thorow their Diocesses the number would appear inconsiderable upon this Easter Visitation Before men be admitted to so important an employment it were fit they underwent a severe Examination and that it might appear first whether they have any Sense for without that how can any man pretend and yet they do to be ingenious Then whether they have any Modesty for without that they can only be scurrilous and impudent Next whether any Truth for true Jests are those that do the greatest execution And Lastly it were not amiss that they gave some account too of their Christianity for the world has always hitherto been so uncivil as to expect somthing of that from the Clergy in the design and stile even of their lightest and most uncanonical Writings And though I am no rigid Imposer of a Discipline of mine own devising yet had any thing of this nature entered in to the minds of other men it is not impossible that a late Pamphlet published by Authority and proclaimed by the Gazette Animadversions upon a late Pamphlet entitâ—…led the Naked Truth or the true state of the Primitive Church might have been spared That Book so called The Naked Truth is a Treatise that were it not for this its Opposer needs no commendation being writ with that Evidence and Demonstration of Spirit that all sober men cannot but give their Assent and Consent to it unasked It is a Book of that kind that no Christian scarce can peruse it without wishing himself had been the Author and almost imagining that he is so the Conceptions therein being of so Eternal an Idea that every man finds it to be but the Copy of an Original in his own Mind and though he never read it till now wonders it could be so long before he remembred it Neither although there be a time when as they say all truths are not to be spoken could there ever have come forth any thing more seasonable When the sickly Nation had been so long indisposed and knew not the Remedy but having Taken so many things that rather did it harm then good only longed for some Moderation and as soon as it had tasted this seemed to it self sensibly to recover When their Representatives in Parliament had been of late so frequent in consultations of this nature and they the Physitians of the Nation were ready to have received any wholsome advice for the Cure of our Malady It appears moreover plainly that the Author is Judicious Learned Conscientious a sincere Protestant and a true Son If not a Father of the Church of England For the 〈◊〉 the Book cannot be free from the imperfections inâ—…ident to all humane indeavours â—…t those so small and guarded every where with so much Modesty that it seems here was none left for the Animadverter who might otherwise have blush'd to reproach him But some there were that thought Holy Church was concerned in it and that no true born Son of our Mother of England but ought to have it in detestation Not only the Churches but the Coffee-Houses rung against it they itinerated like Excise-â—…pyes from one house to another and some of the Morning and Evening Chaplains burnt their lips with perpetual discoursing it out of reputation and loading the Author whoever he were with all contempt malice and obloquy Noâ—… could this suffice them but a lasting Pillar of Infamy must be erected to eternize his Crime and his Punishment There must be an answer to him in Print and that not according to the ordinary rules of civility or in the sober way of arguing Controversie but with the utmost extremity of Jâ—…ere Disdain and Indignation and happy the man whose lot it should be to be deputed to that performance It was Shrove-Tuesday with them and not having yet forgot their Boyes-play they had set up this Cock and would have been contet some of them to have ventur'd their Coffee-Farthings yea their Easter-Pence by advance to have a sting at him But there was this close youth who treads alwayes upon the heels of Ecclesiastical Preferment but hath come nearer the heels of the Naked Truth then were for his service that rather by favour theâ—… any tolerable sufficiency â—…ied away this employment as he hath done many others from them So that being the man pitched upon he took up an unfortunate resolution that he would be Witty Infortunate I say and no less Criminal for I dare aver that never any person was more manifestly guilty of the sin against Nature But however to write a Book of that virulence and at such a season was very improper even in the Holy time of Lent when whether upon the Sacred account it behoved hiâ—…â—…ther to have subjugated and mortified the swelling of his passions or whether upon the Political reason he might well have forborn his young Wit as but newly Pigg'd or Calv'd in order to the growth of the yearly summer provisions Yet to work he fell not omitting first to â—…m himself up in the whole wardrobe of his Function as well because his Wit consiâ—…ing wholly in his Dresâ—…e he would and 't was hiâ—… concernment 〈◊〉 have it all about him as to the end that being huâ—…'d up in all his Ecclesiastical 〈◊〉 he might appear more formidable and in the pride of his Heart and Habit out â—…niface an Humble