the Auditory do usually give it on the modester side and conclude that he that rails most has the least reason For the second Where he would prove that though he had railed yet his Answerer J. O. ought not to have taken notice of it nor those of the party who are under the same condemnation but that he should have abstracted and kept close to the Argument I must confess it is a very secure and wholesome way of railing And allowing this he hath good reason to find fault with his Answerer 〈◊〉 he does for turring 〈◊〉 his Book though without turning it over I know 〈◊〉 how he could have answered him but with his Hat 〈◊〉 with Mum. But for ought I can see in that only answer which is to his first Book he hath been obedient and abstracted the Argument sufficienâ—… and 〈◊〉 he hath been any where severe upon him he hath done it more cleanly and much more like a Gentleman and it hath been only in showing the necessary infeferences that must follow upon the Authors Maximâ—… and unsound principles But as to any answer to Bayâ—… his second Book or this third for ought I can see J. O. sleeps upon both Ears To this third undertaking to show that he hath 〈◊〉 rail'd 〈◊〉 shail not say any thing more but let it 〈◊〉 judg'd by the Company and to them let it be refer'd But in my poor opinion I rever saw a man thorow all his three Books in so high a Salivation And therefore till I meet with something more serious I will take a walk in the Garden and gather some of Mr. Bayes his Flowers Or I might more properly have said I will go see Bedlam and pâ—…k straws with our Mad-man First he saith that some that pretend a great interest in the holy Brother-hood upon eveâ—…y slight accident are beating up the Drums against the Pope and Poâ—…ish Plots they discry Poâ—…ery in every common and usual chance and a Câ—…imny cannot take fire in the City or Suburbs but they are immediately crying Jesuites and Firebals I understand you Sir This Mr. Bayes is your Prologue that is to be spoke by Thunder and Lightning I am loud Thunder brisk Ligh ning I. I strike men down 〈◊〉 fire the Town Loâ—…k too 't Wee 'l do ot Mr Bayes it is something darg rous medling with thâ—…se matters As innocent persons as your self have 〈◊〉 the fury of the wild multitude when such a Calamity hath disordered them And after your late Severity against Tradesmen it had been better you had not touched the fire Take heed lest the Reasons which sparkle forsooth in your Discourse have not set their Chimnyes on fire None accuses you what you make sâ—…ort with of burring the Ships at Chatham much less of blowing up the Thames But you ought to be careful lest having so newly distinguished betâ—…t the Fanatick and his Wealth they should say That you are distinguishing now betwixt the Faâ—…icks and their Houses These things are too edged to be jested with if you did but consider that not onely the Holy Brotherhood but the Soâ—…er and intelligent Citizens are equally involved in these sad Accidents And in that â—…mentable Conflagration which was so terrible that though so many years agoe it is yet fresh in mens memories and besides is yearly by Act of Parliament observed with due Humiliation and Solemnity It was not Trade onely and Merchandise suffered which you call their Diana and was not so much to be considered But St. Pauls too was burnt which â—…he Historians tell us was Diana's Temple The next thing is more directly levell'd at J. O. for having in some latter Book used those words We cannot conform to Arminianism or Socinianism on the one hand or Popery on the other What the Answerer meant by those words I concern not my self Onely I cannot but say That there is a very great neglect somewhere wheresoever the Inspection of Books is Iodged that at least the Socinian Books are tolerated and sell as openly as the Bible But Bayes turns all into Mirth He might as well have added all the isms 〈◊〉 the Old Testament Perizzitism Hittitism Jebusitism Hivitism c. No Mr. Bayes that need not and though this indeed is a very pretty Conceit and 't were pity it should have been lost yet I can tell you a better way For if rhiming be the business and you are so good at tagging of points in a Garret there is another word that will do it better and for which I know not how truly you tax your Answerer too here as if he said The Church of England were desperately Schismatical because the Independents are resolved one and all to continue separate from her Communion Therefore let Schism 〈◊〉 you please rhime to 〈◊〉 And though no man is obliged to produce the Authority of the greatest Wits of the Nation to justifie a Rhime yet for your â—…ear sake Mr. Bayes I will this once supererogate The first shall be your good friend Bishop 〈◊〉 â—…ho among many other memorable Paâ—…ages whiâ—…â—…elieve were 〈◊〉 â—…on that he never thought fit 〈◊〉 print his own Book p. 101. teacheth us not absurdly that It was not the 〈◊〉 Opinions of the Church of Rome but the obtruding them by Laws upon other Churches which warranted a Separation But if this will not doe Vous aveâ—… Doctor Thâ—…rndikes Deposition in print for he I hear is lately dead The Church of England in separating from the Church of Rome 〈◊〉 guilty of Schism before God I have not the Book by me but I am sure 't is candidly recited as I have 〈◊〉 it Then to show too that there is a King on this side his present Majesty's Father in his Declaration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1628. affirms that a Book entituled Appello Caesarem or an Appeal to Caesar and published in the year 1625. by Richard Montague then Batcheler of Divinity and now Bishop of Chichester had opâ—ned the way to these Schisms and Divisions which have since ensued in the Church and that therefore for the redress and remedy thereof and for the satisfaction of the Consciences of his good People he had not only by publick Proclamation called in that Book which ministred matter of offence but to prevent the like danger for the future reprinted the Articles of Religion established in the time of Queen Elizabeth of Famous Memory and by a Declaration before those Articles did restrain all Opinions to the Sense of those Articles that nothing might be left for private Fancies and Innovations c. And if this will not amount fully I shall conclude with a Villanous Pamâ—…let that I met with t'other day but of which a great 〈◊〉 indeed was the Author And whereas Mr. Bayes 〈◊〉 alwayes desying the Nonconformists with Mr 〈◊〉 Ecclesiastical 〈◊〉 and the Friendly Debate I 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 ' though I have a great Reverence for Mr. Hooker who in some things did answer himself That this little Book of not full eight leaves
for an Epilogue I do not see but the Preface might have past as well for a Postscript or the headstal for a Crooper And our Authors Divinity might have gone to Push Pin with the Bishop which of their two Treatises was the Procatarctical Cause os both their Edition For as they are coupled together to say the Truth 't is not discernable as in some Animals whether their motion begin at the head or the tail whether the Author made his Preface sor Bishop Bramhal's dear sake or whether he published the Bishop's Treatise for sake of his own dear Preface For my own part I think it reasonable that the Bishop and our Author should like fair Gamsters at Leap-frog stand and skip in their turns and however our Author got it for once yet if the Bookseller should ever be sollicitous for a Second Edition that then the Bishops Book should have the Precedence But besore I commit my self to the dangerous depâ—hs of his Discourse which I am now upon the brink of I would with his leave make a motion that instead of Author I may henceforth indifferently call him Mr. Bays as oft as I shall see occasion And that first because he hath no Name or at least will not own it though he himself writes under the greatest security and gives us the first Letters of other Mens Names before he be asked them Secondly because he is I perceive a lover of Elegancy of Stile and can endure no mans Tautologies but his own and therefore I would not distast him with too frequent repetition of one word But chiefly because Mr. Bayes and he do very much Symbolize in their understandingt in their expressions in their humour in their contempt and quarrelling of all others though of their own Profession Because our Divine the Author manages his contest with the same prudence and civility which the Players and Poets have practised of late in their several Divisions And lastly because both their Talents do peculiarly ly in exposing and personating the Nonconformists I would therefore give our Author a Name the memory of which may perpetually excite him to the exercise and highest improvement of that Virtue For our Cicero doth not yet equal our Roscius and one turn of Lacy's face hath more Ecclesiastical Policy in it than all the Books of our Author put together Besides to say Mr. Bayes is more civil than to say Villain and Caitiff though these indeed are more tuant And to conclude The Irrefragable Doctor of School-Divinity pag. 460. of his Defence determining concerning Symbollical Ceremonies haâ—h warranted me that not only Governours but any thing else may have power to appropriate new names to things without having absolute authority over the things themselves And therefore henceforward seeing I am on such sure Ground Author or Mr. Bayes whether I please Now having had our Dance let us advance to our more serious Counsels And first Our Author begins with a Panegyrick upon Bishop Bramhal a Person whom my age had not given me leave to be acquainted with nor my good fortune led me to converse with his Writings but for whom I had collected a deep Reverence from the general Reputation he carried beside the Veneration due to the Place he filled in the Church of England So that our Author having a mind to shew us some proof of his Good Nature and that his Eloquence lay'd not all in Satyr and Invectives could not in ny opinion have fixed upon a fitter subject of commendation And therefore I could have wished for my own sake that I had missed this occasion of being more fully informed of some Bishop's Principles whereby I have lost part of that pleasure which I had so long enjoyed in thinking well of so considerable a Person But however I recreate my self with believing that my simple judgment cannot beyond my intention abate any thing of his just value with others And seeing he is long since dead which I knew but lately and now learn it with regret I am the more obliged to repair in my self whatsoever breaches of his Credit by that additional Civility which consecrates the Ashes of the Deceased But by this means I am come to discern how it was possible for our Author to speak a good word for any man The Bishop was expired and his Writings jump much with our Author So that if you have a mind to dy or to be of his Party there are but these two Conditions you may perhaps be rendred capable of his Charity And then write what you will he will make you a Preface that shall recommend you and it to the Genius of the Age and reconcile it to the Juncture of Affairs But truly he hath acquitted himself herein so ill-favour'dly to the Bistop that I do not think it so much worth to gain his approbation and I had rather live and enjoy mine own Opinion than be so treated For beside his reflection on the Bishop and the whole Age he lived in that he was as far as the prejudice of the Age would permit him an acute Philosopher which is a sufficient taste of Mr. Bays his Arrogance that no Man no Age can be so perfect but must abide his Censure and of the officious virulence of his Humour which infuses it self by a malignant remark that but for this acuter Philosopher no man else would have thought of into the Praises of him whom he most intended to celebrate if I say beside this you consider the most elaborate and studious Periods of his Commendation you find it at best very rediculous By the Language he seems to transcribe out of the Grand Cyrus and Cassandra but the Exploits to have borrowed out of the Knight of the Sun and King Arthur For in a luscious and effeminate Stile he gives him such a Termagant Character as must either sright or turn the stomach of any Reader Being of a brave and enterprising temper of an active and sprightly mind he was always busied either in contriving or performing great Dâ—…signs Well Mr. Bayes I suppose by this that he might have been an over-match to the Bishop of Cullen and the Bishop of Strasburg In another place He finished all the glorious Designs that he undertook This might have become the Bishop of Munster before he had rais'd the Siege from Groningen As he was able to accomplish the most gallant attempts so he was always ready not only to justisie their Innocence but to make good their Bravery I was too prodigal of my Bishops at first and now have never another lest in the Gazette which is to our Authors Magazine His Reputation and Innocence were both Arm or of Proof against Tories and Presbyterians But methinks Mr. Bayes having to do with such dangerous Enemies you should have furnished him too with some weapon of Offence a good old Fox like that of another Heroe his Contemporary in Action upon the Scene of Ireland of whom it was sung Down by his side be
wore a sword of price Keen as a Frost glaz'd like a new made Ice That cracks men shell'd in Steel in a less trice Than Squirrels Nuts or the Highlanders Lice Then he saith ' t is true the Church of Ireland was the largest Scene of his Actions but yet there in a little time he wrought out such wondrous Alterations and so exceeding all belief as may convince us that he had a mind large and active enough to have managed the Roman Empire at its greatest extent This indeed of our Author 's is Great and yet it reacheth not a strain of his fellow Pendets in the History of the Mogol where he tells Dancehment Kan When you put your foot in the Stirrop and when you march upon Horseback in the front of the Cavalry the Earth trembles under your feet the eight Elephants that hold it on their heads not being able to support it But enough of this Trafh Beside that it is the highest indecorum for a Divine to write in such a stile as this partPlay-Book and part Romance concerning a Reverend Bishop these improbable Elogies too are of the greatest disservice to their own design and do in effect diminish alwayes the Person whom they pretend to magnifie Any worthy Man may pass through the World unquestion'd and safe with a moderate Recommendation but when he is thus set off and bedawb'd with Rhetorick and embroder'd so thick that you cannot discern the Ground it awakens naturally and not altogether unjustly Interest Curiosity and Envy For all men pretend a share in Reputation and love not to see it ingross'd and 〈◊〉 and are subject to enquire as of great Estates suddenly got whether he came by all this honestly or of what credit the Person is that tells the Story And the same hath happened as to this Bishop while our Author attributes to him such Atchievments which to one that could believe the Legend of Captain Jones might not be incredble I have heard that there was indeed such a Captain an honest brave fellow but a Wag that had a mind to be merry with him hath quite spoil'd his History Had our Author epitomiz'd the Legend of sixty six Books de Virtutibus Sancti Patricii I mean not the Ingenious Writer of the Friendly Debates but St Patrick the Irish Bishop he could not have promis'd us greater Miracles And 't is well for him that he hath escaped the fate of Secundinus who as Josselin relates it acquainting Patrick that he was inspired to compose something in his Commendation the Bshiop foretold the Author should dy as soon as 't was perfected Which so done so happened I am sure our Author had dyed no other death but of this his own Preface and a surfeit upon Bishop Bramhall if the swelling of Truth could have choak'd him He tells us I remember somewhere that this same Bishop of Derry said the Scots had a civil expression for these Improvers of Verity that they are good Company and I shall say nothing severer than that our Author speaks the language of a Lover and so may claim some pardon if the habit and excess of his Courtship do as yet give a tincture to his discourse upon more ordinary Subjects For I would not by any means be mistaken as if I thought our Author so sharp set or so necessitated that he should make a dead Bishop his 〈◊〉 so far from that that he hath taken such a course that if the Bishop were alive he would be out of love with himself He hath like those frightfull Looking-glasses made for sport represented him in such bloated lineaments as I am confident if he could see his face in it he would break the Glass For hence it falls out too that men seeing the Bishop furbish'd up in so martial accoutrements like another Odo Bishop of Baieux and having never before heard of his prowess begin to reflect what Giants he defeated and what Damsels he rescued Serious Men consider whether he were ingaged in the conduct of the Irish Army and to have brought it over upon England for the Imputation of which the Earl of Strafford his Patron so undeservedly suffered But none knowes any thing ofit Others think it is not to be taken literally but the wonderful and unheard-of Alterations that he wrought out in Ireland are meant of some Reformation that he made there in things of his own Function But then men ask again how he comes to have all the honour of it and whether all the while that great Bishop usher his Metropolitane were unconcerned For even in Ecclesiastical Combates how instrumental soever the Captain hath been the General usually carries away the honour of the Action But the good Primate was engaged in Designs of lesser moment and was writing his de Primordiis Ecclesiae Britanicae and the Story of Pelagius our Countryman He honest man was deep gone in Grubstreet and Polemmical 〈◊〉 and troubled with Fits of Modern Orthodoxy He satisfyed himself with being admired by the blue and white Aprons and pointed at by the more 〈◊〉 Tankard Bearers Nay which is worst of all he undertook to abate of our Episcopal Grandeur and condescended 〈◊〉 to reduce the Ceremonious Discipline in these Nations to the 〈◊〉 Simplicity What then was this that Bishop Brambal did Did he like a Protestant Apostle in one day convert thousands of the Irish Papists The contrary is evident by the Irish Rebellion and Massacre which notwithstanding his Publick Employment and great Abilities happened in his time So that after all our Authors bombast when we have search'd all over we find our selves bilk'd in our â—…on and he hath erected him like a St Christopher in the Popish Churches as big as ten Porters and yet only imploy'd to sweat under the burden of an Infant All that appears of him is first that he busied himself about a Catholick 〈◊〉 among the Churches of Christendom But as to this our Author himself saith that he was not so vain or so presuming as to hope to see it 〈◊〉 in his dayâ—…s And yet but two pages before he told us that the Bishop finished all the glorious designes which he undertook But this Design of his he draws our in such a circuit of words that 't is better taking it from the Bishop himself who speaks more plainly always and much more to the purpose And he saith pag. 〈◊〉 of his Vindication My design is rather to reconcile the Popish Party to the Church of England than the 〈◊〉 of England to the Pope And how he manages it I had rather any man would learn by reading over his own Book than that I should be thought to misrepresent him which I might unless I tarnscribed the whole But in summe it seems to me that he is upon his own single judgment too liberal of the Publick and that he retrenches both on our part more than he hath Authority for and grants more to the Popish than they can of right pretend to It
