The Dutch way of toleration, most proper for our English dissenters Baron, William, b. 1636. 1698 Approx. 76 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A31025 Wing B895 ESTC R24730 08448413 ocm 08448413 41347 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A31025) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41347) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1245:52) The Dutch way of toleration, most proper for our English dissenters Baron, William, b. 1636. 23 p. Printed for the author, London : 1698. "Written at the request of a friend." Signed: M. n (final letter of author's name) Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Dissenters, Religious -- Netherlands. Dissenters, Religious -- England. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-04 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2007-04 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE DUTCH Way of Toleration Most proper for our ENGLISH DISSENTER Written at the Request of a Friend . O! Imitatores servum pecus . Quo teneam vultus mutantem Protea Nodo ? Hor. As free , and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness , &c. St. Pet. Ep. 1. Ch. 2. V. 16. LONDON , Printed for the Author 〈…〉 THE DUTCH Way of Toleration , Most proper for our ENGLISH DISSENTERS . SIR , THis returns my Thanks , for the Favour of your last , and candid Acknowledgment , that I had reason in affirming , the Sword would continue to halt it on between St. Paul's and Pinner's-Hall , as long as this was Mayor ; for now you were come over to my Opinion , and saw it would not only be so , but that his Successor , finding the Ice thus broken , would , probably , follow in the same Track , or otherwise improve the Affront to our old Establishments , according as the several Factions , which plac'd him in the Chair , should think fit to direct : Hereupon you desire me to communicate what I know in reference to the Dutch Toleration , ( whereof you have heard several hints in our private Converse ) and how it comes to pass , that the many differing Perswasions amongst them enjoy their Liberty with a continued Peace and Quiet , whereas ours are always restless and encroaching , every day grasping at more , and seem still dissatisfied unless they can engross all . Indeed , Sir , it was to my no little surprize , when last in Town , to find your self , and some other Friends , so positive , that a Reprimand from the Court of Aldermen , and some by - Reflections in an Higher Court , would stifle their Delign , or make them give it over , which I perceived was deeper laid , and had greater Encouragements , than any of you did then imagine ; yet sure this you must 〈…〉 ●●●v'd , that 't is very rare to find those Parties doing their business by halves ; whatever Lights they may pretend to , there is an infallible Argument to prove them Children of this World , being so wise , that is , cunning , in their Generations . No People carry on their Projects with greater Intrigue , nor more nicely observe the several steps and degrees by which they must be accomplished : Their Legal Indulgence , as it was a great Point gain'd , so the timing of it was very critical ; for , being in the heat of the Revolution , there might be several Casus omissi , which upon farther Debate would have been better considered ; particularly , I question very much , whether any Dissenter would have been allow'd going to the Conventicle during his Magistracy , especially to carry the Insignia thither ; the former of which hath been all along practis'd in several Corporations throughout the Kingdom ; and , doubtless , the President your Lord Mayor has set , will be Ap'd by several of his Brethren in other Places : ( notwithstanding , as the Act runs at present , 't is a Moot Case among the Gentlemen of the Long Robe , whether allowable thereby ) But that your Lord Mayor may not have the sole Honour of the first Attempt , at least , that was done the First Year of their Indulgence , at a Corporation in my Neighbourhood , where an old Zealot of the 41 Cause ( brought in perhaps for that purpose ) would needs have the Mace attend him to the Barn ; but the honesty , or as they term'd it , obstinacy of the Officers , the Serjeants , would not comply , and so he went without it . Afterwards , Indeed , when one of the same Stamp was in course to be chosen , the Company capitulated , that however the Mayor might take his liberty , the Mace should be confin'd to Church ; which some thought a little hard on the Mace's side , since 't was believ'd every whit as tender-conscienc'd as the Man who follow'd it . But , to return to our purpose , you see how their Affairs stand at present , and how little they scruple stretching to the utmost any Liberty which is indulg'd them , whereof now they have a fair Prospect to make a greater enlargement ; for you know next Winter a New Parliament will come in course ; and they are so far from being ignorant thereof , or idle thereupon , as 't is hard for a Person of your undesigning Integrity , to imagine how earnestly they already stickle to carry on their Point in that Critical Juncture , leave never a Stone unturn'd , are tampering with all Interests , and in all Places , to get confiding Members chosen , such Root and Branch-men , as shall effectually carry on the Work of the Lord , and once more establish the Good Old Cause ; and then let the State look to it as well as the Church , for 't is hard to resolve whether suffer'd most from such thorough Reformers . Now ●his to me is Demonstration , that a Religious Liberty , a Freedom as to 〈◊〉 Consciences , is not the sole , nor main thing they aim at ; for then would they press no farther , that being confirm'd to them by Legal Establishment , to all Intents and Purposes imaginable ; But to be dabbling in the Government , is as natural to them as Water to a Fish ; and if they may not command the Royalty , and controll at Pleasure , prescribe who are worthy Men , and Men worthy , those Waters will be always troubled , never free from foul Weather , and Storms : Nay , farther to remark , how scandalously they prostitute their Spiritual Liberty , their Right of Conscience , to obtrude themselves upon the Temporal Power , their double dealing , playing fast and loose with our Church and Sacrament , is an irrefragable Argument . Formerly , the Church of England ( to use their great Patriarch's J. O's Words ) was a meer Antichristian Encroachment upon the Inheritance of Christ , all her Darling-Errors , Stones of the Old Babel ; and therefore by no means to be communicated with : The Faithful of the Lord must not touch such defiled Garments ; and this indeed was the common Cant of them all , for some score of Years together : Yet now we see to serve a State-turn , or rather overturn the State , the Holy Sacrament goes down as glib with them as the Covenant of old ; there is no Scruple , when the Cause is concern'd : In the mean while , I dare engage , that if this next Election , they can make a Party prevalent enough to repeal the Test , as they have already cancell'd the other Penal Laws , they will return to their Old Invectives , Our Sacrament shall be Reprobated as an Anti-christian Rite , and all Communion with our Church sinful and abominable . Now here , if they would give me leave to expostulate a little , I would desire them to consider , whether any thing can bring a greater reproach upon Religion , the Innocence , and Simplicity of the Gospel , than such vain Tergiversations as these ? Such Linsy Woolsy Consciences ? Such profane Halters between God and Baal ? Can we imagine there should be any thing more in all these Mockeries , than a sordid Interest , spiteful Revenge , or popular Humour ? To be cry'd up by the Factions , and make something of a Figure amongst the Mob-Sectaries , which they despair'd of obtaining from Men of