as a testimony thereto with greatest respect is then necessarily called for when a publick opposition is made to the same 2. That this great truth of the visible Kingdome of Jesus Christ over his Church and its independance on the Magistrat and his being the alone supreame head and Lawgiver thereto is of such high concerne and elevation as we should not count our life dear if called of the Lord to be offered up as a Sacrifice thereon yea that a publick testimony should be then more specially owned thereto with a clear and distinct sound when so visibly opposed as in this day 3. That is must on all hands be confessed a sad decay of a true publick spirit now amongst us and of that zeal integrity and watchfulness for the things of God and deep impression of the Covenant with God these nations are so solemnely engaged to as hath formerly been with too sad and unsensible a wearing out from under former impressions of duty in this long continued triall now in the Church and that success which seemes to wait on a sinful course for which all of us have cause for being deeply humbled before the Lord this day 4. I would hope also this will not be under debate that an endeavour for a safe union and without any prejudice to the truth amongst these who have been helped in this day to witness and suffer against prelacy and are one in the great concernes of truth godliness is both a commanded and indispensibly necessary duty and will be found as expresly charged upon us as any duty I know in the Scripture 5. That there may be differences in a purely Reformed Church in matters of truth consistent with mutuall edification and without any division or breach amongst such yea that such will be still here whilst we know but in part 6. This concession I hope may not come under question that it is a part of our guilt this day our not being more suteably affected with both the sin and judgment of this present rent and division as we ought when our Master hath so expresly told that a Kingdome divided against it self cannot stand and no less thus threatned than the utter dissolution of such a Church 7. That there is now need of more closs correspondence and personall freedome with greatest tenderness to be managed in this present difference with other since they may thus tear one another at a distance before they understand them and that prejudice thus entertained with personal reflections and alienating of affection must necessarily tend on every hand to widen the breach 8. That this deplorable rent now amongst the godly hath that sad gravamen therewith that it is a striving and devouring one another in the furnace whilst so sore pressed otherwise under the cross yea in the publick view of all our Adversaries who so eagerly thus watch for our halting 9. That there is a great hazard in credulity and easy entertaining reports to the prejudice of others in a time when too many seem designedly to tread in the dark this way as if it were to promot a party rather than to seek the truth and follow an interest on the ruine and fall of the repute of others who have had a most sweet savour in the Church of Christ and been much blessed for the edification of many this we may fear is one of the provoking evils in this time and as a smoak in his nostrils who hath said such as sow discord amongst brethren are an abomination unto him Pro. 6 19. and hath cursed such as smiteth his neighbour secretly Deut. 27 24. which may be no less sad and sore by smiting by the tongue than by the sword 10. I hope this also will be mutually granted that a safe managing of differences and rents amongst the godly in so breaking a time as this is one of the most difficult things in Christianity so hard it is to get our own spirits kept out to reach that tender and due regard to present circumstances for publick edification yea to be kept in an humble and spirituall frame in such a case and to have the life of grace kept in vigorous exercise so as thus to have pride wrath and bitterness of spirit made to melt down in meekness humility and love Having premitted these few Concessions which may be found of some weight in this sad case we are now in I must humbly offer these following Proposals to be considered PROP. I. Should we not with greatest fear and trembling look on a breach and rent of the Church and amongst the truely godly in this day on these grounds 1. That it so expresly controlls the authority of our great Master who hath enjoyned by such reitereated commands love and concord amongst his Disciples so as I can find no duty in the New Testament with more frequent obtestations and arguments pressed than this And though it is unquestionable that some must be more culpable in the cause of the difference than others yet doth he press thus with such vehemency and without any such reserve to sist untill there should be an intire onness in judgment amongst themselves else there were no such difficulty or neid of it to be thus pressed 2. That it was his dying charge Joh. 15 17. to love one another and to guard against any breach amongst themselves and seemes to have been the thing his heart was most fixt on when he was to leave the world as a witness of their being his Disciples and that the world might know him to be sent of God Joh. 17 21. and thus be for a testimony to the truth of the Gospel and to enforce a conviction of the excellency of Christianity and doctrine thereof on the greatest Atheists 3. And may we not see these prejudices which follow on a formed and growing breach of the Church are oft such as the cause and occasion thereof do bear no proportion thereto when brought to the Test of that great rule of Christian love in its due latitude as