Non-Conformity will continue those distractions which endangered the first Reformers at Francford disturbed the State in Queen Elizabeths time disquieted the Church in King James his dayes and ruined the Church and State in King Charles his time that time of the best temper and the health fullest Constitution made up of sincere truth unfeigned charity liberal piety unaffected decency with just authority and uninterrupted succession Entertained with holy moderation and humble prosperity Come not thou my Soul into their secret unto their assemblies mine honour be not thou united who maintain a perpetual dissention and cherish the grounds of an endless Schism as serves to give both occasion and confidence to different parties both to excite their private ambitions and in time â—o exert them in wayes of open hostility whensoever opportunity is given by any negligence offence or distemper in Government or Governors 4. This non-Conformity will obstruct the promotion of true Piety while men are to much engaged in the Circumstances they neglect the substance of Religion while by a sullen separation they withdraw from one another to an incapacity of exhorting one Another while it is called to Day least any be hardned through the deceitfullness of Sin Of Provoking one another to love and to good works And of following after the things that make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another This publick disagreement will be a great obstruction to the progresse of the Gospel which will never be received by others untill we are agreed in the profession of it our selves while we thus unhappily engaged one against another we cannot all end that publick Service of making the way of God to be known upon Earth his saving health among all Nations It s too great an advantage to the common Enemy who making use of Parties reasons and passions against other thereby overthrows all It was the advice of Cardinall Allen to the Persons that undertook to reduce Ireland back again to Popery That they should apply themselves to the Nonconformist and possesse them with the Covetousnesse ambition and superstition of the Conformists on the one hand and on the other they should apply themselves to the Conformists and possesse them with the Factiousnesse disobedience and disorders of the Nonconformists that so they might be provoked to spend their fury upon each other to their mutual ruine I speak as to wise men judge you what I say 7. This rupture is dangerous to our Native Country for besides the Roman advantage which is greatest and Last the private passions and various interests of Factions and parts will hazard the Civil peace by endeavours to promote their several opinions and pretences under any specious name whatsoever alas if these Separations continue men knowing there is but one Religion as there is but one God and his holy Will but one every one is prone to presume that he is in the right Next hee growes so partial to his own perswasions to imagine this above all others best and onely pleasing to God then he concludes all other wayes of Religion as displeasing to God as to himself hence zeal and impotent Impulses to propagate his own way and overthrow all others as an acceptable service and sacrifice to God which is done first by words disputing writing rayling and reviling if that will not serve to reform the obstinate world then he first wisheth afterwards useth the sword as soon as he and his party can get number and power sufficient to act with probable safety such an opportunity he counts a Call of God an hand of Providence inviting and directing what to do to establish his own way against all others never so approved of good men and prospered by Gods grace and blessing yea therefore we may observe that they are unwilling to grant that freedom to others their inferiors in number and power which they once desired of their superiors upon a reason of State that dictates to all men thus much That publick Differings in matter of Religion are very dangerous to the civil Peace of those that enjoy Power and are quiet under it which every party secretly envieth repines at and endeavors to obtain for it self and therefore make no more conscience of any Civil or Ecclesiastical Subjection or Christian patience and submission longer then they are so ballanced by the power and prudence of Superiors that they cannot subdue all things under their feet Oh its pity that those more minute Opinions and Perswasions when Religion which should restrain stirs up mens passions should have more power to divide than all the Agreements in other main matters hath to preserve love and unity as men Countrey-men and Christians in so much that the Church of England which was grown to that height of Beauty Piety Order Moderation and Honor as became the glory of God the majesty of Christian Religion and the Wisdom of this Nation hath often in H. 8. Ed. 6. Q. Eliz and King James time bin endangered by these struglings in Religion which the publick Power policy and vigilancy of those times repressed and at last was undone by such breaches that are unparalleled in former and will be scarce credible in after Ages 8. This reluctancy of some against the present Establishment threatens all Government which consists in a full power to establish and maintain Laws Equity Justice and Religion on the one hand that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty and on the other hand in due obedience for Conscience sake to those Laws and Methods of Government every one studying to be quiet and to follow his own business If you now refuse the seasonable and well-advis'd Law Order and Decency proposed by the Church under pretence of Liberty of Conscience you will teach others to refuse Laws of the same nature from you with the same Arguments that you oppose the directions of the Liturgy others did arise who oppose the Rubrick of the Directory and there is no stop in setting up private Opinions against publick determinations but in confusion disorder ruine to your private judgement you cannot allow present Laws others private judgement cannot allow your Ordinances It s your thoughts that you are above forms its others thoughts they are above ordinances you dislike a Surplice they dislike a Gown you cannot approve the Bishops double honor of reverence and revenue and they cannot approve yours of reverence and tythe you cannot use the Cross in Baptism they cannot use Baptism it self you cannot admit some innocent circumstances in the Lords Supper they cast off the Lords Supper it self you cannot away with Musick nor they with Psalms what end would there be of Dissensions unless the Magistrate did interpose for outward peace and order men surely would grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived till their folly be made manifest to all men What dissolution of order what novelties of opinions what undecencies of administration what sacrilegious invasions of
