Heedlesness of the Common-Souldier contributed in a High Measure to the General Fate Nay that his Late Majesty was oppress'd even by those that thought they fought for him before they understood what they did But yet let me Commend to your Observation that these relenting Intervals in the Heads of the Army did manifestly Vary according to the Pulse of their Affairs Which evinces that it was a Deliberation upon the matter of Convenience rather then upon a Point of Conscience But thus far however we are agreed That many of the Non-Conformists were engaged Whether upon Ignorance Interest or Faction take your Choice That is to say upon Which of These Three you will found the Merits of your Party We are next to Enquire How far your Principles and Actions will comport with the Duties of Society and the Ends of Government SECT IX The Non-Conformists Plea for Toleration from the Innocence and Modesty of their OPINIONS and PRACTISES C. IN the Question of Government and Obedience there are many Points wherein the Non-Conformists agree Many more wherein they differ and not a few wherein they are altogether Fluctuant and Uncertain We have Nothing to do in this Place with their Disagreements or Uncertainties save only in those Matters wherein they are United by Common Consent And to Determine what Those are will be a New Difficulty Unless you tell Us before-hand What Authorities we may depend upon Your Principles must be Known or they cannot be Examined Wherefore Pray'e Direct us Where we may find them N. C. Why truly in the History of the Reformation for This Controversie has been on foot from the very beginning of it to this Day C. If you speak of the Reformation beyond the Seas I do not find any thing there that comes neer our Purpose Here is first Pretended a Reformation of a Reformation Secondly A Conjunction of Several Parties and Perswasions at utter Enmity One with Another in a Confederacy against the Order of the Government Whereas in the Great Turn of Affairs Abroad I see little more then a Defection from the Church of Rome and People setling themselves in some other way as well as they could Muncer's Party in Germany had I confess some Resemblance of the Tumults here in England that usher'd in the late War both for the Medly and for the Rabble In Scotland indeed there was a Contest for the Reforming of a Reformation and it went high But it was only a Struggle for the Geneva-Discipline Which Humour was brought over to us too and driven on for a while under Q Elizabeth with much Contumacy and Bitterness But our Case in short was never known in the Christian World till the late Troubles and thither it is that we must resort for satisfaction to our present Enquiry Now whether you 'l be tried by the Declarations Votes Orders and Ordinances of that Pretended Parliament that carry'd on the Quarrel Or by the Undeniable Doctrines and Positions of your own Divines and those the very Idols of your Party is left at your Election N. C. As for the Parliament let them answer for themselves We had no hand in their Proceedings And for our Ministers They were but Men and may have their Failings as well as other People If you would know our Principles We are for Worshipping according to the Light of Our Consciences for Obeying God rather then Man and for yielding all due Obedience to the Civil Magistrate C. All This comes to Nothing For you may make that Light what you please and Qualifie that due Obedience as you list What does all this Evasion and Obscurity signifie but that there is somewhat in the bottom more then you are willing to own There are a sort of People that tell us The War raised in 41 in the Name of King and Parliament was Lawful And That the Soveraignty was lodg'd in the Two Houses Nay in the People in Case of Necessity That Kings are but the Peoples Trustees Their Power Fiduciary and the Duty of Subjects only Conditional That Princes may be Depos'd Nay and put to Death in Case of Tyranny And That their Persons may be Resisted but not their Authority That the King is Singulis Major Universis Minor And that the People may Enter into Covenant for the Reformation of Religion without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate nay against his Authority and Propagate Religion by the Sword They make their Appeals from the Literal Construction of Law to the Equitable from the Law Written to the Law of Nature and Necessity A Man might ply You with fresh Instances upon this Subject till to morrow morning But here we 'l stop And pray'e speak your Opinion now of Granting a Toleration to a Party that Professes and Teaches These Principles and Acts accordingly N. C. What is all This to the Non-Conformists Who are already come to an Agreement that In the Question of Toleration The Foundation of Faith Good Life and Government is to be Secured C. Very Good So that what Party soever shall be found Guilty of the Positions aforesaid and of Actions answerable thereunto cannot reasonably pretend to a Toleration from the Innocency of their Opinions and Practises Now to Particulars The POSITIONS of Divers Eminent Non-Conformists I. The War raised by the TWO HOUSES in the Name of King and Parliament 1641. was Lawful I cannot see that I was mistaken in the main Cause Nor dare I repent of it Nor forbear the same if it were to do again in the same State of Things And my Iudgment tells me That if I should do otherwise I should be guilty of Treason Or Disloyalty against the Soveraign Power of the Land Pag. 486. A King abusing his Power to the Overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties may be Controuled and Opposed This may serve to justifie the Proceedings of this Kingdom against the Late King who in a Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties P. 10. The Righteousness of the Parliament's Cause is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day And like the Law of God it self in These Excellent Qualifications of it That It is Holy Just and Good P. 6. II. The Lords and Commons are the Supreme Power Nay the People in Case of Necessity Parliaments may judge of Publique Necessity without the King If deserted by the King and are to be accompted by Virtue of Representation as the Whole Body of the State P. 45. Whensoever a King or other Superior Authority creates an Inferior They Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to Punish Themselves also in Case they prove Evil-doers P. 7. England is a mixt Monarchy and Governed by the Major Part of the Three Estates Assembled in Parliament P. 111. The Houses are not only requisite to the Acting of the Power of making Laws but Co-ordinate with his Majesty in the very Power of Acting P. 42. When as a Part of the Legislative Power resides in
