The Minster of Cirencester's address to the dissenters of his parish occasion'd by the death of their preacher : together with the answer that was made thereto and his reply to that answer : to which is prefixed a letter relating thereto from the Right Reverend Father in God Edward Lord Bishop of Gloucester.
         Harrison, Joseph.
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             The Minster of Cirencester's address to the dissenters of his parish occasion'd by the death of their preacher : together with the answer that was made thereto and his reply to that answer : to which is prefixed a letter relating thereto from the Right Reverend Father in God Edward Lord Bishop of Gloucester.
             Harrison, Joseph.
          
           [4], 42 p.
           
             Printed by T.M. and are to be sold by Ric. Chiswell and J. Barksdale,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             "To my well-beloved friends and parishoners who do not frequent the communion of the Church" signed: Joseph Harrison.
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Church of England -- Apologetic works.
           Dissenters, Religious -- England.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           Minister
           of
           
           Cirencester's
           ADDRESS
           TO
           THE
           Dissenters
           of
           his
           Parish
           .
           Occasion'd
           by
           the
           DEATH
           of
           Their
           PREACHER
           .
           Together
           with
           the
           ANSWER
           that
           was
           made
           thereto
           ,
           AND
           His
           REPLY
           to
           that
           ANSWER
           .
           To
           which
           is
           prefixed
           ,
           A
           LETTER
           relating
           thereto
           ,
           from
           the
           Right
           Reverend
           Father
           in
           GOD
           ,
           Edward
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Gloucester
           .
        
         
           
             
               ECCLUS
               .
               xxi
               .
               15.
            
             
          
           
             If
             a
             skilful
             Man
             hear
             a
             wise
             word
             ,
             he
             will
             commend
             it
             ,
             and
             add
             unto
             it
             :
             but
             as
             soon
             as
             one
             of
             no
             understanding
             heareth
             it
             ,
             it
             displeaseth
             him
             ,
             and
             he
             casteth
             it
             behind
             his
             Back
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             T.
             M.
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           Sold
           by
           
             Ric.
             Chiswell
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           
             Church-yard
             ,
             London
          
           ;
           and
           
             I.
             Barksdale
          
           ,
           Bookseller
           in
           Cirencester
           .
           1698.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           Reverend
           M
           R.
           JOSEPH
           HARRISON
           ,
           MINISTER
           of
           Cirencester
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Have
           read
           your
           Address
           to
           the
           
             Dissenters
             of
             your
             Parish
          
           ,
           with
           the
           very
           idle
           and
           trifling
           Answer
           thereto
           ,
           and
           your
           Reply
           to
           that
           Answer
           ;
           and
           advise
           you
           to
           publish
           the
           whole
           ,
           unless
           you
           can
           be
           content
           (
           as
           I
           know
           you
           cannot
           )
           to
           take
           so
           much
           good
           pains
           to
           little
           purpose
           .
           Your
           Address
           is
           a
           very
           Commendable
           Instance
           of
           your
           Hearty
           Concern
           conscientiously
           to
           discharge
           that
           Great
           Trust
           which
           is
           committed
           to
           you
           ;
           and
           your
           Defence
           thereof
           is
           as
           good
           a
           Proof
           of
           your
           being
           no
           less
           able
           than
           desirous
           to
           do
           the
           Office
           of
           a
           Pastor
           ,
           even
           towards
           those
           who
           refuse
           to
           own
           you
           as
           such
           .
        
         
           I
           wish
           the
           
             most
             Sincere
          
           in
           the
           several
           Sects
           which
           have
           renounc'd
           Communion
           with
           us
           ,
           could
           but
           think
           it
           possible
           that
           they
           may
           be
           in
           an
           Error
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           be
           perswaded
           to
           read
           ,
           with
           any
           Impartiality
           ,
           what
           is
           written
           against
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           for
           ,
           their
           Separation
           :
           
           I
           should
           not
           then
           doubt
           ,
           but
           this
           
             Deplorable
             Schism
          
           would
           wear
           off
           apace
           ,
           among
           those
           who
           make
           not
           a
           Trade
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           
             Wolves
             in
             Sheeps
             Clothing
          
           ;
           since
           I
           am
           most
           certain
           ,
           that
           the
           Errors
           of
           Popery
           are
           not
           more
           plainly
           detected
           and
           expos'd
           ,
           than
           have
           the
           Principles
           of
           our
           
             Protestant
             Separatists
          
           been
           abundantly
           confuted
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           Vanity
           of
           their
           Pretences
           demonstrated
           ,
           to
           all
           that
           are
           capable
           of
           Seeing
           with
           their
           own
           Eyes
           .
        
         
           That
           GOD
           would
           Bless
           this
           
             very
             good
             Endeavour
          
           of
           Yours
           ,
           to
           the
           Reducing
           of
           such
           to
           His
           Church
           as
           are
           gone
           astray
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           Confirming
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           hitherto
           been
           kept
           by
           his
           Grace
           in
           the
           Communion
           thereof
           :
           And
           ,
           that
           He
           would
           crown
           all
           your
           Labours
           with
           happy
           Success
           ,
           and
           make
           you
           as
           instrumental
           to
           the
           Reforming
           of
           the
           Lives
           of
           your
           People
           ,
           as
           the
           Rectifying
           of
           their
           Judgments
           ,
           is
           the
           most
           Hearty
           and
           Humble
           Prayer
           of
           ,
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
           
             Your
             very
             loving
             Friend
             and
             Brother
             ,
             
               EDW.
               GLOUCESTER
            
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           To
           My
           Well-beloved
           Friends
           and
           Parishioners
           ,
           Who
           do
           not
           frequent
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           THo'
           it
           has
           pleased
           God
           to
           take
           away
           him
           whom
           your Selves
           had
           Appointed
           and
           Setled
           here
           ,
           as
           a
           Distinct
           and
           Peculiar
           Teacher
           of
           your
           own
           ,
           yet
           I
           must
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           this
           Parish
           is
           not
           yet
           (
           thro'
           God's
           Blessing
           )
           deprived
           of
           a
           Minister
           ,
           who
           will
           be
           ready
           ,
           to
           the
           utmost
           of
           his
           Power
           ,
           to
           serve
           every
           Member
           thereof
           in
           the
           great
           and
           concerning
           Interest
           of
           their
           Souls
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           I
           my Self
           ,
           who
           am
           here
           placed
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           and
           I
           do
           now
           offer
           my Self
           (
           before
           you
           make
           Choise
           of
           any
           other
           )
           to
           Minister
           before
           God
           ,
           and
           for
           You
           ,
           in
           all
           the
           Offices
           of
           Religion
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Order
           and
           Constitution
           of
           that
           Primitive
           and
           Apostolical
           Church
           Established
           among
           Us
           ,
           to
           which
           I
           am
           inseparably
           tied
           by
           my
           Reason
           and
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           manner
           of
           Sacred
           and
           Solemn
           Obligations
           .
        
         
           This
           Church
           ,
           my
           Brethen
           ,
           is
           the
           Church
           you
           ought
           to
           Hold
           Communion
           with
           ,
           Our
           Parish-Church
           is
           the
           place
           where
           you
           ought
           to
           Serve
           and
           Worship
           God
           ;
           and
           I
           (
           how
           unworthy
           soever
           )
           am
           the
           only
           Person
           whose
           proper
           Business
           it
           is
           to
           Perform
           any
           Ministerial
           Office
           in
           this
           Parish
           ,
           and
           against
           whose
           either
           Life
           or
           Doctrine
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           no
           just
           Exception
           can
           be
           made
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           therefore
           most
           passionately
           Exhort
           ,
           and
           earnestly
           Beseech
           you
           all
           ,
           in
           the
           Bowels
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           ,
           as
           you
           tender
           the
           Peace
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           and
           the
           Welfare
           of
           your
           own
           Souls
           ,
           stedfastly
           Adhere
           to
           the
           Communion
           thereof
           .
        
         
         
           If
           your
           Separation
           is
           grounded
           upon
           real
           Scruples
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           you
           should
           certainly
           Endeavour
           to
           have
           them
           Answered
           and
           Removed
           ;
           and
           I
           shall
           be
           very
           ready
           ,
           and
           I
           trust
           in
           God
           ,
           able
           to
           give
           full
           Satisfaction
           to
           any
           One
           that
           shall
           desire
           it
           of
           Me.
           
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Reason
           of
           any
           One's
           dissenting
           from
           Us
           be
           only
           Humour
           or
           Prejudice
           ,
           he
           can
           never
           think
           that
           either
           of
           them
           will
           bear
           him
           out
           at
           the
           Great
           Day
           ,
           for
           keeping
           up
           a
           Schism
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           Rending
           and
           Dividing
           the
           Body
           of
           Christ
           .
        
         
           Before
           you
           Resolve
           to
           carry
           on
           the
           Separation
           ,
           I
           Entreat
           You
           ,
           for
           your
           own
           Soul's
           sake
           (
           for
           whose
           everlasting
           Happiness
           I
           have
           a
           tender
           Regard
           )
           to
           Consider
           well
           the
           Grounds
           and
           Reasons
           upon
           which
           you
           do
           it
           ,
           for
           Schism
           is
           not
           certainly
           so
           slight
           a
           Matter
           ,
           and
           so
           small
           a
           Crime
           ,
           as
           some
           People
           think
           it
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           nothing
           will
           disswade
           you
           from
           Maintaining
           the
           Divisions
           among
           us
           by
           bringing
           in
           another
           Preacher
           ,
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           take
           Care
           that
           he
           be
           a
           Person
           of
           Prudence
           and
           Temper
           ,
           One
           that
           will
           strictly
           Confine
           Himself
           within
           the
           Bounds
           and
           Limits
           of
           the
           Act
           of
           Toleration
           ,
           and
           who
           will
           be
           very
           cautious
           of
           doing
           any
           thing
           that
           will
           give
           Disturbance
           in
           a
           Parish
           ,
           which
           is
           at
           present
           in
           a
           very
           peaceable
           and
           quiet
           state
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Differences
           among
           Vs
           as
           to
           some
           matters
           of
           Religious
           Concern
           ;
           as
           to
           which
           also
           I
           most
           humbly
           Beseech
           God
           ,
           in
           his
           due
           time
           ,
           to
           Unite
           Us.
           
        
         
           
             
               I
               am
               Your
               Affectionate
               Pastor
               ,
               and
               Sincere
               Lover
               of
               your
               Souls
               ,
            
             JOSEPH-HARRISON
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           Ministers
           Reply
           to
           the
           Dissenters
           Answer
           to
           the
           foregoing
           Invitation
           of
           them
           into
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           
             Most
             Dearly
             Beloved
             in
             Christ
             ;
          
        
         
           I
           Cannot
           express
           how
           ,
           much
           I
           am
           concern'd
           ,
           that
           the
           PAPER
           which
           I
           sent
           among
           you
           upon
           so
           Christian
           an
           Errand
           ,
           and
           the
           Message
           it
           contain'd
           ,
           expressed
           in
           so
           inoffensive
           and
           obliging
           a
           manner
           ,
           and
           writ
           with
           that
           Sincerity
           and
           Purity
           of
           Intention
           ,
           as
           if
           I
           had
           been
           immediately
           to
           have
           Answered
           for
           it
           at
           the
           dreadful
           Tribunal
           of
           Heaven
           :
           I
           cannot
           I
           say
           ,
           express
           my
           Concern
           ,
           that
           such
           a
           Paper
           as
           this
           should
           be
           so
           far
           from
           having
           any
           good
           Effect
           upon
           those
           it
           was
           sent
           to
           ,
           as
           to
           exasperate
           them
           against
           it
           ,
           its
           Author
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           ,
           into
           whose
           Communion
           its
           business
           was
           to
           invite
           them
           ,
           to
           so
           high
           a
           degree
           ,
           that
           
             when
             I
             laboured
             for
             Peace
             ,
             and
             spake
             unto
             them
             thereof
             ,
             they
             made
             themselves
             ready
             for
             Battle
             .
          
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Reflections
           and
           uncharitable
           Censures
           which
           have
           been
           made
           upon
           me
           ,
           either
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           this
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Matter
           ,
           I
           do
           most
           heartily
           forgive
           them
           ,
           and
           humbly
           beseech
           God
           to
           do
           so
           too
           ;
           and
           also
           to
           support
           me
           with
           Courage
           and
           Patience
           under
           all
           the
           Opposition
           and
           Contempt
           which
           I
           have
           already
           ,
           and
           must
           expect
           to
           meet
           with
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           Discharge
           of
           my
           Duty
           :
           And
           this
           is
           all
           the
           Return
           I
           shall
           make
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           forasmuch
           as
           my
           kind
           Invitation
           to
           you
           is
           Answered
           ,
           not
           by
           
             an
             humble
             and
             modest
             Excuse
             of
             your selves
             ,
          
           but
           by
           a
           
             Paper
             which
             is
             stuffed
             with
             false
             Accusations
             of
             our
             Church
             ,
          
           and
           uncharitable
           Censures
           of
           those
           in
           Her
           Communion
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           will
           become
           me
           to
           endeavour
           ,
           not
           only
           your
           Conviction
           ,
           by
           shewing
           you
           how
           ill
           a
           Defence
           you
           have
           made
           ,
           and
           how
           weak
           those
           Arguments
           are
           ,
           which
           are
           here
           brought
           in
           Defence
           of
           your
           Separation
           from
           us
           ;
           but
           also
           to
           Vindicate
           our
           Church
           from
           the
           ill-grounded
           Charges
           there
           layd
           against
           Her
           of
           
             Idolatry
             ,
             Judaism
             ,
             Popery
             ,
             Schism
             ,
             Vnlawful
             Impositions
             ,
             Superstitions
             ,
             and
             Traditions
             .
          
        
         
           Heavy
           Charges
           these
           are
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           are
           all
           either
           expressed
           ,
           or
           clearly
           implyed
           in
           this
           Paper
           ,
           and
           the
           Sentence
           of
           Damnation
           passed
           upon
           us
           into
           the
           bargain
           .
           I
           shall
           not
           stand
           to
           Examine
           into
           the
           Charity
           of
           the
           Man
           that
           writ
           it
           ,
           but
           into
           the
           Arguments
           he
           produces
           to
           prove
           all
           these
           things
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           do
           appear
           to
           have
           no
           solid
           Foundation
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           to
           be
           weak
           and
           sallacious
           ,
           or
           rather
           no
           Arguments
           at
           all
           ,
           you
           must
           either
           Renounce
           the
           Separation
           ,
           and
           come
           to
           
           Church
           ,
           or
           bring
           better
           Reasons
           for
           your
           Refusal
           so
           to
           do
           ;
           which
           I
           believe
           your
           Cause
           will
           not
           admit
           of
           ,
           or
           that
           however
           
             none
             of
             you
          
           can
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           not
           much
           concerned
           to
           know
           who
           my
           Answerer
           is
           ,
           only
           I
           shall
           say
           ,
           that
           if
           he
           had
           thought
           fit
           to
           have
           sent
           his
           Paper
           to
           me
           alone
           ,
           with
           his
           Name
           subscribed
           to
           it
           ,
           I
           should
           have
           contented
           my self
           ,
           that
           the
           Matters
           in
           Controversie
           should
           have
           been
           amicably
           debated
           ,
           either
           in
           private
           Letters
           ,
           or
           in
           private
           Conversation
           ,
           betwixt
           him
           and
           me
           alone
           .
           But
           since
           he
           has
           sent
           it
           abroad
           ,
           and
           put
           it
           into
           your
           hands
           ,
           to
           harden
           you
           in
           your
           Separation
           ,
           and
           widen
           the
           Breach
           between
           us
           ,
           I
           cannot
           think
           that
           I
           have
           discharged
           my
           Duty
           towards
           you
           ,
           till
           I
           have
           shewed
           you
           the
           weakness
           of
           those
           Arguments
           ,
           by
           which
           ,
           those
           that
           call
           themselves
           the
           
             Authorized
             Ambassadors
             of
             Christ
          
           ,
           pursue
           those
           Vnchristian
           Ends.
           
        
         
           Whether
           the
           Answer
           I
           have
           returned
           be
           sufficient
           ,
           I
           must
           leave
           to
           your
           Judgments
           to
           determine
           ,
           but
           that
           you
           may
           better
           apprehend
           the
           Force
           of
           what
           is
           said
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           I
           have
           faithfully
           transcribed
           the
           Answer
           to
           my
           Paper
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Copy
           I
           met
           with
           ,
           and
           replyed
           to
           it
           Paragraph
           by
           Paragraph
           .
        
         
           Read
           both
           then
           without
           Prejudice
           ,
           and
           God
           Almighty
           enable
           you
           to
           
             Judge
             righteous
             Judgment
          
           ,
           and
           give
           you
           Grace
           sincerely
           to
           Act
           according
           thereto
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           I
           have
           lately
           received
           a
           Paper
           ,
           with
           your
           Name
           subscribed
           to
           it
           ,
           which
           makes
           me
           think
           that
           it
           is
           of
           your
           own
           inditing
           ;
           and
           were
           all
           in
           it
           according
           to
           the
           Rule
           we
           ought
           to
           walk
           by
           ,
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           I
           should
           have
           been
           silent
           without
           making
           any
           Reply
           against
           it
           ;
           but
           when
           you
           tell
           us
           our
           Parish
           is
           not
           through
           God's
           Blessing
           deprived
           of
           a
           Minister
           ,
           who
           will
           be
           ready
           to
           the
           utmost
           of
           his
           power
           ,
           to
           serve
           every
           Member
           thereof
           ,
           in
           the
           great
           and
           concerning
           Interest
           of
           their
           Souls
           :
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           I
           should
           most
           readily
           accept
           of
           your
           Offer
           ,
           were
           you
           but
           duly
           qualifyed
           for
           so
           great
           a
           Work.
           
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           should
           not
           have
           known
           what
           he
           meant
           by
           his
           telling
           me
           ,
           he
           believes
           it
           to
           be
           of
           my
           own
           inditing
           ,
           had
           I
           not
           heard
           that
           some
           of
           the
           Party
           questioned
           it
           ,
           and
           endeavoured
           to
           blast
           the
           success
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           denying
           me
           the
           Reputation
           of
           composing
           a
           few
           Lines
           ,
           so
           easie
           for
           any
           body
           to
           have
           done
           ;
           and
           wherein
           the
           main
           thing
           commendable
           ,
           is
           the
           honesty
           of
           the
           design
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           is
           better
           English
           than
           the
           Answer
           to
           it
           .
           But
           what
           if
           in
           consideration
           of
           the
           great
           Abilities
           of
           the
           Persons
           I
           sent
           it
           to
           ,
           and
           the
           severe
           Examination
           ,
           I
           might
           justly
           presume
           it
           would
           fall
           under
           ,
           by
           the
           
             Learned
             Ambassadors
          
           ,
           I
           had
           called
           in
           the
           Assistance
           of
           my
           Brethren
           ,
           what
           
           Fault
           had
           I
           been
           guilty
           of
           ?
           Or
           ,
           What
           just
           Ground
           of
           Exception
           was
           That
           against
           the
           Matter
           of
           it
           ?
           And
           suppose
           a
           Number
           of
           us
           should
           be
           in
           Consult
           for
           
             two
             Months
             together
          
           ,
           how
           to
           Reply
           to
           their
           Answer
           to
           a
           poor
           Paper
           that
           was
           (
           as
           it
           easily
           might
           be
           )
           drawn
           up
           ,
           transcribed
           into
           several
           Copies
           ,
           and
           dispersed
           abroad
           in
           two
           or
           three
           days
           time
           ;
           could
           those
           
             quick
             Gentlemen
          
           handsomely
           find
           fault
           with
           us
           ?
           Or
           would
           this
           be
           any
           thing
           to
           the
           Merits
           of
           the
           Cause
           ?
           No
           ,
           this
           could
           not
           be
           ;
           for
           he
           himself
           says
           ,
           That
           if
           all
           in
           my
           
             Paper
             were
             according
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             made
             no
             Reply
             .
          
           But
           then
           he
           should
           not
           have
           Replyed
           ,
           without
           shewing
           wherein
           't
           was
           contrary
           ;
           which
           he
           has
           not
           directly
           offered
           at
           ,
           as
           to
           any
           one
           Line
           thereof
           .
           Nor
           should
           he
           ,
           or
           any
           of
           the
           Party
           reject
           the
           Offer
           of
           my
           Service
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           my
           being
           Vnqualified
           ,
           without
           shewing
           wherein
           it
           is
           that
           I
           am
           so
           .
           If
           he
           mean
           
             Personal
             Qualifications
          
           ,
           I
           will
           only
           say
           with
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             Who
             is
             sufficient
             for
             these
             things
             ?
          
           But
           be
           my
           Defects
           never
           so
           great
           ,
           yet
           if
           I
           am
           ready
           ,
           to
           the
           
             utmost
             of
             my
             power
          
           ,
           to
           promote
           the
           Salvation
           of
           every
           Soul
           in
           my
           Parish
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           to
           come
           off
           well
           at
           the
           Last
           Day
           ,
           and
           that
           (
           whether
           you
           will
           or
           no
           )
           God
           will
           graciously
           accept
           my
           sincere
           ,
           though
           weak
           Endeavours
           .
           But
           Mr.
           Baxter
           tells
           you
           ,
           
           
             That
             if
             the
             Minister
             of
             the
             Parish
             be
             tolerable
             ,
             tho'
             weak
             and
             cold
             ,
             if
             you
             cannot
             remove
             your
             dwelling
             ,
             then
             publick
             Order
             ,
             and
             your
             Souls
             Edification
             must
             both
             be
             joyned
             as
             well
             as
             you
             can
             .
          
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           I
           confess
           you
           tell
           us
           you
           are
           placed
           here
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           your
           Church
           is
           the
           Primitive
           Apostolical
           Church
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           well-satisfied
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           not
           able
           by
           Scripture
           to
           prove
           either
           of
           your
           Assertions
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           And
           so
           I
           tell
           you
           still
           ,
           and
           tho'
           confident
           Assertions
           of
           Christs
           
             Authorized
             Ambassadors
          
           may
           go
           a
           great
           way
           with
           poor
           ignorant
           People
           ,
           who
           are
           deluded
           into
           that
           Opinion
           of
           them
           ;
           yet
           I
           am
           well
           satisfied
           he
           cannot
           
             disprove
             me
          
           by
           Scripture
           :
           And
           this
           is
           what
           he
           ought
           to
           have
           attempted
           ;
           for
           since
           as
           to
           my
           Orders
           ,
           (
           without
           which
           I
           hope
           he
           does
           not
           think
           I
           act
           )
           I
           am
           upon
           the
           same
           bottom
           with
           all
           the
           Clergy
           of
           England
           ,
           till
           he
           sheweth
           wherein
           our
           Church
           deviates
           from
           the
           
             Ancient
             Church
          
           ,
           I
           shall
           esteem
           it
           a
           sufficient
           Proof
           ,
           (
           equivalent
           to
           an
           express
           Text
           of
           Scripture
           )
           that
           I
           am
           placed
           here
           according
           to
           the
           
             Laws
             of
             God
          
           ;
           because
           I
           was
           Ordained
           and
           placed
           here
           by
           those
           ,
           
           with
           whom
           Christ
           hath
           left
           the
           Power
           to
           send
           forth
           Labourers
           into
           his
           Vineyard
           ;
           and
           that
           our
           Church
           is
           Primitive
           and
           Apostolical
           ,
           because
           its
           Faith
           ,
           Worship
           ,
           Government
           and
           Discipline
           are
           such
           .
        
         
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           As
           to
           your
           being
           inseparably
           tyed
           by
           Reason
           and
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           all
           manner
           of
           sacred
           and
           solemn
           Obligations
           ,
           Sir
           I
           am
           heartily
           sorry
           for
           you
           ,
           and
           look
           upon
           it
           as
           your
           great
           Vnhappiness
           that
           you
           are
           so
           confined
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           If
           this
           Person
           had
           any
           real
           occasion
           to
           be
           sorry
           for
           me
           upon
           this
           score
           ,
           I
           should
           heartily
           thank
           him
           for
           his
           Pity
           ;
           but
           undoubtedly
           it
           is
           the
           great
           Duty
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           Happiness
           of
           every
           Man
           ,
           sincerely
           to
           follow
           the
           Dictates
           of
           his
           Reason
           and
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           strictly
           to
           keep
           the
           sacred
           and
           
             solemn
             Obligations
          
           he
           lyes
           under
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Although
           you
           tell
           us
           this
           Church
           is
           the
           Church
           we
           ought
           to
           hold
           Communion
           with
           ,
           and
           our
           Parish
           Church
           the
           Place
           we
           ought
           to
           serve
           and
           worship
           God
           in
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           ,
           how
           unworthy
           soever
           ,
           are
           the
           Person
           whose
           proper
           business
           it
           is
           to
           perform
           any
           Ministerial
           Office
           in
           this
           Parish
           ,
           this
           Doctrine
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           will
           take
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           for
           they
           will
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           their
           Church
           is
           the
           Church
           you
           ought
           to
           hold
           Communion
           with
           ,
           and
           the
           Parish
           Church
           ,
           the
           place
           you
           ought
           to
           serve
           and
           worship
           God
           in
           ,
           and
           will
           give
           as
           good
           Proofs
           for
           what
           they
           assert
           as
           you
           have
           in
           your
           Paper
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           wish
           with
           all
           my
           heart
           that
           this
           Doctrine
           would
           take
           with
           those
           of
           the
           
             Church
             of
             Rome
          
           in
           this
           Kingdom
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           means
           that
           Papists
           may
           urge
           the
           same
           thing
           to
           invite
           Protestants
           into
           their
           Communion
           ,
           I
           would
           fain
           ask
           this
           Man
           ,
           whether
           he
           does
           in
           his
           Conscience
           think
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           do
           it
           ,
           upon
           as
           good
           Grounds
           and
           Reasons
           as
           we
           do
           ?
           For
           that
           's
           the
           Question
           ,
           and
           not
           whether
           they
           can
           give
           as
           
             Good
             Proofs
          
           as
           any
           I
           have
           in
           
             My
             Paper
          
           ;
           for
           as
           there
           was
           not
           room
           ,
           so
           neither
           was
           it
           the
           Business
           and
           Design
           thereof
           to
           give
           Proofs
           .
           To
           those
           who
           wanted
           them
           ,
           and
           desired
           them
           of
           me
           ,
           I
           offered
           to
           give
           the
           best
           Satisfaction
           I
           was
           able
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           As
           to
           your
           Life
           and
           Doctrine
           against
           which
           you
           hope
           no
           just
           Exception
           can
           be
           made
           ,
           it
           is
           best
           known
           to
           God
           and
           your
           Conscience
           how
           you
           have
           lived
           ,
           and
           what
           Doctrine
           you
           have
           preached
           and
           believed
           :
           Only
           I
           shall
           say
           this
           ,
           that
           if
           you
           can
           make
           it
           appear
           you
           have
           lived
           and
           preached
           according
           to
           the
           Rule
           
           Christ
           hath
           set
           us
           ,
           you
           may
           expect
           Peace
           and
           Comfort
           at
           the
           last
           day
           ,
           but
           till
           then
           you
           may
           never
           expect
           us
           to
           embrace
           the
           Exhortation
           ,
           altho'
           we
           tender
           the
           Peace
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           and
           the
           eternal
           Happyness
           of
           our
           own
           Souls
           above
           all
           earthly
           things
           ,
           and
           do
           hope
           through
           Grace
           stedfastly
           to
           hold
           Communion
           with
           that
           Church
           whereof
           Jesus
           Christ
           is
           the
           Head
           ,
           against
           which
           the
           Gates
           of
           Hell
           shall
           never
           prevail
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           strange
           way
           to
           put
           me
           upon
           the
           Proof
           that
           my
           
             Life
             and
             Doctrine
             hath
             been
             according
             to
             the
             Rule
             Christ
             hath
             set
             us
             .
          
