offer'd without the usual Partiality and Prejudice And thus punishments are instruments of real Reformation and amendment The truth of this we have in part seen For while the Act made by the late Parliament against Conventicles was pretty briskly executed our Churches began to be fill'd and the People were from all quarters coming in and had that course been followed as it was begun it would have done the business in likelihood we had been settled and not exposed to such dangers of Popery as we always shall be while the Church is unfixt and so by the Grace of God we might yet be if this Method were retriev'd But then the work must be done with a steady hand and firm resolution constantly universally that all may see we are in earnest for Establishment Such a course I am persuaded would yet bring us into Regularity and External Vnion which would give Beauty and Strength to our Church gratifie all good Men and disappoint the designs of our Popish and other Enemies CHAP. IV. III. OVr carelessness and indifferency in Religion is one of the greatest and most unhappily influencing occasions of our fears and dangers of Popery Religion requires and deserves our highest Affections and most diligent Endeavours It is Zeal so in the truth of things and in the general sense of Mankind So that where Zeal is not People will not believe that Religion is there The Zealous still lead them and have their company and when ever it happens that the generality of a Church or Way are cold dead and unconcern'd either to Religion in general or to their own particular Profession that Church and Profession is like to be deserted by those of warm affections who will betake them thither where they may have company in their Zeal and entertainment for it Here now hath been a principal occasion that many have fall'n off from our Church to the Roman Superstition Blessed be God we have an excellent constitution of Religion reformed according to Primitive Apostolick Doctrine and Usage But the misery is We the Members have by our Carelessness Indifferency Irreligion brought disgrace upon it and laid it low in the opinion of many zealous and devout People for the most will judg of Religions by the Professors of them Our difsenting Adversaries were and are very zealous they have a Zeal for God though not according to Knowledg that heat hath been very wild and very mischievous and by the ill conduct and bad effects of it we are prejudiced many of us against the very Word and against the Thing So that we run as 't is usual into a quite contrary extream and are afraid of any thing that looks like warm Concernment in or for Religion The Sects are earnest in their Prayers so to Folly and Extravagance On the contrary how indifferent are many of us to the Service of our Church those sober grave Devotions which formerly when they were supprest we disputed so earnestly for How little have they of our Company How undevoutly do we demean our selves at them How slightly do many talk of saying Prayers and being Devout as if they were things to be jested with How little Reputation doth Devotion give any one among us How little Shame or Disrepute the contrary The Dissenters are Superstitious as to hearing Sermons are swift to hear place almost all Religion in it Whereas too many of us reckon little of Preaching perform it as an Exercise hear it as an Entertainment at the best divers make nothing of it at least are without any affectionate concernment about it The holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper which the Fanaticks impale within their select numbers but is freely permitted to us how many slight how few attend The greatest part neglect it quite and will not by the most constant and earnest importunities of their Ministers be persuaded to do thus much to testifie their being Christians The Sects are zealous contenders for their dear Models of Government and Discipline But how little do we most of us heed the Government and Discipline of the Church We care not how it is affronted or trampled on yea we are ready upon every occasion and without any sometimes to flie in the Face of the Governours of it and to tear them our selves The Separatists are zealous to Superstition in the observance of the Lords Day Some of us in opposition reckon not much of it most I doubt are too negligent and remiss here In nothing doth the humour of Opposition appear more among us than in this We hold sacredness of places on the account of dedication to religious uses and respect due to them for this the Sects despise us as Superstitious They on the other side hold Sacredness and Divine Separation of some time the Lords Day at least this Doctrine and the consequent Practice some among us impeach as Superstitious and heed not that Day as they ought Frequent Acts of Parliament are made to inforce its Religious observation and to restrain abuses and prophanations of it which yet are the same as before and Magistrates that should execute Laws in many places take little or no notice of them Now the consequence of this unhappy Coldness and Indifferency must be that many People that are affectionate to Religion must needs turn away and joyn themselves either to the Conventicles on the one hand or the Papists on the other both which have great appearance of Zeal and Devotion and many no doubt have gone off to the Roman Church upon this only score being scandaliz'd by our neglects and indevotion This was the temper of Laodicea and the Remedy prescribed to prevent Ruine was Zeal Rev. 3. 19. And except we learn and practise this our Church in he necessary consequence must fall to nothing Our Enemies on both sides are diligent studious zealous and if we continue negligent and careless their designs to destroy us at length must of necessity succeed and here is one of the most considerable Causes they have succeeded so far already The way of Cure and Prevention is sober active Zeal both in Clergy and People As to the Prayers of the Church the Ministers ' ought to read them with more affection and external Devotion the People to attend them with more diligence and constancy and their attendance ought to be more humble and devout There was never more reason for our constancy and zeal in this Duty than now Prayers are always seasonable but most necessary in times of publick Difficulties and Dangers The rude Mariners betook them to their Prayers in the Storm JOB 1. In their affliction they will seek me early Hos. 5. 15. If we do not so in ours it will be a sad symptom We should further express our Zeal in being constant and unanimous in attending on the holy Sacrament our neglect of this is shameful and intolerable Nothing hath given so great a blow to our Religion it hath made some believe and say we have none We are
