justify their Ejection nor approve of their Suppression some have wished they would give way to the Wrath of angry Magistrates either by abstaining from publick Preaching or in time of Publick that they might escape the edg of the Law 8. It is no more to their prejudice that they are not all of the same mind than that we are not all of a mind no not in the point of Conformity it self 9. To intercede for them and their admission is not to plead for turbulent factious schismatical Persons that are insufferable Make them one with us by a Law and where is the Faction and Schism Suppose the King and Parliament for them and against us their way made legal and ours as it is only by a voluntary Profession as tied up to it in Conscience but without or against the Law on whom would the charge of Schism fall The Magistrates Favour and Law removes or fastens the Crime I know there is a Schism and it is a great Sin without respect to humane Laws but he that endeavours to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace is no Schismatick although he cannot come up to the Terms of Conformity I have a tenderness in imputing Schism to any good Men who cannot live and die in Sin but if this be a sin many good Men have died in it never declaring their Repentance for their Non-conformity or Preaching against the Prohibition of the Law I do verily believe they were not only seemingly but sincerely good Men 't is too hard to judg them dead in Sin 10. They are Protestants if they come not to that Test reject them they are peaceable they are loyal are true to the King according to Law they have born their burden with us Do we pray for the King so do they and for all that are in Authority that under them they may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty Do we Fast they do the same with great importunity Who more abundant in Labours than they Who more Orthodox according to the Doctrines of the Church than they My Paper is almost at an end and so am I. Thus I have communicated my Thoughts with great plainness and truth I shall say what was once spoken in Parliament Let us first fear God then shall we honour the King the more for I am afraid we have been less prosperous in Parliaments because we have preferred other Matters before him Let Religion be our Primum Quaerite for all things else are but Et caetera's to it c. Sir Ben. Rudyer And whether Exclusion of Papists or Inclusion of Protestants be first endeavoured is left to the Wisdom of my Superiors God prosper both For my Brethren and Companion 's sake I will now pray Peace be upon Israel Violentis Consiliis nec sanari mentes nec tranquillitas Ecclesiae restitui unquam poterit Phil. Melanch ad Hen. 2. Fran. Reg. Quod si squamnae Leviathan ità cohoereant ut earum opere textili densato quasi Loricatus incedat Satan Cataphractus quod de soedere Concordiae quâ malignantis Ecclesiae Membra se complexa muniunt circumvallent Elegantissimè Lutherus verè cur immane quantum hient obsecro quasi ruinam Vniversae Fabricae minitantes inhientque quasi vasto foedoque rictu se devoraturi vivi Lapides in vero Templo Collocati c. inquit Dr. Stoughton Epistola Elegantiss cui Titulus Foelicitas ultimi Soeculi p. 40. Addenda I Will fill up these Sheets with some Royal Condescensions and Episcopal Pleas besides those mentioned before which I humbly entreat those in Authority especially my Lords the Bishops seriously to consider in behalf of the Non-conformists which may be found in his Majesty's Speeches and Declaration about Ecclesiastical Affairs and some of the Bishops own writing And first observe what his present Majesty says concering the Non-conformists c. In his Declaration of Ecclesiastical Affairs Octob. 25. 1660. When We were in Holland says he We were attended by many Grave and Learned Ministers from hence who were looked upon as most able and principal Assertors of the Presbyterian Opinions with whom We had as much Conference as the multitude of Affairs which were then upon Us would permit Us to have and to Our great satisfaction and comfort found them Persons full of Affection to Us of Zeal for the Peace of the Church and State and neither Enemies as they have been given out to be to Episcopy or Liturgy but mostly to desire such Alterations in either as without shaking Foundations might allay the present Distempers which the Indisposition of the Time and tenderness of some Mens Consciences had contracted And concerning Ceremonies pag. 6. he says Now We do not think that Reverence We have for the Church of England in the least degree diminished by our Condescensions not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of Ceremonies which how-ever introduced by the Piety and Devotion and order of former Times may not be so agreeable to the present but may even lessen that Piety and Devotion for the improvement whereof they might happily be first introduced and consequently may well be dispensed with and we hope this charitable Compliance of Ours will dispose the minds of all Men to a chearful submission to that Authority the preservation whereof is so necessary for the Unity and Peace of the Church and that they will believe the support of the Episcopal Authority to be the best support of Religion by being the means to contain the minds of Men within the Rules of Government And pag. 16. And therefore Our present Consideration and Work is to gratify the private Consciences of those who are grieved with the use of some Ceremonies by indulging to and dispensing with their omitting those Ceremonies And pag. 7 8. As for what concerns the Penalties upon those who living peaceably do not conform thereunto viz. the Act of Uniformity through scruple and tenderness of Conscience but modestly without scandal perform their Devotions in their own way We shall make it our special Care so far forth as in us lies without invading the freedom of Parliament to incline their Wisdom to concur with Us in the making some such Act for that purpose as may enable Us to exercise with a more universal Satisfaction That Power of Dispencing which We conceive to be inherent in Us Nor can We doubt of their chearful cooperating with us in a thing wherein we do conceive our selves so far engaged in Honour and in what we owe to the Peace of our Dominions which We profess We can never think secure whilst there shall be a colour left to the Malicious and Disaffected to inflame the minds of so many Multitudes upon the score of Conscience with despair of ever obtaining any effect of our Promises for their Ease And in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament Feb. 10. 1667. saith He One thing more I hold my Self obliged to recommend unto
