to refuse Conformity to its late establishment because they had been fierce and unadvised disputers and contemners of it during the late Usurpation And now they would not comply not so much for fear of reproach as the former but for fear of endangering the Faith of their disciples or for fear of prejudicing their esteem of Religion by shewing so great a readiness to comply with the times for they imagin that their peoplewill be apt to suspect the truth of Christianity when they who are the chief Teachers of it discover any unconstancy in the most visible part of it which is Gods Publick Worship The apprehension therefore of doing that which might bring an open scandal to Religion prevailed upon some of the more conscientious Teachers of the Presbyterian and Independent parties to refuse Conformity to the reestablishment of the Church of England These seem to be more excusable than any of the rest because their care of Religion obliged them to refuse a compliance together with the mistakes of their Congregations for though they found nothing in the Government of the Church by Bishops and in the things enjoyned but what they could readily embrace as agreeing with Piety and good manners and the exactest Rules of Gods Holy Word yet because those whose Souls and Consciences they were to have a regard to in all their actions were prepossessed by the wickedness of former times with such invincible mistakes against this Church that they could not be persuaded out of them upon a sudden if all their Teachers had forsaken them at the alteration of the Government they might have indangered the interest of Religion in their Souls and given them strange prejudices against the Holiness and Purity of Christianity especially in these prophane days in which men are too apt to imagin it only a Politick Contrivance and the rather they would have entertained this wicked conceit of Gods Religion and Truth if their Teachers whom they looked upon as their Examples of Piety and men of great Learning for the most part should have entertained without any demur those very things which they or others but a few years before exclaimed against as impious and idolatrous and were generally believed to be so The People who commonly take things upon trust without giving themselves the time to examin their mistakes would have wondered to see men so unconstant in their behaviour so changeable for the present advantages of life to embrace such seeming impieties repugnant to their blinded Consciences Therefore they thought they could do no less than comply with their Peoples weakness rather than with the Authority of the Nation and chiefly because their People expressed a willingness to supply their necessities by their liberal contributions The Holy Apostles of our Saviour Christ seemed to have been in the same case after the preaching of the Gospel the Converted Jews were willing to embrace Christ and his Doctrine but the Laws of Moses they were not willing to forsake because they and their whole Nation had so great a Devotion for those Ceremonies which they looked upon to be perpetual and obligatory to their Nation in regard of Gods Covenant that they could not be induced to neglect them though Christ and his Apostles had shewed them the intent of them all which was but to keep them in expectation of their Saviours coming and the Revelation of the Gospel Mysteries But when the Apostles saw no possibility of drawing the Jews from their Mosaical Observances they connived at them who embraced Christianity and took that course which might further their acceptance of Christs Religion So far were they from dissuading them from it that they themselves yielded to all such observances that they might not seandalize the rest though they were fully acquainted with their insignificancy By this compliance with the Nations mistakes and the Peoples weakness which they were resolved to continue till Christianity had gained a sufficient credit amongst them they minded two things First The avoiding of all Controversies and dissensions which might have risen to disturb the Publick Welfare from the Pharisees extraordinary Devotion for their Law Secondly The taking away of that which would have proved the greatest obstacle amongst the Jews to the progress of Christs Religion if its first reception had commanded them to forsake Moses and his Ordinances by which the Priestly Order was maintained in its splendor But for the better encouragement of Christians they suffered Moses to usher in Christ and the People to profess Judaism and Christianity together before they would venture to call them away from those carnal Ceremonies which ended at Christs Death and Passion In process of time St. Paul to the Hebrews shews them their emptiness and insignificancy and advises them at last to leave the shadows seeing they enjoyed the Substance and the Body I could heartily wish that as many of the Learned and Conscientious Teachers as amongst our Non-Conforming Brethren have imitated the Apostles in their compliance with the peoples weakness for the avoiding of Scandal and Religions sake would now at last imitate them in their second endeavors to undeceive their people now that they are all so well acquainted with us and our worship by several Disputations that none but those whose Eyes are wilfully shut can conceive any such uncharitable opinion of us That we are Popish and Superstitious in the Service of God Now that they all see that the Pope creeps not in amongst them under our white Surplices and is not hidden under our supposed Altars nor that our Religious Prayers usher not in the Antichristian Mass Now that the Holiness of our Religion the significancy of our Ceremonies the Integrity of our Laws In a word the Excellency of our Church Order and Worship are visible to all the Nation It would become the Wisdom and Christianity of those Learned and Wise Teachers of the Presbyterian and Independent parties to perfect what is already begun and to encourage an union with us The same care of Religion which obliged them first to comply with their Peoples mistakes calls them now to persuade them out of them lest these mistakes should gangrene in their Souls through their encouragement and turn to the subversion of our Church and the Protestant Religion in this Nation I am certain that now Christianity and the Souls of these men are in greater danger through your compliance with them my reverend Brethren than they would be if you did gently deal with them to shew them the lawfulness of our practices and worship and persuade them by word and deed to joyn with the approved forms and established Service of God in this Nation For now their obstinacy is no longer weakness but wilfulness no longer Conscience but Resolution and Aversion You know sufficiently how dangerous it is to nourish them up in an abhorrency of Truth and to encourage them in a displeasure against the Professors of it You know how contrary to the blessed disposition of
suspect I am certain that if you will govern your selves by them your Non-Conformity will be less dangerous to your Souls more excusable before God and less hurtful to the Nation I. Abstain from all disrespectful words slanderous reports base aspersions and railing accusations and unworthy imputations of our Government Worship and Orders of the Church Suffer not your suspicions of sin to break out into an open injustice and filthy language If your judgments be infected defile not your tongues with the same pollution Let a Christian moderation bridle in that liberty which men commonly give themselves of speaking any thing against that which they cannot phancy and let not your mistakes appear farther than your own Souls This restraint is most just reasonable and agreeing with the passages of Gods Blessed Word for it is but just that you should abstain from abusing that Church and Government which secures your Lives and Estates from which your Forefathers and many of you have received the advantage of being Christians It was a great ingratitude in one of the Sons of Noah to reveal and sport himself with the sight of his Fathers Nakedness It is as great an ingratitude in the English Subjects and deserves as severe a Curse to blaze abroad and delight to publish in every Company the suspected nakedness of their Mother the Church of Eagland from whose Breasts they have sucked many benefits It is very remarkable that when the Children of Israel were going into the Land of Canaan to live amongst the Heathens God gave them this Commandment for the preservation of the publick Peace of his People which would have been broken if they had by their unhandsom Language stirred up the Heathens jealousie for the Honour of their Gods Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of they People Exod. xxii 28. They differed in essential matters of Religion yet God would not suffer his People to rail against those false Divinities lest that might disquiet and disturb the publick tranquillity And for that very cause when the Jews were in Captivity in Babylon Jeremiah sent them a Letter by Gods Command To seek the peace of the City whither they were carried away Captives and pray unto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace Jerem. xxix 7. The Jews were Gods People the Babylonians were Idolaters yet God would not suffer them to defame or speak any thing which might hinder the peace of that Kingdom Likewise it was observed by the Town-Clerk of Ephesus in his harangue to the People in their uproar That the Christians were neither Robbers of Churches nor yet Blasphemers of the Goddess Diana Acts xix 37. And the Heathens could commend the Christians for their moderation and discretion in this respect Justin Martyr And is it just that you my Brethren should be continually reviling and blaspheming that Worship and Religion whereof the establishment renders ye quiet in the possession of your Estates That Religion and Worship against which you have nothing but Suspicions and not such Allegations as the Jews had against the Babylonish and as the Christians had against the Heathenish Religion Our Peace I confess is not disturbed in that manner as theirs had been had they treated the Heathens as many of you do us for you have to deal with those Christians