to be both King and Judge To leave them I come to the third Instance of Injuries to Worship i. e. by Practices repugnant to the Purity or Liberty of all divine Worship internal or external and all the Seasons Times and Ordinances of it Those are 1. Political in the State 2. Hypocritical in the Church 3. Jesuitical in Cabals and Covents of each a little briefly 1st Political Religion and pure Worship was wont to be grand Crown-interest of the best Kingdoms and States and as it prospered so did they as Constantine said in that Preface to a grant of his to the African Churches Since said he the due observation of what pertains to true Religion and the Worship of God brings great Happiness to the State and Empire of Rome So on the contrary as it declines so do they When carnal Policy is more consulted than Christian Piety when Jeroboam-like men clip cut and shape a Religion to serve State-humour Grandeur and Interest subjecting it to low ends not all designs to it this Eclipses the Glory of Gods Service In short alas when Superiours are a Terror to good deeds and doers and a praise to the evil the Sword is born in vain or sadly perverted in and from the end it s given unto So when inferiour Judges and Ministers of Justice practise the Law partially to feed Rapine and malicious Harpies it discourages the Pious and sober minds Thus men are haled before the Seats of Judgment as Acts 8.3 only for Praying and others are draged to Prisons and only for Conscience of duty to God the Truth and the good of Souls The violent courses of this sort beggars the Vertuous and so gratifies Informers that live on Spoils but no way dignifies Rulers and may call for a late death Beds Repentance 2dly Hypocritical practices in the Church not a little hurts pure Religion such in the purest times of the Church unawares to the best have still crept in as some of the Maryan Bloody-Clergy with those after Reformers that had the better sort foreseen as Ezra did ch 4.2 3. the woful effects of a Mungril Religion would surely have declined to joyn with them The Reverend Fathers of the first Reformation were partly divided partly be-misted and so spied not the Satanical Crafts of Pagan Jewish or Papal Rite-Mungers that in more Zeal than Knowledge sought to promote Christianity by turning Sacraments into Sacrifices Pastors to Priests Tables to Altars and Prayers to Liturgies Saturnals to Christmass Realties to Rites c. Quod concilium specie prudens re anceps eventu Infoelix hodieque same lugendum nefas luendum Ecclesiae said Tilenus But among many other marks of Cruelty and Church-Violence this I observe therein Piety runs low in any Church when the best are cast out by Excommunicators that never truly were in for confessing Christ as that blind man John 9.34 Such cursed of the Balaams of our day that God doth bless and sold to Satan by Secular Mercinaries that say Blessed he God I am Rich Zach. 11.5 A bad sign of a dying Church-State when the diseased bad Humours expel the best Blood and Spirits Vital or Animal from all residing in the Body Ecclesiastick When the best Sheep are Pin-folded in Prison the Wolves are made Keepers Foxes and Jackals set the Lyons prey Pure Worshippers may long for another Act recissory of their Fury De Scismatico Excommunicando as that a late nulled de Hereticus comburendo and God's Worship then will flourish more As for Jesuitical Clans and Cabals though in all Ages since Popery obtained no Councils have been unessayed by them to exterpate pure Religion yet for all their frustrations the Plots and Practices of our later dayes have out-vied themselves for Craft and Cruelty against all Protestants Nor has the former bad success and high preferment on a Gibbet of his own that Haman attained and his Complices in Hester's days given them yet a noli prosequi neither their late various ill hap and happy defeats their shameless Sham-Plots and Countermines have found has made 'um hopeless for after above three Years practise and four Parliaments pursuits they still like to their Master Belzebub the God of Flies as a Fly beat off Itterate their Impudence to Flesh-flye-blow all Religion and Vertue all Persons and Places Courts and Offices so have they not caught the Lyon's Whelp obtained in the highest Councils and Courts domestick and forreign divided the minds of regent Clergy-men some for Peace with Rome some for indulging Dissenters opened the way to Popery by disuse of Parliaments by placing Popish men in all Offices Civil Military some Ministerial also taught some pernicious Curs with Gander-Pens and Flying-Flams in their Mouthes to Fiddle to that Dance and buz no Murder no