we do from these Men. Answ Perhaps their passionate way of speaking their Noise with now and then an affected Sigh and Groan may stir up a present passion in you as a good Actor at a Play does who can make the People cry and laugh when he will I hope therefore you will not say that the Actor is moved by the Spirit and those are all made Godly People that are thus moved and affected as to burst into Tears so that if you Judge of the soundness of your Religion by such outward Passions I fear the Player when he sets about it will make you believe he is the most Sanctified Preacher Setting then aside this which is no argument of the working of the Holy Spirit but an act of the Man and all the efficacy is lost in an hour or Two assoon as you come into Company or are taken up with business and other affairs You must not therefore Judge of your Religion by a sudden passion but by your sound understanding and steady performing all parts of your Duty Obj. But this cannot be a sudden Passion only in me but must be a real work of the Holy Spirit because I find a great change in my Life I am grown more sober read and meditate upon Gods Word and mind Religion more then I did before Answ But that is no Argament that you are in a safe way so long as you continue in Schism for when the Devil did find he could no longer ruine your Soul by open prophaness he now may tempt you to more secret Sins to more Spiritual wickedness which are as heinous in the sight of God and as dangerous to your Salvation Obj. We have satisfied our selves all along upon these accounts Answ But you see they are weak grounds to rely upon for all this while thô you are Zealous for some you may be wanting in many other necessary duties and you are guilty of Schism disobedience to Parents destroy all Discipline and Order in the Church encourage Atheism and Prophaness and endanger the safety both of Church and State meerly upon fancies and humours for I can call it no other because there is not One good thing that you can learn and observe there that you cannot as well have and practice in the communion of the Church Besides you act against the Sense of the Primitive Church and all other Churches in the World Obj. If it be so we are much mistaken and greatly abused by our Ministers Answ It is certainly so and while you follow such blind and erring guides no wonder if you fall into destruction Obj. We have been told by our Preachers and therefore did verily believe that the Ancient Church were Papists and when the Divines of the Church of England did talk to us of following the Doctrine and Government of the Ancient Church we thought it was only with a design to prepare the way to bring us to Popery Answ Now I hope you are satisfied that the Church of England is no wayes inclining to Popery but does endeavour to teach you your Duty according to the Holy Scriptures and further to confirm the Truth and soundness of their interpretation of Gods Word by the Doctrine of the Primitive Church and the generall Councils and tradition of the Catholick Church And this you may see if you read their late Writings they do as heartily maintain against the Church of Rome as they did before against the other Dissenters and Fanaticks Obj. I am very well satisfied now that the Men of the Church of England are far from being Papists but you tell me that all other Reformed Churches do approve of the Church of England and are ready to joyn with her in communion and condemn those for Schismaticks that set up separate Congregations Answ Yes I do so and if you will but advise with your Bishops and Ministers they will easily be able to prove it to your satisfaction You may read much to this purpose in my Evangelical and Catholick unity where you have the opinions of Luther Melancthon Bucer and Calvin in their own words to this purpose Obj. Then therein I perceive our Teachers have greatly abused us also Indeed I find many rational and sober Men of the Church of England and I believe there may be a great deal of Truth in what you say but yet they are of such a persecuting spirit that they will let no body live quietly by them that are not of their perswasion which we think to be a very ill temper not becoming the moderation of the Gospel Answ It is a sad thing that the Church of England which is the most gentle and moderate and does disclaim all cruelty and hard usage upon the account of Religion should now be accounted the greatest Persecutor as I perceive she is at this time People strangely forget themselves and the opinions and practices of their own Party when they lay such an accusation upon the Church of England which does disown any power of temporal punishment Obj. But there were many Statutes that did inflict severe penalties upon Dissenters Answ These are made by the State for the security of the Government for they finding Dissenters generally enemies to the publick Peace and endeavouring changes and alterations by Mutiny and Sedition saw it necessary by Penal Laws to restrain