suffer loss It is a small Parish indeed that will not find a pretty industrious Man work enough There is enough for us and for them to do if there were the greatest Vnion of Minds and wisest distributions according to each Mans Abilities 5. I have sometimes taken heart to vindicate what may be justified in them out of a just respect to the Common Faith and Protestant Religion and there is no more objected nor worse things imputed to them by Protestants than Papists impute to us all If I have no courage to plead for them so far as their Cause will bear it I may prove a Coward in mine own Cause Every good Man ought to be true to Truth and the common Christianity 6. Not to revile nor provoke them that differ from me If I have described any Persons of an imposing persecuting temper with any measure of severity if there be no such Persons it is a mistake and no injury if there be such Writing is Painting I have fitted my Colours to the Face I have not represented any sowrness of Countenance but what I saw upon it Let us all entertain Peace and give it place to rule in our Hearts seek Peace and pursue it and pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Farewel The Reader is entreated to excuse the Errata the Author being absent from the Press These few the Printer hath observed viz. Page 5. read Pasce P. 11. l. 22. r. As that many Ministers are poor P. 20. l. 21. r. Nonconformity P. 27. r. that maintained a Necessity P. 28. l. 37. r. Fort. P. 29. l. 39. r. concluded P. 30. the words of Calfnill should have been in the Margent P. 62. l. 28. r. Squama A Compassionate Representation of the present Case and Condition of the Non-conformists c. I Am a Christian and therefore a Member of the Body and as such am obliged by the Law of Christ and excited by his Grace to endeavour the Growth Perfection and Unity of that one Body and according to the measure of Grace and Life received I cannot but feel the pain of Diflocations Wounds Weakness Excision Sickness or Suffering of any Part or Member of it If I have any Faith or Love I cannot but pray for the Peace of Jerusalem But Ministers above all Christians must have Salt in themselves and be at peace one with another they must preach the Gospel themselves and rejoice that it is preached by others tho otherwise-minded and all Christians must pray that the Word of the Lord may have a free course and be glorified I have some feeling of the broken state of the Church of God in this Kingdom but alas how little do I feel how unfit am I to move those that have healing Hands and store of Ointments to heal our Wounds If I could but open the Case of a Church for many years in pain to be delivered of her Burden groaning to bring forth Unity and Peace but cannot followed long with strong Convulsions that it is a wonder she hath not died in every Fit I might move the compassions of her Physicians to hold a Consultation to expedite her Cure Many of her Sons have of late bemoan'd her and some have made enquiries into the Causes of her Illness but their Compassions have done themselves more good than her She is not at all the better for their trouble for her she is as ill at ease as at any time in a wasting complaining declining state And to say the truth there are many that make sad Complaints of her Passion Harshness and Severity They say that she procured the turning of many of her Ministers out of their Master's service that she is not kind to her own Children but locketh up her Bread from them or appoints Stewards that do not faithfully dispense unto them but sell their Bread and put the Money in their own pockets And those Stewards for small Wages hire under-Officers that feed them but once a day most commonly with that which costs them but little And that she is so severe that all that serve her must put in Bonds for more than they can pay and subscribe to impossibilities and in short they say she usurps authority over her Husband They say they can serve him but cannot please her they can serve him and die for him but cannot live in the same House with her For my part I will say no ill of her nor make bate between the Bride and the Bridegroom I am honoured to be a friend to him and indeed I cannot be his friend and not hers But this I 'le rather say that she hath taken some ill courses and no good courses for her own peace she hath been led and abused by ill Instruments about her and is indeed changed from what she was in former times and is not so kind and tender as she was wont to be by report of many that knew her heretofore I am exceeding sorry for her O that I could give her ease I am no Physician my self but a sorry Messenger may run and call the Doctor and beseech him that if he have any bowels or tenderness of heart he would make haste and apply all his skill to save the Life and restore the Health of the Mother of many Children who will fall into the cruel hands of Pope and Devil so soon as her eyes are closed O how they long to hear of her Dissolution O what a sick and divided House do I live in I cannot take rest in my Soul for the Contentions of my dear and loving Master's Wife I cannot lie dry in my Bed for the continual dropping My Pilgrimage and course for these many years hath been most uncomfortable unto me for the continual dropping in a rainy day The Contentions are grown notorious all our neighbours know them 'T is a most divided House I have no heart to make repetitions of what I have read and heard to pass between my dear Mother and my dear Brethren between my Brethren amongst themselves and the fellow-Servants It is a shame that the World should know it But it cannot be hid our very Enemies laugh among themselves and hope to turn us all out of doors and get possession They have been disputing stating of Cases petitioning pleading and appealing to the Judgment-seat that my heart akes to think of these things I have prayed for Peace and have denied my self to please my Mother I will not find fault with her my Soul longs for peace and if I might prevail I cannot tell what I would do on condition that her Servants that have been turned out may be taken in But because I cannot see how this will be without an Order of the Justices of Peace I will humbly represent the Case as truly as I can and intreat their Order for a speedy settlement of my displaced Brethren The Complaints are grievous The Mother complains of the disobedience of her Children they will not be ruled by her she would