           He
           should
           rather
           have
           asked
           those
           that
           have
           heard
           and
           conversed
           with
           me
           .
           If
           he
           ,
           or
           
             any
             of
             those
          
           whose
           Cause
           he
           espouses
           ,
           have
           any
           Objection
           against
           either
           ,
           let
           them
           ,
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           God
           ,
           speak
           and
           spare
           not
           ;
           let
           them
           be
           as
           inquisitive
           as
           they
           are
           desirous
           to
           find
           Faults
           .
           I
           fear
           not
           the
           utmost
           Effort
           of
           their
           Malice
           :
           But
           do
           thou
           ,
           
             O
             God
             ,
             be
             merciful
             to
             me
             a
             Sinner
             :
             Enter
             not
             into
             Judgment
             with
             thy
             Servant
             ,
             O
             Lord
             ,
             for
             in
             thy
             sight
             shall
             no
             Man
             living
             be
             justified
             .
          
           If
           nothing
           appears
           against
           either
           my
           Life
           or
           Doctrine
           ,
           you
           ought
           in
           Charity
           to
           believe
           both
           to
           be
           agreeable
           to
           
             God's
             Word
          
           ,
           and
           then
           (
           according
           to
           your
           Champion
           himself
           )
           
             to
             embrace
             the
             Exhortation
          
           I
           made
           you
           .
        
         
           You
           may
           pretend
           as
           great
           a
           Tenderness
           as
           you
           please
           for
           the
           Peace
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           undeniable
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           that
           by
           the
           Separation
           ,
           both
           are
           mightily
           disturbed
           and
           disquieted
           ;
           and
           tho'
           I
           am
           unwilling
           to
           carry
           the
           Controversie
           so
           high
           ,
           as
           to
           dispute
           ,
           whether
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           and
           Rules
           of
           Catholick
           Communion
           )
           you
           do
           
             hold
             Communion
             with
             that
             Church
             of
             which
             Jesus
             Christ
             is
             the
             Head
             :
          
           Yet
           I
           beg
           leave
           to
           tell
           you
           ,
           that
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           is
           not
           the
           Head
           of
           this
           or
           that
           particular
           Sect
           or
           Party
           of
           Christians
           only
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           
             whole
             Catholick
             Church
          
           ,
           of
           which
           our
           
             Establish'd
             Church
          
           being
           a
           true
           and
           sound
           Part
           or
           Branch
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           your
           Profession
           to
           
             hold
             Communion
          
           with
           that
           ,
           you
           will
           (
           if
           you
           drive
           the
           Argument
           as
           far
           as
           in
           its
           just
           Consequence
           it
           will
           bear
           )
           find
           your selves
           obliged
           to
           hold
           
             Actual
             Communion
          
           with
           this
           .
           But
           to
           save
           my self
           the
           trouble
           of
           pursuing
           this
           Argument
           as
           far
           as
           it
           will
           go
           ,
           I
           refer
           you
           to
           the
           
             Case
             of
             Church-Communion
             ,
             stated
             by
             a
             learned
             Hand
          
           for
           your
           right
           information
           .
           And
           I
           pray
           ,
           as
           Mr.
           Baxter
           advises
           you
           ,
           
           
             
               endeavour
               to
               understand
               the
               right
               Terms
               of
               Church-Communion
            
             ;
             especially
             the
             Unity
             of
             the
             Universal
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             Universal
             Communion
             which
             you
             
               must
               hold
               with
               all
               the
               Parts
               .
            
          
           And
           hereupon
           I
           desire
           you
           'll
           let
           me
           ask
           you
           ,
           whether
           or
           no
           you
           do
           not
           really
           believe
           the
           
             Establish'd
             Church
             of
             England
          
           to
           be
           a
           
             true
             Church
          
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           a
           Church
           of
           which
           he
           is
           the
           Head
           ,
           and
           with
           which
           he
           
             holds
             Communion
          
           ?
           The
           most
           eminent
           and
           sober
           Nonconformists
           ,
           as
           it
           can
           and
           has
           been
           proved
           ,
           
           have
           own'd
           Her
           to
           be
           a
           true
           Church
           ;
           that
           She
           is
           sound
           and
           true
           as
           to
           her
           Doctrine
           ;
           
           that
           her
           Worship
           ,
           for
           Matter
           and
           Substance
           ,
           is
           good
           ,
           and
           for
           Edification
           ;
           that
           her
           Ministry
           is
           true
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           for
           Substance
           which
           Christ
           hath
           establish'd
           .
           Nay
           ,
           they
           have
           not
           only
           own'd
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           to
           be
           a
           
             true
             Church
          
           ,
           but
           have
           looked
           upon
           it
           as
           the
           most
           valuable
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           both
           as
           to
           the
           Church
           it self
           ,
           and
           as
           to
           the
           Ministry
           of
           it
           :
           And
           I
           dare
           be
           confident
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           not
           an
           honest
           true
           Presbyterian
           in
           England
           ,
           but
           will
           say
           (
           if
           he
           will
           be
           ingenuous
           )
           that
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           (
           by
           which
           I
           alwaies
           mean
           that
           Establish'd
           Church
           from
           whose
           Communion
           you
           separate
           )
           is
           a
           true
           
             Member
             of
             Christ's
             Body
          
           ,
           and
           that
           
             Christ
             holds
             Communion
             with
             her
          
           .
           Now
           (
           as
           the
           Presbyterians
           of
           old
           asked
           their
           Brethren
           of
           the
           Separation
           ,
           
           so
           ask
           I
           you
           )
           
             If
             we
             be
             a
             Church
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             Christ
             hold
             Communion
             with
             us
             ,
             why
             do
             you
             separate
             from
             us
             ?
             If
             we
             be
             the
             Body
             of
             Christ
             ,
             do
             not
             they
             that
             separate
             from
             the
             Body
             separate
             from
             the
             Head
             also
             ?
          
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           tell
           you
           our
           Separation
           is
           grounded
           upon
           real
           Scruples
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           but
           one
           way
           I
           know
           of
           to
           Answer
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           take
           away
           the
           Cause
           of
           them
           ;
           for
           I
           can
           assure
           you
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           neither
           Humor
           nor
           Prejudice
           that
           is
           the
           Cause
           of
           our
           Dissenting
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           If
           you
           have
           not
           endeavour'd
           all
           you
           can
           to
           have
           your
           Scruples
           satisfied
           and
           removed
           ,
           you
           do
           thereby
           shew
           your selves
           to
           be
           glad
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           therefore
           Humor
           and
           Prejudice
           have
           the
           
             greatest
             share
          
           in
           your
           Separation
           .
           But
           if
           after
           your
           best
           Endeavours
           for
           Satisfaction
           in
           those
           matters
           which
           make
           you
           withdraw
           from
           our
           Communion
           ,
           you
           cannot
           obtain
           it
           ;
           your
           Case
           is
           the
           more
           pitiable
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           excusable
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           by
           no
           means
           concerned
           at
           the
           Liberty
           which
           is
           indulg'd
           you
           .
           But
           to
           Answer
           your
           Scruples
           at
           so
           dear
           a
           rate
           ,
           as
           the
           taking
           away
           our
           Liturgy
           ,
           and
           the
           abolishing
           of
           Episcopacy
           ,
           (
           which
           you
           do
           more
           than
           intimate
           is
           the
           Cause
           of
           them
           )
           is
           what
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           our
           Governours
           will
           never
           consent
           to
           ;
           for
           (
           make
           what
           use
           of
           it
           you
           please
           )
           I
           do
           think
           them
           more
           valuable
           than
           
             your
             Company
             at
             Church
          
           ,
           as
           earnestly
           as
           I
           do
           desire
           it
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           you
           would
           know
           ,
           I
           will
           tell
           you
           ,
           it
           's
           the
           Liturgy
           ,
           or
           Service-book
           ,
           in
           which
           you
           impose
           such
           things
           on
           us
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           Church-Communion
           ,
           as
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           hath
           not
           required
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           forbidden
           .
           
             Prov.
             30.6
             .
             Add
             thou
             not
             unto
             his
             words
             ,
             lest
             he
             reprove
             thee
             ,
             and
             thou
             be
             found
             a
             Lyar.
          
           Deut.
           
             4.2
             .
             Ye
             shall
             not
             add
             unto
             the
             Word
             ,
             I
             command
             you
             ;
             
             neither
             shall
             ye
             diminish
             ought
             from
             it
             .
          
           What
           will
           ye
           then
           say
           for
           your selves
           ,
           when
           God
           shall
           say
           unto
           you
           ,
           
             Who
             hath
             required
             these
             things
             at
             your
             Hands
             ?
          
           Sure
           I
           am
           ,
           to
           do
           more
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           than
           He
           hath
           required
           ,
           will
           but
           Vndo
           us
           ;
           therefore
           the
           Wise
           Man
           exhorts
           ,
           
             Be
             not
             righteous
             overmuch
             ,
             why
             shouldst
             thou
             destroy
             thy self
             ?
          
           Remember
           
             Corah
             ,
             Dathan
          
           ,
           and
           Abiram
           ,
           and
           their
           Company
           ,
           who
           for
           doing
           what
           was
           not
           required
           ,
           were
           all
           consumed
           ,
           
             the
             Earth
             opened
             her
             Mouth
             ,
             and
             swallowed
             them
             up
             .
          
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           he
           speaks
           out
           .
           And
           tho'
           the
           things
           you
           mainly
           scruple
           at
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           Cross
           and
           Surplice
           ,
           are
           more
           properly
           Instances
           of
           Obedience
           to
           Human
           Authority
           than
           Terms
           of
           Church-Communion
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           held
           by
           a
           Lay-Person
           ,
           in
           the
           more
           constant
           Services
           of
           Prayers
           and
           Preaching
           ,
           without
           joyning
           in
           those
           things
           he
           dislikes
           ;
           yet
           if
           it
           be
           true
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           imposed
           in
           our
           Liturgy
           are
           forbidden
           by
           God
           ,
           then
           I
           own
           ,
           that
           the
           fault
           of
           the
           Schism
           lies
           in
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           have
           very
           good
           reason
           for
           your
           separating
           from
           us
           .
           And
           if
           this
           Assertion
           were
           but
           as
           well
           proved
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           confidently
           asserted
           ,
           I
           would
           never
           again
           read
           the
           Service-book
           :
           But
           if
           you
           think
           me
           
             duly
             qualified
          
           for
           so
           great
           a
           Work
           ,
           will
           Preach
           to
           ,
           and
           Pray
           for
           you
           in
           the
           Mault-house
           ;
           tho'
           I
           have
           hitherto
           most
           
             affectionately
             loved
             the
             Habitation
             of
             God's
             House
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Place
           where
           his
           Honour
           dwells
           ,
           and
           was
           alwaies
           glad
           when
           
             they
             said
             unto
             me
             ,
             We
             will
             go
             into
             the
             House
             of
             the
             Lord.
          
           Let
           us
           therefore
           well
           examine
           the
           Proofs
           he
           produces
           for
           an
           Assertion
           deliver'd
           with
           so
           much
           Confidence
           ,
           to
           say
           no
           worse
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           He
           alledges
           two
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           which
           are
           useless
           and
           impertinent
           ,
           till
           it
           be
           proved
           ,
           that
           we
           make
           real
           Additions
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God.
           Those
           he
           mentions
           in
           the
           Psalms
           shall
           be
           consider'd
           by
           and
           by
           .
           That
           which
           I
           presume
           he
           here
           means
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           enjoyn'd
           in
           our
           Service-book
           ,
           being
           not
           commanded
           by
           God
           in
           his
           Word
           ,
           are
           Additions
           to
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           therefore
           these
           two
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           are
           an
           undeniable
           Proof
           of
           the
           Unlawfulness
           of
           them
           ,
           this
           must
           be
           his
           meaning
           ,
           if
           he
           has
           any
           at
           all
           in
           what
           he
           says
           ,
           and
           I
           think
           I
           have
           represented
           it
           with
           all
           the
           Advantage
           he
           can
           desire
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           ,
           if
           We
           are
           guilty
           of
           making
           Additions
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           we
           either
           do
           what
           that
           forbids
           ,
           or
           Appoint
           somewhat
           else
           instead
           of
           what
           God
           hath
           appointed
           ;
           or
           We
           add
           such
           Expositions
           to
           the
           Commandment
           ,
           as
           the
           End
           of
           it
           is
           thereby
           frustrated
           ;
           or
           we
           make
           that
           which
           is
           not
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           to
           be
           of
           equal
           Authority
           with
           that
           which
           is
           ;
           or
           else
           we
           give
           the
           same
           Efficacy
           to
           Humane
           Institutions
           as
           God
           does
           to
           His
           :
           But
           he
           can
           never
           charge
           us
           with
           any
           of
           these
           .
           and
           how
           then
           can
           he
           charge
           us
           with
           Additions
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ?
           for
           adding
           ,
           
           is
           adding
           to
           the
           Substance
           ,
           and
           making
           the
           thing
           added
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           it
           is
           added
           to
           ;
           but
           when
           the
           Substance
           remains
           entire
           ,
           as
           much
           after
           this
           Humane
           Appointment
           as
           it
           was
           before
           it
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           called
           an
           Addition
           to
           it
           ,
           in
           the
           sence
           the
           Scripture
           takes
           that
           word
           in
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           the
           Argument
           which
           these
           Men
           draw
           from
           Deuter.
           iv
           .
           2.
           
           Dr.
           Fowler
           ,
           
           (
           our
           present
           Bishop
           )
           a
           great
           while
           ago
           ,
           replied
           ,
           
             That
             if
             they
             be
             not
             mistaken
             in
             the
             Sense
             of
             these
             words
             ,
             they
             will
             prove
             more
             than
             is
             intended
             to
             be
             proved
             ,
             or
             than
             they
             would
             have
             true
             ;
             namely
             ,
             that
             nothing
             is
             to
             be
             done
             out
             of
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             in
             ,
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             what
             is
             expresly
             and
             particularly
             commanded
             .
             But
             Episcopius
             (
             who
             may
             be
             listen'd
             to
             in
             this
             matter
             ,
             because
             no
             Episcopalian
             )
             hath
             shewed
             that
             these
             words
             
               [
               Ye
               shall
               not
               add
               unto
               the
               Word
               which
               I
               command
               you
               ,
               neither
               shall
               you
               diminish
               ought
               from
               it
               .
               ]
            
             are
             no
             new
             Precept
             ,
             but
             only
             signifie
             ,
             Ye
             shall
             not
             transgress
             the
             Commandments
             of
             God
             ,
             by
             doing
             any
             thing
             contrary
             to
             them
             ,
             which
             is
             to
             Add
             ;
             or
             by
             omitting
             any
             thing
             Required
             by
             them
             ,
             which
             is
             to
             Diminish
             .
          
        
         
           And
           therefore
           ,
           tho'
           ignorant
           People
           may
           be
           scared
           with
           the
           improper
           Application
           of
           that
           of
           Isa
           .
           1.12
           ,
           yet
           it
           cannot
           belong
           to
           us
           ,
           who
           place
           no
           farther
           Religion
           and
           Acceptableness
           in
           our
           Prayers
           and
           Services
           ,
           than
           as
           they
           are
           accompanied
           with
           that
           Sincerity
           ,
           Faith
           ,
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           Obedience
           ,
           without
           which
           God
           told
           the
           Jews
           He
           had
           no
           delight
           in
           their
           Sacrifices
           ,
           tho'
           they
           were
           of
           his
           own
           appointing
           ;
           nor
           had
           required
           them
           to
           tread
           his
           Courts
           without
           these
           divine
           Qualifications
           .
           But
           if
           We
           must
           Answer
           to
           that
           Question
           ,
           
             Who
             hath
             Required
             these
             things
             at
             your
             Hands
             ?
          
           then
           I
           tell
           You
           (
           for
           God
           knows
           it
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           not
           afraid
           to
           appear
           before
           him
           upon
           that
           account
           )
           that
           forasmuch
           as
           these
           things
           are
           no
           where
           forbidden
           ,
           We
           comply
           with
           them
           in
           Obedience
           to
           that
           Word
           which
           requires
           us
           to
           
             obey
             them
             that
             have
             Rule
             over
             us
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             to
             submit
             our selves
             to
             every
             Ordinance
             of
             Man
             for
             the
             Lord's
             sake
             .
          
        
         
           And
           if
           this
           be
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           how
           comes
           this
           Man
           so
           uncharitably
           to
           pronounce
           the
           Sentence
           of
           Damnation
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           tell
           us
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           But
           undone
           ,
           (
           as
           if
           that
           were
           not
           Punishment
           enough
           )
           for
           doing
           more
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           than
           He
           hath
           requir'd
           ?
           Why
           ,
           he
           grounds
           it
           upon
           Eccles
           .
           7.16
           ,
           &
           Numb
           .
           16.
           
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Exhortation
           of
           the
           Wise
           Man
           ,
           (
           if
           the
           best
           Commentators
           I
           have
           seen
           understand
           it
           right
           )
           't
           is
           the
           best
           Advice
           I
           can
           give
           to
           you
           ,
           it
           being
           interpreted
           of
           Heat
           and
           Zeal
           more
           than
           needs
           ,
           without
           Reason
           and
           Discretion
           ;
           which
           as
           it
           makes
           all
           the
           Schisms
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           so
           produces
           a
           great
           many
           other
           Evils
           .
           I
           appeal
           to
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           whether
           it
           is
           not
           properly
           Returned
           upon
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           transported
           into
           an
           
             excessive
             Z●●l
          
           and
           Rage
           against
           innocent
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           meer
           Circumstances
           of
           Worship
           ,
           and
           which
           are
           declared
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           and
           no
           way
           Essential
           to
           Religion
           by
           that
           Church
           which
           uses
           them
           .
           And
           to
           
           this
           you
           must
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           add
           the
           other
           part
           of
           the
           Verse
           ,
           (
           which
           he
           left
           out
           )
           
             neither
             make
             thy self
             over-wise
          
           :
           Do
           not
           (
           without
           some
           better
           Grounds
           )
           oppose
           your
           private
           Opinion
           to
           the
           Judgment
           and
           Authority
           of
           a
           whole
           Nation
           :
           And
           ,
           in
           particular
           ,
           of
           as
           Pious
           and
           Learned
           a
           Clergy
           as
           any
           the
           whole
           World
           can
           shew
           .
           Consider
           that
           it
           is
           possible
           you
           may
           be
           mistaken
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           does
           not
           become
           you
           to
           Assume
           that
           Infallibility
           to
           your selves
           ,
           which
           you
           deny
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Example
           of
           
             Corah
             ,
             Dathan
          
           ,
           and
           Abiram
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           well
           consider'd
           ,
           our
           Case
           cannot
           be
           made
           Parallel
           to
           it
           :
           But
           it
           highly
           deserves
           your
           Consideration
           ,
           whether
           you
           are
           not
           in
           some
           measure
           guilty
           of
           the
           like
           Crime
           ;
           which
           did
           not
           consist
           
             in
             doing
             what
             was
             not
             required
             ,
          
           but
           in
           
             Actual
             Rebellion
          
           against
           Moses
           and
           Aaron
           ,
           the
           Ministers
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           therefore
           against
           God
           himself
           .
           What
           a
           strange
           Consequence
           then
           is
           this
           !
           
             Corah
             ,
             Dathan
          
           ,
           and
           Abiram
           ,
           and
           
             their
             Company
          
           ,
           were
           all
           consum'd
           for
           murmuring
           and
           revelling
           against
           Moses
           and
           Aaron
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           shall
           be
           undone
           for
           obeying
           the
           Commandments
           of
           those
           God
           hath
           placed
           over
           us
           .
           Certainly
           there
           is
           a
           more
           natural
           Inference
           to
           be
           drawn
           from
           this
           amazing
           Instance
           of
           God's
           Judgments
           upon
           disobedient
           Persons
           ,
           and
           were
           there
           not
           a
           strange
           Mist
           before
           your
           Eyes
           ,
           you
           could
           not
           but
           see
           it
           ,
           and
           make
           a
           more
           suitable
           Application
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           
             Sir
             ,
             give
             me
             leave
             to
             tell
             you
             ,
             that
             whatsoever
             is
             placed
             in
             God's
             Worship
             without
             the
             Command
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             an
             Idol
             ;
             for
             none
             hath
             Power
             to
             Ordain
             or
             Place
             a
             Ceremony
             in
             Christ's
             Church
             but
             himself
             ,
             who
             is
             King
             of
             it
             .
             A
             clear
             Proof
             you
             have
             ,
          
           Numb
           .
           15.30
           .
           And
           it
           shall
           be
           unto
           you
           for
           a
           Fringe
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           look
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           remember
           all
           the
           Commandments
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           do
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           seek
           not
           after
           your
           own
           Heart
           ,
           and
           your
           own
           Eyes
           ,
           after
           which
           you
           used
           to
           go
           a
           whoring
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           believe
           never
           poor
           Man
           undertook
           such
           a
           Task
           as
           I
           have
           done
           ,
           to
           Answer
           so
           much
           Impertinence
           .
           But
           since
           I
           have
           begun
           ,
           I
           must
           have
           Patience
           ,
           and
           that
           will
           carry
           me
           through
           it
           all
           .
           He
           would
           fain
           possess
           the
           People
           (
           among
           whom
           this
           Paper
           was
           to
           be
           shewn
           with
           so
           much
           Triumph
           )
           with
           an
           Opinion
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           Idols
           in
           our
           Church
           :
           But
           does
           he
           think
           that
           I
           can
           swallow
           things
           without
           chewing
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           ?
           That
           
             he
             begs
             leave
             to
             tell
             me
             ,
             that
             whatsoever
             is
             placed
             in
             God's
             Worship
             ,
             without
             the
             Command
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             an
             Idol
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           it
           is
           the
           Representation
           of
           some
           Divine
           or
           Beatified
           Object
           ,
           which
           is
           as
           such
           propounded
           and
           set
           up
           for
           Adoration
           .
           Was
           there
           ever
           such
           a
           wild
           Assertion
           ?
           Or
           could
           any
           Man
           think
           it
           possible
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           so
           luckily
           hit
           upon
           such
           a
           Text
           of
           Scripture
           
           to
           prove
           it
           by
           ?
           God
           Commands
           the
           Children
           of
           Israel
           to
           
             put
             Fringes
             upon
             the
             Borders
             of
             their
             Garments
             ,
          
           to
           be
           a
           Remembrancer
           to
           them
           of
           God's
           Commands
           and
           their
           Duty
           of
           Obedience
           ;
           ergo
           ,
           whatsoever
           is
           placed
           in
           God's
           Worship
           ,
           without
           the
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           
             is
             an
             Idol
          
           .
           Where
           the
           Consequence
           is
           ,
           I
           profess
           ,
           I
           cannot
           see
           :
           But
           if
           your
           Eyes
           are
           clearer
           than
           mine
           ,
           I
           desire
           you
           to
           examine
           the
           strength
           of
           it
           in
           
             another
             Instance
          
           ,
           besides
           that
           of
           the
           Cross
           and
           Surplice
           .
           The
           laying
           the
           Hand
           upon
           ,
           and
           kissing
           the
           Book
           ,
           in
           the
           taking
           of
           an
           Oath
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           both
           a
           Natural
           and
           Instituted
           part
           of
           Worship
           )
           is
           appointed
           without
           the
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           laying
           the
           Hand
           upon
           ,
           and
           kissing
           the
           Book
           ,
           is
           an
           Idol
           ,
           or
           rather
           the
           Book
           it self
           .
           A
           clear
           Proof
           you
           have
           ,
           Numb
           .
           15.39
           .
        
         
           But
           possibly
           I
           may
           carry
           this
           Matter
           further
           than
           he
           intended
           .
           He
           took
           it
           perhaps
           for
           an
           undoubted
           Truth
           ,
           which
           wanted
           no
           Proof
           ,
           that
           
             whatsoever
             is
             placed
             in
             God's
             Worship
             ,
             without
             the
             Command
             of
             God
             ,
             is
             an
             Idol
          
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           might
           not
           urge
           this
           Text
           of
           Scripture
           for
           the
           confirmation
           of
           that
           ,
           but
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           
             none
             hath
             Power
             to
             Ordain
             or
             Place
             a
             C●remony
             in
             Christ's
             Church
             ,
             but
             himself
             ,
             who
             is
             King
             of
             it
             .
          
           But
           since
           he
           herein
           directly
           opposes
           one
           of
           the
           Thirty
           nine
           Articles
           ,
           the
           Opinion
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           whole
           Church
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           even
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Direction
           to
           the
           Corinthians
           ,
           to
           appoint
           whatsoever
           shall
           be
           tending
           to
           Decency
           and
           Order
           ;
           he
           should
           certainly
           have
           given
           some
           better
           Proof
           than
           a
           Text
           out
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           ,
           which
           does
           not
           relate
           to
           the
           
             Worship
             of
             God
          
           ;
           and
           which
           ,
           in
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           would
           much
           better
           have
           proved
           ,
           that
           the
           Parliament
           should
           not
           have
           enacted
           ,
           That
           
             Poor
             Persons
             Receiving
             Parish
             Collection
          
           shall
           ,
           
             in
             an
             open
             and
             visible
             manner
             ,
             wear
             a
             Badge
             ,
          
           and
           that
           too
           
             upon
             the
             Shoulder
             of
             the
             Right
             Sleeve
             of
             the
             uppermost
             Garment
          
           ;
           because
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           them
           once
           told
           me
           ,
           (
           when
           there
           was
           formerly
           such
           a
           private
           Order
           among
           our selves
           )
           it
           was
           no
           where
           commanded
           in
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           that
           they
           should
           be
           marked
           like
           Sheep
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Again
           ,
           that
           which
           is
           Man's
           Device
           ,
           and
           hath
           been
           an
           Idol
           in
           God's
           Worship
           ,
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           an
           Idol
           still
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ;
           but
           the
           Ceremonies
           mention'd
           in
           the
           Service-book
           have
           been
           Idols
           in
           God's
           Worship
           ,
           as
           the
           Cross
           and
           Surplice
           ;
           ergo
           they
           must
           be
           Idols
           still
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God.
           Read
           
             Josh
             .
             7.13
          
           ,
           there
           the
           Lord
           Commands
           Joshua
           ,
           saying
           ,
           
             Up
             ,
             sanctifie
             the
             People
             ,
             for
             thus
             saith
             the
             Lord
             God
             of
             Israel
             ,
             there
             is
             an
             accursed
             thing
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             thee
             ,
             O
             Israel
             .
          