prescribed by our blessed Master yea that thus there is a being so sadly engaged in disputings sidings with parties with such exasperation of spirit and neglecting of these offices of love we ow to others 4. That we may see such a sad rent the more it is followed the more it becomes a labyrinth and maze and no way found thus to get out but that by which they first entered 5. That conspicuous beacon also which in all ages hath been set hereon may make us tremble hereat and how this hath resolved not only into strife debate confusion and disturbances both publick and private but to hazard the very ruine and dissolution of such a Church We find Salvian shewing that this was one of the saddest presages of that desolating stroak that came upon the Affricain Churches and we may see the very first visible degenerating of Christianity in the primitive times begin here for it is at such a
hearing and joining in the publick Ordinances knowes not where to finde themselfs or to be in one measure in such a caice I desire to speake this with a tender respect to such who I darre not question hath had a serious regard to the truth yet hath not been awarre of the subtilty of this snare and with hope that upon serious after thoughts some more fixt uniting both in judgment and heart may yet follow amongst all who are indeed lovers of the truth in our Church with some more suiteable fear to dash againe on such a rock yea to see how true and sweet a consistence may be betwixt Zeal and fervency for the Lord and that humble fear and tendernesse in our private judgment in such a difference as this where on no side the truth is denyed so as to keep of any publick rent in the Church QUEST IV. Which may be yet needful to touch on these late publick differences if it be either matter of duty or expedient and for edification to bring these in publick and engadge the people therein and if some forbearance thus by Ministers of the Gospel be not in such a time and under these circumstances we stand called for For clearing of which I hope there is no debate upon that great duty of a faithful and free wairning against publick sins and though with a suiteable prudence yet impartially to apply the rule against them and to shew both the duties and dangers of the time but I humbly judge no justleing will be found here with a tender abstinence and forbearance in such a caice as this where a different judgment and practice is now amongst the most serious godly and faithful Ministers in our Church who yet does so jointly concurre and are one in the same truth upon these grounds 1. That this can not be pleaded as a publick Testimony to the truth as it thus reflects on the practice of their Brethren with whom they differ on whom no disouning or opposing of the same Without the furthest breach of charity can be thus fixt nor is this before any such as are the known and publick adversaries thereto or upon any visible hazard Luke 21 12. When you shall be brought before Kings and rulers for my names sake this shall turne to you for a testimony but I must say the tendencie of such ordinare and publick reflections is rather like to darken the credit and beauty of so great and honourable an appearance as a Testimony indeed for the truth is and if these necessare requisites thereto according to the Scripture were this day more understood there could not be so ordinare a pretending of this 2. I would know wherein this way is usefull or expedient to most of hearers who can so little judge on these things We are indeed called to declaire the whole counsell of God Acts. 20 27. But this is most evidently qualified by the same Apostle verse 20. that he kept nothing back hereof which might be profitable for them and thus expresly showes what bounds Ministers hath sett herein by the holy Ghost in their delivering of the message of God to his Church that it be not only truth but such as may be for the edification of these they preach to 3. Since it is clear that positive duties do not binde ad semper and no cause can be now pleaded in this caice for guarding against any present snare or hazard to the Church should not the inconvenience which the contentious keeping up of these differences may occasion have more weight with us which the Apostle so sharply rebukes 1 Cor. 11 16. But if any seem to be contentious we have no such custome nor in the Church of God and oh that the losse and gaine herein were more impartially weighted what both the Lucrum cessans and Damnum emergens hath been this way 4. And is this so small a thing as may seem to some to bring in publick and before the Church so high a charge of Erastianisme and defection from the truth against these their Brethren who are thus as expressely pointed at as they were named since it is sure there can be no publick rebuke and admonition before the people as this most evidently is but as a publick Church censure and juridical act of Discipline yea which is no lesse manifest then that of excommunication and if so publick a violation of that order which our blessed head hath expressely fixt for his Church be so lightly regarded where are we Nor can this be pretended as a doctrinal reproof which is such an applying of the rule against sins of the time must as stil leave the particular application thereof to their own conscience who are thus guiltie without any expresse designing of particular persones where no judicial procedour and conviction by the Church hes gone before but here is a most publick and expresse fixing of so sad a scandal even before the Church against so many particular Ministers of the Gospel who are still labouring in the vineyard of the Lord as if they were designed by name 5. And are