without the Common-Prayer See also Mr. Blake Covenant sealed p. 308. as I my self have known nor any Child rightly baptized without the Cross yet by this Act of Uniformity they must declare Assent and Consent to all and every thing to Cross as well as Baptism to Ceremony as well as Substance And how easie was it for sinful people and weak to say See what these Men can do Yea in case that in any after-time wise and moderate Governours should see a necessity of making Alterations Then again teaching Scorners to say Yea see what these Men can do to the great dishonour of Religion and disgrace of the best of Ministers And one would think that because the Courts continue to swear Churchwardens to present they had Spies enow upon our Nonconformists and Punishments smart enough they might have spared to require this Declaration or if they had thought us honest our promise to conform had been sufficient tho kept in the Registers and made at our Institutions Yet through this Dishonour we attain our Honour They are debarred from all exercise of their Ministerial Abilities their Wives and Children turned out of doors and when they had made a sad and chargeable Remove of late must remove again upon the Five-mile Act. And these Penalties were next to Death and I conceive proved the Death of many I remember the Renowned Bishop Morton wrote these words to the Nonconformists and desired them earnestly to consider the Censure of the Apostle's Wo being so dreadful I ought not to esteem any thing a just Cause why I should wilfully incur the Censure of Silencing my self from Preaching for which I ought not as willingly to adventure my Life The General Defence of the three Ceremonies Part 1. p. 163. The Nonconformists have suffered what is next to Death and too many have suffered even unto Death in Prisons where several caught their Death and others died it is a dreadful story of whom shall their Deaths be required And it is easie to retort those words of the Reverend Bishop Imposers should not esteem any thing a just Cause of bringing any under the censures of Silencing of Preachers from preaching for which they may not adventure to take away their Lives It is objected That they sin against the Law And they may answer Who procured the Law it is the Magistrate's Sword but who moved him to draw it They are told they have no cause to complain of Sufferings for the Magistrate hath been merciful and hath not execued the Laws Thanks be to God for the Mercy but all have not been so merciful as the King hath been or many inferiour Magistrates but their Mercy hath not been kindly taken by many who should have more tender bowels than any Man that wears a Sword To conclude A reasonable Understanding may judge that Law not fit to remain in force that is not fit to be put in execution That Law cannot be good that is not fit to be brought to act without more real hurt than good And if the wise and merciful God hath by many remarkable Providences put a stop to their execution it is time for Men to annul the Law 2. The Penalty is hard upon them that make their offers to be admitted into the Churches Service or that would come in but for these Injunctions It is but a narrow passage that is made for them that enter in yet what shall they do who have spent all they have in a Preparatory Education In they must tho but to a Curacy which is not easie to be had It is grievous to think with what Implicit Faith they do what is to be done yet must Assent to more than ever many have studied rather following Example than Reason or else there is nothing for them to do Others that are enclin'd to Learning and to serve in the Gospel are deterred upon many accounts and have great prejudices against Conformity because of the great reverence they have to Nonconformists and these are under a great temptation to perpetuate a Nonconformity which is more sutable to their inclinations as being a state of freedom to their Consciences from great Bonds and Obligations tho an Estate attended with hazard to their Bodies and Estates And all young Students are under this necessity either they must subscribe hand-over-head or else they must spend their time in these endless Controversies of the Church and be engaged in the dolefull and fearfull Wars of the Church on one side or other 3. The third Consideration that pleads for our Non-conforming Brethren is taken from the Reasonableness of their Demands I distinguish these Demands into those Proposals made by the Commissioners in the Savoy Anno 1662 with that Modesty Gravity Humility and Reason treating the Bishops and other Commissioners as Superiours 2. Into those which have been repeated by particular Persons and may be seen in the Writings of Laborious and Catholick Mr. Baxter Mr. John Corbet and Dr. Owen in his learned and moderate Book of Church-Peace Love and Unity I shall only generally compare what they humbly desired with what was declared 1. In his Majesties gracious Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs a most large and healing Plaister for the Churches Wounds and might have been a Pillar to have born up the Church in Unity as his Gracious Act of Indempnity and Oblivion hath held up the State if some Men who can be loyal for their own ends had not perhaps bin industrious to make Divisions by their Affected Terms of Union 2. They humbly moved but for what great Men and famous in the Church of God to all posterity thought fit to grant In that Year 1641 there was a Committee for Religion appointed in the House of Lords ten Earls ten Bishops ten Barons The Bishop of Lincoln Williams sent a Letter to some Divines to attend that Service who met in his House Breviat of his Life p. 24. the Deanery of Westminster upon which Arch-Bishop Laud hath this Note Upon the whole matter I believe this Committee will prove the National Synod of England to the great dishonour of the Church and what else may follow upon it God knows These Divines were no less Men than the most Venerable Arch-Bishop Vsher Bishop Williams of Lincoln Dr. Prideaux after Bishop of Worcester Dr. Brownrig after Bishop of Fxeter Dr. Ward Professor of Divinity in Cambridge and Arch-Deacon of Taunton Dr. Featly Dr. Hacket of late Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield All these subscribed a Paper called The Proceedings c. touching Innovations in Doctrine and Disoipline of the Church of England together with Considerations upon the Common-Prayer Book Out of which I draw a Parallel with the Proposals of the Divines appointed to treat by his Majesty's Commission with the Archbishop and Bishops and other Divines of the Church of England at the Savoy See Account of the Proceedings printed Lond. 1661. The Divines appointed to meet in the Dean's House 1641. Considerations on the