Plot brought the Plot into the City moved all the Rights Franchises and Liberties of it diverted the current of Justice turned the Laws point and whetted it with a new Edge against Protestants that was intended to Papists clapt Starl again in a Chair of Scorners run Parliament men off the Bench into Kings-Bench nulled the Rights of Elections to all offices nay Rights are Riots by Law men do stand on the Sword vex Widdows spoil without pity Excommunicate the most Pious Imprison without Mittimus or Mainprize seclude from the use of our hired Houses that Rome it self allowed Paul Act. 28.30 and make Constables and lower Officers that else incline to Peace to watch and walk to keep people out of those hired Houses so both disturbing the Peace and prophaning the Lord's Sabboth-day taking the Keys of the Kingdom not entering nor suffering them that would as Luke 11.52 and spoiling of the Proprietors and Renters in a time when all Cash is banked in a Bag with holes Lo these are part of the Effects of the late still resent Plot what is visible is open to every ones Senses Now what may be in the ishue any not indurate may soon fore-see what it shall be is reserved to the only wife God and both terrible to prospect So I pass the first Doctrine and on the next I only touch to be larger on the third 2d Doctrine was to assault worship in the Act is fearful and fatal Guilt The Philistims in the late captivating of Gods Ark were not a little guilty but though ignorant of God it was unprosperous wickedness and for it had he whipt their Posteriors or hinder parts as 't is Psal 78.66 to their endless shame and forced them to send it home with Kine and Peace-Offerings nor did it fare well with the Bethshemites for their irreverent temerity in gazing that knew better Now for them to dare it on a new assault abroad since it had beat them severely at home in each City to which it went the round till it forced its own rescue I say for them now in Gods Ground to invade 106 Miles was possibly strange And now that Samuel and so great a convention is met not to allow
An Apology for God's Worship And Worshipers BOTH In the Purity of the One and Liberty of the Other From the Gracious and oft Miraculous DEFENCE that God makes for them both when exposed to Violation or Violence Dedicated To all that desire to Worship GOD in Spirit and Truth John 4.23 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obs Parei Adv. in 1 Sam. 7. p. 138. Adeo difficile est etiam bonis Magistratibus Doctoribus Idolatriam extirpare Vitia reprimere ubi semel invaluerunt Cultum instaurare ubi semel corruptus Rempublicam componere ubi semel turbata est London Printed for the Author Anno Dom. 1683. The Epistle Dedicatory TO THE READER TO all that desire to worship God in Spirit and Truth especiall to Dissenters that have any Conscientious Care to please God in it to whom these Pages come Men Fathers and Brethren Reverend and Beloved hear ye my Apology Acts 22.1 c. not for my self nor unto you so much as for you in your present Dissent Distance and Separation in Worship from the now legal Establishment 'T is a happy thing says Bishop Hall in his Contemplation on K. Josias's tenderness p. 1306 to be as a gentle Reed to God's Judgments rather than a stiff Oak for while that stands this is tore up by the Roots This tenderness best adorns Royal Breasts yet befits all that reverence Law or dread Wrath Divine the Case was sad with Israel now yet blessed in the tenderness of the Kings Heart 2 King 22.19 under impending Woes Raklebabeka Cor emolitum est He melted to Tears Instar cerae as Wax softens at the Sun Tenderness of heart is a Royal Grace in two things it is seen 1. In avoiding what in the least provokes Jealousie 2. In trembling both at Wrath inflicted and impending so Josiah did Royal Examples not in evil but good are set for Imitation of all That Judgments impend on us for old Guilt I need not say to you that feel the drops of the storm already falling all I note here is Did I not believe a tender Conscience lay at the Root of your Nonconformity I would not have run this adventure to plead your Cause in this perillous juncture The Light of Gospel Truth and Purity of Gods Worship are two Essentials of right Christianity without the first the Profession is Heresy and without the second the Worship is but Idolatry though the Agent may be very devout in it both put together inferr a godly Life About right Worship after Doctrines are clear'd many are the Altercations that have happened ever since the Roman Apostacy obtain'd not only betwixt Papists and us but among Protestants themselves if about the Eucharist so many