them from growing too numerous and to keep them within the bounds of their duty Obj. But does not the Church of England then allow of Penal Statutes Answ In a moderate way she does to make Men hear and consider but not to undoe them Obj. But surely Men need not to be used like Children they have discretion to mind their duty without being stirred up by punishments Answ They should have so but 't is plain that they have not Rom. 13. and therefore God Almighty has placed Governours and Officers to be a terrour to evil doers and a praise and an honour to them that do well and mind their duty Obj. Yes if punishments were inflicted on evil doers we should like that well but they punish Godly People because they will not go against their Conscience Answ Do you account then all the Idle Lazy people that lye at home and sleep or else sit drinking at Ale-houses in time of Divine Service and will never so much as take pains to understand their Catechism and bring their Children to be instructed in the Grounds of the Christian Religion Godly People Now 't is evident these idle and ignorant People unless they be stirred up by punishment will never give themselves the trouble to understand and do their duty and so will ruine their own and their Childrens Souls Obj. If you did punish only such idle and lazy People that did live like Heathens and require them and their Children to hear and do their duty no sober Man but must approve of such Discipline and will say such People deserve to be punished But you punish Godly People that do read
Sense of the Catholick Church in all Ages and of all particular Churches at this day for Men to set up Altar against Altar and separate from their lawfull Governours without just reason is that Schism condemned by the Gospel and that there is no reason to separate from the Church of England I have sufficiently shewed by taking off all the Objections against her Communion Mr Baxter's Apology pag. 8. I know how unable the Separatists were to answer the many Arguments of the Famous Arth. Hildersham J. Paget W. Bradshaw Brightman John Ball and other old Nonconformists for the lawfulness of Communicating with our Parish-Churches in the Sacraments and the Liturgy I was exceedingly moved against Separation truely so called by considering 1. How contrary it is to the Principle of Christian-love 2. And how directly and certainly pernicious to the interest of the cause of Christ and his Church and of the Souls of Men and how powerful a means it is to kill that little Love that is left in the World 4. I was greatly moved in thinking of the State of most Churches in the World if I travelled into Ahassia Armenia Russia or among the Greek Churches I durst not deny to hold communion with them When I go to God in Prayer I dare not go in a separate capacity but as a Member of the Universal Church nor would I part with my share in the Common-Poayers of all the Churches for all the World And having perused all the Forreign and Ancient Liturgies extant in Bibliotheca Patrum I doubt not but our own is incomparably better then any that is there And consider what Mr Calvin says in this Case who does also own Bishops Liturgies and Symbolical Ceremonies as ours are no just Cause of separating from the Church viz. Institut l. 4. c. 1. n. 10. I have set down the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments for the signs whereby to know the Church For where the Preaching of the Gospel is reverently heard and the Sacraments are not neglected there for that time is a certain face of a true Church and 't is lawfull for no Man without punishment to despise her Authority reject her Admonitions be refractory against her Counsels or mock at her Corrections much less may he separate from her and break her unity For our Lord does so highly esteem the Communion of his Church that he does reckon him for a Renegado and desertor of Religion that does obstinately separate from any Christian Society that does hold the true Ministry of the Word and Sacraments from whence it does follow that to depare from the Church is to deny God and Christ but how much the more ought we to take heed of such a wicked Schism for while we go about as much as in us lyes to destroy the Truth of God we deserve that God should thunder against us with the greatest force of his Wrath to break as in pieces If some Men of better understanding by their diligence get to a knowledge of the principal parts of their Duty yet the generality of People Children and Servants will be exposed to all Ignorance Errour and Profaness IN the constitution of the Church the very Order of the Service and the solemn times set apart to bless God for the particular dispensations of the Gospel such as the Incarnation of our Lord at the Feast of Annunciation commonly called our Lady-day his Birth at Christinas and so his Passion Resurrection Asconsion sending down the Holy Ghost the Feast of the Holy Trinity with other particular Seasons are a standing Catechism and with