not these unquestionable requisites for a publick reproofe not only their calling thereto that it be orderly and upon clearest evidence but that this be not exposed to any prejudicate exception from their way who do thus reprove which may be on too just ground feared this day that some have put themselves out of the furthest capacitie to edifie by any such mean from their own unsuteable manageing hereof 6 What if these who are thus so openly reflected upon should take the same freedom for publick contradiction Wherein would this quickly resolve but a furder growing scandall to ruine the Church and make way for the endlesse debatings which as the Apostle showes does rather engender Questions then any godly edifying in the faith We know the Apostle Paul withstood Peter to the face but it is observable on what ground it was stated that when Peter knew the differences then amongst these of the Jews and Gentiles who beleeved was such as should cause no rent or dividing thereon yet to please the Jews had withdrawn and separat from fellowship with the beleeving Gentiles yea that this rent was like to grow so as Barnabas also was drawn into the same dissimulation and thus a sad and ruining breach like to follow 7. Should we not be to the furthest tender of unsettling of the spirits of the people when so much allready shaken and in that manner now racked and tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine as many are like to losse all persuasion of the truth yea when it is so hard and all most impossible to keep some within any bounds and whilest thus the triumph of adversaries and strengthening the hands of the ungodly upon such strainge reflections brought in publick does visibly gaine ground and what interest can be thus pretended for the Church of Christ in so publick a going to Law with their
or no or if this omission was truly deliberate and since this is a publick fixing a most high scandall on so many Ministers of Christ it would have been expected to be with the furthest evidence to convince others and that they are in case for the full and judiciall out making thereof when required if they would give that measure they expect from others and which the Scripture indispensibly requires in such a case Sixtly It is strange so sudden a determining and publishing the private judgings of some in a matter of such weight and universall concern without so much as a previous communicating in Councill herein with the must tender of their Brethren whom they would in charity judge to be serious and have the Councill of God with them yea this without laying down any such convincing grounds as were necessary to justifie so strange a practise as the departure from fellowship in the publick ordinances with so great a part of the Church as though this had no weight in this day for the spirit of the Prophets being subject to the Prophets I must say though some should own an revelation or extraordinary impulse in this yet so far it might have been judged they might have keept of as not to vent the same in ane disorderly and unsutable way or adventure to bring in so strange a practise and of so publick concern in the Church without the Church or to exerce their private judgment over the whole of their Brethren The Apostle Paull tho immediatly called by Christ yet would goe up to Jerusalem to conferre with the Brethren nor would Paull and Barnabas together adventure to determine in that difference at Antioch untill it was brought to the Apostles the same spirit which leads unto all truth does also lead unto Humility and to the furthest tender condescendence in Brethrens dealling with other nor should it be light whatever may be the private thoughts of some in a matter of truth to doe any thing precipitantly which may disturb the Church and now when it is strugling as if between life and death was this a time to drive with such heat this present breach and in a way to defame more then to convince and gaine and with such a height of severe reflection on all that comes not to their measure this way as if to be pious and peacable at once were wholly inconsistent Sevently And what should it meane or is it sutable to that candour and tender respect which we owe to the Author of the late Apology to set down these arguments which he hath there for not hearing of the Curats for not hearing the indulged and herein to oppose him to himself and his own expresly declared sense to the countrary whilst now by his death he cannot answer But his own words there I hope will not be denyed which yow may read pag. 128. and there also see a vigorous opposition to the indulgence yet without any breach or dividing from these worthy Ministers who have accepted thereof are no wayes inconsistent Amongst the many designes aimed at said that Author in this indulgence and in part obtained we know the breakings and dividing of our party was a principall one but we hope without the fruit our Adversaries expected for whatever difference there hash been and yet is among us in our practise in relation to the indulgence we are all agreed in our preceeding exceptions against it and if there had been accesse for representing the same to the Rulers our unanimity and concord in these had been more discovered and known to the world there is no change with us of our known and professed judgment anent the Government of the Church in its distinction from and independency on the Magistrate some who take hold on all occasions to reproach us are pleased to represent their acceptance of this indulgence as contradictory to and inconsistent with our former professed principles in Church Government yet any that considers what was shortly hinted at in the Councell