〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR SOME CONSIDERATIONS UPON THE Act of Uniformity WITH AN Expedient for the Satisfaction of the CLERGY within the Province of CANTERBURY By a Servant of the God of Peace London Printed for Edward Thomas and Henry Marsh 1662. Some Serious CONSIDERATIONS UPON THE Act of VNIFORMITIE WITH AN Expedient for the Satisfaction of the CLERGY within the Province of CANTERBURY K. CHARLES I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 161. Neither do I desire any man should be further subject to me then all of us may be subject to God SECT I. ALthough fraile nature below Heavenly grace above and the common float of all things round about me the lively Emblems of Mortality summoned me to dye dayly the misery of late time giving leisure enough their injustice allowing occasion more then enough to those Contemplations of Mortality which are never unseasonable because this is alwaies uncertain Death being an Eclipse which often happeneth as well in a clear as in a cloudy day Although the common burden of Mortality that lyeth upon me as a man the clear apprehensions of another world that I am indued with as a Christian and the serious observation of the successive Revolutions of nature that I am capable of as an inhabitant of the world have put me most of the dayes of my appointed time to wait when my change should come when I should say I shall not see the Lord even the Lord in the land of the living I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world the keepers of the house trembling the strong men bowing themselves the grinders ceasing because they are few and those that look out at the Windows being darkened this dust of mine expected that it should return to the dust from whence it came and this spirit of mine should return to God that gave it I was willing that God should hide me in the Grave and that he should keep me secret untill his wrath and our calamity was overpast Although I was thus willing to retire to another world while that darknesse covered the face of this Yet when by a wonderfull Revolution of Providence managed by nothing lesse then an Omnipotence that perplexed Chaos of affairs and confused heap was admirably disposed to a sweet order and beauty and a new frame of another world viz. a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse I was in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better neverthelesse to abide in the flesh I thought might be more needfull for the Church whose sad breaches I hoped should now be carefully repaired whose sacred order peace honour unity and happinesse I hoped should now be recovered to a glory becoming so antient so holy so true so venerable so divine a Religion as ours in its nature author end center and circumference so one so deserving to be most united and uniform in the Catholick truth which is according to holinesse justice order and charity after the Primitive pattern and constant practice of all true Churches Preachers and Professors founded upon Verity fortified with Charity edified in Unity Reverend for Antiquity permanent in their Constancy according to the particular Constitutions of every Church which still kept the great and Catholick Communion as to the main every Christian Catechumene Penitent Communicant Deacon and Presbyter keeping the peculiar place wherein God Nature and the Church hath set them every Member keeping to its Congregation every Congregation to their lawfull Minister set over them to watch over their Souls every Minister to his own Bishop obeying them that have the rule over them and submitting themselves every Bishop to his Metropolitan upon whom is the care of all the Churches and the Metropolitan to his Soveraign as Supreme and he to God over all blessed for ever The Faith delivered to the Saints I thought might have been solemnly established the worship in spirit and truth decent and in order legally settled the Primitive Discipline orderly restored and our antient Church recovered to that beauty order glory and majesty for which it was spoken of throughout the Reformed world that rejoyced to behold our Faith and Order and therefore I was contented if it stood with the good pleasure and will of God to be absent a while from that Church which Christ presented to himself that glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing that it should be holy and without blemish that City of the living God that Heavenly Jerusalem from an innumerable company of Angels from the generall Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and from God the Judge of all and from the spirits of just men made perfect which I well hoped to enjoy that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Heaven upon Earth the Church in rest and peace round about with the beauty of holinesse without as well as all-glorious within in its Doctrine Apostolical in its Government Primitive in its Order Venerable in its Members Holy and Devout in its Worship Heavenly in its Laws Exact and Prudent which preserved every Christian every Family every City every Country every Province not only in a Church way Communion and Correspondence as to their particular bounds and nearer Relations in every Parish Congregation City or Country but as to that generall bond of charity that Catholick unity of an universal spirit in a bond of peace which