the most immediate consequent of want of Power in any Church is general Carelessness and Neglects and the loss of all Solemnity in Worship Congregations will be thin and their Deportment and publick Devotions negligent and indecent which greatly scandalize the regular and truly devout who are therefore the more easily tempted to put themselves among those with whom there is more appearance of decence and solemnity in the exercise of Religion This hath been a Rock of offence and Stone of stumbling The way to remove it and to prevent the further Mischiefs would be to Establish the Church of England and to give it Authority We are at present very zealous against Popery thanks be to God for any true Zeal against false Worship but methinks too much of our Zeal is only Negative we are for throwing down Popery but we talk little of establishing any thing and while 't is so our Zeal is lame and imperfect and will never effect any thing to purpose If we will secure our selves against Papism effectually we must fix and establish some Constitution of Religion that may be a constant Fence against it Popery we will not have so far we are right but what are we for Something we must Popery will not be run down by Atheism if we have no Religion or none Establish'd which will come to the same the Roman Religion will prevail at long run in despight of us Some Religion the worst will be too hard for none at least 't will have mens Hearts and then above half the work is done We must not think to keep out Popery by meer brutal force as the Heathens attempted to extinguish Christianity If we would go the right the effectual way we should endeavour it by professing by settling a better a more Catholick more ancient more holy Religion than theirs A bad Religion is most effectually driven out by a good not by none Well something must be establish'd And what do we desire Would we have Presbytery That is new that is different from the Primitive usage of the Christian Church that is unformed yet by the very Nation of the Patrons 't is an Idea different as every mans phancy is the men themselves have not yet agreed upon the Scheme and God knows when they would agree if the Matter were left to them and when that is done What may it cost us before it can be establish'd How long may it be before the People are well reconciled to the Novelty And if ever it be establish'd the Ecclesiastical Supremacy is gone from the right place and indeed the Royal Power every where is lost The King is a Subject He hath only changed his Lord one for many the Pope for the Synod and Elders The Gentry and People are ipso facto Slaves and then we have talkt and contrived well for Liberty Let Presbytery be considered where it hath been in Geneva Scotland little Essays of it in England and then let any tell me if it be not so He that owns not this knows it not We shall then neither Marry nor take a Servant nor dispose of a Child nor order any of our Domestique Affairs without the cognizance and arbitrement of the Elders Every word we speak every thing we do must come under their censure and be exposed to their Chastisement It will in short be a Yoke to our Necks which neither We nor our Children will ever be able to bear And I doubt not but those that understand themselves and it will be ready to say We would not have this Let those that know it not read the late History of Scotland and then speak if they would But what then would we be at Is it Independency we would have This is a thing different from the practice of the whole Christian World unknown to Ancient or later Times except here in the days of Rebellion and in New England now Popery takes away one of the Elements from the Laity in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper this takes away both Elements from all but a very few for they impropriate the Communion to their separated Company Popery takes away part of one Sacrament these take away the whole of both Sacraments for they allow not Baptism to be Administred but to the Children of their own Sect. Popery keeps the Scriptures up in an unknown Tongue and these make it a dead Letter a nothing to all but those that have their Spirit to understand and interpret Popery damns all the World that is without the pale of their pretended Catholick Church and these unchurch unchristian all but a few Hypocrites Phanatiques of their own sort One of them Lewis Du Moulin Cromwel's Historian in Oxford hath writ a Pamphlet lately to prove That not one in an 100000 nay probably not one in a Million since Adam shall be saved and that one is an Independent no doubt Popery requires auricular Confession to a Priest and these require a particular Story of every mans Conversion before their Congregation as the first necessary condition of Communion Popery pretends that the Roman Church is Infallible and these reckon every one of their private Spirits to be little less So that this in many things symbolizeth with and is as intolerable as Popery it self and what the Tyranny of it is may be read in the Story of our late Confusions particularly in the History of Independency And New England can let us know how gentle they are where they have Power and how much for Liberty of Conscience for they there Hang up their own Off-spring the Quakers for professing and living to the Principles that they themselves teach And both Presbyterians and Independents agree with Papists in this also viz. In binding the heavy burdens of their own disputable and some of them impious and absurd Doctrines upon the Minds and Consciences of men under the penalty of being Vnchurch'd and Ruined They are both severe Inquisitors into mens Opinions and will allow no latitude of thinking beyond their dear Orthodoxy contain'd in their large Confessions of Faith which are Creeds they make over and above the Apostolick and Primitive ones as the Papists do teaching for Doctrines necessary fundamental Doctrines the Traditions of men those of their own Party These therefore I suppose and hope will not suit us I am sure they will not suit either Monarchy in Government nor the Liberty of the Subject No they will comport with nothing but Democracy or Anarehy both which are Tyrannies and the worst sort And I believe few or none of the intelligent English Gentlemen can think of them But what then can we desire what can we propose to have Is there some know not what yet to be found out Is there any new Models yet to be invented unknown unpractised in any Age or Nation of the Christian World Many there are in the Brains of conceited men whose Wind-mill shall be set up What shall give it Reverence and Authority What shall secure it against the
