Sacrament that she might thereby the better establish her self Hath she not made it too evident that Wealth Grandeur and Dominion hath been more her design than the Glory of God proâ—oting true Holiness and the Salvation of Mens Souls Hath she not been guilty of Silencing many â—undreds of able Preachers not for Slothfulâ—ess or Non-residency not for Insufficiency â—ot for Scandal not for Heresie not for â—ebellion to the Civil Authority but only â—on-conformity to some unnecessary Rites in â—eligion which they scrupled out of their zeal â—gainst Popery wherein if they have exceedâ— I hope it may now be judged a pardonâ—le Crime but I fear it hath had no good â—fect but hath tended to the hindering the â—ogress of the Gospel and the Salvation of any Souls by rigid imposing of Subscriptions â—d Canonical obedience and Assent and Conâ—t and stretching Conformity beyond what â— was in the former Age Doth not the in of many Families and the loss of some â—es lie at her door Hath she not debarr'd publick Assemblies for Worship to multitudes in the Nation unlesâ— in such a way as was Offensive to their Consciences and not Edifying to their Souls though such as maintain and profess all thâ— substantial parts of the Christian and Protestant Religion are blameless in their Liveâ— and profitable in the Nation and therebâ— exposing them to the danger of returning tâ— Popery or of being reduced to Paganism Dâ— the Dissenters differ from her in any of thoâ— things wherein she differs from the Papistâ— but rather in those things wherein she agreâ— with them And what then is that whiâ— is strictly to be called the Church of Englanâ— She hath indeed made a strong and honourâ—ble oppsition to Popery by many Wortâ— and Learned Men of her Communion bâ— hath it not been in those things wherein tâ— Dissenters agree with her and rejoyce â— what they have done and act with her theâ— in So that the Church of England considâ—ed as distinct from the forementioned Dissâ—ters is made up only of some Additional to â— Christian Religion And if it be Object That such deference ought to be given to â— Laws of the Land as not to have publâ— Meetings otherwise than allowed I Answâ— Such Laws are only humane and topical â— so cannot supersede the universal Lawâ— Nature which doth dictate to all Natiâ— publick Assemblies for the solemn worshiâ— God. And let it be considered whether the imposing of those things which are judged unnecessary can be justified to the hindering of what is necessary both by the Law of Nature and the written Law of God and whether this Liberty hath not been taken against publick Laws both in the times of the Heathen Persecution and here in England in times of Popery Many other things I might mention but these I only lay before her with the words of our Saviour to the Church of Ephesus Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and Repent or else I will come against thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick except thou Repent Rev. 2. 5. And if she thinks her self in danger should not this awaken her to Repentance And is there any Protestant Church but doth solemnly Fast and Pray in threatning Dangers But we see little of this in the Church of England Not that every individual Member of that Ecclesiastick body ought to be charged God forbid I know many of them have been grieved at the sufferings of their Brethren Pleaded â—heir Cause and Lamented to see such a â—pirit of Persecution act in the Church of England and could see a little better than â—thers who they were that pusht on those â—evere Persecutions against them and how â—opery crept in upon the Nation under a Proâ—estant Vizard and were ashamed to hear some of her Clergy boast of the Purity of the Church of England when to their great trouble Corruptions both in Doctrine and Worship and in the Conversations of multitudes in it was so visibly seen to prevail not only tolerated but too much countenanced and little Discipline exercised but against Non-conformists though Men of the greatest Sobriety and Piety and usefulness in the Nation But I mention these things not to recriminate but to help on that Repentance which may prevent Gods controversie with that Church and to melt down their Spirits into such a Coalition with their dissenting Brethren that the Nation may be strengthened against our Popish Adversaries and that all hands may be at work to make the Bank strong against the inundation of the Sea â—â— mean the See of Rome I fear whilst our publick especially our Cathedral Worship is shaped so like to that which is in Popery the transition will be made more facile to it It will be never the less Decent by being less Ceremonious And I hope the Pulpit-theam of some dignified Clergy-men will be no longer The Necessity of a Publick Conscience The Absoluteness of Kings And Invectives against Dissenters and that Able Orthodox and Learned Preachers will not be starved out of their work for want of Maintenance Nothing is more likely to secure the Protestant Religion