Opinious have been ventilated and that is but one part of Gospel Worship how many may be in all the Parts and Duties of it supposed and that both long and eager in both litigants And who can sufficiently condole the bad effects that have slowed from Gally Pens and Stomacks especially where Formality in the one Party and Sincerity in the other have been Competitors But in two Points about Worship Men's Concertings a late have most been conversant 1. About the Purity of the thing 2. The Liberty of the Door Against the first is Superstition that polutes it so alters its nature and Persecution hinders the latter Hence our late Debates and Animosities here have sprung in Brittain and other parts adjacent to the great decay of the power of Godliness and setting up that stump of a Formal Dagon half Man half Fish a mungril Profession above it And be the Profession never so refined in point of Doctrine if it only float in the Head and descend not to the Heart with power to the Life in Practice it makes the Professor but a meer Formalist an Erastian or Persecutor as Ismael of him that is born after the Spirit and often the more devout the more rigid so opens a back door for Hypocrisy Atheism and Apostacy as many that in Q. Mary's days were Papists in Q. Eliz. were advanc't to places and so became Protestant Persecutors and that of some unto death as were easie to instance This bitter water of Jealousie mixt with the dust of the Sanctuary not of its Essence has caused the Power to rot and Belly to swell of some Sham-Protestants against their Brethren for the sake of some Romish Rites not of the esse to Religion at all so that they do hazard a Reconciliation and return to Rome in defence of her Raggs rather than to build on upon the fair bottom of Reformation begun And hence is the occasion of this Discourse To which the Author had these Inducements 1. The Service of his Maker and Master for the Truth 's sake yet with us to witness to which all Christ's Followers are bound though unto death as he did Joh. 18.37 2. The silence of others more Able of deeper Reason and better Parts Reading Opportunities to apologize for themselves than I am 3. To help the doubtful settle the shaking and if it may be reduce the wandring that be tempted to do that in Worship that offends God wounds Conscience and makes a step unto a perillous recidivation and casts a blot on our holy Profession opening a Door to Popery 4. To corroborate the Faithful and uphold them in an even Vprightness in point of Worship being so thrust at to overthrow their Faith and corrupt them in the Worship os God a halting in which is so inconsistent with the Vprightness of the Gospel Gal. 2.14 5. The scattered Case and Solitude of many a precious Souls calls for it that dare not for their lives add or altar in a Pin a Nail a Thred of Christ's Seamless Coat or any point of Worship never so small These may find time to read the Book and mix what Sweets it affords with their sad Soliloquies Sighs and retired Tears not daring to sit in the Idol-Temple with the Assembly of Mockers but rather alone being for Hypocrisies fill'd with Indignation as Psal 26.5.6 Jer. 15.17 1 Cor. 8.10 6. My own Case and forced restraint was not a little cogent to this Witness being deprived by the Fury of some denyed by the unfriendliness of others cast out by Foes kept out by Friends from all places of publick or private Use though a Petitioner to some of note for the Gospel's sake and hundreds of scattered Souls to get a spare hour on the first day that my Talent such as 't is might not be shut up under a Bushel useless yet was denyed of more than two or three though others were admitted of Now that I might requite this Brotherly-kind Vnkindness in keeping out of a publick Pulpit I pay as I could my Brethren by the Pen in this Plea for them I confess 't is attended at this juncture with more than ordinary discouraging Difficulties both from the nature of the Testimony in it and shyness of most concerned that now are poor or afraid
