presses to whatsoever is good if it be spiritual wickedness then it lies either in the matter made use of or in the manner of Administration in the excess and defect of the matter or in the designs of the thing but wickedness lyeth in none of these therefore is not spiritual wickedness 2dly If it be spiritual wickedness then the highest Acts or Instances of the Church of Englands goodness is positive wickedness if so what became of all those that have dyed in this Communion 3dly That part of this Kingdom that bears the denomination of the Church of England is either the Church of God or it is the Synagogue of the Devil if it be the Church of God it cannot be unsafe and hazardous to Communicate with it in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 4thly He that shall Communicate with the good Members of the Church of England shall certainly Communicate with as good men as any under the Copes of Heaven referring to the Clergy for Excellency of natural Parts profoundness of Learning Evenness of Temper Generosity of Principles most admiral Sermons Holiness of life largeness of Charity we challenge the whole Earth to over match them Vnto which particulars I do humbly and modestly Reply as followeth First that the Sacrament considered as Gods Holy Ordinance is a spiritual goodness where ever it is Administred according to Gods Word and yet it may be unsafe and dangerous for many particular persons to partake of it First if they themselves be not fit for it and their own Consciences condemn them as unfit persons then it is unsafe and dangerous and if they come to it they cannot enjoy the comfort of it and the Word of God as also the Law of the Realm will condemn them that come to it unworthily 2dly If others as fellow Communicants are not fit for it being known to be Persons of unholy hearts and profane lives then it is unsafe and dangerous for the Godly to partake with the Ungodly for Gods Church ought to be a pure Lump in point of their Membership 1 Cor. 5.6,7,13 Gods good Ordinances must be attended upon and Performed by a People of good hearts and good lives or else both the Persons and the performances may be Rejected of God O lay it to heart Isaiah 1.11 To what purpose is the Multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the Lord. Vers 12. When you come to appear before me who hath Required this at your hand Vers 13. Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an Abomination unto me Verse 14. Your New Moons and your appointed Feast my Soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them Verse 15. When you make many Prayers I will not hear you Vers 16. Wash you and make you Clean put away the Evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil Vers 17. Learn to do well seek Judgment Releive the Oppressed Judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow and all this was spoken to Israel Considered as Gods National Church Secondly The Author of the said Pamphlet In the next place taketh pains to prove that the Sacrament is not Spiritual Wickedness and therefore it may be submitted to and received by the Dissenters truly this pains may well be called the labour in vain because the Preachers of the Dissenters and the Dissenters in general do acknowledge that the Sacrament as it is administred in the Church of England is right in Respect of those particulars by which he demonstrateth that it is not Spiritual Wickedness First they acknowledge it is Right in the Matter viz. Bread and Wine Secondly in the manner of Administration viz. with solemn Prayers and Thanksgiving 3dly In the design viz. a thankful Remembrance of the blessed Sacrifice of a dear Redeemer and notwithstanding all this it may be unsafe and dangerous for the Dissenters to come to it at such times in such places with such Administrators Communicants as their tender Conscience is not satisfied with let that Word be well considered Romans 14.23 And he that doubteth is damned If he eat because he eateth not of Faith for whatsoever is not of Faith Is Sin From whence I thus reason if inferior eating and drinking be so dangerous when persons are not satisfied in their Conscience about it O how much more dangerous is Superiour Eating and drinking viz. such as the Sacrament is when it is done doubting and not in Faith however such of the Church of England as are Conscientiously satisfyed First In the Ordinance it self Secondly In their own selves Thirdly In the fitness of their fellow Communicants after all due Examination I do assure you I will not condemn them in Religious practice now have any uncharitable thoughts of any Godly Persons that have dyed in this Communion and I do believe this is the Sentements of the Dissenters in general Thirdly the Author further saith That part of this Kingdom that beareth the denomination of the Church of England is either the church of God or the Synagogue of the Devil if the Church of God it cannot be hazardous and unsafe to communicate with it in the sacrament of the Lords supper A sew Queries upon this First What hath the man a mind to devide the church of England and reduce it to a small part of the Kingdom and not tell which that is and is it not well known that the whole Kingdom is the church according to Law except such as were never baptized or such as are Excommunicated which are very few compared to this great Kingdom Query 2. What strange Monstrous Fish viz. Aleviathan did swim in the mans brains to conclude that if the Church of England were not the church of God it must needs be the Synagogue of the Devil but I perceive he had the wit or else by excedent he hath forborn to say between these is no medium the 3. Query or did the man think by so expressing himself he should scare all men from answering his Pamphlet for fear of danger Query 4. Or did this man cunningly or basely lay a Trap and a snare thinking to provoke some person to speak unreverentâ—y of the Church and of the Sacrament and as a cunning Watcher who knew where he had laid the Snare steal out and catch the Prey but I would have the Author of that Pamphlet to know that long ago I have read in a good Old Book calld the Holy Bible these following Words Jer. 5,26 For among my People are found Wicked men they lay wait as he that setteth Snares they catch men and so being fore-warn'd I thank God I am fore-arm'd and so will return to answer the Pamphletter in his asserting that the Church of England is either the Church of God or else it is the Synagogue of the Devil which I think to be a very sad desperate and Uncharitable conclution and therefore let it be seriously considered What is the church of God in the sence of the new
