invincibly possess the Judgment in that case Christian Humility and Charity as well as Discretion adviseth such persons to acquiesce in their private Security and Freedom and not to reach after that Liberty that may unsettle the Publick Order and undermine the Common Safety SECT XX. This Comprehensive State of Religion further considered with respect to Three important Interests â—irst to that of the KING FOR the removing of all conâ—â—â—ved Prejudices let this desired Latitude of Religion be considered with respect to the several Interests of the King of the Church and Clergy and of the Nobility and Gentry First let it be examined in reference to the Interest of Regal Majesty The Non-conformists and other inclinable to their way are by some charged with such Principles as detract much from Kingly Power and Dignity and tend to advance Popular Faction It is confessed they have been eager Assertors of Legal Liberties yet herein they were not singular but in almost all PARLIAMENTS have had the concurrence of many good Patriots that were not touch'd with the least tincture of Puritanism They profess much affection to MONARCHY and the Royal Family and think they have made it appear by their hazardous declaring against the designed Death of our late Soveraign and their vigorous Actings for the Restitution of His Majesty that now is They are so well satisfied as none more in the Ancient Fundamental Constitution of this Kingdom This Arraignment of their supposed Principles about Government may haply proceed upon Mistake There is reason enough to think That the many late Disputes about Prerogative and Liberty are Controversiae ortae non primae that they had their rise from something else which lyes at the bottom Both former and present time do shew That the Anti-Puritan Interest when occasion serves and the urgency of Affairs requires can contest with Princes and pretend Conscience too in crossing their Designs Inclinations and Interests more then Speculative Opinions will be found to have born the sway and caused those active motions on the one hand and the other These Dogmata or Problemes about Obedience and Government do but little where mens Affections and Concernments do not give them spirit and vigor The practical Judgment of Inferiors hath a bias in this case according to their Superiors Benignity or Asperity towards them High strains of speech may easily proceed from such as flatter their Governors or know not themselves but they are worthy of credit that speak credible things The wise man saith He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends A looking back to former discords marrs the most hopeful Redintegration Acts of Indempnity are Acts of Oblivion also and must be so observed Let not the way of Peace be barr'd by the framing of such Tests as may perplex the minds of men but add no real security to the Higher Powers For as some set their wits a work in framing so do others in evading the designs of such Engagements And of those that devise how to evade them some may deal seriously and others perhaps may trifle with Conscience but the internal Judgments of both remain what they were before The common Evasions or Violations of such bonds among all parties in our times do shew That they are not the way to root out inveterate Opinions But there is a surer way to obviate the evil tendency of such Opinions and to render them ineffectual For it is not this or that narrow conception or notion but some greater thing that rules the actions of humane life The condition of the dissatisfied may without damage or just scandal to any be made such That their far greater number shall not long for changes but gladly embrace present things and then the implacably evil-minded would want matter to work upon and rest without hope of disturbing the Publick Peace Moreover all Loyal Principles are not inclosed in some Positions in which may be much variety and uncertainty of opinion and in which both Theological and Political Casuists and they great Assertors of Monarchical Government have written doubtfully Men of different apprehensions in such things may be indued with the same prudence soberness common charity love of Publick Tranquility reverence of Regal Majesty conscience of Allegiance and an awful regard of Divine and Humane Laws Men of nicer Judgments may have as loyal hearts as those of greater latitude And why should the judgments of such men be rack'd and their spirits vexed with curious scrutinies The ancient Sacred Bonds of Fidelity are not questioned and if they do not what others can oblige and awe the Conscience The extent of Prerogatives Royal of the Priviledges of PARLIAMENTS and of the Peoples Immunities is not matter fit for common disquisition but requires to be kept among the Secrets of Government It might have been far better if these points had been more gently and warily handled on all sides The English in general are an ingenuous and open-hearted people and