:*^ m ii ' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/copleafOOpear THE Conformifts Plea ■P F O R T H E Nonconformifts. o R, A Juft and Companionate Reprefentation O F T H E Prefent State and Condition O F T H E NON-CONFORMISTS. A S T O I. The Greatnels of their Sufferings. II. Hardnefs of their Cafe. III. Reafonablenefs and Equity of their Defires and Propofals. IV. Qualifications, and Worth of their Perfons. V. Peaceablenefi of their Behaviour. VI. The Churches Prejudice by their Exclufion, &c. Ipumblp fubmitteB to autfjojttp* By a Beneficed Minifier^and a Regular Son of the Church ^/England. London, Printed for Jonathan Q^obinfon, at the Golden Lion in St. fauh Church- Yard. 1 6 8 1 • To the Bookfeller. COncciving it to be a Duty to communicate my Judgment • (given privately byParts,as bfceafion hath been offered) of the Non-conformijls, and their Cafe,and alfo refolved to conceal my Name, which can add no Reputation to them, nor to thefe Papers $ 1 have lent them to you, before any otherStranger, (and who but a Stranger may be trufted with a Concealment of one he knows not) for two Reafbns. i. Be- caufr, one of your Acquaintance, who (not knowing my De- fign) gave me a very good Chara&cr of you, as Ingenuous, Ho- neft, Candid, a lover of Goodnefs and good Men, (whether Conformijts or Non-con for wifis) as well without, as within the way of your Trade. 2. Becaufe it is not hard to guefi at the Bookfeller by his Author, and the Author by his Bookfeller 5 therefore if you may fall within the compafs of this Obfervation, you fit me,becaufe you printed theCw; forming Non-confowrijljxc, And another, the Chrijhan Tamper, which Title was taking with me, (a Temper rare among Chriftians ) which I labour after 5 and if I have not exprefled it in thefe Sheets, I (hall take as little pleaiurc in them, as the niceft Reader (hall in any thing that dif- fers from him. I refer it to you to judg, whether it is like to be profitable or not : for before the publication of Books, your Fa- culty either are Judges 5 or find out Judges of them 5 and the Rea- ders cat, or refute, only what you have tafted of before-hand. Read and judg deliberately, and let me know e're long of your .Approbation,by feeing it abroad 5 or your di(like,by its fupprcf- fion. And then I have but one Requeft,that you would give them, a private and a decent Burial, for the Author's (ake 5 who tho fat be but a fimple Man, yet means well, and for his Matter's fake : It (hall no more offend me that you ftifle, than that if ano- ther take the name of them, provided he be Thilagatkos, To Tothe READER. THe whole BooJ^ is to the Trader, yet a Jhort Epijlle to him may be necejfary. I. Tointreat him to jpare hk pains in writing againji me, who do not begin or maintain a Controversy againji him, or againji any other 3 Pacem te quaerinius omnes. Ton may per- haps feeh^ to k$ep it within the unaltered Conftitution, and be J& much for Peace, that you would have not one Dijfenter in the Land* lam againli Dijfenters alfo, we agree Jo far 5 but I am against Dif fenters within doors, that k$ep Dijfenters out 3 let us make up the Breach as fail and as Jirong as we can. 2. To inform him, that I do not lool^ upon the Nonconformijis as the only Men of God, that I am not hired by them, nor Jpea^for them in hopes of Preferment under the T?resbyterian Government, to befet up (as fome fear) I ajfure him I never fear it,nor hope for it. 3. To make my jelf known to him, that I am not a Man in Power to Jhew the Non-confermifts favour, nor a Man of fame to Jerve them by any Tejlimonial 5 but that I laboured to nourijl) fome good Difpojitions and Qualities. 1. To adore one and the fame Spirit in different Gifts, Adminh fixations, and Degrees. 1. To thinks more highly of others than of my felf, not only as they are in Power, but as in real Worth, tho but at the Footjiool. 3. Thankfulnejs to God 5 and were it in my power to J/jew it to tvery one that ever fpake a word in feafon to me, which many of the Non- conformists have done, when I was ignorant and out of the way, whofe Names are in honour with me 3 and the like I acknowledge and ever full, to feveral that now conform. Time was, when they all fpak$ the fame Things, and carried on the famtWorh^ which was the InflruBion, Converfion, Confolation, and Edification of Souls, 5 not biting one another, nor grudging at one another. I never heard, in / To the Reader. in matt) hundreds of Sermons, diverfities of Opinions, either jet up by fome, or pulled down by others. We heard indeed that fome were Independents, ethers 'Presbyterians, and others Epifcopal,but we heard no fuch things from Tulpits. I perceive fome Men thin^ that tU preaching of thofe Days was meer Fanaticifm, blejfing the ZJfurpation, railing againli Bifiwps, or deifying Calvin with an Infallibility :> Non ego Lutherum pradico, led Chriftum, faid Luther. Calvin was an admirable Man, a great Stranger to them that Jpeak, moft againfi him 5 but he was preached no further than ChriSi jjakg in him ^ Nort Calvinum fed Chriftum praedicabant. 4. If I were partial, I wrong my felf by partiality, but I ought U be juji, and by being juil, I injure no Man. I have heard the Non- conformijis vilified, and represented according to the Fancies, and T?affions, or Interests of Men. I durSi not but be juSi to them, • as to eminent Trofejfors of the Christian Faith, and thinly that com- mon Christianity hath fuffered much by their fdencing and dijparage- ntent. *A great part of the World is made to believe, that the Non- conformijis are not fit to be imployed in the Church, nor trusted by the State. But what they are God kpoweth, and the World may know if they plea ft to confult their Writings, and to examine their Decla- ration of their Tenents. They are not, to them that know them, what they are reported by, and to them that know them not. I.feldom fee any of them, veryfeldom converfe with them, yet I fyww them fujficiently to make me bewail their condition, and the valt dammage to thoufands ef Souls, not in the out-skirts alone, but very Heart of England, by their Excluficn and Supprejfion :, who are both able and willing to pro- mote the everlasting Interest of precious Souls, which are committed in the mean while, in many parts of the hand, to them that neither can nor will. If a Husband-man have more hand than he can Till, much of his Land must lie Fallow and jceld no profit 5 if a Husband- man have a great Harvest, and difcharge his Labourers, he will fuf fir lofs. It is a fmallT^anfb indeed that wilt not find a pretty in- dustrious Man work enough : There is enough for us, and for them to do, if there were the greatest Union of Minds, and wijeSf dijiri- butions, according to each Mans Abilities. s< 1 To the Reader. 5. I have fometimes taken heart to vindicate what may be jujiified in them, out of a juji rejj>e£? to the Common Faith, and T^rotefiant Religion 5 and there is no more objected, nor worfe things imputed to them by 1? rote ft ants, than r Pap/Jis impute to us all ; If I have no courage to plead for them, fo far as their Caufe will bear it, I may prove a Coward in mine own Caufe } Every good Mm ought to bz true to Truth, and the common Ghriftianity. 6. Not to revile nor provoke them that differ from me. If I have defcribed any "Pet-Jons of an impojing perfecting temper, with any meafure of fever ity : if there be no fuch 'Perfonsjt h a mijia^e, and no injury 5 if there be fuch, Writing k fainting, I have fitted my Colours to the Face, I have not reprefented any fowmefs of Counte- nance, but what I faw upon it. Let u§ all entertain "Peace, and give it place to rule in our Hearts 3 feek^ "Peace and purjue it, and pray for the "Peace of Jerufalem. Farewel. The Reader is entreated to excufe the ErrAtJ, the Author b?'mg abfenc from thePrefs. Thefe few the P inter hath obferved, >/<,. Page 7. read Pafcs. P. 1 1. 1. 22 . r. As y that mAnybfontfters are poor. P. zo. 1. It. r. Nonconformity. P. tj. r. that maintained 4 Neceffity. P. i$. 1. 37. r. Tort. P. 19. 1. $9. r. concluded. P. 30. the tpordf of GilfaiLI fhould have been in the \A*rgent, P. 6i* 1. »8. r. S^»amM. CO A Qompafiionate ^eprefentation of the-* prefent Caje and Conaition of the Non- conformifts, &c. Am a Chriftian, and therefore a Member of the Body ; and as fuch, am obliged by the Law ofChrift, and excited by his Grace, to endeavour the Growth, Perfection, and Unity of that one Body i and according to the meafure of Grace and Life received, I cannot but feel the pain of Dislocations, Wounds, Weaknefs, Excifion, Sickne£s, or Suffering of any Part or Member of it. If I have any Faith or Love, I cannot but pray for the Peace of Jerufalem. But Minifters above all Chriftians muft have Salt in themfelves, and be at peace one with another : they muft preach the Gofpel themfelves, and rejoice that it is preached by others, thootherwife- minded i and all Chri- stians muft pray that the Word of the Lord may have a free courfe, and be glorified. I have fome feeling of the broken Hate of the Church of God in this Kingdom : but, alas ! how little do I feel } how unrit am I to move thofe that have healing Hands, and ftore of Ointments, to heal our Wounds > If I could but open the Cafe of a Church for many years in pain, to be de- livered of her Burden, groaning to bring forth Unity and Peace, but can- not : followed long with ftrong Convuliions, that it is a wonder (lie hath not died in every Fit i I might move the companions of her Phyficians, to hold a Confultation to expedite her Cure. Many of her Sons have of late bemoan'd her i and fome have made enquiries into the Caufes of her III- nefsi but their Companions have done themfelves more good than her. She is not at all the better for their trouble for her j (he is as ill at cafe as at any time, in a wafting, complaining, dcJining irate. And to fay the truth, there are many that make fad Complaints or her Pailion, Harfhnefc, and Severity i They fay, that (he procured the turning of many of her Mi* niftersout of their Mailer's fcrvice > that (he is not kind to her own Chil- dren, but locketh up her Bread from them, or appoints Stewards that do not faithfully difpenfe unto them, but fell their Bread, and put the Mo- B ney ( 2 ) ney in their own pockets. And thofe Stewards for fmall Wages hire under- Oflicers, that feed them but once a day, mod commonly with that which cods them but little. And that (he is fo fevere, that all that ferve her, mud put in Bonds for more than they can pay, and fubfcribe to impofli- bilities h and, in (hort, they fay, (he ufurps authority over her Husband. They fay, they can ferve him, but cannot pleafe her i they can ferve him, and die for him, but cannot live in the fame Houfe with her. For my part I will fay no ill of her, nor make bate between the Bride and the Bridegroom h I am honoured to be a friend to him, and indeed I cannot be his friend, and not hers. But this, Tie rather fay, that (he hath taken fome ill courfes, and no good courfes for her own peace •> (lie hath been led, and abufed by ill Indruments about her, and is indeed changed from what (he was in former times, and is not (b kind and tender as (he was wont to be, by report of many that knew her heretofore. I am ex- ceeding forry for her. O that I could give her eafe ! I am no Phyfician my fel£> but a forry MelTenger may run and call the Dodtor, and befeech him, that if he have any bowels or tendernefs of heart, he would make hade and apply all his skill to fave the Life, and redore the Health of the Mother of many Children, who will fall into the cruel hands of Pope and Devil, fo foon as her eyes are clofed. O how they long to hear of her Diflblution ! what a lick and divided Houfe do I live in ! I cannot take red in my Soul for the Contentions of my dear and loving Mailer's Wife » I cannot lie dry in my Bed for the continual dropping : My. Pilgrimage and courfe for thefe many years, hath been mod uncomfortable unto me for the conti- nual dropping in a rainy day. The Contentions are grown notorious, all our neighbours know them. 'Tis a mod divided Houfe ! I have no heart to make repetitions, t>f what I have read and heard to pafs between my dear Mother and my. dear Brethren '•> between my Brethren amongd them- felves,and the fellow- Servants. It is a (harne that the World (hould know it ! But it cannot be hid : our very Enemies laugh among themfelves, and hope to turn us all out of doors, anil get po(Teffion. They have been dis- puting, dating of Cafes, petitioning, pleading, and appealing to the Judgment-feat > that my heart akes to think of thefe things. I have prayed for Peace, and have denied my felf, to pleafe my Mother. I will not find fault with her i my Soul longs for peace, and if I might prevail,, 1 cannot tell what I would do, on condition that her Servants that have been turned out,may be taken in. Eut becaufe I cannot fee how this will be without an Order of the Judices of Peace, I will humbly reprefent the Cafe as truly as I can, and intreat their Order for a fpeedy fettlement of my difplaced Brethren. The Complaints are grievous. The Mother com- plains of the difobedience of hex Children, they will not be ruled by her % ihe. ( 3 ) flic would have them to be all of her mind, and uniform. She is a Godly Woman indeed, and keeps Prayers morning and evening in her Houfe i and (he is earneft to have them AfTent and Confent to all and every thing contained in a certain Book, and ufe no other. Some of them do not love tobeimpos'd upon, and think they are of thofc years, as to know how to pray, and plead a Promife from their Mailer, of his holy Spirit to afliit them. In the difcharge of any Impofcd Form (but others can fubmit to that, if that would do) She would have them wear white Linen, wide Sleeves, &c kneel when they eat and drink at the Lord's Table i and will have all their Children baptized, and alio croiTcd in the forehead, whkh if you would fee, is not to be feen, for indeed it vanifhes as foon as made. For thefe things (he pleads Authority in her Self, and from her Supreme Governour upon Earth. Since her Marriage with Kings, (he is grown wealthy in Eftate. ' The Woman that was fometimes in the Wildernefs, drawn before Magiftrates, caft into Prifon, that was forced to hide her head in Conventicles in thofe nights of old, (that for many Ages fpake a hard language, wore a triple Crown, went in gorgeous Apparel, of Ce- remonies upon Ceremonies, carried in pomp, ( Princes did kifs her feet) that adorn'd her Walls with Tapiliry and Images » grew Imperial in making Laws, and gave her mouth to Curling and Bitternefs.) I fay, (he now can (hew her face, that was fometimes forced to hide it, and is be- come Reformed and Chafte \ but having Lordmips and Preferments to bellow, (he hath been rather like a Domineering Miffrefs, than gentle Mo- ther, as fome of her Children have complained of her > and hath rather futed her felf to the Mode of Earthly Kings, than the Will of her Hea- venly King and Husband. It cannot be denied but that fome have been ambitious of her Favour, and for the Preferments which they have got by their Ceremonioufnefs, have done her no good, and to get up above her fcllow-fervants, have fet her above her felf. And for ought I fee,thefe ambitious covetous Perfons have been evil Inftruments of great Conten- tions and Differences with her Children, and they alfo having a fpice of Adams nature, and growing ftomachful, with their Reafon, could not bear a Superiority among Equals, and feeing they were Children of the fame Father, knew no other difference than for Prudential Government, a Pri- ority of Order, or the Honour of Seniors i but not a Superiority of De- gree and Power. The more powerful Houfe (for,alas! they have divided Houf s) that they may make Laws and govern others, do attribute great Authority to the Church > indeed as great as Jefus Chritt her King and Husani had: as if when he afcended into Heaven, he gave among his other G fts, eyeq all that he had himfelf, to his Church and Spoufe. OneR.Pv. a Writer that B 2 pro- (4) profcfled to much intimacy with her, as to undertake to give her Senfe, and Reafon of her doings, doth aflat her Power and Authority to be twofold i * As all other Bodies Politick, the one or Preface before his Col- " Jurifdi&ion to correct and reform, by Spiritual leftion of Canons, &c "Cenfures, to preferve the Churches Purity, and Ct reduce to Unity the Troublers of the Churches " Peace, not by Arguments alone, but Spiritual Cenfures, even to carting cc out of the Church. The other,a Power of Legiflation, to make Canons " and Conftitutions. For tho our Great Lord (faith he) hath already gi- " ven to his Church moft holy and wife Rules and Laws for the fame " purpofes j yet becaufe they are general, and there may fome doubts and " controverfies arife about their meaning , it doth neceffarily follow that " there muft be an Authority left to this Church, and Governours there- a of, to make new Laws upon emergent occafions, to determine particu- "la.ities, (where by the way obferve, that from a Power to refolve the Doubts that may arife about the Sence and Meaning of thofe General Laws of Chrift, he gets ground by Health, even to infer a Power to make new Laws) "and there muft be a definitive Sentence of Superioursto " decide Doubts and Controverfies. He argues both from the reafon of the " thing, and that Chrifr gave this Power, Job.20. 21, 22. As my Father fent u Mei Jo fend lyoui And one particular of Jurifdidrion there ex preiTed > " Wbofefoevcr Sins ye bind on Earth, they are bound in Heaven, The Legislative " power of making Laws and Confiitutions for regulating Manners, and 1C determining Controverfies, cannot be denied to be granted in that large " Com million > As my Fatber fent me, fo fend I Ton, &c. (Where again obfetve how he grows upon us, from a Million to a Commiilion. They are fent indeed, but therr Commiilion is no other than to go, when fent.) Yea in the next fentence he faith, our Lord commiilions his Apoftles, (ob- ferve, that pag.i.) he defines the one Holy Church, to be the Society of Believers to whom that double power was given* but here it is given to the Apoftles: (Have the Society of Believers the fame power the Apoftles had ? or, doth the Commiilion given to the Apoftles, impower the Socie- ty of Believers t$ do as they did ?) " He commiilions the Apoftles (faith " he) with the fame neceitary ftanding Power that he had, an dexercifedas " a man for the good of the Church : this is a Commiilion in general for ma- Ct king Law s 5 Then in particular, for making Articles, and Decifions of ct Do&rine s> controverted Power is more explicit and exprefs, Mat* 28. " AH Power is given unto me : Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations i that is, " with Authority. And what is it to teach with Authority, but tocom- t; mand and oblige all people to receive the Truth fo taught } When I •readfudi Difccurfes, and fuch Conferences, I do lefs wor-der that they who ( 5 ) who are given to ftrong Delufions, do fee thofe dazling Wonders , in Tu es Tetrut, & fufcr banc Petram i or. that fee the two Swords committed to St. Tetcr, in, ?afc Ovts meM y when he was only appointed to be a careful] Shepherd, PajeOvei mejs } But fome Men art pcrfpicuous, and have Eyes to lead others (that want Eyes of their own; and can fee as clearly into a plain Text, as a Prieft can into the bottom of a PapitFs Heart, by his All- fteing Ear in Auricular Confeffion. Others do build their Towers and Caftles upon other Texts, which I pafs by. — Thus for the ample power of the Church. The power which thrift hath given to her I revere and acknowledge. Others go another way to work, and lay the fpecious Towers and Battlemems or Uniformity and Vifcipline and Ceremonies upon the Ring's Supremacy i affirming two things : i . That the Modes rcquired,are things indifferent. 2. That the chief Magiitrate may make Constitutions about things indifferent. And fome upon one, and fome upon another ground, do raife a great Dull, Contention, and Difcontent : fome quarrel not, but are of a mode- rate and peaceable difpofition, and wi(h for Peace and Concord : but thefe ar$ quarrelled with for their Moderation. And truly it is an ill iign of an afpiring contentious nature, in thofe that will fall out with Peacemakers, that arefober and moderate, and wifh that both contending fides may un- der/iand one another better, and love one another more, and remove the matter of debates and ftrifes. How are the Ejected called ! it grieves my heart to hear them called all to naught: and how are thefe names retur- ned ? And many throw Bones of Contention among them i whifper, and backbite, and carry tales, to foment the heats, which gentle tempers labour to cool. The other broken Party of the diiTatisfled and complaining Family, arc not fo well agreed as it were to bedeilredi but they differ more in Acci- dentals than Subfhntials from one another, I mean the Brethren whofe caufe I attempt to open. Some of them will confent to an impofed Form of Prayer, and all to Decency and Order, as n«cclTary in Chriilian AfTcm- blies y and, in a word, to all that is contained in the General Rules and Laws of Chrift, and rationally deduced from them, as far as they do un- dcrfland. They all fubmit to an Epifcopacy of primitive Inftitution and Limitation, with the due Exercife of Difcipline i and they that cannot agree to the fame Form of Government, are for maintaining Peace and Love under different Forms, and they yeeld enough to have made them Minifters in the Apoftles days, and after. They fay, 'tis true, that to us there is but one Lawgiver and that is Chrift , and they will teach what- foever he hath commanded them : They hold that his Laws are Giffick C 6 ) for the Government of the Church * that the Church mull be fubje& to Chrifti that her Power, as Proteflant Writers have maintained, is only Mi- niPtensrl under Him > that all Power is feated (till inHim^ and not made ov i by Him to any other > that the Churches Power is not decifive, ( for asfuch they argue, that Controverfies have not been decided, by any that here ingroiTed the name of the Church) but declarative, and fo far binding, as the Keafons are cogent and divine. They acknowledge the King's Su- premacy, as it hath been declared by former Learned Writers againft the Komijh Antagonifts, and Ufurpers of that Sovereign Right : [as by Nowel againit Vorman, Rainold's conference with Hart , King James, and many more.] They alTert a Liberty which Chrift hath given them, and cannot fubjed themfelves, as the fervants of men, in the things of God. They offer to aiTent to all the EiTentials of the Chriftian Faith, to ob- feeve all the Ordinances ofCbrift, and every part of his Worfhip, and De- cency and Order in the Worfhip of God, as was faid before j and, in fhort, do fay, Shew us but what the ApoftlesRule was, and we will walk ac- cording to it, and, as far as we have attained, be of one mind, and walk according to the fame Rule. But then, they can never yeeld to declare an unfeigned AlTent and Con- fent to Laws, Rubricks, and Ceremonies, that are llgnificant of any Grace, or obligatory to any Duty of the Covenant of Grace, or to make Cere- monies federal Signs, tho not Seals j nor the Reading the Apocbrypba, and Neglecting Canonical Scripture, and other things, which divers of them have fpokeii of at large, and cannot be repeated in this place. They pro- fcCsy and we believe them, that they quarrel not becaufe they may not be Lords and Bifhops, or that others are fo promoted '•> they declare it is no grief to them, if the Magiilrate, or legal Patrons, bellow the Revenues of the Church upon whom they pleafe, and are legally qualified according to the Conftitution. They only beg the ufe of that Liberty of their Confer- ences, to preach and woifhip God according to the Primitive Rule, and Simplicity > and that they may not be Ejected and Excommunicated, and forced to beg their Bread, becaufe they cannot confent to what theycannet believe, nor vow againft their Duty. The danger of giving them a Toleration, while they remain DilTenters, is flrongly fuggefted, from the multiplication oxPapifts, Socinians and Jtws^ as the erred of the Toleration in the Netherlands* But two things maybe replied : r. Widen the Terms, which maybe done with fafety to the Church, and there will be no need of a Tolera- tion, they will be incorporated with us. 2. There can be no fuch dan- ger from Chriftians of the fame Faith, and fubftantial Worfhip, but of diffe- rent Accidental Modes, as from Socinians, Papifts, Jevps^ of a contrary Faith ( 7 ) Faith and Worfhip. And why we cannot be as kind and liberal to Na- tives, indulging a Liberty to them in fin all things, as we are to French, Dutch) and to Lutherans^ I do not know. I have reprefented the Diviiions of this moft famous Church of Chriir, not with theexadnefs ofanHiitorian, nor of an Arbitrator, or a Mode- rator, but as belt fuiting with a Man in hafte, and trouble. And, here's enough to move the honeft and faithful Juliices to arbitrate Differences, and command the Peace. Nothing elfe will do, nor any other Man fo likely to compofe the Difference as they. For Prayers innumerable have been made to God i who ads by means in fettlements of Peace and Or- der : therefore we mult pray Men too. The different Parties will not agree. The Commiflioners * difputed, * in the Savoy, An. snd both carried the Caufe. The Ejeded humbly peti- 1 662,commijjioned tioned the Bifhops for Peace* they would not hear by the King. them. And what Arguing, Preaching, Writing hath been ever Jlnce ! Some Reverend Sons of the Church, in love to Peace, and fear of Enemies, have earnefdy called and exhorted the DifTenting Ejeded Brethren to come and unite, to come into the Prefent Con(Htu- tion, as fafeft, as llrongeft, as befr, &c. But if they could not come in at the Narrow Door, eighteen years ago, and the Door as narrow ftill as it was then, and there be the fame Crofs-bars laid acrofs, as were then, to keep them out, to what purpofe is the Exhortation ? Is there a great Storm a coming > they think that Chriit is'*the fame Ship, and they are as fafe as any other. They may clearly plead, they could have conformed at rirft, upon better worldly terms than now > they might have faved what they have loll, and got their (hare with others : to come now to conformjWhcn all places are full, and not enow for numerous Expedants, and when there is nothing for them without tedious waiting » and if their Judgments and Confciences could not enter then, how can they now } Unlets their Heads have voided all their Reafons, and fo are grown lefs, or that Cuftom hath made the Entrance fmoother for them. Learned and Worthy Men have written for and againft, and are they gained over to one another ? If they are, it is more than they will confefs. The one writes the Mifchiefof Separations the other denies the Charge and Proof, and another throws back the Mifchief, a Mifchiefof Impoiitions : and many Swords are drawn by Seconds, too many bitter words for the Children of the fame Heavenly Father, that are called to One, even to the One Hope of their Calling. The one wiitcs, You are guilty of Schifm : and the other fays, Who made it i , My Bowels, my Bowels ! thou the Prince of Pcace^ mak^ Peace in thine own Roufe, Family^ and Kingdom •, make of thefe twain, one Body, and let there be no Schiim in it ; as they are made One Body, in One, the fame Bread- ( 8 ) Ereaftplate of Faith, in the fame Girdle of Truth > fo let them be (Trod with the Shoos of the G but yet between the Judicious Holy and Peaceable part of Fathers and Brethren of it, and the Fadfion- making Afpiring-party, I cannot but diftinguifh. Indeed thefe call them- felves [the Cburcb\ but by monopolizing the Church, and ingroiling the Goods of the Church if they could > they have no greater (hare of the Spirit of the true Catholick Church, than their defpifed Brethren, com- monly called Scbifmatickj by them. Thefe atefupra, or Tranf-Conformifts that keep the Rule of Conformity much as they do their Refidence. Thefe Men are Nonconformijis too, as I could (hew in fome confiderable particu- lars, and are a Rubric!^ to themfelves. Eut my bufinefs is not -to accufe therm but feeing the moft are Non-conformifts, either above or under the Rule, (a Rule, if ftridtly kept at all times,in all Offices, where were a man's Prudence ? and if a Man hath no Prudence to ufe, or may not ufe it, he is very unfit to be a Minifterin the Church of God.) I am for the calling of more Non-con ftrmifts into the Company, and for making Non~c$nformifts Cdnformijls, Our blelTed Saviour, in the Parable, compares himfclf to an Houftiolder going a far Journey, that gave authority to his Servants, and to every Man his work, and commanded the Porter to watch ^ and when he went, he kit Peace as a Legacy i My Peace I leave with. you. But, alas ! how few have fought 19) fought to get and keep that Legacy, or to do their Work ) We may with Sorrow look into it, and rind it, in his Abfence, a moil broken and divi- ded Houfc. In it we (hall rind two forts of Children, all by the fame Father, but not as if all of a Mother : The elder and the greater combine, make a mighty Party, and they even rule the Mother. Thefe have the belt of every thing, and fnatch what the others had, or ihould have, and part all as they pl< ife .imongthemfelves, and ufe their poor Brethren no better than if they re Ba/lards. Thefe complain, and entreat, and beg: but if they beg, they are not regarded i if they complain, they are peevilli anddifcontented, deferve nothing, or no better than to be turned out of doors i if a Man pities them, and pleads for them, he is one of them. — - The greater fay, Thefe pecvifh whining Children are difobedient to our Mother, vex her Bowels out, hinder all Government and Uniformity; if it were not for them, how happy would it be with us ! But who can tell, but the great Ones may fall out among themfelves ? The Ejected have written, pleaded their Caufe, drawn up their Cafe, and petitioned, but to what purpofe ? To as much as a Man that hath a good Right to a part of an Inheritance, but pofleiTed by an elder Brother, who thinks he can prefcribe for all, and plead PoiTeflion and Law > befides that, his Friends being Judges in the Court have given it him : This poor younger Brother has but a weak Purfe, and few Friends, and what doth he but remonflrate, open his Cafe to many, and to his elder Brother, with humble Entreaties? But becaufe he doth not go to Plow, or go a begging, or to fome Corners of the Land, or go to fome Forreign Plantation, he is rated as a trouble- fom Fellow, fa&ious, and querulous, and knows not what he would have. PolTefrbrs are deaf to Petitioners. He that would recover his Right mufi go to Law for it, or lofe all, except a little Alms, and that as pure Kindnefs, without pretence of Right or Defert. There were a Company of Juliices that fate long upon the Bench, and thefe firft made an Order for Ministers to come in Bond to certain Duties, or elfe they dircharge the Paddies of them, and turn them out of doors. Many hundreds refilled to give in their Bonds, upon which they were turned out of their Houfes and Pariihes > and by an after-Order, they were not to come within rive Miles of any Corporation, that fent Surgeries to Parliament, or of theii own laic Abodes i forbidding them thereby any Employment in Corporations, to get their Livings, or the Charity of their former good Neighbours, if they had any. Thefe and their Families are up arfd down the Nation, indeed, no better c (teemed, whichisaihamc to tell, than Vagrants, by too many, yea, unrittolive. Now forafmuchas they may be very ufeful, it would be an Adr worthy yoar place, to move the Honourable Bench of Juliices, that never liked C liut C io ) that rigorous Order, in Mercy and Juftice to take the Cafe of thefe ejeft- ed Ministers to confederation, and by another Order to capacitate them to dwell and labour in any City,Town Corporate,Village, and Parifli whatfo- ever any thing in any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding. I make bold to prefent thefe following Particulars to you, with Truth and Charity. & Their Sufferings. 2. The Hardnefs of their Cafe. 3. The Reafonablenefs and Equity of many of their Defires and Propofals. 4. Qualifications, and worth of their Perfons. 5. Their Behaviour. 6. The Conclufion. I. Their Sufferings. And they admit of various Aggravations, ac- cording to their various Circumftances. Some of them were Fellows of Colleges, and not otherwife preferred, in the heat of their Studies i and thereby, together with their Preferments and Livelihoods, loft what could not be recompencei to them, their Opportunities for learned Studies, and their Increafe of Abilities, which is an inestimable Lofs to any good and ftudious Man. It was a Trial to ingenuous Men, to be turned out of their Fellowfhips, ( their little Regalities ) and become Chaplains or Schoolmafters, for ten or twenty Pound per annum. And there is a diffe- rence in a Man's Entertainment, when he is courted and invited into a Family, or Employment, and when his Neceility drives him *> and his Entertainment looks more like a Courtefy, than a Reward, with Obli- gation and Acknowledgment* Others had but a little Time of Settlement in their Country-Prefer- ments, tolay up any thing for themfelvesan4 Families. The more confci- encious the Ministers are, the more apt to marry young, chufing rather to caft themfelves double upon the Providence of God, than fin in a (ingle Life i honeft Marriage being honourable, tho attended with honefr Po- verty. And the molt of their Eje&ors, being (ingle Perfons, and having eaten the Cream of Preferments in their rifing Times, had little confide- ration towards great and fmall Families. Indeed as many as had treafured up Faith in God, and his Promifes, had enough to hold out their Pilgri- mage : But if God was fo kind, as to give them Faith to live by, they were unkind, that would force them to that noble kind of Life. If* God had given them Grace, care mould have been taken to find them Work. But God did not caft them out of their Work, nor out of his Care : He became their Patron whom Men ejected, and prefented them, fome to Places ( II ) Places always vacant, dark, and negkfted > and others he preferred from Country-Villages, to Towns and Cities. One Inftance comes into my Mind, of Mx. Edward Lawrence, ofBafte-Chuxch'mSIjropJljir; ( a worthy Preacher ) turned out with a Wife and many Children, who being asked how he did intend to live, made Anfwer, The fixtb Chapter of Matthew muft maintain me, my Wife and Child, en, and it if enough jor us all, or words to this effect, ( it is many years ago fince a woi th} Pcrfon told me the Story J and fo he found it true : And being drive, oue of the Coun- try by the Rigors of fome Men, his double Eje&ion, the ruft nut of his Pariih, the fecond out of the Country, made way for his Settlement in London, whither he was forced. And fuch Regions as theft ...ay be given, why many of the Non~conformijls refort to London, and o-her Towns, which is imputed to them by fome as a Fault of Ambition, or worfc. Others, how far foever grown in Years, and defirous of Reft in the Work of Chriit, mult out of their quiet Quarters, colligtre Sarcitis, re- move their Beds, and be gone, and fell their Books. And what many of them have fuffered fince, is not my part to aggravate. God hath taken care of many, and given them Food and Raiment, apd Work at their Peril and Cod. And others, befides the Hardmips of Imprifonments, Chargeablenefs of many Removes, have lived by their Induftry, by their Labours, even of their hands, a very hard and pinching Life, as I doubt not, is very well known to many of all Qualities, and that many Mini- sters in the Church are very poor. It is not well taken by fome, that they fhould complain of their Sufferings > and may be not well taken from me, to relate what I know and have heard of particular Perfons, to whom with their Children, caft Suits have been acceptable, to cover and adorn them. I know it is objected, that many live better than ever they did > get Hundreds per annum, h$ep Coaches, dec. I anfwer. I do not think there is any Non-conforntifts in the Land, but will quit what they have for what they had, without feeking Conside- rations for LoiTes. 2. If fome that can graze upon a bare Common, have a little Flefh, and fome Wooll upon their Backs i others have waited their Patrimonies, and realEftates. 3. It is their Wifdom to fet the beft Face on't, to (hew they are not difcuuraged in their Conditions, that they may not appear to beg as they go along, to keep themfelves from Contempt, and other prudential Confiderations. 4. I wifhfome had better Feet and Legs, than to be carried in Coaches i I am glad they can keep, hire, or borrow, whatever others are. Others may objedt the Sufferings of the Royal Party, and many worthy Divines, into whofe places many of the now Ejected violently entred. C 2 Anfm, (12) Anfa. Mercurius Kuflkuf faith enough to make a Man's Heart bleed. I would not diminifh thofe Sufferings, by enlarging thefe > I am forry for Loth, for cither: But if I may ufe my Freedom, without offence to any, in this afflicting Point,! humbly offer : i. It is probable,that many hundreds the now Ejected were not Men in thofe evil Days, therefore not guilty. 2. There was a Provifion of a fifth part for the Wives of the Ejected then, there is none for thefe. 3. Who can anfwer for the Violences and Injuftice of Actions in a Civil War > Thofe Sufferings were in a Time of general Calamity, but thefe were ejected, not only in a Time of Peace, but a Time of Joy to all the Land, and after an Act of Oblivion, when all pre- tended to be reconciled, and to be made Friends, and to whofe common rejoycing thefe fuffering Minifters had contributed their earneft Prayers, and great Endeavours. Many Minifters in the Church are poor, in poor Livings, in poor Curacies, yet are preferred above or equal to their Merits : many are poor through their Prodigality, and fuperfluous Wigs and Habits. Many Men of worth are kept low, by reafon of Pluralities, and Engrof- fers, that live at eafe, that had not a Heart to labour, nor give the La- bourers their HiretJ Thefe are Grievances that call for Redrefs. It is objected, That they fuffer through their own Faults, they fuffer for Difobedience to a Law. Anfoer. I do earneftly interrogate, Can either thofe that voted for that Bill,or they who ufed all Power and Art to procure thofe Votes to pafs it in- to an Act, fay from their Confciences, That it was Confcience towards God that obliged them to it > that if they had not put into the old Confor- mity, the new Additions, they had finned againft Jefus Chrift, and their Faithfulnefs to him ? If they can, then I query, if that be not an erro- neous Confcience ? And then the Queftion fo often thrown upon the Non-conformiftf, of the Obligation of an erring Confcience, may be re- torted upon the Impofers, by indifferent judicious Men. If they cannot fay fojthen they might put the Queftion to their own Souls, Whether they have not finned in impofing, or procuring fuch things to be impofed, as tend to the temporal Hurt and Ruine of many Families, and the great Detriment to the Church of Chrift, if not by the Lofs of the publick and profitab'e Labours of many able Minifters, yet by the Di- vifions that have broken in upon us by thefe Impofitions, and their deny- ing fubmiflion to them ? It nearly concerns Governors of the Church, to weigh the Neceflity of their Impofitions, as it doth others to weigh, whe- ther they may act, or refufe to act according to them : For if they rigo- aroufly extend their Power beyond the Lines, to the hindcrance of the Gofpel, they fin againft Chrift. Caution and Tendernefs mult therefore be ufed, If all thefe things, and every one of them, be necelfary to be enjoined ( '3 ) enjoined and proofed, for the Peace, and Union, ami Edification of the Church of God, then they condemn their PreiJeccflbrs of Omiilion of what was neceffiry, and contradict what they declare concerning fome of thefe things, that they arc alterable, and indifferent in themfllvcs, and may be altered. And if ever any Time lince their ImpoGtion might re- quire the Change of th.m, or hying the Ceremonies aiide, that Time when they were anew enjoined, and now when they are required, might excufrit, fur many Reafons that are ready at hand. Again, fome fay, It is their Faulr that they (utter. But who muft be Judges of that ? Their own Confcicmes, or they who cenfurethem? They are us confident it .was not their Of this afur- Faulf, but their Duty, and roundly write, either they wards. that impofe, or they chat refufe, tin gri.voufly s and plead their Forbearance as no Sin, but a Duty. C mo'.t unhappy Conteft and Strait' when either Party muft grievoufly fin a^ainft God. Certaioly our blelTed Law-giver Chrift never made fuch a Law, as tends in the execution of it, to the Hurt of any or* his Subjects and Minifters, or to (top the Encreafe and Progrefs of the Gofpel: And who can jultity any particular Law, or Condition of Communion, that is but a Stumbling-block in the way of any, that are pait being Babes', and otherwise inftrudted to his Kingdom ? I conclude with this Obfcrvation, That the general Rules of Chrift and his Apohles, were given to accommodate the Differences between Jews and Gentiles, to end the Strife, to give eafe to the Confcience, iilence their uncharitable Cenfures,and heal their Breaches about things indirTcrenti and not to determine for one againft another, with Penalties. St. Au\\in was grieved to fee the TranfgrdTion of a Ceremony to be more feverely reprehended, than the Tranf^niTion of God's Law, &c. faith Reverend Mr. John Lloyd^ in his Trejtife of Epifcopacy, pag. 53. But this is not a place to difpute. Can any of the Impofers take the Comfort of their own Impoficions, and fay, they have Peace and Comfort in the things for which learned and holy Men do furTer > Or if it were to do again, I would do no lefs ? Then all Tie fay more is this, Then blelTed Adt of Uniformity ! which brings Comfort to them that made or procured it, and to them that furTer by it alfo ! Comfort from the Caufe of other Mens great Sufferings, and the great Lofs to Souls, muft be rare indeed. Conlider thefe Sufferings of the Eje&ed. They furTer really in their outward Ellates, in their Freedoms, in their Dangers, (being obnoxious to t'le Canons, as far as to Excommunication, to the Temporal Law> J in their Names and Honours, accounted difobedient, fadious, fanatical, are the Obie&s of Virulence and Dirt, and are reprefentcd as intolerable Thefe.. ( 14 ) Thefe are great Sufferings, and a fafe way to be redrelTed, is worthy the Wifdom and Tendemefs of Authority. "lam fure, faith the Learned " Dr. Stilling fleet, it is contrary to the Primitive Practice, and the Mode- " ration then ufed, to fufpend or deprive Men of their Minifterial Functi- " ons, for not confenting to Habits, Gefiures, and the like. Iren, p, 6$. Rule 4. Then next let me confider what the Cafe is > and if it will appear to be a hard Cafe, it calls for the more fpeedy and effectual Relief: And this is the next thing I humbly offer to'prove. II. The Cafe of the ejected Minifters is really a hard Cafe. And I will endeavour the Proof of it in two things. 1. Shewing what is required of them. 2. The Penalties for not doing what is required. 1. The things required of them are either, 1. Ecclefiaftical. 2. Political, and mixed with a Cafe of Confcience, in the two Declarations they are bound by Law to make. Firft *> The Ecclefiaflical Part of their Subfcriptions and Declarations > C For brevity fake I will pafs the old Conformity.) T'bey are bound to declare their unfeigned Affent and Confent, &c. That this is a heavy Injunction in it felf, tho abundance of us have made little of it > for fome good Teeth can eat the hardeft Cruft, but it is Cruft for all that. It is hard for any Man, 1. To affent and confent to any thing of another Man's Opinion and Judgment, except rirff he that gives the Affent have as throughly ffudied, and doth as clearly perceive the things, as he doth that requires theAiTent. To affent to fome things will not pals in this cafe, it mult be all and every thing. What Parliament-Man will affent to any Bill, except he fir ft be fatished in the reafon of it ? &c. Or, 2. Except he that requires the Affent and Confent, have a degree of Infallibility, or be endowed with an abfolute uncontroulable Power, againft whom no Scruple, no Objection, or Debate, can or ought to be made. 3. Would not every Practitioner in Phyllck think it hard, that he muft fubicribe AlTent and Confent to all and every thing contained in, and prefcri- ( *5 ) bed by the London Difpenfatory, and ufe no other > Would not the Judges in the Courts at JFejiminjhr, think it hard to declare their Afient and Confent to all and cver\ thing in the Statutes and Laws of England, and not endeavour any Alteration > And why is it not hard for us, to fubferibe to all and every thing contained in a Book of Divine Worfhip, not c m- pofed by a Divine infallible Spirit ? Can more be required to the Scrip- tures, or cleared Point of Dodhinc or Faith ? 4. It is hard, as appears by the Qualifications and Mitigations of the Senceof the Declaration. If the Words were clear, and caty for the lln- derihndingand \\ ill to digeft, there needed no foft Cuniiru&ions to help them down. It coil all, that are careful what pafs their hands, fome thoughts to make them eafy. And had it not been for that one word, 17/e,and the help of that, it would have fluck with many, that arc as great Pillars of the Church as any in it, in their Nations and degrees. That which is eafy and plain, will eafily pafs with an ordinary Undemanding. The various Conitrudions of the r orms Nonconformijh are impartially given by the Reverend Mr.Bxxter. I fhall Plea for Peace, not run out to defend either the rigorous or milder p. I58,&c. Confiru&ions, but (hew that the Cafe of DilTenters is hard, and indeed of all Conformiils, that mult take the Words without Salvo's, or elfe mull fall under the Cenfure of Hypocrify, and doing more Hurt by confoiming, than if they had not conformed. It is hard to lay the Strefs of many Parts of a Declaration, as fully and diftindtly exprefs'd, as the Wit of fevere Men could word them, upon one general word, Vfe. It is a hard Conflrudtion of affirmative Propofitions, or Parts of a pofitive Declaration, to be explained in a privative or negative Sence i yet fo we find them fmoothed, and. rolled up in Liquoriili, that they may pafs the narrowed Throats. I (hall take the Pains to tranferibe two Conftru&ions, of two excellent Men, which may be taken next to a publick SenceandConftrudtion, efpccially the one of them, who was the mod learned and rarely tempered, Bimop Reynolds, in his Sermon of Mode- ration before the Houfe of Peers, Novtmb.j. 1666. a Day of Solemn Hu- miliation for the Peitilence, fag. 24. c And truly it is an Honour which c Learned Men owe to one another, to allow Liberty of DhTent in Matters c of meer Opinion, falva compage Fidei, falvo vinculo Cbaritatu, falva Pace c Ecclefi£, (for thefe three,Faith,Love,and Peace, are dill to be prefcrved l) c fo it is a Charity which good Men owe to one another upon the fame c Salvo's, to bear with the Infirmities of each other, not to judg, or de- * fpife, or fet at naught our Brethren') as ufelefs and inconfiderable Perfons t c But whom God is pleafed to receive into his Favour, not to call them out c of ours. This Latitude, and Moderation of Judgment, fome learned Men ( 16) lave taken the freedom to extend, even to the Cafe of Subfcriptions 1 by Law required. The learned Author of the Book called, An Anfwer to 4 Charity maintained \ and the late learned Primate of Armagh, Arch-Bifhop ^BramhaU i (and quotes their Words in the Margent, which are thefe) For 'the Church 0/ England, I amperfuaded, that the confiant Doctrine of it is fo 1 pure and Orthodox, that whofoever believe s it, and lives according to it, un- c doubtedly Jhall he Javed > and that there is no Error in it, which may neceffi- * tate or warrant any Man to difturb the Peace, or renounce the Communion, * This in mine Opinion is all intended by Subfcription. The Words of 'the Arch-Bifhop are thefei We do not fuffer any Man to rejecl the Thirty c Nine Articles of the Church of England at his Pleafure, yet neither do we * look^ upon them as EJfentials of faving Faith, or Legacies of Chrifi and hit ' Apoftles j but in a mean, as pious Opinions, fitted for the Prefervation of c Unity : Neither do we believe any Man to believe them, but only not to contra- 1 ditt them. This Sermon being printed upon requeft of the Lords, I thought this moderate Expofition of Subfcription, ( as it was aimed at by that rare Preacher, I believe) might pafs for approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and be next to a legal authentick Sence of all things required by Law : For if Subfcription of Articles be in fo laxe a Sence, much more to fome of the other things. Eut Mr. Baxter, who hath as good reafon to know as any one' Man, hath dallied this Conceit > for he writes, that when the Lords would have put in this Provifo, 7o the Vfe of the Boo\, theHoufeof Commons refufed it, and the Lords acquiefced in their Rea- fons given in at a Conierence about it. Vbi fupra, p. itfo. The other Expolitor of our Declaration, which I (hall produce, is the Reverend Dr. Stilling fleet, Dean of St. Paul's, who mines as a Star in our Firmament, and in regard of his own great Reafon, and Acquaintance with other great Mens thoughts, may diredt the Courfe of fluctuating Coafters, that look for a fafe Landing-llace, and fure footing, before they proceed in the Service of the Church. In his late contro- Mifchief of verted S-rmon, among other (harp Reflections upon his Separation, Friend, Mr. Baxter, he j hath theie words, pag. 49. It is a h.rd Cafe with a Church, when Men Jhall fit their Wits to (train every thing to t'je worif Sence., to jfretch Laws beyond the Intention and Vefign of them, to gxtber together all the doubtful and obfeure Paffages in Ca- lendars, 'Tranfljtio, / &c. And will not dijiinguijh betwixt the Approbation of the Vfe, and of the Choice of things i for upon fuch Terms as thefi Men tbink^ to JHjiify the prefint Vivifwns. I much quejlion, whether if they proceed in fuch a manner, thy can hold Communion with any Church in the Christian World. So fill I.e. From which Words I make bold to infer, ( and it I am ( '7 ) am too bold, I do feribufly ask his pardon.) i. It (eras to mc that he li- mits the fence of the Declaration of AJfent and Confent jo the fcope and in- tention of the Law, which is to the ufe of the Book, and all things in it. 2. That a Man may aflcnt and confent to the ufe of thofe things, which a Man would not, or doth not chofe, if left to his choice and liberty. 3. Here is a Elot ca(l by his Elegant Pen, at leafl upon feme of the things contain- ed in, and prefcribed by the Book, as things not to be chofen, but only to bcufed by confrraint. 4. An Impeachment againfr the Contrivers and Exaders of Conformity, for requiring A (lent and Confent to all and every thing (not making a difference) contained in, &c. which fuch Excellent Men as the Dean is would not ufe, if left to his choice, nor any other wife man choofe \ and fo their meaning comes to this : I will ufe this Book, (and all things to be ufed in it) fuch as they are, inltead of better ; anti tho not declaring our Affent, is punifhable with Deprivation, or Non-Ad- mittance into the Publick Miniliry of the Church, and the lofs of a Man's Livelihood, and Temporal Rewards of the Miniflry. 5. If our Gover- nors fhall from their great Wifdom and Companion to a moll divided Church, alter the terms of Communion and Conformity, and unlace the Garment which is made too firait for the Body, which Bints, being ftraitly laced : then no Man mull be offended with the Reverend Dean, or any other that conformed in this large fence, if they difufe the things now in ufe, and fall in with fuch things as may like them as well or better. 6, I infer, and retort (which is to my purpofc) that it is a hard Cafe with a Church, when Men fhall firain their Wits to frame Declarations, under fuch fevere penalties, to paiTages that are doubtful and obfeure, and capable of an ill fence, that we mud turn to Kalendars to find out LefTons in the Apocrypha, that have Canonical LefTons enow, to ufe other Tranflattons than the laft and bell, &c. But Mr. Baxter doth inilance in other things, as well as Kalendars and Iranflations, and holds occalional Communion with the Church as it is, and would much rather, if thofe paiTage«s, (which the learned Dean calls doubtful andohfeure) were not impofed, and is Ca- tholick enough to hold Communion with any Chriltiart Church, that hath not corrupted the EfTcntials of Chriftian Woifhip. The fecond Declaration and Subfcription contains Matter Political and mixed, which is, Hot to take up Arms^ &t' t a thing cafily con fen ted to. I do confefs that there have been fair Explications and Limitations pub- lished to make this gain AiTcnt : but yet it is hard, unlefs all men could attain to the fame fence, and thofe Explications are not known to abun- dance that fubferibe and declare, and fo promife and iwear in the dark : I am confident many never read the Covenant that renounce it, and fo renounce they know not what i and may take their Informations from the D Pulpit, ( *&> Pulpit, where a Thread- bare Jingle hath been of late much ufed by fome, of the Holy-League in France (to root out the Proteftants) and the So- lemn League, which mull be taken to be as bad as that, being coupled to- gether with it. But that which is hard in thefe things is, i. To renounce what many do not know, (and mod never took) nor was ever like to be impofed, but to expire with the Men that took it, in the heat of War : fEut the Time of the Expiration of this Part dra^s on-3 2. Not only re- nounce it our (elves, but to declare that no Man elfe is bound. How cm I judg of another Man's Obligation in his Place and Calling f &c. Belidc?, admit I declare that there lies no Obligation upon any other Man, any more than up< n my felf, yet it is but my Opinion : I think he is not obli- ged, but my Opinion doth not abfolve or releafe him that thinks himfclf obliged^ and all this while I do really renounce but for my felf. And it is hard for any Man to determine a Cafe of Confcience, whofeCafe he doth, it may be, not well undaitand, and may fail in the Hating of it. But I mult not defcend into Particulars, neither do I determine againft ir, but only traniiently (Lew the Excufablenefs of them who cannot declare thefe things, ( altho they do not refufe it from any Principle of Diiloyahy cr Faclion ) and that from this undeniable Gonfideration and Argument: That which all the Art, and Wit, and Intereft of fome Men in great Place and Power in the Houfe of Lords, could not make to pafs, but was oppofed with that Clearnefs, and Cogency of Reafon and Refolution, as if they were favinga Nation, by retiring the Teft, which could not pafs into a Bill, mull needs b: hard to be impofed upon Minifters. And it is r.ot improbable, but that noble Oppolition gave the greateft Repulfe to a dangerous Deiign, long carried on to fubvert the Government, under a Pretence to preferve it as it is, in all its Parts and Circumftances. And the joint Oppolition of fome Popidi Lords againft the Teft, doth not at all abate the Strengthof this Reaton > for they having a cruel Deiign, de- iku&ive of this Frame, could not chufe but oppofe a Teft, which was pre- tended to preferve it unalterably as it is, both in refpeft of the Perfons that govern in the Throne, Church and State, and in its prefent Conftitution. And whereas many things have been carried on, as tho to prevent the co- ming of fuch a Year as that unhappy Forty one > yet really there have been : ,;reat Endeavours ufed, to bring us under the Obligation which fome brought upon us in the Year Forty ', I mean the Etc£tera Oath, leaving out the Et cetera it felf, and under a colour to preferve us from a Long Par- liament of the Complexion of Forty one, Proteftation, and Covenant, and War, gave Umbrage to a fearful Plot, to bring us under a Papal Slavery, introduced by bloody MaiTacres. And who talk d more of Forty one, than lome that are of late dikovered to be Traitors, and having profeJled to be Son? ( IP ) Sons of our Church, committed Fornication with Rom?, who had almoft gone out her full Time, ready to be delivered of a Pope, and had called the Midwife and many Ladies to the Labour, befpoken Nurfesand Goifips, and Choice of Fathers, to Anticbriften the Mmftcr with the Name of Ca- tholick Church, with all the Ceremonies of the Mifs > Some of the emi- nent Nonconform!}} s being willing to declare thcirdetefiation of Difloyalty, were taken with the Declaration feat out after the Oxford Oath, or f'/Ve- mile Ad : , being made believe that that Explication was fent forth by good Authority > yet many fmelling what was intended, were refolved to ven- ture their own private lofs of Liberty,by alTcrting the Publick Liberty, and (as things now appear ) the Government ows them a kindnefs i and the Noble Lords and Commons (that underflood themfelves, and the enerva- ting Perils) immortal thanKs for their feafonable Activity to prefcrve the firong and ancient Government. But, to conclude this Head, It is not kind, to fay no worfe, to engage all Miniflers, never fo young, or q\Cc they cannot enter into the Churches Mininry, either to be Politicians, to ftudy State-Affairs, (for which many have been extreamly blamed) or elk to be Jed as Fools, into they know not what. And they that have given this further Teit of their Loyalty, have little caufe to take .it well i as if the Handing Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy were not tyefufficient to keep us honcft, but difhonour us by a fufpicion of Diiloyalty and Treachery. Obferve the method of proceeding) hrli they began with us, as Guides of the People j and next proceeded to draw in Corporations, and from thence to impofe it upon the Parliament it felf> to which if they had fubmitted, we fee what would have followed, We might have fecn fuch Commiilioned by the King's own Authority, as See the Commons' would have deilroyed His Perfon, and cut all our Anfiver to bis Ma- Throats, having rirft tied our Hands. Thus I have feftia Mcffage about (hewed what is required from them. The fecond 'Tangier. Particular follows. 1 1. Corifidcr the Penalties to be inflicted upon fuch as will not con- form. i. They who w T ere in the Miniilry muft be divorced from thofe, whom they had baptized, and efpoufed to Chrift, among whom they had laboured* and their remove was to the making of many Chriftians, and to the great harm of the Church. I will initance only thefe three ways. Firft, it was as bad*o many, as the change of a Nurfe to a weakly Child. ( I will ask no Pardon for the Comparifon, it being Apoftolical.) 2dly, It was enough to make many ftagger, and call in quetiion all thofe Truths that had bin delivered to them, fince that their Preachers are judged unfit to be con- tinued in Truft with Souls; and tended to breed much Atheifm 3 and ma- D 2 vy C 20 ) ny Errors. 3dly, It tended to alienate the minds of many from the Go- vernment of the Church, that would enforce Laws binding to many un- neceflary things, even to the Ejection and Deprivation of many Orthodox and painful Divines. And this flicks with many to this day *> by which'* the Church-Rulers have not got, but loft. And thefe things aggravated with an imputation of Difhonefty in Minifters, by the publication of their Affent, &c. in the full Congregation. For- if any had diilinguifhed be- tween the fubftance of Ordinances, and Accidentals, which was but ne- celTary to many people, (who thought: no Worfhip Divine without the Common -Prayer, (as I my felf have known) nor See alfi Mr, Blake, Go- any Child rightly baptized without the Crofs) venant fealed L ; £.308.. yet by this. Act of Uniformity, they muff declare A/Tent and Confent to all and every thing,to Crofs as well as Baptifm, to Ceremony as well as Subitance. And how eafie was it for ilnfuP people and weak, to fay, See what thefe Men can do — Yea, in cafe that in any after-time, wife and moderate Governours fhould fee a neceflity of making Alterations : Then again, teaching Scorners to iay, Yea, fee what thefe Men can do to the great difhonour of Reli- gion, and difgrace of the beft of Minifkrs. And one would think that be- caule the Courts continue to fwear Churchwardens to prefent, they had Spies enow upon our Noneonformijh, and Punifhments fmart enough, they might have (pared, to require this Declaration i or, if they had thought us honefr, our promife to conform had been fufneient, tho kept in the Regi- sters, and made at our Inftitutions. Yet through this Difhonour we attain our Honour. They are debarred from all exercife of their Minifterial Abi- lities, their Wives and Children turned out of doors i and when they had made a fad and chargeable Remove of late, muft remove again upon the Five-mile Ad. And thefe Penalties were next to Death, and I conceive proved the Death of many. I remember the Renowned Bifhop Morton wrote thefe words to the Nonconform* ft s, and dcfiredthemearnelily.tocon- ilder the Cenfure of the Apoiile's Wo being fo dreadful : " I ought not to " efleem any thing a juft Caufe, why I mould wilfully incur the Cenfure of ct Silencing my felf from Preaching, for which I ought The General Defence " not as willingly to adventure my Life. The Non* of the three Ceremo- " conformijis have fulTered what is next to Death, and nits. Fart-i.1p.163. "too many have fuffered even unto Death, in Prifons, " where feveral caught their Death, and other«died; " (it is a dreadful fiory) of whom (hall their Deaths be required? And it is eafle to retort thofe words of the Reverend Bifhop, " Impofers mould ''notefteemany thing a juft Gaufe of bringing any under the cenfure s of 4t Silencing of Preachers from preaching, for. which they may not adven- J ture to take away their Lives. . ft yet mull Aifent to more than ever many have ltudied, Qrather following Exam- ple than Reafon] or elfe there is nothing for them to do. Others that are enclin'd to Learning, and to ferve in the Gofjxl,sre deterred upon ma- ny accounts, and have great prejudices againit Conformity, becaufeofthe great reverence they have to Nvnccnformitls ; and thefe are under a great temptation to perpetuate a Nonconformity : which is more futable to their inclinations, as being a ftate of freedom to their Confciences, from great Eondsand Obligations, tho an Eiiate attended with hazard to their Bo- dies and Eftates. And all-young Students are under thisneceiTity, either they mult fubfaibe hand-over-head, or elfe they muft fpend their time in thefe endlcfs Controveriies of the Church, and be engaged in the dolefull and fearfull Wars of the Church, on one fide or other. 3. The third Confederation that pleads for our No n- conforming Brethren, is taken from the Reafonablenefs of their Demands. I di/Hnguifh thefe Demands, into thofe Propofals made by the CommiiTioners in the Savoy, Anno 1662, with that Modefiy, Gravity, Humility and Reafon, treating the Bithops and other Commillioners as Superiour?. . 2. Into thofe which have been repeated by particular Peribns, and may be feen in the Wri- tings of Laborious and Catholick Mr. Baxter, Mr. John Corbet, and Dr. 0* Wtn in his learned and moderate Book of Church- Peace, Love, and Unity, I mall only generally compare what they humbly dciired, with what was d^elaredj j. In f 22 ) t. in his Majefties gracious Declaration concerning Ecckfiaftical Affairs : a moft large and healing Plaifter for the Churches Wounds > and might have been a Pillar to have born up the Church in Unity, as his Gracious Ati oflndempnity and Oblivion hath held up the State > if fome Men, who can be loyal for their own ends, had not (perhapsj bin induftrious to make Diviilons by their Affe&ed Terms of Union. 2. They humbly moved, but for what great Men, and famous in the Church of God to all poftcrity thought fit to grant. In that Year 1641, there was a Committee for Religion appointed in the Houfe of Lords, ten Eark, ten Bifhops, ten Barons. The Bifhop of Lincoln (Williams) fent a Letter to fome Divines to attend that Service (wjio met Breviai of his in his Houle, the Deanery of Weftminfter) upon which Life. p. 24. Arch-Bifhop Laud hath this Note : " Upon the whole " matter, I believe this Committee will prove the Natio- %[ nal Synod of England, to the great dishonour of the Church : and what * Thefe Divines were no lefs Men, than the moft Venerable Arch-Bifhop Vjher, Bifhop (Williams) of 'Lincoln, Dr. Prideaux ( after Bifhop of Worce- fter) Dx.Brownrig (after Bi (hop of Exeter) Dr. War d (ProfelTor of Divinity in Cambridge, and Arch-Deacon oi'taunton) Dr. Featly, Dr. Hacket, of late Bifhop of Coventry and Litchfield. All thefe fubfcribed a Paper called, the Proceedings, &c. touching Innovations in Dottrine and Vifcipline of the Church •f England '•> together with Considerations upon the Common-Trayer Book. Out of which I draw a Parallel, with the Propofals of the Divines appointed to treat by his Majefty's Commiflion, with the Archbifhop and Bifhops, and other Divines of the Church of England, at the Savoy. [See Account of the Proceedings, printed Lond. 1 6 6 1 .] ihe Divines appointed to meet in the Dean's Houfe, 1641. Confiderations on the Common- Prayer. 2. Whether the Reading of JF falms, Sentences of Scripture,con- curring in divers places in Hymns, the Epiflles and Gojpels, fhould not be fet out in the New Tranflation ? 4. Whether LeiTons of Canonical Scripture (hould not be put in the Kalendar inltead of the Apocrypha .? 5, That the Commifftoners in the Savoy, 1661. In regard of the many defects which have been obferved in that Vertlon of the Scriptures which is ufed throughout the Liturgy, —We therefore defire in ftead thereof the New Tranilation allowed by Au- thority, may alone be ufed. 8. p. 5/ — p. It is therefore deilred that no- thing may be read in the Church for LeiTons but the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teitamerrt. Excep- 5. That the Voxologie fbould be always printed at the end of the Lord's Prayer. 6. Whether the Rubrid^ fhculd not be mended, where it is, (that the LeiTons (hould be fung in a plain TuneJ whynot,read with adiitincf Voice ? % Whether Gloria Patri {"hould be repeated at the end of every Pfalm I Cor.fiJtr.9. Wheiherthe Hymns, Benedicite, Omnia Opera, &c. may not belt ft out? 3. Wheth ; the Rubric]^ (hould not be mended,where all Veitments- in time of Divine Service, are now commanded,whichwere ufed 2.E.6. 10. In the Prayer for the Clergy that phrafe peihapsto be altered, [which only workcjl great marvels.'] 11. Jn the Rulrich^fdr the Admi- nijhation of tht Lord s Suffer. Whe- ther this Alteration to be made,that fuch as intend to Communicate, (hall fignify their Names to the Cu- rat over Night, or in the Morning before Prayers. 1 2 . The next Rubric}^ to be clea- red, How far a Miniller may repulfe a fcandalous and notorious Sinner from the Communion. 23 ) Exception 3. We defire that the words, far thine is the Kingdom . may be always added to the Lord's Prayer. Except, p. 13. The LclTons, and Epifiles, andGofpels, being for the mofl part neither Pfalms n< r Hymns, we know no Warrant why they Ibould be fung in any place i and conceive that the difiiiicft reading of them with an audible Voice, tends more to the edification of the Church. Excep. We defire it may be ufed but once in the Morning, and once in the Evening. Except. We deiire that tome Pfalm or Scripture- Hymnjnzy be appointed inftead of that apocryphal. Except. We defire it may be kft out. The Prefaces of many Coll eels feem not to have any clear and fpe- cial refped to the Petitions, &c. Panic, p. 7. In the Order for tht hordes Supper, Except. The time here afligned (In the Rubrick^) for notice to be given to the Miniller, is notfufrkient. Excep. We defire the Minifters power, both to admit and repulfe from the Lord's Table, may be, ac- cording to his Majcily's Declaration, [ Oclob. 25. 1660. jj.Whe- pxceft, C-24 ) 13. Whether that Rubric^ is not to be mended, where the Church- wardens are itraitly appointed to ga- ther the Alms for the Poor, before the Communion begins, for by ex- perience it is proved to be done bet- ter when the people depart. 14. Whether the Kubrick is not to be mended, concerning the party that is to make his general Confef- fion upon his Knees, before the Communion, that it mould be faid only by the Minifter, and then at every claufe repeated to the people. 16. Whether it be not fit to in- fer t a Rubric^ touching kneeling at the Communion > that is, to com- ply in all humility with the Prayer which the Minifter makes when he delivers the Elements. ip. Whether in the firft Prayer at the Baptifm, thefe words, Vidfi fanttifythe Flood Jordan, and all other fFaters, (hou\d not be thus changed, Didftfahttify'the Element of Water 9 20. Whether it be not fit to have feme difcreet Rubric^ made to takeaway all Scandal from ilg- nifying .the Sign of the Crofs up- on the Infants after Baptifm, or if it (hall feem more expedient, to be quite difufed j whether this Reafon mould be publtfhed, that in Anci- ent Liturgies, No Crop was confign- ed upon the Party, but where Oil alfo was ufed > and therefore Oil being now omitted,fo may alfo that which was concomitant with it,the Sign of the Crofs. 21. In Except. Collections for the Poor may be better made at, or a little before the departure of the Com* I municants. We defire it may be made by the Miniiter only. W r e defire that the following Rubric^ in the Common-Prayer Bool^ of 5. of Edtv.6. may be reftored, for the Vindication of the Church, in the matter of kneelinj^at the Sacra- ment, &c It being doubtful whether either the Flood Jordan,ot any other Wa- ters, were fandrihed to a Sacramen- tal ufe by our Saviour's being bapti- zed: — We defire this may be other- wife expreffed. 18. General Propofal. After ftrong arguing, they conclude, We there- fore mo'*- earneftly entreat the righr reverend Fathers and Brethren, to whom thefe Papers arc delivered, as they tender the Glory of God, the Honour of Religion, the Peace of the Church, the Service of his Ma- jefty, in the accomplifhment of that happy Union, which his Majeity hath fo abundantly teftiried his De- fircsof, to join *ith us in impor- tuning his mofi Excellent Majefty, that his molt gracious Indulgences to 21. In private Baptifm, the Ku- brick mentions that which mult not be done, That the Mtntjhr may dip the Child in Water, being at the pint of Death. to thcfe Ceremonies granted in his Royal Declaration,may be continued and confirmed to us and our Pote- ncies, and extended to fuch as do not yet enjoy the Benefit thereof.-^ Of Private Baptifm. We dciire that Baptifm may not be in a private place at any time, unlefs by a lawful Minifter, and in the prefence of a competent num- ber i and where it is evident that any Child hath been fo baptized, no part of the Adminiftration may be reiterated in publick under any li- mitations, and therefore we do not 22. Whether in the laft Kubrick^ of Confirmation thofe words be to be left out, [and be undoubtedly faved.'] 23. Whether the Catechifm may not receive a little more enlarge- ment. fee any need of any Liturgy in that Cafe. Exception of Confirmation. Altho we charitably fuppofe the meaning of tffefe words was only to exclude the neceflity of any other Sacraments to baptized Infants > yet thefe words are dangerous, as to the mifleading of the Vulgar,and there- fore we uefire they may be expun- ged. "Except, of the Catechifm. We defire the nrft Queition may be altered, confidering for 20 Years pad, many had no God-fathersi and and the pb Q. The fecond Anfw. Wherein I was vifibly admitted into the number of the Members of Chrift. That the Commandments may be inferted according to the hft Tranllation of the Bible.That in the Expoficionof the Commandments, I fome claufemay be inferted to refer to the fourth Commandment, that thofe words be omitted. Anfwer,thus given, Two only, Baptifm, and the Lord's Supper, Sec. A more full Ex. plication of the Creed, Lord's Frayer, and 7w Commandments^ Sec. E 24. Whether ( 26 ) £4. Whether the Tim s prchi bited for Marriage are quite to be taken away } 25. Wheth r none hereafter (hall Tiave Licenfes to M3rry,nor beasked their Bancs of Matrimony, that (hall not bring with them a Certificate from their Minifters, that they are infirucled in their Catcchifm. 16. Whether thefe words in Ma- trimony [with my Body I thee wor- Jhip~] (hall not be thus altered, 1 give thee power over my Body ? 27. Whetherthe laft Kubrick of Marriage (liquid not be mended,fhat the new mairied Peifons (hould re- ceive the Communion the fame day of the Marriage, may it not well be, ©r upon the next Sunday following, when the Communion . is celebra- ted? 28, In the Abfolution of the Sick* were it not plain, to fay, Ipronomce, ibee Abjolved. 2p. The Pfalm of Thankfgiving of Women after Child-birth, Were it not fit to be com po fed out of proper Verikles taken from divers Pfalms ? Except, of the Form of Marriage. The word JForfhip, being much al- tered in the ufeof it,fince this Form was drawn up,wedefirefome word may be ufed inOead of it. This Kubrick doth either enforce all to forbear Marriage as are unfit for the Sacrament,or the unprepared to come to the Sacrament. And therefore we defire it may be omit- ted, the rather becaufe that Marri- age Feftivals are too often accompa- nied with fuch divertifements, as are unfuitable to thofe Chriftian Du- ties which ought to be before, and follow after the receiving of that Holy Sacrament* i Except. Vifitation of the Sufy That form of Abfolution be de- clarative and conditional, as [/ pronounce thee Abfolved~] initead of [J abfolve thee"] if thou doll truly repent and believe. This Tfalm (121) feems not to be fo pertinent as fome other, viz. Pfal.u$.8cffal.i2S..-* 32. lUi Except. c 3 2. In the Order of the Burial of allPerfons, 'tis faid, We commit this Body U the Ground, in fure and certain hope of Refurretlion to eternal Life : Why not thus. Knowing afluredJy that the Dead (hall rife again. 34. In the Litany, infiead of Far* nication, and all other deadly Stn > Would it not fatisfy thus, From Fornication, and all other grievous Sins. 35-. It is very fit that the Imper- fections of the Mccter, in the Sing- ing Pfalmj Ihould be mended > and then lawful Authority added unto them, to have them publickly fung before and after Scrmons,and fome- timesinftead of the Hymns of Morn- ing and Evening Prayer. 2 7 ) Except. Burial of the Dead. Thcfe words cannot in truth be faid of Perfons living anJ dying in open and notorious Sins. Except, in the Litany. In regard that the Wages of Sin is Death , We defire that this claufe may be thus altered, From Fornica- tion, and all other hainoiu or grievous Sins. Gen. Proportion, 1 2 . p. 6. Becaufe finging of Pjalms is a confiderable part of publick Wor- (hip, We defire that the Verfion fet forth and allowed to be fung in Churches, may be amended, or that we may have leave to make ufe of a purer Verfion. I (hall not draw the Parallel any further, but infer thcfe following Ob- fervations. 1. That thofe great and famous Men did fee fome ncceffity or reafon for altering of many things in the Liturgy* and therefore the Presbyterian Divines, (mofi of whom were and are Non-ConformijU) were not altoge- ther captious and quarrclfom, they maintain'd a Necefiity of Reformation. On the other fide, there were learned Men who maintained there was no neceifity of Reformation* But you fee, againft the fenfe of thofe ad- mirable Divines that met in the Dean's Houfe, 1641. 2. I obferve, That the Propofals and Exceptions of the Commillioners in the Savoy, were not without great Prefidenf, and infilled upon many things, which the mod eminent Fathers of the Church of England would have yielded to them, and doubtlefs mu.h more, if not all, for Peace and Union. 3. To fpeak a word for the reproached Brethren of the Non-conformifis, fwho are rcprefentcd to have all the ill Humours of factious Pcrfuns, and dif ontented,that know not what to ask, nor what they would have; is but a piece of JulHceand Chriftian Charity. Men think nothing but Presby- tery, and Covenants, and Dire&ory, will pleafcthem i which is not juU E 2 nor ( %i) nor true. They defired that the Liturgy may confift of nothing doubtful or queftioned amongft pious. Orthodox, Learned Men, &c. Dr. Allen f Huntingdon-fare, and Clerk in the Convocation, did earneiily labour with thethenBifhojpof London, ( afterward Arch-Bifhop J) that they might fo" refine the Liturgy, that no fober Man might make Exception. He was wifhed to forbear, for what mould be, was concluded on or refolved. They deilred, the obfervation of Saints Days might be omitted, &c. The mod Reverend VJher, and the reft, begin their Confederations with this i Whether the Names of fome departed Saints, and others , fhonld not he quite expunged the Kalender ? They defired that there might be no fuch Impofi- tion of the Liturgy, as that the Exercifeof the Gift of Prayer be thereby totally excluded, in any part of publick Worfhip The moft excellent Vfherl (£.5.5*. 1 6.) and the reft, reckon it among the Innovations', c By * prohibiting a dired Prayer before Sermon, and bidding of Prayer, (which is now the mode all over the Biftioprick of Darefm, as fome that are no ftrangers in it fay.) They at the Savoy flood for a Reformation, and were not fingular there- in |j for without it, the Reverend Dr. Featly, fa worthy Man, and great Sufferer in our unhappy Warrs, which is like the Sword that makes no difference) printed this Challenge and Manifefto. 1. ? The Articles of Religion need no Alteration at all, but only an * Orthodox Explication in fome ambiguous Phrafes, and a vindication a- 5 gainft falfe Afperfions. 2.. c That the Government by Bifhops (removing all Innovations and A~ i bufes in the execution thereof) is agreeable to God's Word, and a truly An- * cient, and Apoftolical Inftitution. 3, 'That the Book of Common Prayer (N. B. the Kalendar being refor- 5 tned,in point of Apocryphal Saints and Chapters > fomeRubricksexplain- *ed, and fome Exprellionsrevifed, and the whole correctly printed, with c all the Pfalms, Chapters, and Allegations out of the Old and New Te- c fnent 3 according to the laft Tranilation ) is the moft compleat, perfecT, 'and exact Liturgy in the Chriftian World, , Dippers Dipt, p. 16,22. and Gentle Lajh, 1644. And this is the fame in efTed with what the Divines at the Savoy hum' bly propofed j and without all thefe Exceptions, that Champion, Dr.Feat- ly, would not undertakers Vindication of them : by which it feems the rirft of the Church-Conftitution and Difcipline was not tenable as it ftood at that time i but our great Church-men were refolved, that the World ihould know their Strength, as well as Reafon, to regain with advantage likitth what they loft in 1641. The e>p ) The Presbyterian Divines fas they were called) did urge, toth ratio nally, heartily, and humbly, that the Ceremonies might be omitted, be- ing doubtful whether the Church had power to enjoin myftical teaching Signs (which the Iir.pofcrs confelTed indifferent) of no real goodnefs, &c. which many of the Oppofers accounted flnful, others inconvenient, and unfuitable to the fimplicity of the Gofpel > and had been, for a hundred Years, the Ft untain of manifold Evils, &c. And herein they were not lingular i for other Men, when difengaged, and Matters of their Liberty, have faid as much, or enough to fake off the edg, from Impofers to require them, or of wife Men todefire them. I fhall here produce the Judgment of iome learned and judicious Conforming Divines, concerning Ceremo- nies. The rirlt fhall be the molt eminent Dr. StiGingfieet^ in that excellent Irenicum, the rirft born of his moft learned Youth, and mature Reafon and Judgment i and had it teen the Wi rk of his Age, it had been a Eirth at full growth, in refped of Piety, Gravity, fwcetnefs of Temper, beauty of Complexion, wife Obfervations and Experience, that, and Author of the ireniwn, had filled up the Epitaph of the Dean of St. Pauls. This is the lalt Propofal of Accommodation i c That Religion be not clogg'd with *Cercmoni s, — Chriflian Religion is a plain, fimple, eafy thing.— By Ce- * remonies I do not mean here Matters of meer Decency and Order, * for Order-fake. — But Ceremonies properly taken for Attions fignificative^ * their lawfulnefs may with better grounds be fcrupled, fag. 6y, And be- c fore, pag. 66. VYe fee the Primitive Church did not make fo much of any ' uniformity in Rites and Ceremonies. — I (hall quote too much, if I give way to what is mature, and part his own mending, without difparagement to his more grown Reafon be it fpoken. The fecond is a great Scholar and Divine, the late worthy Mr. G.Larvfar?, (Rector of Moor in Shropshire) in his Expofition of the Second Command- ment, Ibeopolitica, B. 2. c. 8. c As for fignifkant Ceremonies, annexed 1 to the Service of God, no ways conducing to the better performance c thereof, I think they are better fpartd and omitted, than ufed and obfer- l ved. For tho confidered in themfelves, without any reference to God's 'Worfhip, they be indifferent, and fo in general may be lawful j yet if we * examine their Original, the rirft occafion of their Inftitution » the Per- 'fons whoufe, or rather abufe them, and underftand withal how needlefs 'and unprofitable they be, and how offenilve tofome weak Brethren i and 1 alfo befides thefe may be inftituted many more of that kind, and may be 1 impofed upon the fame ground i and that in the Church of Rome they c have been an occafion of Supcrftition : it muft needs be included, by im- partial and judicious Men, that they are not expedient. To fay, and 'publkkly declare that they have no fantSifying Power, that they are c neither (Bo) *. neither s HoIy nor Unholy, will not ferve the turn :. for the fame may be ' faid of Images, at firft, when they began to be ufed > and do what wc * can, many of the People do account them to be Holy, make thetn parts c of God's Worfhip, and are more careful in the obfervation of them, than c they are of the more weighty Duties of Religion. £Dodhine in c this cafe will not prevail, if the thing that they trufted to, be not taken c from them. Calfhill of the Crofs, again Mirtial, p 88.^ c So it may be, c bating the degrees of Offence, when Matters of Indifferency in them- * (elves, are, by the generality of People not looked on as fuch> but ufed c as a neceiTary part of Divine Service. Dr. Stilling. Inn. p. 64. They who induftrioufly labour to keep out Popery, can never cleanfe a People from Super ft it ions, while they keep up Ceremonies, an obfervation of pre- fent ufe. My third TeHimony is, a Man of great Learning, and of long Handing in the Church, Mr. John Lloyd B. D. now of North Tidworth in Wilts ^ Treat, of Epifc. Liturg. Rites, dec. Lond.i66o. c Many have entertained a c great fc3r, which hath alienated their Minds from all Epifcopacy > namo * ly, that innumerable company of unneceffary and burdenfome Ceremo- * nies be infeparable Concomitants of Epifcopal Government. Indeed c the fear is not vain, and without grounds, if we refped the degenerate * Epifcopacy, as it is, if we regard the Primitive, which hath been, and c will be contented with a very few, if need be.— f.3 2. S. 1 5 (the whole c Sc&ion gives a (hortand full account of Primitive Simplicity}. One Rea- }. fon why Ceremonies increafed in the fourth Century, may be this, Be- * caufe the Church more flourimed in profperity than at any time before, 'and might be thought convenient, that the External Glory ot the Church, 'fhould be proportioned to the Glory of the Empire, p. 38. We may err, * as in defedt, fo in excefs of Ceremonies, or in the choice, or in ac- counting and compelling others to own them for unchangeable Apofto- c licklnftitutes, or by too rigid preiling of every of them, efpecially upon 4 People of weak Capacity, humble, peaceable, and fcrupulous Confci- c ence. Antiquity is venerable, yet it may not, ought not continue a c Rite or Ceremony in any Church, with whofe Edification and Peace it is c become inconfifient. There be but few Ordinances meerly Eccleiiadical, c which have not in fome Churches become noxious, or at lead ufelefs. c And there is a viciilitude of Profit or Detriment growing from them in jf the fame Churches, ariiingfrom notable changes in Perfo'.s and Circum- c fiances. If it mould feem good to the Church of England to Xr" c mend their Liturgie, or compofe a new one, ( if need be ) more c agreeable to the prefent Time, they fhould do therein no more than l ihe molt famous Churches have done before > and which can be no difpa- c ragement ( 31 ) 'ragcment to the Wifdom and Piety of the Corr,po r crs of it, which fn- c tei ded only to make it as ht as could be for the iiute of the Church in 1 their time, and hot to frame and irr.po'e an Unchangeable Form, which < could never prove incongruous to any poilible variety in the (late of the * Church \ for this is not in the power of any pcrfons or Churches. P. 54, 55. Thus tar this great Student, modeit, moderate good Man. I will content my ft If with the Opinions o{ rhefc three worthy Pcr- fons, when difengaged i and altho they conformed, they were and are no doubt of the fame mind, free in their minds, when obliged in their pra- ctice to fubmit. What more than what I have mewed, the Comm : lTbncrs at [he Savoy pleaded for, may be feen in the Account of their Proceedings : Eut what got they by thofc Debates btfidcs fatisfa&ion in their own Souls,that they debated and petitioned for Peace ? A very little indeed ! And what the Bifhops gave with the one hand, they got with the other. It was Grange and hard that they could not prevail fo far as to get the Commandments in the Church-Catcchifm & Communion-Service to be after the lalt and befi Trar.flation in our Bibles '-> but our Children muft be taught the 4th Com- mandment after the manner of the Judaiiing Scventh-day-Sabbath Sect i for fc they are taught, Wherefore he bUffed the [Seventh day~\ and hallowed it '■> and our unwary People are taught to pray, that God would encline their hearts to k^cp this Law, that Law which en joineth the Seventh-day as the Sabbath, which God blefled and hallowed : whereas the law, Remember the Sabbath day, which extends to the Firfl day, as well as the Seventh day y and makes the Firft day moral, when appointed by the Lord of the Sab- bath, (But this Doctrine was not confonant to the Opi- nions of Dr. Heylin, Mr. Thorndike, nor (which I won- Hijh of t\ye Sab- der at) to the judicious Bp. Sanderfin) as much as the batb.Juji Weights Seventh was from the Creation. What if an inqui- & Meafures.Cafe ring Child that is catechifed , (hould ask his Parent, of the Sabbath. What day do we keep as Sabbath \ the Firft hee'l fay. But faith the Child, Why do we keep the Firfl ? what Commandment for that i* cr what Promile } for we are taught in the Catechifm, God blejfed the Seventh djy. Is not this a temptation to keep the Seventh-day Sabbath? Had the Presbyterians pleaded for that Tranflation, they might have heard of their ignorance in the Hebrew: and demanding things not ht to be al- lowed, they would not erant them, leit they fas the Puritans have been mihcprelenttdj (hould Judaize in keeping the H» c to propofe what may feem belt for the Community of printed with his ? God's Church, in the Cure of our Breaches, is not to Weights and Mea- c give offence, but to take it away. Nor do I know fures. pag. 236. * any Man profefllng the Reformation (incerely, that Edit. 1662. * could not wifli with all his heart, that the whole Or- c der and Form to be fetled, with the Circumtiance of € the fame, might be according to the Primitive Simplicity, and naked * plainnefs of the Ancient Church, p. 245. — The fprm of Service now c in force by Law, may be acknowledged capable of Amendment without * difparagement either to the Wifdom of the Church that prefcribcd it, or * of the Nation that enacted it. Some promifed much,but granted little \ others begg'd more, & pleaded hard, but obtained not. And may not this jufiify the Nonconformijis waiting for, and earneftly defiring a redrefs of material things, iince they could ob- tain but very little then,and cannot in confcience fubfcribe and declare now? If they had been gratified then, and had now been difcontented without more JD more, there had been more reafon for the prejudice that is propagated a- gainftthem. If it be objected, Why could not they have Conformed^ m fame of their Fellow-Commijftonerf did ? IAnfweri i. Some very worthy Perfons did Conform, Dr. Wallk % Dr. Hjrton, Dr. Light foot > and after about feven Years iilence, to the great lofs of Exeter College, Oxford, and the Church of God, Dr. Conant conformed, and thefewere all. 2. The Reafons why thefe did not, is, becaufe, as the fame Spectacles will not ferve all Mens fight, fobecaufe they could not, as they oft decla- red, both to the (baking off fome, and the difpleafure of others within the Pale. My laft Obfervation {hall be upon the*Pcrfons that managed that De- bate. The CommhTioners that pleaded for the Union as it was, without a Reformation, were the ilrongeft and itiffeft of any in the Church of Eng- land. Men of great Learning, long experience in the Ecclefialiical Go- vernment, and that had fuffcred much, and were much exafperated, as bein& ( feveral of them next the Bifhops ) mod obnoxious to the Parlia- ment, as molt guilty of Innovations in Doctrine and Difcipline, by the Informations and Complaint of as Learned, and as great Men as any of them in the Church of England, as may eallly be produced out of the bell account of thofe Times > all except Dr. Morley, Dr. Earle y Dr. Sanderfon, ( againit whom I remember no Complaints ) and a few befide. Their Con- ihncy and Sufferings, did recommend them to the King's Favour* and the great Agreement in their Perfuafions, held them to one another \ and having the difpofing of Preferments as they pleafcd,or at lealt the Recom- mendation of Candidates, Expectants complied with them, and were forward to walk according to their Meafures. The moderating Bifliop Hall was gone to Heaven i Prideaux, Broxvnr'ig, and others of another temper, and fo it was eafier for them to carry all their own way : and two things, as conducing to their defigns, was neceffary > i. To frame a Convocation to their minds, and to that end, great care and pains were ufed to keep out, and to get in, by very undue Proceedings, Protections were entred againit all Incumbents not ordained by Bifhops though it WdS not through their faults i and to exclude others, that they feared had any inclination to Moderation indeed, under the name of Presbytery. And fuch an Election being made, as there was n great fear of calling anything to free Debates, few leading Men being of another mind, fo there were no Debates to fpeak of i the grcateii that I could hear of, was between the Cambridg Profeffor Dr. Gunning, and the Oxfsrd J 1 :o •• fiflbr Dr. Crad) about (a hard Point indeedj the Agt of Children to beCoa* firmed. F 2. ror I 3* J 2. For all his Majefty's moft gracious and excellent Declaration, con- cerning Ecclefiaftical Affairs, they laboured, by all their Intereft and En- deavours, to have a Parliament that would pafs what they would contrive and prepare for them. And fo they, inftead of fending more Labourers into the Vineyard, hired (asfbmefay) Labourers to turn out, or keep out Labourers from entring in. And the Labourers in Penfion were not im- ployed only in State, but alfo in Church-Work. Their Intereft was fo great in that Parliament, as to enact what was reckoned an Innovation in Come Colleges in both Univerilties ( by the above-named Biftiop Brorvnrig^ and Prideaux, dec. in thefe words, c By introdu- ce of the Proceed- c cing Latin Service in the Communion of late in^ ings, dec. 164.1. In- c Oxford, jnd into lome Colleges in Cambridg at novation 1 7. c Morning and Evening Prayer i fo that lome c young Students and Servants in the Colleges do c not underftand their Prayers. But now the Latin Service may be ufed in any College, or Hall, in Oxford, Cambridg, Weftminfter, IFincbejier, and Eaton, and Convocation of Clerks. The tommiflioners on the other fide, mull be Dr.TmtyieyJDt.Wal' acknowledged Men of great and found Learning, Ik, Dr,Conant,Horton, and of more experience in the Paftoral Office, and Ligbtfoot, Mr. Baxter, had converfed more with great Congregations than Mr. Woodbridg, Dr. the others had, and fo were more fit to Advife '•> as Seaman^ DuSpnrfioiv, learned Practitioners in Phy tick are fitter to Advife, Jacomb, 'Bates, dec. and more likely to hit the Temper of the Patient, and Biftiop Reynolds than a Profeflbrin the Theory. And the account on this fide, of their Proceedings will to Pofterity fhewtothe impartial and inquifitive, both their Parts and their Temper. When I read them, I do the lefs wonder Bp S. at Stony-Strat- at what I heard, that a great Biftiop in his prime Vi- ford in Buck*. fitation, foon after, did teach his Clergy againft reading that Book. Thus was the Platform of the prefent Conftitution drawn, and it (lands leaning altogether to the one fide, and what wonder,that many that feem wholly to lean upon it, do cry, It falls, it falls, that was not laid upon a larger Foundation. But how did thefe Mafter- Builders proceed in the Go- vernment of their New-Reformed Church ? It feemed to be built no lar- ger than to contain one Family, the genuine Sons of fuch Fathers > there was but one narrow Door of admillion to it, a ftrong Lock upon it, and the fole Power of the Keys was in trufty Hands, and the bword in the hand of a Friend, there was no outward Apartment in it to entertain Strangers, or belonging to it ; But fome got a falfe Key to the Door, as many call it, a ( 35 ) a Key of a larger fenfei and when fomc got in, more crouded in- fothe Latitudiiurian in Charity, came in with the Latitudinarian in Difd- pline, to the no little griff of fome who do not like their company. The Fathers keep above Stairs, and now and then come down among us, and fend their Omars to viiit us, and have their Watch renewed every Year to tell Tales or uss and they that are without Doors, cry, If there beany Love in our Governors to Chriir, and his divided Flock, that we would but widen the Door, and reform but ill Cuftoms i but we fay, we cannot help our felvcs or them, for the Law will have it Co. The Law had a two- edged Sword of Penalties, and fome of them who took Sword to guard and a (Hit the Church, having fpent their he3t, grew for the molt part cold and lazy* and more DiiTentcrs were fmitten with the Key, than the Sword : And fo nothing almoft went on currantly and vigoroufly, for more got into the Communion than fome would have, and fo many kept out, that there were too many to be dealt with. Several of the Bifhops having made work for others, and having their Wills, grew very gentle. I begin within mine own Knowledg, or good Information. I (hall not need to fpeak of Bifhops, Monl^ and Gauden^ nor of Reynolds, who carried the Wounds of the Church (in his Heart and Bowels) to his Grave with him, as is well known to many that knew him : but fpeak of the moft rigorous at firit' hand. Dodtor Laney, firit Bilhop of Peterborough , who had made a great busile in the croud of afpiring Men in Cambridge till he came up feveral Stories, as high as he defired to be, was very moderate in his Government. In his prime Viiitation, (as I have heard one fpeak that was by) before Bartbolomew^he in his Chamber told ibme of his Clergy what he came about > and as tho he would wipe his Hands, fad, in iyac aA\o. to//©-' j Not 7, but the Law > and could (to ufe his own phrafe to a fcrupulous Perlon) look through his Fingers, and fuffer a worthy Non-con- formijl to preach publickly very near him, for fome Years together, after his remove to another Bifhoprick. Eifhop Saunderfon was fevere, and troubled long with a (harp Difeaie, which might exafperate his Mind, had a Roll of Minifters under his an- gry Eye, deiigned for Difcipline \ but when he drew nigh to his latter End, he commanded that Roll to-be burnt, and faid, He would die in Peace. Dr. Earle Bifhop of Salisbury, was a Man that could do Good againft Evil > forgive much, and of a charitable Heart, and died, to the no great iorrow of them, who reckoned his Death was ju(l, for labouring all his might againft the Oxford Five-mile Aft. But moft remarkable is that PaiTage in the laft Testament, printed both in Enghjh and Latin^ of the Learned Dr. Cofms Bidiop of Vurefm, punted F 2 with ( 3* ) with nis Funeral Sermon and Life. He leaves a Mark upon the Presbyfe- rian, to fatisfy us that he was none, but tells the Church, That our great and main Work is, to Unite. The Paffage deferves Tranfcribing, viz, pag. 126. C I take it to be my Duty, and of all my Brethren, efpecially the 'BijhopSy and Minifters of the Church of God, to do our utmofl endea- c voters, according to theMeafure of Grace which is given to everyone of c Us, that at laft an End may be put to the Differences of Religion, or at * leaft they may be lefTened, &c. How others of their Order, that are dead, and alive, that managed that Affair, for the /landing or making of this Church, have carried themfelves in Debates, and great Trials, is better known to others than to me. Only I will crave leave to fay, That one at that time but Dodtor, hath not con- sulted the quiet of peaceable confidering Men, by provoking Mr. Baxter to (hew Reafons of his Nonconformity, which are too hard for many to anfwer, and unanfwered yet. And it is to no purpofe to fet R. againft B t ■and Baxter againft Baxter, as if none could anfwer him till he turn Confor- mifl and anfwer himfelf > and it will not do, to whifper, that the Man is rude and crack dj for indeed, the morecrack'd he is, the more Kernel Is feen. The wife and good Bifhop Wilhjns, was a Man of another Spirit, and took comfort in his healing Endeavours upon his Death-bed. And the Lord of his infinite Mercy, move and engage their Right Reverend Survi- vors, and other eminent Divines of the Church, to lay to heart our dole- ful, broken, and declining State, and fupplicate the King and Parliament to unite and ftrengthen the Proteflant Intereft. A far better Work, than< to invite the Non- conformist to come in, as things do ftand, or to provoke any of them to fhew caufe of their Nonconformity, which tends but to exafperate fome, and to (hake others out of their own Corrjmunion, if they prevent it not. I do not fpeak at all adventures. - If fome could have executed the Laws, or prevailed with Magift rates fo to do, we ihould have had a Militant Church indeed. In the Year idtfp, we had fe- veral Articles fent down to the Clergy, with private Orders to fome, to make the Conventiclers as few and (mall as might be? . . The eighth and laft was this, Whether yon do thinh^ * they That if, The might he eafily fuppreft hy the Afliftance of the Civil Ma- J)ijfenters. gijirate ? Some made bold to anfwer more than Ay, or No. Since,what encouragement had a fort of feandalous Perfons- to become Informers. But God took fome of thefe into his own hand * fome cut off, and fome convinced -5 and through the gentlenefs of the Civil Magiftrate, and (ham e of the Office, Meetings went on, and grew, as they are at this day. Some of the Informers were firuck into an Awe C 37 ) Awe of the Preachers, and manner of their preaching i others baffled, and fome, as Gibfon of Leicefier, died miferably. See the Life of Mr. Jehn Tregoft. I have been large in this Head j I will be (hortcr in the reft. 4. The fourth Confederation is, The Qualifications of their Pcrfons. They have their Faults, no doubt: The Angels of the Churches, are not Angels ot Heaven. They are better known to many Great Men in Church and State, than to me,who very rarely fee or converfe with any. But if they required my Teflimony, I would give it, That for Loyalty to their King, I never knew any more. They cannot drink his Health, but they helpt to pray him to his Throne, pray that he may long fit upon it, and pray him towards Heaven. They break his Laws, fay fome, and fow Sedition > &c. Do they 10 > Then fpare them not. They are grieved they cannot keep his Laws, that fuch Laws are made which they cannot keep. Eut have they refilled, when their Goods have been feifed, or broken Prifon, &c. What Confpiracy have they been in ? ElefTcd be God, who hath kept them above the Slanders of their Adverfaries, and convinced them (if any thing will) that they can Preach, and Pray, and not into a War \ and neither Preach nor Pray us into a War, cr a Plot. Their Holinefs and Morality is confpicuous, and they are ufeful many ways in the Common-Wealth > and for their Miniftcrial Abilities, allowing them but thofe Grains which no Man of Charity denies, and no Man of any Abilities can pafs for currant without, they (are Men of different ftaturcs, it is true, but fome ) are eminent for variety of excellent and ufir- fu! Learning, and known to the Church of God, by many rare pieces of Practical Divinity, and Controverfal. Befide the many Traces of particu- lar Men, that will be valued while Chriftianity hath any Name among Ages to come. See but a Specimen of their Dexterity in Practical Divinity, in thofe Lectures, called, 'the Morning Exercifcf at Cripplegate^and Supplement. For politive, in their Morning Exercifes at St. Giles in the Fields, 6cc. And their Polemical, in their Morning Exercifes againft Popery. And there are very able Divines and Preachers up and down the Land, befide thofe that are known in London. What Service hath Mr. Pool's Nullity and Dialogues, Dr. Owens Anfwer to Fiat Lux, Mr. Baxter s Key for Catho- licks, &c. and Mr. Cl arks on* s Moral Divinity of (he Papirts, and his Ob- fervations upon the Jefuits Speeches, done? What a notable Book is Mr. Hughes's Man of Sin? I hope no Man will think, that I look upon them as the only Champions in this Caufc, or extol them, to leflcn or de- prive any of our Conforming Worthies of the honour of their open and hazardous Engagements againft that Daring Faction. No, but my Soul longs r as ) longs to fee them all under the fame Banner, and of the fame Body, and the fame Denomination. The Meafures of thefe mud not be taken from fome Mens Books, who had magnified their Office more, if they had not exp.fed and vilified them. Are there any mean and weak among them ? They may be ufefal if nourished and improved > but the bed: of them all, hath no more Liberty, befides what he ventures for, than the very mcaneft. 1,-would conclude, humbly propofing thefe Queries : Firfr i Whether it U thought that any of them, are enabled from above, with Minijhrial Abilities j and inftrutted to the Kingdom of God } I nil I not defend Jo Ion? m our Legal Rule of Trial i Are they fitted for the Ministerial Office ? Have they Underftanding in the Scripture ? Skill in Ori- ginal and other ufeful Learning ? Are they Orthodox in Judgment, free from Hereiie ? Do they confent to the avowed Doctrines of the Church of England? Have they the Gift of Utterance ? Are they willing, and defirous to ferve in the Gofpelof Chrift ? No doubt, but from the oldeft to the youngeft of them, they will fubmit to an Examination, if thought neceffary to their AdmilTion. Befides the full Proof that many of them have given, even to an Excellency, above mod of our Brethren. What of all this ? will be faid unto me, They di/fent from the Difcipline, Go- vernment and Legal Worfhip. I ask again, are they for any elTential, fundamental Parts of Apoftolical, truly Primitive Church Government ? Will they promife to adminifter all the Ordinances of the Gofpel, as Chrift enjoyned them > as the Apoftles and their next Succeilbrs did celebrate them (as nearly as can be learned from undoubted and currant Hiftory ) The chief of (hem fay they can, and it is that they contend for. Laftly, I ask s Do we think that Chrift would have fent them out to preach, or forbad them, the Apofiles have given them the Right-hand of Fellow/hip, or not } Would St. Paul have rejoyced that the Gofpel was preached by them or not ? Then, fecondly, I' query h Whether any that are intrufled by Jefus Chrift in the Over-fight of his Church, and adminiftration of Government and Vifcipline in it, can forbid fuch Men to minijler in his Church? Here feems to me, to be a Repugnancy between Chrift and his Officers in his Church : He fits and qualifies Men with Gifts, and Furniture for his Churches Edification, and Good, who ftand in need of them i makes them willing to fpend and be fpent > but the Governours of the Church will not admit them in, but caft them out i and by their Canon judg them excommunicate: fo whom Chrift fends, they refufe. Whofe Will mould fway the Matter of the Family, Chrift, or his Stewards ? But it will he objected, they will not conform to the Church as eftablifhed by Law i and better the Church fhould loofe their Labours, than the Hedg of Go- vernment C 39 ) rcrnment thrown down for them. DwStiU'uigfl. Zre/i/V. p. 42. Says, thi Msgi- ftrate cannot forbid true Vofirine to be preached. I humbly offer, 1. Whether any fuch Laws mould be made, Hand in force, or executed againlt Men found in Doctrine, and enabled by ChriH to fcrve him ? 2. whether this Form of Government to which they can- not conform, be that form of Conltitution to which they mult fubmif, or elfe be deprived according to the mind of Chrill ? I go upon this Sup- pofition, That all particular Laws of the Church muft agree with the Ge- neral Rules of Chfiit, and not be to the damage of the Church of Belie- vers. 3. Whether the Ap0H0lic.1l Church- Practice, be not rather a Rule to all fuccceding Ages to follow, than the Fourth Age which waxed wanton in Ceremonies, and caft thofe Ceremonious Shadows from her Bo- dy, becaufe the Sun of Imperial Favour, and Profperity did fhine upon her } 4. I humbly offer, that fuppofmg that the prefent Church-Frame of Government, Difciplinc, Worfhip and Ceremonies, ( which as it is with the fcrupled Aflents, and Additions, and Penalties, is no older than 1662.) be neareH of any in the World, as near as may be to the Prime Primitive ApoHolical Church > for all this, whether there be no way to be ufed, or taken with the Non-conforming Brethren (fuppofc them all under an Error as to this particular of Church- Government and Ceremonies) but to filence them, to forbid them to preach, upon fuch penalties ? Or, ought not the Governours of the Church, out of refpeft to their Mafler Jefus C/;r/#,and to the Gifts 3nd Graces which he hath given to them,and thereby commended them in his Name, to the Acceptation of his Flock, to find out fome way to render them ufeful to the fervice of his People ; I do fup- pofe, that all, whom Chrift hath qualified with Abilities, and made wil- ling, and that have dedicated themfelves to his Service, ought to be received and imployed. ( And may I fpeak and write it trembling) Is there not implyed a Wo to them that hinder, as well as to them that preach not the GofpeH Objection, But tbey are difobedknt to the Law of the Land, tkc. I anfwer, To the Temporal Laws, they fubmit to them. To the Temporal Laws requiring Conformity, I make bold to ask, are any for- bidden by that Law to preach, &c. whom Chrift hath fitted for it ? then, ought not that Law to be revifed and repealed ? Are there'no Conditions or Terms required by that Law, but fuch as are ttri&ly the Terms which ChriH ( by whom the ChriHian MagiHrate bears Rule*) hath directed them to make for all that mall enter into the Church ? If fo,then it muft be a Law of the Medcs and Pcrfuns i But there is no fuch thing pretended. This Law was not given in the Mount. And there are many among us that arc for the Expiration and Non-obligation of the fourth Law,delivered by God himfclf f 40 3 himfelf. There is no temporal Law, but is nulled or amended when it appears detrimental to the Common-wealth > and why not, when the Church fuffers by any Law, Ought not that to be looked into ? Object. But the Church needs them not, and there are more in the Vniverfities, and Countries, and Cities, that will conform, than the Revenue of the Church will maintain, Anfw. i. It is one thing to admit our Non- conforming Brethren to the Preferments of the Church, and another to the Service of the Church \ admit them tirft, and God will provide for them in time : I believe they defire not that any Man Ihould be difplaced for them. 2. Put them into a Capacity for the difcharge of the Ministerial Office, for which they are prepared, and many of • them have Epifcopal Ordina- tion. 3. He that faith there are too many Labourers for the Work of Chrift in the Church, mull hold, that Chrift gives Gifts fuperfluous, and gives Talents to them that have no place to trade with them, or knows not the weight of the Paftoral Charge, or the great need of Souls, and of more help. 4. If there be fuch ftore of Minifters that there is no room, it would be acceptable to Chrift to take care of Forreign Plantations \ But alas ! How many go affray for want of Shepheards ! [See Mr. Godwin^ Negroes Ad- vocate."] Laitly '•> I doubt not, but it is in the Power of our Church Governors, to make a great Change for the great Advantage of the Church > lome of them have a great influence upon the Legillation > many have intereft in, if not,great freedom with the great Men in Power, Opportunities to fpeak for the Mourning Church, and to fhew them what is good h which would more become the Minifters of Chrift, than to expofe the Infirmities of the Non-conformifts, or mifreport their Doings. If in the prefent Exigence and Dangers of the Church, (which they are feniible of, becaufe of on* Divifions, or elfe many would not invite them in, or condemn them for keeping out) Our great Men in the Church do not all that in them lies to procure our Peace, they are like to anfwer for it to the Prince of Peace. They that urge the Law againft their Brethren, muft either convince them of the goodnefs of the Law, which they can never do, as that to which they ought, upon peril of their Salvation to fubmit 5 or elfe declare their Grief, that with all their Importunities, Prayers, and favour with Men in Power, they cannot get the Law made eafy > or elfe this lies againft them, that many of the Church procured the Law,which was enadted upon their Advice, and to gratify them: and if fo, then they but for a time conceal their own uncharitablenefs, under the Wing of a Law, which is pleafing to ( 4» > totherrJ It is evident to all that have Eye? to fee, and that have two .Eyes to fee withal, who hath gotten by this Uniformity. If it be fa id, that Popery hath got by Non-conformity, they will readily reply, Who made them Non-conformijis f They gave them warning of the Danger, ami did all that was in the power of loyal, peaceable, honeit Men, for Unity and Peace. For my part, I cannot reply, nor confute their Vindication; And fo much for this Head. 5. Confider their Behaviour fince their unhappy Ejection, under their many Sufferings. That their Sufferings have been great, is notorious to them that know them, or I broe ftokgn of their have Chriftian Bowels in them. To what end Sufferings once and a- fhall I make a diilribution of them, into Spirituals, gain, but not for the into Temporals, into Perfonal, and Domeftical \ fame Caufe^ nor tbt They are condemned for making a Separation \ of fame 'things. all Men in the Land they have the greateft caufe to be for Union, and againft Separation. They have fuffered many cutting Separations ! fuch as, from the Magiftrates Favour and good Opinion \ from their beloved Congregations > from their Habitations and Mainte- nance > from their Libraries and Studies \ from their own Friends ; cfpecial- ]y the worldly-wife > from their former Familiars > from their Wives and Children. Abundance of them have been made of the Order of Mendi- cants, to eat other Mens Bread, to wear other Mens Cloaths, to procure their own Liberty, and to difpofe of their Children to Callings with other Mens Mony and Charity. Thefe things are nothing indeed to them that have no Sences ! Have they fuffered in their Names, in their Liberties, Im- prifonment, where they got their Deaths, as above-faid I It hath been a dear Separation to them ! The Nonconformity hath loft fume Minifters many thoufand pounds. And what have all thefe things been for ? For their own Faults, Humours, factious Nature? &c. Have none of them any Wir, Reafon, Policy, Religion, Conicience ? Are all fo naught, or fo foolifh, fuch Babes or Mad-men, that they hate Peace, hate their Wives and Children, and their own Flefh i Or, cannot chufe what's beft, a good Living, or a nafty Prifon, or be in peril of it ? O that we would forbear to judg our Fellow- Servants ! They declare plain- ly and truly, they cannot conform to the prefer. t T'bcy tb.it thinh^ them Constitution '■> Who mould beft know that, They, to be againfia CburcJ?- or We ? Will it follow we can, therefore they Government , becaufe may ? Or, that good Men have, therefore all good they camiot conform t§ Men can ? Two things have been declared by all fartienhrs k thir, them, are much miUJJpt, G 1. That (42) t* That they cannot forbear their Miniftry ; preach they muft. 2. As dear as Preaching is to them, and the Magiftrates favour, and a portion of thefetled Maintenance, yet they cannot comply on the Legal Terms. But have they attempted their Liberty by any treacherous Confpiracies > Hav^ they preached Seditioufly I or been Acbans in the Camp, or Nadabt and Abibu's ? They ask no Favour, fear no Accusations* They may fay, as that excellent Mr. Jofepb Allen, in. his gallant Speech (wife, humble, and full) to the Judg, when fentenced to pay a hundred M*yj^, and lie in Prifon till it was paid > c He was glad that it had appeared, before his * Country, that what foe ver he was charged with, he was guilty of nothing * but doing his Duty h and that all that did appear by the Evidence, was 'only, That he had fung a Pfalm> and intruded his Family, others 'being there, and both in his own Houfe > and that if nothing which 'had been urged, would fatisfy, he mould, with all chearfcilnefs and ' thankfulnefs, accept whatfoever Sentence his Lordfhip mould pronounce J upon him, for fo good and righteous a Caufe. [Life of Mr. Jof. Allen, , }*g. 5p.] Object. But fome of them gatber Cburcbes, Preach in time, of Public^ Ser- vice, and are ill-tempered Men, &c. A. I meddle not in this, as it is a Matter of Controverfy, dated and agi- tated by different Perfuaflons: But as it is a Matter of Complaint \ and fo, I fay, we ought to do all that good Men can do, for one Mind, one Way, to narrow Con trover fies, by enlarging Conditions of . Commu- nion. 2. Many cannot help preaching in time of publick Service. i. Becaufe elfe they cannot preach at all, for the diftance of their Au- ditors. 