim And because all the Rules of our Holy Profession direct us to it we must believe that God Almighty gave us those Precepts Rules and Directions to promote our own and the Common Happiness of all Mankind even here in this present State of Life to render our short Journey through the troublesom Stage of Time more pleasant and easy till we arrive at the unchangeable Happiness of Eternity This Easiness of Mind this real Happiness of Life is only to be obtain'd by following the precepts of Justice Temperance Sobriety Prudence and the other Noble and God-like Vertues which Religion teaches for the substance of Happiness does not consist in any thing without us though there are good Circumstances but in the Innocency of Mind and purity of Life Nil Conscire sibi nullà pallefcere culpâ in our being good and doing good which is the great Employment for which we came into the World So that there is a necessity of Religion in the World in order to the happy posture of humane affairs which all Mankind desire for themselves with unlimited wishes but are too narrow in their indeavors to promote it in Common unto others That this was the Wise and good Design of the great Creator is most apparent in that even in those obscure Ages of Barbarism and Ignorance Act. 14.16 17. at which the Apostles says God was pleased to wink yet he left not himself without a Witness When in times past he suffered all men to walk in their own ways they were not without some Religion which taught them their Duty in some Measure though imperfect both to the Gods for they supposed many and also to Men. THAT must of Necessity therefore be the truest Religion and most agreeable to the Will of God which approaches nearest to this Great Design and would certainly accomplish the End for which all Religion was intended And therefore the truth of any Religion must be measured according to the Proportion which it holds to promoting Peace Unity and Charity the only ways to obtain happiness in this World as well as Faith whereby we hope to obtain the happiness of a future state And what Religion soever separates these Good Works from Faith is so far vain and destroys that Faith it seems to profess for Faith without Works is dead If therefore any Religion ruines Peace Unity and Charity we must judg it so far false and erroneous let it make never so many Boasts of holding the true Faith of Christ Of all the Religions which ever were in the World the Christian Doctrine may justly challenge the Preheminence as conducting men if they would be managed by it the nearest way to Happiness both Temporal and Eternal and among all the variety of Opinions in the Christian Religion that must therefore of necessity be the best and truest which does most powerfully promote innocency of Life purity of Mind Unity and universal Peace not by external force and violence but by the same Methods which God Almighty made use of to plant and propagate it in the World which was not by Tumults Seditions or Disobedience to the Civil Magistrate but by meekness humility Charity and a Conversation unblameable Which were the Weapons by which the Primitive Christians were taught to put to silence the ignorance of folish Men The Church indeed had a power but it was purely Spiritual and those spiritual Arms were the most powerful to the pulling down and dismantling the strong holds of Sin and therefore even while the Temporal Powers of the Earth did all they could to suppress them yet mightily did the Word of God grow and increase not by opposing Rebelling or imposing Laws upon their Soveraigns but by submitting and suffering demonstrating upon all occasions their Innocence and that they were free from any ill designs upon the Civil Government of the World or the Temporal concerns of Mankind BUT because all and every Profession of Christian Religion every Church would have us beleive this of them and that therefore every one Challenges the name of the true Church of Christ here lies the Difficulty and the niceness of the Point Which is the best and truest And because all desire the Glorious Title therefore they quarrel about it who it is that is the Spouse of Christ Whereas one would Modestly believe that to be without Spot and Wrinkle is not to be appropriated to any particular Church in which there must be Tares and Chaff as well as Wheat but to the Holy Catholick Church I do not mean of Rome for She is but one Member that glorious Company of true Believers the General Assembly of the Church which have been and shall be in all Ages of the World and out of all Nations united unto Christ their Head A Church may be a true and a visible Church of Christ and yet have many Errors and so long as they keep the foundation of Faith though they may build Hay and Stubble upon that Foundation yet I do not see how they can be denyed that Name Thus we see St. Paul writes to the Church of God which is at Corinth 1 Cor. 1.2 to them that are Sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints And yet in that very Epistle he Complains of great Errors and Disorders among them Cap. 11. and an Abuse of the very Sacrament of the Lords Supper and so to the Church of the Galatians and yet he tartly calls them foolish Galatians and tells them they were bewitched into this Disobedience against the Truth and that he was
inexcusable by their own Judgment And if we do not prove the present Government Lawful and of Gods appintment both the Civil and Ecclesiastical Phillida solus habeto And till they have proved themselves Lawful Powers and the present Government Unlawful let them be obedient to its Decrees and Determinations as those Laws respect the good of the Civil Society if they will not as they respect the Religious CHAP. X. HAVING proceeded thus far in shewing the Design of the Outward Government of the Church to have a Political Respect as well as Temporal Laws to the happiness and well-being of Humane Society as well as a Religious Respect to future Felicity and that therefore upon this double account our Obedience is due to the Ecclesiastîcal Laws as well as the Temporal to which yet no Dissenters will own Disobedience to be Lawful because without Laws no Living and for the same reason therefore Obedience to both is a necessary part of Religion in the next place let us see how necessary therefore this Vnity in point of Government in the Church is upon this Political account in order to the happiness of the Society which is the End of all Laws and all Religion in this present state of Life AND this I conceive cannot better be done than by shewing the dangerous influence which Disunion in point of Government in the Church has upon the Civil Affairs of any Nation As true Religion makes men the best Subjects steddy in their Loyalty and Allegiance Faithful in their Trusts and Services industrious to promote the Common Good obedient to their Superiors kind to their Equals and humble to their Inferiors and always Religious observers of the Laws of God and Man So False Opinions when entertain'd for true Religion ever render Men the Worst And if there were nothing more in it yet would it be the great Interest of Princes to endeavour to propagate Christian Religion in its greatest Purity and to discountenance Errors Heresies Sects and Schisms as the best Expedient to secure themselves and Establish their Thrones upon the immoveable Basis and sure Foundation of the good Conscience of their Subjects For this surpasses all the Obligations of Laws all the Powers of Arms and all the Arts of Policy Laws without Conscience are like Sampsons green Wit hs which armed Interest and successful Ambition attended on with Fiery Zeal Jud. 16.9 will break to pieces as a thred of Tow when it touches the Flame The most Powerful Arms have no intail of Victory and though the Sword be a very good Guard for the Sceptre yet if the Sceptre turns into a Sword a thousand Instances will shew that it lays a slippery Foundation for a Crown which always stands most firm when set upon the Head of Princes by Love and Affection and not by the trembling hand of Fear The deepest Politicians are sometimes Men shallow and fordable subject to be deceived and their Counsels like Achitophels may be defeated and turned into Folly But Religion were it Universally practised Princes might disband those Auxiliary Succours of the Crown together with their Fears that raise them and might send their Jealousies those Envious Tormentors both of Crowns and Cottagers into perpetual Banishment For that teaches to smother Treason in the thought Eccles 10.20 and prevents the Necessity of Axes and Scaffolds Curse not the King not in thy thought is God's Command which they will not Transgress to gain the Empire of the World and lose their Souls Innocence is their Profession Peace their Study Integrity the joy of their Lives the delight of their Minds and the pleasure of their Deaths Not all the storms of Afflictions not all the shining Glories of the Vniverse can tempt them to throw off the White Mantle of unstained Innocence that Ermine of Religion Not all the tempting withcrafts of Dominion Riches Honour or Advantage can prevail with them to do the least Injury wilfully to their poorest Neighbour much less then to those Sacred Persons who are Gods on Earth and the true Christian if it were put to his choice had rather sit with Job cloathed with Ashes Miseries and Integrity upon the Dunghil of Poverty than be lifted from thence by the hand of Injustice or Violence to sit among Princes and wear the Dreaded Imperial Purple THIS is the happy Temper of Religion which teaches the Prince that Excellent Moderation to be so far from treading upon the Necks of his Subjects that he will not tread upon the Heels of their Properties or their Priviledges and in all his Laws to study their Interest as his own This teaches Subjects to study to be Quiet 1 Thess 4.11 and in stead of making Seditions Mutinies or Rebellions to make Devout and continual Supplications Prayers Intercessions 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. and giving of Thanks for Kings and all that are in Authority that so they may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty For this they are taught is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Nor will they venture to cut off the least Skirt of Prerogative the lawful Inheritance of their Prince to inlarge their own or take one Jewel out of his Crown to Adorn or Inrich themselves withall They will not Deplume the Royal Eagle of his to Feather their own Nests The thirst of Ambition which cannot be quenched with any thing but the Illustrious Blood of Soveraigns is an absolute Stranger to their very thoughts and they will rather sacrifice their own Lives and Fortunes than see his in Danger All their Desires are confined to a little here and their Ambition aspires lawfully after no other Crown but that of a Glorious Immortality Now to the obtaining of any tollerable Degrees of this Happy State as there is one God one Faith one Baptism so it is absolutely Necessary that in one Nation there be one Form of Government in the Church as well as State And that if it be not possible that all People should be of one Mind as to matters of Opinion yet that they should be of one Mind as to Obedience to Government in Church and State which is matter of Faith And it is but highly Reasonable that private Opinion should confine it self to private Breasts its proper Sphere and not be permitted to walk abroad to affront Authority and the publique Peace Interest and Happiness of a whole Nation no more than particular Gain is suffered to undo the Publick Stock DIFFERENCE in Opinion may well be Tollerated and indeed cannot be avoided but yet were men managed by Modesty though not Religion there need be no Mischief from it But to publish Private Opinion for Publique and necessary Truth and to endeavour to impose it upon others and upon Authority it self is a practice of the most pernicious Usurpation and Consequence in any Government For this Opposition of Opinions naturally produces a Disunion of Mind absolutely Destructive of Government which is to Unite all the Members
men who keep up these Principles of Disunion which have such a desperate influence upon the Civil Affairs and endeavour to Ruine the State by setting up Religion and whose restless and unwearied Industry leaves no stone unmoved Nay who will move Heaven and Earth to accomplish their Design This has been observed to be the Genius of Dissenters in former Times and it is to be feared the Humor has not left them Esay 57.20 21. For they are like the troubled Sea which cannot rest but is continually casting up mire and dirt Foaming and Raging and Raving like that unstable and unruly Element to enlarge its floating and turbulent Empire by incroaching upon the Terra Firma the Peaceable Earth and one may but too truly add the Words of the Prophet There is no Peace saith my God to the Wicked Rom. 3.13 14 15 16 17 18. For their Throat is an open Sepulchre with their Tongues they use Deceipt the Poyson of Asps is under their Lips Their mouth is full of Bitterness their feet are swift to shed Blood Destruction and Misery are in their ways And the way of Peace have they not known For their Practices declare it publiquely what ever they pretend either of Innocence or Sanctity That there is no fear of God before their eyes THERE being no Differences as before was observed which do so absolutely Alienate the minds of Men as those about Religion as they are most irreconcilable therefore they are most dangerous not only to the Essence of Religion but to the Civil affairs of State for if we be divided and distracted what matters it how or by what Means The effects of these Dissentions will have the same influence upon the Publique Affairs whether they come from Religion or Ambition Either will ruine us but the former more certainly and with greater Artifice Because more insinuating and plausible in outward appearance For men who have any sense of Religion cannot but look upon it as the great concern of their Lives and the care of their Posterity to whom they desire to transmit it as well as their Estates And though it is in Charity to be hoped that many Dissenters are not aware of this dangerous Rock which lies under Water and that they have no such Ill designs yet they cannot be ignorant from former Expeence that there may be such among them now as have been formerly and that Popular and Ambitious Spirits have made use of their Zeal and Credulity to abuse them and the whole Nation into Misery and Slavery under the pretence of Liberty And that such Men will never want either Shelter or opportunity under those pretences of Religion to embroyl us among our selves or betray us to a Forrein Power so long as this Disunion continues and these Differences are incouraged maintained and daily propagated among us THIS is a season when these things would be seriously Considered by all Dissenters and if it shall appear a real Truth that this Industry in stead of promoting true Religion must promote our Ruine they ought voluntarily to Unite and return to the Obedience of the King and Church For otherways their Actions will confess what their Tongues deny and that this Reformation is in Reality the Subversion of the Government which they intend FOR what is it possible to believe or think of such Persons as with treacherous Joab 2 Sam. 20.29 call us Brethren enquire of our Health and with the right hand salute that with the left they may stab us as he did the incautelous Amasa with our own Sword under the fifth Rib. Can they be esteemed Friends to their Countrey or the Protestant Religion who through their Dissentions discredit the one and disable the other from defending it is this the way to secure us from Arbitrary Government to make the Princes Government perpetually unsafe and uneasy and almost impracticable without it by forcing him for the guard of the Sceptre to wear a Sword and then exclaim against him for doing that which they have necessitated him to do or to leave his Crown and Life and that of his Loyal Subjects to the mercy of the Sword of Rebellion Can it be probable that this should be an Expedient to preserve us from the Roman Religion to furnish them with Arguments against us that we deny the Catholique Faith in the Communion of Saints and to give them this advantage against us to say and truly that we have neither Vnity nor Charity Or can any man in his Wits believe that the best way to Establish Peace among our selves is to maintain perpetual Principles of Quarrels and Contentions Or that we are like to defend our selves from powerful Enemies abroad Enemies by a Hereditary Animosity and Enemies upon the account of Religion by worrying one another at Home No no as soon shall the Plague become an Amulet to preserve us from Contagion as soon shall Impotent men be cured by cutting their Nerves in pieces as soon shall men see clearly by putting out their Eyes and all that ever can be imagined that is not only improbable but utterly impossible come to pass as that this or any other Nation should be happy without Vnity not only in point of the Civil but Ecclesiastical Government or that Mens minds should be easy whilest the Spring of Jealousies is kept open among us and the fountain of Charity is stopt up or that we should be safe from Forrein Enemies when no man can tell who is his Friend at Home NOR in short can it be hoped that Truth and Peace should flourish in our Days when Private Opinion shall be preferred before the Catholique Faith and the practice of the Church in all Ages 1 Tim. 6.4 when Eternal Wranglings about Words and Questions whereof cometh Envy Strife Railings and Evil Surmisings shall be the great Accomplishment of Christian Religion and shall banish all Love and Charity from the minds and lives of Men. What can be the end of these Mischiefs So long as Obstinacy in our private Judgments shall be accounted a more Essential part of Religion than Obedience to Lawful Authority but what the Apostle long since by way of Caution predicted to the Church of the Galatians Gal. 5.13 14 15. Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty only abuse not your Liberty for an occasion to the Flesh but by Love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one Word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self But if they bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another Which fearful Prophecy so truly verisied and fulfilled upon that and the rest of the Asian Churches God of his infinite Goodness and Mercy avert from us by bestowing upon us this Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and which is certainly the true Spirit of Christian Religion and the only way to obtain that peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding which will fill the
Imprimatur Hic Liber cui Titulus The Project of Peace c. June 12. 1678. Guill Sill R. P. D. Henr. Episc Lond. à Sac. Dom. THE Project of Peace OR UNITY of FAITH AND GOVERNMENT The only Expedient to Procure PEACE BOTH Foreign and Domestique AND To PRESERVE these NATIONS From the DANGER OF Popery and Arbitrary Tyranny By the Author of the Countermine Is there no Balm in Gilead No Physician there Si penés singulos Jus Arbitrium erit Judicandi nihil certi constitui poterit quin potius vacillabit tota Religio Cal. Inst London Printed for Jonathan Edwin at the Sign of the Three Roses in Ludgate-street 1678. TO THE DISSENTERS FROM THE Church of ENGLAND OF WHAT NAMES or DISTINCTIONS SOEVER AS it is very Possible that nothing will be less Welcome to you than these Papers so contrary both to your Inclinations and what you believe your Interest So it may be nothing is less customary than Dedications of this Nature But since I neither propose to my self the Hopes of any Patrons Beneficence nor can submit to such unmanly Complyances as are usually the Effects of such Hopes and Expectations I have rather chosen to Address my self to you where even the Hope of a Charitable Reception is scarcely to be hoped for as the Reward of my Charity And where the Flattery of Swelling Hyperboles would prove as false and unsuccessful to me as to Millions who have made large promises to themselves of Recompences and Gratifications for that Gentiler way of Begging And of all the World it would be most Pernicious to You who have been too long accustomed to your own and the dangerous Flatteries of your Party There is nothing that is at all times more Welcome to the World than Peace Pacem te poscimus Omnes But most Men would be Conquerors and oblige the World by giving it upon their own Terms And there are but few who will be content to receive it as Christians upon God's Terms and Conditions Here I have endeavoured to Manifest the true Foundations of a solid and a lasting Peace Which are Faith Vnity Government and Obedience to the Laws of God and Men. A Peace capable of rendring the Vniverse Happy and any particular Society of Men prosperous here and Glorious hereafter in the Peaceful Regions of Joy and Immortality I am not ignorant of your Plea of Zeal and Sufferings But must the Church of England be allowed nothing for hers Has not She by your means been forced to drink the very dregs of your Animosity whilest like the Children of Edom in the day of her Calamity You cryed Down with her Psal 137.8 Down with her even to the ground Did you ever suffer such Persecution from Her as She has suffered from you Whose Zeal therefore or Afflictions must intitle them to the Character of the truer Church Would you Establish the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth So would She only with this Difference that what you would effect by the Rude Method of Force and Violence the Power of the Sword She labours to do by the Power of Perswasion and the Spirit of Meekness as her Treatment of you now She is in Power so far from Retaliation or Revenge does abundantly testifie to the Shame of your former Cruelty and present Obstinacy and endeavours to compass and effect her Ruine Is She therefore Criminal for endeavouring that Lawfully which you would and do and as you perswade the World are bound in Conscience to do Per fas Nefas either Lawfully or Unlawfully it matters not is not the same Obligation of Conscience and far greater and a truer Conscience upon her And if one must be satisfied whose rather Hers which is True and properly Conscience or yours which is only your Private and uncertain Opinion clothed with that Venerable Name Your Way of Establishing this Worship has been notoriously guilty of Rebellion Disorders Confusion and many Evil Works The Civil State of Affairs has been ruin'd and overturn'd Houses have been made Desolate and left without Inhabitant Churches have been robbed defaced abused demolished Holy things set apart and dedicated to the Service of God and so made Holy have been prophaned The Church of England is innocent of any such Crimes The infamous Brand of Rebellion Sedition Tumults Sacriledg or Rapine were never burnt upon her hand She indeavours to prevent this for the Present and the Future by teaching all men their just Duty towards God and towards Man and obliges them to the Performance of it You call this Persecution and Hate her for it This may be Zeal in you but it is not according to the knowledg of God She imposes some Methods and certain Directions in their own Nature confessedly indifferent only in order and with no other Design than for Decency avoiding Confusion and to bring all Christians to maintain the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace You refuse these Means and therefore the Great End of Christian Religion and Religion it self You prefer your own Way and Means before Hers and by Obstructing Peace pretend that her Impositions are inconducive to those Excellent Ends when as in Truth it is not their want of Efficacious aptness but your want of Will and your traversing them by an obstinate Disobedience that frustrates their desired Effects You quarrel her Commands and call them Traditions of Men and Will-Worship when in reality yours is so And it is perfectly because you are not permitted to have your own Wills in the Worship of God that makes you Accuse Her of what you are most horribly guilty of your selves She appoints nothing but what is agreeable to the Will and Word of God and the Primitive Usage of the Church You term those Determinations Antichristian Popish Superstitious As if God Almighty whose Word and Rules She follows where he does not please your Humour or suit your Interest or Designs were Popishly inclined As if the Scriptures in declaring for Episcopacy were Antichristian As if the best and purest Ages of the Church and the whole Succession of Saints and Martyrs were Superstitious Because many of them Bishops and all of them Worshipping God at least as to the Main according to Her Way and Method Whereas it is you that are Popish while you endeavour to Obtrude upon us your own Infallibility It is you who are Antichristian who ruine the Foundation of all Christianity Faith Government a Catholique Church Obedience Charity and Unity It is you who are Superstitious if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a needless Fear of any thing in Religion be Superstition whilest you start at an Innocent Rite as if it were a Goblin And for fear of a Ceremony run from the Church as if it were hanted with Evil Spirits And though you strain as if you were afraid of being Choak't at these Gnats yet you can swallow the Camel of plain and barefac't Disobedience That goes smoothly over your Palate being gilded over
