be Impiety because 't is prosperous and permitted that is not hinder'd by Force and Violence inconsistent with a free Moral Agent then the Great Sultan and the Great Cham and the Great Mogull as well as the Great Bishop of Rome are by an equal Sound-Consequence the greatest Favourites of Heaven And then the Argument of Symmachus had been unanswerably conclusive against the Primitive Christians who for 300 Years and upwards lay groaning under the Yoke of the Heathens Tyranny or Lastly If Permission were still a Mark of Approbation then Dionysius or Diagoras had argu'd logically well when having robb'd the Delphick Temple and immediately after escap'd a Shipwrack He gave it out that the Gods had approv'd his Sacrilege Not at all that he believ'd but laugh'd at Providence Riches and Prosperity are not always Blessings to the Enjoyers of them but very often bestow'd on the worst of Men to their hurt The Divine Wisdom reserving a better Reward for his dearest Servants in the World Presb. and Indep My Lord We are not satisfi'd that our dividing and separating from the Church of England deserves so bad a Name as that of Schism if it does we must expect a very severe Sentence and the Court must be justifi'd in its Proceedings against us Judge You have had enough offer'd before by the Church's Advocate but to leave the Matter more clear take the Judgment of your Principal Men who when time was reason'd thus against those that subdivided from them If we be a Church of Christ and Christ hold Communion with us why do you separate from us If we be the Body of Christ do not they that separate from the Body separate from the Head also If the Apostle calls those Divisions of the Church of Corinth wherein Christians did not separate into divers formed Congregations in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Schisms 1 Cor. 1. 10. may not your Secession from us and professing you cannot join with us as Members and setting up Congregations of another Communion be more properly call'd Schism You gather Churches together out of your Churches and set up Churches in an opposite Way to our Churches and all this you do voluntarily and unwarrantably not having any sufficient Cause for it In the same Book they tell us of a Twofold Schism Negative and Positive Negative when Men do peaceably and quietly withdraw from Communion with a Church from which they are departed The other is when Persons withdrawing do consociate and withdraw themselves into a distinct and opposite Body setting up a Church against a Church which say they Camero calls a Schism by way of Eminence And farther tells us there are Four Causes that make a Separation from a Church lawful 1. When they that separate are grievously and intolerably persecuted 2. When the Church they separate from is Heretical 3. When 't is Idolatrous 4. When 't is the Seat of Antichrist And where none of these Four are found there the Separation is insufficient and Schism Now we are fully assur'd that none of these Four Causes can be charg'd upon our Congregations Therefore you must not be displeas'd with us if we blame you as guilty of positive Schism All which is as true now as it was then and as applicable to us and them and it was to them and their Dissenters The Presbyterians and Independents are indeed more guilty of Schism in separating from the truly Apostolical Church of England than they could be in dividing from each other Seekers But we think there are some things in the Constitution of that Church might be contriv'd to better Purposes and we would find out a Church that needs no Amendment no Alteration Judge Then you must be of no Church on this side Heaven you seek in vain because such Perfection is not in this World yet as great a Degree of it in the Church of England as in any Church or Congregation on Earth and for ought yet appears much greater But that every suppos'd Corruption in a Church is not a sufficient Ground of Separation or Warrant enough to rend and tear the Church in pieces Let Mr. Calvin judge between us who says That where-ever the Word of God is duly preach'd and reverently attended to and the true Use of the Sacraments kept up there is the plain Appearance of a True Church whose Authority no Man may safely despise or reject its Admonitions or resist its Counsel or set at nought its Discipline much less separate from it and violate its Unity For that our Lord has so great a Regard to the Communion of his Church That he accounts him an Apostate from his Religion who obstinately separates from any Christian Society which keeps up the true Ministry of the Word and Sacraments That such a Separation is a Denial of God and of Christ And that 't is a dangerous and pernicious Temptation so much as to think of separating from such a Church the Communion whereof is never to be rejected so long as it continues in the true use of the Word and Sacraments Though otherwise it be overrun with many Blemishes and Corruptions Which is as plain and full a Determination of the