Mâ—…derator So that there was 〈◊〉 to do in â—…quipping of Mr. Smirke then there is about 〈◊〉 and the Diâ—…ine is Mâ—…de â—…ight have vyed with Sir Fopling Flutter The Vestry and the Tirâ—…ng-Roome were both exhausted and 't is hard to say whether there went more attendants toward the Composing of Himself or of his Pamphlet Being thus drest up at last forth he comes in Print No Poet either the First or the Third day could be more concern'd and his little Party like men hired for the purpose had posted themselves at every corner to feigne a more numerous applause but clap'd out of time and disturb'd the whole Company Annotations upon his Animadversions on the Title Dedication c. AT first bolt in his Animadversions on the Title the Dedication and the Epistle to the Reader he denounces sentence before inquiry but against the Book it self forgetting already his subject so early his brain circulates and saith that Having perused the Book thorowly he is abundantly satisfied not only from his Stile which is something Enthusiastick his speech bewrays him but from his matter and Principles if he stick to any that the Author is a borderer upon Fanaticisâ—…e and does not know it Even as the Animadverter is upon Wit and Reason for I have heard that Borderers for the most part are at the greatest distance and the most irreconcilable What the Stile is of a Title and what the Principles of a Dedication and Epistle to the Reader for these if any the Animadverter ought here to have stuck to it 's indeed a weighty disquisition fit for a man of his Talent But I have read them over
easing all Protestant dissenters from Penalties had he vouch'd for the Convocation his Belief or his probability might have been of more value But what has he to do yet they have a singular itch to it with Parliament business or how can so thin a scull comprehend or divine the results of the Wisdom of the Nation Unless he can as in the Epilogue Legion his name a People in a Man And instead of Sir Fopling Flutter he Mr. Smirke Be Knight oth'-Shire and represent them all Who knows indeed but he may by some new and extraordinary Writ have been summon'd upon the Emergency of this Book to Represent in his peculiar person the whole Representative Yet by his leave though he be so he ought not to Undertake before he be Assembled I know indeed he may have had some late Precedents for it and for some years continuance from men too of his own Profession And if therefore he should Undertake and to give a good Tax for it Yet what security can he have himself but that there may rise such a Contest between the Lords and Commons within him that before they can agree about this Judicial Proceeding against the Book it may be thought fit to Prorogue him The Crimes indeed are hainous and if the Man and Book be guilty may when time comes furnish special matter for an Impeachment That he has made a breach upon their Glorious Act of Unniformity Violated their Act their most necessary Act the Animadverter hath reason by this time to say so against Printing without a License and I suppose he reserves anotherfor aggravation in due time the Act against seditious Conventicles For these three are all of a piece and yet are the several Pieces of the Animadverters Armour and are indeed no less nor no more then necessary For considering how empty of late the Church Magazines have been of that Spiritual Armour which the Apostle found sufficient against the assaults of whatsoever enemy even of Satan what could men in all humane reason do less then to furnish such of the Clergy as wanted with these Weapons of another Warfare But although these Acts were the true effects of the Prudence and Piety of that season yet it is possible but who can provide for all cases that if there have not already there may arise thereby in a short time some notable inconvenience For suppose that Truth should one day or other come to be Truth and every man a Lyer I mean of the humor of this Parliamentum Indoctum this single Representativer this Animadverter you see there is no more to be said as the Case stands at present but Executioner do your Office Nor therefore can it ever enter into my mind as to that Act particularly of Printing that the Law-givers could thereby intend to allow any man a promiscuous Licenciousness and Monopoly of Printing Pernicious Discourses tending to sow and increase dissension thorow the Land of which there is but too large a crop already as neither of Prohibiting Books dictated by Christian meekness and charity for the promoting of Truth and Peace among us and reconciling our Differences no nor even of such as are writ to take out the Blots of Printing-Inke and wipe off the Aspersions which divers of the Licensed Clergy cast upon mens private Reputations and yet this is the use to which the Law is somtimes applyed And this Animadverter who could never have any rational confidence or pretence to the Press or Print but by an unlucky English saying men have or by the Text-Letters of his Imprimatur arraignes this worthy Author for Printing without Allowance as if it were a sin against the Eleventh Commandment Though a