by Hence we read of his Synagogue Apoc. 2.19 his Throne v. 13. his Vicegerent his Servants 2 Cor. 11.15 Ministers Table and Cup 1 Cor. 11.21 as well as his Will Wyles Crafts and Lusts As many do the Devils Work Rev. 2.10 imprisoning the Gospel and Men for its sake so many the more is the pity do the Devil Worship though ignorantly by his Insinuation and Man's Imposition 'T is a Passage of a late Reverend Pen not impertinent The Soveraignty of God is contemned Charnoke 757. when our Obedience to humane Law is prest and preferred to that of Gods when fear of pain compels Service it is like that of Aegypt adoring a Crocodile when we are devout to a Tradition of Man's or a Roman Rite more than to Gods Oracle c. it is to adore a Glow-worm and laugh at the Sun And a little after says pag. 758. Thus God is deposed and Man inthroned so he referrs our late Addresses for Maintenance of Religion settled by Laws of Man not minding the Law of God so that the Church and State is the Rule of Religion which therefore must vary with Opinion and Interest 'T is sad to see yet I fear too true there is more Diabolick than Divine Worship in the World and that in Christendom too Now if God defends his Worship he is far and so should we be from pleading for Baal Judg. 6.31 Be ye then assured God is resolved utterly to abolish and famish all the Idols Isai 2.18 and Men shall worship him each from his Place Zeph. 3.11 and reserves a Cup unmixt for the Worshippers of the Beasts Image Apoc. 14.10 2. Let all Persecutors consider with whom they have to do will you oppose what or whom God undertakes is obliged by Promise and Interest and resolved to defend You may ruffle and rage damm and hector a while you hands and tongues fires and fury may exceed Job's Antagonists as far as the Element of Fire doth ours but ye should say Why Persecute we him since the Root of the Matter is in him Job 19.28 Let me a little glance at the Text. Jobs design is to abate the Passion and galling censures of his three Opponents by a fair defence of his Innocency so battered and blotted by a charge of Hypocrisy and waving the various Lections it is in some q. d. would you put on your first end in visiting me Ye should say one to other Why persecute we him as a Game pursued by Dogs We have small ground in our selves less in him none at all from God so to do his Case may be ours and it is not so bad but on search we may espy the root of Sincerity under all these Waters or a secret Root of Grace or a deep of Gods Wisdom at bottom to abate all our heat Whence one notes * 6th part of Mr. Caryl in locum page 416. One that has Grace and holds Root-truths should not be persecuted no not in hard words the lowest kind of it far less in blows and even to exile and death for 1. They are owned by Christ and so are all that own what Job confest Viz. the Root-truths of the Gospel and those Christ receives we ought 2. They have the same Spirit of Truth also 3. They shall be Saved and come to the same end and shall one Glory receive them not one Earth Why should different Forms of Worship and Order cause a Persecution then So far he One note I crave to add That good men are incident to Persecution sometime by their Brethren that retain Root-Truths though for such Persecution there is no cause Here the definition of it lyes it is not so denominate unless it be for Righteousness and Truths sake and the Cause not the Suffering makes the Martyr Two things let me touch here 1. the Rise 2. the unreasonableness of it For the Rise of Persecution it must be trac't back to the Original it is a Birth succeeding the Fall all Persecution comes by Succession Serpentine Draconical and Papal each in kind the worst you Persecutors see your Antiquity you derive from and before the Fall which is said was on the sixth the Angelick Apostacy was before say the first or fourth day Gen. 1.14.19 But sure early Satan suborns the Serpent and by a lye to the Woman to gull and tripp man and all the Race Ch. 3.2 5. So the Fall not only broke a bone but lost a Faculty and that of the Eye not of the Body but Mind too And yet the Root is deep God put Enmity betwixt the two Seeds never yet irradicated and the dispute is early about Worship so soon as two Brothers came they talk differ in Worship Gen. 4.2.7 Cain the High Priest is sleighty Abel gives God the Fat the first and best Cain being outdone kills for Conscience sake 1 Joh. 3.12 Here is a Map of what hath been ever since it is a Priesthood that derives of Cain to kill for seeking to please God better than himself did so it is now Nimrod a Rebel as that word derives holds up the Race a Hunter that is of Souls before the Lord Gen. 10.9 that is in Gods Presence and for Worship So did Ishmael after the Flesh to Isaac Ch. 21.9 born after the Spirit though in a lower kind Gal. 4.29 It is called but a Mock as you forsooth are a Separate a Son of the Promise I hate that and Hatred is Murder and Persecution Nor are Joseph's Brethren quit of this Envy Gen. 37.4.5 Acts 7.9 They plot his Exile and Conscience is struck at for his Prophetick Dreams and telling his Father their ill report and the way they took verified all he said and more This Enmity is writ indelebly in the Race But of all Types the Allegory of Sarah and Hagar and that