at the receiving of this indulgence and what was more largly declared by them to their congregations at first entry will be sufficiently convinced of our constant adherence to former principles which by this acceptance is not at all changed thus for he Eightly But if the declared judgments and authority of some may influence any to a more implicite falling in with this way I must yet further crave leave to oppose the judgment of one who I suppose may have the same weight and authority in this case it is the Author of the true Non-conformist who in his clearing the duty of forbearance to hear the Curats hath these words which I cited in the first Paper Page 196. I freely acknowledge that if God had permitted this whole Church to slide into the present evills of Prelacy and thereafter had blessed it with a discovery yet I would not admitt in that condition the same necessity and expediency of separation that I now finde to plead with for a non complyance in as much as our present non-complyance was not only a more seasonable and safe duty but also was attended with a faithfull and edifying adherence to our true and sent Teachers And page 194. hath these words that separation is a departing from ane union once acknowledged even in these things that are in themselfes not condemned and thus does most expresly determine the unwarrantableness of falling of from Church fellowship with the indulged Ministers on that head after so known and acknowledged union with these in the publick ordinances even after the acceptance of the indulgence till of late but that you may know what is the sense and declared judgment of this Author in this case I shall give you now further his own words pag. 487. opposing himself herein to these sharp reflections of G. B. But you doe not only make your Non-conformist to cede as it were to your reasonings but in a manner to own the late pretended indulgence as flowing from the supremacy as on purpose to fix on these few Ministers of ours who have been thereby restored at least a constructive approbation of this evill And there in the following page has these words But not to lose time in these triflings I differ from your Non-conformist and am so much against the supremacy that I abominate the indulgence under this name but that God has disposed the King to restore in any measure what was so sinfully taken away we account it a great blessing wishing that he may be in such manner satisfied with the fruits of this course as may more and more convince him of its righteousness and encourage him to its prosecution But if you or any think by this poor and scant restitution to bribe the Lords people to the rest of your usurpations we trust the Lord will deliver his own and that as hitherto our Ministers has looked upon themselfes as such neither of Man nor only by Man but by
Brethren before so watching an adversary whose strength must needs lye in our breach 8. Is not also the bringing things thus to such an extream of that visible tendencie as to bring under question the validitie of their Ministerial acts amongst the people by so publick a thrust at the credit and repute of their Ministry which is so far an exposing of many to the hazard both of atheisme and errour besides the weakening such in the publick work of the Lord who are so known able Ministers of Christ I shall adde no further but a humble and serious appeal to their own conscience who may have judged this their duty if on deeper reflection hereon a tender abstinence and forbearance this way and to keep of any dashing on such a rock as hath been allready touched untill light and conviction from the Lord yet further break up should not be their own peace and comfort as well as the publick peace of the Church in that day when their eyes shall become dim and the keepers of the house begin to tremble SECTION IV. WHen such sad use is now like to be made of these times as to give the truth and credit thereof which above all things should be dear to us a Deaths wound were it possible by reproach I hope it will not be incongruous to such a subject to speak yet a few words more for answering some high pretences for prejudice and stumbling which seem now most publickly to be owned yea not only thus to break and undo themselves but to involve others in the same ruine Not that the truth needs the witness or respects of men to commend the same which as the sun in it's strength keeps its course amidst all the dark clouds which can interveen but in a day of such blasphemy and reproach we should require justice at the barre of mens own conscience herein if there can be any cause for stumbling at the holy and unspotted wayes of the Lord but what is from themselfs and from their seeking after such a latitude in their principles as might sure that liberty which they take thus in their practice Now with some respect their to I shall offer these eight grounds which are at this day most pretented 1. These strange intestine conflicts and Differences in judgment that we are now in the Church and among professors of the truth as though they were not the Children of the same house for ANSWER I hope these things when seriously pondered may silence any such reflection on the way of truth which I shall but leave to mens conscience 1. That our blest Lord hath with clearest evidence layd down such sure and fixt grounds in his own word for the peace and concord of his Church and followers with these expresse rules and provision for the same as there can be no known ground for such sad and deploreable breakings but what mens own corruption and declining from the rule doth occasion 2. It is must clear that one of the greatest of the Lawes of God to which with the furthest reiterat inforcements our obedience is required for preventing the Churches hazard on this rock is that Law of charity and love for the Godly amongst themselves so as without this he will accept no mans service 1 Cor. 13. And is such the Apostle presses above all things to put on charity which is the bond of perfection Coloss 3 13 14. 