Wicked Governour But that the Universality of the People may Lawfully do it I think no Body questions Fixum Ratúmque habeatur Populi semper esse debere Supremam Majestatem P. 9. VII The People may enter into a Covenant for Reformation without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate There is much Sin in making a Covenant on Sinful Grounds and there is more Sin in Keeping it But when the Preservation of true Religion and the Vindication of Just Liberties meet in the Ground Ye may Swear and not Repent Yea if Ye Swear Ye must not Repent P. 18. Not only is That Covenant which God hath made with Us founded in the Blood of Christ but That also which We make with God P. 33. The Breach of the National Covenant is a Greater Sin then a Sin against a Commandment or against an Ordinance 158. A Sin of so high a Nature that God cannot in Honour but be avenged upon 't 159. VIII RELIGION may be Propagated by the SWORD The Question in England is Whether Christ or Anti-Christ shall be Lord or King Go on therefore Couragiously Never can ye lay out your Blood in such a Quarrel Christ shed all his Blood to save You from Hell Venture All Yours to set Him upon his Throne P. 23. Cursed be he that withholdeth his Sword from Blood that spares when God saith Strike that suffers those to escape whom God has appointed to Destruction P. 24. In the 10 of Numbers you shall read that there were Two Silver Trumpets and as there were Priests appointed for the Convocation of their Assemblies so there were Priests to sound the Silver Trumpets to Proclaim the War And likewise in the 20 of Deuteronomy you shall find there that when the Children of Israel would go out to War the Sons of Levi one of the Priests was to make a Speech to Encourage them And certainly if this were the Way of God in the Old Testament certainly much more in such a Cause as This in which Cause Religion is so entwin'd and indeed so enterlac'd that Religion and This Cause are like Hippocrates his Twins they must live and dye together You have vowed in This Covenant to Assist the Forces raised by the Parliament according to your Power and Vocation and not to Assist the Forces raised by the King neither Directly nor Indirectly P. 45. Now let me exhort you not only to chuse to serve God and to serve his Church and his Cause in this most Iust Defensive War c. 46. In vain shall you in your Fasts with Josua ly on your Faces unless you lay your Achans on their Backs In vain are the High Praises of God in your Mouthes without a Two-edged Sword in your Hands P. 31. The Execution of Iudgment is the Lords Work and they shall be Cursed that do it Negligently and Cursed shall they be that keep back their Sword from Blood in this Cause You know the Story of Gods Message unto Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition P. 26. Whensoever you shall behold the hand of God in the Fall of Babylon say â—…rue Here is a Babylonish Priest crying out Alas Alas My Living I have Wife and Children to Maintein I but all this is to perform the Iudgment of the Lord. P. 30. Though as Little Ones they call for Pitty yet as Babylonish they call for Iustice even to Blood IX There lies an Appeal from the Letter of the Law to the EQUITY of it And from the Law Written to the Law of NATURE The Commander going against the EQUITY of the Law gives Liberty to the Commanded to refuse Obedience to the Letter of it There is a Court of Necessity no less then a Court of Justice and the Fundamental Laws must then speak and it is with a People in this Extremity as if they had no Ruler P. 113. The People have given the Politique Power to the King and the NATURAL Power they Reserve to Themselves 151. All Humane Laws and Constitutions are made with Knees to bend to the Law of NATURE and NECESSITY P. 85. Here is more then enough said already and to go on as far as the Matter would carry us there would be no End on 't You are now at â—…berty either to deny These to be the Positions of the Non-Conâ—… or to justifie the Positions themselves or to lay down your Plea for Toleration upon the Innocency of their Principles N. C. I am no Friend to These Positions Neither can I yet quit my Claiâ—… unless you make it out that These are the Principles of the Party which I take to be only the Errours of Individuals C. Shew me the Party and let me alone to prove These to be Their Principles But if you will not acknowledge a Party they are as you say but the Errours of Individuals though all the Non-Conformists in the Three Kingdoms should own them under their Hands You call your selves Non-Confermists and so were they that both began and carried on the Late War Great Apprehensions they had of the Designs of the Popish Party So have you Mightily offended they were at the Immoderate Power of the Bishops You again Petitioners for the taking away such Oppressions in Religion Church Government and Discipline as had been brought in and Fomented by them Your very Picture still And for Uniting all such together as joyn in the same Fundamental Truths against the Papists â—…hy removing some Oppressions and Unnecessary Ceremonies by which Divers weak Consciences have been scrupled and seem to be divided from the rest The very Platform of your Comprehension Thus far You march Hand in Hand I need not tell you what followed upon 't but Your Parts are so much alike that it looks as if We were now again upon the first Seene of the same Tragedy For a Conclusion Conformity or In-Conformity seem'd at first to be the Sum of the Question and the Discipline of the Church was made the Ground of the Quarrel The Ruâ—…ing Party in the Pretended Parliament were Non-Conformists The Army Non-Conformists The Preâ—…ended Assembly of Divines were Non Conformists The City-Ministers and Lecturers Non-Conformists And by the Solâ—…mn League and Covenant every Man that took it was to be a Non-Conformist upon pain of Damnation Now take Your Choice since Non-Conformists you are Whether you 'l Range your selves under the Parliament Your Army Your Assembly Your City-Ministers Or Your Solemn League and Covenant And let me bear the Blame if I make it not as clear as the Day That the Principles charg'd upon You are the Principles of Your Party As to your PRACTISES They haue been suitable to your POSITIONS and All those Violences have been Exercised upon the Government that were first Dictated in the Pulpit The Lawfulness of Popular Insurrections Of Deposing and Putting Kings to Death under the Cloak of Reformation has been vented as the Doctrine of Iesus Christ even