2. Againft their Wills they are conftrained, becaufe many that re- fufe to hear the Publick Minifters, would be drawn to Meetings of Anabaptifts : And this was one reafon which good Dr. Staunton in particu- lar, gave for his preaching at Su Albans at fuch times. So, many of the Non-conformifis are a fecond Sieve > if they preach not, much Corn would fall to the gathered heaps of other DiiTenters* 3. Seeing they are under an Obligation of Preaching, in one fence, the more publick their preaching is, the better, for then they will be fure to preach nothing but what all may hear. . 4. The Law makes no difference between Publick and their own Houfes, if they exceed Five 5 if therefore they Judg themfelves (and none can better judg than themfelves) obliged to preach upon peril of the Law, they take the more publick Places, no greater Penalties being to be fuffered for thatj than a meer private Corner, Laftly* . T43) Lartly, Hath any of them firffered as an evil Doer? ( taking evil doing • in (he common fence) ordefcrved to furTcr thefe eighteen Years? Have they not aiTerted the Common Jntercft ? fought the publick Welfare ? op- pofed Popery I and been as obedient Subjects to the King as any other, iaveonlyin this controverted Point? What pity is that, thcBofomof the Church were not as open and as large as the King's gracious Prote- ction is to them, as leading peaceable and quiet Lives, in all Godlinefs and Hone/ty ! What tho they complained ! have they fenfe, or are they fmpid ! Have they ltiircd Sedition, and diftradted the Government ? taking the advan- tage of a horrid Plot to play their own Game > or laid a Counter-mine, C as it pleafed one of our Moderators, or Plot-difcovcrers to entitle his Book) — If they are fo gracious with the rich Tradefmen, and populace, it mall be to their Honour, and is to their Comfort, that they have made no other ufe of the goodnefs of the People, than to fare their Souls. How glad mould all true Protectants be, that the Presbyterian Plot, is fal- len together with their own Popilli Plot, upon the fame Pates ! Or was the Separation of the Non~conform$s the Door by which Popery was entering in ? Then indeed the Door mud be ftopt up by all means. But by this time, it is but too apparent, and with grief be it written, that theChurch of England had bred fuch Birds, as would have plucked out her Eyes, The Heifers always went in the Church-yard, with which the Papiils plow'd > (hamelefs Hypocrites that cried up the Church, to throw it for where hath Chrift made the Governors Confcienccs the exad Meafure of other Minifters ? But our Laws declare molt of the things in Controverfy, to be in their own na- ture indifferent, to be mutable, and therefore it is in their Power to take awaj both the Things, and the Obligation to them > and to bind us only G 2 to C44) to the Obfervatfon of neceffary things, and to leave things which they found indifferent, as they found them, without judging one another. And for this reafon, Wifdom and Charity requires a relaxation upon their- parts v and they have this to plead for them, that they have long tried to bring Minifters and People to an uniformity in thefe things, but could notr and therefore, for Peace, and Love, Unity, and Edification, they have: taken away their Obligation. That the Non-conformifls cannot fubferibe, and declare, and fubjedi themfelves to this Yoke ( how eafy foever it fecms to many ) becaufe they cannot in their Judgment and Confcience approve and do them, needs no great labour to prove it, to any Man of Chanty. i. Becaufe their In tereft, as well as Duty, hath put them upon the ferr- ous ftudy of the Cafe. And being Men of Learn- Befide Mr. Baxter, ing, Light, Labour, and of Years, they may be Mr. Corbet, and o- fuppofed as fit to find out their own part, as other ihers j 'the Sacred Hi- Men to find it for them. And to any that hath but erarchy, and the fmall the defire to fee, patience to read, and that thinks - T'reatife of Scandal, nor to throw them off with a fcornful Huff > they and indifferent Things, have written like Men of Parts, Judgment, and< give evidence of clofe Temper. And they daily almoft fend abroad into and deep inveftigatian the World, the IlTues of ferious Thoughts, and . &f things* . ripe Under (landings, and Appearances of great Se-~ ,i rioufnefs and Refolution. 2. They do not follow the Dictates of a weak and erring Con fdence^ but fear to fin again (t a tender Confcience, upon the ben: information of their Judgments. There is a great difference between a weak Confcience*, and a. tender Confcience* a weak Confcience follows a weak Judgment,^ and. the clearer. and fironger the Judgment is, the more tender mould the^ Confcience be* It may therefore feem> that their diffent proceeds not from their .Weaknefs, and that their obftinacy proceeds not from their Will,, asoppofing Light and Reafon i but from thefettlement and determination, of their Judgment and their Sincerity, not daring toadt again!] their Judg- ments. But if it were their Weaknefs, it mult beindulged > if it were , their Obftinacy againft Reafon, ( which appears not ) what will a wife Father do with a fiomachful Child ? Will he. provoke and encreafe his Sto- mach, by requiring of him.needlefs things with great rigour, and not ra- ther qualify and win him ? 3. If it be not Confcience of Sin that makes them diffent,. it is either, their Policy for fome worldly Intereft, or their Folly. If the firft, then it cannot confift with worldly Policy, to take ways directly contrary to what, they aim at. » What honour is it for a Man to be railed upon, reviled,, fufpe&ed ? ( 45 ) fufpecTd } &c. What Profit is it for a Man to quit a Certainty for an Uncci- uinty > and to live precariously > Where the Policy of Non-Conformity lies,doth not appear to me. Is it their Folly } Are there n > wife Men among them ? not one ! They have had Experience by this time to make them wife, if nothing elfe. If they are Fools, it is for Cbrift. They come not behind their Neighbours fcr Wit, and Abilities. 4. What, but Confcience of Sin and Duty, could afford them that Peace and Joy, in Difgraces and Sufferings, in Hazards b >t!i living and dying! You'l fay, Fanaticifm may end in fancied Joys and Comfort. True, but thefe Men could as well diftinguifli between the Effedts of Imagination, and Self-examination, between a Rock and Sand, and have taken as much pains to avoid a Cheat, as ether Men. It mu/lbe granted,thatmany that have drawn Sufferings upon themfelves defervedly, by their Imprudence, have flattered thcmfclvcs in high Conceits, and conceited Comforts. But whether the Sufferings of Men of underhand-* ing, ripenefs of Judgment, Inquifitivenefs into their Cafe, their Reaf>ns, Motives, and after Prayer and Diligence, have deliberately chofen a fuffer- ing Fart, and found Comfort from the Confcience of their Sincerity, be no more than the Comfort of a Hypocrite under the Power of Dcluflon, ought not raftily to be cenfured, and be reje&ed^ as no Argument of their being eonfcienticus } 5 If they are not eonfeicntious in their Non-conformity^ then they are disobedient to the King, and the Laws '3 they are Fadious, Difturbers of the Chuiches Peace, Schifmatical, and Enemies to the Churches Growth and Union > they are hypocritical, and in a word Atheiftical , they are unrighteous, unkind, unmerciful to their own Flefh, to their Wives and Children, oppieiiive to thofe few that are liberal to them 5 yea many have deilroyed themfeves, and no lefs than this can be faid of their Way, that it is the high- way of Sin and certain Damnation. And if they are fuch wicked Peifons, fuch Hypocrites in Masks and Cloaks, they are but u fed too well > and better they mould be out of the Church, than in ir. But then to bring them otf from thefe horrid Imputations? thefe things are confiderable > 1. If they were not Men of Integrity and Confciences, they would not keep without, becaufe there is more to be got within. Doubt- lefs they are not the only eonfeicntious Men ', for there are many thoufands I hope, of imccrc, good Men that confoim, that have Peace and Comfort in a faithful difcharge of their Duties. But, I fay, if oui Ditfenting Brethren were not confeientious, and fincere, then they would fwallow Oaths or Declarations, fubferibe to Salt and Spittle, for the lake of the prefent. World. He that ads not with refpedf to the World, to ■ C 4*) to come,tnuit needs aA for the good things of this. Now 'tis dear, that the Conformist have the higher Honour, and Precedence, and the fatteft Morfels. 2. Our Non-Conformifts have a better Character, and are looked upon as Confcientious Men, and fit for the Churches Service > i. Becaufe of the due Refpeft, and Repute they have among Men of Parts, Eftates and Temper. 2. Becaufe of the many Invitations, and even Chidings to unite and come in : which fuppofeth them to be Men of Worth and Good- nefs, orelfe the further off the better. 3. Becaufe of the oft vaniftiing talk of an Indulgence in the fir ft Years of their Non-Conformity \ Compre- henfion^ ilnce, and fair -Fromifes often made. 4. Becaufe that many Juftices of the Peace angry enough for the Church, and not pleafed with them, have forborn to aft againft them, and could not find in their Hearts to execute the Laws upon Confcientious Men, though of different Ap- erehenllons. My Conclusion is, That they appear to be Men of Convi- nce, and if fo, way ftiould be made for their coming in. One thing is urged to pre judg their tendernefs, that Confcientious Men fhould come as far they can, and as near a clofure as may be. Ah ! what though they can do much, yet as to adtual Admiffion, It is not doing fome or many tilings that will bring them in » for they muft declare and fubferif- e to ail and every thing. I knew a Man of Years and Parts, that could con* form to all things, fave the Crofs,and loft near 200 /. per Anmm^ for that. It is all or nothing in this cafe. If we would bring them in,take down the narrow Doors, and make them a Paflage of juft Dimenllon and Latitude upon thefe Premifes, That the Cafe of the DiiTenting Brethren is hard-i t^at what they demanded, or propofed, upon the Kings Commiflion, to the Bifhops and the Commiflioners for the Church, were but what was thought fit to be confidered of by Men, no doubt of as great Learning, and other Qualifications^ any other of the fame Quality i That their Suf- ferings have been very great, their Demeanour peaceable, their Abilities valuable, and their DuTent confcientious. I do humbly conclude, and propofe it to my Reverend Superiours, in any place of Power, Favour or Intereft, that they would fincerely endeavour the qualifying of thefe wor- thy Perfons, for a legal difcharge of their Minifterial Duties: A thing fo pleafing to God, agreeable to the Government and Condefcention of Jtfm Cbriji to the Chriftian Temper > fo conducing to the Churches Union, Peace, Growth and efiabliihmcnt > to the filencing of many Con trover fies, and that fearful Clamour and Accufation of Schifm, that I am not able to ex- prefs it. I cannot, it is acknowledged, judg what is another Man's par- ticular Duty h but I humbly conceive it is mine in my place ( which is but low indeed ) to provoke any Superiours to it. And if I were in their place . ( 47 ) place ( which is but a SuppoGtion next to a Dream) I (hou'd neither cat, nor drink, nor fleep with Satisfaction, till this were done, or endea- voured > nor think of appearing before Jtfus the Chief Shepherd, with Jdy or Acceptation. Hath he recjuired this Uniformity at oar hands, of this Extent, with thefe Sanctions, having for many Years feen no better ErTeasofthem? Hath not his Gracious Majerty by a late Proclamation for a great, and neceflary Duty of fatting and Prayers, made this one end of that Solemn Duty,to unite the Hearts of his Proteftant Subject ) Have we not in one Prayer repiefentd bleeding Wounds from our Divifions, and in another prayed for Union? Have many taken Direction to wreitle with God, ( Laugh and Scorn who dare at the Word ) to grant us that Bailing ? And what was the meaning of it ? Was no more to be underitood by if, than to bring the DilTenting Brethren on a fudden to fee, what after many Years Study, Prayers and Sufferings they cannot fee t On a fudden to convert them againit their Reafon ? And to condemn themfelves for their DilTent. Surely, I cannot think it : for what were this but to pray for an ImpolTibility or a Miracle, and to pray in vain, in our Solemn Humilia- tion ! If Union be fo deferable a Mercy, as certainly it is > what (hall wc do for Union ? Are there no other Terms of Union but thefe ? Without doubt it is their great Sin, not to come as near to a Clofure as poflibly they can i but doth all the Duty lye on their fide > and no more upon us, than to call them in ? And if not, let them be excommunicated from the Church, if not accurfed of God ! Or were they never meant i As be- ing no Proteftants > or not Loyal Subjects ? And what are they that fay or think fo t The Lord in Mercy grant, he may not fee fuch a Trial, as I doubt not they would by the Grace of God, as forward^ engag'd in, as true Proteltants, and as Loyal Subjects to the King and Government^ to the Expence and Profufion of their deareft Blood. I cannot think any thing more fui table to the Clemency of the King's Nature, who hath always betn ready to gratify peaceble Defigns. Can we think it is notfuitable to the Conftitution of the late Great, and Uni- ted Parliament, or to anj^other that fhall be chofen by a free Election t This great Body hath as quick difcerning Eyes as ever any other had, and have made as deepDifcoveries of the Works of Darknefs as any other, for their time: and fee a neceiltty of uniting Proteltants at home, and fuccouring Proteltants abroad v and cannot they difcern,by what Perfons, whofe Endeavours,to whole purpofes our Conftituno s have been fcrcwed (b high ? They are not unfentible by whom they have been called a Presby- terian Paliament, and who are afraid of their undoing all : Perhaps in- deed they would think it hard Meafure, that every Man iu England fhould be ( 43 ) he turned out of Doors, that will not be content that his HouTe fliall be ex- actly Uniform- They may by Experience know that there may be Peace and Unity, and Charity in Houfes, that are of different Figure and Form. There is avail Difference between pulling down painted Glafs, which keeps out light, and making Doors wider, or taking down fome Partiti- ons > and pulling down of Houfes. Oh ! let it never be faid,that Church- Men are moll morofe, difficult, and iliff, and can grant nothing, but in a great Extremity. And I pray God that he would move, and effectually work upon their Hearts, to take the Opportunities and Advantages God puts in- to their Hands, to fupplicate and promote the great Work of Healing. It will be a Work molt pleafing to all Conformiftf, that have the trueit Principles of Chriltianity, that are not factious to keep what they have, or think the gain of Peace to the Church, will bring a lofs to of them i or that are not Melancholy, and given to pore upon Shadows, and to think their Fancies to be the unalterable Frame of Antiquity. If we cannot diftjnguifh between an Alteration and a Diflblution > between Reformation ( of what hath been changed one way or other, in every Princes Reign, -fince the 2d of Edw. 6. ) and an Extirpation, we are not Cathedral-men, that know the Note may be changed, and the In- strument unbroken, and that the fame Pfalm may be read and fung. Many cry out upon Scbifm, that mifs of the Notion \ It is 2 very great Sin ! Should we not therefore do what polfibly we can, to remove the Caufes, and to redeem Souls from the Sin and Guilt of it? To this end, Jet us take notice,that the Carnal Heart is the Seat of Scbifm. Are there no Schifmatical Notions, or Paflions and Lufts in us within the Pale > We know that Vniftrmity in Difcipline and Modes of Worfhip, could not extinguiQi, or retrain Divilions in former days. How was the Church divided between thofe two,the prevailing and riling Arminian Innovators, and the Anti- Arminian Propugnators of the DocTrme and ancient Difci- pline of the Church ? And the Feuds were greater between thefe in many Refpe&s, than between the Conformifi and* Noh-Conformift. And the draining of the Girdle of Vniformity burft the^Bucklcs, and the Gar-. ments hung loofe, till by a new Adt, the Girdle : was made ilronger, and lefs than it was before, and new Buckles made a purpofe for it. "~ — . ' There is an Unity, where there is not an Uniformity, and Vice verfa. To what Church in London can a Man go, and rind an Uniformity, exact- ly keeping with Rubri.ks and Orders? and yet there is a Conformity, and in general an Vnity. I might inftance in Miniiters, and People's deviating from the Rule, in Prayers. What Uniformity among the People? fome iranding,othcrs kneeling, and others !eaning,if not fitting '<> Some facing the Eai.K V +9 ) JEj#, others the !P#, and others the North and South * feme ufe the Rc- fponds, fome low, and others loud, and others iilent v and yet there may be an Unity in the Amen, either oral or mental. Uniformity will never be forced to Particulars, it muft lie in Generals, as Unity in Eflen- tials. God both in the works of Nature, Providence and Grace, is molt glorious in Variety, in Multiformity. Uniformity as it is an outward ma- nifestation of Unity, and as a help to Unity and Edification, and Peace, is molt deiirable \ but too rigorous preilingof it,isone caufe otScbifmi > and Contentions. To a clear Hating of Scbifm, we muft enquire into the Church as invifible, villble, as in its one EiTential Nature, feparatc from Legal Eilablifnment,and in its Legal Eftabhfhment > and accordingly diftinguifti of &&i/m, which is aggravated from Circumftances. In our days Non-Conformity and Scbifm are made convertible^ hereas the internal Caufes may be in Con- formists, as well as lim-Conformijh But what is the exrernal Sond and Liga- ture of Conformity} what makes the Conformift^nd what makes thcNon-Con- formifl ? Take away the Moqmt and Pale, and the Inclofure and the Open- field is all one Field for the Hocks to feed together. Some have extolled the Ad of Uniformity as a bleffed Ad > and fume as the Bulwark of the Fro- teftant Religion. It muft be acknowledged that it is a Biding to the Church,to have nurfing Fathers,and to have our Religion e/tabltlhed by Law. But he that is the Author and Founder of our Religion is the Bulwark alfo, and the King's Life and Conftancy is a wonderful Mercy to us : But alas! what a Fence is the Ad, if the Governours were changed } The Proteftant Religion as Chriftian, as oppofite to Popery, was before the Ad was* and would be, if it were revifed and changed. The moft that can be made of the Separations, is, that they are illegal, and the aggrava- ted Scbifm illegal. The Differences are originally in the minds of Men, and forced out by an Ad. From this the Conformifi and Non-Conformijl receive their Denominations. Before this, were Ui.Bjtcs,Dr.Jacom!?^ Dr. Annefly, Mr. Gouge, and others^Scbifmatickj jny more than the learned Dr. lillotfon, or Mr. Nell > They could edify the Church together, carry on the Morning Exercife together, and converfe as Brethren. Eut lince a new Door and Partition hath been fet up, they appear to be as two Fa- milies, and two Parties ( I doubt not but the Dean's Catholick Head and Heart can take them in.) If they hear him not, perhaps they may in- cur the angry Mark of Separation i if he hear any of them,, he may incur a Disfavour. Take away the Doors, and Partition- walls, and the Houfe is one again. And there are great fufpicions that the Surveyors made the Doors for Exclufion, and not a large Admiiiion. i. If you conilder > that which was an ofteniive Innovation to a Brown* rig, Ward, Prideaux, &c. ( qxanti viri\ ) is now nude Legal, viz- the H fervicc C 50) fervice in Latin in the Unircrfitics, WeftmwfcrJPincbeflerJLaton, when they pleafe, as was noted before. 2. The Non-Conformifts of old ftuck at Subfcriptions, ex anim, to the Canon h but by this they muft fubfcribe and declare, &c. a fure way to win them! 5. Not only to Articles of Religion (which was enough for a Confer* mi/i.in Queen Elizabeth's days) but all and every thing, &c. 4. Did fome think that Bithops arid Presbyters were but one Order > Now to keep them out, the Bifhop is confecrated in a new Form, to the Office of a Bifhop, as a Superiour Order > at leaft as fome conceive. 5. Many had taken the Covenant, which renounced not the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and by virtue of thefe conjunctly, did adhere to Kingly Government, under the Ufurpation, and endeavoured to re- ilore the King. But now that muft be renounced (lUll to help to bring in more) into Conformity, was it not the way? Will they for Peace and Union quit the Dire&ory , and conform to a Liturgy ? it (hall not bring them in I Would they have the Liturgy amended ?' They (hall not, but in as few things as may be. Can they ufe the Ceremonies rather than be deprived ? they muft declare openly as much. Can they pra&ife the old Conformity ? They (hall renounce the Covenant, by which they were bound to endeavour a Reformation ? Would they become Lecturers, as heretofore they might be > No, not except they declare AiTent and Con- fent once a month.' If one thing will not keep them out, another (hall » if nothing at all will keep them out, then they are hardly trufted without great Evidences, if not Recantations . And who are moft gratified and encouraged to come in, but a Man whofe Conscience can reach many Miles to two feveral DiocelTes, it may be, from Living to Living > He hath no more to do, but to come within his time, and declare according to Law, and read his Certificate of renouncing, &c. and the Law hath nothing more to require of him, fave that where he is Refident, or Incum- bent, and hath no Impediment h then indeed he (hall read the Service, &c once a Month, or forfeit five Pound. If a Man loves his Eafe or his Pro- fit, let him conform > all the d fficulty is in getting in : If he will, he may do any thing per alium^ except dye, and give up his. Accounts. When I confider thefe things, 1 do not wonder there are fo many Non-Con~ formifts, That Honour of his Profeffion, and our Age, and either the Example, or the Shame of them that (hall fucceed, Si. Matthew Hales, raid (to Mr. Baxter, on whofe word I take it ) this A& of Uniformity will never unite and heal us 5 and did upon occaflon draw up a new Bill of Uniformity. His Judgment might as foon be taken as any Mans > and becaufe his Me- mory mory and Manufcripts, are in honour with our late, wife, and great Parlia- ment* I pray God that Bill may not be over-look'd, when that Honourable Affcmbly (hall meet again to debate it. Here I could flop without the decency of conclufion, my running thoughts being put to a Hand, and ready to yeeld to a prevailing Impo- tency, and grief of Heart. Firft, Becaufe fo few Heads and Hands were united, and at work, to repair the Breaches of a great Church, which mould be every good Man's Prayer and Endeavour. Secondly, Becaufe theRefult of the Debates, and Counfels of tho but few, yet great, wife, and good Men, (hould be rejected. But why fhould we look for better from thoie Men, whofaw not what they had done amifs, nor repented of other great Evils, which the whole Nation hath feen and felt, when Men's Principles are but as Wheels, moved by Interefl, thelntercit muft be changed, before the Wheels turned backward ? Souldiersof Fortune prolong a War, and Counfellors of For- tune prolong DiftraCyHons. The Troubles of Ifiael y that put the Horfe- roen into a diforder, and fcotch'd the Wheels of many of our Chariots, were never for the drawing of them into one Body again, and making them feiviceable. Some grave and good Men checked the progrefs of the reft, and at laft the beft over-awed the Guilty, and did gallantly bear up againfl daring Rome : But the Oppofition had been the more fuccefsful and fecure, if they had brought the differing Parties of Proteitants into a mu- tual Truft and AiTurance. BleiTed be the Men, and blelTed be their Me- mories, and bktfed be their Counfels, who have laboured to heal the hurt of the Daughter of Sion I and happy they who rirft arrive at the Haven, tho upon the Planks of a torn and broken Church ! The Men of a Mo fait Spirit, would have fet the contending Ifratlites at one > but our wife Men would not believe a Bill of Union. They who had done the wrong, thruft the Reconcilers away, q. d. Who made you Judges ? But our Time was not, and is not yet come, altho we have had a great Body, infpired with as great a Soul as ever breathed within thofe Walls, that law a likenecef- fity of including Proteftants T as of excluding Papiils. Tfcefc fee the Things of our Peace, but cannot overtake Peace. Tcrfidious Prottftantt ( focalled in the Humble Addrefs, Nov. 29. 1680.J could not rind thewaj of Peace in his Majcfly's Rcftauration, it was as far above them, as Hea- ven is above the Earth J nor knew how to imploy the Sword fcTreafure but agafnfl Protefcmts abroad i hot their Powcr,bux upon Protdhn-ts at horrtCv H 2 who C 5* ) who helped to reftore them to it s nor their Peace, Tbey may read their but in Effeminacy Debaucheries, contempt of CbaraUer in bis Ma- God, and the Power of that Religion, which they jejly's Proclamation a* either contracted into an uneafy corner of a Fa&i- gainfl Debaucheries , on, or elfe enlarged as far as Rome. They who j 660. printed, and to reared too high a Wall about the Church, have not be read in Churches* feen the influence of the Sun upon it,to impregnate it into a deilred fruitfulnefs > the few Plants of a purer kind that fpring up in it, look pale and yellow, faint and lan- guid: There is a great noife and found of Religion, but little Life and SouH : What a brood of Atheiits, Papifts, Zealous Formalin's and Con- tenders have grown up ?' Since a Bill of Divorce was iiTued out to feparate ableMinilkrs from their Congregations, an illegitimate Race fprung up, who cry up, Law, Law, and tin againft the Confeffions and Prayers im- pofed upon us by it : And the Church, which was the mod pregnant Mother of folid and holy Chriftians of any in the World, after many Years travel and pains, Cecs more of the (hape and form, than of the lively Spi- rit and ftrength of true Piety. They who take themfelves to be wronged, and the Divorce to be null in it felf, have come together, ftho but now and then, and by Health, for moft part, till of late) arc liable to the Courts for unlawful Society with their efpoufed People, have rather multiplied Sorrows, than multiplied Joys. Reftore the Prophets their Wives > or if they are dead by Law, give them Licenfes to marry where they can > mar^ ry the unmarried, and they will, as they do, pray for you » and the Church that is now weak, and fickly, mail be the joyful Mother of Children, born and brought up for God. Take in more Labourers, there is Field- room enough, and the Harveft wili be the greater, and fo «the Jqy in Hea-i ven*. To draw to a Conclufion j I will firll printout the Obftrudrors of our Union. 2. Give my Opinion, that the Cafe of the Non-conformifls, that are found in Faith, peaceable, and godly, is that which no Man need be a- fhamed of, or to appear in as an Interceflbr. 1. Indeed I am troubled, that there are any fuch to be found in a Re- formed Church, and of all other, in this Church, that oppofe or hinder a Coalefccnce- But all are not Ifra-el^ that are of JJraeL Many of the Church- are for it, and againft it : are for it, in its prefent ftate of Con- finement, and not for it in an Enlargement, which will be really for its Glory and juft Authority, What Multitudes are there of thefe, both High. and and Low ? I will pray tor them that are above me, and fpeak of than chat are near upon a level with me. I might divide thefe into Clergy and Laity i I will keep me to the hrft, becaufe they do influence many of thfc other. But by the way, I will take up a Remark : It is To come to paft, that our driving and compelling Clergy, have fewer Admirers and Friends than they once had. Many Men, of" Utile or no Religion in Judgment and Heart, could not bear the plain anri prcifing Preaching of many able Minilters, reputed to-be unlearned i beciufe conftant and popular Prci- chcre, they could ealily part with thefe, and give reft to their own Ears, by ftriking them dumb. They were tickled, if not captivated, by the flo- rid and gentile Preaching, and Writings of fome (of a more Rotmntick, than true Majellick and Divine Stile) of the Sons of the Church s and therefore fay, Let thefe preach, and the reft keep filence. Some of theft kept up the Repute of the Church of England, under its Oppreffioj, that loft it in its Exaltation. When their Feathers were grown, and covered with yellow Gold, they fpared their Voices, fled from Preferment to Pre- ferment, to gather Gold, but fpread not their Wings to fucker and cherifh their Brood. Thefe were the Mailers of the Religion of the Courtiers 3 and many being tired with the Ufurpation, gave up their own Reafon in comple- ment toCouitiers> for a time, did eafily fubmit to what was determined by our Leaders. And who were they t Church-Papifts, as well as Church- Proteftants i fome of whom were carried beyond their own temper of Moderation i firff, to flrain hard to practice, what really they adjudged of an evil Tendency, tho of an indifferent Nature, as they thought i and then they were to exadf of others, what they could do themfelves. The more difcerning and obftinate, faw the Journeys end of thefe Charioteers, and were refolved on their own way : Others that were peaceable and fa- cile, complied, in hopes of the eftablifhment of the King's Declaration; and were held in Pailee, till their Enemies ( 'tis a fad, but too true a word ) got that Power, as to force them to yeeld or fly. The Gentleman, underftanding the Mjftery of the Church-Government was Power, and the Myftery of many Church-mens Zeal, was Church-Dignities, faw that he muft Ad and Vote, not for the pure Intereft of Religion, but the temporal Intereft of thefe Defigning Men, began to recoil, and then to look to his own. Ground. Many of thefe rode in Company, but feeing the Compa- ny were refolved for France, and Rome i when they had gone as far as Canterbury and Dover, and kept pace with them, were refolved to go no further, but to turn back, and break from the Company. The reft of the Church- Conformifts, weie either the fame, or like them that were in be- fore ? r 54 ) fore \ and continued the fame painful courfe in their Mini(try,or took cold, became idle, hot, intemperate, and offenfive : The firft have fome refpeft, - the others, no more than they deferve. A new Generation come up with- in thefe eighteen or twenty Years > many of them take the rifing Side, Cant fome Scraps that fall from their Leaders Mouths » preach as much with their Teeth as with their Tongues » being neither ftudious, nor con* ilderate, nor modeft, but venturers in Cenfures i they are thought unfit to dire6t and overfee the Souls of Men. Upon fome folemn Times, upon fome folemn Days, they Difcbarge freely, but Aim with an evil Eye, fcare away fome Birds, but convince no Man of Sin, or Duty. The Judi- cious of all Degrees, fpare not to declare their diflike of thefe Men. In a word, The growth of Popery, and the antipathy that is kindled againft it, by the fiery Defigns of Papifts, and the Light of Truth i the Modera- tion of fome eminent difcerning Church-men, the good Behaviour of Dif- fenters, the weaknefsof the Proteftant Intereft, by our needlefs Divffions, the fobriety of our Gentry, the unanimity both of them > and the able Country-men, and Citizens, and their Zeal, feeing all at Stake, doth feem to open a way to a defired Union, notwithstanding the averfation of fuch Oppofcrs as I (hall name. i. A Party of Rigid Impofers, Impofers in Opinion, not yet in Power, that's the beft of it i they mightily take the Yoke, Saddle, and Collar of Bells, and the Rack in which we mull follow, as the only way. We being Subjects, muft not judg, but fubmit \ and they being Judges, weigh to every Man the fame weight i the Weakeft muft bow down to as great a Load as the ftrongeft,whether they can bear it or not* and meafure to every Man his Qmer, whether he can digeft it, or not, (if it were all Manna, diredtly from Heaven, a weak Perfon muft ftrive to fwallow it) but yet God, that allowed an Omer to every one that could, did not require it of every one that could not, upon pain of turning out, and not coming within five miles of the Family. If Saul had been of thefe Mens Conftitu- tion, V avid mat} not kill GoliaJo like a NoM-conformift, but go forth with his Armour, his Helmet, and Coat of Male, and gird on his Sword > but he wasforeafonabk, that feeing David could not go with them, be (hould go without the Formalities of a Champion. There may be as great dis- proportions between the understandings of fome young unftudied Confor- mills, and the underftandings o£ great Doctors, as was between David's Head, and Saul's Head and Helmet v the things required for Affent, are much too big for their Capacities: But every L A. B. that is but B. A. or a Deacon, muft Affent and Confent, Declare, Abhor, as perfectly afc anyPr#- fejfor'of Divinity, as pbfaively as if li£ were an Anch Bijhop. Ttoey rauA fee ( 55 J fee thefe things with other Mens^Eycs, or muft not take the Work upon them, and yet have not the help of a Licenfcd Comment, upon fas fume think; a hard LelTon. I fhould think, Catechife the Novifcs well in our Articles, and when they Aflent, let them AfTent to what they under/land, and no more > and if Cwfent to tht *ft be the meaning of the thing, tell tbem plainly fo. I am for a plain and eafy way, and as light a Burden as may be laid, that fo wc may have the more and better Company, and the more comfortable Journey, (i-ardon the haltinefs of my Pen,infayin£,what I am for > Who am I } and the Bulmefs is not come to my Voting.) But thefe large and intricate lmpofitions, being equal upon all, Unlearned as well as Learned, do prefcrve a Notion fomewhat like an Implicit Faith : and not toto Cxlo^ different from an Infallibility. — But, fay they, it is nc- ceifary to eradicate bad Principles out of the minds of Men which grew up in the late Times. I demand whether out of the minds of them that are planted with them } (But can my Declaration convert another, and root out ill Principles out of his mind ? What if he doth not fee the reafon of my Opinion i ) or out of the minds that never received thofe pernicious Principles? Yet (till I only declare for my felf, and if I was never infected with them, there is no danger of my propagating of them } let us propa- gate God line fs and Honefly, and thefe Principles will never grow up by them. The Principles had been buried in the Church, like Weeds in a new-diggd Garden, had not our renouncing them kept them in me- mory. 2. Some poor, low, narrow fpirited Men, fuperflitious and mifled, are for this Way,as the only way of Entrance and Continuance in the Churches Service > Spirits fo poor that they cannot afford one token of Charity to Diflentcrs, as if fuch a Spiritual Alms, would undo them i fo low, that having never flood upon the Shoulders of Wifdom and Experience,they fee not the Latitude of the way of Heaven > fo narrow-hearted, that he thinks there is no room for any in Church-Communion, efpecially in the Miniftry, that will not go into, and ftand in a little Frame, like that in which he Hands, like an Image. His Charity may extend to the Salvation of Hea- thens, ( a Notion pretty rife) but not to the Toleration of Chriftians, efpecially of Preachers ot the common Salvation, if they will not conform. Papifts (hall fooner enter into the Kingdom of God, than a Presbyterian. And who is the Presbyterian ? He may be a Bifhop^ a Lord, a Parliamcnt- Man,yea a whole Parliament, a Lord Mayor, if but moderate, as well as a preaching moderate Ctnformill. The Moderate of all Qualities, is the Presbyterian i but the Presbyterians are not moderate: No, a Presbyteri- an, is an out-witted Jcfuit, and a Jefuitisan overwriting Presbyterian. Thefe new Chara&ewriaJfcers are at this Wit: and feting he would be a W ic C'5*> Wit that makes theChara&er, I doubt not, but he is for being of the greateft fort of Wits, that is, the over-witting Presbyterian. This piece of Formality makes himfelf and the Government all one, that mull be over- thrown, thinks he, if any thing be abafcd that varies from his Concep- tions, Model, andMeafureof his AfTent. He is not aPapift, fomething keeps him orTi but, good Man, he hath high thoughts of the old Way * every Ceremony is in his Eye, a kind of a hallowed thing ? and the Trea- fureof the Church, is wrapped in the Rag of Antiquity, which never was a piece of -a Garment in fa(nion in the Apoftles days, or fome Centuries af- ter : He contends for the gray Hairs which grow over the Eyes of the Church, and the Nails which have pinched and nipt many tender Skins, as for the Life and Soul of Religion. Many arc mifled by their Informers, not in Antiquity only, but in Modern Times, even in their own Days, or the days of their immediate Fathers. The Times of War and Ufurpation, are the only ill Times in their Chronicles > which were ill indeed, in re- fpedt of Puniftimentand Sin j but have nothing but good to fay of the ill Times of Pi evocation, of Peace proceeding. They do moft partially and untruly charge the War upon the Presbyterians. Much more falfly upon Praying and Preaching* or the Divines that were in the Parliament Quarters, and City, many of which were forced thither. It was as truly a Popijk Plot and War, and, at firft, between Prerogative and Liberty, tho not fo bare- faced as this horrid Plot. Thefe Men are abufed by fome of our Deceiving Writers, and know as little of what they declaim againft, as they do of the DiflTenters of this prefent Age. Eut Addabatorum more fugnant \ & damores (quantos ! ) excitant. — It was a bloody Civil War, vi- ilbly about Civil Matters i it was called Belltem Epifcopale, not by fome Par- liament-Men only, but one Bifhop, or more > to make the riling Clergy p3rt with their Mony to maintain it i but it was Bellum papale pro Rege y contra liegem, as well as againft Parliament and Protectants. 3. Our peifecuting Fire-brands, are againft Proteftant Peace and Union. They approve of perfecuting Laws, if they might have a Parliament to make them > and it (hall not be perfecution againft Diflenting Protectants, but Juftice, becaufe it is but the Execution of Laws : and DhTemers muft be undone, to preferve the Law and Government. How freely do they exclaim again ft in, cloily gird at our Iaft Parliament I fly upon our BlciTed Reformation from Popery > bJcmifh it with Afperllons of Sedition and Rebellion fan Affront to Religion not to be endured.) [If they read no more than Dr. T>it Moulin, Pr. of Canterbury* s Anfwer to Pbilanax Anglkut^ they will be more juft to the Reformation.] Thefe Men are fo well prepa- red for a Popiln SucceiTor, that they can truft God with their Religion, tho in Popifh Hands, ( And cannot they truft. themfelves.too? ) but can- not \ y/ J not truft a Non- conforming Protectant, with preaching a Sermon, or Praying, not in an open Pulpir. Thefe blow up Controverfics into unquenchable dilTentions, into large DirTerences,into wide Chafms,and un- payable Gults. They condemn the Magillrate for Coldnefs, if he let a DifTenter preach, or leave him a Bed to lie upon. The Ejected are like Suburbs, without the Walls of Uniformity, burn the Suburbs to fave the Church within i whereas one would think it were the fafer way, to build a Wall about the Suburbs, and bring them within the Line. They hate Houfe-preaching, and running into Corners, and would bring out the Norp-conformijh into the Sun-ihine, but only in the Dog-days. Caniculum Per fecutio tui video. Tertull. Parce Civibws Milts ^ is Heathen Latin i but Occide &mandnca, is in the Original. It was a fevere word of King James-) If this be all ( quoth he) nrbicb tbcyhaie to fay , (meaning our famous Dr. Jo. Rainolds, and the other Divines, called Kon-conformijis) 1 jh all mak^ them Conform tbemfelver y li' I will burry them out of this Land, or elfe do rvorfe. [Conference at Hamp- ton-Court. p-%'5.~] It is as likely that they know not what Spirit they are of, that are for hurrying good Men, as it was from a Spirit of Flat- tery, that a Lord faid, He was perfuaded the King fpoke in that Confe- rence by the Holy Ghofr. How well foever he ipake in fome parts of it, yet that faying might have been fpared. 4. Idle and infufficient Minilkrs, that live at cafe, and as the manner of ipeaking is, enjoy themfelves, that are more Abroad than at Home, and as feldomin their Studies,as they are in their Pulpit s,are in difppfed to a Clofure. Thefe Conform perhaps above Conformity fometimes, whole Surplices are as Cloaks for their Faults iand their pretended Loyalty makes them impregnable againft deferved Cenfures. Many of thefe confort with Companions of a Feather, inflame one another into a degree of madnefs. Thefe drive away their People, and when they are gone, throw after them, and revile thofe that entertain them better. Thefe" with all their Might, cry, the Church, the Church? declaim againit much preaching, f and is not that a good way to fave their pains,by calling it needlcfs ? ) We are not now to convert Heathens, (they would rather conrirm than convert them ) much preaching hath fpcilcd the World i I hate thefe Presbyteri- ans, nothing will ferve them but Preaching* cry out againit Calvin, the Parliament, the Fanaticks, and run over their Railery, as Papifts do their Beads. Thefe are afraid of admiilion of more good Preachers, that their Manners will be infpected, and their Churches quite defatcd , that they mull take more and better pains, or elfe be expofed. 5. Ecdefiailical Merchants, Eccltfe ?offk$v& Filii, are again/1 admiffion of more to the exercife of the Sa.red Function. The Trade hath been in I fofnc C 58) feme great Mens Hands, and the engroiling of the Commodities of the Church, hath enriched many, that never would have touched the Burden with one of their Fingers, but for double Wages. But if more Minifters are capacitated by Law, the Endowments of the Church will be diftributed into more hand?. Thefe turn Prophets, that the Church will fall, when due Encouragements are taken away from Learned Men, in which Rank they place the'mfdves > whereas it is too well known to both our Universities, that they are a dis- couragement to Learning, that many are not rewarded with a Plurality, for their double Portion of Learning; and that the Learning of the Cu- rat, is as much the Ornament and Support of the Church as theirs, ma* ny of vvhofe Abfence is as profitable to their Parifhes, (except to the Poor, who have no Alms at their Doors, nor relief from the Parfonage) as their Prefence. Thefe are potent in their Patrons, Friends, and Relations, and may obftrucT: the Work, when things come to the Vote, and Flefh and Elood pleads Reafon againft the true Intereft of Religion, and the crying NeceiTity of Souls. But let them not fear, for there is no danger of put- ting -them out, to bring others in i Nor do the Non-conformifls defire their Liberty with the deprivation of any now in poiTdhon. 6. Some honed and good Men are afraid of an Alteration from a mifta- ted Cafe. Many ran into Confc.. :y to be out of Confutlon, and are now tenacious of this Conformity, for fear of a Toleration of Popery, and Antichriflian Seels. But there are Mediums tbt Non-conformifh ■ between Exrreams. They argue in their hafte, offered- to Conform to from the NeceiTity of a Church-Government, a- Arcb-Bifhof Ullier 5 / gainft an abatement of Rigor, as if the fodering of Model. ■ Parties, would be a throwing of all into the Fire, and the running of the whole into a (hapelefs and formlefs Lump. Many are boldly impofed upon into an ill Opinion of our Parliament, and compofing Minds, as if they defigned a Diflblution of Government i and indeed do, by their cauflefs Fears, difcover the ill temper of our Cement,that if you do but touch our prefect Ghircch Frame 3 it will be in danger of falling. 7.. Some are warped from a Clofure, by. the influence of Self-love : They have Conformed, and are afraid of an afrerrcondemnation for Con- formity, and that the Non-confirmijis will come in as Victors, and be puf- fed up into an oilentation of their Refufol and Sufferings upon better Grounds and Principles. But Brotherly-love and Self-denial, which are fo cllential to Chriftianity, mud be our Exercife, carrying on the common Salvation with one Heart and Shoulder. — But thefe two laft named, will Dot be grieved at our Union, when it appears to be good. La% 3 ( 59 ) Laftly "> Our many Ercaches with God, is the great Gulf between. On the one hand, if Church-men would lay to Heart, and mourn for oir Divifions, and clearly fee whence they arile, and the great Lofs to I Church at home, and Scandal to the Churches abioad, by the Ejc&ion of fo many able good Men, whom no other Nation could (pare, and tura the Heat oi ; Difputation into Love and Companion, and fpare themfelvcs by not difgracing others, we might have more hopes. That Doclor (I conceal his Name, for he is fallen aflecpj who faw London-hxe, and vu deeply a/Fedted with it, who after his return to his Place in the Country on the Faft following, reckoned this among the many Sins, and Judg- ments and Provocations of the Land, thatmany able Minifters were tur- ned out of the Miniftry, was in a right temper for a Solemn Faft, but was chidden and rated into Tears for his melting Charity, by his angry Dio- cefan. On the other Hand, when duTenting Chririians, or Auditors, bring forth more Fruit under the unwearied Labours of their Preachers, and obey the Gofpelof Chrifr, and can blefs God for the many able pub- lick Preachers, and receive the Faith and Word, without refpedt of Per- fons i and be forry for their Anger and evil-fpeaking, we may come to an Union, and fee the Partition-Wall thrown down. But furely our Legislators are too wife, and more refolved upon the molt neceflary Work of compollng DirTerences,than to endanger the whole by a divifion of Parts i to gratify thefe, I have named who are not of fo much worth, as to compenfate the lofs of publick Church-Proteftant-Peace for their fakes. 2. The Cafe and Qualifications of the Non-conformijis, is fuch, as no good Man of any Spirit fhould be afraid to own, by way of Interceilion, or Solicitation for their readmiflion. i. Thofe few that are yet alive, who were Men before the War, areas fafe under the Healing Wings of the Act. of Grace, as any other Men who needed that Protection as much as they, and have been placed as near the King and Court, as they have been driven from him. The greater is their TranfgrcfTion, who peck at that Foundation of our Peace, and that tear that Covering from their Neighbours backs, in their Pulpits and Pam- phlets. 2. They need no more Clemency, nor Pardons, fince, than other Men, except for their Preaching. 3. They are admitted into the private Converfe of the moft emi- nent of all Qualities in the Land, except a few. Who can fay of any of -them, with fuch an one, no not to Hat \ Therefore they are aJmittable in- to a publick Station, where they can do-more goo J, and lefs hurt, if do- ing hurt were their Defign and Faculty, than in private. Me-thinks no I 2 Man C do ) Man fhould be permitted to preach to five, and from five to five, from Houfe to Houfe, that may not be permitted to preach publickly : For may they with Safety, and Edification to Souls, preach to five at a time, why not to five hundred at a time i' Or if their preaching in publick be dange- rous to the State and Church, is it not much more in private ? Our Priefts and Jefuits have not perverted their boafted of Numbers in publick, but in private. Families are the Nurferies of Church and State j corrupt them, and thepoifon is difperfed. Me-thinks it mould not be at all law- ful for Non-conformifls^ to preach to a number not exceeding five at once, or as lawful to preach in publick '■> wh|re if they we*e a Depraving, Here- tical Sect of Men, ( which they are not ) but to be preferred before thou- fands that Officiate in the Land, they will be more wary and temperate, than to lofe their Hearers, or hazard their Liberty, which they obtain with fo much difficulty. Suppofe twenty Non-conforming Minifiers fhould keep firictly to their legal number of five > thefe twenty Minifters preach to a hundred Citizens > if thefe twenty fhould Lecture the hundred into Atheifm, Blafphemy, Infidelity, Herefy, Sedition or Rebellion, would it be endured ? would not the Peftilence fpread ? And that of the Mind is as quickly diffufed, and as filently conveyed, as the Plague from Body to Body, and Houfe to Houfe. If they are Men of pernicious Principles, they are allowed too much > if not, they are allowed too little. It is true, they have taken Liberty contrary to Law, to preach to greater Num- bers, and have patiently born the Penalties, when inflicted. And by their adventuring, they have vindicated themfelves, and teftified to the Gofpel which they believe, and fiop'd the Mouths of many i befides much good done upon many thoufand Souls, that had been elfe neglected > and decla- red to the World what manner of Men they are, what Doctrine they preach, and that they have not fowed Sedition, and ill Principles of Dif- loyaky and Treafons : And the many Years experience, and proof given of their Principles and Abilities, is not only an Apology for them, againft them that judg them, vel prejxdicio nominti, but furnifh the Wife and Mo- derate with fome Arguments to plead for reafonable Abatements for them. 4. They have done as much as any Men of their Degrees, to fupport and fave the Nation, and the Preteflant Profeffion, and as great a Terror to the Papilts, as any of their number and quality in the Land : And I be- lieve, if they thought that either Popery, or any Antichriilian Sects fhould enter in by them, though they cannot conform to keep them out, by that, they would ask leave to remove into other Nations, rather than be- a Dcox to let in Miferiesupon their own,. 5. They ( 61 ) 5. They are Men of great Part>, Piccyj and Prudence, found Divines, good Preachers and Writers > no Man that knows their Puibns, or their Labours, or their Writings but ought to give them their due, without detraction from others. With what a fwect Spirit and Stile, Learning, Judgment, Argument, hath Mr. Pulebill vindicated them, and the Do- Cirinesof the Church, againft Dr. Sberlocl^s Imputations i 6. Wife and great Men for Power, Place, Wifdom, and Experience in Affairs, both of Church and State, have endeavoured a Compolition, though in vaiu : I m uld not be afhamed or afraid, to my be/t ability, to commend the Endeavours of but one Lord Keeper Bridgman ; of but one Lord Chief Juftice Hales ( What would we have given for him fince his Death >) of but oneBilhop Wiltyis, or cither of the Deans of Canterbury and Pauls. But I have (hewed how fome of the (harpelt Procurers of our Laws grew mild and gentle. But befi^le thufe venerable Perfons, the Right Reverend Bifhops, Reynolds, Gaivden, were tenderly aftedted, as was CiQiop Earle i and as the now moit learned Bi(hop of Cbejler, as I have it f.om a good hand, the Bifhop of Hereford, befide others, more than I can or will name, of eminent worth in the Church of England. And furely, rigor, and fuppreillon of fo found a number of Minilicrs, doth neither become Men, as Wife, Experienced, Self-fearchers, Chari- table > or to defcend below a Chrifiian, it is not humane nor genteel. The more wife, experienced, felf-acquainted, Chrifiian, or genteel any Man is, the more moderate in Ceremonies, different Rites, and Impofi- tions. [ See the clofe of thefe Sheets. 1 7. I never heard any Wife, Learned, good Man of the Church of Eng~ land, juftify their Ejection, nor approve of their Supprcflion i fome have wiftied they w r ould give way to the Wrath of angry Magistrates, either by abftaining fiom publick Preaching, or in time of Publick, that they might efcape the edgof the Law. b. It is no more to their prejudice that they are not all of the fame mind, than that we are not all of a mind, no not in the poirtf of Confor- mity it fcif. p. To intercede for them, and their adnvllion, is not to plead for tur- bulent, factious, fchifmatical Perfons, that are infurlerable. Make them one with us by a Law, and where is the Faction, and Schifm ? Suppofe the King and Parliament for them, and againli us !> their way made legal, and ours as it is, only b\ a voluntary Prokilion, as tied up to it in Con- science, but without or againft the Law i oo whom would the charge of Schifm fall } The Magistrates Favour and Law removes, or fallens the Crime. I know there is a Schifm, and it is a great Sin, without refpeft to humane Laws? but he that endeavours to keep the Unity of the ( 62 ) the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace, is no Schifmatick, although he cannot come up to the Terms of Conformity. I have a tendernefs in imputing Schifm to any good Men, who cannot live and die in Sin i but if this be a fin, many good Men have dkd in it, never declaring their Repentance for their Non conformity, or Preaching againft the Prohibition of the Law. I do verily believe they were not only feemingly, but fincerely good Men > ? tis too hard to judg them dead in Sin. io. They are Protectants > if they come not to that Ted, reject them > they are peaceable, they are loyal, are true to the King according to Law, they have born their burden with us. Do we pray for the King, fo do they, and for all that are in Authority, that under them they may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godlinefs and honefty ? Do we Faft ? they do the fame, with great importunity. Who more abundant in La- bours than they ? Who more Orthodox according to the Doctrines of the Church than they ? My Paper is almoit at an end, and fo am L Thus I have communicated my Thoughts with great plainnefs and truth. I (hall fay what was once fpoken in Parliament. c Let us firft fear God, c then (hall we honour the King the more, for I am afraid we have been 6 lefs profperous in Parliaments, becaufe we have preferred other Matters c before him. Let Religion be our Frimum gjhttrite, for all things elfe are c but Et c&ter£s to it, &c. £ Sir Ben, Rudyer.~] And whether Exclufion of Papifts, or Inclufion of Proteftants be rlrft endeavoured, is left to the Wifdom of my Superiors. — God profper both. For my Erethren and Companion's fake, I will now pray > Peace be up- on Ifiael. Violentti ConfiliU, nee fanari mentes, nee tranquillitas Ecclefia refiitui unquam poterit. [ ghil. Melanch. ad Hen. 2. Fran. Reg.] Quod fi fquamn* Leviathan it a) cobxreant, ut earum opere textili denfato^ tjitjfi Loricatus incedat Satan &Cataphraclus, quod de fecdere Concordia?, qua malignant*! Ecclefue Membra, fe comflexajnunimt & circumvallent.Elegantifwie Lutherus & vere^ cur immane quantum bient, obfecro, quafi ruinam Vniverfe Fabrics minitantes, inbientq\ quafi vafto fcedoq'y riUu fe devoraturi, vivi Lapi- des in vero Templo Collocati^ occ inquit Dr. Stoughton. Epifiola ElegaHtiJJl c.u litulMy Fxlicitas ultimi Sxculi. p. 40. Addenda* Addenda . IWill fi'l up thcfc Sheets with fome Royal Condefcvnfions, and Epis- copal Pleas, (beiides thofe mentioned before) which I humbly entreat thofc in Authority, efpecially my Lords the Bilhops, feriou- fly to coniider, in behalf of the Non-conformijis, which may be found in his Majeiiy's Speeches and Declaration about Ecclcinftical A/fairs, and fome of the Bifhops own writing. And tirit obferve what his prefent Ma- jeity fays conccring the Non- conformijh^8tc. In his Declaration of Ecclcflaitical Affairs, Ortob.2^. 166c c When 1 We were in Holland, (fays he) We were attended by many Grave and 'Learned Minifters from hence, who were looked upon as molt able and ' principal AiTertors of the Presbyterian Opinions, with whom We had as c much Conference, as the multitude of Affairs, which were then ur^a ' Us, would permit Us to have i and to Our great fatisfaftion and com- c fort, found them Perfons full of AfFe&ion to Us, of Zeal for the Peace ' of the Church and State, and neither Enemies ( as they have been gi- c ven out to be) to Epifcopy, or Liturgy, but moftly to defire fuch Alte- c rations in cither, as without making Foundations, might allay the pre- ' fent Diftempers. which the Indifpoiition of the Time, and tendernefsof ' fome Mens Confcienccs had contracted. — — — ■ And concerning Ceremonies, pag. 6. he fays, c Now We do not think 4 that Reverence We have for the CbHrcb of England in the leait degree di- ' minimed by our Condefcenfions, not peremp torily toiniitt on fome par- ticulars of Ceremonies i which how-ever introduced by the Piety and c Devotion, and order of former Times, may not be (o agreeable to the 'prefent, but may even klTen that Piety and Devotion i for the improvc- c ment whereof, they might happily be ftrft introduced, and confequcnrly c may wdlbedijpenfed with \ and we hope this charitable Compliance of 1 Ours, will difpofe the minds of all Men to a chearfulfubmiiibn to that c Authority, the prcfervation whereof is fo ncceiTary for the Unify and J Peace of the Church 5 and that they will believe the fupport of the c £pjfcopal * Epifcopal Authority, to be. the belt fupport of Religion, by being the * means to contain the minds of Men within the Rules of Government. And pag. 16. c And therefore Our prefent Confederation and Work is, c to gratify the private Confciences of thofe who are grieved with the ufe c of iome Ceremonies, by indulging to, and difpenllng with, their omit- c ting thofe Ceremonies. And pag. 7, 8. c .As for what concerns the Penalties upon thofe who c (living peaceably ) do not conform thereunto, (viz. the Act of Uni- c formityj through fcruple and tendernefs of Confcience, but mode/lly c without fcandal perform their Devotions in their own way. We (hall c make it our foecialCare, fo far forth as in us lies, without invading the * freedom of Parliament to incline their Wifdom, to concur with Us c in the making fome fuch Act for that purpole, as may enable Us to exer- c cife with a more univerfal Satisfaction. That Power of Difpencing c which We conceive to be inherent in Us : Nor can We doubt of their c chearful cooperating with us in a thing wherein we do conceive our felves c fo far engaged in Honour, and in what we owe to the Peace of our Do- c minions > which We profefs We can never think fecure, whil/t there c mall be a colour left to the Malicious and Difarfecled, to inflame the c minds of fomany Multitudes upon thefcore of Confcience, with deipair c of ever obtaining any effect of our Promifes for their Eafe. And in his Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, Feb.10.166y. faith He, c One thing more I hold my Self obliged to recommend unto you c at this prefent •, which is, That you would ferioufly think of fome courfe c to beget a better Union and Compofure in the minds of my Proteftant c Subjects, in Matters of Religion h whereby they may be induced, not c only to fubmit quietly to the Government, but alfo chearfully give their c afli(tance to the fupport of it. And in his Speech to both Houfes, Nov. p. 1 678. He faith, c I meet you i here with the molt earnelt defire that Man can have, to unite the Minds of * all my Subjects, both to M 3 , and to one another ? and I rcfolve it lhall be c your Fault, if the Succefsbe not futable to my Defires. Befldes, that c end of Union which I aim ft, (and which I wifh could be extended to 4 Proteftants Abroad, as well as at Home J: T purpofe by this laft fiep I c have made, to difcern whether the Proteftant Religion, and the Peace of 'the Kingdom, be as truly aim:. d at by others, as they are really intended c by Me. — Some Bifhops formerly, and of late, have moft pathetically pleaded the Cafe of the Non-conformijis^ whofe Apoftolical Zeal and Charity are worthy the Confederation and Imitation of the prefent Bifhops and Fathers of our Church at this Time cfpecially. A former Bifhop of St. Davids, in the Convocation ( <*5 ) Convocation-Houfe, May 23. 1604. — fpeakingof thofe who were fcru- pulous only upon f< me Ceremonies, &c. 'Being otherwife Learned, itu- c dious, grave, and honcit M * I would know a Reafon, why it mould not be fo generally and exceeding 1 firidly called upon, efpecially confidering thefe Men are now the more c neceifary, by fo much as we fee greater encreafe of Papifts to be now of Mate, than were before. To conclude, I wilh, that U by Petition made 4 to the King's Majeity, there cannot be obtained a quite remove of the * Premifes, which feem fo grievous to divers, nor yet a Toleration for c them which be of the more ilaid and temperate carriage, yet at the leaft, c there might be procured a mitigation of the Penalty, if they cannot be 1 drawn by other Reafons to a Conformity with us. Thus far this Bilhop in thofe days, when the Terms' of Conformity were not fo hard, Th; prefent Lord Bifhop of Hereford, in his Nak^d Truth, with hearty Companion and Zeal, pleads the Cafe of our prefent Non-conformijh, both with the (then) two Houfts of Parliament, and the Bifhops in particu- lar. — Firir, In his Addrefs to the Lords and Commons in general, he thus expreileshimfelfi c My Lords and Noble Gentlemen, you have fully 'exprelled your Zeal to God, and his Church, in making Laws for Uni- *ty, &c. I call God, the fearcher of all Hearts, the God of Life and 'Death, to witnefs, That I would mod readily, yea, molt joyfully facri- 4 rice all I have in this W r orld, my Life and all, that all Nonconform^ s x were reduced tqour Church i but it falls out molt fadly, that your Laws c have not the dc lured erfccl, cur Church is more and more divided, &c— And concludes, with earneft Prayers, ' That God would diredt. them to 1 that which may make for the Vnity of our Church, by yeelding to weak 8 Ones, &c . K And f 66 ) And in fag. ro. (Edition in Folio) he thus earneftly and ferioufly Ad- drefles him to the Bifhops * c My Reverend Fathers and Judges of the c Church, I (with St. Paul, Col. 3.) befeech you put on fatherly bowels of \ Mercies, Kindnefs, bumblenefi of Mind, Meekyefs, Long-fuffcring towards c your poor weak Children ? and fo long as they hold fait the Body of c Chriit, be not fo rigorous with them for Shadows > if they fubmit to - you in Subftance, have patience, thothey do not fubmit in Ceremonies: fc and give me leave to tell y.ou my poor Opinion i This violent preiling of * Ceremonies hath ( I humbly conceive ) been a great hinderance from em- bracing them, Men fearing your Intentions to be far worfe than really c they are, and therefore abhor them. And fag.it. c This force- urging Uniformity in Worfhip,hath caufed * great divifion in Faith, as well as Charity 5 for had you, by abolifhing ' fome Ceremonies, taken the weak Brethren into your Church, they had c not wandred about after feducing Teachers, nor fallen into fo many grofs c Opinions of their own. Now I befeech you, in the fear of God, fet c before your Eyes the dreadful Day of Judgment, when Chriit in his ' Tribunal of Jultice (hall require an account of every Word and Deed, c and (hall thus qudlion you: Here are feveral Souls, who taking offence 'at your Ceremonies, have forfaken my Church, have forfaken the Faith, c have run into Hell,the Souls for which [ fhed my precious Blood jWhy have c you furTered this ? Nay, why have you occaiioned this ? Will you Anfwer, c It was to preferve our Ceremonies ? Will not Chriit return unto you, Are c your Ceremonies more dear unto you than the Souls for which I died ? Who * hath required thefe things at your hands? Will you, for Ceremonies, c which you your felves confefs to be indifferentmo way necelTary unto Sal- c vation, furfer your weak Brethren to perifh, for whom 1 died ? Have not * I (hewed you how David and his Souldiers wire guilt lefs in eating the Sbew- c bread, which was not lawful but only for the Priejis to eat ? If David dtfpen- c fed with a Ceremony commanded by God, to fatisfy the hunger of his c People, Will not you difpence with your own Ceremonies to fatisfy the c Souls of my People, who are called by my Name, and profefs my Name, c tho in weaknefs \ Or will you tell Chriit, they ought to luffcr for their c own wilfulnefs and perverfenefs, who will not fubmit to the Laws of c the Church as they ought ? Will not Chrift return, Shall they perifh f r c tranfgrefling your humane Laws, which they ignorantly conclude Errone- ous, And (hall not you perifh for tranfgreiling my Divine Laws, which f you know to be Good and Holy ? Had I mercy on you. and mould not c you have mercy on you fellow Servants ? With the fame meafure you c meeted, ic (hall be meafured unto you again : I tremble to go farther, ! but molt humbly befeech you, for C brill's fake, endeavour to regain thefe 1 lirayed ( *7 ) c Arayed^Shccp, for which he fhed his precious Elood, and think it as great 1 ahVftantage, as great an honour to you, as it was to St. Paul, to become c all things to all Men, that you may gain fome, asdoubtlcfs you will ma- c ny, tho not all i and the few flanders off will be the more convinced, c and at long running wearied out and gained alfo. I clofe this Bifhop's earned Requcfts, with one of the Prayers made by the Biihops for the late Fall on Decemb.22. 16S0. appointed by the King's Proclamation, (amongother ends ) to Unite the Hearts of all Loyal Pro- tenants, ( and I hope my Lords the Biihops will join their fincere endea- vours with this devout Prayer J Viz. For Union among our Selves. BLeJfed Jefu, our Saviour, and our Peace \ who did\\ jhed thy precious Blood upon the Crofs, that thou might J ji abolifh, and dejiroy all Enmity among Men, and reconcile them in one Body unto God : Lool^ doivn in much pity and companion upon this diftrejfed Church, and Nation *> who's blading f Founds, oc- cafio/fd by the lamentable Divifions that are amon^ us, cry aloud for thy fpeedy Help, and faving Relief, Stir up, we befeech thee, every Ccul of us, carefully (as becomes finccre Chrijlians) to root out of our Hearts all Pride, and Vain- glory, all JVrath and Bitternefs, all unjuji Prejudice and caufleff Jealoufy, all Hatred and Malice, and defire of Revenge, and whatfotver it is, that may any way exafpi rate our Minds, or hinder us from difcerning the things that belong unto our Peace : And by the Power of thy Holy Spirit of Peace, difpofe all our Hearts to fuch meelytefs of JVifdom, and lowlinefs of Mind, fuzh calm and de- liberate Long- fuffering, and Forbearance of one another in Love, with fuch due ejletm of thofe, whom thou hafi ft over us to watch for our Souls, as may turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Hearts of the Children to the Fathers i that fo we may become a ready People prepared to live in Peace, and the God of Peace may be with us. To this End, give us all Grace, Lord, ferioufly to lay to heart, not only the great Dangers we are in at prcfent by thefe unhappy Divifions, but alfo the great Obligations to this godly Union \ and Concord, which lie upon as : That as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one H>p: of our Calling "> one Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm, one God, and Father of all ; fo we may henceforth be all of one Heart, and of one Soul,chfely united in one h ly bond of T)uth and Peace, of Faith and Charity; and may with one Mmd . one Mmth glorify thee, Lord, the Prince of Peace, who with thy bltffcd Father, in the 'Unity of the Holy Spirit, livefi, and reignejl ever one God World with end. Amen. FINIS. •*> yv^- +-r**' m ' 9 ^-^ ^, His Majefties Declaration from Breda, April 14. 1660. — mt So Hectare a liberty to tenser Confcienceg * nm tftat no $Jan fljali fie BifqutcteB, 0? calieti in quettf on fo^ Differences of ©pinion in fattens of Eeligton, tofitcfi bo not tiffurbtfje peace of tfje Etngoom h 9no tfiat G21e (ball be reanp to Con- tent to fucft an act of parliament^ upon mature Deliberation 0jaH be offeree to 2J0 fo? t&e fun granting tijat 3in&uigence* Houje of Commons, Jan. 10. 1680. 'Refolded, That it is the Opinion of this Houfe, That the Pro- fecution of Proteftant Diffenters upon the Penal Laws, is at this time grievous to the Subjeft, a weakning the Proteftant Intereft, an encouragement to Popery, and dangerous to the Peace of! the Kingdom. THE Confo^mtft s fecont) ^llta FOR THE Nonconforming. WHEREIN The Cafe of the &£on-Conformifis is fur- ther ftated ; and the Sufpenfion of the Penal Laws againft them,humbly moved with all due fubmiiTion to the Magiftrate # By a Charitable and Companionate COttf 0?tnt(l I Author of the former PLEA. — : ; , ; Sed neque Imperiale ejl Libert at em diccndi delegare , neque Saccrdc- talc quodjhitiat nov dicere. S. Ambrof. ad Theodot Ep. 29. There hath been left, for any thing I find to the contrary, in all w ell-go vernM Polities, a kind of latitude more or lefs, and power in the Magistrates, even in thofe Courts that were Str&iflimi Juris, upon lit oc- cadon toqualify and mitigate fomething the Rigor of the Laws by the Rules of Equity. Bp S andcr fori' 'i Sermons, 1 Vol. f . 1 12. jid Afagtjlr.u*ur LONDON, Printed by jf. D. for Jonathan Robhifin, at the Gokbfl Lion in St. Pauh Church- Yard, 1682* To all that ate entruftfcd with the Adminiftration of Juftice, and Confervation of the Peare, by what Title foever they are honoured ^ The Charitable and Companionate COitfemtfl, doth mo ft humbly prefent thefe Papers. Noble and Worfhipful > NO Caufe can come before you,rvherein you arc fo nearly concerned* as you are fincere Protdtants, than in this of the DiiTenting Proteftants, becaufe your Religion is touched and concerned in it i you cannot hurt that in vny found part of the Pro- fiffors of %U tho in a few things differing from you, but very fenftbly, one of you mufl be affetied with it \ and rrbat you do tfj t'hem t you do to your felves, and your own Religion, except you account Life, and Soul, and Body, to be nothing without Formalties. Asyru are Gentlemen of nd'le Birth and. EducAion,and as Perfons of Urates, and of Hofpitality, of IVjJdom, Jullice* and Experience, you are moji obliged with all Sty If Judgment, leiidemefs, Mercy and Impartiality to give your felves true Information, in theft ite and deferts ofth'A great Matter i and fo to proceed with them, as flmving a Copy of tbofe Characters of Virtue, impreffed upon your Spirits in your Proceedings with them. As Gentlemen by Birth and Blood, your Extraction derives to you the mqfl amiable Qualities, and pure]} Endoivme?its of human Nature j tils Extract of noble Nature fublimated by ingenuoat (much more by pious and cbrijiian ) Education, mu\\ needs difpufe you to a nobler kind of Behaviour, and a greater Benignity, th.in inferiour Perfons of a courfir and more mixed Metal, A truely vcrtunu Gentleman, comes neareft to the true gracious Clrffjlian : but when the true Gentleman is become a true Cbrijiian, then even hncn.ies and OriRrndcrs, may expect much more than Humanity from him. Ton are not troubled with Yarricides, Murderers, and Robbers, not with objiinate Herctic\ss>or with perjured PerJons,{butfu:h as fear an Oath J nor trait trous cqui- ■ ting Jefurts, irhen the Nonconforrnilis are brought before you, but with Men of an ingenuous Education \andnhsi tfxytvantofa noble Birth, they have made up ik the better fori of natur il Endowments, improved by liberal Education, advan- ced by Grace, and preferred to be the Minijiers of God, aud therefore in a fort your Equals', as in other rej peas your Inferiors, and therefore worthy to be treated rr/th a dm refre&T. Ihey may expe't from you the highejl Civility, patient hearing, the ca>lm>l} Argmng^C urtefie andCcndeicenfm, and an extream unwilltngnefs to ail nigh to a Rigor. You (h uld fo ner from a Generofity proper to y ur Degree, give them what they want, than tahg froathem tl\ little which tbtybave; and be as much t r ublcd to fend them to a Prijon. as to be fait into one your felves. ' He that can The Preface.- can eafiiyhe fevere, or cruel, hath put off Humanity, and doth ail ppith gnat Negligence and Forgetfulnefs, and isfofar unfit to ad. If a Man be a Pri finer of War, at the Mercy of a Gentleman, the Gentleman confidering what he is him- felf acts like himftlf, and ufeth him as a dijirejfid Friend, that was but a white be foreman open Enemy. 'The No neon for milt s/^r whom I plead,are your own, if you pleafe to thtnhjhem fo,and you may with as much eafe,and more honour, with lefs trouble, and morefftty, and ccmfort, mak? them your own, -titan difown, and life them as tho they wen your Emmies, As Mimfters^ they have chofen a Cal- ling whido the Prince of Dartyefs hates, and perfecutes y they need your Counte- nance and Succor, againfi the Poivers of Dar\nefs '■> their bufmeff in the World, is rightly to inform, to better and five 'the Worlds they deferve your Afijhnceiand Prayers for facet fs. hi id they chofen a fecular way of Life, they miglot with the fame Education and Parts, have filled and adorned other Seats asweU as the Pul- pit > had they all turned Phyfici ins, Lawyers, States-men, as fome have done, cr to other Trades and Arts y they might h^avt had a greater Plenty, without dijiur- bance, Dangers, Lcffes, or Indignities: But (hall atttbefc Miferies and Officii- ons come upon them, Firfl, Becanfe, they' cannot change a.iddefert their Calling ? Nextfiecaitfe >hey cinn'ot be idle or unprofitable in it? Confider,and compare them dishonoured and afflicted, with your honoured felves : Are you Chriftians ? fo are they't are you Scholars ? fo are they : are you Gentlem:n? they come not far behind you •■> are you Proteftant Magiftrates ? they are Protefiant Minijlers : 7 he difference between yo~u is, you are in Poxrer, and they an out of Favour : I will not fo far difconour you,- as to compare yfu with thofe, infamous, broken, ravenous, vile fort of Men, that witnefs againfi them. If I may not be pardoned thofe Epithets, I will prove thai^and much mire, of many of them. Bui noble Sirs, how much be- neath you is it, as Men of Honour, to give Countenance to many of fuch, as are not fit to come w it bin your Doors, except to receive Juftice from you, againfi any thai have the unfiained repute of honeft Men, only becaufe they are Preachers of our fame common Faith. But noble Gentlemen, let me compare the Informers ' and them againil whom they witnefs ( and for whom I plead > ) the one is a Teacher of the way of Life, the other is ignorant, or walkj in the way of Darkn;fi \ the one makes Confidence of an Oath, and of his Word, but the other fyows not what an Oath is, and fears not to be for f worn (I fay nothing in this Oppofttion Oratorical- iy, but truly and upon Proof) theonejludies, tyows, and performs his Duty to God, and his King, andt-o all Men according to his Knowledg ', the other knows neither, andmah^s no Confcience ( in appearance ) of either : he isjor the King and you, but as he is for the Devil, for what he can get by his Service i he is un- godly and profane, a daily Tranfgnffor of the King s Laws, as well as God's } •and mare than one have been cut off by the' Swot d of Juftice, having firfl been nj 'tied by all honcft Men '•> the one lives a poor contented Life, praying for his King, and for all orders of Mm y and praifing God, fares bar d> and goes meanly, whiUji The Preface. whilfi the other runs in debt, cheats his Creditors , f wears and damns , and r$bs on the High-way, or breakj open Houfes. In a word, the one walkj in the way of Godlinefs and Homily, and labours to draw others with him i the titbit neither goes in bimfelf, nor fuffers others to enter that would. And behold, and be afto- nifbed ye Heavens at tbti ! the one is in danger of lofing all he bath, and fufferwg becauje he hath no more to lofe^ for labouring tofave Souls » and the other hopes to be rewarded with a third part of many of btf Neighbours Goods. A furcr way it it to turn Informer, than play the Thief, or cloeat bit Creditors > but all hath not done their Worhj the end of many bath been according to their WorkJ All this is fpvk^n of fome of them. Ton are Gentkmen ofEjiates, and cannot think that the mine of thou fands of Trader's > Farmers, Tenants, yea the impoverifhing of many of good Condition, can be a Service to the Common-wealth. If you do notfufftr an immediate Lofs, yet hundreds will, and what is a Lofs to fo great a part, will be an impairing of the whole. That great States-man, Sir Walter Rawleigh, in the Parliament 35 th of Elizab. fpahg tbefelVords : I am afraid there is near 20000 of Hilhric.Colled.exe. them ( the Brownifts ) in England, and when they of the 4 lafi Parlia- are gone,who (hall maintain their Wives and Chil- ments of ^EVa.p.yd^ dren? Had there been but 20000 Viffenters in Eng- by Mr. Townlhend. land, they had been rooted out before now, if feme had prevailed I But who fh all maintain a far greater number of Wives and Children^ when their Husbands and Parents are undone by the Penal Laws f And who will get by it ? not the King i /;/'/ third part, if come into his Exckqucr, will not countervail the lofs of his Subjects. What have the Poor got this many Tears ? or what have they got, that could neither kgep, nor get, nor pay their Debts, before they took^to Informing ? As many of you as are Gentlemen of Hofpitality, relieve many poor at your T>oors> or other-where '<> can you thinly it a Charity to relieve Beggars ? and ijfue Warrants to make many Beggars > that either cannot dig, or beg, or that keep many to their Labours, that elf would beg f that bear their Burdens in the Com" nun wealth, and are no burden to it ! Tour Place and Office require! b IVifdom. And I may be bold to fay, That tit Renowned Sir Matthew Hale, was as wife, as firitl, a: juft, as able a Lawyer as the ahlefi of you all that lyep ths Chair \ it is no dijpjragement of the learnt deft andgraveft of you all, to takg Urn for an Ex- ample, whofe Moderation towards Diifenters is apart See his Life, by Dr, of his noble Character '•> you have kyown what hath Gilbert Burnet, been the concurring fenfe of all our Parliaments fines 1^72. If none ofthefe (hall be your Precedents, I befeech you be plea fed to confider, it is your Wifdom to underjland the Duty of your Places, and the Matters that are brought The -Preface. brought before you\ efpecially in Cafes that concern the Liberties, Livelihoods^ and-' Efiates of many thousands in the hand. I humbly conceive you cannot with a clear- Confcience proceed againft the Diflenters, except yon underfiand, i . The matters for- which they fuffer^ and that you may fee in feveral Writings. 2 . Attend to the fcopt and reafons of the Alls, upon which you proceed. 5. Dijiinguijh between Treacher and Preacher ^between the found and the un found, and other Circumjlances ,and choofe rather to give up your Commiffions, than to all. againft God, and your Confcience^ by punifhing ^Veil-doings as if it were Evil doing. T:hat Preaching and Praying which tends to Mens Salvation, and to no evil end, either to the King, or hif> Government, cannot be pumfhed fifely, without being accejfary to the evil Inten- tions ofthofe dcfigning Men, who were the Politick? romoters of thtfe haws, nor- without great obfiruciion oftrueGodlinefs, and of a m^ji d. fir able Vnion among' Proteftanfs. 4. Tou ought not to aft like metrMicbines^or irrational ln\huments v Iffo, the Weak^and the Rajh, that can but write their Names to-a iVarrant,or^ a Mittimus, might be as fit as you, for your Offices : but as Men ofVndcftand* ing, Wifdom, Confcience and Religion h and if the haws are hard, and too fe- vere for meer Nonconformity, be Intercejfors with the King and Parliament, for bis Subjecls, and your fellow Chriftians. As Jufi Men\ Try thefitnefsofthe Whneffe's, wJxth'er they are B'oni Sc Rega- les: Punifh not Religious Ajfemblies of peaceable Men, under the odious names of Routs and Riots i and let not the found, profatble, and peaceable Treacher s i be ruined with a meafurt ofPunifhment, only due to the turbulent and rebellious. And if by msny Tears Experience, you find no Sedition or Vifturbance to the King* dom, only to the minds of fome that are too contt •over fially difpofed to ?ajfun and Contention, or if you find it only to be a Schijm, a Church-maiter, leave it to the Church- Men tojudg it according to their Law. If you maintain the Civil Veaccj you are happy Instruments in the Government, and what more is required of you ? Noble and honoured Gentlemen, I do not prefume to dedicate this as to Patron < . humbly ojfer andfuhmitjhe, Reafon and Argument to yovr Cenfidiration^ and fag- 1 t two. things,., \. if we believe a Catholic^ Church, of the fatne Faith ^m. different For /<■ and Modes, why {ball not our Fdlow -Subjects and Natives, profejjing that Faith • 1 4 different FormJbay tn the Land} ff there be nothing in what I bumbly offer, rejeft it ? if th*rc e <*«vyic?ien tn any things be plea fed to eonftier of it. PhilagathLL THE Confojmift s fetonD $lca FOR. THE NON-CONFORMISTS. |T mud be confeiTed that there is fome turpitude in all Apo- ifc^S? >hF logi e S either imputed or committed. To Preface a Book with an Apology, when the matter is good, is to put a foul face upon a good matter i but then, it is a foul face only in fome Men's Eyes, which are difeafed, and will appear, if not beautiful, yet tolerably handfom, to the eye of them, that look for nothing perfect and free from humane frailty, and that make daily ufe of a Towel, and fair Water themfelves. Plead for my felf I mutt, and I (hall make fome rcquefts with my Pleas, that fo iC I may not come off without guilt and blame, I may come off with my Pardon. I did not think the Reverend Non-Conformifts fo few or weak, as to need an Advocate, in fome things, .of another Judgment, and fo far, of the other tide > for as they are molt fenfible of their own condition, fo they can both rationally, and pathetically,open and plead their own Caufe, and in my mind, they have faid a great deal to purpofe, if after all, it will be to purpofe. I am Cure had I been one of them, I could not have faid for them, what they have done. But knowing how ill they are repre- fented, I was refolved in what I could to do them right, and therein to exprefs my Compaflion, proportionable to my Religion, which as fuch, is not confined, but Catholick : and if my Charity and Compaflion mult ex- tend to all, that call on the Name of the Lord Jefus, I am certain I mufi: (hew it to them, whom I take to be found in Faith and Wormip, and whom I have known, and heard, and by whofe Works I may profit, if I have not. My requeft to ihem is, that they would believe there are many in the Church oiEngland^ that wi(h an Union, they with us, and we with them., and it muft needs be fo in all them that are animated by the fame B Holy 2 CTje Cattfomtiffss Oceans pea poly-Spirit of Truth, Faith, and Love- I do alfo hcgtheir pardon, that I have pleaded for them with no more Life and Strength. I dounderftand and I eafily believe, that many of the Reverend Con- forming Church-Men are offended, that a Conformifl mould plead for the Non-Conformijis : It hathfeemed to fome almoft incredible,and to look like a Cheat, or a Jefuit in Mafquerade. I am glad I am not to be tried by Judges of that Complexion, by whom I am condemned at the very firft fight of the Title Page, and that it hath found Approbation from them, whom I take to be of a better Temper. Before I plead, I do humbly beg their Pardon and Excufe, who have been di(honoured by the Sufpicion of being the Authors of the Plea for the Non-Conformifts^ by my concealment of my Name. It hath been a greater Honour to me, than I ever expected or thought of, that it hath pajled under fome very Reverend Names > but it is a Dimonour to them, to be counted the Fathers of fuch a Birth, which reprefents neither their Strength nor Statures, neither Feature nor Speech. Thefe worthy Men may vindicate themferves with one Negative, but I cannot undeceive the Inquirers without running upon confiderable Trouble antl Temptations. I perceive the Injury is fo common, that I cannot without a greater, dif- truft their Pardoning Ingenuity.- — Having faid this, I next put in my Apology. That Book was fitly called the Conformijlj Plea, becaufe it becomes the Conformist to read and weigh the Cafe j and having done fb, to be righteous and compailionare, to be a good Inlirument between his Mother and his Brethren at fuch a time, when ill Agents pafs between them v and becaufe the greateft Au- thorities he hath ufed, have been eminent Fathers or Sons of the Church ©f England. Why mould it feem Orange to any Man, in fuch an Age as this, when many that feem Enemies to Popery, yet plead for Papi/ls ? Why mould it feem ftrange, that one mould labour to prepare the Hearts of Men of the fame Faith to meet, or to receive DhTenting Proteftants into Church-Communion with them, by opening the hardnefs of their Cafe, the Worthinefs of their Perfons, and of their Miniiterial Abilities, «Soundnefs of their Faith, Exemplary Morals, peaceable Demeanour, &c* Why mould it offend any Man, that I mould pen their Cafe,and tefrify for them, when we all, that have any fenfe, bewail our Divifions, and from thence fore-tell our Deftrudrion, and profefs a defire of Union, tho upon different Terms h How many in the Land do declaim againft their Principles and Pradifes, and are ready to raife a Wind, if it were in their Power, to carry them away, that know neither the Men, nor their declared Principles ! Is it not necelTary, firft to remove Prejudices, and nex^to beget goocj Thoughts of them, in.all that through unacquaintance with fo? tlje Bonccmfajmlfftf, ? with them, or Difaffe&ion towards them, before ever we can either de- fire, or admit an Union with them ? It is a good preparation for an intire, afTe&ionate Clofure to (hew how near they come to us, what Abate- ments other great and excellent Men would have made, had they had the management of Church- Affairs in our Days, and what Conceilions they formerly thought fit to make i and more efpccally in a time when the great Counfellours and Truftces of our Peace and Liberties, have unani- mously voted for a Legal Union, or that which is to fome a hateful Word, Comprebenfion. It is molt unlike a Minister of Chriit, and a Member of a Chriftian Reformed Church, to kick and fpurn at Proteftant Brethren, that would gladly come into the Arms of a Legal Conftitution, upon no other terms and by no other ways, than fuch as Wifdom fhall rind out, and the Government refolve upon, for the Honour of Chriit and his Reli- gion, and the fafety of the Church. In vain do we ufe the names of Unity and Peace, and Uniformity, and yet at the fame time, in the fame Difcourfcs, revile and bear falfe witnefc againft our Brethren. To com- mend Peace and diflike fair Propofals, is flatly to hate Peace *> to com- mend Peace, and with Tongues and Pens tc perfecute them with whom the Peace is to be made, is a Method for Peace which I never learned. To invite Men to my Houfe, and keep the Doors fhut, as againft Thieves and Coa^ntious Perfons that will never be quiet, or that arc not fit to be truTted in it,is fuch a kind of Civility and Complement, that can never gain upon any Man of fenfe. I put off my Hat to them with a feeming Humi- lity and Love, and fay, I pray you come in out of the Wind and Rain, and in the mean time prepare neither Room nor Entertainment for them, but, think my Houfe a great deal better without than with them, is as muh as to fay, Be gone, or come in upon fuch hard terms, for which they muft give Eond and Oath,which they cannot yield to. Will a Man that hath any Brains in him, receive troubleiome Perfons into his Houfe ? or con- tract with perfidious Perfons, that will eat him out and betray him } or cfpoufe a Woman that he takes to be an ill-conditioned, contentious, un- profitable Brawler ? We mult ground our Agreements upon fome rational Confidences. And therefore that I might not onl) pray for Proteitant- Chrifiian Peace and Union, I ufed fuch means as were within my narrow Compafs '■> and I could not think of any better, than briefly to Hate the Cafe, and commend the Perfons, whole Eftablimment I do heartily de- fire, as they with whom we may fafely, and comfortably communicate in the fame Offices, or at lead quietly endure to live with us in the fame Nation, or worfhip God in Chrift, as in an outward Court of the Temple, thonotin the Eody of it,or at the Altar. If the Gentiles were not admit- ted into the inward Court, they had the allowance of an outward Court, B 2 they 4 €Ije Confojmtff S Attorn ptea they were not forbidden to come into Jerufalem, or any Town where the Sanhedrim was held. But our Non-Conformift Brethren may approach with us even to the Altar, if they be but taken in upon fuch Terms y as Chrift and his Apoftles would have admitted them upon , yea upon Principles declared by our rirft glorious Reformers. And (hall it be a Crime in a Conformift to fay fo, to fpeak Truth in Love ? They earneft- ly plead with the Keepers of the Keyes, For Chrift's fake take usinT They plead with the power of the Sword, For the Lord's fake fmite us not, deftroy us not, for we are Friends. To the one they fay, We would live in Peace and Love with you, we would glorify God with one Mouth with you, we would not be as Strangers and Enemies. To the other they fay, We will Hand on your fide, we will live and dy with you. Butfome that watch at the door, and fome that Hand Sentinel, and are upton the Guard, cry, Who are ye ? Whence come ye ? What would you have ? Is it not a good Service in me, or any other that are within, that know the Men, and have heard or read their Offers, to declare who they are, and what they offer } I look upon it as great an Act of Charity to. many in the Church (of which I am a Member) as to them,to make a true report of the things I have written, and towards a Reception, to repeat the Heads of fome former Debates and Confultations for Concord, and what hath been the Judgment of, and to what fome Worthies # forme* times have conckfcended^ ■ But who hath hired you? or feod you for your Plea ? From this and the like falfe AccufationsJ appeal to my Judg in Heaven^ and my Witnefs within, and defy the World round about me, of being as much as privy to any fuch defigned work » yet I have my Reward on Earth. The Tearers of the Church have made at me, as inviiiblc as I am, but miftaking their Hold, have hurt their Nails and Fingers, whilit I efcape.. The Admirers of Innovations have cut me out a new Livery, which (hews the Uniformity theyaffedr, dretTed one in a Jefuit's long Kobeiy and a Scatijh blew Bonnet > but from others I have the Reward of Thanks, Prayers, and Encouragements to proceed, from the good Ac- ceptation ofc the former part. And if none of my fellow Servants would acknowledg my Kindneft, I hope my Mailer will, whofe I am, and whom 1 ferve. And if fome of my Mother's Sons look upon me, as having no- thing of her, beeaufe lam not like them to'an Hair, and wonder who I take after ', I would they mould know, I take after the Candor and In- genuity of Heathens and Papifts, overcome with the Light and Truth towards ChrHlians, and in their Language, condemned Hereticks > and after the Charity of Conformift s towards Puritans and Non-Conformfts in .former times? and fo this part of my Apology (hall be, i. The a? tfje J3onconfa»tiiff& 5 i. The instable Examples of Heathens towards Chriflians. 2. OiPapijh towards miCcalled Hereticks,our fore-runners in the Truth and Faith. 3. Of conforming Defenders of the Church of England) towards Dif- fenters of former and latter times.* And if it be faid, that none oftbefe did plead the Cauft of their Adutrfa- ries y as I have done. I fay, 1. The condition of the Times require it. 2. Their Cafe will bear it. 3. General inclinations to Peace have opened an opportunity fur it. 1. Shall not a Chriftian fpeak as well of a Chriftian,who is of the fame Father, Faith and Family, as an Heathen of a Chriftian } Shall not a Chri- stian Minifter do more than a Chriitian Man, for the honour of Chriftiani- ty? Who hath taught us to expofe ferious ProfeiTors of the Chriflian Faith, to the condemnation and wrath of the ignorant and angry people ? or to the jealoufy of the Potent? What is commendable in them, ought to be commended > and that mould be commended in them, which is commen- dable in us. And what is excufable in them, ought not to be expofed as damnable and intolerable. The Chriftian Qualities, Graces and Venues, mould be acknowledged, and not difowned, becaufe they are in a Non- conformift. The Piety, due Obedience, Sobriety, Ufefulnefs, diligence in Hearing and Preaching the Word, yea and tenderness of Confcier-ce,which they profefs and (hew, ought to be kindly refpecled i and the common in- firmities of Men, rather covered, for the fake of thofe undoubted Graces, than thefe Graces to be fufpected, becaufe we do not affr& the Men. TertuHian in his DiiTuafivc to Scapula^iht Prefident of Africa, from Perfe- ction, \_adScapul. c. 4.] doth move him by the good opinion and com- mendation of the Emperor Stvttm ( Father of Antoninus) who did not only fhew favour to torpacion, who had cured him with Oil, and kept him in his Palace while he lived y but knowing fome famous Women and fome famous Men to be of this Seel, (fo the Chriftians tvere called, a Secf, or, a new 5ec7,by way of contempt) he did not only not hurt them, but adorned and honoured them with his Teftimony, and did alfo openly refill (or keep off) the common people raging againft them. Eut moil famous is that full Teftimony which Pliny the 2d gave to Trajan, of the Religion and Manners of the Chriflians, c That he found nothing by them but their ob- c ftinacy in refuting to facrifice "> and that they met before day to iirg to c God andChrift, to confent in the excrcife of Chriftian Difcipline> for- bidding Murder, Adultery, Deceit, Treachery, and other Wickcdr.eifts. * TtrtnLad Scapulam. cap. 4. edit, Pamdii ickApobgetico cap* 2. If an Hei- then. 6 ©be Cottftymtft'g Stfcontrpea then Governour, entrufted with the execution of Laws upon the Chrifti- rrj xr ir- /•* . ans ( in Pontus and Bitbynia) gave fuch a Tefti- Vd Voffii Comment in of tfa whkh was { ^ & fQ be *?f Phn - de Chr f m an Advocate for them, than a Judge upon them •> rerjecutionum. p. 5, 6,7- whaf may be alIowed t0 a p rote fhnt Minifter, pleading for Proteftant Mi n ift e rs and People > of whofe Religion and Manners much more may be fa id, than Pliny could fay of thofe Saints of God,had he fet himfelf to plead their Caufe with his charming Rhetorick. 2. I will imitate a Vertue in an Enemy, what is good in an ill Man. Let others-frame their Tongues to-defaming Names and Anathema's, after the rigorous and bitter Papijls* I rather chufe to undergo the Cenfures of the Angry, without caufe, than be overcome, or condemned by the inge- nuity oi'Papifis towards our Predeceflbrs in the fame Faith. What ample Teftimonies have many of the Papifis given of the Waldenfes, altho con- demned of Herefy, by their Canons, may be feen in T>u Plejfis Hijhria* Papatm, out of Raineriut, avid in Arch-Bimop VJher's Edit.Lond.i6i$.c.6. de Sucejfione & Statu, out of the fame Raineriuf, §. 11. 5^. i^iZQ.&Ck and other Inquiiltors, and their fpiteful Enemies fufeper totum Caput. the Veminicans, being overcome with the Light of Truth, and Beauty of their Life and Manners^have not concealed what we ought to efteem a Glory. JEritas Sylvius writes as mu.h to (heir difgrace as any fcornful Enemy could do,who in his Journey to Prague taking in at Tabor ( looking upon it as more fafe to lodg with them than in the open Villages among!* the Papijis) was with his Compa- ny gladly received by them,and received the right of Hofpitality. He hared them to that degree, that he chofe to negledt Divine Offices on the Lord's- Day, left he mould communicate with Hereticks i and in his return, be- ing overcome with the importunity of his Company, to return thither to bait, he wouli neither eat nor drink while he was in the City i yet he gives us the Heads of their Religion inoppofition to the Roman Apoftacy, which is fuch, as every true Protejiant mu(i fubferibe to for the molt parr. And the ill Reports he gives of their degenerate Manners, he rook upon truit from his Ho/>, who fecretly kept the Images Vid. Inter lValdenfia,&c, ofCbrift and the Virgin Mary, and would have opera Baltbar. Lydii > JE- fallen from them, but for the love of his Riches. nxws Sylvii HijioriamBo- And ihall we take thefe Reports for true of bemicam. P. 3 71, 6c 373. them, which he, an incenfed Adverfary, after- F^eterdam. 1612. wards a Pope, received from a fecret Pap/ft, and an Hypocrite ? There are too many in England \ from their Ignorance, Prejudice, or Malignity, will fpeak as ill of our wor- thy Nonconformijis > but let us who know them, and iliould eikem them as fo? tTjrBorttottfojmiffsf* as the Servants of God, Ad our Fellow-Servants, write and fpeak with Tendernefs, Truth, and Modetty. 3. To come nearer home, and the Point in hand. Many learned and peaceable Conforming Divines, when they wrote of them,or wrote againft them, have given them an honourable Report i efpccially when the Pa- pijis have upbraided the Church of England with Puritans, as now they do with our Diviflons. Mi. Francis Mafon, the learned Defender of the Minittry of the Church of England, fpeaks fo mo- deiily and kindly of the Nonconftrmifts*, that he * Churches Power to inhnuates a good opinion, or a kindnefs into the make Canons* heart of his Header in that Book, wherein he la- bours to fatisfy or confute them. With a like temper did Dr. Spares handle the Perfuafwe to Conformity. What ample and fair Characters doth the ingenuous and honctt Dr. Fuller give of Mr. Cartwright, Travers^Vdal, Htlderjham, Dod,&c. in his Church-Hittory of Britain ? And long before him, we may reade (what fomeof our learned and eminent Conformijl Divines have imitated ) the Honour which fome great Doctors of Cam- bridge and among them Dr. Fulk^ gave to Mr. Cartrvright, perfwading him to confute the Rhemifts Tettament, printed before that worthy Work of his. I will content my felf with one Example more of this temper, a Learned Man beyond all exception, the great D o&ox Crakenthorp, whom I rather cite, firtt, becaufe he profeiTed himfelf, and was acknowledged by the Bi (hops to be a Moderate Proteflant, but no Puritan, 2, Becaufe he reckons many of the N.C.Puritans, who fullered either Deprivation or Sufpenfion, or more, for their Nonconformity, and blames them for that fault : Vtinam error em fuum & cernere voluijjent & deponere. For other- 1 wife certainly (faid he to Marc. Anton, de Domini*, A. B. of Spalato) there c is hardly none of them to which any of you is to c be compared, for Goodnefs or Holinefs of Life i Defenfto Ecclef. Angli- c and even for Learning, you your felf (who are a can£ contra Archiepifc, c Matter in your JfraelJ are not to be compared SpaLztenfem* cap. 33, c with fome of them. The greater was the un- p. 206. happinefs of that Ereach, which was made by In- junctions and Scruples. I never thought them good Painters who draw the Pictures of the DifTenting Brethren with Dirt and Soot : but I know- ing them to be unlike thofe Pictures, have with a juft offence beheld their Injuries > and would have been pleafed to have feen them defaibed by fome impartial and skilful Matter, as fit to adorn the Palaces of Princes, who have been removed up and down , and thrown out of the way, like the lumber out of a new-furnifh'd Church. The Works and Hillories of the Lives of many of the old found and loyal Puritans, written for the mo A- 8 €Ije ConfowuffjJ mmm pea inofl part by Conforming Divines commend t^em, and will commend them to all Godly Generations > and the Memories of the Orthodox NON-CONFORMISTS of the prefent Age, will be tranfmit- ted after them, to the better opinion of future Times, by a truer Tradi- tion,than any Hiflory that is as yet come to the view of the World, by the reviling and afperfing Writers of this Age. And two ways After-Times will be truly informed concerning thenn firft, by that Angry Reproachful Art of Jelt and Earneft ( I do not mean thofe venemous halfpenny Vo- lumns that will not hold the binding, and will be condemned to the fire by their very Authors, if ever they grow wife enough to repent) but in a greater bulk, and of greater gain to their Authors and Sellers, than profit to their Readers. Secondly, by the great numbers of Books writ- ten by the Nonconformifi /, to the real Advancement of Piety. By the firft, ferious and inquifltive Pollerity will conclude that Tendernefs, Piety, and Truth lodged not in their Bofoms, while their Hands mov'd their Pens, which afperfed their made- Adverfaries in fuch a way,as could neither gain nor convince them. . By the latter, they will conclude, when they obferve the fcope of their Traits, foundnefs of their Matter, afTe&ionate moving way of Writing in Pra&icals, and their AfTerting the Protefiant Dodhine, of former and latter Times, in theirControverlials, that furely thefeMen were an excellent part of the Church, infpired by the Spirit of Grace and Truth, and deferved better ufage, and a higher place,than a Barn or a Hall to preach in. In fpeaking well of the Nonconformists^ I have followed the Example of them that I reckon among the Chief of the Church of England : and if my AfFe&ion tothem>and in them, to Chrifiian and Proteiiant Name and Religion, hath prevailed upon me to an unufual Undertaking , if it be not pardonable with fome, if it be acceptable to Jefus Chrift, and fuita- ble to the Minds of many good Men in the Church, and do fome tole- rable fcrvice to the fuffering part, I doubt not but I mail be faved, with- out the Pardon of them that cannot pardon the Vertue of Moderation, any more than the aggravated offence of Nonconformity. I have gone no further than to plead a trampled Caufe, which they that hold it, think too good and precious to be trodden on by the proudelt Foot, as tit to betaken into Consideration by the Wifdomand Authority of the Nation. I have not prefumed to make Propofals, or Demands i that's left to wife and great Men. But if fome * Dr. Stilling. Pre- of our Eminent * Church-Men have made Pro- face to tbeVnreafonab. pofals of Abatement, and have not violated their of Separation. Subfcriptions, not to endeavour any alteration of the Government in Church or State i I hope I have have not forfeited my Sonihip, or broken Faith, by doing far Iefs, and keeping within the Bounds of a well-meaning Man. And fo much, and perhaps too much, by way of Apology. I have opened in the Plea the Hardnefs of the Cafe, Greatnefs of the Sufferings, Worthincfs of the Perfons of the Non-Conformijlf, and the Lofs to the Church by their Exclulion or Suppreflion. I might infer Conclulions from every of thofe Head of the Arguments, and drive the Plea more home i but now becaufe their Sufferings are like to be more and greater, and they are to be a Carkafs to the Eagle?, I will take leave to difcufs this feafbnable and neceiTary QueHion. Q^ Whether it be not better, tbjt the Penal Laws againft tbe Non-Confor- mifis, to which tbey are obnoxious, by tbeir Preaching and Praying, and other Religious Exercifisfliould not be executed,but forborn rather than put in Excutton^ until fitch time, as cur Gracious King and Parliament in time to come, fhall maturely takg the State of divided Protejlants into their wife Consideration, and bring us all into a happier Legal Efiablijhment, than we are in, or can be in, while our Divifions and their Caujes continue ? « It may be thought high Prefumption in a private Perfon, to determine which is the better '■> but I conceive, that becaufe the Civil Magifkate is not Omnifcient, but takes his Information from Inferiours, and private Men, coming to him through Publick Perfons, it's rather a Duty than ani Offence to propofe fuch a Queftion, and difcufs it, when too many deter- mine perhaps without due Examination of the Cafe, that the rigorous Profecution of DilTenters is heft and needful. In the handling of this Queition, it will be neceiTary to (late it, and fhewi 1. Who I mean by the Non-Conformijh. 2. State the Controverfy between them, and the Church from which they dilTent. 3 . Open the nature of the OrTences,for which they are liableto the Laws. 4. Explain what I mean by Forbearance of them, or the Execution of the Laws. 5. Why I limit the time, until our Gracious King (hall take our divi- ded State into further Confederation. After which done, I will, 6. Produce my Arguments for the Affirmative, That it is better the Laws Ihould not be executed, than put in Execution. And_, 7. Anfvver Objections to the contrary. 1. Ey Nonconformijls, I mean only fuch Minillers, Teachers, Pafiors, and Pcople 3 as are found in the Fundamentals of the Chriftian Faith, and C fubiiantia! to %%i Confojttu'ft'js ©ecottti pea fubdantialWormip* that are Proteflants, or reformed from the Corrupti- ons of Ptf/tfry, that peaceably fubmit to the Civil Government of the Kingdom ; and the Temporal Laws thereof. Secondly, The Controverfy between the Nonconformifts and the Church, or the Confrmifts, lies not in Matters Political and of Civil Government, for they agree in that, according to the Laws and * VU. Dr. Stilling, ConfHtution of the Realm. * Nor is the Contro- Mifch. Separat. p. 21. verfy in the Fundamentals, or Articles of Faith, and their own ma- cr between a Church-Government,and Anarchy or ny Books. Cum Mis no Government > but about Matters of Form and quostuPuritanosvocM, Ecclefiaftical Difcipline, and Terms of Church- non eft nobis defide aut Communion, or of Exercife of their Pub-lick Mi- Fidei dogmatelis uVa : niftry, confining in Subfcriptions, Oaths, and De- de Ritibus tlUs y & di- clarations, and fome private Dodhines to be fciplina Ecclefice noftrt aiTented to. contendunt, Craken- But this is too general an Account i more par- thorp Ecclef. Anglic, ticularly it is carefully to be noted, Uefenfio.c33.1p* 203. 1. That the Controverfy berween the Noncon- formifts, and the Church as now Ettabli(hed by Law, is not the fame it was between the Church and Nonconformist, or Puritans, from the Reign of Q± Elizabeth, to our King's Reign. The Nonconformifts in thofe days and following time, aiTerted a Government and Difcipline of Divine Right by Presbyterian ClafTes, Synods and Lay- Elders, and dilTented from the Government by Diocefan Biftiops, and Ceremonies principally > yet thefe were againft the Brownifts, who fepa- sated from the Church of England as no true Church, which the meer Nonconformifts did not. Bu: fince his Majefties wonderful Reftauration, that part of the Controverfy which relates to Church-Difcipline, and Government, is altogether new, and quite different from the old. No fingle Perfon, nor Combination of Men, did ever defire of the King or Parliament, the Eftabliftiment, or the Toleration See Mr. Baxt. Pre- of the Presbyterian Government or Difcipline, ei- face toP>p Morley, and ther in.the Presbyterian or Independent Way, And Bp Gunning, before hit therefore the pains of thofe Writers, who have "true and only way of revived the Opinions, and raked into the Mifcar- Concord. riages of the Presbyterians, might have been fpa- red, as not at all to the purpofe > except to that which is unbecoming either peaceble or wife Men : They do only kindle Wrath by flirring Fire, and cry, Fire, Fire in the Church and State, k fjejn there is not fo much as any Smoak afcending from the Embers of Presbyter fa? tlje Boncottftnmiff & r r Presbyterian Principles. Thole Tragical Stories of Presbyterians, whether true or not, which foine Men bring to remembrance, feem to ierve ano- ther Dellgn, than the union or prefervation of the Church, and apparently to render the Nonconformist fufpicious and odious, and to hinder a Reconciliation. 2. There are efpecially two forts of DifTenters from the Legal Church ■> Firft, Thofe who are called Presbyterians, but wrongfully fo called, ( and by me only for Diftinclion fake) the other are the Congregational, or Independents. The Fanaticks and Sectaries fall under this laft Diviflon in point of Government i but the meer Congregational are Men of Learning, Reafon, and found Principles as to Faith, Worfhip, «nd Manners. And fo there mud be a Diftinclion between forae, and others, that are com- monly fo called. All thefe agree in that they cannot conform to Subfcriptions, Oaths, and Declarations > and fome in other Matters come nearer, or Hand fur- ther off than others > therefore the Difference cannot be more particularly ftated, without an exadt knowledg of their Tenets. 3. Thofe who are commonly called and reputed Presbyterians, declared themfelves for his Majefties Declaration about Ec- clefiaftical Affairs, as they have done againft the Oclober2^tb,i660 m Terms required by the Acl: of Uniformity. And Petit, for Peace, $. 10. now, if any Man would know the true State of To the Kings Msft the Difference between the Conformijis and one Excellent Majefly. Tbe part of the Nonconformists, may rind it to lie in due Account and bumble, that Gracious Declaration, and that A& of Uni- Petition oftbeMiniflren formity. The reputed Presbyterian cannot con- of tbe Gojpel commiffio- form to the Ad, but would have been glad if nated for tbe review that Declaration had been made an Adr. And and alteration of tbe they who would have gladly fubmitted to that Liturgy. Lond. An. rare Invention of Compofure and Settlement, are 1661, Mr. Baxter's no longer to be accounted Presbyterians in a ft rid Preface Treat, of Epif- and proper fenfc i much lefs Enemies to the King copacy. and Subvcrters of the Government, that would have conformed to what the King propofed, upon great Reafbns and wife Counfels, as appears by the Reafons, Frame and Language of that Declaration : And they who condemn them that conform not to the Ad-, but would have conformed to his Majefties Declaration,if it had been turned into a Law, bave declared at the fame time their diflike of the King's Declaration. And if their Zeal be fo hot againft this kind of Diflenters, their Reverence of the King's Acl, which gave them their Meafures and Dirc&ions, both as to what they fhould ask and defire to C 2 be i* %\t cdnfoajnft'0 secerns l^lea be ruled and governed by, fhould reftrain them from being too rigid in their Cenfures. Had they drawn up fuch a Declaration as that is, and prefentedit to the King and Parliament, as the only Rule they would fub- mit unto, and the King have rejected and refufed it, then t. ;ey Had been more defervedly reproved for their Nonconformity. But when it w T as gKicioufly declared by the King, and gratefully acknowledged by that Parliament, and the Divines that now diiTent, See tbeforefaid Pe- did thankfully acknowledg and receive it, they tition. cannot be condemned but with fome Reflection At their Meeting in upon that Declaration, and by confeqnen.ee the Sion Colkdg. • King himfelf and his wife Counfellors,and that nrft Parliament who thanked the King for it. And let it be further noted, that there was once a Parliament moft freely chofen, of Loyal Members, that thanked the King for Terms of Accommodation and Union > and it is much for the Honour of the DilTenters, who humbly defired an Union upon thofe Terms, that they had once the King himfelf, and as many of his Wife Council as advifed, and a Loyal Parliament freely chofen, of the fame Judgment with them. If they are a Faction, they are fuch as never was before them \ a Faclion that would have been ruled by the King, and that good Parliament which did reftore Him. I do no- tify the tirit rank of DifTenters from this, becaufe they have fubmitted to this, and never offered any other Terms or Pro- * Or fuch Alterati- pofals by general Confent, but thofe declared by \>ns as were made in the the King himfelf. * And thofe that are faid to Liturgy, by bis Majeft. be for a new Model, are for the King's own Mo- Commiffion. del. — - 4. The other fort of DilTenters fall under the name of Congregational and Independents, As many of thefe as are under my prefent Confederation, are firft Orthodox and found in Faith, agree- ing with the Scriptures, received Doctrine of this Church, in Articles and Homilies, and of other Reformed Churches, in oppofjtion to Herefies and Popery. 2. They difTent not from the Civil Government of the Kingdom. Take their own profelled Doctrine, c It is the Duty of People to pray 1 for Magiftrates, to honour their Perfons, to-pay them Tribute and other c Duties, to obey their lawful Commands, and to be fubjeft to their 1 Authority for Confidence fake. Infidelity or Difference in Religion c doth not make void the Magiflrates ju(t and legal Authority, nor c free the People from their Obedience to him j from which Ecclefialtical 1 Perfons are not exempted * much lefs hath the Pope any Power or * jurifdi&ion over them in their Dominions, or over any of their People, and fo? tljc Boncanfamiiffe- 15 *and IcaH of all to deprive them of their Dominions or Lives, if he mall c judg them to be Hcrcticks, or upon any other 1 pretence whatfoevcr. * * A Declaration of the 5. They are for a Church-Government, by Pa- Faith and Order of the fiors, Teachers, Elders and Deacons, but within Congregation. Church:* particular Congregations, having all Tower within in England, in their themfelvcs, independent as Co Jurifdiftion, or Meeting at the Savoy Subordination to any other Church, or Synod, and Ocrnb.i2 7 1653.C.24. they are for the Adminiflration of all the Ordi- Of the Civil Mag i\h ate ^ nances of Chrift. £• 4. P*A Ei\ Orven'f The moil that ever thefe defired at any time, Truth and Innocency even when th'e Pre sbytcrial Government was moll vindicated. Survey of likely to prevail, was a PcrmifTion or Toleration Di. Parker's Ecclef.Fo- to exercife their Difcipline,fubjcfting themfelvcs, Htyp. 164, &c. Ibid. as any other Subjeft.*, to the Magittratc, not de- of the Infhnr* of firing the Preferments of the Church? which they Churches. $. p would have always go to them, that conformed to the Conftitution cf the Church according to Law, and with this they would now be thankfully contented. The third thing to be fpoken to, is the Nature of the OtfenccTor which they are liable to the Penalties of the Laws. The remote Otfcnce or Tranf- grcilion, is their Nonconformity to the Aft of Uniformity, for which rhey have fuffered a Deprivation of their Ecclefialiical Preferments. The next and immediate Tranfgreifion, is againft other Statutes? which are thefe : 1 . The Statute of the 5 5 of Queen Elizabeth^ declared to be in force, 16 of Cb. II. c. 4. 2. The fame Aft againft Conventicles and unlawful Affemblies, under Pretence of Exercife of Religion. 3. Aft 17 Cb. II. c. 2. Nonconformilis that take not the Oath, or Teft therein fet down, fhall not inhabit in any Corporation, or live within five* Miles of any Town that fend BurgefTes to Parliament ? or five Miles of the Place where they were Minifters. 4. The Statutes of the 22//; of Cb. II. c.i. Seditions Conventicles pre- vented andfupprtffed. By thefirlt of thefe Statutes, viz.