3. I hope it is undenyable also that these principles of union and love are so firmely fixt as might be consistent both with some various apprehensions and difference in judgment amongst his people here who are unite in himself and in the great concerns of truth and godlyness so as upon such an accompt the peace and concord of his Church should not be suspended since it is here we know but in part and as all have not the same helps so not the same capacity for understanding of many things which may cause some difference in the Church Not that we should think opinions are free or errors in judgment not to be seriously watched against al 's well as corruption in practice since it is not only through sanctification of the spirit but beleef of the truth we are appointed to life 4. For this end likewayes hath our blest head set such bounds and measures to his people in the manageing of these differences which may fall in as that there should be no fear of any sad rent or breach where a due respect unto these is had and to walk according to the rule and spirit of the gospel and oh that these great commands Rom. 14 3 4. Philip. 2 3. were more seriously pondered there could not but be some more lawfull regard to keep of such bitter and offensive breakings as may be oft seen amongst us 5. Nor is there cause to fear any breach from the most serious and servent contending for the truth and closse adherence thereto which should be dearer to us then our life and can admitt no latitude or ceding there when the revealed rule of our duty herein is observed that this be managed with a humble tender condescendence and cedeing in our own things to one another for oh there hath our saddest contests and a nimosity their greatest strength this day It were well if such a blest contending and striving lawfully as the Apostle shewes were thus studied that it be in the way of the Lord and by means of his own appointment by purenesse by long suffering by the word of truth by the armour of God on the right hadn and on the left c. And where these are not mens study and practice they must live in an expresse contradiction to these principles which yet they darre not disown yea in so farre becomes not only a just matter of grief but a spot in the fellowship of the saints 6. Whatever sad differences be oft amongst these which both their darknesse of minde and contrariety of natural dispositions may influence yet does not still that blest unity of the spirit stand fixt and sure by which the whole race of the saints are unite in a new and spirituall nature In these sweet sensible communications of the spirit and do all meet in one blest center yea so near an intercourse of souls and Sympathy does result thence however the sad prevalence of corruption may for some time darken the same as no union and concord like this is in all the socities of the earth and may be such a witness to the truth of christianity as to silence even the greatest Atheist 7. Yea may we not have here a special confirming evidence of the certainty of the truth that notwithstanding of such differences both in judgment and practice with so sore prejudice and estrangement of heart and differences of naturall temper and disposition of amongst the Godly yet this hath inforced from all these an undoubted assent to the most great and weighty concerns of religion yea to a
3. If yow stumble here and embrace no religion until yow finde no offences amongst the professours thereof then ye must have none but turne Athiest bot your conscience herein must needs tell yow silence it as yow wid that the truth and principles of godliness bindes men over with the greatest tyes and engadgments to holyness purity candor and righteousness even in all our dealing with men under the severest threatnmgs and oh must the glory and honour of the truth which is according to godliness thus come under reproach and suffer from the untender and unansuerable practice of any who profess the same 4. Can yow posibly debate this which might both silence and make men ashamed of such a challenge that under any pretences which have ever been to religion in the world it is the doctrine of Christ only which indispensibly requires truth and sincerity of the heart herein and that the conformity of our duties on the matter to the rule is not enowgh without a serious respect to the quality of the principles of our acting that it be in faith and from the love of Christ which is so essentiall a requisite therto yea that this is so framed as to correspond with the inward man to exerce an authority over the conscience and our most retired thougths al 's well as actings and to put shame and terrour on such whose glorying is in appearance bot not in heart 5. Yow know likewayes that the most select societies of such who ever yet profest the truth and since there hath been a Church on the earth did never want a sad mixture yea these feu choised difciples of our blest Master was not only with a Judas but a falling Peter and a misbeleeuing Thomas â—mong them and should this have been a ground then for prejudice at the truth of christianity in its first dauning when by such a constitution our great Master would have it known what his Church whilst here upon the earth will be even in the purest times thereof 6. Will ye not allow that measure which we finde in the primitive