Convention Look now a little into the Scotch Affairs and observe the Growth of the Non-Conformists Demands from one thing to another till in the End by virtue of what the King Granted them they possest themselves of all the Rest. In their Tumults says his Majesty they complein'd only of the Service Book In their Petition exhibited to the Counsel they complein'd of the Service-Book and Canons In their Covenant they complein of and Abjure the Five Articles of Perth although Establish't first by a General Assembly and Then by Parliament After This they complein of the High Commission And Then of Prelates Sitting in Civil Judicatories Hereupon His Majesty Commissions Marquis Hamilton with full Power and Authority to Conclude and Determine all such Things as should be found for the Good Quietness and Peace of that Kingdom Directing him also to take the mildest Course that might be for the Calming of those Commotions And what Effect had this Peaceable Inclination of His Majesty upon the Covenanters but to blow them up into more Seditious and bolder Practises against the King's Authority and the Publique Peace They pursue their Demands and Clamour for a Free General Assembly and a Parliament His Majesty gives them all their Askings Indicts a Free General Assembly and a Parliament Dischâ—…rges the Service-Book the Canons High-Commission The urâ—…ing of the Five Articles of Perth Commands the Subscribing of the Confession of Faith and the Band thereto annexed in the very Form which they pretended to Impose And offers them an Act of Indemnity for what was past In all which Condescentions the King's Patience and Mercy only served to heighten and confirm those Men in their Undertaking and to expose his Royal Dignity to Contempt In the conclusion the King had so far gratified their Importunities that they had nothing left to Quarrel upon but His Majesties refusal to Abolish Episcopacy and to admit the Authority of their Lay-Elders From hence they brake out into open Rebellion and when the King had them directly at his Mercy upon the Interview of the two Armies near Berwick such was his Tenderness that upon their Supplication for a Treaty he Trusted them again and Concluded a Pacification whereof the Covenanters observ'd not so much as One Article Upon his Return to London His Majesty as is elswhere observed passes the Triennial Bill Abolishes the Star-Chamber and High Commission Court Passes an Act for the Continuance of the Parliament Not to insist upon the several other Concessions concerning Ship-money Forests and Stannary Courts Tunnage and Poundage Knighthood c. Now in Requital of these Benefits the Faction Claps up and Prosecutes his Majesties Friends Prefers and Enlarges his Enemies Rewards the Scots Entertains their Commissioners Votes Them their Dear Brethren for Invading Us Calls in all Books and Proclamations against them They take away the Bishops Votes Impose a Protestation upon the People Take away the Earl of Strafford's Life Charge Twelve of the Bishops with Treason Declare the King's Proclamations to be False Scandalous and Illegal Keep his Majesty out of his own Towns and Seize his Arms and Ammunition They present Him with Nineteen Propositions for the Resignation of his Royal Authority They Vote a General and Raise an Army against him They Usurp the Power of the Militia and give the King Battel Levy Moneys and Declare the Queen Guilty of Treason After all These Usurpations upon the Civil Power They are put to 't to bring the Cause of Religion once again upon the Stage They enter into a Covenant and call in the Scots again They Abolish the Common-Prayer secure the Person of the King Share the Revenues of the Church and Crown They Sequester Banish and Imprison his Majesties Adherents and in the Conclusion Sell Depose and Murder their Soveraign This was the Fruit of that Pious and Unfortunate Prince his Clemency and Indulgence Now to bring the Instance home to the present Times What could be more Pious Gracious or Obliging then His Majesties Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs in Favour of the Non-Conformists All that was possible for the King to do in Consistence with Conscience Honour and the Peace of his Dominions His Majesty has therein given them a frank Assurance of with their Lives and Estates over and above in the Act of Oblivion And are they one jote the Quieter for all This No but the Worse for no sooner was the King's Tenderness in That Particular made Publique but the Generality even of those that had lately Entred into a Regular and Dutiful Compliance with the Orders of the Church started into a new Revolt which proves sufficiently the Benefit and Necessity of a strict Rule and the hazzard of a Toleration For rather then abide the Penalty of the Act they could Conform but upon the least Glimpse of a Dispensation they Relâ—…pse into a Schism Neither do I find that they were less Troublesom before the Act of Uniformity when they Preach'd at Randome then they have been since Nor to say the Truth that they have much more Cause of Compleint Now then they had Then For what are they the worse for a Penalty that is never Executed But if you will have a True Measure of their Moderation and Good Nature I pray'e take notice of their Proceedings upon His Majesties Commission for the Review of the Book of Common-Prayer We will appoint says His Majesty in his Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs an Equal Number of Learned Divines of Both Perswasions to Review the same and to make such ALTERATIONS as shall be thought most NECESSARY So that the Alterations were to be agreed upon by BOTH PARTIES and found likewise to be NECESSARY Now instead of Alterations joyntly agreed upon They Publish a Complete Liturgy of their own indeed a New Directory but under the Title of The REFORMATION of the Liturgie which in all their Books signifies ABOLITION Give me the favour next to observe upon some of their NECESSARY Alterations They have turn'd WEDDED Wife into MARRIED DOEST THOU Believe into DO YOU Believe All this I STEDFASTLY Believe into All this I UNFEIGNEDLY Believe These are some of the Important Scruples that are cast into the Balance against the Unity of the Church and the Peace of the Kingdom What is This but to make Sport with Authority and Conscience Laws must be Suspended Princes Vilified and Importun'd because forsooth the Godly Party may not be Govern'd by Laws of their own making Nay by Words of their own chusing too So that we are like to have a Schism for Syllables as well as for Ceremonies For what is the Difference betwixt WEDDED and MARRIED but that the One wears the Stamp of the Law-Makers and the Other of the Law-Menders Is it not now evident that they are the worse for good usage And that they have ever been so You see the Effects of keeping to a Rule in Queen Elizabeth and King Iames And we have since felt to our Cost