of the Church of England They formed our Reformation and divers of them sealed it with their bloud They still are the great Champions of the Protestant Cause They have writ all that is considerable against Popery They by their Writings and Sermons have and do still with great zeal judgment and success oppose those corruptions The unreasonableness of ourvilifying and depressing them while we pretend zeal against Popery Their ill usage briefly described By it Popery is advanced The most common Objections against the Clergy of our Church considered The senslesness of that charge that our Clergy are inclinable to Popery How contrary that is not only to their Principles and Professions but to their Interest This Charge favours and recommends Popery Considerations why we should stand by countenance respect and encourage our Clergy now especially Some humble motions on their behalf for the advantage of the Church and the prevention of Popery CHAP. III. The Third occasion viz. our Divisions Those described They promote Popery by way of Scandal and by giving them direct opportunity to play their game No way to assurance against Popery but Union which is the way to that 1. Toleration is not Liberty of Conscience stated and considered It s destructiveness to all Government That no Party is really for it but use it only for clamour and pretence when they are not uppermost It is Rule all would have 2. Accommodation with Dissenters considered modestly proposed and in the supposable advantages and dangers of it and humbly left to the wisdom of our Governours 3. What ever is thought fit Accommodation or not the Constitution should be made firm and Laws put in execution in order to our Union and security against Popery Objections answered CHAP. IV. The Fourth occasion our carelesness and and indifferency in Religion The necessity of sober Zeal Religion is recommended and secured by it ours much prejudiced by the want of it All Sects advance and grow by zeal though ignorant and mistaken Instances of their zeal we ought to be as zealous in a good cause as they are in a bad in what particulars we should be more zealous viz. in attending Publick Prayers and Sacraments in studying the Constitution of our Church and in observance of the Lords day zeal in Preaching largely discoursed and the folly and mischiefs of the trifling wittisizing way largely represented Preaching vindicated against the opinion of its being a very indifferent and meerly humane thing CHAP. V. The Fifth occasion viz. extravagant Zeal The present fury and pretended zeal of Atheists justly reprehended and scorn'd The mischiefs their Fury against Popery doth the Protestant Religion to prevent which we ought to disown their pretended help and kindness An humble motion for the effectual suppressing of Atheism in order to our security against Popery The extravagant zeal of others mischievous Mens unreasonable multiplying the numbers of Papists an advantage to Popery Their real numbers in this Nation inconsiderable their hopes from Foreign Assistances vain The senselesness of their Plots The unpracticableness of introducing Popery here by force Our multiplying the number and strength of Papifts encourageth Plots The pretence of their many secret Friends considered the mischievous use of that pretence to the confounding of us among our selves as it hath of late been used it effectually doth the Papists business a way of prevention offered Another branch of this injustice viz. uncharitable charging all that profess conversion from Popery as if they were still Papists Another instance viz. the appropriating the name of Protestant to the Sects and other enemies to the Government The mischiefs of it The Conclusion being the Authors Apology FINIS Advertisement concerning the ERRATA THe Reader is desired to take notice of the following Errors of the Press Some of them especially in the first second and fifth Pages are Alterations of the Copy others are mostly mispointings but such as perplex and alter the Sense The rest I leave to common Ingenuity and Charity Errata Page 1. Line 18. Read England the Protestant Reformation p. 2. l. 6. r. is that which we call the Church of England p. 5. l. 21. r. Patrons of the notion p. 7. l. 26. r. model p. 15. l. 21. r. wrest their Rights from them p. 33. l. 4. r. decent uncall'd to offer their opinion l. 5. r. I think p. 40. l. 9. r. wittisizing way p. 44. l. 17. r. Zeal and help p. 47. l. 3. r. Protestant Non-conformists l. 28. r. to which l. 32. r. populous p. 48. l. 6. r. one more or two at most
rest that equally pretend How shall it get hold upon the Consciences of men or will we have a Religion without having Conscience concern'd What ever is set up as Religious Security against Popery must stand on the grounds of Scripture right Reason and the best and purest Antiquity Popish Corruptions do all consist in departure from these If what we endeavour to establish be impeachable by Scripture Reason or Antiquity we destroy our own Grounds and disable our own Arguments against Popish Depravations Upon these then we must stand by these we must establish and if these things are so what can we desire what can we think to have but our Old Protestant Legal Constitution of the Church of England What but this which is agreeable to Scripture Reason and Primitive Christianity as hath been proved by many learned men to the shame both of Papists and Phanaticks of all sorts accommodate to our Civil Government wrought into our Fundamental Laws suited to and sufficient for all our needs sober in its Principles moderate in its Government and Discipline Its Articles are not imposed on the Conscience as all Fundamentals and of necessity to Salvation as Popish and Presbyterian Principles are but as pious wholsome Doctrines Articles of Consent for the avoidance of Controversies and Disputes its Prayers are Grave and Serious without affectation or doubtful Tenents Its Ceremonies few ancient decent declared to be in themselves alterable and indifferent