           Nay
           ,
           God
           tells
           Joshua
           ,
           he
           would
           not
           be
           with
           them
           any
           more
           ,
           except
           they
           destroyed
           the
           accursed
           thing
           ,
           
             i.
             e.
          
           the
           Babylonish
           Garment
           which
           Achan
           had
           taken
           and
           hid
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           his
           Tent.
           For
           this
           he
           and
           his
           Sons
           and
           his
           Daughters
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           he
           had
           ,
           must
           be
           stored
           with
           Stones
           ,
           and
           burned
           with
           Fire
           .
        
         
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           shall
           take
           his
           Syllogism
           to
           task
           presently
           :
           But
           beforehand
           I
           cannot
           but
           observe
           what
           an
           excellent
           Textuary
           this
           Man
           is
           ,
           and
           how
           happy
           in
           his
           Application
           of
           Scripture
           .
           I
           have
           read
           the
           seventh
           Chapter
           of
           Joshua
           ,
           and
           I
           refer
           him
           back
           again
           thereto
           ,
           and
           also
           to
           Co.
           6
           ,
           v.
           17
           ,
           18.
           where
           
             Joshua
             accurses
             Jericho
          
           ,
           and
           
             every
             thing
             in
             it
          
           ,
           and
           forbids
           the
           Israelites
           ,
           under
           the
           Penalty
           of
           bringing
           
             a
             Curse
          
           upon
           the
           Camp
           ,
           to
           meddle
           with
           
             any
             thing
             therein
          
           :
           But
           Achan
           ,
           contrary
           to
           this
           express
           Prohibition
           ,
           had
           taken
           the
           
             accursed
             thing
          
           ,
           and
           had
           also
           sto●●●
           and
           
             dissemoled
             also
          
           ,
           and
           
             put
             it
             amongst
             his
             own
             Stuff
             ,
          
           Ch.
           7
           ,
           Ver.
           11.
           
           What
           was
           this
           
             accursed
             thing
          
           which
           he
           stole
           ?
           Ver.
           21
           ,
           
             It
             was
             a
             goodly
          
           Babylonish
           Garment
           ,
           and
           
             Two
             hundred
             shekels
             of
             Silver
          
           ,
           and
           
             a
             Wedge
             of
             Gold
             of
             Fifty
             shekels
             weight
             ,
             them
             he
             coveted
             and
             took
             .
          
           So
           that
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           the
           Reason
           why
           Achan
           was
           so
           severely
           punish'd
           ,
           was
           his
           
             absolute
             Disobedience
          
           to
           the
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           taking
           of
           that
           which
           God
           had
           cursed
           :
           his
           
             Stealth
             ,
             Covetousness
          
           ,
           and
           Dissimulation
           .
           Now
           what
           is
           the
           Consequence
           of
           all
           this
           ?
           Does
           it
           appear
           that
           the
           
             Babylonish
             Garment
          
           was
           a
           Surplice
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           used
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ;
           or
           that
           the
           
             Wedge
             of
             Gold
          
           was
           a
           Cross
           or
           that
           
           Achan's
           Crime
           in
           stealing
           the
           Garment
           was
           greater
           than
           that
           of
           stealing
           the
           
             Two
             hundred
             shekels
             of
             Silver
          
           ?
           Tho'
           this
           learned
           Expositor
           explains
           the
           
             accursed
             thing
          
           by
           
             [
             that
             is
             ,
             the
          
           Babylonish
           
             Garment
             ]
          
           .
           But
           if
           the
           
             Babylonish
             Garment
          
           had
           been
           a
           Surplice
           ,
           and
           used
           by
           them
           in
           the
           Worship
           or
           God
           ,
           what
           then
           !
           was
           it
           therefore
           an
           Idol
           ,
           and
           an
           
             accursed
             thing
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           to
           be
           burned
           ?
           I
           answer
           positively
           ,
           No
           ;
           because
           for
           that
           very
           reason
           ,
           
             all
             the
             Silver
             ,
             and
             Gold
             ,
             and
             Vessels
             of
             Brass
             ,
             and
             Iron
             ,
             were
             to
             be
             brought
             into
             the
             Treasury
             of
             the
             Lord.
          
           But
           all
           
             the
             Silver
             ,
             and
             Gold
             ,
             and
             Vessels
             of
             Brass
             ,
             and
             Iron
             ,
             are
             consecrated
             unto
             the
             Lord
             :
             they
             shall
             be
             brought
             into
             the
             Treasury
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           Ch.
           6.19
           .
           And
           this
           I
           urge
           as
           an
           Argument
           against
           his
           Triumphant
           Syllogism
           ;
           every
           Proposition
           of
           which
           ,
           and
           the
           Consequence
           also
           ,
           I
           utterly
           deny
           .
           For
           ,
           1st
           ,
           
             That
             which
             hath
             been
             an
             Idol
             in
             God's
             Worship
             ,
             must
          
           not
           
             of
             necessity
             be
             an
             Idol
             still
             ,
          
           if
           it
           was
           not
           an
           Idol
           in
           its
           own
           nature
           ,
           or
           made
           so
           by
           a
           standing
           and
           positive
           Law.
           I
           deny
           his
           Minor
           also
           ;
           for
           ,
           allow
           that
           the
           Cross
           ,
           and
           Surplice
           ,
           and
           
             other
             Ceremonies
          
           ,
           have
           been
           used
           in
           Idolatrous
           Worship
           ,
           yet
           it
           does
           not
           follow
           that
           they
           were
           Idols
           ,
           unless
           they
           had
           some
           Prototype
           ,
           or
           represented
           some
           Divine
           Object
           ,
           and
           were
           set
           up
           for
           Adoration
           .
           Things
           lawful
           in
           themselves
           may
           be
           used
           in
           Idolatrous
           Worship
           ,
           such
           as
           Time
           ,
           Place
           ,
           Habit
           ,
           and
           Posture
           ;
           but
           the●
           i●
           no
           more
           follows
           from
           thence
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           Idols
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           
             Vessels
             of
             Brass
             and
             Iron
          
           ,
           before
           mention'd
           ,
           
             were
             Idols
          
           ;
           or
           that
           the
           holy
           Water
           and
           Vestments
           are
           Idols
           ,
           which
           are
           used
           ,
           when
           they
           say
           Mass
           ,
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           But
           supposing
           that
           both
           his
           Propositions
           are
           true
           ,
           
           yet
           his
           Consequence
           is
           very
           false
           ,
           That
           
             the
             Cross
             and
             Surplice
             must
             be
             Idols
             still
             ,
          
           
           or
           (
           as
           I
           suppose
           he
           would
           now
           word
           it
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           it
           to
           revise
           again
           )
           Idolatrous
           :
           
             For
             when
             Idolatry
             is
             not
             in
             the
             Nature
             of
             the
             thing
             but
             in
             the
             Use
             ,
             take
             away
             the
             Use
             and
             the
             Idolatry
             ceaseth
             ;
             and
             consequently
             it
             may
             be
             lawfully
             used
             where
             there
             is
             no
             Idolatry
             in
             the
             Worship
             ,
             and
             no
             Idolatry
             in
             the
             use
             of
             it
             :
             And
             if
             it
             be
             not
             to
             be
             used
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             because
             it
             is
             unlawful
             in
             it self
             to
             use
             it
             ,
             but
             because
             it
             is
             forbidden
             by
             God
             ,
             as
             was
             the
             Case
             among
             the
             Jews
             ,
             or
             because
             of
             some
             Circumstances
             that
             make
             it
             inconvenient
             and
             dangerous
             .
             
             Thus
             it
             was
             lawful
             to
             eat
             that
             Meat
             which
             had
             been
             offer'd
             to
             Idols
             ,
             when
             it
             was
             afterwards
             exposed
             to
             sale
             in
             the
             Shambles
             ,
             or
             set
             upon
             the
             Table
             at
             an
             Entertainment
             ,
             because
             it
             was
             thereby
             restored
             to
             a
             common
             use
             .
             It
             is
             then
             no
             more
             Idolatry
             to
             use
             a
             
               white
               Garment
            
             ,
             (
             or
             a
             Ceremony
             )
             
               or
               a
               Temple
               ,
               or
               observe
               a
               Day
               ,
               or
               to
               use
               a
               Prayer
            
             that
             has
             been
             used
             or
             observed
             in
             Idolatrous
             Worship
             ,
             or
             by
             an
             Idolatrous
             Church
             ,
             than
             it
             was
             to
             eat
             Meat
             that
             had
             been
             offer'd
             to
             Idols
             .
             Purifie
             the
             Gold
             ,
             and
             separate
             the
             Dross
             from
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             Gold
             is
             not
             the
             worse
             for
             the
             Dross
             that
             was
             before
             mingled
             with
             it
             .
             Scrape
             the
             Walls
             ,
             and
             cast
             out
             the
             infected
             Materials
             of
             it
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             House
             be
             freed
             
               from
               the
               Leprosie
            
             ,
             
             
               and
               it
               might
               have
               been
               as
               well
               inhabited
               as
               if
               it
               had
               never
               been
               infected
               .
            
          
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Upshot
           of
           that
           Charge
           of
           Idolatry
           ,
           which
           he
           would
           fain
           fasten
           upon
           us
           .
           He
           can
           produce
           nothing
           that
           is
           Idolatrous
           among
           us
           .
           The
           Cross
           and
           Surplice
           ,
           he
           says
           ,
           have
           been
           used
           in
           
             Idolatrous
             Worship
          
           ;
           but
           if
           we
           allow
           him
           what
           he
           says
           ,
           it
           does
           him
           no
           Service
           ,
           forasmuch
           as
           the
           Abuse
           of
           things
           in
           themselves
           lawful
           ,
           even
           to
           Idolatrous
           Purposes
           ,
           is
           no
           Argument
           against
           the
           lawful
           use
           of
           them
           .
           And
           this
           is
           Answer
           enough
           to
           what
           he
           says
           about
           the
           Original
           of
           the
           Surplice
           ;
           for
           let
           its
           Parentage
           be
           as
           base
           and
           scandalous
           as
           he
           would
           have
           it
           thought
           to
           be
           ,
           yet
           it
           does
           not
           make
           the
           Use
           of
           it
           Unlawful
           ,
           if
           the
           thing
           it self
           is
           not
           so
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Vnlawfulness
           of
           this
           Babylonish
           Garment
           will
           further
           appear
           ,
           if
           we
           look
           into
           the
           Original
           whence
           we
           had
           it
           .
           Some
           Authors
           tell
           us
           ,
           we
           have
           it
           from
           Heathen
           Rome
           ,
           which
           in
           her
           Idolatrous
           Service
           did
           apishly
           imitate
           
           Aaron's
           Garments
           ;
           as
           it
           is
           instanced
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Numa
           ,
           eight
           hundred
           Years
           after
           the
           Law.
           Others
           tell
           us
           ,
           we
           have
           it
           from
           the
           Druides
           ,
           the
           mad
           Heathen
           Priests
           among
           the
           Gauls
           and
           Brittons
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           Antichristian
           Rome
           ,
           or
           lastly
           ,
           from
           the
           Priestly
           Office
           of
           Aaron
           ,
           which
           Heathen
           and
           Popish
           Rome
           hath
           impiously
           follow'd
           ,
           denying
           thereby
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           to
           be
           came
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           who
           with
           his
           Graces
           was
           typified
           out
           by
           those
           goodly
           and
           beautiful
           Garments
           ,
           which
           being
           Shadows
           ,
           are
           done
           away
           ,
           and
           Christ
           the
           Body
           is
           come
           .
           For
           us
           then
           to
           imitate
           them
           in
           their
           Relicks
           ,
           or
           to
           devise
           a
           
           Priestly
           Garment
           of
           our
           own
           head
           in
           God's
           Worship
           ,
           is
           to
           rob
           Christ
           of
           his
           Honour
           exceedingly
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           our selves
           deeply
           guilty
           of
           Will-worship
           :
           For
           had
           not
           God
           clothed
           those
           Garments
           in
           the
           Law
           with
           a
           particular
           and
           punctual
           Command
           for
           Matter
           and
           Manner
           ,
           they
           had
           been
           ridiculous
           things
           ;
           
             They
             made
             the
             holy
             Garment
          
           ,
           saith
           Moses
           ,
           
             as
             the
             LORD
             commanded
          
           ,
           Exod.
           39.
           which
           latter
           words
           
             [
             as
             the
             Lord
             commanded
          
           ]
           are
           repeated
           nine
           several
           times
           in
           this
           Chapter
           ,
           intimating
           ,
           they
           did
           not
           swerve
           one
           jot
           from
           God's
           Direction
           ,
           teaching
           all
           God's
           Servants
           thereby
           ,
           that
           they
           contain
           themselves
           within
           the
           Limits
           of
           God's
           Word
           ,
           and
           bring
           nothing
           into
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           of
           their
           own
           invention
           ,
           for
           the
           Apostle
           calls
           that
           Will-worship
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           This
           
             Babylonish
             Garment
          
           he
           has
           mighty
           Spite
           to
           ,
           and
           to
           render
           it
           the
           more
           odious
           ,
           he
           would
           gladly
           derive
           its
           Pedigree
           ,
           but
           he
           is
           not
           Genealogist
           enough
           to
           do
           it
           .
           Authors
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           me
           know
           he
           has
           read
           ,
           but
           who
           they
           are
           he
           is
           afraid
           to
           tell
           ,
           lest
           it
           might
           be
           made
           appear
           he
           has
           read
           none
           of
           them
           ,
           or
           has
           made
           as
           bold
           with
           them
           at
           he
           has
           done
           with
           the
           Bible
           ,
           and
           misinterpreted
           and
           misapplied
           them
           ,
           as
           he
           has
           done
           this
           sacred
           Book
           ;
           or
           that
           ,
           however
           ,
           they
           are
           such
           
             deep
             learned
             Men
          
           as
           himself
           ,
           who
           know
           nothing
           of
           the
           matter
           .
           The
           Surplice
           is
           derived
           from
           some-body
           ,
           he
           knows
           not
           who
           ,
           either
           from
           Heathenish
           or
           
             Antichristian
             Rome
          
           ,
           from
           the
           
             mad
             Heathen
             Priests
          
           ,
           or
           from
           
           Aaron's
           Garments
           ,
           which
           were
           
             good
             and
             beautiful
             in
             themselves
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           had
           been
           ridiculous
           ,
           if
           
             God
             had
             not
             appointed
             them
          
           .
           What
           if
           I
           should
           say
           ,
           some
           Authors
           tell
           us
           ,
           it
           was
           derived
           from
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ;
           how
           would
           he
           disprove
           me
           ,
           or
           prove
           that
           it
           was
           not
           ?
           But
           what
           if
           ,
           without
           enquiring
           from
           whom
           it
           was
           first
           derived
           ,
           or
           by
           whom
           else
           it
           was
           or
           is
           used
           ,
           I
           should
           say
           ,
           as
           I
           do
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           a
           Garment
           used
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ,
           as
           an
           Emblem
           of
           ,
           and
           an
           Admonition
           to
           the
           Priests
           of
           that
           Purity
           and
           Innocence
           ,
           wherewith
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           clothed
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           use
           it
           in
           conformity
           to
           their
           Practice
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           same
           reasons
           ;
           and
           withal
           thinking
           it
           a
           
             decenter
             Garment
          
           to
           perform
           Ministerial
           Offices
           in
           ,
           than
           either
           Coat
           or
           Cloak
           ;
           what
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           can
           he
           urge
           against
           this
           ?
           or
           ,
           what
           Reason
           can
           he
           give
           why
           the
           Governors
           of
           the
           Church
           may
           not
           prescribe
           what
           Habit
           for
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           whether
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Divine
           Service
           ,
           or
           out
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           they
           shall
           think
           most
           grave
           ,
           and
           most
           decent
           ?
           Or
           if
           he
           will
           tell
           me
           why
           a
           Dissenting
           Preacher
           goes
           in
           Black
           ,
           rather
           than
           in
           Yellow
           ;
           if
           there
           be
           any
           thing
           of
           Reason
           in
           what
           he
           says
           ,
           I
           will
           improve
           it
           into
           one
           ,
           for
           wearing
           the
           Surplice
           during
           divine
           Administrations
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           if
           this
           be
           taken
           from
           the
           
             Garments
             of
             Aaron
          
           ,
           as
           he
           knows
           not
           whether
           it
           is
           or
           no
           ?
           Why
           !
           Then
           those
           that
           use
           it
           ,
           
             do
             thereby
             deny
             Christ
             to
             be
             come
             in
             the
             Flesh
          
           ;
           but
           for
           what
           Reason
           does
           he
           say
           this
           ?
           
           Because
           
             Aarons
             Garments
             were
             Types
             and
             Shadows
             of
             Christ
             ,
             who
             being
             now
             come
             ,
             they
             are
             to
             be
             done
             away
             .
          
           If
           he
           is
           such
           a
           Logician
           ,
           as
           really
           to
           think
           this
           to
           be
           good
           Arguing
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           not
           at
           all
           conclude
           against
           the
           Use
           of
           the
           Surplice
           ,
           till
           he
           has
           shewed
           first
           ,
           what
           it
           was
           that
           was
           typifyed
           and
           shadowed
           out
           thereby
           ,
           which
           is
           now
           Abolished
           by
           Christ
           ;
           and
           proved
           secondly
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           used
           by
           us
           out
           of
           any
           
             Judaizing
             Principle
          
           .
        
         
           What
           this
           weak
           Man
           means
           by
           
             imitating
             them
             in
             their
             Relicks
          
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           ;
           but
           I
           leave
           it
           to
           be
           tryed
           by
           what
           has
           been
           already
           said
           ,
           whether
           
             To
             devise
             a
             Priestly
             Garment
             of
             our
             own
             head
             in
             God's
             Worship
             ,
             be
             to
             rob
             Christ
             of
             his
             Honour
             exceedingly
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             our selves
             deeply
             guilty
             of
             Will-worship
             .
          
           But
           let
           me
           a●k
           him
           ,
           Does
           the
           Scripture
           any
           where
           say
           so
           ?
           Or
           does
           the
           Apostle
           any
           where
           call
           this
           Will-worship
           ?
           Why
           does
           he
           not
           quote
           Chapter
           and
           Verse
           ?
           Or
           deduce
           it
           by
           some
           Logical
           and
           Natural
           Inference
           ?
           No
           body
           I
           hope
           will
           believe
           this
           Man
           ,
           purely
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           his
           Confidence
           :
           
             God
             having
             cloathed
             those
             Garments
             under
             the
             Law
             with
             a
             particular
             and
             punctual
             Command
             ,
          
           the
           Jews
           had
           been
           guilty
           of
           manifest
           Disobedience
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           not
           made
           them
           
             as
             the
             Lord
             commanded
          
           ;
           but
           being
           goodly
           and
           
             beautiful
             Garments
          
           ,
           they
           could
           never
           have
           been
           esteemed
           ridiculous
           ,
           if
           God
           had
           commanded
           nothing
           at
           all
           about
           them
           And
           his
           commanding
           them
           ,
           is
           I
           think
           ,
           a
           good
           Argument
           ,
           that
           in
           themselves
           they
           were
           not
           so
           .
           It
           is
           ,
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           very
           observable
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           so
           much
           
             Humane
             Learning
          
           in
           this
           Man
           and
           his
           Party
           ,
           that
           they
           can
           count
           Nine
           ,
           but
           what
           if
           God
           had
           commanded
           Ninety
           times
           in
           one
           Chapter
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Aaronical
             Garments
          
           should
           only
           be
           made
           so
           and
           so
           ,
           is
           it
           any
           thing
           to
           us
           ,
           who
           ,
           according
           to
           himself
           ,
           are
           no
           ways
           concerned
           in
           those
           Ceremonies
           and
           Shadows
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           God
           has
           not
           given
           one
           particular
           direction
           in
           such
           Matters
           ,
           but
           left
           us
           to
           the
           general
           Rules
           of
           
             Decency
             and
             Order
             ,
             and
             the
             Custome
             of
             the
             Churches
             of
             God
             ?
          
           We
           are
           therefore
           left
           at
           liberty
           ,
           to
           use
           such
           Garments
           ,
           as
           shall
           be
           judged
           most
           agreeable
           thereto
           ;
           God
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           having
           neither
           forbidden
           ,
           nor
           commanded
           the
           use
           of
           any
           :
           If
           it
           can
           be
           proved
           He
           has
           ,
           then
           farewel
           Surplice
           .
           And
           here
           I
           cannot
           but
           wonder
           ,
           that
           since
           this
           Man
           joyned
           the
           Cross
           with
           the
           Surplice
           ,
           in
           his
           General
           Charge
           and
           Indictment
           ,
           he
           did
           not
           also
           as
           particularly
           plead
           against
           that
           Ceremony
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           to
           expose
           it
           ,
           by
           deriving
           its
           Pedigree
           likewise
           .
           But
           as
           to
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           the
           Use
           of
           the
           Cross
           ,
           I
           refer
           the
           Reader
           to
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           Cross
           in
           Baptism
           ,
           by
           Dr.
           Resbury
           .
        
         
           This
           old
           Plea
           for
           Separation
           has
           been
           again
           and
           again
           answered
           by
           those
           who
           have
           writ
           in
           the
           defence
           of
           our
           Church
           ;
           but
           ,
           to
           make
           short
           work
           on
           't
           ,
           I
           will
           only
           ask
           whether
           this
           that
           you
           assert
           ;
           Namely
           ,
           that
           
             we
             are
             not
             to
             bring
             any
             thing
             of
             Man's
             Invention
             into
             the
             Service
             of
             God
             ,
             nor
             use
             any
             thing
             in
             his
             Worship
             ,
             but
             what
             he
             has
             commanded
             ,
          
           be
           the
           word
           of
           
           God
           ,
           or
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           not
           ,
           how
           come
           you
           to
           impose
           it
           upon
           us
           for
           such
           ,
           or
           charge
           that
           upon
           us
           for
           a
           sin
           ,
           which
           is
           not
           
             the
             transgression
             of
             any
             Law
          
           ?
           If
           it
           is
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           either
           expresly
           such
           ,
           or
           it
           is
           a
           clear
           Inference
           and
           Deduction
           from
           his
           express
           word
           .
           You
           cannot
           pretend
           the
           former
           ,
           and
           therefore
           that
           which
           you
           say
           ;
           is
           ,
           that
           it
           clearly
           follows
           from
           God's
           
             particular
             prescribing
             the
             Garments
             of
          
           Aaron
           ,
           and
           (
           to
           give
           this
           Man
           another
           Argument
           )
           
             the
             whole
             Levitical
             Service
          
           .
           The
           Consequence
           remains
           still
           to
           be
           proved
           :
           and
           against
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           urge
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Church
           ,
           who
           made
           no
           scruple
           of
           ordering
           divers
           things
           for
           which
           there
           was
           no
           Command
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           were
           never
           blamed
           for
           them
           by
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           or
           our
           Saviour
           .
           Particularly
           
           David's
           design
           of
           
             building
             an
             House
          
           without
           God's
           Command
           ,
           
           or
           his
           so
           much
           as
           speaking
           a
           word
           to
           him
           about
           it
           ,
           was
           so
           far
           from
           being
           Faulty
           ,
           that
           God
           commended
           him
           for
           it
           .
           
           Hezekiah
           continued
           the
           
             Feast
             of
             unleaveed
             Bread
             seven
             days
             longer
             than
             the
             time
             appointed
          
           by
           the
           Law.
           Mordecai
           and
           Esther
           made
           an
           Ordinance
           for
           the
           yearly
           Observation
           of
           the
           Feast
           of
           Purim
           ,
           without
           any
           Command
           from
           God
           that
           we
           read
           of
           .
           Of
           the
           four
           Fasts
           mentioned
           Zach.
           8.
           there
           was
           only
           One
           Commanded
           .
           
           The
           Feast
           of
           the
           Dedication
           is
           known
           to
           be
           of
           modern
           and
           humane
           Institution
           ,
           and
           yet
           it
           is
           as
           well
           known
           that
           our
           Saviour
           honoured
           it
           with
           his
           Presence
           .
           There
           was
           no
           Appointment
           for
           the
           singing
           a
           
             Paschal
             Hymn
          
           after
           the
           Passover
           ,
           and
           yet
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Disciples
           observed
           that
           Usage
           ,
           and
           which
           therefore
           will
           not
           ,
           I
           presume
           ,
           be
           said
           to
           be
           sinful
           .
           Now
           if
           the
           Addmittance
           of
           certain
           Usages
           
             not
             commanded
          
           was
           not
           sinful
           under
           the
           Law
           ,
           where
           the
           manner
           of
           divine
           Worship
           was
           
             particularly
             specified
          
           ,
           how
           comes
           it
           to
           be
           so
           now
           under
           the
           Gospel
           where
           there
           is
           no
           such
           
             particular
             Prescription
          
           ,
           nor
           hardly
           any
           thing
           more
           than
           such
           general
           Rules
           as
           I
           have
           before
           mentioned
           ,
           which
           are
           to
           be
           respectively
           applied
           by
           Superiors
           and
           Inferiors
           ;
           such
           as
           ,
           
             let
             all
             things
             be
             done
             decently
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             in
             order
             ;
             and
             submit
             your selves
             to
             every
             Ordinance
             of
             Man
             ,
             for
             the
             Lord's
             Sake
             .
          
        
         
           This
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           be
           Answer
           enough
           to
           what
           this
           Man
           has
           said
           about
           the
           
             Vnlawfulness
             of
             using
             any
             thing
             in
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             what
             he
             himself
             hath
             commanded
          
           ;
           but
           that
           I
           may
           if
           possible
           confute
           and
           silence
           ,
           if
           not
           convince
           the
           Urgers
           of
           this
           grand
           Objection
           ,
           and
           even
           those
           who
           may
           perhaps
           manage
           it
           after
           a
           better
           Manner
           ,
           than
           this
           weak
           Arguer
           has
           done
           :
           I
           will
           present
           to
           your
           Consideration
           what
           the
           Right
           Reverend
           the
           Bishop
           of
           our
           own
           Diocess
           hath
           with
           great
           clearness
           written
           upon
           this
           Subject
           .
           It
           is
           indeed
           a
           great
           deal
           to
           transcribe
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           so
           full
           and
           pertinent
           to
           the
           business
           in
           hand
           ,
           that
           my
           pains
           therein
           will
           be
           well
           bestowed
           ,
           if
           you
           will
           but
           vouchsafe
           it
           an
           impartial
           Reading
           .
        
         
           In
           his
           
             Discourse
             of
             Christian
             Liberty
          
           ,
           Chap.
           13
           p.
           176.
           he
           is
           speaking
           to
           that
           Notion
           of
           Christian
           Liberty
           ,
           which
           makes
           it
           to
           consist
           in
           Freedom
           from
           those
           Laws
           of
           Men
           ,
           that
           command
           things
           indifferent
           relating
           
           to
           Religion
           and
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           makes
           it
           appear
           to
           be
           wild
           and
           false
           by
           these
           Considerations
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           
             
               This
               Notion
               of
               Christian
               Liberty
               tends
               to
               introduce
               sad
               disorder
               and
               confusion
               into
               the
               Churches
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               will
               certainly
               do
               it
               if
               practised
               upon
               .
               I
               need
               not
               go
               about
               to
               Prove
               ,
               that
               the
               Order
               of
               Ecclesiastical
               as
               well
               as
               civil
               Societies
               consisteth
               principally
               in
               the
               due
               Regulation
               of
               things
               in
               their
               own
               Nature
               indifferent
               .
            