with the Title of Religion You call Rebellion Reformation Schism and Separation Godliness Division from the Church Communion and Union with God You put Darkness for Light and Worship the blackest Crimes and Vices in the habit of Vertue Piety and true Religon Thus whilest you spie the Moat in your Mothers Eyes and would pull that and them too out to make her see clearly you never consider the Beam that is in your own And whilest you Vehemently accuse others of Worshipping God in vain according to the Traditions of Men you never regard how you make the Commandments of God of no Effect by your Traditions Matt. 15.6 God says Honour the King and thou shalt not speak Evil of the Ruler of thy People Obey Magistrates c. Your Traditions say Dishonour him by Disobedience Insinuate Jealousies and evil Surmisings concerning him and his Government Your Actions are a thousand Tongues and every Tongue a Trumpet to Proclaim your thoughts And however with your Lips you may pretend to honour the King and with your Mouths to draw near to God your Heart is in reality far from both Your Will is your God the Idol of your Heart which you set up and Worship For what I pray is your way of Worship but Tradition from the Heads of your Party Is there ever a Word in Scripture for your long Extempore Prayers full not of Tolerabiles ineptiae with which Calvin charges our Liturgy but of Intollerable Tautologies vain Repetitions rash Expressions and indigested Matter Christ is Positive against them Use them not says he as the Heathens who think to be heard for their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their much speaking The Wise King who had Survey'd all the Vanities of the World makes this not only a Vanity Eccl. 5.1 2. but a dangerous Rashness and a Sacrifice of Fools And yet you use it commend and applaud it as the only way pleasing and acceptable to God Is the Scripture clear that there ought to be no Bishops in the Church Or that Lay-Elders who understand neither Sense nor it may be English and in some places who cannot write their Name should yet be impowered to Define and Determine in Matters of Faith Are you any where forbidden to wear a Surplice or to use the Sign of the Cross or to bury Christians in hope of Charity and Resurrection to Eternal Life Or to pray in set and appointed Words which is true praying by the Spirit when we pray with understanding also knowing what will be said If these be not Gods Commands or Prohibitions they are Yours and if they are not in Scripture as I am sure they are not they are not only the Commandments and Traditions of Men but of Men who have no Power to Command or Impose the most indifferent thing And yet you perswade all Men every where that they owe Obedience to these forgetting that God is to be Obeyed rather than Men and that he commands you to Obey those that have the Rule over you If you will be Followers of God as Dear Children you must if it be possible and as much as in you lies be Followers of Peace with all Men much more with your Superiors both in Church and State But this is very possible for you to do And that it is not only Possible but Honest and Necessary and your Duty the Ensuing Papers will plainly inform you To them therefore I refer you they were designed for you And if you will Esteem me your Enemy because I tell you the Truth without Flattery Interest or Partiality yet I had rather be so Esteemed than be so in Reality by Skinning over your Festred Gangreen with words smooth as Oyl Whereas in Truth it ought to be laid open to prevent the further Eating of the Canker And this is the only way that I know to approve my self to be Your most Affectionate And real Friend The Contents CHAP. I. The INTRODVCTION CHAP. II. OF the Obstacles of Truth and Peace The necessity of removing them before we can obtain the other The great value all men have for Truth and for Imposture under its Name The first Obstacle Self Interest of its prevalency upon Jews Pagans Mahumetans the Romish Church and all Dissenters p. 10 CHAP. III. Of the second Obstacle to Peace Truth and Vnity Prejudice and Prepossession of Mind The Nature and Effects of Prejudice Of Ceremonies The reason why hated Of the meaning of the word Ceremony Some Ceremonies absolutely necessary in all Religious Worship All not Popery which Papists do Of Education and Custom how they are the Foundation of Prejudices p. 25 CHAP. IV. Of Pride and Ambition most dangerous Obstacles of Truth and Peace because Vices of Temper and Inclination The Difficulty of subduing these sins of Complexion Religion made their usual disguise The danger of them manifested in a short Character of Oliver Cromwell Of the danger of these in Church-men The Methods of such Persons as are infected with them to advance themselves to dignity A way to discover such fiery spirits from the Peacable spirit of Christianity p. 40 CHAP. V. Of the necessity of Vnion That the only way to Establish Happiness in any Nation The Intent of Religion the Happiness of Mankind here in this Life as well as in a future state That the truest Religion which advances this great Intention for which God gave it Of the true Church Of degrees of Purity in Churches Of the Seven Churches of Asia Distinction and Coordination of National Churches proved Faith the Common Bond of Vnion in the Catholique Church Of the Independency of National Churches one from another in point of Limits and Jurisdiction How the Peace of the Church Vniversal is thereby preserved p. 64. CHAP. VI. Objections against the Independency or Co-ordination of National Churches Why it cannot be admitted in several Churches in the same Nation It takes away the Power and Soveraignty of the Prince It is the Ruin of the Society Of the Foreign Protestant Churches The reason of their Disunion from Rome matter of Faith not of Ceremony only or of Government p. 78. CHAP. VII Of Vnity in Government that it is the bond of a National Church as Vnity in Faith is of the Catholique The Practice of the Primitive Church Of the Difference about Easter The Opinion of Irenaeus Bishop of Lions about it A National Church an intire Polity of Christian Men. The Laws of the Church and State mutual and recipocral design the same End viz. the Happiness of the Society Disobedience to either is so to both All Society as well as Happiness destroyed by Disunion The necessity of Vnity in Government upon a Religious account No Charity without it and without Charity no Religion p. 96. CHAP. VIII Of the Power of the Keys by Excommunication and Absolution How render'd impracticable by Tollerating many Churches in the same Nation Of the Decay of Christian Piety That and the Growth of Errors must lye at the
light of Gospel Truth as they are pleased to call even these Prejudices and Mistakes though to the certain loss of Christian Charity and Vnity the great hazard of Temporal Peace and the ruine of Religion it self as I shall hereafter more fully make appear THIS dangerous Prejudice which does infect the minds of Men as it has its foundation in misunderstanding of things so it receives strength from two things which are almost as difficult to change and alter as the Course of Nature and they are Education and Custom Of the last the Holy Ghost speaks most plainly by the Prophet Jeremy Jer. 13.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye do good who are accustomed or as the Hebrew word signifies taught to do evil learn to do well Of the other that of the Heathen Poet may pass for good Divinity having been confirmed to be truth by the Universal Testimony of all Ages Quô semèl est imbuta recens servabit Odorem Testa diu the first seasoning Principles and Prejudices which we receive in our Youth stick closely to us for a long time after The wise Philosopher tells us the Soul of Man is Rasa Tabula like a white sheet of Paper out of which therefore it must be more than Common Art that can so clear take out the first writing as to super-induce a new Copy fair and legible THIS is the true Reason why any person finds it so difficult to quit those Notions of Religion which have been Established in his Mind from his Early Infancy there is a Marvellous Agreement and Natural Kindness to those Opinions which we suck in with our Milk they are like Foster Brothers to whom it has been observed there is as strong an inclination as to the Natural we play and converse with them from our Cradles and as soon as we can go alone we take them by the hand we sleep with them in our bosoms and contract an insensible Friendship with them a pleasing Familiarity which takes off all deformities we love them and we like them and their very blackness is a Beauty as it is with the Affrican Nations to whom even that which we judge deformity appears more lovely than the most delicate Europaean Beauty What can be more impertinent and ridiculous than the Alchoran of that great Impostor Mahumed and yet a natural Turk born to those prejudices of Education and Custom believes him the greatest of the Prophets and the only friend of God And though he have a great veneration for Christ yet would he spit in your face and call you Hog the most disgraceful term they think they can affront a Christian with if you should contradict him or go about to convince him of his Errors by shewing the absurdities and impossibilities of what he calls his Religion WHAT can be more Barbarous and Savage than the Rites of the Pagan Idolaters and yet you may almost as soon remove a Mountain as one of them from what has been the Religion of his Ancestors and his ever since he knew any What can be more unreasonable than some of the Tenets of the Romish Church more ridiculous and antick than some parts of their greatest Solemnities more fabulously extravagant than some of their Legends and most of their Miracles and yet we see how tenacious not only most of the vulgar but even of the learned amongst them are that they will not retrench even the fopperies of their Faith as they call it to advance one step towards an Vnion with the whole Catholique Church of the past and present Ages but on the contrary by the Anathema's of the Convention of Trent have cut off all hope and possibility of such an accord by establishing the very Minutiae Quisquiliae the punctilio's and parings of their Religion as things necessary to be believed in order to salvation WHAT can be more hard and cruel than for those who profess to be of the Reformed Religion to run to the very extremities of ruining themselves by mutual Divisions and so far to weaken themselves and disparage their Religion by intestine Quarrels to open an easy way for Conquest to the Enemies both of our Religion and Countrey for some differences in Circumstances of Divine Worship And yet we see such is the strength of some mens prejudices and the education of others in the late unhappy times of our Misery and Distraction from which we were rescued by so many Miracles that they will rather venture upon the same tempestuous Sea again from whence we have so lately escaped shipwrack nay use all Arts and Arguments to push men headlong from the Shoar into the foaming Main again which they have but just recovered still wet and shivering rather than by a compliance with the modest commands of the wise Pilots their lawful Superiors even in the most indifferent things endeavour to repair the leaky vessel of the Church and State by advancing their peace and happiness by a blessed Vnion The glory of God and the salvation of mens souls which certainly are never to be promoted by variance hatred emulations seditions swellings and tumults are of no force or power in comparison of their Prejudices but they will in obedience to the tyranny of their education and custom persist in these practices fearing neither the Laws of God or men the transgression of which they call Zeal and their disobedience Religion but by their example teach others to do the same and confirm them in it NOR is Custom a less Tyrant over mens minds to the introducing of prejudice than Education For hereby men acquire habits which are a kind of second Nature And by long continuance are so rivetted into our good esteem that they are not to be put off without great difficulty how inconsiderable soever they are this is not more visible in any thing than the use and opinion which several Nations have of their several habits of Apparrel for to a mind unprepossed with custom all habits which are decent convenient and useful appear equal and indifferent yet does a Spaniard abhor the fashion of the French nor does the other use to be behind hand in his requital of the same nature A Turk believes a Turbant and a long vest the most ornamental dress in the World and wishes it as a great curse to his enemy to have the plague of a Christians hat And so it is with other Nations The Indian prefers his adressful nakedness before the cumbersome vestments of the Europaeans the stones in his Lips Nose and Ears he esteems better set than all the Artists in the World can do in Gold All these are purely the effects of a prejudiced Custom which makes People gaze even to rudeness and incivility upon Forreigners when they appear amongst us and with a ridiculous curiosity spy imaginary defects and deformities in the unaccustomed dresses of other Countries Nay even the antiquated fashions of our own though once the high
of several distinct Churches who are all Members of that Mystical Body he walks among the Candlesticks he holds the Stars in his right hand The Angel of every distinct National Church is to be the mover of the Orb to guide it by the Light of Divine Truth spoken by the Spirit of the Churches the Temporal Power may be Supreme Head of the Church as they are a Society of Christian Men but neither the one nor the other can justly pretend a Power over the Angel of another Church or the Dominions of another Prince for that is the Prerogative of the Son of God who Unites them in his Right hand and who alone can challenge the Title of that Name of King of Kings and Lord of Lords NOR will this Independency of Churches one upon another which is only in point of Jurisdiction and Limits which was anciently practiced and commanded by the Decrees of Councels give the least disturbance to their Charity and Vnion so long as they maintain the same Universal Doctrine of Faith as to the substance and all acknowledge one Catholique Church and themselves Members of it Nay it is observable that this incroachment of the greater Churches upon the less and indeavouring to aggrandize themselves by imposing upon all other Churches a Soveraignty and Dominion never intended for Christian Religion and striving by force to oblige them to use their Rites and Ceremonies in indifferent Circumstantials and not only so but to receive all their Opinions as matters of Faith were the first occasion of the most remarkable Schisms and Divisions and the loss of Peace and Unity and still continue so to this very day Whereas did they all resolve to content themselves with their own Precincts and not indeavour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and act out of their own Provinces but would permit others to make use of such indifferent Rites as the Governours of the several Churches judge necessary and expedient in their respective Charges and if any Controversies should arise in Point of Doctrine resolve amicably to compose them by hearing what the Spirit saith to the Churches and how the Universal Church has already determined in the same or like Affairs according to the Rule of Scripture would they study more to propagate Peace and Vnity than Dominion and Soveraignty to increase Piety and Purity of Life more than outward agreement of Rites and Ceremonies the ancient Happiness of the Church in her first and Vnambitious Age when the Office of Government was the surest way to Martyrdom would in a great measure be restored to the Members of the Catholique Church and there would be that Vnity which is by God Commanded and by all good Christians not only to be desired but promoted to the uttermost of their Power Were it possible that this true and ancient Temper Modesty and Moderation of Primitive Christianity might obtain in the World the Names of distinction with the occasions of them would be taken away one would not be of Paul another of Apollos another of Cephas one a Romanist another a Calvinist Lutheran Hugonot or a Zuinglian but all would be of Christ but alas what hope so long as the Church of Rome will be Vniversal and will exclude all those who Refuse the tyranique Yoak of both her Declared and Implicit Faith and to be subject to her absolute Dominion not only from the Name of Churches and being Parts of the Church Universal but from the Communion of Saints from all hopes of the Resurrection of the just nay even from her Purgatory too which is very severe if there be such a place as admits of Hope for Sinners after Death and in a word from all possibility of the Life everlasting How disterent is this from the ancient Charity and Doctrine of St. Peter and St. Paul whom they believe the Founders of their Church for they incourage us to hope we may receive the Benefit of the Common Salvation Act. 10.35 for God is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him for with him there are no Distinctions neither Greek nor Jew Col. 3.11 to v. 16. Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but all are Christs who have put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of Mercy kindness humbleness of Mind meekness long-suffering forbearance one of another and forgiveness one towards another if there be differences as Christ also forgave us and above all things they who have put on Charity which is the bond of Perfection and whose Hearts are ruled by the Peace of God But in regard that this is to be dispair'd of and may well seem forreign to the Design of these Papers let us come to consider what Influence this ought to have upon us as to Vnity amongst our selves which without Excluding our Neighbours from our Charity though they do us from theirs and Heaven is the principal Intention of this Discourse CHAP. VI. HAVING shewn that the Peace and Vnity of the Catholick Church Militant upon Earth depends in a great Measure upon this Justice in preserving the Common Faith of Christ as the bond of Vnion not only among our selves but with that part of the Church which is now Triumphant in Heaven and in order thereunto in allowing every distinct and National Church their particular Bounds and Jurisdiction free from Incroachments and Invasion permitting them a freedom of Using such Rites and Customs in the Celebration of Divine Worship as the Governors of each respective Church shall judge to be nearest the Rule of Scripture the Constant Usage and Determination of the Catholique Church in the best Ages and of the best Men in all most conducive to the Great End of all Religion by promoting the Happiness of Mankind both here and hereafter before we proceed any further it will be requisite to answer what may and will be certainly objected by all Dissenters FOR if an Independency of Churches of Distinct Nations and Polities so long as they agree in matters of Faith may be permitted a distinct Jurisdiction different Rites and manner of Worship to the increase of Charity Peace and Unity why may not the same be likewise practised by several Churches in the same Nation To which I answer That as Vnity in point of Faith is the Bond of Vnion in the Vniversal Church so Obedience to the Supreme Government of any Nation is that which Vnites them into one Polity and distinguishes them from all other People who do not own that Subjection and Obedience And this Vnion of Obedience is also that which preserves and maintains them as well as Constitutes them a distinct Political Body from all other Nations Herein lies their Strength herein their Security their Safety and Happiness For as I may be Lawfully permitted to disobey the King of Spain or France nay and ought to do it in many Cases for the Interest of my Nation but cannot disobey my