calling it Antichristian and Mr. Case shall give him a Commission to take this Agag and Hew it in pieces before the Lord. Taking up Arms against the Government is helping the Lord against the Mighty And King-killing it self is justified by the Example of Ehud to Eglon. N. C. But do you believe any Man so mad as to take these Extravagances for Impulses of Conscience C. Or rather Is not he madder that doubts it Considering the Evidences we have both from Story and Experience and the very Authority of Scripture it self in favour of believing it Does not our Saviour foretell us of False Christs and False Prophets that shall arise and deceive many yea if it were possible the very Elect Parties are engag'd in all sorts of Abomination under the Masque of Conscience Those of the League in Flanders 1503. under Maximilian bound themselves by Oath to cast off the Yoke of Government and to kill and slay all Opposers but with such regard to Religion I warrant ye that every Member of that Confederacy was to say five Ave Maryes and Pater Nosters daily For a Blessing upon the Undertaking The Holy League at Peronne under Henry the Third of France was for the Glory of God too and the Preservation of the King What Horrible Effects it produced I need not tell you Sleydan reckons upon Fifty Thousand slain in one Summer in the Boores Rebellion in Germany 1525. And charges the Tumult upon Seditious Preachers whereof Muncer was chief I shall not need to mind you of the Damned Villanies that were acted by Muncer Phifer Beold or Iohn of Leyden Rottman Knipperdolling Kippenbroke Iohn Matthias and the rest of that Gang under the Imposture of Inspiration and Conscience Their Sacking and Burning of Towns Rapes and Massacres And all this under the pretense of God's Command and the Direction of his Holy Spirit Nay so strongly was the deluded Multitude possest with the Doctrine and Ways of their False Prophets that the Muncerians upon the Charge of the Landtzgrave of Hesse stood stone still without striking a Blow calling upon the Holy Ghost to their Succour as Muncer had promised them till they were all Routed and Cut off Was it not a Holy Father and the Prior of the Convent one of the Heads of the League that confirm'd Clement in his purpose of Murthering Harry the Third of France For his Encouragement they assur'd him That if he out-liv'd the Fact he should be a Cardinal If he dy'd a Saint What was it again that originally disposed this Monster to that cursed Act Stimolato dalle Predicationi che giournallmente sentiva fare contra Henrico di Valois nominato il persecutore della Fede il Tyranno Seditious Sermons against the King as a Persecutor of the Faith and a Tyrant See in the same Author the Confession of Iohn Castle concerning his Attempt upon Harry the Great He had been brought up in the Jesuites School and Instructed That it was not only Lawful but Meritorious to destroy Harry of Bourbon That Revolted Heretique and Persecutor of the Holy Church Esaminato con le solite Forme confesso liberamente c. What was it that Animated Ravillac to his Hellish Practise upon that Brave Prince but by his own Confession A Discourse of Mariana's De Rege Regis Institutione It was a Divine Instinct too that mov'd Balthasar Gerard to Murther the Prince of Aurange Divino tantùm Instinctu id à se patratum constanter affirmabat diu Tortus To conclude now with That fresh and execrable Instance here at Home upon the Person of the Late King It was the Pulpit that started the Quarrel The Pulpit that Enflam'd it The Pulpit that Christen'd it God's Cause The Pulpit that conjur'd the People into a Covenant to defend it The Pulpit that blasted the King that pursu'd him that prest the putting of Him to Death and the Pulpit that applauded it when it was done And how was all this effected I beseech ye but by Imposing upon the weak and inconsiderate Multitude Errors for Truths by perverting of Scriptures and by These Arts moulding the Passions and the Consciences of the People to the Interest of a Tumultuary Design These are the Fruits of the Toleration you demand Reflect soberly upon what has been said and Tell me Do you think such a Toleration either fit for You to Ask or for Authority to Grant N. C. The Truth is In this Latitude there may be great Inconveniences And yet methinks 't is Pitty in Cases of some Honest Mistakes that a Good Man should be punished for not being a Wise Man C. And were it not a greater Pitty do ye think for a State to keep no Check upon Crafty Knaves for fear of disobliging some Well-meaning Fools As to the Sparing of the Man I wish it could be done even where it were Impious to give Quarter to the Opinion But how shall we separate the Errour from the Person so as to make a General Law take notice of it It were Irreligious to Tolerate Both and it seems to me Impossible to sever them If you your self now can either prove the former to be Lawful that is to do Evil that Good may come of it or the latter to be Practicable I 'le agree with you for a General Toleration If not I hope you 'l joyn with me against it N. C. I am not for a Toleration as I told you against the Light of Nature nor would I have any Pretense of Conscience admitted that leads to the Destruction of the Magistrate and the Disturbance of the Government C. That is to say You will content Your self with a Limited Toleration which I fear upon the Debate will prove as much too narrow for you as the Other was too wide SECT II. LIMITED TOLERATION too Narrow and Disobliging to the Excluded Party C. BY a Limited Toleration we may understand A Legal Grant of Freedom and Immunity in Matters of Religion to Persons of such and such Perswasions and to no Others N. C. Or if you please An Exemption from the Lash of the Act of Uniformity C. You say something if This would do the Work But to dissolve a Solemn Law for the Satisfaction of Some Particulars and at last leave the People worse then we found them were certainly a gross Oversight However what 's your Quarrel to it N. C. I think it a great Cruelty to confine a multitude of differing Judgments to the same Rule and to punish a Consciencious People for those Disagreements which they can neither avoid nor relinquish C. Why will you Practise that Cruelty your selves then which you condemn in others For Limited Toleration is an Act of Uniformity to those that are excluded They that are within the Comprehension will be well enough But what will become of them that are left out who have Consciences as well as their Fellows and as good a Title to an Indulgence as those that are
