Great Christus regnat vincit triumphat Wherein they acknowledged the Superiority of Christs Dominion and the subserviency of their Government to it And we know the Title of the French King is Rex Christianissimus but how proper to him let Europe judge And though he intermeddle not in the Intrinsicks of the Church of Christ which belong to the Ministry yet he makes use of his Power to preserve Civil Peace in Church and State and to command Obedience to the known Laws and Ordinances of Christ in his Church both in Ministers and People by his Power and Government in matters Ecclesiastical and will Protect and Encourage them therein And as the Kings of Israel were required to write a Copy of the Law of God and Read therein all the days of their Life so he Reads and Studies the Word of God that he may see with his own Eyes and that his own Devotion towards God and that which is Professed and Practised by the People may be guided by that infallible Rule And being sensible of the weighty Charge of his Government he depends upon Almighty God for his daily Assistance Guidance and Blessing So that this fear of God doth steer his whole Course and Rules in his Heart in all his Rule over Men whereby the Righteous rejoyce and flourish under his Government but the Wicked and wickedness are scattered with his Eyes Thus we have a Brief Description of a good Magistrate and what a Blessing such are to the People and may engage all to give them Honour and chearful Obedience and may condemn those Men that will submit to no Government and others who only Submit while their own Interest or Opinion is upheld by it And if in any thing the Magistrates fall short they at least may by these things see their Rule however it will not excuse the People in the Duty they owe unto them which leads me to the next Head to Discourse of A Right Christian-Subject FIrst He is one who acknowledgeth God himself to be the Supream Governour of the World but yet that he doth execute his Government by Second Causes and Instruments and particularly by Princes and Magistrates in their respective Provinces Places Kinds and degrees of Power He also owneth the Providence of God as the chief disposer of the Governments of the World and of the Persons that under him do execute them Setting up one and Removing another and changing of Times and Seasons as he pleaseth and whether they are sent in Wrath for Correction and Punishment or in Mercy for the Comfort and Establishment of a People he acknowledgeth a Divine hand in both He is one who is contented in his Station and being a Subject seeks rather to Obey well than to Aspire after Power and Government which belong not to him he considering the cares fears distractions and dangers that attend high Places which Men in a lower Sphere are freed from whereby he rather Pities than Envies them The Onus of Government for the most part outweighing the Honos of it He is careful in the First place to discharge his Duty toward God and therefore dares not yield Obedience to Men in any thing that is inconsistent with his Fealty Allegiance and Duty towards God he knowing that he must Fear God as well as Honour the King and that he that Fears not God cannot be duly and truly Subject to Men and that the Notion of a Deity is no Enemy to Civil Government by setting up a fear of God in Mens Hearts above all other fear as some Atheists have said His Religion teaches him Loyalty but he makes not Loyalty his only Religion He is one who giveth Obedience to Magistrates not meerly out of fear of Wrath oâ— any outward Constraint but of a ready Mind in compliance with the Commands of God and the Dictates of a well regulated Conscience and as he makes the Law of God and the Laws of the Land conjunctim the Measure oâ— his Obedience so Conscience is the Principle of it He is a follower of Peace and Concord nâ— sower of Strife and Sedition no fomenter oâ— Divisions no Incendiary to kindle Flames he knowing it is great disservice to the Ruleâ— to have his People Divided and injurious to the growth of the Nation in Wealth Strength and Honour He will not entertain much less promote groundless Jealousies of Magistrates whereby to disaffect the Minds of the People and so diminish their just Honour and the Authority of their Government He is one industious in his Place and Calling and serviceable to the Common-wealth of the Nation though he be but in a mean Place and Station the King himself being served by the Field and the Labour of the Plough-man whereas Men that live like idle Drones are neither useful to their Governours nor the publick Welfare and so are not as they ought to be good Subjects As that is not a good Bee that brings neither Wax nor Honey to the Hive so in point of Arms he is not a good Subject that will not use them in a just Cause for the publick Good upon Lawful Command as well as he that takes them up without such grounds He pays Tribute Custom or whatever Tax is justly due to the Magistrate for preserving the Peace Wealth and Honour of the