             
               St.
               Paul
               hath
               enjoyned
               that
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               
                 all
                 things
                 be
                 done
                 decently
                 in
                 Order
                 ,
              
               1
               Cor.
               14.40
               .
               But
               how
               shall
               they
               be
               so
               done
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               a
               Violation
               of
               our
               Christian
               Liberty
               to
               have
               any
               thing
               imposed
               upon
               us
               by
               our
               Governours
               for
               Decencies
               and
               Orders
               Sake
               ?
               Particular
               Rules
               being
               not
               given
               us
               in
               Scripture
               about
               this
               Matter
               ;
               which
               to
               be
               sure
               would
               have
               been
               ,
               were
               they
               not
               left
               to
               the
               Determination
               of
               the
               Governours
               of
               each
               Church
               ,
               upon
               supposition
               that
               't
               is
               possible
               to
               give
               such
               as
               would
               well
               suit
               all
               Churches
               .
            
             
               Calvin
               ,
               upon
               those
               words
               of
               St.
               Paul
               ,
               1
               Cor.
               11.2
               .
               
                 Now
                 I
                 praise
                 you
                 Brethren
                 ,
                 that
                 you
                 remember
                 me
                 in
                 all
                 things
                 ,
                 and
                 keep
                 the
                 Ordinances
                 as
                 I
                 delivered
                 them
                 to
                 you
                 ,
              
               doth
               thus
               express
               his
               sence
               about
               this
               matter
               :
               Saith
               
                 He
                 ,
                 we
                 know
                 that
                 every
                 Church
                 it
                 left
                 free
                 to
                 appoint
                 a
                 Form
                 of
                 Polity
                 for
                 it self
                 ,
                 because
                 our
                 Lord
                 hath
                 prescribed
                 nothing
                 certain
                 .
              
               And
               he
               speaks
               this
               ,
               you
               see
               ,
               not
               as
               his
               own
               sense
               only
               ,
               but
               as
               the
               sense
               ,
               and
               that
               undoubted
               too
               ,
               of
               his
               other
               Brethren
               of
               the
               Reformation
               :
               Whose
               Judgment
               ,
               were
               it
               needful
               ,
               we
               might
               largely
               produce
               to
               the
               same
               purpose
               .
               But
               there
               is
               no
               need
               of
               it
               ,
               those
               very
               persons
               ,
               who
               have
               been
               most
               zealous
               for
               the
               contrary
               Opinion
               ,
               being
               forced
               to
               contradict
               it
               in
               their
               practice
               :
               And
               ,
               for
               Orders
               sake
               ,
               to
               determine
               such
               things
               in
               their
               several
               Church
               administrations
               as
               are
               left
               perfectly
               undetermined
               in
               Scripture
               ,
               (
               of
               which
               might
               be
               given
               very
               many
               instances
               )
               notwithstanding
               their
               Clamours
               against
               the
               Church
               of
               England
               upon
               this
               ,
               as
               modest
               as
               she
               is
               in
               her
               impositions
               .
            
             
               Secondly
               ,
               This
               Notion
               of
               Christian
               Liberty
               is
               so
               great
               an
               infringment
               of
               the
               Liberty
               Christ
               hath
               left
               to
               Ecclesiastical
               Governours
               as
               not
               to
               leave
               them
               so
               much
               as
               it
               is
               certain
               the
               Governours
               of
               the
               Jewish
               Church
               were
               invested
               with
               ,
               who
               yet
               were
               bound
               up
               and
               determined
               in
               a
               very
               great
               number
               of
               Particulars
               .
            
             
               Over
               and
               above
               the
               Multitude
               of
               Rites
               and
               Ceremonies
               which
               God
               himself
               did
               annex
               to
               the
               substance
               of
               his
               Worship
               ,
               we
               read
               of
               not
               a
               few
               others
               that
               were
               added
               by
               Men.
               We
               have
               a
               large
               Account
               of
               such
               in
               Maimonides
               ,
               in
               his
               Book
               
                 de
                 Cultu
                 Devino
              
               ,
               and
               the
               Holy
               Scriptures
               themselves
               present
               us
               with
               diverse
               such
               without
               the
               least
               intimation
               of
               God's
               dislike
               of
               them
               .
            
             
               Besided
               some
               of
               those
               which
               I
               mentioned
               ,
               He
               gives
               other
               Instances
               viz.
               King
               Solomon's
               
                 Hallowing
                 the
                 middle
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 Temple
                 for
                 Sacrifices
                 ,
              
               1
               King.
               8.64
               .
               The
               se●
               hours
               of
               Prayer
               in
               the
               Temple
               ,
               Acts
               31.
               
               
               Several
               Alterations
               ,
               and
               particularly
               that
               of
               the
               Gesture
               ,
               in
               Eating
               the
               Passover
               ;
               the
               which
               Christ
               declared
               his
               Approbation
               of
               by
               his
               Conformity
               to
               them
               ,
               Mat.
               26.20
               .
               Those
               two
               known
               Rites
               of
               the
               Jews
               ,
               not
               commanded
               in
               the
               Law
               ,
               viz.
               that
               of
               joyning
               Baptism
               with
               Circumcision
               in
               admitting
               Proselytes
               ,
               and
               that
               of
               
                 Post
                 Coenium
              
               ,
               or
               Feast
               after
               the
               Passover
               .
               And
               these
               two
               our
               Saviour
               was
               so
               far
               from
               condemning
               ,
               upon
               the
               score
               of
               their
               being
               of
               Humane
               Institution
               ,
               that
               his
               two
               great
               Sacraments
               received
               their
               rise
               from
               them
               .
            
             
               The
               Texts
               which
               are
               chiefly
               urged
               ,
               to
               prove
               the
               Unlawfulness
               of
               bringing
               any
               thing
               into
               the
               Worship
               of
               God
               ,
               but
               what
               He
               hath
               himself
               prescribed
               ,
               are
               those
               in
               the
               Old
               Testament
               ,
               wherein
               God
               declareth
               his
               Displeasure
               against
               some
               of
               the
               Israelites
               ,
               for
               doing
               those
               things
               which
               he
               
                 commanded
                 them
                 n●t
              
               ;
               and
               one
               in
               the
               New
               ,
               but
               cited
               out
               of
               the
               Old
               ,
               where
               our
               Saviour
               reprehendeth
               the
               Pharisees
               for
               
                 teaching
                 for
                 Doctrines
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 Men.
                 
              
            
             
               Those
               Texts
               in
               the
               Old
               Testament
               are
               Lev.
               10.1
               ,
               Deut.
               17.3
               ,
               Jer.
               7.31
               ,
               C●●p
               .
               19.5
               ,
               Chap.
               32.35
               .
               But
               I
               wonder
               that
               those
               who
               produce
               these
               Texts
               for
               such
               a
               purpose
               ,
               could
               not
               see
               without
               our
               shewing
               it
               to
               them
               ,
               that
               they
               all
               speak
               of
               such
               things
               as
               God
               did
               not
               only
               not
               Command
               ,
               but
               had
               strictly
               Forbid
               .
            
             
               In
               Lev.
               10.1
               ,
               the
               thing
               which
               God
               saith
               He
               commanded
               them
               not
               ,
               was
               Nadab
               and
               
               Abihu's
               offering
               
                 strange
                 Fire
              
               before
               the
               Lord
               ;
               which
               was
               an
               Act
               of
               Disobedience
               to
               a
               most
               express
               Law
               ,
               Chap.
               6.12
               ,
               13.
               
            
             
               That
               in
               Deut.
               13.3
               ,
               not
               commanded
               by
               God
               ,
               was
               a
               most
               hainous
               Sin
               and
               a
               black
               Transgression
               of
               the
               First
               Commandment
               ,
               
                 viz.
                 Serving
                 other
                 Gods
                 ,
                 and
                 Worshipping
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 the
                 Moon
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Host
                 of
                 Heaven
                 .
              
            
             
               That
               not
               Commanded
               ,
               Jer.
               7.31
               ,
               was
               not
               only
               contrary
               to
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ,
               but
               a
               horrible
               Wickedness
               condemned
               by
               the
               Light
               of
               Nature
               ,
               viz.
               the
               
                 burning
                 of
                 their
                 Sons
                 and
                 their
                 Daughters
                 in
                 the
                 Fire
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Valley
                 of
              
               Hinnom
               .
            
             
               That
               which
               God
               saith
               ,
               He
               
                 commanded
                 not
                 ,
                 neither
                 came
                 it
                 into
                 his
                 mind
                 ,
                 Jer.
              
               19.5
               ,
               was
               the
               same
               Unnatural
               Wickedness
               ,
               viz.
               the
               
                 burning
                 their
                 Sons
                 with
                 Fire
                 for
                 Burnt-offerings
                 to
                 Baal
              
               ;
               and
               that
               in
               Jer.
               32.35
               ,
               was
               the
               
                 causing
                 of
                 their
                 Sons
                 and
                 their
                 Daughters
                 to
                 pass
                 through
                 the
                 Fire
                 unto
              
               Molech
               .
            
             
               But
               what
               doth
               God's
               condemning
               such
               abominable
               Practices
               as
               these
               signifie
               ,
               towards
               the
               proving
               it
               unlawful
               to
               use
               or
               impose
               certain
               innocent
               Rites
               and
               Circumstances
               in
               Divine
               Worship
               ,
               which
               are
               not
               expresly
               and
               particularly
               required
               by
               God
               ;
               but
               may
               be
               truly
               said
               to
               be
               in
               the
               general
               required
               by
               him
               ,
               as
               such
               are
               necessary
               to
               the
               decorous
               management
               of
               his
               Worship
               ,
               and
               agreeable
               to
               the
               foremention'd
               Rule
               ,
               of
               doing
               all
               things
               decently
               ,
               and
               in
               order
               ?
            
             
             
               And
               whereas
               the
               Urgers
               of
               these
               Texts
               for
               tire
               '
               foresaid
               purpose
               do
               reply
               to
               us
               ,
               that
               tho'
               they
               cannot
               deny
               but
               the
               Instances
               of
               the
               things
               not
               commanded
               mention'd
               in
               each
               of
               them
               ,
               are
               things
               also
               prohibited
               ,
               yet
               they
               are
               pertinently
               insisted
               upon
               by
               them
               ,
               because
               it
               is
               tacitly
               implied
               in
               God's
               expressing
               them
               as
               things
               only
               not
               commanded
               ,
               that
               things
               not
               commanded
               in
               his
               Worship
               offend
               him
               as
               well
               as
               things
               prohibited
               .
            
             
               To
               this
               I
               briefly
               Answer
               ,
               that
               this
               is
               subtile
               Arguing
               indeed
               ,
               except
               it
               can
               be
               shewed
               ,
               that
               God
               doth
               any
               where
               condemn
               the
               doing
               in
               his
               Worship
               what
               is
               lawful
               in
               its
               own
               nature
               ,
               and
               no
               where
               forbidden
               by
               him
               ,
               under
               the
               notion
               of
               a
               thing
               not
               commanded
               ;
               which
               I
               dare
               affirm
               cannot
               be
               shewed
               .
               And
               I
               add
               ,
               that
               nothing
               is
               more
               absurd
               ,
               than
               '
               to
               build
               Doctrines
               upon
               Idioms
               of
               the
               sacred
               Language
               ;
               but
               this
               is
               too
               commonly
               done
               by
               the
               Men
               we
               are
               now
               dealing
               with
               ;
               as
               I
               am
               able
               to
               shew
               in
               too
               many
               instances
               .
            
             
               And
               if
               we
               should
               turn
               the
               Scales
               ,
               and
               argue
               thus
               :
               such
               and
               such
               things
               are
               not
               forbidden
               by
               God
               ,
               therefore
               they
               are
               commanded
               ;
               we
               should
               not
               be
               guilty
               of
               a
               grosser
               Absurdity
               than
               they
               are
               ,
               in
               inferring
               from
               God's
               not
               having
               Commanded
               them
               ,
               that
               he
               hath
               therefore
               Forbidden
               them
               .
            
             
               And
               as
               to
               that
               Text
               in
               the
               New
               Testament
               ,
               Mat.
               15.9
               .
               
                 But
                 in
                 vain
                 do
                 they
                 worship
                 me
                 ,
                 teach●●
                 for
                 Doctrines
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 Men.
              
               It
               is
               manifest
               ,
               that
               that
               which
               is
               condemned
               in
               the
               Pharisees
               here
               is
               the
               setting
               up
               of
               their
               own
               Constitutions
               instead
               ,
               or
               in
               the
               place
               of
               God's
               ,
               and
               those
               too
               contrary
               to
               God's
               Commandments
               .
               This
               is
               evident
               from
               the
               Context
               .
               Our
               Saviour
               saith
               ,
               ver
               .
               3
               ,
               
                 Why
                 do
                 you
                 transgress
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 God
                 by
                 your
                 Traditions
                 ?
              
               That
               is
               ,
               saith
               Irenaeus
               upon
               these
               words
               ,
               
                 They
                 did
                 not
                 only
                 frustrate
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 by
                 Prevarication
                 ,
                 mixing
                 Wine
                 with
                 Water
                 ;
                 but
                 they
                 also
                 set
                 their
                 Law
                 in
                 opposition
                 or
                 contradiction
                 to
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               And
               ,
               that
               so
               they
               did
               ,
               appears
               by
               what
               follows
               ,
               ver
               .
               4
               ,
               5
               ,
               6.
               for
               God
               commanded
               ,
               saying
               ,
               
                 Honour
                 thy
                 Father
                 and
                 Mother
              
               ,
               &c.
               
               
                 But
                 ye
                 say
                 ,
                 Whosoever
                 shall
                 say
                 to
                 his
                 Father
                 or
                 his
                 Mother
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 Gift
                 by
                 whatsoever
                 thou
                 mightest
                 be
                 profited
                 by
                 me
                 ,
                 and
                 honour
                 not
                 his
                 Father
                 ,
                 he
                 shall
                 be
                 free
                 .
                 Thus
                 have
                 you
                 made
                 the
                 Commandment
                 of
                 God
                 of
                 none
                 effect
                 by
                 your
                 Tradiction
                 .
              
               And
               next
               follows
               a
               Citation
               out
               of
               Isa
               .
               29.13
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               Septuagint
               ,
               whereof
               these
               words
               are
               part
               ,
               
                 viz.
                 Ye
                 Hypocrites
                 ,
                 well
                 did
              
               Esaias
               
                 prophesie
                 of
                 you
                 ,
                 saying
                 ,
                 This
                 people
                 draw
                 nigh
                 unto
                 me
                 with
                 their
                 mouth
                 ,
                 and
                 honoureth
                 me
                 with
                 their
                 lips
                 ;
                 but
                 their
                 heart
                 is
                 far
                 from
                 me
                 .
                 But
                 in
                 vain
                 do
                 they
                 worship
                 me
                 ,
                 teaching
                 for
                 Doctrines
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 Men.
                 
              
            
             
               We
               will
               also
               consider
               these
               words
               as
               they
               are
               recited
               by
               St.
               
                 Mark
                 ,
                 Ch.
              
               7.7
               ,
               with
               the
               Verse
               following
               ,
               
                 Howbeit
                 in
                 vain
                 do
                 they
                 worship
                 me
                 ,
                 teaching
                 for
                 Doctrines
                 the
                 Commandments
                 of
                 Men
                 :
                 For
                 laying
                 aside
                 the
                 Commandment
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 ye
                 hold
                 the
                 Tradition
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 washing
                 of
                 Pots
                 
                 and
                 Cups
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               That
               is
               ,
               according
               to
               Dr.
               
               Hammond's
               Paraphrase
               upon
               the
               place
               ,
               
                 You
                 are
                 those
                 Hypocrites
                 that
                 profess
                 great
                 strictness
                 in
                 Performances
                 towards
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 practise
                 in
                 some
                 external
                 things
                 more
                 than
                 God
                 commands
                 you
                 ,
                 and
                 impose
                 those
                 on
                 others
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 Commands
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 when
                 they
                 are
                 only
                 Humane
                 Ordinances
                 .
                 As
                 for
                 the
                 inward
                 Purity
                 of
                 the
                 Heart
                 ,
                 and
                 Actions
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 all
                 God's
                 Laws
                 of
                 Washings
                 did
                 refer
                 ,
                 you
                 take
                 no
                 care
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 transgress
                 against
                 this
                 substantial
                 part
                 of
                 Religion
                 in
                 the
                 fonlest
                 manner
                 ,
                 and
                 spend
                 all
                 your
                 Time
                 in
                 these
                 External
                 Superfluit●●s
                 ,
                 washing
                 of
                 Pots
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
                 the
                 Ordinances
                 of
                 your
                 Rabbins
                 only
                 .
              
            
             
               But
               ,
               what
               are
               the
               hypocritical
               and
               wicked
               doings
               here
               condemned
               ,
               to
               Governours
               determining
               of
               External
               Circumstances
               of
               Administration
               in
               the
               Worship
               of
               God
               ,
               which
               are
               not
               only
               innocent
               in
               themselves
               ,
               but
               also
               not
               set
               up
               in
               the
               place
               of
               ,
               or
               justling
               out
               ,
               any
               thing
               commanded
               by
               God
               ,
               nor
               yet
               imposed
               as
               the
               Commands
               of
               God.
               But
               who
               can
               have
               the
               Forehead
               to
               fasten
               such
               high
               Presumptions
               as
               these
               upon
               our
               Church
               ?
               But
               I
               proceed
               ,
            
             
               Thirdly
               ,
               As
               this
               Notion
               of
               Christian
               Liberty
               is
               an
               enfringement
               of
               the
               Liberty
               which
               is
               left
               to
               Governours
               ,
               so
               is
               it
               also
               greatly
               injurious
               to
               the
               Peoples
               Liberty
               :
               for
               it
               is
               a
               very
               highly
               to
               be
               priz'd
               Instance
               of
               the
               Peoples
               Liberty
               ,
               that
               they
               may
               ,
               without
               giving
               God
               an
               Offence
               ,
               conform
               to
               such
               Laws
               as
               oblige
               them
               only
               to
               indifferent
               things
               .
               And
               it
               will
               be
               an
               intolerable
               straitning
               and
               confining
               of
               our
               Liberty
               ,
               it
               will
               be
               a
               very
               Bondage
               to
               us
               ,
               to
               be
               alwaies
               obnoxious
               to
               the
               Penalties
               which
               are
               the
               Sanctions
               of
               such
               Laws
               ,
               and
               to
               other
               manifold
               Inconveniences
               that
               follow
               upon
               disobeying
               them
               .
            
             
               Christian
               Liberty
               ,
               according
               to
               this
               Notion
               ,
               is
               so
               far
               from
               being
               worthy
               of
               our
               Saviour's
               purchasing
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               infinitely
               more
               desirable
               to
               be
               without
               it
               ,
               in
               regard
               of
               the
               extreamly-mischievous
               Consequences
               which
               follow
               upon
               quarrelling
               with
               Authority
               about
               harmless
               matters
               ,
               which
               have
               not
               the
               least
               ill
               influence
               upon
               your
               Souls
               ,
               whereby
               not
               only
               those
               who
               refuse
               Obedience
               are
               exposed
               in
               their
               own
               Persons
               and
               Families
               to
               great
               Evils
               ,
               both
               Temporal
               and
               Spiritual
               ,
               but
               also
               the
               whole
               Community
               ,
               the
               Church
               and
               State
               too
               ,
               by
               their
               means
               .
               This
               we
               all
               know
               ,
               at
               this
               day
               ,
               by
               very
               sad
               Experience
               .
               This
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               is
               such
               a
               Liberty
               as
               is
               the
               occasion
               of
               lamentable
               Mischiefs
               ,
               both
               publick
               and
               private
               ,
               but
               I
               am
               wholly
               to
               seek
               what
               Good
               can
               accrue
               thereby
               ,
               and
               therefore
               we
               may
               safely
               warrant
               it
               to
               be
               no
               Liberty
               of
               our
               Blessed
               Saviour's
               procurement
               ,
               but
               the
               contrary
               .
            
             
               If
               we
               were
               well
               instructed
               in
               the
               Nature
               of
               the
               Gospel-Dispensation
               ,
               we
               should
               be
               very
               certain
               ,
               that
               whatsoever
               doth
               no
               way
               tend
               to
               the
               depraving
               of
               our
               Souls
               ,
               and
               the
               
                 bringing
                 us
                 into
                 Bondage
                 to
                 Sin
                 ,
              
               (
               which
               we
               have
               proved
               to
               be
               the
               only
               Opposite
               to
               our
               grand
               Christian
               Liberty
               )
               cannot
               be
               unlawful
               to
               us
               Christians
               ,
               because
               not
               prejudicial
               to
               the
               ultimate
               Design
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               making
               us
               free
               from
               the
               
               Dominion
               of
               Sin.
               To
               which
               Design
               we
               have
               shewed
               all
               the
               Precepts
               of
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               the
               Promises
               and
               Threatnings
               ,
               (
               and
               I
               may
               add
               Doctrines
               too
               )
               are
               subservient
               .
               And
               on
               the
               contrary
               ,
               we
               may
               be
               as
               sure
               ,
               that
               whatsoever
               is
               apt
               to
               hinder
               the
               promoting
               of
               this
               Design
               must
               needs
               be
               unlawful
               under
               the
               Gospel
               ;
               as
               all
               that
               are
               not
               blind
               ,
               or
               do
               not
               shut
               their
               Eyes
               ,
               may
               easily
               see
               this
               same
               pretended
               Christian
               Liberty
               most
               sadly
               doth
               .
            
             
               And
               there
               is
               nothing
               more
               apparent
               ,
               than
               that
               Obedience
               to
               Authority
               ,
               in
               all
               things
               not
               forbidden
               by
               the
               Divine
               Laws
               ,
               doth
               mightily
               tend
               to
               the
               promoting
               Peace
               ,
               Love
               ,
               Humility
               ,
               Self-denial
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               Christian
               Virtues
               :
               But
               Disobedience
               in
               such
               matters
               doth
               as
               much
               occasion
               the
               gratifying
               of
               those
               Devilish
               Lusts
               ,
               Pride
               ,
               Uncharitableness
               ,
               Contention
               ,
               Wrath
               ,
               Sedition
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               Fourthly
               ,
               Those
               that
               pretend
               it
               to
               be
               such
               a
               Violation
               of
               Christian
               Liberty
               ,
               to
               be
               obliged
               by
               Mens
               Laws
               to
               things
               indifferent
               ,
               if
               they
               will
               be
               true
               to
               themselves
               and
               their
               own
               Principles
               ,
               must
               not
               only
               refuse
               Obedience
               to
               the
               Injunctions
               of
               such
               things
               ,
               but
               to
               the
               Prohibitions
               also
               of
               such
               things
               ;
               as
               they
               must
               not
               do
               such
               as
               are
               commanded
               to
               be
               done
               ,
               so
               they
               must
               do
               such
               as
               are
               commanded
               to
               be
               forborn
               ;
               for
               it
               is
               as
               great
               an
               infringement
               of
               our
               Liberty
               to
               have
               indifferent
               things
               forbidden
               us
               ,
               as
               to
               have
               them
               impos'd
               upon
               us
               :
               'T
               is
               a
               no
               less
               intrenchment
               upon
               it
               ,
               to
               be
               tied
               up
               from
               what
               we
               may
               ,
               antecedently
               to
               the
               Magistrate's
               Authority
               ,
               do
               ,
               as
               to
               be
               commanded
               what
               we
               may
               omit
               .
            
             
               So
               that
               if
               the
               things
               which
               the
               Dissenters
               now
               Refuse
               to
               do
               ,
               because
               Commanded
               ,
               should
               hereafter
               be
               Forbidden
               by
               Authority
               ,
               they
               would
               be
               obliged
               ,
               in
               order
               to
               the
               Maintenance
               of
               their
               Christian
               Liberty
               ,
               to
               be
               every
               whit
               as
               zealous
               for
               them
               as
               now
               they
               are
               against
               them
               :
               Nor
               were
               they
               so
               honest
               as
               they
               should
               have
               been
               ,
               but
               false
               to
               this
               their
               Principle
               ,
               and
               shamefully
               betray'd
               their
               Liberty
               ,
               in
               so
               patiently
               submitting
               ,
               when
               time
               was
               ,
               to
               the
               severe
               prohibition
               of
               the
               same
               things
               ,
               tho'
               it
               was
               by
               an
               usurped
               Power
               too
               .
            
             
               What
               a
               strange
               Liberty
               is
               this
               ,
               which
               ,
               in
               its
               natural
               consequences
               tends
               to
               make
               People
               so
               Humour
               some
               ,
               Cross
               grain'd
               ,
               and
               Opposite
               to
               Government
               !
               Surely
               it
               can't
               be
               Christian
               ,
               but
               the
               most
               Unchristian
               Liberty
               .
            