binds all Christians in one fellowship of one body whose head is Christ to whom every true believer and visible professor in the whole Latitude of the Church being by the word of God and spirit of Christ fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part doth both edifie and increase it self and others in truth and love 1. Instead of the immediate presence of God whom blessed are the eyes who see which I hope to enjoy with these eyes face to face One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple for I have loved the habitation of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth ever since I have gone with the multitude ever since I have gone with them into the house of God with the voyce of joy and praise with a multitude that kept Holy day How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of Hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God blessed are they that dwell in thine house for they will be still praising thee 2. Instead of that perfection of Soul Nature Faculty Gifts and Graces which I hope for I am contented to stay here a while growing in grace and in the knowledge of God perfecting
the Church what contempt of the Clergy what overthrows of Magistrates and all Government have been managed by the Principles now contended for all sober men have beheld with sorrow of heart and can bear witness to with their sighs teares and ruine O tell it not in Gath publish it not in Askelon I pray God give us all moderation and impartiality the best tempers in religion unpassionately to consider from whence we are fallen by humane policies and to what we are transported by popular zeal that all distempers may be laid aside by free converse and a Christian correspondence whereby those sad principles of everlasting schism might be removed by which on our side men think because in many things they are right therefore they can erre in nothing and on the other side because in some things men have mistaken and erred therefore they can be in nothing right without regard so that Truth and Charity which is the life and quintessence of Christian Religion 9. It s of very dangerous consequence that you who should promote the joy and thankfulness of His Majesties loving subjects for His happy Restauration should now occasion these fears jealousies and publick sorrow that when all rejoyce to see things grow up to a publick order and symmetry you should be discontent as when all the people cryed Hosanna the Pharisees murmured is a sin against that Deut 28. where it is said Because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things therefore which is the danger shalt thou serve thine enemy in hunger in thirst in nakedness and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thee till he have destroyed thee These are the dangerous Conseqences of Non-conformity viz. 1. Hiding your talents in a napkin and putting your light under a bushel and becoming unserviceable in your Generations 2. The grief of many good people who value high your persons and gifts who thought you would have died for them under persecutors and therefore you would much more obey for their sakes under a lawful Prince 3. The disadvantage of the Church which by your unexpected revolt will miss your gifts and services which were devoted to it 4. The disparagement of your brethren who are censured as unworthy for practising those things which rather then you will do you will resist unto blood whereby their labor is rendered unserviceable for those souls from whom your labor is withdrawn 5. The undoing of your families for whom ye are to provide unless ye will be worse then infidels O your wives and children what have they done That while you are disputing whether you should wear a Gown or whether you should stand or kneel whether you had best use these sorts of words or those to God Almighty In a word whether you shall obey or Rebel these should perish If you should go out which God forbid it 's you that will be thought to turn out your selves for men judge that the Law intends onely obedience and peace and that the offenders cause the punishment the Parliament would have you live orderly and obediently in your places you will not who is to be blamed But you cannot believe the orders of the Church to be lawful and obliging and the whole Kingdom in Parliament cannot believe that Non-conformity is lawful You cannot submit and the whole Kingdom in Parliament cannot think you fit to be encouraged with Ecclesiastical Livings unless you submit whether it is more fitting the whole Kingdom should submit to you or you to the whole Kingdom judge ye In a word if you do reject the moderate impositions the Church layes upon you I humbly crave leave to offer it to your consideration what judgement the Protestant Churches are likely to make of your proceedings And how your cause and the Churches will stand represented to them and to all future Ages The present danger is this As in disaffected bodies the humors fall to the weakest part so in a distempered Kingdom the ill disposed persons fall in with the discontented part 1. Upon this falling off of your party there are persons exasperated by just punishment on themselves and relations 2. There are thousands purchasers of Delinquents Deans Chapters Bishops King and Queen and Princes Lands unsatisfied 3. There are thousands of Cavaliers