us Slander Rebellion Lyes Perfidiousness Villanies Treacherous Conspiracies and what not Any thing that comes into his Head in his Eye we are the Horridest Monsters in Nature not to be suffered to live as bad if not worse than the Devil who if God gave him leave would not blacken us so much as he doth as it appears out of his Method when before God he suggested what he did against Job Thus were the first Christians misrepresented by their Enemies such Picture-drawers deserve not to be allowed a Pencil in the Hand for they never make the Copy to resemble the Original Such Language as this and such Sermons as we complain of we have reason to look upon as so many Bartholomew Bells rung for a Massacre In things we differ about let us argue like Men and not tear like Beasts But 't is not enough to make us Enemies to the Church the Design is to proclaim us such to the State first as if we were Innovators which in some places he would charge us with in relation to Church as to State as in Page 9. If by Novelties in Church he means Reformation we own we desire that Innovation as was from the Ceremonial Law to the Gospel such an Innovation as hapned when the Gentiles forsook their Idols to serve the Living God and believe in Christ such as when our Fathers came out of Romish Babylon such Innovations and Reformation we are for and of what remaineth amongst us of that Spiritual Sodom we are for to desire to go to the Spring is no Innovation we are for that Good Old way mentioned in Scripture for that which was from the Beginning as 't is our Saviour's Method in his Sermon upon the Mount to Reform and bring things to the old Channel and to what they were at first one said well Illud verum quod primum But all Innovations against the Doctrine of Christ or of his Apostles were much against and look upon them as Pernicious so when there creeps any Abuses into the State we could heartily wish to have them redressed in a Legal and Parliamentary way and we think it not blameworthy when in a due Course 't is asked by those that have a right to do it To make us Odious to Authority they call us Commonwealth-men we own it in some Sence that is for the Common Publick Good in Opposition to Private Interest and we think he is not an Honest Man who is not of that Principle but a Democratical and meerly Popular Government or any contrary to that settled by the Laws we are against They say we are not for Monarchy not for such as overthrows the Laws illegally dissolves Charters invades the Subjects Properties openeth Popish Chappels all the Nation over sets up Papists in those places which by Law they are excluded from In a word A Tyrannical and Absolute Monarchy we do not love but such a one wherein the King hath his just Prerogative Parliaments their Privileges and People their Rights and Liberty and the Law of the Land is the Standing Rule of Government such a Monarchy with Hearts Hands and Purses we will Stand Live and Die for And none but Villains will call us as Page 33. Implacable and Impenitent Adversaries to Monarchy and present Majesty and to be for a Fantastick Anarchy P. 34. Another thing and that is very Important we must speak of He hath not been satisfied to abuse us in relation to things already mentioned he hath as it were to defie God himself reviled our Holy Faith I am apt to believe one word which drop'd from my Pen and that is Arminianism hath hit him to the quick for now and then he is Spewing out his Venom concerning those Points against Grace about those Matters which I look upon to be so Fundamental to true Christian Religion if there was an occasion he should find me very Severe but that is a large Field not to be entred upon at this time The place wherein he chiefly foams out his Rage is Page 11. The Stander by may see us thrown at their Will and Pleasure into Socinianism Arrianism Anabaptism Calvinism Commonwealthism or any other Hereticalism Methinks Pelagianism might well have come in and made a Rhime with the rest but he hath his Reason to the contrary he must not bring in one of his Ancestors amongst Hereticks for Pelagius was Arminius's Grand-father for Arminians are Semi-pelagians this is no place to speak of that Genealogy Calvin he placeth amongst Hereticks and makes his Opinions as abominable Heresies as Socinians c. This Man who pretends to such a Tenderness for the Memory and Reputation of the Dead doth here clearly shew us how to say is one thing and to do another that eminent Instrument of Reformation from Popery hath a name settled amongst all Reformed except Arminian Churches beyond the reach of some Despicable Wretches in the World 't is well known how high a Value and Esteem as might appear by several Instances our first Reformers here had for him but I want room for the present to vindicate his Person and Doctrine it may very well be said of him what St. Paul speaks of another The Brother whose Praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches It cannot be said that he was Socinian Arrian Pelagian or Anabaptist for he hath powerfully written against those Heresies If he was an Heretick seeing he will have him to be one he must call him an Augustinian for in Matters of Grace none can deny but that he goes hand in hand with Austin Is not this a pretty return of the Man to what I said that some of our Church-men would in my Opinion do better instead of being so Hot upon a Dispute about a Book whose it is to write against Socinianism which is riding in Triumphantly I know a Worthy and one of their chief Members hath written something well upon that subject but another hath done it in such a way being Ambitious to tread new Paths and be Singular as hath started up Disputes between him and some Brother of his who is upon good reason for keeping in the old way I do not say that our Author should concern himself against Socinians for what Affinity he may happen to have with them I cannot tell I am sure some of his Arminian Gang have but in case he had not he would not be proper for it in that he hath no Convincing way he answers Arguments only with ill Language he would Rant and Hector and if he could bring down Fire from Heaven to consume whom he loveth not we have a fresh Experience of it and amongst other places in his P. 13. As I perceive this Man hath undertaken to be the Champion not only of the Church of England but also of that of Rome for indeed in this very thing he takes up the Cudgels for them against all that are withdrawn from her Communion and this is the Cause of all Protestant Reformed
Churches What is meant by Calvinism I conceive it to be the Doctrine and Opinions of Calvin and do not all Protestant Churches beyond Sea except Lutherans which have Transubstantiation and Ubiquity nay do not we our selves agree in the Doctrinal part with Calvin Let us peruse the Body of the several Confessions of Faith of those Forreign Churches and compare them with our Thirty nine Articles as to the Doctrinal part and we shall find they all agree in Doctrines of Faith Is not this to bring in Popish Batteries amongst us and plainly to betray the Protestant Cause Is not this to help our Enemies and the Wicked We know how Jehoshaphat was reproved for having joyned with Ahab after he was returned in Peace to his House Jehu the Son of Hanani the Seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat Shouldest thou help the Ungodly and love them that hate the Lord Therefore is Wrath upon thee from before the Lord. This Man calls Calvin an Heretick but doth he make it appear he saith but doth not prove we are not Sworn to his words doth he think we will take his bare word for it there is no reason Principles of Truth we stand upon but he understands it no more than Pilate who asked what it was I say this false Accusation is a Libel against other Protestant Churches he doth erect himself into a Goliah who despiseth and defieth all the Armies of the Lord This is highly and openly to appear for the Romish Canse after this rate down with all Protestant Churches and up with Popery O! Tell it not in Gath publish it not in Askelon least the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce What a Joy for Papists both at home and abroad to hear one in London hath in Print condemned for the worst of Hereticks all Churches that are withdrawn from that of Rome Is it not a Shame to hear it And will it not be a greater Shame to suffer it It is very well worth the Pains of those that are concerned to look to it The Laws do forbid all Commerce with the Romish Church and 't is Treason to be reconciled to it or to Seduce others to do so to write against that Churches Enemies is to write for it to write for it is to go about to Seduce People to be reconciled to it which is Punishable by the Laws this is too much to favour Rome Did the greatest Stickler of the Church of Rome ever call our Holy Religion worse than Heresie herein he justifies the more Violent Papists amongst whom have been many who in this case had more Moderation and less Impudence than he we call Heaven and Earth to record and do Solemnly declare the Protestant Cause to be herein Perfidiously betray'd There are those in the World who being so Hard-hearted as never to be willing to forgive them that really or in their Opinion only have offended them when they say the Lord's Prayer do leave out the fifth Petition because they are not willing to forgive them that Trespass against them though they would have God to forgive them their Trespasses but our Blessed Saviour in his Divine Wisdom hath so twisted them that they must go together There is no Pardon for us except we forgive others Thus our Author as we may reasonably believe doth not joyn with the Church though a pretended high Church-man in that Prayer of the Common-Prayer-Book wherein we Pray God to forgive our