Samaritan perhaps may not practise Physick without a Licence yet must a Priest and a Levite alwayes pass by on the other side and if one of them in an Age pour Oyle and Wine into the Wounds of our Church instead of Tearing them Wider must he be Cited for it into the Spiritual Court and incurre all Penalties This high Charge made me the more curious to inquire particularly how that Book The Naked Truth was published which the Animadverter himself pretends to have got a sight of with some difficulty And I am credibly informed that the Author caused four hundred of them and no more to be Printed against the last Session but one of Parliament For nothing is more usual then to Print and present to them Proposals of Revenue Matters of Trade or any thing of Publick Convenience and sometimes Cases and Petitions and this which the Animadverter calls the Authors Dedication is his humble Petition to the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament And understanding the Parliament inclined to a Temper in Religion he prepar'd these for the Speakers of both Houses and as many of the Members as those could furnish But that the Parliament rising just as the Book was delivering out and before it could be presented the Author gave speedy order to suppress it till another Session Some covetous Printer in the mean time getting a Copy surreptitioufly Reprinted it and so it flew abroad without the Authors knowledge and against his direction So that it was not his but the Printers fault to have put so great an obligation upon the publick Yet because the Author has in his own Copyes out of his unspeakable Tenderness and Modesty begg'd pardon of the Lords and Commons in his Petition for transgressing their Act against Printing without a Licence this Indoctum Parliamentum mistaking the Petition as addressed to himself will not grant it but insults over the Author and upbraids him the rather as a desperate offender that sins on he saith goes on still in his wickedness and hath done it against his own Conscience Now truly if this were a sin it was a sin of the first Impression And the Author appears so constant to the Church of England and to its Liturgy in particular that having confessed four hundred times with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart I doubt not but in assisting at Divine Service he hath frequently since that received Absolution It is something strange that to publish a good Book is a sin and an ill one a vertue and that while one comes out with Authority the other may not have a Dispensation So that we seem to have got an Expurgatory Press though not an Index and the most Religious Truth must be expung'd and suppressed in order to the false and secular interest of some of the Clergy So much wiser are they grown by process of time then the Obsolete Apostle that said We can do nothing against the Truth But this hath been of late years the practice of these single Representers of the Church of England to render those Peccadillioes against God as few and inconsiderable as may be but to make the sins against themselves as many as possible and these to be all hainous and unpardonable In so much that if we of the Laity
of Christianity saith he were virtually contained in St. Peters short Confession of Faith Thou art Christ the Son of the living God For which Confession he was blest and upon which Faith Christ declared that he would build his Church as upon a Rock In conclusion I see Antiochus has ex mero motu certâ Scientiâ and Prince like Generosity given us the Question For I would not suspect that he hath hunted it so long till he lost it or let it go of Necessity because he could hold it no longer For the Extention as well as Intention of Peters Faith was terminated in these few words For it is no irreverence to take notice how plain the Apostles were under that dispensation The same John the Apostle and Evangelist C. 14. V. 26. and in the following Chapters showes how little it was and in how narrow a compass that they knew and believed and yet that sufficed Insomuch that where C. 16. V. 17. Our Saviour promises the Holy Ghost to instruct them further he saith only It is Expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not Come to you He saith not it is Necessary For that Measure of true Belief would have sufficed for their own Salvation but there was a larger Knowledge requisite for the future work of their Apostleship In how many of them and St. Peter himself as much as any were there such Ignorances I humbly use the word in matters of Faith that our Saviour could not but take notice of it and reprove them As for Peter when our Saviour was so near his Death as to be already beâ—…ray'd yet he Upon whose Faith he built his Church as on a Rock knew not the effect of his Passion but was ready with his sword against Christs Command and example to have interrupted the Redemption of Mankind And this short confession in which all the Fundamentalls were virtually contained as the Exposer here teacheth us and so hath reduced himself to that little Grain of Faith against which he contends with the Author was upon occasion of