if unlucky accidents discompose them not they are of themselves disposed to have their Kings in great veneration and doubtless their satisfaction and good estate is their Soveraigns true repose SECT XXI Secondly To the Interest of the Church and Clergy IN the next place let this Comprehensive state be examined with respect to the Interest of the Church of England The Doctrine of Faith and Sacraments by Law established is heartily received by the Non-conformists and it is like to be the Basis of their standing in England as long as Protestant Religion stands How far they approve Episcopacy and Liturgy hath been above declared Their dissent is in some parts of Divine Worship as they say not appointed of God but devised by men also in the frame of the English Hierarchy as it differs from the Ancient Episcopacy and they avow they are under no obligation to extirpate or impeach that ancient Form The Ministers of this Perswasion are Godly and Learned able and apt to teach the people and no small part of the Congregations in England feel the loss of them Doth the Lord of the Harvest command that such Labourers be thrust out of his Service And will the chief Shepherd at his appearing justifie this usage of his faithful Servants The Bishops and dignified Clergy and those of their Perswasion have the advantage of Law and Power But can they believe that the Church of God in these Nations is terminated in them alone It is hoped that Christ hath a larger Interest in these Realms Shall it be said of the English Prelacy That it cannot stand without the ejection of Thousands of Orthodox Pious Ministers Or that it dreads a general diffusion of knowledg in the people Or that this is a Maxime thereof No Ceremony no Bishop as if the Bishop's work were at an end and his office of no force if Ceremonies were left indifferent Is an Ecclesiastical Government that pleads Apostolical Institution and Universal reception so weak and feeble that godly and peaceable men
A DISCOURSE OF THE RELIGION OF ENGLAND ASSERTING That REFORMED CHRISTIANITY setled in its Due Latitude is the Stability and Advancement of this KINGDOM LONDON Printed in the Year M. DC LX. VII THE PREFACE REligion being deeply imprinted in Humane Nature and having a great Power over it and being more notably displayed in the present Age is become the Grand Interest of States and almost of all men though not after the same manner nor upon the same Grounds and Motives For this cause whether it comes in Truth or in Shew only it is found to rule and turn about the great Affairs of the World And though many things of different nature may have great influence on the State of this Kingdom yet Religion and Matters of Conscience evidently appear to have the greatest The distinguishing of Persons for the favour or disfavour of the Times yea the very Names of Discrimination pass upon the account of Religious Differences The Active part of all sorts and ranks of men is hereby chiefly swayed in their Motions and their Affections move more importunately in this One then in all their other Concernments Wherefore if a Settlement may be found out which may accommodate all those Parties or Perswasions in which the Peace of the Nation is bound up it will prove the undoubted Interest of this State And if such a Settlement be likewise found to be the true and sound state of Religion it must needs be acceptable to the faithful Servants of Christ and the true Lovers of their Country Now the Adventure of this Discourse is to Assert That Reformed Christianity rightly stated and setled in its due Latitude is the Stability and Advancement of the Kingdom of England Nothing is here suggested for Politick Ends to corrupt the Purity or enervate the Power of Religion or to lessen Charity but the Fatherly Compassion of Rulers and the mutual Brotherly Condescention of all Christians required by the Law of Christ and some Connivence in case of insuperable Necessities and that for the Truth 's sake is here propounded Episcopacy is not undermined nor any other Form of Government here insinuated only a Relaxation of the Prescribed Uniformity and some Indulgence to Dissenters of Sound Faith and Good Life is submissively offered to the Consideration of our Superiors All Pragmatical Arrogance presuming to give Rules to Governours and to teach them what to do is carefully avoided only the Possibility Expediency and Necessity of Moderation is represented And it is humbly desired That this Honest Intention in pursuance of Peace may find a favourable Reception The Contents SEct. 1. The Religion of this Realm and Three different parties of most important consideration The Protestants of the Church of England the Protestant Nonconformists and the Papists Sect. 2. The Behaviour and Pretension of the Popish Party in these times Sect. 3. That Popery disposeth Subjects to Rebellion Sect. 4. That it persecutes all other Religions within its reach Sect. 5. That where soever it finds