its Power is owned to be only Spiritual what other any Ecclesiasticks have is acknowledg'd to be the favour of Kings it invades no rights of Princes it secures Obedience to Government and the interests of Societies Its Penalties are all for Correction not Destruction it punisheth none for bare Opinions it readily receives Offenders into its Bosom on repentance it is not forward to denounce Curses against Dissenters It is very Candid Charitable and Ingenuous to other Churches it was reformed by just Authority with great Temper and avoidance of Extreams These particulars and a great many more to the same general purpose have been fully proved by the learned Asserters of our Church and lately in a particular worthy Discourse of the Moderation of the Church of England which is so much opposed because so unhappy to be so little understood It will much concern us now especially to study and consider this Constitution which is the only mean between dangerous Extreams that and that only which can be made to stand Other Models are Romantick Vnpracticable they may entertain the imagination of phantastical busie unquiet Innovators but will never be brought into a constant settlement of Practice or be made any security to us against Popish Superstitions This by the Grace of God and Wise Sober Counsels and Endeavours the Church of England may And if any Mercy yet remain for so sinful a People it will be made so It is I am sure the duty of every Friend to his Country of every hearty enemy to Popery in his place to endeavout it Especially Sir such Gentlemen as you Representatives of your Country in Parliament I humbly think are concern'd to Consult and Act your part in order to it We honour you and thank God for your great Zeal against Popery you will effectually express it to your future Glory and your own and the Nations lasting Security and Happiness by endeavouring to make firm and to fasten our Foundations by helping up the decayed Banks and Dams which the Wisdom and Piety of our Kings and Parliaments have made against the Inundation of that Ocean of Errors and Superstitions by labouring to build up our almost ruined Walls and to fortifie our Bulwarks viz. To strengthen the Religion of our Protestant Reformation by Law Establish'd that it may be yet more firmly and securely settled This Sir I hope you in particular will endeavour and not give occasion for that Reproach that your Zeal is not for the safety of your Religion but of your Lands You cannot secure the latter but by making the former safe nor do this I humbly believe any other way Your Father Sir and other Relations were zealous Adherers to this Excellent Church and suffered much for their King and It being very sensible of these truths You inherit their great Estate and I hope you do these their Virtues You had through God's Blessing and their Care a pious Education in this Protestant Way this you still profess and I hope will adhere to on all occasions You see the Churches Enemies on the other side those that so lately destroy'd it the King Government and all are now as bufie as ever and seem to be confident to do their Work again they are always stirring and industrious in our Difficulties and Dangers these are their opportunities Their business also is to destroy us which if they could effect they would by that make way for Popery which they seem so earnest against You cannot but observe how they out-rage traduce abuse and flie at the poor distressed Church of England the Fathers and Sons of it They think themselves so secure of succeeding that they do in a manner declare already They have been always seeking Pretences and are now glad at heart of the Popish Plot because of the opportunity and advantages it gives them and 't is as plain as Light that they would use it to ruine us the other way and if they succeed we are as certainly undone I hope you will not be so intent on one Danger as to neglect and oversee the other Yea we fall at last into the same which we most fear if they once drive us into Confusions in Religion which must unavoidably follow the destruction of the Church of England So that with great reason I may affirm that these Enemies of it are promoters of Popery notwithstanding the loud noise they make against it I hope when it pleaseth God and the King that the Parliament shall meet You with the rest of our Patriots will consider for the Confirmation and I stablishment of our Legal Protestant Constitution against the dangers of Fanatical Confusions as well as those of Popish Superstitions Whether the great Assembly of our Representatives shall think fit to desire some smaller Alterations and Abatements for the gaining reasonable Dissenters some will never be satisfied or not it is not for me to conjecture All sober Sons of the Church of England will no doubt acquiesce and be content with what the Wisdom of the Nation shall think fit But when that Point is resolv'd whether one way or the other 't is to be hoped Strengthening and Settlement with such Allowances or without will follow that we may not be always floating This is the longing expectation of all Wise and Good men and it must be Moderate Grave Religious Counsels that must contrive and effect this Happiness for us Many such no doubt will be offer'd at your Meeting I hope you will go with the Healers of our Breaches and not with the
fierce men that would drive things to Extreams I am sure you can get nothing by Confusions and Dissettlements Pray God disappoint those that would have Distractions because they think they can get by them I remember walking with you last Summer in your Park you were pleas'd to ask me What way there was to fecure the Church of England under a Popish Successor though he should be Mild and Gentle and not bent upon the enforcing of his Religion One chief ground of the Question was That the King bestows the Bishopricks and many other Ecclesiastical Preferments and it cannot well as you reasonably offer'd be supposed but that He will in that case bestow them on such as either are Popishly affected or not very averse to or zealous against that Religion Or if the King should do otherwise and bestow them upon the most Worthy Sincere thorough Protestants yet the People would entertain Jealousies of them and never think them such which would destroy their Authority and Reverence and occasion the dispersion of the People yet further into Corners To this I said That I did not pretend to offer publick expedients in such