that look upon you as Brethren and can suffer affronts and disgraces with patience but our moderation excuses not the violent and uncharitable expressions and blasphemies too much in use amongst the indiscreetest of our dissenting Brethren Whatever therefore be your thoughts and suspicions of us let your words be modest and let them favour of that Christian Charity which we should entertain for one another II. Seek not to propagate your displeasures against our Church and Worship nor to gain Proselytes to your Sects You have but suspicions of sin to lay to our Charge no real Accusations no open Idolatry nor plain Superstition to fasten upon our Church and Worship though this suspicion as you pretend is sufficient to excuse your Non-Conformity it may not have the same effect upon others that which is but a suspicion in you shall assuredly be an Article of Faith in a Disciple for Error like the Snow-balls increaseth the farther it goes Education and Custom will cause your Children to abominate what you look upon to be tolerable if you bring them up in an aversion for it It is observed concerning hereticks and mistakes in Religion that their Disciples were far more the Children of Hell than their Masters and more violent and more extravagant in their deviations from the Truth Matt. xxxiii 15. It is therefore very dangerous to draw into the same groundless suspicions unexperienced Souls who are apt to improve mistakes to the disturbance of the publick and their own damnation If therefore you will not be in love with your prejudices take heed how you bring up your Children in such persuasions as may hasten their ruin and the Nations calamities And if you cannot prevail upon your selves to forsake your opinions be not so fond of your distemper to communicate it to others but encourage them in the performance of their duties III. Give not credit too unadvisedly to the ill reports that concern the Church and its Government for there is nothing that increaseth so much the displeasure against it as that wicked policy of our Adversaries They misrepresent us to the people and deal with us as the Jesuits in Spain do with the Protestants condemned to the fire they cloath them with Paper Coats and Caps all covered over with shapes of Devils and strange chimera's to render them more frightful to the vulgar sort thus do our subtil enemies cover us over with the figures of Devils Idolatry Superstition and Crimes which when well examined will appear to be only the effects of their malice rather than expressions of our deservings IV. Search with diligence into the differences between us take the assistance of Gods Holy Word inquire into our Practices and Belief and by Prayer endeavour to understand the Truth that you may learn to practise it We dare appeal to the Judgments of the most moderate of you we are no such Idolaters as some would have There is nothing of Superstition enjoyned in our Church we will be tried by Gods Word and the sound interpretation of the Holy Fathers Read over Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Policy commended by our Royal Martyr Read his Opinion of our Church Worship and Government in his incomparable Book His judgment is worthy to be looked upon I have ever esteemed saith he the Church of England the best Profession of Religion because it comes nearest to Gods Word for Doctrine and to the Primitive Examples for Government In a Letter to the Prince of Wales Read Bishop Bancroft Downham Hall Bilson and Dr. Taylor against Presbytery in Vindication of the Church of England Read our later Disputations about the matters in
FRIENDLY ADVICE TO PROTESTANTS OR AN ESSAY TOWARDS Comprehending and Uniting OF ALL PROTESTANT DISSENTERS TO THE Church of England HUMBLY Offer'd to the Consideration of this present PARLIAMENT as the best Expedient of this time to secure the Safety Honour and Welfare of the KING and Kingdom By a Sober Protestant LONDON Printed for Samuel Heyrick and are to be Sold at his Shop at Grays-Inn-Gate in Holborn 1680. TO THE Courteous Reader Courteous Reader I Intreat you to peruse with a mild a moderate and a Christian Temper these few sheets which have been thought fit to be recommended to the publick view as well to give a full prospect of the Jesuitical Designs against us and our Religion as to persuade our Brethren to that Vnity and Vniformity which will secure us against all their Hellish Attempts This Invitation will appear so much the more seasonable because we are yet threatned with strong Combinations with mighty Conspiracies with the Conjunction of Foreign Powers that promise to themselves the overthrow of Christ's Gospel and Truth amongst us Methinks that the greatness of the Common Danger in which we are all concern'd should Alarm us into a compliance with one another and oblige us to joyn to maintain that Profession which our Enemies joyntly strike at Methinks their Policy should teach us how to preserve our selves and cause us to unite also in Affections in Gods Worship in our Cares and Endeavours for the Publick Safety for the prevention of their mischievous purposes too much encouraged by our groundless and unreasonable Divisions In this juncture of time the Nations welfare and preservation hath such a dependency upon this Conjunction that we can never expect it without this reconciliation It is the Vnity of the people that will render us invincible and draw down upon our heads the Blessing of Heaven The safest Defence of States and Kingdoms It will establish Religion upon an unmoveable Basis and maintain the envied Hierarchy of our Church in the midst of all Disorders It will prevent many wicked Designs of the Pope and his bloody Agents and silence the jealousies and tumultuous fears that disturb our quiet In a word Vnity in Religion and Gods Worship will preserve the Nations Peace from Foreign Invasion and Intestine discords If therefore our Brethren of the same Religion who differ from us only in shadows would hearken at last to this Reconciliation and joyn with us at least in outward appearance If they would consent to lay aside all prejudice and partiality and banish from among us all names of dissention innumerable advantages would from thence proceed and this happy Conjunction would infallibly prove the most Invincible Bulwark of our Church and Nation against the malice of Hell and the Popes fury In order thereunto several particulars are here recommended to the publick view to dispose mens minds for this blessed unity in Religion and prepare them for a Cure But as there are distempers which the Patients frowardness and other circumstances will not suffer to be healed by every common Physitian the grand disease of our Nation is such that only the Wisdom of our Superiours can compleat the cure and close up our bleeding wounds torn and inlarged through our Enemies subtil practices Several endeavours have been formerly made for the same purpose but success hath not answered the expectations of good men because their Judicious and Religious proceedings have been frustrate as some imagin through the unseasonableness and sharpness of the Remedies or the untractableness of interessed persons or rather through the secret Plots of our busy Enemies who lay in our bosoms and had a finger in our actings of this nature But now these obstacles are partly removed now the greatness of our danger hath alarm'd many into a compliance with our Church and begot in us an earnest desire of a Conjunction we only wait for an Invitation and the perfecting of that Vnion which will render us and our posterity happy for ever I shall desire from all True Protestants a favourable acceptance of and a charitable construction to these my endeavours which I hope will prevail upon men of calm spirits and unbiassed judgments my zeal and affection for the service of my Country and for the preservation of the true Religion for which I have been a sufferer hath encouraged me to this Attempt Who knows but that these considerations that I here offer may prevail upon many may satisfie their doubting Consciences and oblige them to study for the future Vnity and Peace Who knows but that a Person though in a mean Station may contribute something towards that Blessed Work of Vniting us and our Brethren together For it is the usual Method of Divine Providence to make use of the unlikeliest Agents to bring to pass the great Designs and the noble effects of his Power and Wisdome that the Glory might be ascribed to him alone and that none might partake with him in that which is all his due I beseech the God of all Wisdom Vnity and Peace to unite us all together to reconcile our differences te enlighten our understandings with his Truth sanctifie our wills and affections with his Spirit of Love I beseech His Divine Majesty to preserve in health and prosperity our gracious and religious King and bless the zealous endeavours of the wise and great Council of our Nation for his Glory and the Nations Welfare This shall always be the Prayer of M. D. THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. The Conspiracy and present Designs of the Popish Party in Europe against the Protestant Interest discovered with the methods observed by them to overthrow the Church of England Pag. 1. CHAP. II. The danger of Division in a Nation about matters of Religion and what pernicious consequences it hath had in foreign Countries and in this 12 CHAP. III. That there is no reasonable cause of dividing from our Church and that the most scrupulous Conscience may and ought to conform according to the Laws of God as well as man 20 CHAP. IV. The true causes why most part of our dissenting Brethren will not joyn with us in the Worship of our God enquired into In what particulars our differences chiefly consist and their grand Objection Answered 32 CHAP. V. Seasonable and Christian Advices for our Non-Conforming Brethren who are possessed with such strong prejudices against the Church of England that they cannot easily overcome them and a Reconciliation proposed 49 CHAP. VI. An Exhortation to all the Learned Pious and Christian Teachers amongst our Non-Conforming Brethren to prevent in time the Nations ruin by an Vnity with us and to lay aside all Prejudice and Partiality 56 A SEASONABLE ADVICE TO ALL True Protestants IN ENGLAND IN This present posture of Affairs CHAP. I. The Conspiracy and present Designs of the Popish Party in Europe against the Protestant Interest discovered with the methods observed by them to overthrow the Church of England THE true Christian Faith in all Ages hath