in the consolidation of Kingdoms where the Greatest swallows down the Less so also in Church-Coalition that though the Pope had condescended which the Bishop owns to be his Right to be only a Patriarch 〈◊〉 he would have 〈◊〉 up the Patriarchate os Lambeth to his Mornings-draught like an Egg in Muscadine And then there is another Danger always when things come once to a Treaty that beside the debates of Reason there is a better way of tampering to bring Men over that have a Power to 〈◊〉 And so who knows in such a Treaty with Rome if the Alps as it is probable would not have come over to England as the Bishop design'd it England might not have been obliged lying so commodious for Navigation to undertake a Voyage to Civita Vechia But what though we should have made all the Advances imaginable it would have been to no purpose and nothing less than an entire and total resignation of the Protestant Cause would have contented her For the Church of Rome is so well satisfied of her own sufsiciency and hath so much more wit than we had in Bishop 〈◊〉 days or seem to have yet learn'd that it would have succeeded just as at the Council of Trent For there though many Divines of the greatest Sincerity and Learning endeavoured a Reformation yet no more could be obtained of her than the Nonconformists got of those of the Church of of England at the Conference of Worcester-House But on the contrary all her Excesses and Errors were further rivited and confirmed and that great Machine of her Ecclesiastical Policy there perfected So that this Enterprise of Bishop Bramhall's being so ill laid and so unseasonable deserves rather an Excuse than a Commendation And all that can be gathered besides out of our Author concerning him is of little better value for he saith indeed that he was a zealous and resolute Assertor of the Publick Rites and Solemnities of the Church But those things being only matters of external neatness could never merit the Trophies that our Author erects him For neither can a Justice of Peace for his severity about Dirt-baskets deserve a Statue And as for his expunging some dear and darling Articles from the Ptotestant Cause it is as far as I can perceive only his substituting some Arminian Tenets which I name so not for reproach but for difference instead of the Calvinian Doctrines But this too could not challenge all these Triumphal Ornaments in which he installs him For 〈◊〉 suppose these were but meer mistakes on either side for want of being as the Bishop saith pag. 134. scholastically stated and that he with a distinction of School-Theologie could have smoothed over and plained away these knots though they have been much harder For the rest which he leaves to seek for and I meet casually with in the Bishop's own Book I find him to have been doubtless a very good-natur'd Gentleman Pag. 160. He hath much respect for poor Readers and pag 161. He judges that iâ—… they come short of Preachers in point of Effuâ—…acy yet they have the advantage of Preachers as to point of Security And pag. 163. He commends the care taken by the Canons that the meanest Câ—…re of Souls should have formal Sermons at least four times every year pag. 155. He maintains the publick Sports on the Lords-day by the Proclamation to that purpose and the Example of the Reformed Churches beyond-Sea aud for the publick Dances of our Youth upon Country-Greens on Sundays after the duties of the day he sees nothing in then but innocent and agreeable to that under-foot of people And pag. 117. which I quoted before he takes the promiscuous Licence to unqualified persons to read the Scriptures far more prejudicial nay more pernitious than the over-rigorous restraint of the Romanists And indeed all along he complies much for peace-sake and judiciously shews us wherein our seperation from the Church of Rome is not warrantable But although I cannot warrant any man who hence took occasion to traduce him of Popery the contrary of which is evident yet neither is it to be wondred if he did hereby lye under sometimpuration which he might otherwise have avoided Neither can I be so hard-hearted as our Author in the Nonconformists case of Discipline to think it were better that he or a hundred more Divines of his temper should suffer though innocent in their Reputation than that we should come under a possibility of losing our Relgion For as they the Bishop and I hope most of his Party did not intend it so neither could they have effected it But he could not expect to enjoy his Imagination without the annoyances incident to such as dwell in the middle story the Pots from above and the smoak from below And those Churches which are seated nearer upon the Frontire of Popery did naturally and well if they took Alarm at the March For in fact that incomparable Person Grotius did yet make a Bridge for the Enemy to come over or at least laid some of our most considerable Passes open to them and unregarded a crime something like what his Son De Groot here 's Gazotte again for you and his Son-in-law Mombas have been charged with And as to the Bishop himself his Friend an Accusatory Spirit would desire no better play than he gives in his own Vindication But that 's neither my business nor huMour and whatsoever may have glanced upon him was directed only to our Author for publishing that Book which the Bishop himself had thought fit to conceal and for his impertinent efflorescence of Rhetorick upon so mean Topicks in so choice and copious a Subject as Bishop Bramhal Yet though the Bishop prudently undertook a Design which he hoped not to accomplish in his own dayes our Author however was something wiser and hath made sure to obtain his end For the Bishop's Honour was the furthest thing from his thoughts and he hath managed that part so that I have accounted it a work of some Piety to vindicate his Memory from so scurvy a commendation But the Author's end was only railing He could never have induc'd himself to praise one man but in order to â—…ail on another He never oyls his Hone but that he may whet his Razor and that not to shave but to cut mens throats And whoever will take the pains to compare will find that as it is his only end so his best nay his only talent is railing So that he hath while he pretends so much for the good Bishop used him but for a Stalking-horse till he might come within shot of the Forreign Divines and the Nonconformists The other was only a copy of his countenance But look to your selves my Masters forin so venomous a malice courtesie is always fatal Under colour of some mens having taxed the Bishop he flyes out into a furious Debauch and breaks the Windows if he could would raze the foundations of all the Protestant Churches beyond Sea
but for all men at home of their perswasion if he meet them in the dark he runs them thorow He usurps to himself the Authority of the Church of England who is so well bred that if he would have allowed her to speak she would doubtless have treated more civilly those over whom she pretends no Jurisdiction and under the names of Germany and Geneva he rallies and rails at the whole Protestancy of Europe For you are mistaken in our Author but I have worn him thread-bare if you think he designs to enter the Lists where he hath but one man to combate Mr. Bayes ye know prefers that one quality of fighting single with whole Armies before all the moral Virtuesput together And yet I assure you he hath several times obliged moral Virtue so highly that she ows him a good turn whensoever she can meet him But it is a brave thing to be the Ecclesiastical Draw-Can-Sir He kills whole Nations he kills Friend and Foe Hungary Transvâ—…lvania Bohemia Poland Savoy France the Netherlands Denmark Sweden and a great part of the Church of England and all Scotland for these beside many more he mocks under the title of Germany and Geneva may perhaps rouse our Mastiff and make up a Danger worthy of his Courage A man would guess that this Gyant had promised hâ—…s Comfortable Importance a Simarre of the beards of all the Orthodox Theologues in Christendom But I wonder how he comes to be Prolocutor of the Church of England For he talks at that rate as if he were a Synodical Individuum Nay if he had a fifth Council in his belly he could not dictate more dogmatically There had been indeed as I have heard about the dayes of Bishoy 〈◊〉 a sort of Divines here of that Leaven who being dead I cover their names if not for healths sake yet for decedcy who never cou'd speak of the first Reformers with any patience who pruned themselves in the peculiar Virulency of their Pens and so they might say a tart thing concerning the Foreign Churches cared not what obloquy they cast upon the histo ry or the profession of Religion And those meâ—… undertook likewise to vent their Wit and 〈◊〉 Choler under the stile of the Church of England and were indeed so far owned by her that whaâ—… preferments were in her own disposal she raâ—… ther conferred upon them And now when theâ—… were gone off the Stage there is risen up 〈◊〉 Spiritual Mr. Bayes who having assumed to himâ—… self an incongruous Plurality of Ecclesiastical Ofâ—… fices one the most severe of Penitentiary Uâ—… niversal to the Reformed Churches the otheâ—… most ridiculous of Buffoon-General to the Churcâ—… of England may be henceforth capable of anâ—… other Promotion And not being content to enâ—… joy his own folly he has taken two others intâ—… Partnership as fit for his design as those twâ—… that clubb'd with Mahomet in making the 〈◊〉 an who by perverse Wit and Representatioâ—… might travesteere the Scripture and render 〈◊〉 the careful and serious part of Religion odioâ—… and contemptible But lest I might be mistake as to the Persons I mention I will assure thâ—… Reader that I intend not Huddibras For he is man of the other Robe and his excelleut thaâ—… hath taken a â—…ight far above these Whiflers thaâ—… whoever dislikes the choice of his Subject caâ—… not but commend his Performance and calculatâ—… if on so bâ—…rren a Theme he were so copious whaâ—… admirable sport he would have made with an Ecâ—… clesiastical Politician But for a Daw-Divine not onely to foul his own Nest in England buâ—… to pull in pieces the Nests of those beyond 〈◊〉 't is that which I think uncedent and of very ill exâ—… ample There is not indeed much danger 〈◊〉 Book his Letter and his Preface being writ in Enâ—… glish that they should pass abroad but if they 〈◊〉 printed upon incombustible Paper or by reason of the many Avocations of our Church they may escape a Censure yet 't is likely they may dye at home the common fate of such Treatises amongst the more judicious Oyl-men and Grocers Unless Mr. Bayes be so far in love with his own Whelp that as a Modern Lady he will be at the charge of translating his Works into Latin transmitting them to the Universities and dedicating them in the Vaticane But should they unhappily get vent abroad as I hear some are already sent over for curiosity what scandal what heart-burning and animosity must it raise against our Church unless they chance to take it right at first and limit the Provocation within the Author And then what can he expect in return of his Civility but that the Complement which passed betwixt Arminius and Baudius should concenter upon him that he is both Opprobrium Academiae and Pestis Ecclesiae For they will see at the first that his Books come not out under publick Authority or recommendation but only as things of Buffoonery do commonly they carry with them their own Imprimatur But I hope he hath considered Mr. L. in private and payed his Fees Neither will the Gravity therefore of their Judgements take the measures I hope either of the Education at our Universities or of the Spirit of our Divines or of the Prudence Piety and Doctrine of the Church of England from such an Interlooper Those Gardens of ours use to bear much better fruit There may happen sometimes an ill Year or there may be such a Crab-stock as cannot by all ingrafting be corrected But generally it proves otherwise Once perhaps in a hundred years there may arise such a Prodigy in the University where all Men else learn better Arts and better Manners and from thence may creep into the Church where the Teachers at least ought to 〈◊〉 well instructed in the knowledge and practice 〈◊〉 Christianity so prodigious a Person I say may 〈◊〉 there be hatch'd as snall neither know or 〈◊〉 how to behave himself to God or Man and 〈◊〉 having never seen the receptacle of Grace or 〈◊〉 science at an Anatomical Disfection may 〈◊〉 therefore that there is no such matter or no 〈◊〉 obligation among Christians who shall 〈◊〉 the Scripture it self unless it will conform to 〈◊〉 Interpretation who shall strive to put the 〈◊〉 into Blood and animate Princes to be the 〈◊〉 tioners of their own Subjects for well-doing Aâ—… this is possible but comes to pass as rarely and 〈◊〉 as long periods in our Climate as the birth of false Prophet But unluckily in this fatal Year Seventy two among all the Calamities that 〈◊〉 logers foretel this also hath befaln us I woulâ—… not hereby confirm his vanity as if I also belieâ—… ed that any Scheme of Heaven did influence 〈◊〉 actions or that he were so considerable as 〈◊〉 the Comet under which they say we yet labouâ—… had sore-boded the appearance of his Preface 〈◊〉 no though he be a creature most noxious 〈◊〉 he is more despicable A Comet is of far
〈◊〉 quality and hath other kind of imployment 〈◊〉 though we call it an Hairy-Star it affords 〈◊〉 prognostick of what breeds there but the 〈◊〉 strologer that would discern our Author and 〈◊〉 business must lay by his Telescope and use a 〈◊〉 croscope You may find him still in Mr. Calvin head Poor Mr. Calvin and Bishop Bramhal 〈◊〉 crime did you dye guilty of that you cannot 〈◊〉 quiet in your Graves but must be conjured up 〈◊〉 the Stage as oft as Mr. Bayes will ferret you 〈◊〉 which of you two are most unfortunate I 〈◊〉 determine whether the Bishop in being alwayâ—… â—…ourted or the Presbyter in being alwayes rail'd 〈◊〉 But in good earnest I think Mr. Calvin hath the better of it For though an ill man cannot by â—…rasing confer honour nor by reproaching fix 〈◊〉 ignominy and so they may seem on equal terms yet there is more in it for at the same time that we may imagine what is said by such an Author to be false we conceive the contrary to be â—…rue What he saith of him indeed in this place did not come very well in for Calvin writ nothing against Bishop Bramhal and therefore here it amounts to no more than that his Spirit forsooth had propagated an original Waspishness and salse Orthodoxy amongst all his Followers But if you look in other pages of his Book and particularly Pag. 663. of his Defence you never saw such a Scar-crow as he makes him There sprang up a mighty Bramble on the South-side the Lake Lemane that such is the rankness of the soil spread and flourished with such a sudden growth that partly by the industry of his Agents abroad and partly by its own indefatigable pains and pragmaticalness it quite over-ran the whole Reformation You must conceive that Mr. Bayes was all this while in an Extasy in Dodona's Grove or else here is strange work worse than explicating a Post or examining a Pillar A Bramble that had Agents abroad and it self an indefatigable Bramble But straight our Bramble is transformed to a Man and he makes a Chair of Infallibility for himself out of his own Bramble Timber Yet all this while we know not his Name One would suspect it might be a Bishop Bramble But then he made himself both Pope and Emperor too of the greatest part of the Reformed World How near does this come to his commendation of Bishop Bramhal before For our Author seems copious but is indeed very poor of expression and as smiling and frowning are performed in the face with the same muscles very little altered so the changing of a line or two in Mr. Bayes at any time will make the same thing serve for a Panegyrick or a Philippick But what do you think of this Man Could Mistriss Mopsa her self have furnished you with a more pleasant and worshipful Tale It wants nothing of perfection but that it doth not begin with Once upon a time Which Master Bayes according to his Accuracy if he had thought on 't would never have omitted Yet some Critical People who will exact Truth in Falshood and tax up an old-wife's Fable to the punctuality of History where blaming him t'other day for placing this Bramble on the South-side of the Lake Lemanâ—… I said it was well and wisely done that he chose a South Sun for the better and more sudden growth of such a Fruit-Tree Ay said they but he means Calvin by the