grown so numerous that if they should by a Common consent have deserted the Empire they would have left Desolation behind them THIS being therefore granted That our Obedience to the Laws of the Polity or Nation wherein we live so long as they command nothing contrary to the Divine Law is a part of our Christian Religion as may be easily made appear from Reason Scripture and the Practice of the best and purest Ages of Primitive Christianity even in such Constitutions as concern the Government of the Church as well as the Temporal Affairs of State which was done with great happiness to both in the Reigns of Constantine the Great and many other Christian Emperors I will therefore proceed upon this Position to shew that in Order to the happy Condition both of Civil and Religious Affairs there is an absolute Necessity of Vnity and Vniformity of Government Ecclesiastical in a National Church THIS Necessity is grounded both in the Prudence of the Lawful Policy and Religious Wisdom I will begin with the Religious Necessity WE must therefore consider the Essence the Nature the Design and the Intention of the Gospel in that part of it which differences it from all other Religions both Pagan Jewish and Mahumetan for the Intention of that must be our Great Design if we will be true Followers of Christ and not in Words profess we own him but in Actions deny him and his Royal Priesthood over us NOW the very Essence of Christian Religion consists in Love or Charity this is the New Commandment and the fulfilling of the Old and herein it is that Christianity differs from and Excells all other Religions The Heathens knew no more of this than their Interest obliged them to and therefore all those of Different Nations Manners or Religions were esteemed Barbarians and Enemies and accordingly treated and had not God Almighty permitted the Regiment of the World to be Absolute and Tyrannical this want of Charity one to another would certainly have thrown them into perpetual Civil Wars and Confusion amongst themselves there being then no Rein upon Ambitious Spirits but Fear of the Arbitrary Power and Will of their Princes which was the Supreme Law by which they Rul'd their Subjects And even the Law of Moses according to the corrupt gloss of the Scribes and Pharisees said Thou shalt love thy Neighbour and hate thine Enemy Matt. 5.43 and according to the letter of it Exacted Life for Life Eye for Eye Tooth for Tooth But when the Eternal Son of the Blessed came into the World both to Redeem it and Renew it to Exalt men who were sunk into a Degeneracy below the Beasts that Perish and to make them partakers of the Divine Nature he teaches another Doctrine very harsh to Flesh and Blood but such as would in reality make them resemble God their Heavenly Father He teaches them to Love their Enemies to Bless them that Curse us to do good to them that hate us to Pray for them that despightfully Vse us and Persecute us by which Methods we shall come to be the true Children of the true God whose Glorious Sun riseth upon the Evil and the Good Matt. 5.44 45. and whose fruitful Showers fall upon the Just and the Vnjust This Love he makes the Foundation of Religion which he was to introduce into the World proceeding from the infinite Love of God to Mankind from the God of Love and therefore he tells us that the whole Law is comprised in these two Commandments Matt. 22.37 38 39 40. to Love God and our Neighbour And therefore he does so often repeat that which he calls the New Commandment Joh. 13.34 35. A new Commandment I give unto you That ye Love one another as I have Loved you that ye also Love one another by this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye have Love one for another And what he taught he also confirmed by his Example In that he died for us when we were Enemies NOW the Command being Vniversal to all those who are the Disciples of Christ they who hate another because they differ or dissent from them in some things which Christ having left indifferent has therefore left to the Wisdom of those with whom he intrusted the Government of the Church to determine as they shall Judge most conducive to this great Design of Charity cannot be the true Disciples of Christ 1 Joh. 4.40 for If any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a Lyar. And therefore the holy Apostles and particularly the beloved Disciple St. John lays such weight upon this Duty and so frequently commands it that his three Epistles are scarce any thing else but a repetition of that Command and the reasons for it which brings into mind what I have somewhere read of that Apostle that in his extreme old age residing at Ephesus and governing the Churches of the lesser Asia when he was not able to perform the Offices of the Church yet he would be carried in his chair to the Assembly of Christians where he would several times repeat this Sentence My little Children love one another and being demanded the reason of this short but Excellent Sermon he made answer to this Effect because It did comprise the sum of all Religion and that Charity would cover a multitude of other faults And therefore St. Paul doubts not to give it the preheminence above the two other principal Graces 1 Cor. 13.13 Now says he abideth Faith Hope and Charity but the greatest of these is Charity For when Hope shall be compleated by possession and Faith changed into Fruition then shall Charity be most triumphant as being the Life of Heaven and the pleasing imployment of a glorious Eternity And certainly it is this love unseigned both towards God and towards our Brethren that is so of the Essence of Religion that without both these it is but a meer Impostor for no person can truely fear God who does not smcerely love him and no man loves God sincerely who does not love his Brother also 1 Tim. 5.1 For the End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and Faith Vnfeined NOW taking this for a Foundation which no good Christian can deny I proceed to shew that it is absolutely impossible to maintain this Charity without Vnity both of Faith and Government in a National Church and to make it evident I should need no stronger Argument than what the holy Apostle St. Paul subjoyns in the words following those of his last repeated From which says he some having swerved have turned aside to vain Jangling Here is the source of all the Churches Miseries this vain jangling has ever been the occasion of all those Dissentions and Divisions those mischievous Quarrels which have not confined themselves to Words but have proceeded to the Outrages of Blows and Blood it is want of Charity and that
be such a Condition in Order to this End Psal 51.4 as All may have That so God may be Justified when he speaks and clear when he Judges and if men be not saved it may appear it was through their own Folly and not from the difficulty of the Condition which God offers For it would be infinitely derogatory to the Wisdom and Goodness of the Divine Nature to the God of Love the only Wise God to give such a Condition of Salvation as All were not capable of attaining For Salvation is not confined to the Wise and Learned 1 Cor. 1.26 nay St. Paul seems to intimate the Contrary Not many Wise men are called Jude 3. but it is the Common Salvation in which all Rich and Poor High and Low Young and Old the Learned and Unlearned the Wise and the Simple have a share The Foundation of this Assent to the Conditional Propositions of Salvation is not therefore our Understanding of them to be true by the Power of Reason our comprehending or apprehending the manner of them but it springs from the Confidence that we have of the Veracity of him who propounds them to our Belief and that we are assured that he will not because he cannot deceive us because he is Truth it self as whoever believes a Supreme Being must of Necessity believe Truth to be of his Essence THUS I believe the Glorious Mystery of the Trinity Three Persons but one God the Incarnation of the Son of God the proceeding of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son the Resurrection of the Body and the rest of the Articles of the Christian Faith not because I dare pretend to understand them or to give a Satisfactory Reason to my self how this can be Or why it should be but I rest my self satisfied upon the assurance that he who requires me to believe it cannot deceive me nor require me to believe what is not most certainly true But God being in Heaven in that inaccessable Light of Glory and I upon Earth there must be therefore some Internuncius between us that so I may receive these Conditions of Salvation to be believed This Office was in former times committed to the Prophets Rom. 3.4 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 and God spake by them For God is only true and all Men may be Lyars and therefore all Scripture was given by Inspiration and came not at any time by the Will of Men but Holy Men of God spoak being moved by the Holy Ghost Heb. 1.1 But the great Prerogative of Christian Religion is That God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds Now these Holy Instruments whom God employed to declare his Will to Men that they might obtain Credit to their Message were assisted with power of working Miracles which were the Letters Testimonial the Credentials of Heaven in their behalf to assure the incredulous World that they were Messengers and Ambassadors from God for it is a Natural Inference which Nicodemus made even whilest he was so Unregenerate that he thought Regeneration an Impossibility Jo. 3.2 Rabbi we know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do these Miracles that thou doest except God be with him This Revelation of Gods Will Confirmed to be so by Miracles Signs and Wonders when it comes to be considered and attended to will gain the Assent of the Mind and that these must needs be Truths of a Divine Extract and Original Since All their Precepts are free from any Design but the Advantage of those to whom they are proposed and to make them partakers of the Divine Nature by the practice of that Truth Innocence Justice Temperance and Purity which they do so Universally require as the Way to Happiness both in this Life and that of Celestial Glory and Immortality And these Commands Collected into a Body we call the Holy Canon of Sacred Scriptures I think I need not produce Arguments to prove those Writings to be the Word and Will of God that being a Principle so confessed that without it no Man can be called a Christian I am not now to deal with Heathens or Infidels FROM this Postulatum granted these Conclusions will Naturally follow First That Faith does not depend upon Humane Authority but upon Divine Revelation For it came not by the Will of Man but by the Will of God And therefore no Humane Authority has any power to Impose upon the Belief any thing either contrary or more than God has plainly revealed to be his Will as the Condition of our Salvation for to Command what God has not commanded as such a Condition is insufferable Pride and Insolence an Usurpation upon the Incommunicable Prerogative of him Heb. 12.2 who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith How great then is the Impiety of those who contrary to the practice of the Universal Church for 1500 years have added the Books of Apocrypha meer Humane Writings to the Holy Canon and under pain of Damnation Impose them upon us as matters of Faith and Conditions of Salvation How Unreasonable is it to make Tradition the Foundation of Faith and of Equal value with the Holy Writings Of which Traditions there being so great Uncertainty it is very Improbable our Faith should receive any Confirmation from them For what is liable to a doubt it self is very unlikely to take away all cause of Doubting Yet this is the Faith of the Roman Church in their Vnwritten Verities SECONDLY it follows That nothing ought to be Imposed as De Fide and the Necessary Condition of Salvation but what is clearly Demonstrable to be the Will of God revealed and which all Men because all are capacitated for Salvation may easily Understand to be so And since all men have an Equal Title to Salvation upon their performance of the Conditions by God required to be believed and done therefore what Faith will Save the Unlearned will also save the Learned For God proposeth no different Methods more for the one than the other for he is no respecter of Persons Act. 10.35 but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him So that he who is Baptized Repents Lives Righteously Godly and Soberly in this present World believing the Gospel of our Lord and obeying it according to that Belief shall certainly receive the end of his Faith and hope the Salvation of his Soul For these are Truths so clearly contained in the Scripture that the meanest Capacity may understand them and perform the Conditions required Now what is necessary and sufficient for all and whatever is proposed more is Superfluous since he that believes this and no more shall certainly be saved and he that believes more shall but be saved It is
dore of Separatists and Schismaticks who by frustrating this Power render it contemptible and set open the dore to all Impiety and Atheism p. 122. CHAP. IX Of the Necessity of Vnity in point of Government as well as Faith in a National Church upon the account of Civil Policy Such Vnity the Design of all Religion in Reference to Humane Society No Happiness without it Government appointed by God with an Intention to promote this Design and therefore Disobedience a damnable sin p. 149 CHAP. X. A further discovery of the Impolitickness of Disunion in point of Church Government No Domestique Peace to be hoped for without it but perpetual Quarrels under pretence of Religion and Conscience The Rise and Spring of Fears and Jealousies from the several Interests of Dissenters p. 165 CHAP. XI The mischief of Disunion in respect of Foreign Affairs It Weakens any Nation and Exposes them to the Arms of their Enemies Robs them of their Alliances and Confederations Interest and Mutual Support the Foundation of all Leagues Different Churches in the same Nation incline People to Democracy p. 190 CHAP. XII Of Tolleration Some Animadversions upon a Book intituled The Advocate of Conscience Liberty in reference to all Dissenters p. 203 CHAP. XIII A further Examination of the same Author in his particular Plea for the Papists A short View of and Answer to their Boasting to be our Apostles Of their Antiquity Succession Visions Miracles c. Of the Oath of Supremacy Of the Powder Treason or Fifth of November p. 229 CHAP. XIV Of the Difficulty of Vnderstanding the Modes of things sensible much more those of the Intellectual World The Vnreasonableness of Obtruding things not certain as De Fide Of Faith It must be such a Condition of Salvation as All may perform because All have a Title to the Common Salvation The Scriptures the only Rule of this Faith which is the necessary Condition of being saved Of the difference between a Rule and a Guide p. 248 CHAP. XV. Of Episcopacy Proved to be of Divine Institution and the Government appointed over the Church by the Holy Ghost The Testimony of Scripture Of Ignatius the Disciple of the beloved Apostle St. John From the constant Vse and Consent of the Church in all Ages Of Aerius the Reason of his Heresie All Hereticks against Government The Doctrine of Calvin of the necessity of some to determine Differences p. 276 CHAP. XVI Of the Judge of Controversies No Humane Authority the Judge of Faith God only Infallible That part of the Catholique Church which is Militant may Err. The difference between not Erring and the Impossibility of Erring The Rulers of the Church the Interpreters of Scripture In all things not absolutely of the Essence of Faith which nothing can be that is not Evident in Scripture either in plain Words or necessary Consequence All private men Excluded from Interpretation of Scripture p. 302 CHAP. XVII The CONCLVSION p. 317 The Project of PEACE CHAP. I. The INTRODUCTION THEY must certainly have little good Nature and far less Christian Charity who are not most sensibly afflicted for the miserable Distractions the deplorable Differences and unnatural Divisions which are among those who profess the glorious Religion of Christ Jesus That Heart must be more flinty than a Stoick's which does not bleed it self and supply the Eyes with Tears whilst Christians who by the Command of their Great but Meek and Tender Lord ought to be harmless as Doves and innocent as Lambs are transformed by preposterous Zeal and pious Pretences into Wolves and Tygres and with a fierce and savage fury mutually Worry and Devour one another nay even exceed the madness of those Brutes and devest themselves of all Humanity to put on this new Nature as they term it of Religion For Saevis inter se convenit Vrsis The Greenland Bears are kind one to another But to the shame of those who call themselves Christians but are of the Synagogue of Satan that Aboriginal Murderer men are not so modest as to be confined within the limits of making true the Horrid Adage Homo homini Lupus that one man is a Wolf to devour another but they proceed to the utmost extremity of Malice and Madness and become Homo homini Daemon Devils to damn one another not Anthropophagi or Canibals but Psychophagi feeding upon humane souls turning that innocent Wisdom of the Serpent which our Lord commands to preserve our selves into the restless Malice of the Old Serpent to destroy others Souls Bodies and Estates and to infuse the Mortal Poison of Adders which is under their Lips into the Souls of Credulous Men through their Ears and Eyes with the pretext of Piety and true Religion The Glorious Company of Saints and Martyrs now triumphant in Heaven went thither through a Red Sea of Blood but it was their own which was shed by the cruel hands of Heathenish Persecutors who did it ignorantly in Unbelief and with joy it was that they set their seal to the Testimony of Jesus and his Truth in their dearest blood Emptying their Veins that their Souls might be filled with a glorious Immortality But now Christians who all profess one Common Name and Faith think they do not set to their seal to that Truth unless they shed the blood of one another and that most commonly for differences in Opinion for Words Names Fancies and Conjectures at least if we may believe there is no more in the bottom which they conceal than there is in what they pretend openly for the ground of the Quarrel Oh Barbarous Christianity Oh Heathenish Impiety In the importunate Croud of such mournful thoughts and considerations of former Experience of our late Shipwrack and fear of future Events which the Noisy Tempest that seemed to threaten our Crazy and bruised Vessel suggested to my mind my Soul was overwhelmed with Grief and fear and ready to sink into Dispair both at the remembrance of the past and the terrible Consequences of that Inevitable Ruin which Truth it self has pronounced against a house and a Kingdom divided within and therefore against themselves and distracted by Intestin Discords THE prophetique Caution of the Apostle came presently into my mind Gal. 5.15 But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another I saw me thought with Horror the too plain truth of it in those once Golden Candlesticks Vid. Mr. Smiths Travels to the Seven Churches of Asia the Seven Churches of Asia who by their Discords were laid in ashes and are the habitations of Owls and Dragons or far worse Inhabitants the sordid Worshippers of that Great Imposter Mahomet I could not stand upon the Brink of such an amasing Precipice without extreme Horror nor see the Cause so Evident without a dreadful apprehension of the Tragical Issue Which made me break out into the Passionate Wish of the afflicted Jeremy Oh that my Head were Waters Jer. 9.1 2. and mine
It was with this Ingine that the mistaken Jews gave the first shock to Christian Religion in the Person of our Saviour and though they in reality confirm'd it by fulfilling the Prophecies concerning him in his Araignment Tryal Sufferings and Death yet was that an Effect of the Wise and over-ruling Providence and no part of their Intention their Design was their own Interest the preservation of their Power and the Safety of their State and Nation for when he had done as great a Miracle as it was possible Joh. 1.8.47 in raising Lazarus after he had been dead four days and that Martha told him Lord by this time he stinketh Nay after they themselves did acknowledge not only this but many Miracles to have been done by him yet Powerful Interest not only closed their Eyes against the bright beams of Divinity which broke forth through the Clouds of his Flesh and contemptible Condition against those Gracious Words which proceeded out of that mouth which spoak as never man spoak but hurried them on obstinately blindly and in all appearance maliciously to contrive compass and procure his ignominious Death for then gathered the Chief Priests and the Pharisees a Councel and said What do we for this Man doth many Miracles if we let him thus alone all Men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation Upon which followed the Politick and beyond his sense Prophetick Determination of Caiaphas Te know nothing at all nor consider that it is Expedient for us it is our great Interest that one man should die and that the whole Nation perish not and from that Day forth they took Counsel together to put him to death And this Resolution grounded upon Interest they pursued with that Animosity and Violence that neither the Innocence nor Miracles of his Life the Justification of Pilate who openly pronounced him innocent and that he found in him no fault at all could prevail for his Release but that rather a Tumult was made and they cried out Away with him Away with him Crucifie him Crucifie him preferring a Thief and a Murderer to the Priviledge of their Custom of having one released at the Feast Nay even Pilate himself perhaps terrified with the dream of his Wife to have nothing to do with that Just man yet contrary to his avowed Judgment as appears in that 't is said he sought to release him yet was hurried down the swift torrent of Tumult and Interest to condemn the Innocent for no sooner had the Jews cried out If thou let this man go thou art no Friend to Caesar for whoso maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar though he knew the Kingdom of Christ was not of this World and therefore stood not in Competition with Caesar for the Empire Yet when Pilate heard that saying he brought Jesus forth and sate down in the Judgment seat and though not without a scossing Reluctancy What shall I Crucifie your King he gave Sentence upon the Innocent and delivered him unto them to be Crucified in that Action shewing how much he was not a Friend to Caesar's Power but a slave to his own Interest in the Esteem of Caesar by whose favour he possessed the Government of Jary and and that he could rather violate the Laws of Equity and Justice disoblige his dearest Relations and slight the Importunities of his own Conscience than not worship this Idol of his own Interest A most notable Instance of the Power of Interest we have in that giddy Commotion which happen'd at Ephesus upon the account of the Gospel where though the crafty Silversmith made the people believe that all was Gold that glister'd and cunningly insinuated that he was the great Patron of their Ancient Religion which was in Danger to be lost and therefore laid that powerful Motive uppermost upon his Tongue yet Interest was at the bottom both of his Heart and Design For a certain man named Demetrius a Silversmith Acts. 19.24 which made silver shrines Medals bearing the stamp of Diana's Temple for Diana brought no small gain unto the Craftsmen whom he called together with the workmen of like Occupation and said unto them Ye know that by this Craft we have our Wealth This was the main Ground of the Quarrel that of Religion comes in only to give the better Colour to the Mutiny with a colateral Moreover Moreover you see that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much People saying that they be no Gods which are made with hands so that not only this our Craft is in danger to be set at nought there it was the shoe pinch't this was the principal Motive of his Discontent and his main argument against Christianity but also that the Temple of the great Goddess Diana should be dispised and her Magnificence should be destroyed whom Asia and all the World worshippeth And of the same stamp where those of whom St. Paul speaks 1 Tim. 6.5 who supposed Gain was Godliness Interest true Religion from whom he commands therefore to withdraw 'T is this Interest which seems to be the great obstacle to the Conversion of the Mahumetans and Pagans to the Faith of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel For though the Vulgar amongst them are by reason of their stupid Ignorance and Custom wrapt up in clouds of darkness and have not a Capacity of Understanding much elevated above that of Brutes yet doubtless those of better Condition even by their conversations with the Christians cannot but have better conceptions of things and however they may varnish over this Obstinacy to their ridiculous Faith and sordid Principles with the pretence of Zeal for the Law of their Great Prophet yet doubtless finding the security of their Absolute and Arbitrary Dominion and Tyranny over their Subjects receives an Establishment from this blind Obedience and powerful Ignorance that Consideration sways them against all the Reason and Arguments in the World NOR will the Reman Religion Escape the danger of this overpoise of Interest 'T is this which has hitherto been the Obstacle to all the Indeavours which have been used or proposed to reform both those grosser Errors which they have introduced into Faith and good Manners and those lesser profitable Follies which have crept into their Church by the back-stairs of Advantage Riches and Esteem For by laying it down as a certain Foundation of Faith and Divine Verity that the Pope is Supreme Head of the Church above the Scriptures above Councels the Infallible Rule and sole Judge of all Controversies they necessarily Captivate all the Laity with the chains of blind Obedience and implicite Faith and that necessary and even Meritorious Ignorance especially of the Scriptures which they commend and incourage together with the easie Exercise of Religion which is made Satisfactory Meritorious and Supererrogating without the Intention or even Understanding of the Mind the Mercinary way of
