the Loss of others is their Gain and a part of their Revenue 'T is of this great Order and Sept of Men only that all Synods and Convocations are of modern Ages compounded and what they determin is called the Canons or Decrees of the Church though Alas they be only to Obey what they Ordain giving us thereby to understand that they want the Authority of her Name where they deny her to have a part or to be present But they have not only been the Usual Starters of new Opinions and the great Creed-Makers among Christians but the Sway they have with the People makes them so Considerable an Interest in the Eyes of the Civil Magistrate that he often finds it not for his Ends to disobliege them Upon this it is we see them so Successful in their Solicitations of Publick Authority to give its Sanction to their Opinions and Forms and not only recommend them which goes certainly a great way with the People but impose the Reception of them and that on severe Penalties in so much that either men must offer up their understandings to their Fears and dissemble Conviction to be safe or perish there is no medium Something of this lies near us God Almighty open our Eyes to see both the Truth and Mischief of this thing But what shall I say of that Implicit Reverence the people have for the Clergy and dependence upon them about Religion and Salvation as if they were the only Trustees of Truth and high Treasurers of Divine Knowledge to the Laity and we daily see that the blind Opinion they have of their Office as that which is peculiar to that order and not common to Christians be their Gifts as they will disposes them to rely entirely upon their Performances The Minister is Chooser and Taster and every thing for them They seem to have deliver'd up their Spiritual SELVES and made over the business of Religion the Rights of their Souls to their Pastor and that scarcely with any Limitation of Trust too and as if he were or could be their Garante in t'other World they become very insolicitous of any further Search So that if we would examine the respective Parishes of Protestant as well as Popish Countries we shall find and it is come to that sad pass that very few have any other Religion then the Tradition of their Priest They have given up their Judgment to him and seem greatly at their Ease that they have discharged themselves of the Trouble of Working out their own Salvation and Proving all things that they might hold fast that which is good And in the room of that care bequeath'd the charge of those Affairs to a Standing Pensioner for the purpose Thus the Clergy are become a sort of Mediators betwixt Christ and us that as we must go to God by Christ so must we come to Christ by them they must be it seems like the high Priests under the Law that only enter'd into the Holy of Holies whose Lips preserved Knowledge and by whom we must understand a Divine Oracle As if the Mysteries of Salvation are not to be intrusted with the Vulgar or that it were a kind of Prophanation to expose them to their View and the only way to make them cheap and contemptible to suffer Every Christian to have the keeping of them though they belong to every Christian But this Language thanks be to God is that of humane Authority that would magnify the Mysteries of Salvation by the Ignorâ—nce of those that should know them as if the Gospel-dispensation were not that of a full Age but Infancy or Minority 'T is true the State of people under the Law and the Levitical Priest-hood is called a Bondage Childhood and Minority and the Law thereof is term'd a School master to bring to Christ but it is as true that the State of Christianity is reputed the Age of grace freedom manhood and Inheritance by the same Apostle And that we should have external Guardians of our Faith and Religion upon us after we are come to Years of Discretion that might be very allowable under the â—mbroil Age of our Minority is not to obtain greater Freedom but to make our Case worse For it is more tolerable to be used as Children when we are Children and know nothing above that Condition then when riper Years have brought us to the Understanding and Resentment of Men. But it is almost as unpardonable as it is unsufferable to make that Infancy the Perfution of the Christian-Religion as if there were nothing beyond wearing a Bib and being fed carried and govern'd as Nurses please that is as the Priests will It is a Knowing and Reasonable and not a blind Obedience that commends a Man Children should be ruled because they have no Understanding or Choice but because 't is not so with Men Reason ought to conduct them in their Duty that the Service they perform to God may be such as the Apostle calls a Reasonable one The Will is no longer Will if not Free nor Conscience to be reputed Conscience where compell'd The Gospel is not the time of Ceremonial Works but Faith therefore not Coercive because out of our own power it is the Gift of God But though this be very unhappy that so excellent a Reformation founded upon the freest Principles of Inquiry common to all-that had Souls to save should so miserably degenerate into Formality and Ignorance Implicit Faith and blind Obedience yet that part of our History is most lamentable to me where we find the Noble Bereans the diligent Inquirers People that desire to prove all things that they may hold fast that which is good such as would see with their own Eyes and that dare not transfer the right of Examination to any mortal man but who desire to make their Faith and Religion the Faith and Religion of their Conscience and Judgment that on which they dare depend and rest their eternal Happiness in the Day of Judgment that these I say should instead of being cherisht be therefore exposed to the Displeasure of the Clergy the Scorn of the Rude Multitude and the Prosecution of the Civil Magistrate this I confess is very anxious to remember and I only do it for this purpose that it may put us in mind of our great Declension from Primitive Protestancy and how much Humane Authority has crept into the Affairs of Religion since that time of the day when we made it a prime Article of our Protestant Creed to eject and renounce it And that you may yet see your selves short of your own Pretences if not contrary to your express Principles and how much you have narrow 〈◊〉 your selves from the use of your First Principles Suppose a Turk be convinced that Christ is that which he believed Mahomet to be the Greatest of all Prophets That Mahomet was an Impostor That Jesus is the only Saviour and Mediator but being Catechistically taught the Two Natures in one Person
of Government by all laudable Means to preserve Sincerity for without it there can be no Faith or Truth in Civil Society Nor is this all for its a Maxim worthy of Caesar's Notice NEVER TO THINK HIM TRUE TO CAESAR THAT IS FALSE TO HIS OWN CONSCIENCE besides raped Consciences treasure up Revenge and such Persons are not likely to be longer Friends to Caesar than he hath Preferments to allure them or Power to deter them from being his most implacable Enemies 11thly There is not so ready a Way to Atheism as this of extinguishing the Sense of Conscience for Worldly Ends destroy that Internal Rule of Faith Worship and Practice towards God and the Reason of my Religion will be Civil Injunctions and not Divine Convictions consequently I am to be of as many Religions as the Civil Authority shall impose however untrue or contradictory This Sacred Tye of Conscience thus broken farewel to all Heavenly Obligations in the Soul Scripture Authority and ancient Protestant Principles Christ may at this Rate become what the Jews would have had him and his Apostles be reputed Turners of the World up-side down as their Enemies represented them and the godly Martyrs of all Ages so many Self-Murderers for they might justly be esteem'd Resisters of Worldly Authority so far as that Authority concern it self with the Imposition of Religion because they refused the Conformity commanded even to Death And it may not be unworthy of Caesar's Consideration if from these Proceedings People are tempted to infer there is nothing in Religion but Worldly Aims and Ends because so much Power is abus'd under the Name of Religion to vex and destroy Men for being of another Religion that he hazards the best Hold and Obligation he hath to Obedience which is Conscience For where they are taught to Obey for Interest Duty and Conviction are out of Doors By all Means let Conscience be sacred and Virtue and Integrity though under dissenting Principles cherisht Charity is more powerful than Severity Perswasion than Penal Laws Lastly To the Reproach of this Course with Wise Men it hath never yet obtain'd the End desir'd for instead of compliance the Difference is widened the Sufferers are pitied by Spectators which only helps to increase the Number of Dissenters for whoever is in the Wrong few think the Persecutor in the Right This in all Ages having