Sense and Principles . This indeed is not exactly the Laodicean Temper ; but the little difference is for the worse , being so hot , where they need not be so much as lukewarm , and less than so , where they should express a religious Fervour : And since Almighty God threatened to spew the former out of his Mouth , I fear his Blessings may be the less , if these others be not spew'd out of the Government . And this , Sir , brings me to the ●●estion you propounded ( and what I presume was chiefly aim'● at in the Acknowledgment you made ) How it comes to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dutch live in so much Peace and Quiet , notwithstanding the ma●y Perswasions tolerated amongst them ? Which may be clearly answered in very few Words ; viz. because no such troublesome , ●●easie People , as aforementioned , have to do in the Government . And I have sometimes admir'd our great Sticklers for Liberty , and Toleration , who upon all occasions are too forward in crying up the Low-Country Model , and pretend to be of a much quicker Scent than others , never hit of this ; but , upon second Thoughts considered , they generally belong to some of the Factions , and would be sure not to exclude themselves : Yet , doubtless , what , Horace observes in Poetry , is as true in Politicks , Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile , 't is hard coming at the same end , without the like means : To imitate their Toleration , without their Caution and Restrictions , will not only be sordid , as the Poet terms it , but ineffectual , prove a Remedy worse than the Disease ; for from thence , more especially , it proceeds , that their Toleration has turn'd to Account : In all other Places , where Vniversal and unlimited , it has fallen a Prey to the undermining Stratagems of that Spiritual Vsurper upon all Christian Liberty whatsoever , as will hereafter appear . For your fuller satisfaction therefore , I shall give you an Account of the Dutch Toleration ; as likewise how hard it will be to bring us to that Model , and yet shew you 't is that alone can do our business : All other Courses will be much more unpracticable , and unsafe , and multiply those Distractions which we design'd to prevent . And that you may give the greater Credit to what I shall say herein , it shall not depend upon my sole Authority ( though it was my chief Enquiry during some Years abode there ) but have the Confirmation of Sir William Temple's Observations upon those Provinces ; which , as I think it was the first , so 't is , generally believed , the exactest Piece we have had from that Ingenious Gentleman ; Clear Matter of Fact , without that partiality and by respect , which many times is not avoided by such as pretend most thereunto . Now what makes it seem more difficult and unpracticable amongst us , than them , is , That the Constitution of their Government , and Temper of their People , will be found better adapted thereunto , with some other Advantages of lesser Moments : All which take , as follows . First , Then the Constitution of Their Government seems better adapted thereunto : To which purpose , I must let you know , that however those Provinces are given out to be a Common-Wealth , a Free State , with such other swelling Titles of Liberty , Priviledges , &c. as if the People had the sole Controll , the Dernier Resort , in all Publick Determinations ( and so indeed it was in those little Democracies of Greece , and that great one of Rome , where no Laws could be enacted , nor Magistrates chosen , &c. but by their Consent ) upon Enquiry it will appear quite otherwise ; the Populace , the Burghers , have no more to do in the Government , than you and I , if we dwelt , or but sojourn'd amongst them : 'T is the exactest Oligarchy that is this day , or perhaps ever was in the World , where the Magistrates of every City , or Province , are as absolute as any Prince in Christendom : Enact Laws , levy Taxes , chuse one another into the several Offices of Government , and upon a Vacancy ( which seldom happens , but by death ) elect another to fill up their number , without any controll , but from their Stadtholder , who hath a negative Voice , or somewhat like it in all their Elections ; and tho' a reasonable Check , is what their Hogan Moganships have been most uneasie under , and endeavoured more than once to free themselves from . Sir W.T. instances more particularly in the City of Amsterdam , as chief of the Province of Holland , and in that , as chief of the Seven Provinces ; and tells you , the Government of that City is in the sole management of Thirty six Persons , whom he calls Senators ; and saith , indeed , they were formerly chosen by the Voices of the Richer Burghers , or Freemen of the City ; who , upon the death of a Senator , met together either in a Church , a Market , or some other Place , spacious enough to receive their Numbers , and there made an Election of the Person to succeed , by a Majority of Voices . But about One hundred and thirty , or forty , Years agoe , when the Towns of Holland began to encrease in Circuit and People , so as these frequent Assemblies grew into danger of Tumult and Disorders , upon every occasion , by reason of their Number and Contentions : This Election of Senators , came by the Resolution of the Burghers in one of their General Assemblies , to be devolv'd forever upon the standing Senate for that time ; so that ever since when any of their Number dies , a new one is chosen by the rest of the Senate , without any intervention of the other Burghers , which makes the Government a sort of Oligarchy , and very different from a popular Government , as it is generally esteemed by those , who passing , or living in these Countries , content themselves with common Observations , or Inquiries . And this Resolution of the Burghers either was agreed upon , or followed , by General Consent , or Example , about the same time , in all the Towns of the Province , tho' with some difference in the Number of the Senators . Thus far the forementioned Gentleman ; whereto I must farther add , that these Senators both here , and in all other Towns , are of the same Communion , as to the Publick Exercise of Religion ; which , after some Debates , and Alterations , upon their Defection from Spain , was fix'd upon the Geneva-Model , with an Allay of Erastianism , the better to keep under the Insolency of their Presbyteries , so troublesome elsewhere . 'T is not of much moment to tell you farther , that as these Senators marry generally into one anothers Families , so they keep the Government , for the most part , amongst themselves , the Children , with other Relations , coming in , and gradually ascending , if capable of it ; which nevertheless being faithfully discharg'd , without Partiality , Avarice , or any other such by-respects , the People seem no ways dissatisfied therewith . This , Sir , is a small Scratch of the Present Establishment of that People , which I shall farther confirm to you , upon the Authority of the present Bishop of Sarum ; who , speaking of the Low-Countries , how they got their Liberty , and how they maintain'd it , adds , yet after all this , tho' the Name of their Government has a greater sound towards Liberty than our own , we are really the much freer People of the two , where every Man has a more open access to a proportion'd Share in the Government , than among them . The high-flown Demagogues of our Nation , I know , will censure this as a great defect , a giving up their Rights , a betraying their Priviledges , with a great deal such like Commonwealth-Cant , as has betray'd us into confusion more than once ; whereas doubtless those thoughtful People made a sober Judgment of Things , and well understood such Priviledges not worth keeping , as tended only to the distraction of their Debates , and might , in the