of Jacob and Esau are aptest Resemblances of the two Churches the false that genders to Bondage and the free Covenant-Seed the Race of Seekers Psal 24.6 For as Sarah was the true Wife but seized by Pharaoh's Court for her Beauty Gen. 12.15 and so in hazard of forcing but Hagar only a Concubine and at the last she and the Lad cast out for Disobedience So fares it with Christ's Spouse her Spotless purity lays her open to every black Pharaoh or Abimelech that hath power to seize her who not yielding to defilement is liable to force As to the two Sons Jacob and Esau they were both of Isaac lay in one Womb at one strove for Primogeniture yet one got it Jacob took Esau by the heel Hos 12.3 And all along they were at odds and varied Esau games in the Field Jacob is a plain Man at home that of a rough threatning Spirit Speech and Hand this of a tender Spirit an Exile in Condition a Wrestler in Prayer one oft in Bethel with God Gen. 32.24 So it is now in all Points see the disparity in nothing more than in Religion this was still Jacob's study and glory and he
though once they were under Spain and are yet though reduced poor Republicans It hath been pleaded with Fathers such as Augustine Ambrose that when Bishop Ithacius of a turbulent Spirit caused Priscillian the Heretick to be put to death with others he was condemned first by Theognistus and after by Ambrose who at Tryers met with some of the Bishops partakers in that blood and refused Communion with him and them By the way note They are not to be communicated with that are of Trasonical Spirits and Truculent Courses To come home the Plea of Dissenters has by the Providence of God in all times past obtained in Britain I only touch what is of late memory It once obtained a proclaimed Indulgence and if there be no probability for that again I say Why what has been may be again if the Interest be as pungent as was then Wisdom and Moderation may stir the heart soon to the same calm course if some say it was in pity to the Roman Cause that I do not know nor dare not say it is more Charity to say it was a favour to the Dissenters but who dare judge the ends of it or deny that the thing is good 't was then so and being so repeated many will be content and thankful It has obtained in Parliaments Votes that to prosecute the Law against us was unsafe to the King and Kingdom and a promoting the Plot though one has most impudently in Print opposed his Opinion to the Judgment of a House of Commons in that It has obtained in Charters and Municipal Fundamental Laws if that Maxim hold That any Law against Gods Word is ipso jure void and deemed null Of that more anon It has gained with great Nobles Pears and Counsellors that as they once advised to let Worshippers go free Exod. 10.7 so have many since It is said of Francis I. of France being about to persecute the Protestants of Merindol and Cabriers he is informed by Lord Langay Governour of that Province they were Harmless Men Just Laborious Loyal to their Prince to the Poor Charitable in Prayers frequent as Cardinal Sadolet was also convinc't So at present he forbore till Minerius a turbulent fellow informs the King that 15000 of them were up in Arms So they were cut off Among Papists this though for their own ends has got ground witness the candid and brave Thuranus that going in Paris Streets on that Massacre day it forc't tears from him to see the barbarous usage of Protestants there And others said the like of the Waldenses And for this City fince Sir Sa. St. Mayoralty when the contest was hottest with Dissenters how has God pleaded their Cause and increast their numbers vindicated their Innocency against all Sham-plots and protected them from Violence and Treachery till this late and present storm fell 9. This Zeal is more hot than wise good men may affect heats but 't is not well and the Scriptures call the Zealots for Persecution to advert Joshua crys out against Eldad and Medad prophesying in the Camp and not among the Seventy Elders with Moses Numb 11. v. 26. This at first sight seemed a sinful Separation from God's Tent what says Moses Meek Soul says he v. 29. Dost thou envy for my Sake Would God all the People were Prophets and God would put of his Spirit on them q. d. So far am I from forbidding that I do approve v. 30. And so he did in both his Plea for them and after presence with them in the Camp Here is a self-denying Spirit and call to mind again what I slipt before but close this and clasp both with that some of the Clergy as late Bishop Worth Crafts and two more of lower rank but no less note have in Naked Truth some Sermons for Moderation and in four parts of a