Testament 1. I find it to be a company of persons whether few or many who are converted to God by the Word and Spirit of God of this we have plentiful proof in the Scriptures those that were converted as being turned from darkness to light from the Power of Satan to God and so of Sinners made Saints by the Ministry of the Gospel were called the Churches of God and of Christ in Jerusalem in Samariah in Antioch in Corinth and many other places Secondly I find the Church of God to be such as were baptized in Water for Water Baptism was always previous to Church communion at the Lords Table thus it was in the primitive Church Act. 2 41.42 After convertion then followed Water Baptism and so Church communion Thirdly I find that besides convertion and Water Baptism there must be a Congregating together by a loving Agreement and free consent of the mind of each party from a Principle of Love to God and love to each other without any force or Compultion for Christ hath not made any penal Laws such as fines or Imprisonment to bring persons to his Church and Ordinances and let this be considered that conformity to Gods own Worship by compultion is not right Christian Religion because the conformity is to man and not to God 4thly When thus congregated together holiness of conversation must be maintained by every particular person or else they will be unfit for Church Communion thus have I humbly offered my Opinion and Apprehension as a description of a true Church God in the World which in the sum and substance of it neither the Dissenters nor the Church of England will disown yet it may be that both the Church of England some congregations of Protestant Dissenters may not give their Ascent and consent to every particular as before expressed concerning the true church of God as a true description of it however this matter considered amongst the Dissenters as differing one from another or considered in the Church of England as differing from the Dissenters it looks to much like the Devil to conclude of or call each other the Synagogue of the Devil for whether one or other or whether any of them at all have all the Essentials of a true church according to the primitive constitution yet so far as any of them in their particular persons and in their publick Assemblies do maintain godliness among themselves and promote it amongst others they ought to conclude and deem each other as christian Assemblies and not Synagogues of the Devil Fourthly the aforesaid author goeth on further and saith in his childish way of arguing he that shall communicate with the good members of the church of England shall certainly communicate with as good men as any is under the copes of Heaven for if we refer to the clergy then for Excellency of Natural parts Profoundness of Learning evenness of temper generosity of Principles most admirable Sermons and Doctrines holiness of life and largness of charity we challenge the whole Earth to over-match them now from the foregoing matter consider these following things First he speaketh of communion with the good Members of the church of England and as good as any under the copes of Heaven which words doth intimate that the rest are bad Members and it may be as bad men as any under the copes of Heaven 2dly Consider who these good Members and sâ—per excellent men of the Church of Eagland are First negatively not the brave Protestant Nobility 2dly Not the Gentry 3dly Not the good Church-men of the City 4thly Not the good Church-men of the Country but he fixeth upon the Clergy 3dly Consider the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet would fain have all persons to whom his Pamphlet may come believe or suppose that he is well acquainted with all the Clergy in the Church of England and is thereby able to be an Evidence of their excelling goodness which seems to be a cunning introduction to some Ecclesiastical Function 4thly Consider that the aforesaid Author has been a greater Traveller then he mentioneth in page 10. viz. to the utmost Mountains for in this page 7. he speaketh of the Dominions of the whole Earth under the Copes of Heaven and doth challenge the whole Earth to over match the English Clergy what would the man have those that read his Pamphlet believe that he has travelled with him that spake boldly to God in Job 1. verse 7. Going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it As if he were Observator of the Universe I will not say to be a guide but to give a trancendent Character of the English Clergy but truly I think it best to appeal to all the Parishes in England to give a character of their particular Clergy-men they being best acquainted with their Natural Parts their Temper Principles Sermons Charity and Conversation and let them judge whether they be so good as none better can be expected till Elias cometh with extraordinary Revelation to restore all things however I do believe in my conscience that some of the Clergy of the Church of England are Holy Humble and charitable men and that take delight in Gods Blessing their Labours in mens Conversion and hate Persecution of any of the Kings Subjects by Penal Prosecution they well knowing that forced Conformity is not like to the Lasting pray consider well the Conformist Plea for the Nonconformist and I do not question but believe that worthy Gentleman hath some brethren like himself Sons of the Church of England 5thly The Author still goeth on and reasoneth page 8. if it be dangerous and unsafe to Communicate with the Church of England it is because she is no Church at all or at best but an Antichristian Church unto which I Reply First There is no necessity to conclude the one or other concerning the Church of England what has the man a mind to wheadle some unwary persons into danger and set the Dissenters and the Church of England at a greater variance than they are by drawing and defending some dangerous conclusion concerning the Church 2dly Surely the man hath forget or hath not well considered the good old Proverb all is not gold that glisters suppose upon sight of a piece of Mettle a man should affirm if it be not pure gold it must at best be brass another man of better understanding in the Mettle may affirm it is neither pure gold nor brass and upon bringing it to the touchstone may find it to be a mixt Mettle 3dly If it should be granted that the Church of England were as true and good a Church as the Church at Corinths yet it may be as unsafe and dangerous to partake of the Communion in the one Church as it was in the other viz. persons may in Communicating Eat and Drink their Damnation 1 Cor. 11.27,28 And now from the whole of what the Pamphleteer hath said in his arguings and conclusions concerning