been endangered by the cruelties and furious persecutions of the Devil and his Hellish Agents Since the Murther of the Divine Author of this Excellent Religion there is no Age nor Kingdom but hath seen multitudes of his sincere Followers sent after their Good Master How furiously did the Pharisees rage against the Apostles how barbarously did they handle the first Christians how many Consultations and Attempts to stifle this Religion in its Infancy in the Rivers and Torrents of the Blood of its Professors And when by S. Paul's Preaching the Truth was generally known and embraced all over the Roman Empire how many Massacres and Tragedies have been acted upon Christians As it is not possible to describe the inhumanities of Nero Domitian Dioclesian and other Caesars it is impossible to declare the number of Christ's Disciples murdered in all parts of their Dominions in every Town and Hamlet and in every Province fire and sword misery and torments were the portions of all that were so bold as to own this sacred Name Afterwards when by the goodness of God the Roman Emperors began to open their Eyes and perceive the Divinity of this Faith when they began to draw the whole World by their Religious Examples to worship a Crucified Saviour the Devil whose Empire was thereby overthrown took other measures and an other course to destroy Christianity and hinder its progress amongst men Instead of opposing the whole Body of it which had gained an invincible credit in the World he resolved to pick quarrels with some of its Doctrines and to poyson the Hypocritical Professors with such pernicious persuasions as might spread to the forming of a Party for himself No sooner did the Primitive Christians come out of the Heathenish Persecutions but this grand Enemy of all Truth and Piety advanced amongst them the Heresies of Arius Apollinarius Nestorius Novatus Pelagius and others of his Champions who either by subtilty or cruelty assaulted again Christ's Church afresh and raised persecutions against her in her very bowels But Satan's Malice was never so remarkable nor the Sufferings of the Church never so many nor the Plots and Combinations against her never so frequent under the Governments of the Jews and Romans as they have been since the Apostacy of the Roman Church from Christs true Faith and its reception of the antient Heresies The Devils Throne established in the Old Capitol seems to be now transferred to the infamous Vatican of Rome the antient abode of the Whores and the now Seat of the Great Whore of Babylon Corn. Tacit. lib. 2. in fine Vitel. Imperij for from this place it is impossible to number the Decrees and Commissions that have been sent to murder destroy burn and overthrow Christ's true Church on Earth How many Wars have been kindled how many Massacres acted how many Plots set on foot how many Cruelties and Tragedies have proceeded from the Resolutions and Orders of the Vatican In all Ages and Kingdoms of our Northern-World the Roman Party was never wanting in any bloudy Scene to destroy Christ's Disciples It is observable that for above seven hundred years there hath scarce been a War in Europe but the Pope of Rome hath been the first Contriver and greatest Promoter of it chiefly when Christ's Church and People were concerned For it hath always been the Policy of the Roman Court when the Princes of Europe were grown so Rich or Great as to give them a Jealousie to stir them up by their Nuncios to some chargeable and dangerous War or to raise against them their discontented Neighbours And since the Reformation hath separated from them a part of Europe all the Protestant Blood that hath been spilt may be charged upon the Pope and his Agents How many millions in France Germany Spain and other parts of Europe have been slain by the Papists How many private Massacres and publick Wars have been begun and encouraged by them I dare assert and offer my self to prove from a certain knowledge of the Histories of former Ages that in this Northern World since the first Reformation the Pope and his Papists have been so great Enemies of the Peace of Christendom that there hath been no War kindled nor scarce any Bloody Scene acted by any Authority nor any noted Wickedness performed but the Pope had there a hand and was concerned as one of the chief Actors This unreconcileable hatred which he bears to Christ's Church and his Gospel inrages him and all his restless Agents against this flourishing and happy Kingdom Since the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign how many hundred Plots and Conspiracies have been set on foot by the Papists against the Lives of our Kings and Princes and the Peace of this Nation This Land seems to have been the chiefest Theater of their Cruelty and private Conspiracies As soon as by the Goodness of God one Plot is disappointed another is immediately begun and advanced to trouble this Kingdom I shall not mention here the former Discoveries that have been made of the Popes designs against us of our danger in Eighty Eight of the Gunpowder-Plot of our late Civil Wars of our Royal Martyrs Murder of the Noble Blood that hath been privately spilt and of our unreconcileable differences in Religion known to be fomented by the Pope and Papists and many other of their contrivances within these few years tending to disquiet and disturb Christ's Church amongst us I shall in this short Tract give an Account only of the present designs of the Papists against the Protestant Religion in Europe from certain and well grounded Intelligence that I have had with worthy men of the Popish Religion and the Acquaintance that I have desired to get in the Affairs of Europe within these twenty years I shall here give a prospect of a private Consultation and a crafty Contrivance which hath caused already much Christian Blood to be spilt in all parts of Europe and God knows how much more the carrying on of these designs will cost God knows what miseries and afflictions it will bring upon us For the prevention of the mischiefs intended against us in this Land and our Protestant Religion I here offer this Discovery to the Publick or as much as is necessary to be known I pray God that our Brethren of the same Religion would seriously consider it so as to reunite again with us in the sincere profession of the Truth and Worship of our God that our Enemies may not advantage themselves by our divisions for this purpose I shall shew what this Popish Design is by whom commenced and who are chiefly concerned Alexander the Seventh of the Family of Chigi was looked upon as one of the greatest Politicians of his days As soon as he was setled in his Papacy he sent his Nuncios into France Germany and Spain to reconcile the Popish Princes and to conclude between them such a League as that they might be able to suppress the Calvinists at home and oppose
together the Turk abroad The differences between the French and the Spaniards were composed by the Marriage of the eldest Infanta of Spain with Lewis the Fourteenth the yongest being given to the Emperor the Chief of the House of Austria This Peace gave leasure to the French Court and an opportunity to the Pope and his Agents to Work and Solicit the Ruin of the Protestants by pulling down their Churches and denying them the priviledges allowed them before Several ways were then proposed in the Assembly of Cardinals answerable to the state of every Kingdom England was then groaning under the Tyranny of an Usurper dreadful to all Europe but a Religion was then here professed in opposition to Popery The Kings Majesty was in his Banishment It was therefore resolved to get here such an Interest in the Army and in the Land as that the Papists might be able to make a strong party when time should serve for that purpose several Jesuits were sent over to set up new Religions and divide the people amongst themselves and to joyn with the Army into which they were admitted in Offices of Trust under their usual disguises A proposal had been made to our Gracious Soveraign to draw him from the Truth with large hopes of an universal assistance of the foreign Papists in such a case to settle him again in his Throne but he was not to be drawn to be the Popes Slave in hopes of a Crown nor to be perswaded to embrace such absurdities against his Conscience and Reason God therefore performed for him what his Enemies had but proposed and restored to him his inheritance as a reward of his Fidelity to Truth contrary to the whole Worlds expectation When the Court of Rome saw so great a revolution in this Kingdom and the Protestant Religion succeeding to the former Anarchy in the Church when they saw no hopes of that Change they wished for they sent as many Emissaries as they could to sow the seeds of division amongst us and our brethren of the same perswasion for the carrying on of their damnable designs the ruin of our Kingdom and Church against which they planted all their Engins A Consultation was regularly had in London of the most experienced and wisest Jesuits who had intelligence with most parts of the Kingdom and knew by Letters the posture of all Affairs and the Peoples dispositions The result was sent over to their General at Rome and the Assembly appointed there for English Affairs From thence they received every month new Orders how to proceed which Orders they had a general Commission to correct according to the unexpected accidents that might happen During the late Civil War and Usurpation the Jesuit had got many Proselytes to his Religion by drawing them from the Truth or causing some to cast off all respect of any other Religion but that which their sordid Interest recommended The Wicked and Antichristian Principle of the former and the prophaness and licentiousness of the latter made them both ready to embrace Popery as soon as it should appear with any credit amongst us but all this while the Knave lurked under the shape of an Anabaptist of a Quaker of a Fift-Monarchy man and sometimes for his Interest