of Folly Pride usually sets Ambition upon Action and what the one Projects the other Executes For that any person should despise the Precepts of Virtue and Religion the Principles of Loyalty and Obedience per fas nefas the Common Ladder of Ambition aspire at high things great places of Trust Honour Dignity or Command in the World must certainly be the Effect of Pride for such Tempers are always Opiniatres of their own Merits Haughty Minds think and believe therefore that they deserve whatsoever they can Desire and more than they have and the higher they rise still the more Proud and Ambitious they grow looking upon their past Acquisitions as the just reward of their Wisdom and Conduct which still swells them with bigger Desires and larger Thoughts so that in reality Ambition knows no Hercules Pillars because Pride cannot write a Nè plùs ultrà upon their Merits for this is the Dropsie of the Mind and the more Men drink the the more they thirst Totum licet hauserit Hermum Ardebit majore siti thus the young Macedonian swell'd with his Victories over the Unfortunate Persian and his Allies and being told of more Worlds Aestuat infelix angusto limite Mundi his Ambition boil'd over at his Eyes that he was confin'd to one nay so strangely was he transported with this unruly Tumor that nothing would satisfie him but to be a God as if he had intentions to depose his adopted Father and conquer Heaven too when he came there Now it is the Constant Temper of these hot Complexions to make every thing stoop to their Designs because they think every thing ought to bow to their Merits nor will they spare even Religion it self to which they will yet seemingly bend only to bend it to their Interest and they do most frequently abuse that Sacred Name because by that Method they are inabled more easily to abuse others with their well acted Hypocrisie and double-gilt Dissimulation and it being the sole Prerogative of Heaven to know mens hearts their Great Master-piece is to cover their Ambition with the soft Mantle of Religion and to act that part of their Lives so to the Life as rather to out-do the most sincere and innocent as to what is visible than by any remissness in their outward appearance to hazard a discovery of what lodges within Nor indeed is it possible to distinguish such golden Sinners from the most splendid Saints without a narrow consideration whither their Designs must lead them and in what they will End and this is the true Reason why the innocent and well-meaning among the ordinary rank of People are so often imposed upon surprised with and carried on in a good opinion of their proud and Ambitious Leaders who cover those horrid Vices with the Glorious Names of Zeal for the Lord of Hosts Fervency of Spirit and Active Piety for the Cause of God for if they would consider whither of necessity these Principles of Disobedience which they infuse into them both against their King and their Church would at the last lead them and of what nature the Practises are which are deduced from them it were impossible that People should be seduced by such Troops to adore and almost Deifie those persons whose main Design is only to serve their own present Interest and the future Aims of their Ambitious Pride BUT lest any Person should think the Expression of Deifying too harsh I can bring Evidence from those who heard it from the persons mouth that spoak it who affirmed That be did believe that if our Saviour were upon Earth he could not speak more Heavenly than such a One naming the Person who was then the admired Orator of the Place but lest he should be Exalted above measure for his Golden and Divine Talents and to shew you how Fickle and Unconstant these Hosanna's are it was not long after that the very same Person who had so Exalted him to Heaven did as much debase him and being an illiterate Fellow who could neither Write nor Read yet he had it seems made so good use of the others Gifts and Talents in Preaching and Extempore Prayer that he offer'd to wager 20 l. that he would quote Scripture with his Master from Genesis to Revelations and you may be assured then that he would Preach and Pray with him for 40 l. having so much more confidence of Himself and his own Abilities as he wanted Learning to know Himself and his own Deficiencies THE Nature of Pride and Ambition is always to Establish its own Greatness upon the Ruine of whatsoever does oppose them and by all ways and means to lessen others in order to greaten themselves that so by trampling upon the necks of their Enemies they may Exalt their own Power and Esteem and because there is nothing that does Elevate men to that degree of Excellency in the Minds of the Multitude like an Opinion of their Sanctity and Devotion therefore it is that this is the beloved Ingine which Ambitious Minds make use of to carry on cover and effect their own Designs of Greatness by the assistance of Popular Tumults which they usually inrage like Elephants by shewing them the Scarlet Robes both of the Prince and Priest as objects of hatred to animate and inflame them against those Sacred Persons by whom they are worn I might confirm this by many Forrein Instances but I rather chuse one at home both because it nearly concerns us and ought to make the greater Impression upon us The late Usurper Cromwel was in this Art so perfect and accomplisht as not to deserve to be undervalued as a Copy but Esteemed an Original of Pride Hypocrisie and Ambition One would admire that People who many of them knew the Man and his Conversation who saw the Curious Disguise of his Dissimulation and Flattery thrown off by his own hands who are sensible how by this only Artisice of pretending Religion though by the assistance of their Blood and Money he threw down the peacable Government both of Church and State how by a bloody Civil War and the Murther of his Royal Master he himself aspired to the Throne and how he Established an Arbitrary Tyranny against which he pretended and made the People believe he fought and how to the great affliction of all Parties especially the Presbyterians he took away one Religion but set up none nor indeed had any because he was of all as they were most serviceable to his present Interest and Affairs One would I say admire that those who though they saw not these gloomy Days yet have sufficiently heard of the Horror and Confusion of those times and cannot but believe the truth of the Relations should yet swallow down the hook which is baited with Liberty and Sanctity But because it may not be unuseful in this present Age so fond of outward shews I will give a short Character of his Ambition and those Arts by which Heaven for our Sins permitted him who
and yet had they not so much as a Rebellious thought of Establishing Religion by force or violence CHAP. VII BY what has been said it appears that the Foundation of all Charity among Christians is built upon Vnity in Faith which is the necessary bond of the Catholique Church which is the Company of all faithful People which are have been or shall be in all Ages and Places of the World and that Vnity in Government as well as Faith is the Bond of Peace and Obedience a Duty therefore which all men owe to their Lawful Superiors as the Necessary Ligature of a National Church which being a Political Society of Religious Men does therefore require a Political Government in Religious as well as Civil affairs THE not well considering of this Difference between a National and the Catholique Church seems to be the chief Ground of the Quarrels among Christians for the Catholique Church being the Spiritual Body of Christ is United in it self and to him by the Spiritual Bond of the Catholique Faith which Faith may be kept Whole and Undefiled though there be great Differences in External Rites and Ceremonies For all Ceremonies are not fit for all Places as for Example Submerging of the person Baptized may do very well in the warm Climates but would be very hazardous in the more Northern Regions of Muscovy Rushia c. Thus we see it was adjudged in that Great Controversie about the Celebration of Easter between the Eastern and the Western Churches For when Anicetus Bishop of Rome and Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna differ'd in their Opinion about it they came to this amicable Determination that each Church should celebrate it according to their own Custom for which they gave this Reason Quia non oportet propter Caeremoniarum dissonantiam rumpere Fidei Consonantiam Ecclesiae Concordiam The Peace and Concord of the Church in the Harmony of Faith ought not to be broken for a disagreement in matters of Ceremony And because this Difference made a great Noise in the Church for many years â—â—d in regard it Confirms my Position of Vnity of Faith being the Bond of the Catholick Church and Vnity of Government as well as Faith that of a National Church I will relate the History of it in short as it is Recorded by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History Euseb lib. 5. c. 24 25 26. Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus and a great many of the Asian Bishops alledging the Practice and ancient Custom of St. John the beloved Disciple of our Lord who was himself Bishop of Ephesus Polycarp and several others observed Easter upon any day of the Week according to the Custom of the Jews The Christians of the Western Church observed it as we do upon the Sunday being the day of his Resurrection Upon this Victor Bishop of Rome pronounces them Excommunicate and separates from their Communion Irenoeus Bishop in Lions shews Victor his Error and that for Ceremonies and Circumstances the Vnity of the Church ought not to be broken which he manifests by the Diversity of several Churches in observing the time of Fasting before Easter some only one day some two some more to forty and yet for all this says that Excellent Father they were at Vnity one with another and as yet retain it for this Variety of Fasting commendeth the Vnity of Faith and thereupon writing to Victor he acquaints him that Anicetus Pius Hyginus Telesephorus and Xystus his Predecessors though not observing the same Custom with the Bishops of Asia yet nevertheless were at Vnity with them and sent the Eucharist unto the Brethren of other Churches that observed a Contrary Custom shewing him also how Polycarpus did not endeavour to alter the Judgment of Anicetus but told him that he ought to observe the ancient Custom of his Predecessors Upon which for the reason before-mentioned they friendly received the Holy Eucharist together the Symbol of their Vnity in Faith and parted from each other in Peace and all such adds he as held contrary Customs and Observations throughout the Vniversal Church held fast the Bond of Love and Vnity no Church endeavouring to impose upon the Liberty of others in point of Circumstances so long as they all held the Catholique Faith as the only necessary bond of Vnion in the Catholique Church and Vnity of Government as the Bond of Vnion in the several Distinct and National Churches whereof the Universal is composed and which therefore it appears had Originally a Jurisdiction among themselves over which neither Rome nor any other had a Power So that is clear that several National Churches may lawfully differ in External Rites of Government from the Catholique without the danger of Schism But now in a National Church there is a necessity of Vnity and Obedience to the Determinations of those who are the Lawful Governors of it and all Disobedience there is a Schism in regard the Peace of that Church the Order and Charity of it without this must be destroyed and therefore there is a Necessity of this Vnity in point of Government in any National Church Now every Distinct Nation as before was said being a separate Society of men Distinguished from the rest of the World by a different Government and their Obedience to it as well as by their Place of Habitation there is a Necessity that Religion should conduce all it can to the preservation of that Political Frame upon which the Well-being and Happiness of the Society depends For the Civil and Religious concerns are so mutually interwoven that no man can be a Good Citizen who is an ill Christian or an ill Christian who is Bonus Civis a good Publiquewealths-man and these do mutually support one another true Religion Improving this Interest of all Men by making the Civil part of the Polity a Duty of Religion among Christians whereas among Heathen it was only a duty of Interest and Policy For even in this sense we may truly say as our Saviour of himself Matt. 5.17 that Christian Religion came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it to conform Humane Laws to the Rule of Divine Equity Truth and Justice and for this reason our Lord himself gave that Universal Precept to Render to Caesar his Due which also he confirmed by his Practice paying him Tribute even with a Miracle NOR do we ever find the Primitive Spirit of Christianity opposing any humane Laws or Power unless they were such as directly struck at the Root of Faith and a holy Life such as were the severe Edicts of the Persecuting Emperors to compel them to renounce and Blaspheme Christ to adore the Pagan Gods or to offer Incense to the Statues of the Emperors Nay when they were treated with more than inhumanity they never had recourse to Violence or attempted to justle the Temporal Power out of the Throne or force it to a compliance with their Wills but suffered patiently even when as Tertullian Apologizes for them they were
than their Charity and whose Zeal was much too heavy for their Judgment either not considering or not caring what must be the necessary consequences of these sparks of Dissention set their Lungs to work as well as their Wits to blow them up into a Flame pretending to the Vnwary that that Fire which was indeed of their own kindling was the only Gospel Light and that which by its future Effects has proved it self a Portentous Comet was the Day star from on high which was sent to visit them to lead them to Eternal Light under the Glorious Sun of Righteousness Had it burnt like the kind and wondrous lambent flame in Moses his bush without consuming it we might have been induced to believe that God was in the Fire But alas it was too ravenous to permit us to continue in that belief and the World has found by dear Experience that it was of the Extraction of that Fire St. James describes unto us Jam. 3.6.8 Behold says he how great a matter a little Fire kindleth and the Tongue is a Fire a World of Iniquity it sets on fire the whole Course of Nature and it is set on fire of Hell being an untamable little Animal an unruly Evil full of deadly Poison Especially when therewith we bless God even the Father and curse Men who are made after the similitude of God HOWEVER to justifie their Division and Dislike they did indeavour with might and main to pull down Babylon as they call'd not only Rome but the Reformation that being the odious name of whatever displeases them because it was not model'd according to that Platform which they therefore fancied because it was of their own devising Discourses full of Gall and Wormwood instead of Meekness and Humility flew like lightning from their Pens as well as Invectives and bitter Reproaches from their Mouths And to make some shew that they were not without Reason a new Frame of Church Government wholy unpresidented and never before practiced was minted at Geneva This glistering Medal as the coursest Medals will do when they come first off the Mint shone with such a dazeling lustre in the Eyes of those who Coïn'd it as the silver shrines of Diana did in the Opinion of Demetrius and presently I will not say positively for the same Reasons it gain'd as many and as tumultuous Worshippers who like the wild Ephesians cri'd up this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Thunderbolt newly dropt from the Clouds with as much Ernestness and as little Reason Where some crïed one thing Acts 19.32 and some another for the Assembly was confused as it always happens where any thing is managed by Tumult and Passion and the greater part knew not wherefore they were come together but some there were who did and they who did not yet were made believe they were as good as the best Yet was not even this Glorious and thorough Reformation though new run and cast so pure and perfect from all the dross of Superstition and Corruption but that some of quicker sight and sounder Judgment among themselves espied some Babylonish rust upon it and straight they began after the Example of Presbytery to make use of their Christian Liberty and to separate likewise the Pure from the Vile THUS was the Unfortunate Ichabod of Presbytery born amongst us with the Death of his Mother and the Dismal overthrow of the Holy Church 1 Sam. 4. The Glory departed from our Israel the Ark was lost and there was a great slaughter among the People Then arose whole swarms of Sects or rather Insects in Religion with guilded Wings but Scorpions Tayls painted Bodies but still poisonous Stings and as if Beelzebub the God of Flies and Ekron had been let loose among us nothing was heard but the confused buzzing of these differing Opinions who all pretended to gather Honey for the Hive but were in truth Sacrilegious Robbers agreeing in nothing but their mutual hatred and common design against the Church of England whose utter Extirpation was the mark of their United Conspiracy in order afterwards every one to Establish themselves not only upon hers but the Ruine of their differing Confederates THESE have been and I wish I could say they were not at present the sad natural and necessary Effects of breaking the Unity of Government in the outward Administration of the Service of God which crumbles a glorious Church into the Epicurean Atoms of Faction and Confusion till at last there remains little of it besides the Name and most certainly they who have once shaken hands with this Vnity must of necessity in a short time take their leave of Charity for these are the Twins of true Religion which live and dye together and when these are gone the tongues of Men and Angels the Faith of Miracles and the flaming Zeal of Martyrs are but sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbals they may make a little jingling noise of Religion but it is to be feared the louder they are the more Empty of the soul and substance of true Piety and Christianity So that those who do believe that Charity is so of the Essence of Religion as good Works are of Faith without which the one is as dead and vain as the other will easily be convinced both by Reason and Experience of the absolute Necessity that there is of Vnity in Point of Government to preserve that Charity alive since without this Vnity of Government to determine and give a Period to the Differences of several Opinions which shall be obtruded as Matters of Faith all Religion presently degenerates into vain and endless Disputes these produce Divisions Factions and Parties those run immediately into separation of Communion that leads men headlong to Animosities and Hatred and Hatred always ends in Confusion and every evil Work as St. James has well inform'd us Jam. 3.17 For says he the Wisdom which is from above is peaceable as well as pure full of Mercy and good Fruits and the fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that make Peace and all other Wisdom which banishes Charity with a pretence of Establishing Piety is Sensual Carnal Devilish Excellent recommendations of Reformation carried on without Nay against this Charity and Unity in the Goverment of a National Church CHAP. VIII THUS we see that Unity in Point of Government as well as Faith is absolutely necessary in a National Church to preserve it in Peace and Charity and that is in plain Terms to render it truly Christian and a part of the Catholique Church which we all profess to believe as an Article of our Faith We shall see in the next place how necessary this Vnity in point of Government is to maintain Christian Discipline in the World and how without it that great Power of the Keys which Christ gave to his Apostles and their Successors for the Government of his Church becomes impracticable and of no Use or Authority for suppressing Vice or Encouraging true Piety
