latter it being propounded to consider how the Partition-wall might be broken down the Bones of Contention which have made us so often snarle at one and other thrown out of the way every thing became so Sacred and Apostolical that they can part with nothing The Forks and the Shovels the Snuffers and the Snuffing-Dishes were all of pure Gold 'T is true in the height of the Storm they promised a Candle as tall as their Main-mast but that being allay'd one burnt into the Socket is too costly a Sacrifice to offer up for the Peace and Unity of the Church Oh! If they would not joyn issue with their Enemies against them how deliciously should they fare every day But now they can't spare a Crum for those scabby Lazarus's under the Table When they were in trouble and the Hand of god was upon them when they were spoken roughly to and no Apology or Plea they could alledge in their defence would be heard or admitted then like Joseph 's Brethren methinks we hard them complain to each other and say verily we are guilty concerning our Brethren In that we saw the Anguish of their Souls when they besought us but we would not bear them therefore is this distress come upon us Did we not speak unto you saying Sin ot against them for they are our Brethren but ye would not bear therefore is their Blood required as our Hands But no sooner did our Moses deliver them from their Task-Masters and brought them again into their Kingdom but like Pharaoh's chief-Butler they did not remember them but (a) Gen. 40.23 Obj. forgot them But to this it will be replied Are not those Promises fulfilled Hath not the last and this present Parliament setled that Liberty by a Law which the two last Princes straining their Prerogative gave by Proclamation Res 'T is very great Truth and for which Act the present yea the Generations to come will rise up and bless God the King and Parliament for that Justice Prudence and Pity which they have shown to a poor harassed and ravaged People who else would have been as certainly though not so sudden ruined as our poor distressed Brethren in France Tho' the departure of the greatest part of Dissenting Protestants here was far less from the Church of England than theirs from the Church of Rome But why might not things be so tempered that this Partition-wall might become less needful And the Church of England by hearkning to some Terms of Accommodation and making a Rebatement of disputable Things and all along offensive Rites and Ceremonies become more enlarged and setled upon a firmer Basis and more tried Foundation For though the late Indulgence hath prevented Ephraim from vexing Judah yet 't is scarce provided for that Judah should not envy Ephraim Although I have some good reason to know and believe and therefore do I speak that many of our Dissenting Brethren be of Mephibosheth's Mind that if the Protestant Religion may be secured against our restless and implacable Enemies of Rome the King and Kingdom setled in Peace poor Ireland saved out of the Hands of those whose tender Mercies are Cruelty they are contented the Ziba's should take all they grudge not at their Preferments and Dignities being satisfied with a slender Fare and Provision And of the Mind with that contented Man described by the Poet Vivitur parvo bene cui paternum Splendet in mensâ tenui Salinum Nec leves Somnos timor aut Cupido Sordidus aufert Esteeming the Liberty of Conscience and mean Diet a continual Feast But why should we envy our Brethrens sitting at the same Table when we have all the same Faith the same Father the same Baptism the same Hope of our Calling Obj. But suppose we should propound a Temper it will not satisfie nor will they comply unless all the Rules of Decency and Order be rescinded and totally destroyed Res 1st We hope better things of them and such as accompany the Peace and Union of the Church 2dly Suppose it should gain but a few yet that 's Ground enough for our Argument an Enforcement of our Plea Would our Governours please to imitate St. Paul they would become all things to all Men that they might gain some though not all Dissenters 1 Cor. 9.19 For though I be free from all Men yet have I made my self a Servant c. 20. To the Jews I became a Jew that I might the gain the Jews c. 22. To the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all Men that I might gain some That St. Paul might not offend the Jews he condescended and circumcised Timothy The Pharisees were very strict for Circumcision 16 Acts 3. and though it needful to observe the Law 15 Acts 5. But the Apostles assembled at Jerusalem thought not fit to trouble the Conversed Gentiles which were turned to God with those Rites which the Converted Jews were zealous for Why might not the same Rule be observed among us He that is ambitious to have his Child signed with the Sign of the Cross in Baptism let him have the Liberty to procure his Child to be so baptized He that desires to be excused the Ceremony of the Surplice in his publick