he would appear amongst the Presbyterians and Independents The severity of the antient Laws and the Peoples general hatred of Popery and Jesuits suffered him not to lift up his Mask therefore all his proceedings were private and secret and under such outward garbs as hindred him from being visible to every eye But as soon as the Kings Majesty returned to his Crown and Kingdom the Jesuits and Papists were resolved to take other measures The services of some of their Party and the Authority of Crowned Heads emboldned them to appear amongst us with more Courage and less Fear of the Law which by the King 's merciful temper was mitigated towards them and they suffered to make profession of their Religion without fear of punishment All that they seemed then to desire and pretend to was but the freedom to exercise their Religion but give the Devil an Inch and he will take an Ell. Their secret aim and private contrivances have always tended to the overthrow of Church and State for the better carrying on of their purposes they have endeavoured to have all the Interest they could make amongst the great ones There was then three obstacles to their grand Design not to be overcome on a sudden The Kings reality in the Protestant Profession the Nations general aversion for Popery some out of Interest and for Fear of losing their Impropriations and Abbey-Lands others out of a principle of Religion and the third obstacle was the Parliaments Sincerity and Loyalty to God and their King To attempt openly to overcome these impediments was but a madness which could not turn but to their ruin They found out a way to batter these invincible Bulwarks and if not to render them assaultable at least to prevent the danger they apprehended from thence the Peoples aversion they took away by degrees by their officious and kind behaviour civil deportment and usual professions of fidelity to their Prince and care of the publick safety honour and happiness by spreading abroad both in the Countrey and the City Books of their Religion with moderate Disputations and Refutations of ours which they gave to all that would hearken to them or shew them any countenance or likelihood of embracing their ways and by settling of Popish School-Masters in every corner of the City who endeavoured if not to poison the Children with their principles at least to give them such a tincture of their Religion as might remove the natural aversion They dealt with every one according to his quality disposition and place To the Great and Noble they seemed to be true trusty and officious to the meaner sort they appeared with hopes and promises of advantage and to all they discovered the Popish Religion under the disguises of pleasure and profit as many as were not well principled they endeavoured to debauch and corrupt chiefly if they were in any place of trust that they might shew themselves favourable to Popery and Papists Some they would recommend and promote to places of profit to Offices and Employments in Noble Families and in the State to others they would give monies and with all persons they endeavoured to ingratiate themselves casting all the misery and troubles of our Civil War upon Presbyterians Reformation and Non-conformity to render them the more odious to King and People One thing gave them a jealousie and they were resolved to employ all their Skill and Art to prevent it That was a reconciliation between the Episcopal Party and the moderate Non-Conformists endeavoured by the Kings Majesty and desired by the whole Nation To hinder this conjunction which doubtless would have proved fatal to Popery in this Land and break the neck of all their designs they laboured to interpose between both
if thou didst act against the sollicitations of thy Conscience it will never be able to oblige him to allow of that which is evil in it self to justifie the guilty and condemn the innocent Take heed I beseech thee that what thou sayest is Conscience be not invincible prejudice and hatred or humor and groundless fancy or it may be something worse that strong spirit of delusion unto which God delivers such as will not be lovers of the Truth For the better discovery of the mistakes of thy Conscience in this particular I beseech you my Christian Brethren to examin what mischiefs such division about Religion have caused already in Foreign Nations and in this the Histories of former Ages are full of sad accidents murthers and wars destructions and calamities of Countries caused by the disputes about Religion The Kingdom of the Jews flourished and grew invincible under the Government of David and his Posterity so that all the Nations round about paid them Tribute They might have still continued in that happy condition and been able to set bounds to the spreading Empire of Babylon had not Jeroboam under a pretence of Religion divided the Kingdom and Nation of Israel and to save the People the trouble and expence of going up to Jerusalem set up the Golden Calves in Dan and Bethel But how many evils did this division in Religion and Government cause in that Land They were subject to the affronts of every petty King and contemptible Nation and at last were overthrown by their Neighbours and themselves carried away into Captivity with their Wives and Children After the Jews return from Babylon they grew numerous and strong in the Romans time and were able through their numbers and the resolation and courage which the principle of Religion put into them to command the East part of the World But what and how much woe and misery did their Factions and Sects draw upon them what sad Destructions not to be paralel'd in any other Nation It was openly confessed by Titus and their Roman Conquerors that as their divisions between their Princes gave Pompey footing in their Countrey their divisions had brought them to utter ruin and unheard of miseries for by this means they became instrumental in their own overthrow and did more mischief to themselves than all the Armies of their Enemies So that by Division in Religion this People of Israel who were assisted by Gods Power and Protection and favoured above all other Nations brought themselves to be the scum of the World and lost their Land being dispersed into all parts and Kingdoms The fall of the Roman Empire was brought to pass by division for that let in the Huns the Longobards the Goths Vandals and Visigoths and all the Northern People into its fruitful borders The Grecian Empire might have stood upon its legs to this very day had it not been for their senseless divisions in Church and State The Sects and Heresies of Arrius Eunomius Novatus Samosatenus and other busy-bodies let in the Turk and his Mahomet and in the days of the Emperor Heraclius when men were so divided and had so disputed all Religion and Truth out of doors that the simpler and more ignorant sort knew not which to chuse these wicked divisions gave an occasion to that Arabian Impostor to set up a Religion of his own which he recommended to them with the inviting and pleasing Charms of pleasure and profit Read but over the divisions and disputes about Religion in the Cities of Constantinople Alexandria Antioch and in many other places of the East Countries and examin how many thousands have been destroyed how many cruelties acted how many calamities brought upon the Inhabitants through their endless discords in Religion and you will have cause to wonder at their madness to strive for that which forbids them to strive and to fight for a Religion which disallows all variance You will have cause to wonder at their inhumanities and extravagancies they torment themselves for nothing and shed their own blood contrary to Reason and that Religion for which they did so unadvisedly contend What is become of the Grecian Empire now where are the flourishing Churches of Christ of Asia and Africa In what condition are the Christians of those parts of the World under how much misery and under what cruel Tyranny do they groan The contemptible remains of all those Antient Professors of our Religion are oppressed with the Turkish and Moorish Bondage They have lost all their honour and glory their wealth their priviledges their Countrey and all their present happiness in this life their Estates and their Children are at their Conquerors pleasure And though there are some yet professing Christianity in those parts of the World they differ in all respects so much from what their Forefathers were in former Ages that they are able to draw tears from the most insensible Souls when compared with them as the building of the second Temple did from the Jews returned from Babylon when they saw how differing it was from the Glory and Magnificence of the first Structure And all this hath proceeded from this Wicked and Venemous Root Division in Religion Look into the latter Ages of the World and see into what confusion these divisions about Religion have cast Kingdoms and Cities The Cities of Florence of Naples and Millain in Italy have often been watered with the Blood of their Noblest Inhabitants which the divisions about Religion caused to be shed The grand disputes about the Guelfs and Gibbelins troubled all Europe and murthered more men than the cruelest Wars In Germany what inhumanities have been committed In the Low-Countries how many Rivers of Christian Blood have been spilt under the pretence of Religion The Spanish Massacres the Duke D' Alva's Butcheries are sufficiently known to all the World In Africa amongst the Moors and Arabians the disputes about their Prophets Impieties and their False Religion hath caused one of their own Writers to say Hali Ben-Hamet a MS. That there is nothing exasperares more the minds of men one against another than the differing perswasions in Religion Another of their Authors complains in this manner O how furiously men are set against one another for such matters as concern not the Prophets honour nor the essential part of our Religion for in the late revolution of the Empire of Morocco Religion was pretended to deceive the People In France the Factions of the Albi and Nigri and the furious transports of the Papists against the Reformed Professors have often exhausted the Blood and Treasure of that Kingdom In Switzerland how many troubles arose from small divisions in Religion In the Vnited Provinces in our late days the refined Notions of Arminius and the extravagancies of the Anabaptists had almost cast them into a Civil War In France the hot disputes between Amyraldus and Du Moulin had cantoned those poor Churches in the midst of their Enemies if moderate and wise men