Encouragement it is restless till it bears down all before it or hath put all in disorder Sect. 6. The Papists Pretension of Loyalty and Merit in the Kings Cause examined Sect. 7. The result of the whole Discourse touching the Popish Party Sect. 8. That the Reformed Religion makes good Christians and good Subjects Sect. 9. The Reformed Religion is the permanent Interest of this Kingdom Sect. 10. It is for the behoof of Religion and true Piety and for the Interest of this State That Reformed Christianity be setled in its full Extent Sect. 11. How momentous in the Ballance of the Nation those Protestants are that dissent from the present Ecclesiastical Polity Sect. 12. The Extirpation of the Dissenters is both difficult anaunprofitable Sect. 13. The Representation of this Difficulty is no threatning to Rulers or intimation of Rebellion Sect. 14. The setling of the Nation by an Established Order a Toleration and a Connivence Sect. 15. Of the Established Order in Religion and the Moderation therein required Sect. 16. Whether the Dissenters are capable of being brought into such a Comprehension Sect. 17. Acquiescence in the widened Establishment is the safety of Religion Sect. 18. Of Toleration and Connivence Sect. 19. Dissenters of narrow and rigid Principles advised to Moderation Sect. 20. This comprehensive state of Religion further considered with respect to Three Important Interests First To that of the King Sect. 21. Secondly To the Interest of the Church and Clergy Sect. 22. Thirdly To the Interest of the Nobility and Gentry Sect. 23. The general Security that comes by this Latitude ERRATA Page 9. line 2. read in King James his time p. 5. l. 18. r. Arts of Rome p. 31. l. 31. r. exacted A DISCOURSE OF THE RELIGION of ENGLAND SECT I. The Religion of this Realm and three different Parties of most important consideration The Protestants of the Church of England the Protestant Nonconformists and the Papists THE Religion of England considered not only as established by Law but as rooted in the Nation and generally embraced is that which is called Protestant and is no other then Christianity recovered out of the Antichristian Apostacy and reformed from the Corruptions of later Ages after the Primitive Purity receiving the holy Scriptures as the perfect Rule of Christian Faith and Life How beit in this Realm there be three different Parties of most important consideration The first consists of those Protestants that zealously adhere to the English Ecclesiastical Polity and call themselves the Church of England The second sort is of those Protestants that receive the Doctrine of Faith contained in the Articles of Religion but are dissatisfied in the form of Ecclesiastical Polity These by their Adversaries have been usually called Puritans The third is of those that utterly reject the Reformation and remain united to the Pope as their Spiritual Head and call themselves Roman-Catholicks Hereupon an impartial serious Observer respecting the Common Good may be induced to make inquiry How agreeable or dis-harmonious each of these Three are to the Publick Weal as also What proportion they bear to each other and whether those under the Legal Establishment or the Dissenters preponderate in the Ballance of the Nation or whether the Established preponderate in that degree which is requisite in true reason of Government SECT II. The Behaviour and Pretensions of the POPISH Party in these Times THE Roman-Catholicks in England considered not barely in their Number but in their Rank and Quality being Rich and Powerful and Strong in Alliances are very momentous and seem to be capable of great Designs especially in conjunction with Foreign Interests In these times they have taken much Liberty and Boldness with an undisturbed Security and lately have been observed to be more then ordinarily active jocund and confident of the effect of their Mutual Correspondencies and manifold passages of dangerous appearance have been every where spoken of in so much that the Nation hath taken an Alarm and
They are not excluded from among the Nobility among the Gentry they are not a few but none are of more importance then they in the Trading part of the people and those that live by Industry upon whose hands the Business of the Nation lyes much It hath been noted that some who bear them no good will have said That the very Air of Corporations is infected with their Contagion And in whatsoever degree they are high or low ordinarily for good understanding steddiness and soberness they are not inferior to others of the same Rank and Quality neither do they want the Rational Courage of English Men. As for the Ministers of this Perswasion some have called them Fools for their Inconformity others are reported to have said That the Church should not so easily be rid of them as if their Conformity had been dreaded by them Some have pitied them wishing that they would Conform and others revile them saying Conform or not Conform