Testament 1. I find it to be a company of persons whether few or many who are converted to God by the Word and Spirit of God of this we have plentiful proof in the Scriptures those that were converted as being turned from darkness to light from the Power of Satan to God and so of Sinners made Saints by the Ministry of the Gospel were called the Churches of God and of Christ in Jerusalem in Samariah in Antioch in Corinth and many other places Secondly I find the Church of God to be such as were baptized in Water for Water Baptism was always previous to Church communion at the Lords Table thus it was in the primitive Church Act. 2 41.42 After convertion then followed Water Baptism and so Church communion Thirdly I find that besides convertion and Water Baptism there must be a Congregating together by a loving Agreement and free consent of the mind of each party from a Principle of Love to God and love to each other without any force or Compultion for Christ hath not made any penal Laws such as fines or Imprisonment to bring persons to his Church and Ordinances and let this be considered that conformity to Gods own Worship by compultion is not right Christian Religion because the conformity is to man and not to God 4thly When thus congregated together holiness of conversation must be maintained by every particular person or else they will be unfit for Church Communion thus have I humbly offered my Opinion and Apprehension as a description of a true Church God in the World which in the sum and substance of it neither the Dissenters nor the Church of England will disown yet it may be that both the Church of England some congregations of Protestant Dissenters may not give their Ascent and consent to every particular as before expressed concerning the true church of God as a true description of it however this matter considered amongst the Dissenters as differing one from another or considered in the Church of England as differing from the Dissenters it looks to much like the Devil to conclude of or call each other the Synagogue of the Devil for whether one or other or whether any of them at all have all the Essentials of a true church according to the primitive constitution yet so far as any of them in their particular persons and in their publick Assemblies do maintain godliness among themselves and promote it amongst others they ought to conclude and deem each other as christian Assemblies and not Synagogues of the Devil Fourthly the aforesaid author goeth on further and saith in his childish way of arguing he that shall communicate with the good members of the church of England shall certainly communicate with as good men as any is under the copes of Heaven for if we refer to the clergy then for Excellency of Natural parts Profoundness of Learning evenness of temper generosity of Principles most admirable Sermons and Doctrines holiness of life and largness of charity we challenge the whole Earth to over-match them now from the foregoing matter consider these following things First he speaketh of communion with the good Members of the church of England and as good as any under the copes of Heaven which words doth intimate that the rest are bad Members and it may be as bad men as any under the copes of Heaven 2dly Consider who these good Members and sâ—per excellent men of the Church of Eagland are First negatively not the brave Protestant Nobility 2dly Not the Gentry 3dly Not the good Church-men of the City 4thly Not the good Church-men of the Country but he fixeth upon the Clergy 3dly Consider the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet would fain have all persons to whom his Pamphlet may come believe or suppose that he is well acquainted with all the Clergy in the Church of England and is thereby able to be an Evidence of their excelling goodness which seems to be a cunning introduction to some Ecclesiastical Function 4thly Consider that the aforesaid Author has been a greater Traveller then he mentioneth in page 10. viz. to the utmost Mountains for in this page 7. he speaketh of the Dominions of the whole Earth under the Copes of Heaven and doth challenge the whole Earth to over match the English Clergy what would the man have those that read his Pamphlet believe that he has travelled with him that spake boldly to God in Job 1. verse 7. Going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it As if he were Observator of the Universe I will not say to be a guide but to give a trancendent Character of the English Clergy but truly I think it best to appeal to all the Parishes in England to give a character of their particular Clergy-men they being best acquainted with their Natural Parts their Temper Principles Sermons Charity and Conversation and let them judge whether they be so good as none better can be expected till Elias cometh with extraordinary Revelation to restore all things however I do believe in my conscience that some of the Clergy of the Church of England are Holy Humble and charitable men and that take delight in Gods Blessing their Labours in mens Conversion and hate Persecution of any of the Kings Subjects by Penal Prosecution they well knowing that forced Conformity is not like to the Lasting pray consider well the Conformist Plea for the Nonconformist and I do not question but believe that worthy Gentleman hath some brethren like himself Sons of the Church of England 5thly The Author still goeth on and