Bram ble and the rank Soyl on the South-side the Lake Lemane is the City of Geneva situate as he would have it on the South-side of that Lake Now it is strange that he having travelled so well should not have observed that the Lake lies East and West and that Geneva is built at the West end of it Pisâ—… said I that 's no such great matter and as Master Bayes hath it upon another occasion Whether it be so or no the fortunes of Caesar and the Roman Empire are not concerned in 't One of the Company would not let that pass but told us if we look'd in Caesar's Commentaries we should find their fortunes were concern'd for it was the Helvetian Passage and many mistakes might have risen in the marching of the Army Why then replied I again Whether it be East West North or South there is neither Vice nor Idolatry in it and the Ecclesiastical Politician may command you to believe it and you are bound to acquiesce in his Judgment whatsoever may be your private Opinion Another to continue the mirth answered That yet there might â—…e some Religious Consideration in building a Town East and West or North and South and 't was not 〈◊〉 thing so indifferent as men thought it but because in the Church of England where the Table is set Altar wise the Minister is nevertheless obliged to stand at the North-end though it be the North-end of the Table it was fit to place the Geneva Presbyter in diametrical opposition to him upon the South-side of the Lake But this we all took for a cold conceir and not enough matured I that was still upon the doubtful and excusing part said That to give the right situation of a Town it was necessary first to know in what position the Gentleman's head then was when he made his Obseavation and that might cause a great diversity as much as this came to Yes replyed my next neighbour or perhaps some roguing Boy that managed the Puppets turned the City wrong and so disoccidented our Geographer It was grown almost as good as a Play among us and at last they all concluded that Geneva had sold Mr. Bayes a Bargain as the Moon serv'd the Earth in the Rehearsal and in good sooth had turn'd her breech on him But this I doubt not Mr. Bayes will bring himself off with Honour but that which sticks with me is that our Author having undertaken to make Calvin and Geneva ridicule hath not pursued it to so high a point as the Subject would have afforded First he might have taken the name of the beast Calvinus and of that have given the Anagram Lucianus Next I would have turn'd him inside outward and have made him Usinulca That was a good 〈◊〉 name to have frighted Children with Then he should have been a Bramâ—… â—…till av an indefatigable Bramble too but after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have continued for in such a Book a passage in a Play is clear gain and a 〈◊〉 loss if omitted and upon that Bramble Reasons grewâ—…s plentiful as Black-berries but both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they stain'd all the white Aprons so that there was no getting of it out And then to make a fuller description of the place he should have added That near to the City of roaring Lions there was a Lake and that Lake was all of Brimstone but stored with over-grown Trouts which Trouts spawned Presbyterians and those spawned the Millecantons of all other Fanaticks That this Shoal of Presbyterians Landed at Geneva and devoured all the Bishops
his Madness hath formed it self into a perfect Lycanthropy He doth so severely believe himself to be a Wolf that his speech is all turn'd into howling yelling and barking and if there were any Sheep here you should see him pull out their throats and suck the blood Alas that a sweet Gentleman and so hopeful should miscarry for want of Cattle here you find him raving now against all the Calvinists of England and worrying the whole Flock of them For how can they hope to escape his chaps and his paws better than those of Germany and Geneva of which he is so hungry that he hath scratch'd up even their dead bodies out of their Graves to prey upon And yet this is nothing if you saw him in the height of his fits but he hath so beaten and spent himself before that he is out of breath at present and though you may discover the same fury yet it wants of the same vigor But however you see enough of him my Masters to make you beware I hope of valuing too high and trusting too far to your own Abilities It were a wild thing for me to Squire it aster this Knight and accomprny him here through all his Extravagancies against our Calvinists You find nothing but Orthodoxy Systems and Syntagms 〈◊〉 Theology Subtilties and 〈◊〉 Demosthenes Tankard-bearers 〈◊〉 Controversial General terms without foundation or reason assigned That they seem lik words of Cabal and have no significance till they be decipe 'd Or you would think he were playing at Substantives and Adjâ—…ctives And all that rationally can be gathered from what he saith is that the Man is mad But if you would supply his meaning with â—…our imagination as if he spoke sense and to some determinate purpose it is very strange that conceiving himself to be the Champion of the Church of England he should bid such a general defiance to the Calvinists For he knows or perhaps I may better say he did know before this Phrensy had subverted both his Understanding and Memory that most of our ancient and many of the later Bishops nearer our times did both hold and maintain those Doctrines which he traduces under that by-word And the contrary Opinions were even in Bishop Prideaux's time accounted so novel that being then publick Professor of Divinity he thought fit to tax Doctor Heylin at the Commencement for his new fangled Divinity Cujus saith he in the very words of promotion te Doctorem Creo. He knew likewise that of our present Bishops though one had leisure formerly to write a Rationale of the Ceremonies and Lituygie and another a Treatise of the Holiness of Lent yet that most of them and 't is to be supposed all have studied other Contoversies and at another rate than Mr. Bayes his Lead can fathom And as I know none of them that hath published any Treatise against the Calvinian tenets so I have the Honour to be acquainted with some of them who are in tirely of that judgment and differ nothing but as of good reason in the point of 〈◊〉 And as for that Bishop Bramhal page 61. hath proved that Calvin himself was of the Episcopal perswasion So that I see no reason why Mr. Bayes should here and every where be such an enemy to Controversial skill or the Calvinists But I perceive 't is for Bishop Bramhall's sake here that all the Tribe must suffer This Bayes is not a good Dog for he runs at a whole flock of Sheep when Mr. B. was the Deer whom he had in view from the beginning However having foil'd himself so long with every thing he meets after him now he goes and will never leave till he hath run him down Poor Mr. B. I find that when he was a Boy he pluck'd Bishop Bramhall's Sloes and eat his 〈◊〉 and now when he is as superannuated as the Bishop's book he must be whipp'd 〈◊〉 there is no remedy And yet I have heard and Mr. Bayes himself seems to intimate as much that how-ever he might in his younger years have mistaken yet that even as early as Bishop Bramhall's Discourse he began to retract and that as for all his sins against the Church of England he hath in fome laâ—…We Treatises cryed Peccavy with a Witness But Mr. Bayes doth not this now look like Sorcery and Extortion which of all crimes you purge your self from so often without an Accuser For first whereâ—… the old Bishop was at rest and had under his last Pillow laid by all cares and contests of this lower World you by your Necromancy have disturb'd him and rais'd his Ghost to persecute and haunt Mr. B. whom doubtless at his death he had pardoned But if you called him upto â—…sk some Questions too concerning your Ecclesiastical Policy as I am apt to suppose I doubt you had no better Answer than in the Song Art thou forlorn of God and com'st to me What can I tell thee then but miserie And then as for Extortion who but such an Hebrew Jew as you would after an honest man had made so full and voluntary Restitution not yet have been satisfied without so many Pounds of his flesh over into the bargain Though J. O. be in a desperate condition yet methinks Mr. B. not being past Grace should not neither have been past Mercy Are there no terms of Pradon Mr. Bayes is there no time for 〈◊〉 but after so ample a confeffion as he hath made must he now be hang'd too to make good the Proverb It puts me in mind of a Story in the time of the Guelphs and Ghibilines whom I perceive Mr. Bays hath heard of of They were two Factions in Italy of which the Gâ—…elphs were for the Pope and the Ghibilines 〈◊〉 the Emperour and these were for many years carried on and somented with much animosity â—…o the great disturbance of Christendome Which of these two were the Nonconformists in those days I can no more determine than which of our Parties here at home is now Schismatical But so 〈◊〉 they were to one another that the Historian said they took care to differ in the least circumstances of any humane action and as those that have the Masons Word secretly discern one another so in the peeling or cutting but of an Onion a Guâ—…lp and vice versa would at first sight have distinguished a Ghibiline Now one of this latter sort coming at Rome to Confession upon Ashwednesday the Pope or the Penitentiary sprinkling Ashes on the Man's head with the usual ceremony instead of pronouncing Memento homo quod Cinis es in Cinerem revertêris changed it to Memento homo quod Ghibilinus es c And even thus it fares with Mr. B. who though he should creep on his knees up the whole Stairs of Scholastick 〈◊〉 I am confident neither he nor any of his Party shall by Mr. Bayes his good will ever be absolved And therefore truly if I were in Mr. B's case if I could not have my Confession
back again yet it should be a warning unto me not without better grounds to be so coming and so good natured for the future But whatever he do I hope others will consider what ufage they are like to find at Mr. Bayes hand and not suffer themselves by the touch of his Penitential Rod to be transformed into Beasts even into 〈◊〉 as here he hath done with Mr. B. I have in deed wondered often at this Bayes his insolence who summons in all the World and preacheth up only this Repentance and so frequently in his Books he calls for Testimonies Signal Marks Publick Acknowledgment Satisfaction Recantation and I know not what He that hath made the passage to Heaven so easie that one may fly ehither without Grace as Gonzales to the Moon only by help of his Gansas he that hath 〈◊〉 its narrow paths from those Labyrinths which J. O. and Mr. B. have planted this Overseer of God's High-wayes if I may with reverence speak it who hath paved a broad Caâ—…sway with Moral Virtue thorow his Kingdom he methinks should not have made the process of Loyalty more difficult than that of Salvation What Signal Marks what Testimonies would he have of this Conversion Every man cannot as he hath done write an Ecclesiastical Policy a Defence a Preface and some if they could would not do it after his manner least instead of obliging thereby the King and the Church it should be a Testimony to the contrary Neither unless men have better Principles of Allegiance at home are they likely to be reduced by Mr. Bayes his way of perswasion He is the first Minister of the Gospel that ever had it in his Commission to rail at all Nations And though it hath been long practised I never observed any great success by reviling men into Conformity I have heard that Charms may even envite the Moon out of Heaven but I never could see her moved by the Râ—…etorick of barking I think it ought to be highly penal for any man ro impose other conditions upon his Majesties good Subjects than the King expects or the Law requires When you have done all you must yet appear before Mr. Bayes his Tribunal and he hath a new Test yet to put you to I must confess at this rate the Nonconformists deserve some Compassion that after they have done or suffered legally and to the utmost they must still be subjected to the wâ—…nd of a Verger or to the wanton lash of every Pedant that they must run the 〈◊〉 or down with their breeches as 〈◊〉 as he wants the prospect of a more pleasing Nudidity But I think they may chuse whether they will submit or no to his Jurisdiction Let them but as I hope they do fear God honour the King preserve their Consciences follow their Trades and look to their Chimnies and they need not fear Mr Bayes and all his Malice But after he hath sufficiently insulted over Mr. B's ignorance and vanity with other Complements of the like nature in recompence of that candor and civility which he acknowledges him ta have now learnt towards Church of England Mr. Bayes forgeting what had past long since betwixt him and the Bookseller saith in excuse of his severity that this Treatise was not published to impair Mr. B's esteem in the least but for a correction of his scribling humour and to warn their Rat-Divines that are perpetually nibling and gnauing other mens Writings Now I must confess Mr. Bayes this is a very handsome Welcome to Mr. B. that was come so far to see you and doutless upon this encouragement he will visit you often This is an admirable dexterity our Author hath I wish I could learn it to correct a man's scribling humour without impairing in the least his reputation He is as courteous as Lightning and can melt the Sword without ever hurting the Scabbard But as for their Rat-Divines I wonder they are not all poysoned with nibling at his Writings he hath strewed so much Arsenick in every leaf But however methinks he should not not have grudged them so slender a sustenance For though there was a Sow in Arcadia so fat and insensible that she suffered a Rats nest in her buttock and they had both Dyet and Lodging in the same Gammon yet it is not every Rats good fortune to be so well provided And for Push-pinDivinity I confess it is a new term of Art I shall henceforward take notice of it but I am afraid in general it doth not tend much to the reputation of the Faculty And now though he told us at the beginning that the Bookseller was the main reason of publishing this Book of the Bishop and his own Preface he tels us that the main reason of its publication was to give some check to their present disingenuity that is to say to that of J. O And J. O. be it at present He is come so much nearer however to the Truth though we shall find ere we have done that there is still a mainer reason Wnen I first took notice of this misunderstanding betwixt Mr. Bayes and J. O I considered whether it were not Execution day with the Latine Alphabet whether all the Letters were not to suffer in the same manner except C. only which having been the mark of Condemnation might have a pardon to serve for the Executioner I began to repent of my Undertaking being afraid that the Quarrel was with the wole Cris-CrosRow and that we must fight it out through all the Squadrons of the Vowels the Mutes the Semi-vowels and the Liquids I foresaw a sore and endless labour and a battle the longest that ever was read of being probable to continue as long as one Letter was left alive or there were any use of Reading Therefore to spare mine own pains and prevent Ink-shed I was advising the Letters to go before Mr. Bales or any other his Majesties Justices of the Peace to swear that they were in danger of their Lives and desire that Mr Bayes might be bound to the Good-behaviour But after this I had another Phancy and that not altogether unreasonable that Mr. Bayes had only for health and exercise-sake drawn J. O. by chance out of the number of the rest to try how he could rail at a Letter and that he might be well in breath upon any occasion of greater consequence For how perfect soever a man may have been in any Science yet without continual practice he will find a sensible decay of his faculty Hence also and upon the same natural ground it is the wisdom of Cats to whet their Claws against the Chairs and Hangings in mediation of the next Râ—…t they are to encounter And I am confident that Mr. Bayes by this way hath brought himself into so good railing case that pick what Letter you will out of the Alphabet he is able to write an Epistle upon it of 723 pages I have now told them right to the Author of the Friendly