Government under which he lives and according to his Duty and Ability will help to defray that publick Charge which is necessary for his own and the peoples Preservation in the Community of the Neighbourhood among whom he dwelleth He will not revile the Gods and speak evil of Rulers nor rashly censure their Actions as knowing they may Act upon Reasons of State which are not known to him nor fit to be made Publick and will not oppose his private Sentiments to the publick Wisdom of the State. And as a good Subject he is careful in his Place and Calling to maintain those Liberties and Immunities which are legally and justly due to the People and will not basely through Cowardise or Bribery betray them to an Arbitrary Power As a good Servant will carry it as he ought not only to his Master but also to his fellow Servants but herein he is careful to do nothing tumultuously but according to Law and Ancient Custom with peace and quietness so that if any disturbances arise they may not lie at his Door that Judgment may run forth like a River and Righteousness like a mighty Stream and no rushing noise arise by interrupting the free course thereof He doth truly Honour but not Idolize Rulers gives not that Fear Trust Honour and Adoration to them which are due to God alone and as Men of Wisdom in high Place affect not vain Applause and to have their Persons in Admiration above what is meet as we Read of some of the Heathen Emperors that they affected Divine Titles and Worship so a wise Subject who truly Loves and Honours the Prince will not spread a Snare for his Feet by
CHRISTIANITY DESCRIBED c. ALL Religion in the World hath Respect to a Deity and was there no God there need to be no Religion and they cast off a Deity and may be termed Atheists who cast off all Religion But there are such bright Characters of a Deity in the Works of Creation and in every Mans Conscience as that there are but few who embrace not some Religion or other And tho some Men seem to live as though there was no God yet when they are in distress or in the approaches of Death the sense of a Deity returns upon them as motions against Nature will at some time or other recurr And therefore such as promote Impiety under pretexts of Religion are likely to do more mischief and have greater success then those who seek to do it by disputing against a Deity I know some have endeavoured to make themselves and others Atheists as Lucretius boasts of Epicurus that he was the first that sought to deliver the World from the burthensome Yoke of Religion but he had not many Followers Yet I fear the notion of a Deity may be much stifled in many for when they see all things come to pass by second causes when they see Vice and Wickedness rampant in the world and true Piety and Virtue under Contempt and when they observe so many Sects in the World and differences about Religion and how the generality of Men though they have no fear of God yet they fare as well as those that fear him and when they see the Apostacy and Hypocrisie of many that have made great Profession and the simpleness and weakness of others they begin to think all that is discoursed about a Deity Providence Judgment to come Heaven and Hell or any Religion are but fanatick Fancies superstitious Conceits or politick Inventions either of Princes to keep the People under Government or of Priests to make Markets of Peoples Consciences But my business at present is not with these but such as own and acknowledge a Deity profess Religion yea the best and only true Religion the Reformed Christian Religion a Religion founded first in Gods Eternal Councels for the highest Manifestation of his own Glory and formed for the good of Mankind in this World and for conducting them to the Eternal Felicity of the World to come And was it not defaced by the vicious practices of false Christians it would either convince or convert the World to it and vindicate it self from the Reproaches under which it lies with many at this day most Men looking more at the Actions of Men than the Rules of the Religion they profess to judge it by though some look upon it as some vindication of the Name of Christ against the Impostor Mahomet in the great success of the Christians so called against the Turks yet we may fear that the unjust Practices gross Idolatries inhumane Persecutions and scandalous Lives of many called Christians may keep them from embracing Christianity But because my design is general I shall not make it my business now to consider any one Party or Denomination of Christians distinct from another but shall briefly treat of Christianity it self in the Principles Rules Mysteries and Designs of it that all may here as in a Glass see their own face and as most I fear may have cause to blush so it may tend to reduce the Christian world to a better Temper especially our own English Nation I find all Parties ready to reflect one upon another whereas all may be guilty And whilst each are contending for some particular Opinions and Circumstances in