never trust them Howbeit they make Solemn Appeals to the Most High God That they dare not Conform for Conscience sake and that it is not in the power of their own wills to relieve them And whatsoever their grounds of dissent be they hold it out against all hopes of Indulgence whilst many of them live in Necessities and most of them upon the kindness of others It is now about Five years since a Full and Vigorous Act of Uniformity at once cleared the Church of the supposed Enemies of her Polity All Corporations have been New-model'd and changed as to the Principles and Tempers of persons for the better securing of the Government in Church and State The Private Meetings for Religious Worship termed Conventicles are strictly prohibited Deportation being the Penalty upon the Third Conviction And for the breaking and dissipating of the whole Party it is provided by another Law That the Non-conforming Ministers be removed five miles distant from the places of their usual supports and influences Such care is taken and such is the advantage both of Law and Power to strengthen the State and restrain Dissenters Nevertheless the State Ecclesiastical hath advanced little in the esteem acceptance or acquiescence of people The Dissenters are still the same and are rather strengthned in their aversness And those of them that repair to the publick Assemblies retain their Principles of Reformation as they speak without seperation The Indifferent sort of men are still indifferent and it may be have some kindness for the depressed Party and pity them in their Sufferings SECT XII The Extirpation of the Dissenters is both difficult and unprofitable PEradventure some think their total Extirpation to be the surest way to publick Security and Peace and that great Severities will do the work But Violent compulsion and Terror comports not with the nature of Christian Religion which is a Rational Service and seeks a willing people and is not at all in truth where it is not received with judgment and free choice Besides the success of such a course may be doubted of since the Protestant spirit is not like the Popish Cruel and outragious and the nature of English men is not bloody but generously compassionate Wherefore in this Land to execute Extremity upon an intelligent sober and peaceable sort of men so numerous among all ranks may prove exceeding difficult unless it be executed by such Instruments as may strike terror into the whole Nation The Civil Officers in general may not be found so forward to afflict their quiet and harmless neighbours Moreover if severity used once for all could extinguish an opposite party there might be some plea of Policy but when Severity must still be justified with more Severity without an end it is like to prove unlucky to the undertakers Nor is the Nation like to grow the better by the subversion of this sort if it were effected For in them no small part of the Nations Sobriety Frugality and Industry doth reside They are not the Great Wasters but mostly in the number of Getters In most places the displaceing of them hath not encreased Civility and good Conversation among men and it makes not for their dishonour that many will swear and be drunk to declare they are none of them There is something of more importance To purge the Nation of this people may be to purge out more of its Vitals then the strength of this State can bear To suppress those that are reckoned among the chief in Trading and whose Commerce is so general may beget a general diffidence and insecurity in Traders and may help to drive away Trade it self and send it to an emulous and encroaching Nation May we mind without offence the event of things among us The business of the Nation hath not proceeded with the current and free passage expected nor doth its Wealth and Glory encrease Trade languisheth and Traders fail in great Numbers the Rents of Lands fall there is scarcity of Money in City and Country the Necessities and Difficulties of private Estates are common and Complainings are general And after a continued decay things are at last fallen and funk much lower in the Ruins of the City of LONDON 'T is the Nations happiness to be re-established upon the Ancient Legal Foundations but it is the right stating and pursuing of its true Interest by which it comes to a firm consistency and proportionable growth But this sort of men are inquisitive and therefore troublesome to Rulers to whom Obedience without disputing is most acceptable It is fit indeed they be as humble and modest as inquisitive Yet these inquiring men stand much by that main Principle of Protestantism the Judgment of Discretion Indeed the Churches Infallibility and the peoples implicite Faith may help against all Disputes but it cannot be so in England whilst the people read the Scriptures and the established Doctrine of Faith remains with us And if no greater latitude can be allowed then is at present a Race of Non-conformists is like