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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56807	The conformists plea for the nonconformists, or, A just and compassionate representation of the present state and condition of the non-conformists as to I. The greatness of their sufferings, II. Hardness of their case, III. Reasonableness and equity of their desires and proposals, IV. Qualifications, and worth of their persons, V. Peaceableness of their behaviour, VI. The churches prejudice by their exclusion, &c. humbly submitted to authority / by a beneficed minister, and a regular son of the Church of England.	Pearse, Edward, 1631-1694.	1681 (1681)	Wing P976; ESTC R1092	66,864	80

reckoned an Innovation in some Colleges in both Universities by the above-named Bishop Brownrig and Prideaux c. in these words By in troducing Latin Service in the Communion of late in Oxford Copy of the Proceedings c. 1641. Innovation 17. and into some Colleges in Cambridg at Morning and Evening Prayer so that some young Students and Servants in the Colleges do not understand their Prayers But now the Latin Service may be used in any College or Hall in Oxford Cambridg Westminster Winchester and Eaton and Convocation of Clerks The Commissioners on the other side must be acknowledged Men of great and sound Learning Dr. Tuckney Dr. Wallis Dr. Conant Horton Lightfoot Mr. Baxter Mr. Woodbridg Dr. Seaman Dr. Spurstow Jacomb Bates c. and Bishop Reynolds on this side and of more experience in the Pastoral Office and had conversed more with great Congregations than the others had and so were more fit to Advise as learned Practitioners in Physick are fitter to Advise and more likely to hit the Temper of the Patient than a Professor in the Theory And the account of their Proceedings will to Posterity shew to the impartial and inquisitive both their Parts and their Temper When I read them I do the less wonder at what I heard Bp S. at Stony-Stratford in Bucks that a great Bishop in his prime Visitation soon after did teach his Clergy against reading that Book Thus was the Platform of the present Constitution drawn and it stands leaning altogether to the one side and what wonder that many that seem wholly to lean upon it do cry It fulls it falls that was not laid upon a larger Foundation But how did these Master-Builders proceed in the Government of their New-Reformed Church It seemed to be built no larger than to contain one Family the genuine Sons of such Fathers there was but one narrow Door of admission to it a strong Lock upon it and the sole Power of the Keys was in trusty Hands and the Sword in the hand of a Friend there was no outward Apartment in it to entertain Strangers or belonging to it But some got a false Key to the Door as many call it a Key of a larger sense and when some got in more crouded in and so the Latitudinarian in Charity came in with the Latitudinarian in Discipline to the no little grief of some who do not like their company The Fathers keep above Stairs and now and then come down among us and send their Officers to visit us and have their Watch renewed every Year to tell Tales of us and they that are without Doors cry If there be any Love in our Governors to Christ and his divided Flock that we would but widen the Door and reform but ill Customs but we say we cannot help our selves or them for the Law will have it so The Law had a two-edged Sword of Penalties and some of them who took Sword to guard and assist the Church having spent their heat grew for the most part cold and lazy and more Dissenters were smitten with the Key than the Sword And so nothing almost went on currantly and vigorously for more got into the Communion than some would have and so many kept out that there were too many to be dealt with Several of the Bishops having made work for others and having their Wills grew very gentle I begin within mine own Knowledg or good Information I shall not need to speak of Bishops Monk and Gauden nor of Reynolds who carried the Wounds of the Church in his Heart and Bowels to his Grave with him as is well known to many that knew him but speak of the most rigorous at first hand Doctor Laney first Bishop of Peterborough who had made a great bussle in the croud of aspiring Men in Cambridg till he came up several Stories as high as he desired to be was very moderate in his Government In his prime Visitation as I have heard one speak that was by before Bartholomew he in his Chamber told some of his Clergy what he came about and as tho he would wipe his Hands said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not I but the Law and could to use his own phrase to a scrupulous Person look through his Fingers and suffer a worthy Non-conformist to preach publickly very near him for some Years together after his remove to another Bishoprick Bishop Saunderson was severe and troubled long with a sharp Disease which might exasperate his Mind had a Roll of Ministers under his angry Eye designed for Discipline but when he drew nigh to his