Conformity it may be properly said unto him O Stupendious Obsurdity For all that he hath said may be argued over again to perswade and prove that the Members of the Church of England ought to take the Sacrament amongst the Dissenters and then let it be considered what service this man hath done the Church of England I will only except one thing viz. The want of a Penal Law to force persons to it briefly thus First the Sacrament considered as a Civil thing as such it may be done because no where forbidden by God neither is it any natural injury to a mans neighbour page 4. 2dly If it be spiritual goodness it cannot be unsafe and dangerous because we have the Word of God that presses to whatsoever is good page the fourth 3dly because it is not spiritual wickedness first in the matter of it page the fifth viz. Bread and Wine that being innocent and harmless and fitly agreeing to Divine Institution 2dly Not in the manner because it is solemnly performed with Holy Prayers and Thanksgivings with no small degree of seriousness and gravity 3dly Not in excess or defect because none are allowed rudely to take it themselves to eat unto gluttony or drink unto drunkenness 4thly Not in the design of it because all that is proposed in it is a due preparation for it and a Thankful Remembrance of the Blessed Sacrifice of a Dear Redeemer and therefore if no evil in all these we challenge the whole world to shew any formal or possitive wickedness as the Sacrament is amongst the Dissenters Fourthly Surely if the highest Acts of goodness amongst the best Dissenters be down right spiritual wickedness viz. Preparing persons for a Right Receiving the indeavouring to strengthen mens faith thereby and to increase and continue brotherly love then the best Dissenters must be all wicked men which if I mistake not such a Dogmatical Conclusion is the highest violation of Christian Charity under Heaven page 6. Fifthly The Dissenters are either the Church of God or either the Synagogue of the Devil If the Church of God it cannot be unsase to Communicate with them in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper because it is a Holy Rite truely Appropriated to the Church of God but if they be indeed the Synagogue of the Devil let it demonstratively appear page six and we will resolve by Gods grace assisting us to be Hanged upon Gibbits or to be Burned at a Stake to suffer the worst of deaths and dangers rather than to incorporate our selves into such a Diabolical Corporation 6thly He that shall Communicate with the good men of the Churches of Dissenters shall certainly Communicate with as good men as any are I will not presume to say under the Copes of Heaven but in the Church of England If we Refer to those good men of the Ministry then for excelling of Natural Parts profoundness of Learning Evenness of Temper Generosity of Principles most admirable Sermons and Doctrines Holiness of Life and largeness of Charity besides what Commendation be given of the Dissenters in general for a proof and demonstration of these last particulars I do humbly and sollemnly appeal to all such sober wise persons that frequent the Dissenters Assemblies and are not yet joyned in Fellowship with any of them 2dly I appeal to the wise sober and judicious Sons of the Church of England to the Learned as well as unto the Unlearned who have any intimacy or good acquaintance with them 3dly I refer to those Books formerly and lately Printed by the Leaders and Ministers of the Dissenters considered under the names of Independents Presbyterians and Baptists I know it will be objected that many of the Nonconformist Preachers are not learned men unto which I answer first That many of the Ministers of the Church of England tho' they have been long at the best Schools yet they are not over Learned and so it may be truly said of some of the Dissenters 2dly That the Excellency of Religion the understanding of Divine Mysteries doth not depend upon Humane Learning 3dly They have passed the orderly approbation of Christian Congregregations and the approbation of their Ministers and are such as have in a good measure learned the Holy Scriptures which is able to make them wise unto salvation both for themselves and how to instruct others 7thly If it be dangerous and unsafe to Communicate with the Dissenters it must be because they are no Churches at all or at best but Antichristian Churches but Antichristian they cannot be because they have Renounced the power and headship of Antichrist and in their constant Doctrine Practice keep up defend a separation from detestation of him Thus have I humbly returned the Pamphleteer's Arguments such as they be upon his own head but chiefly desire they may reach his heart that so upon a better consideration of them he may learn better things from them for the present and future good of his poor soul Fifthly Envy poysonous Envy is demonstrated at a high rate in the said Pamphlet against the poor Dissenters rendring of them as high enemies to God abominable abusers of God as shall be considred in the following particulars page 9. in that he saith that the greatest number of the Dissenters do hold principles dangerously heretical and most abominable abusing of the most Holy and Blessed God such as indeed do no less in their direct Consequences then Ungod him by making of him the greatest Author of Mischief in the world and the Transactor of such profound folly as was never yet found in any weak and silly mortal under Heaven and all this by those idle dreams in about his peremptory and eternal Decrees 2dly Page 10 the Pamphleteer doth further foam out his envy against the Dissenters in a way of nonsensical admiration saying O Excellent and Stupendious Folly Neither is this all but indeed the least part of what they impute to the best of beings viz. The Angels falling from Heaven by Trangression to be Devils Cain killing of Abel Simeon and Levi Murdering the men of Sechem Davids Committing of Adultery and murdering of Vriah Judas Betraying Christ the Jews by wicked hands to slay him Solomon to have a thousand Whores all the Roman Emperors and Popes to make bloody shambles of the Christian World that when they are drunk lye swear blaspheem challenge God to damn them when they Rob Steal shed blood are sent to Newgate and Tyburn for Fellons poor miserable Wretches they could no ways help it and yet that they should be Hanged here and damned hereafter for doing it although by the same God forbidden and commanded to the contrary with the greatest threats and seriousness and he concludeth all these words and things thus If there can be such a profound Dissembler such a deceitful Worker such an horrible Contriver such an Evil Ordainer and mischevious Author that is not a great and mighty Devil I will confess my self mistaken