our Saviours question when Peter doubtless did his best to answer his Lord and Master and told him all he knew For that similitude taken from so small a Gâ—…aine by our Saviour did equal the proportion of Faith then attainable and requisite And as in a Seed the very Plain and Upright of the Plant is indiscernably express'd though it be not branch'd out to the Eye as when it geâ—…minates spreds blossomes and bears fruit so was the Christian Faith seminally straitned in that virtual sincerity Vital Point and Central vigour of Believing with all the heart that Jesus Christ was come in the Flesh and was the Son of the Living God And would men even now Believe that one thing thorowly they would be better Christians then under all their Creeds they generally are both in Doctrine and Practice But that gradual Revelation which after his death and Resurrection shined sorth in the Holy Ghost must now determine us again within the Bounds of that saving Ignorance by Belief according to the Scriptures untill the last and fuâ—…l Manifestation And the Intention of this Faith now also as it hath been explain'd by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the Sacred Writers is sufficient for Salvation without the Chcianrey and Conveyancing of humane Extentions And the Controverter himself hath if not by his own confession yet by his own Argument all along hitherto proved it In the 6. p he saith that where the Author charges some with introducing Many and New Articles of Faith Heâ—… hopes he does not mean all our Thirty nine Articles If he hopes so why doth he raise the suspition for which indeed there is no cause imaginable but the Eâ—…posers own disingenuity the Author appearing thorow his whole Book a True Subscriber to Thenâ—…e without that Latitude of Equivocation which some others use or else they would not Publish those Doctrines they do and be capable nevertheless of Ecclesiastical Places But here as though any man had meddled with those Articles he explicaâ—…es his Learning out of Bishop Lâ—…y and of the Communio Laica which is but his harping upon one string and his usual Scanning on his fingers For the Author having named many and neew Articles of Faith the Exposer revolves over in his mind Articles Articles of and the word not being very pregnant he hits at last upon the Thirty nine Articles of the Church of England which yet the Exposer saith himself are Articles of Peace and Consent not of Faith and Communion Why then does he bring them by head and shoulders when the Author he knows was only upon Articles of Faith He might as well have saâ—… the Lords of the Articles But this he saith is one as he takes it of our Churches greatest Ecclesiastical Policyes that she admits the many in thousands and hundred thousands without any subscription ad Communionem Laicam Truly she is veâ—…y civil and we are an hundred thousand times oblidged to Her But I know not whether she will take it well of him that he not being content with so good an Office as that of her Exposer should pretend to be her Ecclesiastical Polititian over an other mans head that is fitter for both and not expect the Reversion And she cannot but be offended that he should thus call her Fool by craft assigning that for her greatest Ecclesiastical Policy when to have done otherwise would have been the greatest Impertence and Folly But who are these the many whom she so graciously receives Communionem Laicam without subscription Truly all of us whom she trusts not with Teaching others or with University Degrees The whole body of the Laity There again is another name or us for we can scarse speak without affronting our selves with some contemptuous name or other that they forsooth the Clergy have affixed to us Nos Numerus sumus the many fruges consumere nati Even his Majesty too God bless him is one of the many and she asks no suâ—…scription of him neither although I believe he has taken his Degree in the University Well we must be content to do as we may we are the many and you are the few and make your best of it But now though I am none of you yet I can tell you a greater Ecclesiastical Policy then all this you have been talking of It is a hard Word and though it be but one Syllable I cannot well remember it but by good luck it was burnt by the hand of the Hangman about that time that the Naked Truth was Printed And had that Policy succeeded the many must have taken not only all the Thirty Nine Articles but all the Ecclesiastical Errours and Incroachments that escaped notice all in the mass at once as if they had been Articles of Faith infallible unalterable but the State of the Kingdom had been apparently changed in the very Fundamentals For a