reasoneth page 8. if it be dangerous and unsafe to Communicate with the Church of England it is because she is no Church at all or at best but an Antichristian Church unto which I Reply First There is no necessity to conclude the one or other concerning the Church of England what has the man a mind to wheadle some unwary persons into danger and set the Dissenters and the Church of England at a greater variance than they are by drawing and defending some dangerous conclusion concerning the Church 2dly Surely the man hath forget or hath not well considered the good old Proverb all is not gold that glisters suppose upon sight of a piece of Mettle a man should affirm if it be not pure gold it must at best be brass another man of better understanding in the Mettle may affirm it is neither pure gold nor brass and upon bringing it to the touchstone may find it to be a mixt Mettle 3dly If it should be granted that the Church of England were as true and good a Church as the Church at Corinths yet it may be as unsafe and dangerous to partake of the Communion in the one Church as it was in the other viz. persons may in Communicating Eat and Drink their Damnation 1 Cor. 11.27,28 And now from the whole of what the Pamphleteer hath said in his arguings and conclusions concerning
presses to whatsoever is good if it be spiritual wickedness then it lies either in the matter made use of or in the manner of Administration in the excess and defect of the matter or in the designs of the thing but wickedness lyeth in none of these therefore is not spiritual wickedness 2dly If it be spiritual wickedness then the highest Acts or Instances of the Church of Englands goodness is positive wickedness if so what became of all those that have dyed in this Communion 3dly That part of this Kingdom that bears the denomination of the Church of England is either the Church of God or it is the Synagogue of the Devil if it be the Church of God it cannot be unsafe and hazardous to Communicate with it in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 4thly He that shall Communicate with the good Members of the Church of England shall certainly Communicate with as good men as any under the Copes of Heaven referring to the Clergy for Excellency of natural Parts profoundness of Learning Evenness of Temper Generosity of Principles most admiral Sermons Holiness of life largeness of Charity we challenge the whole Earth to over match them Vnto which particulars I do humbly and modestly Reply as followeth First that the Sacrament considered as Gods Holy Ordinance is a spiritual goodness where ever it is Administred according to Gods Word and yet it may be unsafe and dangerous for many particular persons to partake of it First if they themselves be not fit for it and their own Consciences condemn them as unfit persons then it is unsafe and dangerous and if they come to it they cannot enjoy the comfort of it and the Word of God as also the Law of the Realm will condemn them that come to it unworthily 2dly If others as fellow Communicants are not fit for it being known to be Persons of unholy hearts and profane lives then it is unsafe and dangerous for the Godly to partake with the Ungodly for Gods Church ought to be a pure Lump in point of their Membership 1 Cor. 5.6,7,13 Gods good Ordinances must be attended upon and Performed by a People of good hearts and good lives or else both the Persons and the performances may be Rejected of God O lay it to heart Isaiah 1.11 To what purpose is the Multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the Lord. Vers 12. When you come to appear before me who hath Required this at your hand Vers 13. Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an Abomination unto me Verse 14. Your New Moons and your appointed Feast my Soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them Verse 15. When you make many Prayers I will not hear you Vers 16. Wash you and make you Clean put away the Evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil Vers 17. Learn to do well seek Judgment Releive the Oppressed Judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow and all this was spoken to Israel Considered as Gods National Church Secondly The Author of the said Pamphlet In the next place taketh pains to prove that the Sacrament is not Spiritual Wickedness and therefore it may be submitted to and received by the Dissenters truly this pains may well be called the labour in vain because the Preachers of the Dissenters and the Dissenters in general do acknowledge that the Sacrament as it is administred in the Church of England is right in Respect of those particulars by which he demonstrateth that it is not Spiritual Wickedness First they acknowledge it is Right in the Matter viz. Bread and Wine Secondly in the manner of Administration viz. with solemn Prayers and Thanksgiving 3dly In the design viz. a thankful Remembrance of the blessed Sacrifice of a dear Redeemer and notwithstanding all this it may be unsafe and dangerous for the Dissenters to come to it at such times in such places with such Administrators Communicants as their tender Conscience is not satisfied with let that Word be well considered Romans 14.23 And he that doubteth is damned If he eat because he eateth not of Faith for whatsoever is not of Faith Is Sin From whence I thus reason if inferior eating and drinking be so dangerous when persons are not satisfied in their