to run parallel with the Conformists to the worlds end SECT XIII The representation of this Difficulty is no Threatning to Rulers or Intimation of Rebellion SUch as take this Representation for a Challenge to the Higher Powers and a Demand of LIBERTY and a Threatning if it be not granted are too far transported with Passion What can be of greater concernment to Governors then to discern and consider the state of their people as it is indeed And why may it not be minded by Subjects and spoken of without any hint or thought of Rebellion If Subjects use Arguments of Equity and Safety to Princes it doth not presently speak a Demand And it is no Threatning to say That Rulers themselves must be ruled by Reason or do worse The truth is should they whose Case is here argued upon this score meditate Rebellion and Warr they were abandoned of their own Reason and would hurry themselves into a precipice of manifest Ruin To rush into ways
of the Roman Church for the Interest of the people and the Consent of the Cities and the Peers in Defensive Arms. Which they have written over and above their peculiar Principle of the Popes Universal Power of Deposing Kings that are unfit for Government As for the woful Catastrophe of those Commotions it hath been manifested to the world by such as undertook to justifie it when Authority should require That the year before the Kings death a select number of Jesuits being sent from their whole Party in England consulted both the Faculty of Sorbon and the Conclave at Rome touching the Lawfulness and Expediency of promoting the Change of Government by making away the King whom they despaired to turn from his Heresie It was debated and concluded in both places That for the Advancement of the Catholick Cause it was Lawful and Expedient to carry on that Alteration of State This Determination was effectually pursued by many Jesuits that came over and acted their parts in several Disguises After that execrable Fact was perpetrated on the Person of our Soveraign if we may believe most credible reports there were many Witnesses of the great joy among the English Convents and Seminaries and other companies of Papists beyond Sea as having overcome their great Enemy and done their main work Many of their Chief ones sought the favour of the Usurpers with offers of doing them service One of great note among them in a Book entituled Grounds of Obedience and Government undertook the solution of the Grand Case of those Times That if a People be dissolved into the State of Anarchy their Promise made to their expelled Governour binds no more they are remitted to the force of Nature to provide for themselves That the old Magistrates Right stands upon the Common Peace and that is transferred to his Rival by the Title of Quiet Possession Conformably to these Principles they address their Petition To the Supream Authority the PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of England They affirmed They had generally taken and punctually kept the Engagement and promised That if they might enjoy their Religion they would be the most quiet and useful Subjects Of their Actings since His Majesties Restauration and the Jealousies and Rumours about them let men judg as they find by the Evidences that are given SECT VII The Result of the whole Discourse touching the Popish Party AND now let it be duly weighed Whether the Papists of these Dominions have in later times changed their former Principles and Interests or have only taken another method of greater Artifice and Subtilty as the change of times hath given them direction and advantage The scope of the whole preceding Discourse is to call in question those high pretensions of theirs and to cross their Aims at great Power and Trust But it is not directed against the Security of their Persons or Fortunes or any meet Indulgence or Clemency towards them Let them have their Faith to themselves without being vexed with snares or any afflicted the State always providing to obviate the forementioned Principles and Practices of Disloyalty and the diffusing of the leaven of their Superstition The Inference of the whole is this That they be not admitted to a capacity of evil and dangerous influence upon the Affairs of the Kingdom or of interrupting and perplexing the course of things that concern the publike SECT VIII That the Reformed Religion makes good Christians and good Subjects AS true Religion is the most Noble End so it is the best Foundation of all Political Government And it is the felicity of the State of England to rest upon this Basis even Reformed Christianity or the Primitive and Apostolick Religion recovered out of the Apostacy of the later times and severed from that new kind of Paganism or Pagano-Christianism under which it lay much oppressed and overwhelmed but not extinguished It s wholsome Doctrine contained in its publick Confessions makes good Christians and good Subjects It teacheth obedience to Civil Magistrates