19.42 pag. 24 25. The Mortification of our Lust and Passion living a life of Spiritual Purity and Devotion Self-denial and Meekness Justice and Charity Peaceableness and Patience Sobriety and Chastity and a trusting in the Merits of Christ for pardon of our Sins and acceptance of our imperfect Righteousness these are the substantials of our Religion about which all wise and good men are Agreed however we differ about other Matters Difference of Case between Separation of Protestants from Rome and the Separation of Dissenters pag. 69. As for the Dissenters meth nks it should not be hard to disswade the most of them from breaking the Communion of the Church any longer with which they agree in the Substance of Faith and Worship Mr. Wake 's Sermon on Rom. 15.5 6 7. pag. 16 17. Our differences do not at all concern the Foundations either of Faith or Worship and are therefore such in which good men if they be otherwise diligent and sincere in their enquiry may differ without any prejudice to themselves or any just reflection upon the truth of their common profession To conclude this Head Bish Reynold's Br. Reconcil p. 7. Why should not the many Truths wherein we agree teach us to join in Love which is a Christian Duty rather than the few opinions in which we dis-agree cause breach in affection which at best is but an human Infirmity That the Creed contains all Truths necessary to Salvation IN the Common Prayer at the Visitation of the Sick the Minister by the Churches order saith thus to the Sick I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Christian Faith that you may know whether you do beleive as a Christian man should or no. And so Bishop Tailor on the Credenda in the Holy Catholick Church The Creed which whosoever beleives is a Catholick and a Christian but he that beleiveth it not is neither In Baptism according to the Church of England The question put to the person to be baptized dost thou beleive in God the Father and so to the end of the Creed And will thou be Baptized into this Faith And in the Church Catechism That in our Vow at Baptism we promised to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And in the beginning of the Reformation it was agreed upon that the Bishops and Preachers ought to instruct the people according to the Scripture the Three Creeds and the four first General Councels The Fathers are cited by the Reverend Bishops in testimony that the Creed contains all Truths necessary to Salvation as by Arch-Bishop Laud against Fisher Bishop Taylors Ductor Dub. and Bishop Bramhal especially Tertullian Clemens Romanus Ambrose Augustine c. who made the Creed to be the only standing immoveable and irreformable Rule of Faith the sum of the whole Catholick Faith the Key of the Christian Faith the rule and square of the Apostical Sermons i. e. after the making of it wherein the Apostles have collected into one breviary all the points of the Catholick Faith which are diffused throughout all the Scriptures The Creed is one perfect collection and sum plain short and full that the plainness might help the weakness of the Hearers the shortness their Memory the Fulness their Instruction The General Councel of Ephesus did forbid all men to exact any more of a Christian at his Baptismal profession and again the same Councel That it should be lawful for no man to publish or compose another Faith or Creed then that which was defined by the Nicene Councel and that whosoever should dare to compose or offer any such to any persons willing to be converted from Paganism Judaism or Heresie if they should be Bishops or Clergy-men should be deposed if Lay-men Anathematised i. e. Accursed with Excommunication It was the Universal practice of the Primitive Church Credisne at Baptism On Palm-Sunday the Christian converts from Heathenism as yet under Catechizing petitioned for Baptism and from that day forward had some assigned to expound the Creed unto them whereof they were to make solemn profession at Baptism All the Divines of the Reformed Church confessedly and generally own this Truth that the Creed contains all Truths necessary to Salvation Bishop Halls Works p. 637. 'T is not Cassander's Speech only but every wise and honest man's the Creed is the common cognizance of our Faith surely saith he Theodoret when he would allay the bitter contentions of those antient Christians of Antioch writes thus both parts made one and the same confession of their Faith for both maintained the Creed of the Nicene Councel and blames the Romanists that the confession of the same Creed is not sufficient with them for peace Item Resolution of Practical Cases of Conscience Case 5. Dec. 3 d. If there were not some special Truths the belief whereof makes and distinguishes a Christian the authors of the Creed Apostolick besides the other symbols received anciently in the Church were much deceived in their aim Doctor Potters Answer to Charity Mistaken p. 221. How can it be necessary for any Christian to have more in his Creed than the Apostles had in the Church of their time may the Church of after ages make the way to Heaven narrower than our Saviour left it c. The Apostles profess they revealed to the Church the whole Councel of God keeping back nothing needful for our Salvation What Tyranny then is it to impose any new matters on the Faith of Christians especially as the late Popes have done under that high commanding Form Qui non crediderit aut fecerit damnabitur Bishop Tailor Coll. of Discourses p. 524. It is a strange Boldness in the Church of Rome first to add Twelve new Articles to the Apostles Creed and then to add the appendix of Athanasius this is the Catholick Faith without which no man can be saved For I demand can any man say and justifie that the Apostles did deny Communion to any man that believed the Apostles Creed and lived a good Life Let them remember Pope Pelagius who when the Bishops of Istria deserted his Communion in causa trium Capitulorum he gave them an account of his Faith by recitation of the Creed and by attesting the Four General Councels and is confident upon this that de fidei firmitate nulla poterit esse questio vel suspicio generari Bishop Usher In those Propositions which without all controversie are universally received in the whole Christian World i. e. Articles of the Creed so much Truth is contained as being joyned with an holy obedience may be sufficient to bring a man unto Everlasting Salvation and that as many as walk according to this Rule peace shall be upon them Upon which saith Doctor Chillingworth this is a great and as good as Truth and as necessary for these miserable Times as can be uttered Hookers Eccles Polit. p. 266. We have received from the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ that brief confession of Faith which hath been always a