be he did write that before he was come to full maturity of judgement and some other things I do not say after he was superannuated but without that due deliberation which he useth at other times wherein a man may desire Mr. Bayes in Mr. Ba yes Or it it may be some things may be changed in his Book as I have been told by one os his nearest friends and that we shall shortly see a more Authentick Edition of all his Works This is certain that some of those things which I dislike were not his own judgment after he was come to maturity in Theological matter And had Mr. Bayes as he ought to have done carryed his Book to any os the present Bishops or their Chaplains for a Licence to print it I cannot conceive that he could have obtained it in better terms than what I have collected out of the 108. page of his Answerer Notwithstanding the old Pleas of the Jus Divinum of Episcopacy of Example and Direction Apostolical of a Parity of Reason between the condition of the Church whilst under Extraordinary Officers and whilst under Ordinary of the power of the Church to appoint Ceremonies for Decency and Order of the patern of the Churches of old all which under Protestation are reserved till the first oportunity I have upon reading of this Book found that it may be of use 〈◊〉 the present 〈◊〉 of Affairs and therefore let it be printed And as I think he hath disobliged the Clergy of England in this matter so I believe the favour that he doth his Majesty is not eqvivalent to that damage For that I may with Mr. Bayes his leave prophane Ben John son though the gravest Divines should be his Flatâ—…erers he hath a very quick sense shall I prophane Horace too in the same period Hunc male si palpere 〈◊〉 undique tutus If one stroke him ilfavouredly he hath a terrible way of kicking and will fling you to the Stable-door but is himself safe on every side He knows it's all but that you may get into the Saddle again and that the Priest may ride him though it be to a Precipiece He therefore contents himself with the Power that he hath inherited from his Royal Progenitors Kings and Queens of England and as it is declared by Parliament and is not to be trepann'd into another kind of Tenure of Dominion to be held at Mr. Bayes his pleasure and depend upon the strength only of his Argument But that I may not offend in Latin too frequently he considers that by not assumining a Deity to himself he becomes secure and worthy of his Government There are lightly about the Courts of Princes a sort of Projectors for Concealed Lands to which they entitle the King to begg them for themselves and yet generally they get not much by it but are exceeding vexatious to the Subject And even such an one is this Bayes with his Project of a Concealed Power that most Princes as ee saith have not yet rightly understood but whereof the King is so little enamour'd that I am confident were it not for prolling and momolesting the People his Majâ—…sty would give Mr. Bayes the Patent sor it and let him make his best on 't after he hath paid the Fees to my Lord Keeper But one thing I must confess is very pleasant and he hath past an high Complement upon his Majesty in it that he may if he please reserve the Priest-hood and the Exercise of it to himself Now this iudeed is surprâ—…sing but this only troubles me how his Majesty would look in all the Sacerdotal habiliments and the Pontifical Wardrobe I am asraid the King would find himself incommoded with all that furniture upon his back and would scarce reconcile himself to wear even the Lawn-sleeves and the Surplice But what even Charles the fifth as I have rerd was at his Inauguration by the Pope content to be vested according to the Roman Ceremonial in the habit of a Deacon and a man would not scruple too much the formality of the dress in order to Empire But one thing I douâ—…t Mr Bayes did not well consider that if the King may discharge the Function of the Prest-hood he may too and 't is all the reason in the world assume the Revenue It would be the best Subsidy that ever was voluntarily given by the Clergy But truly otherwise I do not see but that the King does lead a more unblamable Conuersation and takes more care of Souls than many of them and understands their office much better and deserves something already sor the pains he hath taken The next is Publick Conscience For as to mens private Consciences he hath made them very inconsiderable and reading what he saith of them with some attention I only found this new and important Discovery and great Priviledge of Christian Liberty thar Thought is free We are howexer obliged to him for that seeing by consequence we think of him what we pleaser And thii he saith a man may assert against all the powers of the Earth and indeed with much reason and to great purpose seeing as he also alledges the Civil Power is so far srom doing violence to that liberty that it never can But yet if the freedom of thoughts be in not lying open to discovery there have been wayes of compelling men to discover them or if the freedom consist in retaining their judgments when so manifested that also hath been made penal And I doubt not but beside Oaths and Renunciations and Assents and Consents Mr. Bayes if he were searched hath twenty other tests and picklocks in his pocket Would Mr. Bayes then perswade men to assert this against all the Powers of the Earth I would ask in what manner To say the truth I do not like him and would wish the Nonconformists to be upon their guard lest he trapan them first by this means into a Plot and then preach and so hang them If Mr. Bayes meant otherwise in this matter I confess my stupidity and the fault is most his own who should have writ to the capacity of vulgar Readâ—…rs He cuts indeed and saulters in this discourse which is no good sign perswading men that they may and ought to practise against their Consciences where the Commands of the Magistrate intervenes None of them denies that it is their duty where their Judgments or Consciences cannot comply with what is injoyned that they ought in obedience patiently to suffer but further they have not learned I dare say that the Casual Divinity of the Jesuites is all thorow as Orthodox as this Maxime of our Authors and as the Opinion is brutish so the Consequences are Develish To make it therefore go down more glibly he saith that ' t is better to err with Authority than to he in the right against it in all doubtful disputable cases because the great duty of Obedience outweighs the danger of a little error and tittle it is if it
spirits and weakens the vigor of any Nation at once indisposing them for war and rendring them uncapable of Peace For if they escape intestine troubles which would certainly follow when they had left themselves by their prodigality or intemperance no other means of subsistence but by preying upon one another then must they either to get a maintenance pick a quarrel with some other Nation wherein they are sure to be worsted or else which more frequently happens some neighbouring Prince that understands Government takes them at the advantage and if they do not like ripe Fruit fall into his lap 't is but shaking the Tree once or twice and he is sure of them Where the Horses are like those of the Sybarites taught to dance the Enemy need only learn the Tune and bring the Fiddles But therefore as far as I understand his Majesty to obviate and prevent these inconveniencies in his Kingdoms hath on the one hand never refused a just War that so he might take down our Grease and Luxury and keep the English Courage in breath and exercise and on the other though himself most constantly addicted to the Church of England hath thought fit to grant some liberty to all other Sober People and longer than the are soy God forbid they should have it thereby to give more temper ond allay to the commhn end notorious Debauchery But Mr. Bayes nevertheless is for his fifth Persecution recommended and he does it to the purpose Julian himself who I think was first a Reader and held forth in the Christian Churches before he turnd Apostate and then Persecutor could not have outdone him either in Irony or Cruelty Only it is God's mercy that Mr. Bayes is not Emperor You have seen how he inveighs against Trade That whilst mens Consciences are acted by such peevish and ungovernable Principles to erect Trading Combinations is but to build so many Nests of Faction and Sedition Lay up your Ships my Maers set Bills on your Shop-doors shut up the Custom-House and why not ajourn the Term mure up Westminster-hall leave Plowing and Sowing and keep a dismal Holy-day through the Nation for Mr. Bayes is out of humour But I assure you it is no jesting matter For he hath in one place taken a List of the Fanatick Ministers whom he recons to be but a hundrâ—…d Systematical Divines though I believe the Bartlemew-Register or the March-Licenses would make them about an hundred and three or an hundred and four or so But this is but for rounder number and breaks no square And then for their People either they live in greater Societies of men he means the City of London and the other Cities and Towns-Corporate but expresses it so to prevent some inconvenience that might betide him but there their noise is greater than their number Or else in Country Towns and Villages where they arise not above the proportion of one to twenty It were not unwisely done indeed if he could perswade the the Magistrate that all the Fanaticks have but one neck so that he might cut off Nonconformity at one blow I suppose the Nonconformists value themselves though upon their Conscience and not their Numbers but they would do well to be watchful lest he have taken a List of their Names as well as their Number and have set Crosses upon all their Doors against there should be occasion But till that happy juncture when Mr. Bays shall be avenged of his new Enemies the wealthy Fanaticks which is soon done too for he saith there are but few of them men of Estates or Interest he is-contented that they should only be exposed they are his own expressions to the Pillories Whipping-posts Galleys Rods and Axes and moreover and above to all other Punishments whatsoever provided they be of a severer nature than those that are inflicted on men for their immoralities O more than human Clemency I suppose the Division betwixt Immoralities and Conscience is universal and whatsoever is wicked or penal is comprehended within their Territories So that although a man should be guilty of all thâ—…se heinous enormities which are not to be named among Christians beside all lesser Peccadillo's expresly against the ten Commandments or such other part of the Divine Law as shall be of the Magistrates making he shall be in a better condition and more gently handled thaâ—… a well-meaning Zelot For this is the man that Mr. Bayes saith is of all villains the most dangerous even more dangerous it seâ—…ms than a malicious and â—…meaning Zelot this is he whom in all Kingdoms where Government is rightly understood he would have â—…demned to the Galleys for his mistastakes and abuses of Religion Although the other punishments are more severe yet this being more new and unacquainted I cannot pass it by without some reflection For I considered what Princes make use of Galleys The first that occurred to me was the Turk who according to Bayes his maxim hath established Mahometism among his Subjects as the Religion that he apprehends most advantagious to publick peace and settlement Now in his Empire the Christians only are guilty of those Religious mistakâ—…s that tend to the subversion of Mahometism So that he understands Government rightly in chaining the Christians to the Car. But then in Christendom all that I could think of were the King of France the King of Spain the Knights of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and the rest of the Italian 〈◊〉 And these all have bound their Subjects to the Romish Religion as most advantagious But these people their Gallies with Immoral Fellows and Debauchees whereas the Protestants being their Fanaticks and mistakers in Religion should have been their Ciurma But 't is to be hoped these Princes will take advice and understand it better for the future And then at last I remembred that his Majesty too 〈◊〉 one Gally lately built but I dare say it is not with that intention and our Panaticks though few are so many that one will not serve But therefore if Mr. Bayes and his Partners would be at the charge to build the King a whole Squadron for this use I know not but it might 〈◊〉 very well for we delight in Novelties and 〈◊〉 would be a singular obligation to Sir John 〈◊〉 Dutel who might have some pretence to be 〈◊〉 neral of his Majesties 〈◊〉 But so much 〈◊〉 that Yet in the mean time I cannot but 〈◊〉 Mr. Bayes his courage who knowing how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Villain a well-meaning Zelot is and 〈◊〉 ing calculated to a man how many of them there 〈◊〉 in the whole Nation yet dares thus openly stimulate the Magistrate against them and talk of nothing less but much more than Pillories whipping-posts Galleys and Axes in this manner It is sure some sign and if he knew not so much he would scarce adventure of the peaceableness of their Principles and of that restraint under which their tender Consciences hold them when nevertheless he may walk night and and day in
Superiority over other men further than positive Order agreed upon among Christians hath preâ—…cribed Time hath taken leave sometimes to fix this name of CONVENTICLES upon good and honest Meetings Though open Assemblies are required yet at all times while men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pious all Meetings of men for mutual help of 〈◊〉 and Devotion wheresoever and by whomsoever celebrated where permitted without exception In times of manifest Corruption and Perseru-tion wherein Religious Assembling is dangerous Private Meetings howsoever besides Publicâ—… Order are not onely lawful but they are of necessity and duty All piâ—…us Assemblies in times of Persecution and Corruption howsoever practised are indeed or rather alone the Lawful Congregations and Publick Assâ—…mblies though according to form of Law are indeed nothing else but RIOTS and CONVENTICLES if they be stained with Corruption and Superstition Do you not see now Mr. Bays that you needed not have gone so for a word when you might have had it in the Neighbourhood If there be any Coherence leâ—…t in yâ—…ur Scull you canâ—… but perceive that I have brought you Authority eâ—… to prâ—…ve that Schism for the reason we may discourse another time do's at least rhime to Ism. But you have a peculiar delight and selicity which no man 〈◊〉 you in Scripture-Drollery â—…othing less 〈◊〉 taste to your Palat whereaâ—… otherwise you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so far in Italy that you could not escape the Tiâ—…les of some Books which would have served your turn as well Caâ—…dinalism Nâ—…potism Putanism if you were in a Parox 〈◊〉 of the Ism's When I had â—…rit this and undergone so grateful a P. 〈◊〉 for no less than that I had transcribed beâ—…ore cut of â—…ur Author I could not upon compariug them both together but reflect most seriously upon the difference of their two ways of Discoursing I could not but admire that Majesty and Beauty which sits upon the forehead of masculine Truth and generous Honesty but no less detest the Deformity of falshood disguised in all its Ornaments How much another thing it is to hear him speak that hath cleared himself from forth and growns and who suffers neither Sloth nor Fear nor Ambition nor any other tempting Spirit of that nature to abuse him from one who as Mr. Hales expresseth it makes Christianity lackque to Ambition How wretchedly the one to uphold his Fiction must incite Princes to Persecution and Tyranny degrade Grace to Morality debauch Conscience against its own Principles distort and mis-interpret the Scripture fill the world with Blood Execution aâ—…d Massacre while the other needs and requires no more but a peaceable and unprejudicate Soul and the native simplicity of a Christian-spirit And me thinks if our Author had any spark of Vertue unextinguished he should upon considering these together retire into his Closet and there lament and pine away for his desperate follie for the disgrace he hath as far as in him is brought upon the Church of England by such an undertaking and for the eternal shame to which he has hereby coudemn'd his own memory I ask you heartily pardon Mr. Bayes for treating you against Decorum here with so much gravity 'T is possible I may not trouble you above once or twice more in the like nature but so often at least I hope one may in the writing of a whole Book have leave to be serious Your next Flower and that indeed is a sweet one Dear Heart how could I hug and kiss thee for all this Love and Sweetness Fy â—…y Mr. Bayes Is this the Language of a Divine and to be used as you ometimes express it in the faâ—… of the Sun Who can escape from thinking that you are adream'd of your Comfortable Importance These are as the Moral Saâ—… calls them in the claenl est manner the thing would bare Words left betwixt the Sheets Some body might take it ill that you should misapply your Courtship to an Enemy But in the Roman Empire it was the priviledge of the Hangman to deflour a Virgin before Execution But sweet Mr. Bayes for I know you do nothing without a precedent of some of the greatest wits of the Nation whose example had you for this seeming Transport of a gentler Passion Then comes Wellfare poor Macedo for a modest Fool. This I know is matter of Gazette which is as Canonical as Ecclisiastical Policy Therefore I have the less to say to 't Onely I could wish that there were some severer Laws against such Villains who raise so false and scandalous reports of worthy Gentlemen And that men might not be suffered to walk the streets in so confident a garb who commit those Assassinates upon the reputation of deserving persons Here follows a sore Charge that the Answerer had without any provocation in a publick and solemn way undertakâ—…n the Dâ—…fence of the Fanatick Cause Here indeed Mr. Bayes You have reason and you might have had as just a quarrel against whosoever had undertaken it For your design and hope was from the beginning that no man would have aâ—…swered you in a publick and solemn way and nothing would vex a. wise man as you are more than to have his intention and Counsel frustrated When you have rang'd all your forces in battel when you have plac'd your Canon when you have sounded a charge and given the word to fall on upon the whole Party if you could then perswade every particular person of 'm that you gave him no Provocation I confess Mr. Bayes this were an excellent and a new way of your inventing to conquer single 't is your Moral Vertue whole Armies And so the admiring Drâ—…ve might stand gaping till one by one you had cut aâ—…l their throats But 〈◊〉 Bayes I cannot discern but that you gave him as much Provocation in your first Book as he has you in his Evangelical Love Church Peace and Unity which is the pretence of your issuing this Preface For having for your Dear sake beside many other troubles that I have undertaken without your giving me any Provoration sought out and perused that Book too I do not find you any where personally concern'd but as you have it seems upon some conviction assumed to your self some vices or errours against which he speaks in general and with some modesty But for the rest you say upon full perusal you find not one Syllable to the purpose beside a perpetual Repetition of the old out-worn story of Unscriptural Ceremonies and some frequent whinings and sometimes â—…avings c. Now to see the dulness of some mens Capacities above others I upon this occasion begun I know not how it came at p. 127. And thence read on to the end of his Book And from thence I turn'd to the beginning and continued to p. 127. and could not all along observe any thing but what was very pertinent to the matter in hand But this is your way of excusing your self from replying to things that yet you will be medling with and
