his best friend Conscience wee le pray you to stay with him if he stirrâ— you le call us wee be but in the next roome Love This Conscience is of true temper to make a friend off he neither flatters nor feares no unkindnesse alienates him nor dangeâ— asseighes him from doing the office of a true friend at all times on would not be with us such a friend for any thing in the world this distressed man hath extreamly abused him and yet you set with what servency of affection he sticks to him Iustice I know abudance of the name and of his kindred and truly all the generation of them are such Patience Whence is hee the a Scholler What prote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth I never 〈◊〉 signes of 〈…〉 in him not doth â—â— make any profession that I know of of any one calling holy in use but hens of a wounder publique spirit you shall have him at all 〈◊〉 tings that are for publique good finding fault with the 〈◊〉 of one son of men with want charity in another with pride and disdame in another willing them they glory to be esteemed Christians and till much of Religion go much to Church hear and read and pray and fast frequently because these are the cheapest parts of Religion but to deliver the captine and set the oppressed free or to feed the hungry cloath 〈◊〉 â—â—ed or visit the Father lesse and Widomes to all these they are very backward when they are called to these one hath a great family and there hath marrled awrfe another hath but one servant at home cannot be spared from his wade getting of mony I says he you are rare christians that can about in this worlds goods see your brother laek His dealing is so plaine to the point that very few regard his company and that 's the reason those great meetings produce so little good as they do for without his company you shall never see any effect worthy the name of Christian he hath had no breeding neither in the universities or Ins of Court never was a Courtier not Trauailer yet he is ignorant of nothing speaks very shrewdly to purpose owneth every just publick cause without respect to persons of opinions he will not weare finer cloathes if you would give them to him gratie yet to an ingenious vertuous man there is not a more pleasant companion Hope Pray yee what Religion is he off Truth For matter of outward formes he is very reserved as if he were not fully satisfied I have often heard him say God a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth but he professeth himselfe to be clearely for liberty of worship and the greatest enemy to compulsion or restriction that can be affirming there is no sinne so unreasonable or un-Christian as for one man especially one bring man to perecute punish or molest another for matters of Religion or to make Lawes concerning any thing supernaturall he saies it proceeds not from any savour of Christianity that men doe so but from an imperious donsineering spirit that takes it in soule scome that any man should doe any thing but by Licence from him I assure yee Conscince allowes no such dealing and this is the maine quarrell twixt him and our Patient Mr. Edwardse but I hope wee shall see them good friends againe Superstition Well if this man dye under your hande your lives shall go for his I le take my oath you are the cause of his death Piety Spare your teares Superstition you shall find we have done him a good office you will see him a new man and your selle too Idcube not erelong Conscience Hoe friends pray yee all come in quickly What 's the matter Love Justice c. Conseience Doe you see this posture wherein he lyeth thus he hath layne about a quarter of an houre his lips moving his hands and eyes lifted up just as if he were praying in the Pulpit Hope It is very wonderfull He takes notice of nobody what will be the issue See he now strives as if he would raise himselfe as if his prayer were ended and he were preparing to Preach Conscience help to hold him up and see what he will doe certainly he supposeth himselfe to be in some great presence for just thus is his manner at such times peace and listen for he begins to speake Mr. Edwards Men of England my purpose is not now as formerly to promote my owne work but to prosecute what is just and necessary without respect of persons or opinions which hath occasioned me to make choice of this place of Scripture The whole commandement is fulfilled in this one word LOVE It hath often come to my thoughts why the Apostle Saint John is called in a peculer manner the Disciple whom Jesus loved but it never made so deep impression in me as at present certainly there could he nothing more joyous to his own spirit then to consider it and my heart at present panting after the reason thereof tels me that John certainly was of a mild a loving and tender disposition more eminently then any of the rest so soft that our Saviour chose his brest for a place of his repose and I am strengthened herein because I find it recorded of him that when he was so old that he was hardly able to come into the speaking place or to speake he prosecuted this most blessed and amiable theame little children love one anoher repeating it often little children love one another as having throughly disgested this lesson of his Masters the whole commandement is fulfilled in this one word LOVE Love is the true touch-stone of all Christian performances it instantly manifesteth how things are so much love so much of God It is the surest guide in all private and publique undertakings without a due regard to the rule of love all things will goe wrong observe it it will be like the North pole to the Marriners to guide you to the quiet harbour of justice and peace it is a rule easie to be understood the meanest capacity is capable thereof none can excuse themselves that swarve from this rule If you would know your duty to God it will tell you that in equity you are to love as he hath loved hath he so loved as to give himselfe an offering and a sacrifice for you then ye ought to walke in love as Christ hath loved would you know how you should manifest your love to Christ Love will set before you the sick the naked the aged and impotent it will lead you to prisons and houses of distresse and shew you the captives the widowes and fatherlesse Children and it will assure you that in as much as you ministred to the necessities of these you have done it unto him but if you have this worlds goods and see and suffer these or any of these to lack there is not the love of God in you Would you have a rule for