been the Issue of severe Prosecution of Dissenters for Matters of Religion what a Cruel Troublesom Thankless Succesles Office is it for Caesar to be imployed in May he take better Measures of his Authority and Interest and use his Power to the Encouragement of all the Virtuous and Industrous and Just Punishment of the Lazy and Vicious in all Perswasions so shall the Kingdom Flourish and the Government Prosper Church Power supposeth a Church first It will not be improper therefore to examine first What a Scripture New Testament Church is and next what is the Scripture-Power belonging to such a Church A Scripture-Church as she may be called Visible is a Company or Society of People believing professing and practising according to the Doctrine and Example of Christ Jesus and his Apostles and not according to the Scribes and Pharisees that taught for Doctrine the Traditions of men They are such as are Meek in Heart Lowly in Spirit Chast in Life Virtuous in all Conversation full of Self-denyal Long-suffering and Patient not only forgiving but loving their very Enemies which answers Christ's own Character of himself Religion and Kingdom which is the most apt Distinction that ever can be given of the Nature of his Church and her Authority viz. MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD Which well connects with Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's It was an Answer to a very suspitious Question for it was familiarly bruitd that he was a King and came to possess his Kingdom and was by some called the King of the Jews The Jews being then subjected to the Roman Empire it concern'd Pilate Caesars Deputy to understand his pretentions which upon better information he found to center in this My Kingdom is not of this World else would my Subjects fight for me As if he had said these Reports are a meer perversion of my Peaceable and Self denying Intentions an Infamy invented by malicious Scribes and Pharisees that they might the better prevail with Caesar to Sacrifice me to their hatred and revenge I am Caesar's Friend I seek none of his Kingdoms from him nor will I sow Sedition plot or conspire his Ruin no Let all Men render unto Caesar the Things that are Caesar's that 's my Doctrine for I am come to erect a Kingdom of another Nature then that of this World to wit a Spiritual Kingdom to be set up in the Heart and Conscience is my Throne upon that will I sit and rule the Children of Men in Righteousness and whoever lives Soberly Righteously and Godlily in this World shall be my good and loving Subjects and they will certainly make no ill ones for Caesar since such Virtue is the end of Government and renders his Charge both more easie and safe then before Had I any other Design then this would I suffer my self to be reproached traduced and persecuted by a conquered people were it not more my Nature to suffer then revenge would not their many provocations have drawn from me some Instance of another kind then the Forbearance and Forgiveness I teach certainly were I animated by another principle then the perfection of Meekness and Divine Sweetness I should not have forbidden Peter fighting saying Put up thy Sword or endoctrinated my Followers to bear Wrongs but revenged all Affronts and by Plots and other Stratagems have attempted Ruin to my Enemies and the acquest of worldly Empire and no doubt but they would have fought for me Nay I am not only patiently with Pity to Enemies sensible of their barbarous Carriage towards me for my Good Will to them for their Eternal Happiness I only seek but I fore-see what they further intend against me they design to crucifie me And to do it will rather free a Murderer then save their Saviour They will perform that Cruelty with all the Aggravation and Contempt they can deriding me themselves and exposing me to the derision of others for they will mock my Divine Kingship with a Crown of Thorns and in my Agonies of Soul and Body for a Cordial give me Gaul and Vinegar to drink But notwithstanding all this to satisfie the World that my Religion is above Wrath and Revenge I can forgive them And to secure Caesar and his People from all Fears of Imposition whatever Authority I have and how many Legions of Angels soever I might Command both to my Deliverance and the Enforcement of my Message upon Mankind I resolve to promote neither with worldly Power
those that Persecute for Religion are Irreligious 2dly The next Cause of Persecution is the gross but general Mistake which People are under concerning the Nature of the Church Kingdom of Christ for the lamentable Worldliness of mens minds hath put them upon those Carnal Constructions which have made way for all the external Coertion and Violence used by bad and suffer'd by good Men on the score of Religion from the beginning And no wonder if ordinary Persons tumble upon this Construction when the Disciples of Jesus shew'd themselves so ill read in the Mysteries of his Kingdom that after all the Intimacy they had had with him they resrain'd not to ask When shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel They look't abroad had a Worldly Idea in their minds Jew like they waited for external Deliverance from the Power of the Romans rather then an Internal Salvation from the Dominion of Satan and interpreted that to Worldly loss and freedom which did relate to the loss and Redemption of the Soul but Jesus taught them better things yet so as not to deny or flatly discourage and rebuke them that though true might have been more then they could have borâ— therefore he winds off with them upon the Time and the Season of the thing knowing that the Time was at hand that they should be better taught and satisfied of the nature of his Kingdom unto which he referred them When the Spirit of Truth comes it shall lead you into all Truth c. That the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World has been before observed and the Reason is so great that all men of common Sense must allow it upon Christ's Principle for says he then would my Servants fight for me truly implying that because the Kingdoms of this World are evidently set up and maintained by Worldly Force and that he will have no Worldly Force used in the Business of his Kingdom therefore it is not of this World Consequently those that attempt to set up his Kingdom by Worldly Force or make that their Pretence to use it are none of his Servants they are truly but Men of this World such as seek an Earthly and not an Heavenly Kingdom themselves and not Christ Jesus Where by the way let me observe That though the Jews to engage Pilate the more easily to their side impeach't Christ of being an Eâ—â—e my to Casar they were Enemies and He a Friend to Caesar for he came to reform the Lives of Men to make them better Subjects to obey Caesar not for Fear but for Conscience sake so would Caesar's Provinec have been easie and safe But the Jews would have had him Caesar's Enemy one that should have forcibly rescued them from Caesar's Power they waited for a Captain General to begin the Revolt and with an high Hand to over bear and captive Caesar as he had done them and 't is more than probable that his Appearance being to another End they therefore rejected him their Heart being set upon this But to return Christ told his Disciples that he had chosen them out of the World how not to converse or live bodily in it no such matter but he had chosen or singled them from the Nature Spirit Glory Policy and Pomp of this World How Persons so qualified can make a Worldly Church or Kingdom unless they desert Christ's Doctrine is past my Skill to tell So that the Capacity that Christians stand in to Christ is Spiritual and not Worldly or Carnal and therefore not Carnal or Worldly but Spiritual Methods and Weapons only are to be used to inform or reclaim such as are Ignorant or DisobediÌ„ent And if we will give Antient Story credit we shall find that Worldly Weapons were never employed by the Christian Church till the became Worldly and so ceast to be truly Christian But why should I say the Church the most abused word in the World her Leaders have taught her to eâ—â— and that of believing as the Church believes is so far from being true in point of Faith as well as Reason that the Church her self his ever believed as the Clergy that is the Priests believed since that sort of Men have practised Distinction from and Superiority upon the Laity He that will peruse the Ecclesiastical Story delivered us by Eusebius Pamphili Secrates Scholasticns Evagrius Ruffinus Sozomen c. will find but too many and sad Instances of the Truth of this In short Peoples apprehending the Church and Kingdom of Christ to be Visible and Worldly like other Societies and Government have thought it not only to be Lawful but Necessary to use the Arts and Force of this World to support that Church and Kingdom especially since this Interest of Religion hath been embodied with that of the Civil Magistrate