Pleafor Nonconformists by a grave ingenious Conformist given us a taste of Moses his Spirit their Mildness a witness against Violence and do herein deserve my hearty thanks 2d Script is Mark 9.38.39 and it is in Luke too Luk. 9.49 Young John complains to Christ of one that did Christ's work Cast out Devils but followed not with them and so first gave Interdiction and after consults Christ a preposterons percipitancy Hysteron proteron our Interdictions are not by Christs Allowance and so I hope will be by him interdicted Who dares to prohibit that an other should not cast out Devils ease Souls since none pretend to Miracles and do our Countrey what good we can we are not against Christ and so he takes us on his part A third Script is that of the Tares Mat. 13.27 38. Where our Lord forbids the Servant zealously asking leave to pluck up the Tares No says the Lord let both grow together till the Harvest c. Note hence that if the Field be the World the Tares the Children of the Wicked One c. Then 't is not meet to pluck up all sorts of the wicked Ones in a Nation by bulk be they Hereticks Schismaticks Prophane or detected suspected Hypocrites they must and will grow in the World nor is it the Ministers work to preoccupate the Judgment and be plucking up by death that is partaining to the civill Judge nor is Church Power here forbid or Civil Law and Justice superceded to the Judgment but Christ's Will is that some wicked men are not to be rooted out of the World for two reasons 1. 'T is possible with the Tares the Wheat also may be pulled up and so the good fall with the bad Jethro an Ishmaelite and Ornan the Jebusite may turn Israelites Luther a Monk and Vergerius a Papist may turn and of Tares become Wheat 2. To kill cut off ruine by Fines and Curses is the way to undo and says one There is no good Example in all Antiquity Jac. Aug. Thuanus Proem in Hyst for the Sectaries of those first Ages being destroyed the Church was still tender and abhorred to shed blood in Matters that concerned Religion and Conscience The matchless wise though young Edward VI. prest to sign a Warrant de Herctico comburendo said What shall I send him quick to Hell The like may be said of Mulcts of a lower sort and what amends comes by the Penalty or is there any proportion in the pain to the Offence A man may not see with my eyes or has a Mote in his and to cure that shall I cut off his head or put out the other eye that I may lead him where I list A sad Cure Then a fourth Scrip gives the advice of a wise Counsellor or Doctor as Nicodemus said to the Jews Doth our Law Judge a man by Fines Incarcerations c. ere it hear him Joh. 7.50 51. That is called Abington Law or Stanery's that did hang in the Forenoon and try in the After Or else as that wise Gamaliel said Refrain from these Men and let them alone Acts 5.39.40 The same also gave the Lord's Brederode c.
same God they own Object 3d. If any say Let those that dissent come to Church own the present Protestant Religion now establisht reverence our Prayers Priests and Communions and so by obeying our Laws avoid the Punishment else they suffer at Evil-doors and Obstinate To all this let a few things be replyed 1. If by Church be meant the Walls that the Parish meet in or Vicinity there met I do not see how either it can properly denominate it self Church unless equivocally as that Rout Acts 19. ult in Ephesus is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yet no Church could those publick Assemblies be stiled Oratories Schools for the Sons of the Prophets or Synagogues then the parts of some grave learned pious Teachers there exercised would deserve audience and in that sense more than do would come But as a Church 't is that many stumble at and as the thing Church right defined which should definito convenire is understood and consequently the true nature of Schisme is measured by it you will gain few and after loose them as soon and many more with them And for your Church that you boast of a Jesuit long since said it You begin to look with a new Face Chillingworths Preface S. 20. your Doctors to be men of temper and more malleable to the Rites of your Mother c. Grow weary plead for return more to Rome than Reformation Now if so is the Case we are coy of all your rough Courting least when ye have got us in you open a back door to a Jesuit or Priest and so ye are turned out and we turned over to gross Popery 2. This end will you never attain by the means used reason will not be convinct by force far less religious Conscience which though erronious yet binds Two sorts you deal with 1. Wise and wary Ones that foresee the wiles and ways you