notwithstanding all care to provide for them dejected 4. There are abundance of Atheists and Neuters expecting some trouble and alteration and persons of desperate fortunes wishes they may once more fish in troubled waters 5. There are several persons turned out of Livings by the proper owners thereof and notwithstanding they are willing to submit are not likely to be admitted to so good again 6. There are many of the old Army that want employment 7. There are thousands of disobliged Sectaries 8. There are too many that for want of Trading are not able in this dead time to provide for themselves and families who would be all willing to hazzard themselves in the engagement of 41. they are in their method already Popery preached against Ceremonies and Lyturgies are cried down the Reverend Clergy afftonted Non-conformists are pittied the silencing of them is resented trading is dead taxes are complained of meetings are appointed plots discovered and all things by your dissent tend to a confusion These thoughts I leave to your cooler and more moderate intervals to meditate upon between your selves and the great searcher of hearts The Expedient But my business is not so much to exasperate as to accomodate dissenters and therefore I shall intreat those reverend persons concerned seriously to consider the following Propositions which if assented to will bring them up to the design of the Act of Uniformity agreed upon by all sober Protestants Prop. 1. That since the first plantation of true Religion which is a judicious and sincere devoting of the whole soul to God as the Supream good offered us in Jesus Christ and the right performance of that duty we ow to that God upon such grounds to such ends and after such manner as he requires it of us there have been an holy Company called by his word to the knowledge of God in Christ who in all holy ways and orderly institutions publickly profess their inward sence of duty and devotion which they ow to God by believing and obeying his word and also that Charity which they ow to all men especially to that houshold of the faith that holds communion with Christs body the Catholick Church Prop. 2. It s agreed That this outward profession of Religion as it is held forth in the word in its truth zeals duties and Ministry makes one Church Catholick of all Christians joyned in a mysterious inward and religious Communion with God and one another in Christ by the word and spirit in the inward part of Religion and in obedience charity and comely order as to the outward part of that Religion and
holinesse in the fear of the Lord and withall in my place to contribute towards the work of the Ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullnesse of Christ by promoting a powerfull Preaching by erecting a severe Discipline by exercising an impartiall Authority by shewing an exemplary Conversation in order to the restoring of that purity decency order and Uniformity of Christian Religion which becomes the wisedom and honour of this Nation by the exactest Conformity with the Catholick Church in its purest and Primitive Constitution a happinesse to be effected and enjoyed by the pious Councils devout Prayers potent Preaching and Learned Writings of good and great men owned by all Churches loved by all people supported by all Princes according to all right reason all due order all politick honour all Scripturall patterns and Divine presidents besides the Laws and antient Customs of this Church and State which had allwaies a due regard to the greatnesse of their Learning the soundness of their Judgement the gravity of their Ages the sanctity of their Lives and the dignity of their Calling 3. Instead of the excellent society of Saints and Angells which I hoped for in Heaven I was content to be with the Excellent that are in the Earth who content themselves with that plain and pristine holynesle which is taught in the Scripture deposited in the Church preserved by an holy Ministry expressed in Christian lives Most eminently manifested in Jesus Christ and his Apostles the great and famous teachers and examples of holy truth holy duties holy Sacraments holy Orders and holy Ministry in the Church to this time that holinesse by which we obey the command embrace the truth fear the threatnings observe the duties preserve the Institutions continue the Orders reverence the Embassadours joy in the Graces hope in the promises and in all things are conformable to Christ by his blessed Spirit who transforms us from glory to glory I mean those holy men 1. that hear the word with trembling 2. that pray with understanding constancy fervency reverence and comlinesle 3. that receive the pledges of Gods love in Christ from the hands of Reverend men called of God by the Church with care preparednesse and thankfullnesse 4. those holy men who love in sincerity give with cheerfullnesse rejoyce in well doing suffer with patience live by faith act by charity And live in order contentednesse and humility a communion of these Saints is part of the glory to be revealed O happy those who enjoy the benefit of their comprehensive abilities their astonishing accomplishments their powerfull discourses their obliging conversations their enflamed devotion their exact piety their remarkable integrity their innocent and large prudence their servent zeal and their publick Spirit O it is good