end , destroy their Government : To be sure the General Toleration , which followed soon after , could have stood upon no other Bottom ; and those at the Helm were so well satisfy'd with this New Constitution , as to set the Sovereingty of all the Seven Provinces upon the same Foot : For so the Assembly of the States General , which consisted of above Eight hundred Persons , who meeting together in one Place from so many several Parts , gave too great a shock to the whole Body of the Vnion , made their Debates long , and sometimes confused , the Resolutions slow , and upon sudden Occasions out of time , was by mutual Consent of the whole Body , devolved upon those , now stil'd the States General , which consists of so many Deputies from each Province , more or less , as they are pleased to send ; which makes no difference , as to their Votes , because given according to their several Provinces , not number of ●●●sons , altho' their number seldom arise to so many as the 〈◊〉 at Amsterdam consists of . Now , Sir , to come to the disparity , in reference to our selves , none of this is done , or must be thought off amongst us , as to the whole Body of the Government ; which , though a Free Monarchy , is so , well temper'd , as we see every Subject own'd to have more Liberty , than under a Free State : 'T is pity it should be so much abused ; yet since it is so , might there not be some Abridgment as to particular Persons , without the least Infraction upon the whole Constitution , an Exchange of Temporal for a Spiritual Liberty ? They that will have a New Religion , let them live according to this New Model of our Neighbours , and forbear meddling in Civil Concerns ; otherwise I cannot see how the Old Establishment should be long upheld : For whilst the Tolerated Parties are free to Vote , and put in their Claims to all Publick Administrations , all Offices of Honour , Trust , or Profit , they may carry things as they please ; what thorough their Industry and Importunity , Cabals and Clamours , Libels and Lies , 't is as possible to stop a raging Sea , as the Madness of such People : No man of Sence will attempt it ; for tho' they are divided amongst themselves , in Doctrines , Modes of Worship , and Forms of Government , Ephraim against Manasseh , and Manasseh against Ephraim ; yet the Judah of the Church of England , is the united Object of all their Spite 's , and what they study most implacably to supplant and destroy : And if we reflect how many or them , in the late Reign , comply'd with the Dispensing Power , and superseded all those Laws , which the Nation , for above an hundred years successively , had compil'd to secure the Protestant Religion , there needs no Window into any of their Breasts , ( as a leading Holder-forth then wish'd in an Address ) to discover the Reality of their Intentions . 'T is too clear from thence , and all their other Practices , that the Church of England is the only Popery they have a Pique against ; and can confederate with that which is really so , nay , Turk or Jew , to effect its Ruine . In my Judgment , therefore , It would be a very reasonable , and necessary Test , ( and , I fancy , reduce the truly conscious Dissenters to a very small number ) to try the sincerity of their Intentions , and steadiness of their Principles , by an Indulgence of that Liberty they are so zealous for , upon Condition not to intermeddle in Civil Affairs , which their , weak Vndestandings , strong Prejudices , and vain Enthusiasms , render them most unqualified for : Will the Freeholder , even to the Cottager with his Cabbage-ground and Apple-Tree , recede from the Right he has of throwing up his Cap at a County-Election ? The Members of smaller Burroughs , as well as larger Corporations , of putting their 〈◊〉 to an Expence upon the like account , together with being on the Livery , strutting at Common Halls , Common Councils , and the like ? Nay , even in Country-Parishes , will they recede from serving as Constable in their turns , controling the Poor as Overseers or Parsons as Church-Wardens ? So likewise the Country-Gentleman ; how will he take being left out of the Peace , or not appearing upon the Bench at Sessions , and Assizes , as well as his Conforming Neighbours ? If I mistake not the Temper of the several Parties , these little things will be of hard digestion , since , they have been ever observ'd as forward to command , as uneasie to obey ; yet if we would go according to the Low-Country-Plan , ( to use the New Word ) this course must be taken ; for 't is this , alone has secur'd them , and this , or nothing , will secure us : And therefore a very learned Person , about Eighteen or Twenty Years since , who understood the Vnreasonableness of our several Separations extremely well , had fully studied all their Cavils , and as fully evinced them , if any thing of Eviction could work upon that sort of People : Yet , in his Preface to that Demonstrative Piece , whether it was to let the Dissenters see , he was averse to nothing which might , tend to a Settlement , or propounded it from a Friend , whose Head hath been always pregnant with Comprehension , and Toleration-Projects : Or , perhaps , to humour some great Men at the Helm , who about that time stickled very much for a Suspension of Penal Laws ; upon what Design , as every Eye then discover'd , so , I fear , in spite of all Endeavours to the contrary , that Design will be ever concern'd therein , and advanc'd thereby ; I say , upon whatever Account it was , this Reverend Worthy Person , in his Preface , makes a short Essay as to a Toleration , laying down such Restrictions and Limitations , as are requisite to prevent the Mischiefs of an unlimited Licentiousness , which he saith would certainly bring Confusion amongst us , and in the end , Popery : Now the first of his Restrictions , is , That none be permitted this Indulgence , who do not declare , that they hold all Communion with our Church unlawful ; for it seems unreasonable to allow it to others , and will give countenance to endless and causeless Separations . And give me leave to add , will gratifie the Capricio's of such wanton Libertines , as live Scepticks , and dye Atheists : To which kind of Scepticism I find several , who associate with at least , and ab●tt the Dissenters , much inclin'd . Quere , as to your Lord Mayor . Another Restriction is , That no Person , so indulg'd , be capable of any Publick Office ; it being unreasonable , that such should be trusted with Government , who look upon what the Government hath already establish'd as unlawful ▪ A Third is , That all such as enjoy it , must declare the part●cular Congregation they are of ; and enter their Names before such Commissioners as shall be authoriz'd to that purpose . I shall mention no more , ( tho' there be several others tending to the same purpose ) but only appeal whether you , or any Man else of sober Sence , must not acknowledge these to be highly reasonable , and absolutely necessary ; that we may know what Men are , and where to have them . In Martial-Law , none are more severely proceeded against , than such as fly from their own , or are taken as Spies in the Enemies Camp ; yet we must suffer these Enemies of our Church , tho' they have been all along in the Dissenters Service , to enter our Line at pleasure , take our Word , our Test , and Sacrament , that they may be the better qualified to work our Ruine ; nay , are so stupidly senceless , as not only to let them alone , but entertain and caress them as Friends : Just thus the Amalakites serv'd Israel , and we know how highly Almighty God was incensed thereat , and what the People suffer'd thereby . But not to ramble too far , or be thought too much concern'd upon the Church-Account , let us consider our Government in General , whether it can be so well secur'd by such an Hodge-podge of