shalt have no other Gods but me The Peace therefore of Churches and States manifestly consists in two points 1. In the exact knowledge and discovery who are our Right and lawful Superiou s on Earth 2. In exact obedience performed to their Laws and Will and no other Nor to Them acting beyond their Sphere and usurping upon Gods Rights in Heaven under whom all Eartly Superiours and Inferiours are Equally Fellow subjects And not to be allowed the liberty of eyes and understanding or private judgment to discerne between right or wrong Leaders which is of such temporal concern and preservation to every man in this World nor between the will of God and his Creature where they interfere which is of such Eternal moment in the other wherein lies the Radical errour of some Modern Christian Heathenism were to be depos'd from being men any more or reduced to an Eternal Non-age and inability to discern between good and evil and fitter therefore to be governed than to govern either themselves or others Having therefore for the establishment of Friends and the comfort of Regular and recovery of Irregular and seduc'd sufferers for Religion bestowed endeavours to distinguish the several parts of Divine and Human Soverainty whereon the Peace of Communities and the Salvation of Souls depends being as manifestly distinguishable as Heaven and Earth or Soul and Body and stated also and evinced the Title of Right Mother-Church to our own Britain though it s known a Harlot can bid fair for a true Mother where she lights not on Solomons for Judges and where she does be willing the Child be divided into Sects and parcels which she is not like to enjoy to her self entire and sufficiently demonstrated to any whose invincible minds and Spirits are unreduced from their Loyalty to God and Truth That Popery in its Leaders is an uniform in invasion and in its followers a necessary disobedience to right Soveraignes in Heaven and Earth and Protestancy in its Principles to be safe and clear from such disorders I judged fit to dedicate the Argument to whom it was duty to present the first Copy to your Royal Highness my Gracious Prince and Master having afore-hand weighed and considered as I ought it would make for your Highness Honour and publick love either at Home or Abroad in the disjunctive whatever were its resentment or success At Home with God and the Country if it serv'd in the least to fortifie your Royal Breast against temptations or at least with Forreign Lords of Celestial Crowns and Canonizations if it fayl'd against whose Sacred Avarice and Catholick canting for Tribute and Subjection and other Politick Arts which are not unknown and infallible errours and Idolatries which are not unconfuted such plain and manifest Truth could so little prevail though from clean hands and ends and seconded with the sense of the whole Nation and the rights of this Ancient Apostolical Church undoubtedly Senior if not Mother to Rome it self Withal the Subject being of the Heart and Conscience and comprizing as the heart doth in a narrow Rome a competent stock of Divine Rules and Measure to judge of Truth and about Church matters seem'd therefore the fitter present for a Prince so nigh to Soveraign who is a nation contracted in one man And Princes like God whom they represent delight in hearts And no Prince in Story was ever the Darling of more English Hearts than your R. H. and strange and unjust it were you should suffer any abatement of that Glory for no other reason but your exalted superlative zeal for God and your Conscience above Crowns or Kingdoms being the highest streign and pitch of sublime and transcendant Honour that Mortality could ever exert or phancy and higher still if that zeal were well guided with descretion as the Apostle requires and not taken upon undue trust whereof if there were not some manifest cause to doubt or fear none were more inexcusable and worthy to be deserted for ever by Your R. H. than him who having had once the Honour to adhere to you in your military dangers should want a heart at last to follow you in your Exclesiastical motions after truth my proper Element and Profession Having therefore as I ought doubted my self not a little and reviewed my Principles upon this occasion and with best endeavours of Brain and Knee studied to know the Truth and God's Mind 〈◊〉 with a heart resolved to be of its side to my Power against the World it seemed agreeable to Ministerial Obligation as well as Loyal Reputation to communicate my satisfactions to the World in the view of your R. H. that all might see that nothing else was able to make a Loyal Britain shrink from the steps of his Prince but a greater Loyalty to the manifest rights of God and the King and the Truth Which I trust will not be construed Contempt but constancy nothing being more the Duty of every Loyal servant and a Minister especially than to be as faithful to his Prince and consequently to God and the Nation as Conscience is in every breast which will never approve or agree to any disloyal revolt from