and Unity of the Church for Trifles Things Indifferent and relating to Outward Order and Worship N. C. In Prescribed Forms and Rites of Religion The Conscience will interpose and concern it self and Cannot resign it self to the Dictates of Men in the Points of Divine Worship And Those Injunctions which to the Imposers are Indifferent in the Consciences of the Dissenters are Unlawful And What Humane Authority can warrant any One to put in Practice an Unlawful Or Suspected Action Pa. 26. C. If This be really Conscience You will be found as Cautious in venturing deliberately upon a Suspected Action in all other Cases as you are in This. But what if it shall appear that This Fit of Tenderness only takes you when you are to pay an Obedience to the Law and that you are as Bold as Lions when you come to oppose it Will you not allow us to think it possible that there may be somewhat more in the Importunities and Pretences of the Non-Conformists then Matter of CONSCIENCE 'T is a Suspected Action to Kneel at the Sacrament but None to hold up your Hands at the Covenant You make a Conscience of disclaiming the Obligation of That Covenant in Order to the Security of the Government But None at all of Leaguing your selves in a Conspiracy for the Subversion of it Where was your Tenderness in Suspected Cases when to Encourage Rapine Sacriledge and Rebellion was the Common Business of your Counsels and Pulpits When it was safer to Deny the Trinity then to Refuse the Covenant When the same Persons that started at a Ceremony made no Scruple at all of Engaging the Kingdom in Blood and laying Violent Hands upon their Sovereign Is not This Streining at a Gnat and swallowing a Camel N. C. The Non-Conformists I know are charged with Principles that detract from Kingly Power and Tend to advance Popular Faction It is true They have been Eager Asserters of Legal Liberties Pag. 40. But These are Things gone and Past and Nothing to our Present Purpose The Wise Man says He that repeateth a Matter separateth very Friends A looking back to former Discords mars the most hopeful Rediâ—…egration Acts of Indemnity are Acts of Oblivion also and must be so observed Pa. 41. C. The Non-Conformists The Sole Actors in the late War were only Eager Asserters it seems of Legal Liberties You do not deal so Gingerly with the Bishops in the Point of Ceremonies as to let them come off with the Character of Eager Assertors of Legal Authorities So that herein also Your Consciences stumble at Straws and leap over Blocks Now Whereas You will have it that a Reflection upon former Discords is a Violation of the Act of Indemnity And Impertinent to Our Purpose My Answer is First That I do not revive the Memory of former Discords as a Reproach But I make use of some Instances out of former Passages to make Good my Assertion That Your Conjunct Impâ—…rtunity for a Toleration is not grounded upon Conscience And to shew you that your Practises and Professions grin One upon Another For Conscience is all of a Piâ—…ce Not Tender and Delicate on the One side and Callous and Unfeeling on the Other Secondly Suppose We should make a little Bold with the Act of Oblivion I think We have as much right to do it as You have to fall foul upon the Act of Uniformity Unless you conceive that the Mercy you have received by One Law gives You a Privilege of Invading all the rest As to Authority it is One and the Same in Both and if there were any place for Complaint against the Equity of a Legal Establishment it would lie much Fairer against the Act of Indemnity on the behalf of the Royallists that have ruined their Estates and Families in the Defence of the Law and yet after all are thereby condemned to sit down in Silence and Despair Then against the Act of Uniformity on the Behalf of the Non-Conformists Who by the One Law are secured in the Profits of their late Disobedience And by the Other are taken into the Arms of the Church according to the Ancient and Common Rule with the Rest of His Majesties Protestant Subjects The Same Rule I say saying where it is Moderated with Abatements and Allowances in Favour of Pretended Scruples N. C. Whereas you make the Non-Conformists the Sole Actors in Our late Confusions You run your self upon a great Mistake For It hath been manifested to the World by such as Undertook to Iustifie it when Authority should require That the Year before the King's Death A Select Number of Iesuiâ—…s being sent from their whole Party in England Consulted both the Faculty of Sorbonne and the Pope's Council at Rome touching the Lawfulness and Expediency of Promoting the Change of Government by making away the King Whom They Despaired to turn from his Hereste It was Debated and Concluded in Both Places That for the Advancement of the Catholick Cause It was Lawful and Expedient to Carry on that Alteration of State This Determination was effectually pursued by many Iesuits that came over and Acted their Parts in several Disguises Pag. 15. C. If This be True and Proveable as You affirm it is You cannot do the Protestant Cause a more Important Service then to make it out to the Parliament Who You know have judg'd the Matâ—…er Worthy of their Search and have appointed a Committee to receive Informations Pa. 2. Nay which is more You are a Betrayer of the Cause if you do it not The WHOLE PARTY in England do you say Prove out This and you kill the whole Popish Party at a Blow This was the Year before the King's Death it seems Whas not That within the Retrospect of the Act of Indemnity If so tell me I beseech you Why may not We take the same Freedom with the Non-Conformists that You do with the Papists N. C. We shall never have done if you lash out thus upon Digressions Pray keep to the Question C. As close as you please What if a Man should shew You a Considerable Number of the Eminent and Active Instruments in the late War to be now in the Head of the present Outcry for Toleration Take This into your Supposition too that These very Persons promoted Our Troubles This very Way and Proceeded from the Reformation of Discipline to the Dissolution of Government Are We bound in Charity to take all their Pretensions of Scruple for real Tenderness of Conscience N. C. Beyond all Question unless you can either Evidence their Errour to be Unpardonable or the Men Themselves Impenitent C. Why then let Amesius determine betwixt Us. Peccata illa quae publicè fuerunt nota debent etiam Confessione Publicâ damnari quià ad quos malum ipsum Exempli Contagione pervenerat ad eos etiam Poenitentiae ac Emendationis Documentum si fieri possit delet transmitti PUBLIQUE SINS require PUBLIQUE CONFESSION To the End that as many as