Perswasions , who will be continually pulling several ways , and aiming at several Interests , as the Low Countries , where a few understanding Men Act unanimously for the Publick Welfare , without any by-Regards , or Factious Designs . Secondly , What I mentioned , in the next place , by way of Disparity , as likely to make a Toleration less feasable amongst us , than the Dutch , is the different Temper and Humours of the Two Nations : They are a serious , and thoughtful People , wholly intent upon their own private Concerns , and very industrious in all their particular Callings ; frugal and parsimonious to the utmost ; truly speaking , necessitated thereunto , by reason of the many and continual Imposts laid upon them , which no People under Heaven so contentedly bear , nor so indefatigably wade through , being abundantly satisfied with the Prudence and Integrity of their Governours , and highly transported with an imaginary Conceit of Liberty , which no body can see into , or understand , but themselves : So that , as the forementioned Gentleman observes , All Appetites and Passions seem to run lower here , than in other Countries . I am sure they do not run so low in ours , which , on the contrary , is too sanguine to be settled as it ought ; for , to pass by that old Charge of Rex Diabolorum , the English good Nature was so strongly sowr'd by our late Times of Libertinism , and Confusion , Men contracted such a habit of Self-conceit , Opposition , and Disobedience , were so totally given over to a perverse Enthusiastical Spirit ; and for so long a time , as now indeed it may be look'd upon , next to impossible , absolutely to conjure it down ; yet doubtless it ought to be confin'd to its own home , the melancholy Tombs of their restless unquiet Thoughts , and not wander up and down the World , to possess others with the Legions of such Frenzies ; which , if let alone , will certainly be ; for 't is a Pestilent Infection , and without due Caution spreads like the Plague . And that this unhappy Disposition began from the Separation-Fraternity , and is much more incident to the English , than Dutch Temper , take this single Instance : There were more Disputes , Contests , and Quarrels , amongst the few Brownists , and other Independent Sectaries , which resorted thither the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's , King James the First 's time , and so on , than among the whole Dutch Nation ever since they Reform'd : T is unaccountable what impertinent Controversies arose between them , even to the Colour of Aaron's Ephod , whether it were Blew , or a Sea-green , which made an irreconcilable difference between their Pastors , and consequently the Flocks divided . Once indeed there was a Controversie amongst the Dutch , about some School-Points ( and I think that the only Instance can be given ) which rose to a great height ; but then you must know it was occasion'd principally by two great State-Factions , wherein most Divines , especially of the Geneva-cut , are too easily made Properties : In this , to be sure , they serv'd themselves to purpose ; for obtaining by Power , what they could not get by Argument , one Party became Judge of the other , and thrust them down amongst the several Herds of Tolerated Dissenters . And here give me leave to observe a farther Evidence of the peaceable Temper and Disposition of those People ; for tho' the ablest , and most learned in their Government , have all along laugh'd at the Stoical Fatality and Reprobation-Rigours of their Divines , and known what hard measure the Remonstrants the Arminians had met withal ; yet never thought it worth while to have the Debate reviv'd , which might only revive new Exasperations about insignificant Opinions ; or , as I find it express'd in a late Poem , for Points by neither Party understood . On the other side , to return home , how differently have these Disputes been manag'd amongst us , and how vexatiously continued ? Arminian and Papist , pass'd a long time for Terms synonimous ; which not only the Pulpit-Beautifeus , but several Grandees of the House , maliciously apply'd to every Orthodox Divine , and indeed all others , who would not go along with them in those cursed Desolations they then brought upon Church and State ; which having wretchedly effected , how did the Religious Brawl multiply upon their Hands ? With what implacable Enmity , did the Presbyterian and Independant prosecute each other ? And how violent in their several ways , both against them , and one another , were the numerous Spawn of Equivocal Sects , which like the overflowing Nile , their Deluge of Mischief so fatally produc'd ? Insomuch , as when Cromwel had bestrid the Commonwealth , and set himself in the Saddle , he was presum'd to connive at several Church of England-Congregations , both in Publick Parishes , and Private Assemblies , in spite to the Presbyterians , and other Sectaries , whom he dreaded as much as the Loyal Party ; and did , with reason , expect they should improve those Calumnies , and Invectives against him , whereof he had been the grand Promoter against their Righful and Lawful King ; and so he found it to his End , which that perplexity and vexation he met with from Fanaticks of all sorts , and in all Places , City , Country , but especially his Army , was presum'd to hasten . 'T is true , when the Legislative Power , the other day , thought fit to establish them an Indulgence , there was a Project set on-foot to make Two Sticks one , ( to use their own Canting Terms ) and several Proposals laid down in order thereunto ; yet we find them still separated from one another , and the several Parties , upon every little occasion , dividing among themselves , tho' much Art is used to smother and conceal it : At the best , it was but a Flourish , a Cord of Vanity , which bound them together , and it held accordingly ; neither can you expect otherwise , upon consideration of the Causes which that great Vndertaker assigns of those Divisions , the Root from whence their Discords spring : Come they not hence , even of our Lusts ? Whatever you find to have been the Cause of them , whether Spiritual Pride , or a Contentious Disposition , or an Affectation of Singularity , or Error of Opinion , or Admiration of Mens Persons , or a Sowrness of Spirit , or an Ambition of drawing Disciples after us : Let the Cause be what it will , it must be remov'd , &c. All which is sooner said than done ; such Pecadillo's , and of so long Continuance , are not easily dislodg'd : Although he might as well have taken his Character from St. Paul's Perillous Times , which he foretells in the last Days , when Men should be Heady , High-minded , Covetous , Proud , Boasters , &c. so far from growing better , as he declares they should wax worse and worse , deceiving , and being , deceived . Now , Sir , whatever Censure I may incur from others , my Appeal is to your self , whether the Account here given of these People be any other , than what their daily Practices do sadly ; verifie ? And if left to their own Culture , and Ingenuity , any likelihood they should reform ? 