Person and Crown to defend Arch-bishops the rest of the Bishops to defend all the Clergy the Church of England against the Pope and all his Cardinals against the Jesuites and all the Popish Party they being Enemies to the King and whole Kingdom as it is a Protestant Kingdom and though the Dissenters may differ from the Church 〈…〉 some things from one another yet the Church of England and the Dissenters 〈…〉 of the King Kingdom I also who am not ashamed to own my 〈…〉 self such a Loyal Subject to 〈◊〉 King such a faithâ—â—◠〈…〉 fore is expres◠〈…〉 according to 1 Tim. 1.2 and let the Pamphleteer lay to heart those words Psalm 52. verse 3. Thou lovest evil more than good and Lying more than to speak Righteousness verse 4. Thou lovest all devouring words O thou Deceitful Tongue O Abominable and Stupendious Forgery Seventhly Hypocrisy is plainly demonstrated in the said Pamphlet A brief account take as followeth in several particulars First In the Pamphleteers pretending to find fault with Persecution in page 2. and yet reckoneth it with other good things as a means to bring Dissenters to Church see page 1. 2dly In his pretending to plead highly for the Church of England all along in his Pamphlet as being the only Church and the Clergy the only men in the whole world for Christianity and yet doth basely insinuate a Confedracy between them and the Papists as being influenced by the Papists to Persecute the Dissenters see page 2. 3dly In that he doth basely reflect upon the Dissenters for Erecting so many new Meeting-places when it is well known that he would have been heartily glad to have had one himself so as to have been set as Chief Preacher and Governour over some Separate Congregation either a new or old Meeting-place would have served to stop his mouth with a good maintenance but missing of his expectation he is so fallen into vexation that he doth not care what he foameth out against the poor Dissenters page 12 4thly In that he chargeth the Dissenters with the total neglect of that great Moral Duty to pay unto God the tenth of their Encrease Now that the tenth of Increase was once payable to God by reason of a Precept in the Old Testament I grant but how it will be proved a moral duty flowing from a Moral Law written in all mens hearts I do not understand but here is the mans hypocrisy that he chargeth that upon others when himself will have a very hard task to prove that he hath made it his own duty in the performance of it consider Mat. 7.5 Thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beam out of thine own Eye then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Moat out of thy Brothers Eye and yet it is well known that the Dissenters do make Conscience to serve God with their Substance 5thy In that he concludeth page 14. that if the Dissenters are not the True Church nor the Church of England the True Church then it must be the Church of Rome and doth not at all deny the Church of Rome to be the True Church as he hath denyed the Dissenters 6thly His Hypocrisy will further appear page 14. in that he speaâ—eth favourably and lovingly of the Church of Rome in these very words Though Sir I do love the People of the Romish Communion well But harken Brethren what a double faced man is this yea what a double hearted man is this as doth appear by his double tongue in pleading so highly for the Church of England and at last to say If the Dissenters nor the Church of England be the true Church then the Church of Rome must or else where shall we find it 7thly Hypocrisy doth further appear in that he saith Tho' he loveth that Church well yet he is loth it should be counted the true Church because it may be inconvenient upon divers accounts and then he reckoneth up some politick considerations respecting outward damages viz. Then we shall be in danger of a Popish Parliament then all our best Ministers will be turned out of the best Benefices the Writ de Heretico Comburendo will be restored thereby the best Defenders of our Religion against Popery be forced to pledge Philpot Ridley Granmer Latimer in a warm Cup of Smithfield Flames then all our married Clergy most be reputed Fornicators their Wives Whores their Children Bastards then our Nobleâ— and Gentry will lose a great part of their Estates which was formerly Church-Lands then will London much abate in in its Trade and Grandeur then all our Protestant Merchants will be put to flight into other Countries to save their own and the lives of their beloved Ladies then England will be inslaved by a red Coat Army besides many do fear if Popery comes in there will be yet many more places set on sire to the prejudice of the whole Kingdom and amongst all these things he doth not forget to speak faintly in behalf of the Common-Prayer-Book saying Then our good Book of Common-Prayer will be changed which I think few or none can make a better Harken Brethren here is not one word to bewail the loss of the Holy Bible in which there is an infallible discovery of Gods Holy Will and our Holy Duties not a word to bewail the loss of the most powerful Preachers upon the account of their being Instruments in the hand of God to Convert poor souls he only sheweth a little unwillingness that the best Ministers should be turned out of the best Benefices and not a word to bewail the loss of the holy Sacrament and to have instead thereof that abominable Idol called the Sacrament of the Altar Harken Brethren yet further notwithstanding this Pamphleteer doth know all these miseries that may â—â—end the faithful Protestants yet he has the confidence to say he loveth those of the Romish Communion and doth not say he cannot in conscience own them to be a true Church at all but saith he is loath it should be accounted a true Church in England and that onely because it is inconvenient and doth not deny those of the Romish Communion to be a true Church at Rome and in other Countries and he hath left himself an empty space to be filled up with Conformity unto those of the Romish Communion when he shall find a Conveniency O Abominable Hypocrisy in the Pamphleteer to undertake the Cause of the Church of England against the Protestant Dissenters and at last speak faintly of Rome speaketh favourably of Rome speak lovingly of the Church of Rome yea saith he loveth that Party well even that Church who is the implacable enemy of the poor Church of England and longâ—â—â— to put out the Eyes and pluck out the Heart and Cut off the Head of the Protestant Church of England as hath been made evident by the late Damnable Popish Plot. Therefore let all true Protestantâ— be at peace one with another and be in love one to another and joyn head and heart and hand together against this bloody Enemy that has stained many Countries with Protestant Blood And let all sorts of Protestants beware of a False Brother and let the Church of England beware of a False CHILD Prov. 27.8 As a Bird that wandereth from her Nest so is a man that wandereth from his place FINIS