nibling at and 't is besides a pretty knack the Non-conformists have it not alone of frighting or discouraging sober people from reading those dangerous Treaâ—…ises which might contribute to their better iâ—…formation I cannot but observe Mr. Bayes this admirable way like fat Sir John Falstasse's singular dexterity in sinking that you have of answering whole Books or Discourses how â—…ithy and knotty soever in a line or two nay sometimes with a word So it fares with this Bâ—…ok of the Answerers So with a Book or Discourse of his I know not of the Morality of the Lords Day which is answered by a Septonary Portion in the Hebdomadal Revolution So whether Book or Discourse 〈◊〉 also know not of the Self-evidâ—…ncing light of the Scripture where Bayes â—…ffers and iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strange to produce as good proofs for it out of 〈◊〉 Alcoran So I show'd you where he answers Deâ—… with 〈◊〉 And one thing more comes into myâ—…mind where after he has blunder'd a great while to bring himself off the Magistrates exercisâ—…ng the Pristhâ—…od in his â—…wn person he concludes wiâ—…h an irresistible defence against his Answerer This is suitable to the Genius of his iâ—…genuity and betraies him as â—…uch as the word INTANGLEMENT â—…hich it the Shiboleth of all his Writings So he defeats all the gross bodies of Orthodoxy with calling them Sysâ—…emes and Syntagmes So you know he answers all the Controversial Books of the Calvinists that ever have been written with the Tale of Robin Hood and the mighâ—…y Bramble on the South-side of the Lake Lâ—…man Mr. Bayâ—…s You cannot enough esteem and esteem this Faculty For next to your single beating whole Aâ—…mies I do â—…ot know any Virtue that you have need of so often or that will upon trial be found more useful And to this succeeds another Flower I am sure though I can scarce smell â—…ut the sense of it But it is Printed in a distinct Character and that is always a cerâ—…ain sign of a Flower For our Book-sellers have many Arts to make us yield to their importunity and among the rest they promise us 〈◊〉 at it sâ—…all be Printed in fine Paper aâ—…d in a very large and fair Letâ—…er that it shall be very well examined that there be no Errata that wheresoever there is a pretty Conceit it shall be marked out in another Character But my greatest care was that when I quoted aâ—…y Sertenâ—…e or word of our Author's it might be so discernable â—…lest I should go for a Plagiary And I am much offended to see that in several places he hath not kept â—…ouch with me The Word of Mr. Payes's that he has here made notorious is Categoricalness and I obsâ—…rve that wheresoever there comes a word of that termir 〈◊〉 shows it the â—…ame honour as if he had a mind to make Bayes a Collar of Nâ—…sses What the mystery is I cannot so easily imagine no more than of Shiboleth and Intanglâ—…ment But I doubt Mr. Bayes is sick of mary complicated Diseases or to keep to our â—…hime Sicknesses He is troubled â—…ot oâ—…ly with the Ismes but the Nesses He might if he had pleased here tâ—…o to have show'd his wit as he did in the others and have told us of Sheernâ—…ss Dorgioness Innerness aâ—…d Cathness But he might very well have â—…mitted it in this place knowing how well he had acquitteed himself in another and out of the Scripture too which gives his wit the highest relish 'T is p. 72. of his first Book where to prove that the fruitâ—… of the Spirit are â—…o more than Morality he quotes Saint Paul Gal. 5. â—…2 Where the Apostle enumerates them Love Joy Peace Patience Gentleness Goodness Faith Meâ—…kness and Tâ—…mperance but our Author traâ—…slates Joy to Chearfulness Peace to Peaceablenâ—…ss faith to faithfulness What Ignorance or ratâ—…er what Forgery is this of Scripture Religioâ—… Who is there of the Systematical German Geneva Orthodox Divines but could have taught him better who is there of the Sober Intelligent Episcepal Divines of the Church of England but would abâ—…or this Interpretation Yet when his Answerer I see â—…bjects this to him p. 200. Bayes like a dexterous Schâ—…lastical Disputant it being told him That Joy is not â—…ress but that Spiritual Joy which is unspeakable that Peace is not Peaceableâ—…ess in his Sense but that Peace of God which through Jesus Christ is wrought in the bearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost and that Fâ—…ith in God is there intended â—…ot faithfulness in our Duties Trusts or â—…ffices Wâ—…at does he doe p. 337. He very ingenuâ—…usly and wisely when he is to answer quite forgets that Faith was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and having supprest that as to the rest he wipes his Mâ—…uth and rubs his Forehead and saith the Cavil is but a little one and the Fortune of Caeâ—…ar and the Roman Empire depend â—…ot upon it and therâ—…fore be will not trouble the Reader with a Critical Account of the reason of his Translation No don't Mr. Bayes 'T is very weâ—…l let it alone But though not the Fortunes of Caesar and the Roman Empire I doubt there is something more depends upon it if it be matter of Salvation And I am afraid besides that there may a curse too belong to him who shall knowingly add or diminish in the Scripture Do you think Bâ—…shop Bramhall himself if he had seen this could have abstained p. 117. before quoted from telling our Author That the promisâ—…uous Licence given to people qualified or unqualifiâ—…d not only to read but to interpret the Scriptures according to their private spirits or â—…articular fancies without regard either to the Analâ—…gy of Faith which they understand not or to the Intâ—…rpretation of the Doctors of former Ages is more prejuâ—…icial I might bettâ—…r say pernicious both to whole Soâ—… than the over-rigorous restraint of the Romanists The next is a piece of Mirth on occasion of some discourse of the Anâ—…werers about the Morality of the the Lords-day Where it seems he useth some hard words which I am naturally an enemy to but might be done of purpose to keep the Coâ—…roversy from the white-Aproâ—…s within the white Surplices to be more learnedly debated But this fares no better than all the rest There is no kind of Morality I see but Rayâ—…s will try to debauch it Oh what â—…difying Doctrine saith be is this to the Whitâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—…d doubtlâ—…ss thâ—…y would with the Jews soâ—…r roast themselves than a small joint of 〈◊〉 upon the Sacred Day of Rest. Now I do not neither I believe does Bayes himself know any of them that are thus superstitious So that Mr. Bayes might if he had pleased have spared his jibing â—…t that day which hath mâ—…re sacredness in it by far than many nay than any of those things he pleads for But when men are once Adepti and have attain'd Bayes his height and Divinity at least is rightly understood they have a Priviledge it seems not only to play and
make merry on the Sabbath day but with it After this I walked a great way through bushes and brambles before I could find another Flower but then I met with two upon one stalk on occasion of hiâ—… Answers having said someting of the day of Judgment when men should be accountable Ob saith he We shall be sure to be accounted with at the day of Judgment and again Ah sweet day when these people of God shall once for all to their unspeakable Comfort and support wreak their eternal Revenge upon their reprobate Enemies This puts me in mind of another expression of our Authors â—…luding too this way 'T is an easie matter by this dancing and capering humour to perpetuate all the Controversies in the world how plainly soever determinable to the coming of Elias and after this rate shall the Barbers bason remain Mambrino's helmet and the Asses Pannel a furniture for the Great Horse till the day of Judgment Now good Mr. Bayes I am one that desire to be very well resolved in these things and though not much indeed yet I attribute something to your judgment Pray tell us in good earnest what you think of these things that we may know how to take our measure of living accordingly For â—…f indeed there be no Judgment no account for what is done here below I have lost a greâ—…t deal of precious time that I might have injoyed in one of the fruits of youâ—… spirit that is Chearfuâ—…ss How many good â—…ests have I balk'd even in writing this book lest I should be brought to answer for every profane and idle word How frequent opportunities have I mist in my life of geâ—…iality and pleasure and fulfilling Nature in all its ends How have you frighted the Magistrate in vain from exercising hiâ—… uncontrolable Ecclesiastical Power with the fear of an after-reckoning to God Almighty And how have you p. 238. defeated the obligatory force of all his Laws and set his Subjects at liberty from all obligations to the duty of Obedience for they lye under no Obligation you say then but of Prudence and Self-interest But unless there hath been some errour in our education and we have been seasoned with ill Books at first so that we can never lose the impression there is some such matter and the Governour had reason when he trembled to hear Saint Paul discoursing of that Subject The Fanatical Book of Martyrs for we will not with some call the Bible so tellâ—… us some old Stories of persons that have been cired by some of them to appear at such a day and that by dying at the same prefixed they have saved their Reconnoissances And in the Scotâ—…h History we read of a great Cardinal that was so summoned by poor Mr. Gâ—…ichard and yet could not help it but he must take that long and sad journey of Death to answer at the Grand Assizes If therefore there be such a thing I would not for fear and if there be not yet I would not fear good luck sake set that terrible day at defiance or make too meâ—…y with it 'T is possible that the Nonconformists many of them may be too censorious of others and too confident of their own Integrity Others of them are more temperate and perhaps destitute of all humane redress against their sufferings Some of those make rash Chanlenges and the other just Appeals to appear at that dreadful Tribunal In the mean time 't is not for you to be both the Enemy â—…nd their Judg. Much less do's it â—…fit you because perhaps they speak too sillily or demurely of it or too breaving and confidently therefore to make a meer mockery of the whole â—…usiness of that supreâ—…e Judge and Judicature And one thing I will say more though slighter that though I am not so far gone as Campanella was in the efficacy of words and the magiâ—…k of the face and pronur ciation Yet I marked how your Answerer look'd when he spoke of the day of Judgment Very gravely I assure you and yet without any depressing or eralâ—…ing his Supercilâ—…um's And I have most often observed that ferious words have produced serious Effects I have by this time me-thinks gather'd enough nor are there many more left unless I should go for a Flower to the Duâ—…ghil which he saith is his only Magazin And this being an expression which he has several times used for no Nonconformist repeats so often I cannot but remark that besides his natural Talent Mr. Bayes hath been very industrious and negâ—…ected no opportunity of acquiring a perfection of railing For this is a phrase borrowed from a modern Author lately dead and I suppose Bayes had given him a Bond for repayment at the day that he spoke of so lately There are indeed several others at which I am forc'd to stop my nose For by the smell any man may discern they grew upon a ranker soil than that on the South-side of the Lake Lemane even upon the bank of the Thames in the Meadow of Billingsgate as that of the Lye which he saith no Gentleman much less a Divâ—…ve ought to put up Now if this were to be tryed by a Court-Martial of the Brothers of the Blade 'T is to be considered whether it were the down-right Lye or whether it were onely the Lye by Interpretation For in the disputes of the Schools there is nothing more usual than Hoc est â—…rum Hoc est salsum But this passes without any blemish of honour on either side and so far it is from any obligation to a Challenge or a Duel that it never comes to be decided so much as by the Study-door key But quod restat probandum do's the business without demanding other satisfaction Then if it were the down-right Lye it is to be examined who gave the Lve first for that alters the case And last of all but which is indeed upon a quarrel the least material point yet it too comes under some consideration which of the two was in the right and which of them spoke truth and which lyed These are all things to be discussed in their proper places For I do not observe that the Answerer gave Bayes the down-right Lye But I find that Bayes gave him the Lye first in terms And as to the Truth of the things controverted and alledged there needs no more than the depositions that I formerly transcribed concerning Bayes his own words But all this is only a Scene out of Bays his Rebearsal Villain thou liest Arm arm Valerio arm The Lie no flesh can bear I trow And then as to the Success of the Combate They fly they fly Who first did give the Lye For that of Caitife and other Provocations that are proper for the same Court I will not meddle further And for the being past Grace and so past Mercy I shall only observe that the Church of England is much obliged to Mr. Bays for having proved that Non-conformity is the Sin against the
and that â—…erefore they are unlawful Our Authors Answeer handling this Argument does among other things â—…ake use of a pertinent Passage in Saint Austin Signa â—…uum ad res divinas pertiâ—…t Sacramenta appellantur What does Mr. Bayes in this case for it went hard â—…ith him Why as good luck would have it not being willing that so great a Politician to the irrepaâ—…able damage of the Church shonld yet be destroyâ—…d J. O. had forgot to quote the Book and Page Now though you send a man the length of your Weapon and namâ—… your Second Yeâ—… Mr. Bayes being as you see 〈◊〉 admirably read in the Laws of 〈◊〉 knew that unless the Time and Place be appointed there is no danger He saith therefore p 452. of his second Book that he should have advantage on his side if he should lay odds with him that there is no such passage in all the Volumns of Saint Austin But however that it is neither civil nor ingenuous to trouble him with such Objections as he cannot answer without reading over eight or ten large Volumns in Folio It was too much to expect from one of so much business good Augustulus Quum tot sustineas tanta negotia solus Res Sacras Armis tuteris Moribus ornes Legibus emendes S Which may be thus translated When you alone have the Ceremonies to defend with Whipping-posts Rods and Axes when you have Grace to turn into Morality when you have the Act of Oblivion and Indemnity and the Ecclesiastical Declaration of March to tear in pieces it were unreasonable and too much to the dammage of the publick to put you on such an Imployment I ask your pardon Mr. Bayes for this Paraphrase and Digression for I perceive I am even hardned in my Latine and am prone to use it without fear or reverence But Mr. Bayes there might have been a remedy for this had you pleased Where then were all your Leaf-Turners a sort of poor Readers you as well as Bishop Bramhal ought to have some Reverence for having made so much use of them to gather materials for your Structures and Superstructures I cannot be perswaded for all this but that he knowâ—… it well enough the passage being so remarkable in it self and so dirtyed with the Nonconformists thumbs that he could not possibly miss it and I doubt he does but laugh at me now when to save him a labour I tell him in the simplicity of my heart that even I my self met with it in Ep. 〈◊〉 ad Marcellinum and the words these Nâ—…mis autem longum est convenienter disputare de 〈◊〉 fignorum quae cum ad res divinas pertinent Sacramâ—…nta appellantur But whether there be such a place or no he hath no mind that his Answerer shoâ—…d make use of it nor of the Schoolmen whom before he had owned for the Authors of the Church of England's 〈◊〉 but would bind up the Answerer to the Law only and the Gospel And now Mr. Bayes saith he will be of the School-mens opinion as long as thâ—…y spâ—…ak Sense and no longer and so I believe of Saint Ausâ—…'s that is to say so long as they will serve his â—…urn for all Politicians shake men â—…ff when they have no more use of 'm or find them to 〈◊〉 the design But Mr. Bayes why may not your Answerer or any man else quote St. Austin as well as you may the Scriâ—…re I am suâ—…e there is less danger of perverting the place or of mis-interpretation And though perhaps a Nonconsormist may value the Authority of the Bibâ—…e above that of the Fatâ—…ers yet the Welch have a Proverb that the Bible and a Stone do well together meaning perhaps that if one miss the other will hit You that are a Duellist know how great a bravery it is to gain your Eeâ—…emys Sword and that there is no more home-thrust in dispuâ—…ation thâ—…n the Argumentum ad hominem So that if your Adversary fell upon you with one of your own Fathers it was gallantâ—…y done on his part and no less wiâ—…ely on yours to fence in this mâ—…nner and usâ—… all your shifts 〈◊〉 put it by For you too Mr. Bayes do know no man better that it is not at all times safe nor honourable to be of a Fathers opinion Having escaped this danger he grows nor can I blame him exceeding merry and insults heavily over Symbolical wheresoever he meets with it for in his Answerer I find it not But wheresoever 't was it serves to good purpose For no man would imagine that he could have received so universal a Defeat and appear in so good humour A terrible Disputant he is when he has set up an hard word to be his Opponent 'T is a very wholesome thing he knows and prolongs life for all the while he can keep up this ball he may decline the Question But the poor Word is sure to be mumbled and mowsled to purpose and to be made an example But let us with Mr. Bayes his leave examine the thing for once a little closer The Non-conformists as I took notice before do object to some of the Rites of the Church of England under the name of Symbolical or significant Ceremonies They observe the Church of England does in the discourse of Ceremonies printed before the Common Prayer Book declare that the retaining of those Ceremonies is not onely as they serve for decent Order and Godly Discipline but as they are apt to stir up the dull mind of man to the remembrance of his duty to God by some special and notable significancy whereby he may be edified They further observe the Church of England's definition of a Sacrament That it is an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual Grace They find these Ceremonies so constituted impos'd upon them by Authority and more-over according to our Authors principle made a new part of the Divine Law They therefore quarrel and except against these under the notion of Sacraments and insist that the Church is not impowred to institute such Ceremonies under such obligations and penalties as they are imposed Or if you will in stead of Church you may say rather the Magistrats for as much as our Author hath pro hac vice delivered the Keys and the whole power of the House into his hands Now the Author having got them at this lock crys Victory Nothing less will serve him than a three days triumph as if he had conquered Europe Asia and Africa and let him have a fourth day added if he please over the Terra Incognita of Geneva There is no end of his Ostentation and Pageantry and the dejected Non-conformists follow the wheels of his Chariot to be led afterwards to the Prison and there executed He had said p. 446. of his Second Book Here Cartwright begun his Objection and here he was immediately check'd in his Carrear by Whitgift you might Mr. Author for respect sake have called him at leaft Mr. if not Archbishop