'T is grown as customary , as habitual with them , to thwart , contradict , and oppose , as with the Dutch to live quietly , and mind their own business : From which Disposition of theirs , I may continue the Disparity , and observe , Thirdly , How their constant application to Business and Imployment , afford them no time to dream of New Lights , or trouble themselves about any other Perswasion , as to Religion , than what they were brought up in ; For , as at their first Establishment , there were Three predominant Way of Opinion , ( I won't say Doctrine ) and Worship , which they had then Reform'd themselves into , Lutherans , Calvinists , and Anabaptists ; so the Toleration more especially extended to them , and has been generally continued down in the same Families , from Father to Children ever since ; neither is it so usual with them to flitt up and down , from one Maggotty Perswasion to another , as among us . Those upstart puny Sects , which arose of later Days , are mostly Foreign , and mostly from England too , as the Brownists , and Independents first , the Sabbatarians after them , then Quakers , Muggletonians , and what not ? Who have , prevail'd with some of the Natives to be as foolish and mad as themselves , but not many ; and , perhaps , had they been kept to the same Thoughtfulness at home for Bread , and all other Necessaries of Life , would not have so wantonly gone a-Whoring with their own Inventions . And the like reason may be given , that there are not so many Libertines , Atheistical , Profane Persons , as in many other Parts , where all Religions are Tolerated : It cannot seem strange there should be some without any ; and that there are not more , shall not be attributed so much to their Vertue as Necessity : For not only their Mechanicks and Tradesmen , but Persons of the best Quality , are oblig'd to the like Care and Industry , as to the Concerns of Humane Life . The Ground on which their many populous Cities stand , is of small Compass ; and the Rents of that little Land they have , are very low , not able to maintain any one in the Port of a Gentleman ; ( that is , an Idleman , which is their Term for that degree ) whereof as there are few Ancient Families amongst them , so the Children of those that are , as likewise of their Chief Magistrates , and Rich Merchants , are constantly brought up to some Imployment , Military or Civil , with an Education agreeable thereunto , which , together with their Natural Disposition , keeps their Thoughts fix'd upon things really advantageous ; and so you shall generally find them very intent upon their Designs , and assiduous in their Application . Will you give me leave to apply this and observe how opposite their Course is to that of our Mercurial Wits , who being born to great Fortunes , and valued for the great Worth of those Predecessors which rais'd them , as if nothing else were wanting which should recommend them to the World , think themselves above any serious Application , either as to Business , or Knowledge . I need not tell you now little , or no , Education our young Master has from his very Cradle ; how careful the good Lady-Mother is , he should not be kept in too much at School ; what a fruitless Figure he makes in the Vniversity ; and when he comes up to the Extravagancies of the Town , is as much for living above sober Sence , as our Dissenters above Ordinances . God forbid this should be a General Rule ; yet it could be wish'd there were more Exceptions , than daily Experience will permit us ; to observe : Liberty of Life , tho' not so much clamour'd for , is as much in Vogue as Liberty of Conscience , and the one doubtless consequent of the other : For the practical Atheist hath been ever thought to introduce the Speculation ; and when Men are left free to all Religions , that is the proper time to set up for none . I remember , during Cromwel's Vsurpation , the Leviathan-Doctrine was first started ; and as some Gentlemen of too good Parts , unless better employ'd , were industrious to cultivate and improve it , so many of our Airy Sparks about Town , and elsewhere , became their sordid Imitators : Nothing would go down with them , but a State of War , with a total Abolition of all difference between Good and Evil , Right and Wrong . Now , whether it was their being weary , or asham'd , of such unreasonable Notions , or an affectation of Novelty , the delight of vain Minds , Deism seems to have superseded that , and is become at present the Darling-Subject of every young Libertine's Discourse ; who will presume to expose , and run down Reveal'd Religion with all Confidence imaginable , altho' the little Impertinent never thought a sober hour in its life ; and understands the Philosophy of Matter and Motion , no farther , than that his own Brains are in a continual Hurry : Not but that these Engines too are set on work by some more plodding Heads , who have several secret Designs in exploding the Authority of Scripture , upon the Politick as well as Prophane Account ; and , among the rest , to buoy up such Models of Government , as the Belief thereof expresly overthrows . Here then arises the main Quere : What shall we do with such Dissenters as these ? The Sceptick , the Deist , the Atheist , under what Class shall we place them ? They have the same Plea to be conside●●● 〈◊〉 which the others always brought , that is , Number and 〈◊〉 being able to vie , in either Particular , with any of their differing Factions , and , for ought I see , in a short time , may outdo them all ; since daily Experience assures us 't is the last result of Fanatick Zeal ; for being over-heated , and weary , with running its several Courses of Faction and Opinion , it sits down in the end , and centres here . And yet , all this while , the rest will not see what a fine Thread they have spun for themselves , as well as us ; whilst the one are undermining the Church of England , these others are doing the same to the Christian Religion : Altho' , to speak impartially , the Latitude some Divines have taken , as to the Socinian , and other Points of like Nature , must be acknowledg'd not a little conducing to this Grand Apostacy ; so readily will Corrupt Minds improve bad Principles , deny those Mysteries by wholesale , which some Mens rash and nice Enquiries had made more perplex'd and intricate , than the Simplicity of True Religion stands in need of , or did ever design . And this , Sir , is the result of an Vnlimited Toleration ; which going on at this rate , ( unless the Pater Noster Men interpose their Inquisition ) must necessarily end in a Sit anima mea cum Philosophis . Fourthly , Another thing which makes the Dutch Toleration sit the more easie , is , That Their Government is most exact and punctual in the Administration of Justice , and Execution of Law ; which as they are enacted at first , upon the mature deliberation of a few sober understanding Men , with sole regard to the Common Weal , the Publick Good ; so , once proclaim'd , there is no evading their true Import , or escaping the Penalty of a Violation : The Lawyers among them dare not Open , or so much as Qu●tch against what their Superiours have thought fit to establish , much less study Flaws , and hammer out Niceties , to gratifie bad Men , in frustrating whatever good the Legislative Power design'd , and put them to the trouble of an Explanatory Act next Session , which runs the same risque : Yet that we are under these very Circumstances , I need not tell you ; which , with the Insolency of Faction , the remissness and indifferency of the Executive Power , hath brought us too nigh an Affinity with that deplorable Estate of the Jewish Anarchy , where every one did what seem'd right in his own Eyes . Otherwise , we have Laws more than enough ; and could they have executed themselves , all Allegations for a Toleration had been long since quash'd ; not only the Externals of God's Publick Worship had been kept up in Decency and Order , but every Man 's Temporal Concern , his Right and 〈…〉 fix'd upon a much surer Bottom . On the contrary , a 〈◊〉 Indifferency , as to Religious Duties , hath so far unprincipled , and debauch'd Mens Minds , that our modern Faith is not only without Works , but so wholly confin'd to some Spiritual Chimaera's , as there is little of Truth or Trust in the ordinary Transactions of Humane Life : Our Meum and Tuum is in a very precarious Condition , what with the Latitude of their new Notions , and the advantage to be taken from the Perplexity , the Niceties of our Laws , with the little Tricks of Practice , so shamefully now a-days alla-mode , an undesigning Integrity can scarce tell whom to trust , and is frequently at a loss , either to recover Right , or repel Wrong : Neither will it be ever otherwise , as long as so many Law-jobbing Make-bates are suffered to swarm in every County throughout the Kingdom . Were Grievances to be redress'd by their Malignity and epidemick Contagion , I know no one thing sooner to be consider'd ; that it is otherwise , you and I cannot help . In short , Sir , a strict and Regular Execution of Laws , is the Life and Soul of any Government . Take these two different Instances : In the Spanish Netherlands , we find the Romish Religion solely establish'd , with the Rigour , tho' not the Name , of that Inquisition ; which was the most plausible Plea for their first Defection : On the other side , in the Vnited Provinces , there is a general Toleration ; both which , the Vniformity of the one , and Indulgence of the other , are supported , and kept up , by a vigorous Execution of such Laws as were thought most proper thereunto ; and if either , the latter are the more exact and severe , by reason it is so natural for different Opinions to clash with , and thwart each other ; so far are they from admitting them into the Magistracy , giving the least way to New Lights , and Fanciful Enthusiasms there , as well knowing such a Freedom is enough to make any Government as monstrous as that Picture , which had an Hanc Populus affix'd . Fifthly , I shall only add farther , that the Dutch Toleration was established in the Infancy of the Reformation , when Men had a sincere and unfeigned Zeal for the Truth of Religion , desired nothing more than to have her free'd from Ignorance and Superstition , such spurious Doctrines , and burthensome Ceremonies , as rust of Time , neglect of Enquiry , and , above all , the Intrigues of Papal Vsurpation , had impos'd upon the World , and for several Centuries together made pass for Catholick . Now , altho' this Zeal was not always according to Knowledge , the different , and , in some Places , not justifiable Methods which were taken , did much obstruct , ay , and scandalize so good an Undertaking ; yet the maint Point being gain'd in shaking off the Roman Yoke , whether out of Interest , Prudence , or Piety , I shall not determine , Men generally sat down abundantly satisfied with the Enjoyment of that Perswasion , which 〈…〉 deepest Impression upon their Minds : And this happened in such a juncture for the Vnited Provinces , as perhaps no Age will be ever able to paralell . For the Spanish Interest prevaling in Brabant , and Flanders , with the Walloon Provinces , whoever could ; or would not submit , retreated hither , as likewise great multitudes out of France and Germany ; which made them the Pantheon , the common Receptacle of all People pretending to the Liberty of Conscience , the only thing then desired , and in the enjoyment whereof ( whether well or ill-inform'd we are not now to enquire ) they were abundantly satisfied . How much the World ( especially amongst us ) is cool'd as to such a Temper , and heated as to much worse Dispositions , our many Feuds and Factions , unreasonable Cavils , and implacable Enmities , too sadly declare . Men , now a-days , bellow out the Protestant Religion , the Protestant Religion , as the Jews of old , The Temple of the Lord , the Temple of the Lord , as if the very name , or relation thereunto , might authorize the grossest Impieties , their wilful Perjuries , and seditious Practices , the Violation of Publick Laws , and disturbance of Publick Peace , even to a most unnatural Rebellion , and execrable Regicide : This , Sir , impartially speaking , is undeniable Matter of Fact ; and if ever the Nation returns to its Wits again , sober Sence , and sound Principles , such Protestants will be recorded with a very black Character , the Reproach not only of the Reformation , but of every thing which tends to true Religion , like the Pharisees and Zealots among the Jews , sacrificing all to their own gross , Hypocrisie , sordid Avarice , and self-will'd Ambition ; and God grant they do not bring the like fatal End upon our Place and Nation : The dreadful apprehension whereof makes not only my hand , but my heart , tremble ; and , amid'st such melancholy Reflections , wish to have been born in an Age , when Wise Men had had the Ascendent of Fools , and Honest Men of Knaves . On the contrary , as things now stand , you know the Close of that Old Rhime , Knaves and Fools will quite undoe us . Neither can our Prospect be much better , if we look upon the Reformation abroad : What a strange Indifferency have some Great Princes of the Empire lately discover'd ? And how gross the Apostacy of others ? To be sure , where there was a General Toleration of Lutheran and Calvinists , together , with the several other differing Perswasions , Anabaptists , Arrians , Socinians , &c they are either wholly extirpated , as in Bohemia , Moravia , the Two Austria's , Poland , &c. or in a fair Tendency thereunto , as at present in Hungary , and Transilvania : In all which Places they were very numerous ; but what with contending amongst themselves , and innovating , or opposing the Establish'd Government , they have been either worm'd , or beaten out , with all the contempt and ease imaginable : And that the same Design is carrying on amongst us , and the same Event expected , they must be wilfully blind who do not see , what with Licentiousness on the one hand , and Hypocrisie on the other , the no - Reality of such as pretend most , and great Indifferency of all the rest ; as we are naturally prone to fall into Extreams , so we seem strangely dispos'd ( and the more , because unwilling to believe it , to fall into that which we have all along pretended most vehemently to avoid . Thus , Sir , have I impartially , and perhaps too freely , told you what I know , and what I think of the Dutch Toleration ; yet without this Freedom , it had been impossible to set you in a True Light , so as to discover the gross mistakes of our Commonwealth Pretenders , who are always admiring the Hollanders , with the Excellent Administration People live under there ; which nevertheless they understand no more , than how the Empire , and Army of Russia , is now manag'd during the Czar's Absence ; and the many Projects they are so troublesome withal , both in Theory and Practice , are as opposite thereunto , as one Pole to the other : Yet , since things are brought to that pass , as a Toleration must be , give me leave to tell you , that venturing in any other than a Dutch Bottom , will shipwreck the whole Cargo ; that is , without a Metaphor , keeping the Magistracy in such hands as shall be of one Piece , Vniform , and Vnanimous in the Management thereof ; for which I shall briefly lay down these following Reasons , and so end your Trouble . 