Modesty and Faithfulness In Opposition to Envy and RASHNESS Proverb 22.15 Foolishness is bound up in the Heart of a Child but the Rod of Correction shall drive it out Mr. John Child THis is to let you know that I met with a Childish wandering Pamphlet full of Pernitious matter the Person who is the Author hath not put his Name unto it but I am Informed he had more mind to have J. J. then J. C. put unto it I am perswaded you have been formerly much acquainted with him therefore call to mind things and Persons and do not forget your SELF and there is great Reason to conclude that if the Author of it had been 25 years ago told that he should put forth such a Pamphlet he would have been ready to say as Hazael did 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy Servant a dog that he should do this thing The title in short is a second Argument for Non-Conformists to take the Sacrament of the Church of England but indeed I cannot find any thing of Argument in that Pamphlet for the matter proposed and believe that the most wise sober and substantial men of the Church of England will hardly think such to be right members of the said Church who shall be brought to conform by no better Arguments or Considerations then is contained in the aforesaid Pamphlet and though the Author hath not put his name unto it he may be easily known by his Communication in it and truly I think I may say without wronging the Author that the matter contained in the said Pamphlet doth discover him to be such a man as Christ speaks of in Mat. 12.43,44,45 viz. A man out of whom went an unclean Spirit who wandred about and found no rest and in Process of time Returned to his house and found it empty swept and Garnished and took with him seven other Spirits more wicked then himself and they dwelt there and so the last state of that man is worse then the first and truly Sir upon a further consideration of the aforesaid Pamphlet I find cause to conclude the Author to be such a man as Wise Solomon speaketh of Proverbs 26.25,26 When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven Abominations in his heart Whose hatred is covered by deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation Sir I know you have been concerned in the Consideration of Numbers as Expressed in the Holy Scriptures I pray Sir set your thoughts at Work about these before mentioned Numbers viz. Seven Abominations in a mans heart spoken by wise Solomon and seven Wicked Spirits spoken by Christ who is greater then Solomon and let this matter be so Considered and Improved by you as may be for your Edification but it may be you will inquire what should be the Reason of applying the forementioned Scriptures to the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet unto which I answer First it doth arise from that Account I have of the Person who though he hath not put his Name to his Pamphlet yet there be some In the World who know me and do also very well know him and the Account of him is as followeth First That he hath been a Professor of Christianity in the way of Separation from the Church of England about thirty years 2dly That he was baptized upon Profession of Faith and Repentance and so joined in Fellowship with a People called Baptiss himself judging Infant sprinkling to be mans invention and not Christs Institution 3dly He did so grow in understanding of the Holy Scriptures that in a little time he was a man of Name and Fame considered as a Preacher in Bedfordshire Buckinhamshire and Harfordshire 4thly He hath appeared in Print highly Vindicating the aforesaid Profession and practice and has been ready to undertake publick Disputations against any that Opposed what he Professed 5thly In Process of time from being very poor he began to grow wealthy and then he decayed in his Christianity and made some change of his former Principles though still in the way of Separation 6thly He removed from the Country to the City and joined himself with a very worthy Congregation of faithful Christians where the pure Word of God was preached and the Ordinances of God were duely Administred who also were a numerous Wealthy and Bountiful People but it seems that they did not find any Extraordinary need of this new Members Assistance so as to employ him and settle him in the Work of the Ministry though their Pastor was newly dead however there was another smaller Church of good Christians that had more need of help and as they did partake of his Spirituals he did partake of their Temporals sufficient for that pains that he took amongst them but they did not see cause to continue him as their constant publick Preacher and so they parted but this was not done by that Congregation to save their Mony as being a covetous People for they do now allow a Maintenance to a deserving man who is well known to be an able preacher and a great Schollar 7 thly Thus things not suting with the mans temper or rather his Distemper he soon became a Wandering Star sometimes two Meetings and sometimes to Church and now a time of suffering is come upon the poor Protestant Dissenters this poor man is all for Conformity knowing very well that the Profession of Religion is much cheaper in the Church of England over what it is like to be among the Persecuted Dissenters O Excellent and Stupendious Policy Secondly I now come to shew that the words of Christ concerning the seven Wicked Spirits and the Words of Sâ—lomon concerning the seven Abominations in a mans heart may be fitly applyed to the Author of the aforesaid Pamphlet by considering the bad matter contained therein from the title page to the Finis of the said Pamphlet which is stuffed full of abominable things viz. First of Nonsence 2dly Of Falcity 3dly Of Absurdity 4thly Of Envy Fifthly Of Railery Sixthly Of Forgery Seventhly Of Hypocrisie demonstrated as followeth First Non-senfe sheweth it self to the World with a brazen Face in the very title of the said Pamphlet calling or stiling it a second Argument when as the first is not Extant being not yet in Print truly Sir if the Author hath thus counted his Children viz. hath called and Recorded his first born the second child I think I may say to him O Excelling and Stupendious folly what has the man a mind to turn child indeed or is he studying how to change the common account of England by making a new book of Arethmetick surely if he can reckon no better the Bishop of Ely will not be his Imprimatur Secondly Great Falcity is in the said Pamphlet for in the Title Page are these Words The Root and Foundation of the Popish Plot further discovered I must confess this was a cuning way to make the book sell especially considering that the Popish Plot is almost lost and