a little help will easily bring even Children to understand and remember all parts of their Duty and for their fuller instruction and admonition the Minister is to Catechise in the Afternoons and to teach those that are ignorant of these things and to put all others in mind to think upon and observe what they do already understand So that Persons that live in the Obedience of the Church must be stupidly careless of themselves if they want any thing necessary for their edification in Faith and Love and finally to attain Salvation and if any generally are ignorant of these things they are such who run away from their Governours and either through sloth or faction would not give themselves the trouble to hear and receive the sober advice of their Ministers and commands of the Church Then under the Churches discipline the admonition of the Bishops the reproof of their Minister good Neighbours and fellow Christians did reform many of these abuses and stir up others to a diligent attendance upon the publick Service But now all sorts of temporal punishments are in a manner Suspended if you by running into Conventicles teach your Children and Servants your Neighbours and Acquaintance to despise the Authority of their Bishops and Ministers and all the Spiritual discipline of the Church you will be a means to encourage Ignorance and Profaness and in a short time our People will fall into Atheism and Infidelity For many from your example taught to contemn the reproofs and censures of their Governours will not only neglect the Communion of the Church but all sort of exercise of Religion and so turn Pagans if not live altogether like brute Beasts Others that have as yet some sparks of the Sense of Religion in generall left in them yet running up and down from Place to Place from one Sect to another will be far from receiving that firm and setled understanding of the Grounds and Principles of Religion which is necessary to keep them steady in their Duty and to bulld them up to an Holy and Heavenly conversation So that you that withdraw your selves from the Communion of your Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England besides the great Sins of Disobedience Schism and contempt of the Church and the danger you run of Heresie and damnable errour you do by your pernicious example expose your Children and Servants and multitudes of your fellow Subjects to Ignorance Profaness Infidelity Atheism and so instead of advancing purer Religion you will bring the greatest part to no Religion at all and these things we could in a great measure prevent if you by running into Conventicles and despising the directions of your Governours did not give them occasion and encourage them to run away from the sober instruction of the Church Let me therefore in the Name of God and as I have the generall care and charge of your Souls and shall be ready to give any assistance and direction you stand in need of in your passage to Heaven prevail upon you to take these things into your serious consideration Religion is not a politick Engine to be used at pleasure only to serve Mens turns upon occasion and gratine their humour and keep up the interest of a party but 't is the revealed and unchangeable Will of God concerning our Salvation and therefore must in all things be
THE NECESSITY Of Adhering To the Church of ENGLAND As by Law established OR The Duty of a Good Christian And particularly of PARENTS and MASTERS OF FAMILIES UNDER The Present Toleration By William Saywell D. D. Arch-deacon of Ely These are they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit Jude 19. CAMBRIDGE Printed by J. Hayes Printer to the University for Edw. Hall Bookseller there 1692. Decemb. 23. 1691. Imprimatur Gabr. Quadring Procan Jo. Beaumont Humf. Gower Joh. Covel THE PREFACE TO All in any Authority ESPECIALLY To Parents and Masters of Families IN THE ARCH-DEACONRY Of ELY I Have in the following Discourse shewed you the true way to Peace and Happiness upon Earth and the certain means of Salvation in the World to come if you will keep your selves and Families in the Communion of the Church of England and practise those Rules and Orders which She has required for your Publick Devotion and duties of Religion And also made it evident what danger your Children and Servants are in of being ruined if you doe not make use of that Power and Authority which God has given you over them to see them duely Instructed in their Catechism and brought up in a Religious conversation and constant attendance at the Prayers and Sacraments of the Church This I have often urged with great earnestness to your Ministers and Church-wardens as they can very well testifie and this if I had opportunity I should deliver to your consideration in your several Parishes and I doubt not but your Ministers often put you in mind of the same but my strength and other occasions not affording me leasure to do that I do send these Books which you may Read and meditate upon at your spare times And