for us to be here 4. Even the High-prayses of God which we hope shall be in our mouthes with Angels and Arch-Angells We may enjoy in the Holy Church which throughout all the World doth acknowledge God with heavenly prayses they on Earth answering one another as they in Heaven Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath Not without those Excellencies to which the Ingenuous industry of Christians hath attained for singing and the use of Musick Orall and Organicall in consort or solitary whereby God is glorified both in private and in publick either by the skillfull or attentive Christians whose hearts are turned and framed after Gods own heart who are by this Heavenly way pleased into a Spirituall Holy Humble and calm Frame of Spirit and sweet meditations which are the usuall effects of good and grave Musick on sober and devout soules who in hearing or reading Psalmes Hymnes and Spirituall Songs in which the divine truth of the matter affects the enlightned judgement and the quieted Conscience by a close pleasant and heavenly virtue with the neerest Conformity to the holy minds and Spirits of those Sacred Writs inspired of God for the Composures of those holy Psalmodies 5. Neither was it the least recompence for the delay of that perfect state where Sin is quite removed Sorrow cast away Teares wiped from mens eyes to hope for that state of the Church wherein we might be kept regularly to mortifie the deeds of the body where we might have learned to swallow up our Sorrow with the graces of Patience and Joy our Fears with a Blessed Hope our wants with a foreseeing Faith our shame with a conquest over the World In a word enjoying by a gratious Gonverse a Heaven of happinesse in this vale of misery and an Eternall life in this shadow of Death 6. These and the like particulars made up that happinesse in the hope whereof I flattered my self to some comfort in my few dayes full of trouble The happinesse that we should all have to rejoyce with Jerusalem and be glad with her All we that loved her and to rejoyce for joy with all we that mourned for her A happinesse we thought unquestionable when our God who seemed to be angry but for a moment returned to embrace us with everlasting kindnesse When 1. assisted by his grace and blessing 2. countenanced with the presence and authority of a gratious Soveraign 3. furnished with an Incomparably Pious Prudent and Learned Clergy 4. befriended by Persons of true piety honour and prudence who excelled in virtue 5. provided for by just equal and exact Laws 6. supported with the effectuall fervent Prayer of devout Sons The Church in all probability was likely to recover her ancient life vigour beauty and glory 1. by the Spirit of God allaying animosities and softning the hearts of men to a peaceable and quiet frame 2. by the Prudence of man reconciling interests closing differences and filling up distances 3. by severe Laws rooting up those principles testraining and condemning those practiles that ruined us those Abominations that made desolate 4. by that cheerfull submission for Conscience sake which all men promised to his Majesties Government upon his miraculous Restauration with that Generall Applause and Joy when the Providence and hand of God restored Him whom they thought by the Providence and Hand of God excluded what could we have answered the Messengers of the Nations but that the Lord hath founded Sion and that the poor of his People should trust therein SECT II. BUt that we may be satisfied as nature informes reason dictates and our Faith instructs us in the vanity and vexation of Spirit that is written upon all things under the Snn That there is that disproportion in the worth that weaknesse in the nature that uncertainty in the being that shortnesse in the duration that deceitfullnesse as to all expectations from all things under Heaven that make them unworthy worthy of our hope unfit for our confidence and below our trust being subject to an uncertainty below and a Providence
Supremacy you have sworn to if you allow not his Majesty power to impose a Ceremony to settle a Discipline to establish an Ecclesiastical Law alas he cannot shew his authority in things necessary for his Subjects are tyed to them already nor in things sinfull for they are forbidden already nor in things indifferent for there all men must be at Liberty Wherein have you sworn to him as Supream O be not deceived God will not be mocked Shall the Laws of one solemnly acknowledged supream Magistrate which are 1. Scriptural as to the main ground rule and end of them 2. Rational as to the Order decency gravity of them 3. Primitive and Catholick be disowned repined at and complained of by men sworn to observe those Laws O men fearing God when you have vowed a vew deferr not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fools Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the Angel it is an Error wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the works of thine hands for in many words which may be alleged to excuse the violation of this Oath there is vanity But fear thou God 3. This opposition to his Majesties Authority in matters Ecclesiastical is against their own Conscience and unhappy are they that condemn themselves in others in those things which they allow you that disown Authority in matters of Religion did not you exercise it