latter End he commanded that Roll to be burnt and said He would die in Peace Dr. Earle Bishop of Salisbury was a Man that could do Good against Evil forgive much and of a charitable Heart and died to the no great sorrow of them who reckoned his Death was just for labouring all his might against the Oxford Five-mile Act. But most remarkable is that Passage in the last Testament printed both in English and Latin of the Learned Dr. Cosins Bishop of Duresm printed with his Funeral Sermon and Life He leaves a Mark upon the Presbyterian to satisfy us that he was none but tells the Church That our great and main Work is to Unite The Passage deserves Transcribing viz. pag. 126. I take it to be my Duty and of all my Brethren especially the Bishops and Ministers of the Church of God to do our utmost endeavours according to the Measure of Grace which is given to every one of Us that at last an End may be put to the Differences of Religion or at least they may be lessened c. How others of their Order that are dead and alive that managed that Affair for the standing or shaking of this Church have carried themselves in Debates and great Trials is better known to others than to me Only I will crave leave to say That one at that time but Doctor hath not consulted the quiet of peaceable considering Men by provoking Mr. Baxter to shew Reasons of his Nonconformity which are too hard for many to answer and unanswered yet And it is to no purpose to set R. against B. and Baxter against Baxter as if none could answer him till he turn Conformist and answer himself and it will not do to whisper that the Man is rude and crack'd for indeed the more crack'd he is the more Kernelis seen The wise and good Bishop Wilkins was a Man of another Spirit and took comfort in his healing Endeavours upon his Death-bed And the Lord of his infinite Mercy move and engage their Right Reverend Survivors and other eminent Divines of the Church to lay to heart our doleful broken and declining State and supplicate the King and Parliament to unite and strengthen the Protestant Interest A far better Work than to invite the Non-conformists to come in as things do stand or to provoke any of them to shew cause of their Nonconformity which

without the Common-Prayer See also Mr. Blake Covenant sealed p. 308. as I my self have known nor any Child rightly baptized without the Cross yet by this Act of Uniformity they must declare Assent and Consent to all and every thing to Cross as well as Baptism to Ceremony as well as Substance And how easie was it for sinful people and weak to say See what these Men can do Yea in case that in any after-time wise and moderate Governours should see a necessity of making Alterations Then again teaching Scorners to say Yea see what these Men can do to the great dishonour of Religion and disgrace of the best of Ministers And one would think that because the Courts continue to swear Churchwardens to present they had Spies enow upon our Nonconformists and Punishments smart enough they might have spared to require this Declaration or if they had thought us honest our promise to conform had been sufficient tho kept in the Registers and made at our Institutions Yet through this Dishonour we attain our Honour They are debarred from all exercise of their Ministerial Abilities their Wives and Children turned out of doors and when they had made a sad and chargeable Remove of late must remove again upon the Five-mile Act. And these Penalties were next to Death and I conceive proved the Death of many I remember the Renowned Bishop Morton wrote these words to the Nonconformists and desired them earnestly to consider the Censure of the Apostle's Wo being so dreadful I ought not to esteem any thing a just Cause why I should wilfully incur the Censure of Silencing my self from Preaching for which I ought not as willingly to adventure my Life The General Defence of the three Ceremonies Part 1. p. 163. The Nonconformists have suffered what is next to Death and too many have suffered even unto Death in Prisons where several caught their Death and others died it is a dreadful story of whom shall their Deaths be required And it is easie to retort those words of the Reverend Bishop Imposers should not esteem any thing a just Cause of bringing any under the censures of Silencing of Preachers from preaching for which they may not adventure to take away their Lives It is objected That they sin against the Law And they may answer Who procured the Law it is the Magistrate's Sword but who moved him to draw it They are told they have no cause to complain of Sufferings for the Magistrate hath been merciful and hath not execued the Laws Thanks be to God for the Mercy but all have not been so merciful as the King hath been or many inferiour Magistrates but their Mercy hath not been kindly taken by many who should have more tender bowels than any Man that wears a Sword To conclude A reasonable Understanding may judge that Law not fit to remain in force that is not fit to be put in execution That