1st . We shall have some Face of Government in an Establish'd National Religion ; which I mention solely upon a Civil Account , and that not only in regard to the outward Decorum , ( which yet ought to be consider'd ) but the absolute Necessity thereof , as the only means of preventing those continual Contrasts and Caballings , which the several Factions will have one against another ; and if admitted to Debates , all together against that which is uppermost ; the Mischief , and Inconveniencies whereof , can no other way be redress'd , than by fixing the Ruling Power in one Perswasion , to whom it shall solely appertain to take care of the whole , see the several Parties enjoy their private Opinions , without the least Infraction upon our Publick Peace . On the other side , let us reflect , first , upon the Vndecency of the thing , how preposterous it must seem to any Man of Sence , whether Native or Foreigner , that the Sword should dance attendance from one Place to another , according to the Caprice of each prevailing Faction : This Year's Lord Mayor has a Conscience of such Latitude , as to Trim it between Church and Conventicle , without the least regret ; whereas his Successor may have one so squeamish , and streight-lac'd , as not to come within the Sound of St. Paul's Organ , or under the roof of that Sumptuous , and therefore Superstitious Structure . But then too having got the Sword to go their own way , how strangely must it wander up and down , as each Party prevail to get into the Chair ; one Year it must attend a Presbyterian-Meeting , the next , perhaps , will fall to the Independant's Lot , and the Anabaptists will ill resent it to go without their turn ; nay , we are not sure but the Quakers may put in their Claim , and without any Offence to the Inward-Man , desire it should attend their Motions on a bulk in Grace-Church-street . This , Sir , I take to be as Natural to the aspiring Spirits of those several Schismatical Herds , as Milk to a Calf , and they will low as much if kept without it ; yet how decent this will be , how unbecoming the State and Gravity of any Magistracy , I leave for you , and the World to judge . However that of Publick Security is much more to be consider'd ; for whatever Pleas may be alledg'd , or Protestations made , we know how things went , when the weak Conscience had got the strongest Sword , Dominion was then founded in Grace , and the appointed time come for the Saints to inherit the Earth , and bring in Subjection all the Powers of Darkness . 2dly , The Ancient Grandeur and Hospitality of our City-Magistracy , and proportionably of all other Corporations , will be hereby continued and kept up ; which since it came into these hands , hath been most scandalously slighted , and disus'd ; for the Character which our Poet Laureat gave of that cursed Shimei , who first led the Van to Faction and Frugality , is true of all the rest , Cool are their Kitchens , tho' their Brains are hot . To speak freely , a sneaking , single-soul'd Sectary , cannot exert it self to any thing that is Great or Generosn , Gain is their Godliness , and Profit their Preferment ; in order whereunto , upon Enquiry , you shall find , that those Great Offices wherein worthy Citizens were formerly wont to expend several thousand Pounds , are now made to bear their own Charges , and bring somewhat into Pocket too : And , as a farther ill consequence hereof , there are those will tell you all Places of Inferiour Trust are dispos'd off accordingly ; and whoever makes a hard Bargain , will be more solicitous for his own Reimbursement , than the Commonweal . 'T was nobly said of Tully , Nec quidquam aliud videndum est nobis , quos Populus Romanus hoc in Gradu collocarit , nisi ne quid privatis studiis de operâ publicâ de●rahamus ; neither can it possibly go well with any Government , if Men in Publick Places have not Publick Spirits , under which defect I am afraid our poor Nation , at present more especially , very much labours . 3dly , This will make an exact Discrimination between the truly conscientious Dissenter , and the Politick , the Factious Intriguer ; for when every Man must declare to what Body of Church-Membership he will join , and is oblig'd therein to abide ( whether in the Lord , or not , the same Lord shall judge at last ) our sundry shifting Proteus's such Amphibious Christians , as can live both in Land and Water , Church and Conventicle , ( and that , more especially , to get Prey ) will intirely be defeated of their many base Ends ; Conscience shall have its full Liberty , but the State-Libertine wholly abridg'd from promoting their Maggotty Commonwealth Innovations ; or abusing the Sacred Robe of Magistracy , for a Cloak of Maliciousness , Avarice , or both ; and were this reasonable ▪ distinction effectually prosecuted , and their little factious Properties excluded from voting the Sword into such unworthy Hands , it must fall in course to some honester Man's Lot , who will be the Minister of God for good , and bear it not in vain . 'T is likewise to be hop'd , this may tend by degrees to the better Information of the deluded People , make them reflect upon the Inconsistency of their Principles , and Unwarrantableness of Schism , how naturally they tend to a licentious Prophanation of all things Sacred and Civil , whilst Men of corrupt Minds can so easily prostitute the most solemn Obligations of Religion , and Conscience , to two such servile respects as Interest and Humour . Neither are we to despair , but it may work a Reformation in the Persons themselves ; for generally when Men get nothing by acting the Hypocrite , they care no longer to wear the Vizard , chuse rather to appear as they really are , and fall at last to desire a right Information of Things , since Error and Deceit has fail'd in those Advantages , which were formerly the main Support of their Vnrighteous Mammon . But whatever the Event be as to them , I am confident you are satisfied no Government can be safe in such slippery hands ; for they that can be any thing , will be every thing , and are good for nothing ; having betray'd their own Consciences , is it possible they should demur serving others in the like kind ? 4thly , But to come to that which is most considerable in this case , indeed the main Support of every Government : By this means all Publick Deliberations , and Resolves , will be carried on in a smooth and even , steddy , uniform Course , free from Factious Oppositions , with the many other by-respects of Intriguing Interests : This , I say , in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , at least , would abate the several Feuds , ay , and 〈◊〉 Expences too , at the Election of our National Represen●●●●●es , and secure their Debates , when Assembled , from frequent Embarassments , according to the French Term , the Obstructions and Delays , which such as cannot obtain their own private , pettish Humours , are prone to interpose in the most weighty Transactions , tho' never so prejudicial to the Common Good. In like manner all other sinister Practices , Plots , and Brangles , whether in Towns Corporate , City , or Country , would be reduc'd to something of Temper , Noise and Nonsence being once excluded , such Men in course must come in place , as would speak to the purpose , and act upon a Principle . And if any one objects this would be too great an Invasion upon their Liberties , I shall only reply , as at first , 't is no more than what their admired Neighbours the Hollanders , did upon their own accord , to prevent the dangerous Consequences of their many Popular Heats , and Tumultuous Assemblies , when they gave way that all their Right thereto should be devolv'd upon a few sober understanding Men , who knew better how to act for the Common Welfare than themselves : But whether many , or few ( for this propounds only the exclusion of some , no alteration in the whole Constitution , as well knowing neither Oligarchy , nor Polygarchy will do with us , however there be zealous Pretenders to both ) so they be all of one Piece , Business will go on much the smoother , and be sooner brought to a Conclusion : And therefore give me leave to transferr St. Paul's Comparison , from the Church to the Body Politick , it being equally dangerous to them both , as in the Natural : If the Head be a Monarch , and the Feet Commonwealths-men ; the Eye of the Presbyterian , and the Ear of the Congregational Perswasions , with the Devil and all of little Maggotty Sectaries grumbling in the Belly , what care can be taken of the whole ? What will become of it in the end ? Amongst sundry pretty Crotchets , which in the Low Countries hang out for Signs , there is one at Harlem , call'd the Misforstand , that is , a Barrel of Beer between two Dray-men , turn'd Back to Back , and so pulling two contrary ways . I have known a Nation standing in this unhappy Posture for nigh these Sixty Years together , with these aggravating Circumstances , that as there have been many more than two Pullers , so they pull'd more than Twenty several ways , that the poor Vessel hath been able to hold out thus long is much ; yet that it should hold out much longer , will be more to admiration . 