displeased at the reading of our Prayers but if you will shut your Eyes they may seem to you as good as if they had been pronounced memoriter Grieve not to hear the same requests offered up and loath not the same Prayers which you hear so often because you are pinched with the same necessities every day and stand in need of the same God and the same Blessings and therefore may we offer up the same Prayer In the matter of our Prayers if any of you will shew us any thing contrary to Gods Will or Word we will correct and dash it out Be not offended at the Cross in Baptism this was practised in Christs Church before ever Popery was known in the World and is a significant sign used by the Primitive Christians to embolden and encourage us betimes to wear and receive the marks in our bodies of Christs Holy Religion Be not offended at our outward Reverence which we express at the mentioning of the Name of Jesus as we will not condemn you that omit this respect judge not us that observe it nor any other outward Action of the Assistants will not be laid to your charge in the Publick Service of God if you intend only Gods Honour I know that meer Formality too visible in many of our Conformists and their apparent Contempt of the outward Devotions discovered in their Actions and Behaviour is a discredit to our Worshipping of God and a discouragement of our dissenting Brethren As therefore they should take heed how they lay such stumbling-blocks in their way the others should remember not to interpret every thing at the worst sence and not to be distasted at the excellent Prayers of our Church because of the prophaness of some persons that assist at or ought to be patterns of our Devotion and Piety Likewise in the renounding of the Covenant why wilt thou be so scrupulous or rather headstrong to maintain obstinately the lawfulness of that which the Kings Majesty and the Wise Council of our Nation have pronounced to have been an unlawful Oath imposed upon the Subjects against the known Laws of the Land Have not we sufficiently seen the wicked sequels of this Engagement or Combination The Fruits that this Tree hath born declare sufficiently the Nature of it We need not the Verdict of our Religious Governors to understand it to have been an unjust Action contrary to our Laws and Liberties for we have seen our selves deprived thereby of both by those very persons who required it from us Why must we yet continue in our mistakes Neither are the words of the renunciation so strict but that any good Christian who intends but to demean himself quietly in the Government may abjure the Covenant in the manner appointed for we do but say that there lies no obligation upon us or any other to cause any stirs rebellion or tumult in Church or State Did you therefore understand what is desired from you I cannot think but that every one of you that is a good Christian would readily comply with so moderate a reconciliation But this Abjuration concerns only those persons of you that enter into Offices and Employments in the Kingdom And it is all the reason in the world that such as are intrusted with any publick Charge should promise not to cause any disturbance in that Government in which they are employed and by which they are secured and their Estates from Invasion Why must we be so fond of a Scotch contrivance put into their heads by Richelieu and the Jesuits whom he sent over purposely to overthrow the Glory of the Protestant Religion in Europe the Episcopacy of the Church of England and to cast us into a confusion in revenge of our assisting them of Rochel against their Prince It may be the whiteness of the Surplice offends thy weak Stomach or Conscience and keeps thee at a distance from our way of Worship But consider my Brother or Sister that Religion consists not in colours and wearing of Apparel It concerns not thy Soul if thou wearest in Gods Service White Black Green Yellow or Red. If thou hadst not a prejudice against this Garment it would please thee as well as Black Gowns and Cloaks with Capes But is it not a sad sign that such a trivial matter shall cause thee to cast off all respect to thy God and the Authority of thy Governours and because of a decent colour and habit which thou dost but fancy to be unbeseeming thou shalt refuse all Communion and Correspondency with thy Brethren on Earth and I am afraid in Heaven too Rev. ix 14. Chap. iii. 4 5. Chap. vi 11. For they shall be all cloathed in white Garments as Priests and Prophets to offer up continually the Sacrifices of their Praises to God In short for I am ashamed to mention and mind you my Non-Conforming Brethren of the usual Objections against us and our Conformity and the Childish causes alledged by some of you for your standing at a distance from us and refusing all Religious correspondency with us I beseech you weigh them all in equal Scales without partiality or prejudice and you will find no reason to refuse Conformity with us I desire you to consider that if your Children and Servants in your Families did breed a disturbance amongst themselves upon such weak grounds and for such slight causes did entertain quarrels and disputes to the disquieting of your Houses would not you seek a remedy with a Rod to make them more peaceable and would not you dismiss such unruly Servants and take in others of a quieter disposition Would you not endeavor to silence their bawling and when they canton in your Families and divide it into parties in Contempt of your Authority and Commands would you not seek to bring them together and oblige them by some way to reunite in One This is the case of Christs Church among us in England I look upon the Presbyterian and Independents chiefly with some other of the more moderate Non-Conformists to be our Brethren belonging to the same Family Christ our Lord. for our Faith and Religion is the same in effect most part of our differences are but trivial childish and unreasonable about such things which concern not the honor of the Lord of the Family nor the publick interest good and preservation of it when considered in themselves And if there be any difference in our Religion between them and us it is in such matters as may be easily reconciled when well sifted out and are not of an absolute necessity to the Salvation of mens Souls Our happiness depends not upon postures gestures garments colours forms crosses surplices and other such like things which are indifferent in themselves and were they not enjoyned might as well be omitted as observed It is therefore a shame for you to quarrel and break the Peace of Christ's Family I mean his Church about such Trifles No doubt but our wise Saviour will take some
whose Souls and Understandings God hath given over to a strong spirit of delusion to believe Lies and to work Abominations have their excuses for their own follies and errors and to justifie their leaving of us But these I judge for the most part to be in so desperate a case that without a Miracle of Grace it is not possible to snatch them out of the claws of that commanding Spirit that governs them This advice is designed for the perusal of a more moderate sort and of more reasonable Souls more tractable and sociable who embrace the same Faith with us and expect the same Salvation by the same means the Merits of Christ and good Works These also have their pleas and excuses to hide that which is not justifiable by Gods Word and right Reason Their not Conforming with us in the service of God and Duties of Religion But whatever be their pretence these are the true causes of their obstinacy and our unhappiness The first and chiefest are Prejudice and Partiality proceeding from Education a long custom in and an acquaintance with that irregular way which they are so fond of These are wont strangely to prepossess mens minds and blind their judgments against the most apparent discoveries of Truth The late Usurpation and Anarchy in the Church let in another Government and other Orders unto which many that are accustomed cannot so readily prevail upon themselves to embrace what they fancy to be contrary chiefly in so delicate a business as Religion in which their sincerity makes them constant and faithful to the meanest circumstance But I would entreat you my Brethren to rectifie your mistakes by a diligent enquiry for we desire you not to forsake your Religion but to profess the same according to that most excellent manner that the Wisest and most Religious Governours of our Kingdom have thought fitting to prescribe to us Search into our Belief and Practices and see that we agree as well as you with the Holy Records of Gods Word we have the same Faith the same Sacraments the same God and Saviour the same initiation and we are designed for the same End and Glory what a pitty it is that we should be divided in the way Besides all the occasions of your prejudices proceed from mistakes and misapprehensions of us Therefore for the prevention of this evil take not things too much upon trust but give your selves the satisfaction to examin our way and the reasons we give for that which you object against us converse with us in our Devotions and think not that you shall be defiled to pray with us to the same God If your tender Consciences will suffer you to hearken to reason and to associate your selves with us in our Public Worship I am persuaded that all prejudice and partiality will soon vanish at the clear Sun-shine of the Gospel preached and sincerely taught amongst us You ought therefore to be jealous of that which seems to be your Conscience which is for the most part nothing but Humor strengthned by a long continuance And if your Conscience hath been wrought upon to act against truth good manners the glory of God and interest of Christian Religion you must labor by Prayer and the assistance of others of your more enlightned Brethren to find out the mistakes of your deceived Conscience For I cannot conceive but that