Heaven and Truth but will chuse rather to be silenc'd for a time than consent and with Patient agony refer the matter to God himself Nor are any to be reckon'd straight-way unfortunate as is the manner of some Weak and Carnal reasons and Turba Remi and also the Divinity of some grave Deacons of the belly and present ease and greatness for any wound or inconvenience they may bring upon themselves for such fidelity to the Temporal and Eternal Interests of their Master either from declar'd which is more fair or undeclar'd and invisible Hostilities which is less For such suffer in their manifest duties which is therefore to be presum'd to be their choice by consequence when such need require and their right and best self-preservation if they be right men and Christians for if we are bound to love our Neigbours as our selves at the least so much more our Prince and Countrey above our selves as the hand doth the head And greater and truer love cannot be expressed than by long misery and durance for the Truth like an Anchor under Waves to hold fast the great Soul of ones Prince composed of Grace and Mercy and the fear of God by his Bowels and Compassion stronger than any Cable from running against Eternal Rocks and clashing with His Heavenly Sovereign which is the first and Original disloyalty and insurrection against the Chief whereof the Tumults of subjects against Secondary Mortal Soveraigns are usually but copies and fatal consequences by mans manifest fault but Gods secret righteous judgment as the fear and subjection of the Creature is observed by Divines to be abated and impaired towards Adam after his fall And no Prince can more deserve such Matyrial fidelity from Servants and Subjects than your R. H. not only upon the score of Loyalty and Conscience common to all
Cbam though in fault because Blessed by God just before Gen. 9.15 with 1. And to reckon all as I have heard or can Remember my Lord of W. Threatning that he would search me to my Cradle one of his Lordships Exceptions against me out of his Simplicity and Ingratitude was my Extraction out of Wales which I was not ashamed to own though born and bred in England for reasons then given his Lordship From the Antiquity and Loyalty of the People among whom he had his first preferment and since to the World in my small Book against a Position publickly asserted by his Lordship as I was credibly informed that Rome was Mother Church to England the admitting whereof I fear'd from my observations might operate upon his Highness Instability And since I hear of another of his Lordships exceptions about my being no Schollar which I know not well how to answer nor whether it be worth though upon no other score but the contrary character and that not ordinary Was I recommended for his Highness Service by some of the most Learned in our Nation and had been Chaplain before to the Kings President and Council in the parts I liv'd in upon the Recommendation of some Reverend Bishops who knew me better And his Lordships Objection was answered by a person of quality and Learning to whom it was made and who was heretofore of the same College with me That my Neighbours esteemed otherwise of me in the University and I have reasons to think that his Lordship spoke against his own belief and good information to the contrary I have taken great and constant pains for many years together to the empairment of my Sight not to be culpably Ignorant in any part of Learning belonging to my profession and I found by the Resentment of Auditors and Judges in all publick places of Court or City or Countrey wherever I Preached that my Labour was not misspent and I observed a great industry in your Party to promote Early and all along this Smothering Objection and to overlay me when I was grown too big Lord Ch. H. in 1666. about the time of De Macedo's escape and return stop't me from proceeding D. D. without any cause against common right and respect to the Duke and large voluntary promises of all Favour made to me a little before I having more then time and willing to do all my Exercises Wherein your Party had a Fairer oppertunity to convince me of my Ignorance if they had trusted to their objection and was about the same time Excluded from Preaching my Diocesans consecration Sermon at Lambeth which he requested Two very ominous Indications of the Impending Storm which immediately followed before half of your Articles against me were invented But afterwards I found Friends also discouraged from accepting of my assistance in their Pulpits upon occasions as wont and a silence designed at last upon me and Effected for many years in the Country as well as at Court and City and Sea and all for no reason as I thought at first but for being observed to outpitch your Party in Preaching Aut it was afterwards made manifest it was not want of Learning but want of compliance with dark designs Stiled disobedence to Superiors that kept me from Honour and Dignity for I would not enslave and debauch my Conscience knowingly in the least Sin for the greatest