of a Religious Education C. If This be All never Trouble your selves for many an honest Man has out-liv'd more then this comes to In short There 's a huge Clamour but God knows with little Reason Some Particulars will possibly suffer for want of a Toleration and who are They but the Profest Opposers of the Law And on the Other side All the Friends of the Government will suffer by it If you would see the Event of Granting what you ask Turn but your Face toward 41 and then Blush and Repent Besides You 're not aware that in Contesting with the Law you Quarrel with your self THERE' 's YOUR OWN VOTE AGAINST YOU and all this Muttering is no other then your Factious Will wrangling with your Political Consent And yet I say Stick to your Conscience Let us now put the Case of a Real Distance betwixt This Act and your Conscience How will you divide your Duty N. C. I 'le follow your Advice and stick to my Conscience C. Now change Hands and make your self the Supreme Magistrate He has a Double Conscience One that concerns Himself the Other his People What his Majesties Personal Iudgment is has been Declared Abundantly What his Prudential Iudgment may dispose Him to lies in His Royal Brest But be That as Heaven shall Order it Here 's the Partition of your Rights The King's Prerogative has nothing to do with your Conscience and your Conscience has as little to do with His Majesties Prerogative The King is Accomptable to God for the Welfare of his People and You are only Accomptable to God for the Good of your little Particular If You cannot Obey the Law Do not But abide the Penalty If the Sovereign cannot Relax the Law He 's as Free to Execute it Your Conscience requires Liberty and your Governour 's Conscience requires Order Now why you should expect that your Sovereign should bring down His Conscience to Yours when you find upon Experiment that you cannot perswade your Own to come up to His is to me a Mystery To Conclude Keep your self within your Sphere and where you cannot Consent as a Christian Submit as a Subject that We may at last hope for some Respite from the Calamities of Sedition and Schism N. C. And why not Scandal and Profaneness too For the Edge of your Severity might be directed to much better Purpose That way SECT XXIV The Church of England charges the Non-Conformists with SCHISM and the Non-Conformists charge those of the Church with SCANDAL The Matter is taken into Debate N. C. YOur Position is That no Toleration is to be admitted to the hazzard of Religion Good Life and Government Keep to That Standard and you will find that the Conformists have as little Pretense to a Toleration as their Neighbours and that the Notorious Scandal on the one side outweighs the Objected Schism on the other C. This will scarce hold if you come to be Try'd by your own Laws which make it a Matter of Scandal by Writing Preaching or otherwise to publish a Disaffection to the Present Government But Explain your self N. C. By Scandal I mean Habitual Prophaneness Sensuality Dissolution of Manners c. As by Schism I suppose you intend our Incompliances with your Church-Discipline Weigh These Two now One against the Other and do you your self hold the Balance Set up your Tavern-Clubs against our Conventicles Oppose your Combinations against God Himself to our Plots against the Government For you must not take it Ill if I tell ye that Atheism is become the Sport and Salt of your most Celebrated Enterteinments And when you have dash'd the Bible out of Countenance with the Story of the Three Grand Impostors or some such Lashing Piece of Drollery The Questioning of God's Over-ruling Wisdom by Solemn Arguments and the Placing of Fortune in the Throne of Providence is that which commonly Crowns your Conversations C. You should not charge Personal Crimes upon a Party unless you can prove them to be rationally Consequent to the Tenets and Actings of That Party Now if you can shew me any Affinity betwixt our Principles and These Impieties you say something But if you cannot The Dust of your Argument puts out your own Eyes I do not wonder I must confess to see a Nation Over-run with Atheism that has been so many Years under your Tuition or to find the Brat of a Conventicle laid at the Church-Door N. C. May not We charge Personal Extravagancies upon your Party as well as You do upon Ours C. Yes If you can prove the same Agreement against Us betwixt the Faults of the One and the Principles of the Other which we are able to justifie against You. The Episcopal Party you know stood for the King and it is undeniable that the King and Church had the same Cause and Fate It is as unquestionable on the other side that the Non-Conformists destroy'd both the One and the Other Not by Accident neither but by a Form'd and Excogitated Design wrap'd up and couch'd in the very Mystery and Foundation of the Schism Your Separation from a Communion with the Church resolving naturally into a Combination against the Entire Frame of the Government till in the End by the help of a Peinful and Well-effected Ministry the Generality of the People were Preach'd into This Division i. e. Those that could not reach the Cheat were taught to Scruple at Every Thing and Those that went along with it to make a Conscience of Nothing And this is it that has brought us to be so Pester'd with Enthusiasts and Atheists N. C. But let me tell ye again the Atheists are of the Other Party C. And let me enform you too that your Proceedings have made Atheists more ways then One First The meer Quality of your Cause has made Atheism the Interest of a great many of your Partakers who to put off the Thought of a Divine Vengeance attending them if there be a God Endeavour for their own Quiet to perswade themselves that there is no God at all Secondly The Work has been carried on under the Masque of Holiness and the most Desperate Atheist is nothing else but a Crusted Hypocrite I speak of your Religious Atheist who has This Odds of the Profane and Scoffing Wretch that he abuses God to his Face and in his own House The Great Atheists indeed are Hypocrites says Sir Francis Bacon which are ever bandling Holy Things but without Feeling so as they must needs be Cauteriz'd in the End It is Remarquable as I have elsewhere recommended to your Observation that in the Holy Scripture there are not so many Woes pronounc'd nor so many Cautions Inculcated against any sort of People as against Hypocrites You shall there find that God has given the Grace of Repentance to Persecutors Idolaters Murtherers Adulterers c. But I am mistaken if the whole Bible yields any one Instance of a CONVERTED Hypocrite Thirdly You have done more in your Practises