Case as if he particularly design'd it against the Doctrine and Practice of the Modern Dissenters from our Church Quak. I hope the Nation will yet believe us to be very honest harmless Men who deal fairly and kindly with all Persons never oppressing griping or defrauding any Man we are at a Word avoid abundance of that vain unnecessary Talk which others use in Trading and therefore I humbly desire that the Court would acquit us Judge You have forfeited much of that good Opinion that the Nation once had of you and all the Riches you boasted of were gotten by Peoples Credulity trusting you too much before they try'd you All your Religion is now dwindled into a bare Pretence of Honesty which at best is not equal to that of the more Ancient Heathens Your YEA or NAY your Single Word shall bite as much as a Thousand a Lye may soon be told and if the World complains of you for any Dishonesty in over-reaching or deceiving your Neighbours all is put off with your Spiritual Distinction 'T is not say you downright Cheating of Men but a sanctifi'd Out-witting 'em which is own'd and practised amongst you Presbyt My Lord We have two or three Gentlemen to produce in our Vindication Judge Who are they Presbyt St. Hierome Aerius and Honest John Calvin The first says That Bishop and Presbyter are all one The second That they differ nothing in Order Dignity and Power And the last was so offended with Episcopacy That he threw out the Bishop of Geneva and turn'd the Name of Bishop into that of Superintendent and under that Title He and his Godly Successours have there about one hundred Years govern'd that Church Judge Hierome must be a Saint now for letting fall one single Sentence in favour of the Presbyterians But
those that are acquainted with St. Hierome's Writings well know that this Passage was intended to beat down the Usurpation of the Deacons at Rome who then began to out-top the Presbyters on this Account he was tempted to magnifie and extoll the Place and Dignity of Presbyters in the Church And though he said that Bishops and Presbyters are all one He yet in other places excepts the Office of Ordination and Government And does at other times plainly and frequently assert the Authority of Bishops over Presbyters and did himself constantly live in Communion with and Subjection to Bishops John Calvin could not advance himself at Geneva without the Bishop's Fall and yet had all things belonging to a Bishop but the Name As Old Noll had in the Monarchy but the bare Title of King The Geneva or Presbyterian Discipline was begotten in Rebellion born in Sedition and nurs'd up by Faction Aerius was one of the worst Friends you cou'd have produc'd he was vex'd to see himself slighted and not preferr'd to a Bishoprick as his Companion Eustathius was And this made the haughty Man start aside and talk extravagantly against Bishops â—â—at the Church branded and excommunicated him for an Heretick and Epiphanius represents him little better than a Mad-man distemper'd by Pride Emulation Envy Covetousness Ambition These were the Causes of his opposing Episcopal Government If you consult Blondell Salmatius and Daillé whose great Parts Learning and indefatigable Industry cou'd if any thing have made out the contrary you 'll see they have been forc'd to grant That Episcopacy obtain'd in the Church within a few Years after the Apostolick But our Church can safely carry it higher even to the Apostles themselves so much you urg'd me to speak concerning the Antiquity and Dignity of Bishops in the Church Dissent We all acknowledge we have had Freedom enough to speak for our selves we have but one thing more to plead and then we shall submit to your Lordship's Determination Our Separation from the Church must be allow'd because there are in it many wicked People scandalous ill Livers who for want of due Exercise of Discipline or by the Inadvertence or Connivence of its Governours do remain in it and so give us just occasion of Offence and Separation There are two Texts of Scripture for us in this Case 2 Cor. 6. 17. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing so Rev. 18. 4. Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues Judge This I take to be none of the least Absurdities the Dissenters are guilty of Are there no such Mixtures no Offenders no ill Livers amongst you Are they all holy harmless and pure that come to your Congregations If not you have the same Reasons to separate to come out from among them as to withdraw from the Church for fear of Pollution and by the same Argument you must never join in any Communion while the World endures The want of Discipline we may thank you for You You Dissenters are the Cause that so many Immoralities are now tolerated That Excommunication and other necessary Censures of the Church which formerly kept People in good Order and preserv'd the Honor and Reputation of Religion are by your Encouragement of Disobedience both omitted and mock'd at And were you truly Men of tender Consciences this one Consideration would make your Hearts ake Look into the State of the Church under the Jewish Administration and you 'll find that the Sins of neither Priest nor People owning the True God became at any time the occasion of Separation to them What Sins could be greater than those of Eli's Sons And yet did not the People of God Elkanah and Hannah by Name refrain to join with them in the Publick Worship 1 Sam. 2. 