made bad of the best Our Mother 's not of Sons of Peace bereft Praise to our God for seven thousand left Who under Prince of Peace his Banners go To fight out fights and strife the Common Foe Brave Worthies Arm'd with courage from above To win for Truth and overcome with love WILLIAM the Third high in Glory rais'd The Worlds wonder All Europe stands amaz'd Behold Great Britains Scepter in his hand Peace establish'd Triumphant sing O Land Blest with a Prince by Heaven sure design'd For Great Good and Just An Heroick Mind Love ours and thine King of Kings guard his Throne To be de-thron'd by none but thee alone Him with peaceful thoughts God of Peace inspire Him ye ages yet to come be Just admire And call our Great Assembly wise to yield Wise to stand that Truth and Peace win the Field Doom to the bottomless that spright of ire Which Abimelech and Shechem set on fire Judg. 9.23 And made them with infused fury mad Each other to consume by vengeance sad When much incens'd their God his Peace withdrew Tremble pow'rs But he hath his coming too Not in violent Earthquakes blust'ring Winds But small still voice to calm and peaceful minds When he to work for peace the World must know He makes rough places smooth lays mountains low Euphrates rapid torrents mighty pride Must as Shiloa's waters gently glide The Lamb and Wolf must dwell like brothers then The Calf and Fatling lodge at the Lions Den Isa 11.6 7 8 9. The Cow and Savage Bear together feed And a little Child those wild creatures lead The Asp not sting nor Cockatrice annoy Nor those Beasts hurt which used to destroy When thus men calm their passions still their rage We shall enjoy another Golden age Hopes love will tame us with its gentle arts Close our gaping wounds melt our frozen hearts The contentious World grown wise in time Pleads guilty now conscious of her crime And sounds a retreat that her feuds may cease In a thrice-blest Philadelphian Peace Jehovah's Thunderbolts which fly against the proud And Zion cover'd with a dismal cloud Have made mens neck 's more stiff then sturdy Oak Submit to Christ and bear loves easie Yoke Which Badge on Earth Christ true disciples wear And the Crown in Heav'n high exalted there God is love and they that with him dwell Embrac'd by Love in unity excell And with sweet delights at the Fountain still They drink his Love and ever have their fill Conformists Acknowledge that there are Good and Worthy Men among the Dissenters from the Church of England BIshop Jewel in Answer to Mr. Harding The thing is indifferent and may be yielded to saith the one Sect The other that they be the Popes rags and may not be worn Saith Jewel the Godly Learned men at whose persons you so rudely scoffe that refuse to go in your Apparel or otherwise to shew themselves like you have age sufficient and can answer for themselves Notwithstanding thus much I may say in their behalf neither do they commend any manner of Apparel as holy nor condemn any manner of Apparel as unholy That is your proper and peculiar Error Mr. Harding to make so deep account of outward shews They may justly say the same Apparel on your parts hath been fouly abused c. Defence of the Apology part 3. chap. 5. Divis 1. p. 325. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or King James the first Instructions to his Son I do equally Love and Honour the Learned and Grave Men of either of these opinions i. e. for or against Ceremonials which for mine own part I ever held indifferent Again I exhort my Son to be beneficial to the good men of the Ministry praising God that there is a sufficient number of good men of them in this Kingdom i. e. of Scotland and yet are they all known to be against the form of the English Church The Speech of the Bishop of St. Davids Dr. Rudde in the Convocation May 23. 1604 I put a great difference between them that are Schismatical or open disturbers of the state Ecclesiastical established and them that are scrupulous only of some Ceremonies and other circumstances being otherwise Learned Studious Grave and Honest Men and whose labours have been both painful in the Church and profitable to their several Congregations Concerning those Preachers last mentioned I suppose that if upon urging them to the use of Ceremonies and Attire prescribed they should stand out stifly and choose rather to forgo their Livings and exercise of their Ministry and tho I do not justifie their doings therein yet surely there service would be missed at such a time as need shall require them and us to give the right hand of Fellowship one to another and to go Arm in Arm against the common Adversary that so there might be Vis unita fortior c. Also remember that when the Benjamites though for their desert in maintaining of a bad cause were all destroyed saving six hundred and the Men of Israel sware in their fury that none of them would give his daughter to the Benjamites to Wife yet when their hot blood was over they lamented and said there is one Tribe cut off from Israel this day and they used all their wits to the utmost of their Policy to restore that Tribe again In like sort if these our Brethren aforesaid should be deprived of their places for the matters premised I think we should find cause to bend our wits to the uttermost extent of our skill to provide some Cure of Souls for them where they may exercise their Talents verily I know not where to find so many able Preachers within this Realm unprovided for to succeed them Hookers Eccles Pol. Pref. Otherwise i. e. set aside their Errours and Misconceits speaking of the Dissenters right well affected and most Religiously enclined minds Again heartily beseeching you by the meekness of Jesus Christ whom I trust ye love that as ye tender the peace and quietness of the Church If your own Souls hearts and consciences be as I doubt not but they are things most dear and pretious unto you be not blemished with partialities Bishop Halls Apology against the Brownist p. 137 and 138. Sect. 56. Edit 1610 Those men which you say complain so much of their miserable condition under the Prelats impositions have notwithstanding with the same Pens and Tongues not only justified our Church but extolled it You have found no sharper Adversaries in this very accusation for which you maliciously cite them How freely how fully have they evinced the Truth Yea the happiness of the Church of England against your false Challenges and your forehead dares challenge them for Authors So hath their Moderation opposed some appendancies that they have both acknowledged and defended the substance with equal vehemence to your opposition neither do they suffer as you traduce them for seeking another Church Government Would God you could follow those