^yb of Q. Eliz. the Offences are two? the firft is not coming to fome Church or Chappel, or other plac^ of Divine Service, to hear Divine Service elhbliQied by her Laws, &c. The fecond is to fpeak or w r rite,or to perfwade any to deny or impugn Her Majeftics Power in Caufes Ecclefiaftkal, or perfwade any againft hearing Diving i4 Clje Confojmitts ^ecaitti pica Divine Service, or to be prefent at Conventicles, or unlawful AfTemblies* The Penalty is, firft Imprifonment until he acknowledg his Offence, and declare his Submiilion in feme Church or Chappeh which if he refufe ^do within three Months, he (hall abjure the Realm if he do not, or if he (hall return without her Majeures leave, he (hall be proceeded againft as a Felon. I (hall {peak of the fecond under the fourth, becaufe it was to expire after the next Seilion of Parliament, which was after three Years. And pais to the third Statute*, The Offence by that Statute is,If any Perfon that had enjoyed any Parfonage,Vicarage,Le3ure-ftipend, and had not confor- med to the A& of Uniformity ,and (hall not take and fubferibe this Oathi 'I A. B. do fwear that it is not lawful on any pretence whatfoever, to c take up Arms againft the King \ and that abhor that Traiterous Pofi- c tion, of taking Arms by his Authority againft his Perfon, or againft thofe c that are commiilioned by Him,in pursuance of fuch Commiilions,and that * I will not endeavour any Alteration of Government either in Church or c State. If he (hall preach in any Conventicle, or come within five c Miles of any City, Corporation, or place of his Miniftry, except on his c Journey,or fummoned by a Sutyma, he mall forfeit 40/. The Original Crime is Nonconforming > the next is not taking the Qxf. Oath, preaching in Conventicles, and coming within five Miles of any fuch place. The fourth Statute, Car. 22. is, &c. And the Crimes are ; 1. c If any 1 Man (hall be prefent at any AfTembly, e^c under colour of any Exercife of c Religion, in any other manner than according to the Liturgy and Pradice c of the Church of England j at which there (hall be five Perfons or more ■ afTembled together,befides thofe of the fame Houfhold. 2. If any Man (hall c take upon him to preach or teach in any fuch Meeting, he (hall forfeit c 20 /. for the firft Offence after Convi&ion,and 40 /. after the fecond Con- * vi&ion of a fecond Offence. 3. If any Perfon (hall willingly furfer fuch c Meeting to be in his Houfe, Out-houfe, Barn, Yard, or Backfide, and be 'convidfed, (hall foifeit 20 /. &c. And every Hearer, 5 /. The Faults that are moft obvious, and moft commonlly profecuted, are Jirlf, Preaching, Hearing, or entertaining of any Meeting under pretence of Religious Exercife, after another manner than the Liturgy or Practice of the Church of England, to five or more befides the Houfhold where iuch Meeting is kept. Fourthly, I am to explain what I mean by Forbearance. 1. I do not mean what never came into the Queftion, an Univcrfal Toleration, or Licenfe of all Irreligion, Atheifm 5 Hercfy, or publifhing pernicious to? tlje l5ottconfo?mt(!6 + if pernicious Errors, contrary to Godlincfs and Peace. 2. I do not mean by Forbearance, a Toleration or Forbearance of Profecution againft any that (hall be found guilty Nor VM the N. C. of thofe Offences and Crimes, contained and de- dfjre but the Tolcrati- clared in the Realons of thefe Statutes, for the on of tbofe that are tj- prevention whereof thefe Statutes were prima- Arable, and the peace- rily intended, as the Intention of the Law. *bU Liberties of all 1. I do not mean a Forbearance of any Perfon f ^ n a g ree on Catho- whatfocver, that (hall by Printing, Writing,or ex- 1k K Terms if Prhni- prefs Words, purpofely praclife, or go about to itvt Simplicity in Vcc- prove or pcrfwade any of His Majefties Subjects, or ^ine.WorJbi^^and'Dif- any other within His Rea!m,to deny, or withftand, c '^ine. Petition for or impugn His Majefiies Power in Ecclefiaftical ^ e ^> Anno. 166 1. Caufes, or (hall perfwade any from coming to See the Statute 2*tb Church to Divine Service, or Communion to that n Elizabeth. end. There is no Nonconfirmiji that hath written or printed, or (that ever I heard of J fpoken,to impugn His Majefties Powex circa facra^ but own it, as hereafter it will appear. 2. I do not mean a Forbearance of any Perfon or Pcrfons, whether more or fewer than five, that (hall, have, or do contrive any Infurredlions, as Seditious Sectaries, Vid, Statute of \6 or Diiloyal Perfons, or any dangerous Practices Cb. II. c. 4. of Seditious Sectaries, or ether Diiloyal Perfons, who under Pretence of tender Confciences, have or may at their Meetings contrive Infurreclions '■> or that make but a pretence of Religious Exercifes, to carry on any fuch Intentions. The above explained Nonconformijh will heartily fubferibe to this. Againfi thefe Contrivers the Law is bent, and not againfi fuch as are in earned for Religious Exercifes, but upon no fedtfious Defign, tho it is otherwife interpreted contrary to the declared end of the Law. 3. The Perfons to be forborn, are fuch Preachers, and Teachers, as never kept Conventicles, or Meetings, making thofe Religious Exercifes a pretence only, when the Defign was Rebellion, Sedition, or Infur- redtion i as never taught any fuch pernicious Dodtrine to fuch a wicked end, but that have taught and hold the contrary, performing Religious Exercifes for Religious ends 5 and both they that hear them, and they that entertain them, (hould be forborn. 4. By Forbearance, I mean a total Forbearnce of all the Penalties, which they have incurred upon their Perfons and their Eii3tes. The mer- ciful Indulgence of the Government, and many over ruling Provider.^ concurring, have given them Advantages, and Boldiicls to meet more op 1 6 tCije ConfojmifYgs Secanti pea openly and in greater Numbers, than they did before, than they could of would have done. If now there (hall be a fevere Profecution againft them, the Prifons will fill in many places, their Fines amount above their Eftates > there will be neither Dim nor Spoon, Stooll, noi Bed lefc for their Wives and Children, no, nor a Friend of their way left in the Land, in a Condition to relieve them. It is the ready way to fill many places in the Land with Tears and Cries, Beggary and Mifery, fuch as no good Proteilant can behold without a Sympathy. This is no better than to forbear a Creditor till thelntereft grows to a great Sum, and then feize upon all he hath, enter upon his Land, and drive his Cattel, &c. this is Mercy, till Offences grow big for a huge Severity > Mercy patent, for latent Juftice, to give them time to gather Flefh, and then to devour them. If the Rooks, the Informers, thofe Birds of Prey, hope to flefh themfelves by picking the bones of the Nonconformifts> it fhould go againft theftomack of every true Gentleman, not to fay Mercifril Chriftian. If they muft be fuppreft, give them notice of it i do not kill them in cold Blood, after Quarter given them. To make the Cafe familiar > There are a Company of hon eft, quiet People live about me, they were once in good Fafhion and Reputation, but are now fallen in the World's danger, and are forced to be beholden to their Friends i they live in my Mannor, and have trefpafTed upon me, againft the orders of it. I thought it hard to trouble them, or feverely to gather my Amerciaments, for they were honeft Men, and of my Religion too for the main, they were good Proteftants in their way. I never heard of any Riots among them,orill Defigns that could be prov'd againft any of them i when others were at their Paftimes,they were at their Prayers,and were laborious,while others that had more of the World, took more Pleafure » and they know that if I had been fevere with them for every Trefpafs, they had not had a Cow or Cows keeping, not a Sheep or a Pig > and now they have well about them,and lam refolved, I will make them pay all the Amerciaments of my Court, for every Trefpafs "> they fhall have neither Cow, nor Sheep, nor Houfe to fleep in in my Mannor, I'll make them pay, or ly in Prifon, or fly the Land i for they are a dangerous ungrateful People : for when I ftand for a Parliament- Man, or defire their Votes for my Friend, there is not a Man will appear for me j but they are all for them that are againft a Popifh SuccefTbr, and for uniting of Proteftants, and fuch things as thefe : They are crofs to me i what I abhor, they approve i when I addrcfs, they refufe to fubfcribe. Well, but Sir, I befeech you be merciful to them > and if you will have all your Town to be in all things of your Mind, give them notice fir ft, or c\Ce it will be faid you forbore them their lelfer Fines, till they grew to a great Sum* I befeech you, do not fo by them, but but be as merciful lo their, as you are to other kind of Sinners. Fifthly, The Limitation of the QueOion is, untill fuch time as our Gracious King and Parliament, in time to come, ihall take the State of the divided Protefhtits into their Mature Consideration. We may ratio- naliy hope we ihall have a Parliament from our King, who hath often declared his Refutation to have frequent Parliaments > we hope it will be a free Parliament i i do not mean free from force or violence upon Men's Perfons, but violence upon their Keafons by Drunkennefs, with its lhamc- ful Antecedents and Effects. And if iv\r we have fuch Elections, we (hall pitch upon fuch Men, as long as there are any to be found, that are Men of Loyalty to the King and Government, of Eftates and Quality, that are freett from Temptation to get by difhonourable Arts,and that have too much to give away from themfelves, and the Freeholders that choofe them. A Proteftant People will elect Pioteftant Representatives, and fuch as have a refpecr. to Protefiant DilTenters,in things that may be fpared without hurt to Religion, or infringement of Government > much lefs a change, and that as they are Natives, Relatives, peaceable, and pious good Men. It cannot be thought,that they that would exclude Popery, will leave a Breach among our felves for it to enter in at i our laft Parliaments have declared their Inclinations by their Votes, and from what they have done, we may guefs at what they will do, if God give them time. And there mutt be a depth in Policy deeper than Men of a (hort Line can fathom, or a great miftakc, that thofe Gentlemen and Magifirates that are bent to fupprefs our Conventicles, fhould adt with fuch a Spirit now, when they have declared who, and what they are for. Is this the way to gain the Body of the Nation to choofe them, or thofe they arTecl, into a next Parliament, when it is vifible what Intereft they ferve, by difobliging the Protectant Nonconformijis, and giving notice to the Church, and Confor- ming Proteftants, that they cannot be fafe from them, that fupprefs, if not cutoff, as many as they can of the fame Faith and Worlhip for fubllance, for thofe Diffcrcnces,tbat need not be, if Condefcention and Love might but come in Fafhion ? The Controverfy between the Church and them is not yet determined, but there is this good of late The Rev, Dr. Stilling. got by the Heat of VVriting \ that both fides have Preface to Vnreafona* declared their Minds more freely than heretofore i bhnefs of Separation, and there are Propofals made by both fides, which Mr. Baxter, Humphrey, if they cannot be univcrfally admitted, yet from Lobb, dec. the rude Draughts of a Building, wife Men may agree upon the Frame, by adding, taking away, and compofir.g. As D the 1 8 Cfje Con&nwiff'S ©econQ pea the Parliament made the Laws out of Love to the Church, and they wiif not do i Magifirates out of Love to the Church, fhculd abftain from Profecutions for a t me, and be patient for a while, except they faw, what no Man can fee, that lives nearer ro them than their Informers, any more caufe oi SuppreiTion by any contrived dangers, either to Church or State,, than when they are fa ft afleep in their Beds. If you have juft caufe to fear their Principles, difarm them of their Rhiues \ but thofe that know them better than their Enemies, or your Informers, do think no more Danger like to arife from their Principles, than there was againft the King and moll favourable Parliament, from their Preparations,for Rebelli- on. Are all the Nonconforming Preachers of a fudden turned Jefuits?' is their Faith turned into Faction? have they fubmitted their Scriptures and their Senfes to an Infallible Guide ? acknowledged in him the power of b©th Swords, and lifted themfelves under his confecrated Banners ? Are all their Children Males ? Are all their Infants in a few Months grown up to be above fixteen Years of Age, fit for Arms > Are ther Wives and Daughters become Amazons ? How many thoufands cantfrey make?- Where are their Rendezvouz, their Mufters, their Lifts, their Magazines? Where are their Generals? Wlro are their Correfpondents, and Confederates abroad ? The diflreiTed pcrfecutcd -Frntflants of France ! Are they fortifying their Barnsand Meeting-Places ? or ready to march and take the Field ? Why are we not all in Arms for fear of them, if the Danger be fo great from their Aflemblies! Abftain from thefe Men frr a little time, and let not their Flight be in Winter, or on the Sabbath- Days. If you will not forbear till' fuch a -time, one rhmg I hope and look for; lhat when you drive their Cattel, or offer their Goods to fale, you will rind no Buyers i or if you fend them to the Goals, their Keepers and -Fel- low. Piifoners may become true Converts, and that you that (end them thither may fetch them our. But Imuft not forget my Arguments to prove the Affirmative of the Queftion, That it is better the Execution of the Laws ftiould.be for bom againft Proteftant Diffcnters, than urged or countenanced. I have laid the Qnefiibn in a Comparative, and affirm jt is better, &c. The Comparative doth fuppofe a Pofitfvei if I can prove that it is not ^ood to execute the Penal Laws upon Diftenting Protefhnts^ then it will follow a fcrtiore & major e^ that it is better they ftiould be fpar-ed, than punifned. The Argument runs thus. It is not good to execute the Laws-upon Diftenting Protejhnts^ there- fore it. is better to forbear their Execution, than put thtm in Execution. The The Propofition is be proved by an Enumeration of the Laws, that Men arc preffing upon their. i. T is not good ro execute the Statute of 55^ of Q. Elizab. which they who are in danger are threaded with. That which the whole Par- liament thought dangerous to the whole Prordtant Interefi in England. ad did, as far as in them Iay,difanul fa Bill being prepared to be hgncd by His Majefty ) Ihould not be thought good or ht to be executed upon one part of Proteihnts, by fome particular Juftices of the Peace, on the irrcligi- c 1 s. covetous Information of a ferry (bit of Men. The lofs of that Bill was judged fo great a lofs to the Nation oi P rot eft ants, that the nexr Parliament made diligent Inquiry into the Caufes of that dangen Fruftration, of what was thought as much for the Prefervation of Frote- ftants from Banifhrr.cnt by Abjuration, as for the Prefervation of our Ec. from burning by the Ad de H-.rctico comburendo. Eut if tliis Argument be -not of force againlt them, that can handle a Sword better, or fign a Warrant, than anfwer an Argument, or that will not be reafoncd out at a Kcfolution > it may receive fome further Strength by this further Enu- meration. 1. The impartial Execution of that Statute, will be ill for all the Papijts in the Land, that, owning the Supremacy ct the Pope, d) impugn th< King's in Caufes Eccleliaftical, and have abfented from Common-Prayer. They mutt abjure the Realm : and truly a little refpedfc to Nonconformifts, becaufc they are not Papijis, but Protcftant/, mould dirccl oi.r Magiftratc^ to be&n with the Papijis, and try, if by ridding the Land of Papifts, the Stifnefs of the DifTenters may not bend towards Conformity. ( Eut to begin with Protetiants, and leave the Enemies of the King and Church to (lay behind them, that have potent Confederates, is not (uic, nor kind, and refpecfive to P rot ft ants. 2. It will be ill for thoufands of them that go under the Name of Pro- tftants of the Church of England, that may be proved not to have been at Common-Prayer in any Church or Chappel, or place where Common- Prayer is wont to be made. To profecute Protejiants that preach, or are prefent at RlHgious Duties, tho not after the manner of the Liturgy, and to fpare them that are ofcener prefent at a CorRe-Houfe or Tavern, than at any Worthip of God, is too partial a Proceeding, and argues little kindnefs to Religion, by (hewing more to them that wear a Name of Religion, and not fo much as a Cloak of Religion betides. 3. It is not fur the King's Honour, Profit, or Safety, and therefore it is not good, that a general Riddance mould be made of all DiiTenteis, both Papift and Frotft ant, out of the Land by Abjuration, when the Pafi\is have many Fiiends that can furnifli them with Arms, to make their way I D 2 uir^ 2o .Cfje Confoanift* S*cotflr$!Kt again, with fome Armies and Auxiliary Fcrccs to help them to pull down the CI urch of England, and fet up what King they pleafe. 4. It cannot be good tor the Church of England, J mean the fevere and rigorous tempered Men, who will multiply Enemies againft them, when they fee that Severities are ufed upon good Subjects > and the moderate and fenfible part of the Church will be grieved, to fee their Brethren in the Faith drawn out tint for Sacrifice. 5. It cannot be good for thofe Gentlemen, who have exprelTed their diilike of our laff. Parliaments, and that hope for another, and labour to be in it themfelves, when the whole Nation fee and know how friend- ly they are to the Popiflj Party, how hard to believe as much a Popijh Plot ", and have, as foon as pofTibly they can, after their Thanks to the King for his Ruling by Laws, declared what Laws they are ready to execute. Can they think that any beildes a terrified fervile Dependent Part of the Nation, will vote for them, or for their Friends Interelt ? That therefore which is good for none, ought not by any to be executed, and none will, but fuch as are refolved againft all Reafon and the higbeft Wifdom. The other two Laws are directly againft Protejiant DifTenters. Secondly, It is not good to execute the five Mile Act upon them. 1. It is not a righteous thing to execute that Law upon them, except they are guilty of that Crime, for which that Law doth principally and * mainly provide. The Crimes recited in that Ad, are, c Whereas ^they * conformed not, &c. nor made the Delegation in the Ad of Uniformity 1 but fetled themfelves in Corporations,tal-ingoccaiion thereby to i»flil the * Principles of Schifm and. Rebellion into the Hearts of His Majeities 4 Subjeds, to the great danger of the Church and Kingdom. This is the pretended Mifchief, againft which that Ad was made-* and if fo,then it cannot with any Juffites be executed, but upon fuch as have fowed thbfe Principles j If fuch have been, no Favour is asked for them. But who comes out to prove, that any Nonconform^ Preacher hath in/tilled fuch Principles ? Iffomehave, why mould thofe that have not, furTer as if they had? if fomehave, find them out h if all have, f pare none i if none have, why mould any fuffer t If they have, thofe Principles are very "weak and ineffedual, have had many Years to work in, and yet for the honour of the Religion, which they profefs, no Rebellion hath been as much as moved. Was their Nor onforirmy a Crime ? they patiently bore the fentence of the Law ? Their living in Corporations could be no Crime!, their preaching Orthodox Dodrine could do no hurt to Church nor States their not taking that Oath, was no greater a Crime in them, than in all the Lords and Commons, who then, and fince have argued againft if, and oppofed it. . To initil the Principles of Schifm and Rebellion toi tlje jaoiicon&mtiffs?. ^ Rebellion muft be the Crime : Now if none of them have been guilty of that Infiillation, it is not good, becauie not juir, to execute the Laws upon them. 2. It is not good to execute that Law upon DiiTenting Protejiants, which at rirft making, was promoted by Men Popifhly inclined, and fince appeared to be Papijts, and was never executed but in Favour of Popery, and was oppofed by Loyall Protejlants. I know not in what rank of Pro- tenants to place him, with whom this Argument is weak, except among thofe gocd naturcd Protejlants, that have ferved the PopiJJj Deiigns. Who were the Promoters of it, but Sir Tbo. Clifford^ ( iince Lord Trcafurer, and a profeffed Papijl ) Sir Solomon Stvale^ and Sir Roger (oxlbo.) Strickland, that il nee appeared Growth of Popery^ to be Papijh ? Who more oppofed it than th: wife tinder tbe Name o/An- and Loyal Earl of Southampton, Lord Treafurer, drew Marvel, Efq> Earl of Sbaftsbury, who fcented the Popifh Plot, and purfued it before many were aware i the Lord V/barton, and others, j;rm to the Protcjiant Intereft ? Take the good Sence of an Honourable Member of the Parliament at IVeftminfier, in the Debate of the Bill for uni-. ting FiottJiatJs. ' But fuppofe we mould follow this Advice,ar.d make new 1 Laws, and require a fevere Execution of the old i how can you imagine c that as long as the Popifh Imcxcil is (o prevalent, the Execution of fuch 1 Laws (hall be continued longer,than may be fubfervient to the Intereft of 1 that Party ? Have we not had a fad Experience of this ? Hath the 'Oxford Adt, or that of 3 $tb of Queen Elizabeth, or any other againit c Dill: nfers, been executed in favour of the Church ? (note this, all that 1 think it a Service to the Church ) Are not the D.ffenters as many, if not c more now than ever ? — And is there any thing more vifible than thefe 1 Laws have been made ufe of to ferve the P opifh Interelt, or, as Engines c rather for the Affairs of the State, than the Church. -. — It the Oxford Act, 4 and other Adlsagainft Viffenters, were projected in favour of the Prote- c Jiant Religion; it was lirange they were fo much promoted (asm my c Members now here, who did ferve in thofe Parliaments, do remember ) 1 by Sir "tbo, Clifford^ Sir Solomon Swcale, and Sir Roger Strickland, who * have ilnce appeared to be Papijts. Sir, I am afraid the name of the c Church hath been ftrangely made ufe of to bring in Popery, Sec. upon c which, relolvtd that the faid Bill be committed upon the Debate of the 4 Houfe for uniting Protejlants. The lait Ad to be executed, is that of 22 Cb. II. c. 1. Seditious Conven- ticles prevented and fapprejfed* c The Pcrfons againit whom it is levelled, 4 are described to be Seditious Sectaries, Diilo>aI Perfons, who v ' Hypo- 'tritcsj under pretence oi tender Coniciences, havt or may contrive lnfurrcCtions. « Cije Cot1fa?mifl s aeeotttTpfea Infurredtions. Concerning this Adr, let us obferve the Time when it was ena&ed > it was Anno 1670. Since which time, we may not pa fs over, without lofs to the Argument, how the Thoughts of our Governours and Law-makers have turned to another point, and that very Parliament, which was obferved for a very great part of it to be young Gentlemen, growing older, grew more cool and moderate towards differing Protcftants, more fufpicious of Popery \ and the more refolute they grew,in maintaining Property and the Prote/tant Religion, and to break the Arms and the Le^s of growing Popery, the more temperate they grew towards the Non- conformist, not to take any Strength from K is Majeftirs Declaration of March 15, 167!, becaufe it feemed to tend to the Propagation of Popery, and was recalled upon the Parliaments Representation, altho fome wife Pro- tectant States-Men, thought that Declaration would be a kindnefs to Diffenters, and no greater Injury to the Church and Protcftant Religion from Popery, than they received by Popery, growing apace under the Be- nignity of a Connivance and Favour of great Men. Not to fake hold of this, to fhew that the King thought fit to mitigate the rigor of that Law, the very next Year after it was enacted. That which gives Strength to my Argument is this, that at the next meeting of the Parliament, which began February 24, 1672, an Ad paifed againft the Papifts, and a Bill was prefented by the Houfe of Commons to the Lords, in favour of Dif- fenting,and for uniting Proteftants, which (as fome that have as much reafon to know as any who write) would have pafFed,if they had had time to fit > and from that time, that long Parliament, who had made the Adf. againft Conventicles, how refolute (oever they were againft an Indulgence, Fe- bruary 15, 1662 j they faw the incompatibility between Execution of their own Law, and the Prefcrvation of the Proteftant Religion, and faw a neceifity of uniting Proteftants s at the fame time, when they faw our increaling Dangers from the Increafe of Popery. And our feveral Parlia- ments fince,have reafoned upon the fame Principles and Foundations once again, fo far as to commuit a Bill to unite all Protc{lants. And now 1 have prcpar'd my felf for this Argument '•> It is not well done,and cannot be good for the Church or Kingdom ( and if not good to them, it mould not be thought good by Protectants) which that very Parliament that made the Adf, and many other Parliaments, thought not good for the Church and^Kingdom. For fome particular Magi(lrates, upon the Infor- mation of fprue felf-feeking Informers, to execute the Laws againit the fenfe ot the Lcgijlators, who (hnuld (and certainly did) bed know, what was for cur good* is to oppofe a private Opinion to a publick Delibera- tion, and a private Spirit againft a publick. That I may draw thefe -Readings to a Conclulion i it is not a due Execution of the Laws, except ft? tljc Bonconfa; mfftjfc a 3 except it be up^n the Perfons, and to the ends intended in the Law. Eut if you would execute the Laws upon the propei Objects, youmufi execute them upon Seditious Se&aries, difloyal Perfons, very H\pocrites, ih.it do under pretence of Religious Exercifes, injtil Principles of Scbifm and Re- bellion into the Minds of the Kings Subje&s. The Law goes upon fuch a Suppoiition, and to prevent fuch Mifchiefs 5 but if there be no fuch Meetings, to fuch a Tendency, there are r.o Perfons that deferve fuch Executions : If there be, let them be tried j if there be not, of all times, is there no time but this, for Proteltant Magiltrates to go upon the Infor- mation of Informers, to give Countenance to a Scandal, that Protijt.int D/JfcnterSj areas pernicious to the Government, as confederated Papijis ? And that Protcjiants mould adt contrary to their Principles, contrary to their Interests, to bring certain Ruine upon Themfclves, Families, ard Friends, without any the leaft hope of Relief, or mending their Condition! A Game indeed ! to fet Informers to rind a Hare, when they fliould nn down theFox. If this be not to 6n ag^inft Love to Protejhnts, becaufe of fome OmiilV ons, or againft Knowledg, it is fin againft Sence, and many Years Ex- perience. If you do really believe, and can prove by full and honeft Evi- dence, that fuch Men have preached fuch Doctrines, take them as Tray- tors, and never proceed againli them as DilTenters, for preaching, in a manner different from the Liturgy. Thefe Arguments proceed from confederation of the Laws, and are but my hrft Head of Arguments. The fecond fort of Arguments is drawn from the Fa ft, for which tl:$ DilTenters are to fufTer. 1 he Crime, prima facie, is preaching in a manner different from the Church of England, and not according to the Liturgy, to numbers above Four, befides theHoufhold. This is the Faeff. Tne Proof of if, is ei- ther by Confdlion of the Parties, which we will not fuppofe, or the No- torioufnefs of the Fact, which needs further proof i it all depends upon the Qacbs of two Witncflcs. \Vh3t do they depofe I They ( whoper» haps know not what an Oath is, nor what a. Sin Perjury is ) depofe, that A. B. preached at fuch a time or tines, in fuch a place or place. c , to foch numbers, againli the Statute. But what if the Preacher preach'd true Dodhir.c? exhorted to Peace and Holincfs, Obedience, Juuicc, -\kicy» asd nut one word tending to Schifm or Rebellion } What if thePerfon be a loyal .Subject ? Thcfe things are £>ut of the Qucftiun, out ot the Drpolkion. but if thcfe v\ itncilcs cannot depofe, that fuch a Preacher 13 a DifloyaJ Puibn, his irc-ching to be to inliil Schifm or Rebellion, qj 2 i Ctje Cdnfojmflf ^econti pica ta/iriove to Infurrection i then if the Execution be according to the De- position, it is Execution upon Perfons not intended by the Law, and tor preaching not forbidden by the Law 5 for the Law forbids not Preach- ing, but to fach an end. There is one Catching Circumitance, it was above the Legal Number : But yet one would think that that fhould not be a Crime, except Rebellion and Infurredlion be the intention of the Perfon,and the efTedt of the Thing. For many,for rive hundred to hear a good Sermon* in a peaceable manner, is in it felf no Crime > the Number, and the Preaching, rnuft be to an ill Dellgn, in the intention of the Law : For it were impious to forbid Preaching in if k\f. The Evil of it mult be in the evil of the Matter, and evil of the Delign > and by Conference, only fuch Preaching, and fuch Numbers, are liable to the Penalty, that is, of a deitru&ive or orTenfive Dellgn , unlefs you punifh for Preaching, -which is good, feparate from the Defign : as evil. This premifed, my Ar- .gument is this i It is not good but evil, to puniih well doing, as if it were evil doing, and to punifh Preachers and Hearers, that never preached nor heard Re- bellion or Sedition, as if they were the higheit Criminals in a Kingdom. Eut to ilTue out Warrants, and execute them upon Perfons, when nothing is proved againft them, but what is good and not prohibited by the Law, as evil in it felf, but as evil to an evil end, viz. Preaching is not good, therefore it is not good to punifh them, &c. To punifh a Fadr, that in the intention of the Perfons* or nature of the Thing, hath no tendency to Mifchief, to be prevented by the Law, is not good but evil , becaufe the Execution is not directed to the end of the Law,and by Confequence it is no legal Execution. But to execute the Law for preaching,and hearing, upon Preachers and Hearers, whofe preaching and hearing hath no evil tendency to Sedition, Rebellion, Infurredfcion, or Schifm, is fuch an Execution. Therefore it is not good, but evil. The Minor is proved from the Peaceablenefs of the Nonconfor mills ^ Piety of their Principles, from the many Years Experience and Erfedts , and feditious, or rebeIlious,or fchifmatical matter,are not the things fworn againft them, or can be fworn, but preaching to fuch Numbers, and hearing in fuch Numbers, and in a manner different from the Church of England^ which may be, and yet not ill, and may not be fo for all the In- formers know. Oty. But the Law forbids fuck Men to preach, as conform not, fweat not, and in fuch a manner, and to fuch numbers of Perfons : If the Law be good; it is good to execute them. Anfw, faulje l2onconfamuW. 25 An fo. The Law forbids fuch Men, as arc fcducing Scttarits, difloyal terfbnSy to fncb an end, as was often named. And fuch Peribns, and fuch Religious Ads, abuf-d to a wicked end and purpofe, and none elfe. If the Perfons are not fuch, nor the Religious Excrcilcs fo abufed to fuch wic- ked purpoies, then you mull hold that either the Laws can, or do for- bid thofe Men that arc good, to do that which is good, and fo forbid ab- folutcly that which i> good i which is to fcandalize the Law, and them that made it > or you mult yield the Execution to be ill, and illegal, except thofe Perfons, and Adions be taken relatively to thofe unlawful Defjgns, which if proved, they are Criminals of another nature i and if it cannot be proved, they ought not (o to furfcr, as if they were what they are not. My third Argument is taken from the Confideration of the Perfons, and of the Fads. i. They are Protcftantj, if you believe me not, try them. 2. They meet for Religious Exercife*, and holy Ordinances? no: for Se- dition or Rebellion, or to move any Infurrcdions s if the contrary can be proved, I'll grieve and pray, but never p'ead for them. But both the one and the other is evident s that which is fworn againtt them is neither Sedition, e^c but Preaching, as was faid befoie. Hence I form my Ar- gument. It is not good, but evil, to ufe DifTenting Protcfiants worfe than ever P^j/rV have been ufed. But to execute thofe Laws upon DifTenting Proteflants neither for Rebel- lion, nor moving In fur red ions, is to ufe them worfe than ever Papi{h have been ufed. Therefore it is not good to execute the Laws upon them. It is to be more rigorous towards our Brethren, and fuch as agree in one and the fame King, fame Laws, fame Worlhip as to the fubftance of Chrift's Ordinances, and are willing to unite, than you are towards Men that own another Supremacy, King, and Bilnops, are idolatrous in their Worfhip, and are for rooting us out, and not taking us in, without hazard of the Truth ofChrifl, and Hypocrify, and Eternal Life. To punifh Vijfenters for preaching, and other Exercifes of Religion, bc- caufe to fuch Numbers, and not in fuch an uniform manner, is to punifh them for Religion. If Religion be the Cloak, and Rebellion or Sedition be the Mifchiefs to be concealed and conveyed under it, then Religion is but a pretence, 3nd that cannot excufe them from fufTeting, which doth highly aggravate the Sin. But if neither be inferred from their Prin- ciples, nor infufed into their Exercifes, then there is r.o danger to the King, in his Life, Prerogative, nor Authority. If neither hath been found in any of them, it is not juftly imputable to them > and then, if their Preach- ing and Prayer be the Ead, for which they fufler, they fufTcr for that E whkh 26 Clje Con&jmiff'S ©tconts pea which no Papift ever furfered for alone. For the clearing of this, and proving of it, I will diftinguifh Punifhments, into Capital, and Pecu- niary or Real. No Papift, whether Frieii or Lay-man, ever furTered Death in England fox Religion, but for Treafon •> and their fore-acted Confpira- cies and Treafons, constrained Queen Elizabeth and King James, to make Laws for their own prefervation. This is proved by Vid. Torturam Torti. King James, and all our Protefiant Writers again ft per. Ep. Ciceftrienfem. the Papifts > I need not quote particulars : This is Bp Andrews, p> 145, particularly proved in a peculiar Treatife, penned 14^, 147.- by the direction of the Lord Treafurer Burleigh y Jbt Execution of Ju~ as the learned Publisher of the Collection of feve- flice in England, not ral Treatifes, tells us in his Epiltle, concerning the for Religion, hut for Reafons and Gccaiicrs of the * Penal Laws. And Treafon. what is there proved, is acknowledged by the * Reprinted at Lon- Secular Priefts i£oi, in their Important -Confide- don> 1675. rations. But if our Nonconformifts (hould be profe- cuted upon the 3 jthofEZ/2. if they will not con- form upon their three months Imprifonment; they mult abjure the Realm h and if they go not away, or return without the King's Leave, it is Felony, and that is Capital. And if it be for Nonconformity, it goes under the mmeo(Confcience, and for Religion, without any guilt, or proof of Sedi-r tion or Treafon > and fo they will fuffer for Religion, and for no other but the Protefiant Religion, what Papifts never did but for Treafon. And. the Queen pall over many juftiriablcoccaiions, of an earlier fevcrity : The Su- premacy of the Pope was a tender point of jcalOufy, and a trial of the Queen's Patience •> but (he was not kindled by it, but furTered many that ' were in that point for the Pope, and againfr Her, to enjoy their Eltates» and Honourable Liberty, with Men of as great Quality as themfelves, or in their own Houfes. Dr. Heath, Arch-Bilhop of Torj^, -and Chancellor to Queen Mary, enjoyed his Eitate , and Liberty in his own Houfe till his Death. Dr. Poole Bithop of Canterbury, Dr. Tonifal of Vurcfm, Dr. White oi TFinchftcr, Dr. Oglethorp of Carlisle, Dr. Thirl by of Ely, Dx.Watfon of Lincoln, were not prclTed with any Capital Pain, tho they main- tained the Pope's Authority againfr the Laws of the Realm : and fome Abbots; &c as you may fee it in the aforefnd Col- Imporiani Confide- lection, ill Treat, p. io, 1 1." and acknowleded by the rations, p. 54. Secular Priefts while her Majctfy and the State c dealt with the Catholickj, as you have heard (which' c was full eleven years, no one Catholic!^ being called in quciuon of his- ' Life, (or his Conference all- th3t time.) Coniider how fome of our Tro- * fcilion proceeded with them. Her Highnefs had (caicely felt tire down warm c warm upon her Heai but it was challenged from her by feme of her 1 > Jghbours, as Mr. Saunders noteth, &c. p. 55. Lk us pafs from Capital to Pecuniary Mulcts, and compare them. Of all the Laws ag . . 1 . slants, none (urns more to puoifh them t r Religion, than their not coming to Church, and their faying or being pre- feot at Mafoai 4 the Fincsin pciitd tor thofc Aclsot theirs, The Forfeiture upon him that faith Mai's is 2co Marks, and a Years Imprifoncnent i upon him (hat willingly AnH0.23dEliz.CA. hearech Mafs 10c Marks, and Impiifonrrient for a Years for not rcparing to Common- Fraycr, 20/. every Month, and forbearing to come within twelve Months, (hall be bound in a Bond of coo /. to the good Behaviour. But biildcs the Idolatry of the Mafs, thefe Laws do not proceed againft the Mafs, as an ido- htr< us Worihip, * and as it is Religion 5 but as there is Treafon againlt the Government in that Worfhip. For the Mafs is celebrated by a Prieft, and a Prieft receives his Ordination from the Church of Kowe, and is a Subject to the Pope's Supremacy,acknowlcdges his Jurifdiction, and de- nies the King's in Eccleilaiiical Affairs. There never was any Treafon without a Prieft in it, nor Mafs with out a Prieft, faysBpCj/fo/z. The very Form of Submiilion enjoyned to all them that con- form to ourLaws, and come to Common-Prayer, doth evidence this Truth. 'And to acknowledg and c teiiify in my Confcience,that the Bifhop or See of c Rome hath not, nor ought to have any Power or c Authority over Her Majeity, or within any of Her c Majeures Realms and Dominions, &c. But our Nonconformilh, will willingly renonunce the Papal Jurifdicti- on, and own the King's Supremacy, and refufe not the Oaths of Allegi- ance and Supremacy, which the Puritans of former times refufed not, but took. Mr. Baxter profelTeth in the name or. the Nonconformifis s The Article of c Religion for the Power of Kings and Obedience c of Subjects : we need not tranlcribc,but do cou- c fent to it, fo we do to the Canons,which require 1 the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and an- c fwuable Obedience to all the Homilies againft Rebellion, and for Obedi- * cnce.and all that ever we found to be for this. the publick Doctrine of the 1 Church. Air.Baxt. 2d Plea fir the N. C fA6.f. 10. E 2 Their * Nemini patefi efft obfatrum, Lcgts qu£ firuntnr, mulcias qua dicuntur hie apud nos in RecuJ'antes, feri & d/ci non Religionis cau- fa mer£, fed mixta: i mixta cum mala Mente & Fide in Principem j nee nifi in Recujanter Tcr, Tor. »33- Bullatos. h J 3 2 > * 35*/; Eliz. c. 2. Vid. Ep Andr. Tor- tur. Tort. p. 1 1 o. 6c 379. • Profitentur, Jitbfcribunty jurant in- dies. 2& cfje- CroajmtffjS accotai 13fe»- Their Worfhip is pure, but in the fence of Laws defe as not be- ing with, or according to the Liturgy. And what manner of Proteflants they are, let their publick Confeftions, their private Writings, and their. Morning-Exercifes againft Popery teftify. Which of all the 1800 or 2 coo Miniiters cafi out "BartboL 1662, was ever found, or fufpecled to be,in any Confpiracy againft the King or Government, how ill foever they have bin ufed ? There are a reviling fort of Rake-hell Scriblers, that they may rind but a Brand, or a Coal to fmutch any of them with, that tranfgrefs the Acl of Oblivion, which the Royal Party did need, as well as the other fide,, (or all they did without lawful Commiffions. But imce the days of the Mood of Confufions and Miftries, which of them all is guilty? I write this for the honour of our Common Profeffion, and for the Glory, of God therein, And yet, bring them to account upon the Five Mile Acl, and how many Forty Pounds ? and upon the Act againit Conventicles, then Twenty pounds for every Sermon by (he Preacher, and Twenty pounds the Mailer of the Houfefor every Sermon the hilt time, and Forty pounds the fecond,and afterwards fenr every fuch Offence Forty pounds, &c. How highly will two Sermons a day amount ! and rive {hillings a time to every Hearer I dec. And it is enacted thu the Law be conlirued moft largely and beneficially for the fupprcilion of them. Our Juftices have need of Mercy ! and for encouragement to the unskilful juftice, no advantage ihall be taken for any default in any Form, or Proceedings. The Law by this fecurity and indempnity hath been very merciful to many Ju/lices, not trained up in the Formalities of the Law j- by way of recompence, let them be the more merciful to the many honeft Offenders, that worship God in Chrift with their beft Judgment, or upon involuntary Miitekes* My lafi: pofitive Argument fhall be this, and I appea3 to any Man of difcerning., whether upon the firft hearing of it, he be not taken with it> if no: overcome. It is not good ( no Man can fay it is good ) to exeute the Laws. with a like heavy hand upon all, and every Offender, without making a difference betwenone Man and another, between one Offence and another. There maybe a confiderable difference between one Preacher and ano- ther, one Hearer and another, one place, and one time and another, But the Penalty fweeps all before it, Obj. The Law makes them all alike, therefore the Executioner rnuflact by the Law, the Ballance is out of, and not in his hand. Anjtv. True ^ but how i it ill upon fuppoiition of the evil Intention, or what was the caufe or Reafon of the Law, and then I confefs, the Punifh- ft? tfje ftonconfoimiffsL 29 Punifhment is but moderate, upon the lead and weakeft Infufcr of Rebel- lion, or mover of Inlurrcdrion. JuftlCC is impartial, but never fo impartial, as not to examine Circum- ftanccs, which make an alteration, or difference between Things and Prions. Crimes have their Mitigations as well as Aggravations ■■> and Judges will weigh them before they proceed to Sentence, and temper Judgment with Mercy & it moves a companionate juft Judg to pronounce a deferved Sentence. The Juftices are to require the Execution ofthefe Penal Laws, but with no diltinCtion, and no more Mercy, than the hun- gry Informer, who perhaps hath wafted his fmall Fortune in a iinful way, and adls upon no better Principle than Covetoufncfs, and Anger againft Religion, which he never loved To well, as to pra&ife, nor ever learned fo far as the Church- Ca tech ifm. Muft a Loyal, Learned, Laborious Preacher, that preachcth the greatefr Truths of theGofpel, and preacheth Holinefsand Peace with the grcatcft r-<.rvojr,that never taught any Defection, but from the Prince of Darknefs, and the Law in the Members i that perfwades Men to be reconciled tc God, to take ChriiVs Yoke, to learn of him i which whofoevcr doth, deferveth the cfteem of the belt of Men? Mull fuch a Preacher pay fo dearly for fpending his Days, and Strength, and Pains, to do good to Souls, to mend an evil World? and no Confederation had either to his Merits, Soununefs of Judgment, Holinefs of Life, Peaceablenefs of Be- haviour > but he mult fuffer as if he was a dangerous Novice, a Cor* rupter of Manners,and a Sower of Tares ? No refpeci to his Gray-Hairs,the chargeablenefs of a difeafed Bodys to the many chargeable Removes he hath made,to the Dependence of a Family, for Sublicence, &c ! No Com- miferation to the poor and needy! Is there no allowance for a Man fo preach, where multitudes of Souls do perifh for want of Knowledg? and others hunger for the Word, and have none to guide them, but perhaps one that cannot guide himfclf ! What if a man fpends his Pains in a place where there are many Parifhes, that con lift of many Hamlets, and all cannot, that would, come to Church, efpecially in Winter- time I What if a good Man preach in a Parifti, where are many that cannot hear in one Place ? What if a Man take Pains in a place, where to many Churches there is not maintainance for one Miniiter, to live like a ftudious and a fober Man, fuch as no Man will accept, but the young and unexperienced, in hopes of a better in time ? ye: (hall there be no regard had to thefe, or many more Circumftanccs that make the Labours of good Men necefTary and profitable I But it is hard wi.en that which defcrveth Thanks and En- couraiLment, (hall be rewarded with ruineto a Mans Eftate, to a Mens Health and Life, and be baited by Reproaches, as he goes to tiie Juiiice, for you cannot aim at any Good by the Execution, but that which was aimed at by the Laws which you execute. I will name f hem particularly i Firft, for the preventing and avoiding of fuch Inconveniences and Perils, as might happen and grow by the wicked and dangerous Pra&ifes b£ feditious Secla- . ries and Dilloyal Perfons,by fetlingin Corporations, thereby taking occafi- on to diftil the poifonous Principles of Schifm and Act XVII Ch. II. Rebellion, to the danger of the Church and King- Nonconformijis reftrai- dom. For providing fpeedy Remedies again ft tied from inhabiting growing and dangerous Pradifes of Seditious Corporations. An. Car. Sectaries, &c. contrive Infurre&ions ( as was faid II. 22. c. i. before ) Thefe are the Benefits you aim at, if you aim according to the Law. Compare the Hifto- ries of the times with the Laws, and you will find that the Nonconformifl Divines, who pleaded for the Difcipline, were not fo branded, fuch as Mr. C art wright, and others of his way. But (be- Vid. Cambden. An- fides the Papijls, which that Law ftrikes at alfo ) naks E\iz,Anno 1 5p U before that Law was made, Hackgt, Arthington^ and Copinger^ had fnewed themfelves > and what were they but brainfick, mad, ranting Pbanatickj, and Blafphemers ? And after the Law was made, who were taken and punifhed (as Mr. Cambden obfervesj but Barrow and Perry > and what did they Annales. An. 1 593 . fufter for,but for Seditious Books ? c Barrow and his 'Sectaries did fow monftrom Opinions^ condemned c the Church, did derogate from the Queen's Authority in Ecclefiaftical c Matters. And what dangers the Queen and State Thankful Remem- were in, from the Papifts at that time, may be (cea hrance of God's Mer- both in Mx.Cambden and the Reverend hpCarleton, xies. c. 1 3 . both from publick Enemies, & fecret Confpiracies, Dr. ft? tfjc lBonconfa?mitt0» g i Dr. Lofiz, (the Sit George IVak£m*n of thofe days) being then Phyfician to the Queen's Family ) was to poifon the Queen. Protejhnt Princes fhould beware of Jeivijb jmd PopiJhVhyikhns. But Lopez ended his days at Tyburn, What Poifon our Noncmf>rmi\h did infufe into Corporations, or what InfurrcdKons they moved > I do not hear, nor read of any Infurrccfion, but in tfie North, by fomeof the difcontented Army, when fruftrated cf' their He pes, and of Vernier and that defperate Company. Another Plot I have iome where read of, of Green, and other Pbanatickj, blown up and incen&d by the Jejnites, ro take away the King, and burn the City \ when thofe deluded Men were engaged, The Story touched the Jcjnits gave them the ilip, and left them the by Sir H. C. in bis Halter, April, 1666. But which of all the Non- Speech, October 2 conformi\i Preachers was in any of thofe Deilgns ? 1680. There is a difference between the time of making and of executing the Laws, fuppofe that there was apparent danger ffup- pofe it, which is more than I or others know) then from limconfsrmifis ) yet if now we have the Experience of almoft twenty Years, of their Loyalty and Pcaceablenefs, why mould the Laws made againit them that may be TrangrciTors, be executed upon them that are not TranfgrelTors? The Law is to prevent a Fad:, but the Execution follows it. The Law may proceed upon Suppofition, and fufpect fuch a thing may be i but the Execution goes upon proof, that fuch a thing there was. U fuch an Evil cannot be proved, why mould the Penalties be impoPed ? Now they who are urgent for the Execution, mult hold This, that it is better for the King, his Kingdoms, and the Church, to puniih the Noncon- formifts ac;ording to Law, than to fpare them. How vain and unreasona- ble a Propofition and Judgment is this, when we do plainly fee the King, and Kingdom, and Church are Cite from any Conspiracies, or ill Dcfigns, or poifonous Infufions from any of them: Ccitainly if any City or Corporation be in danger, it is London* but, to God's Glory be it acknowledged, none of their Preachers have proved (editions. What a con- vincing Proof did London give oi their Loyalty and Valour, in that furious and a(ioniihin& Infurrect ion ot'Venner in the City ? Were not the Dijfenters then in Arms } and were not their Numbers great ? How eafy had it been} them to attempt, at leait, any ill Deilgn? but as their Loyalty took up Arms , fe their Loyalty laid them down. And, let fpme i\y it they can, are there any Men more fevere than Dijfejiter^ in point. of Ceremony, againii Heretical Blafpherners, and unruly Se#s ? not only. asdirFering from their Models and particular Humours, I • tntrary to the I :./..!. mental Principles ot Religion, of 32 €$e Confojmtffis ©ecottti pea of New- England and other Places, are Proofs beyond denial of this Obfer- vation. There is not .a-wife Ivian, but muft maintain Government, and fubmit to that he lives under, as far as he can without Sin i and Di- itraclion is an unfit means to a Reformation. Except a Man could cer- tainly foretel who (hall conquer, it is madnefs in any Man or Men, to move a War, and by Sedition to get into the Throne, and fet up himfelf and his own way. When the Nonconfirmijts are fallen mad, let them be ufed as inch i but while there is any W'hdom in them, or thefe prevailing Princi- ples of Religion and Obedience ; , their Enemies may bely them, and labour to make the malicious fwallow as grofs things as Tranfub(tantiation,things againft their fenfes i but they will confute them by * Seditio eft public* their Patience. But fuppofe them to be overftored Pacls Ferturbatio. Cal- and fet with the Seeds of Rebellion and Sedition > vin. Lexcion Juridi- what is Sedition, but the * disturbance of the publicly cum. Feace, as it is defined by the Lawyers. Now either they can command and reftrain thofe ill Inclinati- ons i if fo, they are wife and quiet i or they cannon then they are rafh and itomachful. Is it not therefore better to let them be quiet while they are fo, than provoke them by Mulcts and Ruine to make Infurre&ions ? especially at fuch a time when we have Enemies in our very Bowels, that can take the advantage of a Diverfion. The State can get nothing, by the beft efTedr of troubling of them,but Peace, and that is had without troubling of them : It is better to forbear a needlefs Trouble,than to make it. But fecondly, It may be thought better for the Church, to execute the Laws upon them than forbear them, and therefore it will be better for the State. For the proof of this, there is one end propofed by the Law, in refe- rence to the Church, To prevent, or cure the mifchief of Schifm. It is but vain to talk of preventing Schifm i the Seed of that was fcattered before, and took Root > the thing now to be defired, is the Cure of the Diftra&ion, or Schifm : The Method of curing, is by an effec/tual Appli- cation of Law and Power » of which Application, there are but two things to be looked for j i. A gaining of the Viffenters to the Church, and that is Union. A happy EfTecl: ! if it can be produced. 2. The fecond Benefit will be, a Reduction of them to their /tinted Numbers of Four beildes the Houfhold h you can never fupprefs them by this Execution, for the Law hath provided againft a total Suppreilion of them, by a tacit allowance of different Worfhip to fuch a Number. I pafs over one Advantage, which may be aimed at > It will drive fome out of Corporations, and further from their former Parifhes, or places of Refidence, fa? tlje JBoncoiifoimtffsf, 33 Refidence, fur this is but inconGderablc. For tirft, many have taken the Oath, and explained their fenfc, they may Hay ; and for them who have not, they may exchange with others > and you are but where you were, except the putting of them to a new, and greater Charge i which is not merciful, except you propofe a publick Good : Beftdes, Corporations can choofe Parliament-Men without their Influence or Direction, if that be of any Coniideration. To the firft of thefe two, I obferve your Propofttion is this, It U better to gain, and unite the Nonconform/]} JDiffentcrs to the Churchy than to -permit them to meit as they do. That's granted you in the general, but come to the way and means, and a flume this : But the fevere Execution of the Laws upon them, will bring them in, and unite them i therefore, ditiumfaVmm I But do you think Co in earnert ? You may as well fay, that Informers were or- dained to convert Souls, to reclaim ilraying Schifmaticks, and that there is more Power in Law and Juliice, than in Law and Grace. But rir ft, How many Anabjptifls and Quakers have been converted by Excommunications, Imprifonments, and Fines? 2. You may reftrain many frcm going to Conventicles,that's certain,buc what's the Church the better for that ? They go not to Conventicles, but may they not flay at home, wander abroad, and do as thoufands of our mifcrab'e Perfons do, that come to the Font by Baptifm, but not near the Pulpit and the Communion-Table! But fuppofe thefe Con- venticlers will be better than thoufands, and come to Church i then either they are convinccd,and change their Judgments, or retain their Judgments, and Hill hold Schifmatical Opinions. How can you expect to change their Judgments, or gain their Affections, by punifhing or threatning? The great eft Good you can propofe to them, is to bring them to Pariih- Preachcrf. Eut what if either want of Preaching, or want of good profitable intelligible Preaching, was the caufe of their going to them they liked better, and got fpiritual Good by ? Indeed it you could engage to them, that if they forfake their Preachers, you will provide holy, profitable, and painful Preachers in all places, which you can never do t then you might gain therm but if rhey come to our Churches againft their Judgments, then you convert the Schifmatick into a Hypo- cnte,or Athciir,and to ferve God,bccaufe it is the Religion of the Country. And what will the Church be the better tor lech } Alas! we have more of fuch already, than we know what to do with. 3. Is it probable }ou will ever gain fuch to an Uniformity, that have been many Years fettled in their Diil'atisfadions ? and from the rirfl day of their Ljcrion reckoned what it would colt them? and iincc theft Additional Acts have been made, are as refolute Jb ever ■> and that arc to F convinced 34 t£6e Coitfajmid'^ ©rcons $Iea convinced it is their Duty to preach, and hear, and worfhip God in the way they have chofen, that they look for a Pveward in Heaven ! Is it likely that they who think their prefect Sufferings will be rewarded in future Glory, will for their temporal lofTes of Goods, &c. be converted by a Warrant of a Jufiice ? It can never be rationally expedted > you may mine them, but it is next impoflible to bring them over to the Church, as long as the matters of Offence remain unremoved, or unabated. 4. Was ever a Nonconformili before the Year 1670, or 71, brought to Conformity by that Severity ? You may rather think they will do, as then they did, be more retired, but as much refolved. And that which is, as you account better, feems to me either unattainable, or undefirable. If they may not have Liberty to meet in publick, they will take that courfe which is left them i and that is to meet, not exceeding four, befides the the Family: And then your Propofition will be this. It is better to force the Vijfenters by fevere Penalties to their private Houfes, and their Hinted Numbers, than permit them to meet as they do, contrary to Law, Well then, you fay it is better to confine them to their Houfes, and to the Number four over and above, than to permit them as they do. But for what Reafons ? obferve we are upon this Head, as it is better for the Church. And that to cure or prevent further Schifm, I can imagine but thefe Reafons for it : 1. Becaufe their Nonconformity will not carry fuch a direcT; and opea Oppoiltion to theeltablifhed Worfhip. 2. Becaufe they cannot corrupt fuch Numbers. 3. This will break and weaken them. 4. Eecaufe, when it will be fo difficult for them to meet, they may ra- ther, being tired, come to our Parifh-Churches. But will you conclude your Argument upon any, or upon all thefe Reafons ? which is, That it will cure the Schifm, and prevent inflilling. S'chifmatical Principles. Let us come up to the fir ft. Firft, I fay, that you cannot prove the publick preaching of the Noncon- formifts to be an Oppolition to the Church, any more than the French-^ Dutch., and Lutheran Churches, and Preaching. To preach the fame Doclrine (as to the general matter ) to the fame holy Defign, Inftrudtion, Converfioo, Edification, and Salvation, to pray and praife God by the Spirit in the name of Chrift, is not a way oppoiite to the Church of Eng- land, or contrary to it, butonely privative it is, as to the Omiifion of the Form or Liturgy. The Agreement and Confent, and Cooperation, is greater than the Difference or Diffimilitude, If they preached contrary Do&rine fo? t&c l3on--Confon«fffs. ;5 PocVme to a contrary End, it were an open Oppofition i and yet let us remember, The Jews the Enemies of Jefus Chrifr, have their publick Synagogue more intolerable, we may think, than the publick preaching of Orthodox Clriftians. 2. But becaufe they prefume upon the Favour of our Governours, if it be offenfive fuppofe they'll forbear s doth the fuppofed Schifm ceaft , by their Secrecy ? not at all : But here feems to be a greater Schifm, or Separati- on ( fuchas it is ) than the publick- i. Becaufe here's Private in Op- pofition to Publick. The Church worfhips God openly in Churches, they privately in a Room. 2. Becaufe if this meeting in private be fchifmatical, it is the more legal and the more legal, the more fafe and fecure. 3. The Sdfmaticks, ( Fll call them fo for fafhion fake ) are multiplied by this means. Break up the publick into twenty or fourty private ones, and then for one in publick, there will be twenty or fourty Schifmatical Meet- ings. It is true, they are itill obnoxious to other Laws i but they are diicharged from the Severity of this, and thus you count the Multi- plication of Schifmatical Separate Meetings, a Gain to the Church : take it ! fee what you gets your Will, and what more ? Your fecond Reafon is, Becaufe they cannot corrupt fuch Numbers. Eut, 1. I fay Orthodox Preaching and Praying, is not corrupting i I have fhewed them to be able and found Men. 2. Multitudes will grow more corrupt, for want of their found and frequent Preaching. Vid. Page 60 of the 3. If they be heretical and erroneous, they Plea, firfi Part. will do more Mifchief by this keeping within the compafs of the Law, than by prefuming beyond the Law. 4. But corrupt or npt, is not the point, the Schifm is not healed by it, therefore it is not better toreftrain, &c. Thirdly, you fay, This will break and weaken them. It may do fo indeed. But except the Church gets them in^o Conformity, which it is not like to do ( as was faid before ) how is the Schifm cured > but indeed found Chriftianity will be in danger of lofing, and our Church paft hope of getting. I To your fourth Reafon I anfwer. 1. True, it will be difficult, and inconvenient for them to meet ; they will tire and kill their Preachers > but what gets our Church by that ? Is the Schifm repaired ? 36 ttljc Confoflniff* &CCOMJ $Ica 2. They will (Til fay as you would have it) come to Church, but whither,and to w horn? to few fome famous Preachers,for they will hear but the bei\till there be- no room? and what then? Thofe famous Preachers (hall bear the Reproach of being popular, and Fautors of the Faction, and in- clining to the Party, and will be no better than the Nonconformijis y and how will the Wound be healed when Emulation and Envy encreafeth,and the Vijpnter will be a Temporizer, and a Church- Schifmatick, and the Ccn- formiji that tolls him in. Now you having (hewed ( for now I fancy my felf difputing ) the Good of Execution, and have not gained the points give me leave to (hew you the Good of Forbearance of the Execution > and as bad as things now are, they are better than they can be, if Rigor be ufed. It is an unfpeakable Mercy, that things are no worfe, that things are fo well as they are between Proteftants this day in England. I do not re- member, when it was.ever better, efpecially confidering the means that have been ufed to break us i yet there is nothing in this more to be delired, than either a Chriftian Forbearance, or a Compofition with our DiiTenting Brethren in Chrilt, next to Heavenly Communion with Chrin\ But bet- ter, things mould remain as they are, than be made worfe, by drawing the Sword, tho in the quarrel of the Church. I do not now meddle with the Controverts between the Church and Diffentcrs^ to juftify the Sepa- ration > altho in my own Judgment, I call it a different way of Worfhip, of Profeffors of the fame Faith, and not a Schifm or a fchifmatical ilnful Separation. The Church of Jerufalem, might better call the Gentile Churches Schifmaticks, than we can call them : and the Romanijis may with more Reafon call us Schifmaticks, than we call one another > for we broke off from that Church,ei1ablilhed by the Laws then in being,and in long PoiTciTion i we feparated from them principally for impofed new corrupt Doctrines, and Conditions of Communion, and juiHfy our Sepa- ration, and will notfuffer to be called Schifmaticks > They have a Creed and a Worlhip, which was never in the Word of God j our Brethren agree in the fame avowed publick Creeds and Docl:rines,and all the parts of Gofpel- Worfhip. And it is more brotherly to denominate them from their Agreement with us, than from their DiiTent and Difagreement from us.. Em I mull not digrefs, and this I humbly fubmit. The thing now to be done, is to make the belt of our Differences, and what's bell to be done as the Cafe /lands. It is better, as more conducing. to the ends of rhc Laws by whkh you proceed to fupprefs them i Therefore it is better. The ends of the Laws have been declared above, as refpc&ing the State and the Church. J. With fo? tlje 53onconfo:m:u% 37 r. With refpedt to the State. When they preach in publick, tlicy are known to be the fame Men, that upon Principles of Loyalty, and Confci- cn.c prepared the People, or concurred with the Loyal Nobles, and Gen- tlemen and Commonalty of England^ to bring back the Kin^. They arc known to the Land, which once accounted them a Bkiling to l:^ their judgments and Pradtifes are known, and while thefe are in the head of the younger V/Jfenters^ they are as Directions and Examples to them, to keep them Irom dangerous Excurfions. W hen His Majclly was moved to grant an Indulgence, the indulged were to give their Names, and their Places, which they did, and this was cautioufly done, for the fafety of the Kingdom, there being lefs danger from a Perfon known, than one unknown, and a great Obligation upon a known Perfon to keep within tolerable Bounds. Our greatefi Dangers have been from Perfons of many Names, many changes of Wiggs and Habits, and moving up and down the Land in ferret, and Difguifes. 2. It is better for the State. For when learned and good Men have their publick Liberty, they will by found Dodtrine, teach, perfwade, ex- hort, reprove, inllrucl: them in their Duties to God, to the King, &c. Charge them to be fubjeel to Principalities and Powers, and to obey Ma- gilirates. And while they preach found Dodfrine, one end of the Magi- ilrate's Care to the State is obtained. 5. They cannot poilibly fow Sedition, or move Infurrediions in publick Aflemblics, if they were fo wickedly difpofed. The fafety of King and Kingdom, and the Confidence of the King and Kingdom may reft, un- doubted, as to any ill Deligns of thofe Preachers, while they preach in publick. And I do humbly offer it to the Confederation of all Loyal, ProtcfUnt Magilirates, to forbear to drive them into private Houfes by their Severities, becaufe under colour of private Meetings, our deftroying, perfidious Enemies of R^me,may fow Sedition, and further plot upon Pr - ttjhnts. They may as well proclaim a Rebellion at the Exchange^ CbeJffide t or in a Parifh-Church, as preach it in one of their Mecting-pla:es. 4. It is better they (bould be fpared than pfofecutcd, becaufe they will be better enabled and more encouraged to perform other Offices and Duties to the King and State, than they can poilibly, by being ruined in their Eftatcs. 5. They have many Friends and Relations in the Church ofEngl.tnd, which mult futfer many ways, in their Poverty and undoings It Will be a Tendernefs and Ktndnefs to them, to have them fpared, and not beggared, or forced to leave the Kingdom. Lafily, It is certain, that it conduccth more to the publick Pea for when Vijfctitcrs are connived at, and gratified, they are fo far obliged audi 38 cije Coiifomttff^ ©ecotm piea and owned '<> and even when their private DhTatisfa&icns remain, their Liberty being Co far indulged, they have no caufe to complain of the Magiftrate '•> and while they are not diilurbed by him, committing nothing that is provoking, they even from Intereft and love ofQuietnefs, if their Confcience of Duty lay dormant in them, will not difturb him that per- mits them. The publick Peace is beii fecured, when Men of. private Opinions keep them private, and have no difturbance given to their Peace, 1 do not fpeak this, as if I feared their Turbulency, but granting for Argument fake, that they have Touchwood in them, keep Fire from in- cenfing it, and it will do no harm. Secondly, Forbearnce will be better for the Church, and prevent a greater Schifm, againft which the Laws feem to fortify it. i. By their publick preaching, or as they can. We have a great confi- derable number of able Men, that influence the People* that are agreed with us, againlt the Force and Subtilty of Rome: therefore the more we have again!! them, the Wronger we are. Indulge the DiJJenterr, and you fecurethem, but if not, they'll be afraid of you, and you afraid of them, and by your mutual Fears and Jealoufies, the Papijh get what they get, and not by meer Nonconformity. 2. By this publick way they walk with you, according to the fame Rule, as far as they have attained, and that this is near enough for For- bearance. 3. The Scandal that is given to forreign reformed Churches is abated, and a great Example given to them that have long contended, under the name of Luther andCalvin, and others, of Calmnefs and Forbearance. 4. The Schifm will come hereby to a greater Clofure than otherwife it will > for when the ChurCh is fatisfkd by their profitable Preaching, and peaceable Deportment, they cannot but conceive better of them, and de- lire a Peace and Union, and abate fome things which they ftand upon » and when they do taite the Sweetnefs of the Bilhops Temper, they will love and honour them > and the -Differences that remain, will appear to be on- ly fuch, as may be between good Men and Brethren. 5. By this publick Preaching, Multitudes of poor Souls that know not whither elfe, to go, and Multitudes that will go no where elfe, are kept in.the way of Salvation, and Profeffion of the Gofpel: And this is that, which fome Divines of the Church of England are fo fenfible of, that they treat the Nonconformifts as Friends and Fellow-Labourers > I could if need were inftance in fome G*eat Men>and great Places where this is true* The fo? tfjc 3Soittonfa:ini(f^ 39 The fccor.d Branch of the Comparifon now corner fo be handled, and then the Argument runs thus : It is better that Proteftant T> iff enters mould be fpared, or freed from the Penalties of the Laws, than be profecu- ted > for the Evils of Execution, will be greater than the Evils of For- bearance. I am to remember my own Qucftion, and therefore I am not concer- ncdin the Quc/rion about Separation, either the Sinfulness or Excufable- nefs of it, which hath been lately largely debated, but what is beft to be done at this tiir.c,and in this pofiure of Affairs. The Unhapptnefii and Evils of our divided State, hive been conquered by Divines and States-men. The Divines have opened them in the Pul- pit and in Print, and have driven different ways, to the feme end, the Union and the Prefervation of the Church? fome reprefenting the Mif-- chief, have taken the more moderate way of Perfwalion, abhoiring Per- fection, and have fo managed their Difcourfe, as to take otf the People from their Teachers, and to Dr. StillingfL M bring them to the Church, becaufe there is nothing chief of Separation. required of them, but what many of their Teachers allow to be lawful. This way did tend towards Union of the People. Others have urged an Execution of the Laws upon the Brethren, withal pcifwading them to believe, that trey furfer as Evil-doers i and this is to bring home ilray'd Sheep Dr. Ajhtons ToIc» through Eriars and Thorns. ration difijf roved. Our great States-men have taken different Mea- fures alfo. Some have moved for a fevere Execution, and fo force them to an intire Obedience, faying it was more reafonable they (hould fubmit to the Church, than the Church to them. Others being ftnfible of the Mifchiefs, have dated the Cafe Vccemb. 21, i<58c. more exactly, and argued for 3n Union, and this prevailed in the Debate. No Man of Sence or Piety can be infenfible of the Sicknefs of the Family i but whether it be better to kill fume out-right, or to flarve them, or to fufTer them to live, may be eaiily de- termined. In a cafe of Difcord and Contention between Brothers, whe- ther it be beft to accommodate, or to determine fome (hall li .ave what they would, and others mall have nothing left, comes near the Cafe in hand. The Dangers of a Forbearance, are the fame that were foretold would be the Confcqucnci of an Indulgence, which wasoppofed U the Parlia- ment in the Year 1662. That Houfc of Commons did r . an it an Indulgence, and for keeping up (he Act of Uniformity, by vay 1 r Pro- phccy,andfore-ii^ht ot Conucjuencesj and their humble Advices prefen red to 4o . CSe Confojmtfi'0 Secona Pea to the King, contain the firongeft Rcafons againft an Indulgence, that 'have been found out, and contain the great Inccnvenicr.-ccs and Evils of a Forbearance. I will give you the Subfranceof them. Febritiry 15, 1662. 1. An Indulgence will efiablifh Schifm by a Law, make the Government of the Church precarious, and the Cenfures of [\ of no moment. 2. It will not become the Gra- vity or Wifdom of a Parliament, to pafs a Law (of Uniformity ) at one Selilon, and pafs another to weaken it the next. 3. It will expofeycur Ma jetty to the reftlefs importunity of every Seel, and every (ingle Dijfenter. 4. It will caufe the Increafe of Sectaries, whofe Numbers will weaken the Proteflant Religions their Numbers being troublefome to the Govern- ment, will, as their Numbers increafe, be more troublefome, and from an Indulgence arrive at aToleration,at length contend for an Eftablifhment, and end in Popery. 5. It will take away all means of convidHng Recu- fants. 6. It is more like to occallon greater Difiurbances, than Peace in the Kingdom. But as Events prove Prophecies to be true or falfe, fo Events have proved thefe Arguments to. be weak or ftrong. That very Parliament, the true Proteftant Part of it, that did faithfully ferve their King and Coun- try, with the Additions made to them by a latter Eleclion to fill up va- cant Places, faw where we were, and were fenilble of the Neceility of uni- ting Protejianti by Adt of Parliament,and many of the Epifcopal Divines, and fome Bilhops were for ir. A clear Difcovery, that the Mifchiefs of cur Divitions are of that fort, that it were better an Abatement were made of fome things, made necelTary to Uniformity, without which the Vijfe ti- ters will not unite, than furfer them to hang over our Heads, and come upon us. We plainly fee that many of the Reafons of the Commons ( 1662 ) are of no Force. I will obferve what is of prefentufe to our times, which is the firfi. And For the other, It became their Wifdom and their Religion to pafs a Bill, taking from the Adt of Uniformity. His Majefty hath not been molefred with the Importunities of the Viffenters^ who have not fo much as opened their Grievances, or Petitioned the King or Parliament in thefe many Years. There is no new $c& appearing, nor increafe of any by the Noncon- fomifts, to weaken the Pioteilant Religion, who have ufed Endeavours to increafe and maintain it > it is in no danger from them, they are not trou- blefome to the Government, are not for a Toleration of intolerable Sects and Scdtem-s, contend not for an Eftablifhment, which they would re- joyce in i but as becomes learned Men and rational; and with as great a a Temper, at leaf! as theirs tint write againlt them. ' The Peace of th^ Kingdom is not di/lurbed by them, and if Popery come in, it is againit their Wills, Prayers and Pains to expofe and and batile it. It is their Trouble,and a confidirable part of their Airlidtion, that they are thought trouble fome to the Government, which may by an ordinary Ex- ic of Patience and love overcome the Trouble in their own Breaff, which is the feat or the Trouble. And for the only remaining Evil, which is the Evil of Schiftn, it is clear that their Meetings are not c/tablifhcd by Law, and a Connivance gives no Ellablifhment to it > but if they be driven from publick, into private Families, and keep within their Num- ber, the Schifm remains, as* great and greater than otherwife { as I laid before ) out of the rcach,and under protection fr< m the Law. VN hat the Evils of a Forbearance are, we fee, but what the Evils of an Lxecution of the Laws may prove we cannot feci but morally and rationally fpeaking, they will be greater than now we furfer. I mull prcmife this, That if you proceed with rigor, you do unfpeaka- ble Hurt i if not, you cannot do the Good )Ou pretend: There mult be a Concurrence of all Magiitrates, in all places, to take the fame Courfc > and as you muft concur, io you muft be fure that the King will /hut up his Royal Howels and Clemency, or fome particular Men will but become hateful to their Countries? and His Majeities Mcr.y will condemn their Severity. This was fo well undcrftood by an Honourable Member cf Parliament, that he moved for ways to compel the Dijfenters to an intire Obedience, and fubmit to the Church, by fevere Penalties. This will be the ready way to undo all, if any thing do it> which as to His Majeities Perfon and Government, I do confidently hope, and ratio- nally believe, is but a great word of Fancy,an Ora- torical Scarecrow. Themif.hiefs of our Separati- Mifcbief of Separj- on are laid open to this purpofe. i. Great Ha- tion. p. 13. 8c p. 2:, ?ards of unfetling all. 2. Alienation of Hearts. 25,52. 3. Advantage of our common Enemies ( the- Pa- pijls. ) I borrow the Heads of Mifchiefs, and argue, If the Mifchiefs of Se- paration, while there is aceiTation of Profecutions, be fo great, much more when Profecution cannot heal the Separation, but encreafe the Caufes. 1. It will, beyond all recovery, undo all Men, that have been fo many Years the more bold to aiTemble, becaufe of the Lenity of His Maje/iy, and the Propeniity of our many Parliaments, from 1673, t0 accommodate the Difference > and the inferiour Magilrratcs have found no evil Ddigns among them, to give diiluibance to the Government, and many of the Judges in their Charges, have turned the point of the Sword upon our ^cret Pncmies, that would openly do more againlt us all, than is yet to be G done 4^ But fupp<,fe they fpare the Sheep, and take away the Shepherds, the Deftrudtion will be great j All, the moil of them have, will not fatisfy this Debt to the Law. Is it not enough for them to be difpolTeiTed of their Preferments, to be driven from place to place, but once more they muff be undone without regard to Age, Sicknefs, Infirmities, Families, Debts, Poverty > If they have many Friends, their Friends mult furTer in their Sufferings, if they have none, or few, they are the more undone i their Sufferings will not terminate upon them. Who (hall fet them up again? bring up their Children? feed and cloath them ? their Ruine will be an intolerable Op- preffion upon many parts of the Kingdom. 2. Will not this unfettle the A ffedtions, wherein -the flrength of Go- vernment doth confift (together with Religion and Confcience ) of thou- fands more, than can be fpared, if other Dangers arife ? And i[ Religion and Confcience oblige them to love their Perfecutcrs and pray for them, they will never dare to truit them. A mutual Truft and Confidence is a. great Strength in time of common danger? when we are di/iracred in AfTe&ions, we mall be diftnded in Reafon, and Counfel, and when we. are fo, then's the time for a Popifb Army to unfettle all. It is well known that the ViJJenters are a great, and an active Part of the Kingdom, and if they furTer by Proteftants, they will be afraid to unite with them '■> and therefore to perfecute them is as ill a Service, as to cut ofT- a great and potent Part of Religious and Induftrious Men from our main Strength, when we mod Hand in need of increafing Friendship, Confi- dence and Strength. The unfettling of Affection, moving of Pailion, which Religion cannot fubdue in all, is an effectual way to unfettle all. 3. The Profeciition of ViJJenting Proteftants, tends to no other end, but to difunite AfTe&ions s it is to ufe Force without Reafon, or Perfwafi- on. The Reafon of the Diffenting Brethren is as far from Satisfaction as to our Conformity, as ever.* and their Satisfactions in their DiiTent, do daily increale : to ufe Force without Reafons, is not reafonable h and that Force which is ufed to fupprefs and cut erf, mult needs be to difunite the Hearts of Men, To fupprefs them, iigtrifies plainly, thev have no value for them, that they hate them, as unworthy to dwell in any place but a Goal, or to ly upon any Bed but Straw. They are firft exiled from their good Thoughts and Opinions* next from their Affections i next they are judged infufferable > and they that would drive them out of all, would proceed to Banifhmenr> and (hen he that is not thought worthy to live with with us in the f>me Land, is reputed next him that is not worthy to live at all > and is this the way to win their Affections! and if they fhould force any to abjure his native Country, they force him againfi Nature, and Chat is to root out ArTedtion. Now iuppofe the Djjfenters are not wholly yours, yet if you cared for them at all, you woul i nourifh fome Inclinations in them, and not thruit them from you, but drive in thofe Inclinations to Peace with )ou. 4. lc is plainly the making of a Breach among Protcftjnts. The more .kand pailionate will be far more out with the Bifhops, than they were before. 1. Becaufe, they at the rirlr rcfufed to condefcend, and procured that Ac?r. of Uniformity, by which they mult needs know a va/t Breach would follow. 2. Becaufe they can look upon the Suffering of Protejiants Without Companion, fo much as not to make IntcrceiTion for them. The Brethren, and all that fuffer in them, will be tempted to hate the Bifhops, and fay, this doth proceed from them, or fome of them. And this is ano- ther way to unfettle all. Beiides, it tends to divide the Hearts of the ig- norant, and ra(h,cenforious Multitude from their Fellow-^ hriitians, as if they were worfethan Papijis, as Enemies to the King and Government, as DiliurbersofOrderby their Preaching and Precifenefs. It will alienate abun- dance of People, that either actually fuffer,or have any Companion to them that fufTer, from abundance, of Conforming Minifters, who help on the work of pulling down of Conventicles. And this is another means that will co-operate to our unfettlement of all. % 5. This is the way to unfettle all, by undoing what hath been done to- wards an Accommodation or an Union,both by late Honoured, and eve* to be Honoured Parliaments,from the Year 1673, to the lad at JVeftminfier ; and all the Endeavousofour Reverend rathers,Proteftant Divines,and Gentle- men, towards a difirabJe Union. As a Treaty of Peace tends to a Set- tlement, fo the breaking of a Treaty tends to an unfettlement i this zea- lous Profecution, is like a vowing there (hall be no Peace > for it plainly breaks off the Treaty. <5. This tends to unfettle all, as it is an open, violent rufhing againfi the Reafon of our late Proteftant Parliaments. As their Reafons and Debates, did determine in a Refolve for Settlement s fo thefe out of Enmity againft them,and their Proceedings,labour to unfettle all,before they can have time to mect,to offer any thing towards a happy Settlement i to divide the King from his Parliament, to undo what many Parliaments have refolved to do, to profecute Protejiants againft the minds of Protejiants, to difgrace the Name, and to break and weaken the Thing, is al(b the way to unfet- tle all. G 2 7. Except 4+ C6e Confonnift'0 acconn $lca 7. Except they deal worfe by our Protefttnt Nonconfjrmjfis, than they, would deal with Papijis, they can but drive them to their .private, Hou'es and Corners 5 and keep them to them ( and another Argument. from this Head doth offer it feif ) will be a greater Lvil, than wha: the Church or State can ever furfcr from open Meetings. And that as opera- ting more ways than one. 1. Becaufe our Hearts will -be more divided, Mens Paffions i nee n fed, Mens Reafons fturpned, and all ways of Reconciliation (topped > the conquering Church-men will not offer Treaties, the broken and op- preifed C hurch will not be heard > all their Arguments and Books will operate no more, than the Tears of the afRictcd foften the Hearts of ti.eni that afBid them. 2. The S-hifm then will fo far be protected, that this Law-againfi. Conventicles cannot, tou^-h them> and I do humbly conceive, that this Act a^ainft Conventicles was never intended for J mean the Oxford the Good or Growth of (he Church of England^ or M> and the other. the Protectant Caufe. 1. Becaufe they that moved in it, were moved by a Spirit of Popery, is notori- ouily known, who were Sir Tho. CI. and the refl abovenamed. 2. It w T as as cunning a f;b-rraneous Conveyance for Popery^s could be thought of, to be made by a Law. It feeming.. to be to. ferve the. Church, was help'd forward by the Zealots for the Churchy but what was more contrary to the Church, than a fecret Schifm pnviledged by the Law, that forbad an open one? 3. It was moit likely tooe perpetuated, theclofer it was kc,pt and fre^.frora PuniPnmcnt. 4, .They who were then Papijis in a Difguife, and when they thought it time, threw orT- the Difguife, could fo manage the JBjjfintfs, as procure a Toleration of Papijis , but i< (haTl go under the name of Favour xoProuft.ant Dijjetiters. for the Merits of the Papijis pleaded for them a (hare of the Favour, granted to Novcor.formijis* that deferved fo ill. An'opprciiive Act, made way. for an eating Toleration, which the Parliament well perceived the Year following,, and then crofted the Contrivances for Popery^ and faw that Popery -had got by the Toleration and their own Act,and moved for a Revocation of both. 5. The Protrjiant Dif- fenters,w\i\uut any difference of their Principles were by this Law rendred •fufpirious,and thereby odious, as conveying poifonous Preparations to Re- bellion in their Preachings the lurking. jefuits, and ci.n> plot ting Pspiiis^ mi^ht carry on their Jiringand murdering Projects,, and when any Mifchief broke out, the fufpected. Protejiant might next way furfer for it, or be brought in quefiion j fo that if State-Policy (nine out into a Favour to Viffenters, the Meritorious Loyal Jefuits and Papijis (lull go Partners with them. If State Tncjuifitors jfmell a fire or Gun powder, the fufrectcd V/jf enter ft? tlje iftoiKonfomiiff^ +5 Vijfcntcr fhall luvc the odium of it, and the Fapilh appear bold-fac'd, as a lyLoyalifr, and who dare fpeak Truth (: nis untainted Innrcnceand Greatnefs? 6. Thefe duTcmbling Jefuits^mi&nt creep into ( ouvinticles, into any of then do theii \N cannot they ly to damn the Souls of H,reticks, as confidently as they did tofav. the Lives of Traitors ? cannot they pretend they were born and bred in New England. To the weaker and credulous Independent^ that know not Men, as their able Miniilers do, they may fay, they were brought up by fuch Independents. To the Quakers, they may pretend Converilon and come a great way off, or give them the Honour of bringing them out of Darknefsi and fo through all. And why cannot they make ufe of the Miferies of our perfecuted Brethren in France] and fpeake a little broken Englijh ,andfay they zxeFrench Proteftantsjntended for the Miniftry, or bred in fome of their Univeriities, and who can difprove them ! what cannot a lying young Generation do ? Preach againir Popery in fome points to bring it in. We read what work one Whitehead did in Meetings of feveral Per- fwafions '■> and why not more take the fame feducing Trade. But when Nonconforming Ministers are known, and appear in the open view of the Church and Kingdom, they are accountable for what they preach and doi and if any fecret Confpiracies, pernitious Do&rines,Atheifm,B]afphemy, are fowed,or fomented, the Innocent may be known, and the Guilty the fooner difcovered. And thus I have gone thorough my whole Argument, and I hope faid ibmething aptly to prove my Queftion, That it is better the Executi- on of the Penal Laws be forborn, than urged at this time, if not alto- gether. Having dated, and I hope offered fome confiderable Proof of that part of the Queftion which I have chofen, tho furtheft out of the Sun of Humane Favour '•> I (hall draw another Divifion of Arguments to guard and maintain it, and to turn back the Force that comes cut again!! it. If there be any Reafon in what hath been offered, then I hope, I fliall meet with fome Inclinations, in wife and good Men, to be perfwaded to take that Courfe which is proved to be the bed : I am fure wife Men will choofe that which is bed, and good Men will not exercife Severity without urgent Caufe, and a rational Foreilght of Advantage. I humbly defire thefe following Arguments may find due Regard. ■Firfi, Firh 1 , The Wifeft, Holicii, and mod Catholick Governors of the Church, have by long Experience found that Reafon, Conviclion, and Calmnefs, have been the winning ways upon fcrujiulous Pcrionsi or clfe it cannot in Charity be thought, that they would come behind others, in accomplishing the work of Peace and Uniformity. They cannot but know what Deliru&ion, without Reformation, will follow Excommu- nicationsjf they proceed to Writs, and follow the Courfe of Law to the ut- termolt. Many of our Ecclefiaitical Courts have taken that way, and can any of them, (hew us anyone Man converted to Uniformity by it } Many have removed from one Country and Diocefs to another, and wrought themfelves out of Trouble, or abide in them to this day : But can they ihew any one Man they have brought over to a fincere and hearty Confor- mity ? Their Mole/tations go nearer the Heart to feparate them, than to unite them. If the Church mould for Nonconformity proceed to Sentence, and thence to Writs, and thence to Execution, what way can they take more effectual to difobligle the Nation? The Gentleman and Landlord differs in the ruine and lofs of his Tenant} (he thoufandsof pocr Families that live by Manufactures, differ in the Loffes or Removes of their Matters i and as many as actually fuffer,of what Condition foever, and their Families and Posterity that differ in them, are ma3e the poorer, but never the better Christians, they are all dilbbliged and broken from us. Befides, they know the charge of their Diffent, which is ofcen-times no more than, pay your Fees, and go home. The Officers of Courts get j but what doth the Church get thereby ? It is vifible, that thofe parts of the Land have the mo/I for number, and the moll refolute Nonconfonnilh that have been mod feverely ufed. The more many Men differ, the more Arguments they gather for the Goodnefs of the Caufe for which they fufTer. The far greater part of our Church-Governours, have abiiained from rigorous Courfes. Now the Civil Magistrates are rowzing up, and awake, as out of deep. Cut what's the Caufe of this I xcitation > The Confervators of the Peace are harnefling themfelves for the Defence of Church and State. But what fear of the King's Life : Is it not the Accla- mation of all Protijiants ( is there in this, one ViJJetiter among them) L Ifthcrebc, God who ieeth in fecret, reveal it quickly, by the Guilty themfelves i and there is no likelihood of a Con- cealment, C if there be fuch a thing) for none but beggarly mad Men can be in it i the fervice then mult be done to the Church : The Magiiirates rife up in Defence of it. Eut doth not the Magi Urates Vigilancy reproach the 48 €§e Confojmtff Attorn pea the Severity, and Sleepinefs of the Watchmen ? how can any, that at other times and occafions do not talk with any gnat Corcern, ArTeclion, or Reverence of the Bimops, now be fo zealous? If the Bifhops mould proceed with one mind, roundly to Excommunications, and break up Fa- milies by it v who would fooner complain than Gentlemen that furTer by it ? who more carneit, or be more complcmental in InterceiTions J But how, why mould they be fo forward to undo 'great Numbers to the appa- rent detriment of the Common-wealth, when the Bilhopsare fo backward • to give them,their Friends,or their Dependents Trouble? What Alterations will the Execution make, in Rents and Trade? and who will fooner feel the Effects, than he who takes his Eafe, and lives high, and cannot bear the fall of his Revenues? If the Magiftrate appear in his Power, when the Church calls for his help,it will be duty, and felf-denial too, to take part of the Odium of what is counted a Perfecution, but to hazard the breaking of many thoufands, who can infbme parts of the Kingdom make a Rife, or fall of Commodities, and the lofs and trouble of abun- dance more by Participation to their own Dishonour, is a greater Kindnefs to the R. R. Bifliops than was expe&ed, or can be rewarded with their Bldling. .k Secondly, It is more God-like, Chriflian, and Humane, to ufe Clemen- cy, and follow the Examples of the Indulgent, efpecia'.ly when the hurt- ful ErTe&s of Severity are great and apparent, and the Benefit doubtful. God is wife, }uir,and holy, hut continues to ophold the World by Mercy. Chriftianity is full of Mercy,and the Authoi -tit is a Rcconciler,and Medi- ator. Human Nature, fo given to offend, would be de(iroyed,but for Love, Forbearance, and Mercy. Mercifulncfs is like the foft Cement, that binds all the Stones in the fabrick of Human Society, which elfe would never hold together, but fall with out it. With ut it Men are like rugged Stones, and Severity doth nor fquare, but chop, and lhould never be exercifed, but when Society cannot be preferved without it. If this Age will follow Examples of the mod exacl and ftri<9 Go valours, it will rind more room for Mercy, than hath been (hewn to them that have been excluded for want of it. But if it will Cct it felt for an Example, it is a queftiou whe- ther wife Poflerity will follow it. The H gh CommiiTion Court was a kind of Inquifition, fo the wife Lord Treafurer Burleigh wrote to Arch-Bp IVbitgift^ ' But acceding tomy fimple Judgment, Fuller's Cb. Hiftory c faid he, this kind of proceeding is too much fa- & ix, An* 1583. c vouring the Romfo Inquifition. And of all Men, c the Vurittms felt the weight of it. . The Ymhans were fa? tfje l2anco!tfo?mflf& 49 were oppofite to the Biuhops and their Government, and Courts, and they made themfelves and the Queen, their Government and Hers all one i what was faid or done againft them, was done a- gainft Her Majeliy. And the Oppofition between As in Mr. tidal'/ the Puritan Dilcipline, and the Epifcopal, was Examination and Tri- greater than hath been urged ever /jnce the King's at, is to be feen, Pr. Return. If Church-HMory were tilent, we may Lond. 1643. learn frrom the Canons of 1^05, what Language Can. 4, 6,9, 1 1. was common in thofe times : But now the Con- troverfy is not between the Presbyter and the Bifiop, but between Bijhops acting in a narrow Room and a larger Diocefsi yet they are not difcontent if the King (hall honour fome, as he doth, with Lordlhip, nor continue their Revenues. The Independents ( fuppofed to be Brownijis, but are not) give not the Language of Antichriftian, to Biihops, or our Congregations \ but look upon us as parts of the Catholick Church. The BiQiops are Antichurchians (as againlt their Dr. Owen of Cburch- Congregational Power) but not Antichriilian, Peace, Sec. Pr.Good- which was the Language of the Brownijh i but win on the Epbef.^.^. thofe that were more oppofite, or hung off, were more kindly ufed. Mr. Fox a N. C. held his Prebend of SalUbury > Dr. Hwnpbreyes was Dean of iVincbejier, Preiident of Magdalen Colledg, and Keg/w-ProfeiTor in Oxford^ Mr.Tbo. Cartwrigbt, the Head of the N. C, was at lalt much favoured by his mighty Antagonilt, A. B. IVfritgifc made Miller of the Hofpital in Warwick and preached there to his Death j Mr. Traveri t ordained by Presbyters in Antwerp, after a lharp Controverfy with Mr. Hooker, was made Provoft of Trinity Colledg near Dublin, by A. B. Loftus, Chancellor See Fuller'/ Hijl. of Ireland i Rob. Brown, that deferved worir, held B. ix. his Re&ory of A-Cburcb > Mr. Stone continued in his Parfonage of IVarkton i A. B. IVbitgift, whofc ( Stiff) confrancy was known and proved, wrote thus to the Lord Treafurer Burleigh , % My Proceedings are neither fo vehement, nor ' fo general againlt Minifters and Preachers,as fome Ibid. p. 13^. 4 pretend, doing me therein great Injury. In ano- ther to Sir F.Walfwgbam i c I have forborn to fufpend or deprive any Man, ' already placed in any Gurcor Charge for not fubferibing. Only Bilhop Anthony Kudd, in his Speech in Convocation, An* 1 604, (aid, c That many Learned Preachers enjoyed See Addenda to tti ' their Liberty, conditionally that th«y did not by firji Plea. 1 Word or Deed, openly difgrace, or diltu.b the 'State eflablifkd, (would that do now, we (hould fee a return of many H calt $o Cfje ConfontttiTg €>econti Pea caftout, ifnotofall.) What need I fay of the Indulgence of Arch Bifhop Abbot ? Remarkable is that Difcourfe between A. B. Bancroft ( who was a (harp Adverfary of the Puritans ) with a N. C. An honeii able Man pro- tefkd to him, that it went againit his Conference to conform, which way (quoth the A, B.) will you live, if put out of your Benefice? The Minifkr anfwered, He had no way but to go Full. F. 10. p. 57. a begging, or pert himfclf on the Divine Provi- dence: Not that, (aid the A. B. you (hall not do [o, but come tome, and I will take ovder for your Maintenan;e. Many had Lectures, or were connived at by Biihops, or protected by Great Men, as is proved in Particulars by Mr. Baxter, Pcrti- Second Part of the nent is that to my purpofe which Dr. Fuller Vefnce againfi Vr. writes, of fome in the Time of Q^ Elizab. Reign. Stillingfket, c. 4. ' The Praclifes of the Presbyterians, now found lo Hift. B. ix. p» 135. c much Favour,as almoin amounted to a connivance Se<5r. 18. c at their Dif.ipline. For whilft the Severity of * the State was at this time intended to the heighth * againfi the Jefuites j fome Lenity of Courfe ( by the very Rules of c Oppofition ) fell to the (hare of the Nonconform^ s, on the fcore of their * notorious Enmity to the Jefuitical Party. The Earl of Leice/hr procu- red great Favour for them, from the Queen, and fnibbed the Bifhops for urging Subfcriptions. The great and wife States-men, were InterceiTbrs for Ibme of them, winefs the Letters of the Lord Treafurer Burleigh, and Sir F. Walpngham^ in that Church- Hi (lory. But now, is there no Mitti- gation to be looked for, when our prefent N. C. approach nearer to a Clofure, and when their Oppofition to the Jefuites, doth provoke that Party to (train all their Policies, Power and Malice againft them. Con- lider if it be not a time to (hew Mercy to our Brethren, and not to opprefs them as Enemies, when the whole Proteftant Inrereit among us, is fare J by meer Mercy 1 How contrary will the impoverifhing of them be, to that Duty, If thine Enemy hunger, fed him, if he thurfk, give him Drinl^ Surely if we ought to relieve an Enemy, fo far as to keep him alive, we ou^ht to fpare our Brethren, and prefeive them from a N\cciluy to beg their Bread. But here I feem to fome, to beg a Queition > I call them Brethren, when they are not. It is true, I do i and if they who profefs the fame Faith, Worfhip, and live under the fame Laws, are not Brethren, have we any in any part of the World ? Is there any Houfhold of Faith, out of the Houfhold of Conformi \\s ? If not, then our extream Zeal againfi Nonconform^ s, will carry us to Vonatifm, and confine the Church, wi bin the Lines of our Uniiormity. If to avoid this,we acknowledg a Catholick Church.out of thofe Bounds j then why (hall not that Right be allowed to them fo? tfje BoitKConfoimiffs* 5T tlicm that dwell among us,as well as to them that live in Forrcigh Nations, and differ as much from our Form of Difcipline, as they do > If therefore they are Brethren, let them receive from us forhc Tokens of ArTcdion, and not be burnt with the Marking-irons of Anger, as unfit Objects of anything lefs than Exclufion from all Favour : And let not the Mercy, and Mildncfs of former times, come into Judgment againlt this Gene- ration. I do hope there are many that have Sorrow in their Hearts daily for them, and that have Hearts of Flefh to them. Arg. 3. Eoth Church-men and Magifirate% mould forbear this Courfe of Rigor, for fear of being guilty of the great Sin of Perfecution, or ap- proaching near it. All good ChrifHans mould be tender of falling into degrees of that Sin,which in the higheir degree, is proper to the Enemies of Chrifr. There are now none in any place of Power, but fuch have by Oaths and Tefis, avowed themfelves to be ilncere and honeft Protefiants i and if they will hear Reafon on their Erethrens behalf, what Mercy can Protefiants expert from Papifts, or perjur'd Hypocrites > Abliain from punifhing, and hurting the Servants of Chrifr, left ye be found righting againlt God, and obftrudting the Profperity of Chrilt's Kingdom, by quenching any Light of the Gofpel, becaufe it is not fet up in a branched Candleflick, or in the Church. They would all burn in the Church, but for fomething that keeps them out, in the Church-porch. Now as every Chriflian, that hopes for Salvation alone by Chrift, mould be afraid of hurting Chrift in his Members 5 fomuft every Man be fender in affixing the Charge of Perfecution upon any : which that I may not do, I will, 1. Open the nafure of •Perfecution. 2. The kinds of it. 3. Confidcr what is faid to free the Profecution of the Laws, from be- ing a Perfecution. Fir/}, To perfceute, In this place, is tiken in an ill fence, for any kind c f Vexation, or Trouble, brought upon others, efpeci- ally fuch as is grievous to be born > it h ardenth, Grot. in Math, 5. iQ f ]::tinjcitcr, ddgenter infecfari ad nncendum i or as Petr. Rava/i, others, To follow as a Hunter doth his Game. In refped of the Sufferer, it mtlfl becaufclefe, and nndefcrved, and by Conference not for doing ill : in refpedt of the Inflidcr, it mull be inju- rious j and in refpedt of the Caufe, it iriUtt not be a ctvilCaitfc, but Reji- giousin Whole or in Part. It is ciRcution, ifitftrike at any part of Re- ligion, or for any Excrcife of Religion. H 2 Secondly 52 Cfce Confojmtft'g ©cconfc $tea Secondly, There are many kinds and degrees of Perfecution, diftin- guifhed by the Afflifters,Afflidrion, and Afliicled, and the Reafons, Caufes, and Ends. The menaced Sufferings of the Nonconformifts^ are not, I. From an open profclTcd Enemy of the Faith, but (what is marvellous) from Men profdTing the fane raith, as Protejiants^ the Power being in no other hand. 2. It is not for Chrifiianify, for the Name of Chrilr, or being Christians. 3. It is not dirc&ly a fuffering of Death, or Banifhmenr, (tho it may come to it) as it is a proceeding upon the Adt of the ijtb and 2id of our King? but fuch hath been the Zeal of fome Jufiices in fome parts of this Kingdom, as to threaten Vifenters with Abjuration, Baniihment, and Death. But ordinarily, rhe threatned Punishments are of lofs of Goods, of Li- berty to do good to Souls, of Imprifonment, for particular Ads and Exercifes of the Chriftian Religion, only becaufe performed in an undue manner, as to human particular Laws, by Preachers that have not confor- med upon the impofed Terms of excrciilng their Minidry, and upon fuch as hear them, beyond fuch a Number > and thefe Punidiments are threatned by Chriftian, Protectant Magiilrates, againft profciTedly Proteftant Prea- chers and Hearers. They who fu/fer, fay, They fuffer for Confcience and Religion, and therefore they are persecuted* they who punifh them, fay, It is not for Religion, but for doing ill. Let us impartially examine the Cafe,as urged by the Nonconformist) and as defended by fome Conformists. The Nonconformist argue thus j Preaching and Praying are necellary Duties. But the Nonconformifls are puniQied for Preaching and Praying. Therefore for necelTary Duties > and by Confequence they are per- fected. , A Reverend, (and by his many ferious Pro- Toleration difappro- fellions, which I admit ) a good Man,undertakes vedfix. 16 jo^d Edi. to take off this Argument. Indeed the Argument is laid down defectively, becaufe the words of the Laws are upon pretence of Religious Exercifes, there are other Exercifes of Religion, befides Preaching and Praying. The fame Reverend Author doth di/iinguifh to the major Proportion, and flatly denies the minor. Preaching and Praying (faith he) are ne- celTary Duties, quoad Snbftantiam, but quoad Circumfiantiaf they are not necelTary, and he reckons fome Circumftances, in which 'tis true, they are riot necelTary > as to two or three thoufands, &c* 2. He f02 tf)C Ji3OHCOtlfo:ttlift0. 5 3 2. He utterly denies the minor, as falfe. They are punifhed for not obfer- vir.g thofe Circumliances (faith he ) about Preaching and Praying, which Authority required) i or, for not performing thofe Duties in fuch a manner i or mou plainly, tor not fubmitting to thofe Confiitutions e(la- blifhed, for the betur ordering of thofe Duties, which Condi tutions he proves to be good, from an Enumeration ct all the Caufes. They aie good, rcjpeciu Efficient'*, fufEcient Authority. 2. MaUrie, the matter not unlawful, or contrary to a former Obligation. 5. Fcrm£, a fufficient Promulgation. 4. Fink, the publidt Peace and Safety. To confjder all thefe things diftincfrly, Let me fay, 1. By necciTaiy Duties, we agree are, meant Duties necclTary by the Di- vine Precept, or as Means to the Ends or Chriiiian Religion. 2. Miniilcrs and People are hilt obliged to Chriir, as their Govcrnour abfolutc, according to his Laws,and to temporal Governours fubordinarely, in and for the Lord. Therefore the tirft and principal Regard ot Obe- dience is to jefus Chrift, with that ftri&nefs he hath bound us to. 3. No A&ion of Religion can be done without Circumlhnces. 4. Circumftances are fubfervient to Duties > and we are fure, that God doth not tie up to fuch CircumiTances, as do always tie up from the Du- ties, tho in fome Circumftances the Duty may be omitted > but they are fuch, as render the Duty for that time unneceiTary i and if Men would learn from God, they would never enjoyn fuch Circumftances, as (hall hin- der any to perform them, from whom God requires them. 5. Thofe Circumftances, as you call them, are fuch as no private Man can takeaway, becaufe required by Laws. Being fuch, it (hall never be lawful for any Nonconform'^ to preach to more than Four befide the Houf- hold, yet they are bound abfolutely to Chrift, to preach ( without any Reftridion, if the Bifhops pleafe ) for elfe they would be only conditio- nally bound to Chriir, and abfolutely bound to the Bifhops. If the Bifhops allow them, then Chrift allows them '•> if the Bifhops forbids them, then Chrift forbids them; for all Power derived from Chrift, is for Chrift. If the Nonconform?]}/ neglect necefTary Duties out of refpedr to human Cir- cumftances > who do obey } He that requires the Duty quoad Subjlantiam $ or them that fliut them up, or rather out, per CircHmfiantias i which is beft, to negledl the Duties required by Chrift, when they cannot without Sin obferve the Circumftances > or neglect thofe Circumftances, and do the Duties in fuch other Circumftances as tiiey can have } This were to make the Obfervation of Human Circumftances more necefTary than Divine Ordinances. 6. It. 54 Vyt Ccmfomtiff ^econa $Iea 6. It is in fome Circumltances as necetfaiy for a Nonconform'^ to preach without our Circumftances, as it is foi us to preach with them 7. The Cafe harh been, and may, as it was to Peter Martyr before he left Italy, to preach, and adminifter Sacraments, in a Conventicle'of many hundreds, or fome thoufands, and neceffary to apology for N. C. venture Life and all tor it. What R.Mr.B. writes, preaching, to the Bi- is to the point of Circumftances, If the Magistrate Jhops,y. 15, i<5.£. 12. forbids us to preach the Gofpeh either our Preach- ing is neceffary or unneceffary, and this either no- torious or doubtful. If our Preaching be notorioufly unneceffary, we will obey him, and forbear. If it be a doubtful Cafe, we will ufe all means God hath appointed us, to know the Truth > and if yet it be doubtful, and our Minds in fufpence, we will iiand to the Judgment of the Magifirate,and forbear. But if our Minifiry be notorioufly and undoubtedly neceffary to the jufi Ends, which is the Edification of Mens Souls, we will obey God in Preaching, as we are able, and humbly and patiently bear what is laid upon us by our Rulers i nor do we take our felves bound by Chriit to one Place, or one Time, or manner of Teaching, or to fpeak 3lways to a great AfTembly > but all thefe are Circumltances, which we muft fit to the end and fuccefs of our Work. To conclude this Head, Altho theNonconformijls cannot preach in thofe Grcumfhnces ( as you call them ) enjoyned by Law, for fear of finning, as they do confidently and ferioufly declare, and for no other Reafon $ they mull preach and pray, and perform other Religious Exercifes upon fuch Circumftances as they can have, and that ( if it cannot otherwifebej) upon hazard : for it is a greater Sin, and deferves a forer Punifhment, to negledi a neceffary Duty enjoyend by Chrift,than to neglect the Obfervati- on of fuch Circumltances, as are enjoyned by ( a lawful ) Authority ^ except Jefus Chri/t hath given fuch Power to Magiltrates and Church- Governours, as to command Circumstances, which all his Servants with- out difpute, or hefitancy, muff obeyi, and that Chriit doth rather approve of the negledr. of nccelfary Duties, than for refpedf. to them, tranfgrefs human Circumtfances, by which, neceffary Duties may be fufpended. or rendred unneceffary. If both cannot be done, the one without the other, which mull give place ? the Circumltances to the nccefTary Duties ? or the Duties to the Circumltances ? Efpecially when we confider that Chri- ftian Preachers, and People, are rirft and abfolutely obliged to Jefus Chriff, and but fubordinatcly and conditionally to Men in Authority. Notwiths- tanding the Nonconformists noncompliance with ( what fome call ) Cir- cumltances in Preaching and Praying, which are neccifary Duties, they do well, for they obey the greater. Now ft! tlje I3onconfo-mtff0. 55 Now I pafs (0 the Minor: But Nor.conformift s (uflfcir for Preaching and Praying. Tnls is utterly denied, and indeed if this be not denied, the Gondii- Ron tftbuld rcceflariry follow: Therefore they arc punifhed for nccciTary Duties, and by Conlequence for Religion, or doing well. N "-w that which is incumbent upon hie, is to mew, that indeed they furTcr fox Religious Exercifesi and to prove that, I mult eonlidcr what is l-;J Co he contrary, whi.h 1 Hull do, in the firit place : They are punilhed, faith he, tor not obfervingCircumftances required, or for d< f performing them in the manner required, or for not fubmit- ting to thole Constitutions c ft a ]j( ncc ) 5 ror better Order, &c* 1 anf.vcr. It is true, they firrTer for not fubmitting to thefe, but not fbf that Caafe alone, but for Religious Exerciies, to infrh. \v\\ (ay, the Conductions are good, by an Enumeration ofCaufes. To whi.h I anfwer 5 i. The Nonconformijls do not deny, but own the LrHcient, the Legislative- Power. 2. They rcfufe and queltion the mat- ter of many of the Con(Ututions, and iC they fcrupled but one, they can- not fubferibe to all i and that becaufe unlawful to them. 3. Many furTcr for not fubferibing, and declaring their AiTent to the Common- Prayer, which came not to them before the time was expired for Co doing. Here is a defect of a Grille, the formal Caufe, the Promulgation of the ConlH- fuli ns. We that lived nearer London, had but a little time to perufe the «iturgy , but m any had not time at all, in many places, and they not the rcririflfe Parts. A Divine of Years and Learning, in the Diocefs of Lincoln, gave this for one Resign, in his Farewel Sermon, that he was to be lilenccd by Lav/, for not fubferibing and af- fenting ro a Book which he had nor feen. It is likely he had other tleafons i but they that furfer for not fubmitting to what they faw not, do not fuffcrfor doing ill, but well. Lafrly, The Coniii- tutions are for publick Peace and Safety \ but ex- cept the matter be of that Tendency, many ( on- Jiitutioris may be good in refpedt of the Lrfi-ienr, Formal, and Final i but may be ill in refpedt of the Matter. And the Coutroverfy of the Nohcoh- formijis is about the matter of the Conititutions chiefly. And if their Pleaching and Praying give no Diliurbance, but to fomc Mind > irrec 1 , and tend to Gcdh'ncfs and Honelty, then they are fo 1 tr gosd, and agree with the defigrl 1 t the Conititutions. They fufkr, as appears, for an Omiffion, not obeying the Conltitu? And it was the cafe of many nure in tb.it Diocefs. And Mr. E. of W. in the County of L. ivas (jeered b\ Sir Edward Lake, alt bo be gave that Rcafon, that the B j:\wjs not brought him be for-. :' 24th of Aug. nor be- fore he was declared deprived by 9 he Com* miffjry. 55 cije Cottfomtfft'S ^ecottti $iea Conftitutions, and them chiefly, in one Caufe,and but perhaps in fomeone part of them: See (hen what the principal Caufe of their many Sufferings is> they are fuch things as are, as we fay, things indifferent, but neceffury in Practice by human Laws > which compared ^vith the neceffary Duties of Religion, which are enjoined by Chriit, and the Laws ot the Land, are but fmall and unnecefiary i yet not obeying :hefe Conltitutions which bind not immediately by a Divine Precept, (hall render able Minifters unferviceable j yea it (hall be a fmful Ad in them, to doneceilary Duties, acknowledged by all Chriitians ro be fuch, for not obferving them. Having laid thefe things open, I proceed to prove that the Nonconformijls fuffcr for Religious, Chrittian Exercifes. i. The Law-makers, in their Laws, never noted them for other, than for Religious Exercifes, and for good Duties i therefore we muft take them for good,notonly by the Law of Chriir, but by our Temporal Laws. All the Minitters of England and Wahs, that were ejected for not fub- fcribing, &c. were fuppofed good, if they had fubferibedj and when they were ejeded, they were not degraded from their Miniftry, nor was their After-preaching, prejudged to be as no Preaching and Praying. The fame Ad might have declared their Religious Exercifes to be null, and them no Minilterss > they were removed trom their Stations, and depri- ved of Tithes and Profits, but their After- performances loll: not their internal Nature, altho they mould be performed without Common-Prayer, Rites and Ceremonies. ^^ 2. The Subfcquent Ads do not abfolutely forbid theh^Hkp&tffi Exe«P cifes, as Evil, or Evil-doing, but as deficient in the exte^r^Torm, and as abufed by ill Men and Hypocrites, to move to Rebellion and Infurredion, endanger Church and State, and to fuch a Number of People, and if they were fuch, they would be materially Evil, and then ceafe to be Religious Exercifes. 3. So then their Fault lies in Deficiency of things concomitant, which doth not [q affed them, as to change them from Good to EviU they may be acceptable with God, and profitable to Men for all that, Co far as they celebrate Religious Exercifes, to pious Ends, they materially and fi- nally do the things that are pleailng to God, and do well, even Men being Judges. 4. They do not fuffer Fines and Impri(bnments for not fubferibing de- v clraing according to tbe Ad of Uniformity alone, they fufferedfor that be- fore : They do not fuffer for moving Seditions, or Infurrcdions, whereof none hath been fo much as charged, much lefs found guilty. They do therefore fuffer for performing Religious ExeicifcF. \ 1. So fo? tlje J!2ottconfonm'ff0* 57 1. So the WitneiTes or Informers tefiify, and not for moving Infur- reftions. 2. So the Warrants fhould run againlt tbem i therefore for doing welK and for Religious Exercifes. 3. If not for Religious Exercifes, how come the Preachers to be fined 20/. or others for them, not for beating Drums, or for bearing Arms, I fuppofe } Ob). But the Law prohibits all Religious Duties and to above Four and tlie Houlhold, which 3re not legitimated by the Common- Prayer. Anfiv. It is true, but then let us obferve, That the meer abfence of the Common- Prayer, and Ceremonies, doth not change therru they are Chriiti- an, Religious Duties, not with/landing that defedh for it could not be fuppofed that near 2000 Ministers, dedicated to God, would call oft" Re- ligious Exercifes? when caft out of their Places, or that they would ufc thofe things, to which they refufed to fubferibei and tho they could not imagine that, they denied not Preaching and Praying without a rorm, and Ceremonies, to be Religious Duties. 2. Some of the Duties which they perform, are after the manner oi the Church of England i fuch is their reading of the Scriptures, ilngingof Pfalms, and Preaching, we being at liberty as to Text, Words, Method j and their praying before, and after Sermon i wc are not tied to the very Words and Syllables in Canon LV, but to thofe Words, or to that ErTeft, %To move our Congregations to pray. Now if they read, ilng, pray, prefch, ^fefte do, they Curler for thofe Religious Exercifes > therefore for Religion, and Well-doing \ but fuppofing them imperfect for want of the Common-Prayer, yet fo far as they are religious, they are good. Ob). But they are looked upon as fufpitious Perfons, becaufe they fub- fcribed not, &c. to the Ad of Uniformity in the Oxford Aft. Anfiv. True, but two things areconfiderblc. 