Bishops and Presbyters which as being the most easie to be answered he therefore referred to a Bishop But in good earnest after having confider'd this last Chapter so Brutal whether as to Force or Reason I have changed my resolution For he argues so despicably in the rest that even I who am none of the best Disputers of this World have conceiv'd an utter contempt for him He is a meer Kitchin-plunderer and attacks but the Baggage where even the Suttlers would be too hard for him P. 18. Does the Exposer allow that under Constantinus Pogonatus to have been a free General Council In the same page If the Exposer would have done any thing in his Dic Ecclesiae he should have proved that a General Council is the Church that there can be such a General Council or hath been that the Church can impose new Articles of Faith beyond the Express Words of Scripture that a General Council cannot erre in matters of Faith That the Church of his making cannot erre in matters of Faith Whereas our Church Article 19. saith thus far The Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred so also the Church of Rome hath erred not onely in their living and manner of Ceremonies but also in matters of Faith This is an Induction from Particulars and remark the Title of the Article being of the Church Ours defines it The Visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same And then if the Reader please to look on the 20. and 21. Articles following one of the Authority of the Church the other of the Authority of General Councils unless a man will industriously mis-apply and mis-construe them those three are a Compendious and irrefragable Answer not onely to whâ—… he saith here upon the Appendix but to his whole Book from one end to the other p. 19. I ask him when the Greek Church is excommunicate by the Roman when the Protestants left the Roman Church when we in England are neither Papists Lutherans nor Calvinists and when in Queen Maries time we returned to the Roman Church what and where then was the Catholick Church that was indefectible and against which the Gates of Hell did not prevail Was it not in the Savoy Moreover I ask him what hinders but a General Council may erre in matters of Faith when we in England that are another World that are under an Imperial Crown that are none of them as the Exposer words it but have a distinct Catholick Faith within our Four Seas did in the Reign before mentioned and reckon how many in that Convocation those were that dissented again make our selves one of them unless he has a mind to do so too which would alter the Case exceedingly P. 20. He quotes the Act I Eliz. cap. I. let him mind that clause in it by the express and plain words of Canonical Scripture and then tell me what service it hath done him whether he had not better have let it alone but that it is his fate all along to be condemn'd out of his own mouth which must alwayes succeed so when man urges a Real Truth against a Real Truth P. 23. I have reason to affirm and he will meet with it and has already in the Author that those General Councils howsoever called were no Repraesentatio totius nominis Christiani but nominally yea that such a Representation could not be P 22. He expounds Scriptures here and thinks he does wonders in it by assuming the Faculties of the whole Body to the Mouth which Mouth he saith and in some sense 't is very true if a man would run over the Concordance is the Clergy But I know not why the Mouth of the Church should pretend to be the Brain of the Church and understand and will for the whole Laity Let every man have his word about and 't is reason We are all at the same Ordinary and pay our souls equally for the Reckoning The Exposer's Mouth which is unconscionable would not onely have all the Meat but all the Talk too not onely at Church but at Council Table Let him read Bishop Taylor of Liberty of Prophecy P. 25 The Exposer that alwayes falsly Represents his Adversary as an Enemy to Creeds to Fathers as afterwards he does to Ceremonies to Logick to Mathematicks to every thing that he judiciously speaks and allows of here P. 25. saith the Author who delivers but the Church of Englands Doctrine herein and would not have Divine Faith impos'd upon nor things prest beyond Scripture in this matter of General Councils is guilty of unthought of Popery for the Papists really I think he partly slanders them herein cannot endure Councils General and Free They allow many a General Council more than we do If the Pope do not for some reason or other delight in some that are past or in having new ones it does not follow that the Papists do not I think those were Papists that ruffled the Pope too here in the West and that at the Council of Constance burnt John Hus and Hierome of Prague and resolv'd that Faith was not to be kept with Hereticks But pray Mr. Exposer if we must give divine Faith to General Councils let the Author ask you in his turn which are those General Councils How shall we know them Why onely such as accord with Scripture Why then we I mean you Mr. Exposer make our selves you still Judges of the General Councils the fault you so much condemn the Author for But what Popery thought or unthought of are you in the very next line guilty of that call the Popes Supremacy the Quintessence of Popery So that it seems the Quintessence of the Controversie betwixt ouâ—… Church and theirs is onely which shall be Pope for the Articles of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 compulsion though the Non-conformists may I thank you Mr. Exposer for your News I had