Conscience about it O how much more dangerous is Superiour Eating and drinking viz. such as the Sacrament is when it is done doubting and not in Faith however such of the Church of England as are Conscientiously satisfyed First In the Ordinance it self Secondly In their own selves Thirdly In the fitness of their fellow Communicants after all due Examination I do assure you I will not condemn them in Religious practice now have any uncharitable thoughts of any Godly Persons that have dyed in this Communion and I do believe this is the Sentements of the Dissenters in general Thirdly the Author further saith That part of this Kingdom that beareth the denomination of the Church of England is either the church of God or the Synagogue of the Devil if the Church of God it cannot be hazardous and unsafe to communicate with it in the sacrament of the Lords supper A sew Queries upon this First What hath the man a mind to devide the church of England and reduce it to a small part of the Kingdom and not tell which that is and is it not well known that the whole Kingdom is the church according to Law except such as were never baptized or such as are Excommunicated which are very few compared to this great Kingdom Query 2. What strange Monstrous Fish viz. Aleviathan did swim in the mans brains to conclude that if the Church of England were not the church of God it must needs be the Synagogue of the Devil but I perceive he had the wit or else by excedent he hath forborn to say between these is no medium the 3. Query or did the man think by so expressing himself he should scare all men from answering his Pamphlet for fear of danger Query 4. Or did this man cunningly or basely lay a Trap and a snare thinking to provoke some person to speak unreverentâ—y of the Church and of the Sacrament and as a cunning Watcher who knew where he had laid the Snare steal out and catch the Prey but I would have the Author of that Pamphlet to know that long ago I have read in a good Old Book calld the Holy Bible these following Words Jer. 5,26 For among my People are found Wicked men they lay wait as he that setteth Snares they catch men and so being fore-warn'd I thank God I am fore-arm'd and so will return to answer the Pamphletter in his asserting that the Church of England is either the Church of God or else it is the Synagogue of the Devil which I think to be a very sad desperate and Uncharitable conclution and therefore let it be seriously considered What is the church of God in the sence of the new
Conformity it may be properly said unto him O Stupendious Obsurdity For all that he hath said may be argued over again to perswade and prove that the Members of the Church of England ought to take the Sacrament amongst the Dissenters and then let it be considered what service this man hath done the Church of England I will only except one thing viz. The want of a Penal Law to force persons to it briefly thus First the Sacrament considered as a Civil thing as such it may be done because no where forbidden by God neither is it any natural injury to a mans neighbour page 4. 2dly If it be spiritual goodness it cannot be unsafe and dangerous because we have the Word of God that presses to whatsoever is good page the fourth 3dly because it is not spiritual wickedness first in the matter of it page the fifth viz. Bread and Wine that being innocent and harmless and fitly agreeing to Divine Institution 2dly Not in the manner because it is solemnly performed with Holy Prayers and Thanksgivings with no small degree of seriousness and gravity 3dly Not in excess or defect because none are allowed rudely to take it themselves to eat unto gluttony or drink unto drunkenness 4thly Not in the design of it because all that is proposed in it is a due preparation for it and a Thankful Remembrance of the Blessed Sacrifice of a Dear Redeemer and therefore if no evil in all these we challenge the whole world to shew any formal or possitive wickedness as the Sacrament is amongst the Dissenters Fourthly Surely if the highest Acts of goodness amongst the best Dissenters be down right spiritual wickedness viz. Preparing persons for a Right Receiving the indeavouring to strengthen mens faith thereby and to increase and continue brotherly love then the best Dissenters must be all wicked men which if I mistake not such a Dogmatical Conclusion is the highest violation of Christian Charity under Heaven page 6. Fifthly The Dissenters are either the Church of God or either the Synagogue of the Devil If the Church of God it cannot be unsase to Communicate with them in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper because it is a Holy Rite truely Appropriated to the Church of God but if they be indeed the Synagogue of the Devil let it demonstratively appear page six and we will resolve by Gods grace assisting us to be Hanged upon Gibbits or to be Burned at a Stake to suffer the worst of deaths and dangers rather than to incorporate our selves into such a Diabolical Corporation 6thly He that shall Communicate with the good men of the Churches of Dissenters shall certainly Communicate with as good men as any are I will not presume to say under the Copes of Heaven but in the Church of England If we Refer to those good men of the Ministry then for excelling of Natural Parts profoundness of Learning Evenness of Temper Generosity of Principles most admirable Sermons and Doctrines Holiness of Life and