since the Reformation I say it without disparagement to the Foraign Churches of the Eminentest for Divinity and Piety in all Christendom And as far am I from censuring under this title the Bishops of England sor whose Function their Learning their Persons I have too deep a veneration to speak any thing of them irreverently But those that I intend only are a particular bran of persons who will in spight of Fate be accounted the Church of England and to shew they are Pluralists never write in a modester Stile than We We nay even these several of them are Men of parts sufficient to deserve a Rank among the Teachers and Governots of the Church Only what Bishop Bramâ—…al fâ—…ith of Grotius his defect in School Divinity Unam hoc maceror doleo tibi deesse I may apply to their excess and rigoâ—…r in matter of Discipline They want all consideration all moderation in those things and I never heard of any of them at any time who if they got into Power or Office did ever make the least experiment or overture towards the peace of the Church and Nation they lived in They are the Politick Would be 's of the Clergy Not Bishops but Men that have a mind to be Bishops and that will do any thing in the World to compass it And though Princes have always a particular mark upon these Men and value them no more than they deserve yet I know not very well or perhaps I do know how it oftentimes happens that they come to be advanced They are Men of a fiâ—…ry nature that must always be uppermost and so they may increase their own Slendor care nor though they 〈◊〉 all on flame about them You would think the same day that they took up Divinity they divested themselves of Humanity and so they may procure and execute a Law against the Non-conformists that they had forgot the Gospel They cannot endure that Humility that Meekness that strictness of Manners and Conversation which is the true way of gaining Reputation and Authority to the Clergy much less can they content themselves with the ordinary and comfortable provis sion that is made for the Ministry But having wholy calculated themselves for Preferment and Grandeur know or practise no other means to make themselves venerable but by Ceremony and Severity Whereas the highest advantage of promotion is the opportunity of condescention and the greatest dignity in our Church can but raise them to the Title of Your Grace which is in the Latine Vestra Clementia But of all these none are so eager and virulent as some who having had relation to the late times have got access to Ecclesiastical Fortune and are resolved to make their best of her For so of all Beasts none are so fierce and cruel as those that have been taught once by hunger to prey upon their own kind as of all Men none are so inhumane as the Canibals But whether this be the true way of ingraâ—…iating themselves with a generous and discerning Prince I meddle not nor whether it be an ingenuous practice towards thosewhom they have been formerly acquainted with but whatsoever they think themselves obliged to for the approving of their new Loyalty I rather commend That which astonishes me and only raises my indignation is that of all sorts of Men this kind of Clergy should always be and have been for the most precipitate brutish and fanguinary Counsels The former Civil War cannot make them wise nor his Majesties happy Return good natured but they are still for running things up unto the same extreams The softness of the Universities where they have been bred the gentleness of Christianity in which they have been nurtured hath but exasperated their nature and they seem to have contracted no Idea of wisdom but what they learnt at School the Pedantry of Whipping They take themselves qualified to Preach the Gospel and no less to intermeddle in affairs of State Though the reach of their Divinity is but to persecution and an Inquisâ—…on is the heigâ—…t of their Policy And you Mr. Bayes had you lived in the dayes of Augustus Caesar be not â—…andalized for why may you not bring sixteen hundred years as well as five 〈◊〉 into one of your Plays would not you have made think you an excellent Privy Counâ—…ellour His Father too was murdered Or to come nearer both to our times and your resemblance of the late War which you trumpet always in the Ear of his Majesty had you happen'd in the time of Henry the fourth of France should not you have done well in the Cabinet His Predecessor too was assassinated No Mr. Bayes you would not have been for their purpose They took other measures of Government and accordingly it succeeded with them And His Majesty whose Genius hath much of both those Princes and who derives half of the Blood in his Veins from the latter will in all probability not be so forward to hearken to your advice as to follow their example For these Kings Mr. Bayes how negligent soever or ignorant you take 'm to be have I doubt a shrewd understanding with them 'T is a Trade that God be thanked neither you nor I are of and therefore we are not so competent Judges of their Actions I my seâ—… have oftentimes seen them some of them do strange things and unreasonable in my opinion and yet a little while or sometimes many years after I have sound that all the men in the world could not have contrived any thing better 'T is not with them as with you You have but one Cure of Souls or perhaps two as being a Noblemans Chaplain to look after And if you make Conscience of discharging them as you ought you would find you had work sufficient without wriâ—…ing your Eccâ—…esiastical Policies But they are the Incumbents of whole Kingdoms and the Rectorship of the Common people the Nobility and even of the Clergy whom you are prone to affirm when possest with principles that incline to rebeâ—…ion and disloyal parctices to be of all Râ—…bels the most dangerous p. 49. the care I say of all these rests upon them So that they are fain to condescend to many things for peace-sake and the quiet of Mankind that your proud heart would break before it would bend to They do not think fit to require any thing that is impossible unnecessary or wanton of their people but are fain to consider the very temper of the Climate in which they live the Constitution and Laws under which they have been formerly bred and upon all occasions to give them good words and humour them like Children They reflect upon the Histories of former times and the present Transactions to regulate themselves by in every circumstance They have heard that one of your Roman Emperours when his Captain of the Life-Guard came for the Word by giving it unhandsomly received a Dagger They observe how the Parliament of Poland will be their Kings Taylor
Episcopi temporibus creverat ut questus sit Christianorum in Ceremoniis ritibus duriorem quà m Judaeorum qui 〈◊〉 tempus Libertatis non agnoverint Legalibus tamen sarcinis non humanis praesumptionibus subjiciebanter nam paucioribus in divino cultu quà m Christiani Ceremoniiâ—…â—…tebantur Qui si sensisset quantus deinde per singulos Papas coacervatus cumulus accessit modam Christiaâ—…um credo ipse statuisset qui hoc malum tunc in Eccleâ—… viderat Videmus enim ab illâ ceremoniarum conâ—…entione nedum Ecclesiam esse vacuam quin â—…omines â—…lioquin docti atque pii de vestibus hujusmodi nugis ad huc rixoso magis militari quà m aut 〈◊〉 aut Christiano more inter se digladiantur These words do run direct against the Genius of some men that contributed not a little to the late Rebellion and though so long since writ do so exactly describe that evill spirit with which some men 〈◊〉 even in these times postest who seem desirous â—…pon the same grounds to put all things in comâ—…ustion that I think them very well worth the laâ—…our of translating And indeed that first conâ—…ention then raised by Augustine about the introducing of the Romish Ceremonies which could not be quenched but by the blood and slaughter of â—…he innocent Britains hath been continued e'n to our later times with the like mischief and murder of Christians For when once by those gloriouâ—… Ceremonies they forsook the pure simplicity of thâ—… Primitive Church they did nor much troublâ—… themselves about Holiness of Life the preachinâ—… of the Gospel the efficacy and comfort of the Holy Spirit but they fell every day into neâ—… squab les about new-â—…angled Ceremonies added 〈◊〉 every Pope who reckoned no man worthy of 〈◊〉 high a degree but such as invented somewhat 〈◊〉 will not say Ceremonious but monstrous unheaâ—… of and before unpractised and they fill'd thâ—… Schools and the Pulpits with their Fables 〈◊〉 brawling of such matters For the first beauâ—…y 〈◊〉 the Church had more of simplicity and plainnesâ—… and was neither adorned with splendid vestmenâ—… nor magnificent structures nor shin'd with golâ—… silver and precious stones bt with the intâ—… and inward worship of God as it was by Chriâ—… himself prescribed Although it may be lawfull 〈◊〉 â—…se these external things so they do not lead thâ—… mind astray from that more inward and intiâ—… Worship of God by those curious and crabâ—… Rites it degenerated from that antient and right 〈◊〉 vangelical simplicity But that multitude of 〈◊〉 in the Romish Church had unmeasurably increased in the times of that great Augustine the Bishop of Hippo in so much that he complainâ—… that the condition of Christians as to Rites anâ—… Ceremonies was then harder than that of thâ—… Jews who although they did not discern the tiâ—… of their Liberty yet were only subjected to Legâ—… burthens instituted first by God himself nor 〈◊〉 humane Presumptions For they used fewer 〈◊〉 â—…emonies in the Worship of God than Christiâ—… Who if he could have foreseen how great a 〈◊〉 of them was afterwards piled up and added by 〈◊〉 several Popes he himself doubtless would have restrained it within Christian measure having already perceived this growing evil in the Church For we see that even yet the Church is not free from that contention but men otherwise learned and pious do still cut and flash about Vestments and such kind of triâ—…les rather in a swashbuck-ler and Hectoring way than either like Philosophers or like Christians Now Mr. Bayes I doubt you must be put to the trouble of writing another Preface against this Arch-bishop For nothing in your Answerer's Treatise of Evangelical Love does so gird or aim at you for ought I can see or at those whom you call the Church of England as this Passage But the last period does so plainly delineate you to the life that what St. Austine did not presage the Bishop seems to have foreseen most distinctly 'T is â—…ust your way of writing all along in this matter You bring nothing sound or solid Only you think you have got the Great Secret or the Philosophers â—…tone of Railing and I believe it you have so â—…ultiplied it in Projection and as they into Gold so you turn every thing you meet with into Railing And yet the Secret is not great nor the Proâ—… long or dificult if a man would study it and make a trade on 't Every Scold hath it naturally It is but crying Whore first and having the 〈◊〉 word and whatsoever t'other sayes cry Oh â—…hese are your Nonconfor mist's tricks Oh you â—…ave learnt this of the Puritans in Grubstreet Oâ—…â—…ou white-aprond Gossip For indeed I never â—…aw provident a fetch you have taken in before â—…and of all the Posts of railing and so beset all 〈◊〉 Topicks of just crimination foreseeing where 〈◊〉 are feeble that if this trick would pass it were â—…possible to open ones mouth to find the least sault with you For in your first Chapter of your Second Book beside what you do alwaies in an hundred places when you are at a loss you have spent almost an hundred Pages upon a Character of the Fanatick deportment toward all Adversaries And then on the other side you have so ingrossed and bought up all the Ammunition of Railing search'd every corner in the Bible and Don Quixot for Powder that you thought not unreasonably that that there was not one shot left for a Fanatick But truth you see cannot want words and she laugh too sometimes when she speaks and rather than all fail too be serious But what will you say to that of the Arch-bishops than either like Philosophers or like Christians For the excellency of your Logick Philosophy and Christianity in all your Books is either as in Conscience to take away the subject of the question or as in the Magistrate having gotten one absurdity to raise 〈◊〉 thousand more from it So that except the manufacture and labour of your periods you have done no more than any School boy could have done on the same terms And so Mr. Bayes Goodnight And now Good-morrow Mr. Bayes For though it seems so little a time and that you are now genâ—… to bed it hath been a whole live-long night and you have toss'd up and down in many a troublesome dream and are but just now awaked at the Title page of your book A Preface shewing whâ—… grounds there are of fears and jealousies of Poperâ—… It is something artificially couch'd but looks 〈◊〉 if it did allow that there are some grounds 〈◊〉 fears and jealousies of that nature But here 〈◊〉 words it a Consideration what likelihood or how 〈◊〉 danger there is of the return of Popery into this Natiâ—… â—…ad he not come to this at last I should havâ—… thought I had been all this while reading a Chapter in Mountaguâ—…'s Essayes where you find sometimes scarce one word in the discourse of the matter held forth in
Popery I crave you mercy Mr Bayes I took you a little short For my part I know none you say but the Nonconsormists boysterous and unreasonable opposition to the Church of England This I confess hath some weight in it For truly before I knew none too I was of your Opinion Mr. Bayes believed that Popery could never return into England again but by some very sinister accident This expression of mine is something uncouâ—…h and therefore because I love to give you satisfaction in all things Mr. Bayes I will acquaint you with my reason of using it Henry the fourth of France his Majesties Grandfather lived you know in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth Now the wit of France and England as you may have observed is much of the same mode und hath at all times gone much after the same current Rate and Standard only there hath been some little difference in the alloy and advantage or disadvantage in the exchange according to mens occasions Now Henry the fourth was you know too a Prince like Bishop Bramhall of a brave and enterprising temper and had a mind large and active enough to have managed the Roman Empire at its utmost extent and particularly as far as the prejudice of the age Old Elsibeths Age would permit him he was very wittie and facetious and the Courtiers strove to humour him alwaies in it and increase thâ—… mirth So one night after supper he gave a Subject which recreation did well enough in those times but were now insipid upon which like â—…oyes at Westminster they should make French Verse extempore The Subject was Un Accident sinistre Straight answers I know not whether 't was Bassampierre or Obignè Un sinistre Accident un Accident sinistre De veoir un Pâ—…ere Capuchin chevaucher un Ministre For when I said to see Popery return here would be a very sinister accident I was just thinking upon that story the Verses to humour them in translation being only this O what a trick unlucky and how unlucky a trick To see friend Doctor Patrick bestrid by Father Patrick Which seem'd to me would be the most improbable and preposterous spectacle that ever was seen and more rediculous for a sight than the Friendly Debate is for a Book And yet if Popery come in this must be and worse But now I see there is some danger by the Non-consormists opposition to the Church of England And now your business is all fixed The Fanaticks are ready at hand to bear the blame of all things Many a good job have I seen done in my time upon pretence of the Fanaticks I do not think Mr. Bayes ever breaks his shins but it is by stumbling upon a Fanatick And how shall they bring in Popery why thâ—…s three wayes First By creating disorders and disturbances in the State Secondly By the assistance of Atheism and Irreligion Thirdly By joyning with crafty and sacrilegious Statesmen in confederacy Now here I remark two things One that however you do not find that the Fanaticks are inclinable to Popery only they may accommodate it by creating disturbances in the State Another is that I see these Gentlemen the Fanaticks the Atheists and the Sacrilegious Statesmen are not yet acquainted but you