you could not perswade them to assent to what you say c. you must be as Charitable in your judgment as you believe God will prove favourable in his Final Sentence Pag. 19. and 22. Love and Truth in two Modest and Peaceable Letters from a quiet Conformable Citizen of London pag. 39. Almighty God hath appointed me to live in an Age in which contention increases and Charity decays And its certain that variety of Opinions and Controversies in Religion declare difficulty to know them truly but my Comfort is that there is so much Religion without Controversie as by the true Practice of what is so my Soul may be saved The Conformists Declare that the several Sects of Protestants are agreed in the Main BIshop Jewels Defence of the Apology pag. 740. We say that we agree among our selves touching the whole judgment and chief substance of Christian Religion and with one Mouth and with one Spirit do worship God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or King James the First his Instructions to his Son We all God be praised do agree in the grounds of Religion Bishop Andrews Sermons Edit 3. pag. 18 19. And without controversie great is the mistery of Godliness c. We see in our days how men languish about some points which they would have thought to be great and great Controversies there be and great Books of Controversies about them yet Blessed be God that hath left us some Misteries clear and without controversie this here a Mistery a great one Religion hath no greater yet manifest and in Confesso with all Christians A way of peace then there shall be in the midst of a World of Controversies in which way of peace even all parts shall agree Bishop William Barlow in his Defence of the Articles of the Protestant Religion against Wright 's Articles Objecting the irreconcileable Jars between the Protestants of the Church of England and the Puritans in the Essential points of Faith Answereth pag. 20. or 21. The Jars between us though unkind yet not in this kind only for Ceremonies External no points Substantial Doctor Crakanthorp in his Defensio Eccl. Anglicanae chap. 33. Sect. 15. Puritanum qui Hereticus sit tu opinor in Angliâ neminem unquam conspexisti cum illis quos tu puritanos vocas non est nobis de fide aut fidei Dogmatelis ulla de Ritibus illi Disciplinâ Ecclesiae nostrae contendunt In fide consensus in Ritibus solum Disciplinâ dissentimus Bishop George Carlton 's Answer to Montagues Appeal first Edit pag. 5. It was then in Qu. Eliz. Reign the open Confession both of the Bishops and of the Puritans that both parts embraced a mutual consent in Doctrine only the difference was in matters of Inconformity Pag. 78. To that passage in Montagues Appeal Pag. 28. Just your Puritan Doctrine He Answers A Puritan Doctrine is a strange thing because it hath been confessed on both sides that protestants and and puritans have held the same Doctrines without variance What is your end in this but to make Divisions where there were none Bishop Hall's Apol. against the Brownists Edit 1610. Sect. 56. pag. 138. So hath their i. e. Nonconformists Moderation opposed some Appendancies that they have both acknowledged and defended the substance with equal vehemence to your opposition Hooker 's Eccles Polity L. 3. Sect. 1. With Rome we do not communicate concerning sundry her gross and grievous abominations yet touching those main parts of Christian Truths wherein they constantly still persist we gladly acknowledge them to be of the Family of Jesus Christ and our hearty prayer to Almighty God is that being conjoyned so far forth with them they may at length if it be his Will so yield and reform themselves that no distraction remain in any thing but that we may all with one heart and voice glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose Church we are Mr. Hierons Sermons pag. 500. God be praised the Foundation of Religion is on both sides held and taught sincerely Mr. Sprints Cassand Anglicanum Epist to the Reader In the Foundation we all agree Time and Day will try the Hay and Stubble from the Gold and Silver 1 Cor. 3.11 12. c. Mr. Vertues Plea for Peace pag. 44. The differences among us are only in superstructures and less principal Truths whilest in the Main and Fundamental points of our Religion we have God be thanked a firm Concord as may appear by the Harmony of Confessions Doctor Featly his Roma ruens pag. 22. Differences among us in Matters of Faith necessary to Salvation there are not our Controversies are de Fimbriis non de Textu of the Lace and Fringe of Ceremonies Mr. Pygots Sermon 2 Sam. 2.26 pag. 46. When the Gospel of Truth hath been preached amongst us now upwards Fourscore years do we stick at Pilates Question What is Truth John 18.38 Beloved for the substance of our Religion I say with St. Paul If an Angel from Heaven shall preach any other Gospel or discover any other Fundamental Truths to us then what we have received let him be accursed And if this unhappy difference be about Circumstances and Ceremonies God grant that whilst we are so earliest in contention about niceties and shadows we do not lose the Substance Glanvel 's Cath. Charity pag. 2. It 's very strange that Christians should be so at odds whose Religion is Peace and Love and the reasons of whose Differences are so small in proportion to the degree of their Animosities Our God is one and we have the one common Saviour we profess one Gospel and believe the same Creeds we have the same Sacraments and the same Fundamental Ordinances and since we are agreed in these what is there left that is worth the heat of a Dispute Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls Epist Dedic before the Mischief of Separation That there is an Agreement in Doctrine and the substantial parts of Worship is acknowledged in our Case And pag. 13. The people apprehend the differences to be much greater than the Teachers will allow when they are put to declare their Minds and our common Enemies take as much advantages from our differences as if they were really far greater than they are Conformists Plea for the Non conformists Part 3. pag. 75. Indeed the Separation with which the Nonconformists are charged is not as Separation from a Church but as Separation in a Church fundamentally and essentially the same but differing in Mode and Accidents which must needs be the lowest kind of difference For the Conformists and Non-conformists are all one in Christ agreeing in all the parts of Christian Catholick Communion with us Mr. Kidder 's Serm. on 1 Pet. 3.11 The things in which we all agree these things are many and of great weight what we differ about bears no proportion to those things which we are agreed in Mr. Hancock 's Sermon on Luk.