Persecutors and Slanderers May be he will give the Reason why he doth not That he hath not nor ever had as to himself occasion to use that Prayer for he never was Persecuted or Slandered having always been and desirous to be on the Persecuting and Slandering side This Man I produce as a Witness to prove what I said of the Violence of the Spirit and the Principles of some of them and I think his Evidence speaks home and what I also said of their Practise against Dissenters In my weak Apprehension this Learned Pen had done better and a more Praise-worthy thing to have written against Socinians but them we do not mind they are our Friends and to make use of his words herein we are in a Levitical Slug but as soon as a Nonconformist's Book exhorting to Union and Reformation comes out then Tooth and Nail against it and would condemn it to the Fite The long and the short of the Business is this They are for Vengeance we are told P 3. something we must expect from an Injured or so thinking himself Loyalist and disturbed Privado They are not for Peace or Reconciliation as P. 13. Trespasses of the first Magnitude must not be forgotten nor petty Injuries forgiven P. 17. 'T is no Christian Logick to say it were better to forget those things than to renew the Memory of them which continues Divisions for Their Gospel-Talents must not be wrapt up in an Idle Napkin of Silence and Oblivion they must Preach and Evangelize the Jews and Miscreants and Exquisite Impostors and Assassines or such Furious Assailants as Presbyterians are as they call us P. 33. and 43. out of the Pale of the Christian Church P. 19. Schismaticks and Factious ibid. We are for Clashing Destruction in Church and State P. 5. In short We are Rogues Murtherers Enemies to the Government infected with Seditious Doctrines P. 23. And what else worse can be conceived of Men He saith much but proveth nothing at all he hath learned the Maxim Calumniare fortiter aliquid haerebit Do but Slander boldly and something will stick If he had given any Grounds which he cannot for such things we would have endeavoured to answer him but our true and short answer to such Men is this formerly made use of by another Mentiris impudentissimè Thou art a most Impudent Lyar. In such a case when Reason doth not prevail these are the last Weapons to be made use of we are for Peace but when we speak they are for War Hereupon we have cause to make a Serious Reflection we are traduced for what we are not they themselves declare they breath out after our Ruin and Destruction and we cannot but see what we must expect from them if ever it was in their Power to Undo and Murther us this is clear out of several places of the Pamphlet If there be any Secular Care of the Scepter if any Pious Regard for the Mitre if there be any Security for their present Majesties P. 3. Whence doth all this arise and to what doth it tend See Page 25. I am afraid he would say I hope e're long they will both that is both divided Church-Parties be upon the Bear that is the Dissenters This is a Healing Spirit a Hellish one rather which is the Author of Jealousies Divisions and Animosities this threatning Noise would awake us if we were asleep but latet anguis in herbâ For what we know there is a Design to work Troubles thereby to make
kind of a Miraculous Birth of a Supposed Prince of Wales had been a just ground for another for such a signal Mercy of an Heir Male to the Crown surely would have deserved an Yearly Thanksgiving-day thus the Prayer-book had been swelled with new Rubricks Collects c. and the Nation been overgrown therewith and so from time to time we had never wanted Occasions or Pretentions of multiplying to an Infinite I dare say our Author is an Observer in private of that Sixth of February thus there had been no end for Superstition will not be kept within Bounds or Measures and here I must make the Author who in several places doth unjustly brand us with Innovations see how such Anniversaries are Innovations for here we had no such thing before King Charles's Restoration wherefore let there be no more such a Scuffle about Dead Bodies Now with the help of God I must proceed to some few Observations and that as briefly as I can First He hath not returned me one Text of Scripture for so many I have given yet the Word of God is to be judge of these Controversies but indeed his way of Discoursing is altogether inconsistent with that Holy Word then I say most of my Reasons are untouched and hardly any thing answered and nothing to the purpose nothing said against my Position That for such Anniversaries there is no Precept nor President in Scripture the three pretended out of the Old Testament I refuted and not one word of the Refutation taken notice of nor nothing said either to excuse or justifie that violent Spirit in those Sermons I complained of only this Their Gospel-Talents must not be wrap'd up in an Idle Napkin