reckoned an Innovation in some Colleges in both Universities by the above-named Bishop Brownrig and Prideaux c. in these words By in troducing Latin Service in the Communion of late in Oxford Copy of the Proceedings c. 1641. Innovation 17. and into some Colleges in Cambridg at Morning and Evening Prayer so that some young Students and Servants in the Colleges do not understand their Prayers But now the Latin Service may be used in any College or Hall in Oxford Cambridg Westminster Winchester and Eaton and Convocation of Clerks The Commissioners on the other side must be acknowledged Men of great and sound Learning Dr. Tuckney Dr. Wallis Dr. Conant Horton Lightfoot Mr. Baxter Mr. Woodbridg Dr. Seaman Dr. Spurstow Jacomb Bates c. and Bishop Reynolds on this side and of more experience in the Pastoral Office and had conversed more with great Congregations than the others had and so were more fit to Advise as learned Practitioners in Physick are fitter to Advise and more likely to hit the Temper of the Patient than a Professor in the Theory And the account of their Proceedings will to Posterity shew to the impartial and inquisitive both their Parts and their Temper When I read them I do the less wonder at what I heard Bp S. at Stony-Stratford in Bucks that a great Bishop in his prime Visitation soon after did teach his Clergy against reading that Book Thus was the Platform of the present Constitution drawn and it stands leaning altogether to the one side and what wonder that many that seem wholly to lean upon it do cry It fulls it falls that was not laid upon a larger Foundation But how did these Master-Builders proceed in the Government of their New-Reformed Church It seemed to be built no larger than to contain one Family the genuine Sons of such Fathers there was but one narrow Door of admission to it a strong Lock upon it and the sole Power of the Keys was in trusty Hands and the Sword in the hand of a Friend there was no outward Apartment in it to entertain Strangers or belonging to it But some got a false Key to the Door as many call it a Key of a larger sense and when some got in more crouded in and so the Latitudinarian in Charity came in with the Latitudinarian in Discipline to the no little grief of some who do not like their company The Fathers keep above Stairs and now and then come down among us and send their Officers to visit us and have their Watch renewed every Year to tell Tales of us and they that are without Doors cry If there be any Love in our Governors to Christ and his divided Flock that we would but widen the Door and reform but ill Customs but we say we cannot help our selves or them for the Law will have it so The Law had a two-edged Sword of Penalties and some of them who took Sword to guard and assist the Church having spent their heat grew for the most part cold and lazy and more Dissenters were smitten with the Key than the Sword And so nothing almost went on currantly and vigorously for more got into the Communion than some would have and so many kept out that there were too many to be dealt with Several of the Bishops having made work for others and having their Wills grew very gentle I begin within mine own Knowledg or good Information I shall not need to speak of Bishops Monk and Gauden nor of Reynolds who carried the Wounds of the Church in his Heart and Bowels to his Grave with him as is well known to many that knew him but speak of the most rigorous at first hand Doctor Laney first Bishop of Peterborough who had made a great bussle in the croud of aspiring Men in Cambridg till he came up several Stories as high as he desired to be was very moderate in his Government In his prime Visitation as I have heard one speak that was by before Bartholomew he in his Chamber told some of his Clergy what he came about and as tho he would wipe his Hands said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not I but the Law and could to use his own phrase to a scrupulous Person look through his Fingers and suffer a worthy Non-conformist to preach publickly very near him for some Years together after his remove to another Bishoprick Bishop Saunderson was severe and troubled long with a sharp Disease which might exasperate his Mind had a Roll of Ministers under his angry Eye designed for Discipline but when he drew nigh to his latter End he commanded that Roll to be burnt and said He would die in Peace Dr. Earle Bishop of Salisbury was a Man that could do Good against Evil forgive much and of a charitable Heart and died to the no great sorrow of them who reckoned his Death was just for labouring all his might against the Oxford Five-mile Act. But most remarkable is that Passage in the last Testament printed both in English and Latin of the Learned Dr. Cosins Bishop of Duresm printed with his Funeral Sermon and Life He leaves a Mark upon the Presbyterian to satisfy us that he was none but tells the Church That our great and main Work is to Unite The Passage deserves Transcribing viz. pag. 126. I take it to be my Duty and of all my Brethren especially the Bishops and Ministers of the Church of God to do our utmost endeavours according to the Measure of Grace which is given to every one of Us that at last an End may be put to the Differences of Religion or at least they may be lessened c. How others of their Order that are dead and alive that managed that Affair for the standing or shaking of this Church have carried themselves in Debates and great Trials is better known to others than to me Only I will crave leave to say That one at that time but Doctor hath not consulted the quiet of peaceable considering Men by provoking Mr. Baxter to shew Reasons of his Nonconformity which are too hard for many to answer and unanswered yet And it is to no purpose to set R. against B. and Baxter against Baxter as if none could answer him till he turn Conformist and answer himself and it will not do to whisper that the Man is rude and crack'd for indeed the more crack'd he is the more Kernelis seen The wise and good Bishop Wilkins was a Man of another Spirit and took comfort in his healing Endeavours upon his Death-bed And the Lord of his infinite Mercy move and engage their Right Reverend Survivors and other eminent Divines of the Church to lay to heart our doleful broken and declining State and supplicate the King and Parliament to unite and strengthen the Protestant Interest A far better Work than to invite the Non-conformists to come in as things do stand or to provoke any of them to shew cause of their Nonconformity which