             
               If
               this
               Free-dealing
               should
               offend
               any
               ,
               I
               should
               be
               sorry
               for
               it
               ,
               but
               must
               withal
               take
               Leave
               to
               tell
               the
               Offended
               ,
               that
               it
               is
               an
               Evidence
               of
               exceeding
               great
               Weakness
               ,
               not
               to
               say
               worse
               ,
               to
               be
               Angry
               with
               those
               who
               endeavour
               in
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Meekness
               to
               convince
               us
               of
               our
               dangerous
               Mistakes
               .
               But
               such
               is
               the
               Fate
               of
               Conscientious
               opposing
               Popular
               and
               Prevailing
               Errors
               ,
               that
               it
               seldom
               meeteth
               with
               better
               Success
               than
               kindling
               the
               Passions
               ,
               and
               sharpening
               the
               Tongues
               (
               and
               Pens
               too
               )
               
               of
               those
               who
               are
               most
               obliged
               to
               be
               thankful
               for
               it
               .
               But
               
                 Wisdom
                 is
                 justified
                 of
                 her
                 Children
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           What
           Answer
           can
           be
           returned
           to
           this
           Discourse
           I
           cannot
           see
           ;
           but
           if
           ,
           notwithstanding
           all
           that
           can
           be
           said
           ,
           these
           Men
           will
           still
           persist
           in
           it
           ,
           
             as
             their
             modest
             and
             humble
          
           Opinion
           that
           the
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           most
           learned
           Men
           of
           the
           Christian
           World
           are
           mistaken
           ,
           and
           that
           ,
           let
           them
           say
           what
           they
           please
           ,
           they
           do
           believe
           it
           to
           be
           really
           true
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           to
           be
           done
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           what
           he
           himself
           hath
           expresly
           Commanded
           ;
           then
           I
           must
           ask
           ,
           how
           they
           come
           so
           sharply
           to
           accuse
           Vs
           of
           the
           breach
           of
           it
           ,
           with
           whom
           the
           Cross
           and
           Surplice
           are
           no
           parts
           of
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           the
           charge
           falls
           as
           heavy
           ,
           if
           not
           much
           more
           heavy
           upon
           themselves
           ;
           who
           not
           only
           sprinkle
           in
           Baptism
           ,
           and
           sit
           at
           the
           Lords
           Supper
           without
           any
           Command
           ,
           but
           sing
           their
           Preachers
           Hymns
           to
           the
           Praise
           and
           Glory
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           who
           worship
           God
           in
           a
           conceived
           Prayer
           of
           their
           own
           Invention
           ,
           to
           the
           utter
           Exclusion
           of
           that
           Prayer
           ,
           which
           our
           Saviour
           in
           express
           words
           hath
           taught
           them
           
             when
             they
             Pray
             ,
             to
             say
             ,
          
           Luke
           11.2
           .
           where
           it
           is
           delivered
           upon
           a
           quite
           different
           Occasion
           from
           that
           in
           the
           other
           Gospel
           .
           St.
           Matthew
           indeed
           brings
           in
           our
           Saviour
           delivering
           this
           Paper
           ,
           as
           a
           Pattern
           to
           square
           ours
           by
           ;
           but
           St.
           Luke
           as
           an
           express
           Form
           of
           Words
           ,
           which
           when
           we
           pray
           ,
           
           we
           are
           punctually
           to
           make
           use
           of
           .
           But
           strange
           as
           it
           is
           !
           these
           Men
           ,
           who
           would
           be
           thought
           the
           most
           sanctified
           Persons
           of
           the
           place
           they
           live
           in
           ,
           will
           rather
           implicitely
           own
           themselves
           so
           wicked
           as
           not
           to
           be
           fit
           to
           use
           this
           Prayer
           ,
           than
           admit
           of
           such
           an
           undeniable
           Argument
           as
           that
           is
           of
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           a
           
             set
             Form
          
           which
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           I
           wonder
           this
           Man
           I
           am
           now
           dealing
           with
           ,
           took
           no
           Notice
           of
           .
           But
           I
           conclude
           from
           his
           silence
           herein
           ,
           that
           their
           real
           Opinion
           is
           ,
           that
           those
           Invectives
           which
           they
           so
           commonly
           use
           against
           Forms
           of
           Prayer
           in
           general
           ,
           and
           ours
           in
           particular
           ,
           are
           only
           fit
           to
           amuse
           ignorant
           people
           with
           ,
           and
           not
           well
           enough
           grounded
           to
           be
           openly
           defended
           ,
           though
           they
           help
           to
           keep
           up
           a
           Party
           .
           Since
           there
           fore
           he
           durst
           say
           nothing
           about
           this
           ,
           I
           pass
           it
           by
           ,
           and
           if
           there
           be
           any
           well-meaning
           people
           among
           you
           ,
           that
           are
           disatisfied
           therein
           ,
           I
           refer
           you
           to
           those
           two
           unanswerable
           Treatises
           writ
           by
           Dr.
           Scott
           in
           Vindication
           of
           publick
           Forms
           ,
           and
           to
           Dr.
           Beveridges
           Sermon
           upon
           that
           Subject
           ,
           to
           convince
           you
           of
           the
           
             Vsefulness
             and
             Excellency
             of
             our
             Common
             Prayer
             .
          
           That
           which
           gave
           me
           Occasion
           to
           mention
           this
           ,
           was
           the
           instances
           I
           pitched
           upon
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           you
           not
           only
           used
           things
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           without
           the
           Command
           of
           God
           ;
           but
           that
           (
           swerving
           from
           the
           Example
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           whose
           doing
           
             as
             the
             Lord
             commanded
          
           Moses
           you
           so
           much
           insist
           upon
           )
           you
           omit
           that
           which
           Christ
           himself
           particularly
           prescribed
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God.
           How
           highly
           absurd
           therefore
           is
           it
           for
           any
           one
           to
           object
           that
           to
           another
           ,
           of
           which
           
             he
             himself
          
           is
           no
           less
           guilty
           ;
           nay
           much
           more
           ,
           when
           besides
           what
           I
           have
           already
           urged
           ,
           it
           is
           done
           with
           this
           disadvantage
           
           of
           Inequality
           ;
           that
           the
           Inferior
           who
           owes
           a
           defference
           to
           Authority
           in
           things
           doubtful
           and
           indiferent
           ,
           seems
           to
           obtrude
           upon
           the
           Superior
           that
           which
           he
           would
           not
           have
           the
           Superiour
           to
           impose
           upon
           him
           .
           There
           is
           yet
           one
           thing
           more
           which
           I
           would
           gladly
           know
           of
           you
           who
           speak
           so
           much
           of
           doing
           nothing
           about
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           but
           what
           Christ
           hath
           commanded
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           this
           :
           What
           Law
           of
           Christ
           is
           there
           which
           enjoyns
           you
           to
           hold
           your
           Meetings
           
             just
             then
          
           when
           the
           publick
           Service
           of
           God
           established
           by
           Law
           is
           performed
           ?
           This
           is
           neither
           the
           Law
           of
           Christ
           ,
           nor
           the
           Practice
           of
           a
           great
           many
           of
           your
           Brethren
           in
           other
           places
           ;
           nor
           can
           you
           assign
           any
           truer
           reason
           for
           it
           ,
           than
           that
           you
           are
           not
           content
           to
           enjoy
           your
           own
           way
           of
           Worshipping
           God
           ,
           but
           you
           must
           also
           undermine
           ,
           and
           subvert
           ours
           ;
           which
           you
           are
           obliged
           to
           joyn
           in
           ,
           though
           not
           under
           the
           Penalty
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           yet
           in
           point
           of
           Conscience
           and
           in
           Obedience
           to
           the
           preceptive
           part
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Upon
           the
           same
           Accounts
           likewise
           you
           are
           as
           guilty
           of
           Will-worship
           as
           we
           are
           ,
           granting
           it
           to
           be
           true
           that
           to
           
             bring
             any
             thing
             of
             our
             own
             Invention
             into
             the
             service
             of
             God
             be
             Will-worship
             .
          
        
         
           But
           this
           being
           a
           word
           that
           you
           often
           make
           use
           of
           ,
           especially
           in
           your
           Calumniating
           of
           us
           ,
           I
           will
           venture
           to
           give
           you
           the
           Meaning
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           both
           understand
           it
           ,
           and
           know
           how
           rightly
           to
           apply
           it
           .
           This
           word
           is
           not
           used
           above
           once
           in
           the
           whole
           Bible
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             Col.
          
           2.23
           .
           and
           therefore
           he
           must
           be
           his
           own
           Interpreter
           ,
           and
           we
           must
           fetch
           the
           Meaning
           of
           the
           Expression
           from
           the
           Matter
           wherewith
           it
           is
           connected
           .
           If
           you
           look
           a
           little
           back
           in
           that
           Chapter
           ,
           you
           will
           find
           the
           Apostle
           forbids
           worshipping
           of
           Angels
           ,
           verse
           18
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           speaks
           against
           such
           superstitious
           people
           ,
           as
           made
           it
           unlawful
           to
           Marry
           ,
           to
           eat
           some
           kind
           of
           Meats
           ,
           to
           touch
           or
           come
           near
           some
           things
           ,
           none
           of
           which
           God
           hath
           made
           sinful
           ,
           but
           they
           were
           the
           meer
           Commandments
           of
           Men
           ,
           verse
           21
           ,
           22.
           
           Now
           those
           that
           were
           of
           this
           Humour
           he
           immediately
           after
           ,
           ver
           .
           23.
           charges
           with
           Will-woship
           .
           So
           that
           according
           to
           the
           Judgement
           of
           the
           Learned
           (
           which
           I
           hope
           I
           may
           have
           the
           Liberty
           of
           quoting
           as
           well
           as
           my
           Antagonist
           .
           )
           A
           Will-worship
           is
           erected
           ,
           when
           either
           the
           Worship
           due
           to
           God
           is
           given
           to
           a
           Creature
           ,
           or
           when
           any
           thing
           is
           so
           enjoyned
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           or
           not
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           the
           Will
           and
           Commandment
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           a
           meer
           Constitution
           of
           the
           Will
           of
           Man.
           
        
         
           Having
           now
           found
           out
           what
           Will-worship
           is
           ,
           let
           us
           impartially
           examine
           who
           are
           most
           guilty
           of
           it
           ,
           You
           or
           We.
           And
           because
           I
           may
           be
           thought
           partial
           in
           this
           Enquiry
           ,
           or
           however
           not
           duly
           qualified
           to
           make
           it
           ,
           let
           the
           learned
           Man
           (
           now
           a
           Reverend
           Father
           of
           our
           Church
           )
           that
           assisted
           us
           in
           finding
           out
           the
           Meaning
           of
           Will-worship
           ,
           state
           the
           Case
           betwixt
           us
           ,
           and
           let
           us
           on
           both
           sides
           rest
           satisfied
           in
           his
           Determination
           .
           He
           is
           speaking
           to
           a
           Person
           of
           the
           same
           Kidney
           with
           the
           Man
           that
           has
           engaged
           me
           in
           all
           this
           trouble
           ,
           and
           thus
           discourses
           him
           .
        
         
           
           
             I
             am
             sure
             you
             will
             not
             make
             us
             guilty
             of
             the
             first
             sort
             of
             Will-worship
             ,
             because
             none
             are
             more
             against
             it
             than
             we
             .
             As
             for
             the
             second
             ,
             Our
             
             Church
             hath
             declared
             to
             all
             the
             World
             that
             none
             of
             those
             things
             you
             boggle
             at
             ,
             are
             imposed
             under
             the
             Notion
             of
             necessary
             ,
             or
             religious
             in
             themselves
             ,
             or
             as
             commanded
             by
             God
             ;
             but
             are
             of
             an
             Indifferent
             Nature
             ,
             and
             only
             used
             as
             decent
             and
             comely
             in
             the
             Judgment
             of
             the
             present
             Governours
             ,
             who
             can
             alter
             these
             things
             ,
             and
             constitute
             something
             else
             in
             their
             room
             ,
             if
             they
             see
             it
             fit
             ;
             
             which
             they
             could
             not
             pretend
             to
             ,
             did
             they
             think
             them
             necessary
             .
             But
             then
             ,
             as
             our
             Church
             is
             not
             guilty
             of
             Will-worship
             in
             the
             Apostles
             sence
             ;
             so
             ,
             on
             the
             other
             side
             I
             know
             not
             how
             to
             excuse
             those
             from
             that
             very
             guilt
             ,
             who
             oppose
             what
             is
             ordained
             among
             us
             as
             unlawful
             ,
             and
             forbid
             us
             to
             use
             those
             Rites
             and
             Orders
             ,
             because
             sinful
             things
             .
             For
             they
             make
             that
             to
             be
             necessary
             to
             be
             forborn
             and
             left
             undone
             ,
             which
             God
             hath
             not
             made
             so
             ,
             but
             left
             indifferent
             ;
             and
             so
             they
             in
             effect
             ,
             condemn
             those
             as
             sinners
             whom
             God
             acquits
             from
             all
             blame
             .
             As
             those
             in
             the
             Apostles
             Discourse
             ,
             said
             ,
             
               Touch
               not
               ,
               Taste
               not
               ,
               Handle
               not
               ,
            
             so
             you
             say
             ,
             
               Knees
               not
               ,
               Pray
               not
               by
               a
               Form
               ,
               Wear
               not
               a
               Surplce
               ,
            
             &c.
             
             Now
             since
             you
             think
             (
             as
             those
             Men
             did
             )
             to
             please
             God
             by
             not
             doing
             those
             things
             which
             he
             hath
             no
             where
             forbidden
             ;
             I
             do
             not
             see
             but
             you
             commit
             the
             very
             fault
             which
             the
             Apostle
             reproves
             ,
             i.
             e.
             you
             make
             that
             necessary
             not
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             (
             if
             we
             will
             be
             true
             Worshippers
             of
             God
             )
             which
             he
             hath
             not
             made
             necessary
             not
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             but
             left
             us
             at
             Liberty
             to
             do
             it
             if
             we
             please
             .
             By
             which
             means
             you
             make
             a
             Religion
             of
             your
             own
             ,
             and
             study
             to
             honour
             God
             by
             abstaining
             from
             these
             things
             ,
             by
             which
             he
             never
             said
             that
             he
             was
             dishonoured
             .
             O
             that
             all
             tender
             Consciences
             would
             seriously
             consider
             this
             ;
             for
             they
             would
             soon
             discern
             that
             your
             Ministers
             by
             forbidding
             those
             things
             now
             in
             dispute
             ,
             lay
             greater
             Burthens
             upon
             the
             Consciences
             of
             their
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             clog
             them
             with
             more
             duties
             ,
             than
             God
             hath
             laid
             upon
             them
             .
             Whereas
             we
             ,
             who
             think
             those
             things
             may
             be
             done
             ,
             lay
             no
             other
             Burthen
             upon
             the
             Conscience
             than
             what
             God
             himself
             hath
             laid
             ;
             which
             is
             ,
             to
             obey
             our
             Governours
             in
             all
             things
             ,
             wherein
             he
             himself
             hath
             not
             bidden
             us
             to
             do
             the
             contrary
             .
          
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           I
           shall
           only
           touch
           of
           Additions
           in
           the
           Service
           Book
           ,
           there
           are
           added
           three
           whole
           Verses
           to
           the
           
             Fourteenth
             Psalm
          
           ,
           and
           one
           Verse
           to
           the
           
             Thirteenth
             Psalm
          
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           granted
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           those
           Additions
           he
           speaks
           of
           ,
           yet
           it
           was
           not
           the
           Mistake
           of
           the
           Common
           Prayer
           Book
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           Translations
           which
           the
           Common
           Prayer
           followed
           ,
           viz.
           the
           Septuagint
           and
           Vulgar
           .
           But
           I
           wonder
           how
           he
           came
           to
           be
           so
           cautious
           as
           not
           to
           call
           these
           
           Additions
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           for
           that
           certainly
           was
           his
           meaning
           .
           The
           Additions
           to
           the
           14th
           Psalm
           are
           accounted
           for
           in
           one
           of
           the
           old
           Bibles
           ,
           by
           this
           Note
           ;
           
             That
             of
             this
             14th
             Psalm
             ,
             the
             5th
             ,
             6th
             ,
             and
             7th
             Verses
             ,
             which
             are
             put
             into
             the
             Common
             Translation
             ,
             and
             may
             seem
             unto
             some
             to
             be
             left
             out
             in
             this
             ,
             are
             not
             in
             the
             same
             Psalm
             in
             the
             Hebrew
             Text
             ,
             but
             are
             rather
             put
             in
             more
             fully
             to
             express
             the
             manners
             of
             the
             wicked
             ,
             and
             are
             gather'd
             out
             of
             the
             5th
             ,
             140th
             ,
             and
             10th
             Psalms
             ,
             the
             59th
             of
             the
             Prophet
          
           Isaiah
           ,
           
             and
             the
             36th
             Psalm
             ,
             and
             are
             alledged
             by
             St.
          
           Paul
           ,
           
             and
             placed
             together
             in
             the
             3d
             to
             the
          
           Romans
           .
           But
           the
           saying
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           Verse
           added
           to
           the
           14th
           Psalm
           ,
           is
           a
           notorious
           Falshood
           ;
           there
           are
           only
           these
           words
           ,
           
             I
             will
             praise
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Lord
             most
             Highest
          
           ;
           which
           are
           in
           the
           seventh
           Psalm
           ,
           and
           the
           last
           Verse
           .
        
         
           What
           then
           can
           this
           Man
           be
           thought
           to
           mean
           ?
           Would
           he
           insinuate
           ,
           that
           these
           Additions
           are
           Inventions
           of
           our
           own
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           are
           inserted
           by
           the
           Church
           ,
           upon
           some
           wicked
           selfish
           design
           ?
           I
           hope
           it
           appears
           that
           they
           were
           not
           ,
           nor
           we
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           thereof
           ,
           obnoxious
           to
           the
           Penalty
           of
           Deut.
           4.2
           ,
           before
           quoted
           by
           him
           .
           But
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           whether
           they
           are
           not
           deeply
           guilty
           of
           the
           Crime
           they
           charge
           us
           with
           ,
           who
           teach
           ,
           That
           nothing
           is
           to
           be
           used
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           prescribed
           by
           God
           himself
           ;
           for
           if
           that
           be
           not
           a
           Scripture
           Truth
           ,
           then
           what
           an
           Addition
           is
           this
           ?
           Do
           not
           they
           who
           teach
           this
           for
           a
           Scripture-Rule
           and
           Precept
           ,
           impose
           upon
           Mens
           Consciences
           as
           much
           as
           Papists
           ,
           and
           like
           them
           and
           the
           Pharisees
           of
           old
           ,
           teach
           the
           Traditions
           of
           Men
           for
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           God
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           is
           not
           this
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           Gospel
           it self
           ,
           
           which
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           
             Sin
             is
             the
             Transgression
             of
             a
             Law
          
           ;
           and
           that
           
             where
             there
             is
             no
             Law
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             Transgression
             ?
          
           And
           thus
           you
           all
           along
           see
           with
           how
           keen
           an
           edge
           those
           Weapons
           turn
           upon
           you
           ,
           which
           you
           make
           use
           of
           in
           fighting
           against
           us
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           I
           may
           say
           of
           all
           the
           Ceremonies
           in
           the
           Service
           Book
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           your
           own
           Church
           saith
           of
           the
           Succession
           of
           Church-Officers
           ,
           and
           in
           particular
           that
           of
           Bishops
           :
           He
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           our
           English
           Bishops
           received
           their
           Orders
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           ergo
           they
           had
           as
           good
           Orders
           as
           any
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           they
           must
           needs
           be
           as
           good
           when
           they
           are
           the
           same
           :
           But
           't
           is
           but
           a
           weak
           Proof
           for
           the
           Succession
           of
           their
           Bishops
           ,
           when
           they
           must
           go
           to
           Rome
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           One
           would
           think
           it
           were
           high
           time
           for
           you
           to
           have
           done
           with
           this
           old
           Accusation
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           that
           you
           should
           have
           more
           Prudence
           ,
           than
           to
           give
           us
           Occasion
           to
           upbraid
           you
           with
           your
           fawning
           upon
           ,
           and
           
           sneaking
           to
           it
           in
           the
           late
           Reign
           ,
           while
           the
           Bishops
           and
           Clergy
           of
           our
           Church
           made
           such
           a
           brave
           and
           vigorous
           Defence
           against
           it
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           hazard
           of
           their
           ALL.
           If
           indeed
           it
           be
           true
           ,
           that
           our
           
             Bishops
             received
             their
             Orders
             in
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Rome
           ,
           then
           his
           
             [
             ergo
          
           ]
           is
           good
           ,
           and
           the
           only
           good
           one
           he
           has
           made
           in
           this
           Paper
           ,
           and
           the
           Argument
           is
           a
           good
           one
           against
           the
           Papists
           ,
           and
           no
           
             weak
             one
          
           neither
           
             for
             the
             Succession
             of
             Church-Officers
          
           against
           you
           ,
           if
           you
           pretend
           to
           impugn
           it
           ;
           which
           if
           you
           do
           ,
           it
           lies
           at
           your
           door
           to
           prove
           a
           failure
           in
           their
           Succession
           ,
           since
           our
           Bishops
           are
           in
           possession
           of
           their
           Authority
           .
           He
           ought
           to
           have
           quoted
           his
           Author
           ,
           for
           a
           Reason
           before
           mention'd
           .
           But
           ,
           what
           if
           it
           be
           true
           ,
           is
           therefore
           Episcopacy
           unlawful
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Succession
             of
             our
             Bishops
          
           not
           good
           ?
           He
           may
           as
           well
           argue
           ,
           that
           the
           Water
           is
           not
           good
           ,
           or
           comes
           not
           from
           the
           Fountain-head
           ,
           because
           the
           Conduit
           thro'
           which
           it
           is
           convey'd
           is
           faulty
           .
           But
           since
           this
           Man
           questions
           the
           
             Succession
             of
             our
             Bishops
          
           ,
           and
           upbraids
           us
           with
           having
           
             our
             Orders
             from
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Rome
           ,
           it
           is
           but
           reasonable
           to
           demand
           ,
           Whether
           your
           Preachers
           have
           any
           Orders
           at
           all
           ?
           and
           if
           they
           have
           ,
           Whence
           they
           had
           them
           ,
           and
           thro'
           what
           Channel
           they
           were
           convey'd
           down
           to
           them
           ;
           and
           whether
           you
           have
           any
           Arguments
           to
           urge
           for
           the
           Validity
           of
           Their
           Orders
           ,
           which
           we
           cannot
           with
           much
           more
           reason
           make
           use
           of
           to
           prove
           the
           Goodness
           of
           Ours
           ?
           But
           we
           may
           see
           how
           far
           Envy
           and
           Malice
           will
           sometimes
           make
           People
           overshoot
           themselves
           .
           This
           Man
           ,
           rather
           than
           not
           send
           forth
           his
           Bolt
           at
           our
           Bishops
           and
           Clergy
           ,
           will
           strike
           at
           the
           whole
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           call
           in
           Question
           the
           Validity
           of
           the
           Orders
           of
           all
           the
           Reformed
           Churches
           :
           of
           Luther
           and
           Calvin
           himself
           ,
           nay
           ,
           even
           the
           Authority
           of
           their
           
             own
             Ambassadors
          
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           our
           Ceremonies
           ,
           tho'
           they
           be
           superstitiously
           abused
           by
           the
           Papists
           ,
           yet
           that
           is
           no
           Argument
           against
           the
           present
           use
           of
           them
           in
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           who
           retains
           them
           not
           because
           they
           are
           of
           Rome
           ,
           but
           of
           an
           Ancienter
           date
           than
           that
           now
           corrupted
           Church
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           are
           therefore
           unlawful
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           used
           by
           her
           ,
           then
           every
           thing
           done
           in
           that
           Church
           is
           so
           ,
           which
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           you
           will
           not
           say
           .
           We
           only
           reformed
           from
           the
           Errors
           and
           Corruptions
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           and
           not
           from
           what
           was
           Apostolical
           ,
           Primitive
           ,
           and
           Innocent
           ,
           because
           they
           used
           it
           .
           And
           whatever
           Opinion
           these
           People
           would
           have
           others
           entertain
           of
           them
           ,
           yet
           their
           admired
           Mr.
           Calvin
           declares
           in
           express
           words
           ,
           that
           
             He
             would
             not
             have
             any
             Man
             think
             him
             so
             Austere
             ,
             or
             bound
             up
             ,
             as
             to
             forbid
             a
             Christian
             ,
             without
             any
             Exception
             ,
             to
             accommodate
             himself
             to
             the
          
           Papists
           
             in
             any
             Ceremony
             or
             Observance
             ;
             for
             ,
          
           says
           he
           further
           ,
           
             it
             is
             not
             my
             Purpose
             to
             condemn
             any
             thing
             but
             what
             is
             clearly
             evil
             ,
             and
             openly
             vicious
             .
          
           But
           for
           a
           full
           Answer
           to
           all
           you
           Object
           against
           us
           upon
           this
           score
           ,
           I
           refer
           you
           to
           the
           Case
           of
           Symbolizing
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           by
           Dr.
           Eowler
           ,
           our
           present
           Bishop
           ,
           where
           he
           quotes
           those
           very
           words
           of
           Mr.
           Calvin
           .
        
         
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           we
           desire
           not
           Separation
           ,
           but
           Reformation
           ;
           for
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           we
           have
           all
           of
           us
           so
           tender
           a
           regard
           for
           the
           everlasting
           Salvation
           of
           our
           own
           Souls
           ,
           that
           we
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           make
           choice
           of
           such
           a
           Minister
           as
           may
           be
           able
           to
           divide
           the
           Word
           of
           Truth
           aright
           ,
           and
           give
           to
           every
           one
           their
           Portion
           in
           due
           season
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           have
           observed
           but
           very
           little
           Coherence
           in
           any
           part
           of
           this
           Paper
           ,
           but
           I
           see
           none
           at
           all
           in
           this
           Clause
           ;
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           the
           very
           design
           of
           
             chusing
             another
             Minister
          
           is
           a
           Proof
           beyond
           denial
           of
           your
           
             Desire
             of
             Separation
          
           .
           Your
           Reformation
           was
           the
           drift
           of
           my
           Paper
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           Nonsense
           for
           you
           to
           retort
           it
           upon
           us
           ,
           till
           you
           have
           given
           some
           better
           Proofs
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           really
           such
           Faults
           in
           the
           Constitution
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           as
           ought
           to
           be
           amended
           .
           But
           if
           the
           Reformation
           you
           desire
           be
           as
           to
           Matters
           which
           you
           either
           have
           proved
           ,
           or
           can
           prove
           ,
           to
           be
           really
           evil
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           the
           next
           Convocation
           that
           sits
           will
           readily
           gratifie
           you
           herein
           ;
           nay
           ,
           I
           verily
           think
           that
           they
           would
           take
           away
           some
           of
           those
           Ceremonies
           you
           scruple
           ,
           or
           however
           leave
           the
           Use
           of
           them
           to
           every
           ones
           liberty
           ,
           as
           the
           Canons
           of
           40
           have
           done
           ,
           
             Bowing
             towards
             the
             East
          
           ;
           if
           you
           could
           secure
           them
           against
           the
           evil
           Consequences
           of
           unnecessary
           Alterations
           ;
           or
           give
           them
           sufficient
           Grounds
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           Dissenters
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           would
           then
           
             Vnite
             in
             the
             Communion
             of
             the
             Church
          
           ;
           or
           that
           the
           major
           part
           of
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           distinguish'd
           from
           the
           other
           Sects
           by
           the
           Name
           of
           Presbyterians
           ,
           would
           thereupon
           come
           over
           thereto
           ;
           or
           indeed
           ,
           that
           such
           a
           Method
           of
           proceeding
           would
           not
           drive
           more
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           than
           it
           would
           bring
           in
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Reformation
           you
           talk
           of
           be
           such
           as
           would
           maim
           ,
           and
           wound
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           not
           Vnchurch
           us
           ,
           or
           however
           lay
           us
           open
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Confusion
           ,
           it
           is
           unreasonable
           you
           should
           be
           complied
           with
           ,
           and
           you
           do
           thereby
           plainly
           shew
           your
           Desires
           to
           be
           either
           after
           
             Ascendency
             over
             us
          
           ,
           or
           
             Separation
             from
             us
          
           .
           Of
           which
           another
           Evidence
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           use
           no
           Endeavours
           to
           get
           your selves
           satisfied
           of
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           joyning
           in
           our
           Worship
           .
           You
           only
           read
           Books
           ,
           and
           hear
           Persons
           of
           one
           side
           .
           You
           are
           full
           of
           Prejudice
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           are
           glad
           of
           any
           Pretence
           to
           separate
           from
           us
           .
           You
           cry
           out
           against
           the
           Common-prayer
           ,
           but
           pray
           let
           me
           ask
           you
           ,
           and
           answer
           it
           to
           your
           Consciences
           ,
           Have
           you
           ever
           seriously
           and
           impartially
           read
           and
           examin'd
           that
           Book
           ?
           Have
           you
           a
           desire
           to
           hold
           Communion
           with
           us
           ,
           if
           you
           could
           perswade
           your selves
           that
           you
           might
           lawfully
           do
           it
           ?
           Have
           you
           proposed
           your
           Scruples
           to
           the
           Divines
           of
           our
           Church
           ?
           or
           ,
           Have
           you
           read
           what
           they
           have
           written
           
           in
           order
           to
           your
           satisfaction
           ?
           If
           you
           have
           done
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           then
           you
           have
           acted
           fairly
           .
           But
           then
           let
           me
           ask
           again
           ,
           Have
           you
           met
           with
           any
           of
           your
           own
           Teachers
           ,
           that
           are
           able
           to
           give
           a
           sufficient
           Answer
           to
           their
           Arguments
           ?
           They
           may
           possibly
           put
           you
           off
           with
           Noise
           and
           Clamour
           instead
           of
           true
           Reason
           ;
           but
           certain
           it
           is
           ,
           they
           have
           none
           of
           them
           yet
           answer'd
           those
           excellent
           things
           that
           have
           been
           writ
           in
           the
           defence
           of
           our
           Church
           .
           If
           they
           think
           their
           Cause
           so
           good
           ,
           and
           themselves
           able
           to
           defend
           it
           ,
           let
           them
           try
           their
           Skill
           at
           Mr.
           