great and weighty matters but I thought that if by any means of Justice and safety to the Rights of the Crown such as consent in that case would be Canonical Elections should during such time be granted to each particular Church and the King should please not to determine them in their choice to a Person by his Conge de' stire as now but leave them to their liberty of Choosing as they thought fit as in some former times they did each Dean and Chapter to choose the Bishop of the Diocess and their own Members that this might be reasonable Security And if the Bishop the Dean and Chapter the Clergy of each Diocess or distinct Deanry or the Vniversities should have the right given them of presenting to the King's Livings during such time of a Popish Successor this way I humbly thought might in all likelihood secure us against those Dangers For the Clergy of the Church of England are of all men most concern'd in point of Interest as well as Principles and profession to oppose Popery and as far as lawfully they may all advances towards it This one would think should need no proof but it seems it doth among some and I shall clear that Matter by and by And they would no doubt take care from time to time to Elect such as were most fast to our Protestant Constitution most eminent in their Lives and Learning and most able and ready to oppose Popish Corruptions and so the Church of England might stand if direct and profest Violence were not offer'd to it To this purpose I then said I think on the occasion of his Majesty's gracious offers for Protestant Security under a Successor of the other Religion I do not know what opportunities may be offer'd again the next Session but if any such be and this particularly might be obtain'd I hope it will be accepted and me-thinks some such thing should be desired But Sir I am no Projector I speak all this with all imaginable submission to the wiser Judgments of my Superiours CHAP. II. II. ANother occasion I note of the increase and danger of Popery is our ill treatment of our own Protestant Clergie those of the Church of England Their Predecessors were they who first formed our Reformation upon the soberest and best grounds of Opposition to the Roman Church as I have shewn and by their Blood sealed our Protestant Establishments And the Successors of those blessed men Bishops and other Episcopal Divines have ever since been the Scourges of Popery who by their learned and excellent Writings have confuted exposed triumph'd over the numerous Errors of that Church These have been the grand Champions of the Protestant Cause that have fought our Battels against the stoutest and most daring Enemies with glorious success such were Bishop Jewel Bishop Morton Bishop Andrews Arch-Bishop Laud Bishop Hall Bishop Davenant Arch-Bishop Usher Arch-Bishop Bramhal Bishop Taylor Bishop Cozens Dr. Hammond Mr. Chillingworth Mr. Mead Dean Stillingfleet Dean Tillotson Dean Lloyd Dr. Henry More Dr. Brevint these and innumerable others have strenuously and plainly refuted bafled and disproved the Popish Depravations And every where men of the same sort in all parts of England are very busie both by Books and Sermons to render those Corruptions odious and detestable as they deserve Particularly we have an eminent aggregate Instance in the Reverend Episcopal Clergie of the City of London How many learned substantial convictive Sermons have they preach'd against the Popish Doctrines and Practice since our late Fears and Dangers I believe there have not been such deliver'd in that City against those Superstitions since the Foundation of it More sound accomplish'd judicious Preachers it certainly never had never any that understood the Roman Falsities better never any that were more resolv'd or more active Enemies to them The Divines the Ancient and the Modern of the Church of England principally have by their Preaching and their Writings so inform'd season'd and spirited the People against Popery as we find at this Day from them they have their chief Grounds from them their courage of Opposition 'T is true some few others have written something Mr. Baxter and Mr. Pool have labour'd worthily Dr. Owen hath said somewhat to Fiat Lux and there are some Sermons of the Presbyterians extant Morning Lectures against Popery These are the most the chief of their Performances I ever heard of Indeed the People of the Dissenting Party talk commonly as if the Non-conformist Ministers had written the most and best Books against Popery and had this way shewn themselves more zealous Adversaries to it than the Conformable Clergy have done But they do but shew their ignorance in this as they do in other Matters of the like nature And the ground of their Mistake is this That they take all the Books which their Ministers have written against the Church of England to be written against Popery They have indeed written more than a Horseload of Books of this sort but what they have written against the Church of Rome a Boy may carry at his Back I would not disparage any Protestant Writings against the Papists nor appear partial to the Episcopal Divines Let the World compare and judg of which side have been the most and most considerable Opposites to the Popish cause Let any the most prejudiced against the Church of England read both sorts and then judg who have been the Original Authors and who have only used the others Reading Learning and Reasonings I would leave the Matter with the most partial to Dissenters to determine when they have read when they have consider'd There is no man certainly of understanding or experience of the World but must grant that the chief the most successful Antagonists of Popery have been the Clergy of the Church of England These the Papists have