manifestation of Unity and as a help to Unity and Edification and Peace is most desirable but too rigorous pressing of it is one cause of Schisms and Contentions To a clear stating of Schism we must enquire into the Church as invisible visible as in its one Essential Nature separate from Legal Establishment and in its Legal Establishment and accordingly distinguish of Schism which is aggravated from Circumstances In our days Non-Conformity and Schism are made convertible whereas the internal Causes may be in Conformists as well as Non-Conformists But what is the external Bond and Ligature of Conformity what makes the Conformist and what makes the Non-Conformist Take away the Mount and Pale and the Inclosure and the Openfield is all one Field for the Flocks to feed together Some have extolled the Act of Uniformity as a blessed Act and some as the Bulwark of the Protestant Religion It must be acknowledged that it is a Blessing to the Church to have nursing Fathers and to have our Religion established by Law But he that is the Author and Founder of our Religion is the Bulwark also and the King's Life and Constancy is a wonderful Mercy to us But alas what a Fence is the Act if the Governours were changed The Protestant Religion as Christian as opposite to Popery was before the Act was and would be if it were revised and changed The most that can be made of the Separations is that they are illegal and the aggravated Schism illegal The Differences are originally in the minds of Men and forced out by an Act. From this the Conformist and Non-Conformist receive their Denominations Before this were Dr. Bates Dr. Jacomb Dr. Annesly Mr. Gouge and others Schismaticks any more than the learned Dr. Tillotson or Mr. Nest They could edify the Church together carry on the Morning Exercise together and converse as Brethren But since a new Door and Partition hath been set up they appear to be as two Families and two Parties I doubt not but the Dean's Catholick Head and Heart can take them in If they hear him not perhaps they may incur the angry Mark of Separation if he hear any of them he may incur a Disfavour Take away the Doors and Partition-walls and the House is one again And there are great suspicions that the Surveyors made the Doors for Exclusion and not a large Admission 1. If you consider that which was an offensive Innovation to a Brownrig Ward Prideaux c. quanti viri is now made Legal viz. the service in Latin in the Universities Westminster Winchester Eaton when they please as was noted before 2. The Non-Conformists of old stuck at Subscriptions ex animo to the Canon but by this they must subscribe and declare c. a sure way to win them 3. Not only to Articles of Religion which was enough for a Conformist in Queen Elizabeth's days but all and every thing c. 4. Did some think that Bishops and Presbyters were but one Order Now to keep them out the Bishop is consecrated in a new Form to the Office of a Bishop as a Superiour Order at least as some conceive 5. Many had taken the Covenant which renounced not the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and by virtue of these conjunctly did adhere to Kingly Government under the Usurpation and endeavoured to restore the King But now that must be renounced still to help to bring in more into Conformity was it not the way Will they for Peace and Union quit the Directory and conform to a Liturgy it shall not bring them in Would they have the Liturgy amended They shall not but in as few things as may be Can they use the Ceremonies rather than be deprived they must declare openly as much Can they practise the old Conformity They shall renounce the Covenant by which they were bound to endeavour a Reformation Would they become Lecturers as heretofore they might be No not except they declare Assent and Consent once a month If one thing will not keep them out another shall if nothing at all will keep them out then they are hardly trusted without great Evidences if not Recantations And who are most gratified and encouraged to come in but a Man whose Conscience can reach many Miles to two several Diocesses it may be from Living to Living He hath no more to do but to come within his time and declare according to Law and read his Certificate of renouncing c. and the Law hath nothing more to require of him save that where he is Resident or Incumbent and hath no Impediment then indeed he shall read the Service c. once a Month or forfeit five Pound If a Man loves his Ease or his Profit let him conform all the difficulty is in getting in If he will he may do any thing per alium except dye and give up his Accounts When I consider these things I do not wonder there are so many Non-Conformists That Honour of his Profession and our Age and either the Example or the Shame of them that shall succeed Sr. Matthew Hales said to Mr. Baxter on whose word I take it this Act of Uniformity will never unite and heal us and did upon occasion draw up a new Bill of Uniformity His Judgment might as soon be taken as any Mans and because his Memory and Manuscripts are in honour with our late wise and great Parliament I pray God that Bill may not be over-look'd when that Honourable Assembly shall meet again to debate it Here I could stop without the decency of conclusion my running thoughts being put to a stand and ready to yeeld to a prevailing Impotency and grief of Heart First Because so few Heads and Hands were united and at work to repair the Breaches of a great Church which should be every good Man's Prayer and Endeavour Secondly Because the Result of the Debates and Counsels of tho but few yet great wise and good Men should be rejected But why should we look for better from those Men who saw not what they had done amiss nor repented of other great Evils which the whole Nation hath seen and felt when Men's Principles are but as Wheels moved by Interest the Interest must be changed before the Wheels turned backward Souldiers of Fortune prolong a War and Counsellors of Fortune prolong Distractions The Troubles of Israel that put the Horsemen into a disorder and scotch'd the Wheels of many of our Chariots were never for the drawing of them into one Body again and making them serviceable Some grave and good Men checked the progress of the rest and at last the best over-awed the Guilty and did gallantly bear up against daring Rome But the Opposition had been the more successful and secure if they had brought the differing Parties of Protestants into a mutual Trust and Assurance Blessed be the Men and blessed be their Memories and blessed be their Counsels who have laboured to heal the hurt of the Daughter of Sion and