1. Many took off that Sufpition, by fubferibing that Declaration j yet that will not excufe them, if they preach to above Four. 2. Their not fubferibing, and declaring according to the Aft of Uni- formity, makes the caufe of their Suffering doubtful. The Law calls them to conform upon fuch Conditions^ fubferibing and declaring. Their Con- fcicnccs, after the mofl diligent feaich into all things required, command them, upon peril of tinning againft God, to forbear. They may be decei- ved, and why may not fallible ImpolLrs be deceived (fay they ). If they furfcr for not tinning againft God, and Confcicncer If they futfci for per- forming Religious Exercifes, according to the general Rules of theGof- pcl, and their own Confciences, as well informed as they can inform themfelveSj they fufTcr for Religion, altho they that exacl and execute i Punifh- 58 Clje Confojmiff'g eecoto pica Punifhmcnts, think they fufTer for Omiflions, and Obftinaces in thofe OmhTions. They furfer for Omiflion cf humane Confutations, which they hold not Divine, and perform Duties, which they hold to be Divine. The cafe is as clear to them to be unlawful, as it is clear to them that com- mand thereto be lawful,thcrefore the Cafe hangs in doubt. If they that re- fufe to con for&! : ref ufe upon peril of temporal LoiTes,they who inffi'd them, do inflicl them upon peril of finning alfo. He that fiufers, for doing what is confeiTedly Religious, and forbears what is dubious, or finful in appea- rance, is on the fafer fide, than he that punifheth for undoubted, religious, neceifary Duties, only for the Omiflion of unnecelTary things. Obj, But holding their Meetings to above Four, and in publick, is feditiousin the eye of the Law, and they fufTer for that, and not for their Religion. Anfw. Indeed that feems to be the only criminal Circumftance. Eut why (hall this alter the Cafe } which is far better, and more fatisfadory to Magiitrates and the Church, than their retiring into allowed private Houfes, and the Hinted Number. But this doth not make Religious Ex- crcifes, to be no Religious Exercifes, except it infufepoifonous Principles into a Multitude, which is not known, and cannot be proved » it is Re- ligion and not a. Riot, that is really punifhed. Now granting this to be a forbidden Circumftance i compare it with the many Orcumftances^ that make it the more allowable, and then, (hall Religious Exercifes, ne- ceifary to be obferved, profitable to many, be therefore unpardonable, be- caufeofone Circumftance ? This I humbly refer to Confederation, before the Magistrate firikc with the heavy hand of the Law. Make the molt that can be of the Fad : Here's Religious Service, performed without Ce- remony, and Form, ( there's the defied ) here's a Religious Exercife, to a fupernumerary Company, that's the excefs. But to this let us compare the nature of the Exercifes, uncjueifioir.-bly Divine. The Iniritutor is Chriftour Lordi the Ordinances are neccflary, the manner of Performance, according to the general Rules of Chrift, highly beneficial, and tending ro publick Good, and eternal Life j yet for the want of a Circumllance or two, (made neccflary by a mutable LawJ the Obfervers of them (hall be punifhed as Evil doer-. Are not Humane Confiitutions fubjed to the Providences of God, the Supream Govemour, whofe Dominion is efpecially, to be owned in all Chrillkn Kingdoms? Suppofe then, by the overruling Providences of God, there are Alterations made in the Affairs of the Kingdom, which make that which is a Divine Ordinance, become a neccflary Duty to Men prohibited by temporal Laws, whether Govcrr.ours of Chrftian States Ihould not obfeive them, and make their Laws itoop to the Divine Will > * Th fo? t§e U5ott^Cottfo?mf(!s. 59 The Defenders of the Church argue, It is more reafonablc the 'Dijf enters ftiould yield to the Biftiops, than the Bimops to them \ fa fay I, It is more reafonable and decent, that Humane I avvs mould yic T d to the Divine PIcafure, than the Work of God be ftopt by Humane Laws. The true State of this, as far as I can perceive, lies before us thus : Firft, The preaching of the Gofpel, is an indifpsnfible good Duty. Secondly, They who are fitted, called, and devoted to God, are bound to preach ir. Thirdly, Some that are happily fitted for it, become fufpicious to forr>e in Power. Fourthly, By long Experience and Procefs of time,they cannot be charged with fuch Crimes, as are of ill Operation to the State. Fifthly, Thefe Men are ready to give fuch fecurity to the State, as the Generality of unqueflionable Subjects give, and to take away all juft caufe of Jealoufy and Miftrufr. Sixthly, They are qualified by Chri/f, and mufl give an account to him 5 they are called and invited to difcharge their Duties as Preachers, i. Their Confcience puts them in mind of their Vows, as Perfons devoted to Chriitto ferve him upon his Conditions. 2. The cry of Souls calls them, that either want, or want fuch as can and will do them good j this is the plain cafe in multitudes of Places. 3. God un- expectedly opens a door for them by Fire and Plague, and other provi- dences. 4. Calm Proceedings of Magiftrates, and the Inclination of Law-givers give them Encouragement, J*. Their Zeal for God anfwers this Call. 6. God gives them his Blefling, followeth them with, fuccefs, which is a llgn of his Approbation, which he never gave to Evil-doing. And (hall this be punimed by Chriflians as Evil-doing ! This is to ad con- trary tn God i to punifh them, whom God approves! ■ There is a Hu- mane Law, (lands in their way, revoked in Voto y by them that made iti (hall the obfervance of that Law, fufpend the Adminiftration of Ordi- nances in themfrlves good, well performed in the general mapner, where there is great need ; and to good Ends without dangerous Effc&s, or Confequences to them, that once did forbid them } Preaching and Praying are good Duties i but the Nonconformifts Preach- ing and Praying, the good in Subilance, is not good becaufe of ill Cir- cumn'ances, fay fome. New then rhe Oppofition here, is not between their Preaching and Praying, and ours, but between their Circumitanas and ours j we according to Legal ConiHtutions, they not according to them. Eut, as hath been argued, there is but one Circumltance that is faulty, ( the want of Common-Prayer and Ceremonies, makes not their Preaching faulty * for the Law that enjoyncd them, did not brand their Preaching and Praying without them, as Evil-doing ) the Evil attending their Preaching, are the ill Defignsand Ends which they never drove at*, it is good if free from them > it is ill it teems, becaufe to too many Hearer?. I 2 Here's 6o Cfje Cmtfojttttffg ©cconn l^Iea Here' s one Circumftance, or want of one Condition! To this oneoppofe all the Circumftances (if you call them fo J and they are more,and greater for them, than this one againft them. There is no fuch Preaching and Praying, and performing good Duties, as is abfolutely perfedt,and free from all Faults** and oftcn-times in neceiTary Ingredients, and Conditions, the beft Man faileth. This fuppofed, the Queftionarifing is, Whether they who obferving the Call of God, Anfwer of their Confcience, need and benefit of Souls, are bleffed of God in their Work ( tho but in fome meafure ) do not do better, to preach and pray at all hazards, if other wife it cannot be, than if they did forbear ? ( becaufe in one point they offend againft a revokable Law ) and for that, how many Circumfiances do over-match that one ? Firft, For their Per- fons, they are elfe in all points fubjeC/r to the Laws. Secondly, For their Doctrine, ready to give an account. Thirdly, For the manner of doing, it is in a peaceable way, without any kind of Riot > they meet and part as peaceably, as any of our Church- Altemblies do. There is, I fay again, no fuch performance of Duties, as is abfolute fauklefs, and perfect in all Circumftances. The Duties they perform are religious, defective only in outward Form i and is it not comparatively better to perform them, than forbear them ? And can he, that puniuheth them for fuch Religious Exercifes ( neither materially poifonous, nor effectually poifoning Subjeds ) ever be excufed from punifhing Well-doing, and for Religion, if thefe Confiderations have any Reafon in them ? Ob), It is not Religion, but their Nonconformity to the Laws, that's punilhed. An ftp. Their Nonconformity was punifhed once before, by tfieir lois of their Livings, and temporal undoing, how often mud the fame Men be punifhed for the fame Fault, as you, and not they, account it? Ob). They are Men of ill Defigns, &c. Anfw. Why do not you profecute them, as fuch, if they are fuch, and leave out their Preaching and Praying out of your Informations and Warrants ? Obj. If the Execution of Laws, (hall be termed Perfecution i then wo to Magiftrates, will any Man dare to call it Perfecution ? This is the cafe, &c Anfw. All due Reverence to the Laws, and to the Magiftrates premi- fed ', the Adminiftrators of Laws,may be guilty of undue Profecutions, and perficutingMen with good Laws. Mercilefs and uncharitable urging of good Laws beyond their intention and fcope, and with Revenge and Rigor Rigor upon the Peccant, is Perfecution in the common Acceptation of Men. To conclude this Difqui(ition,It is undeniable that nothing but Preaching and Praying, and other Religious Exercifes, are the Caufe of Trouble and Sufferings to very many, who had not been at all molelkd, but for thofe Duties. If there be a houfe full of Friends, or Strangers, that come and go in a peaceable manners yea akho many or all of the Men are armed with ordinary Weapons, if there be nothing but eating and drinking, and common Difcourfes, they are not moleiied > yea, if a great deal of their Difourfe be religious, there is no Information, nor iffuing out of Warrants i but if there be a Preacher among them, and any Solem- nity in the Duties of Religion, this becomes orTenfive, and liable to the Laws. It is the Exercife of Religion that gives the OrFence, and makes, the Company guilty i and how Punilhments fall upon fuch, when met without Weapons, or quarrelling, or dilturbance of the Peace, to make it a Riot, but for Religion, is not to be thought. There is no Qucition to be made, but many juftices have been guilty of grofs Perfecution, abufing the Laws to the fervice of their Anger and Revenge, and have gone be- yond the Law, when they have wanted fuffkient Evidence, either of Preaching, Praying, or Expounding, or of any Preacher being in Com- pany i but have told the Informers, it they heard but a Tone like Preach- ing, it was fufrkient. It can be proved of one Juftice, that without any- other Proof, fent out his Warrant to levy upon the Goods of them that were prefent v and I have feen a Copy of another Warrant, for levying of 20 /. when it was not proved, that there was a Preacher in the Houfe. If thefeare true, then fuch Executioners of Juftice, do execute for Religion, and tor no other Offence. Such alio as threaten, they will not leave a Meeting-houfe (tending, who know bo h the Preachers and their Auditors, to be peaceable Perfons, and cannot pretend any caufe of Fear From their AiTlmblies, do threaten, as difpleafed with their Religious Exercifes, and for no other Caufe y for, if they can furTer many lazy irreligious Perfons to abfent from Church, 3nd not punilh them, tho they have no lawful caufe of their Abfence, and threaten to punilh them that are religious 5 but in another way, it is not Confcicnce and Zeal of Duty to the publick Wor(hip,that moves them i for then they would punifh the lazy and idle, or prophane,and fay, They will not furTer any Perfon to be abfent from the Common Prayer, but be zealous againft (ome, as againtt others. Bur this is not the Temper of all, therefore I will not bring in a charge of Perfecution againft. all, but I will endeavour to (hew wnat is required of a Man, that cannot be (aid to perfecute > and leave it to the Examination and fenteuce of every Mans Confcicnce,. - i. He 62 C&e Confomtift^ S>ectms pea i. He triuft be a knowing Man,not in Chriftian Religion in general only, but in thefe controverted points about Religion > he mult not be fo fence- lefs, as to call Religion, Sedition, nor to make a different Form to be a different Religion, or that Religion is fubverted by a Difference from fome humane Conftitutions. He mutt be a knowing Manjeit he rufh ignorant- Jy upon the Servants of Chrift. Paul was a Perfecuter, when he was ig- norant i Ignorance did excufe him from the Malice, but not from the Perfecution. He mud not only [think^] he doth God good Service, for fo did others, who for all their thought did perfecute the Difciples, but be [ fure ~\ he doth God good Service. 2. He mult be a fincere Lover of Jefus Chriu\ of his Holy Ordinances, of all that believe on him, and that worlhip him > for if he hate Chrift, hate his Gofpel, Preaching, Praying, and Religious Duties, or hate the Difci- ples of Chrift, he mult needs be a Perfecutor, and of the groffer fort. 5. He muft be fincere in what he doth, for the thing which he doth, he muft be fatisried that he doth well, and he mult intend the Glory of God, and the honour and prefervation of Religion in it. If he pretend in his Warrants, Sedition, or evil Defigns, when there is none, hea&sfalfly, and pretends that to be the caufe of his Commands, which he verily knows is not the caufe, as not being as much as alledged or proved. If he thus proceeds, he (hikes at Religion, under pretence of Sedition and Rebellion. 4. He muft conilder the Circumftances of the Perfons,both Preachers and Hearers, the time of their Meeting, the need they have in their Places, and other Circumftances. But if, without Examination, or making any difference for his Information, he follows the l'ioiy of the Informe^then proceeds to the Punifhments, and that perhaps for doing the beft Duties, and fome of the bell Works they can do, then he puniftieth Men for well- doing. 5. He muft be a merciful Man, not ftretching the Law, as far as he can in feverity, to opprefs or break the Perfons i for certainly it is not the end of the Law to ruine the Subject, but to preferve him, as much as may be. They that proceed to the rigor of the Law, have a fpight at the Perfons 5 and let their love to Religion be, as they think, found j yet they perfecute the Perfon. How fuch can excufe themfclves, is unknown to me, that if the Preacher be gone, or be fb poor, ( as it hath often been found J then to multiply Sums> 20 /. for the Houfe, 20 /. for every poor- Preacher, 5 /. for hearing, upon the Mailer of the Houfe, for hearing, be- tides the 20 /. for his l ioufe, 5 x. for the Wife, 5 /. for every Child, and fo on: cr cJfeto lay as heavy a Sumupon a poorer Man, as upon the richer, is unequal and unmerciful > and if Juftices are not merciful, they have the Counte- foi tlje J!3onconfa;iMfc 63 Countenance of the Law, for Unmercifulnefs. and Revenge upon whom they pleafe. Certainly that Man is unmerciful, who would fci/e upon a Bed of a poor, aged Widow for a Debt, or Rent > but whether it be mer- ciful to do f \ as it is faid, it hath been fome where fo done, for being at a Conventicle let (. hriliians judg. 6. He mult beware, kit by his Juftice, he doth put a /lop to the GofpcJ, and hinder the growth and excrcife of true Piety rfoi if lie hinder the Gof- pel, he doth not the part of a Friend and Servant of C hrifr. If by tr.e fup- pretfionof ConvcntiJcs, the firious profiifon and exercife of Religion be difcouraged, he doth evil by his doing good, if he doth good by exe- cuting his Office, yet it the Execution of his Office, be to the hurt and decay of Religion, he doth ill by doing well, and doth, as a Friend, the real, it not the intentional part of an Enemy. 7. He mult really be perfwaded in his Confcience, that all ways of VVoilhip, not contrary to, but different in Form and Ceremony from the Church of England, is meritorious of perfonal Ruine, and the Ruinc of Children in their Parents ( for it will quickly rife to that ) that it is Evil- doing, that it deferves greater punilhments, than common Swearing, or riding Journeys on the Lord's Day '•> that he mult be fure, that he intends no hurt or difadvantage to ferious Piety, that he loves the Perfons of the Dijfcnter/^ as he doth other Men, wilheth no ill to any of them, and that judging their Pradifes to be Evil-doing i that he punilheth them meer- ]y, and only for Evil-doing, without refpedf to Anger, private Difpleaime, or fecret Gain, either by Bribes, or Rewards, either of Favour, Honour^ or Eftimation, or laving of himfelf. He that punilheth rightly, mult llncerely bend himfelf againft Evil-doing, as Evil-doing, for the good of the Perfoni or if not, tor the Benefit of that Peifon that fuftuefrh for the good of others. If you can cha/iife the Religious tor Religious Excrcifes, and (ave Pveligion harmlefs, you have divided the hnelt Hair that ever was f'een. Nonconformity implies Conici<.r:ce (or elf. it is flat irrational Madnefs, to futflr for a whnr.fy or humor ; and to punfh them for Religi- ous Duties, and not for Religion and Confcience, is too Metaphyseal a Notion, to be brought to Pradtife. I have now opened the Cafe, let others judge whether it be not Ferfccution : It hurts the Sufferer, it moleiis and vcxeth him, h;s Vexation is for Religious Fxercites, materially good, finally good, efledhi- ally good to many, without harm to any, faulty in an outward Form, or Circumflance, which may be born with, without danger to the King- doms Peace, or to true Religion. If this fhould | Li a Pcrfca in any Ma^iflrute, or other, then it follows. Fourthly, 6 4 e§e ConfomtifFss ^cconU pica Fourthly, Be perfwaded from this Cowfe of proceeding, and wait for healing Applications and Remedies* for it is oneofthemoft unki.pd, unna- tural Proftcutions, that have been ever carried on. The Perfons aie our peaceable and loyal Fellow-Subjedts,ufeful in the Common- wealth,make up our flrcngth againft our common Enemies? they are related to us in the Flefh, baptized with the fame Baptifm, believe in the fame God, and Father, Son, and Holy Gholr, with one Faith, and that have offered to unite with us, in the fame Form of Government, and of Prayer, as far as they could, without danger of imning i we are not under the Temptation of comply- ing with an Heterodox Prince, againft the Orthodox Christians i our King profelTeth the fame Faith. It was an unhappinfs to the Church, when an Arian Emperour,orEmprefs,drew the Flatterers, and timerous Bifhops, to perfecute the Orthodox. This is not our cafe, the Controverfy now, is not between the Heretick and the Orthodox, we do not in them profe- cute the Arrian^Nejhrian^Eutkhian^ot Uonatift. Nor doth thcPapifl perfecute the Proteftant, but the Protejiantd ifobeys the Proteftant^nd the Prottftant doth afflict, if not perfecute, the Proteft ant, which is a doleful Coniideration ! Oh ! how bitter is it ! if there can be no difference found in Religion, there (hall be a difference made by fome Adts of Policy >if none in Articles of Faith,there (hall be in Conditions of Communion and Ceremony. Here the profeiTed iln- eere Proteftam takes up a Complaint againft them, who are as fincere as he. The Orthodox did communicate with the Heterodox, yea with the Here- tick h the Heretick broke offfirft, and begun the Perfecution, and follow- ed it: But the Orthodox, when he had Favour and Power for him, did not revenge. Let Herefy, which is from the Flefh and the Devil, be propa- gated, and enforced by carnal and diabolical Weapons > but let Truth which is from God, be carried on with Love. Truth goes forth with Evidence and Convidtion like the Sun > but Herefy comes into the World fomctimes with Silence, but is carried about in a Storm, attended with Lightnings. Who but an Ifmael will perfecute an Ifaac} If the Papifts will perfecute, who are by another Mother, a fecond Hagar, which gen- dreth to Bondage, and fcares us with Thundrings and Excommunications, as from Mount Sinai, or Ebal j let Peace be in the Walls of Jerujalem. If Papijis perfecute Protefiants, O let not Protejhnts perfecute Protejiantr ! To open this that I may move both Reafon and Companion, I will confi- der, Who pwiijheib, who are pnnifhed, and for what, and fee where we can find the lify h and whether Heretickj and Papi\\s, and the immoderate Luthe- rans are not juliified by us, in the Cruelties which they have exercifed. i. The Magiftrate is profeffedly a iincere Protejlxnt, or elfe he mufc be an abominable perfidious Hypocritejbicaufeofhis Oaths, andRcnuciation of the Fope and ropery. 2.. They fcn t&e l3onc(mSi?mfiW, 6$ a. They who arc punifhed, are as Orthodox holy ChriflhnS as a:.. World, out of our o'vn Church. They arc p ohtable and peaceable Subjects, notwithltandinc many difcouragenaents and provocations fr< r'cllow-fubjcdts, and hidden Traitors. More particularly of them have defer vqd well from the-Churc'i ard Statej which in humane Probability had never been rdlorcd, bur for (heir Loyalty, Religion, and Confcience. This made the moil nowned Sir Matthew Hale, fay ( whole ler.ee may be asfoon taken as molt Men's alive, for his Wifdom, Loyalty, Integrity, and Im- j irtiality in all AcTs of Judgment ) 'Many of" v the No/icon formilis had meri ed highly in the buhneis Vr. Burnet'/ Life of c of the King's Reli juration, and at lead deferved, Sir M.Hale, p. 65, 1 that the Terms ot Conformity fhuuld not be made 66* large Octavo. Muider than they were before the War. Yea, to advance as high as I can, in an uuqueitionablc Authority : His Maje/ry in his Gracious Declaration about Ecclefiaflical Affairs, faid, (pjg.5.) "That 'while he was in Hdland e was attended by many Grave and Learned c Mini tiers 'rom hence who were looked upon as the moll able and prin- c clpal Aflertors of the Presbyterian Opinions ■ and to Our great Satif- 'fadhon and Comfort, found them Perfons full of AiTccftion to Us, of c Zeal for the Peace of the Church and State, and neither Enemies to Epif- c copacy or Liturgy, but n.odelily to defire fuch Alterations in either, as c without (haking Foundations, might belt allay prefent Diilempers. And in his Gracious Speech to the Lords, (July 27. 1660 ) to hafren the palling the Ad of Oblivion : w My Lords, if you do not joyn with Me c in extinguishing this Fear, which keeps the hearts of Men apprehenfive c of Safety and Security, You keep Me from performing My Promi(e,which c if I had not made, I am perfwaded neither You nor I hid been now c here. I pray let Us not deceive thofc who Brought, or Permitted Us to 'come tcgether. The grcateft Charge againfi them, is, That they are Separates and Schifmatickj. Befides, that this remains in debate between the Accufers and Aecufed. Suppofe them to befo, Yet 1. The very Independents, 1 mean the chief of them, beiides what they have declared in the above quoted Declaration of their Faith at :he Savoy, to be neither Browni[is nor Vonatijis. Befides many PaiTages in Dr. Owvfs Books, Mr. Nyz hath declared him(clf,as to our National and Paro- Cafe of great and pre chial Mini (try, and hearing us preach > and Dr.GW. fent ufe, Lond. 1677. lays down the Opinions of Krorvn and Vonatifi, 35th Serm. on the E- and faith. And againfi tbefe, I for my fan, and ma- phciians, />. 477/b/. ny of my Brethren^ profejs that they arc in an Error, &C K The 66 Cfje Ctm&imffi'js ®ecoms $fea The Turbulency of Brown's own Spirit ran him into many Oppoficions- and Troubles i but he, the greateft Schifinatickof thofe days, enjoyed his good Parfonage while he lived. The firft Emperor that made Lawsagainil the Vonatijis, was Ibeodofw, but they were not puni'hed for th:ir Schifm ( the greateft in the World ) as fuch i but the occafion of the Penal Laws again/t them, was their barbarous abufe and Augufiin Bonifacio beating of Bifhop Maxbmnian, almoft to Death, Ep I. 2. EpijL 50. tearing of hisAltar,^. and other infuiferable Vio- lences and Furies. The Pviotsand Murders com- mitted by them, and the Ciraimcellions ( the fame Facti-n) was thecaufe of Severity againft them. But how far are our Nonconfirmijls from breaking Peace, offering Violence, or any rude Incivilities, by Word or Deed, is apparent to all that are not given to wrong them, cr to take pardonable things too ill from them* Lafily, TheCaufes of their Sufferings have been fpoken of before, to be neither Herefy, Sedition, nor Rebellion. The very Light of Nature feems - to abhor puniming the Religious and Juft i therefore the Heathen Perfecu- tors have falily imputed horrid Crimes, to holy Chriirians. from which they are clearly vindicated in the Apologies of the Fathers. The Arrhns were Calumniators of the Orthodox, and fo are the PapilisjZnd unpeaceable Lutherans 5 But we that live together, fhould know one another better, and be both juft and modefr. The Papiih damn us as Heretkks, there- fore curfe and perfecute^ the immoderate Lutherans charge the Cahviifts with the denial of Gods Cmnipotency, Communication of Properties, and many other Heretics, and Blafphemies: But what Herefy can we charge upon the Nonconformifts ? Had Antiquity left us fuch Confdfions, and Explications of Faith, ftrcn Trearifes in Divinity, Expofitions of- Scripture. Defences of Religion, we mould have honoured them as much as now many difpife them \ they are full and firm in their learned and ra- tional Oppoistion to Papery, in all the parts of it. And let us obferve how we reckon fome, in former Ages, as curs, who came (hort of them, and yet we muft ejeel them, and multiply Su/ferings upon them^ts none of ours ; we reckon John Wiclijf^ Jervm of Prague^ Hujfe, and thofe plain and hero- ick ConfeiTbrs, the JFjldenfes, and Albigenjes^ Bohemians^ &&. ours > they are in our Martyrologies, znd among our WiinefTcs for the Truth, in the dark times^w hen nothing was almolt vifible but Popery. Shall we account them Martyrs, when the Papijis had more colour for their Pcrfecution% d bloody llfegcs of them, conlidcring the Principles of the Pjp/jh, and the Oppofttionci thofe Martvrs j than we have f r loading our Brethren with Punilhment upon Punifhment.. conliJeiing the Principles of our Re- ligion, and the Qualify of the Nunccnform/Ji;, both as to Religion, yea and fo? tfc 5^ott'Confo?miffs. 67 and as to the Separation it ft If. For furely the Separation of thofe Worthies from Rome, as Babylon, and the feat- of Antiihrifr, and a mortally infected Church, was a greater provocation of the Roman Powers againlt them, than a peaceable difTentfrom a Church, acknowledged truly Chrilrian, only for fome fcruplcd ur.neccflary things i indifferent we fay, therefore may be fpared i iinful fay they, therefore cannot be affented to i and fome private Doctrines betides, Ch:. That which comes neareft our unhappy Cafe, is the Interim, that Book that was urged by Charles the V, upon the reformed Churches in Germany, requiring the Obfervation of Popifti Ceremonies, as indirlerent things, for a time, until a General Council mould be called : \\ hat Diviiions did it caufe among the Princes and their Divines f among the Divines differing one from another } What woful Difperlions and Mifcries attended the refufal of it,are at large rela- ted by Slcidan, in his Commentaries. This Book Sleidan,p. 20 21. contained Popifh Doctrines, which the Proteftants rejected i but the things that divided them, were the Adiaphora, or media, Ceremonies, and indifferent things, which many refufed, and fuffercd to very great Extremities. But he who terrified them and perfecutcd them, was a great Emperor, and a Papift i and the Arguments ufed againft it, were, becaufe it was not confonant to Scriptures, and went againft their Confcience, and Light received. After this, the Adverfary, the Devil, ilirred up another Controverfy, attended with a dreadful Divilion, and Perfecution, to the defolation of Churches and Schools. John Brentius in- vented the notion of Ubiquity ofChrifVs Body, and propagated it, by ( the Apoftle of Ubiquity ) Jacobus Andreas, but they gave it a pompous Title, of the MajefHck Communication of the Divinity, andDivine Properties J being fond of the Notion, and impatient of Contradiction. Andreas^ afTifted by fome that were near Augustus Elector of Saxony, irritate Annehls Dutchefs, perfwade the Elector that his Phyfician Gajfer Peunr, and others were entied into a r onfpiracy againft him, upon which they are caft into Prifon, and endure extraordinary hard- (hip, as Gaffer Peitcer thews at large, in the Hiftory Hifl, Carcerum. of his ten Years Impriibnment. Here two things were principally objected, falfe Doctrine, (Cahinifm) concerning the Sa- crament '•> and Conspiracies, and Seditions to maintain it. But what co- lour was there for the laft ? what Pveafon for it > Thefe were the common Caufes of Perfecution > Pride, impatience of Oppofition, faife Witnefs, Jealoufy and Wrath. But yet our Theological Controverlies at home, are not of that nature 5 and the matters in Debate are ghteftiones Medicaki- les, as feme of the Ancients fpeak j and yet behold Divlion and Strife ! And contidcring how irreconcilable the rigid Lutherans are to the moderate K 2 Difciples 68 c&e Cottfo;m;Tf0 acMfflj $fca Difcipksof '-Melanfibon, which arc noted with the odious Name ofC^/Vr- nifiical : And how intircly our Nonconform ijh agree with the Articles q£ the Church j their Sufferings are more to be wondred at, from Orthodox Protefrants, than the other from violent Lutherans. There was a third Party that made the difference, and the Advantage of the Miferies of them that differed i and fo there is a third Party among us, not unknown to us. But why, i. Divifions mould be made that need not. 2, Why conti- nued j and, 3. Why the weaker Part mould be fevcrely ufed, is a greater wonder. It is a clear Indication, that they who are for a Frofecution, are not for a Reconcliation. Striking is not the way to heal our Bruife.s i It was a great fault in the Corinthians ', to g> Law, Brother with Brother; nay, you do wrong and defraud, and that your Brethren, 1 Ccr.6. Are there not thofe Saints in Englandjhzt (hall judgthe World, and Judg An* gels ? And are there not fuch to be found, as will j.udg in this molt un- happy Controverfy, and bring it to an Accommodation, if not to an End, that there may be nothing like a Perfecution in the Church of 'England? Ob). But fay feme of us, Why will the Nonconformifts divide from us? why will they not unite and fubmit ?■ Anfa>. You may as well demand,, why will they not part with their Reafon, and their Confcience > for thefe are .the things they follow, as they confidently .affirm > and for which they have forfaken great things, and feem ready to forfake all, that is dear to Men, Ob). Shall the Church yield to Schifmaticks, and break her Orders for the fake of Schifmaticks ! Anfo. , My Buimefs is not to dictate to the Church j altho it is plain, the Church may be a glorious and perfccl Church, and condefcend to much, that is not fo much as an integral part,nor fo neceiTary to it as a fhadow to the Body. 2. But fuppofe them to be Schifmaticks, the Queftion is, What's to be done with them? Are they to be. dealt with by rational Means or Violent ? I am not fatisfied, that this which we call Schifm, is fo grofs and dangerous as that at Corinth. It was a great one, that came to this* Is Chrift divided ? or was Paul, crucified for you? or were you baptized in the Name of Paul ? But what courfe did the Apo- gee 1 Cor. 1,2,3. cb. die take to heal it ? He had a Power which was anfwerable to the temporal Sword. I find he ufed none, but Inftru&ion, Perfwafion, and Reprehenfion. Areje not camil? If any (hall maintain Schifms, and Contentions, by Violence, as the Donor ■ lifts did, then fubdue them by Power. Ob). But doth not the Apodle fay, 1 would they were cut off that trouble yon? Gal. 5.12. Anfw. fo? tfjc JSatortfoimiflsf* $9 Ar.fa\ t. I that they who troubled thcGalatuat^ wcr. Cer - .a Circuncu Liberty to ch -the Christians called. 2. r cutting 01T. \ rate's Sword, nor was it intended if i .11 .an him, in the after-tin nates mould be Chriiiiai is die Apok! zea! b,allu hn£ to their Circumciiion, and amounts to that/ Let wfcdi&cc* They falfly reported that Paul \ r ircum- ci(ioo,whi.h he was fo fir fiom doing, that he looks uj on as Dittur- beis 01 the Peace of the Gat.unns^ 2nd Settlement in the Faith, and v\ iffi- eth them worfe than Grrcumcifion, even Amputation. MuJ -.ks the cjeareltofany Man I know,to the Words. 1. Saith he, Thcfcfalfe Apoiiles did fo inGnuateand cleave to the Church, ferinde atq>,pdht Corpora there was no avoiding of them. 2. They were the Apolilcsof Satan, Wolves io the Flock, and a leifilence in the Body of the Church, and were not cf the number of the Faithful. 3. From what doth he wiih them cut otY> even fn m the body of the Churches of Chrilh 4. He wijhes they were cut $ff. i et us be admonilhcd by this Exam :le,that many things rail out, cr happen in the Church, whkh are rather to be cut oft by the Withes of th: M miller, than by Faai > he may wifn what he cannot actually do. This tt is not applicable to our Brethren, and yet inconliderate Zeal doth md them with it. Indeed the fame good Expofitor doth wifli the Magiftrafe would tate away in his time, thofe faife Teachers and PaLidrs, which indangered the Salvation of Believers. Obj. ut who have preached and written more againft Toleration than they who now plead tor it? Why (hould they have what they would grant, when they would have got the Power to then. felves, in th 1 way } Anfiw This Argument carries more Prejudice than Strength in it, and doth rather throw them off like felf-cor.txadi&ing, troublefom Men, than really convince them. And I might anfwer for them in this one Sentence, That they who were againft the Toleration of the pernicious and into- lerable, were never for the Suppreilion of fuch as themfelves, who were both found and tolerable. 2. Neither is there any thing extracted out of the Sermons preached be- fore the long Parliament, or other Treatifes, thac dcth prejudge their Claim to what they ask. 1. They do aflat the Magiftrates Power in mat- ters of Pvdigion in particular, to keep Men from in- See Mr. Calam. S feeding their Subjects with toul deltroying Errors > Dccur.b. 25?/;, 1644. Blafphemous, Heretical, Idolalatrical Opinions The Sir. Nuv. 5. 104.1. complaint of Dr. Ettrgefs^ is againlt Fhtndi/ious Vet 7o €ije Canfojmiffs <&ztavto pea Vermim of bold Schifmuicks, frantick Sectaries,-- to mount our Pulpits, fc offer /trange Fire, to expel the abler! Minifters in the Kingdom out of the Hearts of their People, as Formalifts, Time-fervers, no Minifters of Chrifr, Limbs of Antichrift, having no calling but from the Devil, that forfake our Affemblies as Babylonifli and Antichriiiian. Take heed of thofe Spirits of Error, of Indulgence to all forts o£"~$c&$ be Schifms, that plead it is the Peoples Liberty to be of what Religion they will, and their Opinions never fo erroneous and pernitious. . Id. Serm. Apr. 1645. Mr. John Ward of Ipfmcb, did exhort the Parlia- ment to take care of the jufi: Liberties of God's People,not fjch Licentioufief>,a sis abus'd for a Cloak of Naughtinefs,0x to fet up Unity in Faith, that God's Name be not blafphemed, his Day be fandriried, his Gofpel preached, his Worfliip kept from Idolatry, and buperllitions Innovations, his Miniftry purged, Serm. Mar. 26,164.5. planted, encouraged, Sacraments purely celebrated. It is more than neceiTary, and would take up too much time and place to examine all. That which they were againir, was a general Toleration of all Religions of Idolatry, Herefy, Blafphemy, and for all Men to do what they pleafed : They were againft Mens publiftiing by preaching or printing,dangerous Opinions, fuch as Poligamy, Arbitrary Divorce, Mortality of the Soul, no Minifiery, no Mr. Cafe'/ Sermon Churches, no Ordinances, no Scriptures denying > May 26tb y 1647. the Divinity of Chriit, and the Holy Ghoft, and Serm. Feb. 8^, 1646. other Opinions dettru&ive of the Souls of Men, Mt.Newcomen is molt full in dating the cafe of Li- berty : c Which (faith he) is not to be granted in fuch things, as are c injurious to God, and deftrudHve of the Souls of Men, nor wherein the c difference of Judgment, will neceflarily and unavoidably, ex natura rei> c produce a Rent or Schiim. If a Liberty of Judgment be left, it is, tirft, in 4 fuch things as are not poiltively laid down in Scripture, therefore not in c Fundamentals of Faith and Worfliip. 2. In things of private Pra&iiev * Care is to be had of keeping thofe Opinions to our (elves, not perplexing * the Confciences of others with them. Private Perfoni. of a differing * Judgment if they live quietly,frequent the publick Affemblies of Worfhip, c and are not difcerned to dilturb the Peace either of Church or State, by * any feciet underminings, are to be tolerated in hope of their Conversion, c and for publick Peace fake. Much hath been yielded,yea almoft any thing c but that one thing, that would lay a Foundation of perpetual Divifiion, c and Difunion in Families, ( hurch, and Kingdom: Thus he. And what is therein all this, that hath Conviction, or any Realon to filence them, that they cannot open their Mouths for a Connivance to themfelves > Yea, ft? tfje Boticonfcnmtff& 71 Yea, I humbly conceive, there is nothing but what commends the Mini- fkrs of the like Pet w rfion, to puofick Favour, as being Orthodox, and found Men, fit tor a greater Favour, than a bare Permit!] n cr Tole- ration. Ob), The Presbyterians were againft the Tolera- tion of Indcpenden y, therefore if is unrcafonable Letter of Presbyterian for them to ask, ar.d as unfit for the Church to Minitlers of Lond. to granr the fame to them i the Confequences of the Affemblies of Di- which Conceilion, if made to them, will be as pre- vines againjl Tolerati- judicial to the Church and State, as Independency on, Dec. i8r/->, 1645, would have been to them. Anftv. 1, There hath been no fuch thing defircd,fince the King's Return ( that I know ofj as a To'eration of the Presbyterian Government. 2. One great Rcafon againlt the Toleration, was,becaufc the Independents had not declared what they held, nor circumfcribed the Perfons, and the things, which they dciired. 3. How far the AlTembly and the Presbyteri- ans condescended* and indeed how amicably both Parties debated the Con- trovcrfy,is to be feen in the Papers of Accommodation > there was a Com- mittee apppointed for Accommodation, November <5th, 1645. After the Paper of the DifTenting Brethren, in Anlwer to the Committee of Divines, December 23d, 1^45, 4 It is refolved upon the QuelHon, That they which 1 agree in the Subllanceofthe Worfhipof God in the D/reffory, according c to the Preface, and agree in the Confejfion of Faith, and with the c Doctrine of the Reformed Churches, contained in their Confeffions and ' Writings, as we do, who differ from our Brethren 1 in matters of Discipline, (hall have the benefit of Keafins of the ~Dif- 4 this Indulgence. P.42. This I hiftorically relate, to fenting Brethren, &c, Grew/, tho the Presbyterians of Lend, were againft a London, 1648, Toleration of they knew not what,yet the AlTembly took pains by way of Accommodation, till they were diverted from all Pro- ceedings And now, if they had Power to ailign it, the CfingngatiMd fhould have a Erotherly Indulgence, that are found in Faith, &c e Ob). Eut the Vijfenters are under the ill Eye of the Law, and no mere innocent than the Pafifts in the Eye of the Law, and there is fear of them , fo the Ful. Pamphlet of Rebellion, printed by B, Tool^ Anfir. I fay the Protejiant-'DiJfenters are not under the evil Eye of the Law, altho under the ill Opinion of fome that wifh them executed. If they fowed Seditious Principles, moved In furred ions, or poyfoncd the King's Subjects, they were molt defavedly under the angry BfoWi of Law 5. 2. v : 7 2 €§£ Ccnfomtfffss 0ccont?p!ca 2. What if they were, what then? Thofe over-voting Numbers in th at Houfe of Commons, are under the ill Opinion of the Land, have been n oted by that very Parliament, and iince. 3. Thar very Parliament in 1672, and all our Parliaments iince, have entertained better Thoughts of them. 4. The King hath deferved fome more Refpecl: and Reverence from them thatfeem to exceed in Loyalty,than to have his Deilres in his Speech at the palling the Act of Oblivion 3 difrcgarded as it is i and he exprefled himfelf moregracioufly of them, in many PaiTages of his Declaration about Ecdefiaftical Affairs, offered Dgniries, £;(hjpricks, and gave Degrees to fome of thofe very Men, that this Gentleman thinks to prejudice by his Paper. 5. Till the Act de Heretico Cnrnburendo, was taken away, this very Writer, if he be a refolute Protejlant, was under the evil eye ot the Law, and may be under the evil eye of the ^tb of Elizabeth, it he continue fo, and the whole Proteftant Part of the Kingdom > and who were un^er «*he Afpedt or the Law of the fix Articles ? But I fay the 'roteftant V J-, titers are not under the evil eye of the Laws, but the Sed-r^us j a/id his many Lines are fo many Slanders in many places and impofe upon the Reader things, which are contrary to our fenfes. I can as foon believe Popejy 3 as that Protejhnt Dijftnters are Enemies to the Government: Butvvnatcan be anfwered to fiuh a Gentleman, that fays, An Angel from Heaven, might manage ( his Argument ) with greater Skiil, but not produce more Demonftrative Truth: That is to fay, An Angel from Heaven might write more like an Orator than he, but not be a better Logician than he, c But he feems to be one of that ftrange fort of People among our felves, c that ( as Dr. Burnet fays in his late excellent Sermon before the Lcrd c Mayor of London ) are not amamed to own a greater Averfion to any ' fort of DiJfenterS) than to the Church of Rome, Thus I have made my way to the Conclufion, and as I did begin, Co 1 will end, with humble Application to the Magiifrates. But to all this, the Maginrates will fay, they have an Anfwer ready, viz, They do the Duty of their places, and perform their Oaths, and they hope God will not judg them as Sinners, for doing their Duty according to their Oaths > and that the Kingdom of God may come, tho there were not one Nonconformijl left among us. Noble Gentlemen ! An Oath is facred, and the wilful Violation of it, a dreadful Sin, provoking the Divine Difpleafure : The cafe is hard, and really worthy of ferious Thoughts. For, that learned, and able found Men, tho Nonconformifis, ought not to be puniihed •, but on the contrary protected, permitted, if not encouraged, mould be granted without any Difputa- ft? tlje J9onco«fa ■mittiai* 7 3 Difputation. The Ajrcufation of Rebellion, beginning the Wars, their Cantings, and Tones, and Fanaticiim, arc really the Abufcs of ill* tem- pered Men, and of fadrJoir, and narrow Spir ts. Wife, fober, ju/r, and charitable Divines and ChrifHans , that know their own detects, what weak Inftruments God hath ufed in his Church, for greateft Services, and what Temptations attend their Callings, and how great a difadvantagc to them, and hindrance to their Learning and Proficiency, their necelii- ties forcing them to fell their Studies i their many Removes, Troubles in their Families have brought upon them, will think and fpeak other- wife of them i and God hath born Witnefs to many of them, and given them Gifts, not inferiour to thofe that defpife and expofe them, rather like Poets and Painters, than wife; impartial Judges, or Witneifes, or Men of Charity. Men in Power mould look before they itrike, kt\ they pluck up any one of thofe Plants, which the Heavenly Father hath planted, and ftrike the Apple of his Eye. And on the other hand, it feems hard to cenfure Magistrates for executing the Laws, which feems to te a Duty. for fatisfa&ion of this great Doubt, I do with all juft Honour to Magistrates, and Refpedt to their Confciences, and Comforts, humbly offer lbmething; 1. It is clear and certain, That no Jufticeof the Peace is bound by his Oath, or Place, to promote the Diflurbance or Sufferings of the Nonconform mijh. If any fay, They cannot fee the Laws broken : true, by Routs and riotous Meetings, that violate the Peace. It is a Fancy and an imaginary Fear, to fay, We do not know what Mifchief may be in the Meetings of many hundreds, or fewer. There are thousands meet at Fairs, and Mar- kets, and too many are drunk and diforderly, ancPwhat fear is thereof their Meetings ? what disturbance to the Peace ? What need of the Mili- tia to keep them quiet, or to prevent Infurredtions ? What Peril is there in the Meetings of Minifkrs, and Chriitians of all Sexes and Ages, unarmed, and innocent ! It is hard to think they cannot preach, and pray, and ling Pfalms, but they muft then fpeak Treafon, move Rebel- lion i that in their civil Convention, are as peaceable as other Men, and careful of Words and Adtions , much lefs, is it their Duty to imploy or encourage Men of ill Fame, and broken Fortunet, to be WitnciTes againlt them > even fuch, as are not fit to follow their Dogs, or rub theif Horfes, have been the molt forward in informing. 2. When Information is brought before them, this is alfo certain, that except it be proved, by better Tellimony than what isufually given, that fuch a Meeting was only upon pretence of Religion, but there was no fuch Religious Exercife j but on the contrary, falfe, feditious, rebellious Doctrine was preached, or the People were itirred up to Difobcdience •> L the 74 €8e Confoantffa Secoitti pea t he Teftimony doth not reach the end, or matter of ;he Adr, and by Con- sequence, the Juftice is not bound to take notice of it. If he upon fuch an Information, that fuch a Man, preached to fuch a Number, in fuch a place, and fuch a time,(hall ilTue forth his Warrants, then he puniftieth Re* ligious Exercifes abfolutely, and not refpeclive to the ill Defigns of Re- bellion, and the like. I do conceive, except the Proof be, that fuch a Minifter or Preacher, did move to Sedition, or Rebellion, or other Ends, forbidden, a Juftice is not bound by his Office, ro punifh them > if upon the common Information that is given, that (iich a Man preached, and fuch were prefent, and no fuch Words tending to Rebellion proved, or offered to be proved : Then I befeech you confider, whether upon pretence of preventing or punifhing Seditious Meetings, you really exercife your Power to obfirud, difcourage, or punifli peaceable and good Subjc&s, for Religious Exercifes ? And fo, as it is a horrid Wickednefs in any Man> upon pretence of Religious Duties, to carry ill Defigns againft the Go- vernment I fo what is it, to pretend ill Defigns, where there are no fuch things, as much as implied in any Difcourfes, and to punifh Men for Reli- gious Exercilcs ?- 3. It iscertain,a Juftice may enquire and try'tne fitnefsof the WitneiTes, whether they be idoneous, boni & legale* Homines i, they mould be Men of Knowledg and Underftanding,of Probity and Truth, and of Eftatess Men that know what they can attefr, punctual as to words fpoken, and the truefenfe and fcope of them, and WitnefTes that will not lye, that know what it is to fwear, and that fear a Lye, and the common Sin of Perjury. If a Mans word cannot be taken, his Oath may be refufed, efpecially in a matter wherein his own Gain is the prime motive to his Teftimony, and fwearing. In fuch a Cafe it is great Charity in the Magi/Irate, to dehort the Informer from hisfwearing ignorantly, rafhly, orfalily i and he can- not without great fufpicion of Sin, if not plain Sin, forvvardly take the Teftimony upon Oath of ignorant, ungodly, and fcandalous Informers. I never yet knew, or heard of any other fort of Men, thit gave Teftimony againft the Nonconformijis, as may appear in due time. 4. It is certain, no Juftice is bound by Oath, to mifapply the Laws, either without refpeel to»the fcope of them, or the Perfcns upon whom they are executed i I have taken notice of this, in the fore-going Difcourfe. I am now more confirmed, that the Ad of the 35*/? of Elfetbetb, was a two-edged Acl, but made and pointed more dire&ly againft the Papifts, than sny other. In that Parliament, Sir 7'bo. Edgerton Lord Keeper, Sir Rob. Cecil, Secretary of State, Sir John Woolley, Sir John Fortefcue, did all dtclare or confirm, ' That the occafion of that Parliament, was thecaufeof ' Religion, the Maintenance thereof, the Prefervation of Her Majefties 4 Perfon, fa? tfje Boftcottfo jmiu% 7 5 1 Perfon, and the Good of the Realm, ( Mark I befeech you ) The Enemy oftbefe is the King of Spain, and the Pope tie ^X Ami hriji of Rome, faid Sir Rob. Cecil. From the Mr. TownfhcndV holy League, and the Papiflf ( the holy League of the Hijiorical Collections of Guifjans, to root cut the Protectants in France ) the 4th ParLof Queen faid Sir |ohn Wolley. They that fpafy before me, Elizabeth. An. 15^3. fpa^ Sufficiently of the Authors of our Troubles, faid Eliz. 35th, p. y8, 55?. Sir John Fortefcue. I did look with great Ex- pectation for fome full Difcoveries of fears and dangers from the Puritans in thofe Days,but could not rind a word concerning any, but the Brownifis which were fpoken of by Sir Walter RawUigh, and defcrve to be tran- fcribed. In his Conceit,the Brownifts were wor- thy to be rooted out of a Common- wealth > but 7 have/hewed in the what Dangers may grow to curfelvcs, if this Law foregoing Plea, our N. pafTeth, it were fit to be confidered i for it is to C. are not Brownitts. be feared that Men not guilty, will be included in Collections p. yd. it. And that Law is hard that taketh Life, or fendeth into Banifhment, where Mens Intentions But now our N. C. (hall be judged by a Jury, and they (hall be judges are not as much as tried what another Man meant. But that Law that is by a Jury i but upon againft a Fad that is juft, and punifhthe Fa6r, as the Evidence of afcan~ feverely as you will, &c (as was quoted before, dalous Informer , and from that great and famous Man. ) to turn Villains, hired by him, this Law upon Orthodox, found Men, and fpare to fwear what U for his the Papijis, is too plain a perverfion of the Law, coveted Gain. from the fence of the greater States- men, in that profperous Reign o^Q^Elizabeth > no Juftice can pretend Obligation from his Oath, or Confcience fo to do. 5. They are no more obliged by their Office, to execute thefe Laws againft Vijfenters, than they are to execute other Penal Laws. Is there not a Law* that no Papijl (hall go above rive Miles from hisown Houfe, or place of Abode after law- Elizab. 35th, e. 2. ful Conviction ? Are all Papijis convidted accor- ding to Law, and do they keep their Bounds } Is there not a Law of this Kings, for Obfervation of the Sabbath? and who is con v idled orpunifh- cd by it ? Js there not a Law prohibiting Gaming, above one hundred Pound at one meeting ) and have all Gentlemen and Gamellers kept it } The Adtfor 12 d. a Sunday, for not coming to Church, was intended againlt the Negligent, and not the Recufant, it being again!! Law to pu- nifh Men for the fame fault twice : as Mr. R. Owen r r . ^ ., (aid upon the debate upon that Bill. But the N. C. LoJeCt ' m p ' ' '* L 2 are ?6 Cfie Confojmift^ ©econu pea are and Ii3ve been punifhed many times,and ways. Who can tell how many thoufands of negligent Perfons live in London, that go neither to Church, nor Conventicle v and who is fo zealous againft ihefe, as againd Conven- ticles ? Surely then the Obligation of the Ju 11 ice's Oath, is not taken to be fo firidr in feme, as in all Cafes, ( as indeed they are ; or elfe a Juftice \s not bound to enquire after TranfgrefTors,but to keep his own Place, and do juftice when complained unto* 6. Eut fuppofe, That the Informers of Conventicles, are honeft and true Men, idoneous and fit,xor the Meeting be notorious: then confider, that the Law requiring the Juflice to proceed againft them,isaPenal Law; 6 Any juflice of the Peace 3 or Chief Ivlagift rate that (hall wilfully omit the ' performance of his Duty in the profecution of this Ad, (hall forfeit a hun- * dred Pound,one moiety of it to the Informers but to whom the other moi- ty (hall be forfeited is not exprelTed. If the Iaformer will be fo couragi- ous, as to fue the Juftice fo omitting his Duty, he lofes 50 /. Now the difficulty lieth in this, The Law againft Conventicles doth require the JulHce oi Peace, or chief Magiflrate, to make Record of fuch an Aflembly V that makes it his Duty, or in cafe of Omiil1on,he (hall forfeit i.eo L (if the Informer will be fo bold as to fue for i:) here's the Penalty > the Law is a mixed, and not purely Penal Law.. If any Magistrate be fo (Iridtly confeientious, as. to hold himfelf bound to execute his Office, he may inquire into two things j Fir(t, The goodnefsand neceffity of the Law,, which makes his Duty neceflfary. Secondly, His Omifhon. is fuo- pofed, and upon that Suppoiition, his Penalty is ailignecK For the nrft, There is no fcruple to be made, if any do under pretence of Religious Exercifes,contrivc Infurredtions but then it is the Magiihratc's JDujy to God, the King, and his*Government, to execute the Laws. Bet 2-. No fuch Crime being proved, but pretended., to fupprefs all Religi- ous Exerciies, performed without the Liturgy, and the Penalties being grievous to-the Subject, and the Law, in e/Ldr. .declared to be grievous by feveraj Parliaments, altho the Law be actually in force, yet it i3 under, The Cenfure ( f Parliaments, and hath 16ft its* credit, and reputation of Goodnefs, and muft be looked on, as one ofthofe Laws that are better null'd than continued > and the Execution of it mult be fuipended, as tending to unneceiTary vexation of good Subjec/rs,and a fcandal upon the Vrot.edant Viffeniing Brethren, to render them as fufpitious as our Lnemies tbe ?jp?(tr. And if we may guefs at the Law, by the Penalty upon the juftue thaj omits bis Duty, or rather at the Intention of the powerful part tjjat carried i; i they did not [o much provide againit Induredions, as againft the total ruine of the NQuconfomijjis ::. for can the forfeiture of a tntri& nor is the Lite of any Jullice an equal PuniQimcnt. To the fecond, I propofe this, The Omiilion being fuppofed, the Forfeiture is certain ( if the In- former will be fo daring ) but 50./. Fir/}, Whether it be not better, that a Juflice of the Peace, or Magilirate, (hould venture the Lofs of 50 /. which he doth but venture (for what Informer will dare to fue Gentlemen of Honour, Eilatts, and Intereit ? ) than many families (hould be utterly undone ? Secondly, If the Execution be better forborn, as I hope I have cleared, «ihen it were better a Juitice of Peace mould lay down hisCom- miilion, than ad again!! the real Intereft and Union of Proteflants, and make ipoil of many Mens Eitates. Thirdly, If Forfeitures upon Jufiices fhould be recovered, and the payment too heavy for them to bear > then they may do great Service to their King, to the Church, to their Coun- try i 1. To the Ring, as Pliny did to Trajan, concerning the Chriitians, fed nihil aliud invent qujm Superjtitionem pravam & immodicam > reprefenting to the King, they nnd no Seditions, nor Infurre&ions, nothing among the No nconformifts, but their Nonconformity. 2. To the Church by the lame Repiefenta ion, as a means to heal us. 3, To their Country, by forbearing the ruine of thoufands of Familes. But if you (hall for faving 50 or iod /. or for ambition of a Place of Power, or to rife into Biifiaefs and Preferment, or from Prejudice againit ilonconformijl j , or diilalk and enmity at Religion, proceed, you fin ex- ceedingly againU God and Man. J befecch you, Honoured Sirs, defpife not the humble Addxeis of a Mimfierof Chrilt in the Church of England, on the behalf of Chrif}, and his divided Church, and multitude of precious Souls > and out of Duty to yourfelves, left you be found abufing your power againfl Religion, in Zeal to thofe things, which are but Modes and Forms, which commend no Man to God. Shall I fay, it had been good for many, they had never bin Juitices, or Magiitratcs ? or that fome had never been born, than be the occation of great ^hame, and Reproach, great and many LofTes, and Suf- ferings to Mi oill CIS, in their Names, Edates, Health, &c, of great Trou- ble and Affliction to many tender Wives, by Frights, and Separation from their Husbands i yea of bic!.»e(s aid Death to many of the holy Suvaato of t hiift: Many oppiefTed Families groan under their LoITls and Suffe- rings, and pray for them that have perfecutcd them from one Country to another, from one Prifun to another i and if God hear their Prayers, thv n many of their Aril idlers mull repent, and (hould repair their Lofles for Conscience fake. Many very eUik and rude Places and People hav«. been inlifchtncd.many young and dilTolute Pcrfons have Ue.i converted by Pray- ers, 78 %\)t Confojmiffss decant) Pea ers, Preaching, and Books of the Nonconfirmifts. If you fupprcis their Teachers, if you give order to fpoil them of their Goods, you ftarve the Nurfe, and kill the Souls of many thoufands that are nurfed, and brought up by their Miniftry, with the iincere Milk of the Word of God. That I may not be a lamenting Spectator of a doleful Tragedy, I have taken this freedom? and ufed plainnefs of Speech, and convincing Reafons to my power. There is a great Chafm and Breach, and fee how God pu- nifherh us for not healing the fir ft Divifion* General MonJ^ ufed the word Fanaticl^-, in the Parliament, when he declared himfelf, more properly, than it hath been fince applied. How did the word take and fpread ? how was it applied and mifappiied ! Others called thofe Men Fanatickj, who were a great, wife, fober, loyal, confiderabie part of the Nation. Here' a Separation began ! A great number of holy and able Paftors are caft out, (o the great grief of more than themfelves. A Breach is made by a Hand- ing Law within the Church, and Kingdom i fome have made 'a- Divifion of Church-men, and moderate, of Presbyterian Bifhops, and s rigid, of Protectant Biftiops, &c. — And fince, of Petitioners, and Abhorrers of AddrelTes, and Non-AddreiTes i and now under fcandalous and vile names s&Wbigg and Tory. Our Church-Divifions eat into the very heart of the Kingdom. We feem to be disjoyned in the National-Intereii, by a pre- vailing, fa&ious, private Spirit.- Friendfhip and Acquaintance, and Truft, and Confidence are broken 1 Oh how menacing is this Judgment ! Po- pery watcheth its Opportunity to get up triumphant and regnant. Perfi- dioufnefs hath engaged to open to it, and Perjury and Perfccution are the moil conducing means to introduce it. Cut off the Nonconformifts firft, beggar, and famifh^and lay themfaft '•> next compofe a Teft, in the na- ture of the Sphinx Auguftana> or Caffadran Confultation for the Conformijjs to feparatethe Moderate from the Genuine, and what next ? The fear of which, and companion to Pofterity, and zeal for true Religion, would make a dumb Man fpeak, and he that cannot, write. Noble Sirs, If you will not hearken to Reafon, befriend Religion, believe your Senfes, and deny a carnal Intereft, for an eternal, imitate the Clemency of our Gra- cious King (whom God long preferve ) who is over us, as Seneca fpeaks of the King of Bees, He hath noSting > Rex ipfefine aculeo eft. But if you are refolved, or engaged in fuch a Work, Bt pleafed to do thefe things. i* Laying afide Prejudice, ftudy the Cafe of the Nonconformist ,and their Reafons for it > you (hall find it belt, and cleareft, London, 1661. in the Account of the Proceedings in the Savoy, and Petition for Peace i> In Mr. Baxter's Pleas for the Nonconformifts', Apology to the Biftiops '■> Defences againft Dr. Stilling- fleet, and Dr. Hinkjey, and others : And the Qucftions in Controverfy, clearly ft? tlje 5!3oitconfomt:ff& 7 9 clearely ftated by Mi. Giles Ferment I fuppofe you have read the other fide. 2. Confider what is,and hath been preached and written for Accommo- dation i .and do not account them the worfr,but the belt Divines, that have been and are for Accommodation \ and fee what was done by thofe Great Men, Lord- Keeper Bridgman, Chief-Juitice Hale, Bp IVtll^ns, &c. 3. Oppofe not, but consider thcReafons of the Long- Parliament, 1. In making thefe Ads ^ 2.Their,and fucceeding Parliaments Debates and Re- iolves for Union of Proteftants. 4. Is this a time to affiid Protefhants at home, when we entertain per- fected Preteftants from abroad ? 5. Lay afide all private worldly Interefr. Peace was never preferv'd by Fadioni it is inconfiftent with Juftices of the Peace to fupprefs a Faction, by jbeing factious. <5. Be clear from all finifterPre-corrceits, Paflion, and Difaffedion to Pradical Holinefs and Piety. 7. rle afTured you mull give account to Jefus Ghrift of your Admin iftra- tion » and this is your time to ad and (hew your Faith , Hope and Love to Chrifr, his Gofpel, his People, your detection of Impiety and Sin, and to be true to your Selves, and your eternal -Concernments. 8. Receive not ill Reports (ad not *by them) of thena that diiTtr from you. - 9- Preconceive the EfTeds of your Proceeding*, whether they will be for God's Glory, the King's Service, the Kingdom's Good, and for your own Peace and Comfort when you come to dye. 10. Pray for a BleiTwg upon your Proceedings? fee what Approbation he hath given, and whether it be likely to pleafe or difpleafe him. If God hath blclIed,or profpered them that did execute the Laws, then it is an Encouragement to you ; if not, forbear. Confider what is faid by Gamaliel, Ad. 5. 38, 39. Refrain from theft Men, and let them alone : for if this Conn fel, or this IVorl^be of Men, it rvill come to naught. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, left haply ye be found even to fight again]} God, And by our Gracious King in one of his Declarations, viz* It being evident by the fad Experience of twelve years, that there is little fruit of cU tbofc forcible Courfes,&c. FINIS.. ERRATA. PAge 2. line 34. reade open. P. 4. /. 30. r. Me. P.tf. Aforg. r. Perfecuthne. ib. Marg. r. £«*/. P. 27. wwrg. r.ferri. p. 30. w^rg. */>er thankful remembrance, c. 13. add Hifiorkal Collections in the Addreft. p. 36. 1. 2. r. fome few. p. 41.I. 12. r. of the Law. ib. I 16. r. if you all proceed, &c. P. 44. 1.27. r. to procure. P. 48. 1. 1. /. Severity, r. Security. P.42. 1. 36. r. for not fubfcribing only. P. 5 1. 1. 13. r. fuch as have. p. 57. rive laft lines muft be tliusread : — and why may not fallible Impofers be deceived, fay they* If tiiey (uffer tor not (inning againft God and Conference, if they fuifer for performing Religious Exercifes, they furTer for Religion, accord- ing,^, p. do. 1.3$. /.cafe, r.cant. The Reader is entreated to pardon,or correct the reft > the Author ,being remote from the Prefs, has not feen all the fheets. ylvK-re*/X 2- &^ * ' ^ K. Ch a. rl.es- I. e ik. b a s i a. 27. To the Trince of Wales. BEware of exafperating any Factions by theCrofs-* nefs and Afperity of fome Mens PaflTions, Hu- mours and private Opinions imployed by you, grounded only upon Differences in leffer Matters, which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion. — Wherein a charitable Connivance, and Chriftian Toleration often di/Fipates their Strength, whom rough- er Oppofition fortifies. THE / Confojmtft's CljtrD Pea FOR THE Nonconformifts. Argued from the King's Declara- tion concerning Ecclefiaftical Aftairs • Grounded upon the approved Do&rine, AND Confirmed by the Authorities of many Eminent Fathers and Writers of the Church of England. By the Author of the two jformer PLEAS. Lord Bifiop of Cork's Proteftant Peace-maker, Tag. 128. . To thrft who as^, What need o / mere 12nUn * 1 rttum i What need o f mere Hclimf / Whrtt netd §fC§Mhtfsj ihantjjjuftice 9 sire thfe ! . tfitan I utits .' and is ret V*HM and react as much fo ? —, 1 t im, .mdmuft be in the n/md th.it the Strength of the r rot eft ant Cavf?, both h?re at himc^ and throughout Ch/tften cm lie. it the 1 n;on of V ret t ft ants ^ and the Gtory y Puritj and F 'ower of Ckrift ia tn this We fid ftands tr rptth Proteft.mttfm. LONDON, Printed by J. D. for Jonathan Rdinjbn, at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church- Yard, M DC LXXX IL • * . - Ml* CO A Preface to the Chriftian and Peaceable f^rtf- cLr^ that feeks the things that be of Chrift. ' CD A Zeal for Peace and Vnion hath overcome Jl Difcouragements ar'i- fag from many Caufes, and inferred me to a Boldnefs prevailing agai'ff much Fear, even to publiff the ferret Workings rfmy Heart. As long as the Church dare Jht w her Face, my Notions are not a- fr aid cf the Light ; they can receive no Lufter from my Name : let them go forth in that Light and Power, nhich the Father of Lights, and the God of xc hath given, and fliall gW€ Jtnto them; and if they may bttt give any Light to di I cover the way of Peace, let me not only ly in Objcirity y which J i , becaufc jit tc ft for me, but be difgraced by them, who fpeak^ all manner of F.vil of me. If I have not forfaketi, and betrayed the Truth, J have not forfiken nor betrayed the Church -, and when yon come to fee the Weapons which I handle, and the Leaders and Authorities which I follow, %n the following Treatije, as well OS the Caufe for which I plead, J hope you will be convinced, that as far as I have pleaded for the Nonconfor- n ail Brethren, I -have not run from my Colours. There is common Truth, a large and fpaciopu ground to take them in, and to build up one and the fame F abrickjupon it, comfortable to all true Chriftians, receptive of all the Family of God, and impregnable againft all their and our Enemies. It isfome Relief and Comfort to fee many lift up their Feet, i. c. come and view the Deflations of the Church of Chrift among us ;to be affetled with them,and fome m whom is an excellent Spirit, are contriving to bring the fcparate apartments under one Roof, and within one Line and Wall. And thefe do fland upon the Rock^ of Eranpc- lical Principles, when not fufported by the Arm of Fleff : But no fooncr do ArbitrMors ?nove for a Reconciliation, but others do all they can to thruff them from them, without refpett to their Perfons, -or due Reverence to Trnth and Raj on. He that interpofeth in this Difference, doth at the Peril of Oppofition. The R. Rev. Author ofthefrfl Naked Truth, hath found this true ; though his Ou^.dity and Pcrfon were more than gucfr at, yet the Fpifcopal Staff could not bear off the Laffcs of fever ai Junior Writers from the Backed f Naked Truth. But Truth, be it never fj naked, can bear Blows and Laff.es , as it hath always born the Violcnc? of Storms and Times : Truth cannot long be confined within Doors, but will appear in open view, whatever its Entertain- went be, whether Scorns, Contradictions, Laugher, and Mockery, Abufes, and Scourging s, or Approbation and Honour. The Appearance of fiich a Boo^ as that Naked Truth, atfueh a time, was like a Comet, it drew the Eyes of all that cculdto look^upon it ; it was a Divine ALymfffatiou of a Primitive Chrtftian-Spsrit oj Love. And certainly, as that pious Endeavour hath encreafed A his H The Preface. bis Comforts , fo he hath not loft all his Labour ; for fmce that, we have had more Overtures of Peice, than we heard of in the many Tears of Infcord and Troubles, from the Learned in the Church 0/ England. The Nonconform Lis have born all the Blame, and Scorn, and Sufferings of our Divifions ; and have offered as much towards Peace and Accommodation as, was poffible fir them to. offer. But partly their I Vi it rags, and the doleful State of Reli^ ion, have drawn out fome Wijhes and Cdncefftons from jo mc Men cf Emincncy in the Church, towards Peace and Accommodation. And (ho thefe as yet feem too little, yet there is much to he gathered from them ; fir ft, as to thur Fropenfity to Peace* 2. The Influence which their Concejjions may have upon auftcrer Tempers^ 3. Becaufie they being fat is fed in the Point of Co?iformity, as to their own Practice, do yet for a greater Coed and Peace incline to aComprimife. The Learned Dean of St. Pallid hath, with fubmiffion to Authority, made jome Pro- pefals ; and I hope would yield to more, if the Compofure were put into his hand. Even Dr. Sherlock ,who is currantlytho/rht to have writ en Pag. 103. the Defence of Dr. Stillingfieet., doth wiflj with all his Heart, that fome Expreffions were altered, to prevent any Scandal to the ficrupulopu, or to the profane -, this he writes only for the Office of Burial of the Dead, which he calls an excellent Office, fiuppofing the due Exercife of Church- Difcipliney to caft. all notorious Sinners and Schifmatichs out of the Communion of the Church, which the Church fuppofeth to be dene*. I am of Fag. 102. his Mind, concerning the Excellency of that Office $ It is moft comfort able to the Miniftcr, and moft Comfort to all trueChri- ftians, when we can life it upon good Evidences concerning the Dead. But as the vi fitting of the Sickhath been too often to me, the moft uncomfortable Office of my Miniftry ; fo it hath been a great Addition of Sorrow, to commit thefe Bodies to the Earth, concerning whom J had no hope of their rcfting in Chrift. what dejecting Stories could I write of too many I but 1 forbear. If he be fo fienfible of the ill ufie which may be made of that excellent Office, avd do fo heartily wifi, that fome Expreffions were altered to prevent Scandal to the ficrupulons aniprophane ; methinks for the fame Reafons- he mifm wifi more Alterations might be made, in other things,, and Offices. Aloft fia?:l^and ge- nerous are thofie Exprcffions of the Right Reverend and Proteftan-Peace- Piom Bifwp of Cork j c We are ready to fiacrifice all 2flaker r £. 29. c we can otherwifie ( i. e. without Schfim ) to the publicly c Peace and Safety -, what moft of the Diffentcrs would 4 be at ( no Liturgy, no Epificopacy, no ^Uniformity ) may not be, cannot be 4 without Schifim, p. 32. The only Steps by which we can ?nutualiy ?nove to 4 Peace, I with all fubmiffion conceive to be thefe :. L That we all would fie- 4 rioufly ftudy Self-denial, and that with a peculiar Eye and regard to Ac- 1 commodation ', one perhaps of popularity, another of a particular Humor K another, of fomewh at clfie. All of whatfoevcr good Confidence tells m is lefis 4 valuable The Preface, iii 4 valuable than common Vnion\ p. 33. — But notwithff adding, what I have u faid of the Fxcellency, both of the Co??:/?; on- Prayers, and of Cathedral c Peiformances, I do concent the After at it* of an FxprtJJJon, or here and 4 there of a whole Prayer or tv:o by Law. or difptnjing With [om* Ceremonies in c iCCO — . / do net co?JC(ive [itch Relaxation as thU veould b/c^ the 4 Harmony and Beauty o[ or.r Worflrif, or dijhirb the Vnton and Peace of 'cur L Chinch. *Th:n' are [bme C oiled s, and pcrb..ps 'fame Rubrukstoo, which with L all duty and[ibr\ffion / humbly co/icerje might be alt end [or the better, pa^. 118,119. This honourable r.n.baffaJ.ur of Peace /peaks home, and from his heart, a/id jhall for ever jit high in the cjlce/n of all the Sons of Peat e. tlere are Pro- pofals { conditional indecd^.vith the co/ifent of Authority, as they \liould fre} t will ce, taiuly be' 1 rr.br acfd by Dtffcntcrs. But now, if the Church ffould sonde- . I, ( if I m.>y c.-ll thai a Condcfecfffdn which is done for Chrifl ? ) as fir -jn them pioufly and fmartly; Sir John Mallet hath drawn up the Contents that might be Heads of ufefid and necejfary Difcourfcs for Gcntlenefs towards Frotefiant Diffenters, thp he himfelf and Fami- Ietter to the Author lycome duely to Church-Service and S.:a amenrs, and of the Guide to the En- u f e f omc f t fa Common-Prayers in his Family. The qlilh furies, primed J A , r i a j- ,/ rT ■» a ' it after it. Author of the Appendix to M> .Hunt s Argument, hath di [covered a good. Will to Peace and Accommodation.: But moft fully and of fet-purpofe a very learned, and true Chriftian Gentleman, that holds co?iftant Communion with the Church of England, hath turned afide^ anfwering the Title of his Boo^, like, a good Samaritan,, t§ help up a bleeding Churchy and powr a Comppftion of choice Preparations, to heal her Wounds. But alas I have not, and do not our Sins feparate between m and our God I Oh I how arc they increafedy that ixake that Separation ! 0. ! how hot are they againft a Separation that is both curable and, tolerable in comparifon of theirs ! If their Affemblies, if their Exercifes were called feditiom, and Twen- ty Pounds upon the Houfes. of their Affemblies-, and but 5 s.Mpon every one that communicates in their Sms, it would be more pleafvng to God, and more for the Eft abliftment and Profpcrity of the Kingdom, than their Profecutions of Diffenters in point of Ceremony : many ofthefe confult, keep their Meetings fe- duloufy, concur unanimoufly, and lay Spies in wait to apprehend the Preachers of the Word of Salvation. Thefe bxeath out Threat nings, and I what they will do I But if this chanee to fall into, any of, their Hands, I will prefent one warning more, and a notable Example to them, Willi- Cafp. Pffucer Hifto- am Lantgrave of Haife, made bit ere 'eflion with -Au- VA . ?7 - guftus the Elector of. Saxony, for Dr. .Peucer, Pnfoner a long time, for his diffent in the IJbicjuitarian Contro~ verfy. The EleBor promt fed hisreleafe^ //Anne his. Duchefs would be willing, and de fired him to try her firft :. Jhe replied according to her Ob- ftinacy, If fhe lived, he mould not bereleafed. Which Anfwer of hers, the Lantgrave, and other wife Men, did. thus interpret, That the Dutchefs ihould fhortly dy, that Peucer by her Death might bereleafed-, andfoit proved, according to their Interpretation, jhe died, faith Dr. Peucer, in that very moment, in which I dreamed in my Sleep, of a great and noble Funeral, and a Bell ringing, and as the Belt- rope brake, that V'crfe of the ?[?.] m came into my Mind> Our Soul is efcaped as a Bird out of the Snare. 01 the Fow !er - y the Snare is broken, and we are efcaped And among what Prodigies, jhe died, is known to all. J am confident , if the Perfecut^s of our peaceable md rdiioM Ncncrafor- m I The Preface. ^ wifts were (ludiou* to prepare for Death, they would forbear thu IVorl^ audits u is dreadful for any of "them to dy in thci, i of^ and to dy in I Siffyfi ht them take heed, that feme of tht ) I ../,,; f them do not fall by an apparent Hand of God. I do profefs if J bad any Friend engaged in this horrid Work^ I would perfwadc him, .- . f( had* y re- gard to his Soid, to lots Life^to h y and Bojierity\ ifany>trMi to his Sozcrai^n, ifl^tidni /s. to the Chart 1 and Country ; for again ft Cod, a walling contrary to him ; and what tan they txfebi but that iiod^oiddwallicontrarytothem? Well, we read- Bleilcd are they that arc perfecuted for Righteoufhefs fake, for any fart of Righteoufhefs and Reli- gion ,bi:t therms none for them that per J tent e. Bleffcd arc thty who lay to heart the doleful State o-f the 1 'rot eft ant Religion, that confult her Peace , and that ap- pear for her Pta.ce in this day of her tear and Trouble. When others are j>ro- nobncingWo t9 themfelves, and Wo to others ; the fe will find Peace in their own Souls, t? ho have fiudied the Peace of the Church, by healing her Breaches. I 'any Jljould fay to the firft movers of this lVoi\ now in hand, as Olivarius the Chancellor of France, when in great Terrors, faid to the Cardinal of Lovrzin : Ah, all,. Cardinals, tu r Vyul Mcllif ' H *- nosomncsin sternum exiuum trams : a will be no Anno 163 1. allay of Horrors, nor relief to Confcience, if any Divine or C on f iff or frail fay, as the Cardinal did to him \ Ton are tempted of the nn- * clean Spirit^ pcrfift in the Faith. To this fearful Story, I will add the words of that tliftonan, Hrc eft merces Judicum quibus Auliox Gratis fumus, iua Coi.fcientia potior eit : He might have added, &• omnium, and of ail that prefer Court-Favour, which is bat Smoak^, to the Light and Peace of their own Conferences. The Sufferers arc much to be puicd \ the divided Body of Chrift is more to be pitied, but they who ft retch out their Hands to vex the reli- gions and truly pious Sufferers, axe both to be feared and pittied;becaufe, it is a more fearful thing for them to fall into the Hands of the living Cod, than for them,whorcligi$ufly fear Cod, to fall into their Hands. To put an end to the Sufferings of true Fret eft ants in a. P rot eft. ant Kingdom, and to prevent an ap- prehended and feared Defolation, good Mens Thoughts are at wo>k^, andfeve- ral Prcpofals for Accommodation are made publick^ And I wonder at the Providence of Ccd, that when too many are extrcam bnfy with Ha?ids and Tongues to ttar ;,s into more and new Diftraitions, others, and they Members of the Church-Communion, appear as ffrongly prepared to receive the Ejellcd. What this Providence may fpea\^ t , I will not be fo bold as to interpret, but it raifeth rp feme hope s 7 when we are de jelled under tk dejecting Apprehtnfions of conji- dcrin^ Men. It ismamfft, that mojl that are engaged in fupprefjhig the Non- cor.fr>'. mills, read little, cenfider as Utile, it is bat vain to write for their fakes • and thoft that read a little of much that is [aid, are ftrongly pri-cnga s tcf o» ar.e afraid^ or covetous to Jove themfelves^ or carried by Jo me othu Affection and vi The Preface. and Temptation, and that which is moft fearful of allure under a ftrong Dchifion. If roc were not under fo me degrees of a Delujion 1 it were impoffime that Men jhouldbejo impoliticly and irreligious. I am grieved, and ajhamed to read how Gundamor did delude a great, wife, and Protejhint Kingdom {in his Account of his Embaffy to the Council in Spain ) in two great lnfhances of his Craft, per nit iow to our Church and State. i. A Par- Out cf a M.S. that liament,faid Gundamor ! nay, therein lies one of the Jay in the Siudy of a p r j„ c :pj Set vices I have done, tn wortim fitch a difiihe .Lov:u Divine, related r , r , _,. . , , ^ 7 r , > -^ ' , to the Rail of Sfrdt- between the King and the lower Houje, by tne Endca- jord, priured by Mr. vojrr of that honourable and admirable Engine, a fare Rtcb. Dugaaiy 1679, Servant to m as the King will never endure a Par- %tis T &%%?) ***•*«"* 2 - For Rell g">"i « Bancroft, who printed An, 1614 ' maintained a danger cm Schifm between our Seculars and the Jefuites ; this taught me, as it did Barne- vel in the low Countries, to workJ~ecretly and tnfenfbly between the Conformifl and the Nonconformifl — . He bragged he had the Head of Sir W. Raleigh at command ; got Dr. Everard cf St. Martini fdenced, and Dr.. Whiting, and Mr. Clayton, for preaching again]} them ; and that Mr. Ward eflpfwich did not efc ape, for his Pitt lire of 88. Fie advifedthe Jefuits, who confulted in Fetter- Lane, ( and had a Printing- Pre fs at a Goldfmittfs Hou-fe ) tofow Dijfention between the Prince and People. How warmly do fome accomplijh the Advice of Contzen the Jefuit, to bring in Popery ? Rule 3. The Doctors and leading Payors wuft be put out, if it may be, all at once, if not, by degrees. R. 8. Let the People be told, the Mimfters are heady, obfiinate Men ; that they are faulty, andhave deferved to be put out. R. 6. To bring in Popery, is to mak$ ufe of the Proteftant Contentions.^.-). To forbid the Proteft ants privately orpub- licklyt-o affemble together. 8. To proceed to the Severity of Laws and Pimijh- ments . But now many arc fo impofed upon, as-tho they did not believe what they cannot but believe, and as if they believed what they have no reafon to fufpelL O that many both of our Preachers and Profecutors would diligently read and confider,that excellent Sermon of our renowned Father Bifliop Jewel, on Mat.9. Pray the Lord of the Harvelt that he would fend Labourers into his Harvefh Take a few leaning of it : c O lift up your Eyes and confider how the c Hearts of your Brethren ly wafte without Inftrublion, without Knowled^,with- L out the Eocd of Life, without the Comfort of God?s Word I fuch a Mifery as L was never fe en among Heathens. The Turks have Preacher sfuif.cient for their 4 People—, the Jews have their Teachers, &C. The Chrifltans when they 1 lived und'/r Tyrants — , never lacked Mmifters to infintSb them. It is t her e- L fore moft lamentable, that Chnftian: living under a Chrifltan Prince, in the 4 Peace and Liberty of the Gofpcl, jhould lack^leamed Mmiflers to teach them : c This is the great eft Plague that God fends upon a People : contrary-wife, the c greatefl Bit jjlng any People can receive at God?! Hands, is to have Prophets c axd The Prelac?. vii * and Preachers — ..But when God taketh \ r Afimfters which fit ltd c prc.icb Peace and cp.-n to th: People the Wt U of God; and make known his c Judnnents, tt is a Token that God is highly atffleafed with bis People, tkc. I may- be blamed for this Quotation, as if it were fcandalous to the Govern- ment, a popular dilution of People to Discontent: Yes, J know -what may be faid-y but let the doleful, dark^ famifinng Condition of multitudes of Places in I } ombe vies>p*d\ andtt is truc,th a P.opU penfh for want of Know- leak, J bavt known where one pitiful Curat (Jourrty-man indeed) that could maki but a poorjhift to jaw the Liturgy and P films between him and the C/crk^, hath been all that thrcegreat Congregations had had, unlefs a Stranger had pre ached- to ftp* of them in one day. The want of Maintenance isveiy great in all Paris of the Kingdom $ bat the want of Minifiers, of found, con- vincing, plain, edifying, faithful Mmifkers,is exceeding great, and far greater. t cannot but pay, and fpea'<^ of what J know, by good report, fitch bath been the hunger and want of Spiritual Bread in large Places, that poor Souls that (to confiantly to Commoner oyer, have crouded into the Prayers, and c ha- ritabh Preaching, or Exhortations of a Nonconformilt. O bow painfully have J fcen poor Souls travel on foot fever al Miles to bear a profitable Sermon from fame Conform- ft ! Nonconformity and Conformity is a My fiery to poor Souls ; they can wave the BifiinU: ion, for their P refit and Edification. Good Preaching is as fear ce as Gold in many poor Countries, and more precious : Poor Souls are never the better for fomc Minifiers, and a great deal the worfe for others : fome have not, and' care not for the Study of the great Gift of Preach- ing to Converfion and Salvation ; form may do better than they do, bit? will not, tho they may ; and many others that can and would, may not* what^s the State of millions of precious Souls in the mean time I I knew London, and other great Places, have plenty of that, as of other Rarities : but if the Scarcity of Countries were but known, and laid to heart, me thinks we jhould not (land fo flriilly upon Terms, and 1 am certain, fjould fend cut all we can find into the Harvefi, rather than filence, and keep out one, or what u much worfe, than fend the Servants of God, his Stewards , to dig and beg, to fct the veriefi Catch-Poles upon Earth, the Lions, the abfurd acid unrcafona- b'.e Men, that have not fo much Faith as Devils have, to watch for the ?n to arrcfi them ; firfi, leifurclyto undo them, and afterwards to apprehend thetn, and ca[t them into Prifon : To flop the Mouths of able and faithful Preach- eys, and to intgrtfon them for their Labours, is to Ut Hell loofe in a Nation \ and tofiop the. way to Heaven againfi many Souls. O Jerufalem, Jerufalcm ! O England, England— ! Behold, I fend yon Prophets and wife Men, and Scribes : fume of them yon (hall perfecute from City to City—. A Breach in a human mut/tble Conformity, will be found more tolerable, than a breach upon aProtcfiant Chii.cb, upon a Kingdom** Peace and Pro fptrity — .Lati- mer followed Ridley to tt* $tak&\ bat now if Latimer go firfi, it JbaHnot hi vui The Preface. -be long before Ridley follow. To prevent the apprehended Defeolation, and Land-Flood, where the Channel is too fvratt and narrow \ let all that have the Royalty of the River open the Channel wider , that the Ship may have worn to turn her inland the Violence of the Stream abate ;by enlarging the Bank*; and let there be an Harbour and a Fort built for the feat tc; V Ships ■ And let me be excufed for my good Will, if not thanked for my Invention : J fee ether wife Contrivances laid by, andjome amended, let mine be fo too. I do humbly con- ceive that the Reverend Air. Baxter hath given great Evidences of a rare Head and Spirit, in the fee on d Fart of the Way of Concord, and deferves great Thanks; Mr. Corbet hath written Hke a wife and excellent Man • Reverend Mr. Humphrey's Peaceable Deiign, is much obfervtd and refpecied, and his Defeth {applied, by the mosE worthy Gentleman, the Samaritan, and Ex- ceptions made againfl him with Amendments, but with great refpetl by the Ex- cellent and Good Fiji hop of Cork •* En companjon of the fee Men, I am but as a poor Fellow that plus his Bucket to quench the Fire, while the more skilful ply their invented Engines -, or as one that brings Earth in a Basket, or a Barrow. while others draw the Lines, an d lay the Flat -form. Here I conceive two things mnfl come into C on f. deration. 1 . What's to be done. 2. What are the Terms of Admittance, and Continuance in the holy Mrai~ ftry, to be allowed and efeablifeedby Law. 1 . In the fir fe, there are two things comprehended, i . Subfeance and Wor- feip ', 2. Ceremony and Form. The Debates arc principally for and againfi Forms and Ceremonies. For both, I make bold to fay ; i. There is great Reafon why a fmgular regard ought to be had, and given to the Kwg*s Declaration about Ecclefeaftical Affairs, for the Wtfdom, Mode- ration, and Comprehenfivcnefs of it ; and becaufe, if ever fuch a thing may come to be offer ed, we may hope for the Royal Approbation of what may be off'c red out of it, of which hefeeenPdfeofond, when he promifcdit. 2. It is clear, that C ath&drals mufe not be touched, neither Revenues, nor Ceremonies, let them enjoy both,and allow unto others a Liberty in another kind, while they may enjoy theirs, without mutual and uncharitable Cenfures and Con- tentions. 3. It is clc.zr, there muft be a Liturgy ; and very many, even to i>.Sherlock, mention feme Alterations rn the fever at Farts of it, as deferable and advij able, without any pnfitive Arrogance in a Matter of this Nature. I do offer my Ob- fervation, Some that expetl much Profit by Preaching, do thinl^firft tndfecond Service too long, toidtWefeon-.c : Others that care lefes for Preaching, are very b >ufy in the Interlocutory Parr is of the Service, grow carelefs, and too often crate {and fare about and whfeptr ) in the Leffons, and fee ep under our Ser- •y.7f ; both are too ?o;/{ fir them alfeo. And in feme Congregations, there are, I The Preface. ix / believe, as many, if not more, Service- Bcoks ) than B tbles^Tvhich, under Cor- rection js too little honour for the Bible. All that I will fuggtft in this laftCa- I . That the fecond Service, or Communion-Service, may be then only read, when there is a Co nun union, or when there i< no Sermon. Ekceft the reading the Com* mandments be frequently enjoined', or, that it maybe left at liberty to read ther fv> ft, or fecond, or what parts of both ?nay be ft fun with particular Occafions and Affemblies. 2. That only one of the three Creeds be 11 fed at one tunc, in the fame Service. 3. The fo often repetition of the Lord?s Prayer in the fame Ser- vice ?n ay he limited. All ca/inot, mofl do not keep Cur at s ; the workjf Readrnr the ordinary firfl and fecond Service, be fides incidental Off ccs, as Baftifms, Chur things, &c. make it very cxpcnfive to mo ft Mensftrength and (j } ints, and wearifom to the People ■ and the conftant necejjary wcrkjof Preaching and Ca- tcchifuig is hardly endured by the young and healthful, but impvffiblc to be per- formedby the b ftrm and aged. It is true indeed, if a MaiPs Confucnce will bear it, and the People have no more fiecd, a Afimfter may be both jhort^ and feldom in the Pulpit ; but then it is with two great Hazx,ards : tirft, oflofing his Auditory, or of his Auditories great lofs to their Souls. If we did con fi- der the Copwufnefs of our lVorkji the frequent Repetitions, Ingeminations, . T, force me?its of many great and necejjary Arguments, the Succcfficn and Growth of young Ones, and all thefc of fever al Capacities, if Preaching be at all neceffary to the Pnftririion, Co/ivcrfion, Correal ion, Dircilion, Confolation, and Salvation time^ c having a fair white Linnen Cloth upon it, pi all ft and in the Body of the c Church, or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer arc appointed L to be f aid : and the Prieft ftanding at the North- fide of the 1 able, flj all fay the 4 Lord? s- Prayer, with the CoHccl: following, the People kneeling. Now I ejucry, Whether the Prieft be bound to read that Service, but ftanding at the North-fide of the Table, fo placed, fo covered, to anfwer the Title of the Ser- vice, which is, The Order for the Admtniftration of the Lord 9 * Supper, or Holy Communion'. And the Rubricks that follow fpeak^ altogether in rel a: ion to the Com?nunion\ the Rubr ick after the Commandments is, u Theft JhaU follow L ofthefe two Collects for the King, the Prieft ftanding as before^ and faying^ L Let tu pray - .The Rub-rick^, after the Nker.c Creed, doth ptffofi the Communion to be celebrated every hordes-day - y or clfc we omit to d ' /uly- \Bans, &C. There is a great Inconjiftcncy in thai Chrfc of thai I and then ifoccafton be-all notice be given of the Communion : XpIh m* a Eubriikl x The Preface. Rubricksfuppofe there is one then. The Rubrickbefore the Prayer for the whol e State vfCkrifPs Church is, And when there is a Communion, the Priefl fhall then place upon the Table fo much Bread and Wine, as he ihall think fufficienc : After which done, the Priefl (hall fay, Let us pray for the whole State of ChrifPs Church. / know there is a Rubric!^ after the Communion Service , that appoints what jh all be read, when there is no Com- munion : which makes a Communion-Service, without a Communion, Thm much in general for the Things to be done. The fecond Thing is the Terms of Admijfion to the Adminiflration, F or this one plain Ride may be fufficient, taken out of the Form of Ordination: That which ts a fufficient Condition, or requiftte for Ordination and Admiffion to the Office, m J efficient for the Adminiflratwn. Or that which is fufficicnt to make a Man a Minifter, is enough to entitle him to the Exercife of his Mini fry , except he apofiatiz^e, andlofe what hefcenPdto have. The Perfon to be ordained or ad- mitted isfirfi to be tried and examined. The Qualifications to be tried are his C ulling,andhis Qualifications, or fitnefs for the Office, by the Holy Ghost, The Nullifications for Learning,are {low enough, and Rubr. for a Dea- were high enough, if not too high, for the greatest Num- COn. her at our first Reformation)learned in the Latin Tongue, and fufficiently inftruUed in the holy Scripture. The. Bifijop doth admonifli him , that pre fents any One to the Office, to prefent fitch as be apt and meet for their Learning and Godly Converfation : and if there be no impediment or notable Crime objected by the Congregation, he u admitted, upon bis taking the Oath of Supremacy, and anfwering to the Que ft ions -, I. That he doth trust that he ts inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take his Office, II. Truly called according to the Will of Christ. III. That he doth unfeigned- ly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament. IV. That he will diligently read the fame unto the People, where he fhall be appointed to ferve. V. That he will apply all his Diligence to fafirion his Life according to the Doctrine of Christ. VI. Reverently to obey his Ordinary, Over and a* hove the fe Anfwers,he that is to be ordained Priest , declares VII/y , rW he tsperfuaded, that the holy Scriptures contain fufficiently all DoBrines required of necefiity for eternal Salvation through Faith in J efus Christ, and hath fo de- termined by GodPs Grace out of the faid Scriptures, to infiruct the People com- mitted to hps Charge , and to teach nothing as neceffiary to Salvation, but what may be concluded and proved by the Scriptures, VIII. That he will give faiths ful Diligence always to minifter the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ, as the Lord commanded. IX. That he will banifh all erroneous and flrange Doltrines ; ufe publickjmd private Monitions, to the Sick^ and Whole. X. That he will be diligent in reading the Scriptures, and in Studies, laying afide the Study of the World and Flefio. XI. Frame his Life , mid the Life of his Family, according to the Doltrinc ofChrift, and be Examples to the Flock,, XII. That The Preface. xi XII. That he will maintain and promote Quiet nefs, Voice and Lcvc among all Chrifiian People, efpec tally his charge. XIII. That he will obey his Ordinary ^ and chief Adimfcrs, to whom is committed the Charge and Government over them. Now I do fuppofe that Snbfcript ions will be required cf all Admitted; and the last Promife will be mo ft fcru- SeeMr.Mf^Ar, Mau pled. Of this fome Non-Con for mifts declare their ^ d Thc S^Taritan. Readme fs to obey the BiJhops,as Officers under the Ktng % as fupream Covcrnour ; and is alfo propofed by others. Mute. ofSubfcn?- For the Snbfcript ion, (which is but fome kind of Securi- tion. ty 1 cfpccially in doubtful and controverted Things) Q'.'jry-) If for Peace fake it may not be fufficient , if after due Fxamiua- of their Qualifications , and Calling by the Holy Ghost , that they declare aadjubfcribe their unfeigned Belief of alt the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Tcfi anient ; that they contain all Doctrine required of nccejjityfor eter~ rm/ Salvation, and that they will tnftrucl the People ; committed to their Charge, (or any other ,to whom they may occ afion ally pre acli) and teach nothing? at re- quired of nece fifty to eterv.il Salvation , but that which they may be pcrfuaded may be concluded and proved by the holy Si ripture •, and that they will diligent- ly and faithfully pi) form all Parts of their Office-) and order their own Conver- sations , and of thur Families, (if they have any, or when they Jhall have ) ac- cording to the Doctrine of Christ ? We fee upon what Te-rms Minifters arc ordained ; What ?nore filiouldbe requi- red of them , as Miniftcrs , but a Difcharge of their Mtniftry \ according to their Trust, with Knowledg, Diligence and Fidelity ? If a Magi ftr ate, of other Officer, be made, he may execute his Office, without any Afttr-Rcftn- llions. Jf Subfcription to the Articles be frill required , for Satisf allien of forrcign Churches concerning our Doctrine and Faith , utceitkis hide conltct omni- um Ecclefiarum conccntus, as Calvin wrote to the Protettor : and as a boun- dary to our felves, for Peace fake , as fome would have our Articles to be \ the Number of them are lefiferP din fome Propofals, and expedients thought upon, for the Relief of fuch , as fcruple to fubferibe , without a fur Expo/it ion , a~ gre cable to the Articles, and Analogy of Faith, as in the Bill ofComprcbc'ifion. The Ceremonies being either abolified^vr left at liberty ^according to the King*s Declaration, the Siibfcnption , now required by the Canon, ce ifeth ; and fuch at this above mentioned may take place, which is taken out of the Bookjof Ordi- nation. If it be objected. That this lafgi Snbfcript ten is too lax, S > vid Heretickl may creep in, notwithftanding this. AnfiV, So they will, and fo they y, and fo they have ., notwithstanding the I , - theti in what term almofi foevcr. Bat their Orthodoxy may be trie tion j and certified by foe b at know tbem ferpmally, and tb f £i > 1 1 a 2 xii The Preface. prevented-) or remedied when it is divulged : Why frail others be preffed beyond what they can clearly confent unto, for the fake of them that will fubfcribe to my thing ? By binding them to other, and much fertile d Subfcriptions, according to the Canons and neve Declarations (except that again ft Tranfubftantiation, which is a point of Faith, and not to be omitted) we fee many are un^made in effect, who had been made Ministers before. This that is fiid ) is not to the Prejudice cf their orderly legal Entrance into Cares, by Officers appointed, nor all that may be fid. This, and whatever clfe, I have thought of is from a holy Defire of recon- ciling Differences, of umverfd Vnion, if pojjible ( but that being morally im- pofJiOle) then of a brotherly peaceable forbearance, which is a great Duty of the Cofpel ; and for a Ceffation of the great Troubles of our Brethren, which is of permtioiv, Operation, and will reach further than themfelves. And if it might be confdered, that Vnion and Forbearance are cf greater Moment y and more clearly revealed and enjoyned,than the things that di] unite us, it might abate, civr Rigors ,nnd heal our Divifions. It is true, Obedience to Magi- firates is a clear and necejfary Duty, but it is refrained to things antecedently lawful, and practicable : But when the Lawfulnefs of the things are debated, the refufal of Obedience, contains no Guilt of Rebellion ; the Magiftrates Tower, to require Obedience in lawful things is not gain-faid,but the things re- quired are rationally doubted of And when things are urged principally upon the reafon of Authority, it is clear there is little or nothing in the things them- felves to commend them to our Obfervation. And the Magiftrate faves his Authority, and is as much obeyed as need be, by making a new Law, that takes off' the Obligation of the old-, or leaves things indifferent, in their Indif- ferency, as much as by an Obedience to the old. But agamft all that is or can be f aid, it is objected, That the Nonconfor- miits have brought all this 'Mifchief upon themfeln.es, and danger to the Church, and Proteftant Inter eft ; for time was ( meaning the Savoy Confe- rence, 1 66 1. ) when the Bijhops might have been perfwadedto yield to many Mittigations ; but fome of them, now Diffenters, anfwered to the Queftion, What would you have ? AH or none. And fo they have one part of their Choice. But as this tends to aggravate their Sufferings ; fo good Nature and Grace cncline in to relieve them, whofe Wilfulnefs hath brought them to ane- ceffity of relief, or fuffering. But what if neither fome, nor all of them, were guilty of the Stifncfs and Raflmefs imputed to them ? then God calls aloud upon thofe Jnftruments that are yet alive, by the many Sufferings of good Miniftcrs and People, and by apparent Dangers of the Proteftant Religion, both to hum- ble themfelves before God,, and to malie Supplication to him, and. Inter ccffion for them, with the Supream Power : For if great detriment come to the Gofpel^ and The Preface. xiii *nd to many Souls , by defiroying the Shepherds ', and feat terwg the Floel^, it U doubtful whether that Allegation will pafs fir . . I XChA* or Plea, that they .-.re Non-Confiormifils and Difjemers ; except they could produce a Warrant from Je- fit Christ , deputing the m to make fuch Conditions. I would not for all the Preferments in the Church , charge any fa/ fly , a< being Authors of the fe ma- ny Tears Troubles, andwouldfooner beg Forgtvenejs and re pent, than perfifl in an Err cur , or do wrong to the Innocent. 1 have rather acquitted the Aon- Conferral firs fro?:, the Llama (A' drawing thefc Evils upon themjc.'ves, than fome cf ine other fide. Aud y Ithink^, I have as good Warrant for it, as can be dsfred by one that wat not prifint at the whole TranfaAion. I am not fingular in my Opinion • J find an t :? Gentleman lay the •At of •& Difcompo fives nvon fame old peevifh Di- Appendix to calls the- . jc been long poffejftd with Mr. Hunt\ Argu- • if°t h *' K V''*' 1 ds of the Presbyterian Com- me: !. rraffiioners , in the CancliMon of their Account of thofe Proceedings, in their last Reply. L For' all the rest we than\?ys>i — . Ar-dwe c must fay in the Concha fiion , that, ifthefe be all the Abatements and Amtnd- c ?nentsyou will admit, you fell your Jnnocency and the Churches Peace fio L thing. If the Pride, Faction, or Rajhnefs of any one , or mere, of the Com- mififioncrs , who d: fired a Reformation , • had precipitated him into Dtfputation, and Contention, or a Refifal ofrcafonable Mitigations , why foould others fuf- fir for the Indi fret ion of one . ? and why had not the other Side, who were po- tent in Friends , and high eft in Favour , and either advance d y or near an Ad- vancement into the h ... Watcli-Towcr, condefcended to fome Things, that might be grateful to all mod '. -i , and no jusF Offence to many others, and taken the Way for a Lifting Peace, andfo comprehenfive a Settlement, that true- Labourers might have been their Fellow- Lab oarers. I frail not in h aft c forget the forrowful Complaint of a very wife and learned Conforming Divine, that could fay as much to all Points of Conformity , as mosT, if not any of them all s The Way of Peace we have not known. I hear his Fears multiply with his Tears, and grow heavy upon him with his great Age. But upon whomfoever the Blame of our Breaches may fall, (as may appear, when a faithful Hijlory of that Conference may fee the Light, which I hope to fee in convenient Time.) A great Duty lies upon all true P rot eft a?:ts, by Prayers, Counfels, and all kind of Endeavours , to heal our Breaches, to procure Liberty to the found and able Preachers of the Word of Life , and that neither they, nor any that fear Cod , and wor finp him in Truth , may become a Prey to them that commonly profane (Jod?s great Name , fildom worjhip him in Publicl?-, and never toc^ JoihuaV Refolutionfor himfelfiand bis LJvufe, that can befeen by their Practice : and this every Man will do, whefe Heart is ruled by the Peace of Cod. I cannot end, but mufii take the Frcedunito fpeskjtfew Words more, c Ad ally to my Cc?i f ormablc Brethren in the Mint fry, and jujl ices of: xir The Preface. / have laboured (reverend Brethren) to raife a Building (Jf you rciR vouch- fife to lookjnto it) capacious to hold all or rnoft of our difjenting Brethren, who now ly out of Doors, andfirong to endure all the Batteries of our Adverfaries , upon the Doctrines of our famous Bifiops ar.d Dottors , as upon a Foundation, I am certain I have mifquoted none of them , nor forced them from their Native Sence and Coherence : If I have failed in my arguings, and kef t not to the Line ofReafon, that musl- be difcovered by fliarper Lights than mine is, and by thus doings a Conformift may plead for the Non-Con formifts, and not for fake the Church. I have alfo- thought that if the fame Methods and Mediums were ufedfor healing our Divifions , which were propofed to reconcile, or at least to cool the far greater Controverfies between the Lutherans and Calviniits, by our famom and reverend Bifiiops, Morton, Hall, Davenant, &c. we hadfeen the Kingdom of Chrifi gone up apace, as the Temple did, without the Noice of Axes and Hammers. I am per fuaded the Divifions of the Church ly near the Hearts of fo me of you: and it cannot but be grievous to fee into what Hands our Brethren are fallen,as given to the Spoil, and I know the Chrifiian Saying ,as I received itfiom credible Tefiimony, that my Lord of L. and C. anfwered a bufy Extinguifiier of Light, who toidhim,Dr.G. was preaching. He is about his Mailer's Work, let him alone:^ again, Vi'zzching and praying are goodWorks:? Vhere there is an Antipathy against popery, there is Moderation to Proteflant Diffenters. I humbly befeech you, Chrifiian Gentlemen (Jufiices of the Peace) bear with ?ne a Word or two. Do you thinkjf peaceable Non-Conformity be not fit to be indulged^ nor j) are d, will Non-Conformity and Here fy-, meeting in the fame Perfon, be indurcd, if it be poffible to root it up? All the Di^but at ions again fi Non-Conformity now, may be flrong Arguments againfl the Toleration of Here- fy, ( as our Religion is called by the Papifis ) and they who fir etch their Power a- gainfi P rot eft ants for Non-Conformity , do jufiify the Roman Cruelties, and prove their Proceedings to be more rational; and you, that fir ive with the Flat or Backj)f the Sword, may be f mitt en with the Edge, if you can endure ; and you musl: take it patiently , or be felficonde?nned. Ibefeechyou, Gentlemen, c on fider who they are that run and ride up and down upon this Work^ , that would take Minifiers and Hearers , but fuch whofe Sacraments are Healths, filled with Wine void of the Spirit, whofe Devoti- ons are Wounds and Dam-mees : Will thefe ever reform a Church, that make the World the worfe?Muft not that Execution of Law be thought unhappy, which is effectually the putting one of Cont7.cn the Jefuite^s Rules into Execution, (as above J aid) for changing of Religion , and bringing in Popery , viz.. to Pro- ceed to the Severity oi Laws and Punilhments againft Proteftants f P O S T- I (XV) POST-SCRIPT. Am forced to breaks off abruptly in the Clofe of tbefe Sheets about Z and m/.sl leave what is behind to another Part. In the mean lime, that the 'Union I pre fs for, maybe jnorc eafily effelled, 1 humbly' befeech my Brethren in the Mimftry, and all others, to revive the almost fosr Virtue of 'Moderation. Conji .- the excellent Dean of Canterbury fays in his Preface to Biihop WiikinV i 5 Sermons, lately pitkHJlicd; where, in Vindication of that rarely accomplished Bijhc-p, (whofe grt at Nam* , and excellent Spirit it feems could not fmUtting from fo me of our f ire-brands ) He thus defends both the Vert uc of Moderation, and that great Example of it, to wit : And 1 pur- pofely (fays the Dean) mention hi> Moderation, and likewife adventure to commend hiitl for it \ notmthitemding that this Vertue, fo mucheiicc- med and magnified bj wife Men in all Ages, hath of late been declamed again ft with fo much Zeal and Fiercenefs,and yet with that good Grace and ConF.dcnce, as if it were not only no Vertue, but even the Sum and Abridgment of all Vices : I fay, notwithftanding all this, I am Hill of the old Opinion , that Moderation is a Vertue, and one of the peculiar Ornaments and Advantages of the excellent Conftitution of our Church , and mult at lad be the Temper of her Members , efpecially the Clergy , if ever we fcrioufly intend the firm Eftablifhment of this Church , and do not induftriou'ly defign, by cherifhing Heats and Divifions among our felves, to let in Popery at thefe Breaches. But mere efpecially confider our blcffed Saviour teacheth its Moderation by his Laws concerning thefe Matters in Difference, by his Apoftles, by his eajyloke, his Bleffings and his Judgments ; and by a vifible Providence over our chief City London, which jhould be an Example to Norwich, Briftol, Coventry, and a Warning to them. There was nothing to be done in the Tear of the dreadful Plague ' The Magifr ate found other Workjhe next Tear after the dreadful Fire : two Tears after, the Govern- ment fell into the Hands ofSr.\N. Turner , whofe unfujpefted Affection to the Char ch, made his Wifdom and Moderation the more remarkable, and the Blejfing of Peace ayid Contentment of Mind att en dedi And how much happier was his Tear, and of the Succcffors of Sir S.Sterling, than that trouble fome Tear to the Nonconformtfis , and certainly as little comfortable as it Wits honourable to himfelf. Sir Richard Ford was feared, but his eminent Prudence procured him Honour and Eftimatiom, And what Con/piracies or Seditions were moved as much as to make him thoughtful about tljcm i What Caufe ofSufpicion or Fear did the Difj enters give his honourable Succe (for s , till the breaking out of the dreadful Plot ? and did not the Lord Mayors fi nee that,rcsh confident in the Loy- alty and Fidelity of the Diffenters ? and did not two of them concur in the Vote, against the Profccut: on of them ? And ft nee the Presbyter i.w Sham-plots I xvi The Preface. made even Hardimfs and Impudence to blujh at their Confidence , what Suf- picions hc'.ve they moved to give any Colour for the?n? How dear was Sir Pa- tience Ward to all good Men, as appeared in their fublick^and private Prayers for him in his dangerous- Sichncfs ? and did not he leave his Government in a peaceable ^fafe State ? After fever al Years Indulgence of the Non-Conformifts , did they grow ircubUfome ly their Numbers, or faction by their Eafe ? And I do heartily wijli the R. H.Str John Morcyww L.Mayor,may leave it as he found it\ and carry a Peace in his Bofom, anfwerable to the Piety and Moderation of his Speech at his Election , {for which I know many Prayers were made for him, by fome that never favv him) that his Piety may not be outdared by fome of an imperious Humour , to impofe upon others an impious I do humbly recom- notion , That Men cannot be Confcieniious, but they muft niendroyouMr^^s bsFdHom andtake Pleafure, or Pride, orfomeihing Sermon again!* Perfe- , r . J r . •> li d r • ■ *r» ? cutionrtowhiclilfct cl J e t m ^rejenung peaceable Religion as a Torch myStal. of Rebellion. What tender Heart will be able to bear the Stings of Conftience , for touching fuch as fear God , with but the Point of the Sword , for prof effing, that fame fubft ant ial Pie- ty, by which they hope tp be five d themfehes. Durefcc, dureice. Peace up~ on IfraeL The Conforming fourth Pica for the Non-Conformifts j containing f chiefly) Relations of the Sufferings of many Non-Conformiite in fcveral Parts ot England, will be tlioit- ly publifhed. The Cafe and Cure of Perfons excommunicated according to the prefent Law o£ England. With fome friendly Advice to perfons pursued in inferiorEccleiiaiticalCourts,by mali- cious promoters jboth in order to their avoidingExcommunicaticn.or delivering thetn- felves from prifons, ifimprifoned, becaufe they have itood excommunicated fourty Days. Mr. Jel^Cs Sermon, intituled, Religion maizes the be ft Loyalty-, which was prepared for that great A ffembly ot Proteftant Lords, Gentlemen, andCitizens, th *t was to meet 2iX.St,Mtchael*s Corn-kill on n April laft , to give God thanks for the Pronation of his Majeftie's Perfbn ,- the Pi oteitant Religion, and Proteilant Subjects from the Po- pifh /'lotjand many Sham-plots^c.is now pubhihed. So!d by Jonathan Robin fon at the Golden Lyon in Sr. Paul's Church-yard. THE CO THE Conformift's UTljirD Pea FOR. THE NON-CONFORMISTS. WE may think a Sufpenflon of Severity, and a power- ful Interpofition between the Thrcatning and the Ex- ecution, would be proper and feafonable, of great Service and Advantage ; but the infinitely wife God, Saviour, and King of his Church, whofe Thoughts are deep and un- fearchable, may think it fufficient, that they that love him have his Promife, that all things fhall work together for good to them. Let them that are inftrocted to know his Will, do it, and that know his Promifes, believe him, and that have renounced the World, freely part with their fmall (hare in it. But to me the ftate of things appears dark, confufed,and difconfolate •, and being engaged further than I thought at firft, the fame Motives that prevailed with me before, prevail'd w T ith mc to go on, not from a private or factious Difcontent, but to prevent^ as much as I can, the horrid Sins of fome, and the greivous Sufferings of others,and to discharge mine own Duty, which will bring the greateft Peace, to my now grieved, broken, and afflicted Spirit. But to come to fome fpecial matter •, give me favour to run over thefe four things. I. To reprefent the State of our Times. II. The Sufferings of the Protefiam Dijfemers. 'III. For what. IV. By whom they fuffcr. B I. We a €f>£ eTottfojmtff is Cljtrti pea I, We are a moll finful, and (Tnfully divided Generation, fo broken,, that none but God can keep us from falling to pieces like a Pot-fheard broken, like a broken earthen Veilel, in which there is nopleafure.. Our Reafon cannot propofe, nor confult Expedients to make us whole and happy, becaufe Interelts, worldly Policy, and a contemptible Art, or private Cunning to get, or lave, the. things that perifh in their life, , and by their Abufe undo and mine the Owners, doth ilir up Sedition in omnPaflions againft our Reafons. The Gofpel hach been fo generally, defpifed, that it hath not begotten in us a Faith and Love that unites to Chrift, and to one another : We have not Faith enough to purify our Hearts", to overcome the World, to ad as for a Crown of Glory, and a Kingdom that cannot be moved. If we believed a World to come* how little fhould we Itrive for this ! If we had Love enough to cover a multitude of Sins, to forgive one another, to love as Brethren, and our. Neighbour as our felves, we fhould not be fo jealous and fufpicious, nor contentious nor felfifh, as we are. One great thing is wanting, which is the Wifdom from above, defcribed by St. James , Chap. 3. 17. Which is firfi pure, then peaceable, gentle, eafyto be entreated, full of Mercy wd good Fruits, without Partiality, without nypvcrify. There, is a great Reproach call upon the Church, and the greateft ofallcalt upon the Dillenters, as Dividers:, but it is an ignorant or malicious Reproach, for there is nothing whole but the Church and Body of Ghrift : They are united to Chrift, the Prince of Peace,by one Spirit, Faith and Love, and to one another by the fame Bonds and Principle-, Schifm and Faction are. from the Flefli and Devil. Nch. fooner do Jofeph and his Brethren know one another to be Brethren, but they fall upon one anothers Necks, and kifs, and weep 7 and repent of all their Unkindnefles, and exprefs the deareft Love. Paul and Barna- bas diiient and part,but both agree to promote the Kingdom of Chrilh They that are not, and will not be reconciled to God, are the. great Dividers and Breakers of the Peace -, they are made up of Lufts of the Fiefn, which divide and draw feveral ways for their Satisfaction i Whence come Wars and Fightings ? come they not hence, even of your Lulls, which war in your Members ? There is Dillention in the Mind, and in the Paffions,betwe£n the Law in the Mind and Heart,and the Lufts of the Mind and Flc(h,till the Confcience comes to be pair feeling,and the Sinner falls under a reprobate Mind, and then what Confjlion fc Hows ? when they call Good Evil, and Evil Good? put Darknefs for Light, and Li^ht for Darknefs? what open Defiance is bid to God ai d Chrift ! what diiTenting from,, and Nonconformity to the facred Baprifmal Covenant ? the holy Rules of a Gofpel-Converiation ? There is a Law of Fairh, of Love, of Repentance, and the Penalty is heavy upon them that fo? tfje 3Bon-€onfo?m(ff». 