for from that time he hath been made Custos utriusque tabulae and such as offend though about Church Matters have been reputed Transgressors against the State and consequently the State interested in punishing the Offence Whereas had Christians remain'd in their primitive Simplicity and Purity in the Self-denying Patient and Suffering Doctrine of Christ Christianity had stood in Holy Living not in Worldly Regiment and its Compulsion would have been Love its Arms Reason and Truth and its utmost Rigour even to obstinate Enemies or Apostates but Renouncing of their Communion and that not till much Forbearance had been used to them To sum up all The Kingdoms of this World stand in outward Bodily and Civil Matters and here the Laws and Power of Men reich and are effectual But the Kingdom and Church of Christ that is chosen out of the World stands not in Bodily Exercise which the Apostle says profits little nor in Times nor Places but in Faith and that Worship which Christ tells us is in Spirit and in Truth to this no Worldly Compulsion can bring or force men 't is only the Power of that King of Righteousness whose Kingdom is in the Minds and Souls of the Just and he rules by the Law of his own free Spirit which like the Wind Bloweth where it listeth And as without this Spirit of Regeneration no man can be made a Member of Christs Church or Kingdom so neither is it in the Power of Man to command or give it and consequently all Worldly force employ'd to make men Members of Christs Church and Kingdom is unnatural and ineffectual I could be very large upon this point for 't is very fruitful and so much the cause of Persecution that if there were never another to be assign'd this were enough for upon due consideration it must needs meet with every mans Judgment and Experience I will here add the sense of memorable Hales of Eaton upon this subject When our Saviour in the Acts after his Resurrection was Discoursing to his Disciples concerning the Kingdom of God they presently brake forth into this Question Wilt thou now restore the Kingdom unto Israel Certainly this Question betrays their
themselves upon every little Affront should oppose their Lives to Utmost Peril and not find in their Heart so much as to Rebuke the Indignities daily put upon Heaven is an Ill Proof of Zeal and Religion But as Insensible as such are of their Duty God is not wanting to his own Glory he has forbidden these thihgs let Men disobey at their Peril Ye shall not Swear by my Name falsly saith God neither shalt thou Prophane the Name of thy God I am the LORD Hear O ye Swearers the Judgment of God has denounc'd against you Every One that Sweareth shall be Cut off how Cut off FROM GOD Again The Land is full of Adulteries and because of Swearing the Land Mourneth Behold the Whirl-wind of the Lord shall heavily fall upon the Head of the Wicked To this I shall add a Brief Reflection upon that Pernicious Sin of PROPHANENESS so near a kin to Oaths and Blasphemy Such is the Degeneracy of the Age we are fallen into that Prophaneness does not only go Unpunisht but boldly lays Claim to Wit and fills the Conversation of too many of those that think themselves rais'd above the Genius of the Vulgar He is reputed Formal that will not be Rude to Sacred Things and a Man Insipid of no Sence or Salt who cannot Jeer Devotion And which is strange they make the Bible a sort of Common Place but 't is for Mockery not for Piety The Phrases they use are pick't to Abuse that Holy Book and that Prophaneness is placed to the Account of Wit But truly if Men must Rallie Religion at the Peril of passing else for Fools and Abuse Scripture to purge themselves from the suspition of Reverencing it there is here an Unhappiness in being Conscientious and on the side of this World the Temptation to be Prophane is stronger than the Encouragement to be Virtuous For this is my Soul grieved that Men should use their Wit to Abuse him that gave it them and that though there is more to be said for Religion than there can be said against it both with Respect to its Reasonableness and Usefulness and that the Hazard of being Irreligious is incomparably greater on the part of these Atheistical Scoffers than of Men professing to fear God and believe another World they would yet be so Constant and Obstinate in their loose and lewd Conversation But if the Prophaning of the least thing that was Dedicated to the Worship of God in the Times of the Law was so Hainous a Sin what should we say when men â—tick not to Prophane the Name of God himself and scoff at his Revealed Will so much Greater than either Temple or Altar or any of those Rites belonging unto them And to you all that live in the Practice of these Crying Sins I have at this time insisted upon this I say unto you in the Fear of God REPENT OF THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS Bring not down the Judgments of God upon this Land they may be the Affliction of many but they will be your Punishment ye shall pay the Reckoning of their Sufferings in the other World and God will charge you with the Calamity that they shall Endure Remember before it is too late Dreadful Things are denounced against the Wicked Therefore go not on to Gratifie your Hearts Lusts and to forget the Living God for this shall be the End of such Works that God will certainly bring you to Judgment And who may Abide the Day of that Coming and who shall stand when he appears No Flesh can stand in his Presence Consider the Awakening Saying of the Apostle That the Righteous scarcely are saved and if so Where shall the Ungodly where shall the Wretched Sinner appear How shall such be able to hold up their Heads in the Day of his Wrath in the Hour of his Judgment at that Great Time of Reckoning when a Final Account shall be past when all must render an Account of the Deeds they have done and receive the Reward due unto them Therefore while it is to day harden not your Hearts against God and his Law flatter not your selves To be Christians ye must be like Christ and if ye will be Sav'd from Wrath ye must be Redeem'd from Sin Encrease not therefore Guilt upon your Consciences by Rebelling against the Light that shines in them but lay your Impieties to Heart mourn with true Contrition of Soul and yet love Righteousness and hate Iniquity and ye will prevent the Civil Magistrate and probably avert the Indignation of God that hangs over the Nation Having thus ended my Reflections upon the Five great Crying Sins of the Kingdom and my Reproof of the Actors and Promoters of them give me leave to make my Humble and Christian Address to you that are in Authority And in the First place I beseech you to remember that though ye are as Gods on Earth yet ye shall Dye like Men that ye are Encompass'd with like Passions and are subject to Sin Such therefore of you as may be concern'd in any of these Enormities to what-ever Degree of Guilt it be I beg you in the Name of God to search your selves and to be Just to your own Souls O! let the Mercies and Providences of God constrain you to Unfeigned Repentance Turn to the Lord Love Righteousness Hate Oppression and he will turn to you and love you and bless you In the Next place be pleased to consider your Commission and examine the Extent of your Authority ye will find that God and the Government hath impower'd you to punish these Impieties and it is so far from being a Crime that it is your Duty This is not troubling Men for Faith nor perplexing People for Tenderness of Conscience for there can be no Pretence of Conscience to be Drunk to Whore to be Voluptuous to Game to Swear Curse Blaspheme and Prophane no such Matter these are Sins against Nature and against Government as well as against the Written Laws of God They lay the Ax to the Root of Humane Society and are the Common Enemies of Mankind 't was to prevent these Enormities that Government was instituted and shall Government Indulge that which it is Instituted to Destroy this were to render Magistracy Useless and the Bearing of the Sword Vain there would be then no such thing in Government as A Terror to Evil-Doers but every one would do that which he thought Right in his own Eyes God Almighty defend us from this Anarchy There are Three Great Reasons which inforce my Supplication The First is The Preservation of the Government which by such Improvidence and Debauchery is like to be greatly Weakened if not Destroyed The Industry Wealth Health and Authority of the Nation are Deeply concern'd in the Speedy and Exemplary Punishment of these Extravagancies This is the Voice of Interest for the Common Good of the Whole Society Rulers and Ruled But there is an Higher Voice unto which Christian Men ought to have Regard