place but they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of God arose against them and there was no remedy Then did the overflowing scourges come rolling upon them Fire and Sword and Captivity Desolation and utter Subversion God of his infinite Mercy have compassion upon his People and his dwelling Place and turn the hearts of the Despisers and disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just that we may not despise our selves and Nation into such a Dismal and inevitable Ruin CHAP. IX THUS have I shewn the Necessity that there is in every National Church of Unity in point of Government as well as Faith upon a Religious account Let us now come to Examine what Necessity there is upon a Politique account as we are united together into one Community of Men as well as a Society of Christians WE must consider therefore that Religion was designed to improve even our Interest in this World to the best advantage of Living and that to put on Christianity we are not to put off Humanity or by learning Obedience to God to forget what we owe to our Neighbour or our King The Eternal Prince of Peace as well as Truth came to Preach Peace unto All not to Embroyl the World or unsettle the Thrones of Princes but to Establish them for the Throne is Established by Righteousness Pro. 16.12 That glorious Heir of all things rejected the offer of all the Kingdoms of the Earth and positively affirms That his Kingdom is not of this World and therefore when he took upon him Humane Nature he own'd himself a Subject of the Roman Empire and not only paid the Tribute for himself and Saint Peter but Commands all men to do the same and the great Design of the Gospel which he came to Preach was to make all men better in their feveral Estates and Capacities of Life better men and therefore better Subjects to Princes This was the particular Care of the Church to inspire the Converts to Christianity with these Principles of Duty and Obedience so necessary to the Peace and Happiness of the World So St. Paul commands Ro. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers Thus St. Peter Teaches and Commands 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of Evil doers and for the praise of them that do well for this is the Will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men This being then one main Design of Christian Religion let us see of what Necessity Vnity in point of Government in the Church is in order to it and what influence it has upon the Political Government of a Christian State THE Root of all our Miseries Divisions and Disorders is That men take this for a Principle That they may be Disobedient to Lawful Authority without danger of Damnation and so far has the mischief of this fretting Gangrene spread it self that many People esteem it a part of their Religion to disobey the Civil Power and think it is impossible for them to be saved should they be obedient to its Commands which they think are inconsistent with the Commands of God This Error must proceed either from Malice or Mistake I will be so charitable as to suppose not from the first and therefore looking upon it as the Child of Ignorance I will endeavour to state the Case truly that so the Understanding of Men being informed by Truth they may either be reformed or left without Excuse THE great Design of the infinitely glorious good and Wise Creator being the Happiness of Mankind he therefore proportioned a Method for the obtaining of it and Man being Created with a double Capacity of Injoying Happiness both here and hereafter therefore did that Excellent Wisdom appoint Religion as the Way and Means for attaining both and for the accomplishment of those Noble and Excellent Ends it is furnished with Rules and Precepts which bear a double Respect to this double Capacity one part Conducts us to God and future Happiness in the External fruition of his grorious Presence in Heaven and the other Leads us to the Happiness of this Mortal State by the Politicl Rules of Living Well with a mutual respect not only to our own but the happiness of one another by the lawful and moderate Use and Enjoyment of the inferior Creation which God therefore made that he might shew his Glory his Wisdom his Power and his Goodness to the Sons of Men. So that the sum of all Religion in order to obtain this Happiness both here and hereafter is to believe aright and to Live Well and both these are so Essentially necessary to Salvation that the one will not obtain it without the other for the Devils believe Jam. 2.19 though it makes them tremble To believe aright we must refer our selves to those Divine Truths which God has from Heaven revealed to us concerning himself and our Duty the short sums of which Faith the Church has collected out of the Sacred Writings in the three Famous Creeds of the Apostles St. Athanasius and the Councel of Nice To Live well it is required that a man submits to all those practical Precepts and Rules of Life which God has commanded in his Will revealed in his holy Word by Justice Temperance Prudence Chastity Obedience c. and for the attainment of Happiness by these Rules in this present Life God has not left Men in a wild parity like Brutes but has by the Wisdom of his Providence divided the World into superior and inferior Degrees of Men Subjects and Soveraigns intrusting one to Rule and Govern and commanding the other to Obey and for this he has left many Positive Commands too well known and too numerous to be here repeated THESE Powers thus Ordained of God and armed with his Sword to execute Vengeance on them that do evil are vested with Authority to make such Decrees Laws and Sanctions as in their Wisdom they shall Judg conducive to the Happiness of the People committed to their Charge that so they may be a Terror to evil Works and encouragers of them that are Good And to them prosecuting this great and good Design and to those Laws which do promote it all men are bound to submit not only for wrath Rom. 13.5 but for Conscience sake And it is impossible any man should be saved who lives in a wilful Disobedience and that Power and those Commands and the Reason is because all such Disobedience is a sin against God himself against his Positive Will and Command and I think there is no person who will be so hardy as to maintain in Words however they may do it in Actions that Salvation is to be had or hoped for by such as live in manifest
Disobedience to any one Command of God For St. James assures us that the keeping of the whole Law will not countervail the wilful breach of one Point but that whoever does so is guilty of all and he adds the Reason Jam. 2.10 11. For he that said Do not commit Adultery said also Do not Kill And he that said do not Kill said also Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers Now to infer with him If thou commit no Adultery If thou do not Kill yet if thou art not subject to the Higher Powers thou art become a Trangressor of the Law a Sinner before God For sin is the transgression of Gods Law and therefore as St. John tells us 1 Joh. 3.15 No Murderer has Eternal life abiding in him So neither has any who does not submit to the Higher POWERS any Eternal Life abiding in him because they are both Transgressors of the Holy Law and Commandment of God THUS far I think all Men Good and Bad will go along with me but the pinch of the Question is How far this Obedience is due and what are the Limits of the Authority of Superiors Whether the Civil or Ecclesiastical Magistrate ought to be Obeyed in all their Commands which concern Religion or the Worship of God To this I Answer by distinguishing according to the Old and True Maxim of Logicians Qui bené distinguit bené docet The commands therefore of Superiors are either concerning Faith and Manners or Government and Order As to matters of Faith neither the onenor the other havethe least power to alter abrogate impose or diminish the least Tittle or Iota of it For Faith being of Divine Revelation and the Law by which God Almighty will have us guided in what concerns himself is like him Immutable and Unchangeable and is only subject to his Authority who is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith Now the true Faith is what is contained in Scripture either in direct Words or plain Consequence This all Christian Kings Princes and Governors are bound to maintain and ought to be its Defenders but not to Invade or Usurp a Dominion over it And should they make any Law to the prejudice of this Faith no man ought to obey them for here the Rule holds good That we are to obey God rather than Men but neither will this Authorize any Persons who are Subjects to those Powers to Rebel against them or Oppose them more than by endeavouring with Meekness and Charity to maintain that Faith Nay should they impose Penalties upon such as were disobedient to their Laws in matters of Faith 't is the Glory of Christian Religion to teach men to suffer patiently but not to seek Revenge or to endeavour to free themselves or the Faith from danger by flying to unlawful Arms which would be like Vzzah's Folly for which he was Smitten to lay our hands upon the Ark when the Oxen stumble and shake it and to suppose that God either would not or could not take any care to defend that Faith which he himself had planted in the World THIS was the Case of the Apostles Act. 4..3 The Chief Priest and Counsel commanded them not to speak at all in the Name of Jesus had they been so minded they might have raised a Tumult for the Captain and Officers who went to apprehend them brought them without Violence because they went without resisting fearing as much as their Guards lest the inraged People should rescue them by stoning the Officers And when the High Priest charges them with Disobedience to his Commands St. Peter tells them it was a matter of Faith what they had seen and heard and were commanded by the Son of God to Preach whom they ought to obey rather than Men. This was the Case of the Primitive Christians under the Heathen and persecuting Emperors Did the Emperor command them to his Wars they went willingly Fought gallantly sometimes purchast Victories with their Prayers as well as Sword Did he exact Tribute from them they paid it freely Command to renounce Christ or to Blaspheme him or to offer but a single grain of Incence to the Idols or Emperors Statue though to save their Lives they refused presently Did he take away their Estates for their Disobedience to his Edicts they suffer'd patiently Did he expose them to Racks Tortures Wild beasts and Flames they went to them joyfully indured them miraculously and so obtain'd the Glorious Crown of Martyrdom All this while not a hand lift up against the Lords Anointed their Soveraign unless to Heaven to pray to God for his Pardon and Conversion not a Tongue moves against his Government to call it Tyrannical Unlawful or Antichristian though in reality it was such Not a Pen is sharpned against him or his Ministers of State no invectives or Exhortations to Rebellion to depose or Murder him and indeed nothing farther than to Apologize for their Innocence and to manifest that they were his most obedient Subjects and free from all the Calumnies of being Seditious Disturbers of the Government or Peace of the Empire THE same may be said of Good Manners as of Faith for Justice Temperance Innocence and Purity being Commands of God no Earthly power can either dispence with them or lawfully command the contrary Vices or if they do they may nay ought to be disobey'd BUT Secondly The Commands of our Superiors may concern Order and Government and herein they ought Universally to be obey'd as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Laws and Commands provided they do not herein manifestly or by consequence Oppose Faith or Good Manners and that for these Reasons FIRST Because Order is absolutely Necessary as well in the Church as in the State and is Positively commanded by God Let every thing be done Decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14.40 and that for a most solid and weighty Reason For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace Vers 33. as in all the Churches of the Saints Confusion is absolutely unlawful God disowns it Peace is absolutely Necessary in all Churches of Saints without Order there can be no Peace nor indeed any thing but Confusion without Governors to appoint and determine Differences arising about Modes and Matters of Decency there can be no Peace because Differences must be endless and without Submission to these Governors and their final Determinations both in Church and State they are no longer Rulers and Governours but the Order which God has appointed in the World to procure Peace and Happiness is utterly Subverted and Overthrown For Government and Obedience do mutually suppose each other and as Logicians say Pater est filii Pater a Father is therefore a Father because he has a Child so a Governor a King a Magistrate in Church or State is therefore such because he has People subject and obedient to him and as all the Power of Governors is limited to those things which are left undetermined by Gods Positive
Laws so all the Obedience of Subjects is confined to their Determinations in those particulars which God has left wholy in the Power of our Superiors and who ever resists or refuses to Obey shall therefore receive Damnation because he destroys the very Essence and End of Government and in saying We will not have this man Raign over us acts directly contrary to the Will of God who says he shall and that we must Obey him in order to the Peace and Happiness of the World the due Administration of Justice the Encouragement of Virtue and Practice of Religion by leading quiet Lives under our Superiors in all Godliness and Honesty by which Method we can only hope to arrive at Eternal Happiness in Heaven BUT Secondly Because all Ecclesiastical Laws which concern the Order and Government of the Church are of a mixt Nature Political as well as Religious and so are all Humane and Civil Laws too and therefore there is the same reason for Obedience to the one as to the other and they do both equally bind the Conscience to Obedience The same Power makes the one as makes the other the same Reason is the Foundation of the one as of the other they are addressed to the same End viz. the Peace Happiness and Prosperity of the People and therefore there is the same obligation to Obedience for the one as the other and all Men are bound in Conscience as Members of a Society to promote the Peace and welfare of that Society which is not to be obtained any other Way but by obeying the Command of God in being subject to the Government of that Society of which we are Members Observe the Command of God to the Captive Jews at Babylon Jer. 29.7 Seek the Peace of the City whither I have caused you to be carried away Captives and pray unto the Lord for it for in the Peace thereof ye shall have Peace So that if Peace and Happiness be the End of Society all Men are bound to Pray for it and promote it If the End be Commanded by God the Means to obtain that End must be Obeyed and God having intrusted the Governors of Church and State with the Means and Way of procuring this Happiness their Choice of some among all the variety of Expedients that may be offer'd must determine their Subjects and becomes the Rule of their Obedience as well in Ecclesiastical as Civil Affairs for if it were possible to separate these two then something might be said but the Peace of the State depending upon the Peace of the Church and vicê versa No man can truely be said to promote the one by destroying the other And therefore all men who are obliged to indeavour to advance one must do it by advancing both To make this clear I will give an Instance of the Power of the Civil Magistrate in the Church in matters of Order and Government David a man after Gods own Heart in the Worship of God which was left Undetermined he takes upon him to regulate the Church he Orders the Levites to appoint Singers on Instruments of Musick 1 Chron. 15.16 and Psalteries and Harps Cymbals and sounding by lifting up the Voice with joy They never stood to dispute with him because God had not commanded it that therefore it was Unlawful but because God had not any where Prohibited it and he was their King and might Command what was for decency and order in the Service of God therefore they ought to Obey and immediately they appoint Heman and Asaph and Ethan and several others for that Service David and after his Example others frame and compose Anthems Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving in set forms of Words to praise God Because he is gracious and his Mercy endureth for ever Do the Priests and Levites now quarrel because they are not permitted to shew their Parts Gifts and Abilities in making Extempore Hymns or Prayers No such matter but presently in Obedience to God and the King they make use of those prescribed which are contained in the Book of Psalms the Ancient Liturgy of the Jewish Church This order was after continued by Solomon and approved by God For it came to pass 2 Chron. 5.13 as the Trumpeters and Singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their Voice with the Trumpets and Cymbals and Instruments of Musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his Mercy indureth for ever that the house was filled with a Cloud even the House of the Lord. So that the result of all is this That the Supreme Power of a Nation being of Gods appointment for the Ruling of the People in order to their Happiness and commanding nothing contrary to Faith or good Manners or any thing Prohibited by God himself ought to be obeyed by all their Subjects of what Degrees or Conditions soever in all their Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil in order to good Government Decency and Order both in Church and State and that since all these Commands of theirs are in Obedience to Gods Commands and in prosecution of the great Design of Happiness here and Eternally by promoting Peace Vnity and Concord therefore no Person can resist that Power by Disobedience but he resists the Ordinance of God and becomes a Transgressor to God as well as Man and runs the hazzard of Eternal Damnation due to all those who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ LET Dissenters therefore either prove that the Supreme Powers are not Lawful that their Authority does not Extend to the Political part of Ecclesiastical Affairs that they have nothing to do to determine Differences that the things commanded are contrary to Faith and a holy Life are not conducive to Peace Vnity and the happiness of the Nation or that they are any where in direct Words or evident Consequence prohibited by God in Scripture or otherways they will never be able to prove that they are bound in Conscience to disobey Authority Let them not think to shelter themselves under the vain refuge that God is to be obeyed rather than Men. This is that which proves them Disobedient for they do not disobey Men but God in disobeying Lawful Authority when commanding nothing contrary to the Commands of God And whoever does so is managed not by the Principles of Religion but the Power of Interest Prejudice or Ambition IN short Is any Form of Government Lawful or Necessary in the Church that it is they affirm in desiring to Establish their own is Obedience necessary to Salvation they will tell you it is Let them therefore be their own Judges For if Obedience to their Laws and Government be necessary to Salvation it must be because their Authority is Lawful for that is the Rule of Conscience and if the present Authority be Lawful and theirs Vsurped then is their Disobedience Damnable and their Obstinacy
of a Society into one common Body of which Unity is the Soul and whatsoever be the Cause of this Disunion the Effect is always an Alienation of Affections among those who differ one from another Now as there is nothing that makes so close a Vnion in the minds of Men as their concurrence in the same thoughts Judgment and Sentiments about any Matters especially those of Religion So there is nothing that makes so great and Irreconcilable Distances between People as their being and owning themselves of differing Judgments and Opinions For Religion is like a Common Centre in which all the Lines of mutual Kindness meet and are United together in an indivisible Point And we do more passionately love those who resemble us in our thoughts than in our outward Lineaments and Proportions and have a natural Aversion for those who are unlike us in our Thoughts And the reason is because this Discord robs us of the pleasure of Life which is Society and where the entertainment consists in mutual Jarrs and endless Disputings continual Contradictions of which all men are impatient the Conversation must needs be disagreeable for who ever contradicts another supposes himself more wise and the other foolish and where the knowledg of these differences is manifest even in their silent Interviews it defeats them of all the pleasure of Converse and Society and makes men uneasie in the very Company of those who are neither beloved by them nor love them as all men believe of those who oppose them and differ from them in their Judgments So that it is not to be expected they should be ready to do those good Offices one for another in order to the Common Good of the Society but rather all the Mischiefs and Injuries which they can as Enemies as all esteem those who are not United to them by Love and Kindness and how happy any Society is like to prove that is thus disjoynted in it self is not difficult to conjecture BUT these Animosities are extreamly heightened in regard there is always something more than bare Opinion in the Difference and that it is impossible totally to separate Interest from Religion and that therefore no man can look upon another as directly invading the one without obliquely designing against the other and what ever Passion men may have for their Religion they are inseparably married to their Interest the thred of that is twisted with the Stamina Vitae being indeed esteemed Essential both to the being well-being of the Body For it is not in Religion as it is in Philosophical Contests where how eager soever men may appear to defend a Paradox yet they are not Solicitous whether it be true or false for what matters it between two hot Combatants whether there be any Land in the Moon or not Since though there be they have no Mannors nor Lordships there and if there be not they are never the poorer of a Farthing BUT in the Quarrels of Religion there is always a Meum and Tuum and Men suspect not without good Reason that the difference of Opinion is but the Colour or Pretext it is Interest that is the first Mover and the Ultimate Design and this prevents all hope of Reconciliation till one party do either voluntarily or by constraint relinquish their pretences to the others Right for he who will invade the Possession of what another enjoys by endeavouring to be a Disseisor becomes an Enemy And there are few who arrive to that height of self-denial to hate themselves that they may love their Enemies or to expose themselves to the Inconveniences of cold Nakedness and Hunger which Nature abhors that they may feed and cloth their Enemies nor does Charity command it for though that Compassionate Grace look abroad for Objects of Pity yet she always begins her Work at home nor is any man obliged to pray for or love his Enemies so as not to provide for his own Family 1 Tim. 5.8 and by Charity to deny the Faith and be worse than an Infidel Such Saints are Martyrs of the Greek Calends And no person can Esteem such as endeavour to devest him either of Power Authority Estate or Possession Honor or Profit but as his particular Enemy and an Enemy to God and Religion which commands that no man should invade anothers Right in that great Command Thou shalt not Covet Now where there are several distinct Churches in the same Nation there being both Power and Maintenance annexed to the Office of the Clergy they will necessarily incroach one upon another and because what the one gains the other must loose the contrariety of Interests will widen the Difference between them even to the utmost Extremity of Hatred and Animosity and whilst every Church will labour to agrandize it self both in Riches and Power by lessening the Esteem Honour Power and Revenues of the other it will become a quarrel of Interest as well as Religion and let any person if he can Justifie a Principle that by maintaining Domestique Quarrels must be ruinous to Society and all the Peace and Happiness of the present state of Life under the fair pretence of Religion LET Dissenters tell us what they please and if their dislike of the Government in the Church is purely upon the account of Religion former Experience has made the World sufficiently sensible that the Dignity Power and Revenues of the Church were the greatest Crimes of the Government And that they who could not approve of those Honors Titles and Estates in Bishops and the dignified Clergy could yet very well digest both their Power and Revenues when they came by the Sacrilegious hands of Vsurping Powers to be conferr'd on themselves AND as these Quarrels will be most certain so they will be Endless and Eternal for admit once of many Forms of Church Government in the same Nation and no sooner shall one be uppermost but the Envy of the others and their fear lest they should be crush't or overshadowed by it will make all the lesser Churches conspire for their common Security and Interest to undermine and overthrow it And when they have by that joynt confederation Effected that then will the most Powerful of the Victorious Party step and Exalt it self into the Place and Power of the former which will procure it the Hatred of all the rest who will not fail by the same Arts and Methods to dismount that and Establish themselves by which means there will be no end of Factions Quarrels and Ambitions striving who shall be the Uppermost All this while Religion will be the Pretence but the State shall really suffer and it being as impossible to separate them as to punish the Christian and not the Man it must be under all the most violent Agitations and Tempests and at last suffer most certain Shipwrack THIS was the true state of our Case in England during our late Revolutions the Church and Religion were made to lead the Dance but according