without the controle of any Superior or Collateral Power Nor is it concerned if dangerous Positions fall from the Pens of some Writers And notwithstanding the Adversaries Cavils the Divines of Authority and solid Reputation in the Protestant Churches do with a general Consent maintain the Rights of Princes and Soveraign Powers against all Disobedience If any aberration in Practice hath been found in its Professors it is not to be charged therewith because it condemns it but the general practice in this point hath been conformable to the Doctrine The Reformation in England for its Legality and Orderliness is unquestionable In Germany it was setled and defended by Princes and free Cities that governed their own Signiories and Territories paying only a respect of Homage to the Emperor In Helvetia it began by the Senates of the Cantons It was received in Geneva by that Republick after the Civil Government had been reformed by strong Papists In the Provinces of the Netherlands it was spread many years before the Union against the Spaniard which Union was not made upon the score of Religion but of State The manner of its beginning in Scotland is by some attributed to a National Disposition the asperity and vehemency thereof is said to be greater in times of Popery and to be much mitigated by the Reformation For France we may take the Testimony of King JAMES who was jealous enough for the Power of Kings He said That he never knew yet that the French Protestants took Arms against their King In the first Troubles they stood only upon their Defence before they took Arms they were burned and Massacred every where The first Quarrel did not begin for Religion but because when King Francis the Second was under Age they had been the refuge of the Princes of the Blood expelled from the Court who knew not else where to take Sanctuary and that it shall not be found that they made any other Warr. It is not for this Discourse to intermeddle with all the Actions of Protestant Subjects towards their Princes that have happened in Christendom Let them stand or fall by the Laws and Polity under which they live Whensoever they have been disloyal they have swerved from the known and received Rules of their Profession Through the corruption of Mankind Subjects of whatsoever perswasion are prone to Murmurings and Mutinies Sometimes Oppression makes them mad Sometimes a Jealousie of Incroachments upon their Legal Rights and Liberties raiseth Distempers and Contests And sometimes an unbridled wanton affecting of inordinate Liberty makes them insolent and licentious But over and above these common Sources of Rebellion Popery hath a peculiar one and that of the greatest Force the Conscience of Religious Obligations and the Zeal of the Catholick Faith Protestants have never disowned their King for difference in Religion as the most of the Roman Catholieks of France dealt with Henry the Fourth by the Popes instigation And in their greatest Enormities they have never attempted
of violence evidently destroys their Interest which stands in maintaining such works and providing such things as are profitable to the Commonwealth that it may be known that the publike good consists by them as much as by others To abide in their stations to have patience under grievances to sweeten their Governors by humility and modesty is their best security who stand or fall together with the true Interest of the Nation Nevertheless though a peoples discomposure doth not forespeak Warrs and Tumults yet it may denounce Woe and Misery Can nothing undo a Kingdom but Rebellion and Treason Was there ever a greater Separation from the Church of England then now is Was there ever less satisfaction among Multitudes every where tâ—at do yet frequent her Assemblies A State that is free from violent Convulsive motions may fall into a Paralytick or Hectick Distemper or an Atrophy The Current of Vital Blood may be stopt in its Veins There be sullen Mutinies that make no noise but may loosen all the Joynts and Ligaments of Policy SECT XIV The Setling of the Nation by an Established Order a Toleration and a Connivence IF the Interest both of Reformed Christianity and of this Kingdom require a more comprehensive state of Religion the true Extent of that State will be no impertinent or unmeet Inquiry Such is the complicated condition of Humane Affairs that it is exceeding difficult to devise a Rule or Model that shall provide for all whom Equity will plead for Therefore the Prudent and Sober will acquiesce in any Constitution that is in some good sor proportionable to the Ends of Government All that are thought fit to abide with security in any state may be reduced to Three sorts First Those that are of the Established and Approved Order 2. Such as may be Tolerated under certain Restrictions 3. Such as may be only connived at And accordingly the Setling of a Nation may be made up of an Establishment a Limited Toleration and a Discreet Connivence