to take notice of it hath been so oft refuted by Grotius Morton Sanderson and others shewing 1. That even in the Jewish Church from whence they fetch this doctrine in which God did by immediate Revelation prescribe the Rites and Orders of his Worship even in that Church the Magistrate had a power in the Circumstantials of Religion David altered some things and instituted others he appointed Instrumental Musick to be used in the Worship of God without any Commission from God that we read of He distributed the Priests into Orders for the conveniency of their Ministration yet 't was not accounted any innovation in Religion Hezekiah caused the Passover to be kept in all Judah and Israel on the second Moneth on the advice of his Council upon prudential and pious considerations though not according to any Divine Institution He appointed the Levites to kill the Passover which by God's appointment was to be done by the People He preferred the Levites to assist the Priests in killing the other Sacrifices which before they were never admitted to and all this was afterward retained in use without reprehension By all which it appears that the Magistrate had once a power of ordering matters in God's Worship and that even in times when God prescribed the rites and orders of his Worship by immediate revelation And in the New Testament the Apostle's circumcising Timothy after Circumcision had been abolish'd shews that all ceremonial appendages are but subordinate and ought to yield to the designs of Peace Charity and Edification The same Apostle in prescribing Church-Orders leaves out particulars prescribes onely generals viz. Obedience to Rulers doing things decently and in order to edification and the like Now all the question is who shall be Judge of that decency order and edification The Scriptures cannot for they no where determine it The People may not it was denied them in the Directory the Worcester-shire Association c. Therefore Church-Rulers must those higher Powers that are ordained of God and established in authority by the Fundamental Laws of the Land Besides that every Church-National hath authority to appoint and change Church-Ceremonies and Ecclesiastical Rites was a main Argument that the first Reformers Jewel Cox c. used against the Popish Bishops for the changing of Religion from Popish to Protestant But 't is enough to shew the errour and delusion of this pretence That the most learned of the old Non-conformists themselves have believed and taught that a Scripture-Precept or Example is not necessary to the Institution of Church-Discipline or Ceremonies Calvin teaches That Christ would not prescribe singularly and particularly concerning external Discipline and Ceremonies because he foresaw things to depend on the occasions and opportunities of Times nor did he think on Form to accord with all Ages whereupon says he we must have recourse to the general Rules that all things may be tried by them Finally he delivered nothing in these points expresly because they are not of necessity to salvation but ought to be accommodated to the edification of the Church according to the different disposition and custom of Times and Countries Thus Calvin himself and accordingly he practised when without a Scripture-Precept or Example he caused a consult to be held at Geneva in the Year 1543. for changing the Lords Day from Sunday to Thursday Master Baxter himself hath confest that the vesture gesture and other Ceremonies are all at the determination of the lawful Magistrate Now when they suggest thus to People what themselves believe not what can one think of their design in teaching the seduced Ignorants when they have nothing else to say to cry Where doth the Scripture this or that where have you Scripture-Precept or Example for it 3. If their pretending such Veneration for the Scriptures above other men were not delusory their regard to the Sriptures would certainly be more uniform They would not as they do disregard and contemn those Texts though speaking never so plainly which make any thing against them Tell them as the Apostle doth the Corinthians of Whisperings Back-biting Tumults c. and that while they are full of strife envyings and divisions one of Paul another of Apollos one of this mans Congregation another of that they are carnal they will perhaps laugh at you but neither regard you nor the Apostle And here is regardable what the learned Doctor Littleton observes in his Sermon entituled The Churches Peace asserted p. 25. of these Corinthians that the Apostle charges with envyings strife and Schisms which he calls carnality that they kept to their publick Ministers yet are charged with those things meerly because they preferred one before another who were both Paul and Apollos men of eminent abilities and extraordinary graces And if this be envying strife and carnality what would Paul have said of us How carnal are they who desert