advantage in this world least in time as I observed some Instances I should not have the least grain of Conscience or Religion or Honesty or Modesty or any Truth or Grace left which Vertues I prefer'd before all Learning whatsoever as ends ought to be before means Which I believed the more to be the true cause and not the other because I observed some of the greatest then and most Reverend of your Party not to Read or Pronounce according to true Grammar and conjugation their Common Institution over my Head But if this would put a Period to my trouble and Disgrace from your Party I would be willing to undergo a strict Examination yet of my Studies provided it be in publick and before others For I observed when my small Treatise came first out which cured me of this and the following Imputation as easie as the Philosopher proved Motion by walking what pittiful shifts your Party were reduced to use to support their tottering Objection He did not write the Book another writ it for him at least he writ not the Epistle Dedicatory c. And when that would not do other Arts must be used to suppress the Sale and decry and slight the Book though I received good thanks and respects for the Argument Levelled to the Capacities I design'd it for from many unconcerned and unpensioned in your Parties design against me and those of the most Learned of our English Nation and of all Degrees and Dignities and Qualities and Professions and Perswasions I had almost forgot the other notable Charge and Engine of considerable use to secure your Party and stifle my repute and testimony that was when all exceptions failed that I was Mad and Distracted which by their venerable Authority such was their Power and Guidance over his Highness they made the Duke believe to be true in contradiction to his fresh commendations and many other considerable persons besides to my very Great detriment in the world It being easier with well meaning People to believe me to be Mad then such persons to be Lyars But I could not hear of any Instances and Signs of this Distemper in me saving Two The first was the neglecting so fair an Interest as I had in the Duke to adhere to an Opinion wherein I hope the Duke will or ought before any to forgive and heal me who venters Infinitely higher upon the like principle and I did it not without Study and Oaths and the Laws and Councels and Interest of the Nation on my Side The Second as nothing can be hid which will not be made known was because they found by my Servant that I had not been in bed but in my Closet the whole night before I set out for Sea And he was solicited by your party with great offers and promises to swear something of that or any other nature against me for that I was a falling person and not like to help him and I heard others were encouraged by the other Chappel to second your party in promoting this report which none of your selves did at all believe though you abus'd the credulity and weakness of others to give it countenance against your consciences For this charge as any wise and good man may easily discern is contradictory and inconsistent with their former Articles and Subsequent Actions at Law against me for who ever heard of a non compos mentis Accus'd to Princes or Sued at Law for expressions Therefore my Lord of W. ought in Reason and Logick to restore me either to my sences or my money In all conscience to both whether he
to Superiours deterring of my Friends and acquantance from me incesing great Persons every where against me and perhaps your Lordship allowing me no more right to their Truth than if I were an Heretick or some Vermine And which argues much guilt and fear suppressing my repute by spreading a report in Court and Country that I am distracted and mad contrary to their own belief and knowledg because contradictory to all their other proceedings And this my opinion is in a manner confessed and given for granted by the parties themselves by several late experiences 1. In an eminent and great Divine who concern'd himself alike to charge me lately about this matter but was forc'd to retreat upon this Plea 2. In a great friend of my Lord of W. privy and Instrumental to all his original displeasure against me but since a Penitent who upon my Case so stated and read to him could not assign any other real cause besides and in my Lord of W. himself to whose Conscience I put it in my Letter of the 13th Instant And neither he nor they nor your Lordship to their assistance have or can assigne any real cause in all my life adaequate and proportionable to such lasting wrath besides that alone of the said Portugues his Introduction and my actings so timely against the unsufferable encroachments of Popery about St. James then too much conniv'd at according to my place and trust and orders and fidelity to my Royal Masters Interest and Love in these Protestant Nations and those Oaths also of Allegiance and Supremacy which your Lordship and your R. Brethren have taken and Administer daily to your Inferiour Clergy And if so then my