happy they who first arrive at the Haven tho upon the Planks of a torn and broken Church The Men of a Mosaic Spirit would have set the contending Israelites at one but our wise Men would not believe a Bill of Union They who had done the wrong thrust the Reconcilers away q. d. Who made you Judges But our Time was not and is not yet come altho we have had a great Body inspired with as great a Soul as ever breathed within those Walls that saw a like necessity of including Protestants as of excluding Papists These see the Things of our Peace but cannot overtake Peace Perfidious Protestants so called in the Humble Address Nov. 29. 1680. could not find the way of Peace in his Majesty's Restauration it was as far above them as Heaven is above the Earth nor knew how to imploy the Sword Treasure but against Protestants abroad nor then Power but upon Protestants at home who helped to restore them to it They may read their Character in his Majesty's Proclamation against Debaucheries 1660. printed and to be read in Churches nor their Peace but in Effeminacy Debaucheries contempt of God and the Power of that Religion which they either contracted into an uneasy corner of a Faction or else enlarged as far as Rome They who reared too high a Wall about the Church have not seen the influence of the Sun upon it to impregnate it into a desired fruitfulness the few Plants of a purer kind that spring up in it look pale and yellow faint and languid There is a great noise and sound of Religion but little Life and Soul What a brood of Atheists Papists Zealous Formalists and Contenders have grown up Since a Bill of Divorce was issued out to separate able Ministers from their Congregations an illegitimate Race sprung up who cry up Law Law and sin against the Confessions and Prayers imposed upon us by it And the Church which was the most pregnant Mother of solid and holy Christians of any in the World after many Years traveland pains sees more of the shape and form than of the lively Spirit and strength of true Piety They who take themselves to be wronged and the Divorce to be null in it self have come together tho but now and then and by stealth for most part till of late are liable to the Courts for unlawful Society with their espoused People have rather multiplied Sorrows than multiplied Joys Restore the Prophets their Wives or if they are dead by Law give them Licenses to marry where they can marry the unmarried and they will as they do pray for you and the Church that is now weak and sickly shall be the joyful Mother of Children born and brought up for God Take in more Labourers there is Field-room enough and the Harvest will be the greater and so the Joy in Heaven To draw to a Conclusion I will first point out the Obstructors of our Union 2. Give my Opinion that the Case of the Non-conformists that are found in Faith peaceable and godly is that which no Man need be ashamed of or to appear in as an Intercessor 1. Indeed I am troubled that there are any such to be found in a Reformed Church and of all other in this Church that oppose or hinder a Coaleseence But all are not Israel that are of Israel Many of the Church are for it and against it are for it in its present state of Confinement and not for it in an Enlargement which will be really for its Glory and just Authority What Multitudes are there of these both High and Low I will pray for them that are above me and speak of them that are near upon a level with me I might divide these into Clergy and Laity I will keep me to the first because they do influence many of the other But by the way I will take up a Remark It is so come to pass that our driving and compelling Clergy have fewer Admirers and Friends than they once had Many Men of little or no Religion in Judgment and Heart could not bear the plain and pressing Preaching of many able Ministers reputed to be unlearned because constant and popular Preachers they could easily part with these and give rest to their own Eats by striking them dumb They were tickled if not captivated by the florid and gentile Preaching and Writings of some of a more Romantick than true Majestick and Divine Stile of the Sons of the Church and therefore say Let these preach and the rest keep silence Some of these kept up the Repute of the Church of England under its Oppression that lost it in its Exaltation When their Feathers were grown and covered with yellow Gold they spared their Voices fled from Preferment to Preferment to gather Gold but spread not their Wings to sucker and cherish their Brood These were the Masters of the Religion of the Courtiers and many being tired with the Usurpation gave up their own Reason in complement to Courtiers for a time did easily submit to what was determined by our Leaders And who were they Church-Papists as well as Church-Protestants some of whom were carried beyond their own temper of Moderation first to strain hard to practice what really they adjudged of an evil Tendency tho of an indifferent Nature as they thought and then they were to exact of others what they could do themselves The more discerning and obstinate saw the Journeys end of these Charioteers and were resolved on their own way Others that were peaceable and facile complied in hopes of the establishment of the King's Declaration and were held in Parlee till their Enemies 't is a sad but too true a word got that Power as to force them to yeeld or fly The Gentleman understanding the Mystery of the Church-Government was Power and the Mystery of many Church-mens Zeal was Church-Dignities saw that he must Act and Vote not for the pure Interest of Religion but the temporal Interest of these Designing Men began to recoil and then to look to his own Ground Many of these rode in Company but seeing the Company were resolved for France and Rome when they had gone as far as Ganterbury and Dover and kept pace with them were resolved to go no further but to turn back and break from the Company The rest of the Church-Conformists were either the same or like them that were in before and continued the same painful course in their Ministry or took cold became idle hot intemperate and offensive The first have some respect the others no more than they deserve A new Generation come up within these eighteen or twenty Years many of them take the rising Side Cant some Scraps that fall from their Leaders Mouths preach as much with their Teeth as with their Tongues being neither studious nor considerate nor modest but venturers in Censures they are thought unfit to direct and oversee the Souls of Men. Upon some solemn Times upon some solemn