Law cannot be good that is not fit to be brought to act without more real hurt than good And if the wise and merciful God hath by many remarkable Providences put a stop to their execution it is time for Men to annul the Law 2. The Penalty is hard upon them that make their offers to be admitted into the Churches Service or that would come in but for these Injunctions It is but a narrow passage that is made for them that enter in yet what shall they do who have spent all they have in a Preparatory Education In they must tho but to a Curacy which is not easie to be had It is grievous to think with what Implicit Faith they do what is to be done yet must Assent to more than ever many have studied rather following Example than Reason or else there is nothing for them to do Others that are enclin'd to Learning and to serve in the Gospel are deterred upon many accounts and have great prejudices against Conformity because of the great reverence they have to Nonconformists and these are under a great temptation to perpetuate a Nonconformity which is more sutable to their inclinations as being a state of freedom to their Consciences from great Bonds and Obligations tho an Estate attended with hazard to their Bodies and Estates And all young Students are under this necessity either they must subscribe hand-over-head or else they must spend their time in these endless Controversies of the Church and be engaged in the dolefull and fearfull Wars of the Church on one side or other 3. The third Consideration that pleads for our Non-conforming Brethren is taken from the Reasonableness of their Demands I distinguish these Demands into those Proposals made by the Commissioners in the Savoy Anno 1662 with that Modesty Gravity Humility and Reason treating the Bishops and other Commissioners as Superiours 2. Into those which have been repeated by particular Persons and may be seen in the Writings of Laborious and Catholick Mr. Baxter Mr. John Corbet and Dr. Owen in his learned and moderate Book of Church-Peace Love and Unity I shall only generally compare what they humbly desired with what was declared 1. In his Majesties gracious Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs a most large and healing Plaister for the Churches Wounds and might have been a Pillar to have born up the Church in Unity as his Gracious Act of Indempnity and Oblivion hath held up the State if some Men who can be loyal for their own ends had not perhaps bin industrious to make Divisions by their Affected Terms of Union 2. They humbly moved but for what great Men and famous in the Church of God to all posterity thought fit to grant In that Year 1641 there was a Committee for Religion appointed in the House of Lords ten Earls ten Bishops ten Barons The Bishop of Lincoln Williams sent a Letter to some Divines to attend that Service who met in his House Breviat of his Life p. 24. the Deanery of Westminster upon which Arch-Bishop Laud hath this Note Upon the whole matter I believe this Committee will prove the National Synod of England to the great dishonour of the Church and what else may follow upon it God knows These Divines were no less Men than the most Venerable Arch-Bishop Vsher Bishop Williams of Lincoln Dr. Prideaux after Bishop of Worcester Dr. Brownrig after Bishop of Fxeter Dr. Ward Professor of Divinity in Cambridge and Arch-Deacon of Taunton Dr. Featly Dr. Hacket of late Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield All these subscribed a Paper called The Proceedings c. touching Innovations in Doctrine and Disoipline of the Church of England together with Considerations upon the Common-Prayer Book Out of which I draw a Parallel with the Proposals of the Divines appointed to treat by his Majesty's Commission with the Archbishop and Bishops and other Divines of the Church of England at the Savoy See Account of the Proceedings printed Lond. 1661. The Divines appointed to meet in the Dean's House 1641. Considerations on the

our Posterities and extended to such as do not yet enjoy the Benefit thereof Of Private Baptism We desire that Baptism may not be in a private place at any time unless by a lawful Minister and in the presence of a competent number and where it is evident that any Child hath been so baptized no part of the Administration may be reiterated in publick under any limitations and therefore we do not see any need of any Liturgy in that Case Exception of Confirmation Altho we charitably suppose the meaning of these words was only to exclude the necessity of any other Sacraments to baptized Infants yet these words are dangerous as to the misleading of the Vulgar and therefore we desire they may be expunged Except of the Catechism We desire the first Question may be altered considering for 20 Years past many had no God-fathers and and the 7th Q. The second Answ Wherein I was visibly admitted into the number of the Members of Christ That the Commandments may be inserted according to the last Translation of the Bible That in the Exposition of the