the publick Ministry and gad after not the Pauls and Apollos's there are not so many among them to gad after but as that Reverend Doctor speaks after every Will-in-the-Wisp men neither Orthodox nor able If you urge it to them that Christ and his Apostles have foretold us of false Prophets that should be amongst us and that the marks they have given us to know them by are such as these viz. They are such as separate themselves Geneva Translation Such as make Sects that they are such as despise dominion i. e. that cannot endure Superiority or Government that they are such as speak evil of dignities Geneva Translation of those that are in Authority that they are such as are murmurers and complainers i. e. never content under any Government Such as shall perish in the gain-saying of Korah which was disobedience to the Magistrate mutinying against Moses and Aaron the Prince and the Priest telling them that all the Lords People are holy that they had as good a right to govern as Moses and Aaron had that they took too much upon them c. Tell them that the Scriptures call Seducers false Accusers as those that accuse our Worship of Superstition and Idolatry Traitors as those who like Absalom draw away the hearts of the Kings Subjects with fine words and fair Speeches Tell them that the Scripture describes Seducers to be of that sort that creep into houses and lead silly women captive they will no more regard you than if you quoted the Alcoran Though these Characters hit them like the left-handed Benjamites to a hairs breadth yet 't is strange to see with what scorn and contempt they will reject that man that shall tell them of these things though with the greatest demission and meekness that may be and with what slight and disregard they will hear and read these plain Scripture-marks of Seducers though as competible to them as Treason to a Traitor Now upon these three considerations judge who will what fit persons these are to pretend to Scripture-rule above other men yet this pretence
REMARKS ON THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF Non-Conformity The Fathers seem to call those Hereticks who separated or made divisions in the Church though the Errour they maintained were very small See Mr. Baxter's Infants Church membership his Answer to Mr. Tombs's Valedictory Oration at Bewdly p. 169. LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishops-head in St. Pauls Church-yard 1682. THE INTRODUCTION IF Aegles the Champion that was dumb all his life before had the strings of his Tongue loosed that he spake for ever after to see the deceit that was at the sacred Exercises in Samos 't is certainly enough to amaze us to see the greatest disturbers of the Churches Peace yet talk so much of Love and Holiness terms of Union and ways of Concord Pleas for Peace and Cures of Church-divisions as the Provincial of the Protestant Schismaticks doth to see them become as Fire-brands in the Church that were ordained for saving Lights and as Trumpets to sound Martial alarms that were designed for Retreats to popular Furies to see pretended Holiness a Cover to the deformity of Sedition and Innovation and the most barbarous Villanies set on the Score of Religion and Reformation to see those that to remove him from evil Counsellors have murder'd their lawful Sovereign yet to startle at the use of a Ceremony like a Capuchin at the sight of Money to see these still hunting upon the File insinuating the vilest abominations in shew for the publick good abhorring Idols yet committing Sacriledge espying Moths yet winking at Beams crying down the Whore of Babylon when they mean nothing but the overthrow of Episcopacy in a word pretending nothing but Piety and Peace when intending nothing but Schism and Sedition and by the help of these holy Guises as our Royal Martyr called them to come to such a summity of seditious insolence that if one offer a fight with these Beasts of Ephesus in contradiction to their peevish Faction as one merrily observed they presently play the Duke of Anjou's Cow that bedaub'd the fingers of any that offer'd to pull her back by the tail they make him the very Butt of the most infamous defamations that the twisted malice and subtilty of Earth and Hell can devise Now one would think this enough to make a dumb Ass speak in reproving the insolencies and dotages of such Prophets who run thus in the ways of Balaam to curse a Church and People that the Lord hath blessed At least 't is enough to put any serious person on enquiry into the causes of these honest religious Villanies as Seneca calls prospering Wickedness and how such a pernicious Faction could arrive to such a pitch of Reputation and Insolence The Enquirer will find these following means among others regardable REMARKS ON Non-Conformity c 1. Toleration and Indulgence HE is much a Stranger to Non-Conformity that knows not how much Connivance and Indulgence have conduced