want of Authority in the Church and respect to its Ministers are plain and acknowledg'd occasions of our Dangers Never was a People so Broken so Divided What numerous names of Sects have we and scarce any one at Unity within it self all subdivided and broken into diversities that want names We have raked up all the old Heresies and added new Monsters formerly unheard of All that the Phancies all that the Phrensies of conceited and distracted men can invent are Doctrines of Religion and Grounds of Sect-making among us And all are zealous for their particular Conceits all call their own imaginations by the most sacred names Light God's Truth Gospel Ways Holy Mysteries Daunings Illuminations Refinings and a world more of such fondness by which they are infinitely puff'd up in their own Phancies as the only Knowing the only Spiritual Christians and taught to scorn all other Doctrines and Ways as beggarly Rudiments Elements of this World and Carnal Reasonings at the best yea generally to rail bitterly at them as Lyes Popish Babylonish Antichristian trash Doctrines of Devils and such like and consequently to hate and bitterly to revile all different Judgments especially those that are uppermost Establish'd or countenanc'd by the Government now chiefly the Church of England but if any one of them were got into the place it would be the same thing all the rest would flie upon it and tear it with their utmost Rancour Vehemence and Reproaches Which state of things among us is infinitely Scandalous to the Protestant Religion to which they all pretend And those that leave us clamorously object that there is no end of our Factions and Divisions That 't is a sign our Church is not the true one since it is so broken shattered divided Which Divisions they think and say are either the natural consequents of our departure from them or the Judgment of God upon us for that Separation See say they what you Protestants are a medley of wild disagreeing Sects as different from and as fierce one against another as against us one in Name but in Principles in Affections in your particular ways infinitely diverse infinitely opposite You have no Principles are fastned to no Foundation float up and down like the Waves of the Sea still rouling from one Sect to another Whereas we Catholicks are one Body an Edifice firmly built upon the Authority of the Church having no such Fractions among us but being as a City that is at unity in it self By such suggestions to which our Divisions give too much colour they deceive the Hearts of the Simple and draw multitudes into their Snares And as our Divisions promote Popery by way of Scandal and the ill opinion they beget of the Reformation so they do the same by giving the Papists positive and direct opportunity to play their Game They put themselves into all shapes and disguises among our Sects and under those Vizards drive us on towards more Confusion and disseminate their own Doctrines under other Names and Appearances with great advantage to their Cause So that while there are such Separations and Conventicle Meetings among us Popery is still carrying on The Popish Agents will creep into Houses they will hide and shelter themselves under those pretences and drive on their Business by them So that there is no way for us to come to any assurance against Popery but by Vnion by which the Scandal will be removed and the advantages that we give our Enemies by our Divisions But this considering how things are may seem utterly unpracticable union and agreement in Opinions is certainly unfeisable it never was in the World it never will be But yet some External Vnion Subjection Truce fairness among the different minds may And how is that to be attain'd Must all Dissenters from the Church be supprest Or must they have a general Toleration The ordering this Matter must be left to the Wisdom of our Governours only in general I say something must be done for the removing the mischievous effects of our Divisions I will not pretend to direct but I 'le give you my opinion in two things 1. Toleration is not the way Liberty of Conscience must be given there is no help for that no power on Earth can invade it for Liberty of Conscience is liberty of Practical Judgment and the freedom of that none can take away Liberty of Practice then is the thing in dispute that consists either in professing our private Opinions or our walking in private Ways contrary to Establishments and as to these too strictly speaking our Liberty cannot be taken away For whatever the Laws or Penalties are men will still retain natural power and liberty to profess what they believe and to act according to that profession The question then is of Political Liberty whether they should not be determined by Laws and bounded by Prohibitions and Penalties in Ecclesiastical Matters as well as others And so it will come to this whether there should be any Government in the Church or not For if there be a Government there must be Laws if there be Laws there must be Penalties annext to the violation of those Laws otherwise the Government is precarious and at every ones mercy that is 't is none at all the very nature of Government requires Restraints and the bounding the liberty of Practice and to strive for Toleration is to contend against all Government Let it be tried in the Civil State in Armies in Schools in any Societies or publick Bodies And see what work it would make with them None certainly could stand under the practice of such a Principle For if Penalties are forborn to any why should not all expect it when there is occasion And all may have the same pretence when they need it If no one is to be punish'd for doing that which is agreeable to his Conscience or not doing that which is contrary to it every one will quickly learn to say that the thing he would do is his Conscience and the thing he dislikes is against it And 't is impossible for all the wisdom in the World to tell but that it may no one can judg that but a man's self So that here is an effectual loose and out-let to all Government in the Church yea and in the State too For Conscience is as much concern'd in the Duties of the Second Table as in those of the First Conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Acts 24. 16. And there is no Statute of the Realm that can be made but men may find a pretence of Conscience against it And if Conscience every man's peevish humoursome erring Judgment which he will call by that name be so sacred that no one must be punish'd that follows it then every one may be excused when he thinks fit to plead this and so good-night to all Laws and Governments of all sorts If a man steals anothers Goods the Law would punish him But saith he I did