many of the well meaning people amongst you are governed by their Consciences and frighted with secret remorses from the justest actions agreeable to Gods will and word For when an inveterate prejudice hath possessed the Souls of men it blinds their judgments it hardens their hearts it strengthens their resolutions and causeth Conscience it self to sooth them up in their Error So that they are not easily reconciled to the most apparent Truths An Example we have in the Pharisees of old whose obstinacy in opposing Christ and his Gospel is most remarkable as therefore this plea is not allowed by Gods word in such cases I would advise every good Christian to have some other reason ready for his Actions than bare and naked Conscience which is so apt to deceive our selves and others in this corrupt Age. II. Others of the simpler and more hypocritical sort are kept in their Non-Conformity by an inclination to singularity and a desire to gain the reputation of being more precise and more religious than their other Neighbours as if that were the only way to seem religious to men to cast off all respects to the Religion of the Countrey as if they had no other means to purchase this esteem but by their contempt of the ordinary Acts of Devotion and of the Society in Gods worship of the common people This folly is entertained by too many of those who have more regard to the outward garb than to the inward reality and are more afraid of defiling themselves with other mens sins than their own These pretend the wickedness of the times the viciousness of such as assist at Prayers and publick Acts of Piety and it may be the Ministers weakness in manners and abilities as just causes of their separation from us however they think thereby to answer their end to oblige others to look upon them as more Holy and Angelical than those whom they despise whiles their hearts are full of hatred malice envy pride vanity and many times you may perceive in them the Devil of Hypocrisie that hath a worldly interest to manage by this fond conceit of preciseness with which the poor Soul endeavors to deceive it self and others for that intent as the boasting Pharisee of the Gospel To cure this kind of Lunaticism in Religion I would advise the distempered to seek but into their own Souls and understand themselves better and it may be they would find there more cause to lament at their own corruption than to exclaim against the viciousness of others I would advise them to take heed of being more severe against their sinful Brethren than God and to consider that by partaking with the vilest of men in Holy Duties thou art not partakers of their negligence prophaness and other Crimes unless thou followest their vicious Examples That thy Piety and Humility will be so much the more acceptable to thy God and pleasing to men in a publick Congregation the more it excels the rest of the Assistants That other mens unworthiness should be so far from scaring thee from performing thine obligations to God and his Church that it should animate thee the more with an inclination to promote Gods glory and keep up his worship in the eyes of the world with that due respect and reverence which other men neglect in their constant attendance upon this Holy Ordinance And that it is a most ridiculous persuasion to fancy thy self able to obtain the esteem of Holyness by the omission of the duties of Religion and by a scornful neglect of the incouragements of Holyness and Piety III. Another cause of many of our
Brethrens refusing a Conformity with us in our worshipping of God is a too zealous affection for a Party or for the Name of a Party unto which they have devoted themselves This factious humor proceeds out of some displeasure conceived against us our persons or our way or out of a propensity for that Party which they embrace in opposition to us And many times they are so fond and blind that they give not themselves the trouble to examin the differences between us but resolutely embrace Presbytery or Independency and addict themselves to these empty names for no other cause nor reason but because they have an inclination for the Sect or only for the Name of the Sect. I dare appeal to the judgment and inquiry of the more reasonable persons amongst them whether this be not the cause of the separation of many from us I am persuaded that most of them know no real difference between us and them but only in the outward form and garb they understand not what Presbytery and Independency are and yet they are in appearance such rigid Presbyterians and Independents in their outward behaviour that by no means will they be persuaded to comply with us in the least punctilio These are commonly the greatest Enemies of Unity who are thus led on by blindness and ignorance They are the most unreconcileable slanderers of our Worship and Government upbraiding us with the Ministers viciousness the Peoples formality and other trivial matters which discover more hatred than reason in their carriage to us To this kind of Non-Conforming Brethren whom St. Paul checks for their carnality I recommend that Christian moderation which the same Apostle wishes to the Corinthians and his other Disciples and to remember that their furious Devotion for their several parties agrees not with that Devotion which they should have for Peace for Religion for their Christ and his Interest That their espousing of a Factior divorces them from this good Saviour and renders their Souls unfit for a Communion with him here or hereafter And that they shew themselves to be the greatest Enemies of Truth and Concord when they thus engage themselves desperately in the encouraging of a Party without understanding the depth and designs of it No doubt but if these men had but as sincere an inclination for Truth and the Publick Peace they would be as averse to their Sects as they are now forward to promote the interest of them IV. Another sort are preingaged by a worldly interest and kept from a compliance with us for fear of crossing or losing that advantage which they reap from a Non-Conformity or from their Acquaintance with the Non-Conformists Too many I understand are kept from hearkening to their Reason and Knowledge of the Lawfulness of our Worship and their Duty to God and Man by that bewitching thing Seeming Interest But such men value more their present profit than their future hopes and prefer the vanities of the Earth to the unspeakable advantages of Heaven which they might reasonably expect from an obedience to Gods Laws Their condition I reckon to be very desperate for however they may look upon this Sin with contempt or think their refusal of joyning with us deserves less blame because they side with our Brethren of the same Religion yet in regard that they stand in opposition to us and division is thereby encouraged in Christs Church This their sin of Non-Conformity is so much the more hainous because they know their Duty and refuse to practise it for fear of parting with an advantage which they might probably lose did they forsake their Faction and Party I would intreat these men to weigh the words of our Saviour directed to such Idolaters of worldly interest He that denies me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in Heaven And to remember that Christ is seemingly denied when we refuse Communion with such whom we know to be real Christians and a compliance with that Lawful Worship which is agreeable with his Word and Will V. Another hinderance to the Non-Conformity of some of the more Learned and Wiser sort are those who either think themselves so or desire to be so esteemed is Shame The shame and reproach of the world which they justly deserve for complying too much with the irregularities of former times causeth them to continue constant in their Errors for fear of confessing their guiltiness by a change though for the better I conceive that their judgments were then over-ruled by the Authority and Currant of the times and perswaded to condemn that Government and Worship which Rebellion was resolved to pull down being insensibly drawn in to side with that Enemy of our Laws and Liberties Now therefore that this same Government and Worship is by Gods good providence reestablished they are ashamed to confess their former weakness to discover any unsetledness in their minds they choose for this purpose rather to persist in their mistakes than to acknowledge them by a recantation Such men consider not that obstinacy in Errors is a great aggravation of a Crime and that to confirm now wilfully and resolutely in opposition to Law and the dictates of their Conscience what the necessity of the times forced them to subscribe to is a most hainous sin near related to that of the Holy Ghost However our Saviour Christ highly condemns such men in the Gospel according to S. John Ch. xii vers 43. For loving more the praise of men than the praise of God For having a greater regard to the approbation of their former disciples than to be approved of by God for their ready compliance with their duty and his Divine Laws Truth is to be always acknowledged by all the Disciples of Truth and may be denied in little matters as well as in great but in matters of Religion of the publick Peace of the Service of God and the Unity of Christs Church every Truth is of a great importance to stand stifly in the denyal of it to refuse a compliance with it to oppose it obstinately and continue in that opposition till death is a wickedness that I judge to be unpardonable before God as it is inexcusable before men Such persons to save their credit care not how they damn their Souls and for fear of the reproach of men run themselves into the danger of forfeiting their God and happiness together with their interest in his Church by a wilful separation I intreat these my Brethren to take heed how they deny or oppose that which they know to be Just or True for the God of Truth is a revenger of all opposition to it A small liberty that men give themselves in an error or a vice hardens them in it and draws them insensibly into greater and more hainous and the longer men continue in them the less able they are to repent and amend VI. Some of the wiser sort were first persuaded to oppose the Church of Englaad and