often heard it before I confess but till now I did never and scarce yet can believe it it is rather to be wish'd then hoped for a thing so surprizingly seasonable But for the good news Mr. Exposer I will give you four Bottles which is all I had by me not for mine own use but for a friend upon occasion of the First Second Third and Fourth Essence But the Quintessence I doubt would be too strong for your Brain especially in the morning when you are writing Animadversions P. 28. of Ceremonies he sports unworthily as if the Author spoke Pro and Con Contradictions while as a Moderator he advises our Church to Condescension on the right and the Dissenters to submission on the left how are men else to be brought together He had as good call every man because he has two hands an Ambidexter He would turn every mans Stomach worse than the
arising from the Inadequation of Languages Till by degrees they were drawn over and rather than lose their Bishopricks would joyn and at last be the Headmost in the Persecution of their own former Party But the Deacons to be sure that steer'd the Elephants were thorow-paced Men to be reckon'd and relied upon in this or any other occasion and would prick on to render themselves Capable and Episcopable upon the first Vacancy For now the Arrians in grain scorning to come behind the Clownish Homoousians in any Ecclesiastical Civility were resolved to give them their full of Persecution And it seem'd a piece of Wit rather than Malice to pay them in their own Coyn and to Burlesque them in earnest by the repetition and heightning of the same Severities upon them that they had practised upon others Had you the Homoousians a Creed at Nice We will have another Creed for you at Ariminum and at Seleucia Would you not be content with so many several Projects of Faith consonant to Scripture unless you might thrust the new word Homoousios down our throats and then tear it up again to make us confess it Tell us the word 't was Homoiousios we are now upon the Guard or else we shall run you thorow Would you Anathemize Banish Imprison Execute us and burn our Books You shall taste of this Christian Fare and as you relish it you shall have more on 't provided And thus it went Arrianism being Triumphant but the few sincere or stomachful Bishops adhering constantly and with a true Christian Magnanimity especially Athanasius thorow all Sufferings unto their former Confessions expiated so in some measure what they had committed in the Nicene Council Sozomâ—…ne l. 4. c. 25. First tells us a story of Eudoxius who succeeded Macedonius in the Bishoprick of Constantinople that in the Cathedral of Sancta Sophia being mounted in his Episcopal Throne the first time that they Assembled for its Dedication in the very beginning of his Sermon to the People those things were already come in Fashion told them Patrem iâ—… esse Filium 〈◊〉 pium at which when they began to bustle Pray be quiet saith he I say Patrem impium esse quia Colit neminem Filiem vero Pium quia colit Patrem at which they then Laughed as heartily as before they were Angry But this I only note to this purpose that there were some of the greatest Bishops among the Homoiousians as well as the Homoousians that could not reproach one anothers Simplicity and that it was not impossible for the Many to be Wiser and more Orthodox than the Few in Divine Matters That which I cite him for as most Material is his Remark upon the Imposition then of contrary Creeds Which verily faith he was plainly the beginning of most great Calamities for as much as hereupon there followed a Disturbance not unlike those which we before recited over the whole Empire and likewise a Persecution equal almost to that of the Heathen Emperors seized upon all of all Churches For although it seemed to some more gentle for what concerns the Torture of the Body yet to prudent Persons it appeared more bitter and severe by reason of the Dishonor and Ignominy For both they who stirred up and those that were afflicted with this Persecution were of the Christian Church And the Grievance therefore was the greater and more ugly in that the samethings which are done among Enemies were Executed between those of the same Tribe and Profession But the Holy Law forbids us to carry our selves in that manner even to those that are Without and Alien's And all this Mischief sprung from making of Creeds with which the Bishops as it were at Tilting aim'd to hit one another in the Eye and throw the opposite Party out of the Saddle But if it chanced that the weaker side were ready to yield for what sort of Men was there that could better Manage or had their Consciences more at command at that time than the Clergy Then the Arrians would use a yet longer thicker and sharper Lance for the purpose for there were never Vacancies sufficient that they might be sure to run them down over and thorow and do their Business The Creed of Ariminum was now too short for the Design but saith the Historian they affix'd further Articles like Labels to it pretending to have made it better and so sent it thorow the Empire with Constantius his Proclamation that whoever