badge of the Church a mark whereby to discern Christian men from Infidels and Jews Dr. Hammond of Schism p. 58. Calls the Creed the Apostolick badge or mark A tessera or token of the Apostles having planted the Faith in any Church the known summary of that beleif which had been received from the Apostles p. 211. It cannot be affirmed of all the Articles of the Creed that they are thus absolutely necessary i. e. that no man can be imagined to Reform his life so as to be acceptable to God but he to whom every one of those Articles has been intelligibly revealed for as to many plain yet pious Christians it s not certain that can be affirmed Bishop Tailor Coll. of disc p. 536. The Religion of Jesus Christ is the Form of sound Doctrine set down in Scripture separated as to the Question of necessary or not necessary by the symbol of the Apostles Item p. 407. Now if more were necessary than the Articles of the Creed I demand why was it made the characteristick note of a Christian from an Heretick Jew or an Infidel or to what purpose was it composed or if this were intended as sufficient did the Apostles or those Churches which they sounded know any thing else to be necessary Bishop Sparrows Rationale upon the Common Prayer p. 50. In the time of the stay at Jerusalem they agreed upon this Creed as a Rule of Faith according to the Analogy of which they and all others should teach and as a word of distinction by which they should know Friend from Foes for as the Gileadits by the word Shibboleth Judges 12.6 c. So the Apostles and the Church should know who were right believers who false by this word of Faith for all that walked according to this Rule and Professed this Faith she acknowledged for hers and gave them her peace but all others that went contrary to this Rule and Word she accounted enemies Tertull. de praescriptione and lead by false Spirits as 1 John 4.6 Item a Christian evidences to the Church his sound beleif by expresly repeating the Creed and every particular thereof which is and always hath been accounted the mark and character whereby to distinguish a true beleiver from an Heretick or Infidel Judge Hales discourse of Religion p. 4. The Credenda or things to be known or beleived are but few and intelligible briefly delivered in that summary of Christian Religion usually called the Apostles Creed and in brief the Baptismal Covenant as it is contained in the Liturgy and Explanation thereof in the Church Catechism i. e. by the Covenant Mercies and Covenant-duties together with the precepts of the Decalogue contain in effect the summary or brief Epitome of our Christian duty Cars peaceable Moder p. 43. The Creed is a short Abridgment and Epitome of the Apostles Doctrine which they received from Christ our Saviour and delivered to us in the New Testament the Rule of our Faith Touch-stone of Truth the pith and substance of our Christian Religion the very badge and cognizance of a Christian whereby he is not only known from Pagans but also distinguished from Hereticks Bishop Pearson The Creed without controversie is a brief comprehension of the objects of our Christian Faith and is generally taken to contain all things necessary to be beleived in praef to his Exposition on the Apostles Creed Glanvell's Catholick Charity p. 30. The Fundamentals of belief are few and plain for certainly the Divine goodness would not lay our Eternal interest in difficulties and multitudes things hard to be understood and retain'd Item Agreement of Reason and Religion pag. 5. In the Creed are all the Fundamentals of Religion and though our Church require our Assent Ministers he means to more propositions yet those are only Articles of Communion not Doctrines absolutely necessary to Salvation And if we go beyond the Creed for Essentials of Faith who can tell where we shall stop Doctor Tillotson I doubt not but that the belief of the Ancient Creed provided we entertain nothing that is destructive of it together with a good Life will certainly save a Man True state of the Primitive Church Part First That which we commonly call the Apostles Creed if it were not composed by them yet certainly by Primitive and Apostolick men and proposed as the sum of Christian Faith the sum total necessary to Salvation It cannot be supposed that they left out any thing which they thought necessary to Salvation they might as well have omitted half or all Dr. Steward 's Englands Case pag. 20. In our Reformation we still adhering unto the Three Creeds which are the Faith of the Church Catholick Mr. Hancock 's Sermon on Luk. 19.42 pag. 26. To the Honour of the Church of England let it be said whatsoever is imposed on us as necessary to the Salvation of all men is contained in the Apostles Creed This is the Faith of the first and best times of Christianity the Faith into which we are Baptized and the Belief of this Creed hath a direct influence on our Christian practice which is the great business of Religion Bishop Sanderson in his nine Cases of Conscience pag 8. Whosoever well considers may rest satisfied in his judgment and conscience that the Faith professed and taught in the Church of England is a plain and safe way to lead a Christian Believer to Eternal Salvation if he withal lead his life and conversation answerable thereunto Dr. Barrow 's Discourse of the Vnity of the Church annexed to his Treatise against the Popes Supremacy In regard to this Union of Faith among Christians the Body of Christians adhering to it was called the Catholick Church from which all those were esteemed Ipso facto to be cut off and separated who in any point deserted that Faith pag. 9. Conformists not forward in Censuring any as guilty of Heretical and Damnable Errors HOmily of Contention First Part. May help with other Citations to explain the Hereticalness of an Error He that is faulty let him rather amend than defend that which he hath spoken a miss least he fall by contention from a foolish Error into an obstinate Heresie Bishop Jewel's Def. of Apol. pag. 46. For just proof of Heresie three things necessarily be required 1. That it be an Error 2. That it be an Error against the Truth of Gods Word for otherwise every Error maketh not an Heresie 3. That it be stoutly and wilfully maintained otherwise an Error in Gods Truth without wilful maintainance is not an Heresie St. Augustine saith Errare possum Hereticus esse non possum Item p. 67. The Catholick Fathers and Bishops made no doubt but our Religion might be proved out of the Scriptures neither were they ever so hardy to take any for an Heretick whose Error could not evidently and apparently be reproved by the self-same Scriptures Bishop Andrews cited in Appendix to the third Part of the Friendly Debate Let but obstinacy and perverseness be wanting it