is in vain to yield in order to a Consolidation that is unpracticable On the other hand there are who make other professions and are not so vastly distant from us those declare for an Episcopal Government and a Publick Liturgie with them one would think it should not be impossible to Unite They pretend that some small Abatements and Condescensions on our part would do And we grant that our Liturgie and Ceremonies are alterable some actual alterations have been made since the return of the Government If reasonable Alterations and Compliances would gain them perhaps it might be worth while to endeavour it this way I speak doubtfully because it is a thing of great and various Consideration if sober men could be gain'd and considerable numbers of People with them upon tolerable Terms it would be a strengthening to our Church and very desirable But it should be weigh'd too whether any considerable men and numbers would in likelihood come in Whether the People would be reconciled to the Church with them Or whether they would not flie from them when they are ours as they do from our own men and betake themselves to those that still stand out in defiance And whether the Persons we admit would not with more authority and advantage propagate ill Principles among our People whom they they are allow'd to teach Some of those that by straining have got in have done so Conform'd by halves and in a way that shews their dislike of what they do that 't is Force and not Choice and have made it their business if not directly to oppose the Church yet cunningly by way of Insinuation they have fomented and kept alive corrupt Doctrines These things may be consider'd on both sides by those that are concern'd to open the Gate wider or to keep it as it is If our Governors should think fit to widen and to yield in some things it would be a Christian compliance on their part and perhaps a kindness to our Episcopal Clergy whose Obligation to some Innocent but offensive usages disaffects many mistaken well-meaning People to them robs their Churches of their Company and them of their Kindnesses and Incouragements renders their Lives full of difficulties and disputes enforceth them to eternal Contests for their Dues and renders their Ministry and profitable Pains in many places ineffectual The Cure of these Evils and the settling the Church upon larger and so a safer Foundation as to Interest I mean are possibly good Reasons why the Matter should be now taken into serious and deliberate Consideration And the dangers from Popery which the Dissenters also so much apprehend should methinks render them more apt to comply and willing to accept of moderate terms in order to our Conjunction against the common Danger This I believe some are and with them there is possibility of Vniting and likely there may be good effects of it But others of them are strangely heightned by our Dangers and stand now upon more distant terms than ever they expect that the World will shortly be their own and therefore shew themselves more inveterate against the Church and us than ever Certainly these do not believe the Popish Plot nor fear Popery as they pretend they only amuse and affright the People with them thereby to carry on their own designs otherwise they would now especially supplicate the Government for Vnion and sacrifice Humour Interest of a Party and the Pride of Separation to the Protestant advantage and safety They would be more yieldable and compliant and desirous to cement and joyn with us for the common Benefit and Security If the Government should think fit to consider those that are so and to make any small alterations in their favour it would be Charitable and Candid and possibly for the Publick Interest But whether fit or not 't is not for private Persons to determine nor very decent uncall'd to offer their opinion when that Point is concluded I think 3. The Constitution should be made firm whether with any alterations or without them and Laws put in punctual vigorous Execution Till that is done all will signifie nothing The Church hath lost all through Remissness and Non-execution of Laws and by the contrary course things must be reduced or they never will To what purpose are Parliaments so concern'd to prepare good Laws if the Officers who are intrusted with the Execution neglect that Duty and let them lie Dead This brings Laws and Government into Contempt and 't were much better the Laws were never made By them the Dissenters are provoked and being not restrain'd by the exacting of the Penalties they are fiercer and more bent upon their own ways than they would be otherwise But it may be said the execution of Laws of Conformity raiseth the cry of Persecution and will not that be Scandalous Not so scandalous as Anarchy Schism and eternal Divisions and Confusions both in Church and State Better that the unruly should clamour than that the regular should groan and all should be undone Better the Schismatical should be justly punish'd by the Government let them call that Punishment what they will than that the Government should really and for ever be Persecuted by them If Penalties must be suspended when ever the guilty clamour and call things by wrong names then farewel all Government Our Governours have Consciences too as well as private Persons and they ought to act according to theirs for the publick Benefit and Safety let it be never so much against the grain of those that will for ever be discontented But it may yet be Objected that punishment in such Cases will do no good Men will not be beaten into Religion nor out of any And it is true that some will never be reduced never reclaim'd but then their just Sufferings will be warnings to others The greatest part of those that now scatter and run about do it out of Humour or Phancy or Faction or Interest or Animosity or desire of being accounted Godly not really out of Conscience and conviction of Duty and these the Penalties duly exacted would bring back into Order and when they have been used to that and strict Government they may really grow wiser and be reconciled throughly to the Church and its Constitutions against which they were before so prejudiced for hereby they will be forced into soberer Company and under more sound and sober Preaching Our Ministers then will have the opportunity of informing their abused and misguided understandings of discovering the Fallacies and Mistakes they have been abused by and of setting their Consciences right in those Matters While People run on without controul in their own ways they will not hearken they will not consider any thing that is offer'd to them Like the wild Ass they snuff up the Wind who can turn them away But when their Opinions and Ways bring them trouble when they are chastised for them they are then more disposed to attend and weigh the Reasons