the very supposition of a Law possible which may not some way or other be said to CONCERN Ecclesiastical Matters Presb. You take no notice how this Power is clogg'd with Limitations If they be found Unprofitable Unseasonable or to be abused by the People Indep Very good And if the Kirk shall think fit to find them so or so Pray'e What Remedy Bâ—…t their own Avowed Actions and Declarations are the Best Comments upon their own Principles Under King Iames in Scotland nothing was more ordinary then over-Ruling Acts of Parliament by the Acts of the Assembly Did they not erect a Counsel of the Church in Edenborough 1596. and take upon them to Convene Examine and Censure at pleasure such as they suspected to hold any Correspondence with certein Excommunicate Lords did they not also appoint to meet in Armes at the Tryal of them Nor did they think it enough to Rescind or supersede Acts of Parliâ—…ment and General Assâ—…mblies but People must be Quâ—…stion'd too for yielding Obedience to Acts of Parliament and of General Counsels under Colour of Unjust Laws Wee 'l close this particular with the Judgment of the Commissioners of the General Assembly of Scotland of May 5. 1648. The Authority of Parliament is one thing an Act of Parliament another thing We do still acknowledg their Authority when we obey not This or That Act. And whatsoever be the TREASON of Impugning the Authority of PARLIAMENâ—… It can be no Treason to obey GOD rather then MAN Neither did the General Assembly of Glasgow 1638. and such as were active for the Covenant at That time commit any Treason when they Impugned Episcopacy and Pâ—…rch Articles although ratify'd and strengthen'd by Acts of PARLIAMENT and standing LAWS then Unrepealed Presb. When we have once gotten Power into our hands we are all too apt to abuse it But I cannot yet perswade my self that the Root of these Practises is to be found in their Principles Their Books of Discipline are Publick and no Government would ever entertein it if there were such danger in it Indep How was the Covenant entertein'd or who would have dream'd of any harm in a League for the Preservation and Defence of the King's Majestie 's Person and Authority And yet the Presbyterian Interpretation and Salvo of Subordinating his Majesties SAFETY and PRESERVATION to the Defence of the TRUE RELIGION immediately following and the Kirks assuming to Themselves the Judgment of that Religion brought both King and Church to Destruction Nor can you choose but Observe the Holy Discipline and Covenant to be both of a Stile and both of a Design Their Claim concerning Ecclesiastical Matters hooks in all Laws and In the Defence of the true Religion They usurp an Authority over all Magistrates This Discipline at the best is but a Worm at the Root of Civil Government Wheresoever it comes the Secular Power hangs the head and droops upon it and never thrives after But to Sovereign Princes a man might say of it as God said to Adam of the Apple In the day you eat thereof you shall dye the death Now as it is manifestly destructive of Law in the very Foundations of it to carry an Appeal from all Temporal Governours and Constitutions to the Scepter and Sentence of Christ sitting upon his TRIBUNAL in the PRESBYTERY the Language of Beza himself so likewise have they their Preparatory Artifices for Obstructing the Execution of Law and for the Weakening and Distracting of a Government before they enter upon the Great Work of Dissolving it And this is effected by the Trojan Horse as one calls it of their Excommunication that carries all the Instruments and Engines of Publique Ruine and Confusion in the belly of it By Virtue of this Device they do not only impose upon all Ministers and Courts of Justice but they may when they please as Hooker observes send out their Writs of Surcease and fetch in the whole Business of Westminster-Hall to the Bar of the Consistory Or at the fairest according to Beza's Distinction if they allow the Civil Iudg to try the Fact as mere Civile yet de Iure Controverso Ecclesiasticum Synâ—…drium constat Respondisse The Church was to determine in matter of Law and the Civil Magistrate after That to pronounce Sentence according to That Decision Briefly Beza gives the Presbytery the same Power under the Gospel which was Exercised by the Synagogue under the Law But now to the Point of your Excommunication and to shew you in what manner it is apply'd to hinder the Execution of Law and to obstruct Civil Iustice. By One Clause of your Discipline You may Abrogate what Laws you please concerning Ecclesiastical Matters And by Another The Minister is Authorized to handle External things for Conscience Cause So that your Authoritâ—… is without Controul in Ecclesiastical Matters and so is your Liberty of handling Civil Matters as Ecclesiastical Upon which Bottom was founded an Assertion not long since mainteined at the Savoy i. e. That the Command of a most Lawful Act is sinful if That Act commanded may prove to any One a Sin per Accidens Now if the Kirk shall think fit to Abrogate a Law as nothing more frequent whoever shall presume to Execute That Law is sure to be Excommunicate And the Supreme Magistrate himself is no less lyable to Church Censure for not Executing That Sentence then the Inferior Magistrate was for his Original Disobedience The Bishop of St. Andrews in 1586 was Excommunicate for Advising King Iames to a Declaration against Certein Fugitive Ministers that were denounced Rebels and Contriving the Statutes of 1584. touching The Kings Authority in Ecclesiastical Causes Knox is for Excommunication in all Crimes that are Capital by the Law of God and in effect for the Churches Tryal of the very Fact It was not for nothing that the Two Houses held the Assembly so long in Play upon this Point and in Despight of all Importunities to the Contrary kept the staffe still in their own Hands and reserved to Themselves the Ultimate Appeal in Cases of Excommunication Presb Was it not rather the Work of the Independents Who to say the Truth were as much against any Settlement at all as against That And against the very Convening of the Assembly it self Indep And they had done the State a good Office if they had totally hindred it But this is beside our Business We have said enough as to the Dangerous Influence of Presbytery upon the Security of his Majesty and the Law It remains now to be considered with a respect to the Rights and Liberties of the People SECT XXX The Question of Toleration betwixt Presbytery and Independency Debated with a Regard to the Rights Liberties and Advantages of the PEOPLE Indep YOU see how it is with Kings Parliaments and Laws under the Dominion of Presbytery We are now to look into the Condition of the Nobility Gentry Commonalty and of the Presbyterial Clergy it self under