than a pious diligent and able Ministry Every body knows the influences a corrupt Clergy hath upon the Laiety and how easily under the name of the Church of England such Men may lead the People blindfold into the Enemies Camp. But now I hope that both sides will be sensible wherein they have failed and the more Sober Pious and Judicious among them both centring in their present Majesties Accession to the Throne it will allay all former Animosities and we shall love and own one another as Christians and fellow Protestants which will disappoint the Hopes of the common Adversaries above any thing that can be imagined who are likely to get no great advantage upon us but by our own Divisions and make no Musick but by our Discords and we may well hope that the Concord that is found in the great Assembly of Parliament for the uniting all Protestants will have a happy influence upon the whole Nation herein but if any will be still grumbling and contentious sure they are such Men who love the fiery Element are the Nations Enemies and are secretly acted by Priests and Jesuits to bring us back again to Popery and Confusion But I hope by this time the body of the Nation is enlightned and awakened to disâ—ern their Dangers the Indications of Providence and their own Interest and that the designs wherewith these Men are travelling will prove Abortive or bring forth no other Fruit but Mischief to themselves but it may seem strange that any who have Prayed or Preached for Union and lamented the want of it should run from it when it is now offered to them and they invited to it As we would preserve the Nations Existence and Entity let us study its Unity and follow the instincts of Nature herein Omne ens noâ— minùs appetit unitatem quam entitatem And as Natural Unity upholds the Universe
and sinful to one that is not to another As to eat Flesh might be sinful to one and not to another and so keeping of days as the Apostle argues Rom. 14. whereby Christians should be tender of forcing their own Sentiments especially in doubtful things upon anothers Conscience 5. Abstain from all Appearance of Evil 1 Thes 5. 22. Many things may in themselves be lawful yet not to be practis'd when they carry an Appearance of Evil. Religion may be scandaliz'd and real Evil encouraged by that which is not a real Evil but only hath an Appearance of it As to sit at meat in an Idols Temple was not evil in it self for an Idol is nothing and the Sacrifice offered is properly nothing that is no Sacrifice but it had an Appearance of Evil to him that had not that Knowledge and therefore the Apostle doth forbid that practice 1 Cor. 8. 1 Cor. 10. 14. and requires them to flee from Idolatry in that Shew and Appearence of it and so those Ceremonies in Worship that are abused to Idolatry should be laid aside rather than others because they have an Appearance of Evil I know what is answered that they may be used where the Superstition or Idolatry of them are declared against But I am confident that the Primitive Christians would not have put Incense into the Fire of the Sacrifice offered to an Idol thô they might have had Liberty to declare against the Idolatry of it Nor the three Children bow to Nebuchadnezzor's Image tho they might have declared against the Idol And the Apostle forbids eating meat in the Idols Temple thô it was not thought that they were Idolaters who sat there or practised Idolatry God forbad the Israelites when they came into Canaan to symbolize with the Customs of the Heathen tho in themselves not evil because they had an Appearance of Evil and their minds thereby might be the sooner reconciled to the Evil it self Superstition is very catching and therefore the occasions of it are dangerous which made Hezekiah break in pieces the brazen Serpent when abused to Superstition 2 King. 18. 4. 6. The last General Rule is Let all things be done to the Glory of God which though it be a General Rule to all the Actions of Mens Life yet the Apostle applies it to things in themselves indifferent in Religion and the Worship of God as about eating things offered to an Idol 1 Cor. 10. 31. so that nothing should be practis'd herein but what may tend to this General End And hereupon forbids the using of that Liberty that may offend anothers Conscience and cause him to fall as that which would not be to the Glory of God v. 32. yea whatever it is that offends against any of the forementioned Rules is not for his Glory And this General Rule well observed would direct Christians much in the managing such Circumstances in Religion where there is no express Rule or Institution and limit all Governours from imposing such things in Worship which tend not at all to the Glory of God. And tho I know 't is not well possible to answer all Scruples particularly which may be made about Christian-Worship yet I believe these General Rules well observed would make Peace with all judicious and sober Christians And I easily grant that the Gospel Church is left more at Liberty in Circumstances of Worship