to its Increase and how necessary are the coërcive means to the safe suppress of that dangerous Faction The first Instance I assign for this is in Queen Elizabeths tolerating the French Church to be setled in London upon Calvin's Principle in 1560. Calvin having solicited Bishop Grindal upon the impetration of the Bishop the Queen assigned to the French Exiles the Church of St. Anthony with liberty to erect the Genevian Discipline and set up a Form of Prayer which had no conformity with the English Liturgy which proved in the event a design'd expedient of Calvin's for the advancing of Presbytery in the room of Episcopacy Upon this Toleration their numbers so increased that in 1568. they broke out into open Schism chusing to meet in Barns and Fields rather than in Churches with their Brethren as formerly teaching that it was impious to hold any correspondence with the conforming Churches Upon this very occasion viz. the Queens toleration and particularly her indulging them the liberty of the Genevian Discipline within eight years time their numbers so increased and their insolence also that the Queen plainly saw as her own words were that such were the restless spirits of that factious People that no quiet was to be expected from them till they were utterly suppressed In order to which she calls a ParlJam nt in 1592. wherein strict Laws were enacted against them and executed accordingly Barrow Penry and Burchet were hanged for such their Non-conformity-principles and practices as were treasonable And by these sharp Laws made against them and some severe executions done on them the Ringleaders of them were humbled the whole body of them brought to a good measure of quietness which these wholsom severities kept them in till the end of the Queens reign and in all probability as a late Writer observes they might have been for ever suppressed and kept quiet had K. James at first held the reins with that strict hand that Queen Elizabeth did before him but for want of that they soon grew bold fell a petitioning for Reformation of sundry Ceremonies and Abuses viz. Cross at Baptism Bowing at the name of Jesus Surplice c. which occasioned the Conference at Hampton-Court where the defence made for their Cause was so mean that the King turning his head to some of the Lords expressed himself thus If this be all they have to say I 'le make them conform or I 'le hurry them out of the Land or somewhat worse This Conference being in February the next Month produced the Kings Proclamation wherein he strictly enjoyns Conformity admonisheth all his Subjects never after to expect alteration in the Form of God's publick Service then established Accordingly the Laws were put in execution without sparing Non-Conformists or Half-Conformists and by this they were reduced to that quiet state again that he found them in when first come to the Crown till the Gunpowder Treason at which time they began to be very bold and busie the King being terrified with the apprehension of so great a danger turn'd all his thoughts upon the Papists and so let the Non-Conformists take breath and regain some strength And as their custom ever was to fish in troubled Waters prodigious Lies and Stories still finding best entertainment in troublesome times quia tutius finguntur facilius creduntur says Livy Therefore upon the occasion of this horrid Plot the Gun-powder Treason their next expedient was upon discovery of this Plot to alarm the Court and Country with the fears of Popery and of new dangers from the Papists to exert the greatest zeal for the Reformed Religion for preserving their Liberties and Priviledges against the incroachments of the Court and by this very means the Reins being loosed to them on the occasion of the Plot they drew much people to them strengthened much their Faction and by degrees made a Party in the House of Commons who at last came to that height that the King could do little in ParlJam nt without applying himself to that popular Faction and by
thing comparable to what the Episcopal Divines have against Popery 'T is true Mr. Baxter Pool and two or three more of them have done their parts but what to those many of the Church of England Usher Hall Morton Reignolds Chillingworth Laud Abbot Jewel Bramhall Barlow all Bishops beside Hammond White Buckeridge Sutcliff Stillingfleet Tillotson and many others of our Churches education of as great Learning and Judgment in Religion as holy Lives and as comfortable Consciences as any the World affords which one would think enough to make Malice it self ashamed to charge the Church or Church-men of England with any thing like Popery or Popishly affected Add to this III. If the Church or Church-men be any thing Popishly affected how comes it to pass that the twisted strength and subtlety of Papists with all their hellish malice is engaged chiefly against them as their mortal enemies as though nothing stood in