should go and when he is Old he will not depart from it This is prov'd to us every Day but it is in the Wrong Way in the Way of Idleness Wantonness and Impurity of Manners 't is worth While and High Time to make the Experiment the other Way to try what the Suppression of Vice and the Encouragement of Virtue will do in this our Superiors must begin and give their Example as well as shew their Power There is scarcely any one thing that so much needs the Wisdom of the Nation in the Contrivance of a New Law as the Education of our Youth whether we consider the Piety or Prudence of our Manners the Good Life or Just Policy of the Government There is such an Example of what Industry may do in the Practice of the Jesuits that I hope the Present Conjuncture will make the Proposal of the thing more Welcome to you That the Interest of the Jesuits is the Greatest in the Roman Church and Empire is so far from being doubted that all Protestants wish it were 't is our Trouble rather than our Scruple it may be some other Orders are of the same Mind being much Ecclipsed since the Rise of this Great Interest Ye know they appeared about the time of the Reformation and apply'd themselves with all Conceivable Industry to secure the Tottering Papacy against the Progress of it In this Attempt they Ventur'd so much farther than any of their Predecessors in the Church that they have been esteem'd of Merit the Great Ministers and Governours of the Chair for some Last Ages Indeed they have almost Engross'd the whole Power of Church and State to them all other Orders seem but Small Retailers their Great Politicians their Philosophers Orators Historians and Mathematicians are generally found amongst this Society so that we scarce see any thing of Note come out from Men of that Religion which is not subscribed E. S. J. The Fame and Apprehension of their Extraordinary Learning and the Arts they have to recommend it have made their Order the Choice of most Princes and Men of Quality of that Religion for the Education of their Children in whom they have Carefully instill'd with their Instructions and Principles that peculiar Respect to their own Society as hath greatly serv'd to the Advancement of it when they have grown to Age and Power But that which above all other Stratagems hath prevail'd to extend their Dominion in the Roman Church has been their Erecting of Schools where they have Colledges for the Free Education of Youth The very Doing of it Gratis makes it look like Charity with the Poor that have little to give and with the Rich that seldom love to part with Money to be sure it is no Objection Thus Obliging the Parents they next fall to making themselves Grateful with the Children and here they Exercise not a little Skill They Strictly Observe the Divers Humors and Dispositions of their Schollars and take great Care not to baulk their Capacity by Cross or Unsuitable Studies But when once they are fix'd every Youth according to his Genius it is not Easie to be believed what pains they take to Allure them to their Studies how they will Tempt them with Childish Rewards and Excite them to their Book by raising an Emulation among them So that to Excell is more than a Rod and Victory than any Chastisement whatever By these Arts they fit all Capacities with Suitable Study and Cultivate them to the Pitch of Learning they are Capable of and all with that Obligation upon the Youth to Love them that from thence forward they become Partial Devotees to the Advancement of the Honor and Interest of that Society To Conclude they have got into their Hands the Education of the Generality of the Youth of the Romish Religion in every Country from the King to the Peasant and being Masters of them when Boys they turn Governors and Confessors to them when they are Men so that all seem to have fallen into their Hands and being but one Entire Interest throughout the World and maintaining a most punctual Correspondence they must needs have the Knowledge and Disposal of the Affairs of States and Kingdoms by that Share they have in the Counsels of Princes and that great Reliance that is upon their Judgment and Ability This if we regard only the Romish Religion shews great Wit Design and Industry but if we consider well how Formidable these Arts render them to Protestant Kingdoms it will become us to use our utmost Prudence to Secure our selves And there seems not to me a more Effectual Remedy than a Wise and Virtuous Education of our Youth In order to it let us improve Methods not inferior to theirs but for better Ends Let us use our Skill to improve the Childrens Natural Abilities to excite them to Virtue and Endear the True Interest of their own Country to them I will briefly set down what at present occurs to me as a good Way of Education 1. First Let Care be taken To breed up Youth in MORALITY for Virtue prepares the Mind helps the Understanding and gives Industry to compass this Let no Books be used in Schools in which there may be the least Indecency there were and not without Reason Ancient Canons against the Reading of such Heathen Authors and not a few Learned Sober Men have rebuked that Practice amongst us It is an Affront to Christianity yea to our Natures to fetch our Wit or our Manners from them It were well if some Tracts of Moral Virtues and Invectives against Vice were written in those Languages we would have Youth to learn for in such Discourses they might obtain Good Manners with the Languages whereas by tying up Schools to Heathen Authors our Youth has learned Base Obscenities and a Corrupt Conversation 2. In the Next place I would propose some of the easier Parts of Mathematicks and the Knowledge of Plants and Natural Bodies to be compos'd on purpose after a Familiar Manner that they may be Instituted in the Knowledge of Nature and learn Things at the same time they learn Words 3. The Last Sort of Books which I would recommend and are in my Opinion most suitable to their Maturity of Age and Understanding are such as relate to the Histories and Transactions of our own Kingdom the Interest of the True Protestant Religion and Civil Policy amongst us But because there are very few if any of these Discourses extant it were Worth the Care of our Superiors and an Act deserving Praise That some Skilful Socer and Judicious Men were set to work for the Composure of some small Tracts of this Nature and as an Appendix to the whole that there might be a Summary of the Most Virtuous and Infamous Actions of Former Times with the Rewards and Punishments they have received from God and Just Government that by the Power of Example they may be deterr'd from Vice and provoked to an Honest Emulation of
nothing do but Man's Comment instead of God's Text his Consequences Conclusions in the room of Sacred Revelation I cannot see how any Man can be obliged to receive or believe revealed Truths in any other Language than that of the Revelation itself especially if those that vary the Expression have not the same Spirit to lead them in doing so or that it appears not to me that they have the Guidance of that holy Spirit If the holy Ghost hath left Doubts in Scripture which is yet irreverent to believe I see not how Men can resolve them 't is the Work of that Spirit And since Men are so apt to Err Doubts are better left in Scripture than by us But it is to cross that Order of Prudence and Wisdom among Men who chuse to Conform their Expressions to the things they believe If any honest Man hath related a Story to me of something he hath seen and I am to declare my Faith about it if I believe the Fact I will chuse to deliver it in the Terms of the Relator as being nearest to the Truth Suppose a Father dying makes his Last Will and Testament and as he thinks so plain that there can be no Mistake made by the Executors but what is wilful if they instead of proving this Will and acting according to the plainness of it turn Commentators make more Difficulties than they find and perplex the whole Matter to the Children and Legatees and send them to the Law for their Right will we not esteem such Executors Ill Men and justifie those Persons concern'd in their Refusal of the Paraphrase God hath at sundry times and in divers manners by his Prophets his Beloved Son and his Apostles deliver'd to the World a Declaration of his Will and Testament but some have claim'd and taken to themselves the Keeping Explanation and Use of it so as those that chuse to be concluded by the Letter and Text of this Testament in its most important Points expose themselves to great prejudice for they are excommunicated from all other share in it than the punishment of the Breakers of it which is part of their Anathema who of all others are most guilty of Adding or Diminishing by undertaking to determin for others as well as themselves the Mind and Intention of the holy Ghost in it But if it be true as true it is that few have writ of the Authority of Scripture that do not affirm the very Penmen of it to be not only inspired by the Holy Ghost but so extraordinarily acted by him as that they were wholely asleep to their own Will Desires or Affections like people taken out of themselves and purely Passive as Clay in the hand of