5 that do rot obey it; there is a Law of Righteoufnefs, of following Peace and Holinefs, without which no Man can fee the Lord : Who trantgrefs thefe Laws, and multitudes more ? Yea, who is the Man that is guilty of all ? And, what Sin fo great now a days, and in all times, as Nonconformity ? Who rob by the High-ways, who kill and (leal, who curfe aid damn ? who have Wo ? who have Sorrow ? who have Con- tentions ? who have Bablings ? who have Wounds without caufe? Who have Rednels of Eyes ? Nonconformifls. Who make the greateft Trouble to Jufticesand Magiftrates ? Nonconformifls. Who fill Prifons and breake them ? Who take leave of the World at Tyburn, and other Places ? Nonconform ifts. Who draw Swords, fend Challenges > light Duels, and murder one another lirlt with Wine and Drink, and then kill their dear Companions ? Nonconformifls and Diffnters. But now, there is a Di Rind ion to be made, lome D iff enters are tolerable, and fomc intolerable •, the drunken Nonconfor/mfi is tolerable, he hath not only taken the Oaths, but fwears : the other is a fobjr Noticonfor- mtfl, and taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, will not acquit him, and he is intolerable. The Nonconformifls that ailemble to worfhip God are intolerable ; and thoufands that worihip him not at all, are too commonly let alone. But are not Malefactors punifhed ? yes, they are,but their Crimes arc againlt Civil Peace, or Righteoufnefs, and not imme- diately for Irreligion. But the Ncnconfirmifl Dijfentcrs from arbitrary and variable Impolitions, are punifhed heavily and fmartly, for religi- ous atlembling, and no other Caufe, as is proved in the fecond Plea, and is cleared hereafter. And upon this, the Kingdom is cxtreamly divided and troubled. There is a mighty Party in the Land, that build upon another, and a new Foundation,though by them called old. But Proteilants agree in the fame Foundations of Religion, obey the fame Civil Government in the fame Perfon, and fame Fundamental, and Civil Laws ^ and yet fome are feparated for Sacrifice •, the Lot is caft upon them, and great Re- wards allowed to any that will do the Work. Our Parliaments from 1673, t0 the laft, would have prevented this Ruine ; but for their fakes and their own, they parliament is here ta~ are now like to fuffcr. Our laft Parliaments were kin Synccdochicxlly. chofen with lefs Ex pence, Debauchery, Tumult, or Faction, than any we have known in our days : Some had not been long in the Houfe, but they were driven out Of their former Prejudices and Prepolleflions, by the clear and convincing Reafons and Debates of the Houfe. They were generally Men of the nobleft Eftates in their feveral Counties, but acting as if they had nothing private or domeftick, and applying themfelves to thePrcfervation of the King's Sacred Perfon, B 2 and 4 C6eConfo?miff!3€6ttlipea and of the Reformed Proteftant Religion, to which they are obliged by Obligations of an everlafting Effect. Since their DiiTblutions,they cannot but be fenfible how their Proceedings are cenfured and expofed, and many, either of them, or of fuch as approved of thern^ are put out of Commiffton, and many that are molt difaffected to them are either- continued, or fill-up the Vacancies •, and thefe proceed upon contrary Reafons and Motives, and run into contrary Methods: What they would havecompofed and healed,, thefe do ( taking the opportunity of a long Vacancy of Parliament) difcompofe,with a greater Severity than at any time before. And the Sufferings of the Nonconfor??ufl.s do clear the Members of Parliament from being Nonconformtfts y .ox F 'anatkks ; for if they were, they fhould meet with the like Treatment and Ufage, and ib the Sufferings of the Nonconformifts ferve as a Vindication of the Par* liament from the cenfure of being fuch themfelves. All thofe.noble.and worthy Patriots are now the unfatisfied Spectators of an exceflive Trou- ble and Charge, if not irrecoverable Ruine of thoufands of peaceable Subjects, by which the King will never be enriched, nor the Church uni- ted. The inferior Rank are affected according to their differing mea- fiiresof Reafon,. and Senfe of Religion, and the publick Good. The more Underftanding and difcerning, enquire into the Caufe of this Mif- chief, which is the dilTent of the Nonconformift-$ Judgment from fome unnecefTary and variable Impositions, &c when ever the Government pleafeth may be taken away without derogation of Power, or lofs of any Fundamental in Religion, either of Belief or Practice, or danger to the Government or Peace: They cannot but fay, thefe matters of DifTention need- not be. They believe their own Senfes, they have nei- ther feen,nor heard of any Sedition,or Tumult,or Plot contrived among the Protectant Diflenters. They know them to be Men of Abilities > Piety, Righteoufnefs and: Peace,, and have waded through the. deep Waters of many Afflictions, without linking or drowning, or over- throwing the. Ship in which too many drive a Merchandize, bring in. Wealth,.and others fifh for Men., to fave them from the bottomlefs Pit. If they are unacquainted with the Nonconformiff. Preachers, they are acquainted with their Hearers, and know their Principles, and Con- verfation, and if they are not better, they are no worfe than ether Men, and cannot but be grieved, that they lie at the Mercy of many that have no Vertue to commend them. % They that love Godlinefs and Righteoufnefs in any, in whom they believe or hope it is, that are glad for the increafe of Knowledg or Godlinefs, by what Inflrument foever,. and endeavour to be merciful, as their heavenly Father is merciful, arc not, and cannot be pleafed with thefe Proceedings, of ruining Men for Confc ience : Thefe are not fo fubtile as to lay any great Weight upon the the Dif Unctions which fomc Men invent to excufe the Severity. The more unknowing and unconcernM are in amaze, wondring what kind of People thefe Nonconformifts are •, what kind of thing this Nonconfor- mity is *, but they know, or hear that the Men arc given to pray, hear Sermons, ling Pfalms, and other pious Excrcifes, and live, if not better, yet no worfe than many that go to Church : And of thde many have fo much Senfe, that they think and fay furely, it i> hard to drive honed Men's Cattel, ferae their Goods, break openHoufes, for doing well. And as many as love Eafe and the World, take their Eafe, and folio w that Religion, which is encouraged with Preferment, and a Freedom from Charge and Molellation. Some Zealots againft Nonconformifts are incenfed again ft them, as againlt Pbanfces, that pray to devour all :, as againft feditious Pcrfons, and fecret Traitors, that want nothing but Opportunity, as againft the Authors of all our Unfettlements and Miferies. Thefe are for the King, ancl who is againlt him? Thefe are for the Law, as now efta- blilhed, and no alteration? which is to tie up the Power of the King> as much as the Parliament, for it is as much his Prerogative to abro- gate old Laws when necefiary, as to make new. Thefe are for the Church of England, and againft all that are againlt it •, and what's that ? for the Bifhops; and the Nonconforming never did as much as petition to take them down, or diminifh their Revenues : they are for preaching in Churches, and fo are Nonconformifts if they might; for Allegiance to the King, fo are the Nonconformifts i for the King's Supremacy, fo are. the Nonconformifts j for Ceremonies and Orders of the Church : here they begin to difagree : And for thefe things can you perfecute your Brethren? Thefe Zealots are as erroneous for thefe things, as any o- thers are againft therm The moft of our Conforming-Proteftant La- icks are bound to bear Offices, higher or lower, in Cities, Towns, Hun- dreds, Pariihes. The fuperiour Magiltrates may forbear to break open Meetings for Religious Exercifes, or fet others on, much more to ani- mate the Rabble to pluck down their Meeting-Houfes •, there is no- Law for it, that we, the unskilful in the Laws, know, or hear of: The inferior are under Command, but thefe are meant of only lawful Commands, and legal Warrants. Ancl here is now a very difplealing Tragedy to be feen. Here are Informers, very Strangers in the Coun- tries, which they plague and moleft, that fwear againlt fome Perfons by hear-fay, whom they do not know •,. and thefe are the great Mir.i- ftcrs of Jultice,they do little lefs, nay fometimes no lefs than expect the Juftices fhould take their Information without Examination of them, at their time,at the very nick, when they" pieafc,and not when the Jutiice pleafeth : Thefe arc theMaltcrs of the Juilices themfelves,whomuft (erve them 6 €6e Confo?mitt'0 TOfc pea them,or forfeit 50 /. to them, and 50 /.more to him that can get it. Some Juftices are forward and officious in carrying on this Wcrkjof Reforma- tion and Union, they iilue forth Warrants upon them that meet, upon theParifh Officers that- are flack; fome give out Warrants to break open Houfes for diftrefs, fome are cautious how they go fo far. The diflenting Subject keeps up cloie, and upon his Market-day keeps his Shopfhut, as if he were broken, or hid his head from Serjeants, yea, from worfe Men than common Bailiffs : Thelnformer keeps the Street, and hath whom he pleafeth at his command. The Pariffi Officer is in a threefold Difficulty or Strait : 1. The Juftice of Peace fines him, and threatens worfe to him, if he doth not make diftrefs., 2. It goes againft his Nature and his Love to his Neighbour, Friend, Kinfman - it goes againif. his Confcience to diftrain the Goods, and fpoil the Trade, and beggar innocent Children, he cannot do k ^ but if he do not, he mall rue it himfelf; he is fined, and he is further threatned. The Informer is now pro tempore, his fuperior Officer, he muft execute his Warrants. 3. He is in another Difficultv : If he break into his Neighbour's Houfe, he is told, he cannot juftify.it by Law, by fome fage Counfellors ; the owner of the Houfe and Goods may foe him for breaking into his Houfe : He is told he hath but one Remedy, when he is fued, the Juftice will fland by him, and the Favour of the Court, and Partiality of a Jury, will be his Defender : But really, is not this an hard cafe, that a Man muftruine others,or be ruined ? and do-thefe Anions look as if they did really re Joyce that they are billed by Law ? when without Law, or againft Law, he proceeds in hopes of Favour : And what is all this for, but to get Money for the chief Ruler^ the noble In- former ! the Shame and Scourge of his Country. Gentlemen and Ma- giftrates that have Wifdom to forefee, and fenfe of what they fee, are difquieted in their Minds •, the Envious, in hope of encrealing their own Trade, are more modeft than to approve it, and they who areScorners of Religion, make merry at it. And this is>a true, but imperfecl; face of the times - and I divulge no Secrets. II. The Sufferings of the Nonconformifts have been courfely and dark- ly opened in the two former Pleas, and will be more particularly kt forth in what follows. Their former Sufferings come upon them again, and that with the Addition of more Weight and Violence \ many have by an indecent Art done what they can, to ffiut up both his Majefties Eyes and Heart. I call it indecent, becaufe we owe a greater Reve- rence to the King, they have thanked him for his ruling by Law,and de- clared their Adherence to the Church of England as eftablifhed by Law : As foon as they have done this, they crave leave to execute the Laws upon fa? tlje »oiwCanfi9jnifl!0i - upon Diffentcrs, as if they would take the King at his Word, and while the Gracious Declaration was frefh, that there might be no room for wonted Mercy and Indulgence, except he fliould recede from his Royal Word, almoit as foon as fent abroad ; They fecm to oblige the Bifhops and the. Church, by declaring for it as cllabliih'd, and thereby tied their Tongues and Pens from fupplicating for their ProtelTant Bre- thren ; for if they do, they will be interpreted to aft contrary to them- felvcs, and their own Eitabliihmcnt : and no doubt but many a fair Story is told them, of 1 know not what invii.ble Machinations againlt them I They mult look on while a Courfe is taken, which will reflect upon them and their Government, as much, if not more, than a tolera- ted Nonconformity. The more difcreet, and moderate fort of Magi- itrates are look'd upon as favouring of Parliamentary Notions, either are left out of the CommiiTions of LieuctcnancV and Peace, or aft not at all, or aft by way of Mitigation of Rigor ; the molt declaredly op- pofite to the Parliaments, to Proteltant Dillenters fcem to aft alone ; therefore the Law falls with multiplied Aggravations upon Preachers and People. What was argued by way of Confequence in the fecond flea, proves now to be true, as if it had been a Prophecy. The lhtfey.ters are fined for fo many Meetings paft : That there are Fines upon the Officers of one little Market-Town, for neglefting to break their Neighbours, amounting to 200/. and the Fines upon one Preacher and his Hearers come to about 1000 /. if they may be exaftly levied. What is the Cafe of Populous Places! They fuffer fpiritually, bodily, really, and relatively : A Man cannot marry his Daughter to a Di.'lenting Proteftant, but he is like one that throws away her Portion \ a Man cannot put a Child apprentice to a Diffenting Proteltant,but he is in dan- ger of lofmg his Money, and his Son of lofing his Trade, by his Mailer's not being able to follow it, nor to hold ; many of them are in as bad a cafe as the Papifts, if the Laws were fully executed upon them: for fome Proteltants arc returned- into the Exchequer, and their Eftates under Compofition, and the Parts that are left to them are liable to other Laws againlt them. But if the Executioners of the Laws itop at the Compofition, there would be fbrnething left certain to them : But the remaning two Parts are fubjeft to thefe Laws, the Oxford and five Mile. Aft, and this againlt Conventicles, and to the Eccleliallical Courts belides ; they are obnoxious to Excommunications, Sigr.iikavits Writs dc Excommnmcatio cAf>ic?ido,x.o Baniihment and Abjuration, and Felony if they abjure not : Some quell ion whether that Aft of Q_. £.35. be in force, but feveral are brought in danger of it as if it were, befides to all manner of Taxes and Payments. They are more hardly ufed than Papifts : Some have paid 20 /. and 5 /. over and over : But now their whole Eilates will 3 €&e Canflnmiff'g Cfntft Plea will not fatisfy the Demands of Informers and Warrants. The only way that Men of Eltates have, is to become Tenants and Servants to fecure them, by making them over in Truft The Miferiesof their Souls are not yet reckoned by me, to prevent which, they have ventured long by hearing fuch Minifters as they conceived moil profitable : But now for endeavouring to flee from the Wrath to come, they are fallen under the Vengeance of cruel and mercilefs Informers, and to fave their Souls, have brought Ruine upon their Eftates. III. And what is all this for ? It is for Nonconformity } which may be considered two ways. i. Privatively, not conforming. 2, Pofitively, being Nonconformifts to the Laws of Uniformity, preaching, and holding Religious E-xercifes, this is the Preachers Grime -, the Crime of the People is r hearing, or joyning with them in fuch Exer- cifes of Religion, as are without controverfy neceflary and profitable. This, and only this, is the caufe of all thofe many, and great Sufferings cf every kind which they have endured, and under which no man can comfortably Hand without Faith, Self-denial, Contentment, and the Confcience of well-doing, and the hope of Eternal Life, the great Recompence of Reward ! And this being the Caufe, and the fole Caufe of their Sufferings, it is fuch as calls for Pity and great Tendernefs, and is no juft Caufe of their many Moleftations, and bitter Sufferings, as I intend to fhew in my following Difcouffe, a^Godihallhelpme. IV. By whom, and from whom, and through whofe means they are now again expofed to Sufferings. I cannot fhew the Spring of the Motion, but any Man may fee the Hands that ftrike, and tell us what time of day it is : I do very much doubt whether the moft engaged Inftruments do know whofe Work they carry on, this is my Charity ; but if they do, I dare fay, what they cannot hear without either great difpleafure, horror or repentance. But they are, i . Such as cannot take it ill to be called Addreflers and Abhorrers, but they ( as far as t can look about me and fee ) particularly that have thanked the King for declaring his Refolutions of ruling by Law, which if any of the Nonconformifts had expreflcd a doubt or fear of, had been a far greater Offence than their Nonconformity. They have declared for the Proteftant Religion as eftablifhed by Law, and yet punifh them that profefs the fame, and no other. 2. Ard by Confequence, they are fuch as have declared a diflike of the Proceedings of our late Parliaments, and in that particular of en- deavouring the uniting of Proteftant Diflenters, in which alone I am concerned &l tije J3on confamiiu% 9 concerned to take notice of them, and at dire t ly contrary to the Vote of the Houfe of Commons, which refolved, 7 'hat it u the Opinion of this Houfe, that the Proftcntion of Proteftant Dif- Luna? iodic ftntcrs upon the penal Laws, is at this time grievous to the Jan. 168c, Sub jell, a wcaknin^to the [tot eft ant Interest , an Encourage- ment of Popery, and dangerous to the Peace of the b ingdom \ And by the Rule of Oppet&tfon., they malt in their Opinions turn this Vote back- ward, as if they thought that the Profecurion of Proteltant Dillenters upon the prefent Laws, is not grievous to the Subject, is not a weaken- ingof the Protectant Intereit, is not an encouragement of Popery, nor dangerous to the Peace of the Ki gdom : Certainly they muit be (ud- pofed to hold this as contrary to the general and unanimous judgment of the far greater Number : for, zsNemine Contradicente, doth not con- tain every particular Man's Vo L e -, foit doth no lefs than imply a Con- fent, or that to declare a Diflent is to no purpofe •, there is no Divi;ion ofthe Houfe upon it \ only if they do not hold this, contrary to the Houfe, they muff act both irrationally a p d defperately in this fenfe. Altho the Houfe of Commons declared their Opinion to be fo -, yet I a Jullicc, or I an inferiour Officer, will profecute the Proteftant Dil- fenters, or execute the Penal Laws upon them, tho it be a weakening of the Proteltant Intereft, altho it be an Encouragement to Popery, and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom. Or if this Confequence from thefl Proceedings be too harih, and cer.forious, I will mollirv it as much as it is capable of a mollified Conlrruction : Let this be the Opinion of the Profecutors now. The Execution of the Penal Laws, is not grie- vous to the Subject \ that is, it is grievous but to fome, and not to all : it is not grievous to the Subject, becaufe it is not grievous to them, and then we lhall have a Difcrimination of Subjects 5 to this fenfe. TThey only, who execute the Laws, or approve of it, are the only Subjects of the King-, or that the Dillenters can fuffer Punilhments, and the Pnni/h- ments not be grievous to them. Or, that the Dilfenters are not Sub- jects, but Rebels (a fort of quiet Rebels certainly) may we never fee any other than fuch unarmed quiet Rebels ! Again, they mult think, that the Execution of the Laws upon them, is no weakning of the Pro- teltant Intercic :, that is to fay, they are no Proteliant>. And now the meaning is plain, that then' ire no Proteftants amengt us, but thofc that are of the Church-Government eltabliihed by Law, and are of it, or fubmit to it •, or that read, or joyn in the Liturgy, or do all that the Law requires ; that is, the Act of Uniformity, and then a Qiiellion will arife, Where was the Proteitant Religion before 1662, or before the laft Long-Parliament ? Or, where is it like to be- when thefeProte- itants nc-Proteitant-Diiicnters are cut off? where it was before Luther, C If io Cfje Confo?mtff0 €fnra pea If only the Ccmformifts are the Proteftants, then what fort of them ? If only one fort of them, then the Catholick Church of England may be not much bigger than fome great Conventicle, or great Pariih. They who make this Separation of Proteftants, are Separates and Difciples, the National Tutors and Inftru&ors, in fLich wholfome and profitable Doctrine, both in Divinity, and Politicks. If Confirmity, tbta m toto^ &c. makes the Proteltant, and be convertible with him, it makes as good a Definition of a Proteltant,. as of a Man by Accidents. A Man is a ra- tional Creature, that wears curled Locks, long Hair, Hofe and Shoos, &c. or of a Philofopher, he is a Scholar that wears a Beard, &c. But to go on, they may be thought to be of Opinion, that to puniuY Diilenters, is no Encouragement to Popery •, for when they have rooted them up r then they will root up Popery, as if they could not come at thofe great Oaks, before they have cut up the Brulh-wood. Or laftly, they do not think it dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom, to fupprefs Diilenters. i. Becaufethey know that the Diilenters, when undone, will not moleft or dilturb the Peace of the Kingdom. Or elfe, 2. Be- caufb they intend to make them fo poor, that they mall not be able' to disturb the Peace. Or, 3. Becaufe it is the only way of Peace. But here again, a Queftionift fets upon me as 1 go peaceably on in my Difcourfe. If the Diilenters are not dangerous to the Peace of Kingdom, why are they diilurbM, and their Meetings broken up as fe* ditious Meetings ? 2. If they are dangerous,, and their Meetings feditious, then whether are they more dangerous, when they are pleafed, quiet, and in Peace, or when they are provoked ? When they enjoy Trades, Liberty, and Eftates, or when they are imprifoned and undone ? To conclude this .Head : If our zealous Profecutorsthink,as the Houfe of Commons did, in their forefaid Vote; then why will they ad con- trary to that general Opinion ? or if they are' of a contrary Opinion, as I have faid : then follows, 3. A third Branch of the Defcription of the Profecutors. They are fuchasdonot, yea cannot underftand the State of the Kingdom, and Religion fo well as the Houfe of Commons did. 1. No one Man of them can underftand the true State of the King- dom, as a Grand AfTembly of our Representatives did. 2. Nor all of them: for when the Representatives of the Kingdom met, they had fuch Informations given in, and brought before them, and faw what was invifible to others •, there was a Collection of Ob- fervations, and the Eyes of moll: of the Kingdom moved in that great Body, and their Debates and Reafonings were mature, ai d full. And tho a Vote have not the Formality and Force of an Act, yet it is the fo? tfic Bon Ccn r ojiut(f & 1 1 the BrB Matter and Original of an Aft, out of which an Aft doth anfe. 3. Tlii- Vote was not of private Concernment, in which, Interefl Bates Men partial, but ir was of Concernment to the Church and King- dom. But many of the lint movers in the Profecution, ai.d of the In- fl miner ts in it, aft from a private Spirit, and a particular Intereft, and find neither Concurrence from any, that are at liberty, and a;t as Free- men, 1 or Approbation from the Standers-by •, except the few that know rot v\ hat they do, ai.d care not what others do, any more than Gdlio, fatly, the i^feriour fort, are Informers and Inferiour Officers, Con- flables,ai d Church-wardens, &c. of thefc, there is not one of many, but what abide fevere Tnreatnings, and heavy Fines, coniidering their Eftates, before they di. Lrain. T his way is contrary to the very comn on Senfe ot Chrih tans, and ordinary Men. But the Informers are a fcleft Company, whom the long Sir ering of God permits for a time, of whom I will fay but little in this place: They are of no good Repu- tation •, for their Knowledg in the Country, they do not know the Names, or Perfons of fome of them that arcmolefted by them •, they go by report of their urder-Servants or Complices \ they are unknown to them that iu'ier by them, until they ftflfcr : They come two or three Counties off, to fet up this new Trade*, whether they are Papifts or (nominal) Protectants, who can teU? They never come to Church, not to their own Parifn-Churches, but lie in wait and ambufh. Their Eltate is inviuble, their Country unknown to many ; their Morals arc as bad as the very Dregs of :hc Age. Thefe are they that direft and rule many of the Magiftrates and live upon the fpoil of better Chriiti- ans and Subjects than themfelves -, A ncl w ho go away with honeil Mens Goods, honelily gotten, but r hey ? To whom I have a great deal to fay in the later Part, if lean hold my Pen without trembling, while I write of them. The Subftance of what I intend to difcourfc upon, is contained in thefe three Heads. i. I will (hew the Caufeofthe Sufferings of xhzNonconfortmfts. II. Argue for a Cellation of this forcible Courfe againit them. III. Apply the whole to the Inftruments of their Sufferings, whether they be Magiftrates, Milliters, Informers, or others. I. The only Caufe of their Sufferings, is their Nonconformity. Of this I have fpoken as fully as I thought needful at that time, both ia C 2 the 1 2 Cije CcnfbnnflfjS C&tta \pUa the Firfi Plea ; opening the hardners of their Cafe, Firfi Plea, from p. in the Second Plea. I mufl readume this Head 14, &c. Second anew, for a further Information of the World, and Plea, p. i o, 1 1* Amplification of the thing, in reference to their Sufferings \ and lay both before the Confcience of the Chriflian Reader, who may propofe this Cafe of Confcience, asrifmg from it, Whether the Nonconforming Chriftians and Protcfiants ought to fuffer as they do, and what they do, meerJy for Nonconformity. For the opening of this Point, once again* I will coniider Nonconfor- mity as above- faid. . Privatively, and pafllvely, as not doing what the Law requires. . Pofitivejy and actively, as doing what the Law forbids. i. Take, Nonconformity in the firft Senfe, and what is it but not fubferibing, or refufmg to fubferibe to what is required, and not de- claring what is required to be declared in the Act of Uniformity ?. and by confequence, not doing as is required in theAct> or die Common- Prayer y here lies their Nonconformity y and hence the Name is taken. 2. They do not refufe all and every Condition therein required of them. It is not poffible that I mould particularly relate what Particular- Men do fcruple, and flick at ; fome can do more thanxxhers can ;.. but, they who can do mod, cannot do all required.. i . They are by ibme counted worfe than Papiils *, looked upon as a' fort of ignorant, erroneous, obftinate, unreafonable Men, frditious, and fchifrnaticalr that obey neither King, nor Bilhops, nor Ch'ur h •, and are ignorantly, and fcornfully called The fe Men, and thefe kind of "People, as if they were a ftrange odd fort of People, wilfully bent upon their own Way, Delu! ions, and Fancies, as if they carried the Sparks of Rebellion., and the Seeds of Heretics.* and falfe Doctrine in their Hearts, ardkind- led them in their Conventicles. But know that they are. as obedient,, regular Subjects as any in the King 9 s Dominions, fave in one Defect, or OmifTion, which is Subfcri- bing, Swearing, Declaring according to a particular late MX of Uni- formity, and Corporation.. And to them that wonder at them, that cenfure, condemn, and afflict them, 1 give this fhort Diilinctiorj, and Account of them. i. The Preachers and Teachers, are Men brought up in Learning, in Schools and Univerhties, or in Univerfity Learning, if net in the Uni- verfities. The older fort have for the moll part, ta' a Degrees in the Uniyerfities, were in former times ordained by Biihop*, and had con- formed To] tTK Bon -CoKfrmit ".$. i ? formed to all, or the principal things required by the old Act pfUni- formity. The middle-aged among them have Bad the like Learned Edu- cation, and arc Minifters, either ordained by Bifhops, or by Presbyters, or elected and chofen by particular Congregations, aid let apart for that Work by Falling and Prayer, if not a!fo, by Impoi iion of Hands. The younger fort, have Education in Learning, in Schools, Tongues, Arts aid Sciences, the lame that are taught in our Univerfitres, though they are taught out of the Univet litics in a more private way, and h not the Titles of Graduates ih Arts ard Divinity. In a word, they are ( tho in different Degrees and Proportion, lbme mere, ai d feme lefs ) learned, picu^, painful, fjf-den\ irg, able, and fucc cfsful Miniilcrs, ard orderly, and peaceable Subjects according to all other Lav/s, as any of us are : Their Hearers are like other .Men, bred up in Trader and Cal- lings, as other Men are, a> i^ commonly and univerfally known. In fhort, let them that think ftrargely of them, as theft Men, and theft kjid tf Mm, receive this impartial Character of them : The Nonconformity ^ are Chrillians, believing all the Ankles of the Chriilian Faith j that ol> ferve vvhatibever Chrilc commanded his Apofllesto obfcrvc,aud teach t thatobferve all the Ordinances of the Golpel, according to the general Rules of the Gofpel-Worfhip, Government and Difciplinc (according to the bell of their Understandings and Prudence) ; that obey every Or- dinance of Man for the Lord's fake •, that are lubject to Principalities and Powers •, that obey Magiftrates, that live by the Law of Love, and Righteoufrefs ; that have their Convcrfation according to the Gofpcl, as other Chridians, or as the belt of other Chriilians do, and that fub- mit, obferve, and obey all Laws of the Kingdom, as other Subjects do ; fave the aforefaid Act of Uniformity, and Subfcriptions and Oaths of late Years impofed, and never- before. And this Character of them, contains matter of Anfwer to the many; Queitions, Accufations and Ccnfurcs rai fed upon them. They are re- ported to be factious, fanatical, unlearned, unordaincd, rebellious and unreafonable Men, difloyal, difobedient, againlt the King and all Go- vernment, Decency and Order, as if they were for all Sects and forts of Religion, allowing all Men to do what fcemeth good to them : But in this ihort Defcription of them, yon may find an Anfwer to vulgar and popular Objections againlt them, and more fully fpokeri of in the two former Pleas. In the Second Plea, p. io 7 1 i, ri. I have faid, that the Difference Be- tween the jSonccnfor/mft, (commonly, but unduly and unfitly called Presbyterian) and the Cot.fir*m]} y is to be fee n and gathered from the King's own Declaration about Eccleliaitical Affairs, which th^y would have fubmittcd to, if it had been turned into an Act of Parliament, a the Ad of Uniformity. 1 1 4 €!jc Confojmtff CfjftB # lea 1 fliall now further enlarge upon that Notion, and ihew you what the King declared, and what they would have accepted ; becaufe many that think and fpeak hardly of them, do not know how things flood at that time, and what that Declaration is. In the Year i66o,after that General Monk, (made Duke of Albemarle afterwards by the King) declared himfelf for a Free-Par liament,and by the Counfel and Ailiftance of the City of London, reitored the IVlem- bers of the old Parliament, that were fhut out by fome of the Army, before ever they could bring about their Deiigns againir. the King's Life •, and there was a wife and good Council of State chofen : many of the Royal Nobility, and Gentry, and fome Divines, put out a Declara- tion, in which are thefe words. And we do farther declare, that we intend by our quiet and peaceable Beha- viour, to teftify our Submijjion to the pre/cm Power, as it now re/ides in the Council of State, in Expectation of the future Parliament, upon whofe Wifdom and Determinations, we trufi God will give fuch a B'ejfmg as may produce a perfect Settlement both in Church and State, This was fubferibed by the Marquefs of Dorchefvcr, and twenty Earls and Lords, feveral Noble- Men, about thirty two Baronets and Knights, and between eighty and an hundred Gentlemen, among whom is Mr. Roger UEftrange (then a Chriilian, profelTing Reconciliation, promifing with the vt% To Jpeak. one Language, to be of one Name ( not Whig and Tory ) that all mention of Factions and Parties, and all Rancor may be thrown in and buried like Rubbijh under the Foundation : Thefe are the words of it •, but as Dr. Collin* s of Cambridg faidonce, Then was then y and now is now -, one IrijJ] Rifbop fub- feribed "it, and four Dodors of Divinity, and the firft of them was Dr. Morley,thz yet-living Lord Bi,hop of Wtnchtfter. How gladly did all honeft Men receive this Declaration, as tending to a firm Reconci- liation, and afterwards to a lading Union, and univerfal Peace, not fo much as a name of Faftion or Dilterence to be kept in memory ! neither did any fufpefl the meaning of burying all Factions and Animoiities, like Rubbilh under the Foundation, to be, as now fome Mens Aflions and Writings explain it, that Factions and Animoiities do Ik under the Foundation, which is at this day maken, being fo underlaid ; Faction and Animoilty will not lie buried, but rife and walk. In April 1660, That hoped-for Parliament met ; and to the Speakers of both Houfes, His Majeity fent his Letter, and ^£E%K P^J^Wft ^ ourt , at Breda \ in his Let - i66o, ? ,g. 6. ter ^ { read thcfe Words, relating to Religion. And nothing can be propofed to jhew our Zealand Af- fettionfor it, to which we will not readily conftnt } and we hope in due time our Self to propofe fome what to you, for the Propagation of it. In fo? toe w»«tona?mwfc * 5 In his Declaration fent therewith, arc theft word-:. We do declare a, Liberty to tender Confciences, and that fffi Man Jh all be difcjuteted, or called in ejacftion for differences of Opinion in matter of Religion, which do not diflurb the Peace of the Kingdom. In October 25 1666, Hi> Majelty was plealcd to fend out hi> Declaration concerning Ecdefi- aftical Ai:airs, in which he was pleafcd to remember and repeat the ( fore-cited ) words of his letter, whereby it i^ dear, that that which he had long in his Mind, to proprietor the Propagation of Religion , was the Contents of this Declaration, — Adding in the next Sentence, Pag. 4. And the truth is, We do thinks cur Self the more competent to popofc, and with God?s Ajjfhince, to deter mint many things now in difference, pom the time m have fpent, and the Experience we have had in mo (I of the He formed Churches abroad. And betides what b quoted out of it in the Second Plea, pag. 65. he hath thefe words, We mufi for the honour of all thefe of either Perfwafion, with whom we have conferred, decla c that the Prrftfjlons arid Difires, of (til for the advancement of Piety and true CodLnefs arc the fame, their Profejjions of Zeal for the Peace of the Church the fame ; of Affection and Duty to V&tbe fame : They all approve of Fpifcopacy ; they all approve of aft Form of Liturgy ; a?>d they all d: [prove and difike the Sin of Sacri- ledg, and the Alienation of the Revenue of the Church \ and if upon theft ixitllent Feu ndtf ions, in f ub mtfjion to which, there is- fuch an Harmony of Af- fections, any Superfirutturcs jhould be ratfed, to the fhak^ng thofe Foundations, < c Men will not confent to the practiiing of things, in their Judgment 4 unlawful, when thofe may yield who count the matter indifferent . We 4 mult not believe that when your Majefty took our Confent to a Litur- 4 gy, to be a Foundation that would infer our Concord, you meant rot, 4 we mould have no Concord, but by confenting to this Liturgy, with- * out any confiderable Alteration — . We molt humbly befeech your 1 Majefty, that the benefit of the faid Declaration, may be continued to c your People, and in particular, that none be punifhed or troubled 4 for not ufing the Common- Prayer, till it be effectually reformed, and 4 the Addition made as thefe exprefs. They prefented to the Bifhops and the other CommifTioners the Reformation of the Liturgy, and a moft humble, grave, pathencai Petition, called the Petition for Peace*, towards the end, they addrefs themfelves to them in thefe Words, Grant ns but the Freedom which Chrifl and his Affiles left unto the Churches > ufe neceffary things a* neceffary, and unneceffary things as unneceffary ; and charitably bear with the Infirmities of the weak,, and tolerate the tolerable while they live peaceably, and then you will \tnow when yon have done ; and for the Intolerable, we beg not your Toleration,^. 1 am fenlible I have been long upon this hiftorical Retrofpect of thefe PafTages, to inform thofe who feem not to know, or remember thefe things •, Yet I cannot go on without leaving fome Animadverfions and Remarks upon them. 1. We might have feen the disagreeing Parties running into an Union under the King, as their fupream lawful Head and Governour. The reputed Presbyterian comprehending a great, powerful, confederate, fubftantial part of the Kingdom, moft clofe and deliberate in Counfel, active in Endeavours, fervent in Prayer with their Mirifters for the Reftauration of the King and the ancient Government, watching all Opportunities, and ufing all means to engage General Monk^, and his well difciplined, and molt Presbyterian part of the Army, to declare for the reltoring the fecluded Members in order to a free Parliament, and that in order to bring back the King. The molt eminent of the Royal Party, declaring a Reconcilablenefs, and Oblivion of all Sufferings, acknow- fa? tfje T5oh aronfojmtff^* 1 9 acknowledging the Hand of God in them all. And the King to com- pleat and perfect all, by laying a Top-Jforc, as well as the Foundation of the Temple of Peace, gathers all Parties into himfelf, fome by Comprehcnn.on in a wider Conftitutiou, others by a fafe incfulgcnt Toleration, whi( h if gra had bee: delired by the leail and molt in- conliderable part o/ti.. .\ af io$ \ lor the 1 i xi.ters had been fewer than now they are, becaufe abundance had been taken into the propofed Settlement: The Seels have much encrealed, lince that time of Papiits, if not other Denominations — .The King and his wife Council had a perfed full view of all Interefts, and did weigh out proper Preparatives for an healing Effect. 2. It i> a Shame and Grief to think that a divided Nation can be fooner compolcd and fettled, than a broken divided Church, who have, bciides the Motives and Principles of Nature, the molt gracious Recon- ciler for their Law-giver, the moll per feci Laws of Love, the moft in- dulgent Government, under the Uriel and indifpenlible Duty of Self- denial, oppo €mTowiK0* 2 * ' But who made the Breach ? who hindred the hopeful Clofare ? felP- willed, obiWwSitz No Nconf or mifis ? The Nonconformity to the Law of Love, Peace, Meekncfs, Forbearance, hath done the Mifchief. The King's Declaration would have done what the Act of Uniformity could not do, but we may look, and findthe.firft Caufe to lie between them both. To lay this open, compare but fomc words in the King's CommiUI- on, with fome of the Aniwcrs of the Anti-reforming Commiflioners, and then judg impartial! The King according to his Declaration, gave his CommifTion to an equal D&raber of Dn incs of both Perfwafions, bearing date March 25, in the thirteenth Year of hw Reign. Ie in H) : accontpltfinncnt of our fain lliili ami Intent, — * bo mit&B&e m\ — to ixWtz upon, aim tebicto tfte fata T6ock of Common isjapcr, comjiarinfl; it untlj ttjc moft ancient Litur- gies of ii)c pur eft tunics, — to i?M to pout fetloujs Confroc ration, tlje fctoral Directions Rules, $om& of p?apcr, dttO 50 in tfje 0500k of €ommoiH3)mper contained to ntitiiTr, caufult upon aim about tlje fame, aitt) tlje federal Objections ana 6weptto«0, toljfclj fijall itoto lie raifea aijatnfi tlje fame; ano,tf occafi3nbe,to makeftr.lj reaionable ana neceflatp aitttatidnfe CojrrcffoniS, ana Sntemmients tfj:rein, — as fljall be & gtecB upon to be neeoful ana expedient* fo? tlje gibing ©atifr faction to tenner Confcience^ 8cc. The Bilhop>, o>c anfvver, c On the contrary we judg, That c if the Liturgy mould be altered, as is there required, not only a Multi- c tude, but the Generality of the fobercic and moil Loyal Children of c the Church of England would juftly be oiTended, lince fuch an Altcrati- c on would be a virtual Conceflion, that this Liturgy was an intolerable 1 Burthen to tender Conferences, a direct Caufe of Schifm, a fuper- c llitious Ufage ( upon which Pretences it is here delired to be altered ) 4 wliich would at oncejuftify all thole who have obilinately feparated c from it, as the only pious, tender-confeienced Men, and condemn all c thofe that have adhered to it, in conference of their Duty and Loy- c alty, with the lofs and hazards of their Eftatcs, and Fortuiv L Men fupcrltitiou?, fchifmatical, and void of Religion and Confidence. c For theie Reafons and thofe that follow, we cannot confent to fuch 1 an Alteration as is deiired, till thefe Pretences be^proved. And now it might ealily appear to them, what afterwards came to pafs j but let us obferve : 1. There 2 2 Clje Confajmiff s Cfiirti ptea i. There is no doubt but fome of them knew what his Majefties Pro- pofal was,, for the Propagation of the Proteftant Religion j being his Chaplains and chief Minifters about him, and fome of them ( if i am not mif-iufonned ) made fome Alterations and Amendments in the King's Declaration 2. They dp manifell: an Opinion of the Reforming Divines, inconti- nent with the Character which hisiMajefty gave of them, a* grave and learned Minifters , and proceed with them according to a mean and un- charitable Opinion. 3. If they law no necefhty of any Alterations : 1. They diilented from the Judgment of as eminent Divines of the SeeFirfiFlea,\).22, Church, as any in it. 2. They do not agree a- &c. p. 32. mong themfelves ; for Mr. Thomdike, one of them, thought a Reformation was neceiiary to Union. 3. They made fome Alterations, fuch as were pleating to them, though not fatisfaftory to others. 4. They deitroy the King's Suppolition, and thereafon of his Propofal, for the Propagation of the Proteftant Reli- gion, Peace of the Church, fatisfying tender Conferences, &v. 4. If they were commijfioned to advifc, &c. then had it not been a great Satisfaction to the whole Church, and an eifeclual way to lilence the cavilling Opponents (if they were but Cavillers)? 1. To have anfwered their Reply. 2. to have petitioned his Majefty for a longer time, to have heard them out, but when eight Points were to be difpu- Ted, they had only time for one of them, being the laft day of their CommifTion. It was about giving the Sacrament if r ammtft.^ni* to Perfons that fcruple kneeling; about which there *njofthtfe things, a* wasa Diviiion among, themfelves : Some of them (hall he ,w to he cor. held that we arc not to refrife to give it to them reendoj a ,,»e Htfaj that kneel not,bnt to give it to them that kneel: the rfthofc Yajj.-.gnu words of the Rubrick being,— The Mtmfterfliall take in both kinds himfelf— and deliver it into the hands of the People kneeling :, as if the fenfe were, we are to give the Sacrament into the hands of the People kneeling \ but are not forbid to give it to them that do not kneel : Dr.G'.Dr./*. and Dr.S. were Now Lord Bijlwps for this lax Interpretation ; others Dr. M. now of Ely, Cheiter, hifaoj)>Ofl>fwcheftcr, was for the rigid fenfe, that Norwich. the People mult kneel, or we mull not givQ it. And Dr. P. now Dean of Salisbury, offered to maintain Sec Mr. tfs De- again II Mr. Baxter, that it was an Aft ofiMercy fence agamfl Mr. to thofe that fcruple and refufed to receive the Cheney, fag. 38. Sacrament kneeling, to deny them the Communion of the Church therein ; but the Ccmmillioners of his fo? tlje 13cm Ccitfcumtffg* i$ his own fide reftrained him. 4. How little did fome of them care for the King's conjuring them, to acquiefce in, arid fubmit to his Declarati- on ? Or, tho his Ma jetty thought himfelf competent to propofe ( a Remedy ) they thought him not, or elfe they would have advifed a little further, having fo great a charge from him, giving him hopes of their Compliance, and feeing the Peace and Settlement of the Church fo much concerned in it, a; d the Houfe of Commons approving of it, to whom they owned ail Acknowledgment for their Service done for them, they might have made their Memorial blefled to all Generations, as Healers and Peace-make. s. And now it is plain that thofe who ruted molt in thofe Councils, ex> ercifed a kind of Soveraignty over the Reafon of all others, and waited for a Parliament and Convocation that /houid at once lilence Objection^ and anfwer Petitions. Since thole Yr.mfa'tions, the reforming Divines never had but one or two Opportunities of treating and compoiing our doleful Differen- ces ; the Compofers agreed •, but the Houfe of Commons hearing of it, voted againlt bunging in a Bill of Comprehenhon,. and the Reverend Vjv^Bumet, in the Lile c f theGreat Sir Matthew Hale, gives us the Rea- ltors that prevailed at that time againlt it. And if I may not be too tcr dious, I will crave leave totranferibe his Lines. But two Parties appeared vigor oufty again ft this De- Pag, 70, .7 l, 72,7 $. fign ( of ' Comprehcnfun by Law) the one was of fome zealous Clergy-Men, who thought it below the Dignity of the Church to alter Laws, and change Settlements fur the fke of fome , whom they efrecmed Schif maticki \ ^ }e y **fi believed it was better to keep them out of the Church, than bring them into it y fwee a Faction upon that would drift in the Churchy which they thought miglrt he more dangerous than the Schifm it fclfwas. Be' (ides, they f aid, if fome things were now to be changed in compliance with the Humor of a Party, as foon as that was done, another Party, might demand ' other Cone ef ions, and there might be as good Rcafins invented for thefe as for thofe • ?7iany fuch Concefions might a'fo jhake thofe of our own Communion, and tempt them to for f alt? tu, and go over to the Church of Rome, pretending that we changed fo often, that they were thereby inclined to be of a Church th.zv was conftant and true to her felf-j and thefe Keafons wrought on the fir greater part of the Houfe of Commons . There were others that oppofed it upon very different Ends : They defgnedto Jheltcr the Papifts from the Execution of thi Law^ and f aw clearly that 'nothing would bring in Popery fo well as a Toleration -, but to tolerate Popery bare-faced, would have ft art ltd the Nation too much, fo it was neceffary to hinder all the Propoft ions for IJnion, feting the k&fing up the Differences was the be ft colour they could find, for getting thi Tolti at 10 pafs, only as flatkenyng the Laws dgainfi Dif]'i?.tcrs, whofc Nuwbt} t and \Y> 2 4 €fje Coitfoimiff ss €fHt$ pea #W? ft advifeable to have fome regard to them ; and under this pretence Pope- ry might have crept in more covered, and lefs regarded : fo thefe Councils being more acceptable to fome concealed Papifts then in Power, as has fine e appeared too evidently, the whole Project for Comprehenfion was let fall, and thofe who hadfet it afoot, came to be looked on with an evil Eye, as fecret Favourers of Diffenters, Vnder miners of the Church, and every thing elfe that Jealoufy and Diftafte could cafl on them, I do not queition but this excellent Hiftorian hath given us a faithful account of the Reafons againft Comprehenfion, as he received them from thofe eminent Perfons engaged in it, or fome that knew them ; and I will make bold to call fome Reflections upon them. i. On the one part fome zealous Church-men, who thought it below the Dignity of the Church to alter Laws, &c. But when it is more a- greeable to their Spirit and Ends, it is no Indignity to change mo- derate Laws into more fevere ; nor, to practife arbitrarily beyond Laws. 2. They who rationally and confeiencioufly diilent, are efteemed Schifmaticks : but retaining all other their Opinions and Principles, and abating the rigor of their DiiTent, by conforming) would they be of the Church, or ft ill efteemed Scifmaticks ? By this Notion, the Confor- mift, qua talis, is no Schifmatick; and the Nonconformilt, cjuatenu* fuch, is a Schifmatick. Conformity takes away all name of Schifm : But then the Queftion might be, Whether the Noncovformifi be a State- Tchifmatick, or a ChurchTchifmatick ? and, whether he was a Schifma- tick, when he treated about, and petitioned for Peace and Union ? and what hath made him to be one fince ? 3. They are afraid of Faction : but do thofe Fears arife from a Ca- tholick or a Factious Spirit ? Are there not factious Spirits in the Church, that harbour factious Affections, and utter factious Words, contrary to true Charity ? 4. And what if other Parties might demand Conceflions ? Either thofe Conceffions were rational, becoming the Wifdom, Peaceablenefs, and Grace of the Church, or not ; methinks it's a Royal Dignity in the Church, to make reafonable Concefhons : if they are unreasonable, un- chriitian, impious and the like,the Church may deny them with Honour. But thefe Sons and Fathers, reprefent the Church like a ftately Lady that keeps Chamber, and mud not be fpoken to. 5. But really, are there fuch among us, as taking Offence, might go over to the Church of Rome, conflant and true to her felff How much do they owe to the Nonconformifts for their Company and Communion ! How inclinable are they to Rome, that are ready to depart upon irnall Conceffions ! The Conftancy of the Church of Rome, is as infeparable a Property fo? tljc mm coiifomu'ffcj. 2 5 Property of hers as her Infallibility. Mcthinks this is mi:c!i to the Difhonour of many of our Church, and much to the Honour or the Nonconformtfts, that whatever they fu'R-r, there is no danger that they will turn Papifts : But weak Reaibns have great force in them, when they that are narrow in their Charity, and powerful in Place, have the Management of them. 6. The World is too apt to be jealous \ but have not the Nonconform mifls lbme Reafon to be jealous of this fort of zealous Clergy-men, that there is fome Agreement, or Bargain between them and theFrierds and Kinfmen of the Church of Rome ? that both (hall agree to keep the Ncnanformifts out ? And is not the Church of Rome better conditioned, and better natured than thefe zealous Clergy-men ? for there i> not a Nc?iconformifl but may be entertained among them, without fear of encreafinga Faclion. 7. It is not a very doubtful thing, whether our zealous Clergy-men are the belt or the worit fort of our Clergy, that argue fo itifly again It a legal Comprehension of the Orthodox Nonconformifts, with Res ions of ib little weight, or that are fo little fenfble of the llfefulnefs, and Ser- viceablcnefs of the Abilities of the Nonconformifts^to the great and cry- ing need of Souls. 8. This is a Vindication of the Nonconformifls from bringing in of Popery, for the way of getting into the Papifts hath been the (hutting out of them 5 they hope to get by a Toleration. There would be no colourable Reafons for a Toleration, if it were not a pretended Favour to the Nonconformifls. Take away Nonconformity as much as you can, and yon take away the faireft pretence for a Toleration. They that appear againlt the uniting of Protectants upon Catholick Terms, fervc the Popiih Turn and Interelt, and are effectually ill Friends to the Pro- tenant Interelt, and by Confequence our excluding Impolitions do more real Hurt than Good, to the Protectant Church ot England. 9. The dillenting Protectants may know who are their Friend-, and who their Enemies and what Potent Enemies they have, they have the Zealous Clergy againft them, and the Politick Potent Pa piit. 10. We fee the little Confidence or Ailiirancc we have of the Con- ftancy of many that are in the Communion of the Church of England ; for if the receiving of the Proteltant Diflenters upon Catholick Terms, be hazardous of loiing, or of the revolt of them to the Church bflbmi , as the more conltant and true to her felf, then what will become of them, if Popery ihouldfo far obtain, as to be able to give them Counte- nance and Favour ? for it they arc fo inclinable to revolt for the Con- defcentions of the Church, in fome things extra-cllential to the Chun It, E 76 Clje Confoamffsi C8fc& pea upon (hew of Inconflancy, what, would they be, when our Church is like to be lofty or fuppreit ? 1 1. Whether there is not a latent untrufly Party of fchifmatical Formalifts in the Church, that are Schifmaticks defofitive I for it feems they cannot bear the Reconciliation., and Refutation of the ejected :, and if they are upon that in danger of apojiatizing to the Church ofRome r are they not in danger of becoming the rankeit Schifmaticks in the World, by returning Members of an spoliate, fchifmatical Church, the Mother of Schifms ? 12. By this, among other Reafons, I am convinced that it is the Duty of all found and fincere Proteftants of the Church of England, to pray for and by all peaceable ways to endeavour the re-admillion of all found- Proteftant Dillenters, and a Catholick Union of us all. And I am con- vinced the learned Bijlj of Co fins fa w the State of Religion, when hede- clared in his lait Teltament, that it was the great Duty of us all to unite. And how much we are bound to acknowledge and with all due Honour to remember the Loyal and Chrittian Endeavours of our late Parlia- ments, to unite us. 1 did at firft deiign to compare the forefaid Decla- ration, to which, if turned into an Aft, the Nonconfomrifts would have: conformed-, and the Ad of Uniformity to which they cannot conform,, for a further Illuftration of the defpifed Cafe of the Nonconformists - but I hope there is enough fpoken to inform the lefs knowing, and to con- firm the more knowing,, in their charitable Opinion of them. I have, traced the divided Rivers to the Head of them :/ and for that reafon, that Truth may appear. From all this you may fee a Concord between the King propofing, and the Houfe of Commons, by their Thanks, ap- proving of it ; and the major part of the N one on f or mi ft s ready to fubmit to it. On the other fide, ycu fee the Bifhops and Doctors diilen- ting from the King and Commons ( that reflored- them ) and the re- forming Divines, and not [o concordant in their Sentiments and Opi- nions, as to denominate them unanimous, and could they have exten- ded their Charity but wide enough, they had provided well for a more durable Peace, defended with Confiderations, againff. which, but few would have drawn out the fmall Powers of their Mif-underliandings, to give trouble to it. There was not an exact Uniformity in their Notions ] Tome thought a Reformation necellary to the Church's Settlement : Mr. Thomdiks wrote for it \ and when the Commiflioners on both fides, began to difputc, it was feafonably clofed up j left the Difagrce- mentsofthe anti- reforming-fide had more appeared \ feme of whom undertook the Conduct of others, under whom a Promoter of their Deh'gn, the Lord Chancellor Hide, appeared and acted, ( who in the Year 164 1, was Chair-man of the Committee againft the Biihops •, ) others fo2 tlje J3on--Co!ifojmifW. 2 7 other? gave Reputation, but little Addition of Help •, others were vari- oufly inilrumcntal, fomc by their Learning, others with their cagernefs, and others with their keen andirverate Antipathy againfl: fomc,if not all of the reforming ! ; dc,nr.d differed in as many Points from the Doctrine of the Church, as the Noncmforwifls differed from the Difcipline and Cere- monies of the Church, and were doctrinal tfonemformifts. And it is clear, that they did not humbly and brotherly advife, nor maturely debate the matters committed to rhem,nrd not doubting of an hopeful manageable Number of the fucceeding Parliament., their Rciblutions palled into an Act,they took no more notice of the King's Declaration,than to make ar. hiitorical mention of it, that fuch a thing had been, but enact nothing commended by it, in mittigation or favour to the Dillenting-I:de, requi- ring more Conditions, and adding heavy Penalties, which that Parlia- ment in the latter times of it would have abated ; but it was too late, as wasfaid el fe- where. This is the Act to which the 'Notre o? for /;; cannot conform *, and they have given fuch Reafons, and fo many, for this paflive Nonconformity, that as many good Men as I know, are forry they have fo much to fay, and their difgufted Adverfaries are difpleafed and incenied with them, and no Man is thought yet to give a full and fufficient Anfwer to them, being rather flighted than anfwe- red ; or what the one takes in a llrict and honelt fenfe, the other is fain to expound in a very general, and well-meaning fenfe; according to one, more may conform than yet have conformed, according to the other, there arc but few, if any, that have conformed, in my acquain- tance. This being in part fpoken to in the Firfi Plea, I cannot fray- any longer upon this Head, but pafs to the other Conlidcration of Non- conformity. 2. Nonconformity taken actively andfofitively, and that is preaching and performing other Religious Exercifes, as it is commonly faid, con- trary to Law, by forbidden Men, and in a difallowed way. And for this fevcral Nonconforming Miuilters are at this time hunted, moleited, and admonifhed, according to the ftricteft Form of Law, in order to Bauifh- ment with Abjuration, or to be profecuted as Felons, in cafe of their Obftinacy and Refufal : Some of them have apologized for their preach- ing in fuch a manner, that if they are notanfwered in a rational, peace- able convincing way, they will not be u fed as rational Men, and their Sufferings will be the more harm, but not more hard to be born by them, becaufe they have given Reafons for their Actions, which will ap- pear to them cither unanfwerable, and that will make their Sufferings more comfortable •, or elfc their Oppreflbrs arc the more implacable, and then they muft the more meekly acquicfcc in the divine Pleafure, as called forth to fuffer.The Reverend Mr. Baxter hath written an Apology E 2 tor iui luc in unconiormm: muiUHtT. dedicated to nx or tne Kignt Keverena BiiTiops, by Name, and a Petition, which deferves the ferlous perufal of their Lordfhips, and ail other Minifters, Magistrates, and Gentlemen, that they may either fatisfy them, or be fatisfied by them. The Cafe is momentous, becaufe the Salvation of Souls, the many perfonaland real- Sufferings of Men in Bodies and Eltates, the healing of Divifions, and fettling of the Church, are unconceiveably touched, and concerned in it : Mr. John Trcughton h -th written a Book with the fame Title, upon the fame Argument. And altho the Right Reverend Bifhop of Cork^ hath done well in dealing f-ii hfully with Mr. B. he did ill in not dealing fairly with that Bog =-., and worfe in expoling him as uncapable, unfit to propofe Terms of Peace.; by which I think that Excellent- Bifhop hath not feen his Terms cfCc-icord, : ^part. And this being Rated, let us modeiily confider : i. Whether this their politive Nonconformity be not capable of an Apology ? 2. Whether it be not an hard cafe to filence, fupprefs, andpunifli them for endeavouring the Good of precious Souls ? For the firft y i. No Chriftian mould doubt that the Office of the Miniftry is origi- nally from Jefus Chrift, and not of Men. The extraordinary and or- dinary Office of the Miniftry of the Word and Sacraments are derived from the fame Divine Supream Authority. He that made the ApoftJes- able Minifters of the New-Teftament, hath made, 2 Cor. 3. 5 7 6. and makes all other lawful, fitted, and faithful Mi- nifters, Minifters of the New-Teftament j it is their Gift, and their Learning, their Office and Work, to declare and publifh that New-Teftament, or Covenant of Grace, the Commands, Conditions, Priviledges, and Promifes of it, to call and invite Sinners to it, to accept of the Grace therein revealed, to fubrnit to the Com- mands of it, perform the Conditions and Duties required, to make them thereby capable of the Priviledges and Promifes annexed to it, and to train up, edify, build, comfort, and perfedl all that are ink. This is an Office neceftary, ufeful and proper to his Kingdom.. ~ . , . . . 2. They who are called and fent by Chrift, and Qim fecit nosidone- ,- J ,. ,,. , it j os Miniirros n.t. quo- according to his Mind, are qualified, prepared roodo' fecit * per Spiri- and inftruded for their Work and Office, by the turn r.um tanqnam per Holy Ghoft, who was promifed and fent by Jefus Pi mcipriim.effectivuni'$ (Phrifr pci Gr.itiim Spiri: us ^ IJ111 ^ . i:«nquam per principi- 3- Being in fome lower meafure at fir ft prepa- um formal- , E; ifc. Da- red and fitted for their Work •, the Holy Ghoft is vanantius in c

, to try their Fknefs and Difpolition, finding them fit, to approve and feparate them to the Oliice of the Mi- niflry, to declare them to have Authority, to e>:hort them to Dili- gence arcl Faithfulnefs in their Office, and to teftify this to the Church. 6. NoBiihcpor Pallors can juftly refufe, and jimify the refufal be- fore Jefus Chrift, to whom they mull give an account, of any Perfon duly qualified with neceilary Qualifications for the Miniilry •, for it is a Sin to refufe him, whom Chrift hath by his Spirit fitted for, and excited to his Work by his Spirit. 7. As long as their Gifts and Abilities are continued, and the Holy Ghoil doth continue his gracious Motions and Afliftances, fo long thefe Minilters muft continue in the E.vcrcifc, and difcharge of their Office •, for there is the fame Reafon to continue them, as there was to admit them, they continuing the fame. 8. Their fitnefs for the Work of the Miniilry confining in foundnefs of Knowledg and Faith, aptnefs to teach, gift of Utterance, declared Refolutions,and undertaking to teach and do what Chrift hath comman- ded, with Perfeverance thercin,as a Guide and Example to the Flock,are fufheient Conditions of admittance into the Miniflry of the Gofpel. To do all things decently and in order, and to Edification* are necellary by the Law of Chrift's Kingdom, and not indifferent It may well be queftioned, whether any Man othcrwife fitted for the Miniflry, ihould be refufed, becaufe he refufeth to fubferibe, vow,promife, declare, to any doubtful, controverted Conditions of Admiilion or Continuance •, which are commonly invented by controverfial, contentious, and impe- rious Men, who do not only propofe their Conceptions to others Un- make them a Standard and Meafure to regulate other Mens Minds, and Practices ; and not only i'o^ but think it meet, that all (hull be punifhed that difagrcc, and diflent from them. F 11 For the Confirmation of thefe things, with the Authority of the Church oiEngUnd -, Let us obferve the Form of ordering Prielh and Deacons : The Preface faith, c The Biihop knowing either by himfelf, c or by fufficient TeiHmony any Ferfon to be of vertuous Converfation, c and without Crime, and after Examination and Trial, finding him c learned in the Latine Tongue, and fufficiently inftriidbed in Holy Scrip- c ture, may — admit him Deacon — .The Biihop faith to the Arch- •' Deacon, Take heed that the Perfons, whom you prefent unto us, be L apt and meet for their Learning, and Godly Con verfation — .The '-Biihop examines them in the prefence of all the People — -Do you L trull you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghoft to take upon you this c O^cc — ? Do you think you are truly called according to the Will c of our Lord Jefus Chrifl: — ? Do youunfeignedly believe all the Cano- c nicai Scripture of the Old and New Teftament ? Then opening his 4 Office, he asks him, Will you do this gladly and willingly ? Will you L apply your Diligence to frame and fafhion your own Lives, and of c your Families, according to the Doctrine of Chrifl, and be Examples c of the Flock of Chrifl — ? The other Qiieftion relates to the Govern- ment of this Church, as Obedience to the Ordinary, and his godly Ad- monitions, which is a local Condition, in order to their AdmiJion un- der our Church-form of Government, which is difputed by fome of the Parties when any is prefented to the Prieft-hood : The Bifhop cautions the Arch-Deacon 4 c Take heed that the Perfons whom you prefent un- c to us, be apt and meet, for their Learning and gcdly Converfation, c to exercife their Miniilry duly, to the honour of God, and the edify- c ing his Church — . I think them fo to be : Then (hall the Biihop fay 1 unto the People, Good People, thefe are they whom we purpofc, c God willing, to receive this day unto the Holy Office of Prieit-hood ^ c for after due Examination we find not to the contrary, but that they 'be lawfully called to their Function and Miniilry, and that they be 1 Perfons meet frr the fame. Note from this, that Learning and Godly Con verfation are the conflituting Qualifications of a Man lawfully called to the Function of the Miniilry. In -the Collect afterwards they pray God to replenifh them with the c Truth of his Doctrine, adorn them with Innocency of Life, that both 1 by Word and p.ood Example, they may faithfully ferve him in this c Office, &c Then follow the Epiftle and Gofpel •, after which the c Oath of Supremacy is given,and after that, an Exhortation to remem- ber their high Dignity, and weight of their Charge, i.t. to be Me.Ten- ^gers, Watchmen, Stewards of the Lord, to teach, premonifl\ feed, fc provide for the Lord's Family, to feck ChrifFs Sheep that are difperfed abroad, * abroad,, and for his (Children, who are in the mid ft of this naughty c World, that they may be faved through ChrUl for ever. I lave alv. 1 printed in your Memories how great a Treafure is cor... ittcd to your 1 Charge, the Sheep of Chrift, bought with his 'Death — the Congregation whi rerve is c tyis Spoufeand lusBody . And it it thai] happen R ,r ; nts t , Ur&j%i*- c any Vfetnber ofthat Church take any hurt by your - 1 and alio the horrible Pui ifhmcnt that will enfue-. ,vhi r "' e ~ c See that yon never ccafe your Labour, your < are c and Diligence, until you have done all that Ifeth 1 in you, to bring all under your Charge, to Agreement in Faith, a: d c Kipeneis of Age in Chrift, that there be no Error in Religion, or Vi< i c oulhefs of Life— \ ye ought to pray earneftly for his holy Spirit— ,conli- ( der how ftiidious you ought to be in readingand lean ing the Scripture-, c and framing your Manners, and of yours, according to the Scriptures , c and for this Caufe ye ought to lay al;de all worldly Cares and Studies \ c we have good hope that you have clearly determined by God's Grace, c to give your felves wholly to this Office, whercunto it hath pleated* 1 God to call you, &c % . This is enough to prove their Fitncfs and their Call to the Mfolftry ; and fuch as are thus fitted, are admitted and ordained. 9. It is fo far from being any part of their Office, that it is altogether i neon filbert with it, to difturb the Peace, or fow Sedition againftHea- then Magiftrates, or to derogate from their Authority, much more to do any fuch thing againft Chriilian Magilfratcs that profeis the Truth, to whom they are engaged by more and finder Bonds. io. Their Perfons and Eftatesare fubject to the Magiilrates Power and Laws their Conftiences.ro God, and in him and for him, to them as his Ordinance ; but to require more of them, than of other Subjc\ Is carries in it a vehement Sufpicioh, injurious to Religion, becar.fe a Suf c ion of them more than others. ii. They cannot impofe themtelvcs upon any People, as ;• Teachers, but if any are defirous of their Labours, or accept their Pains, and find beneiit thercbv, how can they that are given to the Work,, refute to initrucT andmiiuller to them, anymore than P I Sitkt^ when conllrained by the importunity of'Lydia ? sifts 16. 15. Will it inltil an ill Opinion of our Rulers, and Laws, if they (hail I od People, I would preach, inftruct, exhort, and comfort you, but I d . r.ot, 1 am forbidden, and it may coft me my Liberty, and mo than I am worth? Would it not be a fowing of Sedition amoi People, to tell them, Orthodox and faithful, and skilful 3 2 tf)? CoitfoimSff 3 C6irt pea dare jiot preach the Truth, no not in Corners, except to a very few ! 12. Their Office is Divine, ard their Calling not of Men, but of God, their chief Encouragements are fpiritual and heavenly, but they ought to be protected, encouraged, aid maintained, with all needful and competent Sublicence, for their bodily and miniiterial Support, and Comfort in their Work, and live of the Gofpel. 13. The Temporalities in the Donation oftheSupream Powers, or private Patronage, may be given to whom they pleafe, but Ml as ac- countable to God :, they iliould not be denied to Perfons fitted for the Work of the Miniltry, nor given to Men more fuitable to their Fancies, than the Mind of God : Magiltrates and Patrons have Rules for their Direction, as Inferiours have for theirs. 14. And therefore Superiours have need of great Wifdcm and Wari- nefs to difcern who are fit and worthy, and who not, and what are the neceifary Conditions to capacitate Men, for the temporal Rewards and SuMftence, left by their unncceiTary Jealoufy, and Arbitrary Qualifica- /ions, they reject Men that are furnimed with the moil necellary Quali- fications of Learning, and Holinefs, which contain Peace and Honefty. Men that fear a Net, may ftarve for want of Corn : It is hard Fare to fwallow and eat Scruples of Confcience. 15. Governours may deprive Minifters of their Temporal Mainte- nance^ remove them from their Stations for their Non-compliance with their Laws and Orders, but no humane Power can deprive them of what they could not give them, nor take away from them, viz., their minifterial Abilities and Authority. I think it clear, nothing can eject them, or un-make them, but the Privation of thofe things which could make them Minifters. The Crimes for which Minifters might be depofed are, either Impi- ety, Unrighteoufnefs, and Immorality, few in Number, but grofs in Qna] . And led I be thought too pofitive, let me propound fome Qiic- itio: 1. Whether thofe Men who arc fitted by Chrift for the Miniftry, that are moved and aififted by the Holy Gholt, that are devoted to Chrili; and his Work, that are invited to preach by many, that are movcd~with Compaffion towards many People that want, that have had Succefs in ir Labour^ are not obliged in Confcience to preach the Gofpel, as n, as much, and to as many as they can ? r. Whether it be a fufficieht Rcafontorcfufeto admit fucfyothcr- leand worthy Men, or to ejecl and Hence them, becaufethcy ■ ^fwear^d'eclare, what a few Men, without asking Counfcl and to tfjc Bon confj:mi(f.o\ 53 and Div&fUon of God by folcmn Falling and Prayer, or by Delibera- tions \vi:hthi\: framing Conditions, upon which, Continuance or Deprivation did depend of many hundreds of able Miniiters ? I do not quelrion the lawful Authority of Govcrnours, or detract from Order and Govern- ment ; -but the Qucltion is, Whether Rulers mould wholly reject fuch Men as arc duly qualified with Gifts nccclfary fcr the Office of the Mini- Ihy, who rcfufe no Catholick, but Conditions dubious in their Scnfe, and unnecefiary in their nature and kind ? 3. But granting that the Rulers of the Church, can judify to Chrifr. their Rejection of qaaliikd Men, which is not pafr doubt, from thofe public k Stations aid Endowments of the Church and charge of Souls ^ yet wnat I larm oy Danger can come to precious Souls by the profitable and wholfomc Labours of learned, judicious and found Chrittian Mini- fies, endowed with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit of Chrifr, the Spirit of the Catholick Church ? Why mould . not they preach the Word ? Why may not People hear them ? Or, why mould not we ac- cept their Help, and repute them our Fellow- Labourers, and rejoyce in their Succefs ? 4. Have any of us that conform, heard any of them vent in the Pul- pits in former times, while they had the Liberty of their Pulpits, any dilloyal, or rebellious Do&rine ? any Fanaticifm inconflftent with found Reafon, and the Oracles of God, the Faith of the Catholick, or Refor- med Churches ? Name the Men, admonifh them, labour to reclaim them, and teffify againft them. If they were fuch Seeds-men, why did not the Church after her Relf itution cite them, and proceed againft them to Excommunication and Ejection, as intolerable Men ? But on the contrary, Do we not remember our felvcs, and have we not heard others remember what manner of Men they w T ere, both in the llni- vcrlitics and Countries ? Do we not remember fome of them, as Go- vernors of Colledgcs, as Tutors, as Preachers in the Univerlity, City and Country ? and why may not they, who have been our Teachers, teach others ? by whom wc are faved and effectually called, by whom we believed, become blclled Infrruments, and Minifrers, by whom others may believe, be born again, and faved. Is Nonconformity an Ex- tinction of the Spirit of Light, Truth, Purity, and Power in them ? Doth Nonconformity feparatc them from Chrift ? Are they none of his,bccaufe they cannot fubmit to the Inventions of fome, who were not To much as Bi (hops, when they Tehemently coucurrcd to bring us to this pafs ? and were reftlefs to pafs fome of their particular Problems F into 34 Qty Confoantft'is €f)ttti J3lea into a Law, to which all Men muft declare A (Tent, if the AHent be de- clared in their fen fc. As I fhould think it a great Sin, not to fuccour my Father or Brother in want and diftrefs \ fo I do think it a great. Sin not to relieve my Fathers and Brethren in Jefus Chrii't, by a Faith- ful Teitimoriy, and Apology,, when they are oppreded, and in danger ofPriibns, Poverty, and many Miferics. Ar.d let TleLkj i* grateful j it be noted, . that I am obliged to acknowledg the 4&m*%3 b J j™ Efficacy of the Holy Spirit upon the preaching of ' Godly and RCcerend- r / - . J J- r i • j-i • bmU // Go k, of * ieveral or them, towards my Salvation •, and having Honconformt^ p. 73. known the proof, and Power of Chair fpeiking in them, I dare, not deny them before Men, leit I alfo deny Ghrift Jefus my Saviour in them. There are feveral lear- ned, holy, laborious, and fuccefsful Minilters that were our inltrudors in our younger time, who have conformed, but not fo many as refufed to conform, within my Knowledg, as I could name, but for offending, them, and fome other Reafons of my Silence,- and in thofe times of Liberty, thefe.feemed to be all of one Mind in the Lord. I and many more rejoyced in their Light ; and forrp of them were among Preachers, as Solomon faith, As the Apflc-Tree is among the Trees of the Wood ;, we late under their Shadow with great Delight, and their Fruit was pleafant to our Tafte. I could name the wife. Mailer-builders that laid the Foun- dation, other than which no Man can lay y I could name the PW, and. the Af olios, and the Peters that preached to the Heart, the Barnabas and the Boanerges 2 the Friends of the Bridegroom, that woed and befought Vis, and would not be denied till our Souls had received Chrift Jefus the Lord : fome of them are at reft in the Lord, and let their Names be blefled ; and others are in the Gloud, and Storm, and Warfare •, and to add Bonds to their many Afflictions is no fmall unkindnefs to Religion, We know of what Spirit they were,that digg'd up the Bodies of Wikcliff^ and other Saints ; it is not hard to find of what Spirit they arc, that rake into the Afhes of the Dead, and fprinkle them with their profane Wit,, which is like Salt that has lofs its Savour, not good for the Dung- hil ) it proceeds not from that Charity which covers a multitude of Sins. 5. Whether they who arc called of God to the Work of the Mini- ftry, fhould forfake and renounce their Calling, and look upon them- felvesas Lay-men, and be but as Lay-men, becaufe they are ejected out of their Places, and conform not to the Injunctions of the Law? Many of the Nonconformifts have Epifcopal Ordination ^ fhall they for- bear all Minifterial Ads, and do but what any Matter of a Family fhould do, initruct their own Family, and admit four more to a Participation of the Benefit ? /ball they renounce their Calling, who declared I fo? tlje Bait CaufcmntftsL 3 5 declared their Truft, that they were moved by the Holy Gholl, to tak c the Office (of Deacon) whom the Arch-Deacon declared* when pre fen- ced to the Prielthood, he thought them apt and meet for their Learning and godly Converfation 5 and the Bifhop declared, after due Examinati- on, We find not the contary, but that they be lawfully called to their Function , for whom the Bilhop prayed, and whom he hoped, that they have de- termined by God's Grace to give tfom pWfl tu jjifV Offi ce -> where unto God hath called them ; and alfo called to declare and profefs ( before God, Angela, and the Congregation) that they were truly called according' to the Wdl of the Lord Jejits Chrift, give faithful Diligence always fo to r.iiniiter the Doctrine and Sacraments, and the DifciplineofChri/r, a< the 'Lord hath commanded, and this Church received according to the Commandments of God; to drive away erroneous Doctrines, to ufe both fkblick^ and private Monitions and Exhortations to lick and whole within your Cures, as need fliall require, &c. Can any difcharge them from God's Call, but God that called them ? Can they fit ftill, and do no Miniitcrial Work, that ^tl^lelTent' have been devoted to the Minittry, that have been %l W' : il^iC :: 1w? prayed for, and exhorted to give themfelves wholly Arcbftftii, ev* to it ? Or do they ceafe to be Minilters, except it be in that Cure to which they were inftituted and inducted ? Then are we made, tho not Independent, yet Congregational Minifters, and are Miniftersonly in that particular Congregation? If tiaey ought not to renounce their Miniftry, then they may preach, anddo other ^Ministe- rial Offices, as they have opportunity. Others are not Epifcopally or- dained \ but if they are moved by the Holy Ghofl, are learned, exer- cifed in the Scriptures, arc of Godly Converfation, and give themfelves to the Work, are not they called of God ? If not, what's the meaning of the fore-cited Word in the ordering of Frists anc}. Deacons j c Then i fnall the Btfwffay unto the People^Gocd Fcople, thefe are they whom we 4 purpofe,God willing,to receive this day unto the Office of Prielthood : * For after due Examination we find not the contrary, but that they be c lawfully called to their Function and Miniltry, and be perfons meet for c the lame — ? Doth not the Bifhop look upon them as internally called, and that internal Calling declared and lignified, and therefore receives them ? And tho they have not Epifcopal Impofition of Hands ; if they have Iinpofitionof Hands of Presbyters, and are let apart by Fafting and Prayer, arc they not more than Lay-men, or private Believers r They who fay they are but Lay-men, have no better Reafons than the Romantfis had, who called our Reformed Bifhops, no true Bi (hops, nor Priefts. Anthony Chamfney dedicated, or rather directed his Book of the Vocation of Bifhops, &c. to Arch-Bilhop Abhr y with no higher F 2 Title, }6 Cfjc Confoimiffss CijtrU ptea Title, than To ^/>\ George Abbot, calkd ylrch-bifrop ofc^rnbmy. And the moil: eminent Defenders of"- our Proteitant Religion, th6 they af- ferted a Power of Ordination to re.!ide in the Bifhop, as without whom there was no regular Ordination ; yet they jnlti- See Mr. Fwn Mafon, ficd the calling of Forreign Divines and -Churches %.y y9 .Defenctof or-- ^ Presbyters without Bifhops and- the Realbns """"""• thcyuCedtb vindkatc them, will lerve to vindi- 2 . „... . ,J ; cate thofc among us that have no otrkr • And §.53. p . iii. c and Cahm) fucc ceded no Apoilohtk Bilhops, : . *~ neither had any Calling to preach that new Faith. * T arifweiy'T4rafrT6r the ffiHmal Snccejjion., whereof we have fpoken, w we -cv> e not • -ft"' Is^RfflPftTS '' rhat in Doctrine they firtxeeded the Apo- ^Ttles aid Primitive Churches — .'-Ft is fhe <* ftg F5e . ld °/' ' Ae ^Cuitom of the Catholick Church,/*? F-pifcopi M1&- Church, book 2 C 59. J ,. r / ^ n L J J* r "rnjvf r ^jL Ecc ] c r c a . /w ordwemJedficjMS a Presbyters or dinxtu* futrif^ () r . Obfervario:v, tS&Kt $th Senior, of the faond Coupler, De Circ:■■* I were ad-' ^ **> ° I nutted to read and mterpr- wif Scriptures^ in the. Primitive and prin ■•• Cmihtp, which they b f.cerm e f .JK It e- ibmcamesdid perform in t he prefenceof the Bi* t^f^-- (hops \ and namcth Ortgn> and others \ namely, Such in whom the lingular Gifts of the Holy Spirit did appear, -that it might be manitell to dK Rectors of the Churches, that their Labour in initructing the People in the Mvireries of the Faith, would not a little" profit them. And faith he. If any Man add, what the truly learnc J Huron Zanchim fpeaks indefinitely — , when from the Practice, of the purer Church, they who were not ft Holy Orders, did preach' the Go* ("pel. We anfwer,. There i* a deference tobe made between the limplc Lay-man, or the common fort, to whom Power is given in the R&tmfi Church to baptize, and them who are infiar Mimfirorum Evmtgtltj • who are like the Miniiters of the Gofpel j ard who not only excel the com- mon fort of Men, for their Learning in holy things, but arc called bv the fpccial,publick and common Decree of the Bilhop, and them that arc over the Congregation, public kly to interpret Scripture. And thefe, and noDothersy the w ords of Biiccr do note or point at, eS . ~ - Jjics ego non audco y adordt/iarioryim^ & vulgarism Lakoram Conditio, s ej rt vocAre cum ad Presbytcros tarn prop* ace e dam. I dare not bring down theffi to the Condition of ordinary, and vulgar Lay-men, .that come ft) neat to Presbyters (or Miniiters ) faith the learned ^bot of this fort •, there are fcarce any to be found at this day ( faith he) for the multitude. of them that fcrvc in Churches. And whether TerttiMian and Mr fpeak of fuch as thefe, truit were permitted to baptize^ I leave to the Judgment of the Learned. By thefe Tcirimanics we fee how different the Judgment of too many ofthisptefent Age is, from the Judgment and Candor oft he "moil ve nerable Writers of former times. Now Schifmarick is but a (omnior. Name .todiftinguifhthc NQKMfwwifts from the Chuuh-mea; ur.d one ■ as in a fit of Kindaefs is far from charging them with Defence of Dr. Sill- Schifnvif they would not leave the Church, but lingfleet,p^.69. conform as Lay-men, as the Nonconformifis -did. But did the old Nonconformifis conform as Lay-men ? So I fuppofe we all conform but as Lay-men, when we do not officiat as Miniftcrs ; we anfwer as People anfwer,anddo no more than People do. But I think the old Nonconformifis did reckon themfelves when they left their Living as much, and as truly Minifters, as they did when they had their-Livings, and did preach publickly by Connivance, as Mint- Hers in mofh Counties. Our prefent Nonconformifis would thankfully accept the Favour, which mod of the old did enjoy, till Conformity .grew too hot even for many Conforming - 7 I need not name the Times, nor the Planets that then bore Rule. But who can forbear lamenting the Condition of our Brethren, and of multitudes of precious Souls ! Is there any Man qualified with a Competency of Learning, that can fay, he is moved by the holy Ghoft ? that leads a good Life ? that promifeth to give himfelf to the Work of God ? but fhall be acknowledged by the Ordainer, to be called of God, even before he layeth on his Hands? but if this very fame Man /hall afterwards fcruple, orrefufe, to aflent to all and every thing, err. he fhall no longer be accounted by fome Men, as a Man called of God, but muft become again a? a Lay-man, or elfe he cannot efcape being a Schif- matick: which is enough to tempt a Manto think, that thefe make the Gift of Subfcribing, and the Faculty of adenting and confenting to other Mens Inventions, to be the eflentiating and conftituting Qualification of a Miniftcr, without which, tho he be never fo wen furnifhed with other Gifts, he fhall be accounted but a Lay-man, and muft do no more than a Lay-man, or elfe there's no avoiding the odious Crime ofSchifm. And hence this Notion may arife, like a Meteor in the Firmament of the Church, to be gazed upon, and afford matter of Obfervation, if not of Prediction. That Conformity to an Ordinance of Men doth effectu- ally make a Minifter of Jefus Chrift, in the Church of England ^ and while he continueth in the fame Mind he was in, at 24 Years of Age, all his life-time, and be not prepared to fubmit to all after-Devices, that may be added, he ilvall fall from the Grace and Dignity of his Ordina- tion and Miniitry,and return to his firft fimple Being, of remotely difpo- fed matter of meer Laity. If it be faid,no :, for he being once ordained,he is a Minifter of the Univerfal Church. Well, that's true •, but if he can- not conform to every Point, then he cannot exercife his Miniftry in this Church : and then the Confequence is obvious :, fuch are the Conditions of the exercife of theMiniffry in the Church of England at this day, that a Minifter of 'the Univerfal Church cannot exsreife his Office, no not in fen tfje 0on--ConfQ#mff sf ♦ 3 9 in any Chappcl of Fafe in this Kingdom, except he fubmit to them \ and if he cannot exert ifc Us Mimicry, after he is called nr.ro it, \vhar dothit profit him tobca Minitter ? or v. hat is the Church the better fbrhisOrhce? If one acknowledged to be a Minitter of the Univerfal Church, may not admir.iiler in a particular Church,thcn is it not becaufe that particular Church requires iome Conditions, whit h arc not fo large as the Rules and Conditions of the Llr.ivcrfal Church ? This may put us to fearch whether dhlerent Rules,ttriaer Laws prefcribed,as Conditions of Entrance and Continuance in the Minittry, and Church-Communion, be not the Caufe or Occalion of St hilms in particular Churches ? Thefe Catholick Rules and Conditions are to be taken, and received from the A pottles, who went into all the World to gather, and to found Chrittian Churches. They gave us Laws enow to govern any particular Church, who were fetit into all the World : And no Decrees of General Councils are of equal Obfervation with the Scriptures, not only becaufe of their Sanctity, but becaufe of their Univerfality \ and the. very Errors and Mittakesof them in fome Particulars are tolerable, that do what they can to find out and follow the Will of God in Scripture. And this Diverflty can be no Inconvenience to any Church, .becaufe of the plain Injunctions and Commands of keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, of loving, and forbearing one another, in Love. But to return, What (hall we fay ? Are they but Lay-me ",or but quaf* Lay-men, that were once ordained by Diocefms f or what if others caji prove by the Holy Scriptures, and the Catholick Rules of Faith, that they are called of God, and make proof of their Gifts,which make them ferviceabk to the Souls of poor Sinners,and only fcruple fome late im- plicating perplexing Terms,what /hall they dc in this cafe ? They would enter into the Service, according to the uncontrovertcd general Rules of Chritt,the Soveraign Law-giver of his Church \ but that will not ilrve the turn, they mutt: do more : They have received Gifts from the Spirit, of the fame nature with other Minifters,thcy'l fubmit their Gifts to the Tri- al, to free them from the Fanaticifm imputed to them. Thefe Gifts are for fome ufe ; they are their Talents, and they mutt: give an account of them to the Giver of them at his appearing. Whither can any of them go, and not be ferviceable ? Is there any City, Town, Parifh, or noble Family in England^ifi which there is not need, or where fuch as they may not be exceeding profitable ? but in fome Places, there is a crying need ! O how few, few Labourers are there in very large Fields ! yea, as ottenfive as the prefence of the Brethren arc in many places, there is not an ufelefs Man among them, nor one place hardly where is no* need, if not extrcam need. What frail they do ? conform to the Church 4: 33jc Coufo*mttf 5 $ CljirD \plta -as Lay-men only ! What if the Bottle be fo full,that its ready to burit ? what if the Fire of Zeal, true Zeal, kindle ? mult they not fpeak with their Tongue ! What if the Breait be full, and they who were begotten •inChriit Jefusby their Miniitry, cry, cry to them-; Ogive m of the fin- cere Milk of the Word ! fhall they fay, No, my Breait is hi!!, but I mult not draw it out ? What if they have Bread enough, and xan divide it, and fee a Company of poor Souls ready toftarve, and .pine for Want., and yet they mult not give them a piece of Bread ? City Mi filters are moltquarelfome and contentious with them.} but if from their high Places they law and knew but what 1 know, inltead of charging them •with Separation and Schifm, they would beg of Authority, that they would fend them into many places of the Land, which are more like a Wildernefs, than the Garden of the Lord : but inltead of doing this, fome have written to prepare a prejudiced People to entertain them with Stones •, or befeech them to depart out of their Coaits ; and not to open their Doors to entertain them, or their Ears to hear them, 0h ! how are many of the Servants of God, true Subjects, able Preacers, at this day forced to hide, and many are as fhy, and clofc to entertain them, as if they were Traitors, and the Hue and Cry were out again it them ! But what if thefe Men cannot think themfelves difcharged of their Work, when their Hire is ftopt ? they cannot but pity thole that have no Shepherds, or not enow ; they cannot Hop their Ears againit the Cry of the poor •, what if Confcience cry, Wo to ?ne^ if I preach not the Gefgel! O there are too many that never heard that Preaching in their Bofom. Some have pleaded that Wo concerned none but the Apoitie-; what (hall they do between two Woes ? Wo from Chrift if I preach not, and Wo from Men if I preach ! Object. They mult obey the Laws, obey Authority. Ar,fvo. So they muff, and, as far they can, they da ■Object. But they fay, they mult obey God rather than Men. Anfvo. So did the Apoltles, who taught Obedience to Govcrnours. Neither may any godly Prince take it as any Dishonour to his Eftate, to fee God obeyed before him •, for he is not God, Dj.»ce of the A?*- but the M inifter of God, faith our Venerable PJ£ » Father, Bilhop Jewel. Object. But our King, and Magiltrates, and Laws, are not fuch as They were, neither are our Con-vcmicicrs Apoftlcs. , Anfw. True, I call no Reflections upon the Kii,g,but acknowledge his Life, and Proteitancy to be lingular Mercies and Priviledges. But if the in It Qiril! ian Churches were planted, and the Faith preached where the Rulers ft? tf)e jaon--coiifo?mfffsL 41 Rulers were Unbelievers, difa/fcjtcd to it, and Perfecuters of it j the 11 Preacher, that preach the Doctrine of the Apoitles and live according to the Gofpel, may humbly expeft, if not lay fome Claim to a Privi* ledge of preaching, and worfhipping God, as near as they can difcenp according to his mind. The Cafe of the Brethren is fo clear in it felf, TheCdmn Law calls that fome in Power have no other colour lor pro- thtrjiyrsOtdt <,Pt- cceding againll them, than as Men that exercife rtf^Jfrp'^ another Religion, as I can produce, which clearly t her* * hut *nt Rdt- intimates, that it is unreafonable to proceed to /«*. ConhTcations and Banifliment againll Men that profefs the fame Religion. And whereas Godlinefs and Honefly may claim Protection, they reprefent them as wicked and difhoneft in the higheft Degree, that is, feditious, and withdrawing the King's Sub- )ecls from their Allegiance, &c. But this is the old Language, as the moll Reve- Aplog. c. 2. Divif. rend Bifhop Jewel writes, as objected againll them, 7. p. 2 1. that we be fallen from the Catholick Church, and by a wicked Schifrn have fhaken the whole World, and troubled the common Peace, and univerfal Quiet of the Church : and that as Dathan and Abiram confpircd in times pall againft Mojes and Anton •, even fo we this day have renounced the Bifhop of Rome, without any reafonable Caufe. But let us fee wherein our Brethren are to be blamed, or do any thing but what our King and Governours may allow, the Primitive Bi - ihops of our Reformation being Judges. TThe Religion of our Brethren is, Thou jlialt IVorJJiip the Lord thy God, and him only Jlialt thou ferve. c It is the Religion of Chriil, and not of 4 Anti-chrill. I reckon it cannot Hand with the Prince 1 , Duty to reverfe c this heavenly Decree ; Thoufiah worjlup the Lord thy GW, §tc. with * effcblifhing two Religions in one Realm; the < firfr authoi ized by Chrifl, and bequeathed in his Jtr^S^ o/ n S *t c Teltamcnt to the Churchy the next invented or El i lt% 4 <> # c Aotichrift, and flatly repugnant to the Propheti- i cal ard Apoftolical Scriptures — . LQur Brethren endeavour to keep ftricLly to the Scripture, and Chrift, $s Law-giver. J 4 Then as the Minifler mult difpence the Word of Truth, be there- c with offended and grieved who iilf \ fo the Magistrate may draw the < Sword of Jullice to compel, and punifli fuch as c be blindly led, and malicibufly bent to refill Part 1. pag. 33. c . found Doctrine: Who then Ihould be puniihed, Preacher* ? or they, or thofe Officers that trouble them ? G C>feVff. 42 C6e Cottfojmtft & Cljttti pea Object; But the Magiftrate is to be obeyed in all lawful things, and every particular Church hath power to ordain Ceremonies, fo they be not contrary to God's Word. An fro. No Man difputes the Magistrate's Power in commanding things good and neceflary ■, the Doubt is concerning things which are indifferent, as fome fuppofe, but not indifferent as the. Diiienters fup- pofe. Of things indifferent, hear the Judgment, of the fame learned' Bifhop : We may not for things indifferent trouble the weak^ Aiinds of our brethren ; yet this Rule bindeth no Magi f rate to. remit the Purit foment of Er- ror and Infidelity, becatffe God hath charged to fuffer lbid*P^f. 33. no kind of Evil unrevenged ( and this is the greatejt ) rohofe Voice they muft hear, whofe Will they mnfi obey, though they were fire thereby to fcanddiz^e. never fo many both Aliens arid Subjells. If they are things truly indifferent, .then Governours may forbear to;, command them, whereas many do rationally fcruple the .Obfervation of them, and cannot without Sin, obferve them. Condefcention and Self- denial would rid Mens Confciences out of this Strait, between the Ma- gistrate's Command, and the Dictates of Conscience. Objett. But by their Preaching, and Separate Meetings, ..they break the Communion of the Church, .and are guilty of Schifm, and to tolerate them is to tolerate a .Schifm. Anfv. This is the great Clamor of the. Accufers: but let us fee where- in Communion of Saints and Churches doth confift, and -then we fhali fee what Schifm. I cannot quote a more learned Ibid. Part 2. -p. 223, Doctor of this Church, or of greater' Authority,, 224- than the fame Reverend Bifliop Bilfon, he fhall de- cide this Cafe. 1 It is a moft pernicious Fancy to think the Communion of Chrift : s 6 Church- depends upon the Pope's P'erfon, or Regiment {let them that 4 imagine one Vniverfal Soveraign Power over the ChwXch in oar- days, whether * one or many, obferve this Dotlrine ; ) and that divers Nations and Coun- * tries differing by Cuftoms, .Laws, and Manners ( fo they hold one and L the fame Rule of Faith in the Bond of Peace ) cannot be parts of the. *• Catholick Church, Communicant one with another, and perfectly uni- c ted in Spirit and Truth eachT to other *, and fy dn your Follies that. c rack your Creed, and rob Ghrift of his Honour, and the Church of all * her Comfort and Security ,whilft you make the Unity of ChrifPs Mem- '• bers to con lift in Obedience to the Bifliop of Rome, and not in Cohe- 1 rence with the Son of God ! c The Communion of Saints, and near dependance of the Gcdly each 1 on other, and all of their Head, llandeth not in external Rites, Xuftoms, and c and Manners, as you would fafiiion out a Church obfervwg the Pope's 4 Canons — , but in believing the fame Truth, tailing of the fame 4 Grace, retting on the lame Hope, calling on the fame God, rejoycing 1 in the lame Spirit, whereby they be fealcd, 'fan elided, and preferved 4 againft the day of Redemption . The Communion of the Catho- 4 lick Church is not broken by ' diverfity amd variety of Rites, Cnfioms, Laics ^ 4 and Faf)ions\ whirH many Places and Countries have different .each <■ f r o«. omer, except they be repugnant to Faith and Good-manners, as * St. Auguftme ad Januanum, Jrcnxiu^. Et(fcbiM,\. 5.0 23. Socrates, *i 5. c. 22. Simple Verity is the Band of Unity. J excel. Bi- fhop Carltcn makes the Unity of the Church to con- D fw? p- 4*>- P<*- fiil in one Head, Chri \ one Body, one Spirit, one kaiun - de EccLfU - - Faith, or one Rule of Faith. And if Unity conlifts in Uniformity in the fame Form of Prayer, Li- turgy, aid Ceremonies, there was no fuch thing as Unity, there were as great Schifms in the ApoiHes days, as among our Brethren, according to the Judgment of the fame learned Bifhop Bil- fon - . Some of their own might befo vain-glori- Ibid, fourth fart, p. ons as in making their -Prayers at the Lord^s Ta- 619, 620, tkc. ble ( which was then done by Heart, and not after any preferred Order or Form ) to (hew the Gift of Tongues . In the publick Service of the Church, the Miniiters and Elders, which were many, both Travellers, and there Dwellers, had every Man his Pfalm, his Inilruction, his Tongue-, Revelation, or Interpretation, as the Spirit of Grace thought molt expedient - . And other Order in the Divine Ser- vice in the Apoitolick or Primitive Church, we read for certain of none, befides the Action of the Lord's Supper, which the Apoftles and fo no doubt all their Churches always ufed in the end of their publick Meet- ings, but with.no fet Prayers, fave only the Lord's Prayer, as 'Gregory confefleth. 1 The red of their Prayers, Bleflings, and Thanks-givings, were in 4 every place made by the Gift of the Holy Ghofr, infpiring fuch as L were fet to teach and govern the Church. And you have *- long fince their time, framed a Liturgy in James\ Name. Pag. 620, c Yet for fo much as the Church of Chrilt did not ac- 4 knowledg it your main Foundation is a Dream of your own, that * the Church of Corinth had a prefcribed number and order 4 of Prayers pronounced by fome one Chaplain, that faid Pag. 621 4 his Leffbn within-book, or might not go one Line befide r i Tag. 622. c Handing, and confirming their Prayers and Thanks with c faying, Amen : and other Divine Service than this they had Tag. 636. c none — . We do not think that Bafd or Chryfoftom, would 4 take upon them to make a new Form of Church-Service, ** if St James the Apoftle had done it before them. From this Teftimony, it is clear, that if Uniformity in one Form of Worfhip, or Common-Prayer, and Ceremonies be neceifary for Church- Union, then there was no Church-Union, or Catholic k- Communion in the Apoftolical Churches, becaufe there was no Form or Order of Divine Service fet and prefcribed: But there was the moll Chriftian and Catholick Communion in that Diverfity •, therefore Catholick Union and Communion, without o»e prefcribed and fet Form. And hence the DiiTenting Brethren have the Countenance, of an ancient venerable Bifhop of Winchefter for them, and to convince their Troublers for ufinga Worihip different from the Liturgy, of the Church of England. Prophe-ying, praying, praifing God,, are parts of God's Worihip, tho in differing- Words and iMethod, they are the fame Di- vine Worihip. And who ad neareft the Primitive Pattern of the Apoftles, and pureft times, they who worihip God in Chrift by the Spi- rit, or they who will not fuffer them ? ObjeU. But the Apoftles and Teachers had the Guidance of the Spirit. Anfxo. They had, but that Affiftance which they had for performing the Worfhip of God, was not extraordinary,or peculiar to their Times y becaufe Gofpel- Worfhip was to be performed ia — Qmo in loco (fed. all After-ages of the Church, and by Confequen.ee.> Jo eo.Vqftendit cum the Affiftance of the Spirit was to continue to all ft^SflUffi Miniffers in fucceeding Ages, without whofe Affi- torumd?ve, qui habeat fence wecan do nothing. And the Holy Spirit. Spi-itum Sanftum Cy_ doth continue to give Gifts and Graces to his Mini- pnan ad magnum ^ rs and People : and if one Form were abfplute- ly neceifary for all Ages, it is a wonder that the Apoftles did not leave us one. . Form is but a niod M and to be ufed, or. not ufed,as is moft for Edification*, and they that ufe knot, fhould not,, fiayt&c jaon€ottfo2mifl0- 4S not condemn them that ufe it^md they who ufe it,fhould nol,as I conceive, judg them as Schifmaticks that ufe it not, but joyn one with another. bbjett. But it is a Difordcr in the fame Church and Government, and not to be born, it looks like a different Religion. /&tfir. The Rom.imfts have often charged the Church of Englhnd with permitting diiierent .Religions in the Nation : Hut let the fame learned Bifliop ar.fwer for me. . 254. intolerable. The Champions of- the Church, of England in former days againfl the Papifts were moderate, when we know there was a di* erent way of Difcipline and Decency fecretly pracTi- fcd. If Doctrine be the direction of Practice, to be moderate in Do- ctrine, but fcvere in Prae r ticeand Execution, is to put out the Candle, and kindle a Fire ; to preach Charity, but to (hew no Mercy. To draw towards a Conclusion :, Let us but truly judg of the elder Nonconformifis with righteous Judgment. 1. Before his Majeltie's wonderful Reftauration, in ail Countries and Places where they lived and preached, who did rebuke, reprove, exhort, and fulfil all parts of Minfters more than they ? Who maintained Pro* teflant Doctrines, preached for Conviction, Conversion, Holmcfsand^ Righteounefs more than they ?■ Who vindicated all Ordinances from fome that pretended to live above them ? Others that denied the ne- ceffity and ufe ofthemi. and from the Profanation of lacred # Things ? And who did more forwardly affiit and concur to fettle the Government upon ancient Foundations,^!^ in the Inheritor of the Royal Throne ? Who were moreiiated bv impious Seels, or that laboured more to con- vince and red jce them, than they 1 2, At that time, and fince, how highly were they placed in the Kiflg's good Opinion? as is fully exprelied in his Royal Declaration. 5, They 46 €Jjc Coifiwiitt'iS^W Pea 3 . They did fliew 3 Forwardnefs and Zeal to fettle the Church, deny- ing. their own private Opinions, to lay down foiid Foundations for a Comprehenfive Church, 1 -4. When they quietly fubmitted to the Law of their Ejedment-, did they, did any of them fow Sedition, or ill Principles of Faftion ? was their Exhortation of deceit or guile ? to incenfe their loving Auditors, or oblige and conjure them to any thing inconhilent with the Gofpel ? or unlike Men, as going from the Pulpit, to God's Tribunal, to give him an Account of their Dodrine, Faith, manner of Lire? fee any of their broken Notes,and Farewell-Sermons, printed much to th^- x>;.aa- vantage 5 Teftify again!! them who can ! t . '' _ , 5. Except they had n=»«o«x^vUuieir iacred Calhng,and filenced them- felvea, whi could have 1 imployed their Labours with more inotfenhve- nefs to Authority, more Toil to themfelves, and more Profit to precious Souls, and lefs Oppofition to the publick than they did? ( as will appear in Inftances) An honourable Member (Sir //. C. Anno 1670,71 ) in full Parliament took notice of it that there were no Conventicles: yes,they took pains to preach,when others were at re/bin great Privacies and Solitudes. And lefs be juft: who hath made any Obfervation of Peo- ple, and Arfairs, that will not fay,for one Schifmatick we had had many, had it not been for their great Industry •, and who See Mr. Allen, say to f ov all that are Schifmaticks bat they! -It is not Archippus f. 23 fell. Thanks-worthy to keep poor weak Souls in the occajlo»s;ararL i»- Faith and Truth, except they turn Lay-men, and deed> &c. ' all come up eveirto the Rails, *. e. to the heighth. 6. God and the King made their A'lemblies fc numerous and publick ; God by a tremendous courfe of Judgments, yet remembring Mercy : The King, after 12 Years Experience of fniitlefs Severity, fent out his Declaration of Indulgence. Some of themfelves have publilhed the Providence of God, but it is not worth the noting ^ and they that are refolved on their way, will not be hindred by making Obfervation, even of the Works of God. When God fent a dreadful Plague, and the Angel flood over London with his drawn Sword, as our JernfaUm ; then the King, and Court, and Parliament removed to Oxford , and when many Churches were empty, God ilirred up many of the Non&nformifts to go and preach up and dewn * ? then they had the uic of Churches, and numerous AfTemblics, and gained many Souls to -God by them, and drew the Hearts of a defolate People to themfelves, which could never fince be alienated from them. And when the Popifh Fa&ion oppofed by the Loyal Perfons, got an Act to remove them from Corporations", they were then moft imployed in the Capital City in fpight of their Adverfaries, and God protected them, and the Plague proved fo? tfje j!^£onfa?miffsu 47 proved their Sanctuary from that Law. Next Year the City was burnt, and the Inhabitants of the principal Parts of it were driven into Cor- ners \ and the Ko};cG?;f z us ^ and they who are fo offici- ous to ferve their Intereft now, may not come o:I lb well with their Reward as slclombeul^did, Many lmtered great Loflfe, lived in great danger and detraction by , that /Corporation factors could never accomplish their fulf dellgn by It \ the very Sou Idlers that were imployed to keep out People, and. to guard the Meeting-places, were not pleafed with their OfHce, and fhewed Civility to the.MiniJkrs; in fome places. Their Sufferings- we i}t aeainil tl^ : cpmmon fcnic of Men : but fo captious were fome Men, fo 2ealbus, rather io jealous, to julfiry their Reloiutions, that ftxange. Stories were carriul, and difperfed of feditious Doctrines, Preachers wereprefented as Incendiaries, toincenfe the Magistrate againft them •, that it was dangerous for the Preachers to quote fome Texts of Scriptures*-,, nnd juilcaufe, there is why fucji unchriltian Spirits ihould be afraid of Scriptures. 7. After all this Diffraction and i rouble, His Majefty fcr^ out bis Declaration of Indigence, and they became licenfed Preachers, i true, the Parliament at their next meeting declared againitit, as contra- rytothe Laws, and his Majefty called it in; but it proved, and pro. \ profitable to the Noncovforwifts fevcral ways. \ i. The very Parliament that was againft the Declaration, continued rather favourable towards the Nonconforrrjfts tnan iharp; \fck Laws continued, but the Execution cooled and abated. 2. Such as built Tabernacles and the moil convenient Places they could, held them, and their Congregations ftuck to thousand both with- out Mokftation, until now, that their oUFrknA awakes v . i of ikep, left: they Ihould. fow good Seed in the Field. 3. Though that Declaration of Indulgence, "&* f ' the Licences granted them, cannot protc:t them "?' from the Arrcics or Mens Pa hons,nor trom me vu- thgnv^ lent Hands of fuch (as are LikeS^Y) againfethem •, en,: r;;.u J . yet they do clearly vindicate them from the odious. SI*. 48 Cf}c Cmt&n«fff0 Cfjitu pea Slander of feditious and evil Men. 'For can it be thought that the King would have fo little regard to Truth, Faith, Peace, to his own Safety, and the Prefervation of his Subjects from the infection of wicked and curfed Principles, as to grant Licences to feditious Preachers, to Doctors of Rebellion, or Underminers of Church and State? they are molt the fame Men, who were licenfed by the King *, if the King was deceived in them 5 if they are dangerous and evil Men, teftify againft them, and no greater Favour isdefired for them, but Truth and Juftice. Let them that clamor againft them and afperfe them, do it, and preferve their Honour and Reverence of the King immaculate if they can. Chriftiannm effe ( Nonconformiftam effe) ant eft Crimen, aut non eft ^ fi Crimen eft, cur non interacts confeentem? ft Crimen non eft, quid ferfeqiwis innocent em ? 1: Cyv. contra Demerrianum. Tract, i. And fo much for that, by way of Apology ; now follows the fecond Query. 2. Whether it be not hard to filence, fupprefs, and punifh the Or* thodox Nonconformifts, for endeavouring the everlafting Salvation of precious Souls by their Preaching and other Religious Exercifes ? I cannot call to mind more than three things that can be urged againft them, or to juftify their Sufferings. i. They tranfgrefs the Laws and Orders of the Church, made by the Bifhops', Rulers, and Fathers of the Church. 2. They tranfgrefs againft the Statutes of the Land, and why fhould they be priviledged or fpared if they tranfgreft ? 3. They are Men uncalled to preach the Gofpel*, and it is fit fuch Men ihould be reftrained. To the firft, It may be anfwered, waving the Difputes about Church- Rulers, arid the '-PvcfLridlion of Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction; that the preient Terms of Minifterial Liberty were not the Refnlt and Decrees of all the Bifhops of the Church after Confutation and free debate, iuppofing all the Power to be lodged in them *, but we know that our Eccleiiaftica! Laws are made by our Convocation, and enabled and tftablifyed by the Civil Power; whether there Was any Debate or Di^ imputation about thefe Impolitions, is not altogether unknown. We ; -J Whether to require Conformity in Practice* >/ tbetrmpm Verfwafi. < whcre there is difference in Judgment, be not to ir Thoughts :ernfe of the Miniltry, and the Church deprived of his other Abilities for that Mirtakc, Weaknefs, or call it Error? Our Saviour bore with his Difciples, when lie reproved them \ Arc ye yet without Vridrffianding ? nix! did not turn them out. 5. Whether Allcjit and Cor.fent, to fome human La%vs, Rites and Ceremonies, upon which' neither Faith, nor Unity depends, be not herer by made more nccc.iary for E'xercife and Practice,' than the affenting to Articles of Faith, or than preaching the Gbfpel, or by confequence, the Salvation of Immortal Souls ? It is true, there is a vaft difference in the nature of the things 5 but as to Capacity and Incapacity to minifrer in the holy Office, it i> all one, for a Man to refufc Ailent and Confent to every tiling, as it is to an Article of the Creed. 6." Or that Conformity to Order, and the ufe of the Liturgy, a: monthly Sermon, or a Homily, is more for the Edification of the Churchy than diligent and conltant preaching, without a particular . Aflent to ali 7 every thing ? Which ( I will freely fpeak it) can be affirmed by none, bur aManrhat lets light by his own Salvation, and never perfonally con- verted with his own Flock, or knows the Conditions of the Covenant of Grace, or Eternal Life, or the Practice of the Primitive Church. Hitherto I have laboured to open the nature of the Canfc of thefe Proceedings agairtftour Proteftant Brethren, and it is their None formity, pailive and acftive j the firft of which is a refufai of the n dern Term, of Church-Freedom y the fecond h a worfhipping of God in Chrift, according to the Rule of the Holy Scripture, as nearly as they can difcern it ;' and after the common, either allowed, or not difallott manner of the Reformed Prote!! ant Churches, ?-r.d particular th ; EngLmd: And in what they do, they follow die fame Rule, r : ::c! from the fame Principles, which our firft Reformers profclled, ?nd ti learned Defenders have maintained : And three Qucftions (hall I - the whole of what's to follow. 1, "■ 54 €fje Cottfomtift's CljirO pea i. Whether they, die Proteftant Nonconformifts, juftly deferve to be filenced, fupprelled,.and punilhed, as they have been, and are ? 2. Whether they are not at leal! to be permitted, and indulged? 3. Whether we ought not to unite and become one, by removal, or abating the things, that divide and break us ? fo that we may hold mu- tual* and actual Communion in the fame Exercifes of Religion, with- out fear of offending our Superiours thereby, or any other ? So much hath not been fpoken of the fir ft QiiefKon in the Second Plea, but that much more may be produced, to encline, if not draw the fenfi- ble Reader to the right fide of the Queftion. 1. It is clear that they are not depofed and profecuted for fuch Crimes as were meritorious of Depofition in the Ancient Church by their Canons •, thofe Crimes were Fornication, Perjury, Theft. c Let 4 a Bifhop, Presbyter, or Deacon, convicted of Fornication, Perjury, c or Thefe, be depofed, but with caution that he Canons, called the c be not feparated, i. e. from the Communion of the j4poftles Canons. Faithful, as Balfamon expounds, & nonfegregetur ; adding a Reafon for this Moderation, that no Man be punifhed twice for the fame Fault, as faith the Scripture, Nah.i.y. as the learned Mr. Betueredge, in his Notes upon thofe Canons, hath 6b-' ferved. Is it likely thefe mould be Canons of the Apoltles, contrary to 1 Con 5. 1 1 ? Or if they be genuine and ancient, how difagreeing is the modern Ufage of the Nonconformifts, who are convicted of no fuch Crimes, according to the ancient Canons, but yet who are for their Nonconformity punifhed in feveral Courts, and feveral times, and ways? Depofition is judged Punimment fufficient, faith Zonaras ^ fo Ariftcnw, for to fubjecl: to a double punifhment, omnino inhHtnamim eft is altogether inhuman. c Other Canons command a Bifhop, Presbyter c or Deacon to be depofed, that beat offending Believers, or Infidels 1 that have done wrong. Can. 27. If a Bifhop, Presbyter or Deacon 1 obtain his Dignity with Money, let him be depofed, and he that or- dained him; Can. 29. If a Bifhop have made ufe of Secular Princes to c obtain a Church, let him be depofed, and excommunicated. If a Pres- c byter, contemning his own Bifhop, fhall feparate from him, and fet up L an Altar without Caufe, or blamelef?,either in refpect of Religion, or c Juftice, let him be depofed; Can. 31, But. this is not the Cafe of our Nonconforms. Duarenn* reckons the deposing and ejecting Crimes to be, 1. Simoniacal Ambition. 2. Incontinency. 3. Perjury. 4. Man- llaughter. 5. Treafon. 6. Or be fides thefe Crimes, any legal Infamy. But Panormitan admonifheth, that they were not to obferve the Severi- ty of the ancient Canons, becaufe the Men of this Age, are not like thofe ancient Men, or Men of ancient Times. Dnaren. de facris Ecclef Miniftris^ fa? tfje & a divine and perfect Rule. 4 The Chriflian Faith, as they c ( of the Church of Rome ) had explained it, was a Submiflioti to the c Church. The Reforming, finding that this w T as the Spring of all their c Error.-:, and that whit h gave them Colour and Authority, did on the c other hand, let dp the Strength of their' whole Caufe on an explicit 4 believing the Truth of Scriptures, becaufe of the Authority of God, c who had revealed them, faith the Reverend c Dr. Bnrmt — . It were cafy to be copious on History of the Rcfor, this Argument j c They who began the Rcforma- Book 3. p. 286. L tion, laboured in transiting, and publifhing the * Scriptures *, and would have all their Doctrines tried by them. The c Reverend BUfon bids the Papiffs, Prove your Religion and Service 1 ( which you lcoutly and falfely term Catholick ) to be commanded by c Chrilf, or elfe Women and Chiklren,be they never fo filly, will collect 1 by the manifelt Words of our Saviour, that their Promife in Baptifm, 1 doth ftraitly bind them from believing your Errors, and admitting your c Maifcs, until you (hew good and effectual Warrant out of the Word of 4 Gcd, that you do what Chrift did, and teach what he taught, rvitb- ^ont adding or altering any jot. For this is the Duty that Baptifm re- t quirethofu$, to believe no Teacher but one, which is Ghrilr, to fol- c low no Stranger, to regard and obey' no Lord or Law-maker in the 1 Church, but only the Son, whom the Father c appointed to be Mailer and Leader, and Ruler of siAyB, h trf i-firc- * the Gentiles. *»gtoRd,po, 3? . 4. This being a Principle common to all the Prote- i ewc y s 4 i c ffant Reformers, they who hold it and no other re- oi^if ui°c[\j!d,L pugnant to it,or inconfiftcnt with if, every true Pro- \tf. 1, 2. teltant muff needs hold they ought not to be punifh- cd for walking after it. And fuppofe any particular Man, or Denomina- tion of Men err in their Superftructures.and Confcqucnccs ; yet whether that. Error be not a tolerable Error, and not a punilhablc Crime, which is conliffent with Piety and Chanty, may be left to the Judgment or every charitable Chriflian, 3. According to this Rule and Principle, they frame their Vvorfliip ? and model their Government and Difciplinc, and they that keep to that, though by different Schemes, having their Flaws and Failings, they cannot err a damnable Error •, and if not damnable, it is want of Charity that Will >udg it intolerable, And there are thofe General Rules lad $6 Cfee Confowfff Cfnrti pea and Directions, which direct us as by a Patern ; they direct us- to our "End, God's Glory, and mutual Edification ; the outward manner, De- cency and Order ; and altho. in particular Decencies and Rules of Or- der, there niay be a Diverfity, yet all agree about Order ^ and the greatelt. Diiagreemerit is in fome Points of Decency, which are but Accidents, which are no Parts of Divine Worihip, The M^ns by cbnjh as. the Reverend Bifhop Abbot writes, in Defence the spr, »g ana iw,- f ]y[ n Perkins, and do properly and . immediately iSSKSffi #* Men - M i H Cafc § pui,ifh a11 Men tr^mevt,, 7raj t >icn±, that are not of the fame Complexion, or that can- p. 844- not fee alike clearly, tho they walk with us in the fame way, of Faith, and Holinefs, and Peace. The Church of Chri^never bred that Notion, that Church-Unity and Com- munion doth cohfift in Accidents, no more than Humane Nature, in Complexion, Shape, Stature •, or of Children in Cloaths of the fame Co- lour, Fafhion Length, &c. 4. And once again \ they are punifhed for Nonconformity, and be- fides, what hath been faid ejfewhere, in particular \ beiides the Con- fideration of the wicked Deiign, Sedition, Rebellion and Schifm, and the odious Pretence, take the Law in the Stricleft Senfe of it, and any Exercife of Religion in other manner, than according to the Liturgy and FraUice of the Church of England, feems to be forbidden by it. It feems to be unfafe for any to punifh upon this Law , and it is hard to be punifhed by it *, it fignifies fomething, but certainly w T hat, is very dubious. For in the Liturgy, i.e. Book of Common-Prayer, there are two things only. 1. Rules, Directions, and Orders, called Rubricks. 