worse and incomparably more lamentable that is so swelled and puft up with the splendour of its Golden Edifice upon the Foundation or of its Orthodoxy that neglecting Charity and Equanimity and trampling on the Law of Christ fastidiously rejects and Anathematizeth other Churches Orthodox in the Foundation and willing to maintain place with it than is the condition of those Churches who though they are infirm in Faith inferiour in knowledge do yet hold in the Foundation maintain inviolable Charity and after the Example of Blessed Cyprian do neither judge nor separate from Communion those who think otherwise than themselves Dr. Casaubon 's Necessity of Reformation pag. 142. cited by Dr. Puller 's Moderation c. pag. 436. Were there nothing else objected to Papists but this one thing their uncharitable proscribing and Excommunicating all Christians in all parts of the World as in the Council of Trent imposing her Doctrines which were but disputable before to be de fide with an Anathema to such as thought of them otherwise who are not of their Communion and obliging all that adhere unto them to profess the same I should think that one thing a just ground of Separation or forsaking their Communion Dr. Steward 's Englands Case pag. 26. When Men cast out of the Church Catholick and so damn to Hell all those that hold not their Opinions this St. Augustine oft-times calls Schism in the Donatists I could name you those who are guilty of this but I am sure our dear Mother is not who hath been so mild to those who have most highly opposed her Dr. Hammond's Pract. Catech. Vpon Blessed are the Peace-makers We are not to think our own Opinions in Religion such as are not of Faith of such importance as to deny Communion or Salvation to those who differ from us Item of Schism pag. 165. and pag. 166. That as we exclude no Christian from our Communion that will either Filially and Fraternally embrace it with us being ready to admit any to our Assemblies that acknowledge the Foundation laid by Christ and his Apostles so we as earnestly desire to be admitted to the like Freedom of External Communion with all the Members of all other Christian Churches as often as occasion makes us capable of that Blessing And pag. 5. Tell us the Governours of the Church use to inflict that punishment of Excommunication on the most scandalous Sinner And pag. 15. Calls it that very condition into which the Adulterer and obstinate offender is cast by the Censures of the Church Hammond of the Keys chap. 5. Sect. 18. The more shame for the over-easie denouncers of that censure that inflict it for every trivial commission without consideration whether or no repented of or that use this Sovereign Recipe unadvisedly for any other end than Reforming the Profane Dr. Puller 's Moderation of the Church of England pag. 366. It is evident that the Divine Moderation of our Church considers the frame of Man and the uncertainty difficulty and imperfection of Humane Knowledge the weakness and variety of Humane Understandings she alloweth much to the force of Prejudice Education and the power and artifice of Seducers Our Church makes a great reserve of Dispensation to persons of Modest Humble Docible and peaceable Spirits and proportions her Censures to the degrees of Malice and the Unchristian Temper which appears in Offenders Dr. Cumber on the Common-Prayer in the Commination Discipline with-held in favour of Dissenters least the imposing it there should make this Holy Means of Reformation despised rather than obeyed Item pag. 369. Dr. Puller Wherefore the Institution of a Christian Man made by Cranmer saith the Bishops are not bound so precisely but they may attemper and forbear the execution of their Jurisdiction when by so doing the cure of the offenders and the tranquility of the Church may be furthered Item pag. 35. According to Equity our Church desires all her Laws may be Interpreted Benignius Leges interpretandae sunt c. She admits of a Mitigation of a rigid Sentence And pag. 11. Disposeth them where the Laws press too hard upon particular persons to relax the Rigour of them Pag. 370. Wherefore those who in Execution of the Church Discipline abuse the most excellent Temper of the Church in the constitution of her Laws under the pretence of Ecclesiastical Authority verily they most of all deserve the Churches Rod and the dire point of her Anathema Let it be considered said Bishop Tailor Ductor Dub. L. 3. pag. 259. How Great a reproach it is to Ecclesiastical Discipline if it be made to Minister to Covetousness and to the needs of Proctors and Advocates Bishop Bramhall pag. 14. Vindicat. of the Church To exclude none from Catholick communion and hope of Salvation either Eastern or Western or Southern or Northern Christians which profess the Faith of the Apostles and Primitive Fathers established in the first General Councils and comprehended in the Apostolick Nicene and Athanasian Creeds and lastly to hold an Actual External Communion with them in votis in our desires and to endeavour it by all lawful means Item pag. 17. There is not the like necessity of communicating in all Externals there is not so great conformity to be expected in ceremonies as in the Essentials of Sacraments Bishop Bilson of Subjection Part 2. pag. 223. Ed t. 4. It is a most pernitious sancy to think that divers Nations and Countries differing by Customs Laws and Manners so they hold one and the same Rule of Faith in the Bond of Peace cannot be parts of the Catholick Church Communicant one with another The Communion of Saints standeth not in External Rights Customs and Manners but in believing the same truth tasting of the same grace resting on the same Hope calling on the same God rejoycing in the same Spirit whereby they be sealed sanctified and preserved unto the day of Redemption Causes of Decay of Christian Piety pag. 285. As Christ when he forewarned his Disciples of the ensuing persecution tells them not only they should be killed but they should be put out of the Synagogue so now as if Christians were emulous of every branch of Jewish Cruelty we transcribe that part of the Copy too and either by causeless Excommunicating others or separating our selves we deny the benefit of Publick Communion to each other Item pag. 280. Every Petty difference c. pag. 287. Would we indeed comport with the Example of those happy Times of the Primitive Church we should have prayed for the Conversion of Dissenters not laid Anathema's upon them and prayed for their confusion Item In his whole Duty of Man If one that holds all necessary Christian Truths happen yet to be in some Error we are not for this to despise his Person or forsake his Communion Bishop Reynold 's Brotherly Agreement In the case of unavoidable Differences amongst good Men there ought to be mutual Charity c. not to judge despise reject insult over one another not to