Ministration may he be left to his own freedom and so on the contrary being obliged oâ—ly to those things which are necessary especially where such Indulgence may gain some Pious and Conscientious Ministers into the Communion of our church and give ease to such who are actually engaged in its Ministry and pressed down with such Burthens Which is the second Reply to the Objection and Plea for Abatement 3dly Suppose our Concessions should not call many over into our Tents at present yet it might prevent those who are not yet admitted into our Communion from fleeing to separate Congregations for ease and refuge as to their Consciences who if some rough places were made plain would never think of departing from our Assemblies Would we Cedere à jure and rebate those things which are Goads in the Sides and Thorns in the Eyes of many good and Tender-conscienced Men whose Necks have been gauled with the Ceremonial Yoak It would happen to the Church from so benevolent an Aspect as it doth to the Earth from the happy Conjunctions and Configurations of the Stars whose effects though they be not immediately felt yet cast a future kind and benign influence upon it And is it not more than probable that Persons who hereafter shall be at liberty of their choice of two several Communions will choose that which they judge safest and in which their Consciences may be most at ease If in one of these the Word is soundly preacht as it is in the Assemblies of many of the Dissenters for they have owned and subscribed the Articles of our Religion so far as they respect the Doctrine of the Church where also the Sacraments according to Divine
who despised a Crucified Saviour and in a literal Sense were Enemies to the Cross of Christ in opposition to which Gainsayers they by the frequent use of it let them see that they were not ashamed of the Gospel and that God forbad that they should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ But this Practice did not long preserve it self from a Superstitious Taint the Primitive Christians thinking nothing well done without it such was their Opinion of it yea into a direct Idolatry did this Superstition degenerate that in succeeding Generations it came to be adored and worshipped Prayers being by the Church directed to it as to God himself which Aquinas alledges * cantat enim Ecclesia O crux ave spes unica c. 3. q. 25.4 in Justification of the Conclusion he makes concerning its Adoration in the highest degree Crux Christi saith he in qua Christus Crucifixus est tum propter representationem tum propter Christi Contactum latriâ adoranda est Crucis vero Effigies in aliâ quavis materiâ priori tantum ratione adoranda est That is the Cross of Christ upon which he was crucified in respect of its Representation as also because it (a) And might not the Lips of Judas by the same reason be adored with Divine Honour toucht the Body of Christ is to be worshipped by the highest Worship But the Effigies or Figure of the Cross of what Matter or Mettal soever it is made of in the first respect only viz. its Representation is in the same manner to be worshipped Nor is this the Freak or Fancy of this single Doctor only but the stated Judgment of the Roman Church otherwise she would never allow it to be solemnly prayed to in her publick Offices In domiâ—ica de passione domini in hymn Cantat enim Ecclesia O crux ave spes unica hoc passionis tempore â—â—ge piis justitiam reisque dona veniam That is hail holy Cross our only hope in this time of Passion give an increase of Righteousness to holy Men and to the guilty Pardon of Sin Can those Churches be blamed which already have or ours if now it should lay aside such Rites as have been and yet are so unreasonably abused to Superstition and Idolatry The Conclusion which the Canon Law hath made in the like Case seems very rational viz. Supposing our Ancestors have done some things which might at that time be blameless Dist 6. Cap. 3. Quia and afterward be turned to Superstition and Error we are taught by Hezekiah's breaking the brazen Serpent that Posterity may destroy them without any delay and with great Authority And that which makes us hope that our Lawgivers may in due time give ear to the Requests so often made both by those which are within and without the Communion of the church of England and fulfil the repeated Promises which have been made of taking away the Occasions or Causes of its Schism is that our Church it self lays no great * As we have had more than once occasion to take notice of stress upon this Rite For in the Rubrick of private Baptism it allows that Sacrament to be compleat and sufficiently administred without it where the essential parts viz. the Matter and Form as by Christ prescribed be observed though this Humane addition should be omitted Seeing then our Forefathers have had so moderate an Opinion concerning it Besides the modesty of our Desires which are not to have the Breast-plate of Righteousness or Holiness to the