2. The Parts of the Worihip and Ceremonies, ordered, prefcribed, and diredled by them. It feems the meaning of the Law is, That no other Exercife of Religion (hall be lawful without the Common-Prayer, both Matter and Rites, according to the Rubrick ; but then, the Words of the Act agree not 5 becaufe the Practice of the Church, in many Places, is different from the manner of the Liturgy, as others have proved by Inftances. The Practice of all Cathedrals may not be alike, for ought I know. The Practice of the Cathedral and Pariih-Churches, are not the fame, as all Men know ^ nor of one Parifh like another, while fo many go beyond the Rule ; the Practice of fome Churches, and Colledge- Chappels, and fome Chappels differ from others ; * And this is *ccor- f ome r eading all Pfalms and Canticles and Chapters 1Swj£& onWednefdays and Fridays , and others reading on- in £.EUz. day*, Vul. ly fome Prayers and the Litany : * And yet the >;,;»#. 48, An. i$5?. Law for all thefe places is the fame. The Lawis uniform, but the Practice multiform : But if the fa? tfje ftonConfojmiff $$♦ 5 7 the nfe of the Book, both Rules ard Things ordered by it, be enjoined, then it feems "ange that the Words lhould be after the manner of the Church of England ; for fuppofe any fhould compofe a Form of Wor- fhip, begin with fonic apt Sentences of Scripture, then go to an Exhortation to Confefhon, but ufe another Confeflion •, and through- out obferve the Rubrick, but not the fame number of Pfalms, nor the fame Canticles, ana Lellons, or one of the three, or ancient Creeds, and other Prayers , whether this would not be, tho not the fame things, yet after the manner of the Church of England, as being after the fame Order. But tai;e the words as before, That no Exercife of Religion to above four and the Family (hall be lawful, except they ufe the Common- Prayer. Then may fome be apt to think, that, i. Here is a Conformity allowed by this Aft, to overthrow and weaken that required by the Aft of Uniformity. I query \ If a Mini- fter (hall in any publick place, fo he be neither Parfon, Vicar, or Sti- pendary, read the Common-Prayer, altho he do not fubferibe, nor declare Aflent and Confent, whether he may not lawfully preach to as large an Allembly as will hear him ? And fo may not a Man that is a Nonconformift, in refpeft of Subfcription and Declaration, lawfully preach, as publickly as he can ? and fo be a legal Nonconforming Confor- m/iff •, as honeft Mr. C. called himfelf ; and whether this Aft doth not ltrike at the Aft of Uniformity ? 2. Doth it nor. call an ill look upon all other Modes of Divine Wor- fhip, as if no other Form were con fiftent with the Peace of thp King- dom, but what is according to the Liturgy ? 3. That all that diilent from all things in the Liturgy, are Perfons to be fufpefted of the King, except fuch as fay, or hear the Liturgy, and for that Caufe are not ; and by Confequence, whether the Execu- tion of it doth not clearly tfcnd to divide between the King and his Sub- jects, and between Subjeft and Subjeft •, yea, to make them that are religious appear more formidable than the in\ iigious ? 4. And whether it is not to fet up a manner of Worfhip compofed by Men, above the matter of Worflup appointed by God ? for let the Worfhip as to the Matter and End and Principle be divine, it is not to- lerable, except it be after that one Manner and Praftice. I'll add no more Doubts and Prejudices, but come to plain Argument. They who ought to be encouraged and protcfted by the King ^ of England, as Supream Governour, ought not to bepunifhed : But our Proteftant Nonconformifts ought to be encouraged and protefted : Therefore, &c. They who fet up no falfc and Idolatrous Worfhip, contrary to the Word of God,that worfhip God according to his Word, ought to been- I couraged 48 ©be Ccn&imiff Ctjittj piea couraged and protected by the King of England,^ Supream Governour* and his Laws. But fuch is their Worihip (in every part ;, ) Therefore, &c. I'll touch the Minor firft, and then go to the Proportion : That Wdr^ ftiip which agrees in the right Object, of Scripture-matter, according to Scripture,} arid to divine Ends, is true Worihip : but fuch is their Wor- ihip. Therefore, &c. To multiply no more S.yllogifms-,1 prove the Proportion by the conftant Uniform, allowed Doctrine of the Church of England, And to ilrike home at one blow, thus I argue : They who ought to be encouraged and- protected, and norpunifhed, according to the allowed DoEinne of the Church of England^ explaining the King's Supremacy, ought not to be puniihed by any new or. fuble- quent Law, that doth not condemn that allowed Doctrine of tlvc Church, as this Act doth not. But according to the allowed Do .trine of the Church of England, explaining the King's Supremacy; they, and fuch as they, are to be encouraged and protected : Therefore &c. This is the Propofition I am to prove, the Major bfeipg clear. Thofe Reverend Fathers of the Reformed Religion, which difputed againft the Pope's,and proved the King's Supremacy ,did thus ft ate and ex- Set forth fa Hen Bth. P^ am l U ™ r ^ e ^cejfary Erudition of a Christian Man. Vid Dr. Bur. i Vol.* To them fpecially and principally it pertaineth jHiftory of the Reform, to defend the Faith of Chriit, and his Religion, to P- H 2 - conferve and maintain the true Dottrine of Chrift, and all fuch dt be true Preachers and Setters- forth thereof-, and to abolijlo Abu- fes, Herefies, and Idolatries, and to punifh with Corporal Pains, fuch as of Malice be the occailon of the fame ; and finally toover-fee,and caufe that the faid Bifhops and Priefh do execute their Pafloral Office truly and faithfully, and fpecially in thefe Points, which by Chrifl and his Apoftles were given and committed to them •, and in cafe they fhall be negligent in any part 'thereof, or would not diligently execute the fame, to caufe them to c redouble and fupply their' Lack*, and if they obftinately withftand c their Prince's kind Monition, and will not amend their Faults, then c and in fuch Cafe to put others in their room and places. And God c hath alfo commanded the faid. Bifhops to obey with all Humblenefs c and Reverence, both Kings, and Princes, and Governours, and all c their Laws, not being contrary to the Laws of God, whatfbever they c be, and that not only propter ham, but alfo proper Confcientiam. With this Doctrine all our belt Writers of unqueitionabie Authority agree : See JewePs Apology, Part i. p. 15. Edit. 1570. Apul. c. 1 \. Divif 3. cut down Groves, break down Images, coerce and chaflife Negligence^and Falfhood of the Bifhop, pag. 7 1 5. Jofliua alfo Ap. c. 1 1. Divif. 6, 8, 9, 1 o, 1 l.a 15. Divif. 1, 3.C. 17. Divif. 1, 2. — The Reproof of Mr. Derman, with ft? tfje Bon -confojmfffsf. 5 51 with a Defence of the chief Government of Chriftian Princes by Dr. AlexwJcltr Nawel, London, I 566. p. 24. [\p. 131, 143, 16 1. b. Dr. Jo. RdinoUi\ ( onferer.ee with %fat 9 c. 10. c \Ye never affirmed that Princes c might! enmrirmd wh.it God forbiddcth, or prohibit what Godcommartdetb. 4 Biihops have their Authority to preach and adminiiicr the Saorame L from Chriit himfelf - 9 only the Prince giveth them pnblick Liberty 'without let or diiturbance to do what Chftft commandcth — . Priuccs ^firffh" and incite fhem with Peace and Praiie to do their Duties — . L Priuce- may by their Lawsprefcribe the Chriftian Faith to be preached, c the right Service o^God in Spirit and in Truth to be nfed,thc Sacraments c tobe adminiftred, according to the Lord?s Inftitution — . Bilfon of Sub- ion, fag, 2 16, 2 17, &*• L We fay that Princes,as pnblick Magistrates Freedom, Protection, and Afliflance to the preachir>g ofthe c Word, mi iui, ring the Sacraments,and right tiling ofthe Keys /H,- 22 ^ 236,240,247. Sec Bilhop Br idjcs ofthe Supremacy againit Staputon, and Saunders, \\ 672^ 67 .. I'll quote no more of him. There is neithdr Idolatry in Worfhip, nor Herefy in the Faith ofthe NcnconfomujJsfav w hich they ought to be reflrained,nor 11 .'godlincfs and Difhoneily, for which they ihould be punilhed,any more than the bfcft of Men : But worlhipping the true God in Chriii. by the Spirit according to his Word, &c. 13 y the foregoing Do: trine they are to be encouraged and protected. There is but one thing to their Prejnc!ice,thcir Difobedi- enceto fome Temporal Ecoleliaftical Laws, Requiring Subfcriptionsj &c. Hear a little farther the Dp&rine ofthe Biihops and Dodtors. c To dc- L vife Rites and Ceremonies for the Church is not the Printed Vocation, c but to receive and allow fuch as the Scriptures and Ganons < ommend, L and fuch as the Bilhop> and Pallors of the Place (hall advife, not in- c fringing the Scriptures or Canons. And for all other Eccleliaftical L Things and Caufcs, Princes be neither the Devifcrs nor Directors of 1 them," but the Coniirmersand Eftablilhers of that fc which is good, and Difplacers and Avengers of Bilfih^pitgl 252. c that which is Evil — .The Ceremonies in divers c particular Churches, are of divers forts, and that without any Incon- L venience at all, fothev all agree in thofe toftchangeable Law3, given by • thellniverfal Head, Chriit The Reverend 1 to A T o:vc!\ Reproof of c Dormart, p. 25. See Homil.oi Falling, fecond Part. How cafv may the Biihops if they pleafed, take away the • ~- ; of our denied Schifm ? cr without any Crime of Schifm, permit a I )iv that are governed by the unchangeable Law of Jefus Chriit ? and only differ from their particular and C: Toconclnde •, If the Faith ofthe NinbiHformifts be the Catholick Faith, C as it is in all and every Point and Article, even the lame which I 2 60 %\)t Confojmtft^ Cfjitti pea *s profeiTed in the Church of England} contained in the Scriptures ; if c hey are good Men, and honelt Subjects \ c Then we are taught and exhorted to pray, that the King, and all in Authority under him, may c have Wifdom, Strength, Juftice, Clemency, and Zeal to God's Glory, 1 to God's Verity, to Chriftian Souls, and the Common-wealth. Let us 4 pray they may rightly ufe their Sword and Authority, for the Main- c tenance and Defence of the Ca bolick^Faith, con- Ytomtl 3 d of%le°Lnc! ' taimd m the Hol y Scr ¥ ures y an <* of their good and P fy! lond.Ed*t.i%l'. c honelt Subjeds, for the Fear and Punifhment of c the evil and vicious People. Objett. But they tranfgrefs the Laws, therefore are not good and honelt Subjeds, break the Orders of the Church, &c~ Anfw. Preaching and hearing the Catholick Faith, is, I hope, no- Tranfgreflion of the Laws : if it be, then, you do in effect fay the Laws are againft Godlinefs, and the Exercife of the Catholick Faith, They are good and honelt Subjeds,that pray for the King, pay Tribute, live in Godlinefs and Honeity *, therefore they are to be protected and encouraged, which was the Propolition to be proved. I fuppofe no Law ought to be conitrued, or executed, which in Conftrudion and Execution is contrary to the Catholick Doctrine of the Church of England, eftablifhed by Law. The Faith they profefs is Catholick, their Worfhip is according to the Scripture, and they corrupt the People neither with Sedition, or Difobedience. The Conditions of Liberty which they refufe, are no Article of Catholick Faith or Pradice ^ there- fore they ought not to be punilhed, according to the Doctrine of the Church of England. The fecond Queftion is, Whether the Nenconformifl Proteftants are not to be indulged and permitted ? The former Difcourfe anfwers this Queftion. If they do not de- ferve to bepunifhed,but proteded and encouraged :, then they ought to be permitted and indulged, while they defign and ad nothing incon- fiftent with, or contrary to the Duties of good, honelt, peaceable Subjeds. 2. Permiffion and Indulgence is the loweft degree of Favour thatcan be fliewed to Catholick Chriftians and Proteftants in a Chriftian Prote- ftant Kingdom. i. If more be due to the Profeffion of Chriftian Religion, yea, of the Proteftant Religion : Then a Permiffion, or Indulgence, is the leaft Refped and Favour due to it. But more is due to it than Permiffion , therefore that's the leaft. 2. If Permiffion was due to Godlinefs and Honeity from adverfe Powers, both Jewifh and Heathen ^ and if it be due to Reformed ChrL- (tians, fHaus, in Popifh Countries \ then it is much more due to Proteftant Pfofeflbrt in Proteitant Kingdoms and States: But the former is true j therefore much more the latter. Of tnefein particular : i. Therewith Powers ought to have permitted the preaching of the Gofpel to ourS.iviour and his ApolHes,becar.fe it was of God \ and God hath SovcrigD Power i. all the World,to lot up his Kingdom,and Laws. It was the Sin of the 1 sws to forbid the prca< hiog of the GofpeJ \ it was a bwtyfti the Apoflles to preach it, even when forbidden. If it was a Sin in the Jews to forbid it, they ought certainly to permit it } yea, they ought to have received arc! obeyed it. If it had been a Duty, (and no Sin) i the Jews to forbid the preaching of Chriir, it had been a Sin in the Ap >twithitanc!ing, and againil that Prohibition, to preach it. But it was an Obedience to God (the higher Power) to preach it - 7 therefore they who forbad it, ought to permit it, yea much more, it was their Duty to believe it. 2. The fame Reafon will hold all the World over j becaufc Chriiti- an Religion is from God, and teaches the Knowledg, and Obedience, and Worfhip of God, and the way to Life \ therefore God may fend it all over the World by Men called and fent by him, without the Com- miffionof the Powers of the World. And if .Men knew the Gift of God, they ought to eiteem it the greateft Mercy, and manifestation of Grace, that was ever Slewed to the Sons of Men. Our Saviour commands his Apoflles to go into all the World, to preach the Gofpel to every Creature. It comes among them without their Knowledg, and againit their Wills: Ought it to be received or not ? if not, then God ought not to be obeyed according to his revealed WiH, which no Man dare affirm : if it ought to be received, it ought to be permitted and indulged with an overplus of Reverence and Ho- nour. Godlinefs and Honelty was to be priviledged, and protected, to be cherifhed, ard not extinguifhed in Heathen Kingdoms : i Tim. 2. 2. They defired to lead quiet Lives free from Trouble and Perfecution, the ufe they were to make, and did make of their Quietnefs, was the Exercifc of Godlinefs and Honelty. To this end they were to pray for Kings, and all in Authority : And Kings, and all in Authority, may ven- ture and not fear to give Protection and Security to all that pray for them, and that live in Godlinefs and Honelty under them. If pro- tection and Qpietncfi might be expected from Heathens, much more from Chriftians. 3. If Reformed Chriitians ought to be permitted in Popifh Kingdoms and States ; then Chriitians profeffing the Reformation, may b: much jnorc permitted in Proteftant Kingdoms and States, and by Confc- quence, quench in this Kingdom. Popi s 213d Rulers ought to receive, and obey che Tri^li, and u> believe no more than what Chriit hath commanded to be believed, and to woriftip Gcd according to the Will of Chriit. Shall v. e lay the Troteftants in France do not hold the Faith, nor worfbip God according to the ^-cipei? then what arc they who fay fo ? If thev profefs and believe the Truth, they ought to be permit- ted, that's plain, for the Truth's fake, and for the Lord's fake. Doth Ghriftian Love and Companion prompt us, to wifli our perfecuted Bre- thren in France enjoyed the' Liberty of the true Religion there ? ai d if they fliould enjoy a Freedom there, fhall we deny a Liberty to Prote- ftant Brethren here ? I can fee no way to avoid a Jriftification cf the barbarous lifage of Proteftants there, by the m that, pre locate Prote- ftants here, for far leiler Deferences from our Eftabliirments, tfee theirs from the Papifts. Suppofe an 'E-mbaiiadbr was lent to treat with the French King, at this time of Profecuticn of our Native Proteftants, for a Cellation of that cruel Perfecution : how readily might an Anfwer be made, Why may not I fupprefs Hereticks, when in EngUndyou fup- prefs Proteftants ? . .... 4. ADiverfity of Order and Manner >of Difcipline and Worihip, may be as well permitted without Breach of Church-Unity in the fame Nation, as in divers Nations, without breach of Ghriftian and Catholick Unity. If different Forms of Belief are allowed, the matter being divine, and ihe one more large and explicit than others •, why may not di e- rent Modes and Order of Difcipline ard Worihip be allowed and per- mitted ? Our Worfhip is according to our Faith y as we believe, fo we w T orfhip : Notvvithftarding our ufe of thres Forms of Profeflicn cf our Faith, we agree in one Faith \ fo in di-erent Forms of Worihip we agree in one Evangelical Worihip : And our Reformers might with as great Reafon have pitched upon one of the three Creeds, and for Uni- formity fake, required Ai'ient to that, ar.d the ufe of; that and no other, as our Modern Fathers pitch upon one Form' of Worihip,' and require our Aflent and Ufe of that, and no other. For Uniformity i ; Faith is more neceflary than Uniformity in Orders and Rites. We ufe the Creed called the Apoftles, Athanafian } and Nicen Creed. Bifhop Jewel hath written a larger Form, in his Apology for the Church of England, agreeing hi Words with neither •, and, in hi> Reply to Harding, reckons . up eight Forms, compofed by fevcral Authors and dI&j Sh^fyP Fathers ' ^^^^villingagainftl;i,Declarati- Creedj, fol. 88. on of our Faith, ( as many in our days exclaim a- a *ainft Diilenters,) faid,/?? our Far hers, days, Chrifti- an People lived in pcrficr Vnity, &C before Luther^ New Gofpel ■ ,. .'But Jet us learn from our Reverend Father Jewel, that Unity cf Faith may agree fo? tie Boiv-ConfojmirsJ. 63 agree with Diverfky of Forms of Faith j and by Confluence, with Di- ver: ty of Forms of \\ ori] i\\ Obje:r. But the Admirhtration ofGod\ Worlhip ought to be uni- form 111 one Nation ^ and variety of Rices in one National Church, would Caufe Divinon of Judgment, and by Confequence Divinon of .;tion •, ard to tolerate divers ways of Adminiitrations, would be to tolerate matter of perpetual uifcord and Schiiin. A).fv. Bende>v. hat the learned ard acute Sir Tho?n>is Over bury an- fv.crs to apart of the micter of thi Objection, f . lo& and the Commnlioners iri the S#ycy •, I'll Account of Procec- return my Anfv .r i. two things, i. Without ^w, p. 8, 9. Contro'erf/, our Lord Jefus took care for the •»' Frefervation of Uni a Unity a^ is necc lary among his Difciples \ and yet took no fach Courie a> thefe Men build all Unity upon. 2. The Church of Corinth was doub:iei\ a particular Church, and according to the Senie of the Reverend Bi.hop Bilfon, quoted before, there was no Form of Liturgy prefcribed, />. 6 19, 62c. To be ihort, Multitudes of lean ^d and able Men, living in one King- dom, have diyc A,-\ ■:■/..■. 'ions and Notions of things, as well as in divers Nation^; a: t Uniformity of Words might produce ; -award Uniformity of Conceptions, it hath not that Influence upon Unity as fome Men think, by .their too violent urging of it. 3. 1 am for Uniformity according to General Rules, not excluding Prudence, which mult judg. whatVne. elary, what's expedient, what's edifying, or what not: for to exclude Prudence, is to limit Divine Providence to particular Rules. Divine Providence proceeds from Sove- j Prudence pfcferves it, and Confcier.ce mult obey it : Saving the Domiui on of Providence, and the Exercife of Minsfterial Prudence, let's be as uniform as we can. This prudential Latitude is allowed to •y Curate, in the choice of Homilies, in dividing them, leaving a part for the After- noon, and changing of Leiic: is* reading one for ano- ther, as ILall be moil for Edification, in the Admonition to all Ecclcfl- before the fecond part of the Homily. To conclude thi-, Queilion $ I delire the violent and aftive, and the violent and opprefiive Difpntant> of thefe times,to anfwer, Whether they think that our 'Proteilant-Difieming-Brethrcr., that preach the Faith, and labour to convert and build up precious Souls are unworthy to enjoy Liberty to preach the Gcfpel, or to enjoy their Eftates, or to live -rt of the \Voridf If not, what ground have they for their ill Opinion? What Chrifiian Charity have they ? How do they con* fpirc with Bloody inquiutors and French Rcrfecutors ! ytai and Inhuman Rooters out of Herefy ! But if net worthy to live anx us, 6\ Cfje Confojmttt'g CfjftU pea us, retaining their Liberty of Confcience and Religion, Whither fhall they go ? Where are they like to find more natural Afreet ion,than among their Native Country-men and Acquaintance ? Where fhall they be more wel-come ? among the Papilts ? among Infidels, where Satan bears fo much Rule? or among Proteitants abroad? Alas, where! who can entertain them ? Would you bani (h them to Scotland, Ireland ? there are too many already ? Whither would you have them go ( for they arc bid begon, it they'll not conform, by fome ) where they may do good? there's work enough for them,where-ever they are ? Why may they not do good here among us ? To be fhort, they who turn them out of their Hearts,and Charity ,upon the fame reafon banifli them ouc of the Land, if not out of the World : And what if they fhould fay as their Ejectors do, We had better live or be in any Land or Nation,even among the Papifts or Infidels, than live among fach asthefe: Would it not found worfe than all that yet chey have faid ? And what a Divifion, or Schifm at the very root, would that be, if it grew to it ? Which it hath not done, and I wifh never may. But we may fee that Violence is a Wedg to makje the moil ghaflly Schifm that ever was feen in a Chriftian Church, But rather than be guilty of fo unpeaceable and uncharitable a Thought or Carriage, capable of fuch a Conduction, which all Chri- ftians fhould as ill endure to lodg within them as the Devil himfelf, or expofe our Brethren to Temptations and Sufferings •, let us all mofl earneftly pray for Peace and Union, and lay afide all Thoughts and Paffi- ons, which are the beginnings of Schifm. And fol come to the laft Query. Query 3. Whether we ought not to unite asabovefaid, and fo to unite, and become one, by the removal or abating the things which divide and break us, fo that w T e may hold mutual and actual Communion in the fame Exercife of Religion, without fear of offending our Superiours or any other ? That we ought to unite, is the Cry and Voice of all, in whom Chri- ftianity doth but faintly breath, and the Spirit of God hath any effect or Intereft ; but the Qnomodo is moft difficult, in this, as in many other Operations. I have betrayed my felf, and difcovered my poor Opi- nion in the very Queftion, by removing and abating the things which divide andbreak^m. But it appears clear to my Apprehen Hon, that no other way or means will ever do. If the Diifenters fhould be miraculoufly con- vinced, or charmed into a Confent-, then that which was a Caufe of diffent, is become as no Caufe : and while their Underftandings ftand at thisdiftance, and they be but fincere ard obedient, and honeft to their own Thoughts and Judgments, they can never come over to us , and to ufc force without Reafon, is the way to drive them from God, when we pretend to drive them to Church. Would we have them act againlt the fettled fo! t!jc fion confomffte. 6 5 fcttkd Dilates of their Conference ? and is Force the. way (ft tftfyj the Conf< iencc ? And really what hath bfeeil o:;ered ro inform 1 their lln- derltandings hath becri ineileciual to that Fnd. I- it likely inch Wri- tings that convey neither Love nor dil'm.iive Renfomng>,wili ever per- fwadt gai: in Peace,' but to alarm People, to arm themfeivcs, and to wat-.h a> agafhfl Seditious Pcrfons will ever incourage them to come in and unite with us? We mu.it argue from better Tepicks, than" Sarraiir incs, Mockery, Emulation, VVmh and Reviiiug •, thefe Deeds of the Fie ; will never allure Men to v -i;/. With us in one Spirit. There are large Encomiums of Unity 4B3 "Peacc^ and every bfri; of rttt Frxomium, or praile of it, contains an Argument to perfwade us to it. And two mighty Arguments fhould at this time prevail with *%' * Neceliitc, mid Self-prefer- * s "' :e , ' h f T IT'"" virion - 7 we lee our apparent Dangers by being R ( ^ r en\ tifbot fcattcred abroad, like an Army in a Rout, or Dif- Cork, tft HKe 'two ; ei\ or Tumult, while our Potent Enemies are J^rteAlft^rimsti, united agninit uS We cry out upon Diaenters as **%M JJW f«*- factious, but were it not for a Factions Spirit among our felvcsj they had never been thus broken and feparated from Our Life, our Delights -'iir Happiuci : >, doth coniilt in, or fpring :ti Union-, after this our Defircs do run or fly, they move at no : low or rate : Our Death, Sorrows, Griefs, and Un'happiiieis doth follow -jur Separation from the things, wherein Life, Delight and Happincfs cbnllft. A divided State is an unhappv State •, Charity is the Bond of fe:tncfs •, when Charity dies, then the Church is like a Primely Fa- mily broke up, difperfed and divided. They who do not love, cannot unite, but make a Breach, and Separation. The uncharitable Man is the factious Man. To impute Fait ion fi/rfs to one P^y. } who would unite ', hht cannot ^and to excufe another who mnyun.te^ bat Toill rtbt^ is tojudg with too Apparent a Partiality for an equal Jidg. Had the upper iidc, but the very lame Reafons and Arguments, which now the opprer icdurge for thunfelves, they would 'be of Authority, a^d very ctfttfderable, if not unanfwerable \ whereas now they are lookM upon as weak, end fcorucd as ridiuilous. Favour and Authority gives Force and Wejght to the Reafons of them that enjoy the benefit of the Favour •, a"hd v. hen Perfous are expofed to Contempt, their irron&cfi: arguings are del piled weak, and their loudelt Complaints are not heard, but rebuked as caufelefs, and themfelves branded as a FaftJbfi, tho they are CatHolick and Loy.il in their Faith and Pi inciples. And this is plain, the None on- K formifts 66 ZU Ccm&nmitfss CfjitU ]3Iea /ar#j$/hayefoHnditfQ -J their. Arguings, Reprefentations, Complaints (which have been .but few), Motions, Supplications, Apologies have been defpifed, became they, are defpifed and low in the World, and a worldly Interefr keeps them down. I have fometimes thought, that if 'Authority had been againft the ufe of the Crofs, and commanded Mr. Parker to write his Book againft it, then he had been dignified with the Epithet's, that %.. Hoo ] *cr hath been adorned with r of the Judicious Parker, and'the, Profpund Parker ^ and the Excellent Parker, whereas be- ing on the decried fide, he hath been often laughed at. The greateft number of Men confider more the Condition of the Perfon, than the Shing fpoken or written by him , and give him the greateft Honour, by whom they may receive .a Favour- From this Partiality a Faftjon grows up and .thrives exceedingly^ when it is fatned by the Richnefs of the Soil, and influenced from fomethat fit above v and hence it comes, even from Partiality and Faction, that the imputation of Faction is con- jftantly thrown upon Difienters, becaufe they do notwhat they cannot do with a good Confcience according to their Light. But if all of us would fet up God's Glory r the Edification of his Church, Truth, Peace, and Union in the middle as a Center, and all of us that are fcattered and divided in the Circumference, run up to it, by the Lines of Scrip- ture-Rules, then God would be more glorified y«i. Cypr. Je fimpli- than he is, the Church more edified, and we more ritate ciericoruni--, j^y i n p eace anc j Union than we are : or if we mint—, i were al1 affected to glorify God, to edify the Church, and to keep the llpity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, as long as^ we agreed, and met in God as in a Center, and the Lines of Holy Scripture, tho we did not all run in on Line, in one Way, but different Ways. Our Diverfity: would be without Schifm, and all our Diyifions. would be like the diiperhng of a numerous Family without Alienation of Affection •, like the Difrribution of the Patriarchs into their feveral Tribes, inhabiting the Land of Canaan, all of the fame Blood, the fame Religion, in the fame Covenant with, €ocL Towards this Union, we mud confider^ I. Wherein it confifts.. II. Remove the Caufes ofDivifion as much as poTibly we can. The Caufes of Divifion are, i. Inward, 2. Outward, and apply our felves to the Means of Union. XXL Wherein the nature of Scbifm doth properly conflJL L The fo? tfje Bcntcanfomiiffjj. 67 T. The Perfons united, are Chrift and his Church, under the Denomi- nation of his Members, his Body, and his Sponfc, compared to feveral kinds of Union, as natural and political. Every Chriftian is united to Chrift by the Spirit of ChrifPs working Faith, and Faith perceiving, or feeing Chriit to be what he is ; and what he is, made of God to us, doth attract Love to him, which is intire, lincere, fervent. By Faith and Love the renewed gracious Soul doth confederate with, and confent, and fubmit to Jefus Chrift, accofding to the Articles of the Golpel, or Covenant of Grace, Every Member of Chrift is a pai;t of the whole, and there is the fame Spirit in all, they are all Members or Chrift, and Members one of another, and that Spirit, Faith and Love, which unites to Chrift, doth unite them one to another. This Union is from active operating Principles and Graces, which are quickened, and ftrengthened by the Spirit of Chriit, making uie commonly of out- ward Means and Ordinances to that End: And thefe Graces, or the New Man, fo quickened and aflided, cxercife that Power towards Chrift and one another ; and this mutual Exercife of Grace, is our Communion with Chrift, and his with us, and of one towards another, according to our various Conditions, in mutual Care, Sympa- thy, Compaflion, and Joy. i Cor. 1 2. 25, 26. This Communion with Chrift, and one another, in this Life, is but imperfect, weunderftand but in part, and our Faith ferves and helps us but in an imperfect State, and by Confequence our Love is weak, and other Graces are at beft but in a growing Condition. Our Admini- itrations, and Communnion in Ordinances have great Imperfections, according to the weaknefs of our Perceptions, Light and Judgment, and other Graces. And fuppofe our Love were ftrong and intire to one another, yet in this bad Light, we are fubject to many great Errors and Miftakes : And our Union and Agreement lies, 1. In one general^ End, God's Glory. 2. In one Common Principle of Operation, or Efficient Caufe, the Spirit of Jefus Chrift. 3. In one way and means of Conveyance and Acceptation, Jefus Chrift, as our Mediator and Ad- vocate. 4. In one General Rule, the Holy Scriptures, and the Infti- tutions of Jefus Chrift the Law-giver ; where there are thefe Ones* there is Catholick Unity : There is one Body, and ope Spirit j even as ye arc called in one hoy e of your Callings One Lord, one Faith, one Baptifn ; One God and Fathtr of all, which is above all, and through all, and in yon all. Ephef. 4. 4, 5, 6, &c. The ancient true Bonds of Unity, are one Faith, one Baptifm, and not one Ceremony, one Polity, faith the Lord B.icon; our 'Difagremcnt is in the Vbi fufra. p. 4. latter, we agree in the firft and principal. K 2 From 68 Cljc Ccnfomiiff g Cijirti pica From this Union proceeds Communion ; for, the Church* the Body of Chrrfh, conlilting of living Members, quickened by the renewing, ianC>i r ;ir.g Spirit, and exercinng the Graces received, have Communi- on l/Wffi Cod through and by the Spirit *, and with one another, $i tfoil 'ren of the fame Heavenly Father,and Subjects of the fameHeaven- / King, and Members of the fame Faniilv. And thij Communion is "c, maintained, exercifed, .and kcreafed by Laws and Ordinance-, in in being joined to the Lord, arc! to ore another-, in being of one Mind and Heart: Outward, and 'that's twofold : 3. in ipi ritual tilings. 2. In outward" and carnal things. t. In fpiritual things.. So the.nr.fL Church, i'umimud ficdf«fi!y in the Apoflcs DoBri/ie, and FcHowfiJip^andfi VJfe^Lng of Bread avd Prayers. \ Acts 2.42. And they continued daily wiw eve actor a in the Temple, and breaking of Bread from Houfe to Houfe, did cat t he ir Meat with Gtaduefs and Single - nefs of Heart, praifwg (To'd 9 &C. Vcrf. 46, 47. find let m confidcr one ano- ther to provokg imto Love and 10 (rood IVorks^ • 1 (t joyf^hjg fgf affemblirig of our fefoes together, asthe manner of fo?nc':, hut exhorting one another. Heb. ic. 24, 25. Let the Word -of God dwell in yon richly, in all Wifdom^ admomjlnng one another in Pf alms , anrXHyrnns, and Spiritual Songs, &c. Col. 3. 16. Ex- horting one another-, Heb. 3. 13. Comfort wg one another ; 1 TheiT. 4. 18. Edifying one another ; Chap. 5. 11.. Praying ahps.ysmth all Prayer and Snp- plication in the Spirit \ Ephcff^. .'.i.H". Confejfng t^eir .pjiitts one to another, 4'. 2. In outward and carnal things; vftik 2.44, 45.C. 4. 32, 34, 35. c. 5, 4. Heb. 13. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 17, 18, &c. This kind of Communion is beiide cthe Subject now in hand. It is faid,. there can be no Union without Communion: be it-fo. Is not that Communion both of, Churches, Pallors and Per ions, a fufficiv ent. "Communion to free any Churches or Perfons from the Guilt of Schifm, which is anfwerable and proportionable, to. the Union of the Body of Chriil, and agreeable to the Inflitutions and Ordinances of Chrift ? His Ordinances are fufficient Means and I nftances of Commu- ;ion, without any Additions of Forms and Ceremonies ;- we have his Law, and Form of Admidion into, his Family and Church, Baptifm : And being baptized by one Spirit into one Body ; we have his Word, which is fufficient to make us wife unto Salvation, and to make the Man of God perfect, throughly furnifhed unto every good Work -, we have a Forrh-and Pattern of Prayer, and Directions and Matter for all manner of Pr&yer \ we have a Sacrament for Communion and Confirmation •, we fo>tl)c JSotrConfamUflfjS. h wc have what Ghrift: thought fufficicnt Means of Communion in ail and every Nation that fhould receive the Gofpel :, and by Confequence for the univcrfnl, and every particular Church. And it is obferved, what the Spirit of Ghrift did to prefcrve Unity, ard prevent Schifm. He gN c divcrlitiesof Gifts, for divers Adminiirrations and Operations: Tne Church is compared to a Body, conJ'fting of different Member, ,in Subordination, for Service and llfefulnefs ; fomc to do the Oliicc of an Eve, others of an Ear-, fomc of a Hand, others of a Foot •, fome honourable, and fome dishonourable, that there fhouK' be no Schifm 'in the Body, i Cor. 12. He infpired holy Men, 'aid they fpake a< infpi'. ed by him, but not the fame form of Words, wirfiout a great variety, not the fame Form of Prayer in the fame Wonfe and Syllables ; no not- the fame Form of Words to a word ik r tneTifft& rution of the Lord's Supper-, Sr. A : f.v,\, leaves out, Brwk^ye allo^f ir- n Mark 14.23. and for Rcmiffton of Sins, ver. 24. St. LuMe adds to, fhists ?ny Body ', given for you, Do this in Remembrance of me ; Chap. 22. 19, & 2C to the C/*/>, which is fied for yon ; and not as the other two Evangeliits. And St. Taul delivers to the Corinthians* what he received from the Lord, and adds to St. A fatth. and Mark^, and varies from St Luke, This is my Body which is broken for yon, and keeps the words of St. Luke, In Remembrance of me ; but adding, As oft as ye do it in Remembrance of me, after the Cup y 1 Cor. 1 1. 23, 24. If either of thefe Holy Apo- ftles gave the Sacrament, ufing his own Words, andfo it be delivered in four Forms -, who will doubt but he holds Communion fufficicnt to the Ends of the holy Sacrament? And the Uniformity lies in Bleffing and giving Thanks, in taking Bread, breaking it, giving and taking it, as a Token of the Body of Chrilt to the appointed End \ andfo alfo the Cup, asaTcken of his Blood, drinking it to the appointed. End. Uniformity of Words is not ncccflary to Church-Communion, neither u\ Articles of Faith, nor in Preaching, nor in Prayer, nor in Sacraments y and' yet Church-Communion is as ncce'lary a Duty, as aTociating of. Churches and AITemblics, it being truly the End of fuch Al'Ibciation and AfTembling : And yet no Man of fenfc will deny the great Advantages of Con Tent, Agreement, Similitude, and Uniformity in all our Admi- niirrations, as near as we can frame our Minds thereunto, which will. never come nearer than according to general Rules, without Debates. and Difputcs, as many, if not more, and of as great an Influence upcr Peace, ascanarife from the Application and Con(tru:lion of General Rules. II. Let i?s remove and take away the Catifcs of Difunion and Divin- on as much as polEbly weean. And 7o Cfee Confoaniffsl ©fnrti pea And-firir, Thofe that are within us, which may be reduced to FUJI) and Self. For whereas there is amongyon Efivymg, Strife andDivifions^ are ye not carnal and walk^ as Men ? For -while one faith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollo, are ye not car naif i Cor. 3.3,4. Self is the Schifmatick within us, till we are converted from it, we are feparate from Chrift, and by Confequence are difunited from his Body, and do not confeni to the Terms of his Covenant and Salvation, Self-conceit, Pricle, and Loftinefs, Self-will, Self-feeking, and Self-love, are the 'Springs of our bitter Waters of Strife and Separation, that run into divers, Channels, . or rather break the Banks, and over-iiow the Church. 2. The} outward Caufes are beiides the Co-operation of the World ai^Devat, the rigorqus exacting and enforcing of particular Conditi- phVof Church-Liberty and Communion, with fuch Forfeitures and Pe- n^leies, as hinder the Progrefs of the Word of Life, and the Salvation of Souls; All our Wars have been before the Gates of the Cky, fince manv have been turned out ; we fay they fhall not come in, except they wiirjubfcribe to Terms-, and they fay they cannot, except they are take;; away : Both Sides mult found a Parlee ; and our Governours havqthegreateh\and moft hnitable prevailing Example of the King of his Church, and his Apoltles. Hear our Homily. H^lyofF^jfi c Gcd . s Church ht nQt neither ma { b f P4ri. v. 172,172. Edif. . . , , ° . 1 ^ , ■> , LontL\6jil 4 tied to that, or any other Order now made, or c hereafter to be made and devifed by the Autho- 4 rity of Man, but that it may lawfully for juft Caufes, alter, change, or 4 mittigate thofe Eccleliaftical Decrees and Orders ^ yea, recede wholly 4 from- them, and break them, when they tend either to Superftition, or * to Impiety, when they draw People from God, rather than work any 4 Edification in them (and not in thefe Cafes alone, as you /hall hear 4 afterwards ). This Authority Chrift ufed for the Order and Decree 4 made by the Elders for warning oft-times — , tending to Superltition, 4 our Saviour changed into the Sacrament of Regeneration. This Au^ 4 thority,^ mittigate Laws and Decrees Ecclefiaftical, the Apoitles pradi- 4 fed—. Alts 1 5. ilgnifying, they would not lay any other Burden upon 4 them, but thefe Neceflaries — . Thus ye have heard that Chriftian c Subjects are bound to obey, even in Confcience, fincere Laws, which 4 &re not repugnant to the Laws God . Ye have heard that Ch rill's 4 Church is not fo bound toobferve any Order, Law, or Decree made by 4 Man : To prefcribe a Form in Religion-, but that the Church hath full 4 Power and Authority from God to change and alter trie fame, when L med fhall require, &c. Was there ever greater need than now ? Love of Union, Peace and Growth of Godlincfs, Sence of imminent Danger, and that Danger no lefs than Dellruclion, hath moved the Right Reve- rend rend BifhopofCV^ to print thofe preffing Divine Sermons, and take his Tcftimony, (as carrying greater Authority than of private .Men's) of the necellity of Union : fpcaking of the Proteftants in Ireland, \\ e mult mitt, or be dejhoyt A. And how far is Inland from Eng land t Can theProteftant Church \nhe- Firft Strm.p. 29. Lwdbz dcllroyed, and England be fafe ? Yea, how much further is the Deftruclion from England^ than from Ireland ? may not £^/Wbedeftroyediirft ? It is raoft iikelv : for if England bo dc- ftroyed, Ireland cannot efcape •, if Ireland be deftroyed, England will be cudangered, but may better withstand it, than Ireland can. The fame difcerning and fenfible Bifhop cannot conceive any Poflibiiity of an Ih i> on of all honeit- minded Men of different Perfuafions amongft us, that call thcinfelves Proteftants, but by the coming of fuch feveral Diilenters into the eftablihYd Church. Hence the Inference is not far to be fetched. That this Union can never be Second Serm. p. 61; but by taking away the Bars, and the Chains that keep the Diilenters from entering in : Upon what Terms ( faith that Right Reverend and Excellent. Perfon ) mud we of the EftablihYd Church come over to you, that diflent, or you come over to us ? We declare, we cannot without Schifm \ and then adds a molt generous Exprcflion of a large and catholick Spirit : But are ready to facri- fice all we ca/i other wife to the Publick Peace and Safety. O thai all were thus frank, in their biddings for Peace and Uni- Pag. 29 * on ! But Right Reverend Father, Diflenting-Proteftants and Independents, will never prefs you fo far, as to come to them, that is, to be Presbyterians and Independents : If you will, do what you may without Schifm •, and they do what ever can be done with* a good Con-' fcience, the deadly Wound is in a hopeful way of cure. Find out, firft, what Unity is necelfary for this imperfect State 2. Obferve what Rules Chrift gave bv his Spirit, and the Holy Apo- ftles practifed for Unity, againft Schifm, for Truth and Faith againft Herefy, for Government againft Confuhon, for Order againft Difor- der, for Decency againft Indecency, for Worfhip againft Idolatry and Irreligion,for Difcipline againft decay of Piety, and for the foundnefs of its Members *, in a word, for Admiflion into Communion and Privi- ledges, for Edification, Peace, and Comfort. And what more can be ne- ceflary for Unity and Peace of Chriftians in one Nation, than what was fufficient for Chriftians in all Nations ? And then there will be neither Schifm on one hand, nor Diilent on the other. That one Rule of the A-' poftle, as far as we have attained, let us walk by the fame Rule, would unite and heal us,anddo us more Service than all the Volumns of Canons befides 7 2 €fje Confojmiffsi Cljf w pea befides. And who can walk by the fame Rule further than he hath attained ? The Means to be ufed for Union, are k A iincere Obfervatsion -of, and coiifciencious Confent unto the Terms of our ChriiHanity and Sol- vation, our Baptifmal Vow. Hypocrites and Fcrmaliirs, are the firft Rank of Dillenters, and Schifmaucks, that conform not unto the Laws ofChriit ? and Terms of Salvation. 2. A conicierdous walking after the Spirit. Seafual Men, that have not the Spirit, are die notorious Se- parators. 3. A iludious fearch into, and keeping to the holy Goi pel, wherein we are taught, as the way to Union. ♦ 1 . A let ting up, or rather acknowledgment of God, i other : Rom. .12. ic. Re- Joyce with them that do re Joyce, and weep with them th.it weep, ver. 15. 1 Cor. 1.2. 25., 26. v By Gelf-denial. This is the individual Property and Effect of true Faith end Love, and by Confequence the neceilary Salification of a Difciple. By this we feek God's Glory, aid not our own •, pray that. '/.Wj Ktngdotn may come^ind hts Willbe dune ^ as if we had no IntcreJr nor Concernment in this World, but the Advancement of Chrirl's -King- dom \ nor Work to do, but to do his Will. Except we deny our felves we cannot condef end, not leek the good of all, but r ">l^afe our felves * we cannot have a Care of one another as of our felves^ we mall not feek the things that be of Chrilr, but our own. Thi , Fact-Lus, this Schima- tical Self mult bed emal, or we can never b$ 'healed, nor grow in one. 6. If we would unite, we mini nor aggravate Divitions,nor multiply Schifmsinour own Fancies, Opiniorisand uncharitable- Affection^ look- ing upon divinity of Opinion*, as hideous Error-; updh Errors as dami;a[)K" ', judging other:, as Deceivers, and deceived, and admiring our felves, as if privi'edgecl with a little Infallibility; ccufuring our Brethren, reviling., reproaching, juppreiling and perfecuting of them. Our fo? t!je J^on confoimflf .$ » 7 3 Our Union lies in a Point, in is in the Head, in J D ] the Eiientials of Chriilianity, of Faith and Won- mjtje!i y 'mk9 /hip, and in iiar**, as the S 1111 of our Prayers. ; f,c,» tl. An fo Schiim, pcrni'i his Schifm, lies i;: a narrow- er Compifs, than moil Men, I will not lav, would %**" **»W'»* have it •, but than moll do lay it in. Schifm is a Breach of Union , but then it is a Breach dffltet Union which ought to be among Chrillians, from the N'vturc and Laws of Christianity. But according to fome, the weaker fide is always the Schifmatical. And fo I come to the laffc Head, to fhew wherein Schifm lies, or what Schifm is : It hath many Branches, and Degrees *, but I'll take the moil authentick Notion of it, from the prime Doctors and Fathers of the Church of England, by which I dare fay, our Protctlant Di!(entcr* will be tried and judged. Hear the Canon, and let it be the Reed ro mcafure our Schifm by •, we may Hand to their Rule, who made our 1 Canons: Anno i6c3.Can.1x. The Title is, Authors of Schifm s iti the Church o/Englard ecu fund. c Whofoever lhall hereafter feparate themfelves from the Communi- 1 on of Saints, as it is approved by the Apoflles Rules in the Church of 1 FngLwd, aid combine themfelves together in a new Brotherhood, 1 accounting the Chriflians who are conformable to the Doctrine, Go- c vernment, Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England, to be pro- c phane and nr.meet for them to joyn within Chrillian Profeffion ; let 'them be excommunicated, and notreflored, but by the Arch-bifhop,' c fter their Repentance, and publick Revocation of fuch their wicked 4 Errors. Here's the Nature of culpable Separation opened, i. It is a Separa- tion from the Communion of Saints. 2. Communion of Sains approved I y the Apoflles Rules. 3. Combination in a new Brotherhood. 4. The Reaicn of fuch Separation, and Combination, accounting the Cliriflians who are conformable, &c. to be profane and unmeet for them to joyn with 3 in Chrillian Profefnon. The Nonconformifts both bf Denominati- ons, Presbyterian ard Congregational, do declare, 1. Thar they klievc, and hold Communion of Saints. 2. That the Apoftk's Rules are the Rules of that Communion. 3. That conforming Minffters and Chrifli- ans arc true Churchesa true and excellent part of the Cuiv lick Church. 4. Tl'at they feparate not from any Chrillians, becaufc they are,or that arc Chriflians conformable to the Doctrine, &c. There is not a confor- mable Chriitian in England, or in the whole World, but. they that are iinecrc Chriltians among than, do and mult hold Communion with them L in 7 4 && Confojmiff & CfjitU pea in the Chriitian ProfelTion. The Reafon of their Combinations, is be^ caufe of fome Injun&ions required of therri alien from the Apoftl'es Rules; as we are Chriftians, mid keep to the Apoftles Rules, they do not jndg us to be unmeet for Chriitian Profeffion with them. As this is clear from the declared Doftrines of the Nonconformtfts, fo it is clear in the Practice of many of themes more than my felfcanteftify, who have, had of them, communicate in Prayer, Preaching and Sacraments with us. There may be fome, who ignorantly, weakly and palionately^ipon Prejudice and Unacquaintance, may be too far deranged from us, but asmanyofthefeas arc Chriftians, dare not withdraw from Chriitiar-- Communion with us ; or judg us unmeet for Chriitian Profefhon with them •, thefe are to be pitticd and reclined , but if they believe with the Heart* and confefs with the Mouth Jefus Chriit •, the Schifm is ver- bal and oral, but not fundamental, and in the Heart. A Man may be fhy of another Man's Company, through Unacquaintance and Sufpition, but if he will not keep the fame Pace, or the fame Track in the way to Heaven, I'll own him for a Fellow-Traveller, if 1 fee him go on. in the beaten Path of Chriitianity, tho not hand in hand with me." If hefufpect me for a Robber, Til allure him of my Honefty if I can,, that we have the Comfort of good Company. There are not fo many that, declare themfelves bound for Heaven, that I mult cut off them that do*, becaufe we have fomc Jars and Difputations upon our. Journey — -. Let us learn Moderation from the higheft Fathers. of the Church in their days, and learn this Canonical v Notion of a Schifmatick. A Schifmatick from the Cfiurch, is, He that feparatesfiom the Communion of Saints, according to the slpoflles Rules, as from Chriftians unmeet for Chrifiian Profeffion, becaufe they conform ; i. e. as from no Chrifti- ans, hut prophane, becaufe they conform to the Dollrine, Government, and Cere- rnomei of the. Church of England. Agreeable with this, is that Defcription of Schifm given us by that clear and very learned Dr. Hamaby Potter, ( Anfwer to Charity miftaken, Seel. 3. p. 76. ) c Whofocver profefles himfelf to forfake the Communi- on of any one Member of the Body of Chriit, mult confefs himfelf 4 consequently to forfake the whole. Ar.d therefore her Communion c vve forfake not no more than the Body of Chriit, whereof we acknow- c kdg the "Church of Rome a Member, tho corrupted. And this clears us 1 from the Imputation of Schifm, irhofe Property it is, (witnefs the Bona- L tills and Luciferians .) to cut off from the Body of Chriit, and the hope c of Salvation, the Church from which it fcparates. I mult confefs, when the Jefuit-Knot frames an Argument from this Defi ription of Schifm : ; the Rational Mr. Chillmgvcorth, denies theSylio- gifm \ faying,*it is all one as to prove, that becaufe a Man hath a Feaver, therefore fen tlje JBon Confomiifl <$♦ 7 5 therefore he hath the Plague \ and makes this to be but one Property of a Schifm. But be it fo, if this be a Vindication of the Proteilants from being Schifmaticks, becaufe of our Separation from Rome j it will as clearly vindicate our Proteftant Nonconformifts from the charge of Schifm, from the Eitablifhed Church, for they do not cut off from the Body of Chriffc and hope of Salvation, the Church of England. Indeed, the Separation with which they are charged, is not from it, as from a Church, but as Separation in a Church, fundamentally and dlcntially the fame, but differing ki Accidents and Modes, which mull needs be thclbwclt kind of Difference, and not comparable to that \n Corinth % which our Famou, Dr. Rainolds ( De Lib. Apocrypha PrxlccK i.) calls only Schifmanafcensi for the Conformifis and Nonconformifts are all one in Chrilr. *, none of the Nonconformifts have been ever heard to divide, and cry, / am of Paul, and I am of Apollo, &c. Our impofed Accidents arc the dividing things among us. And certainly, if the Nonccnformifts do (in grievoufly, in refilling Communion with us in them, agreeing in all the' Parts of ChrifHan Catholick Communion with us-, It will be a remarkable Acl of Charity and Goodnefs in our Governours to deliver them from fo great a Sin, by reducing the fore-quoted Doc1rine of our Church, in the Homily of Failing, into Practice •,. for thofe be the tilings at which they (tumble, it will be a Charity to take them out of the way : Or if they will not remove them, then Til conclude, it is hard to call them Schifmaticks, who are all one with us, as far as we are all one with all Reformed and Chriirian Churches, remeirrbring the Words of the Learned Dr. StUlino fitet , in his Defence of Arch-bifhop Laud', Before the impofing Himor came into far- Pag. 359, ticular Churches, Schifm mas defined by the Fathers and others , to be a voluntary Departure ont of the Church ; yet that cannot in Rcafon be un- drrftood of any particular, but the true Catholick^Church. F 1 N I S, ERRATA. PAgc 'Jm-c io.6Actomt, P. 4. !.*». after $fc. add nrt/r &. P.5.J.M.- after B/fbot, aJ<4 > an 1 dele A' ■ !'• v • - del. f A*/ P. 9 Litf.d I •*/?. !.».r.Cfcn ' Oi mlh. r. for. Y. 10. : . (he K.itf «i/,&C*P. II I. ' « Q afici je unfit P is. 1.4. r. if6 ■. V. 14. 1 40. U>i //3 J > r. n>>. P. 16. 1. 4. I ■ •>. I, 19, r. Anti-refm P. it. Marg. r. .are. tor >/. V. 39. 1. 4° '• m V. 4;. i. 15. r. Prtacktin, P. 57. I. 10 aftel Order * add 1. The Preface, and fame otficr Shrew the Author did not rr.ifc; therefore the Pi inter defirc 4 the Reader to corrc£t>oi pa En.i/.i ht r uds (herein. - ; ■ THE Contours fottrt!) pea FOR THE Nonconformifts. WHEREIN Several Confiderations are offered for Chriftian Forbearance. WITH Some Relations of fome of their SUFFERINGS, humbly fubmitted to Authority, in order to move Companion. Together with Some Account of the JnfimUWS LttCg and lamentable DdltfjS of fome INFORMERS, ev. By a Charitable and Compaffionate CONFORMIST, Author of the former Pleas. K. Charles I. f E ik'qn daiia, Med. 27. The King*s Prerogative is be ft foerved and exercifed in remitting* rather than exatling the Rigor of the Laws, there being nothing worfe than Legal Tyranny. His Majefty's Gracious Speech, Feb. 5. 1672. / pat forth my Declaration for Indidgence to Dijfentcrs 9 and I haze hitherto found the good EffcEt of it. . LONDON, Prirted for L. Curtis at the Sie;n of Sir TUmnnd-Bury Qi near Fktt-Bridg. M DC LXXX III. The Epiftle to the Reader. IT is M mud) in tbe Reader's power to re ad. or to forbear rvith Contempt, &s / but tbey tbat will be pleafed to read tbem, wilt accept tbe Reafon of tbe Number, at well as tbeTbing. When I bad written tbe fir ji, I tbougbt I bad done n iib 1 hi Argument^ except called upon to vindicate, or confirm, to explain, or to cor- rect wbat requires Correction. But when I bad faid all I tbougbt fit to fay, it was without any caufe at all given by me, reported tbat I bad written a Second Plea, and tbe Second Plea was enquired after before it was conceived in my Mind* Vpon notice of this, I confidered if this might be an Invitation or Call to view, and to give myftnfe of tbeir Sufferings with refpeel to publicly Benefit, by a Cffation of tbeir many Troubles, and Liberty to preach tbe Go/pel. I was confined to Brevity in tbat wbicbyet was too large for many. In it I did [late tbe Cafe as truly and dijiinaly as pffbly I could, and laboured to inform tbe Reader, both hijhrically and rationally : I looked upon tbe biftorieal Part as obfeure, becaujl Jhort i and upon tbe rational as too weak^, w anting tbe Authority cf Tcftimony, and confent of tbe Eminent Writers of our Cburcb. And becaufe I faw tbe In- credulity of tbe Right Reverend Bifijop 0/ Cork, wbo drew my Efiimation Affection to bim for bis peiceable Veftgn, as if tbe Sufferings of tbe Nonconform mijis were artificially aggravated to an evil end, I tbougbt tbree tbings necejfar / to be done : l. To run up to tbe Spring of our Divifions in tbe Savoy- Confe- rence, and gave fome Hijtorical Account of Cb inch- Affairs before, and about tbat time, which I perceived many did not know. 2. To Jbew and compare tbe Af peels of fome of our moj} Renowned Writers of tbe Cburcb of England, and our Differing Protejlants towards tbe fame tbings, of very great moment and tendency to Peace. 3. To reprefent fome of tbe many Sufferings of Divines of tyuwn Loyalty, mcerly for Noncorfrrmity, to tbis end, tbat tbeir Suffer, might affctl Authority, and incline Men's Minds to Mercy and Forbear^ For while tbeir Sufferings are figbted, and tbeir Caufe dejfifed^ andodi A 2 f.v The Epiftle to the Reader. expo fed at it commonly is, there is no hope of Reconciliathn,not Abatement of their Sufferings, nor of any Concefjons to mak$ their Admiffion eafy and comfortable. And all this was done together, and referred to the ingenious and honeft Boohfeller % who being the proper Judgof his own Affairs, concluded it beji to divide the whole into two Parts > and fo that which was a Supplement to the Second Plea,*/ called the 7h\xd,and that which was a part of the Third, // called the Fourth Plea. This account^, thought good to give of the Number fo them who are not difi- pleafed with the Argument, but with the Number. But it will be more difficult to fatisfy them who are difpleafed with the Argument it felf. And of this I have here and there dropt a Reafin, be fides a kind of Apology • in the Second, which I thinly took^ up too much rocm '■> and therefore I JbaU not run out here. MyVefignis throughly known to Him, whofe Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, to whom I muft give my laji Account, and receive my final Judgment, after that Men have talkt and done their V lea fun : I do humbly beg his Forgivenefs for all Failings > and of Men, when any jh all convince me of any Injury which I have ignorantly and unwillingly done, if any be done. I do verily believe the Argument is a needful Argument : and had the Management of it been anfwera* ble to it's Importance^ and by a better hand, I Jhould have more rejoyced to reade it, than now I can\ but yet as it is, I do not repent that I have given my 'lefiimony to the Servants of Chrifl, nor the Faith and Holinefs profejfed and propagated by them, although fome will make it as dear to me as they catu But they and I are in the hands of God,and for their fakgs I wi/h they would not be too bold and free of their Menaces. There is a noted Per£on, who affecls the Title of Obfervator (I amfure, >v J(U x^ either he is wilfully blind on one fide, or he is abufed by his Speclacles and In- ■$ ' formers ) to whom 1 am indebted. I cannot pafs by his Obfervator upon the Third Plea, Numb. 172. Tory fpeaks of the Flea > No, no, 'tis not ripe for Violence yet, but he advances very fairly, by way of Preparatory to it, if he can but perfwade the Multitude that the five~Mile A& was fram'd and pafs'd by Papirts. Here's the King now, and the Majority of both Houfes, expofed to the Rabble, as a Popilh Faclion. Reader, here's Obfervator now. Thefe Words firam'd and paiTed by Pa- jpitfs] are not mine, but his. There is a Vofe of his Ingenuity and Goodnefs wrapt up in the Infinuation, of if Ifaid or meant, as he is bold to report. If I quote my Authors for what Ifaid, or produce my Testimonies^ he will not abide me more than tfam, be- caufe Parliament- Men. One worthy Member of the Houfe in the Debate about ti- nning Proteftant Dijfenters, appealed to many Members then in the Houfe, who were in that Parliament, as remembring that Acl was promoted by Sir Thomas Clifford, Sir vSolomon Swale, and. Sir Roger Strickland, who all ap- peared to hi Papifls. And The Epiftle to the Reader. And 1 could name him fitne who remember the thee Corners of the Houfe *f Commons in which thefe three Popifh Agents placed or pofled themfelvcs to fee that the Votes of their Friends might not fail their Expectations, if not Engage- ments. 'three fitch leading Men as thefe were in the Houfe, when thinner than ufttal becaufe of the Plague, and being then difguifed, and afterwards open Papifh, was enough to denominate a Popifh Faclion, and to carry what thn contrived, efpecially pretending a Service to the Church, and by that pretence drawing the unwary Protefiant to vote the fame way. The Aft, and the Oath in the Ail wasoppofed by the eminent Loyal Earl 0/ Southampton Lord Tres- furer,and others of the Nobility, and by the eminent Dr. Earl Bijhop of Salisbury * and when they of the other Party endeavoured to lay the fame Oath upon the whole Kingdom, it was not only oppofed by the Loyal; but cjrricd in the Nega- tive by three Votes, which were the now Earl of Lindfly, a;id the Earl o/Dar.- by, and Mr. Perigrine Bartue, who was that day introduced into the Houfe by the other two. And this is fufficicnt to prove the other part of my Sentence, that it was oppofed by the Loyal. It is the firfi time that I euer read or heard that the King framed or pafftd the Ail : ( the Ails are paffed before they are pre- fented to him ) or, which I abhor to thinly, to be in a Popifh Faction > I leave the Scandal where I found it in Obfervator, with more of the fame Dy and Tinclure. Others there are that may be fat is fed with the fame Anfwers, who take it ill that it is remnnbred the five- Mile Ail was procured or promoted by Popifh Counfels and Endeavours. Had not great and obferving Men, who ferved in Parliaments dec! and it, I fljould not have laid any part of my Argument upon it % neither do I thinly a Quid pro Quo, to be an excufe for me y if I had f aid it, without fufficitnt Teftimony, that they who arraign and damn the Pleas, have given out that the Declaration of Indulgence, was from the fame Coun- cels, and in favour of the Papijis. The Kingdom was alarmed with the fears of Popery \ and many Preachers were Lecturers up.n the C ontr over fie s again jl Po- pery, as if it had been at the Church doors, and all mufi be armed again]} it : His Maffiy tool^ notice of it in his Gracious Speech of February 5. 1672. c I put forth my Declaration fr Indulgence to Vijfenters, and I have bitbertt e found the good Effect of it There is one part in it which hath been fubfiCi c to MifconftruCiion, which is thit concerning the Papijis, as if more Liberty c wert granted them, than to the other Rccufants, when it i< plain there is left, See. c I do not intend it (hall any ways prejudice the Church, but I will fuppwt its c Right, and it in its full Power. Having faid this, ljball take it very ill to *• receive Contradiction in what I have done t and I will deal plainly with you, I c am rcflved tojiicl^ t) my Declaration. The Lord Chancellour alfofpakg the fame thing. c His Majeliy hath fi fully 1 Vindicate i his Declaration from that Calumny concerning the Papifis, that no c reafonaUle Scruple can be made by any good Man : He hath fujfcient!\ tt^ The Epiftle to the Reader. it by the time it was publifbed in, and the Effecls he bath bad from it ■•> and might have done it more, from the agreeablenefs of it to bis own natural Vifpo- c ft ion, which no good Englifb Man can wifh otherwife than it is : He loves not c Blood, or rigorous Severities i but where mild or gentle ways may be ufed by c a wife Prince, be is certain to choofe them — - and concludes that Head thus : c But his Maffiy is not convinced that violent ways are the Intereft of Religion, c or the Church, p. 12, 13. And the fame Lord Chancellour, then a great Minifier of State, gives bis Reafons to his Friend contrary to the Lord Clifford V, whyhejhould thinkjhat Indulgence was a favour to the Trot eft ant V iff enters, and for the advantage of the Protefiant Religion, which are printed in a Letter from a Perfon of Quality, p. 5. However, it is clear, many of our Protefiant Brethren declared their con* irariety to Popery in their Learned Morning Exercifes againfi Popery and 0- therwife, and do we'lknow that one World cannot hold the Papijls and them both, if Popery have Powers And our Mittimus, will be quickly drawn, after that St. Peter'/ Succejfor can come in Goaler, a Place he Wculd purcbafe at any rate. But ! how much more happy were it for us to be reconciled, and made ont by Chrifi, by his Spirit, by his Gofpel, than be made Friends by him thai oppofcth himfelf, and was known in England by the Name of Antichrift, which he can never forget, nor digeji ? Vifcerning and good Men are under Appre- henfwns of Sufferings coming upon us, and write thdr Preparations \ one, a worthy Minifter of our Church, for Martyrdom, ethers for Sufferings > and the excellent Mr. Polhill draws the Face and Afpecl of the 'times with his curitius Pen. 1 Charity is cold, Differences ar hot, Moderation vanijbes, Enmity every where * appears, Popery lifts up it felf in the World i Protefiant s help on the Defign c by deflroying each other. Sin is gone up with a great Cry to Heaven i bfackjZlouds c of Wrath hang over our heads for it j the decays of holy Love threaten a remove c of our Candlefiickj •, Lukewarmnefs in Religion (beivs^ that we are fit to be ' fpewedout of God's Mouth : Every one that hath eyes in his head may fee the i Tendency offucb things as tbefi — . Epijile to the Reader before his Armaiu- c ra Dei. Our Peace is protratted by the Prefervation of One Life, upon which it hangs, which is more worth than ten thoufand of us ( 2 Sam. 18. 3.) often won* derfully preferjed from open and latent dangers. But in how many Cities, Cor- \ porations and Counties is a Civil War begun I What Contrivances arejludiedto divide us, and provocations to jirike ? who can number or cxprefs the Jivifwi of Hearts amongfi us ! what Contentions in Parifhes ! what Inquifitims after Diffenters ! They are once again become the P uhlichJGrievance, and great Dange- rous Party to befuppreffed. Jhe Tide that rofe againji Popery a few years ago, is turned i^jh them now : as fome have obferved it fever a I times before to have dom % The Epiftle to the Reader. done. Tea, they are mi only driven out of their Meetings, but cannot in feme Places, werjhip God in their oivn private Families without Spies, yea, more, without Molcflation \ SufpeUed evil Dtfigns can not be more narrowly watched, than they are , who fear and worship the God of Heaven, Hence Impiety tak?s great Boldnefs and Confidence, and Piety is fhu4 up, and mujl neither be heard nor feen, I am credibly informed, it is thus for a 'Time ( but how long ? ) in fome Places, fince wickgd Men fee they may tai^r that C our fe. which fear ce any but they will undertake. And this Way of Impiety u difcountenance, terrify, and confine or banifh true real Piety, is that which 1 [peak, againjl, and direU my Vifcourfe to, I makg not my felf wifer than my Rulers, nor do oppofe my felf agaml lawful Power, lawfully ufed by the meaneft Officer > but being in fomz mea- fure affecled with the great Piety of many of my Brethren, and their great Sufferings in many kinds, and the Proceedings of mofl Men agiinfh them. Nonconformity is but the Pretence > but it is the Gain of fome- thing which Jhall never profit them, nor be bleffed unto them, that ii aimed at. Who can fay, be was ever the better or the richer for the ma<* ny great Lojfes of the Sufferers ? It were happy for the Informers, if no ivorfe Jhould befall them in this World, ( not to ffeak^ of the World to come ) thin happened to two of them, who went to complain, or demand (or both) their Moyety of a Jufliceof Peace, who commanded them both to be fet in the Stockj' Some Inftances of the temporal State of thefe kind of Men are given in the few following Narratives* Obferve the Methods and Manner of the Execution, and the vafl Diffimilitude between their obferving the Sabbath-Day, and the hunted Vijfenters, I da heartily wifh all 'things were done decently and in order in the Pbulick^ Affem- blies, and that thither might &e the Way of all GocTs People with one confent : But if that cannot be, without Controverfy, to worfhip God in Chrifl by one Spirit, to preach one Faith, to join in Praifes, to celebrate Sacraments, are more like the Sandification of the Name and Sabbaths of the Lord our God, than riding and running up and down with vain Words, fyaftings, Threatnings and Oaths, in a Morning, to find out a Preacher, and the Afternoon inExcefs and Riot, I remember that MuCculus faid, The Papifts were unfit Men to correclthe Anabaptifts > Corre&ionis non eft opus, nifi verorum Chriftianorurn. As he faith, Papifts may burn them, but cannot correel them, except Burning be Correction : So thefe Men may inform, diftrain, buy and fell the dijirained Goods, and hale Nonconformifis to Prifon > but is this to convince and reduce them f Andtho others may have bitter Aims and Intentions than thefe In- feriors have, yet is there not a more excellent Way ? efpectaly in fucha litpt as this, and in fuch a Matter, wherein fo much of the Glory of our Lord Jefm i ne npuue to tne rveaaer. Jefm is concerned. Let us fear, that to profecute fucb M I have ufed form Means to inform my felf and cannot find that there pt dne Sign of God's Approbation of Juch a Courfe as this is, 1 have given a fmall Handful! of Injlances in the following Collection, from which much way be obferied , and it is but a very little, not fo much as a Gleaning would be, if all were written which might be, I have feen it under the Hand of a Reverend Divine, that it was the Conjecture of feveral Minijiers> that if the Hijiory of the Sufferings of the Nonconform^} s were written, but in the Wefi of England, it would make a great Folio. how much more neceffary a Duty lies upon Men, of turning to the Lord from all their wicked Ways, of working out their own Salvatim, and furthering the Salvation of one another, of following after Love, Rigbteoufnefs> and Peace, and Prepa- ration for the blacky Day of Death, and the great Day of Judgment ! and to be more jlricl againjl open Sins, than controverted aud tolerable Dlftinclions ! But if they who are born after the Flefh, will jhew their Natures^ and grow wanton in Peace and Plenty, and find none to infult upon in their wan- ton Raptures, but thofe that defire to kjiow and worfhip God in Fear \ Let all thofe who are born from above, and are Partakers of the Divine Na- ture, as the Ele6t of God, holy and beloved, put on Bowels of Mer- cies, Kindnefs, Humblenefs of Mind, Meeknefs, Long-furring, for- bearing one another : And if any Man have a Quarrel againft any, even as Chrift forgave you, fo alfo do ye: And above all thefe things, put on Charity, which is the Bond of Perfe&nefs. And if other Places will not afford Reft and Qmetnefs for peaceable and honeft good Men, that differ in a few things \ let not London forget their Labours, who ventured their Lives (with other good Men) to fave, and to mikg Intercejfions for them, in the dreadful Plague i nor them who lay in the Dufiy pouring out Prayers for them, when Ruines lay infiead of (lately Piles y who have been eminently ferviceable to reclaim diffolute Touth, and promote Piety and Goodnefs, And why may not good Men, of different Notions and Perfuaftons in Modes and Forms, live together in Peace and Love, converfe with mutual Confidence aud Dearnefs, as well as trade, and maintain Commerce with Perfons and Nations of a contrary Religion ? But I mufi conclude, the Lord prober what I have in mnch Since- rity endeavoured for the Glory of God, and his truth, the Honour of the King, and the Peace and tranquillity of the Kingdom, Amen, THE &&&&M&&& &$&&&&$&&&&&&& W&$#$#*$'$$$$$$%'®%#$#$$$®$ THE ConfozmtS s fourtl) ^Ica FOR THE Nonconformifts. N I O N is that which all wife, good and gracious Souls muft needs defire, and endeavour to attain, as they endeavour the attainment of Happinefs, which cor.fifttth in it. Our Divifions are extreme painful and uncomfortable > a great Dilhonour and Impediment to Religion, and Communion of Saints. Every Motion and Piopofalfor itdeferves Attention and Thanks, tho it cannot be embraced or alTenfed to. And whatsoever tends to make, continue, and widen our Divifions, mould confcienciouily be avoided. Rigorous cx-idin^ of abateable A' ticks and Terms, Prejudices, Sufpici- ons, draining of Confequence?, aggravating Offences, odious Reprefen- tations of Perfons, S'rangenefs> refufing to do Offices of Kindnefs, Juftice, and Mercy i difingenuous Cenfures, provoking Speeches, and Bit- ternefs, are Wedges of Diviiion : bciides other wounding and cutting warlike Infiruments, and Proceedings of Ecclcfiatiical Elottility. As it was from Hardntfs of Heart, that the Jews put away their Wives for every caufe > fo it proceeds not from Tcndernefscf Heart, that our Brethren arc put away, as incurable Schifmaticks, for every DiiTenc and Difagreement. Peace, Love, and Forbearance hav.: a greater Place afiigned them in Re- ligion, than the Things in Controverfy, which caufe our Divifion. And whether it be meeteu tcr the greater Things tofutfer by the letter, or the letter to give place to the greater, let common Rcafon judg, and common B Experience 2 c&e Confo?miffjS jTouttlj pea Experience come in as Evidence > efpecially in a time when we fee Religion wounded in Head and Heart, and it can never recover Health, Strength, and Beauty, as long as thefe .Wounds lie open. Unite we mull, or con- tinue in this disjointed broken Condition, and grow worfe and worie by the application of Force and Warrants. The evil Confequences of this Courfe are many and great, i. The Law of Love and Dearnefs is vio- lated. 2. The Diffenters, in their judgment, will never want a furficient Caufe, to jufiify both their DiiTent, and their Sufferings '■> and the better the Caufe of their Sufferings appears to be, the more to blame will they be ever thought, by whom they fuffer. 3. The ambitious and factious Politician will ferve and adva-nce his private Defigm by HJin^ with either of the difcontented Parties > and the Vices of the Politician (hill be iaid on the Head of Sacred Religion. 4. Others will facrihee the Peaceable and Innocent, with their Freedom and Eftates, to their own Avarice, and dc* vouring Lufis, undir a pretence of executing Laws, and fervirjg the Pub- lick Good and Tranquillity. In few words, Who can feckon the many Impieties of feveial forts, that break in upon the Kingdom of Chriit at this great Breach ? The greateh 1 and Sum of all is, a Breach in the Com- munion of Saints, in the Offices of Love. The mifchievous Effects of Diviilon?, are fo many Arguments for Union* And that which doth prejudice fober Minds againft the prefent Courfe of Informers, and armed Men, is. That it tends to the extinction of Love, and to enlarge the Diviiion. And for Union fake, I delire the following Cov,ilderations may have the force of Arguments. But before I come to propofc them, I defire it may be noted, 1. It is, and muft be acknowledged, that the King is Supreme G -vernor overall Peifons and Caufes Eccleiialtical > and it belongs to his Office, to protect and promote the true Chrillian Religion, and preferve it from what is contrary and defirudtive to it. 2. As the Offices and Duties of the Supreme Power, feated in the Kings of England, and Bifhops and Pallors, have been always dillinguifhed by our molt approved Writers j as may be feen in Bimop Bil/on^ of Subjection i Bridges, of the Supremacy* Andrews^ lortuta torti^&c. Dr. Norvel again! t Dorman, f<*hich Or. Reynolds brought to H*rt, in the beginning of their Conference, who faid, That if we gave to Princes no more than Dr. NowcT did, he did agree with it ) > and King James himfjf. 3. When the Magiflrate exercifeth his Power by executing of Laws, it is tne Duty oi the Paltors ot the Church to ufe the Key of Dodtrine > that fpmtual Means may be applied to the Souls of Men, according to the pre- fcriptionof our Saviour. 4. Diilin- 4. Diftin^uifh between Laws in their Intention, and the Application of them, wh ; ch hath often fallen into firth hands, as turn them away from their Intention, and do not obf.rve them as a Rule to themfelw^ in their Proceedings. 5. No Ap logy is made, ortobemade for any feditio is Pra&ice or DodfriiKs, for violation of Peace, Subjection, and Righteoufnefs, &c. ~De vob'A cuidem dixi(fe Ap jlolum hymns, quod no n fine caufa ghdixm g rjtiu & mini\\ri Dei fitis, vindiccs in tos qui male agunt : fed alia ejl can/a Frtvincid, alia iji cjufa Eccltfut i illius tembiliter gerenda e In pumfhing thefe two Sins, God ha f h ordained a twofold Sword or PuniuV ment: a fpiritual Sword for fpiritual Sins, which is the Word of God > and for fecular and outward Sins, a fecular Sword, namely Ctfars. Joan. Brentius, de Jure Magijlraths in Anabaptijrar. Again, wc may dihMnguiih between both kinds of Sin9, and Evangelical Duties. The Diilenters are not profecuted for Infidelity, Herefy, &c. or for feditious Dc&rines, or for fecular Crimes and Offences h but for meeting in fuch Numbers for Religious Exercifrs and Ordinances > and for this, only becaufein a manner different from the Church of England, that is, without the Liturgy, as hath been faid, and fhould be kept in mind. And the Prof cution begins by Informers, ( ufually fa If. and wicked Perfons, that ro^ke a Trade of it ) and ends in Fines, Imprifonments, and corporal Sufferings. The manner of doing their Work or Office, is with prophane- nefs, Impiety, with what Wrath and Terror they can poflibly caft a peace- able unarmed People into. The Informers rum in with Bellowing and Roaring, with Oaths and Impioufnefs: Sometimes the Souldier comes in with his Pifiol cock'd, and threatens he'll piltol any one that ftirs, he'll crack the Preacher's Crown, or piitol him. Thefe Things inferted, to feveral llfes, and for feveral Reafons which might be given, I do prefent you with the Confederations. I. Can an Evangelical Union of Chriftians and Churches be ever hoped for by Anti-Lvangelical Means and Inltruments } Aggravate their Reli- gious Exerciie- in a manner different from the Liturgy, as proceeding from Minds tainted with no left than Herefy, and to be a direct and for- mal Schifm, and tending to corrupt and not to edify the Souls o\ Men: What Means and Inltruments more proper jnd e.'i . -tual to attain a bleffed B 2 Unit), 4 Cfie Confajmiffss iFauttl) Pea Unity, and to preferve a Chriftian Church, than what are appointed by our Lord and Saviour? Certainly he took care to preferve the Purity of Faith, Doctrine, Worfhip, and Unity of the Faithful > or elfe he did but accor- ding to what he blarney in a Man that begins to build what he cannot hniib, fets up a Kingdom in Satan% Kingdom, a Church in the Dominions of the World, which would run into Contufion and Ruine from within it felf, except he took a courfe to preferve it. To call and convert, and not to keep, but to lofc, had not been to acl anfwcrably to the glorious Name of a Saviour. Since his Manifeftation in the cxercife of his Medi- atory Office, hefulhlled all Offices in his own Perfon, as Piopher, Prieft, and King: After his A fc en lion, he taught and directed hi* Church by his Spirit, in his Apoftles and Minifters i and fince their Deceafe by his Holy Spirit, and revealed Will and Laws. The Chrillian Church had all Power within it felf,before the C onverfion of Emperors,and Civil Potentates j and fince they became Nur ling- Fathers and Nurfing-Mothers, the Church hath loft nothing of her fpiritual Power by it i for the Magistrate's Power is not privative, but accumulative. If Penalties, Mul&s, Fines, Imprifonments, and forcible Coertion, had been fo neceiTary, it had been neceiTary to convert and fet up Chriftian Emperors and Kings, armed with a Civil Power, as foon as he had given Succcfs to his Minifters, in calling a Church out of the World ; Yet this is rot to be wrefted to this very Coniirudrion, as if the Church could do as well without a Chriftian Magilhate, as with him. It only pretends to (hew us, that our Lord jefus hath left us Means and Directions, fufficient for the prefervation of his Church in Purity and Unity > and that thefe Prefcriptions are moft likely to produce his Ends. Three things are pernicious to the Chriftian Church : (j.) Corruption of Dodtrine and Herefy, (2.) Difunion and Schihns. (3) Scandal in our Lives and Manners. Our Saviour hath taken care to keep his Church from, or to reform and purge it of all manner of pernicious Ads and Works of Satan and the Flefh ; And it lay upon him 10 to do, more than upon the moft Chriftian Magiftrate or Paftor, becaufe he redeem'd his Flock with his own Blcod, and took upon him to be the Head of it, and all the Honour he receives from the World, is from his Church in it i and therefore it concerns himfo to govern his Church, that he may he honoured in it and by it. To this end the Lord promifed to fend his Spirit, who is the Spirit of Revelation and Truth, who leads Chrift's Difciples into all neceiTary and faving Truth, and the Spirit of Union with Chrift our H He hath ihewed a more excellent way to Pairors and PeopI , and their Civil Governors Befides th. pufonal Qualifications of a Bifhop, which accomplilh him fur his Work, rhe Scripture is full of Directions for his Behaviour in the Houfe of God, at all Times and when thofc Evils do compafs and invade it, whici dp endanger it: ibe Servant of the Lord mull not tlrive, but be gentle unto all Men, apt to teach, injlrufiing them that oppofe tbemf elves. 2 Tim. 2. 24. When perilous Tim s come, he muji continue in the Tubings ivbicb be batb learned, and been ajfured of. chip. 3. v. 14. When Mn arife to fuavert the Hearers, and wr.ofc Words will eat as with a Canker or Gangreen » then, C barge them before the Lord, that tbey jtrive not about Words to no Profit. Study to (hew tby felf approved of God, a Workman. Fly youthful Lulls '-, folloiv Righteoufnefs, Faith, Cha- rity, Peace with them that call on the Name of the Lord out of a pure Heart. 2 Tim. 2. 14, 15 22,23, 2 4* When the Time co:res, that People will not endure iour.d Dodnne., &c. but turn away fiom the Truth » then, Preach the Word, be inftant in feafon, out of feafon > reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all Long-fuffering and Doclrine. 2 Tim. 4. 2, 3, What (hall they do, if grievous Wolves enter in anting the Flock^? and Men arife, /peaking perver/e Things, to draw away Vifctples after them i then, lake heed to your fives, and to th 1 Flock^, &c.Adis 20.29,30. What, when unruly aod vain Ptrfons and Deceivers, who fubvert whole Houfes, teaching Things wloich they ought not, for filthy Lucre fake i In misOfe he is directed, bdides the Graces of his Conversation, he muli bold foji the faithful Word, that be may be able, by found VoVtrine, both to exhort and confute the Gainfayers : Rebuke them Jharply. Tif. I. 5?, 13. What muli be done, it' Ordinances be pro- phaned or corrupted I They mult be reilored to their rirlt Initiation and Purity- 1 Cor, 1 1. 2c, 2 1, &c. If Gifts be exereifed unproriubly } Let all Things be dme to edifying. 1 Cor. 14.2(5. If Ordinances and Admhii- firations be diforderly, and by unfit Perfons ? For it is a jbame for Women to /peakji n the Church, v. 35. L punite latrones, puniteprodi- tores, falfos tejies, & ejus generis cater os. §htol ad Religionem attinet, de- fenditepios adverfus aliorum injuries. Georg. Klembergius. Upon the whole, we fee what care the Lord hath taken of his Church, and what Means are to be ufed for the Prefervation of Purity in Dodfrine and Life 5 and of Unity among Chriltians. And 'tis not to be doubted but if all in their places,did walk according to the Commands of our Saviour, our Divifions would be near to a Cure,or more tolerable than now they are j and what Spirit or Power fo likely to heal and prevent our feared DeftrudHon, as a Catholick Chriftian Spirit, which is holy, gracious, fervent, charitable, laborious, patient, reconciling, and wife. After that St. Augujiine chan- ged feu t&e J!3onco?fonnUffsJ. 7 ged his Judgment, from fparing, to be for fining and coercing the Vonjtilif and Circnmdlions^ he did nor leave the Work in the Hjnds of the Pre- fidcntsand their Officers, but did ufe all fpiritual Means to rectify and recover them : Si tnim terrertntur & tton docercntur, improba quafi Vominatio videretur. Au£. Vincenfio, Ep. 48. and he was fo far from exafperating and exciting the Magiltrates, that he often wrote by way cf Interceilion. A greedy wicked Informer, and his Difciples, mould never difcharge us from all Evangelical Ways of healing our Breaches. And (ho they are Inftrumcnts to call for Execution of a Temporal Law, we mult not think our felves excufed, till we have done all that is in us to procure Unity and Peace. And let it be but thought upon i 1. If Difipline were executed, Whether thofe impious Agents are not the meeteir Objeds of it } 2. Mal-c the Cafe of the DifTenting Protectants as bad as can be, fup- pofe them Hereticks and Schifmaticks i yet Ictus fearch the Scripture, and fee if Adulterers and Fornicators, and other wicked Doers, are not under a worfe Note than they. We are to avoid Hereticks,and the ConciG- on,that make Divifions, contrary to the Dodrine of cur Saviour and his A* pottles, of necclTary and ceremonial, and indifferent 1 hings. We are to la- bour to fet Dividers in joint i but where we do find the weak, and doubting Brother, yea more, they who cried, J am of Paul, and 1 ofCcphzs y to be as a Heathen or Publican, or to be put away, or with fuch an oney no not to eat ? The Offences of weak Chriftians, or fuch as are taken at different Forms, or indifferent Things, are none of thole Offences that biing Wo to the World. 3. Not fome Godiinefs in one Form, but all Godlinefs, in all Forms- within general Rules and Hone!iy,defcrve Protection and Praife. 4. They impute greateff Fault to the Laws, that give them this Con- fuu&ion That the Ditfenrers (inferior violating a Temporal Law, which makes anv F.xercife of Religion to fuch a number above four to be fediii- $w : which is as much as to fay, the Law makes that to be a Sin, a Sin of Sedition, which is no Sin, but in it (elf good and religious, and of grea: ufe and benefit. y. Certainly it is a ltfs Frror, to err in a Form of Worfhip, than in the Subftance of true Faith and Worfhip. But fuppofe cur Brethren were Apoftates from the Faith, it were greater Mercy to force them to the Faith than to a Form of Worlhip : bur Compuliion with Penalties is no where picfotbed in the Laws of Chrifr, not cvei. to the Faith, without which there's no Salvation- Cbrilio imt legis tuition omnino hoc phcuijfe, ut ad Le^-rnfujrn recipicndam nemo hu'yM vi\x fotnU aut carum meiu pertrabtn- tar* Grotius de ']nrt Belli & Pjcjt. J. 2 ... y.x, f t 4S. which he confirms by feveral Tcftimonies of the Ancients, and he interpreted that in the GofpeJ, Compel them to come in^ to iigniry injiantiamVocatoris , the importu- nity of the Caller. II. It is unnatural, contrary to natural Light and Law, to punilh Men for Religion, and not for Evil-doing. Chriflians that believe and profefs the whole Chriiiian Faith, that wordiip God according to the general Rules of the Gofpel, and follow Righteoufnefs and Peace, are put out of their places, when thrult into the rank of Evil-doers. When the Apoille faith to the Chriilian under a Heathen Magiftrate, Do that which U goodi and thou {halt have Praife ofthefam^ Rom, 13.3. he fpeaks of well- doing in the Judgment of Nature,and according to itsLight,that well-do- ing is to b: rewarded with Pra ; fe,and only evil-doing to be avenged i and that fuch t vil-doing as was contrary to the Law of Nature. He is the Mini- fter of God^ a Revenger to execute Wrath upon htm that doth Evil-, that doth Evil in the fight of God, forbidding the Evil in fome of his Laws, Do cur Brethren worfhip a falfc God, or the true by Images? Do they fet up another Gofpel? then let them be accuifed. Do they ditfVminate Seditions, or ad againft Peace and Righreoufnefs between Man and Man ? let them furTer as other Men do. And if the Prifons cannot hold them, build more for them. But they are not accufed of fuch Offences > they are driven from their VWrmip in their Meetings, to bring them to other Af- &mblies> from ont Fcrm to another > but yet the Crime is for Religious Exercife, and the w^rlt that can be feared, is fome Changes in Religion, or State. I cmnot tell how far Grot'm will be allowed to fpeak, becaufe hewasagie^t Party in a Fa&ion himfelf, neither do I ufe his Name but for lis Reafon: c Truy who puoifh Teachers and ProfefTors of the c Chrirtian Religion, Hand duhie faciunt contra ipfam Rationem—. Neither c are their Pretences to be admitted, who f*y new Changes are to be feared, c efpecially AiTeniblies — . But new Opinions are not to be feared, which c lead only to all things that are honeit, and Obedience to Super iours, Nee * fufteUi dehent cztus frobrorum Hom'tnttm, neither ought the AfTemblies of 4 hondt Men be f arediEf qui latere non qntrunt ni- T>e Jur. Bell. lib. 2. 'ft coganturs and that do not defire to be private c. xx. $. $9. 'or fecr t, unlefs tr.ey be forced or coniiraiiud. ' And in the 50 $. of th fame Chapter, he faith, trny do very wickedly who punifh them, who believe the Law of Chrift to be true, but doubt or err in fome Points, qut extra Leqem funt^ that are not written in the Law (of Chrift ) or that are ambiguous, or not expounded by the Ancients in the fame Senfe. The Jews who had the Law For them .did never impofe Punilhments upon the Sadducet^ho err'd in fa? tfje Ji2onc0nfo?miff& 9 in the grcit Point of the Refurre&ion. To prove that to punifti Religion is preternatural, let it be conliJered, i. As Nature di&ates, and confents that God is to be worfhippei i a.d Religion is horourcd, where God is honoured and owned: Co Niture fe'ls us, that Men mull worlh'p God sc;oidni£ ro the light and freedom ok their Minds and Wills. Upon this Principle A- tbanagora* pleaded the Chrillian Caufe wi h the Le^at. pro Cbrijli- Lmperors, that they peimift.d f venl Naiiocs anis prcpe initium. and People to tvorftiip the r fcvaal Gods, left Tertu). Apol.c. 2\. Impiety iliouU ab> und by fupprefllng the Deity, and for this Reafon, beauf. it was ntcelTiry, that every Man fhould wor- (hip that God which he had chofen. It was from I he 1 >fs of Light and Truth, that more Gods than one were worshipped > but it was from right Reafon, that every Man fhould worfhip according to his own Mind and Choice. The Mercy of God is great in miking himfclf known to us by Revelation, that he might re&ify our Minds, and propound himfelf to us, as infinitely worthy our Choice and Service. Chriliian Reigicn contn- didb no Dictate of Nature > it is the molt that is asked, that our Brethren miy be allowed to worfhip the tiue God,and our Saviour JefusChrift wi'h the freedom of their Consciences, differing from us olIv in a few external Modes. Tertullun goes Ad Scapulm t c. 2. upon the fame Principle, tamenkumani juris & na- turalis Potcftatif eft unicuiqs quod putatur colere.neq'* alii obeft, aul prodeji alter 7- m Refigio — .There can be no fincere, nor confequently no acceptable Ser vie. without a choice and freedom ( f Mind > and indeed we mould be ftudious to inquire into Nemo ab invito colt the form and manner of Worfhip, next unto the vellet. Idem ApoL c. 24. Knowledg of him who is to be ferved, thithe may be pleafed witii his Worfhip. The Soul of the Worfhipper finds no Profit by, nor takes Pleafure nor Comforc in what he fcruples, nor doth God take Pleafure t that Service whkh is not done inF^khand Sincerity. I nut Hi* enim Deo e\i, qui Devotion*, ac Fide caret, nihil tnim eft tamvdu :ta- rinm^quim Religiu i in qua ft animus fjcrificanti* averfus eft, jam [Mat a, jam nulla ett. Ladhncl. dc Juttitia. /. 5. c 19. 2. It is contrary to good Nature to render Evil for Good, and not GooJf<>rGo d. Pub'icans and Sinners will love and do good to thofc that dogood 'o them: Religion teaches all its Profeflbrs to do Good to all anl is attended with the greateft Blelling* to Mankind. The defign of the Chrifrian Religi n is to make Men bl itcd * and where it works and obtains, it turns tl e Heart to God, and all manner of Good, and en- gagcth all that r ceive it to do good to all. It pronouncuh a Blefling C only to Cfje Coufo?miff0 jTouttlj pea only upon the holv and righteous s the Preachers of it teach ria other way to BleiTednefs but by Purity of Heart. Mercy, Ri^hteoufnefs, Peace- making h it fers before us for our imitation our Heavenly Father, and our Holy Saviour, and holy Men s it enjoyns us to mind whatever things are ju/1, true, pure, honeit, lovely, and of gond Report. Preichetsof the Gofpel that endeavour to reftore fpiritual Li^ht and Life, and to convert Ion Souls from the Error of their Ways, defcrve better Preferments, than Forfeitures and Penalties, and greater Immunities than from Prifons and Confinement*. And Christians fhould know, that a Willi ngnefs to fave them, and Fervency in praying for them, and living fo as 6 promote the Welfare of a Nation, is doing the greateit Good to them, and cicferves a fuitable return. 3. SuoBfe the goodnefs of RJigion, that as foon as Men became ac- quainted with it, they ccafed to p rfecute it, and did embrace it. H^ that hath the vi: ve faculty, d; th receive the Light j he that hath a [park of right Reafon, and Inclination to good, finds his Soul kindled with a de- fire to it, and reibluion to ruvc and retain it. The Ignorance of the Chriftian Religion among the Romans, was the caufe of tneir Perfection of it,and they did ill to ondemn what they knew not. But all wno before time hated it, becaufe they knew not wfm kind of thing it was which they had hated, fimul ut defi/innt ignorare> ceffent & odijfe, ss foon as they ceafc to be ignorant of it, f.iey ceafe to hate it. Tertull. Apol. c. 1. They v. ho are mi li, and belt acquainted with Religion, its Power and Nature, the Imperfection o! Lu',hf,l'owcr and Tendcrnefs of Confcience i that read the Works, and arc acquainted with the Perfons of our Brethren, are molt companionate and moderate, altho there arc others which will not know, becaufe they have hated them. 4. It is contrary to Reafon and good Nature, to afflidt and puniflithe Religious becaufe they who were the wor/t of M< n, in whom Coirupti- on of Nature bore greatell Rule, and in whom Honeily and goodnefs of Nature and C01 fcience was deth"oncd,have ben its greateil Enemies,even from Herod and Nero, to S events, Charles the \xtb, and Pbilipof Spain', and from the High-Priciis toGardiner and Bonner : Or,if thofe Princ.s were vertuous and merciful in their own Natures, thofe that did provoke and abufe their Power, were more degenerate Mongers than Men. Men of gftod Nature, will be pitiful even to them that err, or do ill throng: Error If I knew that 3 Man did but pray for me, I would believe he loved me> a' d i'fl believed he loved me, I would not afflict that Man, but love him and do him good ■<, much lefs would I contend and moleft him to t e want of a Formality. The Scourges of the Ancient Chrilhans, are painted out by Lattantw as more inhumane than the moil cruel Thieves moil fa? tTje l5anconft?mtto. ir moft angry Enemies, mod tierce Bjrbjr/ans, ft 5. de J/tjlitia^ c. 19. and that contan.inated and wretched Spirits, who know aod hate the Truth, d> in- ilnuate themklvcs into the Minds, ai.d ilir up ignorant Men to i ury, c. 2 1 . 5. On the contrary, the more humane any Men have beer, the morcea- fily inclined to Jmiiccand Clemency toChrifthns,tho of a dirre,ent,and an unallowed Religion. Where natural Light and Confidence is in any coniiderable Authority, there it goes be f with the peaceable and mo/fcht llvc o\ a different way > it being contrary to the judgment and fenfc of humane Nature to dial ill with them, that do no ill. Famous is the Ex- ample of Fliny and Irajan to this purpofe: Fifty in fits Letter to \trujin the Emperor for his Direction how to deal with Chriltians, gave him this jult and true account of them, that he found nothing in them, but obiH- nate refilling to fecririce, &c. forbidding Man-flaughter, Adultery, Fraud, Tieachery, and other Wicked nelfes. To which Trjjj;;, from a good redtihed Nature, fent Anfwcr, and gave this Order: Hoc genus in- qmrendos non ejfe, i.e. You mult connive at tach : Let not Informers, or Accufers inquire, or fearch for them. Upon which merciful Decree or Edicl, the learned Vojftus ob- Comment, de Cbri- feives, in this Trajjn the Emperor had better flianorum Verj'ecutiom, thoughts of Cbriftians, than thofeChriliians have p. 82. who have thought, that not 'Mahometans only, but Chrifuans fufpe&ed of Herefie, lliould be brought into the Inqxifition » hhtioT in Chriftidnos Trajanus, quam ejufmodi Cbrijhani. And truly,, as He- refy is fome degrees beyond Nonconformity, a Wotiti more pernicious to Christianity, than it , fo Chrihianity was more contrary to the Emptor's Religion, than Nonconfoimity to ours. From the fame Jultice and Cle- mency, and Law or Nature, Adrian the Emperor gave order. to Grant. mm the Prelldent or. Afia ( to whom it feemed unjuli to deltioythe Chrifnans for no Crime, and being unhear'd, to (atify the Clamors of the People ) That they lliould be punidied, if they committed any thing againlt the Laws: wh:ch as the fame great Man G.V. expounds,is meant, not if they did any thing againlt the Laws of the twelve Ibid, p. Sp. s, which forbid the bringing in or any new Godsi but non tjje amma-lveriendum in Cbrifiianns^nifi fint facinorofi s the Chritlians might not be pundhed, excepc they were great Offenders, or guilty of Sedition. And for a Concluli >n ot -this Head, take the Obfcrvation of Grotius, that God did not punilh all that were convidr. or Idolatry ( whit contrary and dishonourable to God than that ?J nor appointed the Canaumtcs \o Deilrudtion, till they had added other great Sins and Ini- quities to that > Gen. 15. 16. vid. de Jure belli, 1. 2. c. XX. $>. 47. C 2 6. It 12 Clje Confcnmiffg iFottrtl) pita 6. It is contrary to the fcnfe of the fober and temperate fort of Man- kind, yea it's contrary to that little that is left of Confcience, Judgment and Modelly in the more corrupt, and declared Enemies of Religion and Vertue, to inflid Sufferings upon the Religious, for Religion fake, or for Exercifes of Piety and Religion. This may be demonftrated by three ObferVations. i. That it hath been the bufinefs of the moft vile and wLked of Men to perfecute Religion » it was too cruel and bafc a Work for any other. 2. The Perfecutors of Religion have been conflrained by a Fiction of Calumny, toepprefs the Religious, as impi-us, and the holy Servants of Chrift, a- prophane, and fedi'ious, dangerous P< rfons \ or tlfe they could not draw out their Anger and Enmity againit them, nor exercife it with any Authority and Approbation : this is true from our Saviour's Sufferings, as an Enemy to Cepr, and a Dedroyer of the Temple, throughout the days of the Apoftles, and all Ages to this very time. Jews, Heathens, and Papifts have feigned, and imagined Caufes of the unjuft Sufferings of the Saints of God. The Hiftory of the New-Te(Ument (hews this i the Writings of the Fathers in their Apologies ftuw if, who ckar the Chriiti- ans from theftiamclefs Slandersof lnce/t, eating Infants, and Atheifm, and the fouled of Sins. And the bloody Papilts have invented Covers for their Cru hies: Firft, they brand us for Hereticks, and then they burn us '•> and to put a Grace upon this foul Work, who are fitteft to make and blow the Fire, and mark out the Branches in Chrift for it, than the Friers, the Religious Orders, who profefs a Perfection of Religion. And as if the Laws of Princes were too foft and gentle, thefe Clementine Magi- firi, Makers or Teachers of Clemency, ( as Erafmus calls them ) are fiery to a third degree, above the hotteft of them. I wifh I could f'op here, but I cannot, except wilfully heedlefs, but obftrve, how fome in this Age do temper their Spirits in the very Fire, whet their Tongues, and draw Proteftants, holy Men, and peaceable, in a colour deeper than they do Pope or Cardinals. 3. This will appear by the Re T entings, Relaxation of the Severities, Ex- cufes, and throwing off the ^uilt of Perfecutions from thcmfelves upon others, and pretending Fears of fome great Mutations of State, and fome other wa^sand arfs 01 Perfecutors: it is a Work which few or none are willing to own. Domman, a very Limb of Nero, Portio Neronis, began a Peifecu ion, but as much as was in him of a Man, did rcprels that begin- ning, recalling them that were banifhed. But of all the Princes that came after, even to this very day, that favored any thing ( f God, or Humanity^ {hew us any of them that was an Oppreflbrof the Chriiuans> but on the con- trary, fa? tlje IJonconfojnu'M* 13 trary, we will produce a Protector. If the Letters of Marcus Aurelim, the moft grave Emperor, be fearched, wherein he teilifies, that by the Prayers of the Chri/tian Souldiers, Rain was fent to quench the Thirft of his Auny going a-;ainii the Germans: as he openly took ofFthe Punifhment from fuch kind of Men, fo he difperft it openly another way, condemning their Accufcrs inworfe Condemna'ion. Saich TertuUiin^Apolog.Q.^ ' We can 1 C faith he to Scapula, c. j.J fee before thee (he latter ends of fome Preii- 4 dents that in the end of their Life have remembred that they finned by * vexing the Chrhiians. Cine, Szverus (one of the Cruel Prefidents ) himfelf taught the Chriiiians how they might anfwer that they might be difcharged, c. 4. Nearer our own Times, we rind that Charles the Ninth dilowned the treacherous, barbarous Murder of the Admiral, and the bloody MaiTicre, and throws it upon the Duke of G///e,in one of his Let- ters i and in others wrore,that it was to prevent a Confpiracy of the Admiral ^nd the Hugenots. And Printed after the Com- in the boody Days of Queen Mary, it appears mentaries ofCh.tbeix., the Perfccuti n was contrary to the fenfe and by P. Ramus, temper of the Nation > and who of the chLf would avow it } The Queen declared, (he would force no Man in tho(e points of Religion: Gardiner and other Bifhops, and Privy-Counfellours openly in Court purged themfelves of it, and laid it on the Queen i fo now it could fall no where but on the King — . Philip feeing all caft upon him, and understanding it would make him unacceptable to the Nmon, he was concerned to clear himfelf of the Imputation 5 therefore Alpbonfits a Francifcan, his ConfelTor, in a Sermon before him preached largdy againit the taking away of People's Lives for Religion, and in plain terms inveighed a^iaind tbe Bilhops Dr. Burnet of the Ke- fordoingit. And toconclude, even now,if this formation, B»2. P.30J. were the Vote of the Na:ion of Conforming Pro- tectants, What's the reafon that fo few diredf'y and p'ofciTcdly engage in it, that are Men of Wifdom, Intereit, and Ertates ? What's the reafon that fo tew of the poor and indigent irreligious do not turn Informers, as long as there is Mony to be got by it, as they hope } It is a fign of a general Difallowance and the Diifent of common Reafon and ConUieuce. And if ever a fcarch (hould be made into them that turn the Wheel upon DiiTemers, few or none would liand to if, and fay, it is I. It is no other than a fpuriors A it hath a Father, but who will father it?' AfrAw/ tn'mfrmm tjjfe, quia malum agnofcitnt* Conf i4 Clje Con&?mfflFjJ iFouttfj 13lea ConfiJ. III. It is not Loyal, to make a peaceable Government bur- thenfom to fcrupulous, religious, but peaceable, honeft, ufeful Members of Cities, Towns, and Coumreys i> and to reprefem Religious Meetings, ( fuppofe them defective in Form ) as Cabals of Confpirators ; This is to make a State-Schifm, and to keep the Government in fear, and upon the watch againit our Friends. Conftd. IV. It is Schifmatical effcVw, if not aff for I demand, Afe they Chriftians ? Try their Faith, call them to give a Reafon of the Hope that is in them, If they wt-re juftly excomrr.uni- 2 Cor, 2. verf, cated, by what divine Rule do they fuffer in their Bo- 4. ad 12. dies, Goods, and Liberties ? Great Care and Tendernefs mould be ufed to recover and reftore them. But to proceed againft ChrifHans, for want of a mutable Form, and indifferent Things, to Poverty and Bonds, and to take no care or them, is it not as much as really to fay to Members of the Body, I have no need of you ? Is this to take care of them? Do they that profecute, weep with them, and mourn with them ? Are they kindly afTeCtioned towards them I Do they love them as Brethren ? Have they companion on them in their Trou- bles and Bonds ? &c. It is not enough for us to fay, they are Schifrna- ticks i can that excufe our ^chifmatical DifarTctfions, Revilings^ Accu- fations, and Scorns ? I amfurethe Apoiile makes thele Notes of a Schif- matick, by Inference, as the other of Union to prevent a Schifm, 1 Cor. 12. It is a fine Gbfervation of the memorable Mr. jo. Hales •* c The Learned 'of our Times, who> for Out Intlruciion, have written de Notis Ecclefa — f may feeiti to have ill forgotten this, which the Heathen Man had fo c clearly difcovered, he meant Ammianut MarceUinus^ taxing Georgius^ a c factious Bifhop of Alexandria^ for abuilng the Weaknefs of Con ft anti us c the Emperor, by bafe Tale-bearing, and privy Informations, notes pre- c cifely that he did it, Obl'uus profejfionis fu for now, ex- cept it be by writing ot fume Book?, whofe Leaves arc not like the Leaves of the Tree of Life, for healing of the Nation, what little Pains are ta- ken, to inftruft, convince, or perfuade them, neither with foft Words, nor hard Arguments > Either are better than neither of them. But now the Officer calkd Informer, is the firft Mover and Inilrument in the Re- formation i an Emplo\ ment that is, which many that are too bad cannot be hired unto: A fort of Men thefe are, that are more perfect than the Profectttors in J'ertuBian'j Time : Taksfimper ribbU Inftculores \ . impnfur- pes, qnos & ibfi cfamhare conjivflif, & a quibus damhkios refthktw [oHii tftfa Vie Englifh the 'character, icit feme other make it worfe than it >s : It Is no more but t: is 5 They are unjuffyingod'y, hlthy,fuci as ye arc wont to con- demn, fand our Judges have often condemned; and to reftor. fuch s are condemned by them- I (hould n t dare to write this, but that I would move our profeiTed friends. to take another Coiirle, more for the Honour of the Church, and cur Holy Profeiiion, than this. The Church that now is, can no more turu the Stream, orc'ang^ the Courfc of the Law, than other Men can, and are not able to help them, Cas the Reverend Bilhop of CV/^fpeaks, pag. 12 r. j But is it n t fit our Governors mould know how it reflects upon them } 1. The World is poflefs'd with a Conceits that this Work of undoing Men is pleafing to f me that don tonly 1' ok on, but fet Men on j not difpleaflng to others, tho (ome fay they are forry for it '•> as thelime fore* {aid feuiibleand moving Bifhop of Corl^ 2. That fuch poor and iniufficicnt Miniflcrs are placed in many Chur- ches, which rather drive Men away, than give them tolerable Encourage- ment to attend their Miniliry, or Hopes of Improvement. Methinks the Thing it fclf mould be more ofTcnfive than the Mention of i*, when there is fu^h notorious Truth in it. The Bifhops cannot hinder th-ir Iriiiitution, but f,me are fenfib'eof the great eafineis of tome In their Admiilion into Orders. If awakened houls keep at home, there is danger that ileepy Preaching may calt them into a Lethargy i if they go abroad, they are ia danger of the Laws. 3. When other Means are not ufed, or do not overcome DiiTentcrs, fa fet their Creatu es upon them, doth alienate the Minds of Multitudes* We are not r fry theyj provided for, nor muii we provide for our feh - Good Conforming Preachers dare not encourage us to go to them j and if we are received with better Welcome there, they aic ftifpe&ed to be a3 bad ot worfe than the Nonconfoimiils> 16 Cije Ccnfojmift'ss fouttij pea And that they (hould be hunted and worried, and the Fleece torn from their Backs, by fuJi a iort of Animals, of ignorant, infidel, voracious Enemies to all Religion, is a very great Affliction to the Sufferers, and Peprcach upon our Religion > as if ipiritual Means were not ufcd, or fpi- ritual Weapons had no Power '•> as if ChrilHans were robe t3tned by irrati- onal Methods i as if the Shepherd's Voice, nor his Rod and Staff could 60 no Good, but the fcattered Sheep were given up to the Dog«, to bring trKm to the Fold, that prey for themfelves : As if a fdf-created Officer, that's below a Commiflion, and unworthy of a Livery, had greater Virtue in him (ocure Chuah-Divifions, than Ordained Minifters. I a fibre the Reader, this is written not to make him merry i And I do not know whe- ther it wi 1 be pardoned to me, to conclude this Head with thi«, That 5 tis no wonder the Succefs is nob tter, wl en no more fan&ified Means and Infiruments are employed to ad in a Work ol this Nature and Conteqaence. Confid. VI. By this way the holy Ordinances of God, many choice Men for excellent Palioial Gifts, Qualifications and Parts, and real Holinefs, are brought to contempt, to great contempt i and this way is a very great Obilru&ion to the Encreaieof Saving-Knowledg and true Religion in many. The malignant Influences of our Divilions upon Religion, is demonfirated by the afTe&ionare Bi(hop of Cor^ in his fee )nd Sermon. I (hall limit my Obfcrvation to the fame Defiga * Vfque ad ttatem of Peace and Unity, and keep to the Thing in Anguftini, hoc (ft pint hand \ That 'his proceeding agiinft theNoncon- (\uam qnadringemU poft formifis, is of ill conftquence to Pvelgion in gene- Chriftum nation annif 9 ral. * If they were an Heretical Se6h, except nufqnam legimus Ortbo* turbulent to the State, where have we a Rule for daxnsimp ,v arfaris fuch a Procefs agunft them? But without dif- prtfidmm advtrjm Hr their donee Donarillarum & Auditors- generally they are Men of as much Circumcellionum ptr- Aptnefs, Receptivity, of Apprehenlion, Judg- pcUeret pervicax & infi- mtnt, and Experience in the Work and Way of nabilti injania &c. Salvation, as any Men of their feveral Ranks and Era fn us in Rejponf.de Qualities, in the Places where they live, and *re IfiqttifUQM, as ^r at Examples of Truth, Sobriety, practical Holinefs > fo? tfic J3oncGnfo2ttu'ft$i* 17 PIolintTs > and are as much exercifed in reading, p-aying, conferring, re- deeming Time, walking not as Fool as any Men that pro- fits Chritt among us, and every way as Subje&s. T al Degrees of them > iome have their Indifcrctions, and rheir Mill. and their Hears, and their B!emi(hes > ar.d what Party ruve not > Cut it the Grace of God hath appeared to any Nun, and if any are taught to A ydli/iefr, and worldly Lulls, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefint fKrld, as I am furc there are, there are fuch among them. A it is no difparagement to them, that they are fcrupulous, coniiderir.g re- maining Ignorance : for if Men have a due fenie of Sin, ar.d have know n it it is to be humbled and penitent, they mull needs be fearful and ien- der ••> and then what with want of Helps, Studies, and Leifure to fludv Things lefs nccetfary, many of them may not be fo judicious, as to dif- folve the Knot of Scruples > and judging of Things according to their life and Beneht to them, they may not be fo taken with what others pra&ife. But there are among them plain Men, of as clear Percep:ions as any lever met with, of their Education. But now both their Tea'.] and them ft Ives are under the fcorn and contempt of Fanatickf, which fig* niries with many, what Unacquaintance, Pride, and Uncharitablencfs can calt upon them. 1. It is injurious to Religion, as if they that preach, pray, f.arch the Scriptures, prove giddy, unfettled, odd, and erroneous j an irrational Sect of Men, fprung up among Men of no folidity or fettKment. Hence what an Advantage doth the malignant Spirit take, to make Co many ig- norant *and carnal Far-aricks? meer Babes in Religion, that have nothing in them but what is put into their Mouths, or infedleth them with unci f- cerned and fenilefs Popery, in this Point, That the Peoples having and reading of the Scriptures, is dangerous, as difpofing to Haefy and Di- viiiens. 2. It renders the Labours of the wortfreft of them fufpecled and de- fpifed,and this is an hindrance to our Union: for who values thofe Men that are not fit to preach > or whole Labours teach People to run into Fancies and Delulions > The molt ufeful, profitable, fearching Eooks, which the World hath molt need of, are not as much as looked into by many, but rejected, becaufe they aretheB;oks of Fatutichj, as they are called. Yea, more, if a Conformilt have the Name of a Fatuticl^, fomc of our Church-Parrots will not come nigh the Door-Polls of VYifdom. 3. It is a Temptation, and I fear a prevailing one, that there is no Wordiip either neceilary or acceptable unto God, 01 fate for the k oul, but rhe Le^al in all its parts and accidents. Hence it is mauifeft, that all the Religion ef many, lUys at Church, no Sign or Mark of it brought D home t8 €fje ConfoiTOift'0 jrouttij J^lea home to their Houfes, and private Converfation. 4. Is it not manifeit, that many ate fo prejudiced againft them, as dangerous Perfons, becaufe they fuffer, that they running into an ex- trerreof Oppofition, continue in a clear way of hreligion and Dam- nation i fo fjr from praying, and any thing, chit looks like Godly, that they live in the Confcflion of all Ungodlinefs, and worldly Lulls, and live intemperately, umighteoufly, and ungodly, in fwearing, (elf- damning, and blafphcming. 5. Others feeing that Men, that feem to take the greateft care of their eternal Intereft, are thus branded, purfued, and troubled, lie fait a flee p in carnal Security, or take up in outward Formality. If God awaken them, they lie down again > and they are eafily perfuaded to lie down, who are not throughly refolved, when they obferve this Way is every where fpoken againft. If a Man become truly penitent, of loofe be- come ftridr, of carelefs become circumfped, .of lukewarm become zea- lous, he is ftratt a Fanatick, or that way enclined : And who knows not the Power of fuch Suggefi ions and Temptations f Which prevails fo far upon abundance of Men, (b openly and (harmfully, to be aftiamed of the Ways of Chrift, and of fpeakingof hisCommindments, except it be in Cavil or Contention, contrary to the holy Pfalmilt, I will Jpeak^ of thy ItftimonUs before Kings , and will not be ajkamed. Pfal. 1 1 p. 46. 6. It makes the Wicked rejoice, when they fee them who condemn them, as Noab did the OJd World, by being moved with fear, and pre- paring an Ark, to fee them pet fecuted ? and makes vile prophane Sinners run into an Excefsof Infolence, when they have them at their mercy, or in their hands. 7. It is a Temptation to many, to do many things in an hypocritical compliance with ungodly Men, which in their Hearts they cannot allow, becaufe at other Times and Places they exprefsa diflike of them, for feax of ftaining themfelves with the difgrace of being Favourers of DilTenters : I mean this in one particular of Exctfs of Drinking, thofe plaufiblc Arts and Introductions to it h and of joining in Difcourfes, or not filencing them, which favor rankly loathfom of Proprnnenefs and Atheifm. 