           Hooker's
           Ecclesiastical
           Polity
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Treatises
           writ
           by
           our
           Divines
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second
           ,
           not
           above
           two
           of
           which
           were
           ever
           answer'd
           ;
           but
           those
           Answers
           were
           Replied
           to
           ,
           without
           ever
           a
           Rejoinder
           ;
           some
           or
           all
           of
           which
           I
           would
           have
           those
           among
           you
           ,
           that
           have
           Time
           and
           Capacities
           for
           it
           ,
           to
           peruse
           ,
           particularly
           those
           that
           I
           have
           already
           had
           ,
           or
           shall
           have
           ,
           occasion
           to
           mention
           or
           refer
           to
           ,
           as
           also
           a
           
             Perswasive
             to
             Communion
             with
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
          
           by
           the
           late
           Bishop
           of
           Chichester
           ;
           and
           
             The
             Case
             of
             Indifferent
             Things
          
           ,
           by
           the
           present
           Bishop
           of
           that
           Diocess
           ;
           The
           Discourses
           about
           
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             a
             Scrupulous
             Conscience
             ,
          
           by
           the
           present
           Archbishop
           of
           York
           ,
           and
           Dr.
           Calamy
           ;
           wherein
           you
           will
           be
           inform'd
           how
           far
           that
           Pretence
           will
           and
           will
           not
           bear
           you
           out
           in
           your
           Separation
           .
           Our
           Church
           is
           freed
           from
           the
           Imputation
           of
           Popery
           by
           Dr.
           Hooper
           ,
           and
           all
           your
           Objections
           against
           the
           Common-Prayer
           answer'd
           by
           Dr.
           Claggett
           and
           Dr.
           Comber
           ;
           which
           latter
           has
           largely
           and
           devoutly
           Explain'd
           and
           Paraphras'd
           upon
           every
           part
           of
           it
           .
           Mr.
           Evans
           has
           in
           two
           parts
           stated
           and
           resolved
           for
           you
           the
           Case
           of
           
             Kneeling
             at
             the
             Holy
             Sacrament
          
           .
           And
           several
           more
           Discourses
           there
           are
           ,
           all
           writ
           with
           that
           Candour
           and
           Calmness
           ,
           which
           ,
           if
           you
           have
           leisure
           ,
           is
           sufficient
           to
           invite
           you
           to
           peruse
           and
           consider
           them
           .
           And
           indeed
           one
           would
           wonder
           ,
           that
           after
           so
           many
           excellent
           Tracts
           writ
           in
           vindication
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           there
           should
           be
           such
           a
           Person
           as
           a
           Dissenter
           in
           England
           .
           I
           have
           all
           or
           most
           of
           these
           things
           by
           me
           ,
           and
           the
           Use
           of
           them
           is
           at
           the
           service
           of
           any
           of
           you
           ,
           that
           will
           desire
           and
           accept
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           you
           must
           put
           in
           practise
           the
           Advice
           of
           Epictetus
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           to
           seek
           after
           Truth
           with
           the
           indifference
           of
           Travellers
           ,
           who
           matter
           not
           whether
           their
           way
           be
           to
           the
           right
           or
           left
           ,
           or
           forward
           ,
           so
           that
           it
           lead
           them
           to
           their
           Journeys
           end
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           as
           for
           your
           accusing
           us
           of
           Schism
           ,
           the
           keeping
           it
           up
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           rending
           and
           dividing
           the
           Body
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           all
           for
           separating
           from
           those
           Errors
           the
           Church
           is
           guilty
           of
           ,
           from
           which
           we
           have
           a
           Commandment
           to
           separate
           our selves
           ;
           
             Come
             out
             from
             amongst
             them
          
           ,
           saith
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           
             touch
             not
             the
             Unclean
             thing
             ,
             and
             I
             will
             receive
             you
          
           ;
           now
           
             whether
             it
             be
             right
             to
             obey
             GOD
             or
             Man
             judge
             ye
             .
          
           Now
           ,
           if
           you
           can
           make
           it
           appear
           that
           it
           is
           Schism
           to
           obey
           GOD
           rather
           than
           Man
           ,
           and
           that
           
           it
           's
           a
           rending
           and
           dividing
           the
           Body
           of
           Christ
           ,
           when
           we
           contend
           but
           for
           the
           pure
           Administration
           of
           his
           Ordinances
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Appointment
           .
           Now
           if
           you
           can
           prove
           this
           ,
           I
           will
           yield
           you
           the
           Cause
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           Your
           saying
           that
           
             I
             accused
             you
             of
             Schism
             ,
             the
             keeping
             it
             up
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             rending
             and
             dividing
             the
             Body
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           is
           false
           ,
           I
           did
           not
           positively
           charge
           you
           therewith
           .
           I
           signified
           to
           you
           the
           Guilt
           and
           Danger
           of
           that
           Crime
           ,
           that
           you
           might
           take
           care
           not
           to
           incurr
           either
           ,
           by
           
             separating
             upon
             Humor
             or
             Prejudice
             ,
             without
             just
             Grounds
             and
             Reasons
             .
          
        
         
           And
           I
           was
           purposely
           thus
           cautions
           in
           expressing
           my self
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           not
           baffle
           my
           own
           Design
           ,
           by
           saying
           any
           thing
           that
           might
           disoblige
           or
           exasperate
           Persons
           whom
           I
           had
           some
           Grounds
           to
           suspect
           were
           
             self
             will'd
          
           ,
           and
           too
           inclinable
           to
           be
           
             soon
             angry
          
           ;
           but
           since
           you
           will
           force
           me
           to
           speak
           out
           ,
           I
           'll
           tell
           you
           my
           Mind
           freely
           ;
           and
           because
           this
           Man
           seems
           to
           exult
           in
           vindicating
           you
           from
           that
           Charge
           ,
           and
           says
           it
           wholly
           upon
           us
           ,
           I
           will
           endeavour
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           any
           thing
           he
           has
           said
           ,
           you
           are
           Schismaticks
           still
           .
        
         
           That
           therefore
           which
           I
           do
           say
           ,
           and
           for
           which
           I
           have
           both
           good
           Reason
           and
           good
           Authority
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           forasmuch
           as
           you
           withdraw
           your
           Communion
           from
           that
           Church
           (
           that
           I
           mean
           to
           which
           I
           invited
           you
           )
           with
           which
           you
           lawfully
           may
           ,
           and
           with
           which
           therefore
           you
           ought
           to
           communicate
           ,
           you
           cannot
           be
           excused
           from
           the
           Sin
           of
           Schism
           ,
           at
           least
           as
           to
           the
           
             Matter
             and
             Outward
             Act
          
           of
           it
           ;
           because
           ,
           where-ever
           there
           is
           an
           Actual
           Separation
           from
           a
           Church
           with
           which
           we
           ought
           ,
           and
           with
           which
           we
           may
           lawfully
           communicate
           ,
           there
           is
           an
           Actual
           Schism
           commenced
           ,
           let
           the
           Pretence
           for
           the
           Separation
           be
           what
           it
           will.
           How
           far
           you
           are
           chargable
           before
           God
           with
           the
           
             formal
             Guilt
          
           of
           Schism
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           ,
           I
           must
           leave
           that
           to
           your
           Consciences
           and
           the
           Searcher
           of
           Hearts
           ,
           who
           knows
           whether
           your
           Separation
           be
           occasion'd
           through
           the
           fault
           of
           your
           Wills
           ,
           or
           the
           weakness
           of
           your
           Understandings
           ;
           whether
           through
           Passion
           ,
           or
           Humor
           ,
           or
           Interest
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           misfortune
           of
           your
           Circumstances
           as
           to
           Education
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           matter
           :
           I
           hope
           the
           best
           ,
           and
           judge
           as
           charitably
           as
           I
           can
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           as
           charitably
           as
           any
           Man
           living
           .
           This
           was
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           still
           my
           real
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           nothing
           said
           in
           your
           Paper
           to
           induce
           me
           to
           alter
           it
           ;
           for
           ,
           unless
           the
           Errors
           you
           
             separate
             from
          
           be
           such
           as
           make
           Communion
           absolutely
           unlawful
           ,
           you
           can
           never
           produce
           a
           Command
           to
           withdraw
           your
           Communion
           from
           the
           National
           Church
           ,
           where
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           hath
           placed
           you
           ,
           and
           especially
           from
           that
           Church
           wherein
           you
           were
           born
           and
           baptiz'd
           .
           That
           1
           Cor.
           6.17
           ,
           which
           you
           pretend
           as
           a
           Command
           ,
           will
           not
           stand
           you
           in
           the
           least
           stead
           ,
           till
           you
           have
           proved
           our
           Service
           to
           
           be
           Idolatrous
           ,
           and
           we
           Unbelievers
           ,
           of
           whom
           you
           will
           find
           that
           the
           Apostle
           speaks
           ,
           if
           you
           will
           but
           look
           to
           v.
           14
           ,
           and
           as
           the
           Margin
           directs
           you
           to
           Isa
           .
           52.11
           ,
           whence
           these
           words
           are
           cited
           ,
           where
           the
           Prophet
           bids
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           Jews
           to
           fly
           out
           of
           Babylon
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           must
           be
           something
           worse
           than
           gross
           Ignorance
           to
           apply
           it
           to
           such
           a
           Separation
           as
           you
           are
           in
           .
        
         
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           the
           Errors
           (
           as
           you
           call
           them
           )
           mentioned
           in
           this
           Paper
           ,
           are
           thought
           by
           you
           to
           be
           the
           greatest
           of
           any
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           and
           yet
           even
           these
           have
           been
           abundantly
           vindicated
           from
           that
           Imputation
           ;
           and
           Christ's
           own
           
             Ordinances
             are
             Administred
          
           by
           us
           ,
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Institution
           ,
           without
           any
           such
           Defect
           or
           Addition
           ,
           as
           alters
           their
           Nature
           ,
           and
           destroys
           their
           Vertue
           .
           And
           what
           purer
           
             Administration
             and
             Ordinances
          
           Men
           would
           have
           ,
           than
           those
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           own
           Institution
           ,
           without
           any
           corrupt
           and
           sinful
           Mixtures
           to
           spoil
           their
           Vertue
           and
           Efficacy
           ,
           I
           cannot
           tell
           ;
           nor
           durst
           this
           Man
           positively
           say
           in
           his
           Paper
           ,
           that
           Christ's
           Ordinances
           are
           not
           thus
           
             purely
             Administred
          
           by
           us
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           sly
           and
           malicious
           Insinuation
           to
           the
           contrary
           .
           But
           granting
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           
             Administration
             of
             Christ's
             Ordinances
          
           there
           be
           some
           particular
           Modes
           and
           Rites
           accompanying
           them
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           commanded
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           if
           they
           are
           such
           as
           do
           not
           destroy
           the
           Efficacy
           ,
           or
           alter
           the
           Nature
           of
           the
           Ordinance
           ,
           they
           cannot
           be
           pretended
           unlawful
           ,
           or
           the
           Ordinance
           ever
           the
           less
           
             purely
             Administred
          
           ,
           because
           the
           Vnlawfulness
           of
           any
           thing
           depends
           upon
           its
           being
           forbidden
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Purity
             of
             Divine
             Administrations
          
           upon
           their
           Agreement
           with
           the
           Institution
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Sacrament
           of
           the
           Lord's
           Supper
           is
           administred
           exactly
           according
           to
           the
           Institution
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           because
           it
           is
           the
           most
           solemn
           part
           of
           Christian
           Worship
           ,
           and
           deliver'd
           to
           the
           Receiver
           with
           a
           most
           devout
           and
           affectionate
           Prayer
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Body
             and
             Blood
             of
             our
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             which
             was
             given
             and
             shed
             for
             him
          
           may
           
             preserve
             his
             Body
             and
             Soul
             unto
             Everlasting
             Life
             ,
          
           and
           therefore
           requires
           the
           utmost
           Devotion
           and
           Reverence
           of
           both
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ,
           it
           is
           order'd
           to
           be
           received
           kneeling
           .
           Thus
           also
           is
           Baptism
           purely
           Administred
           ,
           and
           after
           the
           Person
           is
           baptized
           ,
           and
           solemnly
           received
           into
           Christ's
           Church
           ,
           he
           is
           signed
           with
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           Cross
           ,
           
             in
             tok●
             that
             hereafter
             he
             shall
             not
             be
             ashamed
             to
             confess
             the
             Faith
             of
             Christ
             crucified
             ,
             but
             manfully
             to
             fight
             under
             his
             Banner
             against
             Sin
             ,
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             the
             Devil
             ,
             and
             continue
             Christ's
             faithful
             Soldier
             and
             Servant
             unto
             his
             Life's
             end
             .
          
           And
           at
           the
           Baptism
           of
           Infants
           ,
           Persons
           are
           deputed
           by
           the
           Parents
           ,
           exp●icitly
           in
           the
           Infant
           's
           Name
           ,
           to
           make
           that
           Vow
           and
           Stipulation
           which
           those
           who
           allow
           of
           their
           Baptism
           must
           however
           suppose
           to
           be
           tacitly
           and
           implicitly
           made
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           also
           to
           give
           Collateral
           Security
           to
           the
           Church
           for
           the
           Religious
           Education
           of
           the
           Infant
           ;
           the
           design
           of
           which
           Institution
           was
           ,
           to
           provide
           against
           the
           Remisness
           or
           Mortality
           of
           the
           Parents
           ,
           whose
           Obligation
           
           to
           breed
           up
           their
           Children
           in
           the
           Fear
           of
           God
           is
           never
           the
           less
           ,
           but
           is
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           thought
           to
           be
           already
           so
           great
           ,
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           and
           Religion
           ,
           that
           they
           themselves
           cannot
           be
           more
           strictly
           bound
           .
           It
           is
           indeed
           to
           be
           lamented
           ,
           that
           the
           Regard
           to
           this
           Appointment
           is
           not
           answerable
           to
           the
           Piety
           and
           Excellency
           of
           its
           design
           ,
           but
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           consider'd
           ,
           that
           that
           is
           the
           fault
           of
           the
           Men
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           the
           Constitution
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           who
           object
           against
           it
           upon
           this
           score
           may
           themselves
           help
           to
           remedy
           it
           .
           Now
           if
           ,
           when
           Christ's
           Ordinances
           are
           thus
           
             purely
             Administred
          
           ,
           it
           be
           not
           a
           
             rending
             and
             dividing
             the
             Body
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           so
           highly
           to
           contend
           for
           such
           Modes
           of
           Administration
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           more
           Scriptural
           ,
           but
           only
           more
           agreeable
           to
           their
           own
           Fancies
           ,
           as
           to
           separate
           from
           ,
           and
           break
           the
           Peace
           of
           Christ's
           Church
           ;
           if
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           this
           be
           not
           
             a
             rending
             the
             Body
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           I
           know
           not
           by
           what
           Name
           to
           call
           it
           ,
           and
           I
           believe
           my
           Opponent
           will
           be
           hard
           put
           to
           it
           to
           give
           it
           a
           more
           proper
           one
           .
        
         
           But
           allowing
           that
           those
           you
           insist
           upon
           be
           Errors
           ;
           Are
           they
           fundamental
           ones
           ?
           Are
           they
           destructive
           of
           true
           Christian
           Faith
           and
           Practice
           ?
           Did
           I
           not
           know
           the
           Power
           of
           Passion
           and
           Prejudice
           ,
           I
           durst
           be
           confident
           you
           will
           say
           they
           are
           not
           ;
           but
           ,
           however
           ,
           I
           positively
           assert
           they
           are
           not
           ,
           and
           defie
           all
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           England
           to
           prove
           that
           they
           are
           .
           If
           they
           are
           not
           ,
           then
           your
           own
           Writers
           shall
           instruct
           you
           in
           your
           Duty
           .
           
             Private
             Brethren
          
           ,
           says
           Mr.
           
             Noys
             ,
             may
             not
             separate
             from
             Churches
             ,
             and
             Church
             Ordinances
             ,
             which
             are
             not
             fundamentally
             defective
             neither
             in
             Doctrine
             or
             Manners
             ,
             Heresie
             or
             Prophaneness
             .
          
           Dr.
           Owen
           asserts
           ,
           That
           
             many
             Errors
             in
             Doctrine
             ,
             Disorders
             in
             sacred
             Administrations
             ,
             irregular
             walking
             in
             Conversation
             ,
             with
             neglect
             and
             abuse
             of
             Discipline
             in
             Rulers
             ,
             may
             fall
             out
             in
             some
             Churches
             ,
             and
             yet
             not
             evacuate
             their
             Church-State
             ,
             or
             give
             sufficient
             warrant
             to
             leave
             their
             Communion
             ,
             and
             separate
             from
             them
             .
          
           Mr.
           Cotton
           saith
           ,
           
             Vnless
             you
             find
             in
             the
             Church
             Blasphemy
             ,
             or
             Idolatry
             ,
             or
             Persecution
             ,
          
           (
           i.
           e.
           
             such
             as
             forces
             them
             to
             leave
             the
             Communion
          
           )
           
             there
             is
             no
             just
             Ground
             of
             Separation
             .
             Observe
             ,
          
           saith
           Mr.
           Baxters
           ,
           (
           in
           his
           Catalogue
           of
           the
           Faults
           of
           nine
           Churches
           in
           Scripture
           )
           
             that
             no
             one
             Member
             is
             in
             all
             these
             Scriptures
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             ,
             commanded
             to
             come
             out
             and
             separate
             from
             any
             of
             all
             these
             Churches
             ,
             as
             if
             their
             Communion
             in
             Worship
             were
             unlawful
             :
             And
             therefore
             before
             you
             separate
             from
             any
             ,
             as
             judging
             Communion
             with
             them
             unlawful
             ,
             be
             sure
             that
             you
             bring
             greater
             Reasons
             than
             any
             of
             these
             recited
             ,
             were
             .
          
           And
           this
           Advice
           he
           gives
           to
           his
           Brethren
           ,
           
             Teach
             them
             to
             know
             that
             all
             Men
             are
             imperfect
             and
             faulty
             ,
             and
             so
             is
             all
             Mens
             Worship
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             that
             will
             not
             communicate
             with
             faulty
             Worship
             must
             renounce
             Communion
             with
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             all
             with
             him
             .
          
           Mr.
           Calvin
           assigns
           two
           Marks
           of
           the
           
             visible
             Church
          
           ,
           the
           
             Word
             of
             God
             truly
             preached
          
           ,
           and
           
             Sacraments
             administred
             according
             to
             Christ's
             Institution
          
           ;
           and
           saith
           ,
           That
           
             altho'
             there
             be
             many
             Faults
             and
             Corruptions
             in
             such
             a
             Church
             ,
             yet
             as
             long
             as
             it
             retains
             those
             Marks
             ,
             Separation
             from
             it
             is
             not
             justifiable
             ;
             nay
             ,
             altho'
             some
             of
             those
             Faults
             be
             about
             Preaching
             the
             Word
             ,
             
             and
             Administrations
             of
             Sacraments
          
           ;
           for
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             all
             Truths
             are
             not
             of
             equal
             Moment
             ;
             but
             as
             long
             as
             the
             Doctrine
             according
             to
             Godliness
             ,
             and
             the
             true
             Vse
             of
             the
             Sacraments
             is
             kept
             up
             :
             Men
             ought
             not
             to
             separate
             upon
             lesser
             Differences
             ;
             but
             they
             ought
             to
             seek
             the
             amending
             what
             is
             amiss
             ,
             continuing
             in
             the
             Communion
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             without
             disturbing
             the
             Peace
             and
             Order
             of
             it
             .
          
        
         
           I
           had
           not
           ,
           I
           own
           ,
           the
           Opportunity
           of
           consulting
           every
           one
           of
           these
           Authors
           ;
           but
           I
           have
           given
           you
           their
           sence
           and
           very
           words
           upon
           the
           unquestionable
           Authority
           of
           those
           two
           Reverend
           Bishops
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           the
           present
           Bishop
           of
           Worcester
           ,
           and
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Chichester
           .
           The
           former
           whereof
           ,
           in
           his
           
             Vnreasonableness
             of
             Separation
          
           ,
           hath
           with
           great
           Evidence
           proved
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Old
           Non-conformists
           did
           think
           themselves
           bound
           in
           Conscience
           to
           communicate
           with
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           did
           look
           upon
           Separation
           from
           it
           to
           be
           a
           sin
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Corruptions
           they
           supposed
           to
           be
           in
           it
           .
           And
           the
           latter
           ,
           in
           his
           Case
           of
           Lay-Communion
           ,
           produces
           the
           concurrent
           Testimony
           of
           the
           most
           eminent
           Non-conformists
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           required
           in
           the
           Parochial
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           that
           can
           be
           a
           sufficient
           reason
           for
           Separation
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           though
           he
           has
           collected
           the
           sence
           of
           a
           great
           many
           ,
           yet
           you
           may
           believe
           him
           ,
           when
           he
           tells
           you
           ,
           that
           for
           
             One
             Hundred
          
           ,
           he
           could
           easily
           have
           produced
           Two
           ,
           if
           the
           Cause
           were
           to
           go
           by
           the
           Poll.
           These
           Reverend
           Authors
           do
           not
           put
           their
           Readers
           off
           with
           only
           telling
           'em
           ,
           that
           the
           Learned
           observe
           ,
           and
           some
           Authors
           say
           so
           and
           so
           ;
           but
           they
           quote
           Book
           and
           Page
           ,
           and
           which
           therefore
           ,
           if
           you
           have
           a
           Mind
           to
           be
           further
           satisfied
           ,
           you
           your Selves
           may
           consult
           .
           Those
           Non-conforming
           Ministers
           might
           probably
           be
           under
           such
           Prior
           Engagements
           ,
           or
           dislike
           some
           things
           so
           far
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           not
           satisfie
           themselves
           in
           making
           the
           Declarations
           and
           Subscrpitions
           which
           are
           required
           of
           Ministers
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           preserve
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           unity
           of
           Christians
           ,
           which
           does
           so
           much
           depend
           upon
           that
           of
           its
           Officers
           and
           Teachers
           .
           But
           there
           being
           no
           Declarations
           or
           Subscriptions
           required
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           nor
           any
           thing
           more
           ,
           than
           to
           attend
           upon
           ,
           and
           joyn
           in
           the
           Worship
           practised
           and
           allowed
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           they
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           those
           Gentlemen
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           separate
           .
           To
           which
           I
           shall
           not
           need
           to
           add
           any
           more
           ,
           than
           that
           remarkable
           Annotation
           of
           the
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Pool
           ,
           upon
           Luke
           2.41
           .
           
             One
             thing
          
           ,
           says
           He
           ,
           
             there
             is
             observable
             :
             The
          
           Pharisees
           and
           Scribes
           and
           Priests
           
             had
             in
             those
             days
             much
             corrupted
             the
             Worship
             of
             God
             by
             their
             Traditions
             ,
             yet
             they
             retained
             the
             Substance
             of
             Gods
             Institution
             :
             We
             find
             both
             our
             Saviour
             and
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             and
             other
             people
             of
             God
             not
             wholly
             forsaking
             the
             Jewish
             Church
             because
             of
             its
             Corruptions
             :
             Yet
             we
             cannot
             think
             they
             joyned
             with
             them
             in
             any
             thing
             of
             their
             Will-Worship
             ;
             from
             whence
             we
             may
             learn
             a
             tenderness
             as
             to
             a
             total
             Separation
             from
             a
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             Lawfulness
             of
             attending
             divine
             Ministrations
             ,
             though
             attended
             with
             Vsages
             which
             we
             approve
             not
             ,
             provided
             there
             be
             no
             Idolatry
             in
             the
             Service
             .
          
        
         
         
           And
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           is
           ,
           if
           Separation
           be
           justifiable
           ,
           upon
           the
           Score
           of
           some
           small
           (
           whether
           real
           or
           fancied
           )
           Errors
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           in
           any
           Church
           ,
           then
           Communion
           must
           not
           be
           held
           with
           any
           part
           of
           Christ's
           Church
           if
           not
           with
           ours
           ▪
           for
           she
           is
           certainly
           as
           free
           from
           Error
           as
           any
           Church
           in
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           and
           the
           living
           in
           her
           Communion
           ,
           like
           Members
           of
           so
           Holy
           an
           Institution
           ,
           as
           safe
           a
           way
           to
           Salvation
           as
           any
           I
           know
           in
           the
           world
           .
           And
           I
           so
           firmly
           believe
           what
           I
           say
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           that
           I
           challenge
           all
           her
           Adversaries
           to
           Compare
           ours
           ,
           and
           other
           Churches
           with
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           cannot
           produce
           one
           that
           is
           freer
           from
           Error
           in
           Doctrine
           and
           Worship
           ,
           than
           she
           is
           ,
           or
           comes
           nearer
           to
           the
           Primitive
           Pattern
           ;
           nay
           ,
           if
           amongst
           all
           Competitions
           and
           contending
           Sects
           among
           us
           ,
           there
           is
           not
           one
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           that
           delivers
           the
           Truths
           of
           the
           Gospel
           with
           greater
           purity
           and
           sincerity
           :
           That
           doth
           teach
           a
           Religion
           more
           holy
           and
           useful
           ;
           that
           lays
           greater
           stress
           upon
           a
           pure
           Mind
           ,
           and
           a
           blameless
           and
           undefiled
           Life
           ;
           that
           doth
           give
           more
           forcible
           Arguments
           for
           Vertue
           ,
           or
           more
           powerful
           Disswasives
           from
           Vice
           ;
           the●
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           have
           better
           thoughts
           both
           of
           her
           ,
           and
           my
           Invitation
           of
           you
           into
           her
           Communion
           ;
           and
           be
           convinced
           that
           you
           have
           no
           just
           grounds
           to
           continue
           in
           your
           Separation
           ,
           upon
           Pretences
           of
           Impurity
           in
           her
           ,
           or
           greater
           Purity
           elsewhere
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           would
           have
           you
           speak
           out
           :
           Is
           Communion
           with
           us
           sinful
           ,
           or
           is
           it
           not
           ?
           If
           you
           say
           it
           is
           ,
           you
           say
           it
           without
           Proof
           ;
           you
           therein
           contradict
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           most
           eminent
           of
           the
           old
           Presbyterians
           ;
           you
           oppose
           your selves
           to
           the
           Opinion
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           most
           candid
           and
           most
           honest
           among
           those
           now
           alive
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           wholly
           separate
           themselves
           from
           our
           Communion
           ;
           and
           if
           your
           own
           Teaches
           will
           be
           true
           to
           their
           real
           Sentiments
           ,
           I
           dare
           be
           confident
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           say
           so
           ;
           nay
           ,
           you
           do
           herein
           condemn
           your
           own
           Practice
           of
           occasionally
           joyning
           with
           us
           now
           ;
           and
           unless
           you
           will
           declare
           ,
           you
           were
           then
           mistaken
           in
           your
           Judgments
           ,
           you
           make
           your selves
           guilty
           of
           base
           Hypocrisie
           in
           constantly
           joyning
           with
           us
           ,
           when
           the
           Penalties
           of
           the
           Law
           were
           inflicted
           upon
           those
           that
           refused
           it
           .
           If
           you
           say
           that
           Communion
           with
           us
           is
           not
           sinful
           ,
           and
           that
           therefore
           you
           may
           occasionally
           joyn
           with
           us
           ;
           then
           let
           the
           Assembly
           of
           Divines
           draw
           the
           Consequence
           ;
           who
           say
           ,
           that
           
             to
             separate
             from
             those
             Churches
             ordinarily
             and
             visibly
             ,
          
           
           
             with
             whom
             occasionally
             you
             may
             joyn
             without
             sin
             ,
             seemeth
             to
             be
             a
             most
             unjust
             Separation
             .
          