take and being some of them old Souldiers aged rich and politick and you in a youthful Zeal have learned to make a safe retreat let you spend your heat and shoot at a distance till Papists or else a Parliament give you a rout And a second Party is on your Left-hand very moross and stiff reuounce all your Arts and repell your Arguments for forct Religion you call them Quakers but a stout People that tremble not at your facing them stir not at your thrusts keep their ground though knockt down give the back to your blows repell all your Cannon-shot that roar from Canterbury to Carlile all your Courts Oaths Barrs Benches and Fines as Chaff what to do with them who knows they grow under your insultings spread as Camomile by your depressings You dislike them and yet propagate them your force unites and confirms them and should you awake the Old-man in them the Lawless affronts they receive from truculent hands were Provocation enough and they numerous too to put them in a Body though weaponless to face out all your fury And if you be too weak for this forlorn is it not wisdom to give a desperate Enemy a golden Bridge to go off or escape rather than to crush them and if you say my Plea leans as the byas too much that way I say no many know I am none of them and some of themselves but they are our Natives of our own flesh and of late in publick Debates have pleaded a little to the Christian Name and if some in heat deemed them unworthy of it yet their constant Patience and Fortitude commends if not their Faith yet their Practice in rheir Meetings being as the Bullwark though of mudd for blunting the edge of all force against their Meetings And if you obtain not on them whose Faith and Principle is so generally dislik't what can you do with the whole that are more numerous However if we be Christians how can we hide our eyes and not pity to see them buffeted and robbed but not they alone clapt up in crowds fined beggered cut and slain as in Warrs all to gratifie the ravine and malice of some poor Sycophant that if Popery obtains will swear against the best of us all Haecine Religio haec est urbanit as Ecclesiae Anglicanae 3. For those you have got into the Church by Droves consider what brought them how they are spirited and how it will end or what is the Credit you get by such Converts It is plain Power and Force on your part and Terrour and Fear on theirs that was the Dragg-net the Cords of which haled them in to you This Ruling with Force and Cruelty was of old reproved in the Shepherds of Israel Ezek. 34.4 and the Sin of Eli's two Sons which caused the Lords Offering to be abhorred 1 Sam. 2.16 And in the decling State of the Church of Israel it was charged on that Priesthood and a sore evil to offer blind maimed Mal. 1.13 Isai 61.8 sick and torn that is what came by force and robbed Gifts for an Oblation was hated of God and will you answer God for that Sin It will not be so easie as one of late writes And for the Spirit in which they come to you they own you and your Church Worship Cannons Ministry as the Bishops of Asia said of themselves in like Case Nos non nostrâ voluntate sed necessitate adducti non animo sed verbis duntaxat consensimus We consent but not freely 't is Necessity that makes us yield and that is twofold either Love to Seculars or fear of Suffering Mens Profits Repute or Personal Ease is the driving Cause they come to same the World the Flesh and the Devil are your Pandors you should manfully fight against these and they are the Motives and Mediums to fill your Church And will the end better the entrance of these men those they leave suspect them gradually Apostates Conscience gripes too and you to whom they come judge them Hypocrites forlorn Souls on all hands Nor can you the force being took off hold them very long nullum violentum perpetuum People are like Waters damm them up they will swell and at last recurr to their own Course more strongly And have you a real Glory or get you any Credit by filling up your Church with new Hypocrites Or will Christ our Master thank you for the Service But for the hard words used by the B. L. that we suffer as Evil-doers I pass that into an Appeal let the Lord Judge and revile not again So far to the third Objection 4. It is said Compulsion is Lawful as in 2 Chron. 34.33 Josiah made all that were present to serve the Lord 2 Chro. 15.13 Deut. 13.3 and Asa caused then to enter into Covenant and that on pain of death And that Law of Artaxerxes Ezra 7.26 Dan. 3.29 He that will not do the Law of his God and the King let Judgment be executed on him to death c. And Christ said Luk. 14.23 Compell them to come in c. To all