Christs Disciples their temper is who are not to be reconciled with us and their own duty by all the Reasons and Commands of God and Man You know and may easily discover in your usual hearers if you please to give your selves the trouble several wicked vices as pride selfconceitedness hypocrisie hatred malice envy c. which their Non-Conformity alone hath bred and nourished in their Souls You know that the blessed rules of the Gospel and the sweet temper of Christs Religion requires from you another disposition and other carriage than many of you and most of your followers exprest to us your Brethren and your Christian Governors If you have a sincere regard to Religion and a desire to advance Gods Glory on Earth you will at last endeavour a reconciliation for fear of the mischiefs which our separation from one another is like to bring upon us all Remember that a compliance with your Peoples Non-Conformity is no longer seasonable in regard of the obstinacy of those that continue in it against all Law and Reason You have sufficiently complied with their humors do you now comply with your obligations to God and Man you have had a care of the salvation of their Souls now look to the preservation of your own and run not your selves into the remediless sin of a wilful denial and opposition of God truth to the last The Apostles in their yielding to the Jewish mistakes laboured always to make them sensible of their Error by minding them still that Moses Ceremonies were not needful to be observed and at last told them plainly That they were a denyal of Christs coming in the Flesh Galat. It would become your Learning and Integrity my reverend Brethren to deal thus plainly with your Congregations if you would be true followers of the Holy Apostles Tell them that Conformity to the Church of England is no such a Crime as they have imagined that they are bound to obey Mans Laws when they are not contrary to the Commands of the Gospel That they should be reconciled with our Worship and Church and strive to Conform as near as they can to what is required from them Tell them that Schism and Separation from the approved way is a grievous sin That their Souls are in danger of Damnation by resisting and disobeying the lawful Commands of their Superiors under God That they should take heed of not persisting obstinately in their errors and not to refuse obedience to the least Command of the Gospel when discovered to them Tell them to be more in love with Truth than with Faction more desirous of meeting with the rest of their Brethren in Gods Worship than fond of their private and unlawful meetings where the Gospel may be Preached it is true because it is in opposition to their other Brethren and to the Authority of the Nation they are not warrantable by Gods Word Tell them in short that the Blessed Gospel of our Saviour as well as his Interest and our Glory requires us all to joyn and unite together in all Acts of Piety on Earth that we may avoid the Devils temptations and be more fit to unite together in Heaven to sing oraises to our great God and Redeemer Our Blessed Saviour who is dead for you as well as for us and is gone to prepare a place for us in the glorious Mansions of Eternity intends not to receive you by your selves and appoint your aboads distinct from the rest of Christians why are you so serupulous or so superstitious as for trivial matters now to divide from us in that Worship which is to prepare us for Gods presence O my Brethren did we but consider how ridiculous our Nation appear to our Neighbours and to the Blessed Angels above and how pleasing our Divisions are to our Enemies of Rome we should doubtless blush for shame to have hitherto encouraged a separation so childish and ill grounded for no other cause but the humor and mistakes of the vulgar sort seeing that it renders us liable to the reproach of Men and Angels and causeth us all to be in danger of the ruin of our worldly interest and what mischiefs it causeth to the Souls of men do you judge If the respect to Religion be pretended examin whether this pretence can avail against an apparent Duty or excuse you from a submission to the Laws of God and Man examin whether at present you draw not more evil upon the heads of your Followers and Religion it self by an opposition to Conformity than you would by yielding to Reason and Law and to your Christian obligations I know that some prophane and vicious persons refuse to be conformable for other reasons because they have cast off all respects for their God and Religion I know the Jesuits and the disguised Papists amongst you will not Conform to our Church but exclaim against our Religious Worship because they have a wicked design to manage the ruin of the Nation But I intend not these lines for their benefit and perusal but only for such of our Non-Conforming Brethren whose hearts God may at last move with a sence of their duty to joyn with us in Gods Service They that hereafter shall refuse and continue in an obstinate refusal and in their usual clamors against us may justly be suspected for Papists or some hired to promote the Jesuitical design the overthrow of Church and State Were the differences in Religion between us in the Fundamentals a Separation would be well grounded But we all agree in the chief Articles of our Faith we embrace together the same Religion and Belief we worship the same one God Creator of Heaven and Earth and expect Salvation through the Merits of a Crucified Christ we subscribe to the same Covenant of Grace and acknowledge but two Sacraments as Seals we look upon the Holy Scriptures as the only infallible Rule of our Faith and Practice In a word we agree in all the essential parts of the Christian Religion many of the circumstances in which we disagree are so inconsiderable that if we had not an earnest desire to contend they would not be able to cause any dispute much less to disturb the publick peace The chief differences are about Church Government and Gods Publick Worship for the latter they are so frivolous idle and impertinent that I shall say no more in vindication of our practices than hath been already said but for the Government we agree in the chief Principles and Maxims though we differ in the conclusion For we all say that in all Church Governments amongst Christians that there is a regard to be had to the Models allowed of and appointed by the Holy Apostles and Primitive Fathers That the Rules of the Gospel ought not to be opposed but obeyed in the prescribing of Laws for the preservation of Christian Societies That in all Church Government there is a special regard to be had to the end of all Government which
differ in these particulars Their Controversies were concerning the abolished Ceremonies of the Jews or the prophane practices of the Heathen Idolaters ours are about the Lawful Decent and Religious Ceremonies of Christians Their Controversies were about such matter as were in themselves scandalous as eating of things sacrificed to Idols partaking with the Idolaters in a Heathen Temple or observing the Fasti and Nefasti days of good or ill luck according to the Roman persuasion but our Disputes are for such things as all acknowledge to be harmless and innocent The Romans were newly Converted to Christianity and therefore many weak in Faith were not to be discouraged by the liberty other men allowed themselves we in England methinks should be well grounded and setled in the Christian Religion and not to be discouraged from its Profession by every trifle The things in Controversie were never enjoyned or looked upon by the Rulers of that Church as fit to be practised and of any decency in Gods Worship our matters in dispute are approved by the Authority of the Nation and every true hearted English Soul is bound by the undeniable Laws of God as well as by Mans Laws and for the credit of the Nation as well as for the preserving of publick Peace and Unity to Submit and Conform Do you think in Conscience that in our case if S. Paul did live amongst us that he would bid you not Conform Because you are damned if you Conform doubting He that tells you in the former Chapter vers 16. Be of the same mind one towards another Mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate Be not wise in your own conceits And in the fifteenth Chapter vers 5. Be ye like minded one towards another that ye way with one mind and with one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Think ye that he would have opened so wide a gap to Non-Conformity and to the sinister designs of Apostats and Hereticks Think ye that he would have given this liberty to disturb the Churches Peace to these Sons of Tumult and Division to tell them that a groundless suspition of sin in the practices of the Church or the bare pretence is sufficient to justifie their irregularities disorders schisms separation and disobedience to the Commands of their Superiors He that tells you that ye must needs be subject for Conscience sake would he have said that a naked excuse or a meer immagination of sin in the things enjoyned frees you from all subjection and gives you liberty to disobey the Magistrate in indifferent mattres Are you to prefer your wilful suspitions or groundless fancies to the declarations of your Brethren and Christian Rulers to imagin sin in that which they think not only lawful but also needful to be practised This General Rule Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin vers 23. is misapplied to our case and is not to be allowed as a lawful excuse for the omission of an apparent duty for there are none of our Non-Conformists but might easily attain to that Knowledge and Faith which might justifie their Unity with us Were they living amongst the Canibals or in the darkness of Popery or Heathenish Idolatry where none were able to remove their doubts to satisfie their minds and inform their Consciences this plea might be so long allowable till they were able to gain more knowledg Calig aut in Sole Quinctil But for them to shut their eyes to all the beams of light and their ears to all the Reasons Arguments and Persuasions of the Doctors of the Church of England and to say we are blind we don't believe we are not persuaded and therefore our Conformity without Faith would be a sin is a most