To be comprehended within the Establishment it is requisite not only to be of importance in the Publick Interest but also of Principles congruous to such stated Order in the Church as the stability of the Commonwealth requires As for the two later Toleration and Connivence they must be regulated with respect not only to common Charity but also to the Safety of the Established Order SECT XV. Of the Established Order in RELIGION and the Moderation therein required AS for the Established Order we presume not here to intermeddle with the Form or Species of Church-Government but only to consider the prescribed Uniformity of Judgment and Practice Evident reason speaks That this be not narrow but as broad and comprehensive as it is possible that of it self by its own force it may be chief in sway and controle all dissenting parties On the other hand it must not be loose and incoherent but well compacted that it may attain the Ends of Discipline which are to promote sound Doctrine and godly life and to keep out Idolatry Superstition and all wicked Error and Practice that tends to the defeating of the Power of Christian Verity Now these Ends do not require a Constitution of narrower bounds then things necessary to Christian Faith and Life and godly Order in the Church These things must be maintained and clearly stated but whatsoever is more then these may be matter of good intention and devotion to some but an occasion of stumbling to others If it be said Who shall judg what things are necessary This doubt might soon be resolved if passion and prejudice and private ends were vanquished But however let it be put to the Reason and Conscience of the Church of England Why should not the great things of Christianity in the hands of wise Builders be a sufficient Foundation of Church-Unity and Concord What need hath the Church to enjoyn more then what is necessary to Faith and Order Is not Moderation and Charity far more excellent then glorying in Opinions Formalities and petty matters to the regret of many Consciences What if those that question her Injunctions should be weak nice and captious It is about matters of Divine Worship wherein God hath proclaimed his Jealousie and therefore if they being over-jealous do erre they deserve pity Our Eccleasiastical Superiors are here earnestly besought Calmly and seriously to review the prescribed Uniformity and to consider how some parts thereof which at the best are but things indifferent have been long disputed and by what manner of men and what hath been argued for and against them and how this Difference hath held and still encreased from Bishop Hooper in King Edward's time to the present Non-conformists and then to judg whether a rational and conscientious man may not possibly dissent from some of these things or at least doubt of their Lawfulness and in case of such dissenting or doubting what he should do seeing the Apostle saith in the case of Meats He that doubts is damned if he eat because he eateth not of faith Can a man by Subscription and Practice allow those things which his Conscience rationally doubts to be sinful It is Honour and Power enough for the Church to be enabled by her Authority to inforce Gods Commandments She is observed and honoured as a Mother indeed when by her Wisdom and Care her Children walk orderly according to the Christian Institution and it may suffice her to chastise those of them that walk contrary to Christ. Though she be of venerable Authority yet she doth not claim an Infalâ—ibility and therefore she cannot settle the Conscience by her sole Warrant but still leaves room for doubting And in prescribed Forms and Rites of Religion the Conscience that doth its office will inevitably interpose and concern it self and it being unsatisfied â—arrs and râ—nts will follow Woful Experience cryes unâ—â— us No more of such Injunctions then needs must The indisputable Truths of Faith and the indispensable Duties of Life are the main object of Church-Discipline therefore an ill choice is made when the vigor of Discipline is exercised about lesser and more dispensable things of meer Humane Determination The Sons of the Church of England commend the Moderation used in the Articles of Religion being formed in words of that extent that men of different Perswasions about the Doctrines of Predestination Divine Grace and Free-will did alike subscribe them Nevertheless the present Orders and Ceremonies inexorably imposed have been as much disputed among the Godly Learned as those different Opinions about the Doctrines aforesaid and yet who can think they are of as much importance to the Substance of Religion Moreover men might more easily agree in the use of these little things or of some of them were their Internal Judgments spared and Subscriptions not injoyned They may bear with others in the practice of some things which themselves cannot practice They may submit to some things which they cannot approve and that not for