the Potter to the Revelation Will and Motion of the Spirit and for this End that nothing deliver'd by them might have the least Possibility of Mistake Error or Imperfection but be a Compleat Testament of the Will of God to men I cannot see which way such Men can excuse themselves from Great Presumption that will notwithstanding have the Wording of Creeds of Communion and reject that Declaration of Faith as insufficient which is deliver'd in the very Terms of the Holy Ghost and deny those Persons to be Members of Christ's Church that in Conscience refuse to subscribe any other Draught than their Lord has given them Two things oppose themselves to this Practice First The Glory of God the Honor of the Scriptures for it naturally draws people from the Regard Due to God the Scriptures begits too much Respect for Men their Traditions This was the Difficulty Christ met with and complained of in his time they had set up so many Rabbies to learn them Religion that the Lord of the True Religion could hardly find a place amongst them And what did they do They taught for Doctrines the Traditions of Men They gave their own and their Predecessors Apprehensions Constructions and Paraphrases upon Scripture for the Mind and Will of God the Rule of the Peoples Faith They were got near at this pass in the Church of Corinth when they cryed out I am for Paul I am for Apollo and I am for Cephas though they had not the same Temptation And that which followed then ever will follow in the like Case and that is DISTRACTION which is the Contrary to that Second thing that opposeth it self to this Practice and that is the Concord of Christians For Peace's sake consider it Lo here and Lo there always follow'd one of this mind and another of that As many Sects as Great Men to make and Head them This was the Case of the Jews and yet I do not hear that they devour'd one another about their Opinions and Commentaries upon Scripture but the Christians have done both Divided and Persecuted too First they have Divided and that mostly upon the score of Opinions about Religion they have not been Contented with the Expressions of the holy Ghost they liked their own better And when they were set up in the Room of Scripture and in the Name of Scripture SUBMISSION was required upon pain of Worldly Punishments This dissatisfied Curiosity this Unwarrantable what shall I say this Wanton Search has cost Christendom dear and poor England of any part of it I design not to grate upon any to revive old Stories or search old Wounds or give the least Just Occasion of Displeasure to those that are in Present Power yet I must needs say that Opinion on one side or t'other has been the cause of much of that Discord Animosity and Confusion that have troubled this Kingdom And it seems to have been the great Stratagem of Satan to prevent the spreading of the Glorious Gospel of Salvation in the World by taking men off from the serious pursuit of Piety and Charity Humility and holy Living Peace and Concord and under pretence of more raised Apprehensions and sublime Knowledge of Religion to put them upon introducing Curious and Doubtful Questions that have given occasion for Contention and Persecution This was no more uncondemned than unfore-seen of the Apostle Paul who exhorted his beloved Son Timothy To avoid those that doted about Questions those Men that would be thought Skilful Inquisitive Searchers after Truth such as love to exercise their Faculties and improve their Talents but let us hear his Judgment of which says he cometh Strife Railing Surmises perverse Disputings of men of Corrupt Minds And the truth is none else love such Disputings they who seek a daily Victory over the World the Flesh and the Devil and press fervently after Fellowship with God and that Consolation that ensues such an Employment of their time have very little to lose upon Contention about Words I could wish I were able to say that Vain Controversie were not our Case But this is not all the Apostle does expressly tell Timothy that if any man consent not to wholsom Words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and
are in him He that saith he abideth in him OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO SO TO WALK EVEN AS HE WALKED The Second Passage very pertinent to this present matter is in the next Chapter My little Children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth And hâ—reby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our Hearts before him For if our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God and whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight And this is his Commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son JESUS Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment The Third and last Passage which I shall mention on this Account is in his fourth Chapter of the same Epistle viz. And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him Herein our love is made perfect that we may have Boldness in the Day of Judgment because AS HE IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD These are the Holy Fruits of all that love God and believe in Christ that are the Family of the Faithful regenerated and redeemed from the Earth Where-ever two or three of them are met together Christ is in the midst of them they neither Ask nor Hope in vain With this Character let us take a View of all Persons and Societies of Christians throughout the World not forgetting our selves let us hereby try their Faith and Religion and our own if it be of God the Father it is Pure and Undefiled it leads them that have it to Visit the Fatherless and Widow in their Affliction and to keep themselves Unspotted from the World Is this our Case If it be Objected Which way shall we obtain this like Precious Faith I answer They must take diligent Heed to the Light and Grace that comes by Jesus that Candle of the Lord which he has set up in our Souls we must bring our Deeds to this Light see if they be wrought in God or no For this gives us to discern betwixt the Precious and the Vile the one gives Joy the other brings a load of Guilt upon the Soul do we not know that we Do the things we ought not and that we Leave undone the thinâ—s we ought to do this will be our Judgment For therefore Men are Condemnable because they knon These therefore that would obtain this precious Faith that overcomes the World must embrace the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ by which this Faith is begotten and they who believe not in this Grace nor receive it in the love of it nor give themselves up to be taught and led by it can never be said truly to believe in him from whom it comes any more then the Jews may be said to believe in God when they rejected him that came from God his Beloved Son He that denyes the Measure can never own or receive the Fulness John bears Record that he was Full of Grace and Truth and that of his Fulness they received and Grace for Grace for the Law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ So that 't is utterly Impossible for a Man to believe in Christ and not to be taught by the Grace that comes from him and by him 'T is a Common saying of People in these dayes We are not under the Law but under Grace who are in Truth under Sin and the Law of Death Subjects to the Prince of the Power of the Air who reigns in the hearts of the Children of Disobedience and their Lives show it No those are under Grace that live the holy Life of it For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation saith the Apostle Paul Tit. 2. ii 12. hath Appeared to All Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World These are the People that believe in Christ unto the saving of the Soul This is that Blessed Light which shines in the hearts of those that believe and gives them the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ the Ancients walk'd in it and found Eternal Life by it I am the Light of the World said Christ he that follows me shall not walk in Darkness but have the Light of Life The Saints Armed themselves with it against the fiery Darts of Satan and by the Vertue and Power that is in it were enabled to overcome Temptation And this will be the Condemnation of Disobedient Men that they see but shut their Eyes know the Light but rebel against it Christ by his holy Light in the Conscience shews Men their Danger warns them of it before it comes upon them no Man on Earth can plead either Ignorance or Surprise 'T is true the Candle of the Wicked is often put out But that it implies 't is often lighted and that men Sin against Conviction against Sight and Knowledge 't is wilfull and that 's dangerous No Faith in Disobedience will do no Faith without holy Fruits holy Works will save Men must be born again if ever they will enter into the Kingdom of God there is no Fellowship between Christ and Belial People must part with their Vile Affections and Inordinate Desires or they are no Company for Christ they have no Share in him What part can Pride have in Humility Wrath in Meekness Lust in Self-denial Revenge in Forgiveness To pretend to believe in Christ and not to be like him is a Contradiction This is the Message said the Beloved Disciple which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all If we say that we have Fellowship with him and walk in Darkness we lye and do not the Truth The Truth is all such Faith and Profession are a Lye in the Right Hand a Cheat upon a Man's Self But says he if we walk in the Light as God is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN If we say that we have no Sin to be cleansed from we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us But if we confessour Sins he is Faithful and Just to forgive us our Sins and to CLEANSE us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS To Conclude Christ Jesus the Son of God and Saviour of the World is Holy Harmless and Undefiled and so must his Followers be he is no Head of a Corrupt Body nor Master