        
         
           That
           which
           you
           quote
           for
           One
           ,
           I
           have
           shewed
           to
           be
           no
           Command
           for
           you
           to
           leave
           our
           Church
           ;
           nor
           can
           you
           make
           it
           any
           way
           applicable
           thereto
           ,
           till
           you
           have
           proved
           that
           there
           is
           something
           taught
           or
           practised
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           which
           is
           as
           bad
           as
           the
           
             unclean
             thing
          
           ,
           there
           spoken
           of
           .
           But
           did
           I
           ,
           or
           ever
           any
           Man
           else
           say
           that
           it
           was
           
             Schism
             to
             obey
             God
             rather
             than
             Man
             ?
          
           And
           therefore
           what
           need
           he
           put
           me
           to
           prove
           it
           ?
           But
           that
           is
           not
           your
           Case
           ,
           my
           Brethren
           ,
           you
           causelessly
           and
           willfully
           separate
           from
           a
           sound
           part
           of
           Christ's
           Church
           ,
           and
           if
           that
           is
           not
           Schism
           ,
           I
           will
           yield
           
           up
           the
           cause
           for
           ever
           .
           But
           let
           us
           
             more
             particularly
             examine
             this
             mans
             Notion
             of
             Schism
             ,
          
           and
           see
           whether
           ,
           even
           according
           thereto
           ,
           
             you
             be
             not
             guilty
             of
             it
             .
          
        
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           I
           know
           Schism
           properly
           signifies
           a
           Cutting
           in
           two
           ,
           a
           disagreeing
           in
           M●●●●
           ,
           a
           Division
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           consisting
           in
           an
           Vnity
           in
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           are
           truly
           Schismaticks
           that
           are
           divided
           from
           the
           External
           Communion
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           viz
           ,
           that
           do
           not
           own
           all
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           or
           if
           they
           own
           them
           ,
           do
           not
           live
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           them
           ▪
           these
           are
           the
           Persons
           that
           are
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           .
           Now
           how
           deeply
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           you
           are
           who
           charge
           us
           with
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           leave
           all
           honest
           Men
           to
           judge
           .
           Now
           if
           you
           cannot
           prove
           that
           we
           own
           any
           thing
           in
           point
           of
           Doctrine
           or
           Discipline
           in
           our
           Church
           that
           is
           not
           according
           to
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           how
           can
           you
           have
           the
           face
           to
           accuse
           us
           of
           Schism
           ?
           If
           you
           have
           any
           thing
           to
           Accuse
           us
           of
           in
           point
           of
           Doctrine
           or
           Discipline
           let
           us
           have
           it
           ,
           and
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           we
           shall
           be
           able
           to
           clear
           our selves
           of
           all
           your
           false
           Accusations
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           Schism
           he
           knows
           not
           well
           what
           to
           make
           of
           ;
           he
           gives
           me
           the
           〈◊〉
           signification
           of
           the
           Word
           it
           is
           true
           ,
           but
           when
           he
           comes
           to
           apply
           it
           ,
           he
           says
           't
           is
           
             a
             Division
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             Christ
             consisting
             in
             an
             Vanity
             in
             matters
             ,
             of
             Faith
          
           ;
           either
           as
           if
           the
           Vnity
           of
           the
           Church
           consisted
           only
           in
           an
           
             Vnity
             in
             matters
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           or
           that
           Schism
           were
           a
           
             Separation
             from
             the
             true
             Church
             in
             matters
             of
             Faith
             :
          
           But
           besides
           
             Vnity
             in
             matters
             of
             Faith
          
           there
           is
           an
           Unity
           and
           Communion
           of
           Saints
           in
           Worship
           ;
           and
           whether
           he
           knew
           it
           or
           no
           ,
           if
           he
           
             separates
             from
             the
             true
             Church
             in
             Matters
             of
             Faith
             ,
          
           he
           is
           an
           Heretick
           more
           properly
           than
           a
           Schismatick
           ;
           for
           a
           Man
           may
           be
           a
           Schismatick
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           right
           as
           to
           the
           main
           Articles
           of
           Faith.
           
             If
             he
             is
             divided
             from
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             ,
             he
             is
             a
             Schismatick
          
           ;
           or
           to
           explain
           it
           in
           other
           words
           ,
           
             if
             he
             does
             not
             own
             all
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             ,
             or
             if
             he
             does
             own
             them
             ,
             does
             not
             ,
          
           however
           ,
           
             live
             in
             the
             exercise
             of
             them
             ,
          
           viz
           
             in
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             ,
             this
             person
             is
             guilty
             of
             Schism
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           I
           leave
           all
           men
           that
           have
           sence
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           honesty
           ,
           to
           Judge
           ,
           whether
           you
           or
           we
           are
           divided
           from
           the
           External
           Communion
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           and
           consequently
           which
           are
           Schismaticks
           .
           We
           own
           all
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           and
           live
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           them
           .
           We
           are
           in
           Communion
           with
           all
           the
           sound
           parts
           of
           Christ's
           Church
           all
           the
           world
           over
           .
           They
           own
           our
           Church
           as
           their
           Sister
           ,
           and
           give
           her
           the
           right
           hand
           of
           Fellowship
           ,
           and
           highly
           condemn
           you
           for
           your
           separation
           .
           The
           Church
           of
           Rome
           only
           accuses
           us
           of
           Schism
           ,
           and
           the
           Charge
           would
           be
           good
           against
           ours
           with
           respect
           to
           her
           ,
           if
           we
           had
           no
           better
           reasons
           for
           separating
           from
           her
           ,
           than
           the
           Dissenters
           in
           England
           give
           for
           their
           Separation
           from
           Vs
           .
           Our
           Separation
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           has
           been
           sufficiently
           cleared
           from
           the
           Charge
           of
           Schism
           ,
           and
           when
           you
           have
           brought
           as
           good
           Arguments
           ,
           in
           defence
           of
           your
           
             dividing
             from
             External
             Communion
             with
             us
             ,
          
           we
           shall
           then
           pronounce
           you
           not
           guilty
           of
           
           it
           neither
           .
           But
           ,
           till
           then
           ,
           till
           you
           prove
           that
           ours
           is
           not
           the
           National
           Establisht
           Church
           ,
           with
           which
           you
           lie
           under
           an
           Obligation
           to
           Communicate
           ;
           that
           this
           established
           Church
           is
           not
           a
           sound
           part
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           that
           she
           imposes
           sinful
           Terms
           of
           Communion
           ;
           till
           I
           say
           ,
           you
           have
           done
           all
           this
           ;
           I
           shall
           continue
           my
           Accusation
           of
           Schism
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           you
           continue
           in
           your
           Separation
           ;
           and
           put
           as
           good
           a
           Face
           upon
           it
           ,
           as
           the
           Godly
           Learned
           of
           old
           did
           ;
           who
           say
           ,
           
             That
             every
             unjust
             and
             rash
             Separation
             from
             a
             true
             Church
             (
             i.
             e.
             when
             there
             is
             no
             just
             ,
             
             or
             at
             least
             no
             sufficient
             cause
             of
             the
             Separation
             )
             is
             a
             Schism
             ,
             and
             that
             there
             is
             a
             Negative
             and
             a
             Positive
             Schism
             .
             The
             former
             is
             ,
             when
             Men
             do
             peaceably
             and
             quietly
             draw
             from
             Communion
             with
             a
             Church
             ,
             not
             making
             head
             against
             that
             Church
             ,
             from
             which
             they
             are
             departed
             :
             The
             other
             is
             ,
             when
             Persons
             so
             withdrawing
             do
             consociate
             and
             withdraw
             themselves
             into
             a
             distinct
             opposite
             Body
             ,
             setting
             up
             Church
             against
             Church
             ;
             which
             Camero
             calls
             a
             Schism
             by
             way
             of
             Eminency
             :
             and
             farther
             〈◊〉
             ,
             there
             are
             four
             Causes
             that
             makes
             a
             Separation
             from
             a
             Church
             ,
             〈◊〉
             .
             First
             ,
             when
             they
             that
             separate
             are
             grievously
             and
             intollerably
             persecuted
             :
             Secondly
             ,
             when
             the
             Church
             they
             separate
             from
             is
             Heretical
             :
             Thirdly
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             idolatrous
             :
             Fourthly
             ,
             when
             't
             is
             the
             Seat
             of
             Anti-Christ
             .
             And
             where
             none
             of
             these
             four
             are
             found
             ,
             there
             the
             Separation
             is
             insufficient
             ,
             and
             Schism
             .
             Now
             we
             are
             fully
             assured
             ,
             that
             none
             of
             these
             Four
             Causes
             can
             be
             justly
             charged
             upon
             our
             Congregations
             ,
             therefore
             you
             must
             not
             be
             displeased
             with
             us
             ,
             but
             with
             your selves
             ,
             if
             we
             blame
             you
             as
             guilty
             of
             positive
             Schism
             .
          
           This
           was
           the
           Presbyterian
           Doctrine
           in
           those
           Blessed
           Days
           of
           49
           ,
           to
           those
           who
           stood
           in
           divided
           Congregations
           from
           them
           :
           And
           ,
           if
           it
           was
           good
           Doctrine
           then
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           is
           much
           more
           so
           now
           ,
           as
           coming
           from
           Vs
           to
           You.
           
        
         
           In
           what
           sence
           you
           call
           your
           
             separate
             Meetings
             a
             Church
          
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           ;
           but
           if
           you
           think
           that
           they
           deserve
           that
           Name
           more
           than
           the
           Quakers
           ,
           or
           Anabaptists
           ,
           or
           Independants
           ,
           who
           all
           assume
           that
           Title
           to
           themselves
           ,
           then
           I
           must
           tell
           you
           that
           I
           take
           your
           Church
           to
           be
           a
           Schismatical
           Church
           ;
           for
           let
           your
           Faith
           be
           as
           right
           as
           that
           of
           the
           3
           Creeds
           ,
           and
           your
           Discipline
           (
           if
           you
           have
           any
           )
           as
           free
           from
           fault
           ,
           as
           you
           would
           have
           the
           world
           think
           you
           to
           be
           ;
           yet
           
             if
             you
             are
             divided
             from
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             ,
             in
             the
             exercise
             of
             the
             Ordinances
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             ,
          
           i.
           e.
           if
           you
           do
           not
           joyn
           with
           the
           true
           Church
           in
           Prayers
           ,
           hearing
           the
           Word
           ,
           and
           receiving
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           your
           
             own
             Paper
          
           makes
           you
           Schismaticks
           ;
           and
           I
           must
           freely
           own
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           how
           any
           Man
           can
           be
           acquitted
           therefrom
           ,
           who
           being
           a
           Member
           of
           a
           particular
           established
           Church
           ,
           does
           ,
           upon
           any
           pretended
           Offence
           taken
           against
           such
           Rites
           ,
           Modes
           and
           Ceremonies
           ,
           (
           which
           are
           thought
           convenient
           by
           that
           Church
           )
           separate
           himself
           from
           the
           publick
           Worship
           ,
           when
           the
           Substantials
           and
           Essentials
           thereof
           are
           so
           unexceptionable
           as
           ours
           are
           .
        
         
           But
           forasmuch
           as
           your
           Notions
           and
           Discourses
           about
           the
           true
           Church
           ,
           and
           about
           Schism
           ,
           seem
           to
           be
           so
           confused
           and
           extravagant
           :
           Before
           I
           dismiss
           
           this
           point
           ,
           I
           desire
           you
           will
           give
           me
           Liberty
           to
           instruct
           you
           in
           the
           meaning
           of
           a
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           believe
           you
           do
           not
           rightly
           understand
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           among
           the
           several
           Acceptations
           of
           the
           word
           Church
           (
           one
           whereof
           belongs
           to
           the
           place
           consecrated
           and
           set
           apart
           for
           the
           publick
           Assemblies
           of
           Christians
           )
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           Language
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           (
           of
           Intelligent
           Writers
           ,
           and
           indeed
           of
           all
           Men
           that
           understand
           themselves
           ,
           when
           they
           talk
           about
           it
           ,
           especially
           with
           Reference
           to
           Communion
           )
           doth
           generally
           signifie
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           either
           as
           it
           is
           Catholick
           ,
           or
           as
           it
           is
           Particular
           .
        
         
           The
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           considered
           as
           Catholick
           or
           Universal
           ,
           signifies
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           Christians
           ,
           dispersed
           upon
           the
           Face
           of
           the
           whole
           Earth
           ,
           and
           so
           it
           comprehends
           all
           Persons
           ,
           and
           all
           particular
           Churches
           professing
           Christianity
           .
           And
           whosoever
           shall
           make
           a
           Defection
           ,
           or
           Separation
           from
           this
           Church
           will
           be
           found
           guilty
           of
           a
           manifest
           ,
           dangerous
           most
           abominable
           Schism
           ,
           or
           rather
           Apostacy
           .
        
         
           This
           general
           and
           Universal
           Church
           ,
           tho'
           but
           one
           body
           ,
           is
           yet
           made
           up
           of
           several
           particular
           Members
           ,
           or
           Churches
           ;
           and
           by
           a
           particular
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           we
           understand
           a
           Number
           of
           Men
           ,
           of
           the
           same
           Country
           ;
           professing
           Christianity
           ,
           formed
           into
           a
           Society
           under
           lawful
           Governours
           ,
           and
           governed
           by
           such
           Laws
           and
           Rules
           as
           are
           not
           different
           from
           ,
           but
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Laws
           and
           Rules
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           .
           And
           if
           any
           Man
           or
           number
           of
           Men
           ,
           who
           are
           Members
           of
           that
           Society
           ,
           shall
           ,
           without
           just
           cause
           separate
           themselves
           from
           the
           Communion
           thereof
           ,
           he
           or
           they
           so
           doing
           ,
           are
           certainly
           guilty
           of
           Schism
           .
           Such
           a
           Church
           as
           this
           ,
           was
           the
           Church
           at
           Corinth
           ,
           the
           Church
           at
           Jerusalem
           ,
           the
           Church
           at
           Ephesus
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           the
           Thessalonians
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Laodicea
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Smyrna
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Pergamus
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Thyatira
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Sardis
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Philadelphia
           ;
           and
           such
           a
           Church
           as
           this
           is
           the
           National
           Establisht
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           which
           through
           a
           Collection
           of
           several
           Parochial
           Congregations
           ,
           is
           yet
           properly
           but
           one
           particular
           Church
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           same
           bond
           of
           Faith
           ,
           Worship
           and
           Government
           ,
           whereby
           they
           are
           all
           United
           ,
           and
           so
           make
           one
           ,
           true
           ,
           sound
           ,
           and
           pure
           part
           of
           the
           Catholick
           or
           Universal
           Church
           .
           Except
           then
           ,
           there
           be
           a
           more
           just
           cause
           of
           Separation
           than
           you
           either
           have
           alledged
           ,
           or
           can
           alledge
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           a
           very
           great
           sin
           to
           erect
           new
           Churches
           ,
           and
           separate
           in
           the
           Acts
           of
           Prayer
           and
           Sacraments
           from
           the
           Body
           of
           a
           Church
           and
           Nation
           .
           For
           so
           at
           Corinth
           St.
           Paul
           told
           them
           ,
           whilst
           one
           was
           for
           Paul
           ,
           and
           another
           for
           Apollos
           ,
           and
           there
           were
           divisions
           among
           them
           ,
           they
           were
           
             Carnal
             ,
             and
             walked
             as
             Men
             ,
          
           1
           Cor.
           3.34
           .
           And
           at
           Rome
           he
           bids
           them
           
             mark
             them
             who
             cause
             Divisions
          
           and
           Offences
           ,
           and
           not
           adhere
           and
           associate
           with
           ,
           but
           avoid
           them
           ,
           
           Rom.
           16.17
           .
           or
           to
           enforce
           this
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Presbyterians
           ,
           whereby
           they
           of
           old
           pleaded
           for
           Unity
           and
           Uniformity
           ,
           
             We
             are
             loth
             to
             speak
             any
             thing
             that
             may
             offend
             you
             ,
             yet
             we
             entreat
             you
             to
             consider
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Apostle
             call
             those
             Divisions
             of
             the
             Church
             
             of
          
           Corinth
           ,
           
             (
             wherein
             Christians
             did
             not
             separate
             into
             diverse
             formed
             Congregations
             of
             several
             Communions
             ,
          
           
           
             in
             the
             Sacrament
             of
             the
             Lords
             Supper
             )
             Schism
             ,
          
           1
           Cor.
           1.10
           .
           
             may
             not
             your
             secession
             from
             us
             ,
             and
             professing
             you
             cannot
             joyn
             with
             us
             as
             Members
             ,
             and
             setting
             up
             Congregations
             of
             another
             Communion
             ,
             be
             more
             properly
             called
          
           Schism
           ?
        
         
           And
           I
           must
           tell
           you
           further
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           never
           the
           less
           so
           in
           you
           ,
           upon
           the
           Account
           of
           the
           Act
           of
           Toleration
           ,
           which
           cannot
           ,
           nor
           does
           not
           pretend
           to
           exempt
           you
           from
           the
           Duty
           of
           Conformity
           ,
           but
           only
           from
           the
           Penalties
           of
           Nonconformity
           .
           Your
           Separation
           is
           not
           one
           Jot
           the
           more
           reasonable
           ,
           or
           more
           just
           than
           it
           was
           before
           ;
           and
           those
           that
           were
           concerned
           in
           the
           drawing
           up
           of
           this
           Paper
           seem
           to
           be
           sensible
           of
           this
           ,
           in
           that
           they
           do
           not
           urge
           the
           Plea
           of
           Toleration
           ,
           but
           put
           their
           cause
           upon
           another
           Issue
           ,
           viz.
           the
           Merits
           of
           it
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           Mr.
           Norris
           has
           cleared
           this
           case
           ,
           in
           his
           
             Charge
             of
             Schism
             continued
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             Toleration
             .
          
        
         
           And
           now
           that
           I
           may
           be
           even
           with
           my
           Gentleman
           for
           his
           Idol-syllogism
           ,
           I
           sh●●●
           Sum
           this
           whole
           Matter
           in
           a
           Syllogism
           ;
           all
           the
           parts
           whereof
           have
           been
           sufficiently
           proved
           to
           be
           as
           true
           ,
           as
           that
           was
           proved
           to
           be
           false
           ;
           and
           it
           runs
           thus
           ,
           
             Whoever
             separate
             from
             a
             Church
             ,
             with
             which
             they
             may
             lawfully
             communicate
             ,
             are
             guilty
             of
          
           Schism
           :
        
         
           
             But
             you
             separate
             from
             a
             Church
             ,
             with
             which
             you
             may
             lawfully
             communicate
          
           ;
        
         
           
             Therefore
             you
             are
             guilty
             of
          
           Schism
           .
        
         
           Or
           if
           you
           would
           rather
           that
           I
           should
           put
           the
           Argument
           into
           form
           ,
           in
           your
           own
           Words
           ,
           it
           stands
           thus
           ,
        
         
           
             Whoever
             are
             divided
             from
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             are
          
           Schismatiks
           .
        
         
           
             But
             you
             are
             divided
             from
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
          
           ;
        
         
           
             Therefore
             you
             are
          
           Schismaticks
           .
        
         
           The
           Major
           or
           first
           of
           these
           Propositions
           is
           your
           own
           .
        
         
           The
           Minor
           or
           second
           Proposition
           ,
           is
           true
           also
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           undeniable
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           is
           
             a
             true
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           too
           sadly
           apparent
           ,
           that
           you
           separate
           from
           external
           Communion
           with
           her
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           Prayers
           and
           Sacraments
           ,
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           the
           true
           Church
           ;
           whence
           the
           Conclusion
           necessarily
           follows
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           Schismaticks
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           so
           ,
           then
           I
           beseech
           you
           lay
           to
           Heart
           the
           words
           of
           Mr.
           
             Ball
             ,
             one
             of
             the
             most
             learned
             and
             judicious
             Non-conformists
             before
             the
             Wars
             ,
          
           as
           Dr.
           
             Stilling
             fleet
          
           stiles
           him
           in
           his
           
             Mischief
             of
             Separaton
          
           ,
           where
           he
           quotes
           him
           for
           them
           ,
           
           speaking
           of
           Separation
           ,
           he
           calls
           it
           ,
           
             a
             Renting
             the
             Church
             ,
             the
             Disgrace
             of
             Religion
             ,
             the
             Advancement
             of
             Pride
             ,
             Schism
             and
             Contention
             ,
             the
             Offence
             of
             the
             Weak
             ,
             the
             Grief
             of
             the
             Godly
             who
             be
             better
             setled
             ,
             the
             Hardning
             of
             the
             Wicked
             ,
             and
             Recovery
             or
             Rising
             again
             of
          
           Anti-Christianism
           ;
           
             nay
             ,
             even
             persecuting
             the
             Lord
             Jesus
             in
             his
             Host
             ,
             which
             they
             revile
             ;
             in
             his
             Ordinances
             which
             they
             dishonour
             ;
             and
             in
             his
             Servants
             ,
             whose
             Footsteps
             they
             slander
             ,
             whose
             Graces
             they
             Despise
             ,
             whose
             Office
             they
             Trample
             upon
             with
             Disdain
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             ANSWER
             .
          
        
         
           And
           I
           hope
           God
           will
           so
           direct
           us
           in
           Choosing
           our
           Minister
           that
           we
           shall
           make
           choice
           of
           such
           a
           one
           as
           will
           eandeavour
           to
           keep
           with
           in
           the
           Bounds
           and
           Limits
           of
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           and
           Man
           ,
           and
           in
           particular
           the
           Act
           of
           Toleration
           ,
           and
           one
           I
           hope
           that
           will
           give
           no
           Disturbance
           in
           the
           Parish
           ,
           unless
           you
           will
           be
           disturbed
           ,
           as
           I
           fear
           you
           are
           and
           have
           been
           for
           the
           Preaching
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           you
           know
           such
           Men
           there
           were
           in
           the
           Apostles
           days
           ,
           these
           Men
           say
           they
           do
           exceedingly
           trouble
           our
           City
           ,
           you
           know
           who
           they
           were
           that
           were
           accused
           ,
           those
           who
           were
           the
           Faithful
           Ambassadours
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           I
           did
           not
           desire
           you
           to
           take
           care
           in
           the
           choice
           of
           a
           Minister
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Room
           for
           that
           as
           long
           as
           I
           live
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           not
           legally
           dispossessed
           .
           But
           if
           you
           must
           have
           another
           Preacher
           ,
           who
           ,
           in
           your
           Judgements
           ,
           is
           
             better
             qualified
          
           than
           I
           am
           ,
           I
           wish
           still
           that
           he
           may
           be
           a
           Man
           of
           Prudence
           and
           Temper
           ,
           one
           that
           will
           strictly
           confine
           himself
           within
           the
           Bounds
           and
           Limits
           of
           the
           Act
           of
           Toleration
           ;
           which
           restrains
           him
           wholly
           to
           the
           Meeting-House
           where
           he
           is
           licenced
           ,
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           his
           Talent
           of
           preaching
           ;
           gives
           him
           no
           Indulgence
           to
           perform
           any
           other
           Ministerial
           Office
           either
           there
           ,
           or
           in
           any
           other
           place
           ;
           nor
           to
           Rail
           ,
           and
           Revile
           ,
           or
           speak
           against
           the
           Church
           and
           Common
           Prayer
           ,
           either
           in
           his
           Sermons
           ,
           or
           elsewhere
           ;
           nor
           to
           go
           about
           to
           seduce
           People
           from
           the
           Established
           Service
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           Proper
           Minister
           .
           There
           is
           no
           Toleration
           that
           I
           know
           of
           for
           these
           and
           the
           like
           Practises
           to
           either
           him
           or
           any
           other
           ,
           and
           therefore
           I
           think
           it
           is
           good
           and
           kind
           Advice
           both
           to
           you
           and
           him
           ,
           to
           keep
           within
           the
           Bounds
           of
           that
           Act
           ,
           for
           fear
           an
           Enquiry
           should
           be
           made
           ,
           whether
           all
           such
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           observe
           the
           Conditions
           of
           the
           Indulgence
           ,
           be
           not
           as
           liable
           to
           the
           Law
           as
           if
           they
           had
           none
           .
        
         
           But
           let
           him
           be
           as
           cautious
           as
           he
           will
           ,
           not
           to
           transgress
           that
           particular
           Law
           ,
           he
           must
           not
           pretend
           that
           he
           observes
           
             all
             the
             Laws
             of
             God
             and
             Man
             ,
          
           if
           he
           sets
           up
           
             Altar
             against
             Altar
          
           ,
           Church
           against
           Church
           ,
           and
           Heads
           a
           
             Separation
             from
             the
             external
             Communion
             of
             the
             true
             Church
             of
             Christ
          
           ;
           and
           be
           he
           who
           he
           will
           ,
           and
           let
           his
           Pretence
           be
           what
           it
           will
           ,
           if
           he
           sets
           himself
           here
           in
           Opposition
           to
           me
           ,
           and
           that
           true
           Church
           of
           which
           I
           am
           a
           lawful
           Minister
           ,
           I
           must
           say
           of
           him
           
             that
             he
             does
             exceedingly
             trouble
             our
             City
          
           ;
           and
           that
           too
           by
           
             Teaching
             Customs
             which
             are
             not
             lawful
             for
             us
             to
             Receive
             neither
             to
             observe
             ,
          
           being
           Members
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           
           
             for
             if
             any
             Man
             seem
             to
             be
             contentious
             ,
             we
             have
             no
             such
             Custom
             ,
             nor
             the
             Churches
             of
             God
             :
          
           from
           whence
           we
           may
           (
           by
           the
           way
           )
           observe
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostle
           disputing
           ,
           concerning
           an
           Ecclesiastick
           Ceremony
           ,
           with
           the
           Corinthian
           Church
           ,
           appeals
           to
           the
           Custom
           of
           the
           Churches
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           sufficient
           to
           confute
           even
           the
           most
           contentious
           ,
           without
           any
           express
           Determination
           of
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           matters
           of
           that
           Nature
           .
           I
           know
           very
           well
           who
           they
           were
           that
           said
           these
           
             men
             do
             exceedingly
             trouble
             our
             City
             ,
          
           and
           of
           whom
           they
           spake
           it
           ,
           and
           upon
           what
           Principle
           they
           spake
           it
           ;
           and
           I
           know
           that
           your
           Application
           of
           it
           to
           me
           is
           not
           Parallel
           in
           any
           of
           these
           ;
           but
           I
           am
           sure
           that
           
           the
           Expression
           ,
           as
           applied
           by
           me
           ,
           is
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           true
           ;
           and
           I
           know
           further
           that
           they
           were
           the
           Children
           of
           Edom
           ,
           that
           cryed
           out
           upon
           
             Jerusalem
             ,
             Down
             with
             it
             ,
             Down
             with
             it
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             Ground
             .
          