Commandments some clause may be inserted to refer to the fourth Commandment that those words be omitted Answer thus given Two only Baptism and the Lord's Supper c. A more full Explication of the Creed Lord's Prayer and Ten Commandments c. Except of the Form of Marriage The word Worship being much altered in the use of it since this Form was drawn up we desire some word may be used instead of it This Rubrick doth either enforce all to forbear Marriage as are unfit for the Sacrament or the unprepared to come to the Sacrament And therefore we desire it may be omitted the rather because that Marriage Festivals are too often accompanied with such divertisements as are unsuitable to those Christian Duties which ought to be before and follow after the receiving of that Holy Sacrament Except Visitation of the Sick That form of Absolution be declarative and conditional as I pronounce thee Absolved instead of I absolve thee if thou dost truly repent and believe This Psalm 121 seems not to be so pertinent as some other viz. Psal 113. Psal 128. Except Burial of the Dead These words cannot in truth be said of Persons living and dying in open and notorious Sins Except in the Litany In regard that the Wages of Sin is Death We desire that this clause may be thus altered From Fornication and all other hainous or grievous Sins Gen. Proposition 12. p. 6. Because singing of Psalms is a considerable part of publick Worship We desire that the Version set forth and allowed to be sung in Churches may be amended or that we may have leave to make use of a purer Version I shall not draw the Parallel any further but infer these following Observations 1. That those great and famous Men did see some necessity or reason for altering of many things in the Liturgy and therefore the Presbyterian Divines most of whom were and are Non-Conformists were not altogether captious and quarrelsom they maintain'd a Necessity of Reformation On the other side there were learned Men who maintained there was no necessity of Reformation But you see against the sense of those admirable Divines that met in the Dean's House 1641. 2. I observe That the Proposals and Exceptions of the Commissioners in the Savoy were not without great President and insisted upon many things which the most eminent Fathers of the Church of England would have yielded to them and doubtless much more if not all for Peace and Union 3. To speak a word for the reproached Brethren of the Non-conformists who are represented to have all the ill Humours of factious Persons and discontented that know not what to ask nor what they would have is but a piece of Justice and Christian Charity Men think nothing but Presbytery and Covenants and Directory will please them which is not just nor true They desired that the Liturgy may consist of nothing doubtful or questioned amongst pious Orthodox Learned Men c. Dr. Allen of Huntingdon-shire and Clerk in the Convocation did earnestly labour with the then Bishop of London afterward Arch-Bishop that they might so refine the Liturgy that no sober Man might make Exception He was wished to forbear for what should be was concluded on or resolved They desired the observation of Saints Days might be omitted c. The most Reverend Vsher and the rest begin their Considerations with this Whether the Numes of some departed Saints and others should not be quite expunged the Kalender They desired that there might be no such Imposition of the Liturgy as that the Exercise of the Gift of Prayer be thereby totally excluded in any part of publick Worship The most excellent Vsher p. 5. ● 16 and the rest recllon it among the Innovations By prohibiting a direct Prayer before Sermon and bidding of Prayer which is now the mode all over the Bishoprick of Duresm as some that are no strangers in it say They at the Savoy stood for a Reformation and were not singular therein for without it the Reverend Dr. Featly a worthy Man and great Sufferer in our unhappy Warrs which is like the Sword that makes no difference printed this Challenge and Manifesto 1. The Articles of Religion need no Alteration at all but only an Orthodox Explication in some ambiguous Phrases and a vindication against false Aspersions 2. That the Government by Bishops removing all Innovations and Abuses in the execution thereof is agreeable to God's Word and a truly Ancient and Apostolical Institution 3. That the Book of Common Prayer N. B. the Kalendar being reformed in point of Apocryphal Saints and Chapters some Rubricks explained and some Expressions revised and the whole correctly printed with all the Psalms Chapters and Allegations out of the Old and New Tement according to the last Translation is the most compleat perfect and exact Liturgy in the Christian World Dippers Dipt p. 16 22. and Gentle Lash 1644. And this is the same in effect with what the Divines at the Savoy humbly proposed and without all these Exceptions that Champion Dr. Featly would not undertake his Vindication of them by which it seems the first of the Church-Constitution and Discipline was not tenable as it stood at that time but our great Church-men were resolved that the World should know their Strength as well as Reason to regain with advantage in 1661 what they lost in 1641. The Presbyterian Divines as they were called did urge both rationally heartily and humbly that the Ceremonies might be omitted being doubtful whether the Church had power to enjoin mystical teaching Signs which the Imposers confessed indifferent of no real goodness c. which many of the Opposers accounted sinful others inconvenient and unsuitable to the simplicity of the Gospel and had been for a hundred Years the Fountain of manifold Evils c. And herein they were not singular for other Men when disengaged and