by the Oracles of your Cause Nay and several of Them at present Eager Asserters of the Equity of a Toleration And what has been the Fruit of These Unchristian-Lectures but the Subversion both of Church and State And the Murder of a Pioâ—… and Gracious Prince under Pretence of Doing God and the Kingdom Good Service N. C. These are Actions I confess not to be warranted But yet my Charity perswades me that a great part of the Mischief they did proceeded rather from Necessity then Inclination C. Will ye see then what they did afterward when they were at Liberty to do what they listed They had no sooner Murdered the Father but immediately They made it Death to Proclaim the Son They abolish't Kingly Government Sold the Crown-Lands Declared it Treason to deny the Supremacy of the Commons Nulled all Honours and Titles granted by the King since 41. Made Scotland One Commonwealth with England c. Have They now kept any better Touch with the Liberty and Property of the Subjects Let their Proceedings Witness for Them As their Tax upon the Fifth and Twentieth Part. Excise upon Flesh Victuals and Salt A new Excise upon Allom Copperas Monmouth-Caps Hops Saffron Starch c. A Loan of 66666 l. 13 s. 4 d. for Supply of the Scots An Assessment for the Maintâ—…nance of the Army The House of Peers Abolish't and a Monethly Tax of 90000 l. for the Army A Monthly Tax of 120000 l. An Imposition upon Coal A Monthly Assessment of 60000 l. Not to Clog the Discourse with over many Particulars We 'l see next What They have Done toward the Moderating of the Power of Bishops and the Removal of Unnecessary Ceremoniâ—…s The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Suspendâ—…d and his Tâ—…mporalties Sequestred Monuments of Superstition Demolish't That is in short an Ordinance for Sacriledge The Book of Common-Prayer laid aside and the Directory Commanded instead of it Arch-Bishops and Bishops Abolish't and their Lands settled in Trustees Their Lands Exposed to Sale Festivals Abolish't Deans and Chapters c. Abolish't And their Lands to be Sold. This is Your Way Of MODERATING the Power of Bishops and of REMOVING UNNECESSARY CEREMONIES And This is the History in Little of the Opinions and Practises of your Party Drawn from matter of Fact Provable to a Syllable and Deliver'd without any Amplification of the Matter N C. Ill things have been done there 's no Question on 't But they have been done by Ill Men And 't is not a Toleration of Faction that We pretend to but a Toleration of Conscience C Which Toleration upon farther search will be found to be a meer Utopian Project or Wâ—…rse SECT X. The Non-Conformists demand a Toleration which is neither INTELLIGIBLE in the Whole nor PRACTICABLE so far as it may be Understood C. IT makes a great Noise in the World The Out-cry of the Non-Conformists for Toleration Indalgence Liberty of Conscience Comprehension c. Let them but set it down in a Clear Practicable and Intelligible Proposition and I dare say They shall have it for the Asking N. C. We do Propound That Reformed Christianity may be settled in its DUE LATITUDE C. By Reformed Christianity I suppose you intend the Protestant Religion But your DUE LATITUDE is of a Suspicious Intimation Do not you remember a Declaration of the Two Houses April 9. 1642. for a DUE and Necessary Reformation of the Government and Liturgy of the Church And Nothing to be taken away either in the One or in the Other but What should be found Evil and justly Offensive Or at the least Unnecessary and Burdensom This Due Reformation ended as you may remember in a Total Extirpation of Both Liturgy and Government And We see Nothing to the Contrary but Your DUE LATITUDE may signifie the very same thing with Their DUE REFORMATION Pray be a little Clearer N. C. Then to put all out of doubt I would in the first place have An Establish't Order Secondly A Limited Toleration Thirdly A Discreet Connivence The Parties Comprehended in the Establishment to be of Importance in the Publique Interest and of Principles Congruous to such Stated Order in the Church as the Stability of the Commonwealth requires I Would have the Toleration to Extend to Those that are of Sound Belief and Goâ—…d Life Yet have taken in some Principles of Church-Government less Congruous to National Settlemâ—…nt And for Connivence It is to be remitted to Discretion C. What is all This now but an Universal Toleration in a Disguise Some to be Comprehended within the Establishment Others to be Tolerated And the Rest to be Connived at Again Your Establishment is to be of a Latitude to take in several sorts of Dissenters under such and such Qualifications They must be of Importance in the Publique Interest and of Principles Congruous to such Stated Order in the Church as the Stability of the Commonwealth requires Ask the Dissenters Themselves concerning their own Qualifications and They 'l tell you that they are all of them of Important Interests and of Congruouâ—… Principles So that this way you are still upon an Universal Toleration But on the Other Side if You Consult Authority about Your Comprehension The Preface to the Act for Uniformity will tell You that the Establishment is as wide already as the Peace of the Nation will well bear If you 'l Acquiesce in This Iudgment the Case is determined to Our Hand If you Appeal from it You cast your selves out of the Pale of your own Project because of your Principles Incongruous to the Reason of Government N. C. But it appears to us that the Stated Order of the Church may be widen'd without any Check to the Stability of Government C. And what will This avail You if it appears otherwise to the Governours Themselves If They may be Iudges the Strife is at an End but if you think to help your selves by Translating the Iudgment to the People After that Day let us never expect any other Law then the Dictate of the Rabble It removes the very Foundations of the Government and Carries Us headlong into Anarchy and Confusion without Redemption If a Man should ask You now about Your Importance in Publique Interest First as to the Interest it self Whether you mean an Interest of Raising Men and Moneys Or What Other Next as to the Degree and Measure of your Importance How Many Regiments of the One and How many Millions of the Other makes up that Importance Would you not take Time for an Answer And then We are as much at a Loss about Your Such Stated Order in the Church as the Stability of the Common-wealth requires You give Us No Satisfaction at all Wherein the Stability of the Commonwealth consists Or What Stated Order in the Church that Stability requires But here is a kind of a Moot-Point cast in betwixt Authority