people in general are very desirous to have some new and further demonstration of it but behold a base cheat put upon those that buy the book for there is no mention of the Popish Plot it is not so much as named in all the pages neither the Root nor the Branches upon first sight of the Title there is cause given to conclude that a new Evidence was risen up for the good of the King and Kingdom who could out-do all the former Evidences about the Popish Plot in discovering the very root of it O Excellent and Stupendious sham and now I will enter upon the Consideration of the Pamphlet it self in the begining I find the Author declaring himself like a Prince or some great Prelate Page 1. It hath been our endeavour to correct some of the extravagant strains found in many well meaning Dissenters viz. by good Arguments and Examples together with a sight of their folly in being debarâ—d of the Civil Rights and the close Concurrency of Penal Prosecution they have been at last prevailed upon to come to Church now what these good Arguments were and whether the second was before the first and what those Examples were they are not visible to me but the injoyment of Civil Rights with the close Concurrency of Penal Prosecutions I do now well understand and do believe that the Church of England will rather count such a person a Bastard then a true Child who shall conform upon such base considerations as to comply with the matters of Christianity upon the account of outward safety and in page the second the Author goeth on and saith that it hath been the work of our Adversaries for a long time to put the Protestant Clergy upon Persecuting thereby to justify their old accustomed Cruelty and in this page saith these Adversaries do influence and perswade the poor simple Dissenters that Persecution is an infallible mark of an Antichristian Church now who these Adversaries be that is not plainly said however this Author doth venture to give them a mistical name viz. the Sons of Leviathan and truly I cannot at all think he meaneth the people of Morocco but there is good ground to conclude he meaneth the Papists and if so I believe the Church especially the Protestant Clergy of England will not think that he hath done them any kindness to declare them to be influenced by the Papists to Persecute their Fellow Protestants and so are but the Popes Drudges and it is basely insinuated as if there were a Confederacy between the Papists and the Protestant Clergy which I do not at all believe and it is also as basely insinuated that the Protestant Dissenters are influenced by the Papists to maintain their Nonconformity whereas it is well known that the Protestant Dissenters in general are wholly strangers to that Party and Detesters of their Principles and Practices and in page the fourth the aforesaid Author presumeth to declare all things necessary to Salvation of which he could never yet learn more than these four viz page the third First the learning of a good Catechism to aid and conduct their faith 2dly a good and well composed Form of Prayer to discharge their devotion 3dly To hear learned and good men Preach to revive and quicken them to duty 4thly To square and Regulate their Lives by Moral Precepts or the Law of nature the which whosoever shall humbly and carefully observe constantly and Conscientiously perform then this bold undertaker doth declare as followeth we will assure them Salvation and undertake to answer to God for them and be content to stand chargeable with their Blood if they miscarry Unto which particulars I reply as followeth First A man may learn a good Catechism so as to understand all the Questions and Answers therein and may have the right notion of all those truths in his head and yet be without the real possession of them in his heart 2dly A man may have a well composed Form of Prayer to discharge his devotion and yet be without the Spirit of Prayer 3dly A man may hear Learned and good men Preach to revive and quicken them to Duty and yet be without the Word of God in the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost 4thly A man may square and regulate his life by Moral Precepts or the Law of Nature humbly Carefully Constantly and Conscientiously and yet be without Spiritual Regeneration and Christ saith without Regeneration there is no Salvation John 3.3,5 And now for the said Author so boldly to assure men of their Salvation and undertake to answer to God for them be content to stand chargeable with their Blood if they miscarry upon those four things before proposed I am at a loss what to conclude concerning the man only this I will venture to say he bids fair for the Care and Cure of Souls Thirdly Absurdity is Contained in the said Pamphlet for he pretendeth to srame Arguments and draw Conclusions from them to ingage persons who are Dissenters to come to the Sacrament in the Church of England but instead of making sound and weighty Arguments that may convince mens judgments they are but very pittiful Images of Arguments not of Gold or Silver or Wood as made by an Artis but more like Images of Clay made by a Child that bedaubs and fouls his Fingers in so doing Which briefly take as followeth First To Communicate in the Supper is either a Civil or a Spiritual thing if Civil as such it may be done 2dly It is Commanded by the Laws of our Country 3dly 'T is no natural Injury to our Neighbours therefore can be no real hurt or prejudice to his own Soul This is a cunning and base insinuation of a Corrupt Notion to Represent the Holy Communion as a Civil action if this once take upon mens minds being willing to save themselves from Sufferings by Penal Laws farewel to the right performance of Holy Ordinances From these Carnal Resonings First if I go to the Sacraments I shall not be so obnoxious among my Neighbours 2dly There is very good Neighbourly Sociiety in Eating and Drinking 3dly The Laws of my Country doth require it 4thly If I do it but seldom I shall escape Sufferings 5thly I shall hereby be qualified to maintain my Civil Rights and Priviledges and thus the Ordinance of God the Word of God and the Law of the Land is most abominably abused for the Law of the Realm doth Require them that come to the Sacrament to come to it not as to a Civil Action but as to Gods Holy Ordinance humbly and devoutly and the Minister is to lay before the people the danger and indignation which God hath threatned to them which shall presume to receive the same unworthily see the Statute Anno primo Edward the sixth Chap. the first Then the Author goeth on thus page the fourth If it be spiritual goodness it cannot be dangerous and unsafe because we have the Word of God that