you at this present which is That you would seriously think of some course to beget a better Union and Composure in the minds of my Protestant Subjects in Matters of Religion whereby they may be induced not only to submit quietly to the Government but also chearfully give their assistance to the support of it And in his Speech to both Houses Nov. 9. 1678. He saith I meet you here with the most earnest desire that Man can have to unite the Minds of all my Subjects both to Me and to one another and I resolve it shall be your Fault if the Success be not sutable to my Desires Besides that end of Union which I aim at and which I wish could be extended to Protestants Abroad as well as at Home I purpose by this last step I have made to discern whether the Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom be as truly aimed at by others as they are really intended by Me. Some Bishops formerly and of late have most pathetically pleaded the Case of the Non-conformists whose Apostolical Zeal and Charity are worthy the Consideration and Imitation of the present Bishops and Fathers of our Church at this Time especially A former Bishop of St. Davids in the Convocation-House May 23. 1604. speaking of those who were scrupulous only upon some Ceremonies c. Being otherwise Learned studious grave and honest Men whose Labours have been painful in the Church and profitable to their several Congregations he says tho I do not justify their Doings yet surely their Service would be missed at such a Time as need shall require them and us to give the right hand of Fellowship one to another and to go Arm in Arm against the common Adversary that so there might be Vis unita fortior If these our Brethren aforesaid should be deprived of their Places for the Matters premised I think we should find cause to bend our Wits to the uttermost extent of our skill to provide some Cure of Souls for them where they may exercise their Talents Furthermore if these Men being divers hundreds as it is bruited abroad should forsake their Charges as some do presuppose they will who I pray you should succeed them Besides this for so much as in the Life-time of the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury these things were not so extreamly urged but that many Learned Preachers enjoyed their Liberty herein conditionally that they did not by Word or Deed openly disgrace or disturb the State established I would know a Reason why it should not be so generally and exceeding strictly called upon especially considering these Men are now the more necessary by so much as we see greater encrease of Papists to be now of late than were before To conclude I wish that if by Petition made to the King's Majesty there cannot be obtained a quite remove of the Premises which seem so grievous to divers nor yet a Toleration for them which be of the more staid and temperate carriage yet at the least there might be procured a mitigation of the Penalty if they cannot be drawn by other Reasons to a Conformity with us Thus far this Bishop in those days when the Terms of Conformity were not so hard The present Lord Bishop of Hereford in his Naked Truth with hearty Compassion and Zeal pleads the Case of our present Non-conformists both with the then two Houses of Parliament and the Bishops in particular First In his Address to the Lords and Commons in general he thus expresses himself My Lords and Noble Gentlemen you have fully expressed your Zeal to God and his Church in making Laws for Unity c. I call God the searcher of all Hearts the God of Life and Death to witness That I would most readily yea most joyfully sacrifice all I have in this World my Life and all that all Nonconformists were reduced to our Church but it falls out most sadly that your Laws have not the desired effect our Church is more and more divided c. And concludes with earnest Prayers That God would direct them to that which may make for the Vnity of our Church by yeelding to weak Ones c. And in pag. 10. Edition in Folio he thus earnestly and seriously Addresses him to the Bishops My Reverend Fathers and Judges of the Church I with St. Paul Col. 3. beseech you put on fatherly bowels of Mercies Kindness humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering towards your poor weak Children and so long as they