A PARABLE OR CONSVLTATION OF PHYSITIANS VPON MASTER EDWARDS Doctors Love Justice Patience Truth Observers Conscience Hope Piety Superstition Policie LONDON Printed by Thomas Paine for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the Black spread Eagle at the west end of Pauls Church 1646. To the Reader MEN for the most part of all opinions are bread up with so much feare and scrupulosity that they no sooner arive to some measure of knowledge in their perticular way but they become meere Pedants fierce and violent censurers of all things they are not accustomed to themselves instantly engaging and condemning before they have deliberately examined or maturely debated the thing they judge which is an evill and unhappy temper of mind because unsâ—ciable and proceedeth from want of that generall knowledge which freedome of consideration would beget It is therfore worth our labour to study how to reduce our minds into the most friendly disposition to be ready and alwayes provided of harmelesse and friendly thoughts of men and things untill evident cause appeare to the contrary not to looke with an evill or a growling eye as if we desired to find matter to except against it is a shrewd signe of desease when the stomock hankers after unhol some things It cannot proceed from true Religion rightly understood to beget malancholly moody angry frampoll Imaginations for that rightly understood begets cheerfulnesse of spirit which is ever accompanied with love and maketh the best construction for love thinketh no evill but hopeth all things and is very kind to all men The ensuing discourse would not need this preparative but that there is an aptnesse in the most to misconster and a readinesse to giveeare gladly to any that shall shew either wit passion or mallice in finding fault it is pittie good people should so easily be deluded or evill men so easily worke their ends upon them or good intents be so easily frustrated the unusualnesse of the Title and method of this discourse will minister occasion to the Weake and to the Perverse but if the authority antiquity and use of Parables be considered with some ingenuity the Author will not loose the end of his discourse nor of this preface which is to worke amendment in some where there is cause enough A PARABLE Or Consultation of Physitians upon Master EDVVARDS DOCTOR Love Mr. Edwards I have knowne you long and have considered your complextion inclination am no stranger to your alterations and changes your turnings and returnings your loathing and againe liking one and the same thing and was alwaies willing to have advised you to take some fit course in time as being too well assured you could not but fall into some desperate distemper which now we all see hath proved too true but you ever shunned my acquaintance and at present seem so little to regard my words as if you wished my absence Doct. Patience Sir excuse him you see his distemper is very violent Doct. Love Nay Sir it moves me nothing nor shall not hinder me from doing him all the good I am able Mr. Edwards Gentlemen as desperately violent as you judge my distemper I have not yet lost the use of my sences I know you aâ—l and have heard Mr. Loves wise exordium I have known him as long as he has known me but I was never yet so simple as to think him wise enough to counsell me in case I had needed any nor doe I know by what strange meanes he or any of you of his politique tribe thus thrust your selves upon my privacy Piety Sir it was my care and their loves that brought them hither for in my apprehension you are in a most dangerous condition and the more because you are altogether insensible thereâ—f Truth He is either very insensible as you say or very obstinately desperate Mr. Edw. As for both your judgements I value them no more then I desire your companies and as for you friend Piety you and I of late have had no such great familiaritie that you should presume to be thus officious and indiscreetly troublesome you see I am not friendlesse here are friends whose friendship and counsel I muâ—h â—steem Pray friends what is your opinion of me am I not as sound of wind and limme as ever I was in my life have I need think you of the counsell of these learned Doctors or not Superstition Mr. Edwards you know I am your faithfull friend I have received much good by you I would not for any thing in the world the least hurt should befall you It is from you I have received that little knowledge and comfort that I have for which I have not been unthankfull if it had not been for you I might ere this have run into one strange Sect or other but through your care I keep close to my owne Church and to the Churches Doctrine through which I live quietly and for which I am respected in the place where I live and may in time be some body in my parish if not in the City and therefore I love you and will be plaine with you I professe Sir I judge the Doctors to be very simple persons for it is as evident as the light that is in me that you are in as perfect a good condition as I my selfe am at this time and I am confident you will say I were very unwise to ask their advice Conscience For all this Sir you must know these Doctors are of approved judgement and fidelity and how ever you may desire to be flattered you very well know the ignorance and weaknesse of this your friend Superstition whom yet you sooth and keep company with all and make to much use off contrary to my counsell you were better abandon him and all the advantages you make of him and whilst you have time give eare to the counsell of these Doctors if you neglect this opportunity you are likely never to have the like Super. Sir you are too rash in judgeing but Mr. Edwards knowes me and I know him better then to beâ— estranged by you or any such as you are Justice By your favour Sir you may sooner be too rash then he for what he hath said wee shall find both just and true Policy Truly Mr. Edwards I am glad I have a further occasion to shew my love unto you at this time you and I for some yeares now have been bosome friends you cannot imagine I meane any otherwise you then your owne heart and I must needs tell you I do see some symtomes of disease upon you but what it is these learned men can best judge and if I may perswade with you you shall for your owne good thankfully except their loves and submit to their judgements and directions but this I must also say that I evidently see there is no cause of hast some few dayes hence may be time enough in which time you and I shall have setled that busines which you