Religion they may evidently transgress the Rules of common Christianity And while some are called Papists others Protestants some Lutherans some Calvenists some Conformists others Nonconformists all are apt to forget they are called Christians And while we are contending for that which is Primitive in Church order and in the Externals of Religion we regard not that which is primitive in the right Temperament of our Hearts and Lives which if we could arrive at or did studiously endeavour it might prevent the mischiefs which have befallen us for time to come and allay our late contentions in Religion more than all the wrangling disputes which have been among us and though in doubtful things it is commendable to search out Truth and plead for it yet not with minds possest with Passion or Prejudice which blind the Judgment and break the bonds of Unity Love and Peace As the two Men mentioned by Anselm who disputing and then falling to blows in the Morning about the place where the Sun would rise beat out one anothers Eyes and so neither of them could see it It 's no great advantage to a Man to be a Papist Lutheran Calvinist Episcopal Presbyterian c. if he be not a right Christian Our greatest zeal is about those things for the most part that are not necessary to Salvation and which may leave us short of Heaven So that we may take up the complaint of the Historian about the Divisions of the Eastern Western and Lybian Churches among themselves Tanta confusio Niceph. cap. 25. lib. 16. mentiumque Caligo orbem universum incessit Opinions get into Mens lusts and are twisted with Interest which make Men furious and violent who are altogether Strangers to Christianity in the life and power of it And though I have not told the World my Name either who I am or what I am yet I think I need not care who knows it for I suppose no man will be angry with me for wishing all Men well and as for praise of Men as I deserve none so neither can I expect it from a work of this Nature this I shall only say I have lived now the full Age of a Man have been an Observer of the Contests of the late Times and have seen little good fruit upon the Spirits of most Men many have changed their Opinions their particular Professions and Parties but still have retained the same Hearts and Religion in the Power of it hath been manifestly declining either by being rarified into airy Ceremonies or condensed into stupid Formality or refined into speculative Notions or rent asunder by manifold Opinions and perverse Disputes or abused to unwarrantable Designs and Men have made it their work to trample others down and their Conquests have proved their Snare and then their Ruine wherein the saying of Solomon is fulfilled There is a time when one man ruleth over another to his own hurt Eccl. 8. v. 9. I fear most Men know not or forget what it is to be a right Christian And what that worthy Name doth oblige them to which was the Name whereby all Christs Disciples were called before all those Names were known in the World whereby since they have been distinguished or reproached And as it was the first Name given on Earth so it may probably continue for ever in Heaven For of Christ the whole Family of Heaven
Sacrament that she might thereby the better establish her self Hath she not made it too evident that Wealth Grandeur and Dominion hath been more her design than the Glory of God proâ—oting true Holiness and the Salvation of Mens Souls Hath she not been guilty of Silencing many â—undreds of able Preachers not for Slothfulâ—ess or Non-residency not for Insufficiency â—ot for Scandal not for Heresie not for â—ebellion to the Civil Authority but only â—on-conformity to some unnecessary Rites in â—eligion which they scrupled out of their zeal â—gainst Popery wherein if they have exceedâ— I hope it may now be judged a pardonâ—le Crime but I fear it hath had no good â—fect but hath tended to the hindering the â—ogress of the Gospel and the Salvation of any Souls by rigid imposing of Subscriptions â—d Canonical obedience and Assent and Conâ—t and stretching Conformity beyond what â— was in the former Age Doth not the in of many Families and the loss of some â—es lie at her door Hath she not debarr'd publick Assemblies for Worship to multitudes in the Nation unlesâ— in such a way as was Offensive to their Consciences and not Edifying to their Souls though such as maintain and profess all thâ— substantial parts of the Christian and Protestant Religion are blameless in their Liveâ— and profitable in the Nation and therebâ— exposing them to the danger of returning tâ— Popery or of being reduced to Paganism Dâ— the Dissenters differ from her in any of thoâ— things wherein she differs from the Papistâ— but rather in those things wherein she agreâ— with them And what then is that whiâ— is strictly to be called the Church of Englanâ— She hath indeed made a strong and honourâ—ble oppsition to Popery by many Wortâ— and Learned Men of her Communion bâ— hath it not been in those things wherein