8. It difableth good Men from doing thofe Works of Piety and Cha- rity, which otherwife they would do. It isnot unobferved, how bounti- ful the fober DilTenters are in all Collections, upon publick and unfufpecled Occafions > belldes many other Charges t ! »ey are at, of contributing fome- thing to their Teachers, relieving particular Perfons in great Wants, living hofpitably. They are much weakned by Fines, Indictments, &c. and are gr at Lofers by the Seizure of Goods above value, and underfilling them, that they cannot do the Good they would : And who are enriched by fo? tfje l3aitcoitfo?miff& 19 by it, but they who will never be rich, nor blefs'd, till they repent and reflore ? It is no pleafingConfiieration to any Man of any Indifferency, to fee honefl Mens Goods carried away, to maintain fome in open Im- piety. p. It is a great Temptation to as many as love this World, to follow Chrifl no more openly than Nicodemus i for they arc for a Religion that is fafe and faving, if not gainful. Yea, it is a dangerous thing for a Man, a private Man, a Man and his own Houfe, to ilng Pfalms, read, pray, cattchife, when an Informer, hearing but a Voice, goes and informs of a Conventicle, and his Oath mull be taken for the King, when really 'tis for himfelf, and his Mailer. There is fufficient Proof and TelVimony of fucli Things as thefe, See the Narrative that fome have been highly damnified for praying out of Devon. 1 67 r. in their own Families. 10. It is a great Temptation to the Children of Godly Parents, to walk in Ways contrary to God and their Parents, and to beget grudgings againd their Parents, when they are like to be Sufferers by their Parents Practices. 1 1. It is a great Temptation to Apoflacy, I do not mean from a Fadrion or Party, but from the undoubted Offices and Duties of true Godlincls. How many have, within thefe few Years pail, fallen from the ftridtnefs of keeping the Lord's Day, of preaching twice, of hearing carefully, of taking Notes, repeating Sermons, and Family-Duties i Yea, that have turned to a contrary way of Debauchery and Impiety, as wanting ftrength of Grace and Courage, to own their Baptifmal Vow, the Practice of the truly Pious, and their Savi -ur's Laws ? 12. By this the Communion of Saints is much broken, and the Com- fort of it loll. This Mifchief is grown now to that degree,that it is crimi- nal to hear any of them preach, or join with them in Duties in the fame Family, Le the Occafion nevtffo great and excufable. Are they Chrilti- ans ? and (hall not one Chriflian converfe with another Chriftian, as a Chrillian, in Chriflian Offices? If they come to us, it isalmofl as bid as our going to them. And this Nonconformity deprive! us in a great pare of the practical Article of our Creed i for the Communion of Saints doth confifl in Practice and Exercife. And had we not better fpare the Thing? we contend for, than an Article of Faith ? Or why may not a Confor- mifl hold occafional Communion wi:h the NonconformiTis, in indifputable Duties, retaining the Liberty and Reputation of his Conformity, with- out fufpicion ? Is it becaufe we mult not offend Authority ? Tncn cer- tainly a greater Weight is hung upon Conformity, than it can bear, if ever it be weighed in an even Ballance. We are forward to blame the D 2 more 20 C&e Coitfdjmi^ fourth $lca more mid foit of Separating, for not cornihg to our Worfbip » and why are we fo rigid as to forbear all Chriiii oil with them, as if Chrifiianity were all loit among them ? O that we were as averfe from ether Company, as we are from them, in holy Duties ! I do declare, for this very realon taken from my Creed, that I do hold mental Communi- on with all the holy Brethren. r -makers of 'the heavenly Calling, and am pre ared for local a> • itrmnion with them in all Chriftian Duties and Ordirar. . CottfnL VII. To fcience, moleft and punifh found and able Miniflers, and Proteftant Chriftians, is as much as to render them altogether unfer- viceable fc the Church and I tfrxif ot need, and in places that redd all their Labour: ', a? . ) cut them i iff, except they be moved by force of Law to come in. and do as we do. But the Church of God in England and Walts hath great need of more fuch Men as they arc j and fomc places had fat in Darknefs had it <.oi been for them. This is true, and therefore tMs courfe of proceeding with them, is Jctrimcntal to Religion it felF, and to the Salvation of precious Souls. Surely, cither we do not know what if k to fave Souls, or we muft be fenfible,, that it is a Work of great Study> Jnduiiry and Watchfulnefsiand howu hfriall Parifh is too great and nume- rous without great Diligence fc ft of us i and how long it is, before wi conae to a holy dexterity in the management of our Calling. Who is Efficient foto preach, as to be a favour ol Life ? But who is fufficient for publick and private Work ? Some make no more of it, but to fend a Man, and a wooddeh Staff: but the Prophet himfelf mult ilretch himfelf, and breath upon the dead Child^ &( t is matter of Praife to read diligently the Frav erf, and preach conftantiy, but we.know, that many muft be fetch- ed in, not by citing them firil to Court, rhat way is much about, fo far about that fome are loft that way and never come in j we mull go and fetch them in by our pafonal Applications, and Addreffes to their Confciences. It is better have too many than too few,f We have too few, if they were all admitted and encouraged. And what an unreaionablelofsisit to be deprived o^ tueir Labours, who are devo- ted to the Work, and have as edifying a Gift of popular perfuafive Argu- mentation as any Men ? Who have been our Teachers and Examples in this kind more than they ? A'hat an Example was the mod faithful and fuc- cefsfu Mr. Baxter, who e Practice was copied after his Gild "at. Salvianw r and the Minifters of that AiTociation ? How diligent was Mr. Stubby Mr. Allen, Mr- IVaddefrvortb, and others? But they were not worthy! Tlvs courfe we undertake to follow when, we are ordained, this was the commendable Practice of the the ancient Bithops. Sec Proffer de vita Con- temPlativa % fa? tf>e jaonconfojmM& 21 tcmplativj) 1. 2.C 2. tales Scripturaappellat Speculators qui fpecttlantur actus cmniitm, &c. that witch the Actions of all, how every one lives in l\is Houfe, h pw in the City, among the Citizen^, &c. lib. i. cap, 21. the Chat-tcr anfwcrsthe Title > a lamentable Defcript'oof a Priclr living car- rally, Cyprian. Epijl. 4c. It troubled St. Juguftin, that his Health would not fcive him to do his Ofiic. : c Ic grieves me more than it doth 1 you perhaps, that my Infirmity is not fufrkient for all the Cares which c the Members ct Chiill require of me. Epiji. 138. Qhro & Populo Hyppo- ncjif^ &c. 1 How it klom do many People, cfpecially Wormn and young Ones, in Parilhes of five or fix Miles DirncnhVns, or more, come to Church } Have not they Souls ? Perhaps they would be careful of them, if they were told and convinced of their Cafe and Danger , but O how well do they take themfeives to b: ! and think themfelves exaif.d from faving Ordinances, becaufe they live fo- far from their Churches! The Learned Dr. Bright fa : th, Come where in his Eook of Prayer, that upon computation, thcie is a Prkil for every fifty Perfons in France. But alas! here in England there is not a Miniller wholly for two or three Parilhes, in many Counties s and this where 1 live, I have known a poor filly Curat travel on foot four or five Miles to read Prayers, in fome very populous Pa- rilhes, where tfquires and Gentlemen live very thick. While we are carelefs of Souls, we teach poor Souls to be carelcfs of their Salvation. If the Cry of fpiritual Murthcr, Damnation, of Fire, of Hunger and Thirlt, had any Entrance into our Hearts, we mould mind Realities more than Formalities, and not pcrfecute Preachers for Preaching, but fend them foith in Peace, and commend them to God. But Preachers, yet not Preachers, make an Outcry againft their Preaching i and others, that never knew the Need or Benefit of it, cannot endure them in their Coalls : But they who are more concerned for the Salvation of Souls, and Pros- perity of the Work of Chrift, mould be other wife affected.— But to ufe them as they are ufed, is not tenderly to confulc the eternal Sa'vation and Good of many People \ and fuppnfe them as difaffeifted to the Church, "whofe Happinefsthey intenfely wiffi, and would certainly part withr.-ore, if they had it^ to come in again into the publick Service, than ever it coll them to forfakc it, both againlt their Wills, and againll their Intcreft, Eafc, Quietnefs, and Honour. I am confident of what I write, tho I have not asked any of them the Queflion, becaufe I d > verily believe them to be wife, rational, and good Men. If fome Places can be without th< m, tho J know not one, fend them to Places which arc in dangei of being loll: for Want of fuch as they '•> and fend them, as i' is tit they (hould be recei- ved, ( Hnv baittiful are the Feet of them that I j .' ) with ccfp.ft and honour. ConQd. 22 m$ Con&imiffs fouttlj pea Con fid, VlII. As many Places have great need of them, Co the Lord hath been with them, his Work hath profpered in their hands, even when their Difgraces and Dangers have been a great Obftru&ion. I never mean fuch a Ccnverfion ( as ends in DeflrudHon ) to Conceitednefs, Pride, Faction •> but I mean that which is to Salvation, by Holinefs, Righteouf- nefs, and Peace. And for all their Hizards, Reproaches, and Difgraces, an understanding and wife People hear them, which they would never do, if (hey did not receive Edification. Is there nothing but Humor and Af- fectation in them ? AfTcdtation of what ? of Fines, LoiTes, Frowns, Threatnings, Diminution of Civil Privileges, as fir as fome can deprive them ? If this be their Hypocrify, verily they have their Reward. They go to hear them for Scruples and Fanaticifm. Let a Divine repent of fuch a meditated Calumny and Afperfion, left he fall So the Heathen ob- into them. Whatever another intends to do, that jedred h Sed non ideo dares to make the Succefs of their Minifiry of the bonum, quia mult o scon- Gofpel, the Power of God to Salvation upon vertit. — Quid hoc ma- rational Souls, to lead Chriftian Lives, no greater li eft , cujus reus gau- Argument of divine Approbation, than the fprea- det ? &c. TatulJ. ' ding of Mahumetanifm, and the Succefs of the ApoU chap, i. Alcoran > if he never found the Efficacy of Grace, of the Spirit, Word, and Sacraments upon his Heart, let him turn his Thoughts and his Time, if not his Pen, to make ready for his Judgment, and to fecure his Peace, rather than to rake into Sores and Ulcers, and keep them open, to get Money, as fome Beggars do their Sores. Confid. IX. A fafe and fpeedy Union of Diffenters, as nearly united as pofiibly can be made, is molt delireable, that there may be a happy End put to their many Sufferings. Religion and Humanity can take no pleafure in the deferved Punifhments of Men i the Murmurs and Complaints of Sufferers ftir and move Companions > and Pity holds the Hand even of Juftice, in all Caf.s in which Necefiity is not urgent and manifeft. The Evil of Separation hath been opened, when the Evil of their Suf- ferings hath not been touched upon : They are urged with the fir ft, but that is but one Side of the Evil i let us fearch into the other Sore, to take the whole Weight and Compafs of the Mifchief that lies upon the Prote^ itant Religion i and both run down from the fameCaufej and he that wou'd Hop the Current of Evil in divided Streams, and dry up the Flood of Afflictions and Mifcries, muft flop it at the Well-head of the Caufe. They arc urged to enter into the Communion of the Church as by La\y eftabiiflied. fotije JBoroonfojmtfg. 25 cftabiifhcd, becaufc of the Mifchiefsof their Separation i and i( would be a fpecial Service to move our Governors to make their Return as cafy as may be, by opening the Scandal of their Sufferings If thdr Confent to our Injunctions weie gained, the Co; troverfy would be at an end, and this Trefecu ion alfo : Cut that being not like to be attained this way, the Continuance of the Separation is more for the good and profit of the Church, than their Sufferings* for while they enjoy their Liberty, the Gofpd is preached, and they that aae regenerate, and ailed, and gathered toChrift, are gathered to the Catholick Church, tho not united unto a p:rticular Church, in fomc certain Bonds of external Communion. But if they were totally fuppreiftd, and where they are mo ft narrowly watched and ktpt in, thoufandsof Souls would lofe the Benefit of their Labours, and their Hearts are like to be more eftranged from us, and the C h urch will /till lofe the Content and Comfort of their Communion. The fup- pofed and aggravated Sin and Evil of the Separation, is doubled by their Suffering?, and made more incurable by the Exafperation. We fee and rafte the Fruit of above twenty Years Proceedings, and better cannot be expected, but much worfe may be feared. To argue for a Relcafc from their Sufferings, becaufc they have fuffered deeply, may feem weak and inconfequent > but take them in a Complex of Caufes and Circumftances, and I do hope the Argument may prove a Matter of Confederation, to them that are concerned in thefe great Matters. If a Man (hould move for a Sufpenfion of the Laws againft Male- factors, thus > Millions have fuffered Imprifonment and Death, and there- fore fpare them i the Argument is not only ridiculous and weak, but weak and finful: becaufe they are Malefa&ors, and the Laws of God, both natural and revealed, require it i and there would be no Safety to the Lives of Innocents, nor of Civil Rights and PoiTeftions. But to argue, Our diffenting Brethren have fuffered much, therefore forbear to inflict more Punifhments upon them, is not without fomc Strength, and convincive Evidence. 1. The performance of Religious Exercifes in a different Form, is no fuch Offence and Crime, as deferves to be puniftaed, before the Penal Laws decree the Penalties. The Difference of the Adminifirations, is made bythediverfe ufing or difufing of Things indifferent, fome extending their Liberty further than others. To ufe Christian Liberty (wifely, and as much as may be, inoffenfively) is no puniQnble Crime, but a Duty •, and if there be not a Liberty in indifferent Things, there is none at all. 2. Eut 2 4 C8e Ccnfo;ttttft0 fcurtft pfea 2. Eut ifit were a Matter puni(hable,yet offuch Things as are purr {li- able, befoiea Pn:! Law be made; S*d non idco ftquitttr eim (pcenam) ■debere exi?J« quid he: p.nd.t extern • s pxna Mimta tfl{ cum iffa pxcfih as Grain; wiitc$ 3 V: jut* BeH, & fat. lib, 2. cap 4. £. 22. Now what can bv is of cfoefe Penal Conftirurions > 1. Unity of Mind with our C rtifcfe Things enjoined* that feems to be t! e Reafbn or rile Af ftriti which none can be of, but fuch as were fo mind d before red all Reafons and Circum- flances perpenfed. But that all (L fdh fame mind, isimpofiible in our State : That's an End not attainable., and t&i y who propofs it,propofe only fort hemfelves, and them of ih.-- fa nv.- Judgment with them, and ex- clude the reft, whom the llotd h .It was a wife, and is a ce- lebrated Saying or the I 1 Maxmtl ih the Second, to Augufim of Saxe, when he inl i \ in iru Vbiouitarian Controverfies and Pcrfccution. Tl ke toKl htm he would have all his Minifters agree with hiiii.d 1 know that will be loft Labour, and that it is grievous and diogerous in it felf. — Id nutiqnam pirfkicfi, ikqmvlmperatw^ ncque nojlrnm eft infer are Coti/cientiis 9 ant ad fidemqur-nauczi adgtrk Berfctiui fit iftor* Career 'urn, p t $dJ, Hoorn- beck Summa Controv cum Lutbtranw y p. 657. 2. The Pe«ce of the Church and Stare may be aim'd at. Can there be Peace in ihcHoufe of God, whilil one Fellow-Servant fmites another? Surely that is not ; he way to Peace. Which brings to my mind that of the Learned HornbecJ^, ( Oratione de Eccleftantm inter fe Communione ) : * if we (hall receive cr treat them other wi& than Brethren, whom Chrift c doth not difdam, or think unworthy of (a great a Name, Place, and *HoroJr. At que bee Chnfiiatuz cbaritatis cornmunhnxqs eft fundamentum^ * This is the Foundation alio of all Chriftun and Ecck-ilaftical Love and c Charity, among all Chriftian Churches and Congregations through the * Worl<\ Let others' defpife the common Name of Brethren, I never call c to mind, without a lingular Affection of Piety, that holy and ftngfe- c hearted Guflom among the Ancients, both of the Jcwifli and Chriftran c A^e, when rhcy faluted one another by no other Name than that c ot Brctbren : So did the Tongue txptt f$ the Mind, and te/lify their Faith c and Love, &c Cmmmicatio pacti^ & appellatiofratewitatit, zstertuUian c fpedks. Faith and Love to God, and Recc ciliation w rh his heavenly Majefty, as a Father, a Pafticipation of the fame divine Nature, a mil* 1 Acknowledgment of theM,rks and Lineaments of God's Children, a {to tfjc I5onconfo2miff0. 2 5 a Confent in the fame fubfhmial Truths, and /peaking the Truth in Love, and forbearing one another, are more fure Ways to Peace, than Menaces and Force. c At quint i dignim fistris & dicuntur & hibmtur \ who have ac- c knowledged one Father, God j who have drunk in t'^e fame Spirit of HoJr- 1 nefs 5 who have breathed out of one Womb of the fame Ignorance.to the c fame Light rf Truth. TertuO. adGcntet. But we have other kind of Marks and Nanus of Dillindtion > we feem to rejedt all fpirirual Kindred with ihtm, and exringuilh Love, to compofe Differences, and to make Peace. Will thefe Ways ever lead us to Peace ? 2. For the Peace of the State, 'this may be thought o r . Through God s £rcat Mercy we find, that the Controverfy o{ Conformity and Nonconfjrmitv hath not diiiurbed the Quietnefs of the State, but as foms have made ufe of it : And Church-Peace (hould be moll earmftly fo'lowed, th3tthe State may know the BiefTcdnefs of being incorporated with the Church in the fame Government s and finding the BJeffing of Religion to be fo great, may be the more tender of its Welfare. The DifTenters have not only obeyed Warrants, but have made their appearance without Warrants, when but oiled to it by fomc that had no Warrants, fo far have they b:en from giving occalion to the Militia to come armed upon them , but fome will have it fo. And the DifTenters give, or are ready to give, the fame Se- curity for the Peace, that others do that enjoy it. 3. The DifTenters complain of the Laws, but much more for their Suf- ferings, either befides, or contrary to, or above the Laws i and to put an end to their Surferings,is to put an end to the Illegalities of many of their Profecutor. The many Appeals and Actions, or the forbearing to make Appeal* when there hath been apparent Caufe, the many Errors found out in Courts of Jaftice, where it hath been done them in the Proceedings of Inform: rs and others, prove this. 4. To put an End to thefe Vexations and Sufferings is the only way to reflrain much Impiety and llnrighteoufnefs in many Men, and to deliver them from provoking &: tempting God ro plague 6c punifh them that cairv on this Work. The Spirit of Perfecution entred not into the Church, till Men walked after the Flefh > and after that Perfecutors have fallen upon the Servants of Gd< the Wrath of God purfu d the Perfecutors. Men fh uld abllain from deJarin^ t^cir diflikc, oifaffe&ion, and enmity to Godlincfs, if they loved thcmfelves. 5. Yea, moreover, I do not fee how any of the fn'lrum/nts in the Sufferings of our Chrifiian Brethren, can go on, an 1 not fin grievoufly agiinitGrd, Men, and Themfelvcs. It is plain, that they neglccl all tne folemn and publick Worlhip of God, the Hanging Means of their own Salvation, while they lie in wait to take the Woilhipp rs ot God : And E what 26 Cfje Confoanift'jS fouttf) pica what their Pra&ice is in other Duties of Religion, Truth, and common Honelty, is well known: They come behind none of tneir Father's Children, in Lies,F«*lfe WitneiTes, continued by impudent and notorious Swearing. 6. If this Way bz not pleating to God, try another > if it benctblef- fed wkh Succefs, try fome other. It was the wife Counfel of Liuia to Auguftus, perplexed about the (onfpiracy oiCinna, which 'ha wife Em- peror took : Fac quod Medici folent, qui ubi ufitata remedii non procedant, tmtant contrjria > jeveritate nihil prrfecijli. Set . de Clement. It IS know* Hit deed, that the Advanta.esof ^temporal Penalties to the Ca holies Church changed St. Augufiin s Judgment from Lenity to fome Severity -, bur never changed it from a (we et Moderation, to a Rigor, nuking no difference be- tween f me and others i as appear in his ieveral Letters of Interc ilion for ihzUonatifts. And for ah that, fome are to tiridr upon St. Augujim, as tonorc, that he but narrowly got to Heaven before Hippo was ,aken, for that hand w ich he had in that Motion. The Severity of the Nor- thern Monarchs, \n Sweden and Denmark is but i ! l applied to rjiu Cafe, who cannot rigorouily e'Eab'ifhour Conformity,, without the Extirpa ion or Banifhment of an excellent great Number of Chriitians, that have de- scended from, and whofe Predecellors fprung up together with ihe Refor- mation. Laflly v Colder, Whether it be not better frr the Church, and' the ChrilTun Kingdom, to takeoff thefe Affli&ors from chafing thar part of Chriif s divided F'ock, than fufTer them to go on : For how can that be pleating to Chutt, ^herein the Enemy of Mankind, the Enemy of Chri- stians above all Mankind, and the Enemy of Protelhntsmore th?n of ,r,y ChriiUans becaufe of their clearer Light and i-micy, and the Enemv of the iincerely Pious above all other Proteitants, hath ix> openly apf card and a#ed, in Lies, c can*als, FJfe-Witnef , Perjuries, Violeoce, and Unmet* cifulncfs. Thi< is a furer way -olole, th^n to gain them. Objetl. If they are foii, whi-.an hcjp it ? How can they be united to us, that are not united air.oi >g themfelvei ? They are very far rrom be- iig of a.pi; c . Belicie Preiby, triads vna Independents,, there are Antinomi- ans, Millenaries, Anab^ptiju, Quakers > fhould we yield , to any one of thefe, we are yet as tar from • aining therein as we are now from uniting all. Thus the luvtieid I iacv-rruncr of Corl{ , pag. 2$.. Eut this QbjeSiOa of the Difficulty, is not pair fome c>nfidera le Reply. It What if the - : urd'c of Arrows be broken, yet let . us gather up is many as wecau> our Arolltiy will be tue more againtt our c mmon Enemy. a? tlje 53attconfo?miff$- 27 Enemy. Gain any of them, and we (hall be rhc more and flronger by that Additi n. ,2. Except the Presbyterians, the mo/1 of the other Diflenfers sgrec- in their Mode* of Government > fo that what you grant to one Party, is granted «o more. 3. Is it Rca'.on and Char'ty, ihit thofe who wou'd unite, (hall not, b.caufeall will not, upon foine Abatements > 4. Giin f )rn , and they will help to draw in other?. 5. The UOfC are united, the fewer remain to be to'eratedi by which Toleration I mean no more, but a forbearing one another in Love, with the ufe of Gofpel- Means to co* vhee and gain them, if pollibte i and by the Civil Sword to re/train an 1 iupprefs them, when it (hall be neceffary, and dangerous to the State, but not before. A- d Icnve leave t nuke a little Digrefiionupon this Head, reipedting the fevaal Parties name . i. Xhe Prcsbytcriin, foca'led, doth not inlllt upon that Form of Go- vernment i He offers t< i come in. 2. The chief of the Congregational are Men of great Worth, Learning, Sobriety, and Holinefs> and they are but few, and never like to be many, in the Countries, and but few in Cities and populous Phces. 3. The Anabaftijl is an Independent in Government, for ought I know : what wi 1 do the one good, will do the other, in that point. And thefe are either limply f.rupulousin the Point of Baptii'm, orelfe compounded of other Notions. The firfl; fort are reputed peaceable and holy Men, by them that write giinft them, as Mr. Baxter, Mr. Obed Wills \ and Mr. Jo- fepb Wln\\or.. The fecond may be kept in Order and Quiet, as eaiily 3s our carelefs, ignorant, and debiuc<>ed Sed:?, that go under another Name. 4. rhe Antuwmian, as fuch, is a Doctrinal Ditfenter, yet thinks in the point of Imputation, he is the Antipapilt, and the Protectant, and falls in among others in point of Churc'i-Difcipline. 5. The Mi lienor 1 an ,is either notionally fo, and then his Faith is to him- felf \ or anti-magifhatiea ly, and fohe is to be watched ?nd coerced, and Presbyterians and Independents nil! help. Laitlyi The gOtufyr mult have th^Kight of Humanity. The Honour of all good Men Sir Matthew Hale, determined thtir Right in the Point of Marriage. My Soul griev.s for them. Some of them, that I know, area fort of Chriltians i ;hcv do not give enough to the Scriptures, which as far as I know, is their gre it Error, from whence the relt proceed. Their fpintual Lots to me feems vair. They arc ^one far trom us indeed, hm I wifh it were confidered, that foine Ma^itraces, in their extreme Heats and Violences, did urge them with Oaths when there was nocaufe for it, E 2 and 28 Cfje Confiwmitfss tfaurtf) pea and picking qumcls with their Scruples, they fell to a hafty and violent Execution oi their own violent Pallions, more than the Law. They who fcrupled fwearing, did call God to Witnefs, and did protect and promife Loyalty and Obedience,but it was not accepted : they offered the Security of their Words,and their Bodies to the Law,when found Tranfgreffors againft the Peace '-> But they were hurried andcrouded into Prifons, and ill ufed in many Prifons,ar.d f > became hardned, and at length modelld into an exad Policy. Yet they are Men and Natives \ and whether Men (hall forfeit their Goods and Lib rties, for a Diifent in Religion, by any Gofpel-Rule, or Rule* of Chrirtian Equity, is a great Queilion, and the Negative pail doubt as yet. It they have a natural Right to Marriage, and thofeC on- trads (land, tho not made after the Liturgy, they have a natural Right to Society among us > and our Rule is, To walk honeftly towards them, as they that are without. There are many Things commendable in them. Thefe are the noted Seels looked upon with an evil eye, as dangerous Men > and yet there are other Se&s very pernicious, but what Courfe is taken with them? Are there not Hobbijis and Atheifls} were there ever more of thefe fince the Reformation than now ? Witnefs the great Num- bers of Sermons preached and printed, the great Numbers of Traces, the lar:e Volumes of Sir Matthew Hale^ and others, againft Atheifm. Are thefe multiplied without caufe ? if not, there is a great encreafe of Atheifm. What (hall be done with the Se&s of Infidels, Blafphemcrs, God-damme's, Drunkards, Gameficrs, Whoremongers, and their Meeting-Houfes > Ir- regular Men without Callings, Pamphleting Clubs, Paper- Incendiaries, and the Society of Beggars and Vagrants, that are of no Church ? What do you call thofe Places, where many ot our Nobility and Gentry eith.r learncd,or were confirmed in their Levity,Vanity,and are fo tainted with a fort of Wit and W 7 ords, that makes the Word of Chrift, and of Wifdom, unfavoury and mean ? where many have learned the Gifts of Confidence and Immoralities? where Swords have b;.en drawn, and Blood (hed, but never indidied for Riots ? Where have Perfons learned to put off God, and Confcience, and Counfels, with witty Anfwers, toexcufe their long lying in Bed, till Prayers, and Sermons, and Sacrjments are over* or their long drefling till Dinner, to ma^ their Afternoon-Vifits before fome Jdolsor Images like themfelves? Who can reckon all the Sects that dilTent fiomChrift'sGofpe', from their Baptifmal Vows > that fay they are (or the Publick, tho they rarel/ viilt them; for the Religion eftablifhed by Law, with a fecret Refeivation, except what requires them to be pme and holy? O the low Eitate of Chriftian Religion, even among them that have the general Name of it ! May it never fare worfe with Perfons and Places for Religious Exercifes, than with moll of thefe, who perhaps never (oi tlje &Q\KQ\\tomiZ$* 2 j n'verhad more than a private Reproof, and they will befparing of Com- plaints? And now I turn in from this Digrcflion, to give a few Nairatives of the Nonconforming Sufferings, in which it will plainly appear, i. Perhaps no Law was ever executed with more Violence and Partia- lity, or Proceedings with lefs Succefs, and mort Miflakcs and Errors in Proceedings* more arbitiaiily and illegally, than thofe againlt Diiilnting Protelianfs. 2. It is no wonder they have been fo unfuccefsful to bring them in, if you refpedt. both Pafons and Methods unlike to effect that End. 3. How it concerns all Men, according to their Places and Power, to petition a CciTation of thefe Proceedings : (1.) To put an end to the grofs Wickednefsof many Jn/truments, who take occailon from the Laws to exercife their Irreligion and Wicked nefs. (':.) To prevent further Judgments upon many particular Families and Pcrfons, and the provo- king of Chrift to take away hi? Gofpel from us, when many of his Ser- vants are fo ill ufed, and his Ordinances blafphemed, and Wickedncfs committed. 4. The various Appearances of God, both in Judgment and Mercy, in this very Proceeding. 5. Let it be judged and refolved foberly, whether this way be not a greater Scandal to the Proteftant Religion, than the Separation is, as great as it is. 6. Thrfe who are glad of the Law, have no caufe to think the very Law it £Af of any great ufe to their Dcllgn, provided, (1.) T^hey pro- ceed againft the Nonconforming ft ridtly according to the Scope of the Law : f2.) According to the Direction of it, as to Proofs and Conviction : And if Men did not go beyond ir, they could never have done what they have done. 7. It will be maniftft, that they are not punifhed for Sedition, Rebelli- on, or any Crime of that Infamy and Note, by the various kinds ofPio- fecutions and Punifhmcnts. 8. Some are punilhed in fcvcral Courts, and feveral ways. 9. How the Advafaries of the Nonconformists have been defeated of their Puipofes i fo.r,e brought to Ruine,and mifcrable Ends > fome peni- tent and converted, and all or indfi fruftrated ct their Deii/ns. lc. Howgrofly many have acted agaioft all Humanity and Law,againli God, againlt that Reverence which is due to the King, and his own A&. And many other Things wi 1 occur in theenfuing Narratives. I I am not void of Senfc, as not to know what a tender Point I have in hand, and whatPerfons are like to be provoked '•> but I do wiite to call them to Repentance, to move others to CompjiTion, and to give Warning to them that need it > and lallly, to fatisfy the In- See the Rev. B'Jhop credulity of feme of eminent place, that- look upon of Cork, pag. 7p. the Reports of fome of the Nonconformijxs as next to fabulous, aggravated, to make their Infli&ors odious and the'r Sufferings grievous. My Collect ns are but few, in compa-rifon of what others may make, who hive better Advantages and Helps than I have. And if any Perfon fhall reproach me, as dishonouring the Government of the Church, let them know, (41) The Things I write are not Fi&ions'am} Calumnies. (2.) The'e Inftrumentsand the Go- vernment are not all one. {3 J. It i> fit the(e Things mould be known, to prevent Divine Wrath and Vengeance. I might digeff this Account ioro feveral Periods: Before the Adt of Uniformity came Out, and after: before the Adf againft Conventicht, and Oxford Fiv,- Mile Ad^, and after : till ihe King's Indulgence,- and after. And alfo (hew by what- Ads the D.ffenters h«.ve fuifered, and to what degrees. And I defire it maj be noted, That there hath been no refpeft fhewed, 1. To Men of approved Loyalty. 2. Nor to Men in Epi(c and did fo. They told him, Complaints were made again!} him, (1.) For not Con- forming. (2) For feditous PreachirnV To th~ firft, he pleaded the King's Declaration. 2dlyi Hedefiredthe fecond might be explained, and Particrhrs proved. Thev charged him with faying, There were more Sins command (then) -iume 1 Months than in twenty Tears before : Inferring thence, ft? tfjc 35oittoitfoa«iff0. 3 1 thence, befides the Scandal to the King's Government, that he accounted the King's Murther no Sin, which was committ-d within that time. His Accufers were then in Town, but appeared not i and he was difcharged of his Imprifonment without Fees, and appointed to appear, when his Accufers mould be fummoned to apppear face to face,and was admonilhed to conform. Eafhr following, one of his worft Enemies, by a Faction, was made Church-warden for the Year 1661. And among other things, he encou- raged the Profanation of the Lord's D^y, aud oppofed an ancient Lecture whic i of courfe returned to that Town, and procured a Letter from the Deputy- Lieutenants? to a Jufliccof Peace in the Pariih, to hinder it. The lalt Tiufdav in November, heari g no Bell ring, he -went to know the Keafon : He found the Church-Doors lock'd againft him, and that Churchwarden owned it was his Adf, and told r? ; m he (liould not go in, tho he told him he would preach himfelf. But by an Accident he got in, tho with dirri uly, and fomc danger i and two Lecturers preached to a great Au.ii:o y of Neighbour-Miniiiers, and People. Next day he, the Preachers, and Miniiiers that heard, were by (he High- Conftable fummoned before he Deputy Lieutenants : He and one of "the Preachers ( Mr. Lawrence) were c» mmittcd to Prifom the reft checked and difmiiTed. After lour diys Mr Lawrence was reLaltd > but Mr. Parfons ctamed, upon, pretence of other Matter, amounting to Sedition, if not Trcafon. He cnuld not obtain the Sight of the Aiticle% yet ob- tained leave to return home upon Security, ?nd limited not to go above five Miles trom home, and to appear when lent for- In the mean time one of the Dtputy Lieutenants told him, they could not rd\ for his Adver- faries Importunity, who with nine-more, flpd fome of them in Drink, gave in Dcpohnons againii mm. Jan, 29. The lVarlhal, with rive. Trooper*, came galloping to his Door, ( where he met them) entred his H< ufe, Chewed a Waiaut from Sir E. B. Commander in chief of the forces in Sahp, to bring him before him i who told him, he had an Order fnom the Deputy to commit him clofe Prifoner, uudir the MaiGuPs hand, (ps Tiling- < high Nature. During fix Weeks Imprifonment, he ulld all means to ob- tain a Copy of the Dcpofitions ? at, the end of which t?x "Weeks, the Power of the Deputies expiring by the Aft for the Militia, they rci to leave him bound, and commit him;, as ]iiuici.sct t: and eight more Gentlemen, ( whereof three only were prefent ) to try the laid A. P Clerk, late of Wem. May 28. the Commiilion waseexcuud, the Jufticegave the Charge to thispurpofe : A Minilrer was to be tried, all Presbyterian Mtnifters re- medied upon, among whom Mr. Baxter was particularly named. In the Afternoon the Grand- Inqucit brought in their Bill. The Court was guarded with Souldiers* Mr. Tarfons was brought to the Bar, comman- ded to hold up his hand > the Indiclment was read, and he required to plead. Btforehe pleaded, he, after much earneftnefs in defiring, and feveral Denials, was allnved tofpeak to the Court, which he did briefly, and as well as he c^uld, being abufed by word and deed, by a Souldier that flood by to daunt him. He bleiTedGod, that at length he might kno v for what he was fo long imprifoned ^ that it was a Privilege to be tried by a Peer of the Realm, whofe Honour made up the defect of an Oath h hoped the reft of the Gentlemen, beiug Perfons of great Repute and Abili- ties , and was confident nothing (hould be done but according to Law and Equity : He heard well of the Jury, and prefumed, they had the Con- fidence and Difiretion to judg of his Profecutors, as they found them free from Malice, Partiality) and a bad Life. He craved a Copy of his Indictment, and Councel. He was earnefily commanded to pkad, cr they would proceed again'} him as Mute j which he did, firft begging his Pleading mi^ht not be a Prejudice to him, as to his Exceptions againft the IndiUment •, which was promifed. After which he pleaded, Not guilty , and put himfelf upon God and his Country. He was commanded to hold up his hand a fecond time, and another Indiament was read \ which he did as before. He was commanded a third time to hold up his hand, and a third Indictment was read, which was only for Nonconformity^ to which he p.e- (ently pleaded. His learned Coulee! fir/r moved for Copies of the lnditlmcntf. Copies of the two litter weregranrcdj but the rirft denied i but being read to them again, they took Inch notice of it, that they were enabled to plead to it next morning, with great fatisfa&ion. The fa? tfje IStowan'fcniififfc 3 $ The Mat er of the Indictment was; c Nor having the Fear ofGntl 'a d by he Infiigation of t e Devil, and a rrulicous Mind aga'nti he 'King and Gov mm rv, to bring his People into hatred of hs Perfon c and Gov rnment, did mil ciuuily pr-.ich, 0.1 >h. 15. 1.67. c I. there was nvre Sin commiltd nnv in a M>nth, than in a teir, /> c twenty Tc irs p ;/r\ 1 2. When there w ft good fudges and Kings in Tfrael, the Pefle fear d the f lord j but when there irtre wicked Judges and K.ngs. then every one did whit c was good in hit (*vn Ej r, c 3. there was better Preaching now, than was finer the JfoftUi Tim /. ' 4. That Cod will call us all to account for our Vows and Protcftatijis, I m:H\ ( not name the Covenant. Thefe Words were put in the Ted ctment, and made to come under the A6t for the Prefcivation of 1 he K ng's Perfon. The Words :n the fecond Indictment were : That a King, who is driven out of his Kingdom by his SubjKts, and afterwards by Providence he entrcth peace jbly, andthen fetleth his Militia; andth.n having made himfelf {\rong, beginmth to play his Fra/\r y a nd rmtes at his pleafwe, //% a King or Tyrant : So the Devil comes to a Mans Elbow, and then gets poffeffton of hit Hearty and then will play his Trickj But the Words fpt -ken by him were thefe, and in his Notes, and atte/kd by four M n who wrote after him, and ready to be reihried by twenty m re ready in Court ^ fpeaking of the Powt and Kingdom of the Devil, which he got by de Tees in wicked Mens Hearts : It is with the Devil, as with a King, who when he is fetled in his Dominion, hath difpofed of his Militia, and Mintiierj of State, he may do what he will > Indeed till this be done, he may do as he may : So Satan^ whin he hath once put out the Eyes of the Confcience, and feared it, and made the JFili of his Party, and charmed the Affetlions } he may now do what he will. it grew late, and his Profecutors were not called till the next day > therefore he only afTerted his Innoccncy, and CI arnefs of Confcience, that he faid nothing tobrirghis Loyalty into fufpicion or tiimfe If under the Law. But Judg T. aggravated the WorJs, in the mod uncharitable Conduction, at large, and faid in his Confcience, he meant it of the King. He pleaded, the Tir.e United in the Ad was pali before indited, and other Arguments, which his Counfel did learnedly and rationally manage : Put the Judg told them, the Court would over-Tile. Next clay he w. s br ughi to theB.r, dciirtd his Adveriaries might be nen him, face to Fact , but it was nut gran ed ; but Jicod where he could (e Idem hear thcfi ■ F The 34 £te Confinmiffis fouttJ) Pea The jury being called to pafs on the firft Indictment, he moved, he night make peremptory Challenges i the Judg anfwered, No. Of Sixty eight that were faid to be returned, there were bat three or four of them that wire cal'ed i the re it were privately fent to: They lived remote fr m him>and fo he could not challenge with caufe. The Profecutors were nine, but moft of them were patlrve, drawn in by the Subtilty of the Church-warden, and his Brother, who Gfrote directly the Words in the firit Indi&mcn-, but miffed the Time when he fpake. Mr. Farfons denied the Words \ and his Counlel pleaded, the Words weie not crimi- nal. The Jury being infiru&ed, were fent forth, and prefendy returned him, Guilty y and followed the Inflruftions more than the Evidence \ as one of themfelves told a Friend or Mr. P. Audfoit proved, as Lis Pro- fecutors had given out. Such another Jury pa/t upon the fecond Indi&ment, of Strangers, not a third part of them mentioned in the Return The Church-warden and his Brother fwore the very Words i and a third, the Subftance, but differing from them. Mr P. denied the Words and had four fubftantial WitneiTes, who had taken the Words exadtly from his Mouth, when he preached. Thefe, and twenty more, did afTert the Truth in another place, who were not regarded in the Court. HisCounfel pleaded, The Words were not proved i and if proved, were not within the A&. Mr. Parfons did openly aiTert his Loyalty, by running feveral Ha7ards of Life and Eftate, when the Kingp.»iTed with his Army to Worcejhr; and that he fent a Horfeand Arms to the Cbefter Bufinefs s befides hiscon- ftant Praying for him on occaiional Preaching, his Adverfjries being Judges. Bur, as it was foretold, the Jury brought him in, Guilty. The Sentence was, for the hrlt Indidtment he was nued an hundred Pounds. The like for the fecond > and to lie in Prion till th* Fines were paid. He wasbef re his Conviction made uncapable of any Ecclehaitkal Pier ferment. Af'er Sentence pad, he only faid, BUfftd be God. During the Trials many Incivilities paft : A grave and reverend Minifier of Shrewsbury was fhuck by a Souldier in open Court i and other godly and reverend Miniflers of the Country w.re fcorn fully thruft out or the Court "> and his Friends in Town durft not be prefent at his Trial ; And Friends and Foes concluded heftvoulddie, or at lealt be undone. i After his Trial, he continued near three Months in Prifon, till the Lord Newport, unknown to him ; procured the King's Pardon for his Fine. His Living fa? tit iftaitcaitfoimifte, 55 Living was prefentty fcqueftred by »he Chancellor of LitchfieU. And perhaps the Greatncfs ot his Parfonage made him the more obnoxious i for he told them in open Court, that his Benefice wa condemned long ago, and that 400 /. wjs bidden t or it by a great Man in the County > theLofsof which amounts by this time to between five and iixthoufand Pounds. A Gentleman wis tried with him, for /tabbing frs own Savant, of which there was cle;r Proof, and his Nofe fell a bleeding in open Court, but was brought in, Not guilty. One of the Jury, when he had confidcrcd what was done, came after- ward n.uch dejedted to Mr. P. and rold him) the Foreman went agaiuli the Sence of the Major Part : He alfo went to the Judg, and told him fo, whoreplied, he need not trouble himfelf about thar, with other Words. And this was the End of this great Malice and Violence of ill Men. Let us obferve : A Minister of approved Loyalty, who ventured Life and Eitate for the King's Reftauration, at Worcejhr, and in Cbefhire, be- comes often impri(oned^ brought, like a Traytor, to hold up his Hand, which he had often lifted up to Gcd in Prayer for the King > the Court guarded with Troopers, and not the Sheriffs Men i his Friends and Com- forters were not permitted to itand by him > the Indictments found, a- gainft better Evidence of better Auditors, even four that wrote Sermon- Notes,againit the common Senfe of a Jury made : And after all this (loyaO Traitor ( for before the Trial, and in it, his Words were faid to amount toTreafon) is only Fined, committed till it be paid, and after three Months, the Fine remitted. And this formidable Trial was on part of the high Day, May 29. in which one that had prevailed with God to fee it, more than all his Adverfaries, had no matter of Joy left him upon ir 5 but therejoycing of his own Confcience. This brings to my mind, how touchy and captious many Men were at Preachers and Sermons in thofe Days, of which I could give feveral In- ilances in but one eminent Conforming Minilter, who fufTered very much by quarrelfom and injudicious Hearers. About the fame time many eminent and good Mmiftcrs were brought into Trouble and Prifons > and 'tis not unlikely but the Judg might mean the Presbyterians in IVorcefierjkire^ of which an Account is printed and abridged by Mr. Care, 2d Part of the Hijiory of the Popifh Phtf. Was it like that any thing of Accommodation, or Union of our woful Breaches, could enfue fuch Proceedings? Is the Sufptcion ground left, that thtre was a Defign to keep out fuch Men as thefr ? And that Poli- tician nvde grcar life of thefe Mo k-Ilots* ' . r •<;, 1 35 €lj; Confojmift'sf JTairtt) piea which afterwards th< y formed. An 1 fome thought themfelves never well in, unlefs fome oth rs might be ejedred. Nonconformity was a Crime in Mr, P. before our Act of Uniformity came out, an 1 whilit the King'- De- claration only commended the life of the old Common-Prayer- t>ouk, as far as Men could go, and declared, no Man Oioulci be punifhed for Non- conformity. Mr. John Whitloc^ Vicar of $uM*ry$ in Nottingham after the King's Declaration about LcJetiaftkal Affairs c^me forth, and before the Ad of Uniformity -took place, wis indicted at the Stflions in Nottingham, lot rot reading Common- Prayer. July 2. He was cited into the Eccltfialtical Court > and in cafe he fhoul J refufe ro read Common-Prayer in the Surplice, in that Parim-Church. he fhould be fufpended within the Archdeaconry of Nottingham, and his Church to be fequeilred. Mr. John Barret was fufpended the fame time i and July 7. the Order of the Court p ffed for the publication of their Sufpenfi vn, for not obey- ing the Monition of the Court. Upon the fame day there was an Order Djf the Court for fiqueflring the Profits, with this Expreffion, Cum jam legitime vacaty & Cur ato caret. [No/p, This was before the Sufpenlion was publifhed and denounced, and whilit the King's Declaration prorni- fed lndcn pni y.] In the fame ma mer was Mr. Jo. Bnrret indi&ed, fufpended- and his Church ( St. Peter's in Nottingham ) fequefhed, and he forced to leave his free- hold in which he lived. July 26. 1662. Mr. William Reynolds, Leclurer of St. Mary's in Not- tingbam y was peremp orily inhibited Preaching, and receiving any Piotits and to appear at the Conilffory- Court at T)i\, Augufl 8. following > at which time no Articles were p-oduced againlt h m, yet he was fufpended, and referred to the Vifitation, Septem. $. following > at which he appeared, and received thefe Ankles : '(i.) No Man, by the Laws and Confti- 'futionsof thisRealm, is to preach, and adminiiier the Sacraments, un- 1 hfs Epifcopally ordained. (2.' Notwithstanding which, he hath fo 'done in the Parifhof St. Mary Nottingham. C3O About July, he was c inhibited Preaching in St. Mary's, and in any other Place in the Diocefs ( of Tor^ ( whkh was not in the Inhibition ) and about Augufl was fuf- ' pended. (4.) Yet once cr morehe had preached there, ( which was not true. ) Herehe Ad: or Indemnity '•> for which he was admonillud three times, immediately one after another, and then excommunicated, by by Dr Burrrell, ChanccTor of Tor\i and SepKmb. 15. ifliied out his Order for the publication of ir> pr pter ipfim mj^Jium^contHmaciafk in non exbibendo rcfponfa articufis. He3ri g of a ptrrpolrtb tike out the V\ rir De Excommun. capicnd. he was hlccmtated td go to Lonl n j and upon ftlggeti on in the Court cf < . bmmon-pk is, i PflRe Vi .larinn of the Adl cf Ind^mnity, the Loid ("hitf-Juftice KrMgn}*n\ and the ft ti ] J re^, granted him an Order, Hilar. 14. In Eaji,r Term following, he was contained ro Lonlon, and to /lay there the whole Term, to fee it' Dr S. wou'd (h wCaufr* but fe n v r appeared, a^nd fo Mr. R. heard 1 • mure of it, tho it was not taken off till the lah 1 Afrot Ind<.mi in. AH which was a great Charge to Mr. Reynolds, It is well known, what Endeavours wcreuf d. to rerrnvc the Reve- rend and Learned Dr. Tuctyey, from his ProfcfFurfhip of Divinity, and Malteifhip of St. John's in Cambridge betimes, Anno »6'c before he CaiiiC to the Trial of Non conformity by Articles I "which could hot a/I & } im. Eut a gracicus Letter fn rri the Kin,.' was proem ed, and fubrr.it- ttd to by the faid Reverend [>odor > a Copy of ' which is as fol'oweth. C. R. W Hereof ire are credibly informed, that Dr. Amhnny Tuckney, Miller of St. John's College, and one of the PrfeJJors of Divinity in our Vnfaerfity of Qzu\ y ri ig, it vreti (iricken in Years, and by re a ( on of bis Age } and fame Infirmities of Body, may not hereafter be fo vpeti able to undergo the Burthen of tbofe two Places, We, out of Our Princely Car?, both of that Our Vnherfity-, and the /aid Dr. Tuckncy, d> judge it meet, that be the J aid Dr T. before the end of thU infiaHt Junc : do recede from the aforefaid Maiefhip^ and Profejfors Place, with the R ivory of Sumnietfhurr, annexed thereunto by the C race and Favour of O.tr R jal Grandfather I Which Signification of Our faid P leaf ure, if the fold Dr. T. (lull fubmit unto, We (hall be fo mil* flzifed uiih that bis Subfniffim^ that We Jh ill gracioufly accept thereof, and ir$ be ready to rememher it for h'Js' s Good\ upon dny ptjt occ.fon. And j trther t ta- king into Our Princely Confi '•deration, the gftat Pains and Diligence of the f aid Dotlor, in the dif charge of t^e fad Prof ffort Place, ivithout that Benefit pchicb fiould have been received by him from the faid Reclory of Vumrrvrlh ;in. ( trh-i <-»», during the late unhappy and rapacious Times, rvos unjitjily detained /»■?,?; htm J upon that bis Submiffton. Ow Will and Pleajure is and Wt da hereby order^ 7 hat irbatfarJer ?erjdns, (tiering the natural Lif of the faid Dr. ~\ . Il\ili after bis Ccffion, be ileded or promoted to the fail Profffors Place, foal', btfore their rtfpefiive Admiffwis thereunto, give Jujficient Affurance in Laiv to the | Dr. If* T. fi r At T^jm Pjrv«ort t/ i s ~ i. rat cf the TU&ry - : _ ~ rr.erflum, U I 3.%T. ( far the 7. ml " bii farmer? sins ) hy rjtn jrj equal F^tirr^ at facr ujusl 7 Tear , i. e. attbz - - c/ «r Lad *\jt tht Anr.u ;:*.*«* E- - Eap- ::. t«e ArzcjJigd > ^w/^ f£c CvitaoLUKt of the fa- '' :r /i/i Dr. T. jtyGrjr.t or Statute tJ the PMftfT) tisraritb^jza. .v Given a: cur Court at Ey h~s Majiity's Confound, EZ>JT. NICHOLAS* The Doctor received the ire/, ^er j*. rear/, Y^ars, from his Suc:eiTer in both- his Pisces, Dr. Gacwuig, the r :i Bifhop cf Ely. Some went a nor her way to work againft f me eminent and peaceable Men ia Qxr~i\ is islo beffen tc a f. r 6 ed Letter lent to Mr. Mxttin^ the Towc-Gcrk, upon which {one of the Mi!i:ia Tr cps came to (upprefs cr : i Plot, made and laid by fome mere skilful in thtt Art, than the Reverend Petfons named to be in it. [ Set Case'/ 2d Part of the B I wb cf the Tcpjh ?Lt. ] Before the Ad ot Imircrarity came out, twenty of the AuJirrrsofrwo fberMicifiers, who preached at Bee^j^-Church in Njttingbamjkire, were izdicked for a Conventicle. Mr. Qimew Hey wo i, cf C ley* rear Hallifax, was profecuted in the Ccci ;'.t^, tor net reading Cc :: - tr, a whole Year befcre the Ad cf I; ebcxd, and whiYt nis Ma jelly's De- ck: uM lac _ > *as fufpenatd, June 2$. 1662. and excommunicated, and ccuid not by any Inteiceilion be abfolved by Dr. B. •inJefs he would take an Cath. fvnii ;jcv, & xi.d: wjmdaM'u EtrhfiA And going to hear ^erm'ns at VL itfax^ Du tL at,.: to forbear, being an rlxcomrr.-r.icate s asdajC^jone made an Attempt to thraft Kim cut or for the (k pi and TwAvt- . Sunday rr.. *:r opt coming to Church, during this Exclufi- n. a Wr.t came out \ but the Bay! iff who was to fcrve it, fa- 1 3 _jec baa lb rr.ach as to (mother ;t, and (b he eicapsd the at were tbocg y incl.cei to Ur.icy and Peace, and forbore to th.y could, in hopes cf reforming fcrre Thing* \ fa? tlje JScmcenfojmiifss. g# Pcrfons wirh Conformity, before t he new Law was made i ani ftrange Informations and Reports were raifed againlt worthy Men, and o;cah*jn taken from their fcrupling fome Thngs, to reprefent thern as impeach- able, a id unfit fur Union i and as if rhey were hatching new Mifc^o which their Souls abhorred, fhidter La*s mult be made o:j purpofe, not (as it proved^ for the Publick Good, bu: private Turns. We may not forget who were veiy forward in iupprefling Lectures, and diiTblviog th )fe Combinations wh ch had for many Years preserved the Truths or God trefh in the Minds of Multitudes of People, which other- wife had been loit,or in danger s in unferled Times, kept Mini iers to their Studies, Love, and Acquaintance among them, and were mank of Com.-non-Prayer to him, a Whoremonger, call out o: the Town-C u icil, leaving his own V\ ite to work for her Li- ving, or Grift as (he could for h*er (d^ he took another Man's Wife away with him a great way off, and kept her fcveral Years. Another Perff-n, who wastoteitih that the Book was nndrcd to him. was an khutrit who afterwards Itiired an Adverfary of the faid Mr. Bjrret to-put a forged Bond of 4C0 /. for Non-payment of 20c /. in Suit againit him. And that Mr. Bjmt might not have Remedy in Chanceiy, he Wjs prefented in the fpiritual Court, where it had Coon come to an Excommunicato r. had he not removed out cf the Diocefs, into Litchfidi Diocef?. And that Attumey, when the Commlflioners fate upon the rrurrer of the Eond, feared to come out of Doors, being tren in Debt, (tho a landed Man, and likely to have flouriOied in the World. ) Thefe, and fuchasthefe, were the fnvard Men to bring good Men into Trouble, and were fooner nurd than better Men, tiii they became dilcovered. It is clear, that Noncor.forrr.ky was not theoi \ Caufeof cur Breaches and Miferks, but a Spirit of Diviiion from God, and Difcifetfion to his Servants, and Peace with Godlinels. Mr. Sennet, of Wi itrveek^ in Lricejlerfiire* g : v s this fkik - nder bis ha d, amo: g many other Troubles : There came Letur*- from the D. ot N*C. relating a i lot in Torl^jhire, to the Deputy-Lieutenants in Lei* cejierfhire, wheteupon the Lord and other Deputes, tut the ConiUblc to 4o m)t Confo:ttrtff!S fouttt) pea to fetch Mr. B. before them, and told him, they conceived it necciTary to fecurehim, as fufpe&cd of the i lot. He told trum, His Lordfliip was c the firll Mm he heard fpeak of ihe Plo r , and being Treafon, I mult, faid 'he, and I will reveal it i I know n< t! ling but what 1 have from you, c and I mull make it known. His Lordfhip drew out Letters and Papers, which 1-e faid w„re from the D. of N. and other Lords, to (hew him > but he faid, he would fee no Papers which did concern any Plot. The next day he went to the Earl of Stamford, and difcovercd what he heard from the LokI , who difcovered it to other Deputy-Lieutenants i and fo Mr. Bcnmt efcaped that Snare. Upon (uch Informations ( againft the Fjeded Party) it is like, t v c King and Council fent down Letters, to demand Security of the Peace from fuch Perfons as they fufpe£ted : Upon which pretence, Mr. Bennet was, with other Minifters. taken, and clapt in Prilbn at Lriceftzr\ but they were after a Time releafed. Among whom was Dr. Hen. WiD^yxfon^ of Mjgdaien-HzW in Ox-jn y a Per for. of that great Opennefsand Integrity of Heart, that no Man can -believe him a Party in any ill Defign : but when the red were releafd, he was detained a while, upon pretence of keeping a Conventicle wiih his Fellovv-Prifoners, to whom he preached o.ie LordVDay in the Prifon. After the Adt of Uniformity took place, it is impoilible to relate the Number of their Suffering*, and great Trials, with H-ird (hips upon their Perfons, Eilates, and Families, by uncomfortable Separa r ions, Difperfi- ons, Unfttlement and Removes, Difgraces, Reproaches, Imprifonments, chargeable Journeys, Expencesin Law, tedious Sicknefles, and uncurable Difeafes, ending in Death y great Difquietments and Frights to their Wives and Families, and their doleful E /fed's upon them > and in all Con- ditions, various Appearances of Divine Providence, great Supports, va- rious Deliverances, and /irons; Refolutions, with a clear fitisfa different degrees of Light, and means of attaining K lowledg. Some are more deep and quick, fear- ching and indufirious, have better m ans and opportunities of knowing: lornecan take in a greater Lititude of Cireumltances, and can compare Circumltances, and the Things themfejves, and judg of the Good and Evil. I do not now tak. n nice of the BLffes of Education, Prejudices, PiepoiTtffu s, and Paiiions of Men, nor the Influence of (he World upon Mens fo? tfte JJonconfoimiCE^ 4r Mens AI:erations. And the true Rcafon of Refolutron and Peace, which Men have in thefe different ways* is their Sinceiity, and Jlrift Ob- fervance of their own Light and Judgment, and the Purity of their Motives. And from hence arifes a Neceflity of performing fcveral Duties i fuch as, Let us not judg one another, but forbear one another in Live, -Let us humbly acknowledg the Imperfection of our own Understandings. We have not all Knowledge we know not other M-.ns Reafons, Thoughts, and Hearts : We mould amicably confer when we meet, and hold our Candle to ihew them the Way, when we think theirs is out i f this is fo b: underiiood of doubtful Things, and nor clear Scripture Matters of Faith and WorfhipO It thould teach us Long-furTering, and to mortify our Paifions, and tie up our Tongues and Hands from Perf cution : Better my Hand be cut off, than that I irrefch it out to (hike any Man that is approved of God, for fuch Tnings wherein he approves himfelr" unto him. Let us take our Divisions to Hejrt, and think the Sufferings of cur Brethren in this Life fufficient, and too much, and fpare to condemn them to Hell, as Hypocrites, and evil Workers. There are fome Conforming within my knowledg, that I am confident would never have conformed, unlefs they had thought it had been their Duty , and they have Peace therein: They were not drawn in by Preferments, nor driven in by Neceflity. There are and have been Nonconforming, that are as clear in their Nonconformity. I was well acquainted with one, and I never was acquainted with a more loyal, fincere, holy Man. After many Difgraccs, and (harp Trials, efpecial!y to a generous genteel Spirit, in England, he went beyond Sea, and in a terrible Storm at Sea, which broke into the Ship, he asked his own Soul, If he could die in and for that Caufe of his Sufferings, and leaving his Native Country, to preach in a ftrange Land? His Confer- ence gave him a plain and full Answer, when ready, as he thought, to leave his Body and dear Relations in a deep Sea. After his Return, he told me this and other Paffagcs, with a rr.oi\ fincere Profcflion, That he had nothing to do in this World but to ferveChrifr, nor any thing to feek but Chriir i with whom I believe he is, and with him will appear, as one that fhall judg the World. Did that eminently learned and excellent Mr. Jnfipb AVen, in of after his many Imrrifonmcnts, terrible Convullions, and daily Self-examinati- ons, recoil from his Reafons foe; Nonconformity ? He wis certainly fo clear and refolvcd in this, that in his lilt Conrlidt with the Devil, three houis before his Death, Satan did not attempt him there : but this is re- G mem bud 42 £f;e CORftnnfff'sf jFouttf) pica nichvbre4 of him, - I care not to be longer in tb'it (dirty) World , than either my Malhr bath doing or Jitjf.rin^TForl^ for me\ were that done, fir-wel to Earth. Pag. $>q. of .his Life. It was thought he would conform, till he faw what AiTcnt and Con- fent was required. Another worthy Pcrfon, Mr. JofphBtk r of iVorcejier, did read rhe Service, but went out, and on his Deat>»-ikd faid, He could have done any thing but- fin. Take a fourth Tdtimony, that able Scholar and Minifter, Mr. John 7hompfon, on his Death-Bed, in a Chamber over a nafty Privy, ( which was conceived to annoy him, into a Fever ) in the Common-Goal at Brijiol, to'd his Friends that were about him i As for my Bonds, I blefs God for them i and if I had known when I came in, that I Jbould die here, I would have done no otherwife than I have done. Many moiefuch Profellions of Satisfaction might be gathered, but. I mud not be tedious. Neither were thefe the confident Sayings of fancy - ful Men, but rational. The fail of thefe four debated the Cafe with one of thegreateft Bifhops in this Ages and was more fatished in his DiiTent, ilnce he difcourfed the Points. And the latt offered to difpute the whole Cafe with the Bifhop, and others that flood by, with this Caution, Tolle Legem^&fat Certamen > which was moil difingenuoufly conftrued by fome of them thus, That he would have the Laws removed, and fight it over again > as it is in the Reply to the Brifiol Narrative, printed, Anno 1675. And no kfs preparation of Mind could carry them through all kinds of Afflictions and Sufferings, except Exile, and the Ax, or a more igno- minious Death. The Right Reverend Bifhopof Cork^ can hardly believe the Brethren to be fo poor as they are faid to be. But can they c'~ufe but be poor ? If you confider their Number, their Charge, their fmall Time of enjoying their Livings, the fmall Number of the rich and wealthy that do own them, fo far as to be their Patrons or Benefa&o*si the great LofTes of their beft Frknds by the Fire of London, Decay of Trade', and,b,fides the long Taxes that lay upon them in common with others, many 1 >j t em, have been great Sufferers in their own ELftues: Some Congregations having enough to do to afford a fmall Maintenance to their ow Minf- tlers j and having many occaiions to exhault th:m, to h lp th.m our of Prifms, to maintain them in Prifons, and many other ways constant Ex- pence and Charge. Be fides thefe Confiderations, a few Arguments are convincing. 1 read in the Life of that Gentlewoman, of. a greu Mind and Connivance, Mrs. Baxter, what his prefent Circumfianccs ere, and what reduced him into them. How frugal and parfimonious (hat wife and ^ood Man, Mr. Jo. Corbet, was, ihat he might have to communicate to fa? tfje Jftancanfojmiffs, 43 to them that were in want! And the good ^um- of Money which that great Example and Trutfeeoi Ch rity, \\.. [, . Gntgt, hath given our i f his own Purfe, to fome good Men in exigences bcii \C$ fome private Col- lections, whiwh have been made tor lome good Men, of deferved Note. Twenty or forty Pound is a good Collection i but alas ! how little a way will it go! how foon fpent in a Family ! and luch Collections mu/t not cc e often about. The Reverend Mr. B. rclls us, his Wife engaged to procure a Man of Note 2c /. but if fell (a fhort, that (lie, to make good her charitable Undertaking, paid 12 I our of her own Purfe. Thcfeare next to Dcmonlira iom. And I doubtjiot, but Mr Baxter can name the Men, trut live upon licrle more than brown Bread and Water. I have heard of fome in Cumberland, that have but eight or ten Pounds per an. to keep a Family i fo t. ar a piece of FUh hath not come to one ot their Tables in fix Weeks timei their Alio vance could fcarce afTo d them Bread and Cheefc Ore of them went to Plow fix days, and preached the Lord's Day : And Mr. 0. W. in the W r eil Country, was forced to cut Tobacco for his Livelihood. Thofe Juliices of Peace, that have for ma- ny Years been zealous in that part of their Office, know the Poverty of the Preachers, by their iiTuing out Warrants upon fome of the Hearers, becaufe of the Poverty of the Preachers. Out of refpetf to the Worth and Mode.'ry of fome of them, I forbear their Names. Thofe two worthy Brethren, and Fellow- Labourers, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Wbitloc\, of Nottingham, in OViob. 1662. removed out of the Vica- lagc-Houfe, where they and their Families lived together, as they have al- ways done, and went to Colwicl^Hall, which proved very unhealthful to molt in both their Families > were (Septemb. \66$ t ) both feized at thtir Meeting,™ I brought to Nottingham by Souldkrs,and win others indidrcd at th«. Ailizes, where tney came off, paying a fmall Fine. Augn\\ 20. 1665. ar feven of the Clock in the Morning, being Lord's Day, one of the Deputy-Lieutenants fent three Souldiers to feize tnem, who brought them to Nottingham, where, by an Order, (nothing odng (aid to them) they were fent to the Marfhal's, where they were rictJincd Prisoners, do Ch rge given againlt them, nor ever called to appear, till O$ob. 13. following, at which time they weie by the D. Lieutenants let at Liberty, giving Bord to appear at fix days warning, at any time before next Affi- zes i but they never heard more of them. It was thought that Imprifonment ( on the Five-Mile A&) was the Caufeof a fifteen Weeks Sickneis to Mr. Keynoldi : ftefore he was re- covered out of it, they were conftrained to remove their Dwellings, March i^. 1666. and for three months were conitrained to live from their G 2 Families, 44 C&e Confinimiffsi jTouttfj plea Families, before they could meet with a convenient Dwelling, which was fifteen or fixtecn Miles diiiant from Nottingham, They preached in the Night, and early in the Morning, cut of publ ck Time, and yet were in- dicted twice for Conventicles, were often ditturbeds and once Mr. Rey- nolds was feiicd, the Officers breaking open the Door by force, who brought him before the Mayor, and would have indicted him upon the Five-Mile Ad: : But he was difmiffed, making it to appear, he was upon his Journey to Cambridge Mr. Joffh Truman, ( wdl known by fcveral well-fiudied Treatifes in Divinity J was often indicted, and once fued to an Outlawry, which was very chargeable to him. A brief Narrative of the Sufferings and Imprifonment of Mr. Francis Bampfield, Minifter of Sherburn in Dorfetfhire. The Town of Sherburn, by long and earnelt Sollicit3trons, obtained Mr. Bamfield to fucceed that loyal and reverend, very pious Divine, Mr. Will. Leyford, moved thereunto by the experience and knr,wledg of his Loyalty, (in a conftant alTerting the Royal Caufe in all Changes,and filtering for it) as of his eminent Abilities. Eeing utterly unfmsfied in his Confcience with the Conditions of Conformity, he took his leave of his forrowful and weeping Congregation, the Lord's Day before St. Bartholomew, 1 662* In a ihort time after he removed to another Houfe in Town, Septemb. ip. following. As he was, after his wonted manner, before he came to Sher- burn, in Famiiy-Duty, and Exacife upon 1 Thejf. 5. <5, 7. ( whence he ob- ferved, That way which the Devil and his Lutruments hinder Grace, God will wifely over-rule to further it, ) and divers of his Nei~hbi>urs with him, intent upon the Duty, one S. with other Souldiers, re- quired him in the King's Name to befiknt, and with the red to depart the Room. This S, was neither of a fober nor bauVul Temper, bur-fepa- red for fucha Service, yet could not utter his Command without much consternation, fpeakinga Word in a Breath. Before this, two Deputy-Lieutenants had been confuked, to know if fochan Exercife as Mr. Bamfield uied ^vere c ntr ry to Law, but without any Anfwer from them, oneT. an Apothecary, came with S. a^d faid- he had a Warrant from the Deputy-Lieutenants, to ferve upon Mr. Bamfield, and Mr. Philips, his Ailiftant, ( a very worthy Preacher ) ani ten more of the chiefeit ot his Auditors then prefent > and thereupo took thefe two worthy Miniliers, and above twenty riv> more, to Prilon in the Houfe of the ProvofLMarfhal, where they all continued Prifoners till Wednefday Night following, feparating the Preachers from the Teople. In fa? tlje Jftoncomojtmirsu 45 In this Prifon, about twenty two of this Company, whereof one was very old, had but one Room to them all, and but one Eed in it, for five Days and Nights. Eut the Prisoners turned their Prif n Chamber into a Chappel, and fpent their Time Ike an holy Prielthood, in praying, re- peating Sermons, and tinging Pfalms. Saturday, about feven or eight of the Clock, Leave being obtained, the Prifoners cam. together, ( I fuppofe by that time they had more Rooms -allowed them ) and while one of them was in Prayer, the Souldiers bnke into the Rcom, and fpake aloud, calling him Rogue, and bidding him make an end i laid hands upon him, and forced the red of the Prif ners away. On the Lords Day, after one denial, Mr. Bamfield had leave to preach to the Prifoners. Many of the Town defircd to be pre fen t, and fome ob- tained leave of the Souldiers, (paying a fee of Entrance) to go in, but were thruft out again after they had paid their Money. Some got into a Backllde, and heard, and were threatned with Writs for the Trefpafs, by the Owner of it, whofe Wife gave them leave > and Satisfaction of ten times the value was offered him for the Trefpafs. One Evening the Souldiers would need^ (hew fome Devotion, and when he that r^ad the Service, came to Lighten our Varkjiefi, one of them, think- ing it had been a Pfalm fet up a Tune to ling : So unskilful were thefe Men in the Form of their own Devotion, being better at hindring others, than performing themfelves the Worihip of God. The Lord's Day at Night, th< Ministers and Prifoners had leave to come together, and Mr. Philips to preach i but whiUl he was in Prayer before Sermon, the Souldiers came violently in, and took away his Chair, and difmrbed the Exercife > and fo they had no Sermon. Upon WednefiJjy following, four or five of the Deputy-Lieutenants met, and called Mr. Bamfield before them firft, then Mr. Philips, and after- wards the reft of the Prifonas. Sir J. S. of Par. was in the Chair, (who could come into Conteit with Mr. Bamfield in point of Loyalty, in trying Times, it Teems.) Mr. Bamfield owned he was worshipping God in his Family, his Doors open, and that divers of his Neighbours came in> Many were the Mifchiefs imputed to their hearing and withdrawing, tho not one thing was charged to be in the Prayer or Preaching, tending to Sedition,or othcrwife peccant > however, caufe or no caufe, the Chairman declared the Exercife did tend to Sedition, and required Sureties for the Good-Behaviour, and Appearance at the next Allies, which he did : And the fame was required, and given by Mr. Philips, and the reft (?£ the Prifoners. While 46 €!je Confoimift'g tfottrtf) pea While they were in Prifon, divers that brought Provifions for their Friends, were not permitted ; Some who came to viiit their Friends in Prifnn, were imprifoned with them: Some had the Provifions raken from them, and the Souldiers made merry with it. Some were fain to c.^rry Meat in their Hat-Crown c , that it might not be feen. Some were violently handled and kicked down Stairs. Some of the i'rifoners had been Souldiers for the King in the Wars. A Thoufand Pound* security was offered for one of them, who had been a SouUici for the Ki'g, that he might go home to his Wife, who lay in at his Houfe, a link w T ay from the Marfcal's Houfe. The Sifter of ano- ther, ( a Souldier for the King in the Wais) was violently ufed > and t-ie Victuals carried for her Brother, was taken from her. The Prifbners paid double Fees, to the Juftices Clerks for Recog;nzjnces, and to the Provoft-Marmal, the fame Gentlemen being b »th Deputy- Lieutenants and Juftices : They paid for the Souldiers Attendance to guard themi that is, to diflurb them, and abufe their Friends, as you heard before. Mr. Jojhm Kirby, Preacher of the Lecture at Wakefield, founded by the Lady Cambden, ( $o I. per an. J fetled there by the Company of Mercers, London, was ejected, \662. but continued preaching in his own Houfe, on the Lecture-Day, till a Lecturer was fetled in publick. After the Lecture wasfupplied, he was wont to preach in his own Houfe on the Lord's Day Evening, after his hearing in the Parifh-Churc \ except when he was hindred, to avoid Warrants, and Writs, Ve Excommnn. cap. orlrrpnfon- irient. Tn the latter end of 1^65, he was forced by the rive- Milt Act to leave h's Houfe and Family, and travel abroad, to his great 1< o nveni- enceana Tr ubl , and of his Family, till ne took a Licenfe from his .via- jetfy to preach, 1672. He was omc committed for Neglect, Contempts, rebellious and info- lent Dif bedicnce to the Laws, (in preaching in his own Houfe, which is not contrary to that Act of Uniformity, upon which they procev icd With him J for three Months, Novemb.21. 1662, by five Jufti cs ot. the Pl ce. r?ut to avoid this, he travelled abroad, till the Mittimus was out of date. Feb. 20. following, 1662, another Mittimus is made, tocrry him to the Common-Goal at Tor^ during three Months. He was ta- ken, ad fern accordingly, and remained a clofe Prifoner, never going out oi the faid Goal, paying io /. a Week for Chamber and Diet, as the Goaler teliified. Augnfi fo? tfje JScmcoitfajmtffg. 47 'Augufl 26. i£ and after two or three Nights /lay at his Houfe, was again lent to the Goal in Tcr^-CaiUc, for three Months. After his coming home from f aiid, in the Time of the Ufurpation, was a conftant and loyal AiTcrte Royal Intereft, infomuch that he furTered for his Forward- nefs theiein : But Preaching in other manner than is allowed by the Litur- gy and Practice, ( ft hat are thofe kinds of Religious Exercife, that are difallowed by the Liturgy > ) is a Crime, that hath Blacknefs enough in it to deface his Loyalty. It is remarkable, he was fent by another Mittimus to Goal toTor^-Caitlei but they who made it, were f ) exacl and careful as to mif- date it, and to make the Time of going in, to be the Time of his coming out , and the Goalerobfcrving it, refufed to receive him, and foheefcaped that time. Eut the Conlhble that went with him, with that wife Mittimus, was fo civil and courteous to him, that hedeflred him, that he would be plea fed to take his Lodging there, till he fhoulJ go back to Wakefield for another Mittimus. What an officious Officer was this, to be willing to take the pains to fetch another Mittimus, asking nothing of Mr. Khrby z but to bear his Charges ! I am much taken with the Kindnefs of this honclt Cbnftt- b'e, that would fave Mr. Kirhy* Journey himfclf, to fetch a better Mitti- mus. To fend Minillers to the Common-Goal, is not much to their Honour* but to fend any to the Houfe of Correction, is to fend thern whither Gen- tlemen are (eldom fent, I think. But to (hew how Nonconforming have been honoured, I (hull produce a Piece of a Copy of a Minimus, made to fend a Minifkr to the Houfe of Correction, I will conceal his Name, ex- cept 1 had his Leave, in honour cohim. Bttrtm 48 dje Coftfoimiff st fourth flea Burgus de Lee dr. To the Matter of the Houfe of Corre&ion. WE herewithall fend you the Body of who fiands accnfed before us, fir that he and others, above the Number of five Per fans, and above the dge of fatten Tears, did depart from the Places of their fever al Habitations, and upon Jan. 2 i. injiant, in the Night- time Ajfemble^ under pretence of joining in Religious Worfhip. — And refuftngto give their Recognizances, with Sure* ties, to anfwet the Premifes, and to be of Good-Behaviour. Thefe are therefore to will and command you y That the Body of you receive, and him in your fafe Cufiody kgep, until he fhaU enter into Recognizance, Sec. //*// the next General Seffwns^ &c. Here was indeed a Warrant (fuch as it was.) But another Minifler, ( whofe Name I conceal, to avoid Offence, and for Shame ) was at Noon- day, by oral Command of a L. put in the Town-Stocks, in his own Parifh, to the great Grief and Trouble of his People, ( whofe Minifter he had been thirteen Years, elected by them, and prefented by the law- ful Patron to his Living) where he continued for the fpace of two Hours. Anno 1669. Mr. 0. Heywood, Minifler of Coley, near Hallifax, wasde- lired to preach near Leeds, on thofe Words, Wal\ worthy of God. But the Mayor of Leeds, ("whofe Name I will not pub!i(h, becaufe he repen- ted of his Rafhnefs and Incivility ) hearing of it, fent Officers to di(iurb the Meeting, who did it effectually, with rudenefs, who brought him to the Mayor, who treated him like a Fury, holding up his hand as tho he would (trike him, and fpeaking Language unfit from a Magistrate to a Mi- nuter, and threatning to profecute him to the utterrnoft, faying, Have not you been once in our Hands already ? No, Sir, (faid Mr. H. ) I never was in Prifon, but once for the King, in Sir George Booth's Rifing. The morejhame fir younow ) quoth Mr. Mayor, cannot you reade, Fear God, and honour the King ? In (hort, he was carried away with Lanthorns to rhe Common-Goal, called Capan-Hall, and there put into a Room like a Swine-Sty, having nothing in it but Heaps of Straw. But the Goaler was fo civil, as to have his Lodging eleanfed, and frcQi Straw brought for him, and to futfer a Bed to be brought in for him by his friends i and leaving him fome Conveniences, but difauriirg him of his Knife, he courtecufly courteoufly u Reft, -*-}ns.in was dmtirbcd by Dogs and Cats fighting in Juw nim, eK\ -Next day Mr. Mayor fcnt fof him, wou'd h n given Bond for the Behaviour, aid fell in:o another per -i&cd between his own Spirit, and the Spirit of th'-mt at r i< Iniirument, faying,. What ihallldo? I am put in this plao .) rbr the bell, and would, willingly difmifs Mr. H. but I fear I (ha 1 : . J into queftion for it, and brought into danger for if.* B t I ten and friends promiud to interpofe between him and Danger, and fo he became exceeding courteous to Mr. H. freely difmiiled hit n, nj it was pity the Church (hould.lofe his Gifts, and other ki — tar he and thirty ilx w, B. in 5 1 afford- fiire^ after Augttft 24. was put upon a new Way to maintain his Wife, and nve fmall Children y and upon the Advice of Friends, hw was encouraged to fettle in a Corporation near to him, where by his Pen, and help of Relations, he had a comfortable Livelihood, until the Oxford Act, which forced him to remove, and to rent a I arm in Dcrby-(hire. Mr. C/?j/jfrv,Minifier otWeeford in the fame County,was nece(Iitated,by the fame Adt of Corporations, to remove with his Wife and four Children into another Country, to take a Farm upon a Rack-Rent. His Family in- creating, he could not afford to keep either Man or Maid, but was forced H to •50 C&# Confoswtfg jr«m& pea to labour hard, and fare hard, and vA\* Labour and Thrift caulcTnot paf his Rent, but rau in Debt, to his great Iit fo rear him as into the CaftJe, to know if he were lick or well, alive or dead till his Son by fome means procured Liberty for his Mother to fee his Father, bui was not permitted to take part of his Lodging with him : And at length a Favour was procured for him, to be removed out of th: Caiile into the City. Eetween both Pla- ces he continued near a wrHe Year. Here s a long Imprif wrnent > but ycu (hall hear of more Troubles upon his Son. Mr. Timothy R'Wt y Minifter of Sowerby-Bridg Chippc], in Torkjhire, for preaching aftei Auguji 24. 1661^ till he wasfatistied toconfoim, or the Congregation provided for, was by Sir J. A* and Mr. C. fent to lorhr Caflle, C his Wife lying in of her hr/t Child ) for three Months. In 1666, he was fent to Goal again, for no mat er of Fact, till further Order. At which time the D. of T. came t » Tor^ and it wis faid, he would dis- charge him, andmmy others i but he did not. Shortly after the Du^e o Buckingham came ro torl^ 9 and rinding no matter of Fad againft any of them, uifeharged them, u on Bond for he Good-Behaviour. When the Fve-Milc A#came forth, Mr. Root was forced to leave his Habita r ion and Family, and Farm which he nad take- , to his great Lofs, an. his Wife ready to lie in, and to ibi.ie at his Father-in-Law's, whi- ther alio his W r ife and Family cam /, when (Ik could go abroad, and there conti u«.d, til 1 going to Lancajhire, to vifit fome Relations, he was in- dicted by a Doctor, who ilturb'd him as he was preaching in a Chappel, upon the delire of his L nends : But the Dodtor milook his Name, and fo he etcaped. And the I erfons indi&ed with him did traverfe ;he Indict- ment, and corring before Judg Littleton at Lancafter, the Judg worthily declared, If x»c made publicly Places, where the Bell ivm tolled to be riotous Af* fembliesjhey would pre fent ly caufe all Peopl to-t:trn Papifts. Some five Months after Mr. K. was invited to preach at the fame Chappel, being vacant, for which he was indited again for a Kiot, which proved chargeable to him. jiuguft 1670. he was defired by fome Friends at Leeds, to preach at Shtd- rvell Chappel one Lord's Day, the Place being deititute. Whilft the Con* gregation was iinging a I falm, came the Lord S. of H. Mr. C. &c. and twenty four Troopers, with fome BavIirTs j he was drawn out of the Pul- pit, into the Chappel-Yard, where he was afraid of his Life, becaufc of the trampling of their Horfes, (and now alio ms Wife lay in of a fourth Child. ) He cried to them to keep orf their Horfes > he was in their H a hand*. 52 €§e \t«tft»»fff0- ironttt) pea hands, and they in' God's: InGod'shandr, faid the Lord, «a, thou art in the VeviVs bands. His Pockets were fearched, and a Reccit was found which had his Name in it j which he confuting, they make a Mittimus^ to carry him to Ti^Goal, where he was kept up clofe Prifoner in a C ham- ber, whither the llnder-Goaler came, and told him, Ex.ept he would give them 20 /. he mould Be loaden with double Irons, and caltinto the Low Goal, among the Thieves. He put them off as well as he could without Money > but after fourteen Days Confinement to his Chamber, he was brought forth, and double Irons were laid upon him, heavier than any of the Thieves, whofe Co prifoner he was like to be. The Goaler locked the inner Door in theDay-time, and would nor permit him the Li- berty of the Thieves, to walk in the Caftle-Yard, to take the Air \ nor a Bed-ftead to be fet up, but he laid a Bed . which he got, upon Straw. On the Lord's Day following he would have preached to the Thieves, and other Prifoners, Handing only at the Holes where the Prifoners begged: But whilft he was at Prayer, the Under-Goaler came with a Command from the Head- Goaler, for him to d.efiil. Eut when he had thus Iain about four or five Days and Nights, two JunMces in the Weft, Capt. B. and Mr. T* fent a Certificate for him to Mr. C. upon which he was re- leafed, yet not without'being bound to appear at the next AiTizes at York i where waiting all the Time of the Allhes and nothing coming in againft him, he was finally difcharged from that Trouble, which was very char- geable" to his Purfe, hazardous to his "Wife, vexatious to hn Friends, and ignominious in a high degree. He wa ? four times indi&ed in feveral Pla- ces, and put to very great Charges of Journeys, Traverfes, Certiorari' '/, Fees, and Removes : He was thrice ihrown i-to the Common-Goal at Tor^ and once laid in double Irons, clofe (hut up i not favoured to lie like a Man upon a borrowed Bed ^ not permitted on a" Lord's Day to preach to the Prifoners: And all din for preaching, neither Sedition nor Herefy, upon Invitation, *nd where there was great need. Mr. Nathan Heywood, of Orms\irh^ in the County of Lancafler^ was wont to go frequently to hear the Service on the Week-Days '■> 2nd for all that, a ftridr Command was fent to h m, (by Warrant fen: to the Church- warden ) and to two Gentlewomen, both Protcfla. t's, and to rhem alone, to come to Chur.h-Service, or elfe they fb uld be proceeded againlt upon the Ads of Q. Eliz. and K. James. He pleaded, that he had th King's Licence to preach at Chappels. The Ju/iice not fatisfied with this, fent ouf bis Warrants for Twelve-pen^e a Sunday, alth » he law Mr Heywood prcfcnt at Common-Prayer, up n ocafion of a Funeral The next day after he recalled his Warrants, tuning it into Jeft, as if he intended only the fa? tTje l50itco!ifa^niWsf. 53 the Quaker?, but blotted out the Names of two notable Papifls, pre- ferred to him. Jan, 4. 1673, tne Juflice himfclf intended to breik up the AfTembly at Sarsbrkk, Chappel, but was dikovered, b';ingcrolftd and hindrcd in his coming, by notable Providences, and being difcowred, Mr. H. forbore Preaching. When the Juiiice came, finding himfclr difappointed, he was in a great Rage, and drove the People out of the Chappel Yard and Chappel, and bad them depart > and in his way home again, he called upon a Conftable (a Papifi ) charging him to go to the Chappel, and keep polTdiion of it till tour of the Clock > wrich the Oonftablc did, ta- king other Papills to his Help, wrn aU made merry in the Chapped, -and fmoaked Tobacco, and kept out Protelhnts from the VY'orlhip of God. Jan. 27. The Jullice, in a Letter to a grea Lady, whofe Chapped it was, declared, 1 hat he intended to have been there himlelr, hearing the Liturgy would be read there i but hein^ indifpoied, he could not come, defiring her to do her f If the Honour to break up the Meuing which was to be there : Butfhe th< ught it a greater Honour to encourage Mr. H. to pre?ch, and the People to hear. His Serv nt tiaid Sermon, as well as ServLe, and told his Miller what was^one, according to his Command > and faid, to hisdifpleafure he never heard a better Sumon, and defired him t< fend him thither a< oiten as h pleafed. A Lawyer, and a Parliament-Man, advifed the Lady to have the Li- turgy read in her Chappel, a< and March 8. fent a Threatrring to Mr. tieywood, he would come and pull him out of the Pulpit by the k then Righy % one of them, came up to the Pulpit, and faii, Sir, you are our Prifoner, come do wn, and go along with w. Mr. H. defired them to forbear till h: hid preached, and then he would fubmit * but Rigby held his Piftol to Mr. H.'s This U the Common- Head, and fud, God-damn-me, comedown, Sirrah Prayer of theft kjnd of er 1 will cracky your Pate. Mr. H defired him to Reformer/, ufed more be more civil > fuch Language was unfit for that than the Liturgy. Place. Then the Lady, who with her Children and Servants itood at the Pulpit-door, required him to (hew his Warrant, and told him, She might keep a Chaplain > and if he had no Authority but Guns, (he had Guns in the Houfe too. He {hewed a written Warrant, wnich was obeyed : And the next day, the old Lady Stanley, and two Deputy-Lieutenants, an-i fevtral Gentlemen, came and appeared for Mr. H. His living within three Miles of his for- mer Place,and preaching, being a Nonconformist, were urged againfthim : He defended himfelf with Argument* and it could nor be proved, th3t.he lived within three Miles : But the Thing infilled upon was, That he fliould promife to preach no more. Several Juices itood for him i undone told his Profecutors, If Mr. H. were enr to Larcafi er- Goal, he flmuld be as comfortably maintained, and a honourjbly reUafed, as ever Prisoner was. At whLh the Profecutor went off the Sench in a Ra^e, and ^«nt home, and fent his Warrants Vj duh^» tor Twenry Pounds upon his Goods : The Doors were k p; (hut for half a Year> aid r e Officers were often ch d~en, ( who alkd^ed they had no :'ower to br.ak open Doors ) bee ufc t cy did not get in, when they faw his Children play*ng irj the Sueets daily. His Perfon was kept from G >al, and his Goods from Di- flrels, but his Spirit could not be pnferved from ^reat Griefs *ui he -vas heard to fay, a lit le berore he died, I thinh^thU turning out of out Lien fed Places will coft Mr. Yates and me out Lives. thu goes he*, iiy ! Ourcajtng mt of our great Places y was not fe much as cajiing us out of our little Places. Heave the confldering Reader to his Obfervations, which are obvious i only we plainly fee, to what ufe the Laws are applied, and by whom executed. Here, as before, is to be feen the Irreverence which fome Men ex- prefled towards his Majefty's Power and Declaration > and to them I will add one morclnftance of it : And becaufe it was fo notorious, as to be brought before the King and Council, I need not be fo (hie to relate it , neither do I produce it as an Evidence of Difloyalty to the King, which I will nor impeach, nor or Zeal for the Laws, as of an Antipathy againll fome religious Things and Perfcns* Mr, to? fl&e SSoncott&sttiffg. 5 5 F Mr.&tfff. Detect* had the Kine's Licenfe to preach ifi his own Houfe, in Afbhy dela-Zomh, was convicted by the Lord B. and Lord S. Forty Pounds were levied upon him, twenty Pounds for his Boufc, and twenty Pounds for preaching in if. He made his Appeal to the Quartei-Seflions, pLaded his Licenfe from the King, that there was neither Sedition, no* Breac i t»f Peace > but he found no Rehef. Afterwards he complained to the King and Council > the Lords were fent for up to Council .• The King was gracioufly pleafed to give him his part, but he could never get it. The LoiTesby Nonconformity were very great, as being the Lofs of a fetled Subfiiience j but the Lois by the Five- Mile Ad was far greater, in many refpefts, to the poor ejected Miniilers, and their Families. Mr. John Mott, Minifter of Kings -Bromley, near Litchfield, was fepara- tedf om his People, trom whom good Preferment, with the Urgency of Frimds, cruld nor allure him. After St. Bartholomew, he took a Farm of Sixty Pound? per an. in the faid Parifh, on which ne lived handfbmly four Years, and was a good Tenant. But behold what a Crime it is to be a Nonconform^ ! He was thieatned, and fued by a Gentleman in the Panfti and one of his Landlords turned a^ainll him, faying, It was not lit a Rtbc) againft th King fhould livefo neaT the Church: And aoothec 01 them, or the £*mc, afrer he had made him a Prom fe to fe 1 him a Leaic for ilxteen Years, as f on as he returned from Lond n \ at London let the Efiate to another, at the very fame Kent, only he had a Watch in Earneft of the Bargain *, which Bargain flood, and the new Tenant turned out Mr. Mott, and his Fami y, to bis great Lofs, and at once was forced to leave the Place where his Relations lived, himfelf was born, and had been a painful Minifter. After this, he was accommodated with a part of his Wive's Mother's Houfe in Stafford, where he lived in a very affli&ed, trou- blefom Condition, frowned upon by the Magistrates, ( regulated Magi- firates could do nolefs ) threatning him with a Prifon, ( for the bold 0£- fence of living in a Corporation, when he could live no-where elfe. ) When his Wife was big with Child, ( of her tixth ) he was committed to the MarfliaPs hand, becaufe he would not give in Bond, wherein he was required to renounce the Covenant, ( no doubt that Bond was drawn by the Advice of Counlel learned in the Law, or rather did not the Arbitrary Spirit ad in thofe Counfels ? ) and further threatned to be fent to Titbttry Cattle, to be fafe there. But he was at about a Fortnight's end dif- charged, when Reafon and good Nature advifed together, only paying bis Fee«, and the Charges of the Houfe. After this, the Corporation- A<2 came our, and what Malice without Law could not do before, this Law %6 €§e Confo?miff0 fouttf) \plzu Law gratified the Malice of them, that thought a Corporation could not be fafe, whilft one Nonconformist was in it. He was then forced from his Wife and Children, came to them fometimes privately > and if for many Years he appeared openly, Information was prefently given to the Magiltrafes, and he brought before the Mayor, and commanded to be gone, or (lay in Prifon. Once he was brought before the Deputy- Lieute- nants j fome told him ( ilrange News ) that he was in a Plot \ but he was difmiffed, upon his Promife of Appearance whenever required. So vigilant was the Eyes of fome upon him, orfevere was their Infpc&ion, that he hardly durlt atcend the Funeral of his own Child, or Itay to com- fort his Wife under her Motherly Grief, occafioned by that Lofs. Thefe Troubles, and CeiTation from his former Work andButlnefs, did atfedi him into a Decay of Health, and Opprtilion of Spirits, that it haftned his Death, as is verily believed. Mr. Tho. Bagwell, Redror ofRoIlefton, and afterwards Lecturer of Burton upon Irent, in the County of Stafford wasfufpended by B. H. for preaching in his own fioufe, and was taken by a Warrant, together vvrth At. Ford, ( an eminent Minifter, as he is faid to bt ) his then Auditor, and brought before Sir who demanded Sureties for the Behaviour. Mr. B. asked, if Preaching was a Breach of the Behaviour? The Jultice faid, It was: Then faid they both, We will give no Bond againit Preaching. Upon which they were imprifoned ten Weeks, and releafed without any Impofition ( of Bonds or Security J After the Oxford A#, he left his Wife and Family at Burton, and kept away for many Months, till he faw the Edg of his Adverfaries abate, preaching and miffing from Houfe to Houfe. When the King's Decla- ration came ou r ,he was invited to preach eight Miles orT> and to keep him- felf from the Officers, that had Warrants againit him and the People, they congregated in Lanes, and wooddy Places: But the Huntfmen fent their Dog c > after them, fromjplace to place, and took Names, and informed, and DiftrelTes were made, forPerfons, but not for the Common on which ihey met, not being known to be in any Parifh. It isobfervid,* That all one Summer, which was wer, they were not wet with Rain, while they met, infemuch that the Country-People faid, They can have fair Weather to keep their Conventicles, wi his Souldiers brake down the Doors by his Command. When the Captain came in among them, his Courage failed him, and his Countenance kll » fo that he went away, and left Mr. J. to his Souldiers, one of whom (W.) *agedagainfthim in vile and bloody Exprefiions : Soon after which, he, and another Souldier were taken away by Death, in a terrible manner. He and others were carried before two Justices, who fent him to Lancafter Goal, where he continued the full Time appointed by the rirtt Ad againu' Conventicles. After his Releafe, he was again (Nwtmb.2$. i66y) feized, by Oijder from the Lord Lieutenant and Deputies, and by them turned over to the Jultices, to give Bond for the Behavior, or to be fent to Goal > but Juftice Rigby confefied it was without Precedent, and therefore fent. him home, upon promife to furrender himfelf, if he fent for him within a Fortnight, I A I 5 3 Cge Confoimtft'g iFouttfj prea After the Five-Mile A<$ came out, he was feparated from his Friends and forced to leave his own Eftate, and put to continual Night-Travels, to enjoy Divine Ordinances, for many Years, by which he contracted Difeafes, to the danger of his Life. Being upon a time taken Preaching, (or which a Warrant of Banifhment, for the third Offence, was fent out againft him > but it mifcarried, and he efcaped. Afrili^-. 166^ he was taken by Captain — — and his Man, who brought him before fome Dcpny-Lieutenants, who fent him to La/icafler Goal for fix Months, for preaching within five Miles of Altbam> where he had been Minifter. In Otiober^ he was fued for Forty Pound, upon the Five-Mile Acft, by the faid Captain N, which Suit coi* Mr. JF. about Eighty Pounds. Vecemb. 5. following, a Warrant of the Behaviour was ferved upon Mr. J. for (as he faith ) fulfilling his Miniftry, in feeding his Flock, ac- cording to his fblemn Vow made at his Ordination. About June 14. 1674, before he knew his Liccnfe from the King was out, he was taken preaching in one of his Keen fed' Places, by Cap- tain IV. who commanded him to come down, or he would piftol him, (holding his Piftol at him in the Pulpit) and f wearing blafphemoufly, and calling him (liamefully. After the Captain had detained him as a Pri- foner, (being made a Juftice) he fent forth a Warrant to diftrain Twenty Pounds upon Mr. jf.'s Goods > and becaufe his Goods were removed out of the way, he fent cut two Warrants, to diftrain upon two of his Hearers j which Goods of theirs Mr. J. redeemed, becaufe taken inftead of his. Another Warrant was fent out for Twenty Pounds for the Houfe. The whole of the Fines for that Meeting came to about Forty four Pounds, which was all imbeielled, without paying to the King his part, or giving to the Poor theirs, fave only one Forty Shillings. The King did graciouily remit to the Sufferers his part > but the Captain would not obey the Order of the Lord Trealurer : Yet this is for the King, The fame is known to be true of a Juftice in Lancjjhire. About Novemb. 7. 1678. Mr. J. with feveral other DilTenting Prote- ftants, were prefented among the Plotting Papifts : They made their Appearance, and defired their Bufinefs might be put of! till the next Seffi- 00&, wh ; ch the Juftice granted, becaufe the Parliament had the Cafe of DifTenters before them: Yet the Clerk of the Peace returned him and the reft into the Exchequer, thereby (as he faith) cheating them out of their Liberty of Traverfe. This was chargeable to him, befides the Se- Queftrationof two parts of his Eftate, which he looked for, when he wrote the (hort Narrative of his great Sufferings. . There foi tfic 3i5onconfo?mi(fe. < 9 AT B. Some have expofed fome of the Nonconforming to Jealoufy and Sufferings, as being confederate with Jefuits, or maintaining a Correfpon- dency and Interett with them > but this Nonconformist found no fuch Friend (hip from that Party : For Mr.W. of Vrufenbaugb, a great Papift in his Parifh, charged his Steward, a Papift alfo, to (hut him out otLango Chappel, where he was Lord of the Soil. His Adverfaries were great In- timates with the Popilh Gentry, which are numerous in that County > and fome of his Adverfaries hid been profefled Papiftsa while before. There are miny very remarkable Inftances of God's Providence towards him, and of the infatiable Malice of very ill Men againft him i with the Divine Hand ftretched out againft feveral of his Pcriecutors. Two Captains, Gentlemen, and an Enfign hindred him to preach, or commend his People to God, before Augufl 24. 1662, after thirteen Years labouring among his People. He withdrew, and gave way to their Vio- lence, leaving this Admonition with one of the Gentlemen : "this is not the way to turn the Wrath of God from your Houfe, which hath long lain upon it^ hut to bring it on to the uttermoft. The Gentleman anfwered, Be it fo. Their Carriage towards Mr. JoUie was an Offence and great Grief to the Country. One of the three Excluders of him died in the purfuit of his moft de- bauched Practices, with unexpreffible Horror-. Soon after another of them whom he had warned as before, died C having feen his Male IiTue rooted out before ) by his own hands, by a Relapfe into exceffive Drinking, after a little Recovery. His Difeafe ap- prehended him, as if he had been ftruck with a Rod upon his Arm. Another ( but not one of the three) violent Profecutor died in great Poverty and Difgrace. A younger Brother, and next Heir to the admonifhed Gentleman, was the Caufe of Mr. J.'s Aipprchenfion, April 25.1 669. . .,o not being well, would needs have his Chamber- Window in A. H. opened to fee Mr. J. carried by a Prifoner > but fuch an Air :ame in at the Window upon him, that he took cold, and foon after died, without any male IiTue : And faith the good Man, Lord grant the third Brother may tak* warning. Another Gentleman, thatfent Mr. J. Prifoner to Lancafler, wasfliort- ly after made a Prifoner, and all his Eftaf in Lancajier fciz-^d upon for Debt. One F. a Retainer toCapt. N. and an Inftrument in the Profecution, a drunken and debauched Fellow, after a Revelling-Bout at the Ah. in JK was taken or fmitten with an infatiable Third, infomuch that two days after he Jay down and drunk at the River, to quench his Thirlr, upon vvhich a Stitch took him, and killed him presently. I 2 About 6o Clje ConfojmiiYg fcuttlj pea About the latter end of 1^77, Mr. R. a Juftice, met at a Privy-Seffions, at which one of the Juiiices asked, Who Mr. J. was ? Another anfwer- ed, He is a Miuiikr: No, frid Mr. K. heps an Enemy of Cbrift, and a Traitor to the King. Prcfently after ( as feme prefent are ready to teftify ) that Gentleman fell a trembling, could not hold his Pen tofign any War- rant, nor lit up, ror ftay in the Place, but was neceflitated to leave the Seflions, and never came more to the Bench, dying foon after, as a fear- ful Spectacle. The fame worthy Perfon concludes a fhort Sum of his Sufferings thus j We might give an Account of- the Jpeciai band of God upon us for Good, all along, throughout all our Infirmities and Temptations, leading us by the band, and up- holding us, either fignally faving us from, or ftrengtbning us under our Trou- bles, filling us with Peace faffing underftanding, and Joy unfpeafyble, fupplying cur Wants every way, who are a very weak^ and poor People. — Tea, either con. vincing or changing our Adverfaries.or baffling and blaftwg their Vef^ns. — - AH tb'tf for the everlafting Honour of bis mojl glorious Name alone. Hallelujah. Compare the Spirit of the Profecutors, and the Spirit of the Sufferers, the End of the one, and of the other, and then judg feriouily, who is the ben" Ghrifiian, and who is molt approved of ChritT, they whofervehim, or the other who trouble thfm for it. Mr.T. M. of L. (I conceal his Namebecaufe of his Modefty ) in be. ginning and ending his Letter at the Importunity of his Friend, thus he begins : Honoured Sir, were it not for the falfe Reflections and Calumnies again/} the Nonconformifl-Miniftcrs of England, your kind and ferious^ fjmpatbizing, and feafonable Letter bad not extorted thefefad following Lines. • laminfome fort compelled to- comply with your Import unity y in the en* fuing epitomized Narrative. And he concludes with a Spirit that commands from me a great refpedt to his Chriftian and humble Temper. He left his Living in the City of L. wheie he had been a Minifter fome Years, having a Wife and feveral Children, lort So I. per an. and 40 /. which mould have been paid to him in the beginning of the Year, and in alow Eft ate left his Living: Yet he continued in Town, living upon meer Providence, till the Oxford A& came out. Then he was forced to leave Wife and Children, being fcarce free from an almon 1 deadly Cold, which he thought would 1 ut an end to his Life, continuing about three Months upon him. He fa w not Wife nor Children after that in eleven Weeks, and durft not come to thtm publickly in eighteen Months, or thereabouts, and having no Dwelling-place abroad, journeyed in that time ( as he thinks J thirteen fcore Miles on foot, from place to place. If at any time he fliculd ileal home by Nighty he was in great fear and dangci, and durft durft riot flir out of his Chamber > and whenever he went out again, he went either very late, or very early, and iometimes on a fudden, for fear of being taken. After that time he made bold to come home* but the Zeal of fome growing fo hot, that one Mr. Grace, an a^ed worthy Mini- iler, coming to Town, they made fearch for him, which he efcaped, lea- ving his Horfe in his Inn, and cfcaping on foot : Then Mr. M. thought it unfafe for him to flay, and made haik away the next day, and durft not return in a long time. One time he was fent f r to a Magi/Trate that lay lick, and continued h ; s Night-Viiitsfor a Fortnight j but the Evening be- fore he died, he was fent for in haiie by Day- light > and bccaufe he was (len to go to the Magistrate's Houfe, he was complained of to the chief Magiflrate of the Town, by a Curate, which made him hafien away next morning, (Saturday): The chief Magi/Irate was fo kind as to fend notice to his Wife, on the Evening of the Sabbath, that her Husband mould begone, for fome had been twice with him for a Warrant. After this he abfented long. He was cited into the Ecclefiaftical Court, for bap* rizing his own Child. Onetime as he was going along the Street, one cried out to the Town-Clerk, who went after him, Do you fee the Rogue Mr. R. do you fee the Rogue ? He U before you : But God was pleafed to give the Town-Clerk another Heart than to apprehend him. But this made him be much from home, and walk the Streets very fparingly. Hs hath been forced into the Country in Snow and Rain, to preach before day, and to mift from Houfe to Houfe before day, for fear of a Magi- ftrate in the Country, who hath faid, he would have him dead or alive, And fo not daring- to be in the City, nor to appear in the Country, in that Magistrate's reach, he hath been contained to retire into the Fields and Solitudes, to keep Sabbath all alone. . He hath lived upon Providence for eighteen or nineteen Years > and ti.o he hath been in dang.r of Life* ^ by reafon of Heats and Colds, yet hath he not been forfaken, nor his Seed begged their Eread, nor fufYcred as they did, who were cUjlitute, tormented, afflilled, wandring up and down in S 'beep- skins and Goat- skins, Dais and Rocks, and Caves, &c With many other pious Exprcilions of God's Good nefs, and wonderful Providences, his own Unworthinefs, as un* worthy to be counted a Sufferer, he concludes to his worthy Friend with Praifes and Prayer. Having mentioned Mr,.Grace of Sbeerfion, as an aged worthy MLufter, I remember fome fhort Account of him, which take as followeth. Mr. Grace, upon his Ejedtment from his Living, on which he liv^J comfortably, was with his Wife and eleven Children reduced to Straits; Hoping to get fome Supplies of Maintenance,- he took a Farm of about This i 6i %\)i Conftimift'g jfouttfj l$tea Thirty Pounds per an. — — (But preaching in his own Houfe was, ft feems by his Letter, a Crime not to be paffed by. ) He was in a fhort time after his other Troubles, apprehended by two Noncenformity is fucb Jufiices, and, with many of his Hearers, bound a great Sin inform Mens over, which was very chargeable. Not long af- iyes, that it ex hides ter, he was fent for by a Party of Horfe, called them out .of natural Af* out of his Bed, and carried Prifoner to Stafford, fcftion, as well as Charity for what he knew not, nor was ever told. He and Compafton. This being unable to bear the Charge of his Imprifon- Toorthy Perjon vpos fo ment, made application to the Deputy-Lieute- near a-kin to A t B. Sh. nants, was forced to give in Bond of a hundred that he and \m Family Pounds, to appear when called. Hewasdifmif- could not he much nearer, fed, after many hard Speeches, but no Charge Either he or his Wife laid againft him. After thefe Troubles, he was was Coufin-German to by the Five- Mile- Ad neceffitated to remove five the late A. B. of Cant. Miles from the Corporation, to a Place where he lived at great Cofls and Charges, feparated from his dear Relations, and his Farm left to the management of Servants, which proved exceedingly to his Lofs. Some Nonconforming in the North of England have been often impri- foned. Eight were indidted for Rornan-Catbolickj, and their Eftates fe- cjueftred : Their Proof and Plea, that they were When will the Jefuits true Protectants, both in the Country, and at and Papifis he at this London, coft them about Forty Pounds. They pains and charge to prove were indi&ed upon the Statute of Twenty Pound themfelves Proteftants? a Month, and Twelve-pence a Sunday. Ten Is this a Sign that Non- were profecuted upon the Statute of 3 j of Eliz, conformijis are Papijis, came to London, and were put in a way by a noble or inwiththeminaCon- and powerful Lord, to get off: And had not federacy ? Sir William Jones, then Attorney General, (whofe Name is and will be in honour, while any honour will be paid to a profcfled and open Alienor of true Loyalty, Laws, and Religion) been fo generous and merciful, astocaufebut one Fee for ten, (that is, 30/. infkad of 210 I.) due at the feveral Offices, they had been great Sufferers, and their flreight Condition had been reduced lean- not tell into what Streights and Poverty, they being no ways able to pay in for even what was paid, was raifed by the Charity of good People in London. If any Man that hath any value forthe precious Souls of Men, for whom Chrift died, and hath any knowledgof the miferable Condition of large and dark Places in thofc Counties, he may judg it to be a great DifTervice to ft? tlje H5cnconCb?mtffsr. 63 to Jefus Chri/r, and immortal Souls, to illence, imprifon, and punidi Preachers, and thereby to leave poor ignorant Souls to the Improvements of natural Ignorance, and to the Power of ill Examples, and irreligious or fuperftitious Cuftoms. A Traveller, unacquainted with the Country, is not in greater danger in the Night, of falling into Cole-Pits and Preci- pices, than thofe poor Souls of filling into the Bottomlefs-Pit, if they are denied the Guidance of faithful Miniiiers. Shall poor Souls abide in Dark- nefs, and err from the Ways of God, to their everlafting hazard ? and Mi- nisters, that have knowledg of their Danger, and a charitable Senfe of their great Need, look on, and fee them fall, and (in, and die, and not call, and warn, and exhort, and teach them? Their painful Minilters, to avoid Oifence and Dangers, and to (hew poor Souls the Way to everlafting Life, have gone under the protection and concealment of the Darknefs of the Night, and preached and prayed in Caves and Pits, venturing their Healths and Lives, to fave Sinners from everlailing Delirudtion. One Mr. 'Davit in Cumberland preached in one of them, and got a Cold that proved mortal, leaving fix Children to the Charity of good People, and particularly to the Care of Mr. Richard Wilfon, a Gentleman of a fmall Eftate, but of great Piety and llfefulnefs in the North, and one who had like to have been ruined on the 3 5 of Eliz^ And what a poor Reward is a Threatning, a Frown, a Fine, and an Imprifonment ! Is this a Prophet's Reward ! Not to receive them that fpeak Peace,into their Houfes, is an Unkindnefs : To bid them depart out of their Coad, is a fairer difmiilion than to fend them to a Prifon. If their Rewards be only in this Life, then of all Men, they who are punifhed in thofe and other dark and poor Corners of the Land, are molt ' naiferable. Active and fuccefsful Mr. Iho. Tregoffe writes thus to his Brother-Mini- iter : Warrants are granted for levying T'ivo Hundred and Twenty Pounds upon me i yet God bath kfpt them off, but I am expiring daily to be flript of all : ■ I am alfo threatned upon the Corporation -Law. I am conjiantly expMing an Imprifonment. To avoid that MifchJef, and others which he expected, forne have removed often from Place to Place. It is not painful to ambitious Men, to remove from a worfe to a better, from an old to a new Preferment i but Removes are chargeable and burthenfom, from a Free-Hold to a Farm^to a ■ Chamber, or a part of another Man's Houfe, &c I hear, Mr. Stevens, cf Fennie-Drayton in Lekefter-Jhkt, after his Ejecti- on, removed feven times for his Peace* . Kfc* 64 dje Confojmift'0 ifoutttj plea Mr-Baxfer, ( Life of Mrs. M. B. p. 51. ) hiftorically tells us of his fe- veia] Removes, which mull needs be very troublefom to his fickly Body, and 10 his Mind hxedupon Studies j and to have no better Accommo- dation, than a part of a very poor Houfe of a Farmer's in Totteridge, where the Rooms fmoak'd fo extremely, as greatly annoyed the Health of the nobly charitable Mrs. Baxter. The Winter was very hard and cold, the Coal-fmoak filed fhe Room in which they fate all day, fo that it was as a Cluud> and they were even furfocated with the Stink. It was ill li- ving without Fire in a cold Winter, and bad having Smoak in their Eyes, and Stink in their No/lrils : It was ill fludying for him, in great pain be- fides i and ill Jiving for her, whofe Lungs could not bear Siiioak and Clofenefs. It doth as often affed me, as I call to mind what Reverend Mr. T. writes, in a Letter to a Relation. I am now feptuagenarius, and hardly able to pafs from one Chamber to another j without fome help, over and above that of my Staff. Being driven out of my Place, worth above Two Hundred Founds per an. with my Wife and eight Children, and by forced Confinements, and fometimes Banijhments, for the /pace of a whole Tear from my Houfe and Family-) did contract thofe Weahpeffes and Viftempers, under which I now lan- gitijh. But ft ill I hive caufe to blefs God, who correcls me far lefs than I de- fcrve > and why {ball a living Man complain ? Take another Infiance of the Effe&s of Confinements upon the Health and Life of fome more, and upon their Families. The well-known Divine, Mr. G.Hughes of Plimouth^ was fummoned to appear by a Lieutenant of the Garrifom as from his Superior, and to bring his Son with him. An Officer, with two Files of Musqueticrs, was commanded to convey Mr. H. to an Ifland in the Sea, not iuffering his Son C to be his Companion and Comforter ) to go with him, but con- fined him 10 Plimouth. While Mr. H. was in the Ifland, the Earl of B. came upon it > but Mr. H. could not obtain the Juftice or Friendmip to fpeak with him, tho nothing was laid to his Charge. Here in his Patmos heanfwered Mr. Serjeant's Sure-Footing* And here that Difeafe, by the Saltncfs of the Air, poiTeflld him, that never left him : His Legs were black and fwol'en, and could not be recovered. After nine Months Im- prifonment, he was offered his Liberty, upon condition of giving Security qf a Thoufand Pound?, not to live within Twenty Miles of Plimouth* He yeilded to the Importunity of his Fiiends, who gave that Bond with- out his knowledg, to fee if better Air would relieve him, and came in a hnguiQiing condition to take his leave of his Friends, and the Place of his MiniHry, and removed tda Place twenty Miles o/f, and there 6kd. His His Son Mr. 0. was innoCharge or Employment, and therefore was not liable to thofe Laws which were againft fuch only as were in Places * for all that he was imprifoned, and in Decern!?. 166^ the Oath which is in the Oxford Aft was offered him, ( before that Act came out ) he refu- fing it, was continued till March 30. following : At which time he was brought into the Fort, and required to fign and feal a Promife, not to re- main in Vlimouth forty eight hours after, nor to return thither, without leave from the E. of F. or his Deputy i upon promising fo to do, he was difmiffed. Mx-lbo. Martin, Lecturer of St. Andrew Plimoutb, 1661^ ( certainly fo good and innocent a Man as I took him to be could not provoke any Man, much lefs Authority ) was, upon a rigorous Interpretation of Words, fufpended ah Officio \ and one time it being given out, that he intended to preach, was threatned by a Man, who carried Anger in his Breaft, and a Sword at his Side, to be pluck'd out of the Pulpit by the Ears. Anno 166^ he, together with Mr. Hughes, Vicar of that Church, was fent to the Illand, and kept Prifoner under very hard Circumftances, for ten Months, in which he, his defolate Wife, and eight Children, fuffered much Difcomfort, and his Eftate a great Impairing. He humbly defired a Removal, when the Sicknefs was among the Souldiers/ and fome of them very near his Lodging, which was denied. But at length, for the Take of Liberty from fuch a Reikaint, by the Command of the E. of fr he gave Bond of a Thoufand Pounds, and two Sureties to his Majefty, not to inhabit in, ortocome with n twenty Miles of Plimopith, without his or his Deputy's leave. He and his Family fuffered great Difadvanta- ges by their Separation from one another '■> and when his Prefence was necefTary to advife, relieve, and comfort his Fami'y, in SicknefTes, and Death of fome, hedurit not come any nearer to them. In all this time he was notaccufed of any Crime, or Breach of Law or Statute, and was never admitted to come before the E. of B. about this Bulinefs. I (hall not colled: Stories out of what is published to the Worli, nor ga- ther all which might be foon brought together i but I (hall communicate one Story more, to (hew them that knew not the Temper of the Times, and to what we may impute many of our Diviiioas and Miferics, fome- thing worth taking notice o f . After Mr. N. S. had fpent divers Years in Oxford, and had been legally ordained by Epifcopal Hands, he returned to P. the Place of his Na- tivity, ofhis Ancefior's Abode, where his Eliate and his Relations lived, and betook to his private Studies. K Two 46 Clje Confoimfffjf fottttlj plea Two Officers of the Garrifon came from the Governonr (as they faid ) to his Lodging, (Ofiob. 6. 1665.) and told him, the Governor defircd to fpeak with him at the P. Tavern : Mr. S. hafted thither, where he found divers Minifterson the fame Bufinefs. After they had been there a while, ihey perceived a Guard of Souldkrs was put upon them. OSob. p. Mr. S. with others, were removed to the FI. Tavern. Mr. Shi was rudely treated by the Serjeant, for offering to fieptohis Lodging without his leave. The Serjeant that Night doubled the Guard, and fet two Sentinels at his Chamber, and the Liberty of the Houfe was denied him. In the Eve* ning he was conveyed with four Mufqueticrs, with their Matches lighted, to the Col. who conveyed him to St.NicboLx Ifland, with Orders from the E. not toconverfe with Mr. H.and Mr. M. Prifoners there, and to have a Sentinel fet at his Chamber-Door, and not to go out of his Cham- - ber without a Guard. He continued under this Reftraint, till Uepcmb. 