but a Moral Man he knows nothing of saving Grace be may be damn'd for all his Morality Nay some have gone so far as to say and preach if not Print That there are Thousands of Moral Men in Hell But 't is worth our while to consider that he that sins is not saved by Grace in that state and that the Virtuous Man is the Gracious Man for 't is the Nature and End of true Grace to make Men so Unanswerable is that Passage of the Apostle to the Romans Therefore if the Uncircumcision keep the Righteousness of the Law shall not his Uncircumcision be counted for Circumcision and shall not Uncircumcision which is by Nature if it fulfill the Law judge thee who by the Letter and Circumcision dost transgress the Law For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly neither is that Circumâ—ision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God So that he that keeps the Law of God and abstains from the Impurity of the World that is the good Man the Just Liver he is the Apostle's true Jew and Circumcision Wherefore it is not Ill exprest by that extraordinary Man J. Hales of Eton The Moral Man says he is a Christian by the surer Side that is Speculations may fail Notions be mistaken Forms wither but Truth and Righteousness will stand the Test the Man that loves them will not be moved He tells us That the Fathers had that Opinion of the Sincerity of the Life of some Heathens that they believed God had in Store for such his even Saving Grace and that he would make them Possessors of his Everlasting Kingdom And measuring their Satisfaction by the Pleasure I took in reading what the Author both quotes and Comments upon this Subject I will venture to transcribe him at large Viz. Let it not trouble you saith he that I intitle them to some part of our Christian Faith therefore without Scruple to be received as Weak and not to be cast forth as Dead Salvianus disputing What Faith is Quid est igitur Credulit as vel Fides saith he Opinor fideliter hominem Christo credere id est Fidelem Deo esse hoc est Fideliter Dei mandata servare What might this Faith be saith he I suppose it is nothing else but Faithfully to believe Christ and this is to be Faithful unto God which is nothing else but Faithfully to keep the Commandments of God Not therefore only a bare Belief but the Fidelity and Trustiness of God's Servants faithfully accomplishing the Will of our Master is required as a part of our Christian Faith Now all those good things which Moral Men by the Light of Nature do are a part of God's Will written in their Hearts wherefore so far as they were Conscientious in performing them if Salvianus his Reason be good so far have they Title and Interest in our Faith And therefore Regulus that Famous Roman when he endured infinite Torments rather than he would break his Oath may thus far be counted a Martyr and Witness for the Truth For the Crown of Martyrdom sits not only on the Heads of those who have lost their Lives rather than they would cease to profess the Name of Christ but on the Head of every one that suffers for the Testimony of a good Conscience and for Righteousness sake And here I cannot pass by one very General gross Mistaking of our Age. For in our Discourses concerning the Notes of a Christian Man by what Signs we may know a Man to be one of the Visible Company of Christ we have so tied our selves tothis outward Profession that if we know no other Virtue in a Man but that he hath Cond his Creed by heart let his Life be never so prophane we think it Argument enough for us to account him within the Pale and Circuit of the Church On the Contrary side let his Life be never so Upright if either he be little seen in or peradventure quite ignorant of the Mystery of Christ we esteem of him but as dead And those who conceive well of those Moral good things as of some Tokens giving Hope of Life we account but as a kind of Manâ—ohees who thought the very Earth had Life in it I must confess that I have not yet made that Proficiency in the Schools of our Age as that I could see why the Second Table and the Acts of it are not as properly the parts of Religion and Christianity as the Acts and Observations of the First If I mistake than it is St. James that hath abus'd me for he describing Religion by its proper Acts tells us that True Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is to visit the Fatherless and the Widow in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted of the World So that the thing which in an Especial refine Dialect of the New Christian Language signifies nothing but Morality and Civility that in the Language of the holy Ghost imports True Religion Thus far J. Hales He hath said so much on this Account that there is little need I should say any more yet give me leave to add Did Men mind the Language of the Holy Ghost more than their own Conceits they would not Stile those Moral Men in a way of Disgrace that are not of their Forms it would suffice That those that fear God and work Righteousness in all Nations are accepted of him That Christ himself hath said He that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and of them that work Iniquity Depart from me I know you not My Friends let us not deceive our selves God will not be mocked Such as we sow we shall certainly reap The Tree is known by its Fruits and will be Judg'd according to its Fruits The Wages of Sin is Death Men will find it so and every Man shall receive his Reward sutable to his Worâ—k For People to talk of Special Grace and yet be carried away by Common Temptations it is Provoking to God but to conceit that the Righteous God will Indulge his people in that Latitude which he condemns in other Men is Abominable 'T is Sanctification that makes the Saint and Self-Denyal that constitutes the Christian and not filling our Heads and Elevating our Fancies by applying those Promises to our selves which as yet we have no Interest in though we may think they belong to no body else this Spiritual Flattery of our selves is most pernicious I cannot but say with the Apostle 'T is neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Jew nor Gentile this nor t'other thing but the New Creature created after Christ Jesus in Holiness for without Holiness no Man shall ever see the Lord. And what is Holiness but Abstaining from Wickedness and what 's that
Extent in the Punishment of the Offender If the Offender will neither receive private Admonition nor hear the Church then says Christ let him be to thee as an Heathen c. Here 's not one word of Fines Whips Stocks Pillories Goals and the like Instruments of Cruelty to punish the Heretick for the Purport of his Words seem to be no more than this If any Member of the Church refuse thy private Exhortation and the Church's Admonition look upon such a Person to be obstinate perverse no more of you let him take his course thou hast done well and the Church is clear of him Well but say the Church Fighters of our Age Did not St. Paul wish them cut off that troubled the Church in his time Yes But with what Sword think you Such as Christ bid Peter put up or the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Give him leave to explain his own words For though we walk in the Flesh WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH for the WEAPONS of our Warfare are NOT CARNAL but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong Holds casting down Imaginations and every high Thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing every Thought into Obedience to Christ What think you of this Here are Warfares Weapons Oppositions and Conformity and not only no External Force about Matters of Religion used or countenanced but the most express and pathetical Exclusion and Rejection of any such Thing that could be given It was this great Apostle that askt that Question Who art thou that judgest the Servant of another to his own Lord he standeth or falleth but he shall