would not Subscribe it should be banished Nay they would not admit their own beloved Similis Substantia but to do the Work throughly the Arrians renoune'd their own Creed for Malice and made it an Article Filium Patri tam substantia quam Voluntate Dissimilem esse But that is a small matter with any of them provided thereby they may do Service to the Church that is their Party So that one seriously speaking that were really Orthodox could not then defend the Truth or himself but by turning old Arrian if he would impugn the new ones such was the Subtilty What shall I say more As the Arts of Glass Coaches and Perriwags illustrate this Age so by their Trade of Creed-making then first Invented we may esteem the Wisdom of Constantine's and Constantius his Empire And in a short space as is usual among Tradesmen where it appears Gainful they were so many that set up of the same Profession that they could scarce live by one another Socr. l. 2. c. 32. Therefore uses these words But now that I have tandem aliquando run through this Labyrinth of so many Creeds I will gather up their number And so reckons Nine Creeds more besides that of Nice before the death of Constantius a blessed Number And I believe I could for a need make them up a Dozen if Men have a mind to buy them so And hence it was that Hilary then Bishop of Poictiers represents that state of the Church pleasantly yet sadly Since the Nicene Synod saith he we do nothing but write Creeds That while we fight about words whilst we raise Questions about Novelties while we Quarrel about things doubtful and about Authors while we contend in Parties while there is difficulty in Consent while we Anathematize one another there is none now almost that is Christ's What a Change there is in the last years Creed The first Decree commands that Homoousios should not be mentioned The next does again Decree and Publish Homoousios The third does by Indulgence excuse the Word Ousia as used by the Fathers in their simplicity The fourth does not Excuse but Condemn it It is come to that at last that nothing among us or those before us can remain Sacred or inviolable We Decree every Year of the Lord a new Creed concerning God Nay every Change of the Moon our Faith is alter'd We repent of our Decrees we defend those that repent of them we Anathemize those that we defended and while we either condemn other Mens
Royal Intention his many Declarations they have induced to more Severities then all the Reigns since the Conquest will contain if summ'd up together who may as Constantine among his Private Devotions put up one Collect to the Bishops Euseb. de vitâ Const. c. 70. Date igitur mihi Dies tranquillos Noctes curarum expertes And it runs thus almost altogether verbatim in that Historian Grant most merciful Bishop and Priest that I may have calm days and nights free from care and motestation that I may live a peaceable life in all Godlyness and honesty for the future by your good agreement which unless you vouchsafe me I shall wast away my Reign in perpetual sadness and vexation For as long as the people of God stands divided by so unjust and pernicious a Contention how can it be that I can have any ease in my own Spirit Open therefore by your good agreement the way to me that I may continue my Expedition towards the East and grant that I may see both you and all the rest of my people having laid aside your animosities rejoycing together that we may all with one voice give laud and glory for the Common good agreement and liberty to God Almighty for ever Amen But if neither the People nor his Majesty enter into their consideration I hope it is no unreasonable request that they will be merciful unto themselves and have some reverence at least for the Naked Truth of History which either in their own times will meet with them or in the next age overtake them That they who are some of them so old that as Confessors they were the Scarrs of the former troubles others of them so young that they are free from all the Motives of Revenge and Hatred should yet joyn in reviving the former persecutions upon the pretences yea even themselves in a turbulent military and uncanonical manner execute Laws of their own procuring and depute their inferior Clergy to be the Informers I should rather hope to see not only that Controversy so scandalous abolished but that also upon so good an occasion as the Author of the Naked Truth hath administred them they will inspect their Clergy and cause many things to be corrected which are far more ruinous in the Consequence then the dispensing with a Surplice I shall mention some too confusedly as they occur to my Pen at present reserving much more for better leasure Methinks it might be of great edification that those of them who have ample possessions should be in a good sense Mult as inter opes inopes That they would inspect the Canons of the ancient Councils where are many excellent ones for the regulation of the Clergy I saw one looking but among those of the same Council of Nice against any Bishops removing from a less Bishoprick to a greater nor that any of the Inferior Clergy should leave a