largeness of Charity besides what Commendation be given of the Dissenters in general for a proof and demonstration of these last particulars I do humbly and sollemnly appeal to all such sober wise persons that frequent the Dissenters Assemblies and are not yet joyned in Fellowship with any of them 2dly I appeal to the wise sober and judicious Sons of the Church of England to the Learned as well as unto the Unlearned who have any intimacy or good acquaintance with them 3dly I refer to those Books formerly and lately Printed by the Leaders and Ministers of the Dissenters considered under the names of Independents Presbyterians and Baptists I know it will be objected that many of the Nonconformist Preachers are not learned men unto which I answer first That many of the Ministers of the Church of England tho' they have been long at the best Schools yet they are not over Learned and so it may be truly said of some of the Dissenters 2dly That the Excellency of Religion the understanding of Divine Mysteries doth not depend upon Humane Learning 3dly They have passed the orderly approbation of Christian Congregregations and the approbation of their Ministers and are such as have in a good measure learned the Holy Scriptures which is able to make them wise unto salvation both for themselves and how to instruct others 7thly If it be dangerous and unsafe to Communicate with the Dissenters it must be because they are no Churches at all or at best but Antichristian Churches but Antichristian they cannot be because they have Renounced the power and headship of Antichrist and in their constant Doctrine Practice keep up defend a separation from detestation of him Thus have I humbly returned the Pamphleteer's Arguments such as they be upon his own head but chiefly desire they may reach his heart that so upon a better consideration of them he may learn better things from them for the present and future good of his poor soul Fifthly Envy poysonous Envy is demonstrated at a high rate in the said Pamphlet against the poor Dissenters rendring of them as high enemies to God abominable abusers of God as shall be considred in the following particulars page 9. in that he saith that the greatest number of the Dissenters do hold principles dangerously heretical and most abominable abusing of the most Holy and Blessed God such as indeed do no less in their direct Consequences then Ungod him by making of him the greatest Author of Mischief in the world and the Transactor of such profound folly as was never yet found in any weak and silly mortal under Heaven and all this by those idle dreams in about his peremptory and eternal Decrees 2dly Page 10 the Pamphleteer doth further foam out his envy against the Dissenters in a way of nonsensical admiration saying O Excellent and Stupendious Folly Neither is this all but indeed the least part of what they impute to the best of beings viz. The Angels falling from Heaven by Trangression to be Devils Cain killing of Abel Simeon and Levi Murdering the men of Sechem Davids Committing of Adultery and murdering of Vriah Judas Betraying Christ the Jews by wicked hands to slay him Solomon to have a thousand Whores all the Roman Emperors and Popes to make bloody shambles of the Christian World that when they are drunk lye swear blaspheem challenge God to damn them when they Rob Steal shed blood are sent to Newgate and Tyburn for Fellons poor miserable Wretches they could no ways help it and yet that they should be Hanged here and damned hereafter for doing it although by the same God forbidden and commanded to the contrary with the greatest threats and seriousness and he concludeth all these words and things thus If there can be such a profound Dissembler such a deceitful Worker such an horrible Contriver such an Evil Ordainer and mischevious Author that is not a great and mighty Devil I will confess my self mistaken
Person and Crown to defend Arch-bishops the rest of the Bishops to defend all the Clergy the Church of England against the Pope and all his Cardinals against the Jesuites and all the Popish Party they being Enemies to the King and whole Kingdom as it is a Protestant Kingdom and though the Dissenters may differ from the Church 〈…〉 some things from one another yet the Church of England and the Dissenters 〈…〉 of the King Kingdom I also who am not ashamed to own my 〈…〉 self such a Loyal Subject to 〈◊〉 King such a faithâ—â—◠〈…〉 fore is expres◠〈…〉 according to 1 Tim. 1.2 and let the Pamphleteer lay to heart those words Psalm 52. verse 3. Thou lovest evil more than good and Lying more than to speak Righteousness verse 4. Thou lovest all devouring words O thou Deceitful Tongue O Abominable and Stupendious Forgery Seventhly Hypocrisy is plainly demonstrated in the said Pamphlet A brief account take as followeth in several particulars First In the Pamphleteers pretending to find fault with Persecution in page 2. and yet reckoneth it with other good things as a means to bring Dissenters to Church see page 1. 2dly In his pretending to plead highly for the Church of England all along in his Pamphlet as being the only Church and the Clergy the only men in the whole world for Christianity and yet doth basely insinuate a Confedracy between them and the Papists as being influenced by the Papists to Persecute the Dissenters see page 2. 