than the Jewish Church as about Times and Places and Postures c. Christ intending a more spiritual Worship in these dayes hath not tyed us up to the Observation of every minute Circumstance belonging to it or appointed any outward Pomp and Splendor therein as in the Temple-Worship of the Jews seeking now a true spiritual Worship And as for that General Rule which some assert in this Case that what Christ hath not forbidden in his Worship humane Authority may Command and what he hath left Indifferent may by Men be made necessary I would wish all Protestants to take heed of urging it for we know the evil use the Papists have made of it Where say they are the use of Oyl Cream Spittle Exorcisms c. forbidden in Baptizing where is the use of Holy Water when they enter their Temples forbidden where is Sprinkling the Head with Ashes forbidden where is the use of Pictures and Images as helps to Devotion forbidden And where is the Crossing themselves as they do upon several occasions forbidden And much more of this kind is used by them But we know our Saviour excused his Disciples from observing the Traditions which the Pharisees urged upon the People though they were commanded by the Authority of the Jewish Church Such as washing of Hands Cups Platters which seem to be very innocent Ceremonies And were such things as these only recommended and not enjoyned if they did no good they might do no hurt but when they are made necessary to Church Communion and for not observing them People are shut out of the Church and the ordinary means of Salvation the mischief is unspeakable And let it be considered when God under the Law required in Sacrifice either two Turtle Doves or two young Pidgeons whether any Authority in the Jewish Church or State might determine that which God left indifferent but herein let the former Rules be observed And I shall conclude this Discourse with adding a few Passages out of the late Author of The Discourse of an Infallible Judge A Learned Divine of the Church of England There is saith he an easie and effectual way of Curing Church Divisions without having a Judge of Controversies nay without making all Men of a mind in every thing which must never be expected in this World. And that is not to make the necessary terms of Communion straighter and narrower than Christ hath made them nothing but what is plainly revealed in Scripture and is Essential to Christian Faith and Worship For such matters most Christians agree in and tho they may have some private Opinions of their own this ought not to divide Communions while they do not impose them upon the Faith of others nor introduce any new and strange Worship unto the Christian Church P. 55. Again If Catholick Communion be the Communion of the whole Catholick Church from the time of Christ and his Apostles to the end of the World which is but one Church and the Apostolick Churches are the true measure and Standard of true Catholick Communion then those Churches which are to this day in Communion with the Apostles are in true Catholick Communion And this Test we will stand by c. p. 78. Again In the same Page The Communion of particular Churches doth not consist in using the same Liturgies or External Rites of Worship if their Worship be a Right Christian-Worship and agreeable to the General Rules of the Gospel For every Church hath Authority within her self to direct and Model her own Worship And therefore those that keep to the Apostolick Terms of Communion cannot justly
so Civil Unity the Common-wealth No external Force can shake the Earth buâ— Winds and Vapours within its own Bowels Vis unita fortior is a true Rule both in thingâ— Natural and Civil We can never expect tâ— have all Men pleased but we should all be sâ— wise as to subordinate a Private to a Publick Interest and Sacrifice our particulaâ— inclinations to the advantage of the Whole As Air and Water will move contrary to theiâ— Nature to prevent a Chasme and Rupturâ— in the Universe Let us be Wise before iâ— be too late and act like Christians and rational Men. And seeing our present King and his Royaâ— Consort have so often declared that oâ— great end of their accepting the Invitatioâ— of coming to us and of the Regal Poweâ— now in both their Hands yea and the Royâ—â— Crown now upon both their Heads was to Unite all Protestants and thereby strengthen the Protestant Interest both at Home and Abroad I hope we shall readily fall in with so good a design and not disappoint it by our Divisions which nothing I observe doth more foment than Jealousies among our selves I think none will envy the Dignity of the Church of England if they make not use of it to trample others down as thinking that Liberty of Conscience is inconsistent with it and that all that are not with them must needs be against them That good Old Rule well observed would be a Panacaea a Catholick remedy to Heal us all In necessariis unitatem in non necessariis libertatem in utrisque Charitatem Vnity in things necessary Liberty in things unnecessary and Charity