Lord in the least defaced or expunged but only that a Bell may be taken off the Ephod which hath rung Awk in the Ears of many weak yet very true Sons of the Church We hope therefore c. Obj. But though the Rubrick injoins not the Sign of the Cross to be used in the private Administration of Baptism yet it binds the Parents to bring the Child into the publick Congregation and all the * Which are the Words of B. Sparrow in his Rationale if I mistake not for I have not the Book to consult and I have not lately read it Pomp and Ceremony is to be observed as in publick Baptism Res That the Rubrick recommends it I grant that it binds or commands I deny The Words in the Common Prayer are these viz. Yet nevertheless if the Child which after this sort is baptized doth afterward live it is expedient that it be brought into the Church to the intent that if the Minister cerof the same Parish did himself baptize that Child the Congregation may be tified of the true Form of Baptism by him privately before used And nothing more than a bare Certificate according to the Rule is needful where Baptism hath been administred by the Minister of the Parish Whatever the Author of the Rationale hath affirmed to the contrary But suppose it baptized by a Stranger 't is not in that case positively commanded that the Child be brought into the Congregation But the Judgment of the Church declared that it is a thing expedient or fit Seeing then it is not a Ceremony of that use now as it was among the Primitive Christians who too soon caused it to degenerate into Superstition besides that many of our Brethren are by it driven from our Assemblies suffering their Children to die unbaptized as of mine own knowledge I can testifie or at best forc'd into separate Communions to avoid that Rite by which means the Breach is widened and the Schism made more inveterate And seeing our Church hath that moderate Opinion of it that the Omission of it is no prejudice either to the Sufficiency or Lawfulness of the Act. Why should it be thought by any unreasonable for us to intreat our Superiors for an * The Rubrick of the first Book of Edw. the Sixth commands that the Child be signed by the Minister on the Breast as well as on the Forehead Now seeing this is omitted Why may not that on the Forehead be left indifferent Abatement in this respect Of Kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper III. A Third thing which hath caused several to stumble and fall from us is the Posture of Kneeling at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper We all agree in this that the utmost Humility Reverence and Thankfulness that we can pay to the Almighty for his ineffable Love to Mankind commemorated in that holy Office is not the half that is due the way of payment is only questioned The Tribute of Honour is not denied though it be doubted by such as dissent from us whether the Coin we are prescribed to pay it in be current If we agree the substantial part of our Duty is it an insuperable difficulty to find a Temper by which we might accord no greater difference Is it not a spot which will scarce ever be taken out of the Ancient Church that the different Calculation of Easter should breed such irreconcilable Feuds
one and maintain the other We have with Patience submitted not for Wrath but Conscience sake to the Commands of our Superiors We have bowed the Neck to an uneasie Yoak earnestly supplicating the Divine Majesty to send a Moses to deliver us from those Burthens which we have received so many Solemn and Royal Promises should never oppress nor grieve us whilst we behaved our selves peaceably under the Civil Government and Constitutions of the Land But here I thought to have made a stand and have eased both the Reader and my self of any further trouble and fatigue in the Prosecution and Pursuit of this unpleasing Argument were I not prest with the Reason of another most just Plea for a Relaxation and Abatement in the Matters aforesaid which I had thought to have omitted lest it should appear too invidious as to others and too opiniative of our selves I mean our Fidelity to the Interest and Constancy in the Communion of the Church in the late Times of Defection and Apostacy when both by Threatnings and Flatteries we were so strongly tempted to make a Breach in it When the Declaration for Indulgence was commanded to be publisht by us in our Churches we did not we durst not submit though we thereby forfeited the Favour and eminently incurred the Displeasure of a Potent Monarch bigotted to the Romish Religion in whose Hands we were and to be used by him at his Pleasure We could have very much rejoiced in a due Enlargement but we rather kept within our Inclosure than brake the Hedges and lay the Fences waste to obtain it I mean a general Violation of the Canons and Rubricks of the Church the enacted Laws and Statutes of the Common-wealth Relying in the mean time upon the Goodness and Providence of God wholly submitting our selves to