in the Service already established by Act of Parliament in this Kingdom he intends that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably in and towards the Civil Government shall have the free exercise of their Religion in their own way Item to the Prince of Wales The charitable connivance and Christian Toleration often dissipates their strength whom rougher opposition fortifies Dr. Hammond 's Sermons pag. 72. I am confident there were no such way of designing a prosperous flourishing durable Kingdom as to found its Polity upon Gospel Principles and maintain it by the Gospel Spirit id est of Love and Meekness I have Authority to think that was the meaning of the Prophesie of Christs turning Swords into Plough-shares c. Advice to the Church of England Roman Catholicks and Protestant Dissenters tells us pag. 23. Dr. Hammond left it to the Witnesses of his End as his dying Counsel to the Church of England that they displaced no man out of the Universities or present Church but that by Love and an Holy Life they should prevail upon those in possession then to come into their Church Which he had as he tells us from an eminent hand in Oxford a year or two after the Doctors Death Mr. Hales of Erring Christians pag. 26. Edit 2. The Christians were called Christiani from a word signifying benignity and sweetness What reason is there why that should not be one of the chiefest notes of the Church of Christ which did so especially characterize a Christian man except there were a decay of it at this day in the Church Georgius a Factious Bishop of Alexandria is said oblitus professionis suae quae nil nisi justum suadet bene Quite besides his profession whose especial notes were Gentleness and Equity in the sense of the Heathen Ammianus Marcellinus King Charles the Second in a Declaration from Breda was for Liberty to Tender Consciences and sayes that no man shall be disquieted for Differences in Opinion in Matters of Religion which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom pag. 5. and 18. This Declaration his Majesty afterwards May 8. 1661. tearms a Promise solemnly made This Declaration or Promise he tells both Houses July 8 1661. that so oft as he comes to them he mentions his Declaration from Breda that himself as well as they might mind it In his Majesties Declaration of Decemb. 26 1662. He tells us that he remembers the very words of the Promises from Breda that concern'd Liberty of Conscience and the confirmations he hath made of them since upon several Occasions and that he is still firm in Resolution of performing them to the full He tells what hindered But it must not be wondered at since that Parliament to which those promises were made in relation to an Act never thought fit to offer us any to that purpose His Majesty publickly declared his avowed readiness in his Proclamation July 16. 1669. to indulge Tender Consciences Bishop Bramhall 's Just Vindication c. pag. 279. Men may vary in their Judgments and yet preserve Christian Unity and Charity in their Affections one towards another so as Errours be not destructive to Fundamental Articles Bishop Gauden of slight Healing pag. 102. That Lenitive of Equanimity Forbearance and Moderation in respect of Conscientious Dissenters from the publick Consent Customs and Constitutions in the Church which Christian Charity requires and publick peace with safety may bear Idem pag. 93. Scandalous for any to plead that they may have Liberty or Toleration for that which by publique Advice and upon due search is found to be such as is prone to endanger or disorder and infect the whole Bishop Reynold 's Brotherly Reconciliation pag. 19. In this case of unavoidable differences among good men there ought to be Mutual Charity Meekness Moderation Tolerance Humanity used Idem pag. 25. Brings in a saying of Mr. Calvin such a man saith he is a sincere Minister of Christ a godly and a moderate Man therefore though he dissent from us I will not cease to love him still Bishop Taylor 's Collection of Discourses pag. 603. To refuse our Charity to those who have the same Faith because they have not all our Opinions and believe not every thing necessary which we over-value is Impious and Schismatical and to this sense is that of St. Paul If I had all Faith and have not Charity I am nothing c. Idem If men please what-ever advantages would be consequent to an Unity of perswasion may be supplied by a charitable compliance and mutual permission of Opinion prescribed us by the Lawes of Christianity Idem Epist before Lib. of Proph. in Collection of Discourses c. I thought it might not misbecome my duty and endeavours to plead for Peace and Charity and Forgiveness and Permissions mutual And in Defence of that Piece in the Second Edition Now I have done all that I can do onely I cannot repent me of speaking Truth or doing Charity I Answer whatsoever is against the Foundation of Faith I or contrary to good Life and the Lawes of Obedience or destructive to humane Societies and the publick and just interests of Bodies Politick is out of the limits of my Question for Toleration Idem I think I have spoken reason in my Book and examined it with all the severity that I have I writ this because I thought it was necessary and seasonable and charitable and agreeable to the great precepts and design of Christianity consonant to the practice of the Apostles and of the best Ages of the Church and of the nature of the thing Bishop Hacket 's Sermon on Acts 5.39 p. 22. An Unanimity of Opinions is not necessary to Friendships saith Aristotle very well Dear Friends may retain the sweetness of love together and yet vary in some conclusion of Judgments a little more may be granted that each may be earnest to win the other to assent Idem pag. 25. But if sundry shapes and appearances of reason will not suffer us all to enjoy the same Knowledge and the same Conscience yet let us Dissent as Brethren and not as Enemies Bishop Saunderson 's Serm. 9. ad Aulam Sect. 23. We see Philosophers Lawyers and Physitians confuting one anothers Opinions in great Volumes and we allow it in them but difference in Opinions is more tolerable in Divinity by how much the things about which we are conversant are of a more sublime mysterious and of an incomprehensible Nature than are those of other Sciences Bishop Wilkins Sermons on Rom. 14. p. 57. There are several Truths which are not of so great consequence as Unity Peace and Charity and therefore in such things there ought to be a mutual forbearance towards one another Idem Sermon 13. It is no difficult matter for men to be fair and kind and moderate towards such as are of the same way and agree with them in the main Idem pag 413. 414. This vertue Moderation will be very advantageous to the peace
great that such an absolute consent amongst pious persons is scarcely to be expected in this World the next thing to be endeavoured after is that they may agree in the belief of the principle Heads of our Religion and as for other things which neither of necessity belong to Holiness of Life nor the comfort of Souls nor the Kingdom of God that men would so believe them as to bear with them who think otherwise concerning them For that this may lawfully be done the thing it self declares and St. Paul pronounceth not onely in many places doth permit but even commands us to bear with Dissenters This is the common opinion of all persons which from the first ages of Christianity to the present times have been of any esteem or honour in the Church Principles and Practices of some Moderate Divines p. 308. Let the Professors of Christianity labour for the true spirit and temper of Christians and it will be as well with the Christian World as if we were all of the same mind I mean let us not Magisterially impose upon one another and be so Charitable as to believe well of Dissenters from us that live good lives Item p. 348. That we may contend with each other about nothing more then who shall express in the midst of our different perswasions most Charity and most Candor Conformist Plea to the Non-Conformist part 3. p. 62. Doth Christian Love and Compassion prompt us to wish our persecuted Brethren in France enjoyed the liberty of the true