4. In January he was brought before the Earl, who told him, If he could fatisfy the Bifhop, he would be fatisfied. The Bifliop knowing him hi Oxford, wrote a very obliging Letter to the Earl, as much in his favour as could be. The Oath in the Oxford Aft wastendred him, which he re- fufed, as not concerned in the Aft it felf, when the Aft came forth, not then in being. His Prifon was changed, and March 30. was releafed upon his Bond to depart the Town within forty eight hours. MutPortf, (commended as a worthy Perfon, by a Gentleman able To judg) Paftorof a Congregation ztGueflmcJ^ in Norfolk wasimprifoned by a Writ De Excommm. capiend. taken out Novemb. 15. 166 4. and con- tinued in the Common-Goal till Scptemb. 3. 1665. when the Plague was at the height in London, he was made clofe Prifoner until Nwemb. p. not knowing by whofe Order, or for what additional Offence. Feb, 2. he, with fix more, were put into the Caftle, in a Hole in the Wall, over an Arch, on the Weft (ide of the Caftle, which had neither Door, Window, nor Chimney. There w T as room in a Corner for one Truckle-Bed, the left lay in Hammocks. The Hole had three Wickets into the Felon's Yard, one of which mull be open Night and Day, left they mould have been ftifrltd in the Night with the Steam of the Charcoal. For five Weeks the Door below (for the Hole is about forty Steps high, up a narrow Paftage in the Wall ) was kept lock'd Night and Day. The Keeper ufually went away about four of the Clock with the Key to a Neighbour- Village, about a iMile and half diftance from the Head-Goaler's Houfe, and returned not till about eight in the Morning, in whofe abfence none could come to them, whatever occallon might be. During thofe rive "Weeks, they wtre not permitted to fet foot into the Yard, If a Prifoner's Wife for tfjt Bonconfojmflte* €y Wife came to fee him, he was called down to the Door, and the Keeper would ftt his Back againft one fide of the Door, and his Foot againit the other, and fothe Husband and Wife might only fee and fpeak with each other. They had leave to run up and down Stairs as oft as they would, which was iniread of a Walk or Gallery for the fpace of live Weeks. Their Maid was not allowed to come up with their Froviiion. After the five Weeks, thefe Perfons were permitted to go into the Calile-Yaid, during the time of their continuance there, which was about two Months i then they were removed to another Prifon. They were wonderfully prefcrve J this Year from the Contagion, while the Arrows of the Almighty fell mortally very near them, an one fide and another, there being only a Lane between, fo that they could both hear and fee fome that were ihut up, crying for Bread, and themfelves (hut up alfo, and could not flee, fave on- ly into their Strong- Tower, the Name of the Lord, where they found Safety and Peace. Some time after a great Man, then in Power, told theGoaler, he muft carry them forthwith to the Caftle, and put up each in a Place alone: The Goaler anfwered. It cannot be done, the Caflle is full, and I daily fear the Plague [honld brea\ out amvigtt them : He replied, Then put them into & Place together, adding, What do I care if the Plague be in it. Yet were they preferved in that natty Hole, at whofe Wickets came in the odious excrementitious Odors of the Common-Yard of the Felons. One of them was even fuiTocated by it i the Phyfician could not help, fo long as the Patient was put up there : Upon which an Account was fpeedi- ly fent to the Sheriff of his low Eftate, with a Petition to remove him for a little time, his Life being in danger : The Sheriff anfwered, He durftnot meddle, he muft abide it : The Man revived notwithstanding, and lived. Mr. Worts continued Prifoner full feven Years, as the Gentleman re- members, from whom I have this Narrative, and who had it from Mr. W+ while a Prifoner. It is obferved by the Reverend and intelligent Mr. Baxter, that many have been excommunicated in the Diocefs of Norwich, ( and there was a fevere Profecution of the Excommunicate ) but to the honour of that moll excellent Evangelical Bifhop Reynolds, it is obferved thofe Proceedings were not from him, who retained that good Spirit which he difcovered, when he preached thofe and other cempofing and healing' Sermons, be- fore and upon the King's Reftauration. The Guilt of this Severity and Inhumanity is imputed to Dr. Af. Chancellor of the Diocefs, with re- flection upon his Greatnefs under the Ufurpation 5 but the Chancellor was molt away, and left the Management of the Office to inferior Officers, K 2 which 6$ €(je Confojmiffgj fcttrtij pea which was a great Trouble to the good Bifhop. Who doth not fee, that fome Great Men have ventured to exercife an Arbitrary Power ? and what Remedy for the Oppreffed ? This Greatnefs wastoob'g for a High-Sheriff, the King's higheft Representative in his County, to eppofe or offend, by an Acl of Juflice and Mercy. Such Se- verities have been ufed as much without the knowJedg of the King, as contrary to his Nature, (and perhaps others in fuperior Power have been abufed by their Inferiors ) who declared himfclf to be againft (anguinary. Laws, in the Cafe of Mr. Holdcraft, ( who was a Prifoner many Years in Cambridg Canle, and threatned with Baniftiment or Death, on 35 Eliz. ) end was heard to fay, It was a barbarous Ad in theBiftiop of Brijiol, to be againtl the removal of worthy Mr. Ibompfon out of a loathfom Chamber above a Privy, when lick of a high Fever, of which he died, in BriftoU Goal. His Royal Clemency extended far into the Well, in the Enlarge- ment^ Mr. Tregcfle, by a fpecial Order to the Marihal of Bodmin^ which was a noted Anfwer to his Prayers " 5 and whoreleafed Mr. Tarfins, and re- mitted his Fine at the IntercefFion of the Lord Newport. The Juftice of • Se- veral of the Judges, andoffome Deputy-Lieutenants, and Juftices, who have qualified the Heats of others, dtferves an honourable Cbfervation, and they have as great a Share in the Honour of being of the Government, as they who arrogate to themfelves the fole or eminent Title, that a Man cannot relate their extravagant Mifcarriages, but they are ready to arraign him as a petty Traytor againfl: the Government, thereby to keep Suf- ferers in awe, from making Complaints, or fpeaking Truth. Eut fome particular Perfons have given all the Vent they could to their Enmity againft Nonconformift-Minifiers, if not againft Religious Duties, and fol- lowed them beyond the Boundaries of Law. Sonne acting upon the Acl: of Uniformity beyond Law,have been reftlefs till they procured an Adr againft Conventicles. Great Complaints were made of the Nonconforming Meetings, when Sir Edward Turner, the Speaker, prefented the Bill againft Conventicles, ( the firft Adtj he told hisMajefiy : c Whi'ft we were intent upon thefe weighty Affairs, we 1 were often interrupted by Petitions, and Letters, and Motions, reprer Tenting the unfetled Condition of fome Counties, by reafon ofPhanaticks, * Sectaries, and Nonconformists : They differ in their Shapes and Species, c and accordingly are more or lefs dangerous i but in this they all agree, (hey c are no hiends to the < ftablifhed Government in Church or State. He 'calls Conventicles, the Seed- Plots and Nuiferies of their Opinions, un- c da pretence of Religious Worfhip* . From From the few Narratives given fn before, and an ordinary Obfervation ef Times, and the Kriowledgwe have how eafy a thing it is to procure AddrefTes, Motion?, Petitions, for any thing, and againft any thing, which fome great Men would have, we may imagine from what kind of Men fuch Reprefentations were made. And conlidering that fuch a Re- prefentation thus made to the King, fo long a Stranger in his own King- dom, by aSpeakerin Parliament, it is wonderful, the King did not pro- ceed to an utter Extirpation of all Nonconformity, as Enemies to his Go- vernment, and no Lovers of his Peifon, in whom the Regality is inverted, And 10 tell the King, that all Nonconforming are no Friends to theefta- blifhed Government, was to motion a fair Reward of the Loyalty of very many, who ufed all Endeavours to rertore his Majefty and Government* and to contradidt what the King himfelf told the Minirtersof London^ on the Day of his happy Return, when the Reverend Mr. A\ J achj en pre- fented him wiiha Bibe in their behalf, as he palled through St. Paul's Church-Yard, to this effect, lhat he muft attribute his Reftaurathn, under God, to their Prayers and Endeavours, This fpiritual Antipathy againft good Men hath been very troublefom to many wife and moderate Magirtrates, and preiTed out all the Sowrnefs of fome Mens Spirits into the Cup of the Nonconforming, and forced milder Natures into an obfequious Seventy to Pride and Anger, which could not be rellrained from falling on thefe Men, that were to be fet at naught, and they who (hewed them refpedts, forfeited -the Civilities due to themfelves. I will conclude this Head with a few Inrtances of this Antipathy and Incivility. A wealthy Citizen, of very good quality, in time of the Plague went* to virtt his native Country, and fecretly to diftribute his Charity, which was proportionable tobisEftateand Mind i and being in a Town in the AtTjze time, was brought before fome jurtices of the Peace '■> thefe demanded Bond for his Behaviour, or cKe he muft to Prifon. He underrtanding himfelf, and being confeious there was no caufe of Imprifonmenr? refufed the hrft, and having a good Spirit, a good Purfe, and good Counfel," e-* fcaped the lart. After the Oxford Ad came out,- a peaceable and inoffenfive Nonconfor- ms was conftrained to think of a Removal from a convenient Settlement, He was neceffitated to leave his Family, which Separation was next to an Exile to him, and when he could come heme, to come in the Nights m 70 Clje Conftimiff jJ fouttt) plea He em ployed his Friends, and rode about himfelf, to find an Habitation. After much enquiry he was dire&cd to a very good convenient Houfe, which he was glad of, with refpedr to his Wife, who was a worthy Gentlewo- man, and bore her part of his Sufferings with decency and affection. The Landlord was a Courtier. The Minitfcr took the Houfe of him that was entrulled to let it, gave Earned, brewed, and prepared for his Settlement > but before he could remove, a Gentleman of that Neighbourhood, who had no power either to let or hinder, came and hung a Lock upon the Door of the Houfe, and wrote a Letter to the Landlord at London^ ac- quainting him with what he had done, aud begging his Pardon for the Preemption, for he thought it was not fit that a Nonconform]} Jhould be his Tenant. Surely this Gentleman looked upon a Nonconform^!, as the Samaritans upon the jWr, and would deny him Water, or not receive him into his Houfe, or bid him God fpeed. And fo the Gentleman was - to feek again for an Habitation, to his great perplexity and trouble. A Gentleman of Quality and Truth gave me this Relation of one with* in his own knowledg : One, ( faith he ) a very worthy Perfon, was fore- ly exercifed with Witchcraft, which the Witch confclllng, was brought before fome Juftices, one of whom ( faid to be a famous Perfecutor ) bad her go home, and if Jhe bewitched none but Fanaticfy, jhe fljould never be troubled for him. And To 'he had no relief from the Law, nor Eafe other- wife, till the Witch died, feveral Years after. Did they who fo flrongly brought in our Terms, forefee that there would be Nonconforming, and that Nonconformity would not only ejed: them out of their Habitations and Benefices, but out of Corporations, and their own hired Houfes, but exclude them out of the common Right of Humanity and Jul! ice, then they have the greater caufe to repent : If they did not, they are the more innocent Caufes of many and great Trou- bles to many truly good Men, and are engaged to endeavour their Deli- verance from all theft Troubles. It is remarkable, that the moftadtive Inftruments in this Anti-Evange- iical Work, have been none of the beft, but indeed the worft of Men. And of them it may be noted, (i.) What their Quality is, and hath been. (2.) What their Impiety, and heinous Wicked nefs, of the grof- fett Nature. (3.) What their Succefs hath been. (4.) What Appearan- ces have been of God againft them, and what their Ends have been. Some of them have been convinced, converted, and taken off from this Way and Courfei and fome have been made Examples of humane and divine Juilice. There faj tije JiJonconfosntW. ; ■ TherGod? abundance of inferior Officers, that are very vicious and diflioneit; k'nd yet nothing is to be feen very remarkably differing them from other vicious and poor People > but that of all Sorts of Inftrurnents t&tfe Informers fhould be noted out by Divine Providence, as Examples of r.otcrious Vices, Falfhood, Perjuries, and miferable Deaths, may be a "Warning to the woift of Men, not to grow fo bad, and bold againit the Ways of God. It is not nectffcry to refer the fallowing Narratives unto the above-men- tioned Heads i I (hall not pretend to fo much unprofitable Exa&nefs, but relate what is well attefted, in a promifcuous way* About the Year i^74> about twenty five Perfons, Men and Women, were ind idled for a Rout or Riot in Stafford~ftire, f that is to fay, for a Meeting fur Religious Exercifc J : The Profecutors were, 'tbom.is JVard^ Bay'ifTro the Lord Stafford^ ( executed for Treafon, and the Popifh Plot ) and five more, whereof one died immediatly, others loll their Places, and others came to Poverty. One Holmes^ an Informer, hunting (o find out Mr. Bak?iveII y $ Meeting in the Night, fell into a Pit of W r ater, and was in danger to be drowned, had not fome helped him out i which Danger did operate upon him, fo as to fay, that he would go no more upon that account, And Mr. S. Minifter of B. met Mr. Bagwell, and profelfcd he was for* ry for any thing he either faid or did againit him, to bring him into Trouble. It is obferved, That thofe who became Enemies to Mr. Ba\erx>eU of "Burton^ had been ProfeiTors of Piety, but fell from it, and they fell into great and apparent Decays of Effates, even to Poverty, £ Note, Moft commonly they who never made a mew of Piety, or fell from it, trkethe- way of Informing. J Godlinefs is gainful, and hath the Prernife of the Life that now is i but Ungcdlinefs hath the contrary Curfes, I will confirm this Obfervation with a fearful Example of Apoftac/ and Wickednefs, molt remarkably puniihed, with Ruine of a good Eftate^ , and a mod miferable (hameful Death. The Narrative was communicated -to me by a Gentleman of grea£ Worth. John Hmnuckj of Brahiine in Ejfex, was the Son of a ferious, dis- creetly pious, wealthy Draper and Grocer in that Town. A pious Edu- cation and Example had little Efficacy upon him ? but being witty, and capable of the Management of his own and his Fathers Trade,- was lelt Co-Extxutor with his Mot herein- La w y who prudently agree^with him\ , 72 €Jjc Con&imflfsi jfoatttj pea to get into her own hands her Part, and the Portion of one flatW. He married the Daughter of a very worthy Peifon, had four Chikbcfi by her, obferved Family-Duties, and wanted not Gifts, was wont to go fome- times to hear the Nonconforming, who were afterwards perfecuted by him. Not many Months after his Wife died, he grew wild and debauched, fvvearing, drinking, and with his drawn Sword forcing others to drink up to his Meafure. He was very vexatious to his Dealers, and unrighte- ous in his Trade, unnatural and unjuft in detaining his Siller's Portion, compelling her Husband to go to Law, forfwe3iing himfeif about his Fa- ther's Will, that it was loft, and that his Father died in Debt as much as the EOate would fatisfy, which was prized at 2200 /. befides4or 500/. brought in as bad Debts, the moft of which this Man recovered. He fucd his Brother- in-Law, arretted him, and inperfon goes with the Bayliff to fee him in Prifon, not cealing to put him to great Charges, till his Ero- ther-in-Law died. In nine or ten Years time he confumed all his Father left him and his other Children, ran far into Debt, and caft himfeif into the King's-Bench. The firii Lord's Day after the Act againft Conventicles came in force, he began to inform, and ( as was faid j he reckoned to get Sixty Pounds per Week by that good Work, after the failing of other Trades. But God would have flopped him, if his Heart had not been hardned > for be- fore that Lord's- Day came, one of his Children looking into a Tub of Water, fell into it, and was drowned. When he heard of it in an Ale- jioufe, he made no hafte home j and when he came, he bad his Neigh- bours, that came to fee if they could recover the Child, be gone, they had no Bufinefs there. The Child ( a c is remembred ) was buried on the Sa- turday, and the next day he went and informed the Officers of a Meeting, with WitnefTcs to atteft his Information. The Officers charged him to go along with them, and forced him in, ( he being unwilling to go in when he came to the Door,) and (hew them the People : When he came in, they moved him up over again!! the Preacher, he would neither look up, nor fpeak, but fell a trembling. The Officers cried, llm is your Informer , he anfwered, I am no Informer, I mil be no Informer. But being reproached for his Faint-heartednefs, and animated by fume, he came again the next Lord's Day, and continued the greateft part of that Summer with great Fury, taking fome with him, riding about, and fcarching, to theExpence of about Fifty Pounds, but not getting Five, ( a thriving Trade ! J Du- ring this Time he grew more debauched and vile, reckoning this amongft his Olories, that he had converted, and brought more to Church than all fc the Preachers. 'Tis faid, he fillip'd up a Shilling, to fee whether he mould go to God or the Devil, as that fell Crofs or Pile. He hath fivorn he would kill the Preacher, and fbrfworn himfelf often, fwearing fuch Per- fons to be at the Meeting, who were not, but divers Miles off. When one Mr. Br omb all ', an aged pious Man, was to be buried, he prov'ded fe- veral Pidlers to go to the Burial-Houfe, where he pranced with his Horfe before the Door, and broke the Windows with his Staff, and would have the Fidlers go along with him, playing by the Corps, with Language fitted for his Mouth and Aclions. He found no Succefs or Advantage by his Informing, but about a Year after God took him to a Reckoning : He was broken and blaftcd in his Body, as before in his Efiate > his Eyes funk in their Holes, and his Flefli con fumed, &c. fb that he was not known to his Acquaintance* his Strength failed him, that he could not go abroad > he caft away his Efiate, and his Friends caft him off: And now what place was left to receive him? None, but a common lower Room in a poor Hoftler's Houfe, in the Noife and Company of poor rude Children. Thus his Pride was ltained and humbled. Eut his Heart feemed to be more humbled yet, becaufe he fent for the Preacher whom he had difturbed and perfecuted, a fir ft, fecond, and third time i and when he came to vifit him, he fpake, You are the Perfon I have a great defire to fee j / tbink^ you, and the People whom I did perfecute, to be my Friends, He f3id, he had been fo vile a W r retch 5 and guilty of fo many and great Sins, that he knew not by which he had moft dishonoured G:d : He had limed againft Light, and was afraid God was not at peace with him i and that it had been better for him he had been a Toad than a Man. He was very importunate and urgent with the Minifttr to pray with him, and would have one itand at the Door in the mean time, that he might not be difturbed by any Company, and that the Children fhould be all put out. When the Minifter ended his Prayer, he was very thankful to him, and reached out his hand to him, and held him long. He faid, he defired to repent of all hi? Sins, was afraid, if God mould try him with longer Life, he mould return to his Filthinefs i but he looked for Death, which came and took him away a day or two after, but (as 'tis feared ) unprepared and impenitent, upon fuch Reafons as I am loth to recite out of the Narrative, for their ill Example. There are feveral remarkable PaiTages of God's Judgments upon him : f 1.) He had one Child drowned, when he went to inform. (2.) Another choak'd at Nurfe, after he had gone on a while. (3.) Was crolTed in his Hopes of Gain by Informing. (4.) The deformed Confumptionof his Body, and being caft off by his Friends. (5.) That fo haughty a Per- fon fhould lie in a contemptible Place and Stare. (6.) That a third Child fhould be taken by an Holt, to be kept in Charity. (7.) That the only L vifible 74 ®6e ConfcnmtffS fouttf) pica vifible Sign of Repentance (Lould be, to fend for that Minifler, and dc five his Prayers, rather than any other. (8.) That being a Prifoner at London, he mould, upon leave obtained, come to die in that Place and State, in the Face of his Companions, to convince and terrify them, and of them that he had perfecuted, to acknowledges Fault. • This Service proves (as the Devil's commonly doth) unprofitable i a Man may fpcnd all in it, but is very uncertain of gaining any thing by it. It is rarely feen, that the Devil bears the Charges of his Servants, as others have found to their Coft, in this prefent Life. One JV. V. of M. H. hath been very poor ever ilnce he took up the Calling, having fcarce Bread to ear, and moft remarkably vifited in his Family. His Brother Informer, J. H. about two Years after the &6k againft Conventicles came out, threw up the Trade as unprofitable > and fince he became an Auditor of Mr. M. C. And one time this J. H. was informed of ( by new Informers ) as being prefent at a Meeting there, and was fined 5 /. He was a very ferious and devout Hearer. After Sir John Hartopp was chofen Knight for Lticefter-Jhire, again ft a great Oppoiition, they who voted for him, were called Hartopians, and a Revenge was contrived upon the Protectant Diflenters of H. To that end, one jF— W was made ConOable, whoindidred them all, not one fpared, upon the Statuteof Twenty Pounds per Month \ which Fines a- thoutif to fo great a Sum, that undemanding Perfons compute, if the whole Town of Harhorough w r ere to be fold for ready Money, one Moiety of the Purchafe would not difcharge the Fines* In Decemb, i£7p, this Jo, W ■ was thrown into Northampton-Goal, and tho none came in againft him at the Aifizes, the Judg faw fufficient caufe to continue him in Prifon j but upon great Sollicitation, he was bai- led till the Summcr-AiTizes. Within three Vtfeeks after his coming home to Harhorough, he took upon him to be Informer for the King. At the Summer- A Sizes, he appeared to fave his Bail, and to receive a Sentence of Condemnation fas it proved J) from Judg E/w, and Mondiy follow- ing was appointed for Execution, but it was by fome means, not pub- lickly known, procured he night be refpited till Thurfday following, at which time there was a vaft Confluence of People come together, from the Town and Country, a great way about, who knew him to be a grand Malefactor, to fee Execution : But in the Nick uf Time a Reprieve came down* ( as, fome have faid, without the King's KnowledgJ So little abafh'd was he at the Sentence of Death, that within an hour after he committed his common Sin in the Goal, as was reported upon good Credit. And. ft? tf)e Bottcoufojmtff^ 75 And on the expected Execution-Day, he made himfelf m r rry at the great Concourfe that came to the fight of it. But after this he came home again, and made great Brags, that the Fanaticks mould repay his Charges, ( of procuring Reprieves, and other Charges, which cofi fome hundreds J reckoning his Moiety would come to Four Hundred Pounds. But as he could not leave thepurfuit of his evil Deeds, fo the Juftiee of God pur? fued him, and took him, ( for Horfe-ftealing, Coining, &c ) and Ven- geance fell upon him at Wishich, where he was, after many Efcapes, once again condemned, and executed. There is a SucceiTor of his near the fame place, and three of his perjured Hirelings who take no warning as yet, and may in time become Exam- ples to them that take no warning : They can to appearance as freely for- fwear themfelves as they can fpeak, being hardned in Sin, and fenilefs of Hell, and having Countenance, dare (hew their Faces, At Eaft- S alcomb in "Devon, there dwelt one Joan Bafion, a Widow, aged, and blind, who for a fuppofed Conventicle kept at her Houfe, Anno loJi, was fined Twelve Pounds, and for non-payment of it, was threatned with a Goal. After fome Week?, the Officers came and broke open her Doors, and carried away much Goods above the value, terrifying her over and over with the Goal, and as W3s conceived, labouring to extort dan- gerous Words from her. They fold as many Goods as were worth thir- teen Pound, for Fifty Shillings •> fix Hogflieads, valued at Forty Sihllings, for nine Shillings i and Pewter, Feather-Beds, &c. for Twenty Shillings > and demanded of her Tenants her Rent, by which means (lie TufTered much. This is figned by J. B. and the Story related by another hand, and fufficiently attefted. The ConOable having fetzed J. Baftons Goods, told me, Jfe have been up and down about cur Office, feizing the old Woman's Goods : This is the . Fruit of your Rebellion. And as for- Mr. Geo. Caw ley, (the Preacher) be. bath fpoken Treafon : To whom I replied, No, Sir, 1 hope not: Yes> faid he, and if be do not die, I will die for him. Sir managed that falie Accufation againft him, from which he was cleared at the Ailizes. The Con It able that falily accufed Mr. Coles of S. was taken ill at Exeter, and continued ill a Night and a Day : On Friday he endeavoured ngo homewards with his Neighbours. In his Journey a wild Duck flew over his Head and backward and forward, at which his Horle made a Hop, and would not go forward. His Company demanded the reafon of his Stand i he replied, he could not go further, / fee a Fire before me. A while after he went on> tut the fame Fire followed him to and fro all the way home- L 2 ward. 7 6 Cfje Cattfo?mift 5 fining par ward. After his coming home, he fancied Thieves to be about his Ho life, attempting to break open the Doors? he heard fuch a Sound andNoifc, he fent down his Servant-Maid to fee, who found all faft and quiet. She having lighted a Candle, he cried out, There are (ome coming up Stairs with great Lights, &c. Thus he continued till Lord's-Dayat Night, and about two or three in the Morning died, fenilefs of his Condition. Thus it proved true, Mr. C. mould die, or he die for him> he died, but not for Mr. C. The Conftableand Affiflants, that ranfacked the old Widow's Houfe, brought forth the Pulpit into the High-Way, with half a Hogfhcad of Sidcr, and therewith a Company of bafe Fellows drank Healths in the Pulpit, and when they had done, brake the Pulpit in pieces. Edw. Wardens Bible was diilrained for his Fine of Three Shillings, when other Goods were refufed. See the Piety of fome of our SuppreiTors of Conventicles : Preachers sre threatned with Hanging, and the Death of Traytors > they pull down a.Pulpit, to fetupHealthing in it itear the Pulpit, diftrain and fell the Bible to choofe, when they might have choice of other Goods. Novetnb. 1^70, an Information was taken by J. *t. Efq> and given by certain lewd Fellows, againft fome near Crufe Mor chard in Devon. The Informers were, John Partridge that went always armed for fear of Bay- liffc, Cbr. Shorty and Jo. Short : Thefe lay lurking about the Houfe of I'bo. Meljhurft, fufpecting a Meeting. Soon after they gave out, there had been Praying, cr Preaching, or Expounding there, but which they could not tcll^ becaufe they were kept off from the Houfe by a great Bull- Dog, (which was fhortly after poyfoned, ) The Judice took a general Information, (whether upon Oath or not, is not faid ) and fent out his Warrants to bring certain Perfons before himb one of which under/landing the Informers were in the Houfe, dc-fired the Jufiice to call them, and asked the Informers, how they could tell there was Praying, or Preaching, or Expounding? and delired to know which was done, feeing by their own Confcilion they were kept off by the Dog. The Juftfee perceiving them to be at a lofs for an Anfwer, made Anfwer for them, Ibcy might kriorv well enough which it xvm by the Tom ■, and upon that con- vidtcd them, and among the reit, one Nicb. Melfhmfc who was two Miles from the Place at the fane time, as could be fufHciently proved, paid his Fine. And Agms Brock^ Daughter of G.Br, of Morcbard^ was convid'ed and fined, who had b. en dead fcveral Years before* I hope therefore (lie paid not her Fine, nci was threatned, or iliu to Goal for Mon-payment, Now fa? iTje l3oncoit&]mf(f& jf Now obfcrve the Vices of thefe Ferfons, and their Ends by divine Jullice. F. and Sk were lirongly fufpt&cd for dealing fix Oxen, four from G. Bodlcy of Morcbardy and two from Hen, Lee of the fame Parifti i They were apprehended, and brought to their Trial, and S/\was found guilty, and burnt in the hand, and fince hath confumed his Eft ate, and is fled the Country for fear of Arrefis. P. dkd not long after* and the other Sb, was taken in the AcYof the unnatural Sin of Buggery, was found guilty, and died for it. One Hdmere was fjfpecled to be a Confpirator in the faid Information, and was apprehended as a Partner with the forenamed in dealing the Oxen, found guilty, and burnt in the hand. And fince that, he and his Son were taken in the Adt of Burglary, was fent to Prifon, which he brake twice, and is fled, and not taken. Thefe Relations are ready to be attested by Perfons cf unfafpe&ed Credit. Aug. 26. 1676, four Informers had laid aDefign to take Mr. J. Barret of Nottingham, andjiis Hearers,who at that time had none to give intelligence from abroad of any coming to disturb them. At the Town's-End the In- formers divided themfelves 5 fome rode for a Warrant, others came to efpy the Meeting. One of them walked again and again between two Stiles leading into the Yard, belonging to the Houfe where the Meeting wasi and yet (as he conk fled to the Owner of the Houfe feme time after) he knew not what ailed him, but he had not power to go over the Stile, tho fometimes he had his hand upon it i and tho the Houfe and Stacks about it, were (hewn him before he came to Town, and had no reafon to doubt but that was the Houfe, it ftanding at a diftance from any other Houfe, yet he turned to another Houfe, being neareft to it, where a Woman being at home, was asked, JVbttbsr it was^moi fuch c Man's Houfe? or whether the Meeting was not there ? And fhe faith frill., , file was fo furprized with fear, that (he could make him no Anfwer : where- upon he faid to the Woman, Canft thon not fpea\? art thoic dumb ? of arttboumad? This Account (he gave then, but it being fo long fince, (be may have forgotten i but being lately asked of it^ (he fiith, he Md, Art thou a Fool? But by this Confufion they were in, the People met, were gotten away before any Informers came in. The Informers haunted them feveral times after, and one time came in when there were but fourbefides the Family, and the Children of the Town under fixteen Years of Age. When they faw how they were crofTed feveral times, and Mr. Barret had charged him that came firlr, and his Companion, wi:# breach of God's Law, not keeping the Sabbath-Day, but hindring others, and I 7 3 whofe 'Bufinefswas to ask me, If I durft adventure to preach in theChappel, c Mr. H. being abfent, and no notice being given to the People, many of c whom" would come, and be difappointed ? I utterly denied at hrft : They^ c were loth to bring me into Trouble > yet if I was willing, the Chappel- c Doors mould be opened, and the Bell rung. I confldered of it, confu'ted c fome Neighbours, begged direction of God, and about an hour after c I confented, upon thefe Confederations : They were my ancient People, c I was forcibly thrufl from them,the Spirits of Men were much moderated > c I knew the Sabbath would be profaned h it being Whit-Sunday, many c Strang rs walking abroad to fee their Friends j Quakers twit us, that c we will not venture upon Hazards : But above all, my Lord's Example, c and theNeceility of Souls 5 and who knows what Good may be done ? c Upon this, about nine of the Clock, I went up, read, fung, prayed, c preached quietly, on Judg. 5.31. Let them that love him he as the Sun, c when he gocth forth in bU Strength, About one in the Afternoon we met c again, and about three of the Clock, Mr. St.. EH. brought T&. B. Church- c Warden, and Sam. W. Overfetr, awing them with a Fine of Five Pounds ( if they refufed. St. Ell. put in the Officers before him, who were c cxcccdinglyjdaunted. One of them was fo awed and aihamed, thathe c crept down" into a Seat, and was fo exceeding lick, that he could not c give account of one Pcrfon. The Informer went along among the Peo- c pie, looked lheight at me, faid nothing, went down the Alley, and look'd c upon (he People as he went along. It was a Caufe of Diuraclion to c us i, but I went on, and called to the People to look Proofs, which would * be a Help to them againll that Diftradion. When they went our, ' St. E.knt7h.H. again into the Chappcl, to take Names: He again c walked through the North Alley, flood at Scats end?, went out into c theChappel- Yard, where thfy conferred Notes, writ down Names : And l tho the Chappel was full of their own Neighbours, yet thy could nrt c take ten Names, they were fo confounded. ' The Munel y feven-Night ' follow- fo> tije jBonccnfoimilvsi- 79 'following, Mr. W. and Mr. C. two Juftices, took my Bufmefs into Ex~ * a-mination. The Informer St. E. flood there, examining the Officers by ' Interrogations: Did not you fee Jucb and fucb there ? And fo they ex- ported ten Names of many Hundreds that were prefenr. c J H b J 3* 1( >7 , J- M. Conftable, Th. H. S.IF. cametomake ditfrefs ' of my Goods, with three Bearers to carry them away. The Conftable c took hold of the Bed whereon I lay, put o/T his Hit, faying, 1 feize ' upon this Bed for bis Mayfly's ufe> I told them, It was enough for them ' to mark them, and leave them, till they had Chapmen to buy them: ' They faid, the Informer wculd buy them. So they took Bed, Bedding, 1 Tables, Chairs, Chefts, Books, to the value of Fourteen Pounds, for c Ten Pounds. My Wife defired them to take Chairs, rather than our ' Meal-Cheft \ but they laid ar Curtain upon the Floor, and poured out 1 the Meal upon it, and took away our Chefr. They carried the Goods c into an Alehoufe, and drank upon them, got Prizers, who prized them 'at 10/. id/. 8 d. They had befpoken a good Dinner, faying, They 'would bring Over- plus Goods enough to pay for all. Th,y prized ten 'Eooks at thirty Sellings. Theycaufed the Bell-man to cry the Goods c in Hallifax, Augufl 13. but could fell none of them- The Juftices bad c the Officers to take themthemfelves. They anfwered, they had Goods 'enough. The Conftable grew weary of the Eufi- ■ c ne£«, delivered all to the Hands of the fucceeding Nanconformifls Goods c Conftable. The Houfe where they were laid up a dead Commodity > c grew weary of them, and detired the next Con- Wbo paid for the c ftable to find a Room for them, or they would caft Feaft then ? 'them out: They got leave to fet them in a Barn ' inColey-Hall* June 6. 1671. One Robert Reyner of IVakgfield, brought a ' Cart and five Horfes to fetch them away, • When they laid a Chair in 'the Cart, one faid, Whereas Hey wood'/ God now, tbatbe ufedto pray to ? ' They remained mil at IVak^fidd^ Augujl 15. 16 8c. In December i<568, Mr. John Shuttleteood, fometimes Minifierof R, In the County of Leicejier, was taken with many others, iinging a Pfalm by M. B. and thirty or forty Hoifemen with Swords drawn and Piftols cock'd^ feveral of both Sexes were beaten and driven into the Field, and difmifTcd upon promife of appearing next day before fome Juitice of Peace => Mr. Sb. was examined by Juflice 8. when he had been at his ParifhChurch to hear Divine Service? Mr. Sb. anfwercd, he knew none charged him for Ab- fence : the JulHce asked him, if he would promife to go the next Sunday ? Mr. S^.anfwered, he did not know how Divine Providence might difpofe of him before that time > upon this the Juflice made hirn h;s Mittimus lot a go Cfje Conewmiffg iFauttlj pra a Breach of the 55 of E//"z. and delivered him to the Cuflody of one Charles Gibbons, a Quarter- Matter in a Troop of the Trained Bands, to convey him to Liecefier Goal. It being too late that Night, they reded where they were, and Mr. Sb. craving a Blciling upon their Meat, Gibbons comes into the Room, and fwore a bloody Oath, and faid, IFb at, are jou a preaching? Soon after a Neighbour Genlleman came, and made requeft, that Mr. Sb. and the reft of the Prifon- smight go that Night to their own Houfes, and offered a Bond of a thousand Pounds for their Appearance ■> the Gentleman prefljng hard for that Night's Liberty. Gibbons girt his Sword about him, and fwore defperately, that iince he loved them fo well, he mould go with them, and continued fwearing all the Night, that in cafe he find, (to ufe hts own Phrafe ) he would make the Sun (bine through him. Next Morning Gibbons knt the Prifoners away with fome Souldiers, and (laid himfelf with the Gentleman ■■> and glad they were, they were going to Prifon, as being in worfe than Prifon till they were there. Mr. Sb. and the other continued in Prifon till the 24^ of February ', and were then difmift. Anno 1670, foon after the A6r againft Conventicles came out, the faid Gibbons came with armed Men, and took Mr. Sh. and fix or feven at a Houfe in Tb. and carried them to an Ale-houfe, and after fome time difini'ii them upon promife to appear at four a Clock next Morning at that Place j next day he carried them all to three feveral places in Leicejierjhire and Nortbamptonflme, keeping them a conilderable while in each Place, and at lalt brought them to C.in Lricefterjh. where Jufh'ce O would have extor- ted fome ConfeiTr ns from the Prifoners, and Gibbons, though commonly a defperate Swearer, told the Juftice in the prefence of them all, He would damn bis Soul for none of them.. He could not A common Swearer fwear there was a Conventicle, whereupon the afraid of Petjury and Jufticc was about to difmifs them : but a Lawyer Damnation, is much bet- prefent told him, he might convicS them upon tcr than tbofe who fear notorious Evidence, which he did, and fent War- neitber Perjury nor Hell, rants to diftrain upon Mr. Sb. for 20 /. and 20 /. on Indeed be could not fwcar the owner of the Houfe, and 5 /.a piece on others* a Conventicle, for as tbe Mr. Sb. conveyed away his Cattd, but the reft la} Sentence went out of paid. Anno 1672, while Mr. Sb. had the King's the Preaches Moutb, Licence, Gibbons came upon him, and took him be came to tbe Window and the Mafter of the Houfe, and brought them and fwore a dreadful before Capt. C. of I. who then rcfufed to acf, but Oatb. afterwards did fend out his Warrants to diftrain 20 /. on Mr. Sk 20 /. on the Houfe, &c.bui both efcaped, iho not withi ut Damages ; but great tines were laid upon the Hearers. fa? tfje Bancottfajmiff^ 81 Hearers. In the end of February, 74, Gibbons came with armed Men to Mr. Sb.'s Houfe in Lubnam, Leicefter-Jhire, roaring into the Congregation ifter his wonted manner, and took feveral Names, appointing Mr. Sb* and them to meet him next day, at an Alehoufe in Sboaresby, to appear before his Great Mafler, Col. F. who was wont to furni(h him with Warrants before-hand. But the Colonel's Son, a Son of his old Age, dying that morning, ( who fell fick, as it is faid, that Day his Father gave his Warrants to break up that Meeting.) They all appeared according to promife, and were difmifs'd, upon promifeto appear upon lawful Sum- mons. Inttead of fuch a Summons, Gibbons got a Warrant of Sir lb, B. ( not long after deceafed ) to diftrain upon Mr.Sb: for forty Pounds: And the Officers took away feven Milch-Cows of Mr. Sb.'s, and offered them to Sale i and the beft Chapman that came, was U.S. of A/, who paid feven Pounds for them, and Six-pence Earnefi, ( without the privity of Mr. Sb. ) which was pain to the Officers, who paid it to the Juftices, who gave Receipts for the Money. P. S. branded four of the; Cows, and joifled them in tbe Grounds of one J* IV, of Langt on. Gibbons, and his great Companion Percy, hearing of the Cows, go to the Coniteble, who had a Warrant to diftrain upon the faid Jo. IVilfon for 2 /. 15/. for being at the fame Meeting i Gibbons and Percy got the Warrant out of the Conflable^s hands, pretending to take foroething out of it, but it was to put more in, viz. to empower Percy todiflrain the four Cow?. And fo both went into tfie Ground, and drave the Cows, impounded them about an Hour, and then took them out, and drave them to Gilmrton, where they were met by another of their Companion?, one Savage, and fet a Guard upon the Cows. T>. S. hearing thefe things, went to Capt. C. for a Warrant, to fetch Gibbons before him upon fufpicion of Felony i but the Jufiice refufed to give him his Warrant except he would lay flat Felony to their charge, which Z>. S. could not do, becaufe they impounded them hrft. He goes to Gibbons, to know by what Authority he took away the Cows, demanded the Cows, which they refufed to do, Gibbons telling him, he fhould not have a Tail of them to wipe his Mouth with. He went to Mr. H. Under- Sheriff, for a Re- plevin, which he told him he could not grant, becaufe it vyas againft the King. One of thePerfonsdiftrained upon, came to pay 2 /. 15 /. to the Of- ficers? Gibbons caught up the Money, and gave it to his Partner Percy y and faid, he fhould be Conltable i and away they went with it. V. S. heard, that Gibbons had conveyed away the four Cows in the Night, after which he never heard of them more, and fent for a Writ for him > but when the Bayliffs came to arrelt Gibbons^ they found he was M protected 8 s Clje Cottfa#ttift'ss jTouttfj pea prote&ed by the above-faid Col. F. a Parliament-Man, ( and in the Lid of Petitioners ) as one of his Servants. But the Jufticeand Vengeance of God took him out of that San&uary* for being at Lutterworth, in Vecemb* 16J 1 }, very full of Drink, and ha- ving that clay given out many threatninii Speeches againfi feverai Difienters, he would not be perfuaded to itay a'l Night, tho it was late, about nine in the Night, but would go heme : But uhen he had gone aboitf hair' a Mile towards 1 erne, he fell i to a birch, through which a little Water urns* and railing a flap (as we mull fjppofe ; he damm'd up that little ifluc of Water by which he was found drowned next Morning by a Milk- Maid, in a very remarkable manner > for all his Body was above Water, except his Neck and Face : neither was the Water high enough, when it was damm'd up, to cover all his Face, for fome part of his Nofe and Forehead were feen above Water, A Conforming Minifter, and a worthy Man* llnce deceafed, who knew him well, entred this following Remark in Beard's Theatre of Judgments: * Charles Gibbons, a notorious Swearer and Drunkard, having been at * Lutterworth in LticejUr-(hire, being full of Drink, and it being late at * Nighf,was dilTuaded frormgoing home, which was at Kimcot, two Miles c erT, fwore he would go home in fpight of all the Devils in Hell * but he * was found dead next morning in a'ftiallow Run of Water, which did not c cover his Body, betwixt Lutterworth and Mifterton. One of Gibbons^s Companions, that had been drinking with him that Evening, and parted with him when he went out of Town, was fadly affrighted in his going home to his own Houfe in Lutterworth, with fome- thing like a black Sow, which he faid, when he heard next Morning that Gibbons was dead, was the Devil going to drown Gibbons. When Gibbons was found, he had not one Penny in his Purfe, and his Goods were valued at Two Shillings and Six-Pence. Here's one Exam- ple more of outragious Profanenefs, a miferable fudden Death, and deep Poverty. Who ever read or heard of an Informer, bleft in Body or Goods ? And the Fortune of his Companion Fercy ran very low i for all he could mufter up to pay the Charges of T>. S.'s Suit, which was 9 /. 10 /. came but to fix Ponnd, made off the little Goods he had, fled his Country, became a Driver of Beads about Islington, afterwards a Foot-Souldier, af- terwards a Beggar, and fo he died, as is commonly faid. In Ofiober, i58i, Wat f on and Holdfwrib, both Inhabitants of Deeping in Lincoln- Jhir ?, (Watfon was a very wittft c'of*, cunning Fellow > Holdfwartb was a heavy, clumfy, poor Fellow j the one fitted to direci, the the other to follow, ) came to Oldham in Rutland, ( m hopes of good Markets, by the Sale of Modefty, Truth, and their precious . Souls, and other Mens Goods ) there a Nonconformist Preacher and his Congregati- on met out of Church-time : The Preacher kept up in an upper ftoom, and the Doors of the Houfe were lock'd, fo that the Informers could only fometimes hear a Voice indiflindrly, but they heard enough for their pur- pofe : They went and fwore againft the Preacher, ( whofe Name they had learned fince their coif ttig to Town ) that there was an unlawful Meeting in his Houfe. Upon which a Warrant was ifTued out for Twertty Pounds upon him > and yet they named no Preacher, nor Hearers. They informed of a Meeting of Quakers, and fwore there were ten Perfons at it, and particularly one Bowman, who was not there, nor had been -there in half a Year before. Thefe Fellows, in their return home, were overtaken by a fober Perfon, who rode about two Miles with them, and, to their great vexation, dif- courfed of the Calling of Informers, and the untimely Ends of feveral of them, and therefore war'n'd them often and earnenly to take heed: ButVVatfon faid, The DiiTenters were Hell-born Rogues, and an Infor- mers Trade was lawful. % About February following (laft paft) Watfon fell ill, his Tongue was black and fwelled, fome while before he died, and led his C ompmion the way into the other World, where there is not as much as a Preacher's Voice to be heard. Withm a Week after Holdfworth followed him, crying out in his Sicknefs, 'The Devil, the Devil, he mil fetch me, do not you fee him? and wilhing he had not engaged in that Way. Thefe miferable Wretches were poor and broken Men before they took this Trade, were defeated of the Fines levied upon their Informations, in the Parts where they lived, and died extreme poor. Some Souldiers came one LordVDay, in April laft, 1682, Low-Sunday, as it is remembred, to break up a Mecting> and to take Mr. Browning of R. in Northampton-Jhire. TheConftable admonifhed them to be well advi- fed what they did : For ( faid he ) when Sir — was alive, he eagerly profecuted thefe Meetings, and engaged eight Souldiers of the County-Troop therein; whereof my felf wm one. Sir himfelf is dead, ( it is faid, he died not long after ) fix of the eight Souldiers are dead i fame of them were hanged, and fome of them brokg their Necks* and I my felf fell off my Horfe^ and broke my Neck^ in the Att of Profecuting tbern, and it cjfi me ■thirty Shillings to he cured and recovered. It hath given me fucb warning, that for my part lam refolved I will never meddle with them more. He told this M 2 Story 84 die Cottfojmtff $s fourtf) $>Iea Story (o them all at feveral times that day. This Story is related by others with fome confiderable Circumftances > but this being the more mode- rate Relation, I give it almoin in the very fame Words, in which it was fent from a good and reputable hand to a Friend. Several Juitices of Peace were in a great Heat that day in the'purfuit of the Preacher, and the Meeting-, but the Birds were flown, before they could cad their Net, and (o efcap.d. J do not hear that this Conflable, for all his Convifl ion, is at any time a Hearer at that Meeting. It is remarkable, how fuch Perfons may be re- trained, and how readily the Confcience, a little awakened, makefCon- flrudions of the Divine Providences to be Ads o( Judgment, and Admo- nitions to them. From the fame hand I am allured of another Example: Since that, W. H. one of the Church-wardens of the fime Pari(h, and one of the moft imbittered Enemies of the Meetings, who had often Quarrels with fome of his near Relations about them, and efpecially the Night before he di- ed, who was fuddenly ftruckdead in his own Yard, and never fpoke, nor breathed one Breath after he was taken with it : As he had no notice of its Arreft, till it came > fo he^ave no notice of his being to die, to any other. Surely the Conflable muft needs be confirmed in his Refolutions againft Adting, by this fudden Death. Some threat ning Words againft the Barn, the common Name of Meetings, fpoken by him, are by iome remembred h but general Words are moft fparing, and I will content my felf with them. That it may not be thought that our Nonconforming Brethren do ftretch and enlarge fmall and ordinary Occurrences, and Ads of Divine Providence*, I will (hew you what Caution and Modefly is to be feen in their Accounts ef PaiTages. One writes thus, who is known to have furTered Imprifon- xnent, and to wade through many Troubles, and is at this time under a moft fevere and watchful Eye: As to my felf \ I have been fo carekfs in beeping any exatt Account of what 1 have met with, that 1 cannot do it : In the general, 1 can only fay this ', "that in all 1 have met with, God hath fo dealt with me, that I have fujfered very little. Another to his Friend : I could have fent you fome other Accounts, hut that I and others are afraid to grate toe much upon fome Perfons. And another to his enquiring Friend, with a like Modefty : 'thus much I hyow in the general, that feveral foul Perjuries have Informers in this County been guilty of, for which fome of them have been pro- fecuted and conviSled, and afterwards fled and abfeonded, fo efcape Puniflj* ments* And very many of the Informers and Perfcutors, have hem Perfons ef mo\l profligate Lives. . And the Hand of God bath mofi eminently ap* peared againji fome of them, by untimely Deaths, by the Hand of God remar- kably fir etched forth againji them % as I have been certainly informed, by Perfons of undoubted Credit '•> but in regard I cannot give an exatl and particular Ac- count of aU Circumjiances, I am contained to pafs by thefe Things in filence^ than to wrong the Account by any Miftakes* I cannot pafs over one Obfervation within mine own view. In the Country where I live, the Informers are* a new Set of Men i fome that were Informers in -former Years are yet alive, but deilft and refufe to inform, either upon Convidtion of Confcience, Fear of Evil, Obfervation of the (hort, (hameful, and miferable Ends of others, or other ftrong Keftraints upon them. I am credibly informed of one, whofe Name and Perfon I know, that hath gone to a Nonconform^: Preacher, with thefe or the like Word s : Sir, I have done you Wrong, and brought Trouble upon you > J ' pray forgive me, &c. But moft free and full, truly pious and penitent, is this Copy of a Let- ter, which was fent by one that had been an Informer, to a molefted DuTenter, faithfully tranferibed by me in the Informer^ own Words, A Letter of a penitent Informer. Goodman Fenn, IAckgowledg mine Error, and that I did foolijhly in coming to pur Houfe, and in dijiurbing the Company which were met there^ and in bringing yon and them on the Stage, and into a fuffering Condition i which hath fever al times troubled me very much, and at this time lies heavy upon me, becaufe I am not in a Condition to return you and your Friends, what is out of your and their Poc\ets : But if ever it jhallpleafe God to makg mi in a Condition able thereto, I do intend, to the befi of my Power, to bear your and your Friends Disburfe- ments, which you and your Friends were put to by my oc:afwn, by returning to you and them, fome of what you and they have been forced to pay by my means. And in the mean time, 1 do earn'ejily defire, you, and your Friends which have been Sufferers with you, to forgive me the Wrong which I have done to every one of you. I do defire you, and all that were Partakers with you in your Sufferings, to be earnefl with God in your Prayers for me } not once, .but often , to defire the Lord to forgive mi the Sin which I committed againji him, in what I did againji you, and them which were met at your Houfe, when I dijhirbid Mr. King in his Exercife* How dif I J{now but that God may hear your Prayers for me, and turn his fierce Wrath from me, you being the Pitfons grie- ved k. B6 €tje Confojmift'g ifottttTj plea ved ? The Almighty God bath been pleafedto encourage me to fend to you aU z which are concerned in the Sufferings by what he didjn the Cafe of Job, chap. 42. verf. 7,8,9. So the Lord of. Mercy move all your Hearts to pray forme, that be wr.tld pardon my Sin, for not doing that which wis right to tbofe that were worjhippingof 'him 5 and it may he the Wrath of God may beappia\':d at your Requejl, and have Mercy upon me, and not deal with me according t9 my Defert, J hope that God of his infinite Mercy will forgive that Sin of do* ing bit Prophets barm, and for offending of b'4 little Ones h and alfo Grace for the Time to com;, not only to forbear doing his Prophets barm, and t offending of bis little Or i es i but do the befi 1 can to defend bis Prophets, and cherifh bis little Ones. The Words of Saul are verified in me, I find it \ tri to kjck^ againfl the Prick/. Hoxne, Su£ R, Se July 8. !<58o. I have by thefe Inftances cleared the Ground of the Observations laid down in the Entrance of thefeNaratives, which I do heartily vyifh may become efTe&ual Admonitions and-Warnings to them that walk in their Steps, to turn them back, before they fall under the like Obfervation, as Examples of God's Difpleafure. I (hall propofe fome other Objects of God's Difpleafure, tho not of In- formers, but of fuch as have opened their Mouths in Menaces againft Mi- nitowers, that have declared a Spirit of Difobedience againft God, and Perfe- ction againft his Servants, The great life that fome make of the Laws is, to belnibrumentsoftheir Difaffedrion to, and Revenge upon fuch as they hate, not knowing how to come at them by any other Law, being inculpable as to other Crimes and Mi (demeanors. Feb. 13. \66o. One H. H. of T. Ev. in the C of W. was very adive in getting a Warrant againit Mr. P. Minifter of that Place, and feveral other Miniilers, for not reading Common- Prayer, (while there was an Indulgence in that Point.) He left Order with his Uncle A. H. Confta- bJe, that if any fuch Warrant came in his abfence to him, he mould fyee- dily execute it : He went that day to G. a Neighbour-Village, and being drunk with one T. C. a debauched Companion of his, coming home, fell from his Horfc, and fell down dead in jhe place. This This Judgment of God might have befallen him for hisDiunkennefs,or ne might have efcaped it> as many Drunkards do> but his Enmity againft his Miniller, known to be a worthy good Man, was an Accumulation of his Sins, and a refuting to be taught and reformed by him. What cared fuch Perfons for the Common-Prayer, as it was the Form of Service paid rot>od? If it had been from Zeal to that, he would have abftained from his fcandalous Sins. June id. 1661. Mr. B. of F. St. J. faid to a Gentleman of Quality, That he would leave never a Horfe in his Team, nor Sheep in his Folu, but he would rout out Mr. S. the Miniiier of the Parifli, (.who would not comply with Prophanenefs ) befoic Harve(r,as near as it was, if he did not read Common-Prayer, and that if he were not gone before Har- veft, he would be gonehimfelf i God took him at his threatning, for he was gone out of the World before that time came. June 2661. K. M. of Z>. and jF. B. with other bad Men, had procured the outing of Mr. J. a very eminent Minifkr of the Places M. was heard to fay, that the day that J. mould" go away from P. would be the happieft or merrieft day in the Year to him: Upon the very day of Mr. J's going away, M. going with a little empty Cart and one Horfe into the Field, the Horfe by a ihrange Providence, drew the Cart over his Leg, which crufhed the Bone to pieces, and tore the Flefh from his Thigh, of which Wound he lay in tormenting pain fome days after, and then died miferably. November?. 1. i66j, The forefaid J. B. of V. in Wilts, the Enemy of Mr. J. of whom he faid blafphemoufly, that J. and his God had cheated the Parifh thtk 14 Years. He had been drinking at Wily, where . he threatned, that he would T>e at a Neighbour Parifli to preach next Sunday i meaning that he would execute a Warrant upon fome Pbanatkkj fas he called tHem ) that would hear a neighbour-Miniiler preach : But riding homeward that Night, he affronted lbme fober Travellers upon the Road, drew his Sword upon them and made at them, and one of them in his one defence, (hot him with a brace of Bullets into the Eody, of which Wound he died that day fevennight. . The Gentleman that killed him was tried and acquitted the next AlTizes at Samm. ■ March 1661. One "thorn of P. who had about that time twelve Month taken a falfe Oath again!! the faid Mr. /. at the Aflize in Sarum, being ftricken in the Tongue ( as he himfelf afterwards confefTed ) before he came out of the Court, which gTevv worfe and vvoife, and by degrees rotteda 88 Cfje Confojmiffsi tfouttfj pea rotted away in bis Mouth, till the Worms crawled out > he died defpe- lately and miferably. Mr. Lexis Facy Minifter, imprifoned by a Capias in Bodmyn Goal in. Cornwall, was no fooner entred, but was railed at, by a violent fpirited "Woman in the Prifon : He mildly defired her to forbear, kept himfelf retired, and while he was at Prayer,, fhe came and railed at him, at his Chamber-doer, at which fhe was taken with a Numbnefs ( a Pally ) fo tjjat (he could not fpeak nor help her felf. Mr. Collins of Ottery Si, Mary in Vevonfhire, was by the contrivance of a High Conitable, apprehended by a Petty Conftable, (lodged in the High Cpnftable's Houfe to that purpofe) as he The famous ABs of was going to a Funeral, by a Warrant from one this Juftice B. may be Juftice B. and H. and put under Guard, and made read in a printed Nana- to pay his Guard, till they carried him to Goal tive from Devon. for fix Months, for living within five Miles of this Parifb. The Head Conftable goes out of the way, conveying himfelf to Exton, before Mr. Collins was taken. But as near as can be computed the High Conftable was taken ill at Extort, in the very hour in which the Petty Confiable ferved his Warrant on Mr. Collins, and was carried home, the next day died. Mr. Thomas Jregojfe relates this following Providence of God, in fyfercy and Judgment. In the Lent Aflize, at Exon, 16J0, his Trial was put off, the Deputy-Mayor of torrington attending, who was the grand Enemy. At the next Aftizes, the faid G. S. Deputy-Mayor, could not attend, and thereby Mr. Treg. was acquitted by the Jury. But what hindred o* kept his Adverfary at home ? He had in a drunken Voyage, fallen from his Horfe, by which his Shoulder Bone was diflocited, and he became unable to drefs or undrefs himfelf, and.fo like to continue to his Death : His Wife, a violent Woman, died of a Tympany ( a fearful Spectacle ) the Lord's-day Night, after Mr. ?. had preached at lorrington. One Denis, Brother-in-law to Smith, who rejoyced at the breaking up of the Conventicle, which he faid did him more good, than all his LoiTes did fadden him > this poor Wretch ( faid he ) did hang himfelf in his Study, and his Eflate forfeited to the Town* this^reat Judgment befel his Wife, to have her Husband hang himfelf, and his Eftate forfeited, who belched outthefe Words upon Mr.Treg. Hang theKoguc^ hang him ct the Sign-poft^ or next Ine, and never fend him to Exon. Before ever I faw the Life of the faid Mr. Tregojfe I received the Sub- ihnce of a Story related in it, from an indifferent handrcfidentinthofe Parts > .'arts s and becaufe it is expofed in Print already, I (hall be the more bold to tranfcribe ic : Mr. c t. Ro. a Juftice of Peace had committed Mr. Tr. to Prifon for three Months i he had not come home out of Prifon four days before Mr. Rob. gave out, that he would fpeedily fend him back again to the Place frcm whence he came. He deligned to go to Market to get another Juftice of Peace to joyn with him i but before his going thither, he went according to his ufual cuftom,' to vifit a Tenant's Wife, and in his return, was fet upon by his own Bui 1 , which never ran at any one before, which goared him fo, that he died of his Wounds. A Perfon of Quality too violently adted, and influenced by fome of high Dignity, kt himfelf to profecute the Nonconformist that lived within his reach i and one time making a vitlt to a^great Peer, did make too much fport with his Imployment, faying, He had been perfecuting the Godly Party i and among other Stories, reprefenting them very odi- ouily, he told this PafTage, full of Blafphemy (and I doubt not as full of Falfhood in thoie who told it him ) in a Prayer, fpeaking to the Divine Majeftyi Thou art likg George on Horfe-bac\^ thoujeemefi to come^ but dofi not come. If it had been true and certain fuch Language had been ufed, certainly it ffcould not have been repeated with Pleafure. His Coach-man did not make Expedition in bring his Coach to him: then faid he, My Coach-man is lify George on Horfe-bacl^, he fesms to come^ but doth not come. Thus making Sport j but in his return home, he was taken fo ill, that he betook himfelf to his Chamber and in his Bed, and all the Prayers and Tears of his Friends could not prolong his Days, Death made fpeed and would not tarry. Now it is time ro bring home thefe Examples and prefent them to the view, and lay them not at the Doors, but before the Hearts and Confciences of three forts ofPerfons, at this time too deeply, if not too heartily engaged in the Suppreffion of Nonconforming Vrotefiants* i. Thofe Magiftrates that ferve the Defign. 2. Thofe of the Clergy.that wi(h or approve if. 5. Thofe Under-Officers and Agents, that go under too diftionurable a Name, in my conceit, to come in the fame Page, or itanda-breit in my Diviflon, with Magistrates and Miniitcrs. 1. Of the Mag ; (1rates. Noble and rvorjhipful Gentlemen, I made bold in a former Plea, to addrefs to you on the behalf of my Reverend Brethren, fo I call them, becaufe Chr ill ians, and becaufe they are Proteilants and Divines of Age and Learning : 1 account their Sufferings to be a great breach upon our N Protettant Prof efiant Body, a weakening of our Strength,, a Blot upon our profetfed Clmfiianity, no Service to the King or Church, but a rejoycing and a Service' to iheir and our proftiTed Enemies : it can be for no Man's Inte- reft, Profit, or Honour to trouble the Servants of Chrift, and to provoke his Wrath, which if it be kindled but a little BUJfed are all they who pit ifodr truft in him. I may better fpeakin-the Caufe of others than in mine own } and when I plead fcr them, I really believe, I offer you a Service that fhould not be dcfpifed, but favourably corftrued, and kindly taken » for I do warn you to ba\e nothing to do with the Ruine of juft, good, peaceable, holy, learned Men and Chrifuans, and the King's good Subje&s, yea, and Tome of your beft Friends i for I do believe, they make rmny Prayers to God for you, to turn your Hearts^ to fave your Souls r and their Intercef- fions for you, are as one piece of Defence between you and harm. If thefe are my Miftakes, I am miftaken i and if I am altogether miftaken, I be- feech you pardon the Mifiake, and accept the ArTe&ion, Refpedt, Ho- nour, and Good-will I bear you j for I would ferve you without a Mifiake if I could. But verily, I think, I am pretty right in my Judgment of this Cafe j and have the concurrent fenfe offorne of them, or of their Relations, who have been active in the fame way in which you now appear. You are not all of a Mind and Temper > you act from various Difpofi- tionsor Habits of Mind '•>■ and thefe are as various, as thofe obferved by that antient Chri Mian- Cicero, Laftantius, of the Profecutors of the Chri- flians. Accepaenim Potefiate pro fiti* tnoribus quifq> fevivit- — . c Some fot c too great a fear, have ventured to do more than they were commanded : c Others out of a private Hatred of their own againft juft Men > fome from- c a natural Cruelty of their own j fome that they might pleafe, and by this * Office Cor Service J prepare (or fecure) a way for their Advance- 1 ment > feme ran headlong to kill, as one of Pbrygia, who burnt all the c People with the Conventicle or Meeting-place it ft If, ( Lacian. dejujli- tia. 1. 5 c. 1 1. p. 4£o. Lugd. Bat, i66q. ) Thus Men were moved of old. From what of thefe Principles or Affections they now move, concerns them to enquire, before that meafure which they mete toothers, be mea-- fured to them again. Generous Minds fhould be locked up againft the. Intrufion of Temptation, to bring in fuch low Affections as thefe are, by which a Christian Heart is more prophaned than the Temple was by VauVs bringing in of the C entiles, into it > thefe gre too bafe Affections for fuch as hope for Heaven* You fay we have a Law, and according to that the Nononformifts outfit* ?0 fufter 3 and you are impowered to execute the Laws indifferently, Ti]is ft? tije jaonconfo?mt^ 9* This was the flrained Pretence of the Jews to be fo urgent with Pi- late to crucify our Saviour j John 19. 7. Wt have a Law, and by cur Law be ought to dy: Whereas he ought not to have been accounted a Blafphe- - mer, in faying, He was the Son of Gcd, for he was fo j and" if he had been a Blafpemer, by whkh of their Laws did they cry, Crucify, crucify Um ? Give me leave I befeeeh you to fpeak freely. I have not in all my Narratives touch'd upon any that I know now to have his Sword drawn in this fre(h AfTaulti but have related things pjft to be your Admonitions and Examples, that I may not provoke, but profit you. I grant you have a Law, and I believe many of you do wifh there were no fuch Law, and many are weary and cautious, fparing and fair in the Execution of it. But I befeeeh you once again to keep to the Scope of" the Law, and to the Law it felf, as relating to the Scope, and there will be no need of Tumults to guard any of your Perfons to find out and difperfe the Meetings, nor fuch fear of you from the Nonconforming. That Preaching and Praying which contains matter of Sedition, Rebellion and Infurre&ion, and is exprefly of that -nature without forced and un* charitable Confirudtion, or perverted illogical Inferences, are the only Exercifes under the name of Religious Exercifes, which you can juftly punilh. Reading Scripture, finging Pfalms are Religious Exercifes, and the matter of them undoubtedly godly. Preaching and Praying are as undoubtedly God's Ordinances, as the Scripture is God's Word : It is as manifeft Imprety to forbid thefe, any of thefe, or all of thefe in one Af- fembly, as it would be to obliterate any part of Holy Writ, or to cancel any Divine Law. It is Impiety, and not to be fuppofed that any Christian Legiflators mould make a Law to prohibit any Religious Duty or Exercife in it felf conildered i and if any ©f you think you may punilh Preachers or Hearers, for fuch undoubted Religious Exercifes, you fin again!} God i and all the Laws in the World cannot jufiify your fo doing, for no Law of Man can defend any Man in tinning againft the Law of God. It is true that the Preface of a Law is not a Law, and the Scope of the Law is not the Law > but as the Scope of the Law exprelled in the Preface, was the Reafon and Intention of the Law-maker > and all the general Words in the Law, were formed with reference to the Scope C or elfe they were not made as rational Means conducing to its Ends, no more than it would be to forbid fpeaking, that there might be no fwearing ). Any Exercife of Religion, that tends to Sedition, Rebel- lion, and to move InfurrecYion. is fo far punilhable, as it isabufedand perverted to that unfufferable End > or elfe you punilh Religious Dutits abfolutcly taken, becaufe by fuch, Numbers, or by Perfons above fixtcen Years of Age, in fuch Numbers i and then you'l fay, it is not religious N 2 Duties 9 y €lje Ccntfa?miff0 fouttlj ©lea Duties that is puniftied, but the prohibited number, of above four befides the Family. But then again, the number abfolutely taken doth not make a Ciime, or fhould not, but as it is fuppofed to foment Sedition. For, why fhall it be unlawful ftfr twenty, forty, or a hundred of divert Fami- lies to meet in one Place for Religious Exercifes, any more than for feme noble and great Family, of fome one Noble- Man or Gentleman, or Board- jng-houfe, which hath fo many Perfons in it, to meet together in one Room for Rdigious Duties > Beiides this, it is clear that theClaufes in the Adt againm Conventicles, •.refers to Such an AiTembly as is prohibited in the beginning of the Ad: : for thefe words, Such Offender, fo convicted, fucb Offence, like Offence^ fucb Meeting, fucb Conventicle, is repeated twelve or thirteen times in the body of the AcT. Now fucb relates to a Meeting before defcribed and forbidden i Such V M< eting we find in the beginning of it. The Ad is for providing further and more fpeedy Remedies again]} growing and dangerous Prallifes of feditiolis Sectaries, and other difloyal Perfons, who under pretence of Under Conferences, have, or may attbeir Meetings contrive InfurreHions. Beit ena&ed. &c. That if any Perfon of the Age of fixteen Tears, or up* wards, being a Subjell of tbti Realm fhall be prefent at any Affembly, Conventicle or Meeting (mark the words) [under colour or pretence - ] of any Ex? ercife of Religion, in otber manner tbjn according to tbe Liturgy, and Practice oftbe Cburch of England, ik any place within tbe Kingdom of England, Dom. W. or T. of B. upon T. at which Conventicle there fhall be five Perfons or more, over and befides tbofe oftbe fame Houfhould j or if it be in a Houfe, Field, or place where is no Family inhabiting, Then where any five Perfons or mors affembled as aferefaidi It fhall arid maybe lawful to and for any one or tnore Juflicts of Peace upon Proof of fucb Offence — . Which proof is either byCon- feffion of the Party, or Oath of -tiro IVitneffes — or notorious Evidence and Cir- cumftanct of the Fall, to mah> Record ■ &c. "Will you cutoff the A& from the Preface? or have you no regard to the words of the Ad\ under colour or pretence of any Exercife of Religion ? then you take no notice of the Difcription of the Perfons who make up an unlawful Affcmbly or Conventicle.- Here are three (hings to make a Conventicle, i. The Perfons, Number and Age, called feditiout Sella- rks, and difloyal Perfons. z. An AiTembly of above four of thefe, under colour and pretence of any Exercife of Religion, over and above the Family. Where obferve, i. What is implied o/ fufpedfed, ( nay, it mull be evi- dent, becaufe it mull b^ proved by WitncfTes, or Confcilion of the Party, or fo? tfje Ji^ttattfomiffik 8 3 or notorious Evidence or Circumftanccs of the Fa& ) that fome ill Con- trivance* is carrying on, under colour or pretence of any Ex.rcifi of Reli* gion. 2. ■Jtisfaid, any Exercife of Religion, that is, as I conceive any parti- cular Duty, as reading a Chapter, ringing 'Pfdms, as well as Preaching, Praying, adminiilrinfc Sacraments, or Difcipline: whereby it is clear, the • Law for bias not any Exercifc, no not preaching in it felf, but the colour and pretence of it, in clear and exprefs words. 5. In other manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of En gland. The meaning of which is ambiguous, and commonly interpreted, it" any Exercife of Religion be without the Liturgy, and then- it is ambiguous, to fay, in other manner than, Sec when the meaning is, wit-hout the Liturgy. The Nonconforming have no other manner of Reading, Singing, e^c. than is ufual in the Practice of the Church of Eng- land, nor other manner of Preaching, than what is pra&ifed in the Church of England. This is the meeting of fuch ill Perfons, that abufe Religion as a colour and pretence, to conceal defperate and pemitiou;- Practices in any other manner than according to the Liturgy. And fuch » Perfons, fuch Offences, fuch Meetings fo convifled) are fubje£t to fuch Pe- nalties. Now then Gentlemen, keep to the Laws, and fparenone. Eut then confider > why have any a&ed fo, as to make no difference between fedi* tious Sectaries and diiloyal, and peaceable loyal Perfons? why have they not diltinguifhed, as the A& doth,between any fubftantial, innocent Reli- gion, and the colour or pretence of it ? but taking it in the lump, it hath been punifhed, without inquiry after the Leaven of Sedition that leavened ; the Lump. I do heartily wi(h this may fall into the Hands, and upon the Heart of that Minifter of Jufiice, who drawing out Evidence from an impudent Informer, to prove an Information, asked him this Question, Was there Preaching there ? If the Informer could have truly fworn, that there was Preaching there j let the Examiner, as one that (hall be judged ii\ the great day, think before-hand, how Preaching fnot tainted with Sedition, or ten- - ding to any Evil to the State) deferved to come in as a Crime, or the Prea- cher punifhable for it. Certainly Preaching fhould be judged a Duty en- ' courageable and not punifhable in a Chriiiian Judicature. It mould be harfh to a Chriiiian Ear, to hear Preaching, an Ordinance of God, and the Purser of God to Salvation, enquired after as a Crime ! I Wifh God may not hy it to any Magistrate's Charge, You have fined and imprifoncd my Ser- vants, for preaching and hearing my Word ; and I wifh that every fuch one may judg himfelf for it, and repent before he go to God's judgment. • 94 therefore fuch athing can- not be affirmed and proved. Truth is the pofitive in Being and Reality, ar.d'thcrefore Truth can only be a/firmed. In a Contradictory, one Side can only be true. If one Man fwear a Lie never fo pofitively, he pofi- tively fwears a Negative or a Privative : He that fwears the Truth, tho it' be contrary to an affirmative Falftpod,or Lie,fwears a Pofitive. Now when an Informer, or any other Witncfs, fwears pofitively fo and fo, and ano- ther fwears the contrary, thejudgand Jury, (who are Judges- of Evi- dence ) mud know, that he that fwears Truth, he only fwears the Pofi- tive, and the other the Negative > and therefore in this cafe they mull ufe their Reafon, to compare the Credit of the Petfons that fwear on both Sides i and if there be an equality in them, they mull have regard to Cir- cumftances,and find out what Evidence they can. Let Juries take heed of the' Guilt of a fal/eVcrditi, when they are tempted and deccived,thatit is for the King : They are to proceed according to- the Credit of the Evidence, and ' then it is for the King, when they proceed according to Truth: Then" you are Loyal Subjects, when you a& according to Law, for Law is the- Rule of Loyalty. It is too apparent, that too many now do ftudy, by what Laws Prote- ctants may be brought into Trouble i as Lattantius reports, that Vomitiws (Vlpianw de Officio Froconfulis^ lib. y.) refcripta nefaria collegia ut doceref- qmbutpxriis affici oprtcrzt eor, qui fe cultores Dei- confiterentur. \jDe J-uftitij, lib. 5. p. 4pi»] Honoured Sirs, you have a Law, and Laws h keep ftricljy to trWrnys and do not your felves tranfgrefs them : You have Laws again!! others, keep to thofe Laws, and you will not give DifTentcrs fuch juft ciufe to complain, as they have. You have Laws, and you have a Religion too^ , in Rreat danger from the Execution of them at this time, and in the ufu~~ aJ manner, if the Judgment of a great part of them, who had Ability to judg, and Power to declare their Judgments,' be- of any value ; Yew* Eft*** 9 o and you may eafier defeatthem, than they recover a Forfeiture upon you, with all their Arts of Falfhood and Perjury : But if you value your Forfeiture, above the prefervation of the Proteftant Religion, in a great part of it, how will you be able co fuffer the Lofs of all againfr Popery ? Andlafily; Confider ferioufly the manifold Manifestations of God in thefe Things : The Judgments of God are rarely and feldom executed, becaufe of his Patience and Mercy > but they are fometimes, that they may be noted, and that Men may fear. The Lord is kpown by the Judg- ments uhiebbe e-xecutetb. This may be called Fanaticifm^ and vain Obfervations of weak and fu- perfiitious Minds : But as it is a Contempt of God, not to obferve his Providences, and his Judgments j fo Chriliians in all Ages, have made and giv:n Obfervations of God's Hand ftretched out againft them that have perfecuted his People, or helped forward their Affliction. You know how unwillingly Pontius F Hate was drawn to deliver our Saviour. Who ever accounted Ger. 'jo. Vofftus below the mod learned of his Age ? He gives this Cenfure of Pilate's Ad, ( Harmon.Evang. 1.2. c.*f. p. 2\6. ) Cn'y.u inytjlitiz graves a Deo pcenas luit : For he who fuffered himfelf to be carried with the Accufations of the Jews, which he knew to be falfe, fo far as to adjudg innocent Chrift to Punifhment i he alfo him- felf, circumvented with the falfe Accufations -of the Jews, was banilhed to Vienna; as Jofefbiis^ Lib. 1 8. of his Antiq. c. 7. Neither did Herod efcape unpunifhed, who profelTed he found nothing worthy of Death in Chritf, for his cruel handling of him i for he was ( tho for a far different Caufe ) by Caligula bani(hed unto Lions, Jofepb. Antiq.l. 18. c. 25. Thismi^ht befufHcient to difcourageany from being forward, orinc:- ' ting and promoting this Work, either by Threats or Promifcs, and to make the unwilling refolute in their Averfenefs and Forbearance. He that ("aid, Remember Lot 1 / Wifa doth expect that all Men ihould read what God's hand writes upon Examples, and declares by his Publick Judgments. Ttrtulltan obferves to Scapula, the Publick Jndgments of God for the Per- fecution of the Chriliians '■> fuchasnot gathering their Harvefts, the for- mer nv:r Years Rain, and the Fires which hung over the City of Carthage a!! the Night •> they knew what they threatned, who faw them, and what the Thunders founded : Omnia btc funt im- minent* ir£ Vei figna. c Thcfe are all Signs Nee unquam impio- ' cf the Wrath of God hanging over our Heads: ^tm fcelere in no'irum ' And they lhall feel theuniverfal and lait or of- nomen exurgitur^ ttt mn 'molt Wrath of God, who do otherwife inter- ftitim divinitns vin- 4 pret thefe Examples of his: For that Sun in- dicta comitetw\ &c. c the AfTembly at Vtica, when the Light was al- Cyprianus contra De- 1 mofl put out, was a Prodigy, and could not be metrianum. ' from any ordinary Eclipfe, being then in its ' Altitude.' We can alfo lay before theethe latter Ends of feveral Pre- c fidents, who near their Death have remembred that they finned, in vexing ' the Chriitians. VigeHim Saturninus^ who ftrft drew Sword againft us, ' loft his Eye-fight. Claudius Termianus in Cappadocia, taking it ill his 'Wife turned to our Sedr, dealt cruelly with the ChriiHans, was in his ' Palace deflroyed alone by Peftilence, after that Lice had creep'd from ' him while alive. Let no Man kyorp thx, fiid he, ( keep this fecret ) lefi '•the Christians rejoyce in their Hope. — » And theyjvvho feem to themfelves to ' be unpuniQied,(nall come into the Judgment of God. Thus that anflent Writer, Tertntiian. Ecclefiaftical Hiftorians do not pafs by particular Judgments upon par- ticular Perfons, nor general Calamities, fuch as Darknefs upon the Face of the Earth, the Noife of Thunder, not from Heaven, but the roaring of the Earth, Earthquakes, ovening of the Ground, fwallowingup Houfes, and many died with the Center. 4. ^ cap. 20. Terror of it* Cities drowned and. overthrown by the Sea, the Peftilence, and other Calamities. Hath not God called us to turn to him by many Judgments * And i- this a Si ^n of our turning to him, that Relkion is expofed to Scorn, and truly religious Men are lead endured * and Diflenters from Humane Inventions, and unnecefiary Things, are profecuted i and Diflenters from God, and his plain and open La,ws, and the very ferious ProfeiTion of Chrift ianity, are too commonly fpared ? Is'this the EffecS of our Repentance ? Yea, what Zeal againft DiiTenting Chriftians to root them up, to punilh Preaching, Praying, fingingPfalms, rnu'ual Edification exprefly exhorted to by vhe Apoiile, Col. 3. \6. And inflead ofChrilHan Communication and Converfe, what a lewd Generation of Dammums^ that Health-Profperity, and Ddhu&ion to Perfons, according to their Interests and Pallions ? The profefTed Devo- tees of prophane Obkrvances and Irrcligion carry the Day, and keep the Wall, while fober and religious Perfons are driven into Corners, and can- O not y3 Z\)t Contojroifftf jfouttf) pea rot enjoy them with quiet. We have heard of Swords, 2nd Blood drawn at Pla>-Houfes, or by occafion of them j and was ever any of them in- deed for Riots ? Eut how common a Pra&ice hath it been to indift peaceable Men and W'cmcn, and bind them to the Behaviour, for un- doubted Chriftian Exercifes?— God hath fpoken by Wars with a Nation of our own Profeiilon, by Peftilence, by many dreadful Fires,by raging Fevers, and other Difeifes not commonly known, in which God hath not long debated with wretched Mortals, but taken them away fuddenly. He hath contended by great Decays in Mens Eitetes, by hideous Darknefs, by tea- ching confirming Heat > and lallly, by pouring down immoderate Rains, (will neither Fire melt us, nor Rain foften us, no, not fo much as into one Fait? ) And is this a irgn that God is attended to, and his Voice understood, and his Warring taken, that the M< uths of his Servants (hall be tlopp'd ? And what tho God hath remembred Mercy, in giving us great Plenty, after bothexceffive Heat and immoderate Rains > doth not he expedt to be entreated, and thaf we Qiould amend our Ways ? Shall this go for a Reformation, that they who cannot fervi God in a publick Station, (hall not fervehimin private Meetings > Or that a more plain Way of Worllup (hall not oeenduredin publick? And many who for faflNon fake cry up the Publick Service, do not live by it > and feverely punifh others for not coming to Churth^ who are not fo often there them- felves as they might be. Be pleafcd but to look about you, and fee how many Gentlemen are ei- ther cut off, or taken away : How many Noble and Gentlemen's Families are fatherlefs and maiterlefs ! Houfes (hut up, or — ghtanto ttujor fmrit a PaiTage in at the Back and Kitchin-Doors, into ptrfecutionti injuria fan- a cold Kitchin, and an empty Houfe ! And do to& jufiior fiat & gra- you think this is the way to live long upon Earth, liar pro perfautione via- and bring down a Blerling upon your felves, and dtllj. Cyprian, contr a ycur Posterity, to difcountenance or to extirpate Demetrian. the ProfeiTorsof Chri/lian Religion ? • Could but RuinUngum, jaatt- the Dead advife you, they would advife you to r> opum, difpendio mi- be truly pious, and pioufly zealous, to encourage litum^ diminution* ca- them that mind the Way to Heaven, and tohedg firoium — Idem ib* up their Way with Thorns, that tranfgrefs, and are extravagant out of the Ways of God : They would tell you, that many that keep- the other Side of the Thorn-Hedg, C to ufe the Woids of an eminent Guide in that Way ) do meet at the journey's End. But the Dead fpeak not i and it will be too late, your Work will be done, before you can go to advife with them. O hearken to the V\i.e of God in his VVord 5 in his Judgments, in your many Example*, and and in your own Conferences! Can fou difcern a Judgment of God, when you fee it at another Man's Door ? Muft it come in at your own Doors } n\ui\ it come up Stairs ? mud it come to ycur Bed Chamber ? and mult k hinder the Succefs of all Phyilcians upon you, and follow you to your Graves, before you take a reverent Notice of iu I beleech you be nor difpleafed with me for telling you what I think : The Curfe of difobedient Children, the Curfe of Swearing and Drunken- nefs, and many other Impieties* the Curfe of Poverty, and Neceflity to mangle, if not to alienate Eftares, comes into many Houfes, becaufc they would not have the BleiTing of Obed-Edom^ by entertaining the Ark of God : And do not you in your Conferences know, ( if ever you, do re- fled) that they only, or for the moft part, who have bent their Power a- gainli Nonconformiits, have made but a Pretence of the Church, to dif- guife their natural Difguft, or clofe Difpleafure s gain ft the Practice of re- ligirus Duties : For till a Man's own Heart be perfuaded and converted to God, he doth not well digeft Religion in any other '•> and indeed he can no more love it in othtrs, than condemn himfelf, for he mult needs condemn the Negled in himfelf, that commends the Pra&ice in another. Have you known the moft pious and fober Perfons, of the moft unfway- ed Reafon, to be forward and eager? Have you not traced the Pipes, that have conveyed the Oil of Intereft to feed this burning Zeal ? Name but one Man that hath ftood upon his own Legs, without dependanceor ex- pectation i name but one Man, that was wife, fober, temperate, fe- rious, and confeiencious in the Practice of Religion, in his own Conv^r- fation,and in his Family, that was incoherent from fomein Power for their own worldly Aims, that orTered himfelf to this Work: Name but any one that did execute thefe Laws from a pure Heart to pleafe God? and advance his Honour i and for that one,you may fufpedr. many otheryf not know your felves,. to ad: from a private, worldly, if not revengeful Spirit. Have you not known that Men have taken their Aims and Mcafures from the Wills of fome in higher place ? and that have cried up, or beaten down Religion, as it hath opened their way, or ftood in it to their de- igned Projects ? The Spring of thefe violent Motions is as apparent as the Gnomen of the Dial, to the Eyes of all thofe that fee what time of day it is. I have been fparing of Names, becaufe I would not offend > yet for warning and example fake, be pleafed to obferve wrm they have done and been , that have gene before you : Do you take your felves to be more * eminently Loyal than all that are laid afide ? Do you think it will be a meritorious Service to fupprefs DilTenters, elfe you can be no Friends to Ctfar, no Sons of the Church ? Eut who is the Ge/ir, or which is the O 2 Church ico €lje Confoimtffis fcuttlj lg>iea Church, for whofe fake Proteftants rftuft be undone ? Not the King, nor the Church of England. This is your time of a&ing your parts. There is as great Reafon to be (hie and tender in Execution of Laws againft Dif- fenters, as to be fevcre and zealous for other Laws. Take heed ! for God is concerned, you, and your Families and Pofterities concerned h and as you mud account to God, abufe not the Power given you, to fcrve any Man's Pleafure, or your own corrupt Affe&ions. Take Example by fome of as mean Parts asEftates, who have been recommended to Power by for their Forwardnefs in fuch Services as thefe, and have not had the Ho- nour and Comfort of living in their own Houfes, yet have been bufy in opening, and breaking into, and rifling their religious Neighbours > and by others of large Efiates and Fortunes, who eat their Commons not diefs'd in their own Kitchins, and have not common Liberty, but what they ask leave, and pay for. Take warning by fome, who have run but a very fhort Race and Courfe in the purfuit of DiiTenters, and have- left none of their Children to fucceed them in their Power. Take the Exam- ple of them, who havefeen the Hand of God* ftretched out againft them and their Families, and whofe Confciences have applied the meaning of it in the Death of their Children, both of their Reubens and Benjamins > and that have notprofpered in this World, but have fled, and hid, lived and died in a Place that hath no Mark of Honour upon it, but that it is en- titled to be the Kings. Eliot. was as great a Fanatick, and Diflurber of Ip. rael, as any Nonconformift now : Gbiifi you, Noble Sirs, to be Obadiah's,' rather to hide the Prophetsof the Lord by Fifty, than be either a Captain of aFifty, or one of the Fifty^ that go to take the Prophets : Every one thofe unhappy Captains had an Authority as high as yours can be : But 0- badia could diftinguifti between a Prcphet and a Rebel, a faithful Preacher, and a State-Difturber,and of all the Captains he waspreferved.And fol do heartily pray, that you may be in your Spheres a Terror to evil Doers, and a Praife to them that do well > and fo Death and Judgment will be no Terror to you, and you lhall have Praife of God : Spare no Teacher of. Sedition, but honour them that fear the Lord. II. I crave leave to write a few Words to my Brethren in the Holy Miniihry. Reverend and bdwed Fathers ard Brethren, I am not unfenfible of my un- fitness to write to you, both in refped of my own Inability, and your Prejudice again/i me. I fear my Charity to my Reverend and worthy -cthren the Nonconforming, have loft mc much of yours. I am forry rhat any ft? tf)£ BOttCattr0?t1tff!0. ror any have (6 little cf this Oil, that they have iK>t enough for them and me too : But I will adventure to open my Mind a Ihik to you, tho ir be the kCs. I do humbly conceive the Word of Reconciliation is committed to, us, and the Holy-Ghofl is invocated upon us more than once '•> and thofe Graces which all Chrifnans have, we fhould have more abundant'y, and (hculi be as well known by that Grace, by which our Saviour would have hisDifciples to be known of all- Men, by loving one another, as we are known by our diilingirfhing Garbs and Habits. We can fpeak at large of the Excellency of Love. and Peace, and of the ill EfTecfts of Enmity and DifTention '•> and reprefent and inveigh againft Schifm, as if chat were the Sin againil the Holy-Ghoft, which (hall never be forgiven in this World, nor in that which is to come, or as if that were the Sin unto Death : And indeed it may be called a Sin unto Death, in a fence, becaufe it is (o contra- ry to Charity and Peace, and deilrudive of the Life of Saints, which doth much confift in their Communion. But were we impartial, we (h&uld as warm'y admonifhour own Hearts, to take heed of Schifmatical PaiTi- on*, and excommunicate them from within us, as admonifh and call out others that differ from us. Is there not fume Fondnefs for our own Opi- nions, and Self-Love in the Praife of Unity, and Reproof of Schifqn ? For mod of the Difeourfes I have heard or read of late Years upon this great Subjed, have been to condemn or cenfure all that differ from u=. We would have all Men think, not only charitably, but well and honourably of us: but if we have any Charity for them that are out, we arc very careful that it be done in fecret, and without (bund of Trumpet, I am far from extending this to all the Conforming Brethren, but to them, and them only, who from Mif-i.nformation received an o'bitinate Preju- dice, or Policy, are profufe in the Expence of Words and Paffions. We do take it extreme ill from fome Nonconforming that they cenfure and fpeak ill of us,that they revile, and render ns as fcandalous and odious. as ready to decline and apollatize h but really are not the hot- test of them matched, if not -beaten out of the See the fecondStrmm Field } I may be thought to have an Intimacy of the Right Reverend with them, and a Partiality for them, whereas my Bijhop of Cgrk, of 1»~ Acquaintance is very little v but as tar as it doth ve&ive Preaching, extend, I mull do them this Juiiice, that they are of a very loving^ healing, and uniting Spirit. I have heard them freak very well of good Conformilis,and as free to acknowlcdgjthe- Grace of God in them, as in thofe of their own Perfuafion, and as ready to holdTcrms of Friendthip with us. Have not we given them as g.cat Oifenee, by doing what they cannot do, as they hive given us, by not doing what we I djor.er.chcy have lofi by purCorapJianceJbul we have not lofl by their N %- CQn&MtH io2 %\yt Cmtfbimift'u jFottttf) pica conformity, except, as they are often told, welofe by their means among the People, but we gain among the Princes by it i and do we love them ib ill, that we would not have the People love them? Alas! what a pccklcd Bird is a Nonconform^ in a Princes Court,and in moll noble Fami- lies at a publick Meeting! What! is a little Popularity grudg'd them? I am grieved to think what a Crime it is to be confeiencious. Certainly, it they arc not confeiencious they have not common Senfe > and the op- probrious Jeers and Sarcafms with which they have been treated, have not ■fufTicicntly fet out their Folly, if they furfered great LolTes, to gain the cold Breath of Popularity, which would fooner ftarve than refrefh them. Who (h >uld befo companionate, courteous, officious, loving and peace- able towards (hem, as we who are Minilters ? Who mould better know theDarknefs and Weaknefs, the various Workings of the Mind, than we ? Who mould more candidly ufe them that dilTent from us, than we, wko know our many Dj {Tents from our fe Ives, at feveral times, and the fame Points? Who (hould allow more to the fcrupulous than we, who know the Weaknefs of our own Light, and afcribemuch to the Authori- ty of Confcience? Confcience is no Sovereign, but Confcience is next and immediatly under Chrift the King. Confci- It is fufpiciout, that ence is fubjeft to Miflakes, but its Judgment is of fome Mens Conformity is higheli Authority next under God, and to be ill built, uho fay, lhat controlled by none but him. It is Hypocrify and a Claim of Confcience it Impiety to pretend it *> and it is too great a not to be allowed * as if Boldnefs, and Intrufion into the Throne of God, Inferiors xvert to lay to judg that they do but pretend Confcience : that afide, »rwecanne- And very ill Service-is done to Chri/tianity, and ver attain to Peace i as great Encouragement is given to Impiety, by if that were to be refignd fome Mens arraigning Diflenters for a bare pre- uj> to Rulers. tence of Confcience, by making the dilTolutc adF as fecurely, as if there were really no fuch Power as that of Confcience. Is it not a Word too common, Hang 'em, bang 'cm, there is nme good, no Trufl to be given to Men that pretend to Confcience ? Who fhould better underltand what Unity and Confent is neceiTary between Chriltians, and what Condefcenlion and Forbearance is neceffary ? W T fio fhould better under/land the differing Practices of ancient Churches, than we? And ihat there is no perfect Unity, till we come to perfect Light and Grace ? We fhould know that there are hard things in Conformity. Subfcription and Conformity is the cafieft thing in the World, if there were no more required, than that they will not rebell, but fupport the Government, and be peaceable under it: If this be all, tell them plainly, in thefe or like plain Words, and then fee if they will refufe. But Eut to impofe upon us Maxirnes of State, the Determination of Pro- blems, is to brin^ many Men into the Clouds, tho others get near the Sun, and have Light enough to read their meaning. We fhou'd know the Edu- cafionof a Scholar, the Charge of Studies, the Necelliries of Families, and how hai(h a thing it is to be too much indebted to Charity lince all things have ceafed to be common. We fhould upon many Confederations commiferate them, and their Farrilie?. We fhould be hofpitable, and not forgetful to entertain Strangers. How^comes it then to pafs, that it is luch a Crime in fome Mens Eyes, to be courteous to a difTentin^ Bro- ther ? and his very Neighbourhood is become intolerable, efp daily it he preach the Word ? In a worJ, as I faid before, we that preach (he Iford of Reconciliation, fhould be of reconcileable Spirits and Tempers. Proud and erroneous Pharifees were given to cart out of Synagogues. It isaSeclirhn Spirit, to make Seels, or to ufe a found Chrilthn as if he were a Sedfory. The Spirit of San&incation is neceiTary to all that will be faved, andf>r us - more than o:hers: We declare we have received that Spirit before Ordi- nation, when theHoly-Ghoft is invocated, and we are fent with Authori- ty fr> m him. Give me leave to bring to your Minds the excellent Words of Cyprian* — - Idcirco & in columba venit Spiritm SanVius, fimplex animal & Icetum, nan feile amarum, non morfihus f but do mu.h more marvel, that after their Sermons they 'have repeated an excellent 1 Prayer out of the Common-Prayer, That the Word might fini^ Soft Hearts, &c. T! io4 I (hall but touch one common Grievance, which is, ( befides the general Accufation of Schifm and Serration, and other Matters of Debate ) that either Conn of your Parifliioners go abroad to hear, orfome of the Nonconform^ Prea- chers preach in yourParifhes. In this Cafe there are abundance of Cir- cumftances, that aggravate or diminilh, and by confequence alter it. If the Nonconformist Minifter be an able good Man, I think we mould be glad and thankful for his Pains, and live ( as in fome very great Places fome eminent Conforming and Nonconforming do ) in great Love and Agree- ment, and both are edified in Love. You know, St. Paul rejoyced tnat Chrift was preached, tho out of Envy to him. But hath Neceifity brought Preachers among us, or carried away careful Souls from us ? then who is moft to blame ? Suppofe there were two Churches in your Town, you are not grieved that all hear you not in that Cafe. I know the great Con- veniency of Parifh-Bounds, both for Miniflers and People, efpecially where Parifhes are thick *, and People mould be tender how they leave a painful profitable Parifh-Minjfter fent unto them : And I have heard, fome Non- conform! ft Preachers have perfuaded People to hear them h and Noncon- formift Hearers, that could not in Confcience forfake good Men, if they had fuch in their Parifhes. .Others are of another TemrJ^r, weak, and fubjeft to PafHons. But in this Cafe, as I (hould labour confeiencioufly to be a profitable Minifter, fo I fhould not be a Hindrance to the greater Profit of Souls elfewhere i I ihould not think them to be loft to me, that are gamed to Chrift by another Minifter. But this Complaint is made a- gainft fome Conforming Minifters, that they draw too. The Anfwer was home and blunt, of a Conforming Preacher, either given or fent to a Neighbour-Mtnifier, who was aggrieved his Peop ] e left him, and went to the Neighbour-Minifier : I preached them hither, and let him preach them home agaih^ if he will. If our Hearts were fet u^)n cur Work, and if God's G'ory was uppermoft, and Self-denial nouriftied, thefe things would be better born. The Diifenters are either peaceable in their DiiTents, mo- deft in their different Opinions, iincere in their Ways > or they are of a Sectarian Spirit : To the one the Spirit of Meeknefs, Love, Forbearance, is beft fuited, and we may live toge'thet with Comfort and Edification i to the other, Severity is an improper Cure, for it makes him the more a Sectary. We are to gain, and to gather, and to ufe all Means that are P proper io6 €Ije Ccmfojmiffg jfcurtlj pica proper, and effective of that End. Are there not in all our Parifhes, ig- norant, profane, carelcfs Sectaries fromGcd, and his holy Body > What Imprudence would irbe, to bring them all under Fines and Troubles ? Truy fhoulJ be a greater Grief to us, undoubtedly, than hone/1 fcrupu* Ious S u)s 5 that feek the way to pleafe God. If Nonconformity be fuch an Ey-fore, let us take heed that we do not make Nonconforming, and not blame them fo much as our felvts, if they feek to mend themfelves dfewhere. It is certain, High Confirmijh made Nonconfo&ifts, in 1662. And it is too evident, that Conformifts do make many frill. 1 am pcrfua- ded, if St. Augnftin had been alive in our Days, he would never have per- faaded the Magiftrate to.make fuch Laws, nor any of the Fathers before him, much lefs the holy Apoitks i their Salutationscxpreffed the Large- nefs of .their Hearts, and their Catholick Love to the Corinthians, among whom w reVgrcat Divifions > to the Galatians and Colofuns, among whom iv^re fome very erroneous : So did their Benedictions i Peave be to the Bre- thren, and Love, with Faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jejus Chrij}. Ephef. £». 23. And Grace be with all them that love our Lord J ejus in Sincerity, verf. 2. But to love the Nonconforming into Silence, into Poverty, into Difgrace, into Bonds, is a Love not known to be numbred among the Characters and Signs cf Chriftian Love. If Chrift died for them, if any of them love Chrifl in Sincerity, love them better for Chrifi's fakes and let not Conformity be a neceflary Condition of private Charity, as well as of Ministerial Liberty and Maintenance: C I kno^ it is not fo to all, fome have Hearts and Hands extended, butj I fpeak to them whofe Zeal, or fome^ing elfe, makes them itrait and rigorous. Would you love them if they would conform ? Why do you not love fome that have conformed, but not above Conformity, after your Pattern and Example? Do you fay, it would not trouble you if the Laws were fmoath'd and re- laxed, but while they are in force* it is fit, and for the Honour of the Go- vernment, that they ihould be executed ? But is it likely that thofe Laws will ever be abated, by your means at lealr, which you that ftile your fdves the Church do like fo well, as to Cill and prefs for their Execution ? Why have you fo little Honour for thofe Noble Gentlemen in Parliament, that would have difannuJl'4 them ? Some fay, let Authority make what Laws they will, they muft be obeyed. If you thought more gentle Laws would do better, why do you fo much approve' of thefe ? If thefe be fo very good and fit, are we ever like to hear of more moderate, if you can hinder them ? Your Zeal is for Uniformity, as well as Government : Why may not another Ad be as grateful to you, as this Force ? and a hew Vh^rormityasdetirableas theold? Then you fay, 'Tisdangeromto alter Laws and Eftablifhment. You are zealous againft Diforder, that is, to fy fay plainly, you would preferve Order, by cutting us afunder into great Diftra&ions. Ruines before the Gates of a Royal Palace, is an unhealing offenfive Sight. The Ruines of the Nonconforming lie at your very Gates: agree with Surveyors, and wife Builders, toraife out of the Ruines a beau- tiful Fabrick, for Peace and Love to dwell in: If not, know you aiTured- ly, there are thofe at work, that will lay you as low as yQU have done them. And who can be aiTured of the contrary, but thac our holy and honeft, our good and faithful Brethren, have perfurrVd, air'd, and confe- ed Common-Goals againft our going in ? which if we fuflfer, 1 with _wemay have Grace to endure as they have done i as I am confident we 11 be more of the fame Spirit with them in fuch a Cafe, than now are. cannot he blotted out, that the CKrgy and Cardinal of Lorain did e and inflame the Magistrates j O that this w:rc a Bloc only in r artyrologies'! H< -val.en is this from the Mind of our Lord ? from rhe Temper of « hrhlianify I And how unlike a Courfe to perfuade DifTcnters, or to quiet the Church ? Let this gr> among the Vertues of the Fharifcts, Papiiis 3 and Friars. The Words of the Rcve%nd Dr. Burnett, of the b. ft and worlt of Clergy-Men, will not encreafe his Honour, or procure him love from many of us. I'll make bold to repeat a few of them : It is obfervable, the beft Clergy- Men have been the m>ft gentle to thofe that differed from them. But the Vnwortby, who know that a good Caufe may be fpoiled, but is not likely to prevail in their Hands, and will not trouble themselves with the laborious M;thods of conquering Errors, are always apt to extreme and cruel Courjes, (vice tbzy know they mu\\ prevail with thc/e, or none at all. Hiitu- ry of the Rights of Princ c , fag. 257,258. The Apofile's Wifh, I would they were cut off that trouble yon, falls (ome- where effe, and is not to the purpofe it is often produced for. •We that are commanded, if we love Chrift, to feed his Lambs, are not to Lt any on to worry Graying Sheep. The Holy-Gholl is often invocated upon us, and therefore except the frequent Invocations be in vain, we are to breath out from that, and not another Spirit. III. A Word to Informers, to whom I have but little to fay at prefent. How unfavoury is the Memory of Girdtner and Bonner I the former a cunning Informer, both Inftigators and Perfecutors. An Informer, imthe pureft Senceof Index, is a naughty Man turn'd honei'l, when he dorh it out of abhorrence of evil Counfels, and Confcience of Duty. ^A King and Kingdom may owe their Prefervation to fuch a. Man. But Quadru- phtorej) Informers for a fourth part of the Forfeitures, or any other Moie- P 2 ry ioS Clje Cdnfoimiff $s fouttfj pea ty, for Gain, have been branded amongft the worft of Men, When they have n!n from one way of Wickednefs to another, from Avarice and Ne- ceiTity, to fell their Souls, Truth, Mode ft y, and the little of- Humanity that is continued with the Face and Shape, then they are to be abominated by wife, juft, good, and merciful Men. The Days are evil, when fuch ne- celTary Evils walk about by Day-Jighf. We read of them in PlauJut's Per fa. Sat. Tacitus Annal. lib. 3. cap. 25. lib.\ % cap. 30. and how ^$j- fan commanded them to be whipp'd in the Market- place. Suet.Vejp. cap. 5. All the Threatnings of Torments could not move St. Cyprian to in/orm theProconful of his Brethren in Carthage. After other trying Difcourfes, Paternus the Proconful asked him, Tellme where are thofe Fresbyters which are faidto be in this City? St. Cyprian anfwered, Ye have well ordained, and like Men , that there ought to be no Informer s, therefore they ought not to be be* trayed by me, hut you may find them out i and becaufe ye have judged, that no Man /hall accufe himfelf The Proconful anfwered, But I will tor- ment thee, butl will find them out by thee. The Saint of God anfwered* They (hall not be cLjlroyed by me. TheProconful anfwered, It is the Com- mand of the Princes, that the Chriftians ty?ep no Conventicles, nor go to the Bu- rying* Places of the Martyrs , and if any Man tranfgrefs, he muft be punijhed with the Sword. The Saint of God anfwered, Do as thou art commanded. Pajfio B. Cypr. per Pontium e)w Viaconnm. By the Canon of the Council of Elebris, if any of the Faithful turned Informer, he fhould be excommunicated. It was an odious Sight, but much tothe Honour of the Juftice of thofe Days, to fee Dr. London and Symonds ride with their Faces to the Horfcs Tails, and Papers on their Foreheads, to the Pillory for Perjury j two greater and more worfhipful than any of you informers now. Vr. Butnet's Hiflory of the Rcformacion, Part I. Booty 3. pag, 327. You are* in great Power, and ofVfe at prefent, ( even your own Friends efteem you a necejfary Evil, but indeed fome of you are more necejfitous than necejfary) you have many Juftices ready at your Call ; and a Multitude of Fol- lowers at your Heels.in many Place;. You make a fmall Gain of the Godlinefs of fome, of the Scruples and Errors of others* but count all, and then the total will come to worfe than nothing. I (lull not revile you, hut by what I know and hear of fome, you are a " great Reproadi to the Chriftian Religion, and the Scorn of all Men, that hive any Spark of Humanity or Venue left in them, I have faithfully represented true Hi/lo- ries of the Lives and Deaths of fome of your PredecciTors, that you may take warning, and if peradventure that you may repent: For you have affumed an Office and Calling mccrly to ferve your Lu(ts, and your Bel- lies, which before had confutried the little Subltecce you had ( if ever you had.. haJany ) of your own, or other Mens. If you were baptized, your Godfathers and Godmothers were exhorted to call upon you to hear Ser- mons : If you had Baptifmal Grace, you would doit, and renounce the World, tbi FU(h, and the Devil, all which you ferve in this way which you make your Trade, ( tho it may be fome of you ad from a Principle of Ma- lice and Revenge, and that's as bad, if not worfe. ) At prefent you adfc more fafely than they that ileal and kill i for you pretend the Law is on your fide, by which you have taken away from many Reverend Divines their Books, Goods, yea ( many times) the very Beds they lay upon, and have left them dellitute of Maintenance for themfelves, Wives and Chil- dren : Yea, you have taken ( or caufed to be taken ) their Perfons, and ci(\ them into loathfom Prifons> which have occafioned the Death of fome, and the Sicknefs and Ruin of many of them j and had not Royal Favour interpofed, you would never have left, till you had utterly ruined all, both Minilters and People, But ere it be too late, I befeech you confider your evil Ways, and repent, elfe your Reward will be according to your Work. Doeg was an Informer againlt Valid, and the Prieils i was one of thofe that loved Evil more than Good : and Lying rather than to fpeal^Rigbteoufnefs i and his JVD G MEN7 was, God Jhtll lifyrvife deftrby thee for ever, he pal! tak^e thee array, and plucl^thee out of thy Dwelling-? I ace, and root thee out cf the Land of the Living. Pfal. 52. 3,5". R,ead 1 Ibeff. 2» 15. TOSTSC^IT T. IExpedT: to be told of the Sufferings of the Loyal Clergy in the Time of War : I have diftingu'ifhed between a Time of War and Peace, of doleful Havock, and Security and Law i but it is not obferved. I fay - now, that thefe Miniflers I have mentioned in the foregoing Treatife have been Loyal Pcr(bns, and in the Times of Usurpation ventured their Lives and Eltates for the King's happy Return. I know no Man fodifingenuous, as to envy the Care that hath been to preferve Mr. Hk& dlefton (a Papifi ) from the Laws, for his good Service about the King, in his Efepe. But no fuch Care was taken of Mr. Parfons, Mr. Heywoid, Mr. Harrifwj Mr. Co^of Cbejhr, who was in the Tower when the King was called in, who ventured their Lives and E/iates for the King with Six George Booth. Bifhop Walton would fpeak civilly to Mr. Coj!^, but told ni:r\ he mull conform, or he could not hc ! p him. How many of the Loyal Clergy were our of Livings or Employments, that did not take their Eafc\ or enjoy a ftudious Retirement ? How rrnny that loved Preaching, or did cl e no %\)t Canfo^mta'g jTottttlj 19Iea ckave to their Flocks, that did not enjoy fome Liberty and Encourage- ment ? I could reckon up many that had Livings in the City, and prea- ched in Churches without any Let i as Dr. Hjtf, (afterwards Bifhop of Cbefter) Dr. Ball, Dr. Wild, Hate Bilhop in Ireland) Dr. Hardy, Dr.Griffitb, Dr. Peirfon, ( now Bi'lhcp of Cbejhr) Dr. Mnjfome, Mr. farringdon^ with many more, befides Abundance in .very County. How many of them fled on choice, left their Places, even in the King's Quarters ? 1 could name feme of them, whenJwas a Boy > and now I live where a N iter did voluntarily abfent forty Monthsbefcre he appeared, and in th< the Patron prefented. 'Tis true, 0. CromiveU, and his Officers, did one*, upo* of a pretended Plot again!} him, by a ProcLu ching, keeping Schools, &c. But by the Inte-auY , Arch- Bi (hop Ufher, they had their Liberty again, ana \ joyed their Places all the Time of the llfurpation > and ti kept out of their Livings, had the Fifths allowed them. 1 (j to excufe the Evils of thofe Times, bat to (hew 'that the Loyal Clergy found fome Mercy and Pity even from Ufurpers > and fome ot them have ingcnuoufly confclTed, that they received great Kindnefs from fome in Power then: And (hall not we now exceed them in Mercy? D es it become us to a$ according to the Chriliian Law, to overcome Evil nab Good r and according to the Law of the Land, ( the A£r of Ob'ivion ) in not reviving the Memory of the Evils of. former Days, to the detriment of any Perfon or Perfons ? But now fuch a Storm is raifed, that is ready to carry away not only the Goods, but the Perfons of the Nonconformiits" : I know not the Reafon, iiniefs it be becaufethey were too zealous for theftllof Exclufion. Indeed Sedition a*nd Rebellion is pretended, that they are Enemies to the Go- vernment, that they are adtlngthe old Game of Forty One, and Forty Eight. Let t-hefc things be proved, and then let them fufTer i I plead not for any fuch. Nay, Moderation, and moderate Divines of the Church of England, are become now hateful and expof d, and efpecially if any of us dare be fo Bold as to plead f-r Moderation towards DiiTenters, and info doing we are reprcfenced as Enemies to the Church, and thrcatned to be call our. 'Tis faid, we have reflected on our prcfent Clergy, when it is only fu*ch of the Clergy as are over«zealousa^d fiery, and hinder (he Union of Prote/tant-". For if Phaeton ( as Dr. St/ilingfl fuch who kaVt more Fury than Zeal, and yet more Zeal than Knoivledg or Moderation. The foj tfje jOoittonfbjmiW. 1 1 1 The Generalif^of oufprefent Clergy are great Admirers of Arcjhbifhop Land) andtliofe that adhered to him* and yet ^ir^ffammondl/Efiran^e Cone that wasazealousOurch-man, and as keen againfhhe Presbyterians as hisName-Gke ) hath laid more of him and them, than any of the moderate D. vines now have, or dare to fay of the prefent Clergy. Viz. Mr. Ham. UEftrange's Hiitory of K. Charles the Fir/i, pag. T43 1 44. Ha Zeal to Order ( meaning Arch-Biihop Land) carried him thus fjr, ( that is, to put the Canons in Execution ) trjnfported him a little too far: The Communion-Table, which formerly flood in the midji of the Church or Chancel, he enjoined it to he placed at the Eafi End, upon a graduated advance of Ground* with the Ends inverted, and a Woodden Traverfe of Rails before it, to keep Prof Sanation off, to which Kails all Communicants were to re fort. Thefe things were decent and comely in Contemplation,and had been fo in Practice, had they been within the Rule of the Church Directions '•> but being Ammjlous In- novations? and fo feverely urged, many became thereupon precife, and feparated themfelves into factious Sidings > nor was this a Schifm of an ordinary Size, but grew to that procefs-, to that degree, as, to $ea}^ in the Primitive Mode, Altar was erected againji Altar, that jr, one Bifhop impugned and oppofed another : For the Bi/hop of Lincoln. ( hing affronted by one Titly, Vicar of o rantham ) puh- lifhed a Tracl under a concealed Name, pofuively afferting therein, That the holy Table anciently did in the Primitive Times, and ou^ht fo in ouis, accor- ding to the Dictates of our Church, ftand in gremio, and Nave of the Quire. And as the Arch- Bifhop, whilft he fo vehemently purfued Order, did a- little out-run Authority i fo was he unhappy in thofe he did employ, as Inflru- ments and Subordinates under him, fome whereof endeavoured to fuper-indutl many Things, as WilUWorfhip of their own. and which came within a Mathe- matical Lin*, of Popery : Nor were they blamelefs in their Lives, fome being vitioia even to Scandal^ nor of fo meek^and humbh Behaviour as was to bewiflfd, but infolent at a rate fo intolerable, as one was bold to fjy , He hoped to live to fee the T>ay, when a Minijier Jhall be as good a Man as any upjiart Jacl^Gen-' tUman in England. To fuch a height of Infatuation had a petty Blaze of mi- flaxen Honour elevited this high Flyer, who in lieu of thofe frolick^V ays he looked to fee, lived to fee that very Hierarchy extirpated, and lived to fee himfelf d plumed of all his Pomp. Thefe Exorbitancies of thofe Sons of Eli from the Rules of Ethickj, created a very great Difgufl againji them > and many well enongh af~ fecled to their Empire, did exceedingly blame their Imperiofity, &c. E 1 N 1 s. The Reader (in regard of the Author's Diflance from the Frefs ) is ieCrcd to amend what Errata he meets with. •<■ I ir >