dispersed at a common Charge would induce one to believe the Case were our own and particularly one intitled An account of the Growth of Popery and Arbitrary Government c. where the Writer does Greg. Naz. Or. 1. as Nazianzen says Arm himself to be Eloquent against the Truth abusing that the better to abuse others into a belief of the most Notorious Calumnies and Sarcasms against the Government the King and his Ministers the Judges and who not As if all conspiring to alter the Establisht Government both Civil and Ecclesiastical And is as Industrious as Malicious to set us all into a Flame To do this at a Season when we are under the apprehensions of a Forrein War for the defence of our selves and all Europe against the danger of a Neighbour too near not to be feared and grown too great to be suffered looks and certainly is a Design of the greatest Mischief and if the Authors are not Dissenters either from the Church of England or from all Religion as well as from the Court of England and the Interest of England the World is strangely mistaken the Sibboleth which lisps so demurely in every Page plainly shews that it was Penn'd by the Men of Ephraim who have a design to Quarrel with our Royal Jephtha their Deliverer by the unparallel'd Amnesty from the Ammonites of their former Delinquencies THESE are the proper effects of Jealousies and Misunderstandings between a Prince and his People the natural result not only of Diversity of Government in the Church Tollerated but permitted even by Connivence And what can be the end of Disunion between these two whom God has joyned together and no man ought to put asunder and who ought to live together in all the happy Caresses of a Conjugal Affection what can be expected from such a Divorce but a troublesome Raign to the Prince an uneasy Life to the People who must always be under the apprehensions of dismal Revolutions and unhappy Days and whilest neither of them esteems themselves secure they both become Miserable Whereas on the contrary Unity in the Government of the Church being as before was said Political as well as Religious will remove all these unnecessary Fears and Imaginary Dangers it will beget Love and a mutual Confidence in each other between a King and his Subjects which is the only happiness of the Crown as well as of the Nuptial State Of which one may say as the Poet. Faelices tèr ampliùs Quos irrupta tenet Copula Nec malis divulsa Querimonijs When there is no Murmuring or Complaining but the one Obeys with Pleasure what the other Commands with Love and love the one as much to be Commanded as the other to Command But alas this is so far from being hoped for so long as there is this Disunion in the Political Government of the Church as it would be if there were so in the Political Laws of the State it being as impossible to satisfie all Parties with the one as with the other and there being notwithstanding the same reason that those who are dissatisfied should yet yield Obedience as well to the one as to the other since they are both of the same Nature and levell'd at the same End FROM what has been said it is evident that a Disunion in the Political Government of the Church in the same Nation Lays the perpetual Foundation of Dreadful Changes and Revolutions in the Government of the State and by sowing Jealousies Fears and Discontents in the Minds of Men it gives continual Opportunities to the Ambitious Covetous Envious Proud and Discontented to run the Nation into Civil Broyls and Intestine Quarrels for which reason Solomon gives this necessary Caution to all those who will be the Disciples of true Wisdom My Son fear thou God and the King and meddle not with those who are given to change Which of necessity all Dissenters must be whilst they believe themselves the only People who Worship God in Spirit and Truth and therefore contrary to the manifest Design of the Gospel were they what they pretend or believe indeavour their own Establishment by force and violence the confusion and utter subversion of the Government which does oppose them and their pernicious Practices so dishonourable to Christian Religion and the Protestant Cause so destructive of Peace and Charity so contrary to the common good of all Society and the Happiness of Mankind in General and in particular to the safety and security the Settlement and Establishment of that Church and Nation of which they are Members and to which by the Rules of Religion they owe all Obedience CHAP. XI NOR will the Mischief of this Disunion in the Political Government in the Church confine it self at home or be contented with making us unhappy among our selves but will most certainly Expose any Nation to the Power and Attemps of Foreign Enemies for Vnity in any Government is like the state of Health in the Natural Body where the Muscles are firm and Robust the Nerves strong the Ligaments compacted the Joynts close the whole Strength intire and vigorous and every Member obedient to the Head whereas on the contrary want of Vnion renders the Body Politique crazy and infirm the Head may command the Hands or the Feet but they are out of joynt and cannot move or if they do it is with so much Pain or Trouble with such a Feebleness and Languor as is next to Impotence it self and when any People are in this Condition they become an Easy Prey as well as a great Temptation to any Foreign Power FOR first This render them contemptible to their Foreign Enemies for Men always make a Judgment of the strength of any Nation in proportion to their Vnity among themselves for what does it signifie though a Nation be never so Rich or Populous if they be not Vnanimous their Enemies must needs thus Argue with themselves What though this People abound in Money and swarm with Inhabitants so long as they are like a Rope of Sand it is a sign of the goodness of their Country as well as the Weakness of the Nation there will be the better booty and the cheaper Victory the Conquest will pay us well for our Pains and our Pains cannot be great to subdue a People who are already half Conquered by their Civil Dissentions we are not to go to dispute a bloody Conquest but a certain Victory Their mutual Fears have alienated the Affections of the People from their Prince and they who have been so Prodigal to waste all the stock of Loyalty which was left them as a Patrimony from their Ancestors will easily be tempted to sell the Reversion of their Allegiance to a new Soveraign Nor shall an Invader ever need to fear a Party who for ready Money in hand and large Promises of future Payments and Gratifications in whatever they demand which he may Pay he knows as he pleases will not either actually joyn with him or
of Less Extent are to be regulated were intended as a defence and Protection to all providing one injure not another and that Common Peace and Safety be secured No other Subsequent inferiour Law can therefore debar any peaceable Christian that answers the Necessities of Church and State Civil Spiritual and Political in equal Justice and in Foro Conscientiae from this Priviledge Originally due to all And this he fortifies with the Confession of a Presbyterian Divine without a Name who never saw any Argument yet that could clearly Evince why any sort of Men who would profess a peaceable subjection unto the Civil Government might not in all their Civil Rights be protected by it Does not this oblige every Government to an easie Credulity to its own Ruine For the greatest of its Enemies will profess this Subjection till they have power to effect their Ends and by this Rule there is no care to be taken of Mens Principles or Practices if they can but speak Fair and profess they mean no hurt to the Government no matter for what may happen afterward the Governours may sleep securely till their throats are cut by these harmless Professors BUT taking this for a Maxim granted I proceed upon his own Words That no Tolleration of different Religion is to be permitted and that first from the Apostle St. Pauls Rule pag. 49. Hast thou Faith have it to thy self And seeing that Vniversal Vnity among Christians is not to be attained such a Tolleration of things tollerable is not only Lawful but necessary where a Latitude or Liberty is left in such things as are not clearly and positively laid down in Scripture in things of private Practice Which is just giving that Liberty which no man can take away every man being at liberty to believe and do so so long as he keeps it to himself and that it is Tollerable Faith by being to himself and his practice is truly private But why then does the Church of Rome Command us to believe Supremacy Purgatory Transubstantiation c. which are not clearly nor positively laid downin Scripture is this Good Just and Equal dealing with us BUT Secondly I Argue from his own Reason because nothing is more clear than that this Tolleration must of necessity destroy that Original Fundamental Law of Protection due to all from the Government which will not be able to Protect it self since it must Embroyl the Government and indanger its Ruine that being the very thing for which Tolleration is so earnestly desired For a Wise Government pag. 50 51. may tollerate at least in a private way with the Old bounty of giving what they cannot help different Opinions when otherwise the Publique may be intangled or indangered or rather because the Conscience cannot be compelled or Faith forced and more especially if they be such Religions as do not overthrow the Foundations of Truth nor such as disturb or impugn the Government Establisht or if the Professors thereof be such as are not Factious or pertinacious but Honest Simple Tractable Obedient to Superiors having no other End in holding their Opinions in Religion than Gods Glory or satisfaction of their own Conscience and withall are willing to submit to better Judgments when they are convinced to be Erroneous Pag. 52. For we ought to have a Latitude of Charity for those who Dissent if they be not Impostors or turbulent Incendiaries And who are there that will own themselves to be such It looks like Oliver Remonstrating or a Declaration of 41. and by this Rule all Sects Heresies and Rebels if they may be their own Compurgatorâ— must be Tollerated too since they will Profess all that is here desired for Tolleration but by clear Consequence if notwithstanding these Professions they do intangle and indanger the Government then they are not be Tollerated but the Tolleration of all Sects though Charitably supposing them not Hereticks does not only destroy some one Fundamental of Religion but Religion in the Main by making it Morally impossible for any Man to know where he shall find a true Religion and plainly introduces Mahometanism that a Man may be saved in any and will confirm the Atheist and Libertine in their Opinions that there is no such thing more than in Mens melancholy Humors And it is impossible but the Professors of different Religions will be Factious and Disobedient to Superiors as daily Experience assures us and to Tollerate them is to give them leave to be so and to hold their Opinions for the subversion of Government and not satisfaction of Conscience as some who called themselvs Papists as well as other Dissenters have done in former times and for ought we know Design the same again and therefore I conclude with the Advocate p. 55. That where every one has Liberty to hold what he pleases which by this profession cannot be denied him so soon as he believes his Party strong enough to grapple with Authority he will Publish and Preach what he holds confined to no Rule or Order but contemning Law will Rule as a Transcendent and as he quotes the most incomparable Hooker lib. 3. cap. 107. Let them tell us of Obeying the Laws of God as long as they please we dare not believe them who break the Laws of those appointed by God to Rule over them For it is a Distinction without a Difference to seperate and divide the Laws of God from the Laws of Men and unless we observe both we Obey neither pag. 56. In these Cases says our Advocate Christian Governors are not to regard such Pleas for private Liberty as overthrow Publique Order and Peace Nor to regard those Clamours against them and the Laws as Persecuting when they do but oppose and restrain such perillous Exorbitancies as strike at the Foundation of Christianity and open a gap to Atheism Profaneness and Blasphemy here the Magistrate must interpose his Coercive Power for remedy Nor are they in this infringers of the Peoples Liberty but preservers of freedom not Oppressors of others Consciences but dischargers of their own by prohibiting men to vent their raw undigested Fancies to others to start Principles distructive to Government subverting Order violating Laws breaking Oaths and contemning Authority publiquely acting according to private Perswasion not regarding common Order or publique Peace but by a Seditious and Factious Liberty broaching their Opinions to others And there is a great deal of Reason why the Magistrate should use this Power to crush the Cockatrice in the Egg For pag. 58. if the publique Power shall suffer arrogant Ignorance excess of Passion perverseness of Will to come to its full Rudeness and Extent which it can do no way so readily as by Tolleration Tumultuary Numbers and Brutish Power will soon make good private Presumptions and cover the most Impudent Lusts Passions and Ambitions of Men with the Pleas and Outcrys of Christian Liberty And those who hold forth Notions and Conceptions of Reformation or wholly changing Religion and Goverment
from the Advocates own Words that none can justly plead for a Tolleration whose Devilish Principles and furious Practices tend to the Subversion of Government which both by what has been said and by Experience the surest Demonstration in the World both Papists and other Dissenters especially Presbyterians have been proved guilty of Let us now see how he manages the Cause of his own Party for whose sake this Project of a Tolleration was principally intended as is plain by his comparing Luther Calvin Buchanan c. with Mariana Suarez and Bellarmine Whose Doctrines are at least as he says as Dangerous to Monarchy and therefore unfit to be Tollerated the one or the other LET us therefore examine the Plea of Innocency which he descends to defend in particular And as their manner always is pag. 70. he tells us That the Roman Catholique Religion was the first Christian Religion planted in our Countrey from whom we had our very Christianity Suppose it were yet Quantum mutatus ab illo The present Roman Catholique Religion is not the same which they planted But with his good leave his Assertion is contrary Pol. Virgil. Hist Angl. l. 2. not only to great Probability but to the consent of Historians for Polydore Virgil tells us Test is est Gildas Britannos jam inde ab initio arti Evangelii Christianam accepisse Religionem That our Ancestors received the Christian Faith according to the Testimony of Guildas in the very beginning of the Gospel Baronius thinks St. Peter was here Theodoret Bar. An. 58. n. 51. Theod. de curand Graec. affect l. 9. Niceph l. 2. cap. 40. Baron An. 36. n. 5. Bede lib. 1. cap. 25 26. lib. 2. cap. 2. Saint Paul Nicephorus Simon Zelotes Some Joseph of Arimathea and even when Austin the Monk came from Gregory to Convert us as they say to the Christian Faith he found a Church among us as Beda testifies Bertha a Christian Queen and at Bangor a Monastery or rather a Colledg of many hundreds who upon the Question Whether they should admit of Austin put it upon this Issue Si sit humilis admittatâ—â—â— But finding him proud and Imperious they rejected him which they durst never have done had they believed even the bare Primacy of his Master or that they were owing for their Faith and Conversion to the Roman Church I will not enter into a long dispute about Merits Pardons Purgatory Adoration of Images or Transubstantiation which were but actum agere only methinks the Apothecaries Argument deserves to be put upon the File who being pressed to believe the Doctrine of Transubstantiation told the Zealous Agressor pleasantly but truly Sir I will make a Wafer and set a mark upon it that it may not be changed you shall send it to the Pope let him Consecrate it and I will venture you a 100 l. you dare not take it Oh says the other but I dare and would well reply'd the Apothecary then I will venture a 1000 l. that you shall be dead before next Morning which if it were really transubstantiated were impossible that the poison of the Body should be the food of the Soul and Christ be made a Murderer which demonstrative Conclusion so little expected puts the Romanist a little out of Conceit with his Doctrine and struck him as dumb as the other would have done dead for all the Transubstantiation there are very gross Stories and Slanders abroad if some in the Romish Church have â—â—â—tried the Experiment and have received their Death by what was given them as the Body of Christ and the Bread of Life BUT I will observe his Method p. 166. He tells us confidently That there makes for them all that may or can be of any Christian man required Literal Text of Holy Scripture approved Tradition General Councels Ancient Fathers Ecclesiastical Histories Christian Laws Conversion of Nations Divine Miracles Heavenly Visions Vnity Vniversality Antiquity Succession all Monuments all Substance all Accidents of Christianity Here is not a word of Proof and therefore I may take the same Liberty in contradicting it if I please But to answer this There makes against them Literal Text of Holy Scripture â—usanus Ep. 2. ad Bohem. of that Scripture which a Cardinal says is a Nose of Wax of that Scripture which the Pope has Power to inlarge at his pleasure as the Trent Councel has done making the Apochrypha Canonical Of that Scripture which speaks not a single word for the Popes Supremacy Transubstantiation Purgatory Masses for the Dead Invocation of Saints Vows of single Life c. but in a thousand places against them and therefore they are obliged to fly for refuge to their Approved Traditions and set them in the Throne above the Scriptures whose mouths must be stopped by the vulgar Latin and the Vulgar confined from reading them and even these approved Traditions are most of them such as the Universal Church never knew never acknowledged Conc. Trid. Sess 4. Dec. 1. which yet must be received with the same Reverence and Affection as the Scriptures for as Baronius affirms Bar. Ann. 53. Num. 11. Traditio Scripturarum Fundamentum and the Traditions of Men are made the Foundation of Scripture and of Faith And the Canon Law of Pope Gregory XIII Dist 40. Si Papa in Ann. Margin goes higher yet and sets the Pope above them all For men rather desire to know the ancient Institution of Christian Religion from the Popes mouth than from the holy Scripture And yet all of their own Church do not approve these Approved Traditions for Basil says Basil Reg. contract p. 502. It is necessary and agreable to Reason that all men learn what is their Duty out of Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both for the fulfilling all Godliness and lest they should be accustomed to Humane Traditions Iren. l. 3. c. 2. And Irenaeus tells us it was the Custom of Hereticks to call in Tradition to their assistance against Scripture alledging that those Truths as they called them which they held were not delivered by Writing but by word of Mouth AGAINST his General Counsels we oppose the first four and have offered a thousand times to put the Issue upon their Verdict Against Ecclesiastical Histories Ancient Fathers Christian Laws we oppose the frequent Forgeries of all these detected even by themselves and the Index Expurgatorius which Castrates all the Fathers that they may be fit Eunuchs for the Papal Seraglio the Vatican by being disabled to propagate truth For Conversion of Nations we refer them to the Acts of the Apostles for the first Age and for these last to Acosta the Jesuite and Bartholomeus Casas a Bishop in the Indies Acost de Ind. salut procurand their Conversion was such that the miserable People chose to go to Hell with their Ancestors rather than to Heaven with such Christians and if their Relations are true gives occasion to the Romanists to blush rather than boast