their way but the Church of England that hath the countenance of Laws and Reason Antiquity and Decency to support it never regarding Quakers or Non-conformists as though it were below the wit of a Jesuit to encounter a Non-conformist as one that 's doing the Popes business yet will not be made believe it Now these three things considered judge who will what reason dissenting Protestants have to brand with the name of Popish or Popishly affected the Church or Church-men of England And if so whether it be not probable that by their factious and extravagant zeal against Popery they design not onely the overthrow of Popery but the increase of their Party and the promotion of their Interest also But once more IV. If there be any Church of England men Popishly affected I heartily wish in the Apostles words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were utterly cut off from among us and here will every true Church of England man say heartily Amen A Second way that they have of exerting their zeal against Popery whereby they increase their Party and promote their Interest is to amuse the People with the Fears and Jealousies of a Popish Revolution I confess this being purely politicae considerationis is beyond my Province but with humble deference to Superiours suppose we the worst even that of a Popish Successor yet have we many good allays to the extravagance of that Jealousie viz. all Offices and Power being in the hands of Anti-Papists there being so many strict Laws in force against Popery and the King's offer and readiness to concur in making more or any other thing that is lawful just and honest to secure us against it To instance in the revolution of Queen Maries reign is vain for there being now in the two Kingdoms so universal a detestation and loathing of Popery which was not then what Prince in the World would offer to set up that Religion so much against his own interest so utter inconsistent with his quiet and safety and which will so certainly involve him into continual fears and troubles most desperate dangers and inconveniences as that which next to Hell is most formidable and abominable to almost all his Subjects and that which they will scarce ever be brought to submit to Upon these and many the like considerations wise men think it not adviseable to forward a Popish revolution by exasperating the Heir to the Crown with the factious and unnecessary fears of a Popish succession and to abandon our quiet and security for meer future possibilities to make our selves certainly miserable before-hand for fear of being miserable hereafter Like Gundamore the Spanish Ambassadour who procured a valiant English Knight to be put to death as he said not for any hurt he had done but for fear of doing hurt 3. A third way they have of exerting their zeal against Popery whereby they increase their Interest and Party is by appropriating to themselves the reputation of the zealous Protestants and greatest opposers of Popery which will appear as impudent a cheat as it is a falshood if by zeal and opposing we mean not factious but onely such as is of regular and religious tendency to the overthrow of it when 't is considered 1. How abundantly the Episcopal Divines have out-done them in opposing and keeping out Popery as hath been noted before to which I add that of Dr. Saunderson That all along frâ—m the beginning of the Reformation our Biâ—â—ops with others of the Prelatick Party were the Principal if not the only Champions to maintain the cause of Religion against Popery and in these latter times none have slept in the Gap more readily nor championed the cause of Religion agaâ—nst Popery with more dexterity zeal and gallantry than the Episcopal Divines by whose endeavours some that have been bred Papists have been gained to our Church others that began to waver were confirmed and setled in the Protestant Religion but I profess says he as in the presence of Almighty God and before the World that I have not known or at least caâ—not call to remembrance so much as one single example of any of this done by any of our Anti-ceremonian Brethren whether Presbyterian or Independent But 2. These Non-conformists are so far from being the truly zealous opposers of Popery that as the same Dr. Saunderson observes they are really and eventually though not intentionally the great Promoters of the Roman Interest among us and that several ways 1. By putting to their helping hand to the pulling down of Episcopacy the main Bulwark against Popery as having the support of Laws Reason Scripture and Antiquity against it 'T is well known says he what rejoicing that Vote against Episcopacy brought to the Romish Party how in Rome they sang their Io Paeans upon the tidings thereof saying triumphantly now the day is ours now the fatal blow is given to the protestant Religion in England they could not but foresee that if the old Government of England a main