have appointed them a meeting I believe it must be at your Lodging or no where and I hope you will treat them handsomly But I think it was not so wisely done nor very honestly Mr. Bayes to lay so dangerous a Plot as this and instruct men that are strangers yet to one another how to contrive â—…ogether such a Conspiracy But first to your first The Fanaticks you say may probably raise disturbance in the State For they are so little friends to the present Government that their enmity to that is one of the main Grounds of their quarrel to the Church But now though I must confess it is very much to your purpose if you could perswade men so I think you are clear out and misrepresent here the whole matter For I know of no enmity they have to the Church it self but what it was in her power alwayes to have remedied and so it is still But such as you it is that have alwayes strove by your leasings to keep up a strangeness and misunderstanding betwixt the King and his people and all the mischief that hath come on 't does lye much at your door Whereas they as all the rest of mankind are men for their own ends too And no sooner hath the King shown them this late favour but you Mr. Bayes and your partners reproach them for being too much friends to the Pâ—…erogative And no less would they be to the Church had they ever at any age in any time found her in a treatable temper I know nothing they demand but what is so far from doing you any harm that it would only make you better But that indeed is the harm that is the thing you are afraid of Here our Author divides the discourse into a great Elogy of the Church of England that if he were making her Funeral Sermon he could not say more in her commendation and a contrary invective against the Nonconformists upon whom as if all he had said before had been nothing he unloads his whole Leystal and dresseth them up all in Sambenitas painted with all the flames and Devilâ—… in Hell to be led to the place of Execution and there burnt to ashes Nevertheless I find on either side only the natural effect of such Hyperboles and Oratory that is not to be beleived The Church of England I mean as it is by Law Established lest you should think I equivocate hath such a stock of solid and deserved Reputation that it is more than you Mr. Bayes can spoyl or deface by all the Pedantry of your commendation Only there is that party of the Clergy that I not long ago described and who will alwaies presume to be the only Church of England who have been a perpetual Eye-sore that I may not say a Canker and Gangreen in so perfect a beauty And as it joyes my heart to hear any thing well said of her so I must confess it stirs my choler when I hear those men pride and boast themselves under the Mask of her Authority Neither did I therefore approve of an expression you here use The Power of Princes would be a very precarious thing without the assistance of Ecclesiasticks and all Government do's must ow its quiet and continuance to the Churches Patronage That is as much as to say That but for the assistance of your Ecclesiastical Policy Princes might go a begging and that the Church that is you have the Juspatronatus of the Kingdome and may present whom you think fitting to the Crown of England This is indeed something like the return of Popery and right Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rudolpho The Crown were surely well help'd up if it were to be held at your convenience and
the Emperour must lead the Patriarchs Ass all his life-time And little better do I like your We may rest satisfied in the present security of the Church of England under the Proâ—…ection of a wise and gracious Prince especially when besides the impregnable confidence that we have from his own Inclination it is so manifest that he never can forsake it either in Honour or Interest This is a prety way of cokesing indeed while you are all this while cutting the grass under his feet and animating the people against the exercise of his Ecclesiastical Supremacy Men are not so plain-hearted but they can see through this oblique Rhetorication and Sophistry If there be no danger in his time of taking a Pin out of the Church for that it is you intended why do you then speak of it in his time but that you mean mischief but here you do not only mow the grass under his feet but you take the pillow from under his head But should it ever happen that any King of England should be prevail'd with to deliver up the Church he bad as good at the same time resign up his Crown This is pretty plain dealing and you have doubtless secur'd hereby that Princes favour I should have thought it better Courtship in a Divine to have said O King Live for ever But I see Mr. Bayes that you and your Partners are very necessary men and it were dangerous disobliging you But in this imprudent and nauseous discourse you have all along appropriated or impropriated all the Loyalty from the Nobility the Gentry and the Commonalty and dedicated it to the Church So I doubtyou are a little too immoderate against the body of the Nonconformists You represent them to a man to be all of them of Republican Principles most pestilent and eo nomine enemies to Monarchy Traytors and Rebells such miscreants as never was in the world before and fit to be pack'd out of it with the first convenience And I observe that all the Argument of your Books is but very frivolous and trivial only the memory of the late War serves for demonstration and the detestable sentence and execution of his lute Majesty is represented again upon the Scaffold and you having been I suspect better acquainted with Parliament Declarations formerly upon another account do now apply and turn them all over to prove that the late War was wholly upon a Fanatical Cause and the dissenting party do still go big with the same Monster I grew hereupon much displeased with my own ignorance of the occasion of those Troubles so near our own times and betook my self to get the best Information concerning them to the end that I might If it appear'd so decline the dangerous acquaintance of the Nonconformists some of whom I had taken for honest men nor therefore avoided their Company But I took care nevertheless not to receive Impressions from any of their party but to gather my lights from the most impartial Authorities that I could meet with And I think I am now partly prepared to give you Mr. Bayes some better satisfaction in this matter And because you are a dangerous person I shall as little as possible say any thing of my own but speak too before good Witnesses First of all therefore I will without farther Ceremony fall upon you with the but-end of another Arch-bishop 'T is the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Abbot in the Narrative under his own hand concerning his disgrace at Court in the time of his late Majesty I shall only in the way demand excuse if contrary to my fashion the names of some eminent persons in our Church long since dead be reviv'd here under no very good character and most particularly that of Archbishop Laud who if for nothing else yet for his learned Book against Fisher deserved for another Fate than he met with and ought not now to be mentioned without due honourâ—… But those names having so many years since escaped the Press it is not in my power to conceal them and I believe Archbishop Abbot did not write but upon good Consideration This I have premised for my own Satisfaction and I will add one thing more Mr. Bayes for yours That whereas the things now to be alledged relate much to some Impositions of Money in the late King's time that were carryed on by the Clergy I know you will be ready to carp at that as if the Nonconformists had and would be alwayes enemies to the Kings supply Whereas Mr. â—…ayes if I can do the Nonconformists no good I am resolv'd I will do them no harm nor desire that they should lye under any imputation on my account For I write by my own advice and what I shall alledge concerning the Clergies intermedling with supplies is upon a particular aversion that I have upon good Reason against their disposing of our Money And Mr. Bayes I will acquaint you with the Reason which is this 'T is not very many years ago that I used to play at Picket and there was a Gentleman of your Robe a Dignitary of Lincoln very well known and remembred in the Ordinaries but being not long â—…ince dead I will save his name Now I used to play Pieces and this Gentleman would alwayes go half a Crown with me and so all the while he sate on my hand he very honestly gave the Sign so that I was alwaies sure to lose I afterwards discovered it but of all the money that ever I was cheated of in my life none ever vexed me so as what I lost by his occasion And ever since I have born a great grudge against their fingring of any thing that belongs to me And I have been told and show'd the place where the man dwelt in the late King's time near Hampton Court that there was one that used to rob on the high-way in the habit of a Bishop and all his fellows rid too in Canonical Coats And I can but fancy how it madded those that would have perhaps been content to releive an honest Gentleman in distress or however would have been less griev'd to be robb'd by such an â—…ne to see themselves so Episcopally pillaged Neither must it be less displeasing alwaies to the Gâ—…ntry and â—…ommonalty of England that the Clergy as you do Mâ—… Bayes should tell them that they are never sui Juris not only as to their Consciences buâ—… even as to their Purses and you should pretend to have this Power of the Keys too where they lock their Money Nay I dare almost aver upon my best observation that there never was nor ever will be a Parliament in England that could or can refuse the King supplies propoâ—…ionable to his occasions wiâ—…hout any need of recouâ—…se to extraordinary wayes but for the pickâ—…hankness of the Clergy who will alwaies pâ—…sume to have the thanks and honour of it nay and are ready alwayes to obstruct the Parliamentary Aids unless they may have their own little project pass
that this Book of Sibthorps called Apostolical Obedience was Printed there came out another of the same stamp Intitled Religion and Allegiance by one Doctor Manwaring It was the substance of two Sermons preached by him at Whitehall beside what of the same nature at his own parish of Saint Giles Therein he delivered for truth That the King is not bound to observe the Laws of the Realm concerning the Subjects Rights and Liberties but that his Royal word and command in imposing Loans and Taxes without common consent in Parliament does oblige the Subjects Conscience upon pain of eternal Damnation That those who refused to pay this Loan offended against the Law of God and the Kings supream Authority and became guilty of Impiety Disloyalty and Rebellion That the Authority of Parliament was not necessary for raising of Aids and Subsidies and the slow proceedings of such great Assemblies were not fitted for the supply of the states urgent necessities but would rather produâ—…e sundry impediments to the just designs of Princes And after he had been questioned for this doctrine nevertheless he preached again That the King had right to order all as to him should seem good without any mans consent That the King might in time of necessity demand Aid and if the Subject did not supply him the King might justly avenge it That the Propriâ—…ty of Estate and Goods was ordinarily in the subject but extraordinarily in the King that in case of the King's need he hath right to dispose them He had besides entring into comparison called the refusers of the Loan temporal Recusants and said the same disobedience that they the Papists as they then called them practise in spirituals that or worse some of our side if ours they be dare to practise in temporals And he aggravated further upon them under the resemblance of Turks Jews Corah Datâ—…an and Abiram which last said he might as well liken themselves to the three Children or Theudas and Judas the two Incendiaries in the daies of Caesar's tribute might as well pretend their Cause to be like that of the Maccabees as what the Refusers alledged in their own defence I should not have been so large in these particulars had they been only single and volatile Sermons but because this was then the Doctrine of those persons that pretended to be the Church of England The whole Quire sung that Tuno and instead of the Common Law of England and the Statutes of Parliament that part of the Clergy had invented these Ecclesiastical Lawes which according to their predominancy were sure to be put in Execution So that between their own Revenue which must be held Jure Divinâ—… as every thing else that belong'd to them and the Pâ—…ince's that was Jure Regio they had not left an inch oâ—… propriety for â—…he Subject It seem'd that they had granted themselves Letters of Reprisal against the Laity for the losses of the Church under Henry the Eight and that they would make a greater havock upon their Temporalities in retaliation And indeed having many times since ponder'd with my greatest and earnest impartiality what could be the true reason of the spleen that they manifested in those daies on the one hand against the Puritans and on the other against the Gentry far it was come they tell me to Jack Gentleman I could not devise any cause but that the Puritans had ever since the Reformation obstructed that laziness and splendor which they enjoyed under the Popes Supremacy and the gentry had sacrilegiously divided the Abby-Lands and other 〈◊〉 morsels of the Church at the Dissoluâ—…ion and now was the time to be revenged on them While therefore the Kingdome was turned into a Prison upon occasion of this Ecclesiastical Loâ—… and many of the eminentest of the Gentry of England were under 〈◊〉 they thought it seasonable to recover once again their antient Glory and to Magnificate the Church with triumphant Pomp and Ceremony The three Ceremonies that have the Countenance of Law would not sussice but they were all upon new 〈◊〉 and happy was he that was endued with that capacity for he was sure before all others to be preâ—…'d I here was a second Service the Table seâ—… Altar wise and to be called the Altar Candles Crucisixes Paintings Imagery Copes bowing to the East bowing to the Altar and so many several Cringes and Genuflexions that a man unpractised stood in need to entertain both a Dancing Maâ—…er and a Remem brancer And though these things were very uncouth to English Proteslants who naturally affects a plainness of fashion especially in sacred things yet if those Gentlemen 〈◊〉 have contented themselves with their own Formalitie the Innovation had been more excusable But many of these Additions and to be sure all that had any colour of Law were so imposed and prest upon others that a great part of the Nation was â—…'n put as it were to Fine and Ransom upon this account What Censures what Excommunications what Deprivations what Imprisonments I cannot represent the misery and desolation as it hath been represented to me But wearied out at home many thousands of his Majesties Subjects to his and the Nations great loss thought themselves constrained to seek another habitation and every Country even â—…hough it were among Savages and Caniballs appear'd more hospitable to them than their own And although I have been told by those that have seen both that our Chuâ—…ch did even then exceed the Romish in Ceremonies and Decorations and indeed several of our Church did therby frequently mistake their way and from a 〈◊〉 kind of Worship fell into the Roman Religion yet I cannot upon my best judgement believe that that party had generally a design to alter the Religion so far but rather to set up a new kind of Papaâ—…y of their own here in England And it seemed they had to that purpose provided themselves of a new Religion in Holland It was Arminianism which though it were the Republican Opinion there and lo odious to King James that it helped on the death of Barnevelt yet now they undertook to accomodate it to Monarchy and Episcopacy And the choice seemed not imprudent For on the one hand it was removed at so moderate a distance from Popery that they should not disoblige the Papists more than formerly neither yet could the Puritans with justice reproach these men as Romish Catholicks and yet on the other hand they knew it was so contrary to the antient reformed Doctrine of the Church of England that the Puritans would never imbrace it and so they should gain this pretence further to keep up that convenient and necessary Quarrel against Non-conformity And accordingly it happened so that here again was a new Shiboleth And the Calvinists were all studiously discountenanced and none but an Arminian was judg'd capable and qualified for imployment in the Church And though the King did declare as I have before mentioned that Mountague's Arminian Book had been the occasion of