Days they Discharge freely but Aim with an evil Eye scare away some Birds but convince no Man of Sin or Duty The Judicious of all Degrees spare not to declare their dislike of these Men. In a word The growth of Popery and the antipathy that is kindled against it by the fiery Designs of Papists and the Light of Truth the Moderation of some eminent discerning Church-men the good Behaviour of Dissenters the weakness of the Protestant Interest by our needless Divisions the sobriety of our Gentry the unanimity both of them and the able Country-men and Citizens and their Zeal seeing all at Stake doth seem to open a way to a desired Union notwithstanding the aversation of such Opposers as I shall name 1. A Party of Rigid Imposers Imposers in Opinion not yet in Power that 's the best of it they mightily take the Yoke Saddle and Collar of Bells and the Rack in which we must follow as the only way We being Subjects must not judg but submit and they being Judges weigh to every Man the same weight the Weakest must bow down to as great a Load as the strongest whether they can bear it or not and measure to every Man his Omer whether he can digest it or not if it were all Manna directly from Heaven a weak Person must strive to swallow it but yet God that allowed an Omer to every one that could did not require it of every one that could not upon pain of turning out and not coming within five miles of the Family If Saul had been of these Mens Constitution David must not kill Goliah like a Non-conformist but go forth with his Armour his Helmet and Coat of Male and gird on his Sword but he was so reasonable that seeing David could not go with them he should go without the Formalities of a Champion There may be as great disproportions between the understandings of some young unstudied Conformists and the understandings of great Doctors as was between David's Head and Saul's Head and Helmet the things required for Assent are much too big for their Capacities But every I. A. B. that is but B. A. or a Deacon must Assent and Consent Declare Abbor as perfectly as any Professor of Divinity as positively as if he were an Arch Bishop They must see these things with other Mens Eyes or must not take the Work upon them and yet have not the help of a Licensed Comment upon as some think a hard Lesson I should think Catechise the Novises well in our Articles and when they Assent let them Assent to what they understand and no more and if Consent to the use be the meaning of the thing tell them plainly so I am for a plain and easy way and as light a Burden as may be laid that so we may have the more and better Company and the more comfortable Journey Pardon the hastiness of my Pen in saying what I am for Who am I and the Business is not come to my Voting But these large and intricate Impositions being equal upon all Unlearned as well as Learned do preserve a Notion somewhat like an Implicit Faith and not toto Coelo different from an Infallibility But say they it is necessary to eradicate bad Principles out of the minds of Men which grew up in the late Times I demand whether out of the minds of them that are planted with them But can my Declaration convert another and root out ill Principles out of his mind What if he doth not see the reason of my Opinion or out of the minds that never received those pernicious Principles Yet still I only declare for my self and if I was never infected with them there is no danger of my propagating of them let us propagate Godliness and Honesty and these Principles will never grow up by them The Principles had been buried in the Church like Weeds in a new-digg'd Garden had not our renouncing them kept them in memory 2. Some poor low narrow spirited Men superstitious and misled are for this Way as the only way of Entrance and Continuance in the Churches Service Spirits so poor that they cannot afford one token of Charity to Dissenters as if such a Spiritual Alms would undo them so low that having never stood upon the Shoulders of Wisdom and Experience they see not the Latitude of the way of Heaven so narrow-hearted that he thinks there is no room for any in Church-Communion especially in the Ministry that will not go into and stand in a little Frame like that in which he stands like an Image His Charity may extend to the Salvation of Heathens a Notion pretty rife but not to the Toleration of Christians especially of Preachers of the common Salvation if they will not conform Papists shall sooner enter into the Kingdom of God than a Presbyterian And who is the Presbyterian He may be a Bishop a Lord a Parliament-Man yea a whole Parliament a Lord Mayor if but moderate as well as a preaching moderate Conformist The Moderate of all Qualities is the Presbyterian but the Presbyterians are not moderate No a Presbyterian is an out-witted Jesuit and a Jesuit is an overwitting Presbyterian These new Character-makers are at this Wit and seeing he would be a Wit that makes the Character I doubt not but he is for being of the greatest sort of Wits that is the over-witting Presbyterian This piece of Formality makes himself and the Government all one that must be overthrown thinks he if any thing be abased that varies from his Conceptions Model and Measure of his Assent He is not a Papist something keeps him off but good Man he hath high thoughts of the old Way every Ceremony is in his Eye a kind of a hallowed thing and the Treasure of the Church is wrapped in the Rag of Antiquity which never was a piece of a Garment in fashion in the Apostles days or some Centuries after He contends for the gray Hairs which grow over the Eyes of the Church and the Nails which have pinched and nipt many tender Skins as for the Life and Soul of Religion Many are misled by their Informers not in Antiquity only but in Modern Times even in their own Days or the days of their immediate Fathers The Times of War and Usurpation are the only ill Times in their Chronicles which were ill indeed in respect of Punishment and Sin but have nothing but good to say of the ill Times of Provocation of Peace proceeding They do most partially and untruly charge the War upon the Presbyterians Much more falsly upon Praying and Preaching or the Divines that were in the Parliament Quarters and City many of which were forced thither It was as truly a Popish Plot and War and at first between Prerogative and Liberty tho not so bare-faced as this horrid Plot. These Men are abused by some of our Deceiving Writers and know as little of what they declaim against as they do of the Dissenters of this