and every thing contained and prescribed in a Book Entituled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be said or sung in Churches and the form and mauner of making Priests and Deacons Prop. 2. We are agreed That a Form of Prayer is lawful 1. grounded upon the word Numb 6.16 Hos 14. 1. Math. 6 2. agreeable to the general custom of the Church which useth Liturgies Liturgy James Basil Chrysostom Liturgy of the Church of Scotland Liturgy of Geneva the Liturgies of the French Churches for the instruction of the ignorant the maintenance of truth unity and peace yea according to the opinion of the Non-conformists Liturgies are lawful for they composed no less than three in Queen Elizabeths time and one since the King came in Prop. 3. We are agreed 1 That upon search our Lyturgy comes neerest the primitive ones of any established beginning with Sentences and exhortations according to the Scripture 2. that the confession is Orthodox that the Absolution the Lords Prayers the Hymns the Psalms the Chapters Creed with all the Prayers are such as may be allowed by any that judge charitably We are agreed That the people may as well repeate the words of the Prayer after the Ministers as say Amen after them to stir up their affections to declare their consort to keep up their fervency suis quisque verbis resipiscentium profiteatur preces repetat and repeat the Psalms as Moses and Mirian Exod. 15.1 and as the Angels answer one another saying Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath Prop. 4. We are agreed That the gestures of standing in confession of kneeling are our reasonable service and that the vestures imposed may be used decently according to the rules in St. Jerome divine Religion hath one kind of habit wherein to Minister before the Lord and another for ordinary uses belonging to common life in this we approve St. Basils Counsel Let him that approveth not his Governors Ordinances plainly yet privately shew his dislike if he have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the true will of God and meaning of the Scripture or else let him quietly with silence do that which is enjoyned Prop. 5. We are agreed 1. That we may safely say those words When thou didest overcome the sharpness of death virtually at the beginning of the world and actually in the fullness of time thou didest open the Kingdom of heaven to all believers 2. That we may safely say God deliver us from sudden death that death when it cometh may give us time with David Moses c. leisurely to end our lives in peace praying for posterity confirming conforting and instructing our relutions dying the death of the righteous and having our latter ends like his or if death come suddenly we may prepar for it in our lives 3. That we may say that for our unworthiness we cannot ask what for the merits of Christ we do ask looking inward we are silencedby our sins looking upward we speak and prevail 4. That we may say O Lord deliver us from all adversity if it be possible yet resolving that not our will but the will of God be done in earth as it is in heaven 5. That we may safely pray that God would have mercy upon all men when the Apostle would have supplication to be made for all men because God was willing that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved 1 Tim. 2. 3. and our Charity hopeth all things 1 Cor. 13. 7. Rom. 9. 3. 10. 1. Math. 10 11 12. Jer. 15. 1. 6. That we may say the childe hath all things that its capable of which are necessary to salvation when he is Baptised 7. That we may say according to the Scripture John 3. that the Baptized is regenerated of water and we hope of the holy Ghost if it die before the Commission of Actual sin Rom. 5.12 c. 8. That we may say of any particular person dying in the faith that we bury him in hope of Resurrection unto life by that charity that hopeth all things Prop. 6. We are agreed To use the cross and other innocent Ceremonies and ancient as signal marks of Faith Humility Purity Courage and constancy in some parts of the worship and service of the Church as not conferring grace but as reverential in the solemn calling upon Gods name as decent in Gods publick worship and as instances of our obedience to superiors in Church and State commanding things not contrary to Gods word in faith mysteries and manners and thereby reducing the uncertainty of necessary circumstances as time place vesture gesture measure and manner to that fixed unity and comliness as seems to the Church most decent for the nature of the Duty the conveniency of the people and the beauty of holiness In a word we are agreed to submit to the established Liturgy as agreeable to the word of God Joel 2. 11. Eccl. 5. 30. as agreeable to the custom of the Ancient Churches as agreeable to the custom of Modern Churches who retain Liturgies to this day as exact as any of theirs if compared and allowed by the foreign Churches by learned Doctors and holy Martyrs who sealed it with their blood especially considering that we shall not be so strictly tyed to the Liturgy but that we may use our own Gifts before and after Sermon 2. Whereas we are obliged in the next place to declare That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King And that we do abhor that traiterous of taking Arms by his authority against his Person or against those that are Commissionated by Him Prop. 1. We are agreed That its scandalous to our Religion whose doctrine is Obedience 2. That its dangerous to our Profession such positions provoking Rulers to root us out of the earth 3. That it is contrary to the profession and practice of good men in all Ages whose way was prayer and patience 4. That it is contrary to the Scripture to resist and that whosoever resisteth 't is his own damnation If any kill with the sword he shall be killed with the sword here is the patience of the Saints 5. That it s originally Jesuitical for Subjects to raise War against their King Prop. 2. We are agreed That the Scripture provides not onely for the safety of the Royal Government but of the Royal Person when we are forbid to despise Dominion to speak evil of Dignities not to resist the Powers ordamed of God O its absurd to follow the Kings person with arms in one place and to preserve his Authority in another miserable is that Power that cannot protect the Person in whom it is 3. Whereas we are obliged in the third