the Schisms in the Church yet care was immediately taken by those of the same Robe and Paâ—…ty that he should be the more rewarded and advanced As also it was in Manwarings Case who though by Censure in Parliament made incapable of any Ecclesiastical Preferment was straight made Rector of Stamford-Riverâ—… in Essex with a Dispensation to hold too his Living in St. Giles's And all dexterity was practised to propagate the same Opinions and to suppress all Writings or Discourses to the contrary So that those who were of understanding in those dayes tell me that a man would wonder to have heard their kind of preachings How in stead of the practical Doctrine which tends to the reforming of mens Lives and Manners all their Sermons were a very Mash of Arminian Subtilties of Ceremonies and Decency and of Manwaring and Sibthorpianism brew'd together besides that in their conversation they thought fit to take some more license the better to dis 〈◊〉 themselves from the Puritans And though there needed nothing more to make them unacceptable to the sober part of the Nation yet moreover they were 〈◊〉 exceeding pâ—…agmaticall so intolerably ambitious and so desperately proud that scarce any Gentleman might come near the Tayle of their MulesAnd many thâ—…ngs I perceive of that nature do even yet stick upon the stomacks of the Old Gentlemen â—…f those timâ—…s For the English have been alwaies very tender of their Religion their Liberty thâ—…ir Propriety and I was going to say no less of thâ—…ir Reputation Neither yet do I speak of these things with passion considering at more 〈◊〉 how natural it is for men to desire to be in Office and no less natural to grow proud and intractable in Office and the less a Clergy man is so the more he deserves to be commended Buâ—… these things before mentioned grew yet higher after that Bishop Laud waâ—… once not only exalted to the See of Canterbury but to be chief Minister Happy had it been for the King happy for the Nation and happy for himself had he never climbed that Pinacle For whether it be or no that the Clergy are not so well fitted by Education as others for Political affairs I know not â—…hough I should rather think they have advantage above others and even if they would but keep to their Bibles might make the best Ministers of State in the world yet it is generally observed that things miscarry under their Government If their be any Counsel more precipitate more violent more rigorous more extreme than other that is theirs Truly I think the reason that God does not bless them in Affâ—…s of State is because he never intended them for that imployment Or if Government and the preaching of the Gospel may well concur in the same person God therefore frustraâ—…s him be cause though knowing better he seeks and ma nages his greatness by the losser and meaner Maxims I am confident the Bishop studied to do both God and his Majesty good service but alas how utterly was he mistaken Though so learned so pious so wise a Man he seem'd to know nothing beyond Ceremonies Arminianism and Manwaring With that he begun and with that ended and thereby deform'd the whole reign of the best Prince that ever weilded the English Scepter For his late Majesty being a Prince truly pious and Religious was thereby the more incâ—…ined to esteem and favour the Clergy And thence though himself of a most exquisite understanding yet he could not trust it better than in their keeping Whereas every man is best in his own Post and so the Preacher in the Pulpit But he that will do the Clergyes druggery must look for his reward in another world For they having gained this Ascendent upon him resolv'd what ever became on 't to make their best of him and having made the whole business of State their Arminian Ja gles and the Persecution for Ceremonies did for recompence assign him that imaginary absolute Government upon which Rock we all â—…uined For now was come the last part of the Archbishops indiscretion who having strained those strings so hig here and all at the same time which no wise man ever did he moreover had a mind to try the same dangerous Experiment in Scotland and sent thither the Book of the English Liturgy to be imposed upon them What followed thereupon is yet within the compass of most Mens memories And how the War broke out and then to be sure Hâ—…ll's brook loose Whether it were a War of Religâ—…on or of Liberty is not worth the labour â—…o enquire Which soever was at the â—…op the other was at the bottome but upon conâ—…dering all I think the Cause was too good to have been fought for Men ought to have trusted God they ought and might have trusted the King with that whole matter The Arms of the Church are Prayâ—…rs and Tears the Arms of the Subjects are Patience and Petitions The King himself being of so accurate and piercing a judgement would soon have felt where it stuck For men may spare their pains where Nature is at work and the world will not go the faster for our driving Even as his present Majesties happy Restâ—…uration did it self so all things elâ—…e happen in their best and proper time without any need of our officiousness But after all the fatal consequences of that Rebeâ—…lion which can only serve as Sea-marks unto wise Princes to avoid the Causes shall this sort of Men still vindicate themselves as the most zealous Assertors of the Rights of Princes They are but at the best well-meaning Zealots Shall to decline so pernicious Counsels and to provide betâ—…er for the quiet of Government be traduced as thâ—… Author does here under these odious terms of forsaking the Church and delivering up the Church Shall these Men alwayes presume to usurâ—… to themselves that venerable stile of the Church of England God forâ—…id The Indâ—…pendents at that rate would have so many distinct Congregations as they There would be Sibthorps Church and Manwarings Church and Montagues Church and a whole Bed-roll more whom for decencies-sake I abstain from naming And every man that could invent a new Opinion or a new Ceremony or a new Tax should be a new Church of England Neither as far as I can discern have this sort of the Clergy since his 〈◊〉 return given him better incouragements to steer by their Compass I am told that preparatory to that they had frequent meetings in the City I know not whether in Grubstreet with the Divinâ—…s of the other party and that there in their Feasts of Love they promisâ—…d to forget all former Offences to lay by all Animosities that there should be a new Heaven and a new Earth all Meekness Chariâ—…y and Condescention His Majesty I am sure sent over his Gracious Declaration of Liberty to tender Consciences and upon his coming over seconded it with his Commission under the broad Seal for a Conference betwixt the two
parties to prepare things for an Accommodation that he might confirm it by his Royal Authority Hereupon what do they Notwithstanding this happy Conjucture of his Majesties Restauration which had put all men into so good a humour that upon a little moderation temper of things the Nonconformists could not have stuck out some of these men so contriv'd it that there should not be the least abatement to bring them off with Conscience and which infinuates into all men some little Reputation But to the contrary several unnecessary additions were made only because they knew they would be more ingrateâ—…ull and 〈◊〉 to the Nonconâ—…ormists I remember one in the Let any where to False Doctrine and Herâ—… they added Schism though it were to spoil the Musick and cadence of the period but these things were the best To show that they were men like others even cunning men revengeful men they drill'd things on till they might procure a Law wherein besides all the Conformity that had been of former times enacted there might be some new Conditions imposed on those that should have or hold any Church Livings such as they assur'd themselves that rather than swallow the Nonconformists would disgorge all their Beneficâ—… And accordingly it succeeded several thousands of those Ministers being upon one memorable day outed of their subsistence His Majesty in the meantime although they had thus far prevailâ—…d to frustrate his Royal Intentions had reinstated the Church in all its former Revenues Dignities Advantages so far fâ—…om the Authors mischievous aspeâ—…sion of ever thingking of converting them to his own use that he restored them free from what was due to him by Law upon their first admission So careful was he because all Government must owe its quiet and continuance to the Churches Patronage to pay them even what they ought But I have observed that if a man be in the Churches debt once 't is very hard to get an acquaintance And these men never think they have their full Rights unless they Reign What would they have had more They roul'd on a flood of 〈◊〉 and yet in matter of a Lease would make no difference betwixt a Nonconfoâ—…mist and one of their own fellow sufferers who had ventuâ—…'d his life and spent his â—…state for the King's service They were 〈◊〉 to Paâ—…liament and to take their places with the King and the Nobility They had a new Liturgy â—…o their own hearts desire And to cumulate all this happâ—…ness they had this new Law against the Fanaticks All they had that could be devised in the World to make a Clergy-man good natur'd Nevertheless after all their former sufferingâ—… and after all these new enjoyments and acquâ—…sitions they have proceeded still in the same traâ—…k The matrer of Ceremonies to be sure hath not only exercised their antient rigor and severity but hath been a main ingredient of their publick Discourses of their Sermons of their Writings I could not though I do not make it my work after 〈◊〉 great example to look over Episâ—…les Deâ—…icators but observe by chance the Title page of a Book ' toâ—…herday as an Eâ—…bleme how much some of theâ—… do neglect the Scripture in respect to their darling Ceremonies A Rationale upon the Book of Common-Prayer of the Church of England by A Sparrow D. D. Bishop of Exon. With the Form of Conseâ—…ration of a Church or Chappel and of the place of Christian Buriâ—…t By Lancelot Andrews late Lord Bishop of Winchester Sold by Robert Pawlet at the Sign of the Bible in Chancery Lane These surely are worthy cares for the Fathers of the Church But to let these things alone How have they of late years demean'd themselves to his Majesty although our Author urges their immediate dependance on the King to be a great obligation he hath upon their Loyalty and Fidelity I have heard that some of them when a great Minister of State grew burdensome to his Majesty and the Nation stood almost in defiance of his Majesties good pleasure and fought it out to the uttermost in his defence I have been told that some of them in a matter of Divorce wherein his Majesty desired that justice might be done to the party agriev'd opposed him vigorously though they made bold too with a point of Conscience in the Case and went against the judgement of the best Divines of all parties It hath been observed that whensoever his Majesty hath had the most urgent occasions for supply others of them have made it their business to trinkle with the Members of Parliament for obstructing it unless the King would buy it with a new Law against the Fanaticks And hence it is that the wisdome of his Majesty and the Parliament must be exposed to after Ages for such a Supoeerâ—…eation of Acts in his Reign about the same business And no sooner ean his Majeâ—…ty upon his own best Reasons try to obviate this inconvenience but our Author who had before our-shot Sibthorp and Manwaring in their own Bows is now for retrenching his Authority and moreover calumniates the State with a likelihood and the Reâ—sons thereof of the return of Popery into this Nation And this hath been his first Method by the Fanaticks raising disturbance whereupon if I have raked farther into things than I would have done the Author's indiseretion will I hope excuse me and gather all the blame for reviving those things which were to be buried in Oblivion But by what appears I cannot see that there is any probability of disturbance in the State but by men of his spirit and principles The second way whereby the Fanatick party he saith may at last work the ruine of the Church is by combining with the Atheists for their Union is like the mixture of Nitre and Charcoal it carries all before it without mercy or resistance So it seems when you have made Gun-power of the Atheists and Fanaticks we are like to be blown up with Popery And so will the Larks too But his zeal spends it self most against the Atheists because they use to jear the Parsons That they may do and no Atheists neither For really while Clergy men will having so serious an office play the Drols and the Boon-companions and make merry with the Scriptures not only among themselves but in Gentlemen's company 't is impossible but that they should meet with at least an unlucky Repartee sometimes and grow by degrees to be a tayle and contempt to the people Nay even that which our Athour alwayes magnifies the Reputation the Interest the seculiar grandure of the Church is indeed the very thing which renders them rediculous to many and looks as improper and buffoonish as to have seen the Porter lately in the good Doctors Cassock and Girdle For so they tell me that there are no where more Atheists than at Rome because men seeing that Princely garb and pomp of the Clergy and observing the life and manners think therefore the meaner of Religion For certainly
a business To conclude the Author gives us one ground more and perhaps more Seditiously insinuated than any of the former that is if it should so prove that is if the Fanaticks by their wanton and unreasonable opposition to the ingenious and moderate Discipline of the Church of England shall give their Governours too much reason to suspect that they are never to be 〈◊〉 in order by a milder and more gentle Government than that of the Chuâ—…ch of Rome and force them at last to scourge them into better manners with the Briars and Thorns of thâ—…ir Discipline It seems then that the Discipline contended about is worth such an alteration It seems that he knowes something more than I did believe of the Design in the late times before the War Whom doth he mean by our Governours the King No for he is a single person The Parliament or the Bishops I have now done after I have which is I think due given the Reader and the Author a short account how I came to write this Book and in this manner First of all I was offended at the presumption and arrogance of his stile whereas there is nothing either of Wit or Eloquence in all his Books worthy of a Readers and more unfit for his own taking notice of Then his infinite Tautology was burâ—…ensome which seem'd like marching a Company round a Hill upon a pay-day so often till if the Muster master were not attentive they might râ—…ceive the pay of a Regimâ—…nt All the variety of his Treat is Pork he knows the story but so little disguised by good Cookery that it discovers the miserableness or rather the penury of the Host. When I observed how he inveighs against the Trading part of the Nation I thought he deserved to be within the five mile Act and not to come within that distance of any Corporation I could not patiently see how irrevorently he treated Kings and Pâ—…inces as if they had been no better then King Phys and King Ush of Bâ—…anford I thought his profanation of the Scripture intolerable For though he alledges that 't is only in order to shew how it was misapplyed by the 〈◊〉 he might have done that too and yet preserved the Dignity and Beverence of those Sâ—…cred Writings which he hath not done but on the contrary he hatâ—… in what is properly his own taken the most of all his Ornaments and 〈◊〉 thence in 〈◊〉 sâ—…urrilous and sacrilegious sâ—…ile insomuch that were it honest I will undertake out of him to make a better than is a more ridiculâ—…s and 〈◊〉 book than all the Friendly Debates bound up together Me thought I never saw a more bold and wicked attempt than that of reducing Grace and making it a meer Fable of which he gives us the Moral I was sorry to see that even Prayer coulâ—… not be admitted to be a Virtue having though hitherto it had been a Grace and a peculiar gift of the Spirit But I considered that that Prayer ought to be discouraged in order to prefer the Licargy He seem'd to speak so little like a Divine in all those matters that the Poet might as well have preâ—…ended to be the Bishop Davenant and that description of the Poets of Prayer and Praise was better than out Auâ—…hors on the same Subjectâ—… Canto the 6th where he likens Prayes to the Ocean For Prayer the â—â—â—an is where diverâ—â—â— Men steer their course each to a several coast Where all our interests so discordant lye That half beg winds by which the rest are lost And Praise he compares to the Union of Fanaticks and Atheists c. that is Gunpowdâ—r Praise 〈◊〉 Devotion fit for mighty minds c. It s utmost force like Powder is unknown And though weak Kings excess of praise may fear 〈◊〉 when 't is here like Powder dangerous grown Heavens vault receives what would the Palcae tear Indeed all Astragen appear'd to me the better Scheme of Religion But it is unnecessary here to recapitulate all one by one what I have in the former Discourse taken notice cf. I shall only add what gave if not the greattest yea the last impulse to my writing I had observed in his first Book P 57 that he had said Some pert and pragmatical Divines had filled the world with a Buzze and Noise of the Divine Spirit which seemed to me so horribly irreverent as if he had taken similitude from the Hum and Buz of the Humble Bee in the Rehearsal In the same Book I have before mentioned that most unsafe passage of our Saviour being not only in an hot fit of zeal but in a seeming fury and transport 〈◊〉 Passion And striving to unhook 〈◊〉 hence P. 152. of his Second Book Swallows it deeper saying Our blessed Saviour did in that action take upon him the Person and Priviledge of a Jewish Zealot Take upon him the Person that is Personam inâ—… And what part did he play Of a Jewish Zealot The Second Person of the Trinity may I repeat these things without offence to take upon him the Person of a Jewish Zealot that is of a notorious Rogue and Cut Throat This seemed to proceed from too slight an Apprehension and Knowledge of the Duty we owe to our Saviour And last of all in this Preface as before quoted he saith the Nonconformist Preachers do spend most of their Pulpit-sweat in making a noise about Communion with God So that there is not one Person of the Trinity that he hath not done despight to and lest he should have distinct Communion with the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for which he mocks his Answerer he hath spoken evil distinctly of the Father distinctly of the Son and distinctly of the Holy Ghost That only remain'd behind wherein our Author might surpass the Character given to Aretine a famous man of his Faculty Qui giace ill Aretino Chi de tutti mal disse 〈◊〉 d' Adido Ma di questo si sensa perche no'l conobbe Here lies Aretine Who spoke evil of all except God only But of this he begs excuse because he did not know him And now I have done And I shall think my self largely recompensed for this trouble if any one that hath been formerly of another mind shall learn by this Example that it is not impossible to be merry and angry as long time as I have been Writing without profaning and violating those things 〈◊〉 are and ought to be most sacred FINIS