times the Christians did require of their heathen adversaries upon any publict offences which were then objected to them to give but that allouance which they did to their philosophers and such as profest morall vertue amongst them which was not to charge the corruption and offences of the practice of any on the rule of their profession whilst yow have these further inforcements of this that yow know upon your own conscience what a sore burthen and grief these are to such who are tender and sincere in following of the truth and how evident their discountenance of any such appearance is yea may not the establishment of Church discipline and censure with such express rules herein by our blest head convince and silence these who reproach 7. Let some who pretend most to stumble on such an accompt speak but their own heart if these be not much more their trouble and torment whose walk does most convincingly tend to adorne the profession of the Gospel whose sincere and serious embracement of the truth hes been with such visible outward dissadvantage and no privat interest to sway them herein as they ar enforced to see this for none possibly could conceive how this should be on any other ground then the known pover and certainty therof on their soul 8. Are not such whose way is thus the ground of your challenge most visibly condemned by their own avoued principles yea what ever essayes hath been to personat serious godliness by a false show yet is it not most convincing even to such as look but at a distance that native lustre self evidencing light with that sweet savour and efficacy which accompanies the same as no possible invention or art could ever reach no more then to make a dead picture live Oh! that such a day of reproach as this and that sad woe the world is so unsensible of because of offences might more suteably affect our hearts and that it is with so visible adeclining â—ow in the Church and mens grouing weary of the simplicity of the truth these sweet paths and footsteps of serious godlyness love and zeall for God self denyall and contempt of the world seems to be all most overgrown and worne out amongst many professours in this age 5. Ground that I fear some may be ready this day to break and stumble on is these high pretences of zeall and fervency for the truth in the way of so me as would seem most visibly to crosse and interfer with the most known principles of Christian prudence yea that due necessar use of mens reasone which the Scripture does so indispensibly require ANSW though the zeall of God and faithfullness for his interest even with the most convincing evidence of the truth thereof to mens conscience is that which the world cannot bear yet I hope these things when seriously considered may silence any publict reflection herein 1. That the greatest want which may be now matter of grief in all the Churches is that of pure zeal and love to Jesus Christ and his truth and of such a spirit to follow the Lord fully and oh our fall hath been too great and universall from that first love which was wont to shine and burne in these who profest the truth to be hid this day and seems one of the saddest presages of a dark night yet coming on when with a continued light the heat and power thereof is so farre gone 2. But to silence any such reflection it may be demonstrable to the furthest that the true and native tendence of the zeall of God and fervency in his work can cause no breaking or disorder nor hath any irregular violent motion or scorching heat therwith but where ever this most brightly shines there also does a humble tender condescendence to convince and gaine most evidently appear how by manifestation of the truth to mens conscience to prevent any ground may be thus taken of offence who is offended and I burne not was the temper of that blessed mans spirit when he was burning in zeall for God and thus carried him out that he might be all things to all that he might gaine some for such should be the greatest acrimony and sharpness of these who should be the salt of the earth that it may allwayes tend to season to preserve and recover and not to destroy 3. And is not Christian wisdom and prudence a peece of our sanctification and a true and native result of pure zeall and love to Christ â—…o as the more a Christian the more tender thus to keep by the rules and to walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise and is not mens folly stil a fruit of their own corruption nor can the truth of godliness be vigourously exerted botâ—o farre it will cause also snch a sweet composure and even temper of spirit as to watch with an equall advertance to extreams upon
a serious adherence to the Government and Kingdom of Christ over his Church for which the authority of his Lawes and institution is so unanswerably clear should be judged incompatible with the civill interest and security of the state For ANSW if men shut their own eyes where the Scripture is so clear and hath thus shewed us not only what is just but what is good and how assuredly this is the greatest concerne of a Nation to have the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the rights thereof establisht and kept up when the veâ—y express intent and tendence thereof is to promote and transmit both the purity and power of godliness to the present and succeeding ages I confesse there can be no reasoning then in such a caice but if principles of self love to our temporall advantage and such pretended respect to the publick interest of the Land bear any weight I would but plead a little with a serious appeal to these principles which our adversaries do yet own and assent to if the truth and serious practice of