hold fast the Body of Christ be not so rigorous with them for Shadows if they submit to you in Substance have patience tho they do not submit in Ceremonies and give me leave to tell you my poor Opinion This violent pressing of Ceremonies hath I humbly conceive been a great hinderance from embracing them Men fearing your Intentions to be far worse than really they are and therefore abhor them And pag. 11. This force-urging Uniformity in Worship hath caused great division in Faith as well as Charity for had you by abolishing some Ceremonies taken the weak Brethren into your Church they had not wandred about after seducing Teachers nor fallen into so many gross Opinions of their own Now I beseech you in the fear of God set before your Eyes the dreadful Day of Judgment when Christ in his Tribunal of Justice shall require an account of every Word and Deed and shall thus question you Here are several Souls who taking offence at your Ceremonies have forsaken my Church have forsaken the Faith have run into Hell the Souls for which I shed my precious Blood Why have you suffered this Nay why have you occasioned this Will you Answer It was to preserve our Ceremonies Will not Christ return unto you Are your Ceremonies more dear unto you than the Souls for which I died Who hath required these things at your hands Will you for Ceremonies which you your selves confess to be indifferent no way necessary unto Salvation suffer your weak Brethren to perish for whom I died Have not I shewed you how David and his Souldiers were guiltless in eating the Shew-bread which was not lawful but only for the Priests to eat If David dispensed with a Ceremony commanded by God to satisfy the hunger of his People Will not you dispence with your own Ceremonies to satisfy the Souls of my People who are called by my Name and profess my Name tho in weakness Or will you tell Christ they ought to suffer for their own wilfulness and perverseness who will not submit to the Laws of the Church as they ought Will not Christ return Shall they perish for transgressing your humane Laws which they ignorantly conclude Erroneous And shall not you perish for transgressing my Divine Laws which you know to be Good and Holy Had I mercy on you and should not you have mercy on you fellow Servants With the same measure you meeted it shall be measured unto you again I tremble to go farther but most humbly beseech you for Christ's sake endeavour to regain these strayed Sheep for which he shed his precious Blood and think it as great an advantage as great an honour to you as it was to St. Paul to become all things to all Men that you may gain some as doubtless you will many tho not all and the few standers off will be the more convinced and at long running wearied out and gained also I close this Bishop's earnest Requests with one of the Prayers made by the Bishops for the late Fast on Decemb. 22. 1680. appointed by the King's Proclamation among other ends to Unite the Hearts of all Loyal Protestants and I hope my Lords the Bishops will join their sincere endeavours with this devout Prayer Viz. For Union among our Selves BLessed Jesu our Saviour and our Peace who didst shed thy precious Blood upon the Cross that thou might st abolish and destroy all Enmity among Men and reconcile them in one Body unto God Look down in much pity and compassion upon this distressed Church and Nation who 's bleeding Wounds occasion'd by the lamentable Divisions that are among us cry aloud for thy speedy Help and saving Relief Stir up we beseech thee every Soul of us carefully as becomes sincere Christians to root out of our Hearts all Pride and Vain-glory all Wrath and Bitterness all unjust Prejudice and causless Jealousy all Hatred and Malice and desire of Revenge and whatsoever it is that may any way exasperate our Minds or hinder us from discerning the things that belong unto our Peace And by the Power of thy Holy Spirit of Peace dispose all our Hearts to such meekness of Wisdom and lowliness of Mind such calm and deliberate Long-suffering and Forbearance of one another in Love with such due esteem of those whom thou hast set over us to watch for our Souls as may turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Hearts of the Children to the Fathers that so we may become a ready People prepar'd to live in Peace and the God of Peace may be with us To this End give us all Grace O Lord seriously to lay to heart not only the great Dangers we are in at present by these unhappy Divisions but also the great Obligations to this godly Vnion and Concord which lie upon us That as there is but one Body and one Spirit and one Hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all so we may henceforth be all of one Heart and of one Soul closely united in one holy bond of Truth and Peace of Faith and Charity and may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify thee O Lord the Prince of Peace who with thy blessed Father in the Vnity of the Holy Spirit livest and reignest ever one God World without end Amen FINIS