Lawfulness of the Popes Power of Excommunicating and deposing Kings and Murdering them too Such as those of Sanders Allen Cresswels Philopator Simanca Rossoeus a Book Canonized by the Pope in Consistory FOR the Bloody days of Queen Mary I will allow her as good and mil'd a Princess as he pleases but I cannot think so well of Winchester and London two of her Bishops by whose Fiery Zeal so many though the Advoate say pag. 238 but a very few went to the Stake in Smithfield and other places for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and that they could not believe it Which was not only for Religion but a pure Theological point the Modus of which the Doctors of the Romish Church neither are or ever will be agreed upon and it is a little harder measure to dye for such a Point than to swear to such a one as he dare avow and verily believes c. I might say much more and take notice of many other passages in his Book but I must not be prolix only the Calumny as he calls it which is reassumed by Dr. Stillingfleet and Dr. Tillotson pag. 257. that there are Jesuites among our Dissenters troubles him much but that it is not without Ground I have heard and I presume so has he from Authentique hands of one Father Brown a Jesuite who boasted on his Death-bed at Ingeston Briggs in Scotland that he had Preached as down-right Popery in the Field Conventicles as ever he had Preached at Rome it self And truly by the Conformity of their Principles and Actious one with another one can scarcely tell whether the Jesuits are Presbyteriz'd or the Presbyters Jesuited they are so very like BY this time I hope it is not to be doubted by any who have not wholly devoted themselves with a blind Zeal and Obedience as well as Implicite Faith to the Roman Religion but that however innocent the Generality of Catholiques may be how Loyal soever and full of Allegiance yet the Principles of their Religion are not so Nor are they obliged to their Doctors for it but to the Native Generosity of their Countrey to the Honour of their Families and it may be more than all to the Doctrine of the Church of England in this Point which by conversing so frequently with they cannot be ignorant of or not apprehend the horrid Usurpations of the Roman Keys upon the the Temporal Sword Crowns and Sceptres of Princes And the Dangers that must necessarily follow from thence Nor shall they need to fear either Punishment or Persecution but for the Practices of these Boutfeus and Incendiaries of the World And whether such a Religion as openly teaches and Avows an Interest contrary and above that of the Prince and which Authorizes those who profess it to raise Seditions Tumults and Rebellions and it may be has funished other Dissenters of Contrary Opinions in other Points with Principles and Arguments Destructive of the Peace Happiness and Quiet of the Publique and of the Government it self deserves a Tolleration Let all impartial men be Judges CHAP. XIV FROM what has been said it is Evident not only that Tolleration of different ways of Worship under the same National Government is utterly impolitique and dangerous to the Foundation of Government and the End of Society but destructive of Christian Charity and the Irreconcilable Enemy of Peace and Vnity being the Spring of Endless and Eternal Quarrels Divisions Schisms Separations if not Heresies and the direct road to wild Enthusiasm Heathenish Ignorance Superstitious Will-worship Licentious Impiety and at last down right Atheism Let us therefore in the Spirit of Meekness and Christian Compassion try whether there be no way to cement these breaches among us by reuniting the minds of Men so far as is necessary for Christians to be Vnanimous For it is morally impossible there should be among all Mankind and absolute Vnion in their Judgments mens Minds will differ as long and as much or more than their Faces do and from this impossibility I argue to the Unnecessariness of such an Vnity But as several Palates do naturally receive several impressions of Gratefulness to different Dishes even to contradiction so that What is one Mans Meat is another Mans Poison what is the delight of one is the Aversion of another and yet all agree in the Common Necessary and Native Principle of Eating So may several Men believe several distinct nay and it may be contrary Opinions in Theological Questions and yet agree in the Common Principles of Christianity allowed by All Faith and Charity so as to continue in Peace Unity and Godly Love And that this is not impossible we see by daily Experience and that there are in every Society of Christian Men some who maintain one Opinion some who maintain and believe another yet notwithstanding they retain Communion one with another From whence proceed those Volumes of Polemical Theology with which not the Schools but the whole World is fill'd I wish I might not say afflicted but from mens differing in Opinion And if I may be permitted to speak freely Possibly the Entertaining the Philosophy of the Schools into too great Authority in Divinity has not contributed the least to the Decay of Religion and the declining of Charity for the Endless Distinctions of Schoolmen have minc'd and crumbled Religion into a Chaos of Epicurean Atoms which perpetually justle one another with a restless Motion and whilst each strives to be entertain'd as a Matter of Faith they run men into greater perplexities and Confusions and whilst they improve in the Theory they too commonly decrease in the Practice spending that time in Curiosity which ought to be devoted to Charity and Action I do not speak this to disparage Humane Learning or the Use of Philosophy but as we say of Fire and Water They are good Servants but ill Masters so we may say of that It is a good Attendant of Divinity while it continues an humble Companion but a dangerous Mistress of our Faith I set as great a value upon these Accomplishments as they can justly challenge but I wish they had kept their proper Sphere and Distance from us and that these feeble Lights of Humane Knowledge had not come to stand in competition with the Sunbeams of Divine Revelation which ought always to be esteemed the glorious Lamp of Christian Religion I know without the helps of Humane Learning it is impossible except by Miracle to to Read or Understand the Holy Oracles which were committed to the Custody of those Languages of Greek and Hebrew I know it is impossible without their assistance to search the Registers of former days or to be acquainted with the Doctrine Practice and Customes of the Ancient Catholique Primitive Church a deficiency in which kind of Learning in our Clergy especially who do but too commonly make all their Applications to Popular Oratory rather than Church History has been the occasion of many mistakes in men otherwise learned and
it may be we are owing for that Dislike and Aversion if not hatred of Dissenters to Episcopacy rather to their little travail in Antiquity which they despise because they do not know than to any solid Arguments they can bring against it I am satisfied that it is necessary for the Discovery of the Rise Growth Reason and occasion of Errors and Heresies which are apt for want of this to revive and spring up again and to see how they have been condemned by the Catholick Church and the Reasons why all that I have to say is That it may be so restrained as not to deserve St. Pauls Character of vain Philosophy by committing Outrages and Insolencies upon our Faith For till such time as men come to quit themselves from these Usurpations upon their Understanding 1 Tim. 6.20 by the Oppositions of Science falsly so called and can be perswaded not to Credit their own Opinions or those of their Party with an equal certainty as they do those Truths which are Divinely revealed from Heaven there is little possibility of Reconciling them one to another in the amicable composure of Christian Meekness as it is to Reconcile their Opinions one to another or to Truth and so long as men contend with the same Animosity and Eagerness for either side of a Theological Question as they do for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude they will never entertain any kinder thoughts of one another than that both are Hereticks when after all their hot Contention they cannot arrive at a higher degree of knowledge than Probability and that amounts to no more than this that though one part of the Opinion may be true yet it is possible that both may be false and why then should this be obtruded upon any other Person as de Fide THERE is nothing that puzzles our Understandings more than the Modes of things nor are we more in a Mist than when we come to the How 's How is this done or how comes that to be so this is indeed the Terra delfuego the Intellectualis Incognita in which the boldest Adventurers are but Coasters and can give but a lame account of all those vast Territories and Inland Regions of the Understanding I dare undertake to plunge the most learned Philosopher in the World about the meanest Insect the smallest Plant how they are produced how preserved and increased and how they return again to the Common bosom of the first Matter and though this present Age notwithstanding the derision of the Ignorant has made the greatest Advances in Experimental Philosophy and travail'd further in the Modes of things than all that ever were before yet I am confident their knowledge does but shew them their Ignorance and teaches them Modestly to confess that their highest attainments are terminated in Probabilities and rational Conjectures and not in Certainties What is plainer than that the Sun shines and that by the light of it we discover all visible Objects but how remains sub judice and will do so till Elias comes as the Rabbins say and will be the perpetual puzzle both of the Peripateticks and Cartesian Globularians Since then we are such strangers to our very senses and their Natural Objects which appear plain to us with which we converse so constantly and familiarly how can we expect to make greater progresses of knowledge in the Vnderstanding when the Soul it self would be a great Riddle in despight of all Philosophy if Faith did not come in to its reskue nor can I tell which way without that assistance it would be able to defend its Original or Duration its Immortality or Distinction from that of Brutes more then in degrees And though an Apostle who himself was admitted into the Glorious Regions of the third Heavens 2 Cor. 12.2 3. could not tell how Whether in the Body or out of the Body God knows and therefore Experimentally assures us 1 Cor. 13.12 That we see through a Glass darkly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the obscurity of a riddle and that we know but in part Yet all this notwithstanding such is the Opinion that we have of our Knowledge and Discoveries and more commonly in Divinity than any thing that Magisterially we pronounce our Opinion for undoubted truth our beloved Fancies for Objects of Faith and our Conjectures for Certainties and proud of our imaginary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole World must know it to do us Honor for the Discovery and must honor us by believing it or become our Hatred There can never be the least hope of Vnity no more than there is possibility of Vnanimity unless men will agree about some Common Principles which may be the Centre of Christianity where though their Opinions in Circumstantials which are not contrary to Faith and good Manners may be permitted to be drawn at a distance towards the Circumference yet all their Actions may be United and terminate in the Vnity of Charity I know it is a high and hazardous Attempt to offer any such thing to the Consideration or but View of the World the hight amazes me and is ready not only to turn my Brains but all the Resolutions I can assure my self withal back again from the Enterprise I tremble though even with the greatest Humility I speak my thoughts in an Affair of that Moment the very thinking of which is not excusable from all Presumption and looks but too like being wise in my own Eyes and prudent in my own Conceit but as I do it with all submissive Charity so I hope I shall find Charity from others and that part of it which hides a multitude of Faults THERE are three things which appear the Foundation of all Dissention First What is Matter of Faith Secondly What is the true Form of Government Thirdlp The Judge of Differences and Controversies For Christians dissent and separate from one another either because they imagin of each other that they do not believe aright or because they dislike the Government or because they will not submit to any Determinations being not agreed among themselves of a Common Judge of Controversies WE will begin with the first Now Faith being the Foundation of Christian Religion is The firm Assent of the mind to the Certainty of such Propositions as are the Conditions required by God to be by us believed in Order to our living well here So as that we may obtain Eternal Happiness hereafter in Heaven For as the Author to the Hebrews Heb. 11.6 says Without Faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh unto God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him Faith being therefore the Foundation of Practice and so absolutely requisite to Salvation and the Design of Almighty God 1 Tim. 2.4 6. being that all men should be saved by coming to the knowledg of the Truth For Christ gave himself a Ransom for All. It must
daily in his own person he therefore takes Care that there should be some left behind him who might and Ephesus being one of the most Populous Cities of Asia in regard of the vast Concourse of People from all Parts to the Famous Temple of Diana and there being many Congregations of Christians there he having by the space of two years continued there so that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus both Jews and Greeks he therefore sends for the Presbyters who resided in that City by virtue of his Apostolical Authority and there declares unto them that for the time to come they were to take that care of the Churches which he had done and that they might not do this of their own heads or fear to do it for want of a Lawful Calling and Ordination he declares the Will of God to them and that the Holy Ghost had appointed them to be Bishops So that they came indeed Presbyters to him but they went away Bishops from him and Bishops not of his own but the Holy Ghosts appointment IT is a Rule among Divines That where the Literal sense of Scripture is plain we are to follow that And that this is the plain Historical and Literal meaning of the Words without the least wresting or violence offer'd to them is most obvious and that by this Power of Episcopacy which the Holy Ghost added to their former of Presbytery they were to take the Care of the Government of the Church as well in Ruling as Instructing there are these Reasons FIRST When he sends for them he calls them Presbyters and not Bishops which if there had been no difference he might as well have done and supposing that the Holy Ghost must foresee that this Controversie would arise in the Church we cannot believe he would contribute to it by such an ambiguity but the contrary that they were only Presbyters as the Holy Ghost calls them first and then advanced to be Bishops by his appointment SECONDLY He puts the Government into their hands by resigning his own in regard he was to see them no more THIRDLY He directs them in their Office which he divides into three Particulars First Vers 28. To feed the Church of God which he had purchased with his own Blood to instruct them in the Faith and Doctrine of Christian Religion Secondly To watch against Errors and Heresies Vers 29 30 31. For I know this saith he that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them therefore Watch. Now what signifies Vigilancy without Power and what Power have the Watchmen but to Admonish and Rebuke and at last to Excommunicate the Obstinate And let them shew me this Power ever Exercised in the Church by any besides a Bishop and let them take the Cause Thirdly To Exercise Hospitality to support the Poor and to remember the words of our Lord Jesus how he said It is more blessed to give than to receive According to another Precept of his in which he comprises them all For a Bishop must be blameless 1 Tim. 3.2 the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach Lastly Here is no imperfect footstep of their Solemn Consecration for when he had ended his Message and Direction Vers 36. When he had thus spoken he kneeled down and prayed with them all AND to manifest that though every Bishop be a Presbyter yet every Presbyter is not a Bishop and that the Difference consists in Power and Rule which the Bishops have over the Presbyters as well as the rest of the People I doubt not to make most plain from Scripture and Antiquity For FIRST St. Paul says Expresly That it is one qualification of a Bishop 1 Tim. 4 5. He must be one that ruleth well his own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity for if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the Church of God how shall he rule the house of God and find me but one Example in Scripture or ancient Church History where any one who was not a Bishop as well as a Presbyter ever Exercised this Jurisdiction of Ruling the Presbyters had indeed a Rule but with subordination to the Bishops 1 Tim. 5.17 18. Let the Presbyters that Rule well be counted worthy of double Honor especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for anciently in the Church every Priest was not a Preacher as is plain not only from this place but from the Church History but that the Presbyters might not be Exalted beyond their Bounds to think this Rule equal to that of the Bishops over the Church he allays the Tumor in the very next words and shews the the difference the subordination and subjection which they owed to the Judicature of the Bishop as Timothy was there Against a Presbyter receive not an Accusation but before two or three Witnesses which is not spoken of Private Adomnition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unless there be two or three Witnesses and them that sin Rebuke openly that others may fear To receive an Accusation plainly infers a superior Jurisdiction a power to hear Witnesses and according to their Depositions to rebuke openly is certainly an Effect of Authority And he follows the blow close giving him another Direction about Ordination Vers 21 22. that he should Lay hands suddainly on no man preferring one before another by Partiality So that here is a distinct Power of a Bishop from a Priest To lay on hands or Ordain to receive Accusations against Presbyters to Examine Witnesses and according to their Testimony to proceed to Judgment to give Sentence openly to Rebuke those that Sin even the Presbyters as well as others for if they may be accused and convened and found guilty of sin they also ought and may be rebuked and punished As to that place of the 5th Chap. Rebuke not an Elder it is apparently meant of those who are such by Years and not by Office Presbyters or Priests and to teach us that there is a respect due to the Reverend head Age as is plain from the words Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a Father and the younger Men as Brethren the Elder Women as Mothers and the younger as Sisters with all Purity This he further Explains in his Epistle to Titus Tit. 1.5 6 7. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in Order the things that are wanting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appoint Constitute Presbyters in every City making them Bishops as I have appointed thee That Saint Paul left Presbyters there both in Age and Office no doubt can be made but yet something was wanting still and because he would not himself lay hands suddenly upon them and the Affairs of the Church