ridiculous pretence unto which meer necessity drives them who are obstinately resolved to the contrary Suppose a Heathen or a Papist should have had the same advantages as you have to understand the Truth and as strong invitations to make profession of the Gospel would you allow them this pretence to excuse themselves from embracing the Gospel Why did not the Presbyterians and Independents approve of this Plea in those whom they cast out of their Assemblies for Religions sake and would not admit them to communion Men must take heed in this corrupt Age of such general Rules which the Devil is wont to wrest to promote his own wicked purpose But in this case you will say what shall we do what course shall we take for our Consciences have gotten such a command over us and our judgments through such like persuasions that we can enjoy no peace within our breasts if we comply with you in things so contrary to our principles We are as much afraid to hear your prayers as to worship before an Idol of Stone or Timber to see a white Surplice as to assist at Mass to have a Cross upon our Childrens foreheads as to receive the marks of the Beast In a word we are as much afraid to submit our selves to your Worship and the Government of Bishops as to Apostatize from Christ and forsake Christianity This fear and these persuasions cannot easily be overcome what advice therefore would you give us that we in this case might take that Course which may agree in some respects with our obligations to our Superiors and favour us a little in our weakness that we may not do any thing to disturb the peace of our Consciences which you say are mis-led CHAP. V. Seasonable and Christian Advices for our Non-Conforming Brethren who are possessed with such strong prejudices against the Church of England that they cannot easily overcome them and a Reconciliation proposed I Will freely grant what you would have us believe that you are afraid by a compliance with our Church to wound your Consciences or to act contrary to your persuasion which you think to be well grounded and that by such a proceeding you should disturb the quiet of your Souls as when Conscientious men commit a sin against Gods Laws Yet my Brethren in this case your resolved Non-Conformity is not warrantable nor agreeing with Christian prudence because your Superiors to whose Judgments Reason and Duty teaches you to yield a little condemns it as prejudicial to the publick and because it is so apparently destructive to Peace and all Christian vertues which Unity and Uniformity in Religion are wont to nourish in a Society Therefore in this case for your own quiet and the publick Peace I advise you my Brethren to observe a medium between a strict Conformity and a Non-Conformity until such time as you can be better informed and to practise these following Rules which will infallibly give your Souls and Consciences satisfaction and answer in some respects your obligations to your Superiors under God as well as secure the publick peace of the Church However I am certain you are bound by Gods Holy Word to observe these Rules that though the case were as you
Works have gained an esteem amongst all the Reformed Churches your Lives are said to be answerable to your Doctrines Mr. Baxter's Works Many are enlightned instructed and persuaded from sin by your Teaching as therefore a Roman said of a good man on the contrary side Vtinam I could repeat the word a thousand times Vtinam noster esses would to God that you and we were but one would to God that you would joyn with us and be persuaded to unite in one Religion and Worship The multitudes that throng at your Assemblies look upon you also to be men that make Conscience of your ways By your Preaching they see that you are not ignorant of the Holy Scriptures and of the Revealed Will of God What can they conclude from hence and your abhorrency of us but that you must be more quick-sighted than they are to spy an Error in our Worship and Prayers something of Idolatry and unlawful to practise which causes you to separate from us for fear of a defilement I know several persons that this consideration alone hath prejudiced so far against us that they have told me and cannot be persuaded to the contrary that there must needs be something of Superstition in our Church for otherwise so many Learned men would never stand at such a distance from us others have cast all the fault upon your Consciences as if your Consciences my Reverend Brethren were to be blinded and mistaken in so plain and clear a business What is free for me to practise some have said to me it may be other mens Consciences cannot allow Your pious behaviour and good lives in the eyes of the world strengthens them in this charitable opinion of you and sinister opinion of us and of our Church so that they look upon us as formalists temporisers men-pleasers worldlings and our Rulers as Persecutors to Enact those just Laws which tend to the preservation of the Nations Peace and Honour For Gods sake begin now to undeceive them suffer not your people to continue for ever in their dangerous mistakes which nourishes envy hatred malice displeasure and keeps them in that hainous and crying Sin before God Schism which caused once the Earth to open her infernal jaws to devour the first Authors of it alive Numbers xvi Your Danger I conceive is greater than theirs for all the sins that they are guilty of by their separation and the vices nourished in them by this division will be charged upon you by our great Judge at the last Tribunal And why will you load your selves with other mens Crimes Have you not miscarriages enough of your own to Answer for Were it not for you and your Religious Carriage all your people would be easily persuaded to listen to Reason and their Duty to the Church But as you have hitherto kept up the Faction for Reasons that we may chance to be ignorant of Now let me tell you that you indanger both the Bodies and the Souls the present and the future interest of your Congregations If you will yet stifly refuse a Compliance and an Union with us your Brethren You see the condition of this Nation the malice and designs of our Enemies the danger that hangs over our heads you see what advantage our divisions in Religion are likely to give them how they endeavour to keep us asunder and laugh at our follies and needless dissensions why will you befriend the Pope and his Papists why will you yield them your assistance and employ your Gifts and Talents to advance Popery amongst us and ruin your People and their Posterity Don't you think that these quarrels between Protestants have increased the number of Atheists and Papists It hath been the usual reason employed by their Jesuits to delude poor Souls into their Damnable Religion to tell them that we amongst our selves were not well agreed what Religion to chuse and that those of the Reformed Religion were always jangling about Fundamentals And how many prophane and loose persons have been glad to catch at this occasion to excuse themselves from observing the Laws of God Besides consider what danger those poor Souls are in that are your auditors whom though their conversation is plausible before men the Devil holds fast by those stroug bands of iniquity prejudice pride singularity hatred envy schism c. and drags to Eternal damnation without Repentance and the Merits of a good Saviour Open your Eyes therefore my Beloved Brethren look to your own your Congregations the Nations and the publick danger and the Lord of his Mercy open your Hearts to have some compassion of them and your selves that you may bring a speedy remedy to these distempers in the Church which will never be cured withou you I commend the Jesuits in China for their wisdom and discretion in complying and joyning with the Protestant Merchants in all Duties of Religion and they with the Jesuits in the parts of Gods Worship which are lawful however they abstain from all Disputes and Quarrels about Christian Religion before the Brahmans and the Heathens lest that the differences in Religion might not appear to them and hinder their embracing Christianity Cannot we observe the same policy we have much more reason than they our differences are not considerable Cease therefore to canton your selves and keep up your Factions Why will you for worldly interest or any carnal end bring Christs Church in England to utter ruin If you cannot be sensible of the Nations danger by that which I have already represented Consider that in the late hurly burly in the West upon a false Alarm of the French being landed upon the Coast of Dorset-shire some of the fiercest Presbyterians and Independents or such at least as pretended that Religion to excuse themselves from an attendance upon the Publick Ordinance had combined together to plunder the Houses of Rich Ministers Gentlemen and Wealthy Farmers if there had been any Truth in the Invasion My Reverend Brethren I beseech you for the Lords sake consider seriously this particular that will discover to you the present dispositions of our dissenting Brethren and the future dangers of their Dividing from our Church Animosity is increased to that height in their Souls that the Blessed Rules of the Gospel are not regarded that the Laws Human and Divine will be trampled under foot that Plunder Robberies and Massacres will be the end of your teaching many of them not to joyn with us I cannot think that any of you will approve of such wickednesses as these yet these you may see to be the fruits of our Divisions in frivolous matters of Religion I know your zealous Teaching hath had better effects upon more Conscientious Souls but under the Skirts of your Sects you know many Hypocrits and Villains shroud themselves to act their evil purposes under a more plausible Covert Harbor not such Enemies as these encourage them not in their dissenting from us but lead them by your Examples and Teaching at least to an Obedience to our Laws and Government in the Church and State and to an outward Conformity to the Worship of our God amongst us according to St. Pauls Exhortation to you in the Second of his Epistle to the Philippians If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies Fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind THE END