Religion there And if they should enjoy a freedom there shall we deny a liberty to Protestant Brethren here I can see no ways to avoid a Justification of the barbarous usage of Protestants there by them that prosecute Protestants here Idem part 4. p. 1. Peace Love and Forbearance have a greater place assigned them in Religion than the things in controversie which cause our Divisions And whether it be Meeter for the greater things to suffer by the lesser or the lesser to give place to the greater let common reason judge and common experience come in as an evidence Mr. Kidder 's Serm. of Peace pag. 24. The best men as they may differ from each other but then their Christian charity will dispose them to forbear and forgive and to debate with great calmness and temper which is the way at once to Truth and Peace Mr. Tully 's Serm. of Moderation pag. 2. Those Homiletic or if I may so speak conversable Graces of Meekness Gentleness Forgiveness Forbearance c. are so frequently pressed upon us in the Sacred Writings upon this prospect partly no doubt that they all of them tend mightily to the sweetning of Societies and to the prevention or healing those differences which are apt to embroil us Argument for Toleration and Indulgence in relation to differences in Opinion pag. 2. We must distinguish between points of Faith and Points of Opinion that we ought to bear one with another in respect of differing Opinions as God doth bear with us all he hath left somethings less plain and clear then others as matters both to exercise the reasonable faculties of good and pious men and to afford them subjects of mutual Charity and Forbearance in their different Sentiments and Apprehensions about them Item pag. 25. As for Separations into several and distinct Conventions I see no cause of fearing any greater inconvenience in them to the Church or to the State if mutual Toleration and Indulgence be the received Principle than is in so many several Clubs of Friendship or Companies of Trade However different they may be from one another in other respects in this they will all agree to love one another for that of God they see and to maintain the publick Liberty the common Interest of all and so though they are as many Conventions as you can imagine and the more the less dangerous one will balance another yet they are not Factions Form of Prayer Dec. 22. 1680. By the power of thy Holy Spirit of Peace dispose all our Hearts to such Meekness of Wisdom such calm and deliberate Long-Suffering and Forbearance of one another in Love that so we may live in Peace and the God of Peace may be with us That Force and Capital Punishments are not to be Inflicted on Christians for their difference in Opinions from us GOod Advice to the Church of England c. pag. 22. And to the end that I may do the Reformation Right and the Principles of the Church of England Justice those in Queen Maries Time particularly Latimer Philpot Bradford Rogers very eminent Reformers hardly one person of any Note but did pass Sentence on Persecution as Anti-christian the Apologies afterwards of the same strain as may be seen in Juel Haddon Reynolds c. censuring the Papists for the Persecutions that they raised against the Protestants for matters of pure Religion Bishop Juel 's Defence of the Apol. pag. 484. St. Augustine saith Nullis bonis in Catholica Ecclesia hoc placet si usque ad mortem in quen-quam licet haereticum saeviatur No good man in the Catholick Church likes that any Heretick should be punished with Death As for our parts speaking of our Church we were never yet guilty to one drop of your blood We seek no Aid at Fire and Sword we will rather say with St. Jerom Vtinam filios haereticorum c. Would God we may kill the Children of Hereticks and of all them that be deceived with Spiritual Arrows that is to say with the Testimonies of Scripture And with St. Augustine O si occidas eos gladio bis acuto c. Bishop Andrew's Sermons on Luk. 9.54 55 56. pag. 912. He puts the case whether the Town of Samaria for not receiving Christ upon pretence he was not of their Religion might not be consumed but Christ ruleth the Case for the Town that it ought not to be done It was an Errour this of the two Disciples we see it plain by Nescitis but of it may well be said that Gregory saith of another of theirs O salutaris error c. Blessed Errour it was for by it the World was rid of the like Errour ever after For so long as this verse shall stand in this Gospel it will serve for a resolution to this Question Any of his Disciples may do that which they here would have done This rebuke here of these will reach to all undertakers in the same kind this Non perdere sed salvare saves all our Towns Cities and States from consuming by fire from any of Christs Company Item pag. 919. And where they move him in specie for a destruction by Fire he not content to deny that alone denieth it in genere not to destroy at all neither by Fire nor any other way Here we have a case of Fire will ye have another of the Sword St. Peter St. John 22.49 Shall we smite with the Sword that he denies too Out with your Fire James
Faith and the use of the Sacraments even so Bishop Bramhall required of the Clergy in Ireland and a solemn Promise under their hands or Subscription of peaceable submission as to the rest so as not to oppose or contradict them either in Preaching or Writing upon the same penalty as if they had not subscribed to the 36. I shall mention two or three of those Testimonies referred to in the Preface about Ordination Dr. Chillingsworths Religion of Protestants c. Epist 1. ch 6. Sect. 8. by way of Question whether any one kind of the external Forms of Church Government i. e. by Bishops or Presbyters be so necessary to the being of a Church but that they may be divers in divers places and that a good and peaceable Christian may and ought to submit himself to the Government of the place where he lives whosoever he be Which Question we are told in Iren. part 2. ch 8. p. 394. according to the tenour of the rest to which it is joyned must as to the former part be resolved in the Negative no one Form of Church Government so necessary but they may be divers in divers places and as to the latter in the Affirmative i. e. That a peaceable Christian ought to submit himself to the Government which he lives under Judge Hale's discourse of Religion p. 11. That the Episcopal form of Government constituted in England is a most excellent Form of Ecclesiastical Government and exceeds all others may easily be evinced and that it is the best adapted to the Civil Government in this Kingdom is visible to any intelligent person And yet I do not think that the Essence of Christian Religion consists in this or any other particular Form of Government Though the wise and sober sort of Conformists know and profess this that a man may be a good and excellent Christian under this Episcopal or any other Form of Church Government c. Bishop Carletons Consensus Eccles Cathol contra Trident praelectionibus c. 11. de Ecclesia p. 289. cited out of Conf. Plea for the Non-Corformist part 3. p. 36. It is the custom of the Catholick Church ut Episcopi legitime ordinent sed si quis a Presbytero Ordinatus fuerit ordinatio illa etiam vera est ex ejusdem Ecclesiae Catholicae judicio