for your farther direction besides your Bible and Common-Prayer I recommend to Your and Their serious perusal a Book called The whole Duty of Man where you have Sober and Pious discourses about your particular Duties and also usefull directions about Prayer and other parts of Private Devotion 'T is not only Meat and Drink you are to take care of for your Families as the Beasts do for their young but you are also to provide for their Souls which are the better part and therefore see them educated in the true Faith and Obedience to God and made usefull Instruments to promote the Peace and welfare of their Country Schism and Heresie will make them enemies to both and to you to It will teach them to be stubborn and self-willed Proud and Morose Peevish and ill Natured False and Treacherous and common disturbers of the Church and State all which inconveniences you will avoid if you bring them up in the constant Communion of the Church of England for She only here teaches them the true old Way and the plain Doctrines of the Catholick Church and She is the only particular Church to whom by the Laws of God and Man you are bound to yield submission and this has been fully made out not only against Papists but all other Schismaticks and Dissenters This all Godfathers and Godmothers ought to take into their serious Consideration and where Parents are careless or erroneous they should use their endeavour to see their God-sons and God-daughters brought up in the Profession of that Faith into which they were Baptized the neglect whereof has made the command of the Church herein so much complained off and condemned by the Dissenters for else no Man in his wits can find fault with the Churches care in this matter Since beside the Parents who have a natural Obligation to breed up their Children in the fear of God others are engaged to take care to see that done in Case the Parents dye or neglect it Indeed it is every Christians care in some measure but that it might be more Orderly managed 't is layd upon some few to take it into their more especial Charge and usually left amongst Friends and Relations which in Reason and Nature will be most carefull to see it done To say it is much neglected is no more then may be said of too many Parents also but the custome is very good and Sureties ought to be more carefull to perform the Trust that the Church and Friends lay upon them and to do what they can by themselves or others is all that is expected But it is not onely teaching them their Catechism is sufficient but you ought to see that they lead their Lives according to those Pious Rules and Directions that the Church has taught them and also carefully to restrain them and to correct them for their Vices and Debauchery such as Swearing Lying Drunkenness absenting from the Church and all other kind of Wickedness and the better to prevent all these mischiefs carry them with you at all times to the Church and take account of them what they have Learned and Observed from the Ministers Sermons and Catechizing and be oftentimes on Sundays c. and other Leasure times putting them in mind of their Duty See Deut. 6.7 This the State as well as the Church does now more particularly require of you Deut. 11.18.19 during the Toleration which is not meant to justifie Heresie or Schism or to warrant that they are in a safe condition that separate from the Church no more then Jews or Hereticks who have the like benefit much less to encourage Ignorance and Profaness but only to take off the Temporal Punishment which the Civil State did inflict Now God does often defer his Judgments to wait for our amendment and Parents and Masters do sometimes think it convenient to wink at Offences in their Children and Servants and so thô the State does not at present punish Dissenters yet it does so far disapprove of their Wayes that all the Obligations in Conscience to Conform to the Church still remain both by the Laws of the Church and State also Neither is any Man thought fit to be admitted to any Office or Place of Trust that does not joyn in Communion with the Church of England Besides you must consider thô Punishments may be an outward means yet 't is voluntary Obedience makes good Christians If therefore you will discharge your Duty to God to the Church and State and the Obligation you owe to your Families you must diligently observe these Directions and take more particular Care at this time in the educating of your Children and Servants in the Communion of the Church nay if you expect they should receive any Benefit from any Publick employment in Church or State And I pray God direct you and make you carefull herein and I as I have opportunity shall sometimes come and see and enquire how well your Parish-Churches and Sacraments are frequented by those who would be accounted hearty Friends and true Sons of the Church of England For if they are careless herein how can we expect it from others who would rejoyce at our Destruction and the Papists in the end will