wrongs and sufferings become your own and the wrongs of any other true and sound Father or Son of the Church of England and the wrongs of any other sincere Protestant whatsoever and in all equity your Lordship ought to assist and aid me and procure as many as you can of your R. Brethren to do the like because I am so over powr'd and to bring the matter to examination according to the Import of that British proverb Nid gwaeth Cywir er i chwilio I may venture to say no Romish Preist or Domestique Nonconformist I speak not from envy to them hath been known to be so continually followed and annoyed by Sea and Land by Court and Country for Ten or Eleaven Years together as I have been and that by one Protestant Father of this Church for I suppose the rest that appear'd against me were mislead derivately from him although it be well known to the World that I am and ever was a declar'd Portestant always conformable to the Laws of this Church and Nation and open to no other exceptions against my life and Principles But those two Contriv'd aspersions of Reading pew and Sandalum pretended which by Gods good providence begin to turn to my Credit and my Enamies thame and contradictions I hoped rather to have been approv'd and encourag'd by one in my Lord of W. place and trust for my sincere Actings than suddainly destroyed amidst fresh favour for no other cause but my adhaering to the Church and the Truth in wavering times which your Lordship is pleas'd to call perfidiousness in me others Pride Cbstinacy as if carnal fear and Compliance were true Humility I have observ'd after some Mortality and changes of Affairs and Credibly heard that my Lord of W. of late hath shewed his Zeal for Protestantisme even to extreams as they say but he still continues more hard to be entreated towards me than ever perhaps for putting him on such necessity Particularly in point of Justice my Lord as you are a Christian Bishop fearing God for the ninth Commandment reaches your Spiritual Lordships as well as other Mortals I humbly expect and require that either your Lordship make good your charge aforesaid or any other if you can or that you recal effectually your desamation and Inhibitions against my converse which from a Person of your Authority are very praejudical to my good name and calling amongst my Friends and Relations and Charge and therefore very hard to be endur'd It s conceav'd my Friends and Defenders are fewer and my Enemies more in number and combination than perhaps they would be by reason of my over-much patience and forbearing to make my Case fully known to good men and to the World against the ways of my Potent Accusers which is the reason I have put so large a trouble upon your Lordship and shall be further ready to give ampler satisfaction in Case of any doubt or scruple whereby others as well as your Lordship may the better escape that spiritual Infelicity mentioned by our Saviour Matth. 12.7 of condemning the Innocent where it becomes a duty rather to open mouths in their defence My Lord No man shall be more ready to express all Honour Reverence Obedience and Submission to your Losdship and all Persons of your Degree and Dignity as far as Allegiance and Fidelity to King Laws Oaths and Truth will permit than Decemb. 28. 1675. At Mr. S. Apothecary at the Black Spread-Eagle near Arundel House Your Humble Servant Tho. Jones A POSTSCRIP Some Facts that herein occur touching Deceased or great Persons which none else could know I relate as in the presence of God to discover the whole naked truth for my own necessary defence and for publick use if there be need T. J. The Bishop of St. Asaph within concerned sent his Secretary to my Lodging Jan. 4. following to acquaint That his Lordship had not spoak any such words against me That he reproved his Brother the Bishop of Bangor for troubling me about such a frivolous matter as was the Reading-Pew That he was a stranger to me that I might have the paper back again if I desired it I answered that I had a Copy of it That it was fit it should be communicated to his Reverend Brethren to know what they had to except That if I suffer'd for my Fidelity to the Church in a time of Tryal it was fit the Bishops should defend me before any others he replied That his Lordship had shewed the same already to the B. R. c. I have heard of no exceptions against it from that time to this The said Bishop never appearing afterwards at London in several Years and at his Death ordering a strange Inscription for his Grave in St. Asaph Cathedral which is called by the Neighbours in British Escob-Ty i. e. The Bishops House About April 1676. This paper was shewed to Sir T. M. and S. T. C. of the House of Commons and the substance thereof in Decemb. 78. to an Honourable and Right Beverend Privy-Councceiler and the B. of W. sent for thereupon to London to Recover the Duke to our Church who had so strenuously kept his Dutchess from Revolting from us So much the pretence and covering of a Bigid Calvinist had imposed upon the Best and Wisest and Greatest A