5thly , That the Monarch , and Monarchy , will be hereby very much secured , cannot be disputed ; for , as we see , how fatal it is , when a Prince differs 〈◊〉 his Perswasion from the Establish'd Religion , so one of that Perswasion is as little secure , if his Ministers , ●ther inferiour Officers , and Dependants , are of different Sentiments , and Inclinations ; and that not only as to Divine Matters , but the very Nature and Original of all Humane Constitutions , and Civil Societies : And whoever wears the Crown of England , upon any other than the Old Church of England Principle , will neither find that sit easie , nor himself long safe ; for notwithstanding the many Protestations , and Acknowledgments , which either Flattery , or Interest , may for some time , oblige them unto , there is not One in Ten of the several Factions , could they have their own Wills , would endure a Monarchy , any more than the Kingdom of Heaven a Commonwealth . That such a Book as Ludlow's Memoirs should come abroad at this time of day , is somewhat odd , and argues his Admirers Men of no little Assurance ; yet really however it may prevail upon the infatuated Sectaries , the many Plots and Counter-Plots there discover'd , their implacable Enmities one against another , persidious Hypocrisies , and clandestine Vnderminings , with a continued Irresolution as to any thing of Accord and Settlement , must convince every man of Sence , that ( like their Infernal Abettor ) their sole Talent lay in doing Mischief , opposing , and pulling down ; which , having effected , they could no more agree what should succeed , than the Mob of Capua , when they had brought things into the same condition . Read over his whole Second Volume with a serious Attention ; and then tell me , whether Hell it self can be represented in greater Confusion , than he doth there the Conduct of Affairs , the Contrasts , and Counterminings of the several Vsurping Powers , till things being brought to the Extremity of Distraction , with an Expence of Blood and Treasure , never before paralell'd , they were forc'd , like the Evil Spirit in the Gospel , to return from whence they set out , and cease troubling the World , till their former Freaks , and its own Follies should be quite forgot ; yet these were our Commonwealth-Patriots , the Keepers of our Liberties , and what not : From whom , and all such , God keep this Poor Nation for evermore . 6thly , Were I not sure , you would expect something in reference to the Church of England , I had been wholly silent as to that Point , being of a Perswasion somewhat more sanguine , than most of her Son's Clergy as well as Lay , viz. that what a wise Observer said of the whole Nation in general , is more applicable here , None can destroy her but her self . There is , as I hinted just now , so strict and mutual a dependance between the Crown and Mytre , that they must both stand and fall together : And , give me leave farther to add , we must never expect a settl'd State , or continued Peace , without keeping 〈…〉 , and Necessities 〈…〉 themselves 〈◊〉 , to bring in their 〈…〉 true , whenever a Nation is so unhappy 〈…〉 divided 〈◊〉 it self , fall into Parties , and Fractions , upon any 〈…〉 ●●clesiastical , or Civil ; as some Church-men will make themselves 〈◊〉 be made Properties therein , so the Church must expect to bear her p●oportion in such Distractions , and that to a large degree ; yet still if the main Body keeps steady to its self , wal●● by the same Rule , and minds the same Thing , such a reserve of Mercy and Providence will constantly attend her , as tho' persecuted , she shall never be forsaken , cast down , but not destroy'd ; and it very rarely happens some great Good does not come out of that Evil. But if she forsakes her self , folds her Arms in a careless Despair , or consults her Peace by an Vnion with Faction and Schism , and as the Judicious Bishop La●●y observ'd , pulls down her old Walls , her Confessions of Doctrine , and Canons of Discipline ( like the foolish Trojans ) to let in a comprehensive Horse , full of those very Enemies , which have us'd all other means , tho' God be prais'd in vain , to effect her ruine . This would be a Perditio tua ex te , and as the same good Man farther declares , against all the Rules of Wisdom and Government , by which it was ever thought necessary , that the People should conform to the Laws of the Church , never that the Church should conform to the Humours of the People ; and therefore , as he very well distinguishes , to such as be content to leave their Faults and Errors behind them , we ought to set our Gates wide open , and need not pull down our Walls ; but if they bring their Errors , Animosities , and divided Judgments along with them , to admit such , only secures them from Punishment , but leaves them free to all other Causes of Dissension , or rather fortifies and animates them to pursue their Differences with the greater Violence . God , to be sure , receives none but upon Repentance and Amendment ; and why his Church should do otherwise , I am yet to learn ; if they will not be the same with us , let them Her● by themselves , and not come among us , their Room is better than their Company : And therefore I have always suspected , either want of Vnderstanding , or Affection , in those Persons , who trouble their Heads so much in that Affair , without any regard to the Caution in the Gospel , as likewise the reason of the thing , and will be treating with , ay , and courting too , those Wolves , because they appear in Sheeps Cloathing ; or can otherwise alledge some plausible Pr●●●nces , which the Devil is never without , nor fails of a supply to such as act on his behalf ; whereas Matter of Fact hath all along spoke quite the contrary , the continued Experience of nigh an hundred Years most sadly assur'd us , that they could never be oblig'd by any Kindness , nor satisfy'd 〈…〉 And now , Sir , without doubt you must 〈…〉 find the Trouble I was complemented into , 〈◊〉 upon your 〈◊〉 receiving a Volume instead of a Letter . Yet , be assur'd , 't was with some difficulty it ended here ; for having once set my Thoughts afloat , the Current ran so strong , I could not stem its Force so as to stop at pleasure : And by this you may see confirm'd what I have hitherto entertain'd you withal ; for if a single Person cannot take his Liberty , in so little an Affair too , without somewhat of Inconvenience and Trouble , how much worse must it prove in a whole Body , a Community of People , who are so easily hurried on , without knowing what they do , or from whom they act , till all end in Mischief and Confusion : And therefore give me leave to declare , that the Restraints propounded in the Premises , whatever satisfaction they may give you , and some few of your Temper , will be no ways acceptable to that extravagant Licentiousness , both Corporal and Spiritual , Ecclesiastical and Civil , which hath so long had the Ascendant amongst us , and bears too nigh Affinity to that Acknowledgment in Livy ; Nec Morbum ferre possumus , nec Remedium . God , in his due time , make us sensible both of the Folly and Danger , which such Courses tend unto : In the mean while , and ever , continue to defend our Church from all her Enemies , within , as well as with●●● , the daily Prayer of , SIR , Yours , &c. — M — ● . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A31025-e180 Obs . p. 9● . Peace and union , p. 9. Sir W. T. p. 110. Pref. p. 85. Two Sticks made one , p. 28. 2 Tit. 3 Ver. 9. Last Sermon at Court , p. 26.