Unto which I Reply humbly and modestly thus 1. What had this Envious Wretch a mind to expose the Dissenters to the rage and fury of those that neither fear the Laws of God nor the good Laws of the Realm that are for the restraining and punishing of men for gross wickedness now this horrible abusing of the most high God as he calleth it is charged upon all those Dissenters that hold the Doctrine of Gods particular Election of some of mankind to eternal salvation 2dly What kindness hath this Pamphleteer shewed to or what service hath he done for the Church of England by his former desperate discourse for as much as it is well known that the Doctrine of particular Election is the Principle and Doctrine of the Church of England and has been highly maintained by the most famous Ministers against those of a contrary mind viz. such as are called Arminians and though some of the Ministers of the Church of England and some of the Dissenters do oppose the aforesaid Doctrine yet as they are men of good humanity they have more manners and as they are men of Christianity they have more grace then to use such blasphemous expressions and to draw such diabolical Conclusions concerning the Professors of such Election and the Electing Gracious God But no marvel that he whose Principle is that men may fall from true and saving grace should himself fall from seeming grace 3dly And now I will humbly offer my opinion and faith concerning Election First I do believe that God from all Eternity or before the World begun hath Elected some of the Children of men unto Eternal Salvation and in due time hath and doth and will bless them with saving Conversion in order thereunto Eph. 1.4 According as he hath Chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you Brethren because God hath from the beginning Chosen you to Salvation through Sanstification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 2dly I believe that God in his gracious Decree of this Election hath fixed upon every one of the particular persons that should afterward be eternaly saved Psalm 139. vers 16. Thine eyes did see my Substance yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them which Scripture must be understood of the Members of Davids natural Body or of Christ's Mystical Body if of Davids natural Body then we may surely say God hath not a less regard to and care of Christs mystical Body but doth certainly know all the Members thereof and hath them down in his Book whilst as yet they are not visible in the world 2 Tim. 2.19 Nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Now God doth not only know them that are his when Converted but before Conversion Consider those words John 10.14 I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep and am known of mine Verse 16. Other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one Fold and one Sheepherd Verse 26. But ye believe not because ye are not of my Sheep as I said unto you Verse 27. My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me Conversion and Salvation of perticular persons were both in God together as the act of his infinite mercy and rich grace before the world began Consider that Word well 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the World began And consider also that Word in Rom. 11.5 Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the Election of Grace and vers 7. The Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded Fourthly I believe that as saving Grace here and Eternal Glory hereafter unto all them that are saved is Gods undeserved mercy Even so also those that are suffered to go on in their Sins here and shall be damned for their Sins hereafter is unto them but Gods deserved Justice Fifthly I believe that God hath not laid any Necessity upon men to be Wicked for God doth not force any man to sin but man being created upright abode not in that State but sought out many Inventions as in Eccl. 7.29 The whole Lump of Mankind is involved in a sinful state and so is become unable of himself to do any thing that may save himself for the very Saints of God are not saved by works of Righteousness which they have wrought see Tit. 3.5 Not by Works of Righteousness which we have wrought but according to his Mercy he hath saved us by the Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost Sixthly I do however believe that though not any man can make himself so good as to be saved by it yet most men may be abundantly better then they are by improving the Light of Nature and those Natural parts they have wherein some excel others together with an improvement of the common Mercies and Blessings of God and more especially by attending upon the meanes of grace and may hereby escape those black and bloody Crimes that the Pamphleteer doth most basely innumerate and may also be in a hopeful way of Conversation and so of Salvation like the poor man that lay at the pool of Bethesda John 5.3.5 Who though he was not able of himself to go in the Pool he lay in the way of a cure but if men will follow Wickedness with greediness they are in the ready way of Damnation without any ground of hope for Salvation Seventhly I believe that Salvation of Sinners is founded altogether upon Christ and laid up only and alone in Christ viz. In his person as God and Man in his perfect Righteousness in his painful Sufferings in the garden and upon the cross in his Resurrection from the dead in his Ascension into Heaven and in his Intercession in Heaven and shall be most fully compleated at the Resurrection of the dead and the second coming of Christ when the vile bodies of Saints shall be like the glorious body of Jesus Christ and so shall ever be with the Lord. Eighthly I believe that if God of his own free grace and rich mercy had not made the Eternal salvation of some particular persons infallibly certain by decreeing their saving conversion before time and blessing of them with it in time it would have been hazardous whether any sinners should have been saved for as much as a very great multitude of mankind yea and many that have seemed to be in a â—air way for Salvation and have mist of it by the same Reasons every particular