stand for God is able to make him stand Can we think that Imposition or Persecution is able to Answer him this Question in the Day of Judgment Do we with Reason deny it to the Papacy With what Reason then can we assume it to our selves Let us remember who said Not that we have Dominion over your Faith but are HELPERS of your Joy HELPERS then not IMPOSERS nor PERSECUTORS What Joy can there be in that to the Persecuted but if Paul had no such Commission or Power over Conscience I would fain know by what Authority more inferiour Ministers and Christians do claim and use it The Apostle Peter is of the same mind Feed says he the Flock of God not by Constraint c. neither as being Lords over God's Heritage The Heritage of God is free they have but 〈◊〉 Lord in and of their Religion Christ Jesus and they 〈◊〉 Brethren The Apostle Paul says That where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty but where Coertion Fines and Goals are there is no Liberty Is it to be supposed that men in these days are instructed by the Spirit of the Lord to destroy People in this World for their Faith about the other World it can't possibly be such mock at it Again says that Apostle to the Christians of his time You are called to Liberty from what Sin and the Ceremonies of the Law And shall the end of that call be the enthraling Conscience to human Edicts in Religion under the Gospel this would make our Case worse than the Jews for their Worship stood on divine Authority and if to make men free from them Christ came and that those very Ordinances are by the Apostle call'd beggerly Elements is it reasonable that we must be subject to the Injunctions of men in the Worship of God that are not of equal Authority The same Apostle yet informs us For this end says he Christ both dyed and rose again that HE might be Lord both of the Dead and Living But why dost thou judâ—e thy Brother then which nothing can more expresly oppose the Imposition Excommunication and Persecution that are among us 't is as if he had said Christ is Lord of Christians by what Authority dost thou pretend to judge his Servants thou also art but one of them A Brother at most Thou hast no Dominion over his Faith nor hast thou Commission to be Lord over his Conscience 't is Christ's right his purchase he has paid for it For this end he both dyed and rose again that he might be Lord of Dead and Living that he might rescue them from the Jaws of Oppression from those that usurpt their Consciences and made a prey of their Souls But why dost thou judge thy Brother If not Judge then not Persecute Plunder Beat Imprison to Death our Brethren that must needs follow Come let us look at home and view our Actions and see if we are not the Men. In short Let every man be fully Perswaded in his own mind and if any thing be short God will reveal it let us be patient It was not Flesh and Blood that reveal'd Christ to Peter they are Christ's words therefore let us leave off the Consultatiâ—ns and Weapons of Flesh and Blood and trust Christ with his own Kingdom he hath said the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and we cannot think that he would seek to Hell Gates to maintain it and if it is not of this World then not to be maintain'd by that Force and Pollicy which are the Props of the Kingdoms of this World God the Apostle tells us has chosen the weak things of the World to confound the mighty Therefore he has not chosen the Strength and Power of this World to suppress Conscientious People that as to humane force are justly accounted weakest and most destitute in all Ages of defence I will here conclude my Scripture Proofs with this Exhortation or Injunction rather of the Apostle Ye are bought with a Price not to be made the Servants of men The Subject here is not human wherein human Ordinances are to be obeyed that is not the Question but Divine and those that for fear or favour of men desert their Principles and betray their Consciences they renounce their Lord deny him that bought them and tread his Blood the Price under Foot Ye are bought with a Price Christ has purchast you you are not your own but his that bought you therefore be not the Servants of men about God's things or Christ's Kingdom vail to no mans Judgment neither make mans determinations your Rule Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith he has made you free be not entangled again into Bondage for we are not come to that Mountain that we cannot touch to Sinai we are not now to be kept under like School Boys or Minors that Imposition might be useful then which is a bondage now Moses was God's Servant and faithful he saw heard and went upon the Mount for the People but Christians are come to Mount Zion to Jerusalem the Mother of Peace and Freedom Much then depended upon the Integrity of Moses it pleased God then to appear by those ways but now the Law is brought home to every mans Heart and every one shall know
by the Dead they might be deserted of those that to say we cannot be safe without them If any thing Sober and Judicious be propos'd for allaying Asperities accomodating Differences and securing to Prince and People a just and legal Union of Interest as our Government requires we must presently be told of 41. and 42. as if there were a sort of Necromancy in the numbers or that the naming of those Figures long since made Cyphers by an Act of Oblivion hath power enough to lay the active and generous Spirits of our times but they will find themselves mistaken in their black Art and that things as well as times are chang'd the Mask is off and he that runs may read Men in their Pleas and Endeavours for Truth Justice and Sincere Religion will not be over born or stagger'd by such stale and trifling Reflections rarely used of late but to palliate wretched Designs or dilcredit good ones with men of weak Judgments though perhaps of loyal Principles I beseech you let us not be unskilful in these Tricks that we may not be mistaken or abused by them I cannot tell a â—ime in which the Minds of all sorts of Protestants have been so powerfully and unanimously engag'd to endeavour a good Understanding between the King and People And as I am sure it was never more needed so let me say no Age hath put a richer Price into the Hands of Men or yielded a fairer Occasion to fix an happy and lasting Union upon in order to which let me prevail with you that we may study to improve this great Principle as the necessary means to it viz. That God's Providence and our own Constitution have made the Interest of Prince and People ONE and that their Peace and Greatness lie in a most industrous and impartial Prosecution of it Those that teach other Doctrine as that the Prince hath an Interest apart from the Good and Safety of the People are the sole men that get by it and therefore find themselves oblig'd to study their mis-understanding because they only are disappointed and insecured by their Union Experience truly tells us that such Persons have another Interest than that which leads to a common Good and are often but too artificial in interesting Princes in the success of it but prudent and generous Princes have ever seen that it is neither safe nor just and that no Kingdom can be govern'd with true Glory and Success but there where the Interest of the Governour is one with that of the Governed and where there is the strictest Care to steer all Transactions of State by the Fundamentals or first and great Principles of their own Constitution especially since swerving from them hath alwayes made way for Confusion and Misery in Government Our own Stories are almost every where vext by this Neglect To Conclude and sum up the whole Discourse If you will both cure present and prevent future Grievances it will greatly behove us to take a most deliberate and unbyass'd View of the present state of Things with their proper Causes and Tendencies Let us confront our Ecclesiastical Matters with the plain Text and Letter of Holy Scripture this is PROTESTANT and let us compare our civil Transactions with the antient Laws and Statutes of the Realm this is ENGLISH And I do humbly and heartily beseech Al mighty God that he would so dispose the Hearts of Prince and People as that now Foundations may be laid for a Just and Lasting Tranquility to these Nations AN APPENDIX Of the CAUSES of PERSECUTION I Impute all Persecution for Religion to these Seven insuing Causes though properly speaking there is but one Original Cause of this Evil and that is the Devil as there is but one Original Cause of Good and that is God The first Cause of Persecution is this That the Authors and Users of it have little or no Religion at Heart they art not subject to the ground and first Cause of true Religion in their own Souls For it is the part of true Religion to humble the Mind break the Heart and soften the Affection To him O God! wilt thou have regard said one of Old who is of a broken Heart and a contrite Spirit and that