3dly In that he doth basely reflect upon the Dissenters for Erecting so many new Meeting-places when it is well known that he would have been heartily glad to have had one himself so as to have been set as Chief Preacher and Governour over some Separate Congregation either a new or old Meeting-place would have served to stop his mouth with a good maintenance but missing of his expectation he is so fallen into vexation that he doth not care what he foameth out against the poor Dissenters page 12 4thly In that he chargeth the Dissenters with the total neglect of that great Moral Duty to pay unto God the tenth of their Encrease Now that the tenth of Increase was once payable to God by reason of a Precept in the Old Testament I grant but how it will be proved a moral duty flowing from a Moral Law written in all mens hearts I do not understand but here is the mans hypocrisy that he chargeth that upon others when himself will have a very hard task to prove that he hath made it his own duty in the performance of it consider Mat. 7.5 Thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beam out of thine own Eye then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Moat out of thy Brothers Eye and yet it is well known that the Dissenters do make Conscience to serve God with their Substance 5thy In that he concludeth page 14. that if the Dissenters are not the True Church nor the Church of England the True Church then it must be the Church of Rome and doth not at all deny the Church of Rome to be the True Church as he hath denyed the Dissenters 6thly His Hypocrisy will further appear page 14. in that he speaâ—eth favourably and lovingly of the Church of Rome in these very words Though Sir I do love the People of the Romish Communion well But harken Brethren what a double faced man is this yea what a double hearted man is this as doth appear by his double tongue in pleading so highly for the Church of England and at last to say If the Dissenters nor the Church of England be the true Church then the Church of Rome must or else where shall we find it 7thly Hypocrisy doth further appear in that he saith Tho' he loveth that Church well yet he is loth it should be counted the true Church because it may be inconvenient upon divers accounts and then he reckoneth up some politick considerations respecting outward damages viz. Then we shall be in danger of a Popish Parliament then all our best Ministers will be turned out of the best Benefices the Writ de Heretico Comburendo will be restored thereby the best Defenders of our Religion against Popery be forced to pledge Philpot Ridley Granmer Latimer in a warm Cup of Smithfield Flames then all our married Clergy most be reputed Fornicators their Wives Whores their Children Bastards then our Nobleâ— and Gentry will lose a great part of their Estates which was formerly Church-Lands then will London much abate in in its Trade and Grandeur then all our Protestant Merchants will be put to flight into other Countries to save their own and the lives of their beloved Ladies then England will be inslaved by a red Coat Army besides many do fear if Popery comes in there will be yet many more places set on sire to the prejudice of the whole Kingdom and amongst all these things he doth not forget to speak faintly in behalf of the Common-Prayer-Book saying Then our good Book of Common-Prayer will be changed which I think few or none can make a better Harken Brethren here is not one word to bewail the loss of the Holy Bible in which there is an infallible discovery of Gods Holy Will and our Holy Duties not a word to bewail the loss of the most powerful Preachers upon the account of their being Instruments in the hand of God to Convert poor souls he only sheweth a little unwillingness that the best Ministers should be turned out of the best Benefices and not a word to bewail the loss of the holy Sacrament and to have instead thereof that abominable Idol called the Sacrament of the Altar Harken Brethren yet further notwithstanding this Pamphleteer doth know all these miseries that may â—â—end the faithful Protestants yet he has the confidence to say he loveth those of the Romish Communion and doth not say he cannot in conscience own them to be a true Church at all but saith he is loath it should be accounted a true Church in England and that onely because it is inconvenient and doth not deny those of the Romish Communion to be a true Church at Rome and in other Countries and he hath left himself an empty space to be filled up with Conformity unto those of the Romish Communion when he shall find a Conveniency O Abominable Hypocrisy in the Pamphleteer to undertake the Cause of the Church of England against the Protestant Dissenters and at last speak faintly of Rome speaketh favourably of Rome speak lovingly of the Church of Rome yea saith he loveth that Party well even that Church who is the implacable enemy of the poor Church of England and longâ—â—â— to put out the Eyes and pluck out the Heart and Cut off the Head of the Protestant Church of England as hath been made evident by the late Damnable Popish Plot. Therefore let all true Protestantâ— be at peace one with another and be in love one to another and joyn head and heart and hand together against this bloody Enemy that has stained many Countries with Protestant Blood And let all sorts of Protestants beware of a False Brother and let the Church of England beware of a False CHILD Prov. 27.8 As a Bird that wandereth from her Nest so is a man that wandereth from his place FINIS