you that repine at the imposing of the Liturgy did not you impose the Directory you that are troubled for deprivation upon Non-subscription did not you turn out holy pious painfull Ministers because they durst not take the Covenant or subscribe the Engagement Only the same measure that you measured out to others shall be measured to you you shall suffer but what you have done Neither is his Majesty more severe in supporting his Government by Laws then the Parliament was to support theirs by an Ordinance Thus I see saith the Royal Martyr those who were the most rigorous exactors upon others to conform to their illegal novelties are least disposed to the due obedience of lawfull Constitutions so that I know not whether they sinned more against their own Consciences by violently opposing our established order or by violently imposing their own O suffer others to deal with you as you have dealt with others this is the Law this is the Prophets 4. This discontent of yours to the present establishment is very partiall for men that know they should have no respect of Persons and that nothing should be done through partiality you who could call an Usurping Tyranny a Liberty who could be contented with that variety of Governments and Factions that exercised the Nations patience can discern nothing in a lawfull Prince but Jealousies in a settled Church but Superstition nothing in antient Laws but Persecution nothing in an established Religion but Popery are ye not Brethren partiall in your selves and become Judges of evil thoughts Jac. 2. 4. if ye fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture you do well but if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the Law for transgressors 5. This unexpected discontent seems to be a great scandall and offence to his Majesty the defender of our Faith and all other Kings and Governours who will now look upon Protestants as unpatient of Government Enemies of Orders and disturbers of Peace When they are thus unquiet under an innocent Government how will they behave themselves under a severer Tyranny if they are thus impatient of their good and gentle how impatient will they be of their morose and austere Masters It s an offence to the Church to see its laudable Customs decryed its venerable Laws neglected its antient Canons despised its great Example despised and that he is now the best Christian who was formerly the worst Infidell that did not hear the Church It s a grief to good men that have many sad thoughts of heart for the divisions of Reuben and a joy to the bad who cry Aha so would we have it O woe to the world because of offences woe to those men by whom offences come Brethren you are called to Liberty but it is a great sin to use your Liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another It s not good to do any thing whereby thy Brother much lesse whereby the whole Church stumbleth or is offended if the Primitive Christians when it was at their own choice whether they should use some indifferent thing or whether they would not use them complyed in their practise with their Brethren determining their Liberty so as to give no offence What shall they answer to the God of Peace whose Liberty though determined by Superiors is used by them to the disobedience of those Superiours and the offence of their Brethren 6. The present distemper seems to be ungratefull in regard of other favours of his Majesty his Majesty hath saved our lives and now do we stand upon our Liberty now we had been many dayes without a King without a Prince and without a Sacrifice and newly return to seek the Lord and David our King shall we so far sin against the Lord as to run back again to our former method of sin and misery God forbid Are we newly pardoned and saved to return with the Dog to his vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in uncle annesse do live by his mercy and shall we not make him that natural equal and easic return to live in his obedience 2. This Non-Conformity is not only sinfull in its nature but as mischievous in its apparent effects which are 1. A needless breach of the Communion of Saints O sad that men professing one Religion acknowledging one God partaking of one Faith initiated by one Baptism joyned together with one Spirit redeemed with one precious bloud called to one hope looking for one Common salvation should for things Confessed indifferent keep up divisions foment distances and refuse to be of one heart one mind and one way that the Lord may be one and his Name one 2. A dishonor to the Gospel whose design is peace whose Author is a Prince of Peace whose Preachers are Embassadors of Peace whose Spirit is a Spirit of Peace whose highest honour was meeknesse and peace but alas is become now the great make-bate of the world the enemy of Government the subverter of Laws the pretence of Faction that which turnes the world upside down Wo is us when our excellent Religion is ill-spoken of by reason of our unworthy Conversation the Heathen whom we should Convert will be jealous of us the Turk whom we should Convince will keep at distance from us the Papist whom we should Reform will persecute when we cannot live under Lawfull mild and just Governments but are disobedient unthankfull unholy truce-breakers traytors heady high-minded having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof 3. This