Truth that darling of my Soul nay I will further ingage that though it comes disguised and wrapt up in Calumnies and reproaches the most disadvantageous dress to apparel Perswasion in yet will I not refuse to Embrace her Nor because it comes from my Enemies and with all the Circumstances which may make it appear so will I therefore become theirs and my own by being an Enemy to Truth The sword which was design'd to kill may sometimes by a happy accident Cure by cutting the Imposthume and though the Lancet be sharp yet if it Cures my Feavor by discharging the Malignant humor of my blood I shall not refuse the assistance I may receive from such a profitable Wound and would be glad to escape a Shipwrack even by the Rock upon which I am split CHAP. II. HE that will Build secure must first clear the Foundation and if he finds either Sand or Rubbish he must remove them and not think his time or labour lost which is spent in sinking deep to find a firm and solid Bottom where he intends to set a weighty Pile and raise a lasting Fabrick For otherwise he can expect no better success than the foolish builder in the Parable Matt. 7.26 who built upon the Sand which was not able to indure the violent shock of the noisy Tempest but when the Wind and the Rain made their attaque upon it it presently Fell and great was his Folly that built it as well as the fall of it WHOSOEVER they be that will Embrace Truth and put on Charity the Bond of Christian Perfection and the fulfilling the Royal Law of Liberty must seriously Resolve to devest themselves of what is contrary to it The great inquiry of the World is that of Pilate to our Blessed Lord Joh. 18.38 What is truth but with him they scarcely put the hasty Interrogatory before they go out not finding Patience enough to stay for an answer and therefore they take up that which first offers it self to them under that Sacred Name which all Impostors challenge but none possess And having once received the Counterfeit Mettal with that Character and Superscription so great is the Authority even of the Name of Truth that it goes for Currant Coin with the Credulous who are either Unable or Unwilling to bring it to the Touchstone themselves or to suffer others who can to Give it the Test Nay so strong and forcible are the Impressions which this Counterfeit Treasure makes in the Minds of Men that it is a matter of the greatest difficulty to perswade them to relinquish it or to change their flawy Bristol or their fiery Flint for a Real Diamond the inestimable Pearl of Price so that you cannot go about to undeceive and disabuse them but they take you for a Cheat and suspect you guilty of a Design to Rob them of that Treasure which they value as their Life and it may be above it and though you be able to prove and demonstrate that it is only the shining and Chymical Glass of over-heated Zeal yet will they jealously suppose all you say is only to deceive them and that you disparage theirs to give a lustre to your own which they believe you would put off to them for your own advantage WE must therefore indeavour to shew what are the Enemies of Truth and by consequence of Vnity and Charity before we can come to discover her from the Crowd of pretenders for it has always been the successful industry of him who is the Enemy of all Truth to ruin Unity and Charity by setting up Counterfeits and apparelling them like this Glorious Queen thereby to rob her of her Lawful Empire over the Minds of Men and make them pay Homage to Error and Falshood under her Usurped Name THE first Enemy of Truth is self Interest There is in all Mankind a Natural Love to themselves and a kindness to the present concerns of Life and therefore nothing is more Common than to make an Estimate of truth in proportion to the advantages they possess by her and though men talk much of Naked Truth yet they Generally leave the Courtship of her to Fools or Philosophers and Esteem that worth marrying which hath the fairest Ornaments and the best Portion and whoever does molest and disturb or in their opinion go about to divorce them from such an advantageous Alliance shall difficultly perswade them that he is their Friend Men usually are as jealous of a rich and profitable Error which they have Espoused as they can be of the greatest Treasure they possess And whosoever shall go about to perswade them out of this must be look't upon as an Enemy to their real happiness of which he would rob them under the pretence of being theirs and the Friend of Truth Nay though you be able to give them the clearest Demonstration that they shall advantage themselves even in these beloved Circumstances of Interest Riches Honor and Reputation yet shall you gain little Credit by your pains and rarely perswade them to make an Experiment in regard that they look upon their present Condition as a most sensible certainty but upon what you propose as a hazardous Contingency and are unwilling to exchange one Bird in the hand for two in the Bush DAILY Experience convinces of this for though it is evident both to Sense and Reason that Temperance Sobriety Justice Chastity Fidelity and Honesty are the most certain Methods whereby men may obtain Health Reputation Honor and Riches and even long Life to Enjoy all the Happiness of this World yet few there are that will venture upon the Practice of these Excellent Virtues the Interest of present pleasure prevails more with the Lascivious and Intemperate the Interest of certain though unlawful Gain which they do possess is more valuable to the Unjust the Dishonest Fraudulent and Covetous than all the promises in Reversion and future Expectancies that you can make them and they are so Enamour'd of these profitable Falshoods that they will neither believe you nor Truth it self Nay so powerful is this Interest that it will manage men even against the Dictates of Nature and Common Reason against the Infalliable Testimony of Experience for who is he that does not love and value his Life above all things and yet every month produces many sad Examples of Men and Women who have not been deterr'd from pursuing what they thought their Interest by Thefts Robberies and Murders though they did in every such Undertaking run not only a private hazzard of their Lives from the just revenge of persons so injur'd by them but the more certain Arms of Publique Justice which in a thousand Instances before their Eyes they know to have so long a reach and so sure a stroak and the Old saying Non nosti longas Regibus esse Manus has not been able to restrain Ambitious Minds from profitable Treason and the Great Interest as they have falsly thought of Rebellion against their Soveraign
Expiating Guilt and Purchasing Heaven after all the Enjoyments of a sensual lascivious and debauched Life by Confession here and Masses bought to be said hereafter and at the worst the pains of Purgatory all which Doctrins bring in Treasure and Authority to the Priests and Church which generally shares with them in the purchase and permits them not to have lawful Heirs that so she may be their Executrix these and a multitude of the same Nature which are made matters of Faith and Sacraments in their Church essential to Salvation Fasten on the Manacles and make their Proselytes voluntarily entertain a slavery so agreable to their Wishes and Desires For who would not like a Religion which permits him to Enjoy all the Liberties of the World and the Flesh though renounced by his Baptismal Vow and yet puts him out of the danger of Hell and Damnation that allows him to serve his Mammon of Unrighteousness and yet expect a Reward from God whom he may at the same time serve though Christ says Nay to it and please with a few random Prayers repeated only with the labour of the Lips which at one Heaven according to their Quantity and are Efficacious by their Multiplicity who would not be a Papist who can believe that though he live all the Year like a Heathen in Sensuality and open Impiety yet if at Easter he make Confession to a Priest he shall thereby clear the score betwixt God and his Soul and be a good Catholique though he is no sooner parted from his Ghostly Father but he repeats the same Crimes or it may be worse and returns to the former Vomit and wallowing in the Mire perfectly upon the incouragement of the same Remedy who would not be such a Catholique when a few knocks upon his Breast shall be Contrition and some austerities and hardships practised upon the Body shall satisfie for the sin of his Soul and the most flagitious Offenders may hope for and be certain of Reconciliation to God and yet never be sensible of the severe Agonies of Spirit and the insupportable Wounds of Conscience the dreadful Horrors of a guilty Mind Is not this a soft and easie way to Heaven which makes the Way so broad and the Gate so wide which is set open by St. Peter's Keys that it is impossible any man should either Miss the one or not Enter the other who is not either so miserably Poor or so wretchedly Covetous or so great an Vnthrift or so destitute of Charitable Friends as not to be able to leave a small sum of Money for Masses and Dirges to reskue him from the Pains of Purgatory O dangerous Simony which sells Heaven and the Holy Ghost without which the other cannot be had for Money And if the Pope has such a Power to relieve the Quick and the Dead he is the most Uncharitable person to say no worse in the World who when for a word of his Mouth he can Save so many Souls from the Horrid Pains of Purgatory will not do it unless he be hired to it the Good Shepherd lays down his Life for the Flock but the Hireling will not spare his Breath to Cool the Flaming Tongues of those who suffer such Intollerable Pains unless he be paid for his AND if at any time the more Learned or Intelligent come to discover the pious Frauds the Great Severities which are made use of against them if they do but mutter against the Church the Fear of loosing their Lives or Estates and wearing the Infamous Brand of Hereticks is the Interest which seals their Lips in silence AND for the Clergy the High Honors to which they may arive and the dazeling Lustre of the Tripple Diadem shines so full upon their Eyes that it takes away their sight and the innumerable ways of obtaining Dignities Riches Esteem and Veneration with the Laity generally prove too strong Charms to be resisted by feeble Nature For who would turn a poor Protestant Priest when thereby he shall be so great a looser when thereby he shall part with all the fair Revenue of Masses for the Dead Money for Pardons Indulgences Licences Dispensations and the more than Almighty Priviledge and Miracle of making his Creator and transubstantiating a poor piece of Bread into the real body of the Son of God when he must renounce all hopes and pretensions to the Red Cap the Title of Eminency and the Princely state of S. E. R. Cardinal the next step to Vice Deus and the Supreme Honor of the Triple Miter and when in Exchange he must confine his Ambition to it may be a small Benefice and a great Charge in his vigilant Cure of Souls a heavy Burthen and it may be a light Gain and which if he does indeavour faithfully to discharge shall procure him in the room of Love Honour and Esteem Hatred Scorn Contempt and Reproaches And when the highest that can be hoped is but a Pastoral Staff and humble Mitre the Load and Envy of Government the Constant Care of the Churches and a certain Revenue of Malice for the little Temporal Honour and Estate which it may be is but just sufficient to maintain Charity and Hospitality those Honourable Characters as well as Expensive Duties of a Primitive Bishop I could heartily wish that even this Interest and the Revenue of the Church could not be objected against any Dissenters as a former Motive that induced them to Ruine her that so they might Rob her and that the same Spur did not still continue their Career in the same Design I know they will disown it and I wish we could believe them and our senses at the same time I wish the advantages they make of Tones Phrases long Prayers sanctified Looks and Religious Disobedience with which they please the Factious shelter the Seditious and agrandize themselves both in Riches and Reputation might not be objected against Dissenters as a greater Reason for their Nonconformity than any real Power of Conscience And they give a just occasion to suspect that they have not a Conscience void of offence towards God and Man who dare daily break the Laws of the one and the other and make no scruple to wound the Consciences of others both weak and strong under pretence of keeping their own from being wounded which is just so charitable as for me to wound another man and say it was in my own defence and lest he should have injur'd me So that it appears how great an influence Interest has upon the minds of Men to obstruct the Entertainment of Truth and that therefore in Order to obtain Peace and Vnity there is an absolute necessity that Men should lay aside the Clog of self Interest CHAP. III. IT is not Interest alone that obstructs the happy Vnion that ought to be amongst Christians and occasions those Divisions amongst them but there is also a necessity that Men should devest themselves of their prejudices and prepossessions of mind for these do always
keep those Differences alive and are the constant food and nourishment which does not only support but increase and augment them till they grow at last beyond all hopes and possibility of Composure Would all persons indeavour heartily to take the Beam out of their own Eyes they would see clearly to remove the Moats out of their Brothers and would hereby advance a large step towards Reconciliation by coming to a good Understanding and a clear discovery of what it is they differ about Controversies being many times in mere Words rather than in Substance and are rather the Effects of prejudice and misunderstanding one anothers meaning than in the things themselves about which we seem to disagree for Prejudice is an ill Opinion of Persons or Things arising from a false judgment which we entertain concerning them which makes them appear to us of monstrous and deformed Shapes and Colours it is a certain Jaundice of the Mind which stains every thing with the disagreable appearances with which not the things themselves but the Conceptions we have of them are vitiated and our Judgment by that misinformation deceived and abused for when the Mind comes to be infected with prejudice it renders those things ill and unlawful which to a mind cleared from those obstructions and gross humors of the Vnderstanding appear as in reality they are in themselves Innocent Good Lawful and many times expedient and necessary or however at the worst in their own Natures simply indifferent THIS is the Common Lot of all those things in Divine Worship which are not of the Essence but Circumstantials of Religion which are the things that raise the greatest Dissentions and Differences amongst Christians It is at once the occasion of Wonder and of Pity to see Christians who all agree in the Main Eph. 4.5 That there is one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him who all consent in one common End and Design which is Eternal Happiness in Heaven and one hope of this Common Salvation that yet they should disagree and fall out by and about the Way that leads to those Blessed Regions of Light and Immortality When Joseph the Type of our blessed Jesus had given his Brethren changes of Rayment and Provision for their Journey in order to bring them out of the Land of Famine to the Country of Goshen it was not an unnecessary Command which he laid upon them Gen. 45.24 See that ye fall not out by the Way Should they now have fallen out into Disputes and Differences about their Apparel because it was not all of a Size Colour or Fashion or whether they should travel the same way back again and not seek another would not the one have been as ridiculous a dispute as the other dangerous and yet this very Folly there are too many Guilty of who leaving the old Road of Charity because their Brethren will not comply with them in their Novel Dresses of Religion seek out a new Road to Heaven which the foot of Saint or Martyr never trod before Thus shall you see some People start at the very word Ceremony as if it would convey the Plague into their Ears and Damnation into their Souls and yet they themselves can perform no Religious Office of bodily Worship without it and if St. Paul be to be credited God expects we should offer our bodies a living Sacrifice Rom. 12.3 holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable service A Ceremony is nothing more than a Solemn way or manner of performing Religious Duties which word some derive â Carendo quia Religio non potest Exerceri Caeremonijs carens because no Religion can be performed without some Ceremonies though others it may be more aptly â Charitate from that Charity which the agreement of People in one way and manner of Worship does naturally produce among them or it may be from the old Latin word Caerus which is the same with Sanctus holy for which reason the Latins call their Holy-days Caeremoniosi Dies and it is no more but a Rite or Custom appropriated to holy Vses Some there are who to render it Odious derive it from the Heathen Goddess Ceres how like Scholars or rather School-boys let the Learned Judge But supposing it were true is it a good Argument the Heathens had Ceremonies therefore the Christians must have none By the same reason the Heathens Worshipped false Gods therefore Christians must not Worship the True for all Worship is Ceremony BUT when once this prejudice is fixed to the Word it is no more but fixing the Word to what People dislike and it presently looks black and ugly and becomes a Mormo a Bugbear to their thoughts and like Children they start and Cry out at the shadow which they make themselves but if they can add the word Popish that it is a Popish Ceremony then it is Impious Vnlawful Superstitious and Damnable and all that can be said to render it Execrable and Abominable when as in truth all that Papists do is not Popery nor Abominable and Unlawful but however by the strength of this prejudice those things which are truly Primitive are made Popish kneeling at the receiving the holy Eucharist bowing at the Name of Jesus and the whole Book of the Liturgy though for the generality express words of Scripture are made Ceremonies and Popish and then how innocent soever if a Tumult can but be made Away with them Crucifie them whereas sober people ought to Consider that there is a Necessity of some Solemn Ways Rites Modes and Methods of Expressing our Devotion and Worship and since these Modes or Ways are Ceremonies and some Ceremonies are not only Lawful but Necessary why not these which have been approved in all Ages of the Church ever since the times of Apostolical Purity rather than any new ones of Private Invention in opposition to Publique Authority which thinks fit to Continue Establish and Command these to be Used in the Church I am not ignorant that here is a strong suspicion of Malice as well as Mistake and it is much to be doubted that there is a Combination of Interest as well as Prejudice in some of the Principal Fomenters of Division who appear so transported against all Ceremonies and that though they know better things yet they mightily indeavour to maintain these Prejudices in the Minds of the Easy Multitude who hang their Faith upon the Oracles of their Lips and in this are absolute Papists believing with an implicit Faith the Infallible Decrees of the Heads of their Church for upon this Depend the Benevolences which their Followers do so freely bestow upon them for this Industrious Flattery that these Prejudices are Marks and Signs of their Christian Liberty and being Escaped from the Yoak of Antichristian Tyranny and Egyptian Darkness into the glorious
and Religion LOUD and clamorous are the Complaints and Declamations against the vitiousness and Debauchery of the present Age and not without too evident Truth and Reason Impiety which was formerly used to wait for the twilight dare now walk bare fac't and stare upon the Sun St. Paul says of the modest Debauchees of his Age They that are drunken are drunken in the Night but now licentious men are become so impudent as to scorn to throw the Mantle of Darkness over their vitious Intemperance that they take a Pleasure and a Pride to Riot in the day time and to affront God and Men and even humane Nature it self by their prodigious and Publique Sins and Follies They who did ill formerly hated the light but now Men study to affront it and oblige that pure and innocent Blessing to become not only a Witness but an Assistant to their Brutish and shameless Disorders and would loose their greatest pleasure should they not expose themselves and their deeds of Darkness to the discovery of the Day ALL this is laid upon the Government of the Church which though it be as innocent as the light by which they are boldly acted yet must they conspire in the guilt of these horrid Crimes if we will believe Dissenters who blush not to lay this false Accusation to the Charge of the Government that thereby they may render it Criminal and Odious and themselves and Party Clear and Innocent when as in truth and reality the Guilt of these miscarriages will be found to lie at their own Doors and let them wipe their mouths never so demurely and say they have done no Evil Prov. 30.20 with Solomon's Common Woman let them wash their hands with Pilate and say they are guiltless I doubt not to make it appear to the contrary It is a bold Charge and I know they will start at it as much as the Disciples did when our Saviour told them That one of them should betray him and be as forward as they to Cry out Is it I Who we but what if it prove true and be made good against them I will indeavour it and yet with all the Christian Compassion that I am capable of for I have no design to Expose their Persons to hatred but to bring them to true Repentance by shewing them the Danger of those Ways which with the specious shew of Righteousness and Holiness deceive them into a Contempt of the terrible Authority of the Church and others by their Example into all Sensuality and Impiety THAT Christ left to the Governors of his Church the Power of the Keys is most Evident from his own plain and clear Words For when he was to leave this World he called his Apostles to him and Then said Jesus unto them again Joh. 20.23 Peace be unto you as my Father hath sent me even so send I you there is their Mission and Commission for their Function and Government and when he had said this Matth. 18.18 he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the holy Ghost there is their Unction and Ordination their ability to perform the Duty and discharge the trust reposed in them Whos 's soever Sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained There is the Office and the Power which was put into their hands the Expedient by which they were to govern and Rule the Church of God And though the Romanists endeavour to Monopolize even in the literal and worst sence this great Power only to Saint Peter and his Successors as they pretend the Roman Bishops only are yet nothing is more clear than that our Saviour intended them all an Equal share and a Power to derive it to their Successors in all Churches to the End of the World His gracious Promise of being with them extending unto all Times Places and Persons who should succeed any of the Apostles as well as St. Peter The Church being built not only upon him but upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ Jesus being himself the Chief and Corner-stone in whom and by whom the whole glorious Fabrique is Vnited and Compleated THIS Power of the Keys of binding and loosing is the Power of Excommunication of Offenders and Absolution of Penitents and is indeed all the Power which Christ left with his Church and the only Jurisdiction which the Governors can exercise in and over it For all Corporal Punishments are properly and peculiarly vested by God himself in the power of the Temporal and Civil Magistrate who carries the Sword and is ordained of God for that very purpose and Design as St. Paul acquaints us Rom. 13. for he beareth not the Sword in vain but is the Minister of God a Revenger to Execute punishment upon him that doeth Evil. AN Instance of this terrible Sentence of Excommunication we have inflicted upon the Incestuous Corinthian and that with a great Formality 1 Cor. 5.5 This is my Determination saith the Apostle In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ when yeare gathered together and my Spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one to Satan as he tells us in another place that he had delivered Hymeneus and Alexander to Satan that they might learn not to Blaspheme By virtue of this dreadful Power it was that the Primitive Governors of the Church even when they had no assistance but all opposition from the Secular Powers yet kept the Flock of Christ in all Obedience Subjection good Order and Discipline Then were Christians Miracles of Charity Piety and Devotion to the wondring Pagans when they were obliged to those Duties by no Humane Laws when there were no fears of Prisons Tortures Confiscations or Banishment unless for being and owning themselves to be Christians but the only fear of Excommunication and being put out of thâ— Fellowship of the Saints here on Earth and denyed Entrance into the Congregation of the Faithful of being debarred from receiving the Holy Eucharist and joyning in the publique Service and Worship of God was more forcible to make them Holy Obedient and Vnanimous than all the Torments devised by Persecution were able â—o make them Prophane or Vitious For why They did believe that unless the Governors of the Church the Successors of the Apostles did remit their Sins on Earth they should not find remission in Heaven they therefore believed it because Christ the Eternal Truth had said it They did believe that unless they were United by Communion to the Holy Catholique Church they could never hope for the Remission of Sins the Resurrection of the Body unto Life Everlasting which is the most ancient Confession of the Christian Faith and which with great probability is supposed to be delivered by the Apostles to the Church as a short sum of Faith necessary to Salvation NOR were they more fearful of this formidable Sentence of Excommunication than desirous of the Absolution of