        
         
           It
           is
           ,
           I
           do
           own
           ,
           a
           daring
           and
           provoking
           piece
           of
           Impudence
           to
           have
           a
           Company
           of
           
           Vzziah's
           (
           unto
           whom
           
             it
             appertaineth
             not
             to
             burn
             Incense
             unto
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             to
             the
             Priests
             the
             Sons
             of
          
           Aaron
           ,
           
             that
             are
             consecrated
             to
             burn
             Incense
          
           )
           compared
           with
           the
           Holy
           Apostles
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           who
           gave
           such
           undeniable
           Proof
           of
           the
           Divinity
           of
           their
           Commission
           .
           And
           a
           good
           Man
           cannot
           but
           be
           troubled
           at
           the
           Injustice
           and
           Confusion
           of
           breaking
           in
           upon
           
             sacred
             Rights
          
           ,
           and
           invading
           
             Holy
             Offices
          
           :
           But
           however
           I
           do
           assure
           you
           ,
           that
           having
           (
           as
           I
           hope
           )
           now
           discharged
           my
           Duty
           to
           the
           full
           in
           this
           particular
           ,
           I
           shall
           give
           no
           farther
           Disturbance
           to
           my self
           ,
           than
           to
           lament
           our
           Divisions
           ,
           and
           beseech
           God
           to
           compose
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           what
           care
           I
           can
           to
           secure
           the
           Rigths
           and
           Priviledges
           ,
           which
           do
           yet
           belong
           to
           the
           Church
           and
           Minister
           of
           this
           Parish
           ,
           from
           being
           either
           withheld
           or
           encroached
           upon
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           all
           the
           Disturbance
           or
           indeed
           Incivility
           that
           I
           have
           offered
           you
           (
           notwithstanding
           sufficient
           Provocation
           )
           during
           the
           time
           that
           I
           have
           been
           in
           this
           place
           ;
           so
           need
           you
           not
           be
           apprehensive
           of
           any
           other
           from
           me
           for
           the
           future
           .
           Only
           
             forgive
             me
             that
             Wrong
          
           ,
           and
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           maintain
           my
           Fidelity
           to
           the
           Church
           ;
           to
           be
           firm
           to
           my
           Subscriptions
           and
           my
           Vows
           of
           Ordination
           ;
           constantly
           to
           use
           and
           (
           as
           well
           as
           I
           am
           able
           )
           to
           defend
           that
           Liturgy
           ,
           which
           I
           have
           solemnly
           testified
           my
           Approbation
           of
           ,
           
             in
             the
             Presence
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             face
             of
             his
             congregation
             .
          
           Pardon
           me
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           excuse
           me
           that
           I
           am
           resolutely
           bent
           not
           to
           speak
           beneath
           the
           Dignity
           of
           my
           Function
           ,
           and
           the
           Station
           I
           am
           in
           ;
           and
           you
           may
           depend
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Opportunities
           you
           give
           me
           of
           performing
           them
           )
           upon
           all
           the
           good
           Offices
           which
           can
           reasonably
           be
           expected
           ,
           from
           either
           a
           good
           Neighbour
           ,
           a
           charitable
           Christian
           ,
           or
           an
           honest
           Minister
           .
        
         
           
             ANSWER
          
        
         
           Sir
           ,
           You
           charge
           us
           with
           causing
           Divisions
           among
           us
           ,
           by
           bringing
           in
           another
           Preacher
           ;
           as
           if
           the
           Preaching
           the
           Gospel
           by
           the
           Authoriz'd
           Ambassadors
           of
           God
           were
           the
           only
           Cause
           ,
           whom
           ,
           alas
           !
           you
           do
           not
           consider
           it
           's
           the
           unlawful
           Impositions
           ,
           Superstitions
           ,
           Traditions
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           principal
           Cause
           of
           those
           Divisions
           that
           we
           are
           among
           us
           ;
           for
           all
           those
           are
           removed
           ,
           we
           cannot
           be
           united
           .
        
         
           
             REPLY
             .
          
        
         
           And
           notwithstanding
           this
           impertinent
           Cant
           ,
           I
           say
           still
           ,
           that
           the
           
             bringing
             in
             another
             Preacher
          
           does
           ,
           and
           will
           
             maintain
             the
             Divisions
             among
             us
          
           ;
           and
           further
           ,
           that
           
             such
             Preachers
          
           are
           the
           main
           ,
           if
           not
           the
           
             only
             true
             Causes
          
           of
           them
           ,
           thro'
           the
           just
           Judgment
           of
           God
           upon
           a
           sinful
           People
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           lived
           answerably
           to
           their
           holy
           Profession
           ,
           and
           that
           Excellent
           Church
           which
           God
           in
           wonderful
           Mercy
           ,
           and
           by
           miraculous
           Providences
           ,
           hath
           established
           and
           preserved
           among
           us
           .
           And
           I
           shall
           alwaies
           be
           of
           that
           Opinion
           ,
           till
           it
           is
           proved
           ,
           that
           those
           Men
           are
           
             Ambassadors
             authorized
             by
             
             God
             to
             preach
             the
             Gospel
          
           in
           this
           Nation
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           are
           any
           
             unlawful
             Impositions
             ,
             Superstitions
             ,
             and
             Traditions
          
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           which
           are
           a
           just
           cause
           for
           the
           People
           to
           forsake
           their
           own
           Pastors
           ,
           and
           give
           themselves
           up
           to
           the
           guidance
           of
           those
           Intruders
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Reply
           to
           his
           complemental
           Conclusion
           with
           the
           
             false
             Accusation
          
           of
           
             Vnlawful
             Impositions
             ,
             Superstitions
             ,
             and
             Traditions
          
           ;
           clamorous
           Phrases
           ,
           which
           every
           ignorant
           Wretch
           can
           make
           use
           of
           when
           he
           has
           a
           mind
           to
           reproach
           our
           Church
           .
           Methinks
           it
           would
           have
           been
           but
           fair
           dealing
           to
           have
           made
           good
           this
           Charge
           ,
           by
           shewing
           what
           
             Vnlawful
             things
          
           we
           impose
           ,
           wherein
           we
           are
           superstitious
           ,
           and
           
             by
             what
             Traditions
             we
             make
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             of
             none
             effect
             :
          
           But
           he
           knows
           ,
           that
           to
           cry
           out
           against
           any
           Man
           of
           a
           different
           Opinion
           ,
           is
           enough
           to
           raise
           the
           whole
           
             Discontented
             Party
          
           against
           him
           .
        
         
           If
           he
           thinks
           he
           has
           given
           sufficient
           Proof
           of
           
             Vnlawful
             Impositions
          
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           I
           think
           I
           have
           proved
           he
           has
           not
           ;
           and
           in
           reference
           to
           whatsoever
           is
           imposed
           upon
           us
           ,
           meerly
           by
           the
           Churches
           Authority
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           further
           say
           ,
           That
           none
           of
           the
           things
           imposed
           are
           Unlawful
           in
           themselves
           ;
           that
           to
           abridge
           Authority
           is
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           Power
           in
           things
           of
           a
           middle
           nature
           ,
           that
           are
           of
           themselves
           indifferent
           ,
           and
           neither
           simply
           good
           or
           evil
           ,
           is
           to
           cancel
           and
           make
           Authority
           useless
           ,
           because
           their
           Power
           lies
           mainly
           in
           things
           of
           that
           nature
           ,
           since
           things
           that
           are
           simply
           and
           absolutely
           good
           are
           commanded
           by
           God
           himself
           ,
           and
           things
           that
           are
           in
           themselves
           evil
           forbidden
           by
           him
           ;
           that
           if
           ,
           where
           some
           are
           impower'd
           to
           give
           Orders
           ,
           others
           are
           not
           under
           an
           Obligation
           to
           observe
           them
           ,
           Authority
           is
           nugatory
           and
           ridiculous
           ;
           and
           ,
           that
           before
           these
           latter
           days
           there
           were
           never
           any
           Christians
           in
           the
           World
           that
           held
           themselves
           bound
           not
           to
           do
           a
           lawful
           thing
           ,
           meerly
           because
           it
           was
           commanded
           and
           imposed
           upon
           them
           ;
           which
           makes
           Obedience
           and
           Observance
           of
           those
           things
           a
           Duty
           in
           us
           ,
           which
           before
           they
           were
           
             clothed
             with
             a
             particular
             and
             punctual
             Command
             ,
          
           were
           no
           ways
           obligatory
           .
        
         
           What
           this
           Man
           means
           by
           Traditions
           I
           can
           hardly
           guess
           .
           As
           for
           Traditions
           about
           Matters
           of
           Doctrine
           ,
           we
           hold
           none
           ,
           but
           those
           which
           are
           deliver'd
           to
           us
           in
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           Penmen
           of
           Holy
           Writ
           ;
           and
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           the
           Authority
           of
           those
           Sacred
           Books
           ,
           we
           look
           upon
           the
           written
           Tradition
           of
           the
           Church
           to
           be
           a
           good
           Argument
           .
           If
           by
           Traditions
           he
           means
           the
           Customs
           and
           Ceremonies
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           then
           they
           have
           already
           been
           consider'd
           as
           far
           as
           he
           gave
           me
           occasion
           to
           do
           it
           .
           And
           I
           shall
           only
           add
           ,
           that
           I
           do
           believe
           what
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           declares
           in
           the
           34th
           Article
           of
           her
           Religion
           ,
           That
           
             whosoever
             ,
             thro'
             his
             private
             Judgment
             ,
             willingly
             and
             purposely
             doth
             openly
             break
             the
             Traditions
          
           (
           
             i.
             e.
          
           Customs
           )
           
             and
             Ceremonies
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             which
             be
             not
             repugnant
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             be
             Ordained
             and
             Approved
             by
             Common
             Authority
             ,
             ought
             to
             be
             rebuked
             openly
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Charge
           of
           Superstition
           ,
           it
           will
           most
           certainly
           fall
           where
           that
           of
           Will-worship
           did
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           Instances
           prove
           you
           as
           guilty
           of
           the
           
           one
           as
           the
           other
           .
           
           What
           this
           Man's
           Notion
           of
           Superstition
           is
           I
           cannot
           tell
           ,
           but
           (
           to
           use
           the
           Words
           of
           a
           judicious
           Author
           in
           this
           case
           )
           
             I
             look
             upon
             the
             Men
             of
             his
             Way
             to
             be
             the
             most
             superstitious
             People
             upon
             Earth
             ;
             
             they
             declaim
             against
             things
             in
             their
             own
             nature
             innocent
             and
             useful
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             were
             forbidden
             by
             God.
             When
             we
             represent
             to
             our selves
             the
             Deity
             ,
             as
             one
             that
             is
             pleased
             with
             the
             imaginary
             Notions
             that
             we
             groundlesly
             entertain
             of
             things
             ,
             this
             is
             the
             Superstition
             that
             poysons
             the
             Soul
             and
             all
             its
             Faculties
             .
             When
             we
             say
             ,
             that
             such
             a
             thing
             is
             forbidden
             by
             God
             ,
             only
             because
             we
             forbid
             it
             our selves
             ,
             this
             is
             to
             teach
             for
             Doctrines
             the
             Commandments
             of
             Men
             ;
             but
             to
             regulate
             Actions
             that
             are
             indifferent
             in
             their
             nature
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             prudent
             determination
             of
             our
             Superiors
             ,
             cannot
             fall
             under
             that
             Censure
             ,
             else
             all
             Societies
             ,
             both
             Civil
             and
             Ecclesiastical
             ,
             must
             be
             involved
             in
             the
             Guilt
             .
             When
             we
             say
             things
             are
             unlawful
             that
             are
             not
             unlawful
             ,
             when
             we
             prefer
             Human
             Institutions
             to
             the
             Commandments
             of
             God
             ,
             when
             we
             overvalue
             things
             beyond
             their
             own
             Nature
             ,
             Dignity
             ,
             and
             Order
             in
             which
             God
             hath
             placed
             them
             ;
             when
             we
             esteem
             the
             Means
             more
             than
             the
             End
             ,
             and
             separate
             the
             Ecclesiastical
             Laws
             from
             their
             Relation
             and
             Subserviency
             to
             the
             Laws
             of
             God
             ;
             when
             our
             Thoughts
             and
             Notions
             of
             things
             are
             so
             confus'd
             ,
             that
             we
             mistake
             their
             subordination
             one
             unto
             another
             ,
             and
             practise
             according
             to
             such
             Notions
             ;
             then
             we
             
               put
               light
               for
               darkness
               ,
               and
               darkness
               for
               light
               .
            
             Our
             best
             Performances
             must
             needs
             be
             tainted
             with
             Folly
             an
             Superstition
             ,
             and
             we
             worship
             God
             not
             according
             to
             the
             dictates
             of
             true
             Reason
             or
             Revelation
             ,
             but
             according
             to
             the
             dark
             Idea
             which
             we
             form
             to
             our selves
             :
             This
             is
             Superstition
             in
             its
             true
             colours
             .
             
             Superstition
             is
             a
             piece
             of
             blind
             Service
             ,
             and
             therefore
             unacceptable
             ;
             a
             Bastard
             kind
             of
             Worship
             ,
             that
             proceeds
             from
             Pusillanimity
             and
             Unreasonable
             Fear
             .
             
             If
             we
             struggle
             for
             the
             Opinions
             and
             Fancies
             that
             are
             but
             of
             yesterday
             ,
             in
             opposition
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Practices
             of
             the
             
               Catholick
               Church
            
             ,
             we
             believe
             our selves
             rather
             than
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             we
             are
             superstitious
             in
             the
             strictest
             Notion
             ;
             and
             to
             set
             up
             our
             own
             Decrees
             against
             the
             Suffrage
             of
             so
             many
             Ages
             ,
             is
             Arrogance
             and
             Vanity
             in
             the
             highest
             sence
             .
          
        
         
           
           Or
           ,
           in
           shorter
           and
           perhaps
           plainer
           terms
           ,
           
             Superstition
             is
             a
             needless
             Fear
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             which
             makes
             a
             Man
             either
             not
             dare
             to
             do
             those
             things
             which
             he
             hath
             a
             liberty
             to
             do
             ,
             or
             think
             he
             must
             upon
             pain
             of
             Damnation
             do
             those
             things
             which
             he
             may
             as
             well
             let
             alone
             .
          
        
         
           So
           that
           ,
           if
           either
           all
           ,
           or
           any
           part
           of
           this
           be
           a
           right
           Account
           of
           Superstition
           ,
           we
           are
           as
           free
           therefrom
           as
           from
           
             Vnlawful
             Impositions
          
           and
           
             Vnjustifiable
             Traditions
          
           :
           And
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           that
           any
           thing
           be
           removed
           ,
           but
           that
           
             superstitious
             Humor
          
           and
           
             untractable
             Temper
          
           which
           reigns
           so
           powerfully
           among
           
             your
             Party
          
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           accomplish
           that
           
             blessed
             Vnion
          
           which
           all
           good
           Men
           Endeavour
           after
           ,
           and
           Pray
           for
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           my
           Brethren
           ,
           upon
           a
           serious
           review
           of
           what
           I
           have
           written
           ,
           I
           do
           think
           that
           I
           hare
           returned
           a
           full
           and
           more
           than
           sufficient
           Answer
           
           to
           that
           Paper
           which
           was
           drawn
           up
           in
           defence
           of
           the
           
             Cause
             of
             Separation
          
           ,
           and
           triumphed
           in
           (
           even
           to
           my
           Face
           )
           as
           Unanswerable
           .
           I
           have
           followed
           the
           Author
           of
           it
           step
           by
           step
           ,
           and
           have
           not
           omitted
           to
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           most
           impertinent
           thing
           he
           has
           said
           .
           The
           close
           Attendance
           which
           I
           have
           given
           to
           so
           silly
           and
           trifling
           a
           Scribbler
           cannot
           be
           Answer'd
           for
           any
           other
           way
           ,
           than
           by
           telling
           the
           real
           Truth
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           that
           I
           thought
           my self
           in
           Duty
           bound
           
             with
             Meekness
             to
             instruct
             those
          
           ,
           in
           my
           own
           Parish
           ,
           
             that
             Oppose
             themselves
          
           ,
           tho'
           with
           never
           so
           weak
           Arguments
           ;
           that
           I
           cannot
           think
           it
           becomes
           us
           ,
           who
           have
           taken
           the
           Ministry
           thereof
           upon
           us
           ,
           to
           suffer
           so
           excellent
           a
           Church
           to
           be
           run
           down
           ,
           and
           its
           Constitution
           publickly
           and
           privately
           decry'd
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           stand
           still
           ,
           as
           it
           we
           were
           either
           afraid
           to
           speak
           ,
           or
           else
           had
           nothing
           to
           say
           in
           its
           defence
           ;
           that
           tho'
           the
           Prejudices
           of
           its
           Adversaries
           are
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           fear'd
           ,
           too
           strong
           to
           be
           removed
           ,
           it
           is
           however
           proper
           to
           shew
           the
           Weakness
           of
           their
           Arguments
           ,
           thereby
           to
           keep
           its
           own
           Members
           firm
           in
           its
           Communion
           ,
           and
           to
           Arm
           them
           against
           the
           
             slight
             of
             M●n
             ,
             and
             cunning
             craftiness
             ,
             whereby
             they
             lie
             in
             wait
             to
             deceive
             :
          
           And
           if
           I
           can
           but
           obtain
           this
           ,
           by
           the
           pains
           I
           have
           herein
           taken
           ,
           I
           shall
           have
           no
           cause
           to
           repent
           thereof
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           the
           Principles
           upon
           which
           I
           have
           acted
           in
           this
           whole
           Affair
           ,
           and
           therefore
           tho'
           you
           may
           deprive
           your selves
           of
           the
           Benefit
           thereof
           ,
           by
           unkind
           Resentments
           and
           uncharitable
           Censures
           of
           this
           Work
           ,
           yet
           you
           cannot
           rob
           me
           of
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           having
           done
           what
           I
           took
           to
           be
           my
           Duty
           ,
           nor
           spoil
           the
           Acceptableness
           of
           an
           honest
           and
           well
           meant
           Endeavour
           ,
           with
           that
           God
           who
           neither
           sees
           nor
           judges
           as
           Man
           doth
           .
        
         
           Where
           Obstinacy
           and
           Perverseness
           put
           a
           Bar
           in
           the
           Way
           ,
           and
           Mens
           Judgments
           are
           corrupted
           with
           Passion
           and
           Prejudice
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Hopes
           of
           doing
           good
           .
           But
           they
           who
           ,
           divesting
           themselves
           of
           all
           these
           ,
           are
           really
           desirous
           of
           it
           ,
           may
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           receive
           some
           Satisfaction
           from
           the
           Considerations
           I
           have
           offer'd
           ,
           however
           in
           the
           Books
           I
           have
           refer'd
           the
           Reader
           to
           .
        
         
           I
           beseech
           you
           therefore
           to
           reduce
           your
           Judgments
           to
           an
           even
           poise
           ,
           impartially
           weigh
           and
           consider
           things
           ,
           and
           for
           a
           conclusion
           of
           all
           ,
           suffer
           the
           Word
           of
           Exhortation
           from
           your
           own
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Baxter
           .
        
         
           
             I
             advise
             you
             ,
             
             that
             if
             there
             be
             Parish-Churches
             orderly
             setled
             under
             the
             Magistrates
             Countenance
             ,
             whose
             Teachers
             are
             sound
             ,
             and
             promote
             the
             Power
             of
             Godliness
             in
             Concord
             ,
             tho'
             an
             able
             Minister
             should
             gather
             a
             separated
             Church
             in
             the
             same
             place
             ,
             out
             of
             that
             and
             other
             neighbouring
             Parishes
             ,
             and
             should
             have
             stricter
             Communicants
             and
             Discipline
             ,
             be
             not
             too
             forward
             to
             joyn
             your selves
             to
             that
             Separated
             Church
             ,
             till
             you
             can
             prove
             ,
             that
             the
             Hurt
             that
             will
             follow
             by
             Discord
             ,
             Offence
             ,
             Division
             ,
             encouraging
             of
             Schism
             and
             Pride
             ,
             is
             not
             like
             to
             be
             greater
             than
             your
             Benefit
             can
             compensate
             .
             Indeed
             ,
             
               he
               says
            
             ,
             where
             Liberty
             is
             such
             ,
             as
             these
             Mischiefs
             are
             not
             like
             to
             follow
             ,
             
               (
               as
               among
               us
               you
               see
               they
               do
               )
            
             take
             your
             Liberty
             ,
             if
             your
             Benefit
             require
             it
             .
             
               But
               then
               he
               adds
               in
               the
               very
               next
               words
               ,
            
             If
             this
             Separated
             Church
             be
             a
             factions
             
             Antichurch
             ,
             set
             up
             contentiously
             against
             the
             Concordant
             Churches
             ,
             tho'
             on
             pretence
             of
             greater
             Purity
             ;
             and
             if
             their
             Meetings
             be
             imploy'd
             in
             contention
             ,
             and
             reviling
             others
             ,
             and
             making
             them
             odious
             that
             are
             not
             of
             their
             mind
             ,
             and
             in
             killing
             the
             Love
             of
             Christians
             to
             each
             other
             ;
             and
             in
             condemning
             other
             Churches
             as
             no
             Churches
             ,
             or
             such
             as
             may
             not
             lawfully
             be
             communicated
             with
             ,
             and
             in
             puffing
             up
             themselves
             with
             Pride
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             were
             the
             only
             
               Churches
               of
               Christ
            
             ;
             avoid
             such
             Separated
             Churches
             ,
             as
             the
             Enemies
             of
             Love
             and
             Peace
             .
          
           
             
             Do
             not
             peevishly
             pick
             Quarrels
             with
             the
             Prayers
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             nor
             come
             to
             them
             with
             humor
             some
             Prejudice
             ;
             think
             not
             that
             you
             must
             stay
             away
             ,
             or
             go
             out
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             for
             every
             passage
             that
             is
             disorderly
             ,
             unmeet
             ,
             yea
             ,
             or
             unsound
             or
             untrue
             ;
             for
             the
             Words
             of
             Prayer
             are
             the
             Work
             of
             Man.
             And
             while
             Men
             are
             fallible
             imperfect
             ,
             and
             sinful
             ,
             their
             Prayers
             ,
             and
             Praises
             ,
             and
             Preaching
             will
             be
             like
             themselves
             :
             And
             he
             that
             is
             the
             highest
             Pretender
             and
             the
             peevishest
             Quarreller
             hath
             his
             own
             Failings
             .
          
           
             
             Division
             is
             wounding
             ,
             and
             tends
             to
             death
             ;
             abhor
             it
             as
             you
             love
             the
             Churches
             Welfare
             ,
             or
             your
             own
             .
             The
             Wisdom
             from
             above
             is
             first
             pure
             ,
             and
             then
             peaceable
             ;
             never
             separate
             what
             God
             conjoyneth
             .
             It
             is
             the
             earthly
             ,
             sensual
             ,
             devilish
             Wisdom
             which
             causeth
             bitter
             Envying
             ,
             and
             Strife
             ,
             and
             Confusion
             ,
             and
             every
             Evil
             Work.
             
               Blessed
               are
               the
               Peace-makers
            
             .
          
        
         
           This
           Advice
           is
           so
           proper
           and
           applicable
           to
           your
           Case
           and
           Circumstances
           ,
           that
           I
           only
           need
           to
           add
           the
           Words
           of
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           which
           I
           desire
           every
           Soul
           in
           my
           Parish
           to
           look
           upon
           with
           as
           much
           Regard
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           been
           immediately
           and
           particularly
           spoke
           to
           them
           by
           the
           blessed
           Apostle
           himself
           .
        
         
           
           
             If
             there
             be
             therefore
             any
             Consolation
             in
             Christ
             ,
             if
             any
             Comfort
             of
             Love
             ,
             if
             any
             Fellowship
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             if
             any
             Bowels
             of
             Mercy
             ,
             fulfill
             ye
             my
             Joy
             ,
             that
             ye
             be
             like
             ,
             minded
             ,
             having
             the
             same
             Love
             ,
             being
             of
             one
             Accord
             ,
             of
             one
             Mind
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             Follow
             Peace
             with
             all
             Men
             ,
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             without
             which
             no
             Man
             shall
             see
             the
             Lord.
             
          
        
         
           
             I
             am
             Your
             Faithful
             and
             Affectionate
             Pastor
             ,
             
               Jos
               .
               Harrison
            
             .
          
        
         
         
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A45675-e800
           
             Poor
             Man's
             Family
             Book
             4
             Ed.
             p.
             316.
             
          
           
             John
             20.21
             Tit.
             1.5
             .
          
           
             Poor
             Man's
             Family-Book
             .
             
               p.
               273.
            
             
          
           
             Case
             of
             Lay-Communica
             .
          
           
             Friendly
             Deb.
             
               part
               I.
               p.
               165.
            
             
          
           
             Christ
             .
             Libert
             .
             
               p.
               183.
            
             
          
           
             Heb.
             13.17
             .
             1
             Pet.
             2.13
             .
          
           
             Answer
             to
             the
             Vnlawfulness
             of
             Com.
             Pray-Worsh
             .
             
               p.
               9.
            
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             1.25
             ,
             25.
             
          
           
             Numb
             .
             14.41
             .
          
           
             1
             Kings
             8
             3.
             
          
           
             2
             Chron.
             30.23
             .
          
           
             Est
             .
             9.20
             .
             Zech.
             8.19
             .
             1
             Mac.
             4.9
             .
             John
             10.22
             .
             Mat.
             26.30
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             14.40
             .
             1
             Pet
             2.13
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             6.9
             .
          
           
             
               Friendly
               Deb.
            
             part
             1.
             p
             93.
             
          
           
             Preface
             to
             the
             Com.
             Prayer
             .
          
           
             1
             John
             3.4
             .
             Rom.
             4.15
             .
          
           
             Misch
             .
             of
             Sep.
             
               p.
               20.
            
             
          
           
             Friendly
             Deb.
             
               part
               .
               1.
               p
               166.
            
             
          
           
             Friend
             .
             Deb.
             
               par
               .
               1.
               p.
               165.
            
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Misch
             .
             of
             Sep.
             
               p.
               29.
            
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             11.16
             .
          
           
             Presb.
             of
             Scotland
             .
          
           
             Enquiry
             into
             the
             new
             Opinion
             ,
             &c.
             by
             
               A.
               M.
            
             D.
             D.
             
               p.
               295.
            
             
          
           
             p.
             305.
             
          
           
             p.
             307.
             
          
           
             
               Fr.
               Deb.
            
             par
             1
             ,
             p.
             95.
             
          
           
             Poor
             Man's
             Family-book
             .
             
               p.
               316.
            
             
          
           
             p.
             321.
             
          
           
             p.
             274.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             12.14
             .