tâ— Dissenters agree with her and rejoyce â— what they have done and act with her theâ— in So that the Church of England considâ—ed as distinct from the forementioned Dissâ—ters is made up only of some Additional to â— Christian Religion And if it be Object That such deference ought to be given to â— Laws of the Land as not to have publâ— Meetings otherwise than allowed I Answâ— Such Laws are only humane and topical â— so cannot supersede the universal Lawâ— Nature which doth dictate to all Natiâ— publick Assemblies for the solemn worshiâ— God. And let it be considered whether the imposing of those things which are judged unnecessary can be justified to the hindering of what is necessary both by the Law of Nature and the written Law of God and whether this Liberty hath not been taken against publick Laws both in the times of the Heathen Persecution and here in England in times of Popery Many other things I might mention but these I only lay before her with the words of our Saviour to the Church of Ephesus Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and Repent or else I will come against thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick except thou Repent Rev. 2. 5. And if she thinks her self in danger should not this awaken her to Repentance And is there any Protestant Church but doth solemnly Fast and Pray in threatning Dangers But we see little of this in the Church of England Not that every individual Member of that Ecclesiastick body ought to be charged God forbid I know many of them have been grieved at the sufferings of their Brethren Pleaded â—heir Cause and Lamented to see such a â—pirit of Persecution act in the Church of England and could see a little better than â—thers who they were that pusht on those â—evere Persecutions against them and how â—opery crept in upon the Nation under a Proâ—estant Vizard and were ashamed to hear some of her Clergy boast of the Purity of the Church of England when to their great trouble Corruptions both in Doctrine and Worship and in the Conversations of multitudes in it was so visibly seen to prevail not only tolerated but too much countenanced and little Discipline exercised but against Non-conformists though Men of the greatest Sobriety and Piety and usefulness in the Nation But I mention these things not to recriminate but to help on that Repentance which may prevent Gods controversie with that Church and to melt down their Spirits into such a Coalition with their dissenting Brethren that the Nation may be strengthened against our Popish Adversaries and that all hands may be at work to make the Bank strong against the inundation of the Sea â—â— mean the See of Rome I fear whilst our publick especially our Cathedral Worship is shaped so like to that which is in Popery the transition will be made more facile to it It will be never the less Decent by being less Ceremonious And I hope the Pulpit-theam of some dignified Clergy-men will be no longer The Necessity of a Publick Conscience The Absoluteness of Kings And Invectives against Dissenters and that Able Orthodox and Learned Preachers will not be starved out of their work for want of Maintenance Nothing is more likely to secure the Protestant Religion than a pious diligent and able Ministry Every body knows the influences a corrupt Clergy hath upon the Laiety and how easily under the name of the Church of England such Men may lead the People blindfold into the Enemies Camp. But now I hope that both sides will be sensible wherein they have failed and the more Sober Pious and Judicious among them both centring in their present Majesties Accession to the Throne it will allay all former Animosities and we shall love and own one another as Christians and fellow Protestants which will disappoint the Hopes of the common Adversaries above any thing that can be imagined who are likely to get no great advantage upon us but by our own Divisions and make no Musick but by our Discords and we may well hope that the Concord that is found in the great Assembly of Parliament for the uniting all Protestants will have a happy influence upon the whole Nation herein but if any will be still grumbling and contentious sure they are such Men who love the fiery Element are the Nations Enemies and are secretly acted by Priests and Jesuits to bring us back again to Popery and Confusion But I hope by this time the body of the Nation is enlightned and awakened to disâ—ern their Dangers the Indications of Providence and their own Interest and that the designs wherewith these Men are travelling will prove Abortive or bring forth no other Fruit but Mischief to themselves but it may seem strange that any who have Prayed or Preached for Union and lamented the want of it should run from it when it is now offered to them and they invited to it As we would preserve the Nations Existence and Entity let us study its Unity and follow the instincts of Nature herein Omne ens noâ— minùs appetit unitatem quam entitatem And as Natural Unity upholds the Universe