pillar in the Building were once dissolved the whole Fabrick would be sore shaken if not presently shattered and ruined that things would presently run into confusion distractions and divisions as the event soon shewed 2. They promote the Interest of Rome says that learned Author by opposing it with more violence than reason in opposing Popery he observes the Episcopal Divines have done it by dint of Argument the Non-conformists by opprobrious clamours revilings c. so that it hath been obsâ—rved says he that in Lancashire and other places where there are most and most rigid Presbyterians there are the most and most zealous Papists Thus that judicious and learned Prelate 3. Non-conformists promote Popery by causing those divisions in the Church which Jesuits have endeavoured among us as more conducible to Popery than all their strength of Argument as is said to be determined at Rome in their concilium de propaganda fide And as Mr. Baxter observes in his Collections out of Contzen the Jesuite and in his Defence of the Principles of
is one of their wiles whereby to seduce the People and increase their Party 5. Their pretence to Reformation Purity of Religion Tenderness of Conscience c. Mr. Baxter hath well observed that the appearance of more spirituality and strictness was that which drew Tertullian to the Montanists and which promoted a great part of the Heresies which have torn the Churches of Christ. This kept up the Donatists whom St. Austin calls Impios fastidiosos pertinaces superbos separatores and their Separation he calls Sacrilegious Heretical and Seditious yet these kept up their reputation and separation from the Orthodox Christians Assemblies by this very means the pretence and shew of greater purity and sanctity than others This kept up the cause of the Priscilianists and Manichees this kept up the Novatians long in great reputation this was the strength of the Anabaptists in Germany and the Low-Countries this is the strength of the Quakers and he might have added of the Non-conformists and their Party at this very day And the truth is Piety and Holiness command such an universal love and veneration that the very shew and counterfeit of it hath deluded thousands into erroneous ways and hath ever been accounted the most usefull Tool in the framing of seditious and schismatical Innovations Lycurgus could never have ingratiated his Laws so effectually had he not pretended conference with his goddess Nor could the Factious of our late Times have carried on their designs have gained to themselves such strength of number and height of reputation but by the specious disguise of a pretended Reformation and shew of Sanctity above others Those late Usurpers never wanted a religious pretext for their most hellish undertakings As King James told his Son King Charles that under the pretence of Religion he should find from that sort of People as he soon did the most barbarous and bloudy Villanies in the World And King Charles the First to his Son King Charles the Second I have observed says he that the Devil of Rebellion doth commonly transform himself into an Angel of Reformation and when mens consciences accuse them of Sedition or Faction they stop its mouth with the name and noise of Religion and Zeal And accordingly the Non-conformity-men of his time in their Sermons before the ParlJam nt 1643. taught That 't was commendable to fight against the King for Peace and Reformation that the War was God's Cause and it should at last prevail they called fighting for the ParlJam nt a following the Lamb and a fighting for the Lamb against the Beast c. And at this very day when Uniformity in God's Worship is called Superstition Decency called Idolatry and Loyalty Popery Grindallizing compliances with the Enemies of the Church perjurious omissions in Church-ministration is called Moderation Discretion Prudence c. Sitting at the Sacrament a Custom brought first into England by John Alasco from among the Arrians of Poland who used it in denial of Christ's Divinity This sitting at the Sacrament and many the like peevish contumacies in Non-conformity are all put upon the Score of Tenderness of Conscience Purity of Religion c. and indeed so venerable is right Reformation in Religion so great a blessing and so gracious a fruit of the Spirit of God is tenderness of Conscience that 't is no marvel if the meer pretence and shew thereof so influenceth a Faction and captivates the credulous and unwary populace and therefore for the better discovery of that sort of men consider we distinctly 1. Their pretence to Reformation 2. To tenderness of Conscience and that without making our selves Judges of their Consciences any further than the Law of God allows and the evidence of things compels I. In their pretence to Reformation we consider the Method and Manner of their Reforming and the Object or matter to be reformed 1. The Manner of their Reforming was for