his Will hoping that he would so far move the Hearts of our Rulers in due time and in a regular way to hear our Complaints and redress our Grievances And that which puts weight into this Ballance is that too many of those who clamoured high and made (a) Who were fierce Despisers of those that were good heady high minded Traytors having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power of it 2 Tim. 3.3.5 a great noise for Conformity to the Rituals of the Church baiting and bantring any whom they supposed guilty of the least defect and omission of their Duty in that respect accounting themselves the white Boys and only Sons of the Church yet were the first that turn'd colour and became Red-letter'd Men divers of which both of the Clergy and Laity I could name but I spare them and are at this day living and looking for a day to retrieve their lost Cause They still retaining those Spots and Crimson Tincture they received from the Scarlet whore which they resolve no Nirre either of Scripture or Reason shall ever take out Whilst such as they accounted and traduced as Betrayers of our Church stuck close maintain'd their Posts and in the day of Tryal proved faithful and true to its Interest We continued constant in the Exercise of our Ministry fortifying our People committed to our Care using the best Arguments we could joined with our own Examples to continue in the Communion of our Church and to stand fast in the open and zealous Professions and Defence of the Faith once delivered to the Saints comforting and to the best of our skill building them up in it notwithstanding the Threats and Menaces we met with from the profest and rampant Enemies of our Church and Religion But lest this should look like boasting I shall say no more but leave the Argument to be considered by our Superiors according to the Merits of it As for those who in the Day of Temptation went out from us because they were not of us we heartily pitty and pray for them and for their reduction to the Communion from whence they departed that they would be zealous and repent considering from whence they are fallen and return For which Reason we should be willing to use all the Weapons of our Spiritual Warfare And they are so happy as to fall into an Age and Hands which design no other we being sufficiently convinc'd that a Club may sooner dash a Man's Brains out than beat Understanding into his Head Only first give me leave to enquire who were the best Sons of the Church of England and deserve most at her hands Whether those who when time was were great Sticklers for Conformity in the strictest manner to all and every of its Rites Great Amorists and much in love with our Church and Religion whilst it lookt plump and fair to the Eye But when the Hand of the Lord had toucht it and was become black by reason of Affliction shrunk and shrievell'd upon the account of its Sorrow forsook their first Love Then their Language was What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved What 's the Church of England more than that of Rome Whether I say were these better Sons of the Church than those who though perhaps not so exactly satisfied with all and every thing that 's injoined yet brake not the Communion of it But buckling on the Helmet and being girt about with Truth were steddy and valiant in her most dangerous Conflict The other are fit to be Members of that Church whereof outward Prosperity is the Mark and Character who so long as ours was triumphant it had no greater pretended Votaries and Zealots than themselves But these Dive-dopping Plant-Animals dropping from the Tree upon which they grew and falling into the Waters of Tiber or Sea of Rome presently set up for Solon-geese mightily gagling for their espoused Religion Who having learnt the Romish Cant from their new Dictators we are ridiculed and lampooned by them in every Tavern and Coffee-house the bottom of whose Dishes and Glasses they better understood than the Reason of their Change and new-fashioned Religion Then they had the Face and Brow to tell us that the Church they once so much clamored for was till an Age or two past a Duck under water By whom the first and trite question we were usually interrogated upon was Where was your Religion before Luther To which we have answered a thousand times and can truly say again that the Platform of it is contained in the Holy Scriptures which is the only Rule of Faith and tried Foundation upon which our Religion is built 'T was instituted by Christ practiced in the Primitive Church though Tares grew up in the Field I mean Corruptions in the Bosom of it and what could not be amended or endured were necessary to be avoided For we can find whatever these Antiquaries may boast of no Foundation for Purgatory Prayers for the Dead or in a Tongue the People understand not no Warrant to direct them to Saints as the Object no Exemption of the Blessed Virgin from original Sin or Communion celebrated by halfs or in one kind c. in all