person might have mist of it also 9thly I believe that for as much as Sinners in general have deserved Damnation and none of them able to give Divine Justice satisfaction for themselves the great and glorious God may magnifie his Mercy upon some and glorifie his Justice upon others as seemeth good unto his Insinite Wisdom see Rom. 9.22 What if God willing to shew his wrath and make his power known endured with much Long Suffering the Vessels of wrath fitted for destruction Verse 23. And that he might make known the Riches of his glory on the Vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory also see Rom. 9.20 Nay but O man who art thou that repliest against God And let the Pamphleteer consider what he hath done in speaking so reproachfully of the Servants of the Living God both amongst the Dissenters and the Church of England also and in drawing such blasphemous Conclusions concerning God from their Principles Fifthly High and desperate Rayling is in the said Pamphlet Take notice of page 11. in these words Now if a sound true notion of God be the first and foundation principle of Religion and consequently of a true Church then such as have it not but the manifest conâ—rary can be no true Church because upon a wicked false foundation such as I am sure is among the Sectaries and if such a villanous Body of people is the best and true Church that even in their first principles thus bloodily murder their Maker in his most admirable Attributes of Wisdom Holiness and Goodness I do wonder what kind of people the world is And then over again he has these words VVhat shall we say of such monsters that murder God their Maker shall we join with them as a pious Church Now consider a few Queries upon this bloody matter First What has the poor Wretch forgot what Work he was about viz. High pleading for the Church of England as the only Church of God in the World and now strike deadly strokes at her heart through the tender sides of the Dissenters in a most Abominable abusing both the one and the other about the Eternal Decrees of God as if their Opinions in those things were an in-let to all the most Abominable Wickedness that is in this World and a murdering of God our maker to boot 2dly What doth the man think that the Church of England will receive such a Child as a true Son who most boldly affirmeth that such as hold Gods decrees to be unalterable cannot be a true Church of God but a villanous body of People when it is well known that the Dissenters who are Calvinists and the Church of England do very well agree about the Eternal Decrees of God 3dly What has the child a mind to call his Mother Whore as soon as he is born O what a Monster is this that after two or three times sucking hath got sharp Teeth and long Nailes and most unnaturally falls a biting and scratching his Mothers tender Breast It s well known that the Breast of the Church of England doth afford the same good Milk as is among those Dissenters that he doth so highly and bitterly rail against viz. The Doctrine of Gods unalterable Decrees concerning the children of men 4thly What is the man mad in his mind because the Protestant Dissenters do not believe that the living God is not such a one as he is who hath altered changed and shuâ—…ed in his Opinions Principles and Practises about Religion the Lord rebuke his Soul with that Word Psal 50. vers 20. Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self And now let it be soberly considered how the Pamphletere hath strained himself in railing against the poor Dissenters now in the time of their Affliction even as Shimei did rail against poor David 2 Sam. 16.7 Come out come out thou bloody man and thou man of Belial Now mark this mans Words of the Dissenters A villanous body of People that in their first and main Principle thus bloodily murder their Maker in his most admirable Attributes and useth the Words of Jacob Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their Wrath for it was Cruel O my Soul come not into their secret unto their Assembly mine honour be not thou united what shall we say of such Monsters that murder God their maker shall we join with them as a pious Church Now these Dissenters that he meaneth are those called Calvinists and what their Principles are is well known to and approved of by the Church of England except it be some particular Clergymen called Arminians as also some Dissenters are who notwithstanding do abhor this Abominable Stupendious Railery and though they differ in their Opinions about the Decrees of God yet they have charitable Apprehensions of each other and a cordial love to each other each party knowing that there is a Godly care on both sides to maintain a Godly Conversation in themselves and make sure of Salvation for themselves But as for the Pamphletere who is a shame to himself and others let him read his Transgression and punishment in Psal 50.19 Thou givest thy mouth to Evil and thy tongue frameth deceit Vers 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy Brother thou slanderest thine own Mothers Son Vers 21. These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in Order before thine Eyes Sixthly Forgery is in the said Pamphlet at an abominable rate in that the Pamphleteer doth heap up many particulars which he cannot prove therefore they must be charged upon himself as matter forged and framed in his own Working Pate Consider page 12. where he formeth several questions and Answers according to his own mind which take as followeth First Would they have the Arch-bishops down Yes no doubt Secondly Would they have the rest of the Bishops down Yes Thirdly Would they have the best Clergy about the City and Subburbs down Yes Fourthly Would they have all the Clergy in England down Yes Fifthly Would they have all the Ecclesiastical Revenues viz. The Unlawful Maintenance by Tythes down Yes Sixthly Would they have all the Schools of Learning down Yes because the Language of the Beast that opposes the Spirits Teachings set forth by Samuel How comes from thence Seventhly Would they have the Laws for maintaining of the poor down Yes From which particulars consider these things First consider how like a Child the pamphleteer doth behave himself who not being able to throw sticks at a live Cock makes a paper Cock and then taketh great pains to throw it down Secondly Consider how hard he is put to it to make up the number of seven follish Questions in making two about the Bishops and two about the Clergy Thirdly Consider his base design to render and Represent the Dissenters Obnoxious and Odious to the Bishops and Clergy and to stir up