the most part by savage and sacrilegious depredations Such savage depredations never were committed by the Goths in the Sack of Rome as were by these Reformation-men in the Cathedral Churches particularly Winchester and Westminster Exeter and Chichester Canterbury and Rochester with many others where their manner of reforming was by breaking down the Organs throwing down the Communion-Table and Rails and in some places burning them in an Ale-house turning the costly Pulpit-cloths Cushions Gowns Surplices and Plate into ready money A golden Chalice belonging to Westminster which is said to be worth three hundred pounds was sold to one Allen a decayed Goldsmith but then a Member of the House of Commons for threescore pounds When the Depredators of Hazlerigs conduct were desired in the Cathedral Church of Chichester to leave but one Chalice for the use of the Sacrament they refused with these profane words A wooden Dish may serve turn They violated the Tombs and Monuments of the Dead finding in Winchester Church two brazen Statues of King James and King Charles the First they broke off the two Swords placed by their sides and with their own mangled the Crown of King Charles swearing in scorn that they would bring him to his ParlJam nt There being in this Church several leaden Chests containing the dust and bones of some Saxon Kings and other Bishops they overthrew the Chests scattered the dust of their Bodies about the Pavement and threw their Bones at that part of the Glass Windows which they could not reach with their Pikes to batter down The like they did in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury by those under the Conduct of Colonel Sandys In this Church as lately upon the Royal Effigies in Guild-hall they strangely exercised their reforming Madness upon the Arras Hangings in the Quire representing the Hist. of our Savior some of them swore that they would stab him others that they would rip up his bowels which accordingly they did so far as those Figures of him in the Arras Hangings were capable of it Finding another Statue of Christ in the Frontispiece of the South-gate they discharged their Muskets at it triumphing greatly when they hit him in the head or Face In the Cathedrals of Exeter and Westminster horresco referens to these horrid outrages they added such prodigious irreverences as have not been heard of turning the Church into a Jakes and leaving their Excrements on and about the Communion Table after they had sate about it with their Ale and Tobacco Thus did they go about to reform the State with ruine and to sweep the Church with desolation taking the same method in Reforming which Pelias's daughters took to make their old Father young again viz. by cutting his throat to let out his old bloud which when they had done knew not where to get new bloud nor how to put it in him Consider who will the hideous spectacle of their ruining Ministers abolishing of Government devastation of Church and desolation of State profanation of God's Worship and depravation of
Religion the violation of Duty Conscience Peace Order Laws Justice c. and compare it with the Persecution of the Greek Churches and he shall find that all the ravages of the Turks since the taking of Constantinople hath not so disfigured them in two hundred years as these Reformers did in six or seven years in their own native Country Such abomination of desolation is Presbyterian Reformation which Mr. Case says Armies fought for ParlJam nts consult for Ministers pray for and all good People long for And let no body pretend in this as Mr. Baxter doth about the Regicidy that it was a rude conquering Army For read who will their Souldiers Catechism their Zions Plea Christ on his Throne as also their Ordinance on August 28. 1643. and he shall see that all this was done by Authority from the Houses of ParlJam nt and in the fear of God by the advice of the Assembly of Divines 2. The extravagancy of their Reformation will further appear by considering the matter of it or the things to be reformed which are chiefly Episcopacy and the Liturgy 1. Episcopacy an Order which hath been proved abundantly to be founded on no other than Scripture and Apostolick practice Antiquity and Necessity necessary as woful experience hath verified to the support of the English Monarchy according to those words of King Charles the Martyr That he could scarce ever boast of one days felicity after he had once consented to the taking away the Bishops Votes in ParlJam nt Which I take notice of the rather since in a place of note in this Kingdom at the last Election of ParlJam nt in the year 1681. the Rabble of the Faction cried it No Bishops No Bishops the very same words and with the same kind of violence as Dr. Burgess's Myrmidons did before the ParlJam nt House doors in 1641. 