godliness and these means which are necessarily directing thereto be not visibly the great interest and safety of a Nation and to have the furthest awe and reverence thereof kept up upon these grounds 1. Because thus is the greatest inforcement of civill duties by a religious tye and on principles of conscience 2. That this tends to the furthest advance and improvement of human nature both to make human society sweet and desireable and for a more vigouâ—ous and true improvement of mens naturall abilities for the publick good interest of that place 3. And can this be a publick grievance which brings the greatest inforcements to sincerity candor and truth which as it is essentially necessar for the establishment of justice and moral righteousness so tends to beget true mutuall assurance both in words and actings amongst men and how possibly can a Nation be safe or any true intercourse and security in our personall concerns where truth and godliness hath no due respect there 4. Is it not thus the duties of our severall relations are most promote yea which gives the greatest security to civill Government and sets home on mens hearts their obligations to Magistracy as the Ordinance of God not from fear but for conscience sake and it is little known what hid pledges such as are truly godly are of the peace and safty of the Land they are in 5. Can the blest tendencie of truth and godliness be under debaâ—e to subdue the diseases of the minde and restraine these exorbitances of pride envy wrath ambition c beyond the furthest reach of all humane Lawes which hath stil so deplorable effects every where and raised too visibly most of these storms and tempests which are in the world and causeth so dreadfull disorders amongst men 6. It is sure also the way of truth must needs lead men to be quiet and do their own business yea for such as are in that condition to work with their own hands 1 Thess 5 11. and to abide in that calling in which the Lord hath placed them and to painfulness and industry therein to be no busy medlers in the affaires of others and that no man go about to defraud his brother that none render evill for evill unto any which as they are most express Scripture commands must demonstratively witness this like wayes what a publick blessing truth and godliness is to the Land wherein it is kept up I shall only add this more what regard even on politick grounds should be to that which so necessarily brings therewith the love of our neighbour and to do unto others as we would be dealt with by them as also tenderness to the afflicted a compassionat spirit to relieve such as are in distresse with hospitality to strangers which must needs have a vigourous exercise there where the love of the truth is intertained as being so essentiall a part of our obedience to the Gospell SECTION V. AFter some thoughts on this sad and unpleasing subject of the late differences in our Church I would desire yet in the shutting up thereof to speak a few words on a more practicall concern that might lead in and leave the Reader on another sent and inquiry which I fear in this strange croud and noise hath been of publick debates by too many be much lost and shall touch this in thes 4. particulars O that with a blessing from him who can serve himself of the meanest things it might be made a word in season to my in such times 1. To consider what may most contribute to a Christians joy and solid peace upon an after reckoning with their own conscience as to their way in this winnowing time when such hot contendings hes been in the Church for which I would humbly offer these 1. what sweet peace will then be in having been kept closs at home with a tender and jealous eye over the frame and temper of their ovvn spirits since we cannot but see where the strength of these strange paroxismes of heat and bitterness amongst Professors of the truth does now most lye that it is from these jarring corruptions upon the heart more then from any differences of light and judgement and which no eager disputes but a tender and lively practice in being exercised to Godliness can effectually cure then we might both hope for a blest healing composure under these different measures of light amongst Christian and for a tender and humble reasoning in things wherein they differ when thus a more near conformity to the Spirit and rule of the Gospell is once reached which must needs subject the Soul to account it our greatest honour to be overcome by the truth 2. That they have been kept from any such precipitant judgment of others as usually follow on such debates and their spirit kept under some blest aw and restraint of these suddain violent commotions and truptions of passions as runs such unto most sad undecencies to discredit the profession of the truth discompose themselfs and wound their own conscience 3. That they have been tender of practising that themselves which they have condemned in others by any such aime more how to revile then reclaime and to a heightning rather then healing of this strange breach 4. That the fleeing of one extream hath still been with some regard of being kept from running on any other of there having had impartial respect to entertaine what ever is justly approveable and according to the rule upon eitheir hand yea not only with a humble ceding in personal injuries and such a tender managing of their own necessar vindication upon the revilings of others as might tend to convince more then to provoke but that they have this testimony they did in earnest pray for such and seek their mercy and reclaming from the Lord 5. That no pretences or personal respects hath shut their eyes upon any visible hazard to the truth and of