whoever pleaseth and that there should be no remedy nor as much as any way of clearing In other Cases the Law takes care of mens Names as well as of their Estates and there is no reason but it should they are and ought to be as dear to us and our greatest Interests depend on their security And if it be not done in this Case here wants one great provision for the Liberty of the Subject and our common safety from Tyranny and Arbitrary Power There is nothing in the world more Arbitrary than mens Tongues let loose and if they are not restrain'd and tied up here as in other Cases we are all Slaves and all exposed to suffer the greatest Evils from one another without any way of Redress and so fall into state of War This is a real and mighty Grievance and 't is to be desired and hoped that suitable Provision will be made against it There is yet another branch of this Folly and Injustice which is uncharitable Censure and suspicion of all that turn from Popery as if they were really and at the bottom the same still Some men are for keeping up their numbers full and will not allow of their Conversion except they are converted over to their Sect or some way or other serve their Interest except they run with them in the ways of Schism and are factious against the Government if they do thus they are dear applauded Converts but otherwise if they are only come into the Church of England and stick there if they are friends to the King and assert Him and the establish'd Order in Church and State they shall be Papists still in spight of them There are many Instances of this unworthiness but among them all there is not a greater than in the case of an eminent Nobleman which you and I have had discourse of His Ancestors most of them perhaps were Papists all were not so for the great Grand-father was Lord Privy Seal to Queen Elizabeth The Lord that now is hath profest the Protestant Religion these thirty Years that is as long as he hath been capable of making a judgment for himself He married a great Lady an eminent Protestant of a famous zealous Protestant Family hath for many Years fifteen or sixteen to my knowledg kept a Protestant Chaplain of the Church of England in his House who hath read the Publick Liturgy twice every day there his Lordship hath always accustomed to be present at them and useth to be as regular in those Devotions as any Member of our Church can be And not only so but he frequents the Communions also which at the appointed times are there duly Administred His Children likewise are carefully bred in the Protestant Way of the Church of England Some two or three old Servants his Lordship hath who have lived all their days in the Family of the Popish Religion they being ancient and having no other dependance my Lord still keeps them there and 't would be very unbecoming his Nobleness to do otherwise but all the Servants else are Protestants And I know that both this Lord and his Lady take great care to have them all receive the holy Communion according to the Church of England And it was not long since that his Lordship himself spoke to a Divine of our Church whom he sent for on purpose to instruct his eldest Daughter then newly of Years for it in order to the receiving the Sacrament which the young Lady piously did as the course of the Family is This Lord you know is in great Command and by the Laws is obliged to give all other proofs which I dare say he sincerely doth He is a Member of his Majesty's Council of this as well as of the former and to all Acts of Council against the Papists his Name is still one And yet notwithstanding all this such is the perversness and malice of some men that they voice him up for a Papist though all things he doth and all things he saith declare the contrary and they seem resolved that so it shall be let his Lordship say or do what he will This is strange Treatment and looks as if we wanted Papists and were resolv'd to make as many as we can possibly find any colour for It shews that those men really do not fear them but rather fear the want of them to furnish out pretence for their Designs and Projects Otherwise 't were very strange that so great a Person and his Family should not be welcomed and joyfully received into our Protestant Communion and other Noblemen of the Popish Religion incouraged by the civil and kind reception to do the like But it being so much otherwise in this and many other Cases it is plain that notwithstanding all their clamour and talk some men desire there should be more Papists than really are for colour and shew to assist and countenance their Stratagems and perpetual contrivances against the Government both in Church and State Whatever they have a mind to overthrow and destroy they mark with the brand of Popish or Popishly affected whether with Reason or without any matters not Popery is and justly so the object of the greatest hatred and the most general so that 't is but spending this Imputation on those we would ruine and their business is near done Whether this be not the reason of the present injustice of this kind offered to the Church of England and especially to her Clergy let those that know some men and their manner judge They are sure the Church-men Divines and others will adhere to the Government and are not to be drawn into their ways and the grand Business of some is to overthrow the Church and them so that they must be branded blackned and rendred popularly odious and what so effectually doth that as putting the Comprehensive mark of all mischief that of Popery upon them But on the Contrary all those they shall have occasion to use in order to their destructive designs shall be united in the dear name of Protestants 'T is no matter though many are Atheists many Debauches meer Worldlings and Politicians some acting from malice and revenge some from ambition some to repair their broken fortunes by a shuffle some out of greedy desire to be fingring Church-Lands again yet all declaring against Popery are Protestants though they never heard themselves reckoned of any Religion before So the Sects of all denominations that agree scarce in any thing positive that hate and vilify each other and will scarce allow that any but themselves are Christians yet these also are all tack't together by the kind denomination of being Protestants All but we of the Church of England are so that is Those that are of no Religion and never pretended to be of any those that were bred of the Papists and taught their Principles by the Papists those that never took Oaths or Tests against Popery and that many of them refuse to take any Or