2. The other thing to be reformed is the Liturgy whose Reformation from Popery was sealed by the bloud of Martyrs When it was first composed and used the People of England received it as a heavenly treasure sent down by God's great mercy to them All moderate men beyond Seas applauded the felicity of the Church of England in fashioning such an excellent Form for God's publick Worship And the Act of ParlJam nt that first confirmed the same declared it to be done by the special aid of the Holy Ghost as the words of the Act are and Mr. Fox the Author of the Book of Martyrs fears not to say that it was indicted by the Holy Ghost Yet this is that Liturgy which the peevish Professors of these stirring Times would have laid aside for Reformation sake that so as King Charles observes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministers may be left to their liberty and private abilities in God's publick Service where no man can tell to what he may say Amen or what adventure he may make of seeming at least to consent to whatever errours and ridiculous indecencies bold and ignorant men list to vent in their Prayers and other Offices But 't is enough to satisfie any unprejudiced and judicious Reader of the unreasonableness of scrupling the Liturgy that will but consider well those frivolous flaws and exceptions which the great Non-conformity-Champion hath made against it as the best he could devise after the twenty years study he speaks of II. The second thing to be considered in their pretensions above other men in their greater Sanctimony and tenderness of Conscience which were it real as it is pretended I should tremble to think of charging them with the counterfeit and pretence of it onely But that which liables it to the suspicion of Counterfeit lies in these two things 1. The erroneousness of it which is so gross as to call the Design of overturning the Government no Treason the taking up Arms against the King no Rebellion dividing from the Communion of the Church no Schism appropriating to private uses the Church-plate and Revenues no Sacrilege and using the name of God to all this no Hypocrisie How can such thickness of errour consist with true Sanctity and tenderness of Conscience especially if we take tenderness of Conscience as that Party doth in the same latitude with a good Conscience for such a tenderness as to be afraid of sin and to decline the temptations occasions and appearances of evil 2. Their pretended tenderness of Conscience above others is to be suspected upon the account of its great partiality and defect wanting that uniformity which is required to its sincerity When a man shall scruple a Ceremony and yet neglect an Institution of Christ not dare to kneel at the Sacrament yet wholly neglect the Communion boggle at the use of a Ceremony yet openly avow the blackest of Crimes backbitings slanderings schism and sedition is this true tenderness of Conscience or is it not rather as one says a conscience of making no conscience at all But more particularly doth not the partiality and defect of their conscientiousness appear in their notorious uncharitableness and censoriousness rash censuring and condemning slandering and defaming all that differ from them especially Ministers But above all those that oppose their way if subtlety and malice can do it shall be sure to be rendred odious but the partiality and defect of their conscientiousness is most apparent in their old Gnostick Principle of disobedience to Magistrates Will any man believe that Practice to be conscientious or that Religion to be of God which so dishonours God and Christianity that so confronts God's Vicegerent and those in Authority under him which God commands obedience to upon pain of damnation and which as though foreseeing the pretence of Conscience for their disobedience doth so indispensably urge you must needs obey and for Conscience sake and that even Heathen Governours whereas the Governours i. e. the ParlJam nt in part that our Dissenters are to obey are of their own chusing and so the Laws are partly Laws of their own making as made by their own Representatives What they urge for their disobedience is so ludicrous and of so frequent and obvious confutation that 't is a shame to insist upon them But just to mention them as 1. That 't is better to obey God than Man which in the form of an Objection is nothing else but a factious slander intimating as though our Rulers enjoined any thing in disobedience to God 2. A second thing urged for their disobedience is that of Christian Liberty The same that the Gnosticks urged for their revolt from Christianity and which was used among the Jews as a Passport for fugitive Servants and a praetext to all Outrages and Rebellions and which the Gnosticks used to justifie their disobedience to Magistrates Whereas indeed this Christian liberty is a quite contrary thing viz. a discharge from the necessity of observing the Mosaical Law and Rites of Judaism and a power in utramque to do or leave undone things