in both It 's true the Dissenters are not all of one Piece yet they are all as One Man against the return of Popery and for the Civil Rights and Liberties of the Nation and have been great Sufferers upon that account and have stood their ground against the Temptations laid before them in the Reigns of the last Kings and made resistance to their utmost against them that would betray them Their Royal Majesties our present King and Queen seem to have a generous Principle in their Breasts not to be Heads of a Party but of Protestants in General that the Birds of every wing that are not Birds of Prey may lodge under their Branches and I hope we shall all say them Our God Speed and not lay some narrow selfish Interest in the way of this so Catholick a Design Of the Christian Ministry I Call it Christian to distinguish it from the Pagan Priesthood and Jewish Ministry of Priests and Levites under the Law which was confin'd to a particular Family And under this Name I comprehend all Men that are in that sacred Function Whether called by the Name of Bishops Pastors Elders Doctors Guides c. and in after-times the Clergy The Gospel Ministry is of Divine Institution and of no humane Creation God hath had a Ministry in his Church from the Beginning though under several Forms and Denominations and our Saviour hath appointed it for the Gospel Church and to continue to the end of the World. Now a right Gospel-Christian-Minister is as follows First He is one who is in some measure accompanyed with Gifts and Grace Knowledge and Learning Wisdom and understanding Speech and Utterance for the discharge of that so solemn Work for no Man ought to take this honour to himself but he that is called of God and God calls no Man to a Work or Office for which he is no way fit As no Man is called to be a Physician Schoolmaster Pilot Architect c. that hath not a Competent Skill in such Professions and how can he be able to teach as is required if he is a Novice and hath not Ability hath not Natural Acquired and Moral Qualifications for it According to the Decree in the Council of Toledo in this Case Solus ad sacra Dei Mysteria tractanda accedat quem morum innocentia literarum splendor reddit illustrem Let none undertake to handle the holy Mysteries of God but men well esteem'd for Integrity of Life and Excellency of Learning and I may add Men fitted of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 3. 5. God as the Apostle speaks Our sufficiency or fitness is of God. Again He undertakes the Ministry not for carnal Ends but because he judgeth it to be a good Work wherein he might be serviceable both to God and Men in the highest Capacity in this World So that Love to Christ and the Souls of Men invites him to it and influences him in it and yet he hath a subordinate respect to the maintainance and profit that is annexed to the Work God having appointed that the Preachers of the Gospel should live of the Gospel but is not tempted by it to comply with any unlawful Terms or the using of sinister or indirect means for the obtaining of it He is one separated to the Work of the Gospel by solemn Ordination and joyns not a Trade or secular Imployment with it but gives himself wholly to it as his proper Work to which God hath called and Consecrated him and doth not thrust himself upon his Charge without a due Call according to the Rules of the Gospel and as the Providence of God opens a door Again more particularly He is one who Labours in the Word and Doctrine he readeth the Word and maketh use of it in Wisdom for Conviction Reproof Instruction Exhortation or Comfort rightly dividing the Word of Truth as there is occasion and is instant in season and out of season He looks upon his Office as a Divine Institution and originally derived upon him from Christ himself tho he receives the Exercise of it from the Designation of Men or the call of the People He minds the good of his Flock and the Salvation of Souls more than any private advantage of his own knowing the invaluable worth of Souls and the Dangers they lie open to He is one sensible of his own Insufficiency for so great a Work and therefore doth humbly and daily seek Divine Asistance from Heaven saying with the Apostle Who is sufficient for these things He ascribes the Glory to God for what good he doth or for what assistance or success he hath in his Ministry as knowing that he that planteth is nothing or he that watereth is nothing but God that giveth the increase Whereby be serveth God in his Ministry as the Apostle speaks with all humility of Mind He seeks not the Applause and Praise of Men and to be called Rabbi Rabbi as knowing the words of our Saviour He that is from beneath seeketh his own honour And therefore his Preaching is not in wisdom of words and ostentation of Learning or to gain a popular Auditory but strives to commend himself to every mans Conscience in the sight of God. He seeks to bring Men over to the true Knowledge of God to the Principles and Practice of true Piety according to the Gospel