17 24. In Ahab's time when all Israel halted betwixt God and Belial yet then did the Prophet Elijah summon all Israel to appear on Mount Carmel and held a Religious Communion with them in Preaching and Praying and Offering a Miraculous Sacrifice 1 King 18. All along when both Prince Priests and People were very much deprav'd and debauch'd in their Manners we don't find that the Prophets at any time exhorted the Faithful and Sincere to separate from the rest or that they themselves set up any separate Meetings but continu'd in Communion with the Church preaching to them and advising them to Repentance Look into the New Testament you 'll see in the Apostolick Churches of Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia many of the Members were grown very Bad and Scandalous yet we don't read the Example of any Good Man separating from the Church or any one Precept rightly understood from the Apostles so to do They don't tell them that the whole Body was polluted by those filthy Members and that if they would be safe themselves they must withdraw from their Communion but exhort 'em to use all Means to reclaim them And if neither private nor publick Admonitions and Reproofs wou'd do then to suspend them from the Communion of the Church till by Repentance and Amendment they render'd themselves capable of being restor'd to Peace and Pardon Our Blessed Saviour knew the Jewish Church to be a corrupt Church Priests and People lewd and vicious yet kept in Communion with it and commanded his Disciples so to do We read that the Scribes and Pharisees who rul'd the Ecclesiastical Chair at that time had perverted the Law corrupted the Worship of God were blind Guides devoured Widows houses were Hypocrites and such as only had a Form of Godliness yet did not our Saviour separate from their Communion but was made under the Law freely submitted himself to all the Rites and Ceremonies of it He was circumcis'd on the Eighth Day redeem'd by a certain Price being a Son and a First-born observ'd the Passover and other Feasts enjoin'd by their Law Yea and that of the Dedication too which was but of Human Institution was baptiz'd amongst them preach'd in their Temples and Synagogues reason'd with 'em about Religion exhorted his Disciples to hear their Doctrine though not to follow their Practices Now what greater Cause on the Account of Corruption and Manners could be given to separate from a Church than was there Yet how carefull was our Saviour both by his Example and Precept to forbid and discountenance it Consider the Representations of a Church given in Scripture and elsewhere to shew that it is a Mixture of Good and Bad 'T is call'd a Field in which Wheat and Tares grew up together a Net wherein are Fishes of all sorts a Barn wherein there is Corn and Chaff a Vine that has fruitful and barren Branches an House in which are Vessels of Gold and Silver and of lesser Value a Marriage-Feast at which were wise and foolish Virgins c. St. Hierome compares the Church to Noah's
half so industrious so hearty so united in their Endeavours to preserve their Church in its due Splendour and Reputation as others are to eclipse her Glory and depress her to the very Ground The Book you see is faulty in this Particular The Dissenters are wise they do all within the compass of their Power to keep up their Conventicles with Number and Riches while the careless Church-Men mind little but to talk drink or swear for their Religion and so leave it As to the fearful Bill or Charge drawn up against the young Counsellor 't is found defective in Form tho' the Matter seems true 'T was at first very surprizing he knew not what in the World to say to it Now the Saints are inclin'd to think 't is all a perfect Mistake because He flatly denies the Accusations begins to appear again in Publick and follows Mr. Month's Ghostly Advice p. 25. For who can believe the Man guilty of an evil Act that with Heart of Stone and Face like Brass can tell the World he is not so If the Relations are for Law He has Skill enough in that to evade their Trial. He knows when to demurr and when plead If they would punish him in any other Members than the Offending Ones out comes an Audita Quaerela Let 'em demand the Bold Pyrate's full Restitution of the Virgin-Treasure He returns a Non est invent ' in nostrâ Ballivâ And to secure his Right of Elections proceeds by a Quare Impedit and is able to produce divers loose Precedents in these known Cases But if all these Shifts and Projects fail he can hide his Head in the Low-Countries till Time has worn out the Memory of his Crimes lest by