know I am now come about A work gentlemen that being finished your selves will say was worthy the hazard of his and all our lives no lesse then the building of Gods owne house sweeping out of hereticks schismaticks stopping the mouthes of illitterate mechanicall preachers and beautifying this holy building with the glorious ornament of uniformity the Mother of peace and all blessed things And if it will please these worthy Physitions and the rest of your friends to give you and I leave for the present to goe on with this pious work and to repaire to you when you shall find cause to call upon them I think they shall in so doing shew not only a care of you but of the whole Church of God nor shall I leave it only to your own care Mr. Edwards for truly gentlemen he is too apt to neglect his health and all that is deare unto him for the good of his brethen I speake my conscience and the very truth from my heart and am confident no hurt can come to him but a great deale of good to the publique if you allow of this my counsell and I Judge you so prudent and pious as to preferre the publique before your owne private trouble Cons Although Mr. Edwards when you and I and your friend Policy are together and no body else he alwaiâ—s overswaies you ever proposing things sutable to your corrupted humours yet now here are others present that can impartially judge betwixt us and therefore I shall use my accustomed plainnesse though I have never any thankes for my labour Pray Sir turne not from me but heare me and let these worthy men judge betwixt my perswations and the perswations of Pollicy gentlemen I pray observe well this darling of his This is hee whose councell he hath long time followed he it was that first inticed him to undertake this unhappy worke which contrary to all reason and Religion he calleth the building of Gods house c. though I shewed him plainly he went about therein to destroy the living houses of God the vexing and molesting of his most deare because most consciencious and peaceable servants though I told him plainly any that differed with him might as justly compell him to conforme unto them as he could compell them though I manifested that he was as liable to errour as any that he complained off and that therefore there was no reason why he should endevour to make men odious for opinions I shewed him it was impossible so long as knowledge was imperfect but men must dâ—ffer I shewed how neverthelesse every man was bound equally as himself to worship God according to his own and not another mans understanding of the word of God I told him he would bring upon himself the odium of all judicious Religious people I put him in remembrance how extreamly he himself complained of compulsion and restriction of worship in the Bishops times laid before him their miserable endes and the great disturbances that have arisen from thence to the Commonwealth shewed how much it tended to devision and confusion to set up one way of worship and to persecute or dispise all others that it was not Gods way to bring men to truth by force but the devills and Antichrists to fasten men in errour that there was no sin more unreasonable nor more odious in Gods sight then to enforce men to professe practice or worship contrary to knowledge and beleefe and that to enforce is as justly punishable by man as any other violence This and much more I told him continually yet this wretched Pollicie finding him ambitious and covetous applyed his arguments to these his corruptions and in an instant swayed him into an engagement for he said no more but this if conscience heere will undertake to secure unto you the honour domination and profit due to you as you are a Clergy-man then follow his councell but if his tend to make you esteemed but as a lay man and not regarding your learning and venerable calling to mix you amongst the vulgar and in effect bidds you to labour with your hands the things that are lawfull that you may no longer be a receiver of tythes offerings c. but from your owne labours and sweat to give to them that need if he bids you having food and rayment be herewith content and I shew unto you a way to abound with superflueties like the men of this world and to have a large share in controwling the unlearned and shall manifest unto you the defects of 〈…〉 and shall supply you with rules that 〈…〉 to effect 〈…〉 then let you and I joyne our force and councell together And if we do not in the end shall between us all the months wild go resup His world say Machelet was not so 〈◊〉 natius loyola the Father of the lesuites upon this they stick hands and over such have plyed their work and though successe hath failed and those hath produced contrary effect those increasing in number and reputation whom they labour to suppresse and defame 〈◊〉 Edwards though 〈◊〉 and vex no be fallen into this 〈…〉 you now see him the set you see this wicked Polly labours in a most cunning manner to dilwade him from taking you present councell least you should direct him nor his recovery into some such course as would 〈◊〉 his wicked design abled prive from of this his most speciall instrument this is the united of this crafty Pbiscy And if you interpose not with your wisdome he will preyaile to 〈…〉 of this in distressed I rierd for a few houses more in this ungodly worke falsly and deceitfully called the building of Gods House will put him past hope of recovery therefore admit of no delys 〈◊〉 Pity will help you and 〈◊〉 and hope will thrust this where 〈◊〉 cowrhe the stayes and out of doores and then I shall not doubt but some good may be done come pray set our hands such suffer him not to speake a word for he will delude a whole nation and make you believe no man so godly or so charitable 〈…〉 it is you have had so good entertainement heere you are loth to depart stand too Piety sustice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where are you now you will still befoole your selfe down will Him so out with him and I 'e shut the doore 〈◊〉 ough I hope or his entrance there any more how this and ungodly 〈◊〉 has made us all sweat superstition I thought you would 〈…〉 any zealous as to have helpt him but an now stay and see what usage your woefull friend here finds amongst 〈◊〉 Love Conscience Let us 〈◊〉 while I judge your violence against Pollicy being unexpected hath put out distrested Friend here into a kind of extacie let us observe the issue I doubt not after this wee â—â—all find him sencible of his distemper draw the Curtaines close if he rest t will do well Iustice Conscience I cannot but approve your faithfulnesse 〈◊〉 your friend in