of Silence and Oblivion which how Satisfactory an answer it is I leave any Rational Man to judge and indeed he had no room for Sober and Serious Discourse his being wholly stuffed with Invectives I could instance several other Particulars in my Observations which he hath not taken notice of in the least whereby one may see he hath lost his Cause But not to trouble my self any longer as to this I leave it to any Impartial Reader to compare his Book with mine which I do earnestly desire and it will be found in many things he quite flies off from the Matter and seeing I now am upon my Confession I declare I could never have thought there could in one Man meet so much of ill Nature of ill Breeding and so much of Brutishness that one should be so Unreasonable and Unrational for he ceaseth to be a Man and a Christian too if ever he was such he would bite and devour if he could but cannot and 't is hardly worth throwing a Stone at him I am sorry he hath so much forced me out of my way of writing which ever was as every Honest Man's ought to be with Moderation and Meekness not with Ferocity and Brutishness as I found his to be But there is worse than this for he strives in the most odious Terms he can to traduce us as Enemies to Church and State but believe him not for I find he is used to Lye As to the first we subscribe to the Doctrinal part of the Thirty nine Articles and are for a Government and Discipline in the Church for a Ministry by way of Office and in a lawful Calling contrary to his false Aspersions Page 6 and 24. We say Doctrine is the Soul whereby the Church liveth and Discipline the Sinews by which Feeling and Motion is conveyed and the Church thereby maintained and yet we find some as this Man who hate Discipline except it be their own without considering whether or not it be Christ's and the very name of it as they abhor Reformation Discipline keeps things in order and Reformation restores them to a due State after Abuses and Disorders So that whosoever is an Enemy to Reformation proclaims himself to be such to Order and Discipline in the Church and is thereby a Favourer of Confusion and 't is not enough for one to pretend to it for good Desires signifie nothing without earnest Endeavours do ye the Work and leave the Success to God and first begin at home Is the Heart affected Do you speak feelingly Do you make Conscience of your ways If so then let me say as long as we have such Members and such Governours of a Church we shall be sure not to want Order and Discipline in it As to the things wherein they and we do differ let us according to the several Rules about it we have in the New Testament in Charity and the Spirit of Meekness endeavour to Instruct and Inform but chiefly to Edifie one another and not put out one anothers Eyes or have no other Terms but the Law of the Conqueror over the Conquered we shall be ready to meet you in that Spirit and though we were the strongest it were unreasonable if we should attempt to prescribe you any thing we never pretended to give any Frame of Worship or Government but what are set down in the Word of God that indeed we stand for and desire to have nothing settled in the Church but what is according to the Rule of Scripture let there be nothing but what there is a Warrant for out of it In order thereunto all our desire is that Cause with Cause Ground with Ground and Matter with Matter be compared and determined not to see things managed with Partiality Faction and Interest as in the Council of Trent for then that which is intended for a Remedy strengthneth the Disease and to speak with Nazianzen dissolveth not but fixeth Evil at first a Council by Emperor and Princes asked of Popes was a Terror chiefly a free one for 't is certain a guilty Man will never be if he can help it for coming to his Tryal for fear of being condemned so they that are Conscious to themselves of Abuses and Corruptions will as long as they can avoid coming to a Reformation which is desired in a quiet and peaceable way the Word of God alone being the Judge We are content in the Enjoyment of the Indulgence which they envy us and some have preached against before the highest Assemblies and as we ought give God Thanks for it if they will but let us alone and not go about as they do to provoke the Superior Powers against us by means of those Violent Sermons they preach every Year upon those Anniversaries when for fear old Divisions should be forgotten they renew the Memory of them with a Witness In several places he charges us with Hypocrisie the Plague of the Heart whereof God alone is the Searcher and ought to be the Judge This is between God and us and not between us and him But the Objection I answered in my Observations Page 41. he breaks loose upon us with so much Bitterness as to call us Champions of Dissention P. 25. Miscreants P. 33. Assassines in the Postscript-Advertisement and fathereth upon