continuing in any Part of this envious Nation he should be stopt with a Ne Exeat Regno and be undone for ever 'T was one blind side of the Book to propose the Best Choice for Religion and Government as sufficient to persuade Dessenters to unite with the Church where both these are in greatest Perfection You may silence but shall hardly persuade them see it in Mr. Maggot's Case At first reading the Book he was startled and crept close into his Wool for shelter But now being warm'd and reviv'd by his Sheep's Cloathing begins to be more brisk and airy will not allow the Church to be the Best Choice because we the dissenting Brethren can't endure to own our Errours and Imperfections 'T is a Rarity to find one of a hundred that will be prevail'd on by good Reason and Argument the far greater number consulting with Men of Stout and Obdurate Consciences in which the Spirit of God never dwells will sooner die or venture the Ruine of Church and Kingdom than recede one small step from their belov'd and destructive Practices But why all this noise about the Church as if the Church was injur'd in our Choice of Sir Anthony Is not he the Son of a Church a moderate Church-Man He goes sometimes to Church and has been heard say He was never at a Conventicle in all his time Now if Sir Anthony does sincerely love the Church as every true Member of it ought to do He 'll certainly in all Things in all Times Cases and Circumstances espouse her Interest give her all the Demonstrations of Kindness and Fidelity that can be given Can any Man consent to pull down that Church wherein if at all he hopes to be sav'd To despise or neglect much less to spurn against a most Pious Mother that has provided to make him happy in both Worlds If by a Moderate Church-Man is meant One that cares not how little he 's concern'd in the Communion of it One that 's indifferent or cold in all the Parts of its Worship that is not strictly ty'd up to the Rules and Orders of it but is at Liberty to prevaricate upon any Worldly Consideration That to please or gratifie a Party can omit alter or abbreviate the Church's Prayers play fast or loose with his Religion can betray the Church to serve himself He 's properly no Church-Man at all no true no sound Member of it Is rather like a Wooden-Leg ty'd on and taken off at pleasure than by natural Ligaments and Nerves knit to the Ecclesiastical Body The Church often suffer'd and can have no good from such loose such false Professours I see no Reason to engage the Dissenters to chuse such a Moderate Church-Man as before describ'd since it is not very probable that a Man can be true to another Party kind to other Religions who is unfaithful to his own But if by a Moderate Church-Man is signify'd one who being a true Christian cannot dissemble with God and the World gives Caesar and the Church their due Respect and Deference is yet of that sober meek patient and charitable Temper as to pity and pray for his very Enemies Is not for taking advantages of all Offenders not for insisting strictly on the Summum Jus the utmost Rigour or Extremity towards them But demeaning himself so equitably and fairly in the Administration of Justice in Differences and Contests and generally in his Dealing with all Men as to promote the Wellfare of Mankind and as much as is possible for an honest Man to do for preserving of Concord and Amity one with another Such a Benign Lovely Christian Temper does the Church of England above all others commend and practice at this day Has ever esteem'd it her Glory to keep the Medium between the Two Extremes of Severity and Remissness Such Moderation as the Dissenters never us'd towards her when they had the Power nor can they shew it to one another when ever their Circumstances shall happen to require it Oh! But Sir Anthony was a Fellow-Sufferer with the Dissenters was secur'd and carried to Prison when the Government was in Danger and he suspected as an Enemy though he call'd himself a Church-Man And have not Dissenters Reason to look on him as a Friend whate'er the Book says to the contrary 'T is no matter for considering the Cause whether our Persecution was or was not for Righteousness sake whether Dissenters then suffer'd as Christians or for some other Reason But suffer they did That remains so fresh in our Memories that we can neither forget nor forgive it We are unwilling to remember on t'other side how miserably the Loyal Episcopal Party were plunder'd sequestred decimated dungeon'd starv'd and often stunk to death what Oaths and Covenants were rigorously impos'd on the Wicked what restraints were laid upon their Liberties both Civil and Ecclesiastical tho' all this while they had Law and Right standing for them But the Saints at that time Ruling by the Law of Liberty and good Conscience publish'd an Ordinance of Parliament in the Year 1645. That if any Person hereafter shall at any time use or cause to be used The Book of Common-Prayer in any Church Publick Place of Worship or in any private House or