our Clergy at the dreadful Day Shall make their audit when the Judge shall say Give your accompts what have my lambs been fed Say do they all stand found Is there none dead By your defaults Come Shepherds bring them forth That I may crown your labors in their worth O what an answer will be given by some We have been silenc'd Canons strucuks dumb The Great ones would not let us feed thy flock Unless we play'd the fools and wore a Frock We were forbid unless wee 'd yeeld to sign And cross their brows they say a mark of thine To say the truth great Judge they were not sed Lord here they be but Lord they be all dead Ah cruel Shepherds Could your conscience serve Not to be fools and yet to let them starve What if your Fiery spirits had been bound To Antick habits or your heads been crown'd With Peacocks Plumes had yet been forc'd to feed Your Saviors dear-bought Flock in a fools weed He that was scorn'd revil'd endur'll the Curse Of a base death in your behalfs nay worse Swallow'd the cup of wrath charg'd up to th' brim Durst ye not stoop to play the fools for him Prop. 16. Where it is said That it is wonderful to see so many men rational and sober to hazard all they have and refuse the way to rise which they know as well as others We are agreed that this is not the first time that men have sacrificed their present happiness to the honor of their way living by faith in hope of better times It was as hazardous to oppose publick Authority 1640. as it is now yet men ventured it with too good success Alas they that have so much wisdom a to controul their Superiors may have so much wisdom too as to cast off some present advantage for a future hope Prop. 17. Whereas men say that a general conformity of the Ministers would be general scandal to the people We are agreed That we are to please the people onely for their good while things are in agitation its lawful for private men to offer their thoughts with the reasons thereof modesty and meekly but after things are once established as the people must submit so the Ministers should take more care not to disobey a Publick Governor then not to offend a private people least while we fear to offend one or two private men we really offend a hundred affront the Magistrate and despise Authority we must rather offend others then sin our selves we must pay depts of Justice before debts of Charity debts of Justice in obeying the Magistrate before debts of Charity in pleasing our brethren Prop. 18. Whereas some say that they could submit to the things that are established but that they fear the impositions of more We are agreed That we should obey us for as we may for peace and quiet and leave it to God what may be further imposed and let us not suffer our obedience to be superseded by our fears Prop. 19. Whereas it s commonly discoursed that if the thiugs now imposed were necessary why were not they constantly practised if not why were they now so rigorously imposed We are agreed That when for decency order and Uniformities-sake any Laws are made there is the same necessity of obeying them as their is of obeying any other Laws made for the good of the Common-wealth that such necessity either in the one or the other ariseth not immediately from the authority of the Lawgiver but from the Ordinance of God who hath commanded us to obey the ordinances of man for his sake as long as there is an ordinance of man concerning them is in being Prop. 20. Whereas it offends some men that they think that Laws in matters of Religion derogate from the sufficiency of Scripture and the wisdom of God who have they think without such Constitutions sufficiently provided for the Church of God we are agreed that in actions of common life as eating drinking c. and in the circumstances of religious actions we are left to private or publick reason and discretion guided by the general rule of the Scripture that all things should be done decently and in order as good men before the Word was written did by nature the things contained in the Law It was the wisdom of God that appointed us to submit to the wisdom of our Superiours in the use of indifferent things and they derogate from the authority of the Scripture who will not obey them that are to set in order the things that are wanting according to the customs of the Churches of God Prop. 21. Whereas the great offence is that whatsoever is not of faith is sin and that men doubt of the lawfulness of some things therefore they cannot use them we are agreed That ordinarily there is no need of any more warrant for what we do then this onely that there is not to our knowledge any Law either of nature or Scripture against them we are to believe all things indifferent lawful for us to do which are not by good evidence of Scripture and reason declared unlawful and men whose Livelyhood depends upon it would do well to satisfie their scruples about things imposed with the solemn Consideration of this Question Where is this and this in forbidden provided that we have not neglected to inform our judgements the best we could for the time past and that we are ever ready withal to yield our selves to better information for the time to come and we are strongly to suspect the Principles and Grounds that Conscience goeth upon when it putteth us upon the necessity either of disobeying Authority or of sinning against our judgement He that resteth his conscience upon this perswasion that so long as he is unfeignedly desirous to do for the best and hath not been negligent to use all requisite diligence to inform himself aâ—ight God will accept of his good intention therein and pardon his error if he shall be mistaken in his choice Let him do what he will he sinnoth not 1 Cor. 7. 36. This we are perswaded of that our own doubts must give place to our Superiors commands which must be obeyed in all things not manifestly contrary to the revealed Will of God A good conscience feareth not onely to use this or that Ceremony but feareth also to disobey Sect. Particular Expedients in reference to what is enjoyned in the Act of Uniformity Prop 1 Whereas we are required to assent and subscribe we are agreed that we must consent 1. with the heart believing Rom. 10. 10. 2. with the mouth professing 3. with the hand subscribing Es 44. â— Josh 24 2. 2 Kings 23. 3. to the wholesom words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness Of which kinde are the three things to be subscribed to in the aforesaid Act whereof the first is I A. B. do here unfeignedly declare my unfeigned consent to all