present Age. But Addabatorum more pugnant clamores quantos excitant It was a bloody Civil War visibly about Civil Matters it was called Bellum Episopale not by some Parliament-Men only but one Bishop or more to make the rising Clergy part with their Mony to maintain it but it was Bellum Papale pro Rege contra Regem as well as against Parliament and Protestants 3. Our persecuting Fire-brands are against Protestant Peace and Union They approve of persecuting Laws if they might have a Parliament to make them and it shall not be persecution against Dissenting Protestants but Justice because it is but the Execution of Laws and Dissenters must be undone to preserve the Law and Government How freely do they exclaim against it closly gird at our last Parliament fly upon our Blessed Reformation from Popery blemish it with Aspersions of Sedition and Rebellion an Affront to Religion not to be endured If they read no more than Dr. Du Moulin Pr. of Canterbury's Answer to Philanax Anglieus they will be more just to the Reformation These Men are so well prepared for a Popish Successor that they can trust God with their Religion tho in Popish Hands And cannot they trust themselves too but cannot trust a Non-conforming Protestant with preaching a Sermon or Praying not in an open Pulpit These blow up Controversies into unquenchable dissentions into large Differences into wide Chasms and unpassable Gulfs They condemn the Magistrate for Coldness if he let a Dissenter preach or leave him a Bed to lie upon The Ejected are like Suburbs without the Walls of Uniformity burn the Suburbs to save the Church within whereas one would think it were the safer way to build a Wall about the Suburbs and bring them within the Line They hate House-preaching and running into Corners and would bring out the Non-conformists into the Sun-shine but only in the Dog-days Caniculum Persecutio tui video Tertull. Parce Civibus Miles is Heathen Latin but Occide manduca is in the Original It was a severe word of King James If this be all quoth he which they have to say meaning our famous Dr. Jo. Rainolds and the other Divines called Non-conformists I shall make them Conform themselves or I will hurry them out of this Land or else do worse Conference at Hampton-Court p. 85. It is as likely that they know not what Spirit they are of that are for hurrying good Men as it was from a Spirit of Flattery that a Lord said He was persuaded the King spoke in that Conference by the Holy Ghost How well soever he spake in some parts of it yet that saying might have been spared 4. Idle and insufficient Ministers that live at ease and as the manner of speaking is enjoy themselves that are more Abroad than at Home and as seldom in their Studies as they are in their Pulpits are indisposed to a Closure These Conform perhaps above Conformity sometimes whose Surplices are as Cloaks for their Faults and their pretended Loyalty makes them impregnable against deserved Censures Many of these consort with Companions of a Feather inflame one another into a degree of madness These drive away their People and when they are gone throw after them and revile those that entertain them better These with all their Might cry the Church the Church declaim against much preaching and is not that a good way to save their pains by calling it needless We are not now to convert Heathens they would rather confirm than convert them much preaching hath spoiled the World I hate these Presbyterians nothing will serve them but Preaching cry out against Calvin the Parliament the Fanaticks and run over their Railery as Papists do their Beads These are afraid of admission of more good Preachers that their Manners will be inspected and their Churches quite deserted that they must take more and better pains or else be exposed 5. Ecclesiastical Merchants Ecclesiae Possessivae Filii are against admission of more to the exercise of the Sacred Function The Trade hath been in some great Mens Hands and the engrossing of the Commodities of the Church hath enriched many that never would have touched the Burden with one of their Fingers but for double Wages But if more Ministers are capacitated by Law the Endowments of the Church will be distributed into more hands These turn Prophets that the Church will fall when due Encouragements are taken away from Learned Men in which Rank they place themselves q. d. Take away Pluralities you discourage Learning whereas it is too well known to both our Universities that they are a discouragement to Learning that many are not rewarded with a Plurality for their double Portion of Learning and that the Learning of the Curat is as much the Ornament and Support of the Church as theirs many of whose Absence is as profitable to their Parishes except to the Poor who have no Alms at their Doors nor relief from the Parsonage as their Presence These are potent in their Patrons Friends and Relations and may obstruct the Work when things come to the Vote and Flesh and Blood pleads Reason against the true Interest of Religion and the crying Necessity of Souls But let them not fear for there is no danger of putting them out to bring others in Nor do the Non-conformists desire their Liberty with the deprivation of any now in possession 6. Some honest and good Men are afraid of an Alteration from a mistated Case Many ran into Conformity to be out of Confusion and are now tenacious of this Conformity for fear of a Toleration of Popery and Antichristian Sects But there are Mediums between Extreams The Non-conformists offered to Conform to Arch-Bishop Usher's Model They argue in their haste from the Necessity of a Church-Government against an abatement of Rigor as if the sodering of Parties would be a throwing of all into the Fire and the running of the whole into a shapeless and formless Lump Many are boldly imposed upon into an ill Opinion of our Parliament and composing Minds as if they designed a Dissolution of Government and indeed do by their causless Fears discover the ill temper of our Cement that if you do but touch our present Church Frame it will be in danger of falling 7. Some are warped from a Closure by the influence of Self-love They have Conformed and are afraid of an after-condemnation for Conformity and that the Non-conformists will come in as Victors and be puffed up into an ostentation of their Refusal and Sufferings upon better Grounds and Principles But Brotherly-love and Self-denial which are so essential to Christianity must be our Exercise carrying on the common Salvation with one Heart and Shoulder But these two last named will not be grieved at our Union when it appears to be good Lastly Our many Breaches with God is the great Gulf between On the one hand if Church-men would lay to Heart and mourn for our Divisions and clearly see whence