less living for a fatter That is methinks the most Natural use of General or any Councils to make Canons as it were By-Laws for the ordering of their own Society but they ought not to take out much less forge any Patent to invade and prejudice the Community It were good that the greater Churchmen relyed more upon themselves and their own direction not building too much upon stripling Chaplains that men may not suppose the Master as one that has a good Horse or a Fleet-hound attributes to himself the vertues of his Creature That they inspect the Morals of the Clergy the Moral Hereticks do the Church more harm then all the Non-conformists can do or can wish it That before they admit men to subscribe the Thirty nine Articles for a Benefice they try whether they know the meaning That they would much recommend to them the reading of the Bible T is a very good book and if a man read it carefully will make him much wiser That they would advise them to keep the Sabbath if there were no morality in the day yet there is a great deal of prudence in the observing it That they would instruct those that came for Holy Orders and Livings that it is a terrible vocation they enter upon but that has indeed the greatest reward That to gain a Soul is beyond all the acquists of Traffick and to convert an Atheist more glorious then all the Conquests of the Souldier That betaking themselves to this Spiritual Warfare they ought to disintangle from the World That they do not ride for a Benefice as if it were for a Fortune or a Mistress but there is more in it That they take the Ministry up not as a Trade and because they have heard of Whittington in expectation that the Bells may so chime that they come in their turns to be Lord Mayors of Lambeth That they make them understand as well as they can what is the Grace of God That they do not come into the Pulpit too full of Fustian or Logick a good life is a Clergy man's best Syllogism and the quaintest Oratory and till they out-live 'm they will never get the better of the Fanaticks nor be able to preach with Demonstration of Spirit or with any effect or Authority That they be Lowly minded and no Railers And particularly that the Archdeacon of Canterbury being in ill humor upon account of his Ecclesiastical Policy may not continue to revenge himself upon the innocent Walloons there by ruining their Church which subsists upon the Ecclesiastical Power of His Majesty and so many of His Royal Predecessors But these things require greater Time and to enumerate all that is amiss might perhaps be as endless as to number the People nor are they within the ordinary sphaere of my Capacity and our Exposer will think I have forgot him I shall take my leave of him for the present being only troubled to find out a Complement for so civil a Person It must be thus I will not say as Popilius said to Antiochus nor as Demosthenes said to Eschines nor as the most Learned P. Aerodius or the Jesuite Gaspar Schottus said to the Animadverter nor as Dolubella said to Cicero nor as the Christian Cicero said to the English Parliament nor as the Roman Centurion said to the Roman Ensign but I will say somthing like what Leonas that presided from Constantius at the Council at Seleucia when they made an endless Disputing to no purpose said to them not Abiâ—…e igitur in Ecclesiâ nugas agite but good Mr. Exposer what do you Loytering like an idle Schollar and Animadverting here in Town get you home again or it were better for you and Expose and Animadvert as long as you will at your own Colledg But as to a new Book fresh come out Intitled the Author of the Naked Truth stripp'd Naked to the Feâ—… or to the skin that Hieroglyphical Quibble of the Great Gunn on the Title Page will not excuse Bishop Gunning For his Sermon is still expected But to the Judicious and Serious Reader to whom I wish any thing I have said may have given no unwelcom entertainment I shall only so far justify my self that I thought it no less concerned me to vindicate the Laity from the Impositions that the Few would force upon them then him to defend those Impositions on behalf of the Clergy And moreover I judged my self most proper for the work it not being fit that so slight a Pamphlet as his should be answered by any Man of great abilities For the rest I take the Naked Truth to have been part of that effect which Reverend Mr. Hooker foretold Praef. to Eâ—…l Policy p. 10. The time will come when Three words uttered with Charity and Meekness shall receive a far more blessed reward then Three thousand Volumes writen with disdainful sharpness of Wit And I shall conclude with him in his close I trust in the Almighty that with us Contentions are now at the highest float and that the day will come for what cause is there of Dispair when the Passions of former enmity being allaid men shall with ten times redoubled tokens of unfainedly reconciled Love shew themselves each to other the same which Joseph and the Brethren of Joseph were at the time of their Enterview in Egypt And upon this condition let my Book also yea my self if it were needful be burnt by the hand of the Animadverter FINIS