Idem p. 283. Ordination is not to be repeated although it be disorderly and out of course any more than Baptism in the Catholick Church But further even they who have the internal call consisting of good Learning Knowledge in the Scripture and are of a good exemplary Conversation and moved by the Spirit are not to be reckoned as Laymen but next to Presbyters or Ministers according to the declared judgment of great and eminent Protestants as Conf. Plea for Non-Corformist part 3. p. 37. Arch-Bishop Abbot added this observation to the 9 Section of the 2d ch de Circumcisione Baptismo Quaestiones sex discussae per Georgium Abbatium p. 109. Martin Bucer saith in Epist ad Eph. c. 4. That some of the Lay-men were admitted to read and interpret the Holy Scriptures in the Primitive and purer Church which they sometimes did perform in the presence of the Bishops and nameth Origen and others And saith he if any man add what the truly learned Hieron Zanchius speaks indefinitely When from the practice of the purer Church they who were not in Holy Orders did Preach the Gospel We answer there is a difference to be made between the simple Layman or the common sort to whom power is given in the Roman Church to Baptize and them who are instar Ministrorum Evangelii and who not only excel the common sort of men for their Learning in holy things but are or were called by the special publick and common Decree of the Bishop and them set over the Congregation publickly to interpret Scripture And these and not others the words of Bucer do note or point at c. Istos ego non audeo ad ordinariorum et vulgarium Laicorum conditiones revocare cum ad Presbyteros tam prope accedant I dare not bring down these to the condition of ordinary and vulgar Laymen that come so near to Presbyters or Ministers saith the Learned Abbot of this sort And whether Tertullian speak of such as these that were permitted to Baptize I leave to the Judgment of the Learned Bishop Jewels Serm. on 1 Cor. 4.1 2. fol. 223. In these our days the Ministers of God and Preachers of his Gospel are evil spoken of among all men some say they are unlearned they are Craftsmen Some say they preach they cannot tell what Let us examine and try their Doctrine with the touchstone of Gods Word and then be you Judges if you see that we teach you nothing but the mysteries of God that we disclose to you the will of God esteem us to be the Servants of God the Ministers of Christ c. This is but a taste of what is referred to in Iren. part 2. ch 8. and in Conf. Plea for Non-Conf part 3. Hearty desires and Prayers for Love and Peace BIshop Davenant 's Letter to Duraeus That which all pious persons are with fervent supplications to desire they ought as earnestly to endeavour after Now who doth not dayly solicit God for the peaceable State of the Church who doth not pray that all those things which vex disturb or any way hinder the Edification of the Church should be removed this was the wish of the Royal Psalmist and ought to be the desire of Princes Doctors and all Christians and surely what they sincerely should desire they should as sincerely endeavour after Bishop Hall 's Works pag. 426. Yea let me beg peace as for Life by your filial piety to the Church of God by your love of Gods Truth by the Graces of that one blessed Spirit whereby we are all informed and quickned by the precious Blood of the Son of God shed for our Redemption be enclined to peace and Love and though our brains be different let our hearts be one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vpon the Treaty at Uxbridge Ejac. 1. Oh thou that art the God of reason and of peace c. Soften our hearts by the bloud of our Redeemer and perswade us to accept of peace with thy self and both procure and preserve peace among our selves as Men and Christians Condemn us not to our passions Clear up our understandings to see thy Truth and encline all our hearts to hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Give us that Charity which should be among our selves and bestow upon us that peace which onely Christ our great peace-maker can merit Bishop Salisburies Exhortation to Peace and Vnion p. 34. Let us all resolve to spend some portion of our time at least an hour every Week in earnest prayers to him for the peace of his Jerusalem among us and for continuing our Religion still with us It is his cause and we ought chiefly to offer it up to him for his protection and defence and if our sins do not defeat our prayers we may hope that a considerable number of such Intercessions will procure great blessings to us especially we having the assistance of those who have taken Sanctuary among us Mr. Pygots Abners Plea for Accommodation p. 15. Never leave wrestling with the God of peace by uncessant and earnest prayers till he be entreated for the land to settle peace amongst us that the Lyon and the Lamb might lye down together Causes of decay of Christian Piety p. 419. Oh that we might see our impertinent strifes superseded and all moulded into the one Noble emulation who shall fastest unravel his own mischief and promote that peace he hath hitherto disturbed This indeed were worthy to be the united design of all Learned men and were it once so who knows how prosperous it might be Item p. 227. Who knows what a powerful exorcism the United Intercessions of the Christian World might have been had we jointly deprecated our quarrels God might have found a way to have composed them tho we could not Forms of Prayer upon the Fast Day 22d Dec. 1680. In the prayer for Union amongst our Selves Blessed Jesu aur Saviour and our Peace Look down in much Pity and Compassion upon this distressed Church and Nation whose bleeding wounds occasioned by the lamentable divisions that are among us cry aloud for thy speedy help and saving relief stir up we beseech thee every Soul of us carefully as becomes sincere Christians to root out of our hearts all Pride and vain Glory all wrath and bitterness all unjust prejudice and causeless jealousie all Hatred and Malice and desire of Revenge and whatsoever it is that may any way exasperate our minds or hinder us from discerning the things that belong unto our peace That as there is but one body and one Spirit and one Hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith c. So we may henceforth be all of one heart and of one Soul closely united in one Holy bond of Truth and Peace of Faith and Charity and so far as it is possible and an Vnion is attainable with one mind and one mouth glorifie God Licensed according to Order FINIS A Table of the several Heads ACknowledged by Conformists that there are Good and Worthy Men amongst the Dissenters Salvation for such as are faithful in the common duties of Christianity That Protestants are agreed in the main The Creed contains all Truths necessary to Salvation Conformists not forward in censuring men as guilty of Heretical and damnable Errors None to be shut out of the Church and denied Communion for lesser sins or Errors That our Love must be Catholick An Agreement of all Christians in one Perswasion not to be expected Mutual Favour and Forbearance to be practised in our diversity of Judgments Force and capital Severities censured in matters of Religion Of Confessions of Faith and their Articles c.