trembles at thy word not one that breaks Pates and plunders Goods for Religion Blessed are they that Mourn said Christ they shall be comforted not those that sell Joseph and make Merry Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God those that are low in their own Eyes not such as devour and damn all but themselves Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth such as are gentile and ready to help and not Tyrannize over Neighbours Blessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain Mercy what then shall become of those that are Cruel under pretence of doing it for Gods sake Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God then Disturbers and Destroyers of their peaceable Neighbours shall not be called so Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled but not those that hunger and thirst after our Corn and Cattel Houses and Land for Conscience sake And Blessed are you says Christ when Men shall Revile and Persecute you c. then not those that Revile and Persecute others and those Sober and Harmless not one Blessing to this Conscience-hunting Doctrine and Practice that devour the Widow and Orphant for Religion Were men inwardly and truly Religious they would have that low Opinion of themselves that tender regard to mankind that awe of Almighty God that none of these froward Passions would have any sway with them But the mischief is unmortified Passions pretend to Religion a Proud Impatient Arrogant mind would promote it then which nothing of Man is more remote from it and mistaking the Nature of Christ's peaceable Religion which if the Apostle James say true is to visit the Fatherless and widow and keep our selves unspotted of the World They turn Widow and Fatherless out of House and Home and spot themselves with the Cruelty and Injustice of usurping their poor patremony the Bread of their Lives and Sustenance of their Natures such men as these are devoid of natural Affection their Religion has no Bowels or they are without Mercy in the Profession of it which is the quite contrary to true Religion that makes us love Enemies do good to them that hate us and kindly entreat those that despightfully use us and so much stronger in Souls truly Religious is the power of Love to Mankind then any Self-revenging Passion that from an humble and serious reflection upon the Mercies and Goodness of God to them they do not only suppress any rising of Heart against their Persecutors much more against peaceable Dissenters but with much softness charity commiserate their Ignorance and Fury offering to inform them and praying that they may be forgiven This is to be Religious and therefore
new Religion neither suffer so ill an use to be made of such Dissents as to carry them beyond their true bounds for the meaning of those Arts of ill men is to set the People further off from one another then they really are and to aggrevate Differences in Judgment to Contrariety in affection and when they have once inflam'd them to Variance and Strife nothing can hinder Persecution but want of Power which being never wanted by the strongest side the weakest though truest is opprest not by Argument but Worldly Weapons The seventh and last Cause I shall now assign for Persecution is this That Holy living is become no test among us unless against the liver The Tree was once known by its Fruits 't is not so now the better Liver the more dangerous if not a Conformist this has made way for Persecution There was a time when Virtue was Venerable and good Men admired that 's derided and Opinion carries it He that can perswade his Conscience to comply with the times be he Vitious Knavish Cowardly any thing he is protected perhaps preferr'd A Man of Wisdom Sobriety and Ability to serve his King and Country if a Dissenter must be blown upon for a Phanatick a man of Faction of disloyal Principles and what not Rewards and Punishments are the Magistrates duty and the Governments interest and support Rewards are due to Virtue Punishments to Vice Let us not mistake nor miscall things let Virtue be what it al. wayes was in Government good Manners sober Living and Vice ill Manners and ill Living Reduce all to this let such good Men have the â—miles and Rewards and such ill Men the Frowns and Punishments of the Government this ends Persecution and lays Opinion to sleep Ill men will make no more advantages by such Conformity nor good men no more suffer for want of it In short As that Religious Society deserves not the Protection of the Civil which is inconsistent with the Safety of it so those Societies of Christians that are not only not Destructive of the Civil Government but Lovers of it ought by the Civil Government to be secured from Ruin God Almighty open our Understandings pour out the Spirit of thorow Reformation upon us that we may be all Conscientiously Dispos'd to seek and pursue those things which make for Love Peace and Godliness that it may be well with us both here and forever For yet a little while and the Wicked shall not be yea thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not be but the Meek shall inherit the Earth and shall delight themselves in abundance of Peace The Wicked PLOTTETH against the Just and â—nasheth upon him with his Teeth the Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his Day is coming Psal 37. 10 11 12 13. The Judgment of King James King Charles the first about Persecution for Religion VVE find it asserted by King James in his Speech to the Parliament in the year 1609. who said That it is a pure Rule in Divinity That God never loves to plant his Church with Violence and Blood and furthermore said It was usually the Condition of Christians to be Persecuted but not to Persecute And we find the same things in substance asserted again by his Son King Charles the first in his Book known by the Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 printed for R. Royston as followeth Pag. 67. In his Prayer to God he said Thou seest how much Cruelty amongst Christians is acted under the colour of Religion as if we could not be Christians unless we Crucifie one another Pag. 28. Make them at length seriously to consider that nothing Violent and Injurious can be Religion Pag. 70. Nor is it so proper to hâ—w out Religious Reformations by the Sword as to pollish them by fair and equal Disputations among those that are most concerned in the Differences whom not Force but Reason ought to convince Sure in Matters of Religion those Truths gain most upon â—eâ—s Judgments and Consciences which are least urged with secular Violence which weakens Truth with Prejudices Pag. 115. It being an Office not only of Humanity rather to use Reason than Force but also of Christianity to seek Peace and ensue it Some Words of Advice from King Charles the first to the then Prince of Wales now King of England c. Pag. 165. My Counsel and Charge to you is That you seriously consider the former Real or Objected Miscarriages which might occasion my Troubles that you may avoid them c. Beware of Exasperating any Faction by the Crosness and Asperity of some mens Passions Humours and private Opinions imployed by you grounded only upon Differences in lesser matters which are but the Skirts and Suburbs of Religion wherein a charitable Connivance and Christian Toleration often dissipates their Strength when rougher Opposition fortifies and puts the Despised and Oppressed Party into such Combinations as may most enable them to get a full Revenge on those they count their Persecutors Pag. 166. Take heed that Outward Circumstances and Formalities of Religion devour not all Difficulties in printing have occasion'd some Faults which pray Excuse and Amend Page 8. line 18. after Quality add in saying p. 14 l. 10. was r. is p. 16. l. 5. these r those l. 27. Law r. Laws p 27. l 5 with r of p 29 l 31 of dele p. 33 l 1 hath r have p 39 l 10 r Salamin p 32 l 9 r who p 56 l 11 this r thy p 63 l 22 the dele l 31 and r if not p 78 l 20 r of your p 79 l 1 as dele l 26 r discord all c. p 82 l 3 whom r which p 83 l 1 r mutable state p 105 l 24 in r on p 11 1 l 1 r believeth p 118 l 2 preaching r packing p 120 l. 32 their r your p 132 l 8 r that impossible p 133 l 24 r Ages stood p 134 l 32 r have been p 137 l 6 they r she p 138 l 27 â—r the. p 139 l 9 r therefore l 16 read imbecil l 23 r Perfection p 140 l 28 r reject p 143 l 14 r for peace p 153 l 32 ciâ—il 1 personal p 156 l 13 ever r over l 30 r hurt p 178 l 7 Poper Judge p 183. l 11 the dale l 28 r and is it p 184 l 26 r let us p 185 l 14 those r three p 〈◊〉 l 22 intruded r intended p 202 l 4. r concerned p 208 l 17 r Proâ—… 16 r is it reasonable p 219 l 25 r undoing p 225 l 18 recerâ—… 〈◊〉 p 227 l 26 we r true p 229 l 29 r laid p 231 l 25â— and dele p 235 l 10 r Governments l 13 this r the. p 241 l 11 his r their l 22 refuse 〈◊〉 refuse p 244 l 3 r imprudent p 245 l 4 enslave r encrease THE END Isa 28. 1 3 7. Prov. 23. ver 29 30 31 32 33. Exod. 20. v. 4. Lev. 20 10.